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October 2014 Spread Kindness – It’s Contagious! By Jody Morgan
Maria Haswell woke up one morning in February 2009 wanting to perform some random acts of kindness. Her online search found no area organizations that matched her vision. Encouraged by husband Mark, Maria gathered a small group of like-minded locals. Taking on a life of its own, the project grew, suggesting the need for a formal structure. In January 2010, the Haswells registered Spread Kindness as a 501 (c)(3) non-profit. They wanted their gestures to be community-based, but they soon found their local acts had a global reach. Kindness is contagious, spreading a spirit of generosity that gives back to the donor while reaching out to embrace countless strangers. During the first event Spread Kindness organized at San Ramon’s Central Park, volunteers distributed flowers and treats and performed additional small acts of kindness. A group of friends the Haswells nicknamed “Dream-Team” helped brainstorm a variety of ideas including paying for the person in line behind you for coffee, tipping well and leaving a compliment, and dropping off flowers with a thoughtful note at a neighbor’s house. These suggestions and
Serving Alamo and Diablo Rotary Club of Alamo Names Stan Hitomi 2014 Alamo Citizen of the Year
At the 32nd Annual Alamo Music and Wine Festival the Rotary Club of Alamo named Stan Hitomi, principal of Alamo Elementary School, as the 2014 Alamo Citizen of the Year. In addition to being recognized by the Rotary Club of Alamo, Stan also received certificates of appreciation from representatives of Senator Mark DeSaulnier, Assemblymember Joan Buchanan, and Contra Costa County Supervisor Candace Andersen.
Stan Hitomi with teachers from Alamo School
“This is the 30th year that the Rotary Club of Alamo has presented this award,” said Bill Randall, Club president. The Rotary Cub of Alamo selects the Citizen of the Year based on service, integrity, and citizenship. It should be a person who has demonstrated a unique commitment to the Alamo community Spread Kindness launches their mission at Central Park, San Ramon. Photo courtesy of Spread Kindness.
several more are printed on the back of “Kindness Cards” which can be ordered in packs of eight. As you complete your act of kindness, you hand a card to the recipient. The front reads: “You’ve just experienced a random act of Kindness. Now it’s your turn to do something for someone else and pass this card along.” Requests for cards now number 50-100 a month. They come from across the globe: Canada, India, New Zealand, Australia, England, Tasmania, and Norway. In February 2010, Stephanie Klinzing, then Mayor of Elk River, Minnesota, asked for and received 1,000 cards for the city’s “1,000 Acts of Random Kindness Campaign.” Spread Kindness mails the first pack of eight cards free, but they request a modest contribution for additional cards. Mark notes: “We want people to understand the power of kindness – why it’s good and the positive effect it can have.” At the Dublin St. Patrick’s Day Parade each year, Spread Kindness hands out 500 Kindness Cards along with candies and other treats. Their signature offer of “Free Hugs” caught the attention of Barbara Roudebush, marching
See Kindness continued on page 22
Local Postal Customer
PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Permit 263 Alamo CA
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Chrysanthemums Set to Take Center Stage at the Gardens at Heather Farm
See Citizen continued on page 24
By Jody Morgan
Aspiring to upstage the Steve Dawkins is committed to replicating this neighboring roses with a chrysanthemum display in his own garden for the community performance unlike any pre- to enjoy at GHF. (Photo courtesy of Steve Dawkins) viously witnessed by the majority of area garden enthusiasts, chrysanthemums newly installed at the Gardens at Heather Farm (GHF) are getting set to open. Thanks to Walnut Creek resident Steve Dawkins’s generous gift of specimen plants, expertise, time Volume XIV - Number 10 and labor, visitors will see many of the 3000F Danville Blvd. #117, Alamo, CA 94507 thirteen classifications recognized by Telephone (925) 405-NEWS, 405-6397 the National Chrysanthemum Society Fax (925) 406-0547 blooming side-by-side. Typically peakAlisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher ing toward the end of October, these Editor@yourmonthlypaper.com dramatically distinctive mums often Sharon Burke ~ Writer take up to 30 days to open completely The opinions expressed herein belong to the writers, and do from the time their buds begin to dis- not necessarily reflect that of Alamo Today. Alamo Today
See GHF continued on page 28
is not responsible for the content of any of the advertising herein, nor does publication imply endorsement.
Page 2 - October 2014 ~ Alamo Today
Boulevard View
By Alisa Corstorphine, Editor You Never Know
A few weeks ago I had a glorious weekend planned for myself. It was actually quite simple. The weekend I planned was all about me! I was going to do nothing but stay at home and work on fun things on my “To Do” list. Because of its never-ending nature, in our household the To Do list sometimes has a negative connotation, but this was a fun list of things I enjoy but just needed to make the time so I could dig into them. I was going to harvest and replant the garden. I was going to work on some picture projects. The only planned outing I had was a horseback ride on Mount Diablo. Me, me, me! On Thursday evening prior to the weekend, I went to the grocery store and stocked up with food. Not only was I doing the regular family shopping, but I was making sure there was no reason to leave home for the next several days. I bought an extra gallon of milk and an extra pack of chicken, fruit, etc. Everything was set. I told everyone in the office of my plans for my “all about me” weekend. But, the best made plans must sometimes change. Come Friday night I got a call from a friend needing help. In evaluating the situation, their need was far more important than my plans, and I rushed to help out. The need for my help continued into the weekend, and my To Do list was largely ignored. During the weekend I began laughing at the irony of how my designated “Me” weekend had morphed into something far beyond my wildest vision. Helping out was something I chose to do. It just hadn’t been on the To Do list at the time! I ended up learning from my redirected time. Sometimes you have to roll with the punches, go with the flow. I met some interesting new people and had some interesting new experiences. They simply hadn’t been part of my original vision. You never know. A friend was recently telling me a story about his wife who works for a local non-profit organization. Seven years ago a man contacted her to talk a little about the organization and to take a tour of the facility. They spent a few hours together, had lunch, then said their good-byes. She never saw or heard from the man again. Seven years pass, and the woman received a call from an attorney representing the man’s estate. To her great surprise, her non-profit organization was listed as the prime beneficiary of the man’s estate. The proceeds from his house, car, stocks, and belongings amounted to well over a million dollars for the non-profit organization. The woman was amazed and elated. The simple interaction she had years ago had obviously made an impression with the man. He had never spoken about his intentions, but he knew that one day he’d leave a legacy of love and generosity that would touch many, many people. His gift will have a positive impact for years to come. These incidents reinforced a couple of lessons I wanted to share with you. First, be open to the possibilities presented to us. As in the movie Yes Man with Jim Carrey, we never know
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what opportunity, or what consequence from those opportunities, will follow unless we take the leap of faith and say ‘yes.’ It means being willing to subjugate our agenda long enough to participate in what life offers us. Have you ever imagined where your life would lead you if you said ‘yes’ to everything as the character in that movie did? Of course there are limits and life isn’t a movie, but I think the concept is exciting. The second lesson is to strive to treat every person we interact with as the special and unique individual they are. What if my friend at the non-profit had been indifferent, or was having a bad day when that gentleman came calling and she had been gruff with him? What if he left with a favorable impression of the institution but a sour impression of her? Would he have made the same choices? By her being an amazing person and exuding love and excitement for life, she created the conditions for something wonderful to occur. We can all do that. We simply never know which word we utter will resonate with someone, which touch will leave a lasting impression, or which conversation will be remembered fondly. I think that’s part of the joy of existence. If we treat every person with kindness, love, honesty, and respect, you never know what amazing things can happen.
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Alamo Today ~ October 2014 - Page 3
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San Ramon Valley High School Ski, Board, and Bike Swap November 1st
The San Ramon Valley High School-Parent Teacher Student Association has been hosting a community-wide ski and snowboard swap for over 36 years, but this year the event will also include bikes. This year the event takes place on November 1st, from 10am to 6pm for one day only. Admission Friday, Oct. 31ST is $5, and children 5 and under free when accompanied by an adult. 3pm - 5pm SRVHS Ski, Board, and Bike swap is the largest swap in the East Bay with over $1 million in inventory brought by local residents as well as from large retailers offering goods at bargain prices. SHOPPING CENTER The San Ramon Valley High School cafeteria and gym will be filled to the brim with new and used For more information contact 800-762-1641. merchandise. Come join the fun with a live broadcast from KKIQ, and enjoy yummy treats from www.AlamoPlazaShoppingCenter.com Located at Danville Blvd. and Stone Valley Road. local food truck vendors. This year we have added bikes, biking equipment, and apparel. A large inventory of new and used bikes for all ages and skill level will be on hand. Danville bike retailer 6Fifteen Cyclery and Stix & Stones, the mobile bike and ski service will be there to help with questions and recommendations, as will members of the San Ramon Valley High School Mountain Bike Club. The Ski and Snowboard Swap is a great place to see the latest products and outfit the entire family. There will be a huge selection of boards, skis, boots, helmets, and clothing, along with experts to assist you. Representatives from local ski clubs will be available to answer questions about their clubs and the sport. Retailers include Hughes Ski Hut, Nor-Ski Sports, Milosport, Sports Cove, Demo Sport, Uli Seiler Ski Shop, and Four Seasons. In addition, community members are invited to sell their bikes, ski and snowboard equipment, and clothing on consignment. Consignment equipment check in is at SRVHS on Thursday, October 30th 6pm-8pm and Saturday, November 1st 7am-9am. Donations are accepted anytime by contacting srvswap@aol.com. Join us and bring your friends on November 1st and take advantage of this great opportunity to update your bikes, ski and snowboard equipment and support the students at San Ramon Valley High School. Directions to SRVHS: Club Z! 1-On-1 Tutoring In Your Home! Highway 680 to Danville, exit El Cerro West, two blocks to Danville Blvd., San Ramon, Danville, Alamo turn left, San Ramon Valley High School is one block on the right. For more • All Subjects • PreK-Adult event information, visit http://skiboardbikeswap.com.
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In last month's article “Alamo’s Boulevard of Trees: a 25 Year Legacy of Beauty in Alamo,” the contributions of Alamo resident Ann Kaye, who served on the original committee was accidentally omitted. Also still living in Alamo are Ruth Feldman and Mary Ann Osborne. Andy Young, for whom the pocket park in downtown Alamo is named, also committed his time and energy to the project. Andy chaired the Boulevard of Trees Committee for many years.
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Page 4 - October 2014 ~ Alamo Today
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San Ramon Valley Republican Women Federated Presents Larry Greenfield, Expert on the Middle East
The San Ramon Valley Republican Women Federated will present Middle East expert, Larry Greenfield, speaking on the topic, “Are we at War with Islam?” Larry is a much sought-after speaker. He is also a frequent lecturer and debater on foreign policy issues including the Middle East conflict and the West’s response to the rise of Islam. He is a graduate of U.C. Berkeley and Georgetown University Law School in Washington D.C., where he worked on the arrest warrant for PLO Chief Yasser Arafat. Presently, Greenfield is a Fellow in American Studies at the Claremont Institute, in Claremont, California, founding executive Director of the Reagan Legacy Foundation, and a Senior Fellow at the American Freedom Alliance. He served in the U.S. Armed Forces in Naval Intelligence Reserves and has traveled to some 80 countries, including eight war zones. With the threat of ISIS perhaps in our own country, you won’t want to miss hearing this dynamic speaker! The dinner and talk will be held at the Crow Canyon Country Club located at 711 Silver Lake Drive in Danville, on Tuesday, October 28. Social time begins at 6pm followed by dinner and speaker at 6:30pm. Please RSVP by email to srvrwf.lunch@gmail.com or visit www.srvrwf.org to pay with Paypal. Reservations are due by Wednesday, October 22nd. Save the date for our November luncheon to be held Tuesday, November th 18 at noon at the Crow Canyon Country Club. For more information, visit www.srvrwf.org.
Alamo Sheriff’s Station Staffed and Ready
The Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Station, located in the Alamo Shopping Center, is now staffed with volunteers to assist you Monday through Saturday from 8am-5pm and Sunday from 8am-12:30pm. When closed, citizens can use the outdoor red phone for all emergency and non-emergency calls. For help or information, call (925) 646-6180 or visit the office at 150 Alamo Plaza #C.
On Thursday, October 9th at the Walnut Creek Library’s Oak View Room, Project Second Chance, Inc. is sponsoring “An Evening of Mystery.” The event begins at 6pm with light desserts, followed by a panel discussion with authors Cara Black, Laurie R. King, and Terry Shames talking about their acclaimed mystery books. There will also be a raffle for prizes. Tickets are $15, with proceeds benefiting Project Second Chance. For ticket purchase by credit card, call (510) 918-4768. Visit the PSC website at ccclib.org/psc for more information.
Delta Nu Psi Care Packages for the Troops
Delta Nu Psi will be at CVS in Alamo on Friday, October 5rd from 11am-2pm, and at Lunardi’s Market in Danville on Friday, October 10th from 11am-2pm to collect “gourmet junk food” and postage for shipments for our servicemen. Beef jerky and trail mix is especially requested. Please visit deltanupsi.org for more information as well as photos and emails from the men and women in the War Zone.
Alamo-Danville Newcomers Club
Are you new to the area or a long time resident interested in making new friends and participating in various social activities? We are a women’s organization whose purpose is to enrich the lives of all its members and their families in a social manner. Check out all we have to offer by visiting our website at www.alamodanvillenewcomers.com. Our next new member coffee will be held October 28th at 10AM. RSVP to alamodanvillenewcomers@gmail.com.
AARP Tax-Aide Call For Volunteers for 2015 Tax Season
Do you like working with people? Are you good with numbers? Contra Costa County AARP Tax-Aide is looking for volunteers to become members of a team providing free tax preparation for individuals of all ages. Tax-Aide volunteer positions include Tax Counselors who are trained by TaxAide and certified by IRS and Client Facilitators who schedule appointment and assist clients at tax sites. Orientation is in November 2014, and classes for tax counselors start in January 2015. If interested, call LaVerne Gordon at (925) 726-3199 for information and to apply.
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Alamo ~ Stunning remodel! Desirable Whitegate location, 5 bedrooms 3 full baths 2743 square feet on a private .35 acre lot. Gourmet kitchen, formal living room and dining room, large family room. $1,499,000 Russ Darby Tim Palumbo
925.943.3333 925.943.3332
Alamo ~ Flat 1.08 acre horse properties offering 2 houses on one lot, hardwood floors & Anderson windows throughout. Also featuring French country kitchen with granite counter top, copper faucets, travertine floor, tile back splash w/custom artwork. Master Retreat. Mt Diablo by going across the road. $1,339,800 Jeff Colon ~ 925-406-4259 jeff@jeffcolon.com
Alamo Today ~ October 2014 - Page 5
Alamo ~ Panoramic views from this custom built 2 story home at Round Hill North. 5 bedrooms each with their own bathroom plus office with built-in cabinets. Large gourmet kitchen with center island and separate eating area. All open to the family room with views forever plus built in cabinets and cozy fireplace. Located on a quiet cul-de-sac this home has a 3 car over sized garage. Minutes to Round Hill CC and the quaint town of Alamo. Listed at $1,898,000. Bring your offer and lets make a deal. Gretchen Bryce ~ 925.683.2477 gretchenbryce@msn.com
Diablo ~ Irreplaceable At This Price! Unheard of value for a desirable Diablo Country Club home set upon a Flat 1.6 acre lot packed with unlimited potential. A private lane leads to this single story rancher with 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths and approx. 2400 sq. ft. Sparkling pool and spa with full service cabana. Enjoy a game of Tennis on your private Court, Plant a vineyard, stable up to 3 horses or build your estate home, it’s all possible! $1,595,000 John Lopes
~ 925-998-6262 acelopes@aol.com
Page 6 - October 2014 ~ Alamo Today
Medicare Open Enrollment Coming Soon Changes to Medicare Advantage Plans Expected
Medicare open enrollment is occurring October 15 to December 7. Word is that there will be changes to Medicare Advantage Plans this year. Some plans may be leaving Contra Costa County, and provider networks for participating plans could change too. Besides changes to the Advantage plans, it’s always a good idea to review your health or drug plan each year anyway to make sure your medications are still covered at the lowest cost to you. Your needs and medications may have changed since last year, and plans can change their formulary of approved drugs and copays too. Contra Costa HICAP (Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program) has many special events planned to help you understand your options during open enrollment. Besides their regular one-on-one counseling at local senior centers, HICAP volunteers will also be giving community talks about the upcoming 2015 Medicare plan changes at the Danville Senior Center, Pleasant Hill Senior Center, John Muir Hospital in Walnut Creek, and San Ramon Regional Medical Center, among other places. HICAP will also be holding several special counseling events this fall, including a Saturday session at the County office in Pleasant Hill. No appointment is necessary for that event which will offer free individual counseling on a drop-in basis on Saturday, November 15th between 9AM to 3PM at 500 Ellinwood Way in Pleasant Hill. You can get assistance with any Medicarerelated issue at that event. In addition, HICAP has scheduled several special counseling sessions focused on reviewing your prescription drug plans for next year to ensure that you have the best plan for you. These events require an appointment and a worksheet listing your medications to be submitted in advance. Nearby sessions will be held at the Walnut Creek Senior Club on November 20 and the Danville Senior Center on December 2. Worksheets can be picked up at the senior centers or downloaded from the HICAP website. HICAP can potentially save you a significant amount of money and help you get the right plan for you. HICAP is sponsored by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the California Department of Aging, and Contra Costa County. HICAP does not sell or endorse any products and offers free, impartial information and assistance to all Medicare beneficiaries or their caregivers. Call HICAP at (925) 602-4163 or visit their website at www.cchicap.org for more information. A complete schedule of presentations and special counseling events is posted, and in early October specific details on plan changes and options for people whose plan is being discontinued or changing will be available.
Hike for Shelter
Homelessness is a growing problem in our community. Contra Costa County estimates there are at any one time approximately 8,250 homeless, which includes over 2,000 children. On Sunday, October 19th the 5th annual Hike for SHELTER at Mt. Diablo State Park will be held to raise funds and awareness of this growing problem. This family-friendly event is open to all ages and abilities, from walkers to seasoned hikers. There will be three trails, including a 2.4-mile family hike, a 5.2-mile moderate hike, and a 6.7-mile summit hike! A post-hike celebration will follow complete with catered lunch, local celebrity speakers, and fundraising prizes. SHELTER Inc. of Contra Costa County is an independent non-profit whose mission is to prevent and end homelessness for low-income families in Contra Costa County. The full service agency gives families a safe place to live - meeting their most basic needs, while offering individualized services such as education, employment development, and counseling in order to give them the tools to be self sufficient. SHELTER Inc. served 5,000 people last year who were homeless or at risk of homelessness. Ninety-five percent of those who were at risk of homelessness were able to stay in their homes, and 76% of those who were homeless were moved back into a permanent home due to the community’s support. SHELTER Inc. also owns or master lease about 200 residences throughout Contra Costa, renting to low-income, vulnerable residents. Please join in on the Hike for SHELTER. While you are enjoying a beautiful day hiking on one of the most beautiful state parks, you are also helping strengthen the community where we live. Please go to www.shelterhike.org to sign up.
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Blackhawk “First Sunday” Cars & Coffee
Blackhawk Automotive Museum hosts a monthly Cars & Coffee event year round for all car enthusiasts. Held on the “First Sunday” of each month, starting at 8AM and going to 10AM, the Museum welcomes all classic, collector, and special interest car owners and enthusiasts. On Cars & Coffee Sundays the Museum opens an hour earlier, at 9AM, and participating car owners will receive complimentary Museum admission tickets. The Museum is located at 3700 Blackhawk Plaza Circle in Danville. For more information, visit www.blackhawkmuseum.org/carsncoffee.html, call 925-736-2280, or email museum@blackhawkmuseum.org.
Oktoberfest
Forest Home Farms Historic Park, located at 19953 San Ramon Valley Blvd. in San Ramon, will be hosting an Oktoberfest celebration on October 11 from 11AM to 4PM. Enjoy live music and dancing with Blow Musik!, Olympia Fields Brass Band, and Golden Gate Bavarian Dancers. Beer will be available for purchase from Schubros Brewery. Tickets are available online through PayPal by visiting SRHF.org. For more information or to become a sponsor, e-mail sanramonhf@gmail.com.
Storytelling at the Museum
Saturday Indian storytelling will be featured at the Museum of the San Ramon Valley on Saturdays, October 4 and October 25 at 10:30 and 11:30AM. These stories will be told by Museum volunteer Marty Buxton and feature animal mounts from the Lindsay Wildlife Museum. Suitable for children of all ages, these creation accounts and stories from various California Indian tribes are not to be missed. Storytelling accompanies the Museum of the San Ramon Valley’s new exhibit on “California Indians: Where Were You 5,000 Years Ago? The First People of the San Ramon Valley.” The exhibit is on display at the Museum until November 9. The Museum of the San Ramon Valley is located in Downtown Danville on the corner of Railroad and Prospect Avenues, at 205 Railroad Avenue. Museum hours are Tuesday – Friday 1-4PM, Saturday 10AM – 1PM, and Sunday noon – 3PM. The Museum is closed on Mondays. There is ample parking in the lot behind the Museum. Please visit www.museumsrv.org for more information.
AAUW Candidates Forum
The Danville-Alamo-Walnut Creek and San Ramon Branches of AAUW (American Association of University Women) are sponsoring a candidates forum that is open to the public. The upcoming election on November 4th is not only important with all of the issues facing us at the state and national level but also to make the choice of the right candidate to represent us at both the Assembly and Congressional level. Assemblymember Joan Buchanan has termed out, and the 16th district State Assembly election features Tim Sbranti (D) and Catharine Baker (R) running for her seat. Judge Tue Phan Quang (R) and Mark DeSaulnier (D) are running from the 11th Congressional district for the seat of George Miller, who is retiring after 40 years. The League of Women Voters will moderate a debate style forum for the Assembly race, and then AAUW will moderate the Congressional candidates section. Unfortunately, Mark DeSaulnier is unable to attend due to a prior commitment, however we have access to his political views and service in the senate. Judge Tue Phan Quang will be available to answer any questions and is running for the first time for an elected office. Join us for an informative session on Saturday, October 11th from 9:30am-noon at the Shadow Hills Cabana, 1001 El Capitan Drive, Danville. Contact Asha at ashakiran@gmail.com for further information. Please remember to vote and stay informed.
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An Evening of Fun and Laugther
On Saturday, October 11th at 7:30PM at the Village Theatre, located at 233 Front Street in Danville, and Discovery Counseling Center will be presenting an evening of music and laughter featuring local comedian David Vanavermaete, California High School graduate and past winner of the UCLA songfest; Courtney Randall; and accomplished singer/songwriter Jeff Campbell, who recently appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live. This is a chance to see San Francisco-quality entertainment in the suburbs. Bullying is widespread and perhaps the most under-reported safety problem on American school campuses. Contrary to popular belief, bullying occurs more often at school than on the way to and from there. Once thought of as simply a rite of passage or relatively harmless behavior that helps build young people’s character, bullying is now known to have long-lasting harmful effects, for both the victim and the bully. Bullying is often mistakenly viewed as a narrow range of antisocial behavior confined to elementary school recess yards. Perhaps more than any other school safety problem, bullying affects students’ sense of security. Funds from this event will help Discovery Counseling Center to expand their highly-regarded anti-bullying program to more schools in the San Ramon Valley Unified School District. For every dollar raised at the antibullying fundraiser, Quest Foundation, a local family foundation that supports children’s mental health programs, has generously pledged $30,000 as a 2:1 match. With a successful event, over 2,000 4th and 5th graders will be able to participate in Discovery’s powerful and effective anti-bullying course. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased by calling 925-837-0505 or going online to www.discoveryctr.net/eventsandnews/fallfundraiser.html.
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.
Alamo Today ~ October 2014 - Page 7
Chromatica to Perform October Concerts
Cherubini “Requiem in C Minor,” Brahms’ “Liebeslieder,” and more!
Chromatica, the San Ramon Valley based classical and contemporary music chorus, will perform four concerts in October: a concert reserved for Rossmoor residents and public concerts on October 18, 19 and 25 in Orinda, Danville and Clayton Valley. Locations and addresses are Holy Shepherd Lutheran Church, 433 Moraga Way, Orinda; Peace Lutheran Church, 3301 Camino Tassajara, Danville; and Clayton Valley Presbyterian Church, 1578 Kirker Pass Road, Clayton. Titled “The (Mostly) A.B.C’s of Music,” the concerts will include works from Thomas Arne, Leonard Bernstein, Johannes Brahms, Luigi Cherubini, Cecilia McDowall, and Frank Ticheli. Cherubini’s “Requiem in C Minor,” written for King Louis XVIII of France for a memorial service for his grandfather Louis XVI, guillotined in the French Revolution, was described by Schumann as “being without equal in the world.” It was performed at Beethoven’s funeral at his request. By a strange twist, Brahm’s “Liebeslieder,” a series of eighteen love songs, is believed to have been inspired by his frustrated love for Clara Schumann’s daughter. First performed in January 1870, they have continued to be much loved by audiences across the classical music world and are often seen as Brahms’ homage to Schubert. Adding to these two extraordinary works are a short piece by Thomas Arne titled “Which is the Properest Day to Sing?,” a moving setting of “There Will Be Rest” by Frank Ticheli, a chorus from Leonard Bernstein’s musical Candide, as well as a hauntingly beautiful setting of “A Red, Red Rose” by contemporary English composer Cecilia McDowall. Chromatica was founded in 2011 and now includes 26 men and women singers. It has performed two prior series of ticketed concerts, attracting large and enthusiastic audiences. Directed by San Francisco Opera tenor David Huff, Chromatica’s repertoire includes music by Brahms, Cherubini, Elgar, Fauré, Mozart, Schubert, Strauss, Verdi, Britten, and Vaughan Williams among others. Tickets for each concert are $20 for adults, $10 for students, and free to children 5 to 10. Tickets may be purchased online or at each location the evening of the performance (cash or check only, please). To purchase online tickets or to learn more about Chromatica and opportunities to audition, visit www.chromaticachorale.org.
Page 8 - October 2014 ~ Alamo Today
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Veterans’ Voices…
...A new way to reach out to those who have served By Supervisor Candace Andersen
Each year, more than a quarter of a million Americans take off their service uniform for the last time, and for many of them, one of the biggest questions upon returning to civilian life is, “What’s next?” That transition can be a very difficult process, and Contra Costa County’s Veterans Service Office is constantly looking for ways to help. Our County is home to more than 65,000 veterans, and we have expanded our outreach efforts considerably over the past couple of years to provide even more resources and assistance to veterans and their families. Outstations in Brentwood and Danville now supplement services delivered at the main office in Martinez and the Richmond branch location as well, but many veterans are reluctant to go to a County office for help. Thanks to a unique partnership within the County, help is now coming to them online and on cable TV. Veterans’ Voices is a live, interactive talk show hosted monthly by our County Veterans Service Officer Nathan Johnson. Produced at the Contra Costa TV (CCTV) studios in Martinez, Veterans’ Voices is specifically targeting vets with mental health issues, particularly those who haven’t sought care before or aren’t even sure what help is available. Each month, Nathan and co-host Kevin Graves focus on a specific topic, bring in guests, and taking calls, emails, and live chat messages from viewers. August’s show featured authors who are using writing to express themselves as they have transitioned back to civilian life. September’s show shined a light on the help caregivers can bring and offered a glimpse into the experiences of those who provide that much needed care. October’s show, to be broadcast on Monday, October 20th, at 7pm, will tackle the topic of suicide prevention. “Suicide: It’s Worth Talking About” will feature Martinez Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic’s Suicide Prevention Coordinator Brian Adkinson as well as a veteran whose life has been impacted by the suicide of a close friend and fellow veteran. This episode will not only shed light on the effect suicide has on family and friends but will also give helpful advice and resources to those who are suffering from suicidal thoughts and offer support information for family and friends affected by the loss of a loved one. Funded by a state mental health grant, a year’s worth of shows are planned with the hopes of hearing directly from veterans along the way regarding what their needs are and how we can best connect with them. If you have questions or want to suggest ideas for the show, you can contact our Veterans Service Office at 925-313-1481. Veterans’ Voices airs at 7pm the third Monday of each month on CCTV, and replays on Saturdays at 9am, Mondays at 7pm and Wednesdays at 11pm. CCTV can be found on Comcast Channel 27, Astound Channel 32, and AT&T UVerse Channel 99. You can also watch any of the previous episodes online at the Veterans' Voices website, www.contracosta.ca.gov/5163/Veterans-Voices. 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.
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 Women’s Club 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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Rancho Romero Elementary School
By Skye Larsh-Faraghan, Principal
Alamo Today ~ October 2014 - Page 9
11 Critical Home Inspection Traps to be Aware of Weeks Before Listing Your Home for Sale
Alamo - According to industry experts, away altogether. In most cases, you can In a recent Kappan (education) there are over 33 physical problems that make a reasonable pre-inspection yourself article, researchers explored the will come under scrutiny during a home if you know what you're looking for, and teaching practices that are effective inspection when your home is for sale. knowing what you're looking for can help and engaging for girls and boys. A new report has been prepared which you prevent little problems from growing Here are the main findings of identifies the 11 most common of these into costly and unmanageable ones. the authors’ study. problems, and what you should know about To help home sellers deal with this issue Boys are relational learners with teachers, while girls learn best with both teachers and peers. Researchers found them before you list your home for sale. before their homes are listed, a free report that “Establishing an affective relationship is a precondition Whether you own an old home or a brand entitled "11Things You Need to Know to to successful teaching for boys.” They found that girls valued new one, there are a number of things Pass Your Home Inspection" has been relationships with their teachers – individual conferences, that can fall short of requirements during a compiled which explains the issues involved. help sessions, and emotional support, but they also thrived home inspection. If not identified and dealt To hear a brief recorded message about on connection, bonding, and collaboration with female classwith, any of these 11 items could cost you how to order your FREE copy of this report, mates. Boys were most engaged with learning that piqued dearly in terms of repair. That's why it's call toll-free 1-866-265-1682 and enter their curiosity and allowed them to physically and socially critical that you read this report before 2001. You can call any time, 24 hours a day, experience the activity. Girls, on the other hand, were most you list your home. If you wait until the 7 days a week. engaged by classroom content relevant to their lives. building inspector flags these issues for Get your free special report NOW to learn Understanding and responding to the cultural identity you, you will almost certainly experience how to ensure a home inspection doesn't of girls and boys is one area that the staff and School Site costly delays in the close of your home cost you the sale of your home. Council have been exploring over the last couple of years sale or, worse, turn prospective buyers after analyzing and evaluating multiple sets of data. This This report is courtesy of J. Rockcliff Realtors #01763819. Not intended to solicit buyers or sellers currently under contract. Copyright © 2013 year, a cadre of seven teachers will take part in a learning cohort with other schools across the district on the topic of Culturally Responsive Teaching and Learning. With the opportunity to Sons in Retirement Sons in Retirement - Las Trampas Branch 116 will hold a luncheon join other schools in research, demonstration lessons and coaching, Rancho meeting on October 15th at 11:30AM. The guest speaker for this meeting is Romero teachers are very interested in applying a much deeper understanding Mrs. Barbara Casados, a tri-valley native, mother of three young boys, and of culturally responsive pedagogy for the purposes of building and bridging the founder of Capes4Heroes. Guest are welcome to attend. Lunch is $15. success for all of our students. Reservations can be made by calling (925) 322-1160. The meeting will be Sports Fans Rancho Romero has introduced a noontime sports program with the orga- held at the Walnut Creek Elks Lodge, located at 1475 Creekside Dr. In 2010, Mrs. Casados’ son Maddox was diagnosed with autism and nization, One On One Sports. One On One Sports, directed by Brent Wyse, nd th offers team sports to 2 -5 grade students on Tuesdays and Thursdays. On refused to wear anything but a superhero cape. Barbara bought a sewing Fridays, organized fun games will be offered to all interested students. machine, taught herself how to sew, and made several different capes for him. Coaches organize teams made up of girls and boys with diverse skill levels. Other parents saw the impact that the superhero capes had on Maddox and The big emphases are sportsmanship, teamwork, and having fun. Teams or asked Barbara to make capes for their children with special needs. Over time, leagues will compete against each other in a round robin format over the five friends wanted to start buying capes for children who were chronically ill weeks. Every five weeks a different sport will be offered. During the course and could use some support and encouragement. Barbara recruited additional of the year, students will have the opportunity to participate in soccer, flag volunteers to help sew capes, and the idea of a non-profit organization that football, basketball, dodgeball, and kickball. could spread strength and empowerment to children across the country was Run for Education born. To date, Barbara and Capes4Heroes has distributed superhero capes Please join the Rancho Romero Run For Education Team on Sunday, Octo over 4,000 brave children at hospitals, camps, Ronald McDonald Houses, tober 12. The Run for Education fundraiser benefits SRVUSD students and schools. We encourage all those interested to go to www.srvef.org/the-run and and similar organizations in the Bay Area and beyond. If you are retired or semi-retired and want to make new friends, participate sign-on with students, staff, and parents of Rancho Romero. in fun activities and better enjoy your leisure time, we welcome you to join with Rossmoor Art & Wine 2014 us. Our group activities include book discussions, bridge, computers, fishing, Wine tastings and local artist exhibits will be held at the Rossmoor Event golf, walking, investments, poker, travel, and more fun things. For information Center on October 6 from 1PM-5PM. Fees are $30 for general admission and about our activities for retired men, please visit www.Branch116.org. $80 for VIP admission. Price of general admission includes an event wine The Blackhawk Museum Guild Presents tasting glass, a stylish wine tote, and hors d'oeuvres. “If Tombstones Could Talk!” a Tour of the Alamo Cemetery VIP participants may arrive at noon for a private hour of food and wine Two docents from the Museum of the San Ramon Valley will lead a tour pairings, specialty appetizers, and a presentation from a vintner’s ambasthrough the historical Alamo Cemetery. Patty Dobbin will present the hissador. Additionally, as a VIP you can peruse the silent auction offerings in PM tory of the Cemetery, and Carmen Curtis will portray Mary Anne Jones, a advance of the general opening time of 1 . Proceeds will benefit Hospice member of one of the prominent pioneer families. of the East Bay. The Alamo Cemetery was established in the 1850’s and includes burial Purchase tickets online at www.HospiceEastBay.org/ArtandWine. plots of many San Ramon Valley pioneers including members of the Jones, Hospice of the East Bay provides compassionate end-of-life care to terWood, Stone, Bollinger, Baldwin, Humburg, Boone, Cox, Young, Love, minally ill patients, while offering emotional, spiritual, and grief support Close, Wiedemann, and Hall families. The first recorded burial, in 1856, for the entire family. As a not-for-profit organization, Hospice accepts all was a six year old girl, Callie Chrisman. medically qualified patients, regardless of their insurance status or ability Meet at the Alamo Cemetery located on El Portal (off Danville Blvd) to pay. Hospice of the East Bay has served over 22,000 patients and their on Wednesday, October 8th at 10:30AM. Please wear comfortable shoes. families since 1977. To learn about making a donation of time or money, Following the tour join the Museum Guild group at noon at Uncle Wang’s contact (925) 887-5678 or visit www.hospiceeastbay.org. restaurant located at 150 Danville Blvd. in Danville.
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Page 10 - October 2014 ~ Alamo Today
Alamo Elementary School
Stone Valley Middle School
By Shaun K. McElroy, Principal STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) Guest Speakers Needed
By Stan Hitomi, Principal
This year we have many families coming to school for the first time and a good number of families who are new to Alamo School. In either case it is important for parents to become involved in school and engaged in student learning. There are a few key strategies that are important for parents to be aware of no matter where your children are attending school. Communication with teacher – The best source of information for nearly all matters will be your child’s classroom teacher. Classroom teachers provide regular communication about class assignments, projects, field trips, school events, and class celebrations. Become familiar with your teacher’s communication system, which may include a newsletter and/or website. Monitor school work – Both parents should take an active role in their child’s homework and nightly reading. Become familiar with following homework routines, knowing when assignments are due and making sure that your child has everything organized and packed for the next morning. Being familiar with school work will help to make parent conferences and goal-setting more productive. Know what’s happening – Parent involvement in school is important throughout elementary school. If your schedule permits, volunteer your time in the classroom or become an active participant in the PTA, EdFund, or Site Council. If volunteering during the school day is not possible, keep up-to-date by reading the weekly school newsletter (Mustang News), as well as the classroom newsletter. Make certain you know about holidays and upcoming activities and events. Use the school bell schedule (which is available on the school website) to mark adjusted days and holiday schedules. Use the school event calendar (also on the school website) to note special events, plays, and concerts. Know your child’s friends – Social development in elementary school is as important as academic development for a successful experience in school. Ask your child frequently about what they do at recess and lunch, and whom they are playing with. Get to know the parents of their friends, and arrange for play dates outside of school. This year we are piloting a new tool, Kids Hub, to help our parents organize and monitor social activities among students. Make certain that your child’s social activities include a balance of sports, art, music, and lots of free play. As busy as your day may be, attending to these four strategies should become a part of your experience as a parent. They will insure that you are an active part of your child’s experience in school, as well as provide opportunities for you to serve as a role model. Together these strategies form the basis for a successful school year!
Important Dates:
October 12 Run for Education October 13-17 Conference Week October 17 Family Game Night 6:30PM; Fall Book Fair opens October 20-24 Fall Book Fair October 21 Family Reading Night October 30 Halloween Parade - 8:30AM October 31 No School – Staff Development Day Special Note: This year we will be having our Annual Halloween Parade on Thursday, October 30 at 8:30AM. With the construction on Livorna Road, we are asking that parents seek alternatives to driving and parking on campus. We will have fewer parking spaces and will not be able to use the lower playground for parking (this is our parade area). We highly recommend that families walk, carpool, or park off campus and plan to arrive early to avoid missing the start of the parade. 8
Lost Dog!
$50 REWARD
If you find her and your name is drawn!
Alamo Zoe is Missing
Alamo Zoe has become lost in this paper... Search through Alamo Today and see if you can find her! She is very small, so you will have to look hard if you want to find her.
To be eligible send a letter telling us where you found her, along with your name and address, to: Lost Dog! ~ Alamo Today 3000F Danville Blvd #117 • Alamo, CA 94507
Mariel Biscocho is our winner
Have an expertise in a STEM field? Come join us as a guest speaker in February 2015. Speakers will be asked to provide a one-hour presentation that includes your background and skills needed, a look at a day in the life of your job, and a hands on activity for students. Let’s help grow the future of our children! Please contact me at smcelro@srvusd.net if you are interested in being a speaker. We have a new Assistant Principal and Student Support Counselor on board at Stone Valley. Please welcome Sandy Kontilis. Sandy recently earned her Masters of Educational Administration and Administrative Tier 1 Credential from St. Mary’s College. In addition to education she has gained administrative experience from her part-time Teacher on Special Assignment (TSA) position last year where Sandy worked as the TSA to the principal at Montevideo and Neil Armstrong elementary schools. This past summer Sandy was the principal of Bollinger Canyon Summer School, and she also taught 6th grade Core at Pine Valley for the past ten years. Also please welcome Stone Valley’s new Student Support Counselor, Lauren Haynes. Over the past several years, Lauren taught both General Education and Special Education students. Her background will definitely help support her transition into Middle School counseling. Lauren’s goal for this school year is to build relationships with Stone Valley’s students in order to best support their needs and assist them to be successful in school and beyond. She is excited to be here and is looking forward to having a great year!
Volunteer
Your presence on our campus benefits all students, plus you can earn your very own Stone Valley car magnet! Just put in two hours of volunteer time, and our PTA will reward you with a handsome fixture for your car. For specific volunteer opportunities please contact one of the following people. Lunchtime Supervision – Trish Theobald, ttheobald@srvusd.net. You pick the day(s); each supervision is a 30 minute commitment. School Site Council – Sandy Kontilis, skontilis@srvusd.net. The Council meets three times per year and shapes the school vision and monitors/ advises about program expenditures. Principal’s Advisory Council – Shaun McElroy, smcelro@srvusd. net. Roundtable discussion/think tank on school improvement. The group meets quarterly. School Climate Committee – Chelsea Rivas, crivas1@srvusd.net. Help shape the programs that lead to an improved school climate. The group meets six times per year. Teachers Angels – Janet Nunan, Janetnunan@aol.com. Help specific teachers in the classroom on an as-needed basis
Stone Valley Community Garden Update
The Stone Valley garden will be attended by a record number of students this year now that it is on the 6th grade “wheel” and garden participation is still offered to upperclassmen through the Environmental Science class. I am delighted that our natural treasure will now host a whole new crop of beneficial plants, and that every new Stone Valley student will have the privilege of spending time in our beautiful garden. Thanks to some industrious sixth graders and their parents, our recent workday was a success! There will be more opportunities to get your hands dirty throughout the year. If you are interested in helping out, please contact Jeff Hager at jhager@srvusd.net or Rachel Day at rachel.day31@gmail.com.
Stone Valley has Gone Social!
Attention Stone Valley students and parents! Stone Valley Middle School has gone social! “Like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/ Stone-Valley-Middle-School. Follow us on Twitter - @StoneValleyMS. Sign up for Text Alerts by texting @0c3a67 to 925-392-0796. Be sure to stay connected all year long!
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Monte Vista High School By Janet Terranova, Principal
Monte Vista is finishing our fourth week of school. It has been a busy four weeks as students settle into their classes and get used to the routine of being back in school. As much as students may groan about having to go back to school, we know that students enjoy the routine of school and the process of learning. And they have been busy learning; as I walk into classrooms I see students engaged in rich discussions, participating in Socratic seminars, working together to complete lab projects, solving math equations, and getting hands-on experience in Sports Medicine and engineering classes. Our Visual and Performing Arts classes are getting ready for their first performances and shows. Our staff is learning too. This year all schools in our District will be participating in semester long cohorts within their schools or District wide. This semester our teachers have chosen to study a variety of subjects: Literacy with Media and Visual Texts, Student Presentations, Interactive Lecture, Socratic Seminars, and Research. Staff will be learning strategies in these areas to engage and enhance learning for our students. Every year, on the last Friday in September, Monte Vista holds a Club Faire. Each club sets up a table in the amphitheater at lunch, and students have the opportunity to look at all the clubs on campus and join one or several clubs. This year we have over 90 clubs from Anime to Youth and Government, so there is a club for everyone to join. All students are welcome to join any club, and we encourage participation. We know that the more involved students are in school, the more successful they will be in high school. Encourage high school students you may know to get involved. Activities are underway. We have had our first rally and fall sports (cross country, football, men and women’s water polo, and women’s tennis, golf, and volleyball) are practicing and competing. We have homecoming in October, and the month of October will find our clubs having their first meetings. For more information about Monte Vista and our activities, please visit our website at www.mvhs.schoolloop.com.
Alamo Today ~ October 2014 - Page 11
San Ramon Valley High School By Ruth Steele, Principal
In October, there are two big events happening at SRVHS. Street Smarts is bringing the CHP “Start Smart” program back to the San Ramon Valley on October 15th. Start Smart is a two-hour driver safety education class given by the California Highway Patrol to new and future teenage drivers and their parents/guardians. At the event, CHP officers will discuss collision factors associated with teen drivers, collision avoidance techniques, and driver/parent responsibilities. Parents must attend with their teens. (Note: The presentation contains extremely graphic images.) The October 15 event is free and open to teens/parents. To register, visit http:// chpstartsmart-101514.eventbrite.com. For more information, please contact Cathy DeLuca, Street Smarts Coordinator, at 925-314-3382 or cathy@street-smarts.com.
Homecoming 2014 is October 20th-25th
The themes this year are: Freshman Theme-Forrest Gump, Sophomore ThemeToy Story, Junior Theme-How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Senior Theme-Grease. Set up for the parade begins at noon on Friday, October 24th. The annual parade will begin at 2:40pm. Our SRVHS band will lead our parade out of the SRVHS main parking lot turning right onto Danville Blvd and then yielding right onto Railroad Ave. The parade will head down Railroad, make a left at Prospect Ave., then take a left onto Hartz. The parade will end by 3:10pm. We hope you will be able to be a part of this wonderful occasion. It is something very special and unique to Danville. Every year we get to celebrate school spirit, our traditions, and our alumni during this wonderful event!
Want to Become a Better Speaker?
Toastmasters allows its members to practice their speaking and presentation skills in a supportive environment. Our local club, Danville AM Toastmasters, meets every Tuesday from 7 to 8:30AM at Father Nature's Restaurant in downtown Danville (172 E Prospect Ave). Please drop by and visit us! For more information, contact Hans Thoma at danvilletoastmasters@outlook.com.
Page 12 - October 2014 ~ Alamo Today
Alamo Women’s Club
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THANK YOU to those who helped us in our renovation of the old clubhouse into a spectacular venue in Alamo. This undertaking was over four years in the planning stages, and key to making this happen was assembling a team that understood and shared in AWC’s vision. As many readers of Alamo Today know, the Alamo Women’s Club has been a part of the community since 1916 and a Danville Blvd. presence since 1951. Here and there the clubhouse had some cracks, flaws, and just general wear and tear on the lacking building. This necessitated plans to proceed with a mini-facelift. Our architect, David Ruffin + Architects, was there from the beginning as we struggled with what the project should be. David took the time to understand what the club stood for and worked with us to put our vision on paper. Wells Fargo Bank, Alamo, wanted to be our partner from day one and supported us and our philanthropic community mission with its efforts to meet our timing deadlines for the financing. We thank everyone at the Alamo Wells Fargo branch and especially George Kugman and Janet Price for their help and extra “TLC.” Our contractor, Fjellbo & Son Construction of Concord did an outstanding job of working with ‘all the ladies’ – never an easy feat! Particularly our contractor worked closely with the fabulous and dedicated AWC member and Project Manager, Claudia Waldron, to stay within budget, be on time, and deal with all the glitches that routinely ensue with a 60 year old building that members’ husbands built so long ago, much of it by hand. Claudia daily checked progress to ensure every element was perfect; the club is a gem because of her keen artist’s eye and attention to detail. Eric Fjellbo is a second generation contractor since 1963. His outstanding staff and incredibly talented sub contractors embraced AWC’s vision and provided exceptional quality and craftsmanship. It was heartwarming to all the women of AWC to see the entire team helping on the renovation understand what the club does to help to the community, show appreciation of our nearly 100 years of community involvement, and truly give their best to our renovation. As neighbors drive down Alamo Blvd. they will now see our new look. The photos give you an idea of some of the outer transformation that took place this past summer. This project also resonated with the 2014/15 co-presidents, Carol Atwater of Alamo and Margaret Batesole of Danville, who adopted renovation as their theme for the year: “Renew, rebuild, and regrow.” As we move further into the year with the rebuild completed which renewed the tired building, AWC membership wants to welcome new members and renew and regrow our membership. Our motto is “We are a place where women come together to work toward a better community for all.” If that is something of interest and if our excursions, speaker luncheons and help in the community are things you value, then look at our membership application online at www.alamowomensclub.org. Join us October 11th at the Community Boutique and Garage Sale from 9am to 3pm. We will have lots of fun extras on site that day so please come on down. It should be a beautiful fall day perfect for shopping and finding a hidden treasure. On October 22 author Simon Woods will be featured at our Speaker Luncheon. Simon’s riveting mysteries, Paying the Piper and No Show, his latest novel, are must reads! Get your reservation in and make it fun by joining our members in dressing up for Halloween. An English transplant, racecar driver and sometime private investigator, Simon will enliven our luncheon. RSVP by October 16th to njhowsmon@sbcglobal.net. The $25 cost for non-members includes lunch. As you read about the Alamo Women’s Club each month, you may have noticed that in addition to our speaker luncheons and support of many deserving charities, our members also work on projects for groups that are closest to their hearts. Recently one of our members, Melanie Gutterson of Alamo, had a health setback and so she worked on making no-sew quilts as she recovered at home. Eventually she ended up with 26 quilts that were presented to teen foster children at Youth Homes. Another member, Sheila Erdos of Alamo, regularly makes alphabet communication boards for Hospice’s Bruns House for the patients’ visitors. Since so many members enjoy this type of hands-on project and the philanthropies value the end product, our Philanthropy Chair, Nina Rowe, is planning hands-on projects to be a feature for our membership to work on before each monthly business meeting. We will be preparing craft materials for We Care’s Dad’s Donut Days, knitting baby hats for Brighter Beginnings, and making blankets for George Marks Children’s House. Other ways to help our philanthropies is to educate our membership on what each philanthropy does and what each needs from the community. Lazarex Cancer Foundation of Danville, Shot at Life, and Elderly Wish are all new philanthropies to AWC with representatives scheduled to speak to members during the next year. Don’t forget to drive by and see our new building. It is now a quality site for the community to enjoy for many years to come.
Come Celebrate!
The Alamo Women’s Club Grand Opening will be held Sunday, November 2nd from 3 to 6pm . The afternoon will showcase the recent renovation. The community is welcome to come and see our remodeled club house and new look for the 21st century in readiness of our upcoming 100 year celebration in 2016.
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Alamo Today ~ October 2014 - Page 13
Cornerstone Sonoma By Linda Summers Pirkle
My small backyard is divided into four outdoor rooms. Our talented landscape architect created a very special space; a dining area for a group of 12, a table for two nestled among containers of potted plants on a brick lined patio, a fire pit area, and a pool and spa. I love my backyard. However, I have one project, my “secret garden” which is a 10’ by 6’ area hidden behind a fence and accessible by a pathway behind my house, that sorely needs some love. One of the places that I visit for gardening inspiration is Cornerstone Gardens in Sonoma. What a place! Located off Highway 121, Cornerstone Sonoma features three wine tasting venues, some lovely home and garden shops and galleries, a café and nine acres of amazing, ever changing ,walkthrough gardens created by landscape architects and designers from around the world. Cornerstone Gardens was inspired by the International Garden Festival at Chaumont-sur-Loire in France, and the aim, according to their website, is “to create a cultural and creative haven celebrating the connection between art, architecture, and nature. The gardens contribute to the art, philosophy, and future of garden design; they focus on themes and ideas, establishing or uncovering new directions in garden design and art.” It is amazing. Each artist is given approximately 1,800 square feet to design as they wish. I so enjoy walking through the different gardens; each one is unique and inspiring. One of my favorite gardens is “White Cloud” created by Andy Cao (Los Angeles) and Xavier Perrot (Paris). Bai Yun or White Cloud, as the website describes, is a sculpted cumulus cloud hovering over an undulating surface of compacted granite, crushed glass, and oyster shell. The “clouds” made of swirls of wire mesh and supported by slender posts are enhanced by thousands of clear, cut crystals that catch the light from morning to moonlight. It is just gorgeous. Each time I visit Cornerstone Gardens I get a new idea about a project, or I simply feel relaxed and reinvigorated. I am in good company, I guess, as Robert Redford and Diane Keaton as well as other personalities have been known to wander the grounds, unnoticed, enjoying the tranquility. Winter Circus for the Holidays, an annual family event based on the French tradition-Le Cirque de Boheme features all sorts of entertainment reminiscent of Paris Theater of the 1920’s. The nine holiday performances begin the weekend after Thanksgiving on November 28 thru the end of the year. Tickets can be purchased online at www.cornerstonesonoma.com. The 10th annual Lighting of the Snowmen at Cornerstone takes place at 3PM on Sunday, December 7th. This free event includes live music in the snowflake filled Courtyard, classic holiday films in the Olive Grove Cinema, wine tasting, carolers, and free gift wrapping. Even if you are not a dog lover, you will be charmed by Axel the English Bull dog who toggles around Cornerstone with a huge bucket in his mouth. Stop to pet him and he leans toward you, bucket in mouth, eyes closed in a state of complete relaxation. He is adorable; he even has his own official YouTube video. • Cornerstone is located at 23570 Arnold Drive, Sonoma, CA 95476. Their phone number is 707.933.3010 and their website is cornerstonesonoma.com. Hours are daily from 10AM to 5PM and entrance is free. On weekends the garden may close as early as 3PM for special events. Cornerstone is a beautiful and popular venue for weddings and special occasions. • Pathways are flat with some seating along the way. Tours last about an hour and a half. 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.” What a great place to live, so much to see, so much to do.” To share your “Quick Trips” ideas, email Coverthemap@gmail.com. White Cloud garden at Cornerstone Sonoma
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Page 14 - October 2014 ~ Alamo Today
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Large selection of apparel, toys, and accessories!
The Golden Rule
By Evan Corstorphine, Portable CIO
Every day we make choices about how to act in a myriad of situations. Each choice can present many consequences--many we cannot yet see, many that are unintended. Each of us, and everything and everyone around us, is the culmination of our decisions thus far in our lives. Our businesses are the same way. I try to live my life by the adage, “Do unto others as they would do unto you.” The point? We all need to treat each other well, whether at an interpersonal level or at a business level. And why do I write this today? I do so because, I was just treated poorly by a vendor who I have purchased thousands of dollars of product from, and they are completely indifferent, smug in their petty rules which ignore the reality of their product and how it behaves, insulated behind a wall of internet connections, call-centers and voicemail, indifferent because to them I realize I’m a nobody. I often say, “No one in the big corporation hears you scream,” and this is a perfect example. In our business of dealing with technology and especially the internet, we’ve run across many people who have been ripped-off or otherwise mistreated at the hands of both crooks and legitimate companies. It’s easy to stand there and say, “Boy, that’s a tough one,” to someone who’s just had a bad encounter, but the truth is, it takes a lot of self-control not to get ticked off and cynical when it happens. It is true that we cannot change other people, only ourselves. All we can do is set the best example possible and hope that others copy our positive behavior if they find it useful or attractive. I know we’ve not always been perfect at Portable CIO, but we try to do the right thing. That means that not every job is going to be profitable to the business. It means we’re going to have to take the extra time to do something that was unplanned, unpleasant, or unintended just to ensure that the end result is what we ourselves would want if we were in the customer’s shoes. In our management meetings, we
call it “Vitamin P,” and it is the reason people choose us over our competition. People who work with us get a collection of smart people who are focused on making your situation right, who look at your situation through the “Vitamin P” lens. Empathy. Walk a mile in someone’s shoes. That’s something I keep telling my staff to practice. Try to look at all of these strange situations people confront from the standpoint of someone to whom this is completely foreign. Try to imagine what it feels like when we tell a business owner that instead of a little something that needs doing on their laptop, the hard drive has died and taken their data with it. While these situations are not of our creation, we can certainly imagine what it’s like to be in their shoes, and we act with the courtesy and respect appropriate to the situation. So, back to my issue. I bought software for my server. It didn’t work, and it didn’t say why it didn’t work in the error messages; it just didn’t work. It took a long time to figure out what the problem was, and it took longer still to contact the manufacturer when I discovered we needed a different product from them, one twice as expensive ($2,000 not $1,000) and that I’m willing to purchase if I can exchange my earlier purchase. But their policies say they won’t return software older than 30 days. Period. No exceptions, even on appeal. I couldn’t have known the root cause of the problem in time to act within 30 days, because their software’s error messages was so cryptic. So regardless of their product being part of the reason, their response was, “tough beans!” The truth of the matter is that since they are completely insulated from me, they really don’t care. I get it; I just don’t like it. We must never treat people like this. What will I do? I’m undecided. Maybe this is the cost of doing business with big internet companies. A one-man protest against this company will hurt me, not them, as I don’t have a good alternative to their product, and I need the functionality it offers. But on principle, it’s a very bitter pill. If you need assistance from a company that does care, that will empathize with your situation and address your technical problems, perhaps Portable CIO is the right choice. Give us a call at 925-552-7953, or email helpdesk@theportablecio.com. Advertorial
editor@yourmonthlypaper.com
Upgrading your Exterior: It Begins and Ends with ColorThe Bay Area’s premier painting By Maya Modacure, company.MB It’s Jessee all in thePainting details.
If you are considering an exterior home remodelCall us for a complimentary consultation ing project, fall510.655.7000 in the San Francisco Bay Area is the | www.mbjessee.com perfect time to move ahead. Beautiful green shrubbery | HILLSBOROUGH | PIEDMONT | OAKLAND | DANVILLE/ALAMO MARIN and planters SAN willFRANCISCO give your exterior a natural burst of color. Your front | door shutters and trim add warmth and character with color. A beautiful exterior LICENSE NO. 702138 can make a house seem more inviting, and it will give guests and potential buyers a sense of fondness towards it. Whether subtle or dramatic, color plays a major role when creating curb appeal. We’ve composed a few tips to help you make your home exterior more beautiful. One of the easiest ways to update the curb appeal of your home is to replace your front door. Older entry doors are typically not energy efficient. Old doors tend to warp, crack, and have areas of rot. Settling of the door frame can cause visible gaps. These issues can lead to air leakage, make your heating and air conditioning systems work harder to maintain the inside temperature, and result in higher energy bills. Replacing your entry door not only saves energy. New doors are more durable, improving the security against would-be burglars. You can complement your current architecture by installing a similar-style replacement door, or you change the look of the exterior by choosing a different style with multiple panels, glass panes, or by incorporating side lights. It’s important to remember a change of paint color renders the most impact for the investment. Soft paint shades in neutrals, blue, and green provide a calming feeling, while brighter shades of red, orange, or yellow add energy and excitement to your entryway. Outdoor areas are often the last to receive design attention, but they shouldn’t be. What surrounds your home is just as important as what is inside. Whether it’s a manicured front lawn, stone paver pathway, or intricate
Alamo Today ~ October 2014 - Page 15 garden design, these spaces benefit from the same attention to detail as any bathroom or kitchen. Well-designed landscaping ideas can complement your home’s architecture and design, and the right plants, flowers, and shrubbery can greatly enhance your curb appeal by adding color, texture, and even fragrance to your yard. Consider including plants that maintain their look during the fall and winter as well so that your property can be beautiful all year around. Painting the exterior of your home, while more of an investment in terms of time and possibly money, will spectacularly change the look and value of your home. As a rule of thumb, most homes in the Bay Area require a new exterior painting job every five to ten years. Owners of traditional homes in the Bay Area often choose to honor and reflect the history of their home by choosing colors of the era in which the home was built. Benjamin Moore has a Historical Colors line that is geared towards traditional homes and color schemes. However, a traditional home needn’t always be painted in a traditional color palette. Many homeowners choose to spice it up a bit and use brighter, more vivid colors to highlight the decorative and architectural details of older homes. Using darker colors adds drama to your home and draws attention to details, while lighter colors make a home seem larger. Select colors that flatter your home and bring out its best elements. Paint color can also be used to camouflage imperfections. Keep in mind that high-quality paint results require professional application. Upgrade your old, drafty front door to a new energy efficient one. Plant an herb garden, add a flower box, or redesign your entire landscape. Update the color of your home; whether the trim color or the complete exterior. Increasing the curb appeal and value of your home can be accomplished with clever use of color. MB Jessee Painting has experience with painting the finest homes in the Bay Area over the last 20 years. MB Jessee Painting also offers color consultations at no additional cost. Please contact us at 510-655-7000, email us at info@mbjessee.com, or visit our website at www.mbjessee. com. Advertorial
Page 16 - October 2014 ~ Alamo Today
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Stone Valley Rd. Exit West off Hwy 680 to www.ShopRichards.com Ad prices effective through 10/30/14 Danville Blvd., Right 1 Block.
300 Market Place., 1-680/Bollinger Canyon Rd. Rd. Exit East to Alcosta Blvd.
All Fall & Everyday m Glass to Glitter New Richards StoreFloral Now Open in San Ramon d-blown Decorative New Richards Store Now Open Canyon in San Ramon off Pumpkins The50% Marketplace • Off Bollinger Road near the library
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Mon.-Sat 9:30-8:00, Sun. 10:00-6:00
editor@yourmonthlypaper.com Thank You
Alamo Today ~ October 2014 - Page 17 For Supporting Local Family Business Mon. - Fri. 9:30-8:00, Sat. 9:30-6:00, Sun. 11:00-5:30
www.ShopRichards.com
Ad prices effective through 10/30/14
Thank You For Supporting Local Family Business
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The Marketplace • Off Bollinger Canyon Road near the library Ad prices effective through 10/30/14 www.ShopRichards.com We have beautiful and inspiring new products-come visit! We have beautiful and inspiring new products-come visit! Ad prices effective through 10/30/14 Pumpkins A San Ramon Store 359-6900 Alamo Store 820-4731 The Marketplace Shopping Center Alamo Plaza Shopping Center FromPumpkins Glass to Glitter 300 Market Place., 1-680/Bollinger Canyon Rd. Beautiful Stone Valley new Rd. Exit colors West off Hwyto 680 to A Hand-blown Decorative
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Mon. - Fri. 9:30-8:00, Sat. 9:30-6:00, Sun. 11:00-5:30 Ad prices effective through 10/30/14
Ad prices effective through 10/30/14 Thank You Alamo Store 820-4731 Thank You For Supporting Local Family Business Alamo Plaza Shopping Center
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will San Ramon Store 359-6900 Alamo Our Store pumpkins 820-4731 San Ramon Store 359-6900 The Marketplace • Off Bollinger Canyon Road near the library 79 last the season We pumpkins have beautiful and inspiring new products-come visit! Fall From Glass to Glitter Halloween Decor, Lights, The Marketplace Shopping Center The Marketplace Shopping Center Alamo Plaza Shopping Center .com Our last the season will and We have beautiful and inspiring new products-come MarketStore Place., 1-680/Bollinger Canyon Rd. 300359-6900 Market Place., 1-680/Bollinger Canyonvisit! Rd. San300 Ramon Store 820-4731 Stone Valley Rd.your Exit West in all falloff Hwy 680 to Halloween Hand-blown Decorative Alamo Spiders and Webs, Paper in all your fall Exit East toRd. Alcosta Blvd. Exit East to Alcosta Blvd. TheRd. Marketplace Shopping Center Alamo Plaza Shopping Center Danville Blvd., Right 1 Block. Flags San Ramon Store 359-6900 Alamo Store 820-4731 h 10/30/14 last the season Mon.-Sat Sun. 10:00-6:00 decorating Mon.-Sat 9:30-8:00, Sun. 10:00-6:00 300 Market9:30-8:00, Place., 1-680/Bollinger Canyon Rd. Mon. Fri. 9:30-8:00, Sat. 9:30-6:00, Sun. 11:00-5:30 Stone Valley Rd. Exit West off Hwy 680 to decorating offShopping Center Glass Pumpkins 50% Party Goods, Ghouls, Regular Price! The MarketplaceRd. Shopping Alamo Plaza Exit EastCenter to Alcosta Blvd.
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Danville Blvd., Right 1 Block. 300 Market Place., 1-680/Bollinger Canyon Rd. Stone Valley Rd. Exit off Hwy 680 Mon.-Sat 9:30-8:00, Sun. 10:00-6:00 San Ramon Store 359-6900 Alamo Store 820-4731 Mon.West - Fri. 9:30-8:00, Sat. to 9:30-6:00, Sun. 11:00-5:30 www.ShopRichards.com Rd. Exit East to Alcosta Blvd. Danville Blvd., Right 1 Block. Ad prices effective through 10/30/14 Daler Rowney Graduates 75 ml The Marketplace Shopping Center Alamo Plaza Shopping Center Mon.-Sat 9:30-8:00, Sun.have 10:00-6:00 We Mon. - Fri. San Ramon Store Alamo Store 820-4731 300 359-6900 Market Place., 1-680/Bollinger Canyon Rd. it all from Stone Valley Rd. Exit West off9:30-8:00, Hwy 680Sat. to 9:30-6:00, Sun. 11:00-5:30 www.ShopRichards.com Ad prices effective through 10/30/14 The Marketplace Alamo Plaza Shopping Center Rd. Shopping Exit East toCenter Alcosta Blvd. tasteful to Ghoulish! Danville Blvd., Right 1 Block. Store300 359-6900 Alamo Store 820-4731 Market Place., 1-680/Bollinger Canyon Rd. Halloween Decor, Lights, Mon.-Sat 9:30-8:00, Sun. 10:00-6:00 Stone Valley Rd. Exit- Fri. West off HwyAd 680 to effective Mon. 9:30-8:00, Sat. 9:30-6:00, Sun. 11:00-5:30 Fall and www.ShopRichards.com prices through 10/30/14 Halloween Decor, Lights, placeRd. Shopping Center Fall and Alamo Plaza Shopping Center Exit East to Alcosta Blvd. Halloween Danville Blvd., Right 1 Block. 12" Stems * Sprays * Swags * Picks * Berries Bushes Spiders and Webs, Paper 12"toto48" 48"High High Halloween lace.,Mon.-Sat 1-680/Bollinger Canyon Rd. Flags Spiders and Webs, Paper Stone Valley Rd. Exit West off Hwy 680 to 9:30-8:00, Sun. 10:00-6:00 *Mon. Wreaths * Garlands * Pre-Made Arrangements - Fri. 9:30-8:00, Sat. 9:30-6:00, Sun. 11:00-5:30 Flags Party Goods, Ghouls, reg. $4.95 ea. to Alcosta Blvd. www.ShopRichards.com Ad prices effective through 10/30/14 Danville Blvd., Right 1 Block. Party Goods, Ghouls,
of All Skeletons and more All tasteful to Ghoulish! Thank You For Supporting Local Family Business decoratingAcrylic Tube Paints Scarecrows Scarecrows Beau Thank You For Supporting Local Family Business bring Thank You For Supporting Local Family Business Everyday Floral also 40% off 50% off 50% off 8:00, Sun. 10:00-6:00 Stem Mon. - Fri. 9:30-8:00, Sat. 9:30-6:00, Sun. 11:00-5:30 Witches, &&Vultures, Witches,Crows Crows Vultures, www.ShopRichards.com Ad prices Business effective through 10/30/14 Thank You For Supporting Local Family Scarecrow 5'5'Scarecrow ww AlamoBush The Marketplace • Off Bollinger Canyon Road near the library San Ramon Store 359-6900 Stor Skeletons and more Skeletons and more VALUABLE COUPON! The Marketplace Shopping Center Alamo Plaz www.ShopRichards.com Ad prices effective through 10/30/14 Valid Through 10/30/14 and Pr ThankDaler You The For Supporting Local Family Business $7.49 Rowney Graduates 75 ml Marketplace •300Off Bollinger Canyon Roadproducts-come near the library $7.49 Market Place., 1-680/Bollinger Canyon Rd. Stone Valley We have beautiful and inspiring new visit! reg.$14.99 $14.99 Danville Blv Rd. Exit East to AlcostaNow Blvd. 2.5" widethe library reg. Thank You For Local Family Business $9.99 -products-come 24.99 Any One (Compare at) Priced Item TheSupporting Marketplace •beautiful Off Regular Bollinger Canyon Road near Mon.-Satand 9:30-8:00, Sun. 10:00-6:00 Mon. - Fri. 9:3 We have inspiring new visit! Beautiful Tube new colors Paints to reg $19.99 to $49.99 12" to 48" HighAcrylic Now
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Sign up for our e-mail list and enter a monthly drawing for a $50 Gift Certificate!
Stems * Sprays * Swags * Picks * Berries Bushes * Wreaths * Garlands * Pre-Made Arrangements
All Halloween 50% off All Halloween 50% off All Halloween 50% off 40% off All Halloween 50% off All Halloween 50% off
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Thank For Supporting Local Family Busines Natural Burlap reg. $4.95 ea. near the library *Alamo You *SanRegular Ramon Price! e Marketplace •beautiful Off Bollinger Canyon Road Bushes, Picks, Wreaths, Everyday Floral also 40% off 3” to 20”visit! diameter We have and inspiring new products-come 5' Scarecrow wRowney Table Runners, We have it all from Bolt olt and Graduates Pre-Made Arrangements Regular Price!Ribbons, Daler 75 ml products-come All Christmas Floral We have beautiful and inspiring new visit! Placemats, Bags &in San Reg. g. $5.99 New Richards Store Now Open tasteful to Ghoulish! WeCOUPON! have it all from 9 VALUABLE CLIP SAVE! Daler Rowney Graduates7575mlml Daler Rowney Graduates All’N Christmas Floral All Christmas Floral Regular Price! Acrylic Tube Paints Valid Through 10/30/14 50% off Pouches, Tablecloths $7.49 Halloween Decor, Lights, We have itMarketplace all from tasteful to Ghoulish! Fall and AcrylicTube TubePaints Paints The • Off Bollinger Canyon Road near Acrylic Regular Price! 40% off Halloween Our pumpkins will reg. $14.99 Spiders and Webs, Paper tasteful to Ghoulish! Halloween Decor, Lights, 79¢ to $19.99 Decorate With We have it all from Fall and Any One Regular (Compare at) Priced Item $1.88 Flags Regular Price! $1.88 reg. $4.95ea. ea. reg. $4.95 ea. We have and inspiring new products-co $1.88 reg. $4.95 Everydaybeautiful Floral last also 40% off Halloween Everyday Floral also 40% off the season Party Goods, Ghouls, Halloween Decor, Lights, Spiders and Webs, Paper We have it all from Fall and tasteful to Ghoulish! Natural Burlap Flags VALUABLECOUPON! COUPON! VALUABLE Halloween in all&your fall Witches, Crows Vultures, VALUABLE COUPON! Spiders and Webs,Goods, Paper Ghouls, Party Valid Through 10/30/14 We have it all from Halloween Decor, Lights, tasteful to Ghoulish! Flags 10/30/14 Fall and Valid Through Ribbons, PROOF O.K. BY: ____________________________ O.K. WITH CORR1 Sign upTable for ourRunners, e-mail list and enter a monthly drawing $50 Gift Certificate! AnyOne One Regular(Compare (Comparefor at)aPriced Priced Item decorating Skeletons and more Any Regular at) Item Party Goods, Ghouls, Halloween Witches, Crows & Vultures, tasteful to Ghoulish! Spiders and Webs, Paper Halloween Decor, Lights, O.K. WITH CORR Regular P Fall and Address Placemats, Bags & Any One Regular (Compare at) Priced Item PROOF O.K. BY: ____________________________ Flags E-Mail E-Mail Address
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One coupon per family per day. Cannot be combined with other offers. Excludes custom framing and prior sales, Klutz Books, Demdaco, Spellbinders, Sizzix, Willow Tree, Wilton, Games, Martha Stewart, Lenox, Snoozies, Furniture, Meri Meri, and Copic Markers. Limited to stock on hand. Other exclusions apply. Discount taken off regular compare at price.
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Stems * Sprays * Swags * Picks * Berries Bushes * Wreaths * Garlands * Pre-Made Arrangements
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Valid Through 10/30/14
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C Witches, Crows & Vultures, Skeletons and more PLEASE Halloween *Alamo *San Ramon READ CAREFULLY • SUBMIT CORRECTIONS ONLINE HalloweenSpiders Decor, Lights, Party Goods, BA-0005288946-02.INDD (100%) and Webs, Paper Fall Ghouls, and I’m already Tablecloths on the list! Pouches, E-Mail Address Flags *Alamo *San Ramon Address ADVERTISER: RICHARDS CRAFTS INC PROOF CREATED AT: 9/17/2014 8:10 Skeletons Halloween BA-0005288946-02.INDD *Alamo *San We itWilton, all (100%) from One coupon per family per day. Cannot be combined with other offers. Excludes custom framing andRamon priorand sales, more Klutz Books, Demdaco, Spellbinders, Sizzix, have Willow Tree, Games, Martha Stewart, Spiders andE-Mail Webs, Paper Witches, Crows & Vultures, Party Goods, Ghouls, Sign up for our e-mail list and enter a monthly drawing for a $50 Gift Certificate!Flags SALES PERSON: Marlene Vizcaino NEXT RUN DATE: 10/06/14 All Lenox, Snoozies, Furniture, Meri Meri, and Copic Markers. Limited to stock on hand. Other exclusions apply. Discount taken off regular compare at price. ADVERTISER: RICHARDS CRAFTS INC PROOF CREATED AT: 9/17/2014 8:10 79¢ to $19.99 Party SIZE: 5 X 10.5 PROOF DUE: 09/26/14 17:00:00 tasteful to Ghoulish! Goods, Ghouls, Skeletons and more Witches, Crows & Vultures, E-Mail Address CLIP ’N SAVE! PERSON: Marlene Vizcaino NEXT RUN DATE: 10/06/14 Scarecrows *Alamo *SanSALES Ramon PUBLICATION: BA-Print and Deliver CLIP ’N SAVE! I’m already on the list! CLIP ’N SAVE! 5Halloween X 10.5 PROOF DUE: 09/26/14 17:00:00 Decor, Lights, Witches, Crows & Vultures, Skeletons and more 12"Games, toSIZE: 48" High Fall and One coupon per family per day. Cannot be combined with other offers. Excludes custom framing and prior sales, Klutz Books, Demdaco, Spellbinders, Sizzix, Willow Tree, Wilton, Martha Stewart, PUBLICATION: BA-Print and Deliver Lenox, Snoozies, Furniture, Meri Meri, and Copic Markers. Limited to stock on hand. Other exclusions apply. Discount taken off regular compare at price. Halloween AT Spiders and Webs, Paper Skeletons and more 10CLIP Yard’N SAVE! Flags 50% off Party Goods, Ghouls, 5' Scarecrow Alamo w Store 820-4731 Christmas Witches, Vultures, Alamo Plaza Crows Shopping&Center OF O.K. BY: ____________________________ O.K. WITH CORRECTIONS BY: _________________________ StoneSkeletons Valley Rd. Exitand West more off Hwy 680 to $7.49 Ribbon Danville Blvd., Right 1 Block.
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Sign up for our e-mail list and enter a monthly drawing for a $50 Gift Certificate! Sign up for our e-mail list and enter a monthly drawing for a $50 Gift Certificate!
PLEASE READ CAREFULLY • SUBMIT CORRECTIONS ONLINE
I’m already on the list! I’m already on the list! per day. Cannot be combined with other offers. Excludes custom framing and prior sales, Klutz Books, Demdaco, Spellbinders, Sizzix, Willow Tree, Wilton, Games, Martha Stewart, One coupon per family
One coupon family Furniture, per day. Cannot be combined with other offers. custom and prior apply. sales, Discount Klutz Books, Sizzix, Willow Tree, Wilton, Games, Martha Stewart, Lenox,per Snoozies, Meri Meri, and Copic Markers. LimitedExcludes to stock on hand.framing Other exclusions takenDemdaco, off regularSpellbinders, compare at price. Lenox, Snoozies, Furniture, Meri Meri, and Copic Markers. Limited to stock on hand. Other exclusions apply. Discount taken off regular compare at price.
READ CAREFULLY • SUBMIT CORRECTIONS ONLINE
ws 05288946-01.INDD (100%)
All Christmas Floral All Christmas Floral 40% All Christmas Floral off 40% off $1.88 All Christmas Floral Everyday Floral also 40% off 40% off $1.88 All Christmas Floral Everyday Floral also 40% off
2.5" wide Daler Rowney Graduates 75 ml www.ShopRichards.com h Daler Rowney Graduates 75 mlPaints Now Acrylic Tube ISER: RICHARDS CRAFTS INC PROOF CREATED AT: 9/17/2014 7:45 AM Daler Rowney Graduates 75 ml ERSON: Marlene Vizcaino RUN effective DATE: 10/06/14 AdNEXT prices through 10/30/14 $2.99/ Acrylic Tube Paints OOF O.K. BY: ____________________________ O.K. WITH CORRECTIONS BY: _________________________ XF 10.5 PROOF DUE: 09/26/14 17:00:00 reg. $4.95 ea. O.K. BY: ____________________________ O.K. WITH CORRECTIONS BY: _________________________ Daler Rowney Graduates 75 ml E READ CAREFULLY • SUBMIT CORRECTIONS ONLINE Acrylic Tube Paints ____________________ O.K. WITH CORRECTIONS BY: _________________________ olt Bolt ATION: BA-Print and Deliver ONLINE AD CAREFULLY • SUBMIT CORRECTIONS 0005288946-01.INDD (100%) reg. $4.95 ea. Reg. g. $5.99 Daler Rowney Graduates 75 ml Acrylic Tube Paints
Pumpkins
reg. $14.99 Mon. - Fri. 9:30-8:00, Sat. 9:30-6:00, Sun. 11:00-5:30
San Ramon Store 359-6900 The Marketplace Shopping Center 300 Market Place., 1-680/Bollinger Canyon Rd. Rd. Exit East to Alcosta Blvd.
Stems10:00-6:00 * Sprays * Swags * Picks * Berries Bushes Mon.-Sat 9:30-8:00, Sun. * Wreaths * Garlands * Pre-Made Arrangements
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Page 18 - October 2014 ~ Alamo Today
Clip Notes
By Jody Morgan
You don’t have to know anything about gardening to realize that the onset of fall is imminent when truckloads of chrysanthemums begin weighting down shelves at nurseries and supermarkets. Pinched until all their energy has been forced into producing innumerable flowers, then stuffed into pots with insufficient root systems to establish themselves before winter, these colorful mums are best adopted as annuals even though they come from perennial stock. Once the blossoms begin to look tattered, it’s hard to believe that these plants are honored in the Far East as symbols of longevity and the ability to withstand all adversities. Chrysanthemums first appeared in Chinese literature around 1500 BC. Confucius thought them worthy subjects for meditation. Myths about the arrival of chrysanthemums in Japan sometime in the fourth century AD tell conflicting stories, but a stylized version of the flower has served as the Mikado’s personal emblem since 791 AD. Also reminiscent of the sun, the seal of Japan’s Emperor has 16 petal tips peaking through 16 flattened petals. Combining “chrysos” from the Greek meaning golden and “anthemon” translating as flower, Carl Linnaeus created a botanical label for the genus in 1753 that has since been adopted as the common name as well. Grown in Europe as early as the 17th century, chrysanthemums remained a rarity there until the Victorian era. Although the original wild progenitors of these species bore yellow blossoms, the first chrysanthemum known to have reached the United States was a variety called ‘Old Purple.’ ‘Old Purple,’ rather youthful in terms of chrysanthemum history, was the only survivor of three specimens shipped from China to Marseilles in 1789. From France where it was bred, it traveled to England, blooming for the first time at the Royal Gardens at Kew in 1795. Passage for its crossing to the New World was arranged by Colonel John Stevens III in 1798. Riding today through the “farm at Hoebuck” that Stevens acquired at auction when it was confiscated from its Tory owner after the American Revolution, you’d wonder how New Jersey ever became known as the Garden State. But when ‘Old Purple’ disembarked, the City of Hoboken was still on the drawing board. Stevens envisioned ‘Old Purple’ as a major attraction in his “Elysian Fields,” a park he planned for his new city. After serving in Washington’s army, Stevens had a successful career in law and engineering. Responsible for the 1790 petition that formed the basis for United States Patent Law, Stevens is far better known for his pioneering work with steamboats and steam locomotives than his horticultural endeavors. Despite the plethora of chrysanthemums available now at bargain prices, plant hunters from the Western Hemisphere initially had limited success shipping home the exotic forms they found in Asia. Plants available for purchase were often forced for market and potted in local heavy clay that became waterlogged on the long journey back to Europe. Crews on vessels neglected to water the precious specimens and salt spray did nothing to improve their chances of survival. Gradually collectors devised better means of preparing plants by establishing their root systems in appropriate soil and protecting their cargo while in transit. Credited with bringing England chrysanthemum varieties that made horticultural news, Robert Fortune described his reaction to discovering them in his 1863 book Yedo and Peking (as quoted by Mary and John Gribbin in The Flower Hunters): “Quite distinct from any of the kinds at present known in Europe. One had petals like long thick hairs, of a red colour, but tipped with yellow, looking like the fringe of a shawl or curtain; another had broad white petals striped with red like a carnation or a camellia; while others were remarkable for their great size and brilliant colouring.” By the time Japanese immigrants Sadakusu Enomoto Offer expires 11/30/14
and his brother Eikichi established their business in Redwood City in 1906, chrysanthemums were readily saleable in American cities. Like other growers, they cut flowers early every morning and brought them into San Francisco. Soon the local market was saturated. How could they save their business? Carefully packing their product for long-distance travel, they engaged Wells Fargo’s four-day “Ocean-to-Ocean” service on refrigerated rail cars, making the first commercial interstate shipment of chrysanthemums in 1914. In 1915, Enomoto Brothers chrysanthemums reached New Orleans for the All Saints Day Parade. Chrysanthemums bloom naturally only in fall. Mid-twentieth century breeders discovered simulating the low-light conditions of autumn could keep flower production going to supply the floral trade year round.
Walnut Creek Garden Club
The Walnut Creek Garden Club (WCGC) will hold its monthly meeting on Monday, October 13th at the Gardens at Heather Farm, located at 1540 Marchbanks Road in Walnut Creek. A business meeting will be held at 9:30AM, social time will begin at 10:30AM, and the program will follow at 11AM. A staff member from Alexander Lindsay Museum will talk about the importance of bats in our neighborhoods and what we can do to sustain the bat community. You do not need to be a gardener to join the WCGC. We invite you to attend one of our meetings and consider being a member. Questions can be e-mailed to mslittle44@gmail.com.
Blackhawk Museum Oktoberfest
Celebrate Munich Style at the Blackhawk Museum for an outdoor Oktoberfest in a traditional biergarten on the Museum Plaza on October 4th. The event kicks off at 7PM and lasts until midnight. There will be beer along with traditional German food for purchase, as well as dancing and entertainment. Music will be provided by Deutscher Musikverein of San Francisco, dance entertainment will be provided by Golden Gate Bavarian Club, and there will be a tap-the-keg ceremony. Come attired in tracht, of course! It is a traditional national costume in German-speaking countries. It’s Oktoberfest, so be festive and have fun. General Admission is $25. Participants at the event must be 21 years or older. The Museum is located at 3700 Blackhawk Plaza Circle in Danville. For more information, visit www.blackhawkmuseum.org/Oktoberfest14, call 925-736-2280, or email museum@blackhawkmuseum.org.
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Fall Pruning
By Blaine Brende & Joe Lamb
IN DROUGHT, DROUGHT, IN Alamo Today ~ October 2014 - Page 19 HIRE A A HIRE W HPROFESSIONAL. EN IN DROUGHT, PROFESSIONAL. HIRE A PROFESSIONAL.
Now is a great time to prune your trees to protect them against winter storms. There are three kinds of tree failure: branch, column, and entire tree. Judicious pruning reduces the likelihood of all three kinds of failure. Selective removal of weight from leggy branches makes it much less likely that a branch would fall, causing injury or damage to property. It takes a lot of “in tree” experience to identify branches with weak crotches and/or with unsafe weight distribution. Thinning the canopy to reduce fricA Bay-Friendly Qualified Professional tion from the wind greatly reduces the odds of a column breaking, or of the can help you design and maintain a beautiful entire tree falling over. When done correctly, a tree pruned for safety should still look natural, even after 30% of its foliage is removed. drought-resistant landscape or garden. Many evergreens, such as cedars, cypresses, and redwoods, and many species of deciduous trees, such as valley oaks, can be pruned in this time of year. Monterey Pines should only be pruned between October 15th and FebFind one today at: A Bay-Friendly Qualified Professional ruary 15th unless compelling safety reasons dictate otherwise.. The timing for pruning is restricted because sap from pruning cuts attracts bark beetles that can help you design and maintain a beautiful A Bay-Friendly Qualified Professional are destructive to pines. These beetles become dormant during the fall and A Bay-Friendly Qualified Professional drought-resistant landscape or agarden. can help you design and maintain beautiful winter months. Some species of beetles carry pine pitch canker, an increasingly can help you design and maintain a beautiful drought-resistant landscape or garden. common fungal disease that disfigures pine trees, sometimes killing them. If drought-resistant landscape or garden. your tree has dead tips scattered throughout the canopy it probably suffers Find one today at: from pine pitch canker. To prolong the aesthetic life of a diseased tree, prune Find one today at: Find one today at: out the infected tips before February 15th. BayFriendlyPro.org October is also a good time, if you haven’t already, to make your landscape BayFriendlyPro.org more fire safe. It is not uncommon for the East Bay to experience hot, dry, and gusty winds in the fall due to sinking air from the bay combining with inland high-pressure systems. The Oakland Hills fire of 1991 occurred on October 20th, its precursor, the 1923 Berkeley Fire, started on September 27th. Removing dead wood, breaking up fire ladders, and limbing vegetation back from your home can greatly improve the chances of your home surviving a wildfire. Brende & Lamb knows how to fire prune your landscape in a way that improves fire safety, without sacrificing the natural aesthetic. Clearing some under-story trees and removing dead wood usually enhances the natural feel of a landscape by making it look more like a mature forest. Pruning trees for safety is a craft requiring study and experience. A well-pruned tree should not only be safer, but it should look beautiful. At Brende & Lamb we take great pride in both the science and the art of pruning. Each plant has a natural growth pattern, and our trimmers are expert at accentuating the shape given the plant by nature. Our trimmers are well practiced in aesthetic pruning and are attuned to the artistic flow inherent in tree forms. One form is weeping, as with Willows and Chinese Elms. In some species, such as the Monterey Cypress, branches ascend at acute angles to the trunk, giving the tree an upswept look. Branches in the Coast Live Oak bend and twist, forming complex arcs. Each tree species has a unique form and flow. When necessary, trees and shrubs can be reduced in size, but crown reduction requires a good eye: a poorly reduced tree looks like a thicket of stubs. Topping is almost always a bad idea. However, the crown of many trees can be reduced by cutting back long branches to the crotches formed by shorter branches growing in the same direction. If the branch doesn’t fork, we cut back to the lowest growth point that will neither create a thick stub nor undermine the arching quality of the branch. When a tree or shrub has been reduced in this way, it’s difficult to detect the cuts or tell that the branches have been shortened. If your trees need a little TLC to protect them against winter winds, or if your property could use a little fire protection, please call 510-486TREE (8733) or email us at bl@brendelamb.com for a free estimate. Additionally, go to our website www.brendelamb.com to see before and after pictures, client testimonials, and work in your neighborhood. Advertorial Call for details
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Search and Rescue
The Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team needs volunteer members to respond to missing person incidents, disasters, and other critical incidents. Team members are on call 24/7 year-round. The program provides required training; including wilderness traveling, first aid, map and compass usage, tracking disaster response, and search skills; and may also include special training for canine, equestrian, technical, mountain bike, or other rescue skills. For information and applications, visit www.contracostasar.org or call 646-4461.
Page 20 - October 2014 ~ Alamo Today
Life in the Alamo Garden
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Oddballs in my Garden! By John Montgomery,ASLA, LandscapeArchitect
Are there any “oddballs” in your garden? Oddballs are those plants that just show up at their own will. They are eccentric enough that you may want to keep a permanent place for them in your garden. If they get too eccentric, they may find their stay a little more temporary. Some people may think they are weeds, but as you know weeds are only “unwanted” plants. So, if you let them grow you might be stunned by the results of letting the oddball grow. Some of the oddballs that showed up in a few of my Alamo gardens this year ended up being exciting additions to the usual palette of plants. Now, to be clear about the definition of oddball versus weed, here is the dictionary version: oddball - one whose behavior is eccentric; weed - is a plant of no value and usually of rank growth and one that tends to overgrow and choke out more desirable plants. As you can clearly see, there is a huge deference between the two. Don’t get the idea that Bermuda (witch) grass, crab grass, purslane (although a nice addition to salad), spurge, dandelions (also a nice addition to salad), puncture vine, poison oak, or prickly lettuce (that nasty stuff with the prickly stalk) are the kind of oddballs you want in your garden. These and many more like them are definitely weeds and they need to go. Now, go look in your garden. What looks eccentric to you? Some of the oddballs I’ve seen this year have those eccentric qualities such as exotic leaves, unbelievable flowers, brilliant colors, strange fruit, and interesting odors. Artichokes are one of those eccentric oddballs that have exotic leaves with silver foliage, strange fruit, and if you let the fruit bloom, hold on to your hat, the colors are absolutely vibrant. Don’t confuse artichokes with thistles. Thistles are definitely weeds! Recently, I had what looked like a zucchini sprout up in my planter bed, so I let it grow. What I found is that I really enjoyed the huge green leaves that soon grew to over twelve inches across. The plant started blooming huge yellow flowers that eventually (in a week!) turned into big yellow squash of unknown variety. It looked exotic so I let it grow. I thought, “I can always yank it out later.” I have another oddball that I didn’t even know what the heck it was. It sprouted up early this spring in my veggie box, so I let it grow. I thought maybe it was a sunflower at first. (By the way, sunflowers are one of those “oddballs.”) As it grew the leaves got bigger, like eight inches across, and it grew to over six feet tall with very odd flowers that looked like alien pods. Later I discovered it was Okra, definitely an oddball! It is a surprising treat when these oddballs show up by themselves. But, when your landscape architect starts specifying them in your planting plan, then you may have to begin to worry. Not really! Some of these exotic introductions are
an exciting addition to a normal planting palette. Plants such as Brugmansia (angel’s trumpet), Cynara cardunculus (artichoke), Rheum palmatum (ornamental rhubarb), Melianthus major (honey bush), Agave Americana (century plant), Eryngium giganteum (Miss Wilmot’s ghost), Sedum ‘Autumn Joy,’ Echeveria (Hens & Chicks), Aloe, Ricinus communis ‘Carmencita’ (castor bean) and the king of the oddballs, Gunnera. Some of these oddballs are poisonous, so be careful to properly identify yours! Oddballs are fun and exciting. They bring a touch of whimsy and variety to a garden. They provide opportunity for eccentricity when intentionally designed into the planting plan. When you are in your garden and you see what appears to be an oddball sprouting, give it a chance. You might be pleasantly surprised! A hot tip from your local Landscape Architect: Check out www.google. com images and type in the names listed above to see photos of some of these oddballs. Gardening Quote of the Month: Gardening without fear means taking risks that saner heads would never contemplate. – Thomas Hobbs If you would like me to write on any particular subject, email your ideas to jmontgomery@jm-la.com. For design ideas, visit www.jm-la.com. Advertorial
CERT Presents Fire in the Hills!
We all have heightened concern for grass fires in our hills, and we need to know how best to be prepared for one. Captain George Laing of the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District, will provide an overview to the nature of hill fires and its multiple hazards. He will also address such questions as: • What lessons were learned from the Oakland Hills fire? • How much firefighting help is currently available here? • Is our current water shortage another problem during a fire? • What can we do to protect our home? • How can we find out there is a fire coming our way? • How much time will we have to act? • What can we do if we can’t get out of the way of the fire? • Will our vehicles interfere with first responders arriving? • What do we take with us? How far away should we go? • Should we turn off our gas lines before we leave? Captain Laing will also direct participants to additional details for reducing chances of loss during a fire. The free presentation begins at 7PM on Wednesday, October 29, in the Walnut Creek Library’s Oak View Room. The library is located at 1644 N. Broadway, adjacent to Civic Park. This program is hosted by Walnut Creek’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). For additional information, contact Joe Bologna, Walnut Creek CERT, at (925) 963-7114 or Gayle Vasser, City of Walnut Creek, at (925) 943-5895.
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Alamo Today ~ October 2014 - Page 21
Page 22 - October 2014~ Alamo Today
Preparing for the Ban: Three Alternatives to Using Single-Use Plastic Bags Sustainable Danville Area – Tip of the Month By Loren McDonald
On August 29, the California State Legislature passed SB 270, a bill that will prohibit the distribution of single-use plastic bags in grocery stores, convenience stores, and drugstores. Governor Brown, who has until September 30 to take action on the bill, has stated he is likely to approve the measure. According to Californians Against Waste, there are currently 98 ordinances in the state that already ban plastic bags in 122 cities and counties. Locally, Walnut Creek passed such an ordinance in March of this year, and in August, the Danville Town Council directed staff to prepare a local measure for review. Learn more about this at http://www.danville.ca.gov/plasticbags, and send comments and questions to plasticbags@danville.ca.gov.
So What’s The Problem With Plastic Bags?
Single-use plastic bags are convenient for consumers and inexpensive for owners of stores, however, their drawbacks are significant and include: • Plastic bags are believed to take hundreds of years to decompose. • In California, CalRecycle estimates that only about 3% of plastic bags are recycled. • They are a key source of litter, partially driven by their light weight and ease of flying away. • According to the Worldwatch Institute, each year tens of thousands of whales, birds, seals, and turtles die from contact with ocean-borne plastic bags. • They are made from non-renewable natural gas and petroleum.
Three Alternatives to Plastic Bags
One of the issues with single-use plastic bags is that they aren’t just used to carry items home from the supermarket, fast-food restaurants, or pharmacies. Once at home, many consumers like to re-use these bags for other purposes, primarily to line trash baskets and for dog waste. The following are some alternatives to the plastic bag for the above common uses: 1. Reusable shopping bags: With or without bans on plastic bags, consumers have been adopting the use of reusable bags in a big way, appreciating their larger size, durability, and strength. The biggest challenge for most consumers to make the switch is to remember to bring them into the store. Here are a few tips to consider.
Kindness continued from front page
immediately ahead of their group in the parade. Roudebush, organizer of Bras for the Cause, an annual 10K Walk in Pleasanton raising money for breast cancer research, treatment and education, enthusiastically describes the station Spread Kindness subsequently staged for her fundraiser. “Next year will be our tenth event,” Roudebush explains, “and Spread Kindness has participated in half of those walks. I wish they could be there every year. Their hugs add a fun dimension for the walkers and bring out the neighbors, too.” Setting up at Mission Hills Park, about a third of the way along the route, Spread Kindness encourages participants and spectators with hugs and high-fives. (Go to www.trivalleysocks.org to read about this fundraiser.) Jeremy Damec, who asked to join the “Dream-Team” when the Haswells founded Spread Kindness, has high praise for their dedication. “Maria and Mark are genuine, loving, fun, full of energy, and are passionate about their work, spreading kindness. They live what they believe and believe what they live. They believe in helping, supporting, encouraging, and spreading kindness to the world. Their mission in life is to create a better world through acts of kindness, and that they do.” To celebrate her 40th birthday, Maria decided to spend the day performing 40 acts of kindness. She invited friends to choose a few acts to perform themselves, but Maria managed to accomplish all 40 items on the list herself. “It was the best day,” Maria recalls. “I spent a lot of time planning. I felt I was
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• Buy several bags and keep at least three or four in your vehicles. • When you get out of your car to go shopping, simply grab the bags and go. After a few months, this process will become second nature, and you will rarely forget to take them. • Wash your bags on a regular basis. Use soap and water when washing by hand – many can be tossed into your washing machine. • Preferably, purchase a ‘Made in the USA’ cloth-type bag, made of cotton or similar materials. Alternatively, opt for a bag made of recycled materials. 2. Biodegradable dog waste bags: One of the most common complaints about plastic bag bans is from people who like to use them for their dog waste. But if you put your dog’s waste into a plastic bag, then A) that bag is definitely not usable; and more importantly B) it is no longer recyclable. The best alternative is to purchase biodegradable dog waste bags. Depending on the material used, biodegradable bags will break down typically within a few months or 1-2 years. They are widely available at stores including most pet supply stores and online retailers. If you buy in bulk, biodegradable bags only cost about a penny more than non-biodegradable bags. If you use two bags per day you would pay less than $4 per year (the cost of one latte). 3. Paper or biodegradable compost and trash bags: A key problem with using plastic bags in trash bins and baskets in your kitchen, den, bathrooms and garage, is that they inhibit the decomposition of items in the bag in the landfill. A better approach then is to reuse compostable paper bags from the supermarket or other store. Even better, however, is to purchase biodegradable trash bags. Depending on the brand and quantity you purchase, 13-gallon kitchen or smaller 3-gallon biodegradable bags will typically cost just a few pennies more per bag than the traditional plastic trash bag. Biodegradable trash bags are a bit harder to find in your local store than plastic trash bags, so I like to order several boxes at a time from Amazon.com, which will last me for a year or so. Like the end of using chlorofluorocarbons in aerosol spray cans in the late 80s, single-use plastic bags are rapidly being phased out across the U.S. and world. The transition away from plastic bags for both merchants and consumers will be an easy one, as the alternatives are many and widely available today. We want to hear about your alternatives to plastic bags. Write to us at sustainabledanville@gmail.com or visit us at www.facebook.com/sustainabledanvillearea. Loren McDonald is a Danville resident, member of the Sustainable Danville Area, and a blogger about green issues at Loren-Green.com. really making a difference in the community.” On her next birthday, she performed 41 acts of kindness. Friend Cherie wanted to pay for the next person in line at Starbucks. Finding no one behind her, she bought pastries for two policemen seated nearby. When she explained her mission, they laughed. “Maria already brought donuts to the station!” But they happily accepted their ob- Maria Haswell fills requests for packets of Kindness Cards. ligation to pass along a second thoughtful gesture. Theresita Gonzalez, Resource Coordinator for Shelter, Inc. of Contra Costa County, gets calls from many organizations wanting to do something to be helpful to Shelter. Founded in 1986, Shelter, Inc. works to break the cycle of homelessness by providing education and employment counseling as well as temporary affordable housing. When Spread Kindness contacted her the first time, she suggested they sponsor a family barbecue. Gonzalez was amazed by the result. “They ran a very polished event. Everything including games
See Kindness continued on page 26
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Working with a Financial Advisor Six Steps to Help You Get the Most Out of the Relationship By Peter Waldron
Would you trust your medical diagnosis to a casual acquaintance? Do you cut your own hair or dry clean your own clothes? For some services, it makes more sense to pay a professional who has the expertise to deliver the appropriate results. A professional financial advisor can help you build a sound estate plan, designed to help you toward your long-term financial planning goals. These six steps can help you locate and get the most out of this important relationship. 1. Choosing Your Financial Advisor - One of the best ways to find a financial advisor is through a referral of a friend or relative. Your accountant or lawyer may also be able to provide you with a referral. Since they come with a recommendation from someone you trust, referrals can help you feel more confident about your choice of a financial advisor. You can also find a financial advisor by attending an investment seminar or reading the business section of your local newspaper. 2. Set Up a Consultation - Your first meeting is an opportunity to become acquainted with the advisor and find out if you feel comfortable working together. You should make sure a prospective advisor is a good match for your financial outlook and personality. Ask the advisor about the types of clients he or she is currently working with and try to evaluate if your financial objectives are well matched to their areas of expertise. Follow up with questions about education, experience, and qualifications. Before selecting an advisor, you should feel confident that a prospective advisor can accurately explain the financial arena and the benefits of different financial planning tools. 3. Discuss Your Goals and Obligations - In order to help you clarify your financial goals, your financial advisor will need detailed information about you and your financial situation, philosophy and risk tolerance. Be candid about your income, debts, future obligations, current assets and anything else that may impact your financial situation.
Alamo Today ~ October 2014 - Page 23 4. Ask Plenty of Questions - The more you know about financial planning, the more control you have over your financial future. Use your financial advisor as a resource. Financial advisors have access to current information that can help you better understand their recommendations and the performance of your plan. And if you don’t understand something, make sure to ask. 5. Meet or Speak Regularly -Your financial advisor has the expertise and knowledge about financial planning, but won’t be able to fully understand the details of your financial situation unless you share them. In order to keep your estate plan moving in the right direction your advisor needs up-to-date information on life changes that may have financial implications, including: • Marriage or divorce • The birth or adoption of a child • The purchase of a home • A change in your work status, or that of your spouse • Additional current financial responsibilities, such as college payments or care for aging relatives • An inheritance or other financial windfall 6. Listen - Professional advisors can draw from years of experience and help you maintain a long-term perspective on your investment plan through good markets and bad. You’ll get more out of your relationship if you are open-minded about your advisor’s recommendations. While you may not agree with every idea your advisor presents, being a good listener can help increase your investment knowledge. Following these six steps can help you locate and have a successful relationship with a financial advisor. Please contact Peter Waldron to schedule a complimentary review of your financial situation, (925) 659-0383 or peter.waldron@lfg.com.
Peter T. Waldron is a registered representative of Lincoln Financial Advisors, a broker/dealer, member SIPC, and offer investment advisory service through Sagemark Consulting, a division of Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp., a registered investment advisor, Spectrum Wealth Partners, 3000 Executive Parkway, Ste 400, San Ramon, CA 94583. Insurance offered through Lincoln Marketing and Insurance Agency, LLC and Lincoln Associates Insurance Agency, Inc. and other fine companies. This information should not be construed as legal or tax advice. You may want to consult a tax advisor regarding this information as it relates to your personal circumstance. The content of this material was provided to you by Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp. for its representatives and their clients. California Insurance License #0E47827; CRN201305-2080400 Advertorial
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Page 24 - October 2014 ~ Alamo Today
What’s Happening Around Alamo By Roger Smith, President
The Great California ShakeOut drop, cover, and hold practice drill will occur on October 16th. The ShakeOut draws millions of participants from the Western US and around the world. To join in, register online at www.shakeout.org/california. Protect yourself – Official rescue teams who have been dispatched to the scene of earthquakes and other disasters around the world continue to advocate the use of the internationally recognized “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” protocol to protect lives during earthquakes. 1. DROP to the ground (before the earthquake drops you!). 2. Take COVER by getting under a sturdy desk or table. 3. HOLD ON to the desk or table until the shaking stops. If there isn’t a table or desk near you, drop to the ground inside of a corner of the building and cover your head and neck with your hands and arms. Do not try to run to another room just to get under a table.
Public Safety
Events such as the recent 6.0 earthquake in Napa, the 8.9 earthquake in Japan, the PG&E pipeline explosions and fire in San Bruno, and the 6.9 Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989 have revealed the need for all citizens to have an emergency plan for their family’s safety. Since 1989 California has experienced 20 major disasters. When a major emergency strikes public services such as fire, law enforcement, and medical aid will likely be unavailable. Existing facilities and their capabilities to respond will likely be overwhelmed. A delay of seven days or more can occur before services can be restored. The original standard of a three day period for survival preparedness no longer applies. Imagine during an earthquake the overpasses on 680 collapse. There would be few (if any) transportation options available. Alamo would be physically divided into eastern and western sections. East would have surviving fire and emergency
Citizen continued from front page
that places him/her in a special place deserving of this recognition. All members of the Alamo community are encouraged each year to nominate that person who best meets these criteria. As principal of Alamo Elementary School, Stan has made a positive impact on the community through his leadership and innovative ideas. “Five years ago when Stan became principal, Alamo School lagged behind the rest of the district in the use of technology in its classrooms,” said Margie Hart, who was one of the people nominating Stan for this recognition. “He worked tirelessly to bring teachers, parents, and the Education Fund on campus together toward the common goal of increasing the use of technology, exemplifying his collaborative approach to leadership. After three years, Stan moved Alamo School to a position of leadership in the San Ramon Valley School District in the use of technology. Stan has also demonstrated great leadership in the area of creative teaching of science, technology, engineering, and math,” Ms. Hart stated. According to Rotary member Allen Makely, “Stan is a very effective principal by any measurement. His students perform among the highest in the district. Perhaps Stan’s greatest accomplishment is serving as the district’s science coordinator. His activities have led the way for teacher professional development in science education, and our students continue to benefit from a first class education in science, technology, engineering, and math.” “My experience with Stan is more personal,” said Marianne Gagen. “I have seen the effect he had on my son who was fascinated by Stan’s biology class. I have seen his effect on teachers that he has mentored in the district, inspiring them to try new teaching techniques as well as to further their own knowledge of science. The most recent innovative program which he has organized, staffed and taught is ‘Imagineering,’ an after school enrichment programs for 4th through 8th grade students,” she stated. “There are four segments: bio-tech, robotics, computer coding, and 3D printing. It has been a resounding success. It not only teaches students exciting aspects of science that are not included in regular course work, but it also is a method of staff development for our teachers, who observe the programs and are inspired to either teach upcoming segments or to get the course work to further their own interest in those subjects. The hope is that in the
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services, west would have surviving law enforcement. Residents working at other locations will not be able to travel home to Alamo. Families will be separated. How many may be trying to cope with life threatening circumstances? Each resident should be aware of what it will take to survive a major emergency when public services are not accessible. To survive an emergency we need to be prepared, educated, and trained through classes that, fortunately, are available to us from a variety of sources. The “Neighborhood Watch” program available through the Sheriff’s Department with training sessions for volunteers is an important foundation upon which to build our community’s public safety. The San Ramon Fire District offers Emergency Preparedness classes and neighborhood programs for earthquakes and other natural disasters. Two of Alamo’s neighborhoods, Alamo Oaks and Valley Oaks, are already participating in these programs. The National Office of Citizen Corps – FEMA Individual and Community Preparedness Division “encourages all Councils and CERT programs to register in the new National Citizens Corps Council and CERT program registries. The registries collect and display contact information for each program and Council making it easier for individuals to learn more about safety and security in their community and get involved in local activities. The State of California has an emergency plan structure that is designed to address both the mid-term and long-term impact of a major disaster. Information on this plan can be located at the Sate of California’s Office of Emergency Services website www.oes.ca.gov.
AIA’s Annual Membership Drive
Alamo is a special community that all of our residents can be justifiably proud to call home. 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 Alamo Improvement Association and working in support of AIA’s mission statement, which is to “preserve the semi-rural character of Alamo.” I encourage you to become a member of AIA if you aren’t already. Our membership form is available at www.AlamoCA.org. Don’t be left out, now is the time to renew or become a new member of AIA! future teachers will develop other innovative segments that excite them and our students!” said Ms. Gagen. Stan graduated from UC Berkeley with a Bachelors Degree in Biological Sciences, Sacramento State with a teaching credential, and St. Mary’s College with a Masters Degree in Health and Physical Education. He also has his Tier-II Administrative Credential. Stan worked as a teacher at Christian Brothers High School in Sacramento and then Monte Vista High School in Danville where he taught a wide-range of science and math courses. While at Monte Vista, Stan served as coordinator of the Research and Technology Academy, coordinator of the Digital High School Program, and coordinator of the School-based Coordinated Programs. He has also served as the executive director of the Edward Teller Education Center at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Prior to becoming principal of Alamo School five years ago, Stan served as the coordinator of Math and Science for the San Ramon Valley School District. The Rotary Club of Alamo was founded on May 7, 1971, and has 50 members. Each year, the Club sponsors the Alamo Music and Wine Festival, which supports the music programs at Alamo and Rancho Romero Elementary Schools, Lucille Mauzy School, Stone Valley Middle School, Monte Vista and San Ramon High Schools, and other community and international projects. The Club meets on Wednesdays at 12:15PM at Round Hill Country Club, 3169 Roundhill Road in Alamo. For more information about the Rotary Club of Alamo, visit our Facebook page at facebook.com/RotaryClubofAlamo, or you can also visit our website at http://alamorotary.org.
San Ramon Valley Genealogical Society
The San Ramon Valley Genealogical Society was formed in 1985 and now has over 170 members. The group meets at 10AM the third Tuesday of every month, except in August and December. The group gathers at the Danville Family History Center located at 2949 Stone Valley Road, Alamo. The group also conducts educational classes for its members and has various special interest groups. Everyone is welcome. For information, call Ed at (925) 299-0881, visit www.srvgensoc.org, or email SRVGS@SRVGenSoc.org.
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It’s All About Your Health
Alamo Today ~ October 2014 - Page 25
By Robert J. Silverman, Esq.
Of all of the core estate planning documents I draft for clients, the Advance Health Care Directive (AHD) is arguably the most important. After all, nothing is more essential than our health. Yet, the other three core estate planning documents - Trust, Will, and Durable Power of Attorney - all tend to get more attention. Simply put, if you are a legal adult (at least 18 years old), you should have an AHD. Why? What does an AHD accomplish? First and foremost, it enables you to appoint someone you trust to communicate with health care providers about your health care needs if you are ever unable to do so yourself. Additionally, your preferences about many health care issues are inserted into the document as “directives” that can be carried out by your agent. These may include, among others, decisions about whether or not you would want your agent to have the discretion, under certain circumstances, to withhold or withdraw “heroic measures” to keep you alive; organ donations; autopsy; disposition of remains. It is awkward for many people to discuss the above-referenced kinds of directives with family and/or friends. But, if your agent ever needs to invoke these AHD provisions, it can be a huge source of comfort and relief to your family and friends that your agent knows that your wishes are being honored. Some people fear they are ceding valuable control by doing an AHD. The fact is that you can revoke the AHD and establish a new one, with a different agent, any time and as many times as you wish. Furthermore, the law in California is crystal clear that as long as you are capable of articulating your health care needs to physicians and other providers, your decisions control and your agent has absolutely no authority. The real danger is if you become incapacitated, and you do not have an AHD in place. In that instant, court proceedings could be initiated, resulting in someone being appointed to make your health care decisions whom you would never have chosen and don’t want. In many states, different (and sometimes multiple) documents are legislated and/or used commonly, including Living Wills; Medical Directives; Health Care Powers of Attorney; Health Care Proxies; and others. For many years, California law provided for the use of a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care Power (DPAHC), but there were also other documents in use with various titles, including Natural Death Act and Directive to Physicians. Then, in 2000, California’s AHD law was enacted to consolidate the various forms that indicated health preferences. Generally, validity requires that the principal’s signature on an AHD be notarized or witnessed by two individuals. If you have an older DPAHC, it is not, per se, invalid; however, you should be on alert about a few things. One is that for many years, a DPAHC was effective for only seven years after executing it. So, some people believe they still have an effective document but it may, in fact, be expired. Another word of caution is that in 2003, HIPAA, a federal privacy law, became effective, under which strict rules govern when and to whom a health care provider may disclose “protected health information.” All properly drafted AHDs should have a HIPAA release provision (or alternatively, an applicable HIPPA release form attached to the AHD), specifically authorizing health care providers to turn over your medical records to your appointed AHD agent. NOTE: Shockingly, some of the most common forms (pre-printed by large organizations) still do not contain a HIPAA release. A word to the wise – if you have a valid AHD, and you only appointed one agent, consider establishing a new one in which you designate a primary agent and at least one alternative agent. Without an alternate agent listed, if you and your agent (e.g. spouse or child) are in a common accident or your agent is for some reason unable or unwilling to serve upon your incapacity, nobody you trust will have legal authority to make your medical decisions on your behalf. Upon your request, I would be happy to provide you with any or all of the following, free: i) a tri-fold brochure on the pros/cons of alternative methods of holding title to property, ii) an “Estate Planning Primer,” iii) a complimentary introductory meeting. 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.
This article is intended to provide information of a general nature, and should not be relied upon as legal, tax and/ or business advice. Readers should obtain specific advice from their own, qualified professional advisors. Advertorial
Page 26 - October 2014 ~ Alamo Today
Your Personal Nutritionist Let’s Feed Our Kids Right By Linda Michaelis, RD, MS
As parents we need to realize that eating right in childhood is the most powerful weapon against the growing epidemic of adult diabetes and cancer. Early adoption of sound eating habits is the best bet for having healthy teens and adults of tomorrow. Michelle Obama tells how she was criticized by her pediatrician about her family’s poor diet and thought as a Princeton and Harvard educated woman, “If I don't know how to adequately feed my family, then how do other parents do this?” Our job as adults is to make sure our kids eat what they need and not what they want. If we asked kids what they want for dinner it would be pizza, pasta, french fries, and rarely any veggies. Below are healthy guidelines for meals and snacks.
Breakfast
I often see kids being fed waffles, Poptarts, bagels, sugary cereals, and juice for breakfast. There is no nutrition in these foods. They are laced with sugar and are what I call, “paste and glue, sleepy foods.” The key to breakfast is to make sure your child starts their day with a source of protein and fiber. Some good ideas are oatmeal topped with brown sugar or honey and raisins, Oatmeal Squares cold cereal, eggs with veggies and a sprinkle of cheese, Greek yogurt with berries and a little low sugar granola, cereal, or 100% whole wheat toast with peanut butter. It is fine to have some sugar in the meal as long as it is balanced with protein and fiber.
Snacks
Snack time also needs to include protein and fiber. This will help improve your child’s attention span and focus at school or during their afternoon studying period. For school snacks, kids enjoy apples or celery with peanut or almond butter, beef or turkey jerky with a tangerine, hard boiled eggs with some grapes, Cinnamon Oatmeal Squares or Kashi Go Lean cereals with dried fruit, or even a half meat sandwich. After school at home, serve bean soup, low fat chili, baked potato with broccoli and cheese, or a sandwich. Always have cut up vegetables on the counter or in eyesight when your child opens the refrigerator.
Beverages
Being hydrated is very important for brain function. Look closely at what your
Kindness continued from page 22
and prizes was very age appropriate even though the families had children from infants to teenagers.” Twice for the holiday season, Spread Kindness went shopping with a wish list from the families and came prepared with wrapped gifts and stuffed stockings individually designed for each child. Snacks and a sing-along engaged everyone in the fun. Spread Kindness made sure all the families knew in advance what to expect so they could relax and enjoy their time together. “When other groups come in asking to volunteer to do an event,” Gonzales remarks, “I use what Spread Kindness presented as a model. The fliers they produced to tell families what each event was going to offer are very helpful as guides for other groups.” Recognizing how important it is for each child to arrive on the first day of school with a new backpack expressing his or her personality, Spread Kindness also put together a Back-to-School Party. They worked with suggestions from the families. “They put a lot of time and effort into getting the appropriate items. The surprise was how accurate the backpacks and items filling them were to what each child wanted,” Gonzales recalls. For Damec the Back-to-School Party defines the impact sharing kind deeds has on all the participants. He writes: “It was such an uplifting experience to see the families laughing, playing together and participating in the activities, and to see the smiles on the faces of the mothers and their children. The families were so very gracious and thanked us for spending the day with them and for the backpacks. We left full of gratitude and appreciation for the families we spent the day with. Sharing this experience with Spread Kindness reminds me to this day that when we share and do acts of kindness for others, everyone benefits, and in the end, we all feel happy.” (Visit shelterincofccc.org to learn more about their mission and their October 19th Hike for Shelter on Mount Diablo.) Spread Kindness visits area care facilities, including the VA Hospital in Livermore, to spend quality time with residents who don’t otherwise get
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child is drinking, and make sure you are reading the food label for sugar content. Water is always a good choice.
Lunch
Large amounts of protein and fiber are important for lunch. Many kids are very busy at lunch and may like to play more than eat. Good lunch choices include leftover chicken, steak, or other meat with some raw or cooked veggies. Try adding salsa or other low fat dipping sauce. Another option that holds up better in the warm weather is a cup of grains such as quinoa, farro, or whole wheat pasta with meat and veggies. Sandwiches often get soggy and are not eaten. Lunch is not the time for a lot of chips, crackers, dried fruits, or granola bars which often lack much nutrition.
Dinner
If your child eats well during the day, they should not have a huge appetite for dinner. If dinner is too “heavy” your child will tend to fall asleep and not study well. Evening is the time that protein should be consumed in small amounts because we are more sedentary. As protein is more difficult to digest, it does not burn off as quickly. A good dinner consists of 50% veggies, 25% meat and 25% grains. Try stir-frying veggies with garlic and olive oil, or roasting them. Dinner suggestions include a potato topped with chili, broccoli and cheese, cottage cheese and veggies, or Greek yogurt and chives. Also, try a cup of whole wheat pasta with two cups of sauteed broccoli, spinach, or fresh tomatoes, garlic, and basil.
Desserts
Many parents do not “believe” in desserts, which often results in excessive consumption of too many starches and too little veggies. Children like desserts. Puddings, Fudgesicles, and Skinny Cows are quite acceptable and often reduce after-dinner snacking.
Exercise
Your child needs at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day. Be a role model for your kids, and make sure there are different forms of exercise that they can enjoy on their own or with the family. I would be thrilled to meet with your family at your home or in my office and evaluate each member’s present eating habits and strive to create a healthy plan that includes their favorite foods. I am glad to inform you that I am contracted with Aetna, ABMG, Hill Physicians, Sutter Health and other established companies. Please feel free to call me at (925) 855-0150 or email me at Lifeweight1@gmail.com and tell me your nutrition concerns. Refer to my website www.LindaRD.com for past articles, Advertorial recipes and nutrition tips in my blog section. much company. They’ve inspired Kindness Week at Ohlone College and a Kindness Club at Cal High. Ideas for simple acts anyone can perform are posted on their website, and suggestions are encouraged. Information on their next Adopt-a-Soldier event will soon be on the website. Spread Kindness asks for nominations of a soldier and follows up by getting a list of items the soldier and unit-mates want, ranging from basics like tube socks to a favorite candy. Shipments often run to eight boxes. One grateful unit in Iraq sent back a flag flown on the 4th of July to honor Spread Kindness. Funding comes from sales of Spread Kindness T-Shirts and Wristbands and from generous donors and volunteers. “Kindness and compassion go hand-in-hand. Working your compassion muscles honors the connection we all share,” Mark explains. Make someone else smile and you realize you feel happy, too. Connect with Mark and Maria at their Danville Yoga and Wellness Center, 125 Town and Country Drive, Danville or at www.spreadkindness.org.
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The Eye Opener
By Gregory Kraskowsky, O.D., Alamo Optometry I Don’t Know What Insurance I Have…
Alamo Today ~ October 2014 - Page 27
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Insurance benefits these days have become quite confusing. We are finding that a lot of patients are either unaware and/or misinformed regarding their medical and vision benefits. Vision insurance and the difference between vision and medical benefits are something that is confusing for a lot of our patients. When making an appointment for a comprehensive exam at the office, we need to know which vision insurance carrier you have so we can make sure you have benefits prior to the exam. The plans we are in-network providers for include Vision Service Plan (VSP), Eyemed, and Medical Eye Services (MES). These are stand-alone plans that have exam coverage and material benefits (towards either glasses or contact lenses). These plans vary greatly in material benefits and coverage terms, but all have exam benefits. Some of these vision plans are associated with your medical insurance, but they are usually administrated differently. For example, Cigna health insurance is associated with VSP, and Aetna coordinates some of their vision plans through Eyemed. Even though they are related, your medical insurance and vision coverage are usually separate entities. That being said, sometimes medical plans do have routine vision coverIn Stone Valley Shopping Center age. The problem we have found with plans such as Anthem Blue Cross and United Health Care is that patients are confused as to whether their benefits apply towards medical eye visits or routine care. The main difference is that for a medical benefit, a medical diagnosis must apply. Such things as conjunctivitis, cataracts, allergies, glaucoma, diabetes, dry eyes, etc. are medical Enjoy Our Patio Dining diagnoses. Myopia and astigmatism are not considered medical and therefore would not be covered. For instance, a patient who comes to the office with Monday - Saturday: Lunch and Dinner only a vision issue and does not have an ocular medical condition, medical Sunday: Dinner only We Offer a Full Bar and Lounge coverage alone cannot be used. So when a patient calls the office and tries 3168 Danville Blvd, Alamo Margaritas are a House Specialty to use their medical insurance for a routine exam, we have to assume there will not be a medical diagnosis. Therefore, we need to know what coverage there is for routine vision care and materials. If a patient is calling to schedule an office visit for a red eye, infection, allergies, etc., the opposite is true. The medical insurance is now primary because the routine vision plan will not pay for a medical eye visit. Now that we all understand the difference between medical and vision insurance, it is important to understand what benefits you have before calling the office to schedule an exam or office visit. If you are not sure, the human resources department through your employer should be able to help you navigate through the chaos that is insurance. If you don’t have any vision insurance through your employer or are self-employed, VSP now has individual plans available for purchase. These plans have exam coverage along with material benefits. For patients who need contacts annually or need glasses, the individual plans have basic frame and lens coverage, and then discount any upgrades to the frames and lenses. For patients who don’t need any materials, it probably doesn’t pay to purchase these plans, but for those who need glasses and/or contacts, your out-of-pocket costs will be much less than paying privately. 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 website at www.alamooptometry.com, and join us on Facebook, Instagram, and Advertorial Twitter @Alamo Optometry.
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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.
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Page 28 -October 2014 ~ Alamo Today
New Procedure for Detecting Prostate Cancer
By Stephen Taylor, MD
Our mission is to provide personalized care, help maintain independence and enhance our client’s quality of life on a daily basis.
Heartfelt & Supportive
• Free in-home assessments • Regular home visits ensure the right care plan • Hourly care for you • Live-in care • Fully bonded and insured • Geriatric care mgmt. • Elder referral and placement
For patients with elevated PSA’s and enlarged prostates, urologists often At All Times... 3645 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Suite D recommend a prostate biLafayette, CA 94549 (beside Trader Joe’s) www.excellentcareathome.com 925-284-1213 opsy. The urologist typically uses the standard 12-core ultrasound biopsy technique – a technology that has had relatively no change since the 1980’s. This Dreams Come True for Adults, Too! procedure obtained samples from the lower portion of the prostate and often resulted By Michelle Frankland, NP in normal or negative biopsies. The dilemma we face is that approximately 30% Imagine if you will, being 58 years old and of prostate cancers are discovered outside of this biopsied zone. never having experienced “The Happiest Place on A new procedure has come along that is practice changing! The medical Earth.” When the Dream Foundation learned about community has great hope for a new technique that uses MRI with ultrasound a pancreatic cancer patient’s long time dream of imaging to more accurately reach and biopsy suspicious lesions. going to Disneyland, they made his dream come In a recent Phase 3 study, researchers showed that using a specialized MRI true. Thanks to this organization, he and his famtechnique along with transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) in men with an elevated ily spent several fun filled days in the theme park PSA resulted in a prostate cancer detection rate that was twice as high commaking special memories together. pared to men undergoing the standard 12-core biopsy. After evaluating 105 Then there was the 93 year old Army Veteran who was battling terminal men using the MR/ultrasound biopsy approach, prostate cancer was detected lung cancer. One of his favorite sports was sailing, and his dream was to in 62 percent of men compared to approximately 30 percent using ultrasound be on a boat feeling the salt air on his skin. The Dream Foundation made it alone for the biopsy method. possible for this wheelchair bound sailor to set sail again by taking him on At Pacific Urology, providing the highest level of medical care to our pa- a delightful day cruise on the bay. tients has always been our goal. My colleagues and I believe the benefits of Dreams like these come true every day and are made possible by the Dream this new MRI guided biopsy procedure are significant for patients, which is Foundation. It is the first and largest national wish-granting foundation for why we implementing this cutting-edge technology into our practice. We will adults with a terminal illness. be the first practice in Contra Costa County to have this procedure available. “The mission of the Dream Foundation is to enhance the quality of life Dr. Stephen Taylor is a Urologist with Pacific Urology. He specializes for individuals and their families facing a life-threatening illness by fulfilling in robotic urologic surgeries and prostate, kidney, and bladder cancers. a heart’s final wish.” To reach Dr. Taylor, call 925-937-7740 or visit www.pacific-urology.com. Headquartered in Santa Barbara, California, the Dream Foundation has
GHF continued from front page
Advertorial
play color. Once fully costumed for starring roles, however, they keep their show running for weeks. Dawkins began cultivating chrysanthemums 30 years ago when a friend, whose father was a grower, invited him to join their small independent local club. The members were looking for younger folks to carry on their work. For many years the club held an annual show at Orchard Nursery in Lafayette during the first week of November. As the final club member able to share his passion and extensive experience, Dawkins affirms: “I am committed to making this happen for the community. There’s a ‘wow’ factor when they bloom. Most people have never seen anything like it.”
Steve Dawkins shows Brian Larsen how to disbud the new GHF mums to encourage a few spectacular flowers on each plant.
Raised on his own property in Walnut Creek, the chrysanthemums Dawkins has donated to GHF are fully hardy. But keeping them going as exhibitionworthy specimens takes far more than popping plants in the ground and watch-
hundreds of volunteers who partner with over 600 Hospice and Healthcare Organizations nationwide to fulfill thousands of dreams each year. There are three simple requirements in order to be considered. Patients need to be 18 years or older, have received a life expectancy diagnosis of one year or less, and lack the resources to achieve dreams on their own. Learn more about the Dream Foundation on October 15th at the Lafayette Park Hotel as a group of Genentech employees create awareness by hosting an ‘Evening of Dreams.’ Enjoy tasty bites, wine, and philanthropy. Donations are suggested at the door. To register, call Laura at (201) 248-6455. Or visit www.dreamfoundation.org to learn more about how you can volunteer or donate time, money, airline miles, or hotel points. Michelle Frankland is an oncology trained nurse practitioner with Diablo Valley Oncology & Hematology Medical Group. Located at the California Cancer and Research Institute in Pleasant Hill, the group provides comprehensive cancer care to patients by bringing together medical oncology, hematology, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, diagnostic imaging, clinical trials, oncology rehabilitation and supportive care all in one convenient location. For more information call (925) 677-5041. Advertorial ing them bloom. Dawkins explains, “I’m a chrysanthemum enthusiast, not a scholar. I grow plants that want to grow for me. I let nature take me where it wants to go.” After overwintering the mums in their garden beds, Steve takes cuttings in the spring, roots them in sand, pots them up in 4-inch pots, and finally installs the vigorous new specimens in-ground in early-mid June. Have you ever wondered how florists manage to get huge blossoms to market? The bedding varieties typically offered by nurseries, supermarkets and discount retailers are pinched to produce a profusion of flowers all relatively uniform and diminutive in size. In order to generate a few immense blooms on species bred for centuries for their spectacular flowers, growers disbud the plants, carefully choosing the buds and branches that should remain. Staking the plants before they become too tall is important. Plants in Dawkins’s home garden routinely reach six feet in height. Because nitrogen
See GHF continued on page 29
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What’s The Best Medicine? By Dr. Jerome Potozkin
As a physician, I have had patients ask me what the best medicine or treatment is for their particular problem. Some problems are easy to diagnose and treat, whereas others are more challenging. People often ask if stress can make their skin condition worse or take its toll on their appearance. When people ask you if you’re stressed out, don’t take it as a compliment. They are telling you something looks wrong. In my experience, stress can cause a flare of almost any inflammatory skin condition. The old saying that “The mind and body are one” is completely true. My prescription for this month’s article is simple: Laughter. Many of us are so busy that we don’t take time to laugh. I have some recommendations to help. Recommendation number one is not to seek the help of Jerome Potozkin, M.D. but rather seek the help of Jerome Seinfeld. Jerome Seinfeld, who I’m sure you all know as Jerry Seinfeld, is a master of comedy. He has the most successful hit comedy series Seinfeld. Many of us felt that the episodes were written for us. They had universal appeal. Jerry Seinfeld will be performing two shows this month in Oakland. I have seen him several times and found him incredibly funny. He is a true comic genius as he makes us laugh about everyday things and doesn’t need to use profanity in his act. In a word, he is awesome. Many of us spend significant time in our cars commuting or driving our kids around. Most of our cars have satellite radio with several comedy channels. I used to listen to CNN and news while driving. After a while I found it depressing and anxiety provoking. There was a simple fix: I now listen to Comedy Central radio and similar stations where you can listen to many of today’s popular comics. Tom Papa is one who has a weekly show, Come to Papa, where he interviews other top comics. I discovered Tom Papa initially opening for Jerry Seinfeld when I first became a parent. He had one of the best lines when talking to people who are about to have kids and think that kids will not change their lives: “Don’t worry; kids don’t change your life, they obliterate your life!” He also has content available on Netflix. He has appeared in the Bay Area at Tommy T’s in Pleasanton and Cobbs Comedy in San Francisco. Netflix streaming is a great source of comedy. Jim Gaffigan, one of the funniest people alive, has several concerts available. He talks a lot about food and is a cult favorite for his bit about “Hot Pockets.” Gary Gulman has an incredibly funny concert titled In this Economy. Netflix has stated it is committed to expanding its comedy content. The previously funny men use little, if any, profanity. Other comedians that you might find on Netflix that would definitely not be suitable for kids include Kat Williams, Hannibal Buress, and Amy Schumer. These acts are only suitable for a mature audience. Laughter truly is the best medicine. The happiest people I know are those that don’t take themselves too seriously and are able to laugh about life. My prescription for this month is comedy and laughter. I guarantee it will make you look and feel better. Dr. Potozkin is a board certified dermatologist who has been serving the local community since 1993. His fully accredited dermatological and laser facility is located at 600 San Ramon Valley Blvd, Suite 102 in Danville. He is accepting new patients. Please call (925) 838-4900 or visit Potozkin.com for more information. Advertorial
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Alamo Today ~ October 2014 - Page 29
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is essential to growing these heavy-feeders, GHF Garden Manager Brian Larsen is accenting the beds with nitrogen fixing bean plants. A drip irrigation system provides adequate water without waste. Both Larsen and Dawkins are concerned that the GHF garden got a late start this year. Plants were not set into the beds until July. While the debut of the GHF chrysanthemums promises to be exciting, they are confident that next year’s show will be even more breathtaking. Cast members are nonetheless an impressive collection. Spiders, Spoons, Pompons, Quills, Reflexes, Regular Incurves, Decorative, and Anemone Classifications are all represented in the 150 plants on display. You don’t have to know their names to appreciate that these blossoms burst open like a silent presentation of fireworks and linger like the best-preserved floral bouquet. Speaking of bouquets, these mums make excellent cut flowers. Dawkins finds they last for weeks. He doesn’t use floral food or conditioning solutions, but he does re-cut the stems under water to ensure they hydrate. Sometimes he also hardens them by submerging the cut blooms up to their necks in water. You can support this endeavor and others at GHF while strolling with a glass of champagne and indulging in catered small plates at the GHF Wine and Roses event on Sunday, October 5th from 4-7pm. For additional information or online reservations, visit www.gardenshf.org or phone 925-947-1678. The chrysanthemums will remain discreetly back stage for the early October fundraiser, but you can visit them repeatedly as they begin their performance. GHF is an independent 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization. The Gardens at 1540 Marchbanks Drive, Walnut Creek are open free to the public daily during daylight hours.
Books for the Homebound
If you or someone you know has a passion for reading and can no longer visit the library, find out more about the Danville Library’s Books for the Homebound program, a free and unique library service. Trained library volunteers check out and deliver books to homebound individuals residing in their own homes or residential care facilities. Contact Sandra Paiva, Volunteer Coordinator, at the Danville Library at (925) 837-4889 for more information.
Page 30 - October 2014 ~ Alamo Today
Is Hypertension Affecting Your Life? By Michelle Brown, Gumsaba Boot Camp
High blood pressure, or hypertension, affects more than 76 million Americans. It is very likely that you or someone you love suffers from this disease. The higher a person’s blood pressure is the greater the risk of heart attack, heart failure, stroke and kidney disease is for that individual. If the disease is advanced, a combination of pharmacological treatments, dietary changes, and exercise will be necessary to drastically reduce the incidence of heart attack and the other negative outcomes associated with this disease. Those in a pre-hypertensive state can often rely on dietary changes and exercise to return to a healthy blood pressure range. Hypertension is defined as having a systolic blood pressure (SBP) measurement of more than 140 beats per minute or a diastolic blood pressure (DPB) of over 90 beats per minute. Incidence of hypertension increase with age, with over half of Americans over 65 having some form of the disease. There are no glaring symptoms of hypertension, so it is very important to have that yearly physical. If high blood pressure runs in your family, it is even more critical that you stay on top of it. Here are some tips to help you better understand what to do if you or someone you love is at risk of hypertension. • If you’re middle-aged or older, SBP is a better blood pressure indicator than DBP of your risk of heart disease and stroke. • Blood pressure at all ages should be kept below 140/90. • Treatment for hypertension must begin early to prevent organ damage -- whatever be your age. • In persons with diabetes, blood pressure should be kept below 130/85, and in those with kidney failure and heart failure, at the lowest level possible. • A high waist to hip ratio puts you at greater risk of cardiovascular disease. For each 20 beat per minute rise in SBP and 10 beat per minute rise in DPB, the risk of cardiovascular disease doubles! Early identification and treatment of pre-hypertension will considerably decrease the chance of moving into the hypertensive zone. Prehypertension is an SPB of 120 – 139 beats per minute
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month By Dr. Barbara Persons
On the three to four days a week that I am in the operating room, my attire is comfortably predictable - scrubs and my favorite pair of clogs. The clogs happen to be pink, and I am often asked, “Why the pink shoes?” I usually respond by simply tugging up my pant leg a bit to reveal the familiar pink ribbon logo used by so many worthy causes that support breast cancer research and education. I don’t think about breast cancer for one month out of the year--I think about it every day. As I have mentioned in previous articles, my breast cancer patients hold a very special place in my heart and in my practice. Like most cancers, early detection is key to a successful outcome in breast cancer patients, and I urge everyone to become educated on breast selfexamination and regular mammogram screening. All too often breast cancer is discovered in advanced stages, requiring surgery and breast reconstruction along with radiation and chemotherapy. The physical toll of breast cancer is costly enough, but the emotional toll of losing our breasts can be devastating. Unlike earlier courses of breast cancer treatment in which tissue removal and reconstruction were done in separate surgeries, sometimes months or years apart, breast reconstruction can often be performed in conjunction with a mastectomy. Breast reconstruction surgery can drastically improve a patient’s emotional and mental recovery. In fact, many national studies support immediate reconstruction to preserve the patient’s sense of womanhood. Women who opt for immediate reconstruction can keep their physical form closer to what it was, never wake up without any breast form, and can feel more whole during their recovery. In addition, many patients find that it is easier to face additional cancer treatments including chemotherapy or radiation with their breasts more intact. While not every patient is a candidate for reconstruction
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and a DBP of 80 – 89 beats per minute. Regular physical activity and exercise training are associated with a lower incidence of cardiovascular disease. Even for those predisposed to hypertension genetically, exercise can help slow the progression of the disease considerably. Those with any form of hypertension, entering an exercise program will need a physician’s clearance and may need other tests to asses organ damage and other risk factors. If cleared to exercise, hypertensive individuals should enter slowly with the supervision of a trained professional. The prescribed program should focus on aerobic, rhythmic exercise using large muscle groups, for example by walking, at low to moderate intensity, and include a long warm up and cool down period. The importance of dietary recommendations can not be overstated. An eating plan that focuses on nutrient rich, low sodium, whole foods with minimal if any processed sugar is essential in treatment of this disease. Visit www.nhlbi.nih. gov to get heart smart nutritional advice, or seek a local, reputable nutritionist if you need assistance in this area. The habits we create in our lives have a cumulative and direct effect on our health. Eating nutritious foods, keeping alcohol intake low and exercising regularly are the best way to prevent this disease and many other lifestyle diseases from creeping into your life. Keeping food, exercise, and mood logs is a great way to help you keep yourself in check. If your health isn’t motivating enough, then seek the help of a personal trainer or find a group workout that suits your personality and is something you can stick with. Your health is a life long project. Start your day with healthy food and exercise and it is likely you will sail into your latter years with a healthy, happy heart! Here’s to taking control of your health today for a better tomorrow. Michelle Brown is an ACE certified fitness professional, 2nd Degree Kung Fu Black Belt Disciple, Level 2 certified TRX Functional Trainer, TRX RIP Certified Trainer, TRX Mind Body Certified Trainer, Trigger Point Rehabilitation Therapist, board member on the CHMRC, blogger, public speaker, and owner of Gumsaba Outdoor Fitness. Michelle has been helping clients surpass their goals since 1998. Gumsaba offers outdoor fitness programs year round in the great outdoors. Join Gumsaba for a FREE CLASS. Visit our website at gumsaba.com to get started. Use promo code HEARTSMART to redeem your free week. www.gumsaba.com (925) 683 – 5630. Advertorial at the time of a mastectomy, my personal experience and recent studies agree that first stage reconstruction at the time of mastectomy should be the standard of care in treating this cancer. The patient’s breast cancer team can provide her with the information she needs to make the decision that’s right for her. After an initial breast cancer diagnosis, there is usually an initial consultation with a general surgeon, who will perform the lumpectomy or mastectomy. This surgeon then assembles and coordinates the team of other doctors needed to treat the cancer, including the oncologist, the radiation oncologist, the genetic counselor, the radiologist, and the plastic surgeon. We are very fortunate in the greater East Bay and Bay Areas to have several very talented and caring general surgeons who I regularly team-up with to provide exceptional and leading-edge results for our patients. While the breast reconstruction process is just that, a process that can take three to twelve months and three surgeries to complete (including one major and two minor procedures for implant placement and nipple reconstruction), the patient can should consider this process as early as the timing of the mastectomy. I am so fortunate to be part of the team of people to make a positive impact in my breast cancer patients’ lives by giving back to them something they thought was lost. Through advances and innovations in technique as well as new surgical materials, artful reconstruction of the breast post-mastectomy has become a reality. The theme behind the Breast Cancer Awareness Month campaign is education and awareness. Realize that breast cancer affects us all. I encourage you to support the efforts of wonderful organizations like Susan G. Komen or the Avon Foundation. Join me in wearing your pink shoes proudly every day and feel free to contact my office any time with questions or if you have the need for a consultation. Barbara L. Persons, MD is a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and owns Persons Plastic Surgery, Inc. located at 911 Moraga Rd, Suite 205 in Lafayette. She may be reached at 925.283.4012 or Advertorial drbarb@personsplasticsurgery.com.
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Alamo Today ~ October 2014 - Page 31
ALAMO PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY & ORTHODONTICS
NIKKI YAMATO, DDS A Diplomat of the American Board of PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY. She completed her Pediatric Dental Residency Program at Interfaith Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York. Her professional background includes a teaching position as Assistant Professor of Pediatric Dentistry at the University of the Pacific in San Francisco where she received her DDS back in 2009. Dr. Yamato specialized in the management of pediatric oral diagnosis and treatment, trauma/injuries as well as interceptive orthodontics. Furthermore, she is adept in treating children and special needs patients under nitrous oxide, oral sedation, IV sedation and general anesthesia in the operating room. She is affiliated with Children’s Oakland Hospital.
MEET THE DOCTORS Call Today!
(925) 831-8310 Now Taking New Patients
YU-CHING LAI DDS, MS She received her DDS from UCSF, and completed her specialty in ORTHODONTICS & DENTOFACIAL ORTHOPEDICS from University of Rochester, New York in 2009. Her expertise includes early-age orthodontic management (two-phase therapy), multi-disciplinary orthodontic treatment, conventional metal & clear (ceramic) braces, Invisalign® & Invisalign Teen®, self-ligation braces (metal & clear), retainer and Temporomandibular Joint Disorders (TMJD). She is actively involved in research and has published several articles; one, notably explored TMJ treatment. Lastly, she is fluent in English, Mandarin, and Taiwanese.
New Patient Special Free school backpack for patients under 12 years old Must be accompanied by exam, teeth cleaning, and x-rays
Stone Valley Dental 220 Alamo Plaza Suite E Alamo, CA 94507
W: www.stonevalleydental.com P: 925-831-8310 F: 925-309-2460 E:stonevalleydental@gmail.com
Mt. Diablo Peace & Justice Center Presents Reese Erlich
The Mt. Diablo Peace & Justice Center is hosting an evening with bestselling author and investigative reporter Reese Erlich, who will be discussing his newly published book, Inside Syria. In doing research for this book, Erlich interviewed rebel leaders and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad so as to provide a much clearer understanding of the complex dynamics underlying the Syrian civil war and why it is so crucial for the Middle East, the U.S., and the world. Through his many contacts in Syria, Erlich reveals exactly who is supporting Assad and why, the agendas of rebel factions, the horrific plight of thousands of Syrian citizens caught in the crossfire, the role of the Kurds, the continuing influence of powerful Iran, and the conflicted policies of U.S. leaders. Reese Erlich’s history in journalism goes back over 40 years. He worked as a staff writer and research editor for Ramparts, an investigative reporting magazine published in San Francisco. Today he works as a full-time print and broadcast, freelance reporter. He reports regularly for National Public Radio, CBC, ABC (Australia), Radio Deutsche Welle, and Market Place Radio. His articles appear in the San Francisco Chronicle and GlobalPost. His television documentaries have aired on PBS stations nationwide. “Reese Erlich's reporting and investigative journalism around the world has been highly enlightening and, speaking personally, has been of great value to me in my own work on global issues and current affairs.”-- Noam Chomsky The event will take place on Tuesday, October 14 at Mt. Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church - Bortin Hall, located at 55 Eckley Lane in Walnut Creek. A potluck will be held at 6:00PM followed by the presentation at 7PM. Advance tickets cost $10, tickets at the door cost $15, and student enterance is free. Purchase tickets online and RSVP at www.ourpeacecenter.org, or call the Center office at (925) 933-7850.
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C L A S S I F I E D FOR RENT
CONDO VACATION RENTAL Mauna Lani Resort, Big Island. New luxury 2 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath condo on 4th fairway. Minimum 3 night stay. Contact Alamo owners for discounted rate. (925)381-7042, Alamomgt@usa.net
NUISANCE WILDLIFE CONTROL
GOPHER REMOVAL SERVICE TRAPPING-NO-POISON Safe for your family, pets, and the ecosystem: Call Tri Valley Trapper for free consultation/estimate: 925-765-4209.
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Page 32 - October 2014 ~ Alamo Today
The Combs Team
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Nancy
Joe
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Alamo Real Estate Market: Strong Market Higher Prices!
As of this writing there are 51 Alamo single family homes listed as active on MLS. One-hundred, ninety-one properties are listed as pending, and during the last nine months a total of 188 properties were sold. The average days on market before a sale is completed stands at 35. This is by any measure a seller’s market. We’ve included a bell curve and divided the Alamo Real Estate 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 37 and 36 days respectively, while the middle price point homes stood at 34 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 most expensive homes. The majority of homes are selling between $1,189,500 and $1,796,500 with the average falling at $1,459,166. This average price is about $155,000 higher than last year’s average price. This is more than last year’s increase in price. 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, while remaining low, is increasing but only marginally. From December 2013, inventory rose markedly through March and abruptly declined in April 2014, then rose steadily to its highest level in June, and is now at the about the same
7.93 Acre Lot
level as September last year. Unless we see a tsunami of new properties hit the market in the next couple of months, there will most likely be a steady rise in prices as one would expect to see in a hot market. There is an important change occurring in the price mix in Alamo. A total of 47 homes have sold for more than $1,796,250 with an average price of $2,211,851 and median price of exactly $2,000,000. This is a pretty strong sign that the high-end market, which has been struggling since the down turn in 2008, is coming back. This normalization of the market should be good news for people who have been holding on to their high-end real estate investments, awaiting a better time to sell. It looks like that better time may be upon us. If the Fed is successful in moving interest rates up gradually (emphasis on gradually) beginning next year, as they have suggested, then the Alamo Real Estate market should continue to prosper. When interest rates on home loans return to a more normal 5-6%, I think the most likely scenario will be for days-on-market to extend from a month to a more normal three to six month time frame. We’ll probably see fewer multiple over bids, more negotiation will take place throughout the sales process, and more effort required to attract a buyer. Alamo price appreciation will probably return to more modest 3-4% annual increase. Until those things happen, the Alamo Real Estate Market should continue to be very strong. Nancy and I have more than 3,000 email subscribers who receive this article in advance of publication. Sign up on our website, or send me an email, and we can add you to the list. I assure you no spam will follow. It’s important to remember that 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.
Alamo View Home
Danville West Side
Magnificent Mt. Diablo views from this lovely updated 4 bedroom 3.5 bedroom home. Two Master suites. Priced to sell at $1,250,000
Coming Soon. Nicely updated West Side single story. Backs to open space, large level yard. Oak trees. Price available upon request.
Alamo Oaks
Anderson Ranch Single Level
D
Great lot for sale in a mapped subdivision between Alamo and Lafayette. Natural setting with many oak trees. Call for details and pricing.
D
SOL
SOL
Updated 4 bedroom 3595 sq. foot home with 1.13 acre lot. Perfect for horses or a vineyard. Priced to Sell $1,839,000
Nicely updated 4 bed single level with level lot and Views! Priced to Sell $995,000
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.
J. Rockcliff Realtors 15 Railroad Ave., Danville CA. 94526