Alamo Today, August 2012 by The Editors, Inc

editor@yourmonthlypaper.com

August 2012 Rove Among the Roses at Osage Park

Serving Alamo and Diablo

By Jody Morgan The breathtaking display of roses accessible free of charge at Danville’s Osage Station Park beckons visitors of all ages. Memorial beds along the jogging path display 1,417 rose bushes, and 104 climbers adorn fences and arbors. The Veterans Memorial Circle at the north parking area honors all who have served, are serving, or will serve in our armed forces with another 91 roses. Roses near the tennis courts off Orange Blossom Way also cause passersby to pause. Thanks to the symbiotic relationship between Danville’s park superintendent John Teixeira and three volunteer groups (Diablo Women’s Garden Club, AlamoDanville Newcomers Club and Danville Garden Club), the roses are pruned, fed,

Newcomers Jackie LeJeune, Dianne Folsom, and Melinda Hoertz-Serpan

weeded, and deadheaded so that the public can enjoy their heady fragrance and wealth of blossoms without lifting a finger. In January the town does the hard pruning. “Some people wait until we prune to do their own roses,” John notes. A handful of gardeners also stop by to collect cuttings of their favorite roses to root.

See Roses continued on page 22

Crosswalk Improvements Finally a Reality at Alamo School By Sharon Burke For more than a year an unusual and dedicated coalition composed of a parent, a school principal, a County public works engineer, a CHP officer, a Contra Costa Sheriff's deputy, and the District 2 Supervisor and her staff have been working on a solution to improve pedestrian safety at the Alamo School crosswalk on Livorna Road. Their efforts have led to a significant crosswalk improvement of flashing safety lights to be installed in late August by Contra Costa County Public Works. The ribbon cutting ceremony is scheduled for 10am on Sunday, August 26th, at the crosswalk where Livorna Road meets Wilson Road. The effort was sparked by parent Janice Alamillo, whose home is just 700 yards from the school but is crucially located south of the school, across busy Livorna Road. Her three children have never been able to walk or bike to their neighborhood school, due to the dangerous crosswalk, which is located just after a hill which blocks driver sightlines coming from the west. This is not a problem for her children's schoolmates who live north of Livorna Road. On any given day, many schoolchildren can be spotted walking and biking to Alamo School on the north side of the street.

See Crosswalk continued on page 25

Local Postal Customer

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

ECRWSS

Alamo Music Festival to be Held September 8th Come on out to the Alamo Rotary Club’s 30th annual Music & Wine Festival. The event will take place from noon to 10PM at Alamo Plaza on Saturday, September 8th. The Music and Wine Festival has become “Alamo’s Block Party” and will feature food, wine, music, dancing, and other activities for the entire family. The event is the principal fundraiser for the Alamo Rotary Club’s efforts to support music programs in our local schools. Starting at noon, kids can enjoy the popular rock climbing wall, inflatable jump houses, and a steam train. School music groups will perform starting at 1PM. The San Ramon High School Band and the Monte Vista High School Band will perform, followed by the Jazz Bands from San Ramon Valley High and Stone Valley Middle School. The Alamo Elementary School Choir will perform at 5PM. Music Festival headliners are “The Fundamentals,” the Bay Area’s “premier party band,” and “Alma Desnuda,” which offers its own brand of “California Acoustic Soul.” The “Flyright Sisters” will also perform swing and boogie-woogie classics. The professional entertainment program will start at 6PM. This will be the first appearance at the Festival for all three groups. Volume XII - Number 8 Two excellent local restaurants, 3000F Danville Blvd. #117, Faz and Maggierays, will serve dinner Alamo, CA 94507 from 5:30 to 8PM. The Alamo Rotary Telephone (925) 405-NEWS, 405-6397 Club will also bring back the popular Fax (925) 406-0547 “Burger Barn,” which will offer premiAlisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher um sausages, hot dogs, and hamburgers Editor@yourmonthlypaper.com Sharon Burke ~ Writer all day long. sburke@yourmonthlypaper.com Fine wines and beers will be available The opinions expressed herein belong to the writers, and do throughout the day and will feature wines not necessarily reflect that of Alamo Today. Alamo Today

See Festival continued on page 30

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

Page 2 - August 2012 ~ Alamo Today

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Pillar Wealth Management might be right for you IF, Hutch Ashoo, CEOo

 You worry about managing your wealth to outlast you and your loved ones

Chris Snyder, Principal, SR. VP

 You currently have $3+ million cash and/or investments for deployment  You demand a different type of Wealth Management advice to help you increase the probability of reaching your life-goals  You believe what is best for Wall Street/Brokerage firms isn’t necessarily best for YOU Aree To discover if we are right for each other and to start the process of an honest evaluation, call Hutch or Chris at (925) 407-0320 to schedule a FREE 20 minute telephone meeting. Pillar Wealth Management is proud of the high caliber, 100% fee-based customized wealth management advice we deliver to a limited number of affluent families. We are not all things to all investors. Pillar Wealth Management, LLC. is fully owned by Mr. Hutch Ashoo and Mr. Chris Snyder, they are book authors, financial columnists and nationwide radio guests. They have been providing customized financial solutions to affluent families for a combined 47 years. Pillar’s only product is unbiased advice. Call (925) 407-0320 to schedule a FREE 20 minute telephone meeting now.

Visit www.PillarWM.com for a short video affluent families should watch. Pillar Wealth Management, LLC. | 1600 South Main Street, Suite 335 | Walnut Creek, CA 94596 Information about Pillar Wealth Management, LLC., as a Registered Investment Advisor, CRD number 147837, is available at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.

Boulevard View By Alisa Corstorphine, Editor In some aspects of my life I am trying to slow down, simplify, and go back the basics. I am not giving up my iPhone, digital camera, or internet connectivity but sometimes find it is more peaceful to lay down my electronics and work with my hands, tend to my garden, cook my food from scratch, and read my book, magazine, or newspaper in their paper form. Maybe it’s a part of getting older, or maybe I’m just maturing and realizing what’s important in life. I’m incorporating more of an “attitude of gratitude,” trying to keep the line starting at the doorway a “no drama zone” and trying to be the “glass half full” kind of gal keeping the “Eeyore’s” out of my life. Research shows that adopting an attitude of appreciation towards the things in your life makes an enormous difference to your level of happiness. People who consciously attempt to be thankful and appreciative tend to feel happier and at peace to a greater extent than others. According to a research project from the University of Miami, people who practice some form of conscious gratitude exercised more regularly, were healthier, slept better, felt more optimistic, made more progress towards personal goals, were more alert and enthusiastic, and could handle stress more effectively. People value authenticity and know when it’s missing. I think many of our local businesses feel the same way, and I treasure the relationships I’ve developed over the years. Some businesses “get it,” while some certainly don’t. I have definitely steered my patronage to those businesses who take the long view and who exude a natural friendliness, not a forced familiarity as if it’s a script they must read at every encounter. Just like the old sitcom Cheers, I love to go where everyone (genuinely) knows my name or is always happy to see me even if we aren’t on a first or last name basis. The Golden Rule is a maxim that essentially states “One should treat others as one would like others to treat onself.” I have been making a concerted effort lately to praise and recognize those who I interact with in my daily

rounds and routine who go the extra mile to make me feel that my visit to their place of business is welcomed and appreciated. I have tried to reciprocate their “positive energy” and use the multi-media tools at hand by giving positive reviews on Yelp or other sites and/or “Liking” them on their Facebook page. A compliment or “attaboy” to a supervisor or a manager goes a long way in “making” someone’s day.

Sometimes people are quick to react, threaten, or shout out to the world about how they’ve been wronged due to a negative situation, but it seems these people are often less likely to do the reverse when they are treated well. When I feel deceived or cheated, I head out the door; vote with my feet. Life is too short to feel unappreciated, bullied, or duped. The recent wedding of a friend found me in a Reno casino. Slot machines have changed to where they no longer take coins. Everything is artificial done to the electronic clank of faux coins landing in the tray. I was intrigued by the “new” one-cent slot machines. It looked like entertainment could be had for mere pennies. However, once the dollar bills enter the slot machines, the pennies magically morph and become “credits.” The one-cent slots then have minimums - like you must play 30 credits per “spin” (another artificial experience as the pull handles have been mostly replaced by the much quicker push of a button). Less than $10 later I felt cheated and not entertained. I think I’d rather spend my money or time watching a good show, reading a good book, or sending a handwritten note or an “I’m thinking about you” text at random. A dripping faucet soon fills a bucket until it is overflowing. The same is true of anything in life, and developing appreciation is no different. Appreciating the many small things in your day will lead to greater and greater levels of gratitude and happiness, and the world can alway use a little more of that.

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Alamo Today ~ August 2012 - Page 3

Nominate the Alamo Citizen of the Year!

Alamo Sheriff's Station Seeks Volunteers

The Rotary Club of Alamo is in the process of receiving nominations for the 2012 Alamo Citizen of the Year award. The winner will be announced at the Alamo Music & Wine Festival to be held on Saturday, September 8th at about 7:15pm. This is the 28th year that this award has been given to someone who has demonstrated a unique commitment to the Alamo community that places him/ her in a special place deserving this recognition. Alamo has hundreds of dedicated individuals who give countless hours to the benefit of our community. All members of the Alamo community are encouraged each year to nominate that person who best demonstrates integrity, citizenship, and service to the community. If you know someone who you feel is deserving of this recognition, please contact Don Morton at dmorton12@yahoo.com or fax (925) 838-9930 or call him at (925) 838-1137 for a nomination form. Please provide as much detailed information describing the qualifications of your candidate as possible. The deadline is August 15th. Roger Smith was named Citizen of the Year in 2011 for his hard work over the years with the Alamo Improvement Association and his respect for his fellow citizens in the complex, contentious, and vital process of planning and development in Alamo.

The Contra Costa County Sheriff's Station in the Alamo Shopping Center is looking for volunteers to assist in law enforcement in our community. The volunteers are assigned duty at the Station's lobby to greet visitors, answer phones, participate in the “If I Were a Thief” program, and assist in law enforcement sponsored events. Adults who do not have a criminal history and who can serve five hours a week should call Lieutenant Tom Chalk at 925-646-6180, or visit the office at 150 Alamo Plaza #C to pick up an application.

Museum of the SRV Presents Before BART Train bells ring and whistles blow at the Museum of the San Ramon Valley when it celebrates those wonderful old railroads that crisscrossed the county. The Museum’s newest exhibit Before BART showcases the electric railroad versions that linked cities and farms around here until 1957. The exhibit runs through August 18th. Seldom seen artifacts will be on display. Along with the electric railroad exhibit, various model train layouts will transfix kids of all ages. The model railroads on display include the large Garden trains of the Diablo Pacific Short Line club, Bob Burke’s ever popular large “O” scale (remember Lionel trains) from August 9th-11th, and finally from August 14th-18th Danville resident Jim Wolton’s little “N” scale layout secured to the back of a door is on display. A scale model of the Sacramento Northern electric railroad will accompany the “N” scale exhibit. The Museum is located in the former Southern Pacific depot at 205 Railroad Avenue in downtown Danville. Hours are 10AM to 1PM Tuesday – Saturday and on Sunday from noon to 3PM. A modest admission fee of $3 per person is charged. Please call (925) 837-3750 or go to www.museumsrv.org for more information.

9-11 Remembrance Ceremony The Exchange Club of San Ramon Valley along with local veterans’ organizations is hosting the Annual 9-11 Remembrance Ceremony on Tuesday, September 11th. The Remembrance begins at 5:50PM and concludes at 6:40PM at the All Wars Memorial in Oak Hill Park located at 3005 Stone Valley Rd in Danville. This event will feature prominent guest speakers, hundreds of Scouts with an array of American Flags, joint Police and Fire Department Honor Guard, a bagpiper, a flight of doves, and many other patriotic contributions. Immediately following the ceremony there will be free ice cream, Crackerjacks and bottled water.

Alamo-Danville Newcomers Club Please join us at a free Welcome Coffee on Thursday, August 23rd from 10 to noon. Both those new to the area or long time residents will be able to learn about the Club and the many facets of club membership. We hope you'll join us at this casual get-together where you can meet current members, find new friends and discover the many activities offered through Newcomers. For further information, call us at (925) 281-1307, email us atalamodanvillenewcomers@yahoo.com, or visit our website www.alamodanvillenewcomers.com. AM

The Magic of Timothy James Come to the Children’s Reading Room at the Danville Library on Tuesday, August 7th at 4PM for clean comedy, friendly audience participation, and astonishing sleight of hand as bowling balls appear from nowhere, drawings come to life, and audience members predict the future. Timothy James will tickle you with his humor as he presents a wonderfully entertaining program sponsored by the Friends of the Danville Library.

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Page 4 - August 2012 ~ Alamo Today

Veterans of Foreign Wars

Discover Danville Association presents Street closure event in Downtown Danville

Hartz & Prospect Avenues

~ Family-fun booths hosted by local businesses & community groups ~ Entertainment & demonstrations ~Bistro dining in the street ~ Kids Zone with bounce house, Museum of San Ramon Valley train face painting, balloons & much more! Live music featuring Alma Desnuda

9th Annual

Sentinels of Freedom Dinner and Golf Gala

Media sponsors:

ARTISTS :INE TASTING LIVE MUSIC COMMEMORATIVE WINE GLASS 75OLLEY RIDES

$25

Thursday, August 23 6:00pm - 9:00pm DOWNTOWN DANVILLE Danville LIVERY ROSE GARDEN SHOPS TROLLEY RIDES BETWEEN ALL LOCATIONS

Tickets available at these locations: Consignit Couture - 278 Hartz Ave. The Nest - 806 Sycamore Valley Road W. The Studio - 730 Camino Ramon, Suite 200 & online at www.discoverdanvilleca.com

Heartland Danville

Antiques& Art Faire

Live Music Unique Boutiques Great Food

Monday, Sept. 3, 2012 9am-3pm downtown Danville along Railroad Ave. & Prospect Ave.

iscover the timeless treasures offered by 80 antiques merchants, vintage vendors and folk artists while you stroll thru historic Downtown Danville.

Informal Antiques Appraisals at the Museum of the San Ramon Valley, 10am-2pm for $10/item donation

Discover Danville Association is a 501c(6) Nonprofit Business and Community Benefit California Corporation EIN: 20-2846642 www.DiscoverDanvilleCA.com

Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW), Post 75, San Ramon Valley meets every third Wednesday of the month at the Veterans Memorial Building located at 400 Hartz Avenue in Danville, located on the corner at East Prospect Avenue and Hartz Avenue. The next meeting will be held on August 15th. Doors open at 7PM, and the meeting begins at 7:30PM. For more information, contact Post Commander Nathan Greene at (925) 875-1747. Mail to: VFW Post 75 San Ramon Valley, P.O. Box 1092, Danville, CA 94526. Find out more about the VFW and our Post on the internet at www.vfwpost75.org.

www.ShopDanvilleFirst.com

Diablo County Club welcomes Sentinels of Freedom on Sunday, September 16th and Monday, September 17th for their 5th annual dinner and golf tournament benefiting the Sentinels of Freedom Scholarship Fund. Supporters may choose from a range of options including Sunday’s dinner/auction only for non-golfers, Monday’s golf tournament with lunch only, and various donation levels for individuals and groups attending both functions. Sentinels of Freedom provides life-changing opportunities for men and women of the US Armed Forces who have suffered severe injuries and need the support of grateful communities to realize their dreams and goals. Sunday’s festivities begin with cocktails at 4pm and continue with dinner and auction. Speaker Col. Danny McKnight, whose combat duty included the 1993 incident in Somalia that was the basis for the book and movie “Blackhawk Down,”has recently released his own book: Streets of Mogadishu. McKnight says of his work: “Understand this, I am quite possibly the most ‘politically incorrect’ person in America … the book projects this through my honesty, truthfulness, opinions, and beliefs.” Each dinner guest will receive a copy of the book and the opportunity to have it signed. Golf on Monday starts with registration at 9am followed by a shotgun start at 11am. For more information and registration, visit www.sentinelsoffreedom.org or contact Carla Goulart by phone at 925-380-6342 ext. 2 or email carlagoulart@ sentinelsoffreedom.com.

Cyclists Will Ride for Veterans Serious cyclists and recreational riders are invited to help severely wounded veterans by joining V3, the first Veterans Victory Velo set for Saturday, September 22nd in San Ramon. Riders can choose routes from 15 to 100 miles to raise funds for the Sentinels of Freedom Scholarship Foundation which helps wounded veterans regain their self-sufficiency and independence. Registration begins at 6AM on ride day in the parking lot of the Foundation, 2678 Bishop Drive in San Ramon. Riders can choose from four routes, from the novice to the experienced: • 100-mile Century Ride begins at 7AM • 60-mile ride begins at 9AM • 30-mile ride begins at 10AM • 15-mile Family Fun Ride begins at 11AM. The Family Ride will take cyclists up and down San Ramon Valley Blvd., while the 100-mile Century Ride takes riders to the ranger station on Mt. Diablo, around Morgan Territory, into Livermore, and back to the Foundation headquarters. There will also be live music, a barbecue, and other fun events scheduled between 1 and 3PM on the day of the ride. In addition, a custom bike jersey is available to commemorate this ride. The Club Cut bike jersey, $65, is a little longer and looser than a Race Cut jersey. For information on the race, to order a jersey, or to register, go to the race website at www.veteransvictoryvelo.com.

San Ramon Valley Genealogical Society The San Ramon Valley Genealogical Society meets at 10AM the third Tuesday of every month, except August and December, at the Danville Family History Center, 2949 Stone Valley Road, Alamo. There will be a speaker at every meeting. Everyone is welcome. For information, call Ed at (925) 299-0881, visit www.srvgensoc.org, or email SRVGS@SRVGenSoc.org.

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. The 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.

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Alamo Today ~ August 2012 - Page 5

Alamo ~ This fabulous 1 level home is situated in a gorgeous parklike setting on a Flat 23.040 Sq. ft. lot with inviting pool, spa and separate sauna. Hardwood flooring. Well maintained home with granite kitchen and huge master suite. Well water for landscaping.

Stephanie Stadtler 800.997.8985

Todd Carter 925.914.5844

WHITE GATE ~ REDUCED! Gorgeous, Custom remodeled single story on cul-de-sac backing to open space. This 4 bdrm, 4 bath home has over 3500 sq ft. plus 3 car garage. Large gourmet kitchen with huge center island plus separate eating area all open to family room. Hardwood Floors, crown moulding, custom paint. Master suite includes his & her walk-in closets large master bath w/steam shower & therapeutic whirlpool tub. Wonderful backyard with large pool & spa. Virtual Tour @ gretchenbryce.com $1,349,000.00 Gretchen Bryce

925.683.2477 gretchenbryce@msn.com

Pleasanton ~ 14 Acre Parcel, Build your ESTATEâ&#x20AC;Ś Vineyards, Horses, Orchards, create your own private FIELD of DREAMS! This level parcel has an approved building site with ANCIENT OAKS, a meandering stream, and backs to East Bay Regional Park. Located off Foothill Blvd. and close to Stone Ridge Mall. Completely secluded & PRISTINE. $1,195,000 Jay Weymouth 925.915.1100 ~www.TeamWeymouth.com

West Side Alamo ~ Craftsman style/ Pottery barn cute in Alamo! 5bdrm, 2bath, beautifully remodeled on .48 acre lot w/a pool! New gourmet kit w/SS appliances, 6 burner decor cook top, dbl oven, granite counters, custom cabinetry, island perfect for entertaining! 3/4â&#x20AC;? walnut hand scraped hrdwd flooring. Customer paint, solid core drs. Formal lvng & dining rm, 2 fireplcs, updated fmly bath & master baths. Walking distance to downtown Alamo, Iron Horse Trail. $1,199,000 Russ Darby 925.362.0460

Tim Palumbo 925.314.7915

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Page 6 - August 2012 ~ Alamo Today

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

CELEBRATION SALON ! ~Summer Specials~ Shellac Nails Combo - $45 Men’s Haircut - $25 Women’s Haircut - $45 Root Touch Up - $50 Partial HiLights - $70 Full HiLights - $95 Blow Dry - $25 Roller Sets - $35 (Sundays Only)

Rhea Bianco, Stylist/Owner KaralineTurbes, Stylist Norma D. Watson, Stylist

• Vanessa Tallman, Stylist • Natasha Jimenez, Stylist • Crystal Nunez, Stylist

WE NOW CARRY

Open 7 days a week

925-314-1760 3195 Danville Blvd, Alamo Courtyard Hair2dye4@gmail.com • www.Hair2Dye4.me

Upcoming Meetings and Events AIA - Alamo Improvement Association - August 21st , 7pm - Creekside Community Church -1350 Danville Blvd. Alamo MAC (Municipal Advisory Committee) - First Tuesday of each month 6pm - Alamo Chamber of Commerce Office 120-B, Alamo Plaza P2B - Police Services Advisory Committee - First Monday of each month, 5pm - Meets at Alamo Chamber of Commerce Office located at 120 -B, Alamo Plaza P5 - Round Hill Police Services Advisory Committee - Second Wednesday of each month, 7pm - Meets at Round Hill Country Club - Lower Level Meeting Room CERT classes - Community Emergency Response Team - Visit www. firedepartment.org/community_outreach/cert/upcoming_classes.asp

Women of Alamo, mark your calendars for September 26th at noon. On that afternoon at the Alamo Women’s club, you won’t want to miss our dynamic speaker, Lorrie Sullenberger. Three and a half years ago, the nation was stunned by the “Miracle on the Hudson” when Lorrie’s husband Sully landed US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River after the plane was disabled after striking a flock of geese. Lorrie will share with us the incredible change to the lives of her family in the wake of that event, including how media descended upon Danville. She returns to talk to us as Sully’s second book, Making a Difference: Stories of Vision and Courage from America’s Leaders, debuts. This is a prospective member luncheon, so if you are interested in knowing what we do, the excursions that we take, and the philanthropies that we serve, come for lunch and see firsthand. For reservations email Nancy Howsmon at njhowsmon@sbcglobal.net. For members the luncheon is $25, and non-members $30. On October 24th we present Jeanne Woodford. Beginning her career as a California correctional officer at San Quentin, Jeanne Woodford was appointed warden at San Quentin in 1999, where she was responsible for 5,800 prisoners, 1,500 staff, and a budget of $110 million. She developed programs for prisoners while warden including The Success Dorm, the first reentry program in a California prison. In 2004, she was appointed by then Governor Schwarznegger as the Undersecretary of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR). She is currently a Senior Fellow at the Berkeley Center for Criminal Justice, teaches at Stanford and Hastings Law School, and is Executive Director of Death Penalty Focus. For more information on the Club, membership, and upcoming programs, please visit www.alamowomensclub.org.

Alamo Police Services District P-2, Zone B Deputy Mike Carson, Alamo Resident Deputy, activities for June 2012

Deputy Carson Completed: 8 Moving citations • 1 Non-moving citation • 2 Field interview cards • 7 Reports

Deputy Carson Responded to or Conducted 2 Alarm calls • 8 Patrol requests/security checks • 2 Suspicious vehicles • 1 Suspicious subject • 5 Found properties • 3 Suspicious circumstances • 1 Civil issue • 5 Service to citizens • 1 Disturbance • 2 Vandalism • 1 Lost property • 1 Drunk in public • 1 Outside assist • 1 Possession of drugs • 2 Grand thefts • 5 Petty thefts • 1 Battery • 5 Burglaries • 6 Identity thefts

If I Were a Thief Program (Crime awareness and prevention) 334 Streets covered • 113 Flyers distributed • 262 Vehicles in the Plaza flagged

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

Hillary Darst is our winner To place an ad, share a story, or for more information about our papers, call 925.405.6397 or visit our website www.yourmonthlypaper.com

Reported Incidents 1) South Ave - Residential Burglary - Deputy Carson responded to a reported residential burglary. The victim reported that she had left her garage door open during the day. A bicycle was stolen from the garage. There are no known suspects or independent witnesses. 2) Heritage Oaks Ct - Residential Burglary - Deputy Carson responded to a reported residential burglary. Unknown suspects entered the victim’s garage during the night. There were no signs of forced entry, and it is unknown how entry was made into the garage. Speakers were stolen from the garage. There are no known suspects or independent witnesses. 3) Danville Blvd - Miscellaneous Burglary - Deputy Carson responded to a reported miscellaneous burglary. Unknown suspects entered the property, which is surrounded by a stucco wall and gates. Items were stolen from inside a detached garage. It is believed the suspects used the Iron Horse Trail to access the property and remove the items. There are no known suspects or independent witnesses. Deputy Mike Carson is Alamo’s full time resident deputy. His position is funded by Alamo’s P-2B police services district, which includes approximately 60% of Alamo household. District households pay an $18 annual parcel tax plus a portion of the 1% property tax. The Alamo Police Services Advisory Committee advises Sheriff David Livingston on the resident deputy and his services. The Committee is composed of Alamo residents within the district and it meets on the first Monday of each month at 5pm in the offices of the Alamo Chamber of Commerce, located at 120B Alamo Plaza. Alamo citizens are welcome to attend the meetings.

editor@yourmonthlypaper.com

Mow No More By Cynthia Ruzzi, President Sustainable Danville Area My family has always been grateful for the ‘dog day afternoons’ of August sure to be filled with hot, sunny skies. It’s time to leave lawn chores behind and head to the beach. For years, we made sure to lighten our burden by following prudent grass growing techniques to make our escape easier and less guilt ridden. Long ago we stopped using synthetic fertilizers because they are a threat to the Bay as they wash down storm drains. Of the 30 commonly used lawn pesticides, 24 are toxic to fish and other aquatic organisms vital to our ecosystem. Others are toxic to birds, bees, and humans. See http://beyondpesticides.org/lawn/factsheets/30health.pdf for more information. Additionally, these chemicals are formulated to stimulate a lot of quick grass growth which demands more water and even more mowing! Using organic products and grass clippings that work with the soil and feed the lawn slowly over the season makes for less work. Every spring until after Labor Day, we’d set our lawnmower blade higher to leave our grass at least three inches long after each ‘haircut.’The taller grass shaded the surface of the soil preventing crabgrass and other weed seeds from taking root, helped conserve water, and encouraged deep-root growth to allow our lawn to become more drought-tolerant. When my son shared with us EPA statistics learned in his AP Environmental Science class about gas powered lawnmowers representing 5% of the US air pollution before 1997, we had our excuse to look for alternatives. Unregulated for emissions until the late 1990’s, gas powered garden equipment still emits high levels of carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, and nitrogen oxide – in other words pollution in your backyard. In fact, the EPA states that a new gas powered lawn mower produces enough air pollution in one hour as 11 new cars each being driven for one hour (www.epa.gov/air/community/details/yardequip_addl_info.html). The solution to our pollution producing lawnmower seemed apparent after a trip to the local hardware store where my husband ‘oohed’over the latest ‘push’mowers that definitely are not your father’s lawnmower. Touting high-grade plastics, lightweight metals, precision blades that rarely need sharpening and the promise of cutting the grass cleanly and evenly, we were almost ready to buy and then, the water emergency of 2009 hit us. EBMUD penalized any resident that didn’t cut their water usage by 20%. Given that we were already using an on-demand water heater, a high efficiency washer and dryer, and a foot peddle that controls the water faucet at the kitchen sink to turn off the water when not needed, it was up to our lawn to give up ‘its drink.’ This only made sense since more than 30% of all urban fresh water is used for watering the yard. Imagine how much is wasted because of inappropriate timing, dosage, or misdirected sprinklers. I went outside and explained the situation to the grass and plants, “Look guys it’s been lovely, but you either flourish on once a week watering or be composted,” I said. More than half the garden made it, including my favorite 32 year old rose bush. However, I needed replacement for the other half of my plants and my beautiful Californian lawn. Luckily I came across an EBMUD program to convert my garden grass to a native plant landscape. The EBMUD rebate program (extended to December 31, 2012) provides up to $500 dollars to help transform your lawn into water permeable and drought-resistant landscape. Converting our front and back lawns through the EBMUD program was very simple. The first step is to measure the lawn area you want to convert and then complete the application form found online at https://www.ebmud.com/for-customers/ water-conservation-rebates-and-services/watersmart-residential-lawn-conversion. The best time to start the physical work of the project is mid-to-late September since new plants will benefit from the approaching winter dormancy and rains. However,August is the perfect time to start the design process by familiarizing yourself with drought tolerant plants that will thrive in your microclimate. A wonderful resource is EBMUD publication Plant and Landscapes for Summer-Dry Climates of the San Francisco Bay Region. EBMUD also has a resource list of Bay Area nurseries, demonstration gardens, classes, and books where you can learn about and view native plants. As part of the lawn conversion program, an EBMUD representative will meet with you both pre and post-conversion. The representative shared great resources and explained that using the process of sheet mulching would spare us the hard work of tearing out the lawn. Sheet mulching is a layered mulching system that suppresses weeds, and in the case of a lawn conversion, grass. This process also made it possible to plant over 60 small plants in the front yard in one afternoon – alone. If you’re interested in learning more, read the Death of My Lawnmower: One Homeowners’Journey to Replacing Our Lawn, by visiting https://sustainabledanville. wordpress.com/save-water-and-energy-with-a-lawn-conversion/. If you’re not quite ready for mow-free weekends, then consider this watering guide for water smart tips for landscape www.ebmud.com/sites/default/files/pdfs/WateringGuide_0.pdf. Remember to visit us at www.sustainabledanville.com and on Facebook for more tips, information, and upcoming events.

Alamo Today ~ August 2012 - Page 7

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Page 8 - August 2012 ~ Alamo Today

Alamo Elementary School By Stan Hitomi, Principal Around the San Ramon Valley there has been a lot of talk about 21st Century Classrooms. It can be argued that up until now classrooms in the U.S. have not changed significantly in over 200 years. Students are still sitting in neat rows of desks, with books, paper, and pencil as their primary learning tools. For the past four years, schools in the Valley have been exploring new technologies and strategies. Students returning to Alamo School (AS) will find themselves in classrooms that reflect some of the most significant changes that have taken place since the original AS opened in 1876. The standard for every classroom at AS will now include a laptop and iPad for every teacher, document camera, ceiling-mounted LCD projector, sound enrichment system, and a class set of student response clickers (except kindergarten). In the fall, all of our 5th graders will be issued an iPad along with their traditional textbooks. The school will also have two sets of computers on wheels and a set of iPads to be shared by grades K-4 on a sign-out basis. The school computer lab has also been upgraded with both new hardware and software. Below is some information about each technology and why we are so excited about how they will help our students and their learning.

Laptops, iPads, LCD Projectors, Sound Enrichment, and Clickers The laptop computer is the workhorse of 21st Century Classrooms. Using a laptop, teachers are able to communicate with families via E-mail or websites, produce class newsletters, take attendance, enter report cards, and monitor student progress. In addition, teachers can take pictures and videos, videoconference, and design classroom lessons. The iPad is already taking over many of the functions of the laptop. Its “instanton” capability cannot be understated. The iPad can perform all of the functions listed above for the laptop and more. Every day there seems to be a new app (or dozens of new apps) for use in general instruction as well as enrichment and intervention. Teachers always look for new ways to help students understand what they are learning. The use of LCD projectors in classrooms has proven to support that goal. Many students are visual learners who greatly benefit by seeing graphics and demonstrations that are incorporated into class lessons and presented via an LCD

projector. Presentations projected onto a large screen help bring the teaching material to life for students, and they make the information more interesting and engaging. Any object that can fit under the camera can be projected onto a screen via an LCD projector. Teachers and students can bring in recent and relevant magazine or newspaper articles to share with the rest of the class without any special preparation. Document cameras allow the use of 3D objects in instruction, such as cones and cylinders for a geometry lesson. The camera can zoom in to show details during a demonstration or dissection. Imagine a classroom where every student has a front row seat! The RedCat Sound enrichment system achieves that goal. The system allows sound to “ripple out” transmitting the teacher’s natural voice equally to every student, no matter where they are sitting in the room. The student microphone can be used for presentations and Q&A activities. Clickers are a powerful teaching and learning tool in that they give both students and teachers a “real-time” assessment of student understanding. When used in the classroom, students respond to a question or statement anonymously and the results are tabulated immediately on the classroom screen. Students can see how their responses compare with the rest of the class. Teachers are able to assess the level of understanding of the class, as well as individual students. The key is immediate and individualized feedback. We understand that just stuffing classrooms with gadgets isn’t going to result in real 21st century learning. Teacher training will be one of the most important components of this transformation. Over the summer all of our teachers will be attending the iPower Summer Institute sponsored by the district. This year the coveted “front row” will be available to every student at Alamo School. With the help of technology every student will be able to see and hear as well from any seat in the classroom. Technology will enable our shy students to become “digital extroverts,” able to share their thoughts and ideas. All of this has been made possible through the generosity of our AS EdFund that has been hard at work raising the funds to support our efforts.

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The Alamo community is invited to attend AS’s first Day on the Green on Sunday, August 26th from 10-2pm. Children will have an opportunity to meet a beekeeper, have a bike/ helmet safety check and participate in several crafts.Ahosted lunch will be provided. The AS Chorus will be performing prior to a ceremony at 12:30pm that will showcase Phase I of the Alamo Teaching Garden. The kids will be the first to place a plant in the new redwood planter boxes. The majority of the funding for the garden came from the Alliance for a Healthier Generation grant proposal submitted by Sharon Dodson.

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Alamo Today ~ August 2012 - Page 9

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Stone Valley Middle School By Shaun K. McElroy, Principal Welcome New Presidents Janet Nunan and Gary Zilk have taken over the reins of the PTA and Ed Funds respectively for the 2012-13 school year. Janet and Gary have wasted no time in getting started. If you’d like to get involved, please contact Janet at janetnunan@aol.com or Gary at gary@zebedo.com.

Back to School Time School starts August 28th. The best preparation for the new school year for all students is to incorporate learning skills into part of each day. I suggest that you enlist your children in the learning process by having them create a personal calendar that includes the following components: reading, math, writing, and exercise. Post the calendar where parents can see and monitor progress. The anxiety that typically precedes the start of every new school year will be significantly diminished when students feel confident in their skills. Summer school work provides the necessary backdrop for skill development and retention. There are several suggestions for summer activities on the Stone Valley homepage – www.stonevalley.schoolloop.com. In addition to the academic preparation, sleep patterns should gradually move toward the school hours to avoid alarm clock shock in late August.

New Classes Music in Exploratory Wheel – The 6th grade exploratory wheel is composed of four spokes - technology, music, home economics, and health. We are trying to build our music program by offering 6th graders three opportunities to take a music class via the wheel, chorus, and cadet band. Contact Ben Loomer, bloomer@srvusd.net for more information. AVID – Advancement Via Individual Determination - Elective class for 7th and 8th graders. AVID takes the place of an elective and is based on a national curriculum designed for better preparing students to be on track for college -

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www.avid.org. For questions, contact Devrah Lawver - dlawver@srvusd.net. Leadership/Philanthropy – Our leadership class will become the collecting point for all campus driven philanthropy efforts - local, regional, and abroad. The students will work cooperatively with the local charity Pledge to Humanity - www.pledgetohumanity.org, and the Environmental Marine Science class. The contact person is Monique Metzcus - mmetzcus@srvusd.net.

Registration and Important Dates We have made a few changes for the fall that consist of three easy steps: 1. Pick up your student’s pre-registration materials at the Stone Valley office starting Monday, August 13th between 8am – 4pm. 2. Go online any time starting August 13th to complete all other registration materials and print at home. 3. Bring printed materials to the Stone Valley gym to finish the registration process on August 20th (3pm-6pm) or August 21st (10am-1pm).

Volunteers Needed! The more volunteers we have, the shorter wait times will be, so please volunteer to help out this year at registration. This is a great opportunity for new parents to meet other Stone Valley parents and for friends to reconnect after the summer. We need volunteers for both Monday, August 20th and Tuesday, August 21st. Go to http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E084BAEAE2DA64registration to sign up now. If you can’t volunteer for the whole time-slot, just indicate on the site when you would be available. If you have questions about registration, please contact Nina Fishman at fourfishies@sbcglobal.net or Shelby Fautt at sfautt@fautthomes.com. If you have questions about volunteering during registration, please contact Nicole Shay at nicholeshay@live.com.

More Important Dates to Remember • Friday, August 24th - WEB Day (Where Everybody Belongs) orientation for all new students. Contact Wendy Nacamu wnacamu@srvusd.net or Eric Rasch erasch@srvusd.net. • Tuesday, August 28th – School Begins – 12:10PM dismissal • Thursday, September 6th – Back To School Night

Page 10 - August 2012 ~ Alamo Today

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San Ramon Valley High School

Monte Vista High School

By Ruth Steele, Principal Dear Community Members,

By Janet Terranova, Principal

It is my pleasure to be able to write this article to introduce myself as the new Principal of San Ramon Valley High School. I am fortunate to be inheriting SRVHS from Principal Joe Ianora who has built an impressive legacy during his eight years at the Home of Champions. I have spent the last six years working in the Acalanes Union High School District which serves Lafayette, Moraga, Orinda and Walnut Creek, but prior to that my journey to San Ramon spanned continents rather than grade levels... I was born in Reading, England, in 1974. It’s a town of about 140,000 which was originally settled in 871 AD and became a town around 1086 about 20 years after the Norman Invasion of 1066! I am actually writing this article while sitting in the house that I grew up in as I am home this summer spending time with family and friends. Reading is about forty miles west of London, so my husband and I have been visiting museums, galleries, and castles and brushing up on our history. This has been quite a year for England. The Queens’ Diamond Jubilee celebrations marked her 60th year on the throne, and the Olympics are in London this summer. The Olympic Torch was carried through my hometown on July 14th, and we were lucky enough to witness that historic moment. My son was also there, but he is almost three and was much more interested in the fire-trucks that were there in case of an emergency! I haven’t been home for several years, and a lot has happened since I moved to the USA in 2001, so this summer has really given me an opportunity to reflect on the journey that brought me to this point in my career. I had originally gone to University in Birmingham, England to study Applied Biology and had been working in the field of Pharmaceutical research when I realized that was not how I wanted to spend my time. I worked for Pfizer Pharmaceuticals for a year and then enrolled in a teacher credential program in Warwick, England. The following year I started working in Coventry, England as a biology, science, and art teacher. High School in England encompasses 7th-13th grade, and you teach all grade levels within your subject area. It was a challenge, but I loved it, especially as I was also able to teach within the Art Department. However, I was looking for a change, and in 2001, after waiting several months for my visa, I began working at John Swett High School in Crockett, California. Getting a visa to come here and work was a challenge, but it was worth every minute. I spent five years teaching biology at John Swett High School, and during that time, I completed my Administrative Credential and Masters Degree at Sonoma State. I began my Administrative career at Miramonte High School and spent the last four years as an Associate Principal at Las Lomas High School in Walnut Creek. That’s the short version of my story so far, and my appointment to the San Ramon Valley High School Principalship marks the beginning of the next chapter. What I have realized over the last few weeks in England is that as far as you may move from your home, your closest ties are always with the community in which you are raised. The memories from childhood, family and the school years are the experiences that define us as we become adults, and it is absolutely critical that those experiences are positive. I know that the San Ramon Valley community is proud, involved, and committed to the success of the young people that come through our schools, and I consider myself extremely fortunate to have been appointed to serve at SRVHS as Principal. I am looking forward to working with students, staff, parents, and community members to maintain the traditions of excellence already established at SRVHS whilst continuing to move the school forward. School will start before we know it. Go Wolves!

We bid goodbye to the Senior Class of 2012. What an incredible class! As a class they redefined spirit on our campus. At every event from drama to sports to music to club activities, this senior class left their mark. They were role models for student involvement, cheering their classmates on at student activities and being involved in clubs. They excelled academically and this fall we will find them starting the next phase of their life. Most of our students will continue their education, but some have opted to work, join the military or take a “bridge” year. Some will travel far away to attend school, but most will stay close to home with the majority of our students attending UC, CSU, or a number of community colleges on the west coast. Welcome to the class of 2016! We are so excited to have you begin your high school experience as a Mustang. High school is an amazing adventure with so many opportunities to learn and grow. As a beginning high school student, I urge you to work hard and do your best in all your classes. It is important that you and your family choose the best academic path to prepare you for your future. Academics should always come first, but becoming involved in your school and community are part of being a well-rounded high school student. Summer is a great time to rest and rejuvenate. Whether you have students in school or not, summer means a time to relax a little, enjoy that after dinner ice cream cone, stay up a little later, take a dip in the ocean or pool, and enjoy BBQ feasts. Please take the time to enjoy your family and friends. Registration Packet Pick-up: August 15 • 3 – 7PM ~ Drama Room August 16 • 12 – 2PM ~ Drama Room Registration: August 21 • 12 – 6PM ~ Gym August 22 • 12 – 6PM ~ Gym Freshmen Orientation: August 23 • 10 – 1PM ~ Gym Freshmen Dance: August 23 • 7:30 – 9:30PM ~ Gym First Day of School: August 28 • Minimum Day For more information about Monte Vista and our activities, please visit our website at mvhigh.org.

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Dates to Remember Monday, 8/13 - Packet Pick up - 9-3PM Tuesday, 8/14 - Packet Pick up 1-7PM Wednesday, 8/15 - Wolf Pack Day 1PM-7PM Commons Tuesday, 8/21 - Wolf Pack Day 1PM-7PM in the Commons Friday, 8/24 - Freshmen Orientation 9:30 - 2:10PM Main GYM Tuesday, 8/28 - First Day of School (Minimum Day)

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Alamo Today ~ August 2012 - Page 11

Please Help Nominate the Alamo 2012 Citizen of the Year Please provide the following information about the nominee: Nominee’s name: ___________________________________ Address: __________________________________________ Telephone: ________________________________________

The Rotary Club of Alamo is in the process of selectingitsCitizenoftheYearfor2012.Thisaward willbepresentedattheAlamoMusicFestivalon September8thandthisyearmarksthe28thyearthat thisawardhasbeengiven.Thenomineemustbea personwhoin2011-2012(andprobably,butnot necessarily,overmanyrecentyears)hasdemonstrated auniquecommitmenttotheAlamocommunity(and thecommunityatlarge)thatplaceshim/herina specialplacedeservingthissingularrecognition.The nomineemustrepresentyourviewoftheverybestof citizenship,service,andintegrity.Allmembersofthe Alamocommunityareencouragedtonominatethat person who best meets this criteria. Wehopethatyouwillsubmitanominationfor thisyear.Pleasereturntheattachedformnolater than August 19th to: Don Morton Chairman, Alamo Citizen of the Year Committee 3124 Via Larga, Alamo, Ca 94507 (925) 838-1137 or fax (925) 838-9930 Email: dmorton12@yahoo.com

Following are detailed factors / data which justify the nomination:

(Attach biographical information about the nominee if available and other sheets as needed) Your name / organization name: _____________________________ Address: ________________________________ Telephone: ______________________________ Alamo has hundreds of dedicated citizens who give countless hours to our benefit. Past recipients have been: 2009: Elmer Glasser 2010: Vicki Koc 2011: Roger Smith 2006: Don Morton 2007: Chris Suter 2008: Alisa Corstorphine 2003: Rick James 2004: Greg Schuyler 2005: Mike Gibson 2000: John Henderson 2001: Diane Barley 2002: Claudia Waldron 1997: Joan Benbow 1998: Karen McPherson 1999: Richard Delfosse 1994: Mark Kahn 1995: Bruce Marhenke 1996: Russ Hagerstrand 1991: Wanda Lognecker 1992: Claudia Mauzy Nemir 1993: Virgie Jones 1988: Andrew Young 1989: Joan Buchanan 1990: Bob Myhre 1985: Dr. Russ Miller 1986: “Dr. Don” Rose 1987: Brian Thiessen

Electric Railroads in Contra Costa County Gone but Not Forgotten By Beverly Lane Just a century ago Contra Costans began to use a new and exciting mode of transportation, the electric railroad. These railroads provided fast trips for people and freight and served as a transition between steam railroads and motor vehicles. In 1913, Central County welcomed the Oakland, Antioch & Eastern Railway when it opened electric service from Oakland to Sacramento for 85 miles. Beginning at the Oakland pier, it traveled through the Redwood Peak Tunnel with stops at Moraga, Walnut Creek, and Concord (among others) and branches to Danville, Pittsburg, and Walwood. The trains used a ferry and drawbridge to reach Solano County and a two-mile trestle over the Yolo Basin to connect with the Northern Electric Railway at the capitol. Richmond’s East Shore & Suburban Railway began in 1904 and was absorbed into the East Bay’s Key System in 1922. Two branches went to Point Richmond and Alvarado Park. During World War II, the Richmond Shipyard (electric) Railway delivered workers from all over the East Bay to Kaiser's shipyards from 1942 to 1945.

Special Electric Trains Served the County Soon after it opened, OA&E Railway passengers came to Mount Diablo via the Danville Branch for day-long excursions, promoted by Robert N. Burgess who was constructing a snazzy new country club at the southern base of the mountain. Locals called these promotional trains “Millionaires’ Specials.” Visitors came to see the mountain and hear about the new Mount Diablo Park Club which opened in 1916 with a club house, lake, tennis courts, and golf course.

Danville Branch Train was Nicknamed the Toonerville Trolley For several years, trains called “The Produce Cannonballs” brought fresh vegetables, fruit, and nuts to the Oakland Produce Market from the county’s farms, arriving at 4AM in the summer season. During the Pan-Pacific International Exposition of 1915, which celebrated the Panama Canal’s opening, special OA&E electric trains brought visitors to the Oakland pier for the ferry ride across the Bay to San Francisco. Contra Costa Day was April 3, 1915.

The Sacramento Northern In 1929 two rail companies (the successor to OA&E was one) merged to become the Sacramento Northern Railroad. At its peak in the 1930s, the Sacramento Northern became the longest electric interurban railway in the country, providing main line service from Oakland to Chico for 177 miles.

Trains Traveled East and West For trips beyond Oakland to San Francisco, electric riders from Contra Costa took the ferry at the Key System’s Oakland pier from 1913-1939. Trains went directly to San Francisco when the lower deck of the new San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge opened to rail service in 1939. Trains traveled east crossed Suisun Bay on a ferry from today’s Bay Point through Chipp’s Island, then over a bridge to Solano County. The ferry Ramon provided service from 1915 to 1954 and was the only interurban railway ferry in the entire United States. Eventually versatile new automobiles and trucking services rendered electric railroads obsolete. Sacramento Northern passenger service ended in 1941 and freight service phased out beginning in 1957. Today the Bay Area Rapid Transit system (BART) and the Lafayette-Moraga Regional Trail travel on part of the Sacramento Northern’s original right of way. Electric trains live on as BART trains link communities throughout Contra Costa County and beyond. They are gone, but not forgotten. Sources: Harre W. Demoro, Irma M. Dotson, Garth G. Groff, Ira L. Swett.

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Page 12 - August 2012 ~ Alamo Today

Contra Costa County Supervisor, District 2 My New Role as County Supervisor By Candace Andersen On the evening of Monday, June 25, 2012, I received a phone call from Governor Jerry Brown’s office informing me that the next morning I would be appointed to the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors. I had won the seat in the June 5th election but my term did not officially begin until January 2013. With the passing of my friend and colleague, former Supervisor Gayle Uilkema in May, the seat now sat vacant. The Governor had the discretion to appoint someone to fill the remainder of her term. Receiving the news that I would soon become Supervisor was an exciting but bittersweet moment. I had truly enjoyed my tenure on the Danville Town Council for the previous nine years. I was halfway through my second term as Mayor, and I knew I would miss my association with my fellow Council members Newell Arnerich, Mike Doyle, Karen Stepper, and Robert Storer, along with the Town Staff which does an excellent job of maintaining Danville's small town atmosphere and outstanding quality of life. Nevertheless, I was looking forward to the challenges and opportunity to serve our County of close to one million residents. I’m often asked what a County Supervisor does. Being a County Supervisor is much like being on a City Council for the entire County. For those who live in unincorporated areas such as Alamo, Canyon, and Saranap, the Supervisor is their elected representative. The Board has five elected supervisors from specific districts. I preside over District 2 which covers the communities of Orinda, Moraga, Canyon, Lafayette, Rossmoor, Parkmead, Saranap, and additional parts of Walnut Creek, Alamo, Danville, and San Ramon. Supervisors make land use decisions for unincorporated areas. They set policies and allocate funds for many different services provided to all of the County including law enforcement, fire protection, jails, libraries, health services, social services, transportation, and transit. County Supervisors can be very helpful to our cities. They sit on boards with City Council members and advocate on behalf of the cities. They also appoint most County department heads, provide compensation for County officials and employees, award contracts for public works, and adopt an annual budget of approximately $1.2 billion. There are close to 8,000 employees. Supervisor Uilkema had three offices to cover the district, and we are consolidating down to two. Over the Our payout rates are: past month we have been transitioning the main office from Martinez to Danville, utilizing the same space that has been used by previous supervisors at 309 Diablo Road, near Danville's big Oak Tree. Starting in August, the Danville office will be open daily from 8AM-5PM. We are also keeping the Lamorinda Office in the Fire District Headquarters located at 3338 Mt. Diablo Blvd, Payout rates include interest and return of principle, effective as of 07/23/2012 Lafayette. That office will be open Mondays from 10AMBased on life-only annuity income, male annuitant with $100,000 premium. Payout amounts for female applicants, who 2PM and Thursdays 11AM-4PM, and by appointment. have longer life expectancies, are lower. In the states of MA and MT, payout amounts do not differentiate male and female life expectancies. Payouts are subject to change and will vary dependent upon age, gender, payout option and I am fortunate to have a dedicated staff helping serve premium amount, and interest in effect at time of policy issue. Oregon policy number is 211-P100. the needs of the communities in District 2. Four of the five served under Supervisor Uilkema. Chief of Staff Why New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation? Steve Dexter, steve.dexter@bos.cccounty.us, oversees Highest ratings for ﬁnancial strength currently awarded the office and is the liaison to Orinda. He also served to any life insurer by all four major rating agencies.1 as Supervisor Uilkema's Chief of Staff. Deputy Chief of Staff Gayle Israel, gayle.israel@bos.cccounty.us, is I can tell you how the New York Life Guaranteed Lifetime new to the office. She is the liaison to San Ramon, and Income Annuity2 can offer guaranteed income for life. oversees communications and transportation issues. Field Representative Jill Ray, jill.ray@bos.cccounty.us, Julius "Joel" M. Magbitang, CFP CA Insurance License # 0D35676 New York Life Insurance Company oversees planning and zoning issues, and is also the liaiDanville Boulevard, Suite L Agent 3000 son to Moraga and Canyon. Field Representative Lauri Alamo, CA 94507 925-552-7152 www.MagbitangFinancialGroup.com Byers, lauri.byers@bos.cccounty.us, handles scheduljmmagbitang@ft.newyorklife.com ing and is the liaison to Lafayette. Field Representative Donna Maxwell, donna.maxwell@bos.cccounty.us, S&P - AA+, Fitch - AAA, Moody’s - Aaa, A.M. Best - A++, as of 1/25/12. Issued by New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation (NYLIAC) (a Delaware Corporation), a wholly owned subsidiary of New York works with Alamo, Danville, and Walnut Creek. Life Insurance Company. 51 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10010. Products available in jurisdictions where approved. Guarantees are based on the claims-paying ability of the issuer. As you have questions about the County, please don't hesitate to contact me. I’m elected to be your represenNew York Life Insurance Company tative and want to hear from you. I can be reached at New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation (A Delaware Corporation) 51 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10010 candace.andersen@bos.cccounty.us, or call my office www.newyorklife.com AR04664_03/12 | SMRU469181 (Exp. 02/17/14) at 925.957.8860.

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Alamo Today ~August 2012 - Page 13

Creating a Website for Your Company By Evan Corstorphine, Portable CIO In the past 15 years our awareness of the world has been dramatically influenced by the emergence of the worldwide web. The internet is a massive distributed database of every sort of information one could ever hope to learn. Most of it is good information, or at least it’s sincere, but some of it is junk. When you own a business, having a website is as important as listing a telephone number for your customers to call. At the minimum, it’s expected that you’re going to have a basic, informative website that gives others the ability to learn about you. If you’re trying to sell things over the internet, it’s expected that you will have up-to-date information, excellent pictures, and that this electronic storefront works flawlessly every time someone buys something. This is a whole new concept for a major part of our population, and it’s daunting to figure out where to start. If you want to build a website, my advice is to start simple. Before I get too far here, please realize this is an abbreviated 750 word essay on a rather involved process. So, if you’re going to start this journey, it would be a good idea to sit down with an expert and go over the process before you dive in. Website development isn’t difficult for the people who do it all the time. If you’re new to it, you’re going to need help. How much this costs is directly related to how much responsibility you are willing to take to do things yourself, and how well you choose the website developer who will ultimately transcribe your wishes into web code. Nobody works for free, and a good website requires plenty of thought and planning to work well. Good sites don’t occur by accident. If you do your homework and take responsibility for your website, you should end up with a result you really like at a cost that doesn’t bankrupt you. You’re going to want a nice fresh website, maybe with an e-commerce cart hooked into either PayPal’s or perhaps Amazon’s payment engine so you can sell your goods online. Both shopping carts are familiar to most people. For example, if you’re a flower shop you are going to want your website to be searchable, in that you want people to find you when they think ‘flowers online,’ or some such combination of terms regarding florists. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a discipline unto itself. You’re going to want whoever helps you to have at least a basic understanding of how SEO works, and how to create your website so it is found by the searchengine-web-crawlers and ranked onto the first page. The number one way to make your site attractive to the search engines is to have original content that is interesting and unique to the web. Content is king. All the little things like labeling your pictures (the ‘alt’ tags on them) make a big difference, because every word on your site is considered searchable content. The search engines are rating you on how useful your website is to the greater web community, and ranking you based on that finding. With websites, the hard part is not fonts, colors, or page design. The hard part is figuring out what to say. We’ve all seen great sites, and what makes them great is that they have interesting content (words and pictures) that inform us and help us make decisions. Your challenge is to figure out what to say. I like to “story-board” my ideas before we code them into a website. Use butcher paper or binder paper, and let each sheet represent a web page. On each sheet, place every picture, every word, every link and every graphic so that you can conceptualize how it will look. This approach will help you clarify what the site should look like, and it will save hundreds (thousands) of dollars in web developer time, preventing them from having to re-create pages over and over again until you like them. There is so much more to write, but I’m out of space. If you go to our Facebook page (and “like” us!), I have the extended article and many useful links for templates, web developers, shopping carts, and a good software development method for making websites. There’s always more to things than meets the eye, and you need expert insight and guidance, so give us a call or email at Portable CIO. By phone, 925-552-7953, or email helpdesk@ theportablecio.com. Advertorial

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Page 14 - August 2012 ~ Alamo Today

New Treatments for Chronic Problems By Deborah Knibb, DVM There are many new treatments available in veterinary care for those of you who are frustrated with chronic problems relating to your pets. Some solutions are as simple as changing your pet’s diet or training routine. Calm, well mannered pets tend to lead healthier lives. Destructive pets tend to be given away or put down because pet owners, neighbors, etc. are unable to tolerate the pet’s behavior. At Alamo Plaza Pet Care Clinic we can provide solutions to a broad range of pet “issues” as well as keys to maintaining a healthier pet. Some common examples include the following: 1. Diabetic pets who are difficult to control may be suffering from other metabolic conditions. Changing the location of the insulin injections may be the key to control along with maintaining a good diet and exercise. The uncontrolled diabetic cat may have other conditions such as a brain mass or pancreatitis which may be affecting insulin levels. If your diabetic dog is not regulating well, changing the site of injection and regular exercise can improve the medical condition and insulin response. 2. New methods are available for chemotherapy targeting tumors which were once thought not to respond to drugs. These alternatives are more affordable and are targeted to extend the life of your pet. 3. Poorly behaved dogs are usually sent to a behaviorist. However, many of these pets suffer from identifiable and/or treatable medical conditions. Some poorly behaved labradors, yorkies, and westies may be suffering from a liver shunt or are on an improper food which may be upsetting their system. An older dog who is grumpy and snappy may be in pain, even though he/she is not vocalizing pain. Seizuring pets may be consuming a diet containing fish with a high mercury or heavy metal content. Remember, Hills Science Diet and Purina are the only two food companies which conduct food trials and testing on their foods with real animals for real clinical results and safety. 4. There are so many products and foods on the market that it can be very frustrating and confusing to make choices about what to buy. Having the ad-

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vantage of over 20 years of experience and working at a new hospital, I now can combine the old with the new and assist pet owners with making informed decisions about their pets with the aid of new concepts, products, and mind sets. Seasonal note: Rattlesnakes are more prevalent this year than in years past. We recommend the rattlesnake vaccine to prevent fatalities! We hope to see you Saturday, August 25th from 10AM to 2PM for food, fun, freebies, entertainment, kittens and cat adoptions, and sidewalk events. Dr. Deborah Knibb can be found at Alamo Plaza Pet Care Clinic located at 230-A Alamo Plaza, in the Safeway Shopping Center. Hours are Monday-Friday 8 AM-6PM and Saturdays 9-1PM. Please call 925-820-2200 for questions or to make and appointment. Advertorial Celebrate Our One Year Anniversary on August 25th from 10AM TO 2PM. Join Us At The Sidewalk Event In The Alamo Shopping Center 230-A Alamo Plaza Free Kennel Cough( Bordetella) Vaccines For The First 25 Dogs, Free Pedicures For The First 25 Felines! High school senior Jake Moore, of Alamo, collected on behalf of local non-profit Books for the Barrios (booksforthebarrios. org) over 1,100 pounds of graduating 8th graders PE uniforms from nine local middle schools. The clothes will be sent to the Philippines through Books for the Barrios to be used as soccer uniforms. Dutch Girl Cleaners in Walnut Creek donated approximately $4,000 worth of “green” laundry services (owner Steve Depper and Manager Audrey Wilson are pictured with Jake [center]at left). Jake has been collecting for Books for the Barrios since he was in 8th grade and has amassed over 300 cases of school supplies (books, dictionaries, art supplies, toys, games, educational material), sports equipment, and about 1,000 used tennis balls. Jake collects these supplies from online ads, leftovers from garage sales and rummage sales, and end of the year school supplies from local schools.

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Alamo Today ~ August 2012 - Page 15

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Page 16 - August 2012 ~ Alamo Today

Quick Trips

By Linda Summers Pirkle

Sell Your Used Car or Furniture! Any trip that allows me to drive through the Redwoods in Marin is a plus. Just one hour and forty-five minutes away, the destination is Hog Island Oyster Farm - ten minutes past Point Reyes Station on the eastern shore of Tomales Bay. Hog Island Oyster Farm, serving and shucking oysters I handle all the details and deliver a check when your items sell. since 1984, has a new shack for oysters to go with various Hard-working local college student with lots of experience. sizes of Sweetwaters, Kumamotos, and Atlantics. They also sell mussels and clams, and if you go Friday thru Monday, Call today to discuss items youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to consign and sell! you can order the most delicious BBQâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d oysters, along with Tato Corcoran â&#x20AC;˘ 925.858.7282 â&#x20AC;˘ tatocorcoran@yahoo.com beer, wine, or soft drinks. All is served on one of the rustic community tables - steps from the where the harvest was made. Matt Huffstutter, assistant manager at Hog Island, explains the BBQ process. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s actually more like poaching on a grill. Using our house-made garlic chipotle butter, we put a dollop on the opened oyster and cook for about five minutes - itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pretty good!â&#x20AC;? Customers agree wholeheartedly. Our group arrived at 12:30 on a Sunday - usually a very busy time - but we found spots at an open community table which can seat up to twelve. We placed our order at â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Boat,â&#x20AC;? the walkup stand which is about fifteen steps from the water. The process from menu to table took about ten minutes. The BBQ oystersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; plate and fresh oysters paired with locally brewed Lagunitas beer was the perfect match. Huffstutter said they are usually booked three months out for the six tables that can be reserved. Hog Island supplies the BBQ and coal. You can bring your own fare or purchase oysters there and do your own grilling. Sitting just steps from the bay with misty overcast weather, fresh air, and convivial neighbors at our table, along with delicious oysters, was nice. I appreciated the free valet service at the farm, and when we left, the valet accompanied us across the street to our car. Exp. 8/31/12 Not valid with other offers or prior purchases The busy shoreline highway can be tricky. On the way back, you can stop at Point Reyes Station. Bovine Bakery (open daily) in downtown Pt. Reyes has a nice range of baked goods, and their bear claws are glorious. A nice lunch spot is CowGirl Creamery (open Wednesday-Sunday) where the menu changes every few weeks. The staples on the menu, Rosieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Organic Rotisserie Chicken and the Ham and Cowgirl Mt. Tam with lettuce and Dijon, are delicious. *Cell coverage is spotty on the coast except for areas in Point Reyes Station. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best to bring a map or print directions before you leave home. *Bicyclists abound on the highway, no bike path, so take the curves very cautiously. *Temperature can be 30 degrees cooler than the Bay Area, so bring layers. *If you plan on purchasing oysters to go, $100 Off on All Gas Fire Pits bring a cooler. Hog Island supplies ice for the small cooler size for no charge, larger orders thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a fee for ice. Hog Island Farm is located at 20215 Shoreline Highway, Marshall, California, and the phone number is (415) 663-9218. Visit their website at hogislandoysters.com. Open daily except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years. Linda Summers Pirkle, travel consultant and long term Danville resident, has been arranging and leading tours for the Town of Danville for several years. Inspired by the many wonderful places to visit in the Bay Area, she organizes day +HU]PSSL trips, either for groups or for friends and family. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If it's a trip for my husband and *HTPUV ;HZZHQHYH me, my husband drives and I talk (heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a captive audience) - the perfect combination! What a great place to live, so much (SHTV Open Tues thru Sat 10 to 6 to see, so much to do.â&#x20AC;? To share your +HU]PSSL )V\SL]HYK :\UKH` [V Â&#x2039; *SVZLK 4VUKH` â&#x20AC;&#x153;Quick Tripsâ&#x20AC;? ideas, email Coverthemap@ gmail.com.

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Alamo Today ~ August 2012 - Page 17

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Page 18 - August 2012 ~ Alamo Today

Case Study on Estate Planning “Short-Cuts” By Robert J. Silverman, Attorney at Law Last month, I wrote about a gentleman who died without an attorney-drafted Will or Living Trust and the very unfortunate result for his beloved sister when his neighbor produced a purported hand-written Will. Of course, results are not always positive when people do plan, especially when they attempt any “short-cuts.” Below, I’ll tell you about an estate administration I’m handling now that’s an excellent example of just how myopic such attempted short-cuts can be. The case involves the estate of the grandmother (I’ll call “Camelia”) of my client (I’ll call Jake). Camelia owned a home and a modest amount of other assets. When she was in her mid 70’s, Camelia went to an attorney and had a Living Trust drafted. Over the next 4-5 years, she had a different attorney draft several amendments to the Trust. While these documents were not terribly drafted, neither the Trust nor amendments stated who would be successor trustee (trust “manager”) or how one would be chosen, if the designated successor trustee couldn’t serve. Worse yet, a year after Camelia executed the second Trust amendment, she sat down with her friend and neighbor, Nellie, telling Nellie she wanted to make substantial changes. Several of Camelia’s children had deceased, and another child had been imprisoned. Camelia had several grandchildren and some nieces and nephews she cared about, whom she wanted to name as new beneficiaries. For reasons that are not clear, but likely included convenience and a desire to avoid legal fees, this time Camelia did not go to an attorney. Instead, when she and Nellie discussed Camelia’s then current estate planning wishes, Nellie made notes, typed up a Will for Camelia, and Camelia (and two witnesses) signed it. Some of the provisions in this new Will were unclear, and many were radically different than those in the prior Trust and Trust Amendment. Even more problematic was the fact that the Will contained language in which it purported to also serve as another Trust amendment. After Camelia died, Jake was referred to me by a lawyer friend who does not handle “messy” estate administration matters. Jake shared that a number of the members of his dysfunctional family who were listed as beneficiaries in the Will and/or Trust documents are financially needy. As such, they were pestering Jake to administer the Trust/estate quickly so that they could receive their respective inheritance shares right away. When I completed my thorough examination of the documents, and conducted appropriate due diligence about the background and related facts, I had to be the bearer of bad news to Jake. First, since the successor trustee nominated in the Trust was deceased, and neither an alternate trustee nor a mechanism to appoint an alternate were set forth in the documents, I would need to file a petition, asking the court to designate my client as trustee. This court proceeding would take several months, and fees and costs would run several thousand dollars. Further, there was no guarantee that my client would be so appointed (particularly if any objections were filed). Next, I explained that only upon a ruling from the court could Jake be clear about to whom he should distribute his grandmother’s assets. So, Jake had to protect himself by having me also petition the court to ask for help interpreting the ambiguous testamentary documents. My client and Nellie believe that the Will, which was prepared last, contained Camelia’s true intentions. Thus, we would ask the court to deem the Will to be a Trust amendment so that Jake could administer the estate as he believed his grandmother would want. When a court order is obtained and assets are finally distributed, at least four things will be certain: 1) a number of relatives will be upset; 2) nobody will be absolutely sure that the court’s order is consistent with Camelia’s final wishes; 3) it will take much longer than it should to administer this estate; and 4) significantly more money will be spent in attorney’s fees and court costs (and less available for loved ones) than if Camelia had hired and continued to work with an experienced estate planning attorney to make changes, as appropriate. Mr. Silverman is an attorney with 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. Mr. Silverman offers 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

Ruth Bancroft Garden Fun in the Sun Adventures

M. E. L A N D O L F A R C H I T E C T U R E

Bring the whole family out for Fun in the Sun Adventures at The Ruth Bancroft Garden on Saturday, August 4th at 10am. This is a new event for the Garden filled with fun educational activities and a great way for kids to get active. Families will have the opportunity to experience the Garden in a unique setting for this special occasion. Sections of the garden will be divided up into three themes that include a lake voyage, a desert exploration, and a fun camping experience. Each section will have interactive games and learning opportunities focused on water conservation, survival skills, and learning all about nature. Run through a water relay race where children will find out about the use of water in the home, and venture on to a smelly hike. Stop by our craft tables, make your own bird feeder, and go on an adventure with your handcrafted telescope. Come learn in a beautiful and natural learning environment. This will be an exciting day for families to get out and get active, and it will also be a great way to get children’s minds in motion again for learning. The Ruth Bancroft Garden is a unique example of the art of garden design with drought-tolerant plants, and it is known as one of the finest dry gardens in the world. The Garden displays an expansive collection of plants from the world’s desert and Mediterranean climates, collected by Ruth Bancroft for over 60 years. When you step into the garden, you step into an exotic world that could only have been created by an individual with Ruth Bancroft’s background, interests and enthusiasm. This visionary feat of garden design combines elements of a mid-century modernist design sensibility with the exuberance of a Victorian-era plant collection, woven together using a striking palette of succulent plants. Ruth Bancroft is considered to be a pioneer in the field of gardening. She designed, planted, and maintained the garden along, with the help of two gardeners, until her retirement at age 97. She celebrated her 103rd birthday in 2011, a fitting tribute to the lifestyle of an avid gardener.

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Alamo Today ~ August 2012 - Page 19

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Flexibility and Incentive Trusts Brought to you by Peter T. Waldron & Robert J. Waldron In conjunction with Spectrum Wealth Partners, a division of Lincoln Financial Advisors, a registered investment advisor.

Grantors who are leery about passing their hard-earned wealth to heirs with relaxed lifestyles and spending habits may find incentive trusts to be useful. Uncertain about the future behavior of their heirs, wealthy families can use incentive trusts to motivate beneficiaries to act in a particular way to earn future benefits. Incentive trusts are irrevocable grants of money to your heirs and can be created using insurance trusts, living trusts, credit shelter trusts, and dynasty trusts. Perhaps from a desire to control their assets and to inspire their heirs to be responsible, some grantors create extensive provisions within the trust by specifying that the heir be employed, educated, married, starting a business, or be free of drug or gambling habits to qualify for distributions. Some common examples of incentive trusts include: • Direct payment incentive trusts. The grantor plans to pay for certain bills directly, such as health insurance, mortgage, rent and/or tuition rather than providing cash. One drawback is the beneficiary might not learn money management. • Education incentive trusts. Encourages a beneficiary to attend college, maintain a particular grade point average, and graduate within a specific time period. In exchange, the trust pays for tuition, books, transportation, and living expenses. This seems reasonable, but heirs could choose a less challenging course of study to guarantee success rather than pursuing their real interests. • Entrepreneur incentive trusts. Provides venture capital for projects that meet established criteria. Because not everyone has the ability or interest in developing their own business, this might lead to an unintended and uneven distribution of wealth among your heirs. Any restriction can be built into a trust as long as the restriction is not illegal. For example, you cannot specify that your heir marry a person of a particular race or divorce a current spouse to qualify for the trust.

Granting Broad Authority If you decide to create an incentive trust, think carefully about what you are trying to accomplish with trust parameters—then build flexibility into the trust. Your financial planner can help you determine how to balance your desires against the needs and wants of your heirs, so that the trust fund motivates them, rather than spoils or restricts them.

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If set up properly, incentive trusts can support the grantor’s philosophy and values while meeting the unknown future needs of the heirs. Trusts are often set up years in advance; if the plan is too specific, it becomes restrictive and counterproductive because heirs cannot get the support they need. Setting up a trust with a mission statement that expounds on your philosophy and values may be more effective than a trust driven by meeting specific provisions. Incentive trusts commonly reward productive behavior with an income-matching grant. If the trust matches an earned salary using a particular formula, a grantor may inadvertently reward high-paying professions and influence the career choices of the heirs. For example, someone planning to be a teacher might abandon a passion to educate others to become a stockbroker with higher earning power. In this case, a teacher and a stockbroker are equally productive members of society, but the disparity in income is enormous. The grantor should consider expressing his or her general philosophy within the trust—such as the desire for heirs to be productive members of society— while granting broad authority to trustees. The trustee can then operate within the spirit of the trust, equally awarding the stockbroker and teacher assets from the trust.

Selecting a Trustee The most important part of establishing an incentive trust is selecting your trustee. The trustee should be someone skilled in trust administration who supports your philosophy and values. If you select a friend, it is a good idea to also choose a professional co-trustee to help administer the trust. If the size of your trust is more than $10 million, you might be better served by a trust committee that meets outlined parameters, such as the number of members and their professions. You should also include provisions for removing a trustee and a succession plan for managing the trust across decades. Holding a family meeting that includes your heirs, financial planners, trustee, and lawyer is a great forum to discuss your intentions and legacy. It’s important for your heirs to understand your philosophy, values, and goals as it relates to their inheritance. Discussing your thoughts about trust funds and soliciting input from your heirs can help minimize misunderstandings and help your heirs plan for their futures. 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, Spectrum Wealth Partners, 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 Advisors Corp. for its representatives and their clients. CRN201103-2051856 Advertorial

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Page 20 - August 2012 ~ Alamo Today

Tree of the Season: The Monterey Pine By Blaine Brende & Joe Lamb The imposing Monterey Pine, Pinus radiata, perhaps the most common large landscape tree in the Bay Area, is one of the most widely-planted trees on the planet. It covers millions of acres in places as far-flung as England, Chile, and Australia. However, its native range covers just a few square miles of the California coastline, which explains why it prefers a cool, moist coastal climate with well-draining soils. With their dense, towering canopies, dark, glossy green needles, refreshing scent, and magnificent sweep of boughs, Monterey Pines give the feeling of being in a forest. They provide habitat for many species of birds and butterflies. The beauty of these trees, combined with their immense vigor and rapid growth, appeals to landscapers who want a quick, tall screen between houses, a cool shady hillside behind their home, or an instantly woodsy subdivision. Unfortunately, the quick hedge or woodland effect you enjoy in the first year of the tree’s life can become a major safety hazard and a source of conflict with uphill neighbors when, two decades later, the tree reaches 50-70 feet in height. The Monterey Pine’s soft, brittle wood and its shallow root system combine to make it a serious hazard during winter storms on the hilly slopes. Away from its native habitat, it is vulnerable to root-rot diseases and, stressed by lack of water during our dry summers, it becomes prey to often fatal beetle infestations. The species is relatively short-lived, around 75 years, and its proclivity for toppling, or for shedding large branches, increases with age.

Coping with Pines So what are we to do with these beautiful but bothersome pines that define so much of the Bay Area landscape? First of all, don’t plant any more of them unless you are willing and able to offer them ideal conditions. These include a large, level, adequately moist planting site, with porous soil, far from both houses and power lines, and with no uphill neighbors whose views your growing tree will obstruct. Monterey Pines also require regular care, including safety thinning every few years,

Clip Notes

By Jody Morgan

Planning to pop around to your local nursery for a pot of Pig’s Ears? Probably not, unless you’ve seen this fascinating South African import in bloom or been treated to the drama of a floral arrangement featuring the long-lasting bells of coral dangling on delicate silver stems. I’d be even less likely to look for this plant by its other common name, Round-leafed Navel Wort. Although the proper scientific designation Cotyledon orbiculata is a mouthful, loosely translated it yields the less offensive moniker: Round Cups. Growing naturally on stony outcrops, this succulent is no more stressed by drought than it seems to be by nasty nicknames. The five varieties of Cotyledon orbiculata are so diverse that ordinary gardeners are inclined to question the powers of perception of the botanists responsible for lumping them in a single species. One variety has foliage that more closely resembles the elongated fingers of a concert pianist than the rounded auditory appurtenances of a prize pig. All do raise parasols of fringed florets above their leaves. The most common floral shade is orange sherbet, but some varieties offer deeper tones of raspberry sorbet or paler presentations of lemon ice. The variety I cultivate has silver leaves edged in garnet and blooms, like most varieties, throughout the summer. Cut flowers conditioned with floral food last a month or more in the vase. Macrantha, a green-leafed variety (or some experts say species) blooms in winter. A substance in the leaves which is poisonous to goats and sheep makes Cotyledons deer and rabbit resistant. Unfortunately the digestive tracts of slugs and snails are insensitive to it. Rather than turning the fleshy foliage into lace doilies as they do with other plants, snails etch maps of their progress across the surface. The damage is unsightly, but it is not life threatening. Bees and hummingbirds find the tubular blossoms delectable. Another group of South African succulents with unattractive common names is the Gasteria genus. Wouldn’t you feel a trifle awkward asking a nursery manager: “Where do you keep your Mother-in-law’s Tongue?” Cowtongue Cactus and Lawyer’s Tongue are slightly less offensive, but unlikely

as well as periodic watering, aerating, and fertilizing. If you are already living with Monterey Pines, reduce the safety risks through preventative maintenance before it’s too late. To improve drainage, invigorate your pine’s root system, and strengthen its resistance, we suggest aerating, then filling the holes with rich, porous organic matter (we use American Soil’s “Clodbuster” mix). Check your pine for infestations by looking for areas where whole branches are turning brown, as well as for small holes, tubes or splotches of pitch, or red “sawdust” droppings around the trunk and major branches.

Pruning Pines The best time to prune any type of pine trees, and the only recommended time to prune Monterey pines, is between October 1st and February 15th. Sap from pruning cuts attracts beetles destructive to pines. These beetles are dormant during the fall and winter months. Given that the beetles can smell sap from long distances, it is important to prune your pine when they are inactive. Not only are the beetles themselves harmful, but some species can carry pine pitch canker, a fungal disease that disfigures pine trees and sometimes kills them. If your tree has dead tips scattered throughout the canopy it probably has pine pitch canker. If you want to prolong the life of the tree, as well as its appearance, now is the best time to prune out the diseased tips. Even healthy pines require occasional pruning to keep them safe and beautiful. To reduce the fire hazard associated with pines, fire departments recommend removing deadwood and taking branches back from buildings. Pines are sometimes subject to branch and column failure. Judicious thinning of the crown reduces the wind-sail effect of the canopy and thereby reduces the risk of the tree falling in a windstorm. Removing weight from the ends of heavy branches reduces the likelihood that those branches will break. The safety pruning of trees is an art as well as a science. A well-pruned tree should not only be safer, it should look beautiful. At Brende and Lamb, we take great pride in both the science and the art of pruning. Now is the best time to make your pines as safe, healthy, and beautiful as possible. If your trees need a little TLC, please call 510-486-TREE (8733) or email us at bl@brendelamb.com for a free estimate. Additionally, go to our website www. brendelamb.com to see before and after pictures, client testimonials, and work in your neighborhood. Advertorial to generate high-volume sales. The botanical label comes from the shape of the flowers. Suspended along slender wands, each multi-colored floret looks like a miniature stomach. Green tipping edges cream tubes that widen into coral receptacles. While Cotyledons can tolerate a bit of shade, Gasterias actually require some relief from afternoon sun. In their native habitat they shelter beside rocks or embrace the companionship of taller plants. As their nicknames indicate, Gasterias have tongue-shaped leaves that start out two-ranked. In some species they spiral. Others keep the shape that caused one youthful visitor to the Ruth Bancroft Garden to insist that he wanted to get “that boat-shaped plant” for his mother. Leaves have a keel reminiscent of a canoe. Known as horticultural chameleons, Gasterias vary so greatly in response to their environs that botanists once classified them into over 200 species only to radically reduce that number about 20 years ago to a mere 16. They also freely mate with their cousins forming interesting intergeneric hybrids with Aloes and Haworthias. Gasterias are well behaved in containers. Cotyledons grow leggy like many of their close relatives, which include Jade plants. As a docent at the Ruth Bancroft Garden, I have fielded so many questions about growing succulents amongst perennials that I began experimenting with the concept. No matter how good your drip or sprinkler system is, you probably have a few tough spots in your yard that stay dry in the summer. I certainly do. Another issue is how damp the same areas become in winter. Both Cotyledons and Gasterias are somewhat more tolerant of our winter weather – cold, wet, and variable – than many other collectible succulents. Temperatures down to 20o F are not an issue. Cotyledon cuttings root so easily that you can try them in any area once you have an established parent plant and expect a 90% success rate. Gasterias will root from a leaf cutting, but it takes several weeks to six months, so patience is essential. What about drainage in our clay soil? Cotyledons will keep weeds down on a step slope, but won’t survive in a spot that remains waterlogged for days on end. Gasterias are a bit more forgiving of damp, but vastly prefer to dry out between soakings. These unusual plants are available in local garden centers as well as at the Ruth Bancroft Garden nursery, but supplies are limited.

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Life in the Alamo Garden Personal Path By John Montgomery, ASLA, Landscape Architect

Alamo Today ~ August 2012 - Page 21

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or straight edges. In other words, it shouldn’t take you from the entry at the street around the side of your house, curve back around to the front through a grove of trees, and across to the other side before arriving at your front door. Just being funny! An informal path can be an added design feature to any Alamo landscape. Most Alamo lots tend to be quite spacious which allows for informal paths to get you out into your garden. An informal path generally is less structured, less permanent, and less direct. The purpose of an informal path is to provide access to the sights, sounds, smells, textures, and tastes of your garden. It is a less direct way of getting someplace or nowhere. It gives you access to a hillside with views, a quiet corner for meditation, or a place for gathering an assortment of fruits, herbs, and flowers. It should be constructed of a less permanent material such as loose-set flagstone with ground cover in between, concrete steppers, or gravel. I particularly like gravel because of the “crunching” sound it makes when you walk on it. A garden path is one of the most important hardscape elements in your landscape design. It is a core element of your landscape. One of the first elements that I work out in my design process is the pathways. The path system defines the softscape areas and provides access for use. A path system can be as elaborate or as simple as you want. Remember that every element in your garden has purpose. Define the purpose of your path system before you design it. The garden path is most likely the most used hardscape element of any landscape design. A hot tip from your local Landscape Architect: A primary path should always be wide enough (4-5 ft at minimum) for two people to walk side-byside comfortably. Gardening Quote of the Month: “It is a great art to saunter.” - Henry David Thoreau, 1841 If you would like me to write on any particular subject, email your ideas to jmontgomery@jm-la.com or for design ideas visit www.jm-la.com. Advertorial

Page 22 - August 2012 ~ Alamo Today

Smart 911 & Membership Drive By Roger Smith, Board President Smart 911 Saving lives is all about getting information. When someone calls 9-1-1, the only information a dispatcher gets is a phone number and an address. The dispatcher has to ask a lot of questions to get critical information. What if that information came up on a monitor screen as the call came in? That would save time – and if you can save time, you can save lives! The better way to use 911 is to have important information attached to the caller. This is what the Smart 911 system can do for you. The Smart 911 solution starts with Alamo residents adding their “Safety Profile” on a secure and private data repository/bank. You need to register your phone number (for free) and supply basic and potentially life saving information First Responders need in case of an emergency. When you call 911 from a registered phone number, the data automatically displays to the 911 call dispatcher. The 911 dispatcher can forward the information to the police or other responding units so they can be better prepared to render assistance more effectively. The details of each individual include rescue and medical information. Users can also include information on their residence, such as navigating long driveways, etc. and any other features that might be important for firefighters or police officers to know about. Users can also include information about pets (guard dogs), emergency contacts and more.

www.yourmonthlypaper.com The free Smart 911 service is available to the Alamo community and is provided through the San Ramon 911 service location. The more information you choose to provide in a secure database, the more information a dispatcher and First Responders will have to use in an emergency. Please give the people charged with protecting you and your family a better chance for a better outcome. Provide them with the opportunity to help you by helping them. Visit and register for Smart 911 at www.SMART911.com. I recently registered my information, family, pets, etc., and it took 10 minutes.

AIA’s Annual Membership Drive Alamo is a special community we can be proud to call “Home.” Now in its 57th year, the Alamo Improvement Association (AIA), a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, has the longest history of serving our community and helping shape it into “Alamo - the place where we love to live!” Since 1955 Alamo residents have been joining the AIA and working in support of AIA’s mission statement to “preserve the semi-rural character of Alamo.” I want to thank our many volunteers, both past and present, for their efforts over the years in makingAlamo into the wonderful community that it is today. I also want to thank allAlamo residents for their interest inAIAand encourage each of you to become members. Please see the AIA membership form below. Complete and return it to AIA at our P.O.Box 156, Alamo, CA 94507. Don’t be left out. Now is the time to renew or become a new member of AIA.

For Example 1) User’s can let responders know if someone is confined to a wheelchair, uses oxygen, is deaf, has allergies, takes medications, and any other important information First Responders should be aware of. 2) A deaf person calling 911 from a cell phone can start text messaging with the dispatcher to communicate their situation. 3) Recent examples of successful rescues include a caller unable to speak because of an allergic reaction, a caller experiencing a massive heart attack, a child having an asthma attack, and an attempted sexual assault where the call was disconnected before the victim could provide their address.

Roses continued from front page

the species clambering over the arbors in the new triangle was a creamy yellow The next step is applying a systemic insecticide to prevent aphid damage on new Banksia that blooms only once a year, she suggested the addition of a pink Eden growth, followed two weeks later by the application of a triple 20 fertilizer. A repeat bloomer. John Teixeira approved the plan. Next she noted that adding rose standards to the center of alternating beds would enhance their charm by raising second application of fertilizer is done later in the year. The newest planting, designed and built in 2004, forms a triangle behind the sightline. Again John agreed. In honor of Diablo Women’s Garden Club, Charlotte Wood Middle School. Vicki Brown, who began volunteering at Osage Barbara began donating roses to give substance to her visions. She welcomes with the Alamo-Danville Newcomers group in 1997, took charge of the space the chance to give plants to the park because the Osage Memorial Rose Gardens when it was installed and now has more than 60 eager volunteers on the roster of See Roses continued on page 30 her Danville Garden Club aka Petal Pushers. The enthusiastic response of visitors to their work is one reason why volunteers keep coming weekly to care for the beds. Vicki Brown relates an experience she had while trimming with the Newcomers. “A gentleman stopped by to thank the Newcomers. He had brought his mother to the park on Sunday. She had a wonderful day savoring the scent of the roses and admiring their flowers. That night she passed peacefully in her sleep. He wanted Purveyors of classic, exotic, and to thank the ladies who cared for the roses for making such a difference in his mother’s last day on Earth.” high-performance cars for more than 30 years. The Danville Garden Club works from 8:30-9:30 on California’s #1 Classic Car Dealer Thursday mornings. Over 200 vehicles in inventory! The path tracing the eastern edge of the park leads to the oldest memorial boxes dedicated by the Diablo Women’s Garden Club in November 1984 and continuously maintained by them. Taking a moment to look up from trimming, Rebecca Byrom remarks on what a joyous experience it is to tend the flowers. “Even the kids stop to say, ‘Thank you, we love the roses.’” Diablo’s regular pruning day is Tuesday, but Barbara Norkus, like many other Diablo volunteers, tends the roses whenever time permits. As a Consulting Rosarian Showrooms in Pleasanton, Benicia, and Fairfield. of the American Rose Society, Norkus takes the responsiwww.SpecialtySales.com | 800.600.2262 bility of sharing her knowledge seriously. Realizing that

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Alamo Today ~ August 2012 - Page 23

The Best Wine Blogs By Monica Chappell At any time of the day or night, someone somewhere is pouring out his or her thoughts about wine on a blog. Blogs offer an unfiltered, conversational, and passionate point of view. From last count there were over 700 wine blogs. Although many of these sites are recitations of “wines I’ve tasted,” a few stand out for their quality. The ones mentioned here are some of my favorites and offer a variety of perspectives. Vinography - vinography.com - Alder Yarrow is a San Francisco hightech consultant and wine lover who runs Vinography, perhaps the Web’s most popular and comprehensive wine blog. Dr. Vino’s Wine Blog - www.drvino.com - Dr. Vino, a.k.a. Tyler Colman, really is a doctor. After teaching political science for two years, he settled into full-time wine writing and education. Fermentation - fermentation.typepad.com - While most wine bloggers focus on specific bottles, this site looks at wine PR, interstate wine shipping laws and labeling restrictions. Included are also interviews of other wine bloggers. Good Wine Under $20 - goodwineunder20.blogspot.com - Budget wines might be the most-blogged subject in the wine web, and this site searches out great everyday wines. Bitten by the blog bug myself, I launched my own wine blog and use it as an educational tool as well as an archive for my wine articles. My blog also provides a means of communicating about upcoming wine classes, dates and locations. My site, wineappreciation101.blogspot.com, may not have the following of Julie Powell of Julie & Julia fame, but it’s a fun way to stay in touch with students who have taken my wine classes. Monica Chappell, Wine Writer and Educator, offers wine appreciation classes. For a list visit www.wineappreciation101.blogspot.com.

Cinema Classics and Musical Notes The Taming of the Shrew By Peggy Horn This month’s Cinema Classic is a film adaptation of a play by William Shakespeare entitled, The Taming Of The Shrew, from 1967. The role of Petruchio is played by Richard Burton, and Elizabeth Taylor plays the female lead, Katharina. Katharina’s father has various opportunities to marry off his younger daughter, Bianca, but he refuses to do so until his more difficult elder daughter, Katharina or Kate, is married first. Petruchio is persuaded to seek Kate’s hand, and he negotiates a handsome dowry from Baptista Minola, Kate’s father, after which he agrees to marry violent, scolding, shrewish Kate. Using some reverse psychology, Petruchio even manages to change the shrewish Kate into an obedient wife. Various subplots are also revealed including a love story between Bianca and the suitor that becomes her husband, Lucentio. Because this is excerpted from the actual play, only some of the dialogue is actually Shakespeare’s. Nevertheless, the screenwriters have captured the essence of the plot and have retained some meaningful lines from the original. Normally, excerpted and abridged versions don’t sit well with me, but I must admit this version of The Taming Of The Shrew, is easy to follow, funny, and touching. Furthermore, however brief, exposure to the works of Shakespeare tends to be a good thing. In my opinion, it is Richard Burton’s performance that makes the movie. The costumes and settings add to the richness of the film. It is theorized that this play was originally performed sometime between 1591 and 1594. As proof of the play’s continuing popularity, a 1999 movie, Ten Things I Hate About You, is based on The Taming Of The Shrew, as is an earlier Cole Porter musical, Kiss Me Kate. All are available for rental or purchase online – inexpensively! MUSICAL NOTES – For your music downloading pleasure I propose a beautiful musical revelation by Richard Burton himself in the role of King Arthur from the 1960 Broadway musical Camelot, entitled, “How

To Handle A Woman.” The method described in this song might have served Petruchio well. This musical by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe was popular in my youth, and many of the songs were well known. It is said that President Kennedy enjoyed listening to the recording of Camelot, especially Mr. Burton’s (King Arthur’s) moving description of Camelot itself.

Free Milonga and Argentine Tango Lessons Enjoy a relaxed Sunday afternoon of tango at the Blackhawk Plaza Rotunda located at 3499 Blackhawk Plaza Circle in Danville. This free event will take place Sunday, August 5th with a beginner’s lesson from 2PM -3PM and a milonga dance from 3PM-7:30PM. This event is hosted by the Blackhawk Milonga and the Bay Area Tango Association. For more information, contact Carlin Ghahraman at carlinsf@gmail. com or call (510) 406-4583.

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Page 24 - August 2012 ~ Alamo Today

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EAST BAY HOSPICE THRIFT SHOP HOSTS ENJOYABLE JUNE MIXER The June Monthly networking mixer was held at The East Bay Hospice Thrift Shop in Stone Valley Center. Appetizers were provided by Yanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s China Bistro, Subway Sandwiches, Don JosĂŠâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Mexican Restaurant, Ristorante Forli, and The Hospice Thrift Store. We enjoyed music compliments of The Pearl Black Project. It was great to see such a great turnout and some faces we simply donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t see often enough. 5DIĂ&#x20AC;H SUL]HV ZHUH GRQDWHG E\ 6WHYH 0LFN $OLFLD :DWVRQ &HOHEUDWLRQV RQ WKH %D\ $FH 7KH +RVSLFH 7KULIW 6WRUH :LOOLDP :KLWH $OOVWDWH ,QVXUDQFH 6WRQH 9DOOH\ &HQWHU DQG $EVROXWH &KLURSUDFWLF 7KDQNV WR WKHVH GRQRUV ZKRVH FRQWULEXWLRQV KHOS LQ IXQGLQJ RXU DQQXDO +LJK 6FKRRO 6FKRODUVKLS 3URJUDP This monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mixer will be held on August 25th at The Oak Tree Plaza Shopping Center at 3000 Danville %RXOHYDUG %ULQJ D IULHQG D UDIĂ&#x20AC;H SUL]H DQG \RXU EXVLQHVV FDUGV /HWÂśV visit,enjoy the summer afternoon, and get mixing! August is here - we have begun the New Chamber Membership year and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time to once again update your contact information for the 2012-2013 Alamo Chamber of Commerce Member Directory. Please check our website www. alamochamberofcommerce.com for instructions on updating your contact information. Display advertising rates will also be posted. Please contact Sharon@celebrationsonthebay.com with any questions. /DVW PRQWK DW RXU PRQWKO\ %RDUG PHHWLQJ ZH UHYLHZHG WKH budget and found it was past time to raise mixer admission costs. We have been at $5 per member since AMPA was founded. The cost is now $10 per member with great food/beer & wine included - Still less than a glass of wine at most places. See you there!

The Alamo Community Is Invited! Please Join Us At Our Mixer! AUGUST 22ND - 5:30 TO 7:00 P.M. OAK TREE PLAZA SEVERAL BUSINESSES WILL BE OPEN! JOIN US ON SEPTEMBER 26TH FOR OUR MIXER AT ROBERTA MORRISâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; BEAUTIFUL HOME IN ALAMO OAKS!

SHALINI MONGIA AND SHARON SCHUYLER HONORED AS MEMBERS OF THE MONTH Awards Chair Jose Avelar was pleased to recognize that the Chamberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Member of the Month for June was Shalini Mongia of Alamo Counseling & Mediation â&#x20AC;&#x201D; an expert in marriage and family therapist. Jose noted that â&#x20AC;&#x153;If you need someone to create positive change in your life, increase happiness in your relationships, career, and with your family Shalini is the person to talk toâ&#x20AC;?. Shalini is presently serving on the Alamo Chamber Board and chairs the Scholarship & Mentoring program. Sharon Schuyler, our July Member of the Month has been extremely busy as the former Chamber CEO and in coordinating our very successful Chamber Directory. Sharon is presently our Board Member responsible for Mixers and other Special Events. Congratulations, Shaline and Sharon and we thank you both for your leadership and assistance to the Chamber in so many ways!

2012-13 Membership Directory Rates Camera ready ads are due by August 18th

If You Live In Alamo - Free $40 $150 $250 We Encourage You $350 $695 To Shop In Alamo! All ads must be prepaid. Contact Sharon Schuyler 925.708.8546

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Alamo Today ~ August 2012 - Page 25

Health Reform for Cancer Patients By Matthew Sirott, MD On June 28, 2012, the Supreme Court ruled that Barack Obama’s signature piece of legislation, the Affordable Care Act of 2010, is constitutional. This landmark legislation, though controversial, has several undeniable beneficial aspects, specifically for cancer patients. In 2014, insurance companies will not be able to deny health care coverage to 13 million Americans because of preexisting medical conditions. Cancer survivors often state that this is their biggest concern with their health care, after completing their therapy. Often, they cannot change jobs or move because of the potential loss of coverage, and so they are prevented from moving on with life. Another benefit is that young adults will be allowed to stay on their parents’ health care plans until they are 26 years old, if they so choose. Many children are still in school at this point in their career, or they have taken internships without benefits. Although cancer in this age group is uncommon, it can have catastrophic outcomes if that child is uninsured. Further, routine cancer prevention, including checkups, mammograms, and colonoscopies will be covered benefits. Insurance coverage will be affordable and subsidized when necessary, so patients will be able to obtain their preventive care. Hopefully we will stop seeing patients in emergency rooms with cancer at advanced stages. Finally, the Affordable Health Care Act will remove lifetime coverage limits. As any cancer survivor knows, treatment can be lengthy and expensive. Though this law is currently controversial (just as Medicare was in the 1960’s), it is clear to me that patients and the physicians who care for them should see these aspects as beneficial in our fight to diagnose, treat, and prevent cancer. No matter who wins the upcoming elections, I foresee improvements in the overall care of cancer patients in America. Matthew Sirott, MD is a Medical Oncologist and Hematologist with Diablo Valley Oncology, a comprehensive cancer center located at the California Cancer and Research Institute in Pleasant Hill. For more information, call Advertorial (925) 677-5041 or visit www.DiabloValleyOncology.md.

Cancer Support Community

Crosswalk continued from front page

The following events are held at Cancer Support Community, Alamo School was built in 1968, when Livorna Road was a sleepy country road winding through located at 3276 McNutt Avenue in Walnut Creek. Events are free. lots of open space. Over the next forty years, the County approved significant developments opening For more details and registration, please call (925) 933-0107. onto Livorna Road, including Stonegate, Stonebridge, and Alamo Country, as well as numerous smaller infill developments. Livorna Park opened in 1997, adding to the traffic which has reached Frankly Speaking About Cancer 11,000 car trips per day on Livorna Road. Records show that parents and the PTA at Alamo School Saturday, August 4th ~ 10AM – Noon Managing Side Effects with Medicine, Mind, and Body – Learn have been working on traffic safety improvements since 2000. Their efforts resulted in a flashing strategies to manage treatment, side effects such as anemia, fatigue, light being installed that year along Livorna Road before the crosswalk, which warns of the 25 mile infection and pain. Learn to manage emotional distress and optimize per hour school speed limit. A traffic engineer's safety report made a recommendation to improve the flow of traffic during student pick-up and drop-off, which was implemented and resulted in signifiyour quality of life during and after treatment. Facilitated by Diana cant traffic flow improvements on the schoolgrounds. The recommendations to improve the safety Longacre, OCN, a cancer survivor and oncology nurse at Kaiser. at the crosswalk have not previously been addressed because it has been a difficult issue to solve.

Kids Circle & Teen Talk -- When Mom or Dad Has Cancer

Saturday, August 11th ~ 10AM – 1PM A program for families with school-age children when a parent has cancer. Each workshop has an activity-based group for children where they identify feelings and learn coping skills. There will be a support group for teens, and a separate group for parents. The workshop ends with lunch and a family activity to enhance communication.

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

Free Full Body Skin Screening The California Skin & Melanoma Center is sponsoring a free community health screening event on August 8th from 10AM -4PM. The event, which will be held in the RiteAid parking lot at the Palos Verdes Mall in Walnut Creek, will feature skin cancer screenings performed by licensed Dermatologists in a van equipped with a small waiting room and two exam rooms. For more information, contact (925) 677-7287.

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Credit for the improvements began with Alamo’s late County Supervisor Gayle Uilkema. Once she became aware of the situation through the efforts of Mrs. Alamillo, she directed her staff to work with the county to come up with a solution. Her leadership directly led to the improvements which are being installed in August. It was a sad day for Alamo when Supervisor Uilkema passed away in May, but her successor Candace Andersen has continued the commitment to safety for schoolchildren. “It is important that we continue to create safe routes to school in our community,” said Supervisor Andersen. “It both relieves traffic congestion and is great exercise for students.” Both the County and the San Ramon Valley Unified School District promote this concept through the San Ramon Valley’s Street Smarts traffic safety education program. More information can be found at www.street-smarts.com. As a part of the Alamo Pedestrian Improvements Project, the Contra Costa County Public Works Department is installing, in late August, pedestrian-activated flashing beacons at the crosswalk and in advance of the crosswalk on Livorna Road, which when activated, will emit rapid alternating bursts of light to alert motorists that pedestrians and bicyclists are crossing the roadway. The system is manufactured by Light Guard Systems Inc. of Santa Rosa, and similar systems have been successfully used by the Town of Danville and dozens of counties and cities throughout California. More information about the system and its effectiveness can be found on the Light Guard website, www.crosswalks.com. Mrs. Alamillo was grateful for the outcome, and stated, “I am very impressed by the collective effort of the Alamo community and public officials who made these changes a priority. Many families will benefit from these crosswalk safety improvements for years to come.” The public is invited to attend the ribbon cutting ceremony which will be held adjacent to Livorna and Wilson Roads. Attendees can park at Alamo Elementary School and walk down Wilson Road to the ceremony. Traffic will not be affected during the ceremony. Supervisor Andersen will be present to cut the ceremonial ribbon. For additional information, please contact Community Liaison, Donna Maxwell, of Supervisor Andersen’s office at 925-820-3787. Committee members who deserve credit and worked persistently to bring this safety improvement to the Alamo School community include Stan Hitomi - Principal of Alamo Elementary School, Donna Maxwell - Supervisor Andersen's office, Janice Alamillo - Alamo Elementary parent, Thomas Jamison - SRV Unified School District administration, Monish Sen - Contra Costa County Public Works, Dep. Mike Carson - Contra Costa County Sheriff's Department, Steve Mick - Alamo Municipal Advisory Council, and Lt. Christopher Sherry - California Highway Patrol.

Page 26 - August 2012 ~ Alamo Today

What is Chiropractic and How Does it Work?

www.yourmonthlypaper.com By Malia Kenny, Kenny Chiropractic

Chiropractic is a health care discipline which emphasizes the power of the body to heal itself without the use of drugs and surgery. A Doctor of Chiropractic (Chiropractor) focuses on the relationship between structure (spine) and function (nervous system) and how that relationship affects, improves, and restores better health. Because chiropractic treatments are primarily applied to the spinal region, many individuals incorrectly assume that chiropractors treat only back and neck ailments. While we do quickly and effectively eliminate back and neck pain, it’s not the only goal. The objective and purpose of chiropractic care is to restore and optimize human health.

What Does a Sports Chiropractor Specialize in? The focus of chiropractic sports specialist is to “provide care in the conservative management, rehabilitation, and performance optimization of neuromusculoskeletal system for athletic populations and to participate in a multi-disciplinary sports injury care.” Sports chiropractors have made contributions to protective gear and trauma management in contact sports, athletic health maintenance, therapy, and enhanced rehabilitation after injury. Spinal injury prevention has been identified as a role that sports chiropractors play.

What are Orthotics and Why are Specific Orthotics Important to Your Health? The feet are the foundation of the body. They support you when you stand, walk, or run. Feet also help protect your spine, bones, and soft tissues from stress as you move. By stabilizing and balancing your feet, orthotics enhance your body’s performance and efficiency, reduce pain, and contribute to your total body wellness. There are many brands of orthotics out there, but we have found Foot Levelers to be a very specific and individualized orthotic for different structured feet. Most people think their foot only has one arch when there are actually three: the inner arch, outer arch, and across the ball of the foot we have the metatarsal arch. The three arches are interconnected to form the plantar vault. Orthotics is extremely helpful in supporting the foot bones and muscles which mainSERVING ALAMO & DANVILLE SINCE 1979! tains the structure of the plantar vault to balance the entire body.

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What is Cold Laser Therapy and its Benefits? Cold Laser therapy is non-invasive, safe, scientifically, and clinically proven to be highly effective at treating numerous conditions. Cold Laser treatment can help you get out of pain, reduce inflammation, and relieve both acute and chronic types of pain. It speeds up tissue repair by generating new and healthy cells and tissue.

What are the Many Benefits of Deep Tissue Massage Therapy? Although there are many different types of massages, deep tissue massage therapy has benefits that will release toxins within the body, relax the mind, and release tension. Deep tissue massage is perfect for anyone who lives a hectic lifestyle and wants to set some time aside and indulge in relaxation. It can help relax uptight and tense muscles. Muscles that are overly tense over time can actually cause health problems for many individuals. To have your health evaluated by a board certified Doctor of Chiropractic contact Dr Malia Kenny, Dr. Jerry Kenny, and Dr. Angela McCracken at 925-838-9355 for a Complimentary Consultation. Visit our website at kennychiro. com. Our office is located at 185 Front St., Suite 107 in downtown Danville. Mention Alamo Today when you call and receive a Complete Spinal exam and an assessment of all bones and muscles, as well as an orthotics evaluation at NO CHARGE to the first 17 callers. Call Now! Advertorial

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Grief Support Group Helps People Cope With the Death of a Pet When you lose your pet, you often feel like a part of you is lost. The death of your beloved animal companion is one of the most difficult losses you may ever feel. This loss is sometimes made more painful by society’s seeming lack of support for pet grief. Hospice of the East Bay and the Tony La Russa Animal Rescue Foundation is offering a support group where participants can share memories and feelings and talk to others who truly understand and care. The group will begin Tuesday, September 4th from noon - 1:30PM and be offered at the Tony La Russa Animal Rescue Foundation, 2890 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek. Meetings will be held the first Tuesday of each month. For further information and/or to register, please call Bereavement Services at Hospice of the East Bay (925) 887-5681. Preregistration is required. Hospice of the East Bay Bereavement Services are provided free of charge to all community members in need. However, donations are greatly appreciated.

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The Eye Opener By Gregory Kraskowsky, O.D., Alamo Optometry School and Vision It is hard to believe that July is over, and the crazy month of August is upon us. As parents, this is the month with the end of summer vacations, start of practices for fall sports, and back to school. As we all know, this means visits for our kids to the pediatrician, dentist, and hopefully, the optometrist. Good and comfortable vision gives your child the first tool in learning and doing well in school. Since a large amount of learning is done through the eyes, if your child has difficulty seeing the board or their up-close work, they will not start off the school year right. In a pediatric exam, I determine the child’s prescription, eye health, peripheral vision, and eye teaming and movement skill. At a first visit, I also test depth perception and color vision. Here are some common refractive and binocular vision disorders that can hinder vision, and therefore the ability to learn. Myopia is commonly referred to as near-sightedness. That means that, without any correction, a person has difficulty seeing in the distance. This is very common among students, and it tends to progress as the child gets older. Blurry distance vision will hinder things such as taking notes in class, sports, and driving. Myopia can easily be addressed with contacts or glasses. Hyperopia, or far-sightedness, is the opposite of myopia. If you are farsighted, it is easier for you to see distance than up close. Since you need to focus more up close than you do far away, a far-sighted person usually has near-vision problems. Being in a constant state of “focusing” can lead to headaches, eyestrain, and early fatigue. Sometimes the problem is more complicated, but most of the time reading glasses for homework can make a huge improvement. Astigmatism, unlike the prior conditions, typically affects distance and near vision equally. Astigmatism means that the cornea, the clear front part

Road to Healthy Skin Tour Bus Arrives in Pleasant Hill August 8th By Dr. Shanny Baughman Free, full-body skin cancer screenings will be offered by local dermatologists from 10AM – 4PM August 8 th at the Road to Healthy Skin Tour Bus event to be held at the Rite Aid parking lot located at 1526 Palos Verdes Mall in Walnut Creek. Educational material and updates on skin cancer Dr. Shanny Baughman, Alamo and skin cancer protection will be available. The Skin Cancer Foundation began the tour in 2008. The Tour offers free skin cancer screening across the continental United States performed by local board certified dermatologists. These dermatologists volunteer to increase awareness and to detect skin growths that are suspicious for skin cancers or precancers. Since 2008, over 13,000 people in 28 states have been screened. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, “More than 5,200 potential skin cancers and precancers were found, including 239 suspected cases of melanoma – the deadliest form of skin cancer.” Before this year, the closest bus stop was Sacramento, Oakland, or Castro Valley, until Sandy Goldberg, Outreach Manager at Diablo Valley Oncology, invited the bus to make a local stop. Our thanks to Sandy!

Alamo Today ~ August 2012 - Page 27 of your eye, is shaped more oblong or like an egg. Because it is steeper in one direction, when light comes into the eye, it doesn’t come to one single point of focus. It can cause distorted and uncomfortable vision; however, astigmatism is not a disease, and when it is corrected with glasses or contacts, good vision is not a problem. Binocular vision disorders are those that involve the muscles and movements of the eyes, and how well they work together. In addition to having a prescription, all patients including children should have their binocular vision status evaluated. It is quite possible to not have any of the above-mentioned prescription issues, but have poor eye teaming skills. If the eyes are not aligned properly and do not work well as a team, there will be learning and reading issues. These tend to present themselves more for reading than distance, but can definitely affect both. When the eyes do not work as a unit, a child might experience double vision, “stretching” or “ghost images” of letters, skipping of letters or lines of text, eyestrain, headaches, near avoidance, or any combination of these. Depending on the exact diagnosis, the condition can be treated with glasses or vision therapy. I recommend having your child’s vision checked by an eye care professional instead of just relying on a school or pediatrician screening. Most children that need to be evaluated are generally picked up by these screenings, but the comprehensive evaluation I give at the office not only encompasses vision and binocular vision, but it also includes neurological testing, color vision, peripheral vision, and an ocular health examination of both the front and back portions of the eye. We look forward to seeing your students in the office soon. 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.

How to Make the Most of Your Visit If you are concerned about a changing growth, mark it before you come to the exam. Also, remove polish from your fingernails and toenails. The doctor will want to look at your scalp, so wear a relaxed hair style. Now is not the time for cosmetic questions, as this visit is specific for skin cancers. For any questions about your skin or nails please contact Dr. Shanny Baughman at Alamo Oaks Dermatology, 3189 Danville Blvd, suite 130, Alamo, 925- Dr. Kelly Hood, Lafayette 362-0992, shanny.derm@gmail.com or Dr. Kelly Hood, 970 Dewing, Suite 301, Advertorial Lafayette, 925-283-5500, khoodderm@yahoo.com.

What to Expect at the Skin Cancer Screening When you visit the mobile medical office, you will be given a brief form to complete, then you will be taken to one of the two private exam rooms on the Road to Healthy Skin Bus. Next, a dermatologist will look at your skin from head to toe and make recommendations on the form. If a suspicious growth is found, you will be advised to follow up with your dermatologist. If you do not have a dermatologist, a roster of local board certified dermatologists can be found at www.aad.org/finda-derm/. The exam takes about 10 minutes. There will be educational material about performing skin exams at home and sunscreen samples available also.

Is Food a Problem for You? Overeaters Anonymous offers a fellowship of individuals who, through shared experience and mutual support, are recovering from compulsive overeating. This is a 12-step program. The free meetings are for anyone suffering from a food addiction including overeating, under-eating, and bulimia. The group meets Wednesdays at 6PM at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Lafayette. Visit www.how-oa.org for more information.

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Page 28 - August 2012 ~ Alamo Today

Breast Surgery - The Importance of Experience By Barbara Persons, MD, Persons Plastic Surgery, Inc.

CONTRA COSTA ONCOLOGY

With Them

my story Continues.

As women, we know ourselves and our bodies better than anyone else. As we mature, our appearance and our expectations grow with us. Through the processes of motherhood, weight gain, and aging, our breasts will undergo many changes. It is not surprising that breast surgery procedures consistently rank as the most requested procedures by women. Whether you are choosing to have a breast augmentation, breast reduction, mastopexy (breast lift), mastopexy augmentation (lift and augmentation), or breast reconstruction, there are essentials steps and choices that will ensure that you get the result you desire. An important first question is why you want to have the procedure; this type of surgery should be about your wants and needs, not someone else’s. Yes, it’s okay to be selfish in this case! I consult with female patients almost every day for a variety of breast procedures. Their reasons for wanting surgery range from need for greater self-confidence and improved self-image to correcting breasts that are asymmetrical to reconstruction after breast cancer. Our breasts are both physically and emotionally important to our image as women. Making the right choice in a partnership with a plastic surgeon can make all the difference. I strongly believe that you should accept nothing less than a surgeon who is Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Note: It is not the same to claim that one is “Board Certified” in a different medical specialty, or by a board that is AT CONTRA COSTA ONCOLOGY, we are committed to providing WALNUT CREEK not endorsed by the American Board of Medical the highest quality care. Specializing in comprehensive cutting-edge treatment SAN RAMON Specialties. Any procedure involving the breasts programs for all forms of cancer and blood disorders, our nationally recognized demands the highest levels of experience, knowlCONCORD oncology experts and specialized oncology nurses are dedicated to providing edge, care, and understanding. ROSSMOOR the best possible care experience. We understand the wide array of concerns Breast surgeries have always been an imand challenges faced by you and your family, so we ensure the most sophisticated DANVILLE portant focus in my practice, and I am proud of levels of medical oncology and hematology care, while providing you with the the extensive amount of time that I have spent contracostaoncology.com utmost support, compassion, and respect. training and researching breast procedures. After 925.939.9610 my plastic surgery residency, I completed an additional fellowship focused solely on aesthetic and breast surgery. I have presented papers and written chapters in published (sagging) and elasticity of the skin determines the best procedure and affects the textbooks on the topic. I have placed over one hundred pairs of breast implants decision to include augmentation or reduction as part of the surgical plan. So what should you expect when you come into my office for a consultation? in the past year (That is an average of one breast procedure every three days!) Practice does make perfect and breast surgery requires an artist’s touch. I have After taking the time necessary getting to know one another and an examination, had a passion for sculpting the human form for over twenty years. In order to create my goal is to understand your vision and to explain what we can realistically a stunning and life-like sculpture, one must intimately know how the body works achieve before you commit to your procedure. I will review your implant options and how to create natural shapes and curves. My study of sculpting contributes and expertly advise on the best style and size to achieve your goals. As a patient, know that you have options. To get the quality care you deserve, to my ability to place implants aesthetically and use the most appropriate implant there are steps you must take to ensure safety and ultimate happiness. Find a Board style and size for a woman’s body. Of all the breast procedures I perform, breast augmentation is the most popular. Certified Plastic Surgeon who listens to you, who believes they can help you achieve your goals, and who presents you with all the information. Any procedure involving There are several implant options to consider concerning augmentation. Salinefilled implants are silicone shells filled with sterile salt water. Silicone-filled im- the breasts demands the highest levels of experience, care, and understanding. As plants are silicone shells filled with a plastic gel. Several styles of “Gummy bear” always, it would be my pleasure to discuss breast surgery with you in my Lafayette implants, or implants with a form stable silicone gel, are on the market which give office and surgery center. Barbara L. Persons, MD is a Board Certified women another option to consider. Although silicone implants are more expensive, Plastic Surgeon and owns Persons Plastic Surgery, many women believe they feel more natural, as they are lighter and can last longer. Another popular procedure is mastopexy (breast lift). Mastopexy is a proce- Inc. located at 911 Moraga Rd, Suite 205 in Lafaydure to lift the breast and re-position the nipple in order to obtain a more youthful ette. She may be reached at 925.283.4012 or drbarb@ Advertorial appearance. Often, an implant is placed to contour the breast. The amount of ptosis personsplasticsurgery.com.

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My friend Frank called me telling me his blood sugar had jumped from 120 the previous few weeks to the mid 160’s and asked me to recommend a good endocrinologist to prescribe diabetes medicine. I told him, if possible, he should avoid commonly prescribed Watch a short video drugs such as Glucophage since many people report difficult side effects. I often have great success with clients and recommended he work with me before taking any medication. I told Frank that when he wakes up in the morning and has a high blood sugar count, he should go for a brisk 30 minute walk and he will most likely see his blood sugar count drop 50 points. If he does get the blood sugar in the normal range after a walk, he can have one serving of starch such as a slice of Milton’s 100% whole wheat bread, an Orowheat 100% 499B San Ramon Valley Blvd. • Danville, CA 94526 whole wheat english muffin, or a cup of cooked oatmeal with a sprinkle of sweetener such as brown sugar 925-743-0802 • danville.kokoﬁtclub.com and cinnamon or a veggie omelet sprinkled with a little shredded cheese for taste. I stressed the importance of eating protein and fiber with all meals and snacks as a way to prevent the rise of blood sugar. I told him to have no fruit at breakfast and only one serving with either lunch, mid-afternoon snack (an apple and peanut butter are a favorite), or after dinner. Coffee and tea would be fine with low fat milk and but no sugar or Splenda. Frank often goes without a mid-morning snack and then is very hungry for lunch. I said he must eat again at least three hours after breakfast, suggesting a serving of protein and fiber such as peanut butter on celery or an apple, turkey or beef jerky with veggies, sliced meats wrapped around pickles or veggies, cottage cheese and sliced tomatoes, or leftover meat with cucumbers. After discussing his likes and dislikes we decided that for lunch he should enjoy a sandwich on two slices of whole wheat bread or even a whole wheat tortilla with at least 4-6 oz. of meat topped with veggies galore or even drained coleslaw. He can have condiments such as lite mayo, mustard, tapenade, or salsa, but he should stay away from ketchup. Since Frank loves chips, I said he could have a bag of Baked Lays or Sun Chips if he leaves off one slice of bread and eats the sandwich opened face. I also recommended a soup to create fullness without noodles, rice, or potatoes such as gazpacho, tomato basil, or veggie soup. Frank reports he is enjoying Trident Wild Salmon Burgers on Orowheat 100% Whole Wheat Sandwich Thins with pickles, coleslaw, and a tomato soup. For a mid-afternoon snack he can have his serving of fruit, but he should reduce his four small peaches to two. Good mid-afternoon snacks to avoid being famished at dinner include cottage cheese or Greek yogurt with tomatoes, cucumbers and herbs, hummus or hard boiled eggs and red peppers, jicama, and radishes. I told him this is another example of having a protein along with fiber which is so important to keeping the blood sugar stable. Since he eats mid-afternoon snacks now, he is not so famished for dinner and can now have a lighter meal. Frank is now making his lunch the largest meal of the day. I suggested he have a small serving of meat at night and a cup of whole grains like quinoa, brown rice, whole wheat pasta or couscous, barley, bulgar, legumes, or even a six ounce baked potato and large serving of sauteed veggies in olive oil and herbs, or a wonderful salad and an artichoke. Fish is a great selection for dinner, preferably sole, cod, scallops, or shrimp and not the oily fishes like salmon. Frank is enjoying tuna and white bean salad, vegetarian chili, and many entrees with lentils, black beans, and kidney beans. He is even now enjoying 100 calorie frozen desserts after lunch and dinner like fat free Fudgsicles, Creamsicles, and Dreyers fruit juice bars. He is still enjoying his alcohol but keeping to sugarfree mixers. He has cut out sodas and juices and says he doesn’t miss them and has substituted them for Crystal Light, Sugar Free Snapples, and flavored waters. I am glad to inform you that Frank’s blood sugars have stabilized in the 120’s. I know if he adopts a consistent exercise program we will do even better. There is certainly a smile on Frank’s face, especially knowing that he can avoid medication. The good news is that Frank’s visits were covered by his Sutter Select insurance with a small copay. Please feel free to call me at (925) 855-0150 or e-mail me at Lifeweight1@yahoo.com, and tell me about your nutrition concerns. Refer to my website www.LindaRD.com for past articles, recipes, and Advertorial nutrition tips in the blog section.

Free Seminar, Innovations in Diagnosis and Treatment of Back Pain San Ramon Regional Medical Center invites the community to a free educational seminar, Innovations in Diagnosis and Treatment of Back Pain on Wednesday, August 8th from 7:30pm to 8:30pm. The symposium will be held in the South Conference Room in the South Building located on the San Ramon hospital campus at 7777 Norris Canyon Road. Spine Surgeon, Hieu Ball, M.D., will discuss the diagnosis and treatment of back pain, including spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, and sacroiliac joint disease. He will explain that a dull or aching back may cause numbness or “pins and needles” in the legs, calves, or buttocks. Four out of five people will experience lower back pain sometime in their lives. Space is limited and reservations are required. Please call (800) 284-2878 or register at www.OurSanRamonHospital.com on “Find an Event” under Orthopedics.

To place an ad, share a story, or for more information about our papers, call us at 925.405.6397 or visit our website www.yourmonthlypaper.com Diablo Singles Dance Club Diablo Singles Dance Club holds a public dance the last Wednesday of each month from 7:30pm-10:30pm at the Shadelands Art Center located at 111 N. Wiget Lane in Walnut Creek. There is live music, refreshments, and free parking. The cost is $7 for members and $9 for non-members. For information, call 925-837-2851.

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Page 30 - August 2012 ~ Alamo Today

Festival continued from front page from two outstanding California wineries: Cline Cellars and Jacuzzi Family Vineyard. You will receive a commemorative wine glass with your first glass of wine. We’ll also be raffling off some great prizes, including Apple Store and Amazon gift certificates. Dinner and raffle tickets may be purchased in advance from any Alamo Rotary member or by calling (925) 855-1136. For additional information please visit the Alamo Rotary Club website at www.alamorotary.org, or see our Facebook page by searching alamorotary.

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Osage. “It’s a great time to be here, and the company’s great.” The land now enjoyed by the public as Osage Station Park belonged to Danville pioneer, Robert O. Baldwin. The Gold Rush brought Baldwin to California from his native Ohio. By 1852 he was happy to exchange his mining profits for Danville land. Instrumental in getting neighbors to grant right of way through their ranches to the Southern Pacific Railroad, Baldwin set up a flag stop on his own property. Trains only stopped at his Osage Station when the flag was raised. Wanting a remembrance of his home, Baldwin brought seeds for Osage trees from Ohio. Although they bear fruit resembling oranges, Osage trees belong to the Mulberry family. Their fruits are not fit for human consumption, but they have long been used as an insect repellent. Hedgerows of the thorny trees provided natural fencing before the advent of barbed wire. The 35-acre park was designed in 1980 and established in 1982 when the Town of Danville was incorporated. The original plan included four baseball fields, five soccer fields, a children’s play area, four tennis courts and a jogging path. If you are interested in honoring a loved one, there are still 12 memorial boxes available. The cost of $800 includes the plaque with wording of your

Roses continued from page 22 provide enjoyment for multigenerational visitors. “They calm everyone. They stop everyone.” Her advice about pruning is not to worry. “The girls are so forgiving. So you make an error. They’ll come back.” Straying from the path as it continues past the Little League shack into the parking lot accessed from Brookside Drive, you encounter the brilliant mass of red roses dedicated in “Veterans Honor” by VFW Post 75 in November 2000. Lacking dedicated caregivers of its own, the Veteran’s Circle is maintained as time permits by volunteers from the organizations responsible for other areas. Continuing around the park, past the children’s playground, you’ll discover the Alamo-Danville Newcomers area. Tuesday mornings from 9-10am, Dianne Folsom and her crew are busy keeping the beds in shape. Dianne refers to being among the roses early in the morning as a Zen experience. “You feel you are helping to create something beautiful.” That feeling has kept her returning for seven years. New to Danville, Melinda Hoertz-Serpan appreciates the social aspects of the job that allows her to meet and chat with fellow gardeners. Jackie LeJeune, a regular volunteer for Newcomers, has always loved roses and is grateful that the town does all the heavy work. She values her mornings at Rebecca Byrom cares for Osage Park roses.

Danville Garden Club

choice and perpetual maintenance. Periodically the town removes the old frame from around each bed and installs new wood without disturbing the roses. Individual rose bushes don’t live forever. Bare root replacements are ordered in the spring for planting the following year. If the original species is no longer available in the trade, Teixeira selects the rose that most closely resembles it in color, fragrance, and floral form. Replacement of plaques and restoration of beds damaged by a thief two years ago cost the town about $4,000 but netted the vandal very little. A salvage company where he was attempting to sell the plaques contacted the town. Only a few of the plaques were recovered. Unfortunately the tags identifying the rose variety in each box are no longer made, so until a similar product emerges, visitors need to contact John Teixeira to find the name for a favorite flower. Teixeira offers clinics on rose care for park volunteers upon request. In addition to proper pruning techniques, he discusses best practices for feeding as well as pest and disease control. Because so many people come in contact with the park plants, Teixeira avoids spraying. If you are interested in volunteering or want information about the roses, contact John at jteixeira@danville.ca.gov.

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Alamo Today ~ August 2012 - Page 31

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Delta Nu Psi’s Fantastic Helper Three months ago Alex Engberg (pictured at left in the middle) of Boy Scout Troop 803 from Danville contacted Delta Nu Psi and asked if he could perform his Eagle Scout Project for the service sorority. With some guidance from Delta Nu Psi, his troop leader, and his amazing ingenuity, he did an outstanding job to support our service men and women. He was well organized and completed the project quickly and efficiently. Not only did he collect hundreds of items, but he also helped with delivering the items from where they had been gathered, and then he helped take the packed boxes to the post office. Because of the work Alex 925.934.3743 • 925.934.1515 did, Delta Nu Psi will not need www.dumploadsonus.com • www.erecycleonus.com to collect in August. If you have 1271 Boulevard Way, Walnut Creek items to donate, please contact Monday-Friday, 8-5 • Saturday 9-1, Sunday, closed deltanupsi.org.

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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 ____________________________________________________________________

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Sold Price Sq. Foot $ 1,247,737 3,390 $ 1,072,780 3,331 $ 1,500,333 4,214 $ 908,339 2,727

$ Sq. Foot $ 368 $ 322 $ 356 $ 333

With a bit more than half of 2012 behind us, I wanted to review the local Real Estate market in segments and as the sum of its parts. I’ve included a chart for comparison. In our local market, which includes Alamo, Danville, Diablo, and Blackhawk, homes are selling at a rate of about 76 *Single Family Home Sales Excluding Condos. homes per month through July 20th. This is really good news when you consider we still have a Court. This predatory tax will be particularly onerous on those who have owned their homes for difficult employment market, and the government stimulus programs are apparently winding down. a long time and have significant equity stored. Like many retirees in our local neighborhoods, Approximately 35% of pending sales are distressed sales, either bank owned or short sales. No these folks are sitting like targets squarely in the crosshairs of a loaded gun. doubt, they continue to impact local pricing, but this impact may be moderating. Only 17 distressed If you think of the new Medicare tax as a retirement tax, some of the people (homeowners properties are currently active on the market at this time compared to the 56 distressed pending sales and with significant equity) who receive some of the benefit will pay the tax out of the proceeds of 113 distressed sales that have already closed this year. Active distressed properties represent only 10% their home sales. The greater the proceeds, the more they will pay. Nasty, clever and progressive, of the total distressed property market at this time, and I can’t help but see this in a positive light. When this tax is. It is unfortunate, but budget failure of my generation’s government has handed my compared to the total market of sold properties this year, active distressed properties are only 3% of the parents, the long-term home owner, yet another personal financial crisis. It’s simple math, 3.8% total. That is very near a normal number. If it holds, this may help set the stage for higher home prices. of $1 million is a whopping $38,000. There goes my inheritance…and I was counting on that I wrote a few months ago that the market cannot go up until it hits the bottom, and during the money to pay off my student loans. (Just kidding.) first two quarters of this year we have seen stable to rising prices in our local market, particularly in If this is news to you, I recommend calling your accountant to figure out how it might affect Alamo which has climbed 3% over the previous year. Distressed sale prices seem to be rising as well. you and strategize on mitigating its impact. You may yet have time to move out of its way. If you are Properties sold in distress in Alamo have climbed to $310 per square foot, with Danville lagging underwater or treading water, it probably doesn’t matter, since only the gain above the current capital slightly but up by more than 1% over the previous year. There are no distressed properties for sale gains exclusion is taxable…so far. As the market improves, younger folks should be able to time in Diablo or Blackhawk at this time. Distressed or not, demand drives price, and demand has been their real estate moves to minimize its future negative impact. Once in place, that avenue won’t be very brisk this year. Inventory also impacts price, and our inventory levels are about half of what open for current long term home owners with serious equity. They are simply stuck with a great big they were last year. That’s good news for potential sellers, not so good for buyers on the sidelines. bill they had no idea was coming. To heck with political correctness! I think it is dreadfully unfair. Nancy and I just closed a lovely home on Lunada Glen (west side) this week, and we received calls In all seriousness, the market is as strong as we have seen it in a long time. It feels a bit like from three agents while it was pending asking if we are listing any new properties on the west side any time 2004. Interest rates are great, inventory is low, and buyers are out in droves. If you happen by one soon. To me that sounds like there are at least three buyers out there who can’t find the home they want. of our open house signs, please stop by and see us. We would love to meet you. There are probably many more since not every agent would have thought to call and ask. Nancy and I are It’s important to remember that there really is no “average” home, and no two homes are working with two sets of buyers right now in the same fix...ready to buy, but the right home isn’t available. exactly alike. If you would like an honest no strings attached opinion of your home’s current It’s a bit surprising to me that more people aren’t listing their homes given that the 3.8 % Medi- market value and suggestions for getting it ready for market, please give me a call 925-989care Tax on Real Estate Sales appears to be alive through the resuscitative efforts of the Supreme 6086 or send me an email joecombs@thecombsteam.com.

West Side Country Charm

Westside Alamo Single Story

Build Your Dream Home

DI N E P

SOL

Four bedroom country charmer on ½ acre with pool and spa. Granite and stainless kitchen. Beautiful! $1,250,000.

Perfect throughout. 4 bedroom, 3.5 bath. Huge outdoor entertainment area and pool. $1,370,000.

7 acre lot, 11 acre lot, 1.1 acre lot. Call for details and pricing.

Custom Luxury Contemporary

Blackhawk 5 Bedroom

Golf Course Single Story

SOL Dramatic, one-of-a-kind luxury home with amazing views! $1,499,000

5 Bedroom 2 story, immaculate! $1,279,000. We represented the buyer. We have other Buyers.

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.

SOL

Completely renovated single story on Golf Course. $1,399,000 J. Rockcliff Realtors 15 Railroad Ave., Danville CA. 94526