Danville Today News, December 2012 by The Editors, Inc

editor@yourmonthlypaper.com

December 2012 Holidays in the Valley

Serving Danville Do You Have an Old Bike Needing a New Home?

By Jody Morgan

Holiday happenings at both Forest Home Farms Historic Park (FHF) in San Ramon and the Museum of the San Ramon Valley (the Museum) in Danville showcase the Valley’s historical traditions with displays and activities geared to delighting 21st century visitors of all ages. Travel back in time to a Victorian family parlor authentically decorated for the season, or step into a 1950s ranch kitchen stocked with kitchenware used in the Valley. Volunteers at each venue have carefully planned the connections between present and past to ensure a fun-filled journey for the entire family. Holidays on the Farm offers free admission to activities and entertainment as well as modestly priced tours from 10am to 2pm on Saturday, December 1st and Saturday, December 8th on the Forest Home Farms property at 19953 San Ramon Valley Boulevard. Live reindeer and Santa will welcome children both days. Until his supply is ex- Pat Boom stocks the Gift Shoppe with hausted, Santa will give each young visitor a baskets of Forest Home Farms mixes and novelty teapots. small handcrafted stuffed toy. Handmade gifts were traditional until retailers began pitching purchased presents in the late nineteenth century. An advertisement for Jones Bazar [sic] run in the Oakland Enquirer on December 12, 1891 features Santa talking on the telephone: “Yes, this is Santa Claus. No, I haven’t all the articles you speak of. You don’t expect me to carry a complete stock like Jones, do you?” Making wooden ornaments, decorating cookies, or completing a toy at the Stuffa-Bear booth will engage visKimberly Schilling and Michele Lasagena help Alice Reynolds unpack itors in generather Pooh collection for the Museum’s Christmas Memories Exhibit. ing their own connections to the past. For those less inclined to hands on experiences, the Gift Shoppe offers baskets of baking mixes made for Forest Home Farms, books, toys, holiday mugs, and more. Vendors will sell handcrafted items on December 8th. Like many members of the San Ramon Historic Foundation that works in partnership with the City of San Ramon to fund and maintain FHF, Pat Boom knew Ruth Boone personally. Ruth gifted the FHF property to the City of San Ramon to preserve the memory of her husband Travis, whose parents purchased the farm in 1900. Pat interviewed Ruth for the video shown in the Visitors Center and subsequently donated to the FHF archives the postcard

See Holidays continued on page 21 Local Postal Customer

PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Permit 263 Alamo CA

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Over ten years ago parishioners at St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church in Danville found that Adopt a Family holiday wish lists from Monument Crisis Center clients often included a request for bikes as a means of transportation. Out of those simple requests the Adopt a Family Bikes group was born. For a couple years used bikes were donated and tires repaired by a woman who spent time during her teens working in a bike shop. Later, David Struck, a father from John Baldwin Elementary school responded to a school flyer and offered up a couple bikes. When he reached Tania H. De Young the Adopt a Family Coordinator at St. Timothy’s he asked a simple question that catapulted the program to the next level. “Who fixes the bikes when you get them?” he asked. The Adopt a Family Bikes program kept growing when David stepped in and spent countless hours cleaning, repairing, and safety checking donated bikes.

See Bikes continued on page 26

Welcome Aboard the Diablo Valley Lines! By Fran Miller The mention of a model railway likely evokes the mental image of a parent and child gathered ‘round the Christmas tree as their electric toy train chugs along on its circuitous route. However, a trip to the Diablo Valley Lines Railroad layout of the Walnut Creek Model Railroad Society (WCMRS) in Walnut Creek’s Larkey Park will quickly terminate that image. “We are not playing with toys here; we are operating a model railroad,” says member Ted Moreland with a wink. A survey of the Society’s approximately eighteen hundred square foot layout in their own building, specially designed and constructed by WCMRS members, confirms that this past time is indeed more than child’s play. Featuring nostalgic steam locomotives, modern diesels, a narrow gauge logging road, and electric traction lines on 4,300 feet of hand laid track with 175,000 individual ties over 54 x 32 feet, 400 working switches or turnouts, and several miles Volume IV - Number 2 of electrical wire, the WCMRS layout operation 3000F Danville Blvd. #117, Alamo, CA 94507 requires a dispatcher to communicate with several (925) 405-6397 engineers who are provided a high-above-the-track Fax (925) 406-0547 bird’s eye view. The WCMRS layout is believed to be the most mountainous model railroad of its kind Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher editor@ anywhere. The highest peak is about 1,350 yourmonthlypaper.com scale feet above the floor (measured in HO 1/87 scale) and the highest trackage is some The opinions expressed herein belong and do not necessarily 400 scale feet above the base table. A train’s torefltheectwriters, that of Danville Today News. Danville Today News is not complete single circuit of the mainline takes responsible for the content of any of 45 minutes. the advertising herein, nor does

See Trains continued on page 16

publication imply endorsement.

Page 2 - December 2012 ~ Danville Today News

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Boulevard View By Alisa Corstorphine, Editor It’s the holidays again, and our calendars are filling up. There are shopping plans and gift lists to be made. While at a store the other day I heard kids pestering their parents for the latest and greatest “i” devices and fad clothing. If you’re like one of my kids, you’re hoping for a new pair of comfy, classic fur-lined slippers, which my son calls “walking on foxes (because they’re so soft!).” As I sift through ads looking for gifts to buy, I can’t help but wonder which things will stand the test of time. What is going to be something that is used again and again, and what’s going to sit on a shelf? Which items will actually be more exciting than playing with the box it came in? I looked at my smartphone and counted all the apps I’ve loaded over the last few years. How many of these apps do I use regularly, and how many were just a fad at the time? Which game consoles and video games that kids clamored for over the last 10 years are actually played anymore? Isn’t it interesting that first-person-shooter games come and go, but classics like Pacman, Frogger, Asteroids, Pong, Gallaga, and Super Mario Brothers seem to be the games that endure? I’m not at all surprised that the ones that were the must-have’s of a few years ago such as Halo, Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, and Doom (hmmm, I sense a theme here) all sit in the drawer most likely never to be touched again. Unlike a classic game, I doubt anyone will ever bring one of these temporarily popular games back for people to play 25 years from now, but I’ll bet we’ll still see Pacman and Asteroids being played in bars! If you are looking for a gift for a child, think back to your fondest childhood holiday memories and what made the gifts special for you. There’s an automatic fascination for all things electronic, but my opinion is that none of them have the staying power of things like Legos, a Slinky, Jenga blocks, Hot Wheels or Matchbox cars, or simple art supplies like a 64-box of crayons or some felt pens. My husband warmly remembers opening his box of 64 crayons each Christmas day and the excitement of seeing their finely sharpened tips all lined up in a row, and I’ll bet he’s not alone. Gifts like these are truly timeless, even for adults. So much of what’s offered these days is over-marketed plastic junk that’s

tied into the latest over-marketed movie for kids, and it quickly ends up in the landfill. I fondly remember toys such as a shiny new bike, roller skates, a skateboard, balls, a Wham-O Frisbee, a Duncan yo-yo, and hula hoops - interestingly these are all outdoor toys that got us moving around outside and playing with friends. Stockings were sometimes filled with jumbo-sized colored chalk to use outdoors, a Rubik’s cube, a LifeSavers Sweet Storybook, and, as traditional in our family, an avocado. If you are looking for other classics a good board game is timeless. Backgammon, chess, checkers, and decks of cards have existed for thousands of years. Since 1949 Candyland has enchanted young kids, Monopoly has lasted over 75 years, and the game of Scrabble has been around over 60 years. Why do these classics stay popular? I think it’s because they combine the right amount of luck with skill, and they keep us thinking. There are many books that are classics, that also make great gifts. Of course there is the Bible, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Gone with the Wind, Atlas Shrugged, Pride and Prejudice, A Tale of Two Cities, Charlotte’s Web, A Christmas Carol, Alice in Wonderland, Little Women, Treasure Island, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, The Chronicles of Narnia, Winnie the Pooh, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Good Night Moon, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and the entire Dr. Seuss collection to name just a few of many. And don’t forget about the entire Harry Potter collection, which I know many adults enjoy just as much as their kids. Trendy things are not meant to last, and they represent a phase that society goes through that people want to be a part of. After a trend passes, one may ask, “What were we thinking?!” We’ve probably all had those cringing moments while sorting through old family photos and looking at crazy hairstyles or fashion faux-pas. However, a little black dress, a string of beautiful pearls, a pair of crisp blue-jeans, a white button down shirt, a snappy tie, a comfy sweatshirt, a classic peacoat, or a pair of sturdy cowboy boots are timeless and will always look great - and they make for great gifts! Hopefully this has given you a few ideas and caused you to think back to the little, enduring things that made your holidays so special growing up. I hope this helps you bring that magic forward for all to share, and I wish you a safe and happy holiday season.

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Danville Today News ~ December 2012 - Page 3

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AAUW Holiday Home Tour

Danville Women’s Club’s Holiday Boutique

The Danville-Alamo-Walnut Creek AAUW group will hold their 8th Annual Holiday Home Tour on December 7th and 8th from 10am - 4pm. Six decorated homes in Danville, Walnut Creek, and Alamo will be included in the tour. Tickets costing $30-$35 can be purchased at the East Bay Flower Company located at 206 Sycamore Valley Rd. West in the Danville Livery. AAUW advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy, and research. Danville-Alamo-Walnut Creek AAUW offers scholarships and supports women for personal and professional growth, community leadership, and friendship. AAUW membership is open to all graduates of accredited four-year colleges or universities and those holding an Associate Degree or equivalent. Prospective members can contact Tena at (925) 837-0826 or membershipvp@aauw-da.org. For more information, visit www.aauw-daw.org.

You are invited to the Danville Women’s Club Holiday Boutique to be held Saturday, December 8th, in our clubhouse located at 242 Linda Mesa Avenue Danville. Come over and do some holiday shopping with us. We’ll have holiday decorations, crafts, cards, gifts, and yummy holiday baked goods. The Boutique is open from 9am to 3pm. Complimentary coffee and hot apple cider will be served to our guests. Shop early for the best selection. Danville Women’s Club is 101 years old. For information on membership and events visit us at www.danvillewomensclub.org or email danvillewc@gmail. com. We are a 501(c)3 not for profit organization serving the communities of the Tri Valley.

Delta Nu Psi Holiday Collection Happy Holidays to all! We have reached a milestone and have now sent 1,000 boxes of “gourmet junk food” weighing over 25,000 pounds to our service people in the War Zone. Our next collections will be held December 7th at CVS in Alamo and December 14th at Lunardi’s in Danville. We will be in front of the stores from 11am to 2pm on both days. Please come shop for our service men and women.

A Date Which Will Live in Infamy st

Marking the 71 anniversary on December 7 , the Town of Danville will be presenting a very unique Buzz Session at the Danville Senior Center, located at 115 E. Prospect Avenue, in honor of those who lost their life during the surprise attack of Pearl Harbor. Wayne Korsien, a 22-year honorary member of the Pearl Harbor Survivors’ Association and current chairman of the Pearl Harbor Ceremony, will discuss the attack and why the country’s leaders were caught off guard. Visit www.danville.ca.gov or call (925) 314-3400 for more information.

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Celebrate the Joy of Remembrance at the 26 Annual Hospice of the East Bay Tree of Lights Hospice of the East Bay invites the public to participate in its 26th Annual Tree of Lights ceremonies to be held throughout Contra Costa County. Each light on every tree is symbolic of a life and will shine in honor or memory of a beloved friend or family member. Please join any of the commemorative ceremonies to enjoy music, poetry, remembrances by family members and friends of Hospice, and the special moment when the tree lights up. • Alamo Tree ~ Wednesday, December 12th, 12:15PM, Alamo Women’s Club, 1401 Danville Boulevard, Alamo • Danville/San Ramon Tree ~ Friday, December 14th, 5:30PM, reception follows, Town Meeting Hall, 201 Front Street, Danville Lights can be dedicated for a minimum gift of $25. Donors of $100 or more have the option of having their name listed in the tree lighting program. Taxdeductible tree sponsorships range from $250 to $10,000. Proceeds from Tree of Lights ceremonies benefit our communities and the patients and families in the care of Hospice of the East Bay. 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. For light purchases, donations, sponsorships, and event questions call (925) 887-5678 or visit www.hospiceeastbay.org.

Students and Art Educators Featured in Exhibition The “Who Am I?” exhibition depicts original artwork from students throughout the San Ramon Valley and symbolizes their definition of “Who Am I?” The exhibit which runs through December 15th, will explore the students’ creativity and personal narrative through story-telling and imagery. All levels of education will be represented in order to reveal the artistic development and thought process of the elementary, middle, and high school students as well as their instructors. Participating schools include Alamo, Athenian, California, Charlotte Wood, Christian Academy, Del Amigo, Diablo Vista, Dougherty Valley, Gale Ranch, Green Valley, Iron Horse, Montair, Monte Vista, Pine Valley, Rancho Romero, San Ramon Valley, St. Isidore, Stone Valley, Venture, Vista Grande, and Windemere Ranch. The exhibit is being held at the Village Theatre Art Gallery located at 233 Front St., in Danville. Visit www.villagetheatreartgallery.com or call (925) 314-3400 for more information.

Wind ‘n Sea Sailing Club The non-profit Wind ‘n Sea Sailing Club is holding sailing classes at member's homes in Danville. The next class,“General Sailing Skills, Knots, and Terminology,” will be held Wednesday, December 12th at 7PM. Contact Jan at 925-837-3381 for information.

Alamo-Danville Newcomers Club Please join members of the Alamo-Danville Newcomers Club at a free Welcome Coffee on Thursday, December 6th from 10AM to noon to learn about the Club. For further information call (925) 281-1307.

Books for the Homebound If you or someone you know has a passion for reading and can no longer visit the library, find out more about the Danville Library’s Books for the Homebound program, a free and unique library service. Trained library volunteers check out and deliver books to homebound individuals residing in their own homes or residential care facilities. Contact Sandra Paiva, Volunteer Coordinator, at the Danville Library at (925) 837-4889 for more information.

Ring in the Holidays! Members from the Alliance of Women Professionals recently lent their support to the women living at Shepherd’s Gate by donating some of their professional time, tips, and expertise in the areas of financial advising, accounting, chiropractic, real estate, salon services and professional coaching with residents at the shelter who may not have access to these types of services. The Alliance of Women Professionals is a small business networking group that meets twice a month to share business leads and host events to give back to the community and non-profit organizations. For more information about the group please contact Sima Alefi at 925-648-2590.

Blackhawk Republican Women Federated The Annual Christmas Luncheon for Blackhawk Republican Women Federated will be held Friday, December 14th. The new officers for 2013 will be installed by Roseann Slonsky Brult. Marines with the Toys for Tots program will be in attendance, so please bring a gift for a child (unwrapped). The event will take place at the Blackhawk Country Club, located at 599 Blackhawk Club Dr. in Danville. Check–in will be at 11:30AM, and the fee is $25 per person. Reservations can be made with Marianne Lyons by emailing rylons1009@ sbcglobal.net or calling (925)820-6452. For further information regarding activities of the club or to obtain membership information, visit our website www.blackhawkrwf.org.

with The Blackhawk Chorus The East Bay’s Best Holiday Music for the Entire Family

Saturday, December 8th, 7PM Dougherty Valley Performing Arts Center 10550 Albion Rd, San Ramon For tickets, $25 for adults, $17 for ages 15 and under, call 925-973-3343 or visit www.sanramon.ca.gov/parks/theater/dvpac.htm

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Danville Today News ~ December 2012 - Page 5

Timeless Motion Pictures at Village Theatre The Town of Danville presents a classic movie during this holiday season in the downtown Village Theatre. If you have enjoyed performances in this historical location, then you will love seeing this classical movie in the quaint, small theatre with a newly renovated sound system. Thursdays @ the VT will screen A Christmas Story on December 13th. Start off your evening by channeling the characters from movies past; wear appropriate and inspired costumes to the show. Prizes will be given for best and most creative costumes. The show starts at 8pm, and $5 tickets are on sale now. For more information call (925) 314- 3400 or visit www.villagetheatreshows.com.

Holiday Dinners

SRVHS Winter Boutique and Fair The San Ramon Valley High School Leadership Class of 2015 will hold a Winter Boutique and Fair on Saturday, December 1st from 10am-3pm at the School located at 501 Danville Blvd. in Danville. There will be over 50 specialty vendors, activities for kids, as well as entertainment and demonstrations for all. This fundraiser helps contribute towards the class junior prom, senior ball and grad night. Various clubs at the school will also have tables at the event to raise money for their club (cheerleading, band, biking team, etc.) . For more information Contact Helga Glasson at 925-212-0986.

$30 per person menu Ham & Spinach-Stuffed Pasta Shells Fresh-baked breads Hot vegetable Specialty Salad Delectable Dessert

A Christmas Performance with the Danville Community Band The 80+-piece, all-volunteer Danville Community Band, presents “A Christmas Fantasy,” a program of memorable and exciting holiday music including Secret Agent Santa, The Eighth Candle, Holst’s Winter Suite, and much more. Join us for our annual family event as the band celebrates the holidays on Sunday, December 9th at 3pm. The free performance will be held at the East Bay Fellowship located at 2615 Camino Tassajara, in Danville. For more information visit www. danvilleband.org.

$34 per person menu Beef Wellington Garlic mashed potatoes Fresh-baked breads Hot vegetable Specialty Salad Delectable Dessert

ring your office staff, organization, or team to Westminster Retreat this Holiday season for a special celebration.

T For Reservations & Tour 925-837-4481

he Manor is beautifully decorated for the season and special menu items are available. Non-alcoholic beverages are included.

November 23-December 20, 2012 Minimum of 15 guests

WESTMINSTER RETREAT 512 Hemme Avenue, Alamo, CA 925.837.4481 United Camps, Conferences & Retreats

www.UCCR.org 800.678.5102

$32 per person menu Poached Salmon with Mango Chutney Fresh-baked breads Hot vegetable Specialty Salad Delectable Dessert

Contact Site Director Viki Spain for a tour and planning meeting at (925) 837-4481 Award-winning author and speaker, Viki Kappel Spain, M.Ed., is the new Site Director at Westminster Retreat on Hemme Avenue in Alamo, a conference and retreat center managed by United Camps, Conferences and Retreats.

Welcomes

KITCHEN

Ace is the place for all of your hardware, garden, holiday, gift, and KITCHEN needs. Shop local! Easy parking, old-fashioned customer service.

3211 Danville Blvd, Alamo 925.837.2420 Monday ~ Friday 6am - 8pm Saturday 7am - 8pm Sunday 8am - 7pm Come visit our Holiday Village with a large selection of interior and exterior decorating items. Our staff are here to help you find the perfect tree for your home.

Quality, upscale, and unique items. Gift wrapping and corporate gifts. Something for every taste and budget.

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Page 6 - December 2012 ~ Danville Today News

Danville Library Programs Tuesday, December 11th, 4pm - In a holiday tradition the Fratello Marionettes return with a new program - Aladdin! See Aladdin's adventure with an evil sorcerer, a magic lamp, and a powerful genie. The show takes place in the Children's Reading Room, and is suitable for all ages. Wednesday, December 12th, 4pm - Come to the holiday storytime featuring winter stories and crafts! Storytime is held in the Children's Reading Room. No registration is required. Tuesday December 18th, 4pm - Join us for Holiday Dance Around the World in the Children’s Reading Room which promises to be fun for the whole family! Learn easy dances from the North Pole to the South Pole, like Sevivon, the spinning dreidel dance from Israel, Jingle Bells, Gun Xi Ni for the Chinese New Year, and many more! Wednesday December 19th, call for time- Holiday Food Crafts for Tweens. Grades 5-8. Break the rules while we play with our food. We will create some fun holiday food crafts to eat or keep. Registration is required. All events take place at the Danville Library located at 400 Front St., in Danville. For more information about any of the events stop by the Library or call 925-837-4889.

Bringing Cheer to all “Who’s” Far and Near Every “Who” down in Who-ville, the tall and the small, will be celebrating Elf Workshop with crafts, joy and all. Come down all you “Who’s” ages one through nine, get your photo taken with Santa, and have a good time. Merriments will take place Saturday, December 8th at the Danville Community Center. Light refreshments will be served. There are two sessions to choose from for this event; 9AM to 11AM or 11:30AM to 1:30PM. Space is limited! Pre-registration is required and walk-ins cannot be accommodated. Registration is limited to online or mail-in only. Online registration is recommended at www.danvillerecguide.com, or mail registration forms to the Danville Community Center, 420 Front Street, Danville, CA 94526. Volunteers are needed to help with this event. For more information or to sign up as a volunteer, visit www.danville.ca.gov/Volunteer_Opportunities. Visit www.danville.ca.gov or call (925) 314-3400 for more information.

Youth Theatre Company Presents Sleeping Beauty Come see Civic Arts Education’s Youth Theatre Company Kids performing Sleeping Beauty Jr. at 7PM on December 6, 7, and 10 at the Shadelands Auditorium located at 1111 N. Wiget Lane in Walnut Creek. It’s princess Aurora’s sixteenth birthday, and Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather must use their fairy magic to save her from the spell of evil sorceress Maleficent. This classic fairytale told Disney-style features a large chorus, from King Stefan and Queen Stefanie’s Loyal Subjects to Maleficent’s slimy goons, giving members of Kids Theatre plenty of fun characters to portray. Songs from the beloved film, including “Once Upon a Dream,” accompany fun new songs like “Maleficent!” and “A Little Magic Now” to bring a fresh telling of the story to a new generation of kids and families. Tickets to Sleeping Beauty Jr. are $10 and can be purchased at the door or by calling 943-5946.

Danville/Sycamore Rotary

Exchange Club of San Ramon Valley

If you are interested in visiting the Danville/Sycamore Valley Rotary Club, contact club president Jim Coleman at coleman_jd@pacbell.net. Meetings are held on Tuesdays at 7AM at Crow Canyon Country Club.

The Exchange Club of San Ramon Valley meets for lunch the second Wednesday of every month at Faz Restaurant in downtown Danville. The onehour program features guest speakers and a business networking speaker. Guests are welcome. For more information, call Karen Stepper, President, at (925) 275-2312, email coachstepper@yahoo.com, or visit www.srvexchangeclub.org.

Danville Rotary The Danville Rotary Club meets every Monday at noon at Faz restaurant in Danville. For more information, contact membership chairperson Jim Crocker at jimcrocker@pacbell.net or by phone at 925-577-6159.

Lost Dog! $50 REWARD

If you find him and your name is drawn!

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

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

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

Rob Sherman is our winner!

Danville Lions Club The Danville Lions Club invites you to join us for dinner and to learn more about how our club serves the community. Meetings are held at the Brass Door, 2154 San Ramon Valley Blvd, San Ramon on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of each month at 7PM. For more information, please call Dr. Brent Waterman at (925) 275-1990.

San Ramon Valley Genealogical Society The San Ramon Valley Genealogical Society meets at 10AM the third Tuesday of every month, except August and December, at the Danville Family History Center, 2949 Stone Valley Road, Alamo. There will be a speaker at every meeting. Everyone is welcome. For information, call Ed at (925) 299-0881, visit www.srvgensoc.org, or email SRVGS@SRVGenSoc.org.

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Danville Today News ~ December 2012 - Page 7

The Blackhawk Chorus presents Ring in the Holidays In its 22nd year of performance, the 140-member, mixed-voice The Blackhawk Chorus is presenting Ring In The Holidays, a concert of stellar holiday music for the whole family this season. The Chorus will offer a program with something for everyone in the family. It will include a stunning Morton Lauridsen composition based on a James Agee poem called Sure On This Shining Night, compelling new arrangements of traditional favorites like Here We Come A-Wassailing, God Rest You Merry Gentlemen and Silent Night and a lovely December’s Keep based on Chopin’s Prelude in C Minor. The Blackhawk Chorus is delighted once again to be accompanied by the Golden Gate String Quartet in these concerts. This quartet includes accomplished musicians from major regional orchestras. The Blackhawk Chorus’ Assistant Director Randall Benway will accompany the Chorus on the piano. The Blackhawk Chorus under founding director Diane Gilfether will present its concert for all ages at 7pm, Saturday, December 8th, at the Dougherty Valley Performing Arts Center located at 10550 Albion Road in San Ramon. The Blackhawk Chorus will also perform at Temple Hill in Oakland on Sunday, December 9th. “We are singing better than we ever have,” says Diane Gilfether, founding director of The Blackhawk Chorus. “Singing with all of the music memorized greatly improves performance and adds to a wonderful experience for our audience. We’ve added strong new voices to our existing base of excellent singers. This new Blackhawk Chorus concert program provides an excellent way to start the holiday season – and tickets usually sell out quickly. Tickets for the Dougherty Valley Performing Arts Center concert are $25 for adults and $17 for children 15 and under. Call 925-973-3343 to order tickets or visit www. sanramon.ca.gov/parks/theater/dvpac.htm to order online. The Blackhawk Chorus began in 1991 with 12 women whose dedication to and fondness for music was exemplary. Under the direction of former opera star and voice coach Diane Gilfether, word spread of the success of the group and in the following year, men were invited to participate. Now the 140-strong chorus performs regularly in the East San Francisco Bay Area. The Blackhawk Chorus just completed a successful tour of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland in May/ June of 2012, performing at the Banqueting House in London, in Wales and at both Waterford Cathedral and Cork City Hall in Ireland. For more information about the chorus visit www.blackhawkchorus.com.

Voices of Musica Sacra Voices of Musica Sacra sings the Glory of Christmas, featuring Rutter’s Gloria and other carols and songs of the season with organ, brass, and percussion. A carol sing-along will also take place. Shows will be held Friday, December 14th at 8pm, at Walnut Creek United Methodist Church located at 1543 Sunnyvale Ave. in Walnut Creek, and Sunday, December 16th at 2pm at St. Stephen Catholic Church, located at 1101 Keaveny Ct., Walnut Creek Tickets are $20 adults, $15 seniors 60+, $10 students, and children 5-12 are free. See www.vmschorus.org for details and ticket purchase information.

Contra Costa Wind Symphony The Contra Costa Wind Symphony presents a four-sister harp ensemble, “The Four Graces.” Join the Symphony in celebrating the holiday season in a free concert of music designed to warm hearts with familiar carols, rollicking Christmas favorites, and selections from Rachmaninoff’s Vespers on December 17th at 7:30pm at Walnut Creek Presbyterian Church located at 1801 Lacassie Avenue, in Walnut Creek. For more information visit www.CCWindSymphony.org.

Clarinet Fusion Clarinet Fusion, performing as a clarinet choir under the baton of Dr. Lawrence Anderson, presents “A Clarinet Christmas,” Sunday, December 2nd at 11am at the Blackhawk Auto Museum in Danville. Come see and hear a unique ensemble of seven different instruments of the clarinet family, from the tiny Sopranino Clarinet in Ab (a.k.a. Piccolo Clarinet) to the largest Contrabass Clarinet in BBb. The concert will feature a variety of tunes, including Carol of the Bells, Hallelujah Chorus, Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring, Sleigh Ride, selections from The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, We Wish You a Merry Christmas, and more. The concert is free with paid admission to the Museum. Come early to enjoy the wonderful exhibits as well as the current “International Automotive Treasures” exhibition. The museum is located at 3700 Blackhawk Plaza Circle, Danville and will be open 10am to 5pm. For more information about Clarinet Fusion, contact Karyn Weber at (925) 372-8847 or karyn.weber@sbcglobal.net.

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www.yourmonthlypaper.com St. Isidore School is Preparing for the Prince of Peace By Maria Ward, Principal

Page 8 - December 2012 ~ Danville Today News

St. Isidore School is about community, and there is no greater witness to this than the Advent and Christmas seasons. Our teachers and students are busy preparing for the celebration of the birth of our Lord. The four weeks prior to Christmas, called Advent, traditionally represents hope, joy, peace, and love. This is felt the moment you enter our school. These are happy times, but we know not everyone is as blessed as our community. We foster a sense of stewardship and giving to our community. As St. Francis says, “It is in giving that we receive.” As a school, we support our sister schools in Oakland, St. Anthony, St. Elizabeth, and St. Jarlath with our annual Christmas Boutique. Each of our school families are asked to donate 20 of the same gifts, which they bring to school, and then each of our students has the opportunity to buy the items! The items are priced from .25 cents to $2 dollars. The students come with lists to purchase items for their parents, siblings, cousins, grandparents and friends, etc. They come with an empty shopping bag and leave with a shopping bag filled with presents! ALL the proceeds are then calculated and given to the three schools we support for the holidays. It is a wonderful, festive tradition. We are truly thankful to all the parents and volunteers involved who make this special day possible. This month we also support the Knights of Columbus with their annual toy drive on Friday, December 14th. At our all school Advent liturgy service hosted by the 6th grade, our students donate a new, wrapped toy for a needy child. At the end of the liturgy, the students quietly process up to the altar with their wrapped toy, one by one, and give it to one of the many Knights of Columbus on hand. From there, the Knights make Christmas baskets in our gym for those families in need. This was another amazing day for our school and wonderful opportunity for our students to give. During this month our students participate in activities to help others that are in need. Our school families helped military veterans in VA hospitals by creating hand-made Christmas cards. These were an expression of thanks and gratitude for all they have given to our country. Two of our sixth grade students organized a school fundraiser that donated all proceeds to military families at Camp Pendleton. Lastly, classes are participating in the Macy’s Make-A-Wish Believe campaign. Students will make as many cards as they can to raise money. On Thursday, December 13th, we will have our school Christmas concert led by our new music teacher. Parents, relatives, neighbors, and all come to hear our students sing Christmas carols. Before we take off for our Christmas break, our 1st grade students re-live the story of Christ at our all school liturgy on Friday, December 21st. We welcome all to celebrate Mass with us that day. As you go through this festive season, take time to give thanks and remember what is truly important in life. I hope each of you and your families have a MERRY CHRISTMAS.

Stone Valley Middle School By Shaun K. McElroy, Principal 2013 California Distinguished School Nominations Announced Stone Valley was one of just a few middle schools in Contra Costa County to receive the California Distinguished School Nomination. Seven of the eight SRVUSD middle schools received the nod while only four schools outside of SRVUSD received a nomination. Dougherty Valley HS was the lone high school Nominee from San Ramon. This is Stone Valley’s 7th nomination. We are truly proud to be amongst this year’s nominees.

Breakfast Fundraiser The week before Thanksgiving recess our leadership students sold breakfast food items to SV students before the start of the school day. All proceeds were sent to the Red Cross and targeted for the victims of Hurricane Sandy.

Common Core State Standards Last month I wrote about the changes we could expect from the adoption of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). Our teachers are using two of our early release Wednesdays each month to prepare for the change in instructional methodology. We are focusing on Depth of Knowledge (DOK) activities. DOK activities are rated on a 1-4 scale based on the complexity of the task. The higher the DOK level, the greater the student engagement and involvement. This type of instructions prepares students for real world work situations. To accommodate the new style of instruction, we have formed a Block Scheduling Committee. We are exploring a change in schedule for the fall for 2013. If you are interested in participating in our scheduling discussion, RSVP to smcelro@srvusd.net.

Smarter Balanced Assessment CCSS brings about a new testing protocol that is dramatically different from the STAR test. Beginning in the spring of 2015, students will be taking the Smarter Balance Assessment. The link I’ve provided will take you to some sample exams that I think you will find exciting - www.smarterbalanced.org.

Parent Education - Raising Boys to be Men of Character Thanks to Mark Wollan from Community Presbyterian Church for providing our parents with another excellent workshop that helps to build our skills as parents. Mark helped us prepare an individual step-by-step plan of how we can enhance the way we are raising our sons. The two most important aspects of the workshop were creating a definition of manhood and a code of conduct. We used these aspects to create a customized plan for our sons. Here’s what we came up with: A real man rejects passivity, accepts responsibility, leads courageously and expects a greater reward.

This is a code of conduct based on three to four values that we adhere to and can model for our boys. As added insurance, Mark asked us to select a person to check-in with in a week to insure that we are following through with the plan.

Parent Education Opportunity Our 10th annual “Dads Night Out” is scheduled for January 24, 2013.

Measure D and Proposition 30 Thank you for your votes on Measure D and Proposition 30. The success of Measure D will help to build a new Stone Valley from the ground up. Stone Valley opened the doors in 1950, and not much has changed since that time. We are well overdue for an “Extreme School Makeover.” The passage of Propositions 30 will help us dodge the draconian cuts that were to be set in motion in Governors December budget revisions.

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SRV Christian Academy By Jan Brunkal, Principal This is a wonderful time of year around SRVCA. We just celebrated Thanksgiving with harvest parties, buddy activities, colonial day, and a wonderful Thanksgiving chapel. Now we are moving into the most blessed time of year, Christmas. Kindergarten through fifth grade students are practicing for their Christmas musicals under the direction of Miss Katie Hugill. Our K-2nd graders will be presenting Christmas Cupcake, the story of children who enter a cupcake baking contest and learn that working together, honesty, and Jesus’ birth really are the best ingredients for the “Sweetest Story.” This performance will take place December 14th during our 9am chapel. Our 3rd-5th graders will be sharing their acting and singing talents at an evening performance, December 4th at 7pm. Students will share the true meaning of Christmas in the musical, The Christmas Shoe Tree, a story about children giving shoes to those who need them. We are asking our school families to live out the message of this performance by bringing gently used shoes to the show. Shoes will be donated to Soles for Souls. Our students also participated in “Operation Christmas Child” again this year. Students filled shoe boxes with toys, toiletries, socks, hard candy, and other small items that children would enjoy. These boxes are then sent to less fortunate children around the world. Children from Africa, Romania, and other parts of the world are so happy with the knowledge that they were remembered during this holiday season. Not only are they thrilled with the gifts, but even the boxes themselves are special. In partnership with Community Presbyterian Church, we collected over 300 boxes this year. In addition to participating in these exciting service opportunities, SRVCA students will be singing Christmas carols and hymns at local retirement and nursing homes. They are excited to spend time with the residents, sharing the Good News of the season.

Charlotte Wood Middle School By Christopher George, Principal It feels like no sooner had we gotten the year off the ground then we are talking about the Holidays, with an early Thanksgiving Break already here and the Winter Break to follow soon after. That said, we have had a great first quarter and a great beginning. Teachers and students have been in classrooms with innovative lessons, and those lessons are in the early stages of reflecting the needs of the new Common Core State Standards. To begin with this month, we are going through a very important personnel change at Charlotte Wood starting Thanksgiving Break. Our beloved Office Manager, Priscilla Wolfram, retired on November 16th. She has been an integral part of Charlotte Wood’s success and culture throughout the last decade, and she has worked tirelessly to make our office work in the best ways possible. Please join me in wishing her the best in her retirement, as we will miss her. As part of that change, we will also welcome our new Office Manager, Michelle Bellamy. Michelle comes to us highly recommended from her position as the Financial Secretary at Los Lomas High School in Walnut Creek. To our students’ credit, behavior and discipline data shows that our students are doing a fantastic job of being at school and concentrating on learning. We have had fewer suspensions and disciplinary incidents than ever before, and we are very proud of our students for that. Part of the reason for that, however, is continued and consistent communication between our parents and our teachers. Please remember to keep those communication lines open and to contact our teachers with concerns or questions about your student. We also want to thank our community for the support given to Measure D, even though we do not, as of this writing, know the final outcome of the Measure. We know that these Bond Measures are difficult questions for a community to ask, and that not everyone agrees on them. However, when they do come up, we are reminded just how supportive our community continues to be of our kids and teachers. It is my every hope that we are giving back to our community the excellence and value they expect from their school system.

Do you have a story idea or sporting news? Call us at 925.405.6397, or email us at Editor@YourMonthlyPaper.com. Editor@YourMonthlyPaper.com

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Page 10 - December 2012 ~ Danville Today News

Del Amigo Continuation High School By Joe Ianora, Principal November, December, and January seem to fly by with the variety of breaks and activities scheduled at the High School. We just finished our Thanksgiving celebration, ended our second session, handed out grades, enrolled new students, and received a much needed break…only to return and do it all over again in December and January! Del Amigo has been part of the school district since 1968, and its primary goal has been unchanged – that of “credit recovery.” While Del Amigo provides an opportunity for students to either earn a diploma or return to their home school to graduate, we also attempt to provide an environment that is a safe and structured learning environment. Through the years Del Amigo has earned the reputation that may not be consistent with our district vision. This year we have focused on changing the structure and reputation of Del Amigo – trying to rebuild the image and structure of Del Amigo is no small task, and we are looking to the community for help. As we move into the second half of the year, our students will be greeted with the same opportunity to gain credits but with a much more consistent and structured environment. Some of the changes include a new start time of 8:40AM, with consequences for poor attendance, expanded opportunity for Digital learning via Cyber High School, consistent enforcement of dress code and appropriate language rules, use of an electronic grade book to help us track student progress more efficiently, expanded breakfast program to be served daily, and additional support resources for behavior and addiction issues. Attention to these details, coupled with shifting to focus on the Common Core, will help rebuild the image of Del Amigo High School. This month, we honor Khallil Sidiq as Student of the Month, Thomas Focht as Artist of the Month, and Olympia Anderson as Most Improved Learner. Thank you for your support. Best wishes for a safe and wonderful winter break!

The New Age Elective: iQuest

By, Kelsey Nyland, San Ramon Valley High School senior

iQuest is a new elective program that is taking the San Ramon Valley Unified School District by storm! Okay, maybe not by storm, but it is pretty ground-breaking. The class, offered at California High School, San Ramon Valley High School, and Monte Vista High School, allows students to prepare for life beyond college. Each student picks a “passion,” in other words, what they want to be when they grow up. Then, with the help of an administrator, the student finds a mentor that is willing to teach everything he or she needs to know about their desired profession. Cindi Sekera, who teaches iQuest at San Ramon, says that the class “gives high school seniors the gift of time. Students that have a passion they would like to pursue are given the opportunity to do just that.” iQuest does that and more; the class precludes the usual confusion that college students suffer from: What major do I choose? Concomitantly, students will enter the work force quicker and with more confidence. I have experienced all the wonders of iQuest firsthand, because, as one might assume from the previous statement, I am part of the iQuest program at San Ramon. My passion, again I believe it is fairly obvious, is journalism. After weeks of constant emailing and calling (no one returned my emails, you’re a newspaper editor, I know you check your emails) the editor of Danville Today News volunteered to take me under her figurative wing and teach me the inner workings of a newspaper. Now that I have provided a very vague summary of my iQuest experience, I shall tell you why I love this class. I have a confession: I do not really like school. The concept of textbook learning has no allure, because as a starving-writer-to-be, I can only memorize so many bones in the human body before I spontaneously combust. Let me make things clear; I am in no way declaring school useless, because it is not. I will, however, acknowledge that school occasionally feels futile and pointless, and it is not because I hate homework and tests stress me out. It is because there is a severe deficiency of hands-on learning. School forces students into the vicious learn-and-forget cycle: A student memorizes information the night before the test, and then promptly forgets it five minutes after the exam. There is no real learning by the student in this process, but it is still exhausting. When I heard about iQuest, it immediately excited me, because I had never before been given the opportunity in school to work hands-on with something that I truly enjoy. And now that I have spent twelve weeks in the class, it is even easier for me to see the benefits. I am now positive that journalism is the career path I want to take, and I can enter into the real world with an arsenal full of weapons (writing weapons?) that I would not have had without iQuest. Now, it’s time for the call to arms. Inexplicably, not Sਤ਱ਵਨਭਦ Aਫਠਬਮ & Dਠਭਵਨਫਫਤ Sਨਭਢਤ 1979! all professionals want to enlighten the youth of America. Actually, it is not inexplicable; we can be kind of a pain. Still, if you are a local professional willing to volunteer your time to a confused teenager, contact iQuest (Cindi Sekera at San Ramon High - csekera@srvusd.net or Jennifer Hamilton at Monte Vista High jhamilton@mvhigh. net), because there has never been a program in this district that prepares students for their future as much as this one.

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Monte Vista High School By Janet Terranova, Principal The holidays are approaching and with that one of the busiest times of the year for our students and families. Our fall sports have ended and winter sports are just beginning with practices and scrimmages. The month of December finds not only our sports teams preparing for their season but students participating in our band concerts, drama productions, choral performances, and speech and debate competitions. More importantly, December finds our staff and student body involved in giving back to our community. Under the direction of our Leadership class, the entire school supports our Adopt-a-Family program and our sister school, Verde Elementary, with stockings for the students. This year we hope to provide a happier holiday for 40-50 families in Contra Costa County and brighten the day for hundreds of students at Verde. Our Leadership class visits Verde Elementary School several times during the school year and students report that these visits have had a significant impact on their lives. Leadership is not the only class that supports community service. Our student clubs are often established to provide service to the community. We have over 85 clubs on campus and of those 85 more than 30 of those clubs were established to provide service to the communities. American Red Cross, Alzheimer’s Awareness, Friends of Special Olympics, Ronald McDonald House Charity , and Smiles for Seniors are just a few of the many clubs serving our community. Additionally our students and their families are often involved in community organizations that support community service locally and around the world. This year one of our students was nominated for a Jefferson Award for his foundation, Tickets for College. If you would like more information about Monte Vista and our events, please visit our website at www.mvhigh.org.

San Ramon Valley High School By Ruth Steele, Principal Fall/winter has finally arrived, and for most schools, Thanksgiving break brings welcome rest for both school staff and families. It’s a long road from August to November, and people are tired at this point in the year. It’s been three months since the summer ended, and a lot of lesson planning, grading, test taking, essay writing, and homework for everyone has taken place! At this time of year, it is of particular importance that everyone gets some down time. We all need it – the students, parents, and school staff. November marks a time of year when the season changes, it gets dark earlier, and the days are getting noticeably shorter, so it is not surprising that this seems to be the time of year when almost everyone is struggling with their motivation. This is, after all, when many animals begin hibernating for the winter. When I was a student in England, and a teacher there, I experienced a very different system. School in England is broken up into three terms with a week off halfway through each term. No one is ever in school for more than seven or eight weeks at a time. Fall term ends at Christmas Break with a week off in October. Spring term ends at Spring Break with a week off in February, and the summer term ends in July with a week off in May. There was still a two week Winter Break, a one week Spring Break and a six week Summer Break! I am not saying that it was necessarily a better system, but it did give everyone regular opportunities to recharge and come back to school with more energy each term. We also got three report cards a year, which somehow seemed less painful. Breaks should also give people a chance to truly have time-off from school. As much as I want kids to come to school every day and do their best during class time, I also realize that they can’t do that day after day without getting tired. For kids, this break releases them from the grind of getting

Danville Today News ~ December 2012 - Page 11

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up early, attending six classes, doing classwork, doing homework, attending after school activities, and trying to fit in eating, sleeping, socializing, growing up, figuring out who they are, and coping with being a teenager! These are no small tasks for our students. Their lives are becoming increasingly more hectic, and the pressures of getting into college and the related demands on their time leave little if any room for them to relax. Parents and families are also experiencing the same stressors from a different perspective. There are not always enough hours in the day to fit everything in, and unfortunately the first thing to disappear is our time with our family and friends. As we begin this holiday season, I hope that all of you are able to find some opportunities to hop of the metaphorical treadmill and slow things down a little with your family and friends. Savor the joy of good company, take time to relax, and have fun. It might take a conscious effort to let go of our frantic daily routines, but it is absolutely worth it!

Danville Toastmasters Club The Danville Toastmasters Club meets every Wednesday from 7:30 to 9PM at Diablo Valley College, Room W204. The college is located at 1690 Watermill Road in San Ramon. For more information, visit www.danvilletoastmasters1785.com/ or call Chandra Mundra at 925-389-1468.

Diablo View Toastmasters Club The Diablo View Toastmasters Club meets on Tuesdays 7:55 to 9AM at Center Plaza Building on 2333 San Ramon Valley Boulevard in San Ramon in the conference room (First Floor). For more information, see diabloview. freetoasthost.ws or call Ernie DeCoit at 925-699-7103.

Danville A.M. Toastmasters Club The Danville A.M. Toastmasters Club meets on Tuesdays from 7AM to 8:30AM at Father Nature’s Restaurant on East Prospect in Danville. The first breakfast is on us. Come by to check out the club - you’ll enjoy yourself while learning to be the speaker you want to be. For more information, call Roxie at (925) 837-6253 or visit www.danvilleamtoastmasters.org.

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Page 12 - December 2012 ~ Danville Today News

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Sustainable Danville Area Tip of the Month By Cynthia Ruzzi, President Sustainable Danville Area Let There Be Light Let There Be Light. Could that be the inspiration for the many holiday lights that fill our community throughout the holiday season? Or perhaps it’s just our resistance to the daylight savings time change, plunging us into the dark an hour earlier each winter evening. Whatever the reason, the post-season electric bill is probably the one gift you wish you could return. While I’d like to recommend you consider saving the energy and hours of untangling and hanging thousands of bulbs outside your house, I don’t really want to take the chance of becoming known as the ‘Environmental Scrooge.’ So instead, may I suggest you trade-in your outdated incandescent holiday lights and ‘deck the halls’ with LED holiday lights? Switching to LED lights can mean a higher initial investment, but the real savings comes from reducing your holiday energy costs. As this year’s holiday advertisements rolled in, I noticed many stores offering trade-in and discounts on LED holiday lights. Do a little legwork, comparison shop wisely, and you’ll save yourself some green for your pocket. Also, don’t forget to look for sales after the holiday – it’s a great way to gain additional savings for your holiday wonderland. A quick search on the Internet points to a multitude of cost savings models demonstrating what can be realized by switching from incandescent bulbs to LED lights. Most comparisons start with the assumptions that the average home holiday light display contains at least 500 light bulbs (a conservative estimate for some spirited neighborhood competitors), that the light strings are turned on from sunset to bedtime (six hours per night), and that the season lasts a minimum of 30 days. In the average holiday light string each incandescent bulb (C7) uses six watts of energy. When we compare the LED bulbs usage of .08 watts each, it’s not hard to imagine the savings boost for your holiday decorating fever. So, not to completely bore you with the price of kilowatt hours in the PG&E 3, 4 and 5 tiers, let me just say that the larger your holiday light tradition, the more

S t e p h a n o s

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dollars there are to save. If saving green for your pocket or ‘doing good’ for the planet isn’t your thing, then consider that LED lights are more durable and safer to run than incandescent lights. LED bulbs generate less heat improving the life span of your holiday twinkle. You can expect LED light strings to last up to 100,000 hours – using our assumptions above at 180 hours a season - your LED lights will outlast Santa! The limited heat output of LED bulbs that contribute to their lifespan also provide safer illumination. The are definitely worth considering as you trim your family Christmas tree this year. Of course, there are advantages of LED lighting over traditional bulbs and CFLs beyond the holiday season. While incandescent 100-watt bulbs have been phased out throughout the US, the benefit of replacing these inefficient bulbs still in your home with LED or CFL is over 75% energy savings. PG&E has a simple efficiency chart online that shows the watts for different bulbs at various lumens (brightness) which can be found at www. pge.com/myhome/saveenergymoney/rebates/light/products/index.shtml. I am not a big fan of CFL bulbs. Each of CFL bulb contains a small amount of mercury which means used bulbs must be treated as hazardous waste. That means it is against the law to put these bulbs in your landfill or recycling bins. Instead, please bring them to your local Ace Hardware or Home Depot that, as a courtesy to their customers, will properly dispose of your residential CFL bulbs. Also, PG&E has a fact sheet, Recycling CFLs: What You Need to Know which can be found at www.pge.com/includes/docs/pdfs/myhome/ saveenergymoney/rebates/factsheet_recyclingcfls.pdf that includes important information about proper clean-up procedures for broken CFL lights. Please keep your family safe, and follow these valuable instructions. Sustainable Danville Area hopes the joy of connecting with your family, friends, and neighbors over simple meals and activities will light your holiday season and all the days of the New Year. There will not be a forum in December, so we can devote time to our loved ones. We hope to see you next year when The Danville Library and Sustainable Danville Area host a three-part speaker series, Food for Thought to nourish your spirit, feed your mind and body, and help the environment. For more information, please visit www.sustainabledanville.com and on Facebook.

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Danville Today News ~ December 2012 - Page 13

Naughty or Nice? By Evan Corstorphine, Portable CIO How many times have you had a really good or really bad experience at a store or restaurant, and wanted to tell someone about it? As consumers, you may be happy to discover there are a growing number of online tools available with which to grade the vendors we use. The most popular, by far, is Yelp (www.yelp.com). Personally, I’ve used Yelp quite a lot when traveling through a strange town or looking for a good place to eat. It seems that someone has always taken the time to give either strong praise or dire warnings about different eateries in every town we visit. Just as in life, you shouldn’t take the word of the first review you read; you need to read several and make note of the consistencies and irregularities in the reviews, and make up your own mind about whether a place is worth a try. I think that if you’re the least bit observant, you can pick up the subtle clues that tell you if a review is planted or genuine. We’ve seldom gone wrong. My wife and daughter used Yelp extensively on a trip to the Eastern seaboard a few years back. They didn’t make plans or reservations, and they simply used Yelp on their iPhones to identify restaurants and Bed & Breakfasts along the way. I don’t think they ever got skunked, although a few times it was tough because they ran out of cell service. We at Portable CIO have established a Yelp account so that our clients can rate their experiences using our services. We’ve never asked anyone to write a review, and what people have written is heartfelt and genuine. However, if you go to Yelp and look up Portable CIO, you’ll immediately be struck by the shopkeeper’s dilemma insofar as Yelp is concerned. Let me explain. While I do appreciate Yelp’s efforts to filter out obvious “shill” reviews (and there are plenty, unfortunately), they go overboard. For example, in our case, today I checked our account and found there are a total of fourteen reviews for Portable CIO. Ten are “filtered” by Yelp because they think they might be planted reviews, which means to see them you have to click an additional link and enter in a code before they’re visible. All ten of them are 5-star reviews from happy customers. Of the remaining four visible reviews, two are five-star, and two are one-star hate-letters from unhappy exclients. The one thing that Yelp does right is that they give the business owner the ability to respond to “hit job” reviews, and to give the viewer their side of the story. In both cases I’ve done so. And with regard to those one-star reviews, I’m philosophical: In a business, you’re going to run across all types of people. The overwhelming majority of the people we work with are great people, and we don’t let the words or actions of a few disturbed individuals deter us from our mission. As you might have calculated, Yelp is showing only 28% of our reviews! In their attempt to be “fair,” they are filtering out the majority of our good reviews because their software thinks they must be planted. So, while as a consumer I have really enjoyed the service, as a business owner I don’t necessarily appreciate their manipulating what the consumer is going to see. I’d prefer, both as a consumer and as a reviewed business-owner, that I see all of the reviews. Let me make up my own mind. I have faith that people are intelligent enough to look past obvious hit-job reviews as well as reviews that are too good to be true or all posted in the same time frame. At least in my case, their attempt to help the consumer is implicitly labeling my business as one with questionably honest reviews, which is as inaccurate as it is undeserved. As for the people who wrote those awful letters, I really don’t worry about them. Some folks have problems going on that color everything they do and every interaction they have with people. You can’t do anything about it, so you just move on. People are smart enough to figure these things out. I hope you give this tool a try as you travel or when you’re just looking for a good place to eat around town. As a business owner, I can assure you we appreciate every single comment, whether they’re glowing praise or constructive criticism. Remember to look at the big picture, and read all the reviews for a company, not just the ones shown. If my situation is any indicator, there are a lot of honest reviews you would want to read being suppressed in the name of “fairness.” Our staff is ready and waiting to help you with your holiday electronics purchases! Give us a call at 925-552-7953 or email helpdesk@theportablecio.com to Advertorial speak with a technician. Happy Holidays!

Page 14 - December 2012 ~ Danville Today News

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Quick Trips

By Linda Summers Pirkle Whale Watching, Moss Landing If you are like me, you have driven by Moss Landing on your way to Carmel and Monterey and have not taken time to explore this â&#x20AC;&#x153;quaint fishing village full of hidden treasures and enjoyable activities,â&#x20AC;? as the Moss Landing Chamber of Commerce Directory says. Moss Landing is on the coast, 25 miles south of Santa Cruz. Whale Watching with Blue Ocean Whale Watch (blueoceanwhalewatch.com) is one activity offered in Moss Landing. My husband loves being on water (Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an ex-Navy guy), so a day on board Blue Ocean Whale Watchâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 60 foot vessel with 30 other passengers was a perfect birthday gift for him. I was pleasantly surprised by the vessel that was to take us 8 to 10 miles out to sea. The Coast Guard certified and inspected vessel has an observation deck with sides that are four feet high and block the wind nicely. The main deck is completely protected with windows all around and easily seats 25 people. The bench on the bow seats nine people. There is a restroom on board. We headed out to sea at 10AM sharp. Just 10 minutes into our four-hour tour, we spotted a Humpback whale! It glided at the top of the water, almost in slow motion, slipped beneath the surface, and flapped its flukes at us. Our group of whale watchers let out a spontaneous â&#x20AC;&#x153;OHHH!â&#x20AC;? Kate Cummings, co-owner of Blue Ocean Whale Watch explains, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Monterey Bay is one of the few places in the world where you can see whales all year long; Humpback whales in the spring, Humpback, Blue and Fin Whales in the summer, Humpback and Blue in the fall, and Migratory Grays in the winter. Anytime of the year thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a 95% chance youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll see some kind of whale. January is one of the best times because we see a higher concentration of Gray whales moving past the Monterey Bay on their south-bound route. There is another high concentration of them in March on their north-bound route.â&#x20AC;? Many of the passengers on our voyage were repeat customers. Michele Duckett from the South Bay says she and her husband Tony try to go whale watching every few weeks. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I spend most weekdays in an office. My weekend trip on the water is a totally therapeutic experience, and Kate and Captain Jim make us feel like we are part of the family.â&#x20AC;? Our group had a â&#x20AC;&#x153;rare experience,â&#x20AC;? according to Kate. We came upon hundreds of Rissoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dolphins. Everywhere we looked there were dolphins. We were all amazed. The only sounds you could hear were splashing water caused by the â&#x20AC;&#x153;dolphin showâ&#x20AC;? as they breached and then the clicking of 25 cameras. â&#x20AC;˘ After the whale watching tour, stop at Haute Enchilada, a cafe just around the corner from the dock. Their iced mint coffee (with fresh mint leaves, chocolate and vanilla) is so refreshing. The cafe has beautiful works of art. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t miss the â&#x20AC;&#x153;fenceâ&#x20AC;? from the 1939 Worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fair Indo-China Building on Treasure Island. It is in the garden area in front of Haute Enchilada. They can be reached at (831) 633-5843. Call for hours. â&#x20AC;˘ Philâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fish Market & Eatery, known for their famous Cioppino, which beat Bobby Flayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in Food Networkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Throwdown, is a few blocks from the dock. They are open Custom Glass daily, except Thanksgiving and Christmas. Doors Their phone number is (831) 633-1775. Blue Ocean Whale Watch can be reached by calling (831) 600-5103. My husband wants to go back for another whale watching day. I know what my Christmas present will be! Book early, they sell out. Linda Summers Pirkle, travel consultant and long term Danville resident, has been arranging and leading tours for the Town of Danville for several years. Inspired by the many wonderful places to visit in the Bay Area, she organizes day trips, either for groups or for friends and family. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a +HU]PSSL trip for my husband and me, my husband *HTPUV ;HZZHQHYH drives and I talk (heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a captive audience) â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the perfect combination! What a great (SHTV place to live, so much to see, so much to Open Tues thru Sat 10 to 6 do.â&#x20AC;? To share your â&#x20AC;&#x153;Quick Tripsâ&#x20AC;? ideas +HU]PSSL )V\SL]HYK :\UKH` [V Â&#x2039; *SVZLK 4VUKH` email Coverthemap@gmail.com.

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Danville Today News ~ December 2012 - Page 15

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Page 16 - December 2012 ~ Danville Today News

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Life in the Danville Garden

Trains continued from front page

By John Montgomery, ASLA, Landscape Architect A Garden Makeover

But, even though skill and know-how are integral, many members readily acknowledge that their interest does indeed stem from fond childhood memories. “I’ve always loved trains,” says Moreland, who has been involved with WCMRS for 36 years and is currently Chairman of the WCMRS Board. “I’m old enough to remember real steam locomotives. When my dad returned from the Korean War, he brought back two footlockers full of model train engines and track. We moved so often while he was in the service, that we never had a chance to set-up the whole thing. Finally, we moved to a home where we could build the layout in the garage…and then I left for college.” Was it a subliminal need to finish what he started? Perhaps; but Moreland cites the simple and majestic strength and power of large locomotives as the allure. “Trains are just kind of cool,” he says. “I can’t really explain it.” While the engineers may seem to have all the fun, successful operation and maintenance of the railway requires skills and cooperation of all types: carpenters and cabinet makers to construct the sound baseboard, artisans to paint and craft the scenery, and electricians to install wiring. There are tasks for all members who are interested in learning, sharing, and growing the ever-changing layout. The society currently boasts a membership of 60, ranging in age from 18 to 90. Work-nights are Fridays and Tuesdays. The layout is open for public viewing the last Friday of each month from 8 – 10pm and the third Saturday and Sunday in January, March, May, and September. Check their website for current schedule updates. New members are invited to help out for three months, at which time one

Everyone knows that good design is “maintenance free” and “lasts forever.” Right! This is why there are so many beautiful gardens existing from the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s with ratty looking junipers and Monterrey pines... you get the picture! You wouldn’t keep your carpet for 30 years, right? So, your Danville garden needs a good makeover as well! There are three basic reasons for a garden makeover: to respond to the changing site conditions which normally occur as a landscape site matures (i.e. stuff gets overgrown), to respond to changing needs of the users of the landscape (i.e. families grow and change), and to re-adapt a site for a new owner (i.e. a new set of uses.) New home sites are generally sunny with bright light and are more exposed to wind, sun, and more harsh conditions. Maturity brings radical changes that are often welcomed. It also brings other changes that are not. Trees finally provide shade cover and shade out once sun-loving plants. Lack of care and poor maintenance practices have taken their toll. Hedges and shrubs have become overgrown hiding the house and blocking good views. These changes give cause for redesign although the overall context of a “welldesigned” landscape may still prevail. Within the life of your Danville home, an owner’s uses will change as kids growup or a family matures and changes. Lifestyles evolve and change. Once busy families who previously had no time to work in the garden are now retired and have time to “putz.” This brings a whole new reason for the landscape. Children learn to swim and a swimming pool is now a requirement. These changes call for careful consideration and should be well thought out. They should be logical and creatively resolved. Garden makeover projects are challenging yet satisfying when properly executed. I enjoy working with my clients to create a new vision for their yard while using a lot of the existing conditions that work such as large established trees, established privacy screening shrubs that are in tact, and specimen plants that would cost thousands to replace. These dramatic changes to a home warrant a garden makeover. As older families move from the neighborhood, new ones move in. When a new family moves in it changes the needs of the landscape. The landscape needs to be redesigned to re-adapt it to the new family or the new home. Rarely does a landscaped site meet all the needs and expectations of the new owner. Re-adapting a site must be clearly articulated and solved as a design problem using an organized design process. Also, some sites are badly neglected and need drastic measures taken to redesign the landscape. Thorough documentation of all existing conditions such as soil, micro-climates, drainage, shade, and wind patterns should be considered. All existing plants, trees, shrubs, and constructed features that are to be considered to remain should be well documented. A creative design solution, which meets the new need and is sensitive to the existing features and conditions of the site, must be developed. Construction of the new landscape must include all necessary measures to protect and preserve all of the worthwhile existing site features and landscape. Potential additions to the makeover will include updated hardscape elements such as paved areas of use, benches and seat walls, retaining walls, steps to make a site usable or to gain new space, dramatic landscape lighting, swimming pools, play courts and kid zones, and sculptures. Times have changed with the recent economic downturn; we are looking at our homes a little differently. We might be more inclined to make incremental or phased investments, and a garden makeover makes more financial sense. Like the design of a new landscape project, a garden makeover should adhere to the design process. Design and budget go hand in hand! A hot tip from your local Landscape Architect: Executing a garden makeover for tired gardens can be a challenge. It can also make all the difference in the appeal of your home. Take time to walk your garden and note what you like and what you dislike. Consider the term of how long you will stay in your home as a basis for planning your garden. Gardening Quote of the month: “In garden arrangement, as in all other kinds

See Trains continued on page 17 of decorative work, one has not only to acquire a knowledge of what to do, but also to gain some wisdom in perceiving what it is well to let alone.” ~Gertrude Jekyll 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. Advertorial

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Danville Today News ~ December 2012 - Page 17

Winter Pruning By Blaine Brende & Joe Lamb Now is a great time to prune your trees to protect them against winter storms. A judicious pruning can reduce the likelihood of branches falling and causing damage to person or property. Evergreens, such as cedars, and many species of deciduous trees, such as valley oaks, can be pruned in the late fall and early winter, and now is by far the best time to prune pines. Monterey pines can only be pruned between October 1 and February 15 without attracting pine beetles. These potentially lethal beetles, which can smell sap from long distances, go dormant in the winter. Some species of beetles carry pine pitch canker, an increasingly common fungal disease that disfigures pine trees and sometimes kills them. If your tree has dead tips scattered throughout the canopy, it probably suffers from pine pitch canker. To prolong the aesthetic life of the diseased tree, prune out the infected tips when the beetles are dormant. Even healthy trees require occasional pruning to keep them safe and beautiful. Many trees are subject to branch and column failure. Thinning the crown reduces the wind-sail effect of the canopy and thereby reduces the risk of the tree failing in a windstorm. Removing weight from the ends of heavy branches reduces the likelihood that those branches will break. Pruning trees for safety is a craft requiring study and experience. A wellpruned tree should not only be safer, it should look beautiful. At Brende & Lamb we take great pride in both the science and the art of pruning. Each plant has a natural growth pattern. Our trimmers are expert at accentuating the shape given the plant by nature. Within the bounds of what is healthy for each species, Brende & Lamb works to make trees as beautiful as possible. Our trimmers are well practiced in aesthetic pruning and are attuned to the artistic flow inherent in tree forms. The form may be weeping, as with Willows and Chinese Elms. In some species, such as Monterey Cypress, branches ascend at acute angles to the trunk, giving the tree an upswept look. Branches in the coast live oak bend and twist, forming complex arcs. Each tree species has a unique form and flow. When necessary, trees and shrubs can be reduced in size, but crown reduction requires a good eye; a poorly reduced tree looks like a thicket of stubs. Topping is almost always a bad idea. However, the crown of many trees can be reduced by cutting back long branches to the crotches formed by shorter branches growing in the same direction. If the branch doesn’t fork, we cut back to the lowest growth point that will neither create a thick stub nor undermine the arching quality of the branch. When a tree or shrub has been reduced in this way, it’s difficult to detect the cuts or tell that the branches have been shortened. Sometimes the form of trees needs to be modified to capture or accentuate views. View pruning requires restraint and a willingness to compromise. In view work, the beauty of the view and the beauty of the tree often seem to be in conflict. Many pruners focus solely on the view and simply hack back the tree. However, more than the tree’s beauty is at stake. Topping stimulates production of water sprouts, and it also causes disease and rot - all of which make the tree more, not less, dangerous. However, view problems can often be solved by looking at tree-and-view as an aesthetic unity, as two elements that complement and frame each other. Sometimes, lightly bringing the tree back without cutting into major branches can prevent further encroachment on the view. To recover even more of the view, we create “windows” by selectively removing branches not essential for the tree’s natural form. We can enlarge these by removing small branches that rise or drop into the view. Thinning above and below the window creates an overall feeling of openness, rather than an abrupt gaping hole. The image of Mount Diablo framed by the trembling needles of a well-windowed Redwood proves that nature and civilization can complement each other - as can aesthetics and practicality. If your trees need a little TLC to protect them against winter winds, or if your property could use a little fire protection, 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.

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Trains continued from page 16 becomes a switchman. Advancement (and increased responsibility) includes the further ranks of brakeman, conductor, engineer, and finally, the top spot of senior engineer. It takes about 1 ½ years to move through the ranks and earn “keys to the building” privileges as well as priority for any committee chair position. Concord resident Rosa Marie Delgman is one of two women members. After six months of membership, she is a brakeman and has learned to take apart and service the engines, change the wheels, add weights for traction, and change couplers. “I watch and learn in anticipation of one day operating the engines,” says Delgman, whose 12-year-old son encouraged her to join WCMRS. “I became fascinated by trains when I was a little girl visiting my uncle in Pittsburgh. The train would pass right in front of his house, and I loved looking at the freight and passengers. When my son was born, we started collecting a train set with a small loop, but with a small house, our track is limited. My son suggested joining a club with a bigger track, so I found WCMRS and have thoroughly enjoyed it.” Like any organization in which participants share a passion, WCMRS inspires strong and lasting friendships. Many work-nights begin with dinner at a local restaurant, and it is not uncommon for members to organize rail related field trips and outings, such as to the Western Railway Museum in Rio Vista or a train ride to the Rail Museum in Sacramento. “After 36 years, you get to know some of these folks fairly well,” says Moreland. “They’re like family.” For more information on WCMRS, visit www.wcmrs.org.

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Page 18 - December 2012 ~ Danville Today News

Clip Notes

By Jody Morgan

Gathering garden greens by the basketful gets my holiday season started. Holly and ivy top my list. Mantelpieces are the first areas I cover with evergreens. Twin vases hold stiff stabbing stalks of holly and supple stems of ivy. I cut the ivy in generous lengths to encircle candle sconces and spill over mantel edges. The foliage lasts throughout the season, but the sprays of flowers I add need to be refreshed once or twice. The custom of greening the house for the holidays has its roots in ancient celebrations of the Winter Solstice. The Romans recognized this turning point in the annual solar cycle as the Birthday of the Unconquered Sun. They extended the occasion into a weeklong festival: Saturnalia. Holly, sacred to Saturn, was a popular decoration. In honor of the god believed to have reigned during a Golden Age of peace and harmony, masters sat down to feast at the same table with their slaves. Slaves were given the freedom to speak their minds. Wars and executions were suspended giving all a reason to be jolly. The exchange of gifts included sprigs and wreaths of evergreens expressing good wishes for the coming year. Ivy also figured in Roman celebrations, wreathing the brow of Bacchus in winter. As a replacement for the grape vines that crowned the god of revelry and wine and his followers in summer months, ivy was thought to protect the wearers from intoxication. Celtic custom pitted the dominance of the sacred oak in summer against the strength of the evergreen holly carrying the spirit of earth’s renewal through the winter. Ivy’s mysterious ability to strangle the mightiest oak was attributed to her association with the lunar goddess in whose castle the Oak King awaited reawakening at the Winter Solstice. Not surprisingly when Europeans first encountered California’s native Live Oaks with evergreen holly-like leaves, they ascribed mystical powers to these trees. English Ivy (Hedera helix), not native to North America, is considered to be invasive. If you have the straight species, keep it in check by harvesting abundant amounts for holiday arrangements. Despite the tendency of ivy to crumble mortar and harbor pests, the American Ivy Society is devoted to growing the 480 named

Giving Back this Holiday Season By Supervisor Candace Andersen, Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors, District 2 The month of December is special for most of us. For some it holds great religious significance with Christmas and Hanukkah. We have cultural celebrations such as Kwanzaa. For others, Santa comes to visit bearing gifts. It’s a time to gather with family and friends. Music, parties, great meals, baked treats, and the exchanging of gifts highlight the season. Sadly, there are many who live in Contra Costa County who are not as fortunate as most of us. If you would like to make a difference in their lives, here are two ways you can help.

Feeding the Hungry During this holiday season, for the ninth year in a row, employees of Contra Costa and Solano counties are competing to raise funds for their neighbors in need with the “Counties Care” Holiday Food Fight. Since the Challenge began in 2004, a total of $927,993.73 has been collected. County employees hope to raise over $72,000 this year and hit the million dollar mark. All funds and food collected are contributed to the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano. For every dollar donated, the Food Bank distributes the equivalent of two nutritious, high-quality meals to hungry neighbors in our communities. You can join in the Food Fight fun by making your donation on their website at www.foodbankccc.org and click on the “Counties Care Holiday Food Fight.” In addition, barrels for collecting food can be found in County buildings, including fire stations, libraries, and my offices at 309 Diablo Road in Danville and 3338 Mt. Diablo Boulevard in Lafayette. We are also happy to accept checks made out to the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano at my office.

Gifts for Children Another way that you can help make this holiday season brighter for those in need is to support Holiday Helpers, a project led each year by the Volunteer and Emergency Services Team in Action (VESTIA). VESTIA is a non-profit led by volunteers. It raises money and obtains donated goods and services to provide supplemental support to those served by the Employment and Human Services Department (EHSD) in Contra Costa County when no other resources are available. One of the programs they offer is the Holiday Helpers Warehouse, which provides holiday assistance (gifts,

cultivars currently existing. Like the 2012 Ivy of the Year ‘Henriette,’ a miniature with green and white foliage, these are delightfully non-aggressive forms. My favorite is a Persian Ivy (Hedera colchica) cultivar known as ‘Sulphur Heart.’ New leaves are pure gold, while mature foliage features forest green surrounding an amber center. Although ivy is essentially a vine, it gets woodier and more upright as it ages. Cuttings from older stock will produce stout tree-like growth. The Carol of the Holly and the Ivy harks back to an early custom in English villages. The male youth trumpeted the virtues of the stalwart holly, while the maidens sang the praises of the supple, yet deceptively strong ivy. A few of their songs have survived. From the male perspective: Holly stands in the hall, fair to behold: / Ivy stands without the door, she is full sore a cold Holly and his merry men, they dance and they sing, / Ivy and her maidens, they weep and they wring. Tipping the scales in the opposite direction: Holly and Ivy made a great party. / Who should have the master / In lands where they go. Then spake Holly: “I am fierce and Jolly. / I will have the master / In lands where we go.” Then spake Ivy: “I am loud and proud / I will have the master / In lands where we go.” Then spake Holly, and set him down on his knee: / “I pray thee, gentle Ivy, say me no villainy, / In land where we go.” Finally, the compromise: O the ivy O, she’s the Queen of old, / And the Holly he is red, / Hang ‘em high in the farm and us won’t come to harm / Till the Christmas days be told. Once used as a remedy for coughs, holly was revered as a protection against witches, thunder and lightening. Holly (Ilex) is such a diverse genus that at least one species can be grown in each of our fifty states. To deck your halls with boughs sporting red berries, you’ll need to plant both a male and a female tree. Horticulturists have developed over 1,000 cultivated varieties of American Holly and similar numbers of hybrids and cultivars of English, Chinese, and Japanese species. A holly bonsai makes a thoughtful, good-luck gift! clothing, and food) to low-income children. If you would like to help, they are in need of: • Toys for boys and girls, ages 3 to 14 • Board games • Art kits • Blankets, any size • Warm clothing, children’s only • Gifts for teens ages 15 – 18, including watches, makeup kits, hat & scarf sets, appropriate DVDs, movie tickets, and gift cards ($15 value) All donations should be new and left unwrapped. Cash donations are also very important for last minute special needs shopping. Please make checks payable to VESTIA, Inc. All donations are tax deductible. You can drop donations off at my office through December 13th, or deliver your donations directly to the Holiday Helpers Warehouse, located at 500 Ellinwood Way in Pleasant Hill, on Friday, December 14th between the hours of 9AM and 2PM. For more information about VESTIA, please call (925) 521-5060, or contact Anne Struthers at (925) 521-5062 or by email at astruthers@ehsd.cccounty.us. In closing, I offer my best wishes to you and your loved ones for a joyful holiday season and a Happy New Year. Candace Andersen serves on the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors. Her District includes the communities of San Ramon, Danville, Alamo, Walnut Creek, Saranap, Parkmead, Lafayette, Moraga, Canyon, and Orinda. Please contact her at (925) 957-8860 or e-mail her at candace.andersen@bos.cccounty.us.

Give It Up for Good The San Ramon Valley High School Athletic Boosters Club is holding a “Give it Up for Good” rummage sale on Saturday, December 15th from 9am to 3pm at the SRVHS cafeteria located at 501 Danville Blvd., in Danville. Items for sale will include gently used clothing, sports equipment, household items, books, games, kitchen wares, holiday décor, toys, small furniture, etc. The proceeds from this fundraiser go to support and promote all 22 athletic teams on campus. Each year, the Athletic Boosters Club contributes funds directly to each team sport and gives a substantial amount of money to the General Athletic Department to assist in keeping our high quality programs running at SRV.

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Danville Today News ~ December 2012 - Page 19

Solar Currents By Mark Becker, GoSimpleSolar Recently I had the distinct pleasure of meeting the Blue Star Moms (BlueStarMoms. org) in downtown Danville during their Veterans Day food Purveyors of classic, exotic, and drive event. I have a warm spot in my heart for these moms high-performance cars for more than 30 years. who are very proud of their children who serve in our California’s #1 Classic Car Dealer Military. As a young man in the Marine Corps, I was Over 200 vehicles in inventory! somewhat oblivious to my mother’s concerns (sorry, Mom). Now that I’m a parent, I’m able to better imagine the depth of the Blue Star Moms’ emotions when their son or daughter is deployed in harms way. One year ago, November 18th, Danville native LCpl Joshua “Chachi” Corral was killed in action in Afghanistan. When a Blue Star Mom loses their child, they become a Gold Star Mom. The Semper Fi Foundation has been founded in Chachi’s honor. (www.SemperFiFoundation.org). God Speed to Chachi and his Family. Showrooms in Pleasanton, Benicia, and Fairfield. Solar industry growth is 13.2% this year. Solar www.SpecialtySales.com | 800.600.2262 professions are expected to generate 20,000 more jobs next year, outpacing our economy’s 2% growth. Many Save Room for Dessert returning veterans have found jobs in this growing sector of our economy. With over 150,000 solar projects in California, solar customers are having a positive By Monica Chappell impact on our economy. Contrary to popular belief, USA made products are very No holiday meal would be complete without dessert price competitive. A recent decision by the International Trade Commission or, better yet, dessert wine. The holidays are a wonderful and Department of Commerce penalizes Chinese solar manufacturers for illegal occasion to look beyond the normal eating and drinkdumping and subsidies. Tariffs averaging 32% have been levied on their products. ing routine – especially with desserts. It’s easy to stick Solar Milestone: Recently in California over one megawatt of electricity was with the basics--cookies and milk or coffee and cake-generated by solar power in a day. The electricity generated by the solar panels but why not try a dessert wine with your dessert, or if replaced the output of two natural gas power plants. you prefer, serve dessert wine as dessert. Combining For most properties, the roof is a liability. A solar system can turn ones roof into the nuances of fine wine with a decadent treat for your an asset. One should not wait until a roof replacement is necessary before going solar; sweet tooth, these distinctive wines known as dessert wines are rich on the palate. in most cases, a solar system installed today will pay for itself and a new roof in less Dessert wines are officially defined as having residual sweetness (coming from than ten years. No matter what kind of home improvements you may be contract- concentrated sugars in the grape) or as having been fortified (the addition of grape ing, a professional should manage the project, especially if there are multiple trades spirits during the winemaking process), making a final product with an alcohol coninvolved. Managing as an “Owner-Builder” is highly discouraged by the California tent of 14-22%. The generous proportion of alcohol provides a mouth-filling heft not Contractor’s State License Board (www.CSLB.ca.gov). Before entering into any known in table wine. Produced by either method, dessert wines deliver rich flavor and construction contract, spend some time educating yourself on the CSLB website. pure pleasure! The key to the best wines is the balance between sweetness and acidity. Mark Becker is the President of GoSimpleSolar, by Semper Fidelis Con- The Dessert Menu struction, a Danville based Solar Installation Firm. Mark can be reached There are as many dessert wines as there are variations of chocolate cake... at 925.915.9252. Come visit GoSimpleSolar’s new showroom at 114 West What’s not to love? Here are a few better know dessert wine categories developed Prospect Ave. in Danville to see, touch, and discuss solar and energy efficiency according to the factors that can make them sweet. products. For more details, see www.GoSimpleSolar.com or email Mark@ Late-harvest Wines GoSimpleSolar.com. Advertorial • Botrytis wines (or Botrytis Cinera), also affectionately called the Noble Rot wines, can come from Europe, California, or Australia. The name may sound strange, but the wine it describes is pure heaven. These wines are marked by a honey and/or apricot flavor with the natural sugar content coming from the concentration of flavors in the berry caused by the rot! • Eiswein primarily comes from Germany with a small amount from Canada and New York. It too has a honey flavor and natural sugar concentration coming from freezing the grapes prior to harvest. Some ice wines are made by freezing the grapes, but most are made by letting the grapes freeze on the vine. Riesling is the varietal of choice for Eiswein.

Fortified Wines

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• Sherry comes from Spain and has a nutty flavor. It is fortified after fermentation (grape spirits are added) and has a nutty flavor. • Madeira is also from Portugal and is known by its distinct caramel or brown sugar flavor. It can be fortified during or after fermentation. • Port, the real stuff, comes from Portugal and has an intense berry flavor. These wines are fortified during fermentation. There’s no sweeter way to end your meal than with a sip of liquid dessert. Monica Chappell teaches and writes about wine. To see a list of classes visit www.wineappreciation101.blogspot.com. Advertorial

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Page 20 - December 2012 ~ Danville Today News

Safeguarding Your Co-Ownership “Marriage” By Robert J. Silverman, Attorney at Law My last few articles were about real estate succession, and I thought I’d stay with the topic of real estate another month. This time, I’ll focus on a sub-topic that receives too little attention – co-ownership. For the purposes of this article, I’ll define co-ownership as owning a piece of real estate with anyone other than one’s spouse. Owning property with a parent, sibling, friend, or business associate is somewhat akin to being married. Just as on the day of a wedding, on the day co-owners purchase a property, the parties are typically delighted, “on the same page,” and optimistic about the future. But, as the years go by, a large minority of those initially happy married couples grow apart, and some divorce. Likewise, a significant number of real estate co-owners experience major disagreements and problems. Sometimes, these problems lead to lawsuits, monetary damages, and most tragically, destroy valued personal relationships. Many people who buy property, and particularly those who buy with a close relative, are myopic. They can’t foresee any problems arising that they will not be able to resolve by simply sitting down together and working out a reasonable solution. Nearly 20 years ago, my first contested case involved a lawsuit filed against my client by her daughter in connection with their various co-ownership disputes. Sadly, this lawsuit was not only damaging financially to both parties, but it caused wounds in the mother-daughter relationship that may never heal. I assure you the above example is not an isolated incident. I have encountered more than a handful of co-ownership disputes. Many of these adversarial proceedings resulted in similar monetary damage and harsh, lasting personal conflict among the participating relatives, friends, or associates. So, how does one prevent such personal and financial havoc? I believe anyone who is considering a co-ownership venture (or who already co-owns real estate) should hire an attorney who has relevant experience to draft a comprehensive co-ownership (aka “joint ownership,” “equity share,” or “tenant-in-common [TIC]”) agreement. Of course, the best time to establish such written agreement is before the property is purchased; however, don’t think it’s too late if you already co-own a property. As months and years pass, discussions between co-owners that are not put in writing tend to be forgotten or misconstrued. The problem is exacerbated if one of the co-owners becomes incapacitated or dies. Hence, the old adage: “A verbal agreement is not worth the paper it’s written on.” Notwithstanding the fact that a verbal agreement is rarely very helpful, most people don’t even get that far. It’s rare that the parties even think about, let alone discuss and verbally agree upon, all of the major elements of the transaction or contingency plans. A thorough written agreement is no guarantee that misunderstandings and disagreements won’t arise. However, the agreement should anticipate and present a framework for handling most common issues. It should serve as a useful reference by reciting critical data and financial terms, identifying each co-owner’s respective rights and obligations, and setting forth dispute resolution mechanisms. Specifically, what kind of provisions should be included? It depends somewhat on the type of co-ownership. Some involve an investor and an owner-occupier, while others involve each co-owner occupying a different unit, and still others involve renting the whole property to third parties, etc. Here are a few examples of issues, among many others, that a written agreement should cover: a) Who is responsible for managing the property, paying the bills, filling vacancies, keeping the books…? b) Who has occupancy rights? What occurrences, if any, might alter those rights, and what are the payment obligations associated with the rights? c) How will it be decided whether or not capital improvements will be made, and how much will each party pay for them? d) What happens if one co-owner wants to sell and the other one doesn’t? e) What happens if one of the co-owners dies (e.g. Will the remaining co-owner(s) have an option to purchase the deceased co-owner’s share? If so, how will that interest be valued, and what will the payment terms be)? f) Will the parties agree to mediate or arbitrate disputes that arise? Co-ownership agreements give the parties a useful roadmap and serve a compelling prophylactic function. They can help ensure the orderly operation and disposition of a co-owned property, and provide a valuable means of preserving valuable relationships. I offer a free consultation concerning your current or prospective co-ownership. Mr. Silverman is an attorney with Buchman Provine Brothers Smith LLP, 1333 N. California Street, Suite 350, Walnut Creek, CA 94596; (925) 944-9700; rsilverman@sbllp.com. His practice emphasizes Estate Planning, Trust Administration & Probate, Real Estate, and Business. Mr. Silverman offers a free introductory consultation. This article is intended to provide information of a general nature, and should not be relied upon as legal, tax, financial and/ or business advice. Readers should obtain and rely upon specific advice only from their own qualified professional advisors. This communication is not intended or written to be used, for the purpose of: i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code; or ii) promoting, marketing, or recommending to another party any matters addressed herein. Advertorial

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Hospice of the East Bay Estate Sale Service After the death of a loved one, dealing with the entire contents of a home and a life time of possessions can be overwhelming. Hospice of the East Bay (HEB) Estate Sales, formally known as Diablo Appraisal and Estate Sales, is an estate sale and liquidation service that manages and coordinates your entire estate and provides you with a tax benefit by sharing the profits from the sale with HEB. We provide caring and trained professionals that can help you handle the entire process making the seemingly impossible, attainable. We will assess each item’s value, advertise the sale through multiple channels, organize and display your estate items, provide security before, during, and after the sale, run the estate sale smoothly and professionally, take unsold items to HEB thrift stores, and provide with a tax deductible receipt for those items, clear out the house at the end of the sale, and leave the house empty and ready for cleaning. Everything will be handled for you, and best of all you won’t even need to be present! Families are provided with a guaranteed honest, efficient, and reliable service. HEB Estate Sales was established in 2001 for families requesting help selling the contents of their homes. Funds generated from the sale help benefit the patients and families in the care of HEB. Please call Patricia Wright at (925) 887-5678 or email patriciaw@hospiceeastbay.org for more information. 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.

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How to Control Your Appetite for Overspending This Holiday Season By Sima Alefi, AAMS Financial Advisor How did the holidays approach us so quickly? From the Thanksgiving family gathering that just passed, to the smell of the pine trees in your living room, to the decorations hanging on your tree, you may feel as though you just put away your ornaments, only to reopen those boxes again –so quickly. Where did time go? Naturally, after Thanksgiving people begin to think about holiday shopping. You may be thinking of the most convenient way to shop in order to avoid standing in long lines at the malls. Be it shopping online or on television through the QVC channel, ordering from your favorite magazine, or simply shopping earlier both online and brick-and-mortar retailers, it is very easy to make your purchases; all it takes is a swipe of your card or a typing in of your credit card number online. How can you control overspending? How can you manage your thoughts of not over indulging during this holiday season? How can you protect your savings and avoid the pitfall of credit card debt? How can you avoid the temptation of dipping into your long term investments? After all, shopping is a part of the holiday tradition--’tis the season! Here are ways to avoid overspending: • Do Not Make Spontaneous Purchases -Take a step back, wait 48 hours, and then if you really want the item, go back and purchase it. Taking time out to think about your purchase allows you to think in perspective without relying on a spontaneous decision. You will find that your thoughts may change if you consider, “Do I really need this as much as I thought after all?” • Build a Budget - Before beginning your shopping spree and party planning, set a budget. Do not over spend if you cannot afford it. Work with the end in mind. Imagine the day AFTER the event, after the holiday season. Will you be happy with yourself when you receive your credit card statement? You could be faced with a debt obligation that could take you months or years to payoff. Think with the end in mind! • Don’t Get Swayed by Credit Card Rewards - Getting back rewards such as 2% cash back, airline miles, cabin credits, and catalog merchandise are

Holidays continued from front page collection Ruth gave her. From 1900 to 1920, postcards were in vogue as Christmas greetings. Santa was frequently shown using the latest technology. The card of Santa driving an automobile from the Boone album is undated, but one mailed from Oakland in 1909 picturing poinsettias reads: “Dear Travis: You like flowers so well that I wish you had some of this kind. There are lots of them in our store windows.” Poinsettias add holiday color to the David and Eliza Glass House, moved to the FHF property in 1998. Mary Ann Wilkman, City of San Ramon Recreation Coordinator, ensures every item on display at the 1877 Victorian home is correct to time and place. “I am a stickler for authenticity,” she explains. Accordingly trees are trimmed primarily with homemade ornaments supplemented by a few blown glass pieces that would have been a luxury. Although they won’t be lighted, candles complete the tree in the family parlor. Birds, feathers, and even artificial goose feather trees were the rage in Victorian America, hence the theme tree in the upstairs hall. Vintage teddy bears, the most collectible with appropriate historic notes, will remain on display in the exhibit room until the end of February. In keeping with the Victorian penchant for saving everything (ask about soap and hair savers when you tour the Glass House), the Recycled Christmas booth is back. None of the gently used donated decorations is priced higher than $5, with many costing just a quarter. All are tabletop or tree trimming size. Jane Jennings, whose research provided documentation placing the entire FHF property on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002, chairs Holidays on the Farm. Free performances on December 1st feature the Dougherty Valley High Chorus at 10AM, A Time to Be Jolly Puppets at 11AM, Men in Brass at 11AM, McGrath Irish Dancers at Noon, and St. Joan of Arc Simbang Gabi Filipino Chorus

Danville Today News ~ December 2012 - Page 21 just ways to enSpecializing in tice you to spend Interior & Exterior more. How many people actually • Power Washing Prep pay off their • Painting credit card at the • Spray-Enamel Finish end of the month? • Restaining Decks There are not as Since 1970 many as would Free Estimates like to! Credit card companies Tim O’Halloran • 925.743.9535 have researched the psychology of consumer spending and know how to increase their revenue by enticing consumer spending through the reward programs. • Avoid Dipping Into Investments - It is easy to get swayed when you see the perfect gift and think, “Well, I can always sell some of my investments to pay for the purchase!” It’s not that easy. You may be subject to a market loss if you sell at a time when the market is down. Even if the market is in your favor, you could be subject to paying taxes on the gains. Depending on whether you have held the investment for a year or longer, different capital gains rates could apply. Distributions from retirement accounts have other tax penalties that could affect you as well. • Start a Holiday Account –Start a holiday account in January of each year. Set up a monthly contribution plan to this account when you pay your bills, so that you pay yourself too. An affordable monthly plan can eliminate financial stress and prevent you from paying unnecessary penalties and/or taxes. • Gifting to Children -This year, try giving a gift where the battery does not run out. The best gift you can give a child is funding of a college education. There are various options available. Please see a financial advisor for guidance. By following these suggestions, you can avoid overspending and allow yourself to enjoy a stress free holiday season. **Information contained in this article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute tax or legal advice. Please visit a professional for one of these services.

To contact Sima at Edward Jones, call (925) 648-2590. Her office is located at 3472 Camino Tassajara, Danville in the Blackhawk Safeway Shopping Center. For more information, visit www.edwardjones.com. Advertorial at 1PM. Sheep dog herding demonstrations and old-fashioned games are ongoing. The December 8th entertainment schedule is being finalized. Food ranging from sandwiches and crab cakes to hot dogs and sweets can be bought on site. Costumed interpreters lead tours through the Glass House at 10AM, 11AM, 12PM, and 1PM. Guided Farm tours occur at 11AM and 1PM. Tickets ($5 for either tour or $8 for a combination pass) are available at the Gift Shoppe. Dependent upon docent availability, small group tours of the Glass House decorated for the holidays can be scheduled on other days through December 20th. To arrange a tour or for additional information, contact Sharon Peterson, City of San Ramon Recreation Technician at 925-973-3284. The Museum’s Christmas Memories exhibit, running from now through January 5th, includes whirling mechanical toys and activities tied into this year’s “Favorite Holiday Foods” theme. Located at 205 Railroad Avenue, the Museum is open Tuesday – Friday 1PM-4PM; Saturday 10AM-1PM; Sunday 12PM-3PM. Nonmembers are requested to pay a small admission fee; members are free. “Pooh Corner” has been a highlight of the Museum’s holiday display for several years. Alice Reynolds, a sprightly 91 year-old retired teacher, has been a Valley resident since 1957. She enjoys sharing the collection she started when a friend turned her own Winnie-the-Pooh memorabilia over to Alice a quarter of a century ago. “Once people know you are collecting,” Alice remarks, “they start giving you more.” Each year chairperson Sonya Borlandelli works more magic into the memories exhibit. New for 2012 is a kitchen with a 1946 range from the second house at Hap Magee Ranch. Dishes on the shelves belonged to the Smith family who lived and worked at Blackhawk Ranch. Shelves are stocked with period items. Antique toys appropriate to each era fill the space underneath the 1890s and 1950s trees. The “O” gauge train running around the stage is a perennial favorite. The mechanical toy carousel, Ferris wheel, and dancing cake are not to be outdone by Santa and his reindeer flying along the overhead track. The 1950s tree drips tinsel. Someone in the crowd is bound to remember the days when families fought over whether to hang it strand by strand or toss it on the tree by the handful. Tinsel, invented in Germany in 1610, was made of extruded silver

See Holidays continued on page 24

Page 22 - December 2012 ~ Danville Today News

Ten Ways to Involve Your Children in Philanthropy Brought to you by Christopher T. McClure In conjunction with Lincoln Financial Advisors/Sagemark Consulting, a division of Lincoln Financial Advisors, a registered investment advisor.

Through your own philanthropic generosity— whether volunteering, supporting a charity as a benefactor, attending fundraisers or setting up a family foundation—you are educating your children about your values and teaching them to be generous. While you may identify your philanthropic values more formally in a family charitable mission statement, children learn a lot through observation. Introducing your children to the philanthropic projects you support is the first step toward building a family unit that knows what resources you have and will work together to help reach financial goals. In the long term it will help your children preserve your assets and share the wealth in a philanthropic way. Studies show that participating in charitable activities can help boost your children’s self-esteem, build confidence, and help shape their values. Doing charitable works is enriching, valuable, and self-perpetuating; kids learn that helping others can be fun and makes them feel good. Children also feel positive about wealth when they see the effects of charitable giving on the world at large. Philanthropy helps children learn to manage the family wealth and realize the benefits of the family working together to support common interests. This can help ensure that the legacy you leave will be cared for by your heirs.

Encouraging Philanthropy Working with your children to support philanthropic projects is an important way to put your family values into practice, build relationships with your children, and to teach them how they can impact others in a positive way. Here are 10 ways to get started: 1. Give away used items. Set aside time to go through your children’s rooms with them to select gently used toys or clothing to donate. Help your children box up the items, and encourage them to come with you to deliver the items so they might see the need their donation fills. 2. Donate part of an allowance. Encourage your children to contribute a percentage of their allowance to charity, or to purchase an item from savings to donate to a charity. Charity is something that must be taught. It can be hard at first for people to give money away. 3. Adopt another family. During the holidays many charities sponsor “angel” projects. You could select needy children in the same age group as your children to make shopping easy and fun, or adopt a whole family. 4. Hold family meetings on charity. Discuss how much money the family

www.yourmonthlypaper.com will donate this year, and review what charities you’ve supported in the past and the impact of the contributions. Involve your children in the decisionmaking process of where this year’s charitable donations will go, or help to create the mission statement of the family foundation. You may wish to allocate age-appropriate amounts from your total charitable contributions so that each child can select a charity to support. 5. Research charities together. Research the Web with your children to identify projects they would like to support with donations or time. 6. Volunteer. Help your children contact, visit, and explore a community cause that interests them. 7. Support school and community activities. Support your child’s involvement in charitable projects sponsored by the school, church, or community centers. Working together with their friends to benefit others reinforces the values you are teaching at home. 8. Start or join a local charity chapter. You may wish to contact a local organization that can identify resources in your area and help you get started. 9. Organize a fundraising project. Encourage your children to identify a charity they would like to promote, and help them organize a fundraising project. 10. Take a philanthropic vacation. Working to help build a school or well in another country will give your children a new perspective on the world at large, the needs of others, and how to help. You can send them on their own or make it a family activity.

Your Charitable Mission Statement Introducing your family’s charitable mission statement to your children at an early age supports communication, individual interests and family needs, and helps strengthen the focus and impact your family has on others. It may be helpful to talk with your kids about the following questions to help them develop their values and understand yours: • What’s important to this family? • What impact has our charitable works and contributions had on the family and the world at large? • What do each of us feel passionate about supporting? • How can we fulfill any social responsibilities we feel are important? You can help preserve your family wealth by educating your children during family meetings—specifically the financial benefits of planned gifting—and answering questions about long-term estate planning. Please contact Chris McClure to schedule a complimentary review of your financial situation, call 925-659-0213, or email chris.mcclure@lfg.com. Christopher T. McClure is a registered representative and investment advisor representative of Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp., member SIPC, 3000 Executive Pkwy, Suite 400, PO Box 5154, San Ramon, CA 94583 offering insurance through Lincoln affiliates and other fine companies. This information should not be construed as legal or tax advice. You may want to consult a tax advisor regarding this information as it relates to your personal circumstances. The content of this material was provided to you by Lincoln Financial Advisors for its representatives and their clients. In CA, offering insurance through Lincoln Marketing and Insurance Agency, LLC and Lincoln Associates Insurance Agency, Inc. and other fine companies. In WA, offering insurance through Lincoln Financial Advisors Corporation and LFA, Limited Liability Company and other fine companies. CA Insurance License # 0B40863, WA Insurance License # 229998, CRN200909-2034154 Advertorial

Planning Your Legacy Learn about planned giving, both current and deferred. What are the tax advantages of leaving a gift to a non-profit? We will discuss the importance of beneficiary designations, and explain the differences between living trusts and wills. The free talk is for cancer patients, their families, and friends and is facilitated by Susan Wichmann, an investment advisor with Wells Fargo. Please join us Tuesday, December 4th from 6pm – 8pm at Cancer Support Community located at 3276 McNutt Avenue, Walnut Creek. For information and reservations call (925) 933-0107.

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. 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.

Is Food a Problem for You?

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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, undereating, and bulimia. The group meets Wednesdays at 6PM at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Lafayette. For information, visit www.how-oa.org.

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The Eye Opener By Gregory Kraskowsky, O.D., Alamo Optometry Happy Holidays It is hard to believe that 2012 is almost in the rearview mirror. I am noticing the older I get the quicker time seems to fly by. During this time of the year we take a look back and take stock of the progress and changes that were made in the last 12 months. Our office has grown this year thanks to our patients. You continually support us and go above and beyond by recommending us to your friends and family. As the years go by, we are meeting more people in the community, at local establishments, and at the office. We believe in providing them with quality service and care, and this is what our patients deserve and have come to expect from us. We have brought in two new frame lines, Banana Republic and Dutz. Both lines are unisex, but they appeal to different personalities. Banana Republic has frames that have a sophisticated, clean look for all age groups. Dutz are from Europe and are for those of you that want something a little different in shape and color. The unique designs and color combinations are something new for the office. Right now Dutz only has metal frames, but plastic ones are coming early next year. For those of you who wear contacts, there have been some additions and subtractions in the market. There are new daily disposable toric lenses for those of you with astigmatism who want the comfort, convenience, and vision that a daily disposable can offer. We had to say goodbye to the Acuvue Advance and O2 Optix lenses. However, there are so many different products to try that patients who used the lenses we no longer carry have all found new lenses and new modalities that have made their contact lens wearing experience even better.

Reconstructive Surgery: The Other Side of Plastics By Barbara Persons, MD, Persons Plastic Surgery, Inc. What I really enjoy about writing this monthly column is that it affords me the opportunity to educate, and clarify misconceptions about plastic surgery. My practice encompasses both cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery, and is in the most basic sense, about changing my patients’ quality of life. Whether the surgery is cosmetic or reconstructive, I look forward to work every day because I know I can help people feel more confident about themselves, and improve their ability to function well, both physically and emotionally. Many of my past articles have focused on education associated with cosmetic procedures, but this month I want to focus on the reconstructive side of my practice. According to the American Board of Plastic Surgery, reconstructive surgery is defined as “surgery performed on abnormal structures of the body caused by congenital defects, developmental abnormalities, trauma, infection, tumors, or disease.” Generally, reconstructive surgery is performed to improve function, but may also be done to approximate a normal appearance. As a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, I perform both cosmetic and reconstructive procedures. Reconstructive surgery represents a significant portion of my practice. The American Board of Plastic Surgery requires extensive training in areas which include congenital defects of the head and neck, craniomaxillofacial trauma, reconstructive surgery of the breast, surgery of the hand, plastic surgery of lower extremities, plastic surgery of the trunk and genitalia, burn reconstruction, microsurgical techniques, reconstruction by tissue transfer, and surgery of benign and malignant lesions. While a plastic and reconstructive surgeon’s training is extensive and spans many areas of expertise, a strong sense for aesthetics is also critically important for a procedure to be successful. Reconstructive surgery is in fact, as much an art form as it is a science. To perform a successful reconstruction, one must envision the results, the “art,” before beginning to operate. It is “seeing” in a completely different way.

Danville Today News ~ December 2012 - Page 23 In looking forward to the holiday season, we are constantly being asked during this time of year about flexible spending accounts (FSA) and how to use them at the office. The government has a wide range of specified expenses that qualify as a medical expense. These include any office co-pays, any necessary or elective surgical procedures (including LASIK), and many medical devices. Included in that list is any vision correction device (glasses, computer glasses, contact lenses, sports goggles, etc.) and sunglasses. As long as your purchase is made by the end of the year, it will count on your 2012 account balance. In addition to these tax-friendly accounts, do not forget to utilize your vision insurance. At our office, we are providers for Vision Service Plan (VSP), Eyemed (which can include vision coverage for Anthem Blue Cross and Aetna if the plan has a eye care provision), and Medical Eye Services (MES). All plans have an exam benefit and have variable material allowances towards glasses or contact lenses. Some plans recycle at the change of the new year, so this is an optimal time to use your benefits. Between your vision coverage and your FSA, most, if not all, of your charges will be covered. Finally, in this holiday season and all year round, it is important to think about those who could use our help. We always collect old frames and sunglasses and donate them to a local charity in January. The frames are distributed to people who cannot afford quality glasses. As long as the glasses are wearable, the condition does not matter. Regardless of appearance, they will definitely assist a person in need to help them see better. We wish everyone a happy and healthy holiday season, and we look forward to seeing you in the years to come. Dr. K. at Alamo Optometry is your hometown eye doctor for outstanding service, vision care, and designer eyewear. He can be reached at 820-6622 or visit his office at 3201 Danville Blvd., Suite 165 in Alamo. Visit our newly updated website at www.alamooptometry.com, and become a fan on our Advertorial Alamo Optometry Facebook page. Plastic surgery has often been misunderstood, or perceived as being superficial. The reality is that my training and strong aesthetic sense has enabled me to perform countless reconstructions, most recently on a pregnant woman with rapidly progressing cancer. It has allowed me to reconstruct a gunshot victim’s facial wounds, and repair the faces of dozens of children who were victims of dog attacks. Additional reconstructive procedures I’ve performed include reconstruction of skin cancer defects, skin grafts, and hand surgery. To have the opportunity to work with patients in need of reconstructive surgery is one of my greatest joys in life. I have seen the physical and emotional transformation of thousands of patients over many years of performing surgery. Enabling a patient to live a normal life, while instilling in them a sense of renewed confidence and self-esteem, is remarkably rewarding. It is more than improving appearances, it is allowing people to live the life they deserve and desire. 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

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Page 24 - December 2012 ~ Danville Today News

Your Low Back Pain Solution By Jeffrey Johnson, D.C. Lumbar disc degeneration is a well-known cause of back pain in today’s society. People suffering from pain secondary to lumbar disc degeneration usually experience back and leg pain, as well as muscle spasms in their low back and leg. They also commonly report muscle weakness, numbness, and pins and needles in the thigh, leg, and foot. As degeneration usually occurs on one side of the disc, the pain is generally worse on the corresponding side of the back. The pain can worsen with coughing, straining, or sneezing as well as slouching and bending, which compresses irritated discs in the spine. It often gets better with bending backward or leaning to one side (the one opposite to the pain) which takes pressure off irritated discs. Because of this, people with lumbar disc degeneration often adopt a particular posture or walking stance to ease discomfort. They may be seen bent sideways, forward, or with knees slightly bent to relieve pain in the legs. While the pain of lumbar disc degeneration can radiate into one or both legs, the cause of the condition occurs in the lumbar spine, which is just above your buttocks. Your lumbar spine is comprised of five bones called vertebrae. Like the coils of a slinky, these vertebrae are stacked one on top of the other and move in unison. To prevent friction during movement, intervertebral discs cushion and protect the vertebrae. These discs are soft, fluid-filled pads, and when they become herniated, the gel-like material inside may bulge out into the spinal canal. Within the spinal canal lies the spinal cord, which contains spinal nerves that exit between vertebrae and branch out to the rest of the body. Any displaced gel from a degenerated disc may compress these nerves, causing pain in the low back and the areas of the body which nerves travel from the spinal cord. In severe cases, the displaced gel can even compress the spinal cord itself. A singular traumatic event is usually not enough to cause disc degeneration. Most disc degeneration is more likely a result of steady abuse. People whose work involves lots of twisting, bending, prolonged sitting, or heavy lifting are more at risk as these activities cause disc stress, wear and tear. Truck drivers, for example, endure prolonged periods of sitting in a vibrating vehicle, which can cause tremendous stress for the intervertebral discs and over time lead to a disc herniation. While extreme cases of lumbar disc degeneration may require surgery, our

comprehensive approach which combines conservative chiropractic care, VAX-D therapy, McKenzie protocols, neuromuscular reeducation and exercise therapy has proven successful for most of our patients suffering from lumbar disc degeneration. Let’s take a look at one of the approaches we frequently incorporate in our comprehensive treatment paradigm.

Hate Gyms? so do we!

VAX-D Therapy VAX-D therapy has proven to Danville Today be effective in relieving the pain our readers call NOW for patients experience secondary to herniated discs, degenerative disc special offer! disease, and sciatica. VAX-D therWatch a short video apy allows for the safe, controlled distraction or decompression of the lumbar spine. We are able to provide each patient with a personalized decompression treatment as we use a computerized program to administer an exact treatment. Your treatment is determined after 499B San Ramon Valley Blvd. • Danville, CA 94526 925-743-0802 • danville.kokoﬁtclub.com reviewing your medical history, examination findings and diagnostic imaging reports. From this information we determine how much of a stretch is placed into your lower back and how often it is repeated.

How VAX-D Works The repetitive stretching or “decompression” of your lower back may create relief by physically decreasing the pressure on the lumbar discs and spinal nerves, creating a neurological response which inhibits lumbar spine pain generation and by encouraging the flushing of painful inflammatory chemicals out of the disc for replacement with oxygen, water, and nutrients necessary for disc health. Most patients experience relief with VAX-D therapy within 6 to 8 sessions and are able to effectively transition into the exercises and stretches that are necessary for sustained lumbar spine health.

Can VAX-D Therapy Work For You? It is important to note that no therapy consistently creates relief of the lumbar spine in all patients. But, at Johnson Chiropractic Group, we have seen a large population of patients positively affected by this safe, relatively inexpensive treatment. Many people that were once forced to compromise their daily activities are now living pain-free or managing their pain much more effectively. For more info, go to www.movepastyourpain.com, visit us on Facebook, or contact Dr. Johnson at Johnson Chiropractic Group, 115 Town & CounAdvertorial try Dr., Suite E in Danville. 925.743.8210.

Holidays continued from page 21 strands until the early 20th century. Valley pioneer descendent Roxanne Weidemann Lindsay’s 1990 article is replete with food references. “Millie Freitas remembers the huge Christmas tree in the center of the stage at what is now the Village Theatre, but at that time was the Grange Hall. Santa Claus would come and all the local kids would get hard candy, an apple and an orange.” Oranges were a Christmas treat for many families. Noting Betty HumSonya Borlandelli shows off the Christmas burg Overholtzer’s memories: “Betty Memories kitchen with 1946 stove. remembers her Mother’s carrot pudding with rum sauce, little shades on the Christmas tree lights and two turkeys, one at each end of the table to be carved. In January 1937, there was a lot of snow.” Seasonal treat displays from countries from whence Valley settlers hailed encourage visitors to add their personal must-have holiday foods to the memory tree. For Museum information, call 925-837-3750 or visit www.museumsrv.org.

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Danville Today News ~ December 2012 - Page 25

Help for the Red Nosed Reindeer By Dr. Jerome Potozkin When I was little, my favorite holiday program was Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer (How the Grinch Stole Christmas was a close second). I still love watching these during the holiday season. Rudolph was ostracized by his peers and went through great lengths, such as putting mud on his nose, to hide his red beacon. Fortunately for Rudolph, his shiny red nose allowed him to guide Santa’s sled through a storm. He was a hero. Unfortunately for us, if we have a red nose we don’t have the opportunity for our nose to make us a hero. Some people even, wrongfully, assume our red nose is due to drinking too much eggnog. Fortunately, there is a solution. A red nose can be secondary to a medical condition known as Rosacea. Some superficial blood vessels on the nose are caused by sun damage. Since prevention is always my first recommendation, a daily broad-spectrum sun screen can prevent this. Although a red nose is not the result of alcohol abuse, having a glass of wine or alcohol will increase the blood flow to the skin and result in increased redness. This problem can be unsettling for many. Luckily, modern medicine has solutions for the red nosed patient. Some people will benefit from prescription medications that can minimize redness. For some, the only way to solve his problem is to treat your red nose with a vascular laser. We use the VBeam Perfecta Pulsed Dye Laser as well as Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) to treat blood vessels on the nose and face. This type of laser was initially invented to treat kids and newborns with large vascular birthmarks known as Port Wine Stains because of their resemblance to port wine. Most people will require more than one treatment. Treatments only last a few minutes and do not require any anesthesia. Most people are thrilled when the vessels are gone. Many people note an increase in confidence as now they don’t feel people would assume they are an alcoholic because of their red nose. If you have any blood vessels or other skin issues that bother you, please contact our office as chances are we have a solution to your problem. Dr. Potozkin is a board certified dermatologist who has been serving the Danville community since 1993. He is accepting new patients at (925) 838-4900. You may also visit his website at Potozkin.com for more information. Advertorial Arrive fashionably late if necessary. It will inevitably save you some Your Personal Nutritionist calories. By Linda Michaelis, RD. MS. Please make time for your exercise program. You can burn off between Enjoying Christmas Parties - The 300 and 500 calories by doing intense exercise for one hour. This can easily Healthy Way allow you to have a couple of appetizers or a few Christmas cookies. Do not let the holiday season sweep you up and I often offer counseling to my clients during the holiday season by phone cause you to lose sight of your weight goals. As I tell or email. We chat often and I try to guide them and “hold their hand” through my clients, you can enjoy the holidays and still keep holiday parties. The clients usually give me some idea of what will be served, your weight stable without gaining those 10 pounds and we role-play the event starting from the beginning of the day up until that you will regret next year. First, come up with the feast. It gives the client a sense of confidence to attend the party with an eating plan now so you can be prepared for when you may have several a plan in mind. It is a constant thrill for me to hear how compared to past parties to attend day after day, or even several in one day. years they have been able to sail through parties with even more enjoyment Rule Number One: Don’t arrive at your party too hungry. If you arrive without overeating. Feel free to call me to discuss your upcoming party so hungry, you set yourself up to fail in a situation where you will inevitably we can put a plan together. overeat. Before leaving home for an evening event, have a substantial lunch I am glad to inform that nutritional counseling can be covered by your that includes at least 4-6 ounces of protein and a cup of veggies. Skip breads, insurance. Feel free to call me at (925) 855-0150 or e-mail me at Lifelike with a sandwich, since you will almost certainly have bread products at weight1@yahoo.com and tell me about your nutritional concerns. Refer the party. Try tuna stuffed in a tomato or an egg white omelet with diced ham to my website www.LindaRD.com for past articles, recipes and nutrition and veggies. Remember you want to enjoy the party and not leave the event tips in my blog section. Advertorial feeling too full which can lead to having a poor night of sleep. Of course you want to enjoy specialty party items such as eggnog, fancy Hospice Offers Support Hospice of the East Bay is pleased to offer a variety of support groups hors d’oeuvres, homemade goodies, and more. You must be very selective and workshops for adults, children, and teens experiencing grief after the when you arrive at the party. I advise that you first walk around, look at all the offerings, and then decide how to proceed. Don’t eat lots of chips, cheese, and death of a loved one. Classes are offered at Hospice’s administrative offices breads that you can have every day. These foods fill you up very quickly and at 3470 Buskirk Avenue in Pleasant Hill. Support Groups for Adults: can make you full. Select the special holiday treats such as stuffed mushrooms, crab cakes, and the creative appetizers that you absolutely love. Skip the dips • Adults Who Have Lost a Parent - Mondays, 6 - 8M, January 28 which are almost always high in fat. Save the calories for the great tri-tip or even March 25, 2013 crème brulee. Do not fill up on appetizers unless you decide that they will be • Widow and Widowers’ Support - Thursdays, 1:30 to 3:30PM, January 3 your dinner, forgoing the potential baked ham and scalloped potatoes to come. February 21, 2013 and/or Wednesdays, 6 to 8PM, February 6 - March 27, 2013 If you are asked to bring a dish, bring one that will help you through • Drop-In Bereavement Support Group - 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the the event. It is always great to bring a shrimp cocktail, skewered shrimp, month, 4:30 - 6PM roasted veggies, grilled asparagus with a balsamic glaze, or even a fruit Support Group for Children and Teens: salad. These items will definitely help balance your meal, especially when The Bridge - Bi-monthly support program for grieving children and the offerings are often mainly starch and meat laden. teens. Support is also available for parents/guardians. New participants Did you realize that the more food you eat the more alcohol you drink? can start at any time! By scaling back on the amounts of food you eat, your alcohol consumption Bereavement Services are provided free of charge to all community memshould drop in half. I tell my clients they can be more successful if they limit bers in need, however, donations are greatly appreciated. Pre-registration is themselves to two drinks at an event. Hard liquors such as vodka and gin required for all groups and classes, except our drop-in group. To register, have half the amount of calories as a tall goblets of wine. So, Vodka mixed please call Hospice of the East Bay at (925) 887-5681. with lite cranberry juice would be a great alternative. Established in 1977, Hospice of the East Bay is a not-for-profit agency I often tell my clients during social eating to “work the room.” Take one that helps people cope with end of life by providing medical, emotional, plate of food from the buffet, and then instead of going back for more food visit with the partygoers, making it a point to talk with each guest. While spiritual, and practical support for patients and families, regardless of you are talking to the guests watch how often people go back to the buffet their ability to pay. Hospice of the East Bay is a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit, and stuff themselves. Watch those men and women that are in shape, and see organization that relies on the support of the community we serve. Find the most current Bereavement Services calendar at www.hospiceeastbay.org. what they are eating. This is always quite an eye opener.

Page 26 - December 2012 ~ Danville Today News

Year End Gifts to Cancer Causes By Jewel Johl, MD As the year draws to a close, we know that many people embrace the spirit of giving by making tax deductible contributions to nonprofit organizations and charities. Many agencies need our assistance, including those who provide cancer support. Cancer Support Community (CSC) reaches out to cancer patients and their families in many vital ways. Previously called “The Wellness Community,” CSC provides comprehensive psychological support and educational programs, at no cost, for people with cancer and their caregivers, children, and families. Their programs and services enable cancer patients and their families to manage their treatment and recovery as effectively as possible, increase their chances for survival, and provide for a higher quality of life. Anyone affected by cancer is welcome, and all of their services are always free of charge. (www.cancersupportcommunity.org) The American Cancer Society (ACS) is another organization that makes huge contributions in cancer awareness and research funding. Our patients enjoy programs like ‘Look Good...Feel Better’- (free cosmetology consults and products) and ‘Road to Recovery’- (free transportation to medical appointments). The ACS sponsors ‘Relay for Life’ and ‘Making Strides Against Breast Cancer’ in our communities, raising millions of dollars while raising awareness about cancer, early detection, and prevention. (www.cancer.org) The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is the world's largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. The LLS mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease, and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world and provides free information and support services. (www.lls.org) Pints for Prostates is a grassroots campaigns that uses the universal language of beer to reach men with an important health message. The campaign raises awareness among men about the importance of regular health

www.yourmonthlypaper.com screenings and early detection by making appearances at beer events, social networking, and pro bono advertising. It is a registered 501(c)3 charity, and funds generated by the group go to fighting prostate cancer and assisting men with the disease. (www.pintsforprostates.org) The Skin Cancer Foundation (SCF) is the only international organization devoted solely to education, prevention, early detection, and prompt treatment of the world’s most common cancer. The SCF’s Road to Healthy Skin Tour celebrated its fifth year of providing free, full-body skin exams to people across America . This year, Diablo Valley Oncology arranged for the van to stop in Walnut Creek, and with the help of three local dermatologists, 70 people were screened. (www.skincancer.org) These organizations are a few of many worthwhile cancer based nonprofits. Think about all the wonderful ways your donations can help those touched by cancer. Your tax deductible gift can be also be made in recognition or in memory of someone. Visit their websites to make your donation. Happy Holidays! Dr. Johl is a Medical Oncologist and Hematologist. He practices with Diablo Valley Oncology, located at the California Cancer and Research Institute in Pleasant Hill. The center brings together medical oncology, hematology, radiation, chemotherapy, diagnostic imaging, clinical trials, and supportive care services. Satellite offices in Rossmoor, San Ramon, Advertorial and Brentwood. 925-677-5041.

925.934.3743 • 925.934.1515 www.dumploadsonus.com • www.erecycleonus.com 1271 Boulevard Way, Walnut Creek Monday-Friday, 8-5 • Saturday 9-1, Sunday, closed

Bikes continued from front page Over the years the program has expanded to include a dedicated core of volunteers and expanded bike drives. The group runs under the non-profit umbrella of St. Timothy’s Church, but space constraints of the original facility have forced them to relocate several times over the years to accommodate their temporary workshop. The effort has grown to become a community program with the support of individuals, businesses, schools, scouts, and other philanthropic organizations and operates during the holiday season. The group collects donated used bikes from the community, gets volunteers together to clean and repair the bikes, and then donates them in mid-December. Last year, of the 358 bikes distributed, 185 bikes went to children in the Richmond schools that were identified by their teachers as unlikely to receive any gifts during the holiday season. The holiday bike repair shop will be set up at their new location in the old Blockbuster Video space at 180 Alamo Plaza, Alamo. This year the bikes will be delivered to the following non-profit agencies: Contra Costa Interfaith Housing, Foster a Dream, Fresh Start, Monument Crisis Center, Options Recovery Services, West Contra Costa Unified School District, Salvation Army, and San Francisco State University Guardian Scholars Program. Bikes of all sizes are needed – ranging from small tyke-bikes for young children learning how to

ride, to bikes for kids, teenagers, and adults who need transportation to get to school or work. In addition, spare bike parts, intact helmets, and working locks are gratefully accepted. Recent donations of $1,000 from Danville Rotary and $500 from San Ramon Kiwanis will go towards the purchase of helmets to accompany the bikes. Further monetary donations to help purchase parts and locks are welcomed. Donations can be made at the shop or mailed to St. Timothy’s Church, 1550 Diablo Rd., Danville, CA 94526. Be sure to note Adopt a Family Bikes on the check. Volunteers are always appreciated. No experience is necessary. There are plenty of bikes that need cleaning as well as volunteers can be trained on various aspects of repair. Hours of operation are generally Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through December 20th. For more information and exact hours for donation drop off or offering of help, visit www.adoptafamilybikes.org, see Adopt-a-Family Bikes on Facebook, or email adoptafamilybikes@gmail.com.

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Danville Today News ~ December 2012 - Page 27

Grief Support Group Helps People Cope with the Death of a Pet 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 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 first Tuesday of each month from noon - 1:30PM 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 Hospice of the East Bay (925) 887-5681. Pre-registration is required. Hospice of the East Bay Bereavement Services are provided free of charge to all community members in need. However, donations are greatly appreciated.

WILLS/TRUSTS/PROBATE/ESTATE PLANNING WILLS/TRUSTS/PROBATE/ESTATE PLANNING - Elizabeth Johnson, J.D.(Juris Doctorate), LL.M.(Master of Law in Taxation), is an attorney with over 20 years of experience. She provides legal services in the areas of Wills, Trusts, Estate Planning, Probate Administration, Advance Health Care Directives, Elder Care issues, and Guardianships. Her legal expertise and personal approach allow you to confidently plan for your future and the future of those dear to you. Please call 925-362-1010 or visit www.johnsonestateplanning.com.

ELECTRICAL WORK

TWIN BED FOR SALE

EVERYTHING ELECTRICAL! Need new light fixtures, ceiling fans, recessed lighting, or track lighting installed? Need a dimmer switch or GFCI installed? Do you want to change the color of your outlets in your kitchen or install 220V power for the new hot tub or stove? I also troubleshoot electrical problems. FREE ESTIMATES. Licensed and bonded. 30 years experience. CALL 925-389-6964.

TWIN BED WITH HARDWOOD HEADBOARD - Lightly used Sealy Comfort Series twin mattress and box springs with beautiful Simmons ash headboard and metal frame with sturdy rollers. Perfect for child transitioning from crib, or for apartment or guest room. $125. Call 925-735-2542. Photos available.

Danville Today News Classifieds Reach over 14,500 homes and businesses in Danville 94526 - Help Wanted, For Sale, Services, Lessons, Pets, Rentals, Wanted, Freebies... $35 for up to 45 words. $5 for each additional 15 words. Run the same classified ad in our sisters paper “Lafayette Today” and/or “Alamo Today” and pay half off for your second and/or third ads! Send or email submissions to: 3000F Danville Blvd #117, Alamo 94507 or editor@yourmonthlypaper.com. Payment by check made out to “The Editors” must be received before ad will print. Your cancelled check is your receipt. We reserve the right to reject any ad. Name_________________________________________ Address__________________________________________ # of Words_______________ Phone________________________________________ Email ____________________________________________________________________

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Page 28 - December 20 2012 ~ Danville Today News

The Combs Team Professionals You Can Count On

Nancy

Joe

Call the Combs Team

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925- 9 8 9 - 6 0 8 6 www.TheCombsTeam.com 108 Danville Homes Sell in Broad Price Band - Just to be a little different this month, I thought I would list the homes that have sold in Danville as reported on MLS for the last three months (Sept.1- Nov. 9). The first thing that jumps out is the wide variation in sold price and dollars paid per square foot. The statistical average for sold price in Danville is $897,511. The average square foot price is $352. The price swath ranges from roughly $407,000 to $2,200,000 for a single family detached home. Prices per square foot range from $235 to $506. Not one Danville home sold for the exact statistical mean. The take away message is simply this homes are being judged on their individual merits now more so than in the past and pricing correctly is more important than ever. Nancy and I have launched a new and improved website www.thecombsteam. com. You will find our most recent articles as well as others that never make it into the newspapers. On the website you can, with the touch of a button, quickly find distressed property sales, both Short Sale and REO properties as well as search the entire MLS database for what you are looking for. You can set up auto searches that will send you email updates for new properties that meet your search criteria. Links include our Facebook and Linked in accounts, Twitter, and our Real Estate Blog page. Please visit our website and take a test drive. You can also download and use our free mobile search application for your mobile device. If you have ideas for improving our site, please call or send me an email at 925-989-6086 or joecombs@thecombsteam.com. We would be grateful for your input. May you and your family have Joyous Holiday Season.

Address

Sold Price

Alamo Short Sale

DI N E P

Sqft

Address

Sold Price

Sqft

Address

Investors Welcome

L SO

Sold Price

Sqft

Address

Sold Price

Sqft

Alamo Short Sale

DI N E P

Dramatic, one-of-a-kind luxury home with amazing views. We get results.

Amazing 3 bedroom, 2 bath condo in prime location. Great investment opportunity or starter home. Call for details.

Amazing single story home on quiet cul-desac. This will be pending in no time. Call for details.

Investors Welcome

Contemporary Single Story

Build Your Dream Home

Superb remodel with a fantastic chefâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s kitchen in very desirable location, pool. Call for details.

7 acre lot, 11 acre lot, 1.2 acre lot with utilities at street. Call for details and pricing.

ING

D PEN

Short sale. Beautiful remodel, single story. Investment opportunity. Call for details.

Data presented in this column is based in whole or in part on data supplied by the Contra Costa and Alameda MLS service and other quoted sources. Joe and Nancy Combs, J. Rockcliff and the MLS service do not guarantee the accuracy of this information. DRE #0144125.

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