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0D\ 6HUYLQJ 'DQYLOOH Sentinels of Freedom Investing in Veterans Futures By Jody Morgan Opportunity would need to begin at home, San Ramon resident Mike Conklin realized as soon as the Twin Towers fell. Gathering community leaders together, he advised them that they might soon see local youths coming home physically broken from the imminent war. How would the community prepare to support them? Those present shared Conklin’s belief: “The least we can do for those who have served and sacrificed is to assist them in attaining their life goals.” The Sentinels of Freedom plan Conklin
Elementary School Finalists of the 2012 Earth Day Student Art Contest
Inspiring Earth Day Student Art Event
Joey Bozik (top, 2nd from left) enjoys some social time with his Danville support team.
devised at their behest was implemented in 2003 when San Ramon Valley High School graduate Jake Brown became the first beneficiary, the first Sentinel. Conklin recognized that each Sentinel would need appropriate housing, interim employment, transportation, and the education requisite for his or her chosen career. Like most of the 90 plus Sentinels who have since been accepted into the program, Jake came back from the battlefield with only a high school education and no employment experience applicable to civilian life. Crushed by a tank, Brown sustained severe internal injuries and was unable to walk. Emerging from weeks in a coma, he had the determination essential to succeed. Mike Conklin and a core group of community professionals made sure Jake had the means. They found him employment working nights for UPS in San Ramon while he completed a California State University degree and helped him secure all the VA benefits to which he was entitled. Enrollment in an MBA program and a position at Sybase International followed Jake’s college graduation. One step at a time, Conklin and his team of San Ramon Valley volunteers constructed a support system based on the individual aspirations and limitations of each new Sentinel. As a building contractor and real estate developer, Conklin was used to engaging the skills of scores of separate tradesmen to put up a house. He applied the same logistics to coordinating benefits from government and private agencies with resources he could tap through community connections. Local professionals offered their time to provide Sentinels with legal, financial, and career counseling. In 2005, Manny Mendoza came home after losing both legs above the knee. Placed through Sentinels as a Project Manager at AT&T in San Ramon, Manny received several promotions, purchased a home, and is now totally self-sufficient. Conklin’s recollection of Ron Wilkins, a boy a class or two ahead of him in high school who sustained similar injuries in Vietnam, fueled his desire to make certain San Ramon Valley veterans had someone to count on. Ron tried hanging out with his old friends when he came home, but as a double amputee with no prospect of work, he soon fell victim to alcoholism. That none of the churches or other local groups came forward to help, Mike found unacceptable.
See Sentinels continued on page 25 Local Postal Customer
PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Permit 263 Alamo CA
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Danville students and their families participated in the first annual Earth Day Student Art Contest. The art show and reception was hosted by Sustainable Danville Area in conjunction with the Town of Danville Village Theatre and Art Gallery as part of the town’s 2012 Earth Day Arts Event. The day included multi-generational activities including a mosaic art demonstration (reusing pieces of old dishes), a free screening of the film Manufactured Landscapes, a hands-on jewelry project, and the student art reception. Sustainable Danville Area (SDA) invited all Alamo and Danville students to participate in the Art Contest. The group received over 75 entries. Darlene Gayler, Vice President Sustainable Danville Area said, “This was such a fun event. The kids and their creativity are a breath of fresh air. They don’t care about finances, politics, or being PC – they just tell it as they see it! Their messages are very inspiring.” Cindy Egan, Sustainable Danville Area Board Member and San Ramon
See Art continued on page 20 th
Danville Rotary’s 19 Annual Golf Tournament On Monday, May 21st, Danville Rotary will host its 19th annual Greater Danville Golf Tournament. All proceeds for this event will benefit the San Ramon Valley Veterans Memorial Building. The tournament will be held at Blackhawk Country Club, Lakeside Course. Registration opens at 10:30 AM, followed by a putting contest. There is a shotgun start at noon. Tickets are $155 and include lunch. There will be wine and appetizers at 5pm when the Winner’s Trophy will be presented. There will be raffle prizes to add to the fun. Everyone is invited to participate - golf- Volume III - Number 7 ers, and non-golfers alike. It’s a day of great 3000F Danville Blvd. #117, fun to support our veterans, says Bob Chase, Alamo, CA 94507 (925) 405-6397 Danville Rotary President. Fax (925) 406-0547 To register for the event, visit www.greaterdanvilleopen.com or call 925-518-7137. Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher Danville Rotary is a club of professionals, editor@ community leaders, and volunteers dedicat- yourmonthlypaper.com ed to service above self. The club has been The opinions expressed herein belong active for more than 50 years and is a part to the writers, and do not necessarily reflect that of Danville Today News. of Rotary International, the world’s largest Danville Today News is not responsible for the content of any of service organization with over 1.2 million the advertising herein, nor does members worldwide. publication imply endorsement.
Page 2 - May 2012 ~ Danville Today News
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Boulevard View By Alisa Corstorphine, Editor I have joined the craze as one of 50 million people in 50 days to download and play the game Draw Something on my iPhone. Draw Something is a Pictionary -type game played between two people. The object is to draw a picture that represents a certain word. While trying to draw something like the word “moustache” or “vampire” with just my finger as a stylus is relatively easy, things get more complicated when trying to draw and have the other person guess words like “slamdunk,” “pacman,” or “avatar.” Playing games with friends has certainly evolved over the last 100 years. During the 19th century the wealthy men and women of that era had more leisure time than people of previous generations. This led to the creation of a variety of parlour games to provide these gentlemen and ladies with entertainment at small parties. As a result, games have become an important, even expected part of social gatherings. For example, at a recently held Victorian Tea Party for my 94 year old grandmother and 45 of her friends, the pre-Mother’s Day celebration was a chance to dress up and go back in time. Decked out in our fancy hats, lace-up-boots, and pearls we served the guests finger sandwiches, scones, and a spot of tea. The party concluded with a Loteria/Bingo type parlour game that included areas on the play card with words such
as “bloomers,” “corset,” and “parasol” that brought many laughs and memories to the group of attendees. Coincidentally, back in 1893, the very time of bloomers and corsets, the man-made “Stow Lake” was created in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. The lake was built as a place for the people of San Francisco to escape their “crowded” neighborhoods and homes, to enjoy the outdoors. The lake provides a walking trail and the opportunity to rent a paddle boat or rowboat for a trip around the lake. There are no speedboat motors to be heard, just the gentle dipping of paddles through the water. I took my 10 year old niece to San Francisco for a special day and ended up at the lake. It was the perfect opportunity to take a rowboat out and teach her how to row. After a few minutes of instruction, I was able to kick back and be chauffeured around the lake where we saw ducks, seagulls, and a bale of turtles. Another trip this month found our family and our two French exchange students at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View. Besides learning about the evolution of computers, we got to try our hand at classic computer games such as Pacman and Pong. Whether it be drawing the PacMan game in Draw Something or playing the actual game at the Museum, the “classic” activities and games never go out of style!
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8CI?AA;
Danville Today News ~ May 2012 - Page 3
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Danville Girls Chorus - Come Sing With Us!
College is Real Community Event & Fundraiser
Danville Girls Chorus Placement Auditions for the 2012-2013 season are being held on Tuesday, June 12th in Danville. Girls in grades 3-8 are invited to join the fun of singing, performing and learning how to read and appreciate music of all types. No experience is required. For more information or an appointment, call the chorus line at (925) 837-2624. The Chorus is made up of girls from 3rd - 8th grades from over 30 local TriValley schools. While the primary goal is music education, the girls also make lasting friendships and learn life lessons such as teamwork, punctuality, respect, and how to follow directions. The affordable after school program meets once per week and is comprised of four choir levels that fit the girls experience and ability. The choir is under the artistic direction of Ken Abrams, award winning choral director for the San Ramon Valley High School. The girls are taught a variety of musical styles, the basics of vocal production, and learn fundamentals of musicianship and note reading.
College is Real, a program supporting college-bound students at Richmond High School, will hold its first annual Auction and Dinner Dance at Roundhill Country Club May 19th at 6PM. The event will feature wine tasting, dinner, a live auction, and DJ. Attendees are encouraged to dress in the early 60s style of the popular TV series Mad Men, the theme for the evening. Prizes will be awarded for best outfits. “This will become a must-attend annual event once people learn about College is Real and hear the stories of these amazing students and all they have to overcome to attend college,” says founder, Brad Blake, Alamo resident and partner in Blake Hunt Ventures. Blake created College is Real in 2005 to help a small group of soccer players at Richmond High School who had the potential, but not the resources, to get into college. Since that time, the program has exceeded its initial goals, and it now offers guidance and financial support to over 80 students, athletes and nonathletes, who strive to achieve the dream of attending college, most becoming the first in their families to do so. Tickets to the event are $75 per person. For more information on the event and College is Real, or to purchase tickets, go to www.collegeisreal.org.
Call for Entries The Town of Danville is hosting the Second Invitational Juried Exhibition in the Village Theatre Art Gallery and encourages all accomplished, mid-career, and emerging artists living in the United States to apply. The theme is Spaces and Places. Artwork considered for this exhibition will depict either a real, invented, or a psychological space or place. Creative interpretations are encouraged. Work produced in the last three years is preferred. Accepted media includes painting, drawing, print making, photography, sculpture, ceramics, and mixed media. The juror for this exhibition is DeWitt Cheng, a San Francisco-based art critic who writes for Art Ltd., Artillery, Sculpture, Huffington Post, Visual Art Source, and DeWittCheng.com. The deadline to submit entries is 5pm, June 1st. Any entries received after that date or that are incomplete will not be considered. Entries will not be returned. Artists will be notified of the results by e-mail no later than 5pm, June 8. Visit www.villagetheatreartgallery.com or call (925) 314-3400 for more information.
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Page 4 - May 2012 ~ Danville Today News
Enjoy “Simply Delicious Danville�
“Life in the Walnut Creek Garden� Fundraiser
Memorial Day weekend will be a time to pamper yourself this year by coming to downtown Danville and trying out tons of different foods during the “Simply Delicious Danville� culinary tour. Set for May 26th from 10AM – 3PM, the Open House tour will allow visitors to stroll through the downtown and to try out wines, chocolates, small plates, and other fine dining offerings from Danville businesses. The Open House format will allow guests to sample the wares of our fine culinary establishments and also visit the many other fine boutiques and shops in the downtown. Throughout the day, participating businesses will host demonstrations and tastings. For tickets and information, visit www.simplydeliciousdanville.com.
Saturday, May 5th, 11AM to 4PM John Montgomery Landscape Architects is delighted to announce their third annual Garden Tour Fundraiser presenting gardens exclusively designed by John Montgomery. Celebrate Spring, chat with John, stroll the gardens, enjoy live music, attend demonstrations, and nibble goodies in our outdoor living environments. Proceeds from the sale of tickets benefit The Quincy Lee Foundation, Hospice of the East Bay, and Contra Costa County Guide Dog Raisers, Inc.. To sign up, visit www.jm-la.com and click on Garden Tour. For questions, please contact Debbie at dblumhardt@jm-la.com, or (925) 820-8884.
AAUW Garden Tour The Danville-Alamo-Walnut Creek American Association of University Women’s (AAUW) 12th Annual Garden Tour will be held Friday, May 11th and Saturday, May 12th from 10AM - 4PM. Six delightful gardens located in Alamo and Danville will be presented. Landscape designers and expert gardeners will be on hand to share their knowledge. Tickets are $30 before May 4th and $35 after. Seniors 65+ are $5 less. No children under 12 or pets, please. Mail your check payable to “AAUW Funds� with a business size, self-addressed, stamped envelope to AAUW Garden Tour, PO Box 996, Alamo, CA 94507. Tickets will also be available after April 9th at East Bay Flower Company at 206 Sycamore Valley Rd. W. in Danville with cash or check payment only. All proceeds go to AAUW Funds, supporting aspiring female scholars. For further information about the tour, email gardentour@aauw.daw.org.
Spring Show Primavera and Wine Stroll Alamo Danville Artist’s Society (ADAS) will host their 35th Annual Spring Show Primavera and Wine Stroll at the Blackhawk Plaza Rotunda located at the corner of Camino Tassajara and Crow Canyon Road in Danville on Saturday, May 5th from 10-7pm and Sunday, May 6th from 10-5pm. The show features 50 member artists exhibiting oil, acrylic, watercolor, pastel, photography, sculpture, ceramic, wearable art, and glass. Five wineries will participate in the Wine Stroll.
Native American Art Show and Sale
Women’s Club Presents a Fashionable Show of Giving Danville Women’s Club presents a “Fashionable Show of Giving.� The annual spring luncheon and fashion show will benefit Hospice of the East Bay. This wonderful event will be held on Thursday, May 10th at the Crow Canyon Country Club located at 711 Silver Lake Drive, in Danville. Social time begins at 11:30am and lunch will be served at noon. Chico’s of Danville will be modeling spring fashions. Tickets are $40. For ticket information, contact Club President, Barbara Chavez at 925-838-0347, or email chavez.barbara@att.net. We look forward to your support of our fundraising efforts and participation in our Fashionable Show of Giving.
Baskets, Totem Poles, Pottery, Kachina’s, Food And More!
Saturday, May 19th 10-6pm & Sunday, May 20th 10-4pm Alamo Women’s Club 1401 Danville Blvd, Alamo | Free Parking Adults - $5, Seniors (55) $4, Children - Free
Veterans of Foreign Wars Meets Again at Vets Building
Downtown Danville Spring
Wine & Chocolate
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Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW), Post 75, San Ramon Valley meets every third Wednesday of the month at the Veterans Memorial Building located at 400 Hartz Avenue in Danville, located on the corner at East Prospect Avenue and Hartz Avenue. Doors open at 7PM, and the meeting begins at 7:30PM. For more information, contact Post Commander Nathan Greene at (925) 875-1747. Mail to: VFW Post 75 San Ramon Valley, P.O. Box 1092, Danville, CA 94526. Find out more about the VFW and our Post on the internet at www.vfwpost75.org.
$25
We have now mailed 911 boxes weighing 23,120 pounds of “gourmet junk food� to our Troops. Collections for May will be held at CVS in Alamo on May 4th and at Lunardi’s in Danville on May 11th from 11am to 2pm at both stores. There is a big need for individual bottles of eye drops, toothbrushes, and chapstick. We need 12 -15 of each in each box. If you have items to drop off, visit www.deltanupsi.org for more information. Thank you.
Alamo Jewelry, Fine Art & Craft Show Artisans will be gathering on Mother’s Day weekend, Saturday and Sunday, May 12th and 13th from 10AM to 6PM, at Alamo Plaza Shopping Center for the annual “Alamo Jewelry, Fine Art and Craft Show.� This year’s show features local and regional artists exhibiting original works of art including paintings, sculpture, pottery, jewelry, fiber art, glass, woodwork, mixed media, photography, and more. “This celebration of Art offers a great opportunity for art lovers to meet with and purchase directly from some of the West Coast’s most talented artists and artisans,� said festival director John Holland. jewelry creations of Jerry Dubson, Alamo Plaza is located at the Gold award wining Goldsmith. Jerry will bring corner of Stone Valley Rd. and his latest collection of fine jewelry creations Danville Blvd. Admission is free. to the Fine Art and Craft show. For more information, visit www.jhfestivals.com.
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Danville Today News ~ May 2012 - Page 5
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Page 6 - May 2012 ~ Danville Today News
Blackhawk Republican Women Present Lawrence H. Wanetick
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Come hear Lawrence H. Wanetick, M.D., FACS, High Return Requires a Minimum Cash Trustee of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy Investment With No Experience in speaking on “Israel and a Changing Mideast� on WednesReal Estate or Construction. day, May 9th at the Blackhawk Country Club located at 599 Blackhawk Club Dr., Danville. A social with hors Contact: Adamsson Associates Inc. d’oeuvres will take place at 5:30pm followed by the speaker 888-293-8792 at 6:15pm. The cost is $25. www.adamsson.com A highly respected surgeon in the Bay Area since 1968, Dr. Wanetick is also active in working for peace in the Middle East. He is currently a member of the American Jewish Committee International Task Force and has been Chair of the local International Task Force of the Anti-Defamation League. He is also Vice-Chairman of the Advisory Board of Shaare Zedek Hospital of Jerusalem, Israel. He has traveled extensively in Israel and also visited Egypt, Jordan, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates. Want to hear what’s going on in the Middle East from someone who knows and is actively involved there? Come hear the inside scoop from a uniquely qualified and learned man. Please make reservations or cancellations by noon on Monday, May 7th by contacting Mrs. Lyons at 856 Turrini Dr., Danville, 94526, rlyons1009@sbcglobal.net, or (925) 820-6452. A reservation made is a reservation paid.
Blackhawk Plaza Milonga and Argentine Tango Lessons Enjoy a relaxed Sunday afternoon of free tango lessons hosted by the Blackhawk Milonga and the Bay Area Tango Association. The lessons are held the first Sunday of each month with the next one taking place at the Blackhawk Plaza Rotunda located at Blackhawk Plaza, 3499 Blackhawk Plaza Circle, Danville on Sunday, May 6th at 2pm. For more information, contact Carlin Ghahraman at carlinsf@gmail.com or call 510 406-4583
O’Neill Plays at Tao House in May
The Exchange Club of San Ramon Valley
Tao House, up in the hills above Danville, will host two staged readings for the public of Eugene O’Neill plays on May 6th and May 20th. On Sunday, May 6th, Playwright’s Theater presents Exorcism, a newly discovered one-act play recounting the playwright’s attempted suicide in 1912. New York Times critic, Alexander Woolcott described the play as “uncommonly goodâ€? when it was performed by the Provincetown Players in 1920, but it closed after only a few performances. Shortly thereafter, O’Neill thought he had destroyed all copies of the play. Also on the bill, three one-scene plays by Playground, the San Francisco based company that develops new playwrights, will be performed. On Sunday, May 20th, Playwright’s Theatre will present Diff’rent, O’Neill’s first venture into Freudian psychology. Emma, the central character of the play, insists that her fiancĂŠe, Caleb, be “diff’rentâ€? from the rest of men—that he aspire to lofty values, especially in matters of sexuality. The performances, in the Old Barn, will begin at 3pm on both days. Details about the quick, free, shuttle van up to the site will be provided at the time tickets ($25 for a single matinee, $45 for both) are purchased. More information can be found at www.eugeneoneill.org or 925-820-1818. The Eugene O’Neill Foundation assists the National Park Service at Eugene O’Neill National Historic Site in the preservation of the Nobel prize winning playwright’s Tao House, and provides artistic and educational programs which focus on the contribution of Eugene O’Neill to the American Theatre.
The Exchange Club of San Ramon Valley meets for lunch the second Wednesday of every month at Faz Restaurant in downtown Danville. Sign-in and social time begins at 11:30AM. The meeting runs from noon to 1PM. The program features guest speakers and a business networking speaker. Guests are welcome. For more information, call Karen Stepper, President, at (925) 275-2312, email coachstepper@yahoo.com, or visit www.srvexchangeclub.org.
Lost Dog! $50 REWARD
If you find him and your name is drawn!
Danville Dog is Missing He has become lost in this paper!
He is very small, so you will have to look hard if you want to ďŹ nd him.
To be eligible send a letter telling us where you found him, along with your name and address, to: Lost Dog! ~ Danville Today News & $ANVILLE "LVD s !LAMO #!
Renee Harker is our winner!
Two fabulous concerts from the East Bay’s premier 140 voice chorus. Songs from “Breakfast at Tiffany’sâ€?, “West Side Storyâ€?, “The Sandpiperâ€?, “Dirty Dancingâ€?, “The Wizard of Ozâ€? and much more‌‌. Saturday May 5: Dougherty Valley Performing Arts Center, 8pm 10550 Albion Road, San Ramon. Tickets: $25, adults, $17 children under 12. www.sanramon.ca.gov/parks/theater/ or 925-973-3343 Friday May 11: 8pm
Resurrection Lutheran Church, 7557 Amador Valley Boulevard, Dublin. Tickets: $25 adults, $15 children under 12 Call 925-828-1580
Visit us at www.blackhawkchorus.com
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Spring Cleaning with the Magic Elixir
Danville Today News ~ May 2012 - Page 7
By Cynthia Ruzzi, President Sustainable Danville Area
I’m not sure what inspires me to want to clean house when the weather warms. Perhaps it’s in our DNA, just like other creatures of the Earth that ‘nest’ come spring. Or maybe it’s that the spring flowers look so vibrant compared to our homes that have been closed up against the winter weather. Whatever the reason, my husband knows to hide when I get the urge for spring cleaning. Growing up, cleaning wasn’t just about removing the dust. Our house wasn’t clean until you could smell the Pine-Sol, Lysol, Windex, and Mr. Clean throughout the house. While many of us now use cleaning products that include enticing scents like Magnolia Lily or Jasmine Mint, these synthetic fragrances just mask the noxious solvents that we use in our households year after year. Many conventional cleaning products are based on petrochemical VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and create air pollution within your home. Unfortunately, these chemicals build up in your home each time you use these cleaners. As they evaporate, the can make their way into your body and be dangerous to your health causing dizziness, eye irritation, skin rashes, and respiratory problems. I decided long ago that it isn’t worth risking our health, and thus, I set out to find alternative products to make my home sparkle. Once I started my research, I couldn’t believe how many things could be cleaned with white vinegar. The magical elixir of half vinegar and half water cleans everything in my home from windows to toilets. I even add a little baking soda and grape seed oil to wash apples and other fruit before eating. Kids love the ‘science experiment’ caused by mixing these ingredients – just one tablespoon of baking soda added to the water and vinegar provides an entertaining show of foaming bubbles. So, we have windows to refrigerators to countertops covered, but what about the cooktop and oven? You guessed it…vinegar and water for general cleaning and for those stubborn stains - mix half sea salt and baking soda, add water to form a paste, cover the spot and let it sit for ten minutes, and then spray with your vinegar mixture to scrub your ‘Comet’ clean. For the most serious gunk, I turn to Bon Ami, the “barkeepers’ friend,” which is rated a 10 for health by GoodGuide.com. Since we’re talking ‘gunk,’ nothing is worse in my book than cleaning grout. For most situations, I find if I dampen the area with water and then sprinkle baking soda on the area – followed by a light scrubbing with an old toothbrush, things look as good as new. I read that one-third hydrogen peroxide to two-thirds water is great for getting rid of mold. However, only mix what you’ll need for the current application as hydrogen peroxide loses effectiveness when exposed to light, air, and water. This explains why it’s sold in brown bottles. We’d love to hear if it works for you; write to us at sustainabledanville@gmail.com. Hydrogen peroxide is also a wonderful alternative to bleach. Add a cup to your whites as you would bleach, and enjoy the whitening benefits without the issues associated with laundry bleach to you and your clothes. Besides the effects of the chemical off-gassing, and the warnings that it may cause eye irritation and skin burns, chlorine bleach is harsh on the fibers of your favorite T-shirt which shortens its life. While we’re talking about laundry, use laundry soap without NPE (nonylphenol ethoxylate) which is an endocrine disruptor and estrogen mimic. In other words, it can mess with your hormones and reproductive functions. Unfortunately, manufacturers’ don’t disclose detailed ingredients, and they aren’t required to disclose this information to consumers. Once again, I turned to GoodGuide.com and boy was I surprised to find that the Purveyors of classic, exotic, and brand with the cute snuggly bear fares the worst! high-performance cars for more than 30 years. Want to learn more about environmental toxins in California’s #1 Classic Car Dealer your home and in your personal care products? DisOver 200 vehicles in inventory! cover and share alternatives to conventional products for your spring cleaning. Join Sustainable Danville Area for our May Forum “Toxic Top Ten” on Wednesday, May 23rd at 6pm. Our guest speaker is Brittany Robinson, DC, a specialist in Upper Cervical Specific Chiropractic that believes the balance of a toxic free environment and good nutrition with an active lifestyle are the keys to lifelong health. We’ll meet at San Ramon Valley High School Room S3 in the Administrative Showrooms in Pleasanton, Benicia, and Fairfield. Building (upstairs). Join us on Facebook or www.sustainabledanville. www.SpecialtySales.com | 800.600.2262 com, and share your best natural cleaning tips.
Page 8 - May 2012 ~ Danville Today News
Greenbrook Elementary School By Jenise Falk, Principal Exciting news! Right as we were heading off to enjoy a well-deserved Spring Break, many of us at Greenbrook got some fabulous news. Ten teachers were awarded grants from the San Ramon Valley Education Foundation totaling more than $9,000. Grants awarded will make a tremendous difference in the classroom! Our Speech and language teacher received two iPads that will be used to assist with articulation and language development. We were also granted some electronic notebooks for a second grade class, individual magnetic handwriting screens for our kindergartners and five iPod touches to be used during first and second grade center time. In addition, our Resource Specialist received three licenses of Dragon dictation software (Mac Dictate) to be put on our student laptops as well as three microphones. This software
St. Isidore Catholic School Spring Has Arrived! By Jean Schroeder, Principal I can’t believe it is May! Where did the year go? I feel like we’re finally moving and grooving, and before we know it, summer will be here. May is a ceremonial month for us at St. Isidore because our darling 8th grade students start their countdown to graduation. This is a bittersweet time during our school year because, although we are all so excited to see our leaders of the school graduate, we cherish each day left. The month starts off with a celebration of the Feast Day of St. Joseph the Worker. Our faculty is asked to return their contracts to us for the upcoming school year by May 1st. We find it appropriate to tie in the Feast Day of St. Joseph the Worker with the returned contracts to ensure that our work and service at a Catholic school are in line with the teachings of Christ. On Friday, May 4th we celebrate “May Crowning.” This is an all school liturgy where are 8th grade students are permitted to “dress up,” preferably wearing blue, the traditional color of our Blessed Mother Mary, and we honor her at this Mass. Four students from the 8th grade class are chosen by their peers to crown the statue of Mary with a crown of flowers recognizing her dedication to our Lord. We celebrate and honor our Blessed Mother, as she is the Mother of the Church. We try to model our lives walking in her footsteps by being compassionate, being graceful, and, most importantly, being available and willing to answer God’s call to service without hesitation. The next week, on Thursday, May 10th, we have our Spring Concert. The students, parents, and our faculty look forward to this event. Our students have been practicing diligently with our music director on the songs they will be performing. This year our theme is “BELIEVE,” which is also our school-wide prayer that was written by our 8th grade students. Our spring concert always has a packed house. I cannot wait for the big day. We would love for you to join us at 7PM on May 10th in the Msgr. Cardelli Center. Please come. During the week of May 14th there will be campaigns for our new Student Leadership. We are so blessed to have such a dynamic Student Leadership led by our amazing moderators. Our Student Leadership has truly enhanced the culture of our school this year. We look forward to seeing who will be part of the next leadership team. On Thursday, May 17th our Saint Isidore Bulldog Band is back performing an array of traditional, classic, and jazz music for everyone’s delight. Our band director has a quartette of trombone players that have enriched the already beautiful sound of our fantastic band. The last week of the month will be the most difficult for me. It’s the time we have our 8th grade dinner dance, our 8th grade graduation Mass, and lastly, our 8th grade graduation. This year will be by far the one I will remember the most. Not only am I saying goodbye to my darling 8th grade students whom I love, but it will be the last time I will have the privilege and honor to be part of this unforgettable graduation celebration because this is the last year I will be Principal of St. Isidore School. With a heavy heart, yet much excitement, I am retiring after many years at St. Isidore School. St. Isidore is my home, and it will always have a piece of my heart. My new journey is one filled with awe, wonder, and peace. St. Isidore, pray for us.
www.yourmonthlypaper.com enables voice to text capabilities for students who struggle with writing. In addition to these individual classroom grants, we were awarded funding that will be used to purchase additional PE equipment, multiple copies of Community of Character books for our classrooms, and a scanner that can be used by the entire staff to help with data analysis and interpretation. The Ed Foundation’s commitment to enhancing the education of our learners is truly remarkable. Thank you, SRVEF, for helping us meet all of the needs of our students in fun, creative, and thoughtful ways! May is the month for appreciating our dedicated teaching staff and volunteer parents for all of the work that they have done this year. We are all working together to ensure that our students achieve their highest potential and beyond. PTA will be hosting a Staff Appreciation week, and the staff will be hosting a hot breakfast for our wonderful volunteers. Greenbrook Elementary is a very special community, one that takes pride in raising children that are empathic, global thinkers, creators, question seekers, pioneers, and problem solvers. It is a joy to be a part of this special place. Finally, I am proud to announce that our Greenbrook garden is now a member of the Food bank Farmers, providing organic produce to the Contra Costa Food bank. Thanks to the leadership or parents Dan Parnas and Marilyn Lucey, our teachers and students, we have “flourished” from a simple patch of earth to an area that will truly make a difference in the lives of the needy. Most importantly, our students have learned amazing lessons in civic mindedness, empathy, and appreciation for all that they have.
SRV Christian Academy By Jan Brunkal, Principal Happy Spring! We are off to a busy 4th quarter. It always feels like after Easter break we are on the fast track to summer. Time flies when you’re having fun, so we must really be having fun! I am always so proud of our SRVCA students, but sometimes our students go above and beyond. As part of our student’s junior high experience, we require service hours. Several of our 8th grade students used their Easter vacation this to travel with CPC youth ministries to Mexico. Students helped build homes and spent time with young children in the neighborhood. The stories are amazing, not only how the lives of families in Mexico changed, but how our kids came back changed. So many have commented on how much we have compared to the children in Mexico. One young man mentioned he never really thought his house was that great or that big, but he came back so thankful for all he had, and he realized we take so much for granted. Other observations were about how happy and generous the people in Mexico were when they had so little. What a great lesson for all of us to learn. Sometimes having a lot doesn’t make us satisfied. Thank you to all of those that gave of their time and talents to help others. Another way our students have been giving back is by sending Valentines’ Day packages to Josh Corral’s platoon in Afghanistan. Students sent personalized Valentine’s cards and care packages through our Youth Act Service Club. One soldier wrote a thank you note to Mrs. Pam Winaker, advisor for Youth Act. His note reads in part, “Joshua Corral was a friend of mine, so I thought it was really cool when I got the care package and cards from students of the school where he went to junior high. I think it is really awesome that y’all and the whole community are showing so much support for him and his family and his sacrifice. It was pretty cool to get to open a bunch of Valentine’s cards with my name on them while in Afghanistan. I did not expect that. Thank you again for everything and for taking the time to think about us and send us stuff.” Our students are amazing, and I am so thankful that they are learning that “to whom much is given, much is expected.” The joy of serving is a great life lesson.
Mt. Diablo Branch California Writers Club Lindsey Grant, MFA, will present “The Power of Beginning” at the next luncheon meeting of the Mt. Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) on Saturday, May 19th at Zio Fraedo’s Restaurant, 611 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill. Ms. Grant will encourage both beginning and advanced writers to face the blank page, to believe in one’s creativity, and to see the project through to completion. For more information contact Jean at jeaniegpops@comcast.net, call 925934-5677 or visit cwcmtdiablowriters.wordpress.com.
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Stone Valley Middle School By Shaun K. McElroy, Principal Stone Valley PTA Makes a Grand ($16,000) Impact on Classroom Technology When Pam Absher began her tenure as PTA President, she set several goals for the 2011-12 school year, one of which was to spend down financial reserves in a way that would have significant impact on classroom instruction. An Ad Hoc committee decided to provide Red Cat sound systems to as many classrooms as the money allowed. I am thrilled to report that as of April 16th, 16 classrooms have been equipped with the classroom amplifications systems. The Red Cat brand features a wireless lanyard microphone for teacher use and a small wireless microphone for students. The systems will also articulate to classroom computers. The advantage of this system is a uniform “wave” of sound that provides every learner with identical information. We are thankful for this generous gift from our PTA.
Parent Education Speaker Mark Wollan Makes Double Appearance Stone Valley PTA Parent Education spring series featured Mark Wollan, Associate Pastor of Community Presbyterian Church in Danville. Marks’s topic was “The Intentional Family.” Mark used Patrick Lencioni’s* book The Three Big Questions for a Frantic Family as the background for his interactive talk. Mark appeared at the general PTA meeting in February, and I was so impressed by his presentations, the topic, and the book that I invited Mark back to present for our 8th Annual Dad’s Night Out on March 29th. The crux of Mark’s topic was how we as parents can make our families a priority. If families are the most important organizations in our lives, what can parents do to intentionally honor
New Tutoring Program Opens in Danville. In-Home Tutoring Services By Club Z! Welcome To The Club! Students and parents of the San Ramon Valley school district now have a new option when seeking quality tutoring. Club Z! In-Home Tutoring Services, the nation’s fastest growing in-home tutoring program, has opened a branch in Danville, offering services to all public, private, and home schooled students in the Danville/San Ramon area. Club Z! In-Home Tutoring Services’ educational strategy is unique among tutoring programs. It offers one-on-one tutoring by highly qualified teachers at affordable prices right in the student’s home. A variety of academic experts have researched and concluded that students excel when they receive individualized instruction on a oneto-one basis with the instructor -- the Club Z! model of tutoring. Susan Sokat, Area Director of the Club Z! Danville location, explains, “The added component of in-home tutoring affords students as comfortable and non-competitive of a setting as possible in which to learn.” Susan adds, “Club Z! utilizes the student’s and school’s curriculum and texts so the student will excel in their classroom, rather than learning from a third party curriculum.” Susan, who has over 20 years experience in curriculum and education, is excited to be working with the community of such talented youth. “Tutoring used to be for the struggling student, but now it is also for the student who wants to earn that extra edge,” she adds. Club Z! is offering all subjects, grades K-12, as well as SAT/ACT Test Preparation programs. After years of selling educational curriculum, Susan looks forward to working with schools to reach the same educational goals. Club Z! tutors are locally recruited, the vast majority of whom hold state teaching certificates and currently teach or have taught in public or private schools. Each tutor has at least a Bachelors degree. Many have specialized skills including expertise in teaching students with learning disabilities. Parents who have students who could benefit from the Club Z! tutoring program can find out more information by calling 925-786-7149, or by visiting the Club Z! web site at: www.clubztutoring.com Educators who are interested in tutoring opportunities are also welcome. Welcome Advertorial to the Club!
Danville Today News ~ May 2012 - Page 9 that commitment? During the evenings we talked about competitive parenting and the activities that take away from our family time and activities that support the family. Parents volunteered personal stories of how their households worked and struggles they had as parents. Mark’s presentation ranks as one of the top parent education events I have had the opportunity to participate in over the past ten years. Here are the highlights of the evening: The Three Big Questions 1. What’s unique about your family? What makes your family different than other families you know? 2. How can you create short term priorities? Set two to six month goals that meet a family goals 3. How can you check in weekly to ensure progress is being made toward those goals? Mark’s Recommendations • Regular family dinners - Research on the importance of family dinners indicates that regular family dinners are a preventative measure against drug abuse, dropping out of school, early sex, academic failure, and other risk taking behavior. Maintaining family connections increases the health of the family. • Limit electronic distractions - Digital devices do not have to dominate the space where human interaction should be the norm. • Be selective and don’t over-prescribe extracurricular activities - Choose extracurricular activities carefully so that they don’t overwhelm the family goals. I have read the book, and I highly recommend this resource to parents. The book offers a targeted approach to issues that are common to our community. *Patrick Lencioni’s company ,The Table Group, generously donated several signed copies of the book and audio tapes that were given away as door prizes. The Three Big Questions for a Frantic Family book can be found at www.thetablegroup.com.
SRV Kiwanis Foundation Awards $41,000 in Grants The San Ramon Valley (SRV) Kiwanis Foundation has awarded over $41,000 in grants to 40 area non-profit agencies. The grants will be presented at the club’s annual grants breakfast ceremony, to be held May 24th. Grant amounts ranged from $300 to $1,950, and additionally, the SRV Educational Foundation will receive $2,500 for distribution to worthy school projects that the Foundation identifies. Top grants will be awarded to Bay Area Crisis Nursery, Cancer Support Community, CASA, Down Syndrome Connection, Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano, Loaves & Fishes, Monument Crisis Center, Senior Helpline Services, Shelter Inc of CCC, STAND! For Families Free of Violence, and The Taylor Family Foundation. Other recipients include AAUW–San Ramon Chapter, Agape Villages Foster Family Agency, Assistance League of Amador Valley, Assistance League of Diablo Valley, Blue Star Moms Chapter 101, Camp Camelot, Child Abuse Prevention Council of Contra Costa, Children’s Skin Disease Foundation, Contra Costa Interfaith Housing, Danville Community Band, Discovery Counseling Center of SRV, Families Helping Families, Friends of the Danville Library, Gardens at Heather Farms, Hope Hospice, Inc., Hospice of the East Bay, Moment by Moment, Museum of the SRV, Nayeli Faith Foundation, Ombudsman Services of Contra Costa, San Ramon Historic Foundation, San Ramon Library Foundation, SonRise Equestrian Foundation, St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church-AAF Bike Program, The Lucille Glass Mauzy Foundation, Vestia, Inc., We Care Services for Children, and Youth Homes, Inc. Funds for the annual grants program are raised by the SRV Kiwanis Foundation through fundraising projects, including organizing and conducting the annual Kiwanis 4th of July Parade in Danville. For more information about the Kiwanis Club of the SRV, 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.
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Page 10 - May 2012 ~ Danville Today News
Charlotte Wood Middle School By Christopher George, Principal We are ready to finish our 2011- 2012 school year. STAR testing is coming in a few short weeks and we have begun preparing at school. Students are reviewing both content and testing strategies within their classes, while they continue to work on their grade level standards. Last year, we proudly saw significant and well rounded gains in our STAR test scores, and we are prepared and optimistic that we will see gains again. We recently had a minimum day and we were able to use this day to run an all-school, comprehensive safety drill. This drill helps us maintain the high level of safety and security that we know is foremost on the minds of parents as they drop their students off each day. This drill is an amazing exercise done with the help of our PTA, our staff, and the fire department. We were able to simulate an earthquake and run through some of the many possibilities that exist with a catastrophic event at school. By doing this, we are able to make sure that every staff member knows their role in an emergency, knows how to use the equipment necessary, and is ready to care for students for up to 72 hours.
Monte Vista High School By Janet Terranova, Principal Spring has finally arrived and with it the gorgeous weather we are so accustomed to in our valley. Warm weather and the end of the school year are not always the ideal mix. Third quarter at Monte Vista has ended, and 4th quarter progress reports are due May 11th. Please continue to talk with your students about the need to stay focused on academics during these last few weeks of school. Warm weather also brings up dress code policy. Please work with your student to choose appropriate clothes for school. Monte Vista is fortunate to have such a supportive community. Thanks to the generous support of parents and community members we are able to provide support and resources to our students that current California funding does not allow. Along with donations, we are always in need of parent support by your active participation
During the last few NEED A TUTOR? months we have also • All Subjects • Pre K - Adult had many discussions • One-on-One In-Home Sessions on the role of educa• LD/ADD • SAT/ACT Prep tion and technology. • Affordable Rates Sixth grade students • Qualified Teachers may have noticed that the entire sixth grade staff took a day to visit 925-786-7149 our feeder elementary www.clubztutoring.com schools with an eye on ssokat@clubztutoring.com technology. We recognized that students coming to us next year and beyond are a great deal more proficient in technological tools (like Google Docs and iMovie) than students coming in even this year. It is our hope and expectation that we are building on that level of excitement and engagement in future years. To that end, we have developed a three year technology plan for Charlotte Wood and hope to make that available and public as it is finalized. Again, with our technology, the help we receive from our parent community in the form of the Charger Fund is invaluable. As always, please let me know if you have questions or concerns at cgeorge@ srvusd.net. We have also restarted our Twitter feed @cwmsinfo. in one of our many parent groups. Parent participation in high school looks very different than in our elementary and middle schools, but we do need your help. PTSA, Academic Boosters, Friends of Choir, Athletic Boosters, and Keynoters are parent groups that spend many hours supporting students on our campus. If you have an hour or several hours to volunteer your time, these parent groups have a job for you. To find more information about these organizations, visit www.mvhigh.org and click on parent groups, and this will take you directly to each group’s web page. Incoming 9th grade parents; please join any of the booster meeting groups for their May meeting. As usual, Monte Vista is a busy campus with sports, student programs, and meetings. Below are just a few of the activities for the month of May: • AP Testing: May 7 – May 18 • Athletic Boosters: May 7 at 7pm in Career Center • Senior Ball: May 5 • Academic Booster Meeting: May 8 at 10am in the Career Center • Incoming Freshman Sports Night: May 21 at 7pm in the large gym • PTSA: May 29 at 9:30am in the Career Center For more information about Monte Vista High, please visit www.mvhigh.org.
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Danville Today News ~ May 2012 - Page 11
By Joseph A. Ianora, Principal
It is hard to believe that there are only four more weeks left in the school year. Where did the time go? As I look back over the year, I realize just how quickly time has come and gone. At this point at SRVHS we are beginning to focus on endings. Before the summer vacation is upon us…there are a few things to remember: • Fourth quarter progress reports are due. It is never too late to work to improve your grade. • Continue to dialogue with your student about the importance of academic success, social involvement, hard work, and dedication to the educational process. • Check the website for the many upcoming events– this site is our primary source of communication and is updated regularly (www.srvhs.net ). • Construction on the pool is still a work in progress. We hope for its completion over the next six months. • STAR testing is complete and was highly successful. Of the over 1,600 students who tested, very few were absent! This is a tribute to our entire community, your effort, and emphasis on this testing which has been remarkable. Most importantly, we have had a wonderful year filled with challenges and celebrations that will continue to keep us engaged for the next four weeks. Your support of San Ramon Valley High School is what helps keep students and staff engaged in this phenomenal institution.
Change I have other news to share. It is hard to do because it signals change. While I firmly believe change is positive and a necessary experience to moving forward, it is also difficult to make. It is with trepidation but excitement that I inform you that I have accepted the opportunity to become principal of Del Amigo High School beginning in the fall of 2012. This is a wonderful opportunity for me - one that will enable me to use my counseling and administrative background to its fullest. The past eight years have been an incredible journey; the memories and professional experiences I carry with me would not possible without all of you. The challenge of putting eight years of memories into one letter is daunting…what I can do is share some of the highlights that I am professionally and personally grateful to have been a part of: • Our journey to become a Professional Learning Community • Extended lunches when we had It’s – It’s as a special treat • Completing eight years of school wide construction and now starting a new phase – a new pool! • Our 100 Year Celebrations and the Gala • Being in the Coliseum, poolside, courtside, or on the field when we have been crowned NCS Champion and even when we haven’t. • Sitting in the audience at our drama productions, vocal music concerts, dance shows, and instrumental concerts • Hiring staff who truly care about student learning • Having flushable toilets and a permanent snack shack on our Stadium Field • Dialogues – private and public that I have had with staff, students, and parents regarding the direction of SRVHS and our educational objectives • Discussions about a new bell schedule • Participating in two successful WASC accreditations • Creating the SRVHS Wolf Foundation and watching it grow • Dad’s Nights’ gatherings with SRVHS fathers • Celebrating the lives of students, parents, and staff who have passed on • Off-campus lunch • Dress code changes • Parent Education Nights • Helping those students find their way who may have fallen off track • Being a part of the future as daily I watch our young people develop and mature • Watching amazing classroom teachers educate and be open to change Hilary Rodham Clinton once said that it takes a “village” to raise a child; I don’t disagree. I believe family is at the core of any village. San Ramon Valley High School is not a village to me; we are a family. Families spend time together, share hopes and dreams with each other, comfort each other in times of loss, celebrate in times of joy, argue, make up, and rely on each other. When I come to campus each morning, I know I will be with family, and there is comfort in knowing that whatever the challenge or celebration, we accomplished it together. I could not have asked for a more supportive community as I have traveled through my first principalship. SRVHS students, staff, and parents are incredibly fortunate to have each other. A big thank you from the bottom of my heart goes out to all of you for what you have given to me and SRVHS over the past eight years; it has been a very special time. While I will truly miss this home, it is time for a new journey. Please stay in touch- call, drop me an email, or stop by Del Amigo.
Class of 1967 San Ramon Valley High School Reunion Save the date for the San Ramon Valley High School class of 1967’s 45th reunion during Homecoming Weekend, October 5-7, 2012. For information, contact Carol Stewart Pierovich at (925) 820-4628 or sweetcarolann@aol.com.
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Page 12 - May 2012 ~ Danville Today News
San Ramon Valley Pioneers - and Gold! Part 1 By Beverly Lane The California Gold Rush is always capitalized because the discovery of gold at Coloma transformed California forever. In 1848 the malady called “gold fever” gripped California’s small population. Others caught the fever, came from all over the globe, and swept into the Sierras. In the span of a year, the pastoral days of Hispanic culture were Minerva and Joel Harlan, who married in 1849. ended as the energetic, chauvinistic Americans came to mine and stayed to settle. An estimated 15,000 non-Indian population swelled to over 200,000 in no time. San Ramon Valley’sAmerican pioneers were part of it all. Some, like Mary and John Jones, Joel and Minerva Harlan, and Leo and Mary Norris, were already in California when gold was found. Others, including Andrew and Dan Inman, Albert Stone and his parents Silas and Susanna Stone, Robert Baldwin, William Meese, E. H. and Livia Cox, Charles Wood and Wilson and Felix Coats, came because of the Gold Rush. Our best San Ramon Valley stories about 1848 involve Joel and Minerva Harlan because of their links to Peter and Jennie (Jane) Wimmer who were in Coloma that cold January day when one diarist wrote, “This day some kind of metal was found in the tail race that looks like gold.” The Wimmers and their family came to California because Joel’s father George talked them into it. Joel called them Aunt Jane and Uncle Peter. Once in California, the Wimmers stayed at New Helvetia (later called Sacramento) while the Harlans moved to the Bay Area. Captain John Sutter had been looking for a better saw mill location and signed a contract with James Marshall to erect and operate one at Coloma, about 45 miles from the South Fork of the American River. Marshall and young John Wimmer left the Fort on August 28, 1847 to select the specific site for the mill. Peter, Jennie, and the younger children joined them. Other workers on site included five Mormons and seven Indians. Jennie Wimmer cooked for the crew. Historians tell us that Marshall discovered some pieces of gold in the river as he inspected the progress of the mill work. Since Jennie had grown up in Georgia’s mining country, she knew one gold test she could make. So she boiled the stone in her soap pot and verified that it was gold. An April letter from Peter Wimmer to Joel and his cousin Jacob told about the
saw mill location and the gold discovery. He urged them to come as soon as possible. At that point Sutter was trying to keep it quiet. According to the letter, Sutter, Marshall, and Wimmer had taken the precaution of calling the local Indians together and leasing 12 square miles of land around the mill from them. News of easy riches on the American River was spreading fast. Jennie Wimmer evidently helped carry the word. One story goes that her son had told some men about the ample gold on the surface of the river, and, when the men accused him of lying, she defended him with vigor and showed them samples of the gold. The two Harlan cousins left their San Francisco livery business, got staked by the entrepreneur William Leidesdorff, and set up a store at Coloma. They brought the things miners would need: groceries, flour, beans, liquors, dry-goods, shoes, tools, shovels, picks, tin pans, kettles, and ammunition. And of course they prospected themselves.
Don't Miss the Gold Rush On May 5th the Museum of the San Ramon Valley will open its newest exhibit, Gold Rush. Visitors will learn new facts about the historic California Gold Rush and see what its impact was on the San Ramon Valley (SRV). This exhibit tells that story from the first electric moment until it played out in our own SRV with the arrival of miners searching for attractive home sites. The Museum will support the formal exhibit with tools used in placer mining: gold pans, a sluice box, gold molds, a miner’s poke, sizing forks, etc. When the easy placer gold was gone, hard rock mine tunnels were dug, and actual hand drills, miner’s candles, mercury to pull the gold from the ore, and many other artifacts will be displayed. Finally, the devastating hydraulic mining practice that radically transformed the Sierra landscape relied on hydraulic hoses and nozzles to blast out the gold. Actual documents will tell many stories in print. Special events will be held in conjunction with this exhibit include re-enactors such as Sourdough Steve, who will regale guests at the combined Museum and SRV Historical Society dinner on May 17th with tales from the mines. On Sunday, June 3rd, Dr. Bill Harlan will tell about his aunt who verified the Marshal gold find. His family barely made it to California ahead of the ill-fated Donner Party. On July 8th, herbal doctor, Dr. Yee, will visit the Museum to describe his healing arts. The Museum is located at 205 Railroad Avenue, Danville. Exhibit hours are Tuesday through Friday, 1pm-4pm. Saturdays the Museum is open 10am-1pm. For more information, call 925-837-3750 or go to www.museumsrv.org. Why pay more to print?
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Danville Today News ~ May 2012 - Page 13
Truisms By Evan Corstorphine, Portable CIO After you’ve been doing something long enough, there are some things that you just know, on which you don’t tolerate even a modicum of dissent or argument. They become truisms that aren’t frequently questioned, because with people, as well as products, (to quote my very wise father-in-law), “Past performance is the best indicator of future performance.” I’m sure you’re wondering where I’m going with this! I have to write this article carefully, paying special attention to not exaggerate anything, so that if some large corporation with a bored legal department decides to come after me, I know I have the truth on my side. As such, here I gently go: Some products really stink. The naked truth is that some corporations put the bare minimum on the line, the minimum that allows them to say they are providing what they advertised but not enough to really take care of the customer. There are a lot of products that don’t deliver what they promise, and we do our best to help you steer around them, avoiding the pitfalls and bad choices that can cost you time and money. That’s what we do, and if you listen to our truisms, you’re going to be leveraging several decades of experience spent helping thousands of customers. First, let’s talk about internet access. One very large telephone company regularly sells people internet services that don’t fall anywhere near where their advertising implies. The magical words they use in their advertising are “up to,” when describing the speeds a customer may enjoy. So, if I’m hoping my new internet circuit is going to provide me 3mb internet speed, I may be fooled by advertising and sales reps telling me I will enjoy speeds “up to 3mb’s.” The truth is, I may get only one half or less of that, but they’ve allowed themselves all that wiggle room with the insertion of those two magical words. Truism? As far as broadband for home or business, Cable knocks the socks off of DSL. Yes, you may be one of the folks who live so close to the phone company that you get magnificent service. That’s fantastic, but you’re in the overwhelming minority of customers we’ve run into. Email providers are another example, and this affects everyone. I’ve gone over this before, but it bears repeating because we continue to see friends, family, and business associates suffer from bad service. Disclaimer: if your email works perfectly, don’t mess with it. You shouldn’t change things for change’s sake, and I certainly don’t want you to “fix” something that isn’t broken. I’m going to over-simplify email into three categories: POP, IMAP, and Exchange / Hosted Exchange. At a high level, anyone can put up a simple POP email server. They’re not difficult to set up, and when installed on a UNIX server, they basically run unattended forever with very little effort. Unix-based POP email is what the majority of people use these days. Your ISP (Comcast, AT&T, Earthlink, Covad, etc.) offers free email accounts with your service, and it costs them virtually nothing to offer you that service. And, you’re getting what you pay for. Their spam/ virus control is not very good, they’re heavily hacked, and in one ISP’s case, they have back-end issues all the time but never admit it, causing their users a lot of unnecessary grief and troubleshooting. For home users, I only recommend the email services of one free provider. I believe Gmail (www.gmail.com) has the best free service around, and none of the ISP or other free services can match it. In my opinion, Yahoo, Hotmail, ATT, Comcast, MSN, AOL, and <you name the free provider> can’t compare. Gmail’s front-end web interface is very easy to use. Their control panel is helpful and full-featured. It integrates with Microsoft Outlook extremely well. And, most importantly, Google uses Postini email filtering which sets them apart from the rest. Google purchased Postini a few years ago and integrated it into their Gmail platform. Since then, whether people realized it or not, they’ve been enjoying the fruits of an email system that generally doesn’t contain viruses and is largely SPAM free because of this service. Another nice feature of Gmail is that if you switch to their service, you won’t have to worry about changing the next time you flip between Comcast and AT&T or any other ISP at your home. Truism? Like them or hate them, Google has an undeniably better email product, and if you’re having problems with your personal account, you would be well advised to bite the bullet and make the switch. Next month I’ll talk about the email services we recommend for businesses and how to get it all started. For help migrating your email or addressing computer infrastructure issues in general, give the friendly staff at Portable CIO a call at 925-552-7953, or email helpdesk@theportablecio.com. Advertorial
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www.yourmonthlypaper.com Alamo Municipal Advisory Council presents the
2012 Summer Concert Series Fridays 6:30 6:30-- 8:30p.m. at Livorna Park (At the corner of Livorna Road and Miranda Avenue in Alamo.)
Admission is Free
June 22: Moonalice Inspiring audiences with an original blend of Rock, Country and Blues music.
July 6: The Sun Kings Delivering driving energy that recalls the earliest Beatle shows with lively arrangements and harmonies.
July 20: Petty Theft Loving the classic and contemporary American Rock and Roll of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers? If so, then you will love PETTY THEFT!
August 3: The Fabulous CruiseTones Enjoy a wide variety of songs of the 1930s to the hits of today.
Bring blankets, chairs, snacks, family, friends and dancing shoes. For information call Recreation Staff at (925) 313-2272.
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Page 14 - May 2012 ~ Danville Today News
Red, White, and Green Wine?
ADAS Blackhawk Gallery Presents Spring Palette
By Monica Chappell
Alamo Danville Artist’s Society (ADAS) is hosting Spring Palette featuring 50 gallery member artists exhibiting oil, acrylic, watercolor, pastel, photography, sculpture, ceramic, wearable art, jewelry, and note cards. The exhibit runs through June 10th seven days a week, Monday - Thursday 10AM - 7PM, Friday and Saturday 10AM - 8PM, and Sunday 11AM - 6PM. The exhibit is free of charge to the public. Among the artists are oil painter Juan Cantavella, specializing in photo realism who will display a variety of subjects, photographer Ojars Kratins, who’s work will depict foreign lands, and Victor Habib, who will present several of his fine wood working pieces. James Aarons, ceramicist, will exhibit exciting brightly colored dramatic work “Geode Bowls” to Spring Palette. James’ minimalist work incorporates non-representational and linear designs. Caryne Mount will display wearable art inspired by nature and textiles including her Vintage Kimono Series using obi and textiles from Japan. The Blackhawk Gallery is located at 3416 Blackhawk Plaza Circle in Blackhawk Plaza. at the corner of Camino Tassajara and Crow Canyon Road in Danville.
Can there be Green wine? The Green wine category showcases the wines and wineries that use sustainable, organic, and/or biodynamic practices - both in the vineyard and/or winemaking process. As we look back on Earth Day 2012, I hope you’ll be interested in discovering a few eco-friendly wine styles to toast the planet! Biodynamic This particularly intense school of agriculture has both organic and spiritual aspects. Biodynamic agriculture views the farm as a single organism, with the plants, animals, crops, soil, air, and celestial influences, such as the moon and stars, all interconnected. By balancing these elements, the farmer, in theory, makes his property self-sustaining, thus eliminating the need for artificial nutrients or pesticides. Natural A small, strict, mostly French movement, “natural” winemaking uses organic grapes that are farmed and picked by hand and are fermented with native (not manufactured) yeasts. No sulfites or other additives go into natural wine. Organic The use of the term organic is defined by the USDA: For a wine to be labeled organic, the vineyards from which the grapes are picked must be farmed without synthetic fertilizers, conventional pesticides, or genetically engineered plant material. In addition, sulfites cannot be added to the wine as a preservative. Unfortunately, wines made without sulfites can re-ferment or oxidize in the bottle. That’s why many winemakers who use organic grapes also add sulfites. If their wines contain less than 100 parts per million of sulfites, they are still permitted to label their wines “made with organic grapes.” Sustainable Although there are no government standards for sustainable agriculture, practitioners generally promote both ecological and social responsibility by avoiding pesticides and synthetic fertilizers, and by enriching soil with cover crops and composts. What does it all mean? Wine drinkers who really care about how a wine is made need to get to know its producer. After all, it’s the integrity of the winemaker that matters more than any certification process. And when you find a winemaker with both talent and integrity, you’ll probably find the best wines, natural or otherwise. Monica Chappell, wine writer and educator, teaches wine appreciation classes in the Bay Area. To sign up for a free newsletter, visit www.wineappreciation101.blogspot.com.
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Danville Today News ~ May 2012 - Page 15
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Page 16 - May 2012 ~ Danville Today News
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America CAN Compete By Mark Becker, GoSimpleSolar
Alamo Municipal Advisory Council presents
2012 Movie Under the Stars Friday, July 27th Movie starts at 8:45 p.m. at Livorna Park in Alamo (Located at the corner of Livorna Road and Miranda Avenue)
My personal experiences in the First Gulf War forged my belief that America needed an alternative energy strategy. It became evident to me that neither the environment or US military could, or should, sustain the status quo. Carl Von Clausewitz said, “War is the continuation of politics by other means.” The reality is “War is oftentimes a continuation of energy policy by other means.” As designed by our Constitution, the military follows the orders of our elected civilian government without question. Policy begins at home. I have yet to hear a valid argument that refutes the benefits of a mature domestic alternative energy policy. Both political parties believe that reduced reliance on foreign oil is good for our national security environment and economy. A 25% reduction in domestic oil consumption will eradicate our reliance on oil from the Middle East. Imagine the resulting political and economic benefits. Energy Tip: You’ll save 3-5% on air conditioning electricity costs if you raise your thermostat just one degree higher. A great percentage of the readership of the Danville Today newspaper recognize the sacrifices of our veterans. What sacrifice can citizens make to contribute to our national security and to improve our economy? It’s a simple question but a question that every citizen needs to answer with integrity. Adopting an alternative energy policy at your own home or business will provide financial reward whilst reducing American reliance on foreign sources of energy. “Making a difference” and achieving an 11 to 13% return on your solar investment makes solar rewarding in more ways than one. Energy Fact: The highest proportion of new electricity being supplied to the US utility grid is from solar energy projects. Currently, over 113,000 Californian residents and businesses are reaping the rewards of solar. 63,000+ solar arrays were installed in the USA last year. Solyndra: To associate the events surrounding Solyndra to the solar industry as a whole is inappropriate. The Department of Energy supports new American technologies. Unfortunately, the new technology Solyndra product was destined to fail in the marketplace due to lower silicon prices which advantaged traditional solar technologies. The jury is still out as to whether Solyndra’s failure was accelerated by poor management and the misuse of government funds. Had the auto industry failed after the government bailouts, there would have been the same political fallout. The auto industry is thriving. Solyndra didn’t represent the greater solar industry in technology or business practices. It did represent American ingenuity in design and workforce dedication. China Trade Case: It’s official, China does not participate in fair trade or currency practices. The International Trade Commission and the Department of Commerce have imposed tariffs on Chinese manufacturers for the illegal dumping of Chinese solar panels on the US market. The determination has been made that American panels are manufactured at the same cost as Chinese panels. Through government subsidies, the Chinese have been selling their panels at a loss to undercut and flood our market, destroying American jobs in the process. Chinese exports are also advantaged by the People’s Republic currency policies. The findings of this trade case are monumental. AMERICA CAN COMPETE if everyone plays by the same set of rules. Americans are helping fuel the Chinese economy by purchasing Chinese products. I believe that this newfound Chinese economic power will come back to haunt us militarily. Fact: North Korea and Iran are very closely allied with The People’s Republic of China. Solar Tip: If you’ve been provided a $0 down “solar lease option,” then subsequently talked into “prepaying the lease,” don’t do it. There are better options to consider than a “pre-paid solar lease.” There will be a Grand Opening celebration of GoSimpleSolar’s store-front location in downtown Danville on May 22ndat 5:30pm. Please come see our American products at 114 West Prospect Avenue, at the corner of Railroad Ave. Mark Becker is the President of GoSimpleSolar, by Semper Fidelis Construction, a Danville based Solar Installation Firm based in Danville. He can be reached at 925.915.9252. For more details, see www.GoSimpleSolar.com or email Mark@GoSimpleSolar.com. Advertorial
San Ramon Valley Genealogical Society
Bring blankets, chairs, snacks, family and friends. For information call Recreation Staff at (925) 313-2272.
The San Ramon Valley Genealogical Society meets at 10AM the third Tuesday of every month, except August and December, at the Danville Family History Center, 2949 Stone Valley Road, Alamo. There will be a speaker at every meeting. Everyone is welcome. For information, call Ed at (925) 299-0881, visit www.srvgensoc.org, or email SRVGS@SRVGenSoc.org.
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Danville Today News ~ May 2012 - Page 17
Life in the Danville Garden Timeless and Transitional By John Montgomery, ASLA, Landscape Architect I like to follow-up with my clients after a period of time to see how they are enjoying their beautiful yards. After thirty-five years of creating gardens, I discovered a new distinction for how a landscape matures and why some of my clients were disappointed even though they absolutely loved their gardens... Timeless and Transitional! That’s it! At first glance “Timeless and Transitional” seems a little dramatic. Well, it isn’t really, and I will tell you why in a moment. It all begins with expectations. We all know a garden can be beautiful, relaxing, stunning, delightful, therapeutic, and all those great things I usually write about. On the other hand, gardens can be ugly, annoying, agitating, and sometimes just don’t meet your expectations, and that is disappointing! Most likely you have felt the way I feel about my own garden sometimes; you too, at one time or another, have been disappointed and down right upset about your garden. Don’t get me wrong -- I love my garden and my clients love the ones I design for them, but sometimes it just seems like nature (and untrained gardeners) get the best of our expectations. Case in point: I went to visit one of my client’s gardens only to find plants that I had designed in the plans were either missing, woody and misshaped, or turned into little balls and squares. Plants were missing because nature over the last two years had taken its toll. Perennials were missing, lavender was just woody stalks, plants were half broken, and lovely arching shrubs had turned into balls and squares in their prime bloom time! This is not what I expect, and my clients didn’t either. I have written about the importance of the Hardscape (built elements) as being Timeless. It is one aspect of creating an outdoor environment. The other is the Softscape (living elements) or Transitional. What I discovered in this distinction of Timeless and Transitional is that while the backbone of the design of the garden was still there, beautiful and functioning just as I had designed it to be, the Softscape was displaying the transitions of the years. If it wasn’t the harsh cold winter, the ultra-wet spring, and the long hot Indian summer, it was the untrained gardeners, the varmints, the pets, fungus, and you-name-it that thrashed our expectations for a beautiful and everlasting show-piece. Here is the good news and the bad news. The good news is, there is hope! The bad news is you need to rearrange your expectations. Good design will always be timeless and will last over the years. The timeless aspects of a good landscape design are the beautiful and elegant elements of the hardscape such as well-crafted stone work on your patio, seat wall, and pool, or a detailed trellis, pergola, arbor, fence or garden gate. Well-placed timeless trees include oaks, redwoods, maples, olives, crape myrtles, and long-lasting plantings like laurel, boxwood, mock orange, wisteria, camellias, and more than I can name in one article. While “Timeless” is a little easier to swallow, “Transitional” is the one that forces us to rearrange our expectations. We need to learn to understand that the living aspect of your design is a moving target and more unpredictable. It has taken me almost thirty years to get it! Snails eat your plants, fungus curls your peach leaves (unless you remember to spray at the precise time), aphids arrive every year to devour your roses, and plants need replacing every so often just like your home needs fresh paint and new carpet. Now you can relax in your garden. Watch the transitions happen, replace and update as necessary, appreciate the majesty of your timeless elements, and rearrange your expectations to accept the transitional! I have a new-found appreciation and patience for the transitional after all these years in the garden. A hot tip from your local Landscape Architect: As one of my services I do consulting for clients who don’t need a full Master Landscape Plan. This service
offers on-site practical advice addressing your “transitional” concerns. Check out my newly updated website! Gardening Quote of the Month: My green thumb came only as a result of the mistakes I made while learning to see things from the plant’s point of view. - H. Fred Ale 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
Page 18 - May 2012 ~ Danville Today News
Pruning for Fire Safety By Blaine Brende & Joe Lamb In the spring and early summer, the landscape grows lush, beautiful. Our Mediterranean climate is blessed by sufficient winter rains to make plants grow, but our dry summers, and our even drier autumns, can make that new growth a fire hazard. In the greater Bay Area, we live surrounded by an ecosystem that has been shaped, over the last 10,000 years, by frequent wildfires. Because these woodland fires are inevitable, landscape trees, even healthy ones, require occasional pruning to prevent them from becoming fire ladders––bridges of flammable material that could carry flames from a woodland fire to your home. The threat posed by fires in the greater Bay Area is real and significant. The Oakland/Berkeley Hills fire of 1991 caused $1.7 billion in property damage, and it was the nation’s worst urban fire since the San Francisco fire of 1906. Failure to properly maintain landscape trees and shrubs played a significant role in allowing that fire to grow, intensify, and move. The Comprehensive Overview of the Berkeley/Oakland Hills Fire recommends that the risk of wildfire can be reduced by proper care of landscape plants: • Break up fire ladders. • Limb trees back from structures. • Reduce flammable biomass by thinning crowns. • Remove dead trees and shrubs from the landscape.
925.934.3743 • 925.934.1515 www.dumploadsonus.com • www.erecycleonus.com 1271 Boulevard Way, Walnut Creek Monday-Friday, 8-5 • Saturday 9-1, Sunday, closed
Clip Notes By Jody Morgan Nurturing additions to my native plant collection is part of my May mothering mission. Although they despise coddling, natives need patient parenting to get them settled in their new digs. Drought tolerant coastal denizens are used to a natural misting in the morning. Rocky slope dwellers require superb drainage, but want a bit of extra water to tickle their roots into feeling at home. White Sage (Salvia apiana) typically takes three years to establish itself as a mature plant. The silver foliage, more sweetly scented than culinary sage, glows in low light. Knowing it would be about three feet tall with flower stalks doubling or tripling that height, I placed my first specimen at the back of a border. Alas, faster growing neighbors stole its air supply. My second attempt has proved extremely successful. The white blooms tinged with lavender are not aesthetically appealing to many humans, but bees find them irresistible. Indeed, the species name comes from the Latin for bee (apios) and another common name is Bee Sage. Indigenous people used every part of this California native, known to them as Sacred Sage, for different culinary or medicinal purposes. The seeds were ground into flour and also placed under the eyelid and rolled around to cleanse the eyes. A single leaf was put into cold water to drink daily. Of this application, Chumash healer Cecilia Garcia writes in Healing with Western Plants, “You are going to be calm enough to be rational. It will enhance any medicine you take and protect you from the toxicity of medicines. It tickles your spirit, your conscience, and helps you keep your integrity.” Her co-author, James Adams, an Associate Professor of Pharmacology at USC, suggests that the calming effect of this sage is generated by miltirone, a compound some studies indicate reduces anxiety. Several tribes burned the leaves in purification ceremonies. I prefer invoking the visual powers of the vegetation as a dramatic backdrop for sapphire-flowering or ruby-leaved companions. White Sage is pest free, drought tolerant, and disliked by deer. One blue-blossoming native that sparkles in front of White Sage is Foothill
www.yourmonthlypaper.com • Remove deadFur & Feathers Pet Sitting wood from live trees Exceptional care for your pet and shrubs. Daily visits plus dog walks Breaking up fire Lock and leave, no worries ladders helps prevent Overnights a fire from moving easily from the woods, Barbara Monroe Owner or from your neigh925-998-9317 bor’s property, to your Bonded, Insured & References house. To break up Furfeatherpet@aol.com fire ladders, increase the space between plants, both vertically and horizontally. In the 1991 fire, blowing brands of flammable material landed on ground plants and, if there was sufficient dry matter, caught the ground cover on fire. The fire burned along the ground plants horizontally for as long as it found material to burn. If it encountered trees with low branches, the fire would move vertically from the ground up into the crown of the tree. If those burning trees were close to a house, they would set the house on fire. If their crowns touched the crowns of other trees, the fire spread from crown to crown. Landscape plants pose little fire hazard when they are properly maintained, and proper maintenance does not mean sacrificing a natural, woodland aesthetic. If the limbing up, dead-wooding, and crown thinning are done by a craftsman with a sensitivity to plant aesthetics, then the trees will look natural, even though they may have had 30% of their biomass removed. Knowing how to identify potential hazards is important, but it is also important to know how to reduce those hazards in a manner that keeps your property looking natural and which doesn’t sacrifice important screening plants. Brende & Lamb specializes in balancing the conflicting needs for privacy, fire safety, tree health, and landscape aesthetics. It is possible to improve the fire safety of your property while promoting the health and beauty of your plants. Tree care is a craft requiring study and experience. Our trimmers are master craftsmen who understand that a well-pruned tree should not only be safer and healthier, it should look beautiful as well. At Brende and Lamb we take great pride in both the science and the art of pruning. 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 Advertorial work in your neighborhood. Penstemon (Penstemon heterophyllus). The snapdragon-like blooms of Penstemons have hairy filaments that look like a fuzzy tongue protruding from the mouth of the flower, hence the common name Beard-tongue. Foothill Penstemon is suitable for both borders and containers. The opalescent cerulean flower spikes shade into pinks and purples above evergreen foliage from early summer into fall. Deadheading and occasional watering extend bloom time. A particularly floriferous selection of Foothill Penstemon is named ‘Catherine de la Mare’ for British author William de la Mare’s daughter-in-law. Although native to North America, Penstemons have been more widely appreciated in Europe where the first seeds were marketed in 1813. One English hybridizer, Edward Wilson, is credited with introducing over 50 varieties. There is even an international society of enthusiasts whose members are known as “Penstemaniacs.” The silver shimmer of Sacred Sage foliage is also a superb foil for lavender flowers. A lovely native to set before it, Verbena lilacina features fragrant lilac blossoms dancing above lacey leaves. Last year I purchased the deeper purple selection ‘De La Mina’ during the Bringing Back the Natives tour. Carol Bornstein discovered this variety on Cedros Island off the coast of Baja California on an expedition as Director of Horticulture at Santa Barbara Botanic Garden. Dainty as this delightful Verbena is, it is hardy in our area. Better still, it’s a butterfly buffet. Mine began flowering this year in mid-April and will keep going for months. I water it once a week during the hottest part of the summer, but I understand it can adapt to more regular garden irrigation as long as the soil drains well. Local native plant nurseries offer all of the above varieties. They suit our growing conditions, support wildlife, and don’t endanger endemic species. Purists will tell you a plant hailing from a small island off the coast of Baja California is not native to California. Strictly speaking, a nursery-generated hybrid, even a cross between two species from the same location, is not native, though it may be more garden-worthy than its parents. The Bringing Back the Natives tour on Sunday, May 6th from 10AM -5PM includes 45 private gardens in Contra Costa and Alameda Counties. Native plants are sold at some gardens. Others offer talks on landscaping with natives, creating wildlife habitats, or water-wise gardening. To read about the free tour (donations appreciated), go to www.BringingBackTheNatives.net.
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The Car Guy By Paul Matthew Peterson, Specialty Sales Classics This month I thought I’d talk about the ‘personality’ of old cars. Each different make, year, and model of Classic Car is made up of the same materials...steel, cast iron, glass, rubber, cloth, plastic, etc. Yet, each car is far more than the sum of its parts. The men who designed these cars also influenced the personality of the cars they ‘imagined’ to life. A VW Beetle from the 60’s has a light, delicate feel to the steering wheel and controls. The car’s maneuverability and small size adds to the ‘tiny’ feel of the car, but ultimately it’s the interface between man and machine that makes that emotional connection with the car’s ‘soul.’ Climb into a GTO from the same year, and all feeling changes in an instant. The steering wheel is thicker and feels like it’s connected to something substantial. The doors close with a solid ‘thud’ letting you know you are wrapped in a few thousand pounds of Detroit steel. (Although, I must admit the sound of the doors closing on the VW Beetle sound more like a bank vault than a 1,800 lb. car...). Everything in the Pontiac feels solid and nearly unbreakable. Turns out, most of it is. The upholstery in the 60’s Pontiacs is a modern marvel. I can’t tell you how many wonderfully restored old GTOs I’ve seen still wearing the original upholstery. It’s the rule rather than the exception. That originality in turn lends an ‘air’ of nostalgia to the driving experience, since the seat materials are 40 years old, and those aromas can’t be reproduced in new upholstery kits, even if the appearance can be. That’s something else I’ve noticed being surrounded by Classic Cars of all descriptions all day...they smell great. Each car has a unique scent of its’own. Best time to go ‘car sniffing’ is when they have been in the sun a few hours. Poke your head into a ’55 Nash and you’ll remember every Rambler you ever necked in. That VW Beetle? NOTHING smells like a vintage Beetle after an hour in the sun...smells like ‘Driver’s Ed’...hahahaha. Now, which old car’s personality and ‘scent’ suits you best? You never know until you sit in a few, sniff, and drive a few Classic Cars which ones will spark a memory or something in YOUR personality. Might I humbly suggest a visit to one of our showrooms? Since our inventory is largely consigned from private owners, the variety is
Danville Today News ~ May 2012 - Page 19
second to none. Unlike chasing ads off the internet and looking at one car at a time, you can take in HUNDREDS of different cars in a single day. Drop by our Pleasanton location, and give the STUNNING early 50’s Chevy convertible a once over. Stop into the Benicia store, and check out the 70’s Maserati coupe or that awesome early VW Beetle. See me in Fairfield, and I’ll have you sniff the ’75 Cadillac with awesome original leather or the amazing smelling interior of the Gold ’39 Chevy StreetRod...Heck, if you get serious, we could even DRIVE one! When you get behind the wheel, the old car’s REAL personality comes out, and you’ll see how driving different Classic Cars evoke quite different emotions and memories from you and the people you encounter on your drive. I’ve driven some pretty amazing cars this past year at this job, from a ’37 Cord, to a cool Avanti, to a 50’s Nash Metropolitan. The Cord drew stares of respect and awe, the Avanti caused confused stares of folks trying to place that old car, and the Metro put a huge grin on every face that saw it because everyone just LOVED that little car. All three were a gas to drive and share, but all three made me and the people around me feel completely different. Old cars are all quite unique...they definitely all drive differently. Sometimes two examples of the same model will drive drastically different depending on equipment and condition. There’s nothing like a test drive to connect with that particular old car’s ‘Mojo’ and see if it connects to yours. For example, the ’69 Camaro in the Fairfield Showroom is so original that it still has single exhaust, a column shifted automatic, and a two barrel carb. No doubt it will be a very different driving and ownership experience than a ’69 Camaro Z-28 with a high-revving 302, 4 speed, and the need to adjust the solid lifters weekly. Both cars LOOK the same, but it depends on your goals as a Classic Car owner as to which Camaro is YOUR Camaro. Both will go up in value, and both will get thumbs up everywhere you go, but the Z-28 will be more like a hot, high-maintenance Supermodel girlfriend, while the 307 Camaro will be more like hanging with a trusted friend, ready to go anywhere at the drop of a hat. We are open 7 days a week. So, if you have some time to kill, I hope to see you in one of our showrooms soon. I smell a fun afternoon. Check out our inventory at www.SpecialtySales.com. Feel free to email me at TheCarGuy@SpecialtySales.com with any questions or comments, or call 800-600-2262. Advertorial
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Why Women Need Social Security By Jim Gebhardt Did you know that the first person ever to receive ongoing Social Security benefits was a woman? Ever since Ida May Fuller received the first retirement benefit check in 1940, women have been counting on Social Security to provide much-needed retirement income. Social Security provides other important benefits too, including disability and survivor’s benefits, that can help women of all ages and their family members.
Retirement benefits: a steady stream of lifetime income While Social Security retirement benefits are important for everyone, they are especially important for women. Because women generally live longer and tend to have lower lifetime earnings than men, they may be more dependent on Social Security benefits in retirement.* Fortunately, you can count on two features of Social Security to help you provide for a long retirement. First, benefits last as long as you live; although you may exhaust other sources of retirement income, it’s impossible to outlive your Social Security retirement income. Second, Social Security benefits are subject to automatic cost-of-living adjustments that increase benefits when prices increase, an especially valuable feature when you have to rely on a fixed income for many years. When you work and pay Social Security taxes, you earn credits that enable you to qualify for Social Security benefits. You can earn up to 4 credits per year, depending on the amount of income that you earn, and you’ll generally need 40 credits (10 years of work) to be insured for retirement benefits. Your monthly retirement benefit will be based on your lifetime earnings. However, if you don’t work outside the home or haven’t worked long enough to qualify for Social Security based on your own record (or have much lower earnings than your spouse), you may still be eligible based on your spouse’s record.
Disability benefits: help when you’re ill or injured During your working years, you may suffer a serious illness or injury that prevents you from earning a living, potentially putting yourself and your family at financial risk. But if you’re insured under Social Security, you may be able to get disability benefits if you have worked long enough in recent years, your disability is expected to last at least a year or results in death, and you meet other requirements. More women than ever are now insured for Social Security disability benefits. According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), in 1970, only 41% of
women were insured; today, approximately 74% of women are insured.** In general, to be insured for disability benefits, you must have earned at least 20 work credits during the last 40 calendar quarters (10 years). If you qualify for benefits, certain family members (such as your dependent children) may also be able to collect benefits based on your work record.
Survivor’s benefits: financial protection for your family You probably know the value of having life insurance to protect your family, but did you know that Social Security offers valuable income protection as well? If you are insured under Social Security at your death, your surviving spouse (or ex-spouse), your children, or dependent parents may be eligible for benefits based on your earnings record. You also have survivor protection if you’re married and your insured spouse dies. If you’re caring for a child who is younger than age 16 or disabled and who is entitled to benefits, you may be entitled to widow’s benefits. You may also be entitled to benefits if you are age 60 or older (age 50 or older if you’re disabled).
Three tips • Use the benefit calculators available on the Social Security website to estimate your future retirement, disability, and survivor’s benefits. Social Security was never intended to cover all of your financial needs, but understanding what benefits you might be entitled to can help you plan for the future. • Consider the impact on your Social Security benefits if you plan on taking time out of the workforce. Having years of no or low earnings may mean lower benefits, and it can also affect your eligibility for disability coverage. • Check your earnings history regularly, and report any name changes right away to the SSA so that your earnings are recorded properly. If your name doesn’t match SSA records, any income tax refund can also be delayed. 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. Sources: *Fact Sheet: Social Security Is Important to Women, SSA Press Office; **Fast Facts & Figures About Social Security, 2011, SSA 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. The majority of information in this article has been prepared by Forefield, Inc. These are the views of Forefield, Inc. and not necessarily those of James Gebhardt or Brokers International Financial Services, LLC., and should not be construed as investment advice.All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however, Forefield, Inc. makes no representation as to its completeness Advertorial or accuracy.
Art continued from front page Valley High School Engineering and Environmental Science teacher welcomed each student finalist and awarded prizes. One young man, 3rd grader Jackson Akey, needed no encouragement; besides sharing his ‘touchdown dance’ on the way to accept his prize bag, Jackson introduced himself to Robert Storer, Town of Danville Council Member and proceeded to give Storer a special tour of the winning piece. Ruzzi noted that SDA is always looking for volunteers. If you are interested in helping with next years’ event, viewing photos from this years’ event, or want reading the group’s monthly forums, please visit them on Facebook/SustainableDanvilleArea or at www.sustainabledanville.com. For more information, please contact Cynthia Ruzzi, President of Sustainable Danville Area at sustainabledanville@gmail.com or 925-895-5001.
Some Like It Hot! The Danville Sycamore Rotary Club recently held their 22nd Annual Blackhawk Food, Wine & Film Festival. The Fund-a-Cause event benefited Discovery Counseling Center’s School Based Counseling & Intervention Services at all San Ramon Valley Unified School District School Sites. Danville/Sycamore Valley Rotary has been a long time sponsor with Discovery Counseling and this year’s effort is to make a substantial impact on the school counseling program helping our children find their way. Proceeds will also fund projects, including Special Olympics, CASA Youth-to Youth Conference, the construction of the Veteran’s Memorial Building, Discovery Counseling Center, Youth Homes for Girls, the Third Grade Literacy Project, East Bay Stand Down for Veterans, The Wheelchair Foundation, and international projects including polio eradication, clean water projects, hearing aids and cleft palate surgeries for children, medical services in impoverished areas, and many more. If you would like to donate to our projects and causes or would like to find out more about what we do, call or email Newell Arnerich, Foundation Chair, at 510-366-0716 or Newell@ADarch.com or Elaine Betts President Elect at 510-326-0763. Rotary Club of Danville/Sycamore Valley Community Foundation is a 501 (c) 3 charitable organization in support of local charitable and non-profit organizations and international service projects.
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Case Study: Blended Family Poor Planning Hurts By Robert J. Silverman, Attorney at Law Blended families - defined here as a married couple with one or more children not common to the marriage - typically face sensitive estate planning issues. Too often, however, they either ignore or attempt to short-cut planning to avoid discussing uncomfortable subjects. Below is a summary of a very unfortunate blended family case I handled a number of years ago. It highlights the financial and personal damage that can result from poor planning. Next month, I’ll write about some positive ways in which a blended family can structure a customized estate plan to reconcile conflicting interests in a manner that satisfies the needs and wishes of both spouses. My case involved a second marriage between (fictitiously named) Margaret and Bill. Margaret’s children were Mike and Mary. Bill’s children were Beth and Betty. Margaret and Bill married when the four children were between 8 and 16, and they all moved into Margaret’s house. Their two sets of children got along very well, and the blended family was quite close as the children grew up and became adults. Margaret brought into the marriage about $1.3 Million of assets, including: i) a very nice $800,000 mortgage-free house; and ii) $500,000 in cash and securities. Bill brought into the marriage virtually no assets. During their marriage, Margaret helped Bill establish a small business. Largely due to Margaret’s capital investment, organizational skills and initiative, the business was successful. Approximately fifteen years into their marriage, Margaret also inherited approximately $500,000 of cash and securities from her father and uncle. Bill was always quite controlling of Margaret, and he didn’t like lawyers. Early in the their marriage, they drafted up simple, mirror Wills on their own, which stated, essentially: “When I die, everything goes to my spouse; but if my spouse predeceases me, everything goes to my two children and two stepchildren, in equal shares (one quarter each).” As they aged, the Wills made Margaret a bit nervous about what might happen if she died first, and all of her assets went to Bill (with no strings attached). But, she was afraid to upset Bill by bringing this up, and she figured she would probably outlive him anyway. As it happens, Margaret died first. Per their then thirty year old Wills, all of Margaret’s assets (much of which was her separate property that she brought into, or inherited during, the marriage) went outright to Bill. Bill lived about one year longer. Before Bill died, his daughter, Beth, arranged for Bill to go to an estate planning attorney. Bill established a living trust that provided that, upon his death, all of his assets would go only to his daughters, Beth and Betty. He made no provision for his stepchildren, Mike and Mary. Weeks after Bill’s funeral, Mike spoke with Beth on the phone. Assuming the “one fourth to each child” arrangement, which was always well known by the children as their parents’ plan, Mike asked Beth when she expected the assets would be divided between the four of them. Beth informed her step-brother rather sheepishly that her father had changed his estate plan to provide only for Beth and Betty. Incredulous, Mike presumed that Beth and Betty would nevertheless do the right thing and share the estate equally with Mike and Mary. Beth and Betty declined to do so. Beth simply told Mike that it was her father’s choice to do whatever he wanted with the assets he owned on his death. Contentious litigation ensued. Mike and Mary’s case was incredibly sympathetic, but considerable legal obstacles were present. Fortunately, the case settled. Unfortunately, because of the challenging technical legal issues, Mike and Mary couldn’t take a chance on a trial, and thus had no reasonable choice but to enter into a disappointing compromise. Total net assets were $3 million. Due to improper planning before Margaret died, $1 million was unnecessarily paid out in Federal Estate Tax. Equitably, each of the four children should have received one quarter of the $2 million net after-tax estate (i.e. $500K apiece). Instead, per the settlement (before considerable attorneys’fees were paid), Mike and Mary each received $250K, and Beth and Betty each received $750K. Aside from the financial injustice to Mike and Mary, Margaret’s legacy was dishonored by her step-children, and the relationship between the two sets of children was destroyed forever. 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 Advertorial Code; or ii) promoting, marketing, or recommending to another party any matters addressed herein.
Danville Today News ~ May 2012 - Page 21
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Tax Tips H&R Block Danville Office to be Open Year Round By Bob Shalon, IRS Enrolled Agent, H&R Block, Danville The Danville office, located in Sycamore Square next to Lucky’s, will be open for business for the rest of the calendar year. This is the first year that this has happened. In the past taxpayers in need of help had to go to Walnut Creek after tax season. Our office hours will be Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10am to 6pm. Danville was chosen due to our growth, clientele, and location. During tax season the office was staffed with experienced enrolled agents who handled the types of returns indicative of the Danville/Alamo area. This will also be true of the year round staff. After taking some time off, I will be managing the office beginning June 18th. The office will be handling all types of transactions, including but not limited to: • Completion of filed extensions. • Handling of IRS letters, regardless of your being an H&R Block client. • Filing of prior year returns. • Business returns. • JUST PLAIN ADVICE!!!! On a personal note, I want to thank all of my clients and our office clients for their loyalty Bob Shalon, EA and wish you a happy Master Tax Advisor • Enrolled Agent and healthy year. Please call me at 925.820.9570 any time at 925-820- 714 San Ramon Valley Blvd, Suite B, Danville 9570 with questions. Sycamore Square (next to Lucky’s) bob.shalon@tax.hrblock.com Advertorial
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The Eye Opener By Gregory Kraskowsky, O.D., Alamo Optometry Springtime Allergies Now that spring is here, we get to welcome all of the flowers, grasses, and pollen that come along with it. I love the warmer weather, but like most people, I can definitely do without the allergies. For the most part I hear complaints of red, itchy, tearing, irritated eyes from now until the early summer. Besides living in a bubble for a few months, there are a few things that can be done to help alleviate, but not eliminate, the symptoms of ocular allergies. For most people, ocular allergies also accompany systemic allergies. Issues such as congestion, sneezing, and coughing are just as irritating and annoying as the eye problems. The common treatment that people use to battle allergies is anti-histamines. Medications such as Claritin, Zyrtec, and Allegra are great remedies and generally mediate allergies. In addition, they help alleviate the ocular symptoms of itching and tearing. However, the ocular side-effect is that oral anti-histamines tend to dry out the eyes. So the net effect for many people is that they help solve one problem but initiate another. To avoid this situation, I always advise patients with ocular allergies to use topical drops that specifically target the places on the surface of the eye where allergens cause their problems without causing the dryness symptoms that oral drugs can cause. There are many good prescription drops that work very well in addition to several drops that have recently gone over-the-counter. Depending on the severity of the situation, we can discuss the appropriate course of treatment. For those of you who do not like to take medications, there are several things that can still be done in lieu of the mentioned drugs or in addition to them. Using non-preserved lubricating drops or simply flushing the eye with cool water can dilute the allergens in the eye and therefore bring some relief. Cool compresses will also cause some blood constriction to the area, thus reducing some of the chemicals that are released by the blood stream in and around the
Breaking the Ties That Bind By Jeffrey Johnson, DC I was speaking with a young doctor a few weeks ago who wanted to know how I worked with the variety of athletes that utilize my services. In particular, he wanted to know how I saw so many professional, collegiate, high school, and club athletes compared to my peers. My response was simple; Neuromuscular Reeducation!
Neuromuscular Reeducation Neuromuscular Reeducation (NMR) is a dynamic technique focused on soft tissue rehabilitation. It is a non-invasive treatment designed to restore proper muscle function and movement enabling the body to heal and perform at its most efficient level. NMR combines the use of pressure, tension, and motion to force the layers of muscle and tissue to work together properly. There are very few chiropractors who incorporate a focus on soft tissue injuries into their practice. However, many injuries to the spine, extremities, and nervous system should not be immediately treated with chiropractic manipulation until the adhesions in the soft tissues (muscles, tendons, etc.) have been treated. Chiropractors who are trained in NMR have an extensive knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and biomechanics. They are also experts in soft tissue adhesions and can treat these injuries with amazing results.
Understanding Adhesions Soft tissue injuries are created when muscles and tendons become compromised as a result of repeated physical movement or overuse. Your body repairs these microscopic tears through the build-up of scar tissue, also known as adhesions. Muscles and tendons initially heal with weak, haphazard adhesions, which not only bind the torn tissues but also the healthy tissues in the surrounding area. As these adhesions form, they may restrict the normal movement of muscles, tendons, and nerves. This creates inflammation and irritation. Other common symptoms include aching/pain, tingling and numbness, burning, tenderness, stiffness/immobility, and loss of strength. Soft tissue injuries may happen abruptly as a result of a sports injury or they may come on slowly, over a greater period of time, as with carpal tunnel or tendonitis. Too often, people only feel slight burning or stiffness and do not realize how much damage is really being done.
eyes that make the eyes itchy, puffy, and red. The one thing that should not be done (even though we all do it) is to rub the eyes. The mechanical rubbing of the eyes does provide some immediate relief, but it dilates the blood vessels and therefore makes the puffiness and itching much worse. The last thing that can be done is to wear sunglasses while outdoors. In addition to the UV protection they provide, they also act as a shield to the allergens in the air. Wrap sunglasses work even better as they provide more peripheral coverage. Especially if you are outdoors where there are high pollen or grass counts in the air like sports fields and parks, they can be invaluable. Most sunglasses can be made in prescription, and if you wear contacts, any frame and shape will work since prescription is not a problem. For those patients who wear contact lenses, allergies usually reduce wearing time due to increased lens sensation, redness, itching, and tearing. For patients who don’t wear daily disposable lenses, build-up on the lenses from eye discharge and allergens in the tears not only leads to decreased daily wearing time, but it also decreases the life of the lens. Patients frequently have to dispose of their lenses sooner than the prescribed time because they cannot tolerate wearing the lenses anymore. Even though daily disposables do not reduce the immediate allergic response, they do end up being more comfortable in the long run as there is a clean lens in the eye everyday, and they are more cost effective as you don’t have to purchase more lenses than are needed. We all like the spring weather and the accompanying outdoor sports and activities; we can just do without the allergies. Since they can’t be eliminated, some of the management ideas discussed here can help make the spring months more comfortable. Dr. K. at Alamo Optometry is your hometown eye doctor for outstanding service, vision care, and designer eyewear. He can be reached at 820-6622 or visit his office at 3201 Danville Blvd., Suite 165 in Alamo. Visit our newly updated website at, www.alamooptometry.com, and become a fan on our Alamo Optometry Facebook page. Advertorial
Treating the Symptom Many doctors prescribe pain medication, anti-inflammatories, cortisone, and bracing to address the symptoms. Although these remedies do provide some relief, they do not break up the adhesions that have formed around the muscles, tendons, and nerves.
The truth about... Anti-inflammatories: Inflammation is a natural part of the healing process. Anti-inflammatories may mask the injury by suppressing the signs and symptoms of inflammation, but they do not address the mechanism of injury. Your injury may become more severe without symptoms to warn you. Other side effects include gastrointestinal problems, ulcers, and liver dysfunction. Cortisone: An extremely powerful anti-inflammatory, cortisone has been found to degrade and weaken muscle tissue and tendons. Other potential side effects include thinning of the skin and bones (Osteoporosis), easy bruising, weight gain, elevation of blood pressure, and cataract formation. Bracing/Taping: Restricting the muscles and tendons while they are trying to heal may encourage the formation of excessive scar tissue. It can also result in poor healing and a higher risk of re-injury. Proper movement is required to reshape the adhesions. Exercise Therapy: Strengthening and conditioning exercises are also prescribed to rehabilitate injured muscles and tendons. However, the increased load of many exercises may lead to more injury and pain, or cause new tearing unless the injury has been healed first. Exercise therapy should be prescribed after the injury has been treated with Neuromuscular Reeducation.
Treating the Injury There is only one way to permanently eliminate the pain and inflammation from an injury: Completely HEAL the injury. NMR focuses on locating and breaking up the cross-fiber adhesions in the injured areas. But, freeing the adhesion is only part of the battle. When you have pain and limited range of motion due to an injury, you adapt your body mechanics to fit that limitation. This unconscious mental adaptation often persists long after the injury has been resolved, leading you to continue moving in an improper and limited fashion. To appropriately heal an injured area, you must restore full mobility to that region and re-train yourself to move the injured area through its full range of motion. It is essential to utilize correct movement patterns to maximize healing and minimize future re-injury. For more info, go to www.movepastyourpain.com, visit us on Facebook, or contact Dr. Johnson at Johnson Chiropractic Group, 115 Town & Country Dr., Suite E in Danville. 925.743.8210. Advertorial
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Obsessive Compulsive Disorder By William Shryer, LCSW, DCSW Clinical Director, Diablo Behavioral Healthcare Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a type of anxiety disorder. Individuals who suffer from OCD experience intrusive thoughts and engage in rituals or repetitive behaviors. The thoughts and rituals associated with OCD cause distress and can be debilitating. Frequent upsetting thoughts are called obsessions. To try to control them, a person will feel an overwhelming urge to repeat certain rituals or behaviors called compulsions. OCD occurs from early childhood all the way throughout the life span. It can change form over time. Obsessive thinking can occur regarding a range of topics. Some common obsessions include fear of contamination, the fear that something horrible will befall a loved one, or conflict with ones religious beliefs. At our practice, we have seen children who are afraid of getting sick or eating certain things. Some will exercise excessively believing that if they stop some horrible result will befall them. Some OCD sufferers are convinced that their body is misshapen or ugly. These individuals look endlessly in mirrors and ask others if they notice the defect. They may even avoid going out, certain that others will find their appearance repulsive. OCD has more symptoms than just about any other diagnosis. Better known symptoms include repetitive hand washing and an obsession with cleanliness, as seen in the movie As Good as it Gets starring Jack Nicholson. Lesser known symptoms include “hoarding,” stuck thoughts, hair pulling, and quite possibly anorexia. Children with OCD are frequently given the misdiagnosis of ADHD. These children find it near impossible to pay attention in school because they are stuck in their internal world of worries and fears. When medication used to treat ADHD is mistakenly given to a child or teen with OCD, the medication worsens their anxiety and obsessions. When the medication “doesn’t seem to be working,” children who suffer from OCD are often given an increased dose. At
The Many Faces of Skin Cancer By Matthew Sirott, MD
Danville Today News ~ May 2012 - Page 23 our practice, we have seen a number of children with OCD who have been given the wrong type of medication and have suffered tremendously as a result. OCD occurs frequently with other disorders, making it very difficult to understand. For instance, individuals with Tourette’s syndrome, a disorder characterized by involuntary motor movements or vocal sounds, are three times as likely to have OCD as the general population. Children with Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD), such as Autism or Asperger’s Syndrome, also have a greatly increased likelihood of symptoms consistent with OCD. For too many years, the shame and embarrassment of OCD has kept sufferers from seeking and benefitting from treatment. In the U.S., an average of 14-17 years passes from the onset of symptoms to proper diagnosis and treatment. The good news is that available treatments, including newer classes of medications and Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), have greatly increased the likelihood of significant improvement. The most widely recognized treatment approach is CBT with the addition of Exposure and Response Prevention and sometimes “habit reversal training.” In most cases, OCD controls the afflicted as well as their loved ones. When working with a child or teen who has OCD, we involve the entire family. No longer should people with these symptoms that cause terrible anxiety, phobias, panic, and drastically altered lives have to hide when responsible treatment is available. It is imperative that individuals who have been diagnosed with OCD or suspect that they may suffer from OCD seek help from professionals who are highly trained and specialize in this area. Most General Practitioners and Pediatricians lack the expertise, experience, and training to properly diagnose and treat behavioral disorders such as OCD. If you or your loved ones seem to have an “obsessive brain,” you should urge them to seek proper assistance. Our highly trained group of psychiatrists and clinicians can diagnose OCD and create a comprehensive treatment plan to assist in dealing with the debilitating disorder. We also offer a free informational group on the third Thursday of each month at 7PM at our office in Danville for those who want to learn more about OCD. For more information on our practice or to reserve a spot for one of our monthly information groups, call Diablo Behavioral Healthcare at (925) 648-4800. To learn Advertorial more about behavioral disorders, visit www.behaviorquest.com. efit for metastatic the many melanoma, which is often a fatal disease. The Many Faces of Skin Cancer will be held on of skin cancer May 23 rd from 6:30-8pm at the Walnut Creek Library. The free event is sponsored by the California Skin and Melanoma Center – a new comprehensive skin cancer program in the East Bay that offers a multi-disciplinary medical expert approach to the treatment of all for forms of skin cancer. To register, call 925-677-5041. Advertorial
May is Melanoma Awareness Month and the first presentation of Many Faces of Skin Cancer, an educational event focusing on skin cancers. Melanoma ranks as the seventh leading type of cancer in the United States. The lifetime risk for a diagnosis of melanoma in the United States is 1.94% for males and 1.30% for females. The lifetime risk for death from melanoma is 0.35% for males and 0.20% for females. There are many risk factors for developing melanoma, both environmental and genetic. The factor you can best control to reduce your risk of melanoma is exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. Some experts believe that 65% or more of melanoma is caused by exposure to the sun, especially during childhood. Following is a list of prevention tips. Detection of melanoma at early stages is essential and lifesaving. The ABCDE of melanoma recognition are asymmetry, border irregularities, color variation, diameter greater than 6mm, and evolving or changing lesions. If you have a suspicious lesion, you should talk to your primary care physician or dermatologist about biopsying the lesion. Proper surgical management is essential in obtaining the diagnosis and the stage of the melanoma. Lymph node biopsy is done in patients at high risk for lymph node metastasis. Radiation can be used for patients with significant risk of local recurrence. Interferon is used in patients with high risk resected melanoma. In patients with metastatic melanoma, biologic therapy such as high dose interleukin-2, oral temodar, biochemotherapy, and combination and single agent chemotherapy have all been used. A therapy for metastatic melanoma treatment, ipilimumab (Ippy) recently received FDA approval. It is one of the first antibody-based therapies that uses the body’s immune Lic# 1100014354; Bay Area Entertainment defenses to destroy cancer cells. Ippy was shown to offer a survival ben-
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Page 24 - May 2012 ~ Danville Today News
It is Time to Get Your Groove Back! What is it that keeps you from walking in this world with confidence? By Barbara Persons, MD, Persons Plastic Surgery, Inc. A patient of mine started crying during a follow up appointment for her recent facelift. Her face looked beautiful, refreshed, rejuvenated, and natural, so I asked her what was wrong. She said she was emotional because she had spent years feeling that her outer appearance looked old and tired, and it did not reflect the vibrant woman she is. She is now being treated like an attractive woman again; like the woman she is on the inside. The change was empowering and uplifting. Another patient had a similar reaction after her rhinoplasty (nose job). She said she had spent years worrying about her nose. She had been teased as a teenager about the hump on her nose and remained self-conscious about it as an adult. After the rhinoplasty, her self-consciousness about her nose no longer got in the way of her relationships with others. She is no longer talking to people and wondering, “What are they thinking about the defect on my nose?” She feels free. Yet another patient responded in almost the same way. “After my tummy tuck and liposuction, I feel like I have myself back.” It was not someone being vain or superficial. It was about the feeling of being able to return to the person that she was before... having her pre-pregnancy body back and just feeling comfortable in her own skin again. She was so comfortable, she sent me a photo of herself in a bikini with a thank you note! I recently asked a female plastic surgeon friend of mine who lives in Florida to inject a deep crater beneath my right eye with Restalane and a new filler not yet on the market. When the eye socket depression that has been with me 21 years (since my accident) literally vanished, I too cried. I always thought about the depression when being photographed and felt self-conscious about my appearance. A surgeon mentor of mine once wrote a recommendation for me as a plastic surgeon saying, “She is a really talented surgeon who you would be lucky to work with, but she has some terrible scars on her face after
a horrible car accident.” It is not about trying to attain physical perfection, but about simply getting back to the “me” that existed before my accident. I am more free today to walk in the world as a healthy, vibrant woman, not self-conscious about a physical flaw on my face. The stories go on and on… it is why I LOVE my job. These are all excellent examples of reasons to choose plastic surgery. It should be a decision that improves your state of being and your confidence. It should not be a choice to impress someone or to please someone else. It is why taking the time to have a thorough consultation with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon is so important. We adhere to the strictest standards and I have the courage to tell you what you need to hear, not just what you want to hear. Please take five minutes to think about this question, “What keeps you from walking with confidence in the world?” The answer can be physical and/or mental. Think about your past and future. Be true and honest with yourself, and take a hard look at those factors that are missing in your life or are causing you to feel self-conscious. • Physical: Are there any physical characteristics that are holding you back from being totally comfortable in your skin? • Emotional: What are you doing to moderate stress in your life, and how can you bring your life into better balance (I have to really work on this one)? • Spiritual: Are you taking the time to properly develop your spiritual well-being with God or a Higher Power, your church, temple, friends, and charities? Take the time to write a page about it. Then, make an action plan for your body, mind, and soul. As always, I welcome the opportunity to consult with you on the variety of ways my practice can assist you with the issues that have been preventing you from walking in this world with confidence. Let’s meet and work on ways we can get your groove back! Barbara L. Persons, MD is a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and owns Persons Plastic Surgery, Inc. located at 911 Moraga Rd, Suite 205 in Lafayette. She may be reached at 925.283.4012 or drbarb@personsplasticsurgery.com. Advertorial
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Danville Today News ~ May 2012 - Page 25
Health and Fitness Knowledge is Power Learn ways to improve your health and meet the experts who can make your life healthy and happy on Tuesday, May 22nd from 9AM to Noon at the Senior Center in the Veterans Memorial Building located at 400 Hartz Ave. in Danville. The Town of Danville will be promoting physical fitness, nutrition, and preventative care at this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Senior Health Fitness Day. The first 50 people will receive a free pedometer. The morning will begin with an early bird fitness walk. Throughout the morning of the event, enjoy fitness demonstrations, exciting health presentations, free massages, health screenings, over 20 local health and fitness exhibitors, a gift basket giveaway, and light refreshments. No registration is required for this event. For more information or to schedule a memory screening, call (925) 314-3490 or visit www.danville.ca.gov.
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Youth Soccer Symposium The Sports Performance Institute (SPI) of San Ramon Regional Medical Center invites student athletes, coaches, trainers, and parents to a free educational 2012 Youth Soccer Symposium, Strategies for Healthy Performance, on Saturday, May 12th. The symposium will be held in the South Conference Room in the South Building located on the San Ramon hospital campus at 7777 Norris Canyon Road in San Ramon. Continental breakfast and registration will start at 8AM, and the presentation will be held from 8:30AM to noon. Sports medicine physicians will discuss injury prevention, research updates on performance mechanics, and risk factors for injuries in young soccer players. Following the lectures participants will move to the SPI gym, where hospital sports trainers and physical therapists will teach exercises and conditioning techniques designed to reduce injuries and develop performance. Physician speakers include orthopedic surgeons Michael Michlitsch, M.D., Charles Preston, M.D., and Ian Stine, M.D., and neurosurgeon Ronnie Mimran, M.D.. Space is limited and reservations are required. Call (800) 284-2878 or register at www.OurSanRamonHospital.com on â&#x20AC;&#x153;Find an Eventâ&#x20AC;? under Orthopedics.
Sentinels continued from front page â&#x20AC;&#x153;There is no free lunch for a wounded veteran,â&#x20AC;? Conklin explains. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They know they face greater hurdles than others. Our job is to get them over the hurdles. We canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t carry them over, but we can walk at their side.â&#x20AC;? Danville realtor Jerry Stadtler described Sentinels of Freedom to Denver-based RE/ MAX founder and chairman David Liniger when they met at a conference in 2006. Linigerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s enthusiastic follow-up took Conklin by surprise. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I got a call from Liniger saying he wanted to discuss Sentinels of Freedom, and he was sending me a ticket to Denver. I said â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;I can tell you about Sentinels in a fifteen-minute phone conversation.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; He replied that he was a face-to-face guy. For some reason, I took that flight to Denver.â&#x20AC;? Linigerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s offer to fund the program for a year allowed Sentinels of Freedom to go national in 2007. Devoting full-time to the task, Conklin spent all but 30 days that year on the road interviewing prospective Sentinels, setting up support teams across the country, and telling corporate leaders that investing in the future of a Sentinel is not only an honorable act but also one that will someday profit their bottom line. Conklin cautions the executive eager to hire a Sentinel that education for the position needs to precede employment in order to ensure a mutually beneficial engagement. Mike rarely leaves a meeting without obtaining a commitment for scholarship funding. Adding 25 new Sentinels a year to the program is the current goal. Before a prospective Sentinel can be offered a scholarship, a local team leader has to be in place. The stories of Sentinels are diverse, but each centers on being embraced by a welcoming community. Sentinel graduate Ben Crowley whose Sentinel experience landed him at Chevron relates: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Many of us join the military in the first place to escape poor economic prospects, and when we get out going â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;homeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is not a viable option. I moved 3,000 miles from everything that was familiar on the day I was released from active duty. The Sentinels of Freedom provided a surrogate family, a support structure to make me feel at home and supported in what would otherwise have been a frightening transition, and helped me navigate both the civilian world I was unfamiliar with and the governmental systems I rely on for continued medical care.â&#x20AC;? The Sentinels of Freedom Scholarship Foundation helps highly motivated, severely disabled veterans become productive, self-sufficient civilians, providing the resources of caring teams of community volunteers as well as financial aid for up to four years for each scholarship recipient. Men and women who have sustained duty-related injuries resulting in permanent physical disability of 60% or more while serving in the
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United States Armed Forces since September 11, 2001 are the programâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s target group. Qualifications for acceptance include a positive attitude and clear goals. Each Sentinelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s story is a tribute to the caliber of individuals who guard our freedom. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As an American citizen you can draw a direct line between our quality of life today and those who have stepped forth to serve our nation,â&#x20AC;? Conklin reminds us. Triple amputee Joey Bozik trained as a personal banker at Wells Fargo before founding a small business in North Carolina where he is continuing his education. Ryan Sykes, awarded the Bronze Star for his work in Iraq and Afghanistan, sustained a Traumatic Brain Injury. Ryanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sentinel profile advises: â&#x20AC;&#x153; The world doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stop turning because you may be in a wheelchair. Make every second matter.â&#x20AC;? His team of Dougherty Valley Rotary drivers gets Ryan to work, college, physical therapy, and a personal trainer whose services Club Sport is donating. Manny Del Rio, pinned on the deck of an aircraft carrier by an F18 aircraft, works for the City of San Ramon Police Department while attending college. Jay Wilkerson, who spent three years in a VA hospital relearning to walk and talk, has a job with the Pleasanton Police Department that gives him time to pursue his studies. At www.sentinelsoffreedom.org read more about Sentinels and register for the 5th annual Golf tournament at Diablo Country Club September 16-17. Non-golfers may enjoy Sundayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dinner and auction with guest speaker Col. Danny McKnight, author of Streets of Mogadishu. At www.veteransvictoryvelo.com find information about the Saturday, September 22nd bike ride. Register to ride as a serious or recreational fundraiser. Sponsor a rider or donate. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t miss Manny del Rio's excellent communication skills have made San Ramon Police Chief Scott Holder proud to have Manny on board. the fun for supporters.
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Page 26 - May 2012 ~ Danville Today News
Your Personal Nutritionist By Linda Michaelis, RD. MS. Understanding Nutrition for PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome)
100 calorie low sugar and fat desserts with a meal such as puddings, fudgesicles, popsicles, or a cupcake with very little frosting. We took an entire session to discuss the best entrees to order at Susan and her husband’s favorite restaurants. I was glad to hear they enjoyed fish, but they hardly ate it at home. They go out to dinner each week, and I suggested that they enjoy Chinese, Japanese, and Thai cuisine where they can have delicious fish dishes with veggies and brown rice. In our follow up sessions via phone and email, Susan tells me the restaurant they have chosen for the week, and we walk thru the menu on the website where I make suggestions for the meal along with balancing it with the other meals of the day. I am thrilled to inform you that after working with Susan for three months she has lost 15 pounds, her insulin levels have decreased to 12, her testosterone has fallen to 60, and her blood sugars are in the normal range. The good news is that Susan’s visits were paid by her Aetna PPO insurance with a small copay. 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 www.LindaRD.com for past articles, recipes, and nutrition tips.
I want to tell you about my client Susan, age 26, who was referred to me by her endocrinologist for PCOS. I think her story is quite common as many women have not been diagnosed properly when they are suffering with weight gain they cannot seem to lose. PCOS affects 10% of women in the U.S. and is the most common cause of menstrual irregularities and infertility. Women with PCOS are insulin resistant, which causes their ovaries to produce greater than normal amounts of testosterone. This, in turn, inhibits ovulation and causes many symptoms such as severe acne, hair on the face, jaw, and chest, and weight gain despite following good nutrition and exercise habits. Susan remembers having irregular periods as a teenager along with hair growth on her face and inner thighs. Her doctor put her on oral contraceptives (OC) that Advertorial reduced the symptoms but had the effect of delaying the PCOS diagnosis. When Susan got off the OC to become pregnant, she began gaining weight in her midsection, experienced hypoglycemia and acne, and was very unhappy. Her lab results showed that her insulin level was CONTRA COSTA ONCOLOGY at 22 (normal is less than 10), her testosterone level was 85 (normal less than 50), and her fasting glucose was 120 (normal 80-100), all clear cut data showing that she had PCOS. Susan’s doctor instantly put her on Metformin, an insulin sensitizer that would help decrease the high insulin levels and work well in conjunction with healthy nutrition and weight loss. When I reviewed Susan’s food diary, I saw she had a high intake of refined carbohydrates and saturated fats, limited amounts of veggies, and no fruits. Her numerous fruit drinks and two Cokes a day did not help her sugar levels. After completing my initial assessment, I explained to Susan the role of insulin in the body and how PCOS causes hormonal imbalances that can increase the risk of miscarriages. I educated Susan on how to read the food label for protein, fiber, sugar, and fat. I stressed that she must eat small frequent meals that always combine protein and fiber with low fat and sugar. I set up a meal plan for Susan based on her lifestyle and food preferences that she can follow on the job as an administrative assistant. Her office is equipped with a kitchen where she is now having oatmeal with fresh fruit, cottage cheese with a whole wheat English muffin and sliced strawberries, or one hard-boiled egg with whole wheat toast. For snacks she is having plain Greek yogurt with veggies, 20 almonds with veggies, or an apple with almond butter. For lunch she goes to the deli to get a sandwich with whole wheat bread and a small salad. In the afternoon she is enjoying a bean soup like Trader Joe’s lentil and veggie or Progresso’s minestrone, hummus with veggies, or shrimp with cocktail sauce and a few Akmak crackers. For dinner she is now having one cup of 100% whole wheat pasta AT CONTRA COSTA ONCOLOGY, we are committed to providing WALNUT CREEK (which she states tastes like regular pasta) along the highest quality care. Specializing in comprehensive cutting-edge treatment with two cups veggies sautéed in garlic, olive oil, SAN RAMON programs for all forms of cancer and blood disorders, our nationally recognized and seasonings. I introduced Susan to whole grains CONCORD oncology experts and specialized oncology nurses are dedicated to providing like quinoa, whole wheat couscous, barley, farro, ROSSMOOR the best possible care experience. We understand the wide array of concerns and even brown rice. I gave her some recipes to and challenges faced by you and your family, so we ensure the most sophisticated DANVILLE begin to learn how to add these grains to her life. levels of medical oncology and hematology care, while providing you with the Susan was excited about trying new grains since contracostaoncology.com utmost support, compassion, and respect. she did not want to live on fruits and veggies only. 925.939.9610 She also loved the idea of being able to have two
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my story Continues.
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Skin Cancer By Dr. Jerome Potozkin
Danville Today News ~ May 2012 - Page 27
CONCIERGE MEDICINE A New Level of Medical Care
Most men hate going to the docPersonalized and Responsive tor (I, as a physis 0RACTICE LIMITED TO PATIENTS (traditional practices have 2000+ patients) cian, include myself s %XTENDED UNHURRIED OFlCE VISITS in this group). We s ACCESS TO $R 0ARSONS VIA PERSONAL CELL PHONE often ignore small s 3AME DAY OR NEXT DAY APPOINTMENTS problems until they become much worse. s #OMPREHENSIVE MEDICAL EVALUATION It is no wonder women have longer life exs $EDICATED SUPPORT STAFF pectancies than men. This reminds me of a s -EDICARE ASSIGNMENT ACCEPTED patient of mine named Michael. At his wifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s incessant nagging and urging he came to see DONALD S. PARSONS, M.D. me about five years ago to evaluate a new Diplomate, American Board of Internal Medicine spot that appeared on his right ear. The spot turned out to be a precancerous spot called an 925-855-3780 Actinic Keratosis that we were able to treat 400 El Cerro Blvd., Suite 102, Danville in a few seconds by freezing it with liquid www.danvillemd.com nitrogen. Michael was fair skinned with blue eyes and had a passion for tennis. At the time love, but avoid the peak sun hours between 10am and 2pm. Apply and reapply of his visit, I was able to convince him to allow me to perform a full body a broad-spectrum sunscreen. Forget about going to tanning beds (spray-on skin check. There was nothing of concern on his front. However, when he tans are fine). Lastly, see a board certified dermatologist once a year for a rolled over, I noticed and irregularly pigmented spot on the back of his right full body skin check. It is often a good idea for you to check yourself once a thigh. My suspicion that this was a Malignant Melanoma was confirmed by month so that you will be able to notice if a mole or a spot is changing. performing a small biopsy. Luckily Michaelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s melanoma was â&#x20AC;&#x153;in-situ,â&#x20AC;? the Luckily for Michael, his story had a happy ending. If you have any spots earliest stage at which it can be diagnosed. Minor in-office surgery was all that you are concerned about or if you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t remember the last time you were that was needed to cure Michael. checked from head to toe by a board certified dermatologist, please call my May marks skin cancer awareness month. There are about 3.5 million skin office now at (925) 838-4900 to schedule an appointment. cancers diagnosed each year in the United States. It is estimated that there Dr. Potozkin is a board certified dermatologist who has been serving the Danwill be about 132,000 cases of Melanoma diagnosed a year. Melanoma is ville community since 1993. He is accepting new patients at 925-838-4900. You the most serious form of skin cancer because it can be lethal. However, the Advertorial may also visit his website at Potozkin.com for more information. good news is that early diagnosis can lead to complete cures. Surprisingly, Melanoma is the most common form of cancer for young adults aged 25-29. Stroke Support Group The Stroke Support Group of Contra Costa County will hold its May meeting Approximately 75% of skin cancer deaths are from Melanoma. Basal Cell Carcinoma and Squamous Cell Carcinoma are the two most in the Ball Auditorium at John Muir Medical Center- Walnut Creek Campus, common types of skin cancers. These can appear as non-healing sores or located at 1601 Ygnacio Valley Road, Walnut Creek on Monday, May 14th from crusted bumps. Some simply appear as a red patch that can be misdiagnosed 7-9pm. The speaker will be Michael J. Young, Attorney at Law, who will discuss as dry skin or eczema. The good news is that these skin cancers are much Elder Law and Estate Planning. After the program, attendees will break up into less likely to spread. three coping groups: stroke survivors without aphasia, stroke survivors with Most skin cancers have a genetic component. The other key ingredient aphasia, and caregivers and families of stroke survivors -- each group led by a is sun and ultraviolet exposure such as that from tanning beds. In order to trained professional. For further information about the Stroke Support Group, prevent skin cancer, I recommend an ounce of prevention. Do what you contact Ann Dzuna at 925-376-6218. Meetings are free and open to the public.
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Page 28- May 2012 ~ Danville D Today News
The Combs Team Professionals You Can Count On
Nancy
Joe
Call the Combs Team
®
925-989-6086 www.TheCombsTeam.com Danville Market Mixed Results for Different Price Levels Last year I reported that 19% of Danville homes sold for more than $1million. Yearto-date through April 22nd this number has slipped by nearly 6% to 13.6%. This is not a good sign for a market turnaround in Danville but it is still early in the sales year. The chart below provides some insight into the market dynamics for the year-todate. Forty-three homes sold for less than $500k so far this year. To be sure they were mostly multi-family properties. One hundred fifty-eight of the 183 homes or 86% sold for less than a million dollars. The imputed average size for these homes was 2,318 square feet and the average per square foot price was $310, which is about 8% lower than the number reported last time. The average price paid for homes in this tier is $718,865 slightly below the median price which is sits at $727,450. Danville Home Sales YTD April 2012 Price Range Units Sold Days on Mkt. $0-$499,000 43 40 $.5mm-$999,000 115 45 $1mm- $1.499mm 19 53 $1.5mm-$1.999mm 3 48 $2mm plus 3 268 *Imputed Size in Square Feet
Avg. Sold Price Avg. Size* $ Per Sq. Ft. $ 347,880 1,391 $ 250 $ 718,865 2,318 $ 310 $ 1,157,947 3,541 $ 327 $ 1,700,000 3,881 $ 438 $ 2,955,000 6,670 $ 443
Roughly 10.3% of the sales fell in the range between $1million dollars and $1.499 million. This price band is relatively flat over the previous year. On average these homes were 3,541 square feet in size. The average price paid was below the middle of the price range at $1,157,947. That’s up about $1,000 from last year. This year’s home is approximately 100 square feet larger than I last reported which means buyers are getting a little more house for roughly the same money. Still I believe this to be fairly positive. Above the $1.5 million mark, sales were a smaller fraction of over all sales and accounted for less than 2% of total sales. This number remains unchanged from my last report. These three homes carried an average sales price of $1,700,000 and were
Custom Luxury Contemporary
very near the midpoint of the range, approximately $13,000 less than last year. The average size of these homes was 10% larger than the last band at 3,881 square feet. Square foot price was a bit higher from the last band at $438 per square foot. These numbers are better than last year when these homes averaged $418 per square foot. At the end of the day, to purchase a home in this price range, a buyer must be golden. To keep his mortgage within the $1million tax deductible mortgage interest range, he would need to bring $700,000 in down payment and qualify for a million dollar mortgage. That three buyers in Danville presumably met these criteria so far this year and that square foot price has increased is a good sign for the market. The three homes that sold for more than $2 million in 2012 accounted for less than 2% of all Danville sales, but this is up from .5% last year. The average sales price for this group when I reported last was $2,593,750. In 2012 it has increased to $2,955,000. I believe that increase is probably a good sign. Homes closed in this price range tended to be very large and averaged 6,670 square feet in size. These homes, newer ultra-luxury homes, carried a per square foot price of $443. This is a little bit less than last year’s $464 per square foot price but given the small sample not necessarily a negative sign. Simplistically, it appears that the market in Danville seems to still be slipping a bit primarily in the low end of the market. On the other hand, the higher price points appear to be holding their own with some signs of improvement compared to last year. That said, there are very few sales at the higher end and these numbers may not be conclusive with such a small sample of home sales. By the end of the year they could go either way, although I feel optimistic about the future. We have not yet hit the peak of the sales year which is May and June. Based upon what I am seeing and hearing, I am inclined to believe that it will be more positive as the year goes on. If you are thinking about selling your home and would like an honest opinion of its market value, please give me a call 925-989-6086, or email me at joecombs@ thecombsteam.com. Nancy and I will be happy to help.
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ING D PEN Dramatic, one-of-a-kind luxury home with amazing views. $1,699,000
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.
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Completely renovated single story on Golf Course. $1,399,000
Data presented in this column is based in whole or in part on data supplied by the Contra Costa and Alameda MLS service and other quoted sources. Joe and Nancy Combs, J. Rockcliff and the MLS service do not guarantee the accuracy of this information. DRE #0144125.
2 bedroom 2 bath townhome with great views in a gated community. Updated granite and stainless kitchen, patio, attached garage. $540,000 J. Rockcliff Realtors 15 Railroad Ave., Danville CA. 94526