Alamo_Today_Apr_2015

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April 2015

Serving Alamo and Diablo

Tractor Gang Puts History in Motion at Forest Home Farms By Jody Morgan

Affectionately called the Tractor Gang (T-Gang), several multi-talented volunteers began restoring machinery at Forest Home Farms (FHF) shortly after Ruth Quayle Boone deeded the 16-acre property to the City of San Ramon in 1997. In keeping with Ruth’s desire to honor the memory of her husband Travis and his creative contributions to agricultural practices in the San Ramon Valley, T-Gang reconditions vintage tractors and other mechanical devices used on local farms and devises interactive exhibits that give visitors of all ages an engaging perspective on Valley life a century ago.

T-Gang members gathered with the Case DC3 currently being restored, left to right: Ron Simmons, Mike Storms, Joe Krueger, Tom Slingerland, John Maryott, Dan Foster, Vern Kalepp. Absent: Roy Ginochio, Bob McCoy, Tony Hurt, Pat Sorenson, Ron Frye, Jim Donahoe.

Roy Ginochio is the group’s mentor. One of the few T-Gang members to have been depended on on a daily basis for keeping cranky farm machinery running, Roy has extensive experience with the intricacies of making a tractor perform. Also savvy about the pull tractors exert on people, Roy initiated the

See Tractor continued on page 20

Enjoy the Birds with Diablo Audubon Society

By Fran Miller

It’s prime bird watching season, and many locations along the Diablo Corridor are host to several species of migrating water, land, and shore birds.

Beginning early April through May, birds making their Pacific Flyway return journey seek suitable habitats in which to feed, and many find a temporary home in areas such as Walnut Creek’s Heather Farms Park, the Lafayette Reservoir, Castle Rock Regional Park/Diablo Foothills Regional Park, and Mitchell Canyon in Clayton.

Mt. Diablo Audubon Society member Tracy Farrington has identified 96 bird species within Heather Farms Park within the last few years. He says the area tops out at about 130 different species. An avid “birder” since 1970, Farrington loves the treasure hunt aspect of bird watching. In a one-hour period,

See Birds continued on page 25

Local Postal Customer

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Hap Magee Labyrinth to Open in April

By Sharon Burke

Since mid-February, world renowned labyrinth artist Marty Kermeen has been hard at work measuring, cutting and placing concrete pavers, painstakingly building an 11 circuit Chartres-style labyrinth in Hap Magee Ranch Park.

The labyrinth measures 42 feet in diameter, has 113 lunations or moon-shaped scallop decorations around the perimeter, and includes 28 U-turns in the interior which form the intricate 860 foot path to the center. These are the same dimensions and elements as the famous labyrinth in the Chartres Cathedral in France, which dates back to the 13th century.

The labyrinth was approved last year as a public art installation by the Danville Town Council and by the Alamo Municipal Advisory Council, joint owners of the Park. Although it will be a public installation accessible to all, the entire project was funded by a group of private donors, mostly Alamo and Danville residents, sponsored by the San Ramon Valley United Methodist Church. The project began with memorial donations made by the friends and family of Will Schramm, a 24 year old Alamo resident who was tragically killed in a vehicle accident on Stone Valley Road in April 2013. Although the intent of the original donors was to fund a memorial in Schramm’s memory, due to its placement in a public park, the labyrinth will not be labeled as a memorial.

Marty and Debi Kermeen of Labyrinths in Stone in Illinois were chosen as the labyrinth artists due to their prominence in building labyrinths all over the world.

Labyrinths in Stone has been commissioned to build labyrinths in public parks, universities, museums, churches, and hospitals. One of the most important works built by the Kermeens is at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. This labyrinth is being used as a tool for returning wounded warriors as “Safe Ground” in their therapy treatments. Many of the veterans are learning to walk again, and the labyrinth gives them not only a goal to reach at the center, but also meditative healing along the way.

Some visitors have come by the project and asked if it’s too late to contribute to help with the final phase of the project. There will be future expenses for maintenance and possible enhancements made to the area around the labyrinth. Anyone who would like to support this effort, please know it’s never too late to make a donation. Tax deductible donations can be made payable to “SRVUMC Labyrinth Account” and mailed to Labyrinth Project, c/o Teresa Schutzman, Volume XV - Number 4 1615 Litina Drive, Alamo CA 94507.

3000F Danville Blvd. #117, The Labyrinth Project Committee is Alamo, CA 94507 planning for a public dedication ceremony Telephone (925) 405-NEWS, 405-6397 in mid-April, so watch for notices of the Fax (925) 406-0547 date and time. Meanwhile, stop by Hap Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher Magee Ranch Park to view the labyrinth in Editor@yourmonthlypaper.com progress, located behind the Magee House Sharon Burke ~ Writer close to the gazebo. Visitors are asked to The opinions expressed herein belong to the writers, and do view the artist at work from outside the not necessarily reflect that of Alamo Today. Alamo Today not responsible for the content of any of the advertising safety fence around the construction zone. isherein, nor does publication imply endorsement.

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Page 2 - April 2015 ~ Alamo Today

Boulevard View

By Alisa Corstorphine, Editor

My daughter recently came home from college for spring break. She has always been an environmentally conscious person and is pursuing a degree in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems. For one of her classes she had to read the book Waste and Want, by Susan Strasser. The book highlights the history of trash in the United States from the colonial periods all the way to current trends, explaining the mechanisms of change along the way. One section of the book was devoted to the then-common practices of sewing, mending, quilting, and re-purposing of materials. In the past, vast amounts of material for new clothing was prohibitively expensive, so women of the household would work to alter clothing to fit a new family member once clothes became too small. With the scraps from their alterations, they would either use the fabric as rags or scrap fabric to create beautiful quilts and rugs.

In this day and age, our culture has steered itself away from the mending and reusing practices of our ancestors. With vastly abundant and cheap materials all around us, it seems like a waste of our energy to mend a coat or darn a sock.

Why waste your precious time at home after work fiddling with fabric when you could be prepping a meal, helping a child with their homework, or taking some personal time to unwind? It is cheaper to buy a new pair of socks, anyway.

This attitude has lead our country to produce miles and miles of landfills filled with what could have been useful material at one time.

After my daughter graduated from high school, she collected all of her pep rally and homecoming week t-shirts and decided she wanted to make a t-shirt quilt. Well, she cut before she planned and was left with a garbage bag full of cut logos and designs that she wanted to keep, but they were going to be too difficult to quilt together. The bag of shirts sat for the past four years in the back of her closet until this spring break when she decided she wanted to make a braided rag rug out of them.

We cut the remaining shirts and logos into strips, sewed them end-to-end to create balls of fabric, and braided them into one long snake of material.

All that is left to do is lay the braid into a circular design, sew the back, and we’ll be done! If my daughter had not decided to make this rug, we most likely would have donated the shirts to the thrift store or thrown them away. But, who goes to the thrift store and wants an old high school PE shirt or a “2011 SENIORS” shirt?

While the tide is turning on the wasteful practices, it is important to see what you can do as an individual to help. Instead of buying a braided rug from the store for $100, why not make creating one a fun craft project that you can do with your child? While it is a fairly labor-intensive project, we have made great progress over the past few days, and the resulting rug is going to be not just something to walk over in a room. You can see the little snippets of the shirt she got from lacrosse camp when she was 13 or the design of the band logo from the concert she went to in high school. The resulting rug is not just a bundle of fabric, but it is all of the memories of those shirts and the time that I was able to spend with my 21 year old kid putting it all together.

This Earth Day, I ask you to think before you buy, and think before you throw away. An empty glass mayonnaise jar can be cleaned and used to hold leftover soup, or you can use it to hold miscellaneous screws in the garage.

Instead of buying a lunch to-go that comes in a wasteful styrofoam container, bring your own lunch in a reusable glass container, which will not only save you money but encourage healthier eating and save one more container from the landfill. Next time you wear through your leather shoes, instead of throwing them away or donating them so that you can get the latest style, take them to your local cobbler to get them repaired. Purchase products that are meant to last, and maintain them. We still have a cast iron dutch oven from my husband’s grandparents that is in beautiful shape, and it will someday be passed down to our children. The memories of all the meals the dutch iron has cooked over the generations makes it a special part of our kitchen cookware.

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Alamo Today ~ April 2015 - Page 3

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Egg Hunt and Family Fun Day at the Park on Saturday, April 4th

The Rotary Club of Alamo will again sponsor the Annual Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 4th at Livorna Park. This year, the Rotary Club of Alamo is expanding the event, and it will become known as the Egg Hunt and Family Fun Day at the Park. The event will begin at 9am and end at noon.

In addition to the Egg Hunt and a visit by the Easter Bunny, where parents will have an opportunity to take photos, there will also be children’s games; face painting provided by the Monte Vista High School Interact Club, which is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Alamo; and other fun activities. The Egg Hunt will take place this year in a series of three scrambles: 10am will be the starting time for children three years of age and under (3-0); the 10:15am time period will be for children ages four to seven (4-7); and the 10:30am time period will be for children ages eight to ten (8-10). In past years the egg hunt would start promptly at the assigned time and was finished in less than five minutes. Parents should allow ample time for their children to be on time to participate.

The Rotary Club of Alamo was founded on May 7, 1971 and has 45 members.

The Club supports the music programs at Alamo and Rancho Romero Elementary Schools, Lucille Mauzy School, Stone Valley Middle School, and Monte Vista and San Ramon High Schools; provides dictionaries to three grade students; sponsors two free medical clinics; and helps with other community and international projects. The Club meets on Wednesdays at 12:15pm at Round Hill Country Club, 3169 Round Hill Road, Alamo.

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Alamo-Danville Newcomers Club

Are you new to the area or a long time resident, newly retired or emptynester 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.

Attend our next welcome event to find out what our club has to offer! Visit our website at www.alamodanvillenewcomers.com. Mark your calendar for our “Wine & Cheese Social” on Tuesday, April 28th from 7 - 9PM. RSVP and find out location information by sending an e-mail to alamodanvillenewcomers@gmail.com.

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.

Veterans of Foreign Wars

Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW), Post 75, San Ramon Valley, meets every third Wednesday of the month at the Veterans Memorial Building, located at 400 Hartz Avenue in Danville, on the corner at East Prospect Avenue and Hartz Avenue. Doors open at 7PM, and the meeting begins at 7:30PM. For more information, contact Post Commander Ernie Petagara at (925) Take your car’s detail to the MAX! 362-9806. Send mail to VFW Post 75 San Ramon Valley, P.O. Jordan Sorrell, Owner Box 1092, Danville, Serving the entire Bay Area CA 94526. Find out more about the VFW 925-529-2229 and our Post at www. jordansorrell@yahoo.com www.vortecautodetailing.com vfwpost75.org.

Vortec Auto Detailing

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Page 4 - April 2015 ~ Alamo Today

Back by Popular Demand: The 4th Annual Westside Alamo Neighborhood Yard Sale Saturday, May 2, 2015 9am to 1pm Please RSVP by April 18 to:

www.TheAlamo Channel.com Sponsored by:

Andrea Scott Alain Pinel Realtors 925.788.9374 Andrea@apr.com TheAlamochannel.com

A Few More Host Families Needed for Two Weeks

For the tenth consecutive year, students from a large high school in the South of France are coming to Danville. Every visit by the students has been better than the last. The students will arrive on April 11th and depart April 25th.

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

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

For more information please contact Martine Causse (teacher in charge of the group), at caussefly@wanadoo.fr or dachary.martine@orange.fr.

There are many happy local host families ready to discuss any questions with you. The local contact is Danville parent Kevin Dimler, who can be reached at kevindimler@gmail.com or 925-718-5052.

#01400374

Treats for the Troops

Delta Nu Psi is collecting “gourmet junk food” to send to American troops in Afghanistan. The group will continue sending packages as long as American military members are in the War Zone. Much of the food sent is not normally available to the troops.

On April 3rd Delta Nu Psi will be accepting items at CVS in Alamo, and on April 10th they will be at Lunardi’s in Danville. Collections will be held from 11am to 2pm both days, rain or shine. Money for postage is also always appreciated as shipping costs have risen 34%!

To learn more and see emails and photos from the thankful service people, visit www.deltanupsi.org.

Sheep Shearing Day 2015

410 Sycamore Valley Rd W, Danville Pinotspalette.com/danville

The San Ramon Historic Foundation presents Sheep Shearing Day at Forest Home Farms Historic Park in San Ramon on April 18 from 11AM to 3PM. Sheep Shearing Day is a unique opportunity to experience a day on the 16 acre Boone family farm. This event has quickly grown into one of the San Ramon Historic Foundation’s largest annual fundraising events, drawing over 1,000 community members. This year the monies raised will go directly to restore The Ole 1850’s Barn. The Ole 1850’s Barn is one of the oldest structures in 10% off Public Classes San Ramon. Its outstanding architecture has survived 164 years, and it is in need of restoration. Disc Code: MOM10 Learn * Explore * National Historical Landmark * Animals * Sheep * Horse * Chick- (expires: 4/25/15) ens * Kettle Korn * Maypole * Walnut Game * Bubble String * Vintage Games * Kids Crafts * Tractor Rides * Quilters * Spinners * Wood Carvers * Blacksmith * Farm Tours 925-743-9900 * Welcome Center * Gift Shoppe * Have Fun Order Early Bird tickets at SRHF.org. Fees are Early Bird (before April 13) Adult $5, Children (3-12), $3 (under 3 free), and SRHF Member $3. After April 13 and at the gate the cost is Adult $7 and Child (3-12) $5 (under 3 free).

Forest Home Farms is located at 19953 San Ramon Valley Blvd, San Ramon.

New Trail Mixers Season Begins

Hiking program to kick off on Las Trampas Ridge

Natuzzi Italian Leather Furniture Now on SALE!

Hiking enthusiasts are invited to come out and enjoy area trails with the Town of Beautiful Quality Premium Italian Top Grain Leather Danville’s Trail Mixers program. Trail Mixers provides residents with an opportunity to experience the many fantastic trails here in the East Bay. In stock ready This season’s Trail Mixers begins with an April 11 climb to the top of Las Trampas Ridge. Hikers will start at the Bollinger Canyon Staging Area and hike to the top of the to take home or special order! ridge. Once on top, the trail heads south and loops back to the staging area. This moderately strenuous hike is approximately 4.2 miles in length with an estimated elevation *Starting at $1695.00 gain of 1,000 feet.

To register for the April 11 hike, call (925) 314-3400 or go to the Recreation Services webwww.rickspicks.biz page on the Town’s website at http://www.danville.ca.gov/Services/Recreation-Services/.

Danville • 375 Hartz Ave • 925.837.DEAL (3325) For more information about Trail Mixers, contact Youth Sports and Facilities Program Pleasanton • 719 Main St • 925.426.SAVE (7283) Coordinator Ian Murdock at (925) 314-3455 or imurdock@danville.ca.gov.

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Alamo ~ Estate Beautifully designed estate home on serene half-acre lot, at the end of a private lane on Westside of Alamo. Custom designed throughout. 5 Bedroom 5.5 bath main home. 600 sq. ft. Guest house. $2,979,000 Jennifer Hatter

~

925.389.0489

www.JenHatter.com or jen@jenhatter.com

Alamo Today ~ April 2015 - Page 5

Alamo ~ GRACIOUS home on 1.08 Acre on PRIVATE LANE. Wonderful Oaks & MT. DIABLO Views. CUSTOM BUILT & REMODELED hm. 3400 sq ft, 4 bdms, Large Master Suite w/ Fireplace. DBLE FMLY RM w/picturesque windows & Fireplace. AWESOME HRDWD FLRING. Vaulted ceilings, large family dining rm. GORMET KITCHEN w/Granite slabs & SS appliances & 3 ovens! Flowing decks/patios, great natural light. Wonderful ALAMO OAKS, Close to all 12 grades of ALAMO SCHOOLS. Riding trails to Mt Diablo. HORSES permitted. Highly sought after Special Area, yet close to Downtown Alamo & Danville. $1,575,000 Jay Weymouth ~ 925-915-1100 jayweymouth@yahoo.com

South Walnut Creek ~ Great single story Alamo ~ Wonderful single story home on court with fabulous backyard. 4 bedrooms, 3 duet with 4 bedroom, 2 baths and over 1800 full baths + 3 car garage. Family room open sq. ft. Private backyard with new deck. 2 car to kitchen. Additional 400 sq ft attic space attached garage. Neighborhood swim club and close to Downtown Walnut Creek! great for storage or play room. $755,000 $1,399,000 Gretchen Bryce ~ 925.683.2477 gretchenbryce@msn.com

Gretchen Bryce ~ 925.683.2477 gretchenbryce@msn.com

Walnut Creek ~ 5 New Semi Custom Homes Coming Soon! 4 & 5 bdrms, 2827 sq ft to 3821 sq ft on flat lots ranging from 12Ksq ft to over 15Ksq ft. High end finish work, 10’ ceilings, luxurious master suites, gourmet kitchens & 3 car garages. $1,375,000 Start price Tony Cristiani ~ 925-785.8948 tonycristiani@msn.com

Page 6 - April 2015 ~ Alamo Today

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Sons in Retirement

San Ramon Valley Branch

Are you looking for things to do in your retirement? Consider joining Sons in Retirement San Ramon Valley Branch 128. We have monthly luncheons with interesting speakers and good fellowship. In May, we’ll be celebrating our 30th anniversary with a barbecue, prizes and entertainment provided by a local women’s quartet, LA DI DA. Come join us for this fun celebration.

Additionally, our members have lots of fun participating in a variety of activities such as golf, tennis, bowling, bocce ball, bridge, computers, and much more. Many other activities such as travel, dine outs, excursions, baseball games and holiday parties include spouses, friends, and guests.

The group’s next monthly luncheon will be held on Wednesday, May 20th at 11AM (NOTE: Due to a Special Ladies Day function, no luncheon is scheduled for April). The $23 fee includes barbecue luncheon, entertainment, and a great opportunity to socialize with at least 150 other retirees from the San Ramon Valley. The event will be held at the San Ramon Golf Club, 9430 Fircrest Lane in San Ramon. To reserve a space, please email the group by Thursday, May 14th at www. info@SIR128.com.

For more information about the Son’s in Retirement San Ramon Valley branch and activities, please go to www.SIR128.com.

Las Trampas Branch

Museum Volunteers Needed

Looking to get involved in the community? The Museum of the San Ramon Valley needs your help. Volunteer positions are available in the following areas: • Walking Tour Docents • Docents • Events Committee • Greeters • Educational Programs (One Room School/Indian Life) Call Eve or Donna at 552-9693, or email srvmuseum@sbcglobal.net for additional information.

Diablo Choral Artists Seeks Singers

Love to sing? Come join Diablo Choral Artists as they begin an exciting new season! The group has openings for all voice parts (especially tenors/ basses). Rehearsals are held on Mondays at 7PM at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, located at 1924 Trinity Ave. in Walnut Creek. Call (925) 670-7089, e-mail info@vmschorus.org, or visit www.vmschorus.org for additional information.

Sons In Retirement - Branch 116 welcomes guests to socialize at their monthly luncheon beginning at 11:30AM on Monday, April 20th.

The speaker, Jane Kreidler, Outreach Coordinator of the Contractors State License Board, will share her experiences that will help seniors recognize scams and provide steps to proactively resist fraud. The event will take place at the Walnut Creek Elks Lodge, 1475 Creekside Dr., and lunch costs $15. Guest are welcome and may make reservations by calling (925) 322-1160.

Branch 116 is an group of active men whose only agenda is having fun in retirement. Among the many fun activities the group enjoys, golf is the most popular. Branch 116 has an active golf calendar for both 18-hole and 9-hole groups. The 18-hole group plays once a week in a tournament format with play alternating between local courses and courses that may be 10 to 50 miles away. The 9-hole group plays every Wednesday, rotating play between Buchanan Fields, Concord, Pine Meadows, Martinez and Diablo Hills, Walnut Creek. Foursomes in both the 18-hole and 9-hole groups are arranged so that players can meet and enjoy playing with most, if not all, the other players in the branch during the year. The group also schedules two special golf travel events which include spouses and guests. The spring event will be held in Carmel Valley, May 19th and 20th, and the fall outing will be at Carson City, Nevada on September 10th and 11th. Guests are welcomed to attend these events as a good way of getting to know people and developing friendships.

If you are a golfer and looking for a fun group to share your passion, then come to the group’s luncheon, and talk with member golfers, or for more information about golf activities, please visit www.branch116. org/116-golf/main.htm.

Blue Star Moms

Blue Star Moms is a nonprofit group which conducts service and supports families with sons/daughters in the military. The group’s mission is to support active military, veterans, and families who have wounded or lost sons or daughters while serving (Gold Star families).

Blue Star Moms hold monthly meetings on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 6:30PM at the Danville Veteran’s Memorial Bldg, 400 Hartz Ave in Danville.

A community drop off (drop zones) for care package will be held on April 11 from 10AM -3PM at Walmart located at 4501 Rosewood Drive in Pleasanton and on May 2 from 10AM -3PM at Safeway located at 2505 San Ramon Valley Blvd. in San Ramon.

More information is available by visiting www.bluestarmoms.org.

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Alamo Today ~ April 2015 - Page 7

Mission to Mars Luncheon Program

Come to the American Association of University Women (AAUW) Danville-Alamo-Walnut Creek Branch’s luncheon and program to learn about the exploration and potential habitation of Mars on Saturday, April 25 at Crow Canyon Country Club, 711 Silver Lake Dr., Danville starting at 11am.

Guest speakers; Jan Millsapps, Ph.D., Mars One astronaut candidate finalist, and Beth Rogozinki; will discuss and show excerpts from their transmedia documentary, Madame Mars. This production traces the long and arduous path women have taken in their efforts to explore Mars and worlds beyond. The filmmaker’s vision is to inspire young women and girls to pursue careers and opportunities in the space sciences. This presentation will be of interest to those who want to establish gender equity in space exploration, those who support STEM education for girls, and those who are fascinated by recent developments that have advanced knowledge of Mars and potential habitation.

The cost of $31 includes lunch and program ($32.25 if paying using PayPal). Sign up at http://daw-ca.aauw.net/ madamemars or mail a check to Danville-Alamo-Walnut Creek AAUW P.O. Box 996, Alamo, CA 94507. Please include the name(s), phone number, email address, and number attending.

Seating is limited, so please register by April 18th.

11 Critical Home Inspection Traps to be Aware of Weeks Before Listing Your Home for Sale Alamo - According to industry experts, there are over 33 physical problems that will come under scrutiny during a home inspection when your home is for sale.

A new report has been prepared which identifies the 11 most common of these problems, and what you should know about them before you list your home for sale.

Whether you own an old home or a brand new one, there are a number of things that can fall short of requirements during a home inspection. If not identified and dealt with, any of these 11 items could cost you dearly in terms of repair. That's why it's critical that you read this report before you list your home. If you wait until the building inspector flags these issues for you, you will almost certainly experience costly delays in the close of your home sale or, worse, turn prospective buyers

This report is courtesy of J. Rockcliff Realtors #01763819. Not intended to solicit buyers or sellers currently under contract. Copyright © 2013

Role Players Ensemble Presents Of Mice and Men

The Role Players Ensemble will be presenting John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men from April 17 through May 3 at the Village Theatre, located at 233 Front Street in Danville. Shows will be held on Friday and Saturday evenings at 8PM and on Sundays at 2PM. George and Lennie are two drifters who look out for each other. They dream of a day when they can have a “little place of their own,” but for the present they are bouncing from ranch to ranch, just trying to get by...with trouble always just a step behind.

When trouble finally catches up (L-R) Khary Moye as George & ShawnJ West as with them, dire circumstances Lennie. Photo by John Carter demand dire actions.

Tickets and information are available online at www.RolePlayersEnsemble.com, at Danville Community Center, 420 Front St, Danville, or by calling (925) 314-3400.

There will be a Sneak Peek at the Danville Library, 400 Front Street, on Thursday, April 9 at 7PM. Admission is free for this entertaining look at the production process with the show’s director, actors, and designers.

Scottish Country Dancing

away altogether. In most cases, you can make a reasonable pre-inspection yourself if you know what you're looking for, and knowing what you're looking for can help you prevent little problems from growing into costly and unmanageable ones.

To help home sellers deal with this issue before their homes are listed, a free report entitled "11Things You Need to Know to Pass Your Home Inspection" has been compiled which explains the issues involved.

To hear a brief recorded message about how to order your FREE copy of this report, call toll-free 1-866-265-1682 and enter 2001. You can call any time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Get your free special report NOW to learn how to ensure a home inspection doesn't cost you the sale of your home.

Every Thursday evening, year-round (except Thanksgiving day) come dance!

No partner is required and no Scottish ancestry is required. Adult beginner classes for Scottish Country Dancing take place each week with free lessons at 8PM. More experienced dancers also begin at 8PM. Once a month Ceilidh dancing will take place as well. Dancing will be held at the Danville Grange, located at 743 Diablo Rd in Danville. All dance nights are drop-in. The first beginner lesson is free, afterwards the cost is $8/night or $6/night if attending a 10-week session paid in advance.

Call Witsie at (925) 676-3637 or Kathleen at (925) 934-6148 for more information. For children’s classes ages 7 and up, please contact Cathy at (925) 284-9068 for dates and fees.

Primavera: 38th Annual ADAS Art Festival Benefits SRVUSD Art Programs By Jody Morgan

Primavera, poised to transform the main rotunda at Blackhawk Plaza into a multi-media art gallery on Saturday, May 2nd and Sunday, May 3rd, promotes the work of current local artists while promising support and inspiration to the next generation. Alamo Danville Artists Society (ADAS) proudly presents their 38th Annual Art Show and Wine Stroll. Proceeds from wine bracelets and commissions on art sold benefit the San Ramon Valley Unified School District’s art programs.

One of the oldest annual art festivals in the area, Primavera offers professionally judged ribbons and monetary prizes as well as an incomparable venue for showcasing and selling their work to entice the best of Bay Area artists to participate. Some 70 artists will be exhibiting up to 160 paintings in oil, acrylic, pastel and watercolor with photography, mixed media, sculpture, ceramic and glass pieces which will add to the excitement.

David Savellano, a native Californian residing in the Bay Area, is judging 2015 entries. Largely self-taught as a watercolorist who favors painting “en plein air” (aka outdoors), Savellano credits his 30 years experience as a practicing architect with giving him the drawing skills and keen sense of perspective that have molded him into a professional painter and teacher. His specialty is capturing the spontaneity of fleeting moments – the dramatic onset of a storm or the atmosphere of an instant in a particular place and time.

At the periphery of the visual display, wineries from the Livermore and Napa Valleys add a tasteful compliment to the experience. The show is open Saturday 10am- 6pm and Sunday 11am- 5pm. Wine tasting is available both days from 1-4pm with a $10 donation. The Artists’ Reception in the Blackhawk Plaza Rotunda on May 2nd from 4-6pm is open to the public. Blackhawk Plaza is located at the intersection of Camino Tassajara and Crow Canyon Road in Danville.

Visit the ADAS website at www.adas4art.org for more information and to view the call for artists and volunteers. For additional inquiries, email meganparkshaller@gmail.com or call Megan at 925-426-9295. All entry applications must be received by April 18th.

Page 8 - April 2015 ~ Alamo Today

Rancho Romero Elementary School

By Skye Larsh-Faraghan, Principal

March at Rancho Romero was designated as Ability Awareness Month. Students learned about others who are differently-abled, the frustrations various disabilities present, along with shared abilities and similarities.

Connecting Ability Awareness to the school wide theme of ‘courage,’ Student Council launched a fundraiser through the Wheelchair Foundation at the beginning of March with a compelling presentation

by Don Routh, one of the Wheelchair Foundation’s volunteers.

The Wheelchair Foundation is a nonprofit organization leading an international effort to create awareness of the needs and abilities of people with physical disabilities, to promote the joy of giving, to create global friendship, and to deliver a wheelchair to every child, teen, and adult in the world that needs one but cannot afford one.

The end of March concluded with a school wide assembly from the AXIS Dance Company.

The Company has paved the way for a powerful contemporary dance form called physically integrated dance. Performers are with and without disabilities. At the end of the assembly students clearly understood that everyone can dance.

Ability Awareness month promoted the exploration of reading many different kinds of books that realistically and vividly represented disabilities. A few recommended titles from our students include Extraordinary People by Kent & Quinlan, Different Just Like Me by Lori Mitchell, Author: A True Story by Helen Lester, We’re All Special by Arlene Maguire, My Friend Leslie by Maxine Rosenberg, Thank you, Mr. Falker by Patricia Polacco, In Jesse’s Shoes by Beverly Lewis, and Courage by Bernard Waber.

Thank you to our community partners, PTA, parent volunteers, teachers and students for bringing authentic, real-world learning to Rancho Romero.

Mt. Diablo Branch California Writers Club

Eric Elfman will present “How to Hook Them From the First Page” at the next meeting of the Mt. Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) on Saturday, April 11th at Zio Fraedo’s Restaurant, 611 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill.

Eric will explain how to introduce your main character, begin with conflict and tension, write a dramatic opening line, use active voice, create a sense of mystery, and make the reader turn the page!

Eric Elfman is the author of twelve books for kids and young adults, coauthor of Tesla’s Attic and Edison’s Alley, author of three novels based on TV’s The X-Files, and written four screen plays which have been sold to Hollywood studios. He’s a faculty member of the Big Sur Writing Workshop and a writing coach to award-winning authors.

Sign-in is from 11:15am to noon, luncheon noon to 1pm, which includes a short business meeting, and the speaker will present from 1pm to 2pm. Registration is $20 for CWC members, $25 for guests.

Reservations are required and must be received no later than noon on Wednesday, April 8. Contact Barbara Bentley at barbara@barbarabentley. net or by phone at (925) 212-4727. Expect confirmation only if you e-mail your reservation. To sign up via PayPal, click “buy now” on the Mt. Diablo website: http://cwcmtdiablowriters.wordpress.com/next-program. Please add a $2 transaction fee for PayPal payments.

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

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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Stone Valley Middle School

By Jenise Falk, Interim Principal

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”~ Nelson Mandela I am delighted to serve as the interim principal at Stone Valley Middle School. I have been on the administrative team for SRVUSD for over 16 years and have loved teaching and serving as an Assistant Principal at the middle school level.

We are in full swing with spring activities both inside the classroom and out!

Curriculum and Instruction

As I tour classrooms, I am so impressed with the level of commitment to teaching and the relationships that teachers have built with students. Together, with student buy in and parent support, essential learning is happening each and every day.

During our Staff Development on March 13, all middle school teachers met at DVMS and shared Common Core best practices, lesson, and strategies that they have developed over the year. It was an energizing and collaborative time as they shared with members of their same departments.

In our math classes, students engaged in real-world problem solving.

Teachers have incorporated the eight mathematical practices essential to the Common Core. The practices are 1) Make sense of problems and preserve in solving them; 2) Reason abstractly and quantitatively; 3) Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others; 4) Model with math; 5) Use appropriate tools strategically; 6) Attend to precision; 7) Look for and make use of structure; and 8) Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning. The department hosted a successful Family Math Night where families rotated through a variety of stations, activities built around the eight Mathematical Practices.

Teachers, students, and our tech department are preparing for our CAASPP testing (California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress) which will be held April 20-May 15. All students will be tested on Common Core Standards in ELA and math using computers. Eighth grade students will also take a science assessment.

Character Education

Stone Valley students raised over $6,600 for the Pledge to Humanity!

This organization provides meals to the hungry for $.25/meal. That is over 26,000 meals that will be packaged and served to local and international needy families. All students will experience the packaging of the meals during an all-day session in our gym. We have a wonderful group of parent volunteers who have assisted this effort. Thank you to all for supporting this very worthy cause. For more information, go to www.generationalive.org.

Our leadership students have been busy under the direction of teacher Mrs. Linda Draper. Our students work tirelessly to create a community of caring and build pride in our school. Students have served meals at Glide Memorial Church in San Francisco, sponsored spirit days including the entire school, planned dances, and contributed segments on our SVTV regarding world events.

We are excited for the new and wonderful changes that will be happening at Stone Valley during the next few years. In future news articles, I will give an update on ELA Common Core, the selection of the new principal, and also a construction timeline for our new school. It’s going to be extraordinary!

Have a great month!

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 Sheriff Substation, 150 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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Monte Vista High School

By Janet Terranova, Principal

Spring break is quickly approaching, and our students and campus definitely know that spring is in the air. Our trees are blooming and students are pulling out their flip flops, but the important work of learning continues in high gear.

Our ninth and tenth graders just completed the Mock CAHSEE and the state mandated CAHSEE (California High School Exit Exam). These scores will be available in May. Our 11th grade students are preparing to take the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP).

This is a new state mandated test that students take on the computer. The state conducted a practice test last year, and this year we will complete the English and mathematics tests totally online. This is a new experience for our students, and we are anxious to see how are students perform on this new test format.

The CAASPP is intended to provide parents and students with more accurate information about what students are learning based on our new California State Common Core Standards. If you would like to learn more about the test, this website www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/ca can give you some valuable information and insights.

Last week I had the pleasure of attending the Area Band Festival which includes bands from feeder elementary and middle schools and our own Monte Vista band. It was a treat to listen to our talented students. The students spent the day at Monte Vista practicing, for the first time joining other bands for their evening presentation. To listen to the progression of skill from fifth grade bands to the high school was amazing. The events ended with all bands playing America the Beautiful.

Evenings such as this could not occur without the support of the talented and enthusiastic band teachers and the dozens of parents who helped make the evening a success. Thank you to all who participated--it was a wonderful evening.

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

Alamo Today ~ April 2015 - Page 9

Exchange Club Of San Ramon Valley 2015 College Essay Scholarship Competition

The Exchange Club of San Ramon Valley (www.SRVExchangeClub. org) is hosting its annual college essay scholarship competition. A college scholarship for $1,500 will be awarded to the first place winner, $1,000 for second place, and $500 for third place. High school students will have an opportunity to hear and interact with outstanding speakers as they discuss this year’s essay topic: “The U.S. Constitution - First Amendment – Do you believe First Amendment Rights are absolute? Under what circumstances, if any, should First Amendment rights be limited?

Which of the five freedoms listed in the First Amendment do you believe is the most important and why?”

All students in grades 9-12 are Gopher Removal eligible to write an essay after No Poison watching a taped video of last month’s speakers presentation.

Essays are due on Friday, April 925-765-4209 17th. The Exchange Club wishes to extend its appreciation to PG&E for donating scholarship grant monies for this worthwhile program.

Please contact Donna Kerger at dkerger1@ aol.com or (925) 838-9272 with any questions.

Page 10 - April 2015 ~ Alamo Today

San Ramon Valley High School

By Ruth Steele, Principal

Balance is the key to a healthy and productive life.

During our annual Building Bridges evening when we welcomed incoming freshmen parents to SRVHS in February, I realized that more than anything else, that was the message that I wanted to convey to parents and students.

High school needs to be a balance of work, learning, activities, and some actual down-time for students.

In our fast paced world, the number of things that families have to juggle is compounded by the persistence of instant communication which seems to constantly reinforce the fact that there is always something else that we need to remember to do!

This spring we have a huge variety of events happening at SRVHS. March has already seen events like the area band festival which included musicians from elementary, middle, and high school performing together. This year, in April, SRVHS has a musical (The Adams Family) which involves students from choral music, instrumental music, dance, and the theater departments. Our robotics team just returned from their state-wide competition where they placed fifth – a fantastic achievement. The student recognition project, which has also recently concluded, showcased students from all of our elective programs – fine arts, photography, culinary arts, digital design, video production, and dance – and many students won awards and recognition for their talent. We also have the close of winter sports and the start of spring sports with standout performances from our Mens Varsity Soccer team and our Mens Varsity Basketball team.

As you can imagine, there are countless hours of rehearsal and preparation invested in all of these performances and competitions, and a huge level of commitment was given by the staff that are running these programs. We are also incredibly fortunate to have such a high level of financial support and voluntary involvement from our parents, there is no way that we could sustain these programs without that happening.

In addition to all of this, spring brings us closer to testing season. Statewide testing (this year it is mostly the Common Core testing for Juniors) and the looming AP tests fall in April and May. This is the point in the year where everyone starts getting really tired. Teachers, students, staff, and parents having been working non-stop since the start of the year, and this is a long time without a substantial break to recuperate.

Spring Break helps give everyone some time to recover before the last two months of school, but the pace of juggling everything takes its toll.

My point in focusing on this issue, is to try and remind everyone to take a breath and look at where some balance can be re-established. When we complete the Stanford Survey for Challenge Success and work with Stanford in the Fall as a team of staff, students and parents, we will be working on ways that reduce student stress. But the focus of that program is to help whole families, not just the students, to take a step back and try to reduce the number of conflicting priorities.

The data below (collected by Stanford from thousands of students) gives you an idea of where this work will focus for students.

SLEEP: On average teens are getting 6.5 hours a night. Students need at least nine.

HOMEWORK: On average students complete 3 hours of homework a night, some do as much as 6-7 hours a night.

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: On average students have 10 hours of extracurricular activities a week; some do up to 40 hour a week.

8

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Heidrun Meadery

By Linda Summers Pirkle

Forget scented candles--my son Reed’s beer making endeavors in my kitchen produce a wonderful hoppy aroma that rivals the homey smell of an apple pie baking in the oven. On a summer day, I welcome his beer making hobby because of the delicious scent from the large pot while it is brewing and for the inevitable gathering of his friends at our house. The beer at the beginning stage of being made is referred to as wort. It needs to ferment for weeks before it is ready, but I know at the beginning of the beer making process a tri-tip will be put on the grill later in the day and I will hear lots of laughing and discussion on the best home brew. I am reminded that the fun part is in the process.

The process of making mead, an ancient elixir which was the precursor to ale and wine, has been for Gordon Hull, geologist turned mead maker, full of discovery. Now a successful business, Heidrun, Hull’s company, produces mead on a 16 acre farm in beautiful Pt. Reyes. The mead is served in restaurants including Greens, Chez Panisse, and the French Laundry, and it is sold in many markets such as Whole Foods and Cowgirl Creamery.

I had no idea what to expect, but with my first taste of mead, I was a convert. All five samples were delicious and distinctly different, all of them refreshing. As Gordon Hull explained, “The spectrum of flavors among honey varieties (used in the making of mead) is far broader than grape varietals, and that is how we come to make mead varietals that can taste like everything from elegant Champagne to a robust Belgian Saison.”

Traditional meads are very sweet, but Gordon Hull wanted to make sparkling, dry mead. On a whim, in 1995 he purchased a gallon of honey from a Humboldt County bee keeper. He recalls, “I was more than a little pleased with the results of that first try—the mead was light, crisp, delicate, and clean with very subtle floral notes. It was downright refreshing and easy to drink too.” It was so good that he thought the batch he made was a fluke, and he proceeded to try making a second batch. He wanted to replicate his first success, so he stayed with exactly the same recipe and ingredients. Unfortunately, the bee keeper was out of honey, so he purchased other honey from a different area. This time, instead of a blackberry honey, the new honey was a gallon of a darker wildflower honey, also of Humboldt County origin.

The second mead Hull made was “delightful, but, interestingly, it had a different character—more notes of earth and spice than the previous batch.”

The rest is history. Hull recounted, “Since nothing else I was aware of had been altered between the two batches, I was led to believe that the differing honeys had contributed the individuality of each batch. What a novel discovery, I thought, that there could be an equivalent in honey to varietals of grapes used in winemaking.”

Heidrun Meadery recently opened their gates to the public, and in February 2015 they started offering tours and tastings. Samples are served icy cold in champagne flutes. The names of the different meads offered at Heidrun reflect the types of honey used in their making: Madras Carrot Honey Blossom, California Orange Blossom Honey, Alfalfa and Clover Blossom Honey, Point Reyes Wild Flower, and my personal favorite Hawaiian Macadamia Nut Honey. The Meadery is a wonderful place to gather, taste, tour, and learn more about the history of mead. Picnickers are welcome (no BBQ’s) by reservation. *Heidrun Meadery is located at 11925 State Hwy 1, Point Reyes Station and is open Monday-Friday from 10AM- 4PM and Saturday and Sunday 11AM5PM. Tastings are $10 per person (must be over 21 years of age) and tour and tastings are $15 per person. Their phone number is 415-663-9122, and their website is HeidrunMeadery.com. Chef dinners held at the Meadery sell out quickly, so check the website for their schedule.

Linda Summers Pirkle, travel consultant and long term Danville resident, has arranged and led 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.

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Alamo Today ~ April 2015 - Page 11

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Growing Community and Caring for our Place on Earth

By Cynthia Ruzzi

I can’t believe it was just five years ago that I was searching for local recommendations for sustainable living for my family. It was then through talking with friends Darlene Gayler and Tracy Bauer that we were inspired to start Sustainable Danville Area (www. sustainabledanville.com) to encourage sustainable practices by facilitating ecoeducational programs in the Danville area. We have expanded–and contracted– with treasured volunteers and brilliant interns joining us along the way. Most importantly, we have made cherished life-long friends like Cindy Egan, San Ramon Valley High School’s Environmental Science Teacher. We are not the ‘Green Police’; instead we’re a local group interested in exploring and learning how to live and work sustainably in our community. We balance what matters most to us (our families) with our responsibility to care for the future of this beautiful place that we call home. We definitely don’t have all the answers, but along the way we have found great resources, made wonderful connections, and learned from our mistakes – hopefully making it easier for our neighbors who want to jump aboard.

We are fulfilled by the community of people (students, teachers, parents, business owners, civic leaders, and you) that have demonstrated their interest in supporting our efforts by making Every Choice Count! We are buoyed by the growth of consciousness that has sprung up amongst us – people who understand the importance of freeing their bodies, their homes, and their yards from chemicals and pesticides. While I wouldn’t call our ‘job’ done - since I always prefer a friend’s recommendation over something on the Internet - we are excited that there is a wealth of reliable information for those that are curious about learning more.

We are grateful for civic leaders that have voted to ban single-use plastic bags in our community, offer residents the ability to recycle all their kitchen food scraps in their curbside waste bins, added bicycle parking facilities in popular downtown locations, installed a centralized climate controlled irrigation system, and even rely on solar panels to fuel the work they do every day to protect our community for the future. Most importantly, we are happy to call ourselves

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

residents of Alamo, Danville, Diablo, and Blackhawk. Every time we receive an email (sustainabledanville@gmail.com) or comment on Facebook (www. facebook.com/sustainabledanvillearea) sharing a green practice that you or your family has adopted, it fills our hearts with hope.

This April, we celebrate our fifth ‘birthday’ and Earth Day 2015. The Town of Danville, The Danville Library, and Sustainable Danville Area will present the 5th Annual Earth Day Event on Sunday, April 19th 11am - 2pm on the Town Green in front of the Danville Library. Rain will be an additional blessing as we have activities planned for the library and community center as well. The Town of Danville Earth Day event is a free, fun, and informative affair for residents and visitors of all ages interested in green building, sustainable landscape design, solar power and home energy efficient products, waste reduction and recycling, water conservation, hybrid and electrical vehicles, and much more! Fun for everyone in the family has been scheduled at this zero-waste event which includes live music featuring Rio James, American Idol Tyler Stimpson, and Zakir Siddiqui.

Kids activities include a petting zoo, ‘Peanuts…Naturally! An Ecofestival,’ a giant Earth ball, and much, much more.

San Ramon Valley High School Environmental Club (E2) will be manning the bike valet to make it easy for you and your family to ride your bicycles to the event. Yes, this works just like a coat check. You check in your bikes for free, enjoy the event, and pick up your bikes by 2pm. We can always use environmentally enthusiastic volunteers ages 16 and up for the Earth Day event. Please visit www. danville.ca.gov/volunteer if you haven’t volunteered with the Town before. For more information, email jmason@ danville.ca.gov or call 925314-3478. It will not be a party without you, so mark your calendars for April 19th, and please come celebrate with us.

Page 12 - April 2015 ~ Alamo Today

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Alamo Women’s Club

The Alamo Women’s Club (AWC) is open to any woman who would like to join “A place where women come together to work toward a better community for all.” We have nearly 100 years of community involvement and a growing vibrant membership. Our members reside in many East Bay cities and we offer: Philanthropy, Community, and Celebration.

The Alamo Women’s Club is busy this spring with many events scheduled.

In late March our Speaker Luncheon featured a fashion show offering from the ever popular Chico’s clothing. AWC Scholarship Committees also began their work and contacted local high school counselors as well as Diablo Valley College (DVC) for qualified applicants for our upcoming Scholarship Awards Luncheon to be held on April 22nd.

We began our scholarship award tradition with a focus on nursing in the 1940’s. Later our emphasis shifted as AWC members in the 1980’s realized that local public high schools were cutting many art programs which they felt were important for students. Since that time our high school scholarships have focused on the arts, both performance and visual. AWC member, Loretta Lewis of Alamo, recalls that AWC women wanted to give back to deserving students in their local community. Having now served as a Scholarship Committee member for several years, she has seen the incredible talents of the art students and how that carries over into other areas of their lives as well. DVC returning women students are heartwarming to Loretta as they, and our foster youth awardees, have had so many struggles in their lives that it is gratifying for our members to realize how AWC impacts lives with our awards. Each year our members look forward to celebrating this long Club tradition.

Last year’s award winners’ included three students from Monte Vista High School, include a singer in numerous choral groups as well as community performances. Her goal was to earn a degree in musical therapy. Her fellow recipient played classical piano for ten years and cello for six years, and he sang with numerous groups and performed in musical theater. Speech and debate, and volunteering as a singing teacher rounded out his resume. The final awardee excelled in drawing and animation and already had pre-college art classes and mentorships from Pixar and DreamWorks Studio.

Equally impressive were the three recipients from San Ramon Valley High School including an artist working in the medium of graphite and acrylic who had been winning art competitions since age seven. Her fellow awardee had a passion for piano and he had already studied with the SF conservatory for three years and won prizes in various competitions. His future plans included an early acceptance as a pre-med student. The third recipient with a greater than 4.0 GPA was a talented piano, guitar, and bass player who rounded out their high school years with singing and playing soccer for all four years.

Last year a note from one of our DVC returning single mothers scholarship winners explained that she “was the youngest of seven children and the first person in my family to attend college.” She noted, “My road to success has not been an easy one, and I have faced many obstacles along the way. Most notably, I was raised on public assistance by uneducated parents in an underserved neighborhood.”

Another recipient from DVC wrote her appreciation to AWC as “the money will allow me to buy books, supplies and cover my school expenses for my enrollment at Diablo Valley College.” Her future plans include volunteering at a crisis center and stopping the stigma of suicide. She hopes that her career goals will “be an inspiration and an example for my son.”

Our foster youth recipients have had a very tough road in life, and yet one of the foster youth recipients was able to overcome those obstacles and wrote the following in her application: “I am a successful and independent individual who believes I am able to chase after life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

I am determined.”

AWC member and current Scholarship Committe Chair Jone Sapiro knows that this year’s applicants will be equally qualified, and she and her committee look forward to seeing and hearing about their talent, amazing outlook, and goals at our Scholarship Awards Luncheon. The luncheon will be held on April 22nd at 11:30am at the AWC Clubhouse. The artists will either perform or showcase their art for the audience. The other recipients will make short statements on what the scholarships help do for them and their families. Our philanthropy awards will also be presented at the same event. The public is invited at a cost of $25, and lunch is included. Please RSVP by April 18 to njhowsmon@sbcglobal.net.

Alamo Today ~ April 2015 - Page 13

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Page 14 - April 2015 ~ Alamo Today

Contra Costa’s Retirement Board Update FREE Gift With Purchase!

By Supervisor Candace Andersen

In my role as County Supervisor I was recently appointed to serve on the Contra Costa County Employees’ Retirement Association (CCCERA) Board of Trustees, which is the County’s Retirement Board. CCCERA is responsible for the administration, management, and guidance over a defined benefit pension system with assets currently worth close to $6 billion. Board trustees are fiduciaries who analyze the merits of investment products and work with staff to determine successful diversification for the pension fund.

CCCERA manages the retirement pensions for not only Contra Costa County, WALNUT CREEK - Broadway Plaza but for the Bethel Island Municipal Improvement District; Byron, Brentwood, DANVILLE - The Livery GREENBRAE - Bon Air Center Knightsen Union Cemetery District; Central Contra Costa Sanitary District; Contra Costa Housing Authority; Contra Costa Mosquito and Vector Control District; Local Agency Formation District (LAFCO); Rodeo Sanitary District; In-Home Supportive Services Authority; First 5 Children & Families Commission; Contra Costa County Fire Protection District; East Contra Costa Fire Protection District; Moraga-Orinda Fire Protection District; Rodeo-Hercules Fire Protection District; San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District; and the Contra Costa Superior Court.

Alamo/Danville Today ne The Retirement Board is made up of 12 trustees. Four trustees (including an alternate) are appointed by the County Board of Supervisors; four trustees (including FW: Minor Change to Ad a police/fire “Safety” alternate) are elected by CCCERA’s active plan participants; and two trustees, including one alternate, are elected by the retired membership.

Alternates vote in the absence of specific trustees. The County Treasurer serves as an ex-officio member. Board members serve three year terms, with the exception of the County Treasurer, who serves during his tenure in office.

The Board reviews actuarial valuations, studies, and economic assumptions to ey [mailto:chris@specialtysales.com] protect and maintain CCCERA’s financial viability for current and future members. h 03, 2015 9:28 AM Board trustees make policy decisions that shape how this complex system functions, e including implementing benefit structures and contribution rates for employee and work) employer members. It approves service retirements, disability applications, and retiree cost-of-living adjustments. It also makes decisions on a variety of issues, ge to Ad from listening to members with specific concerns, to IRS regulation compliance.

Unfortunately, like nearly every public agency that has a defined benefit pension plan, ours is underfunded. The issue of unfunded and underfunded pension liability is prevalent in the news today as many government entities struggle to keep up with rising costs of providing retirement benefits to their current and future retirees.

At the beginning of 2014, CCCERA had approximately $1.8 billion of unfunded liability. This translates to it being 76.4% funded when comparing the valuation of ottom part of our ad, the part that in February mentioned the Valentine’s Day special, can I request CCCERA’s assets against the l accrued liability determined by actuaries. part completely with the following text?

Reducing unfunded pension liability is an ongoing challenge that needs to be continually addressed. Many retirement plans are still feeling the effects of the Great Recession in terms of both lost investment returns and sluggish economic growth. Back in 2007, before the Recession hit, CCCERA’s plan was 89.88% funded, and our unfunded liability, while still high, was $565 million. That’s less 2015 Spring Consignment Special than half of what it is today.

No Consignment Fees Due for Three Months, a Savings of $400 * There are some positive things that have happened over the past two years that * Some restrictions apply – Expires 05/28/15 should help reduce the unfunded liability going forward. In March of 2013 the CCCERA board lowered its expected rate of return on investments from 7.75% to 7.25%. While it means that currently both the government employer and the San Ramon Valley Genealogical Society ice, but we just rolled out this special yesterday.

The San Ramon Valley Genealogical Society was formed in 1985 and now employees have to put more money aside now for future pensions, it is a much more realistic number given historic trends. Another positive improvement is that has over 170 members. The group meets at 10AM the third Tuesday of every I made it in time for the March issues. Also, please use this same bottom ad text for April. month, except in August and December. The group gathers at the Danville CCCERA saw market gains of 14.1% in 2012 and 16.5% in 2013. Also, the Public Employee’s Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA) was passed by the State. This Family History Center located at 2949 Stone Valley Road, Alamo.

The group also conducts educational classes for its members and lowers pension benefits, and thus the expense of funding them, for new employees.

PEPRA also closes loopholes that permitted the spiking of pensions. has various special interest groups.

If you’re interested in learning more about our County Retirement Board, go Everyone is welcome. For information, call Ed at (925) 299-0881, visit to CCCERA’s website at CCCERA.org. You are also welcome to attend a Retirewww.srvgensoc.org, or email SRVGS@SRVGenSoc.org. ment Board meeting. Regular meetings of CCCERA are held on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month beginning at 9am. There are also quarterly and Search and Rescue additional meetings on special topics that arise from time to time. Meetings are The Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team needs volunteer held at the CCCERA offices at 1355 Willow Way in Concord. members to respond to missing person incidents, disasters, and other critical Finally, my office is here to serve the residents of Contra Costa County District incidents. Team members are on call 24/7 year-round. The program provides 2, which includes San Ramon, Danville, Alamo, Walnut Creek, Saranap, Parkmead, required training; including wilderness traveling, first aid, map and compass usLafayette, Moraga, Canyon, and Orinda. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if we age, tracking disaster response, and search skills; and may also include special can provide you with additional information on this topic or on other County istraining for canine, equestrian, technical, mountain bike, or other rescue skills. sues. I can be reached at SupervisorAndersen@bos.cccounty.us or 925-957-8860.

For information and applications, visit www.contracostasar.org or call 646-4461.

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How I Went to France From California Without Crossing the Atlantic Ocean

By Jeremy Barcan, Alamo World Travel

I have been involved with travel for over 30 years now and so far have visited 40 countries worldwide. Whenever I am asked to name the most interesting, unusual place I have ever visited, I always say FRANCE. “How is that possible?” they retort. Most travelers have been to Paris, Provence or the Cote d'Azur, so how can I possibly be referring to France as an unusual, nay exotic, place? My answer is St. Pierre & Miquelon.

How many of you have heard of it or know where it is located?

These tiny two islands are situated in North America, in the north Atlantic Ocean, barely 50 miles southwest of Newfoundland, Canada. They are part of France, use the euro as their currency, and require visitors to enter their territories with a national passport in which a French stamp is embossed upon entering and exiting St. Pierre. The 6,000 or so permanent residents of these two islands are full-fledged French citizens and speak with a mainland French accent (not to be confused with French Canadian accent, although these people live much closer to Quebec than to mainland France).

To put it in a historic perspective, these islands of St. Pierre & Miquelon (both part of a larger archipelago) are the last vestiges of imperial France.

France managed to retain these two islands as part of the final treaty of 1763 between France and England at the end of a long war to gain control over North American colonies. More than just fishing outposts, the islands also served a strategic purpose as France could monitor naval movements during wartime. During the years of prohibition in the US, these islands served as a fertile smuggling point for liquor.

It took me 27 years as a travel agent to discover the existence of these two islands after reading an intriguing article in the New York Times travel section. The more I read, the more I was fascinated and determined to make my way over there.

I liked the idea of going to France without having to cross the Atlantic Ocean.

Alamo Today ~ April 2015 - Page 15

Little did I know that getting to St. Pierre & Miquelon was not going to be an easy task.

For starters, due to the harsh weather in these high northern latitudes, the tourism season is limited to eight weeks a year, between early July and late August. During this period, St. Pierre Airlines operates daily flights to St. Pierre.

And a passenger-only ferry connects with the town of Fortune, Newfoundland with St. Pierre, with regular service from April to November or December. The same ferry operates year-round between St. Pierre, Langlade and Miquelon.

Since I was coming all the way from California, I chose to explore Canada's maritime provinces, sandwiching St. Pierre and Miquelon between the incomparable Nova Scotia and St. John's Newfoundland, a fascinating place in itself which also boasts the easternmost point in North America, where Europe is closer to the East Coast of America than the West Coast is. Based on my own experience, I would strongly recommend combining a visit to St. Pierre & Miquelon with a visit to the Canadian provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland. Plan on 10 to 14 days to accomplish a successful visit of all the above-mentioned places.

In the four July days I spent in this remote place, I experienced every type of imaginable weather, from serene, sunny and warm to very cool, cloudy, rainy and stormy. It is hard to describe the pristine beauty of this place. It is probably the last place in our hemisphere that has not been “Disneyfied” and commercialized. There are only a few restaurants catering to tourists but the food they provide is authentic French cuisine, reasonably priced, with, naturally, a strong emphasis on seafood. You will never taste better lobster or crab.

I stayed at the most cozy and comfortable bed & breakfast I have ever visited called “Nuits St. Pierre” where each morning a French chef prepares your breakfast to order, and in the afternoon French wine and cheeses are served for its guests.

For all you seasoned travelers who believe they have seen it all, next time you seek a new, unspoiled destination, remember St. Pierre & Miquelon.

Let Alamo World Travel, Luxury Travel Specialists for 34 years, be your resource for building the perfect vacation. Whether you want to tour or cruise, Ask Us, We’ve Been There. Stop by and visit us in Alamo Commons, 3201 Danville Blvd., Suite #255 in Alamo or we can be reached at 925-837-8742. Advertorial

Page 16 - April 2015 ~ Alamo Today

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Alamo Today ~ April 2015 - Page 17

AT

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Life in the Alamo Garden

Water-Wise Design

By John Montgomery,ASLA, LandscapeArchitect

www.yourmonthlypaper.com Danville Today News ~ April 2015 - Page 17

It’s pretty clear now that we have a drought! It doesn’t look like we are going to be saved by late spring El Nino rains. EBMUD is asking you to cut back your water use even further from 10% in 2014 to 15% in 2015 because of the continued lack of rain. If needed, EBMUD is prepared to purchase Sacramento River water from their contract with the federal government to supplement our regular water supplies from the Mokelumne River.

California has implemented emergency water conservation restrictions as follows.

1. Limit watering of outdoor landscapes to two times per week maximum, and prevent excess runoff.

2. Use only hoses with shutoff nozzles to wash vehicles.

3. Use a broom or blower, not water, to clean hard surfaces.

4. Turn off any fountain or decorative water feature unless the water is recirculated.

Over the years I have implemented into my practice water-wise landscape design. I am a fifth generation native Californian and have been designing landscapes for over 35 years here. Living in and out of drought conditions I have Call for details learned to stay the course of good water-wise landscape design. As residents of Alamo, it is vital to ALWAYS conserve water as a habit. It seems we should 925.939.8300 know better by now, but we get fooled from season to season when we experisolartechnologies.com ence many years of El Nino. With global warming concerns, it is time to get Lic. #932914 smart and stay smart. While the current restrictions don’t seem that drastic, here are seven practices I always implement into my designs which you can implement into your new or existing landscape no matter what the forecast might be.

One: Start with your soil. Thriving soil with good organics is the foundation of a water conserving landscape. How much water you need to keep your landscape alive is directly equivalent to the amount of compost in your soil.

Compost increases permeability and capacity to hold water, thus reducing the amount needed for irrigation and thus lowering your watering bills.

Two: Use Plants and Landscapes for Summer-dry Climates of the SF Bay Region (EBMUD book); these types of plants have adapted to summer dry conditions and once established can survive dry summers with little or no water. There is an old gardener’s adage: “right plant – right place.”Appropriately designed planting requires less watering, pruning, fertilizing, and spraying, thus lowering operating costs and use of resources. Minimize your lawn area. One thousand sq. ft. of turf can save about 10,000 gallons of water per dry season. If you absolutely need a lawn, minimize the size and place them where they will be used for relaxation and play, or consider artificial turf.

Three: Cluster your plantings by water needs. This method is known as hydrozoning. In a hot sunny location group sun-loving, low water use plants, and then design the irrigation system to water that cluster of plants. The same goes for shade areas. Hydro-zoning can more easily match plant requirements, thus saving water.

Hydro-zoning allows you to separate your irrigation valves so each zone can be managed more accurately. This method can save you an unbelievable amount of water!

Four: Design and install high efficiency irrigation systems. Use bubbler and in-line drip irrigation where possible so that water can be applied directly to the root zone. Minimize spray irrigation where possible. Use the newest irrigation technology; MPR (matched precipitation rates) sprinkler heads, bubbler, drip, micro-sprays, and in-line drip; and upgrade to a new controller. There are many choices that offer high technology that uses historical weather data, solar and moisture sensors, and rain sensors. Some can even detect problems like a broken sprinkler head. I installed a “Water Smart” controller last summer and have been able to save 20%. With new technology I believe you could easily save 25-50% of the water you use for your landscape now!

Five: Manage your landscape water use: know your landscape watering needs and how much water is being applied. Adjust your controller often as weather conditions change. Install a new “Water Smart” controller. Set your controller to water early in the morning when evaporation rates are low and wind is calm. Water deep and less often; this will allow water to get into the root zones. Avoid overwatering and run-off. Most people overwater! Good water management saves thousands of gallons!

Six: Mulch! Mulch reduces water loss and prevents weed growth. Mulch often! Regularly mulch around your trees, shrubs, and ground covers and cultivate your soil regularly to allow water to penetrate more easily.

Seven: Make saving water important to you! Every drip counts! Get involved in your garden. Use licensed landscape professionals to assist you in water-wise design and implementation of your garden.

A hot tip from your local Landscape Architect: Water is the new commodity! Investing in a water-wise planting and irrigation design for your new or existing garden can save you thousands of $$ over time! The savings can well exceed the cost of the design itself!

Gardening Quote of the Month: “The frog does not drink up the pond in which he lives.”

- Native American Saying 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.

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Alamo Today ~ April 2015 - Page 19

Tree of the Season

By Blaine Brende & Joe Lamb Japanese Maples

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

Careful study of their form, in any season, can call the viewer back to the natural world. In winter, the falling leaves raise the curtain on the form of the trunks and put the dance on center stage.

Winter rain intensifies the show by adding a sensuality to the movement of stem and bough, one that beckons to even the unpracticed eye. In spring, certain varieties of Japanese maples send out new leaves so bright a green they appear lit from within. In summer, upright cultivars that are well pruned have spaces between the branches, giving the canopy the appearance of being composed of many floating islands. And in fall, Japanese maples mark the change of season by turning colors ranging from yellow to scarlet, depending on the variety of maple; there are many varieties.

Luckily, Japanese maples are relatively easy to grow and relatively tough.

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

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

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

Though it is sometimes necessary to lower the crown of a maple, as when it is beginning to block a treasured view, lowering should be done only when necessary, and the lowering should not be so drastic as to involve topping cuts (see the article on topping). Lowering a maple to gain a view is not something that you can do just once. Pruning down the crown stimulates new growth, and maintaining the view or the size reduction, will require yearly pruning. No matter how good the artist, you can’t make a topped maple look as good as a natural tree. Much pruning, and therefore expense, can be avoided by planting the right variety in the right place. When planting a new tree, plant a cultivar that won’t exceed the desired height when it matures. This is almost always preferable to containing a variety that will grow beyond the desired size.

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

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

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Page 20 - April 2015 ~ Alamo Today

Clip Notes

By Jody Morgan

Aztec rulers had a tasty take on tax season. Not surprisingly, only elite members of society got to enjoy the fruits of their subjects’ labors. Although the Aztecs exacted maize and gold as tribute from most taxpayers, they demanded top-quality vanilla beans as payment from the Totonaca tribe of southeastern Mexico. The Totonacas considered vanilla a divine gift, and the Aztecs agreed.

The first European to savor the flavor was Spanish explorer Herman Cortez, who arrived in the Aztec capital in 1519. Despite his distaste for the “bitter water” beverage concocted by his hosts from cacao, vanilla, peppers, maize, and honey, Cortez brought sacks of cacao beans and vanilla pods back home where clever chefs devised recipes relished by Spanish royalty. Europeans thought vanilla could only be used in combination with chocolate until in 1602 Hugh Morgan, pastry chef and apothecary to Queen Elizabeth I, suggested Her Majesty try sweets flavored solely with vanilla. Elizabeth pronounced his vanilla confections delicious.

By 1750 wealthy Parisians were devouring vanilla ice cream year-round.

When Thomas Jefferson returned in 1789 from serving as minister to the court of Louis XVI, he requested a shipment of vanilla beans be sent to him at Monticello. Jefferson’s handwritten recipe for vanilla ice cream is among his papers archived at the Library of Congress.

Called “beans” because of their shape, the seedpods of vanilla orchids are the only edible fruit supplied by the extensive orchid family. Vanilla vines grow wild in parts of Mexico and south into Central America, but they require pollinators nonexistent elsewhere (two rare species of bees and native Mexican hummingbirds) to fruit.

Consequently, attempts to establish vanilla plantations in similar climates around the globe were unsuccessful until the mid-nineteenth century. In 1836 and 1837, two European botanists managed to manually pollinate vanilla flowers, but credit for a commercially viable method of hand-pollination goes to twelve-year-old slave, Edmond Albius, who had watched his master “marry” male and female watermelon blossoms.

Tractor continued from front page

project of transforming a 1935 Caterpillar into a popular ride for FHF events.

After removing the tractor’s original seat, Ginochio built a 10-passenger carrier by recycling five metal hospital beds for the base, rails, and bench seating. Ron Simmons, Joe Krueger, Jim Donahoe, Pat Sorenson, and Vern Kalepp helped complete the project. Vinyl-covered foam padding makes the benches comfortable. For safety, Ginochio added brand new World War II seatbelts purchased in their original boxes at an aircraft surplus store.

Although the City of San Ramon provided start-up funding for the project, the restoration crew now relies on their own fundraising, utilizing donations

Roy Ginochio drives the CAT D4 as it tows its big brother CAT 60, donated by the Alameda County Fair Association, upon arrival at FHF.

for tractor rides at FHF events supplemented by grants from organizations including Clorox and Chevron. On T-Gang’s roster, in addition to members above-mentioned, are Tom Slingerland, Bob McCoy, Ron Frye, Dan Foster, Tony Hurt, Mike Storms, and John Maryott.

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In 1841, Reúnion Island planter Ferreól Bellier-Beaumont discovered a pod on a vanilla vine that had remained sterile for two decades. When a second pod appeared a few days later, he realized Edmond’s claim to have fertilized the flowers by using his thumb and a small stick to connect their male and female parts was not an idle boast. Edmond’s discovery made fortunes for Reúnion vanilla growers and is utilized worldwide today. Bellier-Beaumont tried in vain to get Edmund financial recognition for his achievement. Freed in 1848 along with all of the island’s slaves, Albius died a pauper.

Vanilla is one of the most labor-intensive agricultural products on the planet.

Ninety percent or more of vanilla comestibles available today are synthetically flavored. While vanillin, a primary component, is easily replicated, the other 250-500 distinct compounds that account for the complex essence of natural vanilla are difficult to accurately assess. Vanilla vines can live 1,000 years, but they are vulnerable to diseases that wipe out plantations and natural disasters from typhoons and hurricanes to drought. Wild vines yield eight or nine pods, but cultivated hand-pollinated plants can produce 100-200 pods. Growers have to be careful not to exhaust plants because a heavy crop one year may mean low-yields for the next two.

Pods reach full length in two months, but they need to stay on the vine for six to eight months to reach peak flavor. Theft is a major risk during the final months, so growers try never to leave their vines unattended. The process of “killing” the beans to prevent fermentation, drying and curing takes several more months. Eighteen to 19 months after beginning to set on the vines, vanilla beans reach brokers in the US and Europe. By the time a consumer buys a bean or purchases it in an extract, it will have been handled about 25 times. Properly cured and stored, jarred vanilla beans can retain their flavor for up to 20 years.

Unlike many popular orchids, vanilla blossoms last only a day apiece. Pale yellow or white, the ephemeral flowers are exquisitely fragrant. Plants need well-developed root systems to bloom. Even aerial roots want water. Filtered sunlight and support comparable to that provided by trees in the wild are essential. Vines occasionally generate self-fertile mutant flowers, but manual pollination is the only certain means of obtaining fruit.

For in-depth information on the history and use of vanilla, read Tim Ecott’s Vanilla: Travels in Search of the Ice Cream Orchid and Patricia Rain’s Vanilla: The Cultural History of the World’s Favorite Flavor and Fragrance.

The Tractor Museum displays 30 or more tractors. About half are on loan to FHF. While many have been fully restored, pieces of equipment used by Boone have been conserved to preserve their historic value as FHF equipment. Travis’s CAT D2 does run, but it retains the weathered exterior familiar to the owner.

T-Gang member Dan Foster’s favorite is the 1941 CAT D4 from nearby Henry Ranch. He remarks that it’s “sweet running.” “Whenever we need to pull another piece of equipment, we fire this baby up, and it never lets us down.” Like the 1935 Caterpillar modified to ride visitors around the farm, it’s a crawler. Benjamin Holt designed his first crawler to deal with soft soil

See Tractor continued on page 28

Ruth Bancroft Garden’s Annual Spring Plant Sale

Shake off the winter blues with the Ruth Bancroft Garden’s annual Spring Plant Sale. The sale is the Bay Area’s best source for drought tolerant plants, succulents, cacti, California natives, and members of the Protea family from Australia and South Africa. Featured succulents include Agaves, Aloes, and Echeverias, including gems propagated from the Garden’s plants, some dating back to Ruth’s original collection. The Garden’s expert staff, docents, and nursery propagators will provide insider tips and tricks to planting a stunning garden that looks great all year long with less irrigation than a lawn. Unique garden related gifts and books will also be available.

The sale will take place from Saturday, April 11 through Thursday, April 16 .

Saturday • Member’s Only Sale: 9AM -11AM (memberships available at the door) • Public sale: 11AM – 3PM There will be free admission all day and the garden will be open until 4pm. Docent-led tours will be held at 11AM and 1PM. Sunday – Thursday • The public sale continues 10AM - 4PM each day The Ruth Bancroft Garden is located at 1552 Bancroft Road in Walnut Creek. For more information, please visit www.ruthbancroftgarden.org or call (925) 944-9352.

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Alamo Today ~ April 2015 - Page 21

GoSimpleSolar, Energy Matters It’s a Small World

By Mark Becker, GoSimpleSolar

I recently had the pleasure to be contracted to install a ground mounted solar PV system for a fellow veteran.

Naturally, we exchanged military experiences. He was a Navy surgeon and retired as an Admiral. I was a Marine attack helicopter pilot. During the First Gulf War, the most rewarding task assigned to my attack squadron was to fly armed protection for medevac helicopters as they performed casualty evacuations. After one such night escort mission at a remote field hospital, I distinctly remember a tough-as-nails Marine Master Gunnery Sergeant who had been driven to tears as he related how Allied fighter-bombers confused his self-propelled 8-inch gun platoon for Iraqi tanks and attacked them. Deployment of their surface-to-air Stinger missiles to shoot down the “friendly” Allied airplanes was the only way the “Master Gunny” could protect his Marines from the repeated cluster bomb attacks. Fortunately, the Allied fighter-bombers realized their mistake and called off the strike, but only after causing numerous casualties. After donning night vision goggles, our flight of two “snakes” and two “frogs” scrambled to respond to the medevac call. We had difficulty locating the self-propelled gun platoon; they had changed position to seek care for their wounded. Running low on fuel, we found the unit as we returned towards base. The wounded Marines were loaded onboard the medevacs and delivered to the field hospital where the surgeon (future customer) was stationed.

He may have tended to these same casualties. It’s indeed a small world.

PGE Alert: If you are on a PGE residential or business “Time of Use” (TOU) rate, beware. On May 1st, PGE “Peak” rates go into effect. This is the first summer that all businesses have been forced into TOU rates. Higher cost electricity theoretically de-incentivizes greater electric usage. Peak rates for businesses go into effect from 1pm to 7pm, and for residential customers from 12pm to 6pm. For residential and business solar customers, bill credits generated by solar energy exports (electricity back to the grid by solar) during more expensive peak hours increases the annual savings that solar already provides. PGE is mandated to credit solar customers the COST of the kilowatt at the time it’s exported to the grid. PGE will then sell it to neighboring homes or businesses.

It’s almost always less expensive to generate your own energy via solar than to repeatedly pay electric bills to PGE which generate zero financial return.

There are hundreds of thousands of combat veterans that have experienced emotional and/or physical trauma yet “soldier on” to live successful and rewarding lives. We’re proud to have multiple veteran customers and especially proud to have a veteran employee who is still serving. All veterans deserve our nation’s support and respect. By nature, they won’t ask nor extend their open hand.

The solar industry is one of our nation’s fastest growing job sectors, now it has been coupled with a motivated work force as part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s “Sunshot” program. At select military bases, veterans are trained upon release from active duty for careers in solar PV sales, installations, inspections, and maintenance. Employment of our veterans whose military jobs skills are not typically transferable to the civilian work force is a shared public and private obligation. If you provide opportunity, our veterans will succeed.

The US Military is the world’s largest purchaser of renewable energy, in particular, solar energy systems and biofuels. SunPower Corporation, a Silicon Valley based solar manufacturer of high efficiency solar PV panels, supplies many solar panels to the US Military. We’re proud to have recently become an authorized SunPower dealer. We’re also proud to continue to offer SolarWorld USA products, America’s largest manufacturer of solar PV panels.

If you would like GoSimpleSolar to demonstrate how a solar PV system can save you money for your home or business, please visit our showroom at 115 West Linda Mesa Avenue, Danville. You can also submit a quote request via www.GoSimpleSolar.com/getquote. Please ask us about our veteran’s and public service discounts.

Mark Becker is the President and business owner of GoSimpleSolar,

by Semper Fidelis Construction Inc. CSLB 948715. GoSimpleSolar is one of the very few (and proud) solar PV installers utilizing both licensed roofers and licensed electricians for installation work, project managed by a solar PV NABCEP professional. For questions or comments email Mark@GoSimpleSolar.com. Advertorial

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Page 22 - April 2015~ Alamo Today

Talking Taxes

By Peter Waldron

Brought to you by Peter Waldron. In conjunction with Sagemark Consulting, a division of Lincoln Financial Advisors, a registered investment advisor.

Historically, many people don’t think about taxes until they’re facing the April 15 deadline. But by then, it’s too late to do any productive planning.

One of the best ways to save on income taxes is to max out your 401(k). You can contribute up to $18,000 into your 401(k) in 2015, and if you are over age 50, you can make an additional “catch-up” contribution of $6,000. But this is just the beginning. At the end of the year, you should also review with your financial planner the “nuts-and-bolts” things that can impact taxes: estimated tax payments, the sale of a residence, distributions from qualified plans or IRAs, as examples.

In addition, reviewing your estate plan with your financial advisor before the end of the year may help reveal some additional tax-reduction strategies appropriate to your situation.

For example, one thing that could help save taxes is to shift passive income-producing assets like rental real estate to a family limited liability corporation (LLC) or a family limited partnership (FLP).

Gifting can also be a sound tax-savings strategy. Instead of giving cash to a charity, consider gifting appreciated assets. You don’t have to pay any tax on the gain—and neither does the charity. You get the deduction for the gift subject to certain limitations, and you eliminate the capital gains tax.

The “Stealth” Tax

Under the so-called “stealth” tax, you lose parts of certain deductions—medical expenses; interest on second mortgages; state and local taxes; and charitable gifts, among them—once your adjusted gross income reaches a certain level.

One of the things you can do that may help avoid the AMT is to exercise

Crowded Wi-Fi

By Evan Corstorphine, Portable CIO

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

As recently as 10 years ago, wireless networking was a luxury and a bit of a novelty. When smartphones came out, it coincided with an explosion in Wi-Fi hotspots. Today, wireless networking and the devices that use it are everywhere. We’re a little spoiled and expect to have broadband Wi-Fi access wherever we go.

Wi-Fi is really just the combination of radios with data. One of the limitations with Wi-Fi is that there are so many devices vying for a connection that the radio frequencies are becoming crowded. A simple analogy would be one of the old-fashioned party lines for telephones. Many people may be connected on the line, but only one person can talk at a time, or nobody can clearly hear what is being said. Wi-Fi protocols work the same way, and the more people who need to speak, the longer it will take to get your message across while everyone takes their turn. Does this make sense?

Wi-Fi crowding is most evident in congested urban areas. All of this is invisible to the ordinary person trying to use their computer, unless they have special tools to “see” the wireless network. Most people think it’s their equipment or their internet provider that is the problem, and a lot of time is wasted trying to “fix” something that is unfixable without new equipment.

Business parks have a lot of Wi-Fi congestion, but our most challenging Wi-Fi clients are the sororities at UC Berkeley. They have the most intense network requirements of any of our clients -- residential or commercial.

One house may have 75 young women and 200 “devices” connecting to the Wi-Fi network. And all the students stream Netflix videos at night, which uses a lot of network bandwidth per user. The worst congestion hours are from 5pm until 2am.

Many of the sorority houses originally invested in off-the-shelf WiFi equipment to provide service to their high number of residents. And when Wi-Fi was less common, that was OK to address their situation. But with the number of computers, smartphones, and tablets trying to pull data over Wi-Fi now, it’s not enough. What they couldn’t know is that

your employee stock options wisely. There are two types of employee stock options: incentive stock options (ISOs) and nonqualified stock options, with the tax implication being the biggest difference between them. While nonqualified stock options are taxed as ordinary income when they are exercised (then if you exercise and hold the stock for a year, you can pay capital gains tax on the appreciation), ISOs are subject to the AMT when they’re exercised.

The highest federal income tax rate is 39.6%; the highest AMT is 28%. In tax preparation, your income is run through both calculations, and you pay whichever one is higher. (So if your federal tax is $90,000 and the AMT is $100,000, you pay $90,000 federal tax and $10,000 for AMT.) To be strategic about taxes, try to balance your ordinary federal income tax with your AMT tax amount. If you can increase your ordinary income on one side, say by exercising non-qualified stock options, it may leave room to exercise ISOs on the AMT side without incurring AMT penalties.

Think About the Future

The popular 529 college savings plans have emerged as terrific college funding planning tool for families who can front-load up to five years’ worth of contributions per child. Under a special election, a 529 account owner can choose to front-load up to $70,000 per beneficiary, or $140,000 for married couples, into the college savings plan without generating a taxable gift—assuming no other gifts are made to the beneficiary over the five-year timeline.

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; CRN#2005-1002684 Advertorial

their neighbors would eventually crowd them out as well. There are so many people using so many different wireless networks in their densely packed urban environment that their Wi-Fi signals have effectively been jammed. Everyone is affected.

To analyze networks you need the right tools. We use a special tool called a spectrum analyzer, and we use it to perform extremely accurate Wi-Fi site surveys. We observe how many networks are in a given area, how strong the network signals are, and what types of interference is affecting them.

We have found in business parks and the aforementioned congested urban areas, standard Wi-Fi equipment cannot cut through the congestion and newer dual-band equipment is required. Even suburban neighborhoods in our area exhibit this congestion, as our neighbors all add Wi-Fi hotspots and Comcast installs more of their “Xfinity” access spots.

In addition to network congestion,Wi-Fi radios aren’t able to penetrate walls very easily and use a protocol that will momentarily stop transmitting if it senses someone else trying to use the same channel. If you and your computer are conversing with the Internet, and someone else is doing the same thing on the same frequencies on another Wi-Fi access point next door, your speed was just effectively cut in half while you share that radio space. When you get too many people trying to share a limited radio space, the speed decreases dramatically. In these cases, you may try connecting your device instead with a network cable and see if that improves things.

A wire connecting you to your network is always going to be more reliable than using Wi-Fi. There are many factors involved in a successful network environment, and congestion is just one aspect. There’s a lot of misinformation in the marketplace, and off-the-shelf retail solutions have significant drawbacks.

If you’ve been noticing slower speeds accessing your network and the internet, it might be time to “listen” with the spectrum analyzer to seeing what is going on. Maybe it’s time for dual-band network equipment, or simply a different approach. If you need new equipment Portable CIO has partnered with Wi-Fi vendors that we know will provide reliable and robust products.

Networking is tricky, and it saves time and money to have an expert accurately evaluate your situation. If you’d like to have your network reviewed, contact the friendly staff at Portable CIO via email at helpdesk@ Advertorial theportablecio.com, or call 925-552-7953.

editor@yourmonthlypaper.com

Estate Planning for Blended Families

By Robert J. Silverman, Esq.

Remarriage is on the rise, particularly among older adults. Approximately 20% of adults in the United States have been married two or more times.

As important as estate planning is for non-blended families, it is imperative for blended families to engage in careful estate planning. Failing to do so can result in detrimental unintended consequences and problems. Smart, thoughtful planning can help avoid such problems by balancing and reconciling potential competing interests.

Let’s start a hypothetical case study so we can begin to explore some important estate planning issues facing blended families. Jay, 65, has children, Jeff and Judy, who are 40 and 35. Years ago, Jay divorced Jeff and Judy’s mother. Jay remarries another divorcee, Bea, 55. Bea has a 20 year old child, Betty.

Jay brought into the marriage a house worth $800K (with no mortgage) and cash, securities and retirement plan funds totaling $200K. He and Bea live in his house. Bea brought into the marriage cash, securities and retirement plan funds totaling $400K. First, an estate plan cannot be done properly in a vacuum, so Jay and Bea need to answer many important questions before I can help them create an appropriate estate plan, such as those concerning any premarital agreement they may have, their health, children, income, retirement plans, how long they plan to keep Jay’s house, and how they handle their finances.

Even after knowing the answers to the above questions, many types of plans and choices will be available. One choice would involve Jay and Bea keeping their assets separate and establishing a separate estate plan for each of them (a Living Trust, Will, Power of Attorney and Advance Healthcare Directive). They would each make their own decisions about to whom, how, and when their assets will be distributed on their respective deaths. Each of Jay’s and Bea’s Living Trusts may include distributions to his or her children, spouse or a combination thereof; and these distributions might be outright and/or to be held in trust for some period of time.

Another common, efficient alternative is for Jay and Bea to establish a joint Living Trust for all of their collective assets, which trust splits into two pots (“subtrusts”) on the first death. By the way, contrary to a common misconception, a joint trust can contain both separate and community property assets. On the first death, the assets owned by the deceased spouse go into one sub-trust, and the assets owned by the surviving spouse go into another sub-trust.

Once the assets are segregated in these two sub-trusts following the first death, sensitive decisions need to be made by Jay and Bea, related to the assets of the deceased spouse, including a) what access, if any, will the surviving spouse have to the assets in the deceased spouse’s sub-trust?; b) what assets, if any, that had been owned by the deceased spouse will go directly to his or her children (instead of going into the deceased spouse’s subtrust to be available for the surviving spouse’s needs)?; and c) who will serve as trustee (“manager”) of the deceased spouse’s sub-trust during the surviving spouse’s lifetime?

Unfortunately, the answers to these questions often lead to a Living Trust that is not optimal and instead leads to unnecessary conflicts. Most plans allow the surviving spouse access to the deceased spouse’s sub-trust for the survivor’s needs and then, when the surviving spouse dies, the children of the deceased spouse receive the balance, if any. Furthermore, the surviving spouse typically serves as the trustee of the deceased spouse’s sub-trust.

This scenario is not necessarily right or wrong; however, serious consideration should be given to the dynamics created by such structure. During the lifetime of the surviving spouse, his or her interest (e.g. in withdrawing funds from the deceased spouse’s sub trust) is in direct conflict with the interests of the deceased spouse’s children – since the potential inheritance by the children will largely depend on how much their step-parent withdrew. Further, if the surviving spouse serves as trustee of the deceased spouse’s sub-trust, he or she is “the fox guarding the hen house” who not only exercises discretion as to withdrawals but may also invest the trust funds differently than his or her step-children would.

Sadly, a frequent consequence of poor planning is damage or destruction of the relationship, and sometimes litigation, between step-parent and step-children.

Next month, my article will explore some strategies that may help Jay and Bea balance and reconcile some of these potential conflicts.

Upon request, I’ll be happy to provide you, on a complimentary basis, any or all of the following: i) an “Estate Planning Primer”; ii) a brochure on alternative methods of holding title to property; iii) an introductory meeting.

Mr. Silverman is an attorney with R. Silverman Law Group, 1855 Olympic Blvd., Suite 125, 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.

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Alamo Today ~ April 2015 - Page 23

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Cinema Classics Singin’ in the Rain

By Peggy Horn

This month’s Cinema Classic is Singin’ in the Rain, (1952) starring Gene Kelly, Donald O’Connor, Debbie Reynolds, and Jean Hagen and directed by Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen. It is the story of one movie studio’s transition from silent films to talkies. Gene Kelly plays the part of a popular Hollywood actor, Don Lockwood, who falls in love with an aspiring actress, Kathy Selden, played by Debbie Reynolds. Together Don and Kathy work with Cosmo (Donald O’Connor) and Lina Lamont (Jean Hagen) to learn to talk in films.

I do not consider myself a film critic in the ordinary sense of that term. What interests me in a movie is the content: the meaning or significance of a film or any literary work as distinguished from its form. If the form is superb and the cinematography is excellent, so much the better. But I’m not interested in a terrible message or theme, even if it is gorgeously packaged. A primitive or rustic filming of a great story suits me just fine. This movie is gorgeously packaged, and it has a fun, comedic story – one that could actually make you laugh! It contains one of the most famous performances of the song, “Singin’ in the Rain,” by Gene Kelly. The song’s first performance was probably in The Hollywood Music Box Revue, (1929), and it was composed by Nacio Herb Brown with lyrics by Arthur Freed. Mr. Kelly’s rhythmical tap dancing as he sings the words is pure magic!

Can anyone watch that performance without smiling at least once? Apparently, Gene Kelly had a 103o temperature as he sloshed through the rain puddles – poor guy. The sequence took nearly three days to film.

Another famous sequence in the movie is Cosmo trying to cheer Don up with “Make ‘Em Laugh,” in which Donald O’Connor displays his gigantic talent.

Following this sequence, Mr. O’Connor had to be hospitalized! Throughout the film the musical productions provide good and solid entertainment that the whole family can enjoy.

Page 24 - April 2015 ~ Alamo Today

April is Call Before You Dig Month!

By Roger Smith

What does last year’s Kentucky Derby winner, California Chrome and his Jockey, Victor Espinoza have in common with Contra Costa County and the National One-Call Center, “811” for locating underground utilities?

The local side to this story is that our regional “811” call center (serving Northern California and Nevada and located in Concord) is responsible for initiating the idea to promote “811” by having Jockey Victor Espinoza wear the “811” insignia logo on his uniform during the 2014 Kentucky Derby. The lucky circumstance of having California Chrome win both the Derby (and the following Preakness Stakes race) resulted in national exposure for this important free service to property owners across the USA. “April means spring weather and more outdoor activity, including backyard excavation projects such as landscaping. That makes it a good month to remind everyone of the need to continue raising awareness about the potential dangers of excavation without first dialing the nationwide Call Before You Dig 811-number,” said Dave McCurdy, president and CEO of the American Gas Association.

“Our membership works with the public on a daily basis and we need to continue to raise the flag on this issue. Excavation damage remains the number one threat to pipeline safety and reliability all year long.”

The 811 hotline is a free service that allows people to obtain information about what may be buried beneath the excavation surface area, including natural gas pipelines, electric power lines, and other infrastructure. Homeowners and professionals may not always be aware of the importance of marking utility lines before excavation, but calling before a digging job even small projects such as planting

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trees and shrubs can help prevent undesired consequences.”

Excavation damages for all underground facilities decreased by approximately 50% from 2004 to 2008, due in large part to the work done by the pipeline industry in promoting the use of Call Before You Dig 811-number.

The Common Ground Alliance was formed in 2000 as a follow up to the Department of Transportation’s Common Ground Study, which highlighted the need for one organization to continuously update best practices among the growing pipeline network. Please “Call Before You Dig” in April and all year long. For more information, visit www.Call811.com or www.usanorth811.org.

Fresh Strawberries and Asparagus at our Alamo Farmer’s Market

Bill Harlow of the Bay Area Farmer’s Market Association is leading the effort to make our Alamo Farmer’s Market an important part of your Sunday. Bill’s family has been in our Alamo/Walnut Creek area since 1977. He has a genuine interest in the sustainability of small family farms, the “heart and soul” of California Agriculture and the “Buy Fresh – Buy Local” movement that Alice Waters has supported and popularized. He has been the Manager of several Bay Area Farmer’s Markets in cities including Alameda, Burlingame and Cupertino and is enthusiastic, as are many Alamo residents, about the opportunity to have fresh produce from certified growers available to our community.

Quality, quality, quality...the market and produce is about the quality. All produce is picked fresh and is at the local Farmer’s Markets within 24-48 hours versus a week or much more for chain grocery stores. What type of produce are you looking for? Organic or conventionally grown? (Several vendors offer both - acquaint yourselves with those that do.) Please remember that vendors are the best source of information about their own produce, so step up and ask them.

Many vendors also have tasting stations or provide samples for tasting.

Happy 60th Birthday, AIA!

Now in its 60th 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.” Please watch for your upcoming AIA 2015 Annual Report, ballot and membership form. Then complete and return these to AIA, P.O.Box 156, Alamo, CA. 94507 Please visit www.AlamoCA.org for information on AIA, articles of interest to Alamo residents, membership forms, and more.

Alamo Police Statistics

The following are statistics reported by Sheriff David Livingston for Alamo. During the month of February, there were 46 reported crimes. These crimes included alarm calls, battery, burglary, civil crimes, spousal abuse, found property, identity theft, mentally ill commitment, missing adult, petty theft, phone harassment, resisting officer, suspicious circumstances, vandalism, and vehicle theft.

Reported Incidents

• Rancho Romero Elementary, Commercial Burglary - The incident occurred over the weekend. The unknown responsible(s) gained access into a classroom to steal six iPads. The classroom was examined and processed for evidence. All six iPads were deactivated to make them non-functional for the perpetrators. This is an ongoing investigation.

• Miranda Ave., Recovered Stolen Vehicle - Within minutes of being dispatched to Miranda Ave concerning the theft of a vehicle, the officer was informed that the vehicle and the suspect were located in Brentwood. The suspect was taken into custody for the theft along with other charges which included resisting arrest. The vehicle was returned to the victim.

• Livorna Rd., Petty Theft - Two solar message centers had been tampered with that were used for traffic control during reconstruction of Livorna Rd. The battery compartments for the devices had been broken into, and their batteries had been stolen. This is an ongoing investigation.

• N. Jackson Way, Grand Theft - An officer was dispatched due to a grand theft from an unlocked vehicle. The victim found that his golfing equipment had been stolen from his trunk while his car was parked in his driveway. No suspects have been apprehended. This is an ongoing investigation.

Item of Interest

Lic# 1100014354; Bay Area Entertainment

Due to tax season, mail theft is on the rise again. It is highly recommended that those who don’t have a locked mailbox should consider investing in one.

Simple preventative measures like having a locked mailbox can help prevent someone from stealing your identity or your tax returns.

editor@yourmonthlypaper.com

Your Personal Nutritionist

Case History of a Prediabetic Six year old and Obese Mom

By Linda Michaelis RD,MS

I recently received a referral from a pediatrician for a six year old girl with prediabetes. Though relatively rare, I decided to include this case study here since it illustrates important lessons for everyone. Mother Diane took her daughter Carly (names are changed) to see the doctor because, all of a sudden, Carly was wetting the bed, going to the bathroom often, and always wanting to go to sleep on the couch.

The doctor took a blood and urine test and saw that Carly had elevated blood sugar levels. Needless to say, Diane was terrified and called me from the doctor’s office to make an appointment. Diane herself is obese and does not have any foundation concerning basic nutrition. Carly’s diagnosis from the doctor was a wake up call for both Diane and her child.

I asked Diane to bring in a food diary of what Carly had eaten for the previous three days. Carly is not overweight, but I am sure over time she would follow in her mom’s footsteps. The food diary showed that for breakfast Carly drank orange juice, ate high sugar cereals such as Fruit Loops and Sugar Pops, or had pancakes with lots of maple syrup and butter each day. Carly also snacked on granola bars, high sugar yogurts, and gummy fruit snacks. It was no surprise Carly always felt tired in the morning. The lunch log showed Carly’s meal was typically a peanut butter sandwich or cup of noodles and lots of fruit. The saving grace was that Carly loves fruit, which honestly was the only good nutrition she was consuming. There was no trace of vegetables in Carly’s diet until dinner, if at all.

Diane works and Carly, on most days, stays with her grandparents who indulge their granddaughter with baked cookies and ice cream. Grandma’s specialty meals were often macaroni and cheese or another pasta dish.

Most days Diane picks up Carly from her Grandmother’s home after Carly’s dinner and has no idea what Grandma was feeding her. I often see parents serving unhealthy pizza or pasta for dinner with no vegetables. The parents often don’t realize that their child has not had a substantial meal or snack all day.

Birds continued from front page

Alamo Today ~ April 2015 - Page 25 In my initial session with Diane, I taught her how to read a food label specifically focusing on protein, fiber, and sugar. For Carly I calculated that she at most ate only a few ounces of protein a day when she needs at least 6 oz. a day. The only fiber she was getting was in fruit, which clearly she was eating too much of.

For breakfast I suggested to Diane to replace all the dry cereals with oatmeal. I recommended serving whole wheat toast and eggs, french toast, toast with peanut butter, hard boiled eggs, or even leftover chicken from the night before for more protein in Carly’s diet. For lunch I recommended replacing Grandma’s macaroni and cheese with homemade whole wheat pasta where Diane can add cheese, chicken, and broccoli to balance out the nutrition. I emphasized that fruit should be considered a dessert and not be eaten in between meals, which causes a spike in blood sugar. By reducing Carly’s fruit consumption she could have a dessert each day. I recommended a portion sized frozen treat such as a fudgesicle or creamsicle.

I noted that Diane consumed very few vegetables herself. I was adamant with Diane that she had to be a role model for Carly and show her how veggies can be tasty and must be added to both lunch and dinner meals. I also explained to Diane that she must start a walking program or ride a bicycle each day with Carly which will undoubtedly burn sugar, especially when she has had too many treats.

I was thrilled that after two months of our work together Carly’s blood sugar was back in the normal range. Diane then decided to start working with me herself to lose weight because she now knew how important a healthy weight was for her daughter and herself. When I first worked with Diane I had to teach her how to listen to her body for real hunger signals versus cravings. Diane realized that she had been always eating Carly’s leftovers and often found herself stuffing food in her mouth when she was in the kitchen and saying to herself, “What am I doing?”

I know this mindless eating was a great contributor to her obesity.

Diane has agreed to work with me for six months to lose 50 pounds once and for all.

I am glad to inform you that nutritional counseling is covered by many health insurances such as Aetna, ABMG, Hill Physicians, Health Net, Sutter Select and Sutter East Bay Medical Foundation. Please feel free to call me at (925) 8550150 or email me at lifeweight1@gmail.com and tell me about your nutrition concerns. Please refer to my website www.LindaRD.com for past articles and info about services.

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he can identify about 35 species at Heather Farm. “It has a nice natural pond featuring water fowl, herons, and egrets, and small patches of mixed wood and grassy areas that attract hawk and vulture flyovers,” says Farrington. “It’s a wonderful, easily gotten-to location.”

Farrington finds a child’s joy in bird watching. “The pursuit, the chase, the hunt – it’s endlessly fascinating and a fun challenge,” he says. He has traveled to Costa Rica and Florida to feed his birding “addiction.” With 10,000 species worldwide, the greatest number of land vertebrates, the hunt is unbounded.

And the low pressure, non-performance hobby can be shared and enjoyed by anyone, anywhere.

Ann Hoff, a volunteer at the Lindsay Wildlife Hospital and a member of the Golden Gate Audubon Society, says one need only look to their front yard to spot a myriad of birds, such as sparrows, goldfinches, house finches, hummingbirds, jays, and crows. “Once one begins to take notice of birds, it’s amazing how many different species one can spot,” says Hoff, who fell under the bird watching spell many years ago when she sought an outdoor activity that would better allow her to appreciate the beauty of ServingAlamo&Danville Since 1979! the Bay Area. “Bird watching is an activity that feeds man’s urge to understand and name things, and to JUMPSTART the 2015 POOL SEASON! participate in a shared experience. And it is addictUpgrade Your Pool Equipment ing. You develop a desire to see newer, rarer birds.”

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Both Hoff and Farrington describe the birding FREE ESTIMATES community as generous, helpful, and willing to share. “We welcome novice birders,” says FarMake sure your pool/spa is Drain Cover Safe (Virginia Graeme Baker - VGB compliant). rington, who recommends beginners start with outIn-house diver can replace your drain covers. Best prices year-round. ings sponsored by the Audubon Society. “Anyone is always invited to activities, and one need not be a member,” he says. “The vast majority of birders Install a Pentair Intelliflo pump and are generous with information, and we encourage save $100 monthly on your energy participation.” Farrington admits to an enlightened bill and get a $100 rebate from PG&E. selfish interest. “If people develop an interest in birding, they then develop a vested interest in the preservation of birds and their habitats. The more we can get others involved, the better off we all are.”

For information on Bay Area bird watching, visit www.actionpoolrepair.com www.diabloaudubon.com for classes, a calendar of Contractor Lic# 978033-C53 events, and membership information.

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Page 26 - April 2015 ~ Alamo Today

Prostate Cancer Patient Case Study

By Stephen Taylor, MD

J.D. has had a rising PSA for over 10 years with multiple standard systematic ultrasound biopsies, also over the past 10 years, some at my office (4), one at Stanford University, and one at the University of California at San Francisco, all negative for prostate cancer. This year his PSA reached 14 (normal is less the 4). In January 2015, J.D. had a multiparametric MRI, which revealed a highly suspicious area in his prostate, which was missed on all the previous biopsies. He then had a MRI-ultrasound fusion guided targeted biopsy of the suspicious spot, and high grade, aggressive prostate cancer (Gleason 8) was finally diagnosed. Fortunately, the cancer still seems to be confined to the prostate, and he has been offered treatment with curative intent: either radiation therapy with Calypso or surgery to remove the prostate.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men and the second leading cause of cancer deaths in men. Prostate cancer is curable if caught early enough, before it spreads out of the prostate. Therefore, finding prostate cancer early is imperative. Unfortunately, there are usually no symptoms of prostate cancer at its earliest and most curable stages. Doctors have relied on two tests, the PSA blood test and a digital rectal exam, to determine if a prostate biopsy is indicated. Neither test is 100% accurate, even when used in combination. If either test is abnormal, traditionally men have undergone “systematic ultrasound-guided” prostate biopsies. Unfortunately, the systematic biopsy technique, where 12 random biopsies are taken, often misses the cancer.

A new technique, multiparametric MRI, has been shown to be very accurate in identifying prostate cancer, often in places which were not traditionally encompassed in the “systematic biopsy” technique. A prostate biopsy is still necessary to establish a definite diagnosis. However, performing the biopsy in the MRI machine itself is not possible. The multiparametric-MRI ultrasound fusion is a new technique, where the MRI images are transferred to an ultrasound machine. Then, a real time prostate ultrasound is fused with the MRI image, which allows accurate targeted biopsies of the suspicious areas to be obtained. Multiparametric-MRI in conjunction with MRI-ultrasound fusion guided targeted biopsy offers the promise of more accurate and timely diagnosis of prostate cancer. It is especially helpful in the following situations.

• Men with previously negative prostate biopsies, continued rising PSA, presence of a prostate nodule on digital rectal exam, or a very high PSA • Men on “Active Surveillance” for “low risk” prostate cancer, where treatment is deferred until “high risk” features are identified Truly, MRI-ultrasound fusion guided targeted prostate biopsy is a “game changer” for the early and accurate diagnosis of prostate cancer.

Dr. Stephen Taylor is a Urologist with Pacific Urology. He specializes in robotic urologic surgeries and prostate, kidney, and bladder cancers. For more information, please call (925) 937-7740 or visit www.PacificUrology.com.

Join Dr. Taylor at an educational presentation on April 8, 7-8:30PM at the Piedmont Community Hall in Piedmont. The role and benefits of MRI and ultrasound fusion guided biopsy for prostate cancer will be discussed Advertorial with Q & A. To register, call (925) 677-5041 x272.

Want to Become a Better Speaker?

Toastmasters allows its members to practice their speaking and presentation skills in a supportive environment. There are several local clubs in our area.

The Danville AM Toastmasters, meets every Tuesday from 7 to 8:30AM at the Danville Chamber of Commerce office, located in the Town and Country shopping center (just north of the Livery). For more information, contact Hans Thoma at danvilletoastmasters@outlook.com.

A faith-based Toastmasters group meets Thursdays from 7-8:15 PM at East Bay Four Square Church Conference Room, located at 2615 Camino Tassajara, Danville. For information email Tod at wthenry@ sbcglobal.net.

Everyone is invited to join.

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Head and Neck Cancer from HPV

By Christine Chung, MD

My patient was a successful, 40-year old Caucasian surgeon with newly diagnosed throat cancer.

On this gray day in January, he sat in a chair in my clinic, upset and confused. As a non-smoker who drank only occasionally, he thought that he had an extremely low risk of getting this type of cancer, yet his disease had started in his tonsils and had quickly spread to the lymph nodes in his neck. So why, he wanted to know, did he have cancer?

The traditional stereotype of a head and neck cancer patient is a 70 year old down-on-his-luck alcoholic who smokes two packs a day. But there is a different group of head and neck patients – they are Caucasian heterosexual men in their late 30s, 40s, and early 50s, who are often economically stable.

This group develops cancer from HPV, a sexually-transmitted human papilloma virus. HPV is extremely common, and most sexually active people will be infected during their lifetimes. Most people’s immune systems rid their body of the infection without any problems. However a small number of people develop asymptomatic chronic infections that can develop into cancer later in life – sometimes decades later.

HPV is associated with cancers of the tonsil and the base of tongue. HPV also causes cervical cancer. Cancers of the head and neck are relatively uncommon, but the incidence of HPV-associated cancer is steadily increasing.

In the late 1980s, only 16% of head and neck cancers were associated with HPV, while HPV is currently associated with 70% of cases in North America.

The cancer starts in the tonsil or the base of tongue, which is located at the back of the throat. The cancer may be very small but can spread quickly to the lymph nodes in the neck.

There is no good screening method for this disease, so a person should seek medical attention if there is a new neck mass, hoarseness, or persistent ear pain.

Vaccines have been developed to prevent HPV infections, and vaccination is recommended for 11-12 year old girls and boys. While the vaccine was initially developed to help prevent cervical cancer in girls, researchers hope that it may help prevent future cases of head and neck cancer in boys as well.

Cancers caused by HPV infection are treated the same way as non-HPV head and neck cancers, with a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. However, these patients often have a better prognosis and a better survival rate.

On April 16, as part of national Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Week, Dr. Arash Mohebati from Walnut Creek Surgical Associates will provide free visual head and neck cancer screenings. By appointment only. Please call (925) 933-0984.

Dr. Chung is a Radiation Oncologist with Diablo Valley Oncology & Hematology Medical Group. She sees patients in Pleasant Hill and Berkeley and can be reached at (925) 825-8878.

Attend an educational program on April 22 from 6-8PM at the Cancer Support Community in Walnut Creek. “The Many Faces of Head and Neck Cancer” will feature a panel of medical experts who will discuss the most current information regarding risks factors (including HPV), treatment options, nutrition, and survivorship. To register, call (925) 677-5041. Advertorial

Group Helps People Cope with Death of Pets

When you lose your pet, you often feel like a part of you is lost. The death of your beloved animal companion is one of the most difficult losses you may ever feel. This loss is sometimes made more painful by society’s seeming lack of support for pet grief.

Hospice of the East Bay and the Tony La Russa Animal Rescue Foundation is offering a support group where participants can share memories and feelings and talk to others who truly understand and care. Meetings will be held the first Tuesday of each month from noon - 1:30PM at the Tony La Russa Animal Rescue Foundation, 2890 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek.

For further information and/or to register, please call Bereavement Services at Hospice of the East Bay (925) 887-5681. Pre-registration is required.

Hospice of the East Bay Bereavement Services are provided free of charge to all community members in need. However, donations are greatly appreciated.

editor@yourmonthlypaper.com

Shingles

By Dr. Jerome Potozkin

Two weeks ago I saw a 61 year-old gentleman who told me that two days prior to his visit he had been to the emergency room with pain wrapping around the left side of his chest. The emergency room doctors were scratching their heads. Everything appeared normal. His blood tests, cardiogram, and physical exam were all normal. He had no prior history of heart disease, trauma, or strain. What could it be? He was sent home and told to take ibuprofen for his discomfort.

Two days after his emergency room visit, he came to see me. He had a slight rash with some blisters wrapping around the left side of his chest. At this point the diagnosis was clear to me. He had a condition known as herpes zoster or shingles.

Herpes zoster is a reactivation of the chicken pox virus. Most people have had a primary bout of chicken pox in their youth. After we heal, the virus stays in our body for life. The virus resides in nerve roots. At some later time, the virus can reactivate and arise from the nerve root and come out on the skin in a red blistering eruption. It almost always occurs only on one side of your body.

Shingles commonly occurs in older adults. There is a vaccine available for people over 50. The vaccine can completely prevent shingles, or if you do get an outbreak it will be milder than if you did not have the vaccine.

If you do contract shingles, treatment is available. The cornerstone of treatment is a prescription oral anti viral medication. Pain can be relieved with cool compresses as well as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen. In addition, a topical antibacterial ointment can help the blisters heal faster. Early treatment can shorten the duration of the outbreak and relieve pain.

Most people have no long lasting problems after shingles resolves. Some people may go on to develop a chronic pain syndrome, post-herpetic neuralgia.

People over age 60 are more likely to develop this. If you have had the vaccine, you are likely to have less pain and a lower risk of developing post-herpetic neuralgia.

If you think you might have shingles, seek medical attention immediately from your dermatologist or primary care physician.

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.

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Call us at 925.405.6397 or email us at Editor@YourMonthlyPaper.com.

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Alamo Today ~ April 2015 - Page 27

Training Emotional Resilience By Michelle Brown, C.P.T, C.G.T.

Everybody wants a quick fix, a magic pill that simply makes things better. I’m guilty too--some days that morning cup of joe is way too exciting... and that evening glass of wine can be quite a challenge to deny. At some time we all crave a means of escaping harsh reality. From chocolate to pills, from shopping to plastic surgery, humans are drawn out of their realities by the mirage of contentment on the horizon. To our credit, it’s what has made us the dominant species on this planet. But in reaching for contentment, we have grabbed a handful of side effects that are no longer serving to better our lives.

Strengths often mirror weaknesses, and convenience is backfiring on our society and on the whole of humanity. Lifestyle diseases are rising rapidly and surfacing much earlier in our lives. Over-medicated and distracted is the norm. We are taught that if we aren’t happy, something is wrong with us. Could it be that there is something to learn from being uncomfortable, imperfect, discontented, and maybe even a little unhappy? These emotions do serve a great purpose. So why are we so ashamed of these states of mind?

Why do we risk our lives to avoid them?

Everybody hurts, but we all deal with pain in a different way. In 2011 life threw me a giant curve ball when my mother passed suddenly and my father had major heart surgery just 10 days later. It was the worst of times. I credit my training in martial arts for my ability to withstand the blow without turning to unhealthy behaviors in spite of my deep sadness and anxiety. For over a decade I had put myself and been put under intense pressure in martial arts training. I had dealt with being uncomfortable, anxious, and stressed while functioning at my very best. I had fallen and risen again and again. The perspective that resilience training gave me was truly invaluable. It paid off ten fold in the worst of times.

Through the grieving process, I carried on with my business and gave my clients 150%. I turned to loved ones, and had exercise and nourishment for support. I cried when I needed to. I didn’t feel ashamed or sorry for allowing my emotions to come out. I never let the tears stop me from moving forward with my dreams and helping others achieve theirs. I had learned the powerful skill of making my emotions work for me, and I came out of the situation a stronger and more capable person.

When we challenge ourselves on a daily basis, we will often fail. That is the reality of all those who strive for a great life. There is absolutely no reason to be embarrassed or ashamed of failure. Yes, it is uncomfortable, but the only way we can improve is to learn from our mistakes. If we pop a pill, eat a box of chocolates, down a Happy Meal, and run away every time we have a problem we may feel contentment for a time, but we will never learn how to overcome the obstacles that life inevitably presents.

There is great value in what are considered to be “negative” emotions like sadness, anxiety, discomfort, discontentment, and even embarrassment. They are the gateways to understanding ourselves and each other. They are the balance to happiness, bliss, comfort, contentment, and pride. Without them we have no reference point for these “positive” emotions that we want to feel so badly.

Put yourself under healthy stress every day, and you will learn to deal with “negative” emotions more efficiently. Allow yourself to make mistakes, to fail, to change! One safe way to do that is with exercise. The connection of your mind and body through mindful movement is the best way to learn your limitations, push them, and give yourself the opportunity to grow. Exercise also helps us blow off the stress and anxiety we all have, while giving our immune systems a great boost.

When we repeatedly challenge ourselves to become better, we are more prepared and confident in all areas of life. Instead of pushing them away, let’s get better at dealing with “negative” emotions and learn to make them work for us. Then just think of how great the “positive” emotions will feel!

Michelle Brown is an ACE certified fitness professional, 2nd Degree Bok Fu Do Black Belt Disciple, Level 2 TRX certified, TRX Mind Body Certified, a Trigger Point Self Rehabilitation Therapist, board member on the CHMRC, blogger, inspirational speaker and owner of Gumsaba Outdoor Fitness Programs. 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 GETHAPPY to redeem your free week. www.gumsaba.com (925) 683-5630.

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Page 28 - April 2015 ~ Alamo Today

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tractor continued from page 20

around Stockton, California where heavy steam engines kept sinking. Instead of building the expensive plank road proposed, Holt replaced wheels on his machines with wooden treads, successfully testing his prototype on Thanksgiving Day 1904.

Coaxing vintage engines to run is a fine art. Some have a small gasoline motor as a starter for the diesel engine that can power the tractor all-day while doing heavy-duty tasks. One of the items pulled by the CAT D4 is its larger brother, the CAT 60 which was donated by the Alameda County Fair Association. Originally started by a large, awkward lever, the CAT 60 only runs now after getting towed into action by the D4.

Caterpillar, Inc. was founded in 1925 as a merger of the Holt and Best Companies.

The CAT 60, circa 1926, has a nameplate bearing all three company names.

Ron Simmons is partial to John Deere models and enjoys demonstrating the starting wheel mechanism. He likes their signature sound that earned them nicknames “Poppin Johnny” and “Johnny Popper.” The “pop, ka-chunk, kachunk, pop” sound relates to an engineering characteristic, giving the John Deere line a particularly smooth-running engine.

Twice a year restored tractors exit FHF to parade in Dublin for St. Patrick’s Day and Danville on the Fourth of July. The trip to Danville from 19953 San Ramon Valley Boulevard, San Ramon takes an hour.

The Tractor Museum also houses a fine collection of hit-and-miss engines used to perform a number of tasks from pumping water to grinding grain.

Although rural America lacked electricity until the 1930s, Fred Maytag made washday easier by marketing a gasoline engine to power his washing machines, making hand-cranked models obsolete. The Maytag Model 92 on display is framed by advertisements indicating additional available attachments: butter churn and meat grinder.

Wherever you look, there’s a piece of history to discover. A Case 1946 DC3 is currently being restored in the machine shop, but another aspect of Case Company lore lurks in the shadows of the museum barn. Founded in 1842 by J. I. Case, the Wisconsin Company adopted in 1865 as its logo “Old Abe” the eagle that went into Civil War battle as the mascot of Company C of the 8th Wisconsin Regiment. “Old Abe” rode on a special perch held high above the heads of the men he proudly inspired. Look for the eagle topping

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

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

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

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

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

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

Advertorial the globe labeled “Case” when you visit.

Even rusted yard art at FHF exhibits the kind of ingenuity essential to survival on an early twentieth-century farm. While Travis Boone’s contribution to the mechanization of walnut harvesting in the Valley is documented in a display in one of the sheds, a currently stationary tractor outside the museum reveals another farmer’s simple innovation. He Ron Simmons explains the Maytag 92 gasoline engine that mechanized washday before electricity reached rural America. added cylinders to the side of the machine to power and guide an attached rope as it shook ripe walnuts from the branch over which it had been slung.

Mary Ann Wilkman, City of San Ramon Recreation Specialist, does in depth research to ensure that all information presented at FHF is historically accurate.

Legend, for example, suggests that Travis Boone turned to tractors when the horses at FHF succumbed to equine encephalitis. Wilkman advises, “According to Ruth Boone, the horses all died within about three days. It happened in 1939 or 1940 according to Ruth. But she did not recall exactly when. There were probably many reasons Travis started making the switch to tractors.”

Travis’s preference for Oliver tractors is undisputed. A recently donated Oliver model is the latest piece of yard art at FHF. T-Gang found the engine parts so badly rusted that they couldn’t be pried apart without an unconscionable expenditure of time and resources. However, they had no issue with making the exterior look factory-new.

Wilkman elaborates on the many contributions made by T-Gang to the farm including repairing structures and fences, grading the parking area, and

See Tractor continued on page 30

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Alamo Today ~ April 2015 - Page 29

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By Dr. Kristin Moore, DC

(Formerly Dr. Kristin Hazleton, DC)

Spring has sprung, daylight savings is here, and the days of hibernation are over!

It’s time to break in those walking shoes and hit the Iron Horse Trail with your kids and dog in tow.

Don’t let your Plantar Fasciitis pain hold you back from enjoying the BEST part of springtime in Alamo!

What is Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar Fasciitis is a condition that can affect people of all ages. Characteristically, it is defined as heel pain that is made worse upon standing, walking, or running for prolonged periods of time. The plantar fascia helps to attach your Achilles tendon to your heel bone. If you have tight calf muscles you will be more likely to develop plantar fasciitis. This is because your calf muscles attach to the Achilles tendon, and if the calf muscles are overly constricted, they will pull on the fascia and begin to cause irritation and pain.

Can it be Prevented?

Stretching your calf muscles after walking or running is very important.

Also, using a foam roller to release tension and adhesions in the calf is also really helpful in preventing the onset of Plantar Fasciitis.

How do you Treat Plantar Fasciitis?

If you develop Plantar Fasciitis, simply stretching your calf muscles will not help to fully relieve your pain. A much more in-depth treatment is needed in order to heal from this condition. I have developed a protocol that has proven to be highly effective in treating Plantar Fasciitis. It includes the following three steps.

1. Class IV Laser Therapy: This is a treatment modality that uses the light from a laser beam to penetrate your skin and power deep into your tissue to the source of your pain. The beam stimulates an increase in blood flow along with an increased cellular ATP, which aids in cellular healing. Laser treatments are very relaxing and typically only take between 5 to 10 minutes.

2. Active Muscle Release: Next, I work on releasing any locked muscles or ligaments that may be contributing to the irritation in the plantar fascia. I check the calf muscles, thigh muscles, and the ligaments in the feet, knees, and hips. This portion of the treatment can be a little uncomfortable if I find sore areas. However, I base this portion of the treatment on each patient’s tolerance level; sometimes I will work deep to release restricted areas whereas other times I will be more gentle with patients that are incredibly tender.

3. Kinesiotape Support: Lastly, I use kinesiotape to help support your muscles and ligaments. This involves using flexible tape that is placed on the skin in order to stabilize specific muscles and ligaments. Depending on your condition I may tape your arch, heel, calf, knee, thigh, hip, or lower back. This helps to support your body and hold your treatments long after you leave my office.

Utilizing all three of these methods together has shown to treat Plantar Fasciitis quickly and effectively!

How Many Treatments Will I Need?

It’s hard to say how many treatments are necessary in order to alleviate this condition. However, it typically takes 4 to 6 weeks to see a full recovery. That being said, I have seen people get better in as little as 3-4 treatments, while others take longer. I will have a better idea of how long it will take for you to get better once I learn more about your specific condition. The great news is that there is hope for a pain-free life!

Where do I Learn More?

The best way to find out if this form of non-invasive treatment is truly right for your Plantar Fasciitis is to set up a complimentary, 15-minute consultation. This will give me an opportunity to ask you specific questions about your condition and help me to determine if this type of care is right for you.

To learn more, please visit www.drkristinmooredc.com, call 925-3628283, e-mail drkristinmooredc@gmail.com, or visit our office located at 125-G Railroad Avenue in Danville to schedule your complimentary Advertorial consultation today!

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Page 30 - April 2015 ~ Alamo Today

Tractor continued from page 28

creating new hands-on displays. Virtually all SRVUSD third-graders spend a day at FHF to learn about the Valley’s agricultural history. Ron Simmons recently student-tested a display he suggested based on his visit to a New Zealand museum. “The Mechanical Advantage” has three boxes holding identical weights rigged to pulleys, much like arrangements local farmers used to raise bales of hay to the hayloft. With a single pulley, lifting 20 pounds of weight takes 20 pounds of force. The second two-pulley rig takes half as much effort to raise the box. The third takes only ¼ the force. Noting thirdgrade curriculum also involves mastering fractions, the classroom teacher on-hand for the trial rated the exhibit A+.

The next opportunity to ride the 1935 “Creepy Crawler” tractor is Sheep Shearing Day, hosted by San Ramon Historic Foundation (SRHF). SRHF is leading the campaign to restore the FHF 1850s barn, one of the oldest extant buildings in the Valley. Major Samuel Russell and his wife Esther purchased and named Forest Home Farms in 1850-51. Travis Boone’s parents acquired the spread in 1899.

On April 18th, 11am -3pm, family fun at FHF features vintage games, maypole, petting zoo, craft demonstrations and hands-on kids crafts as well as the opportunity to see 100 sheep get their spring haircut. For details and advance ticket sales, visit www.srhf.org.

For group tours or information about volunteering, call 925-973-3284.

Cancer Support Community

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

Healing Yoga ~ Fridays, April 3 - May 22 ~ 2PM – 3:30PM For Cancer Survivorship Research Study – This eight week series will focus on simple yoga techniques that may reduce the severity of cancer treatment side effects. Daily reporting on functional, physical, emotional and spiritual well-being is required as well as yoga practice at home.

Cultivating Compassion Series ~ Thursdays, April 30 - June 18 ~ 3PM – 5PM For cancer patients and their caregivers. Learn specific tools and practices for the cultivation of compassion along with the exploration of compassion across traditions. One of the most precious of our capacities as human beings, it can benefit ourselves and others. The practice of self-compassion will be emphasized.

With Margaret Cullen, LMFT, a CSC therapist Dumploads OnUs facilitator and Cultivating Compassion Trainer. specializes in

Hospice Volunteers Needed

Hospice of the East Bay is seeking volunteers to assist Hospice patients and their caregivers.

Opportunities include: • Licensed Hair Stylists to offer hair cuts and styling • Certified Massage Therapists to provide massage therapy • Mobile Notaries to witness the signing of important documents • Bereavement Support Volunteers to provide support to family members after their loved one has died • Patient Support Volunteers to provide companionship and practical assistance To apply for free training, call Hospice at (925) 887-5678 and ask for the Volunteer Department, or email volunteers@hospiceeastbay.org.

Established in 1977, Hospice of the East Bay is a not-for-profit agency that helps people cope with end of life by providing medical, emotional, spiritual, and practical support for patients and families, regardless of their ability to pay.

To learn more or to make a donation of time or money, please contact (925) 887-5678 or visit www.hospiceeastbay.org.

Spring has arrived in Alamo! The hills along Stone Valley road are full of mustard blooms.

Photo by Ted Shapas.

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.

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The Eye Opener

By Gregory Kraskowsky, O.D., Alamo Optometry The Dress (Is it Blue and Black or White and Gold?)

Even though the internet and social media discussion regarding the color of the now infamous dress has died down, it does have an optical explanation that is at the core of the discussion. I will discuss the main reason why people did not see the dress similarly.

For those who are unaware, a photo of a dress was posted online a few weeks ago by a woman who was having a disagreement with her eventual husband over the color scheme of the dress for the mother of the bride.

The question brought up by the woman was whether the dress had a white

Hospice Grief Support Groups and Classes

Hospice of the East Bay has announced a new schedule for their support groups and classes. Unless otherwise noted, these will be offered at Hospice of the East Bay’s office at 3470 Buskirk Avenue in Pleasant Hill. Our Bereavement Services are provided free of charge to all community members in need.

All groups, except drop-in, require pre-registration. Call (925) 887-5681 or email griefservices@hospiceeastbay.org.

Groups for Adults

• Adults Who Have Lost a Parent ~ Mondays, 6 - 8PM ~ May 4 - June 29 • Widow and Widowers’ Support ~ Thursdays, 1:30 to 3:30PM ~ April 30 thru June 18; Mondays, 6 to 8PM ~ April 27 thru June 22 • Drop-In Bereavement Support Group ~ 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month, 4:30 - 6PM NOTE: On April 15 and May 6 this group will meet at the Pleasant Hill Senior Center, 233 Gregory Lane.

Groups for Children and Teens

• The Bridge Support program for grieving children and teens using art, play, journaling, music and conversation. Support is also available for parents/guardians.

Meets bi-monthly--start at any time.

Classes and Workshops for Adults

• Understanding Grief Class ~ Thursday, April 16, 6 - 8PM • Creative Arts and Grief Workshop for Adults - Forget Me Not ~ Wednesday, April 29, 6 - 8PM Decorate a flower pot with colors, words, or images in commemoration of your loved one. NOTE: Register by April 24 • Spirituality and Grief Class ~ Thursday, July 9, 6 - 8PM Through an informative presentation, discover new ways to recognize and understand your grief experience from a spiritual perspective. These are welcoming and inclusive gatherings. All spiritual views are invited. NOTE: Register by July 6.

• Spirituality and Grief Discussion Group ~ Thursday, July 23, 6 - 8PM Join in a discussion about how grief impacts your spiritual life, and, in turn, how your spirituality affects your grief journey. Attending the Spirituality and Grief class is encouraged but not required. NOTE: Register by July 20.

Hospice of the East Bay provides compassionate end-of-life care to terminally ill patients, while offering emotional, spiritual, and grief support for the entire family. As a not-for-profit organization, we accept all medically qualified patients, regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay. Hospice of the East Bay has served over 23,000 patients and their families since 1977.

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.

Alamo Today ~ April 2015 - Page 31 background with gold trim, or if it was blue with black trim. As time went on, it became very obvious that the dress was blue with black trim, but the reasoning why people saw it differently is what makes the story noteworthy.

At the root of the difference in opinion is the picture of the dress itself, not the dress. There is no context present regarding background and lighting to give your brain the cues it needs to fully interpret what it is viewing.

When the brain receives the electrical impulses from the retina, it is not a perfect picture. The brain only receives information such as lighting, colors, background, movement, glare, etc. of the object(s), and the brain then puts all of that together to create the image. When the brain does not have sufficient information, it has to make informed decisions as to the amount and source of ambient light and make any associated corrections.

In this case the photo was cropped very close. Therefore there is very little or no information regarding the background, the light source, and whether or not the dress is in the light or shadows. Depending on how your brain perceived those things, different colors were attributed to the dress. For those of you who perceived the dress as white and gold, your brain thought the dress was in the shadows. In otherwise dark or insufficient lighting, our optical system filters out blue light, thereby making the dress appear whiter.

This is a naturally occurring phenomenon. As an example, it is why the tarmac lights at an airport are blue at night and the runway lights are white.

As a flight is coming in for arrival, the blue lights are not seen as well by the retina and brain, so the pilot will see the white runway lights better and not land on the tarmac instead. The opposite is true if your brain perceived the dress as being lit by the light source directly. In brighter illuminations, the blue photoreceptors are more sensitive, thus making it easier to perceive blue. For those people, the dress was seen as more blue than white.

In this instance when the brain does not have all of the information it needs to accurately assess the object, it has to fill in the voids from prior experiences.

Whatever the brain learned to value in the past will be applied to the current situation. In essence, since we are all different and our brains all work a little differently, our senses will interpret how bright an image appears, how loud a certain noise sounds, and how spicy a meal tastes depending on what has been learned and corrected by your brain in the past. At the end of the day, no one was right and no one was wrong. The culprit is the photo itself. It is not completely in focus, it is cropped too close, and the lighting is poor. For anyone who has seen the dress itself, it is clearly blue and black. However, it did bring to light how we all perceive the world differently.

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, Advertorial and Twitter @Alamo Optometry.

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Page 32 - April 2015 ~ Alamo Today

The Combs Team

www.yourmonthlypaper.com

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Nancy

Joe

Call the Combs Team

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Danville / Alamo Area Real Estate: A Great Year for the Luxury Home Market

Last Year, 2014, was a great year for Luxury Homes in our area. For the purpose of this analysis, as in past years, I have defined Luxury Home Market to include homes that are 5,000 square feet and larger sitting on premium lots that are between ½ and one full acre, and are equipped with swimming pools. This definition has been overlain on the geographies including Alamo, Blackhawk, Danville, and Diablo, basically what in my personal view comprises the Danville Area.

The Luxury Home Market bottomed out in 2010 both in terms of average price and dollars paid per square feet. At that time in 2010 you could have bought a 5,800 square foot home for an average price of about $1.9 million with a value of $327 per square foot. Those prices were nearly 35% below the current market for a Luxury Home.

During the Luxury Home Market peak in 2007, only 14 homes sold, but they did so with an impressive average price of $2,920,833 and an average square foot price of $506. While the majority of our housing market has recovered from the downturn, the Luxury Market in our area has yet to recover completely. In order to match the 2007 peak, Luxury Home prices will need to increase on average another $350,000 or 14 % to return to their highs.

Luxury Home Market Although the line of ascent from the $450 Dollars Per Square Foot bottom in 2010 has not been perfectly $400 straight, it has for the most part, been $350 steady and I believe it is gaining strength. $300 Sales are happening faster. Days on $250 Market stand at 69 and are less than half $200 of those posted in 2012. Year-to-date in $150 $100 2015 one Luxury Home has sold, how- $50 ever, two are currently pending and they $10 11 12 13 14 carry a list price average of $2,999,450

Alamo Single Story

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Beautiful update. Everything you want on ½ acre flat lot. Includes pool, pool house, orchard and irrigation well. Priced to Sell $1,435,000.

and a square foot Luxury Home Mkt. Alamo, Blackhawk, Danville, Diablo price average of Year Units Sold DOM Sold Price $/Sq. Foot Avg Size $542. If these 10 14 91 $ 1,908,000 $ 327 5834 n u m b ers h o l d 11 21 98 $ 2,163,102 $ 367 5894 14 154 $ 2,195,179 $ 369 5948 for the year, we 12 might possibly 13 15 62 $ 2,464,961 $ 413 5968 17 69 $ 2,571,767 $ 440 5844 exceed the peak 14 Note: 5000 + Sq Ft. Home on .5-1.0 acre and Pool level of 2007.

There are currently 12 Luxury Homes on the market. Their total Days on Market range from 13 to 359. They carry an average list price of $3,088,874 and an average square foot price of $502, significantly higher than the 2014 numbers of $2,571,767 and $440 respectively. I suspect these will fall out somewhere between list price and the 2014 averages -- exactly where they do is anyone’s guess. If you do a straight line increase of 7%, which is roughly equal to last year’s square foot increase, we could divine a number of about $470 per square foot and an average sold price of $2,746,680. This, however, is a guess, not a prediction.

The good news for Luxury Home sellers is that the market has recovered significantly from the downturn, and the trend upwards appears to be continuing. When I write about the Luxury Market next year, it will be interesting to see how it shakes out.

Nancy and I have more than 3,000 email subscribers who receive this article in advance of publication. You can add yourself to the list by sending me an email or signing up for it on our website, www.thecombsteam.com. I assure you no spam will follow. You can also follow us on Facebook “Real Estate Services for Danville, Alamo and more.”

Trying to figure out your next move? Need numbers and answers to make your decisions? Nancy and I will be happy to provide you with a personal consultation to help you figure it out. There will be no charge and no pressure, just our honest opinions. Please call 925-989-6086 or send me an email joecombs@thecombsteam.com.

Alamo Condo

Alamo View Home

Updated 2 bedroom 1.5 bath condo in downtown Alamo. Walk to Starbucks.Priced to sell at $499,000

Stunning views from this highly upgraded 4 bedroom 3.5 bath view home.

Priced to Sell at $1,499,000.

Single Story Newer Construction

Concord Investors Dream

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Built in 2006 this amazing 4 bed 2 bath single story has 10 foot ceilings and all of the goodies.

Priced to sell at $1,299,000.

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.

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2 bed 1 bath single story on large level lot.

Priced to sell $368,888 J. Rockcliff Realtors 15 Railroad Ave., Danville CA. 94526