Danville Today News, March 2012 by The Editors, Inc

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0DUFK 6HUYLQJ 'DQYLOOH Forest Home Farms Keeps the Past Present Feral Kevin By Fran Miller By Jody Morgan

Forest Home Farms Historic Park connects the present with the past through educational programs, special events, and monthly second-Saturday open days. On March 10th, visitors to the property located at 19953 San Ramon Valley Boulevard will be treated to a parade of antique automobiles. The Horseless Carriage Club arrives at 10am piloting vehicles built prior to 1916, remaining on site until noon. The Diablo Aâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Model A Ford Club motors up the drive at 10:30, staying until 1pm. The entire park, including the 1850â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hand hewn barn, the 1900 Dutch Colonial Boone House and the 1877 Italianate Victorian Glass House, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the California Register of Historic Resources. The site with its 21 individual structures represents the evolution of agriculture in the San Ramon Valley from the time Costumed docents Celestine Faeth and Kim Crow American settlers first arrived shortly welcome visitors to the Glass House. after California was ceded to the United States by Mexico in 1848. Samuel Russell undoubtedly had no idea how important trees would be in sustaining the property he purchased in 1852 from Jose Maria Amador. But Forest Home Farms, the name he gave his homestead, proved to be prophetic. The Schultis family bought the place in the 1860â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and then sold it to Numa and Minnie Boone in 1899. The 200 yearold olive still standing in the front yard pre-dates the arrival of all of the above owners of the property. But walnuts provided the income that carried the farm out of the depths of the Great Depression. Thanks to Alamo resident Myron Hallâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 1873 marriage through grafting of the valleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tough-shelled native walnut with an exotic Persian (aka English) species, a cash crop needing no irrigation could easily be grown throughout the region. The new nuts were easy to shell, delightfully flavorful, and totally drought tolerant. Born and raised in San Ramon, Travis Boone was pursuing a profitable career at a Los Angeles tile company when he wedded Hollywood socialite Ruth Quayle on October 5, 1929. Unfortunately, Travisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s father Numa had just taken out a $10,000 mortgage The David and Eliza Glass House opened to the public in 2010. on the farm to purchase more land. When the Crash came, the price of farm products plummeted. In 1930, Travis (always called Bud) and Ruth made what they expected to be a temporary move back to San Ramon. The bank repossessed the new acreage, but Bud managed to help his father hold on to the rest of the property through the Homestead Act. Working off the debt took every penny the farm produced for several years. However, Budâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s inven-

See Farms continued on page 24

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Long before sustainable food guru Michael Pollan wrote his best seller The Omnivoreâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Dilemma, in which he explored the complex subject of the industrialization of our food sources, a young and quixotic Kevin Feinstein was slightly ahead of the curve. As a college student at Florida State, Feinstein privately questioned the same subjects as related to the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s commercial food chain. With access to a relatively new information highway â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the Internet â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Feinstein Googled his way through the complex issues of agribusiness and in-turn, re-programmed how he felt about our food system. Feinstein was a film major excelling in the technical aspects of his field of study. He assumed a career path in film would eventually lead him to California, but it was his transformation of consciousness, and the progressive food movement, which ultimately brought him to the state eleven years ago. Growing up in Nashville, Tennessee, Feinstein, who now lives in Walnut Creek, had become accustomed to non-organic ways of eating. Kevin Feinstein, "Feral Kevin," displays a bounty of both â&#x20AC;&#x153;We never had fruit, and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d edible and toxic mushrooms. His mushroom foraging classes explain how to tell the difference between the two. never seen a fruit tree,â&#x20AC;? says Feinstein. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Once in college, and with a myriad of information at my fingertips, I started to explore food-source related issues, and it literally changed my life.â&#x20AC;?

See Kevin continued on page 18

Clean Water Ballots â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s This All About? By Sharon Burke Ballots went out in late February to property owners asking for their vote on the Contra Costa Community Clean Water Initiative. The election is required by Prop. 218, the Right to Vote on Taxes Act, passed by California voters in 1996. The countywide initiative was ordered for election by the County Board of Supervisors on February 7 on a 3-1 vote. A majority vote of property owners in the County is necessary to pass the fee. Critics have questioned the mode of election used for this measure, which is required in accordance with Prop. 218, written and championed by the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association. Prior to Prop. 218, no vote was required to assess a property related fee. And since property owners felt it unfair for renters and other non-owners to vote on property related fees, Prop. 218 specified that only property owners could vote Volume III - Number 5 in a property related election like the Clean Water 3000F Danville Blvd. #117, Alamo, CA 94507 Initiative. This means the Elections Department, (925) 405-6397 which only tracks registered voters, cannot conduct Fax (925) 406-0547 the election and usually counties and cities hire an Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher outside consultant to conduct the election, which editor@ has been done in this case. yourmonthlypaper.com Further criticism has been generated because the county materials sent with the initiative ballot The opinions expressed herein belong to the writers, and do not necessarily are vague and do not contain the usual supporting reflect that of Danville Today News. Danville Today News is not and opposing arguments voters use to make an in- responsible for the content of any of formed choice. Prop. 218 did not specify that argu- the advertising herein, nor does

See Water continued on page 11

publication imply endorsement.

Page 2 - March 2012 ~ Danville Today News

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Boulevard View By Alisa Corstorphine, Editor The other day I got a call from a 21 year old friend of the family. She was filling out a job application which asked how many words per minute she typed and how fast she wrote in shorthand. Shorthand?! Heavens! (Someone needs to update their job applications they hand out!) Having grown up in the 60’s and 70’s, I knew what shorthand was, but I have never seen anyone actually use it. I think she assumed shorthand was something akin to abbreviations and texting slang, like LOL or OMG. I asked others in the 20-30 age crowd if they knew what shorthand was, and they were clueless. For those of you in the younger crowd, Wikipedia defines shorthand as “an abbreviated symbolic writing method that increases speed or brevity of writing as compared to a normal method of writing a language.” It goes on to say, “A typical shorthand system provides symbols or abbreviations for words and common phrases, which can allow someone well trained in the system to write as quickly as people speak.”

The above reads: “One thing at a time and that done well is a very good rule as many can tell.”

I started thinking how much communication has changed in a small period of time. While reading Steve Jobs autobiography, I keep reflecting how the whole personal computer industry is less than 35 years old. The World Wide Web was implemented in 1991, and the iPhone, which millions now have at hand 24/7, wasn’t even introduced until five years ago. Recently an email popped up in my Inbox from a favorite artist/craft selling website, www.Etsy.com. Blending the old with the new, the item for sale was an old Underwood typewriter. It was the same kind I used to type reports on for

school, using “onion skin paper,” carbon-paper for copies, bottles of white-out and those round typewriter erasers with brush attached, always at the ready. The artist took the typewriter and made it into an iPad stand. He added some electronics to make the typewriter keys fully USB functional for a PC, a Mac, or the iPad. The carriage return (for those of you who know what that is) is what acts as the Enter key to bring you to the next line. It still looks, feels, and works like a regular typewriter, but also as a keyboard. To see it in action, visit www.usbtypewriter. com. For those of you who are handy with a soldering iron and who have an old typewriter in your closet, they have a “do it yourself” conversion kit that works with most old manual typewriters for $79.20 shipped. It’s tempting! Seeing the guy typing on that demonstration video reminded me how much longer each keystroke took and how much more pressure on the keys was involved. Remember what it was like? *Press* the key… and the metal arm raises and strikes the ribbon, and then through to the paper, then the arm descends…one character done…repeat.... And you better press hard, or you get a light-strike and maybe a blank spot in your word! Back then, a spilled drink or a hungry dog truly were a threat to that book report or term paper you’d been working on. Remember the professor who wouldn’t accept a paper with a single correction on it? We’re so spoiled now, because when I hit the wrong key and make a typing error, I can easily hit the backspace key and recreate the word correctly. And we shouldn’t forget inline typing correction, or the handy spell-checker and thesaurus built into all of our word processors now. It hasn’t been that long, and we have become completely comfortable with these amazing improvements in conveying the written word. Communications have certainly evolved, and never has it been more so than in the last few years. The instant access we have to each other with phones, email, and text messages has drastically sped up our lives, which really helps us in some situations, but also robs us of the simplicity and leisure we once enjoyed. While some technologies are better in the past, combining the past with the future can bring the best of both worlds together and act as a pleasant reminder of a more uncomplicated time. Importantly, we shouldn’t ever forget where the On/Off switch is, because sometimes it’s great to just un-plug!

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Danville Today News ~ March 2012 - Page 3

Museum of the San Ramon Valley Special Presentations at the Museum: • Saturday, March 24th, 10am, Jungle James from Animal Adventures will share his large butterfly collection from all over the world. He will show how to mount and explain how to preserve the butterflies while telling entertaining stories about his adventures. Bring your child or grandchild and yourself for a morning of lepidoptery. • Saturday, April 7th, 10am, Gemstone carving and polishing will be featured along with a display of beautiful gems and handmade jewelry. Dick Friesen will share his knowledge of gem collecting along with the tools and equipment that he uses in his hobby. Join us for what will surely be a polished and brilliant talk. Museum hours are Tuesday to Friday 1pm to 4pm, Saturday 10am to 1pm. The museum is free to members, and there is a modest fee for non-members. Donations are always welcome. For more information, visit www.museumsrv.org or call 925-837-3750. The museum is located at the corner of Railroad and Prospect Avenues in downtown Danville.

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Building an Iconic Bridge Presentation - March 27 Rebuilding the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge loomed large in everyone’s mind after one of the upper spans of the eastern bridge pancaked downward during the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake. Political squabbles delayed the selection of a final design and start of construction until 2002. The fascinating final design will create an iconic new Bay Area landmark to rival the Golden Gate Bridge upon its completion, hopefully by Labor Day, 2013. Since the bridge opened on November 12, 1936 it has become a critical link between San Francisco and the East Bay. Today 280,000 vehicles a day cross the bridge. The new eastern span with its 1.2 mile side-by-side deck skyway joins the new one mile single Self-Anchored Suspension span (SAS) and will connect to the existing Yerba Buena Island Tunnel. The SAS is the largest single tower single cable bridge in the world. A special presentation, Building an Iconic Bridge, will be given by Sarah Len representative for the Bay Bridge public information office. The presentation is scheduled at the Village Theater, 233 Front Street in Danville on Tuesday, March 27th at 2pm. The Museum of the San Ramon Valley, the San Ramon Historic Foundation, and the San Ramon Valley Historical Society are event sponsors. Tickets at the door are $10 for sponsor members and $15 for guests. For more information, call 925-837-3750 or visit www.museumsrv.org.

Young Writers Contest The California Writers Club/Mt. Diablo Branch presents its Young Writers Contest - Honoring a New Generation of California Writers for 6th, 7th, and 8th graders in Contra Costa County. Categories include Short Story, Personal Narrative, and Poetry. Prizes will be awarded for each category at each grade level. First prize is $100, second prize is $50, and third prize is $25, plus the winners will be invited to a banquet with a book editor or author on May 19th, and have their names printed in the Contra Costa Times. Deadline for entries is April 1, 2012. For details visit http://cwcmtdiablowriters. wordpress.com.

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.

Chromatica – a new Chorus in the SR Valley Chromatica is a newly formed chorus for men and women in the San Ramon Valley that is focused on performing high quality vocal music for regional audiences. It has already attracted an outstanding director and accompanist/ assistant. We are singing mostly classical music and are seeking experienced singers who can read music or learn it quickly. Rehearsals are held Monday evenings from 7PM -9:15PM at Peace Lutheran Church on Camino Tassajara in Danville. We expect to have an initial limited performance sometime in May and then start a new semester in the fall with concerts scheduled just before the holidays. We have 12 singers already on board, and we are having a wonderful time. We would like to grow to as many as 20 singers – soprano, alto, tenor, bass. If you are interested in singing with us, please contact Sharon Kantor at firenzaltd@earthlink.net or Chris Kenber at ckenber@sbcglobal.net.

12th Annual Bookies Award Dinner The 12th Annual Bookies Award Dinner, a Celebration of Books and the People Who Love Them, sponsored by Project Second Chance, Inc. and Real Books, will be held on Thursday, March 29 at 6PM at the Lafayette Park Hotel. Laurie R. King, author of highly praised mystery series and suspense novels and winner of the Edgar, the Nero, the Macavity, and the John Creasey Awards, will be the guest speaker. The evening will include dinner, wine, and a silent auction. Tickets are $60 each. All proceeds benefit Project Second Chance, the Contra Costa County Library’s adult literacy program. To purchase tickets, call Fremont Bank at (510) 723-5811. You may also visit the Project Second Chance website at www.ccclib.org/psc for more information.

San Ramon Valley Newcomers Club The San Ramon Valley Newcomers Club invites new and long-time residents to its monthly luncheon on March 15th at Faz Restaurant located at 600 Hartz Ave. in Danville. The speaker will be Harry Hubinger, an author of a monthly column “Stamps on my Passport.” The cost is $21. Call Grace at 828-8554 for reservations or information.

Alamo-Danville Newcomer’s Club Please join the Alamo-Danville Newcomer’s Club on Tuesday, March 13th for our monthly luncheon. This will be our ‘sweetest’ luncheon ever as we are lucky to have an employee from Danville Chocolates speaking to us about everything you ever wanted to know about chocolate...Who can resist? Reservations are required. Please contact Marty at (925) 838-8113.

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Danville Women’s Club Spring Tea Mark your calendar and call today for a reservation for the Spring “Get Acquainted” Tea to be held Saturday, March 24th at noon at the Danville Women’s Club Clubhouse located at 242 Linda Mesa Ave in Danville. The event is free. The annual tea provides an opportunity for women interested in community activities and fundraising projects to learn about the 100 year old club and its various programs. This year’s tea/luncheon will feature guest speakers from STAND For Families Free of Violence and the President-Elect of the California Federation of Women’s Clubs. Danville Women’s Club has been an active part of the San Ramon Valley Community since 1911, and it supports many local charities, high school scholarships, the arts and leadership programs, as well as State and National projects. Contact Ann at (925) 736-9144 or asmilan@comcast.net for reservations by March 15th. Other upcoming events include regular luncheon meetings on March 15th, April 19th, and May 17th. Guests are always welcome at our meetings, and there is no charge for first timers. A Garage Sale will be held at the Clubhouse on April 14th. Our Annual Spring Fashion Show for Hospice of the East Bay and other local charities is on May 10th at Crow Canyon Country Club. See our website for additional details, www.danvillewomensclub.org.

Diablo View Toastmasters Club AM

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

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

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

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.

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

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Fun Horse Show and BBQ for Kids "Y !LINE 3PYRKA ( YOUTH MEMBER You are invited to attend a fun Horse Show/ BBQ fundraiser. The goal of the event is to have many people attend and learn about horses, our local 4-H club, and the community. The date is set for Saturday, March 10th at 9AM. The event will be held at Summit Ranch Equestrian Center located at 100 Summit Ranch Road in Alamo. The show includes 4-H Cloverleaf Barrels, Bareback Dollar, Tutu Race, and many other events to benefit 4-H. This show is an opportunity to let kids who don’t have horses come and learn about horses and join in the fun. Special classes are planned for kids who don’t have a horse or who want to be a part of the show and win a prize. Our Horse Project is what we have chosen to do to work towards our Emerald Star designation through our 4-H group. The Emerald Star program is “designed to help youth learn about project planning, organization, and presentation.” Kelly Vanderwerf, Bailey Newlin, and I have all been in 4-H for four years and are very involved in the Tassajara club. All of us have many horses and love to do anything around a horse. That’s why we decided to do something involving 4-H, horses, and food to meet the project requirements. For more information, email painthorses23@gmail.com.

San Ramon Valley Horsemen’s Association The San Ramon Valley Horsemen’s Association invites you to join us Friday, March 16th at 6PM for a catered dinner and social. The evening will feature nonprofit organizations in the horse community. Horse rescue, trail safety patrols, trail maintenance, and riding therapy programs will be represented. Learn what our local non-profits are doing and how you can help if you so desire. The event will be held at the Alamo Women’s Club which is located at1401 Danville Blvd in Alamo. Cost is $15 for members and $20 for nonmembers. Soda, iced tea, coffee, and water will be provided. BYOB. RSVP by Wednesday, March 14th to Linda Post at (925) 479-9788 or post.linda@ymail.com.

www.yourmonthlypaper.com Xenophon Gala Fundraiser Please join Xenophon Therapeutic Riding Center for its annual gala fundraiser, “An Enchanted Emerald Eve.” This year, the event will be held at Round Hill Country Club in Alamo on Saturday, March 17th at 6pm. The evening includes a sit down dinner, dancing, and silent and live auctions. Tickets are $100 each, and reservations are required. Please visit www.xenophontrc.org for more details and to purchase tickets or call 925.377.0871. Funds raised at this event will be used to support the overall cost of providing riding lessons to children with special needs. Xenophon Therapeutic Riding Center is a nonprofit organization located in a beautiful rural setting in Orinda. The center offers life-changing experiences for children with a wide range of disabilities, and it provides therapeutic horseback riding in a safe and secure environment. The children achieve goals that they never before dreamed possible. By focusing on enhancing their unique abilities, and with a horse as their guide, there is no limit to what these children can achieve.

Town Committees Seek Recruits The Town of Danville is looking for community-minded residents to fill vacancies on four Town committees/commissions. At their recent meeting the Town Council approved opening up applications for the following committees/commissions: Arts Commission, Youth Representative – Two year term beginning July 1, 2012. Parks and Leisure Services Committee, Youth Representative – Two year term beginning July 1, 2012 County Connection Citizens Advisory Committee – Two year term beginning immediately. CCTA Citizens Advisory Committee – Two year term beginning May 1, 2012. Applications are available on the Town’s website at www.danville.ca.gov. Applications are due on March 29, 2012 by no later than 4PM. Interviews will take place on April 10 and 17, 2012 and May 1, 2012. The Town Council will appoint commissioners at their May 1, 2012 meeting.

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$ANVILLE 4ODAY .EWS ^ -ARCH 0AGE

DESTINATION . . .

Why do so many people aspire to live in Danville? What is the magic that defines where we live? I believe it is the abundance of natural beauty. Kids who ride

bikes to school on the trail. The old and young who walk to

downtown shops. Dogs off-leash in the Las Trampas Foothills. And a simpler

life.

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What is Your Antique Worth?

Most everyone has a few treasures on a shelf or in the attic, but who has wondered what value they might actually have? In an event very much like the popular television program Antiques Roadshow, The Gardens at Heather Farm will help locals discover the monetary value of their jewelry, antiques, and other collectibles. The annual Antique and Collectibles Appraisal Event is open to everyone from amateurs to serious collectors. The event will be held Sunday, March 11th from Noon to 5pm at The Gardens at Heather Farm located at 1540 Marchbanks Drive (off Ygnacio Valley Road) in Walnut Creek. The cost for entry and appraisal of the first three items is $15. There’s a $5 charge for each additional item. All proceeds benefit The Gardens at Heather Farm, its educational programs and demonstration gardens. For more information call The Gardens at Heather Farm, (925) 947-1678 or visit www.gardenshf.org.

The Exchange Club of San Ramon Valley The Exchange Club of San Ramon Valley meets for lunch the second Wednesday of every month at Faz Restaurant in downtown Danville. The Club’s sign-in and social time begins at 11:30AM. The meeting starts at noon and ends 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. For more information, call Karen Stepper, President, at (925) 275-2312, email coachstepper@yahoo.com, or visit www.srvexchangeclub.org.

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

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Danville Community Band Concert The Danville Community Band takes an The Danville Community Band Presents “Instrumental Road Trip,” visiting a broad An Instrumental selection of classics and marches from the st past to the present, on Sunday, April 1 at 2pm. We'll be performing in the main gallery of the Blackhawk Auto Museum located at 3700 Blackhawk Plaza Circle in Danville. For museum information, call 925.736.2277 or visit www.blackhawkmuseum.org. Come see the fabulous auto galleries, tour the current jukebox exhibit, and enjoy a concert Sunday, April 1, 2012 at 2 pm Blackhawk Auto Museum all in the same building. The concert is FREE with admission into the Museum (free for museum members). For more information, visit www.danvilleband.org.

Road Trip

Cantare Con Vivo’s Choral Masterworks Concert Maestro David Morales, the Cantare Chorale and Chamber Ensemble, 140 voices strong, accompanied by full orchestra, will celebrate their 25th Silver Anniversary Season with a concert featuring a stunning array of choral masterworks. The concert will be performed on Saturday, March 24th at 7:30PM at the Walnut Creek Presbyterian Church, 1801 LaCassie Avenue, Walnut Creek. For advance purchase of tickets visit www.cantareconvivo.org or call (510) 836-0789.

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Page 6 - March 2012 ~ Danville Today News

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Young Returning Veteran is Grateful for Local Programs US Army Sgt. Teresa Somoza was recently honored with a Welcome Home Celebration by her appreciative San Ramon Valley neighbors. She came home on leave to Alamo after serving in Kandahar, Afghanistan during her second deployment to Afghanistan, following a tour in Iraq. Many new programs are envisioned for the renovated and expanded Veterans Memorial Building of San Ramon Valley for veterans such as Teresa. Some of the line up to support our local population of younger veterans includes: State Employment Development Department Outreach, Family Outreach Services, Vocational Rehabilitation Training and Counseling, plus Support Groups for Employment Assistance, Current Veterans Issues, and Social Interaction. “I appreciate that these opportunities will be available right in our Valley. Returning to civilian life can be a huge adjustment for many, and it will be great to have these resources,” said Teresa. “Thank you to our community for providing a place for Veterans of all ages.” Help is needed to complete this exciting project for veterans, our seniors, non-profit groups, businesses, those wishing to have party or wedding, and generations of our neighbors. You can make a donation and/or learn more about this building at www.SRVVeteransHall.org or by calling the Veterans office at (925) 362-9806.

Your Five Wishes The San Ramon Valley United Methodist Church presents a five part lecture series covering how you can take control over how you want to be cared for if you become seriously ill. Five Wishes is an advance directive giving your doctor and family direction on how you want to be treated if you become seriously ill and are unable to speak for yourself. Presenters will guide you through each of your Five Wishes. • Wish One: The person I want to make health care decisions for me when I can’t • Wish Two: The kind of medical treatment I want or don’t want • Wish Three: How Comfortable I want to be • Wish Four: How I want people to treat me • Wish Five: What I want my loved ones to know Wish One and Two lectures will take place on March 18 from 1 - 3:30PM, and Wish Three, Four, and Five lectures will take place on March 25 from 1 - 3:30PM. The series will be held in the Wesley Center of the San Ramon United Methodist Church which is located at 902 Danville Blvd in Alamo. A $5 donation is requested to cover the cost of materials. Registration is required by calling (925) 837-5243.

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 7PM and the meeting begins at 7:30PM. The next regularly scheduled meeting will be held on Thursday, March 8th. For more information, contact Post Commander Nathan Greene at (925) 875-1747 or visit www.vfwpost75.org.

Delta Nu Psi Thank you Alamo and Danville shoppers. Because of your excellent support, we will not be collecting for our service people in March. We will still be sending our 30 pound boxes of “Gourmet Junk Food,” but we only need a few items to fill the boxes. Girl Scout Cookies are favorites with our men and women serving in Afghanistan. Please go to our website at deltanupsi.org or email deltanupsi@comcast.net to donate all flavors of the cookies, especially Thin Mints. With your generosity we have sent 22,599 pounds of “Gourmet Junk Food” to our service men and women!

Free Tax Preparation Free Tax Preparation will 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 now. 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.

Blackhawk Republican Women Present Mike Winther, President of the Institute for Principle Studies will be speaking on “The Constitution under Siege” on Thursday, March 15th at the Blackhawk Country Club, located at 599 Blackhawk Club Dr. in Danville. A social will be held and hors d’oeuvres will be served at 5:30PM followed by the speaker at 6:15PM. The cost is $25. Mike will explain the fundamental principles of constitutional government from a strict constructionist perspective. He will explains the concepts of enumerated powers and separation of powers and present the Biblical basis for these principles. Participants will learn how our thinking about creation often determines whether we interpret the Constitution based on original intent or as a “living, breathing document.” Mike will also explain the frequently misunderstood constitutional “loopholes,” such as, the “general welfare clause” and the “necessary and proper clause.” Come hear the founder of the Institute for Principle Studies, a Christian think-tank dedicated to researching and teaching foundational principles of government, economics and history, and learn how to defend our Constitution which is under siege! Please make reservations or cancellations by noon on Tuesday, March 13th. Contact Mrs. Lyons at rlyons1009@sbcglobal.net, or (925) 820-6452.

San Ramon Valley Republican Women The San Ramon Valley Republican Women invite you to hear the Republican candidates who are running for office at our March meeting. Among those who will be speaking are Candace Anderson who is running for Supervisor and David Haubert who is running for State Assembly. There will also be a discussion on the new Primary System. Please come and be informed! The meeting will be held at Crow Canyon Country Club, 711 Silver Lake Drive in Danville on Tuesday, March 27th. Social gathering begins at 11:30AM followed by lunch at noon. Cost is $25 (payable at the door.) For reservations, call Mary at (925) 837-5465 or e-mail srvwf.lunch@gmail.com.

Gaultier Exhibit Presentation On Wednesday April 4th at 1PM at the Danville Community Center located at 420 Front Street in Danville, Friends of Danville Library will present a free special lecture/slideshow covering the deYoung Museum’s upcoming exhibit. The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk is the first major exhibition dedicated to celebrating the French designer. More than 130 iconic haute couture and prêt-a-porter ensembles created between the early 1970s and 2010 will be dramatically displayed in scenic contexts ranging from the boudoir, to graffiti streets, to the catwalk. Animated mannequins talk and sing in playful and outrageous vignettes, enhancing the artistry and culturally revolutionary work of Gaultier.

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Danville Today News ~ March 2012 - Page 7

Valley Teen Idol

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The San Ramon Valley Rotary presents the Valley Teen Idol final competition on March 24 from 1 - 4PM at CrossWinds Church located at 6444 Sierra Court in Dublin. Have fun and support our teens at this competition which will feature good food, great music, and live and silent auctions. Winners of the competition will win prizes including a grand prize of $1,000 and a recording session. For more information, visit www.sanramonvalleyrotary.com, call Sharon Mace at (925) 872-9079, or e-mail srvrcvti@aol.com. Proceeds from Valley Teen Idol benefit local school music programs and the local and worldwide charitable work of the Diablo San Ramon Valley Rotary Foundation.

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Kiwanis of SRV Calls for Grant Applications More Than $41,000 Available to Community Non-Profits The Kiwanis Club of San Ramon Valley through its affiliate, the San Ramon Valley Kiwanis Foundation, has issued a call for community nonprofit organizations throughout the area to apply for more than $41,000 in grants to be awarded during 2012. Ranging from $500 to $3,000, the Kiwanis grants are designed to support programs and projects that help both specific organizations and the broader community. According to grants chairman, John Lineweaver, the bulk of the grants will be awarded in May. Additional monies will be held in reserve to provide emergency grants, fund Kiwanis community service projects, and support of four local Kiwanis High School Key Clubs. The total of this direct youth support will exceed $15,000 making the total dollar amount of community service grants and funding by Kiwanis $56,000 for 2012. Lineweaver noted that Kiwanis generally recognizes grant applications from projects that serve residents of the San Ramon Valley, although nonprofit organizations need not be located in the Valley itself. Because Kiwanis makes a single grant to the San Ramon Valley Education Foundation for distribution to district schools, grants are NOT available for individual schools. Grant consideration is given to programs that focus on children, the infirm, or the elderly and provide solace, comfort, or consolation. Funds for the annual grants program are raised by the San Ramon Valley Kiwanis Foundation through several fundraising projects, including staging the annual Danville 4th of July Parade. Applications and further information, including eligibility criteria, can be obtained from the Kiwanis website at www.kiwanis-srv.org or by contacting John Lineweaver at 925-837-3665. Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing the world one child and one community at a time. Founded in 1915 in Detroit and with headquarters now in Indianapolis, Kiwanis International is a thriving organization of service and community minded individuals who support children and young adults around the world. More than 600,000 Kiwanis family members in 96 countries make their mark by responding to the needs of their communities and pooling their resources to address worldwide issues. Through these efforts, Kiwanis International truly is “Serving the Children of the World.” Anyone interested in learning more about the Kiwanis Club of San Ramon Valley is invited to visit www.kiwanis-srv.org. The club holds weekly luncheon meetings at Noon on Thursdays at Round Hill Country Club in Alamo. Please join the club for lunch, and find out more about the organization.

Rowan Branch Seeking Members Rowan Branch auxiliary of Children's Hospital Oakland has been anAlamo-Danville institution for more than 50 years. Meeting once a month in local homes, this group of women organizes two fundraisers each year to benefit the Hospital. In spring, Rowan Branch puts on the popular Spring Shopping Spree at Round Hill Country Club. Sold out every year, the Spree attracts over 250 attendees who shop at selected vendors, enjoy lunch, and listen to a speaker from the Hospital. In the fall, Rowan Branch presents the annual Gala des Enfants, a grand but not stuffy affair that features a live auction, fun games and raffles, and each year raises a significant amount of funding for the Hospital. This year's Gala is set for Saturday night, October 13th, at Diablo Country Club. Do you have some time on your hands to devote to a good cause and enjoy the company of fellow Alamo/Danville women with a philanthropic bent? Our meetings are held on the first Wednesday night of the month. We would love to meet you and welcome you to Rowan Branch! Please call membership chair Jill Pfeiffer at 837-2507 or email fourpfeiffers@yahoo.com.

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ADAS Presents Two Events Artistic Fusion Alamo Danville Artists’ Society (ADAS) is hosting Artistic Fusion, featuring 45 gallery member artists exhibiting oil, acrylic, watercolor, pastel, photography, sculpture, wearable art, jewelry, and note cards. Among the artists are Barbara Davies, specializing in European street scenes, Norma Webb, finding inspiration in landscapes, and Pat Smith, designing fashionable scarves. Nancy Slack, glass art specialist, will exhibit her colorful eye catching platters and vases. In addition, guest artist, Carlo Sequin, University of California at Berkeley professor of Computer- Aided Geometric Design and Modeling, will have on display his computer generated sculptures in bronze and FDM models. Carlo will be available at the reception for discussions relating to the computer’s place in art applications. The exhibit runs through March 25th and is free to the public seven days a week, Monday - Saturday, 10AM - 8PM and Sunday 11AM - 6PM Blackhawk Gallery is located at 3416 Blackhawk Plaza Circle, in Blackhawk Plaza.

Primavera Spring Art Show and Wine Stroll Elegant modern sculptures, traditional watercolors and oils, pottery, glass, artistic jewelry, textile, and many other types of art will be presented during the 35th Annual Spring Art Show, Primavera. Many local fine artists will display and sell their artworks in the main rotunda and adjacent inside space in Blackhawk Plaza. Wine vendors will be provide wine tasting. Primavera is a fundraiser for the San Ramon Valley Schools art programs. Primavera is open to members and non-members. The show is professionally judged, and cash and ribbons are awarded to the winners. Artists in all mediums (2D and 3D) are welcome. The Call For Artists information and application are at http://adas4 art.org /spring-show/. The show will be held Saturday, May 5thand Sunday, May 6th at Blackhawk Plaza in the Rotunda Area. The Alamo Danville Artists’ Society is a 501c(3) non-profit organization that fosters fine art appreciation and education within our communities, provides the opportunity for artists to further their artistic development, and supports the San Ramon Valley Schools art programs through fund-raising.

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Page 8 - March 2012 ~ Danville Today News

Sustainable Danville Area Tip of the Month Rub-a-dub-dub, Less Water in the Tub By Rachel Egan, Sustainable Danville Area Have you ever wondered where your water comes from? Of course you know that it comes through pipes and into your sink every time you turn on your faucet. But, did you know that every time you brush your teeth, take a shower, or run your dishwasher you are using a portion of the world’s minimal potable water? Potable water is that which is available for human and animal consumption. Although the earth is comprised of over 70% water, 97% of that is salt water, 2% is frozen in ice caps and glaciers, and only about 1% is suitable for human use. Some even argue that, at the rate at which we use fresh water, we will run out of the resource within the next 20 years. There are, however, steps you can take in order to reduce the amount of water you use in your daily life – and hopefully offset that 20-year prediction. Don’t worry, you don’t have to go as far as collecting rainwater off your roof. Instead there are smaller, more manageable steps you can take in order to conserve water and make sure you aren’t overusing this limited resource. Not to mention, using less water saves you money too! Here are some tips for water conservation in your home, especially through this dry winter, but also throughout the rest of the year: • Water your lawn weekly instead of daily, and do so in the early morning hours before dawn – this will allow the soil and plant roots adequate time to absorb the water without it being evaporated by the sun first. For more helpful instructions, check out this guide from East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) www.ebmud.com/sites/default/ files/pdfs/WateringGuide_0.pdf. • Reuse water from cooking to water plants inside and outside of the home (using water from cooking spaghetti or rinsing vegetables are wonderful places to start). • Wash your car in carwashes such as Sponges or at gas stations rather than in your driveway. Car wash stations recycle their water, ration water so you only use what is necessary, and even have special draining systems that prevent pollutants from soap and car grease from entering into the groundwater and fresh water supply. • Turn off the water when brushing your teeth. If you brush your teeth twice a day for the recommended 2-3 minutes and leave the water running, you would be wasting up to 3,285 gallons per year. • Make sure all of the pipes and taps in your house are tightly sealed so as to prevent leaking and water loss. According to the National Environmental Services Center, one drop of water per second can add up to 2,700 gallons per year. (Hint: put a few drops of food coloring in the toilet tank. If you start getting color in the toilet bowl without flushing, there is a leak.) • Only do laundry if you have a full load. • Take shorter showers. On that note, you might also want to take a look at the gallons-per-minute (gpm) ranking on your showerhead. If it is more than 2.0 gpm, you will find new models provide wonderful pressure using less water. • Compost organic waste instead of using the garbage disposal – this will reduce your water usage and you can use the compost as fertilizer for growing your own veggies! • Don’t use water to wash porches or decks; instead, use a broom. The Environmental Protection Agency and EBMUD have many more water conservation resources on their websites. To learn more about how you and your family can conserve water, please visit www.epa.gov and www.ebmud.com. Want to know more about this precious resource? We do…so Sustainable Danville Area and San Ramon Valley High School Environmental Club are bringing you two events in March to help us learn more about global and local water issues. Join us on Tuesday, March 13th at 7pm at SRVHS’ Performing Arts Center 501 Danville Blvd. for a screening of the award-winning documentary Blue Gold that sheds light on the approaching crisis of dwindling water supplies. Suggested donation is $5. To compliment movie night, join us on March 21st at 6:15pm at San Ramon Valley High School in Room S3 in the Administrative Build-

ing (upstairs). Our speaker, Leslie Dumas, Hydrologist and Senior Project Manager with RMC Water and Environment will help us gain an understanding of our local water resources and future vulnerabilities. Visit www.sustainabledanville.com for more information.

Grant Supports Therapeutic Riding Center Thanks to a generous $3,000 grant from the Safeway Foundation, “Wildhorse!” is now able to offer openings to riders of all ages who might benefit from therapeutic horsemanship programs. Individual half hour instruction is available on Thursday and Friday afternoons at Wildhorse!’s new home, Carter’s Corral, 980 Castle Rock Road, Walnut Creek. Founder and Program Director Kari Ann Owen is a PATH (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship) certified instructor. The organization was known as NARHA when Kari Ann, then 98% mobility impaired, learned of the healing powers of horseback riding. Kari Ann, is now able to navigate the world freely with the help of a service dog, and she understands the sense of independence and personal achievement that therapeutic riding provides. Big Red, Wildhorse!’s star performing horse, Alex sits tall on Big Red with Wildhorse was a gift from a Livermore couple, the volunteers Laura McDermott and Jacob Ragsdales, who felt he had the necessary Landsman assisting. patient personality and steady gait to be a therapy mount. To learn more about openings in the Wildhorse! program, email wildhorse@freewildhorse.com.

National Charity League Tea The Diablo Valley Chapter of the National Charity League held its annual Mother-Daughter Tea. The theme was “Royal Tea.” The Tea was hosted by the class of 2014 sophomores. The class of 2013 Juniors modeled clothes which embraced the theme by looking as though they were attending a British tea party. The 2012 seniors served the tea. National Charity League is a mother-daughter organization dedicated to serving local communities and fostering mother-daughter bonds. Daughters along with their mothers participate in a six-year program of philanthropic work, educational activities, leadership, and cultural events. The Diablo Valley Chapter members are residents of Alamo, Diablo and Danville with daughters in 7th grade through 12th grades. We have a current membership of over 135 mothers and 163 daughters. We are proud that we support and meet the requests of our philanthropy clients with approximately 10,000 annual hours of volunteer service in our community. For more information about the group, please visit www.dvncl.org.

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Greenbrook Elementary School

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By Jenise Falk, Principal

The month of March finds us very busy! Teachers are busy finishing up assessing students and getting ready for the end of the second trimester. We are thrilled to be using our new common reading assessment along with specific grade level subject assessments. The essential work of assessing students allows for productive Spring Conferences. The parent/teacher conference allow for us to work together for the success of the student. Our EAGLE fund has been in high gear, and we are excited to be wrapping up another successful auction season. Our Children’s Art Auction in February was attended by a record number of families, and the children’s art was simply priceless. Bidders for our online auction were frantically getting bids in to secure priceless items. Our Gala was held March 2nd at Roundhill Country Club. Thanks to the efforts of all the auction chairs! These events do more than raise needed funds for Greenbrook; they bring our community together for a common purpose – that of supporting our students in so many ways! Our Talent Show, directed by teacher Kelli DeMichiel, was a tremendous success! After months of planning and practicing, over 300 Greenbrook students, K-5, showed off their singing, dancing, comedic, and violin playing talents. The theme, “A Blast for the Past,” provided wonderful inspiration for our students. Proud parents and grandparents gave a standing ovation to our performers as they all happily performed the finale together, “YMCA!” I am thrilled to announce that a group of six Greenbrook 4th graders took first place in the Destination Imagination Regional tournament. The team is now advancing to the state competition in Clovis, CA. Team members are Gabby Valdez, Ethan Mihalic, Chris Beven, Ryan Wisser, Julia Maoggi, and Kieran Purandare. The team is coached by parents, Marie Beven and Paul Mihalic. The team created an improv skit linking two news stories together. They were judged on their creativity and teamwork. Our students are enjoying this beautiful spring-like weather! Have a wonderful month!

Charlotte Wood Middle School By Christopher George, Principal We are pleased to report that we have had a great beginning to second semester. While we’ve had some busy days, we are thrilled that we are enjoying a relatively calm year with far fewer discipline problems and distractions than we’ve had in the past. While we are only halfway through the year, it is the perfect time to begin looking ahead to the future, both of Charlotte Wood and of education. To that end, we will soon begin learning and looking at the National Common Core Standards. These new national standards, while not implemented yet, will be in place in the next few years and will supplant our current state standards. By all accounts, these new standards will be measured by a new, more authentic assessment system. Hopefully, by learning what we can now about these standards, we will be prepared to effectively transition when it is time. Those of you wishing to learn more can look at the California Department of Education’s website (cde.ca.gov) or even download information from iTunes (under iTunes U) from the California Department of Education. Those of you that follow educational technology in the news probably have seen that Apple recently teamed up with textbook publishers in order to look at ways of bringing textbooks online. Many of us in education believe that that is a major harbinger of the educational technology and change that will come to schools in the next few years. I personally believe that we will see exponential growth of technology in schools over the next three or four years. Having recently purchased a mobile computer lab for our science department, we are looking at supplying our 7th grade Core department with a set of iPads. This will mean that the great majority of our departments have at least a set of either computers or iPads accessible to them at any given time with which to enhance their lessons. This represents a great deal of change for Charlotte Wood and represents a true community effort. To that end, I must reiterate how grateful we are to our Charger Fund and our parent community for their support in getting educational technology into the hands of our students and teachers. Additionally, we must stop and thank our teachers as well. For many of our teachers, learning how to enhance and transform lessons with technology means a great deal of risk taking and a great deal of their time in learning how to learn the technology. Recently, we have seen our teachers working extraordinarily hard with the new technologies and learning new skills with which to integrate with their already excellent lessons and teaching. We also want to thank our community for their patience and help during the transition of our morning parking pattern. While there are still some areas of minor congestion, (especially in the few minutes between 8:05 and 8:10am) by most accounts our new pattern has been very successful. What has stood out to us is that we have been able to reduce the number of students being tardy to class first period. As always, we are always looking for ways to reduce congestion around Charlotte Wood and through our parking lot, without compromising our students’ safety and well being.

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Page 10 - March 2012 ~ Danville Today News

Stone Valley Middle School By Shaun K. McElroy, Principal â&#x20AC;&#x153;Everyone dreams of being a matador (or teacher) until they find themselves in the ring with 2,000 pounds of bull bearing down on them when the realize all they really wanted was to wear tight pants and hear the roar of the crowd.â&#x20AC;? ~author unknown

The Art of Teaching The format of our principalsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;meetings changed this year to include two new elements, vertical articulation with all K-12 feeder pattern school principals and walkthrough classroom visits. Classroom walkthrough visits are a common practice among most school administrators. The purpose of the walkthrough is to get a sample of instruction in a variety of classrooms. The walkthrough is the â&#x20AC;&#x153;dipstickâ&#x20AC;? approach to judging the level of instruction in the school community. As part of our January 30th principalsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; meeting, we visited several classes at San Ramon Valley High School. I have worked at three different high schools as an administrator and a teacher, but it has been several years since Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been in a high school classroom. For our San Ramon visit we were given a campus map, assigned to a group, and given a list of classrooms to visit. At the end of our visit we debriefed as a group about the instructional practices we observed. I walked away from this round of walkthroughs totally elated by the level of instruction I observed. I felt privileged to watch three outstanding teachers who are at the top of their game. Each of the teachers I observed are at different places in their respective careers, a veteran of many years, mid-career, and a beginning teacher. In Lisa Sabatiniâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Advanced Placement English class we observed students dissecting a poem they had read. Students were asked to present their analysis from the podium at the front of the room. Even though the class was mostly silent except for the speaker and the teachersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;remarks, there was an implied understanding that serious learning takes place in this room. In Susan Regaliaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s class student began learning prior to entering the classroom. Students used their smart phones to log on to the teacherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website and began the warm-up for the day. Upon entering the classroom, students sat with a partner and began solving the warm-up problems. Teacher interaction began about 5-7 minutes into the class when Mrs. Regalia solicited the answers from each group and provided feedback on the answers and problem solving processes. Mr. Santosâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s class was very high energy. Even thought the class was large, most

students had a chance Looking for Exceptional to participate. Mr. SanReal Estate Service? tos broke up the class Creative and innovative solutions for routine with a mini extodayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s real estate challenges. ercise lesson aimed at increasing blood flow to the brain. After the visitation, JUDY LYNN Kiersey, C.D.P.E.* I interviewed several 925.640.0040 students about the three Judy@JudyLynnHomes.com *Certified Distressed Property Expert â&#x20AC;˘ CA DRE Lic# 01802558 teachers. Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what they said: Fur & Feathers Pet Sitting Lisa Sabatini - â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ms. Exceptional care for your pet Sabatini is hands down Daily visits plus dog walks the best teacher ever; Lock and leave, no worries she totally prepared Overnights me for college writingâ&#x20AC;? (AP English) Barbara Monroe Owner David Santos 925-998-9317 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mr. S makes a perBonded, Insured & References sonal connection with Furfeatherpet@aol.com every single student. He makes algebra understandableâ&#x20AC;? (Algebra I) Susan Regalia - â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mrs. Regalia does an enormous amount or preparation outside of class because when she explains something, we really get it!â&#x20AC;? (Geometry) Students in and out of class were friendly and well behaved. The common trait I observed amongst students was the high level of engagement in all classes. It was clear to me that the students really like their teachers and spoke highly of their overall experience at San Ramon Valley High School. Several members of the SRVHS Impact club join our students for lunch twice each month. We affectionately refer to them as the â&#x20AC;&#x153;purple people.â&#x20AC;? The SRVHS students are passionate about their campus and their teachers. No doubt these conditions translate into outstanding learning outcomes. I have been on staff at seven SRVUSD schools as a teacher and administrator. I believe what I observed at SRV is the norm in the SRVUSD as we tend to attract and retain the best and the brightest classrooms teachers.

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St. Isidore Catholic School Hello Sunshine! By Jean Schroeder, Principal Spring is coming and we have been enjoying these past few days of beautiful weather. We find our students are out a bit more, holding group work outdoors on our courtyard and eating lunch outside, enjoying this wonderful time of year. This month our Gospel Value is HONESTY. We have many lessons in our religion classes that emphasize the importance of speaking the truth and being honest with ourselves. We also have entered the season of Lent. Our Lenten theme this year is Prayer, Penance, and Peace. One of our second grade teachers says, “If you take the two n’s out of the word penance, you discover the word peace. Our entire school community attends liturgy together every Friday during Lent. We ask our students to bring a can of food for St. Vincent de Paul, and after mass we say a decade of the rosary together. This brings us closer to God and closer as a Catholic School community. Our student council and their moderators had a great, RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS week! We loved catching students going out of their way being “extra” kind to their peers. Our student council thought of the idea of baking homemade treats, wrapping them up, and bringing them to our neighboring schools. Our students truly grasped the concept of what a random act of kindness felt like when delivering their special treats around town. Our own St. Isidore Band has their concert scheduled for Thursday, March 15th. We ADORE our band. They are such dedicated super-stars that practice with our band director on a daily basis. Each year the band grows with more and more students. We have alumni students from the various high schools

Danville Today News ~ March 2012 - Page 11 that come and support our band students during the concert. Our school band performs twice a year, so this is an event we do not miss. Our fifth grade students will lead a St. Patrick Day’s faith family activity this month. This is where we come together in our faith families. Students from grades one through grade eight are assigned to a faith family and we try to do an activity once a month. Our fifth grade students will teach their faith family the meaning of St. Patrick’s Day. They’ll write a prayer together on a four leaf clover, and then they will play a fun game of “hot potato.” Of course they will get to have a little ice cream with some green sprinkles once they finish! This is a great faith family activity, and we top if off with a little Irish music to boot. Our Pastor Father Moran, who we LOVE, always comes by for the excitement wearing a sporty green sweater. Father Moran’s birthday is this month, and our students look forward to celebrating his special day with him. We are in full gear getting ready for our auction, which is being held on Saturday, March 24th. This year our auction committee has come up with the theme, NANTUCKET NIGHTS! We are truly grateful for the endless hours of hard work, love, and dedication they have put forth with this amazing event. This is our one BIG fundraiser we do yearly. It assists with the costs of keeping our tuition down and is a HUGE community get together. We encourage our teachers and staff to come and enjoy this memorable event. We also hold weekly rallies prior to the auction during our Friday afternoon assemblies with some fabulous give-a-way prizes for our students and our teachers. I am excited to report that last month we had a “Name the Mascot Contest,” and the students voted for our mascot to be (drum roll please)… The St. Isidore Bulldogs! This may sound familiar to some of you because years ago, we did use the bulldog as our mascot. Over the years, it was over looked, and not used. However, it was unanimous that the “BULLDOGS ARE BACK!” We are thrilled to start implementing our mascot into some of our festive activities.

Water continued from front page ments should be sent with ballots to property owners. And, the fee to be charged is not specified in the materials sent, but is shown in tiny type on the address label of the ballot so voters have to search for the amount they will be charged. In Central County, the base fee will be $22 per parcel per year for most property owners. However, this fee changes depending on the size of the parcel and the amount of impervious material (i.e. paving and roofs that cause stormwater runoff). The fee would raise $8 million countywide and would expire in 10 years. Revenue raised in each jurisdiction would stay in the jurisdiction: i.e., the fees paid by Danville homeowners can by law only go to the Town of Danville to be spent on clean water issues in the Town. Since 1993, county property owners have paid a stormwater runoff fee of $30 per half acre and $51 per acre (found on the front of your property tax bill as “Stormwater Utility Fee”). However, the nearly 20 year old fee was not indexed for inflation and costs for clean water mandates from the state and federal governments have exceeded the revenue raised for many years. The current initiative is a response by the County and its 19 incorporated cities to deal with the increasing costs of clean water standards. Clean water is an important issue. San Ramon Creek, which runs through town, would benefit from this initiative. It is important to keep San Ramon Creek clean. However, voters might ask, is this the right measure to do this? To help you make an informed choice, here are the major opposing and supporting arguments, gleaned from published reports and research. Supporters include the League of Women Voters of Diablo Valley. Supporters give the following arguments in favor: 1) Federal and state unfunded mandates for clean water means cities and the county have had to dip into general funds to cover the costs of meeting the mandates. This negatively affects the amount of general fund money available for law enforcement, parks and other municipal services. 2) The fee is minimal and for the vast majority of households will amount to less than $2 per month. It is a small price to pay to keep our bay, streams, and creeks free of debris which ends up there from stormwater runoff from our properties. 3) The fee will expire in 10 years, and voters can evaluate the costs and benefits again. An independent Citizens Oversight Committee will oversee expenditures and conduct mandatory annual audits. 4) Only property owners are being asked to vote because only property owners will pay the fee. This is the right way to conduct a property owner election. 5) If this measure doesn’t pass, it will only end up costing taxpayers more in the future as local jurisdictions are liable for huge fines if they don’t meet clean water standards.

See Water continued on page 21

The 7th grade American St. Joan of Arc finished 23-3 and won the Tri-Valley CYO Basketball Championship. Pictured from left to right, front row: Vlad Balyuk, Gokul Srini, Kenneth Tang, Drew McCarthy, and Reiley Taya. Back row: Coach Mark Barbano, Austin Fadal, Ian Ambidge, Coach Steve DeBenedetti, Clark Eder, Max Michalczik, Dawson Reckers, and Head Coach David Lynch.

Read for the World Record

St. Isidore School students love to read. As a matter of fact, they recently read for 2,075,131 minutes as part of the Scholastic “Read for the World Record” international reading contest. Competing for the top spot with 9,000 other schools from around the world, kids in grades kindergarten through eighth logged their daily reading minutes. Librarian Lee Lewis was very proud of the St. Isidore students for giving the effort an extra push on the last day to pass the two million mark. She said, “We may have come in third, but it is the sweetest, most incredible achievement by these kids, and we are all very proud.” Minutes read by top readers per grade are: Kindergarten-Austin Doyle (3,690 minutes), 1st grade-Sonja Durr (6,795), 2nd grade-Analisa Vavosos (9,740), 3rd grade and top winner Emmy Dunn(21,645), 4th grade-Nicholaus Waizenegger (11,345), 5th grade-Amanda Stark (16,198), 6th grade-Amelia Clute (14,350), 7th grade-Lauren Barry (17,037), 8th grade-Tanya Yakoubovsky (11,812). Pictured above are readers Nicholas Waizenegger, Sonja Durr, Amanda Stark, Austin Doyle, Amelia Clute, Emmy Dunn, Lauren Barry, Analisa Vavoso, and Tanya Yakoubovsky.

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Page 12 - March 2012 ~ Danville Today News

Monte Vista High School

San Ramon Valley High School

By Janet Terranova, Principal

By Joseph A. Ianora, Principal

March signals not only the beginning of spring but thoughts of the new school year. In March students begin to choose classes for next year. Classes that students choose for the 2012-2013 school year may look very different than the classes many of us chose when we were in high school. If you walked into a classroom today, it would look very familiar, but the options students have when choosing their classes is very different. Students are still required to take the usual array of required academic courses, English, mathematics, science, social studies, but even within these disciplines students have many options. When it comes to choosing electives, our students have a plethora of choices. High schools today have a number of electives that not only engage students with project based learning but provide opportunities for students to examine future career paths. Engineering, Robotics, and Architectural Design are just some of the electives students may select. While physics is a class many of us took in high school, today students may take “PET” (Physics, Engineering, and Technology). Students enroll in both physics and engineering beginning in a physics class and moving on to their engineering class where they put into action the information learned in their physics class. Today students have the opportunity to enroll in a number of visual and performing arts classes that stretch their creativity and allow them to investigate possible careers. Students can enroll in traditional black and white photography classes but may also choose from digital photo, video production, graphic arts or advance their musical talents through music theory classes and several band options. Students may take classes that allow them to gain college credit or gain the knowledge to enroll in more advanced classes when they matriculate to the community college. Sports Medicine and Careers with Children prepare students for advanced classes at local community colleges. While classrooms may physically look as they did 10, 20, or 30 years ago, the classrooms of today are vastly different and students have the opportunity to explore a variety of exciting electives. If you are helping a student choose classes for the next school year, encourage them to stretch, choose classes that pique their curiosity and allow them to gain a variety of experiences. If you would like more information about Monte Vista High School, please visit our website at mvhigh.org.

AAUW Scholarships The Danville-Alamo-Walnut Creek branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) is offering scholarships to local women. Last year 12 deserving recipients received $1,000 each and one received $1250. This year awards will be granted for $2,000. A special grant will go to the Jane Trittipo scholarship winner. Applicants must be a college junior or higher as of September 2012 at an accredited college or university. Graduate and post graduate students can also apply. Applicants will be accepted from Walnut Creek and the San Ramon Valley - please see our website for more specific requirements. Applications will be evaluated on the basis of scholarship, educational goals, and campus or community involvement. Completed scholarship applications must be postmarked by April 1, 2012. Applications are online at www.aauw-daw.org. AAUW membership is open to all graduates of accredited fouryear colleges or universities and those holding an Associate Degree or equivalent. Prospective members can contact Tena at 925 837-0826 or membershipvp@aauw-da.org.

Hello San Ramon Valley High School Community! Spring is here, and with it comes a myriad of activities. First of all, I would like to congratulate all who participated in the winter activities including athletics (17 teams were awarded Scholastic Achievement teams) and performing arts. They continually provide us with incredible performances, and we thank them. As we roll into spring, here are some updates for you. Because this list may not be complete, please check the website www. srvhs.net for updates so you can make sure you don’t miss a thing!

SRV FUNraiser Please mark your calendar for our annual auction and get-together. This year, tickets are limited to 200. We will have an online auction, silent auction and live auction, plus good food, entertainment, and most of all FUN! Plan on joining us on March 31st.

Construction We are back into construction mode with the demolition of our old pool. The parking lot behind the tennis courts will be closed until the project is complete (late winter of 2012). The new pool will be “deep, deep” for water polo competitions and diving. It will also have a shallow portion.

Freshman/New Student Orientation - Registration We hosted our student orientation for freshman and new students. It was a two part evening – a discussion with the counselors for the first hour and then a discussion with students for the second hour. The evening was very informative. Registration is going on right now (March 8 – 16) for our current students for next year’s classes.

The Junior Prom – March 24th Our ultimate goal is to offers a safe, respectable event that gives our students wonderful memories. The Prom often brings a tremendous amount of pressure for students to consume alcohol. We have worked very hard to educate our students that this is not acceptable behavior and will not be tolerated. On behalf of the entire administrative team, I would appreciate it if you would spend time prior to the event discussing the importance of an Alcohol-free Junior Prom. Many students view this event as a time to “party” and leave all training and decorum at home. For many students, it comes as quite a surprise that the same rules at school apply as well to both the Junior Prom and Senior Ball. We expect the same standards of behavior when students attend the Prom as we do during the regular school day. Please help us communicate to your student that drinking and smoking is not allowed. If we do find a student who is under the influence of any alcoholic intoxicant or controlled substance, the parents will be contacted, and the student will be released to the parent.

CAHSEE Testing – 10th Graders/ Mock CAHSEE – 9th Graders Testing for all Sophomores, and, new this year, all Freshmen will be held the on March 13th and 14th. This “high stakes” test is one of three major requirements (CAHSEE, passing Algebra I, and completing 240 units) for graduation from San Ramon Valley High School. Please check the web page for specific testing times. Testing will affect all students as the daily schedule will be different; please plan accordingly. The freshmen will take a diagnostic test so that we may more accurately help them be successful when they take the CAHSEE as a Sophomore. Once again, thank you for truly making San Ramon Valley High School a great place to be!

Local Families Needed For Exchange Students ASSE International Student Exchange Programs (ASSE) is seeking local host families for international high school boys and girls. The students are 15 to 18 years of age, and are coming to this area for the upcoming high school year or semester. These personable and academically selected exchange students are conversant in English, bright, curious and anxious to learn about this country through living as part of a family, attending high school and sharing their own culture and language with their newly adopted host family. For more information call 800-733-2773.

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Danville Today News ~ March 2012 - Page 13

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Multi Generational Travel is Perfect with Disney By Joyce McConnaughey, Travel Consultant, Alamo World Travel Many families have known the rewards of family travel, but after the events of 9/11, it has been more evident that “family” is most important to all of us. This has expanded to multi-generations, and Disney provides many perfect options for travel that appeal to all ages. Walt Disney found and designed a magical way to take care of the family of kids, parents, and grandparents. He started with Disneyland® Park, and the rest is history. There is Walt Disney World® Resort in Florida, Disney Cruise Line® (with their 4th ship due this month), Adventures by Disney®, and with the newest Aulani - a Disney resort and spa in Hawaii that opened in August 2011. My family was fortunate to take two Disney Cruise Line® vacations (on the Disney Wonder®) and the kids are still waiting for a third trip. There was something for every age group to do the entire cruise. Grandma and grandpa, my husband and I, were honored to care for the two youngest grandchildren, ages 4 months and 18 months, while the parents and other children were free to enjoy the pool, go on shore excursions, enjoy the “Kids Club,” or attend one of the many activities offered every day. Mealtimes were special as we rotated each night through three different dining rooms, each with a different theme and with the same waiters who made every meal pleasant and enjoyable. Breakfast and lunch were served in one of the dining rooms and in the enormous “Topsiders Buffet.” Many other food offerings are available on the pool deck, and you don’t have a chance to get hungry! There was a different stage show in the Main Theater every evening that was enjoyed by all. Many had a Disney theme as you would expect. The productions were as professional as any show on Broadway. Often in the evening after dinner and show, there was a special event held on the top deck. The favorite was the “pirate invasion.” After a dueling battle, Captain Mickey saved the ship and all the guests. The dinner theme that evening was “pirate” and we were all given a red scarf and treasure map when we were seated. Our latest venture was the new very Hawaiian, Aulani - a Disney resort and spa that I visited in October with my daughter and two little grandsons, ages five and almost two. Aulani is a resort that only Disney could have imagined and developed, and it is located on a beautiful beachfront cove on the southwest corner of Oahu. It is an easy drive from the Honolulu airport. The guest rooms are beautiful with every amenity you could imagine. The dining and other public areas are amazing and the grounds are unbelievable. There are many pools, waterslides, and a big winding “Lazy River” for tubing. Aunty’s Beach House is a place of fun and discovery for kids. My five year old grandson

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loved the “Menehune Bridge,” an interactive water play area with three slides, many water elements, and a climbing play structure. The two year old also loved his special corner with a curved waterslide that he could do by himself. Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy, and many other Disney characters are seen frequently each day in varied areas of the resort for fun, games, and photo opportunities. They were the highlights for my grandsons, especially the two year old. Along with two main dining restaurants, there are numerous other food options spread throughout the grounds and by the pool. The favorite “Character” Breakfast and Dinner that are so popular with other Disney Resorts, are also a big attraction at the Aulani Resort. Mickey Mouse greets each family with the opportunity for a perfect photo. Then you are escorted to an assigned table and allowed to help yourself to a plentiful buffet of local and chef-inspired dishes. Minnie Mouse, Goofy, and Aunty (A lifelong resident of Oahu – she is so beloved that everyone calls her Aunty) visited all the tables often to entertain the kids and adults alike. Fun games were played, and Aunty led the parade of kids around the dining room as the meal was nearing the end. Every minute of the vacation was magical with so many great memories. It doesn’t get any better than that! Alamo World Travel is ready to help you plan your next vacation. Alamo World Travel & Tours (31 years of Group, Individual, and Corporate TravelTours, Cruises and Hotels) 3201 Danville Blvd, Suite 255 Alamo, CA 94507 (Between Ace Hardware and the Peasants Courtyard) (925) 837-8742 (800) 848-8747 www.alamoworld.com -Thousands of travel options info@ alamoworld.com CST#2008416-10 Advertorial

Alamo World Travel announces Spring Fling Cruise Sale March 19-26. Offering lowest cruise prices, reduced deposits, onboard credits, and more. Call 925 837-8742, email info@alamoworld.com or visit our office at 3201 Danville Blvd, Suite 255 Alamo. www.alamoworld.com

Chamber Community Award Winners The 2012 Danville Area Chamber of Commerce Community Award Winners have been selected. The four recipients are: • Richard Price, Fire Chief, San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District - Citizen of the Year • Marcia Harmon, Owner, Cottage Jewel - Business Person of the Year • Janet Willford, San Ramon Valley High School Leadership and Speech/Debate Teacher - Educator of the Year • The Wheelchair Foundation - Charitable Organization of the Year Each of these award recipients represent the best of the best in Danville. They are truly what makes our community so wonderful.

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Page 14 - March 2012 ~ Danville Today News

Art in Everyday Life

By Tony Michael Vecchio

“You don’t take a photograph,” said Ansel Adams, “you make it.” I think of this insightful quote when I come across an exhibit of fine art photographs. Whether in art galleries, corporate lobbies, art fairs, or other creative venues around the area, I try and look at the image from the photographer’s point of view. Where were they physically? What did they feel? What were they thinking? Another quote I also like is by another photographer, Ted Grant who said, “When you photograph people in colour you photograph their clothes. But when you photograph people in black and white, you photograph their souls!” I believe this thought similarly applies to nature, which Ansel Adams has shown in his body of work that has eloquently captured the inherent beauty and magnificence of nature. We’re all drawn to beautiful photography because we can relate to the photographer’s unique vision in perceiving and recording the world around them. Photography allows an artist to explore the physical world and interpret its diversity with a stunning depth of creative expression and awareness. We magically feel an impassioned sense of place and time in great photography, whether it’s nature, people, events, or objects of interest, because beyond being a singular image of the world around us, an inspired photograph provides a transformative view of our world in revealing its beauty and mystery. Fine art photographers look at life around them with an eye borne of their own unique personal experiences and background, thereby offering diverse visual interpretations of our world and its many inhabitants and environments. We all see the world differently. And having the technical artistry and ability to see a random and unassuming moment in time and instinctually transform that instant into a lasting visual memory is a veritable DNA gift and talent that celebrates the joyful visual appreciation of the world we live in. Dramatic and exceptional photographs show who we are. What we love about life. What inspires us. What awes us. And when we hang the work of photographers in our homes or business environments, we’re acknowledging, and sharing with our guests and visitors, an important emotional or sensory connection with that photo image. It’s a feeling that we can revisit daily that triggers Important memories and illuminates a valuable sense of connection to the world around us. If we’re also able to have met and talked with the photographer who created the work, then our kindred and personal attachment to the image is affectionately enhanced. When you see photography on exhibit, try to imagine how the photo came about. Consider what the photographer was experiencing when they were looking through Exp. 3/31/12 the lens. What the moment felt like. That will often enhance and transform your appreciation of that instant captured in time. Experiencing the world through a great photograph will arouse your imagination to a deeper understanding of creative vision, and it will spark subtle insights into how a photographer enthusiastically views life. Local art exhibits in March: Danville’s Village Theatre Art Gallery’s Branching Out, runs through April 13th. This exhibit will show how artists explore the subject and material related to trees. The Alamo-Danville Artists’ Society’s (ADAS) exhibition, Artistic Fusion, runs through March 25th at the Blackhawk Art Gallery in Danville’s Blackhawk Plaza. An exhibit of over 40+ artists showing oils, mixed media, photography, sculpture, jewelry, and textiles. The Bedford Gallery at the Lesher Center for the Arts presents Outfitters: The Contemporary Art of Clothing March 4 - May 13th. This intriguing exhibition presents artists who use the armature of clothing or actual clothing Danville 925.648.0293 as a premise for creating sculpture. 3426 Camino Tassajara Tony Michael Vecchio writes about visual imagery, painting, and style. Alamo 925.820.8492 Contact him at tonymvecchio@gmail. Open Tues thru Sat 10 to 6 com. His work is currently at the 3189 Danville Boulevard Sunday 11 to 5 • Closed Monday Blackhawk Art Gallery.

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Page 16 - March 2012 ~ Danville Today News

Life in the Danville Garden More Than a Garden "Y *OHN -ONTGOMERY !3,! ,ANDSCAPE !RCHITECT

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Over the many years of writing â&#x20AC;&#x153;Life in the Danville Gardenâ&#x20AC;? and following up with my clients after they have lived in their gardens, I have discovered some new distinctions about our Danville gardens. There are so many aspects to a garden, and I have attempted to cover the important ones over the years. I have talked about the various elements of design as well as practical advice Julia Nieman | julianieman@comcast.net such as how to save and conserve water and plant selection for deer territory. 925.837.2010 | www.hunterdouglas.com As a landscape architect with more than 35 years of experience in California, I have come to the conclusion there is so much more to a garden than meets the eye. When you think about it, it is more than a garden! A garden has the power to rejuvenate, inSpecializing in spire, and relax. When you take in consideration how we use our Danville gardens, what comes Interior & Exterior to mind are the endless hours of peaceful contemplation, lively gatherings, and toiled love. We â&#x20AC;˘ Power Washing Prep use our gardens not just for something beautiful to look at, although that is part of it. When I deâ&#x20AC;˘ Painting sign a clientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s garden, I first have them answer a questionnaire that I have developed over many â&#x20AC;˘ Spray-Enamel Finish years. I ask many questions spanning the gambit from functionality and budget to their vision. â&#x20AC;˘ Restaining Decks I delve into specifics, but I also try to go deep into what makes them feel they way they want to Since 1970 feel when they are in their garden. What I am bringing to the design is more than a garden! In this Free Estimates busy world, we all deserve our own little paradise where we can retreat to. We are blessed to live in such a beautiful area where we can consider the garden as an extension Tim Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Halloran â&#x20AC;˘ 925.743.9535 of our homes. Here in Danville we can live outside just about as much as we live inside. Consider the time spent swimming in the pool, playing sports with the kids, barbecuing and eating outdoors, harvesting fruits and veggies, and reading a good book under a shade tree on a warm spring day. All these activities add many dimensions to our lives outdoors, making it more than a garden. When it is more than a garden, we have the opportunity to use our gardens for other activities that contribute to our families, friends, and community. Think of the limitless activities and special events you can have such as weddings, anniversary celebrations, graduation parties, birthday parties, etc. Garden tours have become a viable way to raise needed donations for some very worthy organizations. A well designed garden can present endless opportunities to bring family and community together. Over the years my wonderful clients have generously offered their gardens for various garden tours. Last year we had our second tour; â&#x20AC;&#x153;Life in the Lafayette Gardenâ&#x20AC;? fundraiser. It was a wonderful success! We had between 400-500 people and generated close to $18,000 for wonderful organizations such as Hospice of the East Bay and others. By popular demand, I have been requested to organize a third annual tour of gardens exclusively designed by my firm that will benefit the Quincy Lee Foundation, Hospice of the East Bay, Guide Dogs for the Blind Contra Costa Raising Club, and others. A hot tip from your local Landscape Architect: JMLA is delighted to announce our third annual Garden Tour Fundraiser: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Life in the Walnut Creek Gardenâ&#x20AC;? a tour of five distinct Walnut Creek gardens. I invite you to come enjoy the afternoon with us; stroll the gardens, chat with me, and enjoy several surprises we have planned. Mark your calendar for Saturday, May 5th from 11AM to 4PM. For more information, go to our website garden-tour page. It will be a pleasure to meet you all! Gardening Quote of the Month: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Gardeners are - letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s face it - control freaks. Who else would willingly spend his leisure hours wrestling weeds out of the ground, blithely making life or death decisions about living beings, moving earth from here to there, changing the course of waterways? The more one thinks about it, the odder it seems; this compulsion to remake a little corner of the planet according to some plan or vision.â&#x20AC;? - Abby Adams, What is a Garden Anyway If you would like me to write on any particular subject, email your ideas to jmontgomery@jm-la.com or for design ideas visit www.jm-la.com. Advertorial

editor@yourmonthlypaper.com Spring Pruning By Blaine Brende & Joe Lamb Once again, its that time of year when the landscape grows lush, beautiful – and out of control. At Brende & Lamb, we prune to balance the practical with the aesthetic. When our clients ask us to restore their views, bring more light into their gardens, and reduce fire hazards, we do our best to keep their screening intact and to protect their privacy. At the same time, we work hard to enhance the natural beauty of their trees. Balancing your tree care needs are skills we’ve developed over decades of caring for trees.

Aesthetic Pruning Each plant has a natural growth pattern. Aesthetic pruning accentuates the shape given the plant by nature, good pruning creates a light and open feeling. A well pruned plant enhances the observer’s experience by accentuating the interplay of light and shadow, open spaces and denser spaces, and by revealing the sculptural elements of trunk and branch. The first step in aesthetic pruning is to see the flow of the tree. We begin by looking at the base of the trunk, then we let our eyes follow the trunk upward into the branches and out to the branch tips. We notice how the flow of the branches determines the tree’s form. The form may be weeping, as with Willows and Chinese Elms. Perhaps, as with Monterey Cypress, the branches form at acute angles to the trunk, giving the tree an upswept look. Or the branches may bend and twist, forming complex arcs, as does the Coast Live Oak. Within these patterns, each tree has its own unique form and flow.

Pruning and Size Reduction It is important to prune in a manner that does not harm the health of the tree. When thinning a pine, for example, it is important not to strip the major branches of their smaller branches, a practice called “lion-tailing” which leaves a branch denuded except for foliage at the end. Lion-tailing increases the chance of branch failure by concentrating the weight at the branch tips.

Clip Notes By Jody Morgan For nearly three decades, dedicated Bay Area floral designers have participated in the de Young Museum’s “Bouquets to Art” exhibit. Each arrangement pays tribute to a specific work of art selected from the museum’s permanent collection. Whether the bouquet expresses the essence of the art as a literal translation or an abstract vision, the flow of color forms a visual link between the two. Given the short shelf life of the natural elements, this year’s show will last only from March 13-17. Bouquets in art, on the other hand, can be enjoyed for centuries. The 4th century BC Greek artist Pausias is credited with being the first Westerner to effectively capture the saturated colors and supple form of floral arrangements with brush and paint. His major works have survived only in the literary accounts of Pliny and Pausanias. Known as one of the foremost practitioners of the encaustic process that fixed wax impregnated pigments with heated irons to render them longer lasting, Pausias certainly endeavored to delay the disintegration of his masterpieces. Pausias fell for the charms of the lovely Glycera who supported herself by weaving intricate garlands from fresh flowers. Tales of the two have embellished a story that may once have been grounded in fact to fit the fancy of susceptible audiences throughout the ages. Fascinated by Glycera’s floral creations, Pausias worked diligently at recreating their vibrant hues and subtle textures in his own more permanent pieces. Once he had mastered the art of painting flowers, Pausias did a portrait of his beloved plying her trade. The floral bouquet did not come back into favor as a subject worthy in itself of an artist’s time for more than a millennium. Detailed illustrations of plants in 15th century herbals were intended to aid in their proper identification for medicinal or culinary use. Interest in botany increased as explorers returned to Europe with exotic specimens from the New World, the East and southern Africa. Wealthy individuals coveted the collectible yet inconveniently difficult

Danville Today News ~ March 2012 - Page 17 A healthier tree, and more subtly beautiful look, is achieved by thinning to highlight the spaces or “layers” in its natural patterns. Removing diseased wood, and removing or reducing crossing branches that interrupt the natural flow, lets in more light and air, encourages interior growth and overall health. Careful pruning can increase desired screening over time by encouraging interior growth.

Aesthetic View Work In view work, the beauty of the view and the beauty of the tree often seem to be in conflict. Some tree-workers will sacrifice the tree for the view by “topping” the tree. Topping is almost always a bad idea. “Topping” creates a dense re-growth in water-sprouts that is unsightly. But more than the tree’s beauty is at stake here. Topping wounds the tree and promotes disease, including heart rot, and can make the tree dangerous. The water-sprouts on a topped tree are not deeply anchored in the trunk and are subject to failure in high winds. Add in the fact that these sprouts may be anchored onto a rotting trunk, and you have a safety problem that gets worse over time. Responsible arborists do not top trees. Removing a tree, perhaps replacing it with a smaller variety that can be kept out of the view, is usually preferable to beheading it. Looking at tree and view as two elements that complement each other can often solve view problems. Sometimes, lightly bringing the tree back without cutting into major branches can prevent further encroachment on the view. To open even more of the view, we create windows by selectively removing branches not essential for the tree’s natural form. We can enlarge these windows by removing branchlets that rise or drop into the view. Thinning above and below the window creates a feeling of openness, rather than gaping hole. The image formed by Mt. Diablo, framed by the trembling leafs of a well-windowed tree, proves that nature and civilization can complement each other. If your trees need a little TLC, please call 510-486-TREE (8733) or email us at bl@brendelamb.com for a free estimate. Additionally, go to our website www.brendelamb.com to see before and after pictures, client testimonials, and work in your neighborhood. Advertorial to cultivate treasures for their aesthetic qualities. Taking advantage of the advent of improved printing techniques and the introduction of metal-plate engraving, Adrian Collaert published the first book (or florilegium) dedicated to depicting the decorative properties of plants in the 1590s. Intricate floral arrangements replete with face flowers emerged as a popular genre of painting in the early 17th century. In his book entitled Great Flower Painters: Four Centuries of Floral Art, Peter Mitchell notes: “The early concept of painting a flowerpiece was akin to the contemporary group portraits. It is as if each flower had, like each sitter, paid its fair share and demanded to be portrayed as clearly as the next.” Confirming that these bouquets as art were highly valued, Mitchell explains: “When Maria de’ Medici visited the Netherlands no finer gift could be envisaged than a De Gheyn flowerpiece (for which the State paid the artist one thousand guilders).” What gift was fit for the king who had everything? For Louis XIV, a French duke selected a Mignon floral still life. Back to Pausias and Glycera, for a glimpse of the painting produced by Peter Paul Rubens in 1612-1615 see it displayed in the Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota, Florida. The heads of the central figures are attributed to the master himself, but the floral pieces, though originally attributed to the skill of Jan Brueghal the Elder, are now believed to be the work of Osias Beert, another floral still life specialist. Studios in the day employed apprentices as well as other known masters to get their jobs done. Crazy for flowers would generally describe the era. Are you familiar with Tulipomania, the feverish trading of tulip bulbs that infected Holland between 1634 and 1637? In 1637, the final transaction before the total collapse of the market netted a price of 5,400 guilders for a single bulb of ‘Admiral van Enkhuijsen’ – about what an Amsterdam bricklayer earned in fifteen years. Less costly than the ephemeral organic objects, paintings of vases of the most expensive striped tulips and other equally exquisite blossoms now seem much the wiser investment. The top price for a painting by a grand master of Dutch floral art commissioned during the same time frame rarely exceeded 5,000 guilders. This year I have planted my tulips inside an uphill fence where the deer devils don’t dare to travel. So far the clever clawing ground squirrels have not discovered the bulbs I concealed in containers with herbs they abhor.

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Page 18 - March 2012 ~ Danville Today News

It’s Time to Leave the Fuselage By Jim Gebhardt The financial markets have settled down significantly since last fall. Let’s take a deep breath and recognize that we have survived another major financial upheaval. After any crisis I find it is helpful to look back and take stock of what worked and what didn’t. Learning from successes and mistakes to prepare for the next challenge is the hallmark of wisdom and leadership. In my experience as a financial advisor, I believe in order for investors to achieve their financial goals they must be willing and able to step out of their comfort zone by identifying and ultimately overcoming habits that no longer serve them. Recently, I watched Alive, which is the true story of 16 survivors of a plane crash in the Andes Mountains in 1972. These young men faced the challenge of their lives, survival. The only part of the plane left intact was the fuselage. They survived 30 degree below zero temperatures and an avalanche and even managed to build a transistor radio. On day 10 they heard the devastating news that the search for their plane was called off. Imagine their sense of hopelessness. No one was coming to save them. Their choices were to do nothing and stay in the fuselage hoping someone would come to save them most likely leading to certain death, or start hiking and climbing their way westward towards Chile. I think the story of these you men is analogous to many of today’s investors. They had several major “blind spots.” The biggest of which is, ‘you don’t know what you don’t know.’ As trite as it may sound, that is fact. These young men were from a country where it didn’t’ snow. They had summer clothing, no equipment, no food and water, and no experience to handle the situation they were in. Their biggest problem was they didn’t know how to think about their problem. As an investor you should ask yourself: What’s your greatest financial challenge right now? What blind spots do you have with your finances? Are you hoping something or someone is going to come to save you? Be brutally honest with yourself. One of my mentors has a saying, “All progress starts by telling the truth.” Write down what comes to mind. Are you relying too much on hope? Hope that the stock market or real estate market recovers? This is certainly a strategy but it can create untold stress because you are not taking any action. You are hoping for the miracle to be rescued. Let’s change your perspective a bit by taking matters into your own hands. For example, look at your spending habits and where the money goes. How could you save 10% more of your income than you are now? Set aside a fixed amount on a separate debit card from your normal bank account for your monthly household expenses and face the reality of when it’s gone it’s gone – there isn’t any more. Stop putting

Kevin continued from front page He has since made his living as “Feral Kevin,” local forager and food educator in the fields of ethno botany, organic gardening, mushrooms, nutrition, and more. As Feral Kevin, he leads edible wild plant tours and forays, and he teaches a crash course in mushroom foraging. He can also be hired for custom walks, talks, classes, tours, and birthday parties. He says that foraging has become quite popular, and while trendy at the moment, the practice is the base of cultural change in how we view food. Feinstein cautions that there are rules to foraging, and when asked if he saw the true-story film “Into the Wild,” in which Christopher McCandless (as played by Emile Hirsch) dies after eating poisonous berries, he allows, “McCandless did not know what he was doing. He was naïve.” Feinstein’s classes ensure that naiveté is transformed into enlightenment; he concedes that indeed, eating the wrong thing can be perilous, and he cautions against picking near parking lots and roads due to mercury in the soil. In his wild mushroom classes, he teaches a system for approaching the daunting subject. “There are so many types of mushrooms, and most of us have had zero exposure to them as children, and yes, if you eat the wrong one, it could be deadly,” says Feinstein. In his new book, The Bay Area Forager, Feinstein and his co-author Mia Andler (Director of the Vilda Foundation for Nature Connection), make the case that foraging promotes sustainability, helps fight the spread of invasive plants, and helps to reduce food waste. Feinstein concedes that it is getting more and more difficult to forage, as it is illegal without permission from landowners. In his classes, he invites foraging enthusiasts to join him for guided tours of local edible wild plants in the hills east of the Caldecott tunnel, where participants can sample items that most

limitless household expenses on credit cards to “get the miles.” Bump up your 401k contributions to a point where you can feel the impact on your cashflow. You’ll adjust your other spending accordingly. It’s human nature. We learn to adjust and adapt to new circumstances every day. If there are changes you need to make with your finances or any aspect of your life, take the first step forward by developing a plan to leave the fuselage!

Questions to Consider Do you have the experience needed to move yourself forward? Does it serve you to keep handling your finances the way you have been or is it time to make a change? If you are working with a financial advisor are they best suited to help you move forward with your financial objectives? Don’t sit back and hope they save you. Be proactive and reach out to your advisor, and develop a game plan. A comment about your investment strategy - find an advisor that has an investment strategy based on something other than hope. That is the subject of next month’s article: Modern Portfolio Theory – Buy & Hold – is that Theory still Modern? The past four years of The Great Recession have been very challenging and stressful for many people. The effects still linger. You may think you are alone. You’re not. When pain or stress builds we seek shelter and are often pulled back to the safety of the fuselage. If we’re going to make significant progress in pursuit of our greatest financial goals and objectives we need to have the courage to leave the fuselage and start climbing our mountain no matter how long that takes. And, if we reach the first peak and see there are still many more peaks to climb ahead of us, then dig deeper, stay focused, and keep climbing. That’s what those two courageous young men did in 1972, and remember, they not only saved themselves but 14 of their friends. I truly believe each of us can do that too! Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Market indices listed are unmanaged and are not available for direct investment. All investing involves risk, including the risk of loss of principal, and there can be no guarantee that any investment strategy will be successful. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) is a price-weighted index composed of 30 widely traded blue-chip U.S. common stocks. The Standard & Poor’s 500 is a market-cap weighted index composed of the common stocks of 500 leading companies in leading industries of the U.S. economy.

Gebhardt Group, Inc. is an 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 Advertorial from reliable sources; however, Forefield, Inc. makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy.

people don’t know are edible – all with approval from the landowner. “Kevin is often ahead of the wave, so to speak,” says nature educator Andler. “He tends to already be researching and experimenting with whatever most people will catch onto in a few years.” Andler calls on Feinstein when she needs to identify a plant she’s never seen, or find out about the dangers of a certain pollutant. “He holds so much useful information for us as a society; he really is an amazing resource. He is unique in his knowledge, but also in the fact that he has also lived and truly experienced most of it and is able to teach it in an engaging and effective way.” Feinstein’s also spends one day a week maintaining the edible garden at Merriewood Children’s Center in Lafayette, where he shares his knowledge and enthusiasm for the natural world with young people. “Our kids benefit greatly from Kevin,” says Mim Bazell, Merriewood’s owner and director. “He helps them to see the direct impact their actions can have on the environment. Whether it's building a greenhouse out of recycled bottles, mucking out the chicken coop, turning the compost, or pruning trees to help guarantee a fruitful season, Kevin helps the children see that by helping to sustain the land, we ourselves are enriched, or, at least, very very messy!” When asked how he practices what he preaches, Feinstein says he promotes the purchase of organic produce and local grass-fed beef. He encourages shopping at local farmer’s markets and buying the best organic fresh foods one can afford. He hopes to one day be able to grow more of his own food and perhaps some day create a foraging park where he can practice regenerative harvesting techniques. “Sustainability is not an option,” says Feinstein. “It’s a necessity.” For more information about Feinstein’s classes, or to purchase The Bay Area Forager, visit www.feralkevin.com.

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The Car Guy By Paul Matthew Peterson, Specialty Sales Classics If you follow the collector car world, you already know about Scottsdale in January. If you are new to classic automobiles, I’ll fill you in. Every January, Scottsdale Arizona becomes the Mecca for the entire planet in regard to investment and collector cars. Think Super Bowl, only with old cars…and you get the picture. There are now so many classic car auctions in one week that it’s nearly impossible to attend them all. I chose to spend time this year at Silver Auctions’ Fort McDowell sale, Russo and Steel, and the 29-Ring circus that Barrett-Jackson has become. I’ll start with the big guns. Barrett-Jackson was once a great classic car auction, with a few Lifestyle events surrounding it. Now it has become a festival of anything and everything ‘car’ related…and a ton of stuff that isn’t related to old cars at all...and BURIED somewhere in there are cars for sale and an auction. I could have spent eight hours looking at art, another eight hours looking at neon signs, another whole day looking at ….???? Yep, somewhere in there are some cool cars and an auction. Did I mention it costs $55 just to get in? Crazy. Russo and Steele’s has evolved into one class act. It feels like a HUGE production, yet the folks that work there are so personable that you feel like you’re dealing with friends instead of a heartless corporate auction house. Same goes for Silver, without the big, slick production values. Attending, buying, or selling at a Silver Auction is what the business was like “back in the day” before the SPEED Channel, and the ‘circus’ aspect took over. It’s always an auction full of real cars, real people, and some great deals for both the sellers and buyers, with a Downto-Earth approach to the business. Both R.S. and Silver are highly recommended by this particular old car guy. Now, as for the collector car market in general? In a word: STRONG. Quality is king these days, and the prices and sale percentages reflected that rule. The incorrect, edgy, and thrown together cars went home on the trailers unsold for the most part, or at seriously low prices. A very large number of the correctly restored cars, the beautiful unrestored original cars, and the over the top Resto-Mods brought solid prices and went home with new owners. The sale percentages were fantastic, into the 70% + sold range. If one factors out the junk that wasn’t ever going to sell in the first place, then that percentage climbs to over 90% sold. That’s pretty strong. There was a flood of new investors in the market this year, likely a result of the challenging Real Estate and Stock Markets and the losses large investors have suffered recently. In the past, these newbies typically came with a checkbook and zero knowledge of what they were getting into. As a result, large numbers of these folks bought bad cars, fake cars, and vehicles that just weren’t a good investment. Those times are over, and even the brand new Classic Car investor has someone on his arm advising him on his purchase. Wise move. So, after four days of endless cars, car people, and a front row seat-style market report, I can offer this basic observation: Park your investment capital in STEEL. Make that classic and collectible steel with some rubber, vinyl, chrome, and gasoline thrown in for good measure. Seriously though, Classic Cars are a great investment, if you do your homework and educate yourself, and they’re actually a better place to park your investment capital than ever. Ask for advice from a large car collector or a ‘car guy’ if you can find one. Visit some Classic Car shows, cruises, and showrooms (We have 220+ different Classics spread in four showrooms in the SF Bay Area for example), and see which cars give you an emotional reaction for whatever reason. Educate yourself about that particular model, and then with some expert help, go buy the nicest example of that car you can find. Always buy what you love, but keep a keen eye towards investment potential. Good quality = Good investment. So…the water’s fine. C’mon in and take a swim! Classic cars are a ton of fun if you let them be, and they’re a fine investment that you can ENJOY while your money grows! See you at the Cruise and check out our inventory at www.SpecialtySales. com. Feel free to email me at TheCarGuy@SpecialtySales.com with any quesAdvertorial tions or comments, or call 800-600-2262.

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Page 20 - March 2012 ~ Danville Today News

Estate Planning for Cyber Assets By Robert J. Silverman, Attorney at Law Estate planning is not limited to wills and trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives. It directly or indirectly involves so much more, such as special needs planning for disabled loved ones receiving benefits for a disability, estate tax mitigation, properly titling assets, and ensuring the optimal designation of beneficiaries on IRA’s and 401 K’s. One new and often completely overlooked area is “cyber” or “digital” estate planning - protecting, providing access to, and planning for ownership succession of your electronically stored accounts and files, including hardware and software: cell phones, computers, CD’s, DVD’s, on the “cloud,” etc. So much of our business and social activity these days is electronic in nature. Much of its use depends on user names and passwords. Privacy is a paramount concern. From an estate planning standpoint, this is both a blessing and a curse. It’s a blessing to the extent that it effectively blocks others from seeing or using your data, except as you otherwise desire. It’s a curse, however, when people die or become incapacitated because then thorny access, use, control, and ownership issues arise. Virtually all online accounts require users to agree to the terms under which they are permitted to use such account. But few people (including me) tend to pay much attention to these long, boilerplate provisions. Nevertheless, it’s becoming widely known that most sites do not allow for the seamless transfer of the account, let alone any transfer at all, to anyone other than the original account holder. Rather, many digital assets endow owners only with a license to use the asset during life, and no right to assign or transfer ownership or use. Digital files, such as photos, music, books, personal contacts, financial and insurance information and estate planning documents, can sometimes be very difficult to find on another person’s computer. Even more troublesome is that files stored in the “cloud” or somewhere other than on a personal computer or electronic device may be unknown to others and remain difficult or impossible to discover. So, when someone dies, his or her personal representative (executor named in the Will, or administrator if he or she dies without a Will) - is likely to have a significant

Tax Tips Tips Regarding Capital Gains/Loses "Y "OB 3HALON )23 %NROLLED !GENT ( 2 Block, Danville Four years ago during the last presidential election year, the subject of cutting or raising taxes was an issue. Eliminating the capital gains tax break was discussed and then quickly dropped. With the upcoming election it will probably be on the table again. Here are ten facts to know regarding the importance to you, the taxpayer, as to the lower tax rates given to capital gains. 1. Almost everything you own and use for personal purposes, pleasure, or investment is a capital asset. 2. When you sell a capital asset, the difference between the amount you sell it for and your basis – which is usually what you paid for it – is a capital gain or a capital loss. 3. You must report all capital gains. 4. You may only deduct capital losses on investment property, not on personal-use property. 5. Capital gains and losses are classified as long-term or short-term. If you hold the property more than one year, your capital gain or loss is longterm. If you hold it one year or less, the gain or loss is short-term. 6. If you have long-term gains in excess of your long-term losses, the difference is normally a net capital gain. Subtract any short-term losses from the net capital gain to calculate the net capital gain you must report. 7. The tax rates that apply to net capital gain are generally lower than the tax rates that apply to other income. For 2011, the maximum capital gains rate for most people is 15%. For lower-income individuals, the rate may be 0% on some or all of the net capital gain. 8. If your capital losses exceed your capital gains, you can deduct the excess on your tax return to reduce other income, such as wages, up to an annual limit of $3,000, or $1,500 if you are married filing separately.

www.yourmonthlypaper.com challenge. Fortunately, the law in this area should develop rapidly. New laws and improving technology will undoubtedly allow users more direct and user-friendly options to enable others, including their personal representatives on death, the right to access, use, and assume ownership of a decedent’s cyber assets. Meanwhile, in the midst of many unanswered questions, you might consider taking some or all of the following steps to protect and provide for the succession of data you value: 1) Inventory. Create a list of your digital assets, directions on how to find each account and/or file, and how to access each, including the applicable user name and password. These types of assets may include, but not be limited to, email accounts, photos and videos, spreadsheets, important Word documents, music, social media accounts, bank accounts, life insurance policies, retirement plans, and estate planning documents. 2) Learn About Transferability. Read and inquire in detail about your ability to transfer account use and ownership upon your death, particularly for accounts you care a lot about. 3) Document Your Wishes. Draft a list in which you indicate what you’d like to have happen to each digital file and online account/service upon your death. 4) Provide Access and/or Control To Whom You Wish. If and to the extent you feel comfortable, provide trusted loved ones access to digital files you wish to disclose and share. 5) Name Successors in Your Estate Plan. More and more people will choose to formally specify the person(s) who are to be allowed access to and/or succeed to the ownership of their digital files, documents, and accounts. You can do so when you establish a Will and/or Living Trust, or if you already have such documents in place, you can modify (add to) them by means of a Codicil and/or Trust Amendment. Mr. Silverman is an attorney with Buchman Provine Brothers Smith LLP, 1333 N. California Street, Suite 350, Walnut Creek, CA 94596; (925) 944-9700; rsilverman@ sbllp.com. His practice emphasizes Estate Planning, Trust Administration & Probate, Real Estate, and Business. Mr. Silverman offers a free introductory consultation. This article is intended to provide information of a general nature, and should not be relied upon as legal, tax, financial and/ or business advice. Readers should obtain and rely upon specific advice only from their own qualified professional advisors. This communication is not intended or written to be used, for the purpose of: i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code; or ii) promoting, marketing, or recommending to another party any matters addressed herein. Advertorial

9. If your total net capital loss is more than the yearly limit on capital loss deductions, you can carry over the unused part to the next year and treat it as if you incurred it in that next year. 10. This year, a new form, Form 8949, Sales and Other Dispositions of Capital Assets, will be used to calculate capital gains and losses. Use Form 8949 to list all capital gain and loss transactions. The subtotals from this form will then be carried over to Schedule D (Form 1040), where gain or loss will be calculated. Pay particular attention to item #7. Long term capital gains is a major tax savings for most taxpayers. Listen carefully to what the candidates are saying regarding capital gains; we do not want to lose that discounted rate. This is also the time to make the candidates address the issue of Alternative Minimum Tax. Originally designed to affect the wealthy, top 3% wage earners, it is now taxing the middle class substantially. I truly hope with the economy being the main issue in this election that something can be done to eliminate the extra tax that AMT is taking from many of our paychecks. This has been an extremely busy year in our office with so many taxpayers taking advantage of our second look program and tax planning expertise that go with our tax service. I am enjoying every minute of it! It is wonderful to be able to listen to my clients and help them understand how the tax code works and how to deal with it individually to eliminate stress and anxiety. Please call or visit our office, each tax professional is among the highest trained in the income tax field with emphasis on the issues that effect communities like Danville and Alamo. Wishing everyone Bob Shalon, EA Master Tax Advisor • Enrolled Agent a happy and healthy year. Please call me 925.820.9570 714 San Ramon Valley Blvd, Suite B, Danville at any time at 925Sycamore Square (next to Lucky’s) 820-9570 with quesbob.shalon@tax.hrblock.com Advertorial tions.

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Longer Passwords are Better By Evan Corstorphine, Portable CIO I’ve written many times about using good passwords (Dec 2010, Jan 2008, Nov 2006), but change is difficult, and a lot of you are still getting into trouble. The telephone calls we get go like this: “Over the last couple of days, all of my friends/business associates have begun receiving emails from me that have a link to a weird website, and their antivirus goes crazy when they go to it, but I didn’t send them that email. Then, it happened again this morning, and I’m starting to get concerned. Is my computer hacked?” No, your computer isn’t hacked, your email password is hacked. What is happening? The bad guys are relentless in their effort to find email accounts from which they can send spam email links to their infected websites to millions of people. Their infected website usually contains embedded code that will automatically try to infect your computer with something like “XP Antivirus,” the fake antivirus program that pops up endless messages telling you to enter your credit card information to “fix” it. The more people they can trick into clicking onto their website, the more infections, and the larger number of people who unwittingly give out their credit card information to be stolen. More opportunity for identity theft is good business for the bad guys (and yes, people give their credit card information to them - we’ve seen it happen multiple times). The bad guys have some extremely clever computer programs that go around and target email accounts from the largest email domains, such as AOL, Hotmail, ATT, MSN, Comcast and Yahoo. They go one by one, using a “bot” to test commonly used passwords and even attempting some limited brute-force cracking. This sort of “farming” of email addresses ensures they have a steady revenue stream. Virus infections are no longer courtesy of your neighborhood teenager experimenting on his dad’s computer. Now, they’re big business for Eastern Bloc mafia cartels, which goes far to explain why the problem has exploded over the last few years. Back to passwords. Who do you think the bad guys are going to victimize? Are they going to be able to take over person A’s email account who uses the password “flower,” or person B who uses the password “Plausible*Deniability”? If you guessed person A, you win. Why? According to the password checking website http://howsecureismypassword.net, “flower” is among the 260 most common pass-

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Danville Today News ~ March 2012 - Page 21 words, so it would be hacked almost instantly, and “Plausible*Deniability” would take 28 million years for a common desktop computer to break. Even adding an exclamation point to “flower!” would only extend your safety to twelve minutes before it could be broken, because it’s a common word and it’s far too short. The problem with password security is that the IT guys (yes, heavy sigh, my brethren) have made password management a royal pain in the neck, and they have burned people out. If you work for a state or federal agency, or a typical large corporation, they’ve probably fueled the law of unintended consequences with rules that make it impossible to remember your password. I never thought it was reasonable to make people change their passwords every 30 days to something completely unique and unused over the previous year. I don’t know anyone who can remember that many unique complex passwords. What happens is that normal people like you and I end up writing down that ridiculous password we had to create (or that we were given), and we put it on a Post-it note, and stick it on our monitor or under our keyboard. We’re just trying to do our job, right? Who can remember this password: “3RzH@=#xFq” ? But that’s not very secure, thus the unintended consequence. Password philosophies are beginning to change. Long password phrases are more powerful than outright password complexity, because every additional simple character increases the complexity 26 times. But if you add complexity such as a punctuation mark to that phrase, a 20-character phrase is virtually un-crackable by common desktop standards, because it’s added an additional 33 character set that the cracker must include in their cracking search. For example, the phrase “twentygoodcharacters!” is one trillion times more complex than “twentygoodcharacters” because the addition of the exclamation mark increases the overall search space so dramatically. THAT is why upper and lower case, numbers and special characters are so important to use. Most websites don’t accommodate long phrases because they’re still adapting to this new knowledge. For example, AOL wants a password of between only 6-16 characters that must include letters, numbers and punctuation characters. Others want upper AND lower case letters, punctuation and numbers. One of their examples; Harry Potter becomes “ HaRrieP0tt3r!”. There is much more to write about this, but I’m out of room. I’ve put some great links to password testing sites on Portable CIO’s Facebook page, as well as more examples of ways to substitute numbers and punctuation into a password in a way that helps it make sense. In the meantime, if you get stuck please call the experts at Portable CIO at (925)552-7953, or email us at helpdesk@theportablecio.com. Advertorial

Better to pay this small amount now rather than a larger Dumploads OnUs specializes in amount down the road. Opponents include the Contra Costa Taxpayers As- providing the ultisociation and nearly every individual who spoke at the mate junk removal Board hearing on the measure. They give the following solution. We’ll haul arguments in opposition: away just about anything - from old household junk to construc1) It is bad timing to increase fees on property owners at tion and yard waste. The only items we are unable to accept are a time of economic distress and falling property values. hazardous 2) There are no specific programs listed in the ballot materials. We • Computers that would be funded by the fee. make getting • Cables 3) By calling this a fee, the measure is an end run rid of your • TVs around Proposition 13, which would require a 2/3 vote unwanted junk • Monitors for any tax increase. as easy as 925.934.3743 • 925.934.1515 • Servers 4) The fee differs in three areas in Contra Costa County 1-2-3; we load, www.dumploadsonus.com • www.erecycleonus.com • Phones that seem to have no other basis than what polls show we sweep, and 1271 Boulevard Way, Walnut Creek • Printers people will pay. then we haul Monday-Friday, 8-5 • Saturday 9-1, Sunday, closed 5) The fee is not modest like stated (businesses can pay away. It’s that •Copiers thousands of dollars) and because it is indexed for inflation, easy! • Fax Machines • Power Supply Units • Discs and Tapes the fee can be raised annually for the next 10 years. Plus we do it • Scanners • Printer Cartridges and Toners • And More... 6) There is already a similar fee on your tax bill that with a smile! goes to fund stormwater cleanup. 7) The “calculations” include vague number justification and include dubious amounts for public outreach. 8) There are no scientific studies that validate the claims that are being made for the need for many of the issues raised. 9) The trash reduction component in the measure is unrealistic and could (Thanks to the Contra Costa Taxpayers Association for most of the opactually cause flooding when such small particulates are trapped (think leaves posing arguments). in the fall). Those are the pros and cons for you to decide. Please remember to get 10) The state has recently announced that property related fees are not your ballots in by April 6. deductible from state income taxes like property taxes are, and the state will Editor’s note: The author is a member of the League of Women Voters begin to enforce this. That means this “fee” won’t even be tax deductible. of Diablo Valley, which has taken a position on this initiative.

Page 22 - March 2012 ~ Danville Today News

The Brow Lift By Barbara Persons, MD, Persons Plastic Surgery, Inc. Our natural aging process lets gravity accelerate the descent of one of the most prominent features of our face, our brow. Take a moment to look at yourself in the mirror. • Are you using your forehead muscles to hold up your brow? • Do you see horizontal lines on your forehead? • Do you have to hold your forehead up in order to see? Patients often mistakenly relate these issues to needing their eyelids rejuvenated (blepharoplasty). However, these issues are not resolved with the pulled back look of a blepharoplasty alone. What is needed is a complete repositioning of the brow to a natural, youthful position…a brow lift. The brow line for women tends to be proportionally higher on the face and is naturally arched – positioned just above the rim of the upper orbital bone. In men, the brow line is less arched and is positioned closer to the rim. As we age, the change from a youthful position of the brow presents itself as forehead wrinkles, as a subtle hood, or as excess skin over the eyes or on the brow between the eyes. A sagging forehead places excess tissue at the eye brow line and just above the eyes. This gives the face a tired, frowning, and often times, angry look. This sagging tissue can actually also impair vision. Repositioning the tissues back to their natural location eases this aged appearance and opens up the eye region of the face. When evaluating the face during a consult, I look at and make note of the morphology/anatomic features, I evaluate those changes resulting from the aging process. Morphology refers to the shape or form of anatomy. It is the morphology of the face, rather than the anatomy itself, that we change through aesthetic surgery. As a highly trained Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, I understand the artistry behind morphology while also possessing the detailed knowledge of the related anatomy essential for superior aesthetic surgery results. Depending on age, there are a variety ways of to achieve a brow lift. Younger patients can have carefully placed Botox to temporarily lift the eyebrow and smooth the forehead. However, expert placement of Botox used for this purpose is required to ensure the eyelid does not inadvertently droop. Fillers such as Sculptra, Juvederm, Radiesse, and Restylane can also be used to provide a minor lift to the brow. These treatments can last anywhere from four months for Botox to two years for Sculptra or Radiesse. Additionally, recent advances in Laser technology

www.yourmonthlypaper.com allow treatment that can reinvigorate the collagen in the skin, providing a short term natural looking lift to the brow. When we start looking at longer-lasting results available through the use of surgical options, there have been significant technological advancements in the procedure which have improved effectiveness while ensuring a more natural look post-surgery. Surgical brow lifts are performed either “open” or “closed.” In most cases I prefer to perform a closed, or endoscopic, brow lift. The endoscopic brow lift procedure utilizes small incisions in the hairline and a tiny microscope to guide the surgeon during the procedure. Post-operative recovery time is shorter, and results are more natural looking. An open brow lift involves a longer incision at the hairline or scalp, allowing for removal of forehead tissue and excess skin when necessary, and tends to be more appropriate for a patient with a high forehead. A closed brow lift is appropriate for patients with a moderate or low forehead as there is generally little or no skin removed with a closed procedure. Whether open or endoscopic, the brow lift procedure is the same. The tissue above the forehead bone is released and re-positioned. Small muscles which cause frowning are weakened or removed. The tissues are then re-attached to the bone using sutures, screws, or, my preference, endotine technology. The absorbable natural endotine plate holds the brow in its new position after surgery and during the healing process. Endotine technology enables the soft tissue of the forehead to be repositioned and fixed into place so it can heal as the surgeon intends. An endotine is made of the same substance as dissolvable sutures and is ultimately absorbed by the body. Many of my patients elect to have a blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) at the same time as the brow lift. A blepharoplasty removes the sagging skin which develops around the eyes. We target the upper eye, lower eye, or both. Laser skin resurfacing around the eyes is also often incorporated with the brow lift to rejuvenate the eyelid skin and to eliminate crow’s feet. The brow, eyelid, and face are best rejuvenated from the top down. That means we evaluate the brow and move lower to the eyelids, cheeks, chin, and neck when discussing your goals for a natural, aesthetic, and lasting change. It would be my pleasure to consult with you on how the aesthetic benefits of a brow lift may be the change you are looking for… back to a more natural and youthful facial appearance. 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@ personsplasticsurgery.com. Advertorial

What’s the Buzz for March? Buzz Sessions are the buzz on topics and issues facing today’s older adults. Join us to talk with the experts. Buzz Sessions are always free! The following classes will be held in the library’s Mt. Diablo Room. Visit www.danville. ca.gov or call (925) 314-3400 for more information. Read Beyond Nutrition Labels Tuesday, March 13 ~10AM - 11AM ~ Presenter: Rachel Daly Good health begins at the grocery store. Rachel Daly, nutrition expert, will show you how to read food labels and understand the true meaning behind marketing terms such as low fat, reduced sugar, and made with real fruit. Learn how to make informed choices and still enjoy the tastes and foods you love. How to Dance & Sing at your 100th Birthday Celebration Tuesday, March 20 ~ 10AM - 11AM ~ Presenter: Jesse Walters, Home Care Assistance It’s one thing to achieve centenarian status; it’s another to dance at your 100th birthday! The Balanced Care Method™ is based on the scientifically-studied healthy lifestyle choices of the aging people of Okinawa, Japan, where there are more centenarians than anywhere else on Earth. Come and find out about the five components of Balanced Care Method. Safe Senior Driving Tuesday, March 27 ~ 10AM - 11AM ~ Presenter: Rosemary Robles, DMV Rosemary Robles, one of four ombudsmen statewide for the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), will inform seniors on what they need to know to keep driving for as long as they can do so safely. The ombudsmen can assist as a “go-between” to ensure that senior drivers are treated fairly, consistent with laws and regulations, and with the dignity and respect they deserve.

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A Multivitamin a Day... By Jewel Johl, MD Multivitamin use is widespread in the U.S. There is general belief that multivitamin use can help prevent diseases such as cancer and reduce the risk of recurrence among cancer survivors. More than half of the American population currently uses dietary supplements, the majority of which are multivitamins. Even though vitamin deficiency is uncommon in the U.S., the use of vitamins is growing; it is currently a $20 billion industry. There is conflicting data on the benefit of using multivitamins for reducing the risk of cancer. The Women’s Health Initiative study, for example, did not demonstrate any reduction in the risk of cancer for those who used multivitamins. Several studies, however, have shown that certain vitamins such as folate, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, calcium, and retinol help fight cancer. Even though aspirin is not a vitamin, its use has been associated with reduced risk of colon cancer, especially in individuals at high risk, such as those with Lynch syndrome. There is even less information about the benefit of multivitamins for patients with established colon cancer. This issue was explored in a clinical trial in which patients with stage III colon cancer who were treated with chemotherapy were asked whether they took multivitamins on a daily basis. In this clinical trial, almost half of the patients with colon cancer who received chemotherapy took multivitamins on a daily basis. The rate of cancer recurrence in multivitamin users was then determined and compared to those who did not use multivitamins. There was no difference in terms of risk of recurrence of colon cancer in either group, i.e. use of multivitamins did not help prevent recurrence of colon cancer. These results are consistent with a conference statement from the Na-

What’s You Number? By Brandi Geiger MS, CMT No, I’m not asking for your phone number! I’m talking about your BMR, as in your basal metabolic rate. “What’s that?,” you may be asking. Your BMR is the amount of energy or calories your body expends during the course of the day in order for your body to function in a normal state... that’s not including exercise. Energy expended or calories burned is based on our organs and our body composition, as in fat mass vs. lean mass. As we age, our BMR decreases because we don’t maintain our lean mass and we become more sedentary. How many of you are as active as you were when you were younger? I know I’m not in as good of shape as I was before my back injury because I’m not working out as hard. I’m working at getting stronger again, and I really have to control my food intake in order to maintain my weight. It’s a balancing act. If we are not as active, we also don’t need as many calories. If we are still eating the same way we did when we were younger, the weight will creep on us. Bummer, I hate when that happens! I want to eat what I want and not have to work so hard...too bad, so sad. I don’t have those blessed genes to be able to do that! Most people don’t. About 70% of a human’s total energy expenditure is due to the basal life processes within the organs of the body (liver 27%, brain 19%, heart 7%, kidneys 10% skeletal muscle 18% and other organs 19%). Almost 20% of one's energy expenditure comes from physical activity and another 10% from thermogenosis, or digestion of food (protein, carbohydrates and fats). Therefore, what we eat can affect our metabolism and how we look and feel. We can’t build a healthy body by eating 1,500 calories of cookies instead of 1,500 calories of lean meats, veggies, fruits, and healthy fats. So, the type of calories count as well. It use to be believed that aerobic exercise increased our metabolism, but studies have shown that not to be all true. We burn more calories

Danville Today News ~ March 2012 - Page 23 tional Institutes of Health that concluded there was insufficient evidence to recommend either for or against the use of multivitamins for chronic disease prevention. Nonetheless, further research is needed to assess the utility of individual vitamins in patients with established colorectal cancer. Dr. Johl is a Medical Oncologist specializing in treating colorectal cancers. He practices with Diablo Valley Oncology, located at the California Cancer and Research Institute in Pleasant Hill. The center brings together medical oncology, hematology, radiation, chemotherapy, diagnostic imaging, clinical trials, and supportive care services. Satellite offices are located in Rossmoor, San Ramon, and Brentwood. (925) 677-5041 Advertorial

Moving for Life – Exercise for Cancer Recovery The California Cancer and Research Institute presents “Moving for Life – Exercise for Cancer Recovery” on Tuesdays from 6-7PM and Thursdays from 10-11AM at 400 Taylor Blvd #300 in Pleasant Hill. This class is a nationally recognized dance-based exercise program tailored for people with cancer, from diagnosis through treatment and onward. This aerobic and expressive exercise program: • Promotes increased range of motion, lymphatic drainage, aerobic capacity, strength-training, flexibility, and coordination • Enhances body image and overall body-minded wellness • Addresses fatigue, muscular weakness, weight gain and joint or bone pain • Provides realistic tools to deal with stress • Awakens and enlivens bodies and souls • Designed to teach and empower, so you can use techniques at home • Helps to alleviate symptoms of chemo brain For more details and to register, call Shayna at 925-677-5041 x231. Please bring your own yoga mat. while doing cardiovascular exercise, but it doesn’t stay elevated after we finish. The studies have shown that it is actually anaerobic exercise, such as weight training that increases our metabolism. That makes perfect sense, since muscle burns calories and fat does not. The more muscle we have, the higher our metabolism. Therefore, weight training is VERY important to increasing our metabolism as well as building strength. Don’t let the weights scare you! I hear many women say, “I don’t want to do weights because I will get bulky. I don’t want to look like Arnold Schwarzenegger.” Don’t worry ladies, you won’t! Most women don’t have the testosterone to bulk up unless they are using enhancement drugs. What women notice is their muscles getting stronger and more tone, but they don’t change their eating habits to shed the excess fat as fast. There will be a period of time that your pants may feel tight, but if you are eating Paleo style (a diet based on the presumed ancient caveman diet of wild plants and animals), the fat will melt away as you strengthen and tone your muscles. Cardio may make you look fabulous in clothes, but weight training will make you look fabulous naked or in a bikini! So how do we figure out our BMR? Here is a quick formula that will give you a rough estimate of how many calories you need a day. Women: BMR=655+(4.35 x weight in lbs)+(4.7 x height in inches)(4.7 x age in years) Men: BMR=66+(6.23 x weight in lbs)+(12.7 x height in inches)-(6.8 x age in years). You will probably realize that we don’t need many calories, so make them count and make your workouts count. If you want to learn more, I have a Tanita Scale that measures your BMR, fat mass, lean mass, and more. For more healthy tips and tricks, follow me on Facebook and Twitter at ‘Fit Mind n Body’ or www.fitmindnbody.blogspot.com. You can also visit www.fitmindnbody.com for more information. My office is located at 55 Oak Ct #130 in Danville. You can email me at info@ fitmindnbody.com or call (925) 984-9259. Advertorial Eat Well, Live Well, Be Well.

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Page 24 - March 2012 ~ Danville Today News

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Farms continued from front page tiveness and Ruth’s resourcefulness eventually paid off. The Boone farm became a walnut-processing center. After one season of laying out the walnuts by hand to dry on the hillside, Bud designed a walnut dehydrating mechanism. Ruth describes another problem in a taped interview: “Some of the trees were very large, and the men didn’t want to climb them, so Bud took a tractor and built out a projection that matched the tree.” Bud’s “slide-trombone” walnut harvester was an apparatus made up of ladders and buckets that raised pickers up to the high branches. A tractor moved the device from tree to tree. The Boones harvested, hulled, and dried walnuts for many local farmers handling 400 tons of walnuts and 900 acres of trees in a season. Crown rot blighted the walnut orchards in the 1960s. Urban sprawl gobbled chunks of land. The 375-acre farm had been reduced to 16 acres by the time Ruth reached the decision to deed her property to the City of San Ramon in 1997. She couldn’t bear to see the redwoods she had planted as seedlings bulldozed by a developer, and she wanted to honor her husband’s achievements. In 1998, shortly before Ruth’s death, the David and Eliza Glass House was moved about 1650 feet south down San Ramon Valley Boulevard to the edge of Forest Home Farms. Several of Ruth’s friends organized the San Ramon Historic Foundation (SRHF) to support the city’s efforts to preserve Ruth’s gift as an educational venue enticing visitors of all ages to travel back into the valley’s past. Tractors restored on the farm by volunteers are housed in the 7,000 square foot tractor barn. One has been modified to give rides to up to ten visitors. Third graders from the San Ramon Valley Unified School District spend a morning on the farm learning about chores from canning to vegetable gardening and interacting with farm animals. Last year 2,500 children participated. After school programs and summer day camps offer similar opportunities. “Volunteers are the life blood of the Farm,” explains Paul Truschke, SRHF vice- president. “Many organizations volunteer to help with the maintenance of the Farm. We’ve had church groups help with the painting, scouts help with various projects in the garden, and Rotary groups help with planting and clean up.” After years of restoration guided by experts in the fields of historical architecture, interior design and landscaping, the 1877 Glass House opened to the public on May 15, 2010. A few of the furnishings are original to the home including the piano in the formal parlor. Many others were donated or purchased. Craigslist had a listing for the woodstove needed for the kitchen. When the owner, Frank

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Schiavo learned that his listing was wanted by a museum, he gladly gave it to the Glass House. The second owners of the home, the Elissondo family, purchased the house furnished and were able to provide detailed descriptions of the décor. Setting the stage for each tour, volunteers in Victorian garb welcome guests. “The Forest Home Farms Task Force and Advisory Committee always wanted there to be costumed docents in the Glass House to make the story come alive and give the visitors the feeling they are stepping back in time.” Kim Giuliano, Program Manager for the City of San Ramon goes on to note: “We are actively recruiting and welcoming new Volunteers. There are opportunities for folks to serve as docents for tours and school programs, and for anyone with an interest in gardening, grant writing, conducting research, and assisting with special events.” Victorian Life is a new program open to grades 2-5. SRHF Board member Dall Barley remarks: “Working with kids is a special experience. You get to ask, ‘What’s different?’ You couldn’t turn on a light switch.” Tickets for second-Saturday guided tours ($5 for Farm or Glass House; $8 combined) can be purchased at the Gift Shoppe. Pat Boom has stocked the shop with books, toys, teacups, and treats authentic to the Farm. Pat, the narrator of the video interview with Ruth (available for viewing at the Welcome Center), happily shares her enthusiasm for Ruth’s contributions, including the roadside stand Ruth stocked with homemade jams. Entering the granary one day, Ruth discovered something sticky. Bees had made hives in the double-thick walls, so Ruth added honey to her offerings. Labels read: “Travis Boone Forest Home Farm Products.” Quilting, blacksmithing, woodcarving, and many more traditional crafts will be demonstrated on Sheep Shearing Day, April 21. For details, visit the SRHF website: www.srhf.org. To book tours for groups of 10 or more, or after school visits, or to enquire about holding a function at the Farm, call Sharon Peterson, City of San Ramon Recreation Docent Joanne Ashmore describes the mortise and Technician, at 925-973-3284. tenon construction of the farm’s oldest building.

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The Eye Opener By Gregory Kraskowsky, O.D., Alamo Optometry Save Your Vision Month Since March is Save Your Vision Month, we should look at the different ways to preserve and maintain your vision. Obviously, annual comprehensive exams are where everyone should start to assure good vision, binocular vision, and ocular health. In addition, taking care of your overall health and limiting certain occupational issues such as extended computer use and workplace injuries are a few of the ways that decreased vision and loss of vision can be avoided. By far the easiest manner in which to save and maintain your vision is to take care of your eyes through good overall medical health and yearly exams. It is of great importance to maintain your body in good shape and to keep any diseases such as diabetes and hypertension under good medical control. These two diseases in particular account for a large percentage of vision loss in adults. Even though these conditions cannot necessarily be prevented, they can be managed well through life style changes including smoking cessation, diet, exercise, and medication if needed. Diabetes and hypertension can have devastating effects on the body, including the eye; therefore, annual exams are paramount to assure that these and other systemic ailments are not affecting the eye. Examination of the retina gives a direct view for observing the blood vessels and allows for a visual assessment of their structure and stability without an invasive procedure. Now that your health is taken care of, we can start to address some common environmental issues that affect our everyday life but are not necessarily good for the eyes. Computers, smartphones, iPads, Kindles, etc. have become such a mainstay in our lives that is not uncommon that people are using more than one of these devices for long periods of time on a daily basis. However, prolonged use can cause eyestrain and fatigue, even in the most optimal of situations. Uncorrected or under-correction for near tasks, glare, lighting, viewing angles, dryness, and viewing distance can all affect comfortable viewing at the computer. Making sure all of these situations are addressed can go a long way in improving your comfort and vision while working on your computer or phone. Lastly, ocular injuries in the workplace occur about 2,000 times per day in the United States. The good news is that almost 90% of these can be prevented. The common injuries from chemicals splashing in the eyes, foreign bodies, UV exposure, and trauma from activities such as sports usually occur because a person was either not wearing any eye protection or was wearing the wrong type of protection. People that work with chemicals, fumes, and possible infectious diseases should wear goggles. If you work with flying objects or particles, your protective glasses should be OSHA approved for the activity, have side shields, and have lenses made out of polycarbonate. Other workplace hazards such as exposure to radiation and lasers must have shields that are designed and manufactured to block the particular wavelength being studied. The situations discussed here are obviously not all that can be done to prevent vision loss. However, the theme of maintaining good overall health, keeping any medical conditions well-treated, and eye protection whenever necessary are all huge factors in preventing vision loss. Dr. K. at Alamo Optometry is your hometown eye doctor for outstanding service, vision care, and designer eyewear. He can be reached at 820-6622 or visit his office at 3201 Danville Blvd., Suite 165 in Alamo. Visit our newly updated website at, www.alamooptometry.com, and become a fan on our Advertorial Alamo Optometry Facebook page.

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.

Danville Today News ~ March 2012 - Page 25

Hair Loss in Women, Vexing and Perplexing By Dr. Jerome Potozkin Allison came to see me several months ago after having her first baby. This was a new and exciting time for Allison and her husband as they had just welcomed a healthy newborn into the family two months prior to her visit. Things were going well with the one exception that Allison noticed excessive hair loss beginning a month after her delivery. She was frightened and feared she would lose all of her hair. Allison was suffering a type of hair loss called Telogen Effluvium. This is one of many types of hair loss that can be seen in women. It is estimated that 20-25% of women will suffer some form of hair loss during their lifetime. Most people have about 100,000 hair follicles which are cycling from an active growing phase known as Anagen into a resting phase (Telogen). This is usually a random process with about 100 hairs per day entering the resting phase and 100 hair follicles “waking up” into a growing phase. Telogen Effluvium occurs when many more follicles than normal enter the resting phase at one time. This leads to clumps of hair falling out. I see this most commonly after a delivery with associated post pregnancy hormonal changes. This can also be seen after a major trauma to the body such as surgery, sickness, or a major psychological stress. Luckily, the hair comes back over time as it did for Allison. When we evaluate a patient for hair loss, we typically will look for an underlying treatable medical condition that might be contributing to hair loss. Low body iron stores and an underactive thyroid can lead to hair loss. Certain hormones are checked to evaluate an underlying hormonal problem. Most often, the blood work is normal. There are many rare causes of hair loss and scalp disorders. However, the most common cause of female hair loss is genetic hair loss. Just as men suffer from hair loss, so do women. The pattern is usually different in that women usually lose hair in a more diffuse pattern as opposed to hair loss at the front and top of the scalp. If you are suffering from hair loss, there are several things that you can do. Use a volumizing shampoo and avoid “conditioning shampoos” as these may weigh the hair down making things look flat. Choose conditioners for fine hair as these typically will not weigh down your hair. Try a new hair style. Some hair styles will make hair look thinner while others create the illusion of greater volume. Some types of hair loss can be improved with Rogaine, an over the counter topical medication. This is applied twice daily to the scalp. I recommend using Rogaine for women as opposed to Rogaine for men. The women’s formulation is a 2% minoxidil solution whereas the men’s is a 5% solution which may contribute to excess facial hair. If you are suffering from hair loss, we would be happy to help you as we are accepting new patients. 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 Advertorial may also visit his website at Potozkin.com for more information.

Hospice of the East Bay To register for the following classes, please call Hospice of the East Bay at (925) 887-5681. Pre-registration is required. You can also find the most current Bereavement Services calendar at www.hospiceeastbay.org. Support Groups for Adults: Adults Who Have Lost a Parent: • Pleasant Hill - Mondays, 6 - 8PM ~ April 16 - June 11(No meeting May 28) Widow and Widowers’ Support: • Pleasant Hill - Thursdays, 2 to 4PM ~ April 5 -May 24 Drop-In Bereavement Support Group: • Pleasant Hill - 4:30 - 6PM ~ 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month Bereavement Services are provided free of charge to all community members in need; however, donations are greatly appreciated. Established in 1977, Hospice of the East Bay is a not-for-profit agency that helps people cope with end of life by providing medical, emotional, spiritual, and practical support for patients and families, regardless of their ability to pay. Hospice of the East Bay is a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit, organization that relies on the support of the community we serve.

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Page 26 - March 2012 ~ Danville Today News

Medication Madness By Jeffrey Johnson, D.C. I recently came across an alarming statistic which stated approximately 45% of the entire U.S. population is currently using prescription medications. Yes, nearly one in two Americans, regardless of age, are currently customers of the pharmaceutical companies. Let’s make this statistic a little more personal. Danville’s population is currently around 42,000. If we assume that Danville’s prescription medication usage is on par with the national average, we would find that approximately 18,900 of the 42,000 residents of Danville are currently using prescription medications. My initial question into this statistic is, “When did prescription drugs become so popular?” And, “Why are so many people currently using drugs?” Now I’m sure there are probably a few of you reading this article thinking, “Of course he’s alarmed…. he’s a chiropractor!” Well, I can assure you I have absolutely no issue with the judicious use of medication, but I am curious as to what is driving these record rates of prescription medication usage. I’m sure there are a variety of issues that factor into this unprecedented medicating of America, but I became aware of one of these factors while watching a Warriors game with my son. As we all know NBA games don’t really get good until half way through the third. So, we tuned in with approximately six minutes left in the third quarter. Watching approximately 1 ½ quarters of primetime NBA basketball unknowingly allowed us to also tune into six separate commercials touting the benefits of prescription medications. By the time we were done watching the game, we had been educated on multiple ways to improve our sleep, lower our cholesterol, strengthen our bones, elevate our mood, eliminate our pain, and improve our sex life! All of these commercials were filled with beautiful, active, happy people of all ages in serene settings. One commercial even added in animated butterflies for effect. Of course all of them closed with the comical rapid fire disclaimers in hushed tones. Now, being in the business of healthcare, I certainly was viewing these commercials from a different perspective than my nine year old son. I have no doubt that he identified those beautiful, active, happy people of all ages with the named drug of choice. I also have no doubt that he didn’t pick up on the rapid

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, located at 1601 Ygnacio Valley Road in Walnut Creek, on Monday, March 12 from 7-9PM. The speaker will Bob Kain, Executive Director of Diablo Valley Foundation of the Aging on the topic “Enabling You to Live with Optimal Independence and Freedom.” After the program, attendees will break up into three coping groups. Each group will be led by a trained professional. For further information about the Stroke Support Group, contact Ann Dzuna at (925) 376-6218. Meetings are free and open to the public.

fire disclaimer in hushed tones warning of bleeding gums, convulsions, diarrhea, rapid heart rate, and/or nausea. Nor could he possibly perceive any danger or, at a minimum, identify any reservation in using the named drug of choice when those people seemed so healthy. This takes me back to my initial question of when so many people started using prescription medication. I realize the question is loaded in that it presumes it wasn’t always this way. But, was it? Looking around my community I now see lots of children on medications. For the life of me I simply can’t recall it being so commonplace when I was a child. This takes me to the answer of my second question which was, “Why are so many people on drugs?” The answer to me clearly seems to be conditioning. The pharmaceutical industry has systematically conditioned the American population to address their symptoms through the use of prescription medication. Through repetitive, aggressive messaging we have been literally programmed to believe that we can restore our health, just like those beautiful, active, healthy people of all ages on T.V., by using the named drug of choice. At the same time we have been sold on the quick fix and disassociated from going through the process of actually addressing the cause of our symptoms to restore our health. As we all know from our conditioning, nothing is quicker or more convenient than popping a pill! Unfortunately, this unfiltered messaging is having an unprecedented effect on our society. Along with record rates of prescription drug use come record rates of prescription drug abuse. Currently, nearly 1 in 12 high school seniors reported nonmedical use of Vicodin and 1 in 20 reported abuse of Oxycontin. The key word here is REPORTED. When asked how prescription narcotics were obtained for nonmedical use, 70% of 12th graders said they were given to them by a friend or relative. The number obtaining them from the internet was negligible. This issue clearly is bigger than it may appear on the surface and deserves our attention and investigation. Please join me on March 26th for an amazing event entitled Overdosed America: What everyone needs to know to avoid the impact of prescription drug dependence and abuse. This evening is sponsored by the National Coalition Against Prescription Drug Abuse and will be moderated by Carolyn Johnson from ABC7 News. To register or for more details, go to www.NCAPDA.com. For more information, go to www.movepastyourpain.com, visit us on Facebook, or contact Dr. Jeffrey Johnson at Johnson Chiropractic Group located at 115 Town & Country Drive, Suite E in Danville (925)743-8210. Advertorial

Calling all Instructors! 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. 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.

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.

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Danville Today News ~ March 2012 - Page 27

Your Personal Nutritionist By Linda Michaelis, RD. MS. An Overweight Teen Case Study and a Few Tips on Controlling Sodium Intake

CONTRA COSTA ONCOLOGY

With Them

my story Continues.

I see a lot of overweight teenagers – I have a particular empathy for them because I also had weight problems in my teens and overcame them. Teenagers typically share a similar pattern of skimping on food during the day and overeating from 4PM on. Let me tell you about my 16 year old client Molly. Molly skips breakfast and eats a Cliff bar for a morning snack, drinks several glasses of juice and at least one Coke each day, and usually has a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with either an apple or salad with chips for lunch. She admits that when she comes home she is ravenous and can’t remember anything she has eaten. Her favorite after school snack is either multiple quesadillas or several bowls of cereal. When she sits down to dinner with the family she is not hungry but eats anyway because mom prepares a healthy meal. Dad has a sweet tooth and loves to end the meal with dark chocolate, a habit which Molly has taken on as well. The only time Molly has a good source of fiber and protein is at dinner when mom makes her chicken and broccoli that she loves. After evaluating Molly’s eating habits, it was obvious that she was eating very little protein and fiber, and this was the reason she was feeling hungry all the time. I educated AT CONTRA COSTA ONCOLOGY, we are committed to providing WALNUT CREEK Molly and mom on how to read food labels the highest quality care. Specializing in comprehensive cutting-edge treatment SAN RAMON for protein and fiber. I showed them many high programs for all forms of cancer and blood disorders, our nationally recognized CONCORD protein and high fiber foods that Molly was oncology experts and specialized oncology nurses are dedicated to providing ROSSMOOR the best possible care experience. We understand the wide array of concerns open to trying such as Kashi Go Lean cereal, and challenges faced by you and your family, so we ensure the most sophisticated DANVILLE oatmeal with yummy toppings, and quinoa. levels of medical oncology and hematology care, while providing you with the Since Mom works and Molly doesn’t prepare contracostaoncology.com utmost support, compassion, and respect. anything for herself, Molly simply eats the easiest 925.939.9610 thing. After finding out her likes and dislikes, I prepared a list of lunches and after school snacks that included her favorite foods (including broccoli) and stressed it was Molly’s responsibility to take a few minutes each day to prepare the right foods. I suggested she continue with her protein consumption for dinner but that she lessen the portion and use some of the dinner portions for her sandwich or salad the next day. We talked about adding fiber to Molly’s lunch with items such as black beans with salsa and 100% whole wheat breads and crackers. For snack she will have a small baked potato topped with broccoli and cheese, or even scrambled eggs with a whole wheat English muffin. I told Molly if she substitutes all of the sugar in the glasses of orange juice and Cokes with non-sugar drinks, then she can enjoy a nice dessert each day. Molly was thrilled that after two weeks of counseling she had lost 7 pounds. The high blood pressure epidemic we read about is certainly visible in my practice. The new dietary guideline for those who have hypertension is to consume no more than 1,500 mg/day – quite a low amount when you consider a packet of oatmeal has 240mg, a slice of bread has 130mg, a one ounce slice of cheese has 170mg, and a tablespoon of butter has 80mg. The most common question I’m asked is, “How can I enjoy food and limit my sodium?” After discussing their habits, I often wind up suggesting they save all their salt for one meal a day, whether it be while out at a restaurant, socializing, or just being in the mood for some pizza. That way they don’t deprive themselves when their other meals can more easily be salt-free. Common suggestions include cooking your own one minute oatmeal, whole wheat couscous or pasta, quinoa, or even legumes. Then all you have to do is add your own meats and veggies with spices like lemon pepper, garlic, onions, wine, lemon juice, or low salt chicken stock. Create a salad and make your own salad dressing with olive oil, vinegar, and herbs. By the way, most desserts are not laden with sodium. It’s also important to keep your weight under control, exercise at least 30 minutes a day, limit alcohol to two drinks per day, and drink lots of water. Finally, take your vitamin supplements and fish oils, eat lots of fruits and veggies. Molly’s visits were paid for by her Hill Physicians health insurance which cover 10 visits a year. Many health insurance plans cover my services. Please feel free to call me at (925) 855-0150 or e-mail me at Lifeweight1@yahoo.com and tell me about your nutritional concerns. Refer to my website Advertorial www.lindaRD.com for past articles, recipes, and nutrition tips.

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Page 28- March 2012 ~ Danville Today News

The Combs Team Professionals You Can Count On

Nancy

Joe

Call the Combs Team

925-989-6086 www.TheCombsTeam.com Last month I reported that the high end real estate market bottomed and showed some signs of upward movement. I also mentioned that a number of indicators were pointing toward the beginnings of a recovery. Today I will discuss an indicator that is not quite as positive. History shows that coming out of a real estate downturn, the lowest priced homes in a market area respond more quickly to an improving economy, and therefore are capable of predicting a real estate turnaround. Lagging a bit, mid-priced homes tend to follow the low-end homes and it makes sense. First time homebuyers feel confident and buy. That prompts the middle market to sell and move up… and on and on until you have a fully functioning and healthy market at all price levels with home price appreciation roughly keeping pace with inflation…back to the old normal. Danville’s low-end market, exclusive of a handful of condos and townhomes which these days is a market disaster unto itself, is fairly represented by three bedroom homes sales. For the purpose of this review we take a look at the Danville three bedroom home sales starting with 2007, the peak, through 2011 and discover the news mixed. The attached chart and graph tell the story better than words. From 2007 until the end of 2009 sales of three bedroom homes fell from an 3 Bedroom Home Sales Danville 2007-2011 average of $855,000 to $653,000 for Year $ Sq. Foot Avg. Price Size Sq.Ft. a 24% drop in value. Dollars paid per 2007 $ 494 $ 855,000 1730 square foot also dropped in this time 2008 $ 423 $ 785,000 1855 frame from $494 to $370 representing 2009 $ 370 $ 653,000 1764 a corresponding 25% drop. In 2007, 2010 $ 389 $ 713,000 1832 at the peak, 84 homes sold. During 2011 $ 360 $ 670,000 1861 the ensuing years significantly fewer homes sold with only 64 closing in 2009. The 2010 sales numbers rebounded to 94 and in 2011 a total of 100 homes sold… indicative of a more normal market. Prices in 2010 showed a significant jump of 9% from $653,000 to $713,000 and dollars paid per square foot increased by about 5% from $370 to $389. This was a fairly strong indication of a market turnaround. Unfortunately this increase did not continue in 2011 when the market gave back approximately 6% of the gain, declining from $713,000 in average price to $670,000. This decline was also reflected in a 7% decline in price paid per square foot in the same time frame. Whether the market has bottomed and bounced or is headed in a downward direction is not clear

as the 2011 average price remains above the 2009 price Danville 3 Bedroom Home $500 levels. Dollars paid per square foot are lower than the 2009 level which is not as encouraging. Depending on $475 how things go in the months ahead, 2011 may prove to $450 be the absolute bottom. One thing is certain, short sales and sales of bank owned properties are not helping to $425 support property values. Like it or not, it’s obvious that massive govern$400 ment support including mortgage modifications and $375 interest rate suppression is slowly putting the brakes on Danville’s market decline. I am hopeful that a positive $350 change in market direction will be noted in Danville’s 1 2 3 4 5 mid-level market during 2012. I believe it is probable $ Sq. Foot Years 2007-11 given that inventories (Danville homes for sale) are at very low levels, interest rates are at very low levels and well below last year and the banks are starting to lend more aggressively. It has been recently reported that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are moving to off-load their so called shadow inventory of defaulted properties. The properties will be sold in large blocks to twenty pre-selected investors with a minimum $1 billion purchase requirement. There will be a stipulation that the homes be maintained as rentals and held off the market for a number of years. Under the proposed plan properties in various stages of default will not be available to individuals to purchase, not in short sale, not at auction. They will be discretely handed over to the select few, quietly and invisibly behind the Wizard’s curtain they will simply disappear. Given a government orchestrated market intervention this dramatic, it seems less likely that the long feared flood of distressed homes destined to swamp the market will ever arrive in a giant wave. This will stabilize and perhaps energize the Danville real estate market. If this turns out to be a fact, it is a negative game changer for current landlords and those individuals who have been painfully holding cash, delaying buying a home or investment property while waiting for the cents on a dollar tsunami of foreclosed homes to wash ashore. This move may also give the Fed latitude to begin raising interest rates without fear of destroying the economic recovery. I wonder if this spreading news is sparking the recent rise in purchases of existing mortgage backed securities? If you are thinking about selling your home in 2012 and you would like to talk it over please give us a call. 925-989-6086 or send me an email joecombs@thecombsteam.com. We would love to help. Dollars Per Square Foot

Danville Real Estate Market Changes Direction…Again!

Westside Alamo Single Story

Three Large Lots for Sale

Nancy and I represented the buyer and the seller. Pending in 3 days. $1,075,000 We have other buyers.

Perfect throughout. 4 bedroom, 3.5 bath. Huge outdoor entertainment area and pool. $1,450,000.

Three large lots for sale by different owners. 1.2 acres with utilities at street, 7.93 acres, and 12.87 Acres. Call for details.

Gated Custom Luxury Home

El Pintado Loop

Horse Property

Stonegate Single Story

LD SO

G DIN N PE 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.

Amazing executive estate. 3.1 acres, 5,000 sq. ft., pool, barn, 5 car garage. $2,395,000. We represented the buyer. We have more buyers.

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.

LD SO Amazing acre plus horse property with house, barn, and stables. $699,000 J. Rockcliff Realtors 15 Railroad Ave., Danville CA. 94526