Alamo Today, April 2013

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April 2013 AAUW: Getting Together to Make a Difference

Serving Alamo and Diablo

By Jody Morgan

Our local branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) has been known as a branch “where the action is” since its inception in 1969. Currently called the Danville/Alamo/Walnut Creek Branch (DAW), the group has 286 members dedicated to promoting the national organization’s mission of advancing equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy, and research. Smaller special interest groups within the branch as well as monthly programs give members a chance to socialize and share their personal passions for art, hiking, gourmet meals, literature, movies, mahjong, travel, and many more activities.

Jupiter showing small storms that might be visible on April 20th

The Mt. Diablo Astronomical Society The Stars Belong to Everyone

By Jim Scala

A special tea for new members is held to meet and socialize with our branch members. Pictured left to right are Marilyn McCurdy, Gerry Washalaski, and Norma Spencer. Photo by Dora-Thea Porter.

In the art category, two local branch members have had the satisfaction of national recognition in the AAUW Annual Art Contest, and a third member is about to be officially announced as a winner for 2013. Already posted on the national website as award winners in 2010 and 2011 respectively are Caroline Sanchez’s “Little Italian Shop” and Jan Hersh’s “Good Morning Hibiscus.”

This year Hersh is chairing the second annual branch members’ Celebration of Creativity event scheduled for April 24th. Quilting, poetry, music, crafts, literary compositions, and a variety of visual art contributions will be included.

The only challenge for Hersh will be finding enough time and space to properly showcases all the talent within the group.

Serendipity brought Hersh into the DAW fold. “The minute I purchased my home, the previous owner told me about AAUW and said that I had to join. In 1984, I attended a brunch, and 27 years later I am grateful for all the extra benefits I have gained because of Jan Hersh, 2011 National Award-winning photographer, getting involved,” she wrote in 2011. As taking a picture of her flowering currant. past president of DAW, Hersh likes staying connected “with people who enjoy making a difference both locally and globally.”

Following its founding in 1881,AAUW conducted its first research project in 1885 documenting the then startling discovery that higher education was not detrimental to women’s

Local Postal Customer

Drive up Mt. Diablo on April 20th to the lower summit parking lot to arrive by about 6:30PM for an inspiring evening with the stars. Thanks to the Mt. Diablo Astronomical Society (MDAS), you’ll see the universe as never before, and the night sky will take on new meaning. Many men and women will be standing by their telescopes and at the club’s observatory to show you celestial objects. You’ll see craters of the Moon, the rings of Saturn, Jupiter’s many colored markings along with its moons, and possibly a comet or galactic nebulae. The views will capture your imagination, and the night sky will never be the same again. Every visitor says, “Wow!” at least once during a viewing. At twilight, before observing starts, you’ll be treated to a short talk which this month asks, “Are we alone?” To make the point, some scopes will be set on another solar system – a sun with planets – to add perspective.

You’ll leave around 11PM with new concepts to discuss on the escorted drive down the mountain. You’ll want to return again in May. MDAS got started when the United States planned the Explorer satellites in the 1950s and the agency, that’s now NASA, asked amateur astronomers to help out. They asked amateurs to set up specialized small telescopes – moonwatch scopes – to spot and accurately time the satellites passage by the stars.

These amateurs built and set up the scopes in a precisely laid out pattern so that their timings could be used by NASA to determine the satellite’s orbit.

See MDAS continued on page 24

Alamo Opinion Sought April 23rd on Downtown Intersection Widening Project

On Tuesday, April 23rd at 6PM, at Alamo Elementary School located at 100 Wilson Road, Contra Costa County will host an official meeting for Alamo residents to tell the County what they think about the County’s 1998 list of Alamo Area of Benefit projects. The list includes “Stone Valley Road/Danville Boulevard Intersection Improvements,” Volume XIII - Number 4 the County’s project that would widen 3000F Danville Blvd. #117, Alamo’s downtown intersection.

Alamo, CA 94507 Over the years, the County has re- Telephone (925) 405-NEWS, 405-6397 Fax (925) 406-0547 See AAUW continued on page 17 ceived numerous requests from Alamo residents to eliminate the project from the Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher PRSRT STD Alamo AOB list in order to make it ineliEditor@yourmonthlypaper.com U.S. Postage gible for funding with Alamo AOB funds.

Sharon Burke ~ Writer PAID This meeting will be the second meeting in sburke@yourmonthlypaper.com Permit 263 the County’s process of updating the AOB The opinions expressed herein belong to the writers, and do Alamo CA necessarily reflect that of Alamo Today. Alamo Today list, but it will be the County’s first meeting not is not responsible for the content of any of the advertising ECRWSS herein, nor does publication imply endorsement.

See Meeting continued on page 12

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Page 2 - April 2013 ~ Alamo Today

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By Alisa Corstorphine, Editor

I recently served as a judge of an essay contest. Thirteen individuals took the time to create and submit an entry. Of those thirteen, one, perhaps two, followed all of the submission guidelines. If I had my way, those would have been the only entries which were allowed to proceed.

Allowing entries that don’t follow the instructions sends people the message that rules and directions don’t matter.

The guidelines gave directions as to how the entries needed to be formatted and presented - double spaced, 12pt font, and assembled in a three-ring binder. The rules clearly stated only one entry per person was allowed, however, three of the thirteen submitted two or more entries.

I remember in a high school career class taking a test that looked something like this:

CAN YOU FOLLOW DIRECTIONS?

This is a timed test--you have 3 minutes only!

1. Read everything carefully before doing anything.

2. Put your name in the upper right-hand corner of this paper.

3. Circle the word NAME in sentence two.

4. Draw five small squares in the upper left-hand corner.

5. Put an “X” in each square.

6. Put a circle around each square.

7. Sign your name under the title of this paper.

8. After the title write, “Yes, yes, yes.”

9. Put a circle completely around the sentence number seven.

10. Put an “X” in the lower left-hand corner of this paper.

11. Draw a triangle around the “X” you just put down.

12. On the back of this paper, multiply 703 by 66.

13. Draw a rectangle around the word “corner” in sentence six.

14. On the reverse side of this paper, add 8950 and 9805.

15. Put a circle around your answer, and put a square around the circle.

16. Punch three small holes in the top of this paper with your pencil point.

17. Underline all even numbers on the left side of this paper.

18. Now that you have finished reading everything carefully, do only sentences one and two.

Unfortunately very few people passed the test. Most people rushed through

items 2-17, completely ignoring item number 1, until they got to the last question and said, “Oops!”.

Following directions is a fundamental skill. While it may seem logical, and even straightforward, to follow directions - be they navigational directions, productusage directions, procedural or instructional directions, or cooking directions, some people, when tackling a task, just wing it and hope for the best. However failure to follow directions can be a waste of time, a waste of resources, or even dangerous.

Most directions have been developed so you will know what to do, when to do it, and how to do it right. Baking is a great example to demonstrate the effect of not following directions. If you just lump all the ingredients together instead of following proper temperature, order, or mixing procedures, most likely your creation will flop. If you don’t follow directions when navigating you may never arrive at your intended destination.

In school, following directions is often a component in achieving a good grade. And, most jobs have procedures, manuals, and guidelines that have been developed over years of trial and error to satisfy tasks or requirements that the employee was hired for. In professions such as medicine, following directions could be a matter of life or death.

During Spring Break my daughter and I took a tour of the Guide Dogs for the Blind facility in San Rafael. The visit inspired my daughter to contemplate raising a guide-dog puppy. On the way home she started reading their 250+ page manual, full of directions, on puppy handling and raising. After 70 years of raising guide dogs, they’ve amassed a wealth of knowledge and wrote a comprehensive manual for newcomers to follow which ensures the best chance of success for the puppy, the puppy raiser, the program, and the eventual recipient of a service dog. This wonderful organization offers yet one more example of the importance of following instructions! (If you are looking for a fun, free, field trip check out their program, learn more at www.guidedogs.com).

In this fast-paced world of instant access to information, it’s tempting to assume we know what to do, and don’t need instructions. Rushing through life can lead to adopting a casual attitude toward taking guidance. Taking the time to respect the wisdom of those who’ve come before us is a not only a good idea, it can save your grade in school, your job or career, or even your life. Slow down, read the instructions, and breathe easier.

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Alamo Today ~ April 2013 - Page 3

A Toast to Tutoring

Buena Vista Auxiliary of Assistance League® of Diablo Valley is a nonprofit, volunteer organization that operates the Buena Vista Tutorial Program, an early-intervention literacy program for elementary age schoolchildren in Contra Costa County. To date, the tutorial program has helped over 3,600 children improve their reading skills in a private, differentiated learning environment.

Buena Vista Auxiliary is thrilled to be hosting this year’s “A Toast to Tutoring” event at Round Hill Country Club (located at 3169 Round Hill Road, Alamo) and to be celebrating 25 years of service in our local community.

The event will be held Friday, April 12th from 6pm-10pm and will feature wine and beer tasting, seated dinner, and silent and live auctions.

For more information, please visit www. atoasttotutoring.org.

Alamo’s Top 1% Producers

College is Real Fundraiser & Dinner Dance

Help Richmond High School students “Beat the Odds” on April 27th at the 2nd annual College is Real Fundraiser and Dinner Dance at Round Hill Country Club.

The community event will start at 6PM, and participants are encouraged to dress in Kentucky Derby Style. That means wearing big, fun hats and spring sun dresses for the women and brightly colored shirts/suits for the guys. Of course, all Derby attire is completely optional, but, we will have a judge for some of the best costumes!

College is real helps students apply and get into college. It has grown from 16 students in 2005 to over 100 students in 2012-13. In addition to the 100 students on-campus that CIR serves, 77 students have graduated from the program, and 70 have attended college. Last year over $60,000 was raised for the College is Real Program and there are over 20 new mentors working with Richmond students.

Please help these deserving students beat the odds, and make their dreams of college come true! Purchase event tickets and read more about the College is Real program at collegeisreal.org.

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Alamo Home Sales – March 2013

Bed/Bath List Price Sale Price

35 Austin Lane 5/4½ $1,299,000 $1,299,000 320 Castle Crest Road 5/3½ $1,285,000 $1,272,500 72 Chancellor Court 4/2½ $1,095,000 $1,064,625 2203 Granite Drive 4/4½ $1,250,000 $1,200,000 198 La Colina Drive 5/4½ $1,795,000 $1,820,000 1314 Laverock Lane 4/4½ $1,875,000 $1,825,000 1417 Livorna Road 4/3½ $982,680 $982,680 1601 W. Livorna Road 4/2½ $1,325,000 $1,405,000 35 Mott Drive 5/2½ $1,123,000 $1,133,000 50 Palmetto Dunes Lane 5/7½ $1,900,000 $2,250,000 21 Parlington Court 4/2 $999,950 $915,000 3144 Roundhill Road

4/3½ $750,000 $720,000 3089 Sandstone Road 4/3 $1,725,000 $1,727,000 99 Stephanie Lane 4/2 $1,375,000 $1,260,000 1251 Stone Valley Road

3/2½ $849,900 $769,000 3229 Stonegate Drive 5/3 $1,200,000 $1,100,848 31 Via Alondra

3/2 $799,950 $817,000 All single family homes sold in Alamo 02/21/13 thru 03/21/13

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Danville’s Third Earth Day Event

Join The Danville Library, Town of Danville Arts & Recreation Department, and Sustainable Danville Area as they throw our planet, and our community, a birthday party on Saturday, April 20th from noon - 4PM. The event will be held rain or shine.

The event is family-friendly with free activities, music, and good-eats that take over the town green, the library, the gallery, and the Community Center.

Last year’s Earth Day Student Art Show & Contest was so well received, that every Alamo and Danville K-12 student is invited to participate in the this year’s 3rd annual event.

All students’ artwork will be displayed at The Village Theatre Art Gallery during the Earth Day celebration. A special reception honoring the finalists will be held at 1PM in the gallery.

For info contact Cynthia Ruzzi at (925) 895-5001, or email Sustainable Danville Area at sustainabledanville@gmail.com.

Alamo-Danville Newcomers Club

Please join us at a free Welcome Coffee on Thursday, April 25th, from 10AM to noon to learn about the Club. For more information, call 925-281-1307.

Wind ‘n Sea Sailing Club

The non-profit Wind ‘n Sea Sailing Club is holding a sailing training class at a member’s home in Danville on Wednesday, April 24th at 7PM. This class will be “Introduction to Sailing on the San Francisco Bay,” and it will be followed by further sailing classes. Contact Jan at (925) 837-3381, for further information.

Meals on Wheels

Seniors in your community need your support! Meals on Wheels and Senior Outreach Services has been supporting seniors in YOUR neighborhood since 1968. Two of our programs, Meals on Wheels and Friendly Visitors, rely on the support of volunteers, and we need your help now more than ever. Meals on Wheels volunteer drivers deliver meals to local homebound seniors through regular two hour shifts once per week or as substitute drivers.

Friendly Visitors volunteers provide weekly one-hour companionship visits to isolated seniors. To volunteer for either program, please call (925)937-8311.

Page 4 - April 2013 ~ Alamo Today

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Operation Smile Walk for Kids Fundraiser

Operation Smile is a non-profit organization that provides free surgeries for children who suffer from cleft lip or cleft palate. A child can be saved from a lifetime of pain, shame, and isolation with a 45 minute procedure that only costs $240.

You can support Operation Smile by attending their fundraising Walk for Kids event on Sunday, April 28th. The walk will take place at Dougherty Valley High School, located at 10550 Albion Road in San Ramon, from 8AM to 11AM. Registration for the event costs $20 for students, $35 for adults, and $100 for a family.

To learn more about the Walk for Kids or Operation Smile, e-mail ChildrenSmileCA@gmail.com or visit www.OperationSmile.org/SmileCA5K.

Alamo’s Area of Benefit Study

By Michael McDonald, Chair, Alamo Municipal Advisory Council

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Veterans of Foreign Wars

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW) will be held on Wednesday, April 17th. The VFW Post 75 of San Ramon Valley meets every third Wednesday of the month at the Veterans Memorial Building located at 400 Hartz Avenue in Danville. The building is located on the corner of East Prospect Avenue and Hartz Avenue.

Doors open at 7PM, and the meeting begins at 7:30PM. For more information, contact Post Commander Ernie Petagara at (925) 362-9806. Find out more about the VFW and our Post on the internet at www.vfwpost75.org.

Delta Nu Psi Collections for the Troops

Thank you from Delta Nu Psi to the shoppers in Alamo and Danville. We have sent 26,260 pounds of “gourmet junk food” to our servicemen in the War Zone.

The next collections will occur on April 5th at CVS Pharmacy in Alamo and on April 12th at Lunardi's in Danville. The hours for collecting are 11AM to 2PM at both stores. Along with the “gourmet junk food” we always appreciate money for postage. It costs $1/pound to mail the boxes. Visit our website deltanupsi.org for more information and new photos.

Blackhawk’s New ‘Cars & Coffee’ Events

Beginning on Sunday, April 7th, Blackhawk Museum together with Blackhawk Plaza will be hosting a new monthly Cars & Coffee event for car enthusiasts throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. The event will be held on the first Sunday of each month, starting at 8am. The Plaza and Museum will welcome all car owners and enthusiasts.

The Museum is located at 3700 Blackhawk Plaza Circle in Danville. For more information call 925.736.2280, email museum@BlackhawkMuseum. org or visit www.BlackhawkMuseum.org.

Walnut Creek Garden Club

WCGC general meeting will be held on Monday, April 8th, at 9:30AM at the Gardens at Heater Farm located at 1540 Marchbanks Rd. in Walnut Creek.

The topic for this meeting is “What’s new in Geraniaceae?” Robin Parer will talk about sizzling colors in leaves, flowers and plants for your garden. Robin has owned and operated Geraniaceae Nursery in Marin County for 30 years and has collected and propagated over 500 geranium species, and selected color forms and hybrids. She is a regular participant in the San Francisco Flower and Garden Show.

In February’s issue of Alamo Today, I described the Alamo Municipal Advisory Council (Alamo MAC) that is made up of seven Alamo residents, each with the goal of representing their neighbors’ interests to Contra Costa County. The County makes decisions impacting our community. One of the issues that may affect our town is the Alamo Area of Benefit (AOB) Study. When developers construct homes or office buildings within a community, they pay fees to later help mitigate any additional traffic that impacts the community as a result of that particular development. There are 15 Areas of Benefit in Contra Costa County, one of which is in Alamo. Since September 1985, close to $2 million has been collected from developers who helped create the Alamo we know today.

In 2012, County officials decided to reevaluate all 15 AOB programs to ensure that the listed projects, created to mitigate traffic and improve pedestrian safety, were still vital to their respective communities. Last year the review of Alamo’s AOB list came to the attention of our County Supervisor Candace Andersen. She asked County staff to hold a series of public forums to get input from the people of Alamo about how these funds could best be spent.

On February 26, 2013, County staff held the first of a series of AOB meetings at Hap Magee Park. It was well attended with standing room only for many attendees. An overview of the AOB process was provided by both Chris Lau, a Senior Civil Engineer for the County’s Public Works Department, and representatives from DKS Associates who have been hired to assist the Public Works Department through the update process.

In between this initial meeting and the next one scheduled for April 23rd, County staff will be gathering information to help assess the needs of the community. While traveling through some of our Alamo streets you may have noticed rubber tubes within the roadway. These tubes, along with other tools, help traffic engineers gather information about existing traffic patterns and identify existing and potential future deficiencies.

The second Community AOB Meeting will be held on Tuesday, April rd 23 , from 6PM to 8PM at the Alamo Elementary School cafeteria. A special thanks to Principal Stan Hitomi for offering his school to accomWe’ll Power Wash it for modate what is expected to be you, and blast all of those another large crowd. At this April 23rd meeting County nasty cobwebs from the All outdoor living staff will convey results from eaves of your home at their traffic study, and input areas power washed no additional charge. will be sought from the pubstarting at $249 lic. MAC members, myself included, will be present to • FRIENDLY RELIABLE SERVICE help ensure the questions of the community are heard and • LICENSED BONDED & addressed. I invite you and INSURED #833462 your neighbors to attend with • FREE CONSULTATIONS projects, ideas, and unmet traffic/pedestrian safety needs that you believe should be added to the Alamo AOB list.

If you have any questions about the Alamo AOB or the DECKS • DRIVEWAYS • FENCES • FLAGSTONE April 23rd meeting, please conPATIOS • STUCCO • BRICKWORK • WALKWAYS tact Supervisor Andersen’s ofHOUSING EXTERIORS • OUTDOOR FURNITURE fice at 925.957.8860 or dist2@ bos.cccounty.us. Her staff will 925-953-3537 be happy to assist you.

GET READY STAINED PATIO? FOR SPRING!

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Alamo Today ~ April 2013 - Page 5

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Page 6 - April 2013 ~ Alamo Today

San Ramon Valley Republican Women Federated Property Rights +Water Wrongs = Derailing America!

On Tuesday, April 23RD property rights advocate Debbie Bacigalupi will speak to the San Ramon Valley Republican Women Federated group. Debbie is a sixth generation Californian. Her family members are ranchers and farmers in Siskiyou County and are under heavy environmental attack. She is an avid researcher for truth, and a modern day Paul Revere. Debbie attended the 2012 Rio Earth Summit/United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development.

She speaks on private property and water rights, the attack on rural America, the threats to farmers, ranchers, food, dams, water supply, overregulation, and government corruption. Don’t miss this program!

The luncheon takes place at the Crow Canyon Country Club located at 711 Silver Lake Drive in Danville. Social time begins at 11:30AM. At noon lunch will be served, and the presentation will start. The cost is $25.

For reservations, call Mary at 925-837-5465 or email srvrwf.lunch@gmail. com. Reservations are due by Friday, April 19th. To assure yourself a place at the table, make your reservation early!

For more information about the event or San Ramon Valley Republican Women Federated, please visit www.srvrwf.org.

Blackhawk Republican Women

The Blackhawk Republican Women Federated cordially invites you and your friends to attend their Spring Luncheon on April 17th where they will be celebrating new and perspective members.

The event will be held at the Blackhawk Country Club, located at 577 Blackhawk Club Drive in Danville, with a social starting at 11:30AM and lunch being held at noon. All are welcome to attend.

An added treat for this special social event is Edelweiss Geary presenting the History of the Republican Party. Mrs. Geary is Chair of the Legislative Committee for the National Federation of Republican Women (NFRW). As a student of history and an expert on Republican history, Edelweiss believes it is critical to study the principles the party was founded on and to work to maintain those principles.

To reserve your place at the event, contact Marilyn Bradley by writing 116 Sedgefield Court, San Ramon, CA 94583, e-mailing marebradley@aol.com, or calling (925) 828-2360. Cost is $25 per person. No denim is permitted, please.

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 8

Lost Dog!

$50 REWARD

If you find her and your name is drawn!

Alamo Zoe is Missing

Alamo Zoe has become lost in this paper...

Search through Alamo Today and see if you can find her!

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

Julia Goodman is our winner Upcoming Meetings and Events

AIA - Alamo Improvement Association - Please visit www.alamoca.org for upcoming meetings - Creekside Community Church -1350 Danville Blvd.

Alamo MAC (Municipal Advisory Committee) - First Tuesday of each month 6pm - Alamo 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

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2013 – The Year of the Library

By District 2 Supervisor Candace Andersen

The Contra Costa County Library system is turning 100 this year, and the Board of Supervisors has declared 2013 as the Year of the Library. Since our District has some of the newest and most comprehensive library buildings and programs in the County, I thought it would be timely to highlight some of them and some of the technology used in the County system.

Last year the Contra Costa Library system was one of only ten recipients of the National Medal for Museum and Library Service.

The National Medal is the nation’s highest honor conferred on museums and libraries for service to the community and celebrates institutions that make a difference for individuals, families, and communities.

The Contra Costa County Library is also recognized as a leader among libraries implementing technology. Snap & Go, a mobile application utilizing QR code technology, puts new and existing library content and services into the hands of mobile phone users. The service is designed to satisfy the reading and information needs of County residents at times when their local community library is closed or when they cannot make it into a library building. Another innovation, LINK+ is a great free service you can use to borrow books not available at a Contra Costa County Library. It's a cooperative effort among many California and Nevada libraries. You can use your Contra Costa County Library card to place a hold on up to 10 items that you pick up at your local Library. From the library’s website ccclib.org you can also download e-books and audio books in various formats, and access a significant amount of research materials.

Danville Library - In 2006 the Danville Library celebrated its 10th anniversary at its current location as well as 100 years of library service in the Town of Danville. It houses a strong collection of over 78,000 children’s, teens, and adult materials. Among the many resources available are six catalog computers and 33 public Internet terminals, including an ADA computer workstation. Early Literacy Computers are pre-loaded with many fun and interactive activities for children ages 2-8 to help them develop their reading skills. Library staff regularly offers educational programs for all ages including author presentations, story times, children's performances, computer workshops, book discussion groups and teen programming. The library is also proud of unique services such as Books for the Homebound, Stories-to-Go preschool program, and one-on-one computer instruction.

Walnut Creek Libraries - Walnut Creek is fortunate to have two libraries. The Walnut Creek Library in Civic Park which was built in 2010, and the Ygnacio Valley Library on Oak Grove Road.

The new Walnut Creek library opened in July 2010. It was funded through a private-public partnership, with $34 million from the City of Walnut Creek and $5 million raised by the Walnut Creek Library Foundation. It has a large children’s wing and garden, a Teen Zone, a Business and Career Center, a Technology Center, and three group study rooms. It also has the Oak View meeting room, which seats 150, and the 16-seat Las Trampas conference room both can be rented through the City of Walnut Creek. Special collections include a Russian language collection, and an expanded health and wellness collection funded by John Muir Health. There are 39 pieces of public art and local artists may apply to display their work at the Community Art Gallery.

The Ygnacio Valley Library opened its doors in 1975. It sits on the site of a former walnut orchard. In 2004, the Walnut Creek Library Foundation and Contra Costa County Library worked together to remodel the interior.

It’s considered a popular neighborhood hangout known for its cookbooks, mysteries, and an “Investment Corner.” Their collections have been by enhanced greatly by the Friends of the Ygnacio Valley Library.

All of our libraries in District 2 share the common theme of being built through tremendous support from the community. Each continues to thrive with not only dedicated library staff, but enhanced programs and additional hours of operation thanks to the contributions of time and generous support by Library Friends and Foundations. I offer my very sincere thanks and appreciation to all who make our libraries such an important part of our communities.

Learn more about the libraries at ccclib.org.

editor@yourmonthlypaper.com

Alamo Today ~ April 2013 - Page 7 (which recommends the best fruits and vegetables to buy organic in order to avoid pesticides), and guides on sunscreens, home cleaners and other daily-use products.

Sustainable Danville Area Tip of the Month It’s Time for a Picnic

Picnic on the Green!

It is just two days past Spring Equinox and Mother Nature has spring fever. The poppies are flourishing along with many other colorful blooms. Even after what has proven to be our driest winter, our hills are green. This column isn’t focused on just one Tip of the Month, but it’s more of a picnic – a smorgasbord of “Where to Find Sustainable Tips.”

For almost three years, we’ve shared information on everything from the benefits of biking, to finding and eating local food, to sustainable landscaping, to home energy diets, eco-travel, raising chickens, and using eco-friendly art supplies. These articles are still available to you online from this paper at www.yourmonthlypaper.com/archives. html and on the Sustainable Danville Area website at www.sustainabledanville.com.

I’m often asked to describe what sustainable living is. Simply it’s “making choices that allow our resources to continue to be available for our children and their children.” It is, “ living as though there’s no Planet B.” With this in mind, and in honor of Earth Day (which is celebrated worldwide by hundreds of millions of people in over 184 countries), here are some of our favorite places for information and tips to care for our corner of this wonderful planet.

Gardening - Hands down the Contra Costa Master Gardeners have it ‘going on.’ These trained volunteers are residents of local communities that provide University of California research-based horticultural information to the citizens of California. In addition to hosting local lectures, their website is filled with tips for school gardens, edible gardens, and drought and native landscaping. Visit http:// ccmg.ucdavis.edu for more information.

Composting & Recycling - Central Contra Costa Solid Waste Authority offers terrific information at www.wastediversion.org on where to recycle just about anything.

You’ll also find a calendar for composting workshops, including worm composting!

PG&E - Saving energy in your home is not just good for the planet, it’s good for your pocketbook. PG&E has great tools at http://pge.com/myhome to track your electric and gas usage online. They make it easy to do a self-audit of your home energy to find and prevent energy loss.

Environmental Working Group - The powerhouse site found at www.ewg.org is our ‘go-to’ place for everything. They have a cosmetic database, a Dirty Dozen list

The Cox Team

The Town of Danville, The Danville Library, and Sustainable Danville Area present the 3rd Annual Town of Danville Earth Day Event on Saturday, April 20th from noon until 4pm at the Town Green, at the Danville Library, at the Community Center and at the Village Theatre Art Gallery all located at Front Street in downtown Danville.

The Town of Danville Earth Day event is a free, fun, and informative way for residents and visitors of all ages to learn about green building, sustainable landscape design, solar power, home energy efficiency products, waste reduction, recycling, water conservation, and much more!

Pack your picnic or purchase lunch and snacks al fresco from La Boulange Bakery while enjoying music from local band, Other People’s Money. Play with our Giant Earth Ball, visit with hybrid/electric car and electric bicycle owners, and participate in popular hands-on activities at interactive booths, including: • Get ready to experience nature with Peanuts…Naturally! Fun, creative, environmental crafts and activity stations presented by the Charles M. Schulz Museum.

• Plant a seed to start your summer vegetable garden with The Bounty Garden and Urban Farmers.

• Explore the wonderful world of worms and composting for busy people.

• Make an Earth Day pledge to reduce, re-use, or recycle. See how every choice counts, and help the Earth Day Tree grow! Everyone who adds a ‘leaf pledge’ will be entered into an hourly raffle to win a “Get Your Green On” reusable book bag.

• Afternoon speaker series includes: Green Your Home, Replace your Lawn with Drought Tolerant Plants and Enjoying Local, Organic Foods for a Healthy Planet.

• Be inspired at story time with special tales and eco-friendly ideas to celebrate the Earth all year.

• Measure your carbon footprint.

• Be dazzled by art from local students at the Earth Day Student Art Show in the Village Theatre Art Gallery. (Students: visit www.sustainabledanville.com for details to enter contest before April 5th) • Discover if solar energy is right for your home.

• Try new veggies from Community Supported Agriculture Farms – Full Belly Farms and Doorstep Farmers.

Students from San Ramon Valley High School Environmental Club are hosting free bicycle parking for the event, so please consider arriving on two wheels or by foot as parking is limited for the event. We hope to see you there!

L! IL G! S! !

DH DINFER ON UN EN OF SO ROLE P LE ING P SA LTI OM U C M

R E A L E S TAT E

Kevin, Pat, Wendy & Shiloh

TheCoxTeam.com Pat Cox 925.963.6404 Kevin Cox 925.989.8028 Shiloh Hagen 925.997.3285 Wendy Cox-Hagen 925.997.0923

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Main house offers 4BR/3BA + office. Remodeled kitchen and baths. Breezeway to huge bonus room + 2BR/1BA + home gym + billiards room. Sonos sound system. Parklike yard with lush lawn & garden areas.

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Fabulous 4BR, office, 4BA on ~.49acre! Gourmet kitchen, hardwood flooring, new carpeting, updated fixtures, fresh interior & exterior paint & more! Backyard paradise with pool, spa, waterfall, lush lawn & garden areas, breathtaking views, extensive patio & abundant seating areas!

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Page 8 - April 2013 ~ Alamo Today

Alamo Women’s Club

The Alamo Women’s Club was established in 1916 and is the longest standing service organization in the valley.

The group welcomes members from the Alamo, Danville, and Walnut Creek areas. We invite you to get to know us by joining us at one of our upcoming programs. For more information contact Jeri Strong, jeristrong@gmail.com.

What’s Coming Up

When Ronda Giangreco was faced with the possibility that she might not always be able to walk, she decided to walk to her kitchen. Her determination and humor saw her through 52 consecutive weeks, an entire year, of Sunday night dinners, cooking, eating, and talking with family and friends around “The Gathering Table.” On April 24th she will tell us her story as she shares her book, The Gathering Table. The luncheon begins at 11:30AM. The cost is $20 for members, and $25 for non-members. Checks and reservations for non-members are due by April 17th.

AWC Helping the Community CAT Information Name

Spikeman

Sex

Male

Breed

Tabby

Color

Golden Orange

Age

3 years

Name

CAT Information Hair Short hair

Spikeman Sex Male Markings/ Distinguishing Characteristics: Striped and Spotted

Breed

Tabby

Color Golden Orange Contact Information

Age Name

3 years& Mike Vilbert Kellie

Hair Phone

Short hair 925-855-1018

Markings/ Distinguishing Characteristics: Striped and Spotted E-Mail kkbarnette@rcn.com 306 Las Quebradas Address Contact Information Alamo, CA Name Kellie & Mike Vilbert Phone 925-855-1018 Last Seen E-Mail kkbarnette@rcn.com 306 Las Quebradas Outside Address Location Date 3/16/13 Alamo, 306 Las CA Quebradas Big cat, 16lbs, long hind legs, spotted and striped golden (orange) fur.

Last Seen Location

Outside 306 Las Quebradas

Date

On Sunday, April 21st from 1-4pm come to the AWC located at 1401 Danville Blvd, in Alamo and bring items to support over 15 organizations in our community. Look through your closets and see what you have to donate. For a full list of accepted items please see below, or print out a flyer at www.togetherwegive.org.

Do you Have a Party or Meeting that is Coming Up?

We have a wonderful venue with a kitchen that you can rent. Interested? Have a look at our website Alamowomensclub.org for details. Please contact us for rentals at 925-820-1943 or alamowomensclubrent@gmail.com.

The Alamo Women’s Club presents The Alamo Club presents TheWomen’s Alamo Women’s Club presents The Alamo Women’s Club presents

Together We Give ~ Earth Day Together We Earth Together We~~Give ~ Day Earth Day Together We Give Give Earth Day

Date/Time: Sunday, 21, 1- 4:00pm Date/Time: Sunday, April 21, 1-April 4:00pm Date/Time: Sunday, April 21, 1- 4:00pm Date/Time: Sunday, April 21, 14:00pm Where: 1401Blvd., Danville Blvd., Alamo Where: 1401 Danville Alamo Where: 1401 Danville Blvd., Alamo Where: 1401 Danville Blvd., Alamo How: Drive through and drop off!

How: Drive through and drop off!

How: Drive through and drop off!

How: Drive through and dropDay off!Local Why: Community Donation Benefiting Local Charities Why: Community Donation Day Benefiting Charities Why: Community Donation Donation Day Benefiting Local Charities Why: Community Day Benefiting Local Charities ~Be of anHope~ Angel of Hope~ ~Be an Angel ~Be an Angel of Angel Hope~of Hope~ ~Be an

3/16/13

Big cat, 16lbs, long hind legs, spotted and striped golden (orange) fur.

Bob Shalon, EA

Master Tax Advisor • Enrolled Agent

925.820.9570

714 San Ramon Valley Blvd, Suite B, Danville Sycamore Square (next to Lucky’s)

bob.shalon@tax.hrblock.com

Requiem for a Heavyweight

Join Role Players Ensemble (RPE) as it transforms the Village Theatre located at 233 Front Street in Danville, into a 1950’s Television Studio and performs Requiem for a Heavyweight April 26 - May 18. This multimedia homage to the early days of live television will feature not only the original TV drama but the experience of being in 1956 during the birth of television’s modern culture!

For tickets, visit www.villagetheatreshows.com, call (925) 314-3400, or stop by the Community Center located at 420 Front St. For more information, visit www.danvilletheatre.com.

How can you Howhelp? can you help?

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Please note, since this is an item-specific drive, only items (not impacted by smoking) be below will be accepted. accepted.  New/unused yarn (any type), knitting looms for hats/scarves, hat/scarf patterns for Knit For The Kids accepted.  New/unused yarn type), knitting looms for hats/scarves, hat/scarf for Knit For The Kids New/unused yarn (any type),(any knitting looms forbins, hats/scarves, hat/scarf patterns forpatterns Knit For The Kids  Bikes/protective gear (helmets/pads), storage DVDs for Young Adults, educational CDs/DVDs, gardening kits  New/unused yarngear (any(helmets/pads), type), knitting looms forbins, hats/scarves, hat/scarf patterns for Knit For The Kids Bikes/protective storage DVDs for Young Adults, educational CDs/DVDs, gardening  &Bikes/protective gear (helmets/pads), storage bins, DVDs for Young Adults, educational CDs/DVDs, gardening kits tools, suitcases, large duffle bags and backpacks, sports equipment, arts & crafts supplies, radios with CD player,  suitcases, Bikes/protective gear (helmets/pads), storage bins, DVDs forequipment, Young Adults, educational CDs/DVDs, gardening & tools, suitcases, large duffle bags and backpacks, sports arts & crafts supplies, radios with CD pl & tools, large duffle bags and backpacks, sports equipment, arts & crafts supplies, radios with CD player, board games – ages 10-18, bath/face/hand towels, hair care products, digital cameras, clock radios, MP3 Music & tools, suitcases, large duffle bags and backpacks, sports equipment, arts &clock crafts supplies, radios with CD pla board games – ages 10-18, bath/face/hand towels, hair care products, digital cameras, clock radios, MP3 Musi board games – ages 10-18, bath/face/hand towels, hair care products, digital cameras, radios, MP3 Music Players, non-perishable foods, gift cards for Youth Homes – Foster Care board games –foods, ages 10-18, bath/face/hand towels, hair care products, digital cameras, clock radios, MP3 Musi Players, non-perishable gift cards for Youth Homes – Foster Care Players, non-perishable foods, gift cards for Youth Homes – Foster Care  Vintage items, linens, jewelry, fashion accessories, housewares for Hospice of East Bay Players, non-perishable foods, gift cards for Youth Homes – Foster Care Bayof East Bay Vintage linens, jewelry, accessories, housewares for children’s Hospice East  items, Vintage items, linens,fashion jewelry, fashion accessories, housewares forof Hospice  Jewelry, quality fashion accessories, perfume, holiday collectables, books, small and unique home and  items, Vintage items, linens, jewelry, fashion accessories, housewares for Hospice ofbooks, East Bay  garden Jewelry, quality fashion accessories, perfume, holiday collectables, children’s books, and unique home and home a Jewelry, quality fashion accessories, perfume, holiday collectables, children’s small and unique toys and games, new twin size bedding (blankets, sheets, bedspreads, small pillow covers, mattress garden toys and games, new size (blankets, bedspreads, pillow covers, mattress  items, Jewelry, quality fashion accessories, perfume, holiday collectables, children’s books, small and unique home an garden items, toys and games, newbedding twin size bedding (blankets, sheets, bedspreads, pillow covers, mattress covers), new towels, BART tickets fortwin STAND! For Families Freesheets, of Violence covers), “sunshine new towels, BART forconcern STAND! For Families Free Violence garden items, toys and games, newfor twin size bedding (blankets, sheets, bedspreads, pillow covers, mattress covers), new towels, BART tickets STAND! Families Free of creams, Violence  Useable gifts” – a tickets token of for Seniors –For packs ofofcards, hand etc., clean/used sleeping  bags, Useable “sunshine gifts” – a token Seniors – packs of cards, hand creams, etc., clean/used sleeping covers), new towels, BART tickets for STAND! 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For additional information, Singh at momshouseinc@ymail.com or go to For additional contact Pamela at momshouseinc@ymail.com or go to the most current Donation www.togetherwegive.org receipts will beinformation, provided –for all donations are Singh tax information. deductible per government guidelines.

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editor@yourmonthlypaper.com

Alamo Today ~ April 2013 - Page 9

Rancho Romero Elementary School

Alamo Elementary School

By Skye Larsh-Faraghan, Principal

The end of the second trimester occurred on March 1st. It was followed up by Parent Conferences. Springtine conferences differ from fall conferences in that the students do much of the talking and reflecting. Research shows when teachers guide students in assessing their own learning the students assume greater control and responsibility for their academic performance. Additionally, parents, teachers, and students engage in open and honest dialogue that presents a clearer picture of progress. Approximately 85% percent of Rancho Romero families participated in conferences.

The San Ramon Valley Education Foundation recently extended the opportunity for schools to recognize one staff or community member deserving of accolades for a significant contribution during the current academic year. This nomination honors a Shining Star from each school in the SRVUSD. Every teacher, support staff member, para-educator and parent volunteer has made a significant contribution in moving us toward our goals and ensuring the success of our students. It is because of our constellation of Shining Stars that we have exceptional teaching, specialized programs in art, music, technology, library, PE, and science, and academic, social and behavioral interventions. It is because of our Shining Stars that we are implementing new strategies matched with Common Core Standards, differentiated instruction, and challenge-based learning. Without question, the effort, dedication, and professionalism exemplified within the school community deserves recognition and celebration.

However, with a chance to honor one of the Shining Stars, 5th grade teacher, Marisa Henrichs, was nominated. Ms. Henrichs has demonstrated innovation, willingness to participate and experiment in activities that serve as a schoolwide model, and she has assumed various leadership roles at the school and in the community. In the words of a colleague, “Ms. Henrichs goes above and beyond what is expected of her. Her dedication to her job and eagerness to always be the best teacher possible are exemplary.” Congratulations Marisa.

Thank you to all of our Shining Stars. You illuminate the lives of children.

KidsReads Launch Party

Kick-off “KidsReads 2013” with a special launch party at the Blackhawk Plaza Rotunda on Saturday, April 6th from 1-3PM. Join in for a scavenger hunt, fun prizes, exciting puppet show, face painting, and treats for the entire family! Celebrate the start of KidsReads featuring the book, Louella Mae, She’s Run Away, by Karen Beaumont.

Contact the Danville or San Ramon Libraries for more information about KidsReads 2013 events. KidsReads is sponsored by the Friends of the Danville Library, San Ramon Library Foundation, and the Blackhawk Plaza.

Learn more about the KidsReads event and how you can participate in the Young Writers Challenge for a special prize.

Gold Coast Chamber Players

Gold Coast Chamber Players will double in size to present American Frontiers on Saturday, April 13 at 7:30PM at the Lafayette Library, 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd. in Lafayette. Composer, Alan Louis Smith will give a preconcert talk at 7PM that will provide insight into his music.

Reserve your tickets at www.gcplayers.org or by calling (925) 283-3728.

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By Stan Hitomi, Principal Here we Grow!

With the arrival of spring, there is a lot going on at Alamo School. Our science classes helped in cleaning up our flower beds and preparing them for spring planting. Our “Spring has Sprung” planting event was a huge success! The flowers and other plants that were planted during the event have brought our Teaching Garden back to life. The “Happy Diggers” included Tyler and Hayden Long, Katelyn Walsh, Mimi and Sam Gonsalves, Jonathan Castignini, Siena and Jordan Vu, Eli Volk, and Alekos Dermetzis.

Helping our students grow in another way was by their performances at our annual Talent Show. The theme was the “‘A’ (Alamo) Factor.” It was a magical night, with over 40 student acts and a very special treat from the staff. A big “Thank You” to Kristin Iribarren, Heather Morgan, Tamara Bowers, and Anabelle Galera for a wonderful Talent Show.

Our classrooms are also busy with activity this spring. Our first graders recently participated in “Manners Tea,” where they practiced what they learned about manners and etiquette during a formal dining experience. Our second graders will be performing their annual musical on April 26th, while our third graders will be attending field trips to Forest Home Farms and the One Room School House.

For our 4th and 5th graders spring means “outdoor education.” Our 4th graders will be spending 3 days / 2 nights at Camp Arroyo in Livermore. At Camp Arroyo our students learn about nature and what they can do to help the environment, but they also learn a lot about themselves. Our 5th graders will be heading for a new outdoor education experience this spring at the NatureBridge Program on the Marin Headlands. They will spend 4 days / 3 nights on the shores of the Pacific Ocean, at the site of a historic WWII military post. Our 5th graders will study environmental science, learn teamwork, and strengthen their connection with nature.

This month we are also recognizing some of the outstanding students and staff that we are fortunate to have here at Alamo School. With the help of the Alamo Rotary, each year we recognize a student and an educator of the year. This year’s student of the year is Emily Hora. Emily is a 5th grader who excels both inside and outside of the classroom. This year Emily was a finalist in our annual spelling bee, served on student council and performed in the annual talent show. Our educator of the year is Mrs. Summers. Mrs. Summers teaches first grade, coordinates our Student Success Team (SST), and leads the RtI (Response to Intervention) program - which she designed and implemented.

This year, the San Ramon Valley Education Foundation (SRVEF) is providing each school with the opportunity to recognize an exemplary member of its community with a “Shining Star Award.” Gayle Hughey, our beloved office manager, has been named Alamo’s Shining Star and will be recognized at the “Night with the Stars” dinner on April 30th at Diablo Country Club. Gayle wears many hats at Alamo School. She takes care of the many bumps and bruises that come into the office, answers parent questions, and manages many of the business aspects of the school. Most of what she does is “behind the scenes,” but there is no hiding what she does for all of us each and every day!

Important Dates

April 18 Alamo School Chorus @ Mauzy School April 26 Second Grade Musical, 7PM – MPR April 30 SRVEF “Night with the Stars”, 6PM – Diablo Country Club

Child Abuse Prevention Event

Child Abuse Prevention is the national program of the Exchange Club. The National Exchange Club operates over 100 Child Abuse Prevention Centers (CAPS) and affiliates throughout the U.S. that provide parenting information, advice, and referrals to various family services.

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and Saturday, April 20th is Child Abuse Prevention Day. The day will be observed at Lunardi’s Market, north entrance on Railroad Ave. in Danville, from 9AM to 12PM. Parents are invited to bring their children to be fingerprinted by the Danville Police Auxiliary and to pick up pamphlets containing advice on all kinds of parent-child issues.

There will also be a big red fire truck and a small petting zoo with a pony ride provided by Little Red’s Barnyard Friends. Exchange Club members will be handing out Child Safety Information Kits to parents.

For more information, contact Chairperson Alicia Watson at 838-7570, or Mrs.W@comcast.net, or visit srvexchangeclub.org.

Page 10 - April 2013 ~ Alamo Today

Stone Valley Middle School

By Shaun K. McElroy, Principal

The new Common Core State Standards (CCSS) are the primary focus of all educators across the nation. Below are examples of the Stone Valley’s implementation for CCSS.

Inside the Common Core Classroom

During the week of March 19th, I had the opportunity to “play teacher” in an 8th grade science class and teach a lesson on stellar cartography. I used a lesson that I developed when I taught astronomy as a science elective in the 1980’s here at Stone Valley. I know that reviving a lesson from 20+ years ago does not seem like progress, however, we needed to remake the lesson to fit the CCSS norms.

Earlier this year we had several teachers demonstrate and perform an “extreme lesson makeover” to adjust to the CCSS format, so that was the methodology we applied to this lesson. I started the process using the lesson plan format from the New Teacher Center (www.newteachercenter.org) and peer reviewed the lesson with two other teachers. Here’s the breakdown of the lesson components: • Aligned the lesson with the next generation science standards.

• Created an introduction that activates students prior knowledge.

• Incorporated a student movement activity.

• Technology components – back channel communication (www.todaysmeet.com), Bluetooth sound system, PowerPoint, and document camera • Added a range of depth of knowledge questions from 1-4, 4 being the most difficult.

• Decreased teacher talk and increased student exploration – also used Bluetooth sound system for individual feedback on inquiry questions.

• Allowed for maximum partner interaction – prompted students to “make some noise” in their discussions.

• All students were asked to complete a performance task.

• Created a level of intellectual struggle.

• Again, activated prior knowledge as part of the solution.

• Began instruction at the door with a handshake and eye contact.

• Created closure and review with a writing and drawing assignment that had the students: (1) Explain what they learned, (2) Ask questions or make connections to other learning. (3) Talk about how they thought what we did today will connect with what we might do tomorrow, and (4) Create a visual example to help them remember what they learned.

Teachers were invited to observe and provide feedback of the lesson.

First Ever Family Math Night Yields a Large Crowd

On Wednesday March 13th Stone Valley math teachers Wendy Nacamu, Chris Sherwood, and Jenna Ray packed the Multipurpose Room with 130+ students and parents for our inaugural Family Math Night. The large crowd was treated to a variety of math mediums such as paper and pencil, board games, manipulatives, and electronic devices which were all geared to create a higher level of math understanding and appreciation.

The end of the evening featured pizza (pi), soda, salad, and the now legendary Jello pi symbols.

Incorporating multiple methodologies and formats for solving math problems is also part of the CCSS process. The family math night concept is a product of our partnership with the Silicon Valley Math Initiative.

Learn more at www.svmimac.org.

SRVUSD Prepares all District Staff for CCSS Implementation

On March 7th and 8th all SRVUSD staff engaged in professional collaborations around CCSS implementation and culturally responsive teaching practices.

SRVUSD CCSS resources can be found at https://sites.google.com/a/ srvusd.net/common-core. Information about culturally responsive teaching practices can be found at http://culturallyresponsive.org.

The move to CCSS will lead to significant and substantive change in classroom practice for our learners.

If you have any questions about any of our programs please contact me at smcelro@srvusd.net.

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San Ramon Valley Republican Women Federated

The San Ramon Valley Republican Women Federated Club recently supported two local community organizations. In mid-February, the club donated five patriotic books to San Ramon Valley High School in Danville for their “Read Across America Day” book drive. The school then donated the books to their sister school, Peres Elementary School, in Richmond. Also, at the last general meeting, $410 was collected and donated to the local chapter of Blue Star Moms.

SRV Republican Women are offering scholarship opportunities for graduating high school seniors and continuing college students. The application deadline is April 15, 2013. Please visit www.srvrwf.org and click on “information” to learn how to apply.

The Club is also sponsoring a trip via Amtrak to the State Capitol building in Sacramento for “Advocacy Day” on April 9th. High school juniors and seniors will learn how legislation works and how to exercise one’s rights as a voting citizen. Included are lunch and a tour of the Capitol. For information, go to www. srvrwf.org and click on events, or email Linda Sanchez at sybols@hotmail.com.

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Alamo Today ~April 2013 - Page 11

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Monte Vista High School

By Janet Terranova, Principal

School spirit and pride are always evident at Monte Vista.

A walk through our campus will find signs advertising club meetings, sporting events, musical and play productions, and lunchtime happenings. We are a typical high school campus, with typical high school activities, but March 5th was far from a typical day at Monte Vista. If you visited our campus on that day you would have seen teenagers at their best, demonstrating a real understanding of Monte Vista Pride: Respect, Responsibility, Empathy, and Integrity.

On March 5th, Monte Vista hosted a Special Olympic Basketball Event. Athletes from Charlotte Wood, Iron Horse, and Windemere Middle Schools as well as schools outside the San Ramon Valley Unified School District participated in a morning of learning and playing. Students from Monte Vista’s Special Education Club and other interested students organized a wonderful day for the athletes. Our students organized the games, volunteered as referees, taught students basketball skills, organized the teams for play, and kept the athletes entertained and excited to participate. Our robotics class brought down their robot that shoots baskets and our wheelchair bound students played basketball using the robot to help them play.

What made the day even more special for the athletes, and a real learning experience for our students, was the opportunity students had to be part of the audience. Led by our own Monte Vista Cheer squad students clapped and cheered the athletes’ success. Many teachers signed up and had their classes watch the games. The entire 10th grade class came to cheer on the athletes.

During Monte Vista’s basketball season the enthusiasm, pride, and noise generated by our students is deafening. The Cheer squad urged the students in the audience to cheer the athlete’s attempt to score, not necessarily the result. I am so proud of our students, they cheered and clapped for every attempt. On this day the noise level for the athletes was far louder than any regularly scheduled basketball game. Every Monte Vista student in gym was engaged in cheering on the athletes. There was no apathy among the spectators. On this day our students learned about empathy, they learned how attention to others and giving back to others is more satisfying than they ever realized. And the athletes – seeing their smiles and pride made the students day.

If you want to know more about Monte Vista and our activities, please visit www.mvhs.schoolloop.com.

2395 Monument Blvd., Suite J Concord (925) 680-4433 (Across from Costco Gas Station, next to Harvest House)

San Ramon Valley High School

By Ruth Steele, Principal

We are now ¾ of the way through the school year with just 10 weeks left until graduation.

The time has flown by and at this point we are planning for next year and laying in place many of the structures that will help us move into 2013-2014.

So what has been going on at San Ramon Valley High School during the last seven months?

Construction of our pool finished in February and the pool was opened in time for the start of swim season which was wonderful. Our teams have been without a pool for the last couple of years and being able to host events will be very exciting. This summer, our football field bleachers are being replaced and other campus wide improvements, including the quad redesign, will be unfolding.

In academic terms we are changing direction to embrace Common Core and the Smarter Balanced Assessments which will provide opportunities for a large shift in terms of student learning. The movement away from STAR testing to a more problem solving, critical thinking model of learning can only help students as they prepare for college and the world beyond high school.

We are creating a 21st Century Learning Foundation that will help support significant technology integration into our classrooms. There are also many different initiatives in place for next year that will support student learning by providing intervention programs. The Century Learning Foundation, along with our other Booster groups will play a crucial role in funding the amazing programs that make SRVHS such a uniquely successful place. The parent and community support at SRVHS is something truly special and as this school year draws to a close it has become increasingly clear to me how fortunate I am to be an educator in this valley.

Finally, one of our outstanding teachers was recently recognized as SRVUSD Secondary Teacher of the Year. Mrs. Cindy Egan has been teaching at SRVHS for the last eight years following a 25 year career as an Environmental Engineer. Cindy teaches engineering and AP Environmental Science as well as being a leader in the Sustainable Danville organization and advisor to our E2 club. She will be moving on as a candidate for Contra Costa County Teacher of the Year. Her commitment to our programs and dedication to our students is unequivocal and we are very fortunate to be able to call her a Wolf!

Page 12 - April 2013 ~ Alamo Today

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Meeting continued from front page

to officially receive comments from residents about projects they want or don’t want on the list. The County says the AOB program is “designed to improve the capacity and safety of the arterial road network” and “AOB funds will be used to fund projects that are listed on the AOB project list.”

The downtown intersection widening project on the Alamo AOB list would act as a companion project to one that would “improve” (widen) the I-680 ramps at Stone Valley Road. The ramp widening project is now funded at $2.9 million on the project list of the Southern Contra Costa Regional Fee Fund, established in 1996 by the County, Danville, and San Ramon. If both ramp and intersection widening projects were implemented, they would welcome new freeway traffic into Alamo – with no new road space for where the new traffic could go.

For more information, visit www.contracosta.ca.gov/?nid=393.

Kitchen Tour

Lafayette Juniors will hold their 14th Kitchen Tour on Saturday, May 18th, from 10 to 3pm. Tour six Lafayette kitchens from farmhouse rustic to Mediterranean.

The tour benefits New Day for Children, CoachArt, Contra Costa Interfaith Housing, the Lafayette Library and Learning Center, and We Care. Tickets are $40 ($30 tax deductible), with a box lunch available for $12. Purchase tickets online at www. lafayettejuniors.org or from Douglah Designs and Premier Kitchens in Lafayette. am

Garden Tour

The Danville-Alamo-Walnut Creek American Association of University Women’s (AAUW) 13th Annual Garden Tour will be held Friday, May 10th and Saturday, May 11th from 10AM - 4PM. Tickets are available at www.aauw-daw.org and East Bay Flower Company located at 206 Sycamore Valley Rd.W in Danville.

Proceeds benefit aspiring women scholars. AAUW advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy, and research.

Alamo Sheriff’s Station Staffed and Ready

The Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Station, located in the Alamo Shopping Center, is now staffed with volunteers to assist you Monday through Saturday from 8am-5pm, and Sunday from 8am-12:30pm. When closed, citizens can use the outdoor red phone for all emergency and non-emergency calls.

For help or information, call (925) 646-6180, or visit the office at 150 Alamo Plaza #C.

“St. Paddy Day” celebration with the ABC (Alamo Boys Club). ABC is a group of independent guys who have been meeting for breakfast at the Alamo Café for over 20 years. They describe the Café as, “Kind of like stopping by your Mom’s house.” Most members are long-time business owners representing many different trades. As noted by member Mark Mullins, “We regularly solve all the world’s problems each morning as well on pick on one of us unmercifully.” The group meets 4-5 times a week from 7:15AM until 8:30AM (although some come for breakfast seven days a week!), and has been gathering for over 20 years. Ten to 15 members show up consistently and another 5-10 show up once or twice a week. After breakfast everyone is off to their job site or office.

The group is currently in the middle of their “Spring Jinx Speedo Contest” which is a three month weight loss contest. They also have a Super Bowl party, celebrate birthdays every once in a while, and have an annual party to celebrate Christmas and honor any coffee shop guys that have “tipped over” during the year.

Pictured left to right are Scott Ferriera, Greg Kent, Larry Fish, Lance Pierovich, Mark Mullins, and Jim Howe.

editor@yourmonthlypaper.com

The NEW

Alamo Today ~ April 2013 - Page 13

“Buy It NOW”Program

Broadway Blitz! with the Blackhawk Chorus

The Blackhawk Chorus announces Broadway Blitz!, a concert of music from the very best of modern Broadway. Shows will be performed at Dublin’s Resurrection Lutheran Church on Saturday, May 11th at 7pm and at Livermore’s Bankhead Theatre on Sunday, May 19th at 3pm.

“Broadway Blitz!,” features the full 140 member Blackhawk Chorus accompanied by its outstanding jazz quintet. The Broadway musical is still the gold standard in musical theatre and “Broadway Blitz!” highlights some extraordinary music and lyrics from recent Broadway hits. The Blackhawk Chorus has included a selection of songs from Les Miserables in this program. Beauty and the Beast is also highlighted with a medley of the key songs in this fabulous production.

Then there’s Mamma Mia! from the ABBA musical of the same name, “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life” from Spamalot (and originally from the Monty Python movie Life of Brian), “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” from The Lion King and much more. This is yet another in a series of cannot miss Blackhawk Chorus concerts that will attract music lovers of all ages.

Tickets for the Resurrection Lutheran Church concert are available by calling the church office at 925-828-1580, Monday – Friday, 9AM to 1PM. Tickets are $25 for adults and $12 for children 12 and under. The Church is located at 7557 Amador Valley Boulevard in Dublin. Tickets for the performance at the Bankhead Theatre are available from their website www.mylvpac.com, or by calling 925373-6800. Bankhead tickets are priced at $25 for adults and $17 for children 12 and under. The Theatre is located at 2400 1st St., Livermore.

For more information visit www.blackhawkchorus.com.

Danville Community Band Spring Concert

Join the Danville Community Band as it travels through 200 years of American music classics and marches on with their concert, “Americana,” to be held on Sunday, April 14th at 2pm.

The performance will be held in the main gallery of the Blackhawk Auto Museum, located at 3700 Blackhawk Plaza Circle, Danville. Come see the fabulous auto galleries, tour the current exhibits, and enjoy a concert.

The concert is FREE with Admission into the Museum (free for museum members). For more information please call 925-736-2277 or visit www. blackhawkmuseum.org, or www.danvilleband.org.

Tax Talk with Bob

Withdrawals from Qualified Plans – What You Need to Know

By Bob Shalon, IRS Enrolled Agent

These last three plus years have been extremely difficult on everyone. Very few of us have escaped without making adjustments to personal long term investment plans – out of necessity. Life goes on despite the economy and we all have to live.

During these years withdrawals from qualified plans (IRA, 401K or Pension) have become common. The tax consequences of these withdrawls have unfortunately been a surprise to many of my clients, which is why I wanted to share my observations.

Withholding federal and state taxes is essential. Here are a list of possible effects.

• If you are below the age of 59 1/2, you are subject to an additional tax of 10% Federal and 2 1/2% State. Having 10% withholding, which I commonly see, only covers the penalty – IT IS NOT ENOUGH! • The withdrawal amount adds to your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI).

This has many ramifications. Increasing your AGI can cause phaseouts of otherwise applicable tax credits such as the Child Tax Credit, and various valuable Education Credits such as the American Opportunity Credit, the Lifetime Learning Credit, and the Student Loan Interest Deduction.

I recommend withholding 25% from any distribution you take from a qualified account. Call your tax professional and ask what the effect would be on your tax return so that you are prepared.

There are several exceptions to the Early Distributions Penalty depending on a taxpayers situation. Early distributions are reported on a 1099R and carry a distribution code “1.” This automatically causes the penalty to kick in. Make sure you tell your tax professional what you used the distribution for as it may qualify for the exception without you knowing it. There are ten exceptions to the penalty.

Now it is time for me to get back to work as I brace for the final three weeks of tax season. I have loved every minute.

Please call me at any time at 925-820-9570 or email bob.shalon@tax. hrblock.com with questions. Advertorial

Page 14 - April 2013 ~ Alamo Today

Quick Trips

By Linda Summers Pirkle Sacramento Historical Rose Garden

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I like cemeteries. I have some favorites; Mission Dolores Cemetery in San Francisco, our own Alamo Cemetery, Rose Hill in Antioch, the Presidio in San Francisco, and of course Pere Lachaise in Paris. Each sacred place has its own personality and is worth a detour on any day trip. April is a great time to visit the Sacramento Historic Rose Garden Cemetery (www.OldCityCemetery.com), which is a 10 minute drive from the Capital building in Sacramento. The historic rose garden in the cemetery is in spectacular full bloom in the spring.

I heard about the Sacramento Rose Garden Cemetery on a NPR show a few months ago, and immediately I wanted to visit it. My husband and I stopped in the Visitor Center in Old Town Sacramento and asked for information about the garden. This is not a destination that many tourists ask about, and it took a few moments for the clerk to locate it on the map. A kind woman who happened to be in the Visitor’s Center and identified herself as a third generation Sacramentan offered insight and directions to the garden. It was originally a beautiful Victorian garden cemetery and is now known as the repository of heritage roses from all over California. In 1992 the City of Sacramento set aside three acres of the cemetery for the rose garden. Cuttings from plants found in historic sites, pioneer cemeteries, and homesteads throughout California were brought to the Sacramento cemetery. There are nearly 500 rose plants in the garden, and according to the brochure on the Old City Cemetery, it is recognized as one of the best gardens featuring roses of the 19th century. It received the Great Rose Garden of the World award from the Great Rosarians of the World in 2009. The roses in bloom are magnificent!

Besides roses, The Sacramento Historic Cemetery is home to over 25,000 “residents,” many of them early pioneers from all over the world. Notables are Mark Hopkins (1815-1887) and William Stephen Hamilton (1797-1850), son of Alexander Hamilton.

I spoke to Megan Crose, Park Maintenance worker at the Cemetery. She noted, “There are so many wonderful places to explore here as we encompass twenty eight acres. People are welcome to bring their lunches and enjoy the surroundings at our picnic tables and benches. My personal favorite areas are the perennials gardens, the life-size monuments area at the 9th Street Gate, and the Bettencourt Fountain area.

It is beautiful all year long. The Archives Building, also known as the Old Chapel, has a beautiful stained glass window.”

Public, private, and school tours are available with the docents who staff the Archives Building, or you can get a copy of self guided tours and walk the garden on your own.

On April 20th, an “Open Garden” day is scheduled from 9:30AM - 2PM. This yearly fundraising event offers the public a chance to purchase cuttings from some of the roses in the garden. The garden has some truly unusual propagations; roses from a Mandarin’s Garden in Old China and Empress Josephine’s famous 18th century French garden are planted in the Old City Cemetery.

The Sacramento City Rose Garden Cemetery is open daily 7AM - 7PM. They are closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

If you go on a Sunday, schedule your departure in time to bypass the Tahoe traffic grid that starts at around 2PM. Their phone number is (916) 264-5621, and their address is 1000 Broadway, Sacramento.

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 trips, either for groups or for friends and family. “If it’s a trip for my husband and me, my husband drives and I talk (he’s a captive audience) – the perfect combination! What a great place to live, so much to see, so much to do.”

To share your “Quick Trips” ideas email Coverthemap@gmail.com.

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Page 16 - April 2013 ~ Alamo Today

Life in the Alamo Garden

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By John Montgomery, ASLA, Landscape Architect

Celebrate Spring!

By John Montgomery, ASLA, Landscape Architect

This rainy season has been a little finicky. Winter was early and cold and spring is really here, or NOT! These days, sometimes it’s hard to tell. If you look closely in the garden at the trees, shrubs, and perennials you’ll see the glory of spring quietly emerging from the cold and wet. The beginning of spring is one of my favorite times in the garden. I love to observe the new and fresh leaves bud from dead and deciduous branches, bright new lime green leaves stand out against older darker green ones. I like to watch how quickly daffodils, jonquils, and paper whites (Narcissus) push their fresh long leaves through the decaying leaves and mulch to bloom with bright and cheery colors. The days are warming, the sun is shinning, and like clock-work life in the garden labors to show us the glory of spring.

There are some plants that you might have noticed that are the first to declare the beginning of spring. Trees like Cercis occidentalis (Western Redbud) blooms lavender flowers on smooth gray branches before leaves form, Magnolia x soulangeana (saucer Magnolia) blooms huge tulip-like pink to white flowers on deciduous branches.

Shrubs like Daphne odora (Winter Daphne) with its intoxicating fragrance fill the air. Azalea, and camellia are first to transition to spring. Vines like Hardenbergia violacea ‘Happy Wanderer’ (Lilac Vine) weave a lively trail of lilac flowers. Perennials like Iberis sempervirens ‘Snowflake’ (Candytuft) trails profuse white flowers over the ground and one of my favorites, Veronica umbrosa ‘Georgia Blue’ (Speedwell), bloom profuse cobalt blue flowers as winter fades out. Other great note-worthy spring blooming trees are Pyrus calleryana ‘Redspire’ (ornamental pear), Magnolia stellata (Star Magnolia), and Prunus serrulata ‘Shirotae’ (Flowering cherry).

After a long winter’s nap we long to connect with nature to rejuvenate, relax, recreate, and renew ourselves. A garden is one of those places that has the gift to touch all of our human senses - sight, smell, touch, sound, and taste. Wandering through a beautifully designed Alamo garden allows the senses to be stimulated by wonderful visuals, fragrances, textures, sounds, and tastes that nature can offer.

As the spring days grow longer and warmer more and more of our favorites come to life! You will see green fresh leaves popping from trees like birch, crape myrtle, Japanese maples, and dogwood. Then come along the old fashion classics such as roses, lilac, iris, lavender, flowering quince, Snowball Viburnum and the butterfly bush. There are too many wonderful spring plants to name in one article.

A hot tip from your local Landscape Architect - For the last three years I have announced my garden tour fundraiser in this article. I’m sorry to say that this year I will be taking a break from the fundraiser. I look forward to seeing you all turn out next year! Thank you for all of the fundraiser support over the last three years!

Gardening Quote of the Month - “Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” - Melody Beattie If you would like me to write on any particular subject email your ideas to jmontgomery@jm-la.com or for design ideas visit www.jm-la.com. Advertorial

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editor@yourmonthlypaper.com AAUW continued from front page

Alamo Today ~ April 2013 - Page 17

health. A 2010 AAUW study entitled Why SO Few? Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics speaks to an issue DAW addresses by sending local middle school girls to Tech Trek, a weeklong summer science and math program held on college campuses. Tech Trek captures the attention of girls at a vulnerable age when many abandon science and math as “nerdy” pursuits. In 2012 DAW scholarships sent 13 local students (selected by a DAW review board from candidates recommended by educators) to Tech Trek.

DAW past president Teresa Cheung credits AAUW with raising her consciousness of women’s issues and giving her the confidence to make something happen within her own professional organization: the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE). Invited as president of the Northern California chapter to give the 1994 welcome address at the national convention, Cheung decided to make her words count. At the time there were 200 AIChE fellows of whom only two were women. Instead of the expected speech thanking everyone for their help with the table arrangements, Teresa challenged the group to take action. “ Whether it is within our AIChE Council, in academia or Mary Mix and Marcia Steinhardt were the first co-presidents of the in the industry, when there are more role models for our girls, everyone will benefit.” Cheung’s role in establishing a Danville-Alamo Branch after the Danville-Alamo-Walnut Creek permanent Women’s Institute Committee is recognized on AIChE’s website as one of its 40 Mileposts of Professional Branch was established in 2010. Photo by Dora-Thea Porter. and Institute Progress.

Marianne Gagen, another DAW past president, served on the SRVUSD Board for 12 years. She writes: “My experience with AAUW was very instrumental in giving me the skills and self confidence to run and become a school board member. The leadership skills that were modeled by other members were invaluable. I learned how to set goals, to run meetings, to work with people of differing ideas and perspectives, and to study issues in a comprehensive way.”

In addition to actively supporting local schools, DAW gives merit-based scholarships to local women entering their junior year in college or engaged in post-graduate programs. Last year seven of the overwhelmingly qualified applicants were chosen as scholarship recipients. As Kathie Hixon, also a DAW past president, explains: “It’s not about the dollar amount but about recognizing the value/ merit in each of our women recipients. This is empowering.” DAW’s Holiday Home Tour finances both Tech Trek and local scholarships.

The community benefits twice over: viewing homes exquisitely appointed with seasonal décor and rewarding local women pursuing their educational dreams.

As part of the local branch’s achievements, DAW has raised nearly $400,000 since 1969 to fund issues for women locally, nationally and around the world. Donations from branch members as well as funds raised by the annual May Garden Tour placed DAW second in the nation for 2012 branch contributions to the AAUW National Funds. Save the dates for this year’s tour on May 10th and 11th.

Members join AAUW for a variety of reasons. Asha Bajaj wanted “to be part of a community of like-minded people with some larger purpose fostering equity and providing meaningful conversation.” As a DAW past president, she enjoys being part of a group that is “local, but with a global reach.” The upcoming program on Women’s Issues in Africa on April 13th focuses on the global interests of local members. For information on attending as a guest, contact Membership Chair Tena Gallagher Tena@aol.com.

Tena Gallagher has served in many positions since joining DAW. She originally became involved while seeking a social group when her youngest child entered kindergarten. “As a past president, I have seen what a gathering of goal oriented women can accomplish when we are all working toward the same goal: Making the world a better place for women and girls, whether it’s our grandmothers or our granddaughters, ourselves or our daughters.

Current DAW President Holly Sauer is a relative newcomer to the branch. “I joined AAUW because I was looking for something valuable to do, where I could meet people and become involved in our local communities. The branch offers many opportunities to become immediately involved as much or as little as a member would like. I appreciate the generosity and warmth of our members, and I feel that every member is valued for however much they can contribute and participate.”

When Marcia Steinhardt moved to Danville, she joined the local AAUW branch because she wanted “to meet like-minded women who promoted education.” She readily admits, “I had no idea how

See AAUW continued on page 26

Page 18 - April 2013 ~ Alamo Today

Tree of the Season

Japanese Maples

By Blaine Brende & Joe Lamb

Japanese maples have an elegance and sculptural quality that resembles dance.

Careful study of their form, in any season, can call the viewer back to the natural world. In winter, the falling leaves raise the curtain on the form of the trunks and put the dance on center stage. Winter rain intensifies the show by adding a sensuality to the movement of stem and bough, one that beckons to even the unpracticed eye. In spring, certain varieties of Japanese maples send out new leaves so bright a green they appear lit from within. In summer, upright cultivars that are well pruned have spaces between the branches, giving the canopy the appearance of being composed of many floating islands. And in fall, Japanese maples mark the change of season by turning colors ranging from yellow to scarlet, depending on the variety of maple; there are many varieties.

Luckily, Japanese maples are relatively easy to grow and relatively tough. In their long evolutionary dance–fossilized maple leaves date back over 60 million years–Japanese maples have developed the genetic information necessary to protect them against most common garden afflictions. They are, however, subject to verticillium wilt, a soil-borne fungal disease that can cause dieback, and sometimes death. There is no known cure for verticillium, but you can decrease the likelihood of your new maple getting the disease if you 1) don’t plant it in ground known to have verticillium, 2) make sure the soil around the tree is well drained so that the roots don’t remain soggy throughout the winter, and 3) protect the tree against environmental stresses by giving it summer water and keeping it well mulched. Maples can grow and remain healthy in gardens with a history of verticillium. If they are not stressed by soils too damp, too dry, or too compacted, some individual maples can thrive even though a near neighbor may die. It depends on the genetics of the individual. If your mature maple shows significant dieback, it may be fighting a case of verticillium. It is not necessarily a death sentence. Some trees succeed in fighting off the disease.

Clip Notes

By Jody Morgan

As chief botanist of the California Geological Survey, William Henry Brewer collected specimens and recorded his findings in suitably dry scientific detail.

With friends and family he shared the sensory delights of his travels. In his letters collected and published as Up and Down California in 1860-1864, Brewer describes camping at Major Russell’s farm before making his initial ascent of Mount Diablo in September 1861. Russell’s big white barn still stands at Forest Home Farms on San Ramon Valley Boulevard. “The San Ramon Valley, west of Mount Diablo, lay at our feet,” Brewer wrote, “the richest and most lovely I have yet seen in the state. It is all held in farms, where wheat is grown, and crops of over sixty bushels per acre are expected – they sometimes rise to over ninety – such crops does this state produce!”

On May 2, 1862, Brewer contrasted Mount Diablo’s “brown, dry, dusty and parched” September vistas with the landscape’s vivid verdant spring outlook. “Flowers in the greatest profusion and richest colors adorn hills and valleys, and trees are of the liveliest and richest green.” Approaching the mountain from a different perspective on May 7, he related: “First, up a rocky wild canyon, the air sweet with the perfume of the abundant flowers, the sides rocky and picturesque, the sky above of the intensest blue.”

Mary Bowerman’s study of Mount Diablo began in 1930 with her senior project for UC Berkeley, the year Brewer’s alma mater Yale first published his entertaining epistles. Many of the mountain’s wildflowers had already been named for Brewer by the time Bowerman began cataloguing their locations.

Among those currently listed as rare, threatened, or endangered is a species of Red Maids (Calandrinia breweri) and several species documented by Brewer, but not named for him such as Mount Diablo Fairy Lantern (Calochortus pulchellus) and Mount Diablo Jewel Flower (Strepthanthus hispidus).

A “colonizer” of disturbed areas, a more common species of Red Maids also found in the Diablo Wilderness (Calandrinia ciliata) was an important food source for California’s native tribes. The young greens taste like arugula and were consumed fresh or cooked like spinach. The shiny black seeds were

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You can help them recover by pruning out the deadwood and improving the soil environment by mulching and aerating.

Though some varieties can withstand full sun, Japanese maples do best in part shade. They do not thrive when exposed to the drying effect of constant wind. If you live on an exposed hillside, it is best to plant them in the lee of a larger tree. Dieback in Japanese maple crowns often is the result of too much sun, too much wind, or the even more deadly combination of the two. Maples need water. Keeping them moist throughout the summer and fall, and into the early winter in dry years, will make them happier and more disease resistant.

Pruning, besides benefiting the mental health of the pruner, can enhance the grace of the plant. If your pruner is an artist, removing deadwood and teasing apart the plant’s natural layering opens little windows that reveal and accentuate the tree’s natural form. A well-pruned tree looks as if it hasn’t been pruned.

Paradoxically, it looks more natural after pruning than before. Though it is sometimes necessary to lower the crown of a maple, as when it is beginning to block a treasured view, lowering should be done only when necessary, and the lowering should not be so drastic as to involve topping cuts (see the article on topping). Lowering a maple to gain a view is not something that you can do just once. Pruning down the crown stimulates new growth, and maintaining the view or the size reduction, will require yearly pruning. No matter how good the artist, you can’t make a topped maple look as good as a natural tree.

Much pruning, and therefore expense, can be avoided by planting the right variety in the right place. When planting a new tree, plant a cultivar that won’t exceed the desired height when it matures. This is almost always preferable to containing a variety that will grow beyond the desired size.

It is our hope at Brende & Lamb that the pleasure our clients derive from their well-pruned trees exceeds the considerable pleasure we get from revealing the beauty inherent in their trees.

If your trees need a little TLC, please call 510-486-TREE (8733) or email us at bl@brendelamb.com for a free estimate. Additionally, go to our website www.brendelamb.com to see before and after pictures, client testimonials, and work in your neighborhood.

Advertorial dried for storage or parched over hot coals before being ground into an oily meal and formed into balls or cakes. Archeological evidence indicates that some tribes used the seeds as ceremonial offerings. Insects, small mammals, and birds also find the seeds tasty.

Bowerman, co-founder of Save Mount Diablo, spotted the magenta flowers of Brewer’s Red Maids while hiking in Back Canyon on May 2, 1979.

Heath Bartosh, botanist and Save Mount Diablo Board member, describes Mary’s particular fondest for the area: “I suppose Mary’s affection for Back Canyon is due to the wonderful native plant diversity it supports. Here you can find deep shaded canyons, impenetrable chaparral, and open scree slopes.

These habitats intersect along Back Canyon trail and present an up close and personal introduction to much of the mountain’s flora.” Included among the rare treasures encountered here is Mount Diablo Fairy Lantern, also known as Mount Diablo Globe Tulip. Endemic to the Diablo Range, this lovely lady of the lily family lights shaded spots along the trail with dangling golden blossoms. Although endangered in its native habitat, this perennial bulb can be grown in a variety of soils and is sometimes available from online native bulb purveyors.

Back Canyon is nestled between Meridian Ridge and Eagle Peak where the Mount Diablo Jewel Flower is occasionally seen. Brewer was lucky enough to discover it there on May 14, 1862. Although almost a foot tall in full bloom, this diminutive annual is easily overlooked when the stalks of violet flowers are not in evidence. Hence trampling hikers pose a major threat to the endangered annual’s existence.

By contrast, Black Sage (Salvia mellifera) is not shy about showing off.

Also found along the Back Canyon trail, it reaches the northern limit of its native habitat on Mount Diablo, but it grows well as a tall background shrub in local gardens. Loosely translated, the botanical name means “health-giving honey-bearer.” The flowers yield marvelous honey. Native Americans supped on the nutritious nut-flavored seeds and sipped Black Sage tea to treat a variety of ailments. They ground the pungent leaves and stems and boiled them in water before adding them to baths to soothe the aches of flu or arthritis.

To participate in the free May 5th Bringing Back the Natives tour of local gardens featuring native plants, visit www.bringingbackthenatives.net.

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Crowded Wi-Fi

Alamo Today ~ April 2013 - Page 19

By Evan Corstorphine, Portable CIO

Wi-Fi has come a long way in the last few years.

As recently as 10 years ago, wireless networking was a luxury reserved for very early innovators. Today, wireless networking and the devices that use it are as ubiquitous as payphones used to be. We’ve even become a little spoiled, expecting that when we go to a restaurant, airport, hotel, or even a city street in some locations, we will have broadband Wi-Fi access and be able to get to the internet just like we can at home.

One of the limitations with Wi-Fi is that there are so many devices vying for a connection, that the frequencies are becoming crowded. A simple analogy is listening to your favorite radio station, but it keeps fading in and out because a neighboring station is so powerful.

Wi-Fi crowding is most evident in congested urban areas. Two examples are business parks with multi-story buildings and scores of tenants, or densely-packed environments such as around UC Berkeley where you’ll find hundreds of wireless hotspots. If you are one of the people residing in these congested areas, I can predict with certainty that your service has become more unreliable, and your actual network throughput speeds have tanked due to having so many people trying to use a very limited set of radio frequencies. All of this is invisible to the ordinary person trying to use their computer, unless they have special tools to “see” the wireless network.

Most people think it’s their equipment or their internet provider that is the problem.

Some of our most challenging Wi-Fi clients are the Greek System houses at UC Berkeley. They have the most intense network requirements of any of our clients, residential or commercial. Evenings are when their networks are most stressed, and it stays that way until about 2AM. Most of these homes have invested in basic off-the-shelf Wi-Fi equipment to provide service to their seventy or so high-volume residents. When Wi-Fi was less common it was OK to address their complex, high-volume Wi-Fi situation with low-end equipment, but now it’s definitely not enough. What they couldn’t know is that their neighbors would eventually crowd them out. There are so many sororities, fraternities, and general apartment dwellers in their densely packed urban environment that their Wi-Fi signals have effectively been jammed. Everyone is affected.

To analyze networks you need the right tools. Last year we purchased a special tool called a spectrum analyzer, which we use to perform Wi-Fi site surveys.

We observe how many networks are in a given area, how strong they are, and what types of interference is affecting them. Wi-Fi is a very fragile and “polite” protocol. By that I mean to say that if you and your computer are conversing with the Internet, and someone else is using the same frequencies on another Wi-Fi access point, you have to share that slice of the radio spectrum. When you get too many access points trying to share a limited radio space, the network speed available to any user decreases dramatically. You can have the fastest internet connection with Comcast, but if you are connecting to it through a congested Wi-Fi network, it’s going to seem slow or jerky.

You shouldn’t spend money until you have the facts about what’s going on.

Once we perform a wireless site survey, we can advise with certainty about how to proceed. There’s a new class of network equipment available, called “dualband Wi-Fi.” In layman’s terms, it means that the new access points and wireless routers have a second radio built into them, which operates on a different set of frequencies. They’re not all created equally, and off-the-shelf equipment doesn’t compare to the higher end equipment we recommend. All new laptop, tablet and smart-phones are able to use the new dual-band radio frequencies. The new frequencies are not congested like the old frequencies, and you don’t have to do anything special to use this capability. If a dual-band wireless access point or router is available, your equipment already knows how to take advantage of it.

There are many factors involved in a successful network environment, and this is just one aspect. Having your Wi-Fi network squared away is definitely one of the biggies.

If your network equipment is over four years old, or you’ve been noticing slower connection speeds and throughput, it might be time to “listen” with the spectrum analyzer to see what is going on. If you need new equipment, Portable CIO has partnered with Wi-Fi hardware vendors that we know will provide reliable and robust products.

Networking is tricky, and it saves time to have an expert accurately evaluate your situation. If you’d like to have your network reviewed, contact the friendly staff at Portable CIO via email at helpdesk@theportablecio.com, or call 925552-7953. Advertorial

Our Chamber distributed Business Directories to all Alamo residents receiving Alamo Today.

Each Directory lists all members by categories, business names, and company names. Many members can also provide you with a printed copy — Or, visit our Website to read a copy of the Directory on-line.

Join us at our April 24th Mixer at Don Jose’s Mexican Restaurant, 3168 Danville Blvd. Time: 5:30 - 7:00 p.m.

ALAMOCHAMBEROFCOMMERCE.COM

www.shopalamo94507.com

Fine Mexican Dining

743-8997 In Stone Valley Shopping Center

Enjoy Our Patio Dining Monday - Saturday: Lunch and Dinner Sunday: Dinner only We Offer a Full Bar and Lounge 3168 Danville Blvd, Alamo Margaritas are a House Specialty

Page 20 - April 2013 ~ Alamo Today

Solar Currents

By Mark Becker, GoSimpleSolar

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Alamo Police Services District P-2, Zone B

In my view, inspiration is what makes the world go round. InspiDeputy Michael Carson, Alamo Resident Deputy, activities for ration generates creativity, concepts and ideals. We’re all inspired in February 2013 different ways. In these articles, I’m inspired to write about my pas- Deputy Carson Completed: sions, typically energy and the need for transparency in the contract164 Calls for service • 8 Moving citations • 3 Reports • 24 School ing process. This month I’d like to focus on the interaction between security checks customer and contractor, the creation of mutual trust and good will. Deputy Carson Responded to or Conducted Merchant Choice: Merchants with storefronts, high quality cus57 Alarm calls • 1 Disturbance of the Peace • 2 Found proptomer service ratings, and excellent company performance history erty • 2 Lost property • 2 Suspicious circumstances • 3 Service naturally have a higher cost of business. If implemented properly, the higher cost of doing business results in happier clients. Happier clients to citizens • 1 Vandalism • 1 Alcohol sales to a minor • 4 Identity result in more business for the service provider. In a perfect world, consumers recognize added thefts • 4 Petty thefts • 3 Auto Burglaries • 2 Residential burglary value, and they are willing to pay a small premium for high quality service and products. Busi- • 1 Battery • 1 Drunk in public ness owners and salespeople recognize some prospective customers will “shop” their business, If I Were a Thief Program 225 Streets covered • 86 Flyers distributed gleaning data and knowledge, with ultimately no intent to do business with them because of the higher end cost associated with the service provided. Competing for business is a necessary Reported Incident part of sales. Customers who prioritize seeking the low cost provider should respect that service • Alamo Plaza - Burglary, Auto - Deputy Carson responded to providers with excellent ratings and excellent products will rarely be the low cost provider. a reported Auto Burglary in the Alamo Plaza. The victim returned Integrity in the purchasing process is a two edged sword. to her vehicle, finding the driver door lock had been “punched” and I’m typically not a conspiracy guy, but PGE has given millions of dollars to researchers who items stolen from the vehicle. There are no known suspects or indehave come to the conclusion that solar projects provide negative value to non-solar customers. pendent witnesses. This is an onging investigation.

A Lawrence Berkeley Lab study came to the opposite conclusion.

• Davey Crockett Ct. - Grand Theft from Vehicle - Valley Oil companies and solar: Chevron, Mobil, and Arco have acquired solar manufacturers, and Station Deputies responded to a reported Grand Theft from a then they’ve subsequently shuttered them. Recently, French oil giant Total acquired a majority Vehicle. The victim had left her purse and other personal items stake in Sunpower, Inc. Hopefully history won’t repeat itself.

Now that the international solar “playing field” has been leveled, the largest Chinese manu- in her unlocked vehicle. During the night, unknown suspect(s) facturer, Suntech, has filed for bankruptcy. It seems that the tariffs imposed by the International entered her vehicle and stole the items.

• Danville Blvd. - Burglary, Residential - Valley Station Trade Commission and Department of Commerce for illegal dumping and government subsidies Deputies responded to a reported Residential Burglary. The rear have had their effect. Proof positive: America can and will compete when trade is fair and free.

Negotiation: After performing some research and deciding on a provider, should you ne- door of the home had been kicked in, and entry was made. Pergotiate on price, and if so, how? In the contracting business, we’ve been subjected to many sonal items were stolen from the home. Evidence was collected.

• Stone Valley Way - Burglary, Residential - Valley Station Depudiffering negotiation tactics.

There are certainly ways to improve your chances of being successful in negotiations. If ties responded to a reported Residential Burglary. The front door of you’re seeking lowest cost, get bids from lowest cost providers. They’re the lowest cost provid- the home had been forced open, and personal items were stolen. ers for a reason (Read the reviews and find out why). If you’re seeking savings from a reputable Deputy Mike Carson is Alamo’s full time resident deputy. His posicompany, recognize that many businesses leave little on the table to negotiate with; providing a tion is funded by Alamo’s P-2B police services district, which includes detailed and price sensitive proposal is necessary up front in order to be able to compete. Beware approximately 60% of Alamo household. District households pay an “outlier” proposals until understanding is gained. $18 annual parcel tax plus a portion of the 1% property tax. The Alamo Tactics: Negotiation comes very easily to some, and for others, it’s an awkward conversa- Police Services Advisory Committee advises Sheriff David Livingston on tion. Recently a prospective customer asked me in final negotiations, “Is there any way we can the resident deputy and his services. The Committee is composed of Alamo save some money?” This was a legitimate question and well presented. This customer was residents within the district and it meets on the first Monday of each month responsive and respectful during the bid process. That customer got a discount on the spot; it pm was clear to me that it would be a pleasure to work with them. Another customer who had his at 5 in the offices of the Alamo Chamber of Commerce, located at 120B mind made up (unbeknownst to me) for us to install his solar project offered us 10% less than Alamo Plaza. Alamo citizens are welcome to attend the meetings. the contract cost. A bit stunned by his over-reaching, I countered with our best offer back to him and validated our counter-offer by outlining why we wouldn’t go any further down in price. We had a mutual agreement within minutes. Another prospective customer, whilst shopping around and relying on the industry experts to do every bit of his research for him, would continually assure us that he was “not asking to lower the price” but perpetually would attempt to whipsaw one contractors Purveyors of classic, exotic, and price and products against another’s. Competition is a good thing, however this passive aggressive manipulation high-performance cars for more than 30 years. was disrespectful and disingenuous. His approach was California’s #1 Classic Car Dealer apparent, although he was certain he was hiding it well.

Over 200 vehicles in inventory!

Good businesses/customer relationships provide mutual long-term reward for both consumer and business. Allow the business to earn your trust, and don’t squander the opportunity of mutual trust. Businesses must sometimes be choosy about their customers as well.

Mark Becker is the President of GoSimpleSolar,

by Semper Fidelis Construction Inc, a Danville based Solar Installation Firm (License 948715). Mark can be reached at 925.915.9252. Visit GoSimpleSolar’s showShowrooms in Pleasanton, Benicia, and Fairfield. room at 114 West Prospect Avenue in Danville or www.

GoSimpleSolar.com, or email Mark@GoSimpleSolar. www.SpecialtySales.com | 800.600.2262 com. Advertorial

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How Important is Your Title?

By Robert J. Silverman, Attorney at Law

OK, for starters, the headline does not refer to your job title. Rather, I’m referring to the manner in which you hold title to your home, vacation property, and/or investment real estate you may own.

If you own at least one piece of real estate, and you know how you took title, I applaud your knowledge.

If you hold title in an optimal (rather than a far more common) manner, I congratulate you for your wisdom!

This article will explore alternatives to titling and focus on the choice that is likely optimal. Of course, what is best depends on your particular facts and circumstances. Furthermore, it may be prudent to hold title to some properties in a different manner than others.

When you were in the process of buying your property, you were probably asked by at least one person (e.g. your realtor, loan officer, or escrow officer) how you wished to hold title. When asked this question, the eyes of many buyers glaze over. Often, buyers answer this question with one of their own, such as, “What are my choices?” or “What do you recommend”?

Advice about this subject from even the best, most well-intentioned real estate professionals (who are not lawyers) is incomplete, at best. In fact, they may refuse to give you any advice about this. Many standard real estate contract forms include bold warnings such as “The manner in which you hold title has serious legal and tax consequences…” Knowing what these consequences are and obtaining legal advice about them is fairly uncommon, but it is useful.

Typically, unmarried buyers simply take title in their own name (e.g. “Jane Roe, an unmarried woman”). For unmarried people who are co-purchasing equal interests in a property with one or more others, the most common ways of holding title are: 1) as “tenants-in-common” or 2) as “joint tenants.”

As a tenant-in-common, you can dispose of your interest on your death by Will to whomever you want. Alternatively, joint tenancy carries with it “the right of survivorship” (“R.O.S.”). This means that, upon your death, the entire fractional interest you owned in the property is automatically then owned equally by the remaining co-owner(s), regardless of what your Will states.

People are occasionally confused by this joint tenancy vs. Will distinction, and this confusion sometimes leads to unintended consequences. Some single people

Alamo Today ~ April 2013 - Page 21 hold co-ownership interests in joint tenancy when it’s not consistent with their wishes. Perhaps they were ill advised or their situation changed after they bought the property, and they don’t understand the ramifications.

Joint tenancy trumps a Will. Suppose John owns a property with Jane in joint tenancy, but John’s Will states that on his death, everything of his goes to Bill. On John’s death the property will not go to Bill; it will go to his joint tenant, Jane (by virtue of the R.O.S. feature).

In California, if you’re married, you have several additional choices. These include “community property”; and “community property with right of survivorship.” The vast majority of married property owners hold title in either joint tenancy or one of the community property forms. So, these methods of holding title are popular, but are they optimal? Usually they’re not.

The R.O.S. feature tends to be highly touted because it’s very simple and straightforward when one joint tenant (spouse) dies. As I’ve explained, title immediately vests in the surviving spouse. But both joint tenancy and community property (with or without R.O.S.) have a major shortcoming for married couples.

On the surviving spouse’s death, the asset will be subject to probate.

As many people have heard or read, probate – a court-supervised estate administration process – is very expensive, inconvenient, takes a long time, and is public. The alternative is to establish a Revocable Living Trust. Holding title in a living trust is almost always optimal for both unmarried and married property owners because property titled in a living trust is statutorily exempt from probate. Trust administration is typically less expensive (often dramatically so), more convenient, less time consuming, and is handled privately.

So, the “bottom line” is that your title is meaningful, and it should not be taken casually. If you don’t hold title to your property in a living trust, for the above reason (and many others), you should give it serious consideration.

I would be happy to email or mail you a free “Estate Planning Primer” if you contact me and request one. Among other estate planning issues, a significant portion of the primer is dedicated to the benefits of a living trust.

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

Page 22 - April 2013 ~ Alamo Today

Financial Planning for a Divorce Brought to you By Peter, Jim, Paul, and Bob

In conjunction with Spectrum Wealth Partners, a division of Lincoln FinancialAdvisors, a registered investment advisor.

When you're preparing for a divorce, it’s crucial to review your budget and expenses. After separating, most ex-spouses will try to maintain their former lifestyles, only now the same income will need to cover two separate households. How do you manage cash flow appropriately to meet your and your ex-spouse’s individual circumstances?

The goal is to arrive at a fair solution. But remember, ‘fair’ is a relative term and depends on the circumstances. In some cases, it may mean assets are divided 50-50 and in others it could be 70-30.

Asset Division

Since you may need to liquidate an asset after the divorce is final to cover your expenses, you should be aware of any extra costs associated with the asset. Your advisor will begin by examining all your marital assets, to get a clear picture of their characteristics, such as tax basis, surrender charges, and termination fees.

In addition, it’s important to consider your liabilities, such as mortgages and credit card debt, or even contingent ones such as any pending lawsuits. Your financial planner can help you to evaluate certain restrictions that may apply if an asset must be unwound. For instance, a fractional share in a business may lose most of its saleable value. Or, a spouse who is not licensed cannot operate half of a professional practice. One creative solution might be for one spouse to maintain the business, while the other party receives additional cash as compensation.

Changing Circumstances

When planning for a divorce, you will also need to get a clear grasp of what the future is likely to hold. Cash-flow projections can help provide some confidence that a divorce settlement will remain fair and viable in the years to come. Some possible eventualities to bear in mind include: * How retirement will affect cash flow, including alimony payments. * How a change in career might affect overall income. * How disability could affect one or both households. Divorce settlements may rarely include a requirement for an income-earning spouse to have disability income insurance. Life insurance is more common, although in fact disability is a more likely occurrence than death. * How the rising future value of some assets could affect your overall financial picture.

Hair Loss By Dr. Jerome Potozkin

Protecting Children

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As a breadwinner, you may be concerned about what will happen to your joint assets after a divorce, and how that will affect the legacy you leave your children. For example, if your spouse remarries, those assets that were received in the divorce settlement might be transferred to someone other than your own kids. In fact, some spouses find it difficult to see their funds are being used to support a partner or future spouse. There are many workable solutions that can place restrictions on how an ex-spouse receives payments from a divorce settlement. You, your advisors, and your attorney can discuss alternatives that may mitigate how the settlement is paid to an ex-spouse.

Another concern, for many different reasons, is how a child will receive assets that you want them to have after a divorce. From an estate-planning aspect, it may not be preferable to leave an outright gift to your kids, since they too could end up getting divorced - and losing the money. A trust is often a method of safeguarding your children’s rights. You may use life insurance to create a death benefit that can be used to provide a guaranteed a source of income for your children after your death. If you do, it’s crucial to specify how funds will be distributed to your heirs, and by whom to ensure that your children receive the intended benefit.

Hidden Assets

Unfortunately, some spouses go to great lengths to spend as much money as they can before their joint wealth becomes divided. There are many ways that assets can be retitled or hidden.

What can you do to prevent that type of deception? Above all, it’s important to carefully review all bank or brokerage statements and question any large, unusual withdrawals. Can your spouse prove he or she sustained an investment loss, with a tax deduction to match? Do you notice any substantial amounts of missing cash? By the time a divorce is pending, it will be harder to practice damage control.

Accordingly, married couples should pay close attention to finances from the beginning. That includes taking full ownership of online accounts by learning each other’s user names and passwords and properly titling joint assets.

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, James R. Westermeyer, Paul Solorzano & 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.

CRN200902-2026212 Advertorial

One of the things that I have noticed as I age is that I have less hair where I want it (like my head) and more hair where I don’t want it (like my nose and ears). Hair loss is a very common problem. The most common type of hair loss that we see is genetically predetermined. This affects both men and women. There are also some common medical causes of hair loss.

Hair loss is very common in men and can also impact one in four women. Hereditary hair loss is also known as male pattern alopecia, female pattern alopecia, and androgenetic alopecia.

Most people start out with about 100,000 hair follicles on their scalp. The follicles are constantly cycling from an active growth to a resting phase. It is normal, on any given day, for 100 hairs to fall out as the follicles enter the resting phase. In people with hereditary hair loss, follicles will get smaller and smaller as they repeatedly cycle from the growth phase to the resting phase. Women will usually notice hair thinning in a diffuse pattern whereas men will notice it at the crown, top, and widow’s peak. Finasteride is an oral prescription drug that has been shown to reduce hair loss in men. Topically applied minoxidil can help reduce hair loss in both men and woman. There is no shampoo that has been proven to help. Some people will benefit from hair restoration surgery. Diet can play a role in hair loss in severely malnourished individuals.

Telogen effluvium is a rapid type of hair loss. This occurs when many hair follicles enter the resting state at the same time as opposed to randomly cycling from the growth phase to the resting phase. This can occur after a major physical or psychological event in one’s life. This is most often seen after a pregnancy, surgery, or illness.

The condition can take months to resolve.

In some patients a medical condition can contribute to hair loss, so we might do a blood test to measure the thyroid gland, iron stores in the body, and certain hormones. On occasion we do find a reversible medical cause of hair loss. Once the condition is treated, the lost hair returns.

We see many patients who are referred to us for the sudden onset of patchy hair loss. Usually this type of hair loss is discovered by a hair stylist. This type of hair loss most commonly represents alopecia areata. This is a perplexing condition in which the body’s own immune cells attack the hair follicles. We don’t fully understand why this happens. In most patients hair loss is limited to one to several coin shaped patches. However, in some people it can progress to complete hair loss. The most common way to treat this condition is to inject a steroid into the skin to turn off the local immune response attacking the hair follicle. The response can vary from individual to individual, and monthly treatments are the norm. The National Alopecia Areata Foundation is a great source of information for people who suffer from alopecia areata.

There are other causes of hair loss. However, this article describes 95% of the hair loss we see.

If you are suffering from hair loss, we are happy to help you.

Dr. Potozkin is a board certified dermatologist who has been serving the local community since 1993. His office is located at 600 San Ramon Valley Blvd, Suite 102 in Danville. He is accepting Lic# 1100014354; Bay Area Entertainment new patients. Please call 925-838-4900 or visit Potozkin.com for more information. Advertorial

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Doctor, Is It Safe for Me to Fly?

By Barbara Persons, MD, Persons Plastic Surgery, Inc.

Medical tourism is a term which denotes travel across international borders for the express purpose of receiving medical care. While travel for healthcare has been around for quite some time, recent trends show that more people are traveling to countries with emerging economies to avoid treatment delays, to avoid prohibitive costs for life-saving procedures, or simply, to avoid high costs of elective surgery.

At first glance, the imagery of resting on a beach after surgery seems enticing. It might even be appropriate if there weren’t potentially serious or life threatening complications to consider. While the price tag of a procedure may be appealing, the increasing push for international medical care has nothing to do with improved quality, greater safety, or better outcomes. In fact, surgery outside the United States, especially when sold as a vacation package, often involves significant, and numerous, risks.

Although there are qualified physicians practicing all over world, it is very difficult to assess the training and credentials of surgery centers and surgeons outside of the U.S. Notably, almost one third of companies engaged in promoting medical travel receive referral fees from the overseas providers whose business depends on recruiting patients. Cosmetic surgery trips are often marketed as a vacation, and post-operative patients may be encouraged to engage in activities that could compromise their healing process and increase exposure to endemic diseases not found in the U.S. All surgeries involve risk. Infections are the most common complications seen in patients that go abroad for cosmetic surgery. Air travel combined with surgery is extremely hazardous. Individually, long flights or surgery increase the risk of blood clots and subsequent pulmonary embolism.

Traffic, Neighborhoods and Public Safety

By Roger Smith, President Alamo Improvement Association

I’d like to extend a “thank you” to the Alamo residents who attended the February 26th community meeting, and who expressed their concerns about potential changes to Alamo’s roadways and freeway access. Through this initial meeting, and an upcoming series of local public community meetings, Supervisor, Candace Andersen, is seeking input on project ideas/needs (from our community’s perspective) for what has become known as Alamo’s Area of Benefit (AOB) - the use of accumulated developer’s fees for the benefit of Alamo.

AIA continues to advocate with our County, on behalf of our residents, and communicate their wishes about Alamo roads and transportation. We support both retention of trees that provide our roadways with character, and road improvements that increase safety without inviting and accommodating more regional freeway traffic – which would have the impact of making our roads more dangerous and our neighborhoods less livable.

Please join your neighbors and other Alamo residents in attending the next meeting on April 23rd at 6PM at Alamo School located on Wilson Road off of Livorna Road.

In addition, look for AIA’s Annual Report in your mail this month for more information on traffic, transportation, and other areas of interest to our Alamo Community.

NextDoor.com

It has been said that “Great communities are made up of great neighborhoods.”

One great way to accomplish this is to utilize the social networking internet service, NextDoor.com.

NextDoor was created with the idea that the neighborhood is one of the most important and useful communities in a person’s life. The NextDoor website is for neighbors to help build connections with those living next door and down the block.

It provides a means of introducing yourself to others, sharing basic information, and making your neighborhood stronger and safer.

There are nine Alamo neighborhoods already registered with NextDoor.com.

For several years, the Cervato Circle neighborhood has been using this secure, private social network to schedule their neighborhood events, view neighborhood maps, access the neighborhood directory, build relationships, and to communicate

Alamo Today ~ April 2013 - Page 23 Together, the risk of developing these potentially fatal complications is exponentially higher. Before flying, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons suggests waiting five to seven days after body procedures such as liposuction and breast augmentation, and seven to 10 days after cosmetic procedures of the face including facelifts, eyelid surgery, nose jobs, and laser treatments.

In my practice, I have seen numerous patients returning from international “surgery vacations” with unsightly scars, hematomas, infections, and other horrific injuries (including loss of lips and other facial features). I am faced with the challenge of managing postoperative complications without knowing what surgical techniques the initial physician applied.

If you are thinking of travelling for surgery, I urge you to consider the potential complications and general risk to your health. Cosmetic surgery is real surgery, and for it to be safe, it requires administration of anesthesia, sterile technique, and modern instrumentation, not to mention properly trained and certified surgeons. There are no U.S. laws that protect patients or oversee the certification of physicians or other personnel who perform plastic surgery abroad. If surgical negligence occurs, there may be no legal recourse. Devices and products used may not meet U.S. standards, medical record keeping may be nonexistent, and language barriers can become an unwanted adversity at a time when communication is paramount.

When you are considering any surgical change to your body, please do your homework! Research the procedure, the benefits, and the risks. Refer to www.plasticsurgery.org for the latest information on plastic surgery procedures. Most importantly, like with any medical care, chose and consult with a plastic surgeon that will remain accessible to you and is there to provide thorough follow-up care that is a must with any surgical procedure.

Dr. Barbara Persons is a Plastic Surgeon and owns Persons Plastic Surgery, Inc. located at 911 Moraga Rd, Suite 205 in Lafayette. She may be reached at 925.283.4012 or drbarb@ personsplasticsurgery.com.

Advertorial information about their neighborhood.

NextDoor supports Neighborhood Watch and Emergency Response making it easy for sheriff, fire, and emergency medical technicians to connect with neighbors with the intent of building stronger communities. NextDoor can also be used to organize disaster plans. The site assists in the on-going communication, coordination, and response to a disaster.

How Does NextDoor Work?

NextDoor makes it safe to share online the kind of things you’d be okay sharing with your neighbors in person. When using the site every neighbor must verify their address. Each neighbor signs in with their real name, just as they would in person. Only neighbors can see the information shared on your neighborhood site.

Information will never show up in Google or other search engines. The website is securely encrypted using the HTTPS Internet protocol. Your personal information is never shared with third-party advertisers.

Check out the “Introducing NextDoor” video on YouTube to learn more about this important (and free) service.

Julie Peck, an Alamo resident located in a neighborhood bordered by Danville Blvd. on the East and Stone Valley Road on the North and known as the “Alamo” neighborhood on NextDoor.com, is a big fan. “It is easy to use, has the right infrastructure designed for this purpose and does not need to have someone tasked to maintain the site.” Over 70 neighbors have joined their neighborhood group after initially registering it just three weeks ago.

Visit www.NextDoor.com to find out more information and start your “Neighborhood Building” process.

California Highway Patrol Public Safety Fair (For Alamo)

Please join AIA, the American Red Cross, and many other local organizations and attend the California Highway Patrol (CHP) Public Safety Fair on Saturday, June 1st, between 10AM – 2 PM at Alamo School. Please mark your calendar!

Neighborhood Watch

AIA is interested in helping establish a network of interested representatives from various neighborhoods and neighborhood groups in Alamo to discuss the Neighborhood Watch program and its benefits. Please contactAIAat President@AlamoCA.org.

Not at member of AIA? Consider joining and “help us, help you” and the rest of our Alamo community. Visit www.AlamoCA.org for more information and a membership form.

Page 24 - April 2013 ~ Alamo Today

Failure to Launch Syndrome

By William Shryer, LCSW, DCSW Clinical Director, Diablo Behavioral Healthcare

Failure to Launch Syndrome is the term used to describe a phenomenon that is far more common than most folks think. This term is used to describe those young adults, usually males, that seem unable to take the next step in their lives and move into increasing independence and employment. They often have a history of starting school or jobs and not following through and dropping out in more ways than one. They also often have histories of substance abuse and addictive behaviors. By “addictive behaviors” we don’t just mean the use of substances such as drugs and alcohol. We include in this area the overuse of computer technology, video games, and RPG (Role Playing Games) such as World of Warcraft, Black Ops, and Diablo 3 to name but a few. When the term “computer or internet addiction” is used, it usually refers to this type of behavior. Often the teen or young adult will require more and more time gaming in a subconscious attempt to balance their mood and anxiety.

Another area that most parents are reluctant to talk about is when the computer isn’t used for games, but they find that their son has been looking at internet pornography to excess. This is very understandably disturbing for parents. We often find the child sneaking online to view more and more hardcore sites, often staying up until the wee hours to use the computer uninterrupted. This is far from the old sneak-a-peek at the Playboy magazine at the barbershop. This is an inability to not look and fantasize, as this is a type of stimulation that affects an area of the brain that needs more and more stimulation to feel balanced. Teens and young adults that are involved in this type of behavior need assistance, not moralizing as it has very little to do with conscious choice after a while. It becomes a driven, even obsessive need that negatively impacts a large part of their life.

If their computer time is restricted in any manner, the teen or young adult may experience a deep melancholy and become angry, irritable, and even aggressive towards caregivers or parents. They often avoid social encounters, homework, and other daily responsibilities that remind them of what they should be doing. This can raise their anxiety and plunge them back to the computer and the safety of the game and the fantasy world that is easier to contend with than the real world and it’s subsequent demands.

Some of the diagnostic areas that seem to contribute to this “stuck life

MDAS continued from front page

Armed with the amateur’s data, professional astronomers turned the large BakerNunn tracking telescopes to follow and photograph the satellite. A small group of amateur astronomers and telescope makers from Contra Costa County formed the Mt. Diablo Astronomical society in 1957.

They followed NASA’s request and stepped up to the country’s need. An astronomer described the MDAS’s timings simply: “They were so reliable we could count on them to come through every time.” Compliments don’t get better than that.

In those early days, the group met in members’ homes, discussed observing and telescope making, sometimes invited a guest and even had some astronoJack Borde, a founder of MDAS, at the club’s mers lecture to the group. Slowly the membership grew and now telescope on Mt. Diablo. boasts about 200 members. The group meets in the Lindsay Wildlife center on the fourth Tuesday of the month (third Tuesday in November and December), doors open at 6:45PM and the meeting is called to order at 7:15PM. In addition to friendly fellowship, there are two excellent illustrated talks. The first 15 minute

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All of these things can contribute to low self-esteem, academic under achievement, and being unprepared for adulthood, leaving them dependent on their families.

Most, if not all, of these San Ramon Valley Blvd. • Danville, CA 94526 teens and young adults have a 499B925-743-0802 • danville.kokofitclub.com great potential, even superior IQ’s for developing the awareness needed to move confidently towards a life free of disempowering perspectives, negative behaviors, and their self-imposed limitations. This is where it “takes a village” to get them back on the right track. Usually the more typical “how does that make you feel” therapy is a dead end. The village is the family, a guide, or a therapist/mentor who can help begin the transition to adulthood and a good and proper launch!

If anyone you know falls into this category, there are good resources that address this issue. We are happy to schedule a phone consultation time to point you in the right direction.

For more information on any behavioral or developmental concern, call our office at (925) 648-4800, and we will take the time to answer your questions. To learn more about behavioral disorders, visit our website at www.behaviorquest.com. We are located at 4185 Blackhawk Plaza Circle Suite 210 in Danville. Advertorial

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talk, entitled What’s Up?, follows an over thirty-year tradition. It’s given by a member on a subject of current interest, and after questions there’s a short refreshment break, and displays are examined by everyone. By 8PM, a professional astronomer speaks in layperson’s terms on a topic in modern astronomy. MDAS has many important modern astronomers speak, and in the past five years, at least two Nobel Prize winners have addressed the group. The meeting is usually over by 9:30PM. Astronomy is called the gateway science because many scientists, engineers, and medical doctor’s scientific interest and curiosity was sparked by an astronomical topic. That scientific interest might have started by some reading or a picture, but it was usually nurtured along by looking through someone’s telescope. Ask any member what the club’s main mission is, and the answer will be short and clear: “Outreach is our main objective.” They might add, “We like to show everyone what’s out there.” That mission is verified by having their public viewings on Mt. Diablo, by sharing with schools as requested by a teacher, or helping to bring an interest in astronomy to other organizations for its members.

Many young and old Bay Area people had their interest in science helped along by viewing the sky through MDAS telescopes and often become members.

MDAS members are a diversified group which holds activities that interest most people who like astronomy. One very active special interest group (SIG) combines astronomy and photography in the Imaging Group. The Imaging SIG meets monthly to discuss and show – hands on – astronomical imaging equipment and techniques. They also project their latest images which are best described by one word – spectacular! Sometimes the group meets at a member’s house to view something special.

See MDAS continued on page 26

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Over 10,000 People Will Turn 65 Everyday in the Next 18 Years

By Karen Mudd, Interim HealthCare

It’s on the news. It’s in the papers. It’s the aging of our American population, and it’s happening right before our eyes. As the number of older citizens continues to rise, a new and growing segment has emerged...the active senior.

These Americans, in their late 70’s and above, can be characterized by their independent lifestyles and relatively good health. However, they can also be characterized by their feelings of loneliness and their increasing inability to perform the daily tasks that let them remain independent. They need help, and their situation is becoming more common everyday.

The Need for In-Home Support Services is Increasing for Seniors

Today, 12 million Americans spend all or part of their day helping five million older family members and friends live comfortably at home. Many of these caregivers are their children, Baby Boomers now in their mid 40’s and 50’s, at their peak earning potential and busy with their lives and careers. The majority are women and 25% of them care not only for both their parents, but also for their own children. Half of them work outside the home. And nearly all of them, at one point or another, find themselves overwhelmed with responsibility.

Caregiving is a demanding, difficult job, and no one is equipped to do it alone. Getting help is essential. Respite care provides breaks from the daily routine of caregiving. It can relieve stress, restore energy, and promote the necessary balance in life.

The culmination of these trends has created a new burgeoning demand for in-home assistance and companionship. And today, more than ever,

The Eye Opener

By Gregory Kraskowsky, O.D., Alamo Optometry Women’s Eye Health

Since April is Women’s Eye Health Month, I thought it would be a good idea to tackle this topic. Unfortunately, most of the sight-threatening conditions that exist affect women more often than they do men, and in some cases, women are twice as likely to be affected. Every year, more women are diagnosed with cataracts, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma.

The main reasons that women contract these conditions more often than men is because women generally live longer than men, have hormonal fluctuations, and are more likely to suffer from auto-immune diseases.

Eye diseases such as cataracts and macular degeneration, which usually affect the elderly, are going to be more prevalent in women due to a longer life span. The likelihood of being afflicted with these diseases does increase with age. For example, in regard to macular degeneration, 1 in 5 women over 70 years old is affected as is 1 in 3 women over 85. Cataracts affect everyone equally, but again, the condition is age dependent. In most cases, the longer a person is battling cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration, the worse the individual’s vision tends to get.

Hormonal levels can also affect vision. Changes in hormone levels associated with pregnancy and menopause can lead to dry eyes. Hormones such as estrogen and testosterone are vitally important for tear production and consistency of the tears. Dry eye is a condition in which the eye does not manufacture enough tears and/or the composition of the tears is poor. When the eyes are dry, they tend to burn and sting, and they become red, which leads to blurry vision. Any disruption in the tear layer will lead to a situation in which the cornea does not adequately provide a clean and clear refracting surface for the eye. Since the cornea is the first thing light encounters as it enters the eye, if the cornea is disrupted in any way, vision will be compromised.

In addition to age and hormone levels, women are also more likely to suffer from auto-immune diseases such as lupus, multiple sclerosis, and Sjogrens syndrome, all which include ocular side effects ranging from dry eyes, optic nerve disease, and vision loss. Since there are no cures for these ailments, treatment is aimed at lessening the symptoms. Medications such as anti-inflammatories and

Alamo Today ~ April 2013 - Page 25 active seniors and those dear to them are opting for these services, known simply as Personal Care & Support Services (or sometimes referred to as private duty services).

Personal Care & Support Services

Personal Care & Support Services are ideal for older people who wish to continue an independent lifestyle, but who would also benefit from companionship and assistance with daily activities. Trained employees (known as care professionals, companions, or aides) either visit the home a few times a week or live in the home, depending on the need. They assist in such activities as bathing and grooming, preparing meals, providing transportation, and much more.

Today, Interim’s Personal Care & Support Services are meeting this growing need for in-home assistance and taking some of the pressure off America’s 12 million family caregivers. These services help alleviate the stress naturally felt by family members and friends, and they provide seniors with the assistance they need to continue living a happy, independent life.

As one of America’s most trusted and experienced providers of in-home senior services, Interim HealthCare understands how important it is for people to stay in their homes. But sometimes the challenges of everyday living get beyond even the most independent-minded people. Our Care Professionals can provide the extra support needed to live an enriched life in the comfort of home. Call today for a free in-home evaluation 925.944.5779.

When it matters the most, count on us.

I am honored to be a new contributor to Alamo Today. I will provide you with facts, tips, commentaries, and answers to any questions you may have regarding in-home care for seniors, chronically ill, or disabled individuals. Faced with family caregiving challenges throughout my life and with 13 years experience working in a hospital, it is my hope to provide useful information for you and your family. Contact me at karenmudd@interimhealthcare.com.

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lubricating drops (including Restasis) can definitely keep redness, irritation, and dryness under control.

Since most of these ailments are either genetic or age-related, the only thing that can be done is lifestyle modification. This includes eating well, stopping smoking, and monitoring and treating any systemic issues that arise. As of now, the only cure for any of the above-mentioned ailments is cataract surgery.

Removing the cataract will restore brightness, color quality, and vision. All other conditions therefore require early diagnosis. However, between systemic medications and ocular drops, many of the side-effects of the conditions can be managed. As always, proper eye care can lead to diagnosis, treatment, and if necessary, a referral to a specialist.

Dr. K. at Alamo Optometry is your hometown eye doctor for outstanding service, vision care, and designer eyewear. He can be reached at 925-820-6622 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 Alamo Optometry Facebook page.

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AAUW continued from page 17

far-reaching the organization’s work was before joining.” Impressed enough to devote time to serve as local branch president, Steinhardt remarks on “the power of women to do things together and make changes. One or two can’t do it, but together we can make things happen.”

Men, by the way, are welcome to join. DAW already boasts one male member.

You don’t have to reside in Danville, Alamo, or Walnut Creek to join, but you do have to have a college degree or equivalent professional certification. Getting involved is part of the package. As Gail Clark (yes, she too is a DAW past president) points out, “Our local AAUW branch is privileged to have had a number of members serve at the state and national level.” Gail was hooked when the mother of her daughter’s kindergarten classmate took her to a “kick-off brunch in a beautiful backyard.”

Intrigued by the aesthetics, the social interaction, or the ability to make a difference? Visit the DAW website at www.aauw-daw.org, then the state site at www. aauw-ca.org, and the national website at www.aauw.org. To meet local branch members at an event open to the public, or if you’d like to be a guest or are a prospective member, contact Tena Gallagher at Tena@aol.com.

MDAS continued from page 24

Other MDAS members enjoy telescope making. People in this SIG often start with a glass disk and work to create a telescope through the Chabot Observatory telescope workshop. Many telescopes used on Mt. Diablo and other places began as a vision in someone’s mind’s eye that was nurtured by other telescope makers to become an excellent optical instrument.

Everyone in MDAS – young and old – enjoys astronomy. They learn and are inspired by the excellent monthly lectures, viewing sessions, and observing times.

However, nothing can excite anyone more than watching a young child, of any age – some are in their 80’s – who, while looking through the eyepiece of a telescope, loudly exclaims, “Wow!” Directions to the April 20th event are easy: On the MDAS website click on Public Program, then click on Directions to Mt. Diablo. You can insert your address and obtain personalized directions to the park and to the Sea of Conflicts: A lunar view that will be visible viewing site. Plan to enter the on April 20th. park before sunset and allow 30 minutes for the drive to the lower summit lot. Some people like to arrive by about 5:30PM, bring a sandwich, enjoy the sunset, and watch astronomers set-up telescopes. It’s an evening you’ll enjoy and talk about for a long time.

MDAS information can be found at http://www.mdas.net.

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Cancer Rehab Means a Better Quality of Life

By Jewel Johl, MD

The concept of rehabilitation has been widely accepted in cardiac and pulmonary care, and in recovery from traumatic and orthopedic injuries, but few understand how important this concept can be for cancer patients.

Almost 70 percent of cancer patients report fatigue and overall deconditioning during treatment.

Other complaints that many cancer patients have include muscle atrophy and decreased bone density, medication side effects, loss of stamina, balance problems, and lymphedema. Currently there are very few institutions and cancer centers that offer formal oncology rehabilitation services, and these services are often omitted from cancer survivorship programs.

An oncology rehabilitation program should be designed to educate, support, and empower patients who have or have had cancer to allow them optimal function and quality of life during and after their cancer treatments.

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network’s guidelines say, “Rehabilitation should begin with a cancer diagnosis and should continue even after cancer treatment ends.”

Oncology specific physical therapists can help patients overcome physical obstacles during treatment and provide tools for independent participation in a plan to remain healthy and vibrant after cancer treatment. Patients who have lymphedema of any body part, restricted mobility, scar tissue formation after surgery, fatigue, deconditioning or weakness, balance problems, difficulty walking, weight gain, and decreased muscle mass can benefit from early intervention in an oncology rehabilitation program.

At Diablo Valley Oncology, we have developed a state-of-the-art Physical Therapy and Lifestyle Center to meet the growing needs of cancer patients.

Cancer Support Community Making Informed Choices About Standard Care & Clinical Trials Our lead therapist, Alison Taba, is a licensed physical therapist with special training in oncology rehabilitation and lymphedema therapy. Alison and our Tuesday, April 16 ~ 6–8PM ~ with Robert Robles, MD team of physical therapy specialists provide cancer rehabilitation services Learn about the benefits and risks of standard treatments and clinical trials. Find out how new cancer treatments are developed and approved, how to patients who have been diagnosed with cancer, those undergoing cancer treatment, and survivors of cancer to enable them to improve their quality to sort out myths from facts about clinical trials, and how to locate those in your area that may be right for you. of life and to help them successfully integrate back into society.

The class will be held at Cancer Support Community which is located at 3276 In addition to physical therapy, our Lifestyle Center provides nuMcNutt Avenue in Walnut Creek. Call (925) 933-0107 for more information. tritional services by Tinrin Chew, RD, who specializes in providing oncology specific nutrition counseling for Our mission is to provide personalized care, help cancer patients. Other services include group maintain independence and enhance our exercise classes and educational programs. client’s quality of life on a daily basis.

Additional integrative health services will be • Free in-home assessments • Regular home visits incorporated in 2013. ensure the right care plan • Hourly care Heartfelt & Our Physical Therapy and Lifestyle Center for you • Live-in care Supportive is the only one in the East Bay area and of the • Fully bonded and insured • Geriatric care mgmt.

• Elder referral and placement few in Northern California to provide cancer At All Times... specific rehabilitation services. Diablo Valley’s 3645 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Suite D Lafayette, CA 94549 Therapy & Lifestyle Center can be (beside Trader Joe’s) www.excellentcareathome.com 925-284-1213 Physical reached by calling (925) 400-9570. Advertorial

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Alamo Today ~ April 2013 - Page 27

Your Personal Nutritionist

By Linda Michaelis, RD. MS. No More Diabetes with Sensible Nutrition

I see many people in my practice (often in tears), who have been referred by their doctors with newly diagnosed diabetes or pre-diabetes. Thirty years of research and practice have led me to one inescapable conclusion – most people can bring their blood sugar levels into the normal range within two months, without medication. Many clients tell me that their diagnosis of diabetes or prediabetes was one of the best things that ever happened to them – it gave them a forceful wake up call to get their health in order once and for all. Here are some key tips.

Increase Protein and Fiber - Protein and fiber at each meal must become your new friend. Both protein and fiber are necessary to keep the blood sugar levels stable and prevent you feeling hungry all of the time. Protein for breakfast means having eggs, cottage cheese, Greek yogurt, sliced ham, or Canadian bacon along with 100% whole wheat English muffins, Sandwich Thins, or other breads. For snacks you can have hard-boiled eggs, apple slices or celery sticks with peanut butter, or even beef jerky. For lunch it is very important to not skimp on protein, which is a prevalent problem I see with clients.

A large soup or salad is not going to be substantial enough to keep your blood sugar stable unless it has at least four ounces of protein along with it. It is best to avoid the large traditional high protein meal at dinner time which will definitely raise your blood sugar.

Fiber must be added to all meals and snacks to keep your blood sugar stable.

For breakfast, vegetables, which are the best source of fiber, can be added to eggs.

You can also try Kashi Go Lean which is a high fiber cereal. For lunch have at least one cup of vegetables with your meal. For snack try wrapping sliced meats around pickles. At dinner time fill half of your plate with greens.

Small Frequent Meals - You can no longer skip meals and snacks, eat skimpy lunches, and consume too much at dinner. Your insulin will not accommodate this haphazard eating style. You must learn to eat small, frequent, healthy, balanced meals. Most clients find they wind up enjoying this new way of eating.

Desserts - Yes, you can enjoy a dessert as long as it is not eaten on an empty stomach or in between meals. Desserts are meant to come after a meal and not eaten as a meal.

If you are hungry and start eating sweets you may find you will not be able to stop. If you would like to have a dessert after dinner, I advise avoiding starches with dinner.

Alcohol - My clients are shocked when I tell them they can have alcohol.

When people are exercising their blood sugars are fine in the morning, even after having vodka with lite cranberry juice or wine the night before. When alcohol is desired it should replace the dessert of the day. You can have a drink as long as it is planned along with a balanced meal. I always tell clients when they do intense exercise for 40 minutes they may enjoy a couple of drinks.

Beverages - Avoid beverages that have sugar. That includes juices, smoothies, milk, vanilla lattes, chai lattes, or Frappuccinos. Always check the nutrition facts of the beverage to make sure that next to sugar it says zero. The proliferation of tasty non-sugared drinks should result in you saving your sugar consumption for other treats. Sparkling water spiked with lemon or lime, unsweetened tea, sugar free SoBe, sugar free Snapple, and Crystal Light drinks are best for you.

Losing Weight - There is no doubt about it, losing 10-20 pounds will get your

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theserviceoutlet.com 1211138-TSO-ALToday-5x6.25.indd 9:28 AM blood sugar slowly back1 into the normal range. The pancreas will 11/16/12 not have to work as hard to produce all the insulin for those extra pounds you have.

Exercise - You will need to start becoming more active compared to where you have been. Walking at least 30 minutes twice a day, once in the morning and once before dinner, is the best “pill” you can take. You will find consistent exercise will bring your blood sugar down 50 points.

If you are committed to making change I believe a knowledgeable and caring nutritionist could help with this transition. One to two initial education sessions would be followed by frequent (even daily) email/phone communications to track progress and plan specific meal events. The good news is most insurance companies wisely pay for nutritional counseling for diabetes.

Please feel free to call me and tell about your nutritional concerns. I can be reached at (925) 855-0150 or e-mail me at Lifeweight1@yahoo.com. Visit my website LindaRD.com to see all of my services as well as past articles and nutrition tips. Advertorial

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Alamo Real Estate: Luxury Home Market Buyer Confidence Returning

A year ago I reported that things were going extremely well for Luxury Homes, and they have been. We lifted off the bottom in 2010 and have been going strong ever since. No one could be more thrilled than I am that the Danville Area Market for Luxury Homes has finally turned around. For the purpose of this review, as with my last, I have defined Luxury Homes to include homes that are 5,000 square feet and larger, which sit on a premium lot that is between ½ and 1 full acre, and is equipped with a pool. This definition has been overlain on the geographies including Alamo, Blackhawk, Danville and Diablo, which in my personal view comprises the Danville Area Real Estate Market.

I have included a chart and a graph with this review that displays the sales history for this slice of the market dating back to the market bottom in 2010. The chart confirms a steady rise in price from 2010 with a smaller rise from 2011-2012. This is truly exciting. The average sales price in 2010 was $1,908,000. In 2012 the price has climbed to $2,195,179. That is a whopping increase of 15% or a $287,000 price jump. If you have been waiting for the absolute bottom to snag a “Big One,” you may

Each of the three measures, sales price, dolLuxury Home Market Dollars lars paid per square foot and unit sales confirm that High End buyer confidence has risen, at $370 Per Square Foot least in the Danville Area Real Estate Market. $360 The improvement in sales is likely due to the growing availability of Super Jumbo loans $350 which are at historically low interest rates. $340 If you are looking to acquire a Luxury Home $330 during the next year, you might want to contact $320 your lender who can bring you up to speed on the great loan products out there. If you don’t have $310 a lender, please give Nancy or me a call and we $300 will point you in the right direction.

10 11 12 With the first quarter of 2013 not quite ended, we have not had any Luxury Home sales close. However, five are pending sale with an average list price of $2,853,900 and a square foot price at list of $410.23. The sales mix is a little stronger than during 2012 with the lowest price listed at $1,725,000 and the highest price listed at $4,595,000. This is a very good sign for the Luxury Home market in the Danville Area. It is so good, in fact, that 11 such Luxury Homes are currently active on the market. Their prices range from $1,599,000 to $4,875,000 and their average square foot price is about $40 higher than the pending sales. This is a pretty strong sign for a continuing rise in the market for Luxury Homes. I think improving confidence among the wealthy is a pretty good thing moving forward for our market.

The newspaper deadlines and limited space allocation makes it impossible for me to provide really detailed information in this medium. If you would like to learn more please visit our website www. thecombsteam.com. We usually publish an article a week in our Recent Articles section. Almost 200 published articles are sitting there as of today. We can also provide an email newsletter which contains the latest information we have published. You can sign up for it on the front page of our website.

If you are thinking about buying or selling a home in 2013 and you would like to talk it over please give Nancy and me a call at 925-989-6086 or send me an email joecombs@thecombsteam. com. We would love to help.

Luxury Home Mkt. Alamo, Blackhawk, Danville, Diablo Year Units Sold DOM Sold Price $/Sq. Foot Avg Size 2010 14 91 $ 1,908,000 $ 327 5834 2011 21 98 $ 2,163,102 $ 367 5894 2012 14 154 $ 2,195,179 $ 369 5948 very likely have missed the chance. However, the prices are still 25% below the 2007 peak, so it’s not too late to get a great buy on a great home at a time when you can see the prices are again rising.

Equally important and confirming the Luxury Market turnaround is dollars paid per square foot. In 2010 it stood at $327 and has increased throughout 2012 to $369 for a 13% increase. Both measures show strong positive dollar increases which supports the view that this is not a statistical anomaly, but the “Real Deal,” which is even more exciting. I want to add, as I usually do, that there is no such thing as an “average” home. The lowest price paid for one of these homes was $1,437,000 and the highest was $3,125,000. The median price was almost a match of the average price and stands at $2,338,139.

Diablo Single Story

Round Hill Single Story

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Remodeled to perfection. Incredible chef’s kitchen. We represented the buyers.

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Blackhawk Beauty

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Incredible 3 bedroom single story home in a nice neighborhood at a below market price! Call for details.

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

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

Luxurious 4 bedroom, 4.5 bath on premium lot backing open space. Highly upgraded.

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J. Rockcliff Realtors 15 Railroad Ave., Danville CA. 94526