Danville_Today_Apr_2015

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April 2015 Tractor Gang Puts History in Motion at Forest Home Farms By Jody Morgan

Affectionately called the Tractor Gang (T-Gang), several multi-talented volunteers began restoring machinery at Forest Home Farms (FHF) shortly after Ruth Quayle Boone deeded the 16-acre property to the City of San Ramon in 1997. In keeping with Ruth’s desire to honor the memory of her husband Travis and his creative contributions to agricultural practices in the San Ramon Valley, T-Gang reconditions vintage tractors and other mechanical devices used on local farms and devises interactive exhibits that give visitors of all ages an engaging perspective on Valley life a century ago.

Roy Ginochio is the group’s mentor. One of the few T-Gang members to have been depended on on a daily basis for keeping cranky farm machinery

T-Gang members gathered with the Case DC3 currently being restored, left to right: Ron Simmons, Mike Storms, Joe Krueger, Tom Slingerland, John Maryott, Dan Foster, Vern Kalepp. Absent: Roy Ginochio, Bob McCoy, Tony Hurt, Pat Sorenson, Ron Frye, Jim Donahoe.

running, Roy has extensive experience with the intricacies of making a tractor perform. Also savvy about the pull tractors exert on people, Roy initiated the project of transforming a 1935 Caterpillar into a popular ride for FHF events.

After removing the tractor’s original seat, Ginochio built a 10-passenger carrier by recycling five metal hospital beds for the base, rails, and bench seat-

See Tractor continued on page 24

Enjoy the Birds with Diablo Audubon Society

By Fran Miller

It’s prime bird watching season, and many locations along the Diablo Corridor are host to several species of migrating water, land, and shore birds. Beginning early April through May, birds making their Pacific Flyway return journey seek suitable habitats in which to feed, and many find a temporary home in areas such as Walnut Creek’s Heather Farms Park, the Lafayette Reservoir, Castle Rock Regional Park/Diablo Foothills Regional Park, and Mitchell Canyon in Clayton.

Mt. Diablo Audubon Society member Tracy Farrington has identified 96 bird species within Heather Farms Park within the last few years. He says the area tops

See Birds continued on page 22

Local Postal Customer

PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Permit 263 Alamo CA

ECRWSS

Hap Magee Labyrinth to Open in April

By Sharon Burke

Serving Danville

Since mid-February, world renowned labyrinth artist Marty Kermeen has been hard at work measuring, cutting and placing concrete pavers, painstakingly building an 11 circuit Chartres-style labyrinth in Hap Magee Ranch Park.

The labyrinth measures 42 feet in diameter, has 113 lunations or moon-shaped scallop decorations around the perimeter, and includes 28 U-turns in the interior which form the intricate 860 foot path to the center.

These are the same dimensions and elements as the famous labyrinth in the Chartres Cathedral in France, which dates back to the 13th century.

The labyrinth was approved last year as a public art installation by the Danville Town Council and by the Alamo Municipal Advisory Council, joint owners of the Park. Although it will be a public installation accessible to all, the entire project was funded by a group of private donors, mostly Alamo and Danville residents, sponsored by the San Ramon Valley United Methodist Church. The project began with memorial donations made by the friends and family of Will Schramm, a 24 year old Alamo resident who was tragically killed in a vehicle accident on Stone Valley Road in April 2013. Although the intent of the original donors was to fund a memorial in Schramm’s memory, due to its placement in a public park, the labyrinth will not be labeled as a memorial.

Marty and Debi Kermeen of Labyrinths in Stone in Illinois were chosen as the labyrinth artists due to their prominence in building labyrinths all over the world. Labyrinths in Stone has been commissioned to build labyrinths in public parks, universities, museums, churches, and hospitals. One of the most important works built by the Kermeens is at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. This labyrinth is being used as a tool for returning wounded warriors as “Safe Ground” in their therapy treatments.

Many of the veterans are learning to walk again, and the labyrinth gives them not only a goal to reach at the center, but also meditative healing along the way.

Some visitors have come by the project and asked if it’s too late to contribute to help with the final phase of the project. There will be future expenses for maintenance and possible enhancements made to the area around the labyrinth. Anyone who would Volume VI - Number 6 like to support this effort, please know it’s never too late to make a donation. Tax deductible donations 3000F Danville Blvd. #117, Alamo, CA 94507 can be made payable to “SRVUMC Labyrinth Ac(925) 405-6397 count” and mailed to Labyrinth Project, c/o Teresa Fax (925) 406-0547 Schutzman, 1615 Litina Drive, Alamo CA 94507.

The Labyrinth Project Committee is planning Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher editor@ for a public dedication ceremony in mid-April, yourmonthlypaper.com so watch for notices of the date and time. Meanwhile, stop by Hap Magee Ranch Park to view the The opinions expressed herein belong the writers, and do not necessarily labyrinth in progress, located behind the Magee toreflect that of Danville Today News.

Danville Today News is not House close to the gazebo. Visitors are asked to for the content of any of view the artist at work from outside the safety responsible the advertising herein, nor does publication imply endorsement. fence around the construction zone.

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Page 2 - April 2015 ~ Danville Today News

Boulevard View

By Alisa Corstorphine, Editor

My daughter recently came home from college for spring break. She has always been an environmentally conscious person and is pursuing a degree in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems. For one of her classes she had to read the book Waste and Want, by Susan Strasser. The book highlights the history of trash in the United States from the colonial periods all the way to current trends, explaining the mechanisms of change along the way. One section of the book was devoted to the then-common practices of sewing, mending, quilting, and re-purposing of materials. In the past, vast amounts of material for new clothing was prohibitively expensive, so women of the household would work to alter clothing to fit a new family member once clothes became too small. With the scraps from their alterations, they would either use the fabric as rags or scrap fabric to create beautiful quilts and rugs.

In this day and age, our culture has steered itself away from the mending and reusing practices of our ancestors. With vastly abundant and cheap materials all around us, it seems like a waste of our energy to mend a coat or darn a sock.

Why waste your precious time at home after work fiddling with fabric when you could be prepping a meal, helping a child with their homework, or taking some personal time to unwind? It is cheaper to buy a new pair of socks, anyway.

This attitude has lead our country to produce miles and miles of landfills filled with what could have been useful material at one time.

After my daughter graduated from high school, she collected all of her pep rally and homecoming week t-shirts and decided she wanted to make a t-shirt quilt. Well, she cut before she planned and was left with a garbage bag full of cut logos and designs that she wanted to keep, but they were going to be too difficult to quilt together. The bag of shirts sat for the past four years in the back of her closet until this spring break when she decided she wanted to make a braided rag rug out of them.

We cut the remaining shirts and logos into strips, sewed them end-to-end to create balls of fabric, and braided them into one long snake of material.

All that is left to do is lay the braid into a circular design, sew the back, and we’ll be done! If my daughter had not decided to make this rug, we most likely would have donated the shirts to the thrift store or thrown them away. But, who goes to the thrift store and wants an old high school PE shirt or a “2011 SENIORS” shirt?

While the tide is turning on the wasteful practices, it is important to see what you can do as an individual to help. Instead of buying a braided rug from the store for $100, why not make creating one a fun craft project that you can do with your child? While it is a fairly labor-intensive project, we have made great progress over the past few days, and the resulting rug is going to be not just something to walk over in a room. You can see the little snippets of the shirt she got from lacrosse camp when she was 13 or the design of the band logo from the concert she went to in high school. The resulting rug is not just a bundle of fabric, but it is all of the memories of those shirts and the time that I was able to spend with my 21 year old kid putting it all together.

This Earth Day, I ask you to think before you buy, and think before you throw away. An empty glass mayonnaise jar can be cleaned and used to hold leftover soup, or you can use it to hold miscellaneous screws in the garage.

Instead of buying a lunch to-go that comes in a wasteful styrofoam container, bring your own lunch in a reusable glass container, which will not only save you money but encourage healthier eating and save one more container from the landfill. Next time you wear through your leather shoes, instead of throwing them away or donating them so that you can get the latest style, take them to your local cobbler to get them repaired. Purchase products that are meant to last, and maintain them. We still have a cast iron dutch oven from my husband’s grandparents that is in beautiful shape, and it will someday be passed down to our children. The memories of all the meals the dutch iron has cooked over the generations makes it a special part of our kitchen cookware.

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JARED HIGGINS TEAM Danville Home Sales 405 Alta Vista Ct 162 Alta Vista Way 416 Antelope Ridge Way 45 Bordeaux Ct 120 Bountiful Ct. 107 Burton Court 717 Calmar Vista Rd 327 Castenada Ct 45 Diablo Creek Place 219 Dove Creek Lane 659 Dunhill Dr 5 Edinburgh Pl 471 El Capitan Dr 539 El Capitan Dr 267 Elsie Dr 425 Everett Drive 1639 Fountain Springs Cir 67 Haskins Ranch Cir 241 Joaquin Dr 7 Lonesome Rd 10 Melsenna Court 209 Morris Ranch Rd 1348 Mustang Dr 143 Pulido Rd 81 Saint Beatrice Court 250 Santiago Lane 65 Starmont Ln 710 Thornhill Rd. 715 Trent Ct 3 Windover Ter 4 Woodranch Circle 1077 Yorkshire Pl 315 Zagora Dr

List Price $1,279,000 $1,350,000 $989,000 $999,950 $860,000 $995,000 $2,295,000 $1,049,950 $1,375,000 $1,050,000 $989,950 $1,299,000 $875,000 $989,000 $825,000 $1,250,000 $769,500 $819,000 $949,000 $1,700,000 $1,165,000 $1,150,000 $875,000 $749,000 $929,950 $2,390,000 $2,449,000 $915,000 $1,250,000 $1,750,000 $1,129,900 $1,199,000 $1,049,000

Danville detached home sales per MLS 2/20/15-3/23/15.

DOM=Days on Market.

Sold Price Sq. Ft. Beds/Baths $/SqFt DOM $1,355,000 2684 4/3 $505 8 $1,320,000 3013 5/3 $438 5 $989,000 2000 4/3 $494 5 $1,015,000 2407 4/3 $422 8 $900,000 1534 3/2 $587 6 $1,035,000 2076 4/2 $499 7 $2,160,000 4044 5/4 $534 1 $1,020,000 2423 4/3 $421 26 $1,375,000 2625 4/3 $524 7 $1,069,535 3329 4/3.5 $321 9 $1,020,000 2308 4/2 $442 7 $1,350,000 3020 4/2.5 $447 8 $900,000 1802 3/2 $499 10 $1,013,900 2551 4/2.5 $397 6 $800,000 1344 4/2 $595 42 $1,305,000 2511 4/2.5 $520 5 $790,000 1862 3/2.5 $424 6 $819,000 1524 3/2 $537 47 $1,001,300 2502 4/3 $400 4 $1,736,000 2796 3/3.5 $621 5 $1,120,000 4327 5/5 $259 111 $1,110,000 2409 4/2 $461 7 $895,000 1626 4/2 $550 6 $765,000 1666 3/2 $459 9 $957,500 2002 4/2 $478 6 $2,250,000 4599 3/4.5 $489 14 $2,398,800 4770 5/3.5 $503 33 $940,000 2117 4/2 $444 83 $1,350,000 3464 4/3 $390 7 $1,750,000 4296 4/4 $407 4 $1,075,000 3102 4/3 $347 4 $1,185,000 3488 4/3 $340 44 $1,043,000 2685 4/2.5 $388 16

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Sheep Shearing Day 2015

Danville Today News ~ April 2015 - Page 3

The San Ramon Historic Foundation presents Sheep Shearing Day at Forest Home Farms Historic Park in San Ramon on April 18 from 11AM to 3PM. Sheep Shearing Day is a unique opportunity to experience a day on the 16 acre Boone family farm. This event has quickly grown into one of the San Ramon Historic Foundation’s largest annual fundraising events, drawing over 1,000 community members. This year the monies raised will go directly to restore The Ole 1850’s Barn. The Ole 1850’s Barn is one of the oldest structures in San Ramon. Its outstanding architecture has survived 164 years, and it is in need of restoration.

Learn * Explore * National Historical Landmark * Animals * Sheep * Horse * Chickens * Kettle Korn * Maypole * Walnut Game * Bubble String * Vintage Games * Kids Crafts * Tractor Rides * Quilters * Spinners * Wood Carvers * Blacksmith * Farm Tours * Welcome Center * Gift Shoppe * Have Fun 410 Sycamore Valley Rd W, Danville Order Early Bird TickPinotspalette.com/danville ets at SRHF.org. Fees are Early Bird (before April 13) Adult $5, Children (312), $3 (under 3 free), and SRHF Member $3. After 10% off Public Classes April 13 and at the gate the Disc Code: MOM10 cost is Adult $7 and Child (3-12) $5 (under 3 free). (expires: 4/25/15) Forest Home Farms is located at 19953 San 925-743-9900 Ramon Valley Blvd, San Ramon.

Jared Higgins (925) 487-2907

jhiggins@rockcliff.com JaredHiggins.com BRE# 01781054

UnWaste Event Set for April 11

It’s time to get that spring cleaning done and what better time than right before the next UnWaste recycling event? The Town of Danville sponsors periodic recycling drop-off events, where residents can bring their unwanted items to the Danville Park & Ride, located near the intersection of Sycamore Valley Road and Camino Ramon.

At the April 11th event, residents can bring used electronics, as well as household items and other furnishings, such as books, to drop off between 9am and 3pm. Items do NOT have to be in good working order to be dropped off.

Most items are free to recycle, however larger appliances such as freezers, refrigerators, and water heaters have a $40 disposal fee. Smaller appliances have a $20 fee, and microwave ovens can be dropped off for a $5 fee.

All items must be clean and dry in order to be accepted. For a downloadable flyer for the event, go to the Town’s Living Green webpage at http:// www.danville.ca.gov/About-Danville/New-Resident-Info/Living-Green/.

For more information, contact Clean Water Program Coordinator Chris McCann at (925) 314-3342 or cmc-cann@danville.ca.gov.

Shredding for Scholarships a Tri-Valley community service fundraiser sponsored by

GFWC Danville Women’s Club and Pam Wojciechowski, Lynne Highfill & Stephanie Sposito (925) 935-7100

(925) 932-7335

(925) 932-7334

Coldwell Banker Real Estate

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Saturday, April 25th, 2015 from 9 :00 am – 12:30 pm

242 Linda Mesa Ave, Danville $5.00/bankers size box Proceeds from the fundraiser benefit the Patty Hart Memorial Scholarship Fund.

More information is available on our website: www.danvillewomensclub.org GFWC Danville Women’s Club is a 501(c)(3) non profit organization - Tax ID 94-6102018

Page 4 - April 2015 ~ Danville Today News

Blackhawk “First Sunday” Cars & Coffee

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 going to 10AM, the Museum welcomes all classic, collector, and special interest car owners and enthusiasts.

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 Circle in Danville. For more information, visit www.blackhawkmuseum.org/carsncoffee.html, call (925) 736-2280, or email museum@blackhawkmuseum.org.

Veterans of Foreign Wars

Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW), Post 75, San Ramon Valley, meets every third Wednesday of the month at the Veterans Memorial Building, located at 400 Hartz Avenue in Danville, on the corner at East Prospect Avenue and Hartz Avenue. Doors open at 7PM, and the meeting begins at 7:30PM. For more information, contact Post Commander Ernie Petagara at (925) 3629806. Send mail to VFW Post 75 San Ramon Valley, P.O. Box 1092, Danville, CA 94526. Find out more about the VFW and our Post at www.vfwpost75.org.

New Trail Mixers Season Begins

Hiking program to kick off on Las Trampas Ridge

Hiking enthusiasts are invited to come out and enjoy area trails with the Town of Danville’s Trail Mixers program. Trail Mixers provides residents with an opportunity to experience the many fantastic trails here in the East Bay. This season’s Trail Mixers begins with an April 11 climb to the top of Las Trampas Ridge. Hikers will start at the Bollinger Canyon Staging Area and hike to the top of the ridge. Once on top, the trail heads south and loops back to the staging area. This moderately strenuous hike is approximately 4.2 miles in length with an estimated elevation gain of 1,000 feet.

To register for the hike, call (925) 314-3400 or go to the Recreation Services webpage at http://www.danville.ca.gov/Services/Recreation-Services/.

For more information about Trail Mixers, contact Youth Sports and Facilities Program Coordinator Ian Murdock at (925) 314-3455 or imurdock@danville.ca.gov.

Growing Community and Caring for our Place on Earth

By Cynthia Ruzzi

I can’t believe it was just five years ago that I was searching for local recommendations for sustainable living for my family. It was then through talking with friends Darlene Gayler and Tracy Bauer that we were inspired to start Sustainable Danville Area (www. sustainabledanville.com) to encourage sustainable practices by facilitating ecoeducational programs in the Danville area. We have expanded–and contracted– with treasured volunteers and brilliant interns joining us along the way. Most importantly, we have made cherished life-long friends like Cindy Egan, San Ramon Valley High School’s Environmental Science Teacher. We are not the ‘Green Police’; instead we’re a local group interested in exploring and learning how to live and work sustainably in our community. We balance what matters most to us (our families) with our responsibility to care for the future of this beautiful place that we call home. We definitely don’t have all the answers, but along the way we have found great resources, made wonderful connections, and learned from our mistakes – hopefully making it easier for our neighbors who want to jump aboard.

We are fulfilled by the community of people (students, teachers, parents, business owners, civic leaders, and you) that have demonstrated their interest in supporting our efforts by making Every Choice Count! We are buoyed by the growth of consciousness that has sprung up amongst us – people who understand the importance of freeing their bodies, their homes, and their yards from chemicals and pesticides. While I wouldn’t call our ‘job’ done - since I always prefer a friend’s recommendation over something on the Internet - we are excited that there is a wealth of reliable information for those that are curious about learning more.

We are grateful for civic leaders that have voted to ban single-use plastic bags in our community, offer residents the ability to recycle all their kitchen food scraps in their curbside waste bins, added bicycle parking facilities in popular downtown locations, installed a centralized climate controlled irrigation system, and even rely on solar panels to fuel the work they do every day to protect our community for the future. Most importantly, we are happy to call ourselves

A Few More Host Families Needed

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For the tenth consecutive year, students from a large high school in the South of France are coming to Danville. The students will arrive on Gopher Removal April 11th and depart April 25th.

Teens stay with local families and No Poison have a full itinerary of activities during the days and only require your attention in the evenings and weekends.

925-765-4209 For information contact teacher Martine Causse at caussefly@wanadoo.fr or dachary.martine@orange.fr or Danville parent Kevin Dimler, at kevindimler@gmail.com or 925-718-5052.

Alamo-Danville Newcomers Club

Are you new to the area or a long time resident, newly retired or emptynester 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 www.alamodanvillenewcomers. com. There will be no “Welcome Coffee” in March, but please mark your calendar for our “Wine & Cheese Social” on Tuesday, April 28th from 79pm. Please RSVP to alamodanvillenewcomers@gmail.com.

Treats for the Troops

Delta Nu Psi is collecting “gourmet junk food” to send to American troops in Afghanistan. The group will continue sending packages as long as American military members are in the War Zone. Much of the food sent is not normally available to the troops.

On April 10th they will be at Lunardi’s in Danville. Collections will be held from 11am to 2pm both days, rain or shine. Money for postage is also always appreciated as shipping costs have risen 34%!

For more information, visit www.deltanupsi.org. residents of Alamo, Danville, Diablo, and Blackhawk. Every time we receive an email (sustainabledanville@gmail.com) or comment on Facebook (www. facebook.com/sustainabledanvillearea) sharing a green practice that you or your family has adopted, it fills our hearts with hope.

This April, we celebrate our fifth ‘birthday’ and Earth Day 2015. The Town of Danville, The Danville Library, and Sustainable Danville Area will present the 5th Annual Earth Day Event on Sunday, April 19th 11am - 2pm on the Town Green in front of the Danville Library. Rain will be an additional blessing as we have activities planned for the library and community center as well. The Town of Danville Earth Day event is a free, fun, and informative affair for residents and visitors of all ages interested in green building, sustainable landscape design, solar power and home energy efficient products, waste reduction and recycling, water conservation, hybrid and electrical vehicles, and much more! Fun for everyone in the family has been scheduled at this zero-waste event which includes live music featuring Rio James, American Idol Tyler Stimpson, and Zakir Siddiqui.

Kids activities include a petting zoo, ‘Peanuts…Naturally! An Ecofestival,’ a giant Earth ball, and much, much more.

San Ramon Valley High School Environmental Club (E2) will be manning the bike valet to make it easy for you and your family to ride your bicycles to the event. Yes, this works just like a coat check. You check in your bikes for free, enjoy the event, and pick up your bikes by 2pm. We can always use environmentally enthusiastic volunteers ages 16 and up for the Earth Day event. Please visit www. danville.ca.gov/volunteer if you haven’t volunteered with the Town before. For more information, email jmason@ danville.ca.gov or call 925314-3478. It will not be a party without you, so mark your calendars for April 19th, and please come celebrate with us.

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Danville Today News ~ April 2015 - Page 5

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Earth Day is April 23rd

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The San Ramon Valley Republican Women Federated (SRVRWF) presents Darlene Ayers-Johnson, an independent businesswoman and Republican activist, at their luncheon to be held Tuesday, April 28th.

Darlene is a second-generation native of Oakland. She graduated from Golden Gate University with a degree in Business Administration and Human Relations. Ms. Johnson has served in the Administration of President George W. Bush as Senior Advisor to the Pacific Rim Regional Administrator, U.S. GSA and California Governor Pete Wilson Chief Deputy Director/Planning Officer for the Interagency Support Division. She has lead various non-profits such as “Friends of Faith Fancher” for breast cancer awareness.

After years of service in various boards and commissions, she is now retired and doing what she loves most as an independent CAbi Consultant of women entrepreneurs helping women entrepreneurs around the globe to feel good about themselves. In 2007 Diablo Magazine named Darlene as one of the Bay Area women to watch, calling her “an East Bay mover and shaker involved in a wide range of business, political, and nonprofit organizations.” Don’t miss this dynamic speaker discuss how she was able to overcome many obstacles.

Social hour begins at 11:30am, and the lunch and meeting will start at noon at Crow Canyon Country Club, located at 711 Silver Lake Drive, Danville.

The cost for members is $25 and non-members is $35. Guests that become members at the door pay the member rate for this event. Men and students are cordially invited.

Please RSVP by Friday, April 24th to srvrwf.lunch@gmail.com. For more information, visit www.srvrwf.org.

Page 6 - April 2015 ~ Danville Today News

Mission to Mars Luncheon Program

Come to the American Association of University Women (AAUW) Danville-Alamo-Walnut Creek Branch’s luncheon and program to learn about the exploration and potential habitation of Mars on Saturday, April 25 at Crow Canyon Country Club, 711 Silver Lake Dr., Danville starting at 11am.

Guest speakers; Jan Millsapps, Ph.D., Mars One astronaut candidate finalist, and Beth Rogozinki; will discuss and show excerpts from their transmedia documentary, Madame Mars. This production traces the long and arduous path women have taken in their efforts to explore Mars and worlds beyond. The filmmaker’s vision is to inspire young women and girls to pursue careers and opportunities in the space sciences. This presentation will be of interest to those who want to establish gender equity in space exploration, those who support STEM education for girls, and those who are fascinated by recent developments that have advanced knowledge of Mars and potential habitation.

The cost of $31 includes lunch and program ($32.25 if paying using PayPal).

Sign up at http://daw-ca.aauw.net/madamemars or mail a check to DanvilleAlamo-Walnut Creek AAUW P.O. Box 996, Alamo, CA 94507. Please include the name(s), phone number, email address, and number attending.

Seating is limited, so please register by April 18th.

Blue Star Moms

Blue Star Moms is a nonprofit group which conducts service and supports families with sons/daughters in the military. The group’s mission is to support active military, veterans, and families who have wounded or lost sons or daughters while serving (Gold Star families).

Blue Star Moms hold monthly meetings on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 6:30PM at the Danville Veteran’s Memorial Bldg, 400 Hartz Ave in Danville.

A community drop off (drop zones) for care package will be held on April 11 from 10AM -3PM at Walmart located at 4501 Rosewood Drive in Pleasanton and on May 2 from 10AM -3PM at Safeway located at 2505 San Ramon Valley Blvd. in San Ramon.

More information is available by visiting www.bluestarmoms.org.

An Interview with the Mayor

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Primavera: 38th Annual ADAS Art Festival Benefits SRVUSD Art Programs By Jody Morgan

Primavera, poised to transform the main rotunda at Blackhawk Plaza into a multi-media art gallery on Saturday, May 2nd and Sunday, May 3rd, promotes the work of current local artists while promising support and inspiration to the next generation. Alamo Danville Artists Society (ADAS) proudly presents their 38th Annual Art Show and Wine Stroll. Proceeds from wine bracelets and commissions on art sold benefit the San Ramon Valley Unified School District’s art programs.

One of the oldest annual art festivals in the area, Primavera offers professionally judged ribbons and monetary prizes as well as an incomparable venue for showcasing and selling their work to entice the best of Bay Area artists to participate. Some 70 artists will be exhibiting up to 160 paintings in oil, acrylic, pastel and watercolor with photography, mixed media, sculpture, ceramic and glass pieces which will add to the excitement.

David Savellano, a native Californian residing in the Bay Area, is judging 2015 entries. Largely self-taught as a watercolorist who favors painting “en plein air” (aka outdoors), Savellano credits his 30 years experience as a practicing architect with giving him the drawing skills and keen sense of perspective that have molded him into a professional painter and teacher. His specialty is capturing the spontaneity of fleeting moments – the dramatic onset of a storm or the atmosphere of an instant in a particular place and time.

At the periphery of the visual display, wineries from the Livermore and Napa Valleys add a tasteful compliment to the experience. The show is open Saturday 10am- 6pm and Sunday 11am- 5pm. Wine tasting is available both days from 1-4pm with a $10 donation. The Artists’ Reception in the Blackhawk Plaza Rotunda on May 2nd from 4-6pm is open to the public. Blackhawk Plaza is located at the intersection of Camino Tassajara and Crow Canyon Road in Danville.

Visit the ADAS website at www.adas4art.org for more information and to view the call for artists and volunteers. For additional inquiries, email meganparkshaller@gmail.com or call Megan at 925-426-9295. All entry applications must be received by April 18th.

By Hailee Schreiner

The interview started when I got to the mayors office. A nice gentleman that worked there greeted me in and took me to the back of the office where the mayor was waiting for me. When I went into the room, I was amazed at what I saw. There was one big chalkboard with writing on it and white paint on the walls. I also saw a large table that had many chairs with the mayor sitting in one. I thought to myself that this would be a nice quiet comfortable room to ask questions in.

When I sat down the mayor introduced himself to me, and I introduced myself to him. That is when I started asking him questions. My favorite question that I asked him was, “What are the best parts about being a mayor?” He said that one of the best parts about being a mayor is caring for other people. His response reminds me of when I care for my friends when they feel bullied and also help people in different ways and never give up on them. When I finished asking the mayor all the questions I had I asked him to check my notes. After that I went home and checked over my sentences and added a few more details for my notes.

I thought my interview with the mayor was fun and exciting. I learned that being the mayor takes a lot of responsibility and effort. One thing I look forward to doing is helping and caring for the comDanville Mayor Mike Doyle talks with student Hailee Schreiner . munity and learning how to keep the community clean.

Editor’s Note: Mayor Mike Doyle also turned the tables and asked Hailee what her favorite subject was. Hailee replied, “History!” The Mayor also expressed his interest and concern for the senior citizens and veterans of Danville and the surrounding area. He spoke of his pride in the Senior Citizen/Veterans center downtown and all the activities and resources it If you find him and your name is drawn! provided. He told Hailee of how he came to Danville 65 years ago when the population of the town was only 900 people. He noted that back then there was a military depot in Pleasanton. Mayor Doyle mentioned his hisHe has become lost in this paper!

He is very small, so you will have to look hard if you want to find him. tory of service in the military which led him to be a private investigator, To be eligible send a letter telling us where you found him, helping the police find people of interest. His career as a private investialong with your name and address, to: gator, took him on travels all around the world. Hailee and Mayor Doyle Lost Dog! ~ Danville Today News discussed how he still walks 5-10 miles per day with local citizens on the 3000F Danville Blvd #117 • Alamo, CA 94507 town trails. The mayor gave Hailee a town pin which she was proud to receive. Hats off to Mayor Doyle for taking such an interest in current citizens and future leaders!

Lost Dog!

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Jessica Rodriguez is our winner!

editor@yourmonthlypaper.com

Danville Today News ~ April 2015 - Page 7

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San Ramon Valley Christian Academy By Jamie Westgate, Principal

2395 Monument Blvd., Suite J Concord (925) 680-4433 (Across from Costco Gas Station, next to Harvest House)

BRW Presents Roseann Slonsky-Breault

The Blackhawk Republican Women (BRW) present Roseann SlonskyBreault, president of the California Federation of Republican Women (CFRW), This time of year, I meet a number of prospective speaking on “What We Need to Do to Win Back the White House in 2016!” parents who are investigating the next steps in their The talk will be held Thursday, April 9th at the child’s education. Whether their son or daughter is Blackhawk Country Club, Grille Room in Blackhawk, enrolling in kindergarten or in the tumultuous years of and everyone is welcome. Check-in and Hors d’oeuvres Jr. High, I repeatedly am asked, “What sets SRVCA begin at 5:30pm followed by the meeting and speaker at apart?”

6:15pm. The cost is $25.

This year, a wise friend reminded me that a parent Roseann Slonsky-Breault has held numerous posiwill always be the greatest influence in a child’s life, tions in CFRW, including that of Northern Division but they were never intended to be the ONLY influence. Children deserve to President prior to her current position. Membership in have a team of supporters who help not only with academics but also with CFRW increased under her leadership as CFRW Memcharacter development, emotional development, and spiritual discipleship. bership Promotion Chair in 2010 for the first time since 2004. She has been a At SRVCA, our students have been assigned teachers who care just as much delegate to the National Federation of Republican Women Convention since about the heart of a child as they do about the work they can produce. Our 2007 and was elected to the NFRW 2013 Nominating Committee, an elected teachers spend time praying for their students, cheering them on during their member of the Alameda County Republican Party Central Committee since mile run in P.E., and doing all the silly motions to songs during our singing 2006, and has been an appointed CFRW delegate since 2007. She was Chair in chapel. They are caught sitting on carpets reading stories or directing skits of the Alameda County Republican Party in 2011. where kids become historical people of the past. Many come to our Jr. High Roseann’s contagious enthusiasm and boundless energy are sure to inspire basketball or volleyball teams and cheer on players by name. Every child at as she informs attendees on how they can lead their party to victory in 2016! our school belongs to us just like extended family members. When students Please make your reservations with a check made payable to “Blackhawk succeed, we celebrate! When they have hard lessons to learn, we help navigate Republican Women,” as well as any cancellations, by noon on Tuesday, the disappointment. Our job as Christian educators is to equip the children for April 7th, with Marilyn Bradley, 116 Sedgefield Ct., San Ramon 94583, the good purposes God has planned for each student. This often means we have marebradley@aol.com, or 925-828-2360. to keep kids accountable by enforcing rules. With an undertone of God’s grace, we shepherd the hearts of our students, knowing it is out of the heart that character is developed.

Our grade level teachers are required to have earned a state teaching credential as well as a teaching certificate from ACSI (Association of Christian Schools International), so they are well trained for the job. A strong academic foundation is needed in order for each child to be prepared for the very best plans in his/her future. We hire teachers who care deeply about a rigorous program as well as one where character development is emphasized. Small class sizes help us to reach our overall goals to prepare students spiritually, academically, socially, and physically in an effort to prepare them for God’s purposes.

The same wise friend also reminded me that identity is always formed in relationships. I’m grateful for the intentional efforts our staff members and parents give to build up the whole child, preparing him or her for a lifetime of God’s joy, peace, and love. If you are interested in a tour of our school or learning more about our program, don’t hesitate to inquire by calling (925) 838-9622. We are open for enrollment in grades K-4 next year.

www.yourmonthlypaper.com

Page 8 - April 2015 ~ Danville Today News

Monte Vista High School

By Janet Terranova, Principal

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Stone Valley Middle School

By Jenise Falk, Interim Principal

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”~ Nelson Mandela Alamo/Danville Today I am delighted to serve as the interim principal at Stone Valley Middle School. I have been on the administrative team for SRVUSD for over 16 years and have loved teaching and serving as an Assistant Principal at the middle school level.

We are in full swing with spring activities both inside the classroom and out!

Curriculum and Instruction

As I tour classrooms, I am so impressed with the level of commitment to teaching and the relationships that teachers have built with students. Together, with student buy in and parent support, essential learning is happening each and every day.

During our Staff Development on March 13, all middle school teachers met at DVMS and shared Common Core best practices, lesson, and strategies that they have developed over the year. It was an energizing and collaborative time as they shared with members of their same departments.

In our math classes, students engaged in real-world problem solving. Teachers have incorporated the eight mathematical practices essential to the Common Core. The practices are 1) Make sense of problems and preserve in solving them; 2) Reason abstractly and quantitatively; 3) Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others; 4) Model with math; 5) Use appropriate tools strategically; 6) Attend to precision; 7) Look for and make use of structure; and 8) Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning. The department hosted a successful Family Math Night where families rotated through a variety of stations, activities built around the eight Mathematical Practices.

Teachers, students, and our tech department are preparing for our CAASPP testing (California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress) which will be held April 20-May 15. All students will be tested on Common Core Standards in ELA and math using computers. Eighth grade students will also take a science assessment.

Character Education

Stone Valley students raised over $6,600 for the Pledge to Humanity!

This organization provides meals to the hungry for $.25/meal. That is over 26,000 meals that will be packaged and served to local and international needy families. All students will experience the packaging of the meals during an all-day session in our gym. We have a wonderful group of parent volunteers who have assisted this effort. Thank you to all for supporting this very worthy cause. For more information, go to www.generationalive.org.

Our leadership students have been busy under the direction of teacher Mrs. Linda Draper. Our students work tirelessly to create a community of caring and build pride in our school. Students have served meals at Glide Memorial Church in San Francisco, sponsored spirit days including the entire school, planned dances, and contributed segments on our SVTV regarding world events.

We are excited for the new and wonderful changes that will be happening at Stone Valley during the next few years. In future news articles, I will give an update on ELA Common Core, the selection of the new principal, and also a construction timeline for our new school. It’s going to be extraordinary!

Have a great month!

Spring break is quickly approaching, and our students and campus definitely know that spring is in the air. Our trees are blooming and students are pulling out their flip flops, but the important work of learning continues in high gear.

Our ninth and tenth graders just completed the Mock CAHSEE and the state mandated CAHSEE (California High School Exit Exam). These scores will be available in May. Our 11th grade students are preparing to take the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP).

This is a new state mandated test that students take on the computer. The state conducted a practice test last year, and this year we will complete the English and mathematics tests totally online. This is a new experience for our students, and we are anxious to see how are students perform on this new test format. The CAASPP is intended to provide parents and students with more accurate information about what students are learning based on our new California State Common Core Standards. If you would like to learn more about the test, this website www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/ca can give you some valuable information and insights.

Last week I had the pleasure of attending the Area Band Festival which includes bands from feeder elementary and middle schools and our own Monte Vista band. It was a treat to listen to our talented students. The students spent the day at Monte Vista practicing, for the first time joining other bands for their evening presentation. To listen to the progression of skill from fifth grade bands to the high school was amazing. The events ended with all bands playing America the Beautiful.

Evenings such as this could not occur without the support of the talented and enthusiastic band teachers and the dozens of parents who helped make the evening a success. Thank you to all who participated--it was a wonderful evening.

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

editor@yourmonthlypaper.com

Del Amigo High School

By Joseph A. Ianora, Principal

We are in our 4 and final quarter – it is a sprint to the finish! We have had a very busy March and thankfully will roll into April by having Spring Break. I am sure this much needed break (for both students and staff) will help refresh and rejuvenate everyone for the final 9 weeks/45 days/1080 hours…but who is counting…? th

Past Activities:

Food Bank - We took another trip to the Contra Costa Food Bank to put together food baskets. Although their shift was only two hours, the students decided to stay additional time to finish the project they were assigned to. The Food Bank and our staff were impressed with the attitude and dedication of our students.

Pi Day – We celebrated Pi Day early because of our schedule. Students did Pi related activities in all classes and celebrated at the end of the day with either a slice of (pizza) pie or a slice of (fruit) pie Volunteer Chefs – Our parent volunteer who comes and cooks breakfast twice a week for the students returned to us after a two month break. We are thrilled to have her back…and the students are very happy as well! We were lucky enough to have a second guest chef, Mrs. Peters, who not only donated food but also cooked omelets for the students. If you are interested in helping with breakfast, let me know.

Basketball – Del Amigo basketball is back! We competed in our first round robin tournament in Martinez and hope to enter another one scheduled for late April.

DVC Culinary Arts – Five students went to DVC to participate with seven other schools in an all-day culinary program. This included master chefs from some of our local restaurants as well as instructors from DVC.

Current Activities:

Bike Program – We are working with Danville PD, our Rotary Clubs, and Shelter Inc. to refurbish bikes that have been abandon in Danville. Our auto program fixes the bikes and donates them to Shelter Inc. This has helped strengthen our relationships with the PD and Rotary.

Honor roll – Each quarter we celebrate the achievement of our students as they excel in the area of grades and credits earned. This quarter we had 17 students (out of 56) who made the honor roll due to grades above a 3.3, and 18 students earned more than 20 credits during the quarter.

Testing – We are starting our CAASSP testing (new STAR) mid-April. CAHSEE make-ups are complete as well as EAP testing.

Thank you for your continued support of our academic institution.

Montair Elementary Student Heading to California State Geo Bee

Congratulations to Montair Elementary School fifth grader Katie Guo who is heading to the California State Geographic Bee! “Learning geography is fun,” says Katie.

About 100 competitors in grades four through eight will gather at the California State University Fresno on Friday, March 27th for the state-level competition. Each state and U.S. territory will send its winner to the national competition in May at National Geographic Society headquarters in Washington, D.C.

College Essay Scholarship Competition

The Exchange Club of San Ramon Valley (www.SRVExchangeClub.org) is hosting its annual college essay scholarship competition. College scholarships will be awarded to the top three winners. High school students will have an opportunity to hear and interact with outstanding speakers as they discuss this year’s essay topic: “The U.S. Constitution - First Amendment – Do you believe First Amendment Rights are absolute? Under what circumstances, if any, should First Amendment rights be limited? Which of the five freedoms listed in the First Amendment do you believe is the most important and why?”

All students in grades 9-12 are eligible to write an essay after watching a taped video of last month’s speakers presentation. Essays are due on Friday, April 17th. Please contact Donna Kerger at dkerger1@aol.com or (925) 8389272 with any questions.

Danville Today News ~ April 2015 - Page 9

St. Isidore School

By Maria Ward, Principal St. Isidore Loves Spring!

April brings the most important season in the Catholic faith, Easter. This month begins with the reenactment of the Living Stations of the Cross.

The sixth grade and third grade students reenact this important journey of Christ’s passion. Third grade students live out the station while sixth grade students proclaim what happened at each Station of the Cross. This is one of the St. Isidore traditions that truly expresses our faith as Catholics. Both grades work diligently practicing for this beautiful event. The entire school body spends the day going to each station, walking the steps as our Lord did so many years ago. We invite the priests, parents, parishioners, and local community to join us. The Living Stations of the Cross begin at 10:30AM on Wednesday, April 1st. Please join us!

We congratulate the eighth grade students who applied to De La Salle and Carondelet High Schools. They were all accepted and are looking forward to their next educational venture. Some students choose the incredible public high schools to start their high school experience as well. It is rewarding to see our graduates leave to attend different high schools while staying connected to St. Isidore. Students continue to build on the strong foundation they are given here and excel in their high school careers.

We continue to reflect on our WCEA visit last month. The visiting team found that St. Isidore School was “highly effective” in the 12 accreditation categories of the report. They also shared the following with us: “It is evident that the administration and Staff and students along with their families value the education provided…We were especially impressed with the collaboration between grade level teams and the cooperation between lower and upper school teachers in different subject areas. We were so impressed with the many specialty teachers and their expertise…As a visiting committee, we feel privileged to have witnessed the dedication and commitment of the St. Isidore School community. Our experience here has been a fulfilling one. We have been inspired by the many examples of Catholic school excellence and the high standards and expectations for improved student learning.”

As much as we love our students, we are looking forward to having an Easter Break! Teachers are encouraged to take this time for themselves and their families.

There are no long-term assignments during this time because it is crucial to have family time to reconnect. According to Dr. Pope, PHD from Challenge Success shares, “We need to slow down and remember our real priorities for our children.

To do this she used the acronym of “PDF” everyday P= playtime (unstructured), D= Downtime (doing nothing) and F= Family time (family dinners five nights/ week for a minimum of 25 minutes).” As a Catholic school, we also incorporate prayer time and going to mass together as a family.

St. Isidore School is a wonderful place with a fabulous community. Each day we recognize how blessed we are to be a part of it. April is the registration deadline for current and new students. We welcome you to come be part of St. Isidore School.

Please call our school office to schedule a personal tour to see our amazing campus.

Charlotte Wood Middle School

By Christopher George, Principal

It's been a very busy spring for us so far with lots of great activities and action at Charlotte Wood! We are very proud right now to be advancing through the nomination process for the state’s Golden Ribbon award, which is akin to the California Distinguished Schools Awards of years past. We know that these awards don't come easy, and most importantly they don’t come without the support of our amazing teaching staff, our supportive parent community, and the hard working kids we get to work with every day. We will certainly let you know the final result, but for now, we are just honored to be nominated!

We are looking forward to next year, and, thanks to our hardworking PTA and Charger Fund, we are looking at ways of making registration even more convenient.

We will update you on that as well as the other changes coming for next year.

As always, we continue to work on ways to enhance teaching and learning, and we are currently discussing the necessity of better grading practices in a Culture of Learning. As always, we welcome your comments, feedback, and questions. Have a great spring!

Page 10 - April 2015 ~ Danville Today News

You Decide...

By Alison Watson, San Ramon Valley High, Senior

www.yourmonthlypaper.com

Is technology friend or foe? Is humanity progressing or regressing? These are questions for you to consider. On one hand, in many ways technology makes our lives easier. We no longer need to memorize the spelling of words when spell check can correct our errors.

There is no longer a need to practice cursive when a computer can produce the font of your choice at the tap of a button. Research is only a Google click away from an answer, fact, or quote needed. Routine, rote tasks are handled with ease by technology, freeing up our minds to think of deeper thoughts, solve bigger problems, and wrestle with key questions such as “Who are we?,” “Where are we going?,” and “What do we want to be as a society when we grow up?” These are all good questions, all worthwhile aspirations, and all helped by the support of technology -- but at what cost?

We feed into technology and the media, very rarely experiencing genuine human interaction. We’ve replaced bedtime stories to the kids of the 21st century with iPad’s version of Angry Birds. We no longer feel a pull to go outside and enjoy the sunlight and fresh air.

The 2015 version of a kite might as well be thought of as a “selfie stick,” because those have more value in our current society. Our reasoning has become so jaded that there seems to be less merit in spelling bees because everything has spell check now. Grammar is no longer drilled into the minds of our youth because at the tap of a button a computer can do all of that for you. Our screens are growing bigger and have snuck their way into almost every room in our houses. We are allowing ourselves to indulge in a lifestyle that values shortcuts and convenience. If we don’t do something, if we aren’t careful with what we deem progress, we might end up with the desolate world portrayed in Disney’s Wall-E. I can’t speak for anyone but myself, but that’s not a society I want to pass down nor the quality of life I want to limit the future to having.

How do we use the benefits of the free time we have been given (by not learning by rote) and keep the human value of pursuing knowledge? Technology has helped us have a deeper understanding of things. Airplanes in flight can identify potential turbulence and avoid challenging weather patterns, and weathermen can (mostly) tell us whether to wear shorts or bring an umbrella.

Does this also come at a cost?

Technological advances not only lead to a lack of pursuing basic knowledge and true interaction, but they also challenge the strain we place on our atmosphere. It’s 2015 and it seems that there is no time for spring, no time to ease ourselves into the idea of enduring the blistering summer heat. It’s as if the weather has caught on to the societal belief that life may not necessarily be fair or just or even timely. The weather pattern may be caused by numerous factors including the endless contributions mankind has made to polluting our own habitat. Yet even with that rationale, it’s hard not to see this as ironic.

The light switch seasonal transitions and California’s drought seem to serve as a reminder to us of the results that will continue if we don’t change our destructive habits. Global Warming is a controversial topic that many people dispute the cause and even the very existence of. It forces those brave enough to stand up to their friends, their neighbors, their family, and their peers to demand that we change our careless ways of living.

Regardless of your beliefs on the matter, I believe we all share one common goal: We all want a life worth living for and we all want something worth fighting for. So don’t be too quick to turn up your noses at those who only want to see that our home (Earth), is around for centuries more to come. We want to leave in our wake a thriving society which can be passed down to the generations to come. Mankind is the interconnected infrastructure that makes up society. Our individual actions are like a teeter-totter as they effect everyone. The belief that your individual actions won’t make an impact is dangerous because thousands or even millions who share that misleading belief, cause more damage to the world around us, thus causing fewer individuals to take responsibility for their role in this matter. It’s not just about our rising climate, it’s about the kind of quality of life we’re allowing ourselves to accept. Our glowing screens have become a ball and chain which prevent those who have never been exposed to life before technological advances from mastering basic and necessary social skills. What legacy do you want to leave for future generations to have to deal with? What kind of society are we creating? Are the lifestyle and the advances we treasure progressing society or degrading our environment and potential quality of life altogether? Have we progressed or regressed? Is technology friend or foe?

Sons in Retirement

Are you looking for things to do in your retirement? Consider joining Sons in Retirement Branch 128. We have monthly luncheons with interesting speakers and good fellowship. Join us as we celebrating our 30th anniversary with a barbecue, prizes, and entertainment provided by a local women’s quartet.

Additionally, our members have lots of fun participating in a variety of activities such as golf, tennis, bowling, bocce ball, bridge, computers, and much more. Many other activities such as travel, dine outs, excursions, baseball games and holiday parties include spouses, friends, and guests.

The next monthly luncheon will be held on Wednesday, May 20th at 11AM. The $23 fee includes barbecue luncheon, entertainment, and a great opportunity to socialize with at least 150 other retirees from the San Ramon Valley. The event will be held at the San Ramon Golf Club, 9430 Fircrest Lane in San Ramon. To reserve a space, please email the group by Thursday, May 14th at www.info@SIR128.com. For more information, visit www.SIR128.com.

editor@yourmonthlypaper.com

How I Went to France From California Without Crossing the Atlantic Ocean

By Jeremy Barcan, Alamo World Travel

Danville Today News ~ April 2015 - Page 11

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.

I have been involved with travel for over 30 years now and so far have visited 40 countries worldwide. Whenever I am asked to name the most interesting, unusual place I have ever visited, I always say FRANCE. “How is that possible?” they retort. Most travelers have been to Paris, Provence or the Cote d'Azur, so how can I possibly be referring to France as an unusual, nay exotic, place? My answer is St. Pierre & Miquelon.

How many of you have heard of it or know where it is located?

These tiny two islands are situated in North America, in the north Atlantic Ocean, barely 50 miles southwest of Newfoundland, Canada. They are part of France, use the euro as their currency, and require visitors to enter their territories with a national passport in which a French stamp is embossed upon entering and exiting St. Pierre. The 6,000 or so permanent residents of these two islands are full-fledged French citizens and speak with a mainland French accent (not to be confused with French Canadian accent, although these people live much This report is courtesy of J. Rockcliff Realtors #01763819. Not intended to solicit buyers or sellers currently under contract. Copyright © 2013 closer to Quebec than to mainland France).

To put it in a historic perspective, these islands of St. Pierre & Miquelon (both part San Ramon Valley High School of a larger archipelago) are the last vestiges of imperial France. France managed to

By Ruth Steele, Principal retain these two islands as part of the final treaty of 1763 between France and England Balance is the key to a healthy and productive life. at the end of a long war to gain control over North American colonies. More than just During our annual Building Bridges evening when we fishing outposts, the islands also served a strategic purpose as France could monitor welcomed incoming freshmen parents to SRVHS in Febnaval movements during wartime. During the years of prohibition in the US, these ruary, I realized that more than anything else, that was the islands served as a fertile smuggling point for liquor. message that I wanted to convey to parents and students.

It took me 27 years as a travel agent to discover the existence of these two islands High school needs to be a balance of work, learnafter reading an intriguing article in the New York Times travel section. The more I ing, activities, and some actual down-time for sturead, the more I was fascinated and determined to make my way over there. dents. In our fast paced world, the number of things I liked the idea of going to France without having to cross the Atlantic Ocean. that families have to juggle is compounded by the Little did I know that getting to St. Pierre & Miquelon was not going to be an easy task. persistence of instant communication which seems to constantly reinforce For starters, due to the harsh weather in these high northern latitudes, the tourism the fact that there is always something else that we need to remember to do! season is limited to eight weeks a year, between early July and late August. During This spring we have a huge variety of events happening at SRVHS. In April, this period, St. Pierre Airlines operates daily flights to St. Pierre. And a passenger-only SRVHS has a musical (The Adams Family) which involves students from choral ferry connects with the town of Fortune, Newfoundland with St. Pierre, with regular music, instrumental music, dance, and the theater departments. Our robotics service from April to November or December. The same ferry operates year-round team just returned from their state-wide competition where they placed fifth – a fantastic achievement. The student recognition project, which has also recently between St. Pierre, Langlade and Miquelon.

Since I was coming all the way from California, I chose to explore Canada's mari- concluded, showcased students from all of our elective programs – fine arts, time provinces, sandwiching St. Pierre and Miquelon between the incomparable Nova photography, culinary arts, digital design, video production, and dance – and Scotia and St. John's Newfoundland, a fascinating place in itself which also boasts many students won awards and recognition for their talent. We also have the the easternmost point in North America, where Europe is closer to the East Coast close of winter sports and the start of spring sports with standout performances of America than the West Coast is. Based on my own experience, I would strongly from our Mens Varsity Soccer team and our Mens Varsity Basketball team.

This is the point in the year where everyone starts getting really tired. recommend combining a visit to St. Pierre & Miquelon with a visit to the Canadian Teachers, students, staff, and parents having been working non-stop since provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland.

Plan on 10 to 14 days to accomplish a successful visit of all the above-mentioned places. the start of the year, and this is a long time without a substantial break to recuperate. Spring Break helps give everyone some time to recover before the In the four July days I spent in this remote place, I experienced every type of imaglast two months of school, but the pace of juggling everything takes its toll. inable weather, from serene, sunny and warm to very cool, cloudy, rainy and stormy.

My point in focusing on this issue, is to try and remind everyone to take It is hard to describe the pristine beauty of this place. It is probably the last place in our a breath and look at where some balance can be re-established. When we hemisphere that has not been “Disneyfied” and commercialized. There are only a few complete the Stanford Survey for Challenge Success and work with Stanrestaurants catering to tourists but the food they provide is authentic French cuisine, ford in the Fall as a team of staff, students and parents, we will be working reasonably priced, with, naturally, a strong emphasis on seafood. You will never taste on ways that reduce student stress. But the focus of that program is to help better lobster or crab. whole families, not just the students, to take a step back and try to reduce the I stayed at the most cozy and comfortable bed & breakfast I have ever visited called number of conflicting priorities.

“Nuits St. Pierre” where each morning a French chef prepares your breakfast to order, The data below (collected by Stanford from thousands of students) gives and in the afternoon French wine and cheeses are served for its guests. you an idea of where this work will focus for students.

For all you seasoned travelers who believe they have seen it all, next time you seek SLEEP: On average teens are getting 6.5 hours a night. Students need a new, unspoiled destination, remember St. Pierre & Miquelon. at least nine.

HOMEWORK: On average students complete 3 hours of homework a Let Alamo World Travel, Luxury Travel Specialists for 34 years, be your resource night, some do as much as 6-7 hours a night. for building the perfect vacation. Whether you want to tour or cruise, Ask Us, We’ve EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: On average students have 10 Been There. Stop by and visit us in Alamo Commons, 3201 Danville Blvd., Suite hours of extracurricular activities a week; some do up to 40 hour a week. #255 in Alamo or we can be reached at 925-837-8742.

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Page 12 - April 2015 ~ Danville Today News

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GoSimpleSolar, Energy Matters It’s a Small World

By Mark Becker, GoSimpleSolar

Danville Today News ~ April 2015 - Page 13

Natuzzi Italian Leather Furniture Now on SALE!

I recently had the pleasure to be contracted to install a ground mounted solar PV system for a fellow veteran. Naturally, we exchanged military experiences. He was a Navy surgeon and retired as Beautiful Quality Premium Italian Top Grain Leather an Admiral. I was a Marine attack helicopter pilot. During the First Gulf War, the most rewarding task assigned to my attack squadron was to fly armed protection for medevac helicopters as they performed In stock ready casualty evacuations. After one such night escort mission at a remote to take home or field hospital, I distinctly remember a tough-as-nails Marine Master special order!

Gunnery Sergeant who had been driven to tears as he related how Allied fighter-bombers con$ fused his self-propelled 8-inch gun platoon for Iraqi tanks and attacked them. Deployment of *Starting at 1695.00 their surface-to-air Stinger missiles to shoot down the “friendly” Allied airplanes was the only way the “Master Gunny” could protect his Marines from the repeated cluster bomb attacks. www.rickspicks.biz Fortunately, the Allied fighter-bombers realized their mistake and called off the strike, but only Danville • 375 Hartz Ave • 925.837.DEAL (3325) after causing numerous casualties. After donning night vision goggles, our flight of two “snakes” Pleasanton • 719 Main St • 925.426.SAVE (7283) and two “frogs” scrambled to respond to the medevac call. We had difficulty locating the selfpropelled gun platoon; they had changed position to seek care for their wounded. Running low on fuel, we found the unit as we returned towards base. The wounded Marines were loaded onboard the medevacs and delivered to the field hospital where the surgeon (future customer) was stationed. He may have tended to these same casualties. It’s indeed a small world.

PGE Alert: If you are on a PGE residential or business “Time of Use” (TOU) rate, beware. On May 1st, PGE “Peak” rates go into effect. This is the first summer that all businesses have been forced into TOU rates. Higher cost electricity theoretically de-incentivizes greater electric usage. Peak rates for businesses go into effect from 1pm to 7pm, and for residential customers from 12pm to 6pm. For residential and business solar customers, bill credits generated by solar energy exports (electricity back to the grid by solar) during more expensive peak hours increases the annual savings that solar already provides. PGE is mandated to credit solar customers the COST of the kilowatt at the time it’s exported to the grid. PGE will then sell it to neighboring homes or businesses. It’s almost always less expensive to generate your own energy via solar than to repeatedly pay electric bills to PGE which generate zero financial return.

There are hundreds of thousands of combat veterans that have experienced emotional and/or physical trauma yet “soldier on” to live successful and rewarding lives. We’re proud to have multiple veteran customers and especially proud to have a veteran employee who is still serving. All veterans deserve our nation’s support and respect. By nature, they won’t ask nor extend their open hand.

The solar industry is one of our nation’s fastest growing job sectors, now it has been coupled with a motivated work force as part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s “Sunshot” program. At select military bases, veterans are trained upon release from active duty for careers in solar PV sales, installations, inspections, and maintenance. Employment of our veterans whose military jobs skills are not typically transferable to the civilian work force is a shared public and private obligation. If you provide opportunity, our veterans will succeed.

The US Military is the world’s largest purchaser of renewable energy, in particular, solar energy systems and biofuels. SunPower Corporation, a Silicon Valley based solar manufacturer of high efficiency solar PV panels, supplies many solar panels to the US Military. We’re proud to have recently become an authorized SunPower dealer. We’re also proud to continue to offer SolarWorld USA products, America’s largest manufacturer of solar PV panels.

If you would like GoSimpleSolar to demonstrate how a solar PV system can save you money for your home or business, please visit our showroom at 115 West Linda Mesa Avenue, Danville. You can also submit a quote request via www.GoSimpleSolar.com/getquote. Please ask us about our veteran’s and public service discounts.

Mark Becker is the President and business owner of GoSimpleSolar, by Semper Fidelis Construction Inc. CSLB 948715. GoSimpleSolar is one of the very few (and proud) solar PV installers utilizing both licensed roofers and licensed electricians for installation work, project managed by a solar PV NABCEP professional. For questions or comments email Mark@GoSimpleSolar.com. Advertorial

For the experience you demand For the you deserve! demand and theexperience service you and the service you deserve!

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Role Players Ensemble Presents Of Mice and Men

The Role Players Ensemble will be presenting John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men from April 17 through May 3 at the Village Theatre, located at 233 Front Street in Danville. Shows will be held on Friday and Saturday evenings at 8PM and on Sundays at 2PM. George and Lennie are two drifters who look out for each other. They dream of a day when they can have a “little place of their own,” but for the present they are bouncing from ranch to ranch, just trying to get by...with trouble always just a step behind. When trouble finally catches up with them, dire circumstances demand dire actions.

Tickets and information are available online at www. (L-R) Khary Moye as George RolePlayersEnsemble.com, at Danville Community Cen- & ShawnJ West as Lennie. ter, 420 Front St, Danville, or by calling (925) 314-3400. Photo by John Carter.

There will be a Sneak Peek at the Danville Library, 400 Front Street, on Thursday, April 9 at 7PM. Admission is free for this entertaining look at the production process with the show’s director, actors, and designers.

Page 14 - April 2015 ~ Danville Today News

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Danville Today News ~ April 2015 - Page 15

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Page 16 - April 2015 ~ Danville Today News

Tree of the Season

By Blaine Brende & Joe Lamb Japanese Maples

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

Careful study of their form, in any season, can call the viewer back to the natural world. In winter, the falling leaves raise the curtain on the form of the trunks and put the dance on center stage.

Winter rain intensifies the show by adding a sensuality to the movement of stem and bough, one that beckons to even the unpracticed eye. In spring, certain varieties of Japanese maples send out new leaves so bright a green they appear lit from within. In summer, upright cultivars that are well pruned have spaces between the branches, giving the canopy the appearance of being composed of many floating islands. And in fall, Japanese maples mark the change of season by turning colors ranging from yellow to scarlet, depending on the variety of maple; there are many varieties.

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

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

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

Pruning, besides benefiting the mental health of the pruner, can enhance the grace of the plant. If your pruner is an artist, removing deadwood and teasing apart the plant’s natural layering opens little windows that reveal and accentuate the tree’s natural form. A well-pruned tree looks as if it hasn’t been pruned. Paradoxically, it looks more natural after pruning than before. Though it is sometimes necessary to lower the crown of a maple, as when it is beginning to block a treasured view, lowering should be done only when necessary, and the lowering should not be so drastic as to involve topping cuts (see the article on topping). Lowering a maple to gain a view is not something that you can do just once. Pruning down the crown stimulates new growth, and maintaining the view or the size reduction, will require yearly pruning. No matter how good the artist, you can’t make a topped maple look as good as a natural tree. Much pruning, and therefore expense, can be avoided by planting the right variety in the right place.

When planting a new tree, plant a cultivar that won’t exceed the desired height when it matures. This is almost always preferable to containing a variety that will grow beyond the desired size.

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

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

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Life in the Danville Garden

Water-Wise Design

By John Montgomery,ASLA, LandscapeArchitect

Danville Today News ~ April 2015 - Page 17

It’s pretty clear now that we have a drought! It doesn’t look like we are going to be saved by late spring El Nino rains. EBMUD is asking you to cut back your water use even further from 10% in 2014 to 15% in 2015 because of the continued lack of rain. If needed, EBMUD is prepared to purchase Sacramento River water from their contract with the federal government to supplement our regular water supplies from the Mokelumne River.

California has implemented emergency water conservation restrictions as follows.

1. Limit watering of outdoor landscapes to two times per week maximum, and prevent excess runoff.

2. Use only hoses with shutoff nozzles to wash vehicles.

3. Use a broom or blower, not water, to clean hard surfaces.

4. Turn off any fountain or decorative water feature unless the water is recirculated.

Over the years I have implemented into my practice water-wise landscape design. I am a fifth generation native Californian and have been designing landscapes for over 35 years here. Living in and out of drought conditions I have Call for details learned to stay the course of good water-wise landscape design. As residents of Danville, it is vital to ALWAYS conserve water as a habit. It seems we should 925.939.8300 know better by now, but we get fooled from season to season when we experisolartechnologies.com ence many years of El Nino. With global warming concerns, it is time to get Lic. #932914 smart and stay smart. While the current restrictions don’t seem that drastic, here are seven practices I always implement into my designs which you can implement into your new or existing landscape no matter what the forecast might be.

One: Start with your soil. Thriving soil with good organics is the foundation of a water conserving landscape. How much water you need to keep your landscape alive is directly equivalent to the amount of compost in your soil.

Compost increases permeability and capacity to hold water, thus reducing the amount needed for irrigation and thus lowering your watering bills.

Two: Use Plants and Landscapes for Summer-dry Climates of the SF Bay Region (EBMUD book); these types of plants have adapted to summer dry conditions and once established can survive dry summers with little or no water. There is an old gardener’s adage: “right plant – right place.”Appropriately designed planting requires less watering, pruning, fertilizing, and spraying, thus lowering operating costs and use of resources. Minimize your lawn area. One thousand sq. ft. of turf can save about 10,000 gallons of water per dry season. If you absolutely need a lawn, minimize the size and place them where they will be used for relaxation and play, or consider artificial turf.

Three: Cluster your plantings by water needs. This method is known as hydrozoning. In a hot sunny location group sun-loving, low water use plants, and then design the irrigation system to water that cluster of plants. The same goes for shade areas. Hydro-zoning can more easily match plant requirements, thus saving water.

Hydro-zoning allows you to separate your irrigation valves so each zone can be managed more accurately. This method can save you an unbelievable amount of water!

Four: Design and install high efficiency irrigation systems. Use bubbler and in-line drip irrigation where possible so that water can be applied directly to the root zone. Minimize spray irrigation where possible. Use the newest irrigation technology; MPR (matched precipitation rates) sprinkler heads, bubbler, drip, micro-sprays, and in-line drip; and upgrade to a new controller. There are many choices that offer high technology that uses historical weather data, solar and moisture sensors, and rain sensors. Some can even detect problems like a broken sprinkler head. I installed a “Water Smart” controller last summer and have been able to save 20%. With new technology I believe you could easily save 25-50% of the water you use for your landscape now!

Five: Manage your landscape water use: know your landscape watering needs and how much water is being applied. Adjust your controller often as weather conditions change. Install a new “Water Smart” controller. Set your controller to water early in the morning when evaporation rates are low and wind is calm. Water deep and less often; this will allow water to get into the root zones. Avoid overwatering and run-off. Most people overwater! Good water management saves thousands of gallons!

Six: Mulch! Mulch reduces water loss and prevents weed growth. Mulch often! Regularly mulch around your trees, shrubs, and ground covers and cultivate your soil regularly to allow water to penetrate more easily.

Seven: Make saving water important to you! Every drip counts! Get involved in your garden. Use licensed landscape professionals to assist you in water-wise design and implementation of your garden.

A hot tip from your local Landscape Architect: Water is the new commodity! Investing in a water-wise planting and irrigation design for your new or existing garden can save you thousands of $$ over time! The savings can well exceed the cost of the design itself!

Gardening Quote of the Month: “The frog does not drink up the pond in which he lives.”

- Native American Saying If you would like me to write on any particular subject, email your ideas to jmontgomery@ Advertorial jm-la.com. For design ideas, visit www.jm-la.com.

Page 18 - April 2015 ~ Danville Today News

Clip Notes

By Jody Morgan

Aztec rulers had a tasty take on tax season. Not surprisingly, only elite members of society got to enjoy the fruits of their subjects’ labors. Although the Aztecs exacted maize and gold as tribute from most taxpayers, they demanded top-quality vanilla beans as payment from the Totonaca tribe of southeastern Mexico. The Totonacas considered vanilla a divine gift, and the Aztecs agreed.

The first European to savor the flavor was Spanish explorer Herman Cortez, who arrived in the Aztec capital in 1519. Despite his distaste for the “bitter water” beverage concocted by his hosts from cacao, vanilla, peppers, maize, and honey, Cortez brought sacks of cacao beans and vanilla pods back home where clever chefs devised recipes relished by Spanish royalty. Europeans thought vanilla could only be used in combination with chocolate until in 1602 Hugh Morgan, pastry chef and apothecary to Queen Elizabeth I, suggested Her Majesty try sweets flavored solely with vanilla. Elizabeth pronounced his vanilla confections delicious.

By 1750 wealthy Parisians were devouring vanilla ice cream year-round.

When Thomas Jefferson returned in 1789 from serving as minister to the court of Louis XVI, he requested a shipment of vanilla beans be sent to him at Monticello. Jefferson’s handwritten recipe for vanilla ice cream is among his papers archived at the Library of Congress.

Called “beans” because of their shape, the seedpods of vanilla orchids are the only edible fruit supplied by the extensive orchid family. Vanilla vines grow wild in parts of Mexico and south into Central America, but they require pollinators nonexistent elsewhere (two rare species of bees and native Mexican hummingbirds) to fruit.

Consequently, attempts to establish vanilla plantations in similar climates around the globe were unsuccessful until the mid-nineteenth century. In 1836 and 1837, two European botanists managed to manually pollinate vanilla flowers, but credit for a commercially viable method of hand-pollination goes to twelve-year-old slave, Edmond Albius, who had watched his master “marry” male and female watermelon blossoms.

In 1841, Reúnion Island planter Ferreól Bellier-Beaumont discovered a pod

Crowded Wi-Fi

By Evan Corstorphine, Portable CIO

Wi-Fi has come a long way in the last few years.

As recently as 10 years ago, wireless networking was a luxury and a bit of a novelty. When smartphones came out, it coincided with an explosion in Wi-Fi hotspots.

Today, wireless networking and the devices that use it are everywhere. We’re a little spoiled and expect to have broadband Wi-Fi access wherever we go.

Wi-Fi is really just the combination of radios with data. One of the limitations with Wi-Fi is that there are so many devices vying for a connection that the radio frequencies are becoming crowded. A simple analogy would be one of the old-fashioned party lines for telephones. Many people may be connected on the line, but only one person can talk at a time, or nobody can clearly hear what is being said. Wi-Fi protocols work the same way, and the more people who need to speak, the longer it will take to get your message across while everyone takes their turn. Does this make sense?

Wi-Fi crowding is most evident in congested urban areas. All of this is invisible to the ordinary person trying to use their computer, unless they have special tools to “see” the wireless network. Most people think it’s their equipment or their internet provider that is the problem, and a lot of time is wasted trying to “fix” something that is unfixable without new equipment.

Business parks have a lot of Wi-Fi congestion, but our most challenging WiFi clients are the sororities at UC Berkeley. They have the most intense network requirements of any of our clients -- residential or commercial. One house may have 75 young women and 200 “devices” connecting to the Wi-Fi network. And all the students stream Netflix videos at night, which uses a lot of network bandwidth per user. The worst congestion hours are from 5pm until 2am.

Many of the sorority houses originally invested in off-the-shelf Wi-Fi equipment to provide service to their high number of residents. And when Wi-Fi was less common, that was OK to address their situation. But with the number of computers, smartphones, and tablets trying to pull data over Wi-Fi now, it’s not enough. What they couldn’t know is that their neighbors would eventually crowd

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on a vanilla vine that had remained sterile for two decades. When a second pod appeared a few days later, he realized Edmond’s claim to have fertilized the flowers by using his thumb and a small stick to connect their male and female parts was not an idle boast. Edmond’s discovery made fortunes for Reúnion vanilla growers and is utilized worldwide today. Bellier-Beaumont tried in vain to get Edmund financial recognition for his achievement. Freed in 1848 along with all of the island’s slaves, Albius died a pauper.

Vanilla is one of the most labor-intensive agricultural products on the planet. Ninety percent or more of vanilla comestibles available today are synthetically flavored. While vanillin, a primary component, is easily replicated, the other 250-500 distinct compounds that account for the complex essence of natural vanilla are difficult to accurately assess. Vanilla vines can live 1,000 years, but they are vulnerable to diseases that wipe out plantations and natural disasters from typhoons and hurricanes to drought. Wild vines yield eight or nine pods, but cultivated hand-pollinated plants can produce 100-200 pods. Growers have to be careful not to exhaust plants because a heavy crop one year may mean low-yields for the next two.

Pods reach full length in two months, but they need to stay on the vine for six to eight months to reach peak flavor. Theft is a major risk during the final months, so growers try never to leave their vines unattended. The process of “killing” the beans to prevent fermentation, drying and curing takes several more months. Eighteen to 19 months after beginning to set on the vines, vanilla beans reach brokers in the US and Europe. By the time a consumer buys a bean or purchases it in an extract, it will have been handled about 25 times. Properly cured and stored, jarred vanilla beans can retain their flavor for up to 20 years.

Unlike many popular orchids, vanilla blossoms last only a day apiece.

Pale yellow or white, the ephemeral flowers are exquisitely fragrant. Plants need well-developed root systems to bloom. Even aerial roots want water.

Filtered sunlight and support comparable to that provided by trees in the wild are essential. Vines occasionally generate self-fertile mutant flowers, but manual pollination is the only certain means of obtaining fruit.

For in-depth information on the history and use of vanilla, read Tim Ecott’s Vanilla: Travels in Search of the Ice Cream Orchid and Patricia Rain’s Vanilla: The Cultural History of the World’s Favorite Flavor and Fragrance. them out as well. There are so many people using so many different wireless networks in their densely packed urban environment that their Wi-Fi signals have effectively been jammed. Everyone is affected.

To analyze networks you need the right tools. We use a special tool called a spectrum analyzer, and we use it to perform extremely accurate Wi-Fi site surveys. We observe how many networks are in a given area, how strong the network signals are, and what types of interference is affecting them. We have found in business parks and the aforementioned congested urban areas, standard Wi-Fi equipment cannot cut through the congestion and newer dual-band equipment is required. Even suburban neighborhoods in our area exhibit this congestion, as our neighbors all add Wi-Fi hotspots and Comcast installs more of their “Xfinity” access spots.

In addition to network congestion,Wi-Fi radios aren’t able to penetrate walls very easily and use a protocol that will momentarily stop transmitting if it senses someone else trying to use the same channel. If you and your computer are conversing with the Internet, and someone else is doing the same thing on the same frequencies on another Wi-Fi access point next door, your speed was just effectively cut in half while you share that radio space. When you get too many people trying to share a limited radio space, the speed decreases dramatically. In these cases, you may try connecting your device instead with a network cable and see if that improves things. A wire connecting you to your network is always going to be more reliable than using Wi-Fi. There are many factors involved in a successful network environment, and congestion is just one aspect. There’s a lot of misinformation in the marketplace, and off-the-shelf retail solutions have significant drawbacks. If you’ve been noticing slower speeds accessing your network and the internet, it might be time to “listen” with the spectrum analyzer to seeing what is going on. Maybe it’s time for dual-band network equipment, or simply a different approach. If you need new equipment Portable CIO has partnered with Wi-Fi vendors that we know will provide reliable and robust products.

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

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Heidrun Meadery

By Linda Summers Pirkle

Forget scented candles--my son Reed’s beer making endeavors in my kitchen produce a wonderful hoppy aroma that rivals the homey smell of an apple pie baking in the oven. On a summer day, I welcome his beer making hobby because of the delicious scent from the large pot while it is brewing and for the inevitable gathering of his friends at our house. The beer at the beginning stage of being made is referred to as wort. It needs to ferment for weeks before it is ready, but I know at the beginning of the beer making process a tri-tip will be put on the grill later in the day and I will hear lots of laughing and discussion on the best home brew. I am reminded that the fun part is in the process.

The process of making mead, an ancient elixir which was the precursor to ale and wine, has been for Gordon Hull, geologist turned mead maker, full of discovery. Now a successful business, Heidrun, Hull’s company, produces mead on a 16 acre farm in beautiful Pt. Reyes. The mead is served in restaurants including Greens, Chez Panisse, and the French Laundry, and it is sold in many markets such as Whole Foods and Cowgirl Creamery.

I had no idea what to expect, but with my first taste of mead, I was a convert. All five samples were delicious and distinctly different, all of them refreshing. As Gordon Hull explained, “The spectrum of flavors among honey varieties (used in the making of mead) is far broader than grape varietals, and that is how we come to make mead varietals that can taste like everything from elegant Champagne to a robust Belgian Saison.”

Traditional meads are very sweet, but Gordon Hull wanted to make sparkling, dry mead. On a whim, in 1995 he purchased a gallon of honey from a Humboldt County bee keeper. He recalls, “I was more than a little pleased with the results of that first try—the mead was light, crisp, delicate, and clean with very subtle floral notes. It was downright refreshing and easy to drink too.” It was so good that he thought the batch he made was a fluke, and he proceeded to try making a second batch. He wanted to replicate his

Danville Today News ~ April 2015 - Page 19 first success, so he stayed with exactly the same recipe and ingredients. Unfortunately, the bee keeper was out of honey, so he purchased other honey from a different area. This time, instead of a blackberry honey, the new honey was a gallon of a darker wildflower honey, also of Humboldt County origin.

The second mead Hull made was “delightful, but, interestingly, it had a different character—more notes of earth and spice than the previous batch.”

The rest is history. Hull recounted, “Since nothing else I was aware of had been altered between the two batches, I was led to believe that the differing honeys had contributed the individuality of each batch. What a novel discovery, I thought, that there could be an equivalent in honey to varietals of grapes used in winemaking.”

Heidrun Meadery recently opened their gates to the public, and in February 2015 they started offering tours and tastings. Samples are served icy cold in champagne flutes. The names of the different meads offered at Heidrun reflect the types of honey used in their making: Madras Carrot Honey Blossom, California Orange Blossom Honey, Alfalfa and Clover Blossom Honey, Point Reyes Wild Flower, and my personal favorite Hawaiian Macadamia Nut Honey. The Meadery is a wonderful place to gather, taste, tour, and learn more about the history of mead. Picnickers are welcome (no BBQ’s) by reservation. *Heidrun Meadery is located at 11925 State Hwy 1, Point Reyes Station and is open Monday-Friday from 10AM- 4PM and Saturday and Sunday 11AM5PM. Tastings are $10 per person (must be over 21 years of age) and tour and tastings are $15 per person. Their phone number is 415-663-9122, and their website is HeidrunMeadery.com. Chef dinners held at the Meadery sell out quickly, so check the website for their schedule.

Linda Summers Pirkle, travel consultant and long term Danville resident, has arranged and led 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. What a great place to live, so much to see, so much to do.” To share your “Quick Trips” ideas email Coverthemap@gmail.com.

Page 20 - April 2015 ~ Danville Today News

Estate Planning for Blended Families

By Robert J. Silverman, Esq.

Remarriage is on the rise, particularly among older adults. Approximately 20% of adults in the United States have been married two or more times.

As important as estate planning is for non-blended families, it is imperative for blended families to engage in careful estate planning. Failing to do so can result in detrimental unintended consequences and problems. Smart, thoughtful planning can help avoid such problems by balancing and reconciling potential competing interests.

Let’s start a hypothetical case study so we can begin to explore some important estate planning issues facing blended families. Jay, 65, has children, Jeff and Judy, who are 40 and 35. Years ago, Jay divorced Jeff and Judy’s mother. Jay remarries another divorcee, Bea, 55. Bea has a 20 year old child, Betty.

Jay brought into the marriage a house worth $800K (with no mortgage) and cash, securities and retirement plan funds totaling $200K. He and Bea live in his house. Bea brought into the marriage cash, securities and retirement plan funds totaling $400K. First, an estate plan cannot be done properly in a vacuum, so Jay and Bea need to answer many important questions before I can help them create an appropriate estate plan, such as those concerning any premarital agreement they may have, their health, children, income, retirement plans, how long they plan to keep Jay’s house, and how they handle their finances.

Even after knowing the answers to the above questions, many types of plans and choices will be available. One choice would involve Jay and Bea keeping their assets separate and establishing a separate estate plan for each of them (a Living Trust, Will, Power of Attorney and Advance Healthcare Directive). They would each make their own decisions about to whom, how, and when their assets will be distributed on their respective deaths. Each of Jay’s and Bea’s Living Trusts may include distributions to his or her children, spouse or a combination thereof; and these distributions might be outright and/or to be held in trust for some period of time.

Another common, efficient alternative is for Jay and Bea to establish a joint Living Trust for all of their collective assets, which trust splits into two pots (“subtrusts”) on the first death. By the way, contrary to a common misconception, a joint trust can contain both separate and community property assets. On the first death, the assets owned by the deceased spouse go into one sub-trust, and the

Contra Costa’s Retirement Board Update

By Supervisor Candace Andersen

In my role as County Supervisor I was recently appointed to serve on the Contra Costa County Employees’ Retirement Association (CCCERA) Board of Trustees, which is the County’s Retirement Board. CCCERA is responsible for the administration, management, and guidance over a defined benefit pension system with assets currently worth close to $6 billion. Board trustees are fiduciaries who analyze the merits of investment products and work with staff to determine successful diversification for the pension fund.

CCCERA manages the retirement pensions for not only Contra Costa County, but for the Bethel Island Municipal Improvement District; Byron, Brentwood, Knightsen Union Cemetery District; Central Contra Costa Sanitary District; Contra Costa Housing Authority; Contra Costa Mosquito and Vector Control District; Local Agency Formation District (LAFCO); Rodeo Sanitary District; In-Home Supportive Services Authority; First 5 Children & Families Commission; Contra Costa County Fire Protection District; East Contra Costa Fire Protection District; Moraga-Orinda Fire Protection District; Rodeo-Hercules Fire Protection District; San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District; and the Contra Costa Superior Court.

The Retirement Board is made up of 12 trustees. Four trustees (including an alternate) are appointed by the County Board of Supervisors; four trustees (including a police/fire “Safety” alternate) are elected by CCCERA’s active plan participants; and two trustees, including one alternate, are elected by the retired membership.

Alternates vote in the absence of specific trustees. The County Treasurer serves as an ex-officio member. Board members serve three year terms, with the exception of the County Treasurer, who serves during his tenure in office.

The Board reviews actuarial valuations, studies, and economic assumptions to protect and maintain CCCERA’s financial viability for current and future members.

Board trustees make policy decisions that shape how this complex system functions, including implementing benefit structures and contribution rates for employee and employer members. It approves service retirements, disability applications, and

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assets owned by the surviving spouse go into another sub-trust.

Once the assets are segregated in these two sub-trusts following the first death, sensitive decisions need to be made by Jay and Bea, related to the assets of the deceased spouse, including a) what access, if any, will the surviving spouse have to the assets in the deceased spouse’s sub-trust?; b) what assets, if any, that had been owned by the deceased spouse will go directly to his or her children (instead of going into the deceased spouse’s sub-trust to be available for the surviving spouse’s needs)?; and c) who will serve as trustee (“manager”) of the deceased spouse’s sub-trust during the surviving spouse’s lifetime?

Unfortunately, the answers to these questions often lead to a Living Trust that is not optimal and instead leads to unnecessary conflicts. Most plans allow the surviving spouse access to the deceased spouse’s sub-trust for the survivor’s needs and then, when the surviving spouse dies, the children of the deceased spouse receive the balance, if any. Furthermore, the surviving spouse typically serves as the trustee of the deceased spouse’s sub-trust.

This scenario is not necessarily right or wrong; however, serious consideration should be given to the dynamics created by such structure. During the lifetime of the surviving spouse, his or her interest (e.g. in withdrawing funds from the deceased spouse’s sub trust) is in direct conflict with the interests of the deceased spouse’s children – since the potential inheritance by the children will largely depend on how much their step-parent withdrew. Further, if the surviving spouse serves as trustee of the deceased spouse’s sub-trust, he or she is “the fox guarding the hen house” who not only exercises discretion as to withdrawals but may also invest the trust funds differently than his or her step-children would.

Sadly, a frequent consequence of poor planning is damage or destruction of the relationship, and sometimes litigation, between step-parent and step-children.

Next month, my article will explore some strategies that may help Jay and Bea balance and reconcile some of these potential conflicts.

Upon request, I’ll be happy to provide you, on a complimentary basis, any or all of the following: i) an “Estate Planning Primer”; ii) a brochure on alternative methods of holding title to property; iii) an introductory meeting.

Mr. Silverman is an attorney with R. Silverman Law Group, 1855 Olympic Blvd., Suite 125, 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.

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retiree cost-of-living adjustments. It also makes decisions on a variety of issues, from listening to members with specific concerns, to IRS regulation compliance.

Unfortunately, like nearly every public agency that has a defined benefit pension plan, ours is underfunded. The issue of unfunded and underfunded pension liability is prevalent in the news today as many government entities struggle to keep up with rising costs of providing retirement benefits to their current and future retirees.

At the beginning of 2014, CCCERA had approximately $1.8 billion of unfunded liability. This translates to it being 76.4% funded when comparing the valuation of CCCERA’s assets against the l accrued liability determined by actuaries.

Reducing unfunded pension liability is an ongoing challenge that needs to be continually addressed. Many retirement plans are still feeling the effects of the Great Recession in terms of both lost investment returns and sluggish economic growth. Back in 2007, before the Recession hit, CCCERA’s plan was 89.88% funded, and our unfunded liability, while still high, was $565 million. That’s less than half of what it is today.

There are some positive things that have happened over the past two years that should help reduce the unfunded liability going forward. In March of 2013 the CCCERA board lowered its expected rate of return on investments from 7.75% to 7.25%. While it means that currently both the government employer and the employees have to put more money aside now for future pensions, it is a much more realistic number given historic trends. Another positive improvement is that CCCERA saw market gains of 14.1% in 2012 and 16.5% in 2013. Also, the Public Employee’s Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA) was passed by the State. This lowers pension benefits, and thus the expense of funding them, for new employees.

PEPRA also closes loopholes that permitted the spiking of pensions.

If you’re interested in learning more about our County Retirement Board, go to CCCERA’s website at CCCERA.org. You are also welcome to attend a Retirement Board meeting. Regular meetings of CCCERA are held on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month beginning at 9am. There are also quarterly and additional meetings on special topics that arise from time to time. Meetings are held at the CCCERA offices at 1355 Willow Way in Concord.

Finally, 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 don’t hesitate to 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.

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Danville Today News ~ April 2015 - Page 21

How to Make the Most of your IRA

Vortec Auto Detailing

By Christopher T. McClure

Take your car’s detail to the MAX!

In conjunction with Lincoln Financial Advisors /Sagemark Consulting, a division of Lincoln Financial Advisors, a registered investment advisor

With so much media attention spotlighting retirement planning these days, you’d think the United States is a nation of hard-core investors, well-versed in the intricacies of all sorts of financial products. But the truth is most Americans know relatively little about one of the most effective tools for securing their financial futures: the Individual Retirement Account.

Indeed, over 50% of Americans don’t even have an IRA, according to Reuters. That may be due in part to a lack of understanding about what an IRA is and how you can use it to help you towards achieving your financial goals.

Jordan Sorrell, Owner

Serving the entire Bay Area

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Investment Flexibility

Opening up an IRA account enables investors to take advantage of many different investment products, including mutual funds, stocks, bonds, exchange-traded funds, and REITs. Virtually any security that can be owned outside an IRA, can be owned inside an IRA. This is important to understand because it gives investors the flexibility and latitude to help towards reaching their financial goals, whether they’re short-term or long-term. Knowing what an IRA is can be a good start, but knowing how to use it effectively should be the goal of any investor.

You should take some time to understand the difference between a traditional and a Roth IRA. In short, contributions to Roth IRAs are made with after-tax dollars, and qualified withdrawals are tax free. By contrast, contributions to traditional IRAs may be tax-deductible, but withdrawals are taxed as ordinary income. Your Adjusted Gross Income and participation in a retirement plan will determine if a traditional IRA is deductible.

In addition, your Adjusted Gross Income will determine if you can contribute to a Roth IRA. You can always contribute to a non-deductible traditional IRA if you do not qualify for a Roth or a deductible traditional IRA. IRA withdrawals from a traditional IRA, if taken prior to age 59 ½, may be subject to an CONVENIENT SHUTTLE SERVICE TO additional 10% federal tax penalty and possibly state income taxes. Qualified HOME, THE OFFICE, BART AND BACK. distributions of earnings from a Roth are tax-exempt after five years from the contribution date and after age 59 ½. Earnings taken prior to age 59 ½ may be subject to 10% federal tax penalty and possibly state income taxes. ` This is an important distinction because it can guide your decision about FACTORY LUBE, OIL DIAGNOSIS/ SCHEDULED & FILTER CHECK ENGINE which IRA to invest in. In general, younger people (i.e., those under 40) MAINTENANCE LIGHT INSPECTION Multi-Point Performance may consider using a Roth IRA. Roth IRAs can often make sense for people Let our trained experts perform an Improve mileage and extend Inspection initial inspection and diagnosis. We’ll the life of your vehicle - follow Drain and Replace All Engine Oil over 40 as well, particularly if you believe you’ll be in a higher tax bracket also provide you with the exact cost recommended service schedules Install Genuine Factory Oil Filter to perform the repair. No obligation, someday. You’ll be able to pay the tax earlier in life and then reap the benefits nothing to buy. % 95 of its potential tax-free growth. It’s also important to note that traditional $ OFF +TAX IRAs have required minimum distributions starting at age 70 ½, while Roth REGULAR PRICES Synthetic oil extra.

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Inherited IRAs

Making the most of an IRA can also mean managing an inherited one appropriately. Indeed, mishandling an inherited IRA is a common–and expensive–mistake. If you are the beneficiary of an IRA, it is important to get competent advice before receiving the money.

Proper titling is crucial, because if you do it incorrectly you (as the beneficiary) may have to distribute the IRA in five years. But if the IRA is titled correctly, you can receive distributions over your lifetime. For example, a custodian may require that an account be titled as follows if it involves a father, John Jones, who dies and leaves and IRA to his son, Sam: John Jones, deceased (date of death), IRA for the benefit of Sam Jones. Titling the account properly enables Sam to take distributions over his lifetime, which can potentially add a lot of value to an IRA by allowing additional growth potential over many years.

Please contact Chris McClure to schedule a complimentary review of your financial situation. Call (925) 659-0213 or email Chris.McClure@LFG.com.

CRN201310-2085877 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.

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Want to Become a Better Speaker?

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Be a part of Toastmasters, and practice your speaking and presentation skills in a supportive environment. There are several local clubs in our area.

The Danville AM Toastmasters meets every Tuesday from 7 to 8:30AM at the Danville Chamber of Commerce office, located in the Town and Country shopping center (just north of the Livery). For more information, contact Hans Thoma at danvilletoastmasters@outlook.com.

A faith-based Toastmasters group meets Thursdays from 7-8:15PM at East Bay Four Square Church Conference Room, located at 2615 Camino Tassajara, Danville. For information, email Tod at wthenry@ sbcglobal.net.

Page 22 - April 2015 ~ Danville Today News

Birds continued from front page

out at about 130 different species. An avid “birder” since 1970, Farrington loves the treasure hunt aspect of bird watching. In a one-hour period, he can identify about 35 species at Heather Farm. “It has a nice natural pond featuring water fowl, herons, and egrets, and small patches of mixed wood and grassy areas that attract hawk and vulture flyovers,” says Farrington. “It’s a wonderful, easily gotten-to location.”

Farrington finds a child’s joy in bird watching. “The pursuit, the chase, the hunt – it’s endlessly fascinating and a fun challenge,” he says. He has traveled to Costa Rica and Florida to feed his birding “addiction.” With 10,000 species worldwide, the greatest number of land vertebrates, the hunt is unbounded. And the low pressure, non-performance hobby can be shared and enjoyed by anyone, anywhere.

Ann Hoff, a volunteer at the Lindsay Wildlife Hospital and a member of the Golden Gate Audubon Society, says one need only look to their front yard to spot a myriad of birds, such as sparrows, goldfinches, house finches, hummingbirds, jays, and crows. “Once one begins to take notice of birds, it’s amazing how many different species one can spot,” says Hoff, who fell under the bird watching spell many years ago when she sought an outdoor activity that would better allow her to appreciate the beauty of the Bay Area.

“Bird watching is an activity that feeds man’s urge to understand and name things, and to participate in a shared experience. And it is addicting. You develop a desire to see newer, rarer birds.”

Both Hoff and Farrington describe the birding community as generous, helpful, and willing to share. “We welcome novice birders,” says Farrington, who recommends beginners start with outings sponsored by the Audubon Society. “Anyone is always invited to activities, and one need not be a member,” he says. “The vast majority of birders are generous with information, and we encourage participation.” Farrington admits to an enlightened selfish interest. “If people develop an interest in birding, they then develop a vested interest in the preservation of birds and their habitats. The more we can get others involved, the better off we all are.”

For information on Bay Area bird watching, visit www.diabloaudubon. com for classes, a calendar of events, and membership information.

Books for the Homebound

If you or someone you know has a passion for reading and can no longer visit the library, find out more about the Danville Library’s Books for the Homebound program, a free and unique library service. Trained library volunteers check out and deliver books to homebound individuals residing in their own homes or residential care facilities. Contact Sandra Paiva, Volunteer Coordinator, at the Danville Library at (925) 837-4889 for more information.

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Shingles

By Dr. Jerome Potozkin

Two weeks ago I saw a 61 year-old gentleman who told me that two days prior to his visit he had been to the emergency room with pain wrapping around the left side of his chest. The emergency room doctors were scratching their heads. Everything appeared normal. His blood tests, cardiogram, and physical exam were all normal. He had no prior history of heart disease, trauma, or strain. What could it be? He was sent home and told to take ibuprofen for his discomfort.

Two days after his emergency room visit, he came to see me. He had a slight rash with some blisters wrapping around the left side of his chest. At this point the diagnosis was clear to me. He had a condition known as herpes zoster or shingles.

Herpes zoster is a reactivation of the chicken pox virus. Most people have had a primary bout of chicken pox in their youth. After we heal, the virus stays in our body for life. The virus resides in nerve roots. At some later time, the virus can reactivate and arise from the nerve root and come out on the skin in a red blistering eruption. It almost always occurs only on one side of your body.

Shingles commonly occurs in older adults. There is a vaccine available for people over 50. The vaccine can completely prevent shingles, or if you do get an outbreak it will be milder than if you did not have the vaccine.

If you do contract shingles, treatment is available. The cornerstone of treatment is a prescription oral anti viral medication. Pain can be relieved with cool compresses as well as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen. In addition, a topical antibacterial ointment can help the blisters heal faster. Early treatment can shorten the duration of the outbreak and relieve pain.

Most people have no long lasting problems after shingles resolves. Some people may go on to develop a chronic pain syndrome, post-herpetic neuralgia. People over age 60 are more likely to develop this. If you have had the vaccine, you are likely to have less pain and a lower risk of developing post-herpetic neuralgia.

If you think you might have shingles, seek medical attention immediately from your dermatologist or primary care physician.

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.

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Group Helps People Cope with Death of Pets

When you lose your pet, you often feel like a part of you is lost. The death of your beloved animal companion is one of the most difficult losses you may ever feel. This loss is sometimes made more painful by society’s seeming lack of support for pet grief.

Hospice of the East Bay and the Tony La Russa Animal Rescue Foundation is offering a support group where participants can share memories and feelings and talk to others who truly understand and care. Meetings will be held the first Tuesday of each month from noon - 1:30PM at the Tony La Russa Animal Rescue Foundation, 2890 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek.

For further information and/or to register, please call Bereavement Services at Hospice of the East Bay (925) 887-5681. Pre-registration is required.

Hospice of the East Bay Bereavement Services are provided free of charge to all community members in need.

However, donations are greatly appreciated.

Search and Rescue

Lic# 1100014354; Bay Area Entertainment

The Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team needs volunteer members to respond to missing person incidents, disasters, and other critical incidents. Team members are on call 24/7 year-round. The program provides required training; including wilderness traveling, first aid, map and compass usage, tracking disaster response, and search skills; and may also include special training for canine, equestrian, technical, mountain bike, or other rescue skills. For information and applications, visit www.contracostasar.org or call 925-646-4461.

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Prostate Cancer Patient Case Study

By Stephen Taylor, MD

J.D. has had a rising PSA for over 10 years with multiple standard systematic ultrasound biopsies, also over the past 10 years, some at my office (4), one at Stanford University, and one at the University of California at San Francisco, all negative for prostate cancer. This year his PSA reached 14 (normal is less the 4). In January 2015, J.D. had a multiparametric MRI, which revealed a highly suspicious area in his prostate, which was missed on all the previous biopsies. He then had a MRI-ultrasound fusion guided targeted biopsy of the suspicious spot, and high grade, aggressive prostate cancer (Gleason 8) was finally diagnosed. Fortunately, the cancer still seems to be confined to the prostate, and he has been offered treatment with curative intent: either radiation therapy with Calypso or surgery to remove the prostate.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men and the second leading cause of cancer deaths in men. Prostate cancer is curable if caught early enough, before it spreads out of the prostate. Therefore, finding prostate cancer early is imperative. Unfortunately, there are usually no symptoms of prostate cancer at its earliest and most curable stages. Doctors have relied on two tests, the PSA blood test and a digital rectal exam, to determine if a prostate biopsy is indicated. Neither test is 100% accurate, even when used in combination. If either test is abnormal, traditionally men have undergone “systematic ultrasound-guided” prostate biopsies. Unfortunately, the systematic biopsy technique, where 12 random biopsies are taken, often misses the cancer.

A new technique, multiparametric MRI, has been shown to be very accurate in identifying prostate cancer, often in places which were not traditionally encompassed in the “systematic biopsy” technique. A prostate biopsy is still necessary to establish a definite diagnosis. However, performing the biopsy in the MRI machine itself is not possible. The multiparametric-MRI ultrasound fusion is a new technique, where the MRI images are transferred to an ultrasound machine. Then, a real time prostate ultrasound is fused with the MRI image, which allows accurate targeted biopsies of the suspicious areas to be obtained. Multiparametric-MRI in conjunction with MRI-ultrasound fusion guided targeted biopsy offers the promise of more accurate and timely diagnosis of prostate cancer. It is especially helpful in the following situations.

• Men with previously negative prostate biopsies, continued rising PSA, presence of a prostate nodule on digital rectal exam, or a very high PSA • Men on “Active Surveillance” for “low risk” prostate cancer, where treatment is deferred until “high risk” features are identified Truly, MRI-ultrasound fusion guided targeted prostate biopsy is a “game changer” for the early and accurate diagnosis of prostate cancer.

Dr. Stephen Taylor is a Urologist with Pacific Urology. He specializes in robotic urologic surgeries and prostate, kidney, and bladder cancers. For more information, please call (925) 937-7740 or visit www.PacificUrology.com.

Join Dr. Taylor at an educational presentation on April 8, 7-8:30PM at the Piedmont Community Hall in Piedmont. The role and benefits of MRI and ultrasound fusion guided biopsy for prostate cancer will be discussed Advertorial with Q & A. To register, call (925) 677-5041 x272.

Meals on Wheels

Seniors in your community need your support! Meals on Wheels and Senior Outreach Services has been supporting seniors in YOUR neighborhood since 1968. Two of our programs, Meals on Wheels and Friendly Visitors, rely on the support of volunteers, and we need your help now more than ever. Meals on Wheels volunteer drivers deliver meals to local homebound seniors through regular two hour shifts once per week or as substitute drivers. Friendly Visitors volunteers provide weekly one-hour companionship visits to isolated seniors. To volunteer for either program, please call (925)937-8311.

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Danville Today News ~ April 2015 - Page 23

Head and Neck Cancer from HPV

By Christine Chung, MD

My patient was a successful, 40-year old Caucasian surgeon with newly diagnosed throat cancer.

On this gray day in January, he sat in a chair in my clinic, upset and confused. As a non-smoker who drank only occasionally, he thought that he had an extremely low risk of getting this type of cancer, yet his disease had started in his tonsils and had quickly spread to the lymph nodes in his neck. So why, he wanted to know, did he have cancer?

The traditional stereotype of a head and neck cancer patient is a 70 year old down-on-his-luck alcoholic who smokes two packs a day. But there is a different group of head and neck patients – they are Caucasian heterosexual men in their late 30s, 40s, and early 50s, who are often economically stable.

This group develops cancer from HPV, a sexually-transmitted human papilloma virus. HPV is extremely common, and most sexually active people will be infected during their lifetimes. Most people’s immune systems rid their body of the infection without any problems. However a small number of people develop asymptomatic chronic infections that can develop into cancer later in life – sometimes decades later.

HPV is associated with cancers of the tonsil and the base of tongue. HPV also causes cervical cancer. Cancers of the head and neck are relatively uncommon, but the incidence of HPV-associated cancer is steadily increasing.

In the late 1980s, only 16% of head and neck cancers were associated with HPV, while HPV is currently associated with 70% of cases in North America.

The cancer starts in the tonsil or the base of tongue, which is located at the back of the throat. The cancer may be very small but can spread quickly to the lymph nodes in the neck.

There is no good screening method for this disease, so a person should seek medical attention if there is a new neck mass, hoarseness, or persistent ear pain. Vaccines have been developed to prevent HPV infections, and vaccination is recommended for 11-12 year old girls and boys. While the vaccine was initially developed to help prevent cervical cancer in girls, researchers hope that it may help prevent future cases of head and neck cancer in boys as well.

Cancers caused by HPV infection are treated the same way as non-HPV head and neck cancers, with a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. However, these patients often have a better prognosis and a better survival rate.

On April 16, as part of national Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Week, Dr. Arash Mohebati from Walnut Creek Surgical Associates will provide free visual head and neck cancer screenings. By appointment only. Please call (925) 933-0984.

Dr. Chung is a Radiation Oncologist with Diablo Valley Oncology & Hematology Medical Group. She sees patients in Pleasant Hill and Berkeley and can be reached at (925) 825-8878.

Attend an educational program on April 22 from 6-8PM at the Cancer Support Community in Walnut Creek. “The Many Faces of Head and Neck Cancer” will feature a panel of medical experts who will discuss the most current information regarding risks factors (including HPV), treatment options, nutrition, and survivorship. To register, call (925) 677-5041. Advertorial

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Page 24 - April 2015 ~ Danville Today News

Allergy Relief with Chiropractic Care

By Melissa Ko, DC, Sycamore Valley Chiropractic

Spring is a beautiful time in the Danville area with our gorgeous surroundings to enjoy. However, many spend this time of year suffering from seasonal allergies. The allergy season started especially early this year, so there have been many suffering earlier than usual. For most, it is a minor annoyance. But for some, allergy season can be a debilitating time where sufferers may prefer to lock themselves indoors to avoid congestion, sneezing, itchy, watery eyes, headaches, asthma, and so on.

Many allergy sufferers use medications such as anti-histamines, nasal sprays and inhalers to relieve their symptoms, but these can cause side effects like drowsiness. People are now turning to alternative and natural remedies to not only keep their allergies at bay but also to boost their immunity.

Here are some tips to having clearer days.

1. Get plenty of sleep and water: Lack of sleep stresses your immune system and makes you more sensitive to allergens. Proper hydration will loosen mucus and ease drainage of congestion…drink half your body weight in ounces each day as a general rule. (eg. 150lbs=75oz of water) 2. Wash hair frequently: Hair traps pollen and other particles that cause allergies, even when you’re inside. Washing your hair in the evening will rinse these particles out. Pillowcases and sheets should also be washed and replaced often.

3. Eat an anti-inflammatory diet: Allergy symptoms are worsened when the body is inflamed. Be strict about avoiding known food sensitivities and allergies. Avoid or reduce your intake of alcohol, excessive caffeine, highly processed foods, sugar, and dairy, which is mucus-producing.

4. Natural remedies, herbs and supplements: Go to your local health food

Tractor continued from front page

ing. Ron Simmons, Joe Krueger, Jim Donahoe, Pat Sorenson, and Vern Kalepp helped complete the project. Vinyl-covered foam padding makes the benches comfortable. For safety, Ginochio added brand new World War II seatbelts purchased in their original boxes at an aircraft surplus store.

Although the City of San Ramon provided start-up funding for the project, the restoration crew now relies on their own fundraising, utilizing donations for tractor rides at FHF events supplemented by grants from organizations including Clorox and Chevron. On T-Gang’s roster, in addition to members above-mentioned, are Tom Slingerland, Bob McCoy, Ron Frye, Dan Foster, Tony Hurt, Mike Storms, and John Maryott.

The Tractor Museum displays 30 or more tractors. About half are on loan to FHF. While many have been fully restored, pieces of equipment used by Boone have been conserved to preserve their historic value as FHF equipment. Travis’s CAT D2 does run, but it retains the weathered

Roy Ginochio left and Ron Simmons right pose on the completed “Creepy Crawler” tractor used for FHF rides.

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store, and ask them to recommend remedies for allergies… there’ll be aisles full of them. Different herbs like stinging nettle leaf tea as well as vitamin C are natural anti-histamines and are effective at reducing allergy symptoms without the side-effects of medications. A Neti Pot is an ancient method of gently clearing out the sinuses of allergenic particles using warm saline water.

5. A spoonful of honey: Many have had great results by taking a daily spoonful of honey (make sure it’s local!) to introduce small amounts of pollen from your area into your body so that your immune system can build tolerance.

You can find some the next time you visit your farmers market.

6. Plan ahead: Check for days when pollens will be at their peak so that you can choose your activities wisely and not expose yourself to excessive allergens.

7. Chiropractic care! Most people think of back pain when they think of their chiropractor, but misalignments and tension in the neck and upper back worsen congestion by slowing down the drainage of fluids out of your sinuses and chest. Chiropractic adjustments do not cure or treat allergies, but by correcting these misalignments, our patients get great relief from allergy symptoms: they feel less congestion from better drainage, the airways are more open, and there’s less tension in their bodies. Chiropractic care is great for all ages, from babies to adults, and is a great option for kids.

With so many options for natural allergy relief, these tips can be used as an alternative or in addition to any medications you are taking. Our office is certainly a resource for you to have your spine checked and aligned. Spring is a season bursting with life, and it can be enjoyed by all, allergy sufferers included!

Sycamore Valley Chiropractic is located at 565 Sycamore Valley Rd. West in Danville.

Please visit www.sycamorevalleychiropractic. com or call 925-837-5595 for more information or to schedule an appointment. Advertorial exterior familiar to the owner.

T-Gang member Dan Foster’s favorite is the 1941 CAT D4 from nearby Henry Ranch. He remarks that it’s “sweet running.” “Whenever we need to pull another piece of equipment, we fire this baby up, and it never lets us down.” Like the 1935 Caterpillar modified to ride visitors around the farm, it’s a crawler. Benjamin Holt designed his first crawler to deal with soft soil around Stockton, California where heavy steam engines kept sinking. Instead of building the expensive plank road proposed, Holt replaced wheels on his machines with wooden treads, successfully testing his prototype on Thanksgiving Day 1904.

Coaxing vintage engines to run is a fine art. Some have a small gasoline motor as a starter for the diesel engine that can power the tractor all-day while doing heavy-duty tasks. One of the items pulled by the CAT D4 is its larger brother, the CAT 60 which was donated by the Alameda County Fair Association. Originally started by a large, awkward lever, the CAT 60 only runs now after getting towed into action by the D4. Caterpillar, Inc. was founded in 1925 as a merger of the Holt and Best Companies. The CAT 60, circa 1926, has a nameplate bearing all three company names.

Ron Simmons is partial to John Deere models and enjoys demonstrating the starting wheel mechanism. He likes their signature sound that earned them nicknames “Poppin Johnny” and “Johnny Popper.” The “pop, kachunk, ka-chunk, pop” sound relates to an engineering characteristic, giving the John Deere line a particularly smooth-running engine.

Twice a year restored tractors exit FHF to parade in Dublin for St. Patrick’s Day and Danville on the Fourth of July. The trip to Danville from 19953 San Ramon Valley Boulevard, San Ramon takes an hour.

The Tractor Museum also houses a fine collection of hit-and-miss engines used to perform a number of tasks from pumping water to grinding grain. Although rural America lacked electricity until the 1930s, Fred Maytag made washday easier by marketing a gasoline engine to power his washing machines, making hand-cranked models obsolete. The Maytag Model 92 on display is framed by advertisements indicating additional

See Tractor continued on page 26

editor@yourmonthlypaper.com

In Plastic Surgery, it’s the Little Things that Count

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

For most of us, the littlest things can have the biggest impact on our happiness. As a mother of three, nothing makes me happier than a pair of little arms from one of my kids wrapped around my neck. As a board-certified plastic surgeon, nothing is more precious to me than the big hug I get from a patient on whom I have operated after a difficult ordeal (like breast cancer) or performed a cosmetic procedure on that helps them get their ‘groove’ back.

I think a lot about the little things as summer approaches and we begin to bare more of our skin. Many people panic about this level of exposure and we begin to focus on the parts of our body and face that feel less than perfect to us.

What most people unfamiliar with cosmetic and reconstructive surgery do not know is that there are many little ways that we can address and improve how we look that can have a huge impact on how we feel about ourselves. In many cases, my patients experience the most satisfying results when we take an incremental approach to improvements. For example, using fillers like Radiesse®, Juvéderm®,

Hospice Grief Support Groups and Classes

Hospice of the East Bay has announced a new schedule for their support groups and classes. Unless otherwise noted, these will be offered at Hospice of the East Bay’s office at 3470 Buskirk Avenue in Pleasant Hill. Our Bereavement Services are provided free of charge to all community members in need.

All groups, except drop-in, require pre-registration. Call (925) 887-5681 or email griefservices@hospiceeastbay.org.

Groups for Adults

• Adults Who Have Lost a Parent ~ Mondays, 6 - 8PM ~ May 4 - June 29 • Widow and Widowers’ Support ~ Thursdays, 1:30 to 3:30PM ~ April 30 thru June 18; Mondays, 6 to 8PM ~ April 27 thru June 22 • Drop-In Bereavement Support Group ~ 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month, 4:30 - 6PM - NOTE: On April 15 and May 6 this group will meet at the Pleasant Hill Senior Center, 233 Gregory Lane.

Groups for Children and Teens

• The Bridge - Support program for grieving children and teens using art, play, journaling, music and conversation. Support is also available for parents/guardians.Meets bi-monthly--start at any time.

Classes and Workshops for Adults

• Understanding Grief Class ~ Thursday, April 16, 6 - 8PM • Creative Arts and Grief Workshop for Adults - Forget Me Not ~ Wednesday, April 29, 6 - 8PM Decorate a flower pot with colors, words, or images in commemoration of your loved one. NOTE: Register

by April 24 • Spirituality and Grief Class ~ Thursday, July 9, 6 - 8PM Through an informative presentation, discover new ways to recognize and understand your grief experience from a spiritual perspective. These are welcoming and inclusive gatherings. All spiritual views are invited. NOTE: Register by July 6.

• Spirituality and Grief Discussion Group ~ Thursday, July 23, 6 - 8PM Join in a discussion about how grief impacts your spiritual life, and, in turn, how your spirituality affects your grief journey. Attending the Spirituality and Grief class is encouraged but not required. NOTE: Register by July 20.

Hospice of the East Bay provides compassionate endof-life care to terminally ill patients, while offering emotional, spiritual, and grief support for the entire family.

As a not-for-profit organization, we accept all medically qualified patients, regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay. Hospice of the East Bay has served over 23,000 patients and their families since 1977.

Danville Today News ~ April 2015 - Page 25 and Restylane in strategic spots on the face can create a look of vibrancy and youth that is completely natural, budget-friendly, and results in no down-time.

This is also the time of year when many of my patients choose to do more advanced procedures like blepharoplasty (eyelid lifts) and breast augmentation or lifts. While these surgeries do require more healing time, the impact they have is quite remarkable.

Here are a few of the procedures that we offer at Persons Plastic Surgery, Lafayette that can help you look and feel ready for summer: Fraxel® Laser is proven laser technology that can help reverse the visible effects of aging, naturally helping you look as young as you feel. Fraxel technology is proven, effective, and non-invasive.

Fraxel® Laser is the original fractional laser treatment that works below the skin’s surface to address fine lines and wrinkles, surface scarring, pigmentation (including age spots), and sun damage. Fractionated laser light energy stimulates your skin’s natural collagen, rejuvenating skin cells below the surface to help smooth the creases and pockets that cause wrinkles and scars. Patients can see results after a single Fraxel treatment and will continue to see softer, smoother, and more eventoned skin over the next 3-6 months. There are several types of Fraxel procedures to meet your specific needs. For most Fraxel Laser procedures, there are few side effects and low downtime. As with all procedures, a consultation with our expert staff will help you decide if Fraxel Laser or another laser treatment is right for you.

Blepharoplasty is a surgical procedure for saggy eyelids. Eyelid surgery (upper and lower) is a great way to rejuvenate and refresh your appearance. This procedure targets the bulges, bags, and excess skin of the upper and lower eyelids that can make you look tired and droopy-eyed. While saggy eyelids may start as early as our 20’s, eventually, it affects everyone. Happily, no matter what your age, it can be surgically corrected to create a more youthful and vibrant-looking you.

At Persons Plastic Surgery, we usually perform upper and lower lid surgery simultaneously. But we can address just upper or lower as needed, or in conjunction with face, neck, or brow lift surgery.

What makes eyelid surgery such an excellent ‘quick fix’ procedure is that there is usually only mild discomfort and little downtime. You may see some discoloration, but this will improve after a week or two. And most patients can go back to work in 8 to 10 days. You will look like you, only better.

As a Plastic Surgeon, I have a great passion to help my patients look and feel their best. At Persons Plastic Surgery, we take a holistic approach to helping you look and feel happy. We invite you to come in for a consultation. Even a minor procedure can have a major effect on your sense of well-being. Small can be the new big!

Persons Plastic Surgery, Inc. is located at 911 Moraga Rd, Suite 205 in Lafayette. To contact me call 925-283-4012 or email drbarb@ personsplasticsurgery.com.

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Page 26 - April 2015 ~ Danville Today News

The Eye Opener

By Gregory Kraskowsky, O.D., Alamo Optometry The Dress (Is it Blue and Black or White and Gold?)

Even though the internet and social media discussion regarding the color of the now infamous dress has died down, it does have an optical explanation that is at the core of the discussion. I will discuss the main reason why people did not see the dress similarly.

For those who are unaware, a photo of a dress was posted online a few weeks ago by a woman who was having a disagreement with her eventual husband over the color scheme of the dress for the mother of the bride.

The question brought up by the woman was whether the dress had a white background with gold trim, or if it was blue with black trim. As time went on, it became very obvious that the dress was blue with black trim, but the reasoning why people saw it differently is what makes the story noteworthy.

At the root of the difference in opinion is the picture of the dress itself, not the dress. There is no context present regarding background and lighting to give your brain the cues it needs to fully interpret what it is viewing.

When the brain receives the electrical impulses from the retina, it is not a perfect picture. The brain only receives information such as lighting, colors, background, movement, glare, etc. of the object(s), and the brain then puts all of that together to create the image. When the brain does not have sufficient information, it has to make informed decisions as to the amount and source of ambient light and make any associated corrections.

In this case the photo was cropped very close. Therefore there is very little or no information regarding the background, the light source, and whether

Tractor continued from page 24

available attachments: butter churn and meat grinder.

Wherever you look, there’s a piece of history to discover. A Case 1946 DC3 is currently being restored in the machine shop, but another aspect of Case Company lore lurks in the shadows of the museum barn. Founded in 1842 by J. I. Case, the Wisconsin Company adopted in 1865 as its logo “Old Abe” the eagle that went into Civil War battle as the mascot of Company C of the 8th Wisconsin Regiment. “Old Abe” rode on a special perch held high above the heads of the men he proudly inspired. Look for the eagle topping the globe labeled “Case” when you visit.

Even rusted yard art at FHF exhibits the kind of ingenuity essential to survival on an early twentieth-century farm. While Travis Boone’s contribution to the mechanization of walnut harvesting in the Valley is documented in a display in one of the sheds, a currently stationary tractor outside the museum reveals another farmer’s simple innovation. He added cylinders to the side of the machine to power and guide an attached rope as it shook ripe walnuts from the branch over which it had been slung.

Mary Ann Wilkman, City of San Ramon Recreation Specialist, does in depth research to ensure that all information presented at FHF is historically accurate. Legend, for example, suggests that Travis Boone turned to tractors when the horses at FHF succumbed to equine encephalitis.

Wilkman advises, “According to Ruth Boone, the horses all died within about three days. It happened in 1939 or 1940 according to Ruth. But she did not recall exactly when. There were probably many reasons Travis started making the switch to tractors.”

Travis’s preference for Oliver tractors is undisputed. A recently donated Oliver model is the latest piece of yard art at FHF. T-Gang found the engine parts so badly rusted that they couldn’t be pried apart without an unconscionable expenditure of time and resources. However, they had no issue with making the exterior look factory-new.

Wilkman elaborates on the many contributions made by T-Gang to the farm including repairing structures and fences, grading the parking area, and creating new hands-on displays. Virtually all SRVUSD third-graders spend a day at FHF to learn about the Valley’s agricultural history. Ron Simmons recently student-tested a display he suggested based on his visit to a New Zealand museum. “The Mechanical Advantage” has three boxes

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or not the dress is in the light or shadows. Depending on how your brain perceived those things, different colors were attributed to the dress. For those of you who perceived the dress as white and gold, your brain thought the dress was in the shadows. In otherwise dark or insufficient lighting, our optical system filters out blue light, thereby making the dress appear whiter.

This is a naturally occurring phenomenon. As an example, it is why the tarmac lights at an airport are blue at night and the runway lights are white.

As a flight is coming in for arrival, the blue lights are not seen as well by the retina and brain, so the pilot will see the white runway lights better and not land on the tarmac instead. The opposite is true if your brain perceived the dress as being lit by the light source directly. In brighter illuminations, the blue photoreceptors are more sensitive, thus making it easier to perceive blue. For those people, the dress was seen as more blue than white.

In this instance when the brain does not have all of the information it needs to accurately assess the object, it has to fill in the voids from prior experiences.

Whatever the brain learned to value in the past will be applied to the current situation. In essence, since we are all different and our brains all work a little differently, our senses will interpret how bright an image appears, how loud a certain noise sounds, and how spicy a meal tastes depending on what has been learned and corrected by your brain in the past. At the end of the day, no one was right and no one was wrong. The culprit is the photo itself. It is not completely in focus, it is cropped too close, and the lighting is poor. For anyone who has seen the dress itself, it is clearly blue and black. However, it did bring to light how we all perceive the world differently.

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, Advertorial and Twitter @Alamo Optometry.

holding identical weights rigged to pulleys, much like arrangements local farmers used to raise bales of hay to the hayloft. With a single pulley, lifting 20 pounds of weight takes 20 pounds of force. The second two-pulley rig takes half as much effort to raise the box. The third takes only ¼ the force. Noting third-grade curriculum also involves mastering fractions, the classroom teacher on-hand for the trial rated the exhibit A+.

The next opportunity to ride the 1935 “Creepy Crawler” tractor is Sheep Shearing Day, hosted by San Ramon Historic Foundation (SRHF). SRHF is leading the campaign to restore the FHF 1850s barn, one of the oldest extant buildings in the Valley. Major Samuel Russell and his wife Esther purchased and named Forest Home Farms in 1850-51. Travis Boone’s parents acquired the spread in 1899.

On April 18th, 11am -3pm, family fun at FHF features vintage games, maypole, petting zoo, craft demonstrations and hands-on kids crafts as well as the opportunity to see 100 sheep get their spring haircut. For details and advance ticket sales, visit www.srhf.org.

For group tours or information about volunteering, call 925-973-3284.

Roy Ginochio begins work on the 1935 Caterpillar used for rides at Forest Home farms events.

editor@yourmonthlypaper.com

Danville Today News ~ April 2015 - Page 27

Your Personal Nutritionist

Case History of a Prediabetic Six year old and Obese Mom

By Linda Michaelis RD,MS

I recently received a referral from a pediatrician for a six year old girl with prediabetes. Though relatively rare, I decided to include this case study here since it illustrates important lessons for everyone. Mother Diane took her daughter Carly (names are changed) to see the doctor because, all of a sudden, Carly was wetting the bed, going to the bathroom often, and always wanting to go to sleep on the couch.

The doctor took a blood and urine test and saw that Carly had elevated blood sugar levels. Needless to say, Diane was terrified and called me from the doctor’s office to make an appointment. Diane herself is obese and does not have any foundation concerning basic nutrition. Carly’s diagnosis from the doctor was a wake up call for both Diane and her child.

I asked Diane to bring in a food diary of what Carly had eaten for the previous three days. Carly is not overweight, but I am sure over time she would follow in her mom’s footsteps. The food diary showed that for breakfast Carly drank orange juice, ate high sugar cereals such as Fruit Loops and Sugar Pops, or had pancakes with lots of maple syrup and butter each day. Carly also snacked on granola bars, high sugar yogurts, and gummy fruit snacks. It was no surprise Carly always felt tired in the morning. The lunch log showed Carly’s meal was typically a peanut butter sandwich or cup of noodles and lots of fruit. The saving grace was that Carly loves fruit, which honestly was the only good nutrition she was consuming. There was no trace of vegetables in Carly’s diet until dinner, if at all.

Diane works and Carly, on most days, stays with her grandparents who indulge their granddaughter with baked cookies and ice cream. Grandma’s specialty meals were often macaroni and cheese or another pasta dish.

Most days Diane picks up Carly from her Grandmother’s home after Carly’s dinner and has no idea what Grandma was feeding her. I often see parents serving unhealthy pizza or pasta for dinner with no vegetables. The parents often don’t realize that their child has not had a substantial meal or snack all day.

In my initial session with Diane, I taught her how to read a food label specifically focusing on protein, fiber, and sugar. For Carly I calculated that she at most ate only a few ounces of protein a day when she needs at least 6 oz. a day. The only fiber she was getting was in fruit, which clearly she was eating too much of.

For breakfast I suggested to Diane to replace all the dry cereals with oatmeal. I recommended serving whole wheat toast and eggs, french toast, toast with peanut butter, hard boiled eggs, or even leftover chicken from the night before for more protein in Carly’s diet. For lunch I recommended replacing Grandma’s macaroni and cheese with homemade whole wheat pasta where Diane can add cheese, chicken, and broccoli to balance out the nutrition. I emphasized that fruit should be considered a dessert and not be eaten in between meals, which causes a spike in blood sugar. By reducing Carly’s fruit consumption she could have a dessert each day. I recommended a portion sized frozen treat such as a fudgesicle or creamsicle.

I noted that Diane consumed very few vegetables herself. I was adamant with Diane that she had to be a role model for Carly and show her how veggies can be tasty and must be added to both lunch and dinner meals. I also explained to Diane that she must start a walking program or ride a bicycle each day with Carly which will undoubtedly burn sugar, especially when she has had too many treats.

I was thrilled that after two months of our work together Carly’s blood sugar was back in the normal range. Diane then decided to start working with me herself to lose weight because she now knew how important a healthy weight was for her daughter and herself. When I first worked with Diane I had to teach her how to listen to her body for real hunger signals versus cravings. Diane realized that she had been always eating Carly’s leftovers and often found herself stuffing food in her mouth when she was in the kitchen and saying to herself, “What am I doing?”

I know this mindless eating was a great contributor to her obesity.

Diane has agreed to work with me for six months to lose 50 pounds once and for all.

I am glad to inform you that nutritional counseling is covered by many health insurances such as Aetna, ABMG, Hill Physicians, Health Net, Sutter Select and Sutter East Bay Medical Foundation. Please feel free to call me at (925) 8550150 or email me at lifeweight1@gmail.com and tell me about your nutrition concerns. Please refer to my website www.LindaRD.com for past articles and info about services.

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PLACE YOUR CLASSIFIED HERE! Danville Today Classifieds

Reach over 15,000 homes and businesses in Danville - Help Wanted, For Sale, Services, Lessons, Pets, Rentals, Wanted, Freebies... $35 for up to 45 words. $5 for each additional 15 words. Send or email submissions to: 3000F Danville Blvd #117, Alamo, CA 94507 or editor@yourmonthlypaper.com.

Run the same classified ad in our sister papers “Alamo Today” or “Lafayette Today” and pay half off for your second and/or third ad! Payment by check made out to “The Editors” must be received before ad will print. Your cancelled check is your receipt. We reserve the right to reject any ad.

Page 28 - April 2015 ~ Danville Today News

The Combs Team

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Professionals You Can Count On

Nancy

Joe

Call the Combs Team

®

9 2 5 -9 8 9 -6 0 86 www.TheCombsTeam.com

Danville / Alamo Area Real Estate: A Great Year for the Luxury Home Market

Last Year, 2014, was a great year for Luxury Homes in our area. For the purpose of this analysis, as in past years, I have defined Luxury Home Market to include homes that are 5,000 square feet and larger sitting on premium lots that are between ½ and one full acre, and are equipped with swimming pools. This definition has been overlain on the geographies including Alamo, Blackhawk, Danville, and Diablo, basically what in my personal view comprises the Danville Area.

The Luxury Home Market bottomed out in 2010 both in terms of average price and dollars paid per square feet. At that time in 2010 you could have bought a 5,800 square foot home for an average price of about $1.9 million with a value of $327 per square foot. Those prices were nearly 35% below the current market for a Luxury Home.

During the Luxury Home Market peak in 2007, only 14 homes sold, but they did so with an impressive average price of $2,920,833 and an average square foot price of $506. While the majority of our housing market has recovered from the downturn, the Luxury Market in our area has yet to recover completely. In order to match the 2007 peak, Luxury Home prices will need to increase on average another $350,000 or 14 % to return to their highs.

Luxury Home Market Although the line of ascent from the $450 Dollars Per Square Foot bottom in 2010 has not been perfectly $400 straight, it has for the most part, been $350 steady, and I believe it is gaining strength. $300 Sales are happening faster. Days on $250 Market stand at 69 and are less than half $200 of those posted in 2012. Year-to-date in $150 $100 2015 one Luxury Home has sold, how- $50 ever, two are currently pending and they $10 11 12 13 14 carry a list price average of $2,999,450

Alamo West Side

and a square foot Luxury Home Mkt. Alamo, Blackhawk, Danville, Diablo price average of Year Units Sold DOM Sold Price $/Sq. Foot Avg Size $542. If these 10 14 91 $ 1,908,000 $ 327 5834 n u m b ers h o l d 11 21 98 $ 2,163,102 $ 367 5894 14 154 $ 2,195,179 $ 369 5948 for the year, we 12 might possibly 13 15 62 $ 2,464,961 $ 413 5968 17 69 $ 2,571,767 $ 440 5844 exceed the peak 14 Note: 5000 + Sq Ft. Home on .5-1.0 acre and Pool level of 2007.

There are currently 12 Luxury Homes on the market. Their total Days on Market range from 13 to 359. They carry an average list price of $3,088,874 and an average square foot price of $502, significantly higher than the 2014 numbers of $2,571,767 and $440 respectively. I suspect these will fall out somewhere between list price and the 2014 averages -- exactly where they do is anyone’s guess. If you do a straight line increase of 7%, which is roughly equal to last year’s square foot increase, we could divine a number of about $470 per square foot and an average sold price of $2,746,680. This, however, is a guess, not a prediction.

The good news for Luxury Home sellers is that the market has recovered significantly from the downturn, and the trend upwards appears to be continuing. When I write about the Luxury Market next year, it will be interesting to see how it shakes out.

Nancy and I have more than 3,000 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. You can also follow us on Facebook “Real Estate Services for Danville, Alamo and more.”

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. There will be no charge and no pressure, just our honest opinions. Please call 925-989-6086 or send me an email joecombs@thecombsteam.com.

Alamo Condo

NNGG I D N DI EN PE P Beautifully updated single story. Everything you want on ½ acre flat lot. Includes pool, pool house, orchard and irrigation well. Priced to sell $1,435,000.

Updated 2 bedroom 1.5 bath condo in downtown Alamo. Walk to Starbucks.

Priced to sell at $499,000.

Alamo View Home

Single Story Newer Construction

G

IN ND

PE Stunning views from this highly upgraded 4 bedroom 3.5 bath view home.

Priced to Sell at $1,499,000.

Built in 2006 this amazing 4 bed 2 bath single story has 10 foot ceilings and all of the goodies. Priced to sell at $1,299,000.

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.

Concord Investors Dream

G

IN ND

PE

2 bed 1 bath single story on large level lot.

Priced to sell $368,888.

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