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September 2015 Shepherd’s Gate: A Haven for Healing
Serving Alamo and Diablo
By Jody Morgan
Inviting strangers into her two-bedroom home wasn’t part of Alice Ann Cantelow’s retirement plan. Nevertheless, in 1983, she abandoned her dream of hiking the Pacific Trail to offer respite from despair to women and children abandoned by everyone else. Aided by a few other couples, she purchased a 3-bedroom Livermore cottage in 1984 and officially established Shepherd’s Gate (SG) to provide a safe haven to homeless women and children for up to a 30-day stay. To date, Shepherd’s Gate has helped more than 11,000 Shepherd's Gate Founder Alice Ann Cantelow individuals rebuild their lives with a variety with Executive Director Steve McRee. Photo of programs offering support, education, and courtesy of Shepherd’s Gate. a loving space in which to live and heal. Tailored to address the specific needs of each resident, programs at the Livermore and Brentwood campuses run for as long as 18 months, sending graduates out into the world confident that they belong to a community that cares and leaving them well-prepared to maintain their financial independence. In 1992, the enormity of the need for SG to grow was evident. Forced to turn away more than 500 individuals seeking shelter and recognizing that a 30-day respite was inadequate to break the cycle of poverty, abuse or addiction that continued to keep the homeless at risk, planning began to build a 3-acre campus in Livermore. Steve and Carla McRee, Executive Director and Associate Director of SG since 1996, had no intention of moving across the country when they came to interview. They were content residing in Tennessee and running a successful rescue mission. A friend and business associate living in Pleasanton urged them to accept the offer of a round trip flight to California. “Funny things happened the day Carla and I came for the interview,” Steve recalls. “My foot caught as I hit the threshold of the doorway, and a foghorn went off in my head saying, ‘You belong here.’ When we stepped on the gravel lot destined to be the Livermore campus, we both heard separately the same message, which was: ‘This ministry is to expand and touch cities all over the world.’” The original section of the Livermore campus opened in 2000. With a second residence hall and five two-bedroom cottages added in 2006, as many as 70 women and children can be accommodated at a time. In 2004, Signature Properties offered to build SG a Brentwood facility free of charge. Housing up to 25 women and children, the 7,600 square foot site opened in 2006. Plans
O’Neill Festival 2015 Highlights Tao House Playwright’s Legacy
See Haven continued on page 22
By Jody Morgan
The 2015 Eugene O’Neill Festival – “A Season of Desire” – is a month-long tribute to O’Neill’s impact on American theater. Sponsored by the Eugene O’Neill Foundation Tao House (EOF), the Festival explores the way people struggle with confronting, controlling or O’Neill with his Dalmatian Blemie at Tao House, capitulating to all manner of yearnings. the Danville home where he wrote his final plays.
See Festival cont. on page 27 Local Postal Customer
Photo courtesy of EOF archives.
PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Permit 263 Alamo CA
ECRWSS
Answers to Twenty Questions: How Well do You Know Alamo? By Sharon Burke
Thanks to the many Alamo residents who took the time to enter our August quiz about Alamo and its history. Don Copland is the undisputed winner, correctly answering 19 of the 20 questions. Enjoy your Giants game, Don and Trudi! Kudos to the other entrants. No one got fewer than 15 correct. You are all masters of Alamo lore! Here are the answers and the stories behind the questions. Q. This Spanish name is given to a ridgeline, an East Bay Regional Park, Alamo's highest peak in the Westside hills, and one of Alamo's oldest streets. What is the Spanish name, and what does it mean in Spanish? - Las Trampas means the traps or the snares in Spanish. Wild elk roamed the west Alamo hills when the Spanish arrived in Alamo, and they set snares for the elk so they could enjoy fresh meat. The name was given to the hills and endures long after the elk are gone. Q. What Alamo street is named after a football team? - Oakraider Drive in Alamo was named for the Oakland Raiders. The street was developed in the 1980's after the Raiders had won their third NFL championship.
See Questions continued on page 30
Volunteers Always Wanted!
By Fran Miller
Seeking to lend time to a needy cause? Start with the Volunteer Center of the East Bay (VCEB) to find your perfect match. VCEB provides online resources for both volunteers and non-profits, bringing the two together to create meaningful volunteerism.
September is Corporate Volunteer month, sign up individually or as a business to help!
Finding your ‘volunteer match’is fun and easy. Enter a few key interest words on the online form, such as ‘animals,’ ‘environment,’ or ‘education,’ and uncover a menu of opportunities from amongst 100 non-profit organizations and 400 volunteer opportunities. VCEB offers one-time, on-going, and single day-ofservice projects. Their site receives 11,000 ‘hits’ per month from project seekers. “We change lives,” says VCEB executive director Jo Loss. “That’s the bottom line. Our volunteers really are helping to change someone’s life. Sizing diapers at St. Vincent de Paul might seem inconsequential, but it really is a big deal.” Visitors to the VCEB site will find matching programs such as Board Link, which connects volunteers with nonprofit board positions in the East Bay, or Corporate Caring Volunteer Week, which matches civic-minded business groups with projects. The Disaster Volume XV - Number 9 Response program provides an avenue 3000F Danville Blvd. #117, Alamo, CA 94507 for the public to help with relief and Telephone (925) 405-NEWS, 405-6397 recovery efforts after a catastrophic Fax (925) 406-0547 event. During the holidays, VCEB Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher helps community members locate Editor@yourmonthlypaper.com toy and food drives, sponsor-a-famSharon Burke ~ Writer ily programs, and holiday-related The opinions expressed herein belong to the writers, and do volunteer activities. The Student not necessarily reflect that of Alamo Today. Alamo Today
See Volunteer cont. on pg. 27
is not responsible for the content of any of the advertising herein, nor does publication imply endorsement.
Page 2 - September 2015 ~ Alamo Today
Boulevard View
By Alisa Corstorphine, Editor
Within six days, all seven of our foster kittens were adopted to wonderful forever homes! They stayed with us for a month while we bottle fed them and socialized them with adults, children, and dogs. I think we gave them a good start to their lives, and I hope they enrich the lives of the families who have taken them in. I turned my energies away from kittens to planning a neighborhood block party. Using the National Night Out event as a model and motivating factor, we set a date and made the event happen. The party was a casual affair in our front yard in the early evening. A front yard gathering was perfect for the neighborhood event; I didn’t even have to clean my house for guests! Both my husband and I come from large families, and as children we both recall many large parties with friends and family. So, participation for all ages in events such as a block party is important to me. I assembled some oversized games that appeal to all ages including Jenga, KerPlunk, and Ladder Ball. My children had played an oversized Jenga game at a venue in Monterey and wanted to recreate it. Instead of a normal Jenga piece which measure approximately 1/2”x1”x3” these pieces measured 2”x4”x10 1/2”. The larger version can be purchased from various vendors on the internet, or you can make your own from some large 2x4s. Just be careful when the tower topples as you don’t want these jumbo pieces landing on your toes! The life-sized KerPlunk game was based on the popular Mattel game we all played as kids. It was first marketed in 1967 and had a plastic tube, some pick-up sticks, and marbles. I modified the game to use wire caging, bamboo garden stakes, and plastic balls like the type found at the McDonald’s play spaces. The games provided great ice breakers to getting the families involved and interacting
Presented By:
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with each other. Our street consists of slightly over 20 homes, and more than 2/3 of the families came. It surprised me how many people on our small street didn’t know each other. Some residents have lived on our street since the mid-1950’s when the neighborhood was built, and some were newcomers. The gathering provided a great opportunity to make new connections and reinforce neighborly bonds. In addition to having the party, I had also been working on updating our neighborhood map. Years ago I had put together a neighborhood map with the name of the families in each home and their contact information. The map is something that newcomers would receive, and they provided a way for people on our street to contact each other. For instance, I used mine the other day when I saw some roaming dogs that I believed were my neighbors, and I was able to contact them to get the dogs back to their home. Prior to the party I sent out a questionnaire to update everyone’s information, and passed out the new maps as people arrived at the party. The maps provided another great way to connect and visualize where each family lives, and they also brought job offers for some of the neighborhood kids who offered pet care and baby-sitting services. I believe community bonds and knowing your neighbor are important. Our party reinforced that notion and has motivated everyone to make these gatherings a more frequent occurrence. 100
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Alamo Today ~ September 2015 - Page 3
Alamo ~ GRACIOUS home on 1.08 Acre on PRIVATE LANE. Wonderful oaks & Mt. Diablo views. CUSTOM BUILT & REMODELED home. 3400 sq. Ō, 4 bedrooms, Large Master Suite with Fireplace. DOUBLE FAMILY ROOM with picturesque windows & replace. AWESOME HARDWOOD FLOORING. Vaulted ceilings, large family dining room. GOURMET KITCHEN with Granite slabs, Stainless Steel appliances, and 3 ovens! Flowing decks/paƟos, great natural light. Wonderful ALAMO OAKS. Close to all 12 grades of ALAMO SCHOOLS. Riding trails to Mt. Diablo. HORSES permiƩed. Highly sought aŌer Special Area, yet close to Downtown Alamo & Danville. $1,499,999 Jay Weymouth 925.915.1100 jayweymouth@yahoo.com
Alamo ~ Enjoy the views from the beauƟful backyard of this single story 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath home in White Gate. 3 car garage… Enjoy the summer in the pool/spa. Hardwood oors, vaulted ceilings… kitchen opens to family room. $1,198,000
Walnut Creek ~ “One of a Kind” property located convenient to Walnut Creek schools, downtown and the freeway. Words cannot describe this property it is a must see. The main house has 2 bedrooms, 2 baths with addiƟonal out buildings plus a huge workshop. Listed at $889,000
Gretchen Bryce ~ 925.683.2477 gretchenbryce@msn.com
Page 4 - September 2015 ~ Alamo Today
“Gateway to Hope” 31st Annual Shepherd’s Gate Banquet September 17th at the Blackhawk Auto Museum
Shepherd’s Gate has helped more than 11,000 battered and homeless women and children since the non-profit was founded in 1984. Anyone in need is welcomed to the Livermore and Brentwood campuses regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, age, disability, marital status, or veteran status. “Gateway to Hope,” the organization’s 31st fundraising banquet promises an evening of excellent food, beautiful music, and inspiring testimonials recounting the rebuilding of lives and the restoration of dignity achieved by Shepherd’s Gate. Hors d’oeuvres, a reception, and a silent auction run from 6-7pm with dinner and program being held from 7-8:30pm at the Blackhawk Auto Museum, located at 3700 Blackhawk Plaza Circle, Danville. Scott’s Seafood will be catering the event. Attire is business casual. The suggested donation per ticket is $75. Reservations close on September 4th. Silent auction donations are currently being gratefully accepted. To reserve space for yourself and your guests, offer silent auction contributions, or sponsor a table of ten, contact Shepherd’s Gate Development Director Krystin Higgins by calling 925-583-8109 or emailing khiggins@shepherdsgate.org. For more information, visit www.shepherdsgate.org.
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. So far Delta Nu Psi has sent 1,331 boxes weighing a total 32,086 pounds to the troops. On September 4th Delta Nu Psi members will be at CVS Pharmacy in Alamo, and on September 11th they will be at Lunardi’s in Danville. Collections will be held from 11am to 2pm both days, rain or shine. If you or your child would like to create a greeting card for one of the troops with perhaps a drawing and message, we will be glad to accept them and forward them. Money for postage is also always appreciated. For more information, visit www.deltanupsi.org.
Contact Alamo Today at 925-405-6397
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Exchange Club of San Ramon Valley 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony
The Exchange Club of San Ramon Valley along with local veterans’ organizations is hosting the Annual 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony for the residents of the San Ramon Valley. This event will feature prominent guest speakers, hundreds of scouts with an array of American flags, joint police and fire department honor guard pipes and drums, the San Ramon Valley High Chamber Singers, and many other patriotic participants. Immediately following the ceremony there will be a community picnic. The event will take place on Friday, September 11 at the All Wars Memorial which is located at Oak Hill Park, 3005 Stone Valley Road in Danville. The event will start at 5:30PM and conclude at 6:26PM. The earlier start and shorter ceremony are to allow veterans to attend both the ceremony and the Introduction of Veterans at the “Veterans-Get-in-Free” season’s first football game between Monte Vista and Pittsburg. • MC: Karen Stepper, Past President, Exchange Club of San Ramon Valley • Keynote: Bert Upson, survivor of the 78th floor of the World Trade Center attack on September 11, 2001 and author of On a Clear Day--An Eyewitness Account • Guest Speakers and Organizational Representatives: Richard Price, President Exchange Club of SRV Mayor Mike Doyle, Town of Danville Mayor Bill Clarkson, City of San Ramon County Supervisor Candace Anderson For information on Exchange Club of SRV, please visit srvexchangeclub.org.
Volunteer with AARP Tax-Aide for 2016 Tax Season
Do you like working with people? Are you good with numbers? Contra Costa County AARP Tax-Aide is looking for volunteers to become members of a team providing free tax preparation for individuals of all ages. Tax-Aide volunteer positions include Tax Counselors who are trained by TaxAide and certified by IRS and Client Facilitators who schedule appointment and assist clients at tax sites. Orientation is in November 2015, and classes for tax counselors start in January 2016. Service is from February through April 15, 2016. If interested, apply online at www.aarp.org/taxvolunteer or call LaVerne Gordon at (925) 726-3199 for additional information and to apply.
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Alamo Today ~ September 2015 - Page 5
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The East Bay Miracles Chapter of Canine Companions is an enthusiastic group of volunteer puppy raisers, breeder caretakers, graduate teams, and other volunteers from the area. The mission of Canine Companions is to provide free of charge assistance dogs to disabled people including adults, veterans, and children. They also provide service dogs to facilities such as hospitals, schools, and court houses. On October 3rd from 9AM to 1PM the group will hold their second annual DogFest at Oak Hill Park, located at 3005 Stone Valley Road in Danville. The event will include a pancake breakfast, a short walk, dog demonstrations and games, a raffle, silent auction, live music, activities for kids, and TONS of fun for all family members including friendly dogs. You don’t have to register ahead, but registration is encouraged. Get involved by sponsoring a walker or a team of walkers, donate to the event, or become a sponsor! Free registration and more information is at www. cci.org/dogfesteastbay. Come join the fun and support a great cause. Canine Companions for Independence provides highly trained assistance dogs to children and adults with disabilities. Established in 1975, Canine Companions has six regional training centers across the country. Canine Companions is recognized worldwide for the excellence of its dogs and the quality and longevity of the matches it makes between dogs and people. There is no charge for the dog, its training and ongoing follow-up services. For more information, visit cci. org or call 1-800-572-BARK.
Saturday, Saturday, September September 19th 19th 10-7 10-7 PM PM Sunday, Sunday, September September 20th 20th 10-6 10-6 PM PM Downtown Saturday, September 19th 10-7 PM Lafayette Sunday, September 20th 10-6 PM Downtown Lafayette Downtown Lafayette
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Page 6 - September 2015 ~ Alamo Today
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Happy Birthday Ruth Bancroft: 107 on September 2nd By Jody Morgan
Ruth Bancroft has inspired gardeners across the world through her willingness to share the remarkable landscape of drought-tolerant plants she began creating at the age of 64 as the first Partner Garden in the Garden Conservancy. Although she hated being pointed out as a tourist attraction by strangers spying her at work, Ruth tolerated the task of piloting the program that not only preserves exceptional gardens like her own for future generations, but also invites inspection of countless private horticultural havens across the United States through the Garden Conservancy’s Open Days Program. Before collecting succulents, Ruth amassed an amazing display of heirloom iris. She also became devoted to gathering seashells, taking her children with her at whatever time of day the tide was right for finding the best Ruth Bancroft prepares materials for specimens. Never happy to sit idly watching the action, as she neared her the seashell shadow box class she 106th birthday, Ruth taught a class in creating shadow boxes with seashells. taught in April 2014 at the age of 105. (photo courtesy of RBG) Will she live to see ground broken for the Ruth Bancroft Garden Visitors Center? Hopefully yes, given generous friends like the Erik E. and Edith H. Bergstrom Foundation celebrating Ruth’s 107th birthday by offering a challenge-grant of $25,000 needing to be matched by September 15th to jump-start the campaign. Visit www.ruthbancroftgarden.org to learn more.
Local Quilters Exhibiting at Diablo Valley Quilt Show
Over 30 quilters from Alamo and Danville will be among the members of the Diablo Valley Quilt Guild (DVQ) exhibiting their quilts at the Tice Valley Community Gym in Walnut Creek. Local quilters include Kathy Fitzpatrick, Dorothy Foster and Valerie Lempesis from David M. Brian is located in Alamo, and Barbara Mahan, Peggy Anderson, Mija Barron, Sandra Chan Brown, Walnut Creek, Broadway Plaza & Danville, The Livery Peggy Pyle, Virginia Stanley, Laurie Parry, and Margaret Winter from Danville. The show will also feature a special exhibit of 30 quilts from nationally known, award winning, quilt artists and sisters, Jean Renli Jurgensen of Walnut Creek and Aileyn Renli Ecob of Rossmoor. More than 230 quilts from DVQ members will be on display representing all variations of today’s quilting world-traditional and contemporary interpretations of traditional quilting, plus innovative art quilts and modern quilts with bold colors and graphic designs. Today’s quilts are as likely to be appreciated as art for our walls as they are as covers for our beds. In addition there will be 15 vendors, a guild sponsored boutique, and free demonstrations. The show will be held Saturday, September 19th from 10am to 4pm and Sunday, September 20th, 10am to 4pm at the Tice Valley Community Gym located at 2055 Tice Valley Blvd., Walnut Creek. Admission good for both days is $10. For more information, visit www.diablovalleyquilters.com. McCaulou’s are located in Lafayette Moraga Danville Montclair Orinda Countrywood Clayton Rd.
Human Trafficking Discussed at AAUW Meeting
Tulips in Bloom, an original art quilt by Barbara Mahan of Danville, will be one of the many quilts on exhibit at the Diablo Valley Quilt Show.
The 2015 Annual Membership Brunch of the Danville- Alamo-Walnut Creek Branch of American Association of University Women (AAUW) will be held on Saturday, September 19th from 9:30AM to 12:30PM at Roundhill Country Club, 3169 Roundhill Road in Alamo. The public is invited to join and learn about human trafficking in BACK-TO-SCHOOL the Bay Area from guest speaker Ms. Venus Rodriguez. If you think human trafficking exists in some other place or some other country, think again. Bring in this coupon to get a FREE upgrade to safety lenses on your child’s first pair of glasses. Between 2010 and 2012, the number of human trafficking victims identified in California tripled. AND According to the FBI, the San Francisco Bay Area is one of three regions in the United States with 25% off their second pair of glasses* the highest density of child sex trafficking. Ms. Rodriguez is a staff member at Not For Sale, a San Francisco Bay Area non-profit foundation, Poplar Spectacles Optometry 215 Alamo Plaza Suite D | Alamo CA 94507 where she leads a program called Reinvent. She was named a top 25 organizer under 25, working with 925.202.2846|poplarspecs.com organizations like PUEBLO, Center for Media Justice, The Center for Young Women’s Development, and Valid through 9-30-15 (*Some restrictions apply. Cannot combine with insurance or other discounts.) MISSSEY. She has developed and furthered local youth programs like OWWLS, her most recent project, an outreach program to assist young women working and living on the streets. RSVP by September 10th by mailing a check for $28 to D-A-W AAUW UPHOLSTERED FURNITURE PO Box 996, Alamo, CA 94507 or going online to http://daw-ca.aauw. net/2015brunch/ and paying with a credit card. For further information, contact FACTORY DIRECT PRICES Soni Leighton, Membership VP, at sonileighton@me.com.
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Alamo-Danville Newcomers Club
Are you new to the area, a long time resident, newly retired, or emptynester interested in making new friends and participating in various social activities? The Alamo-Danville Newcomers Club is a women’s organization whose purpose is to enrich the lives of all its members and their families in a social manner. Check out all the club has to offer by visiting www.alamodanvillenewcomers. com. Our next new member coffee will be held September 22nd from 10am to noon. RSVP to alamodanvillenewcomers@gmail.com.
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Teens Coordinate “Every Mile Counts” 5K Walk to Benefit Impoverished of County
The eighth annual Friends of the Poor® Walks to benefit those living in poverty who are served by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) of Contra Costa County will be held on Saturday, September 26th. The walks are intended to raise awareness of county residents living in poverty and St. Vincent de Paul’s programs to provide assistance to the needy. Anyone interested in participating or making a pledge can log on to www. fopwalk.org, Contra Costa County Walk. SVdP is sponsoring four walks in the county including: • Concord: St. Agnes Catholic Church, 3966 Chesnut Ave, Concord; September 26, 9AM to benefit St. Agnes programs for the poor. • Danville: St. Isidore Catholic Church, 440 La Gonda Way, Danville; September 26, 9AM, to benefit Family Resource Center programs for the poor. SVdP programs in Contra Costa County include a free dining room, a free medical clinic for the uninsured, 21 food pantries, a free dental program for the uninsured, housing assistance, job training and placement, clothing, transportation and utility costs, thrift stores, home visits, care for the elderly, medicine, and youth outreach. In 2014, over 170,000 Contra Costa residents received assistance from SVdP of CCC. All proceeds from the county walks directly benefit the people served by SVdP in Costa Contra County, and there are no administrative fees associated with the event. Participants can also become virtual walkers and make an online pledge. “Contra Costa County has communities that are still struggling to recover from the recession. Some areas have a high concentration of families with income below the Federal Poverty Level, and these families come to St. Vincent de Paul for help,” noted Melanie Anguay, SVdP of Contra Costa County Executive Director. One of the oldest and most effective charitable organizations in the world, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (www.svdpusa.org) is a Catholic lay organization of more than 700,000 men and women throughout the world who voluntarily join together to offer person-to-person service to the needy and those living in poverty in 142 countries on five continents. Providing more than $572 million in tangible and in-kind services, SVdP serves more than 14 million people in need each year, performs more than 644,000 visits to people in their homes, and delivers more than 7 million service hours to those in need.
Alamo Today ~ September 2015 - Page 7
Museum to Host Smithsonian Exhibition “Journey Stories” August 29th – September 26th
The Museum of the San Ramon Valley will end its summer exhibits with the traveling exhibition “Journey Stories.” Journey Stories is an exhibition from the Smithsonian Institution and is part of their Museum on Main Street series. The exhibition runs from Saturday, August 29 through Saturday, September 26. Journey stories are tales of how we and our ancestors came to America and are a central element of our personal heritage. From Native Americans to new American citizens, regardless of our ethnic or racial background, everyone has a story to tell. Our history is filled with tales of people leaving everything behind - including families and possessions - to reach a new life in another state, across a continent, or even across an ocean. The reasons behind the decisions made are myriad. Many chose to move searching for something better in a new land. Others had no choice, like enslaved Africans captured and relocated to a strange land and bravely asserting their own cultures or, like native Americans already here, trying to maintain their way of life in the face of many newcomers to their lands. Through video, music, art, and artifacts visitors will explore the settling of America. Included in the exhibit will be local journey stories from the first founding families in the San Ramon Valley to the most modern new residents. The Museum will draw upon its vast collections and collect new stories to tell the San Ramon Valley journey stories. Transportation stories will also be told, because the railroad, wagon, and automobile have their own stories to tell. An interactive page on the museum web site will allow visitors to the site to tell their own journey stories with text, photos, and video. This will comprise an online archive that can be accessed by students and researchers. The Museum of the San Ramon Valley is open Tuesday through Friday1PM to 4PM, Saturday – 10AM to 1PM, and Sunday – 12PM to 3PM. The Museum is located at 205 Railroad Avenue, Danville. For more information, call 925837-3750, email srvmuseum@sbcglobal.net, or visit www.museumsrv.org.
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Page 8 - September 2015 ~ Alamo Today
Sons in Retirement
Las Trampas Branch 116
Sons in Retirement Las Trampas Branch 116 welcomes guests to socialize with us at our monthly luncheon beginning at 11am on Monday, September, 21st at the Walnut Creek Elks Lodge located at 1475 Creekside Dr. Our guest speaker will be Dr. Michael Barrington, a former Missionary in Nigeria where he lived for 10 years, both during and following a bloody civil war. He will be discussing humanitarian efforts to save millions that were subjected to genocide, starvation, and famine. Call 925-322-1160 to make lunch reservations. If you are inclined to “wet a hook” every now-or-then, and are known to swap a few fish tales, join our group of hardy and energetic sport fishermen. The Fishing Group meets at 8:30am on the fourth Thursday of each month at the Legend Sports Bar and Grill at the Diablo Creek Golf Course located at 4050 Port Chicago Highway in Concord. At these meetings we have guest speakers from all aspects of sport fishing to inform and teach us the various methods of fishing and sportsmenlike behavior. On September 24th, we will be viewing videos of fishing techniques. For more information about the Fishing Group contact Harry at 925-846-1760. For additional information about all Branch 116 activities, visit our website branch116.org.
San Ramon Valley Branch 128
Are you looking for things to do in your retirement? Consider joining Sons in Retirement San Ramon Valley Branch 128. The group has monthly luncheons with interesting speakers and good fellowship. Additionally, 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 is being held on Wednesday, September th 16 at 11AM. A fee of $23 includes luncheon, speaker, and a great opportunity to socialize with at least 150 other retirees from the San Ramon Valley. The September guest speaker will be Mr. Bernie Rosner, one of the last living Auschwitz death camp survivors who is willing to share his story. He will share his experiences as a young boy facing the Nazi terror of the Holocaust. To reserve a space, please email by Thursday, September 10th at info@sir128.com. The event will take place at the San Ramon Golf Club, 9430 Fircrest Lane in San Ramon. For more information about this retirement branch and activities, please visit www.SIR128.com.
Rancho Romero Elementary School
Alamo Elementary School By Stan Hitomi, Principal
For an elementary school principal, their sixth year at a school is a very special year. It represents the year when students who were in kindergarten when they arrived are now 5th graders and about to leave the school. This school year is my sixth at Alamo School! It has been an amazing experience to watch this group of students over the years. I have been able to see them grow and change, and yet, stay remarkably the same. Not only have I gotten to know them, but also their parents and siblings – both younger and older. It is an experience that ranks as one of the highlights of my 37-year career in education. I feel blessed to be reaching this milestone. This school year promises to be a BIG year in many other ways at Alamo School. For starters, during registration we reached an enrollment of 381 students. This is an increase of 50 students from the 331 students who started school at Alamo in 2014-2015. We are excited to be welcoming so many new families to our community, and they come from all around the world! One of the biggest changes this year will involve one of our all-time favorite traditions…the Hoedown! This year the PTA is moving the Hoedown from its traditional date in May to September 20th (mark your calendars/save-the-date). This years’ event will combine the games and food from the Hoedown with the crafts and garden activities from the Day on the Green – which has been our traditional fall festival for the past several years. In addition, we will be having a special ceremony and music to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Alamo School (1965-2015). Everyone is welcome to join us! In the spring we held a 50th anniversary celebration during the school day for our current students and staff, but on September 20th we are inviting everyone who has ever attended, worked or volunteered at Alamo School to join us for one final salute to this milestone. We will have performances by the Alamo School chorus and band, guest principals and teachers from the past, a time capsule and a birthday cake! The activities will begin around noon in the amphitheater at Alamo School. Please spread the word to family, friends and neighbors.
HOEDOWN! FALL FESTIVAL
By Skye Larsh-Faraghan, Principal
It is my pleasure to extend a warm and heartfelt welcome and welcome back to all of the new and returning Rancho Romero parents, families, and community partners as we ramp up to the 2015-2016 school year. Perhaps it is the anticipation of new curriculum, Common Core Standards, new staff members, or all of the above that has had the campus buzzing with energy and excitement. This year we will have the opportunity to deepen our work in reading, writing, mathematics, science, and 21st Century Learning, and add to systems and structures that support all of our students. We are fortunate as a district and site to have multi-talented staff and highly effective grade level teacher teams and specialists that are relentless in guaranteeing students are immersed in learning that is engaging, exciting and meaningful. We know that no one does the work alone. Great accomplishments are the work of many. Rancho Romero is grateful to have three very effective school-wide teams that serve as partners in the education of all of our students: • Rancho Romero Education Fund Board - Camille Schulz, President • PTA Executive Board - Jacqueline Waters, President • School Site Council - Robin Heuer, Chair We welcome several new staff members to the Rancho Team this year: • Jennifer Wong – Reading Specialist • Starr McLaughlin – 5th Grade Teacher • Linda Therrell – Shared School Psychologist • Elizabeth Tipton – Classroom Para Educator • Christine Maguire – Returning Long-Term PE Substitute
Important Upcoming Dates
9/1 Back To School – K, 1st and 2nd 9/8 Back To School – 3rd, 4th, and 5th 9/30 School-wide Assembly: Building A Community
11AM – 3PM Alamo School 50 Anniversary Celebration at Noon Sunday, September 20th th
8
Lost Dog!
$50 REWARD
If you find her and your name is drawn!
Alamo Zoe is Missing
Alamo Zoe has become lost in this paper... Search through Alamo Today and see if you can find her! She is very small, so you will have to look hard if you want to find her.
To be eligible send a letter telling us where you found her, along with your name and address, to: Lost Dog! ~ Alamo Today 3000F Danville Blvd #117 • Alamo, CA 94507
Sharon Keane is our winner 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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Stone Valley Middle School By Jon Campopiano, Principal
It is with great anticipation that we began the 2015-2016 school year and welcomed back an amazing group of students. Exciting changes abound on site with the most visible being the construction of a new Stone Valley campus. The parking lot has been updated, portable classrooms are en route, and the building of a beautiful, state of the art facility has begun. Upon completion, our students will have access to the most innovative technology, facilities, and learning spaces in the state. Besides our external changes, we have developed a new cell phone policy. We strongly value the need for all students to communicate, collaborate, and think critically, and we believe that cell phone usage during brunch and lunch restricted those opportunities. Students are now powering down their phones during school hours and using school-issued iPads, Chromebooks, and laptops in classrooms, and interacting with each other during breaks and lunch. We are partnering with the organization “Soul Shoppe” to provide programs that teach students how to increase empathy, respect, and kindness on campus. Staff, students, and parents will participate in this important and valuable training that will continue to increase the positive culture at Stone Valley. Stone Valley continues to do a tremendous job educating our students, fully implementing SRVUSD initiatives, and providing an environment where all students can succeed. I encourage you to follow us on Twitter and Instagram @Stonevalleyms or http://stonevalley.schoolloop.com to get updates on all events going on at school. Thank you for your continued support of the San Ramon School District and Stone Valley Middle School. Please let me know if you have any questions. Go PRIDE!
Alamo Today ~ September 2015 - Page 9
Save the Date for the Alamo Tree Lighting
The annual Alamo Tree Lighting will be held November 22nd from 4:306:30pm. Have your picture taken with Santa or visit the furry animals from ARF and Bay Area German Shepherd Rescue. There will be crafts and singing from local students. New this year will be a roaming group from a local choir organization! Look for more fun announcements to come from the Community Foundation of Alamo. We look forward to seeing you at this great community event! To contribute, or for more information, visit www.CommunityFoundationofAlamo.com.
Mobility Challenges
Meals on Wheels and other partners are offering presentations relating to senior mobility on October 23 from 10AM to 2:30PM at John Muir Medical Center, located at 1601 Ygnacio Valley Road in Walnut Creek. The first presentation will be “Mature Drivers and the Healthy Brain,” led by Dr. Patrick Arbore, Gopher/Mole Removal Jefferson award winner and foundNo Poison er of the Center for Elderly Suicide Prevention. The second presentation will be “Take Control of Your 925-765-4209 Driving Future,” led by Rosemary Robles, DMV Senior Driver Ombudsman. Free box lunches will be provided, and parking is available. Space is limited, so please RSVP by October 15 to clouisell@mowsos.org or (925) 954-8736.
Page 10 - September 2015 ~ Alamo Today
Monte Vista High School
By Dr. Kevin Ahern, Principal
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11 Critical Home Inspection Traps to be Aware of Weeks Before Listing Your Home for Sale
Alamo - According to industry experts, away altogether. In most cases, you can As a new school year approaches, there is always a slow acceleration there are over 33 physical problems that make a reasonable pre-inspection yourself toward that first day of school. Adwill come under scrutiny during a home if you know what you're looking for, and ministrators and many of our office inspection when your home is for sale. knowing what you're looking for can help personnel are here well before the A new report has been prepared which you prevent little problems from growing start of the school year, and we all identifies the 11 most common of these into costly and unmanageable ones. notice a gradual increase in the rhythm indicative of a high problems, and what you should know about To help home sellers deal with this issue school. At specific intervals, new sets of people start turning them before you list your home for sale. before their homes are listed, a free report up – assistant principals, then counselors, faculty, and office Whether you own an old home or a brand entitled "11Things You Need to Know to staff, then students – and as these groups make their presence new one, there are a number of things Pass Your Home Inspection" has been known on campus, that rhythm begins to feel that much more that can fall short of requirements during a compiled which explains the issues involved. pronounced. Seeing student groups – athletics, band, leadership home inspection. If not identified and dealt To hear a brief recorded message about – makes the school alive. with, any of these 11 items could cost you how to order your FREE copy of this report, This year the momentum really began to build as we weldearly in terms of repair. That's why it's call toll-free 1-866-265-1682 and enter comed the class of 2019 and students new to Monte Vista at critical that you read this report before 2001. You can call any time, 24 hours a day, our New Student Orientation. The event was led by our Link you list your home. If you wait until the 7 days a week. Crew and Leadership students who did a fantastic job making building inspector flags these issues for Get your free special report NOW to learn our new students feel welcome and safe in their new school. you, you will almost certainly experience how to ensure a home inspection doesn't These MV juniors and seniors spent the morning giving tours, costly delays in the close of your home cost you the sale of your home. leading team building activities, and sharing advice about how sale or, worse, turn prospective buyers to be successful at Monte Vista. They clearly set the tone as to This report is courtesy of J. Rockcliff Realtors CalBRE #01763819. Not intended to solicit buyers or sellers currently under contract. Copyright © 2015 what it really means to be a Mustang. Registration was also a great success thanks to our adult and student volunteers as well Academic Coaching as the members of the Monte Vista staff who spent hours assisting students and parents with everything from donations to student planners to spirit wear. Once again, the atmosphere By Susan Sokat was positive and exciting. Energy was clearly building. Back to school to many of us The Monte Vista faculty and staff have also played a key role in building that momentum. parents means it’s time to sit down Through a variety of formal and informal meetings, our new admin team has relayed our vi- and start making our lists. sion of becoming a Learning Organization where educators are engaged in ongoing learning Back to school shopping lists. about how to balance challenge and support for our students. During the “Best of the Best” Back to school clothes lists. meeting classified staff met with administrators and set up expectations for the school year. Back to school coaching lists – Are they signed up for soccer, During the New Teacher Orientation teachers learned what it means to be a Mustang and dance, school sports, etc. Do they need extra coaching? about our traditions. And finally, during the Staff Development day the entire staff met to Shouldn’t we then add tutors to another list? review a vision for the school year. After all, as competitors and fans of athletics, we accept almost The first day of school is an important moment for any student from Pre-K to Graduate School and at Monte Vista it is no different. As the momentum continues to build through without question the need for a team as well as an individual to the school year and culminates in the graduation ceremonies in June we encourage the entire have a coach. We wouldn’t even imagine a world class figure skater learning community of Monte Vista to participate. Join with us as we encourage curiosity without a coach by her side, alternately praising and cajoling to more and creativity through a school year of teaching, participating, and community. efficient, more athletic performance. If a dance teacher suggested a Welcome to the Class of 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019! Your classmates, faculty, staff, few private sessions, we probably wouldn’t hesitate to sign up for administration, and community all support and encourage your efforts this school year. those to ensure our child is just as competitive as his or her peers. “Lights, Camera, Action!” – Contra Costa The same goes for soccer, football, and athletic coaching. But yet, sometimes in school, we wait, until we notice possible failure, Television before we intervene with academic coaching. By Candace Andersen, Supervisor, Contra Costa The ability and willingness to ask for academic help is essential County, District 2 for us to reach our fullest potential. Many of us, who would not Contra Costa County is proud to say that we offer a 24-hour hesitate for that athletic coaching, still feel embarrassed to ask for live television channel to our constituents. Contra Costa Television academic coaching. We shouldn’t feel embarrassed if we are helping (CCTV) is your all-access pass to the functions and proceedings a child reach their potential. Every child, every high school student, of the County, as well as an open door to activities in many of and every college student can benefit from that extra coaching and our cities and communities. It also brings wonderful programs to can reach their highest goals. watch into your home. CCTV is the flagship channel of Contra When we place a qualified, energetic, and enthusiastic tutor with Costa County’s cable television programming. a child in a one-on-one environment, and they spend dedicated work Among their most popular shows is Veterans’ Voices, a monthly, live, call-in talk show focusing on the issues veterans face as they transition back to civilian life. You can watch time, we will see outstanding results. When your child starts the year feeling confident and gets A’s on the first assessments of the online, or during rebroadcasts Saturdays at 9am, Mondays at 7pm and Wednesdays at 11pm. To learn more, visit the County website at www.co.contra-costa.ca.us/142/Contra-Costa- year, he is more likely to have an outstanding year. What a great Television-CCTV and click “Veteran’s Voices.” gift and advantage to give a child. That’s definitely worth adding Ever wondered what the Board of Supervisors is up to? You can watch our weekly Tues- to the lists. day morning meetings live on the CCTV website or via many television providers. Follow Club Z! In-Home Tutoring offers one-on-one academic coachalong by downloading the meeting agenda on the website as well. Missed a meeting? Catch ing in your home. All subjects, all grade levels. Coaching includes up by watching the recorded videos on the Board’s website. For the full television experience, Study Skills Curriculum, and SAT/ACT test preparation. For more CCTV is available to subscribers of AT&T Uverse on Channel 99. Comcast subscribers can information please call 925-786-7149 or visit our website at www. watch CCTV on Channel 27 and for Astound customers, CCTV is Channel 32. Advertorial See CCTV continued on page 25 clubztutoring.com/danville.
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Alamo Today ~ September 2015 - Page 11
SHOPPING CENTER
Farmers’ Market
Autos of Alamo
Thursday, September 12th 4pm - 8pm
Every Sunday 9am - 2pm
From the farm to you each Sunday, Rain or Shine! The Farmers’ Market is located at 110 Alamo Plaza in the Bank of America parking lot. For more information visit: www.allbayfarmersmarket.com
Alamo Improvement Association and Community Foundation of Alamo present Autos of Alamo. Vintage, Classic, Custom, Hot Rod, Muscle Cars or Trucks 1970 or OLDER. Register with Jim at jwads@sbcglobal.net
Bewitching Fun
Santa’s Arrival
Saturday, December 5th 12pm - 2pm
Saturday, October 31st 3pm - 5pm Join us for a fun filled afternoon of trick-or-treating, street entertainment, train rides and so much more!
Alamo Plaza will be hosting a fun event featuring visits with Santa, street entertainment, train rides, and so much more!
RSVP to (800) 762-1641
RSVP to (800) 762-1641
Save the October 22nd Date!
Now Open!
Walkabout Alamo Plaza
Alamo Plaza Shopping Center
www.AlamoPlazaShoppingCenter.com • (800) 762-1641
Page 12 - September 2015 ~ Alamo Today
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Alamo Women’s Club
Are you looking to be part of the community? Would you like to partake in celebrations and philanthropy activities? If so, the Alamo Women’s Club has a something for you! The Alamo Women’s Club has book clubs, excursion groups, Mah Jongg games, food groups, and movie groups among other activities. We also work side by side on philanthropy projects to build a better community. Here is what is coming up in September and October; come have fun with us! • “Fashion and Fizz” Fashion Show and Luncheon. On Wednesday, September 23rd at 11:30am join us for a fashion show presented by White House Black Market and Chicos. We will also have a luncheon catered by Sideboard restaurant. The cost is $25. Seating is limited. Please RSVP by September 10th to 510-764-3194.
• “Tex Meets Mex” On October 10th at 5pm, mosey on over and join the fun! There will be good food, great friends, and lots of dancing! If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to line dance or maybe just show off your favorite western duds, this is your chance! We’ll have great Mexican food and brews. There will be a terrific country western band that will teach line dancing to make this a rootin’ tootin’ good time you won’t want to miss! Visit AlamoWomensClub.org/events/2015-05/country-dancing-fundraiser-0 to learn more! Do you need a party or meeting venue? The Alamo Women’s Club is located at 1401 Danville Blvd. in Alamo. We have a recently updated bright beautiful space for you. Visit www.AlamoWomensClub.org/rentals or call (925) 322-0736 for more information.
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 Ave., Danville, on the corner at East Prospect Avenue and Hartz Avenue. Doors open at 7PM, and the meeting begins at 7:30PM. The next meeting will be held September 16th. For more information, contact Post Commander Ernie Petagara at (925) 362-9806. Find out more about the VFW and our Post at www.vfwpost75.org.
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Alamo Today ~ September 2015 - Page 13
Homes Not on Market
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Aegean Breezes
By Lisa Kallen, Alamo World Travel
I can’t figure it out. What was my favorite thing about our nine-night Windstar Cruise from Athens to Venice? The exotic ports of call? The French doors flung open all night as the sound of the Aegean Sea serenaded us to sleep? The service-with-the-biggest-smiles attention? The open bridge policy to watch all of the goings-on of the captain’s maneuvers in and out of harbors? The tour guides fascinating us with quaint stories of ruins and wineries? Must I choose? Our first three days brought us to the Peloponnese in Greece. We visited the sites of the first ancient Olympics, Olympia and Itea, with their ruins and stadia and temples honoring the gods who featured so prominently in the games. Christiana, our insightful guide during our tour of Delphi, brought the history of this sacred site to life. Known in ancient times as the Omphalos, the navel and center of the universe, it was the site where once a year people came from across all of Greece to beseech the Oracle of Delphi for her prophecies, surrounded and perhaps influenced by vapors emanating from the rocks in the darkness beneath the Temple of Apollo. Next we squeezed through the Corinth Canal, an engineering marvel from start to finish with barely a foot to spare on either side of our ship at its narrowest point. After winding through the glorious fjords of Montenegro, we rounded one last turn and the Captain let out three long, low, horn blasts. He was signaling our arrival to the Island of the Madonna that guards the entrance to the port of Kotor. In a sweet ritual that has been reenacted every time a ship enters this dramatic harbor, someone on the Island of the Madonna then tolls its bells in response, like two lovers calling to each other from afar. Croatia surprised us the most. Two stops in Dubrovnik and Hvar introduced us to the Dalmatian Coast, the home of craggy cliffside villages, islands and inlets stretched out along the Adriatic Sea. We began our day in sunny Dubrovnik kayaking among fortress walls and cliffs, ending with some snorkeling in a sea cave. Hot and hungry, we cooled off with the creamiest gelato and wandered the narrow
streets of shops and homes climbing up the hillside. Halfway uphill we boarded a gondola and glided to the top of the mountain with glorious views of Dubrovnik below us and islands stretching off into the afternoon sun. Not wanting to leave our breezy perch, we dined on juicy tomatoes and burrata and a savory seafood risotto at the Restaurant Panorama with its namesake views. Probably the only way to top Croatia was our last stop, Venice, la Serenissima. We sailed into the Grand Canal to a dramatic thunder and lightning storm that lasted until we docked. With her rich history of trade, art, and decadence, there is no better city to get lost in than Venice, to wander among the alleyways that always lead to water and bridges, quaint shops and eateries. And instead of busy streets filled with buses and taxis, Venice’s “streets” are its canals, plied by water taxis and gondolas, not a car in sight. I think my favorite thing about our WindStar cruise is the “Sail Away,” the nightly ritual with music, lights, pomp and circumstance when the ship pulls away from the pier and we set sail for our next destination. Guests drop everything to run up to the Sky Bar on the top deck to catch this event. Two of the ship’s officers in their dress whites stand poised waiting for Vangelis’s music to crescendo and then ever-so-slowly raise the WindStar flag, inch by dramatic inch, until, over the course of three minutes, the flag is fully raised up into the evening breeze. This mesmerizing ritual would neatly wrap up the day’s adventures and was a sweet harbinger of the adventures to come in the morning. Sail Away was the time to gather together with other guests to share stories of wine tastings and hikes, olive presses and swims. This was all washed down with a glass of wine or the signature cocktail of the day as fellow guests on this intimate ship became fast friends. Lisa Kallen is a Travel Consultant with Alamo World Travel, specializing in tours, cruises and customized vacations to Europe, the Americas, South Pacific and Asia. Visiting family in La Bella Italia is a favorite vacation along with “soft adventures” just about anywhere in the world. You can reach her at 925-837-8742 ext. 18 or lkallen@alamoworld.com. Advertorial
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Page 14 - September 2015 ~ Alamo Today
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September is California Wine Month By Monica Chappell
It is time once again for California Wine Month. Though Californians tend to celebrate local wines year-round, Governor Brown has declared September to be wine month. In his proclamation, the governor cites the many great things the wine industry brings to California, from the beauty of wine regions, the jobs created and revenue generated, to the industry’s commitment to sustainability. September is also a great time to plan a visit to California Wine Country. To help, we’ve highlighted a few special places around California, vineyards and wineries that have helped to define our legacy as one of the world’s great places to make wine. Go out and discover something new! September 6th - Livermore/various locations in the valley 2015 Harvest Wine Celebration - Livermore Valley September 11 – 13 - Lake Tahoe/Northstar Lake Tahoe Autumn Food & Wine Festival September 22nd - San Francisco/Ferry Building California Wines Road Trip September 29-30 - Sonoma The Sonoma Valley CRUSH September 29 – Oakland/ Urban Legend Cellars Sip, Stomp and Play The range and diversity of California wine today is unprecedented. There’s a whole month’s worth of special events and celebrations waiting for you. For a full list of events around the state visit www.discovercaliforniawines.com. Monica Chappell, wine writer and educator, teaches wine appreciation classes in Lafayette. For a class schedule email wineappreciation101@gmail.com.
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Hanna House
By Linda Summers Pirkle
Hanna House, built in 1937 and designed by the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright, has long been on my list of places to visit. The historic home is located on Stanford University campus in Palo Alto. I traveled to the South Bay and joined a small group tour that was escorted through the treasured house. Our guide, Nancy, gave us some background on the Hanna House and Jean and Paul Hanna, the namesake and original owners. Nancy suggested reading the book, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Hanna House, The Clients’ Report written by Paul and Jean Hanna for more information about the couple whose vision and perseverance resulted in the Hanna house. This enjoyable book chronicles the young couple’s odyssey with the trials they went through to build a Frank Lloyd Wright house where they raised their three children and enjoyed living for over forty years. The beginning of their story is particularly charming. Many years before the project came to fruition, the young couple, who were professors at Columbia University, wrote a fan letter to Frank Lloyd Wright praising him for his unique and inspiring work. In 1931, the Hannas visited the Wrights in Wisconsin, and the friendship began. Eventually, Jean and Paul Hanna asked Mr. Wright to be the architect of their future home, and he accepted. Frank Lloyd Wright’s Hanna House, The Clients’ Report is not only an amazing account of the construction of Hanna House but it also gives the reader a glimpse into the early 20th century. For example, in 1937, upon completion of some tree work, the authors note, “Ron presented a bill for $33.25 for his thirty-five hours of work and travel and expenses.” The Hannas were meticulous note keepers, and the book is a detailed chronicle of their relationship with the architect with whom they became lifelong friends. Hanna House took five years of planning, two years to design, and one year to build, and as with most projects there were difficulties. One persistent issue was time delays caused by slow communication between the architect and the Hannas. The delivery of drawings took longer than the Hannas expected as did the answers to their frequent questions. Their frustration with Mr. Wright increased as time went on. At one point after sending a particularly testy letter to Mr. Wright via telegram, the Hannas confessed, “Would not most recipients of such a demanding telegram have responded by telling us to forget the whole affair?” They continue, “Today, as we read this insulting wire, we are covered with embarrassment, but the wire was sent, and we must confess Mr. Wright would have been fully justified in abandoning his demanding clients.” Thankfully, the project was completed and even remodels were done with the aid of Frank Lloyd Wright. Today the house stands as a memorial to the genius of Frank Lloyd Wright and the perseverance of the Hannas. As the authors say in the book, “Both of us, husband and wife, had worked along with the laborers and craftsmen on the job. We took part in every type of construction; we mixed concrete, laid brick, sawed redwood, screwed on battens, set plate glass, put in insulation, held pipe for plumbers, and made light fixtures. We filled vertical joints in masonry, a job overlooked by a bricklayer. The children aided in cleaning away waste material and running errands. We worked ourselves into the house construction as a family.” In the 1980’s the Hannas gave their beloved home to Stanford University. *Hanna House tours are offered four times a month. Check out the calendar on their website Hannnnahousetours.stanford.edu. Children under the age of 12 are not permitted on the tour. *Frank Lloyd Wright’s Hanna House, The Clients’ Report by Paul and Jean Hanna is available through the website Hannahouse.stanford.edu. *Lyfe Kitchen, a small café located on 167 N. Hamilton Avenue in Palo Alto, is a mile from Hanna House. I loved their Greek Yogurt Bowl with fresh blueberries, pomegranate, Chia seeds, and toasted almonds. Their website is lyfekitchen.com. 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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Dollars for Turf and Toilets
Alamo Today ~ September 2015 - Page 15
By Cynthia Ruzzi, President Sustainable Danville
The California Department of Water Resources has announced new rebates to help replace old, inefficient toilets and lawns with water-saving alternatives. Besides the $100 rebate to replace one toilet per household, the bigger rebate is $2/square foot for lawn replacement, up to $2,000 per household. To learn more visit www.SaveOurWaterRebates.com. Now is an opportune time to replace your water-thirsty lawn because if the weather forecasts are right, we should soon receive El Nino soaking rains. My husband and I converted our front and backyard lawns in response to the 2008-09 EBMUD emergency requesting a 20% reduction in water use by residential customers. We stopped watering our lawns and plants with the idea that anything that couldn’t make it on once a month watering would be replaced. There are many classes and free resources about drought tolerant plants including seasonal sales from The Garden at Heather Farm in Walnut Creek and the Horticulture Program at Diablo Valley College. I worked with Chris Finch, a drought tolerant plant expert that helped write the publication, Plants and Landscapes for Summer-Dry Climates of the San Francisco Bay Region to identify plants that appealed to me and would work in our community’s climate. EBMUD also has a resource list of local nurseries, demonstration gardens, classes, events, and books where you can learn about and view native plants. Additionally, some local nurseries will design a lawn conversion planting plan for a fee and then rebate the fee as credit toward plants purchased. (Visit www.stopwaste.org/?page=630 to investigate East Bay nurseries that offer significant “Tear Out Your Lawn” challenge discounts and free consultations.) After laying a new path of Kentucky Blue Stone pavers, we tapped off our sprinklers that would later be converted to drip irrigation. During the month, our neighbors and friends saved newspapers and cardboard to use for sheet mulching. This is an important step in the conversion process because the sheet mulch kills the lawn and suppresses further weed growth while improving soil nutrients and structure, and encouraging favorable microbial activity. Sheet mulching is a wonderful labor saver because it spares you the hard work of actually tearing out the lawn. However, if your lawn is full of tree roots you may have to do some additional digging or rototilling to rid the area of roots before you can lay down an effective mulch covering. Once we had our plant layout, we knew exactly where we needed water, so we converted our sprinklers to drip irrigation. This weekend project was accomplished with a trip to the local hardware store that offers a screw-on octopus replacement to sprinkler heads that makes it easy to connect tubing and drippers. Once the sheet mulching was done, we covered it with five inches of compost. I was able to plant over 60 plants in one afternoon, and because I used 4-inch sized plants there was no need to dig into the cardboard/newspaper. While I was doubtful the plants would fill our yard, Chris assured me that they would be full-sized by spring. She was right. I encourage you to visit www.sustainabledanville.com to see more pictures and learn more about the process.
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Alamo Today ~ September 2015 - Page 17
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Page 18 - September 2015 ~ Alamo Today
Life in the Alamo Garden
Timeless and Transitional By John Montgomery, ASLA, Landscape Architect
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I like to follow-up with my clients after a period of time to see how they are enjoying their beautiful yards. After thirty-five years of creating gardens, I discovered a new distinction for how a landscape matures and why some of my clients were disappointed even though they absolutely loved their gardens. Timeless and Transitional! That’s it! At first glance “Timeless and Transitional” seems a little dramatic. Well, it isn’t really and I will tell you why. It all begins with expectations. We all know a garden can be beautiful, relaxing, stunning, delightful, therapeutic and all those other great things I usually write about. On the other hand; gardens can be ugly, annoying, agitating, and sometimes just don’t meet your expectations! And that is disappointing. Most likely you have felt the way I feel about my own garden sometimes; you too, at one time or another, have been disappointed and down right upset about your garden. Don’t get me wrong, I love my garden and my clients love the ones I design for them, but sometimes it just seems like nature (and untrained gardeners) get the best of our expectations. Case in point, I went to visit one of my Call for details client’s gardens only to find plants that I had designed in the plans were 925.939.8300 either missing, woody and misshaped, or turned into little balls and squares. solartechnologies.com Some plants were missing because nature over the last two years had taken Lic. #932914 its toll - especially with this drought. Some of the lovely arching shrubs were trimmed into balls and squares in their prime bloom time. This is not what I expected, and most of my clients didn’t either. I have written about the importance of the built elements that make up the hardscape, or Timeless, as one aspect of creating an outdoor environment . The other element is the softcape (living elements) or Transitional. What I discovered in this distinction of Timeless and Transitional is that while the backbone of the design of the garden was still there, beautiful and functioning just as I had designed it to be, the softscape was displaying the transitions of the years. If it wasn’t drought, cold winters, or long hot Indian summers that wrecked havoc, it was untrained gardeners, varmints, pets, fungus and you-name-it that thrashed our expectations for a beautiful and everlasting show-piece. Here is the good news and the bad news. Good news -- there is hope! Bad news -- You need to rearrange your expectations! Gardens are truly “Timeless and Transitional.” Good design will always be timeless and will last over the years. The timeless aspects of a good landscape design are the beautiful and elegant elements of the hardscape such as well-crafted stone work on your patio, a seat wall, a pool, a detailed trellis, pergola, arbor, fence, garden gates and well-placed timeless trees like oaks, redwoods, maples, olives, crepe myrtles and long-lasting plantings like laurel, boxwood, mock orange, wisteria, camellias and more. While “Timeless” is a little easier to swallow, “Transitional” is the one that forces us to rearrange our expectations. We need to learn to understand that the living aspect of your design is a moving target and more unpredictable. It has taken me almost thirty years to get it! Snails eat your plants, fungus curls your peach leaves (unless you remember to spray at the precise time), aphids arrive every year to devour your roses, and plants need replacing every so often just like your home needs fresh paint and new carpet. Now relax in your garden, watch the transitions happen, replace and update as necessary, appreciate the majesty of your timeless elements, and rearrange your expectations to accept the transitional! I have a newfound appreciation and patience for the transitional after all of this time in the garden. A hot tip from your local Landscape Architect: One of the services we offer is consulting work with my staff horticulturist for those who don’t need a full Master Landscape Plan. This service offers on-site practical advice addressing your “transitional” concerns. Check out my website for more information! Gardening Quote of the Month: My green thumb came only as a result of the mistakes I made while learning to see things from the plant’s point of view. - H. Fred Ale If you would like me to write on any particular subject, email your ideas to jmontgomery@ jm-la.com or visit www.jm-la. com. Advertorial
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Alamo Today ~ September 2015 - Page 19
Sampson – The Survivor By The White Kitty Foundation
This is Sampson, an 8-year-old Dachshund/ Pit Bull mix available for adoption. Sampson was used as a bait dog for Pit Bull fighting. He had a copper wire wrapped around his neck that was used to dangle him over two fighting dogs. The wire was becoming ingrown and was slowly killing him. He ran away and was living on the streets for about a month before he was found and dropped off at the Martinez animal shelter at just four months old. Life in the Shelter wasn’t much better than on the streets. No one had seen his face as he hid under his blanket in his crate. He wouldn’t eat and was soiling his crate. The shelter deemed him unadoptable. Sampson was on the euthanasia list. That’s when the White Kitty Foundation stepped in. The White Kitty Foundation (WKF) is headquartered in Danville and focuses on animal rescue in Contra Costa County. “There was just something about him,” said Cris Tarozzi from WKF. He’s a handsome Dachshund/Pit Bull mix with sparkling green eyes, a beautiful mocha coat, and little white feet. He has a statuesque build with strong legs supporting his long dachshund body. Cris brought him home and the Foundation had him looked over by their vet. The first thing was to have the copper wire surgically removed from his neck. The Foundation found a foster home for him at the home of a long time dog lover, Margy Lyman. “At first, he stayed in his crate and continued to refuse food.” Margy said. Eventually, she offered him food by hand all the while fearful that he could bite, but he reluctantly ate. “Taking him outside at first was a disaster as he ran away and hid under bushes and trees. A leash was out of the question given his experience with being tied up by a wire.” Margy recalled. So, Margy arranged piles of beach towels on her couch for him to hide under with just his little hindquarters sticking out. “I thought of a child playing peek-a-boo! We would sit on the couch and gently pat him as he hid. After a few months, he migrated to sleeping on our bed, and when he awoke would crawl up towards us for a pat and belly rub. Then, he would notice my husband and “grrr” ferociously, remembering how much he hated men and the horrible abuses he had endured. It was sad,” Margy recalled. Sampson stayed in his tortured world between trust and abuse for many months, not willing to let go of what was a cruel beginning to his life. Obviously taken away from his littermates and mother much too early in his life, he suffered from serious anxiety, allowing his survival instincts as his only hope to stay alive. One day, while folding laundry in the hall, Margy noticed Sammy wandering out of the master bedroom on his own. Seeing his foster mom, his tail came out from between his legs and wagged for the first time. Margy sat on the floor as he nervously approached her and curled in her lap. Crying, Margy recognized that her little guy was learning to love and trust. Having never fostered any animal before and having no specific dog training, Margy realized that loving care was all the training Sampson needed. “Sampson taught me a lot about life and how the healing process really works.” said Margy. He was placed with a family, but Sampson has been returned to WKF due to the adopted family’s struggles. He is a sweet, eight year old dog who needs to be in a home where he is the only dog. He deserves a chance again. If you can open your heart or home, please call WKF at (925) 8372411. Learn more about WKF at www.whitekittyfoundation.org. Please come to The WKF Fundraiser – BarkOberfest on October 24th at the Veterans’ Hall in Downtown Danville for food wine and auction items.
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Alamo Police Statistics
Sheriff David Livingston reported 40 crimes in Alamo during the month of July which included alarm calls, auto and residential burglary, forgery, found property, fraud, identity theft, lost property, mentally ill commitment, outside assist, petty theft, receiving stolen property, service to citizen, suspicious circumstances, and vandalism.
Reported Incidents
La Serena Ave., Vandalism: There were numerous homes in the area that had their windows damaged with golf balls. The suspects were identified in the case. This is an ongoing investigation. Ridgewood Rd., Residential Burglary: The unknown responsible(s) gained access into the garage and stole items such as bicycles. There is currently a lead in the case that is being pursued, and a stolen item has been retrieved. This is an ongoing investigation. Orchard Ct., Residential Burglary: There was a residential burglary on Orchard. The suspects have been apprehended and are waiting to answer to several other crimes throughout the Bay Area. Several of the items that were stolen during the burglary have been recovered. La Serena Ave., Mail Theft: Mail had been stolen from several boxes in the La Serena area. A citizen was able to obtain a license plate number of the responsible and notified the Sheriff’s Office. The responsible was located along with the stolen mail and taken into custody.
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Page 20 - September 2015 ~ Alamo Today
Tree of the Season: The Monterey Pine By Blaine Brende & Joe Lamb
The imposing Monterey Pine, Pinus radiata, perhaps the most common large landscape tree in the Bay Area, is one of the most widely-planted trees on the planet. It covers millions of acres in places as far-flung as England, Chile, and Australia. However, its native range covers just a few square miles of the California coastline, which explains why it prefers a cool, moist coastal climate with well-draining soils. With their dense, towering canopies, dark, glossy green needles, refreshing scent, and magnificent sweep of boughs, Monterey Pines give the feeling of being in a forest. They provide habitat for many species of birds and butterflies. The beauty of these trees, combined with their immense vigor and rapid growth, appeals to landscapers who want a quick, tall screen between houses, a cool shady hillside behind their home, or an instantly woodsy subdivision. Unfortunately, the quick hedge or woodland effect you enjoy in the first year of the tree’s life can become a major safety hazard and a source of conflict with uphill neighbors when, two decades later, the tree reaches 50-70 feet in height. The Monterey Pine’s soft, brittle wood and its shallow root system combine to make it a serious hazard during winter storms on the hilly slopes. Away from its native habitat, it is vulnerable to root-rot diseases and, stressed by lack of water during our dry summers, it becomes prey to often fatal beetle infestations. The species is relatively short-lived, around 75 years, and its proclivity for toppling, or for shedding large branches, increases with age.
Coping with Pines
So what are we to do with these beautiful but bothersome pines that define so much of the Bay Area landscape? First of all, don’t plant any more of them unless you are willing and able to offer them ideal conditions. These include a large, level, adequately moist planting site, with porous soil, far from both houses and power lines, and with no uphill neighbors whose views your growing tree will obstruct. Monterey Pines also require regular care, including safety
Clip Notes
By Jody Morgan
The September release of Outstanding American Gardens: A Celebration – 25 Years of the Garden Conservancy honors the silver anniversary of the Garden Conservancy with photographs of 50 American gardens from coast to coast. Roots of the organization are firmly planted in Walnut Creek, California at the Ruth Bancroft Garden (RBG), the remarkable horticultural hotspot that inspired Frank and Anne Cabot to create the Conservancy. The book features eight of the gardens preserved by the non-profit and 42 private gardens that have opened their gates to the public for the Open Days program. Visiting otherwise inaccessible properties during Open Days has become one of my favorite pastimes. Often the owner is present and happy to engage in conversation about his or her personal approach to planning and planting. Information on the Garden Conservancy website describes each location so you don’t end up at a pocket garden expecting to tour a multi-acre estate. Occasionally nearby nurseries are on hand to sell some of the harder to acquire species featured on site. In 2015, Open Days events occurred in 20 states and the District of Columbia. As a former docent at the RBG, I am delighted to hear greeters and owners at the most recently adopted Partner Gardens recounted the story of how the Conservancy was founded. They are all aware that when Frank Cabot visited Ruth Bancroft’s private garden in 1988, he was so taken with her dramatic display utilizing unusual drought-tolerant plants from around the world, that he was determined to do something to preserve it. Ruth had philosophically admitted to him when asked, “When I go the garden goes.” Although afraid their mother would live to see all her effort go to waste, Ruth’s children knew they couldn’t keep her garden going. I enjoy adding that if Ruth had not decided to answer an advertisement for used furniture in the early 1950s, the entire enterprise might never have happened. Ruth wasn’t much taken by the Oriental household goods on offer, but she couldn’t resist asking about a potted plant on the front porch. The lady of the house proudly proclaimed she had hybridized it herself and agreed to sell
thinning every few years, as well as periodic watering, aerating, and fertilizing. If you are already living with Monterey Pines, reduce the safety risks through preventative maintenance before it’s too late. To improve drainage, invigorate your pine’s root system, and strengthen its resistance, we suggest aerating, then filling the holes with rich, porous organic matter (we use American Soil’s “Clodbuster” mix). Check your pine for infestations by looking for areas where whole branches are turning brown, as well as for small holes, tubes or splotches of pitch, or red “sawdust” droppings around the trunk and major branches.
Pruning Pines
The best time to prune any type of pine trees, and the only recommended time to prune Monterey pines, is between October 1st and February 15th. Sap from pruning cuts attracts beetles destructive to pines. These beetles are dormant during the fall and winter months. Given that the beetles can smell sap from long distances, it is important to prune your pine when they are inactive. Not only are the beetles themselves harmful, but some species can carry pine pitch canker, a fungal disease that disfigures pine trees and sometimes kills them. If your tree has dead tips scattered throughout the canopy it probably has pine pitch canker. If you want to prolong the life of the tree, as well as its appearance, now is the best time to prune out the diseased tips. Even healthy pines require occasional pruning to keep them safe and beautiful. To reduce the fire hazard associated with pines, fire departments recommend removing deadwood and taking branches back from buildings. Pines are sometimes subject to branch and column failure. Judicious thinning of the crown reduces the wind-sail effect of the canopy and thereby reduces the risk of the tree falling in a windstorm. Removing weight from the ends of heavy branches reduces the likelihood that those branches will break. The safety pruning of trees is an art as well as a science. A well-pruned tree should not only be safer, it should look beautiful. At Brende and Lamb, we take great pride in both the science and the art of pruning. Now is the best time to make your pines as safe, healthy, and beautiful as possible. 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. Ruth the specimen. Although it had pride of place as the first plant in Ruth’s succulent collection, Aeonium ‘Glenn Davidson’ always struggled to complete in the garden with later acquisitions. Getting the Conservancy organized was an intricate matter requiring legal transfer of three acres of Bancroft property to a non-profit entity. Conservation easements used for natural lands and never before been applied to a private garden. The RBG officially became the first project of the Garden Conservancy in 1989. The Ruth Bancroft Garden, Inc. finally achieved non-profit status in 1993 and took ownership of the garden in 1994. Ruth retained ownership of her house and adjacent acreage. Fundraising plans, long-term goals, and hours of operation were assessed. Writing about the beginning stages, Richard Turner, the first RBG Executive Director, characterizes the effort as “a challenging test of the ability of a national organization to foster the preservation of significant private gardens primarily through local support.” New this year is the Conservancy’s “Digging Deeper” program, which debuted in June at Digging Dog Nursery in Albion, CA. The presenter Dundee Butcher offers monthly floral design workshops at her Russian River Flower School in Healdsburg. She titled her demonstration of crafting a European hand-tied bouquet “A Locavore’s Posy.” The term “locavore” hasn’t made it into spell check yet. Coined about 10 years ago, it refers to a person determined to dine on locally grown products whenever possible and is now occasionally being applied to floral designers who limit themselves to working with only locally grown materials. I met a major spokeswoman for the buying close-to-home floral trade movement at an event jointly sponsored by the Gardens at Heather Farm and the RBG. Shortly after the April 2012 release of The 50 Mile Bouquet: Seasonal, Local and Sustainable Flowers, author Debra Prinzing demonstrated arranging locally grown flowers and thoughtfully included succulent rosettes. Tours of both gardens that followed indicated the abundance of design-inspiring material easily grown in our area. Water-wise gardening was not on Northern Californians’ minds when Ruth Bancroft first put her succulents into the ground in 1972. Today her initiative seems prophetic. RBG Education Director Sophie Vidal reports, “The crowds to see the garden have been phenomenal.” Check the Garden Conservancy calendar at www.gardenconservancy.org, and learn about events, workshops and plants for sale at the RBG at www. ruthbancroftgarden.org.
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Energy Matters
Let the Battle Begin By Mark Becker, GoSimple Solar
Alamo Today ~ September 2015 - Page 21
California Investor Owned Utilities such as PG&E are at it again. They have begun their push to try to reduce the economic value of FUTURE solar energy systems installed in the latter half of 2017 and beyond. State law requires that “net metering” solar rules change so as to better provide for long-term solar integration into our ever aging and stressed utility grid. The new net metering regulations combined with the upcoming 2019 electric rates (for new customers) will greatly change how solar is integrated into the grid and affect the economic benefits of solar PV. The economic effects that will result for the consumer are being debated. Politics and lobbies aside, there must be solutions available that keep the utilities relevant, protect consumers, and fulfill the renewable energy mandates as required by California law. Hopefully all involved parties can find mutually agreeable and advantageous solutions. Cooperation and coordination trump competition and special interest. A renewable energy grid, energy efficient appliances, solar PV, and a connected smart home operating in tandem is indeed the future. Consequently, solar PV installations installed today should include non-proprietary products to provide greatest longterm flexibility to maximize the current value returns of the solar PV system and leverage future revenue opportunities. Recently I swapped out my legacy inverter with a much “smarter” inverter that is capable of a multitude of functions and features that will be able to integrate into the future grid and smart home. Nowadays, installing a proprietary inverter or rooftop electronics provides a “wow factor” but provides no other advantage other than the self-touted “solar production increase.” Unfortunately, the sales pitch surrounding these products typically compares these “advantages” to outdated and no-longer-in-use technologies. Let’s take a leap of faith and assume the touted production increase of these module level power electronics was indeed real: Shade on a properly sited solar module should only occur in the winter or in the early morning or early evening when “additional kilowatt production” is of lesser value and when the solar system would naturally be less productive. Proprietary products and their added long term operation and maintenance costs increase investment risk by adding additional potential points of failure in what can otherwise be a very safe investment. Contradictory to some solar PV contractor’s sales tactics, no products on the market neutralize shade effects. Many companies are trying to “fix” something that isn’t broken because it makes for a great sales pitch. It will be very difficult to find parts for these proprietary products if they fail 2, 5, 10 or 20 years from now, especially if these companies go out of business or move on to differing product lines. Reliability and interchangeability in product selection today equals security in investment tomorrow. Recently, incessant problems at my home’s computer network caused me to run to Alamo’s Portable CIO (www.thePortableCIO.com) through my personal gauntlet of “high expectation, fellow contractor performance testing.” By increasing the reliability and speed in my home network, Portable CIO greatly increased my and my family’s productivity. Portable CIO has now been tasked to help increase my company’s productivity. We’re also hoping to partner with them to help solve some of our customers’ networking needs. Evan and crew, thank you for your passion, dedication, and knowledge which has made my life more efficient and less exasperating when it comes to all things related to Information Technology. The takeaway for me, and the “ah-ha” moment is, if you’re able to recognize and communicate your problem, find a trustworthy industry expert to provide a solution(s). Complete knowledge or understanding every detail of that solution isn’t necessary as long as the problem is presented to someone you trust to solve the problem. Choose your contractor wisely, and be engaged in the process. Expect and accept only the highest quality service, and get documentation of the contractor’s sales pitch. The solar business is booming right now for a multitude of reasons. Is the mandate of 50% renewables powering our California grid by 2050 over-reaching? I don’t think so. On July 25th, Germany, not known for it’s sunny skies, was able to generate a record 78% of power production through renewable energy sources, including solar, wind, and biomass. If they can do it, so can we. 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 or call 925-331-8011. Advertorial
Page 22 - September 2015 ~ Alamo Today
Guys, Listen Up
By Evan Corstorphine, Portable CIO
We have a saying in our office that gets repeated at least once a week. The saying is “Just because you can do something, doesn’t mean you should.” I think the world would be a better place if more folks, usually guys, gave that concept some serious thought. Before I give you some examples, let me explain my premise. Technology is fascinating to some people, and we are impressed by new devices and their capabilities. Throw in blue LED’s, or put a lower case “i” in front of your product name, or attach the words “smartphone controlled” to something, and you’re guaranteed to have people climbing all over your product. The challenge with new technology is that we (guys) tend to go overboard. We think that just because the capability demonstrated by a new technology is interesting to us, it’s the same for everyone. For example, let’s take my home theatre project. Home theatres were getting popular back when the movie Top Gun was released in 1986. That movie in particular was perfect for demonstrating surround-sound with its exciting soundtrack with jets whooshing through the air, and it was playing in every electronics retailer. Every guy who saw Top Gun playing in the store wanted to re-create a similar home-theatre experience. Some of us went so far as to buy all of the speakers, run cable inside the family room walls, and buy ridiculously expensive surround-sound amplifiers for our TV’s. I even bought the Top Gun movie to show it off. We watched a few movies together as a family, and then the trouble began. Why? What does every electronic device seem to have these days? A remote control. Oh boy, that’s where the problems started. We had one remote control for the TV, one for the video player, and one for that fancy surround-sound amplifier. There were lots and lots of buttons. Remember, this was before programmable all-in-one remote controls were invented. I did my very best to explain it to my family. I drew illustrations. I labeled the buttons on the remote controls. And I patiently demonstrated how
Haven continued from front page
for additional space never end. As the website explains: “At Shepherd’s Gate we are constantly driven by a sense of urgency – we know women and children face desperate and dangerous circumstances each day. And to us, even one more day spent in homelessness, addiction, or abuse is too many.” In recognition of the long-term success achieved by SG graduates, referrals come from the judicial system, social service professionals, churches, and other organizations involved in helping homeless women and children master the tools they need to become self-sufficient and secure a stable living situation. SG welcomes “anyone, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, age, disability, marital status, or veteran status.” The core program “Road to Freedom” serves women who are homeless for any reason and lasts from 12-18 months. The “Working Woman Program” addresses the problems of women who are working but can’t quite make ends meet and runs from 3-6 months, providing safe shelter and essential information so they can pay off debt and save money for permanent housing. “What I most enjoy about my work is seeing the lives of women and children in impossible situations change almost overnight,” comments Steve McRee. Olivia graduated from “Road to Freedom” after 12 months. While at SG she was able to reconnect with her three children and work through several addictions (including some she didn’t know she had) to overcome a lifetime of domestic violence and substance abuse. No longer the timid soul lacking self-esteem who sought sanctuary, Olivia is a confident woman living independently, employed full-time, and paid well for a job she loves. Following the death of her husband, 62-year-old Jane could no longer afford the home she had lived in for many years. The “Working Woman Program” offered her a resume writing workshop that helped her pursue a higherpaying position and introduced her to additional resources of which she was unaware. By the time she graduated from SG, Jane had housing that fit her budget and a whole community of friends to keep her from feeling isolated. Fleeing domestic violence, Sandra arrived at SG with two Rosalia Chavez, Retail Manager of the Shepherd's young daughters. By the time she Gate Thrift Store. Photo courtesy of Shepherd’s Gate.
See Haven cont. on page 31
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it worked -- over and over again. But nothing seemed to help. My wife, especially my wife, hated it. And, if I might be so bold, I would say she didn’t apply herself to the task very vigorously. Because every time she wanted to watch TV she’d get ticked off when she’d press the wrong button and just couldn’t manage to make it work. Why? Because there were way too many steps and over-complications for what she was trying to do. If I was smart (and I wasn’t), I would have chucked it all out and realized this was the confluence of two diametrically opposed forces, doomed to fail. On one hand was the over-complicating husband who made watching TV similar to flying the space shuttle. And on the other hand was someone who had zero interest in learning anything more complicated than pressing the on/off button to watch what she wanted -- without all of the bells and whistles. As her frustration mounted, I lopped off functionality to simplify things for her, until basically we ended up with two systems. One was a simple TV, and the other was the special home-theatre gear on the side, which I had to cobble together to use each time I wanted to watch with it, because the system had been lobotomized to make it “On/Off-easy” for my wife. Eventually, the whole thing fell into disrepair. Simplicity won. What is the primary lesson we should draw from this? Don’t over-complicate things. Simplify. Simplify. Simplify. Perhaps you see a little bit of yourself in my tale. Hopefully you’ve moved beyond this stage and can now laugh at yourself a little bit. Because I grew through this stage, I can see it still happening all around me, with clients, friends, and family. For instance, many whole-house A/V systems can play different sources in different rooms and come with remote controls the size of dinner plates. Who primarily uses these? The husband. Not the wife. Not the kids. And how many times do we really need to be playing a movie in one room while listening to Pandora in the other? Maybe that feature gets used once a year. But what do our family members want? Simplicity. They have their iPhone and a little $29 Bluetooth speaker, and they’re perfectly happy. Push the button, turn it on, and relax. The grief from making things too complicated isn’t worth it. Keep it simple. Focus instead on the people you’re with. And if your wife says she won’t use it, listen to her (she really means it)! If you need help consolidating your over-complicated technical situation, reach out to us. Our staff understands all of the technology you use, and can set you on a course of elegant simplicity. Please reach us at 925-552-7953, or email us at info@theportablecio.com. Advertorial
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Top 12 Finance Ideas to Talk About with your Children By Peter Waldron
In conjunction with Sagemark Consulting, a division of Lincoln Financial Advisors, a registered investment advisor
Alamo Today ~ September 2015 - Page 23
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Have your kids recently graduated college? Here are the top 12 things you want to sit down and speak with your kids about. They don’t have to be college graduates to start working on these things, but these are important items to start discussing. 1. Max out your 401(k). This is an easy way to defer taxes and grow money in a tax deferred environment while reducing your taxable income in a current year. Any taxes that are paid to the government are lost forever. Although a Roth 401(k) might be an option for some people, balancing the pros and cons of the Roth versus the Traditional 401(k) is something that you should sit down with your advisor and discuss. The 2015 max amount that can be placed in a 401k is $18,000. 2. Utilize your benefits through your current employer. Most people don’t realize that their employer offers many insurance options, including health insurance, disability insurance, long-term care, and life insurance. Explore those options. Sometimes sitting down with your son and/or daughter and spending that extra time with them can really add a lot of value. 3. Look at your employer’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan. Large corporations offer a discounted purchase price for their company stock with two buy-in In Stone Valley Shopping Center windows a year. The ESPP plan can be a way to save substantial amounts of money in a discounted environment. Although market volatility can change the price of the stock, the discount of 15% can be great. Be aware of disqualifying and qualifying disposition though and talk to your CPA or Financial Advisor. 4. Obtain proper insurance coverage. Make sure to get the right insurance through your home and auto insurance agent. Many young kids go for the cheapest Enjoy Our Patio Dining option, and that can leave them in a position of high risk depending on their assets. It can put them in a position where they have to pay out of pocket when they could Monday - Saturday: Lunch and Dinner have been covered by a better insurance policy. Sunday: Dinner only 5. Pay down credit cards and/or student loans. Start paying down those We Offer a Full Bar and Lounge high interest credit cards and/or high interest student loans as those are usually 3168 Danville Blvd, Alamo Margaritas are a House Specialty burdens on young adults. 6. Start saving for the future. Start investing at a young age outside of your 401(k). They can open up a stock account. It’s also a good idea to start saving in your cash account for a home purchase. Although most young people rent, it’s always a good idea to look at purchasing a home, either as an investment or as a place to live. They could even rent out a room for income. 7. Build a network. A lot of young people just go to work and don’t really network. Networking can be a great financial tool. This will help if your child ever loses a job, wants to start a company, or is building a team. 8. Create a budget. Use software like eMoney or Mint to manage your cash flow. Young people tend to get into bad habits early on, spending money on the wrong things or using credit cards to buy things they can’t afford. Set some realistic expectations for what their financial life will look like, and build a budget for them that they can follow month to month. Put money away for emergencies, home purchases or large expenses. Start creating these habits early. 9. Look at Corporate Stock Options & RSUs. If they are employed at a large corporation that offers stock options or RSUs, make sure to review the stock plan agreement. There are some important tax factors that go into corporate stock plans. 10. Live at home for a while. Have them live at home for one to two years to build up adequate cash reserves. Make sure they’re not spending those cash reserves on unnecessary purchases, and instead saving for the future. Being a frugal parent can lead to having a frugal kid. Show them by example. 11. Buy early on. It might make sense to buy a car versus leasing cars. Often young people lease cars because of the cost reduction, but sometimes it makes more sense to buy, as their first car might last them longer. You can advise them to buy used as it reduces the value or the burden of the expense substantially. Look at companies like Kelly Blue Book and Edmunds to find the right price. 12. Healthcare Directives & Power of Attorney. It is important to make sure your child has healthcare directives and powers of attorney as soon as ServingAlamo&Danville Since 1979! they turn 18. It’s a simple form that you can usually work with an attorney to create, and it will allow you to act on their behalf if they are unable due JUMPSTART the 2015 POOL SEASON! to incapacity; mental or otherwise, for financial or medical decisions. They Upgrade Your Pool Equipment may also want to look into starting a trust once their assets exceed $200,000 Remodel your Pebble, Tile, and Coping! in net value. FREE ESTIMATES These are the top 12 things I believe young people should start doing Make sure your pool/spa is Drain Cover Safe (Virginia Graeme Baker - VGB compliant). before they build their wealth to get themselves in a better spot. Be the best In-house diver can replace your drain covers. Best prices year-round. parent you can be, make time for your kids, and help educate them on what to do with their wealth so when their time comes they’ll have more than enough to retire on. 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Page 24 - September 2015 ~ Alamo Today
How do you Hold Title to your Real Estate?
By Robert J. Silverman, Attorney at Law
I regularly write about this topic because real estate owners are frequently ill-informed and have misconceptions about real estate titling alternatives. Furthermore, one’s titling choice has critical legal and tax consequences. This article focuses on the estate planning consequences. Let’s explore the essential question -- On an owner’s death, who will own the property, and how will that transfer happen? The most common forms of titling for residential, owner-occupied properties are briefly described below. Note that limited liability company (LLC) titling has a lot of appeal for business and investment property, but LLC titling features and benefits are beyond the scope of this article. Individual. On the death of an individual title holder, the property is subject to probate -- whether or not the decedent had a valid Will. Unfortunately, probate is a long, expensive, and inconvenient public court proceeding. At the end of the probate proceeding, the judge signs an order that serves to legally transfer the property to the person(s) designated to receive it in the decedent’s Will. If no valid Will exists, the transfer is to the decedent’s “intestate” heirs – the next of kin to whom the State of California mandates distribution for those who die without a Will. As you’ll see below, if one holds title in a Revocable Living Trust (“Trust”) instead of in his or her name individually, probate is avoided. Joint Tenancy. Joint tenancy requires two or more co-owners, each of whom owns an equal, fractional share. Many married couples take title in this form because of a feature known as the “right of survivorship” (ROS). Under ROS, when one joint tenant dies, the surviving joint tenant(s) automatically (without probate) becomes the owner of the decedent’s interest. Despite this feature and its popularity, for various reasons joint tenancy is often unwise and problematic. NOTE: Some people try to avoid estate planning (e.g. they fail to establish a Trust) by adding one or more children to the title as joint tenants. This can be extremely detrimental for many tax and non-tax reasons and should never be done without first consulting an attorney. Community Property. Community property titling is available only for married couples, and they can choose to include the ROS feature (by causing the deed to state: “community property with right of survivorship”). Like joint tenancy,
Around Town
By Roger Smith Autos of Alamo Car Show
As you may already know, Alamo will not have a Music and Wine Festival this year. The Alamo Rotary Club will provide the funding for Alamo schools music programs that the Music Festival supported through their annual Easter Egg Hunt event held each spring. The Egg Hunt provides a better opportunity for their organization to maximize funding for this program. Alamo’s Third Annual “Autos of Alamo” car show will be held on Saturday, September 12th from 4PM to 8PM in Alamo Plaza. Please join us for live music and enjoy locally owned vintage, classic, custom, hot rod, muscle cars and more from the years of 1980 and prior. Exotic cars are also welcome. Show off your car; auto registration is only $10. Please contact Jwads@ sbcglobal.net. This is an AIA sponsored event and free to the public.
Smart Phone 911
Saving lives is all about getting information. When someone calls 911 the only information a dispatcher gets is a phone number and an address. The dispatcher has to ask a lot of questions to get more critical information. What if that information came up on a monitor screen as the call came in? That would save time – and if you can save time, you can save lives! The SMART 911 solution starts with Alamo residents adding their “Safety Profile” on a secure and private data repository/bank. You need to register your phone number (for free) and supply basic and potentially life saving information First Responders would need in case of an emergency. When you call 911 from a registered phone number, the data automatically displays on the 911 call dispatchers monitor/work station. The 911 dispatcher can forward the information to the police or other responding units so they can be better prepared to render assistance.Users can also include information on their residence, such as navigating long driveways and any other features that might be important for safety officers such as information about pets,
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the advantage of community property with ROS is that a probate proceeding is avoided on the death of the first spouse. However, like the other titling forms, this is usually less optimal than titling in a Trust. Tenancy in Common. Tenant in Common (TiC) titling requires two or more co-owners and simply reflects ownership by each tenant-in-common of an undivided, fractional interest in the property. Tenants-in-common can, unlike joint tenants, hold unequal, fractional interests. TiC titling is commonly used by friends, relatives, or associates who acquire property as a business venture. TiC contains no ROS feature. Thus, on death, rather than one’s interest automatically going to the remaining tenant(s) in common, each TiC can designate in his or her own Will who will inherit the TiC interest. The substantial estate planning problem is that, upon death, the TiC property interest will be subject to probate. To overcome this problem, a TiC can transfer title to his or her TiC interest into a Trust. Revocable Living Trust. For probate avoidance and other estate planning reasons, individuals and married couples are typically best advised to establish a Trust, and hold title to their property in the Trust. By statute, titling property in one’s Trust renders it exempt from probate. So, when the owner dies, the property transfers privately, without probate, to the beneficiaries listed in the Trust. Given the high costs of probate, this is a valuable exemption. Summary. When married couples or other co-owners evaluate alternative titling methods, it is critical to understand that the ROS feature that makes titling in “joint tenancy” and “community property with right of survivorship” seem so attractive is largely illusory - probate is only avoided on the death of the first joint tenant/spouse. When the survivor dies, probate will be required! Trusts are such a compelling alternative because, among other advantages, probate is avoided on the death of any and all owners whose interests are titled in a Trust. 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 specializing in estate planning, trust administration and probate, real estate, and business taxes. They are located at 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. Advertorial
guard dogs, emergency contacts, special needs, and assistance information. Recent examples of successful rescues include a caller unable to speak because of an allergic reaction, a caller experiencing a massive heart attack, a child with an asthma attack, and an attempted sexual assault where the call was disconnected before the victim could provide the address. The Smart 911 service is available to theAlamo community and is provided through the San Ramon 911 service location. Visit and register at www.SMART911.com.
Sidewalk Responsibilities
Do you have a sidewalk bordering any portion of your property? Did you know that although you did not install the sidewalk, the County requires you to maintain it? This can be a serious situation if someone is injured. County Ordinance # 1016-2.004 Duty to Maintain Owed to Public - An adjacent owner owes a duty to members of the public to maintain the sidewalk abutting the adjacent owner’s property in a condition that does not endanger the public, and County Ordinance # 2008-24 imposes Tort liability on the owner or owners of property abutting a sidewalk if a member of the public is injured while on the sidewalk and the injury of is the result of the owner’s failure to maintain the sidewalk. When portions of a sidewalk fails because of drainage, tree roots, and other reasons, the property owner pays the bill. However, there is not just the expense of repairing the sidewalk, the County also requires the property owner to secure a permit for the work from the County Building Dept., also at the property owner’s expense. Although everyone agrees that sidewalks should be safe, not everyone is comfortable with these ordinances.What are your thoughts on this issue? Contact AIA on our website www.AlamoCA.org to comment.
AIA’s 2015 Annual Membership Drive and Report
Alamo is a special community that all of our residents can be justifiably proud to call “Home.” 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.” Visit www.AlamoCA.org for information on AIA, articles of interest to Alamo residents, membership forms, and more. Don’t be left out; now is the time to renew or become a new member of AIA!
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The Eye Opener
Alamo Today ~ September 2015 - Page 25
By Gregory Kraskowsky, O.D.,Alamo Optometry Cataracts and Vision
Cataracts are one of those conditions that everyone is familiar with and has either had personally or knows of a friend or family member that has had the surgery to remove them. Therefore, we will discuss this normal aging condition and how it is treated. Assuming you live to normal life expectancy, everyone will feel the effects and most will need to
have cataracts removed. A cataract is the maturing of the lens which is inside of your eye. The lens allows you to change the focus of the eye from distance to near and vice versa and is one of the parts of the human body that continues to grow throughout life. As the lens continues to mature, it becomes thicker and denser. As this occurs, less light is able to pass through it, and decreases vision. In addition, as the lens becomes more opaque, your vision generally takes on a dulling, foggy, or yellowing effect, which makes colors duller. The typical onset for early cataracts is in your 60’s to 70’s. Everyone develops them at different paces, but things as long-term UV exposure, diabetes, steroid use, and trauma can cause the process to speed up. In the early stages, your distance prescription can sometimes shift to become more near-sighted. It is during these times that just a simple prescription change in your glasses can help restore or improve your vision. However, there becomes a point as the cataract progresses that changing your glasses leads to little or no improvement. It is at this time that the limiting factor in the visual system is the cataract itself, not your glasses or contact lenses. This is the point where I usually introduce the option of cataract surgery. Even though most people are scared or leery of surgery, cataract surgery is a very safe and quick procedure that restores your lost vision. Cataract surgery is the most widely done procedure in the United States, and the numbers will continue to climb as the baby boomers continue to age. Keep in mind that even though it is done all of the time, there are potential side-effects that need to be discussed with your doctor and/or surgeon. The procedure itself takes less than 10 minutes, and you are not under general anesthesia. I tell my patients that it generally takes longer in the operating room to prep you for the surgery than it does to actually perform it. The incision is very small and does not require stitches, thus enabling a quicker recovery. The surgeon A General Landscaping Contractor will go into your eye with a tool that breaks up the cataract into small pieces and then remove these smaller pieces from the eye. The clear implant that is Locally Owned and Operated put in the eye folds up very small and can fit through the small incision. If Lic. #938445 both eyes need to be done, only one will be done at a time. The eye that is more advanced is generally done first, and after it is healed sufficiently, the other eye is done a few weeks later. Recently, there have been many new types of implantable lenses to choose from. There is your standard single vision lens, which can be done for distance vision only or monovision, which is one eye distance and the other reading. If you have monovision in your contact lens wear, then going Visit Our Website to this setup after surgery should work well. There are also multi-focal and accommodating lenses that help reduce your need for reading glasses. These lenses, just like anything else, do have their pros and cons and absolutely need to be discussed with your optometrist and surgeon. As always, we are here to answer any of your questions regarding surgical and non-surgical options. Dr. K. at Alamo Optometry is your hometown eye doctor for outstanding service, vision care, and designer eyewear. He can be reached at 925-820-6622 or visit his office at 3201 Danville Blvd., Suite 165 in Alamo. Visit our website at www.alamooptometry.com, and join us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @Alamo Optometry. Advertorial
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CCTV continued from page 10
CCTV also provides support for other local, community-produced television. Are you looking for a community show that is no longer being aired? Drop a note to CCTV@contracostatv.org, and they may be able to help you find your show. If you have an idea for a new show, contact them at the same address, and they’ll consider your idea. If you love one of their programs and would like a DVD, most programs are available for purchase for $15. Fill out a DVD Duplication Request online and mail your check to CCTV, 10 Douglas Dr., Suite 210, Martinez, Ca. 94553. If you have the “broadcasting bug” and would like to improve your skills, CCTV is open to creating high school and college internship opportunities. Interns take on a variety of tasks, including tape logging, duplication, organization, and data entry. Depending on experience, camera work, production, graphics, and editing tasks are a possibility. On their website, check out the “Internship” tab for more information. CCTV’s website is contracostatv.org. They can also be reached at 925-3131182. Production Manager Chris Verdugo can be reached directly at chris.verdugo@contracostatv.org. My office is here to serve the residents of Contra Costa County District 2, which includes San Ramon, Danville, Alamo, Walnut Creek, Saranap, Parkmead, Lafayette, Moraga, Canyon and Orinda. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if we can provide you with additional information on this topic or on other County issues. I can be reached at SupervisorAndersen@bos.cccounty.us or 925-957-8860. Special thanks to summer intern Peter Hutchinson for his contributions to this article.
Page 26 - September 2015 ~ Alamo Today
MRI Adds Benefits to PSA Screening
By Stephen Taylor, MD
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Prostate Cancer is the most common cancer in men, and it is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in men, second only to lung cancer. One in every seven men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. African American men face a one in three chance of being diagnosed with prostate cancer. Over 29,000 men die each year from prostate cancer. Not every man with prostate cancer dies from it however; some prostate cancers are very slow growing, and some are very biologically aggressive. PSA screening has been widely practiced since the early 1990s. PSA is a substance made by the prostate gland. PSA blood levels are elevated in approximately 80% of men with prostate cancer, but an elevation in PSA is not diagnostic of prostate cancer. There are other conditions that can cause the PSA to be elevated, such as prostatitis, urinary tract infections, benign enlargement of the prostate with age, trauma to the prostate, etc. Therefore, the PSA test is not perfect. Urology Care Foundation is concerned that recent reports about PSA testing may confuse patients and Primary Care Physicians about the value of this prostate cancer screening tool. There have been recent reports suggesting that PSA screening does not decrease the prostate cancer specific death rates by a significant amount, and some men may be harmed by “overtreatment” of the slow growing type that may never have harmed the individual. As stated above, the PSA test is not perfect. A normal PSA value could mean that the individual does not have prostate cancer, and be very reassuring, or that there is cancer present and the test was a “false negative.” On the other hand an elevated PSA could mean that he does have prostate cancer, or one of the other conditions as noted above, a “false positive” result. The PSA value should be compared with the digital rectal exam (DRE), which could reveal a prostate nodule suspicious for cancer, or a very large prostate, which would account for an elevation in the PSA. Until recently, the only way to determine if cancer was present was to perform a transrectal ultrasound guided prostate biopsy. Prostate biopsies only take about 10 minutes and do not cause much pain if a local anesthetic is utilized. However, prostate biopsies carry certain risks such as infection, hospitalization, and bleeding from the biopsy sites. In addition, prostate biopsies are not perfect either, in that they may miss an “aggressive” cancer (present in between the biopsy sites), or reveal a very slow growing cancer that would never have required treatment during the man’s lifetime.
MRI to the rescue!
Just within the past year, a new modality has become available to help determine if men with an elevated PSA or an abnormal DRE actually need a biopsy. This new modality is Multiparametric MRI. A Multiparametric MRI is a 40 minute exam of the prostate. It usually involves injection of a contrast agent, but does not involve x-ray exposure. The radiologist then looks at the images. If an abnormality is identified, the radiologist assigns the area a PIRADS score from one to five. PIRADS stands for Prostate Imaging Recording and Data System. Low PIRADS score lesions (1-2) have a very low probability of representing aggressive prostate cancer. Sixty percent of men with elevated PSA who undergo a Multiparametric MRI actually have a low PIRADS score, and can be spared from an “unnecessary” biopsy. If the radiologist identifies a high PIRADS score lesion (4-5), there is a 70% chance of having a positive biopsy, and usually these are the aggressive types of prostate cancer that may be life-threatening. These patients are likely to benefit from early treatment. A PIRADS 3 lesion is intermediate, with a 10-20% chance of having a positive biopsy. Not only does Multiparametric MRI identify men who are at high risk of harboring aggressive prostate cancer, but it also tells us where the cancer lies within the prostate. Software has been developed, which allows the MRI image to be transferred to the urologist’s ultrasound screen where the MRI image and ultrasound images can be fuse together. This allows the urologist to perform accurate targeted biopsies of the suspicious lesion, rather than “blind” systematic biopsies. This is called an MRI-Ultrasound Fusion Guided Biopsy, and avoids taking biopsies in areas which are less likely to contain aggressive cancer. This leads to fewer biopsies being performed, and a higher percentage of aggressive cancer is being detected. MRI is a valuable tool for men who’ve had previous negative biopsies (sometimes multiple negative biopsies). It is also valuable in men with a rising PSA for which there is no other explanation. Rather than jump to a prostate biopsy, an MRI can help to determine if a biopsy is likely to reveal an aggressive prostate cancer for which early treatment may be lifesaving. PSA is not a perfect test. Like any screening tool, it has limitations. The choice to use PSA for early detection of prostate cancer is a personal choice. Talk to your Primary Care Physician who knows your complete medical history, knows if you have other life limiting medical conditions, or if you have a long life expectancy and may benefit from prostate cancer screening. Talk with your provider about the benefits and risks of testing. You should talk about factors that can increase your risk for prostate cancer including a family history of prostate cancer (father or brother), African American ethnicity, obesity, etc. The addition of MRI (to help sort out men who do not need a biopsy [60%] from men who are truly at high risk of aggressive prostate cancer) is likely to become the standard approach. The use of MRI-Ultrasound Fusion Guided biopsy greatly increases the accuracy of a biopsy. Learn more from about prostate cancer and Multiparametric MRI at Dr. Taylor’s medical talk and Q & A on September 9, 2015 at San Ramon Community Center-Terrace Room. 7-8:30pm. Please register by calling 925-677-5041 x272. Dr. Stephen Taylor is a urologist with Pacific Urology. He specializes in robotic urologic surgeries and prostate, kidney, and bladder cancers. Pacific Urology is the first medical practice to offer the MRI-Ultrasound Fusion Guided Biopsies in the San Francisco East Bay. For more information please call 925-937-7740 or visit www.PacificUrology.com. Advertorial
Hopeful News From UC Davis on Ovarian Cancer By Gigi Chen, MD
A recent study published by University of California, Davis researchers suggests that we are making progress on treating ovarian cancer and extending patient lives. This is very exciting news! The researchers combed through records from the California Cancer Registry of more than 11,000 women with an ovarian cancer diagnosis between 1994 and 2001. Survival information and other factors for these women were tracked through 2011. They found that one third lived more than 10 years. Not surprising, the study found that the majority of the long-term survivors were younger, had early-stage disease at diagnosis, and had lower-risk tumors. What surprised the researchers was that 954 of the 3,582 women had been considered to be at ‘high risk’ of an earlier death from their disease, either because of the advanced stage of their cancer or their older age at diagnosis, yet they too lived longer. In the past, ovarian cancer had the reputation of being a death sentence, this
study suggests otherwise. “The perception that almost all women will die of this disease is not correct,” says Rosemary Cress, the lead author of UC Davis paper which was published in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. “We think that this is good information to communicate to women newly diagnosed with ovarian cancer - although ovarian cancer is a dangerous cancer, there is considerable variability and it is not always fatal,” continued Cress. Explanations for this encouraging news include earlier diagnosis, better surgical treatment, and more targeted chemotherapy. Ovarian cancer is one of the most overlooked and commonly misdiagnosed cancers because of its vague symptoms, which include abnormal vaginal bleeding, pressure or pain in the pelvic region, a change in bathroom habits, and feeling full quickly when you eat. It is through symptom recognition that the earliest possible diagnosis can be made. Join Dr. Chen and other medical experts at the Many Faces of Gynecologic Cancers on September 16th from 6:30-8:30pm at the Cancer Support Community in Walnut Creek. For more information or to register for the program, please call 925-677-5041. Gigi Chen, MD is a Medical Oncologist and Hematologist with Diablo Valley Oncology. She sees patients in Pleasant Hill, Rossmoor and San Ramon. Advertorial
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Going Mental
By Michelle Brown, C.P.T, C.G.T.
Alamo Today ~ September 2015 - Page 27
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The human body is natures masterpiece...not just because we have opposable thumbs and a prefrontal cortex, but because of what is happening inside us all the time. The complex organism we have evolved into is owed to our amazing physiological response to evolution. Our bodies are built to move, and for our movement we are rewarded with benefits inside and out. The physical benefits of exercise are vast and well known. From a trimmer physique to a significant decrease in the risk of preventable diseases, exercise is one of the best habits you can make for your body. While the physical benefits of exercise alone are reason enough to make it a routine, there Dita trunk show. Come see the full collection. is something far more important that happens when we do it daily. This benefit goes past aesthetics, through muscle Refreshments & hors d’oeuvres provided. Great and bone, into the deep layers of the mind and the soul. We giveaways & free anti-glare with your purchase. change the way we FEEL when we exercise regularly and 215 Alamo Plaza Alamo CA 94507 | (925) 202-2846 come to find that the psychological benefit is the true reward. www.poplarspecs.com You’ve heard the term “runners high.” It’s not some magical state of mind, its actually a physiological response to movement. When we exercise, feel good hormones are released. The good Volunteer continued from front page hormones have an immediate positive effect on our mood and our perception Volunteer program makes it easy to find local service opportunities available to of self. With regular exercise, our bodies seek to continue staying active in students ages 13-17. VCEB also publishes a monthly youth project e-bulletin. In addition, VCEB operates ‘The Know How Network,’ placing and brokering order to sustain that positive feedback loop. With this knowledge, many smart contracts between organizations and professionals age 55 and over who can offer doctors are prescribing their patients exercise for stress and even depression. specific expertise, such as legal knowledge. Sleep is a time-out for minds and bodies to restore and rejuvenate. Lack Loss says that the majority of those seeking opportunities request work at local of sleep significantly affects our well being and psychological state. Studies food banks, which she appreciates. But she stresses the need for help within the have shown a correlation between lack of sleep and obesity, heart disease, food bank chain, such as at the smaller distribution centers. “We encourage people and mental illness. As well, sleep deprivation is thought to suppress growth to look at some of the smaller agencies that don’t have the capacity to recruit in the hormone and in turn, lead to poor stress management. Even though a sleeping way larger agencies can,” says Loss. Many of the available opportunities are extremely simple, such as delivering person seems inactive, studies prove that the brain is actually more active birthday cakes to foster children through the ‘Cakes for Kids’ program, which during sleep than when performing daily mundane tasks. While sleep inducing seeks bakers and deliverers. medications are one alternative, clearly they are not the best long term remedy Loss emphasizes that those in Contra Costa County should be willing to travel a for insomnia. Regular exercise leads to improved sleep quality and duration, bit for volunteer opportunities, as many of the needs are outside of the Diablo corand also contributes to the release of nocturnal reparative neurotransmitters ridor. “Fill-in the green box on our site, and try lots of key words to find something like melatonin and, you guessed it, growth hormone! close to your heart,” says Loss. “The result will be that you find something that is There is sense of accomplishment in achieving a workout, no matter how meaningful and fulfilling, and that creates the strongest volunteer partnerships.” hard it is, and that alone can make a rough day much more manageable. We For more information, and to become a volunteer, visit www.volunteereastbay.org. all have stressful days, and sometimes there is just no energy left to exercise. A good day starts the night before. Get proper rest by getting to bed early Festival continued from front page enough to wake up for your workout. This is especially important if you have A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams, 1948 Pulitzer Prize a tiring job, lots of kids activities, and so forth. Plan your workout early in winner, runs September 4-19 at Danville’s Village Theatre. Screening the morning before the chaos of the day ensues. In turn, you will start your of the 1951 Academy Award winning film version at the Village Theater day with a great feeling of accomplishment, decrease your stress level, and on September 10 offers give yourself a mental boost. insight into what HolNext time you exercise, ask yourself how you feel before, and write it lywood code required down. Rate your mood on a scale of 1-10, one being unhappy and ten being Williams to cut from ecstatic. After your session come back and reflect on how you feel post exhis script. ercise. This will give you visual proof that exercise enhances your wellbeing Even more controand keep you moving in the right direction. versial when it opened Michelle Brown is an ACE Advanced Health and Fitness Specialist, in 1924, O’Neill’s DeAce Certified Personal & Group Trainer, 2nd Degree Richard Lee Black sire Under the Elms plays September 18-27 Belt Disciple, Level 2 certified TRX Functional Trainer, Certified Trigger in the Old Barn at Tao Point Rehabilitation Therapist, a board member on the California Health Medical Reserve Corps, blogger, motivational speaker, and owner of Gum- O’Neill’s 1924 play Desire Under the Elms suggest the House. Travis Bogard, saba Fitness programs. She has been helping clients surpass their goals theme of human yearning central to the 2015 Eugene O’Neill first EOF Artistic DiFestival. (photo by John Carter) rector, characterizes it since 1998. Gumsaba offers outdoor fitness programs, personal, small group and sport specific training. Join Gumsaba for a FREE CLASS. Visit as “the first important tragedy to be written in America.” Current EOF gumsaba.com and click get started to redeem your free week with promo Artistic Director Eric Fraisher Hayes comments, “I think audiences will See Festival continued on page 28 Advertorial code PEACEOFMIND. www.gumsaba.com.
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Page 28 - September 2015 ~ Alamo Today
Taking the Frozen out of Frozen Shoulder By Dr. Kristin Moore, DC
(Formerly Dr. Kristin Hazleton, DC)
Have you ever reached your arm behind you to put your arm into a jacket sleeve and noticed that your arm doesn’t move the direction you want it to? Or have you ever tried to lift your arm up over your head to fix your hair, but for some reason you couldn’t raise it all of the way? Or ladies, have you ever tried to clasp your bra, and the inward rotation of your shoulder created an intense amount of pain? If this sounds familiar, then you may be suffering from something called adhesive capsulitis, more commonly known as frozen shoulder. Frozen shoulder is characterized by pain, along with a decrease in motion (typically abduction and rotation), in the shoulder joint. This is caused when the connective tissue that surrounds the shoulder capsule becomes inflamed which starts to stiffen the joint and cause a decrease in motion. While the cause of this condition is still unknown, it is much more prevalent in females between the ages of 40 and 60 years of age. Some people do report a higher incidence linked with recent surgery or trauma to the shoulder or neck region. However, there are many active and healthy people whom have not experienced a trauma, yet they still develop frozen shoulder. Unfortunately, because the cause of frozen shoulder is unknown, not much can be done in order to prevent it from happening. That being said, if you start feeling symptoms of pain or decreased range of motion in your shoulder, then you should get it checked immediately! The sooner that you catch it, the better the outcome. If left untreated frozen shoulder can take approximately two to three years to resolve. That means two to three years of NOT being able to use your shoulder! It will eventually go away on its own, but it takes a very long time. I have found a fantastic combination of treatments that helps significantly speed up the time it takes to recover from frozen shoulder. My treatments include: 1. Gentle chiropractic adjustments: This helps to break up any adhesions in the capsule to begin to restore proper movement of the shoulder joint. 2. Class IV laser therapy: Laser treatments help to increase blood flow to the site of injury which then helps pull inflammation away from the joint to help to reduce the pain. 3. Shoulder stretches: At-home stretches will be given to help you to continue to break adhesions in the capsule while you are outside of the office. 4. Shoulder exercises: At-home exercises will also be taught in order to begin to rebuild muscle strength in the affected arm. 5. Anti-inflammatory diet: A diet that eliminates inflammatory food will also be discussed in order to help you to heal as quickly as possible. I have found this frozen shoulder protocol has helped my patients to recover from this incredibly stubborn condition in only six to nine months! Of course those patients that come to me immediately tend to achieve even faster results.
Festival continued from page 27
find the psychology of the play disturbing yet very modern.” Drawing on his extensive experience directing productions of almost half of O’Neill’s plays, Hayes presents “Eugene O’Neill: Evolution of an Artist – From Provincetown to Tao House” at the Museum of the San Ramon Valley (MuseSRV) on September 12. A walking tour – “Secrets of O’Neill in Danville” – leaves MuseSRV following the lecture. “100 Years of Desire” addresses the treatment of the theme of longing in art, literature and film as well as theater and how it has changed over the past century. The interactive panel discussion occurs at the MuseSRV on September 19. Author John Lahr’s appearance at Danville’s Rakestraw Books on October th 4 is the Festival finale. He’ll speak about his latest book Joyride and his 2014 biography Tennessee Williams: Mad Pilgrimage of the Flesh. Buy tickets and check performance times at www.villagetheatreshows.com.
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If you are concerned that you may have frozen shoulder, then call our office and schedule a complimentary consultation with me. Just tell our office manager, Judy, that you read this article in the Alamo Today newspaper. This free consultation will give you a chance to meet me, and it will also give me a chance to determine if you are the right candidate for this type of care. I look forward to meeting you soon! To learn more, please visit www.alignhealingcenter.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 consultation today! Advertorial
Half of Consumers Considering Cosmetic Procedure By Dr. Jerome Potozkin
If you are considering a cosmetic treatment, you are not alone – half of consumers are considering a cosmetic medical procedure, and the specialty in which the physician is board-certified is increasingly influential in their choice of practitioner, according to new survey data from the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS). The ADAS is the largest specialty organization exclusively representing dermatologic surgeons who have unique training and experience to treat the health, function, and beauty of your skin. ASDS members are pioneers in the field. Many are involved in the clinical studies that bring popular treatments to revitalize skin and fill and diminish wrinkles to the forefront. The recently published 2015 ASDS Consumer Survey on Cosmetic Dermatologic Procedures reflects overall consumer views on cosmetic medical treatments and ratings for 10 specific procedures. The survey supplied renewed insight into what compels consumers to seek cosmetic treatments. To a large extent, intrinsic motivations steer their decisions. Leading factors for pursuing treatments are the desire to “look as young as I feel or better for my age,” “appear more attractive,” and “feel more confident.” The procedures piquing the interest of the most consumers are designed to achieve those outcomes. The top four procedures respondents are considering are: • Ultrasound, laser, light and radiofrequency treatments for skin tightening or treating wrinkles, 66% • Laser hair removal, 55% • Microdermabrasion, 53% • Laser and light treatments to reduce facial redness or improve skin tone or scars, 51% ASDS members keep up with the latest advancements in medical technology and continue to build upon our expertise. Choosing among a variety of minimally invasive cosmetic medical procedures we offer is a decision consumers can make with full confidence. The top cosmetic concerns for consumers align with areas of expertise for ASDS members: • Excess weight, 88% • Skin texture and/or discoloration, 72% • Lines and wrinkles around and under the eyes, 69% • Excess fat under the chin/neck, 67% • Sagging facial skin, 67% Consumers give high satisfaction ratings to injectable wrinkle treatments and injectable filler treatments to soften facial lines and wrinkles and restore volume in the face. Those procedures are the two cosmetic treatments ASDS member dermatologists performed most frequently in 2014, according to the Society’s member procedures survey. If you are interested in any of these cosmetic procedures, we are happy to help. Mention this article during the month of September to receive a complimentary cosmetic consultation. 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. Dr. Potozkin is a fellow member of the ASDS. He is accepting new patients. Please call (925) 838-4900 or visit Potozkin.com Advertorial for more information.
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Alamo Today ~ September 2015 - Page 29
Alamo’s 1st & Only Pediatric Dentist! Alamo Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics Welcomes Dr. Allan Pang Dr. Pang completed his undergraduate degree at the University of California, San Diego. He earned his Doctorate of Dental Medicine at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in Boston, Massachusetts. After Tufts he completed a General Practice Residency at University of California, Los Angeles. Thereafter, Dr. Pang practiced general dentistry in the community of Los Gatos, California for two years. It was during this time that he realized how much he enjoyed working with his pediatric patients and returned to school to specialize in Pediatric Dentistry. His residency in Pediatric Dentistry at New York University-Bellevue Hospital in New York City allowed for him to have extensive training in treating the well child and those with special healthcare needs such as children with craniofacial disorders and developmental disabilities. Dr. Pang has been in private practice since 2008. He is a Board Certified Pediatric Dentist, a Diplomate with the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, and a member of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.
(925) 831-8310
Page 30 - September 2015 ~ Alamo Today
The Living Paradox of Self Image By Barbara Persons, MD, Persons Plastic Surgery, Inc.
I recall my visit to the doctor after my near-fatal car accident that left me with a face that no longer resembled the one with which I had been born. Accompanying me to the doctor was my twin sister. Although she is my fraternal twin, she was always a mirror of sorts for me. We had always attracted a great deal of attention as a set of bubbly, bright red haired firecrackers. After the accident, I had no choice but to acknowledge that my sister looked less like a twin to me than a reminder of how I used to look. Proof that my appearance had changed, and that appearance mattered greatly, was in how differently people reacted to my sister than they did to me. It may have been subtle, but it was clear to me: people respond better to those with a better appearance. Though I initially perceived this act as unfair treatment, I later realized (and accepted) that there are sound societal and biological reasons why appearance matters. Whether we like it or not, we live in a society where looks matter. Research has demonstrated that during infancy, mothers care more for the good-looking baby. A meta-analytic review has indicated that physically attractive students are usually judged more favorably by teachers in a number of dimensions including intelligence, academic potential, grades, and various other social skills. What does all of this mean? The prettier girl wins. She gets more job offers, makes more money, and at the end of the day lives a more successful life. A recent
Questions continued from front page
Q. What Olympic gold medalist lives in Alamo? - Kristi Yamaguchi is the 1992 Olympic champion in ladies’ singles figure skating, also the world champion in 1991 and 1992. In 2008, she was the celebrity champion of the sixth season of Dancing with the Stars. Q. What early Alamo pioneer is Stone Valley Road and School named for? - Silas Stone, wife Susanna, and son Albert emigrated to Alamo from Iowa in 1853. Eventually, their property grew to a an 800 acre ranch which encompassed most of the land north of present day Stone Valley Road, including the school. Q. In the 1970’s and 1980’s, Alamo's Elegant Bib Restaurant drew customers from all over the county. What is now located on the former site of the Elegant Bib? - The Elegant Bib Restaurant, owned by Mickey and Lea Adza, was an upscale restaurant where customers were greeted like family. It became so popular that two hour waits for dinner were not uncommon. It was located at 3201 Danville Boulevard, now the site of the Alamo Commons office building. Q. What agricultural innovation took place in Alamo in 1873, leading to the creation of a major industry in California? - Myron Hall came to Alamo in 1853 with the Stone family wagon train. He first successfully grafted English walnut stock (also known as Persian walnuts) onto native black walnut stock in 1873. This grafting imparted disease resistance to the English walnut and allowed it to thrive in the California climate. This practice is continued to the present day. When Myron Hall died in 1910, he was lauded as the father of the walnut industry. The original grafted tree was located near present day Garden Estates Court. Q. What Native American tribe were the first residents of Alamo? The first residents of Alamo were the Tatcan Indians. Q. What year did the last freight train run down the railroad tracks which became the Iron Horse Trail? In 1978, the last Southern Pacific train ran down the San Ramon Branch Line through Alamo. Q. Alamo has three school districts and two fire districts, name them. Although most ofAlamo is in the San Ramon Valley School District and the San Ramon Valley Fire District, the northwest portion of Alamo above Hillgrade Avenue is part of the Walnut Creek School District and also part of the Acalanes High School District, and receives its firefighting services from the Contra Costa County Fire District. Q. What was the original purpose of the building that houses Cherubini's? The Cherubini’s building was a residence, lumber store, hardware store, and antiques store. Q. Originally a stagecoach road from Martinez to San Jose, Danville Boulevard was known as the Alamo Highway for most of the 20th century. It was a California state highway before 680 was built. What number was this state highway through Alamo? California State Highway 21 encompassed Pacheco Boulevard, Contra Costa Boulevard, Main Street in Walnut Creek, Danville Boulevard through Alamo, Hartz Avenue in Danville and San Ramon Valley Boulevard. It was decommissioned after 680 was built. Q. What is the name of the creek that runs through Westside Alamo?
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article published by Business Insider referenced a research study that indicated more attractive women had a 54% callback rate while those judged unattractive experienced a 7% callback rate. Similar results were found in mirror studies. What has the prevailing evidence repeatedly demonstrated? Looks matter! Whether professionally or personally, the way we present ourselves to society has a huge impact on the way we are treated and the services that we receive. Sadly, no matter how sophisticated or professional a male or female is, his or her attributes will be masked by his or her image. Our bodies and faces are the vessels in which we live. In this society the person that we are is heavily the result of our image, and ironically our image influences the person we become by shaping our behaviors and actions towards ourselves and others. There is a silver lining to this sobering reality that looks matter. Information is power, and there are many ways to improve on natural appearance. And it doesn’t require us to look like we have been overdone or created from the same mold. There’s little purpose in lamenting the fact that our appearance may influence how others interact with us. It’s more constructive to decide which aspects of our appearance matter to us, and accentuate them. After all, there’s nothing more empowering than taking control of the changes we want to make…for ourselves, and maybe, just a little, for others, too. Barbara L. Persons, MD is a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and owns Persons Plastic Surgery, Inc. located at 911 Moraga Rd, Suite 205 in Lafayette. She may be reached at 925.283.4012 or drbarb@personsplasticsurgery.com. Advertorial Originating near Bollinger Canyon in San Ramon, this creek is named the San Ramon Creek, and Alamo is part of the San Ramon Creek Watershed. Alamo Creek is located in eastern San Ramon. Go figure. Q. Linhares Lane was named for early Alamo pioneer Bertha Linhares. What was her occupation? She was the postmaster of Alamo, and so were her father, brother and sister before her. Q. What was the name of the roadhouse restaurant situated at the southwest corner of Hemme Avenue and Danville Boulevard during the 1930's? The roadhouse was the Shady Way Inn, so named for the "Shady Way" Danville Boulevard at the time was lined with tall elm trees on both sides, planted in the 1920's to memorialize soldiers who lost their lives in World War I. Q. What year did the portion of Interstate 680 that runs through Alamo open? November 1, 1964, saw Interstate 680 open and almost immediately traffic on Danville Boulevard/Highway 21 slowed to a trickle. Q. What neighborhood was not only the first subdivision in Alamo, it was the first subdivision in all of the San Ramon Valley? Alamo Oaks, developed in 1934, was the first subdivision in Alamo and the Valley. Q. What was the original site of Alamo School, which is now located on Wilson Road? Alamo School was originally located at the northwest corner of Danville Boulevard and Stone Valley Road, where The Patio and Fireplace store is now located. Q. What street in Alamo is named for a famous newspaper publishing family, founders of dozens of newspapers and of United Press International? The Scripps family of San Diego built a vacation home in northwest Alamo in 1940, using a private railroad car to travel in style from San Diego to Alamo, where their property adjoined the Southern Pacific tracks. They called their home Scripps Haven, which gives its name to today's Scripps Haven Lane. The Scrippses were generous philanthropists, and their name also graces colleges, museums and research institutes throughout America. Q. Who gave their name to Rancho Romero School? Brothers Jose and Inocencio Romero were granted 20,000 acres of land in 1843 by the Mexican government, which included much of present day Alamo and the Tice Valley. They lost their land due to missing title papers in 1857. Q. What name do longtime residents of Alamo call the north facing hill on the southeast corner of the intersection of 680 and Stone Valley Road (also the name of a world famous painting)? And why? In January 1979, local Danville artist Will Ashford and two dozen volunteers spread 800 pounds of fertilizer on this hill in a pattern that became revealed as the rains fell to be the image of the world's most famous painting, the Mona Lisa. The areas that were fertilized grew in greener and darker than the surrounding grass, forming the famous image. Articles about this phenomenom appeared in the London Times, Look Magazine, and the National Enquirer. Drivers stopped by the side of 680 to take pictures. You sometimes still hear Alamo residents refer to this hill as Mona Lisa Hill and later Marilyn Monroe Hill for the same reason.
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Your Personal Nutritionist
Healthy Snacking Can Prevent Weight Gain By Linda Michaelis RD, MS
Everyday in my practice I teach my clients how important it is to choose the right snacks to keep blood sugar stable and prevent cravings and getting too hungry for the next meal. I still see the diet mentality in my office that goes along with feeling pangs of guilt when craving a snack. There is nothing wrong with having snacks. In fact, they might be the missing ingredient that will help you lose weight. Reflect on the times where you ate a healthy snack before going out to dinner and you were able to have more control over how much you ate.
How Your Snack Can Make or Break Your Diet
There is definitely a wrong way and a right way to snack. As I have stressed in past articles, lunch should be a well balanced meal that will last you at least three hours. Next, the most important step is to have a well thought out snack that is high in protein and fiber with some sweetness to it. After all, most of us tend to crave sweets as a pick-up in the late afternoon. The real key to snacking is not to eat fruit alone or a candy bar alone. That will set you up for failure. Realize that you will not eat a healthy snack after eating a candy bar. Your blood sugar will drop instantly, and you will feel more
Haven continued from page 22
completed the “Working Woman” program, she knew her legal rights and had saved enough for a security deposit on an apartment with $900 still in the bank. Rosalia Chavez, Retail Manager of the SG Thrift Store, is proud to be back at SG, remarking, “The greatest thing that brought me back to Shepherd’s Gate was the desire to be part of the ministry that changed my life.” Located at 1362 Railroad Avenue, Livermore in Millers Outpost Shopping Center and open Monday-Saturday 10AM - 5PM, the Thrift Store can arrange pick-up for furniture donations. Call (925)606-1924 for more information including suggestions for a donation drive at your business, church, or club. Long-time Danville resident Emily Nelson recently completed two back-toback 3-year terms on the SG Board. She knew little about SG beyond regularly delivering gently used clothing to the Thrift Store until chancing to meet Steve and Carla McRee while on vacation. Emily accepted first the role of Gateway to Hope Banquet Emcee and then the responsibility of serving on the Board. Among the numerous contributions Nelson made she notes, “I spent some of my time volunteering as a photographer taking pictures of the mothers with their children and of the graduates. This is something we take for granted, having albums of family photos, but having a dear picture of yourself or yourself with your children is rare when one is running from an abuser or living in their car. What a joy it was to give these photos to the women as a sweet memento of their time at Shepherd’s Gate.” Helping the healing process happens in many ways. Volunteers give over 10,000 hours a year. Donations arrive at the Thrift Store, contributions of supplies and labor for building projects miraculously materialize, and monetary gifts keep SG solvent. Susan Hudson, who balances her career as a therapist by representing cabi (Carol Anderson by Invitation - a fashion-forward clothing company marketing directly to consumers) wanted to add a local focus to the global good works cabi performs through its foundation. Many area cabi stylists will be joining Susan in donating clothing and fashion expertise. “The cabi Style Day for Shepherd’s Gate residents and recent graduates is a chance to do something hands-on to encourage these women and help them discover their true beauty,” Hudson explains. “Through giving each woman the gift of working one-on-one with a cabi stylist and helping her put outfits together that express her personal style, our hope is that she will gain self-confidence and feel more empowered as she is cared for by women in the local cabi community.” Reservations close on September 4th for the Gateway to Hope Banquet at the Blackhawk Automotive Museum on September 17th. Donations for Silent Auction items are much appreciated. Contact khiggins@shepherdsgate. org about reservations and auction items. Learn more about SG at For a mother running from an abuser or living in a car a photo www.shepherdsgate.org. with her child is a precious gift. Photo courtesy of Shepherd’s Gate.
Alamo Today ~ September 2015 - Page 31 tired than you felt before the sweets. Enjoy low sugar 100 calorie Chobani or Dannon Fit and Healthy greek yogurts. Or enjoy a high protein, whole grain snack with fruit such as a yogurt parfait with a sprinkle of Kashi Go Lean on top of a cup of Greek yogurt along with a sprinkle of berries. You can also try Ak Mak crackers with tuna, cherry tomatoes, carrots, cucumbers, or pepperoncinis or honey turkey wrapped around a pickle with an apple or celery, or have an apple with two tablespoons of peanut or almond butter, hearty bean soups, or even oatmeal with yummy toppings which all make great snacks.
Mini Meals for Kids
Now that our kids are back in school, I recommend that parents have available “mini meals” for when they come home. Typically kids do not eat an adequate lunch, and this can be the time of day they are most hungry. Instead of mindless snacking that can lead to weight gain, kids need to have balanced and substantial food available. Popular items include homemade chili; baked potatoes with broccoli and cheese; omelets with meat, veggies, and shredded cheese; chicken leftovers with a hearty bean soup; and veggies. This is not the time for toast and butter, popcorn, goldfish crackers, and chips. If your child enjoys these munchies, then they must take a reasonable portion size and pair them with some chicken and raw veggies. When family members walk thru the door and they are hungry, they will munch on raw veggies with dressing if they sit on the counter in view. If the veggies are tucked away in the bin, they will never be eaten.
Snacking is not Grazing
I spend a lot of time talking with my clients about actually how to snack. It is not mindless eating where you start with a handful of crackers only to finish the entire Wheat Thins box. To avoid grazing, put a serving of crackers on a plate, and add two ounces of tuna or sliced meat and a mound of veggies. Take a refreshing drink such as an iced tea and sit at a table -- preferably outside. Savor each bite. I help my clients plan out their snacks along with their meals. It must all be balanced and make sense. I often hear from clients that they can initially lose weight but the difficulty is to be able to keep it off and then lose more. I call my counseling “the hand holding service” where I can help keep you motivated, keep the meal plan exciting, help with social and restaurant eating, and best of all help you to reach your weight loss goal sooner than later when on your own. I am glad to inform you that nutritional counseling is covered by many health insurance companies such as Aetna, ABMG, Health Net, Hill Physicians, Sutter Select and Sutter East Bay Medical Foundation and Contra Costa Health Plan. Please feel free to call me at (925) 855-0150 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 my services. Advertorial
C L A S S I F I E D CARTOONING CLASS
CARTOONING CLASS for middle school students. Begin any Tuesday or Thursday, 3:30-4:30pm. Register at Richards Arts and Crafts, Alamo. Four classes/$40. Instructor is Noel, retired art teacher. Call Noel at 925-831-1069 for details. www.Noelwilliamsabstracts.com.
FOR RENT
CONDO VACATION RENTAL Mauna Lani Resort, Big Island. New luxury 2 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath condo on 4th fairway. Minimum 3 night stay. Contact Alamo owners for discounted rate. (925)381-7042, Alamomgt@usa.net
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Page 32 - September 2015 ~ Alamo Today
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Single Story Homes Appreciate 75% Faster than Two Story Homes in 2015
Alamo Single Story Two Story % Difference
Last year we looked at the difference between one story and two story homes and concluded that both were selling just fine. This year I sensed that there might be something different occurring, so I repeated the exercise and not surprisingly, the single story homes have become clear winners in sales over their two story counterparts. Quite shocking is how far and fast the single story homes are pulling ahead. Since the beginning of 2015, in Alamo, 24% more single story homes sold than two story homes. There was a total of 68 single story homes sold versus 52 two story homes. The least expensive Alamo single story home sold for $857,000 which was $57,000 more than the asking price. The least expensive Alamo two story home sold for $1,017,000 at $27,000 more than asking price. The most expensive single story home sold for $2,890,000 or $2,298,000 less than the highest asking price. (This is not a typo.) The most expensive two story home sold for $3,625,000 or $7,325,000 less than the highest asking price. (This isn’t a typo either.) So, at the bottom of their respective price ranges, the two stories sell for more dollars and at the top of their price ranges, the two story homes sell for more dollars. It is a myth that all Alamo homes sell with multiple offers over asking price, some do…some don’t. On average, single story homes in Alamo are selling for $1,485,097 while their two story counterparts are commanding an average sales price of $1,975,121, making the single story approximately 35% less expensive than Alamo’s average two story home. In real estate size is very important, so if we look at the difference in size between the homes in the two groups, we find Alamo single story homes to be quite a bit smaller. Single story homes average 2,738 square feet compared to the two story’s massive 4,142 square feet, making the Alamo two story home 51% larger than the single story. Despite the size differential, both types of homes are selling in less than a month’s time. Single story homes are selling on average in 22 days while the two stories are selling in 30 days. Clearly, single story homes are selling faster than the two story homes. The sales pace of each proves that Alamo is still a hot market. That said, a number of
Alamo Home Sales Jan. 1-Aug 17, 2015 Sold DOM List Price Sold Price 68 22 $ 1,456,545 $ 1,485,097 52 30 $ 1,980,833 $ 1,975,121 -24.0% 36.0% 35.0% 33.0%
Sq. Foot $ Sq. Foot 2738 $ 567 4142 $ 488 51.0% -24.0%
homes in Alamo have been on the market in excess of 100 days, otherwise the time to sale would be significantly less than a month’s time. On the basis of price, it may appear that the Alamo two story home is dominating the single story. However, when we adjust dollars-for-size we see a completely different picture. Alamo single stories are selling at $567 per square foot compared to $488 per square foot for their counterparts. This is a significant difference of $79 per square foot, or 24% in favor of the single story. So, foot-for-foot, the single story homes in Alamo are way ahead. Last year both types of homes were big winners, appreciating significantly during the year. In 2015 there is a clear winner. In addition to selling faster, the single story homes appreciated 75% more than their two story counter parts, Alamo single story homes jumped by $71 per square foot over last year, while the two stories have come up a mere $12 per square foot. This is a divergence we haven’t seen before. This rapid shift in demand is probably being driven by younger “move up” buyers doing their utmost just to buy into the lower end of the Alamo Market and downsizing Baby Boomers overbidding for smaller homes. For different reasons, both buying groups have the Alamo single story home in their crosshairs. It will be interesting to see if this continues as 10,000 Baby Boomers retire each and every day for the next ten years or so. Trying to figure out your next move? Need numbers and answers to your fix up questions to make your decision? Nancy and I will be happy to provide you with a personal consultation to help you figure it out. No charge and no pressure just our honest opinions. Please call 925-989-6086 or send me an email to joecombs@ thecombsteam.com.
Alamo New Construction Views!
Executive Luxury Home
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Danville 4 Bedroom
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Nicely updated 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath in lovely Danville neighborhood. Community pool and tennis courts. Priced to sell $899,000.
Views of Mt. Diablo from nearly every room. 5 bedrooms, spacious open and bright, estate vineyard, pool and pool house. Priced to sell $3,875,000.
Mt. Diablo views from this casually elegant & completely luxurious Braddock Logan model home. 5 bedroom, 4.5 bath. Priced to sell $1,899,000.
Alamo Single Story
Alamo Single Story Ranch
D SOL Lovely 4 bedroom with pool and pool house. Nancy and I represented the buyer. $1,835,000. We have more buyers!
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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4 bedroom, 2.5 bath home on flat half acre. Updated and ready to go. Priced to sell $1,275,000. J. Rockcliff Realtors 15 Railroad Ave., Danville CA. 94526