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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
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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.