Danville Today News, April 2013

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April 2013 The Mt. Diablo Astronomical Society

Serving Danville AAUW: Getting Together to Make a Difference

The Stars Belong to Everyone

By Jim Scala

By Jody Morgan

Drive up Mt. Diablo on April 20 to the lower summit parking lot to arrive by about 6:30PM for an inspiring evening with the stars. Thanks to the Mt. Diablo Astronomical Society (MDAS), you’ll see the universe as never before, and the night sky will take on new meaning. Many men and women will be standing by their telescopes and at the club’s observatory to show you celestial objects. You’ll see craters of the Moon, the rings of Saturn, Jupiter’s many colored markings along with its moons, and possibly a comet or galactic nebulae. The views will capture your imagination, and the night sky will never be the same again. Every An interested visitor looks at the Sun through a member’s solar telescope. visitor says, “Wow!” at least once during a viewing. At twilight, before observing starts, you’ll be treated to a short talk which this month asks, “Are we alone?” To make the point, some scopes will be set on another solar system – a sun with planets – to add perspective. You’ll leave around 11PM with new concepts to discuss on the escorted drive down the mountain.

You’ll want to return again in May. MDAS got started when the United States planned the Explorer satellites in the 1950s and the agency, that’s now NASA, asked amateur astronomers to help out. They asked amateurs to set up specialized small telescopes – moon-watch scopes – to spot and accurately time the satellites passage by the stars. These amateurs built and set up the scopes in a precisely laid out pattern so that their timings could be used

by NASA to determine the satellite’s orbit. Armed with the amateur’s data, professional astronoJupiter , showing its red spot and a moon as it will look on April 20th. mers turned the large Baker-Nunn tracking telescopes to follow and photograph the satellite. A small group of amateur astronomers and telescope makers from Contra Costa County formed the Mt. Diablo Astronomical society in 1957. They followed NASA’s request and stepped up to the country’s need. An astronomer described the MDAS’s timings simply: “They were so reliable we could count on them to come through every time.” Compliments don’t get better than that.

In those early days, the group met in members’ homes, discussed observing and telescope making, sometimes invited a guest and even had some astronomers lecture to the group. Slowly the membership grew and now boasts about 200 members. The group meets in the Lindsay Wildlife center on the fourth Tuesday of the month (third th

See MDAS continued on page 18

Local Postal Customer

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Our local branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) has been known as a branch “where the action is” since its inception in 1969. Currently called the Danville/Alamo/Walnut Creek Branch (DAW), the group has 286 members dedicated to promoting the national organization’s mission of advancing equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy, and research.

Smaller special interest groups within the branch as well as monthly programs give members a chance to socialize and share their personal passions for art, hiking, gourmet meals, literature, movies, mahjong, travel, and many more activities.

In the art category, two local branch members have had the satisfaction of national recognition in the AAUW Annual Art Contest, and a third member is about to be officially announced as a winner for 2013. Already posted on the national website as award winners in 2010 and 2011 respectively are Caroline

Gathering of AAUW local branch members. Left to right: Marian Bliss, Teresa Cheung, Tena Gallagher, Robin Halloran, Gail Clark, Carol Kennedy, Asha Bajaj, Holly Sauer, Kathie Hixon, and Marcia Steinhardt.

Sanchez’s “Little Italian Shop” and Jan Hersh’s “Good Morning Hibiscus.”

This year Hersh is chairing the second annual branch members’ Celebration of Creativity event scheduled for April 24th. Quilting, poetry, music, crafts, literary compositions, and a variety of visual art contributions will be included. The only challenge for Hersh will be finding enough time and space to properly showcases all the talent within the group.

Serendipity brought Hersh into the DAW fold. “The minute I purchased my home, the previous owner told me about AAUW and said that I had to join. In 1984, I attended a brunch, and 27 years later I am grateful for all the extra benefits I have gained because of getting involved,” she wrote in 2011. As past president of DAW, Hersh likes staying connected “with people who enjoy making a difference both locally and globally.”

See AAUW continued on page 6

Danville’s Third Earth Day Event

Join The Danville Library, Town of Danville Arts & Recreation Department, and Sustainable Danville Area as they throw our planet, and our community, a birthday party on Saturday, April 20th from noon - 4PM. The event will be held rain or shine.

The event is family-friendly with free activities, music, and good-eats that take over Volume IV - Number 6 the town green, the library, the gallery, and 3000F Danville Blvd. #117, Alamo, CA 94507 the Community Center.

(925) 405-6397 Last year’s Earth Day Student Art Show Fax (925) 406-0547 & Contest was so well received, that every Alamo and Danville K-12 student is invited to Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher participate in the this year’s 3rd annual event. editor@ All students’ artwork will be displayed at The yourmonthlypaper.com Village Theatre Art Gallery during the Earth Day opinions expressed herein belong celebration. A special reception honoring the The to the writers, and do not necessarily finalists will be held at 1PM in the gallery. reflect that of Danville Today News.

Danville Today News is not For info contact Cynthia Ruzzi at (925) responsible for the content of any of 895-5001, or email Sustainable Danville Area the advertising herein, nor does publication imply endorsement. at sustainabledanville@gmail.com.

Page 2 - April 2013 ~ Danville Today News

Boulevard View

By Alisa Corstorphine, Editor

www.yourmonthlypaper.com The Alamo Women’s Club presents

The Club presents Together We Women’s Give ~ Earth The Alamo Alamo Women’s Club presentsDay

I recently served as a judge of an esTogether Together We We Give Give ~ ~ Earth Earth Day Day say contest. Thirteen individuals took Date/Time: Sunday, AprilApril 21,21,1-1-4:00pm Date/Time: Sunday, 4:00pm the time to create and submit an entry.

Date/Time: Sunday, April 21, 1- 4:00pm Where: Where: 1401 Danville Blvd., 1401 Danville Blvd.,Alamo Alamo Where: 1401 Danville Blvd., Alamo Of those thirteen, one, perhaps two, How:Drive through Drive through and drop off!

How: and drop off!

How: Drive through and drop off!

Why: Community Donation Day Benefiting Local Charities followed all of the submission guideWhy:Community Community DonationDay Day Benefiting LocalLocal Charities Why: Donation Benefiting Charities lines. If I had my way, those would ~Be an Angel of Hope~ ~Be an Angel of Hope~ have been the only entries which were ~Be an Angel of Hope~ allowed to proceed. Allowing entries that don’t follow the instructions sends people the message that rules and directions don’t matter.

The guidelines gave directions as to how the entries needed to be formatted and presented - double spaced, 12pt font, and How can you help?

How can you help? assembled in a three-ring binder. The rules clearly stated only On April 21stst, clean out your closets, recycle, donate and help others through Together We Give’s Community Donation On April 21 , clean out your closets, recycle, donate and help others through Together We Give’s Community Donation Please note, since this is an item-specific drive, only items (not impacted by smoking) below will be one entry per person was allowed, however, three of the thirteen Day. Day. Please note, since this is an item-specific drive, only items (not impacted by smoking) below will be accepted. accepted. submitted two or more entries.  New/unused yarn (any type), knitting looms for hats/scarves, hat/scarf patterns for Knit For The Kids  New/unused yarn (any type), knitting looms for hats/scarves, hat/scarf patterns for Knit For The Kids youforhelp?  Bikes/protective gear (helmets/pads),How storagecan bins, DVDs Young Adults, educational CDs/DVDs, gardening kits I remember in a high school career class taking a test thatst  Bikes/protective gear (helmets/pads), storage bins, DVDs for Young Adults, educational CDs/DVDs, gardening kits & tools, suitcases, large duffle bags and backpacks, sports equipment, arts &Together crafts supplies, with Community CD player, On April 21 , clean out your closets, recycle, donate and help others through Weradios Give’s Do looked something like this: & tools, suitcases, large duffle bags and backpacks, sports equipment, arts & crafts supplies, radios with CD player, board games – ages 10-18, bath/face/hand towels, hair care products, digital cameras, clock radios, MP3 Music

Day. Please note, since this is an item-specific drive, only items (notdigital impacted smoking) below will be board games – ages 10-18, bath/face/hand towels, hair care products, cameras, by clock radios, MP3 Music CAN YOU FOLLOW DIRECTIONS? Players, non-perishable foods, gift cards for Youth Homes – Foster Care Players, non-perishable foods, gift cards for Youth Homes – Foster Care

 Vintage items, linens, jewelry, fashion accessories, housewares for Hospice of East Bay This is a timed test--you have 3 minutesaccepted. only!  Vintage items, linens, jewelry, fashion accessories, housewares for Hospice of East Bay  Jewelry, quality fashion accessories, perfume, holiday collectables, children’s books,for small and unique homeKids and  New/unused yarn (any type), knitting looms for hats/scarves, hat/scarf patterns Knit For The  Jewelry, quality fashion accessories, perfume, holiday collectables, children’s books, small and unique home and 1. Read everything carefully before doing anything. garden items, toys and games, new twin size bedding (blankets, sheets, bedspreads, pillow covers, mattress garden items, toys and games, new twin size bedding (blankets, sheets, bedspreads, pillow covers, mattress  Bikes/protective gear (helmets/pads), bins, DVDs for Young Adults, educational CDs/DVDs, gardenin covers), new towels, BART storage tickets for STAND! For Families Free of Violence 2. Put your name in the upper right-hand corner of this paper. covers), new towels, BART tickets for STAND! For Families Free of Violence & tools, suitcases, large duffle bags backpacks, arts & crafts supplies, radios with CD  Useable “sunshine gifts” –and a token of concern forsports Seniorsequipment, – packs of cards, hand creams, etc., clean/used sleeping Useable “sunshine gifts” – a token of concern for Seniors – packs of cards, hand creams, etc., clean/used sleeping 3. Circle the word NAME in sentence two. board games –ages bags,10-18, children bath/face/hand books, interview and towels, work clothes for care Men/Women and professional accessories clock (shoes, radios, scarves, MP3 Mu hair products, digital cameras, bags, children books, interview and work clothes for Men/Women and professional accessories (shoes, scarves, handbags, jewelry) for Wardrobe for Opportunity via VESTIA – Volunteer Emergency Services Team in Action 4. Draw five small squares in the upper left-hand corner. handbags, jewelry)gift for Wardrobefor for Youth Opportunity via VESTIA – Volunteer Emergency Services Team in Action Players, non-perishable foods,  Eyeglasses and hearingcards aids for Lion’s Club Homes – Foster Care  Eyeglasses and hearing aids for Lion’s Club 5. Put an “X” in each square.  Vintage items, linens, jewelry, fashion housewares for Hospice East Bay Diapers, baby clothes, baby accessories, toys, gently used strollers and car seats for Brighter of Beginnings  Diapers, baby clothes, baby toys, gently used strollers and car seats for Brighter Beginnings 6. Put a circle around each square.

School supplies, binders, nursery rhymeholiday books, puzzles, towels for swim day, heavy push toys such and as wagons,  Jewelry, quality fashion accessories, perfume, collectables, children’s books, small unique home School supplies, binders, nursery rhyme books, puzzles, towels for swim day, heavy push toys such as wagons, board games, sidewalk chalk, sand toys, buckets and shovels, Hot Wheel cars, jump ropes, boys dress up clothes, 7. Sign your name under the title of this paper. board games, sidewalk chalk, sand toys, buckets and shovels, Hot Wheel cars, jump ropes, boys dress up clothes, garden items, toysmen’s andties games, newServices twin size bedding (blankets, sheets, bedspreads, pillow covers, mattress for We Care for Children (ages 2-5) men’s ties for We Care Services for Children (ages 2-5) 8. After the title write, “Yes, yes, yes.”  Shoes, toiletries for Pledge To Humanity (donated to local Free Communities) covers), new towels, BART tickets for STAND! For Families of Violence  Shoes, toiletries for Pledge To Humanity (donated to local Communities)  Canned and boxed food for the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano 9. Put a circle completely around the sentence seven.  number Useable “sunshine gifts”and – aboxed token for Seniors packs cards, hand creams, etc., clean/used sle  Canned foodof forconcern the Food Bank of Contra – Costa and of Solano  Books, small pieces of furniture, Ewaste recycling - Computers, monitors, printers, laptops, TVs, iPods, stereos for  Books, small pieces of furniture, Ewaste recycling Computers, monitors, printers, laptops, TVs, iPods, stereos for 10. Put an “X” in the lower left-hand corner of this paper. bags, children books, interview and work clothes Men/Women and professional accessories (shoes, scarv CARH, Inc. (Community assistance for the for disabled) CARH, Inc. (Community assistance for the disabled)  Gently worn coats, hats, mittens for One Warm Coat for Wardrobe for Opportunity via VESTIA – Volunteer Emergency Services Team in Actio 11. Draw a triangle around the “X” you just handbags, put down. jewelry)  Gently worn coats, hats, mittens for One Warm Coat Gently used clothing (men, women & children), household goods, books, toilet paper, paper towels for Shepherd’s  by Eyeglasses and hearing aids for Lion’s Club Gently used clothing (men, women & children), household goods, books, toilet paper, paper towels for Shepherd’s 12. On the back of this paper, multiply 703 66.

Gate Gate  inDiapers, baby clothes, toys,forgently used strollers and car seats for Brighter Beginnings 13. Draw a rectangle around the word “corner” sentence six.  Musicalbaby instruments Local Schools  Musical instruments for Local Schools  binders, Blankets/Quilts for Contra Costa County puzzles, Sheriff - Valley Station School supplies, nursery rhyme books, towels for swim day, heavy push toys such as wago 14. On the reverse side of this paper, add8950 and 9805.  Blankets/Quilts for Contra Costa County Sheriff - Valley Station  Volunteer participation - puppy raising, assistance with special events and donations for Canine Companions for  Volunteer participation puppy raising, assistance with special events and donations for Canine Companions for board games, sidewalk chalk, sand toys, buckets and shovels, Hot Wheel cars, jump ropes, boys dress up cl 15. Put a circle around your answer, and put a square Independence Independence men’s ties for We Care Services for Children (ages 2-5) around the circle.

ForTo additional information, contact Singh at momshouseinc@ymail.com or go to  for Pledge Humanity (donated toPamela local Communities) For additional information, contact Pamela Singh at momshouseinc@ymail.com or go to 16. Punch three small holes in the top of thisShoes, paper toiletries with www.togetherwegive.org for the most current information. www.togetherwegive.org for the mostCosta currentand information.  Canned and boxed food for the Food Bank of Contra Solano your pencil point.

Donation receipts will be provided – all donations are tax deductible per laptops, government guidelines.  Books, small pieces of furniture, recycling - Computers, printers, TVs, iPods, stere DonationEwaste receipts will be provided – all donationsmonitors, are tax deductible per government guidelines.

17. Underline all even numbers on the left side of this paper.

CARH, Inc. (Community assistance for the disabled) 18. Now that you have finished reading everything care Gently worn coats, hats, mittens for One Warm Coat fully, do only sentences one and two.  Gently used clothing (men, women & children), household goods, books, toilet paper, paper towels for Sheph Unfortunately very few people passed the test. Most people rushed through items 2-17, completely ignoring item Gate number 1, until they got to the last question and said, “Oops!”.  Musical instruments for Local Schools Following directions is a fundamental skill.While it may seem logical, and even straightforward, to follow direcBlankets/Quilts for Contra Costa County Sheriff - Valley Station tions - be they navigational directions, product-usage directions, procedural or instructional directions, or cooking  Volunteer participation - puppy raising, assistance with special events and donations for Canine Companion directions, some people, when tackling a task, just wing it and hope for the best. However failure to follow directions Independence Custom Exercise + Custom Nutrition can be a waste of time, a waste of resources, or even dangerous. = Amazing Results Most directions have been developed so you will know whatFor to do, when to do it, and how tocontact do it right.

BakingSingh at momshouseinc@ymail.com additional information, Pamela or go to Koko FitClub is the first to bring strength is a great example to demonstrate the effect of not following directions.

If you just lump all thefor ingredients together www.togetherwegive.org the most current information. training, cardio exercise and nutrition planning instead of following proper temperature, order, or mixing procedures, most likely your creation will flop. If you together, customizing it precisely to your body It’s fast, motivating and so receipts will be provided – all donations and areyour taxgoals. deductible per government guide don’t follow directions when navigating you may never arrive Donation at your intended destination. effective, it’s patented.

In school, following directions is often a component in achieving a good grade. And, most jobs have procedures, manuals, and guidelines that have been developed over years of trial and error to satisfy tasks or requirements that the employee was hired for. In professions such as medicine, following directions could be a matter of life or death.

Trial Membership During Spring Break my daughter and I took a tour of the Guide Dogs for the Blind facility in San Rafael. The for Danville Today Readers! visit inspired my daughter to contemplate raising a guide-dog puppy. On the way home she started reading their Hurry! Offer expires 4/30/13.

250+ page manual, full of directions, on puppy handling and raising. After 70 years of raising guide dogs, they’ve amassed a wealth of knowledge and wrote a comprehensive manual for newcomers to follow which ensures the best chance of success for the puppy, the puppy raiser, the program, and the eventual recipient of a service dog.

This wonderful organization offers yet one more example of the importance of following instructions! (If you are looking for a fun, free, field trip check out their program, learn more at www.guidedogs.com).

In this fast-paced world of instant access to information, it’s tempting to assume we know what to do, and don’t 499B San Ramon Valley Blvd. • Danville, CA 94526 need instructions. Rushing through life can lead to adopting a casual attitude toward taking guidance. Taking the time 925-743-0802 • danville.kokofitclub.com to respect the wisdom of those who’ve come before us is a not only a good idea, it can save your grade in school, your job or career, or even your life. Slow down, read the instructions, and breathe easier.

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Danville Today News ~ April 2013 - Page 3

Residents Sought for Vacancies

The Town of Danville is looking for community-minded residents to fill vacancies on four Town committees/commissions. The following positions are available: • Arts Commission: Four members, 4-year term begins July 1st • Parks and Leisure Services Commission: Four regular/One alternate 4-year terms begins July 1st • Parks and Leisure Services Commission: Youth Representative 2-year term begins July 1st • County Connection Citizens Advisory Committee: 2-year term begins immediately • Poet Laureate: 2-year term begins July 1st Applications are available on the Town’s website at www.danville.ca.gov and must be submitted to the City Clerk’s office no later than 4PM on May 22nd.

Interviews will take place on June 4th, June 11th, or June 18th. The Town Council will appoint commissioners at their June 18 meeting.

For more information, contact City Clerk Marie Sunseri at (925) 314-3401 or msunseri@ danville.ca.gov.

Danville’s Top 1% Producers SOLD w/Multiple Offers

217 Monterosso Court, Danville

Volunteers Needed for Lenda-Hand Day

The Town of Danville is looking for individuals to assist as volunteers for the Annual Lend-A-Hand Day event. On Saturday, April 27th from 8am to 3pm, volunteers will be helping local seniors with their spring yard cleanup. This annual event is in honor of Older Americans Month (May), and will bring the community together to help the senior residents. Individuals and groups are encouraged to volunteer to assist with a work crew.

To volunteer, visit www.danville.ca.gov/ volunteer_opportunities. For questions, or to sign up by phone, contact Volunteer Program Specialist Julie Mason at (925) 314-3458.

Visit www.danville.ca.gov or call (925) 314-3400 for more information.

Pending in 1 Day w/Multiple Offers 31 Via Hermosa, Orinda

Danville Home Sales Bed/Bath List Price Sale Price 370 Adagio Drive 302 Bonaire Court 30 Bordeaux Court 1700 Camino Ramon 10 Chadbourne Drive 1512 Colchester Street 358 Cordell Drive 301 Culet Drive 1173 Delta Way 2451 Diablo Ranch Place 531 Ferncroft Court 3069 Griffon Street East 352 La Questa Drive 17 Leeds Court West 1943 Mantova Street 836 Matadera Circle 911 Matadera Way 45 Meadow Blossom Court

4/3½ 4/3 4/3 4/2½ 4/3 5/4 4/4 3/3½ 3/2 4/3½ 3/2 3/2 4/3 4/2 6/5½ 3/2½ 4/2½ 4/3

Morning with the Mayor

$949,000 $951,000 $769,950 $797,500 $750,000 $754,000 $615,000 $615,000 $737,200 $755,000 $999,950 $985,000 $1,649,500 $1,649,500 $1,101,250 $1,125,000 $749,900 $780,000 $2,175,000 $1,950,000 $620,000 $565,000 $799,000 $815,000 $1,399,000 $1,500,000 $882,000 $882,000 $987,000 $987,000 $1,049,000 $1,075,000 $1,250,000 $1,190,000 $890,000 $920,000

217 Monterosso Court 1263 Monterosso Street 12 Osborn Way 1672 Saint David Drive 137 Saint Francis Court 50 San Carlo Court 132 Sonora Avenue 35 Stanton Court 127 Sunhaven Road 100 Timberline Court 98 Toyon Terrace 673 Tunbridge Road 202 Viewpoint Drive 3911 Welshland Street 3860 Welshland Street 93 Woodmont Court 88 Woodmont Court 539 Zenith Ridge Drive

Thinking of Selling?

5/4½ 4/3½ 3/2½ 3/2 5/3½ 4/2½ 5/4 5/3 4/3½ 6/2 4/3 4/3 5/3 4/5 4/3½ 4/3 4/2½ 4/3

$1,295,000 $1,310,000 $899,000 $920,000 $569,000 $538,000 $759,000 $759,000 $995,000 $1,090,000 $849,000 $842,000 $1,550,000 $1,650,000 $949,000 $971,500 $1,295,000 $1,310,000 $999,800 $965,000 $755,000 $702,000 $919,900 $909,000 $959,000 $971,000 $999,000 $1,004,000 $879,900 $883,500 $799,000 $790,000 $729,000 $690,000 $725,000 $760,000

Put the power of a top producing real estate team After a two month hiatus, Morning with the th Mayor will be returning on Friday, April 12 . and the East Bay’s #1 real estate firm to work for you!

The program will return in a modified format Spring Fashion Extravaganza from 7:30am to 8:30am at the Veterans Memorial Building located at 400 Hartz Ave. A Spring Fashion Extravaganza is coming to Danville on Thursday, May in Danville. The event will provide residents with updates on Town projects and 2nd. The GFWC Danville Women’s Club is holding their 31st annual fashion programs four times during the year: show and luncheon, the 17th benefitting Hospice of the East Bay, at Crow • April 12: Highlights from the Mayor’s State of the Town Address Canyon Country Club located at 711 Silver Lake Drive in Danville.

• June 28: Budget and CIP Overview This year, four wonderful local merchants will be participating in the • September 27: Highlights on Completed Capital Projects and Ongoing Programs show. They are, Christina’s Fine Women’s Clothing, Francesca’s Collections, • January 24, 2014: The Year Ahead Georgiou, and Honeybee Boutique. Tickets are $40 for the lunch and the show Morning with the Mayor will also be an opportunity for community organizaand may be purchased at Christina’s (145 E. Prospect – downtown Danville), tions and service clubs to send representatives to learn more about the Town’s Francesca’s Collections (in Blackhawk Plaza), from Danville Women’s Club efforts and share information on their activities. Residents will continue to have women, or you can call Ann at 925-736-9144 or email her at asmilan@comcast.net for tickets and information. Seating is assigned based on the receipt the opportunity to meet with and hear from the mayor to discuss issues in the of ticket payments. Please note tickets will not be sold at the door.

Town of Danville.

The event starts at 11:30AM with check-in. There will be many marvelous For those unable to attend, Morning with the Mayor will be videotaped and Opportunity Drawing items available which have been donated by local busiavailable for viewing on the Town’s website and social media. nesses. Guests may purchase Drawing tickets which are 20 tickets for $5. The For more information on Morning with the Mayor, contact Assistant to from Drawing tickets go to local charities. Lunch will be served at the Town Manager Nat Rojanasathira at (925) 314-3328 or nrojanasathira@ proceeds 12:15PM followed by the fashion show. danville.ca.gov.

Come out, celebrate spring, and participate in this spectacular fundraising event. Bring your mom, sister, daughter, other relative or friend for an afternoon of fashion and fun!

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Page 4 - April 2013 ~ Danville Today News

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Veterans of Foreign Wars

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW) will be held on Wednesday, April 17th. The VFW Post 75 of San Ramon Valley meets every third Wednesday of the month at the Veterans Memorial Building located at 400 Hartz Avenue in Danville. The building is located on the corner of East Prospect Avenue and Hartz Avenue.

Doors open at 7PM, and the meeting begins at 7:30PM. For more information, contact Post Commander Ernie Petagara at (925) 362-9806. Find out more about the VFW and our Post on the internet at www.vfwpost75.org.

Delta Nu Psi Collections for the Troops

Thank you from Delta Nu Psi to the shoppers in Alamo and Danville. We have sent 26,260 pounds of “gourmet junk food” to our servicemen in the War Zone.

The next collections will occur on April 5th at CVS Pharmacy in Alamo and on April 12th at Lunardi's in Danville. The hours for collecting are 11AM to 2PM at both stores. Along with the “gourmet junk food” we always appreciate money for postage. It costs $1/pound to mail the boxes. Visit our website deltanupsi.org for more information and new photos.

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Requiem for a Heavyweight

Join Role Players Ensemble (RPE) as it transforms the Village Theatre located at 233 Front Street in Danville, into a 1950’s Television Studio and performs Requiem for a Heavyweight April 26 - May 18. This multimedia homage to the early days of live television will feature not only the original TV drama but the experience of being in 1956 during the birth of television’s modern culture!

For tickets, visit www.villagetheatreshows.com, call (925) 314-3400, or stop by the Community Center at 420 Front St. For more information, visit www.danvilletheatre.com.

Valley Teen Idol

The San Ramon Valley Rotary Club has completed auditions for their 8th annual Valley Teen Idol competition. Over 25 local talented teens will be moving on to the Semi-Final and Final competitions. The Semi-Finals for vocalists is scheduled for April 10th. The Finals for Instrumentals, will be held April 30th and Finals for Vocalists, take place May 1st. All shows will be held at the Village Theatre, 233 Front Street, Danville and begin at 6pm.

Tickets for all shows can be purchased at www.sanramonvalleyrotary.com.

Food will be provided by local restaurants and there will be raffle drawings for gift baskets. Come and support your local community and vote for your favorite performer. For more information, call Sharon Mace at 510 909-8791.

Lost Dog!

$50 REWARD

If you find him and your name is drawn!

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

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

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

Debbie Munoz is our winner!

Operation Smile is a non-profit organization that provides free surgeries for children who suffer from cleft lip or cleft palate. A child can be saved from a lifetime of pain, shame, and isolation with a 45 minute procedure that only costs $240.

You can support Operation Smile by attending their fundraising Walk for Kids event on Sunday, April 28th. The walk will take place at Dougherty Valley High School, located at 10550 Albion Road in San Ramon, from 8AM to 11AM. Registration for the event costs $20 for students, $35 for adults, and $100 for a family.

To learn more about the Walk for Kids or Operation Smile, e-mail ChildrenSmileCA@gmail.com or visit www.OperationSmile.org/SmileCA5K.

Danville Community Band Spring Concert

Join the Danville Community Band as it travels through 200 years of American music classics and marches on with their concert, “Americana,” to be held on Sunday, April 14th at 2pm.

The performance will be held in the main gallery of the Blackhawk Auto Museum, located at 3700 Blackhawk Plaza Circle, Danville. Come see the fabulous auto galleries, tour the current exhibits, and enjoy a concert.

The concert is FREE with Admission into the Museum (free for museum members). For more information please call 925-736-2277 or visit www. blackhawkmuseum.org, or www.danvilleband.org.

Gold Coast Chamber Players

Gold Coast Chamber Players will double in size to present American Frontiers on Saturday, April 13 at 7:30PM at the Lafayette Library, 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd. in Lafayette. Composer, Alan Louis Smith will give a preconcert talk at 7PM that will provide insight into his music.

Reserve your tickets at www.gcplayers.org or by calling (925) 283-3728.

Broadway Blitz! with the Blackhawk Chorus

The Blackhawk Chorus announces Broadway Blitz!, a concert of music from the very best of modern Broadway. Shows will be performed at Dublin’s Resurrection Lutheran Church on Saturday, May 11th at 7pm and at Livermore’s Bankhead Theatre on Sunday, May 19th at 3pm.

“Broadway Blitz!,” features the full 140 member Blackhawk Chorus accompanied by its outstanding jazz quintet. The show highlights some extraordinary music and lyrics from recent Broadway hits. The Blackhawk Chorus has included a selection of songs from Les Miserables in this program. Beauty and the Beast is also highlighted with a medley of the key songs in this fabulous production.

Then there’s Mamma Mia! from the ABBA musical of the same name, “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life” from Spamalot (and originally from the Monty Python movie Life of Brian), “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” from The Lion King and much more. This is yet another in a series of cannot miss Blackhawk Chorus concerts that will attract music lovers of all ages.

Tickets for the Resurrection Lutheran Church concert are available by calling the church office at 925-828-1580, Monday – Friday, 9AM to 1PM. Tickets are $25 for adults and $12 for children 12 and under. The Church is located at 7557 Amador Valley Boulevard in Dublin. Tickets for the performance at the Bankhead Theatre are available from their website www.mylvpac.com, or by calling 925373-6800. Bankhead tickets are priced at $25 for adults and $17 for children 12 and under. The Theatre is located at 2400 1st St., Livermore.

For more information visit www.blackhawkchorus.com.

editor@yourmonthlypaper.com

Danville Today News ~ April 2013 - Page 5

Wind ‘n Sea Sailing Club

The non-profit Wind ‘n Sea Sailing Club is holding a sailing training class at a member’s home in Danville on Wednesday, April 24th at 7PM. This class will be “Introduction to Sailing on the San Francisco Bay,” and it will be followed by further sailing classes. Contact Jan at (925) 837-3381, for further information.

Alamo-Danville Newcomers Club

Please join us at a free Welcome Coffee on Thursday, April 25th, from 10 to noon to learn about the Club. For more information, call 925-281-1307.

AM

Spring is in the Air at the Danville Livery

2013

Help celebrate the change of seasons at the Danville Livery on Saturday, April 27th from noon – 3PM. Bring the family and enjoy free kids’ train rides, live music, magic, face painting, balloon twisting, arts & crafts, bounce house, Busy Bee Dog Show, and more!

For more information, visit www.danvillelivery.com or www.facebook.com/ danvillelivery and “like” us. The Danville Livery is located at the intersection of Sycamore Valley Rd. and San Ramon Valley Blvd. in Danville.

Blackhawk Republican Women

The Blackhawk Republican Women Federated cordially invites you and your friends to attend their Spring Luncheon on April 17th where they will be celebrating new and perspective members.

The event will be held at the Blackhawk Country Club, located at 577 Blackhawk Club Drive in Danville, with a social starting at 11:30AM and lunch being held at noon. All are welcome to attend.

An added treat for this special social event is Edelweiss Geary presenting the History of the Republican Party. Mrs. Geary is Chair of the Legislative Committee for the National Federation of Republican Women (NFRW). As a student of history and an expert on Republican history, Edelweiss believes it is critical to study the principles the party was founded on and to work to maintain those principles.

To reserve your place at the event, contact Marilyn Bradley by writing 116 Sedgefield Court, San Ramon, CA 94583, e-mailing marebradley@aol. com, or calling (925) 828-2360. Cost is $25 per person.

Child Abuse Prevention Event

Child Abuse Prevention is the national program of the Exchange Club.

The National Exchange Club operates over 100 Child Abuse Prevention Centers (CAPS) and affiliates throughout the U.S. that provide parenting information, advice, and referrals to various family services.

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and Saturday, April 20th is Child Abuse Prevention Day. The day will be observed at Lunardi’s Market, north entrance on Railroad Ave. in Danville, from 9AM to 12PM. Parents are invited to bring their children to be fingerprinted by the Danville Police Auxiliary and to pick up pamphlets containing advice on all kinds of parent-child issues.

There will also be a big red fire truck and a small petting zoo with a pony ride provided by Little Red’s Barnyard Friends. Exchange Club members will be handing out Child Safety Information Kits to parents.

For more information, contact Chairperson Alicia Watson at 838-7570, or Mrs.W@comcast.net, or visit srvexchangeclub.org.

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Simple Edge is a low overhead, independent real estate broker.

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The San Ramon Valley Republican Women Fed Presents

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San Ramon Valley Republican Women Federated Property Rights +Water Wrongs = Derailing America!

On Tuesday, April 23rd property rights advocate Debbie Bacigalupi will speak to the San Ramon Valley Republican Women Federated group. Debbie is a sixth generation Californian. Her family members areFounder ranchers and Heather Gass, of the East Bay Tea Party farmers in Siskiyou County and are under heavy environmental attack. She is an“The avid Dark researcher Side of Sustainability” for truth, and a modern day Paul Revere. Debbie Prior to becoming an activist for private property rights and for liberty, Heather was a net attended the 2012 Rio Earth Summit/United Nafor 17 years. She is the author of three technical books and dozens of IT training videos. I tions Conference on Sustainable Development. founded the East Bay Tea Party which has over 3000 members and affiliates nationwide. H She speaks on private property and water rights, Party group’s major focus is Agenda 21 and private property rights. Heather has been edu the attack on rural America,groups the threats tothe farmers, motivating conservative all over state and has become an expert on One Bay A ranchers, food, dams, water supply, and government of Bay Area Governments (ABAG)overregulation, and 9 Bay Area Regional Planning. Ifcorrupyou have been th tion. Debbie ranforfortheCongress in the 14 District. graduated is planned Town of Danville by 2030, you She just might want toSumma come to Cum our January Laude from Notre Dame de Namur with a BS in Business and a Masters in Business Management. Don’t miss this program!

The luncheon takes place at the Crow Canyon Country Club located at 711 AM Silver Lake Drive in Danville. Social~time begins at 11:30 . At noon lunch 11:30am Social will be served, and the presentation will start. The cost is $25.

For reservations,~call at 925-837-5465 or email srvrwf.lunch@gmail.

12Mary Noon Luncheon and Speaker ~ $25.00 th com. Reservations are due by Friday, April 19 . To assure yourself a place at the table, make reservation early!

For your reservations, call Mary 925.837.5465 For more information about the event or San Ramon Valley or e-mail: srvrwf.lunch@gmail.com Republican Women Federated, please visit www.srvrwf.org.

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

* Reservations Due by Thursday, January 17, 201 To assure yourself a place at the table, make your reserva

Garden Tour

San Ramon Valley Republican Women Federa The Danville-Alamo-Walnut Creek American Association of University th th Women’s (AAUW) 13 Annual Garden Tour will be held Friday, May 10 and www.srvrwf.org th AM PM Saturday, May 11 from 10 - 4 . Tickets are available at www.aauw-daw.org and East Bay Flower Company located at 206 Sycamore Valley Rd.W in Danville.

Proceeds benefit aspiring women scholars. AAUW advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy, and research.

Page 6 - April 2013 ~ Danville Today News

GET READY STAINED PATIO?

AAUW continued from front page

Following its founding in 1881, AAUW conducted its We’ll Power Wash it for first research project in 1885 you, and blast all of those documenting the then startling discovery that higher nasty cobwebs from the All outdoor living education was not detrimental eaves of your home at areas power washed to women’s health. A 2010 no additional charge.

AAUW study entitled Why starting at $249 SO Few? Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and • FRIENDLY RELIABLE SERVICE Mathematics speaks to an issue DAW addresses by sending • LICENSED BONDED & local middle school girls to INSURED #833462 Tech Trek, a weeklong sum• FREE CONSULTATIONS mer science and math program held on college campuses. Tech Trek captures the attention of girls at a vulnerable age when many abandon science and math as “nerdy” pursuits. In DECKS • DRIVEWAYS • FENCES • FLAGSTONE 2012 DAW scholarships sent PATIOS • STUCCO • BRICKWORK • WALKWAYS 13 local students (selected by HOUSING EXTERIORS • OUTDOOR FURNITURE a DAW review board from recommended by 9 2 5 - 9 5 3 - 3 5 3 7 candidates educators) to Tech Trek.

DAW past president Teresa Cheung creditsAAUW with raising her consciousness of women’s issues and giving her the confidence to make something happen within her own professional organization: theAmerican Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE).

Invited as president of the Northern California chapter to give the 1994 welcome address at the national convention, Cheung decided to make her words count. At the time there were 200 AIChE fellows of whom only two were women. Instead of the expected speech thanking everyone for their help with the table arrangements, Teresa challenged the group to take action. “ Whether it is within our AIChE Council, in academia or in the industry, when there are more role models for our girls, everyone will benefit.”

Cheung’s role in establishing a permanent Women’s Institute Committee is recognized on AIChE’s website as one of its 40 Mileposts of Professional and Institute Progress.

Marianne Gagen, another DAW past president, served on the SRVUSD Board for 12 years. She writes: “My experience with AAUW was very instrumental in giving me the skills and self confidence to run and become a school board member. The leadership skills that were modeled by other members were invaluable.

I learned how to set goals, to run meetings, to work with people of differing ideas and perspectives, and to study issues in a comprehensive way.”

In addition to actively supporting local schools, DAW gives merit-based scholarships to local women entering their junior year in college or engaged in post-graduate programs.

Last year seven of the overwhelmingly qualified applicants were chosen as scholarship recipients. As Kathie Hixon, also a DAW past president, explains: “It’s not about the dollar amount but about recognizing the value/merit in each of our women recipients.

This is empowering.” DAW’s Holiday Home Tour finances both Tech Trek and local scholarships. The community benefits twice over: viewing homes exquisitely appointed with seasonal décor and rewarding local women pursuing their educational dreams.

As part of the local branch’s achievements, DAW has raised nearly $400,000 since 1969 to fund issues for women locally, nationally and around the world. Donations from branch members as well as funds raised by the annual May Garden Tour placed DAW second in the nation for 2012 branch contributions to the AAUW National Funds. Save the dates for this year’s tour on May 10th and 11th.

Members join AAUW for a variety of reasons. Asha Bajaj wanted “to be part of a community of like-minded people with some larger purpose fostering equity and providing meaningful conversation.”As a DAW past president, she enjoys being part of a group that is “local, but with a global reach.” The upcoming program on Women’s Issues in Africa on April 13th focuses on the global interests of local members. For information on attending as a guest, contact Membership Chair Tena Gallagher Tena@aol.com.

Tena Gallagher has served in many positions since joining DAW. She originally became involved while seeking a social group when her youngest child entered kindergarten. “As a past president, I have seen what a gathering of goal oriented women can accomplish when we are all working toward the same goal: Making the world a better place for women and girls, whether it’s our grandmothers or our granddaughters, ourselves or our daughters.

FOR SPRING!

See AAUW continued on page 17

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2013 – The Year of the Library

By District 2 Supervisor Candace Andersen

The Contra Costa County Library system is turning 100 this year, and the Board of Supervisors has declared 2013 as the Year of the Library. Since our District has some of the newest and most comprehensive library buildings and programs in the County, I thought it would be timely to highlight some of them and some of the technology used in the County system.

Last year the Contra Costa Library system was one of only ten recipients of the National Medal for Museum and Library Service.

The National Medal is the nation’s highest honor conferred on museums and libraries for service to the community and celebrates institutions that make a difference for individuals, families, and communities.

The Contra Costa County Library is also recognized as a leader among libraries implementing technology. Snap & Go, a mobile application utilizing QR code technology, puts new and existing library content and services into the hands of mobile phone users. The service is designed to satisfy the reading and information needs of County residents at times when their local community library is closed or when they cannot make it into a library building. Another innovation, LINK+ is a great free service you can use to borrow books not available at a Contra Costa County Library. It's a cooperative effort among many California and Nevada libraries. You can use your Contra Costa County Library card to place a hold on up to 10 items that you pick up at your local Library. From the library’s website ccclib.org you can also download e-books and audio books in various formats, and access a significant amount of research materials.

Danville Library - In 2006 the Danville Library celebrated its 10th anniversary at its current location as well as 100 years of library service in the Town of Danville. It houses a strong collection of over 78,000 children’s, teens, and adult materials. Among the many resources available are six catalog computers and 33 public Internet terminals, including an ADA computer workstation. Early Literacy Computers are pre-loaded with many fun and interactive activities for children ages 2-8 to help them develop their reading skills. Library staff regularly offers educational programs for all ages including author presentations, story times, children's performances, computer workshops, book discussion groups and teen programming. The library is also proud of unique services such as Books for the Homebound, Stories-to-Go preschool program, and one-on-one computer instruction.

Walnut Creek Libraries - Walnut Creek is fortunate to have two libraries. The Walnut Creek Library in Civic Park which was built in 2010, and the Ygnacio Valley Library on Oak Grove Road.

The new Walnut Creek library opened in July 2010. It was funded through a private-public partnership, with $34 million from the City of Walnut Creek and $5 million raised by the Walnut Creek Library Foundation. It has a large children’s wing and garden, a Teen Zone, a Business and Career Center, a Technology Center, and three group study rooms. It also has the Oak View meeting room, which seats 150, and the 16-seat Las Trampas conference room both can be rented through the City of Walnut Creek. Special collections include a Russian language collection, and an expanded health and wellness collection funded by John Muir Health. There are 39 pieces of public art and local artists may apply to display their work at the Community Art Gallery.

The Ygnacio Valley Library opened its doors in 1975. It sits on the site of a former walnut orchard. In 2004, the Walnut Creek Library Foundation and Contra Costa County Library worked together to remodel the interior.

It’s considered a popular neighborhood hangout known for its cookbooks, mysteries, and an “Investment Corner.” Their collections have been by enhanced greatly by the Friends of the Ygnacio Valley Library.

All of our libraries in District 2 share the common theme of being built through tremendous support from the community. Each continues to thrive with not only dedicated library staff, but enhanced programs and additional hours of operation thanks to the contributions of time and generous support by Library Friends and Foundations. I offer my very sincere thanks and appreciation to all who make our libraries such an important part of our communities.

Learn more about the libraries at ccclib.org.

editor@yourmonthlypaper.com

Sustainable Danville Area Tip of the Month It’s Time for a Picnic

It is just two days past Spring Equinox and Mother Nature has spring fever. The poppies are flourishing along with many other colorful blooms. Even after what has proven to be our driest winter, our hills are green. This column isn’t focused on just one Tip of the Month, but it’s more of a picnic – a smorgasbord of “Where to Find Sustainable Tips.”

For almost three years, we’ve shared information on everything from the benefits of biking, to finding and eating local food, to sustainable landscaping, to home energy diets, eco-travel, raising chickens, and using eco-friendly art supplies. These articles are still available to you online from this paper at www.yourmonthlypaper.com/archives.html and on the Sustainable Danville Area website at www.sustainabledanville.com.

I’m often asked to describe what sustainable living is. Simply it’s “making choices that allow our resources to continue to be available for our children and their children.” It is, “ living as though there’s no Planet B.” With this in mind, and in honor of Earth Day (which is celebrated worldwide by hundreds of millions of people in over 184 countries), here are some of our favorite places for information and tips to care for our corner of this wonderful planet.

Gardening - Hands down the Contra Costa Master Gardeners have it ‘going on.’ These trained volunteers are residents of local communities that provide University of California research-based horticultural information to the citizens of California. In addition to hosting local lectures, their website is filled with tips for school gardens, edible gardens, and drought and native landscaping. Visit http://ccmg.ucdavis.edu for more information.

Composting & Recycling - Central Contra Costa Solid Waste Authority offers terrific information at www.wastediversion.org on where to recycle just about anything. You’ll also find a calendar for composting workshops, including worm composting!

PG&E - Saving energy in your home is not just good for the planet, it’s good for your pocketbook. PG&E has great tools at http://pge.com/ myhome to track your electric and gas usage online. They make it easy to do a self-audit of your home energy to find and prevent energy loss.

Environmental Working Group - The powerhouse site found at www.ewg.org is our ‘go-to’ place for everything. They have a cosmetic database, a Dirty Dozen list (which recommends the best fruits and vegetables to buy organic in order to avoid pesticides), and guides on sunscreens, home cleaners and other daily-use products.

Picnic on the Green!

The Town of Danville, The Danville Library, and Sustainable Danville Area present the 3rd Annual Town of Danville Earth Day Event on Saturday, April 20th from noon until 4pm at the Town Green, at the Danville Library, at the Community Center and at the Village Theatre Art Gallery all located at Front Street in downtown Danville.

The Town of Danville Earth Day event is a free, fun, and informative way for residents and visitors of all ages to learn about green building, sustainable landscape design, solar power, home energy efficiency products, waste reduction, recycling, water conservation, and much more!

Pack your picnic or purchase lunch and snacks al fresco from La Boulange Bakery while enjoying music from local band, Other People’s Money. Play with our Giant Earth Ball, visit with hybrid/electric car and electric bicycle owners, and participate in popular hands-on activities at interactive booths, including: • Get ready to experience nature with Peanuts…Naturally! Fun, creative, environmental crafts and activity stations presented by the Charles M. Schulz Museum.

• Plant a seed to start your summer vegetable garden with The Bounty Garden and Urban Farmers.

• Explore the wonderful world of worms and composting for busy people.

• Make an Earth Day pledge to reduce, re-use, or recycle. See how every choice counts, and help the Earth Day Tree grow! Everyone who adds a ‘leaf pledge’ will be entered into an hourly raffle to win a “Get Your Green On” reusable book bag.

Danville Today News ~ April 2013 - Page 7 • Afternoon speaker series includes: Green Your Home, Replace your Lawn with Drought Tolerant Plants and Enjoying Local, Organic Foods for a Healthy Planet.

• Be inspired at story time with special tales and eco-friendly ideas to celebrate the Earth all year.

• Measure your carbon footprint.

• Be dazzled by art from local students at the Earth Day Student Art Show in the Village Theatre Art Gallery. (Students: visit www.sustainabledanville. com for details to enter contest before April 5th) • Discover if solar energy is right for your home.

• Try new veggies from Community Supported Agriculture Farms – Full Belly Farms and Doorstep Farmers.

Students from San Ramon Valley High School Environmental Club are hosting free bicycle parking for the event, so please consider arriving on two wheels or by foot as parking is limited for the event. We hope to see you there!

Page 8 - April 2013 ~ Danville Today News

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Youth & Government - Recently, San Ramon Valley students successfully participated in California YMCA Youth & Government Model Legislature & Court Program.

Over the course of five days, 112 students from San Ramon Valley High School (SRVHS) and over 2,400 students state-wide participated in the 65th California YMCA Model Legislature & Court Program held in Sacramento. This local delegation goes by the name SRV Valle Lobo. Students have been preparing to take over the Capitol Building, Court Chambers, and Convention Center in this mock government program since September. Youth & Government delegates are the only youth in the state allowed to use the actual Senate and Assembly chambers as they take on the roles of legislators, lobbyists, reporters, national issues commissioners, legislative analysts, political party members, and more.

Within program areas, Valle Lobo delegates were honored for their work. Among those honored are freshmen Chris Taverrite, who was elected to Forum Sergeant at Arms, senior Sammi Auer, who was appointed to Editor-In-Chief of the media, senior Jameson Davis and junior Madeline Powell, who earned recognition as Outstanding Trial Court Attorneys, and sophomore Nick Friedler and seniors Katie Lencioni and Emily Lucente, who were recognized for their contributions to the Political Party program area.

This year, the SRV Valle Lobo delegation, centered at SRVHS, was awarded two exemplary awards: the Delegation of Distinction and the Youth Governors Challenge Award, which is only awarded to one delegation in the entire state and is awarded by the elected Youth Governor. Delegation of Distinction is very difficult for a large delegation to achieve, but through positive behavior, voting, participation that’s above and beyond, and community service, the award was earned.

Serving this outstanding delegation is a team of 12 volunteer advisors lead by Kim Lockett, a 20 year advising veteran and former state-wide Advisor of the Year. Many of the advisors were Lockett’s delegates when they were in high school. Without these adults volunteering their free time, this program would not be possible.

“Democracy must be learned by each generation,” is the motto for the Youth & Government program, and yet again, the students in this valley are demonstrating their commitment to this motto.

For more information about Youth & Government, contact Lauren Itow, Program Coordinator, at (510) 542-2129.

Spring is Upon Us!

By Maria Ward, Principal St. Isidore School

April begins with the most important season in our Catholic faith, Easter. Lent was a “Time for Change” and Easter is a time to celebrate the Resurrection of Christ. We take time to acknowledge and appreciate the sacrifice Jesus made for us by dying on the cross.

We congratulate our eighth grade students who applied to De La Salle and Carondelet High Schools. They were all accepted and are looking forward to their next educational venture.

We are fortunate to have an amazing community! What makes St. Isidore School such a special place is evident by watching our students and the goodness they bring to our world, while directly affecting those around us. Some of our students wanted to help make a difference in our local community. They decided to collect new and slightly used shoes to donate to underprivileged children of Contra Costa County. The group organized themselves, made posters and flyers, and talked to our student body. Students arrived every morning and afternoon to collect all the shoes. It was remarkable to see the response they received. Everyone was happy to participate for this great cause. Our school really is about educating the whole child and ensuring that they are good stewards of society.

This month our students are looking forward to many activities. Student Leadership will sponsor an electronic recycling drive on Saturday, April 13th. Everyone is encouraged to bring used tech equipment down to our school for recycling.

Many students are in rehearsal mode for our drama performance. It will be held on Thursday, April 11th and Friday, April 12th at 7PM. Please come and see all of the talent our students bring to the stage! Tickets can be purchased at the door. Classes are also beginning to practice for our school Spring Concert, which will be held on May 9th.

We concludeApril with our second grade students receiving the sacrament of First Holy Communion on Saturday, April 27th. This is a wonderful celebration for our students.

They each spend great time preparing for this important moment in their young lives. The teachers do a spectacular job of teaching the meaning of this sacrament in our Catholic faith.

St. Isidore School is a wonderful place with a fabulous community. Each day we recognize how blessed we are to be a part of it. Happy spring!

SRV Christian Academy

By Jan Brunkal, Principal

We are rested from Easter vacation and ready to complete the last quarter! April marks the “beginning of the end” of our year together. Our eighth graders are already looking towards graduation, and their first end-of-the-year activity was the eighth grade play. Our graduating students performed the junior version of Alice in Wonderland as a gift to our school body. They worked for weeks to learn lines, songs, paint scenery, and design costumes. We enjoyed their three performances, and will treasure the last two of months we have with them.

Also in April, we begin to assess our knowledge after another year of learning. All K-8th grade students will take the Terranova Standardized Test.

These tests offer almost immediate information to our parents and teachers who can partner together to make the most of students’ academic experiences.

We have been proud of our overall achievement where the average SRVCA student historically ranks 70-95% to that of the national average. It is great for students and teachers to see the fruits of their labors after a year of hard work!

At the end of the month, our sixth graders spend four days and three nights at Alliance Redwood Camp for an outdoor education program. Our students learn about God, our Creator through science and nature classes. The “Leap of Faith,” “Flying Squirrel,” and night hike are always favorite activities for our campers. This is a great bonding time for our students, and memories will be shared for years from this experience.

Here at the Academy we consider it a privilege to partner with other CPC ministries to share in God’s work together. We are grateful for the friendships developed, particularly with Children’s Ministries, the Youth Department, CPP, and Prime Time. Thanks also to our CPC congregation whose members have joined us for chapel, offered service opportunities, and been guest speakers and/ or volunteers. It truly does take a village (or a church!) to raise our kids today.

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Stone Valley Middle School

Danville Today News ~ April 2013 - Page 9

By Shaun K. McElroy, Principal

The new Common Core State Standards (CCSS)are the primary focus of all educators across the nation. Below are examples of the Stone Valley’s implementation for CCSS.

Inside the Common Core Classroom

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During the week of March 19th, I had the opportunity th to “play teacher” in an 8 grade science class and teach a lesson on stellar cartography. I used a lesson that I developed when I taught astronomy as a science elective in the 1980’s here at Stone Valley. I know that reviving a lesson from 20+ years ago does not seem like progress, however, we needed to remake the lesson to fit the CCSS norms.

Earlier this year we had several teachers demonstrate and perform an “extreme lesson makeover” to adjust to the CCSS format, so that was the methodology we applied Showrooms in Pleasanton, Benicia, and Fairfield. to this lesson. I started the process using the lesson plan www.SpecialtySales.com | 800.600.2262 format from the New Teacher Center (www.newteachercenter.org) and peer reviewed the lesson with two other teachers. Here’s the breakdown of the lesson components: Charlotte Wood Middle School • Aligned the lesson with the next generation science standards.

By Christopher George, Principal • Created an introduction that activates students prior knowledge.

It is hard to believe but we are entering into • Incorporated a student movement activity. the fourth quarter of the year. As soon as Spring • Technology components – back channel communication (www.todaysmeet.com), Break is over we will be discussing the end of the Bluetooth sound system, PowerPoint, and document camera year expectations and activities with our eighth • Added a range of depth of knowledge questions from 1-4, 4 being the most difficult. grade class. We look forward to celebrating this • Decreased teacher talk and increased student exploration – also used Bluetooth time with them and sending another group off to sound system for individual feedback on inquiry questions.

San Ramon Valley High School.

• Allowed for maximum partner interaction – prompted students to “make some Additionally, we have recently begun meeting noise” in their discussions. with our incoming sixth grade class by going to the elementary schools • All students were asked to complete a performance task. which feed into Charlotte Wood. Incoming sixth grade parents are invited to • Created a level of intellectual struggle. our orientation on April 11th at 7PM in our Multipurpose Room. Parents will • Again, activated prior knowledge as part of the solution. hear from our sixth grade teachers about our program and our expectations.

• Began instruction at the door with a handshake and eye contact.

In order to meet the ongoing challenge of the new Common Core State • Created closure and review with a writing and drawing assignment that had the students: (1) Explain what they learned, (2) Ask questions or make connections Standards, we have been working extraordinarily hard over the last few to other learning. (3) Talk about how they thought what we did today will connect weeks to prepare. I want to commend our students for trying new lessons with what we might do tomorrow, and (4) Create a visual example to help them and new methods. I also want to commend our teachers for their tireless remember what they learned. efforts throughout March, which saw them tackle staff development coverTeachers were invited to observe and provide feedback of the lesson. ing both Common Core and Culturally Responsive Teaching and Learning, grades, conferences, our Distinguished School Validation Visit (more on First Ever Family Math Night Yields a Large Crowd th On Wednesday March 13 Stone Valley math teachers Wendy Nacamu, Chris that next month, we hope), as well as preparing daily lessons and remainSherwood, and Jenna Ray packed the Multipurpose Room with 130+ students and ing dedicated to their everyday work.

Lastly, we have decided to proceed with our Modified Block schedule parents for our inaugural Family Math Night. The large crowd was treated to a variety of math mediums such as paper and pencil, board games, manipulatives, in order to meet the challenge of Common Core. We will be sharing much and electronic devices which were all geared to create a higher level of math un- more on that in coming weeks. derstanding and appreciation.

As always, please contact us with questions, comments, or concerns.

The end of the evening featured pizza (pi), soda, salad, and the now legendary KidsReads Launch Party Jello pi symbols.

Kick-off “KidsReads 2013” with a special launch party at the Incorporating multiple methodologies and formats for solving math problems is Blackhawk Plaza Rotunda on Saturday, April 6th from 1-3PM. Join also part of the CCSS process. The family math night concept is a product of our partnership with the Silicon Valley Math Initiative. Learn more at www.svmimac.org. in for a scavenger hunt, fun prizes, exciting puppet show, face painting, and treats for the entire family! Celebrate the start of KidsReads SRVUSD Prepares all District Staff for CCSS Implementation On March 7th and 8th all SRVUSD staff engaged in professional collaborations featuring the book, Louella Mae, She’s Run Away, by Karen Beaumont.

Contact the Danville or San Ramon Libraries for more information around CCSS implementation and culturally responsive teaching practices.

SRVUSD CCSS resources can be found at https://sites.google.com/a/srvusd.net/ about KidsReads 2013 events. KidsRead is sponsored by the Friends common-core. Information about culturally responsive teaching practices can be of the Danville Library, San Ramon Library Foundation, and the Blackhawk Plaza. found at http://culturallyresponsive.org.

The move to CCSS will lead to significant and substantive change in classroom practice for our learners.

If you have any questions about any of our programs please contact me at smcelro@srvusd.net.

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Page 10 - April 2013 ~ Danville Today News

Del Amigo High School

By Joseph A. Ianora, Principal

WHY PAY MORE TO PRINT?

As you are reading this, we are just returning from a much needed spring break.

We are now entering into the final nine weeks of school – for some, it will go very quickly, and for others, it may drag on. As for Del Amigo, we have been very busy during the month of March, and we will get even more so as we move through April.

One highlight from March was our second career day. We had professionals talk about telecommunications, the military, computer animation, firefighting, sanitation, juvenile probation, health/ medical field, cosmetology and fashion design. This was a great opportunity for our students to explore careers that appeal to them. The day started with an amazing breakfast provided by the Danville Rotary, and we are very grateful for their help and support.

April will be an incredibly busy month for Del Amigo as we have many school events planned.

April 3rd - Fifteen student will be participating in the Junior Achievement student Social Innovation Camp, along with members from the other high schools. They will be teamed together to tackle a 21st century issue.

April 10th - Thirty of our students will be going to Safari West to conclude their studies of ecology, mammals, and the environment. This will be very exciting as they will get to apply their knowledge with “hands on” experience.

April 17th - 26th - We will be giving the STAR exam.

April 29th - This will be the first day of our last session. As always, we will have a large influx of students due to credit deficiencies.

Del Amigo welcomes all students to a smaller learning environment and family community. Credit recovery is our core mission as we help all students succeed. Thank you for your continued support.

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Monte Vista High School

By Janet Terranova, Principal

School spirit and pride are always evident at Monte Vista. A walk through our campus will find signs advertising club meetings, sporting events, musical and play productions, and lunchtime happenings. We are a typical high school campus, with typical high school activities, but March 5th was far from a typical day at Monte Vista. If you visited our campus on that day you would have seen teenagers at their best, demonstrating a real understanding of Monte Vista Pride: Respect, Responsibility, Empathy, and Integrity.

On March 5th, Monte Vista hosted a Special Olympic Basketball Event.

Athletes from Charlotte Wood, Iron Horse, and Windemere Middle Schools as well as schools outside the San Ramon Valley Unified School District participated in a morning of learning and playing. Students from Monte Vista’s Special Education Club and other interested students organized a wonderful day for the athletes. Our students organized the games, volunteered as referees, taught students basketball skills, organized the teams for play, and kept the athletes entertained and excited to participate. Our robotics class brought down their robot that shoots baskets and our wheelchair bound students played basketball using the robot to help them play.

What made the day even more special for the athletes, and a real learning experience for our students, was the opportunity students had to be part of the audience. Led by our own Monte Vista Cheer squad students clapped and cheered the athletes’ success. Many teachers signed up and had their classes watch the games. The entire 10th grade class came to cheer on the athletes.

During Monte Vista’s basketball season the enthusiasm, pride, and noise generated by our students is deafening. The Cheer squad urged the students in the audience to cheer the athlete’s attempt to score, not necessarily the result. I am so proud of our students, they cheered and clapped for every attempt. On this day the noise level for the athletes was far louder than any regularly scheduled basketball game. Every Monte Vista student in gym was engaged in cheering on the athletes. There was no apathy among the spectators. On this day our students learned about empathy, they learned how attention to others and giving back to others is more satisfying than they ever realized. And the athletes – seeing their smiles and pride made the students day.

If you want to know more about Monte Vista and our activities, please visit www.mvhs.schoolloop.com.

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San Ramon Valley High School

By Ruth Steele, Principal

We are now ¾ of the way through the school year with just 10 weeks left until graduation.

The time has flown by and at this point we are planning for next year and laying in place many of the structures that will help us move into 2013-2014.

So what has been going on at San Ramon Valley High School during the last seven months?

Construction of our pool finished in February and the pool was opened in time for the start of swim season which was wonderful. Our teams have been without a pool for the last couple of years and being able to host events will be very exciting. This summer, our football field bleachers are being replaced and other campus wide improvements, including the quad redesign, will be unfolding.

In academic terms we are changing direction to embrace Common Core and the Smarter Balanced Assessments which will provide opportunities for a large shift in terms of student learning. The movement away from STAR testing to a more problem solving, critical thinking model of learning can only help students as they prepare for college and the world beyond high school.

We are creating a 21st Century Learning Foundation that will help support significant technology integration into our classrooms. There are also many different initiatives in place for next year that will support student learning by providing intervention programs. The Century Learning Foundation, along with our other Booster groups will play a crucial role in funding the amazing programs that make SRVHS such a uniquely successful place. The parent and community support at SRVHS is something truly special and as this school year draws to a close it has become increasingly clear to me how fortunate I am to be an educator in this valley.

Finally, one of our outstanding teachers was recently recognized as SRVUSD Secondary Teacher of the Year. Mrs. Cindy Egan has been teaching at SRVHS for the last eight years following a 25 year career as an Environmental Engineer. Cindy teaches engineering and AP Environmental Science as well as being a leader in the Sustainable Danville organization and advisor to our E2 club. She will be moving on as a candidate for Contra Costa County Teacher of the Year. Her commitment to our programs and dedication to our students is unequivocal and we are very fortunate to be able to call her a Wolf!

editor@yourmonthlypaper.com

It’s That Time of Year Again

By Kelsey Nyland, San Ramon Valley High senior

I know what you’re thinking. “What time of year is it Kelsey? Please, enlighten us.” Well folks, let me tell you right now…It’s Spring Time!

First, let me apologize for that anticlimactic response. Second, I capitalized Spring Time because the first sight of the sun after a long, awful winter can only be described as sacred. Third, I know that the winter was neither long nor awful, but I am a creature of the sun (which sounds creepy), and I just awoke from my winter hibernation. Fourth, I was not in hibernation, but I did spend a majority of the past five months cooped up inside wearing my pajamas twenty-three hours a day. So, without further ado, here is my Ode to Spring Time.

As previously stated, I love the sun. There is nothing better than feeling the warmth beat down on your skin while a cool breeze simultaneously flows through your hair. Warm weather automatically puts me in a good mood; there are no exceptions. I could fail my math test, pop a tire on my car, and trip down the stairs; if the sun is out, I will only be moderately annoyed at worst. I burn worse than a fair skinned Irish woman in the middle of the Caribbean (no offense), and my skin turns red and blotchy when enduring temperatures over seventy degrees, but I still love the sun unconditionally.

Every day during the Spring Time I wake up and embrace the overused sun = happiness cliché, and every day I suffer a horrible sunburn that manifests itself within twenty minutes.

With Spring Time comes baseball, America’s greatest contribution to the modern world. I live in a family where baseball is religion; I have watched the 2010 Giants playoff race upwards of ten times.

Nothing brings me more peace than lying on my couch, watching a baseball game, and feeling the warm breeze seep through our open windows. When I hear Kruk and Kuip’s voices for the first time every April, it literally brings tears to my eyes. And finally, when I go to my first game of the season, I breathe in that San Francisco spring air like it’s a drug. If I’m being completely honest, there probably are some drugs in that San Francisco air.

Last, but certainly not least, I love food in the Spring Time. Once April rolls around, my dad wheels out our barbeque, and we proceed to feast on burgers, chicken, wings, steak, and grilled corn. The barbeque brings endless joy for all those who enter my household. When my teeth first sink into a grilled burger, I know that Spring has truly arrived. And when I swat a dozen flies away from my food, I know that Spring is here to stay.

As a final note, Spring also brings college acceptances. Can you tell that I can’t stop thinking about that?

Danville Today News ~ April 2013 - Page 11

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The Club is also sponsoring a trip via Amtrak to the State Capitol building in Sacramento for “Advocacy Day” on April 9th. High school juniors and seniors will learn how legislation works and how to exercise one’s rights as a voting citizen.

Included are lunch and a tour of the Capitol. For information, go to www.srvrwf.org and click on events, or email Linda Sanchez at sybols@hotmail.com.

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Solar Currents

By Mark Becker, GoSimpleSolar

11/16/12 9:28 AM

In my view, inspiration is what makes the world go round. Inspiration generates creativity, concepts and ideals.

We’re all inspired in different ways. In these articles, I’m inspired to write about my passions, typically energy and the need for transparency in the contracting process. This month I’d like to focus on the interaction between customer and contractor, the creation of mutual trust and good will.

Merchant Choice: Merchants with storefronts, high quality customer service ratings, and excellent company performance history naturally have a higher cost of business. If implemented properly, the higher cost of doing business results in happier clients. Happier clients result in more business for the service provider. In a perfect world, consumers recognize added value, and they are willing to pay a small premium for high quality service and products. Business owners and salespeople recognize some prospective customers will “shop” their business, gleaning data and knowledge, with ultimately no intent to do business with them because of the higher end cost associated with the service provided. Competing for business is a necessary part of sales. Customers who prioritize seeking the low cost provider should respect that service providers with excellent ratings and excellent products will rarely be the low cost provider. Integrity in the purchasing process is a two edged sword.

I’m typically not a conspiracy guy, but PGE has given millions of dollars to researchers who have come to the conclusion that solar projects provide negative value to non-solar customers. A Lawrence Berkeley Lab study came to the opposite conclusion.

Oil companies and solar: Chevron, Mobil, and Arco have acquired solar manufacturers, and then they’ve subsequently shuttered them. Recently, French oil giant Total acquired a majority stake in Sunpower, Inc. Hopefully history won’t repeat itself.

Now that the international solar “playing field” has been leveled, the largest Chinese manufacturer, Suntech, has filed for bankruptcy. It seems that the tariffs imposed by the International Trade Commission and Department of Commerce for illegal dumping and government subsidies have had their effect. Proof positive: America can and will compete when trade is fair and free.

Tax Talk with Bob

Withdrawals from Qualified Plans – What You Need to Know

By Bob Shalon, IRS Enrolled Agent

These last three plus years have been extremely difficult on everyone. Very few of us have escaped without making adjustments to personal long term investment plans – out of necessity. Life goes on despite the economy and we all have to live.

During these years withdrawals from qualified plans (IRA, 401K or Pension) have become common. The tax consequences of these withdrawls have unfortunately been a surprise to many of my clients, which is why I wanted to share my observations.

Withholding federal and state taxes is essential. Here are a list of possible effects.

• If you are below the age of 59 1/2, you are subject to an additional tax of 10% Federal and 2 1/2% State. Having 10% withholding, which I commonly see, only covers the penalty – IT IS NOT ENOUGH! • The withdrawal amount adds to your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI).

This has many ramifications. Increasing your AGI can cause phaseouts of otherwise applicable tax credits such as the Child Tax Credit, and various valuable Education Credits such as the American Opportunity Credit, the Lifetime Learning Credit, and the Student Loan Interest Deduction.

I recommend withholding 25% from any distribution you take from a qualified account. Call your tax professional and ask what the effect would be on your tax return so that you are prepared.

There are several exceptions to the Early Distributions Penalty depending on a taxpayers situation. Early distributions are reported on a 1099R and carry a distribution code “1.” This automatically causes the penalty to kick in. Make sure you tell your tax professional what you used the distribution for as it may qualify for the exception without you knowing it. There are ten exceptions to the penalty.

Now it is time for me to get back to work as I brace for the final three weeks of tax season. I have loved every minute.

Please call me at any time at 925-820-9570 or email bob.shalon@tax. hrblock.com with questions.

Advertorial Negotiation: After performing some research and deciding on a provider, should you negotiate on price, and if so, how? In the contracting business, we’ve been subjected to many differing negotiation tactics.

There are certainly ways to improve your chances of being successful in negotiations. If you’re seeking lowest cost, get bids from lowest cost providers.

They’re the lowest cost providers for a reason (Read the reviews and find out why). If you’re seeking savings from a reputable company, recognize that many businesses leave little on the table to negotiate with; providing a detailed and price sensitive proposal is necessary up front in order to be able to compete. Beware “outlier” proposals until understanding is gained.

Tactics: Negotiation comes very easily to some, and for others, it’s an awkward conversation. Recently a prospective customer asked me in final negotiations, “Is there any way we can save some money?” This was a legitimate question and well presented. This customer was responsive and respectful during the bid process. That customer got a discount on the spot; it was clear to me that it would be a pleasure to work with them. Another customer who had his mind made up (unbeknownst to me) for us to install his solar project offered us 10% less than the contract cost.

A bit stunned by his over-reaching, I countered with our best offer back to him and validated our counter-offer by outlining why we wouldn’t go any further down in price. We had a mutual agreement within minutes. Another prospective customer, whilst shopping around and relying on the industry experts to do every bit of his research for him, would continually assure us that he was “not asking to lower the price” but perpetually would attempt to whipsaw one contractors price and products against another’s. Competition is a good thing, however this passive aggressive manipulation was disrespectful and disingenuous. His approach was apparent, although he was certain he was hiding it well. Good businesses/customer relationships provide mutual long-term reward for both consumer and business.

Allow the business to earn your trust, and don’t squander the opportunity of mutual trust. Businesses must sometimes be choosy about their customers as well.

Mark Becker is the President of GoSimpleSolar, by Semper Fidelis Construction Inc, a Danville based Solar Installation Firm (License 948715). Mark can be reached at 925.915.9252. Visit GoSimpleSolar’s showroom at 114 West Prospect Avenue in Danville or www.GoSimpleSolar.com, or email Mark@ GoSimpleSolar.com. Advertorial

editor@yourmonthlypaper.com

Crowded Wi-Fi

By Evan Corstorphine, Portable CIO

Danville Today News ~ April 2013 - Page 13

Wi-Fi has come a long way in the last few years. As recently as 10 years ago, wireless networking was a luxury reserved for very early innovators. Today, wireless networking and the devices that use it are as ubiquitous as payphones used to be. We’ve even become a little spoiled, expecting that when we go to a restaurant, airport, hotel, or even a city street in some locations, we will have broadband Wi-Fi access and be able to get to the internet just like we can at home.

One of the limitations with Wi-Fi is that there are so many devices vying for a connection, that the frequencies are becoming crowded.

A simple analogy is listening to your favorite radio station, but it keeps fading in and out because a neighboring station is so powerful.

Wi-Fi crowding is most evident in congested urban areas. Two examples are business parks with multi-story buildings and scores of tenants, or densely-packed environments such as around UC Berkeley where you’ll find hundreds of wireless hotspots. If you are one of the people residing in these congested areas, I can predict with certainty that your service has become more unreliable, and your actual network throughput speeds have tanked due to having so many people trying to use a very limited set of radio frequencies. All of this is invisible to the ordinary person trying to use their computer, unless they have special tools to “see” the wireless network. Most people think it’s their equipment or their internet provider that is the problem.

Some of our most challenging Wi-Fi clients are the Greek System houses at UC Berkeley. They have the most intense network requirements of any of our clients, residential or commercial. Evenings are when their networks are most stressed, and it stays that way until about 2AM. Most of these homes have invested in basic off-the-shelf Wi-Fi equipment to provide service to their seventy or so high-volume residents. When Wi-Fi was less common it was OK to address their complex, high-volume Wi-Fi situation with low-end equipment, but now it’s definitely not enough. What they couldn’t know is that their neighbors would eventually crowd them out. There are so many sororities, fraternities, and general apartment dwellers in their densely packed urban environment that their Wi-Fi signals have effectively been jammed. Everyone is affected.

To analyze networks you need the right tools. Last year we purchased a special tool called a spectrum analyzer, which we use to perform Wi-Fi site surveys. We observe how many networks are in a given area, how strong they are, and what types of interference is affecting them. Wi-Fi is a very fragile and “polite” protocol. By that I mean to say that if you and your computer are conversing with the Internet, and someone else is using the same frequencies on another Wi-Fi access point, you have to share that slice of the radio spectrum. When you get too many access points trying to share a limited radio space, the network speed available to any user decreases dramatically.

You can have the fastest internet connection with Comcast, but if you are connecting to it through a congested Wi-Fi network, it’s going to seem slow or jerky.

You shouldn’t spend money until you have the facts about what’s going on. Once we perform a wireless site survey, we can advise with certainty about how to proceed. There’s a new class of network equipment available, called “dual-band Wi-Fi.” In layman’s terms, it means that the new access points and wireless routers have a second radio built into them, which operates on a different set of frequencies. They’re not all created equally, and off-the-shelf equipment doesn’t compare to the higher end equipment we recommend. All new laptop, tablet and smart-phones are able to use the new dual-band radio frequencies. The new frequencies are not congested like the old frequencies, and you don’t have to do anything special to use this capability. If a dualband wireless access point or router is available, your equipment already knows how to take advantage of it.

There are many factors involved in a successful network environment, and this is just one aspect. Having your Wi-Fi network squared away is definitely one of the biggies. If your network equipment is over four years old, or you’ve been noticing slower connection speeds and throughput, it might be time to “listen” with the spectrum analyzer to see what is going on. If you need new equipment, Portable CIO has partnered with Wi-Fi hardware vendors that we know will provide reliable and robust products.

Networking is tricky, and it saves time to have an expert accurately evaluate your situation. If you’d like to have your network reviewed, contact the friendly staff at Portable CIO via email at helpdesk@theportablecio.com, or call 925-552-7953. Advertorial

Page 14 - April 2013 ~ Danville Today News

Quick Trips

By Linda Summers Pirkle Sacramento Historical Rose Garden

www.yourmonthlypaper.com

I like cemeteries. I have some favorites; Mission Dolores Cemetery in San Francisco, our own Alamo Cemetery, Rose Hill in Antioch, the Presidio in San Francisco, and of course Pere Lachaise in Paris. Each sacred place has its own personality and is worth a detour on any day trip. April is a great time to visit the Sacramento Historic Rose Garden Cemetery (www.OldCityCemetery.com), which is a 10 minute drive from the Capital building in Sacramento. The historic rose garden in the cemetery is in spectacular full bloom in the spring.

I heard about the Sacramento Rose Garden Cemetery on a NPR show a few months ago, and immediately I wanted to visit it. My husband and I stopped in the Visitor Center in Old Town Sacramento and asked for information about the garden. This is not a destination that many tourists ask about, and it took a few moments for the clerk to locate it on the map. A kind woman who happened to be in the Visitor’s Center and identified herself as a third generation Sacramentan offered insight and directions to the garden. It was originally a beautiful Victorian garden cemetery and is now known as the repository of heritage roses from all over California. In 1992 the City of Sacramento set aside three acres of the cemetery for the rose garden. Cuttings from plants found in historic sites, pioneer cemeteries, and homesteads throughout California were brought to the Sacramento cemetery. There are nearly 500 rose plants in the garden, and according to the brochure on the Old City Cemetery, it is recognized as one of the best gardens featuring roses of the 19th century. It received the Great Rose Garden of the World award from the Great Rosarians of the World in 2009. The roses in bloom are magnificent!

Besides roses, The Sacramento Historic Cemetery is home to over 25,000 “residents,” many of them early pioneers from all over the world. Notables are Mark Hopkins (1815-1887) and William Stephen Hamilton (1797-1850), son of Alexander Hamilton.

I spoke to Megan Crose, Park Maintenance worker at the Cemetery. She noted, “There are so many wonderful places to explore here as we encompass twenty eight acres. People are welcome to bring their lunches and enjoy the surroundings at our picnic tables and benches. My personal favorite areas are the perennials gardens, the life-size monuments area at the 9th Street Gate, and the Bettencourt Fountain area.

It is beautiful all year long. The Archives Building, also known as the Old Chapel, has a beautiful stained glass window.”

Public, private, and school tours are available with the docents who staff the Archives Building, or you can get a copy of self guided tours and walk the garden on your own.

On April 20th, an “Open Garden” day is scheduled from 9:30AM - 2PM. This yearly fundraising event offers the public a chance to purchase cuttings from some of the roses in the garden. The garden has some truly unusual propagations; roses from a Mandarin’s Garden in Old China and Empress Josephine’s famous 18th century French garden are planted in the Old City Cemetery.

The Sacramento City Rose Garden Cemetery is open daily 7AM - 7PM. They are closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

If you go on a Sunday, schedule your departure in time to bypass the Tahoe traffic grid that starts at around 2PM. Their phone number is (916) 264-5621, and their address is 1000 Broadway, Sacramento.

Linda Summers Pirkle, travel consultant and long term Danville resident, has been arranging and leading tours for the Town of Danville for several years. Inspired by the many wonderful places to visit in the Bay Area, she organizes day trips, either for groups or for friends and family. “If it’s a trip for my husband and me, my husband drives and I talk (he’s a captive audience) – the perfect combination! What a great place to live, so much to see, so much to do.”

To share your “Quick Trips” ideas email Coverthemap@gmail.com.

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Page 16 - April 2013 ~ Danville Today News

Tree of the Season

Japanese Maples

By Blaine Brende & Joe Lamb

Japanese maples have an elegance and sculptural quality that resembles dance.

Careful study of their form, in any season, can call the viewer back to the natural world. In winter, the falling leaves raise the curtain on the form of the trunks and put the dance on center stage. Winter rain intensifies the show by adding a sensuality to the movement of stem and bough, one that beckons to even the unpracticed eye. In spring, certain varieties of Japanese maples send out new leaves so bright a green they appear lit from within. In summer, upright cultivars that are well pruned have spaces between the branches, giving the canopy the appearance of being composed of many floating islands. And in fall, Japanese maples mark the change of season by turning colors ranging from yellow to scarlet, depending on the variety of maple; there are many varieties.

Luckily, Japanese maples are relatively easy to grow and relatively tough. In their long evolutionary dance–fossilized maple leaves date back over 60 million years–Japanese maples have developed the genetic information necessary to protect them against most common garden afflictions. They are, however, subject to verticillium wilt, a soil-borne fungal disease that can cause dieback, and sometimes death. There is no known cure for verticillium, but you can decrease the likelihood of your new maple getting the disease if you 1) don’t plant it in ground known to have verticillium, 2) make sure the soil around the tree is well drained so that the roots don’t remain soggy throughout the winter, and 3) protect the tree against environmental stresses by giving it summer water and keeping it well mulched. Maples can grow and remain healthy in gardens with a history of verticillium. If they are not stressed by soils too damp, too dry, or too compacted, some individual maples can thrive even though a near neighbor may die. It depends on the genetics of the individual. If your mature maple shows significant dieback, it may be fighting a case of verticillium. It is not necessarily a death sentence. Some trees succeed in fighting off the disease.

Clip Notes

By Jody Morgan

As chief botanist of the California Geological Survey, William Henry Brewer collected specimens and recorded his findings in suitably dry scientific detail.

With friends and family he shared the sensory delights of his travels. In his letters collected and published as Up and Down California in 1860-1864, Brewer describes camping at Major Russell’s farm before making his initial ascent of Mount Diablo in September 1861. Russell’s big white barn still stands at Forest Home Farms on San Ramon Valley Boulevard. “The San Ramon Valley, west of Mount Diablo, lay at our feet,” Brewer wrote, “the richest and most lovely I have yet seen in the state. It is all held in farms, where wheat is grown, and crops of over sixty bushels per acre are expected – they sometimes rise to over ninety – such crops does this state produce!”

On May 2, 1862, Brewer contrasted Mount Diablo’s “brown, dry, dusty and parched” September vistas with the landscape’s vivid verdant spring outlook. “Flowers in the greatest profusion and richest colors adorn hills and valleys, and trees are of the liveliest and richest green.” Approaching the mountain from a different perspective on May 7, he related: “First, up a rocky wild canyon, the air sweet with the perfume of the abundant flowers, the sides rocky and picturesque, the sky above of the intensest blue.”

Mary Bowerman’s study of Mount Diablo began in 1930 with her senior project for UC Berkeley, the year Brewer’s alma mater Yale first published his entertaining epistles. Many of the mountain’s wildflowers had already been named for Brewer by the time Bowerman began cataloguing their locations.

Among those currently listed as rare, threatened, or endangered is a species of Red Maids (Calandrinia breweri) and several species documented by Brewer, but not named for him such as Mount Diablo Fairy Lantern (Calochortus pulchellus) and Mount Diablo Jewel Flower (Strepthanthus hispidus).

A “colonizer” of disturbed areas, a more common species of Red Maids also found in the Diablo Wilderness (Calandrinia ciliata) was an important food source for California’s native tribes. The young greens taste like arugula and were consumed fresh or cooked like spinach. The shiny black seeds were

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You can help them recover by pruning out the deadwood and improving the soil environment by mulching and aerating.

Though some varieties can withstand full sun, Japanese maples do best in part shade. They do not thrive when exposed to the drying effect of constant wind. If you live on an exposed hillside, it is best to plant them in the lee of a larger tree. Dieback in Japanese maple crowns often is the result of too much sun, too much wind, or the even more deadly combination of the two. Maples need water. Keeping them moist throughout the summer and fall, and into the early winter in dry years, will make them happier and more disease resistant.

Pruning, besides benefiting the mental health of the pruner, can enhance the grace of the plant. If your pruner is an artist, removing deadwood and teasing apart the plant’s natural layering opens little windows that reveal and accentuate the tree’s natural form. A well-pruned tree looks as if it hasn’t been pruned.

Paradoxically, it looks more natural after pruning than before. Though it is sometimes necessary to lower the crown of a maple, as when it is beginning to block a treasured view, lowering should be done only when necessary, and the lowering should not be so drastic as to involve topping cuts (see the article on topping). Lowering a maple to gain a view is not something that you can do just once. Pruning down the crown stimulates new growth, and maintaining the view or the size reduction, will require yearly pruning. No matter how good the artist, you can’t make a topped maple look as good as a natural tree.

Much pruning, and therefore expense, can be avoided by planting the right variety in the right place. When planting a new tree, plant a cultivar that won’t exceed the desired height when it matures. This is almost always preferable to containing a variety that will grow beyond the desired size.

It is our hope at Brende & Lamb that the pleasure our clients derive from their well-pruned trees exceeds the considerable pleasure we get from revealing the beauty inherent in their trees.

If your trees need a little TLC, please call 510-486-TREE (8733) or email us at bl@brendelamb.com for a free estimate. Additionally, go to our website www.brendelamb.com to see before and after pictures, client testimonials, and work in your neighborhood.

Advertorial dried for storage or parched over hot coals before being ground into an oily meal and formed into balls or cakes. Archeological evidence indicates that some tribes used the seeds as ceremonial offerings. Insects, small mammals, and birds also find the seeds tasty.

Bowerman, co-founder of Save Mount Diablo, spotted the magenta flowers of Brewer’s Red Maids while hiking in Back Canyon on May 2, 1979.

Heath Bartosh, botanist and Save Mount Diablo Board member, describes Mary’s particular fondest for the area: “I suppose Mary’s affection for Back Canyon is due to the wonderful native plant diversity it supports. Here you can find deep shaded canyons, impenetrable chaparral, and open scree slopes.

These habitats intersect along Back Canyon trail and present an up close and personal introduction to much of the mountain’s flora.” Included among the rare treasures encountered here is Mount Diablo Fairy Lantern, also known as Mount Diablo Globe Tulip. Endemic to the Diablo Range, this lovely lady of the lily family lights shaded spots along the trail with dangling golden blossoms. Although endangered in its native habitat, this perennial bulb can be grown in a variety of soils and is sometimes available from online native bulb purveyors.

Back Canyon is nestled between Meridian Ridge and Eagle Peak where the Mount Diablo Jewel Flower is occasionally seen. Brewer was lucky enough to discover it there on May 14, 1862. Although almost a foot tall in full bloom, this diminutive annual is easily overlooked when the stalks of violet flowers are not in evidence. Hence trampling hikers pose a major threat to the endangered annual’s existence.

By contrast, Black Sage (Salvia mellifera) is not shy about showing off.

Also found along the Back Canyon trail, it reaches the northern limit of its native habitat on Mount Diablo, but it grows well as a tall background shrub in local gardens. Loosely translated, the botanical name means “health-giving honey-bearer.” The flowers yield marvelous honey. Native Americans supped on the nutritious nut-flavored seeds and sipped Black Sage tea to treat a variety of ailments. They ground the pungent leaves and stems and boiled them in water before adding them to baths to soothe the aches of flu or arthritis.

To participate in the free May 5th Bringing Back the Natives tour of local gardens featuring native plants, visit www.bringingbackthenatives.net.

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Danville Today News ~ April 2013 - Page 17

Life in the Danville Garden By John Montgomery, ASLA, Landscape Architect Celebrate Spring!

By John Montgomery, ASLA, Landscape Architect

This rainy season has been a little finicky. Winter was early and cold and spring is really here, or NOT! These days, sometimes it’s hard to tell. If you look closely in the garden at the trees, shrubs, and perennials you’ll see the glory of spring quietly emerging from the cold and wet. The beginning of spring is one of my favorite times in the garden. I love to observe the new and fresh leaves bud from dead and deciduous branches, bright new lime green leaves stand out against older darker green ones. I like to watch how quickly daffodils, jonquils, and paper whites (Narcissus) push their fresh long leaves through the decaying leaves and mulch to bloom with bright and cheery colors. The days are warming, the sun is shinning, and like clock-work life in the garden labors to show us the glory of spring.

There are some plants that you might have noticed that are the first to declare the beginning of spring.

Trees like Cercis occidentalis (Western Redbud) blooms lavender flowers on smooth gray branches before leaves form, Magnolia x soulangeana (saucer Magnolia) blooms huge tulip-like pink to white flowers on deciduous branches. Shrubs like Daphne odora (Winter Daphne) with its intoxicating fragrance fill the air.

Azalea, and camellia are first to transition to spring. Vines like Hardenbergia violacea ‘Happy Wanderer’ (Lilac Vine) weave a lively trail of lilac flowers. Perennials like Iberis sempervirens ‘Snowflake’ (Candytuft) trails profuse white flowers over the ground and one of my favorites, Veronica umbrosa ‘Georgia Blue’ (Speedwell), bloom profuse cobalt blue flowers as winter fades out. Other great note-worthy spring blooming trees are Pyrus calleryana ‘Redspire’ (ornamental pear), Magnolia stellata (Star Magnolia), and Prunus serrulata ‘Shirotae’ (Flowering cherry).

After a long winter’s nap we long to connect with nature to rejuvenate, relax, recreate, and renew ourselves. A garden is one of those places that has the gift to touch all of our human senses - sight, smell, touch, sound, and taste.

Wandering through a beautifully designed Danville garden allows the senses to be stimulated by wonderful visuals, fragrances, textures, sounds, and tastes that nature can offer.

As the spring days grow longer and warmer more and more of our favorites come to life! You will see green fresh leaves popping from trees like birch, crape myrtle, Japanese maples, and dogwood. Then come along the old fashion classics such as roses, lilac, iris, lavender, flowering quince, Snowball Viburnum and the butterfly bush. There are too many wonderful spring plants to name in one article.

A hot tip from your local Landscape Architect - For the last three years I have announced my garden tour fundraiser in this article. I’m sorry to say that this year I will be taking a break from the fundraiser. I look forward to seeing you all turn out next year! Thank you for all of the fundraiser support over the last three years!

Gardening Quote of the Month - “Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” - Melody Beattie 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

AAUW continued from page 6

Current DAW President Holly Sauer is a relative newcomer to the branch. “I joined AAUW because I was looking for something valuable to do, where I could meet people and become involved in our local communities. The branch offers many

Left to right Alicia Jones, Carol Kennedy and Kathie Hixon at the Fall Membership Brunch.

Photo by Dora-Thea Porter.

opportunities to become immediately involved as much or as little as a member would like. I appreciate the generosity and warmth of our members, and I feel that every member is valued for however much they can contribute and participate.”

When Marcia Steinhardt moved to Danville, she joined the local AAUW branch because she wanted “to meet like-minded women who promoted education.” She readily admits, “I had no idea how far-reaching the organization’s work was before joining.” Impressed enough to devote time to serve as local branch president, Steinhardt remarks on “the power of women to do things together and make changes. One or two can’t do it, but together we can make things happen.”

Men, by the way, are welcome to join. DAW already boasts one male member.

You don’t have to reside in Danville, Alamo, or Walnut Creek to join, but you do have to have a college degree or equivalent professional certification. Getting involved is part of the package. As Gail Clark (yes, she too is a DAW past president) points out, “Our local AAUW branch is privileged to have had a number of members serve at the state and national level.” Gail was hooked when the mother of her daughter’s kindergarten classmate took her to a “kick-off brunch in a beautiful backyard.”

Intrigued by the aesthetics, the social interaction, or the ability to make a difference? Visit the DAW website at www.aauw-daw.org, then the state site at www. aauw-ca.org, and the national website at www.aauw.org. To meet local branch members at an event open to the public, or if you’d like to be a guest or are a prospective member, contact Tena Gallagher at Tena@aol.com.

Page 18 - April 2013 ~ Danville Today News

Does Your Financial Portfolio Need Spring Cleaning?

By Sima Alefi

Spring is here, and flowers are blooming everywhere!

If you are like most people, you are getting ready to clean up the yard, the garage, and your home. They say spring cleaning can be good for your own emotional well-being.

Well, the same can be true with cleaning your financial portfolio, especially during tax season.

Some people watch current events and their portfolio quite frequently (daily/weekly), while others rely on their financial advisors to watch over it for them. Some people find investing boring, or complicated. Others simply don’t have the time to watch over their portfolio so they choose to ignore it and hope for the best!

There are also some people who have chosen to stay out of the market and be content with short-term fixed rate investments that are currently paying very low returns.

While it’s important to buy and hold, we don’t recommend that investors buy and ignore their portfolios! Here are some helpful tips to consider when sprucing up your portfolio during this tax season: • Diversification - Do you have too much of your portfolio devoted to one type of investment, geographical area, or sector? Spruce up your portfolio by spreading your investments amongst various asset classes. Look at your investments to see if you have a concentration of a particular investment in any one area which makes up a large percentage of your overall net worth. If the answer is yes, this could be a good place to start. The old adage of having all your eggs in one basket applies since not diversifying can have a long lasting negative effect on your portfolio in the event of an unpredictable market down turn.* • Dividend paying investments - Did your fruit and vegetable garden produce the first year and the second year after being planted but then dry out?

Well, not all investments have a focus on paying a reliable stream of income.

If you are looking for income, investments that pay dividends can possibly provide a stream of income while other investments may focus more on price appreciation. Many investors are trying to find investments that will do both.**

MDAS continued from front page

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• Chasing market returns - The weather is cyclical, bringing rain and wind often followed by warmth and sun. The same can be true with investments. It is very difficult to anticipate the next possible market storm and what assets it will affect. During the era of the dot coms as well as the financial meltdown, people chased financial trends and hot stocks. Investors took lessons and tips from their neighbor, friends, or family members, only to find out that many investments were not such a good purchase after all.

It is crucial to understand the importance of your financial goals and risk tolerance. Therefore, the best action investors can take is to prepare for changing markets. Many investors make the mistake of only looking at what investments have performed well in the past. You really need to ask yourself BOTH of the following questions when making an investment: 1. How did this investment perform during the last market storm?

2. What type of market storm could have a negative impact on this investment in the future?

Additional questions you may want to ask yourself: • Have you written down an estimated target retirement date?

• Do you know where you will receive your income during retirement?

• How comfortable will you be during your retirement years with your current plan?

• Will have enough money for traveling or your favorite hobby?

• Are you prepared for market uncertainty?

• Do you have liquidity in the event of an emergency?

• Do you have confidence in how your investments are being watched?

• How is your relationship with your financial advisor?

• Are your financial needs being heard?

If you aren’t happy with some of your answers, it may be time to clean up your financial portfolio!

*Diversification does not guarantee a profit or protect against loss. **Dividends can be increased, decreased, or totally eliminated at any point without notice.

Information contained in this article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute tax or legal advice. Please visit a professional for one of these services.

To contact Sima at Edward Jones call (925) 648-2590. Her office is located at 3472 Camino Tassajara, Danville in the Blackhawk Safeway Shopping Center. For more information, visit www.edwardjones.com. Advertorial

Tuesday in November and December), doors open at 6:45PM and the meeting is called to order at 7:15PM. In addition to friendly fellowship, there are two excellent illustrated talks. The first 15 minute talk, entitled What’s Up?, follows an over thirty-year tradition. It’s given by a member on a subject of current interest, and after questions there’s a short refreshment break, and displays are examined by everyone. By 8PM, a professional astronomer speaks in layperson’s terms on a topic in modern astronomy. MDAS has many important modern astronomers speak, and in the past five years, at least two Nobel Prize winners have addressed the group. The meeting is usually over by 9:30PM. Astronomy is called the gateway science because many scientists, engineers, and medical doctor’s scientific interest and curiosity was sparked by an astronomical topic. That scientific interest might have started by some reading or a picture, but it was usually nurtured along by looking through someone’s telescope. Ask any member what the club’s main mission is, and the answer will be short and clear: “Outreach is our main objective.” They might add, “We like to show everyone what’s out there.” That mission is verified by having their public viewings on Mt. Diablo, by sharing with schools as requested by a teacher, or helping to bring an interest in astronomy to other organizations for its members. Many young and old Bay Area people had their interest in science helped along by viewing Bob Shalon, EA Master Tax Advisor • Enrolled Agent the sky through MDAS telescopes and often become members.

MDAS members are a diversified group which holds activities that interest most people who like astronomy. One very active 925.820.9570 special interest group (SIG) combines astronomy and photogra- 714 San Ramon Valley Blvd, Suite B, Danville Sycamore Square (next to Lucky’s) phy in the Imaging Group. The Imaging SIG meets monthly to bob.shalon@tax.hrblock.com discuss and show – hands on – astronomical imaging equipment and techniques. They also project their latest images which are best described by one word – spectacular! Sometimes the group meets at a member’s house to view something special.

Other MDAS members enjoy telescope making. People in this SIG often start with a glass disk and work to create a telescope through the Chabot Observatory telescope workshop. Many telescopes used on Mt. Diablo and other places began as a vision in someone’s mind’s eye that was nurtured by other telescope makers to become an excellent optical instrument.

Everyone in MDAS – young and old – enjoys astronomy. They learn and are inspired by the excellent monthly lectures, viewing sessions, and observing times. However, nothing can excite anyone more than watching a young child, of any age – some are in their 80’s – who, while looking through the eyepiece of a telescope, loudly exclaims, “Wow!” Directions to the April 20th event are easy: On the MDAS website click on Public Program, then click on Directions to Mt. Diablo. You can insert your address and obtain personalized directions to the park and to the viewing site. Plan to enter the park before sunset and allow 30 minutes for the drive to the lower summit lot. Some people like to arrive by Sea of Conflicts: A lunar view that will be visible about 5:30PM, bring a sandwich, enjoy the sunset, and watch astronomers set-up telescopes. It’s an evening you’ll enjoy on April 20th. and talk about for a long time. MDAS information can be found at http://www.mdas.net.

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How Important is Your Title?

Danville Today News ~ April 2013 - Page 19

By Robert J. Silverman, Attorney at Law

OK, for starters, the headline does not refer to your job title. Rather, I’m referring to the manner in which you hold title to your home, vacation property, and/or investment real estate you may own.

If you own at least one piece of real estate, and you know how you took title, I applaud your knowledge. If you hold title in an optimal (rather than a far more common) manner, I congratulate you for your wisdom!

This article will explore alternatives to titling and focus on the choice that is likely optimal. Of course, what is best depends on your particular facts and circumstances. Furthermore, it may be prudent to hold title to some properties in a different manner than others.

When you were in the process of buying your property, you were probably asked by at least one person (e.g. your realtor, loan officer, or escrow officer) how you wished to hold title.

When asked this question, the eyes of many buyers glaze over. Often, buyers answer this question with one of their own, such as, “What are my choices?” or “What do you recommend”?

Advice about this subject from even the best, most well-intentioned real estate professionals (who are not lawyers) is incomplete, at best. In fact, they may refuse to give you any advice about this. Many standard real estate contract forms include bold warnings such as “The manner in which you hold title has serious legal and tax consequences…”

Knowing what these consequences are and obtaining legal advice about them is fairly uncommon, but it is useful.

Typically, unmarried buyers simply take title in their own name (e.g. “Jane Roe, an unmarried woman”). For unmarried people who are co-purchasing equal interests in a property with one or more others, the most common ways of holding title are: 1) as “tenantsin-common” or 2) as “joint tenants.”

As a tenant-in-common, you can dispose of your interest on your death by Will to whomever you want. Alternatively, joint tenancy carries with it “the right of survivorship” (“R.O.S.”). This means that, upon your death, the entire fractional interest you owned in the property is automatically then owned equally by the remaining co-owner(s), regardless of what your Will states.

People are occasionally confused by this joint tenancy vs. Will distinction, and this confusion sometimes leads to unintended consequences. Some single people hold co-ownership interests in joint tenancy when it’s not consistent with their wishes. Perhaps they were ill advised or their situation changed after they bought the property, and they don’t understand the ramifications.

Joint tenancy trumps a Will. Suppose John owns a property with Jane in joint tenancy, but John’s Will states that on his death, everything of his goes to Bill. On John’s death the property will not go to Bill; it will go to his joint tenant, Jane (by virtue of the R.O.S. feature).

In California, if you’re married, you have several additional choices. These include “community property”; and “community property with right of survivorship.” The vast majority of married property owners hold title in either joint tenancy or one of the community property forms. So, these methods of holding title are popular, but are they optimal?

Usually they’re not.

The R.O.S. feature tends to be highly touted because it’s very simple and straightforward when one joint tenant (spouse) dies. As I’ve explained, title immediately vests in the surviving spouse. But both joint tenancy and community property (with or without R.O.S.) have a major shortcoming for married couples. On the surviving spouse’s death, the asset will be subject to probate.

As many people have heard or read, probate – a court-supervised estate administration process – is very expensive, inconvenient, takes a long time, and is public. The alternative is to establish a Revocable Living Trust. Holding title in a living trust is almost always optimal for both unmarried and married property owners because property titled in a living trust is statutorily exempt from probate. Trust administration is typically less expensive (often dramatically so), more convenient, less time consuming, and is handled privately.

So, the “bottom line” is that your title is meaningful, and it should not be taken casually.

If you don’t hold title to your property in a living trust, for the above reason (and many others), you should give it serious consideration.

I would be happy to email or mail you a free “Estate Planning Primer” if you contact me and request one. Among other estate planning issues, a significant portion of the primer is dedicated to the benefits of a living trust.

Mr. Silverman is an attorney with Buchman Provine Brothers Smith LLP, 1333 N. California Street, Suite 350, Walnut Creek, CA 94596; (925) 944-9700; rsilverman@sbllp.com.

His practice emphasizes Estate Planning, Trust Administration & Probate, Real Estate, and Business. Mr. Silverman offers a free introductory consultation.

This article is intended to provide information of a general nature, and should not be relied upon as legal, tax, financial and/ or business advice. Readers should obtain and rely upon specific advice only from their own qualified professional advisors. This communication is not intended or written to be used, for the purpose of: i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code; or ii) promoting, marketing, or recommending to another party any matters addressed herein.

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Craniosacral Therapy 101

By Marchelle Milligan

Do you suffer with back pain, headaches, or TMJ, or do you just feel stressed all the time?

Have you been in an accident, had an illness or experienced another trauma that is recent or from long ago which is still unresolved?

What is Craniosacral Therapy (CST) and how can it benefit you?

CST is a gentle, hands-on approach to care that releases tension deep in the body to relieve pain and dysfunction and improve whole-body health. If one part of the body is restricted, then the rest of the body must adapt and compensate for this, eventually leading to inflammation, pain, stiffness, and other health conditions.

The central nervous system (CNS), made up of the brain and spinal cord, in our body is like command central. Few structures have as much influence over the body’s ability to function properly as the CNS. And the CNS is heavily influenced by the craniosacral system, the membranes and fluid that surround, protect, and nourish the brain and spinal cord.

Western medicine often fragments the human being into separate body parts. Different parts of the body require a different expert in the particular organ or system. Patients can end up seeing three or four specialists, each one treating something different. CST does not just chase individual symptoms but looks to find the underlying cause of the condition so the whole body can function in harmony and balance.

Of course an accident, illness, or emotional trauma may cause imbalance in the body, but it can also happen every day your body endures stresses and strains that it must work to compensate for. The body is always striving to be in balance and will make changes as best it can given the circumstances. However, these changes often cause body tissues to tighten and distort the craniosacral system. Over time, stored stresses, tension, and trauma may give rise to restricted body functioning as the experiences pile up. For example, if faced with a stress or trauma, tissues contract as a natural protective response. If the tissue remains contracted, the inertia starts to restrict normal functioning. So, if a muscle goes into a contraction and remains in tension, this can cause joint stiffness and create tension in the surrounding connective tissue. This restriction may then start to impinge on blood vessels which reduces circulation of blood carrying oxygen and nutrients to the region. It may also interfere with the removal of toxins and cause a disturbance with nerve impulses.

Fortunately, such restrictions can be detected and corrected using simple methods of touch. CST evaluates the craniosacral system by gently feeling various locations of the body to test for the ease of motion and rhythm of the cerebrospinal fluid pulsing around the brain and spinal cord. Soft-touch techniques are then used to release restrictions in these tissues and help the body self correct.

By normalizing the environment around the brain and spinal cord, and enhancing the body’s ability to self-correct, everyone can potentially benefit from CST. It can be effective in stress management, and treating headaches, neck and back pain, TMJ dysfunctions, depression, post traumatic stress disorders, chronic pain, sleep disorders, vertigo, and more. CST can also support minor surgeries, including dental work, which can create strains in your system.

For more information, log onto www.therhythmwithin.org. To schedule an appointment, please contact Marchelle Milligan at (925) 286-6237. We are located in the Alamo Commons. New clients receive $15 off a one hour session.

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Page 20 - April 2013 ~ Danville Today News

Your Personal Nutritionist

By Linda Michaelis, RD. MS. No More Diabetes with Sensible Nutrition

I see many people in my practice (often in tears), who have been referred by their doctors with newly diagnosed diabetes or pre-diabetes. Thirty years of research and practice have led me to one inescapable conclusion – most people can bring their blood sugar levels into the normal range within two months, without medication. Many clients tell me that their diagnosis of diabetes or prediabetes was one of the best things that ever happened to them – it gave them a forceful wake up call to get their health in order once and for all. Here are some key tips.

Increase Protein and Fiber - Protein and fiber at each meal must become your new friend. Both protein and fiber are necessary to keep the blood sugar levels stable and prevent you feeling hungry all of the time. Protein for breakfast means having eggs, cottage cheese, Greek yogurt, sliced ham, or Canadian bacon along with 100% whole wheat English muffins, Sandwich Thins, or other breads.

For snacks you can have hard-boiled eggs, apple slices or celery sticks with peanut butter, or even beef jerky. For lunch it is very important to not skimp on protein, which is a prevalent problem I see with clients. A large soup or salad is not going to be substantial enough to keep your blood sugar stable unless it has at least four ounces of protein along with it. It is best to avoid the large traditional high protein meal at dinner time which will definitely raise your blood sugar.

Fiber must be added to all meals and snacks to keep your blood sugar stable.

For breakfast, vegetables, which are the best source of fiber, can be added to eggs.

You can also try Kashi Go Lean which is a high fiber cereal. For lunch have at least one cup of vegetables with your meal. For snack try wrapping sliced meats around pickles. At dinner time fill half of your plate with greens.

Small Frequent Meals - You can no longer skip meals and snacks, eat skimpy lunches, and consume too much at dinner. Your insulin will not accommodate this haphazard eating style. You must learn to eat small, frequent, healthy, balanced meals. Most clients find they wind up enjoying this new way of eating.

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Desserts - Yes, you can enjoy a dessert as long as it is not eaten on an empty stomach or in between meals. Desserts are meant to come after a meal and not eaten as a meal. If you are hungry and start eating sweets you may find you will not be able to stop. If you would like to have a dessert after dinner, I advise avoiding starches with dinner.

Alcohol - My clients are shocked when I tell them they can have alcohol.

When people are exercising their blood sugars are fine in the morning, even after having vodka with lite cranberry juice or wine the night before. When alcohol is desired it should replace the dessert of the day. You can have a drink as long as it is planned along with a balanced meal. I always tell clients when they do intense exercise for 40 minutes they may enjoy a couple of drinks.

Beverages - Avoid beverages that have sugar. That includes juices, smoothies, milk, vanilla lattes, chai lattes, or Frappuccinos. Always check the nutrition facts of the beverage to make sure that next to sugar it says zero. The proliferation of tasty non-sugared drinks should result in you saving your sugar consumption for other treats. Sparkling water spiked with lemon or lime, unsweetened tea, sugar free SoBe, sugar free Snapple, and Crystal Light drinks are best for you.

Losing Weight - There is no doubt about it, losing 10-20 pounds will get your blood sugar slowly back into the normal range. The pancreas will not have to work as hard to produce all the insulin for those extra pounds you have.

Exercise - You will need to start becoming more active compared to where you have been. Walking at least 30 minutes twice a day, once in the morning and once before dinner, is the best “pill” you can take. You will find consistent exercise will bring your blood sugar down 50 points.

If you are committed to making change I believe a knowledgeable and caring nutritionist could help with this transition. One to two initial education sessions would be followed by frequent (even daily) email/phone communications to track progress and plan specific meal events. The good news is most insurance companies wisely pay for nutritional counseling for diabetes.

Please feel free to call me and tell about your nutritional concerns. I can be reached at (925) 855-0150 or e-mail me at Lifeweight1@yahoo.com. Visit my website LindaRD.com to see all of my services as well as past articles and nutrition tips. Advertorial

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Is Your Pain Knocking You off Your Feet?

Sycamore Valley Chiropractic Staff

What is Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar Fasciitis

By Kimberly Liotta, DC and Melissa Ko, DC, Sycamore Valley Chiropractic

The plantar fascia is the tissue on the bottom of the foot between the heel and the toes. This tissue becomes inflamed and irritated from constant microscopic damage, and in some cases it can cause the ligament to degenerate.

Over time, this degeneration could result in the growth of a bone spur off the bottom of the heel, creating further irritation of the fascia. Plantar fasciitis is very painful and affects two million Americans, 10% of the U.S. population, at least once in their lifetime.

Symptoms and Causes

Patients suffering from plantar fasciitis have several areas of complaint including the knee, the bottom of the foot and more specifically the bottom of the heel. A classical presentation of the problem is sharp pain within the first few steps out of bed. Patients may also report pain and discomfort when flexing the foot with toes pointing upward towards the shin. There are several possible causes of plantar fasciitis. Very often there can be an injury of the soft tissues causing pain and inflammation. Abnormal biomechanics can also strain and cause pain in the foot. This can be due to misalignments or old injuries to the foot, ankle, knee, hip, or spine.

How can Chiropractic Care Help?

There are 26 small bones in each foot, and it only takes one being misaligned to significantly alter the biomechanics of the foot. Misalignments in the spine and leg also alter the body’s weight distribution and cause one foot to bear more weight than the other. Chiropractic care realigns the spine and joints of the body to restore proper stability and mobility in these affected areas. There are other supportive techniques that we use at our office to help

The Only Effective Way to Plan for Long-Term Care

By Karen Mudd, Interim HealthCare Home Care & Medical Staffing Agency

What comes to mind when you hear the words “long-term care”? If you’re like most of us, you immediately attach the word “insurance” to the end of the phrase. This shows you how effective the insurance industry’s marketing can be. Humorist Dave Barry writes that the insurance industry has a three-step analysis to help you determine if you need more coverage: 1. Calculate how much insurance you have now. 2. You need more. 3.

We’ll send an agent over immediately.

But, when it comes to long-term care, I’d like you to replace the word “insurance” with the word “planning” or “plan.” Having a plan for longterm care is essential. Buying long-term care insurance is only one option, an option that’s appropriate for a small percentage of people.

But first things first. What is long-term care? It’s defined as “needing assistance for a period of 100 days or longer.” It can be caused by an accident or sickness but more often it’s caused by memory issues or simply living a long life. Medical science has increased our longevity but not necessarily our ability to remain independent. In fact, long-term care is mainly a women’s issue because women tend to live longer than men.

Long-term care services can be provided in your home, in an assisted living facility, or in a nursing home. Depending on the severity of the need for care, costs can range between $1,000 to $9,000 per month, or higher.

This long-term type of care is not paid for by Medicare or Medicare supplement insurance. It’s paid for by one of four resources: your assets, Long-Term Care insurance, your family, or the welfare program. The heart of an effective plan for long-term care is to deliberately select one of those options before you need them.

What are your odds of needing long-term care? In the general popula-

Danville Today News ~ April 2013 - Page 21 reduce inflammation and pain in the soft tissues including myofascial therapy, cold laser therapy, ultrasound, and use of orthotic foot supports customized to our patient’s feet. We recently saw “Marshall,” a 72-year-old male, for this condition. Here is Marshall’s story: Marshall was experiencing pain at the bottom of his heel and foot. His pain was felt most often when he was walking. He was diagnosed with plantar fasciitis by his medical doctor and given a cortisone injection for pain control six months prior. He was also given stretching exercises for the foot, and the doctor recommended arch support to wear in his shoes. Marshall experienced temporary relief after the shot, but the pain returned within a few months. The pain was described as sharp, and he rated it an 8 out of 10 for intensity. In addition to pain at the bottom of his heel, he was also experiencing pain and tension on the sides of his heel and into his Achilles tendon and calf. Marshall is usually active by taking walks and traveling. However, the pain was affecting his daily walks, and even everyday household chores became difficult and uncomfortable to perform.

Treatment and Results - Marshall received chiropractic adjustments to his right foot for eight weekly visits over two months along with adjunctive therapy of cold laser and myofascial (soft tissue) therapy. By the fourth visit, Marshall reported a 40% improvement in pain.

By the seventh visit, the pain was rarely noticeable, and by the eighth visit, the pain was completely gone. He is now able to resume his daily walks and has recently returned from a trip to the Holy Land, pain-free.

Marshall’s story is not unique. Many patients with similar conditions are helped everyday with chiropractic care. Who do you know that is suffering from heel pain? Consider chiropractic care to help get them back on their feet!

Sycamore Valley Chiropractic is located at 565 Sycamore Valley Rd. West in Danville. Please visit their website at www.sycamorevalleychiropractic.com or call 925-837-5595 for more information or to schedule an appointment. Advertorial tion, the odds are about one in five. Your individual odds could be higher or lower. An analysis of your genetic history, your lifestyle, and your current health can help you get a better snapshot of your odds. Analyzing this information can go a long way toward helping you choose your best option for planning ahead.

How do you develop your plan for long-term care? The only effective way to plan is to seek advice from a financial advisor who has no incentive for you to choose one particular option over another. Look for a financial advisor who doesn’t sell insurance, but only offers advice.

If you want a comprehensive education about planning for long-term care, I recommend the book, How to Plan for Long-Term Care by Allen Hamm. Allen is a nationally recognized expert on this topic who happens to reside in Pleasanton. He’s provided me with some complementary copies of the book to provide to readers of Danville Today. Please call my office at 925-944-5779 for a free copy.

As one of America’s most trusted and experienced providers of inhome senior services, Interim HealthCare understands how important it is for people to stay in their homes. Our Care Professionals can provide the extra support needed to live an enriched life in the comfort of home. Call today for a free in-home evaluation 925.944.5779. When it matters the most, count on us. Advertorial

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Page 22 - April 2013 ~ Danville Today News

Doctor, Is It Safe for Me to Fly?

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

Medical tourism is a term which denotes travel across international borders for the express purpose of receiving medical care. While travel for healthcare has been around for quite some time, recent trends show that more people are traveling to countries with emerging economies to avoid treatment delays, to avoid prohibitive costs for life-saving procedures, or simply, to avoid high costs of elective surgery.

At first glance, the imagery of resting on a beach after surgery seems enticing. It might even be appropriate if there weren’t potentially serious or life threatening complications to consider. While the price tag of a procedure may be appealing, the increasing push for international medical care has nothing to do with improved quality, greater safety, or better outcomes. In fact, surgery outside the United States, especially when sold as a vacation package, often involves significant, and numerous, risks.

Although there are qualified physicians practicing all over world, it is very difficult to assess the training and credentials of surgery centers and surgeons outside of the U.S. Notably, almost one third of companies engaged in promoting medical travel receive referral fees from the overseas providers whose business depends on recruiting patients. Cosmetic surgery trips are often marketed as a vacation, and post-operative patients may be encouraged to engage in activities that could compromise their healing process and increase exposure to endemic diseases not found in the U.S. All surgeries involve risk. Infections are the most common complications seen in patients that go abroad for cosmetic surgery. Air travel combined with surgery is extremely hazardous. Individually, long flights or surgery increase the risk of blood clots and subsequent pulmonary embolism.

The Eye Opener

By Gregory Kraskowsky, O.D., Alamo Optometry Women’s Eye Health

Since April is Women’s Eye Health Month, I thought it would be a good idea to tackle this topic.

Unfortunately, most of the sight-threatening conditions that exist affect women more often than they do men, and in some cases, women are twice as likely to be affected. Every year, more women are diagnosed with cataracts, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma. The main reasons that women contract these conditions more often than men is because women generally live longer than men, have hormonal fluctuations, and are more likely to suffer from auto-immune diseases.

Eye diseases such as cataracts and macular degeneration, which usually affect the elderly, are going to be more prevalent in women due to a longer life span. The likelihood of being afflicted with these diseases does increase with age. For example, in regard to macular degeneration, 1 in 5 women over 70 years old is affected as is 1 in 3 women over 85. Cataracts affect everyone equally, but again, the condition is age dependent. In most cases, the longer a person is battling cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration, the worse the individual’s vision tends to get.

Hormonal levels can also affect vision. Changes in hormone levels associated with pregnancy and menopause can lead to dry eyes. Hormones such as estrogen and testosterone are vitally important for tear production and consistency of the tears. Dry eye is a condition in which the eye does not manufacture enough tears and/or the composition of the tears is poor. When the eyes are dry, they tend to burn and sting, and they become red, which leads to blurry vision. Any disruption in the tear layer will lead to a situation in which the cornea does not adequately provide a clean and clear refracting surface for the eye. Since the cornea is the first thing light encounters as it enters the eye, if the cornea is disrupted in any way, vision will be compromised.

In addition to age and hormone levels, women are also more likely to suffer from auto-immune diseases such as lupus, multiple sclerosis, and Sjogrens syndrome, all which include ocular side effects ranging from dry eyes, optic nerve disease, and vision loss. Since there are no cures for these ailments, treatment is aimed at lessening the symptoms. Medications such as anti-inflammatories

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Together, the risk of developing these potentially fatal complications is exponentially higher. Before flying, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons suggests waiting five to seven days after body procedures such as liposuction and breast augmentation, and seven to 10 days after cosmetic procedures of the face including facelifts, eyelid surgery, nose jobs, and laser treatments.

In my practice, I have seen numerous patients returning from international “surgery vacations” with unsightly scars, hematomas, infections, and other horrific injuries (including loss of lips and other facial features). I am faced with the challenge of managing postoperative complications without knowing what surgical techniques the initial physician applied.

If you are thinking of travelling for surgery, I urge you to consider the potential complications and general risk to your health. Cosmetic surgery is real surgery, and for it to be safe, it requires administration of anesthesia, sterile technique, and modern instrumentation, not to mention properly trained and certified surgeons. There are no U.S. laws that protect patients or oversee the certification of physicians or other personnel who perform plastic surgery abroad. If surgical negligence occurs, there may be no legal recourse. Devices and products used may not meet U.S. standards, medical record keeping may be nonexistent, and language barriers can become an unwanted adversity at a time when communication is paramount.

When you are considering any surgical change to your body, please do your homework! Research the procedure, the benefits, and the risks. Refer to www. plasticsurgery.org for the latest information on plastic surgery procedures. Most importantly, like with any medical care, chose and consult with a plastic surgeon that will remain accessible to you and is there to provide thorough follow-up care that is a must with any surgical procedure.

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

Advertorial and lubricating drops (including Restasis) can definitely keep redness, irritation, and dryness under control.

Since most of these ailments are either genetic or age-related, the only thing that can be done is lifestyle modification. This includes eating well, stopping smoking, and monitoring and treating any systemic issues that arise. As of now, the only cure for any of the above-mentioned ailments is cataract surgery.

Removing the cataract will restore brightness, color quality, and vision. All other conditions therefore require early diagnosis. However, between systemic medications and ocular drops, many of the side-effects of the conditions can be managed. As always, proper eye care can lead to diagnosis, treatment, and if necessary, a referral to a specialist.

Dr. K. at Alamo Optometry is your hometown eye doctor for outstanding service, vision care, and designer eyewear. He can be reached at 925-820-6622 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.

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Cancer Rehab Means a Better Quality of Life

By Jewel Johl, MD

The concept of rehabilitation has been widely accepted in cardiac and pulmonary care, and in recovery from traumatic and orthopedic injuries, but few understand how important this concept can be for cancer patients.

Almost 70 percent of cancer patients report fatigue and overall deconditioning during treatment.

Other complaints that many cancer patients have include muscle atrophy and decreased bone density, medication side effects, loss of stamina, balance problems, and lymphedema. Currently there are very few institutions and cancer centers that offer formal oncology rehabilitation services, and these services are often omitted from cancer survivorship programs.

An oncology rehabilitation program should be designed to educate, support, and empower patients who have or have had cancer to allow them optimal function and quality of life during and after their cancer treatments.

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network’s guidelines say, “Rehabilitation should begin with a cancer diagnosis and should continue even after cancer treatment ends.”

Oncology specific physical therapists can help patients overcome physical obstacles during treatment and provide tools for independent participation in a plan to remain healthy and vibrant after cancer treatment. Patients who have lymphedema of any body part, restricted mobility, scar tissue formation after surgery, fatigue, deconditioning or weakness, balance problems, difficulty walking, weight gain, and decreased muscle mass can benefit from early intervention in an oncology rehabilitation program.

At Diablo Valley Oncology, we have developed a state-of-the-art Physical Therapy and Lifestyle Center to meet the growing needs of cancer patients.

Our lead therapist, Alison Taba, is a licensed physical therapist with special training in oncology rehabilitation and lymphedema therapy. Alison and our team of physical therapy specialists provide cancer rehabilitation services to patients who have been diagnosed with cancer, those undergoing cancer treatment, and survivors of cancer to enable them to improve their quality of life and to help them successfully integrate back into society.

In addition to physical therapy, our Lifestyle Center provides nutritional services by Tinrin Chew, RD, who specializes in providing oncology specific nutrition counseling for cancer patients. Other services include group exercise classes and educational programs. Additional integrative health services will be incorporated in 2013.

Our Physical Therapy and Lifestyle Center is the only one in the East Bay area and of the few in Northern California to provide cancer specific rehabilitation services. Diablo Valley’s Physical Therapy & Lifestyle Center can be reached by calling (925) 400-9570.

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Danville Today News ~ April 2013 - Page 23

Hair Loss

By Dr. Jerome Potozkin

One of the things that I have noticed as I age is that I have less hair where I want it (like my head) and more hair where I don’t want it (like my nose and ears). Hair loss is a very common problem. The most common type of hair loss that we see is genetically predetermined.

This affects both men and women. There are also some common medical causes of hair loss.

Hair loss is very common in men and can also impact one in four women. Hereditary hair loss is also known as male pattern alopecia, female pattern alopecia, and androgenetic alopecia.

Most people start out with about 100,000 hair follicles on their scalp. The follicles are constantly cycling from an active growth to a resting phase. It is normal, on any given day, for 100 hairs to fall out as the follicles enter the resting phase. In people with hereditary hair loss, follicles will get smaller and smaller as they repeatedly cycle from the growth phase to the resting phase. Women will usually notice hair thinning in a diffuse pattern whereas men will notice it at the crown, top, and widow’s peak.

Finasteride is an oral prescription drug that has been shown to reduce hair loss in men.

Topically applied minoxidil can help reduce hair loss in both men and woman. There is no shampoo that has been proven to help. Some people will benefit from hair restoration surgery. Diet can play a role in hair loss in severely malnourished individuals.

Telogen effluvium is a rapid type of hair loss. This occurs when many hair follicles enter the resting state at the same time as opposed to randomly cycling from the growth phase to the resting phase. This can occur after a major physical or psychological event in one’s life. This is most often seen after a pregnancy, surgery, or illness. The condition can take months to resolve.

In some patients a medical condition can contribute to hair loss, so we might do a blood test to measure the thyroid gland, iron stores in the body, and certain hormones. On occasion we do find a reversible medical cause of hair loss. Once the condition is treated, the lost hair returns.

We see many patients who are referred to us for the sudden onset of patchy hair loss.

Usually this type of hair loss is discovered by a hair stylist. This type of hair loss most commonly represents alopecia areata. This is a perplexing condition in which the body’s own immune cells attack the hair follicles. We don’t fully understand why this happens.

In most patients hair loss is limited to one to several coin shaped patches. However, in some people it can progress to complete hair loss. The most common way to treat this condition is to inject a steroid into the skin to turn off the local immune response attacking the hair follicle. The response can vary from individual to individual, and monthly treatments are the norm. The National Alopecia Areata Foundation is a great source of information for people who suffer from alopecia areata.

There are other causes of hair loss. However, this article describes 95% of the hair loss we see. If you are suffering from hair loss, we are happy to help you.

Dr. Potozkin is a board certified dermatologist who has been serving the local community since 1993. His office is located at 600 San Ramon Valley Blvd, Suite 102 in Danville. He is accepting new patients. Please call 925-838-4900 or visit Potozkin.com for more information.

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Reach over 14,500 homes and businesses in Danville 94526 - Help Wanted, For Sale, Services, Lessons, Pets, Rentals, Wanted, Freebies... $35 for up to 45 words. $5 for each additional 15 words. Run the same classified ad in our sisters paper “Lafayette Today” and/or “Alamo Today” and pay half off for your second and/or third ads!

Send or email submissions to: 3000F Danville Blvd #117, Alamo 94507 or editor@yourmonthlypaper.com. Payment by check made out to “The Editors” must be received before ad will print.

Your cancelled check is your receipt. We reserve the right to reject any ad.

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Page 24 - April 2013 ~ Danville Today News

The Combs Team

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Professionals You Can Count On

Nancy

Joe

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Danville Real Estate: Luxury Home Market Buyer Confidence Returning

A year ago I reported that things were going extremely well for Luxury Homes, and they have been. We lifted off the bottom in 2010 and have been going strong ever since. No one could be more thrilled than I am that the Danville Area Market for Luxury Homes has finally turned around. For the purpose of this review, as with my last, I have defined Luxury Homes to include homes that are 5,000 square feet and larger, which sit on a premium lot that is between ½ and 1 full acre, and is equipped with a pool. This definition has been overlain on the geographies including Alamo, Blackhawk, Danville and Diablo, which in my personal view comprises the Danville Area Real Estate Market.

I have included a chart and a graph with this review that displays the sales history for this slice of the market dating back to the market bottom in 2010. The chart confirms a steady rise in price from 2010 with a smaller rise from 2011-2012. This is truly exciting. The average sales price in 2010 was $1,908,000. In 2012 the price has climbed to $2,195,179. That is a whopping increase of 15% or a $287,000 price jump. If you have been waiting for the absolute bottom to snag a “Big One,” you may

Luxury Home Mkt. Alamo, Blackhawk, Danville, Diablo Year Units Sold DOM Sold Price $/Sq. Foot Avg Size 2010 14 91 $ 1,908,000 $ 327 5834 2011 21 98 $ 2,163,102 $ 367 5894 2012 14 154 $ 2,195,179 $ 369 5948 very likely have missed the chance. However, the prices are still 25% below the 2007 peak, so it’s not too late to get a great buy on a great home at a time when you can see the prices are again rising.

Equally important and confirming the Luxury Market turnaround is dollars paid per square foot. In 2010 it stood at $327 and has increased throughout 2012 to $369 for a 13% increase. Both measures show strong positive dollar increases which supports the view that this is not a statistical anomaly, but the “Real Deal,” which is even more exciting. I want to add, as I usually do, that there is no such thing as an “average” home. The lowest price paid for one of these homes was $1,437,000 and the highest was $3,125,000. The median price was almost a match of the average price and stands at $2,338,139.

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Each of the three measures, sales price, dolLuxury Home Market Dollars lars paid per square foot and unit sales confirm that High End buyer confidence has risen, at $370 Per Square Foot least in the Danville Area Real Estate Market. $360 The improvement in sales is likely due to the growing availability of Super Jumbo loans $350 which are at historically low interest rates. $340 If you are looking to acquire a Luxury Home $330 during the next year, you might want to contact your lender who can bring you up to speed on the $320 great loan products out there. If you don’t have $310 a lender, please give Nancy or me a call and we $300 will point you in the right direction.

10 11 12 With the first quarter of 2013 not quite ended, we have not had any Luxury Home sales close. However, five are pending sale with an average list price of $2,853,900 and a square foot price at list of $410.23. The sales mix is a little stronger than during 2012 with the lowest price listed at $1,725,000 and the highest price listed at $4,595,000. This is a very good sign for the Luxury Home market in the Danville Area. It is so good, in fact, that 11 such Luxury Homes are currently active on the market. Their prices range from $1,599,000 to $4,875,000 and their average square foot price is about $40 higher than the pending sales. This is a pretty strong sign for a continuing rise in the market for Luxury Homes. I think improving confidence among the wealthy is a pretty good thing moving forward for our market.

The newspaper deadlines and limited space allocation makes it impossible for me to provide really detailed information in this medium. If you would like to learn more please visit our website www. thecombsteam.com. We usually publish an article a week in our Recent Articles section. Almost 200 published articles are sitting there as of today. We can also provide an email newsletter which contains the latest information we have published. You can sign up for it on the front page of our website.

If you are thinking about buying or selling a home in 2013 and you would like to talk it over please give Nancy and me a call at 925-989-6086 or send me an email joecombs@thecombsteam. com. We would love to help.

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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 Combs, Nancy Combs, The Combs Team, J. Rockcliff and the MLS service do not guarantee the accuracy of this information. DRE #0144125.

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