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May 2016 Valley Teen Idol By Linda Summers Pirkle If you are one of the millions who tuned into American Idol in the past, you most likely remember the excitement and anticipation leading to the announcement of audience favorites, Carrie Underwood or Kelly Clarkson. Even the drama of voting off talented singers like Kellie Pickler was memorable. American Idol, the popular TV show, is wrapping up after many seasons, but our local version of the competition, Valley Teen Idol (VTI), is going strong. Contestants recently competed for the honor of being Valley Teen Idol, and the winner for 2016 is the talented fourteen year old singer and songwriter, Miss Avery Chapman. VTI and the San Ramon Valley Rotary fundraising partnership provide a venue for vocalists, vocalist/instrumentalists, and instrumentals only, individuals, groups, and
Serving Danville The Art off Survival Exhibit: Surprise After Surprise! By Jerry E. Warren
The “Art of Survival” exhibit produces surprise after surprise for Danville’s Museum of the San Ramon Valley. When Museum officials elected to host an exhibit focusing on Japanese American internment Beverly Lane meeting Takao Fukuchi at Art of camp experiences during Survival exhibit. WWII, they felt some trepidation that people might not even come visit. After all, this 1942 episode was hardly America’s finest moment. Some 120,000 Japanese Americans accused of disloyalty but who were totally innocent were forcibly herded into ten isolated concentration camps. Yes, concentration camps! For many, the label reeks of Nazi death camps, but President Franklin D. Roosevelt, a connoisseur of English, correctly called them that. The agency assigned to operate the camps, the War Relocation From left to right: Valley Teen Idol, 2016 Avery Chapman, 3rd place winner, Breezy Bochenek, 2nd place Authority, cognizant of the stigma of the term, euphemistically relabeled winners, The Major 4, Founder VTI Debora Killeen, Emcee, Terry Koehne, VTI 2006 winner and judge, them as “internment camps” and transformed prisoners into “internees.” Stevie Rae Stephens, Rotary Club president, Jessica Braverman and VTI 2015 winner, Maddie Bartolome. Surprisingly, guests keep streaming into the Museum to check out the exhibit. Included among the constant flow of visitors are older Japanese bands to showcase their talents and also give back to the community. The brainchild of Debora Killeen of the San Ramon Valley Rotary, VTI has been growing each year since American camp survivors, many in their late 80’s and early 90’s, who visit its inception 11 years ago. In 2006, according to Killeen, there were five contestants trailed by their children and grandchildren. They want their families to learn at the final event competing for number one. This year, 20 performers participated in about this doleful chapter in their lives. Most of the families are as ignorant the finals held at San Ramon Performing Arts Theatre with 600 people in the audience. as we are about the camps. At best there was a page or more likely only a “The arts were close to my heart,” says Debora Killeen who is a local interior paragraph in our history books about the situation. See Surprise continued on page 21 designer. She wanted to give back to the community and found a good fit with the local Rotary Club. The website www.rotary.org provides historical details on Rotary International’s establishment over one hundred years ago. In 1905, a Chicago Alamo Danville Artists’ Society Presents lawyer, Paul P. Harris called a meeting with three of his friends. He had the idea to Primavera start a club that would foster fellowship among members of the business community, and this first meeting blossomed into a worldwide organization. By 1921, the By Jody Morgan Primavera, one of the arorganization was represented on every continent. Rotarians number 1.2 million in 33,000 clubs worldwide and work locally, regionally, and internationally to combat ea’s oldest annual art festivals, hunger, improve health and sanitation, provide education and job training, promote brings artists and art lovers topeace, and eradicate polio, under the motto “Service Above Self.” gether at the Blackhawk Plaza The San Ramon Valley Rotary Club formed in 1994 and is made up of 42 local Rotunda on Saturday May 21st business men and women as well as many active retirees. For the past 11 years from 10 AM-6 PM and Sunday, they have sponsored the Valley Teen Idol competition, and the revenue generated 22nd from 11AM-5PM. Presented supports regional and international programs. Additionally, the winner’s school’s by Alamo Danville Artists’ Beverly Turner and Michael Rizza at music department also receives a monetary prize. Besides the grand prize winner Society (ADAS), the show is Primavera. for Valley Teen Idol, other categories also get awards. This year 21 schools received professionally judged, awarding cash prizes proceeds from VTI to help local school music programs. Volume VII - Number 7 “Be a gift to the world,” is the motto of current Rotary International president, and ribbons to the winners. Participating 3000F Danville Blvd. #117, artists donate 25% of their sales to the and local teens have been sharing their gifts with the Valley Teen Idol competition. Alamo, CA 94507 (925) 405-6397 Miss Stevie Rae Stephens, at the age of 14, was the first winner of VTI in 2006. She ADAS “Art in the Schools” fund, which Fax (925) 406-0547 returned to the 2016 Valley Teen Idol competition as a judge. Now a seasoned singer benefits students in the San Ramon Valley Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher See Idol continued on page 22 Unified School District. The pairing of fine wine offered by local editor@ wineries with fine art executed by emerging yourmonthlypaper.com PRSRT STD U.S. Postage and established artists from across the Bay The opinions expressed herein belong PAID Local Area makes this a thoroughly enjoyable to the writers, and do not necessarily Permit 263 that of Danville Today News. Postal Customer way to support a worthy enterprise. Since reflectDanville Today News is not Alamo CA responsible for the content of any of 1977, ADAS has been helping to keep art the advertising herein, nor does ECRWSS publication imply endorsement.
See Primavera continued on page 23
Page 2 - May 2016 ~ Danville Today News
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Boulevard View
East Bay Regional Park District Wants You!
By Alisa Corstorphine, Editor
The East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) includes 65 regional parks in its two-county jurisdiction, covering more than 113,000 miles and 1,200 miles of trail. Helping to oversee and manage this vast recreational territory are nearly 200 volunteers from all over the Bay Area. EBRPD offers a volunteer position for nearly every interest. Consider work in the Botanic Garden, or help with a Coastal Clean-up Day. Become a Regional Parks ambassador, or participate in the companion dog patrol. Help with trail maintenance, or walk the trails as part of the safety patrol. Whether you may seek a special one-time volunteer job or ongoing year-round programs, EBRPD would love to hear from you. Positions are offered for all ages and can be tailored for school groups, students, corporate groups, and Scouting and service clubs. They also offer company team-building &+ ( !%,!* *& ** % service projects. Those seeking to help restore parklands to their original state can help replace nonnative plants with natives, or work with staff to restore vital habitats. EBRPD volunteers help lead tours, take photos, distribute flyers, serve as hosts and greeters, and help
with recycling activities. Volunteering with EBRPD can provide new *+( . , %!% . skills, new friends, a great — '$ er knowledge of natural %,!## &$$+%!*. %* ( and cultural resources, and (&%* *( * the personal satisfaction of Enjoy hors d’oeuvres, French wine, and , +% !%, )*! *!% )*&') &% * *(& making a difference in the * ( # " % ( ( * #" community. (& ) % !* * $ %. &&" &## *!&%) % '(& ( $) For information, email )'&%)&( . * (! % ) & * %,!## ! ( (. % &-$ %* Volunteers@EBParks.org, ! " *) , !# # !% * ! ( (. &&")*&( * " )*( - &&") or visit www.ebparks.org/
% &% #!% about/getinvolved/volunteer.
The concept of something having contradictory qualities to different people has been around a long time. “One man’s meat is another man’s poison� was a 17th century proverb. In the 1860’s in Hector Urquhart’s Popular Tales of the West Highlands, he states, “But one man’s rubbish may be another’s treasure.� The more modern interpretation substitutes the word “trash� for “rubbish,� and we note that something one person considers worthless may be considered valuable to someone else. I recently received a new end table for our home. The table was made from old wooden wine crates and topped with a “pecky cedar� board pulled from an old barn in Fresno. I love things that are reused and repurposed, and this unique piece was just what I was looking for. Since the table was in Los Angeles and I am up north, the company made a plywood shipping crate to ship the table to us in one piece. Once the table was unboxed, the crate sat in my side yard for several weeks before my husband claimed it was time to take it to the dump. Not that I needed another project, but the crate spoke to me as a perfect dog house or storage unit, and I wasn’t willing to just chuck it in the dump. Realizing my crafty repurposing vision wasn’t going to happen under my watch, I suggested posting the box on Nextdoor.com to see if anyone else had a vision for it. Nextdoor.com offers a good online neighborhood community for sharing resources and recommendations, and it is a venue to locally sell or give away items. I posted the box and within a couple hours I had multiple people interested in taking it and using it for different purposes. One person wanted to use it as a tall garden planter box for a non-profit group. Another wanted to use it for grain storage for her horse. These ideas were so much better than throwing the box in the dump and frankly took less effort (and cost) than disposing it there. It was great to re-home the box and give it away to be used again. Speaking of treasures, I recently had the opportunity to visit a local treasure located right in our backyard. In my family’s 10th year of hosting students from the south of France, I reflect on how people from all over the world save their hard-earned money and precious time to travel to see the jewels in our own area. We often take our local sites and venues for granted, but when they are seen through other eyes a new specialness for these treasures appears. Our students this year were two 19 year old boys who loved cars. We decided to take them to the Blackhawk Automotive Museum (www.blackhawkmuseum.org) in Danville. The museum features over 40 vintage cars from the US and Europe all displayed and polished to showcase their beauty. In addition, the museum added a permanent exhibit called The Spirit of the Old West which is a worldclass display depicting the history of the Western Frontier, the settlers, and Native Americans. It was a fascinating exhibit and well worth seeing.
GRADUATION PARTY RTY YOU’VE DONE THE HARD PART! LETS US DO THE REST TO MAKE IT A MEMEORABLE CELEBRATION OFFSITE CATERING BANQUET ROOM REDWOOD OUTDOOR PATIO BEAUTIFUL DINING CALL LIZ MESSINA FOR DETAILS
FAZ RESTAURANTS & CATERING 600 HARTZ AVENUE | DANVILLE | 925.838.1320 | WWW.FAZRESTAURANTS.COM
FAZ BAKERY & COFFEE BAR AR x SPECIALTY CAKES x SWEETS & PASTRIES x DAILY FRESH BAKED BREADS x GOURMET COFFEE & ESPRESSO An afternoon was spent with US and French students at a Cal vs Stanford Men’s Lacrosse match.
Without our students we wouldn’t have carved the time out to see this. It often feels like exploring sites like this must be done only on vacation, and I think that’s silly. We have this wonderful bounty of places to see and explore. “Staycations� make a lot of sense, especially when we live in such a wonderful place.
COMING SOON! N! 221 HARTZ AVENUE | DANVILLE LLE | 925.309.4822| 9 25 309 4822| INFO@FAZ BAKERY.COM BAKER RY COM
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Danville Today News ~ May 2016 - Page 3
JARED HIGGINS TEAM
Danville’s Real Estate Expert Danville Today News ~ August 2013 - Page 3
Put the power of a top producing real estate team and the East Bay’s #1 real estate firm to work for you! 165 Rudgear Dr., Walnut Creek
6178 Lakeview Cir., San Ramon
4 Bed/4 Bath, 3,389 sf Just Sold $1,650,500
2 Bed/2 Bath, 1,793 sf Just Sold $690,000
(Represented buyer)
(Represented buyer)
Jared Higgins (925) 487-2907 7455 Newcastle Lane, Dublin
2958 Celeste Way, Brentwood
3 Bed/2 Bath, 1,488 sf Just Sold $752,000
4 Bed/3.5 Bath, 3,069 sf Pending - $599,950
Commission Applicants Sought The Town of Danville is looking for public-minded individuals interested in serving on one of several commissions which are seeking new members. City Clerk Marie Sunseri notes the following commissions are in the process of accepting applications. • Heritage Resource Commission – Two regular vacancies (term ending 12/31/19). Positions must be filled by a licensed architect and a person with interest in the culture/arts of the community. One alternate position also remains to be filled (term ends 12/31/18). • Arts Commission - One regular vacancy (term ends 6/30/19) and one youth commissioner vacancy (two year term begins 7/1/16). • Parks and Leisure Services Commission – One youth commissioner (two year term beginning 7/1/16). • Contra Costa County Advisory Council on Aging – One vacancy (two year term). Applications are available on the Town website at www.danville.ca.gov. For additional information, contact City Clerk Marie Sunseri at (925) 314-3401. The deadline to file an application is 4PM on Wednesday, May 25th. Applicants will be invited to interview with the Town Council on one of the following dates: June 7 – evening, June 14 – morning, or June 21 – evening. Commissioners will be appointed at the June 21 Town Council meeting.
Blackhawk Chorus Presents...
jhiggins@rockcliff.com JaredHiggins.com BRE# 01781054
Town Hall Set for May 7 Mayor Karen Stepper invites the community to Town Hall: Crime Reduction in Danville and the San Ramon Valley. At the event, community members will be able to participate in a hands-on presentation about crime trends, crime prevention efforts, and the Danville Police Department’s ongoing public safety efforts. Town Hall is scheduled for 10:00AM – 11:00AM on May 7 at the Veterans Memorial Building, 400 Hartz Avenue in Danville. The program will begin with updates on crime trends by Contra Costa County Sheriff David Livingston and Danville Police Chief Steve Simpkins. During this interactive and hands-on event, residents will be able to see first-hand how new technology, such as body-worn cameras and Automated License Plate Recognition cameras help reduce crime. Danville Police programs such as School Resource, Volunteers in Police, Junior Youth Academy, Youth Academy, and SWAT will also be featured. Following a Q & A session with Sheriff Livingston and Chief Simpkins, Officer Tyler Nelson and K-9 Rony will provide a K-9 demonstration. After the Town Hall, attendees are invited to stay from 11:00AM to noon to learn about the Danville Police Department with open-house style information tables featuring the Volunteers in Police Program, Danville Citizens’ Academy, K-9 Program, Teen Academy, and Crime Prevention. For more information on the upcoming Town Hall, contact Assistant to the Town Manager Nat Rojanasathira at (925) 314-3328 or nrojanasathira@danville.ca.gov.
The Blackhawk Chorus presents “A Tribute to the Beatles.� On the 50th anniversary of the Beatles invasion and their appearance on the Ed Sullivan show, the Blackhawk Chorus will present a two hour show of the most famous music of this fabulous foursome. With 140 voices and a great band, the Chorus will sing songs you know and love including “Yesterday,� “Imagine,� “Ticket to Ride,� “All You Need is Love� and over a dozen other hits. We guarantee you’ll want to sing along and dance in the aisles! The first show will be held at the Lesher Center for Arts in Walnut Creek on Saturday, May 21, with an 8PM curtain. Tickets are $25 for Adults and $17 for Children (under 12), and tickets can be purchased by calling the Lesher Box Office at 925 943-SHOW (7469). The second performance will be held the following day, Sunday, May 22 at 4:30 PM at the St. Joan of Arc Church in San Ramon, 2601 San Ramon Valley Blvd, and 100% of the proceeds from this show will go to the Blackhawk Chorus Music Education Fund which sponsors music programs in the local high schools. Ticket prices are the same for both shows. For more details, and to order tickets, visit www.blackhawkchorus.org. The Blackhawk Chorus performs throughout the East Bay Area and around the world. The Chorus will be celebrating its 25th anniversary as one of the leading mixed choruses in the coming year.
Mother’s Day Brunch
May 8 at 10:00 AM
$30 for adults; $15 $ for ages g 5-15
Stay and Stroll the Gardens!
" "
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Page 4 - May 2016 ~ Danville Today News
GFWC Danville Women’s Club By Doral Allen
NEW YEAR
• CARPET NEW FLOORS! • HARDWOOD RUGS •• CARPET CUSTOM RUGS •• HARDWOOD • RUGS LINOLEUM • LINOLEUM TILE Family Owned Business Since 1989 3344 Mt. Diablo Blvd. Lafayette, CA 925.284.4440
April was a busy month for the Danville Women’s Club. On April 21st, we had a wonderful lunch and inspirational program by the Chairman and founder of Sentinels of Freedom, and we also supported Earth Day 2016 that day by “donating our age.” Members who might be 64 years young, for example, were asked to donate their age in money---either 64 cents or $6.40 or $64 or $640 or $64,000 (!). The wonderful thing is that we collected $218.67 in support of Earth Day and Penny Pines. The Club hosted a shredding event on Saturday, April 23rd. As many boxes of paper as participants wanted shredded only cost them $5 per banker’s box. This was a service project to assist our community residents and businesses with preventing identity theft, and our net proceeds were added to our scholarship fund. Our line dancing classes continued in April at just $3 per person, with all proceeds going to our club (nearly $1,000 since January). If you would like to get in on the action, please contact Bonnie at (925) 743-9437. Everyone has a great time! A fabulous fashion show on May 5th will be held at the Blackhawk Country Club as a fundraiser for Hospice of the East Bay. Our theme is “A Palette of Color” with clothing for our models provided by Chicos. We have many, many vendors providing all kinds of goods and services that guests might hope to win, and we have at least three special opportunity drawings. To make a last-minute reservation for yourself and your friends, please call Barbara at (925) 838-0347. Our lunch on May 19th is a scholarship lunch, held for those high school seniors our club has selected as scholarship recipients after written applications were reviewed and one-on-one interviews completed. This is always a wonderful luncheon (each member brings a salad large enough to feed eight). The winning scholarship recipients and their family members (and student counselors) attend this function. If you would be interested in attending our luncheon on May 19th, please contact Linda at (925) 642-2097 or e-mail her at dwc-member@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 largest women’s nondenominational, nonpartisan, international service organizations of volunteer women.
Assistance League of Diablo Valley’s TeleCare Connects with the Homebound
www.LamorindaFloors.com
Since 1971, member volunteers of TeleCare, a philanthropic program of Assistance League® of Diablo Valley, have been making daily reassurance calls, Monday through Friday, to those in our community who are homebound. As the chapter’s longest standing philanthropic program, TeleCare empowers the clients, no matter what their ages, to remain in their homes. What ensures this is a daily confidential journal kept for each client that member volunteers consult prior to the phone calls then update accordingly. Last year alone, member volunteers devoted 765 hours to connecting with homebound clients. Unfortunately, many clients are socially isolated and don’t have anyone to check on them daily. Statistics indicate that loneliness can cause a 20% decline in health, a number that increases for seniors, the elderly and the homebound. TeleCare not only offsets that statistic, it ultimately serves as a safety net for clients and their families especially if volunteer callers are unable to reach the client. If you live alone or know someone who does, a daily phone call would be a great way to stay connected with life and make new friends. Other TeleCare activities include attending an annual holiday party to meet fellow clients and member volunteers face to face, as well as receiving greeting cards from the Assisteens®, an auxiliary where kids learn to participate in a community service at a young age. So make that call to get you or someone you know connected. For more information about TeleCare, please phone (925) 934-0901. To learn about Assistance League of Diablo Valley’s other philanthropic programs, funded by its thrift shop in Lafayette, and its recently awarded GuideStar Exchange gold participation level status, please visit diablovalley.assistanceleague.org. License# 708486
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
Tiffani Gallippi is our winner!
Peace through Art & Writing Challenge The Mt. Diablo Peace and Justice Center has announced the topic and schedule for the 19th annual Peace through Art & Writing Challenge. This year’s topic will be “Cherish These Natural Wonders.” President Theodore Roosevelt said, “Cherish these natural wonders, cherish the natural resources, cherish the history and romance as a sacred heritage, for your children and your children's children. Do not let selfish men or greedy interests skin your country of its beauty, its riches or its romance.” Today, as humans face global warming and climate change, these words are more pressing than ever before. How can art help as humans raise their voices to stop climate change and the environmental destruction of the planet? Using your unique, artistic voice, create a visual and/or literary interpretation of cherishing and protecting the natural wonders and resources of our planet. The contest is open to middle and high school students in Contra Costa County. They may submit works in three categories: Essay, Creative Writing, and Art. Prizes include a grand prize for a middle and a high school student and placement prizes (1st - 3rd) in each category. Prize winners will also be recognized at an awards dinner on May 21st. Detailed information on the contest requirements is available at www. creatingpeacefulschools.weebly.com, or you may contact the Center office at (925) 933-7850.
ACTION POOL REPAIR
SERVING ALAMO & DANVILLE SINCE 1979!
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925.820.3640 www.actionpoolrepair.com Contractor Lic# 978033-C53
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Danville Today News ~ May 2016 - Page 5
There’s Never Been a Better Time To Sell... Median Home Sales Prices
Lamorinda & Diablo Valley
California
$1,100,000 Previous Peak of Market
$1,000,000 $900,000 $800,000 $700,000 $600,000 $500,000 $400,000 $300,000 $200,000 $100,000 $-
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Q1 2016
CAROLYN GWYNN
Realtor®
| 925.336.7525
carolyn@thegwynngroup.com www.carolyngwynn.com
Contact CAROLYN to get started, before the competition jumps in. Hiring the best representation to negotiate what may be your most valuable asset is critical. I personally manage the entire process, ensuring your home is prepared, staged and “show ready” so I can negotiate the highest possible price on your behalf.
Blackhawk Republican Women (BRW) Present Terry D. Turchie Think terrorism is new? Think again or better yet, come hear a highly respected expert on terrorism, both domestic and international. Terry D. Turchi is currently the Director for Counterintelligence and Counterterrorism for the UC Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. You may remember him as the director of the UNABOM Federal Task Force that finally caught and convicted Theodore Kaczynski for an 18-year long string of terrorist bombings. Join the BRW for an enlightening evening with America’s terrorism expert. The talk will be held on May 12 at the Blackhawk Country Club, located at 599 Blackhawk Club Dr. in Danville. Turchie’s topic will be about trends in terrorism. Check-in and hors d’oeuvres service will begin at 5:30PM followed by a meeting and the speaker presentation at 6PM. The cost is $25. For reservations send a check for $25 made payable to “Blackhawk Republican Women” by noon on Tuesday, May 10th to Jane Parish, 366 Jacaranda Dr., Danville 94506-2125; janeparish@sbcglobal.net; or (925) 216-6663.
AAUW Garden Tour The 16th Annual Danville-Alamo-Walnut CreekAmericanAssociation of University Women (AAUW) Garden Tour will be held on Friday, May 6 and Saturday, May 7 from 10AM - 4PM each day. Begin your Mother’s Day weekend by treating your mother and daughters to this self-guided tour of beautiful gardens in the Alamo and Danville area. Tickets cost $40. No children under 12 or pets are permitted on the tour. Tickets which include garden locations are for sale at East Bay Flower Company (cash or check only), 206 Sycamore Valley Rd. West (Danville Livery), online at http://daw-ca.aauw. net (payment can be made with a credit card), or mail a check payable Gopher/Mole Removal to “AAUW Funds” with a self-addressed business sized #10 stamped No Poison envelope to AAUW Garden Tour, PO Box 996, Alamo, CA 94507. For questions email daw. 925-765-4209 aauw@gmail.com.
Parisian Gala The Friends of the Danville Library Endowment is sponsoring a Parisian Gala, starring bestselling mystery author Cara Black, on Saturday, May 21st at 6:30PM at the Danville Community Center located at 420 Front Street, Danville. This will be a fun, informative event that features hors d’oeuvres, French wine, and a talk by Cara Black, who writes about detective Aimee LeDuc and her investigations in various Parisian neighborhoods. In a departure from the usual, party goers will have a chance to investigate stops on the Metro. Free perfume samples will be available at a Metro stop near Printemps. Another stop will be at Shakespeare and Co., a famous Parisian bookstore. At our Shakespeare and Co. bookstore, 12 non-fiction books on Paris or France will be given away. At the stop for the Sorbonne, there will be a place for everyone to try board games and perhaps improve their French. Tickets are $60 and are available at the Danville Library Bookstore, at Rakestraw Books, and online at http://DLEF.kintera.org/EBCF. Proceeds from the Gala will benefit the Friends of the Danville Library Endowment Fund that supports cultural and literacy programs for the community and provides funding to enhance the library’s books collections.
Elks Car Show and Charity Event On May 7th stop by 1475 Creekside Dr in Walnut Creek for the free Walnut Creek Elks Second Annual Car Show and Charity Event -- a fun event for the whole family! The event runs from 10AM until 3PM with classic and vintage cars, new and old domestic cars, imports, exotics, hot rods, and racing vehicles all being displayed by their owners. The event offers a unique opportunity to see these vehicles up close and the opportunity to chat with the folks who own, restore, and maintain them. There will be food, beverages, and activities for the entire family throughout the day as well as a dragster, a fire truck, and military vehicles on display. Prizes will be raffled and a silent auction will be held. All proceeds go to the Lodge's charities.
Books for the Homebound If you or someone you know has a passion for reading and can no longer visit the library, find out more about the Danville Library’s Books for the Homebound program, a free and unique library service. Trained library volunteers check out and deliver books to homebound individuals residing in their own homes or residential care facilities. Contact Sandra Paiva, Volunteer Coordinator, at the Danville Library at (925) 837-4889 for more information.
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Page 6 - May 2016 ~ Danville Today News
Eugene O’Neill Foundation ~ Rhythms of His Soul As part of its celebration of this year as the one-hundredth anniversary of a production of a play by the playwright known as “The Father of American Drama,” the Eugene O’Neill Foundation, Tao House in Danville, has scheduled “A Season of Firsts.” Eugene O’Neill and his wife, Carlotta, lived at Tao House in the Danville Hills from 1937-1944. It was here that O’Neill wrote his last and greatest plays. On May 14-15 in the Old Barn at the Eugene O’Neill National Historic Site in Danville, the Foundation will present O’Neill: The Rhythms of His Soul, a lively musical revue. The production includes early American popular music, well-known songs of the day, songs of the sea, and familiar music hall tunes. With a cast of five singers and dancers, O’Neill: Rhythms of His Soul presents over seventy songs of the period that were incorporated into many of the O’Neill plays. In July, 1916 in Provincetown, Massachusetts, Bound East for Cardiff marked the first production of an O’Neill play. This was the first work to be produced of the fifty-one plays written by the playwright who later was awarded three Pulitzer Prizes for Drama, and became the only American dramatist to be honored with the Nobel Prize for Literature. Bound East for Cardiff will be presented by the Eugene O’Neill Foundation in the Old Barn at the Eugene O’Neill National Historic Site on July 30-31. In September and October, the 17th annual Eugene O’Neill Festival will feature The Emperor Jones by Eugene O’Neill. The original production in 1920 features African-American actor, Charles Gilpin, in the leading role. This was a first for the American Theatre. Seven performances will be presented in the Old Barn at Tao House. Also, as part of the Eugene O’Neill Festival, the Foundation will again partner with Role Players Ensemble of Danville for a production of Arthur Miller’s Pulitzer Prize play Death of a Salesman. This will be presented at the Village Theatre in downtown Danville in September. Tickets are available online at the Eugene O’Neill Foundation’s website at www.eugeneoneill.org. The website also providers information about the Foundation and how you can help support these programs.
Sons in Retirement San Ramon Valley
“Whale” Cap 25.00
“Whale” Belt 49.50
“Classic”
Polo 69.50
Lafayette x Moraga x Danville x Montclair x Orinda
Countrywood x Clayton Rd. x Sonoma x Auburn Are you looking for things to do in your retirement? Consider joining Sons in Retirement San Ramon ValStockton (Now at Lincoln Center) ley Branch 128. The group has monthly luncheons with interesting speakers and good fellowship. Next month will feature a member of the San Ramon Police Department discussing “Scams Alamo Jewelry, Fine Art & Craft Show and how to avoid them.” Painters, jewelers, sculptors, and other artisans will be gathering on Additionally, members have lots of fun participating in a variety of activities such as golf, tennis, bowling, bocce ball, bridge, computers, and much more. Mother’s Day weekend at Alamo Plaza Shopping Center for the annual two-day Many other activities such as travel, dine outs, excursions, baseball games, “Alamo Jewelry, Fine Art and Craft Show.” This popular, free, AM event will be held Saturday and Sunday, May 7 & 8 from 10 to 6PM. and holiday parties include spouses, friends, and guests. This year’s show features local and regional artists exhibiting original The next monthly luncheon will be held on Wednesday, May 18th at 11AM (NOTE: due to a Special Ladies Day function, no luncheon is scheduled for April). works of art including paintings, sculpture, pottery, jewelry, fiber art, glass, A fee of $23 includes luncheon, guest speaker, and a great opportunity to socialize woodwork, mixed media, photography, and more. “This celebration of art offers a great opportunity for art lovers to meet with at least 150 other retirees from the San Ramon Valley. To reserve a space, th with and purchase directly from some of the West Coast’s most talented please email by Thursday, May 12 to www.info@SIR128.com. Meetings are artists and artisans,” said festival director John Holland. held at the San Ramon Golf Club, 9430 Fircrest Lane in San Ramon. To reach the Alamo Plaza, take the Stone Valley Rd.West. Exit from Hwy. For more information about this Retirement branch and activities, please 680, then turn right one block on Danville Blvd. visit www.SIR128.com. For more information and maps, visit www.jhfestivals.com.
“A Salute to John Williams” The Danville Community Band presents “A Salute to John Williams” on Sunday, June 12 at 3pm at Community Presbyterian Church located at 222 W. El Pintado Rd., Danville. The free concert will feature music including Superman, The Cowboys, A Hymn to New England, Star Wars Trilogy, The Marches of John Williams, and Darmoor, 1912 from “War Horse. For more information visit danvilleband.org.
Alamo-Danville Newcomers Club Are you new to the area or a long time resident, newly retired or empty-nester interested in making new friends and participating in various social activities? The Alamo-Danville Newcomers Club is a women’s organization whose purpose is to enrich the lives of all its members and their families in a social manner. Check out all the club has to offer by visiting www.alamodanvillenewcomers.com.
Meals on Wheels Seniors in your community need your support! Meals on Wheels and Senior Outreach Services has been supporting seniors in YOUR neighborhood since 1968. Two of our programs, Meals on Wheels and Friendly Visitors, rely on the support of volunteers, and we need your help now more than ever. Meals on Wheels volunteer drivers deliver meals to local homebound seniors through regular two hour shifts once per week or as substitute drivers. Friendly Visitors volunteers provide weekly one-hour companionship visits to isolated seniors. To volunteer for either program, please call (925)937-8311.
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Danville Today News ~ May 2016 - Page 7
Vietnam to Western Airlines Talk with Author Bruce Cowee Friends of the Blackhawk Museums present Vietnam Veteran, UC Berkeley graduate, and author of Vietnam to Western Airlines, Bruce Cowee. Bruce’s thrilling book is a compilation of stories told by over 30 pilots that Bruce worked with at Western Airlines (later Delta Airlines) who were also Vietnam Veterans. Beginning 50 years ago they first manned commercial airline cockpits in the United States and then in the mid-1960’s made the transition from commercial pilots to commissioned Air Force Pilots flying the C-17 Caribou in combat during the Vietnam War. Bruce is a fabulous story teller! You won’t want to miss his presentation! This event is being held at the Blackhawk Museums located at 3700 Blackhawk Plaza Circle in Danville on Wednesday, May 11th from 10AM to noon. The program is free to US Veterans and Blackhawk Museum members and their guest. Tickets for nonmembers are $15 and seniors $10. For questions call 925-736-4818 or email dee4life@earthlink.net.
Hand to Heart: Collaborative and Community Quilts and Crafts Visit the Museum of the San Ramon Valley to view a wonderful new exhibit of handmade treasures, May 21 through July 3. Sewing and crafting have always been mediums that embody intimate hugs given from one to another. The Museum’s new exhibit is a marvelous showcase of creative works that embody the spirit of the San Ramon Valley and its generoushearted residents. Whether celebrating a wedding, commemorating a milestone, or encouraging valor, bravery, and strength in the face of adversity, quilts and other sewn items touch the recipient in a deeply personal way. From the inception of the quilting bee, where women gathered to help one another complete a quilt for the coming winter, to the present day, quilters have traditionally made quilts to mark special occasions or to offer support, encouragement, and love. The exhibit will include charity and outreach projects such as unique children’s dresses, pet blankets, and dolls. A unique section of the exhibit will focus on woodworking projects created by local artisans to provide community outreach and assistance. Come to a demonstration presented by Barbara Mahan on June 18, from 10:30 to 11:30AM on how to make a pillow case dress for the Little Dresses for Africa Project. You will learn how to make the dress as well as be informed about this wonderful project. Children are welcome. The presentation is free and donations of new or gently-used clean pillowcases as well as new packaged girl’s underwear are appreciated at any time during the exhibit. Groups of six to 20 are invited to join special guided tours with exhibit curatorAlethea Ballard. Her tours will be held on Wednesdays from 3 to 4PM during the exhibit’s run. To schedule a tour, please emailAlice Brydon at afbrydon@aol.com or contact her at (925) 837-1339. Museum docents are available during regular museum hours, or docent led tours can be arranged for other times by contacting Alice Brydon. Tours are included with your paid admission. For information regarding Saturday, May 7TH • 10AM - 6PM admission fees and museum Sunday, May 8TH • 10AM - 5PM hours for this exhibit, please visit www.museumsrv.org. The Museum of the San Ramon Valley is located at 205 Danville Blvd & Stone Valley Rd Railroad Avenue, at the corner For More Information: (707) 886-5355 www.AlamoPlazaShoppingCenter.com of Railroad and Prospect Avenues in downtown Danville. SHOPPING CENTER
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. Seven more boxes of food were sent, bringing the cumulative donations to 1,391 boxes and 34,130 pounds of treats for the troops. 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 May 8th Delta Nu Psi members will be at CVS in Alamo and on May 13th at Lunardi’s in Danville. Collection will be held from 11am to 2pm. Money for postage is also always appreciated. Please help Delta Nu Psi provide our men and women in the War Zone a touch of home. For more information, visit www.deltanupsi.org.
Page 8 - May 2016 ~ Danville Today News
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St. Isidore School
Stone Valley Middle School
By Maria Ward, Principal
By Jon Campopiano, principal
In May, we celebrate our Blessed Mother Mary and our 8th grade graduates, as it is one of our busiest months here at St. Isidore. Many traditional events take place this month to celebrate our 8th grade graduates. We start our month with May Crowning on Friday, May 6th. During this special liturgy, our graduates have selected four 8th grade students who they feel have demonstrated a life honoring our Blessed Mother. These students process in during the liturgy and crown the statue of Mary on the altar with a crown of flowers. The flowers represent our love for our heavenly mother, and the event is a St. Isidore tradition that anchors us in our Catholic faith. This is the start of many 8th grade special graduation events during May. Thursday, May 12th is our Spring Concert. Our students have been diligently working with our music teacher, Ms. Jaquez, on fun songs for the event. It is always a packed house, and our school community enjoys getting together to support all of our students. Please come join us at 1PM and/or 7PM. At the evening show, our 8th grade students will surprise us with a special dance they’ve been practicing for weeks. We are excited to see it! Each year, our 8th grade class chooses a charity to support with its end-of-the-year fundraiser. This year our students are giving all the proceeds to the Samantha Corpus Foundation. This foundation is close to our hearts here at St. Isidore. as Samantha Corpus is the sister of one of our 8th grade students and the daughter of one of our Instructional Assistants. This foundation’s mission is to find a cure for Rett Syndrome. The last carpool for 8th grade will be on Friday, May 27th. Our parents come early to lavishly decorate their cars, usually with the colors of the high schools their children will attend in the fall. When you see these amazing decorated cars downtown, feel free to give them a little honk and wave acknowledging our beloved graduates.
Transitional Kindergarten We are excited to offer aTransitional Kindergarten (TK) Program for the 2016–17 school year. The Department of Catholic Schools guidelines state that students qualify for the TK program if they turn five years old between September 2, 2016, and March 1, 2017. This is the first year of a two-year kindergarten program.TK hours will be a four-hour program, with the option of regular school hours. To schedule a tour of our campus or for more information, call the school office at 925-837-2977 and ask for Mrs. Hawke. We wish you a blessed Mother’s Day this month with your families.
April was an amazing month! The 2016 SRVUSD Speech Contest is an opportunity for elementary andmiddle school students to demonstrate their ability to think creatively, write a speech, and present in front of an audience. The topics were: 6th grade ~ Imagining Tomorrow, 7th grade ~ Growing Up, and 8th grade ~ Our Education System. We had over 30 students try out for the event, and the following have been selected to represent Stone Valley. • 6th Grade: Talia Giannini and Morsal Popal (alt. Rowan Eiselman and Brennan Finder) •7th Grade: Megan Barta and Caleb Spanier (alt. Emmarae Ensor and Janaki O’Callaghan) •8th Grade: Ryan Johnson and Steven Monolakis Congrats and best of luck at the district competition on May 7th! Over fifteen members of our Pledge to Humanity Club participated in a wonderful Special Olympics event at our neighbor school, Mauzy. Our students supported their peers in track and field, basketball, and soccer events. They were treated to a BBQ lunch and shared with our staff how thankful they were for the experience and how they have a better appreciation of the gifts they have. April 22nd was our Fitness Challenge Assembly, and May 7th will be the Fitness Challenge. Students form teams and navigate through an obstacle course of 12 FUN Exercise Stations during their PE Class. They compete for time, but they also compete for spirit, creativity, perseverance, and teamwork! April was also Mobility Awareness Month and our Stone Valley Community partnered with the Wheelchair Foundation to raise funds to provide wheelchairs for people around the world that are challenged with mobility issues and are in need of assistance. I am constantly blown away by the generosity and support our community provides to those in need. We look forward to Open House on May 19th, Field Day on May 27th, and many exciting Promotion activities. Please come by and pay a visit to see the progress of our construction project, and continue to follow us on Twitter @StoneValleyMS. Have a great Month of May!
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Danville Today News ~ May 2016 - Page 9
Charlotte Wood Middle School
Los Cerros Middle School
By Christopher George, Principal
By Evan Powell, Principal
I hope you are having a fantastic spring. Although time has seemed to go by lightning fast since Spring Break, we have continued to have a great spring semester and are already gearing up for the end of the year, as well as getting our site and our schedule ready for next year. We have had many exciting events and developments in the last few week. Recently we shared the results of our Challenge Success work with the PTA and interested parents. Having worked with this Stanford-based organization throughout the year, we were pleased to share data we gleaned from our all-student survey. Through the survey we found that while the lives of our students are largely balanced and our students are happy, we found some interesting tidbits. Students reported a decline in feeling connected to our site between the 6th and the 8th grades. This trend mirrored what we all seem to know: that as students go further into adolescence, they seem more and more disconnected from adults. However, what the data also showed is that we don’t, as a site, have to take that as a given, and we can, and we will, look for ways to help students maintain their connections to school. Additionally, we shared with parents that the data showed that our kids, like kids everywhere, aren’t getting the sleep they need, and we shared ways in which we can push students towards eight hours of sleep a night. For our staff, the data showed a need to examine the relevance and meaning our students find in their home and class work and look for ways to make sure that students are finding that meaning. We will have more findings on these topics after we go to the Challenge Success Spring Conference at Stanford. As we look toward the end of the year, we look forward to promoting a fantastic 8th grade class to San Ramon Valley High School. We have met with our students to outline expectations for the spring and for their participation in the many promotion activities that both the school and our PTA have in store for them. Still, with nearly eight weeks left in the school year, we have much learning left to do and much work still to be done.
Los Cerros is gearing up for the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP). With the addition of nearly 100 Chromebooks, our students will be able to complete the state assessments in just a few short days during the month of May. Our goals this year were to support teachers in engaging professional development, continue and explorer great teaching practices and engaging lessons, and enhance student learning each day. Teachers identified the Essential Skills, or ‘Need to Know’ pieces of the curriculum that allowed for students to thoroughly engage and be enriched in the curriculum and be prepared for the state assessment and ultimately be ready for college and a career. In other big news, our school has developed a new bell schedule for the 2016-2017 school year. Our schedule will start and end at the same time as this year, however we will be combining 7th and 8th graders for lunch, adding a short break in the morning, and adding an Access period two days per week. The purpose of the Access period is for students to meet with a teacher to get help, make-up work, review for exams, or work with a partner on a project. Because our school relies on carpooling and bus service, we found students needed more time during the day, other than lunch, to get support from their teachers. We are looking forward to seeing the success of this Access period and soliciting information from students, parents, and faculty about the progress. The final bell schedule will be published on our website during the month of May. In September, Los Cerros will be hosting our first STEAM informational night. STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics. Our goal is to bring awareness to our community about these subjects, and show how Los Cerros is preparing students for the future and our vision and goals for curriculum and education as they relate to STEAM and college and career readiness. Please mark Thursday, September 15th on your calendar for our first STEAM informational night. There will be more information to come in August about this event.
Page 10 - May 2016 ~ Danville Today News
Monte Vista High School By Dr. Kevin Ahern, Principal It was nice coming back to school after Spring Break and immediately receive a surprise. As I walked into our counseling office that first Monday back, I noticed a massive trophy sitting on a countertop. This larger-than-life award was brought home by Monte Vista’s Drum Line who had won the 2016 NCBA Winter Championship in High School Advanced Percussion. Hats off to these hardworking musicians and their amazing director, Mr. Ed Cloyd, for the many accolades they have earned and enjoyed this school year. There is plenty happening at Monte Vista over the final eight weeks of the school year. Perhaps the greatest focus will be on our seniors, who will enjoy their last days in high school. The Class of 2016 began this final stretch with Decision Day where students dressed to show off where they are headed this coming fall. A wide variety of college and universities were represented. The following evening, Monte Vista held our annual Senior Ball at the Exploratorium in San Francisco. Unfortunately, the month of May is still a little early to step too far away from academics. Beginning on May 2nd, Monte Vista’s students will work through four weeks of testing and assessment. The first two weeks are devoted to Advanced Placement Exams in which 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students vie for college credit in a variety of subject areas. Students scoring well on these exams can enter participating colleges and universities with transferrable college units that allow them to move past entry level college courses and directly enter into higher level classes. On May 16th, we will be administering the CAASPP Assessment to our 11th graders. Due to the length and complexity of the exam, we will be using eight block schedule days to ensure that every student is able to complete the assessment. This exam assesses our students’ college readiness in English and Mathematics. Students performing well on the CAASPP will be able to enroll directly into college level courses upon admission to a California State University after their senior year. The results from the test will also help teachers identify specific areas in English and Mathematics that students need to be addressed in order to prepare for higher education. During the same time frame as our Junior Class, Monte Vista’s 10th graders will be taking the CST Science exams. These exams focus on student understanding of Life Science. Both the CAASPP and the CST Science exams are required for Monte Vista to meet state and federal accountability requirements. We are asking all of our 10th and 11th grade students to participate and do their best on all of these exams. Monte Vista’s Speech and Debate team continued to excel at the California Speech and Debate Tournament Championships. Our team is led by Seniors Sarah Joo and Ryan Olson who earned state championships in their respective categories. Monte Vista is now poised to make a big impression at the National Championships in Salt Lake City in June. Hats off to Monte Vista’s Speech and
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www.yourmonthlypaper.com Debate teacher, David Matley and his students for such an amazing representation of our community. Monte Vista’s Arts programs have a full calendar as they close out 2015-16. Monte Vista’s Music program has three concerts scheduled for May - Music in the Park on Saturday, May 14th and Concert in the Park on Saturday, May 21st, both to be held at Monte Vista, and the SRVUSD String Festival, which will be held on May 18th at San Ramon Valley High School. In addition, Monte Vista’s Choir will be performing their Spring Concert on May 26th. Lastly, Monte Vista’s Drama Department will be presenting our Spring Musical Bye Bye, Birdie May 18th through May 21st in the Al Gentile Theater. Curtain will be at 7PM. Monte Vista’s Athletics are enjoying an excellent spring campaign led by our nationally ranked and undefeated Men’s Lacrosse team. Our Baseball, Women’s Lacrosse, Track, Swimming, Men’s Tennis, and Men’s Golf are all currently in the hunt for EBAL and NCS titles. With rivalry games and playoff runs coming up with De La Salle and San Ramon Valley, there should be a great deal of action for the Mustangs as the school year comes to a close. Monte Vista’s students and faculty would like to thank our community for all of their support for our school in 2015-16. As always, I would like to invite everyone from our community to come out and support Monte Vista’s students as they finish up what has been a truly amazing year.
San Ramon Valley High School By Ruth Steele, Principal
May is one of the busiest times in the school year, and it also marks the beginning of testing season. Our AP tests start on May 2nd, and then we roll into Common Core testing for the second half of May. In addition to the focus on these assessments, we are also in the process of determining which classes will be offered next year and which teachers will be teaching which classes. This is complex process as we have to look at all the various combinations of classes that students have signed up for and try to ensure that classes with sign-up conflicts aren’t offered at the same time. It’s a huge puzzle that we work on for most of the month! The upcoming construction at SRVHS adds another layer to the puzzle because we are having to adjust how we use some of our facilities over the next 2-3 years. During May and June, we will be moving almost 50 of our classrooms into portables on our practice field. Then during June and July, the demolition of most of our single story classroom wings will begin. We have many science and elective programs that we are now having to figure out how to run outside of our existing facilities, and this makes the job of scheduling classes even more complicated! Finally, we now have a new Bell Schedule for next year. The schedule is in the final approval stages, but it will be a modified block schedule, similar to the Bell Schedule that Charlotte Wood currently has. It also looks a lot like the modified block being used at Dougherty Valley High School. There were two major goals in the development of the new schedule: reduction of stress (for everyone) and more opportunities for academic support (for all students). The new schedule provides time on Tuesdays for a Home Room period and 40 minutes of Advisory/ Access time on both Wednesday and Thursday for student support.The Home Room time will provide an opportunity each week for student education around a variety of issues, as well as providing time for many other things that currently impact instructional time (class visits, surveys etc.). The Advisory/Access periods will provide students with some choice regarding how they want to use this time. Some students will opt to complete homework or projects during this time, and others will want to visit teachers to get help on specific assignments or make up work that they have missed. Students who are struggling and need targeted academic support will be assigned to specific sessions with teachers to work on improving their skills in those classes. In addition to all of this, our entire campus will also be 1:1 with technology next year. This means that every student will have a laptop or Chromebook in all of their classes. This opens up a huge range of learning opportunities in every content area because the online world is available for every teacher and student to access during all classes. Whether students are working on researching, writing, learning, or reviewing, this access, alongside the opportunity to use Google Docs for many projects, will be revolutionary. I am looking forward to providing more updates at the end of next month.
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Danville Today News ~ May 2016 - Page 11
San Ramon Valley Christian Academy By Jamie Westgate, Principal The month of May is here, which means summer is in sight! What student doesn’t love lazy mornings, trips to the pool, park days, and opportunities to play endlessly and stretch one’s imagination? While we have one full month of school left in the year, there is much work to accomplish to get ready for the summer break, and we plan to finish strong! Open house is a wonderful time to showcase the learning that happens in each grade level. This year open house will be scheduled Thursday, May 12th from 7-8:30PM. Classrooms will be open, science fair projects will be on display, and the walls will be adorned with projects and artwork galore. Our open house is open to the public, so all are invited to visit. We’d love to demonstrate the benefits of a Christian education by bringing others to our campus to see how God is alive and at work at SRVCA. May is also the month for our spring musicals. On May 17th our 3rd-5th graders will bring back a favorite musical, Lifesong. Two weeks later on May 27, our K-2nd grade students will celebrate our patriotism with An American Concert. For both performances, we plan to honor God as expressed in Psalm 9:1-2, “I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.” One of the greatest blessings of my service to SRVCA is watching God shape the hearts of our children, and much of that happening through song. Their heartfelt and genuine worship will no doubt bring praise to God and be a blessing to all who attend. Our Jr. High students are currently wrapping up their service projects for the year. Serving others is a priority for our school as it helps us to share God’s love with others. Without realizing it, our culture is teaching us to serve our own needs rather than one another. Entitlement breeds rapidly as we feel it is our “right” to have the nicest clothes, biggest homes, latest phones, etc. Getting out of this mindset takes hard work, and we feel the best way to accomplish this is by humbling ourselves and serving those who need our help. Student-led service teams and special projects have compelled our Jr. High kids to honor others above themselves. As I mentioned, summer is around the corner, but I look forward to wrapping up the year with plenty of hard work, enthusiasm, and joy. Wishing God’s blessing to our Danville community! Payments are generally collected by way of income withholding orders, reCounty Child Support Services ducing the need for manual payments to be made. When an income withholding is not possible, customers have several convenient online payment options as - Special Moments well as cash only payment choices available. The payments are processed within By Supervisor Candace Andersen 48 hours and can be received by direct deposit into your bank account, on an Contra Costa County, District 2 Special moments -- baseball practice, dance electronic payment card that can be used at an ATM, as a debit card, or by check. Opening a case is easy. Applications may be submitted electronically, recitals, tutors, music lessons, birthday parties, and free-of-charge, at www.TurboCourt.com. Hardcopy applications are availadventures with their parents -- create wonderful able at the Department of Child Support Services office in Martinez or can memories in the minds of our children. In families, where co-parenting by separated and divorced be requested by calling (866) 901-3212. A nominal annual service fee of $25 will be assessed on October 1st of parents is often a reality, the issues of child support often cloud the joy of watching children grow. The Contra Costa County Department of Child Sup- each year for each case where at least $500 is collected annually for the prior port Services offers a wide range of services that can help take some of the federal fiscal year. Contra Costa County Department of Child Support Services strives to work pressure off managing the financial part of co-parenting, allowing parents to together with all parties on the child support case. Customers can drop into focus on important things like their children. the offi ce at 50 Douglas Drive, Suite #100 in Martinez Monday-Friday from If you pay or receive child support, the Department of Child Support AM PM 7:30 4:30 to meet with a Child Support Professional to discuss their child Services can help make the process easier. support case. A Family Law Facilitator, an attorney of the Court, who provides The department offers a variety of services including obtaining child and limited free legal assistance for customers with an open case, is available in the medical support orders, assisting in the enforcement of those orders, locating AM PM parents, and DNA testing to establish paternity. When a significant change of cir- office Monday-Friday from 8 – 3 . No appointment is necessary. Our children grow quickly and we want to enjoy every moment. Let the cumstances occurs, a modification of the child support order may be appropriate. Contra Costa Department of Child Support Services assist you with the hanThe Contra Costa Department of Child Support handles the accounting, dling of your child support case so that you can have the extra time to enjoy ensuring that interest on unpaid support is calculated and that payments are what being a parent is all about: spending quality time with your children properly credited to maintain accurate balances. By having a third party and making memories that will last a lifetime. maintain those records accurately and consistently, it often alleviates some My office is here to serve the residents of Contra Costa County District of the financial tension that can exist in divided families. In addition to basic accounting, the department can also assist with the 2, which includes San Ramon, Danville, Alamo, Walnut Creek, Saranap, calculations and collections on more complex court orders for child and/or Parkmead, Lafayette, Moraga, Canyon, and Orinda. Please don’t hesitate spousal support. These orders can contain a base support amount plus additional to contact us if we can provide you with additional information on this topic or on other County issues. I can be reached at SupervisorAndersen@bos. support from bonuses, commissions, and income earned over a set amount. cccounty.us or (925) 957-8860.
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Page 12 - May 2016 ~ Danville Today News
Petaluma Beer Competition
By Linda Summers-Pirkle
Beer halls are fun places. I lived in Frankfurt, Germany for a time where there are plenty of them. I have fond memories of joining friends on warm summer evenings, sitting outside under stringed lights on benches at long narrow wooden tables with pitchers of ale, and laughing and even singing, a lot. Last year in Sonoma County, Eric Lafranchi, owner of TAPS beer bar and restaurant in Petaluma, came up with a beer lover’s event: The Home Brewers Competition. Home brewers brought their specialties, and the general public voted on their favorites. The top five people’s choices went to a panel of beer judges who narrowed them down to one winner who had the opportunity to brew their winning recipe at a local brewing company and distribute it throughout Sonoma County. The event was so successful that the second annual competition will be held at a much larger venue, the Sonoma Marin Fairgrounds in Petaluma, on May 28. Some highlights for this year’s competition according to Christine Aluia, Coordinator for the Home Brews Competition will include a beer brewing demonstration, hop growing demonstrations, hop plant sales, cheese tastings by cheese makers in Sonoma County, beer games, beer swag, beer food, home brew club sign ups, food trucks of all kinds, live music, cooking with beer demos, prizes, and of course beer of all kinds. According to a 2013 Home Brewers Association survey, there are an estimated 1.2 million home breweries in the U.S. Two thirds of the home brewers began brewing in 2005 or later. The average home brewer is 40 years old with most (60%) falling between the ages 30-49. Collectively, home brewers produce more than two million barrels of brew. These breweries represent a small portion (1%) of total U.S. beer production. People love their beer! My husband and I recently visited Lagunitas Brewery and restaurant in Petaluma.There were groups of college student playing cards on the long tables, grandparents with grand kids, and many families. It was packed both inside and outside under the huge rain canopy that, according to our waiter, is transformed into a sun shade when the weather reaches the high temperatures during the summer months. After lunch, we joined thirty or so people on a tour of Lagunitas brewery with our delightful guide who wove facts with some humorous fiction that the crowd enjoyed. One of my favorite spots in Petaluma does not involve beer at all. It’s an ice cream shop called LALA Creamery. This darling, old fashioned parlor never disappoints. Their delicious ice cream is made with local ingredients in small batches and is delicious. The waiters are friendly, no matter the length of the line. Try the coffee ice cream with hot fudge. Yum! Lafayette Danville Montclair • LALA ice cream parlor is located at 134 Petaluma Blvd. N. Petaluma. Hours are 1PM-9 PM on weekdays and till 10PM on weekends. They are closed on Mondays. • Lagunitas Brewery is located at 1280 N. McDowell Blvd, Petaluma. Check their website for details about their tours and hours of operation at www.Lagunitas.com. • The Home Brewers Competition will be held at the Sonoma/Marin Fairgrounds on Saturday, May 28. The event is for adults only age 21 and over. For more details, check the website Petalumadowntown.com or call (707) 750-2939. Linda Summers Pirkle, travel consultant and long term Danville resident, has arranged and led tours for the Town of Danville for several years. Inspired by the many wonderful places to visit in the Bay Area, she organizes day trips, either for groups or for friends and family. “What a great place to live, so much to see, so much to do.” To share your “Quick Trips” ideas email Coverthemap@gmail.com.
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Danville Today News ~ May 2016 - Page 13
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Uniworld Tulips and Windmills River Cruise By Mike Mullery, Alamo World Travel My wife Ilene and I love river cruising and have enjoyed nine different itineraries throughout Europe, the US, Russia, China, and Southeast Asia. Yet we had never enjoyed a Uniworld Boutique River Cruise. All inclusive and luxuriously appointed, Uniworld has perfected the art of river cruising and has distinguished itself with awards from Condé Nast Traveler and Cruise Critic for Excellence in River Cruising. Last month we embarked on Uniworld’s “Tulips and Windmills” sailing tour. We flew to Paris and took the high speed train to Brussels. Never having been to Brussels before, we included a historical tour of Brussels which is the capital not only of Belgium but also of the European Union. Founded in 979 A.D., it is a cosmopolitan city with a rich history that our guide brought to life for us. At last, we boarded the S.S. Maria Theresa, named “Best New River Ship” by Cruise Critic editors in 2015, in Antwerp. This magnificent ship holds 150 guests (some cruise lines pack 190 passengers into the same size ship), and has an outstanding staff-to-guest ratio. The lavishly-appointed staterooms and suites are breathtaking in their fabrics and décor. Our dinner that night let us know that our voyage was going to be a culinary delight—some of the best cuisine we have ever had on a vacation which also came along with gracious and attentive service. The morning after our first night of cruising on the Rhine, we enjoyed an Antwerp walking tour including Rubens paintings and a visit to the Cathedral of Our Lady -- a fine example of Gothic architecture. After a morning of walking, our next stop, a Belgian craft beer tasting, was the perfect ending to our time in Antwerp. Next, we visited the village of Veer and the Delta Works Museum where we saw up-close the engineering marvel of the dikes protecting the Netherlands. The following day we cruised into Rotterdam and visited the Kinderdijk Windmills followed by a Delft tour, where the Uniworld passengers bought an impressive amount of Delft ceramics. The following day featured a Hoorn walking tour, then a ferry to visit the Zuiderzee Outdoor Museum with traditional crafts such as fish curing and rope making on display. Happily, this was followed by a Dutch cheese tasting. We ended the evening, as usual, with an excellent dinner back on the ship created by Uniworld’s master chefs.
At last, we sailed into fascinating Amsterdam. We had visited Amsterdam before, but we love this city and were eager to see it again. We took an Amsterdam City tour which included a canal cruise where we meandered along the canals past nestled homes and shops and under bridges. Having already seen Amsterdam’s famous Rijksmuseum on our last visit, we opted this time for the Van Gogh Museum, and we were overwhelmed by the raw beauty of Van Gogh’s masterpieces. After another exquisite dinner, some passengers enjoyed an evening walking tour of Amsterdam while others explored this lovely city on their own. The most unforgettable shore excursion was the Keukenhof Gardens tour. I took more pictures of tulips and other flowers than I had in all the rest of my life. As we wandered the endless acres of beautifully grown and maintained flowers, we marveled at the colors, the shapes and the innumerable species of iconic tulips, surrounded by the sweet, heady scent of hyacinths. Uniworld offers fascinating itineraries all across Europe, including the main rivers in Western Europe and Russia, and they even offer the Po River in Italy. Your cruise is truly all inclusive, with wines, beers, cocktails, specialty coffees, and aperitifs all included as well as daily shore excursions. In addition to Europe, they offer the exotic destinations of China, Vietnam/Cambodia, and India. You can learn more by going to www.alamoworld.com and clicking the Cruise tab. For more information on Uniworld or other travel including ocean cruises, river cruises, escorted tours, and resorts, please call us at (925) 837-8742, or better yet stop by our office located at 3201 Danville Blvd., Suite 255, Alamo (between Ace Hardware and Peasant’s Courtyard restaurant) for help with your travel plans. You can also get travel ideas and information from thousands of searchable travel options on our website www. alamoworld.com. Alamo World Travel and Tours has been providing expert travel service for 35 years. We know the suppliers and the destinations. One or more of our consultants has been to every continent and most countries, and have traveled with nearly every cruise company and many tour companies. Why trust your travel to an internet “agent” with little training and no travel experience? Advertorial
Page 14 - May 2016 ~ Danville Today News
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Danville Today News ~ May 2016 - Page 15
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Page 16 - May 2016 ~ Danville Today News
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The Incense-Cedar By Blaine Brende & Joe Lamb The incense-cedar graces many Bay Area gardens with its shade, beauty, and intriguing fragrance. Calocedrus decurrens, its Latin name, means beautiful cedar. The striking contrast between the vibrant greens of its leaves and the trunk’s rich reds creates a pleasing aesthetic further enhanced by the relaxed elegance of the weeping foliage. The beauty of this tree is not confined to the realm of the visual. The incense-cedar gives off a distinctive fragrance that fills the air with a pungent aroma strongly reminiscent of gradeschool classrooms and the unforgettable smell of the pencil sharpener. In my youth, and still largely today, pencils were made from the soft and distinctively fragrant wood of Calocedrus decurrens. The incense-cedar is not a true cedar (thus the hyphen). The so-called “true cedars” are native to the Mediterranean and the Himalayas, and are members of the genus Cedrus. These include the majestic Deodora and Atlas cedars, as well as the famous Cedar of Lebanon. The incense-cedar, which may live a thousand years and attain a height of 150 feet, is a true California native. It evolved in North America, and its current range extends from the Cascade Mountains in northern Oregon, through the Sierra Nevadas, and down to the Sierra San Pedro Matir of Baja California. Throughout its range it has been important in the lives of Native Americans. The Klamath tribe of Oregon wove its bark into baskets. The California Paiutes made infusions of its leaves for colds. The Round Valley tribe of Mendocino Country used leaflets as flavoring when leaching acorn meal. This species has provided Native Americans with food, shelter, clothing, and music. The incense-cedar’s natural resistance to rot made it very useful both in antiquity and in modern times. Homebuilders use it for siding, decking, moulding, and interior paneling. Landscapers use its chips and bark for mulch. Its wood is made into furniture, shingles, and railway ties. Sawdust and wood scraps help fuel co-generation of electricity. The softness of the wood and its resistance to splintering make the incense-cedar
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ideal for encasing pencil lead. However, these qualities also make the wood fragile, brittle, and potentially somewhat problematic as an urban landscape tree. When it grows as one trunk from a thick base to a single pyramid-shaped crown, the incensecedar is relatively stable; it requires little work other than the periodic removal of deadwood. But if the trunk of the tree divides into multiple columns or has large branches which turn up and rise parallel to the trunk, the tree has structural problems that make it vulnerable to column failure. After some recent winter storms, Brende & Lamb looked at many incense-cedars that had shed branches and sometimes entire columns. Most of the failed trees suffered from a malady of tree anatomy called included bark. This structural defect occurs when the bark at the crotch folds inward, and interrupts the continuity of the fibers supporting the columns. Good pruning can ameliorate many structural problems. Co-dominant stems (more than one column of roughly the same diameter) are more likely to fail than trees with a single leading column. Sometimes reducing one of the competing leaders can minimize the hazard. If column removal is not advisable for aesthetic or functional reasons, it is often possible to cable the multiple stems together. However, individual trees are so unstable that removal is the safest alternative. Whatever you do, do not top these trees. Topping a cedar will eventually produce many unstable columns multiplying the risk and, ultimately, the expense of keeping the tree. Preventative medicine is almost always less expensive and more effective than later surgery. If you plant an incense-cedar, choose nursery stock with only one trunk and no crotches with included bark. Remember that a seedling cedar can grow to over a hundred feet, and that tall trees may cause view concerns for yourself and your neighbors. Calocedrus has graced the California landscape for almost 200 million years. With a little forethought and good pruning, the incense-cedar can continue to bless Bay Area gardens with the subtle fragrance of childhood. It takes a little effort to live at peace with this large California native, but its bounty of colors, shapes, and scents make that effort worthwhile. 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 work in Advertorial your neighborhood.
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Danville Today News ~ May 2016 - Page 17
Life in the Danville Garden A Garden Makeover By John Montgomery, ASLA, Landscape Architect #4059 Everyone knows that good design is “maintenance free” and “lasts forever”...right? This is why there are so many beautiful gardens existing from the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s! Rather you might see ratty looking junipers and Monterrey pines. You get the picture. Just like you wouldn’t keep your carpet for 30 years, your Danville garden needs a good makeover as well. There are three basic reasons for a garden makeover: to respond to the changing site conditions which normally occur as a landscape site matures (i.e. drought, stuff gets overgrown...), to respond to changing needs of the users of the landscape (i.e. families grow and change), and to re-adapt a site for a new owner (i.e. a new set of uses.) New home sites are generally sunny with bright light and are more exposed to wind, sun, and harsher conditions. Maturity brings radical changes that are often welcomed. It also brings other changes that are not. Trees finally provide shade cover and can shade out once sun-loving plants. Lack of care and poor maintenance practices may have taken their toll. Hedges and shrubs may become overgrown, hiding the house and blocking good views. These changes give cause for redesign although the overall context of a “well-designed” landscape may still prevail. Within the life of your Danville home, an owner’s uses will change as kids grow-up or a family matures and changes or lifestyles evolve and change. Once busy families who had no time to work in the garden are now retired and have time to “putz.” This brings a whole new reason for a different landscape. Or children learn to swim, and a swimming pool is now a requirement. These changes call for careful consideration and should be well thought out. They should be logical and creatively resolved. Garden makeover projects are challenging yet satisfying when properly executed. We enjoy working with clients on creating a new vision for their yard while using a lot of the existing conditions that work; like large established trees, established privacy screening shrubs that are intact, and specimen plants that would cost thousands to replace. When a new family moves in to a home, their wants and desires also can change the needs of the landscape warranting a garden makeover. The landscape needs to be redesigned to re-adapt to the new family. Rarely does a landscaped site meet all the needs and expectations of the new owner. Re-adapting a site must be clearly articulated and solved as a design problem using an organized design process. In addition, some sites which have been badly neglected need drastic measures taken to redesign the landscape. Thorough documentation of all existing conditions such as soil, micro-climates, and drainage, shade, and wind patterns should be considered. All existing plants, trees, shrubs, and constructed features that are to be considered to remain should be well documented. A creative design solution, which meets the new need and is sensitive to the existing features and conditions of the site, must be developed. Construction of the new landscape must include all necessary measures to protect and preserve all of the worthwhile existing site features and landscape. Potential additions to a makeover could include updating hardscape elements such as cabanas, pavilions, outdoor kitchens, fire features, paved areas of use,
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benches and walls, dramatic landscape lighting, swimming pools, play courts, kid zones, and sculptures. Like the design of a new landscape project, a garden makeover should adhere to the design process. Design and budget go hand in hand! A hot tip from your local Landscape Architect: Executing a garden makeover for tired gardens can be a challenge. It can also make all the difference in the appeal of your home. Gardening Quote of the Month: “In garden arrangement, as in all other kinds of decorative work, one has not only to acquire a knowledge of what to do, but also to gain some wisdom in perceiving what it is well to let alone.” ~ Gertrude Jekyll Just a small reminder that our “Life in the Garden” fundraiser Garden Tour will return in May 2017. 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. Advertorial houzz.com/pro/jmla/john-montgomery-landscape-architects.
Page 18 - May 2016 ~ Danville Today News
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Giant cones dangled from the top-most branches. David Douglas measured a nearby fallen tree at 215 feet in height and 57 feet 9 inches in circumference. He had discovered the Sugar Pine (later named Pinus lambertiniana in honor of British botanist Aylmer Bourke Lambert). Douglas described the cones (now known to be the world’s longest) as “like small sugar-loaves in a grocer’s shop.” His journal entry continues: “Being unable to climb or hew down any, I took my gun and was busy clipping them from the branches with ball when eight Indians came at the report of my gun.” By a bit of trickery, he managed to make off with three cones, each possibly as long as two feet. Douglas didn’t learn his seed gathering skills sitting behind a school desk. The 12-mile round trip hike required to get him to class each day toughened his young muscles and encouraged him to linger along the way to study the natural world. The “contempt for the schoolmaster’s thong” he exhibited as a lad developed into the courage he needed to face down Native Americans hostile to his intrusion on their territory, and his “self-willed determination amounting to obstinacy” kept him focused on hunting for plants in uncharted, inhospitable locations. Douglas dropped out of school at the age 11 to work as a gardener’s boy. At age 24, his aptitude for quickly acquiring horticultural wisdom landed him a post with the Royal Horticultural Society. He set sail from England on June 3, 1823, tasked with gathering specimens and seeds of botanical species from North America never previously described by Europeans. Valued as a timber tree, the Sugar Pine nourished indigenous people with its large seeds and sweet sap. In 1894 John Muir noted: “The sugar, from which the common name is derived, is to my taste the best of sweets – better than maple sugar.” The distinction of producing the world’s most massive pinecones, however, goes to the Coulter Pine (Pinus coulteri). Weighing as much as five pounds, the cones contain seeds both wildlife and humans find delicious. But beware of being beaned by a falling cone in an autumn windstorm. Also called the Big-cone Pine, this tree is not among the 360 species Douglas is credited with discovering during the 19 months he spent in California from 1830-1832. Irish botanist Thomas Coulter apparently spotted it first in 1831 in the Santa Lucia Mountains. Mount Diablo is its northernmost native habitat. Another interesting pine found on Mount Diablo and other areas of California has cones that only release their seeds in the presence of fire (or occasionally when a branch breaks). The Knobcone Pine (Pinus attenuata) begins bearing cones as a 2-3 foot high sapling as young as only three years and holds on to them almost indefinitely until the heat of a forest fire liberates their reproductive abundance. By contrast, Sugar Pines don’t begin setting cones until they reach a height of 80 feet and an age of about 75 years. The first crops of Knobcones grow along the trunk and become imbedded in the wood as the tree matures. While Sugar Pines may survive for 500 years or more, Knobcone Pines rarely last more than half a century. Did Douglas ever explore Mount Diablo? Sadly, apart from letters previously posted, written accounts of his California discoveries succumbed to the vicissitudes of travel. In a canoeing mishap, Douglas plunged over a cataract and was dragged ashore unconscious. He lost journals, specimens, seed collections, and surveying instruments. But one of the plant species he sent back to England suggests he did spend time on or very near Mount Diablo. A specimen of the Mount Diablo Fairy Lantern (also known as the Mount Diablo Globe Tulip and Globe Lily), endemic to the mountain and very limited adjacent areas, arrived in England in a Douglas package dispatched in 1833. The pendant yellow blossoms blooming in late spring light up the landscape. The botanical name, Calochortus pulchellus, derived from the Greek for “beautiful grass,” describes the foliage. This wildflower’s earliest documented description occurs in William Henry Brewer’s May 7,1862, journal entry. Native Americans, of course, recognized the value of the plant for centuries. They gathered the thumb-sized bulbs and roasted them in earthen ovens. Douglas never made it back to England to recreate his lost notes. While hiking in Hawaii in 1834 with his faithful terrier, Douglas fell into a pit occupied by a raging bullock that extinguished his life.
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Energy Matters By Mark Becker, GoSimpleSolar Memorial Day is a special day for our nation. It is also an especially meaningful day for veterans who have personally experienced the loss of fellow combatants or service members who have died during non-combat training missions. As an international relations major, green business owner, retired Marine Corps Officer, energy consumer, and all around red-blooded American, I have mixed emotions about a select few Middle Eastern nations conspiring to keep the price of oil low to achieve other long term goals. Petropolitics serves economic and political end goals. Economically, keeping the price low allows individual Gulf States to keep market share and results in low priced oil here in the USA. From a business perspective, the goal of these nations wanting to keep market share is easily understood, and low prices at the pump is something we all like. Politically, the Gulf States’ goal of maintaining unlimited oil supply is to put stress on the economies of their enemies, Russia and Iran. There is well-founded fear that money from sanction-free Iranian petro-dollars will further fund the regime of Assad in Syria and non-state terrorist actors such as Hezbollah. The caustic and deadly politics of international oil (in which all oil-exporting nation-states participate) has driven me to believe that the security of the American people is best realized by domestic energy production from oil, natural gas, and renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and bio-fuels. Myself and other like-thinkers are considered to be “domestic energy hawks.” It’s quite interesting that that a great many of “domestic energy hawks” are former members of our military who have served in the Middle East. While recognizing the importance of the free flow of oil to keep the world economy moving, we also recognize we have the resources at home to be self-reliant, and that we can be independent of Middle Eastern or Venezuelan oil. The natural and negative consequence of artificially low oil prices is damaging the USA’s ability to compete in the oil industry. Ironically, it’s less expensive to import oil than it is to produce it at home. Competition is typically advantageous to any industry, but extremely low prices have a negative effect on our national security. American energy independence limits the interest we may have in Middle Eastern petro-politics.
Many of the Gulf States who claim to be our allies also indirectly fund nongovernmental groups who act against our nation’s best interests. Separating the terrorist threat from petro-politics will allow us to more effectively and objectively target real threats to our nation. I’m simply curious; would people pay more per gallon of gas if you knew that gallon was American and locally sourced? Gimmicks and solar technology: Admittedly, I’d be hard pressed to defend in a court of law what I consider “gimmicks” now becoming prevalent in our solar industry. The manufacturers of these products tout their “innovations” and “break-through technology” which make for good marketing but not a better long-term system design. GoSimpleSolar is about to undertake complete remediation of another contractor’s very expensive solar project which has the “latest technology” installed. That inverter technology failed, hence failure of the entire PV system. The installation company and the manufacturer of the equipment are both out of business. Over 170,000 of these failed products were sold. Customers of these products now have no recourse except to hire another contractor (us in this case) to remediate the remaining serviceable portions of the solar PV system at additional cost. Beware the “latest and greatest” technology; some technologies are enduring and are best long-term safe choice for your solar PV investment. A great many of our customers are finance professionals who clearly understand the how “arbitrage” plays a key role in maximizing solar PV investment returns. For the layperson, ‘Arbitrage’: The simultaneous purchase and sale of an asset in order to profit from a difference in the price. It is a trade that profits by exploiting price differences of identical or similar financial instruments, on different markets or in different forms. The “asset” in the case of a solar PV investment is the cost and credit of a PGE kWh. Being imported and exported from a home or business at different times of the day and season, at different costs and credits, allows a solar PV investment to generally provide better financial return than even the best year in the stock market. Almost all risk can be mitigated from a solar PV project if “done right” by the properly licensed installation professionals utilizing high quality non-proprietary products. 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 - May 2016 ~ Danville Today News
The Secrets of Growing Great Tomatoes By Carol Rossi, The Bounty Garden’s Seedling Instructor The best thing about home-grown tomatoes (besides their delicious flavor of sweet sunshine) is that they can be grown pretty much anywhere you have a patch of reliable sunlight. You just need to know the attributes and requirements for your particular growing situation. If all you have is a couple large pots on a balcony, you are still set to produce some beautiful tomatoes. Just ensure the pots are located so they receive a minimum of eight hours of direct sunlight - this is one growth requirement where tomatoes will not compromise. Next, replace the soil in the pots every growing season with a fresh batch of potting soil that is rich in nutrients and organic matter. Tomatoes are nutrient gluttons, so you can use a mix that is high in nitrogen and phosphorus without worrying about over-feeding them. Select the proper variety for your pots. Look for dwarf (or patio) size or small-fruited “determinates” such as cherry, grape, and pear tomatoes. Determinates grow to a certain size and then stop, so they are perfect for small spaces and also don’t require much support. The small, cone-shaped tomato cages should suffice, but I recommend the heavy-duty (thick gauge) kind instead of the spindly wire type. Train determinates to support their stems on the cage, but don’t prune them. They will reward you by covering themselves with wonderful, tasty tomatoes. If you are a lucky gardener with lots of room, you have even more options! Tomatoes come in early, mid-season, and long (or main) season varieties, so for an extended harvest period all you have to do is mix up the varieties. Choose early cultivars for half your plants, one intermediate, and the remainder long season. Because the early varieties put a lot of energy into quick production, the fruit tends to be smaller and less flavorful than the long season types that luxuriate long summer days on the vine. Put in some Early Girls, and you can be eating tomatoes in late June or early July while looking forward to the August arrival of Big Boys, Mortgage Lifters, and Brandywines. You can also choose “paste” varieties, such as Black Plum and San Marzano, which make great sauces but are less juicy and tangy than the “table” or “slicing” types. Just be aware that while small and inter-
Technology Matters By Evan Corstorphine, Portable CIO It’s a truism that while many things are good for you in small doses, that larger doses can be toxic. I’ve concluded that the number of reminders, alerts, and interruptions individuals receive, that while helpful, have gotten out of control and have created a toxic atmosphere for concentration and serenity. I believe these well-intended automated “shoulder-shakes” have created unintended consequences of lost productivity. Adding to that, human interruptions of an urgent but unimportant nature exacerbate the problem. Research I’ve read on this topic supports my conclusion. In fact, one study I read stated, “… results showed that interruptions increase [the] time to complete cognitive tasks and produce more errors in skilled tasks …. Generally, interruptions increase the task completion time, produce worse decisions, and lead to more errors, frustration, annoyance, and anxiety.” (Carayon et al., 2007; Cutrell et al., 2000; Gillie & Broadbent, 1989). During my research, I came across a website dedicated to this topic at www. interruptions.net. An article they posted led with, “Time is the great equalizer. The hours in a day are something we all share, and lose, at the same rate. As time is our most finite resource, interruptions in the work place can cause a decelerating effect on our workload. In a professional work environment, productivity can be measured by momentum. Much like your automobile has to work harder to accelerate from a complete stop, so does your work. Although interruptions are part of our normal work life, limiting social interruptions is often crucial in breaking free of the inevitable backlog cycle and delivery ‘slippage.’” This “automobile momentum” analogy really resonated with me, because that’s exactly how I feel when I get interrupted. I’ve written here before about the accelerating pace of our society and also about an escalating sense of impatience. All of these alerts, reminders, urgent emails, and personal interruptions are part of that systemic impatience. Yes, a calendar reminder can be helpful when it tells us we have a meeting in 15 minutes, if you requested it. But do I really want to know when every person I know on Facebook is having a birthday or when someone has changed job status on LinkedIn enough to warrant an alert popping into the upper right corner of my screen when I’m trying to work? No. For me it’s too much. Much too much. It’s not just automation that is heckling us. Somehow when computers became
www.yourmonthlypaper.com mediate size tomatoes can be grown in 8 to 10 hours of direct sunlight per day, the standard and big sizes require a minimum of 12 to 14 hours daily. With all that room you may select indeterminate cultivars which, theoretically, can grow as large as conditions allow. They will require a strong trellis where vines can be tied or a heavy-duty cage 5 to 6 feet high and 2 feet around. Google “tomato cages” and get some inspiration, but don’t skimp on support because broken vines result in far fewer tomatoes. Pruning an indeterminate will also reduce the amount of the crop, although some gardeners still trim them back to increase the size of individual tomatoes and keep the vines manageable. The choice is dependent on your philosophy! Tomatoes like their space. You can plant dwarfs and cherry tomatoes 18” apart, but all the others need at least 24” between plants. Don’t crowd them because they are heavy feeders and compete for soil nutrients. They are also sun lovers and sun blockers, so you must ensure each plant gets the sunlight it needs. They will produce well if grown in a single row (never in a block) where they each get an equal share of sunlight and nourishment. Care and cultivation are the same for potted or in-ground tomato plants. Tomatoes don’t need (and don’t like) a lot of water. Water them well at planting, and you should not have to water them more than once weekly. One weekly deep watering is MUCH better than regular shallow watering. Uneven watering will also promote a condition known as blossom-end rot. Consistency is key. Don’t get water on their leaves because this promotes disease. Tomatoes are also the nutrient gluttons of the vegetable world, so you will need to supplement their feeding throughout the long growing season. Spray plants with compost tea, seaweed extract, or a similar fertilizer two weeks after transplant. Spray them again at flowering, after first fruit is set, and then weekly when plants start producing. You can use a foliar feed or a soil-soak to keep them happy. The mid to late season varieties should produce until the first rains of fall start in October. Then you can clip any remaining vines with green tomatoes and hang them in your garage to ripen. Tomatoes define the summer: there are no excuses not to get growing! Learn more about The Bounty Garden at https://thebountygarden.wordpress.com/ and Sustainable Danville Area at www.facebook.com/sustainabledanvillearea. capable of productively multitasking complex computational jobs and providing results at amazing speed, society began to assume that humans could do the same. Not true. In fact, the complete opposite is true: productivity plummets when people or organizations are expected to multitask across competing efforts. We are at our best when we can concentrate on one thing at a time. One study I examined showed a 59.8% organizational productivity gain across the body of surveyed companies when multitasking and interruptions were consciously limited. The mean improvement was 38.2%. Those are huge numbers, and they translate into real dollar figures in terms of the productivity cost of both human and automated interruptions. I cannot change society, but I can work to insulate myself and my employees from this “noise.” If we do nothing to actively improve our situation, every application and website will by default actively try to get our attention with alerts and reminders. To make change, we must take active control. For example, I’ve gone through every device I own, opened the ‘Notifications’ section of the control panel, and un-checked the majority of the reminders, whether they are visual, audible, or involve small windows popping up on my device. In Microsoft Outlook, I’ve turned off the default 15-minute calendar reminder. I’ve also turned off the chime as well as that “Desktop Alert” window that by default pops onto my screen for five seconds in the bottom corner when a new message arrives. There’s nothing better to blow my concentration than a juicy tidbit of an email tempting my limited attention to click away instead of staying focused on what I’m doing. The “Do Not Disturb” button on my phone is also my friend when I’m concentrating, and text messages or email may have to wait for a response. It’s all a part of reclaiming these boundaries. Another example is that I’ve been actively un-subscribing myself from legitimate but unwanted email that doesn’t serve my core business purpose. I admit this is only partially successful, but between unsubscribing and sending things permanently to my “Junk Email” folder, I’m pruning back the number of unsolicited messages and taxes on my time. How far should you go? Knowing your limits is important. Perhaps you have more self-discipline or can split your attention between activities better than I can. Hopefully this causes you to examine how these interruptions may have invaded your or your organization’s productivity, and it helps you make some good choices. Portable CIO is your one-stop IT management firm. We’re excited about what the future holds and would love to share it with you. You can reach us at info@theportablecio.com, or 925-552-7953. Advertorial
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Why Most Stock Investors Don’t Earn Stock Market Returns By Robert Cucchiaro, Certified Financial Planner Recently a client who was going through a divorce asked me what the S&P 500’s annual rate of return had been over the past 25 years. She was astonished to learn that it was over 9% per year. This was pertinent to her divorce because the attorney for her ex-husband was suggesting that his pre-marital assets should be assumed to have grown by that rate. This of course would mean more money for him and less for her. I offered to jump in and speak with both her ex and his attorney, and ultimately convinced them both that most stock investors don’t actually earn stock market returns, and there are plenty of studies done that back this up. Convincing them to use a lower assumed rate of return on pre-marital assets meant more money in her pocket and less in his, but even he admitted my logic was correct. Here is a quick summary of why I made that statement about investor returns. Let’s say on January 1, 2000 you had suddenly inherited $1,000,000 and plunked 100% of it into the Vanguard S&P 500 index fund (ticker symbol VFINX). One year later your $1,000,000 investment was down to $909,000. Two years later that amount had dropped to $800,000, and three years later that number was down to
Surprise continued from front page When exhibit visitors view the historical items on display, their frequent comment is something like, “I have a better version of carved wooden birds,”as Muriel Wakayama told us. Museum people respond by asking to hear more about the items and asking to borrow their artifact for display. Visitors always say “Yes.” Mrs. Wakayama’s adult son who accompanied her recalled that his mother’s carved birds hung in shadow boxes alongside his bed as a kid. A few days after the initial visit, Mrs. Wakayama danced into the Museum carrying the precious carved birds as well as an exquisite wooden carving of two cranes. The items were all made at the Tule Lake camp. Our exhibit just keeps growing and growing. The next surprise has been how many people refer us to another person to contact that could add information or material to the exhibit. Sayeko Yonemoto put us in touch with Takao Fukuchi. The Museum knew that a Japanese School existed in Danville but not much more. It turns out Takao Fukuchi was the son of the store owner, Noboru Fukuchi and his always smiling wife, Chiyoko. This enterprising young businessman sold staples for the kitchen such as rice, soy sauce, and tea to the Japanese families of the San Ramon Valley. He owned a 1930’s pickup truck, and he recalled that his dad periodically invited him to drive through the recently constructed Caldecott Tunnel to the Oakland Produce Market to purchase wholesale vegetable for resale to his clients. His father even delivered the food stuffs to the scattered San Ramon Valley Japanese households. The next surprise were the unknown stories that miraculously unraveled by visitors to the exhibit. The visitors have filled in all sorts of blanks in the Museum’s record. We learned one room in the building housing the Japanese store was used for the Japanese School created by parents anxious to convey the language and culture of their original home to their children. Immigrants from Wakayama Prefecture on Honshu Island opened schools in Danville and Martinez. In Concord, immigrants from Kyushu Island started a school.After WWII, these regional programs coalesced into one school located at today’s Japanese Cultural Center on Treat Blvd. Each school taught the Japanese language on the weekends. So, a school week actually became seven days long for Japanese children. Muriel Wakayama also asked if the Museum had contacted Ray Morodomi. “Who is Ray Morodomi?” we asked. It turned out Ray’s brother, Tom, was the handsome 1933 senior in the San Ramon Valley Union High School yearbook. She produced Mr. Morodomi’s phone number, and the Museum gladly called him. “I have pictures of the family tomato farm out on Blackhawk Ranch. Are you interested in seeing them?” he said. Since the Museum never knew that any Japanese families had ever even farmed on Blackhawk Ranch, the answer was an enthusiastic “Yes.” Soon, Mr. Morodomi arrived with a CD of dry land tomato farm pictures from Blackhawk Ranch including a photo of people driving a Caterpillar tractor and towing a planting machine. Ray Force, the then owner of the ranch and a high officer in San Leandro’s Caterpillar Tractor Company, made the equipment available to the Morodomi family. All of this was brand new information. Surprise follows surprise. The “Art of Survival” Exhibit – the fascinating examination of Japanese American WWII internment camp experience’s closes after Sunday, May 15, so do not delay your visit. The Museum of the San Ramon Valley is located at 205 Railroad Ave. in historic downtown Danville. Visit the Museum’s website at www. museumsrv.org for additional information including special interpretive events.
Danville Today News ~ May 2016 - Page 21 $623,000, a 38% decline from where you had started. It wasn’t until four full years later (2006) that you got back to breakeven on your investment, where your $1,000,000 investment would have finally grown to $1,078,000. By the end of 2007 your account would have grown to $1,136,000, and at that point your average annualized return would have been less than 2%. At this point, if you are like most people, you would surely be questioning the brilliance of this investment. And this is heading into 2008, a year in which the S&P 500 dropped by 37%! By the end of 2008 your $1,000,000 initial investment would have fallen to $715,000. Now, if you had stuck with this investment by the end of 2015, your initial $1,000,000 investment would have grown to $1,866,000, an increase of 87%. And over the last 10 years your average annual returns would have been 7.18% before taxes. But needless to say it would have been a bumpy ride, and most people would not have stuck with it. This is the reason most people should not have 100% of their money in the S&P 500 index, because even though the long term returns are hard to beat, most people don’t actually receive those rates of return. Being a good investor starts with knowing yourself and knowing how much volatility you can really stomach before you would bail out on your long-term plan and sell assets at a loss. A good financial advisor will help you discover the answer to this question before investing your money. Investing is not easy but with some professional help, you can grow your assets over time and increase your net worth. As always, we are here to help and always offer an initial consultation at no charge. 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. Securities and investment advisory services offered through VSR Financial Services, Inc. member FINRA and SIPC. Summit Wealth and Retirement Planners is not owned or controlled by VSR Financial Services, Inc. Financial Planning Offered through Summit Wealth & Retirement Partners To learn more or read more articles like this one, visit www.summitwealthandretirement.com. Advertorial
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Page 22 - May 2016 ~ Danville Today News
Idol continued from front page and songwriter, she is working on her third album and performs extensively. But her debut at the Valley Teen Idol remains an important part of her career. “The shock of winning the first Valley Teen Idol was breathtaking. I think that was the moment my future changed. Valley Teen Idol was that initial impetus that drove me to the many competitions and achievements that followed. I am honored to hold this title and hope to stand as a role model for all those who have and will experience this honor with me.” Chapman, a Danville resident and freshman at San Ramon Valley High, won this year’s 2016 Valley Teen Idol competition. “Song selection is so difficult because it’s tough to really know what the judges are looking for, but I know I have to sing something from my heart. If I don’t feel it, it’s harder for me to deliver the message of the song,” recalled Avery. She decided to sing “You,” an original song that Avery wrote. Her mom, Jen Chapman mentioned, “It’s a tense evening for the contestants who have no idea if they will be invited on stage in the top 20 spots. The first ten are called with each person delivering their best talent. Then after an intermission, the final ten are chosen.” Avery happened to be the very last contestant to be called and ended up the winner. “All I ever want to do is share my voice with people,” Avery said. “Any chance I get to sing is a happy moment for me. I am truly stunned and honored to receive this award from the Rotary. They have supported the arts in our community for such a long time. I am equally thrilled to help support my school’s music department. That really means a lot to me because it will help so many more students who love music like I do.” San Ra- Avery Chapman 2016 Valley Teen Idol mon Valley High School in Danville received a check in the amount of $2,500 from SRV Rotary. The local competition has gone worldwide with the use of computer technology and the generous support of software engineer Neil Killeen. The young engineer created an app which allows YouTube viewers to cast their votes for VTI’s “People’s Choice” award. The inaugural use of this technology brought in thousands of dollars with votes coming from China, the Philippines, Germany, and the Caribbean as well as all over the United States. Debora Killeen and crew are already working on VTI 2017. She explains, “Next year we are looking into having the final event to be live-streamed on TV via the internet so the whole world can vote for the 2017 Valley Teen Idol along with the attending audience by using a poll application which gives you pretty much instant results.” She added, “I encourage all charity organizations to utilize the internet and the social media sites as this is where you can reach out and touch so many people along with getting the most support financially. Not only is it great exposure for our club but for the performers as well. We even had requests from the producers of American Idol to have private auditions, and five of our teens have made it to the top 40 contestants of the American Idol show.” Proceeds from VTI go to benefit the local and worldwide charity work of the Diablo San Ramon Valley Rotary Foundation, a 501(c)(3) a non-profit organization. For more information about San Ramon Valley Rotary, check out their website at www.sanramonvalleyrotary.com. Weekly dinner meetings are held on Wednesday evenings at 7PM at Blackhawk Country Club. Upcoming singing events for Miss Avery Chapman, Valley Teen Idol, 2016 are: May 15: Zappos Bay to Breakers in San Francisco May 21: Relay for Life in Pleasant Hill June 27: San Francisco Giants vs. Oakland A’s at AT&T Park
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Using Your Estate Plan to Pass On Values By Robert J. Silverman, Esq. I recently completed a very pleasant project. My client is a young father - I’ll call him Curt. Curt’s grandfather died about a year ago. His last will and testament provided his great-granddaughters, Curt’s very young daughters, with a significant inheritance. Curt took this opportunity to consult with me about how to best protect the wonderful inheritance his daughters were about to receive. I proposed to create an irrevocable trust for each daughter under which the funds could be managed by an appropriate trustee, grow over time, and be a special gift to help the girls launch into adulthood. Not only was it fun to work with Curt on creating trust terms to protect his daughters, but it was especially rewarding to see how much Curt cared for his grandfather and appreciated the legacy being passed down. Curt asked me if he could write a letter to provide the trustee of the trusts some guidelines and to elaborate to his daughters about this special legacy being left by their great-grandfather. I heartily encouraged him to do so. When I read Curt’s proposed letter, I was moved. It was a beautiful gift in its own right. I asked Curt if he would give me permission to reprint some of the letter – he gladly agreed. I hope you enjoy these exerpts. To my daughters: My grandfather, your great-grandfather, has left money for you, along with the wish that such funds be placed in trust for your future. This trust is a gift of love. I offer this brief summary about your great-grandfather’s life as he had relayed to me. He was born with nothing and raised in a neglectful manner within a broken home. He left home penniless at a young age, overcame many difficulties, and lived a long life full of vibrant experiences. Despite limited education, he became a successful businessman, retired to travel the world, and later died a multi-millionaire. Always hardworking and kindhearted, he wanted more for his descendants than he had for himself. His wish was not only to pass along money that may be useful to the recipients, but that said recipients would do their best to foster such funds for the benefit of further generations; that this would be his legacy (he once relayed to me, “Money takes time to grow; real wealth takes generations”). I wish for these funds to assist you in building a life that you find meaningful and offer you this guidance to do with as you please: Pursue education and learning. Learn about any and all subjects that you find interesting and fulfilling. Give yourself permission to enjoy what matters to you. Spend no time worrying about the opinions of others. Educate yourself about budgets, business, banks, and investing, because money is best enjoyed when it is working for you rather than you for it. “A penny saved (truly) is a penny earned,” and a penny invested can make many more pennies! Work and contribute. Do not ever allow yourself to become lazy or dependent on others, nor your trust funds. “Earning a living is a rite of passage into adulthood, and a shared one among peers. For those with enough money to circumvent that experience, inherited wealth is a burden.” ~ Madeline Levine. Be kind and helpful to others. Give of your time and knowledge, but be evermindful of potential costs. Forge meaningful relationships with your trustees, and negotiate any disagreements. I’ve taken care in selecting those who may serve as trustee. Each knows and loves you. I would like your relationship with each of them to be close and meaningful. It is your responsibility to seek them out and include them in your life. There will be times they make tough decisions, some of which may not be to your liking. Please be forgiving and respectful. I trust they’ll act in your best interests; I ask you to trust in them as well. I have every intention of relaying to you all the above and more throughout your life, and furthermore of sticking around until you’re old enough to discuss these words together. Where info is scarce or answers lacking, request help in finding more information and be persistent in your own research. I’m looking forward to having these conversations with you, even if they are likely over a decade away. Always, Your loving father * Estate Planning * Trust Administration & Probate * Real Estate * Business I offer a complimentary Estate Planning Primer and/or a free, introductory meeting. My primary practice areas are Estate Planning; Trust Administration & Probate; Real Estate; and Business I am an attorney with R. Silverman Law Group which is located at 1855 Olympic Blvd., Suite 125, Walnut Creek, CA 94596; (925) 705-4474; rsilverman@rsilvermanlaw.com.
This article is intended to provide information of a general nature, and is not intended nor should it be relied upon as legal, tax 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) promoting, marketing, or recommending to another party any matters addressed herein. Advertorial
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Danville Today News ~ May 2016 - Page 23
Your Personal Nutritionist
Skin Cancer
Great Success with Teen Weight Loss By Linda Michaelis RD, MS
By Dr. Jerome Potozkin
I was an unhappy overweight teen, and with being a Registered Dietitian and a mom of two teens, I have found my expertise. Kevin was referred to me two years ago by his doctor when he was 13 years old. We worked together for a month, but I soon realized that his love affair with food overruled, and he was not ready to make the necessary changes to lose weight. We decided that he needed to wait to work together until he was ready to make the commitment. Three months ago Kevin called me and told me he had gained more weight, and he was now ready to lose weight and commit to my suggestions. I have to tell you that call made my day because I really enjoyed Kevin. He was always so respectful and appreciative of my time. Kevin came in with a food diary, and it revealed many of his problems. For breakfast he was eating frozen waffles or pancakes with too much maple syrup and butter. He was eating breakfast despite not being hungry due to his large appetite of consuming hamburgers and fries at night. I reminded him to make sure that when he eats breakfast he thinks hard about how hungry he is. Kevin agreed to try my recipe for roasted veggie egg muffins or an overnite oatmeal parfait with Greek yogurt and berries. Kevin is enjoying these lower carb breakfasts and without complaint. A month into working with Kevin, he called me on a Saturday morning when his mom was out of town and he asked me what to eat for breakfast because there was not much food at home. After telling me what was in the refrigerator, he made some spinach and scrambled eggs. He texted me an hour later and said they were yummy. Kevin’s tastes were changing, and veggies became tolerable. I find with kids it is all about timing, and getting them at the right time when they can be exposed to healthier options makes a difference. For lunch Kevin was always having a sandwich on a roll with a skimpy amount of meat and a bag of chips. No fruit or veggies were included. We agreed to him having chicken legs without the skin, a small bag of chips, and some baby carrots. Kevin now says that he is also happy with taking 4oz of roasted turkey wrapped around lettuce with cherry tomatoes, carrots, and some cucumbers. Mom sometimes brings him a fresh tuna sandwich with all of the veggies. Kevin often participates in sports after school and has been enjoying beef jerky with a couple of tangerines or a cut-up apple. Sometimes he even takes grilled chicken strips from home and dips then in BBQ sauce. If he has time, he will make some eggs with spinach before practice. The healthy Kevin is now taking full responsibility with his meals and telling mom what he likes for meals and snacks. Similar to most kids (and my husband), Kevin’s favorite take-out burger place is In N Out. I suggested when eating there a good food choice would be the burger protein style wrapped in lettuce with small fries. I was shocked again when Kevin told me he went there after a game for dinner and he really liked it. When Kevin is having pizza with his friends, he only eats two slices and realizes he gets a satisfying fullness unlike the uncomfortable feeling he would have in the past after eating too large portions, especially at night. Kevin says he is sleeping better and now bounces out of bed in the morning and has an appetite for breakfast which he realizes he did not have before. He is even using the treadmill in the morning. In summary, Kevin is not always eating the ideal balanced meals and snacks I prefer, but compared to his past eating habits, his nutrition has drastically improved, and he is losing weight consistently. He is looking forward to taking off his shirt this summer and going swimming in a bathing suit. It has been and still is a great joy working with Kevin to get him to realize that nutrition plays a large role in how he feels and looks. At this point, I can see by the summer he will have reached his goal of losing 30 lbs. My counseling with clients is unique in that I am in communication with them several times a week thru phone, email, and text in addition to meetings at my office. This frequent communication is my way of guaranteeing success. Please feel free to call me about your teen, and I will be happy to give you some advice. I am glad to inform you that most insurance companies such as Alta Bates, Aetna, Blue Cross, Blue Shield, Health Net, Hill P, Sutter Health cover nutritional counseling. Please feel free to call me at (925) 855-0150 about your nutrition concerns or email me at Lifeweight1@gmail.com. Check out my website www.LindaRD.com for services, tips, and past articles. Advertorial
Let’s face it: most men (including me) hate to go to the doctor. It often takes a great deal of pushing and prodding. Luckily for David, he listened to his wife who had been nagging him to come in for a skin check. Reluctantly, he scheduled an appointment for a skin cancer screening. He was in good health but had a few risk factors for skin cancer as his sister had been diagnosed with skin cancer, and he had an outdoor job and recalled multiple sunburns. We checked him from head to toe and actually found a spot on his toe that had some irregular pigmentation. A biopsy showed that this was a melanoma in-situ. Fortunately for David, this is the earliest stage at which melanoma can be diagnosed, and the cure rate is over 99%. He underwent a minor in-office surgical procedure to cure his skin cancer. May marks skin cancer awareness month.There are about 3.5 million skin cancers diagnosed each year in the United States. It is estimated that there will be about 144,860 cases of melanoma diagnosed in 2016. In the United States there are more cases of skin cancer than cancers of the breast, colon, lung, and prostate combined. Melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer because it can be lethal. However, the good news is that early diagnosis can lead to complete cures.Surprisingly, melanoma is the most common form of cancer for young adults aged 25-29. Approximately 75% of skin cancer deaths are from melanoma. Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are the two most common types of skin cancers. These can appear as non-healing sores or crusted bumps. Some simply appear as a red patch that can be misdiagnosed as dry skin or eczema. The good news is that these skin cancers are much less likely to spread. The diagnosis is confirmed by taking a sample known as a skin biopsy. Most patients with basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma have their skin cancers treated with minor in-office surgical procedures. Most skin cancers have a genetic component. The other key ingredient is sun and ultraviolet exposure such as that from tanning beds. In order to prevent skin cancer, I recommend an ounce of prevention. Do what you love but avoid the peak sun hours between 10AM and 2PM. Apply and reapply a broad-spectrum sunscreen. Forget about going to tanning beds (spray on tans are fine). Lastly, see a board certified dermatologist once a year for a full body skin check. A skin check is a snap to go through and much easier than a colonoscopy. It is also a good idea for you to check yourself once a month so that you will be able to notice if a mole or a spot is changing. Luckily for David, his story had a happy ending. If you have any spots that you are concerned about or if you can’t remember the last time you were checked from head to toe by a board certified dermatologist, please call my office now at (925) 838-4900 to schedule an appointment. 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
Primavera continued from front page programs alive in local schools at every grade level with monetary grants as well as materials. Watch Plein Air painters at work along the perimeter of the show both days. Meet the artists at the Artists’ Reception Saturday, May 21st from 5-7PM. The public is welcome to attend. Primavera showcases the work of over 60 artists with original paintings, photographs and sculptures in various mediums including oil, watercolor, acrylic, pastel, mixed media, ceramic and glass. Registration for artists closes on May 6th. The ADAS Blackhawk Gallery has recently been featured at www.culturetrip.com as one of the Top Ten Places to Go in Danville. A percentage of sales at the gallery also goes to the “Art in the Schools” program. Gallery shows change every six weeks. The gallery is open daily with jewelry, original note cards, and other gift items as well two and three-dimensional art. For more information visit www.adas4art.org.
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Page 24 - May 2016 ~ Danville Today News
Improved Imaging Option in Breast Cancer Screening By Christine Chung, MD Mammograms have been considered the gold standard in breast cancer detection for the past 45 years and have been shown in numerous studies to decrease death from breast cancer. The US Preventive Services Task Force recommends mammograms once every two years for women ages 50-74. I follow the guidelines of the American Medical Association and National Comprehensive Cancer Network and recommend annual screening mammograms starting at age 40 for my female patients. In mammography, the breast is compressed between two plates, and images are taken from two angles. Overlapping breast tissue can make these images harder to interpret, particularly in women with dense breasts. This can lead to false positives in 10% of patients and, more worryingly, false negatives in 15-20% of patients, according to the National Cancer Institute. Could a new technology fix that? Tomosynthesis, approved by the FDA in 2011, could improve the way that women are screened for breast cancer, particularly those with dense breast tissue. Multiple low-dose X-ray images of the breast are taken in an arc around the breast. These images are reconstructed to form a three-dimensional picture, resulting in a clearer image of the breast. A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in June 2014 showed that tomosynthesis was better at detecting breast cancer than mammography. Data included 281,187 exams conducted with mammography alone and 173,663 exams with mammography and tomosynthesis at 13 sites between 2010-2012. Per 1,000 screening exams, tomosynthesis detected 5.4 cancers, while mammography detected 4.2 cancers. The likelihood that a woman actually had cancer increased from 24% to 29.2% with tomosynthesis. Does this mean that tomosynthesis could supplant mammography as the standard of care for breast screening? As Dr. R James Brenner, the former president of the Society of Breast Imaging, Professor of Radiology, UC San Diego, and the Director of Breast Imaging at Bay Imaging Consultants said, “Tomosynthesis is simply a quantum jump over planar mammography as it is done today. It is more resource intense, but will likely replace most conventional mammography in the United States over the next decade.” There are still concerns about this technology. In an accompanying editorial in JAMA, Dr. Etta Pisano from the Medical University of South Carolina recommended further study before replacing mammography. She said, “The lack of long-term follow-up information [with tomosynthesis] limits the ability to provide definitive estimates of false-negative result rates, diagnostic accuracy, interval cancer rates, or overdiagnosis.” There are 1,100 tomosynthesis systems in the US, according to Hologic Inc, the leading manufacturer of these units in the US. Approximately six million women were screened with tomosynthesis in 2014, and that number can only be expected to rise since Medicare approved payment for tomosynthesis screening, effective January 1, 2015. Dr. Chung is a Radiation Oncologist with Diablo Valley Oncology & Hematology Medical Group. She sees patients in Pleasant Hill and Berkeley and can be reached at (925) 825-8878. Join Dr. Chung and other breast cancer specialists for a breast cancer update on May 17. 6:30-8:30PM at the Lafayette Library. RSVP at (925) 677-5041. Advertorial
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Refreshed not Weird: How Botox, Dysport, and Fillers Should Look By Dr. Barbara Persons, Persons Plastic Surgery A friend had just finished a high level business meeting with two women. He said, “What is it about 40-year-old women who have been overdone?” He was talking about people that have gone overboard on injectable treatments such as fillers and Botox. My initial thought... he doesn’t realize that these women are not forty-something. They do look younger than their 50 years, but they look overdone. This is indeed a problem, and it’s becoming a more common problem that I am being asked to fix in my practice. Facial rejuvenation is one of the top requests I receive. Whether we like to admit it or not, we all like the thought of a refreshed version of ourselves. Ultimately, gravity wrinkles and loss of volume over time will ultimately be most improved by surgery: a neck lift, facelift, eyelids, etc. But, for many patients, natural fillers and fat grafting, Botox, Dysport, Filaser, and RF treatments provide a safe and effective treatment to subtly improve our look. The key in facial rejuvenation -- from Botox to fillers to fat grafting -- is achieving a look that is youthful, not “weird,” as my friend stated. The look should be refreshed, never overdone, and most importantly natural. Aging gracefully is just as important as looking beautiful, and the secret here is ensuring no one can guess there been a treatment done in the first place. As an expert in face work, I have many tools to use, but the secret to subtle, successful artistry is understanding how exactly to use them. There are two basic sets of concepts when it comes to facial rejuvenation. The first is lifting with volume replacement, and the second is improvement of texture, lines, pigment, and laxity. There was a time when we associated aging only with “gravity.” However, we now understand that volume loss can also dramatically change the aesthetic balance of the face. Volume loss occurs in soft tissues and bone, especially in the temporal areas, nasolabial fold, and the cheeks. This results in hollow areas of the temples, sunken eyes, eye bags, tear troughs, mid cheek breaks, marionette lines around the mouth, droopy skin at the jaw, and excess neck skin and bags. The combined effect of volume loss, sun exposure, and age also contributes to increased skin laxity, which presents as wrinkles around the eyes, the forehead, and the middle brow. The face looks more aged, more tired, less full, and overall less youthful. In the wrong hands, or with the wrong product (cheap counterfeit versions of many popular products like Botox, Dysport and fillers are a real problem), the results are only made worse...you become overdone and look weird The correct approach in my opinion is a whole face approach: recreating the beautiful normal. With Botox, Dysport, and Xeomin, the muscle relaxers, I recommend a balanced treatment. This means relaxing each of the main muscles, say in the forehead or around the eyes in a balanced synergistic way. Fillers and fat grafting should be used to perform a liquid facelift while keeping the proportions natural. Phi or the ideal proportions can be referenced. Properly treated lips should look natural, not weird. Nasolabial folds should not look like sausages - laser treatments and/or Botox/Dysport for fine lines and wrinkles and the right filler for replacing volume. There are new fillers such as Voluma, Restalyne Silk, and Radiesse Plus for treating very specialized areas of the face that may be worth the higher cost. Most importantly, consistency is key. Make sure you use a well-trained, highly skilled injector with a heightened aesthetic sense who is able to learn the intricacies unique to your face. Find a physician or nurse injector you like, and stick with that person. Most people who end up overdone have had multiple visits with multiple doctors. Our nurses, Melissa and Brittney, work hard with me to make sure you look natural. As always, we look forward to meeting you at Persons Plastic Surgery for a consult so we can demonstrate our approach to consistent results. Persons Plastic Surgery, Inc. is located at 911 Moraga Rd, Suite 205 in Lafayette. To contact me call 925-283-4012 or email drbarb@ personsplasticsurgery.com. Advertorial
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Menopause Matters By Timothy Leach, MD, FACOG, CNMP Last month’s column ended with a reference to the 2012 Hormone Therapy Position Statement of The North American Menopause Society (NAMS). The intent of that statement was to clarify the benefit-risk ratio of estrogen therapy (ET) vs. estrogen-progestogen therapy (EPT) of menopause-related symptoms and disease prevention. NAMS acknowledged that no single trial data could be extrapolated to all women. However, because the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) was the first randomized controlled trial (RCT) of post-menopausal women using hormone therapy (HT), these findings were given prominent consideration. A randomized controlled trial (RCT) is considered the gold standard for scientific studies because subjects are randomly assigned to either a treatment group or a placebo group. The two groups respective outcomes are then compared for a specific question (i.e. breast cancer risk in HT users vs. HT non users). Prior to the WHI, most studies looking at the benefit-risk of HT were largely observational studies. This means that a group of women using HT were “observed” over time, and outcomes were evaluated. Observational studies have limitations and conclusions not infrequently disputed when a RCT asks the same question. NAMS pointed out that the WHI RCT had several characteristics that limit generalizing the findings to all post-menopausal women. These include the use of only one route of administration (oral), only one formulation of estrogen (conjugated equine estrogen “premarin”), and only one progestogen (medroxyprogesterone acetate “Provera”). Current HRT preparations use different estrogens and come in transdermal, transvaginal products at many different dosages. Observational studies of HT often focused on symptomatic, recently postmenopausal women, whereas the WHI enrolled healthy postmenopausal women aged 50 to 79 years in a prevention trial. While different studies have the strengths and weaknesses, RCT’s are generally given more weight as to the strength of their conclusions. SWAN (Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation, swanstudy.org) started in 1994 with the intention of being a multi-site, observational, longitudinal epidemiologic study designed to examine the health of women during their middle years.
Fitness Check By Jesse Call, DC, Sycamore Valley Chiropractic When we are starting to improve our fitness level, it sometimes becomes hard to determine where to start. On the flip side, we may work out regularly but feel we have fallen into a rut or have plateaued, and we aren’t getting the results that we are used to. When we find ourselves in these situations, it becomes important to give ourselves a quick Fitness Check. Checking three simple functional movements and our ability to perform them is a quick and easy way to help us determine what areas of our fitness need help.
Push up • Performance - Start in high plank position. Your back and legs should be flat and straight; resting on your toes, your core engaged, your hands level with your chest, and arms fully extended. Pay careful attention and make sure you don’t drop your head forward; it needs to be in line with your back. Slowly drop your chest toward the floor, allowing your chest to gently touch the ground. Pause at the bottom, contracting your core for about three seconds, then push yourself back up. Your arms should be straight, without locking your elbows. Breathe in on the way down; breathe out on the way up, through your nose, not your mouth. • Problems - Inability to bend your elbows and lower your chest all the way down suggests you lack strength in your arms, shoulders, and chest. Inability to maintain your back and legs in a rigid, flat position, thereby allowing either your hips or lower back to sag, suggests a weakness in your core and glutes.
Shoulder Press • Performance - To perform a proper dumbbell overhead press, stand with feet shoulder width apart, holding one dumbbell in each hand of a suitable weight. Avoid using weights that are excessively heavy. You want to be able to do eight to 12 repetitions for this exercise. Keeping your wrists turned inward, lift the weights to starting position, level with your shoulders. Press
Danville Today News ~ May 2016 - Page 25 The goal of SWAN’s research is to help scientists; healthcare providers and women learn how mid-life experiences affect health and quality of life during aging. Most women equate the duration of their menopause to the time period they are having hot flashes. The SWAN study helped clinicians understand what many patients already knew, and that is hot flashes can last on average up to 7.5 years, of which many of those years occur before their final menstrual period. Interestingly, SWAN also found that race or ethnic background does make a difference. Women of African American descent on average could expect up to 10 years of hot flashes compared to Hispanic women who had more then Caucasian women. The NAMS 2012 position statement said that estrogen therapy (ET) with or without a progestogen is the most effective treatment of menopause-related hot flashes and their potential consequences, such as diminished sleep quality, irritability, difficulty concentrating, and subsequently reduced quality of life (QOL). Treatment of moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms remains the primary indication for initiating HT. Progestogen alone also reduces hot flashes but not as effectively as estrogen does. Since the WHI trial, newer transdermal formulations and lower dose options have become available. Most clinicians are comfortable using transdermal estrogen (available in patch, gel, cream, mist) as they are felt to have greater efficacy with less cardiovascular risk. I tell patients that estrogen has the potential to reduce hot flashes by ~80% within 4-6 weeks. Relizen is a botanical product used extensively in Europe for the treatment of hot flashes. European and North American studies on Relizen demonstrate a 60% reduction in hot flashes after three months and most importantly, no reduction in the efficacy of tamoxifen in breast cancer patients. In Europe this product requires a doctors prescription, but in the USA, it is considered a botanical and thus is able to be purchased over the Internet. Relizen is different compared to other OTC products in that individual pills come with lot numbers and expiration dates to guarantee purity and safety. I am not endorsing this product and only pass along information published in peerreviewed journals. In future columns I will share other benefit-risk ratio of ET & EPT (genitourinary symptoms, sexual function, osteoporosis, QOL, etc.) and the significance of when a woman starts taking hormones: the timing hypothesis. Visit my website at www.leachobgyn.com for links to resources and our Facebook page: Timothy Leach MD for more information. My office is located at 110 Tampico, Suite 210 in Walnut Creek. Please call us at 925-935-6952. Advertorial the weights above your head while turning your palms forward and fully extending your arms. Slowly reverse the movement to complete one rep. • Problems - The inability to extend your arms straight up overhead suggests a lack of range of motion in your shoulder girdle and weakness in your back muscles. If you find you have to arch your back to raise the weights, you probably have weak core muscles, resulting in a lack of stability, or your hip flexors are too tight, thereby preventing the proper alignment of your hips and knees.
Squat • Performance - Stand with your feet just over shoulder width apart. Keep your back in a neutral position, and keep your knees centered over your feet. Slowly bend your knees, hips and ankles, lowering until you reach at least a 90-degree angle. Make sure your hips are kept in line over your knees,and your knees over your ankles. Return to the starting position. Breathe in as you lower, and breathe out as you return to the starting position. • Problems - The inability to bend your knees and ankles will result in a movement in which you end up raising up on your toes. This suggests tightness in your hip extensors and/or hamstrings, and you’d be wise to start working on improving your hip flexibility. If your knees buckle inward upon lowering or raising yourself up, your hamstrings and glutes are the areas of weakness. These three movements are not the only functional movements that we can examine to determine our fitness level. Lunges, high steps, planks, and many other movements can also help determine imbalance and help take your health to the next level. We specialize in helping to examine these movements, identifying problems, and putting together a plan to improve your motion and strength. If you you would like help improving your health and fitness, please don’t hesitate to give us a call. Sycamore Valley Chiropractic is located at 565 Sycamore Valley Rd. West in Danville. Please visit www.sycamorevalleychiropractic.com or call 925-837-5595 for more information or to schedule an appointment. Advertorial
Page 26 - May 2016 ~ Danville Today News
The Eye Opener Healthy Vision Month By Gregory Kraskowsky, O.D., Alamo Optometry Since May is national healthy vision month, I thought it was a good reason to write about actions that people can take to ensure that their eyes are as healthy as they can be. Even though this list is not all inclusive, the most important topics will be addressed. The most important thing to do is to have a comprehensive eye examination with dilation. In addition to assessing vision to determine any need for eyewear or contact lenses, the health of the eyes is evaluated. Tests such as visual fields, pupil function, and ocular motilities are used to determine any optic nerve or neurological deficits. Tonometry is conducted to measure the pressure in the eye which is a factor in diagnosing glaucoma. Examining the front portion of the eye with the microscope allows detailed viewing of the cornea and conjunctiva to ensure healthy tissue. But probably one of the most important tests that needs to be conducted is dilation. Most people don’t like dilation because of the light sensitivity and decreased reading ability they experience afterwards; however, the test can give invaluable information about eye and overall health. By being able to see the entire retina through a dilated pupil, all of the structures of the retina including the optic nerve, macula, and the blood vessels can be closely evaluated. Conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, cataracts, retinal holes and tears, and macular degeneration can either be diagnosed and/or monitored through dilation. Without dilation, the entire retina cannot be seen and therefore not fully evaluated. For young patients who have no medical conditions and have good vision, it is not necessary to dilate at every annual exam. However, for patients who are older, have not been dilated in several years, or are battling one of these conditions, a dilated examination should be part of your medical care just like regular doctor visits and blood tests. In addition to maintaining good eye health, it is also equally (if not more so) important to maintain your overall health. It has been shown that people with vision impairment are also more likely to suffer from diabetes, heart problems, strokes, and depression. Even though some conditions are genetic and are not brought about by any personal direct action, it is nonetheless extremely important to live as healthy a lifestyle as possible. Eating foods rich in antioxidants (i.e. green leafy vegetables) and omega-3 fatty acids (i.e. fish), maintaining a healthy weight, and stopping or never starting smoking will go a long way in maintaining overall health. Since the eyes have a large blood supply (the eyes use the third-most amount of oxygen in the body behind the brain and heart), many issues that can affect blood and blood flow will manifest itself in the back part of the eye. The need to protect the eyes during sports activities and during home activities such as yard or garage work, or any potentially harmful work-related activities is another manner in which to help the eyes remain healthy. Any blunt trauma, foreign body, or contact with chemicals in the eye can cause permanent vision loss. In addition, UV exposure can lead to early cataracts, macular degeneration, and pterygium growth (yellowish raised lesions on the eye which tend to get red and dry). Wearing UV-blocking sunglasses, especially for children, can help mitigate the harmful rays from the sun. Most types of vision loss can be prevented or reduced by doing the things discussed in this article. Knowing your family’s medical and ocular history is also a tool that you can use to help combat these conditions. If there is a likely genetic component to your family’s eye issues, it will be helpful for you to get proper care earlier so you can increase the likelihood and be more aware and educated regarding the signs and symptoms of the condition. Generally speaking, the more you take care of your body, the more your body will take care of you. Dr. K. at Alamo Optometry is your hometown eye doctor for outstanding service, vision care, and designer eyewear. He can be reached at (925) 820-6622 or visit his office at 3201 Danville Blvd., Suite 165 in Alamo. Visit our website at www.alamooptometry.com, and join us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @Alamo Optometry. Advertorial
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Melanoma and Other Skin Cancers – Decrease your Risk By Dr. Arash Mohebati, West Coast Surgical Associates The association between extensive sun exposure and skin cancer has been recognized for some time. Malignant melanoma, squamous cell cancer, and basal cell cancer are skin cancers associated with ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Rates are much higher in places where there is a lot of sunshine year round. In our culture of swim team, soccer, golf, and tennis, we have a very high rate of sun exposure and hence more skin cancers. Melanoma is a highly aggressive skin cancer that often arises in a pigmented lesion or nevus, which accounts for about 1% of all skin cancers but it is responsible for majority of deaths from skin cancer. Melanoma accounts for more than 10,000 deaths annually in the US. The incidence of melanoma has risen over the last thirty years but has plateaued recently in the United States. It is more common in Caucasians and in men over the age of 50. Melanoma is the fifth most common cancer in men and the seventh most common cancer in women. According to the American cancer society, about 76,380 Americans will be diagnosed with melanoma of skin in 2016 of which more than 8,500 are from California. Risk factors associated with higher rates of melanoma include personal or family history of melanoma, history of extensive UV radiation from sun light or indoor tanning, immunosuppression, and light skin features. Warning signs of melanoma include changes in the shape, size, color or character of an existing lesion or mole. Recognizing a new or changing skin lesion is essential in early detection and evaluation of melanoma. Consulting your primary care doctor or a dermatologist is essential when you notice a change in your skin. Melanoma has the potential to spread to the lymph nodes and to distant sites such as the brain, lung, and liver. The depth of melanoma determines the type and extent of treatment. Surgery for melanoma includes removal of the melanoma lesion from the skin along a margin of normal surrounding tissue. Some patients may require more extensive surgery to evaluate the lymph nodes and determine the stage of disease. This procedure is called sentinel lymph node biopsy and may be indicated based on the thickness of melanoma and certain pathologic features. Melanomas with deep invasion or that spread to the lymph nodes may require additional treatment such as adjuvant chemotherapy or more extensive surgery. However, the majority of patients with melanoma are cured after the initial surgical excision. Adjuvant therapy refers to the use of chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, or radiotherapy in addition to surgical resection in the treatment of cancer. The goal of adjuvant therapy is to improve survival and control the cancer in patients with stage III and IV disease. Targeted therapy and immunotherapy have been shown to improve the outcomes for patients with advanced melanoma. These treatments take advantage of certain genetic differences in the tumor with the goal of destroying cancer cells while leaving normal cells intact or by activating the person’s immune system to destroy melanoma cells in the body. Vemurafenib, Ipilimumab, and Nivolumab are some of the newer treatment agents belonging to these class of drugs. This field has rapidly evolved since 2012, and there are a number of clinical trials open currently evaluating the combination of treatments and some newer agents, and there are now some significant improvements in survival. Protection from UV radiation is important all year round, but risk is highest during the summer. The hours between 10AM and 4PM are the most hazardous for UV exposure. Minimizing exposure to UV radiation by wearing protective clothing and hats, and using sunscreen are the main preventive measures. Protection of children from sun exposure is especially important as severe sunburns in childhood increase the risk of melanoma later in life. Sun damage to the skin is cumulative over your lifetime, so avoiding excess sun exposure and using protective measures is extremely important. Sports and outdoor activities are vital for our health -- for exercise, well-being, and Vitamin D levels. Be sure to plan ahead to avoid sun during the highest UV times of day and to utilize protective measures. Play hard – play smart. Dr. Arash Mohebati is a board certified general surgeon who completed additional fellowship training in head and neck oncologic surgery at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and has a special interest in Melanoma Treatment. He practices with West Coast Surgical Associates -- offices in Walnut Creek, San Ramon, and Concord. Call (925) 933-0984 to schedule an appointment. Advertorial
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Danville Today News ~ May 2016 - Page 27
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Page 28 - May 2016 ~ D Danville Today News
The Combs Team Professionals You Can Count On
Nancy
Joe
Call the Combs Team
®
925-9 8 9 - 6 0 8 6 www.TheCombsTeam.com The Danville Real Estate: Still a Hot Market? Last year I took a look at the Danville Market by breaking sales down into price bands to see if there were differences among the groups. I have repeated it this year and thrown in a little contrast with 2015. For this analysis, I used year-to-date data through April and broke the Danville market into six groups divided by increments of $500,000. What I found is quite interesting. For Danville as a whole, inventory is decreasing slightly. As of this writing, we have 91 homes listed for sale compared to 102 last year. Ninety-six homes are listed as pending. We find one home in the lowest price band. The lowest priced Danville sale, a condo, sold for $458,000. Eight sold in this band last year. In the next price band $.5M to $999,999, 85 units have sold. They sold on average in 16 days, at an average price of $790,339. They were 1,615 square feet in size and sold for an average of $501 per square foot. This about $50 more than last year. One month of inventory remains compared to one month last year. This is a red hot market. From $1M to $1.499M, 80 units have sold in an average of 29 days, at an average price of $1,197,563. These homes were 2,632 square feet in size and sold for an average of $482 per square foot. Remaining inventory will last for 1.4 months. Eighty-five homes sold last year for about 15% less dollars. That is a significant year-on-year price increase. This market is red hot. In the next price band $1.5M to $1.999M, fourteen units have sold. Twenty sold last year. The properties that did sell, sold on average in 24 days, at an average price of $1,681,584. That’s about $10,000 less than last year. These homes averaged 3,553 square feet in size and sold for an average of $488 per square foot. This is $12 a square foot more than last year, so, the value has risen. The homes in this price band are about 100 square feet smaller than last year. Remaining inventory in this price stands at 2.8 months. Last year at this time we had three months of inventory. This is a hot market. From $2M to $2.499M four units have sold in an average of 37 days, at an average price of $2,176,250. They were 6,013* square feet in size and sold for an average of $431 per square foot. Remaining inventory will last for 4.6 months in this hot market.
Award Winning Realtors
Danville Home Sales YTD April 2016 Price Range Active Pending Solds D.O.M $0-$499 M 0 0 1 10 $.5 M-$999 M 22 38 85 16 $1 M- $1.499 M 37 40 80 29 $1.5 M-$1.999 M 13 13 14 24 $2 M -$2.499 M 6 2 4 37 $2.5 M & Up 14 1 2 141 * Number of months required to consume current inventory
G
IN ND
Top 5% in Sales Production Executive Luxury Home
$ Per Sq. Ft. Inventory* $ 463 0 $ 501 1 $ 482 1.4 $ 488 2.8 $ 431 4.6 $ 548 9.3
This market is nearly the same as last year, with a notable exception. Last year at this time we had 5.6 months of inventory. *(An unusually large home in bad repair negatively impacted this price band.) In the top tier price range from $2.5M and up two properties have sold. Those sold averaged 141 days on market, and sold at a price of $3,450,000. These large properties were on average, 6,294 square feet in size and sold for an average of $549 per square foot. The current inventory level for these pricey homes stands at 9.3 months. Last year there were no sales during this time period and the inventory stood at 13 months. So, while there has been improvement, at best, this market is thawing. Of note is that the total number of sales in Danville are about 16% less than they were this time last year. One wonders if the rainy weather has impacted the early part of the selling season. Also last year 51% of the homes sold for a million dollars or more. This year the fraction is roughly 54%. That is a significant increase and a good sign that the market is improving. Already prices in Danville are showing improvement over last year, I believe the Danville market will continue to do well until we see significant increases in mortgage interest rates or some unforeseen economic disturbance. It’s important to remember that there really is no “average” home and no two homes are exactly alike. Computer generated estimates of your home’s market value are probably wrong. If you would like multi-dimensional analysis of your home’s current market value, based on years of Danville market experience, please give me a call 925-989-6086 or send me an email joecombs@thecombsteam.com. For more Danville and Danville Real Estate articles, please visit our website at www.thecombsteam.com.
Canyon Lakes Single Level
PE
Avg. Sold Price Avg. Size $ 458,300 990 $ 790,339 1,615 $ 1,197,563 2,632 $ 1,681,903 3,553 $ 2,176,250 6,013 $ 3,450,000 6,294
Danville Single Story
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IN ND
PE
Lovely ground level 2 bedroom condo with view of the lagoon. Priced to sell $575,000.
5 bedroom, single story on nearly 2 gorgeous acres. Two family rooms, exquisite master, large bonus room, walk-in wine cellar. Worth waiting for. Priced to sell $2,499,000.
Views! West Side Alamo
Diablo Building Lot
West Side Alamo 4 bedroom spectacular views, great location. Worth waiting for.Priced to sell $1,279,000.
Build your dream home on a 1.64 acre lot in Diablo. Priced to sell $975,000.
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
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.
J. Rockcliff Realtors 15 Railroad Ave., Danville CA. 94526