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September 2014 15th Annual Eugene O’Neill Festival: “The Art of the Escape” Continues By Jody Morgan
The 15 Annual Eugene O’Neill Festival launched in August continues through September with live theater, lively debate, vibrant visual art, and free walks in the wake of the “Father of American Drama.” Thanks to the partnership initiated in 1980 between the Eugene O’Neill Foundation Tao th
At the Tao House property where O'Neill penned The Iceman Cometh, the cast rehearses their escape into the roles he created. (Photo courtesy of John Carter)
House (EONF) and the National Park Service (NPS), residents of the San Ramon Valley don’t have to escape their home territory to experience the legacy of Eugene O’Neill, four-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the only
See Escape continued on page 24
Mustang Matrix - U11 Oswego Nike Cup Champions had an impressive run and took home the championship win in Portland, Oregon. Top left: Sofie Baker, Gianna Leontini, Carly McPherson, Lilly Van Wagenen, Avarie Phillips, Bianca Zamora, Coach Gina Archimede-Medina & Zach Medina; Front Row: Abby McCabe, Jayna Huang, Kylie Musante, Peyton Clawson, Ryan Hayden, and Shannon McGowan.
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Serving Danville Discovery Counseling Center: Building a Healthy Community By Jody Morgan
Serving Valley families for over 40 years, the Discovery Counseling Center (DCC), located at 115 Town & Country Drive in Danville, is a remarkable resource for affordable, high-quality mental health care. In addition to partnering with the San Ramon Valley United School District (SRVUSD) in a variety of innovative programs, DCC provides training in Mental Health First Aid and counseling for Seniors Citizens. Services at the clinic supplement school-based and community outreach offerings. Thanks to the tireless efforts of the Friends of Discovery and generous grants from sponsors, DCC, a non-profit organization, is able to offer some programs free of charge, while keeping other fees modest. Staff includes over 40 licensed and pre-licensed therapists, social workers, and psychologists. DCC Executive Director Kathy Chiverton quotes National Institute of Mental Health research: “An estimated 26.2 percent of Americans ages 18 and older – about one in four adults – suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year.” Chiverton continues, “When you include families, neighbors, colleagues, you can see how the vast majority of us are impacted in some way by someone dealing with a mental health issue. As a community we need to talk about mental health and become more aware of the support and resources available to those who face mental health issues.” Evolving over the past 25 years to fill District needs, the School Counseling Intervention Program (SCIP) now provides guidance in all SRVUSD elementary schools. Research indicates fostering resilience by helping students develop self-esteem and master skills critical for coping with whatever challenges they face is the most effective way Danville Town Councilmember Newell Arnerich, DCC Board Members to maintain safe, Lorraine Frey and Julie Liu, and DCC Executive Director Kathy Chiverton drug-free schools. celebrate the launch of the Senior Program. Photo courtesy of DCC. DCC counseling is available two days per week in 16 schools and once a week in the five smaller facilities. This short-term intervention of 10-12 sessions can be continued at the clinic as needed. Kathy Kane, DCC Clinical Director and SCIP Director, comments, “The need and interest in supporting children’s social and emotional development is very keen in this area. Families are very fortunate to have this level Volume V - Number 11 of service.” Follow-up evaluation shows that 95% 3000F Danville Blvd. #117, of students receiving DCC support exhibit positive Alamo, CA 94507 (925) 405-6397 change in at least one area of adjustment. Seventy Fax (925) 406-0547 percent of students show improvement in five or more. Predominant problems addressed include Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher family transition, anxiety, low self-esteem, social editor@ isolation, social skill deficit, behavior manageyourmonthlypaper.com ment, and emotional regulation issues. opinions expressed herein belong DCC interns are essential to SCIP success. The to the writers, and do not necessarily Overseeing their work is an aspect of her job reflect that of Danville Today News. Danville Today News is not that Kane finds thoroughly rewarding. “I love responsible for the content of any of the advertising herein, nor does watching the interns blossoming in the field. We
See Discovery continued on page 26
publication imply endorsement.
Page 2 - September 2014 ~ Danville Today News
Boulevard View
By Alisa Corstorphine, Editor
Have you visited the world class Computer History Museum located in Mountain View? The amazing collection at the Museum takes visitors on a journey from abacuses to slide rulers, from card reading computers through the invention of the microchip, from the introduction of calculators through electronic games and gadgets, cell phones, personal computers, and more. Phew! It has it all! The Museum is dedicated to preserving and presenting the stories and artifacts of the information age. While the sharing and use of information has existed since the beginning of mankind, recently there has been an explosion in how many ways and how much easier we can now communicate. No longer are people sharing stories by painting pictographs on cave walls or etching characters on clay or stone tablets. Many of these old forms of communication could not be transported and remained in one place, many to be lost to the sands of time. As communication developed, writing began to appear on paper and papyrus, which enabled the sharing and distribution of information. In modern times, paper has been the most commonly used medium to communicate. That is, until recently. In less than forty years, the microprocessor era has facilitated the greatest information revolution in the history of humankind. The sharing of electronic information and the amount of data being learned, shared, and passed down is mind boggling. Many people (like me!) feel overwhelmed by the amount of information coming toward them every day. It used to be a significant undertaking to write a book, or for some, to simply write a letter. Thanks to electronic transmission, books can be conceived, written, published and distributed in just days, and we sometimes write tens of mini-letters (emails) every day. In many ways, now we hyper-communicate. The exponential growth of what we can do with these electronics devices and the plethora of information available has made some tasks more simple and efficient, and in other ways it has made our lives more complicated,
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urgent, and cluttered. We have so many modes of communication available now that it seems we spend a large amount of time consumed by it. Have you noticed how ever since the FAX appeared in 1988, everything has become so URGENT? All of this technology has accelerated the pace of business and society as a whole. On one hand it’s helped us do things faster, and on the other, maybe it’s amplified our impatience. And then there’s the smartphone! What a cultural force the iPhone and Android phones have become. There are texts and jingles, special songs to identify a specific caller, and alarms for an upcoming activity. There’s instant access to any knowledge we desire, in almost any form. We have strobe lights that inform us that messages are waiting and buzzers that silently tell us when someone wants to reach us. There are exclamation marks and color coding of our messages to denote that one communication is more important than all of the others, at least in the eye of the beholder! The technical revolution has brought us many wondrous innovations in all of this new communication. For instance, we can easily and instantly translate documents and information from multiple languages. I remember as a child when we received correspondence from distant relatives in Czechoslovakia, we would take the letter to an individual who could translate it for us. Now a webpage we’re on will automatically ask us if we’d like to translate the page from whatever language it’s in to English. Yes, please! Another form of communication that has exploded is the taking of pictures and the making of films, or in modern parlance, videos. In the 80’s I remember going on a cruise and there were multiple people lugging around video cameras the size of a carry-on suitcase. Most of the time they spent was behind the camera trying to capture the moments, instead of living in the moment. Today, we’re a society that is documenting every moment of every day, every happening, good or bad. We’re all publishers, authors, and filmmakers now. Take a walk through this evolution at the Computer History Museum located at 1401 N. Shoreline Blvd. in Mountain View (www.computerhistory. org). Go visit, and see how far we’ve come.
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Danville Today News ~ September 2014 - Page 3
JARED HIGGINS TEAM Danville Home Sales
List Price
Sold Price
Sq. Ft Bed/Bath $PSF DOM
160 Almadine Way 312 Borica Drive 352 Camaritas Way 870 Century Way 611 Derbyshire Pl 1618 Fountain Springs Cir 1625 Fountain Springs Cir 3291 Griffon St W 66 Hardester Court 70 Hillmont Pl 11 Hillside Road 158 Joaquin Circle 212 La Questa Dr. 38 Leeds Ct 395 Love Lane 288 Love Ln 366 Love Ln 200 Meadowside Place 225 Montair Dr 219 Montego 54 Mustang Court 990 Ocho Rios Dr 1052 River Rock Ln 497 Saint Francis 422 Saint Norbert Dr 51 Saint Ramon Court 52 Saint Timothy Ct 472 Scotts Mill Rd 28 Sky Terrace 94 St. Beatrice Ct. 655 Thornhill Rd 121 Wilshire Ct
$1,395,000 $999,000 $1,278,000 $925,000 $924,900 $779,000 $749,900 $1,149,000 $1,146,000 $2,199,000 $1,290,000 $999,000 $2,450,000 $1,199,000 $1,198,000 $2,150,000 $1,525,000 $1,259,000 $1,599,000 $1,299,900 $799,000 $1,249,900 $975,000 $999,000 $999,000 $800,000 $998,000 $1,199,000 $4,195,000 $843,000 $1,199,000 $995,000
$1,375,000 $1,045,000 $1,355,000 $1,060,000 $952,950 $775,000 $735,000 $1,125,000 $1,118,000 $1,985,000 $1,300,000 $1,005,000 $2,250,000 $1,240,000 $1,120,000 $2,210,000 $1,650,000 $1,249,000 $1,610,000 $1,238,350 $810,000 $1,300,000 $950,000 $999,000 $1,080,000 $782,500 $1,060,000 $1,250,000 $4,080,000 $868,000 $1,240,000 $1,095,000
4113 2423 2513 1802 1955 1606 1606 2924 2837 3712 2346 2397 5125 2907 2700 4148 2978 3184 3056 2288 1655 2856 2014 2651 2102 1932 2431 2753 6217 1626 1990 2197
Danville 94526 detached sales per MLS 7/25/14 - 8/25/14.
5/4 4/3 4/3 3/2 4/2 3/3 3/3 4/4 4/3 4/3.5 4/3 4/2.5 6/5 4/3 3/2 5/5.5 5/3.5 4/3.5 3/2.5 4/3 3/2 4/2.5 4/2.5 5/2.5 3/2.5 4/2 5/2.5 4/3 5/5.5 3/2 4/2.5 4/2.5
$334 $431 $539 $588 $487 $483 $458 $385 $394 $535 $554 $419 $439 $427 $415 $533 $554 $392 $527 $541 $489 $455 $472 $377 $514 $405 $436 $454 $656 $534 $623 $498
27 16 5 13 2 0 35 49 12 70 7 2 89 7 60 6 0 31 3 13 0 6 22 21 5 14 6 6 12 7 3 8
Danville’s Real Estate Expert Danville Today News ~ August 2013 - Page 3
Put the power of a top producing real estate team and the East Bay’s #1 real estate firm to work for you!
Blackhawk “First Sunday” Cars & Coffee
The Blackhawk Automotive Museum hosts a monthly Cars & Coffee event year round for all car enthusiasts. Held on the first Sunday of each month, starting at 8AM and ending to 10AM, the Museum welcomes all classic, collector, and special interest car owners and enthusiasts. The next event will be held September 7. On Cars & Coffee Sundays the Museum opens an hour earlier, at 9AM, and participating car owners will receive complimentary Museum admission tickets. The Museum is located at 3700 Blackhawk Plaza Cir, Danville. For more information, visit www.blackhawkmuseum.org.
San Ramon Valley Republican Women Federated Luncheon to Prepare for Upcoming Elections
Get prepared for the November 4th elections! Allison Olson, Advocate for California Federated Republican Women, presents “Unraveling the Propositions!” Allison Olson is a graduate of the University of California at Davis with a degree in Political Science. She was the Deputy Finance Director for the McClintock for Congress campaign and previously interned with Wilson-Miller Communications in Sacramento, a position that included tracking California legislation for clients of that firm. No stranger to Republican volunteer organizations, she chaired the Davis College Republicans group from June of 2006 until May 2008. She was also a fellow with the Foundation for Defense of Democracies from April 2007 to May 2008. During that time, Allison studied in Israel and Washington, D. C. with counter-terror experts. Please join us for lunch and Allison’s talk at Crow Canyon Country Club, located at 711 Silver Lake Drive, Danville on Tuesday, September 23rd from 11:30-Noon. The cost is $25. Please RSVP by Friday, September 19th to srvrwf.lunch@gmail.com or send your check to P.O. Box 1, Danville, CA 94526. For more information visit www.srvrwf.org. Save the date for lunch with Larry Greenfield, expert on the Middle East, on Tuesday, October 28th.
Jared Higgins (925) 487-2907
jhiggins@rockcliff.com JaredHiggins.com BRE# 01781054
Annual 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony
The Exchange Club of San Ramon Valley, along with local veterans’ organizations, is hosting the Annual 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony for the residents of the San Ramon Valley (SRV). This event will feature prominent guest speakers, hundreds of Boy and Girl Scouts with an array of American Flags, joint Police and Fire Department Honor Guard, the San Ramon Valley High Chamber Choir, a flight of doves, and many other patriotic contributions. There will be an essay contest based on this event with cash prizes for students in grades 1-12 who are residents of the five San Ramon Valley communities. The event will take place on Thursday, September 11th starting at 5:50PM and concluding at 6:40PM, at All Wars Memorial, which is located at Oak Hill Park at 3005 Stone Valley Road in Danville. This changes Master of Ceremonies EVERYTHING for the event will be Karen Your money. Your story. Your life. Stepper, Past President of Learn God’s ways of handling money with Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University! the Exchange Club of SRV. The average turnaround is $8,000 in just Keynote Speaker will be the first three months! David Yuers, and current Exchange Club President, more info Richard Price will be a Gatetree Baptist Church Enter your class date/time/location guest speaker. 101contact Gatetree Dr | Danville and information here. For information about gatetreechurch.com | 925-820-9477 the Exchange Club of SRV, beginning Tuesday, September 16, 7-8:30PM Register online at daveramsey.com/findaclass please contact our website daveramsey.com/findaclass at srvexchangeclub.org.
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Page 4 - September 2014 ~ Danville Today News
Alamo Music and Wine Festival Saturday, September 6
The Rotary Club of Alamo will be sponsoring the 32nd Annual Alamo Music and Wine Festival on Saturday, September 6th, from 3:30pm to 10:30pm at Alamo Plaza in downtown Alamo just off the Stone Valley Rd West exit. The fun-filled event will benefit local school music programs. The Festival will feature activities for kids, games, business booths, music, dinner, and a a raffle with great prizes. Headlining the event will be the Groove Doctors, an 8-piece band, who will perform from 8 to 10:30pm. Also performing from 4 to 7pm will be the Monte Vista High School Jazz Band, the San Ramon Valley High School Jazz Band, the Stone Valley Middle School Jazz Band, and the Alamo Elementary School Children’s Choir. Dinner will be served from 5:30 to 8pm and feature selections from FAZ’s Restaurant, Izzy’s Place, and the Rotary Burger Barn with hamburgers and gourmet sausages. Dinner tickets are $15. Bring your family, neighbors, and friends!
Blackhawk Republican Women Presentation
Praise & Prayer Gatetree Baptist Church
101 Gatetree Drive, Danville www.gatetreechurch.com Thursdays, 6:30—7:30/Begins Sept. 18 Visitors Welcome
Blackhawk Republican Women present Heather MacDonald. Heather is a Thomas W. Smith Fellow at the Manhattan Institute, contributing editor of City Journal, and Bradley Prize recipient for Outstanding Intellectual Achievement speaking on California's Prison Litigation Nightmare. The event will be held Thursday, September 11th at the Blackhawk Country Club. Check-in, hors d’oeuvres, and social begins at 5:30pm followed by the meeting and speaker at 6:15pm. The cost is $25. MacDonald’s writing has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, The New York Times, and The New Republic, among others. She has received numerous honors for her work and is a frequent guest on FOX News, CNN, and other television and radio programs. Come hear what this knowledgeable expert has to say about California’s dilemma! Please make reservation and payment to “Blackhawk Republican Women” by noon on September 9th by contacting Mrs. Marilyn Bradley, 1l6 Sedgefield Court, San Ramon, CA 94583, marebradley@aol.com, or 925-828-2360. Blackhawk Republican Women, Federated, founded in 1989 in affiliation with the National Federation of Republican Women, was established to promote understanding of the philosophy of the Republican Party and to inform its members of the important current local, state and national issues.
Live Music Returns to Village Theatre
Music lovers should mark their calendars as the Town of Danville’s fantastic series Thursdays @ the VT returns to the historic Village Theatre and Art Gallery.
October 16, 7:30pm ~ Slim Jenkins
San Francisco’s Slim Jenkins is a celebration of great American roots music and its tradition of innovation and energy. Harking back to the heyday of hot jazz and blues, Slim Jenkins evokes a world of seduction and mystery, love and betrayal. Sultry and smooth, or jumping and hot, their music keeps the dance floor energized and alive. The show will take place at the Village Theatre and Art Gallery, 233 Front Street. Beer and wine will be available for purchase. Tickets are $10 presale and $15 at the door and can be purchased by calling (925) 314-3400 or visiting www.villagetheatreshows.com. For more information, contact Performing Arts Coordinator David Lam at (925) 314-3466 or dlam@danville.ca.gov.
Exchange Club of SRV
The Exchange Club of San Ramon Valley meets for lunch the second Wednesday of every month in downtown Danville. Sign-in and social time begins at 11:30AM. The meeting starts promptly at noon and ends promptly at 1PM. The program features guest speakers and a business networking speaker. For more information, call Karen Stepper at (925) 275-2312, email coachstepper@yahoo. com, or visit www.srvexchangeclub.org.
Delta Nu Psi Care Packages for the Troops
Delta Nu Psi will be at CVS in Alamo on Friday, September 5th from 11 -2pm, and at Lunardi’s Market in Danville on Friday, September 12th from 11am-2pm to collect “gourmet junk food” and postage for shipments for our servicemen. Some of their favorite treats are sunflower seeds, GoGo Squeez, salted nuts, beef jerky, and single serving macaroni and cheese. Please visit deltanupsi.org for more information as well as photos and emails from the men and women in the War Zone. am
Alamo-Danville Newcomers Club
Are you new to the area or a long time resident interested in making new friends and participating in various social activities? We are a women's organization whose purpose is to enrich the lives of all its members and their families in a social manner. Check out all we have to offer by visiting our website: www.alamodanvillenewcomers.com. Our next new member coffee is September 23rd at 10am. RSVP to alamodanvillenewcomers@gmail.com.
Sons in Retirement
As a retiree, are you looking to make new friends, participate in fun activities, and better enjoy your leisure time? Sons in Retirement (SIR)-San Ramon Valley Branch 128 may be your solution. SIR #128 will be holding its monthly luncheon on Wednesday, September 17th. Our September guest speaker will be Bob Fish. Bob is a Bay Area historian and author. He wrote a book titled Hornet Plus Three, which is about the history of the USS Hornet and the role it played in WWII, including the famous Doolittle Bomb Raid to Japan in 1942. He will also speak to the USS Hornet’s role in recovering the Apollo 11 Space Capsule upon its return from the moon. During his presentation, Bob will describe the mission’s planning, rehearsing, and final recovery at sea. Join us on September 17th for a great speaker and camaraderie amongst retirees while learning more about our Sons in Retirement organization! Social Hour begins at 10:30AM with luncheon at 11:35AM. The $23 cost includes meeting, luncheon, guest speaker, and a great opportunity to socialize with at least 120 other retirees from the San Ramon Valley. We meet at the San Ramon Golf Club, located at 9430 Fircrest Lane in San Ramon. To reserve a space, email us at www.info@sir128.com no later than the Friday prior to the luncheon or call (925) 640-8077. For more information about our Retirement Branch, events, and activities, go to www.Sir128.com.
Walk n’ Roll
Slip on your running or walking shoes and hit the trail. That’s the Lafayette Moraga trail for Las Trampas’ 5th annual Walk n’ Roll on Saturday, September 27, 9AM- noon. Bring the family, get your exercise…and support a great organization that serves individuals with developmental disabilities. Registration is $25 per participant and includes event T-shirt, a raffle entry, Whole Foods goodie bag, games by 92.1 KKDV and Backyard Carnivals, refreshments, and entertainment by Bread & Roses. The course starts at Las Trampas in Lafayette and continues east towards Olympic Blvd., then loops back to Las Trampas. Register at www.lastampas.org, call (925) 310-2363, or email spestal@lastrampas.org. Every dollar goes directly to client programs and makes a difference in the lives of those with developmental disabilities.
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Danville Today News ~ September 2014 - Page 5
ALAMO PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY & ORTHODONTICS
NIKKI YAMATO, DDS A Diplomat of the American Board of PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY. She completed her Pediatric Dental Residency Program at Interfaith Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York. Her professional background includes a teaching position as Assistant Professor of Pediatric Dentistry at the University of the Pacific in San Francisco where she received her DDS back in 2009. Dr. Yamato specialized in the management of pediatric oral diagnosis and treatment, trauma/injuries as well as interceptive orthodontics. Furthermore, she is adept in treating children and special needs patients under nitrous oxide, oral sedation, IV sedation and general anesthesia in the operating room. She is affiliated with Children’s Oakland Hospital.
YU-CHING LAI DDS, MS She received her DDS from UCSF, and completed her specialty in ORTHODONTICS & DENTOFACIAL ORTHOPEDICS from University of Rochester, New York in 2009. Her expertise includes early-age orthodontic management (two-phase therapy), multi-disciplinary orthodontic treatment, conventional metal & clear (ceramic) braces, Invisalign® & Invisalign Teen®, self-ligation braces (metal & clear), retainer and Temporomandibular Joint Disorders (TMJD). She is actively involved in research and has published several articles; one, notably explored TMJ treatment. Lastly, she is fluent in English, Mandarin, and Taiwanese.
MEET THE DOCTORS Call Today!
(925) 831-8310 Now Taking New Patients
New Patient Special Free school backpack for patients under 12 years old Must be accompanied by exam, teeth cleaning, and x-rays
Stone Valley Dental 220 Alamo Plaza Suite E Alamo, CA 94507
W: www.stonevalleydental.com P: 925-831-8310 F: 925-309-2460 E:stonevalleydental@gmail.com
Saturday, September 20th 10-7 PM Sunday, September 21st 10-6 PM Downtown Lafayette
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•Admission
•Parking at BArT •Shuttle to event •Bike Valet Parking
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4 the sun kings • foreverland • aja vu • PettY theft • • stealin’ chicago • ZeboP • the sPaZmatics • the big jangle • • east baY mudd • night moves • baY bridge beat • duo gadjo • • other PeoPle’s moneY • juice • bob athaYde & friends • • acoustic s&m • juke joint • red house all stars • dominant 7 • Presenting Sponsor
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Minuteman Press Lafayette
www.lafayettefestival.com www.facebook.com/lafayettefestival 6100 State Farm Drive Rohnert Park, CA 94928
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Page 6 - September 2014 ~ Danville Today News
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Free BART Tickets with Discover & Go Museum Reservations
By Supervisor Candace Andersen
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
Maria Haswell is our winner!
Although summer is fading into fall and school has started again, it’s still a great time to visit our Bay Area world class museums and cultural venues. This is especially true when you can get there for free using public transportation! Contra Costa County Library and 511 Contra Costa have partnered again to provide free BART tickets to Contra Costa County Library cardholders with Discover & Go reservations during the months of September and October. Discover & Go is a nationally recognized museum pass program developed by Contra Costa County Library that provides instant online access to free and low-cost tickets to over 40 museums, science centers, zoos, theatres, and other fun and interesting local cultural venues. It has made over 500,000 free cultural visits possible for Bay Area residents with library cards. Library cardholders can browse for tickets online by date or by venue. Once you make a reservation, you can print your tickets, plan your trip using 511.org, and link to a recommended reading list. Use your library card number to request Discover & Go tickets at www.ccclib.org/discovergo. To get free BART tickets, view your September/October reservation on your Discover & Go account. Click “View” and “Print Pass,” and then click on the 511 banner on your Discover & Go pass to sign-up and request your BART ticket. You may request up to three $10 BART tickets, which will be mailed to your home via standard 1st Class U.S. Postal Service within four business days of your request. The BART ticket offer is limited to one request per household, and the offer is available while supplies last. The free Discover & Go promotional BART tickets are available for use to visit the following venues: • Asian Art Museum • The Beat Museum • Bedford Gallery • California Academy of Sciences • California Historical Society • California Shakespeare Theater • Cartoon Art Museum • Chabot Space & Science Center • Children’s Creativity Museum • Chinese Historical Society of America Museum • Contemporary Jewish Museum • Exploratorium • Freight & Salvage • GLBT History Museum • Habitot Children’s Museum • Lawrence Hall of Science • Museum of Art and Digital Entertainment • Oakland Museum of California • Pacific Pinball Museum • UC Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive • UC Botanical Garden • Yerba Buena Center for the Arts This BART ticket offer is funded by the Contra Costa Transportation Authority’s Half Cent Sales Tax for Transportation Improvements (Measure J) and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District’s Transportation Fund for Clear Air. The promotion is intended to encourage the use of public transit to access museums and is not need-based. My office is here to serve the residents of Contra Costa County District 2, which includes San Ramon, Danville, Alamo, Walnut Creek, Saranap, Parkmead, Lafayette, Moraga, Canyon, and Orinda. Please contact us if we can provide you with additional information on this topic or on other County issues. I can be reached at SupervisorAndersen@bos.cccounty.us or (925) 957-8860.
AARP Tax-Aide Call For Volunteers for 2015 Tax Season
Do you like working with people? Are you good with numbers? Contra Costa County AARP Tax-Aide is looking for volunteers to become members of a team providing free tax preparation for individuals of all ages. Tax-Aide volunteer positions include Tax Counselors who are trained by Tax-Aide and certified by IRS and Client Facilitators who schedule appointment and assist clients at tax sites. Orientation is in November 2014, and classes for tax counselors start in January 2015. If interested, call LaVerne Gordon at (925) 726-3199 for information and to apply.
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GFWC Danville Women’s Club
The 103 year old Danville Women’s Club, a member of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC) International, and California Federation of Women’s Clubs (CFWC), has many interesting meetings and fundraisers taking place this fall. The September 18th luncheon meeting kicks off our 2014-2015 Club year. The featured program is Canine Companions for Independence with Eric Roman. We will gather at our Clubhouse, located at 242 Linda Mesa Ave. in Danville, at 11:30AM, lunch is served at noon, and the program and business meeting follow. Reservations can be made by calling (925) 837-1165. Guests are always welcome and lunch is free for first-timers. Our wine and appetizer get acquainted party will be held at the Clubhouse on Friday, September 26th from 6– 8:30PM. Invitations are available from members, or individuals interested in getting to know more about the Club can make a reservation to attend by calling (925) 837-1165. On October 16th, the luncheon meeting presents the Child Abuse Prevention Council of Contra Costa County. Executive Director, Carol Carrillo, will be speaking on this very important topic. Our first fundraising event of the year is a Scholarship Bridge Luncheon on Thursday, October 30th from 11:30AM to 3PM. Gather a foursome and come for a luscious lunch and an afternoon of bridge. The cost is $80 per table of four players. A hot lunch will be served and includes dessert and beverages. A prize goes to the winning players at each table. This is a fabulous event and supports the Patty Hart Memorial Scholarship Fund which provides scholarships to Tri Valley high school seniors. November kicks off the holiday season with our annual Holiday Boutique at the Clubhouse. Mark your calendars for Saturday, November 8th from 10AM to 4PM. The Clubhouse and patio will be filled with lots of wonderful handmade and unique gifts, decorations, baked goodies, and just plain fun stuff. Bring your friends out for a great day of shopping, and enjoy free hot coffee and apple cider. If you are hungry, you can enjoy a dish of hot chili for a small donation. Net proceeds will benefit the Scholarship Fund. If you are a crafter, artist, etc. and would like to be a vendor at the event, please contact the Club at www.danvillewc@gmail.com or (925) 837-1165 for information on reserving a space. For more information about any of these events or the Club, please visit www. danvillewomensclub.org. Did you know that our Clubhouse is available for rental? Call or email for complete details.
Danville Today News ~ September 2014 - Page 7
Welcome Back to St. Isidore! By Maria Ward, principal
We are excited to be back at St. Isidore School. Our doors opened for students on Wednesday, August 20th and everyone was thrilled. We had two “Back-to-School” nights, one for our K-5 families and a separate one for our middle school families. These are big nights for our teachers as they share their plans for the year. Our parents are invited to visit their son/daughter’s classroom to personally meet their child’s teacher. It is so enjoyable to see our parents interact as a community. We feel blessed for all those who enrich our school. The St. Isidore Annual Golf Tournament will be held on Monday, September 22nd. We are thankful for this community event and fundraiser for our school which offers a hike for many moms, golfing for parents and grandparents, as well as a new tennis event this year as well. Afterwards, there is a wonderful dinner, which brings our Saint Isidore community together. Our annual book fair starts on Friday, September 26th and runs until October 5th. We have many helping hands that spend endless hours getting our book fair organized for our students and community. Please come and discover some great finds and support our school. The book fair is open after every Mass on the weekends. Please visit our website, www.stisidore.org, for more information. Put your tennis shoes on, and come support the “SVdP Friends of the Poor Walk” on Saturday, September 27th, from 9am-11am, which will be held on the St. Isidore Church track. All funds raised stay in Contra Costa County to help our neighbors in need. Sign up at www. fopwalk.org. Our own St. Isidore graduates help make this event possible. Please come join us! We are off to a great start, and we are looking forward to an amazing year!
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Page 8 - September 2014 ~ Danville Today News
SAT/ACT - Start Planning for College Now By Director of Club Z! In-Home Tutoring
Need A Tutor?
For many seniors, fall means that final chance for taking the SAT or ACT. The SAT test dates are October 11th and November 8th for the fall. ACT fall dates are Club Z! 1-On-1 Tutoring In Your Home! September 13th, and October 25th. Juniors can get an early start working on their best San Ramon, Danville, Alamo test score. Juniors may want to take the test or sign up for a mock test at their school. • All Subjects • PreK-Adult Consider which is the best test for you to take. It is important to know the dif• Reading • Writing • Math ferences between the two exams. Both tests contain math, reading, and writing, • LD/ADD/ADHD • SAT/ACT Prep however the SAT has a focus on vocabulary, and the ACT has a section on science. • Study Skills Program SAT gives you a score for reading, writing, and math. You can obtain a possible 800 • Affordable Rates • Degreed Professionals on each subtest. ACT gives you a composite score with a highest possible score of • Flexible Schedules 36. You may find that you score higher on one test versus the other, depending on your aptitude for the various subject knowledge they measure. SAT may tend to have “trickier” questions. On the SAT, wrong answers are penalized by .25 of a point, and in some cases it may be better to skip a question www.clubztutoring.com than to guess. You will want to know these facts about the tests in order to prepare. It is not uncommon to test several times. All schools will take your best score, and most schools will take your best reading, and best math scores, even if they do not occur on the same test date. Start by deciding your score goal. Visit the website of your dream school, or visit a website such as www.collegeapps.about.com to explore any school in the US and find out how their students have scored on the SAT or ACT. Knowing this will allow you to set goals for a successful score. To give yourself a better chance of increasing your scores on either exam, consider working with a private tutor. Club Z In-Home Tutoring is offering a No-Obligation Free On-Line Diagnostic Test. You will see how prepared you are and can decide if private tutoring may help you to increase your score. You can take this test in your own home at your computer. Taking sample practice tests and practicing on your specific areas of weakness is the best strategy for improving your scores. You may want to re-learn concepts that were difficult for you. This is often the case for geometry or algebra. For information on SAT and ACT individualized tutoring, contact Club Z! at 925-786-7149. It is typical to see a 100-200 point gain with the appropriate tutoring plan. Club Z! can customize a program for your goals. Plus the tutoring is individualized in your home. Please find test dates and important information about the SAT and ACT tests at www.clubztutoring.com/danville. If you are beginning the college application process, Club Z! now offers complete college consulting. We will help guide you through the process, analyze schools that are right for you, provide essay help, advise about financial aid assistance, etc. Call us for details! Start planning now for the college of your dreams! Advertorial
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Leadership Contra Costa: Get Involved and Make a Difference
Applications for Leadership Contra Costa, a program designed to motivate and identify potential leaders and prepare them for community leadership are being accepted. Participants meet once a month by means of workshops, presentations from community leaders, and group exercises to develop their understanding of leadership roles and prevailing issues with the community. Leadership Contra Costa accepts 28 to 32 individuals from throughout the county with diverse backgrounds to participate in the program. The 28th year of the program kicks off at the end of September and meets the first Thursday of every month from October through May. To obtain an application for Leadership Contra Costa’s 2014 - 2015 season, please visit www.walnut-creek.com.
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Stone Valley Middle School
By Shaun K. McElroy, Principal Stone Valley Welcomes YOU
Stone Valley Middle School has been part of the Alamo community since 1950, and we’d like you to join us! Volunteer, follow us on our social networks, and lend your expertise. Join us in Twitter, Facebook, and live text messaging.
Stone Valley Has Gone Social!
• “Like” us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ pages/Stone-Valley-Middle-School. • Follow us on Twitter: @StoneValleyMS • Sign up for Text Alerts: Text @0c3a67 to 925-392-0796 Be sure to stay connected all year long!
Volunteer
Danville Today News ~ September 2014 - Page 9
11 Critical Home Inspection Traps to be Aware of Weeks Before Listing Your Home for Sale Danville - According to industry experts, there are over 33 physical problems that will come under scrutiny during a home inspection when your home is for sale. A new report has been prepared which identifies the 11 most common of these problems, and what you should know about them before you list your home for sale. Whether you own an old home or a brand new one, there are a number of things that can fall short of requirements during a home inspection. If not identified and dealt with, any of these 11 items could cost you dearly in terms of repair. That's why it's critical that you read this report before you list your home. If you wait until the building inspector flags these issues for you, you will almost certainly experience costly delays in the close of your home sale or, worse, turn prospective buyers
away altogether. In most cases, you can make a reasonable pre-inspection yourself if you know what you're looking for, and knowing what you're looking for can help you prevent little problems from growing into costly and unmanageable ones. To help home sellers deal with this issue before their homes are listed, a free report entitled "11Things You Need to Know to Pass Your Home Inspection" has been compiled which explains the issues involved. To hear a brief recorded message about how to order your FREE copy of this report, call toll-free 1-866-265-1682 and enter 1003. You can call any time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Get your free special report NOW to learn how to ensure a home inspection doesn't cost you the sale of your home.
Volunteers who put in two hours receive a sporty car magnet. Volunteer clearance http://www.srvusd.net/parents/ volunteers. • PTA –Raylinn Bianchi, President - rebianchi@yahoo. This report is courtesy of J. Rockcliff Realtors #01763819. Not intended to solicit buyers or sellers currently under contract. Copyright © 2013 com • Ed Fund – Elisa Tinker, President elisatink@yahoo. Charlotte Wood Middle School com By Christopher George, Principal • Student Supervision – Trish Theobald – ttheobald@srvusd.net Welcome back to what we are sure is going to be • Field trips – Trish Theobald – ttheobald@srvusd.net a great year at Charlotte Wood Middle School. On • Pledge to Humanity – Gaby Ghorbani gaby@pledgetohumanity.org August 25th , we welcomed our new class of 6th grad• Classroom volunteers by interest level – If you would like to volunteer ers, as well as our returning 7th and 8th graders to our in a classroom please contact the teacher directly. campus, alongside 10 new teachers and staff members. • Lend us your expertise in Science, Math, Engineering or Technology? While the first days of school mean the end of Please help us grow our STEM programs. Contact me directly at smcelro@ summer to most, to educators they mean the beginsrvusd.net. ning of what we want to be a great school year for Who’s new at Stone Valley for 2014-15 our students. This year, in keeping with the implementation of the Common Join us in welcoming our new teachers new teachers. Core State Standards, our staff will be focusing on becoming curricularly • Linda Castillo – 6th grade math and accelerated Algebra I minded and focusing on the most important questions in instruction: • Rick Denny- 8th grade science, Robotics & Engineering * What do we want our students to know? • Amelia Marciano – 6th grade core * What is the best way to teach that material? • Jeanne Chiodo – Art 2,3 and art in the exploratory wheel * How do we know when kids have learned that material? • Michon Garemani – 7c grade science and Forensic science * What do we do when they haven’t? When selecting new teachers for Stone Valley we use the following criteria: We believe that out of these questions, rooted in Professional Learning Subject area expertise and passion - We believe that teachers choose Community work, are the keys to creating an instructional system which not their subject area because they have a passion for the content and that pas- only holds the high expectations we know are important, but supports every sion is contagious. student that we have. Within that framework, we will work on building a solid Value added - We believe that creating relationships outside of the class- Response to Interventions (RTI) system and continue our work with Culturroom is beneficial in building a healthy community. ally Responsive Teaching and Learning, Inclusion, AVID, implementation Collegiality- We believe that the best teachers collaborate with peers in of the CCSS, and better assessment and grading practices. This year we will also be continuing many of the initiatives we began last an open dialogue of best practices. Choose to work at the middle grades level - We believe that the middle year, including our advisory and block schedule. We have tweaked both to make improvements from our pilot year, and we look forward to the results school years are a pivotal time in the learning process. of those programs. Facilities Update And while we know that instruction is our paramount mission, we also We continue to move forward with plans for the construction of the new know that we are here to create a safe, secure, and compassionate environStone Valley. The school board approved the conceptual design in May and on June 11th teachers and community members provided input to the ment these first weeks of school for all students. To that end, we welcome facilities department. Construction is scheduled to begin in the summer them and you to the 2014- 2015 school year. of 2015 and the opening is scheduled for fall 2017. Updated information on construction projects throughout the district can be found on the SRVUSD website at www.srvusd.net/cms/page_view?d=x&piid=&vp id=1346747333230. Contacts for the Stone Valley project are Gary Black, Assistant Superintendent, Facilities & Operations (925) 552-2960, Richard Lowell Director, Facilities (925) 552-2970, and Tina Perault Sr. Planning & Development Mgr. (925) 552-2969.
Diablo Choral Artists Seeks Singers
Love to sing? Come join Diablo Choral Artists as they begin an exciting new season! The group has openings for all voice parts (especially tenors/ basses). Rehearsals are held on Mondays at 7PM at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, located at 1924 Trinity Ave. in Walnut Creek. Call (925) 670-7089, e-mail info@vmschorus.org, or visit www.vmschorus.org for additional information.
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Page 10 - September 2014 ~ Danville Today News
Monte Vista High School By Janet Terranova, Principal
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San Ramon Valley High School By Ruth Steele, Principal
We know summer is quickly coming to close as we see merchants start their back-to-school sales and parents begin to think about packing lunches again. School officially started August 25th, but Monte Vista staff have been on campus for weeks getting ready to welcome students. We officially welcomed the class of 2018 and students new to Monte Vista with a great New Student Orientation, followed later that evening with a dance just for new students. Our Link Crew Club and Leadership helped the students feel welcome. You could feel the energy in the gym and see the excitement on the faces of our students. Thank you to students and teachers who gave up their summer days to help with this great event. Registration was successful thanks to our volunteers who spent hours helping students and parents. We are thankful for so many community members that support Monte Vista. One goal that high schools have for all students is to help them learn to advocate for themselves and to be resilient. We know high school students have huge swings in their happiness meter. Some days they feel that they can conquer the world, and the next day they revert to your nervous little preschooler. Our job is to help students navigate those days and help them become self sufficient young adults by the time they leave Monte Vista. As a parent or friend of a high school student you can help. During their time in high school, students will hit some bumps in the road; how we help them respond to those bumps will determine their ability to be resilient. If your student comes home unhappy about a friendship, a grade, not making a team, etc., talk with them. Help them develop a plan to handle the situation. Let them take the first step to communicate with the other person. In the beginning, you may even need to role play the conversation, but as they become more confident and sure of themselves they will develop the resiliency that is a requirement to be a successful adult. Please let your student try to solve the problem, and only step in when necessary. “It is not what you do for your children, but what you have taught them to do for themselves that will make them successful human beings.” (Ann Landers) With the beginning of the school year underway, we have many activities and opportunities for community involvement. For more information about Monte Vista and our activities, please visit our website at www.mvhs.schoolloop.com.
At SRVHS we are moving in to the third year of a plan to incorporate technology into all of our classrooms as much as possible. During my first year as Principal we replaced every single computer across campus to ensure that all students and teachers were using computers that were as up-to-date as possible. That lease runs out after five years, and the vision is to have as many students as possible using personal devices at that point. Last year we invested in a large number of document cameras and Chromebooks. These tools will be used extensively by teachers and students to digitize assignments and tests and to improve the effectiveness of instruction and assessment. Technology is playing a more and more important role in our classrooms and driving our educational practices. The Common Core tests, which will be rolled out to all Juniors this year, have to be taken on a computer, so this is one piece of the puzzle. But more importantly, our students are digital natives who might never be asked to handwrite an essay or jot down notes from a reference book in a library. Many of our incoming freshmen were born in 2000. They will graduate in 2018. When you look down the list of student birthdays, it is really odd to see so many born outside of the 1990’s. This generation of students are millennials. They may never have seen or used a record player, a cassette player, or even a CD player. Most will buy their music online and play it through an iPod or similar device. They can navigate most tablets and software platforms seamlessly, and their social lives are often largely conducted online! As I contemplate our goals for this school year, the challenge of tailoring our educational practices to better suit our students needs is of paramount importance. We are preparing them for a workplace which looks vastly different when most current 30 or 40 year olds entered it. I got my first email account and my first cell phone in 1998, the same year I started my first teaching job. Over the last 16 years, my use of technology has constantly evolved. While I will never use technology as intuitively as current students, I am far more discerning about which online/digital tools are legitimate, accurate, and appropriate for student use. That is where educators have the most important role to play - we need to help students in understanding their digital world and show them how to make sense of all the information that they have access to so that they can be savvy learners and critical thinkers. Our challenge is to stay far enough ahead of the curve to make sure that we can do that!
Women in Film: From Evolution to Revolution
Where Were You 5,000 Years Ago?
AAUW Membership Brunch
AAUW will be holding a membership brunch with author, speaker, and retired UC Berkeley Senior Lecturer Marilyn Fabe, PhD talking on “Women in Film: From Evolution to Revolution. The luncheon will take place on Saturday, September 27th from 9:30am - 12:30pm at Roundhill Country Club, located at 3169 Roundhill Road, Alamo Marilyn has taught a wide variety of film courses for the Department of Film and Media at Berkeley, including many on the representation of women in film. Learn about the film industry through film clips and the role women played in that evolution. Film buffs will not want to miss this event. This program is open to the public, but reservations by September 22 are required. Pay online at http://daw-ca.aauw.net/2014-membership-brunch. For further information, contact membership co-chairs Tena at 925-8370826 or Soni at 925-286-1737.
925.934.3743 • 925.934.1515
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The First People of the San Ramon Valley
The Museum of the San Ramon Valley recently opened its exhibit of the Indians of the San Ramon Valley. The First People migrated into the San Ramon Valley approximately 5,000 years ago. Tools made of stone, shell, wood, and fiber as well as regalia, foods, games, and examples of hunting and gathering will be on display. A major focus of the exhibit is the role of games in the cultural life of the indigenous people. California Indians are said to be the best basket weavers among the Native American groups. There is an interactive game for visitors to play as well as a station for weaving frames and cording where visitors can try out their basket weaving skills. A fine collection of baskets are on display. A slideshow about Ishi, the last Yahi, is on view at the exhibit. These valuable photographs demonstrate the skills and lifestyle of the first Californians. The Museum will schedule a Saturday morning talk bout Ishi and his contribution to our knowledge of indigenous people. There will be storytelling on Saturday mornings, focusing on creation myths and folk tales, to entertain our younger visitors and illustrate the importance of coyote, owl, and turtle to the First People. This exhibit runs through November 9th at the Museum of the San Ramon Valley, located at the corner of Railroad and Prospect Avenues in downtown Danville. The Museum is open Tuesday -Friday from 1-4PM, Saturday from 10AM -1 PM, and Sunday from noon - 3PM.
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Del Amigo High School By Joseph A. Ianora, Principal
Welcome back to another school year at Del Amigo. We had an exciting ending to our school year, graduating 40 students of which 80% are continuing on to post-secondary education and another 20% have entered the work force or military service. In addition, we had 21 of our 72 student earn a 3.5 or better (seven with a 4.0 GPA) for the 4th quarter. Summer at Del Amigo has been quite busy. We had a new fire alarm system and new fiber optic cables installed (our internet capability is now matching the 21st Century), our Library facelift and update has been completed, and the entire campus has been completely cleaned. We have three new teachers this year. I am happy to introduce to you: • Briana Fitzsimons – Special Education • Jered Wilson – Social Studies • Junell Watson – Culinary Arts While we will particularly miss our two retiree’s (Carol VanMujien and Peggy Ebersole), we are very excited about the passion and energy Mr. Wilson, Ms. Fitzsimons, and Ms. Watson will bring to our unique educational setting. Also new to Del Amigo is our shifting to Common Core – the lens in which we will be educating your student. We pledge to offer a unique, comprehensive, collaborative, rigorous, and challenging educational experience that includes hands-on learning, field trips, technology usage, volunteer opportunities, intellectual stimulation, and socially appropriate interactions. New Changes: 1. New courses – We will be offering online learning to all students this year. 2. New Bell Schedule – We will be offering a six period day. Each class will be 42 minutes. On Wednesday’s classes will be 39 minutes, with a 20 minutes advisory program. 3. New Advisory system – Our advisory will move from a daily occurrence starting at 8:40AM to a once a week class scheduled after 4th period. Students will be assigned to a specific teacher. During this 20 minute class, students will be engaged in transcript evaluation, school wide book read, volunteer opportunities, post high school plans, and other activities. 4. Common Core testing – This is the first year we will have a new type of standardized testing. This computerized testing will utilize AI (Artificial Intelligence) to customize the test for the individual student as they answer questions. Testing will occur in the spring, and you will be getting much more information on this as we get closer to our testing window. 5. New website – Visit us at www.da.srvusd.net. 6. This year is unique in that we are involved with WASC…this is our mid-year review. In 2012 we received a six year term of accreditation, with a review in the 3rd year. This is the year for us to be reviewed. Del Amigo is a small and necessary part of our district. We are happy to be able to meet the needs of those students who need something different for their high school experience. We help students explore and unlock their many passions and talents…and to earn a High School Diploma. Del Amigo High School has been a haven for students in our district for almost 50 years, providing a solid educational foundation and well as a place to call home. I am looking forward to expanding our programs as well as increasing our positive image within the SRV community. If you would like to know more about us, please feel free to contact me at jianora@srvusd.net. Again, thank you for your support of our community school; we appreciate it!
Museum Volunteers Needed
Looking to get involved in your community? The Museum of the San Ramon Valley needs your help. Volunteer positions are available in the following areas: • Greeters • Docents • Walking Tour Docents • Events Committee • Educational Programs (One Room School/Indian Life) Call Eve or Donna at 552-9693 or send an email to srvmuseum@ sbcglobal.net for additional information.
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Danville Today News ~ September 2014 - Page 11
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San Ramon Valley Christian Academy By Jamie Westgate, Principal
School has officially begun! This year we welcomed our largest student body, with almost 350 students. Many smiles were exchanged between students and teachers, and a few tissues were distributed to some of the parents who were reminded of time’s passing. It feels good to have the students and teachers back on campus. This year our kindergarten students successfully located the “missing” gingerbread men in my office after a thorough hunt through the library, gymnasium, music room, and various other locations on campus. Although our creative teachers use this lesson to familiarize our students with their surroundings, it reminded me we have to be intentional to teach life skills. Occasionally we forget schools assist in teaching more than academics. Schools are places where students learn to share, negotiate, and think of others before themselves. Here they learn to be patient, consider others’ opinions, and remember to use their manners. They discover things will not always be perfect, and struggle is a real part of life. Compassion is valued and empathy is appreciated. Work ethic is developed, and students recover from disappointment. Discernment and critical thinking skills are experienced. Faith is developed. When we build life skills into academic, spiritual, physical and social development, we can accomplish our goal to equip kids for whatever God has planned for their future. Recently I listened to a podcast by Mark Gregston who had a great reminder to parents: “Every decision you make for your daughter is one less decision she has to make for herself. And every day that you keep your son dependent on you is one less day he has to become an independent adult.” This was very convicting to me as a parent and as an educator. If our goal is to create independent young adults, they will need to face challenge and failure. They will need manners and patience. They will appreciate encouragement and compassion. They will think for themselves, and discern the appropriate resources for support. I look forward to watching much growth and development in our students this year. Not only will we see increased knowledge, I expect we will see the confidence, security, and independence as a result of some meaningful life lessons.
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Page 12 - September 2014 ~ Danville Today News
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Friendly Options for Getting to School By Sustainable Danville Area
The kids are back to school and are settling down to a routine. But, does the routine include an environmentally friendly option for getting to and from school? Forty years ago, over 50% of kids in the US rode their bikes to school. In 2004, only 3% of kids rode their bikes to school. Biking and walking has been replaced by parents zipping their kids to and from school and to other activities by car. This may seem safe and hassle-free for the kids, but it prevents kids from getting needed exercise, adds considerably to traffic congestion, sends a cocktail of pollutants into the air that we all breath, and emits greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Considering all of these factors, the “true cost” of driving our kids everywhere is more expensive than we might think. Fortunately, there are many environmentally friendly options for getting your kids to school and many compelling benefits for those that try them. Bike or Walk – Walking and biking are great alternatives for students that live a few miles from their school. These activities can promote responsible behavior, awareness of the outdoor environment, and fitness. Alamo and Danville have a number of bike trails and routes which are located near our schools. Investigate possible biking or walking routes. If you live far away from the school but want your child to start to experience walking/riding, find a safe place to drop them off and pick them up as far away from school as is appropriate for their ability. If your child plans to bike, take one or two trial runs with him or her, and make sure he or she has the right size helmet, working brakes, properly inflated tires, appropriate attire, and enough time to get to school. Also, pay attention to weather reports for back-up plans in case of bad weather at the end of the school day. Help your child learn the rules of the road, and ride in specially designated areas when possible. For bike safety tips, go to www.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/ pedbimot/bike/kidsandbikesafetyweb/index.htm. Form a “Walking School Bus” or “Bicycle Train” – A walking school bus is a group of children walking to school with one or more adults. The bus leaves when the farthest family begins to walk the route and pick up kids along the way. It can be as informal as two families taking turns walking their children to school or as structured as a planned route with meeting points, a timetable, and a schedule of trained volunteers. A variation on the walking school bus is a
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bicycle train where a group of children and adult leaders ride together to school. Learn more about how to create safe routes to school at www.saferoutesinfo.org. Form a “School Pool” – This takes a little coordination but reduces your drives per week and definitely cuts down on energy use and air pollution. Carpooling also fosters a sense of community among riders. A carpool can give students a sense of responsibility about being on time and an arena where they can practice their ‘pleases’ and ‘thank-you’s’. Conversations in the car allow parents a chance to get to know what’s happening at school in a way a single child rarely shares. Learn more about carpooling to school at https://www.CarpooltoSchool.com. Take a Public Bus – Riding the public bus can be a wonderful experience for a child. Safe and reliable, there are public CCCTA buses in town that stop at or near many of our schools. The CCCTA school bus routes can be seen at http://countyconnection.com/maps-schedules/#school. Bus fares for CCCTA are $20 for a 12-ride pass and $60 for a monthly pass. One great source for free bus tickets is 511 Contra Costa, www.511contracosta.org. They will give two $20 bus tickets to a handful of kids who apply in the beginning of the year in exchange for filling out a survey at the end of the year. Other Tips – If you do drive (hopefully in a carpool), please remember to turn off your car while waiting. An idling engine operates far below its peak temperature, creating fuel residue in the engine and generating air pollution right where kids are congregating. Another suggestion is to try to combine a trip to school with errands that you need to run. This will save time, reduce your total driving, and reduce the number of times you need to start a “cold car.” Starting a car after it has been sitting for more than an hour creates up to five times more pollution than when the engine is warm. Preserving Quality Time – Many parents consider one-on-one time with their kids in the car to be a special time to visit. But there may be alternatives that are just as special or even better. You may consider talking with your child about alternatives which could preserve this specialness, knowing that such a change might enhance your child’s development while at the same time improve the future health of your child’s natural environment. Have other ideas to ditch the car for your ride to school? Send them to Sustainabledanville@gmail.com , twitter @greendanville, or www.facebook.com/ sustainabledanvillearea.
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Do You Have Intermittent Internet?
Danville Today News ~ September 2014 - Page 13
By Evan Corstorphine, Portable CIO
Do you remember what was it like before the internet and wireless networking? Vendors like AT&T and Comcast are doing their best to keep up with the demand, and they’ve done a pretty good job. There are always going to be problems, but from my vantage point it looks like they do a good job. Once in a while we find a problem that’s in the blind-spot of these firms, and that is what I’m going to share with you today. We have recently run into a situation that I want you to be aware of because it may be the source of considerable frustration with your internet service. It primarily concerns residential Comcast users who are using a certain type of equipment. The problems people have include sudden internet drops and network speeds that seem to wander up and down. The user may be getting five bars of service to their home network, but the internet connection seems to simply quit. What we’ve found is that most people “solve” these internet problems by resetting the power on the Comcast box, which gives them a random amount of uninterrupted service before it has to be reset again. Before I go on, let say that networking is complicated, and there are many All-Clad joins exceptional cookware! All-Clad joinsour our lineup lineup ofofexceptional cookware! factors which can influence your success. The situation I’m outlining concerns Made in the USA, All-Clad 3-ply3-ply stainless cookware a certain set of conditions. To be absolutely sure my comments apply to your Made in the USA, All-Clad stainless sets standardforforelegant elegantsimplicity. simplicity. situation, you should have a professional come look at your gear to make a sets thethe standard firm diagnosis and determination of next steps. Please don’t call Comcast and say, “Evan said so…” without first making certain my comments pertain to your situation! That said, Comcast issues many types of equipment in their quest to build the fastest broadband network. What I’m referring to here is their “all in one” unit which contains the cable modem, the router, and their telephone gateway in one package. It’s made by Arris. We have seen several models of these boxes, including ones that include wireless capability. By itself this gear usually works fine; this is important to note! However, in situations where people have other network equipment in addition to this standard-issue Arris box, we’ve seen and documented these intermittent network problems. Their equipment doesn’t appear to “play nice” with other network gear. When these problems happen, and you call 1-800-Comcast for support, they are probably going to tell you everything is fine with their gear, and that the problems are all on your end. Has that happened to you? Buy Buy $400 of All-Clad cookware and receive $400.00 of All-Clad and receive The issues that occur are extremely difficult to track down, because it Chef PaulChef Bocuse’s classic cookbook, French Cooking. Paul Bocuse’s classic cookbook, $50 retail value. Offer good through September while supplies last. only happens in certain situations, and unfortunately it doesn’t show up when French Cooking. Comcast runs their diagnostics. In addition, because it doesn’t show up when $50.00 Retail Value/ While supplies last. Good thur sept they run their tests, they’re a little quick to blame your personal equipment Alamo Ace Hardware |3211 Danville Blvd., Alamo | 925.837.2420 or your IT company, because it looks to them like their issued equipment is Make the www.AlamoHardware.com Kitchen your go-to kitchen store! working fine. I don’t blame them, and neither should you; the service-desk folks are doing their best and simply don’t have effecLine list of our lines tive diagnostic tools for these types of issues. However, Address etc web site I’ve documented five individual cases of this occurring recently, and I have spent a lot of time proving this case, so this is definitely a problem. In addition, I’ve recently had a long talk with a 15-year Comcast installer who corroborated everything I’ve found, so I am on firm ground when I make these observations. If this might be your situation, what should you do? Luckily there is an answer. It concerns asking Comcast to split the functions of the all-in-one device into separate pieces and adding your own router to the equation. The full explanation takes more room than I have in this article space to outline, but we are happy to share the “recipe” for fixing this problem if you contact our office. The important thing is that there is an answer. In my opinion, Comcast still has the best product in our area, and it’s just a piece of equipment out there that is complicating things. It can be fixed! If you’re having network problems please let us know. Either email our helpdesk, at helpdesk@theportablecio.com, or call our friendly staff at 925-5527953, so that we can determine how your situation can Advertorial be improved. Offer expires 10/30/14
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Page 14 - September 2014 ~ Danville Today News
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Danville Today News ~ September 2014 - Page 15 New Richards Store Now Open in San Ramon Family owned and operated Pumpkins The Marketplace • Off Bollinger Canyon Road near the library All Fall & Everyday ns NewAll All Fall Everyday Fall &&Everyday Richards Now Open in San Ramon Pumpkins From Glass GlitterStore We havetobeautiful and inspiring new products-come visit! Ad prices effective through 9/30/14 www.ShopRichards.com FamilyThank owned and for supporting your local merchants. youoperated for supporting yourThank local you merchants.
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PROOF CREATED AT: 8/19/2014 4:08e-mail PM Sign enter a monthly drawing forfor a $50 GiftGift Certificate! Signup upfor forour our e-maillist listand and enter a monthly drawing a $50 Certificate! SALES PERSON: Marlene Vizcaino NEXT RUN DATE: 09/08/14 San Ramon Store DATE: 359-6900 Alamo Store 820-4731 *Alamo *San Ramon NEXT RUN 09/08/14 E-Mail Address *Alamo *San Ramon E-Mail Address SIZE: 5 X 10.5 PROOF DUE: 08/29/14 17:00:00 The Marketplace Shopping Alamo Plaza Shopping Center I’mCenter already on the list! High X 10.5 PROOF DUE: 08/29/14 I’m17:00:00 already on the list! 300 Market Place., 1-680/Bollinger Canton Stone Valley Rd.BA-Print Exit WestWillow off Deliver Hwy to Games, Martha Stewart, OF O.K. BY: ____________________________ O.K. WITH _________________________ PUBLICATION: and One coupon per family CORRECTIONS per day. Cannot be combined BY: with other offers. Excludes custom framing and prior sales, Klutz Books, Demdaco, Spellbinders, Sizzix, Tree, 680 Wilton, One coupon per family per day. Cannot be combined with other offers. Excludes custom framing and prior sales, Klutz Books, Demdaco, Spellbinders, Sizzix, Willow Tree, Wilton, Games, Martha Stewart, CATION: BA-Print and Deliver Rd. Exit East to Alcosta Blvd. Blvd., Right Lenox, Snoozies, Furniture, Meri Meri, and Copic Markers. Limited to stock on hand. Other exclusions apply. Discount taken Danville off regular compare at price.1 Block. Lenox, Snoozies, Furniture, Meri Meri, and Copic Markers. Limited to stock on hand. Other exclusions apply. Discount taken off regular compare at price. EAD CAREFULLY • SUBMIT CORRECTIONS ONLINE Mon.-Sat 9:30-8:00, Sun. 10:00-6:00 Mon. - Fri. 9:30-8:00, Sat. 9:30-6:00, Sun. 11:00-5:30
PERSON: Marlene Vizcaino
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Page 16 - September 2014 ~ Danville Today News
STONE VALLEY DENTAL welcomes
Dr. N. Yamato PEDIATRIC SPECIALIST and Dr. Y. Lai ORTHODONTIC SPECIALIST to the practice.
FREE Orthodontic Consultation for New Patients FREE Fluoride Treatment for children under 12 (must be accompanied by exam, teeth cleaning, and x-rays) Expires October 1, 2014
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Life in the Danville Garden
Danville Today News ~ September 2014 - Page 17
A Kitchen Garden By John Montgomery,ASLA, LandscapeArchitect
As I peruse my garden I find myself left with deep disappointment about the success with this year’s crops. I chalk it up to several things: 1) It’s been a busy summer for John, and I haven’t given my veggies the tender love and care I normally do; 2) The weather has been weird - from high temperatures to chilly days with radical fluxes either way; 3) I have severely cut back my water to conserve. Oh well, there is always next year! Here are some ideas if you are thinking of starting your kitchen garden.
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A kitchen garden mixes practicality and beauty when designed as a garden element. A vegetable garden and fruit orchard can be a fruitful adventure (pardon the pun!). When done tastefully and designed with intention and purpose, a kitchen garden will yield enough delicious produce to feed a family of four easily. I approach the design of a kitchen garden as a main element in the overall theme of the landscape. Like a trellis, a water feature, or a garden path, the kitchen garden is a hardscape element that you can unleash your creative genius on. The design of your kitchen garden should be functional. It should have a central pathway paved with a loose material such as crushed rock, pea gravel, or decomposed granite fines (DG). The pathway should allow physical and visual access to the whole garden. Overall, the garden’s layout should attract its visitors to its heart, whether it is for a moment of reflection, to pick and eat some sun-ripened strawberries, to harvest bell peppers, zucchini, eggplant, and onions for a grill on the barbecue, or to relish in your handy-work when you see your spring-sown seeds germinating into a future harvest. The pathway system in your vegetable garden should be wide enough to get your wheelbarrow easily around your raised beds. Most successful kitchen gardens in Danville have raised beds, usually 18” to 24” high, to get your vegetables up out of the adobe clay which is so prevalent in Danville. What you put in your raised beds is also very important. What I do for raised beds is construct them out of two 2” X 12” in height with 4” X 4” posts set into the ground with concrete footings to support them. You can make them in different shapes depending on your design. Squares, rectangles, triangles, pentagons, and polygons are all acceptable. Once they are built I staple a solid layer of half inch galvanized hardware cloth across the bottom to keep the gophers and other varmints out. Then fill your boxes with a good organic vegetable mix. The soil is the most important aspect of a successful veggie garden. Make sure it contains certified organic material. Some store-bought composts of late contain low levels of herbicides which seem to retard seed germination. Other composts, especially the ones from recycled green waste, can contain some heavy metal elements. The best mix I have
found is unfortunately only available at American Soil Products in Richmond. (They do deliver out here though!) I recommend automatic irrigation for your boxes. Overhead irrigation can be risky because of rot and mold it can perpetuate. I sprinkler my leafy crops, but I drip or flood my tomatoes, beans, corn, and fruit trees. Unless you are a dedicated gardener that has the time to hand water your crops, automatic irrigation is the best way to go. All it takes is one hot afternoon to fry your seedlings! Make your kitchen garden fun! Decorate it with fun and funky stuff. Add a water feature, old garden tools, statues, or whatever style décor you prefer. Make it a functional garden. It’s nice to have a potting bench or storage shed. Even a hot house is great for starting veggies from seeds in early spring. A kitchen garden takes a certain level of commitment, but the results can be very satisfying. I love my kitchen garden. It brings me a lot of joy to watch a seed germinate, grow, and produce a delicious side dish at the dinner table, and my kids love wandering through it grazing on the strawberries, cherry tomatoes, peaches, and carrots. A hot tip from your local Landscape Architect: Even though I love watching seeds grow, some of the better results I have come from buying my plants already started. For instance, buy corn in six-packs as early as possible. Buy tomato starts from the Contra Costa Master Gardener’s Great Tomato sale. The results are fun and abundant. Gardening Quote of the Month: I used to visit and revisit it a dozen times a day, and stand in deep contemplation over my vegetable progeny with a love that nobody could share or conceive of who had never taken part in the process of creation. It was one of the most bewitching sights in the world to observe a hill of beans thrusting aside the soil, or a row of early peas just peeping forth sufficiently to trace a line of delicate green. ~Nathaniel Hawthorne, Mosses from an Old Manse. If you would like me to write on any particular subject, email your ideas to Advertorial jmontgomery@jm-la.com. For design ideas, visit www.jm-la.com.
Page 18 - September 2014 ~ Danville Today News
Tree of the Season: The Monterey Pine By Blaine Brende & Joe Lamb
The imposing Monterey Pine, Pinus radiata, perhaps the most common large landscape tree in the Bay Area, is one of the most widely-planted trees on the planet. It covers millions of acres in places as far-flung as England, Chile, and Australia. However, its native range covers just a few square miles of the California coastline, which explains why it prefers a cool, moist coastal climate with well-draining soils. With their dense, towering canopies, dark, glossy green needles, refreshing scent, and magnificent sweep of boughs, Monterey Pines give the feeling of being in a forest. They provide habitat for many species of birds and butterflies. The beauty of these trees, combined with their immense vigor and rapid growth, appeals to landscapers who want a quick, tall screen between houses, a cool shady hillside behind their home, or an instantly woodsy subdivision. Unfortunately, the quick hedge or woodland effect you enjoy in the first year of the tree’s life can become a major safety hazard and a source of conflict with uphill neighbors when, two decades later, the tree reaches 50-70 feet in height. The Monterey Pine’s soft, brittle wood and its shallow root system combine to make it a serious hazard during winter storms on the hilly slopes. Away from its native habitat, it is vulnerable to root-rot diseases and, stressed by lack of water during our dry summers, it becomes prey to often fatal beetle infestations. The species is relatively short-lived, around 75 years, and its proclivity for toppling, or for shedding large branches, increases with age.
Coping with Pines
So what are we to do with these beautiful but bothersome pines that define so much of the Bay Area landscape? First of all, don’t plant any more of them unless you are willing and able to offer them ideal conditions. These include a large, level, adequately moist planting site, with porous soil, far from both houses and power lines, and with no uphill neighbors whose views your growing tree will obstruct. Monterey Pines also require regular care, including safety thinning every few years, as well as periodic watering, aerating, and fertilizing.
Clip Notes
By Jody Morgan
If savory salads with a powerful nutritional punch please your palate, don’t pass up the purslane. While researching weeds that feed baby butterflies, I discovered that a plethora of plant species routinely removed from well-groomed landscapes is currently the focus of studies in improving the human diet. Purslane (Portulaca oleracea), an invasive alien I have encountered in every garden I have ever tended, tops the list of weeds you’ll want to put on your table. You’ll often find it growing between cracks in urban sidewalks. Although purslane is a drought tolerant succulent, I have never seen it displayed in collections of dry garden ornamentals. However, despite its many unappetizing common names such as little hogweed, duckweed, fatweed, pussley and verdolagas, purslane has been considered a culinary delight in the Old World for thousands of years. Not native to the New World, purslane has been found in an archaeological site in Canada that pre-dates the voyages of Columbus. Definitely devoured by ancient Romans and Greeks, purslane found favor in India, Persia and even China and Japan before becoming a European kitchen garden staple. Like most contemporary Americans, I still think “Yuck” instead of “Yum” when I encounter this species popping up in my yard. The foliage is reminiscent of a miniature jade plant. The tiny yellow flowers are barely visible, but the seeds they produce are capable of germinating after 40 years of dormancy. Small segments have the capacity to regenerate, so plowing the plants under only leads to a more luxuriant crop. Grown as an annual in most climates, purslane can survive anywhere there is a growing season at least two months long. The handwritten collection of family recipes given to Martha Washington in 1749 by her first husband, Daniel Parke Custis, includes entries for making pickled purslane and purslane syrup. Edited by Karen Hess, the 1981 version is available as Martha Washington’s Booke of Cookery and Sweetmeats. An online variation of the pickling recipe calls for cider vinegar, garlic cloves and black peppercorns. Supposedly the resultant preparation is tasty with omelets and fish.
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If you are already living with Monterey Pines, reduce the safety risks through preventative maintenance before it’s too late. To improve drainage, invigorate your pine’s root system, and strengthen its resistance, we suggest aerating, then filling the holes with rich, porous organic matter (we use American Soil’s “Clodbuster” mix). Check your pine for infestations by looking for areas where whole branches are turning brown, as well as for small holes, tubes or splotches of pitch, or red “sawdust” droppings around the trunk and major branches.
Pruning Pines
The best time to prune any type of pine trees, and the only recommended time to prune Monterey pines, is between October 1st and February 15th. Sap from pruning cuts attracts beetles destructive to pines. These beetles are dormant during the fall and winter months. Given that the beetles can smell sap from long distances, it is important to prune your pine when they are inactive. Not only are the beetles themselves harmful, but some species can carry pine pitch canker, a fungal disease that disfigures pine trees and sometimes kills them. If your tree has dead tips scattered throughout the canopy it probably has pine pitch canker. If you want to prolong the life of the tree, as well as its appearance, now is the best time to prune out the diseased tips. Even healthy pines require occasional pruning to keep them safe and beautiful. To reduce the fire hazard associated with pines, fire departments recommend removing deadwood and taking branches back from buildings. Pines are sometimes subject to branch and column failure. Judicious thinning of the crown reduces the wind-sail effect of the canopy and thereby reduces the risk of the tree falling in a windstorm. Removing weight from the ends of heavy branches reduces the likelihood that those branches will break. The safety pruning of trees is an art as well as a science. A well-pruned tree should not only be safer, it should look beautiful. At Brende and Lamb, we take great pride in both the science and the art of pruning. Now is the best time to make your pines as safe, healthy, and beautiful as possible. 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 In the “Economy” section of Walden, Henry David Thoreau notes: “I learned from my two years’ experience that it would cost incredibly little trouble to obtain one’s necessary food, even in this latitude; that a man may use as simple a diet as the animals, and yet retain health and strength. I have made a satisfactory dinner, satisfactory on several accounts, simply off a dish of purslane (Portulaca oleracea) which I gathered in my cornfield, boiled and salted.” Incidentally, the corn in Thoreau’s field undoubtedly grew better for the companionship of the weedy groundcover. Deep-rooted purslane penetrates all manner of unyielding soils, breaking the way for less aggressive plants such as corn to retrieve nutrients and water. The dense mat it forms creates a microclimate keeping the soil moist and cool for its neighbors. Health-conscious folks find purslane’s vitamin and mineral properties compelling. At the top of the charts, with six times more vitamin E than spinach and seven times more beta carotene than carrots, purslane provides vitamin C, magnesium, riboflavin, potassium and phosphorous. Most impressive of all, purslane is one of the richest known botanical sources of the Omega-3 fatty acid ALA (alpha-linolenic acid). One cooked cup contains just 20 calories. High in pectin, purslane is excellent for thickening stews and soups. Although it can be used as a substitute for spinach in many dishes, overcooking produces a slimy substance fit only for composting. Young leaves, stems and flower buds - all edible - are finally finding favor at US farmers’ markets as salad greens, where the lemony tang and peppery after-taste are drawing repeat customers. The Vitale brothers, chef/owners of Aldo’s Ristorante Italiano in Baltimore (an establishment that rates 28 out of 30 points on the Zagat scale for fine food), tried serving fresh purslane. Plates returned to the kitchen with the mystery green pushed to one side. The Vitales, who grew up enjoying purslane in their native Italy, had to educate their staff to extol its virtues before customers could be persuaded purslane was not a weird, weedy garnish. Even well washed, foraged plants seem unappetizing to me, but I am ready to try a purposely-planted plot. Under “Specialty Greens” Johnny’s Selected Seeds offers Goldberg Golden and Gruner Red Purslane. The listing for the former reads: “Upright growth habit. Flavor is crisp and mild. Pick as needed to within 2” of the base; new stems and leaves re-grow.”
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Danville Today News ~ September 2014 - Page 19
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Leaving a Lasting Legacy By Robert J. Silverman, Esq.
As summer winds down and schools start up, families tend to shift back into a focused learning mode. Our children study history, world history; U.S. history, and California history. As we get older, we tend to appreciate how interesting history is and how many valuable lessons can be learned by studying it. Ironically, family history - the most readily available kind, including the stories and lessons closest to our hearts – is often given little attention. Many people know shockingly little about their line of descent; sometimes they don’t even know much about their own grandparents or parents. We often hear: “Life is short.” At our core, we all want to be productive and useful, and we wish to leave a meaningful and lasting legacy of some kind – maybe to the world, but certainly to our loved ones. What’s one of the best ways to do that? One great way is to try to live, and give your family an opportunity to live, a healthy, balanced, and comfortable life. A substantial part of doing so involves achieving a certain level of financial success, which often leads people to do “legacy planning” for the succession of their financial assets. They do so by establishing appropriate financial, estate, tax, insurance, and asset protection measures. Most folks, however, miss a wonderful opportunity to incorporate something special into their legacy planning – taking specific steps to ensure that their stories, values, life lessons, hopes, aspirations, and/or dreams are passed on to loved ones. My experience in talking with hundreds of people about estate planning is that almost everyone has interesting experiences to share and significant lessons they’ve learned. The problem is that little, if any, ends up documented for the benefit of descendants. Lip service is often given to how these “intangibles” are ultimately much more valuable than material wealth. Yet, compelling and marvelously illuminating personal and family stories, feelings, morals, and the like are too often lost forever when someone dies. Sadly, the essence of these deceased loved ones is then unavailable to help teach their descendants the ways of the world, how to adjust their compasses, and what tools they might employ to help them
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enrich their life journeys. So, what might you do to leave a more meaningful and lasting legacy than solely planning with respect to your monetary assets? For starters, you might write an “Ethical Will.” An Ethical Will is not a legal document, and it can take on any number of forms. It can be as simple as writing a list of core values, a statement of hopes for loved ones, an expression of gratitude, a brief life story, foundational lessons to share, etc. Ethical Wills are fairly rare these days, even though people have been writing them for several thousand years. For more information and resources, many good books and pamphlets are available, including several written by a leading author on the subject, Minnesota physician, Barry Baines. You might consult his website at www.ethicalwill.com, which contains excellent resources. Another terrific way to capture this kind of legacy for your loved ones in perhaps an even more powerful and lasting way is to film your ethical will. The visual medium can present a magnificent, emotional connection to loved ones, particularly if filmed and edited well by a professional who specializes in such projects. Putting together a DVD is, for some, easier and more preferable than putting pen to paper. Creating your own, special film can be a wonderful gift to family and friends that can last decades. It is also frequently satisfying to the person making it because it helps reinforce that he or she has lived a remarkable life in his or her own way. If you would like a referral to one of several professionals who concentrate on these kinds of projects (and offer free initial consultations), please do not hesitate to contact me. For my own part, I try to help weave into my clients’ estate planning documents (such as Wills and Living Trusts) content that not only covers their “valuables,” but that is also consistent with and reinforces the kinds of positive values they want to pass on. Upon your request, I would be happy to provide you with any or all of the following, free: i) a tri-fold brochure on the pros/cons of alternative methods of holding title to property, ii) an “Estate Planning Primer,” iii) a complimentary introductory meeting. Mr. Silverman is an attorney with R. Silverman Law Group, 1855 Olympic Blvd., Suite 240, Walnut Creek, CA 94596; (925) 705-4474; rsilverman@rsilvermanlaw.com. This article is intended to provide information of a general nature, and should not be relied upon as legal, tax and/ or business advice. Readers should obtain specific advice from their own, qualified professional advisors. Advertorial
Page 20 - September 2014 ~ Danville Today News
Keeping Your Business Alive By Christopher McClure
In conjunction with Lincoln Financial Advisors
You may have heard the grim statistics. Family firms comprise 80% to 90% of all business enterprises. More than 30% of these family-owned businesses survive into the second generation. Twelve percent will still be viable into the third generation, with 3% of all family businesses operating at the fourth-generation level and beyond.** You may also know the dangers of not planning ahead for the transfer of your business at your death or when you retire. • The IRS may value your business at much more than you think it’s worth, making your estate potentially liable for estate tax. • Your estate may have little or no cash to pay the estate tax, forcing your family to sell the business. • If you own a particular interest, your partners will have to hire someone to replace you, possibly at a higher salary since you were building equity. • The partnership may experience a financial lag while the new person is learning the ropes. • The family member you want to take over your business may not be ready to do so. • Your fellow shareholders may be uncomfortable with the idea of a family member replacing you. • Your family may wish to sell your share of the business to your co-owners, but the co-owners may not have enough money to buy it outright. You’re not worried, though. You’ve prepared for these possibilities with a business buy-sell agreement. But are you really prepared?
Do You Have the Right Agreement?
A buy-sell agreement outlines how business ownership will change hands and how the transfer will be paid for in case of a co-owner’s death, disability or retirement. Generally, the agreement provides for the purchase of the departing business owner’s interest by the surviving co-owners or the company itself. A buy-sell agreement may be a cross purchase arrangement or a stock-redemption arrangement. With a cross-purchase agreement, the owners agree among themselves to buy a deceased owner’s interest. A stock-redemption agreement is an agreement between a corporation and its shareholders under which the corporation redeems stock in the event of a shareholder’s death. Life insurance can be used to fund both. Cross-purchase agreements have several advantages. For example, the surviving owners receive a “stepped up” income-tax basis in the stock bought from the deceased’s estate, which can reduce capital gains taxes if they later sell the stock. Additionally, the insurance proceeds from a policy used to fund a cross-purchase agreement aren’t subject to the corporate alternative minimum tax. Nor are they subject to the claims of corporate creditors. On the minus side, cross-purchase agreements can be hard to administer, particu-
Tassajara Grammar School Takes Center Stage By Beverly Lane
In the late 1800s, Danville, Alamo, and San Ramon pioneers built new school houses throughout the valley. There were six grammar school districts, and people in each area were proud to support better schools for their young people. One of these schools remains: the 1889 Tassajara Grammar School. This classic school house sits on its original site at 1650 Finley Road in the Tassajara Valley, east of Danville. A belfry, historic outhouses, rebuilt stable, picnic tables, flag pole, accessible rest rooms, and redwood water tower complete the modern picture. Two plaques recognize its history: a San Ramon Valley Historical Society plaque (1999) and a new National Historic Place plaque which will be placed this September. If buildings could talk, today’s small Tassajara School House would recount children reciting lessons, ciphering, and singing in a classic one-room school from 1889 to 1946. It is a popular spot for artists, photographers, and picnickers.
The Beginnings
The first small school house in Tassajara was built in 1865 by Alfred Wilkes; by the eighties there were more students than could be accommodated. On January 12, 1889, ten out of ten Tassajara School District voters approved the sale of $1,700 in bonds for a new school. The bonds were used to purchase a lot, build, and furnish a school. Peter Anderson was paid $200 for an acre of his land on Finley Road. The Livermore Echo Newspaper (March 14, 1889) reported that the contract for the new school was let to J. L. Weilbye of Sunol. In those days, such a small building would have been constructed soon after the contract was signed.
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larly when the business has numerous owners. For instance, since the owners carry insurance policies on each of their fellow owners, absent other planning, 30 separate insurance policies would be needed for a business with six owners. Stock redemption agreements can be a better choice when a corporation has multiple owners, some of the owners are considerably older or younger than the others, the size of the ownership interests vary significantly, or the corporation is in a lower tax bracket than the owners. Despite the clear advantages, stock redemption plans have a couple of drawbacks. First, the life insurance proceeds received by the corporation may be subject to the corporate AMT. (Certain small corporations aren’t subject to AMT.) Second, the surviving shareholders do not get the benefit of an increase in the income-tax basis of their shares when the corporation redeems the stock.
Have You Avoided These Common Mistakes?
When you create a buy-sell agreement, you have to give careful consideration to how the contract fits your and other owner’s particular needs now and in the future. One common mistake business owners make is not adequately funding their buysell agreements. For example, if two partners each own half of a business and agree to buy the other out in the event of death or incapacity, how will the remaining owner finance the purchase of the other half of the business? Most agreements use insurance as the funding vehicle. But business owners can get tripped up if the business increases in value and their insurance arrangements don’t keep pace with the increase. Another mistake is not considering the possibility of an owner becoming disabled or divorcing. In the event of divorce, for example, an ex-spouse could end up as an unwanted partner. Other easy-to-overlook events that could adversely affect your business include the departure of a minority owner and the personal bankruptcy of one owner. When you structure your agreement, you should consider all the events that could cause an ownership change. Perhaps the biggest mistake business owners make with their buy-sell agreements, though, is not keeping their business valuation up to date. Unless you have your business revalued regularly, the buyout amount in your agreement may quickly become outdated, leaving the business vulnerable to serious disputes should a buyout become necessary. These are just some of the factors to consider when developing a business succession plan to keep your business alive for future generations. A professional financial advisor can help you identify the various issues and considerations that specifically affect your business and determine what type of buy-sell agreement and other planning strategies make the most sense for you. **Source: Family Firm Institute Inc.- Joseph Astrachan, Ph.D., editor, Family Business Review Please contact Chris McClure to schedule a complimentary review of your financial situation. Call (925) 659-0213 or email Chris.McClure@LFG.com. Christopher T. McClure is a registered representative and investment advisor representative of Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp., a broker dealer (member SIPC) and registered investment advisor, 3000 Executive Parkway, Suite 400, San Ramon, CA, offering insurance through Lincoln Marketing and Insurance Agency, LLC and Lincoln Associates Insurance Agency, Inc. and other fine companies. This information should not be construed as legal or tax advice. You may want to consult a tax advisor regarding this information as it relates to your personal circumstances. The content of this material was provided to you by Lincoln Financial Advisors for its representatives and their clients. Advertorial
The Contra Costa Gazette announced that the Tassajara School children raised their new flag on August 1, 1890, with appropriate ceremonies. Students from first to eighth grade walked, rode horses, and took buggies to get to school. In 1889 Richard D. Williams was the teacher. Roger Podva (born in 1884) began school in 1890 and said there were 42-75 students at the school when he attended, sitting two to a desk. They learned mental arithmetic, reading, geography, spelling, and writing. A picture of George Washington hung on the wall. Historian Vivian Edmonston wrote, “Roger Podva said that the black walnut trees in the school yard were planted by the children, starting with the oldest child down to the youngest. That was Roger. His tree was planted by the ‘rest room.’” In an example of the American “melting pot,” Portuguese and Danish students exchanged lunches -- linguisa and sweet bread for sandwiches slathered with butter.
Later years
Because of dirt roads, the school year calendar varied. In 1921 school opened for the fall semester on July 18, according to the Contra Costa Gazette. It opened
See School continued on page 23
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Danville Today News ~ September 2014 - Page 21
Quick Trips
on Bryant Street, whose favorite mural is located on Sycamore and Valencia, and who advised me, “Don’t leave the City without seeing it!” Local’s Corner is a local and sustainably sourced seafood restaurant and raw bar with a menu that changes daily depending on what the fish vendors can pick up at the docks that morning. Chris explained, “Since opening in 2012, we have been a top 100 Bay Area restaurant two years running, and Chef Malloy was also named top five rising star chef by the San Francisco Chronicle.” The “Pop Up” is a great way to sample exceptional fare from visiting chefs. Local’s Corner hosts guest Chef Michael Black of Sebo with Japanese pub food every other Sunday thru October for their Pop Up event. Reservations are not necessary, but they are suggested. *During the month of October many storefront windows in the Mission are filled with marigolds (the flowers of the dead), sugar skulls, cardboard skeletons, and handmade altars to honor the dead in preparation for the annual Day of the Dead holiday. This holiday is celebrated every November 2 with art, music, performances, and a walking procession. The Day of the Dead Procession starts at 22nd and Bryant Streets at 7PM, Sunday, November 2. For more information, visit DayoftheDeadSF.org or email Marigold.Project@gmail.com. *Precita Eyes Mural and Arts Center is located at 2981 24th Street. Their website is www.precitaeyes.org and phone number is (415) 285-2287. Tours are held Saturdays and Sunday at 11AM and 1:30PM. Call for details. Maps for self-guided tours are sold at the Mural and Arts Center. Price is $5. *Locals Corner is located at 2500 Bryant Street, San Francisco. Their phone number is (415) 800-7945 and website is localscornersf.com. Call for details about their Pop Up events. 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.
By Linda Summers Pirkle Murals and Mosaics in the Mission District
The Mission District in San Francisco is a favorite destination for locals and out-of-town visitors alike, and the many beautiful and vibrant street murals and mosaics add to the charm of the area. Recently, I joined 20 people on a Murals and Mosaics walking tour. Among them there was a group from Paris, some locals, a couple from Santa Cruz, and four Canadians. We started our hour long Sunday morning tour at the Precita Eyes Mural Arts & Visitors Center on 24th Street. Our six block tour in the Mission district took us to Balmy Alley, an extraordinary block of colorful murals, each with a unique story. Our guide, Elaine, a muralist, pointed out details in the various works of art and told a bit about the artists. We were lucky to meet the original artists of the oldest mural on the alley, painted 30 years ago. In 1984 “PLACA,” a group of 27 artists, came together to creatively express the struggles in Central America. Each artist interpreted this theme how they wished, painting 30 murals; Balmy Alley was transformed. Today all but one of those original murals is gone. Doors and fences have been changed, and new works of art have taken their place. There are over 600 murals in San Francisco, and the highest concentration is in the Mission District. The artists we met, the guides and the locals are passionate about their street art, and everyone I talked to had a favorite. My personal favorite mural location, although not on the walking tour itinerary, is the newly opened 24th Street Mini Park at York Street. This park is so pretty and great for people of all ages. There’s a children’s playground with picnic tables and seating. The real draw is the huge 120 foot mosaic and glass serpent which shoots water from his tail. Kids can mount and climb on the body, then slide down. The mini park is surrounded with gorgeous murals. There are so many great restaurants in the Mission District. I spoke to the very friendly and informative Chris MacQuarrie of Local’s Corner, located
Page 22 - September 2014 ~ Danville Today News
Walking Keeps Prostate Healthy By Brian Hopkins
We all know that if you want to improve your quality of life, you need to exercise more, eat healthy, and maintain an ideal weight, right? Not surprising, new research suggests that exercise both before and after prostate cancer diagnosis can maximize your chances of longer survival. What was more interesting was that the exercise of choice was brisk walking, not vigorous running or cycling. According to the researchers who presented their data at the American Association for Cancer Research – Prostate Cancer Foundation Conference on Advances in Prostate Cancer Research, men who had a history of walking briskly prior to a prostate cancer diagnosis had more normally shaped blood vessels in their prostate tumors after diagnosis. And based on previous research, studies have shown that men with small, irregularly shaped vessels in their prostate tumor (found in the low to no exercise group) were linked to an increased risk of death. The theory is that a more normally shaped vessel in the prostate tumor may inhibit cancer spread in the body and improve the response rate to anti-cancer therapies. But what if you have prostate cancer? Don’t despair; exercise can still help. Other studies show significant benefits of exercise for you, too. One study showed that men who walked briskly for 90 minutes or more per week lowered their risk of dying from any cause by 46% (compared to men who walked slower and less often). And men who exercised vigorously three or more hours per week had a 61% lower risk of prostate cancer death (compared to men who exercised vigorously less than one hour a week). Another study showed that men diagnosed with cancer who burned approximately 3,000 calories or more a week doing physical exercise lower their risk of death from any cause by 50% compared to men who burned 500 calories from exercise. And lastly, research from a UCSF study reported that men who exercised vigorously three hours or more a week showed increases to several genes which are thought to stand in the way of cancer progression. My recommendation is to keep your blood vessels shapely and burn more calories by taking yourself out for a really fast walk – doctor’s orders! Interested in learning more about men's health issues? Join me and other John Muir Health physicians as we discuss health issues that affect all men. The “Men’s Health Seminar – Keeping You Healthy” is a free community seminar that will cover a variety of topics including erectile dysfunction, prostate health, and low testosterone. The event will take place on Tuesday, September 9, 6 – 7:30pm at the John Muir Medical Center Concord Campus. To register, call (925) 941-7900. Dr. Hopkins is a urologist with Pacific Urology. He subspecializes in cancer of the prostate, kidney, and bladder. He also has extensive experience with reconstructive and minimally invasive surgeries. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please visit www.pacificurology. com or call 925-937-7740. Advertorial
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Update on Blood Cancer - CLL By Kasra Karamlou, MD
Blood cancers affect the production and function of your blood cells. There are three types of blood cells: red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. In most blood cancers, the normal blood cell development process is interrupted by uncontrolled growth of an abnormal or cancerous blood cell. There are three common types of blood cancers: leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma. Leukemia is found in the blood and bone marrow. It is caused by the rapid production of abnormal white blood cells. High numbers of abnormal white blood cells are not able to fight infection, and they impair the ability of bone marrow to produce red blood cells and platelets. Lymphoma affects the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system removes excess fluids from the body and produces immune cells called lymphocytes. Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell that fights infection. Abnormal lymphocytes turn into lymphoma cells, which multiply, collect in person’s lymph nodes, and over time can impair your immune system. Myeloma is a blood cancer that specifically targets plasma cells. Plasma cells are white blood cells that produce disease and infection fighting antibodies. Myeloma cells prevent the normal production of antibodies, leaving the body’s immune system weakened and susceptible to infection. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common leukemia seen in the Western Hemisphere. The majority of patients with the disease do not require therapy. However, for most patients who required therapy, the standard chemotherapy and antibody based therapies can have substantial toxicities and options for patients with recurrent disease has been limited in the past. There has been tremendous progress in understanding the biology of CLL, which has led to the introduction of novel therapies in the management of the disease. The role of B cell receptor in survival of CLL cells has led to the introduction and approval of two novel therapies, Ibritunib and Idelalisib. Both drugs inhibit the B cell receptor survival and migration signaling in CLL cells and have shown to produce durable responses in relapsed CLL with manageable side effects. These novel therapies are being studied in the upfront management of the disease as well and the results of these studies are eagerly awaited. Dr. Karamlou is a medical oncologist and hematologist with Diablo Valley Oncology and Hematology Medical Group. He treats all tumor types with a special interest in hematological malignancies (Lymphoma, Leukemia, MDS and myeloma). Dr. Karamlou sees patients in Pleasant Hill and Brentwood Advertorial and can be reached at 925-677-5041 or at dvohmg.com.
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Attend a Workshop; Change your Life By Joree Rosenblatt
Life happens; the good, the bad, the ugly…and everything in between. We don’t always have a choice in what life throws our way, but we do have a choice in how we respond to it. Mindfulness provides us with the tools to respond with skill and intention to whatever is arising in the moment rather than reacting habitually and unskillfully. Jon Kabat-Zinn, or as I like refer to him, “the grandfather of mindfulness in the Western world” says, “As long as you are breathing, there is more right with you than wrong with you.” This quote comes to my mind so often because when life does throw those curve balls, it is easy to get caught in the tailspin of fear, anxiety, overwhelm and having a reactionary mindset sometimes makes the situation worse. But when you can remember to slow down, to breathe, to get out of the stories in your head and into the experiential feelings in your body, you are reminded that you will get through this moment, even if it is difficult. I know this sounds much easier said than done, but that is why mindfulness is called a practice. It is the easiest thing to do, but often the hardest thing to remember to do. Mindfulness, which is rooted in deep breathing techniques, allows you to use the breath as a tool for calming the brain and the body, making it easier to think clearly and deal with whatever the moment brings. And just like what Kabat-Zinn says, you will get through this moment because you are breathing, and even if it is hard, focusing on your breath will make it just a little bit more manageable. I have been a mindfulness educator for numerous years, working at Seven Hills School in Walnut Creek teaching mindfulness in every classroom, along with teaching adult classes and workshops. After about a year of in-class instruction at the school, it occurred to me that the curriculum I was trained in was very well versed in the how and what of a mindfulness practice, but it failed on the why. I realized that it didn’t matter what skills I was teaching if there was no connection as to why someone would use this practice; my efforts would be fruitless. So, I asked every classroom, as young as kindergarten, “If you have been breathing since the moment you were born, and will breathe until the moment you die, why do we sit and practice this?” There were some great answers, but one brilliant 3rd grade girl had a response that not only brought me to tears, but that I share in every class or workshop I teach. She said, “I imagine you practice breathing for the same reason you practice a fire drill. You have a fire drill so you know what to do in case of an emergency, and I imagine you practice your breathing so you know how to use it when you need it.” Brilliant; simply brilliant. She nailed it spot on. We practice mindfulness so that when those difficult moments arise, which they will, we have a working model for how to get through it. This fall, I am offering a variety of mindfulness workshops that will provide you with tools to not only persevere through life’s challenges, but also allow you the ability to be present and find joy in the everyday moments. We are so busy, don’t know how to slow down, run on autopilot, and multitask that we often miss out on our own lives as well as those relationships with the people closest to us. Mindfulness helps you to live with greater awareness, attention and intention, and is so easy to start integrating into your everyday routine. I look forward to being your conduit for change. All workshops are being held at The Lounge at Civic Park in Walnut Creek. Here are the dates and titles of the workshops: Sunday Sept. 7th 1:30-5:30pm: Family Mindfulness Practice Day Saturday Sept. 20th 9:30am-1:30pm: Fundamentals of Mindfulness Saturday Sept. 27th 9:30am-1:30pm: Mindful Parenting Sunday Oct. 5th 1:30-5:30pm: Family Mindfulness Practice Day Saturday Nov. 7th 9:30am-1:30pm: Mindfulness and Art Saturday Nov. 15th 9:30am-1:30pm: Mindfulness, Nutrition and Well-Being Saturday Dec. 13th 9:30am-1:30pm: Mindfulness, Gratitude and Compassion For more information, including a printable flyer for each workshop as well as registration info, please visit www.joreerose.com. Advertorial
Danville Today News ~ September 2014 - Page 23
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School continued from page 20
early “as a mid-term vacation of two months is taken each year during the heavy rains of the winter when students residing in the rural sections are unable to attend.” In 1946 Tassajara School enrollment dropped to 11 after two large families moved away. Some parents thought that students could get a better education by going to a more modern school. The school closed, and students, teacher Gertrude Arendt, and their desks transferred to Danville for elementary school. The abandoned school fell on hard times. The bell disappeared, windows were broken, and Washington’s picture was stolen. Tassajara volunteers organized to save the School House, replacing the foundation and roof, putting in new wiring, and making other improvements. They created the TassajaraHighland Improvement Association and, in 1970, a new volunteer fire district. An annual picnic at the school included a barbecue, raffles, auctions, games, and recruitment for fire volunteers. Funds were raised for the restoration. Eventually the picture of Washington was returned anonymously by the youth who took it; in a note he said his conscience had bothered him. Mrs. Arendt donated a World War I Liberty Bell from Pleasanton.
The Twenty-first Century
The Tassajara Fire District maintained the school and, when the district merged with the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District in 1990, the school became the responsibility of the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District. Beginning in 1994 docent-teachers from the Museum of the San Ramon Valley opened school again to provide a living history one-room school experience for third graders. Last year 2,700 third grade students attended the school. In 2012 the Museum took title to the School and site and, in 2013, its significance was recognized when the Tassajara Grammar School and site were placed on the National Register of Historic Places. On September 10, 2014, the Museum will host an event celebrating that recognition. Call (925) 837-3750 for information. Center stage is where this school belongs. The restored Tassajara Grammar School stands as a tribute to the caring community which saved it and the Museum which is committed to its preservation.
Page 24 - September 2014 ~ Danville Today News
Escape continued from front page
American playwright to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. “The Art of the Escape” focuses not on the physical prowess of performers like Houdini, but rather on the mental magic practiced by ordinary individuals to create alternative realities that ease the burden of everyday existence. Taking a cue from the success of last year’s juxtaposition of two closely related O’Neill pieces (Chris Christophersen and Anna Christie), this year’s selection offers plays by different authors exploring the same theme: what happens when circumstances force us to recognize the intricate illusions intertwined in the storylines by which we live. Centerpieces of the Festival are Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, opening at Danville’s Village Theater on September 5th, and The Iceman Cometh, beginning September 19th at the Old Barn at Tao House. Audiences viewing the two works in tandem can appreciate the impact of O’Neill’s genius on the next generation of American playwrights while applauding drama created by a distinctly different talent. O’Neill completed Iceman at Tao House in 1939. Awaiting the end of World War II, he withheld publication until 1946. Cat debuted on Broadway in 1955, winning Tennessee Williams his second Pulitzer Prize. How similar are the themes of these dramas? A lively discussion, including information on each of the playwrights geared to give the general public a better understanding of the two artists and their work, takes place at the Museum of the San Ramon Valley at 2pm on Saturday, September 13th. Long time Foundation Board Member, Dan Cawthon, Professor Emeritus at St. Mary’s College, is already exchanging thoughts with Dr. Cheryldee Huddleston, Theatre Instructor and PEN Award-winning playwright on the subject. Is living in a day dream world different from hiding a personal secret within a web of deception? Are “pipe dreams” as the characters in Iceman generate them another aspect of the “mendacity “ expressed in Cat? Come and ask your own questions or sit back and be entertained as the experts exchange insights. New for the 2014 program is an afternoon of short productions by numerous Bay Area theater groups interpreting the theme of confrontation between subjective and objective perspectives on realty. Groups will perform scenes chosen from their current, past or future repertoires at the Tao House Barn on Saturday, September 20th at 2pm. For those prepared to encounter the essence of escape artfully presented in sequential productions, one weekend has been scheduled to immerse patrons in the realm of live theater. Referring to the opportunity as the “Fire and Ice Weekend” Eric Fraisher Hayes, Artistic Director of Danville’s Role Players Ensemble (presenters of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof) as well as Artistic Program Chair for EONF and Director of The Iceman Cometh, explains, “The ‘Fire and Ice’ weekend is a chance for the public to experience both of these powerful and poetic plays back to back as well as attend our special showcase of scenes from Bay Area Theatre companies Truth, Lies and Illusions.” Free to the public and available throughout the Festival, a juried show of two and three-dimensional art continues at the Village Theater Art Gallery, 233 Front Street, through September 28th. Presented by the Alamo Danville Artists Society and the Town of Danville, the show features work by 27 Bay Area artists including sculpture, ceramics, glass, photography and paintings, as well as a single entry of poetry paired with an abstract. Judge Amy Schell and fellow Gallery Committee members Marija Nelson Bleier and Tom Lemmer aided show coordinator Megan Parks-Haller in the selection process. Asked about how artists responded to the call for pieces exploring the human need for physical, psychological or emotional escape, Parks-Haller admitted, “Artists were challenged to stay in the theme - the tendency to step away or change our realities.” Freely interpreted, the “Art of the Escape” encompasses all the ways people take time out from everyday life, from enjoying a quiet cup of tea or traveling to a pristine landscape to inventing a fantasy space to inhabit. Likewise free of charge, hour-long historic walks through Danville take participants to places prominent in the town during the days when Eugene and Carlotta O’Neill resided at Tao House from 1937 to 1944. Meet docents at the Museum of the San Ramon Valley, 205 Railroad Avenue on Saturday, September 6th at 10am or Saturday, September 27th at 1pm. Full details on Festival schedule, cost, and ticket purchase can be found on the EONF website www.eugeneoneill.org. Free transportation to all events at Tao House is provided by NPS. For information on free tours of Tao House, visit their website at www.nps.gov/euon. Tickets for Cat on a Hot Tin Roof can be purchased separately or as part of a season package at www.roleplayersensemble.org. Or stop in and visit Danville’s Information Center at the Museum of the San Ramon Valley.
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Don’t Blame The Spider By Dr. Jerome Potozkin
This time of year we see many patients with insect bite reactions. Most people come in complaining of a “spider bite.” When I ask the patient if they actually saw a spider or felt the spider bite them, the answer is almost always “no.” Some people come into the office fearful that they may have been bitten by a dreaded Brown Recluse spider. Brown Recluse spiders can cause a severe blistering and infected bite reaction. Fortunately, there are no populations of Brown Recluse spiders in California. They live in Texas and the central Midwestern states. Despite this information, the myth of the California Brown Recluse spider will continue. Well, if it wasn’t a spider, then what could have possibly caused that big red itchy insect bite? The most common type of insect bites I see in my practice are mite bites. In fact, I was once the victim of straw mites that bit me from head to toe. I unsuspectingly brought them into my house on dried flowers. The bites are incredibly itchy. Mites are so small that you can’t see them. There are many different types of mites that can live on animals and plants. Dust mites are another type of mite that can bite. Other insect bites that are fairly common are chiggers and bed bugs. Insect bites usually heal without treatment. Treatments for itchy insect bites can include over-thecounter and prescription topical steroid creams as well as topical anti-itch lotions such as Sarna. Most insect bite reactions are self-limiting. However, there is one type of mite that can actually burrow into your skin and live there. Scabies is a fairly common extremely itchy skin condition. This organism has plagued mankind for years. The small mite can get on the skin and spread via direct contact with others. There have been epidemics in nursing homes, daycare centers, and even hospitals. It usually occurs from the neck down. Many people have it in between their fingers and on their genitals.Sometimes scabies can be difficult to diagnose even with skin scrapings and a biopsy. In general, if I think someone might have scabies, I treat them. Treatment may consist of prescription creams or pills to kill the mite. As it spreads via direct contact, typically all household contacts should be treated. Even after successful treatment itching can persist for several weeks. Fortunately, this condition is completely curable. If you are concerned about any itchy red bumps you may have, we are happy to help you. Usually the eruptions caused by insect bites go away on their own without treatment. However, if you are uncomfortable or concerned, chances are we can help you. And remember, don’t blame the spider! Dr. Potozkin is a board certified dermatologist who has been serving the local community since 1993. His fully accredited dermatological and laser facility 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. Advertorial
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Back-To-School
Danville Today News ~ September 2014 - Page 25
Five Great Reasons to Have Your Child’s Spine Checked! By Melissa Ko, DC, Sycamore Valley Chiropractic
An important item to check off the back-to-school list is to have your youngster’s spine checked by a chiropractor. Many associate seeing a chiropractor with back problems, but did you know that benefits of chiropractic care go beyond pain relief? Patients now seek chiropractic care for achieving optimum wellness and maintenance, and preventing problems later in life. This is especially true for kids. Here are five great reasons to have your kid’s spine checked for back-to-school. 1. Scoliosis Screening - Most of us remember that day in school when we lined up in the gym to have our spines checked by the gym teacher or school nurse. This was done because scoliosis will usually appear in children between 10-16 years of age, effecting girls nine times more than boys. Unfortunately, scoliosis screenings may not always be available due to increasing budget cuts in the schools, and studies show that up to one in six cases of scoliosis may be missed in children. Your chiropractor can perform a thorough scoliosis screening to assess proper spinal and muscle alignment and order x-rays if necessary. Scoliosis is a condition in which early intervention produces optimal outcomes, so have your child checked as early as possible. 2. Backpack Safety - You’ve probably seen kids walking around the neighborhood and carrying backpacks that are almost as heavy as they are with the pack dragging uncomfortably low. Heavy and ill-fitting backpacks are a common cause of back problems in kids due to poor posture and muscle strain. Kids can bring their backpacks or school bags to our office to get checked to make sure that the contents are not too heavy and that the pack is sized and fitted properly. 3. Sports - Most professional sports teams, like soccer, football, swimming, track and field, and gymnastics, have their own team chiropractors to keep the players performing at their best. Younger players get the same benefits with regular chiropractic visits to recover from injuries and play at their best. Great times to schedule visits are right before and after tournaments or games and also during intensive training periods. 4. Immune Boost - Going back to school means that your kids will inevitably be exposed to a jungle of germs. Quite often, a child will bring home a bug from school that will spread like wildfire within a household. The good news is that chiropractic care is great for the immune system. A number of studies have shown that patients under regular chiropractic care experience between a 50-200% increase in immune strength. Spinal adjustments directly influence the part of the nervous system that controls immunity. Imagine getting a natural immune boost for the entire family during flu season with a quick trip to the chiropractic office! 5. Maximize Brain Health - Did you know that most of the information going into the brain at any moment comes from the spine? Your brain is constantly getting stimulated with information from the spine about posture, balance, gravity, movement, etc. The healthier the spine and its movement, the more the brain is “fed,” whereas an inactive, sedentary person will not produce as much stimulation. Promote movement and alignment to grow healthy, smart brains with chiropractic checks! Whether you have a little or a big kid heading back to school, you can set their school year up for success by including chiropractic checkups in their healthcare! Sycamore Valley Chiropractic is located at 565 Sycamore Valley Rd. West in Danville. Please visit www.sycamorevalleychiropractic. Advertorial com or call 925-837-5595 for more information or to schedule an appointment.
Your Personal Nutritionist
Eat Out Healthy and You Will Enjoy By Linda Michaelis RD MS
The good weather always brings people out to enjoy restaurants. In my practice I have observed that healthy eaters at home are not necessarily healthy eaters at restaurants. I often hear clients say they just want to indulge, or they just want to eat what they want. Others say there is never anything healthy on a menu, or the healthy items just don’t look appetizing. Honestly, this is where diners go wrong. It is my job as a nutritionist to coach my clients into understanding that they do not have to deprive themselves in a restaurant and can always walk out feeling like they had an enjoyable meal. Here are some tips I find useful. 1. Speak to a Manager (not the Server) Instead of ordering one of the “healthful” items on the menu (let’s face it, they can be bland), you can often order off the menu. You will need to talk to someone who knows all about the food and can make some revisions in preparation methods such as using no butter or less oil, or grilling or sauteing instead of frying. Managers are able to offer more interesting and flavorful suggestions according to your palette. I suggest my clients make a phone call previous to the dinner to discuss this with the restaurant staff so they will not feel that they are holding up their party with their special requests. I often will call the restaurant for my client and figure out the best entrees to order, and then my client can be happy to dine will all of the decision challenges removed. Some clients tell me that they do not even open the menu; they just sit, relax, and socialize. 2. Skip the Salad If you are ordering the salad “because it is healthy” or to get veggies, forget it. Salads often consist of lettuce of low nutrient value (dark greens have all the nutrition) along with high fat surprises such as croutons, cheese, nuts, bacon, and dressing-adding up to as much as 500 calories for a side salad. Just order double veggies and no starch with the meal. If the meal is a la carte, order a side of broccolini or spinach. 3. Don’t Trust Your Instincts Unless you decide from the beginning to share an entree with a friend, it is
best to avoid restaurants that serve large portions. Dr. Brian Wansink, director of the Cornell Food and Brand Lab and author of Mindful Eating, showed in his research that people tend to eat 30-50% more when served large portions in restaurants, even if it does not taste good. 4. Ask for the Doggie Bag with Dinner I recently read in People magazine that it is chic to ask for a doggie bag along with your dinner order, so don’t feel uncomfortable about this. It really works. Chances are you won’t even miss the extra portion, and you will have a yummy lunch for the next day. 5. Stand Up and Lose Weight Have you often noticed that it is not until you stand up at the end of a meal that you notice how full you are? It takes about 20 minutes for your stomach to send the “I am full” message to your brain. Find an excuse, such as going to the bathroom, to stand up midway during your meal and check in with yourself to see if you have had enough to eat. 6. Look at the Dessert Menu If my client is a dessert person, I tell them to look at the dessert menu first and then order backwards. Plan your meal around the wonderful cheesecake. This means go lite on the bread, and eat more protein foods and veggies. 7. Create Closure to the Meal Most of us need a signal that the meal is over. Unfortunately, for many of us it is when the food is gone and your plate is empty. I suggest a closure technique to reduce nibbling such as moving the plate away, covering it with salt and pepper, or ordering a cup of coffee to nicely end the meal. I assure you if you take these seven suggestions seriously you will not gain weight when dining at restaurants you frequent, even if you dine out several times a week. If you feel like you need a coach to hold your hand and help you lose weight the right way for once and for all, I would be thrilled to help you. I am glad to inform you that my services are covered by most insurances such as Aetna, Sutter Select, ABMG, Health Net, Hill Physicians, and other established companies. Please feel free to call me at (925) 855-0150 or email me at lifeweight1@gmail.com, and tell me about your nutritional concerns. Refer to my website www.LindaRD.com for past articles, recipes, and nutrition tips in my blog section. Advertorial
Page 26 - September 2014 ~ Danville Today News
Discovery continued from front page
put a lot of thought and energy into keeping our program at a high level because we are responsible for bringing up the next generation of therapists. I also feel rewarded by knowing (and seeing through the eyes of our counselors) that our program is truly making a difference in the lives of the children in our valley.” DCC encouraged Jen Zink, then an intern, to develop what has become one of their most popular programs. Although SRVUSD had curriculum addressing “bullying,” Jen realized the model was geared toward typically male aggression, failing to address how girls tend to denigrate their peers. Piloted in 2010, “EmpowHer” will be offered in at least eight elementary schools this year. Monthly sessions with all of the girls in the 4th and 5th grades build a basis for trust and confidence. Zink writes: “The sessions focus first on understanding the ways girls display relational aggression. Girls become aware of how their behaviors can negatively affect the relationships that are important to them. Exclusion, gossip, dirty looks, digital drama (cyber-bullying), name-calling, and ‘stealing friends’ are all behaviors that damage friendships. We identify the deeper underlying reasons why these behaviors occur. Sessions emphasize the importance of bystander action, equipping students with actions to take when they witness these alternative forms of aggression. Students develop language skills to communicate emotional issues with fair and positive responses empowering students to gain assertiveness. Finally, we learn healthy coping skills to remain strong and resilient.” The companion piece “Guy’d2Greatness” is now offered to boys. Reaching students (1,400 last year) before they enter grades where relational aggression typically peaks is another way DCC takes a proactive role in building a healthy community. Inspired by the suggestion of an SRVUSD educator, DCC created Checkout line at the Thrift Station circles the store as Alternative to Suspencustomers latch onto bargains. Friends of Discovery teamwork keeps pace with the pressure so everyone comes sion (ASP) permitting out smiling. Photo courtesy of Lorraine Frey, DCC. first-time offenders facing tobacco, alcohol, or marijuana-related disciplinary action to chose counseling over suspension. Chris Duerrmeir, Staff Therapist, notes, “Every clinician working ASP has a slightly different approach but the main goal of the program is to look at what the purpose of the substance use is and to assess its severity.” Students first meet one-on-one with a clinician and second with one or more parents or guardians present. Duerrmeir explains at the outset, “We are not here to judge you or to tell you what to do or not to do. We are here to have an open and honest exploration and awareness about a student’s alcohol and drug use.” The facilitation of dialogue between adult and teen makes each aware of the other’s deepest concerns, replacing resentment with understanding. Mental Health First Aid, a national program brought to Contra Costa County by DCC last year, teaches a 5-step action plan to recognize and offer appropriate initial help to people exhibiting symptoms of a mental health issue. Stacy Linder, one of three DCC therapists certified to teach the 8-hour courses, has conducted several for SRVUSD personnel “to help teachers and support staff who are not mental health professionals understand and respond to individuals at risk.” Evaluation forms indicate material addresses precisely the issues educators encounter. Open sessions for interested community members are being planned. Linder writes: “The ultimate goals are to create a common language around mental health in our community and to remove the stigma associated with seeking help for mental health issues.” Senior Citizens now have access to help at the Danville Veteran’s Hall Senior Center where DCC psychologist Fran Rapport organizes conversation groups on requested topics and holds regularly scheduled office hours. Rapport, a long-time school psychologist, remarks, “I appreciate working with seniors who are interested in counseling and are motivated to make use of our time together. While some seniors are interested in counseling for issues that have been present in their lives for many years, others have more recent changes in their lives that bring them to want some counseling.” Some conversation groups find the company so enjoyable, they continue meeting for months. The Thrift Station, managed by Friends of Discovery, provides 40% of the DCC budget. Started in 1973 with goods scavenged from yard sales and a small
See Discovery continued on page 27
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Mommy Makeover
By Barbara Persons, MD, Persons Plastic Surgery, Inc.
As a mother of three and a Plastic Surgeon, I am acutely sensitive to how pregnancy effects our bodies. The experience of having three children has given me a unique perspective regarding how we view ourselves as women and mothers. I understand what it is to be a busy mother and what it is to want my body to look and feel like it did before I had children. I understand the work of trying diet and exercise and the limitations of the abdominal muscles that are simply in need of a little work that even a million sit-ups will not provide. A Mommy Makeover surgery at Persons Plastic Surgery takes place at our certified surgery center, the Cosmetic and Reconstructive Surgery Center in Lafayette, over the course of a morning or afternoon. It is performed under a light sleep anesthesia. After surgery, you will be able to go home or to a recovery suite in town with a private nurse. A patient is required to take two weeks off from work and other duties in order to recover. I stay in close contact with each patient. A Mommy Makeover is not just one procedure, but it’s a combination of individualized procedures (outlined below) that lift, tighten, and shape your body to help reverse the rapid changes that occur during and following pregnancy and breast feeding.
Mastopexy (Breast Lift) and Augmentation
Breast surgery can be considered as early as six months following the completion of breast feeding. A mastopexy, or breast lift, restores the shape of the breast and also the size and location of the nipple. Although a breast lift without implant may be just right for many women, some women may want a mastopexy augmentation for additional size and projection. The augmentation can be achieved with a silicone or saline implant, or with autologous fat grafting.
Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck)
An abdominoplasty, commonly called a “tummy tuck,” is a plastic surgery procedure which flattens the abdomen by tightening the muscles of the abdominal wall, and it involves removing excess skin, fat, and stretch marks. The abdomen tends to take on a rounded appearance as we age, as our weight fluctuates, and after such events as childbirth. The muscle and tissues of the abdomen are weakened, and the skin becomes stretched, so no amount of situps or leg raises can remove this shape. A Tummy Tuck can re-contour and reposition these tissues with the added benefit of removing any pre-existing scars from the lower abdomen.
Reshaping of Buttocks and Flanks (Vaser, Laser and Traditional Liposuction)
A trained plastic surgeon with the right tools is able to use liposuction techniques to alter the shape of the body through the removal and transfer of fat. An alternative to traditional liposuction, Vaser Liposuction uses advanced ultrasound technology designed to gently reshape the body. Sound energy is transmitted through small probes that diffuse the ultrasound waves and liquefy the fat for easy removal. I combine Vaser Liposuction with Laser Liposuction to achieve a result which is natural appearing and with less skin laxity. One more thing…the natural childbirth experience or just genetics can weaken and alter the shape and aesthetics of the female pelvic floor. When these structures are weakened vaginal rejuvenation surgery is an option. This can be used to improve the aesthetic appearance of the labia and can also rejuvenate to improve sexual function. There is also a G spot shot and a C spot shot of natural filler. These are the not often talked about, but they are highly satisfying procedures. Motherhood is wonderful and my children are the joy of my life. I am passionate about helping my patients achieve realistic goals through plastic surgery. My patients tell me every day that they are thankful for the changes we accomplished together. They tell me they wish they had done it sooner. I would be happy to consult with you about your desires and goals concerning the rejuvenation of your body. Barbara L. Persons, MD is a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and owns Persons Plastic Surgery, Inc. located at 911 Moraga Rd, Suite 205 in Lafayette. She may be reached at 925.283.4012 or Advertorial drbarb@personsplasticsurgery.com.
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The Eye Opener
Danville Today News ~ September 2014 - Page 27
By Gregory Kraskowsky, O.D., Alamo Optometry School and our Children’s Vision
It is hard to believe that most of summer vacation is behind us and school is back is session. August and September are usually the months when most parents prep their children for the upcoming school year. The to-do list usually includes purchasing school supplies, clothes, backpacks, etc. and scheduling yearly physicals for children with their pediatrician to ensure a healthy start to the year. Even though most of you realize the importance of vision and eye health, know that it is vitally important for your child to be able to see well at all distances and to have good eye-teaming skills to be able to learn and prosper at school. I will cover some of the main eye issues related to difficulty at school. I would say the most common diagnosis I find at the office is myopia, or near-sightedness. For students that sit far away from the board or in the back of a large lecture hall, having uncorrected or under-corrected myopia will lead to blurry vision and an inability to see the material on the board, screen, or overhead. I have found it common for younger children with this situation to have classroom issues in addition to lower grades due to the fact that they tend to be disruptive in class because they can’t see clearly more than a few feet in front of them. These students are unable to take notes off of the board and therefore often fall behind in class and miss assignments. At the opposite end of myopia is hyperopia, or far-sightedness. These students are in a constant state of focusing to allow clear vision. The closer the point of focus, the more work that is necessary to clear the image. That is why distance objects are easier to see than near ones. A low amount of hyperopia is actually desirable, since near-sightedness tends to evolve as the child enters adolescence, so it gives them a little head start. However, in larger prescriptions, hyperopia can cause near-avoidance, headaches, fatigue, eye turns, and an overall indifference to sustained up-close tasks. This can easily be diagnosed in the office as part of a comprehensive examination. The last prescription issue that can be a hindrance to vision is astigmatism. This is caused by the cornea, the clear front surface of the eye, not being completely round. An easy analogy is that the cornea is shaped more like an egg than a ball. Astigmatism will generally degrade both distance and near vision; however, distance is usually a little more affected. It is important to note that this is not a disease; it is just the way the eye is shaped and can be treated with glasses or contact lenses just like myopia and hyperopia. In addition to having a prescription, all patients, including children, should have their binocular vision status evaluated. It is quite possible to not have any of the above-mentioned prescription issues, but to have poor eye teaming skills. If the eyes are not aligned properly and do not work well as a team, there will be learning and reading issues. These tend to present themselves more for reading than distance, but can definitely affect both situations. When the eyes do not work as a unit, a child might experience double vision, “stretching” or “ghost images” of letters, skipping of letters or lines of text, eyestrain, headaches, near-avoidance, or any combination of these. Depending on the exact diagnosis, the condition can be treated with glasses or vision therapy. I recommend having your child’s vision checked by an eye care professional instead of just relying on a school or pediatrician screening. Most children that need to be evaluated are generally picked up by these screenings, but the comprehensive evaluation I give at the office not only encompasses vision and binocular vision, but also covers neurological issues, color vision, peripheral vision issues, and an ocular health examination of both the front and back portions of the eye. We look forward to seeing your students in the office soon. Dr. K. at Alamo Optometry is your hometown eye doctor for outstanding service, vision care, and designer eyewear. He can be reached at 820-6622 or visit his office at 3201 Danville Blvd., Suite 165 in Alamo. Visit our website at www.alamooptometry.com, and join us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter Advertorial @Alamo Optometry.
Discovery continued from page 26
loan from founder Marge Early’s mother, the Thrift Station now thrives on highly desirable clothing, household goods, furniture, toys, and books from local donors. Specialists in each area price merchandise and stage it in bins so stock on the floor can be replenished regularly. Lorraine Frey, President of the Friends, says, “Every day is an adventure. We don’t order what we sell; we sell what we are given, and we never know what that will be.” Does the community recognize how much DCC offers area residents? Frey reports, “People used to bring donations to the Thrift Station because we were an easy, local drop off location. We always said: ‘Thank you very much. We appreciate your donation.’ In the last year and a half, many people are responding: ‘Thank you for what you do.’” The all-volunteer Friends are a hard-working, dependable group. Visit the Thrift Station Monday-Saturday from 10am-4pm at 486 San Ramon Valley Boulevard in the Crossroads at Danville. Learn more about DCC programs, sponsors, their September 22nd Golf Classic at Crow Canyon Country Club, and their October 11th evening of Music and Laughter at Danville’s Village Theatre by visiting www.discoveryctr.net.
C L A S S I F I E D NUISANCE WILDLIFE CONTROL
GOPHER REMOVAL SERVICE TRAPPING-NO-POISON Safe for your family, pets, and the ecosystem: Call Tri Valley Trapper for free consultation/estimate: 925-765-4209.
ELECTRICAL WORK EVERYTHING ELECTRICAL! Need new light fixtures, ceiling fans, recessed lighting, or track lighting installed? Need a dimmer switch or GFCI installed? Do you want to change the color of your outlets in your kitchen or install 220V power for the new hot tub or stove? I also troubleshoot electrical problems. FREE ESTIMATES. Licensed and bonded. 30 years experience. CALL 925-389-6964.
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Page 28 - September 2014 ~ Danville Today News
The Combs Team
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Professionals You Can Count On
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might take a little longer to sell, but as it turns out Danville two stories are on average selling faster by 126 days than single story homes. At 149 days on market for single story homes and 23 days on market for two story homes, it is a super hot market for two story homes. The roughly $60,000 difference in average selling price might explain this difference. It appears the Danville single story home is dominating the two story home in most of the categories. However, when we adjust dollars for size, the picture is not the same. Danville single story homes are selling at $480 per square foot compared to $476 per square foot for their counterparts, the two stories. This $4 per square foot difference is less than 1% in favor of the single story which is not significant. Inch for inch and foot for foot, it appears that single stories and two stories are just about the same. So, overall which one wins, single story or two story? I am pretty sure it is both. Priced at nearly $500 per square foot anyone selling a Danville home is coming up a winner this year. Nancy and I have more than 2,900 email subscribers who receive this article in advance of publication. You can add yourself to the list by sending me an email or signing up for it on our website www.thecombsteam.com. I assure you no spam will follow. Trying to figure out your next move? Need numbers and answers to make your decisions? Nancy and I will be happy to provide you with a personal consultation to help you figure it out. No charge and no pressure just our honest opinions. Please call 925-989-6086 or send me an email joecombs@thecombsteam.com.
Danville Single Level vs. Two Story: Which is Better?
Nancy and I get a lot of questions about the difference between Danville single story homes and two story homes. I once read somewhere that people who live in two story homes outlive their single story counter parts by an average of eight years. That’s great, but I figure if you add up the total amount of time they actually spend climbing, it’s probably a wash. Anecdotally, you might think every “Baby Boomer” in the world or at least in Danville is looking for a single story to rest their failing knees. So, this month I thought we could take a look at the difference between the two and see if any myths can be busted. The data presented in the chart is for four bedroom homes sold between January 1st and August 26th, 2014. No other criteria were applied to the analysis. In Danville, 36% more two story homes sold than single story homes during this time period. Seventy-five single story homes sold versus 117 two story homes. If you look around town and the composition of our Danville neighborhoods, these numbers shouldn’t surprise you. The least expensive Danville single story sold for $730,000. The least expensive Danville two story home sold for $799,000. The most expensive single story sold for $3,000,000; the most expensive two story home sold for $2,100,000. So, at the bottom of the price range, the two stories have it and at the top, it’s not even close, the single story homes win, hands down. On average, single story homes in Danville are selling for $1,164,515 while their two story counterparts are trailing them with an average sales price of $1,104,513, making the single story approximately 5% more expensive than Danville’s average two story home. In real estate size is very important, so if we look at the difference in size between Danville 4 Bedroom Home Sales Jan. 1-May-Aug 26 the homes in the two groups, we find Danville single story homes to be quite Danville Sold DOM List Price Sold Price Sq. Foot $ Sq. Foot a bit smaller. Single story homes average 2,416 square feet compared to the 75 149 $ 1,132,217 $ 1,164,515 2416 $ 480 two story’s larger 2,837 square feet which makes the Danville two story home Single Story Two Story 117 23 $ 1,098,392 $ 1,104,513 2837 $ 476 15% larger on average than the single story. 3.0% 5.0% -15.0% 1.0% Off the top of my head, I would have thought that the two story homes % Difference -36.0% 647.0%
Diablo Creek Single Story
G N I D D L PESNO
Alamo Oaks
LD
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Amazing updated 4 bedroom single story has it all. Large level lot beautiful pool and pavilion. Priced to sell $1,679,000.
Updated 4 bedroom 3595 sq. foot home with 1.13 acre lot. Perfect for horses or a vineyard. Priced to sell $1,839,000.
7.93 Acre Lot
Magee Ranch Executive Home
LD
SO Great lot for sale in a mapped subdivision between Alamo and Lafayette. Natural setting with many oak trees. Call for details and pricing.
Immaculate 5 bedroom Single Story, Great Flow, Pool spa Level play yard. Priced to Sell $1,639,000
Data presented in this column is based in whole or in part on data supplied by the Contra Costa and Alameda MLS service and other quoted sources. Joe Combs, Nancy Combs, The Combs Team, J. Rockcliff and the MLS service do not guarantee the accuracy of this information. DRE #0144125.
Anderson Ranch Single Level
LD
SO
Replace copy with; Nicely updated 4 bed single level with level lot and Views! Priced to Sell $995,000 J. Rockcliff Realtors 15 Railroad Ave., Danville CA. 94526