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-DQXDU\ 6HUYLQJ 'DQYLOOH Join Cheryl Yee Glass and the SRVHS Instrumental Music Program for the Ultimate Tribute to Journey Concert on January 28th By Elaine Selna, SRVHS Student Writer and Alisa Corstorphine San Ramon Valley High School (SRVHS) instrumental music teacher Cheryl Yee Glass is fondly known as “Chief” to many people. When Glass first began teaching, the kids would call her “Mrs. Yee,” and she wouldn’t answer, thinking they were addressing her mother. After several different nicknames, her students gave her the name “Chief,” a title that has stuck for over 28 years. Glass attended University of California Berkeley for her undergraduate years. After graduating, she needed money to go on to graduate school and a friend suggested Glass earn her teaching credential so she could substitute teach and earn some money for her further schooling. Glass attended Cal State Hayward for her credential and found herself working at Monte Vista High School as a student teacher. On her first day Cheryl Yee Glass (left) gets a marching band member ready for as a student teacher, the their performance. regular teacher was out sick. Glass helped the substitute teacher and ended up teaching all the classes that day herself. The experience opened her eyes to the joy of teaching. While continuing her student teaching at Monte Vista, a midyear position at SRVHS opened up. Glass took the position with the idea that she would teach for a couple of years and then go back to graduate school. However, Glass fell in love with her work and never left. During her years at SRVHS, many honors have been bestowed on the Instrumental Music Program that she teaches. This year the marching band won first place in the Merced competition, the jazz ensemble received the Sweepstakes trophy, and the jazz band also won first place in its division. One of the things Glass is most proud of is that three students who graduated in 2010 were accepted to the very competitive UCLA music program. Glass has a full teaching schedule. She teaches six classes a day including both wind ensembles, both Come see “Evolution: The ultimate tribute to Journey” play at the jazz groups, orchestra, Instrumental Music Benefit Concert on Saturday, January 28th at SRVHS. marching band, and the Advanced Placement Music Theory class. Due to budget constraints, this year the school had to combine the advanced and the intermediate jazz classes. As a student in the class, senior Claire Rogers, who plays the saxophone, said, “It’s difficult for the
Renee Baptiste, Joseph Stockdale, and Rob Luger rotate barrels at Blackhawk Food Drive.
Hunger Continues Even After the Holidays Contra Costa’s Food Bank Answers the Daily Call By Jody Morgan Hunger is a problem every day. The Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano helps 132,000 people each month – a 35% increase over the past two years. How well do seasonal food drives meet the needs of the 180 partner agencies? What happens when the flood of donations hits the warehouse? Is there a time when the cupboard goes bare? The mix of hunger-stricken local residents is hitting Food Bank volunteers close to home. Lisa Sherrill, Community Relations Manager for the Food Bank, spends time in the field meeting with both beneficiaries and distributors of the Food Bank’s regular programs. Volunteers, she reports, are finding their neighbors in line for groceries or hot meals. “If that person is one paycheck
See Food continued on page 14
Danville Rotary Donates to New Veterans Memorial Building Rotary Club of Danville recently presented a check for $35,000 as a donation to the new Veterans Memorial Building. The check was given at a special presentation during Rotary’s weekly lunch meeting at Faz Restaurant in Danville. Bob Chace, President of Danville Rotary said, “We are proud to make this donation to the Vet’s Hall, not only in honor of our local veterans, but for its multi-purpose use by our senior citizens as well. Danville Rotary is happy to support this wonderful new facility, which is a showcase building in the heart of our community.”
Volume III - Number 3 3000F Danville Blvd. #117, Alamo, CA 94507 (925) 405-6397 Fax (925) 406-0547 Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher
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Pictured (L-R) Bob Chace, Karen Stepper and Bob Nichols, a member of the Veterans Memorial Building Fundraising Committee.
The opinions expressed herein belong to the writers, and do not necessarily reflect that of Danville Today News. Danville Today News is not responsible for the content of any of the advertising herein, nor does publication imply endorsement.
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Boulevard View By Alisa Corstorphine, Editor I read the Sustainable Danville article this month (see page 6) when something caught my eye. The writer noted how when she was a student at Cal Poly, she took one class each quarter that didn’t count for anything beyond her personal interest in the topic. My daughter took a similar approach last term at UC Davis, and she took an Animal Science class. In class they learned how to grade eggs, milk cows and goats, shuck oysters, and herd pigs for weighing. Of course she probably won’t use these skills every day, but it definitely expanded her knowledge in new areas. I often reflect on my time in high school and junior high. In addition to the English, history, math, and science courses offered, there were also a lot of “hands-on” classes such as wood shop, auto shop, metal shop, jewelry making, electronics, home economics, cooking, and sewing. I took the American Red Cross First Aid class as a summer school elective back when summer school offered fun, not just remedial, classes. I clearly remember making a blue skirt in my sewing class, and grinding and polishing rocks in the jewelry making class. My husband (who went to the same junior high and high school as I) made a lamp on the wooden lathe in wood shop, and he learned basic and advanced auto repair skills in auto shop. His electronics class, which fueled the fire for his future career, was taught be the same teacher (John McCollum) who taught Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak of Apple computer fame. Those elective classes provided a foundation for us to be more self-sufficient. Unfortunately, with many of these classes now eliminated from schools (or poorly attended in lieu of heavier academic classes needed to get into hyper-competitive colleges), the stepping stones for some of these basic trade skills have been overlooked. Our kids do well academically, but they don’t know how to cut wood, fix or diagnose car problems, or measure voltage; all skills they’ll probably need at some point in their adult lives. However, I think the tide is slowly turning. The recognition of the importance of these skills is resurfacing. It’s being driven by economics and practicality, because when you can’t afford to pay someone, you better know how to do it yourself. When my grandfather passed away, I inherited many of his tools. When I went
off to college, I was the girl in the dorm who people turned to when they needed anything fixed. Being the oldest of five girls, my father gave me his can-do spirit to fix and repair things. I wasn’t always as methodical as he wanted, but I had the confidence to tackle the project. There are several Bay Area places where you can still learn some of these handson basics. The Crucible in Oakland is a “non-profit collaboration of arts, industry, and community.” They offer classes and lab sessions in skills such as blacksmithing, jewelry making, glass flame-working, welding, ceramics, foundry, neon and light, and stone working. You can learn more at www.thecrucible.org. The people I know who’ve attended their classes speak very highly of the instruction. Some for-profit businesses such as TechShop (www.techshop.ws) offer hands-on facilities for inventors, hobbyists, groups, and “anyone else who wants to be able to make things that they dream up but don’t have the tools, space, or skills.” Their website notes, “You can think of TechShop like a fitness club, but with tools and equipment instead of exercise equipment.” TechShop provides machinery and tools such as milling machines and lathes, welding stations, sheet metal working equipment, drill presses and band saws, industrial sewing machines, plastic and wood working equipment, electronics design and fabrication facilities, and pretty much everything you’d ever need to make just about anything. Local recreation centers and colleges also have some facilities and classes to fill the need to create, fix, or build. Also, hobby stores, hardware stores, and electronics stores like Radio Shack and Fry’s Electronics have begun stocking clever and inexpensive kits to help teach basic electricity and electronics skills, soldering, solar energy, radios, and more. The kits are an excellent way to dip your toe into these skills, and they are fun for kids and families alike. As the new year starts, make this the time to learn something new, and get back to basics. Be more self sufficient. While you may never find yourself needing to herd a pig, you may find those same skills are useful in herding crowds or even a group of kids!
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Songs of Peace and Freedom Monday, January 16th, 7PM The San Ramon Valley United Methodist Church (SRVUMC) will host its sixth annual celebration of the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. The community is invited to join in as we sing many of the Songs of Peace and Freedom from days gone by. Live music will be performed by the SRVUMC Living Water Band. There will be words of welcome by Dr. Lon Bristow, who was a college classmate of Dr. King, inspiring film clips from Dr. King’s speeches, and selected readings from other notable peacemakers. Please join SRVUMC and lend your voices in singing a selection of American songs of inspiration around the theme of peace. The free event will be held at SRVUMC’s Wesley Center located at 902 Danville Boulevard in Alamo. For information call 925-837-5243.
Danville Library Book Sale Friends of the Danville Library will hold a huge sale of gently used books, all priced at 50 cents or $1. The sale will be held in the library, located at 400 Front St. in Danville. Hours on January 27 are 9AM -10AM are for members only. The public is invited to shop January 27 from 10AM - 5PM and January 28 from 10AM - 4PM. Sunday, January 29 is bag day from 12:05-3:45 when all the books you can pack will cost only $5 per bag. Admission is free. For more information, call (925) 837-4455.
Volunteer at the Glass House Museum! Attend an orientation on Thursday, January 26th at 1 pm to learn about the exciting volunteer opportunities at the historic Glass House Museum in San Ramon. Completed in 1877, the fully restored, Italianate style Victorian home is open to the public as a museum. Volunteers will be trained to lead a variety of tours, provide educational programs, and participate in historic preservation. Find out how you can be a part of this unique program. Forest Home Farms and the Glass House Museum are located at 19953 San Ramon Valley Blvd., just south of Pine Valley Road. Seating is limited. Please RSVP to 925-973-3282.
Free Tax Preparation Free Tax Preparation for the 2012 tax season will again be offered by Tax-Aide’s AARP sponsored program and Earn It, Keep It Save It’s (EKS) United Way sponsored program. The fast, free, confidential tax service, provided by IRS certified tax preparers, is available starting February 2012. The two programs serve slightly different populations. Tax-Aide serves low and moderate-income taxpayers of any age with special attention to seniors 60 plus. EKS serves individuals and families who earned less than $50,000 in 2011. For information or to make an appointment for the Tax-Aide sites serving the Danville/San Ramon area, please call Danville-Community Presbyterian Church (925) 480-7202 or San Ramon Senior Center (925) 973-3250. For general information and other site locations, call (925) 726-3199. If you need additional information concerning the EKS program, call 211 or visit www.earnitkeepitsaveit.org.
Danville/Sycamore Rotary 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.
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.
One Week Host Families Needed for Students High school students from the south of France will be coming to our area for one week, April 13th - April 20th. Host families are needed to take care of the students on the weekend, and evenings. Weekdays the students will travel with their class to explore San Francisco. This is a wonderful opportunity to expose your family to another culture and language. Students have a varying command of the English language and are looking to improve their English skills! For more information, visit www.exchange-students-lecas.com or email teacher Martine Causse at martine.causse@yahoo.com.
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Role Players Presents Spellbinding Murder Mystery Laura Crime, romance, obsession, and a ghost story... If you enjoyed the film noir version of Laura, you will fall in love with the stage production put on by Role Players Ensemble. A suspenseful and mesmerizing portrait of obsession is created by the ideal woman. She was beautiful, elegant, highly ambitious, and utterly mysterious, as well as a tempestuous coquette, brutally violent at times, then remorsefully generous. No man could resist her charms. The hardboiled detective is seduced and haunted by the dead woman while he sleuths out her life. As this tough cop probes the mystery of Laura’s death, he becomes obsessed with her strange power. Soon he realizes he’s been seduced by a dead woman – or has he? The show will be performed January 13th to February 4th at The Village Theatre located at 233 Front Street in Danville. Friday and Saturday shows will begin at 8PM, and Sunday shows begin at 2PM. Tickets can be purchase by going to www.villagetheatreshows.com, calling (925) 314-3400, or going to the Community Center located at 420 Front. St. Danville. More information can be found at www.danvilletheatre.com. • Thursday, January 5th ~ 7 to 8PM : Join Artistic Director Eric Fraisher Hayes at the Danville Library for a sneak peek into the world of the upcoming production of Laura. • Thursdays, January 26th & February 2 ~ 8PM Join Artistic Director Hayes for a concert by the Role Players of spellbinding music celebrating the film noir genre and stage production of Laura. Venue to be announced.
Viewers say “Humorous, Comical & Entertaining” Laugh out loud with the improv troupe Trapped in a Rumor. The unrehearsed, unpredictable, unprepared shows are fast-paced, funny, energetic, and rated PG-13. These clever performers work together to create a live theatre experience that is never the same twice. Trapped in a Rumor is partnering with local charities and raising money. Thus far the troupe has raised money for the American Cancer Society, American Red Cross, Haiti Relief, Nicholas Colby Fund, Relay for Life, and several other local organizations. Tickets are $8 for students/seniors and $10 for adults. Back for their second consecutive year with the Town of Danville, their upcoming scheduled dates are January 19 at 8PM, February 18 at 7PM, March 7 & 8 at 7PM, April 15 at 7PM, May 10 at 8PM, and June 8 at 8PM. Visit www.villagetheatreshows.com or call (925) 314-3400 to purchase tickets.
The Straw by Eugene O’Neill In one of his earliest full-length plays, O’Neill created an autobiographical account of a philanderer who conducts a long flirtation with a working-class, Irish-American girl in his play The Straw. The romance develops while the young couple, both ill with tuberculosis, are being treated at a rural hospital. A pioneer in bringing realism into the American Theatre, O’Neill created multi-faceted characters whose story rings true in our time, with a surprise ending! The professional cast presents the play as a staged reading, produced by the Eugene O’Neill Foundation. The play, directed by Eric Fraisher Hayes, will be held in the Museum of the San Ramon Valley located at 205 Railroad Avenue in Danville on Saturday, January 7th at 8PM and Sunday, January 8th at 2PM. Tickets costing $20 are available at the door, through the website www.eugeneoneill.org, or by phoning 925-820-1818. The Eugene O’Neill Foundation assists the National Park Service at Eugene O’Neill National Historic Site in the preservation of the Nobel Prize winning playwright’s Tao House and provides artistic and educational programs which focus on the contribution of Eugene O’Neill to the American Theatre.
Danville Community Band Dinner Concert February 12th at Diablo Country Club Everyone is invited to enjoy a sumptuous dinner and to relax as the enchanting sounds of music fill the ballroom at the historic Diablo Country Club. Conductor Robert Calonico leads the 90-member all-volunteer Danville Community Band and as they entertain you. The evening begins on Sunday, February 12th at 5pm with registration and drinks at the no host bar (cash only). Dinner will be held at 6pm, followed by the concert. For reservations (credit card only), please call 925-837-4221. Call early as the event fills quickly due to limited seating. Dinner and concert (inclusive) cost $38 per person. This event is open to all. Bring your Valentine, and enjoy an early celebration.
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Danville Today News ~ January 2012 - Page 5
Veterans of Foreign Wars Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW), Post 75 of San Ramon Valley, meets every second Thursday of the month at the Swain House at Hap Magee Ranch Park, located at 1025 La Gonda Way in Danville. Doors open at 7 PM and the meeting begins at 7:30 PM. The next regularly scheduled meeting will be on Thursday, January 12th. For more information, contact Post Commander Nathan Greene at (925) 875-1747 or visit www.vfwpost75.org.
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By Nathan Greene (USAF), Commander, VFW Post 75 YOU have the opportunity to make a difference by naming a portion of the Veterans Memorial building or donating towards a permanent plaque honoring your family or a Veteran. The 85-year-old building is being renovated and expanded for Veterans and community activities. The last surviving WWI Veteran, Frank Buckles, recently died at age 110. About 1,000 WWII Veterans pass away every day. Those from the Korean conflict and all conflicts since are also leaving us, many without the help available through Veterans’ services and the Veterans Administration. These services will now be available in the finished building. Veterans’ buildings throughout the United States were built with the commitment to serve Veterans in perpetuity. Most Veterans are either retired or on disability with limited incomes. Funding the Veterans portion of this over eight million dollar construction finds us presently short of our goal by about two million dollars. Please consider a sizable tax deductible donation towards this project. You can learn more and make a donation by visiting www.srvVeteransHall.org or by calling our Veterans office at (925) 3629806. Thank you.
The Exchange Club of San Ramon Valley meets for lunch the second Wednesday of each month at Faz Restaurant in downtown Danville. Sign-in and social time begins at 11:30AM. The meeting starts promptly at noon and ends promptly at 1PM. The one-hour program features guest speakers and a business networking speaker. Guests are welcome. Price is $16 for members and first time guests and $20 for returning guests. For more information, call Karen Stepper, President, at (925) 275-2312, email coachstepper@yahoo.com, or visit www.srvexchangeclub.org.
Treats for the Troops Happy New Year to the shoppers of Alamo and Danville. Because of your generosity, Delta Nu Psi has now sent over 22,150 pounds of gourmet junk food to our service men and women. Hand warmers have been requested by the squads stationed in the snow covered mountains of Afghanistan. Collections will be held January 6th at CVS in Alamo and January 13th at Lunardi’s in Danville. At both stores the hours are from 11am to 2pm. For more information, visit www.deltanupsi.org or e-mail deltanupsi@comcast.net.
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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Page 6 - January 2012 ~ Danville Today News
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Bee Environmentally Conscious By Rachel Egan When somebody asks you what you are afraid of, what do you say? Spiders? Heights? Public speaking? Bees? Yes, spiders are creepy looking. Being up high can make you feel you may fall. Speaking in front of other people can be nerve-wracking – all those eyes on you! And bees can sting when provoked. But what if I were to tell you that one of these things is actually a big contributor to the food on your table? Would you reconsider your phobia? As I was starting my senior year at Cal Poly, I decided I wanted to take one fun class each quarter that didn’t necessary fill degree requirements but did fulfill my interest in the topic. In the Fall Quarter, I decided my fun class would be beekeeping. I had no idea how much it would open my eyes to the world around me. Not only did I learn a bit of Egyptian history, but I also got a few biology lessons, watched interesting documentaries, and left the class with a new passion for bees - and an A. If you are afraid of bees, you probably have not given much thought to the positive impact they have on your everyday life. Being someone whose bee stings swell up to the size of baseballs, probably one of the most useful tips I learned in my beekeeping class is to ice the sting location and put a dab of toothpaste on the sting every once in awhile, and voila you’ll be as good as new in a SERVING ALAMO & DANVILLE SINCE 1979! few days. I was only stung twice during the three month class – and it was Still Have That Same Old completely my fault, but I forgave the bee since they help farmers grow our food, pollinate the flowers in our gardens, have the capability of reducing Noisy Filter Pump? allergies, and produce one of my favorite foods, honey. In fact, bees pollinate Want to Save $900 a Year? one of every three bites of food we eat. If that doesn’t convince you to become Call us and ask about ‘Bee-friendly,’ consider this: you could actually survive on honey alone since Pentair’s IntelliFlo pump it’s the only known food containing all the necessary nutrients that humans which qualifies for a need to survive. And some say, a teaspoon of raw honey at bedtime (along $100 PG&E rebate! with daily exercise) can help you lose fat faster than exercise alone. Over the past few years, farmers have noticed a shocking trend with their Want Soft Sparkling Algae Free Pool Water ? bees: often when they check on the hives, there are no bees to be found. Ask about the IntelliChlor salt chlorine generator Bees have started abandoning their hives and are dying at surprising rates. This phenomenon is called Colony Collapse Disorder, 9LVLW RXU ZHEVLWH DW ZZZ DFWLRQSRROUHSDLU FRP or CCD. Thus far, scientists have been unable to figure out why CCD occurs, but it is not surprising that, with nearly If you find him and your name is drawn! 80% of crops being pollinated by bees, He has become lost in this paper! farmers and scienHe is very small, so you will have to look hard if you want to find him. tists alike are worTo be eligible send a letter telling us where you found him, ried about the bee along with your name and address, to: population. China has already seen CCD change the course of its agriculture Lost Dog! ~ Danville Today News industry – since the ‘80s, farm workers have needed to hand pollinate all the & $ANVILLE "LVD s !LAMO #! blossoms in agricultural land because there is no longer a bee population to do it naturally. Beekeeping is surprisingly easy. By visiting the Mount Diablo Bee Association website (www.diablobees.org), you will find information about how to raise bees, what to do with a bee swarm, how to create the best environment Alamo-Danville Newcomer’s Club for your bees, and more. Raising bees can take as much or as little time as th Please join the Alamo-Danville Newcomer’s Club on January 10 for you want it to. How often you care for the bees depends on how involved their first luncheon of 2012. The monthly luncheons are held the second you want to be in the harvesting of wax and honey. Give beekeeping a try; Tuesday of each month. All women who are new to the area and long time you may be surprised at how much a bunch of bees can improve the health residents as well are cordially invited to attend. For more information and of your plants in your garden and neighborhood. reservations, call Marty at 925-838-8113. Join Sustainable Danville Area and Monte Vista High School’s Team Green for a Honey Tasting and a filming of Queen of the Sun, about the San Ramon Valley Newcomers Club environmental importance of honey bees. The evenings’ activities begin at The San Ramon Valley Newcomers Club invites new and long-time residents to its luncheon on January 19th at Forbes Mill Restaurant, 200 6PM on Wednesday, January 25th. A $5 suggested donation benefits MVHS Sycamore Valley Rd. W., Danville. We meet from 11:30am to 2pm and the student efforts to build an organic garden on campus. For more information regarding this event, please visit www.sustainablecost is $19. Our speaker will be hypnotherapist Gerri Levitas. Call Grace, danville.com. 925-828-8554, for information and reservations.
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Danville Today News ~ January 2012 - Page 7
Greenbrook Elementary By Jenise Falk, Principal Happy New Year from Greenbrook Elementary School. “Today is a great day to learn something new!” ‘Tis the season for learning! What a wonderful time of year this is! During these past months, teachers and students have created a classroom community that is focused on a rigorous, relevant curriculum in a warm, caring, safe, and nurturing environment . Student and Teacher of the Year. In December, the Danville/Sycamore Rotary honored our Student and Teacher of the Year. I am delighted to announce that 5th grader Ryan Parnas and PE teacher, Mr. Blake Tuffi are our winners. Ryan, son of Dan and Launa Parnas, is a dedicated student in every way. He is committed to giving his personal best and is excited to explore all facets of the curriculum. He loves working with the Greenbrook Go Getters projects created by his teacher, Mrs. Vamvouris. He is a caring, active citizen of the community. Ryan participates in Boy Scouts and especially loves to work in the Greenbrook garden with his dad. He is a caring active citizen in the classroom and around the school. Mr. Tuffli, exemplifies the essence of a great teacher. Each and every day, he encourages students to set goals and to do Blake Tuffli, Ryan Parnas, and Janise Falk. their personal best. He is a positive role model for his students. With each lesson, Blake encourages students to make healthy choices and exercise regularly, eat a balanced diet, and be the best person possible. He encourages good sportsmanship, teamwork, cooperation, and compassion. And best of all, our students love participating in PE thanks to Mr. Tuffli. A Busy Place! During the month of December, we had opportunities to talk with our students about caring and sharing. Through the gift drive, warm coat dive for our sister school, and canned food drive, we are reminded each day that there are many children who do not have all that we enjoy. Learning compassion at an early age is so important. Thank you for supporting these activities throughout the season and through the year. Holiday Kids Shoppe and PTA Holiday Bingo provided wonderful opportunities for community building and celebrating the season with festive fun for all. Third grade dictionaries! Our thanks to the Danville/Sycamore Rotary for hand delivering our third graders a beautiful dictionary. What a wonderful partnership of over 20 years! One Greenbrook mother wrote to me that her son now has a choice between looking definitions up on his iPad or a new dictionary – and she’s sure that he will use them both! In the New Year, we look forward to rolling out our Character Development program to the community, using our new laptops, assessing students with our new Fountas and Pinnell Reading assessment, having a blast at our Children’s Art Auction and Gala, and so much more! In this season of learning, I wish you a wonderful Happy 2012!
Books for the Homebound: A Free Service of the Danville Library If you or someone you know has a passion for reading and can no longer visit the library, find out more about the Danville Library’s Books for the Homebound program, a free and unique library service. Trained library volunteers check out and deliver books to homebound individuals residing in their own homes or residential care facilities. Contact Sandra Paiva, Volunteer Coordinator, at the Danville Library at 925-837-4889 for more information.
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California Writers Club January Workshop The California Writers Club (CWC), Mt. Diablo Branch, will present bestselling Author Nick Mamatas to lead their Saturday, January 14th workshop. Mamatas’ topic is “Beginnings and Endings for Fiction and Non-Fiction.” Workshop attendees will learn how to tantalize a reader, what editors look for in the very first paragraph, and how to write an unforgettable conclusion. Mamatas is the award-winning author of four novels, more than 80 short stories, and hundreds of articles on writing and editing. Check-in is from 8:30AM to 9AM. A full breakfast will be served from 9AM to 9:30AM, followed by the workshop from 9:30AM to noon at Zio Fraedo’s Restaurant located at 611 Gregory Lane in Pleasant Hill. The cost is $35 for CWC members and $40 for guests. Reservations are required and must be received no later than noon on Wednesday, January 11. Contact Betty Iverson at bjiverson@comcast. net or phone 925-376-3631. Expect confirmation only if you e-mail your reservation.
Youth Workshop and Contest Two local authors will teach a free comedy writing workshop for Contra Costa County middle school students from 6th through 8th grades on January 21st, from 9AM until noon at the Walnut Creek Library. The Mt. Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club and the Walnut Creek Library are sponsoring the workshop, led by children’s book authors Elizabeth Koehler-Pentacoff and Sarah Wilson. The workshop is in preparation for interested middle school students to enter the Contra Costa County Young Writers Contest, sponsored by the Mt. Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club. Deadline for contest submissions is April 1, 2012. Register for the January 21 workshop at http://tinurl.com/7humdhm. For contest guidelines and writing tips, go to http://cwcmtdiablowriters. wordpress.com/young-writers-contest/. More information about the California Writers Club Mt. Diablo Branch is available at http://cwcmtdiablowriters.wordpress.com.
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Page 8 - January 2012 ~ Danville Today News
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Second grade students in Brenda Aepli’s class at Green Valley Elementary in Danville began collecting coins in November to use in purchasing new toys to donate to “Foster a Dream.” This organization provides gifts to foster children in the Bay Area who might not otherwise receive anything for the holidays. The students sorted and counted the coins, and they took the money to Target where they purchased gifts to donate to the needy foster children. The students learned valuable math skills while working together to benefit others. One student commented, “It was really fun to see the jars fill up with so many coins, and I really feel happy because we’re helping other kids.”
Bob Chace, President of Danville Rotary presented a check for $500 to Dave Mahler from USA Together. USA Together provides support to Veterans with 30% or more disability. 100% of the donations go directly to Veterans. Pictured (L to R) is Bob Chace and Dave Mahler.
By Jean Schroeder, Principal, St. Isidore Catholic School Wow! Where did 2011 go? As we enter 2012 with much excitement and anticipation, we are grateful for a successful 2011 school year. Much was accomplished, and we are still in the midst of reflecting what went well, what improvements need to be addressed, as well as what we are striving for as a school this new year. This month our Gospel Value is Courage. We celebrate this by modeling the actions of our Lord who accepted all people regardless of their race, or religion, and who taught us social justice. On November 7th we revamped our Kindergarten program. We previously had a three and a half hour day and now currently have a five-hour day. We are still able to have 18 students per class with an hour of overlap. The children have the ability to explore exploration centers in small groups designed as practice and free exploration based on the key concepts that the children are working on in their classrooms. With the extended time, our students can also enjoy lunch at our school, which is so exciting for them. We hired more personnel to assist us with this new program. Our teachers are developing our little ones to be a model student of the 21st century learner. On Tuesday, January 10th our 8th grade students will be taking their graduation pictures. This is a special time for us as it is the start to many beautiful traditional celebrations that occur here at St. Isidore for our graduates. Many will be taking the placement tests for Carondelet and De la Salle in January. We practice test-taking skills with them so they will feel confident when they take the test. We also had a public school information night for those students who will choose one of our wonderful neighboring high schools when they leave us. Regardless where they go, we miss them terribly and we keep the door of communication open with each and every one of our darling graduates. Graduates from high school and college visit often and usually go to our teachers to tell each one how glad they are to have learned how to take notes, do those difficult math problems, or have special interest in their science classes. It is an awesome experience for us as teachers when we have grads return. Moral courage is written all over their way of approaching life. Our 7th and 8th grade students are working hard getting ready for their Science Fair. This is a staple project at St. Isidore. Our students are learning how to think creatively and problem solve on a project of their choosing. The science fair at St. Isidore invites scientists from the community to help us judge the projects each year. We are truly grateful for their support. This experience helps the students connect their learning with real world science. We are blessed because our 8th grade science teacher has her doctorate in environmental toxicology. She has been with us for nine years assisting our middle school with the science curriculum. In addition, our 7th grade science teacher has a strong background in environmental science education and hands on fieldwork. Together, they make science come alive! We are getting ready for “Catholic Schools Week.” This year our theme is “Catholic Schools: Faith. Academics. Service.” The annual observance starts the last Sunday in January and runs all week, which in 2012 is January 29 to February 5. Schools typically celebrate Catholic Schools Week with Masses, open houses, and activities for students, families, parishioners, and the community at large. Our Student Council and moderators will be holding rallies, contests, and many exciting activities! With a new year upon us, this brings us to our New Parent meeting which will be held on Friday, January 27th in our St. Isidore room across the street in our Parish Center. We encourage all new families who are considering a Catholic school education to attend. We offer tours, insight, and treats. On Sunday, January 29th we have a “Sneak-A-Peek” where, after our 9am Mass at Church, our families and parishioners are invited to come and tour our school and classrooms. We would love to see you there. I hope all your dreams come true this year. Peace.
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Stone Valley Middle School By Shaun McElroy, Principal New Year’s Resolution - Be thankful for great teachers “Ideal teachers are those who use themselves as bridges over which they invite their students to cross, then having facilitated their crossing, joyfully collapse, encouraging them to create bridges of their own.” ~ Nikos Kazantzakis We have all heard the expression “those who can’t do teach.” The lay person or adults without school age children may think teachers are college educated adults who choose a lesser path because they can’t compete for “real world” jobs. I think it’s time to change misperceptions that teachers choose their profession because they don’t possess the wherewithal to do anything else and replace it with “thank goodness we have great teachers.” I spent my first ten years as an educator in the classroom and for the last 23 years as a site administrator. I rank teaching in the top three of life’s most difficult professions, here’s how I rank them: 1. (tie) Single parent 1. (tie) Parent 2. Middle school teacher (P.S. I’ve been all three!) The path to the classroom includes a four year undergraduate degree, a fifth and/ or sixth year to earn a teaching credential and completion of two or three student teaching assignments (unpaid). After teachers land a job, they typically continue their education through seminars, workshops, and district staff development events. About 50% of the Stone Valley staff has completed their master’s degrees. Most staff arrives at school well before the contractual 8am arrival time. Classrooms are open for one-on-one or small group tutoring, parent conferences, coaching academic clubs or sports teams. Teachers are preparing lessons, making copies, or meeting with colleagues and attending to scheduled supervision duties. We also have two classes that begin at 7:15am. During the school day teachers deliver six 45 minute lessons to an incredibly complex audience. The social emotional growth in middle school is developmentally second only to years 0-3. Sixth, seventh, and eighth graders are going through puberty, experiencing dramatic physical and emotional changes, the gamut of social issues, their first crush, sometimes “life’s most embarrassing moment,” and struggling with change(s) in the family structure (death, divorce, addiction, illnesses, and decline in income). With this in mind, teachers deliver lessons with a clear teaching point derived from state and national standards, guided practice, a check for understanding, a connection to prior learning, and a summation. This is a tall order, and it is delivered 180 days each year. Included in the instructional day is a single preparation period and a 30 minute lunch period. Some teachers use their lunch period to tutor students, attend meetings, or provide student supervision. At the end of the teaching day (contract day ends at 3pm), teachers communicate with parents and students, coach after school sports, attend department or grade level meetings, represent the school on district level committees, and of course grade tests, quizzes, reports, projects and essays. For many teachers the grading routine can encompass the evening and weekend hours. On early release Wednesdays, teachers commit to an hour of staff development each week. The major focus for our staff is creating lessons that are infused with technology. When teachers are gone from the classroom, they have to leave a fool-proof plan for the substitute teachers to ensure that learning continues in their absence. Teachers spend time recruiting and training substitutes to step in during their absence. The final line in every teaching contract has the statement “other duties as assigned.” The “other duties” include student supervision, emergency preparedness, CPR and first aid certification, creating and maintaining academic data bases, updating web-based grade books, and reading research studies on student learning. Our hiring practices require potential teachers and support staff to embody four core values: (1)Subject area expertise, (2)Choose to work specifically with middle school children, (3)Strong desire to work collegially, and bring a (4)”Value added” skill to the school community. Suffice to say that teaching is a very complex task that requires equal amounts of passion, devotion, and expertise to be done well. Thank goodness for great teachers. Your first task in the New Year is to share a story with your children about a teacher who was an inspiration in your life; we all have at least one.
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Monte Vista High School By Janet Terranova, Principal Vacation, whether a stay vacation or a visit to the far reaches of the world, is a wonderful time to relax and spend quality time with family and friends. I hope you all had an opportunity to enjoy a restful winter break with time for some fun activities and a chance to reflect on 2011. The first few weeks back from winter break are always hectic. Students are completing the first semester, and finals will start January 17. While finals can often be anxious time for students, families can do much to alleviate needless stress. As a parent, assure your student that all you expect is for them to try their best. If you are worried about finals, try to remain cool and positive with your student. Some students may need help with organizing their study time and strategies they will use to study. Give positive feedback to your student for making a plan for studying and carrying through with the plan. Cramming rarely works; encourage your student to begin reviewing now and develop a strategy for studying for each final. Most students benefit from active learning rather than passive studying. The more your student can manipulate the information in a variety of ways, the more successful the study session; flashcards, lists, charts, graphs, diagrams, turning the information into a story and telling the story are all active strategies for learning. Today our students are reliant on computers and may find success using many of the free online resources is a good study strategy. Space out study periods as spending short periods of time studying is more beneficial than trying to study for long periods of time. While this advice sounds familiar, make sure your student has a quiet place dedicated to studying, gets enough sleep, and eats a good breakfast before taking the finals. There are many websites that offer additional strategies for studying. Remember it is important to stay positive and encourage your student. If you would like more information about Monte Vista and our activities, please visit our website at www.mvhigh.org.
Page 10 - January 2012 ~ Danville Today News
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Trust & Estate Litigation – A Growth Industry By Robert J. Silverman, Esq.
Loose Leash Dog Walking By Cindi Tringali This month we will discuss how to teach your dog how to walk on a loose leash. First, we must learn to stand. Start with your dog on a leash 4-6 feet in length and a collar that he/she cannot slip out of (head collars are great). If your dog causes the leash to be tight by going to the end of it, pull the leash towards you, and then let it back out again. When you pull the leash towards you, you are pulling your dog towards you as well; then just let it back out. If your dog immediately goes to the end of the leash again, keep repeating this until he/she can maintain this loose leash for several seconds while you are standing still. The goal here is to have your leash hand relaxed by your side at all times. If it is not in that position, continue to pull and relax the leash until it happens. Once your dog can maintain a loose leash while standing, you are ready for the next step, literally! Take one step forward. If your leash becomes tight, just turn in the opposite direction of where your dog is pulling and start walking. Keep walking in the opposite direction until your dog commits to walking with you. You will know that your dog is committed when he/she is no longer pulling or looking in the opposite direction, and your leash hand is once again relaxed by your side. At first you may spend considerable time turning around and around. Just keep it up, your dog will learn. It is best to be as precise as possible when applying this technique so that your dog will learn faster. Turn as soon as your leash hand starts to raise (or even just before). If you anticipate when the leash will get tight and start walking the other way beforehand, you will have momentum on your side, and that will make things easier. Occasionally there is a dog who just doesn’t seem to understand this technique. If your pup happens to be one of these dogs, you can just stop walking as soon as the leash starts to get tight, and pull the leash towards you like you did in standing on a loose leash until your dog is maintaining the loose leash while standing for a few seconds; then continue walking until it happens again. If you have questions on training your dog email me at cinash2000@ yahoo.com. Happy walking!
Trust and Estate litigation is a growth industry. While statistics are rare, my colleagues and I receive many calls about trust and estate disputes. Sadly, many of these disputes end up in court. Some legal experts go so far as to call the problem an “epidemic.” This article will cover some reasons for this phenomenon and a few tips on how you can help your loved ones avoid the tremendous heartache and expense of litigation. One reason for this rise in trust and estate litigation is that the U.S. population is aging dramatically. On January 1, 2012, the first “baby boomers” turned 65. Over the next 20 years, approximately 65-70 Million boomers will reach 65 - about 10,000 each day! As boomers die, the transfer of generational wealth is going to be astounding. In the first half of this century, literally tens of trillions of dollars will transfer from one generation to the next. Another reason for this increase in litigation seems to be the economic downturn. Many actual and prospective inheritors are needy; sometimes they feel desperate. But, to a certain extent, regardless of the economic climate, people will fight over inheritance because it’s human nature. We’re imperfect, and we can be greedy. We don’t communicate as well as we should - even with (perhaps especially with) our loved ones. Misunderstandings arise, poor choices are made, perceived and actual inequities occur, and disagreements and conflicts leave bitter feelings. How can you not be discouraged by all this? By learning about optimal ways to structure your estate plan, and taking affirmative steps to reduce your family’s exposure to ugly, time-consuming and expensive legal proceedings. The most common mistake that leads to a court proceeding is not having a funded Living Trust. Even if you have a Will (and not a trust), a court action for estate administration - probate - is essentially guaranteed. That doesn’t mean the probate will be a contested proceeding, but it will nevertheless usually cause unnecessary time and fees to be incurred in the process. Of course, just having a full set of estate planning documents doesn’t mean you are “home free” in avoiding legal proceedings. Much of the time spent in Probate Court involves flawed documents. Sometimes the flaws are blatant, sometimes more subtle. Frequently, the documents are internet-based legal forms or “canned” documents prepared by an unskilled estate planning attorney or paralegal service. The use of these by consumers is myopic, leaving loved ones vulnerable to courthouse grief and many multiples of the fees and costs they thought they were saving. In any event, canned documents are an unreasonable substitute for a customized plan drafted by a seasoned estate planning attorney, and supported by such wise “counselor’s” practical advice and skilled drafting. One of the most critical aspects of a Living Trust is choosing a successor trustee – someone who will manage the trust after the initial trustee(s) dies or becomes incapacitated. At the heart of a lot of disputes is the designation of an inappropriate person. The fact that someone is close to you in the kinship chart (e.g. a child or sibling) doesn’t mean that he or she has the right skill set, judgment, and sensitivity to do the job correctly, fairly, and in the way you would want and expect. Nominating co-trustees, rather than a sole trustee, is also generally a bad idea. Typically, a client’s initial instinct is to choose a close relative. I engage clients in a “reality check” discussion, explaining a trustee’s serious responsibilities, and outlining rational criteria for choosing a trustee. Consequently, the client sometimes decides to name a different family member or even an unrelated party, such as a neutral, objective institutional trustee or licensed private fiduciary. This decision always merits careful consideration. Another common and dangerous litigation trap is the failure to anticipate and reconcile potential competing interests (e.g. between your children and between your children and their step-parent). Fortunately, there are appealing ways to streamline an estate plan so that assets are made available and/or distributed to various loved ones in a manner that minimizes or eliminates the potential conflict. Thoughtful legal counsel, and accompanying careful and appropriate document drafting, are invaluable in keeping folks off of the crowded trust/estate courtroom battlefield. Mr. Silverman is an attorney with Shapiro 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. Please call for 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 Advertorial matters addressed herein.
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Tax Talk H&R Block/Danville location offers Special Review of Past Returns By Bob Shalon, IRS Enrolled Agent and Office Manager We are back for our sixth year at our current location at Sycamore Square in Danville. Due to a very successful tax season in 2010 where we experienced our fifth consecutive year of double digit client growth (18%), we have added two more tax preparers giving the office six experienced tax advisers to serve the Danville/Alamo area. Each tax adviser is a resident of Danville/Alamo with strong ties to the community. You can read their professional bios in the Tax Pro Finder feature on our website www.hrblock.com. Besides myself we have two additional IRS Enrolled Agents in Pam Abbott and Brynda Dobson. All three of us have experience representing clients in front of the IRS. Every H&R Block Tax Adviser completed at least 40 hours of continuous education hours, almost double the IRS annual standard.
Danville Today News ~ January 2012 - Page 11 centage point payroll tax cut for employees, continuing the reduction of their Social Bob Shalon, EA Security tax withholdMaster Tax Advisor â&#x20AC;˘ Enrolled Agent ing rate from 6.2 percent to 4.2 percent of 925.820.9570 wages paid through 714 San Ramon Valley Blvd, Suite B, Danville February 29, 2012. Sycamore Square (next to Luckyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s) This reduced Social bob.shalon@tax.hrblock.com Security withholding will have no effect on employeesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; future Social Security benefits. I personally want to wish each of you and your families a happy and healthy 2012. To my current clients, as always I look forward to seeing you again and hearing about your year. To contact me, please call 925.820.9570. Advertorial
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Page 12 - January 2012 ~ Danville Today News
Art in Everyday Life Buying Art: Part 1 By Tony Michael Vecchio
to make an informed purchasing decision. Local art exhibits in January: Danville’s Village Theatre Art Gallery’s latest exhibition will be Abstract Dialogue, featuring the work of John Toki and Pamela Stefl Toki, January 6 - February 17. Toki’s large-scale sculptures in clay and porcelain possess a timeless quality, inspired by nature’s form, and suggesting archaeological elements. Pamela Stefl Toki creates her unique prints from a wet clay slab technique called clay monoprinting, a process which provides time to work the clay surface for hours. The Diablo Valley College Gallery presents Telling Stories Through Art, an exhibit of how visual artists construct stories and push, shift, or break boundaries between image-based art and event or experience. The exhibit will run January 19 to February 21. The opening reception is Wednesday, January 25, 6-8pm. The next Alamo-Danville Artists’ Society’s exhibition, Artistic Fusion, is a collection of all new member work opening on Thursday, January 12 through March 25, at the spacious and inviting Blackhawk Art Gallery in Blackhawk Plaza. The artist opening reception will be Saturday, January 14 from 5-7pm. Come and meet the artists, while enjoying wine, snacks, and conversation. Tony Michael Vecchio writes about visual imagery, painting, and artistic style. Contact him at tonymvecchio@gmail.com. His work is on exhibit at the Blackhawk Art Gallery and online at Etsy.com/shop/WabiSabiDaddi.
Let’s set up an art buying scenario. You hit it big in Vegas, you sold some stock for a nice profit, or a favorite relative left you some cash. In any case, you find yourself with a nice little five-figure windfall, and buying a painting for your home is now your pleasant exercise. For simplicity, let’s focus today on just visiting brick and mortar galleries or studios to view the art selections in person. There are a number of different scenarios to consider: You may already have a particular artist in mind and can now purchase a larger piece, or you may have a specific wall space in your home that you need to fill with a certain size or color palette, or you are adventurously open to buying a painting that just connects with your soul. So how do you go about this endeavor? Where do you start? How do you know if the art you choose is good? In art-saturated Northern California, there are numerous co-op and retail galleries located in every sizable city from the South Bay to Napa, and San Francisco to Walnut Creek. Assuming you’ve already chosen the gallery locations to visit on your art buying mission, let’s look at what to expect. Co-op galleries display work by a large number of artist members, hanging only a few pieces by each artist, depending on available space. The co-op gallery, managed by the artists, generally charges a lower commission percentage on sales, but consequently the gallery doesn’t have the budget available for promotion and advertising to target and reach the appropriate sales demographic. The co-op gallery space presents a wide range of diverse styles which, while conducive for gift shopping and browsing, doesn’t have the ability to promote a singular artist, style, or conceptual genre. But a co-op gallery offers the opportunity to sometimes meet the artist at work and ask any questions you have. Plus, you may find you can engage in negotiations for work for sale or see other examples. A retail gallery, depending on size, will exhibit a limited number of artists at a time, with each person represented by a large series of work, sometimes 8 to 15 pieces. This gives an excellent overall scope of the artist’s current body of work. The gallery will typically provide bio and exhibit history information on the artist, which gives a more structured perspective of the artist’s professional growth and vision. When you find work you’re drawn to, whether it’s representational, abstract, or another stylistic category, you can engage the gallery business representative in more in-depth conversation about the particular artist or style. In this way, you can find out more valuable information about the artist’s relationship to their art and why the gallery chose to represent their work. Often a retail gallery will exhibit work of out-of-state artists if they feel the work is important enough to be seen by a new audience. Open Tues thru Sat 10 to 6 The gallery will answer your questions, and provide a valuable perspective of how the artist works, what their source of inspiDanville 925.648.0293 ration is, and what their vision is for their 3426 Camino Tassajara work. The more insight you have on an artist or style of work, the better equipped you are
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Danville Today News ~ January 2012 - Page 13
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Pilgrimages to Ancient Holy Places
Food
By Betsy Ahlberg, Travel Consultant at Alamo World Travel & Tours
away from the situation, maybe I am too,” they are realizing. Lisa has talked with many folks working three jobs and still finding they don’t have enough to cover basic family needs. Do you pay for the gas to get to work or the shelter over your children’s heads? Senior citizens are balancing budgets that don’t include sufficient funds for both medications and food. Eighty-nine thousand of the individuals receiving aid are residents of Contra Costa County. Scouting for Food kicks off the holiday season with a pre-Thanksgiving collection by local Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts netting an average of 150,000 pounds of food in a single day each year. Neighborhood, supermarket, school, and church holiday food drives bring in about one million pounds. Local members of the National Association of Letter Carriers took in 173,000 pounds during this year’s annual collection on May 14, 2011. While Rossmoor keeps barrels in place throughout the holiday season, many neighborhoods focus on single-day dawn-to-dusk events. Amanda Kuiper, Blackhawk Food Drive Chair, reports, “The outpouring of enthusiasm and support is overwhelming. We actually have a surplus of volunteers.” Interviewed midway through a workday that began at the Concord warehouse at 5am and would end at the same location about 7pm, Renee Baptiste is passionate about her work. Baptiste is on hand day after day for all of the neighborhood collec- The Food Bank delivers 30% of its aid as fresh produce. tions from Crow Canyon to Diablo to Apple Hill, Round Hill, Stone Gate, and Blackhawk, to name just a few. Overseeing the rotation of full barrels being loaded on the Food Bank’s big truck with empty barrels being dispatched to collection sites, Renee is confident that even in this down economy 2011 donations will exceed 2010’s records. Non-perishable comestibles are weighed at the close
From the pages of your history book or Bible, travel to ancient lands having a history that goes back to the beginning of time. Visit Israel and see the land where Jesus was born, walked, preached, and was crucified. The country of Israel is full of history. Although it is just the size of New Jersey, ten days is barely enough time to delve into its amazing history. See ruins dating from 2,000–3,000 BC, ancient Roman cities, “Tels” (up to 20 cities built on top of each others ruins), and the famous Dead Sea which is so salty you cannot sink. You can float for hours in the salty mineral water and come out feeling like you have been bathed in soothing oil. You can also visit Jerusalem, a world famous, fascinating city that has divided Old City Jewish, Christian, Armenian, and Arab quarters each with its own distinct personality. You will also want to see the Dome of the Rock built over the destroyed temple, the wailing wall that serves as the “temple” today, and the underground water tunnels. Visit the original walls built by Solomon and Herod, historic Bethlehem - Christ’s birthplace, beautiful green and mountainous northern Israel with its tranquil Sea of Galilee, as well as many other historical sites. Another pilgrimage to take is “The Steps of Paul.” The apostle Paul spread the Gospel from Israel to Turkey and Greece. See the ancient cities with their multiple layers of history taking you back thousands of years and through many different cultures. Visit Ephesus, Philadelphia, Laodicea, Pamukkale, Sardis, Thyatira, Pergamum, and Smyrna. See the fascinating city of Istanbul with its mosques and museums, exciting spice market, and the famous Grand Bazaar, a shopper’s paradise. The ancient Trojan horse was recreated in Istanbul - home to 5,000 years of ruins. Continue on to Greece. Tour the beautiful cities of Thessaloniki, Philippi, Neapolis, Berea, Athens, and Corinth. Stop at Mt. Olympus with its towering peak always encircled by a cloud. See the home of the gods and watch their stories come alive in the ruins. Greece is a beautiful country with its sparkling seas and hills covered with wildflowers growing among the ancient ruins of marble. Continue on to the famous city of Athens with its ancient ruins amid a modern beautiful city, and then see peaceful Corinth by the sea and the famous canal. After all the history you need a respite, so head off to the Greek islands for a three day rest. Explore picturesque cities tucked on tiny islands, many with only donkeys for transportation. Ferries travel hourly from the port in Athens to dozens of islands, big and small. Enjoy the food while you are there. Seeing the many different ways to cook calamari was a unique find. The best way to see all of this is to go with a group of friends, church members, or family members. We can put together a package for groups of 10–40 and customize the tour for what you want to see. We provide transportation, accommodations, your own personal professional guide in each country, and your own private bus and driver. If you do not have enough for a group, we can put together trips for individuals or families as well. For 31 years Alamo World Travel & Tours has provided group, individual, and corporate travel with tours, cruises, and hotels. We are located at 3201 Danville Blvd, Suite 255 in Alamo between Ace Hardware and the Peasants Courtyard. Please call us at (925) 837-8742 or (800) 848-8747, email us at info@alamoworld.com, or visit our website at www.alamoworld.com. We Advertorial have thousands of travel options. CST#2008416-10
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See Food continued on page 18
A New Year's Toast By Monica Chappell Do your New Year's resolutions include: eating better, exercising more and getting healthy? The next time you raise a glass of wine to toast a friend’s health, you may be doing more than expressing goodwill. For some of the same reasons “an apple a day keeps the doctor away,” a glass of wine a day may set you on your way to wellness.
I'll Drink to That Now is a great time to enjoy the pleasures of wine, especially since science is discovering the potentially powerful health benefits of drinking the fruit of the vine. A great number of studies have been done to determine the therapeutic and disease-fighting powers of wine, both red and white. When it comes to protecting the heart, red—not white—wine has always been the hero. We've all heard that red wine is good for us, but how good it is depends on who you are and how much and how often you drink it.
A Votre Sante (To Your Health) When it comes to health, all alcoholic beverages are not created equal. While all may have the power to relax us, only red wine contains a lot of polyphenols, heart-friendly antioxidants that help inhibit plaque buildup in the arteries. Studies suggest that the polyphenols, or tannins, which derived from grape skins and seeds giving red wine its color also act as protectors against cell damage caused by nasty molecules called free radicals, produced by sun, pollution, and cigarette smoke; all are believed to be culprits in the aging process. Wine, however, is not the only source of polyphenols. They are also abundant in a wide variety of foods including tea, chocolate, and many fruits and vegetables.
The Art of Living Well Wine has played an integral role in everyday life, religious ceremonies, celebratory events, and the enjoyment of meals by societies throughout history and continues to do so. While some of the recent studies concerning wine and health are more conclusive than others, many of them offer a good reason to make wine part of your daily life. Monica Chappell is a wine writer and educator. For a list of upcoming programs, visit www.wineappreciation101.blogspot.com.
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Danville Today News ~ January 2012 - Page 15
Life in the Danville Garden Garden Architecture By John Montgomery, ASLA, Landscape Architect #4059 What is “Garden Architecture?” Garden = a plot of ground where plants, vegetables, and flowers are grown. Architecture = the art and science of designing and constructing buildings and hardscape. I approach your Danville landscape design with “Garden Architecture” in mind. The two design fundamentals brought together in a creative and cohesive design make up your landscape environment. Successful landscape design is a good balance of both. The approach I take is to focus on the “architecture” initially. The “architecture” defines the design. It creates structure with the borders, edges, views, and function of the “softscape.” Structures serve as background for people and plants. A focal point deserves significant detailing. Background structures don’t. Scale and proportion are important. Structures need to be scaled appropriately and in proportion to the surrounding environment. The outdoor environment allows for larger scale than the indoors. Measure the scale of structures by keeping in mind existing large scale trees, distant horizon lines, adjacent properties and views, and buildings. Architecture provides the bones to any landscape design. They provide ongoing significance throughout the season while the “softscape” changes from season to season. In general “hardscape” structures include the floor of the landscape (patios, decks, paths), steps and grade changes, enclosures and ceilings (arbors, pergolas, gazebos), walls (retaining, seat walls, benches), fences, buildings (cabanas, pool houses, potting sheds, storage sheds), use and recreation (swimming pools, sports court, bocce), and focal points (water features, bridges, garden ornament, gates, trellises). The purpose of any structure in the landscape design is function and form. What function shall any particular structure perform? In other words, what do they do? Those hot summer days in the Danville garden demand the need for shade, and those long cold gray winters when deciduous trees drop their leaves, give you bones. Arbors or pergolas are “Garden Architecture” that can fulfill that function. What do they do? They provide shade in the summer and structural bones in the winter! A structure can have several functions. For instance, an arbor can define a portal, an entry into a garden room, or it can frame a view beyond. The form an arbor takes is an open structure usually with plants or vines climbing over it to form a portal or tunnel. An arbor can be built to take on any form that suits your design style. It can be as simple as an arched gate with climbing clematis or a bold design with four twelve-inch round Corinthian columns with rough hewn beams above heavily laden with Wisteria. Depending on the scale and architectural styling of your home and the design theme of your landscape, an arbor has many different forms it can take while performing the same function. A pergola as defined here is a free-standing overhead structure supported by posts or columns. The material that provides the shade may vary from lattice, to wood beams, to vines. All can provide shade depending on how much you wish to have. Pergolas generally are more significant structure because of the function. Often, a pergola becomes a garden room or enclosure in the garden, a gathering place for people, and a focal point. “Garden Architecture” brings form and function to any successful landscape environment. A hot tip from your local Landscape Architect: Built structures must be executed with proper construction techniques which are ensured through proper design, construction details and specifications, and on-site observations during the construction process. Landscape architects are tested and licensed by the state to design garden architecture. Gardening Quote of the Month: “One of the most delightful things about
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Page 16 - January 2012 ~ Danville Today News
The Care of Mature Trees By Blaine Brende & Joe Lamb Entering my sixth decade, the gathering stiffness in my joints deepens my appreciation that living systems change as they age. Trees also change as they grow older, but, for trees and humans alike, how gracefully we flower in later life is not determined by genetics alone. Long life for humans is a relatively new phenomenon. Our Paleolithic ancestors seldom lived beyond 35 years of age, and they would, I imagine, marvel that the average American now lives to be 78. However, long life for trees is nothing new. Methuselah, a bristlecone pine growing in the Sierras, has attained the astounding age of 4,838 and is the oldest documented living organism on our planet. It lifts my heart to acknowledge that the pine nut, which grew to become Methuselah, sprouted its first needles 2,268 years before the birth of Buddha, 2,832 years before the birth of Jesus, and 3,402 years before the birth of Muhammad. To promote long life, reduce the stresses on your trees. The densely packed clay soils common to the East Bay produce many stresses. Compacted soils lack air spaces and inhibit the movement of oxygen. Clay soils are soggy when wet (which promotes root rot), but they are hard when dry (which promotes drought stress). Improving the porosity of the soil by mulching, aerating, and, sometimes, by radial trenching reduces the stress on your tree. Mulching is the easiest and cheapest of these techniques. Two or three inches of quality mulch under the canopy of the tree, but not piled against the trunk, helps to keep the soil soft, moist, and cooler in the summer. Aerating aids soil porosity and reduces stress. To aerate the tree, use a deep root irrigator to drill many one-inch diameter holes to a depth of around 30 inches throughout the zone under the tree’s canopy. Pruning to remove dead and diseased branches reduces the stresses on the tree. Many fruit trees suffer from diseases, both fungal and bacterial, carried from flower to flower by pollinating insects. After entering through the flower, the infection spreads, usually slowly, down into the woody tissue. Pruning to a point below the spread of the disease increases the lifespan of
Clip Notes By Jody Morgan Gardeners have an insatiable need to nurture plants that don’t naturally inhabit their neighborhood. Whatever the climate and soil conditions of the space they occupy may be, gardeners labor long hours to sustain species unsuited to their locale. Although Danville winters are hardly as harsh the ones I experienced in the Northeast, I find my friends fretting over the occasional frosts that threaten the tropical plants they insist on forcing into the Northern California landscape. The incredible variety of fascinating flowers tolerant of sub-zero temperatures doesn’t assuage their craving for exotic specimens requiring winter protection. Scholars speculate that the ancient Greeks were adept at engineering edifices to extend the growing season, but the first documented precursor of the modern greenhouse was constructed in Rome about 30 A.D. Ask not what ailed him, but the remedy prescribed by the Emperor Tiberius’s physician was the ingestion of a cucumber every day. Pliny the Elder writes in his Natural History: “Indeed, he was never without it; for he had raised beds made in frames upon wheels, by means of which the cucumbers were moved into the full heat of the sun; while in winter, they were withdrawn and placed under the protection of frames glazed with mirrorstone.” The glazing material referenced by Pliny is a kind of gypsum (lapis specularis) that forms translucent crystal sheets. Since the largest sheets are less than one square foot, Tiberius’s cucumber house utilized hundreds of pieces patched together. The Latin word for mirror, specularis, accounts for the translation of the mineral as “mirrorstone.” Tiberius’s season-stretching structure was called a specularium. Although glassblowers had been making vessels and beads for thousands of years, the process for creating panes of glass had yet to be discovered. The Greeks brought cucumber vines to the Peloponnesus from their native India and subsequently introduced them to the Romans. The tasty type transported daily to Tiberius’s table was not the large cylindrical fruit we train on trellises. No bigger than a gherkin, the cucumber favored by the Roman Emperor survived satisfactorily sprawling across its elevated bed.
the tree. As with humans, stresses can have cumulative effects. When pines are drought stressed, they are unable to make the sap they use to drown burrowing insects. Oaks suffering from oak root fungus have trouble taking up water and often suffer from drought stress. When planning elder care for your trees, several factors beg consideration: What is your emotional attachment to the tree? Is the tree a hazard? Will it become a hazard in the future, and, if so, when? What will it cost to maintain the tree? Will it attain ‘sabi,’ the beauty of aging, if given the correct care? I hope that as I grow older I accept Roethke’s challenge and ‘dare to blaze like a tree.’ If you wish to extend your tree’s lifespan please call 510-486-TREE (8733) or email us at bl@brendelamb.com for a free estimate. Additionally, go to our website www.brendelamb.com to see before and after pictures, client testimonials, and work in your neighborhood. Advertorial
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A French botanist, Jules Charles, designed the first practical modern greenhouse in 1599 to shelter tropical medicinal plants in Leiden, Holland. His countrymen, catering to the aristocracy’s craving for citrus fruits, crafted orangeries in the following century including the elaborate construction at Versailles for Louis XIV (a.k.a. the Sun King) that extended 500 feet in length, 42 feet in with and 45 feet in height. Shortly after the completion of his king’s grand-scale greenhouse, Huguenot Andrew Faneuil fled his native France via Holland arriving in Boston in 1691 in the dead of winter. Faneuil, who amassed his fortune as a merchant dealing in comestibles and household furnishings, erected the earliest documented greenhouse in America in 1737 to raise fruit. George Washington, relishing the flavor of pineapples, built a “pinery” at Mount Vernon. The transition of season-extending structures from shelters for medicinal and fruit-bearing plants to immense showcases for the botanical treasures of the world occurred in the 19th century. Horticulturalists were exploring remote regions of the globe seeking the rare and unusual. The challenge of housing the heat-loving specimens they shipped back to Europe was met by the technological advancements of the Industrial Age. Improved cylinder sheet glass was introduced in 1834 and cast plate glass in 1848. The repeal of the British Window Tax in 1851 made conservatories, glass-sided rooms for people to mingle among their botanical collections, affordable for the middle class. Joseph Paxton began his career as a garden boy at the age of 15. His talent for growing exotic plants was soon matched by his self-taught skill in designing elaborate greenhouses. Queen Victoria was elated when Paxton managed to coax the rare Amazon water lily named for her into bloom for the first time inside a greenhouse in 1849. Although seeds sent to the Royal Gardens at Kew in 1836 had grown, they had never before flowered. When Victoria knighted Paxton in October 1851, however, it was for an architectural achievement rather than his horticultural abilities. After 245 plans submitted for the main Exhibition Hall in Hyde Park for the Great Exhibition of 1851 were rejected, Paxton gained approval for a design based on the structure he had created to house the giant Victoria Regia lily. His novel use of pre-fabricated modular sections for his “Crystal Palace” was relatively inexpensive even though it utilized 293,000 panes of glass and 4,500 tons of iron to cover approximately 17 acres.
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Ten Years of PCIO
Danville Today News ~ January 2012 - Page 17
"Y %VAN #ORSTORPHINE 0ORTABLE #)/
Where were you in 2001? I worked in San Francisco for a startup that was going to be the “next big thing” in insurance industry software. Like millions of others, I had high hopes of a big payday when our company became successful. The best laid plans often go awry, and something indeed happened on the way to the bank. The economy in general, and the venture-capital funding pool in specific, were very rocky in 2001. All that was needed was for the economy to be nudged to fall into an all-out recession, which it did in grand form following the September 2001 attacks. Taking everything into account, the company I worked for decided it had over-built due to slower-than-expected adoption of our product by the insurance industry and the new reality of post-9/11 economics. The writing was on the wall, and in October of 2001, for the first time in my professional career, I was no longer employed. For those of you who have never been “let go,” I must say it’s not a lot of fun. No matter how you may rationalize what has happened, it’s hard to avoid a bit of bruised ego. I had always thought about striking out on my own, but the corporate world and the “golden handcuffs” had always been a strong disincentive. Now that I was separated from the firm, I had some choices to make. There were three avenues to pursue. They were a) go find another job, b) find a firm to consult for, or c) start a new company. With technology budgets plummeting due to the recession and a glut of good people on the market, I decided against going back to corporate life. I felt it was going to be ridiculously over-competitive, I’d have a terrible commute, and I’d have to work a lot more hours than I wanted to given the state of the economy. I did try consulting for a boutique firm for a little bit, but it didn’t feel right. Maybe it was whom I was serving, but it just didn’t float my boat. I decided to create my own firm. What should I call it? Well, I was an unattached CIO (Chief Information Officer), and being unemployed I was quite available, so from there it was easy; “Portable CIO” was born. Besides being an accurate description of the owner, “Portable CIO” represents the conveyance of corporate-level computing expertise down to the small business and residential customer. It is no accident that this firm isn’t called “PC Doctor” or “Nerds Are Us” or anything else cutesy and ultimately demeaning to our profession. Our aim has always been to serve folks who try the other firms, realize something’s missing, and are ready for a fresh start. We have always taken a thoughtful and methodical approach to help our customers figure out their technology, and it’s resonated with our clients. Ten years later, computer technology has maintained its meteoric progression. Hardisks have grown in size from 40 gigabytes back when we started, to over 3TB (3000 gigabytes) today. Computers used to come with 1 gigabyte of memory, and now we order them with 12 gigabytes. The single-core “Pentium 4” microprocessor has been replaced with four or eight-core i7’s and Xeon processors, effectively quadrupling or octupling computing power. We’ve seen the introduction of the iPod, the iPad and Tablet Computing, Android, flat panel displays of enormous proportions, DVD and BlueRay players on the computer, and countless other enhancements. Back in 2001, the “Michealangelo” and “Klez” viruses were wreaking havoc on unsuspecting computer users. Little did anyone imagine the creative and destructive ways that bad guys would evolve over this decade, including advanced root-kits, Trojan’s, XP-Antivirus, and even the “Stuxnet” virus that was created to cripple Iranian nuclear ambitions. Who would have guessed that ten thousand viruses and malware of various origins and types would be created every single day in 2011? Yet some things haven’t changed one bit. People are still people. We all still have business problems to solve, and we hope technology can help us improve our situation. We still open emails we shouldn’t. We still visit websites we should avoid. We still leap before looking. Just like ten years ago, Portable CIO’s primary job is working with people first, technology second, to address the strategies, processes, and habits of the organization. We’re very good when working with technology, but we’re at our very best when working with people. It sounds cliché, but we really do listen, and we really like our jobs. We love what we do, and we plan to be around for the foreseeable future. I’d like to personally thank you for being a part of Portable CIO’s success over the past ten years. If we’ve worked with you, thank you, because our business is based on your trust. If we haven’t met you yet, I hope we get the opportunity in 2012. When you’re ready for a seasoned, people-centered approach to computing, give our friendly staff a call at Advertorial (925) 552-7953, or email helpdesk@theportablecio.com.
Glass continued from front page intermediate students to be dragged along to the advanced level at a rapid pace so the advanced students can learn something. It’s frustrating for the advanced students to have to wait for the intermediate students to catch on.” Because this combination is not helping either skill level, Glass and Rogers want to see the two levels separated to their original state. To fund this separation, the instrumental music department will have to raise $17,000. Years ago Glass thought, “Let’s make money for our program doing what we love to do -- play music. It beats selling candy bars.” Glass and Rogers, mentioned the upcoming 8th annual Instrumental Music Benefit Concert fundraiser, to be held Saturday, January 28th. All of the proceeds from the concert go to the Instrumental Music Program. The concert usually raises $5,000 to $10,000. This year’s headliner is “Evolution: The Ultimate Tribute to Journey.” With energy, precision, and nuance, Evolution carries on the spirit of Journey to throngs of enthusiastic fans. The musicians are honored to pay tribute to the band they consider the best in the world as well as to be able to share Journey’s heart-pounding, hardhitting, rock and roll hits with the many, many fans worldwide! The annual benefit concert is simultaneously many things: a learning laboratory, a student exhibition and a professional public performance. It’s “edutainment” that serves the students, the parents, and the community. Glass said that for the students, “There is a difference between performing and putting on a show. This is putting on a show.” A wide variety of acclaimed bands have performed at the annual benefit over the years including Carlos Reyes, Joyce Cooling, The Sun Kings, San Jose Taiko, PEACE with Jorge Santana, and Foreverland: A Tribute to Michael Jackson. Each concert begins with an opening set by SRVHS student performers and is followed by a full concert by a regional or national headliner. Student musicians sit in as guest performers with the main act for a few of their songs. A few days following the concert, students are treated to a master class taught by the headlining band, where they learn some of the ins
and outs of the music and what it’s like to be a professional musician. Rogers noted that the students do a lot of competitive shows but the benefit concert is just a fun show for the students and the general public. The students work really hard at competitions but, for this show, they get to loosen up. Doors open for the Evolution: The Ultimate Tribute to Journey concert at 6:15PM. Students perform at 7PM followed by Evolution at 8PM. The concert will be held at the SRVHS Performing Arts Center located at 501 Danville Blvd in Danville. General admission tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the door. Preferred seating Gold Circle tickets cost $40. SRVHS student and staff tickets cost $10. Call 707-869-9403 or visit www.communityconcerts.com for information about purchasing advance tickets.
Rogers recounted that when she came to SRVHS as a freshman, she wasn’t very happy with life. However, not that she is a senior, she is much happier largely due to the instrumental program. Rogers says that, “There are many teachers who care about their jobs but not their students. Chief is one of the most aggravating people because every time you try to give her a compliment
See Glass continued on page 20
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Page 18 - January 2012 ~ Danville Today News
Making Financial Resolutions? Look Back at Last Year
as a savings or money market account so that you have cash on hand to pay for unexpected expenses (e.g., costly car or home repairs, large medical bills) instead of racking up new credit card debt and interest charges.
By Jim Gebhardt
Review your investments
Each new year brings the chance for a fresh start and the opportunity to improve your financial picture. As you make financial resolutions for 2012, looking back at what happened last year can help you make some positive changes this year.
In 2011: Market volatility was the norm. In 2012: You can’t control the market, but you can control your response to market volatility. Is your asset allocation still in line with your investment goals, time horizon, and risk tolerance? Is it time to rebalance your allocation in light of changing market conditions and/or your changing needs? Are you taking appropriate advantage of available investment products or offerings? Reviewing your portfolio periodically can help you stay on track.
Automate your retirement savings In 2011: The economic slowdown took its toll on retirement savings. In 2012: While the economy and its impact on financial markets may be out of your hands you can still look for ways to increase your retirement savings. First, determine whether you’re leaving any money on the table. If you participate in an employer-sponsored retirement plan such as a 401(k) or a 403(b), contribute the maximum amount you can, particularly if your employer matches some or all of your contributions. Contributing to an employer-sponsored retirement plan can help you save more consistently. Because your contributions are deducted automatically from your salary each pay period, you won’t be tempted to skip one now and then. And this year, why not resolve to steadily increase your retirement contributions? Your employer may allow you to sign up for automatic contribution increases based on a certain schedule or triggering event (e.g., annually or whenever your pay increases). If you’re self-employed or contributing to a traditional or Roth IRA on your own, you can still automate your contributions by having money sent directly from a savings or checking account to your retirement account.
Plan ahead for a cash crunch In 2011: According to the Federal Reserve, use of consumer credit rose in 2011 after falling for two straight years. In 2012: If you’ve reigned in your spending but are still burdened by debt (especially credit card debt), your lack of emergency savings may be partly to blame. For example, even if you pay much more than your monthly minimum credit card payment, you’ll be caught in an endless cycle of debt unless you can avoid using your credit card for new expenses. Resolve to have at least three to six months of your living expenses set aside in a liquid account such
Food continued from page 14 of the day. Monetary donations continue to accumulate well into January. The Food Bank distributes over one million pounds of food each month. The major seasonal food drives provide about 10% of the overall supply. When the barrels loaded with donations roll through the warehouse’s back door, each item has to be carefully checked before it can be staged to go to its final recipient. In the Concord warehouse serving Contra Costa County, Steve Strouse supervises the volunteers sorting gifted goods to ensure items are within expiration date guidelines. Lids are screwed off peanut butter jars to make sure seals are in place. A list of food recalls is consulted. A huge area of the warehouse holds contributions waiting to be processed. Hundreds of volunteers assist the Food Bank staff throughout the year. Fortunately for the growing population of county residents facing hardship and hunger, the Food Bank stocks its facilities year-round with bulk purchases. As a member of Feeding America, the national network of food banks formerly called America’s Second Harvest, the Food Bank is able to buy big box lots of fresh produce such as carrots and potatoes as well as soups, cereals, and other commodities. Ninety-five cents of every dollar donated goes directly into food programs. “Food drives supply variety,” explains Lisa Sherrill. Goods from the holiday collections supplement the less diverse purchased foodstuffs until the end of February and sometimes even into March. Each agency is given a weekly allotment of goods from bulk purchases and the opportunity to select a designated amount of more diverse provisions while the stock lasts. The Letter Carriers drive comes at a critical time and carries the Food Bank into the summer months. August, September, and October can be lacking in variety in the non-perishables area, but gifts of garden produce are on the rise. Remarkably for such a large organization, the Food Bank has developed ways to utilize even the smallest offerings of fresh fruit and vegetables. Walk-in donations of miscellaneous garden bounty rose to 41,783 pounds in the year ending June 30, 2011, a major increase over the 27,826 pounds received the previous year. Perishable food products account for 30% of what the Food Bank distributes. Donations of bread from Oroweat, milk from Sunnyside Farms Dairy and yogurt from Brown Cow supply weekly needs. In 2005 the Food Bank distributed 800,000 pounds of
Check your insurance coverage In 2011: Floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, and wildfires were widespread. In 2012: The federal government issued more disaster declarations in 2011 than in any other year on record, serving as a reminder that it’s important to review your property and casualty coverage to make sure you’re adequately protected. Is there coverage you really should have (e.g., personal umbrella liability, renters insurance, or flood protection) but don’t?
Update your estate plan In 2011: New estate and gift tax laws took effect. In 2012: Your estate plan should be reviewed in light of the changes made last year to estate and gift tax laws. Certain life events, such as changes in employment, family circumstances (marriages, divorces, births, illness or incapacity, and deaths), or even the valuation of your estate, may also affect your estate plan. Gebhardt Group, Inc. is a leading independent wealth management firm located in Lafayette, California, that holds integrity, honesty and transparency as primary values. Gebhardt Group serves clients nationwide and wealth management services include financial planning, portfolio management and insurance services. For information, visit www.gebhardtgroupinc.com or call 925-283-9150. Jim Gebhardt is a Registered Representative of and Securities are offered through Brokers International Financial Services, LLC. Panora, IA, Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through Gebhardt Group, Inc., A Registered Investment Advisor. Brokers International Financial Services, LLC and Gebhardt Group Inc. are not affiliated This information has been prepared by Forefield, Inc. These are the views of Forefield, Inc. and not necessarily those of James Gebhardt or Brokers International Financial Services, LLC., and should not be construed as investment advice. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however, Forefield, Inc. makes no representation Advertorial as to its completeness or accuracy.
produce. In fiscal year 2010-2011, that amount increased to 4.6 million pounds. Executive Director Larry Sly summarizes his own amazement at the growth of the organization that delivered 30,000 pounds of food during its first year of operation in 1975. Hired in March of 1976 to drive a truck for the Food Bank, Sly notes in his statement opening the Food Bank’s 2010 Annual Report: “When I was driving a pickup truck gathering bread from Safeway stores I did not visualize a Food Bank that would have tractor trailer trucks driving down the highway. I did not see a time when a well-developed system of soup kitchens would exist in our community.” Nevertheless, he has managed to turn the Food Bank into a sophisticated operation that channeled 12.6 million pounds of food into programs for hungry children and adults in Contra Costa and Solano Counties in fiscal year 2010. Virtual Food Drives are just one of the creative methods the Food Bank uses throughout the year to supplement seasonal food donations. For those familiar with online shopping, it’s a natural. Instead of lugging heavy bags of canned goods, the donor selects items from an online shopping list. Local companies can do an office food drive without bringing big barrels into the workplace. The purchasing power of the Food Bank maximizes every dollar. In addition to supplying local soup kitchens and charities, the Food Bank supports Food for Children, reaching 4 and 5 year olds, Food Assistance, a program for households defined as low-income by the federal government, the Senior Food Program, for low-income senior households; Extra Helpings, servicing people living with HIV/Aids, and Farm 2 Kids, an after school program in schools where over 50% of the students qualify for free or reduced price lunches. Farm 2 Kids supplies each participant with a bag a week of fresh fruits and vegetables. Family pets get food donations through the Animeals program sponsored by Contra Costa Humane Society. To help or be helped, contact the Concord office of the Food Bank at 925676-7543. The office will suggest the program or agency that best suits your interests or needs. Food donations can be accepted at the Concord warehouse, 4010 Nelson Avenue, on Mondays and Fridays 7am -3:30pm, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays 7am- 7pm, and Saturdays 7:30am to 3:30pm. For more information, visit the Food Bank’s website www.foodbankccs.org/.
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This Year I Will... "Y "RANDI 'EIGER -3 #-4 ...Reach my New Year’s resolution to lose weight, eat healthier, exercise regularly, change jobs, quit smoking, quit or cut back on drinking alcohol, coffee or soda, save money, get out of debt, have gratitude, and just be happy! Do any of these sound familiar to you? Do you have the same list of resolutions every year and all you need to do is change the date at the top of your list? How would you like to FINALLY reach your goals? Most of us have goals in life, but we don’t always know how to reach them. For example, we say we are going to lose weight, but HOW are we going to do that? Are we going to starve ourselves and live on celery sticks along with working out everyday for two hours to burn those extra calories off? Does that sound healthy or doable over long periods of time? NO! It doesn’t sound fun either! As I always say, life is short, so we have to have fun! I can teach you how to live the 80/20 Rule so you will have a balanced lifestyle and still have fun. For some people there may be some underlying health issues that may be keeping them from their goals. They do everything right and still can’t seem to be successful. For others, they just don’t know what to do or where to begin. That’s why I have brought together some amazing women for “Fit ‘n Fabulous at Any Age” to help enlighten, inspire, empower, and educate us in many areas of our lives. We will learn to be healthy inside and out. Better yet, the profits of “Fit ‘n Fabulous at Any Age” will be benefiting less fortunate women from Shepherd’s Gate home for battered and homeless women and children. Join me and these fabulous women on Thursdays - January 19th, February 23rd, March 15th and April 19th from 6-9pm at the Sycamore Clubhouse located at 635 Old Orchard Rd. in Danville to put a game plan together to help you finally
$ANVILLE 4ODAY .EWS ^ *ANUARY 0AGE reach your goals. MJ Ryan, author of This Year I Will, The Happiness Makeover, Adapt Ability and more, will give you the tools to help you create lasting change. MJ has appeared on the Today Show and CNN. Licensed Therapist Diane Donnelly will help us gain control of our eating and have a positive relationship with food. Inspirational speaker Laurie Bodine will give us five simple steps to define and achieve our goals and dreams as a woman, wife, mother, daughter, and friend so we can “Lead our Life with Meaning + Joy.” Dr. Lori Mancuso will help us understand what happens inside our bodies as we age. Our goals may be hard to meet when our hormones and adrenals are out of whack or maybe some of us are entering menopause. She will enlighten us about how these changes take place and how we handle them. Jennifer Cross of Skin Savvy will teach us how to take care of our skin at all ages so that we look our best. Personal Trainers Amanda Hite and Michelle Adams will give us a “10 Minute Metabolic Boost Workout” so we can fit exercise into any busy schedule. These can be performed at home, the office, or when traveling. Our last class will be held at Nordstom in Walnut Creek for bra fitting, make up, and clothing for our body type. We don’t need to be wearing outfits that don’t flatter our bodies. It’s going to be a great event that you don’t want to miss. So grab a friend to sign up with you, and help other women and children at the same time. It’s a win-win! I LOVE win-wins! The registration fee is $199. It comes with a raffle ticket for a chance to win some great prizes such as signed items from SF Giants Nate Schierholtz and Raiders Linebacker Aaron Curry, and gift certificates for Piatti’s, Bridges, a facial, massage, infrared sauna session, a spray tan, and more. To register or for more information, go to http://a3.acteva.com/orderbooking/bookEvent/A313961 or you can also visit www.fitmindnbody.com. Fit Mind ‘n Body is located at 55 Oak Ct. #130 in Danville. You can call me at (925)984-9259. Advertorial Eat Well, Live Well, Be Well ties will hold regularly scheduled case reviews in order to confer on more difficult cases. Such multi-specialty conferences are not uncommon in university and hospital settings but can be impractical for private, stand-alone practices, where doctors from different specialties rarely appear in the same physical locations. With our new organizational structure, we will be able to provide collaborative tumor boards to patients in the private practice setting. Matthew Sirott, MD is a medical oncologist at Diablo Valley Oncology, home to the largest single site for cancer treatment in Contra Costa County. Its seven physicians bring together medical oncology, hematology, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, diagnostic imaging, clinical trial, and supportive care all in one convenient location. Learn more at DiabloValleyOncology. md. Pacific Urology is one of the San Francisco Bay Area's largest urology practices. The group's mission is to provide university quality of care in a private practice setting. Learn more at www.PacificUrology.com. Advertorial
Bringing Oncology And Urology Together By Matthew Sirott, MD Economic trends in health care combined with new opportunities in continuity of care has led our two practices to form Contra Costa County’s first multi-specialty group of its kind. Pacific Urology, a six-physician practice with origins dating back to the 1980s, is merging with Diablo Valley Oncology and Hematology Medical Group, a seven-doctor group specializing in treating cancer and blood disorders. There are two principal reasons we are merging our practices. 1 - New opportunities to deliver a stronger continuity of care for patients. 2 - Increasing economic pressures and challenges in delivering health care. Our practices have developed an organizational structure that will best meet patients’ needs through collaborative treatment of cancers of the prostate, kidney, and bladder. Both practices will retain their individual names but will now share infrastructure and resources such as information technology systems, business office processes, and clinic locations. The costs of practicing medicine are escalating while reimbursements are declining. We anticipate a 30-40 percent decrease in Medicare payments in 2012. By combining our practices, we secure the future for both organizations, allowing us to see more patients in more locations, reduce our overhead expenses, and collaborate more closely than ever before. As an example of improved care for patients, physicians from both special-
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Page 20 - January 2012 ~ Danville Today News
Rosacea By Dr. Jerome Potozkin Last year I saw Jim (not his real name for privacy purposes), a 52 year-old gentleman who presented with a common problem. Jim was frustrated because he was breaking out with red pimples on his nose and increased redness, flushing, and broken capillaries. He didn’t think it was fair that he survived his teenage years many moons ago, and now, in his fifties, he has started breaking out worse than when he was a teenager. He was also very self-conscious that because he had increased redness of his face that his coworkers, friends, and family would think he had a drinking problem even though he did not. Like many people, Jim was suffering from a very common skin disease known as Rosacea. Rosacea is a chronic skin condition that causes the face to turn red, become swollen, and break out. Unfortunately, there is no cure for Rosacea, but there are many treatment options available to combat the signs and symptoms. Beyond simple redness of the face, these symptoms include a tendency to blush or flush easily, a stinging feeling, and sores similar to acne. We have yet to discover the true cause of Rosacea. Some people with Rosacea will notice certain triggers such as caffeine, hot foods, stress, and alcohol which can make their Rosacea worse. For those people, avoiding the triggers can help. A mild cleanser instead of soap can minimize skin irritation, which can exacerbate any redness associated with Rosacea. There are many treatments for Rosacea which allow us to tailor a treatment plan to the individual. Medical treatment can include a combination of topical and oral medications. Jim found his condition improved with a combination of a topical prescription gel as well as an oral medication. Today we are using oral medications at much lower doses (while still maintaining efficacy) which allow us to minimize the side effects associated with the higher doses. The redness did not improve to his satisfaction.
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This is not uncommon with medical therapy for Rosacea. In order to minimize the redness we utilized both a V-Beam Perfecta pulsed-dye laser as well as intense pulsed light (IPL). These two technologies can work wonders to minimize the redness associated with Rosacea as well as broken capillaries and redness due to other causes. These procedures are performed in our fully accredited outpatient laser center in Danville and do not require anesthesia. There are multiple effective modalities to treat Rosacea. Unfortunately, many patients are unaware that effective treatments. If you suffer from Rosacea and wish to seek care, we are happy to help you. 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 Advertorial information.
Glass continued from page 17 on something, she turns it back to her students and our hard work.” Students need the balance of math and science with music and art. “After the end of every year, there is a fear in the students that the next level class won’t be there the following year and that they won’t be able to play,” says Rogers. “Many qualities that high school wants us to gain are best expressed through arts where you have to work with difficult people, work in groups, and have to learn to problem solve. These qualities are also needed in college and music,” she continued. Glass notes that she is worried about the effect the economy has on students who want to become music majors. Having a music degree gives a musician flexibility. With Chief’s job, she gives students ideas so music will stay a part of their lives. Glass adds, “Please remember, there are students who don’t do well in school. Give them a reason for wanting to be here.” Rogers follows up with, “Sometimes I used to come to school just for music.”
Hearing Loss Association Diablo Valley Chapter of Hearing Loss Association of America meets at 7pm on the first Wednesday of the month at the Walnut Creek United Methodist Church located at 1543 Sunnyvale Ave., Walnut Creek Education Bldg., Wesley Room. Everyone welcome. Contact HLAADV@hearinglossdv.org or 925.264.1199 or www.hearinglossdv.org.
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New Years Wishes for Continued Rejuvenation! By Barbara Persons, MD, Persons Plastic Surgery, Inc. Our family at Persons Plastic Surgery hopes you had a wonderful holiday season - one full of tradition, family, friends and delicious food. As we open the next chapter of our lives during the year of 2012, it is time to reflect upon the ways in which we can make our communities, families, and ourselves more engaged and vibrant. With the details of everyday life making our days busier than ever, I have found that the most effective way to focus is to write down my personal goals. In this new year, my goals focus on ways in which I can continue to better myself - not just as a physician and surgeon, but also as an involved and productive member of the community. This year I will strive to accomplish the following:
Community: 1. Supporting the schools in the area through the Lafayette Partners in Education 2. Preserving clean and flowing lakes, rivers, and streams through the Lafayette Parks and Recreation 3. Donating my time towards volunteer activities through my children’s school and scouting groups, my church, and local community organizations
Family: 1. Strive to dine together at least four nights a week 2. Plan special dates with each of my children once a week 3. Give attention to my 14-year-old Husky dog and three-month-old Bengal kitten
Self: 1. To spend quality time with my close friends 2. To find emotional balance through prayer and meditation
Danville Today News ~ January 2012 - Page 21 3. To be my physical best through exercising regularly and eating nutritiously January always motivates me to make changes in my routine that will turn back the clock on aging and become my physical best. Working towards this goal offers a sense of rejuvenation - physically, emotionally, and mentally. Hiking the beautiful Bay Area trails and breathing in cool crisp air always gets my day off to a great start. Improved nutrition results in clearer thinking, a calmer demeanor, and an improved ability to sleep. In thinking about ways to counter the aging process, a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon could be just the spark you need to make the most of 2012. Consider the many ways a full service physician’s office can help you look as young as you feel. Take this opportunity to do the things your friends are doing but not necessarily talking about: regular facials, microdermabrasion, laser genesis, laser hair removal, botox, fillers, eyelids, facelift, necklift, fat grafting, breast augmentation, breast reduction, tummy tuck, and liposuction, just to name a few. At Persons Plastic Surgery, we can consult with you on your options as these treatments and procedures make up a significant part of our practice. More importantly, we work with our patients not just on the physical rejuvenation and change, but we also provide the tools for lifestyle rejuvenation which help ensure that the change is enduring. Welcoming the new year should inspire us all to work towards living our best lives. Whether it is through exercise and nutrition or through greater involvement with family, friends, and community, all provide their own unique spark that add meaning to our daily lives. It takes a village for us to reach our goals and to achieve lasting improvement. Take charge in your village for the change you see necessary. Please consider me part of your village. Barbara Persons, MD is a Board Certified Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon by The American Board of Plastic Surgery. She is available at Persons Plastic Surgery, Inc. 911 Moraga Rd, Suite 205, Lafayette 925 283 4012 or info@ Advertorial personsplasticsurgery.com.
Calling all Instructors!
Cancer Support Community
The Town of Danville Seniors Services division is looking for qualified instructors to offer classes for adults 55 years and over at the newly renovated Veterans Memorial Building which is set to open early 2012. If you have the knowledge and skills to teach nutrition, health and fitness, language, craft, and/or hobby classes to adults over 55, you are encouraged to submit a proposal. Classes will be offered at various times including early evenings and weekends. For more information on how to become a Town of Danville instructor, please contact Jenn Overmoe, Program Coordinator for Senior Services by email at jovermoe@ danville.ca.gov or by phone at (925) 314-3491.
The following programs are held at Cancer Support Community located at 3276 McNutt Avenue in Walnut Creek. Admission is free, but please call to register at (925) 933-0107. Cancer as a Chronic Condition – For some, cancer treatment will be ongoing for the rest of their lives. Learn about the special medical considerations and how to cope emotionally with the challenges of living with ongoing treatment. Tuesday, January 10th from 6PM – 8PM. Planning on Peace of Mind – This workshop will provide information about what you need to know about creating wills, trusts, power of attorney, and advanced directives for healthcare from someone who can explain complicated concepts in a way that is understandable. For cancer patients, their families, and friends. Facilitated by Steven Donovan, Esq. Tuesday, January 17th from 6PM – 8PM. Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer Workshop – This 16 week series is for women who have just been diagnosed and are either in treatment or starting treatment. Guest medical experts will present information to assist in understanding the disease. The group aspect assists you in finding the tools for coping with the diagnosis and gaining the support of others who share similar experiences. Meets Wednesdays, January 25th through May 9th from10:30AM – 12:30PM.
Dumploads OnUs specializes in providing the ultimate junk removal solution. We’ll haul away just about anything - from old household junk to construction and yard waste. The only items we are unable to accept are hazardous • Computers materials. We make getting • Cables rid of your • TVs unwanted junk • Monitors as easy as 925.934.3743 • 925.934.1515 • Servers 1-2-3; we load, www.dumploadsonus.com • www.erecycleonus.com • Phones we sweep, and 1271 Boulevard Way, Walnut Creek • Printers then we haul Monday-Friday, 8-5 • Saturday 9-1, Sunday, closed •Copiers away. It’s that • Fax Machines • Power Supply Units • Discs and Tapes easy! Plus we do it • Scanners • Printer Cartridges and Toners • And More... with a smile!
Ataxia Support Group On January 14th the Northern California Ataxia Support Group luncheon and meeting will be held. A lite lunch and refreshments will be served from noon -12:30pm. Introductions, sharing, announcements, news, and updates will take place from 12:30pm-1pm. From 1:15pm-2pm guest speaker Don Gibbons, Senior Science and Education Officer of California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), the State Stem Cell Agency will speak. CIRM is a leader in California for funding stem cell research. Come learn and ask questions. Everyone is welcome. The meeting will be held at Our Savior Lutheran Church in the Recreation Hall located at 1035 Carol Lane, in Lafayette. The cost is $7 for lunch and meeting, and $4 for meeting only. For questions call Joanne Loveland at 925-735-7037.
Page 22 - January 2012 ~ Danville Today News ™
28 Days to Health :
www.yourmonthlypaper.com Your Clean Eating, Clean Living Solution! By Jeffrey Johnson, D.C.
Are you experiencing difficulty in losing weight, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or digestive issues like gas, bloating, acid reflux or indigestion? How about headaches, muscle and joint pain, fatigue, loss of mental clarity, skin problems, or poor athletic performance? Unfortunately, these avoidable issues are far too common. Do you think it’s possible the foods you are eating might be the cause of all this? Let’s take a closer look at some of the culprits for these symptoms: gluten, soy, dairy, and processed sugar. All of these foods are known to cause inflammation in the body, which frequently leads to dysfunction and ultimately disease. Our first culprit, gluten, is a protein found in certain grains like wheat, rye, barley, and spelt. It’s possible to be sensitive or allergic to gluten. Celiac Disease, a severe auto-immune response to gluten, is becoming more commonly recognized. Why is this happening? With Celiac, the villi in the small intestines have been damaged and cannot properly absorb nutrients. Even for those people who are slightly sensitive, ingesting gluten creates an inflammatory response in the gut. Approximately one in seven people are gluten sensitive, and one in 133 have Celiac disease. Symptoms of Celiac, gluten intolerance, or gluten sensitivity include gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, cramping, headaches, migraines, mouth ulcers, sudden weight-gain or weight-loss, poor immune function, frequent colds, skin problems like eczema, acne, or rash, anemia, vitamin or mineral deficiencies, bone and joint pain, and fatigue. Unfortunately, gluten is very prevalent in our diets and is commonly found in breads, cookies, bagels, chips, candy, pasta, soups, beer, and condiments. The second culprit is dairy. Dairy products are usually pasteurized and contain toxic additives. People have issues with dairy due to allergies, lactose intolerance, and reactions to additives like hormones and antibiotics. Common symptoms of dairy allergies include itchy skin, rash, eczema, hives, black eyes, canker sores, swelling of lips, mouth, tongue, face or throat, abdominal pain, gas, nausea or vomiting, runny nose or congestion, sneezing, watery eyes, itchy eyes, coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, recurrent “colds,” and sinusitis. Symptoms of lactose intolerance include abdominal pain and cramping, intestinal bloating, gas, diarrhea, and nausea. These symptoms typically occur 30 minutes to two hours after ingesting foods with lactose. Common dairy sources are cheese, milk, cottage cheese, yogurt, butter, cream, and whey. The third culprit is soy. The main issues with soy include allergies, phytic acid, estrogen imbalance, and the fact that it can be highly processed and genetically modified. Soy is known as one of the CONTRA COSTA ONCOLOGY top ten allergenic foods. The protein in soy is what causes the allergic response. Studies show that phytic acid may inhibit our body’s ability to absorb essential minerals like calcium, magnesium, iron, and zinc. This may lead to vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Plant-based estrogen in soy has been shown to disrupt hormone balance. Many diseases, including cancer, have been linked to excess estrogen. Signs of soy allergies include breathing problems, skin rashes, acne, bloating, nausea, constipation, migraine headaches, fatigue, and weakness. Soy products like soy milk and tofu are heavily processed and are the biggest culprits for these health concerns. The fourth culprit is processed sugar. Our blood sugar levels affect how hungry and how energetic we feel, and also determine how we burn or store fat. High sugar intake spikes insulin release which creates a chain of unhealthy effects in the body when done repeatedly over time. Symptoms of blood sugar imbalance include dizziness, headache, lack of energy, trouble concentrating, excessive thirst, excessive sweating, and excessive urination. Sugar is common in the obvious places like a cookie, cake, ice cream, candy, soda, and can also be found in not so obvious places like salad dressing, soup, bread, condiments, or deli meats.
With Them
my story Continues.
Stop the Insanity! It’s time for you to make the connection between the foods you are eating and the way you are feeling! When you focus on eating nutrient dense, organic, whole foods devoid of gluten, soy, dairy, and sugar, your health transformation will begin. Our proven system has helped thousands of people just like you restore their health in just 28 days!
Start Your Journey! Join us at Johnson Chiropractic Group on January 10th, and Transform Your Life in just 28 days by utilizing our proven Clean Eating, Clean Living Solution! Whether you are looking to lose weight, restore your health, enhance your performance or simply increase your energy we can help you reach your goals! For more information go to www.movepastyourpain.com, call us at 925-743-8210, visit us on Facebook, or contact us at Johnson Chiropractic Group, 115 Town & Country Dr., Suite E in Danville. Advertorial
AT CONTRA COSTA ONCOLOGY, we are committed to providing the highest quality care. Specializing in comprehensive cutting-edge treatment programs for all forms of cancer and blood disorders, our nationally recognized oncology experts and specialized oncology nurses are dedicated to providing the best possible care experience. We understand the wide array of concerns and challenges faced by you and your family, so we ensure the most sophisticated levels of medical oncology and hematology care, while providing you with the utmost support, compassion, and respect.
WALNUT CREEK SAN RAMON CONCORD ROSSMOOR DANVILLE contracostaoncology.com 925.939.9610
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The Eye Opener By Gregory Kraskowsky, O.D., Alamo Optometry What It Means to Be a Local Business As we enter 2012 and embark on a new year, I decided to write my article from the perspective of a small private business in Alamo. I would like to take some time to reflect on what we have accomplished and what we hope to continue this year and in the years to follow. First and foremost, I owe all of our office success and viability to our patients. You keep the practice alive and thriving. The office staff and I truly appreciate the chance you have given us to be your full-service eye care office in Alamo. All of our patients, from the ones that stayed with us from the prior doctor and the new patients that have entered into the practice in the past few years, have helped sustain and grow the practice. These patients have then recommended us to other friends and family members. We all understand and are dealing with the downturn in the economy these past few years. I am well aware that patients have many choices for their eye care, and I am thankful that they have chosen our office. My personal approach with patients and in the management of my office is to provide something that other large corporate offices are unable to offer. The personal service and attention we are able to give each patient can generally not be found at the larger practices. I pride myself on getting to know each patient, and I generally recognize returning patients as they come into the office and call them by name. Since we have a small staff, you can also be assured that you are always dealing with the same members of the office, you will not get “lost” as you can in other offices. The difficult part of having a small staff is that sometimes we are a little short-handed or several patients will come into the office at once. We understand that sometimes this can be frustrating for everyone, but you can be assured that we don’t rush patients, and that everyone will get the attention and service they need. Our staff members all have defined roles, but we assist each other to make sure everyone is taken care of. As an example, if I am not with a patient, I will often answer the phone or “man” the front desk if the need arises. Patients are sometimes surprised by this, but as they get to know us better, it almost becomes expected. We have also found that our local patient base are loyal people who prefer to spend their dollars locally. I cannot tell you how many times I have heard patients comment that they are so glad that we are here, our office is in a convenient location, and it is so close because most patients literally live “right down the street.” I can honestly say that my shopping behaviors have definitely changed since I became a small business owner. I can appreciate the effort and time commitment is takes to manage and prosper as an owner. I try to make it a point to frequent local businesses when I can; it is the only way these restaurants, shops, and offices can survive. We strive to be your hometown eye care office. We want your family and
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DIVORCE/SEPARATION SUPPORT DIVORCE/SEPARATION SUPPORT GROUP - Join a small support group to discuss divorce or separation. Six-week session led by a LMFT. This is not drop-in support. Cost is $150. Tuesdays, January 10th-February 14th, 9am10:15am or 7pm-8:15pm. 635 Old Orchard Dr, Danville. RSVP to InHomeTherapy Services@gmail.com or 925-413-1623.
Danville Today News ~ January 2012 - Page 23 friends to be welcome and feel comfortable when you come to the office. We purposely don’t schedule patients every 15 minutes. Our exam slots always allow plenty of time to meet and learn about each patient. Good care necessitates learning about the patient and what they do to completely help them; this cannot be accomplished in a quick, rushed exam. I highly recommend shopping and dining in your local community when you can. These offices and shops are vital to the community for several reasons. Small businesses are the livelihood of the local economy through employing the majority of the workforce. In addition, it keeps local dollars and tax revenue in the community. Regardless of if you are a patient at our office or not, I would urge all people to patronize local businesses when the opportunity is available. 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 Alamo Optometry Facebook page. Advertorial
Stroke Support Group The Stroke Support Group Of Contra Costa County will hold its monthly meeting in the Ball Auditorium at John Muir Medical Center- Walnut Creek Campus, 1601 Ygnacio Valley Road, Walnut Creek on Monday, January 9th from 7-9pm. The program is entitled “Experts, Stroke Survivors and Caregivers Share Their Insights.” It is presented by members of the Stroke Support Group. After the program, attendees will break up into three coping groups: stroke survivors without aphasia, stroke survivors with aphasia, and caregivers and families of stroke survivors. Each group is led by a trained professional. For more information, contact Ann Dzuna at 925-376-6218. Meetings are free and open to the public.
Mended Hearts The John Muir Chapter of Mended Hearts will hold its monthly meeting on Thursday, January 10th at 7pm in the Lesher Auditorium located at the John Muir Medical Center-Concord Campus, 2540 East Avenue, Concord. The meeting will involve group support sharing. Mended Hearts is a national organization providing support for cardiac patients, their families, and caregivers. For more information contact Nancy Mitchell at 925-943-7549.
Is Food a Problem for You? Overeaters Anonymous offers a fellowship of individuals who, through shared experience and mutual support, are recovering from compulsive overeating. This is a 12-step program. The free meetings are for anyone suffering from a food addiction including overeating, under-eating, and bulimia. The group meets Wednesdays at 6PMat Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Lafayette. Visit www.how-oa.org for more information.
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ELECTRICAL WORK 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.
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 24- January 2012 ~ Danville Today News
The Combs Team Professionals You Can Count On
Nancy
Joe
Call the Combs Team
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925-989-6086 www.TheCombsTeam.com Danville Real Estate: Unit Sales and Prices Slip in 2011
Dollars Per Square Foot
After a year of fairly stable prices in 2010, it looks like 4 bedroom 2-3 bath single family home (Danville Family Homes) prices are beginning to slip faster. In the chart you will see that last year showed stability in Danville home prices with dollar per square feet in slightly negative territory at only $3 Danville Family Home below the previous low water $450 mark of $330 low set in 2009. This year the dollar per $430 square foot price has dropped $410 an additional $9 dollars from last year and slipped $12 dol$390 $ sq. foot lars below the 2009 low price. $370 While sales price dropped significantly in 2010 at about $350 -4%, the rate of decline has $330 decelerated in 2011 to -2.5% or $310 -$21,000 year on year. That’s 1 2 3 4 5 6 about $34,000 below 2009. Years 2006-11 Average sales price for 2011 stands at $835,000 compared to $856,000 in 2010. Total Family Homes sold hit 260 this year significantly (-49%) less than the 530 homes sold last year. Among the sold properties, the lowest price paid for a 4 bedroom 2-3 bath homes was $421,950 for a 1608 square foot home on Mission Place. Oddly, it did not sell for the lowest square foot price paid in Danville this year. That distinction belongs to a property on Valle Vista Drive which sold for $191 per square foot. The highest price paid for a Danville Family Home was $1,657,500 for a 3715 sq. ft. home on Bruce Drive. A 2466 sq. ft. property on Johnston Road snagged the absolute highest per square foot price at $608 per square foot. The price swing between the highest and lowest price paid stands at $1,235,550. The difference in value on a square foot basis, highest to lowest,
Stonegate Single Story
LD SO
stands at $417. Amazingly that price differential is $96 more than the average price of a Family Home in Danville this year. As I frequently write, there is no such thing as an average home in Danville, however, a price discrepancy this great explains why many homes are not meeting appraisal. Currently 51 homes like these are on the market in Danville. That is a low inventory level. Their average list price is $967,966. Their average price per square foot is $354, not very much above the average price for sold properties, and yet they are sitting. They have been on the market an average of 93 days. One has been listed for 512 days. Among these 51 properties are 12 distressed sales (REO or Short Sales). This means 24% of our active inventory is in some manner in the hands of a bank. They are listed at an average price of $796,812 and carry a list price of $319 per square foot, greasing the skids for a further decline. As of this writing, a total of 48 Danville Family homes are pending. Their average list price is $753,700, and their square foot price is $301. Chances are better than good that both numbers will be less at closing. Here’s why. Of the 48 pending sales, 28 properties are distressed. They are listed at and average price of $740,789. They carry an average square foot price of $283. Distressed properties currently represent 58% of Pending Sales. Let’s now circle back to our 260 sold properties in Danville during 2011 and bring them into a more favorable context concerning distressed property sales. Of the 260 Family Homes sold, only 59 or 23% of sales have been distressed properties. This is not bad when compared to Actives and Pending properties on a percentage basis. These properties sold at an average price of $746,109 and carried an average square foot price of $282 per square foot. Distressed properties are and will continue to be a big drag on the averages. Although the Actives and Pendings have a higher weighting of distressed sales in their mix, I am not convinced that distressed property sales are on the rise in Danville. However, I can’t rule it out either. Until they are gone, we won’t see a turnaround. Nancy and I want to wish you a very Happy, Healthy, and Prosperous New Year. If you are thinking about selling your home and would like an honest opinion of its market value, please give me a call 925-989-6086, or send me an email joecombs@thecombsteam. com Nancy and I will be happy to help.
Shadow Hills Remodel
Two Large Lots for Sale
ING D PEN
Nancy and I represented the buyer and the seller. Pending in 3 days. $1,075,000 We have other buyers.
Nancy and I represented the buyer on this lovely remodel of 2928 sq. ft. We have more buyers. $968,000
Beautiful wooded setting. Lot B is 7.93 Acres Lot C is 12.87 Acres. Call for details.
Gated Custom Luxury Home
Downsize to Single Level
Westside Alamo Single Story
Exquisite 5 bedroom 4.5 bath custom luxury home on level .5 acre lot. Custom pool and Spa! Eye popping, mouth dropping, Wow! Appeal. $2,285,000.
Lovely 4 bedroom 2 bath single level with pool. Soaring ceilings, great flow walk-in master closet. 3 car garage plus RV parking. $749,000
Perfect in every detail inside and out. 4 bedroom, 3.5 bathrooms. Huge outdoor entertainment area and pool. $1,499,000
Data presented in this column is based in whole or in part on data supplied by the Contra Costa and Alameda MLS service and other quoted sources. Joe 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