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May 2013
Serving Alamo and Diablo
2012 Cork City Hall. Photo provided by Nancy Norlund.
The Blackhawk Chorus: A Musical Family By Jody Morgan
May is a music-sharing month for the Blackhawk Chorus (the Chorus). Weeks of rehearsals and private practice hours culminate in a series of concerts performed by the 140-member volunteer choral group as they bring Broadway Blitz to a variety of local venues. This season’s repertoire includes selections from Les Miserables, Jersey Boys, Beauty and the Beast, and other favorite Broadway productions. Enthusiastic followers of the Chorus confirm that just when they are certain the group cannot get any better, Director Diane Gilfether raises the bar another level. “I am always striving for more excellence with the Chorus,” Gilfether explains. “That requires more commitment from everyone. I have never seen a more dedicated group.” A recent innovation has the entire chorus singing “off book” – no music in hand, both words and notes memorized. With no folios to interfere with the projection of sound or the focus of all eyes forward, the Chorus connects completely with their audience. Although the appreciative applause of the house might afford sufficient impetus to keep members actively participating in the Chorus, other motivations are even more compelling. Ted Boroian, who has sung with the group for 11 years, expresses a sentiment shared by his fellow performers: “Diane has an amazing ability to take people with varied musical backgrounds and make them all blend beautifully together. We sing for our own enjoyment, and of course for the audience, but first and foremost we sing for her.” Selection of music also plays a part in making each performance cycle more memorable than the last. As Ray Riordan, who has been with the chorus since 2001, writes: “As a result of trusting ourselves, the music has become more intricate, intriguing and thrilling. The choices of music each semester have become a wonderful expression of the talents of the group, and provide a challenge for us to continue to improve.” Each Tuesday evening from September to May, the Chorus spends two hours concentrating on music for either the Holiday Concerts in December or the Spring Concerts in May. Even though Diane makes every moment of rehearsal matter in the effort to achieve technical perfection, chorus members count the time as a blessed relief from the exigencies of everyday living. Boroian’s comment is typical: “The Blackhawk Chorus is now one of the most important things in my life. It’s a wonderful and unique musical family.” With three boys aged 6, 4 and 2, and a husband traveling on business each week and a full-time job, Theresa Madeira decided to take time out to enroll in the Chorus in 2010. “I had forgotten the pure joy and exhilaration that singing together brings,” she declares. “Finally, once a week, I get to escape from my day to day life as mom/wife/
See Chorus continued on page 28
Local Postal Customer
PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Permit 263 Alamo CA
ECRWSS
The Bounty Garden to Celebrate Grand Opening
The spinach is thriving and the chard and bok choy are growing like crazy. In a few short months, all these greens will be delivered into the hands of the local Food Bank as nutritious gifts to those who might not regularly get them. It was almost a year and a half ago that Alamo residents Heidi and Amelia Abrahmson were honored as Danville’s volunteers of the year. After a long and supportive relationship with the Town of Danville, their conceived plan to grow sustainable, organic vegetables for the needy is now a 501C3 non- profit organization called The Bounty Garden and is in full swing towards fulfilling its mission.
See Garden continued on page 30
Meet Alamo Deputy Mike Carson
Deputy Sheriff Mike Carson, a 16-year veteran of the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff, has worked a variety of assignments. He worked in Danville as a Police Officer for 12 years. For eight of those years, he was a School Resource Officer and heavily involved with youth services. Deputy Carson was assigned as the Alamo Resident Deputy in December 2011. In this position, he works closely with the community, businesses, and Alamo schools. Deputy Carson enjoys his current assignment as Resident Deputy. He can often be seen working Alamo special events, handling Volume XIII - Number 5 issues at Alamo schools, conducting 3000F Danville Blvd. #117, traffic enforcement, or patrolling on Alamo, CA 94507 a bicycle in the downtown area. Telephone (925) 405-NEWS, 405-6397 “As Alamo Resident Deputy, I Fax (925) 406-0547 get to know the citizens that live in Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher the Alamo area, as well as the chilEditor@yourmonthlypaper.com dren,” said Deputy Carson. “It is a Sharon Burke ~ Writer pleasure to work in such a supportsburke@yourmonthlypaper.com opinions expressed herein belong to the writers, and do ive community, and I look forward The not necessarily reflect that of Alamo Today. Alamo Today to providing a high level of service is not responsible for the content of any of the advertising herein, nor does publication imply endorsement. to this community.”
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Page 2 - May 2013 ~ Alamo Today
START YOUR MOTHER’S DAY WITH A GIFT FROM
THE KITCHEN
at ALAMO HARDWARE
Bring This Ad In For 10% OFF Your Kitchen Purchase Good Through May 12TH… MOTHER’S DAY! Coupon cannot be combined with other coupons or used on sale items.
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3211 Danville Blvd, Alamo 925.837.2420 Monday ~ Friday 6am - 8pm Saturday 7am - 8pm | Sunday 8am - 6pm
Boulevard View
By Alisa Corstorphine, Editor
American Stand-Up comedian Patton Oswalt wrote right after the Boston Marathon bombing, and before anything was known about the suspects; I remember when 9/11 went down, my reaction was, “Well, I’ve had it with humanity.” But I was wrong. I don’t know what’s going to be revealed to be behind all of this mayhem. One human insect or a poisonous mass of broken sociopaths. But here’s what I DO know. If it’s one person or a HUNDRED people, that number is not even a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of a percent of the population on this planet. You watch the videos of the carnage, and there are people running TOWARDS the destruction to help out. This is a giant planet, and we’re lucky to live on it, but there are prices and penalties incurred for the daily miracle of existence. One of them is, every once in a while, the wiring of a tiny sliver of the species gets snarled, and they’re pointed towards darkness. But the vast majority stands against that darkness, and like white blood cells attacking a virus, they dilute and weaken and eventually wash away the evil doers and, more importantly, the damage they wreak. This is beyond religion or creed or nation. We would not be here if humanity were inherently evil. We’d have eaten ourselves alive long ago. So, when you spot violence, or bigotry, or intolerance, or fear, or just gardenvariety misogyny, hatred or ignorance, just look it in the eye and think, “The good outnumber you, and we always will.” We all have a choice about how we react to situations. Do we get involved or just drive by? I have had several situations in the last month that posed that question to me. Sometimes it is easier to drive by and hurry on our way, but if the shoe were on the other foot, I often think what kind of response would I like? On a recent drive from Petaluma to the coast, my daughter and I were heading down a busy two lane road. We came to a blind corner and noticed to our right two young cows grazing in the side-strip of the road. We had driven past, but we immediately had a thought that the next guy might not be as lucky. The cows could cross in front of a car and cause injury and damage to the driver and their passengers, their vehicle, and the young cows. We made a U-turn and tried to assess how we could help. I went to a nearby farm but was unable to find anyone. Another motorist stopped
as well, and she helped herd the cows inside the gate of a nearby farm. It appeared the cows had similar ear-tags to the ones in the local pasture, so we figured it was fairly certain it was the farm they came from. Even if it wasn’t, two live cows at the wrong farm seemed like a better option than a potential accident. We left a note at the farm home regarding the cows, and we were on our way again. I also recently came upon an accident where a pedestrian was in serious need of help. The car ahead of me slowed to look but kept going. However, when I slowed and assessed the situation, it was not one to ignore. Again, it felt like that 5-10 minutes of my evening that I spent were an appreciated and important gift of time. I could make a difference. Another instance occurred as I was leaving the home of a friend. Driving down the road, I noticed an old black Labrador dog was strolling down the middle of the road. The dog appeared out of place. I slowed, stopped, and pulled out a spare leash I have in my car. At the same time, a high school student was heading in the other direction on the road and had the same thought I did. He pulled over as well. We leashed the dog and then rang the bell at a nearby home that appeared occupied. While waiting for the door to be answered, I heard a dog barking from inside and felt grateful that we found a homeowner that was a dog lover. We asked the residents if the dog was theirs or if they knew to whom it belonged. They did not. At that point I made the comment, “I am glad we arrived at a home of a dog lover.” The residents were confused and said, “We don’t have a dog.” I assured them they did as the sound of a barking dog was coming from their home. It was a very strange interaction! As the bewilderment continued and they insisted they didn’t own a dog, I asked them to check their garage. Sure enough a small, fluffy dog came bounding from the garage when the door was opened! The small dog ran right up to the Labrador we had with us and profusely licked its face. At that point we pieced together that the two dogs had escaped together and one had become trapped. So, we were now in possession of two dogs. One had a tag with a phone number but no other identifying information or address. We called the number but got an answering machine. After a little more sleuthing, we found the dogs lived nearby, but their owners were on vacation. Fortunately, a neighbor took in the strays, and we felt we left the dogs in good hands. Then, last night a huge branch from a neighbors tree fell partially in the street. Luckily no one got hurt and the only real damage was a crushed fence and garbage can. Several neighbors gathered to assess the situation and offer help moving it from the street. Two French exchange students we had with us noted that in their neighborhood, people wouldn’t have stopped and helped. Lucky for us, we live in an area where most people generously and genuinely provide assistance in times of need. It’s a nice reminder that by a wide margin, people really are good.
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Alamo Today ~ May 2013 - Page 3
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Page 4 - May 2013 ~ Alamo Today
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, May 22nd at 7PM. This class will be “Basic Sailing Skills” and will be followed by further sailing classes. Contact Jan at (925) 837-3381 for further information.
Garden Tour
Alamo’s Top 1% Producers Coming Soon
Westside Alamo - 4 bedrooms, 1.27 acres, at base of Las Trampas Ridge. Call for Details!
Alamo Home Sales – April 2013
List Price Sale Price The San Ramon ValleyBed/Bath Republican Federated 5/3 $1,299,000 Women $1,290,000 5/3½ $1,475,000 $1,425,000 5/4 $1,695,000 $1,650,000 Presents 3/2 $799,000 $765,000 4/2½ $1,599,000 $1,700,000
121 Alvern Court 94 Barclay Court 40 Bolla Avenue 11 Brookdale Court 324 Bryan Drive 149 Emmons Canyon Lane 75 Ina Court 2556 Joseph Drive 2983 Limestone Road 220 Livorna Heights Road 3160 Lunada Lane 3164 Miranda Avenue 864 Miranda Creek Court 24 Mott Drive 405 Oakshire Place 1905 Park Meadow Drive 1244 Stone Valley Road 34 Sugarloaf Terrace 173 Vernal Drive 110 Wayland Lane
4/3 3/2½ 5/3½ 4/2 3/1 4/3 5/2½ 5/3 4/2½ 5/3½ 3/2 3/2½ 4/3 3/2½ 5/5½
$1,399,000 $929,500 $1,489,000 $800,000 $650,000 $1,250,000 $1,100,000 $1,435,000 $1,329,000 $1,650,000 $1,179,000 $843,200 $929,000 $739,900 $1,950,000
$1,240,000 $929,500 $1,560,000 $800,000 $720,000 $1,285,000 $1,100,000 $1,435,000 $1,390,000 $1,500,000 $1,200,000 $830,000 $1,000,000 $855,500 $1,925,000 All single family homes sold in Alamo 03/22/13 thru 04/18/13
the power of a top producing real estate team and Thinking of Selling? Put the East Bay’s #1 real estate firm to work for you!
Heather Gass, Founder of the East Bay Tea Party
San Ramon Valley Republican Women Federated
Dark Side of Sustainability” Proudly Present Senator “The Jim Brulte Prior to becoming an activistDead? for private property rights and liberty, Heather was a network engineer “Is the California GOP (The Future offor California’s for 17 years. She is the author of three technical books and dozens of IT training videos. In 2009 she Republican Party)”
Bay Tea Party which has over 3000 members and affiliates nationwide. Her local Tea Onfounded Marchthe3,East 2013, Jim Brulte was elected Chairman of the California GOP. Party group’s major focus is Agenda 21 and private property rights. Heather has been educating and He brings to that position almost 24 years of full time experience in politics and motivating conservative groups all over the state and has become an expert on One Bay Area, Association government. He served in the State Assembly and State Senate and was the only of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) and 9 Bay Area Regional Planning. If you have been following what freshman ever leaderofofDanville his party BOTH houses ofwant the legislature. HeJanuary was meeting! is plannedelected for the Town by in 2030, you just might to come to our recently named one of the 100 most powerful people in Southern California by The Los Angeles Times Magazine and one of the top 20 “most powerful political players in California” by Capitol Weekly which wrote, “Over the last 15 years, there has been no more enduring force in California Republican politics than Jim Brulte.” You ~ 11:30am Social won’t want to miss what Senator Jim Brulte has to say about the future of our beautiful state! Bring your friends! The talk will take placeNoon at CrowLuncheon Canyon Country Club located at 711 Silver Lake Drive in Danville on ~ 12 and Speaker ~ $25.00 th pm Tuesday, May 28 . Social time begins at 6 and the dinner and speaker commence at 6:30pm. The cost is $35. For reservations, call Mary at 925-837-5465 or email srvrwf.lunch@gmail.com. Reservations For reservations, call Mary 925.837.5465 th are due by Friday, May 24 . To assure yourself a place at the table, make your reservation early! or e-mail: srvrwf.lunch@gmail.com For more information, visit www.srvrwf.org.
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
* Reservations Due by Thursday, January 17, 2013 To assure yourself a place at the table, make your reservation early!
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. West in Danville. Proceeds benefit aspiring women scholars. AAUW advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy, and research.
Kitchen Tour
Lafayette Juniors will hold their 14th Kitchen Tour on Saturday, May 18th, from 10am 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.
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.
Delta Nu Psi
Thanks to the wonderful people who shop for our servicemen. We have once again surpassed our “gourmet junk food” needs. The April collections at CVS in Alamo and Lunardi's in Danville will be enough for two months. Our next collections will be in June. Delta Nu Psi has now sent 26,419 pounds of items in 1,073 boxes. Money for postage is always welcomed. For more information, visit deltanupsi.org.
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, May 15th. 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.
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Alamo Today ~ May 2013 - Page 5
Page 6 - May 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.
Elegant White Elephant Sale
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Sell Your Car, Furniture, or Event Tickets!
M y L i s t Sa l e s
www.mylistsales.com I handle all the aspects of the sale so that you don’t have to. Hard-working local college student with lots of experience. Call today to discuss items you’d like to consign and sell!
Tato Corcoran • 925.858.7282 • tatocorcoran@yahoo.com
Come to the Elegant White Elephant Sale being held at the Alamo Women’s Club located at 1401 Danville Blvd on Saturday, May 4th from 8:30am to 4pm. Items for sale include collectibles, jewelry, accessories, vintage pieces, holiday decor, toys and games, and home and garden accessories. All proceeds benefit STAND! for Family Free of Violence. For information call Karen at 925-820-2371 or Sandee at 925-300-3621.
Please join us at noon on May 22nd for the annual Scholarship Awards and Philanthropy Honors Luncheon Honored Recipients Del Amigo High School Ms. Hayley Cole Monte Vista High School Ms. Jessica Hauh • Mr. Joshua Herman • Ms. Samantha Vilfort
Alamo Municipal Advisory Council presents
2013 Movie Under the Stars Friday, July 19th Movie starts at 8:30 p.m. at Livorna Park in Alamo
(Located at the corner of Livorna Road and Miranda Avenue)
San Ramon Valley High School Ms. Rachel Ennen • Mr. Daniel Richardson • Mr. Timothy Wraith Diablo Valley College Ms. Katherine Friedman • Ms. Rachelle Hampton Ms. Carolina Roverso Honored Philanthropies Canine Companions for Independence STAND! for Families Free of Violence Hospice Foundation of the East Bay George Mark Children’s House Youth Homes VESTIA For information on the Scholarship Presentation, please contact Sally Cohen at Sallyzc@mac.com. 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 at Alamowomensclub.org for details. Please contact us for rentals at 925-820-1943 or alamowomensclubrent@ gmail.com.
Bring blankets, chairs, flashlights, snacks, family and friends. For information call Recreation Staff at (925) 313-2272.
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Alamo Today ~ May 2013 - Page 7
Blackhawk First Sundays “Cars & Coffee”
Blackhawk Museum together with Blackhawk Plaza, the East Bay’s premier shopping experience, host a monthly Cars & Coffee event for car enthusiasts throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Held on the first Sunday of each month, starting at 8AM, the Plaza and Museum welcome all car owners and enthusiasts. The next Cars & Coffee events will be held on May 5th and June 2nd. You bring the cars...and we’ll bring the coffee. Also, make plans to attend our annual Father’s Day Car Show on June 16th. The Blackhawk Automotive Museum is located at 3700 Blackhawk Plaza Circle in Danville. For more information, call (925) 736-2280.
Call for Entries for Third Annual Juried Exhibition “All Figured Out,” Juried by Reneé de Cossio
Creepy-Crawlies
on Your Patio Giving you the Creeps? Let us clean up your outdoor living areas for summer! Call today for a free consultation! • Friendly reliable service
It’s that time of year again! The Town of Danville is hosting the Third Annual Juried Exhibition in the Village Theatre Art Gallery and would like to encourage all accomplished, mid-career, and merging artists in the United States to apply. The theme for the June 28th through August 12th juried exhibition is “All Figured Out. Artwork, which includes all things figuration, can consist of humans, animals and invented forms. Creative interpretations are encouraged. The juried exhibition is a highlight for local and regional artists and is open to the public. All ages are welcome to apply. A non-refundable entry fee of $30 is required. Entries must be at the Village Theatre Art Gallery by June 7th on or before 5pm. Any entries received after that date or that are incomplete will not be considered. Entries will not be returned. Artist will be notified of the results by e-mail no later than June 12th at 5pm. For more information, visit www.villagetheatreartgallery.com or call (925) 314-3460.
• Licensed and insured
Wheel Day
Events at Lindsay Wildlife Museum
Meadowlark Preschool is hosting a community event where children and their families will be able to observe and explore a variety of interesting vehicles including a fire truck, school bus, construction vehicles, police motorcycle, and more! The event is free. Come and spend a fun morning with us on Saturday, May 4th, from 10am-Noon. The school is located at the Mauzy School, 2964 MirandaAve. inAlamo. For more information, please call 925-837-8792.
“Mount Diablo: Visions & Vistas” Exhibit
Mount Diablo’s ever-changing face, from shrouded in fog to snow-capped to glowing at sunset, will be captured in an exhibit of original photography and artwork through September 2nd at Lindsay Wildlife Museum. “Mount Diablo: Visions & Vistas” will feature the mountain itself and its wildlife and plants in panoramic and close-up photos and paintings by local photographers and artists. Entry to the exhibit is free with admission to the museum. Admission is $7 for adults, $6 for seniors 65+, $5 for children 2 -17, and FREE for members and children under two. Lindsay Wildlife Museum connects people with wildlife to inspire responsibility and respect for the world we share.
San Ramon Valley Genealogical Society
The San Ramon Valley Genealogical Society meets at 10AM the third Tuesday of every month,exceptAugustandDecember,attheDanvilleFamilyHistoryCenter,2949StoneValley Road,Alamo.Therewillbeaspeakerateverymeeting.Everyoneiswelcome.Forinformation, call Ed at (925) 299-0881, visit www.srvgensoc.org, or email SRVGS@SRVGenSoc.org.
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1801 Green Valley Road, Alamo
2178 Las Trampas Road, Alamo
42 Kentfield Court, Alamo
Spectacular gated estate on ~.95 acre grounds. Charming home offers 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.
Enjoy the private setting surrounding this gated estate in Alamo Ridge. Custom 4BR/3.5BA estate on ~8.5 acres of lush lawn & garden areas, breathtaking views & serene sitting areas. Hardwood floors, crown molding, fine finishes throughout! Spacious deck & patio areas, sparkling pool & spa! Offered at $3,150,000
Enjoy the surrounding beauty of majestic oak trees and gently rolling hills from this gorgeous 4BR/2.5BA updated home in Stonegate. Spacious island kitchen, extensive wide-plank handscraped hardwood floors, vaulted ceilings and more! Lush lawn & garden areas, close to wonderful hiking trails! Offered at $999,000
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Page 8 - May 2013 ~ Alamo Today
Tales and Legends: Baseball, Brubeck, and Brazzissimo
Join the Contra Costa Wind Symphony on Friday, May 3rd at 8PM for a magical evening as it performs the legendary music of jazz pianist Dave Brubeck, the brass sound stylings of Brazzissimo, the Bay Area’s #1 brass ensemble, and “Casey at the Bat,” narrated by Dick Callahan, announcer for the Oakland A’s. The performance will be held at Lesher Center for the Arts. Tickets ($25 Adult, $18 Senior,$10 Child/ Youth) are available by going to www.lesherartscenter.org or calling (925) 943-7463.
JEWELRY FINE
Contra Costa Chamber Orchestra Presents French Connection
The Contra Costa Chamber Orchestra will feature soulful saxophonist Dale Wolford performing Glazunov’s “Concerto for Saxophone and String Orchestra” during their “French Connection” program. Also on the program are Debussy’s “La Boite a Joujoux” and Ravel’s “Le Tombeau du Couperin.” The show will be held Sunday, May 12th at 7:30pm at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek. Tickets are available at the door, by phone (925-943-SHOW), or online at www.LesherArtsCenter.org.
Diablo Symphony Orchestra
The Diablo Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Matilda Hofman, will feature highlights from Bizet’s Carmen! as the orchestra completes its 50th season. Also included in the program are Brahms’ “Hungarian Dance no.5,” the “Witches Chorus” from Macbeth, “Erriam sotto La Luna” from Falstaff by Verdi, and Mendelssohn’s “Fairies’” song from A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Featured vocal soloists are Betany Coffland, Heidi Moss, Christopher Bengochea, and Zachary Gordin, and the renowned Contra Costa Children’s Chorus. A special treat will be the “Ritual Fire Dance” by De Falla, guest conducted by Patricia Kriletich. Concerts will be held in the Rossmoor Fireside Room at 8pm, Friday, May 17th, and at the Lesher Arts Center in Walnut Creek at 2pm, Sunday, May 19th. Lesher Tickets are $25 adults and $10 children. Call the Lesher Box Office, 925-943-7469.
Chromatica Presents Choral Concerts
& CRAFT SHOW
ekend e W y a her’s D
Mot
Saturday 10 - 6 Sunday 10 - 5
Alamo Plaza Shopping Center Stone Valley Rd West and Danville Blvd.
Chromatica, a newly formed East Bay chorus of 20 men and women led by David Huff, a San Francisco opera tenor and choral director, will present a concert of classical and modern vocal music on Saturday, June 1st at 8pm. The concert will be held at Peace Lutheran Church located at 3201 Camino Tassajara in Danville. Gold Coast Chamber Players The program will include songs from Brahms’ Zigeunerlieder sung in German, a riveting choral work Transcendent by Ralph Vaughan Williams titled “Rest,” a new piece by local composer Don Benham based on Gerard In programming the epic work, Quartet for the Manley Hopkins’ poem “As Kingfishers Catch Fire,” Frank Titcheli’s “There Will Be Rest,” and Verdi’s End of Time for the Gold Coast Chamber Players season finale on May 11th at 7:30pm, it seemed to “Coro di Schiavi Ebrei,” sung in Italian. Artistic Director, Pamela Freund-Striplen, that audiTickets are $15 per person. For tickets and information visit www.chromaticachorale.org. ences would benefit from a deep exploration of the Voices of Musica Sacra piece. Therefore, she invited author Rebecca Rischin Voices of Musica Sacra presents “Eternal Light,” a concert featuring Gabriel Fauré’s “Requiem” and to discuss her book, For the End of Time: The Story Morten Lauridsen’s “Lux Aeterna.” Two concerts will be held; the first on Friday, May 17th at 8PM at First of the Messiaen Quartet. Ms. Rischin lovingly brings Presbyterian Church Concord, located at 1965 Colfax Street in Concord, and the second on Sunday, May to life the musicians who gave the premier and 19th, 3PM, at St. Stephen Catholic Church, located at 1101 Keaveny Court, in Walnut Creek. Tickets are provides fascinating context for understanding the $10-$20. Details are available at www.vmschorus.org. For information, call 925-228-1181. work. With Ms. Rischin’s lecture as a first half, a performance provides a second half to this program. The most ethereally beautiful music of the twentieth century was first heard on a brutally cold January night in 1941, at the Stalag VIIIA prisoner-of-war camp, in Görlitz, Germany. The composer was Olivier Messiaen, and the work was “Quartet for the End of Time.” Messiaen wrote most of it after being captured as a French soldier during the German invasion of 1940. The concert takes place Saturday, May 11th at 7:30pm at the Lafayette Library Community Hall, located at 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd in LafayPurveyors of classic, exotic, and ette. Tickets can be purchased online at www. high-performance cars for more than 30 years. gcplayers.org or by phone (925) 283-3728.
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Exchange Club of SRV
The Exchange Club of San Ramon Valley meets for lunch the second Wednesday of every month at Faz Restaurant in downtown Danville. The Club’s sign-in and social time begins at 11:30AM. The meeting starts promptly at noon and ends promptly at 1PM. The one-hour program features guest speakers and a business networking speaker. Guests are welcome. Price is $16 for members and first time guests and $20 for returning guests. For more information, call Karen Stepper, President, at (925) 275-2312, email coachstepper@ yahoo.com, or visit www.srvexchangeclub.org.
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Alamo Today ~ May 2013 - Page 9
Celebrate Mother’s Day at The Gardens
The Gardens at Heather Farm is excited to host a free Mother’s Day event in celebration of all moms. This fun-filled event will be held on May 12th from 1PM to 4PM at The Gardens, located at 1540 Marchbanks Drive in Walnut Creek. The six acres of gardens are the perfect place to enjoy a self-guided stroll that winds through 24 unique demonstration gardens in full bloom. Bring a picnic to enjoy in the shaded Meadow Garden overlooking more than 1,000 organically grown roses. There will be craft activities for children to create a special gift for mom. The afternoon will also feature an Artist’s Fair displaying nature inspired art and gift items for sale. All proceeds will directly benefit The Garden’s educational programs and gardens. Enjoy light refreshments and a garden gift just for mom – compliments of The Gardens! For more information, visit www.gardenshf.org. The Gardens at Heather Farm is a nonprofit garden open to the public and free of charge. We are entirely self-supporting and managed by a small, paid staff and the dedication and hard many dedicated hard working volunteers. Our mission is to educate and inspire our community about sustainable gardening and steward-
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Alamo Jewelry, Fine Art & Craft Show - May 11th & 12th
Painters, jewelers, sculptors, and other artisans will be gathering on Mother’s Day weekend at Alamo Plaza Shopping Center for the annual “Alamo Jewelry, Fine Art and Craft Show.” This popular two-day event will be held Saturday and Sunday, May 11th and 12th from 10AM to 6 PM. This year’s show features local and regional artists exhibiting original works of art including paintings, sculpture, pottery, jewelry, fiber art, glass, woodwork, mixed media, photography, and more. “This celebration of Art offers a great opportunity for art lovers to meet with and purchase directly from some of the West Coast’s most talented artists and artisans,” said festival director John Holland. Admission to the festival is free. Additional show information and maps are available at www. jhfestivals.com.
Danville Fine Arts Faire - June 22 & 23 nd
rd
Come enjoy the art of 200 talented artisans, Italian street painting, Abstract Alley, continuous entertainment, Prospect Avenue activities, gourmet food, fine wines, and microbrews on June 22nd and 23rd from 10am to 5pm on Hartz Avenue in downtown Danville. The event is hosted by the Danville Area Chamber of Commerce and the Town of Danville. Admission and parking are free. For more information, contact (925) 837-4400 or visit www.mlaproductions.com.
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
Page 10 - May 2013 ~ Alamo Today
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Rancho Romero Elementary School By Skye Larsh-Faraghan, Principal
In a recent article titled, “Essential Questions: Opening Doors to student Understanding,” I was reminded of the power that asking a good question can have on thinking. Questions can and should be presented to students often during learning, but this article focused on essential questions that come at the beginning of a unit of study. For example, when teachers pose the question, “How can we know what really happened in the past?” as a set up to a new history unit, it immediately increases the engagement level of students and helps provide transparency for students on where they are headed. Additionally, good essential questions call for higher-order thinking – analysis, inference, evaluation and prediction; and good questions raise additional questions and encourage further inquiry. During these last couple of months, Rancho Romero and Alamo Elementary School teachers have collaborated on understanding and designing reading, writing, listening and speaking tasks around opinion and argument. A key feature of the lesson design has been to identify the big idea and develop essential questions. Teachers have done a terrific job of experimenting and exploring with rich, meaningful questions and observing their impact on students. If you are wondering what students are currently thinking about, the following questions might provide some insight: Kindergarten – “How can we be healthy at school?” First Grade – “How can we get to know the characters in books we read?” Second Grade – “Why does an author write?” Third Grade –“Why do you think bullies act the way they do, and what can you do about bullying on the playground? How and why do characters in a book change over time?” Fourth Grade – “How have the roles of and influences on California Native Americans changed over time?” Fifth Grade –“How can word-choice influence or persuade a reader?” Teaching staff, School Site Council, and the Rancho Romero Education Fund have been busy analyzing data, prioritizing needs, and developing a new budget to support our continued growth and development in Common Core and
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Alamo Elementary School By Stan Hitomi, Principal
The final numbers are yet to be tallied, but it is without question that this year’s Alamo School Auction Gala was a huge success. With the theme “An Evening in Paris,” the Gala, sponsored by the Alamo EdFund, was held on April 6th at the Roundhill Country Club. Ruthie Natali and Jeff Dudum led an army of dedicated volunteers in coordinating the event that included Class Baskets, Fund-A-Need, Silent Auction, Dessert Auction and Live Auction, as well as nearly 200 sponsoring businesses and organizations. This year’s Gala was attended by a record 250 parents, friends, and staff at Alamo School. Less than two weeks after the Gala, our EdFund was back at work with our Annual Camp Alamo. Over 100 students enjoyed the evening that began with pizza and ended with ice cream! In between, the students were able to choose from mini-camps that included such activities as carpentry, ceramics, modern dance, animal care, spa, and Japanese writing. Thank you Jean DeFreeuw, Christy Campos, and Elke Sprunt for putting on a great camp! Looking forward to May, it looks as if it will be a typically busy month. First up is STAR Testing. This year’s STAR Testing window runs from April 18 – May 17. All students in grades 2 – 5 will be taking the exams. In addition to STAR Testing, the month of May includes many of our favorite traditions. Friday, May 3rd is our annual Hoedown Kickoff BBQ with the Hoedown taking place on Sunday, May 5th. This year’s Hoedown chair, Lindsay King, is planning this family oriented event with food, music, and games for all. Everyone is invited to join in the fun! The week of May 6 – 10 is Staff Appreciation Week. The Alamo PTA sponsors the week long celebration that recognizes the over 40 full-time and part-time teachers, and certificated and classified staff at Alamo School. We thank Elke Sprunt and Karen Bergen, this year’s coordinators. On May 10th our Alamo’s youngest class will be showcased at our annual Kindergarten Concert. Then it’s the BIG kids turn on May 17th as our 5th grade classes perform at our annual 5th grade musical play – “Character Matters.” The music continues on May 29th with our Instrumental Music Concert, and finishes with our 1st and 2nd grade concert on June 11th and our Spring Vocal Music and Chorus Concert on June 7th. The BIG event for the month of May is our Open House on May 22nd from 6:30PM PM – 8 . All of our classrooms will be open, showing off the fabulous work by our students from throughout the year. We finish the month with our Volunteer Luncheon, hosted by the staff at Alamo School. We will recognize and thank all of our incredible volunteers without whom we would not be able to maintain our incredible programs!
The 8th grade Odyssey of the Mind team from Stone Valley Middle School took 1st place at the state tournament in their division and problem. They also took first place at the regional tournament. The classics problem was ARTchitecture: The Musical. They began working on this problem in September 2012. From May 23-May 25, the team will compete at the World Finals in Michigan. Pictured left to right are Ellery Lewis, Cayla Quinn, Kristian Woerner, Kieran Woerner, Sae Joon Oh, and Hayden Neustadt.
technology/21st Century Learning. One significant change will be the increase of hands-on-science labs offered to our 5th grade students starting in 2013-14. The science lab will also undergo a physical transformation to include a digital Smart Board, science lab tables and electronic microscopes. All of this is made possible by the generosity of our parents and families, and the commitment to excellence provided by the Education Fund. Thank you to our RREF President, Tracey Bracco, RREF Board, and Rancho Families. The Rancho Romero Library is also poised for a makeover, as previously reported, resulting from the generosity and forward thinking of out PTA President, Sarah Woerner, and board. We hope to host an open house when we return in August.
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Stone Valley Middle School
By Shaun K. McElroy, Principal It Takes a Village to Raise a Child – so cliché, so over used, so true!
The African proverb above contains the words nwa ora, or child of the village, meaning that all children are our children. Hilary Clinton popularized this phrase in her bestselling book by the same name, and now “It takes a village” has become part of the popular lexicon. Those of us who are fortunate enough to work in a school community internalize the meaning behind words and turn them in to action. We believe that parent involvement is crucial to student success. In the book Freakanomics, one of the statistics used to point to student success is that students of parents who joined the PTA did better in school. At Stone Valley, we take it beyond the statistics by averaging over 5,000 parent volunteer hours per year. How do we quantify this relationship? In the annual California Healthy Kids Survey 75% of our 7th graders rated the relationships with adults in our community as high (meaning positive), and 23% rated those relationships as moderate. Below is a list of parent volunteers who have worked on the Stone Valley campus at our two most recent events. Fitness Challenge Parent Volunteers Stan Clark, Scott Kiepen, Mark Garcia, Kevin Neach, Wisti Quenneville, Suzy, Rich Libby, Sami Libby, Shannon Neach, Toni Liebowitz, Jen Cole, Chris Chin, Heath Jensen, Caryl Peterson, Christine Clark, Lisa Sims, Audra Ostler, Ann Chambers, Lisa O’Connell, Pat Wolfgram, Jill Wandling, Steph Tennant, Karen Labella, Todd Blevins, Susan Davis, Kim Keane, Yvonne Poon, Joe Quenneville, Alicia Perdue, Karen Madsen, Janet Nunan, Elisa Tinker, Sarah Woerner, Sharon Waal, Brooke Mudd, Beth Kaiser, Shari BergumHayes, Ed O’Toole, Timothy O’Toole, Felicia Martin, Dea Campbell, Tracy Ross PTA Beautification Day Volunteers Libby Nunan, Caroline Fagg, Mrs. Susan Fagg, Mrs. Laurie High, Mrs. Caryl Peterson, Lauren Ridgway, Mrs. Susan Guest, Jeff Mooyman, Nick Bortelone, Jake Mooyman, Ms. Wendy Paulson (Teacher), Sophia Bottaro, Rachel Mondloch, Sarah Mondloch, Cameron Glueck, Avery High, Molly deBoisblanc, Megan Cooke, Caroline Fagg, Mr. Patrick Nunan. Mr. Jim Day, Mrs. Maryann Mooyman, Mr. Jeff Hagar
Alamo Today ~May 2013 - Page 11
(Teacher), Quinn Day, Emma Defreeuw, Mrs. Janet Nunan, Tate Peterson, Mason Clark, Mr. Mike High, Mrs. Rachel Day, Max Nunan, Caroline Birdsall, Julia White, Grace Berchdorf, Cian Molloy, Mrs. Edwina O’Toole, Ms. Monique Metzcus, Mr. Shaun McElroy - and thanks to Stan Clark for doughnuts! Business contributions: • Jim Zygutis - Go Green • Mark Rueb - HD Reub Structural Engineer • Jay Dynes - Zoo Crew • Michael Alms - Growing Solutions for donating a Compost Tea System Parents can also participate in volunteering at Stone Valley through lunchtime supervision. Please contact Lisa Knebel at lknebel@srvusd.net if you would like to help out. Our PTA is choosing to recognize volunteers who log at least two hours of time by rewarding them with a SVMS car magnet.
Stone Valley has first ever National Geo Bee State Finalist
Jeffry Hueckel, son of Angela and Lee Hueckel, is the first Stone Valley student ever to make it to the National Geographic “Geo Bee.” Jeff won the local area Geo Bee and then tested into the State Finalist competition in Sacramento. Jeff was accompanied to Sacramento by his parents and teacher Teresa Butler-Doran, where he competed admirably in the state level “Bee.” We are proud of Jeff and his great accomplishment. Go to www.nationalgeographic.com/geobee/ for more information.
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Page 12 - May 2013 ~ Alamo Today
Monte Vista High School By Janet Terranova, Principal
On May 1 our ninth graders were given hands on experience using Naviance. Naviance: Family Connection is a web-based service designed especially for students and parents to help make decisions about colleges and careers. Our guidance counselors will use it to track and analyze data about college and career plans; it provides up-to-date information that is specific to our school. Family Connection also lets us share information with parents and students about up-coming college visits, summer enrichment, scholarships, meetings, news, and events, as well as other web resources for college and career information. We use a variety of the features in Family Connection throughout each year of high school. Our goal is for students to create a four year plan using Naviance. Freshman concentrate on “Who am I” a time for personal discovery. The process includes: • Counselors meet with students in the beginning of the school year. •Students will be introduced to Family Connection, in the spring, where they will have the opportunity to complete a Myers-Briggs based assessment, “Do What You Are,” a personality profile which offers career suggestions suited to your personality type. •From there students can explore a variety of careers. •Students also have the opportunity to begin to build a resume (highlighting their involvement at MV or within the community during their years in high school). st
www.yourmonthlypaper.com Alamo Municipal Advisory Council presents the
2013 Summer Concert Series Fridays 6:30 6:30-- 8:30p.m. at Livorna Park
(At the corner of Livorna Road and Miranda Avenue in Alamo.)
Admission is Free
June 28th: The Sun Kings
Performing the music of The Beatles with driving energy, authentic arrangements and spot-on harmonies, reminiscent of the earliest Beatles concerts!
July 12th: Alma Desnuda
Captivating harmonies, rhythmic grooves, and inspiring lyrics. "California Acoustic/Soul that'll make you smile!" Renee Richardson ~ KFOG
July 26th: Evan Thomas & Papa’s Garage An electrifying experience packed with a high energy show! Inspired by a variety rock and blues legends.
Spring
Spring weather has definitely arrived with temperatures in the 70’s and 80’s. Great weather is one of the reasons we live in California, but good weather and student focus are sometimes at odds with one another. Third quarter has ended and 4th quarter progress reports are due May 3rd. Please work with your student to help them stay focused and on task. Warm weather also brings reminders about dress code. Please help your student to choose appropriate clothes for school. This is a busy time of year for students. Below are some important dates to remember: AP Testing May 6-17 Senior Ball May 4 Academic Booster Meeting May 14 PTSA Meeting May 28 Senior Week May 28-31 If you want to know more about Monte Vista and our activities, please visit our website at www.mvhs.schoolloop.com.
National Charity League Honors Senior Class
The Diablo Valley Chapter of National Charity League (NCL), Inc., one of the nation’s most distinctive mother-daughter service organizations, recently honored the class of 2013 at its Senior Presentation ceremony. At the event, chapter members, along with friends and family, celebrated the accomplishments of each of the 23 graduating seniors from Carondelet, Monte Vista, and San Ramon Valley high schools. Collectively, these young women and their mothers performed more than 10, 914 philanthropy hours in service during their six years of involvement in NCL with 30 different charitable organizations in Contra Costa County. The graduating seniors of the Diablo Valley Chapter of NCL, Inc. are Madeline Back, Emma Bovberg, Hannah Clark, Sidney Cooke, Haley Dreyer, Michelle Grier, Elise Harvey, Lynsey Hromatko, McKenna Jannasch, Jane Kennedy, Gretchen Koenen, Jessica Kuelz, Briana Maes, Hailey Mamizuka, Rachel Maneloveg, Samantha Marini, Evan Mehiel, Lindsay Portman, Cassidy Raynolds, Brooke Rosenberg, Kayla Sallander, Hannah Stewardson, and Megan Wastal. Photograph by Sue & Shiera Photography
August 9th: Mixed Nuts
Spanning the last 7 decades, “Mixed Nuts” plays a wide variety of great dance music . Bring your dancing shoes.
Bring blankets, chairs, snacks, family, and friends. For information call Recreation Staff at (925) 313-2272.
San Ramon Valley High School By Ruth Steele, Principal
It is May already, and the pace of the school year is intensifying as we approach the last few weeks before June. Over the last month we’ve had AP testing, CAHSEE testing, and STAR testing. The lacrosse, boys tennis, baseball, swimming, and softball seasons are all in full swing. We just completed our musical presentation which involved our music, drama, choir and dance programs. And finally, our students, staff, parents and community came together to coordinate “Every 15 minutes” and did an amazing job balancing the emotional and educational components of the crash reconstruction, the living dead, and the assembly the next day. I am busy trying to plan graduation and build the Master Schedule so that we can get all the students’ class schedules figured out and determine teaching assignments before June. Spring is a hectic time because students become progressively more distracted as the temperatures rises! My biggest focus is always that our seniors make it academically to the end of the school year and can graduate on time. Senioritis seems to strike during this final quarter each year as our graduating class gets closer and closer to June 14th and some students come perilously close to not walking across the stage. It is a nerve wracking time for parents, teachers, counselors, and administration as we try to help all of our students through the last few weeks of school. Regardless of all the challenges, this is one of my favorite times of year. There is nothing more rewarding than seeing students excited about where they will be going to college and discussing their post-high school plans. It is also wonderful to see them at Senior Ball looking so grown up and ready for the next step of their life journey. The best part of high school is watching our young adults as they leave our care and move onto the next phase of their life - I just hope that we have done enough to prepare them so that they are successful in a rapidly evolving world.
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Alamo Today ~ May 2013 - Page 13
Tip of the Month By Cindy Egan and Marilyn Lucey, Co-Chairs Green Your School Summits
Spring has finally sprung, the days are getting longer, the weather is getting warmer, and it is time to plant our summer gardens. Planting a garden is a wonderful way to teach our children about how vegetables grow and how to be responsible for caring for a garden patch. Although many of us have room in our yards for a small garden, some of us aren’t able to support a vegetable garden at home. If you have a student attending one of the 35 schools in San Ramon Valley Unified School District (SRVUSD), it is possible that you and your child can get involved with the garden at their campus. The benefits of school gardens are many. “Tending to new plants teaches children responsibility and teamwork. It provides an opportunity to bring science, math, social studies, language, and visual arts to life through hands-on learning. Vegetable gardens let children taste the wonders of fresh food. In addition, parents, students, and teachers can all enjoy the growing feeling of community that comes from sharing a new adventure,” says Marika Bergsund of GrowingGreat.org. This organization is a great resource for planning a garden and for standards based curriculum. Currently, 15 of the schools in our district have, or are starting, a garden on campus. These gardens vary in size and are used for a variety of purposes including science projects, sources of food for culinary classes, and for donations to the local food bank. Greenbrook Elementary has a California state award winning organic, and watershed wise, garden that offers lunchtime education activities as well as donations of fruits and vegetables to the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano Counties. Charlotte Wood Middle School has a garden used primarily by Judy Kerns, the culinary arts teacher and graduate of Alice Waters’ Edible Schoolyard program. These are just a few examples of how our schools are using gardens in the classroom and beyond. While it is great that there are so many schools with a garden program, there are 20 schools that currently don’t have a garden. If that fact includes the school your children attend, you can get involved by talking to the PTA, teachers, and administrators about starting one. Most of our campuses have room for a small garden, but teachers need assistance with the manpower to build the beds and then plant and maintain the garden. Sustainable Danville Area’s Green Your Schools Summit organizers Cindy Egan and Marilyn Lucey can advise you on how to start and maintain a garden program. The Green Your Schools committee of Sustainable DanvilleArea is working with the Wellness Committee of SRVUSD to coordinate with the schools that have gardens and to encourage more schools to start gardens. In April, we hosted a meeting at a local nursery where teachers and parents learned about suitable organic vegetable choices for the climate in the Danville area. We were inspired with ideas to incorporate native plants and organic fruit and vegetable plants in our garden. Here are some of favorites to try. ● Golden muscat, red flame or table grapes on an arbor or fence - delicious to pick and eat when ripe ● Alpine strawberry - grow in a hanging pot or at the edge of the bed so the berries trail off the side, sweeter than most strawberries ● Microgreens - grow in a two inch deep flat, a great project for kids ● Dwarf citrus - grow these in barrels or as shrubs, yes, as shrubs instead of trees so that kids can pick the fruit easily ● Herbs - variegated mint bush and lime thyme are great for cooking, wonderful sensory smell experience and are natural pest repellents ● Lavender and Salvia - these drought tolerant plants are beautiful and attract our pollinator pals Along with plants and flowers blooming, the pest population that feeds on our bounty can explode as well. Here are some suggestions for integrated pest management: ● Interplant marigolds and alyssum amidst your vegetables ● Amend your soil with bloodmeal and moles, squirrels, and gophers will stay away ● Set your traps for wasps and yellow jackets NOW in hopes of catching the queen early, if you catch the queen, you won’t have a problem with the army later ● Whitefly infestation? Find the main host plant, bag it, and toss it - do not compost it. Then repeatedly treat the other affected plants with sprays of soapy water Local nurseries like Sloat have a Growing Up Green program for teachers and school garden parents. Sign up and receive discounts on plants and an abundance of free, excellent advice. In May, our meeting we will focus on resources for gardens and developing feeder programs between our schools. Students, teachers, parents from our SRVUSD schools are invited to share their green and garden programs. We strongly encourage interested students to attend - our stewards of the future mean a lot to us, and we want to make their contribution visible. The May meeting will be held on May 15th at Dougherty Valley High School. For more information on location and time, visit http:// sustainabledanville.wordpress.com and follow us on Facebook.
Page 14 - May 2013 ~ Alamo Today
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Talk to Me!
By Evan Corstorphine, Portable CIO
AAUW Garden Tour: Five Fabulous Featured Gardens
On May 10th and 11th from 10am to 4pm five fabulous gardens clustered in Alamo and Danville will be open for the public to tour during the 13th annual Danville-Alamo-Walnut Creek AAUW Garden Tour. Funds raised by the event support the American Association of University Women’s National Educational Opportunities Fund, which offers fellowships and grants to women pursuing post-graduate studies. Gardens on tour this year run the gamut from formal to free form. “The Bellagio” mixes French and Italian design elements with California style outdoor living features. The floral exuberance of 100 roses is balanced by the culinary practicality of vegetables, fruit trees and grapes. A “Garden of Outdoor Rooms” beckons visitors through a series of inviting spaces where one longs to linger. Look for the hidden koi pond in the “Cottage Charm” garden. Take a “Walk on the Wildside” that progresses up a hillside with formal spaces on the lower level succeeded by ever more relaxed and natural tiers. The fifth garden, the “Vineyard,” includes a hillside planted in Carbernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec grapes. Tickets are available at The East Bay Flower Company in Danville (206 Sycamore Valley Road in the Danville Livery) or online at http://daw-ca. aauw.net. Adults $35; Seniors 65+ $30. Light refreshments and a drawing included. No children under 12 or pets permitted.
Ever since seeing the first episodes of Star Trek while growing up, I’ve been fascinated by the possibility of speaking to a computer and having it actually understand what I’m saying. We’ve all seen examples of computer speech recognition in TV shows and movies, and today, life imitates art where computers are actually listening to us and understanding, too. For quite some time, we’ve seen examples on TV of the FBI using voice-pattern recognition to ascertain different things about the person who is being analyzed. They can determine if the person speaking on a recording matches another individual by examining the voice waveform on a scope, and they can also tell if there is stress present in the individual’s voice when being questioned. This technology is the grandfather of current voice recognition software, which has found its way into mainstream computers available to everyone. It used to take a mainframe computer to analyze speech. Then, it took a mini computer and then a powerful desktop workstation. Now, it’s available for $99 and works on just about any PC you can buy off the shelf, and you can also find the feature on most smartphones and tablets. As you might imagine, I type a lot. I stay pretty connected whether it’s on my desktop in the office, my laptop in my favorite chair, or my phone or iPad when I’m mobile. But I get tired of typing. Sometimes I’m just tired, and other times it’s hard to type because I worked in the yard, and my hands are sore. Happily, there’s a helpful product which has been out for a number of years. It’s called Dragon Naturally Speaking, and it’s quite powerful in its current iteration. There are two main ways that Dragon can help you translate spoken words into text on the computer. The first way is through straight dictation. The program has a powerful command vocabulary which you can use to navigate your computer, and then you can use it to dictate documents and messages. The Dragon package comes with a nifty headset that plugs into your computer, and you wear that headset to issue voice commands and dictation. The second way it works is through transcription. Let’s say you have recorded your thoughts onto a dictation device, and you want them turned into a document. If you load that transcription onto your computer as a speech file, Dragon can “listen” to the file and build a text document from the words spoken on the recording. The accuracy of the transcription depends on the things you’d expect to matter, such as the quality of the initial recording and how well the program has been “trained” to recognize your voice. But it does work, and the final editing takes a fraction of the time it would have taken you to manually transcribe the document. Another cool way I’m using voice recognition is with my phone and tablet computer. The first Apple devices to offer voice recognition for dictation are the iPhone 4s and iPad3. The dictation feature came along around the same time as “Siri,” the application that is supposed to act as a phone-based concierge (but that I feel is a horrendous disappointment). Even though the iPhone’s on-screen keypad interface is pretty well thought out, I’ve found it to be slow at times to get my thoughts translated quickly through my thumbs and into the phone. But by using the dictation feature built into my phone, I can send content-rich text messages and emails directly from my phone, only touching the keyboard to press “send.” I find this to be an amazing time-saver and extremely convenient when I have a lot to say or can’t conveniently use my hands to type. I think my friends and family probably wonder how I can type such long messages so quickly! Even though I find the Dragon voice recognition technology to be very effective, it’s not as easy to use as I’d like. It’s still pretty technical, and you have to memorize a lot of structured commands to really get the most out of the product on the PC. I predict that as computer power continues to increase, the software will become more and more intelligent, until we can speak in normal language to our computers and they will be able to interpret our wishes. When it gets there, life will have come full-circle to imitate art, because that’s exactly what Captain Kirk was able to do with the computer in Star Trek! If you do a lot of writing and believe you might be a candidate for speech recognition software, Portable CIO can help get you setup with the right equipment so your whole environment works well. Our friendly staff is ready to help, and reachable via email at helpdesk@theportablecio.com or at (925)552-7953. Advertorial
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Alamo Today ~ May 2013 - Page 15
Solar Currents
By Mark Becker, GoSimpleSolar The Million-Dollar Question
I’m a big fan of the program Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? I think it’s inevitable that sometime soon the million-dollar question will be, “I see you are in PG&E’s service area. Please tell me what you are paying for electricity?” For most of you, your answer (for the million bucks) may be “I’m paying a tiered rate.”As we know, the more energy we use, the more we pay per unit (kilowatt) of energy used. It’s called “progressively increasing price points.” Unfortunately, it’s not as simple as that. PG&E’s progressively increasing price points change based on which utility rate and territory the customer is in. The price points also change daily, by time of day, and seasonally. All residential (and soon all business) rates have “tiered and time of use attributes.” Weekdays cost more than weekends, and summer costs more than winter. Daytime costs more than nighttime, but not always, because it depends on one’s usage. Some kilowatts cost as low as 3.8 cents, and some cost more than 55 cents. The difference in cost depends on your utility tariff and your “tiered and time of use” habit patterns of electric use. As you can see, all kilowatts are not created equal. Wouldn’t it be nice if there were “frequent flyer miles” when spending more for energy? Many of our customers may have never gone solar had such perks been forthcoming. In reality, PG&E would rather you use less energy than more. Energy demands keep rising, and power generation is not rising to meet the demand. Stabilizing and managing the grid and having reliable energy sources to provide energy to the grid are top priorities for PG&E. For this reason, solar and PG&E happen to make excellent yet seemingly strange bedfellows. This PG&E/solar partnership is mutually beneficial. The grid’s energy demands and customer’s energy costs are highest from May through October. Not so coincidentally, solar power systems have their highest output during these months as well. For PG&E, excess energy is expensive to generate, and it’s difficult to transmit and manage, especially during hot days. Non-solar customers are penalized by a higher cost of electricity during these summer afternoon hours. Solar customers are incentivized by PG&E to generate and export power to the grid during these higher cost summer afternoons. The old moniker “buy low and sell high” is the simplest description as to how solar systems generate excellent financial return for their owners. For nighttime car charging, for each solar kilowatt sent to the grid during the day, I get credited multiple kilowatts back at night. Car charging is essentially free for me because solar is able to leverage the peak vs. off peak energy costs. PG&E is indeed selling my excess solar generation to my neighbors, and they’re possibly marking it up as well. The “mark-up” of course depends where my neighbors are on the “tiered and time of use” continuum at that moment in time. Solar systems save PG&E money in energy generation and transmission costs. Much like the other 147,366 California solar customers, (as of April 18th) I saw no return on investment with monies paid to PG&E. I’d rather be an energy provider, and I’m happy to know that on most days, I’m providing clean energy to my neighbors while being compensated nicely by PG&E for doing so. It’s a great partnership. Since businesses haven’t voluntarily reduced energy use during peak hours, they’re being forced to switch to time of use electric rates, which will be fully implemented by November 2013. I have a feeling this transition to time of use rates for business will generate more solar business as the customer tries to escape the ever rising cost of energy. Hedging energy costs by “going solar” is one of the few stable and safe investments with reasonable returns still around. PG&E and solar, strange bedfellows indeed. 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 showroom at 114 West Prospect Avenue in Danville or www.GoSimpleSolar.com, or email Mark@ GoSimpleSolar.com. Advertorial
Blue Star Mom Drop Zone
East Bay Chapter 101 Blue Star Moms is having a Drop Zone event to collect donations for their upcoming “Star-Spangled Thank You” care package mailing to our Troops in June. While you are out shopping, please consider picking up an item or two and dropping it off. Please help us show the Troops that we have not forgotten them and all they are doing to keep our Country safe! Our goal is to send out over 1,000 care packages, and we cannot do it without the generous support of our community. All donations will be mailed to our brave men and women serving our country overseas. Come say hello, sponsor a care package mailing ($13.30 for postage only), make a postcard or two, or drop off a donation to show your gratitude for what our brave Troops do for all Americans each and every day! Go to www.bluestarmoms.org and click on care packages for more information, including a list of our donation items. Please join us Saturday, June 8th at Safeway, 200 Alamo Plaza, Alamo.
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Page 16 - May 2013 ~ Alamo Today
Quick Trips
By Linda Summers Pirkle New Clairvaux Vineyard
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Twenty minutes from Chico, on a two lane road lined with walnut and olive orchards, is the tiny town of Vina, home to New Clairvaux Abbey Vineyard (sacredstones@newclairvaux.org). New Clairvaux is the first Cistercina Monastery in the Americas to grow, vinify, and bottle its own wine. We visited the Abbey on a Saturday. It’s a long drive from the Bay Area, two and a half hours, but it’s well worth visiting it. It is also the place where Trappist monks have taken on a project of reconstructing a chapter house from Santa Maria de Ovila, a 12th century Spanish monastery. The endeavor is called the “Sacred Stone Project.” We arrived at noon, just in time for a tour of the Abbey led by Joe Smith, a knowledgeable volunteer guide. We started out in Leland Stanford’s wine cellar, a thick walled brick building built in 1885. We learned some surprising history; this winery was the largest in the world in the late 1800’s, Stanford’s Great Vina Ranch. Today, the Abbey is owned and operated by the Cistercian or Trappist Monks. I talked to the very charming and humble Brother Pierre La Pointe, 82, who was one of the original monks to move to the Abbey in 1955. “There are 22 of us at the Abbey, and we each have a job. In the past I have been cook, baker, person in charge of the prune trees, manager of the walnut business, and even the tailor. I did not know how to sew until the old tailor taught me, and then I became the tailor. I can make all the Brothers’ clothes. “Brother Pierre laughed and added,” I do not want to sound like I am bragging.” He and Brother Francis, another friendly monk who also serves in the tasting room, pour and answer questions from the public. After a short video and some history of the Abbey, our guide led us out to the “Sacred Stone Project.” Back in the 1930’s, looking for objects of art to furnish a summer home to be built in Northern California, Randolph Hearst, the millionaire San Francisco newspaper publisher, toured Europe. Hearst purchased works of art and even a beautiful Spanish 12th century Cistercian Monastery. Stones from this ancient abbey were meticulously packaged and catalogued for reconstruction and then transported from Spain to San Francisco, but the stones were never used for Hearst’s project. A portion of the stones ended up at the Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco. Many years later, in the 1990’s, the Cistercian Abbey stones were given back to the Trappist order, and the “Sacred Stone” project was born. The Chapter House, or main part of the Monastery which is being reconstructed at the New Clairvaux Abbey, is a work in progress. Our guide pointed out “Mason’s marks” on stone where 12th century laborers carved their accounting inscriptions. According to our guide, this is the oldest free standing building in the America’s. It is beautiful! The tour takes about 45 minutes, and afterwards you can enjoy a tasting of the award winning wines made at the Abbey. Visitors are invited to attend short prayer services in the chapel. The monks invite everyone to attend, however they request quiet during their prayer services. Their address is 26240 7th Street, Vina CA 96092, the phone number is (530) 839-9936, and the hours are 11AM -5PM everyday except for Holy Days. • You can spend the night at the Abbey. Eight single and two double rooms are available to the public for lodging. Rooms are clean, simple, and very popular; it is best to reserve 3-6 months ahead of time. Suggested donation is $60 per night including three vegetarian meals. • In 2010, Sierra Nevada Brewing Company formed a partnership with the Abbey with the making of a Belgian Style Abbey Ale called “Ovila,” named after the town in Spain where the Spanish monastery was built almost 1,000 years ago. Profits from the sale of Ovila beer go to help with the restoration project at New Clairvaux. 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 18 - May 2013 ~ Alamo Today
Life in the Alamo Garden
By John Montgomery, ASLA, Landscape Architect Garden Rooms
Imagine your garden to be like your home; having different functions and places for varied activities, perhaps laid out in a similar fashion as the floor plan of your home. Rooms for activities, food preparation and dining, relaxation and contemplation, and work spaces can all be part of the intended vision of a garden design. Particularly in Alamo, we are very blessed to live in such a favorable environment which supports the idea of living inside/out. Current trends over the last decade have been moving towards using the outdoor environment as an extension of the indoor living space. It is very interesting to see with some of my renovation projects with homes built in the 1940 – 1950’s the way in which the land was used. For instance, take my home, built in 1948 on half an acre, where the landscape entailed a small concrete patio (square), a small patch of turf, a few fruit trees, and the rest which was left to go to seed. I find a lot of homes of this era like that. Today, I develop those unused areas into usable outdoor space, or garden rooms. A home has a heart; so does a garden. Generally the kitchen and family room are the center of activity in a home, and it is the same for a garden. Most folks in Alamo enjoy the outdoors all-year-round, making food preparation and dining outdoors desirable. I design a wide range of outdoor kitchens equipped with everything including 48” stainless steel grills, refrigerators, sinks, dish washers, lobster pots, woks, pizza ovens, keg-a-rators, and wine closets. Pretty much anything in the indoor kitchen can be recreated outdoors. Outdoor kitchens are great for either large parties or dinners for two. The patio space shaded by a pergola or arbor becomes the central room of the garden, supporting activities such as eating and dining, having conversations with friends and family, entertaining, playing games, or simply sitting quietly reading a book. At night, the fireplace, firepit, or heating umbrellas can take away the evening chill for late-night entertaining. For more rambunctious activities like swimming, soccer, croquet, hide-n-seek and tag; swimming pools and spas, large turf areas, and sport courts become the activity room or even the sports arena. For the avid golfer imagine having your
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A hot tip from your local Landscape Architect: When it comes to planning an outdoor environment, my motto is: “Every square inch has a purpose.” Gardening Quote of the Month: “I do not understand how anyone can live without one small place of enchantment to turn to.” - Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings 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
Upcoming Meetings and Events
own putting green! On the other hand, if the bedroom and sleep is your thing for a nice relaxing Saturday afternoon, carve out a nice quiet corner of the garden for a hammock, chaise lounge, or an outright bed in a small garden cottage. I have designed several versions of an outdoor bedroom for clients. One was a “SkyBed” which was a platform that would allow you to pull yourself up into the tree canopy with a pulley system, tie it off, and take a nap in the tree tops. Another was a small garden cottage (10’ X 12’) that was for Mom and her two young daughters to have sleepovers in. I designed a fold-away Murphy/bunk bed so the cottage could double as play space for the girls during the day. Lately, I find a fair amount of my clients working from home which gives the garden a completely different potential for use. With wireless capabilities for almost everything, imagine taking care of business poolside in your swim suit while on a conference call with associates scattered halfway around the globe or sitting with your laptop hammering out the year-end financials while sitting next to a koi pond under the shade of a tree. There are no limits to the ways you can use your garden. Garden rooms need not be overdone or complicated. Creating “garden rooms” is one approach to effectively design the “floor-plan” of your outdoor environment.
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
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
Donald Schroeder is our winner
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The Incense-Cedar
By Blaine Brende & Joe Lamb
Alamo Today ~ May 2013 - Page 19
The incense-cedar graces many Bay Area gardens with its shade, beauty, and intriguing fragrance. Calocedrus decurrens, its Latin name, means beautiful cedar. The striking contrast between the vibrant greens of its leaves and the trunk’s rich reds creates a pleasing aesthetic further enhanced by the relaxed elegance of the weeping foliage. The beauty of this tree is not confined to the realm of the visual. The incensecedar gives off a distinctive fragrance that fills the air with a pungent aroma strongly reminiscent of grade-school classrooms and the unforgettable smell of the pencil sharpener. In my youth, and still largely today, pencils were made from the soft and distinctively fragrant wood of Calocedrus decurrens. The incense-cedar is not a true cedar (thus the hyphen). The so-called “true cedars” are native to the Mediterranean and the Himalayas, and are members of the genus Cedrus. These include the majestic Deodora and Atlas cedars, as well as the famous Cedar of Lebanon. The incense-cedar, which may live a thousand years and attain a height of 150 feet, is a true California native. It evolved in North America, and its current range extends from the Cascade Mountains in northern Oregon, through the Sierra Nevadas, and down to the Sierra San Pedro Matir of Baja California. Throughout its range it has been important in the lives of Native Americans. The Klamath tribe of Oregon wove its bark into baskets. The California Paiutes made infusions of its leaves for colds. The Round Valley tribe of Mendocino Country used leaflets as flavoring when leaching acorn meal. This species has provided Native Americans with food, shelter, clothing, and music. The incense-cedar’s natural resistance to rot made it very useful both in antiquity and in modern times. Homebuilders use it for siding, decking, moulding, and interior paneling. Landscapers use its chips and bark for mulch. Its wood is made into furniture, shingles, and railway ties. Sawdust and wood scraps help fuel co-generation of electricity. The softness of the wood and its resistance to splintering make the incense-cedar ideal for encasing pencil lead. However, these qualities also make the wood fragile, brittle, and potentially somewhat problematic as an urban landscape tree. When it grows as one trunk from a thick base to a single pyramid-shaped crown, the incense-cedar is relatively stable; it requires little work other than the periodic removal of deadwood. But if the trunk of the tree divides into multiple columns or has large branches which turn up and rise parallel to the trunk, the tree has structural problems that make it vulnerable to column failure. After some recent winter storms, Brende & Lamb looked at many incense-cedars that had shed branches and sometimes entire columns. Most of the failed trees suffered from a malady of tree anatomy called included bark. This structural defect occurs when the bark at the crotch folds inward, and interrupts the continuity of the fibers supporting the columns. Good pruning can ameliorate many structural problems. Co-dominant stems (more than one column of roughly the same diameter) are more likely to fail than trees with a single leading column. Sometimes reducing one of the competing leaders can minimize the hazard. If column removal is not advisable for aesthetic or functional reasons, it is often possible to cable the multiple stems together. However, individual trees are so unstable that removal is the safest alternative. Whatever you do, do not top these trees. Topping a cedar will eventually produce many unstable columns multiplying the risk and, ultimately, the expense of keeping the tree. Preventative medicine is almost always less expensive and more effective than later surgery. If you plant an incense-cedar, choose nursery stock with only one trunk and no crotches with included bark. Remember that a seedling cedar can grow to over a hundred feet, and that tall trees may cause view concerns for yourself and your neighbors. Calocedrus has graced the California landscape for almost 200 million years. With a little forethought and good pruning, the incense-cedar can continue to bless Bay Area gardens with the subtle fragrance of childhood. It takes a little effort to live at peace with this large California native, but its bounty of colors, shapes, and scents make that effort worthwhile. 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
Page 20 - May 2013 ~ Alamo Today
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Alamo Police Services District P-2, Zone B 1211138-TSO-ALToday-5x6.25.indd 1
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Deputy Michael Carson, Alamo Resident Deputy, activities for March 2013
Deputy Carson Completed:
191 Calls for service • 10 Moving citations • 1 Non-moving citation • 2 Reports • 24 School security checks • 4 FI cards
Deputy Carson Responded to or Conducted
29 Patrol requests/Vacation house checks • 66 Alarm calls • 2 Disturbance of the peace • 2 Found property • 1 Lost property • 6 Suspicious circumstances • 1 Service to citizens • 1 Vandalism • 1 Identity theft • 5 Petty thefts • 1 Auto burglary • 4 Residential burglaries • 1 Battery • 1 Warrant arrest • 2 Stolen vehicles • 3 Civil issues • 2 Grand thefts
If I Were a Thief Program
309 Streets covered • 111 Flyers distributed
Reported Incident
• N. Jackson Way/Danville Blvd - Suspicious Circumstances - Valley Station Deputies were dispatched to a Suspicious Circumstances. Two teenaged girls reported that an unknown description male adult had approached them and asked them several random questions. An area check was done for the subject, but he was not located. • Angela Ave - Burglary, Residential - Valley Station Deputies responded to a reported Residential Burglary. The unknown suspect(s) broke a window in the rear of the residence to gain entry. Numerous personal items were stolen. • South Jackson Way - Burglary, Residential - Valley Station Deputies responded to a reported Residential Burglary. The unknown suspect(s) forced open a rear patio door to gain entry into the residence. Several rooms in the home were ransacked and personal items were stolen. Deputy Mike Carson is Alamo’s full time resident deputy. His position is funded by Alamo’s P-2B police services district, which includes approximately 60% of Alamo household. District households pay an $18 annual parcel tax plus a portion of the 1% property tax. The Alamo Police Services Advisory Committee advises Sheriff David Livingston on the resident deputy and his services. The Committee is composed of Alamo residents within the district and it meets on the first Monday of each month at 5pm in the offices of the Alamo Chamber of Commerce, located at 120B Alamo Plaza. Alamo citizens are welcome to attend the meetings.
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www.yourmonthlypaper.com Notes By Jody Morgan
Lest you think the trend of replacing nutrient-gobbling, water-guzzling lawns with wildflower meadows is a recent innovation, consider the “flowery mead” forming the background of medieval “mille fleurs” tapestries. I had always taken those stylized spaces to be an idealist’s dream - as mythical as the unicorn often depicted within. Although the passage that inspired me to research the topic comes from Philippa Gregory’s fictional creation Earthly Joys, her reference to the carpets of lush turf richly interwoven with flowers popular for pleasure gardens during the Middle Ages is definitely historically accurate. Whether or not John Tradescant the elder ever attempted to recreate such a garden for Charles I at Oatlands Palace in the second quarter of the 17th century, Gregory’s description of the talented gardener’s struggles to keep the grass from overwhelming the flowers reads as though she might have attempted a similar project herself. Given free hand to embellish the palace grounds with all manner of romantic floral fabrications, Tradescant (according to Gregory’s text) decided to experiment with a design already out of fashion for two or three centuries. A list of blossoms likely to have bloomed in a traditional flowery mead included in Judith McLeod’s In a Unicorn’s Garden reads: “sweet violets, Heartsease, Lords-and-Ladies, wild strawberries, single-flowered stocks, cornflowers, carnations, white lilies, flag iris, campions, wild ground orchids, sweet rocket, cinquefoil, Lady’s Mantle, pincushion flowers and poppies.” Perhaps in a restricted cloister garden or at a villa tended by countless minions the ideal described by Giovanni Boccaccio in his 1348 Decameron might have been maintainable: “in the midst of the garden a lawn of very fine grass, so green it seemed nearly black, colored with perhaps a thousand kind of flowers…” The modern version is calculated to be non-labor-intensive. As McLeod explains: ”Where every imperfection in a turf displeases critical eyes, a flowery mead disguises unevenness, and meadow daisies, buttercups and dandelions are no longer outlawed with weedicide, but are welcomed.” (Translate her British “turf” as “lawn” and “weedicide” as “herbicide.”) The newest North American concept encourages elimination of not only poisonous weed-killers that run off into the water supply, but also annoying noise pollution that goes along with frequent mowing. A properly tended 21st century meadow needs mowing only once or twice a year. To go totally green, replace your whining lawnmower with a softly swishing scythe. Establishing a meadow that remains aesthetically pleasing throughout the year is no easy task. Careful planning is essential so the grasses don’t overwhelm the flowers, and the succession of bloom is relatively constant. Otherwise the desirable carefree natural meadow look rapidly deteriorates into the unkempt ugliness of an abandoned lot. Scattering a large packet of native wildflower seeds in an open field seasonally greened by non-native grasses will not work. For the seeds to flourish, you need to do more than scratch out a few bare patches, as I can confirm by personal failures. Despite the inclusion of dandelions as one of the nearly 100 plants identified in the flowery mead depicted in the 14th century Unicorn Tapestries exhibited at the Cloisters in New York, aggressive weeds need to be banished from the ground before a wildflower meadow is planted. Preparation of the soil should be as thorough as the preparation done for a formal garden bed. Incorporate only the grasses that are good about refraining from intruding on their flowering neighbors’ personal plant space. Many bulbs handle alternating damp and dry seasons by putting out blossoms and leaves during rainy months and going dormant during summer drought. Thoughtfully chosen native or exotic bulbs add interest to any meadow. The species from which tulips were hybridized in Holland originated in the far dryer hills of Turkey. Tulipa bakeri, for example, multiplies every year in the Ruth Bancroft Garden. The custard-colored cups with claret centers appear in early spring. Determined to recreate the medieval model? Choose a small plot of lawn that can be separated from the area regularly mowed. Take pots of several varieties of flowering plants, and arrange them randomly - not in geometric rows – so the effect looks natural. Dig holes in the turf just adequate for the pot size, and plant with the crown of the flowering plant level with the top of the surrounding turf. This is a high-maintenance project. You may want to replace the flowering specimens seasonally for year-round color. You will also need to hand clip the grass, a task even the fictionalized John Tradescant found tedious.
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Finance of Remarriage
Alamo Today ~ May 2013 - Page 21
Brought to you By Peter, Jim, Paul, and Bob
In conjunction with Spectrum Wealth Partners, a division of Lincoln FinancialAdvisors, a registered investment advisor.
Getting remarried includes merging two well-established financial and emotional lives. Both partners bring accumulated assets, debts, forged spending habits, obligations, and perhaps children to the relationship. Determining how to manage your financial assets to meet the needs, goals and expectations of each partner can help solidify a harmonious union – but may not always be easy. Ideally, a couple embarking on marriage would discuss their finances, values, and expectations beforehand. But few people do, because they perceive financial discussions as negative and do not want to detract from the joy of the upcoming marriage. Yet talking about financial histories and goals can strengthen a partnership by reaching an agreement on how to manage assets to support a shared lifestyle and individual goals.
Talking About Finances
As your relationship grows, trust is reinforced by honest communication, and planning a life together includes talking about financial expectations. The topic can be difficult and requires many discussions; it’s not something you can expect to work out in one sitting. But time spent talking with each other can help you understand what is important to your partner, how you both spend money, and what each other’s needs and dreams are. The following topics can serve as a starting point: • How you decide how to spend your money • Financial lessons from a previous marriage • Goals – such as plans to buy a beach house or fund a grandchild’s education • Monetary concerns – paying off debt, funding retirement, managing your assets • Legacy goals – inheritance for your children, charitable donations A financial planner can help facilitate a discussion to help you both determine what you want out of life, when you want it, and how to afford it. For example, some goals may be funded by an individual and others by the couple. Your financial planner can also provide a neutral point of reference. Often people who have experienced a divorce or the death of a spouse have emotional issues attached to their finances. Rebuilding a life after losing a spouse is difficult and people may become self-protective or inflexible about their perceived needs and wants, creating an obstacle to blending a life with a new spouse. In addition, your financial planner can help you discuss the estate planning needs that must be considered with a remarriage to reflect your new circumstances and priorities. These may include how to: • Equalize an inheritance by redistributing assets • Develop new assets to support your spouse or children • Reassign assets through beneficiary status • Design trusts to provide spousal support and/or protect assets for your heirs • Assign assets to your new spouse to maximize estate tax exemptions
Strategies for Managing Finances
A number of factors may impact how you decide to manage your assets within a new marriage. These may include having accumulated assets you want to protect, determining how finances were handled in a previous marriage, providing support to ex-spouses and children, and/or discussing issues regarding imbalances of income, assets, and liabilities. Working with a financial planner can help you structure a financial plan that is appropriate for your situation. If you have assets you want to protect, consider a prenuptial agreement. This requires a full disclosure of each partner’s financial status and can help foster discussions about what each person is bringing to the marriage, how property will be titled, and how household expenses and existing debt will be paid. Many remarried couples elect to keep their income separate, as well as their savings, retirement, and investment accounts. This allows each person to maintain some independence and pay for their obligations from a previous marriage with their personal funds (In this instance, a joint account can be used for household expenses and vacations). But even if accounts are kept separate, it is important for the couple to agree on a lifestyle, spending budget, and individual contributions to the household. Regardless of whether you elect to keep your assets separate or blend them together, it is as a couple with new, shared objectives that you may find some benefits to working with one investment manager.
Merging advisors can help a family identify asset duplication and reach individual and joint goals. 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. CRN200905-2030634 Advertorial
Name the Bald Eagle
What do you think would be the perfect name for a bald eagle? Help name Lindsay Wildlife Museum’s resident male bald eagle by submitting name ideas when you visit the museum from Memorial Day Weekend through Father’s Day. Then, celebrate the eagle’s new name at the museum July 5th through July 7th. Visitors can see the eagle every day in the museum exhibit hall, and watch him in action during afternoon Raptor! presentations. The eagle turns 25 years old this year! Banded as a nestling in Idaho on May 27, 1988, the eagle migrated to California sometime as a young adult. In 1993, he flew into power lines near Winters, CA and was electrocuted. His left wing was so severely injured that it had to be amputated. He came to Lindsay Wildlife Museum in 1994 and has been one of the museum’s most popular animal ambassadors. To learn more, visit http://wildlifemuseum.org/visit/ambassadors/926. Lindsay Wildlife Museum offers an extraordinary chance to meet our bald and golden eagles up close and personal in VIPeek - Eagle Encounter. In this two-hour exclusive program, participants learn from eagle handlers what it’s like to work with these magnificent birds, help prepare a meal, and get premium seating for the exhibit hall presentation of Raptors!. The VIPeek - Eagle Encounter is for ages 10 and up. For cost and information, visit http://wildlife-museum.org/visit/vipeek. Lindsay Wildlife Museum is located at 1931 FirstAvenue in Walnut Creek. Visit http:// wildlife-museum.org or call (925) 935-1978 to learn more. Lindsay Wildlife Museum connects people with wildlife to inspire responsibility and respect for the world we share.
Page 22 - May 2013 ~ Alamo Today
Protecting and Enhancing the Lives of Your Children By Robert J. Silverman, Attorney at Law
This article will explore some important ways we can provide security for our children and lay the groundwork for improving their lives. It should go without saying that health is the most important thing we want for our children. As parents, we should do whatever is necessary to ensure that our children have health care insurance; that they see competent medical, dental, vision and other providers; and that we serve as their health care advocates when necessary or appropriate. Likewise, it’s incumbent upon parents to provide a safe environment for their children at home and monitor their school and extracurricular activities. There’s no substitute for communicating with your children regularly to make sure they are not being bullied or unduly picked on; and that no peer, teacher, coach or other person with whom they are in contact is taking advantage or attempting to do so in any way. Sure, the above is mostly common sense. But, if you have any minor children, having an up-to-date Will containing a guardianship provision is also common sense, yet many parents don’t have one. Often, parents of young children fail to establish a Will because they cannot decide on a guardian. This is ironic because if parents die and have made no guardianship nomination, the court will appoint whomever the judge may deem appropriate, which guardian may be the very last person the deceased parents would ever have chosen or wanted. So, it’s infinitely better to struggle to nominate at least one guardian (if not also one or two alternates) than to leave this critical decision to chance. Of course, another prudent way to protect your children is by protecting yourself. If you experience a disability that prevents you from working or limits your earning power significantly, do you have an appropriate disability policy to provide income replacement for you and your children? If you died prematurely, would enough assets be available to enable your children to maintain the lifestyle you want for them? If you’re not happy with the answers to these questions, you should obtain advice from an experienced life insurance professional. Beyond basic protection and safety, a common way to enhance the life of a child is
Perspectives on Mount Diablo
New Exhibit at the Museum of the San Ramon Valley
Mount Diablo is fascinating and complex, and the new exhibit at the Museum of the San Ramon Valley views this iconic landmark from several angles, exploring its diverse qualities and intriguing history. Underwritten by the Lesher Foundation, Perspectives on Mount Diablo is a collaboration with the Mount Diablo Surveyors Historical Society, Mount Diablo Interpretive Association, Save Mount Diablo, and the Museum of the San Ramon Valley. Representatives from these groups will talk with visitors each Saturday through June 30 from 10:30AM to noon during the exhibit.
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to save for his or her higher education - whether through traditional savings, permanent life insurance (which cash value can generally be withdrawn tax free), a tax-advantaged 529 plan, or other methods. If grandparents or other relatives are in a position to make gifts to your children for their education, useful Federal Estate/Gift Tax rules may apply. One such rule is that up to $14,000 per calendar year can be gifted to each of your children without the donor being subject to any Gift Tax and without causing the donor to use up any of his or her Federal Estate Tax exemption (i.e. without reducing the amount that the donor is able to give away Estate Tax free on death). Besides these $14,000 “annual exclusion” gifts, a donor may donate an unlimited amount to your child’s education by paying the tuition bill directly to the educational institution. Specific rules and qualifications apply to the tax aspects of these educational gifts (and to mirror rules for health care-related gifts). Finally, the manner in which you or others make gifts to your children for educational and/or other purposes, has important implications. The most popular and simplest method is to gift funds into a custodial (UTMA) account. But many donors fear the child may not eventually use the funds for the intended purpose or handle the money responsibly. Upon opening an UTMA account, the minor owns and is automatically entitled to all of the account funds when the child turns 18 (or up to 21 if the custodian so affirmatively designates on the account). Accordingly, people sometimes look for an alternative way to gift with “strings attached.” Fortunately, a special kind of irrevocable trust known as a “Crummey Trust” can be established and custom-designed in whatever way you wish, enabling your young loved one to receive income and/or principal starting and continuing at certain ages or defined benchmarks, and for certain purposes (e.g. health, education, buying a home, etc.). Crummey Trusts, as with all advanced estate planning strategies and many of the aforementioned planning strategies, should only be considered and implemented with the advice and assistance of an experienced estate planning attorney and possibly other applicable professional advisors. 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
fornia State Parks, the East Bay Regional Park District, and Contra Costa Water District. This perspective explores the growth and history of the State Park and adjacent open space from 1921 to today. The history and restoration plans for Mount Diablo’s Beacon, known as the Eye of the Mountain, is featured. Images of the Mountain – Mount Diablo Interpretive Association (MDIA) brings photographs for visitors to view. Prominent nature photographers Stephen Joseph and Scott Hein display beautiful photographs of mountain trees and flowers. Eight Works Progress Administration -created plant posters are also presented, with the opportunity to purchase in the Museum Gift Shop. Geocaching in Parks – MDIA mounts an informational display about geocaching, the new adventuring activity in which people search for “treasures” (caches) using GPS technology. A film on geocaching, outdoor treasure hunting, is onsite for viewing. The Museum of the San Ramon Valley is located in the old train depot at 205 Railroad Avenue in Danville.
Walnut Creek Garden Club
The Walnut Creek Garden Club will have its May meeting on Monday, May 13 th at 9:30 AM. The meeting will be held in the Camellia Room at Heather Farm, located at 1540 Marchbanks Rd. in Walnut Creek. The program for May features a garden tour of members’ home gardens. Maps and directions will be available following the meeting. Those interested in membership are welcome to attend. The Perspectives on Mount Diablo exhibit includes: Surveys of Mount Diablo – The Mount Diablo Surveyors Historical Society provides 19th century surveying instruments along with stories, photographs, and history about the Initial Point and other points on the mountain. Expansion of the State Park and Surrounding Open Space – Save Mount Diablo displays information on the Mount Diablo State Park and the restoration of the Mount Diablo Beacon. Map lovers will enjoy the maps and graphics showing the expansion of open space in Central Contra Costa County by Cali-
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CHP Alamo Safety Fair
By Roger Smith, President Alamo Improvement Association
The California Highway Patrol will hold a public safety fair for the Alamo Community. The fair will be held at Alamo Elementary School, located at 100 Wilson Road in Alamo, on Saturday, June 1st, from 10AM – 2PM. Please attend and show your support for the many volunteer organizations and Public Safety personnel that help protect you and your family members. Learn how to practice being safe through programs for bicycles, car seat and helmet usage, and driver safety for the young and elderly. Learn about “Street Smarts,” a program for all ages, that teaches pedestrian, bicycle, and traffic safety. For more information on the Street Smarts program, visit www.street-smarts.com. You can also learn about the CHP’s Senior Volunteer program opportunities to assist others!
Alamo Today ~ May 2013 - Page 23
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Iron Horse Trail Update
Many property owners along the Iron Horse Trail have received letters from the Contra Costa County (CCC) Public Works Department regarding “Encroachments on the Iron Horse Trail.” The County has stated that during the 1980’s, CCC purchased the Southern Pacific Railroad Right of Way, originally established in the 1890’s, through the use of grant money from the State of California and the sale of utility easements. In CCC, the trail extends from Concord to the San Ramon/Alameda County line, for a length of approximately 20 miles and typically has a width of 50-100 feet. Renamed the “Iron Horse Trail,” it is one of the most pedestrian friendly suburban trails in the US. The East Bay Regional Park District has a license agreement with CCC to operate and maintain the Iron Horse Trail within the corridor. In addition to its appeal to pedestrians, bicyclists, and equestrians, it is also a major route for utilities, including various underground utilities and pipelines for Kinder Morgan, PG&E, Fiber Optics, EBMUD, CCC Water District, and Central Sanitation through this central part of CCC. This brings us to the current situation (and dilemma) faced by many property owners along the Iron Horse Trail. Carrie Ricci, from the CCC Public Works Dept. wrote an email stating, “Recently, surveyors with the Contra Costa Public Works Department performed an extensive boundary survey of the 20 mile long Iron Horse Corridor (IHC) and filed a series of Record of Survey maps based upon their recovery of various monuments and evidence analysis along the entire corridor. Most railroad companies did not set monuments when their rights of way were initially acquired and constructed, but rather located all the new improvements and other features relative to the centerline of the track. Individual property surveys, utilizing other local monuments whose relationship to the Corridor is unknown, may have come up with a different resolution that does not fully consider the effects on other adjoining properties of the IHC. From a land title perspective, most of the current adjoining property descriptions “call” to or along the (Railroad) right of way. Even those that don’t mention the Railroad were created later in time, and thus their distance measurements will lengthen or shorten to coincide with the location of the “senior” rights of the Railroad, now IHC.” What this means to many property owners is that the boundaries of their property, specifically the portion bordering the IHC, is in question. CCC is now choosing to enforce their rights of property for the right of way and is offering property owners with fencing and other structures, within the County’s determination of the correct boundaries for the right of way, an opportunity to sign a two-year agreement and then pay $500 every two years to retain use of the portion of property in question, all based upon the County’s determination using the original right of way surveying monuments and evidence analysis. Each property owner choosing to retain use of the property in question must also add CCC as an additional insured on their property owner’s liability policy or purchase a separate policy in the amount of $500,000 coverage for this purpose. Property owners choosing not to do so are required to remove any and all structures in the County’s right of way at the property owner’s expense. However, a number of property owners along the IHC have their own surveys, parcel maps, and other evidence supporting the current location of their property lines, fencing, and other structures. Many have had the use of this property for decades. Within the letter received by many property owners along the IHC, the CCC Public Works Department states, “The following conditions will be reviewed to
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determine if an encroachment can remain: 1) The encroachment is not located within an existing easement or licensed area. 2) The encroachment does not cause an obstruction to performing maintenance of the Corridor and/or drainage problems. 3) Items such as bridges, steps stepping stones, pavers and other types of structures will not be allowed under any circumstances.” Regardless, if any fencing, posts, or structures are currently located within a utility easement along the IHC, they must be removed by the property owner at their expense. If you are a property owner in receipt of a CCC Public Works letter regarding this issue, please contact Carrie Ricci. Property owners with questions can email her at cricc@pw.cccounty.us or call 925-313-2235. 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.
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Page 24 - May 2013 ~ Alamo Today
Cinema Classics
Temperatures are Rising By Monica Chappell
I Remember Mama By Peggy Horn
This month’s Cinema Classic, in honor of Mother’s Day, is I Remember Mama, (1948) starring Irene Dunne and Barbara Bel Geddes. Ms. Dunne plays the role of “Mama,” and Ms. Bel Geddes plays one of her three daughters, “Katrin.” The film was nominated for five Academy Awards and was based on a play of the same name by John Van Druten and a novel by Kathryn Forbes entitled, Mama’s Bank Account. Mama and her family have immigrated to San Francisco from Norway in the early 1900’s and this film presents sketches of their family’s life in their adoptive country. Something about this film is very touching. Maybe it is the sad-happy quality that seems to elicit a tender response every time Mama resolves an issue. Mama is as close to the ideal mom as one can get; smart, spunky, savvy, and kind. She sees what is really important, and she fears no one. And she has a sense of humor – a priceless commodity in any family. No wonder this movie is all about her! Moreover, Mama knows when to intervene and just how to do it. Mama exhibits a becoming modesty about the powerful influence she has in the family and only uses it in ways that are beneficial. In one scene, her youngest daughter, Dagmar, insists that Mama can fix anything, but Mama doesn’t want to be thought of as infallible. With a wry smile Papa confesses he knows how Dagmar feels. The movie illustrates the process of blending old country cultural traits with those of the new country, accomplished here with good - natured elegance. In some instances the old country’s ways must be pushed aside and maintained elsewhere, and this family has the wisdom to decipher when to do what. These features and more render this a great movie experience for the whole family to watch. This wonderful movie is available for purchase or rental online.
Musical Notes
Why not take your mother on a musical art tour with Modeste Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition? This beautiful suite, consisting of ten movements, was composed as a tribute to Mussorgsky’s dear friend, Victor Hartmann, an artist who died in 1874 at the age of 39. Perhaps your mom would prefer dancing, in which case Strauss waltzes are ideally suited. The majestic and dynamic “Emperor Waltz, Opus 437” would be a felicitous choice! Both of these options are available for download or to simply listen to on the internet.
Magical California History Tour
California is a unique state formed by wave after wave of newcomers, each arriving with a different set of dreams. Spanish conquistadors came in the 1700’s with visions of expanding the empire. The 49’ers migrated in the 1800’s with the ambition of instant wealth on Gold Mountain. People traveled from all over the country to California dreaming of good health in the gentle climate around the turn of the century. Dust Bowl immigrants rolled in during the Depression years hoping to find paying jobs. Women and minorities arrived with aspirations of equality in the job market during WWII. Fledgling stars flocked to California with fantasies of fame during Hollywood’s Golden Era. Hipsters ventured to San Francisco searching for love during the dawning of the Age of Aquarius. And in our time, enterprising entrepreneurs flood the Silicon Valley looking to turn technology into success. No other state in the union has evolved the way California has as it responded to all of those dreamers. California was a magical island – an earthly paradise ruled by Queen Califia – according to a romance novel published in Seville, Spain in 1510. Throughout its singular history, droves of settlers searching for a better life came to California, enticed by that sense of magic. Those alluring dreams are a great place to embark on a magical California history tour. The Museum of the San Ramon Valley and the Danville Library will sponsor several exciting history events that lead us through epic California periods. Local Danville Historian David Stephenson created the presentations and will lead us on our tour. David studied history at Berkeley and earned his MBA at Boston College. After a career as a high-tech entrepreneur and a US
With the temperature rising, it’s easy to find yourself pouring wine that is either too cold or too warm. Just as the right glass will enhance your wine experience, serving wine at the ideal temperature is equally as important.
20/20 Rule
When it comes to knowing what temperature to serve a wine, follow this tip - twenty minutes before serving, take the white wine out of the fridge, and put the red wine in. This rule is intended to fix the two most common mistakes in wine service; serving white wines too cold and red wines too warm. Now, this is not something to lose sleep over, but the fact is that properly chilled wines do taste noticeably better. Serving wine at it’s proper temperature enables you to taste the wine at its full potential. Most of the enjoyment that comes from drinking wine involves its aroma. Taste only has four aspects - sweet, sour, salt, and acid. The nose does the rest. Vapors are created as wine warms up, so the wine needs to be a few degrees below its ideal drinking temperature for you to enjoy it at its finest. To be confident the wine you serve will be on its best behavior, know the whole story.
Red, Red Wine
If you’ve heard the old adage that red wines need to be served at “room temperature,” don't forget that “room temperature” can be considerably higher in the summer. Most red wines are at their best at cool room temperature, 62 to 65 degrees fahrenheit. Light reds benefit from being served slightly cooler than fullbodied reds. Keep reds too warm and they will taste alcoholic and even vinegary. If they are kept too cold they will have an overly tannic bite and much less flavor.
Refreshing Whites
Just as many reds are served too warm, most white wines are definitely served too cold. Fine white wines are best between 58 and 62 degrees. Simpler, inexpensive, easy drinking type white wines are best served colder, between 50 and 55 degrees. Chilling white wines properly preserve their freshness, but keep them too cold and they will be nearly tasteless. White wines served too warm will taste alcoholic and flabby.
Bubbling Beauties
Sparkling wine should start out totally chilled and are best served between 40-45 degrees. Put them in the refrigerator an hour and half before serving or in an ice bucket with water for at least 20 minutes before serving. For vintage-dated Champagne and other high-quality bubbly, you should let the bottle warm up a bit if you don’t want to miss out on the mature character for which you’re probably paying extra. Wine will not stay at a constant temperature once it’s out of the refrigerator, so keep an ice bucket handy or put the bottle back in the refrigerator between pourings. You needn’t become a maniac with a thermometer to get wine to the right temperature range; a little experience and a little tasting, and the wine itself will tell you everything you need to know. So, chill this summer and enjoy a perfectly chilled glass of wine. Monica Chappell teaches wine appreciation classes in the East Bay. Visit www.wineappreciation101.blogspot.com for a class list. Navy intelligence officer, he switched to a second career as a historian. His enthusiastic students even featured him on a YouTube video. David will share a wide variety of resources available to all of us to deepen our understandings. May 1 - Embattled Dreams: California in War and Peace May 8 - Dreams of Love: California’s Turbulent Counter Culture These Wednesday evening sessions take place at 7:30pm in the Mt. Diablo Room of the Danville Library, located at 400 Front Street in Danville. The Danville Library celebrates it centennial in 2013, and this history tour fits right into their celebration. A display of California history books will be featured and available for checkout in the library, and refreshments will be served. Register with the Museum of the San Ramon Valley at 837-3750 or online at srvmuseum@sbcglobal.net to reserve your place on the tour. Come and learn how the California dreams converged to create the most unique American state.
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Documentary and Discussion of the National Affordable Care Act
The Danville-Alamo-Walnut Creek Branch of American Association of University Women along with the League of Women Voters of Diablo Valley and Health Care of All - Contra Costa County is sponsoring a documentary and discussion of the National Affordable Care Act. The Healthcare Movie narrated by Keifer Sutherland will be shown. This 27-minute documentary tells the real story of how the health care system in Canada turned out to be so completely different from that in the United States, given that at one point they were essentially the same. The movie covers how the Canadian health care system originated, how it works for ordinary Canadians, how it is paid for, and how it compares to its American counterpart. There will be discussion and exploration of questions this movie raises about healthcare in California such as, What does the national Affordable Care Act (ACA) mean for healthcare reform in California and How can California make health care affordable for everyone? The speaker will be Pat Snyder, PhD, RN, HCA Contra Costa County. Join in on Thursday, May 16th from 7pm - 9pm at the Ygnacio Valley Library, located at 2661 Oak Grove Rd. Walnut Creek. The event is free. For questions please call 925-938-1481.
Free Restaurant Inspection App for Smartphones By Supervisor Candace Andersen
Throughout my Supervisorial district (Lamorinda, Walnut Creek and the San Ramon Valley) we have some of the best places to eat in the Bay Area. Have you ever wanted to know more about your favorite restaurant? Now you can access health inspection results for local restaurants on your iPhone or Android phone using California Food Inspector, a new app from Contra Costa Health Services (CCHS). The County Health Services Department’s Environmental Health Division developed this free app. It is the first agency in California to do so. Each year the County’s trained food-safety specialists conduct thousands of unannounced restaurant inspections to prevent foodborne illnesses. They attempt to visit each food establishment at least twice a year. The app allows users to search inspection results for the past five years for 4,200 food facilities in Contra Costa County. It includes everything from restaurants to coffee shops to ice cream vendors. The inspection histories show what, if any, violations these food facilities have been required to correct. With this new app, routine inspections are being uploaded weekly. Any closure information will be updated each evening. Using the “Closures” button on the app, you can also see a list of eateries in the County which have been forced to temporarily close their doors to correct serious violations that pose an imminent threat to their customers’ health. Using your mobile phone’s GPS, you can also scan restaurants near your current location and compare the health-safety records of those venues. The app’s release is the latest example of the County Health Department’s commitment to making information more readily accessible to the public. Contra Costa County Environmental Health Director Marilyn Underwood notes that for many years restaurant inspection results have been on the department’s website and now with this new mobile app, this information is available to the public in an even more convenient way. Underwood said she expects the app will give restaurant owners more incentive to practice good food-safety techniques so that they maintain a clean inspection record. “Hopefully, eating out in Contra Costa County will be even safer now because of this app,” Dr. Underwood said. To learn more about California Food Inspector, visit your Apps Store to see a detailed description of the app.
Alamo Today ~ May 2013 - Page 25
Alamo Summer Concert Series and Movie Under The Stars By Steve Mick, Alamo Municipal Advisory Council
Put your dancing shoes on, pack a picnic, and enjoy live music at Livorna Park. 2013 marks the seventh year of the popular Alamo Summer Concert Series. Sponsored by the Alamo Municipal Advisory Council (MAC), the four free concerts attract a large number of people and will be held on June 28th, featuring the Sun Kings (Beatles Tribute Band); July 12th, featuring Alma Desnuda (Original Pop); July 26th, featuring Evan Thomas & Papa’s Garage (Blues & Rock); and August 9th, featuring Mixed Nuts (Classic Pop from 1940’s to present). Although the concerts begin at 6:30PM, many arrive early to stake out a good spot on the grass and enjoy a picnic dinner both before and during the concert. The band sets up in the park gazebo which is almost totally surrounded by people on blankets and in lawn chairs when the concert starts. There are often many groups who plan a sumptuous shared picnic. The concerts offer an ideal experience for the whole family. For children, the large meadow offers opportunities for kite-flying, sand-court volleyball, games of tag, and Frisbee tossing. Another part of the park offers extensive play structures and a large sandbox. Parents can relax and enjoy the concert while their kids play. Each band will still be playing when the sun sets over Las Trampas Ridge. The air will turn a little cooler, and before you know it, the concert will be over at 8:30PM. There is always a wonderful sense of community that pervades these events. In addition to the concerts, the MAC is also sponsoring a “Movie Under the Stars” night on July 19th, which will also be held at Livorna Park. This summer’s movie is Hugo, winner of five Oscars. Plan to bring your blankets or chairs, and sit out under the stars and enjoy the movie, which begins at 8:45PM. Please visit www.alamore.org for more information. The Alamo MAC is always interested in hearing from the residents of Alamo. If you have any suggestions or comments, please contact Supervisor Candace Andersen’s office at (925) 957-8860 or Field Representative Donna Maxwell at donna.maxwell@bos.cccounty.us. You are also welcome to attend the Alamo MAC meetings that are held at 6PM on the first Tuesday of every month at the Alamo Chamber of Commerce located at 120-B Alamo Plaza.
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Page 26 - May 2013 ~ Alamo Today
The Art of Plastic Surgery By Barbara Persons, MD, Persons Plastic Surgery, Inc.
Many of my cosmetic patients experience real suffering because they are self-conscious about their appearance. Others desire elective aesthetic treatments to feel more youthful, improve body image, or change an attribute that has always bothered them. With all my patients, however, my role is the same: I am a surgeon, and as such I need to be well informed about the latest developments in procedures and products. I am a scientist, and I need to follow the basic tenants of the scientific method to ensure what I am recommending to patients has been proven effective by authenticated and reputable studies. I need to be able to explain the science behind the benefits of alloderm (a regenerative tissue matrix used in post mastectomy breast reconstruction), understand how retinol plays a role in anti-aging creams, and be facile with laser resurfacing. The concept of beauty is an ever-changing one, and the tools we have to address everything from wrinkles and fat deposits are evolving quickly. So, I am also and artist, and the palette now contains neurotoxin, dermal fillers, fat grafting, ultrasound, and laser. As these treatments receive greater attention from the media, physicians not only have to keep up with the science, but they also need to keep ethical considerations in mind. Patients often ask, “What is best for me?” Though the answer varies for each patient, it is always a professional opinion that addresses their expectations and best interests. This includes deciding when surgery to improve self-image and esteem is acceptable, when to try newer nonsurgical technology, and when to simply help my patients find a healthier attitude about themselves--without
Women are Different from Men, Proof at Last
By Dr. David Birdsall. Emergency Room physician at John Muir Concord, Regional Director CEP (California Emergency Physicians) America
Consider you are a woman in your late 40s or early 50s in good shape, with no medical problems, and you find out one day that the reflux symptoms you were experiencing were actually a heart attack. Talk about a shocker. Well, that is exactly what happened to Jackie this year on President’s Day weekend. It all started in January following a bout of the stomach flu. At that time Jackie continued to feel run down and weak. “I didn’t feel like I quite had my energy,” said Jackie who normally is very energetic. She also began to experience burning and pressure in her chest. “Sometimes it would happen when I walked and sometimes when I wasn’t doing anything.” Jackie went to her doctor who thought, quite logically, that Jackie was experiencing mild stomach issues that might be GERD (reflux) or an early ulcer. Cardiac issues really were low on the list as she had no risk factors. Jackie was subsequently started on a strong antacid and scheduled for an endoscopy. Soon after that Jackie, an avid hiker, decided to tackle the hill near her house. She made it to the top without incident, but as she was staring at the views she was struck with those nagging burning upper abdomen symptoms again. The only difference was that this time it was quite a bit stronger. “That pain really slowed me down and didn’t feel like the typical pain I experienced before,” Jackie said. “I knew I had better get back to the house.” The pain improved as she made her way down the hill, but it still didn’t feel right, so she drove herself to the emergency room at John Muir Concord a Cardiovascular Center of Excellence. After ECGs, X-rays, and blood tests, the diagnosis still wasn’t clear, but the physicians felt that an overnight stay with a cardiac stress test the next morning that was the most prudent and safest course of action. It wasn’t until the early morning blood tests came back that the diagnosis was clear - Jackie had had a heart attack. That morning she was whisked away to have an angiogram that showed Jackie had a 95% blockage of the main artery to her heart. A complete occlusion would have meant a massive heat attack and possibly death. Jackie was lucky and she was treated in time, but why did Jackie and her doctors have a hard time figuring out what was going on? The reason is, when it comes to heart attack symptoms, women are different from men. Most people consider the symptoms of a heart attack as being left sided pres-
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any intervention at all. It’s important to stop and ask questions since just because we can medically intervene, doesn’t mean we should. As a practitioner who offers aesthetic interventions, it is often difficult to strike a balance between medical treatment and aesthetic therapy, in part because the core of my identity is that of a healer. Although the real value of any person should not be reduced to appearance, I also understand how important looks can be. I would be living a completely different life were it not for my own facial reconstruction after a traumatic injury. I firmly believe that appearance is not only a large part of our own esteem, but ultimately it defines how others view us. I want my patients to look natural and feel good. I want to understand their expectations and meet them. Most of all, I want to be my patients’ best ally--someone who can tell them which new technologies are worth their time and money, when to proceed with something that might involve more risk, and what to expect from both. Here’s the deal. What I am, the heart of me, is your doctor. After many years, I have learned that medicine is a partnership, that problem solving is fun, and that I am up for the challenge. I have the acumen to understand clinical trials, and I am willing to share my knowledge. I have the confidence to treat you with the newest technology, because I would never try something on a patient I wouldn’t try myself. And most of all, I trust you, the patient. You are the expert of your own body. With that unique expertise, and with my training, we make a wonderful team. 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 sure (“like an elephant on the chest”*) that radiates to the left arm and/or jaw and may be accompanied by shortness of breath, sweatiness, and/or nausea. For decades the medical community felt the same way. However, over the last few years we have realized that the pain women feel may be different. In fact, only half of the women who have heart attacks even experience chest pain. If they do, it may feel like a fullness or squeezing pain, and it may be anywhere in the chest, not just the left side. Women are more likely to have pain in their arms, back, neck, and jaw, and that pain can randomly increase and decrease in intensity. Stomach discomfort may be a common symptom, feeling like heartburn or an ulcer or even a severe abdominal pressure. This is what Jackie experienced. Shortness of breath, nausea, lightheadedness, or extreme fatigue that comes on suddenly may be a sign of a heart attack in women. Also, sudden sweating episodes, like a nervous or cold sweats, may indicate a cardiac disorder. Why the difference in symptoms? It is not entirely clear, though the thought is that women are more likely to have disease in small vessels of the heart as well as the big ones, and this can lead to the variable symptoms. Of course, many of these symptoms occur in nearly all of us (who doesn’t feel fatigued, nauseated, or lightheaded at some point), so when should someone go and get themselves checked out? The common thinking is that if you experience the symptoms noted above, then you warrant an evaluation. This is especially true if you have some cardiac disease risk factors (though as Jackie’s case shows us one doesn’t need risk factors to have a heart attack). Some of these risk factors are similar to those in men namely high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, family history, and smoking (Incidentally, smoking is a much greater risk factor in women than in men). However, for women, there are additional female specific risk factors. One such risk factor is the combination of fat around your abdomen, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and high triglycerides. This combination apparently raises your chance of cardiac disease significantly. Other female risk factors are mental stress, depression, and low levels of estrogen after menopause. In fact, according to the National Institutes of Health, many researchers think that the drop in estrogen levels during menopause combined with other heart disease risk factors leads to microvascular disease (disease in the small arteries of the heart). This further lends credence to my statement that women are different from men. What can you do to prevent the development of heart disease? Start by exercising 30-60 minutes a day, maintaining a healthy weight, and eating a diet that is low in saturated fat. Also, quit or don’t start smoking, and make sure your blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes are under control. However, most importantly, don’t ignore the warning signs of heart disease outlined above. If you experience those symptoms, then get to a doctor as soon as possible. *Who has ever had an elephant on their chest anyway?
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Your Personal Nutritionist By Linda Michaelis, RD. MS. With all this Exercise, why am I not Losing Weight?
Alamo Today ~ May 2013 - Page 27
I cannot begin to tell you how many clients say they are working out, making healthy food choices, and not losing weight. When a person seems to be doing the right things and not making any progress, they may face the following issues which hinder them from losing weight.
The “Future of Fitness” is here.
Yes, when you work out you are burning extra calories. But you may be overestimating how much you are burning. Saying, “I exercised today so later I can overeat or over-drink today,” or “I’ll have this now, but I’ll work out extra hard tomorrow and burn it off,” does not work. That three mile walk may burn 300 calories but does not compensate for the 1,000 calorie restaurant meal you have.
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You are eating all the calories that you burn during your workouts
You are relying on exercise alone to lose weight
Yes, exercising can help you lose weight, along with providing lots of other health benefits. Exercise helps you create the calorie deficit needed to drop body fat. But here is the truth. Exercise alone will not help you lose weight. Exercise does burn calories but probably not as much as you think. A full hour of intense exercise may only burn 400-500 calories, but hundreds even thousands of calories can be consumed in a few minutes. It could take an hour or more of exercise to offset those calories. If you are not changing your diet and reducing your caloric intake, exercise alone will not help you lose weight. You must have both caloric reduction through diet and intense exercise for optimal weight loss results.
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You are not eating as healthy as you think you are
Often new clients come to my office with a food diary they’ve kept for a few days. They think they eat healthy and are shocked to hear they are eating too much sugar and fat and not enough protein and fiber. Recently, I had a pre-diabetic client that was eating a double serving of Raisin Bran (when he measured it) and a glass of 499B San Ramon Valley Blvd. • Danville, CA 94526 orange juice for breakfast. I calculated that he was eating 800 calories which contained 10 teaspoons of sugar 925-743-0802 • danville.kokofitclub.com for the two servings of cereal, 5 teaspoons of sugar from 1 1/2 cups of milk, and 8 teaspoons of sugar from the orange juice for a grand total of 23 teaspoons of sugar! I see clients that don’t realize how much fat they are consuming with many servings of olives, nuts, avocados, cheese, and beef. Also, I see clients skipping meals and then eating up all their daily calories in the evening when our bodies process calories less efficiently. You might be eating healthy, but perhaps your portions are too large for your age, height, and activity. My clients need nutrition plans that are individualized and based on all of these factors.
You are not being consistent enough
When you are struggling to lose weight, consistency is most important. Clients tell me they are sticking to strict diets and exercise programs for a week but cannot possibly continue this regimen without “cheating.” They try to eat “perfectly” and exercise “religiously” and do not lose weight and then throw up their hands in frustration and never succeed. I also see clients that seem to be on a reasonable nutrition plan and then go totally off course with family celebrations and restaurant meals. Their restaurant dessert is five times the standard portion size, and their alcohol consumption can be 500 calories alone. A significant part of my practice concerns how to manage these events to provide balance while enjoying goodies. It is easy to lose weight but it is not very easy to keep it off. It takes a reasonable nutrition plan, intense exercise, and consistency (with forgiveness for occasional lapses).
You are not keeping track of mindless eating
A recent Kaiser study tracked 1,685 overweight and obese adults (men and women) whose average weight was 212 pounds. They encouraged participants to adhere to a reduced-calorie, DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) eating plan and asked them to record their daily food intake and exercise minutes. After 20 weeks, the average weight loss was 13 pounds per person. But researchers discovered something quite interesting - the more participants recorded what they ate, the more weight they lost in the end. Participants who did not keep a food diary lost about nine pounds over the course of the study, while those who recorded their food intake six or more days per week lost 18 pounds—twice as much as those who didn’t track any food! I am glad to inform you that nutritional counseling may be covered by your insurance. Please feel free to call me at (925) 855-0150 and tell me about your nutritional concerns. Refer to my website www.LindaRD.com for past articles, recipes and nutrition tips. Advertorial
Diablo Singles Dance Club
Diablo Singles Dance Club holds a public dance the last Wednesday of each month from 7:30pm-10:30pm at the Shadelands Art Center located at 111 N. Wiget Lane in Walnut Creek. There is live music, refreshments, and free parking. The cost is $7 for members and $9 for non-members. For information, call 925-837-2851.
Grief Support Group Helps People Cope with the Death of a Pet
Come Taste Our Award Winning Wines! 510-861-2722 5700 Greenville Rd, Livermore www.redfeatherwinery.com
When you lose your pet, you often feel like a part of you is lost. The death of your beloved animal companion is one of the most difficult losses you may ever feel. This loss is sometimes made more painful by society’s seeming lack of support for pet grief. Hospice of the East Bay and the Tony La Russa Animal Rescue Foundation is offering a support group where participants can share memories and feelings and talk to others who truly understand and care. Meetings will be held the first Tuesday of each month from noon - 1:30PM at the Tony La Russa Animal Rescue Foundation, 2890 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek. For further information and/or to register, please call Bereavement Services at Hospice of the East Bay (925) 887-5681. Pre-registration is required. Hospice of the East Bay Bereavement Services are provided free of charge to all community members in need. However, donations are greatly appreciated.
Page 28 - May 2013 ~ Alamo Today
Chorus continued from front page
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Our mission is to provide personalized care, help employee and do something that completely abmaintain independence and enhance our sorbs and stimulates me creatively. It’s ME time! client’s quality of life on a daily basis. And having this time recharges and reinvigorates • Free in-home assessments • Regular home visits me for my home and work life.” Cynthia Jones ensure the right care plan • Hourly care Heartfelt & concurs. “Chorus is a wonderful place to be no for you • Live-in care Supportive matter how stressful your life is.” • Fully bonded and insured • Geriatric care mgmt. • Elder referral and placement Whether congratulations, condolences or caring prayers are in order, opening announcements at At All Times... 3645 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Suite D Lafayette, CA 94549 rehearsals generate appropriate expressions of sup(beside Trader Joe’s) www.excellentcareathome.com 925-284-1213 port amongst the membership. The combination of choral excellence and congenial company works on many levels. Riordan expresses thoughts echoed by other members of the group: “Participating in practices and performances with so many who are enthusiastic about music is something magical. Much as we sing to lift others’ souls, we lift our own spirits through music and camaraderie.” Traveling with the Chorus has brought many members closer together. Tour participation is optional, but somehow the 65 or so volunteers who pay their own way for the journey always represent a harmonious blend of soprano, alto, tenor, and bass sections. Spouses are encouraged to come. In 2003, the Blackhawk Chorus represented the State of California at the American Music Festival in Austria and the Czech Republic. The universality of their musical message facilitated communication with their audiences. Jones comments on that score. “I used to tell my kids: ‘You know an international language if you know music.’” A second tour to Italy in 2005 proved the group could pull together in tough moments to take advantage of all the amazing opportunities offered such as singing on the main altar at St. Peter’s Basilica. Twelve members of the party had no luggage upon arrival in Rome. Gowns and tuxedos loaned by those whose suitcases had made the flight miraculously managed to fit their less fortunate friends, so the show went on with all adequately garbed. “Performing at the Vatican was emotionally overwhelming,” Nancy Norlund recalls. Arrival in Assisi accompanied by the return of absent luggage presented a new challenge. Neither of the hotels quite met expectations, but the exasperating accommodations at the Panda Hotel live on in choral legend. The plumbing arrangement, for example, made modern visitors envision ancient Roman baths with envy. Anyone foolish enough to approach the toilet when the shower was in operation was instantly soaked. No matter. Once again the show went on. Consequently, when faced with a difficult situation, the Chorus proclaims: “You just have to Panda up!” Trips to England, Scotland and Wales in 2007, New York (for a performance at Lincoln Center) in 2010, and a return to the British Islands in 2012 followed. The Chorus sang in London during the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee weekend, performed in Ireland at Waterford Cathedral and Cork, and received a warm welcome at a community center in Wales. The chorus began in 1991 when a dozen women asked Diane Gilfether to work with them. “I thought it Diane Gilfether makes every minute of chorus rehearsal was for six weeks,” she laughs, “but now it’s 22 years later.” In 1992, five “brave husbands” joined the group. meaningful. Photo by Jody Morgan. Now members come from as far away as El Cerrito and Emeryville to participate in weekly rehearsals. “It all comes back to Diane. She sets the tone that makes the group the wonderful family that it is,” Norlund notes. Gilfether played piano as a child, but when she and her mother moved to California to live with relatives following her father’s untimely death, the instrument was sold. For a year, she sat silently at her cousin’s weekly voice lesson. One day the teacher asked Diane if she would like to sing and immediately recognized a talent waiting to be tutored. Diane credits her mother’s unfailing support for giving her the opportunity to fulfill her dreams. Diane did chores for her voice teacher to offset part of the lesson expense. Somehow her mother managed to stretch her modest salary to fund the balance. As a teenager, Diane stunned the nuns at her school by announcing her intention to be a professional opera singer. Scholarships helped Diane finance studies at Holy Names University where she earned both Bachelor of Arts and Masters Degrees in Music. By the time Diane retired from the performance circuit to pursue a new career in Real Estate, she had enchanted audiences across the United States, Canada, and Europe. Rehearsals and performances also depend on the skills of Accompanist and Assistant Musical Director Randall Benway. Additional professional musicians are hired to compliment the Chorus during concerts. Biographies for Randy and Diane on the Chorus website detail their many awards. To learn more about the Blackhawk Chorus, their spring concert schedule and membership requirements, visit the Chorus website at www.blackhawkchorus.com.
Broadway Blitz! with the Blackhawk Chorus
Lic# 1100014354; Bay Area Entertainment
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 925-373-6800. 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.
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Alamo Today ~ May 2013 - Page 29
Skin Cancer
3198 Danville Blvd. • Alamo
925.984.2660
By Dr. Jerome Potozkin
If I have not had the opportunity to wish you a Happy Birthday, please forgive me. Happy Birthday! In the spirit of May being skin cancer awareness month, I would encourage you to have your Birthday Suit checked on your birthday by a board certified dermatologist. If you have not had your skin checked since your last birthday, do it now. I bet most people reading this can’t even remember the last time they had a complete skin examination by a dermatologist. May marks skin cancer awareness month. There are about 3.5 million skin cancers diagnosed each year in the United States. It is estimated that there will be about 132,000 cases of melanoma diagnosed. Melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer because it can be lethal. However, the good news is that early diagnosis can lead to complete cures. Surprisingly, melanoma is the most common form of cancer for young adults aged 25-29. Approximately 75% of skin cancer deaths are from melanoma. While melanoma can be deadly, most patients that we see are diagnosed at an early and fully curable stage. Basal Cell Carcinoma and Squamous Cell Carcinoma are the two most common types of skin cancers. These can appear as non-healing sores or crusted bumps. Some simply appear as a red patch that can be misdiagnosed as dry skin or eczema. The good news is that these skin cancers are much less likely to spread than melanoma. Most skin cancers have a genetic component. The other key ingredient is sun and ultraviolet exposure such as that from tanning beds. In order to prevent skin cancer, I recommend an ounce of prevention. Do what you love but avoid the peak sun hours between 10am and 2pm. Apply and reapply a broad-spectrum sunscreen. Forget about going to tanning beds (spray-on tans are fine). Lastly, see a board certified dermatologist once a year for a full body skin check. It is often a good idea for you to check yourself once a month so that you will be able to notice if a mole or a spot is changing. Many people have started to worry about getting enough Vitamin D if they use sunscreen. The simple solution is to take a Vitamin D supplement which is equally as effective to the Vitamin D you get from sun exposure. If you have any spots that you are concerned about or if you can’t remember the last time you were checked from head to toe by a board certified dermatologist, please call my office now at (925) 838-4900 to schedule an appointment. We would be happy to check you and to wish you a Happy Birthday! 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 new patients. Please call 925-838-4900 or visit Potozkin.com for more information. Advertorial
Hospice Volunteers Needed
Hospice of the East Bay is seeking volunteers to assist Hospice patients and their caregivers. Opportunities include: • Licensed Hair Stylists to offer hair cuts and styling • Certified Massage Therapists to provide massage therapy • Mobile Notaries to witness the signing of important documents • Bereavement Support Volunteers to provide support to family members after their loved one has died • Patient Support Volunteers to provide companionship and practical assistance To apply for free training, call Hospice of the East Bay at (925) 887-5678 and ask for the Volunteer Department, or email volunteers@hospiceeastbay.org. Established in 1977, Hospice of the East Bay is a not-for-profit agency that helps people cope with end of life by providing medical, emotional, spiritual, and practical support for patients and families, regardless of their ability to pay. To learn more or to make a donation of time or money, please contact (925) 887-5678 or visit www.hospiceeastbay.org.
Is Food a Problem for You?
Overeaters Anonymous offers a fellowship of individuals who, through shared experience and mutual support, are recovering from compulsive overeating. This is a 12-step program. The free meetings are for anyone suffering from a food addiction including overeating, under-eating, and bulimia. The group meets Wednesdays at 6PM at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Lafayette. Visit www.how-oa.org for more information.
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Cyclists Will Ride for Wounded Veterans
Serious cyclists and recreational riders alike are invited to help severely wounded veterans by joining “V3,” the second annual Veterans Victory Velo bike ride set for Saturday, October 12th in San Ramon. Riders can choose from three routes: 30 miles, 60 miles, or the more challenging 100 mile Devil Mountain Century to raise funds for the Sentinels of Freedom Scholarship Foundation (www.sentinelsoffreedom.org), a San Ramon based non-profit which has been helping wounded veterans regain their self-sufficiency and independence since its inception in 2003. Early-bird registration is now open at www.veteransvictoryvelo.com. Registration fees increase after September 1st. All V3 rides will begin and end in the parking lot of the Foundation offices located at 2678 Bishop Drive in San Ramon. Riders from the novice to the experienced are welcome. • 100-mile Devil Mountain Century Ride begins at 7AM • 60-mile ride begins at 9AM • 30-mile ride begins at 10AM The 30 mile ride is an out-and-back along San Ramon and Foothill Blvds to the picturesque and historic town of Sunol. The 60 mile ride loops through the Tri-Valley area, extending east from Danville to the lush vineyards of Livermore and the rolling hills of Pleasanton before returning through Dublin and San Ramon. The 100-mile Devil Mountain Century Ride takes cyclists to the ranger station on Mt. Diablo, down through Clayton, and up and over Morgan Territory lands before descending into the Livermore/Pleasanton/ Sunol region on the return. Participants who register by June 27th will receive a free comprehensive safety clinic and four free training rides included in their registration. The 3-hour evening class will be taught by a League of American Bicyclists certified instructor; the group training rides will be held one per month until race day. All registrants may join the training rides regardless of registration date. Following the bike rides, there will be a family-friendly celebration including a barbecue lunch, live music, food tents, wine and beer tastings, free massages for riders, static displays from local military organizations, and other fun events. The festival is scheduled for 1 - 5PM and is open to the public. For more information about race details and registration, jersey purchase, or the Sentinels of Freedom (SOF) organization, visit www.veteransvictoryvelo.com or email info@sentinelsoffreedom.org. SOF staff can be reached at (925) 380-6342.
Hearing Loss Association
Come to meetings of the Diablo Valley Chapter of Hearing Loss Association of America at 7pm on the 1st Wednesday of the month at the Walnut Creek United Methodist Church located at 1543 Sunnyvale Ave., Walnut Creek Education Bldg., Wesley Room. Meeting room and parking are at back of church. All are welcome. Donations are accepted. An assistive listening system is available for T-coils, and most meetings are captioned. Contact HLAADV@hearinglossdv. org or 925-264-1199 or www.hearinglossdv.org for more information.
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Page 30 - May 2013 ~ Alamo Today
Garden continued from front page
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The Bounty Garden is an educational program that teaches local volunteers how to grow organic vegetables. The Garden is tucked into a serene location along the creek at Hap Magee Ranch Park located at 1025 La Gonda Way, Danville, on the Danville/Alamo border. Everything that is grown is then donated to the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano Counties. Volunteers sign up to grow for one of the three growing seasons and are invited to attend various seminars along the way to teach them such things as how to compost, how to sprout seedlings and how to properly harvest. Wonderful volunteer master gardeners and staff from Contra Costa Allied Waste Disposal have offered to be available as contacts and speakers to the group. Within the learning process, volunteers feel good about both what they are learning and about their contribution to a bigger effort of feeding the hungry. The knowledge and the friends are theirs to keep and the hope is they will continue to grow either at home, or return for another season at The Bounty Garden. A volunteer at work at the Garden. st On June 1 , The Bounty Garden will celebrate its formal Grand Opening at 10AM. At the Opening, Danville’s Mayor Newell Arnerich and Larry Sly, the Director of the local Food Bank will speak along with founder Heidi Abrahmson. There will be a short ribbon cutting ceremony. For more information visit www.thebountygarden.com or email thebountygarden@gmail.com.
Good News for Melanoma Diagnosis By Dr. Matthew Sirott, MD
Melanoma is one of the most serious forms of skin cancer and is diagnosed in over 70,000 patients yearly in the US. May is Melanoma Awareness Month. The prognosis for patients with metastatic disease has been dismal. The only curative treatment, Interleukin 2, is toxic, requires an oncologist comfortable with the treatment, involves multiple intensive care unit admissions, and has cure rates around 5%. Other therapies, including chemotherapy, have some efficacy that is modest at best. However, the times they are a-changin’! Over the last few years, new developments in molecular and immunologic therapy have changed the treatment paradigm, resulting in many more successes. Ipilimumab (Yervoy) is a genetically engineered antibody which acts as a brake on the immune system, blocking the activity of the T cells and resulting in very significant efficacy, with a near tripling of survival at two years. Ten percent of patients get a complete response (CR), and these patients do not seem to relapse (out to five years). This data is astounding, given the previous record of melanoma therapy. Ipilimumab has a serious toxicity profile and must be administered by physicians familiar with the drug and the potentially serious autoimmune side effects. Braf is an activating mutation present in 50% of melanomas. Zelboraf (Vemurafenib) is a potent inhibitor of braf and has been shown to be extremely active in braf mutated melanoma, with an improved progression free and overall survival of four Dumploads OnUs months. Note that this is similar to the herceptin benefit in breast cancer and Avastin benefit in specializes in colorectal cancer. Toxicity is relatively mild, providing the ultimate except for the high rate of cutaneous malig- junk removal solution. nancy, which usually accompanies squamous We’ll haul away just Y O U R J U N K R E M O V A L S P E C I A L I S T S cell cancer. about anything - from old household junk to construction and Many other new drugs are in development yard waste. The only items we are unable to accept are and awaiting approval. Initial results with Anti- PD -1 antibody are very exciting with the hazardous • Computers response rate in melanoma at 28%, with half of materials. We all responses lasting greater than a year in this make getting • Cables pre-treated population. Other areas of research rid of your • TVs include inhibition of the MEK pathway and unwanted • Monitors blocking angiogenesis with drugs like Avastin. junk as easy 925.934.3743 • 925.934.1515 • Servers The future looks brighter for melanoma as 1-2-3; www.dumploadsonus.com • www.erecycleonus.com patients. Diablo Valley Oncology has devel• Phones 1271 Boulevard Way, Walnut Creek oped the California Skin and Melanoma Center we load, we • Printers Monday-Friday, 8-5 • Saturday 9-1, Sunday, closed to foster expertise in the treatment of all skin sweep, and •Copiers cancers, including squamous cell, basal cell, then we haul melanoma and rare tumor types such as Merkle away. It’s that easy! • Fax Machines • Power Supply Units • Discs and Tapes cell and skin lymphoma. We have brought Plus we do it • Scanners • Printer Cartridges and Toners • And More... together community physicians interested in with a smile! the dermatologic, surgical, medical, and radiation therapies of these patients. Our signature event, the Many Faces of Skin Cancer, will be held on May 15th. To learn more, visit www. calskincancer.com or call (925) 677-7287. Advertorial
s d a o l p m OnUs Du
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The Eye Opener
By Gregory Kraskowsky, O.D., Alamo Optometry Iritis
Since I enjoy writing about cases I see at the office, I thought iritis was an interesting topic to cover. The cause of iritis can be one of numerous issues and is usually a consequence of an ocular or systemic condition. The symptoms the patient experiences are often pretty similar but can vary in severity. Iritis is a broad term that describes an inflammation in the anterior chamber of the eye (the area between the iris and the cornea). During an episode of iritis, there are a lot of inflammatory cells that leak through the blood vessels in and around the iris. These cells that are floating in the eye cause the eye to become red, painful, and light sensitive. There is usually not major vision loss associated with a particular episode, but the patient’s vision is usually temporarily decreased, however, and recurrent episodes in the same eye can lead to permanent vision loss. The origin of the inflammation can be from the eye itself and is associated with trauma, surgery, or infection. When the eye itself is the likely source, prophylactic treatment is started immediately to prevent the exacerbation of the symptoms. However, the cause of iritis is usually caused by another systemic cause that at times can be difficult to pinpoint. Any type of inflammation in the body can manifest itself in the eye and cause an iritis. These can include any surgical procedure, trauma, or systemic disease. The most common systemic causes are auto-immune diseases such as lupus, Chrohn’s disease, and arthritis. This is one of the reasons that it is essential to tell your eye doctor about your entire medical history as something that you might not think has any relevance to the eye might in fact be extremely important. These auto-immune conditions cause inflammation among other symptoms at their site(s) of affliction, and they lead to chemicals being able to then travel in the blood stream and wind up in the eye. There are also a lot of cases where the patient is not feeling any symptoms from the systemic condition, but they will have an effect in the eye. Sometimes a patient will come in to the office stating that they have a specific disease causing the eye flare-up, but often a patient will come in without a prior diagnosis. After the eye has calmed down, these patients should be sent to their primary care doctors for a work-up. There are instances where a cause will not be found, but if there are more episodes, a systemic cause is usually found. Standard treatment for iritis includes steroids. The frequency and duration of the dosing is dependent on the severity of the condition and how well it responds to treatment. In certain cases, dilation of the eye might be necessary. Since the blood vessels in and around the iris are the cause for the inflammation, the movement of the iris (which controls the size of the pupil) further aggravates the situation. By dilating the eye, the iris is now fixed and allows the amount of inflammatory chemicals entering the anterior chamber to slow down so that the steroid drops can be more effective. Even though more light will enter the eye, it is much more comfortable for the patient. These
C L A S S I F I E D FOR RENT
Alamo Today ~ May 2013 - Page 31 patients should be followed every few days (more often in the beginning) to make sure the drops are working and to make sure the pressure in the eye is not elevated. In some cases, either the drops and/or the condition causes the pressure in the eye to become elevated, which would further complicate the treatment plan and possibly require additional drops. Since the early symptoms of iritis are similar to an infection, it is very important that the correct initial diagnosis is made and that it is made in a timely manner as the treatment is very different. In the case of an infection, an antibiotic would be used, and heavy dosing of a steroid would be the exact wrong thing to do. So, it is very important to know that every red eye is not the same, and that just because a particular drop worked one time does not mean it will be the correct treatment the next time. 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. Advertorial
Alamo’s Boulevard of Trees was a project which was active from 1987-2005 with the mission of enhancing and preserving the rural character of Alamo. The project was headed by the late Andrew H. Young who strove to beautify Alamo by planting trees along Danville Boulevard. For more information, to view the original brochure about the program, to see the Tree Dedication list, or to learn about the tree tagging project, access the Community Information link on the left side of the home page at www.alamore.org.
CONDO VACATION RENTAL Mauna Lani Resort, Big Island. New luxury 2 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath condo on 4th fairway. Minimum 3 night stay. Contact Alamo owners for discounted rate. (925)381-7042 Alamomgt@usa.net
Alamo Today Classifieds
Reach over 6,700 homes and businesses in Alamo - Help Wanted, For Sale, Services, Lessons, Pets, Rentals, Wanted, Freebies... $35 for up to 45 words. $5 for each additional 15 words. Run the same classified ad in our sister papers “Lafayette Today” or “Danville Today News” at half off! Send or email submissions to: 3000F Danville Blvd #117, Alamo 94507 or editor@yourmonthlypaper.com. Payment by check made out to “The Editors” must be received before ad will print. Your cancelled check is your receipt. We reserve the right to reject any ad. Name_________________________________________ Address__________________________________________ # of Words_______________ Phone________________________________________ Email ____________________________________________________________________
Page 32 - May 2013 ~ Alamo Today
The Combs Team
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Professionals You Can Count On
Nancy
Joe
Call the Combs Team
®
92 5 -9 8 9 -6 0 8 6 www.TheCombsTeam.com
Alamo Real Estate Market: Better Than Good!
As of this writing there are 54 Alamo single family homes listed as active on MLS. Seventy-nine properties are listed as pending and during the last three months, a total of 57 properties were sold. The average days-on-market before a sale is completed stands at 40. This is, by any measure, a great market. We have created a bell curve and divided the market into 25%, 50%, and 75% percentiles to give you a better sense of how properties fared at different price points. Of note is that the SmartStats Report for Zip Code 94507 - ALAMO in Prior 3 Months since Apr 19, 2013 lowest price points and the highest price points closed in 24 and 25 days respectively while the middle price point homes lagged a bit at 56 days on market. Within each of Single-Family Sold Properties the three groupings Aggregate you will see that avTotal 57 erage and median Average Price $1,282,461 Median Price $1,285,000 price are very close Average Days on Market 40 with the greatest difBell Curves of 25%, 50%, and 75% percentiles ference occurring in the grouping of the most expensive 15 28 14 homes. The majority $817,000 $1,287,500 $1,710,500 of homes are selling $821,179 $1,282,320 $1,776,973 25 56 24 between $982,680 and $1,570,000, with the average falling at $1,287,500. This $982,680 $1,285,000 $1,570,000 average is about $180,000 higher than last year’s average price. That’s a very large rise in the price of Alamo real estate in a very short of time. It’s being driven largely by long-term pent up demand Townhouse-Condo Sold space Properties finally breaking loose and a historically low inventory of Alamo homes for sale. Aggregate As markets have a tendency to balance themselves with regard to supply, demand and price, Total 1 low inventory and high demandAverage have driven prices higher. The question remains, “Will the Price $538,800 supply of Alamo homes for saleMedian begin increase in response to rising prices?”The attached Price to $538,800 Total
Total
Total
Median Price
Median Price
Median Price
Average Price
Average Price
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Average Days On Market
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SmartStats Report for Zip Code 94507 - ALAMO in Prior 3 Months since Apr 19, 2013
chart titled “New Prop- New Properties erties” suggests that this New Properties rebalancing has already begun to occur. From December 2012 inventory has risen markedly. Part of this rise can be explained by seasonality. We can speculate that the rest is opportunistic selling by sellers who have put their plans to move on hold while prices were depressed. IfPending the current trend line is extended, we can reasonably expect that Properties inventory will steadily to grow over the course of the next several months. It’s anyone’s Properties guess if it will climb above 100 unit mark we enjoyedPending a few years ago. Will prices in Alamo fall back when inventory approaches normal levels? I wouldn’t bet on it. I think as long as we don’t get a sudden dramatic rise in interest rates, prices will hold and increase at a more moderate pace. If you recall the interest rates during the peak hovered between 5% and 6%. It’s hard to imagine that we are likely to see interest rates return to these levels for a couple of years, if then, unless something really bad happens. If rates do move gradually to these more normal levels as I expect they will, the most probable scenario will be for days-on-market to extend to the normal three to six months time frame. There will be fewer multiple over bids, more negotiation will take place throughout the sales process, and it will require more effort to attract a buyer. Until those things happen, the Alamo Real Estate market should continue to be better than good. Even if you are not Sold thinking about putting your home on the market, you should Properties know what your home is worth. It’s probably worth more than you think. Nancy and I Sold Properties will be happy to provide you with a free market analysis. Just call 925-989-6086 or send me an email joecombs@thecombsteam.com. It will be our pleasure to provide you with the information. 50
40
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Diablo Single Story
2012-7
Alamo Luxury Home
Build Your Dream Home
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8
ING
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Incredible Diablo single story home. We represented the buyers.
This home is perfection in every dimension indoors and out. We represented the buyers. We have other buyers.
Beautiful oak studded lots for sale one is 7 acres, one is 11 acres. $500k each
West Side Alamo Charmer
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Updated 3 bedroom, 3.5 bath. Backs to golf course. Pool. 2 bedrooms downstairs. Call for details.
Data presented in this column is based in whole or in part on data supplied by the Contra Costa and Alameda MLS service and other quoted sources. Joe Combs, Nancy Combs, The Combs Team, J. Rockcliff and the MLS service do not guarantee the accuracy of this information. DRE #0144125.
Luxurious 4 bedroom, 4.5 bath on premium lot backing open space. Highly upgraded. Call for details. J. Rockcliff Realtors 15 Railroad Ave., Danville CA. 94526