editor @ yourmonthlypaper.com
August 2018 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 1
& AUGUST 2018
FITNESS AND FRIENDSHIP AT ROCK RUN CLUB
By Fran Miller
Karyn Henson had worked in the Diablo Corridor for years prior to relocating her home from Sonoma to Danville. And though she knew the area well and had many local clients, she sought a deeper connection to her new home town. “I wanted to really get involved and get to know my new community,” says Henson, a realtor and founder of Rock and Associates, Inc. A lifelong runner – she ran cross country in high school – she decided to put together an informal running group: a place where women of all ages and all fitness levels could convene weekly to commune, share interests, and get in-shape.
PIANOS BRING LIVE MUSIC TO DOWNTOWN DANVILLE By Alisa Corstorphine
As part of “Parks Make Life Better” month, the Town of Danville continues to celebrate art, music, and the outdoors with the installation of two community pianos. The street pianos have been placed outside of the Danville Community Center, located at 420 Front St., and the Danville Senior Since the end of January of this year, Henson’s Rock Run Club has attracted Center, located at 115 E. Prospect Ave. The pianos “speak for themselves” nearly 100 members via Henson’s Facebook and NextDoor posts. The sessions – with the bright words “PLAY ME” painted on the front. It is an invitation for Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at both 5:45AM and 8AM - routinely include a group anyone to have a seat and share their music with the community.
See Pianos continued on page 13
See Run continued on page 24
HORSES TOUCHING HEARTS AT SONRISE EQUESTRIAN FOUNDATION
By Jody Morgan
Since SonRise Equestrian Foundation welcomed its first client in 2006, the organization has focused on connecting children coping with physical, development, social, and emotional challenges with horses carefully selected and trained to enhance their natural ability to ground humans in the present and make people feel secure. Parents, family members, and volunteers also experience the powerful potential of horses to engender happiness in magical moments marked by radiant smiles. Four distinct programs now offer free services to address a variety of different needs. SonRise founder Melanie Burke wanted to extend to others the healing presence of horses that helped her manage the losses she experienced in childhood. When her father abandoned the family, her mother bought her a horse to help her mend her broken heart. When her mother passed away unexpectedly, Melanie found solace once again with horses. She answered the mission she felt called to fulfill by establishing SonRise at Charles Wilhelm’s Castro Valley ranch with two horses, three participants, and a handful of volunteers. SonRise Executive Director Alana Koski, who has worked with SonRise since its inception, explains: “Children seem naturally drawn to horses. Even though they are large, SonRise horses give everyone lots of reasons to smile. (Photo by Lauren Koski)
See Horses continued on page 18
Local Postal Customer
PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Permit 263 Alamo CA
ECRWSS
The Editors Serving the communities of Alamo, Diablo, and Danville
Volume XVIII Number 8
Volume IX Number 8
3000F Danville Blvd. #117 Alamo, CA 94507 Telephone (925) 405-6397 Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher Editor@yourmonthlypaper.com The opinions expressed herein belong to the writers, and do not necessarily reflect that of The Editors. The Editors is not responsible for the content of any of the advertising herein, nor does publication imply endorsement.
PAGE 2 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • August 2018
BOULEVARD VIEW
www.yourmonthlypaper.com
By Alisa Corstorphine, Editor
I went to a small college in Portland, Oregon where I earned my degree is Business Administration. I took a wide variety of classes from the computer programing languages of Cobal and Pascal -- never used those; what was I thinking? -- to ballet, to nutrition (which provided valuable life-long knowledge). The one class that really has stuck with me, and I believe had the most value, was a class called Logic. According to Merriam-Webster, logic is defined as “a proper or reasonable way of thinking about something” or “a science that deals with the rules and processes used in sound thinking and reasoning.” I read many online postings/articles/forums/rantings in an assortment of sites such as the local NextDoor neighborhood groups, Facebook, and various news websites. I am interested in the opinions of others. I ponder what others consider their “truths” and what they feel is fair, right, or just, and I also consider if what is being said makes sense to me. I read a story and see if there is a straight path from intro, to the supporting statements, to the conclusion. Is the “if, then, therefore” pattern (“All whales are animals, and all whales are mammals. Moby Dick is a whale. Thus, Moby Dick is an animal and a mammal.”) followed or does the writer jump all over the place? When an article is “shared” with others, I often find that the one who shared it just read the headline and not the meat of what was written as comments are often made that reflect just that. People make quick reactions and judgments and then change the subject from the original topic when their statement is questioned; they often pass on what appear to be rumors as if they are fact. In this day and age, I think it is harder to pin down facts. Hoaxes, AKA “fake news,” are often circulated. The Economist - www.1843magazine.com notes, “Facebook shows an endless stream of items from all over the web. Click an interesting headline, and you may end up on a fake-news site, set up by a political propagandist or a teenager in Macedonia to attract traffic and generate advertising revenue. Peddlers of fake stories have no reputation to maintain and no incentive to stay honest; they are only interested in the clicks, hence the bogus stories. Thanks to internet distribution, fake news is again a profitable business. Perhaps more overt fact-checking or improved media literacy will help. What is clear, however, is that a mechanism that held fake news in check for nearly two centuries – the bundle of stories from an organisation with a reputation to protect – no longer works. We will need to invent new ones.” Erroneous comments can enter stories even unintentionally, and that is why I try and have any stories I feature reviewed by those the story is about before they are presented to you. Clarity can sometimes be difficult, just like the childhood game of “telephone” which involved sharing a sentence or phrase and whispering it around a circle. When the words made their way back to the start, they often were (and sometimes intentionally) jumbled up. Fake or illogical stories have been communicated since ancient and medieval times, but they couldn’t be checked or verified nearly as easily as they are now. When I was growing up, fake news consisted of sensationalized stories that we read in tabloids like the National Enquirer or The Sun. Stories often dealt with the Loch Ness Monster, Bigfoot, the Bermuda Triangle, Elvis sightings, and screamed headlines such as “FBI CAPTURES BAT CHILD!” As a youngster, my friends and I used to buy a stack of these tabloids for fun summer reading, but we knew most of the stories were tall tales or exaggerated to sell the product. A recent headline I read stated, “Poll Results: Most drivers are being erroneously charged for I-680 Express Lane use.” I’ve certainly read a lot of comments on the new toll lanes and erroneous charges, and I believe there are issues with the new system. However, when I read the headline and the article that noted “hundreds of people” (who responded to the poll) claimed 72% had erroneous charges from using the Express Lane, I pondered if this was really, Bluegrass and MOST drivers. Who conducted the poll, and what were their criteria? Certainly, if I line-item read every Fastrak bill, it is a poll I might have an opinion on and respond to, but isn’t the poll flawed and skewed by only those that scrutinize Pasta Dinner each invoice and also mentally jog the days/times they use that lane? If the charges are not correct, is it only THEN that at San Damiano Retreat Center respond to the poll? The headline and story do not appear to be a sampling of the all drivers as a whole but of a filtered SUNDAY, AUGUST 19 subset. Yet, the headline makes me think otherwise. Music at 3:00 PM Dinner at 4:30 PM I think we often feel self righteous with our view points and put on blinders to seeing another side of a story. We ADULTS: $15 | 12 AND UNDER: $10 try and manipulate conclusions to our favor, even if they don’t follow logic. I read a statement that said, “Too often sandamiano.org | (925) 837-9141 we don’t listen to understand -- we listen to reply.” It seems all too often we read or interact without listening or trying to understand and contemplate another side. 710 Highland Drive, Danville, CA 94526 Now, more than ever, with the magnitude of information available and the instant access to it, I think it’s best to really stop and reflect on what is presented and see if it makes logical sense to us before embracing or sharing something that may really end up being “fake news.”
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS FAIR
SAVE THE DATE - SEPTEMBER 29TH
If a severe earthquake or other natural disaster impacts the San Ramon Valley, you may be separated from your loved ones. Do you have a plan to safely reunite your family? Come to the San Ramon Valley Emergency Preparedness Fair from 10AM - 2PM on September, 29th at Central Park located at 12501 Alcosta Blvd. in San Ramon. Put on by Contra Costa County, the Town of Danville, the City of San Ramon, San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District, SRVUSD, and other agencies, the fair is a great opportunity for residents to learn about safety, and how to be ready in the event of an emergency. Some of the topics to be covered at this amazing event include: creating and stocking an emergency supply cabinet or box in your home; drafting a plan for what to do if you and your family need to evacuate during an emergency, and more. There will be information sessions, demos, and hands-on instruction. Food trucks will be on site so come down, have some lunch, and learn how to be safe in the event of 'The Big One.'
Purchase tickets through Eventbrite at: Brewitupwineitdown.eventbrite.com
editor @ yourmonthlypaper.com
ALAMO DANVILLE NEWCOMERS CLUB
Are you a new resident of Danville, Alamo, Blackhawk or Diablo, a longtime resident, newly retired or empty nester interested in making new friends and participating in various social activities? The Alamo Danville Newcomers Club is a woman’s organization, whose purpose is to enrich the lives of all its members and their families in a social manner. Check out all our club has to offer by visiting www.alamodanvillenewcomers.com. The next “Welcome Coffee” will be held on August 28th from 10AM to noon. RSVP to alamodanvillenewcomers@gmail.com.
DANVILLE CHILDREN’S TRIATHLON
ANNUAL NON-COMPETITIVE TRIATHLON EVENT SET FOR AUGUST 12
Children ages 7-10 are invited to “tri” the fun sport of triathlon at the Third Annual Danville Children’s Triathlon, which will be held on August 12th at Monte Vista High School. This swim-bike-run event is a great way to introduce children to the sport of triathlon. The majority of participants in the 2016 event were first-time triathletes. In order to keep the focus on safety and fun, the event isn’t timed. All participants will receive a finisher’s medal and hat. The race distances for the age groups are: • Ages 7 & 8: Swim four laps (100 yards), bike one mile, run one lap (.25 miles) around the track • Ages 9 & 10: Swim six laps (150 yards), bike two miles, run two laps (.50 miles) around the track To register, visit www.danville.ca.gov/197/Recreation-Arts-CommunityServices. The cost is $35 for residents, $42 for non-residents. Volunteers, age 14 and up, are also needed for this event. To sign up, please visit http://danville.ca.gov/volunteer. Registration can be done online at www.danvillerecguide.com or contact the Danville Community Center at (925) 314-3400.
www.yourmonthlypaper.com
August 2018 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 3
EAST BAY STAND DOWN
The East Bay Stand Down event will be held September 13-16. Services for homeless and atrisk military Veterans will be provided at Camp Parks in Dublin. Volunteers are needed to fill over 1,000 positions. There is an opportunity to fit everyone’s time-slot and interest. The event was created by Veterans for Veterans, but everyone is welcome to help. Services range from VA healthcare, dental, mental health, clothes, meals, emergency shelter, transition and permanent housing, ID/driver’s license assistance, court and legal aide, showers, haircuts, and other activities. If you know a homeless Veteran, please see the website for information on how to help sign him/her up. Learn more about the event, sign-up to help, or to make a financial donation visit eastbaystanddown.org. If you would like someone to speak to your organization or corporation regarding the event, please email Sandee Wiedemann at xosandee@earthlink.net.
ALAMO CONCERTS & MOVIES
2018 ALAMO MOVIE UNDER THE STARS
Come and enjoy movies under the stars at beautiful Livorna Park. The final family-fun film for the summer will be Coco which will be shown on Friday, August 10th. Showtime is at 8:45PM. Bring family, friends, chairs, blankets, and flashlights. Snacks will be available for purchase. For details, contact Alamo Recreation Staff at 925-313-2272, or visit www. cccounty.us/alamoparksandrecreation.
DANVILLE CONCERTS & MOVIES
2018 DANVILLE MUSIC IN THE PARK
The last Music in the Park summer concert will take place August 11with The Fog City Swampers (Classic Rock) at the Town Green, located at 400 Front St., Danville. The concert is free.
2018 MOONLIGHT MOVIES
The final Summertime Moonlight Movie will be held August 10 and features Guardians of the Galaxy at the Town Green, located at 400 Front St., in Danville. For more details on these upcoming events, visit www.danville.ca.gov or call 925-314-3400.
www.yourmonthlypaper.com
PAGE 4 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • August 2018
NEW EXHIBIT ‘GROUNDS FOR CHANGE’ OPENS AUGUST 25
The Town of Danville’s Village Theatre Art Gallery is proud to participate alongside other arts and culture organizations in the Bay Area in featuring artwork by Asian-American and Asian Artists. Asia Week San Francisco Bay Area is an event that takes place each year in October in the Bay Area and focuses on presenting premier quality programs including art exhibitions and artist talks. This year the Village Theatre and Art Gallery is proud to participate and will be featuring artwork of Asian-American and Asian Artists in a celebration of Asian arts and culture. More information on Asia Week can be found at www.asiaweeksf.com/media/press/doc-2018-06-25-1643.pdf. An Opening Reception for the exhibition is scheduled for Saturday, August 25th from 3pm to 5pm. Complimentary refreshments will be served. The exhibit runs through October 20th. The Village Theatre and Art Gallery is open to visitors Wednesday through Friday from 12pm to 5pm, Saturday from 11am to 3pm, and Monday and Tuesday by appointment only. The Art Gallery is closed on Sundays. Admission is free. For more information, contact Visual Arts Coordinator Marija Nelson Bleier at (925) 314-3460 or mbleier@danville.ca.gov.
RELICS ON RAILROAD - ANTIQUES & UPCYCLE MARKET, APPRISALS, AND MUSIC
Gopher/Mole Removal No Poison Tri-Valley Trapper
925-765-4209
SONS IN RETIREMENT SAN RAMON VALLEY
On Labor Day, September 3rd, from 9am -3pm the Relics on Railroad event will occur in the historic Danville downtown at 205 Railroad Avenue (by Prospect Avenue) where the Farmer’s Market is located and behind the home of Museum of the San Ramon Valley. This free, family-friendly outdoor market will feature a diverse mix of vintage, antique, and artfully upcycled home goods and artifacts from clever craftsmen who transform outdated items to exciting usable paces. You will have the opportunity to meet and talk with the crafters of jewel encrusted mirrors, carved wood sculptures, soldered metal wall pieces, button jewelry, BoHo clothing, junk journals, and re-configured furniture as well as garden art, vintage collectibles, Depression glass, toys, bird houses, crowns, farm salvage, lamps, dolls, books, WWII memorabilia, paintings, photography, planted succulents, linens, tools, silver, and more. In addition the great selection of antiques and other items, there will be live music by Stoney Ridge Bluegrass Band, and an Appraisal Clinic Fundraiser inside the Museum from 11am-2pm at $10 per item donation for a verbal approximation of value provided by a team of antiques specialists.
Are you looking for things to do in your retirement? Consider joining Sons in Retirement San Ramon Valley Branch 128. There are monthly luncheons with interesting speakers and good fellowship. Additionally, members have lots of fun participating in a variety of activities including golf, bowling, bocce ball, movies, cooking, finance, bridge, reading, computers, and more. Many other activities such as travel, dine outs, excursions, baseball games, and holiday parties include spouses, friends, and guests. The group’s next monthly luncheon will be held on Wednesday, August 15th at 11am. The special guest speaker will be Dan McGovern. While Dan's current focus and passion is leading the Eugene O''Neill Foundation, his professional career spanned a lifetime of professional service as an attorney with the state of California (Criminal Division and CALTRANS), as well as various assignments in both the Reagan and Bush (H.W.) administrations. Be ready for a very interesting presentation. Your $25 luncheon includes a meal, Dan’s presentation, and a great opportunity to socialize with at least 170 other retirees from the San Ramon Valley. To reserve a space, please send an email by Thursday, August 9th to info@SIR128.com. The luncheon will be held at The Bridges, 9000 S. Gale Ridge, San Ramon. For more information about the retirement branch and activities, visit www.SIR128.com.
ASSISTANCE LEAGUE WAY SIDE INN THRIFT SHOP
THE 19TH ANNUAL EUGENE O’NEILL FESTIVAL
VINTAGE JEWELRY EVENT!
The dedicated member volunteers at Assistance League® Way Side Inn Thrift Shop, located at 3521 Golden Gate Way in Lafayette, urge you to block out Tuesday, August 14 on your calendars. At 10am sharp, you will enter a treasure-trove of vintage jewelry, a “setting” unparalleled by any such event in previous years. In the interest of saving time, you might want to go directly to the watches, all of which are wound to precision. Then, let your eyes take in such elegant niceties as necklaces, earrings, brooches, and bracelets. Likewise, items enhanced with gold, silver, pearl, bone, and/or art glass await your discernment. As always, the quality and success that the Vintage Jewelry event has enjoyed since its inception are due to your generous support and purchases. Such commitment is priceless; thank you. To that end, any jewelry that you no longer wear and would like to donate would be most appreciated.
CELEBRATE NATIONAL THRIFT SHOP DAY
The Assistance League invites all supporters and bargain seekers alike to help celebrate National Thrift Shop Day on Friday, August 17. In recent years, the thrift shop has earned a larger presence in the market place. Other people’s cast-offs, some in mint condition and some in not-so-mint condition, become thrift shop enthusiasts’ treasures. Additionally, there is a certain pride that thrift shoppers enjoy when they find previously owned items such as clothing, accessories, jewelry, collectibles, novels, and décor projects priced at a fraction of their retail value. Thrift shop customers’ enthusiasm compounds during announced sales and pop-up events. Another thrift shop-support amenity is a tax deduction for donors. Yet, a better return is knowing that thrift shop support, in all forms, results in helping a good cause. The best way for all of us to celebrate National Thrift Shop Day on Friday, August 17 is to do what neighbors do best; donate and shop at their favorite venues. To learn about Assistance League of Diablo Valley’s philanthropic programs that the Wayside Inn Thrift Shop funds, please visit www.diablovalley. assistanceleague.org.
ONE FESTIVAL, TWO COUNTRIES ~ DANVILLE, CA & NEW ROSS, IRELAND
Besides the pairing of two great playwrights, O’Neill and Arthur Miller, the 19th Annual Eugene O’Neill Festival presents many other special events including a classical concert of Irish music, a hike to Tao House, and a local history walk. In October, Bay Area theater-goers and civic leaders (as well as the Danville production of Hughie) will be heading to Ireland for the first annual Eugene O’Neill International Festival of Theatre, you’re invited to join along!
THE DANVILLE FESTIVAL: PASSING THE TORCH
O’Neill had vowed to create a new American theatre, one that went beyond sentimentality and melodrama to explore the deepest stirrings of the human spirit. He experimented with new dramatic techniques and dared to explore difficult but significant themes: interracial marriage, the equality of the sexes, the power of the unconscious, complex family relationships, and the effect of materialism on the American soul. Eugene O’Neill’s last theatrical hurrah during his lifetime and Arthur Miller’s first great success happened together on Broadway in 1946–47. This fall the Eugene O’Neill Festival will explore O’Neill’s connections to the generation of playwrights that followed in his wake.
ALL MY SONS
All My Sons by Arthur Miller, directed by Patrick Russell and presented by Role Players Ensemble, will be presented August 31, September 1, 7-8, 1415 at 8pm, and September 2, 9, 16 at 2pm at the Bonnie Dechant in All My Sons. Village Theatre, located at 233 Front St., Danville. Photo by John Carter.
See Festival continued on page 8
editor @ yourmonthlypaper.com
August 2018 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 5
THE DANVILLE THRIFT STATION CELEBRATES 45 YEARS OF GIVING By Jenise Falk, President, Friends of Discovery
12TH ANNUAL
Danville
In April 1973, president Marge Early and shop coordinator Barbara Gibson opened the doors of the Danville Thrift Station. This was the result of a vision and dedication by a small but mighty group of volunteers who were determined to make a difference in their community. The “Friends of Discovery” volunteer organization was founded in order to provide a consistent ANTIQUES & UPCYCLE MARKET funding source for the Discovery SEP 3, 2018 9-3 Counseling Center 205 RAILROAD AVE., DANVILLE (DCC) in Danville. Within the first two months, the group paid back a loan of 60 VENDOR BOOTHS $600 from Marge’s AUTHENTIC GOODS mother for first and last month’s STONEY RIDGE BLUEGRASS BAND rent of the building APPRAISAL CLINIC 11-2 and donated $500 ($10/ITEM DONATION TO MUSEUM) to DCC! This funding helped to hire one full-time At the 4th of July Parade. counselor and an administrative assistant. This was the humble beginnings of both the DCC and The Thrift Station. By the end of that first year, according to Marge, “We had moved our storage place to three different homes, opened the shop, staffed it each day, had held flea markets in the back of the Danville Hotel, and much to our surprise made $23,000!” PRESENTED BY Could those visionary women even imagine that by 2018, 45 years later, the Friends of Discovery would raise over $9.5 million in support of community mental health? The 45th anniversary of DCC kicked-off with a luncheon highlighted by a proclamation Vendor Applications Museum of the San Ramon Valley at CottageJewel.com by Mayor Newell Arnerich and the attendance of many past presidents and volunteers. The th celebration continued with participation in Danville’s 4 of July Parade. Volunteers and past presidents from the shop, National Charity League volunteers, and DCC executive director, Kathy Chiverton and other board members participated in the parade. Today, the Thrift Station continues to thrive at its current home in the Danville Crossroads Shopping Center. This vibrant organization, with 130 active volunteers, JOIN US FOR LUNCH! Alamo Rotary Club meets at runs the shop Monday-Saturday from 10-4PM. The shop relies on donations Round Hill Country Club and welcomes shoppers searching for “treasures” from toys and books, linens, 3169 Round Hill Road, Alamo
Relics on Railroad LABOR DAY
Rotary
Club of Alamo
See Thrift continued on page 23
12:15 p.m. on Wednesdays
TREATS FOR THE TROOPS
Charity group Delta Nu Psi has now sent 39,166 pounds of gourmet junk food in 1,594 boxes to American servicemen and women located in the War Zones! They have also sent over 6,000 drawings and cards from local middle school students. This is made possible by contributions from individuals in the Alamo and Danville communities. The group will be collecting donations at Lunardi’s in Danville on August th 10 . Collection hours are 11:30AM until 1:30PM. Please shop for the men and women serving the United States. To learn more and see photos of recipients receiving packages, visit www.deltanupsi.org. The Rotary Club of Alamo was founded on May 7, 1971 and has 50 members. The Club’s major on-going activities include: • Support for two RotaCare Free Medical Clinics that provide free health care in our community for uninsured and under-served adults with acute or chronic medical conditions. • Cash and volunteer time for Meals on Wheels. • Renovations at the Bay Area Crisis Nursery. • Renovations at the Choice in Aging Adult Health Day Care in Pleasant Hill. • Support for two Cub Scout packs. • Support for a water-harvesting project in Tanzania. • Contributions to the Rotary International End Polio campaign. • School dictionaries distribution to local third grade students. • Support for the Wheelchair Foundation. • Roadside cleanup and beautification in Alamo. • The Annual Easter Egg Hunt and Family Fun Day at Livorna Park. SPONSORED BY
Dana Wellington, Broker Associate Legacy Real Estate & Associates, (925) 785-6445 RotaryAds.indd 12
7/9/18 9:55 AM
SEEKING NOMINATIONS FOR ALAMO ROTARY CITIZEN OF THE YEAR
At the September 19th Rotary meeting, the 2018 Alamo Citizen of the Year will be honored. The Club has presenting this award since 1985. Noteworthy past recipients include radio personality Dr. Donald T. Rose, Andrew Young, Virgie Jones, Joan Buchanan, Mike Gibson, and most recently Alamo School principal, Stan Hitomi. At one time the criteria was that a nominee had to be an Alamo resident and had to have engaged in activities that directly benefited the residents of Alamo. Recognizing that there are residents of Alamo who are committed to making a difference in our world both domestically and internationally, the Alamo Rotary club recently changed the criteria to also include these folks. The club is seeking nominations from Alamo residents for this honor. All nominations must be received by Friday, September 14. To obtain a nomination form, call Dick Olsen at 925-855-1598 or send an email to dickolsen@att.net. The club believes that there are many Alamo residents who unselfishly give of their time and energy to do good works for all. In many cases they also toil in anonymity. Please help the Rotary publicly recognize someone who stands above all others and honor them on September 19th .
PAGE 6 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • August 2018
ROTARY CLUB OF ALAMO PRESENTS COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD
www.yourmonthlypaper.com
BACK-TO-SCHOOL Bring in this coupon to get a FREE upgrade to safety lenses on your child’s first pair of glasses. AND 25% off their second pair of glasses
The Rotary Club of Alamo recently presented the “Service above Self ” award to Contra Costa County Deputy Sheriff Jesus Topete for his outstanding service to the Alamo community. Deputy Topete serves as the Alamo Resident Deputy in * the Patrol Division. In presenting the award, Diane Barley, club and vocational service director, said the Rotary Club of Alamo established the Community Service Award to honor the community’s first responders and others who exemplify Rotary Internationals motto of “Service Above Self.” “Jesus Topete was selected to receive this award because of Valid through 9-30-18 his exceptionally active role in Alamo. He (*Some restrictions apply. Cannot combine with insurance or other discounts.) wears many different hats including serving as the school resource officer for Alamo’s elementary schools, Alamo special events coordinator, and detective for local crimes that include solving residential burglaries, armed robberies, and carjackings. He has authored search and arrest warrants and assisted in dozens of felony criminal investigations. Deputy Topete also serves as the field-training officer for new deputies assigned to patrol duties.” In addition, he conducts research and develops proposals for the County’s first responders equipment to include the training and deployment of Quik Clot bandages that may help save lives in emergencies. Deputy Topete is the volunteer coordinator and works with approximately 20 Sheriff Volunteers in keeping the doors of the Alamo Valley Station open to the public, as well as managing several volunteer patrol programs. According to Sheriff’s Lt. Jason Haynes, “Deputy Topete is very well-known in the Alamo community, and everyone that knows him can easily see his motivations are pure. He wears his uniform with pride and sets an example for others in law enforcement to follow.” Deputy Topete joined the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff in July 2001 and has served with that office in law enforcement for over 17 years. He was initially assigned to the Martinez Detention Facility, where he had the opportunity to work as a line deputy before being accepted into the Transportation Unit where he spent about one-year transporting inmates in-county to other counties and to several of California’s prison facilities. He was then accepted into the much sought after Martinez Detention Facility Classification Unit where he worked for over two years identifying and housing gang members, special needs inmates, and work detail inmates. He was very involved with several important detention-based investigations that resulted in the identification of criminal behavior occurring inside the jail system and the recovery of weapons, drugs, and other contraband. Deputy Topete transferred to the Patrol Division in 2005 and worked primarily on the west end of the County where he served as a patrol deputy and then as a Resident Deputy. He became a Field Training Officer while serving out of the Bay Station and then transferred over to the Alamo Valley Station in February 2014, serving as the Alamo Resident Deputy. The Rotary Club of Alamo was founded on May 7, 1971, and has 50 members. The Club supports various programs at Alamo and Rancho Romero Elementary Schools, Lucille Mauzy School, Stone Sheriff’s Deputy Jesus Topete R: Alamo Rotary Club Service Director Diane Barley. Valley Middle School, Monte Vista and San Ramon High Schools; provides dictionaries to third grade students; sponsors two free medical clinics for uninsured and underserved adults with acute or chronic medical conditions, and participates in other community and international projects. The Club meets on Wednesdays at 12:15pm at Round Hill Country Club.
Poplar Spectacles Optometry 215 Alamo Plaza Suite D | Alamo, CA 94507 925.202.2846|poplarspecs.com
TRAINS ARE RUNNING AT THE MUSEUM OF THE SAN RAMON VALLEY THROUGH AUGUST 26
The museum’s summer exhibit Totally Trains will be running until August 26. This is always one of the most popular exhibits for young and old visitors alike. Children will have the opportunity to be a fireman on a train, loading coal into the boiler of a steam locomotive. They can grab a shovel and dig into the coal bin and toss the coal into the boiler! This is a great photo opportunity for parents. This year’s layout will showcase several new scale models of buildings in the Valley. These new additions join a number of “scratch built” structures created for the layout and donated to the Museum over the years. The total collection of these buildings represent structures, most of which were found along the tracks in Alamo, Danville, San Ramon, and all the way to Dublin. Don’t miss the model of Elliott's bar. The main layout of the exhibit has two elevations with four running trains, scenery, bridges, a trestle, tunnel and a village with a replica of the Museum, the former Southern Pacific Depot. A secondary layout features a number of working accessories. On display are items from three private collections of model trains dating from the early to mid-1900s. They include Lionel, American Flyer Standard gauge, and Marx O gauge. Totally Trains is a fun way to spend a summer day for children, adults, and the entire family. Be sure to purchase your Family Pass for $15 which gives your family unlimited visits to this exhibit!! Totally Trains will be open and running until August 26 with special train hours: Tuesday through Saturday – 10AM to 1PM, Sunday – 12PM to 3PM, and closed Mondays. The Museum of the San Ramon Valley is located in the restored train depot on the corner of Railroad and Prospect Avenues in downtown Danville. For more information call 925-837-3750 or visit www.musemsrv.org.
editor @ yourmonthlypaper.com
August 2018 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 7
Celeste Pacelli Proudly Presents 331 Corrie Place, Alamo
564 El Pintado Road, Danville
New Price
5 beds | 5.5 baths including guest house | approx. 5600 sq. ft.,
5 beds | 5 full and 2 half baths | approx. 6500 sq. ft., | .50 acre lot
Spectacular Views! Luxurious gated estate, Black bottom saltwater pool, wine tasting room, vineyard and bocce court. 564ElPintado.com | $3,449,000
Stunning estate built in 2014. Outdoor pavilion with fireplace. Endless pool and spa. 331CorriePlace.com | $3,695,000
197 Plaza Circle, Danville
242 La Questa Drive, Danville
New Price
5 beds | 4.5 baths | approx. 3800 sq. ft.
Heart of Danville! Exquisite home. Outdoor oasis with covered cabana, pool and spa. 242LaQuesta.com | $2,595,000
New construction in one of Danville’s most popular neighborhoods. Great location! $1,895,000
6 Tyler Court, Danville
Pending – Multiple Offers!
1700 Reliez Valley Road, Lafayette
5 beds | 4.5 baths | approx. 5300 sq. ft.,
Pending – Multiple Offers!
5 beds | 4.5 baths | approx. 4200+ sq. ft.,
6 beds | 6.5 baths including guest house | approx. 6100 sq. ft.
Gorgeous home built in 2015! Large, level lot with room for pool and more. 3 car garage. 6TylerCourt.com | $1,895,000
Newly built exquisite estate. Home theater, sparkling pool and spa, 4 car garage. Magnificent views! 1700ReliezValley.com | $3,895,000
Celeste Pacelli See Celeste’s 51 client reviews on Zillow.com To receive Up-To-Date Market Analysis Reports, email me today.
925.395.1511 celeste@celestepacelli.com Lic 01862387 celestepacelli.com
www.yourmonthlypaper.com
PAGE 8 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • August 2018
ALAMO ELEMENTARY
Festival continued from page 4
Each member of the Keller family holds one piece of the secret about the wartime disappearance of the oldest son. A series of revelations changes the It is just a few weeks before we return to school, Kellers forever. All My Sons was Arthur Miller’s first major success. and preparations for the new school year are well underway. A major part of these preparations fall upon HUGHIE Hughie by O’Neill will the shoulders of our PTA and EdFund. We are fortunate to have strong leadership for both organizations in run September 21-22, 27pm 2018-19 with Kristin Bush returning as PTA President 29 at 8 and September pm and Christina Heil and Crissi Armstrong returning 23, 30 at 2 at the Old Barn, as Co-Presidents of the Alamo Education Fund. Both Eugene O’Neill National parent organizations have recruited a talented executive committee and will Historic Site. In the desperate hours work closely with their leaders to provide Alamo School with another year of of the night, two lonely exceptional support from their respective organizations. A peek “behind the curtain” during the summer would reveal a small army strangers try to make sense of volunteers organizing activities, recruiting volunteers, updating forms, and of their lives. In a fresh take (Hughie. Left to right) Aaron Murphy, Dorian Lockett, working on web pages. The PTA and EdFund work closely with Gayle Hughey on the play, director Eric Clive Worsley. Photo by John Carter. (office manager) and Janice Hildreth (office assistant) to make certain we are Fraisher Hayes brings to life the thoughts of one of the characters, expressed in ready for the return of our families for walk-through registration on August 8th O’Neill’s stage directions, giving the audience a new appreciation of O’Neill the from 9AM – noon and 5PM – 7PM. This year our “new family” orientation will be dramatist and humorist. on the same day, August 8th from 7:15PM – 8PM in the library. The meeting will Hughie was written at Tao House in 1941 and first produced on Broadway include an overview of school policies and procedures, as well as a welcome in 1964. Hughie played a critical role in saving Tao House from destruction and by the PTA and EdFund. replacement by a high-density residential development, as Jason Robards and I would like to remind our families that they must complete an annual update Jack Dodson performed Hughie in the Bay Area as a benefit in that cause. Today of family information (online) and download/complete registration forms prior theater-goers attending evening performances can see the light from O’Neill’s to coming to our walk-through registration. A complete explanation of the study, where he wrote his late masterpieces, after receiving the Nobel Prize for start-of-the-year process can be found on the Alamo School website at www.aes. Literature as well as three Pulitzer Prizes. srvusd.net. Look for a “quick link” on the homepage to Registration. Here you CONCERT will find complete information on the annual update, volunteer management Irish music comes to Danville to celebrate the inaugural Festival, and in tribute system, and walk-through registration. I hope our entire Alamo School Community is able to enjoy these final days to Ireland’s beloved national composer,thTurlough O’Carolan. O’Carolan, a blind of summer. The 2018-2019 school year is shaping up to be an exciting year. I harpist, composer, and singer of the 17 century, interwove European structural See Festival continued on page 11 look forward to seeing everyone on August 8th as we begin the journey!
By Stan Hitomi, Principal
editor @ yourmonthlypaper.com
August 2018 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 9
MONTE VISTA HIGH SCHOOL
By Dr. Kevin Ahern, Principal
Things are gradually speeding up on the Monte Vista (MV) campus after what felt like a very brief summer break to many of us. Things never really came to a stop at MV over the past few weeks as we have hosted numerous camps and activities which encapsulate Monte Vista’s many athletics and arts programs as well as our SRVEF’s technology programs. It is a great feeling to come onto campus after a break and see our students pursuing their passions in their free time. In the two weeks before school starts, we will see a steady stream of students returning to campus for a variety of reasons including athletics, marching band, freshman orientation, leadership, and numerous other activities. The MV Leadership Team looked forward to SRVUSD’s annual administrator retreat which was held on July 27th. This event was a great opportunity to get refocused on our district-wide initiatives as well as hear about successful practices from other schools in our district. This year, we followed the retreat with the “Better Together” conference at Saint Mary’s College which was keynoted by Sir Ken Robinson, a very respected and accomplished speaker and advisor in education. The conference allowed us to not only hear excellent commentary on where education is headed internationally, but to connect or re-connect with colleagues across the region as well as on the SMC faculty. With the first day of school looming, Monte Vista’s office reopened on July 23rd, and counselors returned on July 30th. On August 7th, MV’s upper classmen will meet to prepare for Freshman Orientation which will be held on August 9th. Our annual Stampede Day will be held on Wednesday, August 8th in the main gym. As in the past, students and parents will have the opportunity to pick up school related materials, buy spirit wear, and make donations to a variety of booster organizations. Monte Vista’s athletic programs are also set for an early start with MV Football having started practice on July 30th and playing three games in August. Volleyball will starts on August 5th with the remaining programs starting on August 13th. We look forward to another great fall campaign. Monte Vista will welcome several new faculty members this year including science teachers, Cynthia Sevin and Dan Perez; social science teacher, Anastasia Chrzanowski; art teacher, Annemarie McElhatton; math teachers, Simerjit Kaur and Shalini Dass; and Japanese teacher, Noriko Nishimoto. There are a few more positions pending, so we look forward to welcoming a few more new faculty members before the onset of the school year. There is a lot of work on the Monte Vista campus that has been completed this summer – mostly painting, cleaning, and landscaping work – and the campus is looking great. Hats off to our site custodial and district maintenance crews for their hard work in making our campus look so amazing. The first day of school is August 13th, and we are looking forward to another amazing year at Monte Vista.
SAN RAMON VALLEY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
By Jamie Westgate, Principal
A school just isn’t a school when the kids are missing! SRVCA has been a quiet place without all the students, and I am eager to have them back. Our theme for the 2018-2019 school year will be “Love. Learn. Lead.” We will be focusing on Philippians 1:9-10 which is reflective of the heart of our program at SRVCA: “And this is my prayer, that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ.” Here at SRVCA, students are reminded that they have been created by God with a plan and purpose in mind. He has gifted each one with unique qualities and presented him/her with responsibilities to share God’s goodness to those around us. I look forward to the ongoing reminder this theme will bring to our campus as we strive to love God and others while at the same time allow students to explore their individual giftedness that will set each one up for leadership potential. I am overjoyed to work closely with our staff members at SRVCA. New and returning, these individuals are deeply committed to serving the needs of our students and their families. It is important that our kids are well equipped for their futures, and the building blocks in elementary school and middle school are essential to every child’s foundation. We are pleased and encouraged that God called such capable teachers to play such a valuable role in the lives of our students. For decades, SRVCA has maintained dual accreditation through ACSI (Association of Christian Schools International) as well as WASC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges) and boasts impressive standardized testing results through our annual spring assessments. Though I am very proud of our students for their academic achievement, I am most proud of the character I see developed in each one. Our teachers have excellent classroom management practices, and students are trained to respect instructional time while knowing how to have fun at recess. We use chapel time, Bible classes, and everyday learning opportunities to remind students of our responsibility to discern what is best according to His Word and use it as a blessing to those around us. It has been a tremendous blessing to share my days with a wonderful school community, and I look forward to seeing you all for the new school year. In the meantime, enjoy those trips to our beautiful local parks, the lazy days at the pool, and some quality memory-making opportunities with families and friends.
ST. ISIDORE SCHOOL
By Maria Ward, Principal
We hope your summer has been a memorable one. This year, our school theme is “Walking Together in Faith.” Our religion committee worked on the theme, and we are excited to share it. Our school office will open on Wednesday, August 1st, and our students will be starting school on Tuesday, August 21st. We look forward to welcoming every one of them to this fantastic new school year. We have a few new staff members who we are excited to welcome this year to our amazing school. Our Gospel Value in August is Hospitality, and we strive to make our campus a loving and kind environment not only for our students but for our faculty as well. On Friday, August 24th, we will have our first back-toschool Mass, led by our Student Leadership team. We invite everyone to join us. On Friday evening, we will have our back-to-school Barbecue. We enjoy getting to know our community at a family-friendly event as soon as we can. It is a good time for everyone. We have the best teachers! Many of our teachers have completed professional development classes on their own time this summer. Their drive for continuous improvement in their craft of teaching shows the dedication of our faculty and staff, and how much we care for our students. It is vital that we stay ahead of the curve of the always moving academic pendulum. Thank you, teachers, for your commitment. We are blessed to have you. Our classroom remodel is complete! We are looking forward to the unveiling of our new 1st, 2nd, 7th, and 8th grade classrooms. The rooms will now match our 3rd through 6th grade classrooms, which we updated last summer. We redesigned the spaces for the 21st century learner. This included new and improved ceilings, new floors, new lighting, and new configuration. Our students and teachers cannot wait to get into their upgraded space. We also completed the renovation of the front of the school by adding landscaping and benches. We were able to do this with the proceeds from our “Fun Run,” which was led by our Student Leadership Team. We still have a few openings for the 2018–2019 school year. We are one of the few double Catholic schools in the Oakland Diocese with over 640 amazing students. We instill in our students the value of service and living by the Gospel values. St. Isidore School is a community of remarkable teachers, staff, students, and parents who work together to create success in each child’s life. We believe in the development of the whole child, bringing out the best in every student. If you have any questions about enrollment or would like to take a tour, please call us at (925) 837-2977. We look forward to welcoming you to our school.
PAGE 10 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • August 2018
WAYS YOU CAN HELP THE HOMELESS
By Supervisor Candace Andersen
Have you ever walked by a homeless person and wondered if giving them cash was the right thing to do? Well, there is a better way for you to use that cash to help end homelessness. The Contra Costa County Health, Housing and Homeless Division (H3) has created a Housing Security Fund: a way for you to donate money, get a tax deduction, and help end homelessness in our County. Your donation will help cover costs to allow seniors, veterans, and families to get back into housing and protect participating property owners who offer these screened renters an opportunity. For more information or to donate, visit www.cchealth.org/h3/hsf/. In January of each year, H3 performs a Point-in-Time-Count to get a snapshot on the number of homeless individuals in our county on any given night. This year’s Point-In-Time-Count revealed there were 2,234 identified individuals who were experiencing homelessness. In contrast, last year’s Point-In-Time-Count revealed 1,607 identified individuals. This year’s count saw an 88% increase in seniors age 62 years and older. While we have emergency shelters, their capacity only meets 30% of the need in Contra Costa County. To solve the issue of homelessness, we need 30,939 more affordable rental homes available to low and very low income residents. For housing needs data reports, visit www.cchealth.org/h3/coc/reports.php#simpleContained5. If you are losing your housing, experiencing homelessness, or know someone who is or see someone who appears to be homeless, please call 211 or text 898-211. Another option is to walk into one of our Coordinated Assessment Referral and Engagement (CARE) Centers located in Concord, San Pablo, and Walnut Creek. The CARE Centers are part of the County’s Coordinated Entry System. The purpose of a Coordinated Entry System is to ensure that all people experiencing a housing crisis have easy access to available resources. Clients are quickly identified, assessed, and connected to available homeless services and long-term housing. Coordinated Entry uses evidence-informed tools and standardizes practices, incorporates a system-wide Housing First (no barriers to entry) approach, and prioritizes limited resources for the most vulnerable. For more information, visit www.cchealth.org/h3/#simple9. There are benefits of our Coordinated Entry system: limited resources are prioritized for the most vulnerable; assessments for all participating programs happen at one time, eliminating the need for clients to contact multiple programs individually; targeted referrals to available housing and services that best meet the need of the client reduce wasted time and effort; the program clearly communicates what housing and services are available in the community; there is documentation of the needs for different types of housing and services, facilitating the ability to advocate for more resources. The Coordinated Entry System is designed to serve individuals and families in Contra Costa County who are experiencing a housing crisis including those who are: • Unsheltered (e.g., living outside, in a car, on the streets, or in an encampment), • Sheltered (e.g., in emergency shelter or transitional housing), or • At imminent risk of homelessness (e.g., at risk of losing housing within the next two weeks). Another way to help is by volunteering. The following is a list of volunteer opportunities with the Contra Costa Council on Homelessness. Some of the opportunities are available throughout the year, and others are specific to the fall and winter holidays. • Contra Costa Interfaith Housing- Tutoring youth in afterschool programs. Email Gloria@ccinterfaithhousing.org or call 925-448-2004. • Loaves and Fishes - Help serve meals in Martinez and Pittsburg dining rooms. Monday through Friday, 9:30am to 1: 15pm. Email eleanor@loavesfishescc.org, or call 925-293-4792. • Monument Crisis Center - Volunteer in Food Distribution Program. November. Email Volunteer@monumentcrisiscenter.org. • Trinity Center - Evening Program volunteers including cooks, van drivers, floor monitors, weekend breakfast/lunch bags. December 4th through March 31st. Pam McGrath, pamm@trinitycenterwc.org. • Trinity Center - Thanksgiving food prep and serving. November 23rd. Carol Lombard, 925-949-8712 or email carol@trinitycenterwc.org. Visit Contra Costa Health Services at www.cchealth.org/h3/#simple4 for more opportunities to volunteer. 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, (925) 957-8860, or www.cccounty/district2.
www.yourmonthlypaper.com
PERFECT SANGRIA By Monica Chappell
During the final months of summer with the mercury still rising, there is nothing more refreshing then a pitcher of sangria. For most people, however, the word “sangria” brings to mind a blend of bargain wine, cheap spirits, and soggy fruit. This classic Spanish red wine punch has been through some hard times, but making outstanding sangria is simple, and the combinations are endless and delicious. Traditionally, the punch, which gets its name from the Spanish word sangre, meaning blood, is made by infusing red wine with a splash of brandy and fresh fruit then serving it over lots of ice. The Spanish brought the centuries-old recipe to the 1964 World’s Fair in New York. Today you can create your own version of this uncomplicated summer drink by mixing red, white, sparkling, or rosé wine with quality spirits, exotic fruits, and aromatics for a sangria you can be proud to serve. Tips for the Perfect Sangria. You can follow the basic formula or create your own twist on the classic recipe; either way, the goal is to create a flavor-forward concoction with just the perfect balance of fruit and acidity. Pick Your Wine Carefully. The sangria formula is a simple one. For a classic red sangria, use a Tempranillo wine from Spain. Pinot Noir is also a good choice. Either way, make sure the wine is not too tannic. For white sangria, try a crisp, dry white wine like an unoaked Chardonnay or Pinot Grigio. For a spritzy sangria, use a sparkling Spanish cava. Keep in mind that the heavier the wine, the heavier the sangria will be on the palate -- and likely, the less refreshing. Look for Market-Fresh Seasonal Fruits. There is no set rule about which fruits to use. Don’t be afraid to experiment because part of the fun is choosing the best mix of what’s fresh and what goes best with the wine and any food you’re serving. Look for mangoes, pineapples, peaches, strawberries, and at least one citrus fruit for some zip. Select a Sweetener. In addition to wine and fresh fruit, some recipes call for a sweetener such as honey, orange juice, and sometimes a small amount of added brandy, triple sec, or other spirit. Another way to go is to make a simple syrup by dissolving 1-part sugar in 1-part simmering water. Cool completely before adding to the sangria. Let the Sangria Hang-Out. The key to a sensational sangria is to let it sit overnight, refrigerated, so that the flavors meld. If sangria is made right before it’s served, the flavor of the fruit will be distinct from the flavor of the wine. By steeping the fruit in the wine overnight, an okay sangria becomes an excellent one. A well-made sangria is a perfect summertime pick me up so raise a glass to sunny days and picture-perfect nights with a sip of something cool and refreshing. Monica Chappell is a wine writer and educator based in the Easy Bay – wineappreciation101@gmail.com.
FAMILY HISTORY CENTER
For almost two decades The Danville Family History Center has been serving the community. Everyone is welcome during library hours to use the resources available. There is a friendly and experienced staff who volunteer to help you to utilize the materials, including the Family Search web portal to over a dozen subscription-based genealogical research services, such as Ancestry.com. In addition, you may order online and have films or microfiche shipped from the main Salt Lake Library for viewing in our center. We are located inside the LDS building at 2949 Stone Valley Road. Enter the left side of the building. Hours are Monday 1-4pm, Tuesday 7-9pm, and Wednesday 10-4pm and 7-9pm. For questions, call 925-552-5920.
VETERANS MEMORIAL BUILDING OF SAN RAMON VALLEY
The Veterans Memorial Building of San Ramon Valley, located at 400 Hartz Avenue in Danville, offers a Historic Military Museum & Library as well as a Veteran Resource Center. The Museum & Library is open Monday through Friday from 9AM to 3PM. Every Saturday from 8AM to 11AM a Veteran Coffee and Pastry social is held. To access resources for Veterans, you can connect with a County Veteran Service Officer every Wednesday from 10AM to 2PM. For an appointment, call 925-313-1481. To learn more about the Veteran’s facility and programs, visit www.vmbsrv. org or email info@vmbsrv.org.
editor @ yourmonthlypaper.com
August 2018 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 11
VALLEY VIGNETTES
By Beverly Lane DANVILLE – THE HEART OF THE VALLEY
Picture the early settlers sitting down after a long day and a hearty dinner, talking over a cup of coffee. They discuss the way the area is changing and growing. In addition to a blacksmith shop, there is a boarding house and general store along the county road. San Ramon Creek is not far away. People were saying the community needed a name. In this hypothetical coffee-klatch, Daniel and Andrew Inman would have been talking, along with grandma Sarah Young, Andrew’s mother-in-law. Perhaps some others were there, too. The community to the south had been called Brevensville for a period, after a local blacksmith. “How about Inmanville?”, someone proposed. Both brothers rejected that name. Young had another suggestion: “Danville,” after her home town, Danville, Kentucky. Danville, it would be. The Inman brother were a gold rush success story. Like many other young men from the Midwest, in 1849 they came to California to make their fortune in the gold fields. Daniel was 21 years old. The brothers had been raised on an Illinois farm where Daniel had been trained as a cooper. With their earnings, they had run a boarding house in Sacramento which was flooded out. Andrew then settled on a farm in the Green Valley in 1852. Daniel traveled in and out of the valley, doing well Daniel Inman at hydraulic mining in El Dorado County. Finally, in 1858, Daniel returned to the valley for good and bought 400 acres of land around the county road and San Ramon Creek. According to a letter he wrote for the Danville Sentinel in July of 1898: “In March of the following year (1858) I came into the valley once more -- this time for good -- and purchased a farm where Danville is now located, of a man named Pigmore. I went to farming and seeded the lands with wheat that winter.” “In the summer of 1859 a man named Davis came along and wanted to start a blacksmith shop where the one now stands (Close’s) and I gave him permission to do so. He sold out that winter to Jim Johnson, now deceased. Johnson soon after sold to Simon Whitmore. Then a man named Long started a wheelwright shop. About the same time H.W. Harris started a hotel, and Wolff & Cohen a store. Then the people of the valley wanted a post office.” In 1860, a new post office was established with the name Danville. H. W. Harris, who owned what he now called the Danville Hotel (new name), became the first postmaster. It was located at the corner of Front Street and Tassajara Road (now Diablo Road). Danville’s Front Street looking north, c. 1910 In 1863 Daniel married Josephine Jones, a daughter of one of Alamo’s pioneer couples. During the Civil War, the Inmans took the south’s side during a time of local acrimony. Daniel ran as the Democratic candidate for Sheriff and received half the votes of his opponent in 1863. When one of their good friends, William Mendenhall, founded Livermore in 1865, they moved to the new community. In Alameda County, Daniel and Josephine became community leaders. He and Josephine helped found the Presbyterian Church in Livermore. Daniel served as County Supervisor from 1867-68, was elected to the State Assembly in 1869, served as the first Livermore Grange Worthy Master, and was an elected representative to the convention which revised the original California Constitution in 1878-79. He also served as the president and manager of the State Granger’s Association and store in San Francisco. An advocate for the railroad and for reasonable rail rates for farmers, he was known for his integrity. When Inman died in 1908 at 81, he was the father of seven children and well-known and honored in Livermore and the valley. A school and a street in that community were named after him. As a young man in Danville and a leader in Livermore, Daniel Inman left his mark on both valleys in the nineteenth century. Sources: J.M. Guinn’ History of the State of California and Biographical Records of Coast Counties, Danville Sentinel, January 1898. Photograph: Museum of the San Ramon Valley.
Festival continued from page 8
influences with haunting Irish melodies. Turlough O’Carolan: Ireland’s National Composer in Music and Song featuring David Creevy, classical guitarist/ composer and Melanie O’Reilly, singer/composer will be presented Thursday, September 20, 8pm at the Village Theatre, located at 233 Front St., in Danville.
HILLS OF SOLACE HIKE TO TAO HOUSE
On Sunday, September 9, 9am, meet on Front Street, across from Danville Public Library, and enjoy a free hike from Eugene O’Neill Commemorative Park, along the level Iron Horse Trail and a moderate climb through the beautiful Las Trampas hills, to the Eugene O’Neill National Historic Site. Organized and led by the National Park Service (NPS), East Bay Regional Park District, and Eugene O’Neill Foundation, the hike is 3.1 miles one way and will take 1 ½ to 2 hours. Once you reach the top, take some time to look around and soak up the natural beauty and serenity of the site, guided by a naturalist. You can bring a brown-bag lunch and picnic under the trees. Following the hike you can tour Tao House and stand in O’Neill’s study, where he found the tranquility to write his greatest plays. Serving Alamo & Danville Since Catch the NPS shuttle for your return to the downtown Museum of the San Ramon Valley, or extend your adventure by hiking down by the same route. Advance registration is recommended EONF Park Trail. Photo by C. Jarrett. th by Tuesday, September 4 at www/eugeneoneill.org/event/sign-up-for-hills-ofsolace-hike-to-tao-house.
ACTION POOL REPAIR
SECRETS OF O’NEILL’S DANVILLE DOWNTOWN HISTORY WALK
On Saturday, September 22 at 2pm, meet on Front Street, across from Danville Public Library and join Beverly Lane, past president of the Eugene O’Neill Foundation and former mayor of Danville, for a free walking tour, starting at the O’Neill Commemorative Park which features a display on the Tao House work
See Festival cont. on page 25
925.820.3640 www.actionpoolrepair.com
Contractor Lic# 978033-C53
www.yourmonthlypaper.com
PAGE 12 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • August 2018
AAUW SCHOLARSHIP AWARD RECIPIENTS
The Alamo-Danville-Walnut Creek branch of American Association of University Women (AAUW) presented five $2,000 scholarships, in support of continuing education, at its annual executive board installation in June 2018. Recipients of the AAUW scholarship were chosen for their education goals, scholastic achievement, community involvement, and merit of application. The five recipients were: Kassi Mettler, is a senior at Colgate University majoring in International Relations with a goal of entering law school is a 2015 Northgate High School graduate. Rebecca Mickelson graduated from BYU in Exercise Science. She is continuing to study Physical Therapy at Rocky Mt. University of Health Professionals. Rebecca is a 2012 Monte Vista graduate. Natalie Oberhausen-Lim is currently in medical school at UCSD. Her field of interest is pediatric specialty; cardiology, neurology and surgery as a sub specialty. She was a medical volunteer in Uganda in 2015. Natalie was the recipient of the Jane Trittipo Memorial scholarship and is a 2012 CAL High graduate. Dana Outcult is a 2018 graduate of Ohio State University with a major in Anthropology. Dana Left to right, Natalie Oberhausen-Lim, Dana Outcult, Lisa Robertson, is enrolled at University of Cambridge next Fall. Her area of interest is museum curator of social and Kassi Mettler. Rebecca Mickelson was unable to attend. anthropology. Dana graduated from Monte Vista High School in 2014. Lisa Robertson graduated with a BA in Economics from U C Berkeley. She is currently working on her MBA at St. Mary's College. She is employed at PG & E in Land Management. Lisa graduated from Miramonte in 2003. These scholarships are funded by AAUW’s annual Holiday Home Tour which is held each December.
GOLDEN CRANE SENIOR CENTER
No “digging” is needed to strike “gold” at the Golden Crane Senior Center (GCSC)! The mission of the Center is to promote physical and mental well-being through programs and social activities for those aged 50+ years old. On Mondays and Tuesdays, group learning and enjoyment of physical and mental abilities stimulate personal growth. Activities include Tai Chi, tap dance, line dance, karaoke, hiking, camera club, chorus, yoga stretch, Chinese brush painting, calligraphy, soft pastel, Chinese cooking class, Mah-Jong, Yuan-Ji dance, walking, and aerobic exercise. GCSC celebrates members’ birthdays, organizes picnics and day trips, and observes Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and Chinese holidays. Members may volunteer and participate in charitable, educational, and community service activities. All activities are open to members for an annual $50 member fee. Classes and activities are held at the Alamo Women’s Club, located at 1401 Danville Boulevard in Alamo. For more information, contact Wendy Lee, 925-7186222. A complete class and activity schedule is posted at www.goldencrane.org.
SEARCH AND RESCUE
The Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team needs volunteer members to respond to missing person incidents, disasters, and other critical incidents. Team members are on call 24/7 year-round. The program provides required training; including wilderness traveling, first aid, map and compass usage, tracking disaster response, and search skills; and may also include special training for canine, equestrian, technical, mountain bike, or other rescue skills. For information and applications, visit www.contracostasar. org or call (925) 646-4461.
www.yourmonthlypaper.com
editor @ yourmonthlypaper.com
August 2018 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 13
Pianos continued from front page
DANVILLE POLICE OFFER ‘EXCHANGE’ ZONE
A Town press-release notes, “San Ramon Valley High School students Residents who purchase items via online services such as Craigslist now have a Lauren Torchiana and Katherine Gilen brought the idea of street pianos to designated neutral ‘Exchange Zone’ in the upper parking lot of the Danville Town the Town’s Recreation, Arts, & Community Services Department last fall. offices to conduct their business. Signage has been installed, and the Danville Police Lauren had just experienced an outdoor piano in Coronado, CA while Department has designated parking spaces at the Town of Danville offices, 510 La on a family vacation, and she loved the sense of spontaneous community Gonda Way, for residents to conduct transactions in a constantly video-recorded space. that the pianos created. Her cousin, Katherine, had inspired her to play With proximity to police headquarters and video recording, the goal is to have an piano when she was younger, and together they wondered if they could atmosphere of safety and assurance for would-be buyers while dissuading criminals from bring some of these brightly painted instruments to their hometown. using online merchandising for criminal purposes. To learn more about the safe zone, contact Sargent Ron Hoekwater at (925) Lauren and Katherine invited their long-time friend, Grace McClure, 314-3700 or rhoekwater@danville.ca.gov. to collaborate on the project. An accomplished artist and student at Monte Vista High School, Grace jumped at the chance to participate and provided considerable artistic talent to the design and painting of the pianos.” On a perfect, sultry, Saturday evening while strolling down East Prospect, my husband and I were treated to an amazing impromptu concert. The man who played the piano, an obviously accomplished player, was in his own world, but one he was sharing for all who listened. The piece was captivating. When we applauded at the end and shared our appreciation he said, “I wrote it (the piece) for her (the woman sitting next to him).” It couldn’t have been more perfect, and the pianos captured just what they were intended to do. The pianos will be in place until September. Serving the Bay Area with honesty and integrity since 1973 For more information on the street 2395 Monument Blvd., Suite J 3191-J Crow Canyon Pl pianos, contact Christian Mejia, Performing Concord San Ramon Arts Coordinator for the Town of Danville at Carpets, Hardwood, Laminate & Stone (925) 680-4433 (925) 866-2200 Since 1973 www.MacFloor.com • info@macfloor.com (925) 314-3418 or cmejia@danville.ca.gov. (Across from Costco Gas Station, next to Harvest House)
Senior Relocation Specialist Sold
1 Dogwood Court, San Ramon Sold 7/3/18 | $590,000
Sold
9 Dogwood Court, San Ramon Sold 5/4/18 | $664,000
Don also sells Rossmoor
9115 Fircrest Lane, San Ramon Sold 7/15/18 | $704,000
Sold
Sold
9121 Tangerine Street, San Ramon Sold 7/13/18 | $575,000
Sold
115 Dogwood Place, San Ramon Sold 7/24/18 | $685,000
Don Magalhaes 925.786.1855 don@compass.com DRE 00897221
Compass is a licensed real estate broker and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdraw without notice. No statement is made as to accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footages are approximate. Exact dimensions can be obtained by retaining the services of an architect or engineer. This is not intended to solicit property already listed.
www.yourmonthlypaper.com
PAGE 14 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • August 2018
MULTI-GENERATIONAL TRAVEL
BARGE CRUISING THE CANALS OF BURGUNDY & REL A XING ON THE FRENCH RIVIERA By Mike Mullery, Alamo World Travel
Many cruisers like the large and the “mega” ships, but more and more people are moving in the opposite direction and discovering small ship cruising. We recently combined barge cruising and multi-generational travel with ten people encompassing three generations. The barges are much smaller than the ships used on river cruises, so they can navigate the smaller canals and their smaller locks. They can also be chartered for groups as small as 6-8. We truly enjoyed the laid-back lifestyle: watching the beautiful scenery, lazing on deck, riding bikes on shore, visiting small towns not overrun with tourists, and experiencing the locks. We started out on the Saone and then cruised the Central canal, enjoying dining in smalltown French restaurants ranging from the simple and charming to a three-star Michelin restaurant in Chagny. We enjoyed the local wines and went wine tasting. We visited a great winery located in an immense wine cave in Beaune. We were sad to end our barge journey but had a great follow up by spending three nights at a Signature Travel Network Hotel in Antibes on the French Riviera. Hotel Juana is a great hotel with daily complimentary sunbeds and umbrellas located on a private beach. The city was beautiful, the beaches were incredible, and very good dining was to be found. We would love to barge again. There are many destina-
QUICK TRIPS
By Linda Summers Pirkle
Were you bitten by the British fever bug? Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding was a wonderful diversion this past season. The beautiful bride and handsome Harry were the stars, and the runner up was the royal family’s favorite accessory: The Hat. Turban style, head hugging caps, bucket style, wide brim, with fringe, veils, flowers, bows, feathers and in every color, hats and fascinators are a distinctly British wearable art form and were stylishly on display at the recent nuptials. If your travels bring you to London this fall, and you are interested in another form of wearable art, consider visiting the Victoria and Albert Museum to see Frida Kahlo, Making Her Self Up. This exhibition presents an extraordinary collection of personal artifacts and clothing belonging to Mexican artist Frida Kahlo (1907-1954). The collection has never been exhibited outside Mexico City. Kahlo is known for her brightly colored Mexican Tehuana dress, her fierce love for her husband Diego Rivera, thought provoking art, and yes, her unibrow. The exhibit runs through November 4, 2018. Closer to home, The World of Frida at the Bedford Gallery in Walnut Creek recently opened. The exhibition according to their press brochure “celebrates the culture, style, and persona of visionary painter Frida Kahlo, an artist who continues to inspire with her story of love, adventure, and pain. The World of Frida weaves juried and invitational shows that reference the artist with a national, traveling photography exhibit titled Frida Kahlo, Through the Lens of Nickolas Muray, making a stop in Walnut Creek after traveling across North America. Hungarian born Muray, who met Kahlo in a chance encounter in Mexico in 1931 and became her lover and friend, shot some of the most iconic color and black and white images of the artist that exists.” Carrie Lederer, Curator of Exhibitions and Programs at the Bedford Gallery, Lesher Center for the Arts explains how the show World of Frida came about: “Frida Kahlo is universally loved, and her paintings continue
tions available, and we would gladly go back to Antibes and Hotel Juana. We have extensive experience with the two other main sectors of small ship cruising as well, both river cruising and small ship ocean cruising. Smaller ocean ships range from those slightly under 1,000 passengers to those with less than 200 passengers. Almost all ships have impressive crew-to-passenger ratios, good food and service, and many with all inclusive packages with wine and gratuities are included. We have cruised on most of the major cruise lines and would love to help you in planning your next cruise on any of them. If you do have a group as few as ten, or occasionally as few as five on 5 star cruise lines, one can cruise free. Ask us for details. Please visit our office at 3201 Danville Blvd. Suite 255 in Alamo or our website at www.alamoworld.com. Call me at 925-837-8742 ext. 14 or email mike@alamoworld. com, and we can start planning your dream vacation including cruises, tours, and customized itineraries! Advertorial
Did you know there is a Travel Agency in Alamo?
Alamo World Travel has been helping make Travel Dreams come true for 38 years!
925-837-8742
www.alamoworld.com
3201 Danville Blvd #255 Alamo |Alamo Commons-next to Ace Hardware to be an inspiration for artists worldwide. I think our exhibition demonstrates the power and reach of Kahlo’s work, reflecting a rich range of interpretation in practically every media. Lederer added, “The iconic Frida Kahlo was a true visionary. Her paintings—exquisite and brutally honest—are a testimony to the way she thought and lived and loved life. Kahlo’s images are at once enchanting folktales and startling surreal narratives, and the work continues to resonate in our contemporary world.” I loved the provocative pieces in the exhibit, and I was mesmerized by the photos of Frida Kahlo in the Nickolas Muray exhibit, especially the 1939 photo of Frida called Frida with her pet eagle. Frida on White Bench, New York, 1939, The Bedford Gallery will host a Tequila Nickolas Muray. Tasting & Paint a Frida, Thursday, August 23, 6:30-9pm, a night of tequila tasting and a guided painting class. They promise everyone will go home with a colorful portrait of Frida. Advance ticket purchase is required. World of Frida is located at the Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek. They are open Tuesday through Sunday, noon to 5PM from now until September 16th. For more information, visit www.bedforgllery.org/frida. 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.
editor @ yourmonthlypaper.com
August 2018 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 15
PAGE 16 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • August 2018
LIFE IN THE ALAMO/DANVILLE GARDEN
GARDENING WITH GRASSES By John Montgomery, Landscape Architect, ASLA
When we think of a garden, we often think of flowers. But often it is non-flowering plants that provide the framework within the garden, and among these, ornamental grasses have stolen our hearts. Grasses can enliven any garden style, from the most traditional to the most contemporary. We celebrate grasses in the designed landscape - their incredible variety of forms and textures make them stunning feature attractions or complements to other landscape plants. In the California Bay Area, many of our native ecosystems are dominated by grasses. While some of these grasses die to the ground in the summer (a trait less desirable in the garden), others really shine throughout the hot months. The coastal Mendocino Reed Grass is a lovely compact 12 x 18 inches. With seed ‘tufts’ emerging white and turning gold, it puts on quite the show for a native grass! We love it in California/Sonoma-style plantings and sunny borders, where it offers variety when mixed in with flowering plants. Cut it back in late winter for Tan t uf t s of Me ndocino Ree d Gra ss vigorous new spring growth. (Calamagrostis foliosa) combine beautifully For the formal garden, grasses with silver and white Cerastium. Photo by J. can be used to accent or ground Montgomery Designs. traditional garden plants, to create a feeling of lushness around the base of roses or in place of a hedge for a soft effect. Fountain Grasses hail from Asia and offer a wealth of different cultivars. Their fountain-like shape gives them a lush look, particularly in spring and summer. Drier-looking autumn seed tufts can be removed by a discerning gardener
CLIP NOTES
By Jody Morgan
Amber waves of grain graced the valleys surrounding Mount Diablo as pioneers discovered that growing golden crops was a more secure way to provide for a family than mining for metallic gains. Two years prior to the 1848 discovery of gold in California, John Marsh penned an oft-quoted epistle from his ranch in the shadow of the mountain to the Hon. Lewis Cass touting the as yet to be developed agricultural potential of the region. Marsh proclaimed: “It is the finest country for wheat I have ever seen. Fifty for one is an average crop, with very imperfect cultivation. One hundred fold is not uncommon, and even one hundred fifty has been produced.” Although Marsh, who purchased property in what is now Brentwood in 1837, was the first US citizen to settle in the area then held by Mexico, actual statistics on his harvests never made the local book of records. Indeed, he is remembered principally as a cattle rancher and doctor rather than a farmer. The 1882 History of Contra Costa County credits two other gentlemen for proving the practicality of producing wheat in the county. In 1850, Elam Brown raised 105 bushels of wheat on an acre at his Lafayette ranch. “The beautiful San Ramon Valley claims second place, for here in 1853 R. O. Baldwin threshed out the produce of a field by the old process of horse stamping and received more than fifty bushels per acre of excellent wheat…” In San Ramon Chronicles: Stories of Bygone Days, author Beverly Lane cites a contemporary yield topping both. “San Ramon’s first American settler, Leo Norris, planted wheat, which reportedly produced an astonishing 110 bushels to the acre in 1851.” Traveling with the first California Geological Survey, William Brewer reached the southern side of Mount Diablo on September 12, 1861, and climbed partially up the slope. He wrote in his journal (published as Up and Down California 1860-1864): “The San Ramon Valley, west of Mount Diablo, lay at our feet, the richest and most lovely I have yet seen in the state. It is all held in farms, where wheat is grown, and crops of over 60 bushels per
www.yourmonthlypaper.com or allowed to develop for a natural look. Sedges (Carex) tend towards lush low-growing forms perfect for a formal border. Check at your local nursery for available varieties. As far as the contemporary garden is concerned, grasses are the new frontier! With the range of varieties and visual effects, stunning results can be achieved with grasses alone. Acclaimed ‘Grass Guru’ John Greenlee advocates for a new concept for the California Landscape which in the right context is both Fountain Grass (Pennisetum) ‘Hameln’ has a lush sustainable and gorgeous. Greenlee’s green leaf that complements hostas and other traditional favorites. meadow gardens are comprised entirely of grasses, though some include flowering plants that float airily. Redefining the designed landscape, climate-specific meadows dramatically reduce water use and create habitat and food for native birds. Meadows take skill to design correctly, but in the long-term are a low-maintenance way of taking ornamental grasses to a whole new level! “For me, the draw of the meadow has to do with how meadows capture light and movement. No other group of plants can do what grasses and grass ecologies do.” ~ John Greenlee Here at our Alamo studio, we are installing a new meadow display garden. For inspiration or to contact us for design, visit our website at jmontgomerydesigns. Meadow Garden by John Greenlee, author of The American com, or call us at (925) Meadow Garden. Photo by John Greenlee. 820-8884. Advertorial acre are expected – they sometimes rise to over 90 – such crops does this state produce! The premium crop of wheat last year was 19 acres, accurately measured, which averaged 95 bushels per acre over the whole, or over 1,800 bushels on 19 acres! Well authenticated – and so very dry that each 100 bushels would be 105 to 108 in the eastern states.” The hard wheat traveled well but required specially equipped mills for processing. The Pacheco flour-mill ground grain for Contra Costa farmers. Wheat traveled from wharves in Pacheco, Martinez, and Roberts Landing near San Leandro to San Francisco for shipment to Liverpool, England. However, brokers and shippers were gobbling much of the profits. Robert G. Dean, elected Master of Point of Timber Grange #14 upon its founding in East County in 1873, explains: “The specific object of the organization of the grange was to buy and sell direct –sell to the consumer and buy from the manufacturer, and eliminate the middleman. This we were anxious to do, as we were conscious of being robbed, by being obliged to sell our wheat for $28 to $30 a ton, when it was worth from $60 to $68 a ton in Liverpool.” Danville’s Grange #85 was organized the same year with Charles Wood as Worthy Master. Natural and human-induced disasters wreaked havoc with the terrain. In Megaflood & Megadrought – How They Changed Contra Costa, William E. Mero writes about the extreme downpours of the winter of 1861-62 followed by the equally destructive drought of 1863-1865. Cattle grazing the hillsides devoured native bunch grasses and trampled the soil making way for the erosion that silted in the county’s waterways. Destruction of the county’s first growth redwood forests exacerbated the situation. “Today Walnut Creek is a concrete flood control channel that, for most of the year, carries shallow runoff from lawn watering suburbanites and occasional winter storms....Walnut Creek then flowed deep and free into Suisun Bay. For over 20 years, from 1851 to nearly 1873, Pacheco was a major shipping port for central Contra Costa County.” Gradually, county acreage devoted to wheat was repurposed to grow fruit, nuts, and vegetables. California’s wheat crop peaked with three million acres, producing 42 million bushels in 1888. New interest in old farming methods is putting wheat back in the spotlight.
editor @ yourmonthlypaper.com
August 2018 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 17
www.yourmonthlypaper.com
PAGE 18 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • August 2018
Alamo’s sixth annual “AUTOS OF ALAMO” Car Show will be held on Thursday, September 13th from 4PM to 8PM in Alamo Plaza. Please join us for live music, and enjoy locally-owned vintage, classic, custom, hot rods, exotics, muscle cars and more from the years of 1980 (or older). Show off yours. Auto Registration is only $10. Please call (925) 247-8081to reserve your spot.
The 911 dispatcher can forward the information to the police or other responding units so they can be better prepared to render assistance more effectively. They have better situational awareness. The details of each individual include rescue and medical information. Users can also include information on their residence, such as navigating long driveways and any other features that might be important for firefighters or police officers. Users can also include information about pets (and guard dogs), emergency contacts, and more. For example: 1) A user can let responders know if someone is confined to a wheel chair, uses oxygen, is deaf, has allergies, takes medications, and any other important information first responders should be aware of. 2) A deaf person calling 911 from a cell phone can start text messaging with the dispatcher to communicate their situation. The system has recently been used to aid someone who was unable to speak because of an allergic reaction, a caller experiencing a massive heart attack, a child with a breathing disorder (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 the community (for free) and is provided throughout the San Ramon 911 service location. The more information you choose to provide in a secure database is the more information a dispatcher and first responders will have to deal within an emergency situation. Please give the people charged with protecting you and your family a better chance for a better outcome. Provide them with the opportunity to help you by helping them. Do 911 the SMART WAY. Visit and register at www.SMART911. com. NOTE: I recently registered my information, family, pets, etc. and it took 10 minutes. Please do this for you and your family!
Saving lives is all about having information. When someone calls 9-1-1, the only information a dispatcher gets is a phone number and an address. The dispatcher has to ask a lot of questions to get additional 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 same time, you can save lives! The SMART way to do 911 is to have important information attached to the caller. This is what SMART 911 can do for you. The SMART 911 solution starts with 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 need in case of an emergency. When you call 911 from a registered phone number, the data automatically displays on the 911 call dispatcher’s monitor/ work station.
Now in its 63rd year, AIA, a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization, has the longest history of serving our community and helping shape it into “the place where we love to live”! Since 1955, Alamo (and Danville) residents have been joining the Alamo Improvement Association and working in support of AIA’s mission statement: to “preserve the semi-rural character of Alamo.” I want to thank all of our many volunteers, both past and present, for their efforts over the last 62 years in making Alamo into the wonderful community that it is today. Please complete and return your annual membership form to AIA at PO Box 156, Alamo, CA. 94507. Please visit our website at www.AlamoCA.org for information on AIA, articles of interest to residents, membership forms, and more. Don’t be left out. Now is the time to renew or become a new member of AIA.
ALAMO IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION
By Roger Smith, President ALAMO FARMER’S MARKET
Quality, quality, quality...the Farmer’s Market produce is all about quality. All produce is picked fresh and is at the local Farmer’s Market within 24-48 hours versus a week or much more for chain grocery stores. What type of produce are you looking for? Organic or conventionally grown? Several vendors offer both; acquaint yourselves with those that do. Are you interested in an unusual and excellent fruit? Several vendors have “Pluots,” a combination plum and apricot tree fruit available in four varieties. Please remember that vendors are the best source of information about their own produce, so step up and ask them. Please also be aware that many vendors have tasting stations or provide samples for tasting. The Alamo Farmer’s Market is open 9AM – 2PM every Sunday. There is plenty of free parking and live music!
AUTOS OF ALAMO
9-1-1- SMART WAY
AIA MEMBERSHIP
Horses continued from front page
imposing animals, children trust them --- trust them to touch and groom them, trust them to tell them their thoughts, and trust them to climb on their backs and experience the freedom of riding. Horses connect with humans on emotional, mental, spiritual, and physical levels, and at SonRise we are able to help children thrive and grow through tough circumstances.” In the Saddle follows the classic therapeutic riding model, offering individual lessons to children specifically tailored to each one’s needs. Being high on the horse makes children feel empowered. The rhythmic beat of the horse’s gait and the warmth of the animal are soothing and help muscles relax. Sidewalkers keep the child safe. Sessions often involve language and coordination skills. Sometimes the first word a child utters is a command to the horse to “Walk up.” Recognizing the financial burdens many parents face with children who are candidates for the program, SonRise offers free lessons for two years and supplemental low-cost options for children who want to ride more or have reached their two-year anniversary. Traveling Tails brings miniature horses Windy and Blackie, and ponies Derby and Treasure to children in a variety of facilities including their own homes. SonRise volunteer Claire Vesely was working at George Marks Children’s House when Blackie was donated in 2006. She suggested sending the mini into the rooms of terminally ill children. Windy, given by a different owner, completed the original team. The minis immediately proved their ability to evoke happy responsive moments in patients, allowing families to connect for unexpected precious minutes – sometimes to say a final good-bye. In addition to George Marks, Traveling Tails visits Children’s Hospital in Oakland, Camp Arroyo, Alma Preschool, and Dublin Elementary School. Cheryl Pierson, a SonRise volunteer since 2014, describes some of her favorite moments with Traveling Tails. “Traveling Tails visited the Alma Preschool once a month for nine months during the school year. One visually impaired girl started off the year so scared of the horses that she would only approach them glued to a teacher who held her hand while she touched a pony or mini. Gradually, she overcame her fear until one day she was first in line to ride the mini. Her smile as she rode with the sidewalkers beside her Working together on Team Equine ranch chores and
See Horses continued on page 21
chatting together builds a supportive community. (photo by Lauren Koski)
editor @ yourmonthlypaper.com
August 2018 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 19
HOW DO YOU KNOW? DON’T YOU OWE IT TO YOURSELF?
By Peter T. Waldron, Managing Partner of Spectrum Wealth Partners
“I have it all done,.” This is a statement that I have heard multiple times over the years when I ask about a client’s long-term financial plan. I respond with, “How do you know?” This month, I will be continuing the six-part series where we explore this dialogue. I will reiterate that you must have your strategy tested with a real-life scenario to know for certain that you “have it all done.” There are a few major life events that can test your strategy: death, a major health event (disability, stroke, dementia, etc.), retirement, divorce, the sale of a company, and receiving an inheritance. You can plan for the worst, but it is not until a major life event occurs that you can be certain your plan will be successful. In my last article, we discussed commonly overlooked planning elements in the event of death, and this month’s article will focus on the financial impact that a major health event can have. Before we dive into the financial planning aspects of these events, I want to discuss how clients with major life health events have impacted me over the past ten years. Throughout my career, I have experienced two types of major health events with clients, one being sudden and the other taking years to develop. Recently, I had a client of ten years suffer a massive stroke. We had worked together to complete estate plan changes on Monday, and by Friday, the client was in the intensive care unit. Even though we had completed and updated the client’s financial and estate plan, this major health event shook me as I would have never expected the level of administrative and emotional complexity that would arise from this major health event. Conversely, I have an existing client that suffers from Parkinson’s disease. In anticipation of his needs, we have been preparing over the last ten years so that when he can no longer care for himself, his wife will not be burdened with the physical and financial demands of long term care. Although we cannot plan when or how these events will happen, whether it is abrupt or over time, we can put contingencies in place in your financial plan to prepare. To fully comprehend the impacts of a major health event on your finances, it is important to explore three major elements of financial planning: decisions, financial impact, and lifestyle. When exploring the three elements of contingency planning, the first thing that I like to explore with clients is decision making. With decision making, the priority is surveillance, specifically over bank accounts and property that may be susceptible to fraud. At Spectrum Wealth Partners, we have partnered with a third party that allows our client’s children access (at the parent’s request) to their parents’ financial accounts, both managed internally and externally. This helps catch any out-of-the-ordinary transactions. Next, we look to ensure that the power of attorney for health and the power of attorney for financial decisions are up to date. It is important to keep these documents updated as most people have identified their powers of attorney with people that are no longer in their lives. This makes it difficult to manage the decision-making process in the event of a major health event. While making decisions when the transfer of control is occurring is important, financial impact is usually the biggest concern for clients. It is important to establish what the end goal is, whether it is to leave nothing behind or to leave as much as possible behind and anything in between. When analyzing your financial plan, it is important to determine a conservative level of assumptions. We utilize a national database to determine the different price points and levels of care for long-term care facilities. We then explore the resources that will be available from the estate (pension/Social Security, dividends, interest, gains, principal from investments, etc.) and determine what insurance coverage is available, be it long term care or disability. After the analysis is complete, we determine if there is enough for the cost of care and to maintain their current standard of living. The majority of people do not know the numbers and do not have contingencies in place. One contingency around pension/ Social Security income that is not commonly considered is whether the death of one spouse will impact the surviving spouse financially. Most surviving spouses are on welfare because the deceased spouse’s pensions stopped when they passed away, leaving the survivor to fend for themselves. Although financial impact is often the most important topic for clients, an area that I now frequently discuss is the quality of life that they will have during their remaining days. I have seen the inside of government sponsored facilities, and based off of that experience, it is not a place that I would prefer to spend my final days. Comparatively speaking, having the resources and the right roadmap can allow you to remain in your own home with around-the-clock care. The outcome that I like to paint for my clients is that they will have the resources to not be a burden on their family and have the last parts of their life be a smooth transition. This article only scratches the surface of what you might consider when the thought of “Do I have it all done?” comes to mind. Working with an advisor or a team of advisors will help you answer these questions. My next article will explore the financial impact of retirement. “Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson Please contact Peter Waldron to schedule a complimentary review of your financial situation at 925-786-7686 or email peter.waldron@lfg.com. Peter T. Waldron: California Insurance License #0E47827. Peter T. Waldron is a registered representative of Lincoln Financial Advisors, a broker/dealer, member SIPC, and offers investment advisory service through Sagemark Consulting, a division of Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp., a registered investment advisor, Spectrum Wealth Partners is not an affiliate of Lincoln Financial Advisors. 3201 Danville Blvd, Suite 190, Alamo, CA 94507. Insurance offered through Lincoln Marketing and Insurance Agency, LLC and Lincoln Associates Insurance Agency, Inc. and other fine companies. This information should not be construed as legal or tax advice. You may want to consult a tax advisor regarding this information as it relates to your personal circumstance. The content of this material was provided to you by Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp. for its representatives and their clients. CRN2190884-072518 Advertorial
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
The “Good Old Days” are now! Rates are better than 50-60 years ago!
The Alison Company
Nationwide Financing on Commercial Property
Kevin Corstorphine DRE#01944908
805.845.5200
Kevin@alisonmortgage.com
www.alisonmortgage.com
White Pony Express (WPE) is a nonprofit group dedicated to helping to end hunger and poverty in Contra Costa County. The program has been so well received that additional volunteers are urgently needed to help keep up with its rapid growth. The need in our communities remains great. Seven days a week, WPE Food Rescue volunteers take trucks to supermarkets, restaurants, and farmers markets where they pick up thousands of pounds of surplus food—high quality, nourishing food (fresh meats, dairy, eggs, deli, baked goods). Most all of this food is distributed free-of-charge to those in need within two hours of the donation. In its first four years, WPE delivered more than 6,000,000 pounds of food (equivalent to 5,000,000 meals) that the hungry would have gone without. Also, in addition to rescuing food, WPE collects donations of new or like-new clothing, shoes, toys, games, and books. More than 400,000 of these items have been distributed to those in need—all free of charge, through WPE’s unique “Mobile Boutiques” and its Direct Distribution program. Interested volunteers should please contact Mandy Nakaya at 925-8186361 or mandy@whiteponyexpress.org. For more information, visit www. whiteponyexpress.org.
PAGE 20 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • August 2018
TECHNOLOGY MATTERS
DRAGNET NATION By Evan Corstorphine, Portable CIO, Inc.
I am interrupting my series on types of 3D printing to alert you to a new scam we’re seeing lately. It’s a type of scam that has the bad guys sending threatening letters addressed directly to you. What happens in this scam is that a criminal somehow singles you out for their attention. I don’t know by what specific means they choose their target (you). When they do, they begin both public and private research on you. From public records they’ll find out if you own a home and your home address. They’ll learn if you are married or not. They’ll take any piece of information they can find out about you from the public records and use it to trick you, if possible. Next, they’ll search the dark web for any records of you that may have landed in a database of information such as email addresses, credit card information, or passwords you’ve used. If you recall from past articles, the dark web is a series of unpublished, “invisible” websites on the web that is used by criminals and hackers to exchange information. Most anything can be bought and sold on the dark web. This is an important point: the bad guys want you to think they have total knowledge and some sort of omnipotent presence over you. They don’t. They’re bluffing. They are using information such as your email address and passwords that you’ve used (and may still be using) to appear legitimate and well informed. The passwords and credit card information they quote may have been gleaned and sold from a data-breach years prior -- like the Yahoo or LinkedIn breaches when millions of accounts were stolen. Back to the story. Once they’ve researched who you are and pulled some information from the dark web on you, they’ll write you a letter. One friend, an extremely upstanding and good man, received this letter accusing him of adultery with lurid insinuations. The writer acted as if he knew all about my friend’s supposed affair and threatened to expose the affair to his wife (by name) and business associates (by name) if he didn’t pay up. Of course my friend was freaked out. He knew he hadn’t had an affair, but how the heck did this person know his wife’s name, or his email address, or his password? Where did this person get this personal information (and more), to
LIFE INSURANCE BENEFICIARY DESIGNATIONS – UPDATING IS CRITICAL!
By Robert J. Silverman, Esq.
Periodically, I write about why it is very important to ensure that up-to-date beneficiaries (primary and alternate) are designated, and on file, for each life insurance policy. Further, these beneficiary designations should be integrated with one’s general estate planning documents (e.g. Will and/or Trust). Generally, the same principle holds true for other assets governed on death by beneficiary designations, such as IRAs and 401Ks. In June, a relevant new CA appellate court decision (Estate of Post) was published. A summary examination of the pertinent facts and applicable law provide a dramatic demonstration of just how critical these beneficiary designations are. Basic facts: Norman Post bought a life insurance policy. He designated his then-wife, Angela Post, as primary beneficiary and designated his two sons from a prior marriage, Kenneth and Eric, as alternate beneficiaries. When Norman died, he was divorced from Angela; however, at no time after his divorce did he ever change the primary beneficiary designation on his life insurance policy (i.e. to remove Angela). As for Norman’s other estate planning, he executed a codicil (amendment) to his Will not long before he died. In that document, he stated that his former wife, Angela, was to receive no assets from him after his death, whether by Will, devise, bequest, beneficiary designation, or otherwise. After Norman’s death, Norman’s two sons petitioned the court, asking that the court order that the two of them were the rightful beneficiaries of their late father’s life insurance policy. The trial court found in favor of the sons, ordering that the sons were the proper beneficiaries who were entitled to the life insurance death benefits. The Court of Appeal reversed the trial court’s decision. Applicable law: Instead of upholding the ruling in favor of Norman’s
www.yourmonthlypaper.com make him think this person had control? Did he need to consider paying off this troll? The truth is that we have lost our privacy. We live in the matrix. For free I can find a plethora of private information on someone. And, for just $35, you can search on anyone and come up with a lot more information than you ever thought would be available. On the public web, there are over 200 companies vacuuming up web traffic to store information on every one of our web surfing and shopping habits. On the dark web, usernames, passwords, and credit card numbers are traded. Between the two we have lost a tremendous amount of anonymity, and frankly I’m unsure how to get it back. And I’m not alone. I read a book titled Dragnet Nation. In this book, the author studiously works to understand the mechanisms by which our personal data, our habits, and our choices, are vacuumed up and stored by third party companies. These companies store and re-sell our data to companies that are hoping to learn our habits and sell more product to us. This is why when you’ve been looking for a certain type of chair on Amazon, you suddenly start seeing advertisements for that type of chair everywhere you go on the web. You’re in the web. The author’s goal was to become anonymous and to pull herself out of the web of data collection. And, after an astonishing amount of research and effort, she failed. She concluded that not only does it require dropping out of society, but the companies that store the data resolutely refuse to comply with data destruction orders or requests to pull out records. They either completely stonewalled her or didn’t comply with her requests once she got through. What is the effect of all of this? So what? Who cares? On one level, without knowing all this, you would blithely go about your business and would be none the wiser when ads pop-up on your screen. On another, you should be mad as hell that high tech has been taken to this extreme where we are subjected to this intrusion and experimentation. I don’t know the answer. We still have to live, and most of the world lives on the internet. When I figure out the answer, I’ll share it with you. In the meantime, be aware that despite your best efforts, you really don’t have privacy, and we all live in an electronic fishbowl. For a sobering explanation of this topic, go to your favorite bookstore and find Dragnet Nation, A quest for privacy, security, and freedom in a world of relentless surveillance by Julia Angwin. In the meantime, if you would like to improve your network or security, you can reach us at info@pcioit.com, or 925-552-7953, option 1. Advertorial sons, the appellate court found in favor of his ex-wife, Angela. The appellate reasoned that the Probate Court has no jurisdiction over life insurance policies, where the decedent’s estate has no interest in the proceeds. In other words, the estate would only have an interest, and therefore the Probate Court would only have jurisdiction to decide the case on the merits, if a) the estate was specifically named as beneficiary, or b) there was no then-living beneficiary who had been designated. The legal basis for the ruling, which has long been engraved in stone, is that a life insurance policy is a contract, and the contract provides that the beneficiary designated, and on file with the insurance company at the time of the insured’s death (provided that such beneficiary is then-living), is entitled to the death benefit. Angela was alive following Norman’s death, and she was the contract designee. In other aspects of estate planning law, it is ultimately the decedent’s intent -- as may be demonstrated by various documents, testimony, and other evidence -- that is paramount. Certain statutes help protect intended heirs and loved ones when someone dies, and the decedent’s ex-spouse was inadvertently left as beneficiary of a 401K and/or as beneficiary in a Will or Trust. Of course, it is prudent to take care of all of this properly and with advice from counsel upon a divorce rather than hope that you will be protected after death by such “safe harbor” laws. Nevertheless, with life insurance, equities are ignored. You may think this ruling is unfair, but Norman had an opportunity to change the beneficiary designation and didn’t do so. Even though his Will stated his unequivocal desire to the contrary, the only fact that matters here is that Norman’s ex-wife was never removed as primary beneficiary of his life insurance contract. Estate Planning |Trust Administration & Probate | Real Estate | Business Please contact the author to request a complimentary: i) “Estate Planning Primer”; ii) Real Estate titling brochure; iii) introductory meeting. Mr. Silverman is an attorney with R. Silverman Law Group, 1855 Olympic Blvd., Suite 125, Walnut Creek, CA 94596; (925) 705-4474; rsilverman@rsilvermanlaw.com. This article is intended to provide information of a general nature, and should not be relied upon as legal, tax and/ or business advice. Readers should obtain specific advice from their own, qualified professional advisors. Advertorial
editor @ yourmonthlypaper.com
PENDING PRIOR TO MARKET
August 2018 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 21
COMING MID-AUGUST
SOLD
Horses continued from page 18
was so incredible you would have thought we’d given her a million dollars. “One little boy we had not seen at the preschool before came dressed to meet the horses with jeans, cowboy boots, a Western shirt, and a cowboy hat. He had to exchange his hat for a helmet, but he had no fear. After riding, he bonded with Derby, our Shetland pony who was tied up to watch the action. He petted and brushed Derby as if they were meant to be together. “Windy has such sensitivity to everyone at George Marks! On one visit, we were told there was a boy who had just started university when he was diagnosed with a life-threatening illness and he wasn’t talking. The parents invited us to bring Windy into the room, but the boy did not acknowledge our introduction. As one of our Traveling Tails volunteers began talking with the young man about the sports program on the television, Windy moved closer. Then she put her head on the bed. Finally, she moved her nose closer so she was just touching the boy’s hand. He began touching her above her nose. The room went quiet as the boy and the horse had a moment together. “On another visit to George Marks, we were told that a baby had just been SonRise Traveling Tails minis and ponies elicit magical smiles. (Photo by Lauren Koski) admitted and the mother could use some special attention. The mother came out of the room and spent time touching and petting the horse and being grounded in the present.” Pierson also works with Team Equine. Children facing social and emotional challenges gather once a week from 4–6pm to do ranch chores and talk together, building positive relationships and self-confidence. The sessions begin with a word of the day such as “compassion” or “trust.” Each participant is asked to explain what the word means to him or her. Sometimes it takes a few of the weekly meetings for an individual to feel comfortable speaking aloud, but eventually everyone engages in the exercise. Following the round of chores, which gives members of the team time to chat with one another and share responsibilities, one of the participants has the chance to ride while the others study horse science or enjoy doing the craft of the day and learning a bit of history. Helping Hands is the newest SonRise program pairing teen volunteers eager to learn ranch chores with teens who may be facing challenges such as high-functioning special needs, bullying, or difficulties at home. Koski explains: “This builds a supportive community through small-group interaction, teamwork, and learning life skills from adult mentors.” Volunteers feel they benefit as much from their SonRise activities as the clients. Betsy Ahlberg writes: “I love SonRise … not only do I get to be with horses who I love, but they minister to me as well … just like they do for the kids … I love seeing the interaction between the kids and horses, especially with children who are physically and mentally unable to talk or move, but you can see it in their eyes when a Miniature horse puts their head on a child’s lap or gently brushes their hand with its lips.” Tere Hanson concurs. “I am always so astounded by the effect the horses have on the wonderful children we have the privilege of working with. There
See Horses continued on page 26
www.yourmonthlypaper.com
PAGE 22 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • August 2018
• PC & MAC Computer Services • Project Management & Architecture • Monitored Security Packages to Protect Your Systems from Threats
Technology. Simplified.
• Wired & Wireless Network Specialists • Network Design for Businesses & Homeowners
Portable CIO
Your local and personal technology experts, since 2001. PCs/Macs/Servers/Tablets/Smartphones
Commercial | Residential
925-552-7953
helpdesk@pcioit.com w w w. p c i o i t . c o m
SHAPE SHIFTING
By Dr. Barbara Persons, MD, FACS
Let’s talk about the shape of our bodies. Everybody is different, and most of us go through what I call a “shapeshift” through our adult years. We work just as hard or even harder to maintain the same weight we had when we were younger, yet our body shape is still changing! We notice carrying extra fat in areas we haven’t before, or we even have more in problem areas. Our old tricks for weight loss -- cutting carbs, hitting the gym, or scaling back on alcohol or sweets -- cannot completely fix the shape changes. What is the solution? Take fat from one or many areas with excess, and graft it into areas which are deficient! Using my artistic vision and technical skills, I can reshape your body by removing fat from unwanted places, such as the saddlebags, inner thighs, arms, elbows, and knees. I then put the fat into your face, breast, and butt to help you spring back to your youthful looking self. Fat grafting and liposuction is not a new topic in the aesthetic world, but liposuctioning small areas for better contour and grafting that fat is a new and wonderful way to reshape your body. So how does it work? Liposuction is performed with a small port site in the skin through which a cannula connected to a gentle vacuum is inserted into the area of excess fat. In this procedure, fat is removed to contour and shape the body. After liposuction, the fat from different areas of the body is processed to remove impurities and then injected into desired areas such as the face, breasts, and buttocks to add volume. The fat grows in your body naturally without any reaction and adapts to its new location because it’s still within your own body! What’s even more exciting is that there is very minimal downtime for this procedure. Women are not the only ones who can benefit from liposuction and fat grafting. Men commonly have excess fat in their chest and love handles which can affect their physique and self-confidence. I cannot count the number of women who have brought their partners in for a little “work” after they saw the magic of fat grafting has done for themselves. Many come to Persons Plastic Surgery thinking that liposuction is a weight loss solution, while it is a shaper changer, liposuction is not a weight changer.
Maintaining a healthy stable weight before undergoing this procedure is essential because liposuction alone is not a weight loss solution. If you do in fact need to lose weight before your shapeshift, I would love to assist you in your weight loss journey and be your cheerleader to help you reach your stable, healthy weight. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle will also help you heal faster from your procedures. As you commit to a healthy lifestyle and seek ways to reach your ideal shape, liposuction and fat grafting present an excellent path to achieving your goals. Taking fat from several small areas with less than ideal shape (you know what areas I’m talking about!) and placing it in volume-deficient areas is a relatively new topic in plastic surgery and is a specialty of mine. Let me help you design your birthday suit and achieve the shape you desire. Barbara L Persons, MD, FACS is a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and owns Persons Plastic Surgery, Inc., located at 911 Moraga Rd, Suite 205 in Lafayette. She can be reached at 925283-4012 or drpersons@personsplasticsurgery.com. Advertorial
MEALS ON WHEELS
Seniors in your community need your support! Meals on Wheels Diablo Region has been supporting seniors since 1968. Two of the programs, Meals on Wheels and Friendly Visitors, rely on the support of volunteers. Your help is needed now more than ever. Meals on Wheels volunteer drivers deliver meals to local homebound seniors through regular two hour shifts once per week or as substitute drivers. Friendly Visitors volunteers provide weekly one-hour companionship visits to isolated seniors. To volunteer for either program, please call (925)937-8311.
PUBLIC SPEAKING WITH TOASTMASTERS
Do you hate speaking in front of a group? You’re not alone. However, good presentation skills are demanded by nearly every employer these days. Toastmasters can help you overcome your public speaking challenges! Toastmasters is an organization where people can fine-tune their speaking skills and receive valuable feedback. Beginning and advanced speakers are welcome. Local chapter Danville AM Toastmasters meets every Tuesday from 7 to 8:30AM in downtown Danville. For the location and other details, please visit 4143.toastmastersclubs.org, or email DanvilleAMToastmasters@gmail.com.
editor @ yourmonthlypaper.com
August 2018 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 23
THE EYE OPENER
SCHOOL AND CHILDREN’S VISION By Gregory Kraskowsky, O.D., Alamo Optometry
It is hard to believe that most of summer vacation is behind us, and school is almost back in session. August is the month where parents prep their children for the upcoming school year. The list usually includes getting school supplies, clothes, backpacks, etc., and yearly physicals are done with their pediatrician to ensure a healthy start to the year. Even though most of you realize the importance of vision and eye health, it is vitally important for your child to be able to see well at all distances and to have good eye-teaming skills to be able to learn and prosper at school. I will cover some of the main eye issues related to difficulty at school. I would say the most common diagnosis I find at the office is myopia, or near-sightedness. For students that sit far away from the board or in the back of a large lecture hall, having uncorrected or under-corrected myopia will lead to blurry vision and an inability to see the material on the board, screen, or overhead. These students are unable to take notes off of the board and therefore often fall behind in class and miss assignments. At the opposite end of myopia is hyperopia, or far-sightedness. These students are in a constant state of focusing to allow clear vision. The closer the point of focus, the more work that is necessary to clear the image. That is why distance objects are easier to see than near ones. A low amount of hyperopia is actually desirable. Since near-sightedness tends to evolve as the child enters adolescence, it gives them a little head start. However, in larger prescriptions, hyperopia can cause near avoidance, headaches, fatigue, eye turns, and an overall indifference to sustained up-close tasks. This can easily be diagnosed in the office as part of a comprehensive examination. The last prescription issue that can be a hindrance to vision is astigmatism. This is caused by the cornea, the clear front surface of the eye, not being completely round. An easy analogy is that it is shaped more like an egg than a ball. Astigmatism will generally degrade both distance and near vision; however, distance is usually a little more affected. It is important to note that this is not a disease; it is just the way the eye is shaped and can be treated with glasses or contact lenses just like myopia and hyperopia. In addition to having a prescription, all patients including children should have their binocular vision status evaluated. It is quite possible to not have any of the above-mentioned prescription issues but have poor eye teaming skills. If the eyes are not aligned properly and do not work well as a team, there will be learning and reading issues. These tend to present themselves more for reading than distance, but the condition can definitely affect both. When the eyes do not work as a unit, a child might experience double vision, “stretching” or “ghost images” of letters, skipping of letters or lines of text, eyestrain, headaches, near avoidance, or any combination of these. Depending on the exact diagnosis, the condition can be treated with glasses or vision therapy. I recommend having your child’s vision checked by an eye care professional instead of just relying on a school or pediatrician screening. Most children that need to be evaluated are generally picked up by these screenings, but the comprehensive evaluation I give at the office not only encompasses vision and binocular vision, but also includes neurological testing, color vision, peripheral vision, and an ocular health examination of both the front and back portions of the eye. We look forward to seeing your students in the office soon. Dr. K. at Alamo Optometry is your hometown eye doctor for outstanding service, vision care, and designer eyewear. He can be reached at 925-8206622, 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
Thrift continued from page 5
housewares, clothes, shoes, small furniture, pet items, CDs and DVDs, arts and crafts, and much more! The “Friends of Discovery” wish to thank the community for your contribution to the success of the shop. Thank you for your donations, your volunteering, and for stopping by to make a purchase or two! As we continue the celebration, the Thrift Station is participating in National Thrift Store Day on August 17th. The Friends will be raffling off a beautiful Memorial Luncheon basket of goodies and also hosting a After the loss of a loved one, hosting a memorial Let Russ Belleci & special brunch or luncheon in their memory is a wonderful waysale or two. Many thrift stores to bring people together to celebrate a life well lived. Belleci Family Catering in the East Bay will be participating. We understand that this is a difficult time forMark you and your calendar for this special take care of your your family. We are dedicated to making your event totally worry free, after you collaborate withevent, us on a few and stop on by! event food needs. menu decisions. If you would like to volunteer, please Weddings, Host your memorial luncheon right here at St. Isidore’s come by. the shop for information or Graduations, Memorials, To schedule food for your gathering We also offer a simple drop off service at your location. Kris Batross, membership Current president Jenise Falk with the first contact president of Friends of Discovery Marge Early. Cioppino, call Russ at 925-708-5167 chair at kbatross@gmail.com. To Pasta, & or 925-937-6886 follow the most current sales and events at the Thrift Station, check out the shop on Crab Feeds. social media, “Like” us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram, or stop by and give Email rizzieb@aol.com Events from us your email address. More information on the Discovery Counseling Center www.bellecifamilycatering.com 50-500. and the Thrift Station can be found on the DCC’s website at www.discoveryctr.net.
www.yourmonthlypaper.com
PAGE 24 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • August 2018
PLANTAR FASCIITIS: CHIROPRACTIC CARE FOR LASTING RELIEF!
By Dr. Melissa Ko, D.C., Sycamore Valley Chiropractic
Plantar fasciitis is a painful condition of the foot and effects two million Americans, 10% of the U.S. population, over a lifetime. This patient’s story is a case that we saw recently: “Marshall” 72 year old male Complaint: Right heel pain Case history: Marshall is experiencing pain at the bottom of his heel and foot which is felt most when he is walking. He was diagnosed with plantar fasciitis by his medical doctor and given a cortisone injection for pain control six months prior. He was also given stretching exercises for the foot and recommended arch support to wear in his shoes. Marshal experienced temporary relief after the shot, but the pain returned within a few months. The pain is described as sharp and 8/10 in intensity. In addition to pain at the bottom of the heel, he is also experiencing pain and tension on the sides of the heel and into the Achilles tendon and calf. Marshall is usually active, going on walks and traveling; however, the pain is affecting his daily walks as well as making household chores difficult and uncomfortable to perform. Treatment and Results: Marshal received chiropractic adjustments to the right foot for eight weekly visits over two months along with adjunctive therapy of cold laser and myofascial (soft tissue) therapy. By the 4th visit, Marshall reported a 40% improvement in pain. By the 7th visit, the pain was rarely noticeable, and by the 8th visit, the pain was completely gone. He is now able to resume his daily walks and has recently returned from a trip to the Holy Land, pain-free.
WHAT IS PLANTAR FASCIITIS?
Plantar fasciitis occurs when the soft tissues between the heel and the toe at the bottom of the foot, called the plantar fascia, become inflamed and painful due to microscopic damage to the tissue accumulated over time.
Run continued from front page
of about 20 women. Henson leads both groups. “I always enjoyed running, but I’ve had a tendency to start-up and then stop based on my busy schedule,” says Henson. “But running has always been my ‘go-to’ when I want to get back in shape. By starting and leading my own running group, I now have a higher level of accountability.” The group meets at the Ironhorse Trail at Prospect Ave. The early session runs 2.7 miles, and the later logs 3.1 miles. Henson leads interval drills, and though everyone runs at their own pace, each returns at the same time. Some members simply walk and stretch. “I call myself a ‘run cheerleader,’” says Henson. “I’ve been fortunate to receive coaching through the years, and I feel that I can impart some of the techniques I’ve learned.” A bonus to each gathering is the small card containing an inspirational quote that Henson hands out to each member after each run. Perhaps even more engaging than the fitness aspect of the runs is the group’s camaraderie. “Honestly, the best thing has been meeting these wonderful ladies,” says Henson. “We are all addicted to seeing each other. We are all busy, but
As the condition degenerates, this can sometimes result in a bone spur that grows off the heel bone, leading to further irritation.
SYMPTOMS AND CAUSES
The most common complaint is pain at the bottom of the heel. A classic symptom is sharp pain with the first few steps out of bed. Patients may report pain and discomfort when flexing the foot with toes pointing upward towards the shin. Knee pain is also a common complaint reported with plantar fasciitis. There are several possible causes of plantar fasciitis. Very often, there can be an injury of the soft tissues causing pain and inflammation. Abnormal biomechanics can also strain and cause pain in the foot. This can be due to misalignments or old injuries to the foot, ankle, knee, hip, and spine.
HOW CAN CHIROPRACTIC CARE HELP?
There are 26 small bones in the foot; it only takes one to be misaligned to significantly alter the biomechanics of the foot. Misalignments in the spine and leg also alter the body’s weight distribution and cause one foot to bear more weight than the other. Chiropractic care realigns the spine and joints of the body to restore proper stability and mobility in these areas affected. There are other supportive techniques that we use at our office to help reduce inflammation and pain in the soft tissues including myo-fascial therapy, cold laser therapy, ultrasound, and orthotic foot supports customized to our patient’s feet. Marshall’s story is not unique -- many patients with similar conditions are helped everyday with chiropractic care. Who do you know who is suffering from heel pain? Consider chiropractic care to help get them back on their feet! Sycamore Valley Chiropractic is located at 565 Sycamore Valley Rd. West in Danville. Please visit www. sycamorevalleychiropractic.com or call (925)837-5595 for more information or to schedule an appointment. Advertorial this is our time to let go and catch up.” A wide variety of professions is represented, and Henson says there are no duplicate occupations in the group. With a nurse, attorney, decorator, jewelry maker, moms, and grandmothers, among others represented, conversations obviously cover a wide range of topics. “We talk books, current events, parenting issues…you name it,” says Henson. “Our group provides lots of good therapy, professional advice, and of course laughter.” Attorney Dorianne Romero Plihon has been a member of Rock Run Club for several months. When asked what she loves best about the group, her list is long and includes attributes that extend well beyond her improved fitness level and sense of accomplishment. “I love that I am making great friends and that the group is really supportive of each other, not just with running, but with juggling work and kids, divorce, and everyday things,” says the Danville resident who recently completed her first 5K run. “This great group of women is also a source of referrals to local shops and services, as well as a parenting resource. Many have kids who’ve already gone through what mine are facing, so I get new ideas or different perspectives. I also get great book recommendations.” “Everyone that comes out to Rock Run Club says she has always wanted to do this – that she was craving a supportive group like this,” says Henson. “It’s hard to get motivated on one’s own. Our group is all about empowerment.” For more information about Rock Run Club, email Karyn Henson at karyn@ rockandassoc.com, or text her at 650-906-6249.
Do you have a story idea or local news to share? Do you have an ad you’d like to place? Call us at 925.405.6397 or email Editor@YourMonthlyPaper.com.
editor @ yourmonthlypaper.com
WALK ON
By Michelle Brown, Gumsaba Custom Fitness
Run, sprint, climb, jump...the human body is capable of some pretty amazing feats. It’s easy to forget that these complex movements are dependent on the simple task of walking. When this basic movement begins to decline, quality of life goes with it. Clearly, it’s critical to do all we can to maintain our ability to walk for as long as possible. Proper gait requires movement on two planes: sagittal (front to back) and transverse (twisting). Hours spent seated along with too little time spent moving causes our joints and muscles to acclimate to stabilization. Over time, limited range of motion and associated muscular imbalances combine to negatively affect our walking pattern. When an overly stable body is then tasked with dynamic movement, areas that were originally designed to be mobile ask for help. The ribcage and thoracic spine, which are made to promote mobility on the transverse plane, often take it from the lumbar spine. Since the lumbar is designed for stability, it becomes compromised, finding motion on the frontal plane. This causes the hips to sway side to side when we walk, resulting in a narrowed gait. Eventually, low back pain becomes a chronic issue and can erode into serious conditions like stenosis and leaking discs. If your gait cycle is compromised, you may be able to undo some damage. It will take time, and it will be worth it! First, address the areas of the body that are limiting the gait cycle with Self Myo Fascial Release (SMFR). If you are a regular reader of my column, you know I am a huge proponent of SMFR. Performed daily and targeted correctly, this practice can unlock areas like over-active hip flexors, immobilized thoracic spines, and imbalanced hamstrings. Visit gumsaba.com to learn more about how to apply SMFR. Second, your exercise program must respect the gait cycle. While strength gains will occur from programs that do not, the risk will likely outweigh the reward. Putting your body in compromised positions to attain fitness goals will not help you optimize basic functional movement, and that should always be the over-arching goal. Whether you want to walk with less discomfort, maximize your active years, or be the fittest you have ever been, the best time to start is today. Contact me for a consultation, or visit my website to learn more about moving your best! Michelle Brown is a Functional Patterns Practitioner and owner of Gumsaba Custom Fitness and Gumsaba Fitness Boot Camp. Michelle is certified by the American Council on Exercise as a Health Coach, Medical Exercise Specialist and Personal Trainer. She is a Martial Arts & Self Defense Expert and has been helping people in our community for 20 years. To learn more, visit gumsaba.com. Advertorial
Festival continued from page 11
masterpieces. Several buildings in Old Town Danville were here when the O’Neills lived at Tao House. One is Elliott’s, a local bar since 1907. Did the playwright belly up to this bar? Hmmm, the best stuff will remain secret until the walk!
DESTINATION: HISTORIC DOWNTOWN DANVILLE
August 2018 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 25
HANDS GIVING AWAY YOUR AGE?
By Dr. Jerome Potozkin
We live in an age conscious era. People are living longer, staying active, and often feel younger than their actual age. There have been many advances in cosmetic dermatology and plastic surgery, which has created an explosion of treatment options that are difficult for the everyday person to keep pace with. I consult with people everyday who want to look their best. For some it is because they feel competitive stress in a youth-oriented job market, and for others it is simply to look their best. My goal is to bring out the natural beauty in the individual and help them look and feel their best. Most people logically focus on their face. However, one often forgotten area, the hands, can also impact how we look. Just like any other area of our body, our hands are subject to both chronological aging, which simply happens over time, as well as photo-aging, which results from sun exposure. The signs of aging that typically show up on the hands include thinning of the skin, where veins and tendons become a lot more noticeable, as well as the appearance of brown spots which are often referred to as liver spots (even though they have nothing to do with your liver). Both can be minimized with new advances. I am a big fan of simplicity and prevention. The simplest and most effective advice to prevent the signs of aging anywhere on the body is the generous use of sunscreen and sun avoidance. People ask me everyday, “What’s the best sunscreen?” My answer is usually the one you like, will use, and has an SPF of 30 or higher. The sun damages collagen and elastin. This thins the skin, making vessels and tendons more apparent. Secondly, the application of a topical antioxidant such as Vitamin C as well as a topical retinoid, such as prescription tretinoin or over the counter retinol, can help. A regimen that we can customize for you can actually serve as both prevention and treatment. What if your hands look older than your age? There are several things we can do to make hands look younger. First, we can zap off the brown spots with the PicoWay Laser. This laser is highly effective in targeting the brown pigment and erasing the spots. Injectable fillers can restore lost volume and minimize the appearance of vessels and tendons. Until recently, I frequently performed fat transfers -- injecting one’s own fat into the back of the hands. However, there are now two FDA approved fillers for injecting hands. Radiesse has been approved for a few years and more recently Restylane Lyft has been as well. Both fillers work well. Each has their own property, and I think it is more important to choose an expert to perform your injections rather than focus on the actual product injected. Both can create natural results, leaving your hands looking years younger. This instant rejuvenation can be seen in a matter of minutes. If the appearance of your hands bothers you, we would be happy to help turn back the hands of time. Dr. Jerome Potozkin is a Board Certified Dermatologist specializing in minimally and non-invasive cosmetic procedures. We are accepting new patients and can be reached at (925) 838-4900 and at www.MyBeautyMd.com. Advertorial
In between events, theater-goers, music lovers, and hikers will find several fine restaurants and casual bistros. From a taste of local harvest to a sip of Iceman Cometh bold brew, the artisan eateries of Danville will delight your palate with their wide variety of dining experiences. The Eugene O’Neill Foundation will offer a complimentary Destination Danville book of shopping and dining discounts and specials during the Festival, September 1–October16. The book also includes a #livelocallyDanville raffle opportunity, historic Danville highlights, and O’Neill quotes to entertain you throughout the Festival season. Pick up yours at the Museum of the San Ramon Valley, the Danville Public Library, or Cottage Jewel Antiques, located at 100 W. Prospect Ave in downtown Danville. Special exhibits at the Danville library will feature O’Neill’s career and his time in Danville and also highlight the new Friendship City relationship of Danville and New Ross. On Monday, September 10, 6:30pm at the Library, Dan McGovern, president of the board of the Eugene O-Neill Foundation, will give a preview lecture on the O’Neill Festivals in Danville and New Ross, Ireland. On Monday, August 20, at 7pm, Eric Fraisher Hayes, Artistic Director of the Eugene O’Neill Foundation, will present a “sneak peek” at the Library of the 19th Annual Eugene O’Neill Festival.
THE EUGENE O’NEILL INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF THEATRE IN NEW ROSS, IRELAND
Beginning this year, celebrations and both an artistic and a civic partnership with New Ross, Ireland will be held. The towns of Danville and New Ross are now Friendship Cities, and the Eugene O’Neill Foundation, Tao House, and the O’Neill Ancestral Trust of Ireland are united in their goal of preserving the legacy of America’s greatest playwright. Why Ireland? O’Neill once said, “The one thing that explains more than anything about me is the fact that I’m Irish.” Irish theatre very early on recognized O’Neill’s genius with celebrated productions of his plays. Why New Ross? James O’Neill, Eugene’s father, lived with his parents and seven siblings in nearby Tinneranny. In 1851, in the wake of Ireland’s great potato famine, the O’Neills—along with many other Irish farmers who saw the land devastated by the potato blight—emigrated from the port of New Ross to America. James, then five years old, later became one of the most famous actors in America. Festival events will take place in New Ross October 9–15. To learn more about the festival in New Ross and day trips, visit www.eugeneoneillfestival.com.
www.yourmonthlypaper.com
PAGE 26 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • August 2018
Horses continued from page 21
is a connection between the two that brings the children so much joy, not to mention the joy it brings those of us who are there to witness it. Working with SonRise has brought me so much pleasure that words really can not do it justice.” Pat Marchant discovered SonRise when a friend invited her to the annual gala at the ranch. “I was so impressed with the exuberant young people and the well-trained horses who participated in the activities that day, as well as the level of compassion and commitment I felt from the staff, that I decided to contact Alana about volunteering.” She adds, “Working with the children, horses, and staff at SonRise has touched my life in many rewarding ways. There’s a special kind of peace in knowing that you can make a difference in the lives of others by volunteering just a little of your time each week. I know I’ve found comfort for myself as well in the smiles of the children and the Horses connect with humans on emotional, social and spiritual company of the levels. (Photo by Lauren Koski) minis and ponies.“ Wine & Equine, the annual SonRise gala, is the entire community’s chance to make a difference. Recognizing how many dinner and auction fundraisers generous local residents attend, SonRise is changing the format this year, eliminating the auction and letting the good times roll with The Cool Tones, an 18-piece band, providing big band music and swing dance lessons at the Diablo Country Club on Saturday, August 25th. Reserve your Wine & Equine tickets and learn more about SonRise at www.sonrisekids.org or call (925) 838-RIDE.
CANCER SUPPORT COMMUNITY
“ WHAT HURTS: HOW PALLIATIVE CARE CAN HELP THROUGHOUT THE EXPERIENCE OF CANCER” WITH PIYUSH SRIVASTAVA, MD.
This discussion will focus on palliative care — how to manage side effects, pain management, and improving the comfort of people dealing with cancer and its treatment. Learn how it fits into integrative care, how it differs from hospice care, and how a palliative care team approach can address mind, body, and spirit. Dr. Srivastava is a medical oncologist at Kaiser Walnut Creek. The discussion will take place Wednesday, August 29th from 6-8pm at Cancer Support Community, located at 3276 McNutt Avenue, Walnut Creek. The event is for cancer patients and their caregivers and is free. For more information and reservations please call 925-933-0107.
BOOKS FOR THE HOMEBOUND
If you or someone you know has a passion for reading and can no longer visit the library, find out more about the Danville Library’s Books for the Homebound program, a free and unique library service. Trained library volunteers check out and deliver books to homebound individuals residing in their own homes or residential care facilities. Contact Sandra Paiva, Volunteer Coordinator, at the Danville Library at (925) 314-3756 for more information.
YOUR PERSONAL NUTRITIONIST
By Linda Michaelis RD, MS WHAT TO DO AFTER A FOOD BINGE
During summer time, I see many clients that have spent weekends away with friends, at family reunions, or at backyard parties. After these events, they get upset with themselves for overindulging. I tell them they are not alone in having these feelings, and it is not that they are weak and have no willpower. I teach my clients that what is important is the aftermath of these food binges, and I help them learn how to get back on track and prevent the next one. Here are the ways to handle the day after a binge.
DON’T BEAT YOURSELF UP
I always tell my client that they have a child inside that does not deserve to be beaten up. Chances are it will only make you feel worse, and you will end up having another day off-track. Be kind to yourself the next day, and heal by getting a manicure, pedicure, massage, or by taking long naps, a drive to the beach, or whatever it takes to fill yourself up with love.
EAT HEALTHY AND BE AWARE OF TRUE HUNGER
The first inclination is to cut back on your food, but truly if you listen to your body, you will often find you will not be very hungry the day after a food binge. Focus on eating lots of lean proteins and veggies and drinking lots of water which will help fill you up and cleanse you as well. Enjoy kale, spinach, or other veggie smoothies with a small amount of fruit for taste and for cleansing as well. When I work together with my client, we immediately set up a food plan for a cleansing day that is enjoyable and not depriving. I tell my client that it could take 2-3 days of eating healthy to feel that light feeling when you wake up in the morning. After this period of time, you will feel back on track and hungry for all meals.
LEARN WHY YOU WENT OFF TRACK
We usually don’t eat very large portions out of pure hunger. Something triggers you at an event that causes you to eat past the point of fullness and to a point you are busting at the seams. When I work with a client after a binge, we explore how this train-wreck occurred. Often it is due to poor planning for the day, getting too hungry, and not being able to handle the never-ending amounts of food available. When you arrive at an event, you must create an instant plan on how to navigate the food. The plan does not have to be the healthiest plan but one that will fill you up and be yummy. It is most important to pay attention to portion sizes and certainly make room for dessert. I always suggest “work the room,” move around and talk to everyone. Don’t hang out around the food. Have a glass of wine, and alternate sips with water.
GET EXERCISE AND MOVE YOUR BODY
I am not talking about a self-punishing routine but one that will relax you and take your mind off of what happened. I even suggest taking a walk to a café and having a healthy meal and then walking back home. If you feel like you need a nutritionist to hold your hand through this process, I would be happy to help you. I enjoy setting up personalized meal plans based on your favorite foods and will teach you how to listen to your hunger signals. The good news is that nutritional counseling is covered by most health insurance companies such as Aetna, ABMG, Blue Cross, Blue Shield, CIGNA, Health Net, Sutter, Hill, and United Healthcare. Please call me at (925) 855-0150 about your nutrition concerns, email me at Lifeweight1@yahoo.com, and visit my website www.LindaRD.com. Advertorial
C L A S S I F I E D HANDYMAN SERVICES
Home Services with 30 years experience •Plumbing •Electrical •Drywall repair •New toilets •Carpentry •Caulking •Grab bars •Pressure washing •Ceramic tile •Water heaters •Dead bolts •Faucets •Garbage disposals •Flooring •Sliding doors and more! Call James, owner, at 925-934-0877.
Place Your Classified
Reach over 21,000 homes and businesses in Alamo, Danville, & Diablo - Help Wanted, For Sale, Services, Lessons, Pets, Rentals, Wanted, Freebies...$50 for up to 35 words,$5 for each additional 15 words.Send or email submissions to: 3000F Danville Blvd #117,Alamo,CA 94507 or editor@yourmonthlypaper.com. Payment by check made out to “The Editors”,or credit card placed on file by calling 925-405-6397 must be received before ad will print. Your canceled check is your receipt. We reserve the right to reject any ad.
MENOPAUSE MATTERS
MENARCHE, MENOPAUSE, AND MIGRANES
By Timothy Leach, MD, FACOG, CNMP
August 2018 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 27
be a medicine, a device, or a behavioral technique to reduce the frequency or severity of migraine attacks associated with hormonal fluctuations. This mini prophylaxis can be used around the time of a woman’s vulnerability to attacks after ovulation and before menstruation. Medications for migraine can include hormones, NSAID’s, a short or long acting triptan, and anti-nausea medications. Persons with migraine not associated with hormonal fluctuations may benefit from behavioral techniques including biofeedback and relaxation training. Acupuncture has some support in the literature. There are two FDA approved devices to treat migraine, one which is a transcutaneous nerve stimulator and the other is a single pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation device. Nerve blocks and Botox have a role in treating migraine. The risk and benefit of any single treatment option for migraine is beyond the scope of this article and deserves thoughtful evaluation by a neurologist or PCP who may work in conjunction with your gynecologist if there is a hormonal relationship. Go to leachobgyn.com and click on the Facebook link to see a recently posted article on migraines and menopause. My office is located at 110 Tampico, Suite 210 in Walnut Creek. Please call us at (925)935-6952. Advertorial
Hormonal fluctuations with a woman’s menarche (first period), menses, and menopause can trigger a migraine which is an inherited disorder of brain hyperexcitability. A migraine is not just associated with hormonal changes, and they do occur in men. Although headache is the most common and probably the most disabling symptom of migraine, there are other symptoms associated with migraine like nausea, vomiting, and light and sound sensitivity. Migraine as a brain disorder has different phases with headache being the most bothersome, but other components of migraine include premonitory, aura, and postdrome phase. Patients with aura have sense or warning that the headache phase is coming next. Auras can be visual, which is the most common, as well as sensory and motor, and can occur prior to the headache, as well as lasting into the duration of the headache. Patients diagnosed with migraine with aura need to have two lifetime attacks, and the aura should be on the order of 5 to 60 minutes. The aura should have a mix of reversible, positive, and negative, phenomenology but does not have to be in association with the headache. Aura does not have to happen with every attack. Not everyone has aura with their migraine. Migraine has a prevalence of about 12% in the general population: 18% in women and 6% in men. A women’s lifetime prevalence of Revolutionary having migraine is around 40%, starting in their Nonsurgical early 20’s to early 40’s and peaking probably Eyebag Therapy in her mid 30’s. Female predominance with available. migraine, recognized since ancient times, Call for is thought to be secondary to a woman’s consultation! hormonal fluctuations that take place over a woman’s lifespan. Most women who develop Introducing migraine start getting them around the time Women’s Wellness of their first period (menarche). The onset of Center, featuring Vlase menarche at a younger age (approximately 12 nonablative laser for feminine years old) is associated with a 7% increased dryness, atrophy, and stressrisk of having migraine by age mid-20’s. induced urinary incontinence, While migraine is associated with hormone and PRP for hair thinning levels, it is the rate of decreasing estrogen and rejuvenation. from its peak after ovulation (mid-cycle) that is thought to be a trigger for migraine. In the SWAN (Study of Women Across the Nation) A place where beauty Study, women with migraine had a faster and healthy skin meet drop in estrogen than controls in the first two Visit us at our Center of Excellence days after ovulation, suggesting that this is with a 10,000 square foot, neuroendocrine vulnerability of women with state of the art, newly renovated migraine, rather than just a nervous system suite. We are dedicated to sensitivity. This has implications for women Medical, Cosmetic, and Surgical beginning their transition towards menopause Dermatology and are a place for when abrupt hormonal fluctuations lead to medical skin consultation, more migraines eventually getting better aesthetic rejuvenation, and as periods space out and eventually stop for face and body contouring. 12 months, the definition of menopause. Visit www.DrWilliamTing.com Triggers like hormonal fluctuations, stress, for an extensive list of medical, surgical, and cosmetic treatments, food, or dietary changes, and sleep alteration product lines, lasers, and therapies offered. can lower the threshold for spontaneous Schedule your free consultation appointment today! migraine attacks that occur in a susceptible nervous system. Dr. William Ting, MD Anyone with migraine should be under Board Certified Dermatologist and Mohs Surgeon the care of a neurologist or primary care 2262 Camino Ramon 500 Alfred Noble Drive, #185 San Ramon, CA 94583 Hercules, CA 94547 provider with a good understanding of the Tel: (925) 328-0255 Tel: (510) 669-5700 pathophysiology of migraine. Specifically, Email: staff@CalDermCare.com hormonally triggered migraine may be www.DrWilliamTing.com prevented with mini prophylaxis which can
Medical & Surgical Dermatology For Healthy Skin Offering treatments for: Acne, Eczema, and Rashes Cysts and Lipoma Hair and Nail Disorder Keloid and Scar Revisions Moles Physician-Strength Skin Care Products Precancerous Lesions Psoriasis and Vitiligo Skin Cancer Underarm Sweating Warts, Molluscum
Cosmetic Dermatology For Beautiful Skin Offering treatments for: Body Sculpting Eyebag Reduction Face, Neck, Body Tightening, Lifting, and Rejuvenation Frown Lines and Jawline/Jowl Reduction Hair Removal Pigmentation and Melasma Rosacea, Facial Redness, Veins, and Post-injection Bruising Sun Damage and Scars Tattoo, Moles, Birthmarks, and Scars Thinning Hair and/or Balding
Technology & Procedures Offered Cellfina Cool Mini for neck Coolsculpting® Cryoshape Diolite 532 laser Enlighten Pico Genesis Laser Excel V Laser Excimer Laser Fractional CO2 Laser GenesisPlus Laser Infini Microneedling RF Kybella Liposonix® Microneedling MiraDry Mohs Micrographic Surgery NBUVB Phototherapy PicoSure Laser PRP for Hair Loss and Rejuvenation Vbeam Laser Spectra Laser Superficial Radiotherapy Thermage™ Ultherapy™ Vaginal Rejuvenation Vaser Shape VLase for Feminine Rejuvenation MODELS
editor @ yourmonthlypaper.com
*Welcoming new Medicare patients
PAGE 28 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • August 2018
The Combs Team
www.yourmonthlypaper.com
Professionals You Can Count On
Nancy
This is Rockcliff Country
Joe
Call the Combs Team
®
92 5 -9 8 9 -6 0 8 6 www.TheCombsTeam.com
DANVILLE REAL ESTATE: FAMILY HOME PRICES UP 11%
This month I wanted to focus on what I consider to be the average Danville Family Home which consists of 4 bedrooms equipped with 2-3 baths. I want to see if the upward market trend we observed throughout 2017 can be seen here at the half way point of 2018 as well. At the peak, the 2006-2007 time frame, the average price paid for one of these 2,500 sq. ft. gems was $1,112,000, selling at a stratospheric price of $436 per square foot. Supply was very low, and demand was very high. Through the first five months of 2018 and 16 days of July, the price for a Danville Family home has increased markedly compared to last year. Current average sales price stands at $1,395,000 compared to $1,261,000 in 2017. This represents a price increase of 11% over the previous year. Dollars per square foot increased $467 to $523 for a 12% jump. Looking at the size of home sold, you will see that this year they are smaller by 20 square feet. For the year, a total of 180 family homes have been sold. Inventory remains low with only 48 similar properties currently on the market. Last year 37 properties remained, so inventory is down about 30% from last year. Danville Family Homes are selling at a rate of 30 per month. Current inventory sits at about 1.6 month’s supply. When you consider days on market stand at 19, less than one month on average, and inventory continues to shrink, we should not be surprised to learn Danville is still a very hot market.
Are we in a Real Estate bubble? Twelve years have passed since the beginning of the big crash which bottomed late 2011. With the recent run up in home prices, we are about 25% ahead of those 2006 prices. So, if you bought your home in 2006, on average you’ve earned about 2% per year on the investment. This doesn’t sound like much of a run up or a bubble, does it? If you bought your home anytime during the downturn, you’ve done significantly better, enjoying robust rebound appreciation of 77%. Today, mortgage interest rates are 20% lower than during the last peak, and average income in Danville is up by more than $10,000 per household. Combine this with population growth, job creation, and few net new home starts, and you can easily envision continued strong demand. Rising interest rates combined with higher prices will ultimately slow price appreciation. This can already be observed in Alamo. A significant unknown is the new tax law regarding interest deductibility and state and local tax maximum deductions. This is bound to have some effect moving forward, though not predictable for the moment. Call me at 925-989-6086 if you would like an honest estimate of your home’s value. Email me at joecombs@thecombsteam.com to receive the electronic version of this monthly article. To find archived articles for Danville and Alamo Real Estate, please visit our website at www.thecombsteam.com. Visit our Facebook Page “Real Estate Services for Danville, Danville and more.”
Round Hill Country Club
Round Hill Oaks
D SOL
D SOL
Round Hill Area
D SOL
Sensational Mediterranean backing the golf course. 4 beds, 3.5 baths, 2 master suites. Pool/spa outdoor kitchen and living room. Priced to sell $2,900,000.
Rare Round Hill Oaks home. Never on Market. Nancy and I represented the buyer and the seller. Wish to sell quietly? We can help you.
Pristine 5 bedroom in a great location. Stainless steel and granite Kitchen. Private lot. Priced to sell $1.4 million.
Danville Gated Community
Alamo Single Story
Alamo Springs!
D SOL
D SOL
D SOL
Five bedroom 3 bath in gated community. One bed downstairs, designer kitchen, spacious master. Priced to sell $1,300,000
Charming light and bright 4 bedroom 2.5 bath Single story home on a large private lot. Sold $1,550,000.
Five bedroom 4.5 bath, Luxury abounds. Chef’s kitchen, outdoor kitchen, pool & spa, sports court. Priced to sell $2.8M
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 DRE #0144125, Nancy Combs DRE # 01274945, The Combs Team, J. Rockcliff and the MLS service do not guarantee the accuracy of this information. J. Rockcliff Realtors 15 Railroad Ave., Danville CA. 94526