December, 2016 Lafayette Today

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December 2016 Holiday Magic

Serving the Lafayette Community

By Fran Miller

There are many annual Lafayette indicators that herald the holiday season: houses, gardens, and trees adorned with twinkle lights, your favorite holiday eggnog finally appearing on the shelf at your favorite grocer, those ubiquitous holiday coffee cups from a certain caffeine purveyor, and festive window displays at your favorite shops. We all have our favorite local traditions that guide us back to spirited holiday memories and propel us forward in the creation of new ones.

We’ve asked a few of our city leaders to tell us what best marks the holiday season for them. Perhaps their answers will help to inspire new traditions of your own.

San Damiano

By Linda Summers Pirkle

Long commutes, busy schedules, and everyday stresses can take their toll. There is a local place of respite nearby tucked away at the end of a winding two lane street in the Las Trampas hills above the town of Danville. The Franciscan Retreat House San Damiano offers retreats for groups and individuals. Just a ten- Friars from San Damiano from left to right: Father Charles Talley, Father Evan Howard, Brother Michael minute drive from the Minton. Photo by Kathy Ellis Roncarati. freeway, the beautiful and natural oasis seems miles away from the everyday world. Even parking your car in the lot can be a delight; often deer can be seen on the hills wandering among the grasses under huge oak and fragrant bay laurel trees.

Up here the world slows down. San Damiano was built in the 1960’s and is home to a handful of friars. The Spanish architecture building

See San Damiano continued on page 20

Mike Anderson, Vice Mayor: My favorite traditions for the holiday season in Lafayette include the lighting of the trees in the downtown medians, in concert with lights strung up on shops and restaurants, and starring the Diablo Food’s tree which becomes the exclamation point; the community Christmas caroling in Plaza Park, a truly special event with so many voices, young and old raised in a joyful chorus; the Christmas concerts held at the Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church - always a wonderful program of professional musicians and choirs, and, though not so much a tradition than an indication of the coming of winter, the Pistache and Liquidambar trees turning into a riot of fall color.

Alisa Corstorphine, Publisher, Lafayette Today: I love how Lafayette is a genuine community with so much spirit. The City and the Chamber create opportunities for people to be together. The trees on the Boulevard are lit; cheerful banners fly; and a Wonderland is created for people to gather, sing, enjoy snacks, and spend an evening together. Stores are filled with goodies for the holidays fancy apparel to wear and silly holiday sweaters. Smells of the season emanate from restaurants as you stroll down the street. A tree along the peaceful reservoir path is decked out with trinkets for people to add to and enjoy, and the other local trails provide a great venue to be out in the beauty of nature. Lafayette has a delightfulness and charm that make it a special place to be during the season.

Steve Falk, City Manager: For many years, when my kids were still little and living at home, my family's favorite Lafayette holiday tradition was to go to

Local Postal Customer

Rotary Annual Four Way Speech Contest “Empowering Our Future”

By Richard Shearer, Lamorinda Sunrise Rotary Club

Three Miramonte High School seniors took the honors in Lamorinda Sunrise Rotary’s annual Four-Way Test Speech Contest.

(L to R): Jordan Hardwick, Olivia Fishlow, and Griffin Ansel.

Olivia Fishlow, Griffin Ansel and Jordan Hardwick, all students in the Miramonte See Holiday continued on page 10 High Public Speaking program, analyzed issues of their choice PRSRT STD U.S. Postage through the lens of the Rotary PAID Four-Way Test.

Permit 21 That test requires that Rotarians Lafayette, CA ask themselves, “Of the things we ECRWSS

See Speech cont. on pg. 14

Volume X - Number 12 3000F Danville Blvd #117 Alamo, CA 94507 Telephone (925) 405-6397 Fax (925) 406-0547 editor@yourmonthlypaper.com Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher

The opinions expressed herein belong to the writers, and do not necessarily reflect that of Lafayette Today. Lafayette Today is not responsible for the content of any of the advertising herein, nor does publication imply endorsement.

Page 2 - December 2016 ~ Lafayette Today

Lafayette City Council Seeks Applicants VACANCY on the CITY COUNCIL The Lafayette City Council seeks qualified applicants to fill Councilmember Brandt Andersson’s seat. The temporary appointment will commence immediately and end November 2018.

For application and additional information visit the city’s website: lovelafayette.org/city-hall/city-council Or call City Clerk Joanne Robbins at 925-284-1968. Application deadline is 5pm December 9, 2016.

The City Council will interview applicants between December 13th - 20th.

Church Provides Community Care

Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian’s Stephen Ministry has 25 trained lay people who provide ongoing, one-on-one Christian care to those in our congregation and in the community who are experiencing transitions in their lives. LOPC Stephen Ministry is confidential and is provided at no cost. A Stephen Minister is...

• A congregation member with a gift for listening, • A lay person who has received 50 hours training in providing emotional and spiritual care, • A committed caregiver who listens, cares, prays, supports, and encourages those who are hurting, and • Someone who will “be there” for his or her care receiver, meeting faithfully for about an hour each week, for as long as there’s a need.

Stephen Ministers are available for those who are dealing with illness or hospitalization, loneliness, aging, being shut-in, separation due to military deployment, death or serious loss, separation or divorce, disabilities, or grief and anxiety.

If you know of someone who would benefit from the ongoing confidential, no cost, spiritual, and emotional support of a Stephen Minister, contact Jean Lee at (925) 943-2237, or visit www.lopc.org/ care_stephen_ministry.asp.

Hospice Volunteers Needed

Hospice of the East Bay is seeking volunteers to assist Hospice patients and their caregivers. Opportunities include: • Licensed Hair Stylists to offer hair cuts and styling • Certified Massage Therapists to provide massage therapy • Administrative Support Volunteers to assist in the Pleasant Hill office • Thrift Shoppe Volunteers to work in one of the organization’s five stores which are located in Alamo, Concord, Martinez, Danville, and Walnut Creek.

• Bereavement Support Volunteers to provide support to family members after their loved one has died • Patient Support Volunteers to provide companionship and practical assistance To apply for free training, call Hospice at (925) 887-5678 and ask for the Volunteer Department, or email volunteers@hospiceeastbay.org.

Established in 1977, Hospice of the East Bay is a not-for-profit agency that helps people cope with end of life by providing medical, emotional, spiritual, and practical support for patients and families, regardless of their ability to pay.

To learn more or to make a donation of time or money, please contact (925) 887-5678 or visit www.hospiceeastbay.org.

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Hospice East Bay's Tree of Lights

For thirty years, Tree of Lights ceremonies have offered members of the communities we serve a way to honor the lives of their friends and loved ones. Please join the Tree Lighting Ceremony in Walnut Creek.

• Walnut Creek - Wednesday, December 7, 5pm New Location - John Muir Medical Center, Main Entrance, 1601 Ygnacio Valley Road, Walnut Creek. Dedicated to Jim Hazard, former mayor of Walnut Creek.

Hospice East Bay provides compassionate end-of-life care to terminally ill patients, while offering emotional, spiritual, and grief support for the entire family. As a not-for-profit organization, we accept all medically qualified patients, regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay. Since 1977, Hospice East Bay has served over 23,000 patients and their families. Proceeds from our thrift shoppes benefit our patients and their families.

AAUW Annual Holiday House Tour

The American Association of University Women (AAUW) - Danville, Alamo, Walnut Creek branch is hosting its 12th Annual Holiday Home Tour on Friday and Saturday, December 9th and 10th from 10 AM to 4PM. Bring friends and family and join in this fabulous Holiday Home Tour.

AAUW will showcase five beautiful and festively decorated homes in Danville and Diablo. Your ticket purchase will help send middle school girls in the local community to a one-week Tech Trek math-science camp at Sonoma State University. It will also provide funds to help local women finish their college education.

Tickets are $35 each through December 2nd and $40 thereafter.

• To purchase online: Visit http://daw-ca.aauw.net/hht2016 • To purchase via US Mail: Send a check postmarked by December 2nd payable to Danville-Alamo-Walnut Creek AAUW with a self-addressed stamped #10 business size envelope to AAUW Holiday Home Tour, P.O. Box 996, Alamo, CA 94507.

• To purchase in person: Visit East Bay Flower Company, 206 Sycamore Valley Road W. Monday -Saturday, 9AM-5PM (cash or check only).

Please, no children under 12 or pets. Tour tickets are not tax deductible.

E-mail any questions to aauwhht@gmail.com.

Make Your Own Ornament

On Saturday, December 10th, the Diablo Fine Art Gallery will be hosting a “Make your Own Ornament” event. Stop by 1535 Palos Verdes Mall and work with one of the five artists from the Gallery who will help kids and their parents create their own ornament. Many of the decorative items will be appropriate for Hanukkah as well as Christmas. Join the fun. All supplies are provided and the event is FREE!

Parking at BART

Are you a resident of Lafayette who has trouble finding parking at the Lafayette BART station? Effective December 1, 2016 the 40 on-street parking spaces under Highway 24 on Happy Valley Road are available exclusively for Lafayette residents as part of a six-month test program.

For more information, and to register for this free program, fill out the form found at http://lovelafayette.org/happyvalleyparking.

Lic# 1100014354; Bay Area Entertainment

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Boulevard View

By Alisa Corstorphine, Editor

As the leaves begin to change and the mornings become cooler, it is hard to not think of the transitions that constantly happen all around us. This time of year was a favorite in my household as we got to see the four beautiful maple trees in our front yard get ready for another winter. When my kids were younger, they would delight in raking the leaves into piles just to jump in them or grab armfuls to throw them into the air. Unfortunately, the drought of the past few years took its toll, and last year we discovered all of our trees were dying at the core and needed to be removed. With that knowledge, last fall we found ourselves having to make the difficult decision to take them all out.

After a year of having an eyesore of a front yard and pulling out even more trees, we took the plunge and started rebuilding. The process is well underway now. Asphalt has been torn up, ditches have been dug, and plans have been made for new foliage. Gone are the days of the expanse of green grass that filled the remainder of the yard. It was both water and labor-intensive to maintain, and I don’t think I will miss those chores or that expense. Sadly, also gone are the days of having the cool shade of the trees for our yard and home. It was notable with the heat this summer, and it has been a difficult transition having this be our first full fall without the trees to signal the changing of the seasons. We are excited to see the finished product of our revamped front yard, but we know the finish line is far ahead of us. Unless we get fully grown trees, like the two palms that get planted at every In-n-Out location, it will be a while before a shadow of leaves surrounds us again.

My daughter recently transitioned from college to living back at home for the time being. After five years away, she is now adjusting to post-graduate life and adulthood. Still easing into the routine of a 40-hour workweek with a commute and working on finding her next steps with home as a landing base, she’s found the adjustment to this new phase of life to be simultaneously exhilarating and exhausting.

My middle son has never been a fan of transitions and change. When we moved to the Bay Area from Seattle during his first grade year, I vividly remember him in our Seattle dining room wrapping his arms and legs around our kitchen table bench like a monkey and saying, “I’M NOT GOING!” Fortunately, he survived that transition, and now he is at an age where he is in charge of his own changes. He recently moved back to his old college town of Santa Barbara and has been transitioning back to the familiar lifestyle he grew to love during his college years.

My oldest son has been living in the South Bay for the past five years, and he is also not without his own transitions. After working for various tech companies in technical roles, he found his passion in technology sales for a startup. Finding the right product to sell and the right company culture is difficult though, and he has found himself in the position of being the new member on the team multiple times.

In less than 10 years smartphones like the iPhone have changed the landscape of communication and entertainment. Like many families, we noticed our land-line home phone had fallen into disuse, morphing from a family utility to becoming popular only with telephone solicitors. As our use of cell phones for communicating has become the norm, we decided it was time to cut the cord, and we let the family “home” phone number go. We had no idea how attached our kids were to the institution of our “Home” phone number, and we had some sad (adult) kids as a result. My brother-in-law related a similar story with his 40 year old “kid” as well. Completing the transition from one generation of telephony to the next was a painful but necessary step.

Our kids and extended family friends will all be descending upon the home of their childhood for the holidays and staying for various periods of time. We will celebrate the changes in their lives in our special and familiar ways with lots of good food, good company, board games, and our pets surrounding us. We’ll know that no matter where we are and they are in life, and no matter what the front yard looks like, things like family are our foundation and what is important to us.

Come the new year our newspapers are ready for their own change and transition. Be on the lookout for our new logo, new masthead, and new website! It is something long in the works and a transition and change I am excited to share with all of you.

I hope your holidays are calm, joyous, and fulfilling.

Lafayette Today ~ December 2016 - Page 3

Donate To The Contra Costa Housing Security Fund As a senior on a fixed income, James couldn’t pay all his bills after a steep rent increase, and he eventually lost his housing. After months of hard work, he has new affordable housing lined up but those unpaid bills now stand in the way of James getting out of a shelter and into a home where his grandchildren can visit.

Your donation to the Contra Costa Housing Security Fund can help end homelessness for James and others like him.

This community fund covers costs that can prevent many people, including seniors, veterans and families, get back into housing, and protects property owners who offer these screened renters an opportunity.

What your donation can do: $25 $50 $100 $500 $1000 $2500

One credit check One housing application fee One utility deposit Rental Assistance for one month Eviction prevention for a veteran Security deposit for a family of four

Help us raise $50,000 by December 31, 2016!

Donate Online at tinyurl.com/ HousingSecurityFund

Send check to: Richmond Community Foundation 1014 Florida Ave #200, Richmond, CA 94804 *in memo section, write “Housing Security Fund”

Page 4 - December 2016 ~ Lafayette Today

Meals on Wheels

Seniors in our community need your support! Meals on Wheels and Senior Outreach Services have been supporting seniors in YOUR neighborhood since 1968. Two of the 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.

Volunteer with AARP Tax-Aide for 2017 Tax Season

Do you like working with people? Are you good with numbers?

Contra Costa County AARP Tax-Aide is looking for volunteers to become members of a team providing free tax preparation for individuals of all ages. TaxAide volunteer positions include Tax Counselors who are trained by Tax-Aide and certified by IRS, and Client Facilitators, who schedule appointments and assist clients at tax sites. Service is from February through April 15, 2017.

If you are interested, apply online at www.aarp.org/taxvolunteer or call LaVerne Gordon at (925) 726-3199 for additional information.

Toastmasters

Develop Your Presentation Skills!

Goal Achievers Toastmasters meetings are held every Monday from 7:15 - 8:15pm at Atria Park Lafayette, located at 1545 Pleasant Hill Road.

Become the speaker and leader you want to be. The group is open to everyone aged 18 and up. For more information, visit http://goalachievers. toastmastersclubs.org.

TeleCare Connects with the Homebound

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. To help, or for more information about TeleCare, please call (925) 934-0901.

Lost Dog!

$50 REWARD If you find him and your name is drawn!

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

Lafayette Luther is Missing He has become lost in this paper.

Send a letter telling us where you found him, along with your name and address to:

Lost Dog! Lafayette Today, 3000F Danville Blvd #117, Alamo, CA 94507

Daniel Yiannikos is our winner!

Luther was hiding on page 2 last month!

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Urgent Need for Volunteers

Many have found great personal satisfaction in volunteering with White Pony Express (WPE), a nonprofit group dedicated to helping to end hunger and poverty in Contra Costa County. The program has been so well received that additional volunteers are urgently needed to help keep up with its rapid growth. The need in our community remains very great.

Seven days a week, WPE Food Rescue volunteers take trucks to supermarkets, restaurants, and farmers markets where they pick up thousands of pounds of surplus food—high quality, nourishing food (fresh meats, dairy, eggs, deli, baked goods). Most all of this food is distributed to those in need within two hours of the donation. In its first two and half years, WPE delivered more than 3,000,000 pounds of food (equivalent to 2,500,000 meals) that the hungry would have gone without. Also, in addition to rescuing food, WPE collects donations of new or like-new clothing, shoes, toys, games, and books. More than 250,000 of these items have been distributed to those in need in the past two years—all free of charge, through WPE’s unique “Mobile Boutiques” and its Direct Distribution program.

Peter Brooks, a White Pony Express volunteer, says, “One of the highlights of my week is picking up fresh produce (often organic!) from farmers markets, knowing that it will be going to people in our county who don’t have access to such nutritious, high quality food.”

Interested volunteers should contact Mandy Nakaya at 925-818-6361 or email mandy@whiteponyexpress.org. For more on WPE, go to www. whiteponyexpress.org.

Host Families Sought for Two Week Stay by Visiting French Students

For the twelfth consecutive year, students from a large high school in the south of France are coming to the Bay Area. Every visit by the students has been better than the last. The students will arrive on April 1st and depart April 16th.

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

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

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

There are many happy local host families ready to discuss any questions with you (including the editor of this paper!). The local contact is Danville parent Kevin Dimler, who can be reached at kevindimler@gmail.com or (925)718-5052.

Contra Costa Housing Security Fund

The Contra Costa County Council on homelessness has developed the Contra Costa Housing Security Fund to accelerate the availability of “affordable housing” for rent-ready clients who could pay monthly rents but who are homeless due to lack of savings for “entry fees,” etc. This program seeks to help seniors, veterans, and families get back into housing.

Currently donations are being accepted to provide willing landlords with financial assistance and assurance for rent-ready clients. Funds raised go into the “Housing security Fund” which is administered by a 501(c)3 and are tax deductible. Funding for the program is dependent on community and individual donations and it is not funded by the county. The goal is to raise $50,000 by the end of 2016.

To find out more, visit the Housing Security Fund Crowdfunding Page at http://tinyurl.com/ HousingSecurityFund.

NEW YEAR

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Lafayette Today ~ December 2016 - Page 5

Assistance League of Diablo Valley Schedules Prospective Member Coffee

Since 1967, Assistance League® of Diablo Valley, a nonprofit member volunteer organization, has improved lives in our community through hands -on programs. You might have heard of its primary fundraiser, the Assistance League Way Side Inn Thrift Shop, a well-known landmark located at 3521 Golden Gate Way in Lafayette.

In response to the needs of our client base, Assistance League of Diablo Valley is reaching out to those of you who would enjoy clothing elementary schoolchildren for a more successful educational experience, performing educational puppet shows for schoolchildren, reading to second grade students, or helping in providing emergency clothing, food, and supplies to those in crisis. Two recently formed philanthropic programs concern implementing art in the classroom and staffing the Listen Program which helps identified students with verbal expression.

Two other programs the group supports address the needs of our seniors.

If you are interested in spending quality time and meeting energetic and upbeat people while helping those who are vulnerable, please phone 925-934-0901 to inquire about a Prospective Member Coffee scheduled for early January. For more information, please visit www.diablovalley.assistanceleague.org.

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Wreaths Across America

There are 111 Veterans from all wars, even one from the Civil War, buried at the Alamo Cemetery. Local members of Wreaths Across America will place a wreath on each grave to Honor, Remember, and Teach our community about our heroes.

You can help this effort by purchasing a wreath with a tax deductible check for $20 made out to WAA and mailed to WAA, SRVRWF, Post Office Box 1, Danville, CA 94526.

Everyone is welcome to join with the group at the Alamo Cemetery on Saturday, December 17 at noon for a special ceremony.

Crabfeed to Benefit Sentinels of Freedom 2017 Saturday, January 7, 2017, 5PM – 11:30PM

Jean Paul Gaultier Necklace For Swarovski $199.99 at FREE Gift Wrap Walnut Creek, Broadway Plaza Danville, The Livery

3 x 5 Color ad Alamo 155 Lafayette 180 Danville 190

The Annual Crab Feed benefiting Sentinels of Freedom will be held on January 7th, 2017.

The mission of Sentinels of Freedom is to provide life-changing opportunities for men and women of the United States Armed Forces who have suffered severe injuries and need the support of grateful communities to realize their goals and dreams.

The evening starts with a Friendship Hour and Live Music from 5-7PM followed by a fabulous crab and pasta dinner from 7-9PM and dancing, a raffle, and libations taking place from 9PM to midnight.

If you can’t attend but would like to support Sentinels of Freedom you can purchase tickets or make donations towards tickets to sponsor a Vet or one of their family members to attend the crab feed.

For tickets and more information email Erinm@ First Place in Taekwondo Ben Anderson, 12, a seventh pveventgroup.com, call grade student at Stanley Middle 925-822-746, or visit www. eventbrite.com/e/crabfeed- School in Lafayette, recently took to-benefit-sentinels-of- first place in the Northern California f r e e d o m - 2 0 1 7 - t i c k e t s - Taekwondo Association (NCTA) finals tournament held in Concord. This is 28897703810?aff=es2. a year long event where students earn points competing in various NCTA tournaments. Ben received more points than any other student during the year.

There were 360 students from around the Bay Area participating in the tournaments. Ben practices with Yu’s Martial Arts in Lafayette and has been doing Taekwondo for five years.

Ben Anderson. Photo by Jennifer Frase

December 2016

The “Good Old Days” are now!

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Page 6 - December 2016 ~ Lafayette Today

The Bookworm

By Joan Stevenson

Great minds and great communities start here. The magic happens when the gifts of a fantastic staff combine with the time and talents of 200 volunteers. On November 13th, the Library, Friends, and the Foundation hosted a Volunteer Appreciation Reception with the help of Smitten Ice Cream, which gave free ice cream to the 80+ volunteers who attended.

I want to give special thank you to other community businesses who helped make this event special - Peet’s, Starbucks, Panache, Papillion, the Nut Factory, Elmwood Stationers, Orinda Books, and Lafayette McDonalds.

When the hurry and stress of the holiday demand a getaway, head over to the library because relief is in sight.

How about involving yourself in The Nutcracker? Come by the Community Hall on Tuesday, December 13 at 4PM when Diablo Ballet Teen Board’s Interactive story-telling of The Nutcracker lets you and your children be a part of the action. You’ll help to act out the story! You are welcome to wear your own ballet or holiday attire.

Following this very special reading, The Volunteer Appreciation Reception was a wonderful time to get everyone together. you will have the opportunity to take photos with your favorite costumed Nutcracker dancers.

If you are looking for gift ideas you may find them at the WOW presentation on Wednesday, December 14 at 2PM in the Community Hall with the lecture by a docent from the Legion of Honor. Read My Pins: The Madeleine Albright Collection presents a remarkable range of more than 200 pins and brooches from the personal collection of Madeleine Albright, most dating from her

www.yourmonthlypaper.com service as US Ambassador to the United Nations and as Secretary of State in the 1990s. Albright used her pins as silent yet visually outspoken codes to foreign officials and the press. Pins could be adopted for various reasons: a shining sun or a patriotic flag would reinforce a positive alliance, while more difficult negotiations might bring out wasps or snakes. The free presentation is sponsored by The Friends.

Explore the wonder, nostalgia, and Welsh charm of Dylan Thomas’s holiday poem, A Child’s Christmas in Wales in this special celebration and reading by guest presenter Dulais Rhys at 6PM on Friday, December 16 in the Community Hall. This gem of lyric prose has enchanted both young and old for over half a century and is now a modern classic. Dylan Thomas (1914–1953), one of the greatest poets and storytellers of the twentieth century, captures a child’s eye view and an adult’s fond memories of a magical time of presents, aunts and uncles, the frozen sea, and in the best of circumstances, newly fallen snow.

Treats and live music will be included.

Okay, about now when you are feeling the frustration of trying to find just the right gift for Uncle Jack, a great place to relax and find gifts for everyone on your list is the Friends Corner Book Shop. Bargains abound and the smiling face of a volunteer can help you find the perfect gift at an affordable price.

Look ahead at your calendar for January 2017. Here are some of the highlights to come. An Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Information Session is scheduled for Thursday, January 5 at 3PM in the Community Hall. Wasn’t learning something new on your New Year’s Resolution List? The Contra Costa Performing Arts Society will perform on Friday, January 6 at 7PM in the Community Hall. Join us for a musical evening of jazz piano with the Contra Costa Performing Arts Society. A variety of performers will play standards and new favorites for your musical pleasure.

As you are wrapping up your holiday gifts, did you remember to make a contribution to the Lafayette Library and Learning Center? It is your destination for unique and memorable experiences all year long!

Share Your News and Events With Us! Contact Lafayette Today at 925.405.6397 or editor@yourmonthlypapercom

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Fifty Years Ago, We (Too) Considered Dropping EnglishOnly Teaching

By Ruth Bailey, Lafayette Historical Society

The story breaks under the headline “Seeks Easing of English-Only Law,” the December 16, 1966, Lafayette Sun reported on a proposal for the upcoming California legislature. “Easing of California state law to permit local school districts to instruct in a foreign language will be sought by the California Teachers Association (CTA) in the 1967 session of the state legislature.

“Present law, the CTA said, prohibits those Americans of Mexican descent what they need most in the early school years—at least some instruction in Spanish. “‘How can we expect these children to succeed in a school which not only ignores the only language they know but demands that only English be spoken from the first moment they arrive in a classroom?’” the CTA asked. “‘In effect, we are telling these children that their language and the heritage it represents is inferior,’ the CTA said. “‘It is hard to imagine the psychological scars this attitude has given to millions of Mexican-Americans over the many years it has been in effect in California schools. The fact that 50 percent of Mexican-American children drop out of school by the eighth grade is eloquent evidence that the current English-only policy is an appalling failure,’ the CTA declared.

“Experiments have proved the results improve sharply in school programs stressing instruction in both Spanish and English.

“The CTA said its legislation will permit teaching in a language other than English ‘where it can be established that a significant proportion of pupils in the school attendance area comes from homes where only the foreign language is spoken.’

“Under the CTA-proposed law, ‘school districts would apply to the State Board of Education for approval to conduct instruction in a foreign language as an experimental program.’

“Most states now require English as the language of instruction. In some schools the speaking of Spanish is even forbidden in both the classroom and on the playground except, of course, in classes where Spanish is taught as a foreign language. Not infrequently in the five states of the Southwest, students have been punished for lapsing into Spanish.”

“The CTA said there is ‘something sadly paradoxical about the schools’ well-meaning effort to make the Mexican-American child ‘talk American’-to eradicate his Spanish—when at the same time they are placing new emphasis on the teaching of Spanish to the Anglo-American student, acclaiming the advantages of being able to communicate fluently in a language other than one’s own. “‘It is obvious,’ the CTA continued, ‘that the school cannot enforce the prohibition against Spanish. And it is also obvious that the rule does not accomplish a universal speaking of English. It is impossible to make a person speak a language. In fact, efforts to force a language on a child usually results in stubborn resistance.”

Note: In the recent [2016] election, California Ballot Proposition 53 supporting repealing most of the 1998 Proposition 227, the “English in Public Schools” initiative, thus effectively allowing non-English languages to be used in public educational instruction, passed with nearly 73% of the vote.

Search and Rescue

The Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team needs volunteer members to respond to missing person incidents, disasters, and other critical incidents. Team members are on call 24/7 year-round. The program provides required training; including wilderness traveling, first aid, map and compass usage, tracking disaster response, and search skills; and may also include special training for canine, equestrian, technical, mountain bike, or other rescue skills.

For information and applications, visit www.contracostasar.org or call 925-646-4461.

Lafayette Today ~ December 2016 - Page 7

Your Spring Market To-Do List

By Erin Martin, Village Associates Real Estate

I have received several phone calls from clients and readers who are considering selling their home in the spring. Despite the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, now is the perfect time to start laying the groundwork for a successful sale. This is especially true in Lamorinda where the “spring” market has gotten progressively earlier; school enrollment begins in the early spring which means many buyers are looking to close on their new home even earlier in the year to ensure that their child is able to attend neighborhood schools. It is more important than ever to start making your to-do list now if you want to take advantage of this typically strong early selling market.

I always suggest that sellers spend time de-cluttering and getting rid of things that they no longer use or need. Consider donating your unwanted treasures. There are wonderful charities that will pick up items that can be reused or recycled. These donations not only help deserving non-profits, but your generosity will be repaid come tax time when you are looking for those itemized charitable deductions. When it comes to trash, if you live in Lafayette, Republic Services (previously know as Allied Waste) provide bulk garbage pick ups. Check with your service provider to find out more information. There are also professional organizers who will come to your home if you need extra help with the de-cluttering process. Thinning out your possessions need not be an overwhelming exercise and is a good habit to get into regardless of whether or not you are planning to move.

Now is also the time to start getting quotes, picking finishes, and lining up contractors if you plan to make updates to your home prior to selling.

Make sure that you consult with your Realtor® throughout this process to ensure that you are making choices that will appeal to current buyers. While as homeowners we may love a particular avant-garde choice in decor, it may not be what today’s buyers want and are paying a premium for. It is important to make sure that the money you put into upgrades will translate into more profit at the close of escrow. However, there are some circumstances in which it does not make financial sense to make updates in advance of a sale.

In this case or when the budget for repairs and upgrades is limited, I often recommend just a simple coat of paint. It can go a long way to brighten up a house and make it feel current and refreshed.

About a year ago, I wrote about the benefits of presale inspections. I still highly recommend sellers pre-inspect their home so there is time to make repairs or disclose any defects before going to market. A pest inspection and a home inspection are good places to start. It is essential to use reputable inspectors who are well known and trusted. They will provide clearly written reports describing the condition of the home and highlighting any areas of concern. If you are not in a position to address the items flagged by the inspector, it may be a good idea to get quotes for their repair and include them in your disclosures.

That will help potential buyers to better understand the current condition of the home and also the financial implication of any problems.

I believe it is always in the seller’s best interest to disclose to potential buyers as much information as possible up front. It allows for more informed decisions to be made on all sides and reduces the likelihood of having to renegotiate a deal once in escrow, based on newly discovered defects. Do keep in mind that even with presale inspections, a buyer may still want to do their own inspections. Many sellers are surprised when they have paid for a home inspection, and the buyer decides to perform one as well, but getting a second opinion is a common practice.

And finally, take a good look at what your home is worth before you go full speed ahead. This means looking beyond your Zestimate and seeking the advice of a local Realtor® who understands the nuances of the Lamorinda market. They can help you to evaluate your situations and make sure your expectations are realistic and that a move makes financial sense.

I wish you and your family a wonderful Holiday season Please feel free to contact me with your real estate questions, or for a free home evaluation.

I can be reached at (925) 951-3817 or by email at erin@erinmartinhomes.

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Page 8 - December 2016 ~ Lafayette Today

More Foster and Resource Families Needed

By Supervisor Candace Andersen, Contra Costa County, District 2

Youth living in our community need your help.

Contra Costa County’s Children and Family Services staff has been busy preparing to implement changes to our child welfare services program resulting from the passage of AB 403, Continuum of Care Reform.

The Continuum of Care Reform draws together a series of existing and new reforms for our child welfare services program, designed out of an understanding that children who must live apart from their biological parents do best when they are cared for in committed, nurturing, family homes. The goal is to ensure that youth in foster care have their dayto-day physical, mental, and emotional needs met; that they have the greatest chance to grow up in permanent and supportive homes; and that they have the opportunity to grow into self-sufficient, successful adults.

Contra Costa County (CCC) has been planning for the January 1, 2017 implementation of Resource Family Approval (RFA) for the past 12 months.

RFA is an important shift in the way that Children and Family Services approves caregivers as it supports placement with families that can provide a lifelong connection by determining permanency approval up-front. Over the past year, Children and Family Services has also developed new strategies and a renewed focus on recruiting and retaining quality non-relative and relative resource families.

In CCC we have approximately 1,100 children currently in foster care.

Children who are separated from their families are often placed in foster homes. We have a great need for resource families who are willing to provide emergency, temporary, or long-term care for our youth. It is best for children to be able to stay in their own communities, remain in their same schools, continue to play on their same sports teams, stay connected to their same faith-based organizations, and see their same doctors. Sadly, there is a critical need for homes for youth of all ages, 0-18. Children are waiting to be nurtured and cared for by families in our community. Please consider becoming a foster or resource family in CCC. There are some very basic requirements to become a resource family: • You must be over 18 years old • You must reside in CCC • You may be married or single • You can work outside of your home • You can live in an apartment or house • You must have adequate space and meet the State health and safety standards • You must have sufficient income to meet your own family’s financial needs • You must have a desire to help and care for a child in our County.

When someone chooses to be a resource family, they become an important member of a team of professionals who are dedicated to the welfare of children in their care. Each child placed will have a social worker. Social workers play a key role in the foster child’s life and are readily available to assist resource families in their efforts. In addition to coordinating birth parent visits, court appearances, and therapeutic services, social workers are oftentimes a resource family’s link to a variety of resources. Additionally, there are groups such as the Foster Family Network (FFN). The FFN is a chapter of the California State Foster Parent Association, Inc., with the goals to inform, educate, and support the resource family community in CCC. Before a child can be placed in a home, potential resource families must become certified by the county to provide care to foster children. The first step in becoming certified is to attend a brief orientation held by CCC Children and Family Services. At the orientation, individuals can obtain an application to become a certified caregiver along with other information regarding the process of becoming a resource family. This orientation provides a chance for individuals to meet and interact with others who may be interested in becoming a foster or an adoptive parent. For orientation dates and locations, please contact Jamie Rucki (925) 602-6930 or toll free at 1-866-313-7788.

After making the commitment to become a care provider, the next step will be to attend trainings, offered at our local community colleges. The trainings are designed to enhance the ability of the resource family to meet the needs of a foster child.

Financial assistance is available to the care provider, to help meet the needs

www.yourmonthlypaper.com of the foster child. Foster care benefits provide cash aid on behalf of needy children in foster care who meet the eligibility requirements established by County, State, and Federal law and regulation.

I have personally seen the difference foster and resource families make in the lives of children who, through no fault of their own, are separated from their parents and families. This potentially traumatic situation is eased by the great support and comfort received from a caring family. A resource family has the ability to lay the foundation for success in a child’s life. For more information, visit www.ehsd.org/children.

My office is here to serve the residents of CCC District 2, which includes San Ramon, Danville, Alamo, Walnut Creek, Saranap, Parkmead, Lafayette, Moraga, Canyon, and Orinda. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if we can provide you with additional information on this topic or on other County issues. I can be reached at SupervisorAndersen@bos.cccounty.us or 925-957-8860.

No Teardrops for Her

Juliette Moore (center) was handed three free raffle tickets she won for successfully naming the teardrop trailer Lamorinda Sunrise Rotary is building and will raffle next spring as a fundraiser. Proceeds from the trailer will benefit a variety of community-service programs.

Claire Roberts, Juliette Moore, and Chuck Yeager

By vote of club members “Teardrop Inn” was selected from among scores of potential names hopefuls inscribed on the sides of a prototype displayed at the Lafayette Art & Wine Festival in September.

Flanking Moore are Claire Roberts of Orinda, president of Lamorinda Sunrise Rotary, and fellow club member Chuck Yeager of Lafayette. Chuck is in charge of trailer marketing. Moore, a resident of Pittsburg, works in Martinez for Contra Costa County.

Lamorinda Sunrise Rotary, which has adopted the motto “We Build Stuff,” in recent past years successfully raffled a pair of canoes. Like the trailer, both were hand-built from scratch.

For more information, email lamorindasunriserotary@gmail.com or visit http://www.lamorinda sunrise.org.

The club, which in the coming year celebrates its 30th anniversary, meets over breakfast Fridays, starting at 7AM, at Lafayette Hotel & Spa on Mount Diablo Blvd. in Lafayette. Guests are always welcome.

Hair Care Professionals and Massage Therapists Needed Hospice of the East Bay provides care to terminally ill patients and their families in their homes or facilities throughout Contra Costa County. Many of our patients benefit greatly from a haircut or hair set or from the gentle and compassionate touch of a massage therapist. Would you be interested in volunteering a few hours a month to provide comfort to our patients? If so, please call the Volunteer Department at Hospice of the East Bay, (925) 887-5678. (License/Massage Certification Required).

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Walking the Reservoir

By Jim Scala

Lafayette Today ~ December 2016 - Page 9

Crows. Reservoir crows are noisy, aggressive, and social. They sit in the trees and occasionally on the tables, and they caw loudly, especially when people are having a picnic. If you leave food on a table in the bandstand grove and then walk a distance away, a crow will often swoop down, take the food, and return to its tree. The crows illustrate that birds cohabit with us humans and use our foibles to their advantage. As my friend Bill and I walked together, he told Gabi’s story of bonding with friendly crows.

As news reports stated, young Washington native, Gabi, regularly fed crows by leaving peanuts, their favorite food, out in the open. Often she noticed small metal scraps, and trinkets like an earring or pin were left by crows when they took the food.

Dr. Joseph Marzluff, University of Washington professor of wildlife science, specializes in crows and ravens. He verified that birds – especially crows – form special relationships with people. They will fly and walk in special ways to communicate with people like Gabi, who are patient enough to bond with them. Crows will respond to food left on your picnic bench. If you leave food regularly, you might gain an unexpected friend.

Since ravens are close relatives of the crow, I reread Edgar Allan Poe’s poem The Raven and asked myself, “Had Poe bonded with a raven? Like Gabi, had he gained the trust of ravens?”

Walking backwards. Res-walker Hugh walked backwards on the dam for 15 minutes. I waited until he stopped and asked him why.

His doctor advised him to walk backwards, i.e. retro-walk, four times weekly to help relieve his low back pain while it helped improve his hip and knee joints. He said he felt better.

Like many folk remedies, retro-walking began in China. Because it reverses the heel-toe movement and relieves pressure on backbone joints, it’s commonly used for low back pain in Asia. A search of medical literature shows that it also improves pelvic and joint alignment. Both results combine to reduce low back pain.

Therapeutics aside, retro-walking for 15 minutes three times weekly gives a workout to muscles that don’t get used during regular walking.

Since it works the muscles in a different way, flexibility increases.

One study showed that retro-walking for 15 minutes in conjunction with moderate exercise, such as reservoir walking three times weekly, produced good cardiovascular improvement. And, since the brain must use new motor controls, it’s a mental workout as well. Be careful in the beginning, and stick close to the railing for support.

Breathe deeply. To make your res-walk even better, take a deep breath by counting to five as you breathe in and the reverse breathing out. Let this become a habit when walking, and it will pay big dividends in your physical and mental health.

Lafayette’s senior res-walking program. We meet every Tuesday and Thursday at the dam’s center bench at 9:20AM, start our walk at 9:30AM, and afterwards some walkers do yoga on the stage. Our walk takes about 60-minutes. We meet unofficially on Saturday to lock in 150 minutes of moderate exercise weekly as the Mayo Clinic recommends. A long-term study proved that seniors following that plan had a 35% lower premature death rate for their age group along with improved interpersonal relationships. Another, more serious study showed that exercise slows Alzheimer’s progress.

An enchanting view from the bandstand. Looking west over the water in the far distance, a pyramidal shaped hill with a large vertical stone outcrop is easily seen. The December evening star, Venus, will be visible high against the darkening sky to the left of that hill. A pair of binoculars will show its interesting phases that resemble the Moon’s.

Decorate the holiday tree, a Res tradition. The tree we traditionally decorated is getting a little old for the task and appears to have died. Several walkers have proposed the small, nicely branched and always green tree across from the children’s play area. I put a red ribbon on the tree in hopes of keeping our tradition going. I put one on the old tree as well.

Give the park rangers a pat on the back. Over a year ago I explained to the ranger that people wanted to have more clear views of the water on the paved trail. At the time, the main concern was fire prevention during our terrible drought. Now, things have relaxed a little, and the rangers have been trimming trees and brush. We have great water views as we walk, and the rangers are still pruning.

Let me hear from you at jscala2@comcast.net.

Page 10 - December 2016 ~ Lafayette Today

Holiday continued from front page

Orchard Nursery the day before Christmas, and each kid would get to pick out a Christmas tree ornament. As everybody knows, the store is an amazing holiday wonderland of lights and carols, and to see the thrill in my kids' eyes each year as we walked through Orchard's doors was something special. Tom and his crew at Orchard really know how to create the holiday magic. The kids would typically spend at least an hour in the store carefully deciding which ornament each would choose, and later when we got home we’d carefully write on the bottom of the prized ornaments the year of purchase. Now, when we pull out the tree, we have dozens of beautiful ornaments to hang, each with a special memory of long ago.

Myrna Kimmelman, Executive Director, LPIE: It is not the calendar that tells me it is time to celebrate the holidays nor is it the decorations and lights: it’s the festive and annual celebrations that start with the Lafayette Chamber’s pre-Thanksgiving Community Breakfast followed by LPIE’s participation in #GivingTuesday - a global day of giving back to causes. And then the decorations come out during the Chamber’s “It’s a Wonderful Life.” But my favorite part is the choral performances at all six Lafayette public schools which are the most exciting and heart-warming reminder that the holidays are here.

Jay Lifson, Executive Director, Lafayette Chamber of Commerce: We always have a crowd at my house for both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Since I have to serve so many people, I always buy Diablo Foods’ complete Turkey Dinner for Christmas. So I am always one of the first people in the store early Christmas Eve morning. You can barely get down the aisles, and it is frantic. But EVERYONE is in such a good mood, and you run into what seems everyone you know. It is right out of a movie. The Stokes are all there welcoming everyone, wishing us a Happy Holiday. And the most amazing part of this is, when you take the BIG BOX home with the complete dinner, at the bottom of the box is a little card that instructs you to call Connie, with any problems or questions with her personal phone number on it. This is the kind of personal service that is very hard to find these days.

Mark Mitchell, Mayor: It really starts to feel festive for me when we drive through Lafayette at night and see the holiday twinkle lights that adorn the trees in the downtown medians. My wife Anne and I also enjoy going to Orchard Nursery to see their holiday display. And even though our kids are now college age, I remember fondly going to the Burton Valley Elementary School’s annual ‘Holiday Sing’ and seeing and hearing the real young kids perform.

Vickie Sciacca, Manager, Lafayette Library & Learning Center: My favorite holiday tradition in Lafayette is putting up the Christmas tree and Menorah at the Library and then placing books around both of them that describe the traditions, stories, and meanings of both holidays. The library staff loves to share in these festivities with the community. This year, as we continue our celebration of the 100th anniversary of the National Parks, we will be decorating the tree with National Parks postcards that we've received from library patrons visiting the parks all over the country this past summer.

With the start of Hanukkah and Christmas Eve coinciding on the same day, it will be extra special as we celebrate both holidays.

Don Tatzin, City Council Member: My wife Ellen and I enjoy touring Lafayette to see the decorations adorning many homes. We also decorate our home and allow our three dogs to join us in wearing holiday attire. For decades now, we have made chocolate truffles in several flavors which we both give to friends and consume ourselves.

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Christmas Cheer

By Monica Chappell

For hundreds of years people have pontificated about wine. From famous artists and politicians to anonymous writings that capture the meaning of wine, here are some of my favorite holiday themed wine quotes. Raise a glass and read on!

• I’m dreaming of a wine Christmas.

• I’m dreaming of a white Christmas, but if the white runs out, I’ll drink the red.

• The weather outside is frightful, but the wine is so delightful.

• As long as we have wine, the holidays will be fine.

• All I want for Christmas is WINE. • It doesn’t matter if the glass is half empty or half full. There is clearly room for more wine.

• Home is where the wine is.

• Dear Santa, Please bring me tons and tons of more wine so I will be jolly and merry all year.

• Save water drink wine.

• Life is what happens between coffee and wine.

• People who say I am hard to shop for clearly don’t know where to buy wine.

• If anyone asks, I’m drinking all this wine to collect corks for a Pinterest project.

Enjoy the holiday season. Cheers!

Monica Chappell teaches and writes about wine in the East Bay – wineappreciation101@gmail.com .

Cinema Classics

Father’s Little Dividend

By Peggy Horn

This month’s Cinema Classic recommendation is a sequel to last month’s selection, Father of the Bride. It is Father’s Little Dividend, (1951) starring the same principle stars as in the last movie, Spencer Tracy, as the father, Stanley Banks, Joan Bennett as the mother, Ellie Banks, Elizabeth Taylor as their daughter, Kay Dunstan, and Don Taylor as Kay’s husband, Buckley Dunstan. Once again the movie is directed by Vincente Minnelli, and produced by Pandro S. Berman. The writers are Albert Hackett, Frances Goodrich and Edward Streeter.

This movie is just as sweet, funny, and well acted as the one that preceded it. In this one Kay and Buckley are a married couple, settled in an apartment and carrying on with life. One evening they have a dinner party for their parents and they announce that they are expecting a baby! Everybody is thrilled with the idea except for Stanley. He just can’t figure out what exactly is annoying him about the prospective baby until he is slapped on the back accompanied by a hearty greeting of, “Grampa!” The ensuing movie provides the preparations being conducted for the upcoming birth, and it’s all very funny and all very real.

After the baby is born there is a clash between Stanley and the baby resulting in a barrier being raised between the two personalities. Stanley keeps a respectable distance from the little baby but family intervenes. At the conclusion of the movie I will be surprised if you’re not dabbing your eyes just a little…I know I did!

This movie didn’t win any awards but it is so good. The dialogue is humorous and clever and the occurrences in the film are plausible. And all this laughter and fun can be yours. Happy viewing!

Musical Notes – From the same era as the movie comes,“Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Songbook,” (1957). Frequently referred to as the ‘First Lady of Jazz,’ Ella Fitzgerald at the age of seventeen, decided to change her Amateur Night debut performance from dancing to singing. It was a wise move as you may hear in this songbook.

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What’s Up

Lafayette Today ~ December 2016 - Page 11

By Jim Scala

From December into late spring the planet Venus will grace our evening southwestern sky.

It is easily seen against a twilight sky. Since Venus sets at 8:20PM on December 15th and sunset is at 6:50PM, it will be visible against a dark sky.

Then as the month progresses it will be a little higher each evening. Observe regularly with binoculars and watch it become larger and go through phases like our Moon. On December 15th, it will appear like a small quarter moon.

The Christmas Star

Venus, the brightest star in the December sky, prompts the question, “Was that the Christmas Star?” or more cynically, “Was there really a star of the Magi as the Bible says?” The answer to both questions is yes, and the Magi did travel from Persia (now Iran) to observe the unusual event.

However, careful study shows it was an occultation, of Jupiter by the waning crescent moon in the early morning sky of April 17, 6 BCE – over 2,017 years ago. An occultation is when the Moon passes in front of a star. The picture that graces this article shows how the moon and Jupiter would have appeared to someone watching just before the lunar crescent passed in front of Jupiter. Since April was the lambing season, shepherds were watching their flocks throughout the night, as described in the book of Matthew.

Zoroastrians, who were the astronomers and astrologers of the day, had accurately predicted the occultation and their leaders, priests known as the Magi, traveled to witness the event. Their astrologically-based religion predicted a King would be born under the occultation, and the priests would have brought gifts as depicted in the Bible. It was visible from a very small area in

Beware of Poisonous Mushrooms in East Bay Parks

By East Bay Regional Parks Staff

Due to the recent rains, the East Bay Regional Park District is seeing a surge in poisonous mushrooms growing in our local parks. Visitors are reminded that it’s illegal to collect mushrooms – or any plants found in the parks. In addition, pet owners especially should keep their dogs away from mushrooms.

About Poisonous Mushrooms

Israel around Bethlehem and only the Magi knew it would occur. Since the shepherds were out in the fields, they would have easily seen the occultation against the dark, early morning sky – as the picture illustrates.

If an occultation of Jupiter occurred now, professional and amateur astronomers would travel far to observe and photograph the event. Similarly, the Zoroastrian astronomer priests traveled to witness the event.

Jupiter now graces our morning sky. Use binoculars to see its disk and all four of its Galilean moons. There are no observing events on Mt. Diablo in December.

Lamorinda Peace and Justice

The Lamorinda Peace and Justice Group meets the fourth Tuesday of each month from 7 – 9PM in the Fireside Room of Lafayette Methodist Church, 955 Moraga Road, Lafayette. The group is committed to working to support a healthy planet, a thriving local community, and a safe, equitable world for all. For information, call (925) 946-0563.

The Bay Area is home to two of the world’s most toxic mushrooms – Amanita phalloides (the Death Cap) and Amanita ocreata (the Western Destroying Angel). Both are robust, handsome mushrooms that grow near oak trees, and both contain lethal toxins.

Amanita phalloides (the Death Cap) is a medium Amanita ocreata to large mushroom that typically has a greenish-gray cap, white gills, a white ring around the stem, and a large white sac at the base of the stem. It fruits early in the fall, usually right after the first rains. Though the Death Cap is mainly associated with oak trees, it has been found growing with other hardwoods. It was accidentally introduced to North America on the roots of European cork oaks, and is now slowly colonizing the West Coast.

Amanita ocreata (the Western Destroying Angel) is a medium to large mushroom that usually has a creamy white cap, white gills, a white ring around the stem that disappears with age, and a thin white sac at the base. It fruits from late winter into spring, and is associated exclusively with oaks. Unlike the Death Cap, it is a native California mushroom.

Both of these species contain amatoxins, a group of molecules that inhibit cellular metabolism in many animals. In mammals, the liver and kidneys are typically the first organs affected after ingestion. Symptoms don’t usually appear until up to 12 hours after consumption, beginning as severe gastrointestinal distress and progressing to liver and renal failure if treatment is not sought immediately.

While these two species are responsible for most cases of mushroom poisonings in California, deadly amatoxins can be found in Galerina and Lepiota species as well, both of which occur in the Bay Area.

Park visitors should remember that mushroom collecting is not allowed anywhere in the East Bay Regional Park District. If you are legally harvesting mushrooms elsewhere, learn these two species before any others and do not let them end up on your dinner table. Pet owners are encouraged to keep their animals under close watch during the winter months, and contact a veterinarian immediately if you suspect your pet has eaten a toxic mushroom.

For more information read Mushrooms of the Redwood Coast, Siegal & Schwarz. 10-speed Press, 2016 or visit bayareamushrooms.org.

Page 12 - December 2016 ~ Lafayette Today

Quick Trips

Moss Beach

By Linda Summers Pirkle

We all know the Bay Area is a treasure. We are lucky to have wonderful places to hike with walking and biking paths in our many preserved spaces and perfect weather to enjoy the beautiful outdoors. Our cultural activities rival any other place in the world.

San Francisco is still the most beloved city by just about everyone. There are indeed many choices of things to do for the resident and visitors to the Bay Area. But, where do you go when life gets a bit overwhelming? For me, the beach is the destination of choice when I’m feeling blue.

Ever since I was in high school, whenever I wanted to “get away from it all,” my favorite destination has been a beach. Being the Northern California native that I am, a beach experience is not like one in SoCal with the relentless sun and white sand. Beach time San Francisco style is SO much better: steep and rocky cliffs overlooking the ocean and cool, damp weather. I feel renewed when I hear the thunder of waves crashing and feel the blanket of fog around me. On a recent cool November day, my husband and I set out for an early morning quest for restoration to Moss Beach, located 20 miles south of San Francisco.

The James V. Fitzgerald Marine Reserve near Moss Beach, established in 1969, is a Marine Protected Area and home to hundreds of marine species. On our recent visit, we arrived at low tide (check the Visitor’s Center’s tide chart to see if the tide dips below 1.0’) and watched four kids enjoying the tide pools and following the rules to tread carefully and not disturb or remove anything from the beach. Anemones, barnacles, mussels, algae, sea stars, crabs, and sea urchins are some of the creatures that can be found. I have to admit, tide pools are interesting, but I was captivated by the fat and happy harbor seals we saw resting on the beach. There must have been at least 50 of these creatures stretching and sleeping on the shore. Looking out to the sea, we also saw the sleek seals bobbing up and down on their way out to find food and hopefully not become food for their predators.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year … for Thinking Green!

By Pam Palitz, Sustainable Lafayette

If you’re a consistent reader of this column, you’re probably catching on to Sustainable Lafayette’s not-so-subtle message – every month is “the” month for sustainable living. Last month, we talked about making Thanksgiving into a greener day; this month, we turn to the entire month of December.

Minimizing your environmental impact will be harder – and easier – this month. It will be harder because we’re all strapped for time, and developing new green habits seems like one more thing on the endless “to do” list. It will be easier because there is so much waste and excess during December that there are many opportunities to improve. According to National Geographic, Americans throw away an extra million tons of garbage each week between Thanksgiving and New Years. This additional trash includes holiday wrapping, packaging, cards, food, paper plates and napkins, party decorations, bottles and cans, and more.

So how do you maximize your merry-making while minimizing your impact? Here are a few simple ways.

Use Energy-Saving LED Holiday Lights: Love to deck the halls with lights? Look for lights made with LEDs which are 90 percent more efficient than traditional lights and can save your family up to $50 on your energy bills during the holiday season.

Send e-Cards or Eco-Friendly Cards: Sending eCards this holiday season won’t waste a single tree. If you still want to send a physical card, look for cards printed on 100% recycled paper or tree-free cards.

Shop Local: Research shows that for every $100 you spend at one of our local businesses, $68 will stay in the community. You can probably find whatever you’re looking for in Lafayette, and a stroll around downtown is far more pleasant than driving to a crowded shopping center. Park once and walk to all the many shops and restaurants. Make sure to bring your own shopping bag!

www.yourmonthlypaper.com If you don’t want to hike down the steps and cross the little creek (it can be slippery) to get on the beach, there is a strategically placed bench located just a few minutes walk from the parking lot. Known as the “bench with a view,” this is a perfect perch to watch, listen, and repair.

Moss Beach Distillery, located up the road from the reserve, is a great place to enjoy more great views along with delicious food. The restaurant is a historical landmark and has a colorful history. Built in 1927, “Frank’s Place,” as it was called in the day, was one of the most successful speakeasies of the era.

James V. Fitzgerald Marine Reserve is located at 200 Nevada Avenue, Moss Beach. Their website is www.FitzgeraldReserve.org. Call (650)363-4021 for reservations for tours and groups of 10 or more.

The Friends of Fitzgerald Marine Reserve (FFMR) is looking for participants to join their 2017 FFMR team. The Volunteer Training Class consists of 10 Saturday classes plus six additional hours spent at the reserve with a mentor.

Classes are held on the coast side near the reserve and at the reserve.

For more about the FFMR volunteer naturalist training class, email Susan Evans at susanmtnvw@aol. com from December 1 to January 7.

Moss Beach Distillery is located at 140 Beach Way, Moss Beach.

Their phone number is (650)7285595.

Linda Summers Pirkle, inspired by the many wonderful places to visit in the Bay Area, 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@ California coastline from a “bench with a view” at James V. Fitzgerald Marine Reserve gmail.com. near Moss Beach.

Choose Green Gifts: Choose durable, long-lasting items made with earthfriendly materials that are energy-efficient and have minimal packaging. Better yet, give gifts that don’t cause any waste at all like concert tickets, dinner, IOUs, homemade gifts, or items that get used up like food, candles, soap, etc.

Travel Eco-Friendly: When it comes to travel, we’re generally talking about three methods: Planes, trains, and automobiles. However, if we were to order them in terms of greenhouse emissions, it would go: Trains, automobiles, and then planes. Not nearly as catchy is it? If you are going to fly for the holidays, you could consider offsetting the associated carbon emissions through an add-on fee from your airline or directly from a program like TerraPass.com or CarbonFund.org.

Entertain Green: Choose organic and local foods for your holiday feast.

Avoid disposable products when entertaining guests. If you have to use disposable plates and napkins, consider using products that are compostable or are made from recycled materials.

Make Your Own Decorations: Make eco-friendly decorations such as strung popcorn, decorations made of pine cones, homemade candles, and wreaths made from evergreens and other natural materials.

Use Wrapping Paper That Can be Recycled or Reused: Most massproduced wrapping paper is not recyclable and ends up in landfills. Instead, wrap presents with old maps, the comics section of a newspaper, or children’s artwork. Or use a scarf, attractive dishtowel, bandana, or some other cloth item that can be re-used.

Eliminate Unnecessary Catalogs: Remove yourself from the mailing list of catalogs that you don’t use. Call the company’s 800 number; use services such as Catalogchoice.org; or try a junk mail removal service such as 41pounds.org, greendimes.com, stopthejunkmail.com.

Try a Potted or Pesticide-Free Tree: Demand is on the rise for potted Christmas trees that can be planted after the holidays and Christmas trees that are not covered in chemicals; some growers use 40 different pesticides, as well as chemical colorants. And make sure to recycle your tree when the holidays are over.

Lafayette Today ~ December 2016 - Page 13

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Planning for Long Term Care

By George M. Noceti, CRPS® -Wealth Advisor and Paul A. Noceti, Financial Planning Specialist with The Integra Group at Morgan Stanley

As the cost of healthcare continues to rise, an essential piece of your wealth plan should address the question, “Who pays for what?” Recent studies show that two-thirds of Americans age 65 and older will require some form of long-term care.1 If you are among the “sandwich generation” which provides for both your growing children and aging parents, you may eventually wonder, “Will I pay for their care as well?” The good news is there are several options available to help you mitigate costs, including Medicare, Social Security, military retiree and veterans’ benefits, and long-term care insurance.

Don’t Wait Till It’s Too Late

Since Medicare and Medicaid generally do not cover the cost of long-term custodial care, having a long-term care insurance policy in place may play an essential role in helping you maintain your nest egg as medical bills continue to roll in. Despite the real urgency, many people underestimate their need for long-term care and postpone the decision to purchase coverage until they reach an age where it is either too expensive or unavailable to them because they are no longer insurable candidates.

Why Age Matters

Just like with life insurance policies, long-term care insurance becomes more expensive as you age.

In addition, with the potential of physical illness or a disability, increased costs or prevention from obtaining coverage altogether becomes even more likely.

Most new long-term care individual applicants are between the ages of 55 and 64. Conversely, the age group that is most likely to be rejected for unacceptable health is 80+ (75% rejection rate) – with those ages 70 to 79 being rejected 45% of the time.1 If you still find yourself thinking, “I’m healthy now, take very good care of myself, and have great genes.

Chances are that I will never need long-term care in my lifetime,” think again. The percentage of the population aged 65+ with three or more disabilities has alarmingly surpassed the 10% threshold.1

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Having choices in long-term care planning is a great Retirement Living • Assisted Living • Memory Care thing if used to your advantage. Whether you chose to self-insure, go with stand-alone long-term care 072816a_Lafayette_Today_Enjoy_Studio_A.indd 1 7/28/16 George 10:34 AM at www.ms.com/fa/theintegragroup.

Connect on LinkedIn: insurance, or choose a combination life and long-term care insurance, ® M. Noceti, CRPS .

Follow me on Twitter: @GNocetiMS. know that you are helping to protect your assets, your health, and those Sources/Footnotes - 1U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National that count on you.

Clearinghouse for Long-Term Care Information, www.longermcare.gov, October 2016.

The opinions expressed by the authors are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect those Regardless of how you plan to address long-term care costs, remember of Morgan Stanley. The information and data in the article or publication has been obtained from to work with a professional, who can help make sure you understand the sources outside of Morgan Stanley and Morgan Stanley makes no representations or guarantees factors involved, ranging from the costs of different care facilities, how as to the accuracy or completeness of information or data from sources outside of Morgan to choose and hire home health care providers -- and if you find yourself Stanley. Neither the information provided nor any opinion expressed constitutes a solicitation

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Page 14 - December 2016 ~ Lafayette Today

Procrastination? Make a New Year’s Resolution!

By Robert J. Silverman, Esq.

Over the 23 years I have practiced law in the estate planning arena. A large percentage of my clients have commented that they were sorry they procrastinated – some for years and others for decades – in establishing (or reviewing and updating) their estate plans.

Fortunately, most felt relieved and pleased when they completed the project. Moreover, they indicated that the process was much easier and less stressful than they expected.

Several years ago, I read with keen interest a Wall Street Journal article titled “Never Procrastinate Again.” Below, I’ll outline a few major points raised in that article and highlight key “take-aways.”

The article stated that scientists define procrastination as, “The intentional delay of an action despite foreseeable negative future consequences.” Examples of “foreseeable negative future consequences” you and your loved ones could suffer by procrastinating estate planning are: i) Tens of thousands of dollars in unnecessary probate fees and costs, ii) Substantial time and inconvenience in estate administration, iii) Public versus private handling of your affairs, v) No control over distribution of assets to young adults or beneficiaries with special needs, and vi) Court appointment of people (you might not want) to manage your finances, health care, and/or minor children.

Most of my clients and most of those who live in this community are pretty successful people. It would be logical to surmise that when successful people procrastinate on certain projects it’s because they are perfectionists who are somewhat paralyzed by their desire to do everything perfectly, and the associated anxiety over the process causes them to avoid getting started.

Interestingly, however, studies indicate that it is not perfectionism or anxiety that prevents people from getting started. Nor is procrastination synonymous with laziness or simply poor time management.

Speech continued from front page

think, say or do: Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendships? Is it beneficial to all concerned?” Using the Four-Way Test as their rubric, Olivia weighed the merits of the IRONMAN competition, Griffin examined the death penalty, and Jordan took a look at the social impact of satire.

All three of the speakers are veterans of the Public Speaking program, which is run by teacher Kristen Plant, herself a former Miramonte Public Speaking student. Miramonte’s program has a long history of producing award-winning speakers at the state and national level in many different aspects of public speaking. Lamorinda Sunrise Rotary, along with the other Rotary Clubs in the area, has long hosted Four-Way Test Speech Contests to provide students such as these with a challenge in analysis, critical thinking, and mastering the nervousness of speaking before an audience.

First Place honors went to Olivia Fishlow, a track and field and crosscountry stand-out who hopes to attend UC Berkeley in 2017. Jordan Hardwick, who participates in theater and mock trial and hopes to attend Brandeis, took second place. Griffin Ansel; an Eagle Scout, football player, and Congressional Gold Medal for volunteer service awardee, who hopes to move on to Yale; took third place.

But, the distinction between them was slight – all of them performed at a very high level. Eve Phillips; Orinda City Council member, Lamorinda Sunrise Rotarian, and contest organizer; said, “One of the things Rotary does is strive to promote education and give students opportunities to excel.

These three students certainly did that. We are proud to give them a chance to show how accomplished they are.”

For more info about the Lamorinda Sunrise Rotary Club, please email lamorindasunrise@gmail.com or go to www.lamorindasunrise.org.

Rotary, founded in 1905, is a leadership organization made up of local business, professional, and civic leaders who meet regularly, get to know each other, form friendships and through that are able to get things done in a community, having fun in the process. Rotary today represents membership of 34,000 clubs and 1.3 million members worldwide.

www.yourmonthlypaper.com So, why do people procrastinate, and how can one overcome the tendency to procrastinate? Evidently, high levels of stress experienced by procrastinators causes them to shift focus to immediate rather than distant matters.

Fascinating studies are being conducted in many countries with therapy and even software being developed for habitual procrastinators. Meanwhile, some scientists believe the following represent constructive tools to remedy - break the cycle of - procrastination: 1) Break down the project goal into concrete sub-goals, and commit to the exact time you will start to work on the task 2) “Just get started!” - Don’t get overwhelmed by a long list of tasks or intermediate steps that may be required to complete the project 3) Remind yourself that completing a task now will help you in the future (and putting it off won’t make it more enjoyable) 4) Give yourself a reward for not only completing the whole project, but also for finishing each sub-goal.

So, if you are procrastinating about estate planning, how might these tools help you break the procrastination cycle and thus avoid the potentially profound negative future consequences?

In my estate planning practice, the process is generally broken down into these concrete sub-goals or steps: i) Contact my office to engage in an introductory discussion about your situation, obtain a fee quote, and have your preliminary questions answered, ii) Complete a Confidential Client Questionnaire, iii) Schedule a meeting to discuss and decide upon key provisions of each estate planning document, with my guidance and support, iv) Review the documents I prepare and send you, v) Schedule an appointment to discuss and sign the documents, and vi) (If you establish a Living Trust) retitle assets into your Trust with my instructions and support.

Forgive yourself for procrastinating - make a New Year’s Resolution and just get started. Be sure to reward yourself each step of the way! * Estate Planning * Trust Administration & Probate * Real Estate * Business Please contact me to request a complimentary: i) “Estate Planning Primer,” ii) Real Estate titling brochure, and/or iii) introductory meeting.

Mr. Silverman is 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 should not be relied upon as legal, tax and/ or business advice. Readers should obtain specific advice from their own, qualified professional advisors.

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Lafayette Today ~ December 2016 - Page 15

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Technology Matters

By Evan Corstorphine

What a great time to be in technology. There are so many innovative products available right now. We’ve seen the digital revolution move from personal computers into laptops with WiFi, then into smartphones, and then into tablets such as the iPad. The next stop in this connectivity revolution is nothing less than the connection of everything to everything. The industry phrase for this is “The Internet of Things,” or IOT. Put succinctly, the IOT is the convergence of multiple technologies, including ubiquitous wireless communication, and may include any object or appliance that can have intelligence and connectivity added into it, to enable or facilitate interaction by a third-party. Let me provide some examples.

Example: I purchased a Google Home device and have put it in my living room. The Home is voice-controlled and acts as a sort of automated butler to control devices and functions around my house. Both the Home and Amazon’s “Echo” product are the leaders in the personal butler products for home use. If I say, “OK Google, play solo piano music,” it automatically connects to the music service I use (Pandora), then finds and plays solo piano music for me. If I wish to increase volume, I say, “OK Google, increase volume,” or “OK Google, increase volume 25%,” and it’s done. This is barely scratching the surface of what’s possible.

Because the Home and Echo products have written their software with open interfaces, there are a plethora of manufacturers who have connected their services to these platforms. The idea is that in lieu of using smartphone apps or websites, we can perform common tasks with either pre-programmed logic triggers or with voice commands.

Example: I have a new sprinkler controller for my home made by “RainMachine” with IOT capabilities built into it. Using the Home or Echo, I can say, “OK Google, turn on the front sprinklers for 10 minutes,” and watering will commence. On the other hand, it also has built-in intelligence to link with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and it will adjust the amount of sprinkling according to the weather forecast. This includes

increases or decreases in watering if it’s extremely hot, cool, or raining.

For years there have been products designed to allow central control of the lights, outlets in your home, and even your garage door opener. Now that the internet has caught up with this technology, these devices can now be integrated into the IOT scheme using the Echo or Home products. For instance, I can say, “OK Google, turn on the living room lights,” when I walk into the room. Or when I hear something outside, I can say, “OK Google, turn on all outside lights” so I can investigate.

The opportunities to integrate devices based on conditions, actions, or your desires are endless. We’re seeing many devices, such as security cameras, light switches and outlets, sprinkler controllers, furnace and air conditioners (via “Nest”), and much more all become part of the equation.

Check out the website www.ifttt.com. The website name stands for “if this then that (IFTTT),” and it aptly describes the logic this web engine allows you to engage to accomplish different tasks. For example, let’s pretend you use a FitBit or other branded exercise tracking watch. Because you’re trying to get enough exercise, you’ve set the FitBit for a daily goal of 10,000 steps.

If you really want to hit that goal, you may need a reminder if you are being more sedentary than expected. Using IFTTT, you can set it to check into your fitness app at a certain time of day and then remind you with an email, an alert, or a text message that you’re running out of time to meet your goal.

Example: You live on a busy street and want your garage door to open automatically when you arrive. Using IFTTT and the GPS built into your smartphone, you can teach the system to trigger your garage door to open automatically when you arrive in your driveway.

There are thousands of “recipes” on the IFTTT website, and thousands more are coming. Your imagination is the only limit on what is possible. I encourage you to check it out and whet your appetite.

As we move into the post-PC era, we at PCIO are shifting gears to help you address the technical challenges of our highly interconnected environment at home and your office. If you have a challenge you’d like to explore with a seasoned professional, give us a call at 925-552-7953 option 1, or Advertorial email helpdesk@pcioit.com.

Page 16 - December 2016 ~ Lafayette Today

The Care of Mature Trees

By Blaine Brende & Joe Lamb

Entering my sixth decade, the gathering stiffness in my joints deepens my appreciation that living systems change as they age. Trees also change as they grow older, but, for trees and humans alike, how gracefully we flower in later life is not determined by genetics alone.

Long life for humans is a relatively new phenomenon. Our Paleolithic ancestors seldom lived beyond 35 years of age, and they would, I imagine, marvel that the average American now lives to be 78. However, long life for trees is nothing new. Methuselah, a bristlecone pine growing in the Sierras, has attained the astounding age of 4,838 and is the oldest documented living organism on our planet. It lifts my heart to acknowledge that the pine nut, which grew to become Methuselah, sprouted its first needles 2,268 years before the birth of Buddha, 2,832 years before the birth of Jesus, and 3,402 years before the birth of Muhammad.

To promote long life, reduce the stresses on your trees. The densely packed clay soils common to the East Bay produce many stresses. Compacted soils lack air spaces and inhibit the movement of oxygen. Clay soils are soggy when wet (which promotes root rot), but they are hard when dry (which promotes drought stress).

Improving the porosity of the soil by mulching, aerating, and, sometimes, by radial trenching reduces the stress on your tree. Mulching is the easiest and cheapest of these techniques. Two or three inches of quality mulch under the canopy of the tree, but not piled against the trunk, helps to keep the soil soft, moist, and cooler in the summer. Aerating aids soil porosity and reduces stress. To aerate the tree, use a deep root irrigator to drill many one-inch diameter holes to a depth of around 30 inches throughout the zone under the tree’s canopy.

Pruning to remove dead and diseased branches reduces the stresses on the tree. Many fruit trees suffer from diseases, both fungal and bacterial, carried from flower to flower by pollinating insects. After entering through

www.yourmonthlypaper.com the flower, the infection spreads, usually slowly, down into the woody tissue.

Pruning to a point below the spread of the disease increases the lifespan of the tree. As with humans, stresses can have cumulative effects. When pines are drought stressed, they are unable to make the sap they use to drown burrowing insects. Oaks suffering from oak root fungus have trouble taking up water and often suffer from drought stress.

When planning elder care for your trees, several factors beg consideration: What is your emotional attachment to the tree? Is the tree a hazard? Will it become a hazard in the future, and, if so, when? What will it cost to maintain the tree? Will it attain ‘sabi,’ the beauty of aging, if given the correct care? I hope that as I grow older I accept Roethke’s challenge and ‘dare to blaze like a tree.’

If you wish to extend your tree’s lifespan 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, Advertorial client testimonials, and work in your neighborhood.

Volunteers Needed at Mt. Diablo State Park

There are several exciting volunteer opportunities at Mt. Diablo State Park over the upcoming months. Projects needing assistance are: • Maintaining and improving hiking trails throughout the park • Control of invasive plants, such as yellow star thistle • Repairing and repainting park facilities, such as fences, picnic tables, and outhouses Service projects out in nature tend be excellent team-building activities, and they can support feelings of cooperation and respect among school groups, community organizations, and co-workers. Projects can accommodate a range of participant ages and group sizes, and a work day for weekends or week days can be planned.

Volunteer Field Projects Coordinator can work with you and your organization to design a project that will make a significant contribution to our beautiful park, and that will be a fun and memorable experience for you and your organization.

For answers to questions and for more information, contact Silas Ellison at 925-837-6122, 925-837-6819, by cell phone at 617-335-6833, or by email at silas.ellison@parks.ca.gov.

such as pruning, weeding, or assistance planting in the future will always be enjoyed. Always be certain that you can schedule to follow through

By Kathleen Guillaume with your gift of hours. I will never forget when four friends showed up to This is a month of holidays: Christmas, my house after I had been laid up with a broken leg for over a month, and Hanukkah, and other winter celebrations. We find they came to provide a weeding party, with snacks, spades, and pruners. ourselves with more social activities planned: We spent three wonderful hours laughing and chatting, and I ended up such as school plays, office parties, family get- with a weed-free and tamed garden. It was one of the more memorable togethers, and family traditions to carry forward. gifts I ever received.

We decorate our homes, have hostess gifts to bring In December I stop deadheading my roses, I want them to go to seed to parties, and need gifts for friends and family. It and create those beautiful rose hips that signal to their system to set seed is a very busy time indeed. go dormant. I also find rose hips are good for winter floral arrangements.

I find that the aromas of the holidays are what trigger my best memories. At this time of year I move certain pots to my entry porch so I can decorate We don’t have fields of snow to create winter wonderlands, but we find them for the season, with ornaments and ribbons. If you have time, you ourselves wanting to create some of those feelings. I find that nothing says the could also plant a new pot for your entry way. One of my favorite plants holidays like the smell of evergreens. Some of the best floral arrangements for for winter pots is Osmanthus heterophyllus ‘Goshiki’ which is a variegated the holidays have no flowers at all. Check with friends who have redwood, false holly. It is a slow grower that is perfect for the holiday season and can pine, spruce, juniper or other evergreens growing on their properties, and see be planted around the edges with cyclamen which is a great winter bloomer. if they would allow you to do some selective pruning. If you don’t know It can be found on sale at most nurseries this time of year. Your nursery anyone with evergreens, most nurseries have swags of greens for sale. A personnel can assist you with selections for a perfect entry way pot. collection of greens with some ribbon, bows, and a few attached ornaments It is the time of year that I make a trip to Michaels for holiday picks, looks very festive. Larger boughs need to have their ends cut with vertical those small arrangements of gilded or glittered items that can be tucked in slashes to allow for more water intake and longer life. Remember to keep the ribbon of a gift or added to floral arrangements. They also have faux table arrangements low and proportional to the size of your table. birds. Red cardinals are my favorite to add to my Christmas tree, but they Gardening gifts should be considered for your favorite gardening have birds in every hue from white doves to pale blues or yellows or any friends. Live plants make perfect hostess gifts. These should be placed in color that goes with your color scheme. I also like to add silk flowers to cache pots so if the hostess sets them out they won’t leave water rings on my Christmas tree. I buy large and medium size flowers that contrast or go tables. The cache pot can have moss set at the edges. Add a few ribbon with my color scheme and cut off the stems with wire snips and set them in ornaments and picks, and you have an excellent gift. If you have a rose among the branches of my tree. I also tuck a few in with my holiday greens lover on your gift list, great gifts are books on roses, or gauntlet gloves arrangements to create a visual tie in with my tree. I pack them at the end of for rose pruning. All of our local nurseries have great gift ideas and great the season along with my Christmas bulbs. decoration ideas.

Now is a time to go to your local nurseries and see what type of holiday For older local relatives and neighbors, a great gift is the gift of time. A surprises they have in store for you. card that promises ‘x’ number of hours to assist them with garden chores Happy Gardening. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!

Gardening with Kate

Lafayette Today ~ December 2016 - Page 17

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Life in the Lafayette Garden Autumn Color Ablaze in Lafayette

By John Montgomery, ASLA, Landscape Architect #4059

The autumn months of October, November, and December bring a joyful change to the gardens of Lafayette. Autumn marks the change from the growing season to the cycle of rest and rejuvenation. As your plants prepare for a period of rest and rejuvenation, a whole new life cycle brings vibrant colors, scent, texture, and calmness to your garden. Creating garden environments that take advantage of the seasons enhance the all-year-around pleasure of your garden.

Autumn is a wonderful time in a garden. Trees, shrubs, ground covers, and grasses bring a whole new dimension of color, scent, and texture as they prepare themselves to rest. As I work with my clients in creating their landscape, I think about how we can have the garden be active all year around. So I select a plant palette that takes advantage of the seasons. The characteristics that can be used in the palette include color, texture, structure, scent, and movement. A good all-year-around plant palette has a diverse mix of trees, shrubs, perennials, ground covers, and ornamental grasses.

Color can be provided either by flower or leaf. Colorful trees like Nyssa Sylvatica (Sour Gum), Red Sunset Maple, and Chinese Pistache are vibrant as the evening snap of chill fills the air. Red-twig Dogwood or Sango Kaku Japanese Maple has vibrant bark color. As winter approaches, Autumn and Mexican Sage bloom profusely.

Texture can be found in leaves, seeds, and bark. As plants prepare for rejuvenation during the winter, they begin a last spurt of growth, bloom, and seed head expenditure. Crape Myrtle wonderfully flowers and turns to spent seed heads and bark peel. Other shrubs bloom and seed in a last ditch effort to propagate.

Structure is an element of design that can really be taken advantage of during the fall. Multi-branching trees and shrubs with intricate or bold branching can provide a dramatic accent that will add pizzazz to any garden. Multi-branching trees like Crape Myrtle, Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Diabolo,’ and Buckeye can accent the drama of an autumn garden. As leaves drop and begin to expose the bold and intricate branching, new garden accents are created for new focal interest.

Autumn is the time to take in the wonderful aromas your garden can create. The heat of our Indian summer brings the strong scent of California Bay, sage, rose, and forest floor. Often times you will see roses springing to bloom as fall daytime temperatures sore. Most sages bloom during autumn. I like to take advantage of deciduous trees and shrubs when they begin to drop their leaves. Besides the vibrant leaf colors, they can dapple the landscape floor, adding texture and scent as the leaves begin to decay. When the first rains of fall arrive, the aroma of the forest floor can fill the air.

Autumn also brings soft warm nor-easterly breezes through Lafayette. Movement is an element I like to take advantage of in your garden environment. Ornamental grasses such as red fountain grass, California fescue, and Morning Light Miscanthus are profuse by now with seed heads that gracefully sway and add gentle movement to your landscape. Perennials that are spent and dying back can also provide interesting movement if left uncut as they move into winter.

Lafayette’s unique climate allows for a long growing season yet brings forth a good autumn and winter for rejuvenation. Planning for seasonal change is an important aspect of my design philosophy.

A hot tip from your local Landscape Architect: If you’re looking forward to installing your landscape project in the spring, fall and winter is a great time to start the design process for your garden so you’re ready to enjoy it next summer!

Gardening Quote of the Month: “I am rich today with autumn’s gold, All that my covetous hands can hold; Frost-painted leaves and goldenrod, A goldfinch on a milkweed pod; Huge golden pumpkins in the field, With heaps of corn from a bounteous yield; Golden apples heavy on the trees Rivaling those of Hesperides; Golden rays of balmy sunshine spread Over all like butter on warm bread; And the harvest moon will this night unfold The streams running full of molten gold. Oh, who could find a dearth of bliss, With autumn glory such as this!” ~Gladys Harp If you would like me to write on any particular subject, email your ideas to jmontgomery@jm-la.com or for design ideas visit www.jm-la.com or www. houzz.com/pro/jmla/john-montgomery-landscape-architects.

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Bringing Back the Natives Tour

Follow and “like” the Bringing Back the Natives Tour on Facebook to see a changing gallery of native plant garden photos, read about what to do in your native plant garden each month, stay informed about Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour events, and more. The most recent post will link you to a fabulous new database that will let you know what plants are native to the place you live.

There is an opportunity to volunteer, learn, make new friends, and have fun doing restoration in the East Bay Hills. Volunteers are needed on Wednesdays 4PM-7PM, and Sundays 9:30AM-1PM. You can read more about this on the Garden Tour’s Facebook page, on the September 7 post. Contact Glen Schneider at glennyfrank@gmail.com if you would like to attend. Limit 15 people for each outing.

Page 18 - December 2016 ~ Lafayette Today

Abdominal Wall Hernia

By Michael Baker, M.D., FACS

Abdominal wall hernias are among the most common of all surgical problems. More than one million abdominal wall hernia repairs are performed each year in the United States. Two-thirds are inguinal hernia repair, reviewed in an article in this publication in August, and one third are “ventral hernias.”

A hernia means that some part of the contents from within the abdominal cavity-- some fat or sometimes a part of the intestine-- protrudes through an abnormal opening, weakness, or tear in the muscles of the abdominal wall. Ventral abdominal wall hernias occur in several locations, and the most common are epigastric, umbilical, and incisional.

Epigastric hernias occur in the muscles of the upper abdominal wall, on a line between the breast bone and the navel or umbilicus.

Umbilical hernias occur near the navel, which has a natural weakness from the blood vessels of the umbilical cord.

Incisional hernias can develop soon after surgery or many years later.

They affect more than 10% of patients who have had abdominal surgery.

Hernias can cause burning, pressure, or pain. They can be caused or enlarged by excess abdominal pressure due to being overweight, excessive coughing, or pregnancy. Most hernias can be diagnosed by physical examination, as there is often a visible bulge. Your physician may ask you to cough or strain in order to make it more obvious on examination. If it is difficult to determine with certainty, then physicians will sometimes order an ultrasound exam or a CT scan.

Hernias may be reducible – the contents put back into the abdomen – or incarcerated, when it cannot be reduced into the abdomen. There is a risk that the incarcerated contents become strangulated (the tissue dies), making this an emergency and often a more complex and dangerous operation.

A hernia does not get better over time, nor will it go away by itself. There are no exercises or physical therapy regimens that can make a hernia improve or heal. Hence, most physicians encourage repair of hernias in patients who are medically able to undergo the procedure, even if there are no symptoms but especially if it does not reduce into the abdomen. Symptomatic hernias and those that are incarcerated should almost always be repaired.

Hernia repair requires a trip to the operating room and the ability to tolerate anesthesia. Most all hernia surgeons strengthen repairs with a mesh of woven material to bolster the muscles and prevent hernia recurrence. Hernias can be repaired with a traditional “open” incision or use of a minimally invasive technique with a laparoscope to enter the abdominal cavity and repair from the inside. Open surgery mandates doctors make an incision which must be large enough for the surgeon to fit his/ her hands or surgical instruments inside the abdomen. Open surgery allows doctors to see and touch your organs and tissue while operating.

Minimally invasive surgery (laparoscopy) is done through a few small incisions using long, thin surgical instruments and a camera. The camera sends images to a video monitor in the operating room which guides surgeons

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as they operate.

Robotic surgery is the next evolution of minimally invasive approach and features a magnified 3D high-definition vision system and special instruments that bend and rotate far greater than the human wrist. This enables your doctor to operate with enhanced vision, precision, dexterity, and control.

There is early data that suggests there is less post-op pain and faster return to activity with robotic procedures.

Your surgeon will choose the technique which they feel is the most appropriate for your age, medical conditions, surgical risk, and potential outcome. Each type of repair has its advantages, risks, and benefits. Recovery time is variable, but most patients can return to light activity within a few days. Timing for return to work or vigorous activity will be recommended by your surgeon.

Dr. Baker is a board certified General Surgeon, a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and a retired US Navy Admiral. He is the Senior Partner of West Coast Surgical Associates (formerly Walnut Creek Surgical Associates) with offices in Walnut Creek, Concord, and San Ramon. For more information, call (925) 933-0984 or view the surgical team at www.

Advertorial wcsurgeons.com.

The East Bay Regional Park District Wants You!

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 yearround 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 non-native 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 greater knowledge of natural and cultural resources, and the personal satisfaction of making a difference in the community.

For information, email Volunteers@EBParks.org, or visit www.ebparks. org/about/getinvolved/volunteer. (Some events require registration and some programs require training, fingerprinting, background checks, or TB testing.)

Hearing Loss Association

Come to meetings of the Diablo Valley Chapter of Hearing Loss Association of America at 7pm on the 1st Wednesday of the month at the Walnut Creek United Methodist Church located at 1543 Sunnyvale Ave., Walnut Creek Education Bldg., Wesley Room. Meeting room and parking are at back of church. All are welcome. Donations are accepted.

An assistive listening system is available for T-coils, and most meetings are captioned. Contact HLAADV@hearinglossdv.org or (925) 264-1199 or www.hearinglossdv.org for more information.

Is Food a Problem for You?

Overeaters Anonymous offers a fellowship of individuals who, through shared experience and mutual support, are recovering from compulsive overeating. This is a 12-step program. The free meetings are for anyone suffering from a food addiction including overeating, under-eating, and bulimia. The group meets Wednesdays at 6PM at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Lafayette. Visit www.how-oa.org for more information.

The Lafayette Reservoir is a great place to escape, relax, and volunteer. The reservoir offers hiking; fishing - for trout and catfish; boating - rent rowboats, pedal boats, and kayaks at the Visitors Center; picnicking; and a children’s playground. For more information call the reservoir at 925-284-9669 or visit www.ebmud.com/recreation/east-bay/lafayette-reservoir.

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Your Personal Nutritionist

How to Survive the Holiday Season Without Gaining Weight

By Linda Michaelis RD, MS

This time of year I often hear my clients say, “How can I enjoy the holidays without overeating and gaining weight?” or “Oh! I will just start dieting again on January 1st,” or “How can I say ‘no’ to all of the goodies offered?” Below are a few tips that have proven successful.

The key to success during the holiday madness is to become mindful of your eating. What does this mean? This means developing a moment-tomoment awareness of what you are eating. It means paying attention to your thoughts about the food, taste, aroma, and sensation in your mouth. It means becoming aware of how you eat and then what you eat. For example, when you are eating quickly without savoring your food and then rapidly taking another serving, you are not eating mindfully.

When you first arrive at a party and prepare a plate, think, “Do I really like this food? Is it one of my favorites, and is it as good as I thought it would be?” This is mindful eating.

Practice moderation, not deprivation, because deprivation will only cause a backlash of bingeing and overeating. Some of my clients are chronic dieters who are so focused on the role that food plays in losing weight that they do not allow themselves to enjoy food. I teach all of my clients to enjoy holiday parties and to learn that occasional overeating does not mean instant weight gain.

The day after the occasional overeating, you will find that if you return to eating mindfully, you will be eating less. Too many people throw in the towel when they overeat at a party and get upset with themselves and end up overeating again.

One effective tool to mindful eating is to observe what you do with your silverware when you are eating. Do you keep it in your hand the entire meal, or do you put it down between bites? Do you prepare another bite while you are still chewing? You are not eating mindfully when your attention is on the next bite instead of focusing on what is in your mouth. Put your utensils down when you are chewing.

If you are eating finger foods, put the food down in between bites. Sit down and eat when at a party instead of eating standing up to improve mindfulness.

Become aware of your hunger signals. Eat when you are hungry, and stop when you are satisfied. There is no need to eat until you are uncomfortable to enjoy the party. It is OK to say no thank you when offered an appetizer that you do not like. Do not overeat from pressure, and do all you can to be true to yourself and not give in.

The number one rule for party eating is not to arrive at the event too hungry.

If you do, you are setting yourself up to fail where you will almost inevitably overeat. Have a substantial lunch the day of the party, not just have a bowl of soup or salad. Have at least 4-6 ounces of protein and a cup of veggies. Skip the breads which you will most likely have at the party. Have tuna stuffed in a tomato or an egg white omelet with diced ham and veggies.

If you are asked to bring a dish, bring one that will help you through this event. Bring a shrimp cocktail or skewered shrimp, roasted veggies, or grilled asparagus with balsamic glaze. These items will balance your meal, especially when the offerings are starch and fat laden.

Make time for your exercise program. You can burn off 300-500 calories with an intense hour of exercise. Arrive fashionably late and create a plan when you walk in based on the offerings such as having just a few appetizers and two holiday cookies.

During the holiday season I counsel my clients by phone or email. We speak often and I try to “hold their hand” through holiday parties. My clients give me an idea of what will be served, and we role-play the event starting from the beginning of the day through the feast. It gives the people I work with a sense of confidence to attend a party with a plan in mind. It is a constant thrill for me to hear how they have been able to sail through parties with even more enjoyment and without overeating.

Nutritional counseling is often covered by medical insurance such as Aetna, Hill Physicians, Sutter Health, Health Net, Blue Cross, Blue Shield, UHC. Call me at (925) 855-0150 about your nutritional concerns or email me at Lifeweight1@gmail.com. Visit my website at www.LindaRD.com for past articles. Advertorial

Lafayette Today ~ December 2016 - Page 19

A Gift to Our Community – the Cancer Support Community

By Jewel Johl, MD

As a medical oncologist, I see patients who are enduring physical and emotional stress caused by cancer. While working to eradicate the cancer, I always take into account the condition of the body and mind. From the time of diagnosis to after completion of treatment, psychosocial support is always recommended for the patient, their family members, and caregivers. One of the most valuable resources in our community for cancer patients and their families is the Cancer Support Community in Walnut Creek.

For over 15 years, my colleagues at Diablo Valley Oncology and I have referred our patients, friends, and loved ones to them. The Cancer Support Community provides services free of charge include counseling; support groups; nutrition, exercise, and patient education programs; and much more.

So far in 2016 over 2,200 patients and their families made 22,000 visits to Cancer Support Community. Through their programs, they enable cancer patients to achieve an improved quality of life. All of their programs and services are evidence-based to positively impact cancer treatment outcomes and/or immune system functioning, and they are all delivered by professionals who are licensed or certified in their area of expertise.

As the year draws to a close, many people embrace the spirit of giving by making tax deductible contributions to nonprofit organizations and charities.

Please consider making a year-end gift to the Cancer Support Community annual appeal, “Campaign for Hope.” All funds raised will help this organization continue to provide valuable programs and services for our local community.

Please plan to attend a Holiday Boutique & Fundraiser, sponsored by Diablo Valley Oncology at our facility in Pleasant Hill located at 400 Taylor Blvd., front lobby, on December 9th from 1-4pm. Vendors include Sloat Garden Center, Amphora Olive Oil, Chloe + Isabel, and Beauty Counter – all donating a portion of their sales to the Cancer Support Community.

For more information call 925-677-5041.

Dr. Johl is a Board Certified Medical Oncologist and Hematologist with Diablo Valley Oncology & Hematology Medical Group and serves on the Board of Directors for the Cancer Support Community. To learn more about Dr. Johl and Diablo Valley Oncology, visit www.dvohmg.com.

The Cancer Support Community can be reached at 925-933-0107 or www.

Advertorial cancersupport.net.

It is a Wonderful Life in Lafayette as enjoyed by a young attendee at the annual downtown celebration!

Page 20 - December 2016 ~ Lafayette Today

Menopause Matters

By Timothy Leach, MD, FACOG, CNMP

In upcoming columns I will review what happens to lower genitourinary tissues like the vagina and bladder when a woman’s circulating estrogen goes away. In prior columns I reviewed the time frames for the menopausal transition and defined menopause as starting 12 months after a woman’s final menstrual period (FMP).

Hot flashes, typically the most common symptom that women associate with the menopausal transition, go away in over 90% of women within 5-7 years. What many women don’t associate with their FMP are the changes that occur in the vagina and bladder that may not be noticed until five years after their FMP. Unlike hot flashes which often go away, bothersome changes in the vagina and bladder don’t get better with time.

Anatomic and physiologic changes in the vagina associated with menopause are directly related to reduced circulating estrogen levels and aging. The high concentration of estrogen receptors in the vagina and the opening of the vagina modulates tissue health. Low levels of circulating estrogen after menopause results in physiologic, biologic, and clinical changes in the vagina and bladder.

Anatomic changes include reduced collagen and elastin and thinning of the tissues which can cause altered appearance and function. The smaller/inner labial lips can become thin and regress, causing the opening of the vagina to retract and become narrow, all which can result in pain with intimacy. Physiologic changes can result in fewer blood vessels and reduced vaginal blood flow, and diminished lubrication which leads to decreased flexibility and elasticity. These anatomic and physiologic changes can lead to decreased strength and increased fragility which can lead to daily discomfort or pain with intimacy.

Approximately 20-50% of US women experience symptoms such as vaginal dryness, itching, burning, or UTI like symptoms from the anatomic and physiologic

San Damiano continued from front page

looks its age. It is decidedly non-high-tech. The large statue of St. Francis (patron of animals and nature and founder of the Franciscan Order of Friars who run the retreat) beacons visitors to the massive arched door entrance.

Once inside, visitors usually change their outside voices to a softer almost whisper tone. People come to San Damiano for many different reasons, but most seem to find a bit of themselves with their visits. It is a treasure to the many people who return time and time again.

Eighty rooms can be rented for overnight stays. The simplicity of these rooms is also part of their charm. Spartan but comfortable, each room has a single bed (some have queens), desk, light, and bathroom. There is a chapel, library, small meeting rooms, a large dining room, and a Fireside meeting room with banks of windows overlooking the valley below.

San Damiano has hosted many groups. Recently the International Harp Festival held its annual meeting for 80 harpists from around the world.

Classes were held in the chapel and Fireside room, and at times small groups spilled out into the patio for jazz harp jam sessions. One musician brought her harp out to the open air labyrinth and played her lovely music.

Sold out concerts have been held for the public in the evenings.

Head Gardener, Keven Repp is responsible for the landscape of the 55acre property. He is grateful for the many volunteers who come faithfully to help with planting, weeding, pruning, and general clean up. Six young men from the Church of Latter Day Saints arrive twice a month and spend most of the day assisting Kevin with tasks that would not be done without their help.

About a year ago the friars at San Damiano began a program assisting refugees. Today there are five refugees living at San Damiano. Brother Michael Minton, Director recalls, “We had been discerning for a while who the marginalized in our community were and how we could ‘embrace’ them. We have a wonderful place for people to retreat from the craziness of the world, but Franciscans aren’t quite complete without the poor and marginalized around us. Jewish Community Services had an article in the Contra Costa County Interfaith paper looking for host families, so we called and they were extremely grateful for this new partnership housing refugees at San Damiano.”

www.yourmonthlypaper.com changes mentioned above. These symptoms can occur during the peri-menopausal transition when menses are spacing out or may not be noticed until several years after the final menstrual period. Women at high risk for breast cancer or those who have already had breast cancer are often prescribed medicines (to reduce future risk) which can have negative effects on vaginal mucosa. The old term to describe these symptoms was vulvovaginal atrophy, or VVA. The term VVA has recently been abandoned because of negative connotation with the word atrophy and that bladder symptoms were not mentioned. The current term accepted by the North American Menopause Society (menopause.org) is the Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause, or GSM. Treatment of GSM should be made available to all symptomatic women who are bothered by these symptoms and are interested in treatment. Sexual difficulties and chronic irritating symptoms may result in ongoing discomfort and/or personal or interpersonal distress. Some women may complain of interruption of activities of daily living because of severe vaginal dryness, whereas others only complain of pain with intimacy. First line treatments include nonhormonal over-the-counter (OTC) products such as vaginal moisturizers (like placing moisturizers on your skin) and personal lubricants. A company out of Luxembourg, Pjur (https://au.pjurmed.com), has a complete line of water and silicone based products for daily use. If non-hormonal interventions are not successful in ameliorating symptoms, minimally absorbed vaginal low-dose estrogen can be considered in women who have no medical contraindication to its use. Another helpful internet resource I share with patients is (https://middlesexmd.com). This professional website created by a gynecologist is devoted to genitourinary health in peri-menopausal/menopausal women. Next month’s column will go into more specifics about medical management of GSM. 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 Brother Michael explains, “Each of the men living with us come with different histories and skills. Challenges seem to revolve around learning English, having transportation, finding work, and then finding affordable housing. Usually when a refugee comes to this country, the resettlement

San Damiano Patio

agency is able to help for 90 days. This can leave many refugees in a precarious situation. Our arrangement (housing and assisting refugees) has helped prepare these men to be independent as they leave. For example, one of the refugees prior to moving here had difficulties finding a place to live. After just six months at San Damiano, he has a car and a decent job, is enrolled in school, and has enough money to be moving out to an apartment. That is a major success story for this young man.”

Asked what he has learned since San Damiano has been hosting refugees, Brother Michael explained, “When the first refugee arrived, I thought we were doing a good deed. There was a story that made me realize what we were doing was bigger. One morning one of the young men was out walking with his laptop, holding it up and down and moving it around.

An employee, thinking he was trying to get a wireless signal went out and said, ‘You know, there is wireless in the rooms.’ He said, ‘No, I am Skyping with my mom, and I want her to see how safe I am.’ I will never understand what it means to send a child so far away realizing I will never see him again. But, when I realized that this little thing we are doing is a

See San Domiano continued on page 21

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A Path to Happiness

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

Recently, a doctor friend was interviewing college applicants at an Ivy League school. When asked what the participants wanted to be, two separate candidates confided: plastic surgeon or investment banker.

What on earth, I thought...wow! These aspirations might seem similar: two careers, each offering the hope of success and prosperity. Shouldn’t we all pursue such dreams? I offered the best advice I could. “I know very little about investment banking,” I said, “but from my perspective as a plastic surgeon, I believe there is another choice you must make first.” I explained that long before mastering the field of surgery, a person must first choose to become a physician. I explained that this path means caring for people and finding joy in it.

Any medical student will tell you that the moment they entered training, family and friends began asking for counsel. I am sure that most of my colleagues will remember those first years of medical school; everyone asked us for advice, and we probably gave it, thinking we already knew so much.

That kind of enthusiasm shouldn’t change over the years, but unfortunately it sometimes does. So when I was asked recently about how to choose a career, I found myself answering a bigger question. Is it possible to dedicate oneself to something truly loved? And does that choice include a commitment to service and compassion?

The answer is yes.

For me, going into medicine was a calling. I became a physician for two reasons. The first was simple: a sense of duty. The second is one I hold dear: the wonder of forming relationships with people in their time of need. Some might describe it as a sacrifice; holidays, weekends, nights, and personal time are dedicated to help patients. But it has never felt like a sacrifice to me. Being a physician is honorable, and it offers me purpose. It gives me great pleasure, and although it is not always easy, there is at least one person each day who sends me home feeling good about what I do. Sometimes my job is challenging, but the most difficult moments pale in comparison to what patients feel when they are in pain or chronically ill.

In my experience, many doctors forget the idea of what it feels like to be a patient. Separating ourselves can be a way to keep an even keel, but this risks alienating the very people we are trying to help. It is tempting to believe that work is better left at the office. “Don’t take your patients home with you,” I have been told. And although it is important to maintain a good balance between my personal and professional life, I do, ultimately, take my patients home with me.

I think about patients in my car as I drive home, I reflect on them in the evenings, and I look forward to seeing them when I wake up in the morning.

Medicine is part of who I am, and I don’t think of it as a job or occupation.

Rather, it is something I have chosen because I believe in it. This perspective has actually helped me be a more energetic surgeon and a more complete person. It is thus that I think those of us with a stronger sense of calling are more resilient to that which is challenging in our profession. We enjoy what we do. It informs us, shapes us, and makes us better people.

Becoming a board certified plastic surgeon took more than an a decade of training. But along the way, I was a doctor to my patients. I find comfort in the fact that simply caring for people is something I still do on a daily basis. Over the years, I have watched our healthcare system transform and policies evolve.

Many of us feel swept up in the changes; we are not sure what to predict and how it will affect us. I hope that whatever system emerges will allow doctors to follow their calling, as I have done. I hope that if we have been called to serve, we will be able to do it.

How will that happen? Who among us should choose this path? These are difficult questions. In the end, however, I have begun to recognize that even the most complex questions have a simple answer. For me, the answer is taking care of my patients and finding joy in it. I am so grateful to have found my calling, for it is one that inspires and rewards me in equal measures. I am a surgeon, but I am also a physician; both are roles I am honored to fulfill.

Dr. Barbara Persons is a Plastic Surgeon and owns Persons Plastic Surgery, Inc. located at 911 Moraga Rd, Suite 205 in Lafayette. She may be reached at 925.283.4012 or drbarb@personsplasticsurgery.com.

Advertorial

Lafayette Today ~ December 2016 - Page 21

San Damiano continued from page 20

comfort to the hearts of many mothers and fathers, I knew this was bigger work than just doing a good thing.”

San Damiano is not alone in their work with the refugees. Brother Michael says, “I am humbled by the support, involvement, and encouragement of the other houses of worship and different religious communities who have come to help. My favorite story from last year was when a group of Methodist ministers was here, and one of them met the refugees. She graciously gave us money to help care for them, but more importantly a few Sundays later she sent an email saying that her congregation had prayed for us. Here Protestant Methodists were praying for Roman Catholic Franciscans, in partnerships with Jews, helping Middle Eastern Sufis, Muslims, and Zoroastrians.”

Brother Michael added, “There is so much I could say about refugees and particularly the men who have lived here. I could talk about their optimism, dependability, enthusiasm, vulnerability, and hard work ethic. However, I’d really rather say that the refugees give us a wonderful opportunity to be the best of humanity that our religions call us to be.”

Balancing the privacy of the friars who call San Damiano their home and welcoming visitors, as their patron St. Francis had done in his lifetime, can at times be challenging. Visitors who want to tour the grounds are asked to call prior to arrival to make sure the center is open for walk-in guests.

The interfaith gift-book store is open to the public every day. Jan AliotoStegner, manager of the store, says, “San Damiano’s gift shop specializes in religious item and books. We are a Catholic gift shop, yet we have a healthy selection of both inter-faith and multi-cultural items and books.

Our inventory is constantly being updated, so every time you visit you will find something new.”

San Damiano Retreat is located at 710 Highland Drive, Danville, California. For information, room rates and availability, call (925) 837-9141.

Silent retreats and spiritual direction are available upon request. To learn more visit www.sandamiano.org.

Brainwaves by Betsy Streeter

Page 22 - December 2016 ~ Lafayette Today

Events for Lafayette Seniors

All classes are held at the Lafayette Senior Center (LSC), located at 500 Saint Mary’s Rd in Lafayette, unless otherwise noted. Space is limited.

Please call 925-284-5050 to reserve a spot. Unless otherwise mentioned, events are free for members and $10 for non-members.

Let’s Do Lunch! 1st Tuesday monthly • 11:30AM- Discover and explore the various dining experiences in the Lamorinda area. Relax, dine, meet new people, socialize, and enjoy lively conversation! Space is limited. Contact Lafayette Senior Services for the schedule of restaurants and to make your reservations: Seniors@LoveLafayette.org or 284-5050. Individuals will pay for their own lunches; the restaurants will provide separate checks. This interest group is offered in conjunction with Lamorinda Village.

Apple Basics 1st & 3rd Thursdays • 11AM – 12:30PM • Elderberry Room, LSC - This on-going series covers topics for Apple devices such as the technology needed for wireless communication, your Apple ID, iTunes, iCloud, and the basics of iPad and iPhone usage. Topics for future sessions will be determined by participants’ input and needs. There will be time for Q&A at the end of each class.

Lamorinda Tea Dance Wednesdays • 1 – 3:30PM • Live Oak Room, LSC - Enjoy afternoon dancing every Wednesday, and learn some great new dance moves. On the first Wednesday monthly, professional dancers Karen and Michael will provide a dance lesson and live DJ services, playing your favorites and taking requests.

Words of Wisdom...From the Philosophical to the Lighthearted

3rd Tuesday Monthly • 10:30AM–noon • Elderberry Room, LSC Share your opinions with us in a freewheeling exchange of ideas: from current events to philosophy to the inspirational. There may be agreement or there may be different opinions -- it’s all in the spirit of learning, sharing, enrichment, and good humor. Our “elder perspective” frequently sounds a lot like wisdom!

Reservoir Walking Group Tuesdays and Thursdays • 9:30AM – 10:30AM• Meet at reservoir at 9:20AM at the center bench on the dam - Led by Jim Scala, Lafayette Today’s “Walking the Reservoir” columnist.

Join us for camaraderie, fresh air, and enjoyable exercise. Optional bonus: at the end of the walk, Jim will lead you through easy yoga poses and breathing exercises in the most beautiful outdoor yoga studio: the band stage overlooking the water. Increase your balance and fitness, both physical and mental, and leave each week feeling uplifted and radiating that overall sense of well-being! Please call (925) 284-5050 or email seniors@lovelafayette. org to add your name to the email notification list. Bring quarters or a credit card for the parking meter. Annual senior (62+) passes may be purchased at the reservoir visitor center.

Free Peer Counseling 2nd Tuesday monthly • 10AM - noon • Alder Room, LSC - Contra Costa Health Services offers free one-on-one counseling with senior (55+) counselors who use their life experiences to help other older adults cope with life changes, problems, crises, and challenges. Confidentiality is strictly observed. Appointment required. Please call Lafayette Senior Services to sign up for one of the 60-minute appointments.

Lamorinda Nature Walk and Bird-Watching Wednesdays • 9AM - noon • Alder Room, LSC - Experience nature at its finest along our local trails. Delight in the beauty that unfolds around each bend, all the while learning to identify a variety of birds. Bring a water bottle; binoculars will be helpful if you have them. Join us every Wednesday or whenever you are able. For more information or to place your name on the route email/phone list, call Lafayette Seniors Services.

Hearing Screenings December 7 • 1:00-2:20 • Alder Room, LSC Hearing screenings take place the first Wednesday of the month. Please call Lafayette Senior Services at 284-5050 to make an appointment. Minimum of two sign-ups required in order for hearing screenings to take place Drop-In Mah Jongg! Tuesdays • 12:30-3:30 • Sequoia Room, LSC Calling all Mah Jongg players! Bring your card and mah jongg set, and join us every Tuesday afternoon. This group is for all levels.

Positive Living Forum (“Happiness Club”) 2nd Thursday monthly • 10:30AM – noon • Sequoia Room, LSC - Brighten your day with Dr. Bob Nozik, MD, Prof. Emeritus UCSF and author of Happy 4 Life: Here’s How to Do It. Brighten your day and take part in this interactive gathering which features speakers on a wide range of topics that guide participants toward a more ideal and positive life experience. Drop-ins welcome!

Caring Hands

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Reaching Out to Seniors One at a Time

Life at any age involves challenges, but these intensify as we age. The first concern may be that it becomes too difficult to drive to the doctor or the grocery store, or to just get a haircut. Support systems change, neighbors and friends may not help as expected, and loneliness may put a damper on daily routines.

Caring Hands volunteers offer friendship that makes an extraordinary difference in the quality of life for many of our seniors. Here are just a few of the words grateful care receivers have used to describe their relationship with their volunteer match: “When she came, it was as if a heavy burden was lifted off my shoulders. She is my angel.”

“Not only does it allow me to have an intelligent friend, but it relieves me from having to take public transportation which causes me pain every time.”

Caring Hands Volunteer Caregivers Program, a collaborative community outreach program between John Muir Health, social service agencies, congregations of various faiths and the community-at-large, creates finely-tuned one-on-one matches. The Caring Hands Program is dedicated to helping aging adults in Contra Costa County remain independent as long as safely possible. Isolation and loneliness shorten lives and may make health problems worse.

If making time to volunteer is on your to-do list, consider joining Caring Hands as a caregiver or even as an occasional driver. Enriching matches are created; loving friendships and deep relationships are formed. Care receivers treasure a friendly visit, a walk in the park or other social outing. Reading mail, letter writing, or providing respite care to give a break to a family member are thoughtful services that can make a big difference to a frail or isolated senior.

Since so many older adults need transportation to doctor’s appointments or stores, the best volunteer for Caring Hands is someone who is available once a week for 1-3 hours on a weekday and who can provide transportation.

Volunteers receive ongoing education, support and recognition of their efforts.

Perhaps you can be that friend who gives a waiting senior hope and help.

For a volunteer application or for more information about Caring Hands please contact Stacy Appel, Volunteer Coordinator, at (925) 952-2999.

Group Helps People Cope with Death of Pets

When you lose your pet, you often feel like a part of you is lost. The death of your beloved animal companion is one of the most difficult losses you may ever feel. This loss is sometimes made more painful by society’s seeming lack of support for pet grief.

Hospice of the East Bay (HoEB) and the Tony La Russa Animal Rescue Foundation is offering a support group where participants can share memories and feelings and talk to others who truly understand and care. Meetings will be held the second Tuesday of each month from 5:30-7PM at the Tony La Russa Animal Rescue Foundation, 2890 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek.

For further information and/or to register, please call Bereavement Services at HoEB (925) 887-5681. HoEB Bereavement Services are provided free of charge to all community members in need. However, donations are greatly appreciated.

Stroke Support Group

The Stroke Support Group of Contra Costa County will hold its next meeting in the Ball Auditorium at John Muir Medical Center Walnut Creek Campus located at 1601 Ygnacio Valley Road on Monday, December 12 from 7-9PM. The group will be having their annual Holiday Party Potluck. Please bring the following potluck items to share: Last names A-L bring dessert and last names M-Z bring an appetizer.

Cancer Support Community

Come join Dawn Jacobson, MD for a talk titled “Introduction to the Healing Science of Ayurveda.” Learn about the philosophy of Ayurveda, identify your mind-body type, augment conventional cancer treatment, and minimize side effects using food, natural herbs, and other lifestyle changes based on Ayurvedic healing. The talk will take place Wednesday, December 7, 6-8PM at Cancer Support Community located at 3276 McNutt Avenue, Walnut Creek. The event is free. For more information and reservations please call 925-933-0107.

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Ride the Spirit Van this Holiday Season!

By Mary Bruns, Program Coordinator, Lamorinda Senior Transportation

“A good life is when you smile often, dream big, laugh a lot, and realize how blessed you are for what you have.” ~ Author Unknown As you plan ahead for a stress-free holiday season, take a few moments to sit in your favorite chair, put your feet up, and close your eyes for a silent reflection/meditation. This practice of taking a personal time out from the stressors of life helps you to heal the negative impact of those stressors and regenerate your energy and peace of mind. You may also notice that when you are quiet, little reminders pop into your mind which help you to follow Santa’s sage advice of “Making a list and checking it twice,” found in the well-known song “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.” Whatever holiday traditions you follow, quiet time and making a list are helpful, even motivational, in getting important things done before they become a crisis.

It seems that time flies by faster with each passing year, catching you up short from time to time. You may suddenly remember that you still need to do a little holiday shopping for yourself or your loved ones. If so, give the Lamorinda Spirit Van program a call at 925-283-3534 to schedule a trip to McCaulou’s or Madison’s in Lafayette, Broadway Plaza, Sun Valley Mall, Ross, T. J. Maxx, HomeGoods, Kohl’s, the Dollar Store, or another Lafayette store of interest such as Jos. A. Bank Clothiers (for men), Venture Quality Goods (clothing for men and women), Whimsy (for children), Clocks, Etc., Farmyard Darlings (furniture and vintage collectibles), Indigo and Poppy (home lifestyle and interior design), Jennifer Purlmutter Gallery, or many of our other wonderful local shops. Our volunteer drivers will take you to your destination, help you with your packages, and take you home again.

Perhaps you would like to meet a friend for lunch and a movie. We are delighted to see you getting out and about, enjoying the festive atmosphere of the season, and are happy to help! Some of our regular passengers have moved out of our service area, freeing up our drivers to go to new places every day except Thursday mornings. That is when we take Moraga passengers grocery/sundry shopping and on errands in Moraga and Lafayette. Thursday afternoons is when we take Lafayette passengers grocery/sundry shopping and on errands in Lafayette. Wherever you want or need to go, call us well ahead of time to reserve your ride. We love to say “Yes!” When the C.C. Café, located at the Walnut Creek Senior Center, is closed between Christmas and New Year’s, our lunch driver takes folks to lunch at local restaurants. If you are age 60 or over, we invite you to join in on the fun.

Lunch trips are only $5 round trip, the food is delicious, and it’s a great way to make some new friends. Call us to be put on the “Going out to Lunch” list so we can let you know when and where we are going. “Friendship makes prosperity more brilliant and lightens adversity by sharing it.” ~ Cicero Now that you have planned ahead, all you need to do is follow through.

It’s easy to stay home, but that leads to isolation and loneliness. Although it takes a little effort to follow through with the plans you have made, you will find it energizing as well. Something fun to look forward to makes the days ahead a little brighter. Getting out of the house makes you a little stronger.

According to Dr. Seuss, “Today is your day, your mountain is waiting, so get on your way.”

Lafayette Today ~ December 2016 - Page 23

Lamorinda Senior Transportation An Alliance of Transportation Providers

WANTED: VOLUNTEER DRIVERS

Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud.” ~ Maya Angelou

Lamorinda Spirit Van

925-283-3534

Contra Costa Yellow Cab and DeSoto Co.

925-284-1234

Orinda Seniors Around Town

925-402-4506

Mobility Matters Rides for Seniors

925-284-6161

Takes Lamorinda older adults, age 60 and up, to errands, appointments, shopping, classes, and to lunch at the C.C. Café. Wheelchair and walker accessible. Call early to make your reservation. ‘LIKE” us at www.facebook.com/lamorindaspiritvan.

20% discount for Lamorinda seniors.

Volunteer drivers serving Orinda seniors with free rides to appointments and errands.

Volunteer drivers serving Contra Costa seniors with free rides to doctors’ appointments during the week. Grocery shopping on Saturdays.

County Connection LINK Reservation Line 925-938-7433 For people with disabilities.

Mobility Matters Info and Referral Line Gogograndparents.com

925-284-6109 855-464-6872

A way to use UBER or LYFT without an iPhone. Press “0” to speak to an operator.

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C L A S S I F I E D S AUTOS WANTED We will buy or consign your car. All cars displayed in our private and secure showroom. We are a locally family owned dealership serving the Lamorinda and San Ramon Valley for over 30 years in a very relaxed atmosphere. Free pick-up and delivery. 925-820-1188

FOR RENT BIG ISLAND HAWAII - Luxurious 5 bedroom, 5 ½ bath home with pool and spa in Mauna Lani, Champion Ridge. Access to private beach, 2 golf courses, shopping, restaurants, and many other amenities. Rent by the week. Call 925586-8893 or reserve on VRBO listing #630743.

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Page 24 - December 2016 ~ Lafayette Today

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