2020 FEBRUARY ~ Alamo Today & Danville Today News by The Editors, Inc

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February 2020 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 1

& FEBRUARY 2020

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST: AMAZING ART ASKS FOR ACTION By Jody Morgan

Beauty and the Beast: California Wildflowers and Climate Change continues at the Museum of the San Ramon Valley through March 29th. Incredible images photographed throughout California by Rob Badger and Nita Winter showcase the breathtaking beauty of the state’s native wildflowers. Accompanying signage raises awareness of actions needed to tame the multi-faceted beast that threatens their sur vival. Locally sourced artifacts and displays along with informative programs Photographed in the wild, Hummingbird on Scarlet Fritillary b r i n g h o m e t h e looks like a studio portrait. message. During a month spent photographing their first “one-hundred-year-bloom” in 1998, Rob Badger and Nita Winter were awestruck. They became concerned about the deleterious effects of climate change when the next super bloom of California wildflowers occurred only seven years later. Plants were responding to the extreme stress of immoderate fluctuations in weather patterns and precipitation levels in a manic effort to ensure the continuation of their species. B eaut y and the Beast is the result of Badger and Winter’s dedication to utilizing their outstanding photographic skills to generate understanding of how California’s fragile floral treasures can be saved from forces conspiring to Nita and Rob hiking at Carson Pass. eradicate the habitats essential to their existence. “Our purpose was to use art to inspire hope and action – action that reduces the impact of climate change, promotes land and species conservation, and encourages the creation of a sustainable population that the Earth can support,” Badger writes. Following the original 2016 installation at the San Francisco Library, non-profit Exhibit Envoy adopted the display, making the traveling exhibit available to smaller and moderate-sized museums. Co-published in 2020 by WinterBadger Press and California Native Plant Society, the book Beauty and

See Art continued on page 24

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Del Amigo Transition Program students proudly show off their handmade dog toys.

A WIN-WIN By Alisa Corstorphine

When classes where shut down for several days in November 2018 due to the bad air quality from the Butte County fires, Del Amigo High, San Ramon Valley Unified School District (SRVUSD) Transition Program teacher Patty Sherve came up with a way to help pets in need. Patty teaches a group of 18-22 year old young adults in the district’s special education program, held on the Del Amigo campus in Danville. Her classroom theme of Route 22 provides the structure for the students’ transition out of public school services and towards their future. The students were also were moved by the utter and complete losses they saw experienced by the victims of the fires and their “fur babies.” The young adults all wanted to find a way to help out. The current Transitions class of 15 students reside in the SRVUSD boundaries and hail from Alamo, Danville, and San Ramon. The goal of their program is to provide life skills for individual success and independent living. Cooking, dating, friendships, getting and sharing a living space, employment, or moving on to a college or trade school program are all skills the program covers. Inspired by one curriculum lesson, the students have gone on to learn how to prepare, hand-make, and distribute

See Win cont. on page 18

The Editors Serving the communities of Alamo, Diablo, and Danville

Volume XX Number 2

Volume XI Number 2

3000F Danville Blvd. #117 Alamo, CA 94507 Telephone (925) 405-6397 Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher Editor@yourmonthlypaper.com The opinions expressed herein belong to the writers, and do not necessarily reflect that of The Editors. The Editors is not responsible for the content of any of the advertising herein, nor does publication imply endorsement.

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PAGE 2 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • February 2020

BOULEVARD VIEW

By Alisa Corstorphine, Editor

Alamo Rotary’s Annual Easter Egg Hunt

A recent winter getaway had me flying out of the Oakland airport on my way to Mexico. I’m a huge fan and Family Fun Day of the window seat, and still, every time I get the spot, I find myself constantly peering out. Saturday, April 11, 2020 Our flight pattern took us directly over downtown San Livorna Park Francisco and close to the SFO airport. From up above, the round shape of the SFO terminal, the “hashtag” layout of the runways, and the multitude of planes punctuated The Rotary Club of Alamo will sponsor the Annual Easter Egg Hunt E what a busy place it is. Peering off in the distance was a great view of Mount Diablo. Family Fun Day on Saturday, April 11, 2020 at Livorna Park. The event A new or different perspective on a familiar place, situation, sporting will begin at 9:00 a.m. and end at 11:00 a.m. Last year the event event, or political campaign can be very attracted over 700 childrenÊ V Õ` } parents, grandparents and other eye opening. friends, the crowd was estimated at over 2,000 people. The club hid A common expression asks, “Is the > ÃÌÊ10,000 eggs! glass half empty or half full?” Depending on one’s point of view, current mood, In addition to the Egg Hunt and a visit by the Easter Bunny, where life experiences, schooling, social circles, parents will have a chance to take photos, there will be music by the East upbringing, and job, either of the answers Bay Banjo Club, children’s games, balloon men, face painting and other fun activities. Coffee, donuts, chocolate milk and water will be available can be “correct.” Writer Edmund Wilson for sale. The egg hunt will take place at 10:00 a.m. sharp. There will be points out, “No two persons ever read three age groups for the egg hunt: children under the age of three (0-3); the same book,” we each see a situation children ages four to six (4-6); and children ages seven to ten (7-10). through our own lens. Children should bring their own baskets for the egg hunt. Parents should Most major sporting events have allow ample time for their children to be on time to participate. multiple referees and a plethora of cameras covering every bit of the action. Even then, JOIN US FOR LUNCH! Alamo Rotary Club meets at a call can come into question where it is Round Hill Country Club further reviewed. In hockey (and I’m sure 3169 Round Hill Road, Alamo Club of Alamo 12:15 p.m. on Wednesdays other sports), there is a “Situation Room” where the final-final decision can be made Flying over SFO. SPONSORED BY on a questionable call. Even with all that, fans who witnessed the play from their Joan Grimes, Attorney At Law, spot may cheer or boo the decision depending on which way the call went. The Law Ofﬁces of Joan Grimes, (925) 939-1680 Residents of Danville have an important vote in the March 3rd election with Measure Y, the Magee Preserve project. A recent online NextDoor.com discussion had the headline of “The Truth about Measure Y.” The headline grabbed me. It was the authors “truth,” but did that mean it was everybody’s truth? RotaryAds.indd 6 1/16/19 2:57 PM Did their research, fact finding, and conclusions have any greater value or insight from the “truths” of the opposing side? The post was just one individual’s perspective. On the marcandangel.com blog (www.marcandangel.com/2020/01/26/1-thing-you-should-know-about-our-uncertainreality), I read a story of the Golden Buddha in Thailand. In the 1950s, the centuries-old stucco statue was being moved to accommodate the building of a new highway. The huge Buddha was nearly 11 feet tall, six feet in circumference, and nearly 15,000 pounds. Local monks worked with government leaders to arrange for a large crane to transport it. During the move, it was found they miscalculated the weight and fragility of the statue. A wind gust came up, and the crane operator put the statue down with a thud. Several cracks formed in their stucco treasure. As one of the monks further investigated the damage, he noted something odd. Chipping away a small loose piece of statue that had been idolized and protected for 20 generations revealed that it wasn’t made of stucco at all, but instead, buried and hidden was a statue of solid gold. It remains the largest known solid gold statue in the history of mankind. “Reality” is frequently inaccurate, and the eyes tend to see only what the mind is prepared to comprehend and discover. Our minds An aerial perspective of Mount Diablo and the can be fully committed to a perception of truth to fit the narrative we foothills of Alamo, Danville, and Diablo. want to believe. Sometimes things can appear one way for generations or centuries before a crack exposes something different, and what we knew as a “truth” now has a new meaning. I encourage you to challenge yourself to look at things differently, to go down the rabbit hole of an opposing side or viewpoint, and to see how it fits with your perception and truth. While you may end up with the same opinion or decision, you may also be surprised at what you learn and see. In the worst case scenario, you will return more well-informed and have a broader perspective on the situation.

Rotary

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The fundraising luncheon event Hearts & Flowers benefits the Children’s Education and Transportation Fund and educational programs of the Blackhawk Museum. The luncheon will be held February 12th from AM 11 to 3PM at the Museum, located at 3700 Blackhawk Plaza Circle, Danville. The cost is $35 per person. For reservations, visit blackhawkmuseumheartsandflowers2020.org.

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February 2020 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 3

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PAGE 4 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • February 2020

EAST BAY STAND DOWN 2020

On Tuesday, February 11th at 6pm the community is invited to an informational meeting for the upcoming East Bay Stand Down event. The meeting will be held at the San Ramon Valley Veterans Memorial Building located at 115 East Prospect Avenue, Danville. Assisting homeless and at-risk military Veterans is the primary goal of East Bay Stand Down 2020. A grateful community will again come together from August 27-30th at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton to help give men and women who have served our Country a better life. About 350 Veterans will be served by 1,000 volunteers over four days. There is an opportunity for most every appreciative patriot to serve during different hours in a large variety of interesting and rewarding ways. You can help! Come learn what you would enjoy doing. For further information visit eastbaystanddown.org or contact Sandee Wiedemann, EBSD Public Affairs at xosandee@earthlink.net.

AAUW SCHOLARSHIPS

The American Association of University Women (AAUW) Danville-Alamo-Walnut Creek Branch is awarding scholarships to local women. Applicants who will be beginning their third year at an accredited four-year college or university or applicants who have been accepted at an accredited university to pursue an advanced degree (masters, doctorate, or post-doctorate) will be considered. Scholarships applications will be considered from high school grad? the ed y y uates from Walnut Creek or the San plo wn b an? m Ramon Valley Unified School Dise do e lo lfd tricts or are current residents within Se ne hom r u a these school boundaries. n t for e The minimum scholarship award is Be ank B $1,000. Awards will be granted in June. Program details and application forms are available at daw-ca.aauw. We specialize in helping the selfnet. The application deadline is employed borrower get a home March 13th. loan for purhcasing or refinancing a property. SRV REPUBLICAN WOMEN FEDERATED MEETING The San Ramon Valley Republican Women Federated group invites you to hear from Allison Call us today to get your Olson and Matt Shupe on February 25th at 11:30AM at the Crow Canyon Country Club. Mrs. Olson will give an in-depth look at the propositions that are coming out of Sacramento for California’s personalized loan quote March 3rd ballot. Mr. Shupe is the president of Contra Costa County Republican’s Central ComBay Area Mortgage Group mittee and will speak on the local candidates and measures that will affect Contra Costa County. (925) 719-0660 Please join for a luncheon to learn and discuss these important issues. Everyone is welcome. RSVP online at www. www.bayareamortgagegroup.com srvrwf.org or call Carol at (925) 820-0774. The cost, which includes lunch, is $32 for members and $37 for non-members. CA-DRE Brokers License #00973809

SAN RAMON VALLEY GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY

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The SRV Genealogical Society invites you to attend their regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, February 18 from 10 to noon. The meeting will be held at the Family History Center in the LDS church located at 2949 Stone Valley Rd., Alamo. The speaker will be Lisa Gorrell who will present a program entitled “German Research...Let’s Get Started.” If you have German ancestors, this might be a big help to you with your genealogy. And, even if you have no German ancestors, there is always something new to learn that might help you in your search. For more information, visit www.srvgensoc.org. th

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DANVILLE WOMEN'S CLUB UPCOMING EVENTS

Come join with the members of the GFWC Danville Women’s Club at the following upcoming events. The Thursday, February 20th luncheon will feature CC Kelly from CC Kelly Accessories. CC will show the group how to accessorize any outfit. A portion of the proceeds will go to CCC Meals on Wheels. Call (925) 837-1165 for reservations. Lunch is free for first-timers. Socializing begins at 11AM, followed by CC at 11:30AM, and lunch at noon. You are also welcome to stay for the 1PM business meeting to learn more about the club. Book a table for bridge and lunch on Thursday, February 27th. The cost is $100/table which goes towards a scholarship fundraiser for high school seniors going off to college. For questions or reservations call Mary at (925) 837-3860. Both events will be held at the Danville Women’s Club clubhouse located at 242 W. Linda Mesa, Danville.

ALAMO WOMEN’S CLUB

The next Alamo Women’s Club Scholarship Jewelry sale will be held on Friday, February 7th from 10 to 4PM and Saturday, February 8th from 10AM- 3PM. The sale will be held at Creekside Community Church located at 1350 Danville Blvd., Alamo. All costume jewelry will be priced at $5 and all designer jewelry will be 70% off. All proceeds go to provide scholarships for foster youth and low income families. AM

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February 2020 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 5

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PAGE 6 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • February 2020

FEBRUARY LOVE TOKENS – TAKE YOUR PICK!

By Marcia Harmon, Cottage Jewel

The new moon New Year has begun, our hills will be blossoming with wild flowers, and our little valley is full of things to see, learn, and experience. The Museum of the San Ramon Valley has an interesting “Beauty and the Beast” exhibit, and just across the street, Cottage Jewel hosts special events and has unique gifting options. So what’s to love about February 14th? The tradition of Valentine’s Day may be rooted in the ancient Pagan festival of Lupercalia, which honored a rural patron of husbandry and acted as the guardian of nature’s secrets. The Victorians believed that birds chose their mates in February, and thus the pairing of doves became a popular duo for the auspicious day. Hearts, Cupid’s arrow, the swallow, doves, and the key motif express endearing and romantic notions to decorate your home, wear, or gift. Whether you prefer gathering flowers, sharing chocolates, or writing poetry, spread the message of LOVE this Valentine’s! The art of exchanging Valentines has evolved from the early 19th century focus on original handwritten prose and fanciful handmade assemblages incorporating ribbons, paper lace, sun glass hearts, gold lace bullion, embossed papers, felt, bird feathers, floral seeds, and drawings. Some of the early “cards” were so thick with embellishments that they came in presentation boxes and hid lavish gifts. By the mid 1800’s with the expansion of die cut lithographs, a booming commercial printing industry, and active postal service, Valentines were in mass distribution and carried messages of affection, humor, or anonymous vulgarity. Come see the diverse collection of original vintage and old-world-inspired cards offered at Cottage Jewel this month.

To honor your special friends with a birthday in February, consider gifting an amethyst, the stone for wellness. Amethyst brings calm, balance, and peace. For antique love tokens, consider an embellishment for home or hearth with a porcelain courting scene, a cameo carving of Psyche (bride of Cupid), or even a Celtic eternal knot. Amethyst can also be worn in the form of a locket, charm, bracelet, or bead amulet to benefit from the healing energy. Use the Victorian language of flowers translations to decipher the messages within floral bouquets and brooches of the 1800’s. Visit Cottage Jewel’s “Tokens of Love” trunk show on February 8th from 2-5pm to learn more about the most rare of hand-painted portrait miniature jewelry, the mysterious Lover’s Eye. To intertwine a bit of Mother Nature with your Valentine delivery, consider the flower of the month, the violet, which symbolizes faithfulness and virtue. Another option available at both the Museum and Cottage jewel are laser-cut wood ornaments celebrating our community’s historic sites and over 300 year old oak tree. Locally made with love by Alisa Corstorphine, these everlasting wood pictorials make a nice keepsake all year long. What gesture of affection suits your pleasure this month? For vintage, antique, and handmade mementos, consider Cottage Jewel, located at 100 West Prospect Ave in downtown Danville. Cottage Jewel has been servicing the community since 1999. Open daily. Follow on Instagram at Cottage_Jewel_Antiques or call 925-837-2664. Advertorial

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February 2020 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 7

PAGE 8 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • February 2020

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SAN RAMON VALLEY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY

By Jamie Westgate, Principal

Every morning, I have the privilege of starting our school day reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and praying with our K-5th grade students. We have a beautiful flag in our courtyard; staring at the majestic symbol against the blue sky never fails to inspire a heart of appreciation for the privilege of living in the United States. As we celebrated Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. last month and remember influential presidents like George Washington and Abraham Lincoln in the month to come, I am reminded that our country has been blessed by wise, selfless leaders who care deeply about upholding those famous words from our Declaration of Independence: “All men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” This month, our 8th grade class embarks on their annual trip to Washington D.C., Gettysburg, and New York City. The kids and teachers couldn’t be more excited about the journey ahead! Not only do they have the benefit of an unforgettable relational experience with one another, but they will learn more about our country’s heritage, important historic events, and the sacrifice so many have made while serving our country. Every student is guaranteed to come home changed by the experience! Back on our school’s campus, we are busy enrolling prospective students for the 2020-2021 school year. We are thrilled to announce our school’s plan to officially begin a Transitional Kindergarten class (TK) as part of the elementary program. We’re building a longer day for these little ones which will include many of the same enrichment programs experienced by our older elementary students. With the integration of our campus preschool (formerly known as Community Presbyterian Preschool), we now serve almost 500 children ages 2-8th grade. If you have an interest in learning more about the benefits of Christian education, feel free to contact our admissions department, admissions@srvca.org. Finally, as we celebrate Valentine’s Day this month, I especially want to express our thanks and appreciation to those in our community who serve our church and school. We’re grateful for our first responders, civic leaders, community helpers, and local pastors who model what it means to offer love and care to our students. We love and appreciate you!

MONTAIR ELEMENTARY By Ondi Tricaso, Principal

This past month has been an exciting one. Since we returned from Winter Break, we have celebrated our “Festival Around the World.” It was an exciting evening, highlighting various countries represented by the Montair community. This is one of my favorite school events because we leave with a greater appreciation of all that we share in common with one another. This month, Montair also worked with the Wheelchair Foundation to fundraise to provide wheelchairs for people who would otherwise not have access. Last year, we raised enough to provide 18 wheelchairs to people in need. I can hardly wait to see what we do this year. We have also enjoyed our annual Montair Family Breakfast. This PTA event is organized by our Montair Dad’s Club each year. These dads show up early to get the griddle going, serving hundreds of pancakes to our families. At this breakfast, families were able to preview art projects created by each class to fundraise at our upcoming auction. The projects are great and will go toward funding our drama and music programs, as well as funding our classroom paras, learning lab, and much more. At our PTA Association meeting, we organized a viewing of the movie Screenagers. This documentary explored the impact on our kids of growing up in this digital world. Our parents were able to watch and discuss how best to support our children in navigating these tools in a healthy way. We are off to a great start in 2020!

VISTA GRANDE ELEMENTARY By Osi Juergens, Principal

Vista Grande students and staff are fully engaged in the second semester, both in class as well as in attending phenomenal field trips to enhance curriculum. Local field trips include the Chabot Space & Science Center, Tassajara One Room School, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Danville Library, Mission San Jose, and A Walk Through the American Revolutionary War. In February, students will participate in “Words Matter Week,” a district-wide initiative designed to bring awareness to how words can impact the way others feel. Our PTA’s Inclusion & Diversity Committee is hosting several activities designed to inspire students, staff, and parents to be mindful of the words they choose in day-to-day conversations...not only during this particular week, but all year long. Students will kick off the week by taking a photo where they represent the “I” in Kind. These photos will then be played back in a slide show to students at the end of the week. Each student will also participate in the Rock Project where they will write positive affirmations on a rock that will then be displayed throughout campus, followed by a few other creative opportunities for students to show that words truly matter. These activities support us in our recertification of a No Place for Hate awarded school. Charity is important to us at Vista Grande. Throughout the year, we support many organizations along with supporting our sister school. We just concluded a campaign to collect pajamas and socks for foster youth. After hearing about the Australian fires, a second-grade student organized a bake sale with proceeds going to help treat burns and rehydrate rescued koalas at the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital. Students enjoyed an Ed. Fund sponsored movie night at the end of January and will have the opportunity to enjoy another movie night at the end of February. Another exciting upcoming event is the Missoula Children’s Theater where students will either perform or watch the play Cinderella, a production that will be enjoyed by all Vista Grande students, staff, and families. We end the month with a community event: the “Boots and Belles Barn Dance” where parents and their children can attend a school dance. Wow, we are busy at Vista Grande and loving every minute.

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February 2020 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 9

ST. ISIDORE SCHOOL

By Maria Ward, Principal HAPPY FEBRUARY

Throughout February, St. Isidore School (SIS) will celebrate the monthly gospel value of LOVE. Author Robert Heinlein said, “Love is that condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own.” Love unites us and brings us closer to each other and to God. I encourage you to spread love in our community and beyond by giving to those in need, acting with kindness and respect in every situation, and remembering we are all God’s children. The relationship shared between a grandparent and grandchild is special and deserves to be honored. On Valentine’s Day, our third graders will invite their grandparents, or a special loved one, to school for a celebration. There will be a special tribute Mass, and, following Mass, the students and their beloved guests will sit down together for a delicious brunch. Games will be played, photos will be taken, and memories will be made. Many of the children’s grandparents travel from locations across the country to attend this event. It is always heartwarming to see the love that is shared between generations. This is one of our school’s most precious traditions. SIS families are invited to enjoy our second annual STEM night on Thursday, February 20th. It will be an evening of hands-on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) activities for students and families to complete together. Topics will revolve around the theme of the ocean. The season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 26. Lent allows us time to reflect and prepare for the celebration of Easter. We invite you to join us for Mass on Fridays, and together, we can observe this special season. We are accepting applications for 1st–8th grade for the 2020–2021 school year. Application forms can be found at www.stisidore.org. Our new student testing will take place on Thursday, March 19, at 3:15PM. Please RSVP for testing at (925) 837-2977. I want to wish you a wonderful month filled with family, friends, and LOVE.

RANCHO ROMERO ELEMENTARY

By Sandy Kontilis, Principal

ALAMO ELEMENTARY

By Stan Hitomi, Principal OH! THE PLACES YOU’LL GO! By Dr. Seuss You’ll be on your way up! You’ll be seeing great sights! You’ll join the high fliers who soar to high heights.

You won’t lag behind, because you’ll have the speed. You’ll pass the whole gang and you’ll soon take the lead. Wherever you fly, you’ll be best of the best. Wherever you go, you will top all the rest. At the end of this year, my 43-year career in education will be coming to an end. During my career, I have been either a teacher or administrator at public schools and private schools; elementary, middle, and high schools; community colleges and the University of California; general education schools and prison schools; and schools with high poverty and those within communities of affluence. I’ve seen education at every level and from nearly every perspective. I can’t say that I have been cheated! In an industry that offers far too little recognition, I have been blessed with recognition as Coach of the Year, Teacher of the Year, Administrator of the Year, and Citizen of the Year for the town of Alamo. And, like the book by Dr. Seuss, Oh The Places You’ll Go, I have traveled to China, Singapore, Taiwan, Korea, Hong Kong, Canada, and over 20 states within the U.S. as a speaker and trained for teachers and administrators. I have even been able to fuel my inner-athlete with 17 years as a coach and my inner-scientist as a faculty scholar at Lawrence Livermore National Lab for 24 years. Yes, I’ve been busy! But at no time during my pre-principal days had I imagined that the capstone for my journey would be found two-blocks from home at Alamo Elementary. At Alamo, I found the secret to happiness. It is not about where you go or what you do; it is about who you are with. At Alamo, our “secret sauce” is made up of dedicated staff, amazing parents, and simply the “best” students. Being principal at Alamo has been less about what I do and more about how I can help others in creating the magic that is the Alamo Experience. Two weeks ago, I watched as a teacher celebrated one of her students reaching a new reading level as though she had won the lottery! During winter break I caught our “bulletin board elf” (PTA) braving the winter chill to flip our colorful board to welcome 2020, staff members stepping up to cover for a teacher who succumbed to the flu in the middle of the day, our fifth graders “high fiving” first graders during their PE run, and classmates consoling one of their own for missing a layup. The magic goes on each and every day, and will continue to do so long after I’m gone. I want to thank everyone involved in making the “magic” during my 10 years at Alamo School. Along with countless memories, I will take with me that special feeling that comes from being part of something so very close to perfection. So boys and girls you’ll never know, when you first start something….OH! The Places You’ll Go! Note: More information about the celebration of Mr. Hitomi’s career and retirement will be coming in next month’s letter.

Integrity, the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles, was January’s Character of the Month. Honesty and integrity are important traits in a child’s school life. At Rancho Romero, our students have strong positive relationships, with their teachers. Connection to teachers and staff and safety are an important component of a students success at school. This month’s spotlight is on our new Technology Instructional Assistant, Ms. Kimber Monticelli. Kimber brings a wealth of experience in web design and technology. Today, technology is becoming more and more prevalent in education, and that means students are losing the ability to create and invent with their hands because they now have technology such as iPads that do all the creative work for them One of Kimber’s goals for students at Rancho Romero is to transform the Tech Lab into an Innovation Center. Her hope is for students to learn by creating and inventing their own learning. She has great ideas, so look for an update in my future columns. Finally, our students are learning and progressing with their studies. On January 17th, Danville-Alamo - A new report has just been deadly mistakes that cost them literally thousands of the first semester report card was sent home released which reveals 7 costly mistakes that most dollars. The good news is that each and every one of with students. The partnership between the homeowners make when selling their home, and a 9 these mistakes is entirely preventable. In answer to student, home, and school is referred to as Step System that can help you sell your home fast this issue, industry insiders have prepared a free a “triangle” where everyone works together and for the most amount of money. special report entitled "The 9 Step System to Get to support student learning. The rigor and Your Home Sold Fast and For Top Dollar". This industry report shows clearly how the expectations are growing because they are in To hear a brief recorded message about how to the second half of the academic school year. traditional ways of selling homes have become order your FREE copy of this report call toll-free 1increasingly less and less effective in today's market. Our admin and staff carefully monitor growth 844-941-0941 and enter 2500. You can call any time, to ensure all students learn at high levels. In- The fact of the matter is that fully three quarters of 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. homesellers don't get what they want for their homes tervention and enrichment are systematically Get your free special report NOW to find out how monitored in order to meet the needs of our and become disillusioned and - worse - financially students. Rancho Romero proudly prepares disadvantaged when they put their homes on the you can get the most money for your home. its students for the next step in their education. market. January is in the rear window, and we As this report uncovers, most homesellers make 7 look forward to many exciting PTA sponsored events, school wide activities, and This report is courtesy of The Jackson Group-EXP Realty DRE #01763819. Not intended to solicit buyers or sellers currently under contract. Copyright © 2020 learning for all.

7 Things You Must Know Before Putting Your Danville-Alamo Home Up for Sale

PAGE 10 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • February 2020

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VALLEY VIGNETTE

By Beverly Lane SAN RAMON VALLEY UNION HIGH SCHOOL OPENS ITS CLASSIC BUILDING IN 1917

Ever since high school classes started in the Eddy house in 1910, the school trustees had looked for a new high school site. They talked to Danville area property owners about buying parts of their ranches, including El Rio land (four acres between Alamo and Danville), the Chrisman property, some Close-owned land, the Peterson Ranch (eight acres), Mr. Kelley’s land (five acres of today’s Danville Estates), the Stelling property (five acres), and the Flournoy Ranch (four acres east of the Danville village next to San Ramon Creek). In the meantime, the school population grew, and land prices were rising. The Danville Improvement Club was actively proclaiming the benefits of buying land, building a home, and living in the San Ramon Valley, using newspapers, brochures, posters, speakers, and advertisements. Finally, in 1915, conversations with butcher Robert McAdue (McAdoo) led the trustees to offer him $5,000 for his slaughter-yard land north of Danville on the county road, amounting to 9 7/10 acres. They added an adjoining piece with a “club of oak trees” for $515. On Saturday morning, March 4, 1916, the board met informally at the bank and paid Mr. McAdue for his land. According to historian Inez Butz, Jim Root and Noel Norris, both born and raised in the valley, said that Mr. McAdue was known as “Dirty Bob.” Evidently, his hygiene practices were not the best. If you asked for Mr. McAdue, no one would have known him by that name. Norris recalled seeing him on many occasions driving a wagon team down Crow Canyon Road to Oakland to deliver his meat. That March, a mass meeting of citizens was held at the Fraternal Hall on Front Street to talk about the prospective school. Trustee President William R. Meese presided, and trustee Will Stewart spoke about the prospects for a new high school building, pointing out that when there was no high school building, the university would not admit high school graduates without a special examination. In 1916, the three other trustees were August Humburg Jr., William Williams, and Josiah Boucher. Stewart said they envisioned a one-story building around a courtyard which could be increased by additions and extensions. The Courier stated: “Colonel William L. White embodied the opinion of all in a resolution conveying the sense of the gathering to favor a bond issue of $20,000 to run for 20 years.” The motion passed unanimously. In April of 1916, Mr. Norman Coulter of San Francisco was selected architect, and things really began to move. A June bond issue election approved $15,000 for the school, but flaws in the procedures nullified that result. Then voters in September re-approved the bond by 245 to 7. Keller and Crane of San Francisco were the low bidders to construct the five-room building, and in November, the Courier reported that construction was proceeding rapidly. In February 24, 1917, the Contra Costa Gazette opined “The school is Mission style, built around a central court…The trustees plan to make it a model agricultural high school. It is located in the middle of a pear orchard.” The trustees proposed to provide two courses of study, one to satisfy the state university entrance requirements and another course of a practical nature. That year, there were 48 students and four teachers. Meese presided at the San Ramon Valley Union High School dedication on March 14, 1917 where a large crowd filled the assembly hall, the courtyard and the grounds. Architect Coulter, principal Mrs. Elma Galvin, and student body president See SRVHS continued on page 24

MONTE VISTA HIGH SCHOOL

By Dr. Kevin Ahern, Principal

Monte Vista’s (MV) students and faculty enjoyed a nice start to the spring semester by kicking things off with a teacher workday followed by a late start Tuesday after Winter Break. The rolling start allowed everyone to have a chance to successfully transition from vacation mode back to school mode. Our return to school was clouded by an online racist incident that occurred off-campus in our school community before winter break. In response, the new semester began with a conversation throughout our school and community with a specific focus on race. Our vision is to create a culture of dialogue at MV where we are growing from kindness to social justice, and moving from safe classrooms to brave classrooms. There will be much more to share in the coming months. February is always a busy month with winter sports closing out their seasons and spring sports beginning, our arts programs performing and competing locally and across the state, and our seniors beginning to receive their first college acceptance letters. We are also preparing to welcome our incoming freshman, the Class of 2024, at our annual Freshman Parent Night at the end of the month. MV’s winter athletic teams are making strong bids for league championships and playoff spots. Nationally ranked MV Women’s Soccer is dominant once again this season aiming to repeat their EBAL crown and begin their push for NCS and CIF Championships. MV Men’s Basketball is playing at a championship level. Recently, our team defeated both SRV and DeLaSalle – and they are hungry for more. MV Women’s Basketball team is young, nearly all freshman and sophomores, and those ladies are playing excellent basketball. The team is enjoying their best season in years and will undoubtedly make a strong push for the EBAL title and for NCS playoffs. MV Men’s Soccer is also enjoying a strong season and will be strong contenders for the post-season, and MV Wrestling is continuing to get stronger as they prepare to compete for “the Axe” championship. Spring sports will kick off on February 10th, so our campus will be very busy in the coming weeks.

See MVHS continued on page 22

HOST FAMILIES SOUGHT FOR 6-DAYS IN APRIL

For the eighteenth year, students from a large high school in the south of France are coming to the Bay Area for a six-day visit of our area. The students will arrive in the late afternoon on Saturday, April 11th and depart Friday morning, April 17th. The teens stay with local families and have a full itinerary of activities during the days and only require attention in the evenings and one weekend. The visit is an ideal opportunity to experience another culture and hopefully motivate you to consider visiting France in return. Anyone interested in hosting a student (or students!) is welcome to participate. For more information or to find out about past year’s programs, please contact Martine Causse (teacher in charge of the group) at dachary.martine@orange.fr. Many past host families are happy to discuss any questions with you. Danville contact, Kevin Dimler, can be reached at kevindimler@gmail.com or (925)718-5052.

ACTION POOL REPAIR

Serving Alamo & Danville Since 1979!

925.820.3640 www.actionpoolrepair.com Contractor Lic# 978033-C53

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February 2020 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 11

PAGE 12 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • February 2020

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New Member Spotlight

SILK ROAD MASSAGE

480 San Ramon Valley Blvd Suite G, Danville (925) 272-0313

silkroadmassageca.com Appointment booking: mindbodyonline.com

117-E Town & Country Dr. Danville, CA 94525 Phone: (925) 837-4400 Fax: (925) 837-5709 business@danvilleareachamber.com

NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION

A SAFER CONTRA COSTA COUNTY By Candace Andersen

Public safety is one of the many issues I plan to bring to the forefront during my tenure as Chair of the County Board of Supervisors. Keeping our families and neighborhoods safe is a high priority. My colleagues and I have had to confront this issue head on in recent months. Tragedy struck my district last October when an apparent gang-related shooting left five dead at a home in Orinda on Halloween night. The residence where the fatal shooting occurred was rented through Airbnb. The incident prompted us to further refine our pending short-term rental ordinance that governs Airbnb’s. Such a task was not simple given our desire to improve safety measures while still allowing services like Airbnb, which provide places to house visiting family and friends, or provide a revenue source for people who wish to live in their homes but might need some supplemental income. At the same time, we don’t want these rental units to take away much needed housing. The community of Lafayette was recently shaken by a pair of violent home invasion robberies, and fortunately, the perpetrators were eventually arrested thanks to the great efforts of law enforcement. The use of technology, such as the Automatic License Plate Readers currently used in Lamorinda cities, Alamo, and Danville, and video footage from home security cameras were helpful in identifying these criminals. A great resource for preventing crimes in our neighborhoods is the Contra Costa County Community Services/Crime Prevention Unit. It promotes and provides specialized crime prevention services and expertise to support the safety and well-being of the public throughout unincorporated Contra Costa County. Central to its mission are the building of partnerships and improving public safety through education. Their programs include Neighborhood Watch, which is one of the most effective means available for resolving issues within your community. Through organized problem-solving activities, your block can remove crime from your neighborhood and address any community issues that concern residents. To start a Neighborhood Watch group, speak with your neighbors and contact the Community Services Unit, and a Specialist will coordinate a meeting with your neighborhood. The Security Camera Registration Program is another way for residents to increase safety precautions. The Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff’s Security/ Surveillance Camera registration program is a voluntary opportunity for residents and

Additional new members

• Studio Brinks • Income Tax Services of San Ramon • Elegance at Dublin Assisted Living & Memory Care • AT&T Alamo

business owners to make a valuable impact on crime in their community. By registering your address, you let detectives know that your home/business is equipped with a perimeter surveillance system. In the event of a crime in your area, detectives will be aware that your system is available to them should they need it to possibly identify the suspect. You remain in complete control of your system. If needed, the detective will meet with you to view your recordings for the time period in question and download any identifiable footage. This is a voluntary program, and you can opt out at any time. To contact the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office Community Services/ Crime Prevention Unit, email them at CSU@so.cccounty.us. This email should NOT be used to report crimes, suspicious activity, or active situations, however. You can provide crime tips by contacting them via any of the following methods:

See Resolution continued on page 22

ORCHESTRA PAIRS WITH HIGH SCHOOLS IN CONCERT

Celebrating Beethoven’s 250th birthday, the Diablo Symphony Orchestra presents an all Beethoven concert on Saturday, February 8th at 7:30PM and Sunday, February 9th at 2PM at the Walnut Creek Presbyterian Church. The program features Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, a monumental work that holds a unique place in the symphonic and choral canon. The orchestra will be joined by Bay Area soloists along with the award-winning high school concert choirs of Danville’s San Ramon Valley High and Moraga’s Campolinda High. Tickets are available at the door, at the Lesher Center box office located at 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek, by calling 925-943-7469, or by visiting www.diablosymphony.org.

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TECHNOLOGY MATTERS

By Evan Corstorphine, Portable CIO, Inc.

Do you remember Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon? It was amazing to hear through headphones. There’s a vast musical nuance that is hard to catch when listening through speakers. Of course, as a teenager, I moved well beyond “nuance” and played the music entirely too loudly. A “good session” saw me rocking out for an hour or two to whatever was the latest album. I think it is amazing that I can still hear you all as well as I do. Today, I seem to collect headphones like little kids collect rocks. I’ve been trying to find the perfect device for the various situations where I wish to listen. My primary use is listening to audiobooks, yet there is still a certain amount of music sneaking in there, albeit playing much more quietly than before. The three primary locations for my headphone use are while in a room such as an office with other people present, during air travel, and while swimming. During a recent air trip, I tried my newly acquired Apple AirPods Pro, which have built-in noise-canceling, a more ergonomic in-ear design than the original AirPods, and three sizes of cushions to fit small, medium, and large ear canals. They’re quite good, yet unsurprisingly I found them to be OK-but-not-great in the loud confines of an airplane cabin. Choosing the right cushion is critical so they both stay in your ear and seal out external noise. For general listening around the house, they work very well. When there’s significant background noise such as a crowded room or an airplane, they can be overwhelmed. I’m pretty certain Apple wasn’t targeting the airplane-travel crowd with these, anyway. My daughter owns the Bose 700 over-ear noise-canceling headphones, and they deserve their rich reputation. I was greeted by utter silence when I tried them on during our flight and could only hear the most distant suggestion of noise indicating that I was on a plane. As they are over-ear, there was no pressure to make my ear sore, so wearing them is extremely comfortable. Like the AirPods, they work via Bluetooth and can connect to your handheld device for listening to music or videos. Between the noise-canceling and the Bluetooth connectivity, I will safely guarantee you can sit comfortably isolated for the duration of your flight. If you’re

February 2020 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 13

interested in this type of headphone, I urge you to perform a web search for “top 10 over-ear Bluetooth noise-canceling headphones,” and read the many reviews about this genre. Bose will be high on the list, and you’ll also see offerings from Sony, Sennheiser, Jabra, and Audio Technica. I urge you to research these well because they all have unique features and trade-offs. Plan on spending $150-$350. I’ve tried headphones from less-known companies as well. One is a company I discovered through a Kickstarter campaign named “Nura.” This over-ear, noise-canceling headphone has an innovative design that maps your specific hearing then electronically stores your hearing profile to customize the playback of your music. For example, these headphones completely compensate for my 8Khz hearing loss. The noise-canceling works very well, although I think the Bose 700 has a slight edge when it comes to absolute sound deadening. The sweet spot for these headphones is the customization of your particular playback experience. In side-by-side tests, other headphones sound comparably “flat.” Another outstanding feature for these is what they call their “immersion bass.” They use a unique and highly effective mechanism to use the over-ear area of the headphone to create deep bass you can feel, while the part that goes toward your ear canal carries the higher frequencies. For more info, visit nuraphone.com. At $399, these are on the high end of the scale for personal headphones; however, they’re tremendous. The final frontier for my music and audiobook listening is to settle on something reliable that works in the pool. Wireless headphones in the pool are tricky because water interferes with Bluetooth radio signals. Even if you have a good headphone that fits well and sounds good, unless it has an outstanding radio and your phone is right next to the pool edge, it’s going to cut out and sound awful. The way most people solve this problem is to use a very small MP3 player that hooks onto your goggles with good earphones that fit tightly into your ears. These types of units use short earphone cables, so there’s no coiling required. The only difference with an MP3-style player is that one must plan by preloading songs. I am a fan of the “Swimbuds” brand, and I use them with a “Syryn” waterproof MP3 player. If you’re interested in trying these, find them bundled on Amazon for $89. Until someone figures out a way to get Bluetooth through water, I’ll probably stick with these. If you own or are aware of a business that has high IT costs, unreliable systems, and no end to their technical drama, we’d love an introduction because that’s what we fix. If you have questions or comments about this article, please reach us at info@pcioit.com or (925)552-7953x1. Advertorial

2 Superbowl Sunday

hog und Gro y Da

Monday

Sunday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Friday

Thursday

Community Calendar

Recreation Program Expo 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM @Community Center in the Valley Oak Room 420 Front St

Saturday

PAGE 14 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • February 2020

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Monday

Sunday

Tuesday

Small Business Council Lunch & Learn How to Price your Value @Chamber Offices 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Wednesday

Art of the African Diaspora Closing Reception 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM @Village Theatre 233 Front St

Monthly Networking Mixer @Blackhawk Museum 5:30PM

Thursday

Kid's Night Out 2020 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM @Community Center in the Valley Oak Room 420 Front St

Small Business Council How to Price your Value Workshop 7:45 - 9:00 AM @Library Mt Diablo Room 400 Front St

Friday

Saturday

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PAGE 16 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • February 2020

CLIP NOTES

By Jody Morgan

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DPL CONSTRUCTION

Why celebrate President’s Day by planting a tree? George Washington’s dedication to planting native trees at Mount Vernon and experimenting with exotic specimens is well documented. The official website for Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello notes: “Jefferson undoubtedly ranked trees at the top of his hierarchical chart of favorite garden plants.” The only photograph of Abraham Lincoln delivering the Gettysburg • New construction, address includes a young honey locust tree in the background. Alive today, this “Witness Tree” defies Additions,Remodels the average 100-year lifespan of its species. Theodore Roosevelt is credited with using his presidential authority to establish 150 national forests, 51 • FOUNDATIONS federal bird reserves, four national game preserves, and five national parks. Yet when it comes to responsibility • Kitchens for planting the most trees, programs initiated by his younger cousin Franklin Delano Roosevelt yield more compelling statistics. Nicknamed “Roosevelt’s Tree Army,” the Civilian Conservation Corps collectively planted over three billion trees. • B A T H S In American Canopy, Eric Rutkow writes of FDR’s initial experience with cultivating trees. Newly elected to the New York State Senate and • Termite & Dry Rot appointed Chairman of the Forest, Fish, and Game Committee, FDR simultaneously assumed management of his family’s Springwood estate in Hyde Park. He immediately discovered that the soil had been so degraded by improper use that it was no longer suitable for agriculture. aFREE ESTIMATESZ His response was to rejuvenate the soil by installing trees. During his first season in 1912, he put in 1,000 seedlings – many planted by his own hands. Each year, his project grew in scope so that during the last 15 years of his life, he annually oversaw the installation of some 20,000 trees. Rutkow writes: “The planting wasn’t just an activity for Roosevelt; it provided an identity as well. For many years, when voting in License# 851418 Hyde Park, he listed his profession as ‘tree-grower’ instead of ‘politician’ or ‘lawyer.’ And Roosevelt took great pleasure in referring to himself in this fashion, for trees were one of his favorite topics of discussion.” FDR was not the first individual to identify the possibility of using trees as a windbreak on the Great Plains, a region known as the “Great American Desert” and the “Dust Bowl.” However, his proposal for creating a solid forest of trees 100 miles wide from the Canadian border into Texas was the boldest. With winds carrying “black blizzards” of soil from the farms of the plains states as far east as Washington, DC and the Atlantic Ocean, the time for action seemed past due. Nevertheless, Roosevelt’s plan for what came to be called the “shelterbelts” met significant opposition. The modified plan enacted successfully stemmed the ecological crisis. Officially titled the Prairie States Forestry Project, it featured staggered strips of trees with outer rows of chokecherry, lilac, Russian olive, and wild plum and interior plantings of taller trees tolerant of drought, heat, and wind. From the time the first Austrian pine was planted on March 18, 1935, in Oklahoma until the program concluded in 1942, over 220 million trees were planted in 30,233 shelterbelts along 18,599 miles of field bisecting the Great Plains. Led by Yale University scientists, a study publicized in 2015 estimates there are three trillion trees on earth today. The same study suggests the number of trees has dropped 46% since the beginning of human civilization. In “Wildflowers and Climate Change,” a chapter in Beauty and the Beast, Gordon Leppig writes: “As a direct consequence of drought and warmer temperatures, the estimated number of dead trees in California has ballooned from 3.1 million in 2010 to more than 100 million in 2016.” A senior scientist in the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Leppig notes: “Climate modeling of blue and valley oaks – two trees highly valued by wildlife and found nowhere else – shows their range shrinking by more than 50 percent and migrating north.” In Half Earth, E. O. Wilson writes: “We should forever bear in mind that the beautiful world our species inherited took the biosphere 3.8 billion years to build. … Like it or not, and prepared or not, we are the mind and stewards of the living world.” Fortunately, many people are developing strategies addressing climate change and habitat loss. In 2006, the UN Environment Programme launched the Billion Tree Campaign, reaching that goal in 2007. In 2011, Plant-for-the-Planet Foundation took over the worldwide initiative with some 13.6 billion trees planted in what’s now the Trillion Tree Campaign. One of many tree planting options, National Forest Foundation’s “50 Million for Our Forests” program plants two trees for a $2 donation.

925-705-1252

QUICK TRIPS By Linda Summers Pirkle

CHOCOLATE SALON FROM PARIS TO SAN FRANCISCO

Pain au chocolate (chocolate croissant) is a classic French breakfast. The buttery, flaky pastry (technically viennoiserie) filled with a wedge of dark chocolate that softens but does not melt during baking is so darn tasty. For years, I have been the designated breakfast forager when in Paris (and most destinations), seeking out the best neighborhood patisserie. I love the early morning hours to do a bit of exploring, and I take the task seriously. I purchase croissants and pain au chocolate from at least three nearby patisseries, do taste tests, then make the decision which place will be “ours.” Le chocolat chaud, (hot chocolate) like pain au chocolate, is another French classic. Unlike Un Dimanche a Paris American-style hot chocolate, the French version is thick, rich, and slightly bittersweet, and the experience is almost like drinking a melted bar of fine chocolate, a treat not for the chocolate timid. In Paris, Café Angelina, founded in 1903, is known worldwide for its exquisite hot chocolate and Parisian experience and is on the “must visit” list for many. The café’s long lines prove it. My current favorite place in Paris for le chocolat chaud is in the 6th arrondissement on a cobblestoned street with the charming name “Un Dimanche a Paris” (A Sunday in Paris). This lovely tea salon serves delicious hot chocolate as well as teas and of course an assortment of tasty house-made treats. Their signature candy boxes are perfect to bring home as gifts. The sleek and modern salon is light and airy, and the space has incorporated the remains of an ancient wall from the middle ages, built under the reign of King Phillipe-Auguste (1165-1223). Closer to home, Dandelion Chocolate Factory and Bloom Salon recently opened in the Mission District of San Francisco with a nod to the tea rooms in Paris. Laiko Bahrs of Dandelion says, “Inspired by Café Angelina of Paris, Bloom Salon references the French destination with legendary hot chocolate, but with a modern San Francisco twist.” The 30,000 square foot glass and brick factory offers weekly tours, chocolate classes, a to-go café, tasting salon, and retail shop. My family and I recently indulged in an afternoon of chocolate delights. Danny, a friendly staff member at Dandelion Chocolate, gave our group an abbreviated tour of the new space. We sat in the area known as the “cat-walk” with views into a portion of the factory. Danny explained the small-batch chocolate making process of turning cocoa beans into chocolate bars. All the while, we sipped on iced house mochas, Mission hot chocolate with espresso, and European chocolate (customer favorite) along with a caramelized crusted Breton pasty called Nibby Kouign-Aman (pronounced queen-Aman), a very chocolaty Brownie Flight, and the Chocolate Bostock. All were divine! Dandelion Chocolate-16th Street Factory (Bloom Salon is inside the factory) is located at 2600 16th Street, San Francisco. Their website is www.dandelionchocolate.com. They are open Tuesday-Sunday from 8am-5pm. Their morning menu is served 8am–noon (last seating at noon). The afternoon menu is served 1pm–5pm (last seating at 5pm, with afternoon Chocolate Tea avail- Dandelion Factory able Saturday and Sunday). Reservations are required for tours and suggested for restaurant dining. To-go is open during business hours. Linda Summers Pirkle, travel writer, consultant, and long-term Danville resident, has arranged and led tours for the Town of Danville for several years. She is currently working on a guide featuring off-the-beaten path destinations. To share your “Quick Trips” ideas, email Coverthemap@gmail.com.

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February 2020 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 17

LIFE IN THE ALAMO/ DANVILLE GARDEN

APPROACHING ∞ INFINITY POOLS By John Montgomery, Landscape Architect, ASLA

We still think it’s cool that we’ve just entered a brand new decade. And, speaking of cool, one of the outdoor design themes trending in 2020 is our longtime favorite, the Infinity-edge Pool (AKA zero-edge or vanishing-edge). With a look that borders on the impossible, this style makes one amazing statement. In short, the key to the infinity-edge is that the boundary wall of the pool appears not to exist on one or more sides. Instead of meeting a visible boundary, the water actually flows over the pool’s edge into a catch-basin and then recirculates. It’s easy to see how this illusion can create a sense of the limitless, especially when this kind of pool is built into a hillside. The absolute best application for this style is a hillside site that overlooks a majestic view, which we have no shortage of around here. With no visual border in between, the scenery far below becomes part of the experience and creates a floating feeling. You don’t even have to get in the water to feel it, though we have to say that a swim really offers the full effect! This style is so visually interesting that it can completely transform a landscape. There’s no reason an infinity-edge pool can’t also be a reflection pool, and with its already surreal quality, it is the perfect candidate. Reflection pools require only two things: still water and an interior surface (such as dark tile) that doesn’t distract visually from the surface of the water. Of course, it’s also nice to have something intentional that will reflect, and the positioning of the pool can help ensure this. Reflecting a hillside garden, trees, or a vineyard creates a serene scene. As you can see, this type of pool doesn’t need to be large to have a powerful impact. Perhaps the most remarkable effect of an Infinity-edge pool is in the mirror-like way it reflects the sky. While any still body of water holds a reflection, the limitless quality of the vanishing edge almost makes the sky

seem within reach. Imagine a sunset or a clear starry night reflected on the still water. This is the best part of any designed landscape. We just set the scene, and nature puts on the real show! J.Montgomery Designs offers Landscape Architecture services to the greater East Bay Area. To connect regarding a design for your landscape, visit their contact page at jmontgomerydesigns.com. Advertorial

THREE REDS TO WEATHER ANY STORM By Monica Chappell

Let it snow, people. I’ve got a list of favorite reds to weather any storm. I did some legwork, err…umm… some glasswork and have three great reds to wash away the winter blues.

ITALIAN REDS

If it’s a big storm, and you’ve got a big budget, go big with a big Italian red like a Barolo, which is made 100% from nebbiolo grapes. Another option would be to try a Barbaresco, which is also 100% nebbiolo as Barolo but much less expensive. Snuggle up to the fire, pour a glass of one of these intensely flavored reds, and cook up some risotto. The intensity of the wine will complement the richness of this classic northern Italian dish.

CABERNET SAUVIGNON

Nothing says weather chaser better than a rich Cabernet. The Cabernet grape is a small berry with a thick skin, giving it a high solid to juice ratio and creating a wine high in color, tannin, and extract. Some typical Cabernet descriptors include cassis,

See Wine continued on page 19

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PAGE 18 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • February 2020

SECURE ACT – NEW FEDERAL LAW REGARDING IRAs

By Robert J. Silverman, Esq.

When counseling estate planning clients, I offer guidance about optimal beneficiary designations for retirement plans, including 401Ks and IRAs (for convenience, I’ll mostly refer to these retirement accounts, collectively, as “IRA”). Clients are also advised to receive input from their CPAs and financial advisors. Formerly and through 2019, a spouse or non-spouse who was the designated beneficiary of an IRA could “stretch” taxable distributions over their life expectancy based on applicable government published tables. To maximize the benefit of this stretch, the inheritor: a) withdraws (and pays taxes on) only required annual distributions over their life expectancy; and b) enjoys a powerful opportunity to continue to invest, and hopefully grow, the undistributed account funds over many years, on a tax-deferred basis. The younger the beneficiary, the greater the potential advantage. The SECURE Act, which became effective January 1, 2020, largely eliminates this tax-advantaged stretch treatment for non-spouse inheritors. The new law contains many other retirement, tax, estate, and financial components that affect planning for IRA owners, other consumers, and small business owners. Nevertheless, this article focuses only on the portion of the legislation that eliminates the stretch IRA. In essence, for most inherited retirement accounts, a beneficiary can no longer stretch the distributions over his or her life expectancy. Instead, the retirement account assets must be distributed out of the account to the beneficiary(ies) within 10 years of the account owner’s death. Fortunately, the stretch is still enabled for people who inherited IRAs in 2019 or before. This new rule - eliminating the stretch - applies to retirement accounts inherited on or after January 1, 2020. However, exceptions apply for IRA inheritors who are a surviving spouse, a minor child, chronically ill, disabled, or not more than 10 years younger than the retirement account owner.

SONS IN RETIREMENT SAN RAMON VALLEY

Are you looking for things to do in your retirement? Consider joining Sons in Retirement Branch 128. There are monthly luncheons with interesting speakers and good fellowship. Additionally, there are a variety of activities including golf, hiking, biking, bocce ball, movies, cooking, finance, reading, computers, and more. Other activities such as travel, dine outs, excursions, and baseball games include spouses, friends, and guests. The next luncheon will be held Wednesday, February 19th at 11:30am. The speaker will be Mr. Ben Lavender, Community Affairs Representative for the Central Contra Costa Sanitary District. Ben will educate us on the Central Sanitary District, its infrastructure, its day to day functions and planned future projects. Be ready for an interesting presentation. The $26 luncheon includes a meal, presentation, and a great opportunity to socialize with other retirees. To reserve a space, please send an email by Thursday, January 9th to info@SIR128.com. The luncheon will be held at The Bridges, 9000 S. Gale Ridge, San Ramon. For more information, visit www.SIR128.com.

Challenges presented by the new rule can largely be addressed as follows: a) IRA owners should review their current estate planning documents and beneficiary designations to avoid unintended consequences; and b) IRA inheritors should engage in careful income tax planning as to when distributions are made during the 10-year withdrawal period. Prior complex income tax rules could render the stretch period potentially longer, and thus preferable, when an individual(s) rather than a Trust was designated as the IRA beneficiary. Now, with the elimination of the stretch, if an IRA owner names a Trust as beneficiary, there is no such tax detriment. Consequently, certain clients may be more inclined to control their IRAs on behalf of the inheriting loved one(s) by naming a Trust as beneficiary. Warning: When a Trust is the designated IRA beneficiary, the IRA owner should be sure that the Trust terms are carefully drafted (or changed, if necessary, for an existing trust). Unless one of the exceptions apply, there will be no required minimum distributions; rather, the account must just be emptied within 10 years of the owner’s death. But many existing “IRA Trusts” mandate that only annual required minimum distributions are to be made until the beneficiary reaches a particular age (or sometimes over the beneficiary’s lifetime). This can create a serious problem. Without required minimum distributions, such a Trust provision would cause NO distributions to be made until complete distribution of the IRA is forced at the end of the tenth year. This will likely result in a far greater tax liability than if the trustee has discretion to distribute during said 10-year period. Clients may also want to look into other ways to pass on retirement accounts, including making a Roth Conversion or designating a charity(ies) as beneficiaries (and leaving assets other than IRAs to their loved ones). Estate Planning | Trust Administration & Probate | Real Estate | Business Please contact me to request a complimentary: i) “Estate Planning Primer”; ii) Real Estate titling brochure; iii) introductory meeting. I am 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.

Win continued from front page

Advertorial

braided chew/pull toys for dogs. Each week, the students produce about two dozen toys and send them to a shelter or other program for animals in need. There is a United States map in the classroom showing where their toys have been sent to and thankyou notes and pictures from joyful recipients. So far, over 200 toys have been produced. Thirty-two chew toys were given to the San Damiano Retreat’s Pet Blessing Day, and San Damiano kindly contributed to mailing costs, enabling the students to send out chew toys to four rescue organizations. It has been a great lesson for the students to see how their efforts are enjoyed by recipients. Besides learning job skills -- following procedures, staying on-task, using fine motor skills and tools--there are also Common Core Standards in the effort that address the areas of technology, online research, communication, writing/addressing packages, geography, and maintaining correspondence. Each care package is sent along with a note that reads, “Dear Friends, These pull/chew toys are meant for your rescue dogs. We hope you enjoy them! We Tra n sit ion s te a che r Pa t t y worked hard to Sherve. make them and are eager to see a picture of your dogs enjoying our efforts.” We all can have a part in taking care of those in need..even the four-legged sort. For information or to support the class project with mailing or supply funds, contact teacher Patty Sherve at psherve@srvusd.com.

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February 2020 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 19

FEAR

By Peter T. Waldron, Managing Partner of Spectrum Wealth Partners

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“The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, in k and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the n i Th unknown.” ~ H.P. Lovecraft Call us today for your personalized listing program starting My oldest daughter was having a hard time sleeping one night, and I asked her what was troubling her. She AS LOW AS 1%* LISTING COMMISSION said that she feared our house was going to burn down. My response to her was that FEAR is false evidence Full service Listing Package includes: appearing as reality, she said, “What do you mean?” I continued (mind you this is a logical thinking child) by finding out how many home fires occur every year locally and nationally. I explained using the Professional Photography statistics that the probability of our home burning down was less than .27%. 3D Virtual Tour This did not seem to satisfy her. So I continued by asking her, “How many homes have you seen burned down?” Her response was “none.” From there, Yard Sign I explained that the number of home fires that occur compared to the total Full Color Brochure number of homes is such a small amount, and that the fear of our home burning MLS and Social Media Sites down is not realistic. I continued to explain that while there are things to fear in life, this is one that we can plan for by making sure to turn off the stove, put BAY AREA REAL ESTATE GROUP hot coals out, and make sure that rodents are not chewing the wires in the attic. (925) 719-0660 Like home fires, a lot of people fear the big correction in the stock market. Mostly, this fear is emotionally driven and does not include any facts. The www.searchbayareahomesforsale.com average recession in the economy is one and a half years (the longest was the CA-DRE Broker License #00973809 Great Depression at three years and seven months). Conversely, if you look at the S&P 500 since 1927, the longest it has had negative monthly returns was nine months (1974), and the longest it had negative annual return was three years (1939-1941). With this information, you could argue that it may be a wise choice to just buy the S&P 500. However, another data point would be that of the 92 years that I looked at. The S&P was down 29 years and up 63 years. So *Rules and Exclusions apply. Offer subject to change at any how do you plan your investments? While you can’t control market volatility, time. This is not a solicitation or is intended to be a solicitation of you can build plans designed to minimize volatilities’ impact on your goals. property sellers currently under contract with another Brokerage. How? This is done through building an economic model of one or a hundred different life goals and then tying those goals back to an investment strategy. Then, test that strategy using an economic tool called Monte Carlo analysis. Monte Carlo analysis is a financial forecasting method which uses simulations to project and illustrate the probability of a certain outcome. Monte Carlo is (not a casino) a tool that tests 1,000 random outcomes that might happen in your portfolio given your allocation and your future goals. This approach allows you to better understand whether your goals are realistic or if your portfolio is too conservative or aggressive given your goals. Using data to make decisions helps eliminate the emotions that fog your judgment and hold you captive while your life slips out from underneath you. Your future is yours to plan, and while planning isn’t a certainty, it is much better than living in uncertainty over whether your home is going to burn down or your portfolio is going to fail you when you need it most. A Monte Carlo simulation illustrates how your future finances might look based on the assumptions you provide. Though a projection might show a very high probability that you may reach your financial goals, it can’t guarantee that outcome. However, a Monte Carlo simulation can illustrate how changes to your plan could affect your odds of achieving your goals. Combined with periodic progress reviews and plan updates, Monte Carlo forecasts could help you make better-informed investment decisions. Important: The projections or other information generated by Monte Carlo analysis tools regarding the likelihood of various investment outcomes are hypothetical in nature, do not reflect actual investment results, and are not guarantees of future results. Results may vary with each use and over time. Because of the many variables involved, an investor should not rely on forecasts without realizing their limitations. “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”~ Benjamin Franklin To schedule a complimentary review of your financial situation, please contact me at 925-786-7686 or email peter.waldron@lfg.com. Peter T. Waldron: California Insurance License #0E47827. Peter T. Waldron is a registered representative of Lincoln Financial Advisors, a broker/dealer, member SIPC, and offers investment advisory service through Sagemark Consulting, a division of Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp., a registered investment advisor, Spectrum Wealth Partners is not an affiliate of Lincoln Financial Advisors. 3201 Danville Blvd, Suite 190, Alamo, CA 94507. Insurance offered 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 circumstance. The content of this material was provided to you by Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp. for its representatives and their clients. CRN2919952-012320 Advertorial

, FREE TAX PREPARATION

Free tax preparation for the 2020 tax season is now available from AARP’s Tax-Aide and United Way’s Earn It, Keep It, Save It (EKS) programs. The service is provided by volunteer IRS trained and certified tax preparers. Both programs serve taxpayers of any age, and AARP membership is not required for Tax-Aide. EKS service is limited to those with incomes below $54,000, while Tax-Aide does not have an income limit. For information or to make an appointment for the Tax-Aide sites serving the San Ramon/Danville area, call (925) 973-3250 for the San Ramon Senior Center site or (925) 480-7202 for the Danville Veterans Memorial Building of San Ramon Valley site. For general information and other site locations, call (925) 726-3199. For information on EKS sites, call 2-1-1 or visit www.earnitkeepitsaveit.org. To complete your tax return, you will need to bring the following documents: your Social Security Card or ITIN letter for all individuals to be listed on the return, photo identification for the taxpayer and spouse, copies of all 2019 W-2s, 1098s and 1099s, other income and deductions, your 2018 Tax Return, and for Covered California requirements, all documents including form 1095.

Wine continued from page 17

cedar, and currant. Big and balanced, Cabernet is the perfect stormy match for a rich steak or something gamey.

ZINFANDEL

If the rations are low, Zinfandel is bold enough to keep you warm all on its own. Zinfandel is known as the quintessential California grape; find some California cheese and enjoy! Many Zinfandels are usually priced for longer storms in case multiple bottles are needed. Don’t shovel the driveway; pop a cork instead. And, since we don’t usually get snow in the Bay Area, pop a cork anyway - It’s still winter, right? Which reds will you be sipping on throughout the season? Monica Chappell is a local wine writer and educator and can be reached at wineappreciation101@gmail.com.

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PAGE 20 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • February 2020

KIWANIS CLUB OF SAN RAMON VALLEY

ALAMO IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION (AIA)

By Roger Smith, President EAT RIGHT AND LIVE LONGER!

Have you been trying to eat right, working to fit in your “5 a day” servings of fruit and vegetables? The CDC and the Produce for Better Health Foundation have launched a new national campaign with the message: “Fruits & Veggies -- More Matters.” The new slogan replaces the old campaign, which dates back to the early ‘90s. The reason? Under the latest food guidelines, five servings of fruits and vegetables may not be enough. Adults need anywhere from 7-13 cups of produce daily to get all the health benefits of fruits and vegetables -- including possible protection against obesity, heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, and cancer. An excellent source for fresh fruits and vegetables for your diet is our Alamo Farmer’s Market! They have the best and the freshest fruits and vegetables including oranges, clementines, mandarins, grapes, persimmons, apples, and pomegranates. The Alamo Certified Farmers’ Market has added new vendors to join your favorites. New vendors include Bay Area Frozen Desserts with ice cream treats and Evie’s Place with Mexican fare. The Market is open rain or shine, every Sunday year-round from 9AM – 2PM in Alamo Plaza, off of Danville Blvd near Wells Fargo Bank.

ED MORAN, ALAMO CITIZEN OF THE YEAR!

Alamo Rotary has been recognizing an Alamo Citizen of the Year since 1985. Originally, the requirement was that the recipient of Alamo Rotary’s award had to be an Alamo resident who engaged in an activity that directly benefited residents of Alamo. This requirement was updated two years ago to also include Alamo residents who are making a difference in people’s lives anywhere in the world. Ed Moran is the most recent recipient of Alamo Rotary’s Alamo Citizen of the Year designation. Ed has been providing his expertise and valuable volunteer time in support of Alamo for more than 30 years. As an AIA Board Member, long term Planning Committee member, and current Planning Committee Chairman, Ed has been instrumental in providing direction on numerous development applications for our downtown and residential areas. Well done, Ed!

NATIONAL CONSUMER PROTECTION

The US Department of Homeland Security’s National Cyber Awarenewss System has information to help you protect your privacy, avoid social engineering and phishing attacks, prevent and respond to identity theft, and more. Visit www.us-cert.gov/ncas to get additional information. To report and recover from identity theft, visit www.identitytheft.gov. The FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center accepts online Internet crime complaints from either the actual victim or from a third party to the complainant. To learn more, visit www.ic3.gov/default.aspx. People are getting more robocalls than ever. Technology is the reason Companies are using auto-dialers that can send thousands of phone calls every minute for an incredibly low cost. So what’s the FTC doing to stop these illegal robocallers, and what can you do to limit the number of robocalls you receive? Visit www.consumer.ftc.gov/features/feature-0025-robocalls to find out. The IRS also recommends the following steps to help protect your accounts and money: Avoid unprotected Wi-Fi. Shop at familiar online retailers, and beware of purchases at unfamiliar sites or clicks on links from pop-up ads. Learn to recognize and avoid phishing emails. Keep a clean machine. This applies to computers, phones, and tablets. Use security software to protect against malware that may steal data and viruses that may damage files. Use passwords that are strong, long, and unique, and use multi-factor authentication when available. Encrypt and password-protect sensitive data. If keeping financial records, tax returns, or any personally identifiable information on computers, this data should be encrypted and protected by a strong password. The following site expands on this -- www. irs.gov/newsroom/follow-these-tips-to-protect-data-when-shopping-online.

AIA ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP DRIVE

Since 1955, Alamo residents have been joining the AIA and working in support of AIA’s mission statement, to “preserve the semi-rural character of Alamo.” Now in its 65th year, AIA, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, has an outstanding history of serving our community and helping shape it into the place we love to live. Visit www. AlamoCA.org for more information.

The Kiwanis Club of San Ramon Valley meets for lunch every Thursday at noon at Black Bear Diner, located at 807 Camino Ramon, Danville. The Club organizes the Kiwanis 4th of July Parade in Danville and many other exciting events. The Club has an interesting and informative weekly program speaker and specializes in fun and entertaining camaraderie. There is no charge for a guest lunch. For more information, call John Lineweaver at (925) 272-8207, email info@srvkiwanis.org, or visit www.srvkiwanis.org.

DANVILLE LIONS CLUB

The Danville Lions Club meets at 6:30PM at Crow Canyon Country Club on the third Wednesday of every month. Danville Lions Club supports blind charities, Sight First, the curing of pediatric cancer, local sight screening, the fight against diabetes, and many local charities. Visit www.e-clubhouse.org/sites/danvilleca for details. For club information contact Mike Huggins at 510-460-5376, email mikehuggins@sbcglobal.net, or visit www.danvillelionsclub.org. Visitors and new members are welcome.

EXCHANGE CLUB

The Exchange Club of San Ramon Valley meets for lunch the second Wednesday of every month at Faz Restaurant, located at 600 Hartz Avenue in Danville. Sign-in and social time begin at 11:30AM. The meeting starts promptly at noon and ends promptly at 1PM. The one-hour program features guest speakers and business networking. Guests are welcome with luncheon reservations. The cost is $20 for members and first time guests, and $23 for returning guests. For reservations and information, please contact Karen Stepper at 925-998-8865 or coachstepper@yahoo.com.

LOCAL ROTARY CLUBS

The Rotary Club of Alamo meets on Wednesdays at 12:15PM at Round Hill Country Club in Alamo. For information about the group, contact Peter Walron at peter.waldron@ lfg.com. The Danville Rotary Club meets every Monday at noon at the Black Bear Diner in Danville. For information, contact Bob Chace at bchace@pacbell.net or by phone at (925)838-7007. If you are interested in visiting the Danville/Sycamore Valley Rotary Club, contact Daniel Kodam at daniel@dsvrotary.com or call 925-336-0000. Meetings are held on Tuesdays at 7AM at Crow Canyon Country Club. The Rotary Club of San Ramon Valley meets for dinner every Wednesday night at the Blackhawk Country Club in Danville. Networking and social time starts at 6:30PM with the meeting starting at 7PM. For more information, call Bernie at 925-352-2155. You can also visit www.sanramonvalleyrotary.com. The Rotary Club of Dougherty Valley/ San Ramon meets at Amador Rancho Community Center, 1998 Rancho Park Loop Road, San Ramon, on Wednesdays at 5:10PM for networking and social time with the meeting and guest speakers starting at 5:40PM. For more information, contact Joe Tagupa at (510) 599-2351 or mizutag@sbcgobal.net. Lastly, Rotary Club of San Ramon meets every Thursday between noon and 1:15pm at the Crow Canyon Country Club. For more information, contact Dennis Harvey at dennis@dharveyrealtor.com or 925-519-4748.

DANVILLE POLICE OFFER ‘EXCHANGE’ ZONE

Residents who purchase items via online services such as Craigslist now have a designated neutral ‘Exchange Zone’ in the upper parking lot of the Danville Town offices to conduct their business. Signage has been installed, and the Danville Police Department has designated parking spaces at the Town of Danville offices, 510 La Gonda Way, for residents to conduct transactions in a constantly video-recorded space. With proximity to police headquarters and video recording, the goal is to have an atmosphere of safety and assurance for would-be buyers while dissuading criminals from using online merchandising for criminal purposes. To learn more about the safe zone, contact Sargent Ron Hoekwater at (925) 314-3700 or rhoekwater@danville.ca.gov.

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YOUR PERSONAL NUTRITIONIST By Linda Michaelis RD, MS WHAT TO EAT IF YOU HAVE PREDIABETES

What happens when you get a call from your doctor and they tell you your blood sugar is in the prediabetic range? The information is confusing and overwhelming. You are told to “cut carbs,” but you find you don’t know what to eat because carbs are everywhere. Do you need to cut out carrots, bread, pasta, or wine? The good news is that you can eat a lot more than you think. By making simple tweaks in your diet, you will be able to prevent and/or reverse prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes. It is important that you know your blood sugar numbers. If your fasting blood sugar is 100-125, it is called prediabetes. If the number is over 126, you have diabetes. After helping clients for 30 years, I can guarantee that if you follow these guidelines, you will bring your blood sugar back into the normal range. 1. Consume mixed meals that include protein, fiber, fats, and sugars which will slow down the rise and fall of blood sugar. Do not eat fruit alone first thing in the morning or in between meals because most likely your blood sugars are already high. Eat fruit along with a meal or as a dessert. The best breakfast is eggs with veggies or cottage cheese on whole wheat toast, or oatmeal with added egg whites. For lunch, always have at least 4 oz. of protein, a cup of veggies, and a carb. For snacks, always have a protein with a fruit or veggies. You can enjoy a dessert if it comes after a meal and not on an empty stomach. 2. Choose healthier types of carbs. Sugary or processed “white carbs” cause a rapid spike in blood sugar. Carbs that come from the ground such as legumes, quinoa, barley, whole wheat breads, potatoes, and non-starchy veggies such as broccoli and string beans cause a slower rise of blood sugar. If pizza or a pasta dish is planned for the day enjoy it as long as you balance it out with lots of veggies that will prevent high blood sugars. At the following meal, do not have any carbs to balance the day out. 3. Eat more fiber. I often find new prediabetic clients do not eat any fiber until dinner. You must have fiber at each meal to keep blood sugar stable throughout the day. Add veggies to breakfast, and always have a vegetable or salad at lunch, even if you ask for extra veggies on your sandwich or double veggies in a restaurant. Carrots are fine to eat. Quality steamed and lightly seasoned frozen vegetables such as from Birds Eye, Green Giant, or Cascadian Farms can always be on hand. 4. Get exercise every day. I often receive a morning call from a client noting that their blood sugar is unusually high and they know they over indulged the night before. I tell them the best thing to do is to go for a strenuous half hour walk that will help the blood sugar drop about 50 points. Exercise builds lean body mass which will cause your body to process sugar more quickly. 5. Alcohol. Yes, you can have your wine. However, it is like a dessert. It is best to drink a dry red or white wine. Please have a glass of sparkling water next to your wine to allow for alternating beverages. Also, realize hard liquor such as vodka or gin has no sugar, and there are sugar-free mixers that can be added. Prediabetes is an epidemic. There are no symptoms. I cannot over-stress the importance of working with a dietitian when you are diagnosed with either prediabetes or Type 2 diabetes. I am proud to say that I have helped hundreds of clients with prediabetes and even reversed diabetes Type 2. My clients are thrilled to see the successful results after working with me. I am glad to inform you than most insurance companies will pay for nutritional counseling. Please call me at (925) 855-0150 or email me at Lifeweight1@gmail.com, and I will check with your insurance and see what the exact coverage is in terms of your deductible, copays, and amount of visits allowed. Please also refer to my website www.LindaRD.com for past articles and more information. Advertorial

ALAMO DANVILLE NEWCOMERS

February 2020 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 21

TEST YOUR NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS

By Marchelle Milligan

How many nutritional supplements do you take? How do you know they are the supplements your body needs and in the right amounts? Nutrition testing can help analyze your body’s current health status and personalize a health program for you. Nutrition testing, using applied kinesiology or muscle testing, analyzes different areas on the surface of the body that relate to the state of health and to the flow of energy in each organ and function of the body. Each area that gives a response indicates the effect that energy, or the lack of energy, is having on the body. You can then test which supplements will benefit that area of the body that is not functioning fully. Once the systems in your whole body are tested, we can also test any supplements you currently take to see if they are right for your body and in what amounts. For more information, log onto www.therhythmwithin.org. To schedule an appointment, please book on the website or contact Marchelle Milligan at (925) 286-6237. Our office is located in Alamo. Advertorial

APPLICATIONS FOR GRAND JURY SERVICE SOUGHT

The Contra Costa County Superior Court is accepting applications for Civil Grand Jury Service for the Fiscal Year 2020-2021 term. The Civil Grand Jury is made up of 19 members who serve for one year, July through June, to monitor, review, and report on city and county governments, special districts, and school districts. Every effort is made to ensure that the Grand Jury reflects the makeup of the residents of the county. Approximately 75 applicants will be selected to be interviewed by the Grand Jury Selection Committee, which is composed of Superior Court Judges. After interviews, the judges will nominate approximately 30 applicants to constitute a grand jury pool from which the final panel of 19 will be selected by random drawing. The drawing is scheduled to be held on Friday, June 12, 2020, with the members of the 2020-2021 Grand Jury officially being sworn in on the same day. Individuals selected for service will be expected to be available from June 22 to July 2 to attend an orientation where they will meet with department heads, become familiar with their colleagues, learn about juror responsibilities and procedures, and select committees on which they will serve. Grand jurors must be a United States citizen, 18 years of age or older, who have been a resident of Contra Costa County for at least one year prior to selection. They cannot currently hold any elected position within the county. Applicants should have reliable transportation to Martinez, and must be prepared to devote at least 30 hours per week to Civil Grand Jury service. Applicants should have access to a computer, be familiar with Microsoft Word, and be able to send and receive email. Citizens who work should apply only if they can be released from their jobs to perform the jury duties. Applicants selected as one of the 30 nominees will be fingerprinted before the drawing. Jurors receive a stipend for attending full jury and committee meetings and are reimbursed 57.5 cents per mile for allowable jury travel. Parking permits may be provided to park in the City of Martinez while performing Grand Jury duties. Persons interested in applying may contact the Office of the Civil Grand Jury at (925) 608-2621, or visit the website at www.cc-courts.org/grandjury to receive additional information regarding service on the Civil Grand Jury and to obtain an application. The application deadline is Friday, March 13th.

Are you a new resident of Danville, Alamo, Blackhawk, or Diablo, a longtime resident, newly retired, or an empty nester interested in making new friends and participating in various social activities? The Alamo Danville Newcomers Club is a woman’s organization whose purpose is to enrich the lives of all its members and their families in a social manner. Check out all the club has to offer by visiting www.alamodanvillenewcomers.com. The next “Welcome Coffee” will be held on February 25th from 10AM to noon. RSVP to alamodanvillenewcomers@gmail.com.

PAGE 22 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • February 2020

IS SUNSCREEN SAFE?

By Dr. Jerome Potozkin

“Is sunscreen safe?” You might find this question strange coming from a dermatologist. However, recent headlines and studies by the FDA have raised this question. First and foremost, we do know that exposure to the sun, tanning beds, and other ultraviolet light increases one’s risk of developing skin cancer as well as causing the premature aging of the skin. The myth of the need for sun exposure to get our daily dose of vitamin D has been debunked since we can get vitamin D through our diet and dietary supplements. As far as I am concerned, I believe sunscreen should be part of everyone’s daily routine. In fact, I apply sunscreen to my face every day after I shave. Sunscreens can be broken down into two categories, chemical and non-chemical sunscreen. Chemical sunscreens absorb into the skin. When the sun’s damaging rays hit the skin, the chemical sunscreens protect the skin by actually absorbing the UV radiation instead of the skin’s structures absorbing the radiation. Non-chemical sunscreens, also known as mineral sunscreens, are not absorbed into the skin but rather sit on the skin’s surface and reflect or refract the UV radiation. Non-chemical sunscreens typically have zinc oxide or titanium dioxide as their ingredients. Both are effective at protecting the skin. I actually use both. Why the controversy over sunscreen? The FDA recently reported the results of a study that looked at the absorption of chemical sunscreens into our bloodstream. They looked at six ingredients: avobenzone, homosalate, octinoxate, octisalate, octocrylene, and oxybenzone. What they found was that they were able to detect small amounts of sunscreen ingredients in the bloodstream. However, the subjects were applying sunscreen to 75% of their body surface area and were reapplying multiple times a day. This is more than most people typically use. The study did show some absorption but does not address the meaning of this. We don’t know if sunscreen ingredients in the bloodstream would cause any harm, and as of now, we do not know if this absorption has any impact on our health. What should you do? Firstly, we do know that the link between the sun, tanning beds, and skin cancer and premature aging is real. I think sun protection and sun avoidance particularly during the hours of 10am and 2pm is important. For myself, I continue to use both chemical and chemical-free sunscreens. However, we all have to make decisions that we feel comfortable with. If you are concerned about the safety of chemical sunscreens, then I recommend using a chemical-free or mineral-based sunscreen, seek shade, wear a hat, sunglasses, and sun-protective clothing. I also recommend an annual skin examination by a board-certified dermatologist as well as checking your skin for any new or changing lesions. Live life and have fun, but practice “safe sun.” Dr. Jerome Potozkin is a Board Certified Dermatologist specializing in minimally and non-invasive cosmetic procedures. We are accepting new patients and can be reached at (925) 838-4900 and at www.MyBeautyMd.com. Advertorial

MVHS continued from page 10

MV’s arts programs will also be active in February. The Theater Department will perform Big Fish for this year’s Winter musical. Showtimes will run from February 19th – 22nd. MV’s Choir was very busy beginning with the Area Choral Festival, and a variety of MV’s choir groups will be going on tour throughout the next month. The Instrumental Music group will be performing at a variety of competitions including the Woodcreek and Folsom Jazz Festivals, and our Speech and Debate and Robotics programs are also busy with a variety of competitions and preparations. Things are really moving at Monte Vista. I encourage you to come out to our events and support our students as they continue to do amazing things in our community. 2020 TRAILS CHALLENGE

GUIDEBOOK

TRAILS CHALLENGE 2020

The East Bay Regional Parks District’s Trail Challenge 2020 has begun. The free self-guided hiking and bicycling program allows folks to explore our regional parks and to keep fit outdoors. Free printed guidebooks and t-shirts are available at participating Visitor Centers while supplies last. The Guidebook includes 20 detailed trail descriptions, available for all levels of fitness, from easy to challenging. There are trails open to hikers, bicyclists, dogs, and equestrians, and many are wheelchair accessible. To complete the challenge, hike five of the 20 trails – or 26.2 miles of trails by December 1, 2020 and receive a commemorative pin, while supplies last. All 20 featured trails are also now available on the AllTrails app. Download the free app, sign-up, log in, and start on your way. You can record your hikes, and share your photos and comments with others. For more information on the Challenge, visit www.ebparks.org/trailschallenge.

program made possible through a par tnershi p bet we ge is a free nal Parks Foundation, an Challen e n t he k District , the Regio d K a i se r Trails io n a l P ar Perma ay Reg ne nt e .

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WHAT’S NEW IN BREAST CANCER TREATMENT?

By Tiffany Svahn, MD

The end of the year is not only the time for families and holidays, but also when the latest updates in breast cancer treatment are announced at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS). Thus, as we head into 2020, we have new insights into improved treatment options for breast cancer. An important question that often arises in treating hormone-sensitive early stage breast cancer is how long should a patient remain on her estrogen blocker? Five years? Ten? There have been several studies addressing this question, and the answer remains unclear. The NSABP-B42 study looks at women who have completed five years of anti-estrogen therapy - either aromatase inhibitor (AI) or tamoxifen followed by AI. Women were randomized to an additional five years of AI versus placebo. There was a 4% absolute reduction in breast cancer recurrence with extended AI use but no difference in overall survival seen thus far. Importantly, there was no increased risk of osteoporotic fractures with longer AI use. The decision to continue anti-estrogen therapy beyond five years remains individualized based on the patient, risk of their tumor, bone density score, and tolerance of the treatment. We now have another important study showing a potential benefit of longer treatment, and genomic assays are being investigated which will hopefully help guide treatment decisions. HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer is an area where we have seen several treatment advances. Three important therapies were presented at SABCS that will soon, if not already, be available to treat patients. Trastuzumab deruxtecan (Enhertu®) was granted accelerated FDA approval on 12/20/2019. The oral HER2-blocker, tucatinib, was granted FDA breakthrough designation on 12/18/19 based on improvement in overall survival, including patients with brain metastases. Finally, margetuzimab (an anti-HER2 antibody) is awaiting FDA approval based on improvements in outcomes in combination with chemotherapy compared to trastuzumab (Hercpetin®) and chemotherapy. Breast cancer is a complex disease, with treatment options varying given the stage and specific biology of an individual’s cancer. Decisions about therapy are becoming increasingly targeted to specific pathways, and molecular testing is continuing to evolve to better tailor our treatments. We continue to see improved outcomes with better quality of life. ***Please join me at the Cancer Support Community on February 19th at 6:30PM to hear more about new treatment strategies in breast cancer. Reservations are recommended. Email sgoldberg@dvohmg.com or call 925-677-5041.*** Dr. Svahn is a Medical Oncologist and Breast Cancer Specialist with Diablo Valley Oncology and Hematology Medical Group in Pleasant Hill. She is the Medical Director of the Women’s Cancer Center of the East Bay. Contact the Center at 925-677-5041 or www.dvohmg.com. Advertorial

Resolution continued from page 12

· Office of the Sheriff Investigation Division - (925) 313-2600 · Office of the Sheriff Dispatch - (925) 646-2441 · Anonymous Voice Message - (866) 846-3592 · E-mail - tips@so.cccounty.us Our city police departments also have some great programs to protect you and your property. In Danville, residents can register for Vacation House Checks — to have members of the Volunteers in Policing (VIP’s) stop by your home while you are out of town. They also sponsor Citizens Police Academies for both adults and youth so residents can be better informed about what local police do. Another program offered by Danville is “You Are Not Alone” (YANA), which assists members of the community who live alone. If someone would like an occasional visit to check on their well-being, they can register for this free service. There is no minimum age requirement. In an emergency, law enforcement wants to be able to contact you. To receive Public Safety messages, it is important to sign up with the County’s Community Warning System. It’s the “Reverse 911” used in a disaster or to alert you of nearby danger or an emergency. Many people no longer have landlines, or aren’t home to receive such a call. By going to cwsalerts.com, you can register your cell phone and your email address, and be notified no matter where you are. I also encourage my constituents to sign up for Nixle, which keeps you up to date with relevant information from your local public safety departments and schools. Create an account at www.nixle.com, or just text your zip code to “888777” and you will automatically be signed up. My office serves residents of Contra Costa County District 2. Reach me at Candace.Andersen@bos.cccounty.us or 925-957-8860.

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IS NEUROPATHY GETTING ON YOUR NERVES?

By Dr. Niele Maimone, DC WHAT IS NEUROPATHY?

Neuropathy is a condition in which there is damage to the peripheral nervous system, which transmits information from the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body. This can result in pain, tingling, loss of feeling, and inability to control muscles. As with any other condition, there is no “one size fits all” remedy for those suffering from this malady, and treatment may vary depending on the cause and severity. However, many individuals find relief using natural remedies. Peripheral Neuropathy is a condition that affects people in every walk of life. It is estimated that 20 million Americans and 60% of diabetics suffer from this disorder. There are hundreds of different kinds of neuropathy, the symptoms of which include burning, tingling, weakness, numbness, paralysis, and dull to excruciating pain - especially in the limbs. Although many neuropathies have no known cause, neuropathy is often associated with another condition, such as diabetes, HIV, shingles, toxins, autoimmune disorders, neurological conditions, carpal tunnel syndrome, and malnutrition. Statin (cholesterol) drugs and chemotherapy can also cause neuropathy. While medications can sometimes help with the symptoms, they cannot be relied upon to restore the health of the nerves. Most often the drugs that treat Neuropathy leave the sufferer feeling intoxicated and hopeless to lead a normal, active life.

UNDERSTANDING THE NERVOUS SYSTEM

Nerves carry the electrical signals that allow us to move, feel, breathe, digest, detoxify, respond to our environment, and much more. Nerves are the electrical wiring of the human body. Plain and simple, if the nerves do not work, the body will not work in some capacity. It is also important to understand that unlike other tissues, the primary blood supply to nerve tissue is actually located WITHIN the nerve itself. So, if a nerve becomes impinged, inflamed, or compromised, so does the blood supply to the nerve. Without proper blood supply, the nerve does not receive the energy and nutrition needed for the nerve to heal. Over time, neural compromise can lead to a painful chronic condition called neuropathy.

February 2020 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 23

HOW CAN I HEAL MY NEUROPATHY?

1. Provide the building blocks for repair - Nutrients are the building blocks for growth, repair, and metabolism. A single nutrient deficiency can contribute to any number of disorders of the nervous system, including neuropathy, migraines, and even Alzheimer’s. We use specialized micronutrient testing to measure the storage and function of selected vitamins, minerals, amino acids, antioxidants, and other essential building blocks within your cells. Standard medical blood tests do not measure the storage or function of nutrients within the body, only what is in the blood at the moment, which is not an accurate picture of how the body is utilizing those nutrients. Once your specific deficiencies are identified, custom compounded supplements are created for your specific deficiency profile. As your body is given the essentials necessary to repair and regenerate damaged tissue, expedited healing can occur. In extreme cases, IV nutrient therapy may be used to speed up the repletion and healing process. 2. Peptide therapy to support the nervous system - Peptide therapy is the use of short chains of amino acids that act as signaling agents in the body. The peptides that are used to reduce neuropathy are specific to reduce the inflammation around the nerve as well as help the nerve repair quickly. Used in short bursts, peptides can dramatically reduce the symptoms and healing time in patients with neuropathic pain. 3. Increase healing and decrease pain fast with laser therapy - Ending the pain caused by neuropathy requires reversing the cause of nerve irritation. Class IV laser therapy is an excellent method for this, because it is presently the only modality that can both reduce pain and help heal tissue simultaneously. Laser therapy creates an optimal healing environment that reduces swelling, muscle spasms, stiffness, and pain. As the injured tissue returns to normal, function is restored, and pain is quickly relieved. With the proper combination of holistic therapies, it is possible to heal your nerve pain and, in the process, feel more alive and energetic than you have in years. Depending on the type and severity of neuropathy, we have witnessed patients begin to get relief in the first week of care and with continued care receive long-term pain relief. Dr. Niele Maimone of Align Healing Center and Aspire Regenerative Medicine in Danville, has been active in natural health and wellness since 1999. For more information or to set up a consult, call 925-362-8283 or visit www.alignhealingcenter.com. Advertorial

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PAGE 24 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • February 2020

SRVHS continued from page 10

Howard Wood spoke. Attorney Lincoln S. Church then gave an oration. In late March, students moved into the building, including several students from Lafayette, Saranap, and Walnut Creek. Seven students graduated in May of 1917. The trustees had worked hard to reach this point, taking time from their lives as ranchers to create the curriculum, get supplies, hire teachers, find the land, hire and supervise the architect and builders, and lay out sport fields. They were involved in all aspects of the school. In 1917, trustee Josiah Boucher was appointed a committee of one to stop the school boys from “frequenting the pool hall.” In 1918, when bills were presented, the minutes read, “There was much discussion and criticism and the principal was urged to stop the wanton waste of penholders.” A telephone was finally installed in 1919 at a cost of $48. Baseball, basketball, and football reports began to appear in the papers, although there were scarcely enough students to field teams. In 1920, Tassajara and Highland grammar school districts joined Alamo, Danville, Green Valley, San Ramon, and Sycamore as part of the high school’s union district. Local newspapers and the school annuals reveal the life of the new high school, reporting on spring basket picnics at Ramona Park (part of Meese’s ranch), teacher and student quirks, and sport contests. Many family names of early class members are well known in valley history – Wood, Stelling, Lynch, Harris, Humburg, Kelly, Van Gordon, Love, Wiedemann, Olsson, and Peterson. The handsome, vine-covered school was always fondly remembered by its graduates. Sources: Inez Butz histories, Walnut Creek Courier 1915-1917, trustee minute books, Valley Kernel school annuals, Contra Costa Gazette 1917, Museum archives.

Art continued from front page

the Beast adds essays by experts in a variety of fields on the effects of climate change and how collaborative action is addressing the issues. “Viewing the large photographs of small subjects displayed on the museum walls is very different from seeing the same images in a book,” explains Dan Dunn, MuseumSRV Executive Director. “You can step in close or back away and take advantage of changing light and different perspectives.” Exhibit photographs include fantastic close-up floral portraits and dramatic wide-angle landscapes carpeted in brilliant blossoms. “The exhibit is a stunner and very well received with groups coming to enjoy it,” reports Beverly Lane, MuseumSRV Curator. “My favorites are the large photographs with flowers against a dark background – very modern.” Long-time MuseumSRV volunteer Carmen Curtis, who assisted in exhibit installation, comments, “L earning ab out the technique used to do the photographs is especially interesting. The contrast between the close-up of the flower with no environmental background and the image of the tiny blossom in a naked landDeWayne Ryan admires details in Beauty and the Beast scape is amazing.” images. (Photo by Carmen Curtis) “We believe the wildflowers we photograph have an intrinsic right to live and fulfill their existence, so we always carefully work in a way that ensures we will not harm them or their neighbors. Limiting our impact on the land takes extra time,” Badger notes. In order to produce floral portraits appearing to have been created in a studio without picking the blossoms or compromising their habitat, Badger developed two creative techniques. He describes them as “Wrapping” and “Contact” procedures. Wrapping is the most time-consuming. “I first determine the best composition and then painstakingly wrap the plant with lightweight fabric to create appealing folds and shadows that complement the shape of the blossom or entire plant.” For Contact photos, Badger carefully brings the front of the lens in contact with the flower. The resultant image has a soft, translucent appearance with only some parts of the flower in focus. Nita and Rob also control the available natural light with diffusers and/or reflectors, photo umbrellas, and natural materials on site. Kneepads are essential to their work as they kneel for extended periods on gravel or sharp rocks to capture the essence of an individual flower.

“Beauty and the Beast is a bit of a departure from past exhibits that the Museum has presented. We want the public to recognize that we are a regional multidisciplinary museum. We make our selections regarding traveling exhibits to make sure that there is a local storyline which helps us stay within the mission of the museum,” Dunn remarks. Locally endemic wildflowers are featured in the “Windows on History” area. The interactive microscope set up to project wildflower specimens is stocked with Bay Area natives. A “Hiker” greeting visitors is garbed for an outing on Mount Diablo or trails in East Bay Regional Parks. Underwritten by the Lesher Foundation and co-sponsored by the Ruth Bancroft Garden, East Bay Regional Parks, Mount Diablo Interpretive Association, the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District, and Vai Schierholtz Photography, the Beauty and the Beast exhibit has encouraged community organizations to join forces to promote appreciation and preservation of the natural resources readily accessible to San Ramon Valley residents.

Field of wildflowers and snow on mountains.

Thursday, February 20th, Mount Diablo Interpretive Association President Stephen Smith will present “Wildflowers of Mount Diablo: The Story Behind Their Names.” The free program at Veterans Memorial Building, 400 Hartz Avenue, Danville begins at 7PM. Steve belongs to an elite group of hikers who have trekked every inch of Mount Diablo’s trails. Tuesday March 10th is membership reciprocity day for members for the Museum of the San Ramon Valley and members of the Ruth Bancroft Garden (RBG). Museum members enjoy a 10% discount at the RBG Nursery that day. Members of both organizations must present their membership cards for the free admission swap.

See Art continued on page 26

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February 2020 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 25

THE EYE OPENER By Gregory Kraskowsky, O.D., Alamo Optometry

CONJUNCTIVITIS AND PINK EYE

This is the time of the year when many of us are fighting winter colds and the flu. If your family is anything like mine, as soon as one person in the family gets the flu, they pass it around to the other members of the household. Some family members might get the cough and congestion, while others might get the eye infection; that is because the same bacteria and viruses that cause the colds and flus also cause conjunctivitis. It is therefore very common for different family members or co-workers to either have the upper respiratory infection, conjunctivitis, or both. Conjunctivitis is an inflammation secondary to allergies or infection of the conjunctiva. The conjunctiva is a thin transparent layer of tissue that lines the inner surface of the top and bottom eyelid and covers the white part (sclera) of the eye. Conjunctivitis, often called “pink eye,” is a common eye disease, especially in children. It may affect one or both eyes. It usually starts in one eye and then spreads to the other. Some forms of conjunctivitis can be highly contagious and easily spread in schools and at home. While conjunctivitis is usually a minor eye infection, sometimes it can develop into a more serious problem. Conjunctivitis is mostly caused by a viral infection, but it can also be bacterial. In addition, it can occur due to an allergic reaction to irritants in the air like pollen and smoke, chlorine in swimming pools, and ingredients in cosmetics or other products that come in contact with the eyes. Bacterial conjunctivitis is an infection most often caused by common staph and strep bacteria that is found on the skin and body. Infection commonly occurs via physical contact with other people, poor hygiene (touching the eye with unclean hands), or by use of contaminated eye makeup and facial lotions. A bacterial infection will usually present with a redder eye, swelling, and possible discharge. There is no pain associated, and vision remains good. Viral conjunctivitis is commonly caused by contagious viruses associated with the common cold. The primary means of contracting this is through close exposure or physical contact to coughing or sneezing by persons with active illnesses. It can also occur as the virus spreads and enters the body through mucous membranes, mostly in the nose and mouth. Viral infections present with a lighter or pink color to the eye with associated swelling and tearing. As with a bacterial infection, there is Medical & Surgical Dermatology very little to no vision loss or pain. For Healthy Skin Practicing good hygiene is the best way to Offering Treatments for: Skin Cancer control the spread of conjunctivitis. Once an Moles infection has been diagnosed, follow these Precancerous Lesions INTRODUCING Acne, Eczema, and Rashes helpful hints: Warts, Molluscum • Keep your hands clean and avoid touching EMSCULPT D Keloid and Scar Revisions RE your eyes and face ONLY FDA CLEA Psoriasis and Vitiligo Cysts and Lipoma ELECTROMAGNETIC • Change your towel or washcloth daily, and G Hair and Nail Disorder NOLOGY TARGETIN CH TE do not share with others Underarm Sweating ABDOMINAL AND Physician-Strength DY BO • Discard any eye cosmetics. R FO S LE SC GLUTEUS MU Skin Care Products PAD At our office, conjunctivitis can be diagCONTOURING, FAT Offering Cosmetic Treatments for: T! TT LIF nosed through a focused office visit. Testing REDUCTION AND BU Tattoo, Moles, Birthmarks, and Scars lpt cu MS DrWilliamTing.com/E Face, Neck, Body Tightening, with special emphasis on evaluation of the conLifting, junctiva and surrounding tissues will include a and Rejuvenation patient history to determine the symptoms the Frown Lines and Jawline Reduction patient is experiencing, when the symptoms Rosacea, Facial Redness, Veins, and began, and the presence of any general health Post-injection Bruising Pigmentation and Melasma or environmental conditions that may be Sun Damage and Scars contributing to the problem. An exam of the A place where beauty Body Sculpting Thinning Hair and/or Balding conjunctiva and external eye tissues along with and healthy skin meet Hair Removal the inner structures of the eye is then conductVisit us at our Center of Technology & Procedures ed to ensure the diagnosis and determine that Excellence with a combined Offered no other tissues are affected by the condition. 12,000 square foot, state Cellfina Cool Mini for neck of the art, newly renovated Even though the diagnosis of conjunctivitis Coolsculpting® Our Women’s suite. We are dedicated is relatively straightforward, the cause of the Cryoshape Wellness Center to Medical, Cosmetic, and Diolite 532 laser condition is often more difficult. Depending now offers EMSella, EMSculpt Surgical Dermatology and on the exact signs and symptoms, several difFDA approved noninvasive EMSella are a place for medical electromagnetic technology Excel V Laser ferent causes can overlap. In addition, other treatment (with clothes on) Excimer Laser skin consultation, aesthetic more serious issues, such as a foreign body Fractional CO2 Laser for urinary incontinence rejuvenation, and face and in the eye or a corneal infection, can initially GenesisPlus Laser and feminine intimate body contouring. Infini Microneedling RF rejuvenation! cause some of the symptoms of conjunctivitis Models are used. Kybella DrWilliamTing.com/EMSella but need to be treated in a different manner. Liposonix® Microneedling with PRP We have same-day appointments for any type Visit www.DrWilliamTing.com MiraDry for an extensive list of medical, surgical, and cosmetic treatments, of emergency visit. Mohs Micrographic Surgery product lines, lasers, and therapies offered. Dr. K. at Alamo Optometry is your NBUVB Phototherapy Pico Genesis hometown eye doctor for outstanding service, Schedule your free cosmetic consultation appointment today! PicoSure Laser vision care, and designer eyewear. He can be PRP for Hair Loss and Rejuvenation William Ting, M.D., Vbeam Laser Board Certified Dermatologist and Mohs Surgeon reached at (925) 820-6622, or visit his office Silhouette InstaLift 500 Alfred Noble Drive, #185 at 3201 Danville Blvd., Suite 165 in Alamo. Spectra Laser 2262 Camino Ramon Hercules, CA 94547 Superficial Radiotherapy San Ramon, CA 94583 Visit our website at www.alamooptometry. Tel: (510) 669-5700 Tel: (925) 328-0255 Thermage™ com, and join us on Facebook, Instagram, and Ultherapy™ Email: staff@caldermcare.com drwilliamting.com Twitter @Alamo Optometry. Advertorial Vaser Shape *Welcoming new Medicare patients

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PAGE 26 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • February 2020

THE EYES ARE THE MIRROR OF THE SOUL

By Dr. Barbara Persons

As the saying goes, “The eyes are the mirror of the soul.” In this way, the eyes’ clarity and youthful appearance can provide indication of both health and vitality. As we age, our eyes can be diminished due to excess skin and bags around them. A furrowed, drooping brow further alters the alert and engaging appearance of our eyes. Beauty rest and good health go a long way, but sometimes it isn’t enough to counteract the hooding and tired appearance that many people experience by age 40.

TRADITIONAL EYELID SURGERY

Blepharoplasty surgery, commonly known as eyelid surgery, is the best way to correct droopy, hooded eyelids and sagging skin that creates folds or disturbs the natural contour of the upper eyelid and can sometimes even impair vision. The procedure takes one hour and does not require general anesthetic. Recovery takes about one week. Surgery can be performed on the upper lids, lower lids, or both. The procedure restores the youthful appearance of the eyes by removing fatty tissue and excess skin while tightening the lax muscles that develop around the eyes. An upper blepharoplasty procedure involves making a small incision in the natural crease of the upper eyelid. Excess skin is removed, lax muscles are tightened, and small amounts of fat are removed. Sometimes grafting may be used to fill areas which have hollowed such as the tear troughs. For lower eyelid tightening, a small incision is made just below the lower eyelash or inside the lower eyelid. The upper and lower eyelid lift may be done separately or at the same time.

Art continued from page 24

Saturday, March 14th, the Museum of the San Ramon Valley is sponsoring “Firescaping -- Designing a Unique Garden with the Firescaping Guidelines” at the RBG, 1552 Bancroft Road, Walnut Creek. The lecture, given by Troy McGregor from Gondwana Flora, runs from 9:30-10:30AM with registration required. Cost is $15 for members of the RBG and MuseumSRV, $20 for non-members. Fire-safe design and fire-resistant plants will be covered along with creative and functional ways to garden with low-maintenance, drought-tolerant plants available from the RBG Nursery and additional local resources. Register at www.museumSRV.org. Each fall in support of the th 4 grade curriculum standard for history and social science, the Museum of the San Ramon th Spring-blooming Palo Verde cultivar 'Desert Museum' Valley welcomes 4 graders advertises the beauty of plants good for Firescaping for the Indian Life Program. designs. (Photo courtesy of the RBG) Students learn about the many ways native people used native plants. Soaproot (Chlorogalum pomeridianum), for example, provided materials for brushes, soap, medicine, glue, food, and more. Slow-roasted bulbs became edible and sweet. Donner party survivor Patrick Breen’s February 28, 1847, diary entry reads: “Solitary Indian passed by yesterday come from the lake had a heavy pack on his back gave me 5 or 6 roots resembling Onions in shape taste some like a sweet potato, all full of little tough fibers.” “California is blessed with remarkable diversity. The state is home to 25% of the plants that occur north of Mexico, more native plant species than any other state in the United States. Moreover, a third of these plants are found nowhere else on Earth!” writes Dan Glusenkamp, Executive Director, California Native Plant Society. His introduction to the book Beauty and the Beast concludes: “In admiring the beauty of a single blossom, we are called to save it. It is a tremendous privilege – saving our fellow life-forms. All of us are needed, every new voice and

FACIAL REJUVINATION

For those seeking full periocular rejuvenation to combat horizontal forehead lines, sagging, or heavy brows and wrinkles between the eyebrows frequently referred to as “elevens,” I recommend also considering a brow lift. I most commonly use the endoscopic approach which involves a few small incisions hidden in the hairline through which the brow is lifted. Like blepharoplasty, this procedure may be performed under local anesthesia. Further facial rejuvenation can be achieved through the use of CO2 laser skin resurfacing of the eyes, face, neck,and chest to tighten the skin and remove fine lines. Skin resurfacing takes one hour, and downtime averages ten days. However, at Persons Plastic Surgery, we have developed RecoverX to accelerate post-procedure skin repair. Patients have even cut recovery time in half! The non-irritant fragrance-free, paraben-free product reduces redness and swelling and promotes faster skin healing. The proprietary formulation draws moisture from the air into the skin without clogging pores and continues to enhance skin tone, texture, and appearance hours after application. To achieve full facial rejuvenation, the combination of blepharoplasty surgery and a CO2 Laser maximizes benefits while decreasing recovery to a single period. I look forward to meeting with you at my practice in Lafayette to discuss what may be best for you. Barbara L Persons, MD, FACS is a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and owns Persons Plastic Surgery, Inc., located at 911 Moraga Rd, Suite 205 in Lafayette. She can be reached at 925.283.4012 or drpersons@ personsplasticsurgery.com. Advertorial fresh idea has something to contribute.” Badger and Winter traveled the heights, depths and breadth of California in a double-decade long effort to photograph the fragile, fleeting beauty of indigenous wildflowers. Few exhibit viewers have the endurance, skill, or desire to follow in their footsteps, but through their art, Rob and Nita are awakening an appreciation of the state’s natural treasures, calculated to motivate their audience to learn more. “We cannot protect something we do not love, we cannot love what we do not know, and we cannot know what we do not see. Or hear. Or sense,” Richard Louv (author of Last Child in the Woods) explains in The Nature Principle: Reconnecting with Life in a Virtual Age. Robert Michael Pyle Dhriti Avala meets the "Hiker" garbed to expresses the same concern in Thunder trek local trails (Photo by Carmen Curtis) Tree: “Those who care, conserve. Those who don’t know don’t care. What’s the extinction of the condor to a child who has never known a wren?” The Museum of the San Ramon Valley is located at 205 Railroad Avenue, Danville. The gift shop has many books on California wildflowers and local places to connect with nature. Museum hours are Monday-Friday 1-4PM, Saturday 10AM-1PM, and Sunday noon-3PM. Visit www.museumSRV.org or call 925-837-3750 for information.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR MOBILTY MATTERS HELPING SENIORS AND VETERANS

Is your New Year’s resolution to get more involved with our community and to volunteer? Mobility Matters is in need of volunteer drivers. Mobility Matters is a nonprofit agency that provides free, door-through-door, one-on-one rides to ambulatory seniors and veterans who cannot take other forms of transportation primarily for medical appointments and grocery shopping. Each ride is only about three hours and you get to schedule your own hours. Most volunteer drivers provide one ride every week or two. Please contact David Benet at Mobility Matters at (925)284-2215 or david@ mobilitymatterscc.com if you are interested in more information about volunteer opportunities.

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February 2020 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 27

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Danville Danville Danville (925) 272-4080 (925) 272-4080 (925) 272-4080 Danville 413 Railroad Ave. (925) 471-8575 413 Railroad Ave. (925) 272-4080 Danville, CA 94526 413 Railroad Ave. Danville, CARailroad 94526 413 Railroad Ave. 413 Ave. Danville, CA 94526 Danville, CA 94526

Danville

In many cases, we are able to make your glasses in our office with our On-Site Lab

Danville, CA 94526

No Appointments | Open Evenings & Weekends | No Insurance Needed

No Appointments | Open Evenings & Weekends | No Insurance Needed No Appointments | Open Evenings & Weekends | No Insurance Needed

No Appointments | Open Evenings & Weekends | No Insurance Needed *Offer valued at $39. Valid for new patients only. See clinic for chiropractor(s)' name and license info. Clinics managed and/or owned by franchisee or Prof. Corps. Restrictions may apply to Medicare eligible patients. Individual *Offer valued $39.©Valid for new patientsAllonly. SeeReserved. clinic for chiropractor(s)' name and license info. Clinics results mayatvary. *Offer valued at $39.2019 ValidThe forJoint new Corp. patients Rights only. See clinic for chiropractor(s)' name and license info. Clinics

managed and/or owned by franchisee or Prof. Corps. Restrictions may apply to Medicare eligible patients. Individual managed and/or ownedThebyJoint franchisee Corps. Restrictions may apply to Medicare eligible patients. Individual results may vary. © 2019 Corp. or AllProf. Rights Reserved.

OPEN MONDAY TO SATURDAY MONDAY—FRIDAY: 9 - 6 SATURDAY: 9 - 4

925.202.2846

thejoint.com

215 ALAMO PLAZA SUITE D ALAMO, CA 94507 www.poplarspecs.com

results may vary. at © 2019 Jointfor Corp. All patients Rights Reserved. *Offer valued $39.The Valid new only. See clinic for chiropractor(s)' name and license thejoint.com info. Clinics managed and/or owned by franchisee or Prof. Corps. Restrictions may apply to Medicare eligible patients. Individual thejoint.com results may vary. © 2019 The Joint Corp. All Rights Reserved.

ASSISTANCE LEAGUE’S TELECARE CONNECTS TAKE OFF POUNDS SENSIBLY WITH THE HOMEBOUND TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) is a national organization originally

Since 1971, member volunteers of TeleCare, a philanthropic program of Assistance League® of Diablo Valley, have been making daily reassurance calls, Monday through Friday, to seniors and the homebound in our community. Clients can anticipate a friendly exchange of ideas with trained volunteers who provide high quality, consistent communications. If a client cannot be reached, family members will be notified. This service is free! Additional TeleCare activities include an annual holiday party, and they also receive greeting cards from the Assisteens, an auxiliary where tweens and teens learn to participate in a community service at a young age. Make that call to get you or someone you know connected! For more information call 925-934-0901. To learn about Assistance League of Diablo Valley’s other philanthropic programs, primarily funded by the Way Side Inn Thrift Shop in Lafayette, please visit www.assistanceleague.org/diablo-valley.

TRANSITIONS

NAVIGATING LIFE'S TURNING POINTS TOGETHER

This is not your typical Bible Study! The Transitions group is comprised of women moving through real transitions in life. The groups’ mission is to encourage and support women from all walks of life -- newlywed, to having aging parents, and everything in between. Come join for the year, a study session, or even just a class. The group meets Fridays from 9AM-11:30AM at Community Presbyterian Church located at 222 West El Pintado Road in Danville. There’s always a welcoming seat. Contact Liz at elizabeth1728@yahoo.com or Diane at dianewood70@gmail.com for more information.

MEALS ON WHEELS

Seniors in your community need your support! Meals on Wheels Diablo Region has been supporting seniors since 1968. Two of the programs, Meals on Wheels and Friendly Visitors, rely on the support of volunteers. Your help is needed 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.

formed in 1948 as a response to the need to assist overweight people to lose weight by setting up a support group system. TOPS publishes educational materials for its members as well as a bi-monthly membership magazine. The Danville chapter meets on Tuesday mornings at 10AM at St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church (main office building downstairs), located at 1550 Diablo Rd, Danville. The chapter provides accountability, support, and encouragement. Please join in and try it for free.

C L A S S I F I E D ALAMO OFFICE SPACE AVAILABLE

Downtown Alamo Office Space - 11 Orchard Ct. (cross-street Danville Blvd.). 400 sq. foot “big room.” $2,200/month includes water, PG&E, parking. WiFi available. Professional setting adjacent to CVS and Wells Fargo. Contact Dennis at 925-899-8059.

HANDYMAN SERVICES Home Services with 30 years experience •Plumbing •Electrical •Drywall repair •New toilets •Carpentry •Caulking •Grab bars •Pressure washing •Ceramic tile •Water heaters •Dead bolts •Faucets •Garbage disposals •Flooring NO JOB TOO SMALL! Call James, owner, at 925-934-0877

Place Your Classified

Reach over 21,000 homes and businesses in Alamo, Danville, & Diablo - Help Wanted, For Sale, Services, Lessons, Pets, Rentals, Wanted, Freebies...$50 for up to 35 words,$5 for each additional 15 words. Send or email submissions to: 3000F Danville Blvd #117,Alamo,CA 94507 or editor@yourmonthlypaper.com.Payment by check made out to “The Editors,” or credit card placed on file by calling 925-405-6397 must be received before ad will print. Your canceled check is your receipt. We reserve the right to reject any ad.

www.yourmonthlypaper.com

PAGE 28 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • February 2020

WHY USE A TRAVEL ADVISOR?

By Mike Mullery Alamo World Travel

• You need a Professional - not an order taker. You should be a client, not a number. Is it intelligent to trust your family’s vacation to an Internet site or individual that sells only what they are told to sell and has not personally seen any of the destinations? • Remember, the purpose of a vacation is to decompress, not to stress. A big percentage of travel agency clients are those that had an Internet vacation from hell. Travel advisors want to earn your business, now and in the future. • Your day only has 24 hours and you need to work and sleep. A professional travel advisor dedicates themself to knowing travel destinations, travel suppliers, and the travel marketplace. Do you know when hurricane season is? Do you know if a supplier is financially shaky? Do you know which cruise line best serves your destinations and your budget? Do you know which cruise ships are ancient and which hotels have not been renovated in 20 years? Of course not, unless travel is your life, like it is ours. • It is not a perfect world. Mother Nature and the airlines do not always cooperate with your plans. After your trip is booked, getting your Internet supplier to help with problems is like playing the lottery. You can win, but probably not in this lifetime. • We have a huge advantage over the Internet - Our suppliers have been pre-qualified for service and stability by the Signature Travel Network ($8 billion+ in buying power). Alamo World Travel belongs to this network. • Alamo World Travel & Tours has been helping individuals and groups with their travel plans for 39 years.

JOIN AN ALAMO CRUISE GROUP Offering special group rates and amenities

MARK YOUR CALENDARS AND PLAN TO ATTEND OUR

Beyond The Ordinary Luxury Travel Show at Blackhawk Museum ~ Tuesday, March 10 ~ 1-4PM

Scandianavia & Russia

Crystal Symphony ~ July 14 -25, 2020

Refreshments and Door Prizes

Join Narsai David on a Crystal Canada New England Cruise

Travel Presentations By:

Crystal Serenity September 28- October 6, 2020 Danville Chamber of Commerce Danube River Cruise Amawaterway’s Amaserena November 13-20, 2020

Cruise Lines: Crystal, Regent, and Uniworld Land Operators: Rocky Mountaineer, Mt Sobek, The Adventure Company, African Travel, and TCS World Travel Space is limited. Please RSVP to 925-847-8742 x18 or info@alamoworld.com

Please call 925-837-8742, email info@alamoworld.com, visit www.alamoworld.com, or better yet stop by our office, located at 3201 Danville Blvd., Suite 255, Alamo.

Pending

33 Years Experience. One on One Approach…

When you hire me, you talk to me at least once a day. I am the team you will be working with. Doesn’t it make sense? Call Me. 24 Sanford Lane, Lafayette Listed by Don 1/17/2020 | Price $3,695,000

Sold

181 Alamo Ranch Road, Alamo Don represented Buyer | Sold 11/2019 | $2,175,000

Sold

3176 Roundhill Road, Alamo Don represented Both Sides | Scheduled Early 2020

Sold

Results. Pure and Simple.

3200 Carpenter Way, San Ramon Don represented Both Sides | Sold 11/2019 | $1,175,000

Sold

Don Magalhaes 1528 Avenida Nueva, Diablo Don represented Buyer | Sold 10/2019 | $2,885,000

115 Windover Drive, Danville Don represented Seller | Sold 9/2019 | $1,600,000

925.786.1855 don@compass.com DRE 00897221