Alamo Today, April 2014

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April 2014 Bringing Back the Natives: Gardens Good for Life By Jody Morgan

Each of the 35 gardens on the Tenth Annual Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour offers a different perspective on how the owner’s lifestyle has been enriched by trading a traditional home landscape for an eco-friendly habitat. Open free from 10am to 5pm on Sunday, May 4th, gardens range from new installations professionally designed to mature masterpieces created over the course of decades by self-trained amateurs. More than 40 short talks offered throughout the day touch on reducing water bills, luring birds and butterflies to your yard, eliminating the need for pesticides, and choosing native plants to suit your personal priorities. Requisite pre-registration gives participants a chance to thoughtfully plot their self-guided day.

Kathy Kramer had no idea that organizing the event would evolve into a full-time volunteer job when she launched the first tour as a reaction to her own frustration at the lack of readily available information. “After Bringing Back the Natives founder, Kathy reading Sarah Stein’s Noah’s Ark in Kramer, relaxes in her own garden. the early 1990s, I was eager to turn the small garden space around our home into a habitat for wildlife,” Kramer recalls.

“Unfortunately, at that time, finding native plants and advice on which native plants to select proved difficult. I wanted to make the process of gardening with natives easier for others.” A tour of pesticide-free gardens in Portland, Oregon inspired her to develop an East Bay version, focusing on the use of locally appropriate native plants to create water-conserving, pesticide-free, wildlife-welcoming gardens.

Kramer characterizes the startup process the first year as “horrific,” but her diligence was rewarded by an overwhelming response. Aiming to get 1,500 attendees, Kramer was delighted when 5,000 people registered for the inaugural tour. What can you save by adhering to principles exemplified in tour gardens? A nine-year study of two adjacent Native Osmia bee feasts on Phacelia bolanderi.

Santa Monica bungalows found the native plant garden used 83% less water, generated 56% less green waste and required 68% less maintenance than the

See Natives continued on page 24 Local Postal Customer

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

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Serving Alamo and Diablo “Shady Way” Park in Alamo’s Future?

By Sharon Burke

At a special meeting convened on March 13, Alamo’s Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) gave the go ahead to the County Real Estate department to negotiate on its behalf to purchase the ¾ acre vacant lot located at the southwest corner of Danville Boulevard and Hemme Avenue. The lot is currently owned by the San Ramon Valley (SRV) Fire Department. SRV Fire purchased the lot in January 2006, intending to develop it as a fire station to serve westside Alamo. Those plans were abandoned in late 2008, when the Fire Department purchased a lot at the corner of Miranda Avenue and Stone Valley Road. The fire department has declared the Danville Boulevard lot surplus property and is required by state law to offer it to other government agencies before placing it on sale to the general public.

Photo of matchbook cover of the Shady Way Inn in Alamo, provided by Frank Kelsey.

SRV Fire paid $925,000 for the 0.70 acre lot in 2006, generally acknowledged to be the height of the real estate market. As a comparison, three half acre residential lots currently available for sale in Alamo are priced from $400,000-$650,000.

The lot is an interesting piece of Alamo’s history. During the 1930’s and 1940’s, a roadhouse restaurant called the Shady Way Inn occupied the property, offering respite to travelers along the then Highway 21 or the Danville Highway. The Inn was named for the “tree tunnel” of Dutch Elm trees lining both sides of the highway, creating a shade canopy. The trees were planted after World War I as a memorial to soldiers who died in that conflict. Three Standard Oil gas pumps were added to the restaurant in 1936.

The Shady Way Inn briefly became a nightclub in the 1960’s before closing for good around 1965.

David Barclay, Chairman of the Alamo MAC, noted the MAC reviewed a comprehensive list of all vacant parcels in Alamo before making its decision to move forward with the fire department lot. Part of the MAC’s decision was the location of the lot directly adjacent to the Iron Horse Trail, generally acknowledged to be the most used recreational facility in Alamo.

MAC member Susan Rock stated at Sup. Andersen’s Alamo Liaison meeting on March 17 that trailside amenities for pedestrians and cyclists on the trail Volume XIV - Number 4 3000F Danville Blvd. #117, are a possibility for the lot, if it can be Alamo, CA 94507 acquired for a reasonable price. These Telephone (925) 405-NEWS, 405-6397 could include picnic tables, restrooms Fax (925) 406-0547 and possibly a “tot lot.”

Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher Opposition was expressed at the Editor@yourmonthlypaper.com MAC meeting from an Alamo resident Sharon Burke ~ Writer based on the former use of the propsburke@yourmonthlypaper.com opinions expressed herein belong to the writers, and do erty as a gas station and the possibility The not necessarily reflect that of Alamo Today. Alamo Today that underground gas tanks could have is not responsible for the content of any of the advertising

See Park continued on page 27

herein, nor does publication imply endorsement.

Page 2 - April 2014 ~ Alamo Today

Boulevard View

By Alisa Corstorphine, Editor

As we approach Earth Day I think of the impact my family and I make in the world when we consume something. As my refrigerator sits with a bounty of delicious takeout food, I notice that they all came home in single use styrofoam and plastic containers. I consider the space they take up and the resources that were used to produce them, and I ponder where the containers will end up next.

A line from the documentary Bag It rings in my brain saying, “When we throw something away, what exactly is away?” In reality there is no “away.” Our trash gets kicked down the road. I look at the takeout containers and wonder if there is a way to create some sort of deposit and exchange system with local restaurants which would use reusable, stainless Tiffin boxes that are very popular in the Indian culture. Thinking outside the box, what changes can be made to improve this throw-away stuff and still enjoy the takehome food?

During a recent remodel of our backyard a large wallball wall and deck we built when our children were young was dismantled. We were left with a stack of perfectly good lumber. My brother-in-law suggested I sell the wood on Craigslist.

I took a new eye to the pile and remembering another project my giant “to do” list thought the wood could be repurposed for our own use into new garden boxes.

The wallball wall and deck have now been transformed into six new planter boxes. The boxes have been filled with dirt we sifted from a large compost pile which is rich with our own leaves, grass clippings, and food waste. This new garden area will create food for our family and friends. It will reduce our grocery and transportation expenses, and it will inevitably expand our horizons of new recipes as we find creative ways to consume anticipated bumper crops of squash and tomatoes. I have found guides to freezing our bounty (www.rodalenews.com/

April Programs on Ranching at the Museum of the San Ramon Valley

Every Saturday during the current ranching exhibit, ranchers will be present to talk with visitors at 205 Railroad Avenue, Danville.

On Saturday, April 5, 11am, at the Museum, expert Sheila Barry from UC extension will give a presentation titled, “Cows, Cattlemen and Conservation.”

On Thursday, April 17 from 10-11:30am, at Hap Magee Ranch Park, take a history tour of the park at 1025 La Gonda Way. Join historian Beverly Lane and rancher Jed Magee for a tour, and a look at the special Magee “brand room.”

On Sunday, April 27th a Ranching Roundup event will take place at the Museum from 1-3PM. The following activities will be held.

• Branding demonstration • Ice cream social • Horses from the Regional Park’s Volunteer Safety Patrol • Alameda County Cattle Women’s program on beef, including great recipes • Special tours of the ranching exhibit The Museum is open Tuesday through Friday from 1-4pm, Saturday 10am-1pm, and Sunday noon-3pm. For more information, visit museumsrv.org or call 925-837-3750.

San Ramon Valley Newcomers

The San Ramon Valley Newcomers Club is holding its monthly luncheon on Thursday, April 17 at Crow Canyon Country Club in Danville. This luncheon is open to current and prospective members in the San Ramon Valley area.

For further information or a reservation, please contact Dee Bradshaw at (925)837-9600 or visit www.srvnc.com.

Exchange Club of SRV

The Exchange Club of San Ramon Valley meets for lunch the second Wednesday of every month in downtown Danville.

Sign-in and social time begins at 11:30AM. The meeting starts promptly at noon and ends promptly at 1PM. The program features guest speakers and a business networking speaker. For more information, call Karen Stepper at (925) 275-2312, email coachstepper@yahoo.com, or visit www.srvexchangeclub.org.

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freezing-food?cm_mmc=TheDailyFixNL-_-1622976-_-03062014-_-How_to_ Freeze_Anything,_from_Berries_to_Zucchini) and am ready to preserve crops into next winter in ways I never considered before.

After a spring cleaning trip to the dump, I am amazed every time what items get thrown away. I think that at one time people made concious decisions and spent

their hard earned money on an item that they are now tired of or has broken in some manner. I think about how all of the items can get reused instead of tossed.

Twice a year the garbage hauling companies come through our neighborhoods to pick up our “garbage.” Reuse of the items left has become paramount as they try and realize a higher diversion rate of what goes to the dump.

I do a lot of online shopping and receive a plethora of cardboard boxes and packing materials. I used to toss them into the recycling bins, but now I post the boxes and packing materials on Craigslist and have a few “regulars” who gratiously come pick them up so they can use them for their eBay businesses. Receiving the supplies from me extends the life of the materials and saves money and resources for the person who will be using them.

For the fourth year the Alamo Women’s Club will host a reuse day called “Together We Give.” The event will be held April 27th from 1-4pm at the Alamo Women’s Club, located at 1401 Danville Blvd. in Alamo.

A complete list of items that each philanthropy is collecting for donation can be found at www.togetherwegive.org. Philanthropies include Youth Homes – Foster Care, Hospice of the East Bay, STAND! For Families Free of Violence, VESTIA, Lion’s Club, Brighter Beginnings, We Care Services for Children (ages 2-5), Pledge to Humanity, Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano, CARH, Inc., local school music programs, Contra Costa County Sheriff – Valley Station, eWaste, and Canine Companions for Independence. Representatives from these groups will be onhand to help you repurpose items that you no longer want or need. It is a great event to help in keeping items out of the landfill and getting them into the hands of someone who can give them a new life.

Back By Popular Demand!

3rd Annual Westside Alamo Neighborhood Yard Sale Saturday May 3, 2014 9am to 1pm Please RSVP by April 20

www.TheAlamoChannel.com Sponsored by Andrea Scott Alain Pinel Realtors 925.788.9374 Andrea@apr.com CALBRE# 01400374

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Alamo Today ~ April 2014 - Page 3

Alamo’s Real Estate Expert Call us today for your complimentary staging and market analysis of your home!

Alamo Home Sales – March 2014

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131 Alamo Springs Drive 165 Camille Court 309 Canterbury Court 14 Cardiff Place 204 Carol Court 420 Crest Avenue 66 Crest Avenue 109 Elliott Court 1501 Emmons Canyon Drive 130 Jennifer Court 2455 Roundhill Drive 20 Sandra Court 1543 Serafix Road 42 Sharmar Court 45 Shawn Court 201 Vagabond Court 120 Warwick Court

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Sale Price $2,995,000 $1,335,000 $1,535,000 $1,420,000 $1,195,000 $970,000 $1,000,000 $1,925,000 $1,250,000 $1,570,000 $ N/A $1,035,000 $1,400,000 $1,045,000 $999,000 $1,475,000 $2,200,000

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High School Athletes Raise Funds in Wheelchair Enrich the Life of a Student in 12 Days!

For the ninth year, students from a large high school in the south of France are Basketball Events coming to Danville. The students will arrive on April 27 and depart May 9 .

Culminating a yearlong project throughout the San Ramon Valley Untied School District, local high school athletes will compete in two fundraising events against a nationally ranked wheelchair basketball team from Berkeleybased Bay Area Outreach & Recreation Program (BORP). Proceeds will benefit the Wheelchair Foundation and BORP. One of the first organizations to offer a Youth Sports Program for children with physical disabilities when it was founded 28 years ago, BORP is still the only Northern California organization providing the same competitive basketball opportunities for students with physical disabilities as those enjoyed by able-bodied athletes in their age groups.

April 29: BORP Jr Road Warriors vs SRVHS Basketball Program at the San Ramon Valley High Gym at 7pm May 6: BORP Jr Road Warriors vs Monte Vista Basketball Program at the Monte Vista Gym at 7pm Tickets available at school offices in advance or at the door: Adults $7; Students $5; Under 5 Free.

Annual Easter Egg Hunt

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The teens stay with local families and have a full itinerary of activities during the days and only require your attention in the evenings and one weekend.

The visit is an ideal opportunity to experience another culture and hopefully consider visiting France in return. Anyone interested in hosting a student (or students!) is welcome to participate.

For more information or to find out about past year’s programs, please contact Martine Causse (teacher in charge of the group), at caussefly@wanadoo.fr or dachary.martine@orange.fr.

For information from a local host family contact Danville parent Kevin Dimler at kevindimler@gmail.com or 925-718-5052.

Danville Library Book Sale

Friends of the Danville Library invite you to purchase new and used books at their sale being held April 25 - 27.

On Friday, April 25 the sale will be open from 9am - 10am for members only, and then from 10am- 5pm the sale will be open to the public. On Saturday, April 26 the sale will continue from 10am- 4pm, and on Sunday, April 27 from 12:05pm - 3:45pm there will be a $5 Bag Sale.

The sale will include a selection of items including children’s books, CD’s, DVD’s, and vintage books.

Save the date! Alamo Rotary will again hold its annual egg hunt on April 19th at 10AM at Livorna Park in Alamo. This annual event is free and is for children up to 12 years of age. It features an egg hunt and a visit from the Easter Bunny with opportunity for picture taking. The hunt is divided into three age categories (4 and under, 4-7, and 7-12) Donate Your Car so that all can get their share of the 3,000 eggs hidden 800-YES-SVDP (800-937-7837) around the park. Come and enjoy this traditional event.

Alamo-Danville Newcomers Club

Please join us for a free Welcome Get Together on Tuesday, April 29, from 7PM to 9PM. At this gathering you will meet members and learn about the many activities offered by the Club. For further details, call us at (925) 281-1307.

• FREE same day pickup • Maximum Tax Deduction • We do DMV paperwork • Running or not, no restrictions • 100% helps your community www.yes-svdp.org

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Serving the poor since 1860

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY

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Page 4 - April 2014 ~ Alamo Today

Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States

Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW), Post 75, San Ramon Valley - meets every third Wednesday of the month at the Veterans Memorial Building located at 400 Hartz Avenue, Danville, located on the corner at East Prospect Avenue and Hartz Avenue. The next meeting will be held Wednesday, April 16th. Doors open at 7PM, and the meeting begins at 7:30PM. For more information, contact Post Commander Ernie Petagara at (925) 362-9806. Mail to: VFW Post 75 San Ramon Valley, P.O. Box 1092, Danville, CA 94526. Find out more about the VFW and our Post on the internet at www.vfwpost75.org.

Delta Nu Psi

Service group Delta Nu Psi has sent boxes of “gourmet junk food” to 145 squads located in the War Zone since 2004. The total weight of the food-filled boxes is 28,392 pounds spread over 1,160 packages.

Our upcoming collection dates are April 4th at CVS Pharmacy in Alamo and April 11th at Lunardi’s in Danville. The collection times will be from 11am to 2pm at both places.

Please come by, grab a list, and shop for our men and women in the War Zone. For more information, visit deltanupsi.org.

Spring Plant Sale

The Gardens at Heather Farm (GHF) hosts its annual Spring Plant Sale on April 26 from 9AM - noon at 600 North San Carlos Drive in Walnut Creek (beyond the baseball fields in Heather Farms Park). Available to you will be a wide variety of plants, including Mediterranean and California native plants, and plants for birds and butterflies. GHF members enjoy a 10% discount on all plant purchases, and non-members can take advantage of the discount by becoming members on the day of the sale. All proceeds benefit the ongoing maintenance of The Gardens at Heather Farms and its educational programs for children. Plant lists are available online at www.gardenshf.org.

For additional information, call (925) 947-1678.

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John Montgomery Landscape Architect’s 4th Annual Garden Tour Life in the Alamo-Danville Garden

John Montgomery Landscape Architects is delighted to announce their fourth annual Garden Tour Fundraiser, Life in the AlamoDanville Garden, presenting five gardens exclusively designed by John Montgomery. Celebrate spring, chat with John Montgomery, stroll the gardens, enjoy live music, nibble goodies from Martini Sky of Danville, and visit The Bounty Garden at this self-guided tour. The event will take place on May 3 from 11AM - 4PM. Proceeds from the sale of tickets benefit The Bounty Garden, The Quincy Lee Foundation, Lazarex Cancer Foundation, Contra Costa County Guide Dog Raisers, Inc., and the Rotary Club of Alamo. To sign up, go to www.jm-la.com and click on Garden Tour. For additional information, please contact Debbie at dblumhardt@jm-la.com or (925)820-8884.

AAUW Garden Tour

The Danville-Alamo-Walnut Creek Branch of AAUW is hosting its 14th annual Garden Tour on Friday, May 9th and Saturday, May 10th from 10AM to 4pm. Begin your Mother’s Day weekend by treating your mothers and daughters to this self-guided tour of five of the loveliest gardens in the Alamo and Danville area. From the calm serenity of an artist’s studio garden to an exquisite entertainment garden featuring expansive lawns, a terraced hillside and multiple patio areas, you will be inspired by the creative elegance of each of these unique gardens.

Tickets go on sale April 2 and can be purchased at East Bay Flower Company (206 Sycamore Valley Road West in the Danville Livery) or online at http://daw-ca.aauw.net/garden/. Tickets cost $35 for adults and $30 for seniors before May 3. Light refreshments will be provided. All proceeds from the tour benefit scholarships, research, and grants for aspiring women scholars.

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Alamo ~ Single story home w/pool in desirable Round Hill. Private lane, 4 bdrms, 2 full baths, formal dining rm, living rm w/fire place, eat in kitchen, & family rm w/ fireplace. Private 1 acre lot w/lush landscaping, pool, & built-in BBQ perfect for entertaining! $1,249,000 Russ Darby Tim Palumbo

925.943.3333 925.943.3332

Alamo Today ~ April 2014 - Page 5

Alamo Oaks ~ 313 Cross Road.

MAGICAL SETTING, over 2 level acres, 5 bdrms, office, 4.5 baths, basement (main home 4400 sq ft), detached guest house of 1100 sq ft, sparkling 20x40 pool, Quiet CulDe-Sac w/Mt Diablo/Valley views. Ancient OAKS & CYPRESS. One of a Kind!$2,575,000 Jay Weymouth • 925.915.1100 jayweymouth@yahoo.com

Alamo ~ 5/3.5, recently updated interiorkitchen, hrdwd flrs, appliances,new exterior paint, new expansive deck, patio area, 2 laundry rms,au-pair unit w/ separate entrance, pool, pond, waterfall, solar electric for the hm, 3 car garage + extra off road prking, 4667 sq ft. (per county), 1/2 acre $1,799,000 Rene Ferland

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Concord ~ New On Market!!!

Most awesome newly-built 4 bed, 3 bath, private gates, panoramic views, cul-de-sac, huge lot. A Must See! Call for more details. $1,199,000

San Ramon, The Bridges ~ Fabulous 5 bedrm 5 bath home w/1 bedrm & 2 baths on first floor + office. Enjoy your own gym off master suite or casita w/full bath. 3 car tandem garage plus lift for 4th car. Views to the hills from your nicely landscaped backyard. $1,575,000

Walnut Creek ~ ONE OF A KIND custom hm w/VIEWS forever yet close to dwntwn W/C, Bart, & freeway. 5200 sf w/5bdrms, 5baths + 6th bdrm/office. Wonderful chef’s kit w/lg center island open to family rm. Private setting, a must see! $1,999,000

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The Alamo Women’s Club presents

Together We Give ~ Honoring Earth Day

Page 6 - April 2014Date/Time: ~ AlamoSunday, Today April 27, 1- 4:00pm Where: How: Why:

1401 Danville Blvd., Alamo Drive through and drop off!

Community Donation Day Benefiting Local Charities

The Alamo Women’s Club presents

of Hope~ Together We Give~Be~an Angel Honoring Earth Day

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San Ramon Valley Republican Women Federated Presents Jon Coupal: “Is Proposition 13 in Jeopardy?”

The San Ramon Valley Republican Women Federated (SRVRWF) will present Jon Coupal with his talk titled “Is Proposition 13 in Jeopardy?”

Date/Time: Sunday, April 27, 1- 4:00pm This year will be a real challenge for taxpayers and the most dangerous Where: 1401 Danville Blvd., Alamo year yet for Proposition 13. Jon Coupal, the President of the Howard Jarvis How: Drive through and drop off!

Taxpayer’s Association (HJTA), will talk about can you help?

Why: CommunityHow Donation Day Benefiting Local Charities HJTA and its dedication to protecting Proposition On April 27 , clean out your closets, recycle, donate and help others through Together We Give’s Community Donation Day. Please note, since this is an item-specific drive, only (not impacted by smoking) below will be 13 and promoting taxpayer’s rights. Jon served as ~Be an Angel ofitems Hope~ accepted.

Director of Legal Affairs for HJTA, overseeing the  Bikes/protective gear (helmets/pads), storage bins, DVDs for Young Adults, educational CDs/DVDs, gardening kits & tools, suitcases, large duffle bags and backpacks, sports equipment, arts & crafts supplies, radios with CD player, organization’s litigation and lobbying efforts. He is a board games – ages 10-18, bath/face/hand towels, hair care products, digital cameras, clock radios, MP3 Music recognized expert in California fiscal affairs and has Players, non-perishable foods, gift cards for Youth Homes – Foster Care  Vintage items, linens, jewelry, fashion accessories, housewares for Hospice of East Bay argued numerous tax cases before the courts. He is  Jewelry, quality fashion accessories, perfume, holiday collectables, children’s books, small and unique home and garden items, toys and games, new twin size bedding (blankets, sheets, bedspreads, pillow covers, mattress a graduate of Marshall-Wythe School of Law at the covers), new towels, BART tickets for STAND! For Families Free of Violence  Useable “sunshine gifts” – a token of concern for Seniors – packs of cards, hand creams, etc., clean/used sleeping College of William and Mary, where he received his bags, children books, interview and work clothes for Men/Women and professional accessories (shoes, scarves, handbags, jewelry), gently worn coats, hats, mittens for Wardrobe for Opportunity via VESTIA – Volunteer J.D. degree in 1982.

Emergency Services Team in Action How can you help?  Eyeglasses and hearing aids for Lion’s Club The month of April is a taxpayer’s worst night Diapers, baby clothes, baby toys, gently used strollers and car seats for Brighter Beginnings  School supplies, binders, nursery rhyme books, puzzles, towels for swim day, heavy push toys such as wagons, mare come and find out what we can do! an out yourboard closets, recycle, donate help othersHotthrough Wedress Give’s Community Donation games, sidewalk chalk, sand toys,and buckets and shovels, Wheel cars,Together jump ropes, boys up clothes, men’sis ties for We Care Services for drive, Children (ages The event will be held at Crow Canyon Country Club, located at 711 e, since this an item-specific only2-5) items (not impacted by smoking) below will be Shoes, toiletries for Pledge To Humanity (donated to local Communities) Silver Lake Drive in Danville on Tuesday, April 22nd.  Canned and boxed food for the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano  Books, small pieces of furniture, Ewaste recycling - Computers, monitors, printers, laptops, TVs, iPods, stereos for Social time begins at 11:30am, and lunch will be served at noon. The cost is $25.

CARH, Inc. (Community assistance for the disabled) Musical instruments forstorage Local Schools ve gear (helmets/pads), bins, DVDs for Young Adults, educational CDs/DVDs, gardening kits For reservations, call Mary at 925-837-5465 or email srvrwf.lunch@gmail.  Blankets/Quilts for Contra Costa County Sheriff - Valley Station ases, large duffle bags and backpacks, sports equipment, arts & crafts supplies, radios with CD player,  Volunteer participation - puppy raising, assistance with special events and donations for Canine Companions for com.

Reservations are due by Friday, April 18th.

Independence – ages 10-18, bath/face/hand towels, hair care products, digital cameras, clock radios, MP3 Music Save the date for the upcoming Candidates and Propositions perishable foods, For giftadditional cards information, for Youth Homes Foster Care contact Pamela–Singh at momshouseinc@ymail.com or go to www.togetherwegive.org for the most current information. s, linens, jewelry, fashion accessories, housewares for Hospice of East Bay lunch to be held at noon on Tuesday, May 27th. For more informaity fashion accessories, holiday books, small and unique home and tion about SRVRWF, visit www.srvrwf.org.

Donation perfume, receipts will be provided collectables, – all donations are children’s tax deductible per government guidelines. th

, toys and games, new twin size bedding (blankets, sheets, bedspreads, pillow covers, mattress towels, BART tickets for STAND! For Families Free of Violence shine gifts” – a token of concern for Seniors – packs of cards, hand creams, etc., clean/used sleeping The Alamo Women’s Club is open to any woman n books, interview and work clothes for Men/Women and professional accessories (shoes, who scarves, would like to join a “place where women come welry), gently worn coats, hats, mittens for Wardrobe for Opportunity via VESTIA – Volunteer If you’re concerned about government’s increasing encroachment on our together to work toward a better community for all.” ervices Team in Action We have nearly 100 years of community involvement private rights nd hearing aidsproperty for Lion’s Cluband on our economic freedoms, you need to learn and a growing vibrant membership. from Richard G. Fields can and be done to protect them! Beginnings y clothes, baby toys, gently usedwhat strollers car seats for Brighter Our April 23rd luncheon will feature our scholarFields, from Pacific Legal Foundation willday, be speaking about es, binders, nursery rhyme books, puzzles, towels(PLF), for swim heavy push toysPropsuch as wagons, recipients at our Scholarship Awards Ceremony. In , sidewalk toys, buckets and shovels, Hot WheelApril cars, jump ropes, boys dress ship up clothes, ertychalk, Rightssand and Economic Freedom on Wednesday, 9 at the Blackhawk return, the recipients of the arts scholarships from Monte Vista and San Ramon We Care Services for Children (ages 2-5) Country Club Lakeside Grill. Check-in and a social will begin at 11:30AM, Valley High School will perform for the assembly. The other recipients (foster ies for Pledge To Humanity (donated to local Communities) and lunch with the presentation will begin at noon. youth, Del Amigo Continuation High School students and women returning to boxed food for the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano Recently featured on the John Stossel Show, the Pacific Legal Foundation DVC) will give short speeches about their lives. This luncheon includes pieces of furniture, Ewaste recycling - Computers, monitors, printers, laptops, TVs, iPods, school stereosatfor is theassistance oldest andfor most Community thesuccessful disabled) public interest legal organization that fights the families of the scholars as well as our membership and is open to the public umentsfor for limited Local Schools government, property rights, individual rights, and a balanced for a non-member cost of $25. RSVP to njhowsmon@sbcglobal.net. ts for Contra Costa County Sheriffprotection.

- Valley Station approach to environmental Help Us Help Others ticipation Representing - puppy raising,allassistance with and donations for litigates Canine Companions for clients free ofspecial charge,events donor-supported PLF in For the fourth year the Alamo Women’s Club hosts Together We Give’s ce

Blackhawk Republican Women Present Richard G. Fields

Alamo Women’s Club

courts across the country. Recent victories include: 1) the striking down of Community Donation Day, honoring Earth Day, on April 27th from 1-4pm.

Kentucky’s movingcontact business cartel,Singh and 2) of a farmer’s due or additional information, Pamela at preservation momshouseinc@ymail.com or go You to can help by cleaning your home and providing the specific items that ww.togetherwegive.org for the Corps most current information. process rights against of Engineers and the Central Valley Regional each philanthropy has requested. Then drive through and drop off the items Water Control Board. at the Alamo Women’s Club parking lot at 1401 Danville Blvd., Alamo. It’s onation receipts will be provided – all donations are tax deductible per government guidelines.

Cost is $25. Please make reservations or cancellations by noon on Monso easy! We do all the rest. E-Waste will also be taken. day, April 7th by contacting Marianne Lyons at 856 Turrini Dr., Danville, The idea for this event began with then SRV High School Junior Amy Cor94526, rlyons1009@sbcglobal.net, or (925) 820-6452. A reservation made storphine and her friends who wanted to give back in a meaningful way from the community they lived in, that had so much, to other communities that they is a reservation paid! recognized needed help. The idea furthered by this small group of young women Ruddigore, Ghosts and Bridesmaids Galore was hosted and backed by the Alamo Women’s Club. The girls named it Together The Role Players Ensemble presents Gilbert & Sullivan’s Ruddigore. We Give, and that fitting title remains. Since then the young women have spread Combine a witch’s curse, a haunted castle and a chorus of professional out to colleges around the U.S., but the Women’s Club has continued to honor bridesmaids, and you have a comic feast for the senses. This innovative Amy’s idea to help others through Together We Give to promote recycling and take on Ruddigore Castle residents, both living and dead, fills the stage with to honor Earth Day. After your family drops off their items, please come in and see the generosdelightful music, witty dialogue, and wacky characters.

The play, directed by Eric Fraisher Hayes, will be presented April 18 – May ity of our community on display to help these noteworthy philanthropies, or talk to the philanthropy’s representative about who they are and what they do.

10 with Friday and Saturday performances at 8PM and Sunday performances at 2PM. Donations are tax deductible per the government guidelines. A complete list of Showings will take place at the Village Theatre, located at 233 Front Street in Danville. items that each philanthropy has requested for your donations can be found at Tickets costing $20-28 can be purchased by going online to www.Rolewww.togetherwegive.org. Philanthropies include Youth Homes – Foster Care, PlayersEnsemble.com, at the Danville Community Center which is located Hospice of the East Bay, STAND! For Families Free of Violence, VESTIA, at 420 Front St in Danville, or by calling (925) 314-3400.

Lion’s Club, Brighter Beginnings, We Care Services for Children (ages 2-5), A free Sneak Peek event will be held Thursday, April 10 at 7PM at the Dan- Pledge to Humanity, Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano, CARH, Inc., loville Library. A special Easter Surprise will happen at the April 20th matinee. cal school music programs, Contra Costa County Sheriff – Valley Station, and Canine Companions for Independence.

Follow The Curse of the Week at www.RolePlayersEnsemble.com.

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Alamo Today ~ April 2014 - Page 7

“Brad came recommended to me through a friend, we also interviewed other Realtors and Brad came up head and shoulders above the rest. I was very impressed with his marketing strategies, his use of technology and how thorough he was. When it came time to sell our home Brad’s team of professional staggers and gardeners helped put the Wow factor into our house, making a very good impression, and it worked! Our home sold in only 7 days with $30,000 over the asking price! Brad definitely backs up his 30 Day Guarantee and his promise to deliver, very professional and an overall nice guy, very thorough and I am very pleased with what Brad has done for us.”

Paula Swain - Danville Home Sellers

Brad Gothberg J.Rockcliff Realtors CA BRE# 00964026 925-998-5151 www.BradGothberg.com BGothberg@Rockcliff.com

Second Annual Alamo Run

The second annual Alamo Run will be held on June 22nd. The race will start and conclude in the downtown Alamo area. The run includes a 5k competitive run and also a fun run for the Alamo community.

Last year, participants ages 4 to 85 ran pushing strollers and alongside pets and family members.

The run is sanctioned by the USATF and is professionally managed by On Your Mark run management. Entry costs $35 per person (pre-registered) and $40 on the morning of the event. All participants will receive a commemorative T-shirt.

Runners can sign up through www.Active.com or through www.AlamoRun.com. All proceeds will benefit the educational programs of the non-profit Mt. Diablo Peace and Justice Center in Walnut Creek.

California Writers Club

Jordan Rosenfeld will present “Plotting Your Novel One Scene at a Time” at the next luncheon meeting of the Mt. Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) on Saturday, April 12th at Zio Fraedo’s Restaurant, 611 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill.

Ms. Rosenfeld will discuss how to write a scene and put tension on every page, strategies for revision, and promotion for indie authors.

Rosenfeld earned her MFA from the Bennington Writing Seminars and is a writing coach, editor, and freelance journalist. She is the author of the novel Forged in Grace, and she co-author of several books on writing. Her essays and articles have appeared in numerous magazines and newspapers, including the San Francisco Chronicle, Publishers Weekly, The Writer, and Writers Digest.

Sign-in and Writer’s Tables will be held from 11:15am to noon with a luncheon from 12-12:45pm and business meeting and program from 12:45-2pm.

Registration is $20 for CWC members and $25 for guests.

Reservations are required and must be received no later than noon on Wednesday, April 9. Contact Robin Gigoux at ragig@aol.com, or call 925933-9670. Expect confirmation only if you e-mail your reservation.

The California Writers Club Mt. Diablo Branch web address is http:// cwcmtdiablowriters.wordpress.com.

Art Benefit Bash

An Art Benefit Bash will take place on Saturday, May 3 from 6 - 10PM at the Danville Veterans Hall, located at 400 Hartz Ave. Come for great food, great company and the chance to make a real difference in the lives of the poorest of the poor in Sintaro Village, Ethiopia. The event features an auction of acclaimed artists’ work, adventure and getaway packages, live music, drinks, food, and much more. Information about tickets, donations, and art previews can be found at www.sintaroartbash.com.

All proceeds from the Bash support Sintaro Village 2020 - a sustained commitment to improve the lives of those in Sintaro, Ethiopia through the building of a water well, a community center, and a school serving K-8th graders.

Sintaro Village 2020 is a seven-year commitment by Community Presbyterian Church (CPC) to transform the lives and hearts of villagers through education, clean water, and community development. The Art Benefit Bash gives CPC the opportunity to invite the local community in Danville to join in an evening of good food, good company, and supporting a great cause.

Volunteers Needed for Amgen Tour

Mount Diablo State Park has been selected to host the Stage 3 finish of the 2014 Amgen Tour of California bike race. The finish will take place on Tuesday, May 13th at the Summit at Mount Diablo. This event will attract many thousands of spectators and live worldwide TV coverage. It is one of the premier road bike races in the world and will feature the best international riders and teams competing today.

Mount Diablo State Park is looking to recruit several hundred volunteers to help as course marshals, in hospitality, in media support, and in a host of other volunteer roles. To register as a prospective volunteer, please visit www.amgentourofcalifornia.com/Tour/volunteer.html.

Information about the The Amgen Tour of California Stage finish in Mount Diablo Stage Park is found at http://www.amgentourofcalifornia.com/Route/ cities/mt-diablo-st-park.html. Additional information is also available on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Friends-of-Mount-DiabloState-Park-Stage-3-Best-Summit-Finish-Ever/774471715914038.

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Page 8 - April 2014 ~ Alamo Today

Color this ad and bring it to Richard‘s Crafts at Alamo Plaza by April 12th for a chance to win the Grand Prize!

Join the Easter Bunny and all his friends in front of Richard’s Crafts, here at Alamo Plaza.

Continue on the trail of festivities to include balloon twisting, face painting, train rides, prizes and more. Plus go on a scavenger egg hunt of goodies to find one of the Golden Eggs to win a special prize!

Don’t forget to bring your camera to take pictures with the Bunny!

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Rancho Romero Elementary School

By Skye Larsh-Faraghan, Principal

Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is a success. ~Anonymous Springtime allows us the opportunity to view some of the cumulative results of our work. Our final set of Parent Teacher Conferences occurred during March, bringing to close the second trimester. Between now and June our staff will give a final thrust to complete the transition into Common Core Standards. In mathematics students will continue to demonstrate greater depth of understanding through complex problem solving and explanation of thinking, using models, tools, patterns, and rules. In English Language Arts students are making progress in building strong content knowledge through research and study. Students are listening and reading to understand precisely what an author or speaker is saying along with learning how to critique by questioning assumptions and premises. They are assessing the soundness of reasoning, citing specific evidence, and thoughtfully employing technology. Teachers are designing, analyzing, and refining classroom 8

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environments that promote collaboration, community and choice, creating new units of study and using common assessments in mathematics, reading, and writing. We are very pleased with the school-wide progress toward academic goals.

In addition to the high levels of teaching and learning around Common Core, we were excited to have been one of the schools to work with the Wheelchair Foundation this year. As part of our Character Education plan, March was designated as Ability Awareness Month, with a specific emphasis on mobility. Ability awareness teaches students that everyone learns differently in some area. As a wider goal, this awareness aims to help mitigate feelings of being “different” to everyone else and to create a more empathetic learning environment. The Wheelchair Foundation Fundraiser was launched the week of March 17, which included an assembly, the use of a wheelchair in each 3rd-5th grade classroom, lessons, and literature. The fundraiser was a huge success. The school community was able to ensure that new wheelchairs will go to several children, teens, and adults who are in need. A special thank you to the Behring Family and Don Routh, founders of the Wheelchair Foundation; Gaby Ghorbani, parent; and the Rancho Romero School Community for making a positive difference in the world.

Another culminating event occurred in the area of art, titled Kidz Art Creations art show. Under the direction of Danielle John, Rancho Romero K-5 art teacher, students at every grade level entered a piece of art work. Each art piece was displayed in the library during parent conferences, transforming the library into a beautiful gallery. The art work reflected elements of line, color, shape, texture, form and space, along with basic principles of design such as harmony, balance, rhythm, and dominance through ceramics, chalk, and watercolor. Thank you Danielle, PTA parent volunteers, RR Education Fund support, art enthusiasts, and young artists for keeping the visual arts in elementary school alive and well.

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Alamo Today ~ April 2014 - Page 9

The Cox Team REAL ESTATE

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Alamo Elementary School

By Stan Hitomi, Principal Where Eagles Soar

250 Eagle Court, Alamo Stone Valley Oaks! Beautiful 4BR (all suites!) + Office, loft & 4.5BA on ~.65acre! Volume ceilings, hardwood flooring, light and bright! Lush lawn and garden areas! Breathtaking views! $2,195,000

One of the pleasures of being principal of Alamo School is the opportunity to be part of a community where the school plays a major part in the lives of our families well beyond their years as students. At this year’s Alamo School Auction Gala we had many parents attend who no longer have students at our school. It was great to see that they still consider themselves part of our school community…and they are! In many cases we have children attending Alamo School whose parents attended Alamo School themselves. We currently have over a dozen parents who called Alamo their school when they were in grammar school. But perhaps the strongest bond that we have at Alamo School is from our alumni that return to provide service and “give back” to our school.

No where do we see that more clearly than with our returning “Eagles.” Eagle Scouts have accounted for several major projects that have added to the beauty and functionality of our campus, not to mention saving our school thousands of dollars!

In 2012 Jeff Bromley returned to perform a complete restoration of the stage in our outdoor amphitheater. The boards were in such bad shape that we were contemplating shutting the theater down. As with all Eagle Scout projects, Jeff had to design the restoration, seek funding, and coordinate the actual work. The result was a completely restored stage that is used throughout the year by hundreds of students.

Also in 2012, Kody Kiefer Wedell took a hillside of weeds and rocks and turned

925.314.1111

it into a beautiful garden and “Bench of Dreams” for his Eagle Scout project.

Students and parents frequently use the area to wait during afternoon dismissal.

Now they have a place to sit, read, and dream. A very special part of Kody’s project was incorporating in the garden area the original Alamo School sign that was located on Wilson Road near the entrance to the school that opened in 1965.

In 2013 Steven Waal built a pair of stone benches at the top of the new Teaching Garden in back of the school as his Eagle project. Using moss rock, Steven created the benches to give garden visitors a place to sit, relax, and enjoy a breathtaking view of Mt. Diablo. And in 2014 Kyle Remmert completed his Eagle by building a fence/ railing to border the tree-stump amphitheater and to make it safe for anyone who is teaching there. On many mornings you can find Mrs. Raaum, our vocal music teacher, out in the garden taking advantage of this gorgeous setting to sing with her students.

In addition to the Boy Scout Eagle projects many students have returned to provide service in a variety of other ways. Katie Hauh, who graduated from Alamo School in 2008, has been returning to give singing lessons for the past three years.

Her efforts have raised over $1,000 for the PTA. Nick (2006) and Lauren (2009) Furman have been providing free tutoring to Alamo School students in the mornings before school. Every year we get alumni returning to help with concerts, the talent show, Camp Alamo, and the Hoedown. The point is clear… our students continue to be a part of our community well beyond their time here as students.

Thank you to all of our alumni who continue to give back!

I couldn’t end this month’s column without thanking all of our families, friends, and staff for making this years’ Ed Fund Auction Gala a tremendous success, raising over $100,000. I want to thank all of those who worked hard and gave up their time to prepare for this night. It all starts at the top, and a BIG Thank You to our Ed Fund President, Susanna Lee. I would also like to thank Jen Nicosia, Jenn Hoffman, Jen Phillips, Carol Berkowitz, Michelle Bryan, and Stephanie Kiepen who served as the leadership team in organizing the event. A special thank you to Lindsey Gorski for designing our new school logo and putting together the designs for the Auction Program/Catalog and the PowerPoint Slides.

I would like to offer my thanks to the rest of our parents who are too many to name but were instrumental in putting the evening together. Our entire community acted as a “village” in working on this event and/or donating items in support of the Auction. Finally, I want to acknowledge Christine Lim, Alex Wu and Rosie Moon for working on the Online Auction that is scheduled to run April 1 – 9, with more incredible opportunities to raise funds for our students!

Page 10 - April 2014 ~ Alamo Today

SAT Upcoming Changes By Susan Sokat, Club Z

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Recently, the College Board has announced some major changes to the SAT. However, if you plan to take the test this year or next year, keep studying. These changes are scheduled for 2016.

The newly revised SAT will aim to more accurately measure and reflect what students learn in the classroom.

David Coleman, the President of the College Board and lead contributor to the Common Core Standards initiative, had this to say in a recent speech: “It is time for an admissions assessment that makes it clear that the road to success is not last-minute tricks or cramming, but the learning students do over years.” He went on to say that the SAT “will no longer stand apart from . . . daily studies and learning.”

According to the College Board, the SAT redesign is also intended to help balance the scales for less affluent students who have been at a reported disadvantage compared with more affluent students who can afford the various fees associated with the college application process. In fact, the makers of the SAT again stated that they would waive up to four college application fees for students meeting certain income requirements.

There is also speculation that these changes come as an answer to the fact that the ACT college entrance exam surpassed the SAT in popularity last year, as measured by total number of test takers, for the first time in the test’s history. Many of the changes proposed by the College Board mimic the structure of the ACT (for example – no penalty for wrong answers, which were previously marked off one quarter point on the SAT).

Here is a rundown on some of the more significant changes.

• The maximum score will decrease from 2,400 to 1,600 total points, a return to the previous scoring metrics in place prior to 2005.

• There is no longer a penalty for wrong answers (only correct answers will be counted toward the student’s score). This will significantly impact guessing strategies long believed to be useful for SAT test takers!

• In an effort to make the test more relevant and applicable for college preparation, the vocabulary section will be changed to eliminate obscure words in favor of words more commonly encountered in college courses.

• The math topics will focus primarily on linear equations, functions, and proportional thinking, and calculators may not be allowed for certain math questions (which questions or topics remains to be revealed).

• The test will require students to show more of their work in the math section and substantiate their answers in the reading section through text analysis.

• The essay portion will be available but no longer mandatory.

Club Z! In-Home Tutoring provides diagnostics and a completely individualized tutoring approach to SAT Tutoring. Please contact Club Z at 925Advertorial 786-7149 or www.clubztutoring.com/danville for more details on improving SAT scores.

Stone Valley Middle School

By Shaun K. McElroy, Principal Congratulations to Denise True – Stone Valley Classified Employee of the Year

Stone Valley Office Manager Denise True has been serving the Alamo community in every possible way for well over 20 years. Denise was a parent at Rancho Romero, Stone Valley, Monte Vista, and San Ramon Valley High Schools. When her three children were in school, Denise was an avid classroom volunteer, and she also served two terms as PTA President at Rancho Romero. As her children grew Denise began her career as a school employee. At one time Denise held four different jobs at Rancho office support, library aide, PEP program assistant, and PE assistant. Eight years ago Denise moved to Stone Valley as our attendance secretary and quickly out grew the job and became our office manager. Denise defies her job description…in addition to being our scheduler, CFO and queen of organization, Denise is often the person children turn to when they need a shoulder to cry on or a hug. Staff use Denise as their personal confidant, she’s always the first to know who’s getting engaged or married, or who is pregnant. Denise is truly a blessing to our school and community, and we thank you for your many years of service. We are truly grateful for all you do for us.

Denise was recognized at the SRVUSD Board meeting on Tuesday, March 25th. Congratulations, Denise.

SRV Council of PTA’s Parenting and Beyond Conference

The San Ramon Valley Council of PTA’s Annual Parent Education conference was recently held. The conference keynote speaker was Denise Pope, Ph.D. from Stanford University. Dr. Pope is a mother of three and works full time, as does her husband, so she knows first hand the demands of parenting and the stresses our children experience. One of the exercises Dr. Pope asked us to do was to draw a clock face and pencil in how much time our children spent each day on any given task: eating, playing, screen time, downtime, homework etc. Please try this at home to gain a perspective on what happens in the lives of our your children each day. One of the acronyms that Dr. Pope used to help us remember the priorities for our children is to “PDF” everyday. PDF refers to: P= playtime (unstructured), D=Downtime (doing nothing), and F=Family time (family dinners five nights/ week for a minimum of 25 minutes).

These following common-sense tips were discussed and are based on children’s known developmental needs and recent research on child and adolescent wellbeing. Here’s what you can do immediately to support healthy development and prepare your child for real success: ▪ Define success on your terms ▪ Ease performance pressure

▪ Love your children unconditionally ▪ Debunk college myths ▪ Build responsibility at home and in the community ▪ Unplug ▪ Maintain playtime, down time, and family time. Avoid over-scheduling ▪ Discipline and set limits. Allow kids space to develop on their own and make mistakes Parenting is a challenge for all of us. Take a look at Dr. Pope’s website for expanded definitions of bullet points above (www.challengesuccess.org).

San Ramon Valley Area Band Festival

San Ramon Valley High Schools Annual Area Band Festival took place on March 18th. The concert featured approximately 350 instrumental music students from John Baldwin, Greenbrook, Montair, Rancho Romero, Sycamore Valley, Charlotte Wood, Stone Valley, and San Ramon Valley High School. Stone Valley’s bands (cadet, concert, and symphonic), under the direction of Ben Loomer, played a total of seven selections for an audience of nearly 1,000 concertgoers.

This concert also provided listeners with an opportunity to see the progression of students from their second year of playing an instrument all the way through high school. It was truly an inspirational evening.

Our 7th and 8th grade bands will be performing at Disneyland next week.

Wheelchair Foundation comes to Stone Valley

Don Routh of the Wheelchair Foundation www.wheelchairfoundation.org visited Stone Valley’s two leadership classes on Friday morning to launch a fundraiser to purchase low-cost wheelchairs for people in developing nations.

The fundraiser is a district wide event.

Mr. Routh has just returned from a trip to Paraguay where he delivered several wheelchairs. To date over 950,000 chairs have been donated by the foundation.

Upcoming Community Meetings and Events

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

Alamo MAC (Municipal Advisory Committee) - First Tuesday of each month 6pm - Alamo Chamber of Commerce Office 120-B, Alamo Plaza P2B - Police Services Advisory Committee - First Monday of each month, 5pm - Meets at Alamo Chamber of Commerce Office located at 120 -B, Alamo Plaza P5 - Round Hill Police Services Advisory Committee - Second Wednesday of each month, 7pm - Meets at Round Hill Country Club - Lower Level Meeting Room CERT classes - Community Emergency Response Team - Visit www. firedepartment.org/community_outreach/cert/upcoming_classes.asp

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San Ramon Valley High School

By Ruth Steele, Principal

Spring is an incredibly busy time in high schools.

We are always caught between the current school year and planning for next year. Between testing, master scheduling, and planning for graduation, the pace of things just seems to get faster and faster.

This year has seen the beginning and the conclusion of some major projects: The pool is finished, including the new entry way, and that was formally opened on March 27th. The bleachers are almost completed, and a baseball improvement project to build a new batting cage is also underway.

This year has seen SRVHS being the lucky recipient of an unparalleled level of support from parents and the community. Our seven booster groups have done an incredible job of supporting our athletic, arts, and academic programs. We have added new technology, and expanded career center services, library hours, intervention classes, and elective offerings. None of these things would be possible without the support of our PTSA, Academic Boosters, 21st Century Learning Foundation, Athletic Boosters, Wolf Tones, San Ramon Voices, and Theater Boosters.

We recently invited all incoming 8th graders to SRVHS (Building Bridges night) to help them with the transition to high school. It is exciting to meet our new students early.

We are also planning a talent show and art auction in mid-May. Please look for publicity on this as we will happily accept donated artwork or prizes for this event.

Finally, we are beginning to plan the graduation ceremony for the 100th graduating class at SRVHS - a particularly exciting milestone in the history of our high school!

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Alamo Today ~ April 2014 - Page 11

Monte Vista High School

By Janet Terranova, Principal

One of the best reasons to be on a high school campus is the high energy level of our students and staff. There is always some activity to keep students and staff busy.

During the month of March we welcomed incoming ninth graders, our Drama department produced a play, our Vocal Music department participated in the Area Choral Concert with our feeder middle schools, we hosted an Advanced Placement and incoming 10th -12th grade night for our current students and parents, our boys and girls soccer teams both participated in the North Coast Finals and our girls are the North Coast Section champions, students participated individually in academic contests, and our Speech and Debate team continues their winning season. This list is just a small sample of what happens on a high school campus in a month. The reality is that as energetic as our students may be, that energy needs to be channeled and mentored and the mentorship comes from our staff and community.

Staff and community members work with our students outside the classroom each and every day. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you for helping our students have an enriching and successful high school experience.

Our booster groups and PTSA spend hours helping to raise money and volunteer in a myriad of ways to improve Monte Vista. Parents take time from work to drive carpools and volunteer to help with student clubs. Our staff is amazing.

Each club needs a teacher advisor, and we have over 75 clubs. Our staff comes to many student activities, and they often stay late and give up their weekends to support students.

Kudos to Ms. Kimberley Gilles, English teacher, who was selected by the National Education Association as the recipient of the Horace Mann Award for Teaching Excellence; quite an honor for this outstanding teacher.

As a school we realize the level of support and encouragement from our community is fantastic. I feel fortunate to be in a community that is so supportive of education and our students.

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

Page 12 - April 2014 ~ Alamo Today

Tax Talk with Bob

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State of the IRS

By Bob Shalon, IRS Enrolled Agent, H&R Block

Finally, there is something we taxpayers and congress agree on – that is our dislike for the IRS! Let me clarify. I don’t need to explain our inherit dislike. As for congress, they seem to give the agency a hard time through lack of funding. Before you say “too bad” and laugh, please know that we, the taxpayers, are also paying a price in the area of customer service.

Over the past three years, funding for training IRS customer service representatives has dropped from $172 million down to this year’s figure of $22 million. The result is a much longer wait time on the phone and not getting a knowledgeable representative when you do reach someone.

On the flip side, the IRS website is greatly improved and more robust. Many areas can be accessed on the website that needed a phone call in past years. Some areas are: • Refund status • Prior years tax transcripts • Almost any tax form or publication • How to respond to an IRS letter • Affordable care act tax provisions • Calculating the proper withholding or estimated payments There are just a few weeks remaining in tax season, so don’t forget to file! Too much money is left on the table by people who do forget.

Please call me at any time at 925-820-9570, email bob.shalon@tax.hrblock.com, or stop by my Advertorial office located at 718 San Ramon Valley Blvd., Danville with any questions.

Bob Shalon, EA

Master Tax Advisor • Enrolled Agent

925.820.9570

718 San Ramon Valley Blvd, Danville Sycamore Square (next to Lucky’s)

bob.shalon@tax.hrblock.com

Las Trampas Celebrates its 26th “What’s in Our Hat?” Fundraising Event

Tucked away on a quiet plot of land off Moraga Blvd., in Lafayette Las Trampas has been providing services to individuals with developmental disabilities for 56 years, a population often as hidden from community awareness as the building itself. But this is changing in several ways.

Las Trampas folks are out in the community, visiting the Library several times a week, dining in local restaurants, going bowling, doing community service for homeless shelters and Children’s Hospital, working for Walnut Creek and others in park or general maintenance, earning money with recycling and shredding businesses, and with great pride taking the dollars earned to Mechanics Bank.

And the community has taken notice. Every year in April, over 300 people gather at the Lafayette Park Hotel & Spa to enjoy a fabulous party and salute this long legacy of serving Bay Area families with members who have developmental challenges…from autism, to cerebral palsy, to down syndrome and other physical and mental limitations. The 26th annual gathering, long known as What’s in Our Hat?, will be held on Sunday, April 27th, 3:00-6:30PM. What IS in that famous Hat? There’s a chance for one lucky person to win $10,000 that comes with a free drawing ticket accompanying the $100 event ticket. The theme this year is World Soccer 2014 – Bravo Brasil! with touches of Carnaval to the samba beat of Generations in Jazz, an international buffet, wine toss, magician, and silent auction extraordinaire.

The goal is to raise $100,000 to sustain the quality and diversity of Las Trampas programs and services…from job skills training, to recreational activities, to licensed residential homes, and to support services for those able to live independently. Details of the event can be found online at www.lastrampas.org, or contact Suzanne Pestal at spestal@lastrampas.org or (925) 310-2363.

Danville’s Own Aviation Drama: Tassajara 1964 By Jody Morgan

When Pacific Airlines Flight 773 crashed in a Tassajara Road pasture killing all 44 people on board, the town of Danville became the focus of national attention. The mystery surrounding the disaster commanded the investigative skills of both the FBI and the Civil Aeronautics Board. On May 7th, the 50th anniversary of that fateful day, the Museum of the San Ramon Valley in collaboration with Role Players Ensemble presents an original play by RPE Artistic Director Eric Hayes entitled Tassajara 1964.

On May 7, 1964, the pilot, Captain Ernest Clark, was substituting for a sick colleague. He took off from Reno at 5:54am, making a routine stop in Stockton where two passengers deplaned and ten boarded. At 6:38am, Flight 773 departed for San Francisco. Oakland Air Traffic Control received an unintelligible message at 6:48am followed by radio silence and the disappearance of Flight 773 from the radar screen.

Breakfasting at their ranch on Tassajara Road, Jean and Richard Collins heard the roar of a plane coming in low over their house followed by an explosion. Gordon Rasmussen who lived on an adjacent property rushed to the Collins ranch when he heard the crash. Describing the devastation, he said: “There was not a piece larger than a foot in diameter except for the landing gear.” The plane gouged out a 60’ long furrow. Wreckage was Shown beside her plane Top Banana, Julie Clark, daughter of Flight 773's pilot, has always shared his love of flying. scattered over 100 yards. Bent silver dollars from Reno casinos littered the ground.

(Photo courtesy of the Museum of the San Ramon Valley) What happened? Speculation ran from mechanical failure to sabotage and intensified when remnants of a gun were discovered in the wreckage. The handle was missing. The blackened and twisted chamber revealed six spent cartridges. Background information on crew and passengers and interviews with the passengers who deplaned in Stockton helped the FBI identify the shooter. Ironically, the Civil Aeronautics Board regulation that might have prevented the tragedy was enacted on May 7, 1964. Effective September 9, 1964, cockpit doors on passenger planes were to be closed and locked from the inside.

Eric Hayes, who grew up in Danville, only learned about the story last year. When he mentioned to his mother that he was researching the Tassajara plane crash, he discovered for the first time that she had lost a high school classmate who was on board the doomed flight. In scripting the story, Hayes focuses on the multiple communities tied together by the event. “The play seeks to explore tragedy as it relates to individuals and families as well as communities, “ Hayes explains. “In the telling of this story, there will be glimpses into the lives of some of the individuals involved (victims and their families) as well as stories of people who witnessed or were touched in some way or another by the event.”

Jerry Warren, President of the Board of the Museum of the San Ramon Valley recalls the crowds drawn to the “Mystery in the Sky” exhibit recently offered at the Museum. “When we ran the exhibit it almost became a pilgrimage for people from Reno to San Jose as well as San Ramon Valley residents who remembered the crash, but not the details.” The children and grandchildren of many of the 44 individuals who died on Flight 773 visited the exhibit to pay their respects.

Julie Clark, one of the pilot’s three daughters orphaned by the crash, came to speak to museum visitors. Her collection of newspaper clippings has been invaluable in establishing the facts of the tragedy and reconstructing the community response. Sharing her father’s lifelong love of flying, Julie became the first woman pilot for Northwest Airlines in 1984 and currently pilots her plane Top Banana in the Julie Clark Air Show: American Aerobatics.

The May 7th staged reading of Tassajara 1964 at the Museum of the San Ramon Valley occurs at 7pm. Tickets at the door cost $20. If you are still wondering what happened on board Flight 773, this is your chance to learn the answer. For more details, visit www.roleplayersensemble.com and click on “Events.”

editor@yourmonthlypaper.com Every Choice Counts By Cynthia Ruzzi

A little over four years ago three women were introduced in a local coffee shop. Coming from different regions of the country, bringing different experiences and perspectives, together they agreed on the concept that ‘Every Choice Counts.’ So, on Earth Day 2010 they invited others to come together to talk about what is special about our community and how to preserve it. During that first evening, neighbors and community leaders launched Sustainable Danville Area.

Similarly, seven years ago a man used his position in society to alert the public to the changes we were facing from carbon pollution. Perhaps his message got missed by some because he was a politician, or perhaps it was too perilous of a message for some to face. But over time there has been a change of heart, an acceptance that perhaps we can live a little more lightly on the Earth and preserve what we have for our children.

Maybe, like me you are enjoying our lovely spring air and cherish the difference from the gloomy, dry, polluted winter days. Perhaps you’re ‘banking’ your children’s and grandchildren’s future, and you want to make sure they will have the outdoors that we call our ‘backyard’ to enjoy years from now.

Whatever your reason, more of us are remembering to bring reusable grocery bags, forgo the plastic water bottle, and even use public transportation more today than any time since the 1950’s.

Perhaps the energy efficient appliances that grace our kitchen, laundry, and TV rooms are a technological advantage over yesteryear, but our sustainable practices are not new. A past chairman of the Danville Area Chamber of Commerce shared the following story that emphasizes just that: In the line at the store, the cashier told the older woman that plastic bags weren’t good for the environment. The woman apologized and explained, “We didn’t have the green thing back in my day.” That’s right, they didn’t have the green thing in her day.

Back then, they returned their milk bottles, soda pop bottles, and beer bottles to the store. The store sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilized and refilled, using the same bottles over and over. So they really were recycled.

But they didn’t have the green thing back in her day.

Back then, they washed the baby’s diapers because they didn’t have the throwaway kind. They dried clothes on a line – wind and solar power really did dry the clothes. But the woman was right, they didn’t have the green thing back in her day.

They drank from a fountain when they were thirsty, instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time they had a drink of water.

When they packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, they used wadded up newspaper to cushion it, not Styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap. But they didn’t have the green thing back then.

Back then, people took the streetcar and kids rode their bikes to school or rode the school bus, instead of turning their moms into a 24-hour taxi service.

And they didn’t need a computerized gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 2,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest pizza joint. But then...they didn't have the green thing back then!

We may not have had ‘the green thing’ back then, but we lived our lives with integrity for the Earth and our resources. We made ‘Every Choice Count.’

To celebrate Earth Day this spring, perhaps you and your family will adopt a few of these practices for a day or a month and see that living lightly really isn’t inconvenient at all.

Please join Sustainable Danville Area at the following upcoming April events. For more details, please visit www.sustainabledanville.com or www. facebook.com/sustainabledanvillearea.

Is your child a ‘Kid-casso’? Danville and Alamo K-12 students are invited to participate in 4th Annual Earth Day Student Art Contest and have their art displayed in the Town of Danville Community Center on April 19th. The deadline is April 5th.

Along, with the San Ramon Valley High School E2 Club, we’ll host The Climate Reality Project, a multi-media update on ‘An Inconvenient Truth’ on Tuesday, April 8th at 7pm at SRVHS Performing Arts Center, 501 Danville Avenue.

Pack your picnic or purchase lunch and snacks al fresco from La Boulange Bakery and Café while enjoying live music and playing with our Giant Earth Ball! The 4th Annual Earth Day Event hosted by the Town of Danville, Sustainable Danville Area, and the Danville Library presents fun for everyone on the Town Green in front of the Community Center and at the Danville Library at 400 Front Street. The event will be held Saturday, April 19th from 11am – 3pm.

Alamo Today ~ April 2014 - Page 13

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Lose a Lawn, Get A Garden!

The Gardens at Heather Farm and the Contra Costa Water District present “Lose a Lawn, Get A Garden!” on April 26 and August 23 from 9AM - noon at Contra Costa Water District Center, located at 1331 Concord Avenue in Concord. This inspiring and informative free workshop is designed for homeowners interested in replacing their existing water-thirsty lawns with beautiful water efficient landscaping. Experts will provide advice and instruction about design, irrigation, and plants native to the Diablo Valley climate.

In addition, participants will learn about Contra Costa Water District’s Lawn to Garden Rebate program. Participants will be able to meet with a variety of landscape professionals. Registration is required for this FREE program in order to receive an informational packet.

For more information and to register, please visit www.gardenshf.org or call (925) 947-1678.

Walnut Creek Garden Club

The Walnut Creek Garden Club will hold its meeting on Monday, April 8 at 9:30am at the Gardens at Heather Farm, 1540 Marchbanks Road, Walnut Creek.

It will include the business meeting, social time and “What's New in Geraniaceae.” Robin Parer owns Geraniaceae Nursery and is a regular participant in the San Francisco Flower and Garden Show. She will talk about sizzling colors in leaves and flowers and fabulous plants for your garden. Guests and prospective members are welcome. For more information contact mslittle44@gmail.com.

Kitchen Tour

The Lafayette Juniors will hold their15th Annual Kitchen Tour on Saturday, May 17th, from 10am – 3pm.

Tour six special Lafayette homes with unique rustic, ranch, Cape Cod, open concept, traditional, and farmhouse style kitchens.

The tour benefits First Place for Youth, STAND!, the Lafayette Library, SEED, and Twin Canyon Camp. Tickets are $40 ($30 tax deductible), with a box lunch available for $15. Purchase tickets online at www.lafayettejuniors.org or from Douglah Designs and Premier Kitchens in Lafayette.

Page 14 - April 2014 ~ Alamo Today

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Ranching in the San Ramon Valley

By Beverly Lane Part 3 - Modern Ranching

There are still ranches in today’s modern San Ramon Valley with the traditional challenges of drought added to new ones related to suburban development. Cattle graze in the Tassajara Valley, in Crow Canyon, and on East Bay Regional Park lands. Often successful ranchers own properties in other parts of California or Oregon, which gives them flexibility in moving their stock.

In the early years of Valley ranching, cattle were driven directly to slaughter houses from local ranches. Eddie Canton, who worked for Hap Magee, said that in the forties “I would drive cattle from Mount Diablo down Danville Boulevard, then through Crow Canyon to Hayward, and into what’s now called Union City, to a slaughterhouse there. It would take three days.”

Herds ready for sale were directed down Tassajara Road from both directions to the Wood Ranch cattle scale. According to Don Wood, “Roger Podva of Danville was one of the ‘country buyers’ (agents for slaughter houses) that bought cattle over this scale.”

One crisis that confronted the stockmen was the hoof and mouth plague of 1924, when losses over the state ran into millions. Some of the most valuable herds in the San Ramon Valley were attacked, and a quarantine was established from Danville to the county line. The epidemic was felt throughout the state, with Contra Costa County ranchers experiencing losses of $233,764.

Annual round ups and brandings were an essential part of raising cattle.

Ranchers vaccinated, branded all calves, and castrated the males. People came from all over to watch the brandings, do some roping, and enjoy themselves.

All this work was followed by a potluck and barbeque. These gatherings were a welcome break in what seemed to be unremitting work for ranch families.

The ranching lifestyle may be seen as a romantic one, with cattle dotting the landscape and horseback rides into the hills. But hard work and uncertainty come with the life. Cattlemen and their cowboys tended the cattle (feeding and watering, breeding, vaccinating, and branding), decided when to buy and sell the stock, built and took care of fences, fended off intruders (both people and animals), all while relying on decent rainfall to make a profit.

Cattle traveling to market using roads, c. 1940

California’s periodic droughts were a nightmare for ranches and farmers.

The Tri-Valley, with its weather and cattle forage, is premier ranching country, according to Sunol rancher Tim Koopman. Pat Flanigan said that the burr clover at The Blackhawk made that ranch the best in the west for raising cattle.

Ranching in the Modern Era

When the interstate freeway opened in the mid 1960s and property owners were taxed on the “best use” of the land, the ranching era drew to an end.

In a newspaper interview, Jeff Wiedemann said “The only reason there are houses in the San Ramon Valley is that ranchers got squeezed out.”

New residents arrived with different attitudes toward farms and ranches.

Orchard crop dusting came to an end. Tractors were vandalized when left out, people cut fences letting cattle loose, teenagers drove over the land doing wheelies, and dogs chased the livestock. The new folks said they valued the open space and clean air, but many of them didn’t acknowledge that these agricultural lands were private property.

The ranching support system also declined. With development, stores which sold parts, chemicals, and basic ranching supplies moved east to the Central Valley. Traffic came with suburban development, and modern roads are no longer available for cattle drives; today cattle are loaded on trucks for transport.

See Ranches continued on page 26

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Energy Matters

By Mark Becker, GoSimpleSolar

As geopolitical events unfold around the world, it has become apparent that the ability to export energy continues to be one of the most powerful tools of foreign policy.

For too long the United States has been subjected to the blackmail of Middle Eastern despots and South American dictators because we’ve relied on their oil reserves to fuel our economy. Currently Russia is threatening export reductions of natural gas to our western allies in Europe and expanding the export of gas to the People’s Republic of China. The United States is considering the option of exporting our natural gas reserves to Europe to reduce the geopolitical power of Russia in Europe.

The point is that nations without energy resources of their own are subject to the whims of energy exporting nations. The “Energy Cold War” has now begun where allies and adversaries are made based on who has the ability to export energy and who has the need to import it.

The good news is that the USA is becoming a more energy independent and secure nation due to the high deployment of renewable energy and our extensive natural gas resources. Soon we may be a large exporter of energy. At the very least we’re importing less energy every day.

Individual consumers are becoming more energy independent as well. There are currently over 204,000 solar electric systems in operation in California, each providing excellent and safe financial returns to their owners.

Recently installed at my home is a new generation inverter that will allow my solar panels to provide power to my home when the utility grid is down, without the need for batteries. My refrigerator and internet will remain powered during utility power outages due to this new technology inverter. Installed by our licensed electrician, our customers are finding this option very appealing. Also appealing is the new kilowatt production records my solar PV system has set as compared to my previous inverter.

The tangible result is less money I have to give to PG&E and more money I can add to my children’s college fund.

Some solar companies are better positioned than others to compete in the future

solar marketplace by designing products that work in conjunction with upcoming smart grid legislation. One particular company’s products allow limited back-up power (as described) as an inexpensive option. These products also have electric characteristics that help utilities manage grid voltages and stability, such as reactive power capabilities.

Battery back-up systems will become VERY prevalent in the future as battery technology improves. The intermittent nature of solar electric distribution during daylight hours will be erased when excess energy is inexpensively stored and distributed for nighttime use.

The utility grid as we know it will ultimately become decentralized away from large power stations. My home and other solar power installations will be a power generating station for neighbors by day and night. At the rate of adoption of renewable energy, it will be sooner than later that this will become commonplace.

Companies which don’t offer product flexibility to adapt to the future utility grid will soon be disadvantaged in the marketplace. Properly managed and designed, more solar energy penetration into the grid will mean a more reliable and efficient utility grid.

The case for back-up power and energy independence at home - Last year, in a not well-publicized attack on the PG&E Metcalf transmission substation in San Jose, snipers (yes, snipers) knocked out 17 transformers. Jon Wellinghoff, Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, said it was “the most significant incident of domestic terrorism involving the grid that has ever occurred in the U.S.” Repairs took 27 days. There is no doubt that a large-scale attack on our grid would be devastating to our economy and way of life. It doesn’t take a survival preparedness (“prepper”) mentality to recognize the convenience and advantage of having electricity of your own when the utility can’t provide it, whatever the reason may be.

On a lighter note, Facebook is in discussions to buy a solar drone company.

The drone can fly for five years on solar power at 60,000+ feet. It will transmit broadband connectivity to the 2/3rds of the world’s population that doesn’t have it.

Drop us an email if you’d like to know about back-up power and the security it can bring to your home.

Mark Becker is the President of GoSimpleSolar, by Semper Fidelis Construction Inc, a Danville based Solar Installation Firm (License 948715). GoSimpleSolar can be reached at 925-331-8011. Visit GoSimpleSolar’s NEW and larger showroom at 100 Railroad Avenue, Suite B, Danville (behind Pete’s Brass Rail) and receive a $500 discount on your solar system. Go to www.GoSimpleSolar.

Advertorial com for a free quote, or email info@GoSimpleSolar.com.

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Page 16 - April 2014 ~ Alamo Today

Alternatives to Toxic Pesticides

By County Supervisor Candace Andersen

Growing up in Hawaii it was common for me to encounter a wide range of insects and pests both inside and outside my home.

Weeds grew quickly in the warm tropical environment. Our response? My family had a monthly contract with a pesticide company to spray both the inside and outside of our house with a thick layer of toxic chemicals. Fortunately, these pests and fast growing weeds aren’t as prevalent here in California, but how I manage them now is very different from my childhood in Honolulu. There are some great alternatives available to using highly toxic pesticides.

It is important for us to do our part to preserve our environment for future generations. We also want to keep our children, pets, and wildlife safe from harmful chemicals. Since 2001, Contra Costa County governmental departments have reduced their pesticide use by 60%.

However, the County’s use of pesticides is only 2% of Offer expires 04/30/14 all reported use in Contra Costa.

Before using pesticides or rodenticides around your home or business, consider other options. There are great resources available to help you make an informed decision about how to handle any number of pest problems, whether it is insects, rodents, or weeds. Some alternatives that I have found very helpful include the following.

The Our Water-Our World program is a partnership between many different water pollution prevention agencies and stores that sell pesticides to the public. Their goal is to help you manage home and garden pests in a way that protects the health and safety of your family, pets, and the environment.

Visit their website at www.ourwaterourworld.org to find materials designed to assist you in finding non-toxic and less-toxic solutions for managing pests in and around your home, including helpful fact sheets and their booklet Pests Bugging You? Choose Products Less Toxic to People, Pets and the Environment! Click on “promotional materials” and then on “booklets.”

The University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program has numerous fact sheets on managing pests in and around the home with a minimum amount of pesticide. You can find the fact sheets at www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/index.html.

The Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program also has a variety of links to inform you of the types of pesticides on the market with their risks to the environment and your family. They offer non-toxic methods, disposal suggestions, and more. Visit their site at www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/GENERAL/ pesticides_urban.html.

Trained volunteers from the Contra Costa Master Gardener Program answer questions from Contra Costa County residents about pests and pesticides during their Help Desk hours, Monday through Friday from 9am to Noon. You can visit them at 75 Santa Barbara Road, 2nd Floor, Pleasant Hill, call them at 925-646-6586; or send an email to ccmg@ucanr.edu. Visit their website at www. ccmg.ucanr.edu for more information about gardening in Contra Costa.

The Contra Costa Agriculture Department can also answer questions about pests and pesticides. They have a biologist on-call from 8am to 5pm at their Concord office, 2366-A Stanwell Circle. You can bring your pest problems into the office or call 925-646-5250 for advice.

The Mt. Diablo Audubon Society has information on their website regarding a variety of issues that affect our wildlife such as DON’T TAKE THE BAIT! AntiCoagulant Rat Poisons Kill, which you can read on their site at www.diabloaudubon.org/conservation.php#RatPoison. There is also a link to their brochure called Who Will Save Us?, which you can print and distribute to others, also on their site at www.diabloaudubon.org/WhoWillSaveUs-E.pdf.

Finally, if you have any of these toxic products on hand, please dispose

Offer expires 04/30/14

Offer expires 04/30/14

of them safely by taking the materials to your hazardous waste facility. In Contra Costa County, call 1-800-750-4096 for locations and information or go to www.co.contra-costa.ca.us/depart/cd/recycle/.

My office is here to serve the residents of Contra Costa County District 2, which includes San Ramon, Danville, Alamo, Walnut Creek, Saranap, Parkmead, Lafayette, Moraga, Canyon, and Orinda. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if we can provide you with additional information on this topic or on other County issues. I can be reached at SupervisorAndersen@bos. cccounty.us or 925-957-8860.

Cinema Classics Citizen Kane

By Peggy Horn

This month’s Cinema Classic is, Citizen Kane, (1941) starring Orson Welles and Joseph Cotten. It is an extraordinary film regarded by some as one of the finest movies ever made, and by some fans it is considered the finest film ever made! Orson Welles was only 24 years old when he made the film. Not only did he star in it playing the lead role of Charles Foster Kane, but he produced, directed, and co-wrote the original screenplay as well. It won the Academy Award for Best Writing (Original Screenplay) for the script that Mr. Welles co-wrote with Herman Mankiewicz. Mr. Mankiewicz was the brother to the talented screenwriter of All About Eve, Joseph Mankiewicz.

Citizen Kane is reputedly based on the real life publisher, William Randolph Hearst who actively sought to keep the movie from being seen and spitefully succeeded in negatively impacting the career of Orson Welles thereafter. The screenwriters alleged the character of Kane was actually a fictitious composite of several different people, a notion most rejected. The plot is very cleverly written around a search for the meaning of Kane’s last word before he died: “Rosebud.” Only the viewers are privy to the fact that this word refers to the happiest time in Kane’s life – before he had money. If one could boil the whole movie down to a single line, it might be “Money can’t buy happiness,” because every lavish expenditure in the film is punished. For instance, the very funding of the bank trustee who takes eight year old Kane to live away from his family backfires. Kane’s attempts to buy an operatic career for his second wife fails. Kane hires the entire writing staff away from a competing newspaper to staff his own newspaper, but they lead him astray.

Cinema Classics has regularly presented movies that are funny and or uplifting, and Citizen Kane is neither, but it is a beautifully photographed, thought-provoking film that continues to entertain and impress viewers tremendously. Citizen Kane is readily available for rental or purchase online.

editor@yourmonthlypaper.com

Alamo Today ~ April 2014 - Page 17

In the Cloud

By Evan Corstorphine, Portable CIO

Modern culture produces concepts and technologies, then it figures out ways to convey these ideas to you and me, the consumers. The smart company with an elaborate concept will work as hard as it can to simplify its message so that the average adult can understand it, buy it, and hopefully tell others about it. Never was this so true as it is today, with the explosion of technologies and inventions surrounding the internet. Our lives have changed in countless ways because of the internet, and so has our vocabulary.

I do not know exactly who first coined the term ‘cloud’ with reference to the internet, but I can tell you where I think it came from. I believe it unintentionally came from Microsoft. About ten to fifteen years ago, we technologists were creating PowerPoint and Visio diagrams to convey network and data architecture plans for customers and management. You may remember having to sit through someone’s dreaded PowerPoint deck in a dimly lit boardroom. It’s in those meetings, watching slide after slide, that the “cloud” concept was born.

When we made a diagram that included some reference to the internet and showed data moving from one place to another, into the slide we would insert this puffy “cloud” image that had the word “INTERNET” stamped in the middle. This puffy cloud image would represent the big amorphous blob we call the internet. On the PowerPoint diagram it looked like a cloud, and somewhere along the way, someone decided to verbalize that concept in their description of “where we’re going to put all this data,” and the description stuck. Where will the data go? In the cloud, of course! It’s a great catch-all phrase to convey this concept of a vast and ever-changing place where data traverses and is stored for everyone to enjoy.

When we say, “It’s in the cloud,” all we’re really saying is that we’re not storing it here, locally. That’s all. That’s because “the cloud” is anywhere you aren’t. Conceptually it’s meant to convey that your data or the service you’re using is being provided by someone else. When we say, “It’s in the cloud,” it usually connotes a vendor relationship of some sort, because it’s someone else offering to do something for you.

Can a “cloud” be in your own business or home? No, a network in your home is just a local area network, or LAN. Remember, to be “cloud-based” the number one rule is that it’s not here, it’s “out there.”

The whole cloud concept began to gain traction when internet connections began to improve. Think of it like a huge shopping mall that someone built out in the middle of the desert. The mall has every type of store you can imagine, and right next to the store is a huge storage facility where you can also pull in your moving truck and unload all the stuff you’ve been storing in your garage. The problem was that there was only one road into the mall, and it was only two-lanes wide, so hardly anyone used the mall. But, when more and wider roads began being built, and when you could get to the mall from any direction on nice, fast, smoothly paved highways, the mall went crazy and everyone visits now. The internet is the same way.

Ten years ago in 2004, we had lousy DSL service, and we were lucky if we could download a large file from a vendor online. Many companies didn’t have fully built websites. There were no internet-based backup services like Crashplan, and Netflix only rented DVD’s, because there was no streaming yet. There was no Pandora, and there was no Spotify or iTunes. But as our connections to the internet got bigger and faster (Comcast Xfinity, AT&T Uverse), overnight the concept of storing all of your data on the internet, or bringing someone else’s data to you (Netflix), became completely viable ideas. And so we did. Welcome to the cloud.

Because of the increasing reach of internet applications, we are having to rethink whether we need computers at all. Maybe, instead of replacing our laptop or desktop, we can get away with just having our smartphone and a tablet. I realize it’s not that simple yet, but it will be. Portable CIO is your local technology leader, and can help you with a wide array of services and advice. Give us a call at 925-552-7953, or email us, info@theportablecio.

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Italy the Beautiful

By Monica Chappell

Are you looking for a beginner’s guide to the world of Italian wines? Trying to distill down Italy’s wine regions, varietals, producers, and vintages into a beginner’s guide is like trying to thread a rope through a needle, but here it goes...

Three Simple Steps for Conquering Italian Wines

• Get to know the two most famous regions: Tuscany and Piedmont • Familiarize yourself with the “cheaper-butgood” - wines that are widely available and inexpensive • Dabble with one-of-a-kinds. These are too original and delicious to miss

First things First!

Tuscany – Tuscany is the major center for experimentation and the headquarters for the “classic” Italian reds. Tuscany is a very visual region with beautiful architecture and walled hilltop towns.

The classic red wines of Tuscany are Sangiovese based wines. Styles vary from everyday to world class. Next to Napa, Chianti is probably the second most popular wine region with most Americans.

There are seven subzones within the Chianti region: Chianti Classcio (heart of the chianti zone), Chianti Rufina, Chianti Montalbano, Chianti Colli Senesi, Chianti Aretini, Chianti Colli Fiorentini, and Chianti Colline Pisano.

Piedmont – If Tuscany is visual, Piedmont is aromatic. One can smell and taste the richness of the foods. Piedmont translates to “Foot of the Mountain.”

The best known red wine grapes of Piedmont include Dolcetto, which produces light bodied wines; Barbera, which is the most widely planted grape and the workhorse of Piedmont; and Nebbiolo, the prized grape of Piedmont which makes Barolo and Barbaresco both powerful wines that can age with complexity.

Three ways Italian Wines are Named

• Regional names – a village or district like Chianti • Grape name plus a regional name – Barbera D’Asti • Proprietary name – brand or fanciful made up name – Sassicaia and Tignanello Monica Chappell is a wine writer and educator. Visit www.lafayetterec. org for the next class on Italian Wines.

Page 18 - April 2014 ~ Alamo Today

Classic Local Theatres

By Linda Summers Pirkle

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One of my favorite landmarks in the area is the iconic Orinda Theatre marquee. Driving either direction on Highway 24, I always take a moment to admire the impressive beacon, and most likely tens of thousands of other motorists do the same. The “movie palace” was built in 1941. Alexander Aimwell Cantin(1876-1964), who designed theatres since the 1920’s, was the architect. The art deco movie house was modeled after the Temple of the Moon in the 1939 World’s Fair at Treasure Island. The builder was Donald Rheem, of the Rheem Water Heater Company, who also built the Rheem Theatre located in Moraga, just four miles from the Orinda Theatre.

The Rheem Theatre (1958) was built as a Performing Arts Center, with seating for 1,000 people.

Johnny Cash, June Carter, and Comedienne Phyllis Diller are a few of the entertainers who performed at the center. In 1961, feature films were shown at the venue. The ticket kiosk in the front of the theatre is a nostalgic nod to the past.

Long time employee Vince Townsend; who has worked at the Orinda, Rheem, and Park(Lafayette) theatres for the past 27 years; says, “People seem to enjoy going to these theatres because the venue is beautiful and historic. Generally, the theatres have a relaxed neighborhood feel to them. We are so lucky to have three gems still standing in this area.”

Photo by Derek Zemrak Recently, I attended a ribbon cutting for the Classic Film Hall of Fame at the Rheem Theatre. Memorabilia showcased in the theatre’s lobby and hallways include signed articles from Jimmy Stewart, Mary Pickford, Boris Karloff, Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, and many other stars of the Golden Age. Take time to visit the interactive display of the “Walk of Fame,” featuring touch screens for the stars inducted into the Hall of Fame. Cloris Leachman, Mickey Rooney, and Margaret O’Brien are three of the stars who recently attended their “induction” into the Hall of Fame at the Rheem Theater, supporting the efforts of the California Independent Film Festival and the conversion to digital projection.

Don’t miss the two framed photos of glamorous patrons at the 1958 opening night of the Rheem Theatre. The photos are located on the main floor next to the display from the film Silver Linings Playbook. *The Orinda Theatre features a free movie night every second Thursday at 7PM. The theatre is located at 1 Orinda Theatre Square, Orinda. Their phone number is 925-254-9065. *The New Rheem Theatre is located at 350 Park Street, Moraga. Their phone number is 925-388-0752. The website for the two theatres is www.lamorindatheatres.com. *The Park Theatre in Lafayette, which has been closed for eight years, is the topic for a grassroots effort to reopen and refurbish the historical venue. Their email is savethepark@.gmail.com.

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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Alamo Today ~ April 2014 - Page 19

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Page 20 - April 2014 ~ Alamo Today

Life in the Alamo Garden

By John Montgomery, ASLA, Landscape Architect Celebrate Spring!

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Boy! This year has been a little tricky when figuring out if we were getting a winter or NOT. No doubt now; spring is here! If you look closely in the garden at the trees, shrubs and perennials, you’ll see the glory of spring quietly emerging. The beginning of spring is one of my favorite times in the garden. I love to observe the new and fresh leaves bud from dead and deciduous branches and bright new lime green leaves standing out against older darker green ones. I like to watch how quickly daffodils, jonquils, and paper whites (Narcissus) push their fresh long leaves through the decaying leaves and mulch to bloom bright and cheery colors. The days are warming. The sun is shinning and like clockwork life in the garden labors to show us the glory of spring.

Here are some of the plants that you might have noticed that are the first to declare the beginning of spring. Cercis occidentalis (tree-Western Redbud) blooms lavender flowers on smooth gray branches before leaves form, Daphne odora (shrub-Winter Daphne) with its intoxicating fragrance fills the air, Hardenbergia violacea ‘Happy Wanderer’ (vine-Lilac Vine) weaves a lively trail of lilac flowers, Iberis sempervirens ‘Snowflake’ (perennial-Candytuft) trails profuse white flowers over the ground, and one of my favorites, Veronica umbrosa ‘Georgia Blue’ (ground cover-Speedwell), blooms profuse cobalt blue flowers as winter fades out. Other great noteworthy spring blooming trees are Pyrus calleryana ‘Redspire’ (ornamental pear), Magnolia stellata (Star Magnolia), and Prunus serrulata ‘Shirotae’ (Flowering cherry).

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

Let your spirits be lifted twice this spring, first by strolling through inspiring gardens and second by knowing that you are helping to raise much-needed money for charity. Come join our spring tradition!

I am thrilled to announce our 4th annual Garden Tour Fundraiser: “Life in the Alamo-Danville Garden,” a tour of five distinct gardens designed by me in Alamo and Danville. I personally invite you to come celebrate spring with us. Stroll the budding gardens, nibble goodies, learn about the importance of bees, attend a veggie garden demo, listen to music as you meander, chat with me, and enjoy other surprises we have planned while supporting some of my favorite beneficiaries: The Quincy Lee Foundation, The Bounty Garden, Lazarex Cancer Foundation, Contra Costa Guild Dogs for the Blind, Urban Farmers, and Alamo Rotary. Mark your calendar for Saturday, May 3 from 11AM -4PM. For more info and tickets, go to our website garden tour page at www.jm-la.com/garden_tour.php. It will be a pleasure to celebrate the glory of spring with you!

A hot tip from your local Landscape Architect: Come have some fun with us in the gardens, help raise needed dollars for our beneficiaries, and CELEBRATE SPRING! Gardening Quote of the month: Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a

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Clip Notes By Jody Morgan

The chalice-shaped blossoms that covered hillsides when European explorers first explored California have a plethora of common names including Cup of Gold from the Spanish copa de oro. Although also known as California Sunlight, these native wildflowers refuse to open on cloudy days and close by sunset each evening. Perhaps you know them best as Golden Poppy, designated California’s State Flower in 1903. In 1973, the California State Legislature further recognized the significance of these indigenous plants by establishing April 6th of each year as California Poppy Day. NativeAmericans found many uses for the prolifically self-sowing, drought-tolerant poppy. Some consumed the boiled greens. Others used the oil and seeds to dull the pain of toothache and headache and as a mild sedative for infants. Although distantly related to the opium poppy, California poppies produce no addictive substances.

Legend relates that poppy fields once glowed brightly enough along the California coast to function as navigational beacons for Spaniards who nicknamed the area “land of flame.” They even accorded the flowers magical powers. Gold allegedly filled the earth wherever poppy petals fell.

The first California poppy seeds to germinate in Europe were collected by David Douglas in 1825. Nineteenth-century English horticulturalists bred elaborate cottage-garden creations from the free-spirited four-petal originals. The Mission Bells and Ballerina series offer semi-double and double blossoms with ruffled or fluted petals. Colors available range from tangerine to crimson, purple, pink, yellow and ivory. Tap-rooted, California poppies refuse to be transplanted, but they are easy to seed into large or small areas. Allowed to repeatedly set seed, fancy forms eventually revert to the golden-orange color and simple shape of the original species.

The false gold of European mustard now blankets the Diablo foothills once carpeted by California poppies. Ironically, the California poppy has similarly invaded other lands. When the gold rush ended, miners seeking fortune elsewhere sailed on ships using sand from the California coastline as ballast. Poppy seeds concealed in that sand soon sprouted in Chile, Argentina, Australia, South Africa, and India, where they are now considered unwelcome weeds.

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Difficult to spell, the botanical name for our state flower actually perpetuates an error made nearly two centuries ago. In 1816, the Russian expeditionary vessel Rurik arrived in San Francisco Bay with two German naturalists on board: Johann Freidrich von Eschscholtz (also ship’s surgeon) and Adelbert von Chamisso. The latter is better known for his literary accomplishments, including a cycle of poems set to music

by Robert Schumann. As a nine-year-old, Chamisso fled the atrocities of the French Revolution with his family and settled in Berlin. To honor his shipboard colleague, Chamisso named the glorious golden blooms they found framing the bay Eschscholzia californica. His omission of the “t” in his friend’s surname has never been corrected.

Eschscholtz returned the compliment by naming the California coastal dune lupine Lupinus chamissonis. From March to July this shrubby lupine’s lavender-blue flowers beckon birds and butterflies. Miwok people used the roots to fashion ropes and cords. By rubbing shells strung on the cords against sandstone, they created uniformly rounded disks. The Maidu soaked the leaves overnight in a stream of running water to render them edible. Unless you have sandy soil, however, you won’t be able to grow this lupine alongside your California poppies.

While golden California poppy cups do invite bees to imbibe, native Phacelias provide blue plate specials for butterflies, songbirds and native bees that keep them returning to feast. California has 1,600 species of native bees dwelling within its borders. As pollinators they are 200 times more effective than non-native honeybees.

A National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service study finds that 60,000120,000 honeybees are required to pollinate the same one-acre apple orchard that 250-750 native bees can successfully service.

Phacelia comes from the Greek phakelos for cluster, referencing the way the blossoms grow in bunches. Violet-blue Lacy Phacelia, Phacelia tanacetifolia, a species native to the southwestern US and Mexico, is used throughout Europe as both a lure for beneficial insects and a cover crop. California orchard and vineyard owners are now employing it for similar functions. Long-blooming Phacelia viscida has rich royal blue flowers, while woodland Phacelia, Phacelia bolanderi, offers paler powder-blue blossoms. The latter two appreciate some shade.

Scorpion Weed is the nickname for many Phacelias, not only because of the coiled scorpion-tail posture of the flowers, but also because contact with some species can cause a stinging sensation and even an irritating rash. Best to greet all Phacelias with gloved hands.

Page 22 - April 2014 ~ Alamo Today

Tree of the Season

Japanese Maples

By Blaine Brende & Joe Lamb

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

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

Though some varieties can withstand full sun, Japanese maples do best in part shade. They do not thrive when exposed to the drying effect of constant wind. If you live on an exposed hillside, it is best to plant them in the lee of a larger tree.

Dieback in Japanese maple crowns often is the result of too much sun, too much wind, or the even more deadly combination of the two. Maples need water. Keeping them moist • A trusted, high integrity, locally owned throughout the summer and fall, and into the company early winter in dry years, will make them hap• Highest quality installations pier and more disease resistant.

Pruning, besides benefiting the mental health • Experienced with installations in your of the pruner, can enhance the grace of the plant. neighborhood If your pruner is an artist, removing deadwood • Flexible financing options to suit a wide and teasing apart the plant’s natural layering spectrum of fiscal situations opens little windows that reveal and accentu• Free estimates ate the tree’s natural form. A well-pruned tree • Government incentives looks as if it hasn’t been pruned. Paradoxically, are still available it looks more natural after pruning than before.

Though it is sometimes necessary to lower the crown of a maple, as when it is beginning to block a treasured view, lowering should be done only when necessary, and the lowering should not be so drastic as to involve topping cuts (see the article on topping). Lowering a maple to gain a view is not something that you can do just once. Pruning down the crown stimulates new growth, and maintaining the view or the size reduction, will require yearly pruning. No matter how good the artist, you can’t make a topped Use promo code: NEST to maple look as good as a natural tree. Much recieve a pruning, and therefore expense, can be avoided by planting the right variety in the right place.

When planting a new tree, plant a cultivar that won’t exceed the desired height when it matures.

This is almost always preferable to containing a variety that will grow beyond the desired size. with your installation It is our hope at Brende & Lamb that the pleasure our clients derive from their wellpruned trees exceeds the considerable pleasure Be a SMART Homeowner, choose we get from revealing the beauty inherent in their trees.

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Alamo Today ~ April 2014 - Page 23

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“Outlaw” Protection

By Robert J. Silverman

During the estate planning process for clients with children, the topic of in-laws - current and/or future spouses of the children - arises.

Clients occasionally make a specific bequest in their Living Trust or Will for their daughter-in-law or son-in-law.

However, this is relatively rare as a result of a high divorce rate, uncertainty about the future, and a strong natural inclination to provide only for descendants or “blood relatives.”

A related but more complex issue involves how assets might be protected so that if a child divorces after inheriting, that child’s spouse is not able to take any portion of the child’s inheritance. Varying degrees of concern by clients may stem from simple caution, a fragile relationship between one’s child and his or her spouse or a doubt about the possible motives of an in-law. It is in this context that I sometimes facetiously refer to the in-laws as “outlaws”!

Let’s take an example. John and Jane Doe have a daughter, Betty. Betty has been married to Bill for eight years, and they have two young children. John and Jane are working with their estate planning attorney to establish a Living Trust.

They want Betty to inherit all of their assets.

Jane and John ask their attorney: “How do we make sure that part (e.g. half) of Betty’s inheritance does not go to Bill if Betty and Bill later get divorced?”

It’s an important question, but it’s not a quick, easy one to answer.

It is first helpful to explore the basic California rules of community and separate property. It’s not necessarily intuitive, but lifetime gifts made to and inheritance received by a married person constitute separate property. So, if a married person (here, Betty) receives an inheritance from her parents and then she and Bill divorce, Bill has no claim over the assets Betty inherited. So, why worry about Betty, right? Unfortunately, we can’t jump to that conclusion.

Betty, like many married people, believes in the strength and longevity of her marriage. After Betty inherits from her parents, Bill says to Betty: “We love each other; what’s yours is mine and mine is yours; and it’s forever, right?” Betty answers, “Yes, of course, Bill.”

Following a brief discussion, all of the inherited assets are placed in the name of both Betty and Bill. Or more likely, no discussion takes place and Betty (with-

out obtaining legal advice) proceeds to title the inherited assets jointly with Bill, mixing them up with community property funds.

Suppose that a number of years goes by, during which various sources of income is deposited into and expenses are paid out of these accounts for many purposes. Then, the passage of time and volume of financial transactions is such that it is extraordinarily difficult to trace which assets are separate and which are community. Bill and Betty then get divorced, and Bill ends up with a substantial portion of Betty’s inheritance.

What terms might John and Jane include in their Living Trust to protect against this scenario? The most common alternatives are: 1) Betty inherits outright but John and Jane have a delicate conversation with her to advise her to keep inherited assets separate from Bill; or 2) upon their death, a protective “spendthrift trust” (type of irrevocable trust) is to be established for Betty from which she has lifetime rights to access the inherited funds based on certain stated income and principal distribution standards. In my practice, I add another alternative into the mix: 3) Betty inherits outright but the trust states expressly that it is John and Jane’s strong desire that Betty keep the inherited assets as her separate property.

Option 1 is fine for many. Option 2 has strong “outlaw” protection (and protection against other creditors of Betty); however, it’s a bit more costly and inconvenient to administer. Many clients like Option 3, using a clause I’ve developed that gives their children, like Betty, a tool. The clause does not handcuff Betty, but it enables her to explain to Bill that she needs to keep inherited assets separate to honor her parents’ wishes – rather than out of any distrust of or doubts about Bill or their marriage.

Pros and cons of such alternatives should be discussed with an estate planning attorney so that your Living Trust can be drafted or revised in accordance with your applicable wishes.

Mr. Silverman is an attorney with R. Silverman Law Group, 1855 Olympic Blvd., Suite 240, Walnut Creek, CA 94596; (925) 705-4474, rsilverman@rsilvermanlaw. com, www.silvermanlaw.com. * Estate Planning * Trust Administration & Probate * Real Estate * Business This article is intended to provide information of a general nature, and is not intended nor should it be relied upon as legal, tax 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.

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Page 24 - April 2014 ~ Alamo Today

Maximizing Giving While Helping to Reduce Taxes

Brought to you By Peter, Jim, Paul, and Bob

In conjunction with Sagemark Consulting, a division of Lincoln Financial Advisors, a registered investment advisor

These days, many Americans are donating to their favorite charities or to their communities. But let’s face it, unless you are Warren Buffett or Bill Gates, your charitable decisions need to take into account plans to leave a legacy for your children—while making sure you have enough money to help meet your own needs. Fortunately, there are ways you can do meaningful philanthropic work while simultaneously saving on taxes and transferring wealth to your heirs.

Tale of Two Taxes

Ordinary income is taxed on the federal level at rates as high as 39.6%.

Estate-tax rates can go as high as 40% as well. This means that about onethird of what you earn while you’re alive and nearly one-third of your net worth above the allowable exclusion amount could go to the government instead of to your heirs. No estate tax is due if your net worth at the time of your death in 2013 is $5.25 million or less.

Perhaps you share the view that a well-run charitable institution can do a better job of allocating your wealth to worthwhile causes than the government.

If so, there are several ways to give, with varying degrees of sophistication that can help minimize your tax burden while maximizing your charitable impact.

Tax-Smart Giving

One of the most straightforward methods of giving that produces a positive tax result is to donate appreciated securities to a charity. You’re allowed an income-tax deduction for the market value of the public stocks or bonds you give away, and you also reduce your estate in the process. As with most types of charitable giving, just be sure that you’re giving to an IRS-approved 501(c)(3)public charity, as other private charities could yield a different result.

More sophisticated strategies involve creating trusts or foundations to hold assets and to direct the giving. One of the most popular vehicles is the

Natives continued from front page

traditional lawn with a modest border of exotic plants.

Most yards don’t require the massive movement of materials needed to revamp Kramer’s 40’ x 50’ backyard. In 2009, she and her husband Michael May followed advice from two designers who regularly donate time to the tour: Michael Thilgen and Kelly Marshall. Forty thousand pounds of concrete went out. A water feature and graceful retaining walls went in. “The first year our garden was transformed we spent more time outside than we had in the previous twenty years we had been here,” Kathy reports.

For Al Kyte the impetus to replace grass, ivy and juniper at his Moraga home with native plants came from attending a University of California Extension class: “Attracting Birds to your Yard.” He writes: “There my eyes were first opened to the possibility of surrounding myself with the type of plants and habitat I loved to experience when fly fishing, back-packing or birding – California Native Plants. Instead of stepping out of our house

Euphorbia Gardens

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charitable remainder trust (CRT), an irrevocable trust that pays the donor a lifetime stream of income now and then passes the remainder to charity later.

You receive an income-tax deduction for the present value of the eventual charitable gift when you gift the assets to the CRT, and you reduce the value of your estate along with any future appreciation.

To leave a legacy for your family, you can use the tax savings and a portion of the income stream from the CRT to fund the purchase of life insurance, which is held in a separate trust and payable upon your death—free of estate taxes—to the beneficiaries.

This is a great way to liquidate a highly appreciated concentrated stock position and not pay taxes right away. You gift shares to the trust which then sells them at the market price and invests the proceeds in a diversified portfolio. You eliminate the risk of holding that concentration while locking in a stream of lifetime income.

Another charitable trust is the charitable lead trust (CLT), which essentially reverses the payments and original asset gift. Here, you gift the cash flow or income stream from the appreciated assets to the CLT so the charity receives the stream of income now, and the depreciated original asset goes to your heirs later. If structured properly, the remaining value of this original asset will be substantially reduced as would any estate taxes that would have been levied against it.

An even more sophisticated vehicle is a family foundation, which is a private charity set up by you that’s generally required to spend at least 5% of its endowment each year on giving to public charities. Gifting appreciated assets to a charity or family foundation results in the availability of an immediate income-tax deduction while reducing the value of your estate.

Family foundations are a great way to perpetuate your values and to gain greater control over giving decisions—potentially for generations to come.

Please contact Peter Waldron at 925-659-0383 to schedule a complimentary review of your financial situation, or email peter.waldron@lfg.com.

CRN201202-2064361 Paul Solorzano: California Insurance License #0A46330, Peter T. Waldron: California Insurance License #0E47827, Robert J. Waldron, Jr.: California Insurance License #0686859, James R. Westermeyer: California Insurance License #0C17637. Peter T. Waldron, James R. Westermeyer, Paul Solorzano, & Robert J. Waldron Jr. are registered representatives of Lincoln Financial Advisors, a broker/dealer, member SIPC, and offers investment advisory service through Sagemark Consulting, a division of Lincoln FinancialAdvisors 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 FinancialAdvisors Corp. for its representatives and their clients. Advertorial

into a garden, I could step out into the feel of a chaparral, woodland, or dry streambed. I have been influenced by people, books, and visits to Botanic gardens – but mostly by nature itself. I look for niches of beauty in nature to photograph and mimic.”

Kyte has learned to plan for the natural succession of individual specimens, experiment with placement of favorites and look at his creation from every possible angle. A walk through his garden is a journey across miles of California wilderness managed in a few memorable moments.

Nancy Wenninger, Mt. Diablo Audubon Society Conservation Chair, counts more than ninety species of birds among the creatures taking advantage of her Walnut Creek garden. “I got into gardening through birding and making the connection between the habitat where I found the birds and the plants that grew there,” Nancy explains. Maintaining a healthy ecosystem simplifies her gardening tasks. “It is amazing how problems disappear. I haven’t used pesticides in 20 years. Soldier beetles, for example, control the aphids.” Ninety-five percent of garden insects are beneficial. Birds are excellent at eradicating the 5% that aren’t.

Stephen Barbata and Joyce Kirstein welcome wildlife by combining drought-tolerant Mediterranean plants with California natives. The acre they garden, once part of the 160-acre Walnut Creek ranch owned by worldfamous nineteenth century performer Papinta the Flame Dancer, holds a few reminders of former residents. “One old fig tree,” Kirstein comments, “serves as a cafeteria for many species.” Restoration of the creek along the edge of the property is an ongoing project. First published in the Richmond Record in 1901, a description the creek meandering along the Papinta Stock Farm reads: “…for miles along its banks all sorts of sylvan loveliness abound, and there are wildflowers, ferns and bits of beauty in abundance.”

Barbata underscores the importance of giving nature a chance to rebalance.

“Pine Creek is part of a wildlife corridor that extends from Mount Diablo to Golden Gate. We hope what we do along our portion of the creek may in some small way contribute to ‘rewilding’ that corridor and keeping the food

See Natives continued on page 34

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Volunteer Information Day at Bedford Gallery Monday, April 21, 10am – 12pm

Alamo Today ~ April 2014 - Page 25

11 Critical Home Inspection Traps to be Aware of Weeks Before Listing Your Home for Sale

All interested community members 18 and over are inAlamo - According to industry experts, away altogether. In most cases, you can vited to learn about the fun and rewarding volunteer opportunities at the Bedford Gallery. At the Volunteer Information there are over 33 physical problems that make a reasonable pre-inspection yourself Day on April 21, attendees can talk to current volunteers, will come under scrutiny during a home if you know what you're looking for, and meet curator Carrie Lederer, enjoy coffee and pastries while inspection when your home is for sale. knowing what you're looking for can help browsing the current show Sky: A National Juried Exhibi- A new report has been prepared which you prevent little problems from growing identifies the 11 most common of these into costly and unmanageable ones. tion, and enter for a chance to win fabulous door prizes.

The Bedford Gallery offers many great volunteer opportu- problems, and what you should know about To help home sellers deal with this issue them before you list your home for sale. before their homes are listed, a free report nities for people looking to get involved and meet a wonderful Whether you own an old home or a brand entitled "11Things You Need to Know to group of dedicated art lovers. Guild members welcome visinew one, there are a number of things Pass Your Home Inspection" has been tors at the reception desk, host receptions and other special that can fall short of requirements during a compiled which explains the issues involved. events, produce fundraising events to support the Gallery’s home inspection. If not identified and dealt To hear a brief recorded message about programs, and offer fieldtrips and other fun events for mem- with, any of these 11 items could cost you how to order your FREE copy of this report, bers. Our highly trained docents lead tours that include hands- dearly in terms of repair. That's why it's call toll-free 1-866-265-1682 and enter on art projects for 2,500 school children annually and guide critical that you read this report before 2001. You can call any time, 24 hours a day, visits for adult groups. The Bedford provides docents with you list your home. If you wait until the 7 days a week. professional training in art history and teaching techniques. building inspector flags these issues for Get your free special report NOW to learn Docents enjoy fieldtrips to local museums and galleries and you, you will almost certainly experience how to ensure a home inspection doesn't opportunities to participate in study groups about art. With costly delays in the close of your home cost you the sale of your home. over 160 volunteers, the Bedford volunteers are an integral sale or, worse, turn prospective buyers This report is courtesy of J. Rockcliff Realtors #01763819. Not intended to solicit buyers or sellers currently under contract. Copyright © 2013 part of the gallery’s educational and exhibition programming.

Admission is free and open to anyone 18 and over who is Alamo Sheriff’s Station Staffed and Ready interested in becoming a Docent, Guild member, or short term volunteer or intern.

The Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Station, located in the Alamo ShopBedford Gallery is located in the Lesher Center for the Arts which is ping Center, is now staffed with volunteers to assist you Monday through located at 1601 Civic Drive in Walnut Creek. For more information call Saturday from 8am-5pm and Sunday from 8am-12:30pm. When closed, citizens 925-295-1417 or visit www.bedfordgallery.org. 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.

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Page 26 - April 2014 ~ Alamo Today

By Roger Smith, President Ready.gov - Do You Have a Plan?

In 2014 FEMA and the Ad Council are encouraging everyone to “Resolve to be Ready” for potential emergencies by committing to make preparedness a year-round family activity. Your family may not be together when a disaster strikes, so it is important to plan in advance. How will you get to a safe place? How you will contact one another? How will you get back together; and what will you do in different situations?

Visit www.ready.gov/prepared2014 and www.ready.gov/california for ideas.

This year’s “RESOLVE TO BE READY” campaign focuses on the “Family Connection” to reinforce the importance of parents including their children in preparedness conversations in advance of potential disasters. The Ready campaign makes an emergency preparedness resolution easy to keep by recommending families consider these three ideas when making a plan:

Who to Call, Where to Meet, What to Pack

The campaign includes age-appropriate tools and resources to introduce conversations about disaster preparedness to children including 1) a downloadable family emergency plan, 2) emergency kit checklists, and 3) guidelines on how to make preparedness a yearround activity. For more information, visit www.ready.gov/kids and www.ready.gov/ make-a-plan.

Ready.gov has made it simple for you to make a family emergency plan. Download the “Family Communication Plan for Parents and Kids,” and fill out the sections before printing or emailing to your family and friends. Visit www.ready.gov/plan-for-your-risks and www.ready.gov/basic-disaster-supplies-kit.

Family Communication Plan: Due to disaster damages and heavy phone traffic, it is often easier to communicate with someone that is out-of-state during an emergency.

Therefore, choose a long-distance relative or close friend that your family will all contact if separated. Teach your household to use this number as a form of communicating and letting one know that the other is safe. Lastly, don’t forget to talk with your out-of-state

Ranches continued from page 14

Ranchers coped by selling land for development near the freeway, putting conservation easements over their property, and running cattle on EBRPD lands. With few exceptions, East Bay ranchers today make their living away from their ranch and don’t depend on ranching for their main income.

The drought of the mid-seventies was a final straw for the Wiedemanns as grass for the cattle dried up. Accepting the inevitability of development, they sold land (now Twin Creeks) to Dame Homes, acreage on the eastern hills (now Canyon Lakes) to the Blackhawk Development Corporation, and part of their original ranch off Norris Canyon Road to Toll Brothers.

The Rasmussens, Elworthys, and Wiedemanns families do continue to ranch. And these families have reconciled to the changes. Ann Wiedemann Kaplan said in one interview: “It is too bad that [the land] is all being developed, but what can you do? It is a beautiful area with a wonderful climate, and you can’t fault people for wanting to live here.”

In 1900, the San Ramon Valley was populated by a mere 2,727 people with small villages, farms, and ranches covering the landscape. By year 2000 the area had been reshaped by housing developments, retail centers, Bishop Ranch Business Park, and two incorporated cities. The 2010 valley population was 141,646.

While grazing exists in the Regional Parks and on some valley properties, most working ranches have moved east as development has occured.

The impacts of post World War II growth and the vagaries of weather have transformed cattle ranching.

But the memories remain. Valley families recall the joys of ranch life, the hard work, the waving green spring grass, annual brandings and barbeques, and the neighborliness of a past era. Ranchers like Gordon Rasmussen affirm, “This business gets in your blood. Even in tough times, when you could make other moves, you still get a kick out of it.”

Exhibit

Be sure to visit the exhibit at the Museum of the San Ramon Valley, 205

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contact to make them aware of the plan and ensure they are comfortable with this role.

Family Meeting Place: Designate a meeting place that your family will immediately go to when disaster strikes. The place you choose should be outside your neighborhood in the event that it is not safe to return to your home or stay in its surrounding areas. Each family member should be capable of reciting the address of the meeting place or locating it on their own if need be.

For commuters there is a “Commuter Emergency Plan” which includes listing information on both the normal and alternative routes you can use to get to your destinations. Keep a copy of this plan in your wallet or another safe place where you can access it in the event of a disaster.

You should also inquire about emergency plans at places where your family spends time: work, daycare, school, churches, and sports events. If no plans exist, consider volunteering to help create one. Talk to community leaders, your colleagues, neighbors, and members for faith or civic organizations about how you can work together in the event of an emergency. Visit www.NextDoor.com and join today!

Public Safety Committee

AIA is interested in attracting Alamo residents with suitable career experience in “First Responder” categories to volunteer time on our Public Safety Committee. Please contact AIA by emailing President@AlamoCA.org.

Neighborhood Watch

Interested in enhancing communication with your neighbors and neighborhood groups? AIA is interested in helping establish a network of interested representatives from various neighborhoods and neighborhood groups in Alamo to discuss the use of both www.NextDoor.com and the Neighborhood Watch program and its benefits.

Please contact AIA by emailing President@AlamoCA.org.

AIA’s Annual Membership Drive

Now in its 59th year,AIA, a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization, has the longest history of serving our community and helping shape it into “Alamo - the place where we love to live”! Since 1955, Alamo residents have been joining the AIA and working in support of AIA’s mission statement, which is to “preserve the semi-rural character of Alamo.”

As Board President, I want to thank all of our many volunteers, both past and present, for their efforts during the last 59 years in making Alamo the wonderful community that it is today. Please watch for the AIA membership letter and form, and complete and return it to AIA at P.O. Box 156, Alamo, CA. 94507.

Wiedemann Ranch branding

Railroad Ave. in Danville and see “Cowboys and Cattlemen, Ranching in the San Ramon Valley,” which ends May 4. Ranchers talk with visitors each Saturday. For more information, visit museumsrv.org.

Sources: Quotations from CC Times, SRV Herald, SRV Times, interviews, and articles

San Ramon Valley Genealogical Society

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

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.

editor@yourmonthlypaper.com Park continued from front page

Alamo Today ~ April 2014 - Page 27

contaminated the lot. Barclay said that any purchase would include an environmental review, and if an environmental cleanup is necessary, it would be part of the negotiation with the Fire District.

Funding for the purchase of the lot will come from reserve funds built up over the years in the Alamo parks district, R-7A. Currently, reserve funds total $3.7 million. No parkland has been acquired in Alamo since the acquisition of the Andrew H. Young pocket park downtown and the land for Livorna Park, both in the 1990’s. Barclay pointed out that the reserve funds are more than ample for park acquisition in Alamo, and purchase of the fire department lot does not preclude the MAC from pursuing other vacant lots on the list. He stated the feeling of the MAC was that this property was available now, and the opportunity should not be lost to investigate the possibility of purchasing it.

(Historical information taken from Remembering Alamo…and Other Things Along the Way by Virgie V. Jones, published 1975, Morris-Burt Press, Alamo, CA)

Interested in Participating in Government?

Seeking Volunteers for County Advisory Boards

Supervisor Candace Anderson is looking for interested, motivated residents to serve on a few Contra Costa County citizen advisory boards.

These voluntary boards usually meet monthly and advise the Board of Supervisors on a variety of issues. They play a vital role in county government, and provide important input.

District 2 includes Alamo, Canyon, Danville, Lafayette, Moraga, Orinda, Parkmead, Rossmoor, San Ramon, Saranap, and Walnut Creek (West of N. Main Street). Applications are currently being accepted from residents of District 2 for seats on the following boards: • Alcohol and Other Drugs Advisory Board: Applicants shall have a professional interest in, or personal commitment to, alleviating problems related to drug abuse and inappropriate alcohol use in their community.

• Aviation Advisory Committee: Advise the Board of Supervisors on aviation issues as they relate to the airports in Contra Costa County.

• In Home Support Services Public Authority Advisory Committee: Make recommendations to the BOS regarding the IHSS program.

• Mental Health Commission: Reviews and evaluates the community's mental health needs, services, facilities. Consumer Seat available.

• Alamo Municipal Advisory Council: Advise the District 2 Supervisor on issues and concerns related to services provided by the County or other local agencies located within its boundary, which includes parks & recreation, lighting & landscaping, land use, code enforcement, public safety, and transportation. One Alternate Seat and one Youth Seat available.

• Alamo Police Services Advisory Committee: Advise the District 2 Supervisor and the Sheriff on the needs of the Alamo/Danville community for extended police services.

• County Service Area P-5 Citizen Advisory Committee: Advise the District 2 Supervisor and the Sheriff on the needs of the Roundhill, Regency Woods, and Windsor Green communities for extended police services.

For more information about each board, go to http://contra.napanet. net/maddybook/. For an application, go to www.co.contra-costa.ca.us/ DocumentCenter/View/6433. For additional assistance, you may contact, Jill Ray at (925) 957-8860 or jill.ray@bos.cccounty.us.

Group Helps People Cope with Death of Pets

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.

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.

Page 28 - April 2014 ~ Alamo Today

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Discovering a Sense of Place

The Gardens at Heather Farm and City of Walnut Creek Clean Water Program presents an exciting speaker series called “Discovering a Sense of Place.” A line-up of local naturalists will be sharing their expertise to guide participants in discovering the breathtaking area we live in, known as the Diablo Range. This unique series promises to be a transformational experience for anyone interested in delving deeper into local natural history- from the foothills of Mt. Diablo to one’s own backyard! Travel back in time and find out about local Native American Culture on Mt. Diablo and the importance of the Delta and the farming industry in California. Observe nature’s nuances with the introduction of phenology, and learn how creating healing spaces for yourself is also good for the environment. All programs are FREE but require registration by phone at (925)947-1678.

All lectures begin at 7pm. Doors open at 6:30pm. Field trip details are available upon reservation.

• April 30 - Creating Landscapes That Sustain Us and the Planet • June 4 - An Introduction to Citizen Science (Phenology) • June 7- Field Trip to City Creek Walk The lectures take place at The Gardens at Heather Farm, located at 1540 Marchbanks Drive in Walnut Creek. For information or to register, call (925)947-1678 or visit www.gardenshf.org.

Horses Visit the Museum

Horses from the East Bay Regional Park District will come to the Museum of the San Ramon Valley in Danville from noon to 3PM on April 27.

A corral will be set up, and visitors can pet, feed, and get acquainted with horses. The Park District’s Volunteer Safety Patrol equestrians ride throughout the regional parks and educate visitors about horses.

Learn stories about these families and the challenges and joys of ranching in modern times. Each Saturday there will be ranchers talking informally to visitors and chances for kids to try out roping skills on a “steer.”

The museum is located at 205 Railroad Avenue in downtown Danville.

Contact Beverly Lane with questions at 837-7715 or beverlywlane@ gmail.com.

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The Eye Opener

By Gregory Kraskowsky, O.D., Alamo Optometry Seasonal Allergies and Daily Disposable Contact Lenses

If there is one thing we can count on this time of year, it is seasonal allergies. Speaking from a personal point of view, I know dealing with a running nose, sneezing, itchy eyes, and tearing is no fun. I am already having patients come into the office with complaints similar to my own. The treatment plan for each person is different, but the drugs, drops, and contact lens modalities we use are similar.

To tackle the allergies, most of us take either a prescription or over-the-counter antihistamine. These usually help alleviate some of the systemic symptoms of runny nose, congestion, etc. However, the main side effect of these medications is ocular dryness. If the eyes are dry, it can actually worsen some of the ocular symptoms because there are now fewer tears to wash away the allergens in your eye. So instead of flushing those allergens out of the eye, they now stay on the ocular surface and exacerbate the symptoms of itching, swelling, and tearing.

For this reason, I also recommend topical drops to help in the fight against allergies. These drops do not solve the problems, but they generally enable the patient to function in the spring months. There are several types of drops that can be used, depending on the severity of the symptoms. For a mild case, I usually recommend non-preserved artificial tears and an antihistamine drop like Bepreve or Lastacraft; these are only two of the several prescription drops to utilize. These drops are site-specific; they only have their effect on the histamine-releasing cells on the eye and therefore do not have the broad systemic effects of oral antihistamines. For the more advanced case, I recommend a short-term use of a topical steroid, which will calm the eye down relatively quickly. Because of the potential side effects of a steroid, a drop of this kind should only be used for a relatively short period of time. I usually instruct my patients to use the drop for about a week, and then use the topical antihistamines to keep the allergic reaction at bay. I believe the use of steroids should only be used when indicated, but it is a wise treatment choice in those patients that are really suffering.

For those contact lens wearers, this is the time of year that leads to decreased wear time, build-up on the lenses, and overall intolerance of wear. Most patients wear their lenses for less time and/or dispose of them more often. For all of my potential contact lens patients, including those with allergy issues, I recommend using daily disposable contacts. These lenses are thin, are easy to adapt to, do not require any cleaning or solutions, and are always comfortable because a fresh lens is put on every day. Whether you are a recreational wearer for sports or weekends or wear them every day, these lenses are best for convenience, lens hygiene, and lens comfort. A new lens leads to better vision and eye health because of no lens build up and a decreased risk for infection. Even though wearing contact lenses during the spring months might be difficult, having a fresh lens every day provides the possibility of longer and comfortable wear.

Obviously, every patient and situation is different. Some patients don’t like taking drops, and some patients are in love with their current lenses, so daily disposables might not be an option. At your office visit, you will be evaluated on your particular signs and symptoms and be given the appropriate treatment plan. The issues and treatments discussed have generally worked well for my patients in the past. Most of the time, it will be a combination of these treatments that will work best.

Dr. K. at Alamo Optometry is your hometown eye doctor for outstanding service, vision care, and designer eyewear. He can be reached at 820-6622 or visit his office at 3201 Danville Blvd., Suite 165 in Alamo. Visit our newly updated website at www.alamooptometry.com and like us on our Alamo Optometry Facebook page.

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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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Stop Locating the Nearest Bathroom

By Judson Brandeis, MD

Alamo Today ~ April 2014 - Page 29

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Do you constantly feel like you “gotta go”? When you leave the house, do you always look where the nearest bathroom is, just in case? Bladder control problems are more common than you might think. Having an overactive bladder can affect your quality of life, and 16% of the adult population, or about 33 million people, have this condition, according to the Journal of Urology.

People with an Overactive Bladder, or OAB, often experience: 1. High urinary frequency: More than eight times in a 24 hour period 2. Urinary urgency: A strong, compelling need to urinate that cannot be delayed 3. Urge incontinence: Wetting accidents which occur before reaching a toilet If you have bladder control issues, don’t let embarrassment stand in the way of finding a solution. After talking with a doctor, most people start with conservative therapies. For example, patients start by doing exercises like kegels to strengthen the pelvic floor muscle. Other first-step treatment options might include dietary modification, bladder training programs, and prescription medication.

Now there is another option: Posterior Tibial Nerve Stimulation, otherwise known as PTNS, which is a non-drug, non-surgical therapy that is helping many people with OAB take control. Bladder function is regulated by a group of nerves In Stone Valley Shopping Center at the base of the spine called the sacral nerve plexus. By stimulating these nerves through gentle electrical impulses, you can gain better control of your bladder.

The Urgent PC Neuromodulation System provides this low-risk treatment by indirectly stimulating the nerves responsible for bladder function using a nerve in your lower leg. Up to 80% of people who get PTNS have significant improvement in their bladder control symptoms, even when other treatment Enjoy Our Patio Dining options have failed them in the past.

To get an Urgent PC treatment, you visit a clinician’s office. During treatMonday - Saturday: Lunch and Dinner ment you will sit with your foot elevated. This allows the clinician to stimulate Sunday: Dinner only We Offer a Full Bar and Lounge the area near your tibial nerve using a very thin needle temporarily placed in 3168 Danville Blvd, Alamo Margaritas are a House Specialty your ankle. Impulses travel along your leg to the nerves in your pelvis that control bladder function.

What does a PTNS treatment feel like? Most people simply feel a mild tingling sensation in their foot or ankle during treatment. You will receive an initial series of 12 treatments for 30 minutes each, typically scheduled a week apart. After the initial 12 treatments, you may only need occasional treatments or none at all.

Dr. Brandeis is a urologist with Pacific Urology. His practice provides a “Continence Center” for men and women. For more information or to schedule an appointment to learn if PTNS can help you, visit our website www.pacific-urology.com or call 925-937-7740.

Advertorial lomavirus (HPV). Currently in the United States, the incidence of head and neck HPV and Head & Neck Cancer cancers caused by HPV is increasing, while head and neck cancers caused by

By Matthew Sirott, MD alcohol and tobacco are decreasing.

April has been designated “Head and Neck Cancer The human papillomavirus (HPV) is a DNA virus from the papilloma virus Awareness Month.” Historically, it was assumed that family that is capable of infecting humans. It is the most common sexually transhead and neck cancers were caused by excessive use of mitted infection with an estimated 6.2 million people being newly infected each tobacco and alcohol. Within the last five years, however, year. Cervical cancer is the most common cancer caused by the HPV infection; a new risk factor has reared its ugly head. however oropharyngeal cancers are clearly on the rise. Not all types of HPV are Head and neck cancers account for 6% of cancers cancer causing, however. Studies show that 7% of people in the United States in the United States today. Head and neck cancers are have some type of HPV, while 1% of the population has HPV-16 (a type of oral typically squamous cell carcinomas, found in the mouth, HPV). Oral HPV is about three times more common in men than it is in women. nose, and throat. The most common types of head and The HPV vaccine currently on the market is strongly recommended for young neck cancers are oral cancers and orophayngeal cancers. Oral cancers are clas- women and men. The vaccine was developed to prevent cervical and other less sified as cancers of the oral cavity (gums or inside of cheek) and are primarily common genital cancers. The vaccine might also prevent head and neck cancers caused by heavy tobacco and alcohol use. Oropharyngeal cancers include cancers since the vaccine helps prevent initial infection with HPV types. However, there of the base of the tongue and tonsils, primarily caused by HPV. are currently no studies that can determine if the HPV vaccine would help prevent Some studies indicate that by the time oropharyngeal cancers are diagnosed head and neck cancers. two thirds of them are already in late stage III and IV. Symptoms of head and To decrease your chances of contracting HPV and oral HPV, the best alternaneck cancer can include a lump or sore in the mouth that does not heal, a sore tive is to use protection when engaging in any form of sexual activity. If you throat that does not go away, difficulty swallowing, and a change in voice. Typical have any of the symptoms listed above, or think you may have contracted HPV, treatment for head and neck cancers includes surgery and radiation treatment. visit your doctor immediately to be tested.

Chemotherapy may be used in the more advanced stages.

In recognition of Oral Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Week, we are Heavy alcohol and tobacco use (including smokeless tobacco) are known to partnering with Dr. Arash Mohebati from Walnut Creek Surgical Associates cause at least 75% of head and neck cancers. Smoking increases your risk by to provide free visual screenings on April 22. By appointment only - please 15%, and people who use both tobacco and alcohol are at a greater risk. Head call 925-933-0984. and neck cancers that develop due to alcohol and tobacco use typically occur Dr. Sirott is a Medical Oncologist and Hematologist with Diablo Valley on or near the areas with the most contact (where a cigarette sits on the lip, or Oncology & Hematology Medical Group – located in Walnut Creek, Pleasant where chewing tobacco is placed in the mouth).

Hill, San Ramon and Brentwood. For more information, call 925-677-5041 A newer risk factor for developing head and neck cancer is the human papil- or visit www.DVOHMG.com. Advertorial

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Page 30 - April 2014 ~ Alamo Today

In Plastic Surgery, it’s the Little Things that Count

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

For most of us, the littlest things can have the biggest impact on our happiness. As a mother of three, nothing makes me happier than a pair of little arms from one of my kids wrapped around my neck. As a board-certified plastic surgeon, nothing is more precious to me than the big hug I get from a patient on whom I have operated after a difficult ordeal (like breast cancer) or performed a cosmetic procedure on that helps them get their ‘groove’ back.

I think a lot about the little things as summer approaches and we begin to bare more of our skin. Many people panic about this level of exposure and we begin to focus on the parts of our body and face that feel less than perfect to us.

What most people unfamiliar with cosmetic and reconstructive surgery do not know is that there are many little ways that we can address and improve how we look that can have a huge impact on how we feel about ourselves. In many cases, my patients experience the most satisfying results when we take an incremental approach to improvements. For example, using fillers like Radiesse®, Juvéderm®, and Restylane® in strategic spots on the face can create a look of vibrancy and youth that is completely natural, budget-friendly, and results in no down-time.

This is also the time of year when many of my patients choose to do more advanced procedures like blepharoplasty (eyelid lifts) and breast augmentation or lifts. While these surgeries do require more healing time, the impact they have is quite remarkable.

Here are a few of the procedures that we offer at Persons Plastic Surgery, Lafayette that can help you look and feel ready for summer: Fraxel® Laser is proven laser technology that can help reverse the visible effects of aging, naturally helping you look as young as you feel. Fraxel technology is proven, effective, and non-invasive.

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Fraxel Laser is the original fractional laser treatment that works below the skin’s surface to address fine lines and wrinkles, surface scarring, pigmentation (including age spots), and sun damage. Fractionated laser light energy stimulates your skin’s natural collagen, rejuvenating skin cells below the surface to help smooth the creases and pockets that cause wrinkles and scars. Patients can see results after a single Fraxel treatment and will continue to see softer, smoother, and more eventoned skin over the next 3-6 months. There are several types of Fraxel procedures to meet your specific needs. For most Fraxel Laser procedures, there are few side effects and low downtime. As with all procedures, a consultation with our expert staff will help you decide if Fraxel Laser or another laser treatment is right for you.

Blepharoplasty is a surgical procedure for saggy eyelids. Eyelid surgery (upper and lower) is a great way to rejuvenate and refresh your appearance. This procedure targets the bulges, bags, and excess skin of the upper and lower eyelids that can make you look tired and droopy-eyed. While saggy eyelids may start as early as our 20’s, eventually, it affects everyone. Happily, no matter what your age, it can be surgically corrected to create a more youthful and vibrant-looking you.

At Persons Plastic Surgery, we usually perform upper and lower lid surgery simultaneously. But we can address just upper or lower as needed, or in conjunction with face, neck, or brow lift surgery.

What makes eyelid surgery such an excellent ‘quick fix’ procedure is that there is usually only mild discomfort and little downtime. You may see some discoloration, but this will improve after a week or two. And most patients can go back to work in 8 to 10 days. You will look like you, only better.

As a Plastic Surgeon, I have a great passion to help my patients look and feel their best. At Persons Plastic Surgery, we take a holistic approach to helping you look and feel happy. We invite you to come in for a consultation. Even a minor procedure can have a major effect on your sense of well-being. Small can be the new big!

Persons Plastic Surgery, Inc. is located at 911 Moraga Rd, Suite 205 in Lafayette. To contact me call 925-283-4012 or email drbarb@ personsplasticsurgery.com.

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Is Food a Problem for You?

Overeaters Anonymous offers a fellowship of individuals who, through The Regional Parks Botanic Garden spring plant sale is a rare opportunity shared experience and mutual support, are recovering from compulsive to select from an unmatched diversity of California native plants propagated overeating. This is a 12-step program. The free meetings are for anyone by volunteers from the Garden's collection, including trees, shrubs, ground- suffering from a food addiction including overeating, under-eating, and covers, perennials, grasses, bulbs, ferns, and annuals, as well as native plant bulimia. The group meets Wednesdays at 6PM at Our Savior’s Lutheran seeds. Many of the plants offered, are not available in a commercial nursery. Church in Lafayette. Visit www.how-oa.org for more information.

Look for plenty of native flowering irises (Iris), coral bells (Heuchera), lilies (Lilium), trillium (Trillium), and monkeyflowers (Mimulus) along with a diversity of manzanitas (Arctostaphylos), ceanothus (Ceanothus), and sages (Salvia).

The sale features plants to fit conditions in every Bay Area garden, with experts on hand to provide advice and gardening tips. Visitors may explore the Garden and benefit from horticultural advice. Please bring your own boxes to cart home your purchases. The terrific and tireless Regional Parks Botanic Garden volunteers organize the event, and all proceeds directly benefit the Garden.

The event will be held Saturday, April 19th from 10=to 3pm.

The Garden is located at the intersection of Wildcat Canyon Road and South Park Drive near the Brazil Building at Tilden Regional Park in Berkeley. For directions to the Garden see www.nativeplants.org/visit.html. Admission is free. For more information call (510) 544-3166.

The Regional Parks Botanic Garden is a naturally beautiful and tranquil living museum of California native plants. This enchanting 10-acre garden is a sanctuary for many of the state's rare and endangered plants and a place for visitors to wander among trees, shrubs, flowers, and grasses fromplant communities throughout the state.

The garden's primary role is to create beautiful landscapes displaying California's diverse plant life.

Its mission embraces not only aesthetics, but also native plant conservation, public education, and horticultural experimentation designed to bring new native plants Lic# 1100014354; Bay Area Entertainment into the nursery trade.

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Alamo Today ~ April 2014 - Page 31

Happy Easter Sunday FREE Cleaning for New Patients! (must be accompanied by exam and x-rays) Expires May 01, 2014

Page 32 - April 2014 ~ Alamo Today

Exercise: Your Prescription for Stress

By Michelle Brown, Gumsaba Boot Camp

You didn’t get enough sleep. Traffic is unbearable.

Your boss barks at you. Money is tight. There is a death in the family. Stress spares no one; the simple act of living requires us to employ stress management skills. The ability to manage distress in a healthy way requires consistent practice and is critical for our well being.

Distress chips away at us and spreads infectiously through our lives when left unchecked. In order to gain control of it, we must train our reaction to it through healthy coping mechanisms. Eustress is good stress, the kind we create when we exercise. Through moderate daily exercise, we can condition our systems to manage all situations more efficiently.

On the other hand, there are many unhealthy ways of coping that are very easy to access today. These short term distractors merely mask our problems.

At some point the mask will come off, and the stress will once again rear its ugly head. Though the temporary relief may feel good at the time, in the end we are deceiving ourselves. Unhealthy coping mechanisms like heavy drinking, drug use, lashing out, lying, over-eating, and even over exercising add to our distress. Though these acts may give us a brief physical relief, they wreak havoc on our psyche and our health. They are not training us to manage our distress; they are forming yet another stressor we will eventually need to deal with to live well again.

The human physiological response to stress is called “fight or flight.”

Developed over thousands of years, it has given us the power thrive here on earth. This response is the super human adrenaline rush that allowed us to outrun and outsmart predators that were much larger than us. On a physiological level, we have not yet evolved to know the difference between stressors. So, our initial response to all stress is equal. Though our modern day problems do not include a hungry predator, our physiological response still says “fight or flight.”

When we exercise we give ourselves a dose of eustress, and our bodies are given a chance to acclimate to the fight or flight without the danger of the predator. Think of exercise as a safe test run that prepares your systems for the inevitable distress of life.

For good reason, exercise is the prescription many doctors are writing for symptoms such as high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and depression.

The benefits of exercise are widespread on both a physical and mental level.

Exercise boosts immunity, regulates metabolism, releases growth hormone, and elevates mood with feel good endorphins. These are just a handful of

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the many benefits regular exercise provides to us.

It is very important to find a form of exercise that feels good to you. This does not mean that you must log 50 miles running a week or go do 100 push ups when you haven’t done one in a while. It means that you give yourself the opportunity to make choices that change your habits for the better. To get started, it could be a commitment to walk three days per week after dinner.

It could lead to a jog or bike ride before or after work. Having a workout buddy is a great way to ensure accountability. Eventually a consultation with a knowledgeable personal trainer or a group exercise program can help you maintain and enhance your performance under stress.

Our health is our greatest wealth. We either make it a priority, or it will eventually make itself one. Taking our health into our own hands with habits like regular exercise can bring a tremendous feeling of empowerment. Give yourself and those you love that gift and start today!

Michelle Brown is an ACE certified fitness professional, Kung Fu Black Belt, Level 2 TRX Functional Trainer, Certified Trigger Point Rehabilitation Therapist, a board member on the California Health Corps, blogger, public speaker, and owner of Gumsaba Outdoor Fitness. Michelle has been helping clients surpass their goals since 1998. Gumsaba has been voted best Boot Camp in the east bay by Diablo Magazine readers for two years running, and offers Co-ed, Womens Only and Mens Only and Teen outdoor fitness programs year round. Join Gumsaba for a FREE FITNESS CLASS. Visit our website at gumsaba.com to get started. Use promo code EUSTRESS to redeem your free week. For more information call (925) 683-5630. Advertorial

Hospice of the East Bay Offers Support Groups

Hospice of the East Bay has announced a new spring/summer schedule for their support groups and workshops for adults, children and teens experiencing grief after the death of a loved one.

Classes will be offered at Hospice’s Administrative Offices: 3470 Buskirk Avenue, Pleasant Hill.

Bereavement Services are provided free of charge to all community members in need, however, donations are greatly appreciated.

Pre-registration is required for all groups and classes, except our drop-in group. To register, please call Hospice of the East Bay: (925) 887-5681.

Groups for Adults: Adults Who Have Lost a Parent Mondays, 6pm - 8pm, April 21 - June 16 Widow and Widowers' Support Afternoons, Thursdays, 1:30 to 3:30pm, March 20 - May 8 Evenings ,Mondays, 6pm to 8pm, March 17 - May 5 Drop-In Bereavement Support Group 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month, 4:30 - 6pm Understanding Grief Thursday, 6pm- 8pm, March 20, 2014 Workshops for Adults: Creative Arts and Grief Workshop designed to help adults express their grief in intuitive and creative ways.

Thursdays, 6pm- 8pm, March 27 Groups for Children and Teens: The Bridge Bi-monthly support program for grieving children and teens. Support is also available for parents/ guardians. New participants can start at any time.

Pre-registration is required.

Hospice of the East Bay provides compassionate end-of-life care to terminally ill patients, while offering emotional, spiritual, and grief support for the entire family. As a not-for-profit organization, we accept all medically qualified patients, regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay.

Hospice of the East Bay has served over 22,000 patients and their families since 1977. To learn about making a donation of time or money, contact (925) 887-5678, or visit www.hospiceeastbay.org.

editor@yourmonthlypaper.com

Your Personal Nutritionist

Teen Weight Loss Made Simple, Yummy, and Healthy

By Linda Michaelis RD,MS

I have worked with many local teens that want to lose weight and look their best. I was an overweight teen, and I feel very qualified to counsel teens because of my own personal problem as well as 25 years of teen counseling experience. I know that majoring in nutrition was a huge help to my success with weight loss, and nutrition education is what a teen needs to lose weight and keep it off.

Let me tell you about my teen client Diane. Diane attends a local high school, is in leadership, and plays soccer. Diane is certainly quite active, but unfortunately, because of her busy schedule, she ends up eating most of her food at the end of the day. Her breakfast used to consist of a bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios, and the rest of the day she would consume smoothies, Think Thin and Clif bars, as well as yogurts. Diane was eating a low fiber, low protein, and high sugar diet. At night with her family she would eat double servings of meat and starches and often skip the veggies because they did not taste good to her. At night she would snack on more bowls of Honey Nut Cheerios which, she thought was a healthy choice. I calculated that at night she was consuming at least 1,500 calories.

In my initial session with Diane I evaluated a food diary she had kept and showed her where her meals were lacking in protein and fiber. I taught her how to read food labels for serving size, percentage of calories from fat, and grams of protein, fiber, and sugar.

I always tell my client that the food label is backwards, in that we do not have the metric system and we do not go by grams, and that protein is listed as the last item when it should be first along with dietary fiber. I continued to teach Diane that 1 oz. of protein is equal to 7 grams. Now she could see that her Honey Nut Cheerios have a skimpy 2 grams of protein compared to the king of cereals, Kashi Go Lean, which has 13 grams of protein or about 2 oz. When you add a cup of milk to the meal, you get an additional ounce of protein and thus a breakfast can have 3 oz. of protein. I was adamant with Diane that she consume at least 8 ounces of protein and 15 grams of fiber before dinner.

After also looking at a list of favorite foods that I asked Diane to bring in, I began setting up a meal plan for her. For breakfast Diane agreed to have oatmeal or Kashi Go Lean with some fruit after trying a sample at my office. Diane liked the idea of taking to school for a mid-morning snack an apple with peanut butter, beef jerky, or a small pack of almonds. Diane was open to trying Trader Joe’s fresh grilled chicken strips cut up and mixed with a cup of beans and salsa or a leftover chicken breast with veggies and brown rice. She is going to make it a routine to take the second serving that she used to have for dinner and save it for lunch the next day and add tasty veggies that she liked.

When she came home from school before soccer practice she liked the idea of having a hearty soup such as lentil or black bean or even a bowl of oatmeal. Diane has traded all of her smoothies for eating fresh fruit and is drinking more water than ever. She has completely eliminated bars and is trading Yoplait yogurt for low-sugar Greek yogurts.

I was glad that Diane reported after our meeting that she went off to practice at 5PM feeling better than ever with high energy. She no longer came home famished and can control her portions at night and better yet did not feel the need to snack endlessly in the evening. Now she is happy with a fat-free fudgesicle or creamsicle or even some sorbet.

Diane and I worked together for several follow-up sessions where we discussed strategies for parties, social situations, and restaurant eating with friends and family.

The number one lesson that I taught Diane was to not go to a party hungry and to avoid filling up on unhealthy junk food that is usually available at teen gatherings. When it is a buffet, I taught Diane to first scan the choices and set up a plan instantly in her mind and keep to it. It is fine if she makes room for dessert, as long as she eats less starches and fat.

Diane would always inform me beforehand about a restaurant that she was going to, and we would preview the menu together online. We came up with options that she would enjoy. Often she said she did not even open the menu and ordered exactly what we discussed.

I am glad to inform you that Diane has lost 10 pounds in one month, and we are still working together via phone and e-mail. Her goal is to lose 10 more pounds before the summer.

The good news is that Diane’s visits were covered by Sutter Select insurance with a small copay. Please feel to call me at (925) 855-0150 or e-mail me at Lifeweight1@yahoo.com, and tell me about your nutritional concerns. Refer to my website www.LindaRD.com for past articles, recipes and nutrition tips in my blog section. Advertorial

Alamo Today ~ April 2014 - Page 33

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

Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer Workshop

This 12 week workshop is for women who have just been diagnosed and are either in treatment or starting treatment. This series will help them address the emotional and physical issues that surface after diagnosis. Guest medical experts will present information to the group. Meets Tuesdays, April 8 through July 22nd from 11:00AM – 1:00PM.

Depression and Anxiety: How Much is Too Much?

Psychological and physiological aspects of a cancer diagnosis, treatment, and post-treatment periods will be discussed. Deciding when it may be helpful to use psychotherapy or medications can be challenging and will be a focus of the workshop. Facilitated by Burton Presberg, MD, a psychiatarist who specializes in working with cancer patients and their families. Tuesday, April 8th from 6:30PM – 8PM.

Managing Symptoms and Side Effects

Learn what you can do to feel better during cancer treatment. In this informal workshop, Diana Longacre, RN, and an oncology nurse, will discuss methods for managing fatigue, nausea and other treatment side effects. Saturday, April 26th from 10AM – Noon. For cancer patients, their families and friends.

Meals on Wheels

Seniors in your community need your support! Meals on Wheels and Senior Outreach Services has been supporting seniors in YOUR neighborhood since 1968. Two of our programs, Meals on Wheels and Friendly Visitors, rely on the support of volunteers, and we need your help now more than ever. Meals on Wheels volunteer drivers deliver meals to local homebound seniors through regular two hour shifts once per week or as substitute drivers. Friendly Visitors volunteers provide weekly one-hour companionship visits to isolated seniors. To volunteer for either program, please call (925)937-8311.

Page 34 - April 2014 ~ Alamo Today

How do I know if I am Being Overmedicated?

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

Many people being treated for depression, anxiety disorders, and other related conditions are often worried that they are not being properly medicated. Some clients have told us they felt as if they were someone’s ongoing experiment. We at Diablo Behavioral HealthCare see patients for second opinions all the time, and one would be surprised how often we find people on the oddest combinations of medications for behavioral concerns. One of the primary reasons this happens so often is that at the backbone of America’s health care are the primary care physicians that are responsible for treating many conditions that are really outside their scope of training. However, there are so few resources for them to refer out to that they end up having to treat many conditions that would normally be treated by a psychiatrist. Few realize that internists and family practice doctors do the majority of writing psychiatric mediation prescriptions in the United States. The same is true for children, as the primary care physicians/pediatricians write the majority of the prescriptions for this population. In addition, there is a dire shortage of child psychiatrists to serve this population.

What are some of the pitfalls of this system? Managed care mandates that only a certain amount of time is spent per patient, leading up to the writing of a prescription.

Many times when a child psychiatrist has seen a child and has not written a prescription the family is quite irritated, due to our society becoming used to or, more appropriately, indoctrinated into seeing a physician and getting a “pill.” For children this can prove to be especially harmful, especially when the child may be having symptoms that are due to an underlying emotional issue that needs to be addressed first. We see kids all the time that require diagnosticians that need to better understand the difference between deficits of attention and Attention Deficit Disorder. A child with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder has deficits of attention as does a depressed child, a traumatized

Natives continued from page 24

chain moving so that predators can keep the herbivores in check.” Whimsical sculptures placed throughout the garden invite humans to linger, while plentiful food beckons nature’s artists to put on a show.

In celebration the 10th anniversary of the tour, human musicians will be accompanying the natural symphony of birdsong in many gardens. Some native plant nurseries will be open on May 3rd for tour participants, others will be open on May 4th.

Workshops are a recent addition. On Saturday, April 12th, renowned environmental educator Judy Adler invites 15 preregistered guests to “Gardening with Nature in Mind: Part 2.

Part 1 is not a pre-requisite for this in-depth study of sustainable gardening principles, from harvesting rainwater to collecting and preserving seeds. Adler’s Walnut Creek garden is a testament to how much food can be produced for human and wildlife consumption in a relatively small plot. “Nothing toxic enters and nothing organic leaves my garden,” Adler proudly announces. When the front gutters on her house needed to be replaced, she studied revamping the system to collect and store rainwater. “I water my garden with nature’s water rather than treated water wherever possible.”

One of the first gardens to be certified as a Backyard Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation, Adler’s yard contains over 400 species of plants. “I use plants as the vehicle to attract pollinators and beneficial insects.” Adler used recycled materials to construct her lathe house, which is cleverly designed with a window shutter transforming into a teaching surface and built-in storage benches doubling as seating.

The elaborate Bringing Back the Natives Garden Guide mailed free to each registrant takes months to produce and is funded by donations. Gardens for the 2015 tour are now being solicited. Kathy will personally visit each prospective garden between early May and July to assess suitability for the tour as well has how each space contributes to the overall offering.

Each year she includes gardens from a wide range of East

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child, a child with a mood disorder, a child with autism spectrum disorder, a grieving child, and the list goes on.

How do these same phenomenon effect adults? Actually, it occurs very similarly. Take women that are mildly depressed who are often placed on an antidepressant without a comprehensive evaluation. We have found women on antidepressants with a thyroid problem, an undiagnosed ADHD, an Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and with other treatable conditions. One of my favorite sayings that our staff is probably tired of hearing me say is, “The mark of a true professional is to know when you don’t know.” I actually take pride in saying to someone, “I’m not sure about that, but I will find out for you.” Not following this old adage simply leads to errors in diagnosis and proper treatment.

So frequently we see patients on too much medication, and this may be due to trying to solve the problem too quickly. Oftentimes certain people have body systems that require a much more gradual increase of medication, but this takes time and managed care doesn’t provide the time or the appointments are far to spread out.

One of the bright spots lately is the use of the technology of “pharmacogenetics.”

This big word simply means, “Can my body tolerate this medication?” There are tests now that look at someone’s genes to determine if they can metabolize or process the medication that the doctor wants to prescribe. Most insurance companies are now covering these tests. This is one of the areas that makes sense as insurance companies don’t want you getting sick off the medications you’re prescribed, as it will cost them more in the long run.

The long and short of this is that the healthcare system in the United States is broken, and no one really knows how to fix it as the special interests have such a hold on the system. This is where Diablo Behavioral HealthCare sets itself apart. We are comprehensive, our physicians are all Board Certified in Psychiatry, and we take the time to get it right. This is a rather rare occurrence in this time of hurry up and pass the pills.

For more information on any behavioral or developmental concern, call our office at (925) 648-4800, and we will take the time to answer your questions. To learn more about behavioral disorders, visit our website at www.behaviorquest.com. Our location is 4185 Blackhawk Plaza Circle Suite 210, Danville, CA. Advertorial Bay microclimates from Livermore to Oakland. Sizes range this year from a 400–square-foot gem packed with native flowers to a sprawling five-acre restored woodland retreat.

To properly appreciate how much information 2013 Jefferson award winner Kathy Kramer’s Bringing Back the Natives program has to offer, visit www.bringingbackthenatives.net. View current and past tour gardens, find sources for native plants, study the work of various landscape designers, register for workshops and the tour, volunteer to be a greeter or guide, or make a monetary contribution to this non-profit resource.

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editor@yourmonthlypaper.com Sun Safety By Dr. Jerome Potozkin

Alamo Today ~ April 2014 - Page 35

Spring has sprung. Although we did not have much of a winter it is always great when spring arrives. Living in the Bay Area provides many opportunities for outdoor fun. When I was training to be a dermatologist (in the old days), I remember my instructors advising their patients not to go out in the sun. I thought this was impractical advice since life is too short to sit inside all day. I also love outdoor activities and could not imagine abandoning them. If you are a biker, golfer, or hiker that is exactly what you should be doing. There are some simple guidelines for practicing safe sun: 1. Avoid the peak sun hours between 10AM and 2PM 2. Apply a broad spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 and up every day 3. Reapply sunscreen VARMINT CONTROL 4. Do not use sunscreen as an excuse to spend GOPHER AND MOLE REMOVAL : NUISANCE WILDLIFE CONmore time in the sun 5. Wear protective clothing such as hats, sunglasses, shirts, and rash TROL Trapping No poison, safe for your family, pets and the ecosystem. guards while swimming I’m a licensed and insured state trapper; resolving human and animal conThere have been some controversial articles appearing in the press reflicts. Habitat modification, ( to make your home or property less desirable), garding the safety of sunscreens. The two ingredients that have come under exclusion barriers, (fencing, wire mesh or sheet metal to keep the animal/s out scrutiny are Oxybenzone and Retinyl Palmitate. Oxybenzone is a broad of your home or property), and trapping, (removing problem wild animals.) spectrum sunscreen ingredient has been FDA approved since 1978. It has For more information visit www.trivalleytrapper.com. Call TRI VALLEY been used for many years and acts to absorb the sun’s harmful UV rays.

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Despite recent reports in the media, scientific evidence and years of use do DECK REPAIR not indicate any hormonal changes or adverse health effects in humans when GOT AN UGLY DECK? IS THERE SUN DAMAGE, DRY ROT, OR used in sunscreens. Retinyl Palmitate is a Vitamin A (retinol) derivative and DINGINESS? Decks are subject to the same elements as your home resulting is not an active drug. It is used in sunscreens as an anti-oxidant. There is in mold, stains, mildew, moss, and structural failures. KDL CONSTRUCno scientific evidence that these ingredients cause any cancers when used TION helps maintain the integrity of your deck and the safety of your famin sunscreen. In fact, Vitamin A derivatives (retinoids) have been shown ily. Proper maintenance enhances the longevity and beauty of your deck. to prevent certain skin cancers. Currently, the only way that sunscreen use Cleaning, repair, color restoration, and refinishing. Call for a free assessment. could lead to an increase in skin cancer is if you decide that because you are Ask about our OTHER SERVICES. KDL CONSTRUCTION Restorationusing sunscreen that you are going to spend more time in the sun.

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In addition to practicing safe sun, it is recommended that you get a comHEALTH plete skin examination on an annual basis by a board certified dermatologist.

NEW ARTHRITIS FOUNDATION TAI CHI CLASSES starting, call You should also check your moles and spots once a month. If you would Linda Summers Pirkle at 925-820-8101 for meeting times. like to join the many local residents who have seen Dr. Potozkin and have FOR RENT had a full body skin exam, or if you have a spot you would like to have evaluated, please feel free to contact Dr. Potozkin’s office. Remember to CONDO VACATION RENTAL Mauna Lani Resort, Big Island. New luxury have fun but also practice “safe sun.”

2 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath condo on 4th fairway. Minimum 3 night stay. Contact Dr. Potozkin is a board certified dermatologist who has been serving the Alamo owners for discounted rate. (925)381-7042, Alamomgt@usa.net local community since 1993. His fully accredited dermatological and laser facility is located at 600 San Ramon Valley Blvd, Suite 102 in Danville.

Reach over 6,500 homes and businesses in Alamo & He is accepting new patients. Please call (925) 838-4900 or visit Potozkin.

Diablo - Help Wanted, For Sale, Services, Lescom for more information.

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Send or email submissions to: 3000F Danville Blvd #117, Alamo, CA 94507 or editor@yourmonthlypaper. com. Run the same classified ad in our sister papers “Lafayette Today” or “Danville Today News” and pay 925.934.3743 • 925.934.1515 half off for your second and/or third ad! Payment www.dumploadsonus.com • www.erecycleonus.com by check made out to “The Editors” must be received before ad will print. Your cancelled check is your 1271 Boulevard Way, Walnut Creek receipt. We reserve the right to reject any ad.

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Page 36 -April 2014 ~ Alamo Today

The Combs Team Nancy

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Alamo Real Estate Market: Seller’s Market, Very Strong!

As of this writing there are 41 Alamo single family homes listed as active on MLS. Fifty-one properties are listed as pending and during the last three months, a total of 44 properties were sold. The average days on market before a sale is completed stands at 58. This is by any measure a great seller’s market.

We’ve included 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 lowest price points and the highest price points closed in 43 and 88 days respectively while the middle price point homes stood at 50 days on market.

Within each of the three groupings you’ll see that average and median price are very close with the greatest difference occurring in the grouping of the least expensive homes. The majority of homes are selling between $1,097,000 and $1,666,250, with the average falling at $1,364,250. This average price is about $77,000 higher than last year’s average price. Although only half of last year’s price increase, it’s a very large rise in the price of Alamo Real Estate in a very short space of time.

As markets tend to balance with regard to supply, demand and price, low inventory and high demand are driving prices higher. The question remains. “Will the supply of Alamo homes for sale begin to increase in response to rising price?” The attached chart titled “New Properties” suggests that supply remains low. From December 2013, inventory rose markedly through February and abruptly declined in March 2014. Unless we

see a flood of new properties hit the market during the springtime, I’d guess prices will continue to rise.

It’s not hard to imagine that folks who’ve seen their Alamo properties increase in value by more than $250,000 during the last couple of years are a bit reluctant to part with them. A normal Alamo Real Estate Market would have a hundred properties for sale during this time of year.

Given the current trend line, it doesn’t seem likely we’ll hit the normal level anytime soon.

The second big question, “Will prices in Alamo fall back when inventory reaches 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 continue to increase. If you recall, interest rates during the last peak hovered between 5% and 6%. Given Federal Secretary Yellens’ comments, I think it’s unlikely to see interest rates return to those levels for a couple of years, unless something unexpected and really bad happens. If rates do move gradually to more normal levels as I expect they will, the more likely scenario will be for days on market to extend to the normal three to six month time frame. We’ll see 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 very strong.

Nancy and I have more than 1000 email subscribers who receive this article in advance of publication. Just send me an email and we can add you to the list. I assure you no spam will follow.

It’s important to remember there really is no “average” home and no two homes are exactly alike. If you would like an honest no strings attached opinion of your home’s current market value and suggestions for getting it ready for market, please give me a call 925-989-6086 or send me an email joecombs@thecombsteam.com.

Auction Sale

G

IN D N E

P

Danville Single Story

ng! i n i ema r e y on l n O

Beautiful 4 bedroom 4 bath 4200 sq. ft. home. We are representing the buyer. $1,450,000

Beautiful oak studded lots for sale one is 7 acres, one is 11 acres. $500k each

Alamo Oaks

Just Listed Danville Charmer

s ffer O e l ultip M with D SOL Charming 3 bedroom Single Story with large master suite and flat lot.

Sold 105% over List Price.

Build Your Dream Home

D

SOL Updated 4 bedroom 3595 sq. foot home with 1.13 acre lot. Perfect for horses or a vineyard.

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.

3 bedroom, 2 bath home on flat lot backing a creek. Walk to 12 years of SRVUSD schools!

Call for details.

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