Danville_Today_February_2016

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February 2016 The Crayon Initiative: As Innovative as Child’s Play By Jody Morgan

What’s cooking in the Ware family’s Danville kitchen? Fuel for the imagination generated by a recipe that keeps a non-biodegradable product out of the landfill. Bryan Ware, Founder and President of The Crayon Initiative (TCI), leads his team in remaking unwanted crayons into new 8-color boxes specially designed for pediatric hospital patients across the nation. From collection to distribution, TCI makes a complex process proceed as innovatively as child’s play.

In 2011, while celebrating his 40th birthday at a family-friendly establishment, Ware wondered what would happen to the crayons the restaurant had given his two young sons if they didn’t take them home. Restaurants, he discovered, fearing contamination and being risk averse, dump even unopened boxes of crayons from patrons’ tables into the trash. Five hundred thousand pounds of crayons reach landfills every year. Made of a combination of petroleum-based paraffin wax and pigment, crayons don’t biodegrade in a decade or even a century.

Crayon sorting is fun for all ages. The next Danville sorting date is March 12. Photo courtesy of TCI.

Serving Danville Historic Icons of the San Ramon Valley

By Beverly Lane

Calling buildings “icons” may be a stretch, but in the case of five buildings in the Museum’s new Historic Icons of the Valley exhibit, the word fits. Featured this month are the Tassajara Grammar School, Southern Pacific Depot, and Diablo Country Club’s Red Horse Tavern.

Tassajara Grammar School

The Tassajara Grammar School at 1650 Finley Road was the second school in that community, and what a beauty it still is. There were six grammar school districts in the greater San Ramon Tassajara Grammar School Valley, and only this 1889 school house from any district remains. Today it is owned by the Museum of the San Ramon Valley and hosts a popular living history program for third graders from the San Ramon Valley’s School District.

It schooled Tassajara students for over 50 years, drawing many Portuguese and Danish children to learn their basic education. For most, it was all the schooling they received. It closed in 1946 with the remaining students traveling by bus to the modern Danville Elementary School. For decades it was used for meetings, as a polling place, and for annual community picnics.

The Tassajara community, led by Rasmussens and Reinsteins, helped save the school house in the 1960s and 1970s by putting down a foundation and constructing a new roof. Other improvements were made by the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District (an owner for years), Shapell Homes, and the Museum. Picnic tables surround the school, and ancient walnut trees (many planted by the children) grace the property.

Danville Depot

In 1891 Southern Pacific built four of their “decorative” two-story combination depots along the San Ramon Branch Line. Only the Danville depot remains as a restored building which is now the Museum of the San Ramon Valley. The Concord and San Ramon deDanville Depot pots are gone, and the Walnut Creek depot is a restaurant on Broadway near the Iron Horse Trail.

The current exhibit will focus on the period when the depot was owned by Joe Ramos Sr. and Jr. They purchased it from Helen Benn as

Ware wanted to rework that intolerable waste into a valuable resource. “Being a supply chain guy,” Ware explains, “I knew there had to be something we could do with the endless supply of crayons. I knew it was going to be big, and now we’ve proven that crayon recycling is making a difference in children’s lives. This isn’t a small operation anymore. We are on track to donate 100,000 packs of crayons to hospitalized children across the country this year. This is just the beginning.”

What began as a moment of inspiration took two years to turn into a viable operation.

After incorporating in May 2013, TCI finally achieved non-profit 501 (C) (3) status in January 2014. Along the way, many problems had to be solved.

How do you turn big batches of wax into crayons in a home kitchen? How do you remove the paper? How do you manufacture a product that’s what pediatric hospitals want? Step by step, Ware answered each question.

Manual scraping and solvents don’t work, but crayon wrappers can be easily removed See Icons continued on page 21 from the melting pot with tongs. Any residue is strained out when the wax is poured into molds. Now TCI is working on turning that waxed paper by-product into useful com- Grad Night: Plea to “Pay It modities such as fire-starters or synthetic logs.

Extensive testing proved the melting process kills germs. A physical therapist helped Forward” Volume VII - Number 4 design a mold, shaping 96 crayons per batch into a chunky, easy-to-grip triangular shape By Lisa Olson, SRV Grad Night 3000F Danville Blvd. #117, Alamo, CA 94507 Since 1978, San Ramon Valley High that doesn’t roll off hospital trays. Ware tested various shipping methods and found an (925) 405-6397 inexpensive way for collection points to ship crayons to TCI. School (SRVHS) senior parents have put on Fax (925) 406-0547 Each of the custom-made molds produces enough crayons to supply 40,000 pediatric a Grad Night celebration for their graduates.

See Crayon continued on page 22 Every year, these parents rely on someone in Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher editor@ the community to donate storage/workspace yourmonthlypaper.com PRSRT STD to design and build for Grad Night. Over the U.S. Postage years, this has become increasingly difficult The opinions expressed herein belong PAID Local the writers, and do not necessarily with the real estate market volatility. Further, toreflect Permit 263 that of Danville Today News.

Postal Customer Danville Today News is not SRVHS will be undergoing massive campus Alamo CA for the content of any of renovations next year, and in preparation, the responsible the advertising herein, nor does ECRWSS publication imply endorsement.

See Plea continued on page 17

Page 2 - February 2016 ~ Danville Today News

Boulevard View

By Alisa Corstorphine, Editor

www.yourmonthlypaper.com

When I am on vacation, all of my necessary possessions fit nicely inside an averaged size suitcase. These belongings manage to take care of my needs for a few weeks or longer, infrequently leaving me lusting over items I left at home. When I come home, I look at all of the possessions that I own and surround me, and sometimes it gets overwhelming. Everything I own needs some level of “care and feeding.” From the tea cups that need dusting, to the button on my shirt that needs reattaching, to the broken glass in a picture frame, to the yard clippers that need sharpening, the items often become chores added to my “To Do” list.

This realization that my belongings were overwhelming me inspired me to start Spring Cleaning early this year. I wanted to pare down and lighten my load a bit. Now that our kids are on their own, I want to go through the piles of possessions that have accumulated over the years within the house and see what I truly value and want to keep. (Note: We aren’t throwing away the kids’ things without asking them first!) During this process my daughter sent me a post she had seen on reddit.com. It said, Coveting possessions is unhealthy. Here's how I look at it: All of the computers on eBay are mine. In fact, everything on eBay is already mine. All of those things are just in long term storage that I pay nothing for. Storage is free.

When I want to take something out of storage, I just pay the storage costs for that particular thing up to that point, plus a nominal shipping fee, and my things are delivered to me so I can use them. When I am done with them, I return them to storage via Craigslist or eBay, and I am given a fee as compensation for freeing up the storage facilities resources.

This is also the case with all of my stuff that Amazon and Walmart are holding for me. I have antiques, priceless art, cars, estates, and jewels beyond the dreams of avarice.

The world is my museum, displaying my collections on loan. ~ /u/pastabagel With that vision of my possessions, and great eBay and Craigslist skills, as well as the online NextDoor resource, I have a new outlook. I am cleaning, I am purging, I am redecorating, and I’m having a whole lot of fun! I am getting rid of things that weigh me down, that I merely was keeping because I thought that I should. I want the items that surround me to make me smile and bring good memories.

Most of the readers of this newspaper have not been to my home. But for those that have, they know of our (in)famous “Hall of Fame” that leads to my kids’ rooms. The pictures dotting the walls of that hallway are what I truly care about in our home. The good memories of birthday parties, family road trips, high school dances with my husband, and everything in between can be seen and relished by everyone that walks down that hall. For me, items like these pictures are what is worth keeping. These 4”x6” pieces of paper are what make me smile. I don’t need the clothes in the back of my closet that are never worn anymore. I don’t need seven ladles in my kitchen drawers. And I definitely do not need three sets of the game Risk. Instead I focus on the items I want to keep, and anything else gets posted online, donated to one of our wonderful local charities or thrift stores, or given to a friend or family member.

With the lightened load, I am working on everything having a place (which is way easier when the shelves are not crammed full and overflowing!). The answer is not in building more cabinets or procuring more storage boxes as that is an endless circle. I have tried embracing Marie Kondo’s (author of The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up and its illustrated companion Spark Joy) ways of organizing, believing that every item in our lives serves a specific role, accepting when that role may be fulfilled, and then finally moving on.

While difficult at first, the process of donating, selling, and giving away old possessions has become enjoyable, as I am excited for the items to have new homes and happy to no longer be burdened by the possession of them. It doesn’t mean my home is bare or devoid of objects. What it will mean is that each item will be here because I want it to be here and that it serves a purpose that makes me and my family happy.

By acknowledging their contribution and letting them go with gratitude, you will be able to truly put the things you own, and your life, in order. –Kondo

Meals on Wheels

Seniors in your community need your support! Meals on Wheels and Senior Outreach Services has been supporting seniors in YOUR neighborhood since 1968. Two of our programs, Meals on Wheels and Friendly Visitors, rely on the support of volunteers, and we need your help now more than ever. Meals on Wheels volunteer drivers deliver meals to local homebound seniors through regular two hour shifts once per week or as substitute drivers. Friendly Visitors volunteers provide weekly one-hour companionship visits to isolated seniors. To volunteer for either program, please call (925)937-8311.

editor@yourmonthlypaper.com

JARED HIGGINS TEAM

Danville Home Sales Danville Home Sales

390 BOLERO DR 511 CONTADA CIR 358 CORDELL DR 555 EL PINTADO RD 529 FARRAGUT PL 10 GLEN ALPINE 1616 GREEN VALLEY RD 3253 GRIFFON ST W 20 LA VISTA WAY 609 LAS BARRANCAS DR 117 LAURELWOOD DR 621 MORNINGHOME RD 3743 OLD BLACKHAWK RD 44 REDBUD CT 1179 RIVERROCK LN 1177 RIVER ROCK LN 1616 SAINT HELENA DR 3507 SHADOW CREEK DR 25 SHADY OAK CT 3842 SHEFFIELD CIR 149 VALLE VERDE CT 484 VERONA AVE 3800 WELSHLAND ST 3863 WELSHLAND ST 16 WOODRANCH CIR 21 WOODRANCH CIR

List Price List Price $1,299,000 $1,090,000 $1,950,000 $2,499,000 $1,850,000 $1,888,238 $875,000 $1,299,990 $1,388,000 $1,300,000 $1,998,238 $1,195,000 $1,995,000 $1,099,888 $849,000 $870,000 $979,000 $1,099,900 $1,135,000 $1,099,000 $938,000 $998,000 $975,000 $929,000 $995,000 $1,349,000

Sales Price Sales Price $1,190,000 $1,073,000 $1,885,000 $2,500,000 $1,700,000 $1,795,000 $875,000 $1,285,000 $1,378,000 $1,240,000 $1,955,000 $1,135,000 $1,800,000 $1,100,000 $835,000 $850,000 $1,035,000 $1,099,000 $1,100,000 $1,105,000 $955,000 $1,070,000 $1,010,000 $950,000 $1,010,000 $1,285,000

SqFtFt.Bed/BathSale $/SqFt DOM Sq. Bed/Bath $/SqFt DOM 2958 5/2.5 $402 58 2779 4/3 $386 44 3710 4/3.5 $508 142 4865 5/4.5 $514 169 4735 6/4.5 $359 16 4123 5/4.5 $435 70 2070 3/2 $423 105 2993 5/4.5 $429 32 3286 4/3.5 $419 83 1956 5/2 $634 65 4719 6/4.5 $414 102 2551 3/2.5 $445 73 3360 4/2.5 $536 25 2686 5/2.5 $410 36 1375 3/2.5 $607 56 2052 3/3.5 $414 84 1938 3/2 $534 7 3237 4/3 $340 8 2670 4/3 $412 68 2935 5/3 $376 49 1625 4/2 $588 5 1129 3/2 $948 13 1970 3/2 $513 7 1706 3/2 $557 3 2896 4/3 $349 7 2790 4/3 $461 36

Danville Today News ~ February 2016 - Page 3

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Sample Ballot Photo Contest

The Contra Costa County Election Division is inviting residents to participate in the Sample Ballot Photo Contest.

One of the unique features of the Contra Costa Elections Division Sample Ballot/Voter Information Guide is that the cover features a photo to show some of the intrinsic beauty of our county and enhance the experience of our voters. Few, if any, other counties in California have a photo on the cover of their guides. The first place photo will be placed on sample ballots which will go out to over a half-million registered voters!

Submission is open until midnight February 29. For more information and to complete the entry forms, visit http://www.cocovote.us/.

Sons in Retirement San Ramon Valley

Looking for things to do in your retirement? Consider joining Sons in Retirement San Ramon Valley Branch 128. The group has monthly luncheons with interesting speakers and good fellowship. Additionally, members have lots of fun participating in a variety of activities such as golf, tennis, bicycling, hiking, bocce ball, bridge, computers and much more. Many other activities such as travel, dine outs, excursions, baseball games and holiday parties include spouses, friends and guests.

The next monthly luncheon will be held on Wednesday, February 17th at 11AM. A fee of $23 includes luncheon, speaker, and a great opportunity to socialize with at least 150 other retirees from the San Ramon Valley. The February speaker will be Dave Ninekirk, a Vice President at Charles Schwab. Dave will update attendees on the current state of the economy and its impact on today’s stock market. There will be ample time for Questions & Answers. To reserve a space, please email by Thursday, February 11th to info@sir128.com. Meetings are held at the San Ramon Golf Club, 9430 Fircrest Lane in San Ramon.

For more information about this retirement branch and activities, please visit www.SIR128.com.

Community Award Nominations

On Thursday, February 18th, the Danville Chamber is hosting the Annual State of the Town Luncheon at Crow Canyon Country Club. Mayor Karen Stepper will be presenting an update on projects, finances, and issues. This is an outstanding opportunity to meet Town Council members and Town staff and find out the latest about your community.

The Annual Community Awards for Business Person of the Year, Citizen of the Year, Charitable Organization of the Year, and Employee of the Year will be presented at this luncheon.

The cost of the luncheon is $35 per person, and reservations are required

by February 10th by either calling the Chamber at (925) 837-4400 or visiting www.danvilleareachamber.com. The recipients will be guests of the Chamber.

Raviolis for RotaCare

Raviolis for RotaCare, a fundraiser to benefit the RotaCare Pittsburg Free Medical Clinic at St. Vincent de Paul, will take place on Monday, February 8, 5-8PM at Gianni’s Italian Bistro, located at 20165 San Ramon Valley Blvd. in San Ramon. Dine at Gianni’s and 10% of proceeds plus all tips will benefit the free clinic. Make reservations at www.opentable.com or by calling (925) 820-6969. In order for the Clinic to continue serving patients in need, the organization needs your help.

Since opening in February 2011, the Free Medical Clinic has provided over 6,000 patient visits and has provided quality medical care to almost 3,200 uninsured and underserved patients with acute or chronic medical conditions. Healthcare services are free to the patient, including medical exams, diagnostic and laboratory testing, and generic medications.

Each week 15-20 volunteers staff the clinic, including physicians, pharmacists, nurses, medical assistants, translators, receptionists, and administrative volunteers.

Volunteer Medical Director Dr. Hamid Khonsari leads the clinic. The RotaCare Pittsburg Free Medical Clinic at St. Vincent de Paul continues to recruit for volunteers and is in particular need of doctors, pharmacists, and bi-lingual social workers and nurses.

If interested in volunteering, contact Clinic Operations Manager, Drea Riquelme at pittsburg@rotacarebayarea.org or call (925) 439-2009. All malpractice and liability insurance is provided for the medical professionals at each Clinic.

You can help donate to the St. Vincent de Paul Health Services Fund by calling (925) 439-5060 or visiting www.svdp-cc.org.

Page 4 - February 2016 ~ Danville Today News

GFWC Danville Women’s Club

By Doral Allen

www.yourmonthlypaper.com

The speaker for our January 21st lunch and business meeting, Nancy Labelle, executive director for the Down Syndrome Connection of the East Bay, was wonderful! No matter what I thought I knew about Down Syndrome, I discovered I was still capable of learning more, and I appreciated Nancy’s knowledge and the way she imparted her passion and commitment to us concerning this birth defect. It was a very good business meeting.

Another thing our club involved itself in on January 21st was “One Warm Coat.” Members brought Weekly Service and Repairs gently used coats, vests, jackets, sweatshirts, sweaters, etc., to the business meeting---anything to help a homeless person stay warm on these very cold (and rainy) winter days. There is something heart-warming about “warming others.”

On February 10th the Danville Women’s Club is going to have a Powerpoint presentation on “who we are,” “what we do,” and “how we connect to the California Federation of Women’s Clubs and the General Federation of Women’s Clubs.” This is an excellent opportunity for new members to gain knowledge about our many activities and charitable works. As a guest, you would be most welcome to attend, but you will need to contact Linda Perazzo at (925) 642-2097 or e-mail her at dwc-member@yahoo.com so that we have an accurate head count for this event.

February will also find members and guests learning about personal emergency preparedness and the use of defibrillators. This educational talk will be given by a speaker from the San Ramon Valley Fire District and will take place after lunch at our business meeting on Thursday, February 18th. If you would be interested in attending our lunch and learning more about the Danville Women’s Club, please contact Linda Perazzo by calling (925) 642-2097 or e-mailing her at dwc-member@yahoo.com.

On Thursday, February 25th our club will be hosting “An Afternoon of Bridge” at 11:30AM at our clubhouse located at 242 Linda Mesa Avenue in Danville. The cost is $80 per table, which will include a delicious lunch and bridge. This event is a fundraiser to benefit our Patty Hart Memorial Scholarship Fund for high school seniors. To reserve a table or to obtain more information, please call Mary Wallace at (925) 837-3860 or e-mail her at marynmac@yahoo.com.

We look forward to meeting you and encourage you to also visit our website at www.danvillewomensclub.org.

The GFWC Danville Women’s Club was organized in 1911. We are members of the GFWC California Federation of Women’s Clubs (CFWC) and the General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC)--one of the world’s Gopher/Mole Removal largest women’s nondenominational, nonpartisan, international service organizations of volunteer women.

925-820-8950

Tri-Valley Camp & School Fair Saturday, February 20, 11am – 2pm

The third annual Tri-Valley Camp & School Fair is a free event with booths featuring camps, schools, preschool, daycare, STEM & STEAM programs, sports, martial arts, gymnastics, enrichment, performing arts, scouts, and family vacations. Activities and exhibitions will be held.

There is free admission and free parking. The fair will be held at San Ramon Valley High School (Commons Building), 501 Danville Blvd., Danville.

Use El Cerro Blvd. exit from Interstate 680. For more information, visit www.

TriValleyCampFair.com.

7th Annual Town of Danville Recreation Expo

Danville area residents are encouraged to save the date to attend the Town of Danville’s 7th Annual Recreation Program Expo which will be held February 6 from 10AM - 1PM at the Danville Community Center.

A variety of specialty class instructors and Town staff will be on hand to showcase upcoming classes and answer questions in person.

Participants will receive a coupon code valid for a 10% fee discount for programs listed in the Spring Activity Guide and Summer Camps Brochure, which are bulk mailed to residents in Danville, Alamo, and Diablo.

For more information, contact the Danville Community Center at (925) 314-3400 or recreation@danville.ca.gov.

Lost Dog!

$50 REWARD

If you find him and your name is drawn!

Danville Dog is Missing He has become lost in this paper!

He is very small, so you will have to look hard if you want to find him.

To be eligible send a letter telling us where you found him, along with your name and address, to: Lost Dog! ~ Danville Today News 3000F Danville Blvd #117 • Alamo, CA 94507

Tim Yuen is our winner!

Town Hall Meeting Set for February 6

No Poison

925-765-4209

Danville area residents will have the opportunity to hear an update on town, county and statewide issues when Mayor Karen Stepper, Supervisor Candace Andersen and Assemblywoman Catharine Baker hold a Town Hall meeting.

The Town Hall is set for Saturday, February 6, 10am-11am at the Veterans Memorial Building, 400 Hartz Avenue.

During the event, residents will get to hear from their elected representatives about is-sues affecting them, provide feedback on what is happening in the community and talk about how their government can serve them.

Individuals interested in attending can RSVP by contacting Assemblywoman Baker’s District Office at (925) 328-1515.

For more information on the Town Hall, contact Assistant to the Town Manager Nat Rojanasathira at (925) 314-3328 or nrojanasathira@danville. ca.gov.

Host Families Sought for One Week Stay by Visiting French Students

For the eleventh consecutive year, students from a large high school in the South of France are coming to Danville. Every visit by the students has been better than the last. The students will arrive on April 22nd and depart April 29th.

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

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

For more information or to find out about past years’ programs, please contact Martine Causse (teacher in charge of the group) at caussefly@wanadoo.fr or dachary.martine@orange.fr.

There are many happy local host families ready to discuss any questions with you (including the editor of this paper!). The local contact is Danville parent Kevin Dimler, who can be reached at kevindimler@gmail.com or (925)997-7226.

editor@yourmonthlypaper.com

Danville Today News ~ February 2016 - Page 5

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Blackhawk Republican Women Present David Wolfe

The Blackhawk Republican Women will be presenting David Wolfe of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers’ Association speaking on Proposition 13, taxes, and the November 2016 General Election on Thursday, February 11 at the Blackhawk Country Club Main Dining Room. Everyone is welcome.

Check-in and a social will begin at 11:30 followed by a noon luncheon meeting and speaker presentation. The cost is $30 David Wolfe has worked for seven years with the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers’ Association. In this capacity, he monitors the legislature closely, writing position letters and testifying on hundreds of bills. Dozens of these would have severely undercut Propositions 13 and 218, the main priorities of the association. His other responsibilities include putting together an annual report card for all 120 legislators and contributing to the HJTA quarterly publication, Taxing Times.

Wolfe has also worked on a variety of initiative campaigns, including ones to defeat taxes and advocate for property rights. Having sat through hundreds of hours of budget hearings, he also can speak broadly on Sacramento’s spending habits. Prior to joining HJTA, Wolfe spent a year in the state capitol, working for then Assemblyman Guy Houston.

Please make your reservations with a check made payable to “Blackhawk Republican Women,” as well as any cancellations, by Tuesday, February 9th, with Jane Parish, 366 Jacaranda Dr., Danville 94506, janeparish@sbcglobal. net, or (925) 216-6663.

Hap Magee Ranch Dog Park to Reopen

Dog owners will have the opportunity to take their furry companions out for some winter exercise at the Canine Corral, as the popular dog park at Hap Magee Ranch Park ended the annual winter moratorium early.

Even with the early opening the dog park could be closed during inclement weather. On wet days, park users can call (925) 314-3484 to check on the status of the Canine Corral. For more information, contact Maintenance Superintendent at (925) 314-3434 or dcasteel@danville.ca.gov.

OFFERED AT $6,880,000

Free Tax Preparation

Free tax preparation for the 2016 tax season is available starting February 2016 from AARP’s Tax-Aide and United Way’s Earn It, Keep It, Save It (EKS) programs. All tax preparers are trained and certified by the IRS. While both programs serve taxpayers of any age, Tax-Aide does not have an income limit in whom they can serve but EKS can only serve individuals whose incomes do not exceed $50,000.

For information or to make an appointment for the Tax-Aide sites serving the San Ramon and Danville areas, please call (925) 973-3250 San Ramon San Ramon Senior Center site or (925) 480-7202 Danville - St. Isidore Ministry Center site. For general information and other site locations, call (925) 726-3199.

For information on EKS sites call 2-1-1 or visit www.earnitkeepitsaveit.org.

To complete your tax return, Tax-Aide will need you to bring the following to the appointment: Social Security Card or ITIN letter for all individuals to be listed on the return, copies of all W-2s, 1098s and 1099s, their income and deductions, your 2014 Tax Return, and proof of medical insurance if you are not on Medicare.

Treats for the Troops

Thank you to CVS in Alamo and Lunardi’s in Danville and all of the fabulous customers who make it easier for Delta Nu Psi to collect “gourmet junk food” to send to our servicemen and women in Afghanistan. The group will continue sending packages as long as American military members are in the War Zone.

Much of the food sent is not normally available to the troops.

On February 5th Delta Nu Psi members will be at CVS Pharmacy in Alamo, and on February 12th they will be at Lunardi’s in Danville. Collections will be held from 11am to 2pm both days, rain or shine.

Please help us San Damiano’s 3rd Annual Golf provide our men and Tournament, Dinner & Auc9on women in the War at Diablo Country Club Zone a touch of home.

For more information, Register at www.sandamiano.org visit www.deltanupsi.org.

Page 6 - February 2016 ~ Danville Today News

Assisted Outpatient Treatment Program Launches in Contra Costa County

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By Candace Andersen, Contra Costa County Supervisor, District 2

One of the many services the County provides to Contra Costa residents is mental health services. I am pleased to announce that Contra Costa County’s Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) Program launched on February 1. AOT is based on Assembly Bill 1421, otherwise known as Laura’s Law, which is a discretionary state law that allows counties to use the civil court system to supervise care. Last year the Board of Supervisors passed Laura’s Law in our county as a way to not only help the mentally ill and their families, but to also protect the community.

Who is eligible for AOT? An adult with severe and persistent mental illness may qualify for the AOT program if their mental health is getting worse, they are unlikely to be safe in the community without supervision, and they have a recent history of hospitalization or violence related to their mental health. The program is intended for those who have previously declined or not engaged in offered treatment. For more information about who qualifies for AOT and who can request an AOT screening, visit cchealth.org/mentalhealth/lauras-law.php or you may call 1-844-422-2268.

Eligible individuals benefit from a 24-hour team response that can include treatment, medication, access to primary health care, substance abuse counseling, counseling regarding benefits and other resources, access to supportive housing services, vocational rehabilitation, and peer and family member support. Those who do not meet all AOT eligibility requirements will still be connected with appropriate behavioral health services.

The County has contracted with Mental Health Systems, a not-for-profit, community based organization, with extensive experience running similar programs in San Diego County and elsewhere in California, to provide an Assertive Community Treatment model, which is designed to break the cycle of repeated hospitalization or incarceration many of these community members face, delivering safe, effective and respectful treatment. Program staff includes licensed mental health clinicians from Behavioral Health Services (BHS) as well as from Mental Health Systems.

While a process for court-ordered treatment is now in place, we are optimistic that it will remain a last resort. Our AOT program emphasizes voluntary participation, and the experience of other counties with similar programs suggests that most patients do engage with services without court involvement.

To ensure outcomes are accurately tracked, the County has hired Resource Development Associates, who will provide program evaluation services.

Our AOT program was developed in coordination with Behavioral Health, Contra Costa Superior Court, the Public Defender’s Office, County Counsel, the Mental Health Commission, and many community partners.

AOT is not for crisis intervention. If you or someone you know is experiencing a life-threatening emergency, call 911 immediately. To speak with a trained crisis counselor about a mental or emotional health concern, call 1-888-678-7277 any time of day or night.

For more information on mental health resources in Contra Costa County you may visit mhcrashcourse.org/about.html. The website offers links to services as well as information on the Mental Health Crash Course, which is a 90 minute orientation for people who find themselves having to interact with the mental health field but don’t know where to start. A coalition of groups has come together to provide a weekly seminar to help people learn more. Classes begin this month and will be held on Wednesday evenings at the Family Justice Center, 2151 Salvio Street, Suite 201 in Concord.

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 by email at SupervisorAndersen@ bos.cccounty.us or by phone at (925) 957-8860.

Role Players Ensemble presents Good People

The Role Players Ensemble presents Good People, by David LindsayAbaire and directed by Eric Fraisher Hayes, January 29 – February 14 at the Village Theatre located at 233 Front Street in Danville. Friday and Saturday performances will be held at 8PM, and Sunday performances will be held at 2PM.

Margie Walsh is barely getting by on her Dollar Store salary. When she loses her job and faces eviction, she takes a chance on rekindling things with an old flame (well, more of a spark), hoping for a fresh start. Quirky, unpredictable and grounded in a genuine humor that comes from hitting rock bottom, Good People will have you laughing one moment and crying the next as it explores the nature of our loyalties and our hopes.

The play features Melanie DuPuy, Edward Nattenberg, Leontyne MbeleMbong, Kyle Goldman, Bonnie DeChant, and Barbara Grant Tickets costing $20-28 are available online at www.RolePlayersEnsemble. com, at Danville Community Center located at 420 Front St in Danville, or by calling (925) 314-3400.

Information about the full season can be found by visiting www.RolePlayersEnsemble.com.

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Danville Today News ~ February 2016 - Page 7

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Page 8 - February 2016 ~ Danville Today News

SRV High School Students Give Back

Last year Kailey McKnight and Kaylee Anderson founded a community service-based club at San Ramon Valley High that is affiliated with the Pledge to Humanity organization. In a little over a year the club has quickly grown to 142 members, becoming the largest and fastest growing club on campus.

The SRVHS Pledge to Humanity Club volunteers have donated a total of 915 hours of their time in the last four months to help those in need all over the Bay Area. A few of the many events that the club has participated in this year include Special Olympics, Habitat For Humanity, Winter Wonderland for foster kids, caroling to seniors, serving at multiple soup kitchens, and more.

Through working together with the common goal of helping others, SRVHS students are seeing that it is much better to give than to receive.

They are also realizing that even though they live in an affluent community, there are folks right in our backyard that need help.

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She’s All That

Conference Positively Transforms Young Girls’ Lives

On Saturday, March 19th 9AM - 3PM at California High School in San Ramon, young girls will be treated to an exciting and distinctive conference. Past participants have stated they feel these seminars should be mandatory for all middle school girls. Young girls and their parents came away from past conferences saying, “It was everything they could have hoped for.”

She’s All That includes inspirational keynote presentations and a selection of workshops. Some of the workshops offered this year are Straight Scoop on Boys, Mean Girls, Cyber Safe and Sane Online, Discover the Writer Inside You, #dramamama, Hoop Dance, Yoga, Find Your Passion, Don’t be Stressed Out, and how to Get Your Parents Off Your Back and on Your Side. Also included in the conference are workshops designed to help parents best cope with the changing teenage years.

There will be Live Your Dream expo booths and engaging speakers designed to inspire young girls. Refreshments and lunch will be served during the day along with raffle prizes at the conclusion of the conference.

This is the 12th annual conference that the Soroptimists of San Ramon Valley has produced. Due to overwhelming enthusiasm for the event from past participants, the Soroptimists work hard to produce an exceptional event every year.

For more information or to register for the event, go to www.soroptimist-sr.org or call (925) 355-2442. The cost of a ticket for the daylong conference is only $35 before March 6th and $40 after. There are also scholarships available for the event.

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Stone Valley Middle School

By Jon Campopiano, principal

We have had a fantastic first semester! Students, staff, and community have been working together to build a positive, caring, and compassionate campus.

Leadership and our PTA have worked together to support our sister school, Coronado Elementary, with over 50 holiday meals, toys, and gift cards. Stone Valley students visited Glide Memorial to be of service, preparing and serving food to those in need.

Our students raised thousands of dollars to support Type 1 diabetes research and are currently leading a donation for coats, jeans, and gloves.

Four of our students were finalists for the Street Smarts video competition where they created a public service announcement that has increased school safety and led to greater awareness. Congratulations to Benjamin Hart who was crowned our annual National Geographic Bee winner and will now enter the state competition.

Students and staff are implementing California Standards with rigorous and relevant instruction that is integrating technology to bring learning alive. Campus culture has remained very positive with lunchtime activities, two school dances, and Soul Shoppe activities that are geared towards character development, empathy, and respect. These actives have spurred both discussions and actions that have lead to letter writing campaigns to support those in need, campus cleanup initiatives, and a newly formed buddy club. Along with the benefits that Soul Shoppe have brought, we have seen incredibly positive results from students powering down their cell phones during school hours. Teachers are amazed at the increased focus in class, parents thank us constantly, and even students share that not having their phones allows us to “relax.” Removing the phones has prevented a significant amount of stress on our students, and we see more direct conversations, laughing, and engagement during class, lunch, and breaks.

We continue to purchase more and more tablets and Chromebooks, so students are not deprived of necessary technology for research, collaboration, or creation.

In next month’s issue, I will share more about our $37 million construction project, but for now we are excited to be moving into our classroom portables on February 16th! For more information about our project, visit www.buildsrvschools.org/?p=104.

Please follow us on Twitter @stonevalleyms, or for more information visit http://stonevalley.schoolloop.com/.

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St. Isidore School

We LOVE St. Isidore!

By Maria Ward, Principal

This month our Gospel Value is LOVE! We have many exciting events this month and are pleased that we can share them with you. Our month starts with the Catholic School Week. This year our theme is “Catholic Schools: Communities of Faith, Knowledge, and Service.”

According to the National Catholic Education Association (NCEA), the theme encompasses several concepts that are at the heart of a Catholic education. First, schools are communities and small families in their own right, but they are also members of the larger communities of home, church, city, and nation. Faith, knowledge, and service are the three measures by which any Catholic school is measured, and we try to achieve these through dedication, excellence, and compassion. Please join us at our Open House on Thursday, February 4, at 6pm. All of our classrooms will be open, and our middle school students will be displaying their GOLD projects in the Bensen Gym. GOLD is an acronym for “giving out love deliberately.” We are excited to see the GOLD service projects they have chosen to support that evening. We hope you can join us.

Did you know that our students excel in service? We encourage our students to reach out to our community and give in many different ways. We follow the lead of our parish and believe that we all have time, talents, or treasures to offer. Our students are inspired to show kindness and give back to those less fortunate. Student leadership was recently able to help support the American Wheelchair Foundation. They raised enough funds to provide four wheelchairs to those who need mobility in Chile. This is the global mission they have been supporting over the past several years. Each month, our students also partner with the Knights of Columbus and St. Vincent de Paul, giving to each charity. Our older students serve at Loaves & Fishes in Contra Costa County, helping those who need a warm meal. These types of outreach opportunities allow our students to build the characteristics that make a St. Isidore student.

Our annual school auction is on Saturday, February 27. This year our theme is “The Rhythm of New Orleans.” It will be held here on campus. We are thank-

Danville Today News ~ February 2016 - Page 9

ful to our auction chairs, Andrea Thiers and Melani Rivera, who have put their heart into organizing this evening. They have spent countless hours and much energy into planning this incredible event. We only have one auction a year, and you do not want to miss it. If you haven’t purchased your ticket yet, please visit our website at www.stisidore.org to buy one.

If you are considering a Catholic school education for your children, please contact us for a private tour. St. Isidore Catholic School is currently accepting applications from Kindergarten to 8th grade. We provide a home away from home where children are loved, nurtured, and educated through a strong moral foundation steeped in the Catholic faith. We would love to share our school with you.

We welcome everyone to come to see and learn about St. Isidore. If you have any questions, please feel free to call us directly at 925-837-2977. We excel academically, we are 21st century learners, we are service based, and we teach students how to live out our Catholic faith. We feel blessed to be a part of this community.

Los Cerros Middle School

By Evan Powell, Principal

I can’t believe we have been in school for one semester! Throughout the first semester, our students have demonstrated high levels of learning, collaboration, and community building. Success stories can be told about accomplishing a difficult reading or writing lesson, or working through a complicated math problem, and even creating a masterpiece in an elective class. It is important that we continue to find our academic success and encourage students to keep doing well.

Los Cerros is preparing our team for the Northern California Special Olympics Polar Plunge. The Plunge takes place on February 20th atAquatic Park in San Francisco.

This year is a special year as we honor and celebrate Ms. Sue O’Reilly, our beloved math teacher who recently passed away. Ms. O’Reilly inspired so many Plunge teams at Los Cerros, and her wish was to keep the tradition alive with love and support.

The next Evening with Evan has been moved from Monday, February 1 to Wednesday, February 10th at 7pm in the library. On this night, I will present information regarding good study habits and a look into the rest of the school year. I look forward to seeing you on February 10th.

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Page 10 - February 2016 ~ Danville Today News

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San Ramon Valley Christian Academy By Jamie Westgate, Principal

Just this week, I popped into a classroom to see some 5th graders working to complete a writing assignment on large heart-shaped paper. I was reminded it’s Valentine’s season! This is such a great time to tell others of our love and appreciation for those God brings into our lives. 1 John 4:19 reminds us that “We love because He first loved us.” Just as parents model for their children what it means to love unconditionally, so God exemplifies this to you and me. In this consumer minded society, we often think love is expressed by gifts and tangible things. Jesus, however, reminded us that true love comes from the heart: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8) I’m so thankful for the opportunity to share this basic truth with our students, knowing it will equip them for all future relationships God has planned for their lives.

Also this month, our 8th graders look forward to their trip to Washington D.C., Gettysburg, and New York City. I know of few schools who attempt such a feat, but I find it exhilarating to accompany 47 students to our nation’s capital to learn more about our government, past history, and the Christian virtues upon which it was founded. For our students, this is a highlight to their experience at SRVCA, and the week-long field trip provides an opportunity to learn life lessons such as respect for our military, citizen contribution, and appreciation to God for His faithfulness throughout history. Every year kids are moved as we visit Arlington to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers and remember local hero and SRVCA alumnus, Josh Corral at the Marine Corps Memorial. They better understand our government after visiting the Capitol, White House, and Supreme Court. They even take in some fun as we visit Times Square and catch a Broadway show in NYC. It’s a fun but meaningful time for all!

Here on campus, we are scheduling tours for the coming year. Now that

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current families have re-enrolled, we are aware of our openings. If you are interested in learning more about our program, please contact our office at registrar@srvca.org to schedule a tour. We love making new friends! Happy Valentine’s Day to our local community!

Charlotte Wood Middle School

By Christopher George, Principal

We hope you are enjoying the return to school following the Winter Break. We have gotten off to a great start and are working hard already after a successful first semester. Second semester started Tuesday, January 26th. We have a lot to look forward to throughout second semester!

For the first part of 2016, you may notice a new face in the front office. Tom Ladouceur, retired SRVUSD Principal, will be filling in for Ms. Petish as she is out on leave. We are glad to have Mr. Ladouceur here bringing his expertise and experience while Ms. Petish enjoys her time with her brand new son.

Soon we will be administrating a survey to students surrounding issues of student stress in conjunction with the Challenge Success program we are working with. We look forward to sharing results and seeing what improvements we can make to our programs here based on the data accrued from that survey with our parents as time goes on.

Importantly, we are one half of the year through piloting our use of restorative justice techniques to reduce our suspension rate and keep students in school learning whenever possible. Thanks to the efforts of Mr. Corral, Ms. Garrison and Ms. Dalrymple, we have seen great success as we seek to better connect students having issues in school and help resolve conflict in a positive and mediative manner. As a result, we have seen the number of days of school missed due to suspension drop precipitously over this year.

We are very proud of this statistic, as well as of our kids for working hard and positively with staff and each other to make this a safe place of learning.

We hope you and your students had a great first semester, and we look forward to a fantastic second semester as well.

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Monte Vista High School

By Dr. Kevin Ahern, Principal

Danville Today News ~ February 2016 - Page 11

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At Monte Vista January is a month of transitions as we start a new year, semesters change, sports rotate and even weather has an impact on campus life. Ernest Hemmingway tells us, “It is good to have an end to journey toward, but it is the journey that matters in the end.” Students teach us every day to stay present.

This report is courtesy of J. Rockcliff Realtors CalBRE 01763819. Not intended to solicit buyers or sellers currently under contract. Copyright © 2015 While waiting for fall semester grades to be published, the Counseling Office is already looking to 2016 scheduling, summer school needs, and The New SAT any college transcripts required for the Class of 2016. The Freshman class What to Expect, and how to Prepare will be starting the journey seniors are just completing as Freshmen participate

By Susan Sokat, Director, Club Z! in four year planning meetings. Sophomores and Juniors are meeting with In-Home Tutoring counselors to discuss next year’s schedule and college and career planning In March, 2016, the College Board will roll out the new SAT test, with tasks in Naviance. We are on a journey of being lifelong learners.

Our Winter Athletic Programs are reaching mid-season stride. Men’s Bas- some major changes from the old SAT. Many students will be happy to know that the new SAT is Right Only ketball is undefeated in EBAL and positioning themselves for a playoff run.

Scoring.

You are no longer penalized for incorrect answers.

The Women’s Basketball team is playing tough in a very competitive league.

Here are some of the other changes that you can expect.

Both Men’s and Women’s Soccer teams are in the mix for an EBAL title as we face the tough part of the league schedule. Wrestling season is preparing The New Writing Section for the North Coast Section Tournament and are coming off a big win at home Essay writing is now optional. There are however some major changes against Foothill High School. Spring Sport season kicks off February 8th and to the essay. The old SAT asked a student to take a position on an issue and includes Men’s Volleyball, Men’s golf, Men’s tennis, track and field, swim- write about it. The new SAT will require a student to read a passage and write ming, baseball, softball and both Men and Women Lacrosse. a thorough analysis. The previous writing section allowed 25 minutes, and The arts programs at Monte Vista are creating dynamic projects, some the new SAT writing section allows 50 minutes. It is also now at the end of exhibiting currently at the Lindsey Wildlife Museum and some as entries for the test, instead of the beginning. the district’s Student Recognition Project due in February. The yearbook class The Writing score will be presented separately, so we predict most students is working hard to capture images of student life on campus. The drama class will tackle it anyway. Without Writing, the total possible score will be 1600, has an Agatha Christy mystery perfect for a dark winter evening. The choir is (still a possible 800 per section, Math and Reading/Language). rehearsing under the baton of Jodi Reed to be recorded live on KCRB. Stay The New SAT Sections Will Include tuned for further details.

The Reading section is 65 minutes. Emphasis will still be on reasoning, Finally, Monte Vista Administration is proud to acknowledge the hard work however with a clearer focus. Reading will now include historical and scithat students, faculty, staff, and parents have done in the first semester. Hementific passages, and some data interpretation. This is similar to the ACT. mingway says it is the journey, and we are proud to be traveling alongside students and community. On January 27th we honored 40 Students of Excellence There will also be evidence based reading, where students are required to answer where they found the information. for their integrity, efforts, and attitude that enrich our school on a daily basis.

The Language section, formerly the multiple-choice Writing section, will Danville-Alamo-Walnut Creek AAUW be about half the amount of time as before, now 35 minutes, which means students will have to move quickly.

Announces 2016 Scholarships The Math portion includes three sections, for a total of 80 minutes. MulDo you have a connection with a young woman pursuing a Bachelor’s or Graduate degree? The Danville-Alamo-Walnut Creek AAUW (American As- tiple choice sections include one with a calculator and one without. There is also a grid-in section. sociation of University Women) branch is accepting applications from eligible The ACT will also incorporate changes, but not quite as major as the candidates for our Local Scholarship Awards. Applicants must have either SAT changes. The ACT continues to be more of an achievement test. The resided in the Walnut Creek city limits or its unincorporated area boundaries, or in the San Ramon Valley Unified School District area boundaries while total possible composite score is 36, which is an average of the curriculum attending a public or private high school, or currently reside within these components.

The best way to prepare for either test is to engage the services of boundaries. Undergraduate candidates must have at least junior standing at a four-year college or university no later than the fall of 2016, and candidates a tutoring company. Club Z! offers a proven test preparation program pursuing an advanced degree must be accepted at an accredited four-year with impressive results. The program is completely individualized for each student’s needs and is offered in-home, with experienced college or university no later than the fall of 2016.

2016 Scholarships Information and Application packets are now available. teachers/tutors.

Club Z! has been recently named “The Best of Danville, 2015” for tuThe application deadline is April 1, 2016. For further information, please toring services. For more information, please call 925-786-7149. Advertorial visit http://daw-ca.aauw.net/programs/scholarships/.

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Page 12 - February 2016 ~ Danville Today News

Alamo’s 1st & Only Pediatric Dentist!

Alamo Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics Welcomes Dr. Allan Pang Dr. Pang completed his undergraduate degree at the University of California, San Diego.

He earned his Doctorate of Dental Medicine at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in Boston, Massachusetts. After Tufts he completed a General Practice Residency at University of California, Los Angeles. Thereafter, Dr. Pang practiced general dentistry in the community of Los Gatos, California for two years. It was during this time that he realized how much he enjoyed working with his pediatric patients and returned to school to specialize in Pediatric Dentistry.

His residency in Pediatric Dentistry at New York University-Bellevue Hospital in New York City allowed for him to have extensive training in treating the well child and those with special healthcare needs such as children with craniofacial disorders and developmental disabilities.

Dr. Pang has been in private practice since 2008.

He is a Board Certified Pediatric Dentist, a Diplomate with the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, and a member of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.

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Danville Today News ~ February 2016 - Page 13

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San Ramon Valley High School

By Ruth Steele, Principal

Over the last three years the pace of change in education as a whole has been relentless, and at times it has been exhausting. With the advent of Common Core, and the huge shifts in instructional focus that this brings, our staff and students have had to become adaptable and flexible learners.

At SRVHS, this semester will see teachers continuing the amazing work that they have been doing with curriculum, instruction, and assessment in the classroom, but there are some other large scale shifts both inside and outside the classroom that are going to significantly change how education at SRVHS looks over the next few years.

Here are two of the major projects that we are working on.

Construction: We have demolition and construction beginning in the summer of 2016. Almost all of the single story wings across campus will be knocked down, and in their place there will be a three-story building occupying the current footprint of E, F, and G wings. There will more parking on campus when this project is completed and an entirely new classroom building parallel to D hall.

While construction is underway, all the classrooms being displaced from the single story wings will be relocated on the practice field. This field will close on March 1st to allow the laying of utilities and the placement of the portable classrooms.

Most likely, the construction will be completed in time for the new building to open at the start of the 2019-2020 school year.

Daily Bell Schedule: In January of this year, a new district calendar was adopted that will place high school final exams before Winter Break and bring an earlier start to the school year (August 15th). This moves SRVHS registration up to the 9th and 11th of August. We are also working on adjusting the Daily Bell Schedule, and there will be an informational night for parents on February 8th to outline our goals and process.

One of the major reasons for making a change is to find ways to provide time to better support students who struggle academically within the school day. The other is to lower the stress level of students by adding time into the school week where students can get homework done and study outside of their regular classes. Data from the Stanford Challenge Success Survey shows very clearly that we need to make some changes in order to make the daily school experience more manageable for both staff and students.

As you can see, there is a lot going on, and the results will be an even better SRVHS experience for both staff, students, and parents!

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Kiwanis Club Calls for Grant Applications

The Kiwanis Club of San Ramon Valley through its affiliate, the San Ramon Valley Kiwanis Foundation, has issued a call for community non-profit organizations throughout the area to apply for $30,000 in grants to be awarded during 2016.

Ranging from $500 to $3,000, the Kiwanis grants are designed to support programs and projects that help both specific organizations and the broader community.

According to grants chairman, John Lineweaver, the bulk of the grants will be awarded in May. Additional monies will be held in reserve to provide emergency grants, fund Kiwanis community service projects, and support of four local Kiwanis High School Key Clubs. The total of this direct youth support will exceed $20,000, making the total dollar amount of community service grants and funding by Kiwanis more than $50,000 for 2016.

Lineweaver noted that Kiwanis generally recognizes grant applications from projects that serve residents of the San Ramon Valley, although non-profit organizations need not be located in the Valley itself. Specific eligibility criteria are listed on the Kiwanis website at www.kiwanis-srv.org. Because Kiwanis makes a single grant to the San Ramon Valley Education Foundation for distribution to district schools, grants are NOT available for individual schools.

Grant consideration is given to programs that focus on children, the infirm or the elderly and provide solace, comfort or consolation. Last year, 43 separate non-profit organizations received grants.

The SRV Kiwanis Foundation has awarded nearly $740,000 in grants in the valley since the mid-1990’s. Funds for the annual grants program are raised by the San Ramon Valley Kiwanis Foundation through several fundraising projects, including organizing and conducting the annual Kiwanis 4th of July Parade in Danville. Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing the world one child and one community at a time.

Applications and further information, including eligibility criteria, can be obtained from the Kiwanis website at www.kiwanis-srv.org or by contacting John Lineweaver at (925) 837-3665. The deadline for grant applications is Monday, March 7, 2016, and winners will be announced at a Grants Award Presentation on Thursday, May 26, 2016. Anyone interested in learning more about the Kiwanis Club of San Ramon Valley is invited to visit www.kiwanis-srv.org. The club holds weekly luncheon meetings at noon on Thursdays at Brass Bear Dinner in Danville. Please join the club for lunch and find out more about the organization.

Page 14 - February 2016 ~ Danville Today News

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Danville Today News ~ February 2016 - Page 15

DT

Page 16 - February 2016 ~ Danville Today News

Life in the Danville Garden

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Garden Path

By John Montgomery, ASLA, Landscape Architect #4059

To view a beautiful Danville garden from a distance is to bring joy to the eyes, but to walk through and experience a beautiful garden touches all the human senses. The pathway is an essential structure to any successful landscape design. A pathway brings you into the garden and brings the garden to you.

The goal of any garden path is to allow egress in and out of your landscape. It can lead you to that hidden secret sitting area where you love to sit in the warm sun and read a good book or enjoy quiet meditation away from the fray of life, or it can provide functional access to high-use areas in your yard such as swimming pools, patios and decks, and sports amenities.

Depending on the purpose, the path can either be formal or informal. A formal path generally is more structured, permanent, and more direct. For instance, the path to your front door, pool, or patio should be more formal.

Design it with the idea of transporting people more directly. A path to your door should be proportionate to the size of your home. If you have a large two-story façade, you don’t want a three-foot wide meandering path to your front door. Generally, a path for a larger proportioned home should be a minimum of five feet wide. It should be constructed of a permanent surface like concrete, stone, or brick mortared onto concrete for stability.

Pick a material that is solid and easy to walk on. A formal path should be more direct. It doesn’t need to be straight, but it does need to be direct.

A formal path can have curves, angles, or straight edges. In other words, it shouldn’t take you from the entry at the street around the side of your house, curve back around to the front through a grove of trees, and across to the other side before arriving at your front door!

An informal path can be an added design feature to any Danville landscape.

Most Danville lots tend to be quite spacious which allows for informal paths to get you out into your garden. An informal path generally is less structured, less permanent, and less direct. The purpose of an informal path is to provide access to the sights, sounds, smells, textures, and tastes of your garden. It is a less direct way of getting someplace or nowhere. It gives you access to a hillside with views, a quiet corner for meditation, or gathering an assortment of edibles, herbs, and flowers. It should be constructed of a less permanent material such as loose-set flagstone with ground cover in between, concrete steppers, or gravel. I particularly like gravel because of the “crunching” sound it makes when you walk on it.

A garden path is one of the most important hardscape elements in your landscape design. It is a core element of your landscape. One of the first elements that I work out in my design process is the pathways. The path system defines the softscape areas and provides access for use. A path system can be as elaborate or as simple as you want. Remember that every element in your garden has purpose. Define the purpose of your path system before you

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design it. The garden path is most likely the most used hardscape element of any landscape design.

A hot tip from your local Landscape Architect: A primary path should always be wide enough (4-5 feet at minimum) for two people to walk side-by-side comfortably.

Announcement! We will be holding our annual “Life in the Garden Tour” fundraiser in the Spring of 2017. Keep your fingers crossed for a good wet year with plenty of snow! We look forward to seeing you on the tour in 2017!

Gardening Quote of the Month: It is a great art to saunter. - Henry David Thoreau, 1841 If you would like me to write on any particular subject, email your ideas to jmontgomery@jm-la.com or for design ideas visit www.jm-la.com or www.houzz.com/pro/jmla/johnAdvertorial montgomery-landscape-architects.

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The Romance of Star Clipper

Danville Today News ~ February 2016 - Page 17

By Lisa Kallen, Alamo World Travel

From the moment we arrived at the pier in sunny St. Maarten, we knew our adventure cruise would be something out of the ordinary. Something timeless, something dramatic, something…like nothing we’ve ever experienced on a cruise before. The Star Clipper is a true tall-ship sailing vessel that makes her way over the seas powered by the wind for most of her journey. The wind! Think Christopher Columbus, think Magellan, think quiet sails billowing in the night breeze under a sprinkling of stars.

Why take a break from traditional cruise lines, and sail instead on a tall ship with Star Clippers? There are so many reasons…A Star Clippers tall ship is an intimate luxury yacht (either 170 guests or 227 guests, depending on the ship) and offers unusual itineraries to small ports far from the mega ships and their crowds of thousands. And for sailboat enthusiasts, the Star Clipper feels like home. She is sleek and luxurious with her dark, shining mahogany, her gleaming brass fittings, and her four looming masts anxious to set sail.

Most of the passengers of a Star Clippers voyage are either sailors and boat owners or, like me, just love all things related to sailing. How fascinating to watch the goings-on up on the bridge, chat with the captain, peruse the charts, duck under lines to winches, and listen to commands called fore to aft. This is adventure cruising at its best, with a crow’s nest to climb and bowsprit netting to stretch out on in the sun.

We started making friends right away with fellow passengers from around the world. Germans, French, Italians, and Belgians mingled with Americans in a camaraderie bred of our mutual love of an adventure at sea. A glass of champagne in hand, we explored the decks that would be our home for the next seven days and nights.

Ahh, then it was time to set sail. The “Sail Away” was truly the highlight of every evening, a dramatic coda to the day as the crew hoisted the sails accompanied by Vangelis’ dramatic “1492: Conquest of Paradise.” Music swelled as the sails filled and we pulled away from port.

Our itinerary included six intimate ports-of-call among the Caribbean’s Leeward Islands.

Nevis, Domenica, Guadeloupe, Ile des Saintes, Antigua, and St. Barthélemy welcomed us to their tiny villages and private beaches. At each destination we had the choice of several shore excursions. And on days when we were not enjoying whale watching, river tubing, submarine rides, a regatta race, or historical tours, we played on our own secluded beaches. For those of us who love to laze on the sand and play in the surf, we were tendered ashore to our beach. Then the Sports Team followed with zodiacs filled with kayaks, sailboats, paddleboards, and waterskis for us to enjoy throughout the day. The water was that perfect temperature, refreshing yet warm enough to stay in and play in for hours.

After each day on land, we returned to the Star Clipper for happy hour in the Tropical Bar (as if every hour wasn’t already happy!). At dinner, open seating and casual, we shared stories with new friends. Our meals were prepared to the deliciously exacting standards of the acclaimed Chaine des Rotisseurs, featuring the kind of menu where you really wish you could try one of everything. Sometimes we did!

After dinner the guests and crew joined together to create our own nightly entertainment: the first night, a fashion show; the second night, wooden “frog” races and ridiculous antics; our talent show (I use “talent” generously) featured songs and skits with crew and brave guests; the trivia contest was raucous fun; a local steel drum band jumped aboard next; and we spent our last evening together dancing and limbo-ing into the night.

And at the end of each exhilarating day, those of us most enthralled by the sailing life would spend two or three hours up on the deck before retiring. We read, we dreamed, we relaxed, and we took a slow deep breath. We were savoring the romance of a bygone age of clipper ships, listening to the whispering sails and rush of the sea in the still, dark night.

Lisa Kallen is a Travel Consultant with Alamo World Travel, specializing in cruises, tours and customized vacations to Europe, the Americas, South Pacific and Asia.

You can reach her at 925-837-8742 ext. 18 or lkallen@ Advertorial alamoworld.com.

Stop by our new office in the Alamo Courtyard 3195 Danville Blvd #4, Alamo

Plea continued from front page

school is currently vacating a majority of its space for demolition.

As the result, the Grad Night storage space on campus, where Grad Night resources, materials and supplies that are passed on from year to year reside, has been eliminated.

If anyone in the area has a vacant workspace we could use (tax donation), please contact us immediately. We sign a full release of liability. Ideal parameters for the space include light industrial space between 3,000-4,000 square feet, roll up or double doors to accommodate large items, running water, toilet, ample electrical outlets, any in a location between Fairfield and Livermore.

Grad Night 2016 planning is underway, and our committee has been unable to secure a donated storage/workspace. This isn’t just a Class of 2016 problem. Over the last few years, this has become a consistent issue, interfering with the execution of Grad Night. Our event is only five months away. The project is suspended while committee budgets are rewritten to account for the possibility of paying for storage and work spaces. In years past, this space was donated, so it hasn’t ever impacted the overall budget.

According to SRVHS alumnus Karin Raitz, Grad Night came about because concerned parents wanted to offer an affordable and fun graduation party to all seniors. At the time, Monte Vista was hosting an expensive, “after graduation” Bay Cruise. SRVHS parents determined that they wanted an inclusive celebration that all kids could afford. Los Altos HS had been hosting this type of event for over 12 years. As the result, the SRVHS parents formed a committee, followed Los Altos Grad Night guidelines, and put together the first Grad Night in 1978. Now our tradition is 38 years strong.

There are members of our community who experienced, in varying degrees, this long-established tradition. There are others who wonder why such an extravagant party is necessary. The purpose of the event’s magnitude is to create a safe place for students to celebrate. It must be larger than life for two reasons: • To entice students to spend the entire night on campus • To offer diversity of activities, food and fun, appealing and entertaining to all students.

We believe there is someone in our community who is willing to help us. In the spirit of “Paying It Forward,” we are hopeful that someone has been forever impacted by the Grad Night tradition and wants to help. Ideally, we’d love to find a combined storage/workspace that could belong to all SRVHS Grad Nights moving forward.

Are you that person who knows the value of a larger than life graduation party tradition? If you have any questions or comments, please contact srvgradnight2016@gmail.com.

Page 18 - February 2016 ~ Danville Today News

Topping Trees?

By Blaine Brende & Joe Lamb

At Brende & Lamb we get the occasional request to remove some or all of a tree’s crown, a process called topping.

There are many reasons why people ask to have a tree topped: increased light, better view, safer tree, or reduced leaf litter. Though it seems counter-intuitive, topping almost always produces the opposite of the desired effect. Topping can decrease available light, mar the view, make a safe tree unsafe, and even increase leaf litter. Take, for example, topping to decrease the shadow cast by a tree. This may work in the very short term, but topping stimulates rapid growth, causing the tree’s crown to thicken, thereby cutting out light after just a few growing seasons. Over time, you get more light for your pruning dollar if instead of topping you give the crown a judicious thinning. When done correctly, thinning doesn’t over stimulate the tree, and it enhances the tree’s aesthetics instead of seriously, sometimes irredeemably, damaging it.

Another common misperception is that topping will make the tree safer; it almost always does just the opposite. Most topped trees decay at the point at which they were topped. Topping also stimulates production of long lanky shoots. Given that these shoots grow out of decaying wood, topping often turns a safe tree into a hazard that increases over time. Some of the more dangerous trees we’ve seen were topped years ago with no follow-up pruning. If you have a previously topped tree growing close to your home, it is a good idea to have a competent arborist give it a safety evaluation. Previously topped trees can be made safer by pruning to reduce wind-sail and by reducing weight on leggy branches.

Clip Notes

By Jody Morgan

Imagine being surrounded by three thousand trees all flowering on branches bare of foliage. A delicate spicy fragrance perfumes the air. The setting is Kairakuen Park (an hour northeast of Tokyo) where the annual plum blossom festival occurs from February 20th to March 31st. One hundred varieties of flowering plums with blossoms of white, pink, and red are included in the collection.

February flower of the month in the Japanese flower calendar, plum blossom (Prunus mume), is also known as Japanese apricot and Taiwanese plum. The tree blooms in late winter a full month or more before showier cherry blossoms take center stage. A welcome harbinger of spring, the flowers are celebrated in plum blossom festivals throughout Japan from early February into March. Native to southern China, Prunus mume has been honored there as well in poetry, art, and legend for thousands of years.

One thousand years ago, Izumi Shikibu, a prominent figure at the Kyoto court, wrote: “I cannot say which is which: the glowing plum blossom is the spring moon.” She is considered one of Japan’s Thirty-six Medieval Poetry Immortals.

Just over one hundred years before Izumi was born, eleven-year old Sugawara no Michizane penned his first poem in Chinese characters: “How beautiful the red plum blossom, I wish to color my cheek with it.” A noted scholar, he reached a high rank at court before plummeting from political favor. Legend suggests his favorite plum tree uprooted itself to follow him into exile. In fact, in 901, he wrote fondly of the trees he was leaving behind: “When the east wind blows, flourish in full bloom, you, plum blossoms! Even though you lose your master, don’t be oblivious to spring.”

Politicians began to think better of ousting Sugawara when natural disasters struck Kyoto in rapid succession shortly after his death. Believing in the need to pacify his vengeful spirit, the Imperial Court decreed that he should be venerated in the Shinto religion as a kami, a god-like figure. Henceforth, known as Tenjin and honored at shrines where plum trees frequently grace the grounds, he is recognized as the patron of scholarship and learning. Students seeking favorable results in college entrance exams flock to Tenjin’s shrines as the plum blossoms open to leave paper prayers for success.

The fruit that follows the flowers is nothing like plums grown in Western orchards. Rather sour, it is usually processed rather than being enjoyed straight from the tree. Pickled, it is served at the close of a meal to cleanse the palate and aid in digestion. Recipes are reported by chef Shizuo Tsuji to

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People sometimes top trees to reduce leaf litter, but most trees respond to topping by putting out a profusion of leaves to help repair the damage. In short order, the owner of a topped maple will spend more time with rake in hand than before the topping.

Topping to increase view is often done without realizing that the new view will include an ugly tree. If the tree in the view is a bay, a eucalyptus, or any number of other fast-growing species, the topping will fail to provide view for long because the topped tree will soon produce sprouts that shoot up into the view. Well-planned pruning can often capture view, and it is often possible to enhance the beauty of the tree in the process. A beautiful view framed by a beautiful tree is far lovelier than a view over the top of an ugly and scarred tree.

Another frequent request for topping comes from people about to sell their homes who think that topping their trees will increase the sale price. Real estate professionals know that beautiful trees can raise property values by as much as 20%, whereas a topped tree can be a liability . . . something the bidder on your house might ask you to deduct from the sales price so that they can have the tree removed.

For further information about the perils of tree topping, go to the website of the International Society of Arboriculture, and read the article at www. treesaregood.org/treecare/topping.aspx. If you are thinking about topping, please reconsider. It is possible to enhance view, increase light, and make trees safer without topping. Doing so does, however, require competent pruning by tree professionals.

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

be as numerous and varied as the villages of Japan. Plum wine is produced in China and Korea as well as Japan. Thick sweet plum sauce is a favorite compliment to many Chinese dishes.

Not surprisingly, stems of plum blossoms are highly favored in Japanese floral arrangements. Prunus mume also responds well to being trained in small pots as a bonsai (a miniature tree) and in larger pots as a courtyard specimen for city gardens.

In the mid-nineteenth century, about the time when ranchers (like the Stones who settled Stone Valley in Alamo and the Inmans who established Danville) first arrived in the San Ramon Valley, Okuma Kotomichi wrote: “Fragrance alone, I thought was the wind’s burden, but petals too are circling the plum garden.”

Plum blossom petals also fall across the Bay Area, occasionally swirling through the air like colorful snowflakes. But they come from a different species than the one revered in Asia. Widely planted in San Francisco and currently approved as a street tree for the city, Prunus cerasifera ‘Krauter Vesuvius’ is almost fruitless. Commonly called cherry plum, this tree was introduced by Karl Krauter of Krauter Nursery in Bakersfield, California in 1957. Among its virtues, along with prolific shell-pink blossoms, are the deep purple foliage that persists long into fall and a tidy rounded habit that needs little pruning.

Friendship plants are a wonderful source of garden success. Almost half a century ago, when Lester Hawkins (who advised Ruth Bancroft on adding a water feature to her dry garden) and Marshall Ohlbricht welcomed friends from Vermont to their Western Hills Garden in Occidental, California, a sapling of Prunus mume ‘Peggy Clarke’ was gifted to the visitors from the Northeast. Not hardy in the Vermont climate, the sapling was installed in the greenhouse off their North Hill Garden kitchen. Repotted and root-pruned biannually, it blooms faithfully, recalling friends long gone.

Danville-Alamo Garden Club Meeting

Andrea Hurd, founder and creative inspiration of Berkeley-based Mariposa Gardening and Design, will be speaking at the Danville-Alamo Garden Club meeting on Thursday, February 11th. Mariposa Gardening and Design is an award winning ecological design-build landscaping company. Its strong commitment to incorporating beauty with innovative design guides the way it works with stone, plants, wood, and water. This philosophy and focus have earned the company three gold medals and three silver medals as well as the Sunset Magazine Western Living Award at the San Francisco Flower and Garden Show.

Refreshments will be served at 9:15AM followed by the meeting at 9:45AM. The meeting will be held at the Alamo Women’s Club at 1401 Danville Blvd., Alamo. For questions, contact Susan at susansgotbling@sbcglobal.net or visit www.dagc.us.

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Energy Matters

H2O Matters

By Mark Becker, GoSimpleSolar

Danville Today News ~ February 2016 - Page 19

El Niño is officially here, sometimes resulting in torrential rain. Torrential rain is not forgiving on any type of roof that is not flashed or installed properly, or has reached the end of its service life. A roof is one of the most important parts of any dwelling. Water intrusion is the number one cause of damage to homes and businesses.

If you’re considering a solar installation, please ensure that there is a licensed roofer performing the roof portion of the work. If so, your roof warranty will remain valid. The roof product warranty will not remain valid if a non-licensed roofer is performing any modifications to the roof.

(See www.Gaf.com and www.Certainteed.com for more information).

Broken roof tiles need to be matched and replaced, not “repaired” with caulk. Proper flashing is an art, and a science. Solar and roofing, done right, eliminates any roof leak risk.

Grounding and shock hazards can result from water intrusion into an improperly installed solar PV or electric system. A licensed electrician’s work on a solar PV project will ensure that the conduits, junction boxes, and connections are properly watertight to prevent this hazard.

It’s your home, choose your tradesmen wisely.

Roof and gutter cleanliness: El Niño is not forgiving of deferred roof maintenance either. Leaves or debris in a gutter can result in a clogged downspout. A clogged downspout can result in a backed-up gutter.

Standing water in an improperly designed gutter will rise in the gutter and then penetrate behind flashings. The water will take the path of least resistance, into your ceilings and walls. If you’re lucky, you’ll see the water manifest itself earlier than later. An invisible leak will result in mold and rot damage. Clean your gutters and ensure your downspouts are free flowing to keep your home free from water damage and mold.

The remediation costs for water damage may or may not be covered by insurance. If you’re not able to perform the tasks of cleaning your gutters and downspouts safely, there are reasonably priced companies to perform this task. Ensure you hire a company with a good reputation.

Many gutter locations are often impossible to visually inspect unless one is on top of the roof or on a second story ladder. In the world of the building trades, it’s always wise to “Trust, but Verify.”

Assessed Value of Solar: After any properly permitted home improvement project, the County Assessor will send an assessment form to your home requesting project costs. Solar PV projects are exempt from assessed value (real estate tax) increases per California State law. However, real estate appraised value increases for solar homes are well documented in studies by such entities as the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

Alternative Fuels, Anchors Aweigh! A Navy Carrier Battle Group was recently dispatched on deployment powered by a 10% bio-fuel mix.

Ten percent doesn’t seem significant, but for this battle group it translates to 77 million gallons of clean alternative energy.

Homeowner’s Associations, by law, are very limited as to how they can regulate solar PV installations. I wish my HOA would enforce aesthetics considerations a bit more. Hidden conduits, rectangular or square contiguous arrays (that don’t skip around easily moveable vents) and installing aesthetically pleasing black panels are installation practices which can be legally regulated by HOA’s to limit negative aesthetic impact. Unfortunately, many “budget” solar companies’ projects look like someone haphazardly placed solar panels onto a roof and typically, there is no HOA involvement to prevent these practices. We’ve all seen these projects. Architectural planning committees are known for their bureaucracy, but they can benefit the HOA resident. Poorly designed and installed solar projects ultimately damage the reputation of the solar industry, as well as the aesthetics and perhaps value of the neighborhood in which they lay.

The 2015 Federal Tax Credit IRS 5695 and 3468 forms for residential and commercial solar PV (and other energy efficiencies) are now available for download from the IRS. We’ve made them available at www.GoSimpleSolar.com/downloads. Use the sample filled out form to guide you to fill out your own if you installed solar PV or other energy efficiencies in your home or business in tax year 2015.

Details, details: The Contractor’s State License Board very clearly defines construction contract requirements and specifies contractor performance standards and responsibilities.

Leverage www.CSLB.ca.gov to ensure you’re properly informed: Information is power.

Mark Becker is the President and business owner of GoSimpleSolar, by Semper Fidelis Construction Inc, CSLB 948715. GoSimpleSolar is one of the very few solar PV installers utilizing both licensed roofers and licensed electricians for installation work, project managed by a solar PV NABCEP professional. For more information visit www.GoSimpleSolar.com. Advertorial

Page 20 - February 2016 ~ Danville Today News

San Francisco International Airport

By Linda Summers Pirkle Recently my husband and I had an emotional farewell at San Francisco International Airport as our youngest daughter who is studying abroad left for Paris, France. We wanted to stay until her flight departed, so we had a few hours to explore the airport. One of my favorite areas in the airport is San Francisco Airport Commission Aviation Library and Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum, located in the International Terminal A. This small and very stylish museum is stunning. The Spanish Revival architecture and large model airplanes hanging from the ceiling, gorgeous tiles, and soft lighting make this special space a calm refuge in the bustling San Francisco International Airport.

The lovely Aviation Museum and Library is tucked away next to the Virgin Airways gate. It is used by the traveling public and visitors who come to see the unique exhibitions presented on a wide variety of commercial aviation history subjects. Patrons, including air enthusiasts, students, scholars, authors, and aviation industry professionals, are welcome to use the unique and specialized materials.

I spoke to John Hill, the Assistant Director of the SFO Aviation Museum, who gave us some history of the S.F. International Airport. In 1929 the airport was a dirt airstrip in a cow pasture as the jet age was just beginning. The original 150 acre airfield was leased for three years at $1,500 per year. In 1937, a larger Administration Building opened on the property, and eventually the airport and surrounding land was purchased by the City. It is the interior passenger lobby of the 1937 building that inspired the architecture firm Fong & Chan to design the San Francisco Airport Commission Aviation and Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum.

A Press Release dated December 30, 2015 says, “SFO announced a major milestone in its 88 year history, achieving a new all-time passenger traffic record of 50 million annual passengers…this caps a six year time span of continuous traffic growth at the Airport.” The museum and library are very close to full scale of the original space of the 1937 passenger lobby of the airport, and it’s amazing to realize that this beautiful yet small space was the passenger lobby in those days. As John Hill says, “The relative size of the museum space, and its historical relevance to the Airport in the 1930’s compared to SFO today, dramatically demonstrates how aviation has grown over the last seven decades.”

Mr. Francis Egan worked for many years at the S. F. International Airport, and now he volunteers as a monitor for the Reading Room in SFO Library. “I guess I have airplane fuel in my veins,” he laughed. “Since I was a small boy I couldn’t resist

Sustainable Danville Area

By Tesla Faraday-Einstein Majestic Mascot, Sustainable Danville Area Some environmental pundits say that the carbon impact of a pet can equal that of driving a large car. As an expert on the subject, I can pretty much say my people would be lost without me in their life. Not only can they count on a kiss whenever they’re feeling down; but once my stomach starts growling in the morning, I’m a punctual alarm clock. Most of my kind can entertain kids for hours with a Frisbee or ball—me, not so much.

And while I don’t want to brag, my imposing size and bark keep my people feeling safe. I tend to get my people off the couch for a brisk walk every day. And since the average person burns about 150 calories in 30 minutes of exercise…add up five days, and I’ve got them losing a pound a week! And ‘between dogs’—I pretend I’m interested in the squirrels just to pick up the pace.

But let’s face it, with over 78 million dogs in the United States it is important to make sure our people understand how ‘walking’ a little more lightly helps take care of us, the planet, and the community we love. Let’s start with a subject near to my stomach: food.

Eating and living more organically these days? Shunning the chemicals from your foods and your cleaning products? Buying local? All these principles are important for us dogs as well. While you might think its cost prohibitive for you to feed me organic food, you might find that it’s just pennies a day that you’ll save in the end in veterinarian visits. It is important for you to know what goes into every food bag and where it’s produced. Food that is produced overseas requires an excess amount of energy to get it to our door and may not use processes that are environmental-friendly. Consider local brands that have limited ingredients with the majority being meat and vegetables.

Food produces waste, so let’s not beat around the bush—let’s talk poo. First of all, furry friends please talk with your people, and tell them it’s not okay to leave my poo ever, even in a bag, at the side of the road, street, trail. Even if they

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The San Francisco Airport Commission Aviation Library and Louis A. Turpin Aviation Museum.

looking up in the sky as a plane flew overhead. I could not keep my eyes off of them.”

He has witnessed many poignant encounters at the airport, and the SFO Museum and Library are no exception. Egan explains, “You can see it all here. I especially enjoy seeing people who walk into this beautiful library who are frazzled, tense, and angry about a missed flight or whatever, and you see a complete change in them once they spend a bit of time in this place. It might be the architecture; it might be that it’s not very crowded. Whatever it is, it is a place where people can calm themselves.”

There are over twenty art galleries located in SFO, and approximately ten of these exhibitions are pre-security. Two upcoming exhibitions being presented by SFO Museum are Essential Style: Vintage and Antique Purses from January 23 to July 24, 2106, and The Allure of Art Nouveau: 1890-1914 from February 13 to August 14, 2016. Both exhibitions will be on view in the International Terminal Main Hall pre-security.

The museum hours are Sunday thru Friday (closed Saturday) from 10AM-4:30PM. The library is available by appointment. Their phone number is (650) 821-6700. The website is www.SFOMuseum.org. The museum may be rented for special events.

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. plan to pick it up on their way back, nobody wants to see that, for shame! Bags do add up, so please purchase bio-degradable ones. Better yet, designate a small area in your own fenced yard, and fill it with pebbles and train your young ones to do their business there. Using a shovel to collect the waste into a stainless steel covered can reduces the number of bags needed and keeps our walks smelling fresh and embarrassment free. My people even considered a composting doggie toilet for their yard, but it turned out to use many gallons of water which is a precious resource in our continued drought conditions.

When not properly trained or allowed to roam freely, dogs can harm native wildlife or precious landscaping. Dog parks are a great alternative, as long as you’re not driving miles to visit a preferred venue. Playtime is a major priority for me—tired dogs are good dogs, so purchase a good supply of environmentally friendly toys, and rotate them out every few days. Truth be told, I rather have a stick, a deer antler, or a rope instead of a plastic toy any day!

I’m not one of those dogs that particularly likes bath time, but once resolved that it’s gonna happen and I’m clean, I like the way my people nuzzle me. Unfortunately, just like human grooming products, dog shampoo, flea treatments, and other care products can contain a large amount of chemicals which get washed down into our waterways and aren’t great for us dogs either. Most organic liquid soaps are fine for dogs, like Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap, but my people usually use Burt’s Bee shampoo to keep my coat shiny and clean.

Far be it for me to be politically correct—my people got me from a reputable breeder instead of a shelter. It’s a long story, but I’m happy we’re together. But there are lots of reasons to adopt a shelter dog. There are over 2.7 million adoptable dogs (and cats) that are still euthanized each year in the US because too many pets come into shelters than there are resources and dollars to care for them. Many of these are happy, healthy pets whose people could no longer care for them, not because the dog did anything wrong. Consider adopting one of these furry friends, and not only will you get a great dog, but it’s wonderful for your self-esteem since you’ll be saving a life.

Have a great green doggie tip? Share with us at www.facebook.com/sustainabledanvillearea.

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Technology Matters

By Evan Corstorphine, Portable CIO

Over the past few years, we’ve seen an increase in the popularity and market share of Apple Macintosh (OS X) computers. I’ve never been a bigot one way or the other when it comes to Mac’s or PC’s. They each have their uses, their strengths, and weaknesses, and my staff feels the same way. Our business is to enable technology of any sort to increase the productivity of the users we work with. And when I criticize either, I am not speaking out of turn, as I own both a brand new fully decked-out Macbook Pro and also a Windows 10 Lenovo laptop. As such, I’m going to give you my unvarnished opinion, and from there you can make up your own mind about what is right for you and your situation.

When helping a client purchase a new system, my concerns are about the features, performance, reliability, and manageability of the computer system. For example, there are some brands that we see in our repair shop a lot more than others, and we make no excuses for steering our clients away from those brands so that the user has a better experience. I feel it’s also important to avoid purchasing a computer because of its looks, a more common criteria than you may imagine.

Of course, hardware is just one aspect of the system. There will always be a debate between industry followers about whether Microsoft Windows or Mac OS X is “better.” The truth is that they’re both really good and mature operating systems, and the most appropriate choice is the one that checks the most boxes for your specific situation. If I had to choose, I would say Mac’s are a better home computer, whereas PC’s are a superior business computer. This will probably continue to evolve, and it’s not an absolute rule, but right now my opinion is it’s the best guideline.

For home use, I think the Mac is brilliant. Part of this is the superior way Apple has integrated their operating system across their smartphones (iPhone), tablets (iPad), and computers (MacBooks, iMac’s, etc.) For example, with recent OS X releases, I can answer my cell phone with my computer, place a “FaceTime” video phone call directly from my computer, or type a text message from my Mac instead of from my iPhone. This is extremely useful, and it demonstrates the level of cross-platform integration Apple has achieved. But while these are impressive features, they do not mean the computer is business-

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Danville Today News ~ February 2016 - Page 21 ready. There are important areas where the Mac falls short.

One of the biggest Mac issues is that most established and popular business software was written for the PC, not for the Macintosh. Also, for the overwhelming majority of companies that have traditional, non web-based software to run, it’s very difficult to completely integrate their Mac’s into the security and filesharing infrastructure established for the Windows domain-based computers and to manage them all consistently. Yes, we can get files into and out of the servers for the Mac’s, but it’s not smooth. We do work with some companies who have an all-Mac infrastructure, and for them (and only them) it works OK because 100% of their software and files are internet-based. In other words, they’re not worrying about running Quickbooks or Sage Business Works, or saving data to a local file-server, because they’re using all their business software through a subscription service they access through a web browser. Nothing is local.

Beside software, the other area of concern is that Mac’s are more difficult to securely administrate for business use. For example, in the Mac OS X world, an end-user is either established as the administrator of the computer with God-like rights, or they are a ‘limited user,’ who has significantly fewer rights to do anything.

With administrator rights, the end-user has the privilege of removing any software they choose, and there’s nothing we can do about it, because that role has the rights.

While not an epidemic, there are a certain number of people who for whatever reason will use those privileges to remove the management or backup software that we installed on their system, which removes our ability to administrate that system, which causes all sorts of other issues. If this were a PC, we would have the ability to tune the security and ensure the end-user could do their job with flexibility, while preserving the integrity of the system management functions and overall security. This is a big issue and one that limits our ability to ensure that the policies and dictates of the company who owns that computer are followed. For some, this alone is enough reason to disqualify the Mac for enterprise use.

Regardless of your stance, I hope this causes you to consider the implications of the platform you choose before you make your next computer purchase. There are great features and capabilities with both types of systems. If you’re unsure which way to proceed, I urge you to contact us so we can help you think it through in advance of your investment, either by calling 925-552-7953 or emailing helpdesk@theportablecio.com. Advertorial

Icons continued from front page

the Danville Feed and Grain store in 1951 and leased the land from Southern Pacific.

Then the Ramoses added suburban products and renamed it the Danville Feed and Garden store, selling such products as oak firewood, sacks of coal, pool supplies, burlap bags, and straw. They painted three of the sides red but didn’t bother to paint the west side which kept its original gold paint.

Dick Dowell rented the upstairs apartment from Joe Ramos Jr. from 1970 to 1983.

An antique collector, skilled carpenter and bachelor with lady friends, he obtained the Baldwin Ranch water tank and reassembled it as a hot tub accessible from the second floor. We will tell some of these stories at one of the Saturday 10:30AM talks during the exhibit’s run.

Red Horse Tavern

The historic Red Horse Tavern is a prime example of the way Robert Noble Burgess chose to develop his Mount Diablo Country Club beginning in 1912.

He employed architects and other designers to plan the Club and managed to get Red Horse Tavern the new electric railway from Saranap to the Club, helping to put Danville, trips to Mount Diablo, and the new club on the map.

Needing room and board facilities for non-club members and living quarters for employees, Burgess moved an 1881 carriage house and employed architect Arthur Benton to design a public tavern with rooms. It opened in 1917, was named the Red Horse Tavern, and featured a carousel-sized horse’s head hanging inside. The tavern building is still in its original location and can be compared with the original drawings.

The Museum borrowed the Red Horse head from a Diablo Country Club lounge (now called the Red Horse Tavern). Original dishes from the tavern are on display. There are also programs and coins from the Pan Pacific International Exposition, an event in 1915 which Burgess took advantage of to draw people to Mount Diablo and his new club.

This exhibit is open until February 28. Each Saturday, a building will be featured in a 10:30AM talk. The Museum of the San Ramon Valley is located at 205 Railroad Ave. in Danville. It is open Tuesday - Friday from 1PM - 4PM, Saturday from 10AM - 1PM, and Sunday from 12PM - 3PM. For information, call (925) 837-3750 or visit museumsrv.org.

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Page 22 - February 2016 ~ Danville Today News

Is Your Living Trust a Bomb Ticking Silently?

By Robert J. Silverman, Attorney at Law

GREAT SERVICE. EVEN BETTER VALUE.

You may recognize the title of this month’s piece.

I used it in my July 2014 article. I’m writing about the topic again because it is so important.

CONVENIENT SHUTTLE SERVICE TO Major new Federal Estate Tax legislation was HOME, THE OFFICE, BART AND BACK. enacted in January 2013. As I warned previously, these newer rules may have transformed your existing ` living trust into a bomb ticking silently.

FACTORY LUBE, OIL DIAGNOSIS/ This article focuses on married couples who have a type of living trust that SCHEDULED & FILTER CHECK ENGINE MAINTENANCE LIGHT INSPECTION was very commonly drafted for decades - generally referred to as a formula Multi-Point Performance Let our trained experts perform an Improve mileage and extend Inspection “A-B” or “A-B-C” trust. initial inspection and diagnosis. We’ll the life of your vehicle - follow Drain and Replace All Engine Oil also provide you with the exact cost recommended service schedules The bad news: Your A-B trust bomb is set to explode when the first spouse Install Genuine Factory Oil Filter to perform the repair. No obligation, nothing to buy. % dies. During the last three years, I have had to explain to too many widows and 95 $ OFF +TAX widowers why their trust exploded and how I needed to help clean up the damage.

REGULAR PRICES Synthetic oil extra.

The good news: It’s fairly easy for you to avoid the explosion and thus the damage, but you must change your A-B trust (assuming it is advisable upon For Acura, Honda, Lexus, and Toyota vehicles only. Valid only at THE SERVICE OUTLET on the day of service. Please present advice from legal counsel) before the first spouse dies. coupon when service order is written. Not valid in conjunction with other coupons, offers or discounts. Synthetic oil extra.

Prior to January, 2013: A-B trusts have been extremely popular for many years and for good reason. This structure enabled married couples to legally eliminate or minimize Federal Estate Tax liability (with a top tax rate of 55% during much of the last few decades) that would otherwise be imposed upon the death of the surviving spouse – assuming he or she died with more than a certain threshold amount of net assets. This threshold - the amount exempt from Federal Estate Tax liability (“exemption”) - has varied greatly over the years, but was as low as $600,000 through much of the 1990’s. Accordingly, many couples had estates that were vulnerable to this “death” tax.

LAFAYETTE SAN RAMON SINCE A-B trusts were designed primarily to mitigate Federal Estate Tax. By segre3360 Mt. Diablo Blvd.

2151 San Ramon Valley Blvd.

1993 gating the assets into two separate (A & B) sub-trusts after the death of the first 925.283.3133 925.837.3000 spouse, the couple could use two Federal Estate Tax exemptions – one applicable THESERVICEOUTLET.COM to the deceased spouse’s assets and one applicable to the surviving spouse’s assets.

Alternatively, with a “one pot” trust, in which all of the assets of the first 1410127-TSO-ALToday-5x6.25.indd 1 10/27/14 12:05 PM spouse to die and the assets of the surviving spouse remain in one pot, only one exempCrayon continued from front page tion (that of the surviving spouse) is available; the exemption of the first spouse to die patients a year. A fundraising campaign to purchase additional molds is lost. So, unless a couple had an A-B trust, the children and/or other loved ones were costing $10,000 apiece (plus another $1,500 for accessory apparatus) is potentially exposed to tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars in unnecessary Federal currently underway. Moving the manufacturing operation to a space able Estate Tax liability. to accommodate a large induction range for melting wax is another goal.

After December, 2012: The new law passed in January, 2013 was a “game Ware notes, “Early on, we asked hospitals, ‘Do you have a need for changer.” The exemption is now $5.45 million, indexed annually for inflation. More these crayons?’ Now hospitals who are part of the Children’s Hospital importantly, a new feature called “portability” enables married couples to use two Association ask us, ‘When can we get more crayons?’” full exemptions without splitting the assets into two separate pots (A-B) after the Kellye Carroll, Director, Chase Child Life Program Mattel Children’s first spouse dies. Consequently, a huge number of married couples no longer need Hospital UCLA, writes of her initial contact with TCI: “I have to be honest an A-B Trust for Federal Estate Tax reasons! and say I literally rolled my eyes at my computer when I read the email Nevertheless, you might ask: what is this bomb that’s ticking? What harm is there because I was so skeptical of anyone figuring out how to recycle crayons in just keeping your old A-B trust? Unfortunately, there are substantial, yet not com– without infection control being an issue – AND seriously being able to monly understood, disadvantages of an A-B trust, including these primary ones: a) produce enough that it would make a difference.” She is happy to report they are more expensive and inconvenient to administer after the first spouse dies; b) an attorney is generally needed to help the surviving spouse allocate and transfer that not only does TCI keep the crayons coming, but they also deliver as assets into the respective sub-trusts; c) separate accounts must be maintained for needed, minimizing the signifieach sub-trust; d) a separate tax return must be prepared and filed for the ‘B’ Trust cant storage problem posed by every year of the surviving spouse’s life; and e) the future sale of certain assets in the other donated art supplies.

The design of the crayons is ‘B’ sub-trust (that appreciate after the first spouse dies) may trigger income tax that ideal. Carroll says, “The fact would not have been payable if the assets had been kept in a one pot trust.

NOTE: Some non-tax reasons may still warrant a two pot trust, particularly for that these don’t roll is fantastic. many blended families; however, current strategies other than an A-B trust are often The kids don’t lose them in the more advantageous. In any event, the newer Federal Estate Tax rules provide a golden bedsheets and – a huge infection opportunity for married couples to seek counsel from an experienced estate planning control piece – they don’t hit the attorney about the pros and cons of keeping or revising their existing trust structure. floor! Many of our kids have I offer a complimentary Estate Planning Primer and/or a free, introductory limited mobility, and to try to find a crayon that’s rolled off the meeting.

Mr. Silverman is an attorney with R. Silverman Law Group specializing in table when you’re alone in your estate planning, trust administration and probate, real estate, and business taxes. room can be really frustrating.”

They are located at 1855 Olympic Blvd., Suite 125, Walnut Creek, CA 94596; (925) Kellye has tested TCI crayons 705-4474; rsilverman@rsilvermanlaw.com. with her own children and found This article is intended to provide information of a general nature, and is not intended nor should it be relied upon as legal, tax that whether in the car, on vaca- Sorted by color, crayons are melted over and/ or business advice. Readers should obtain and rely upon specific advice only from their own qualified professional advisors. This communication is not intended or written to be used, for the purpose of: i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code; or ii) tion or at home, they don’t break. induction burners. Testing has proven the

10

promoting, marketing, or recommending to another party any matters addressed herein.

Advertorial

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See Crayon cont.on pg. 23

FREE

process kills germs. Photo courtesy of TCI.

editor@yourmonthlypaper.com

Four Financial Planning Tips for Divorcing in 2016

By Robert Cucchiaro, Certified Financial Planner

For a variety of reasons, studies have shown that January sees more divorce filings than any other month1. If you are planning to divorce in 2016, here are the four things you can do to make the process go more smoothly and save yourself some money.

1. Gather Year-End Financial Documents – Now is the time when all of the year-end financial statements from your various investment accounts, retirement plans, pensions, and life insurance policies should be arriving. Scan these or leave a copy with a friend or trusted advisor. Email us if you want a copy of our financial checklist document so you’ll know what to look out for in the mail.

2. Get a Credit Report – While this may not be something you paid a lot of attention to in the past, having a good credit report will become necessary the minute you start applying for loans/leases, etc. in just your name.

Cleaning up an erroneous credit report or even improving your credit score can take time so start the process now.

3. Build your Team – In order to maximize the odds of a successful divorce (from a financial perspective) you will need the following members on your team: • A divorce attorney • A financial advisor • A CPA This team will work together on your behalf to assess your current financial situation, analyze your options, and negotiate a preferential agreement that will serve you for the rest of your life. Now is not the time to “wing it” or settle for a team full of B players. You need A+ players on the team so you can win!

4. Expect the Unexpected – Every client I have ever worked with that was going through a divorce was surprised at how long the process took, how much the legal fees were, and how many surprises came up. I’ve seen cases where a spouse planned ahead for years for an impending divorce and did everything from hiding assets to artificially making his business look unprofitable, all with the goal of giving his ex-wife as little as possible in the divorce settlement. Fortunately for her, she had a team of A+ players on her side, and we helped her negotiate a settlement that will allow her to maintain her current lifestyle for the rest of her life.

If a divorce is on the horizon in 2016, start the process today by sending us an email or giving us a call. We can act as your financial quarterback and recommend divorce attorneys and CPAs for you to interview as well. http://www.marketwatch.com/story/divorce-filings-jump-by-one-third-in-january-2015-01-05

1

Robert Cucchiaro is a Certified Financial Planner and a registered tax preparer. He is a Partner and owner of Summit Wealth & Retirement, a financial planning firm that has been serving business owners in Danville for almost 30 years. Rob specializes in retirement, investment, tax, and estate planning. To learn more or read more articles like this one, visit www.

Advertorial summitwealthandretirement.com.

Crayon continued from page 22

The shape also naturally encourages a correct pencil grip rather than a fist grip.

“Many of our patients have never been to school, so the simple art of holding a writing instrument is not something they’ve been exposed to.”

The TCI 8-color box includes pink. Carroll quotes her favorite comment from an ED specialist: “With these colors a kid can make a whole superhero or a whole princess.” Describing the therapeutic value of art, Carroll remarks, “ And there’s something magical about a new box of crayons – it inspires you to create. Many of our kids will express fears and concerns through their art - which they won’t do verbally.”

Crayons are an important way to balance a child’s hospital stay with a normal activity that reduces anxiety and relieves stress. Ware relates, “A huge percentage of kids – maybe even 98% - take their crayons home when they leave the hospital. Their eyes light up when they are told they can keep their crayons. It is one positive memory from their stay.”

Convincing restaurants to donate their unwanted crayons required understanding how to streamline the collection operation. “When we first approached a few local restaurants,” Ware admits, “we gave them a small collection box and they asked, ‘What do we do with this?’ Now restaurants from all over the country are contacting us for our collection displays so they can become a part of The Crayon Initiative.”

Danville Today News ~ February 2016 - Page 23

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Sunscreen in Winter?

By Dr. Jerome Potozkin

It might sound like a strange question. I often ask my patients if they are using sunscreen every day. Most people only think of putting sunscreen on when they are “going out in the sun.” For most of us, we are exposed to the sun’s rays on a daily basis.

We tend to underestimate how much sun exposure we actually get. However, we are exposed when we are walking to our car or when we are out running errands. The exposure to the sun is cumulative and can result in increasing your risk of skin cancer as well as premature ageing of the skin. I recommend incorporating the application of sunscreen into one’s daily routine. I apply a broad spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen after I shave. Since I shave everyday it is automatically part of my routine, and I don’t even have to think about it.

There are many sunscreen products available. I suggest you find a broad spectrum sunscreen that you like and will use everyday and which blocks out both UVA and UVB rays. For everyday use I recommend using an SPF of 30 and up. If you are going to be on a boat or exposed for extended periods of time, I recommend an SPF of 50 and up. Some people prefer chemical free sunscreens. The term is somewhat inaccurate as these products can contain chemicals, but the active ingredient is not considered a chemical. The active ingredients in these “chemical free sunscreens” are usually zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. As long as you’re using a broad spectrum sunscreen, I think it is personal preference. Don’t worry about getting enough Vitamin D as you can always take a daily supplement.

This year El Niño has blessed the Tahoe ski resorts with some of the best snow in years. When I’m skiing do you think I use sunscreen? You betcha!

You might not think you’re getting much sun exposure when you are in the mountains, but you would be very wrong. At higher altitudes there is less filtering of ultraviolet light. The sun also serves as a giant reflector directing the ultraviolet light so you get almost double the dose. Because of these factors, it is important to protect your skin.

Many of our patients benefit from a customized skin care regimen year round. The foundation of this is sun protection with a broad spectrum sunscreen. We also recommend topical anti-oxidants such as Vitamin C. Lastly, we recommend a topical retinoid. Call us today so that we can design a customized regimen that fits your needs.

Dr. Potozkin is a board certified dermatologist who has been serving the local community since 1993. His fully accredited dermatological and laser facility is located at 600 San Ramon Valley Blvd, Suite 102 in Danville. Dr. Potozkin is a fellow member of the ASDS. He is accepting new patients. Please call (925) 838-4900 or visit Potozkin.com for more information.

Advertorial Based in Colorado, with locations in California and Arizona (and soon Texas), Snooze Eatery A.M., serving breakfast and lunch, has been contributing crayons to TCI since March 2015. As of December, they had recycled 1,400 pounds of crayons, producing about 8,375 TCI boxes. Sustainability Coordinator Megan

See Crayon continued on page 24

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Page 24 - February 2016 ~ Danville Today News

The Eye Opener

By Gregory Kraskowsky, O.D., Alamo Optometry Ocular Aura and Ocular Migraines

Many patients have experienced an ocular migraine in which you typically see a wide range of visual phenomena that is often followed by an actual headache. There are some different terms for this condition including aura, ocular migraine, ocular aura, and retinal migraines.

Even though they have slightly different meanings, I will lump them into one for the purposes of this article. Initially, these can be very scary as patients are concerned that they are losing their vision and/or possibly having a stroke. Thankfully, neither will happen just from having an ocular migraine; however, depending on the exact symptoms, some eye and health conditions need to be ruled out.

An ocular migraine has the same origin as typical migraine; it is caused by a blood vessel disturbance. There is an initial blood vessel constriction followed by a vessel dilation (widening). This can be caused by many things such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and physical exertion. However, it is very common that these “just happen.” It usually occurs without any triggers and happens when people are at work, watching TV, or driving. The visual aura that people usually see is similar but can be variable, and it can affect one or both eyes. Most patients report seeing bright or shimmering lights, zigzag lines, cloudy vision, tunnel vision, or that it is like looking through a kaleidoscope. Even though there is a wide range of visual imagery that people see, having a portion or all of your vision go black is not typical. This could still be a visual migraine, but a full medical workup is necessary as this can be a result of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or high cholesterol.

During the visual disturbance your central vision usually isn’t compromised, but it could be a little blurry. These visual disturbances last anywhere from a few minutes to about 30 minutes. If there is continued decreased vision, floaters, flashes of light, red eyes, etc., then an ocular migraine is not the diagnosis.The symptoms go away as quickly as they came with no prolonged visual changes and have no lasting visual or ocular consequences.

These are commonly followed by an actual migraine about one hour after the aura starts. It is possible to not get the headache, but it is more likely that a migraine follows the aura. Initially these can be very scary, and patients usually call the office to schedule a visit. This is advisable as there could be other causes and other conditions that need to be addressed depending on the symptoms, age, and medical history of the patient.

Unfortunately, there is no treatment for ocular migraines. However, I always recommend for patients to take their normal headache medications at the onset of the visual disturbances, since it is common to get an actual migraine about an hour after the onset of the visual aura. These headaches are usually severe and could last several hours. Taking Tylenol, Excedrin, etc. for the headache will not prevent it from coming, but it will blunt the severity. In addition, caffeine can help shorten the duration; drinking soda, tea, or coffee can also have some benefit in lessening the severity and length of an ocular migraine.

It is more common for normal migraine sufferers, women, and patients with diabetes, high blood pressure, and auto-immune diseases to get ocular migraines. There are no strong medical studies explaining the etiology of this condition. Even though there is no treatment, it is important to make sure that there is no medical reason for the ocular disturbances. The aura can easily be mistaken for symptoms of a retinal hole or detachment, stroke, or other neurological issues. Granted these conditions are pretty rare, but they do happen. An office visit to go over your personal medical history, exact symptoms, and an eye evaluation will help differentiate an ocular migraine from other potentially sight-threatening conditions.

Dr. K. at Alamo Optometry is your hometown eye doctor for outstanding service, vision care, and designer eyewear. He can be reached at (925) 820-6622 or visit his office at 3201 Danville Blvd., Suite 165 in Alamo. Visit our website at www.alamooptometry.com, and join us on Facebook, Advertorial Instagram, and Twitter @Alamo Optometry.

A New Way of Managing BPH

By Wei Zheng, MD

Benign enlargement of prostate (BPH) is one of the most common diseases that affects American men. It has been estimated that 70% of all men have enlarged prostate by the age of 60. By age of 80, 90% of men are affected. In other words, every man will have BPH if he lives long enough!

Symptoms of BPH can be divided into two categories: obstructive and irritative voiding symptoms. Obstructive urinary symptoms consist of difficulty in initiating the urinary stream, intermittent and slow stream, and post void dribbling. Irritative voiding symptoms include sensation of not being able to empty, urinary frequency, urgency, urgent incontinence, burning upon urination, and urge to get up at night to urinate.

There are many treatment options for BPH. When the symptoms are mild, watchful waiting is often recommended. When the symptoms become moderate or severe, they can be treated with medication, minimally invasive office procedures, or surgeries.

There is a new procedure called UroLift System which was approved by the FDA within the last year. The UroLift System is a minimally invasive procedure to treat BPH. It consists of a delivery device and tiny permanent implants which, once deployed in the prostatic urethra, can lift and hold the enlarged prostate tissue out of the way, alleviating compression on the urethra.

No cutting, heating, or ablating tissue is involved in the UroLift procedure, making it a unique treatment that does not remove prostate tissue and does not negatively impact a man’s sexual function.

The Urolift is done in an office setting under local anesthesia. It takes 20-30 minutes to perform. Patients can expect symptoms to improve within the first week and continue improving up to three months. Patients may have some mild pelvic discomfort, small amount of blood in the urine, and mild urgency and burning upon urination after the procedure. Patients can return to pre-procedural activity level within a week.

UroLift System has been evaluated and used extensively in Europe, Australia, and Canada within the last 5-6 years. It has been proven as an effective way of managing BPH. It is an excellent option for patients with

BPH looking for an alternative to drug therapy or more invasive surgery.

Dr. Zheng is a board certified urologist with Pacific Urology and sees patients at offices in Concord, Walnut Creek, and Brentwood. For more information, call (925) 937-7740 or visit www.pacific-urology.com. Advertorial

Crayon continued from page 23

Jorgenson concedes that prior to connecting with TCI, Snooze (although devoted to “composting, recycling, and using our resources responsibly”) simply trashed crayons. Programs Snooze tried previously to initiate proved impractical.

Jorgenson happily writes about the TCI experience, “Now that we can save all crayons, regardless of whether they ended up in a pile of maple syrup or a

Designed with the help of a physical therapist, TCI crayons don't roll off a hospital tray and don't break, making it easy for pediatric patients with limited mobility to exercise their creativity. Photo courtesy of TCI.

mug of hot chocolate, our recycling program is even stronger.” TCI has made the collection process simple. Megan is certain her personal pride in participating is shared by her co-workers. “The seemingly minimal shipping cost to our program

See Crayon continued on page 25

editor@yourmonthlypaper.com

A Little Known Secret

By Jewel Johl, MD

It is hard to describe the physical and emotional stress people feel when dealing with cancer. Whether it is a patient, spouse, family member or friend, everyone can benefit from psychosocial support, but not all have the resources to pay for this valuable service. I would like to tell you about an invaluable resource called Cancer Support Community.

For over 10 years, my colleagues and I have referred our patients to Cancer Support Community in Walnut Creek. They provide comprehensive integrative care for people with cancer, their families, and caregivers. Their services are provided free of charge and include counseling, support groups, nutrition, and exercise and patient education programs. Through their programs, they enable cancer patients to achieve the highest possible quality of life.

All of their programs and services are evidence-based to positively impact cancer treatment outcomes and/or immune system functioning, and they are all delivered by professionals who are licensed or certified in their area of expertise.

Their main center is in Walnut Creek. They also provide services in local medical centers and in several other community locations throughout the Bay Area.

They are the only organization of their kind in Northern California. While an affiliate of the international Cancer Support Community organization, they are structured to be an independent nonprofit corporation, so all of the funds they raise are used to underwrite programs and services in our local community.

The late Ted Kennedy stated, “As a cancer survivor, I understand the emotional and social impact of this disease. So does Cancer Support Community.

The organization’s work is critical as it helps optimize patient care by providing essential but often overlooked services that complete the cancer care plan.”

Together we can help make sure that everyone impacted by cancer knows this resource is available to them at no charge. Please share this article with someone you know whose life has been affected by cancer.

Dr. Johl serves on the Board of Directors of Cancer Support Community in Walnut Creek. He is a Board Certified Medical Oncologist and Hematologist with Diablo Valley Oncology & Hematology Medical Group. His practice has offices in Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill, Brentwood and San Ramon and can be reached at (925) 677-5041. The Cancer Support Community can be Advertorial reached at (925) 933-0107 or www.cancersupport.net.

Crayon continued from page 24

to keep these crayons out of the landfills and recycle them into new crayons for kids is worth every penny!” Darden Restaurants have recently joined the TCI family with LongHorn Steakhouse and Olive Garden sites featuring collection displays. Look for collection boxes in your favorite local family-oriented dining spots. Thank them for their participation or tell them about the program.

Sorting crayons is fun for families, scouts, youth groups, and neighbors. Corporations are also getting in on the action. The largest volunteer group TCI has handled to date had 375 participants. Sign up for the next Danville sorting day on March 12 at www.classy.org/TCIMarchSortDay. For schools, TCI has created a detailed program guide integrating participation in crayon recycling with core curriculum at every grade level from Pre-K/Daycare – High School. Materials include a video, suggested activities, and books to read. As the introduction explains: “The Crayon Initiative believes that in order to grow and learn, children need to have the freedom to be creative and express themselves through art.”

Although nobody knows what 19th century inventor created the first crayon, crayons have been an essential part of Early Childhood Education since the beginning of the 20th century. In 1903, Binney & Smith of Easton, PA answered teachers’ requests for affordable art materials by releasing their original Crayola 8-color box priced at a nickel. Today Crayola alone makes three billion crayons annually.

A new board member, Carroll proudly states: “TCI is ultimately committed to promoting creative arts in hospitals – something that is so desperately needed and so underfunded.”

Learn more including how to support TCI at www.thecrayoninitiative.org.

Danville Today News ~ February 2016 - Page 25

Healthy Outlook

Weight Loss Surgery an Option When Diet and Exercise Fail

By Irene Lo, MD, West Coast Surgical Associates

We all know that the ideal way to maintain a healthy body is through exercise and a sensible diet. But what if you can’t lose weight? Sometimes it is more than a matter of willpower.

Obesity is common in the United States, and many struggle to lose weight for a variety of reasons, including physical limitations. As a result, they face a greater chance of life-shortening medical problems, such as diabetes or heart disease.

For people in danger because of their size, weight related medical problems, or inability to keep off weight by following other treatment plans, bariatric (weight loss) surgery may help.

Bariatric surgery is not a cosmetic procedure or a weight-loss scheme from a commercial. It involves altering the stomach or gastrointestinal tract, resulting in life changes that are not always easy.

There are several bariatric procedures, but all of them either restrict the amount of food the stomach can hold, or reduce the body’s ability to absorb nutrients from food, or do both.

This kind of procedure is for patients who are very obese, in the medical sense. Doctors calculate obesity with the body mass index (BMI), which is a measurement of body fat based on height and weight.

People with high BMI scores are at higher risk for a number of medical conditions, such as diabetes, reflux, heart disease, cancer, arthritis and depression. People with a BMI score higher than 40, or 35 or higher with an obesity-related condition, may be good candidates for surgery.

Most patients lose weight quickly, maintain healthy body weight and feel comfortable with their new lifestyles, if they follow their plans. I have even had patients who stopped needing medication for obesity-related conditions, such as high blood pressure.

There are several bariatric procedures to consider, each with advantages.

All of them are laparoscopic, meaning the surgeon uses special instruments that only need a tiny cut to see and work inside the body which results in fewer side effects and a shorter recovery time.

Gastric bypass surgery creates a small pouch in the stomach that restricts how much food can be eaten, and reattaches the small intestine so food passes without being broken down and absorbed.

A sleeve gastrectomy turns the stomach into a slender tube that limits the amount of food one can eat. Gastric banding, meanwhile, places an adjustable, inflatable band around the stomach to limit food consumption.

If you are thinking about bariatric surgery, talk to your healthcare provider about your options. Bariatric surgery is not easy, but it is an effective way to lose weight.

Dr. Irene Lo (far right) the author, Dr. Diane Kwan (center), and Dr. Aileen Murphy (left) are general and bariatric surgeons who comprise the 680Bariatrics team to promote weight loss and a healthy lifestyle -part of West Coast Surgical Associates (formerly Walnut Creek Surgical Associates) with offices in Walnut Creek, Concord, and San Ramon and can be reached at 925-933-0984, or viewed at www.wcsurgeons.com or www.680Bartiatrics.com.

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Page 26 - February 2016 ~ Danville Today News

Winter Sports: Tips to Avoid Injuries

By Melissa Ko, DC, Sycamore Valley Chiropractic

It’s time to bring out the skis and snowboards and head for the mountains for some winter fun! Winter recreational activities can pose problems for the outdoor enthusiast whose body is not in condition. For example, I saw a patient this week who went cross-country skiing last week… after a ten year break. She enjoyed herself but made it to the appointment feeling quite strained and sore.

Winter sports like skiing, snowboarding, skating, and sledding can cause painful muscle spasms, strains or tears if you’re not in shape. Simply walking outside in freezing weather without proper clothing can intensify older joint problems and cause a great deal of pain. As muscles and blood vessels contract to conserve the body’s heat, the blood supply to extremities is reduced. This lowers the functionality of many muscles, particularly for those who are out of shape. Preparation for outdoor activity, including conditioning the areas of the body that are most vulnerable, can help avoid injury and costly health care bills.

“Simply put, warming up is essential,” says Olympic speed-skating medalist Derek Parra. “In fact, when pressed for time, it’s better to shorten the length of your workout and keep a good warm-up than to skip the warm-up and dive right into the workout. Skipping your warm-up is the best way to get hurt.” Parra, who took both gold and silver medals during the 2002 Olympics, adds that, “You can complete a good warm-up in 15-20 minutes. And

A Day to do Something Special

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

Saint Valentine was a third century Roman saint who has long been associated with the tradition of courtly love. Every February 14th gifts and letters (an estimated one billion Valentine’s Day cards each year) are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of Saint Valentine. The oldest known valentine was a poem written in 1415 by Charles, Duke of Orleans (Go forth, my heart, with my lady…with grace and mercy.) By the middle of the 18th century, it was common for both friends and lovers to exchange small tokens of affection.

I like to think of Valentine’s Day as a day to do something special. Some of my fondest memories are of writing cards for elementary school classmates. In some years, however, it was the preparation for Valentine’s Day that was special.

Valentine’s Day is a time to feel and look your best. Whether you are preparing for a romantic evening, warming up the winter blues, or want to give a gift to someone, here are eight ideas that might help you on your way.

1. A consultation - I find this to be one of the most important interactions I have with my patients. I enjoy answering questions and offering both personal and professional advice. I’m often surprised at how many people ask if surgery is right for them.

2. Botox or Dysport injection - Most commonly used around the eyes and forehead, it can be used both to prevent and treat wrinkles.

3. Volumizing filler injection - This is an excellent way to refresh your appearance, address moderate to severe facial wrinkles, and give youthful contour to the skin.

4. Fraxel laser treatment - Certainly not what King Henry V had in mind when he hired a writer to compose a valentine note to Catherine of Valois we’ve come a long way since then. For Valentine’s Day preparation, I recommend a first treatment one week before the big day. A series of treatments (generally 3-4) address texture problems, fine lines and wrinkles, and pigmentation issues such as brown spots, but results are noticeable after just one treatment.

5. Laser genesis is a great no-downtime, painless procedure for acne prone

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believe me, it will make your workout more pleasant and safe.”

Derek Parra and the American Chiropractic Association suggest that you start with some light aerobic activity (jogging, biking, fast walking) for about 7-10 minutes prior to your activity. Then follow these tips to help you enjoy a safe winter sport: Snowboarding/Skiing: Do 10-15 squats. Stand with your legs shoulder width apart, knees aligned over your feet. Slowly lower your buttocks as you bend your knees over your feet. Stand up straight again.

Skating: Do lunges. Take a big step forward with one foot. Let your back knee come down to the floor while keeping your shoulders in position over your hips.

Repeat the process with your other foot.

Sledding/Tobogganing: Do knee-to-chest stretches to fight compression injuries to your back caused by repetitive bouncing over the snow. Either sitting or lying on your back, pull your knees to your chest and hold for up to 30 seconds.

Don’t forget cool-down stretching for all of these sports: At the bottom of the sledding hill, for instance, before climbing back up, do some more knees-tochest stretches, or repetitive squatting movements to restore flexibility.

After any of these activities, if you are sore, apply an ice pack to the affected area for 15-20 minutes, then take it off for a couple of hours. Repeat a couple of times each day over the next day or two.

If you continue to feel soreness, pain, or strain, it may be time to visit a Doctor of Chiropractic. “I’ve always believed in chiropractic care,” says Parra. “I’ve used a lot of other treatments for injuries and pain, but the problem doesn’t get fixed until I go to a Doctor of Chiropractic.”

Have a safe and fun winter from all of us at Sycamore Valley Chiropractic!

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 informaAdvertorial tion or to schedule an appointment.

skin. While there’s never a simple cure-all for problem skin issues, laser genesis is a good place to start as the laser has enough heat to kill the bacteria in the active breakouts.

6. While not exactly the vestige of Christian and ancient Roman Valentine’s tradition, laser hair removal is a real windfall of living in the 21st century.

Several treatments are generally needed, and it works best for darker hair types.

7. Longer lashes! - Latisse is a treatment used to grow lashes, making them longer, thicker, and darker. More voluptuous lashes in just six weeks, are “romantique”!

8. Skin care products - There’s a pleasure in taking time to care for your own skin, and a cream or lotion can also make a nice gift - something to be wrapped up and enjoyed.

Sometimes just the process of sharing wisdom (and taking away some of the mystery of youth and beauty) is the most rewarding part of my day. Happy Valentine’s Day! Dr. Barbara Persons is a Plastic Surgeon and owns Persons Plastic Surgery, Inc. located at 911 Moraga Rd, Suite 205 in Lafayette. She may be reached at 925.283.4012 or drbarb@ Advertorial personsplasticsurgery.com.

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Your Personal Nutritionist

Typical Misconceptions and Unsuccessful Weight Loss

By Linda Michaelis RD, MS

It is January and I am seeing many misconceptions that my new clients have where I wish they would have come to see me sooner so I could show them how much easier weight loss can be.

A recent client, Diana, told me that she thought she was doing all the right things to lose weight but became so frustrated with lack of results that she just gave up. These were some of the habits that she was following.

I am Going on a Diet

Diet implies restriction and a short-lived effort to only get quick results and then return to normal poor eating habits. Diana was eating boring foods that did not satisfy her. I was adamant with her that food is to be enjoyed. It is my job to keep her on track, hold her hand thru socializing and restaurants, learn how to eat favorite foods, and keep the motivation high. Donna is now happy to be losing weight and eating tasty foods.

Drastic Attempts to Stop Eating “Bad” Foods

My client told me that she started the new year by cleaning out the kitchen and throwing away all the junk and replacing it with only healthy foods. The only reason I am still in practice after 25 years is because I teach clients that you have to adopt a way of eating that you can keep for the rest of your life. There is no overnight successes, but rather you must implement small and realistic changes. Yes, it can (and even should) include splurges and your cocktails. I showed Diana how to plan her day wine tasting in Sonoma along with eating at a favorite restaurant.

Giving Up Carbs

Of course Diana decided to give up all carbs, and she was miserable with no weight loss. She was eating too much meat, cheese, nuts, and fruit. A weight loss regimen must include all foods you love. Diana is a dessert person, so I showed her how to include it each day. When she enjoyed her favorite ice cream sandwich for dessert, I told her that ice cream is fat and sugar and the cookie has carbs. She learned to go backwards and think, “Tonight I want dessert so I will not eat a rich chicken caesar

Danville Today News ~ February 2016 - Page 27

salad which has a lot of fat from cheese and dressing, and carbs from croutons, but I will have a seafood salad instead with some popular roasted red pepper soup.”

Only Counting Calories

Diana was right to count calories, but the key to weight loss is spreading your calories equally throughout the day to gain success. She did not realize that fats are higher in calories per serving even with healthy fats such as nuts, olives, and avocados.

It is proven that we use calories more efficiently during the day when we are most active. Therefore, we should have less fat at night and eat a small piece of salmon or a filet mignon for dinner with more veggies. Diana now eats salmon or sirloin burger for lunch and sees that often she is not hungry for dinner because of the fat content.

Weighing Yourself Often

Diana weighed herself each day and felt defeated before she even began the day.

Weighing yourself does not tell the whole story. Even if the scale is not budging it does not mean that you are not making progress. I see clients drop 2 lbs. all at once after plateauing for weeks. I do not have a scale in my office, and I do not talk about weight loss with my clients. After working with them for a short time I can see they are losing weight and feeling more energetic. Yes, after changing their eating habits we start weighing only once a week.

Exercise is Not Always the Answer

Most of my clients exercise several times a week, just like Donna did. The mentality is, “I am exercising, so I can have larger portions.” No, I taught Donna how to listen to her hunger even if she exercised that day. She realized on days that she exercised she was less hungry. There needs to be a plan for days that we exercise and days we do not so, for example, on days that she goes to the gym she can enjoy her wine or a larger dessert or even a larger serving of pasta.

All in all an enjoyable menu is the answer to weight loss. I am glad to share with you after working with Diana for two weeks she is down five pounds.

She is simply amazed by how easy this can be and tasty as well. Feel free to call me and I can show you how this can be done, and you will be thrilled to eat your favorite foods and still lose weight.

NUTRITIONAL COUNSELING CAN BE COVERED BY MEDICAL INSURANCE - Aetna, Blue Cross, Blue Shield, Health Net, Hill Physicians, Sutter Health, and other major companies. Please refer to my website www.LindaRD.com for past articles and information about services. Feel free to call me at (925)855-0150 Advertorial or email lifeweight1@yahoo.com.

Page 28 - February 2016 ~ Danville Today News

The Combs Team

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Danville Real Estate: 2016 Another Great Year in Real Estate?

Home Sales Danville (Oct. 1- Jan.21) Pending Sold DOM List Price Sold Price Sq. Foot $ Sq. Foot 2014-2015 51 194 33 $ 1,013,605 $ 1,011,397 2,383 $ 427 2015-2016 51 184 35 $ 1,136,792 $ 1,127,875 2,500 $ 469 % Change 0% -5% 9% 12% 13% 5% 10%

So, the Fed finally raised interest rates. We have been expecting it for years.

Now that it has happened our worst fears have not materialized. Mortgage interest rates are now lower than they were before the Fed rate hike. Go figure.

With the Fed’s action and the implementation of new stricter lending standards in October of 2015, I thought it might be worthwhile to examine the last three months of 2015 plus what we have of 2016 so far and compare it to the same time frame in 2014 to determine if any significant change has become apparent in the Danville market.

What we can see is the number of pending sales has stayed the same while the number of sold homes has slipped a bit. Pending sales are 51 in both time periods. This would be a great sign if sold properties were in lockstep with pending sales. More buyers and sellers are always good for the market. However, sold homes are down 5% from 194 to 184. This may or may not be a negative as it is unclear if this is a real sales decrease or if slower mortgage processing as a result of TILA/RESPA Integrated Disclosure (TRID) Rule has retarded the movement of homes from pending to sold and this anomaly will self-correct over time. We will have to wait and see on this one.

List price for the sold homes has certainly increased moving from $1,013,605 all the way up to $1,136,792. That’s a big move of 12% in one year’s time.

More surprising is the change in sold price which increased at the rate of 13% from $1,011,397 to $1,127,875. I would think a change of this magnitude at the slowest part of the selling season portends a strong year in 2016. If the current pending sales hold this price level it would be a really good sign for continuing market strength.

Before we get overly excited about the huge price change exhibited here, we should take a look at the relative size of the homes sold and the price buyers paid per square foot. It’s still positive, but a little less dramatic. Home size increased

5% which accounts for at least some of the reported increase. Price paid per square foot increased, from $427 to $469. That’s a significant increase of 10%, so people are a paying quite a bit more for a home this year as compared to last year. That is a pretty good sign that we are still in a hot market. Also, since the $469 per square foot is a bit more than was being paid last spring, it’s one more indication that our market is still hot and seasonality is not depressing prices.

Days on Market increased somewhat from 33 days to 35 days. Both numbers indicate a hot market and given the two days increase in the time it takes to sell a home, one must conclude the market isn’t cooling. Once again, we cannot know at this time if this 10% increase is being negatively influenced by TRID. Time will tell. Unless days on market spikes to 90 or more, the market remains hot.

One can never predict the next doomsday scenario that will send the real estate market into a tailspin. It’s only happened once in my lifetime and I don’t see another one on the horizon. I do believe the Danville Market has rebounded, is fully recovered and there is every reason to believe home prices will continue to advance. While I’m not predicting double digit appreciation in the year ahead, I suspect we will have another very good year in Danville Real Estate.

Trying to figure out your next move? Need numbers and answers to your fix up questions to make your decision? Nancy and I will be happy to provide you with a personal consultation, including a multi-dimensional analysis of your home’s current value, to help you figure it out. No charge and no pressure just our honest opinions. Please call 925-989-6086 or send me an email joecombs@thecombsteam.com.

Danville 4 Bedroom

Orinda Single Story

NDG I L D O N PES

L SO

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Nicely updated 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath in lovely Danville neighborhood. Community pool and tennis courts. Priced to sell $899,000.

Nicely updated 3 bedroom Single Story, Views and Amazing Schools.

Priced To Sell $799,000!

Executive Luxury Home

Danville Single Story, Great Location

LD

SO

Mt. Diablo views from this casually elegant & completely luxurious Braddock Logan model home. 5 bedroom, 4.5 bath. Priced to sell $1,899,000

LD

SO

Three bedroom single story with a creek view.

Priced to sell $699,000

Data presented in this column is based in whole or in part on data supplied by the Contra Costa and Alameda MLS service and other quoted sources.

Joe Combs, Nancy Combs, The Combs Team, J. Rockcliff and the MLS service do not guarantee the accuracy of this information. DRE #0144125.

Alamo Single Story Ranch

LD

SO

4 bedroom, 2.5 bath home on flat half acre.

Updated and ready to go. Priced to sell $1,275,000.

J. Rockcliff Realtors 15 Railroad Ave., Danville CA. 94526