January 2018 ~ Alamo Today & Danville Today News

editor @ yourmonthlypaper.com

JANUARY 2018 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 1

& JANUARY 2018

GRATEFUL GATHERINGS

By Fran Miller

In 2013, KTVU’s Frank Sommerville covered a story involving an East Bay family transitioning from a shelter to a home. Sommerville’s wife Donna took it upon herself to gather items to stock the family’s empty abode. Volunteers then helped to set-up the apartment. The effort was rewarding, and Donna, along with her friend Chris Flitter, set out to formalize and expand on the idea that a community can come together quickly and easily to make a difference. Thus, Grateful Gatherings was born with a mission to improve lives by providing quality furniture and household goods to those transitioning out of homelessness and poverty.

Grateful Gatherings believes that by providing families in transition – or those having faced tragedy – with a safe, warm, Before comfortable, and well-equipped home, they have greater chance for success. And Grateful Gatherings is unique in that donated items or funds go straight to families in need. To date, the organization has assisted 355 people and 105 homes. “We are growing quickly, and this year alone we served 125 people,” says Flitter. “In addition, we adopted 24 families this past holiday After season.”

Donors witness the direct impact of their donations and can see the difference their gifts make. Sommerville, Flitter, and their team work closely with various social service and nonprofit agencies in seeking the families they assist. They ask each family to create a list of needs (furniture, kitchen items, beds, clothes, toys, linens, appliances, etc. – anything that makes a home feel like home). The wish list is then sent to the Grateful Gatherings’ grassroots network of donors via email and Facebook, or particular groups or organizations can sign-up to sponsor a family.

This past fall, East Bay realtor Dana Green and her real estate team were one such sponsor. With the help of their clients, Dana’s team was able to make a home for Stephanie, a victim of domestic violence, and her four children, ages 5 to 12.

Dana and company solicited donations from friends, family, and clients, and they checked-off Stephanie’s wish list. They then packed, sorted, and helped move furnishings to Stephanie’s new apartment. They cleaned, put together bunk beds,

See Gatherings continued on page 20

Local Postal Customer

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

ECRWSS

E N G L I S H A S A S E CO N D L A N G UAG E CONVERSATION CIRCLES

By Linda Summers Pirkle

If you have lived in a foreign country, you know how it is exciting to learn new customs and experience a new culture.

But, along with the fun part, it can also be a challenge.

Language skills can be one of the most frustrating aspects about living in a new country.

The simplest tasks can be daunting. Even traveling to a distant land on vacation or business can be isolating if your language skills are not as you hoped. Everyone has heard the advice, “Just jump in and try your French, or Spanish, or Swedish…” but often that is easier said than done when you feel overwhelmed.

Since its inception in November 2016, English as a Second Language Conversation Circle at the Danville Library gives English learners an opportunity to practice conversational skills in an informal and comfortable environment with other English-as-a Second-Language (ESL)

See Language continued on page 20

WINTER NIGHTS SHELTER : MUCH MORE THAN A SAFE HAVEN

By Jody Morgan

From October through early June, Winter Nights (WN) Shelter offers much more than a safe haven for the homeless Contra Costa County families it serves.

In addition to overnight housing Two hundred volunteers each week are needed to and meals furnished by 17 host provide meals and services at WN shelter sites. congregations aided by 27 cohosting faith communities, WN provides tutoring for children, transportation to school for students and to work for parents, and assistance for adults in

See Nights continued on page 14

The Editors

Serving the combined communities of Alamo, Diablo, and Danville, Since October 2017

Volume XVIII Number 1

Volume IX Number 1

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.

www.yourmonthlypaper.com

PAGE 2 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • JANUARY 2018

BOULEVARD VIEW IT’S ALL ABOUT PERSPECTIVE

By Alisa Corstorphine, Editor

Recently our family was driving home late at night from a holiday gathering. I was in the driver seat, my mid-20s-age son was in the front passenger seat, and my husband and early-20s-age daughter were in the back seat watching a movie.

Next to me there were two cans of water in the center console cup holders. I had noticed my son drinking some and noted I had barely touched mine. When I lifted up what I thought was my can it felt lighter than I expected. I asked my son, “Is your drink in the ‘front’ or ‘back’ cup holder?” He replied, “front.” I lifted the “front” can again and it still didn’t feel right. I asked again and got the same response. I was confused.

I pondered the situation and then asked my son which cup holder he was calling the “front” and which he was calling the “back.” It turned out “front” for him was opposite of “front” for me.

We went back and forth each trying to convince the other who was “correct” and trying to explain how our “front” was the right “front.” Finally we enlisted the backseat passengers to chime in and opine on which spot was “front” and which was “back.” It turns out I was outnumbered 3-1. I was the only one who thought “front” was the slot my can was in. I held steadfast in my position but was able finally able to see it from another (and obviously more popular) viewpoint.

It struck me that this was such a metaphor for life and getting along. We were both steadfast in what we were talking about, and technically we were both “right.”

It just depended on which perspective we were viewing the cup holder from. I realized there are many situations and misunderstandings in life that are due to a tiny shift of perspective. Neither may be right or wrong; they just are just different.

Another situation arose with a relative. My impression was that the issue we were involved in was a long-term, permanent one. They went off the assumption that it was a short-term situation. Certain words caused me to interpret their message one way while in their mind it was another way entirely. This caused some angst between us until I realized we both interpreted the situation differently. Again, neither of us was right or wrong we were just using our own narrative and experience to go by.

I enjoy geocaching (a type of worldwide treasure hunt). In geocaching, things

aren’t always as they might seem. Sometimes caches are located in plain sight and disguised as something else. You have to think outside the box... “is that wall plate real? Is that sprinkler real?” Geocaching often involves looking at everyday items surrounding us in a new light.

Recently I was geocaching near UC Berkeley and found the cache I was looking for disguised as a water valve in a drainage pipe. On the surface the drain and valve looked like any other.

However, popping off the drain cover revealed a hidden water bottle cache under a glued-on, pretend valve. With my experience and perspective as a geocacher, I could see the valve for what it was. As someone looking at the landscaping and not expecting a disguise, I would have passed over this completely.

A fun activity to do with a group is to participate in an Escape Room challenge. Escape rooms provide clues for a group of 6-10 people to solve a cryptic puzzle within an hour. It is interesting to watch how different minds solve the same puzzle, and how puzzles (and other challenges in life) can be solved much more quickly when working as a team.

Individual problem-solving and logic skills become very apparent during these events, and there is certainly strength in numbers.

Oftentimes we take a position of, “I’m right, you’re wrong.” Maybe we would do ourselves a favor by pausing to look at the issue from a different perspective. If we can work to first understand (not necessarily agree or acquiesce, but understand) the other person’s perspective, we can forge a way forward together. Instead of being black and white about a situation, perhaps try and look at a different side and see if there is something we are missing or seeing in another way. I often find the issue is not the goal, the issue is that we all have different perspectives on how to reach the common goal.

I think a great way to start this new year is to listen more, understand others more, and move away from locked-in, stubborn positions and consider there just may be other ways to see and interpret the same situation.

● Alamo Oak Tree Plaza ● Alamo Plaza ● Candace Andersen, County Supervisor ● Stone Valley Center

● Alamo Commons ● Round Hill Country Club

• Absolute Chiropractic • Alamo Improvement Association • Daniel Harrington • Diablo Fine Jewelry • Law Offices of Brian Thiessen • Steve Mick & Alicia Watson • Summit Ranch Equine Center •Valerie Schooley

Alamo Ace Hardware

Duane Watson, Santa

Kevin Musante, Co-Chairperson

Alamo Rotary

Boy Scout Troop 216

Terri Delfosse, Co-Chairperson

California Highway Patrol

Andrew Elkin, President, CFA

CCC Public Works

John Lineweaver, Treasurer

California Highway Patrol

Diablo Holdings, Ltd. Kiwanis Club of SRV

Sharon Schuyler, Fundraising

CCC Sheriff’s Office

Brent & Terri Tucker

Cheerleaders of Monte Vista HS

OUR WONDERFUL SCHOOL PERFORMERS and

Jen Quallick, Field Representative

THEIR DEDICATED TEACHERS AND AIDES

Supervisor Candace Andersen’s Office

Alicia Watson, Entertainment Coordinator

SRV Fire Protection District

ALL MONETARY DONATIONS RECEIVED BY 12/19/2017

LISTED ABOVE. WE APOLOGIZE FOR ANY OMISSIONS.

Ilene Ferguson-Mullery Denise & Chris Rousset Bill White, Master of Ceremonies

editor @ yourmonthlypaper.com

JANUARY 2018 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 3

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ALAMO DANVILLE NEWCOMERS CLUB

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 January 23rd from 10AM to Noon. RSVP to alamodanvillenewcomers@gmail.com.

HOST FAMILIES SOUGHT FOR TWO WEEK STAY

BY VISITING FRENCH STUDENTS

For the thirteenth consecutive year, students from a large high school in the south of France are coming to the Bay Area. The students will arrive on April 14th and depart April 29th.

The teens stay with local families and have a full itinerary of activities during the days and only require your attention in the evenings and weekends.

The visit is an ideal opportunity to experience another culture and hopefully 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.

There are many local host families ready to discuss any questions with you.

The lo cal contact is Danville parent Kevin Dimler, who can be reached at kevindimler@gmail. com or (925)7185052.

FRIENDS OF THE DANVILLE LIBRARY BOOK SALE

The Friends of the Danville Library will be holding a book sale as follows.

Friday, January 26 Members Preview: 9AM - 10AM ~ Public Hours: 10AM - 5PM Saturday, January 27 Public Hours: 10AM - 4PM Sunday, January 28: $5 Bag Sale Public Hours: 12:05PM - 3:45PM Prices Friday & Saturday All Hardcover books, books on tape, and DVD’s: $2 All Paperback books and CD’s: $1 The library is located at 400 Front Street in Danville. For questions or information call, 925-314-3755 or visit http://ccclib.org/friends/dan.html.

SAN RAMON VALLEY GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY

You are invited to attend the free January 16th meeting of the San Ramon Valley Genealogical Society. The meeting will be held at the Family History Center located at 2949 Stone Valley Rd., Alamo from 10am to noon. The speaker will be Steve Minniear who will teach how to write a personal history.

The group looks forward to seeing you there.

VOLUNTEER AT THE BLACKHAWK MUSEUM

Staff at the Blackhawk Museum believes that a museum’s strength comes from its community, and that volunteers are the foundation of the community. Museum volunteers give their free time to enhance the experience of every visitor that comes through the door. Whether providing guided tours to school and adult groups, greeting Museum visitors, representing the Museum at a car show or other special event, fundraising for the Children’s Education and Transportation Fund, or simply lending their real-world expertise to the Museum’s staff. The Blackhawk Museum couldn’t function without their volunteers.

If you would like to join a group of enthusiastic people with shared interests, the Museum’s many volunteer opportunities are for you!

For additional information, visit http://blackhawkmuseum.org/volunteer-form.

Friends of the Blackhawk Museum Presents our May 2016 Speaker

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PAGE 4 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • JANUARY 2018

MUSEUM OF THE SAN RAMON VALLEY

A GREAT FRONTIER ODYSSEY: SKETCHING THE AMERICAN WEST EXHIBITION, AN ARTISTS’ DEPICTIONS OF AN EARLY CROSS-COUNTRY JOURNEY

A new traveling exhibition documenting the 1873 overland journey of artists Jules Tavernier and Paul Frenzeny, A Great Frontier Odyssey: Sketching the American West, will be on display at the Museum of the San Ramon Valley, located at 205 Railroad Ave in Danville, from January 20 to March 18.

The opening of the West after the Civil War drew a flood of Americans and immigrants to the frontier.

The public clamored for images of the newly accessible American West, prompting Harper Brothers’ publishing firm in New York to send Tavernier and Frenzeny on a trip west to provide readers with images of the frontier.

The prints in A Great Frontier Odyssey trace the artists’ journey to San Francisco. Depicting newsworthy places or events that favored the plight of the common man, their artistic and journalistic talent and keen powers of observation made them a powerful team; Tavernier created each engraving’s watercolor painting before handing it off to Frenzeny who added newsworthy details and drew the scene in pencil on wood blocks.

Natives of France, both artists came to the American frontier and their documentary project with fresh eyes. Paul Frenzeny, a Frenchman of noble descent, was one of the leading “special correspondents” in the United States and Europe when woodcuts, rather than photographs, were used to illustrate newspapers. He became an illustrator of choice for Western adventure stories and for such famous novels as Anna Karenina and The Jungle Book. He also worked as a rider in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show in London, where he spent the rest of his life. Jules Tavernier, a celebrated French painter, became one of the American West’s foremost talents. Remaining in California after completing his work for Harper’s, Tavernier returned to painting and became one of the most successful and best paid artists on the West Coast. His studios in San Francisco and Monterey became hubs for California’s developing art scene.

The Museum is open Tuesday-Friday from 1PM-4PM, Saturday from 10AM-1PM, and Sunday from 12PM3PM. To learn more, visit museumsrv.org or call (925) 837-3750.

COPPER DISCOVERED AT ASSISTANCE LEAGUE WAY SIDE INN THRIFT SHOP!

The dedicated member volunteers at Assistance League Way Side Inn Thrift Shop, located at 3521 Golden Gate Way in Lafayette, will ring in 2018 with a new promotion: the Clocks and Copper event. On Tuesday, January 23, shelves and display cases will bulge with clocks, including a grandfather clock that boasts the phrase “Tempus Fugit,” or, as we know it, “time flies.” Likewise, a collection of ten vintage wooden mantle clocks, eight wooden cuckoo clocks, vintage travel clocks, and theme desk clocks will be on hand for all timepiece aficionados.

As for copper items, a concise description will convince you to take advantage of this one-of-a-kind event. One of the most effective electrical conductors, copper is known as a metal that reflects red and orange light to give off a reddish color.

Pleasing to the eye and durable, items made of copper are enjoying a resurgence of popularity in today’s market place, especially among millennials.

The only disadvantage of copper is that it is expensive. This isn’t so when purchased at Assistance League Way Side Inn Thrift Shop! Over four dozen copper pieces will include candelabra, watering cans for plants and vegetation, mixing bowls, cooking pots, bed warmers, and ladles, all available at affordable prices.

Unfortunately, the friendly volunteers cannot guarantee availability after the first day of the event, so please plan accordingly.

ASSISTANCE LEAGUE PROSPECTIVE MEMBER COFFEE

Since 1967, Assistance League® of Diablo Valley, a nonprofit member volunteer organization, has improved lives in the local community through hands-on programs. Its primary fundraiser is the Assistance League Way Side Inn Thrift Shop, is located in Lafayette.

In response to the needs of a growing client base, Assistance League is also reaching out to community members who would enjoy clothing elementary school children, performing educational puppet shows for schoolchildren, reading to second grade students, or helping in supplying emergency clothing, food, and supplies to those in crisis. Two additional philanthropic programs concern implementing art in the classroom and staffing the Listen Program which helps identified students with verbal expression. Two other programs address the needs of seniors in the community.

If you are interested in spending quality time and meeting energetic and upbeat people while helping those who are vulnerable, please phone (925) 9340901 by Wednesday, January 10 to reserve a spot at the Prospective Member Coffee which will take place on Wednesday, January 17, at 9AM at the Community Resource Center. For more information, please visit diablovalley.assistanceleague.org.

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JUMP-START YOUR VALENTINE’S CELEBRATION

Valentine’s Day comes early this year with the ultimate local shopping experience at the free Super Valentine’s Boutique on Sunday, January 28th, in the elegant Hilton Concord Golden Gate Ballroom located at 1970 Diamond Blvd. just two blocks off Interstate 680 at Willow Pass Rd. Shoppers will be able to pamper themselves and buy gifts for their Valentine’s Sweethearts. The Boutique is open from 11am-4pm.

The indoor fair allows shoppers to get their special Valentine’s outfit and Valentine’s gifts for family and friends from over 60 arts and crafts vendors, home-based businesses and commercial exhibitors.

There will be free chair massage, free Valentine’s selfie photo booth plus free demonstrations and workshops at the Boutique. This year, the Hilton Concord will have a wine and cocktail bar open at the Boutique for shoppers to relax during and after they shop.

The first 400 shoppers through the door will receive a Valentine’s Gift Bag. Each attendee will receive a free raffle ticket for numerous Valentine’s-themed prizes. Donation of food to the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano will earn the donor another raffle ticket for each can donated.

Visit www.SuperValentinesBoutique.com for more information and to register for a free Family Ticket and free $2 Sweetheart Buck.

DANVILLE LIONS CLUB FREE VISION SCREENING SERVICES

The Danville Lions Club, with certified Lion members, offers vision screening at no charge to public and private schools, senior care facilities, learning centers, and children’s centers in Danville and San Ramon.

Danville Lions use the Spot infrared camera that combines auto-refraction and video retinoscopy to test the eyes. From three feet, the camera is used to take a digital photograph so the information acquired automatically assesses a person’s vision in as little as five seconds. The Spot camera is safe and quick, and can easily process 50 to 75 people in a short visit.

The Spot camera screens for the following refractive errors and gaze analysis: irregularly shaped corneas or lenses, nearsightedness, and farsightedness.

Danville Lions are most interested in using the Spot screening at public school locations and children’s learning centers. For more information and to schedule dates for screening, please contact Dr. Brent Waterman at (925) 352-6111 or watermanchiro@yahoo.com.

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editor @ yourmonthlypaper.com

JANUARY 2018 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 5

Wishing You A New Year Full Of Peace, Laughter, And Joy!

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Views abound on this 20 acre farm with 500 Organic Olive Trees.

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CELESTE'S MOST RECENT TESTIMONIALS

I’ve known a lot of Real Estate Professionals, and I suppose that like any other field, there are a lot of people that are licensed within the profession. So, the real question is, how do I know who is good, who I should avoid, and who is outstanding in their field.

We ask friends and neighbors, those whose opinions we value, in this internet age we look to feedback from others who might know.

Celeste is in every way outstanding in her field, she is patient and understanding during what is likely one of the most stressful times in our lives; but just as important, maybe more important, is her integrity. While you will find a myriad of people who are willing to take your business, Celeste is in a class above the rest, and provides

the highest quality of service I’ve ever seen. So, were someone to ask me who to contact, I would recommend Celeste without hesitation." ~ Kathern Ann B.

‘‘

Celeste did everything first class and was wonderful to work with. She provided data-driven advice on pricing and staging our home. She was organized, detail-oriented, and meticulous in her work. I highly recommend Celeste if you're buying or selling a home." ~ Jill R.

CELESTE PACELLI, QSC,CDPE Broker Associate | Lic#01862387

925.395.1511

celeste@celestepacelli.com www.celestepacelli.com

See Celeste’s 48 client reviews on Zillow.com To receive Up-To-Date Market Analysis Reports, email me today.

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PAGE 6 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • JANUARY 2018

SONS IN RETIREMENT

BRANCH 128

Are you looking for things to do in your retirement? Consider joining Sons in Retirement San Ramon Valley Branch 128. The group has monthly luncheons with interesting speakers and good fellowship. Additionally, members have lots of fun participating in a variety of activities including golf, bowling, bocce ball, movies, cooking, finance, bridge, reading, computers, and much more. Many other activities such as travel, dine outs, excursions, baseball games, and holiday parties include spouses, friends, and guests.

The next monthly luncheon will be held on Wednesday, January 17th at 11AM. The guest speaker will be Mr. Rob Silverman, an attorney who handles matters involving trusts and estates, including estate planning, trust administration, and probate. He will be presenting on the topic of Estate Planning Fundamentals, including important recent developments.

Your $25 luncheon includes a meal, guest speaker, and a great opportunity to socialize with at least 170 other retirees from the San Ramon Valley. To reserve a space, please email by Thursday, January11th to www.info@SIR128.com. Meetings are held at The Bridges, 9000 S. Gale Ridge in San Ramon. For more information about this retirement branch and activities, please visit www.SIR128.com.

BRANCH 116

Branch 116 Sons in Retirement will be holding its 11:15AM lunch meeting Monday, January 15 at the Clubhouse at Boundary Oaks, 3800 Valley Vista Road, Walnut Creek. The guest speaker will be Monica Sanders, program director of the First Tee of Contra Costa and a LPGA member. The luncheon cost is $25. For reservations or information call 925-322-1160 or email branch116@gmail.com.

For more information about the group, visit www.branch116.org.

TREATS FOR THE TROOPS

Charity group Delta Nu Psi has now sent 37,966 pounds of gourmet junk food to American servicemen and women located in the War Zones.

The group will be collecting donations at Lunardi’s in Danville on January 12th. Collection hours are 11:30AM until 2PM. Please shop for the men and women serving the United States. To learn more and see photos of recipients receiving packages, visit www.deltanupsi.org.

FREE TAX PREPARATION

Free tax preparation for the 2018 tax season is available starting February 2018 from AARP’s Tax-Aide and United Way’s Earn It, Keep It, Save It (EKS) programs. Service is provided by volunteer tax preparers who are IRS trained and certified. 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.

Beginning January 8, 2018, 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: • 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 W-2s, 1098s and 1099s • Other income and deductions • Your 2016 tax return

VETERANS MEMORIAL BUILDING OF SAN RAMON VALLEY

The Veterans Memorial Building of San Ramon Valley, located at 400 Hartz Avenue in Danville, offers a Historic Military Museum & Library as well as a Veteran Resource Center. The Museum & Library is open Monday through Friday from 9AM to 3PM. Every Saturday from 8AM to 11AM a Veteran Coffee and Pastry social is held.

To access resources for Veterans, you can connect with a County Veteran Service Officer every Wednesday from 10AM to 2PM. For an appointment, call 925-313-1481.

To learn more about the Veteran’s facility and programs, visit www. vmbsrv.org or email info@vmbsrv.org.

editor @ yourmonthlypaper.com

VOLUNTEERS SOUGHT FOR PARK, MUSEUM, & VISITOR CENTER

Members of the San Ramon Valley community are encouraged to share their love of Danville history and lend their time as volunteers at either the Museum of the San Ramon Valley, Town of Danville Visitor Center, or the Eugene O’Neill National Historic Site. The Museum and Visitor Center are housed in the restored 1891 Southern Pacific Railroad depot at the corner of Railroad and Prospect Avenues. The O’Neill Historic Site is a unit of the National Park Service located in the western hills of Danville. Through a collaboration between the Museum of the San Ramon Valley, Town of Danville, and National Park Service, an enhanced visitor experience is being planned for 2018. Regular, committed volunteers are needed in order to fulfill this community service.

Enhancements to the visitor experience being planned at the Museum include expanded operating hours, supplemental visitor information, and the integration of interpretive information about the Eugene O’Neill National Historic Site. The O’Neill site is open for tours Wednesday through Sunday.

“The Museum of the San Ramon Valley will continue to provide valuable collections, exhibits, and information that celebrate our history and heritage,” stated Museum of the San Ramon Valley Executive Director Dan Dunn. “By partnering with the Town and the National Park Service, we can help build our volunteer base and open our doors to more visitors.”

“Access to the Eugene O’Neill National Historic Site starts with shuttle service at the Museum of the San Ramon Valley”, stated National Park Service Superintendent Tom Leatherman, who oversees the site. He added, “It is a natural fit for us to work together with the Museum and Town to bring more information about Eugene O’Neill and the site to Historic Downtown Danville.”

Volunteers are being asked to complete a volunteer interest form by January 31, 2018. To complete the form, visit www.danville.ca.gov.

For more information, contact Museum of the San Ramon Valley Executive Director Dan Dunn at museumsrv@sbcglobal.net or (925) 837-3750; Town of Danville Administrative Services Director Nat Rojanasathira at nrojanasathira@ danville.ca.gov or (925) 314-3328; or Eugene O’Neill NHS Chief of Interpretation Kelli English at kelli_english@nps.gov or (925) 838-0249 x6421.

JANUARY 2018 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 7

Help Whole Foods stores support the community

E

SHOP FOR A CAUS

5% DAY

Local Whole Foods Markets will donate 5% of their sales on

Thursday, January 11, 2018

to support the programs of White Pony Express, whose mission is to eliminate hunger and poverty in Contra Costa County. Participating locations are: 100 Sunset Drive, San Ramon, CA 1333 Newell Ave, Walnut Creek, CA 2941 Ygnacio Valley Rd, Walnut Creek, CA 3502 Mt Diablo Blvd, Lafayette, CA

About White Pony Express WPE operates a Food Rescue program that picks up more than 5,000 lbs of surplus food every day from local supermarkets and delivers it to people in our county who are hungry. The “Free General Store” distributes 10,000 items of clothing, toys and books every month to families in need.

Please remember to shop at Whole Foods on January 11th! www.whiteponyexpress.org

WILD! SET TO OPEN

NEW EXHIBITION FEATURES PAINTINGS AND SCULPTURES DEPICTING ENDANGERED ANIMALS

The Town of Danville and the Village Theatre & Art Gallery invite the community to take a walk on the wild side as they present Wild, an art exhibition guest curated by local artist and animal lover Connie English.

Set to open on Thursday, January 11th Wild is an art exhibition that invites the audience to revel in the bright, bold, colorful depictions of wild and endangered species and marvel at the calming, elegant, and poetic watercolors depicting a variety of furry and feathered friends. Also on view are a dynamic assortment of sculptures made from metal and clay to intrigue an array of art connoisseurs.

This exhibit has something for animal and art lovers of all kinds! On view will be artwork by artists Joe Bologna, Connie English, John Finger, Lisa Lee, Jen Starwalt, and Karen Van Galder.

Guest Curator, Connie English was born and raised in the Bay Area. An avid lover of both arts and animals, her mosaic installations can be found as far as Thailand at Boon Lotts Elephant Sanctuary to Virginia at Project Perry’s rescue center for unwanted parrots. Her most recent public mosaic work can be seen at Heather Farms Park and Mt Diablo School. Connie uses much of her art as a way to create awareness for many species of endangered animals, mainly elephants and parrots.

An Opening Reception for Wild is set for January 11 from 5:30PM to 7:30PM. Complimentary refreshments will be served at the opening reception, and this family-friendly event is free and open to the public.

In conjunction with the exhibition, a free screening is scheduled of the film Born in China, a Disney nature film about an epic voyage into the remote parts of China to follow the stories of three wild animal families. The film will be shown on Saturday, January 20 in the Village Theatre at 1:30PM. The Village Theatre and Art Gallery is located at 233 Front Street in Danville.

The Gallery is open to visitors Wednesday through Friday from noon to 5PM, Saturday from 11AMto 3PM, and Monday and Tuesday by appointment only. The Gallery is always open one hour before performances in the Theatre. The Art Gallery is closed on Sundays. The exhibition will run through February 24.

For more information, contact Visual Arts Coordinator Marija Nelson Bleier at (925) 314-3460 or mbleier@danville.ca.gov.

PAGE 8 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • JANUARY 2018

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RANCHO ROMERO ELEMENTARY B E TH B URLINGA ME- R A NDA LL N A ME D

By Sandy Kontilis, Principal ALAMO ROTARIAN OF THE YEAR

Joy, a feeling of great happiness and delight, was December’s Character of the Month. Why is “joy” important in a child’s classroom or school? A quote about schooling particularly resonates with me. It is from John Dewey’s Experience and Education (1938): “What avail is it to win prescribed amounts of information about geography and history, to win the ability to read and write, if in the process the individual loses his own soul?” December held many “joyful” moments for students at Rancho Romero.

Singing Christmas carols to an audience at the Alamo Tree Lighting ceremony gave our students an opportunity to show off their hidden talents. Under the guidance of Katie Lawrence, thirty of Rancho Romero’s 2nd and 3rd grade students proudly piped a tune on their recorders and then belted out a song. Whether in the audience or on the risers, the moment was an opportunity for students to show off their work and for families to enjoy the sounds of “sweet music” performed by their children.

Thanks to our Inclusion Diversity Committee and Librarian, our students were treated to a visual representation of holiday celebrations around the world. Our large bulletin board was transformed into visual images as well as descriptions of worldwide celebrations. Students loved learning about the different holidays so much that the library’s circulation of books for holiday celebrations was higher than normal. The pleasure of learning is what brings joy to children.

Holidays are magical times on campus. Our kindergarten students sang songs to their families, and then they culminated the week’s events with a Polar Express party.

Our second-grade students celebrated Heritage Days by bringing in their favorite dishes to share with friends. Kwanzaa had a special meaning for a kindergarten and second grade classroom when a grandparent and a few family members brought Kwanzaa to life by introducing clothing, artifacts, music, chants, to the week-long celebration.

Christine Bertolero, our music teacher, had these words to share about the two assemblies the Winter Band Concert held. “The students did an amazing job all day long.

The entire MPR was full, with spill over outside, during our evening performance. We even had some “Music Ambassadors” from San Ramon Valley HS join our Advanced Band. It was a new chapter in the ongoing collaboration between our two sites.”

Rancho Romero Elementary hopes you find “joyful” moments in the new year.

Beth Burlingame-Randall has been named the Alamo Rotarian of the Year by the Rotary Club of Alamo. The award was presented by Club President Joan Grimes to Beth for her outstanding contributions to the Club, the Alamo community, and especially to youth over the past 12 years. This is the second time that Beth has received this stellar award.

Beth joined the Rotary Club of Alamo with her husband, Bill Randall, in 2005 after they both retired from teaching at Stone Valley Middle School. While she is retired, Beth has never lost her zeal for working with students. As the Rotarian Sponsor of the Rotary Interact High School Club at Monte Vista, she encourages the kids in monthly service projects that reflect the Rotary motto of Service Above Self. Under Beth’s leadership, the Monte Vista Interact Club has won the Best Rotary District 5160 Interact Club numerous times.

Beth also served as President of the Alamo Rotary Club in 2016-2017 and has always been instrumental in most of the Club’s projects and activities ranging from organizing social functions, participating in student recognitions and scholarships, serving continually on the Alamo Rotary Boards, and organizing service projects that involve Rotarians and Interactors’ working together.

Beth taught for 35 years in the San Ramon Unified School District, first at Monte Vista High School and then Stone Valley Middle School, where she taught Core, Drama, and Journalism.

The Alamo Club was founded on May 7, 1971, and has 50 members. The Club meets at Forli’s Beth Burlingame-Randall (left) accepts the Ristorante, 3160 Danville Blvd., Rotarian of the Year plaque and gift from Rotary Alamo on Wednesdays at 12:15PM . Club of Alamo President Joan Grimes.

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ALAMO ELEMENTARY

By Stan Hitomi, Principal 2017: A YEAR TO REMEMBER

Not all years are created equally. From my childhood I will always remember 1969 as a very special year with the Miracle Mets winning the World Series, the New York Jets (AFL) defeating the heavily favored Baltimore Colts (NFL) in Super Bowl III, and Neil Armstrong becoming the first human to walk on the moon. What a year!

By no means in comparison to 1969, but 2017 was a pretty special year for Alamo School. Our school spirit literally went through the roof (or at least on it) when we again led district schools in participation for the SRVEF Run for Education…seven years in a row. The year 2017 also saw our Site Council beginning a school-wide focus on Culture, Climate, and Character Development.

Our first big step was a re-design of student leadership, making it more than a popularity contest by adding a leadership training requirement. But what we will remember most about 2017 will be that, working together, we were able to bring recognition for excellence back to our school and community.

In 2005, Alamo School became only the third school in California (proceeded by Fort Washington Elementary in Fresno and RJ Neutra Elementary in Lemoore) to be recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School for the third time. It turned out to be our high-water mark, as what followed would be seven consecutive years of declining academic performance until we finally dropped out of the top 10% of schools in California in 2011.

In 2017 we capped seven years of improving our work with students and teachers, and restoring our position as one of the leading schools in the state.

Our 98.4% average standard score on the state test (SBAC) was our best-ever and put us not only back in the top 10% but in the top 1% of schools for the first time-ever! In 2017 Alamo School was ranked 54th in California out of 5,650 elementary schools. With the help of dedicated staff and collaborative parents, we are making plans to keep us on top for years to come.

STAFF SPOTLIGHT: ALEKSANDRA HESS

Any conversation about our improvement as a school would not be complete without mentioning our incredible intervention program. Taking a scientific approach, each and every student at Alamo School is benchmarked and monitored for reading, writing, math, and behavior. But the collection of this data would be worthless without an intervention program to support our students that are identified as at-risk.

A turning point for our school came when we hired Aleksandra (Aleks) Hess as our reading specialist in 2015. Aleks came to the US from Poland in 2013. In Poland she had earned both a bachelor and master’s degree in Early Childhood Education, and she helped as a reading volunteer at Twin Creeks Elementary in San Ramon in 2014.

Aleks works with small groups of students using our newly acquired Leveled-Literacy Intervention Program that was purchased by our EdFund.

But the success of our intervention program is more about the person than the program. Aleks brings to our reading program a growth mindset: a belief that every student can become a proficient reader. She engages with students on a personal level and instills a belief that they can become better readers.

Aleks has played a major role in our recent achievements as a school, but more importantly she has made a difference in the lives of our students.

IMPORTANT DATES January 15 January 16 January 22 January 25 January 26 January 27

Holiday – MLK Day NO SCHOOL – Staff Development Spring Conference Day – Adjusted Schedule MVHS Choral Festival Family Weekend – Dodge Ball Family Weekend – Glow Party

BOOKS FOR THE HOMEBOUND

If you or someone you know has a passion for reading and can no longer visit the library, find out more about the Danville Library’s Books for the Homebound program, a free and unique library service. Trained library volunteers check out and deliver books to homebound individuals residing in their own homes or residential care facilities. Contact Sandra Paiva, Volunteer Coordinator, at the Danville Library at (925) 314-3756 for more information.

JANUARY 2018 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 9

ARE YOUR KIDS STRESSED, OVERWHELMED, ANXIOUS??

NEW! 6-Week Mindfulness Classes for Kids (ages 10-13) & Teens (ages 14-18) Mon. Feb. 5th – Mar. 19th 5:30 (kids) 6:30 (teens) Mindfulness is scientifically proven to reduce stress, anxiety, depression and increase focus, attention, executive functioning, and joy!

Space is Limited! Sign up now!

Register by Jan. 25th to hold your spot Classes taught by Mindfulness Expert and Author, Joree Rose, LMFT #93545 www.mindfulnessandtherapycenter.com • 925.212.2996

SAN RAMON VALLEY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY

By Jamie Westgate, Principal

Confetti, count-down, and cheering, oh my! With each New Year celebration comes excitement and anticipation for a new chapter of life filled with happiness and success. We all hope to meet goals, deepen friendships, and experience joy. Much is the same in the lives of our students here at SRVCA. As we kick off 2018, our teachers will be assisting their students to set goals for themselves for academic, social, and spiritual growth. The overarching mission of our school is to inspire kids to love God, love others, and love learning. Loving God and loving others are the two commandments Jesus gave us in order to live a fulfilling life, as they are foundational to the character, work ethic, and heart of an individual. The third pillar, developing a genuine interest and love for learning, takes creative teaching and exceptional curriculum. We train and encourage our teachers to build on a child’s natural curiosity and inquisitiveness. We seek educators who value a relational approach to instruction, who constantly strive to discover, appreciate and accentuate each student’s individuality. As they determine a child’s unique gifts and strengths, faculty members work to capitalize on those to make learning relevant and fun.

One of the best compliments we regularly hear from our parents is “My child can’t wait to get to school,” which I directly correlate to each teacher’s ability to work their “SRVCA magic!”

January is the month we re-enroll our current students for the coming school year and provide opportunities for prospective families to visit our campus. If you’re interested in learning more about our school, please come to our Open House on January 26 or call the office at (925)838-9622 to schedule a tour. We are anticipating wait lists in some of our classes next year, so consider calling before we fill up.

We wish our San Ramon Valley community a meaningful and joyful start to the New Year!

NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH

Neighborhood Watch is a Community Action and Problem-Solving Program and 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.

Meetings can be held by a Crime Prevention Specialist who will share more information about the program. Please contact Christina Lind-Winters (925) 313-2682 or clind001@so.cccounty.us for more information.

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PAGE 10 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • JANUARY 2018

MONTE VISTA HIGH SCHOOL

By Dr. Kevin Ahern, Principal

After a relaxing winter break, Monte Vista’s students and faculty returned to start the spring semester which means back to the busy pace of school and the many things that come with it.

Over the next two months, MV will be preparing for our WASC accreditation visit which is scheduled for March 4-7. Every six years, all high schools in the Western United States must go through an accreditation process where faculty, students, parents, and community have the opportunity to evaluate how the school is addressing student learning. At MV, we are fortunate to have all four of these groups highly engaged in improving our already high levels of student achievement.

Over the past eighteen months, we have been evaluating our school through a cycle of inquiry that has focused on student and adult learning as well as how to improve our students’ educational experiences at MV. The March accreditation visit will involve a team of seven educators who will validate our conclusions through observations, interviews, and artifact review. We look forward to showing what MV is truly about.

In January, MV’s faculty will have a number of opportunities to continue improving our instructional and academic practices. On January 16th, MV’s faculty will be attending a district-wide professional development day at Dougherty Valley High School. Later that week, MV will be sending a team of nine teachers to a conference that focuses on standards based assessment and a grading seminar. At the end of the month, we will be sending two six member teams to the Ed Tech conference and the School Culture summit respectively. We are also excited to send team leaders from our grade level and subject area teams to further Response to Intervention training in mid-February. We feel that all of these professional development opportunities will serve to improve our practice in classrooms across our school and fit well into our long term goals as a learning organization.

Monte Vista’s winter athletic teams are just starting their tough EBAL schedules with the post season in mind. To date, MV basketball, soccer, and wrestling all enjoyed strong pre-seasons and are ready to challenge for championships and playoff spots. I invite everyone in the community to come and support our student-athletes.

MVs arts programs are also beginning their preparations for upcoming performances. The choir and music programs are prepping for a variety of competitions in late January and February. We are also excited that the drama program has selected In the Heights as our winter musical which will begin its run at the end of February.

In mid-February we will welcome our incoming freshman class from our feeder middle schools. MV’s counseling department will host our annual 9th grade parent night on February 12th at 7 PM. Visit https://mvhs.schoolloop.com for more information.

The spring semester is off and running. We look forward to seeing you at one of our many campus events.

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ST. ISIDORE SCHOOL

W E W E LCOM E 2018 W I TH GRATITUDE

By Maria Ward, Principal

Happy New Year! We enter 2018 with much excitement and anticipation! We are grateful for a successful 2017 school year. This past year we introduced our new classrooms, added a Makerspace, and have a thriving TK program. We partnered with Challenge Success and will be implementing more of their philosophy and practices in 2018. Our Student Leadership members continually lead the student body with service and outreach projects to give back to the greater community.

December Blessings: Throughout December our Student Leadership Team sold candy canes to support the American Wheelchair foundation.

They raised enough funds to provide three wheelchairs for those who need mobility in other countries. They also partnered with the Knights of Columbus in which our students donated wrapped toys during an all school mass to help the annual toy drive. The proceeds from the Christmas boutique went to our sister schools in Oakland. These are some of the thing we do throughout the year which teaches our students how just a little kindness and caring goes a long way.

Save the Date: On Friday, January 19th we will be having a TK/Kindergarten Open House at 10am in the St. Isidore room which is across the street from our campus. As you visit with neighbors and friends over the holiday break, please mention the SIS TK/Kindergarten informational meeting. Word-of-mouth is the number one way new families hear about our school, making you our best marketing tool. Your help is always appreciated. Please come and hear about all we offer.

We are getting ready for Catholic Schools Week! This year the theme is “Catholic Schools: Communities of Faith, Knowledge, and Service.” The annual observance begins the last Sunday in January and runs all week, January 29th to February 2nd. Catholic Schools typically celebrate Catholic Schools Week with masses, open houses, and activities for students, families, parishioners, and the community at-large. Through these events, schools focus on the value Catholic education provides to young people and its contributions to our church, our communities, and our nation.

In closing, we encourage all new families who are considering a Catholic school education for their children to visit us during Catholic Schools Week. If you have any questions, please feel free to call us directly at 925-837-2977. We would be happy to give you a personal tour of our classrooms and campus. On behalf of St. Isidore School, we wish you a very blessed, healthy, and prosperous 2018.

A SKATEBOARD PARK IN DANVILLE? By Town of Danville Councilmember Karen Stepper

Soon after joining the Danville Council in 2002, I started attending conference workshops about skateboard parks. A state law had assumed the liability problem, and cities began building skateboard facilities—Concord, Dublin, Pleasanton, Livermore, Napa, San Ramon all built parks. Although kids in Danville would ask for a skatepark every few years, I couldn’t find enough interest among council members to pursue it until now. Recently Danville has hired a skatepark consultant to determine the size, location, and feasibility of a state-of-the-art facility. Our consultant, Aaron Spohn is a highly qualified experienced skateboarder who has built over a thousand skateboard parks—all visible at www.spohnranch.com. Aaron is proving himself a master at bringing in public feedback and owns the entire design-build process from start to finish—designer, contractor, and steel fabricator. Go onto the Danville website at www.danville.ca.gov if you want to give feedback, too!

PARTICIPATE? The Skateboard Park Community Design meeting was held just before Christmas. Aaron taught us how to gather a great deal of feedback assisted by the outreach of our Recreation Director Henry Perezalonzo and our public relations guru Geoff Gillette - regarding a potential park. Over 65 skaters joined the workshop and are now following it on Facebook (www.facebook.com/Town-of-Danville-Skatepark-252018898667159). Skaters from elementary school through seasoned 40 year olds brought stories of their experiences to the Veterans Hall. After roundtable comments on the parks in nearby communities, each attendee voted for his or her favorite parks/topography and gathered three-deep around a table to talk about design aspects—complete with small skateboard features in 3D. At this point, the considerations of lighting, terrain, accessibility to skaters, and visibility all point to Sycamore Valley Park being the best venue.

SKATE CULTURE? I have taken my 6 and 9 years old grandkids to skateboard lessons several times. My son began skateboarding at the age of 5. RobSkate, a skateboarding camp, has taught lessons at Charlotte Wood Middle School using temporary equipment on the asphalt. Kids from ages 4 to 13 brought their boards and scooters to learn new skills. Thirty percent of the campers were Danville girls. Anew organization, Skate Like a Girl, is spreading to California from Seattle. As Aaron noted, the younger kids and girls are the rapidest growing areas in the sport--changing the perception and culture of skateboarding. Training kids young brings kids who reflect the respectful values of our community. Indeed, at the Parks Commission Meeting to consider skatepark sites, the youth, young adults, and parents who had come to speak in favor of the park picked up their chairs and put them away. I had never seen that in 15 years on the council!

WHICH WHEELS? A new state law expanded the usage of skateboard parks (for liability issues) to essentially include all non-motorized vehicles. Our hardworking parks commission considered all the advantages and challenges of various locations and favored an inclusive policy built upon this new law. These parks are recreational oases for all users that the council allows—meeting the recreational needs for our young students below driving age, encouraging youth for the Olympics (Skateboarding and BMX competitions will be unveiled in the Olympics in Japan!), and providing transportation for all nondrivers. The space to make competition safely is the first priority, but we will be considering accommodations for all types of wheels: skateboards, scooters, skates, wheelchairs, and/or bikes.

So far, skaters, parents, and downtown businesses agree that skaters are much better served in a skatepark—fun, competition, and exercise!

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JANUARY 2018 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 11

VALLEY VIGNETTES

BRET HARTE LIVED AND WROTE IN THE SAN RAMON VALLEY

By Beverly Lane

The name of one of the West’s most famous early writers, Bret Harte, appears in several stories about the San Ramon Valley. A small triangle in Danville at the intersection of Diablo Road and Camino Tassajara is called Bret Harte Corners.

Just what did Bret Harte have to do with the valley?

The story begins in March 1854 when a young Bret Harte arrived in California to stay with his parents in Oakland. At age 18, he was already writing, and his adventures as a young man in the new state provided grist for his articles and poetry for years to come.

One part of that experience was set south of Mount Diablo where, in September of 1856, he became a tutor for rancher Abner Bryant’s four sons: Tom, Wise, George, and Jonathan. Bryant had a spread near Alamo Creek in the Tassajara Valley. The 1855 County Assessor’s book states that he had 83 Spanish mares and horses, 238 head of cattle, 652 Spanish sheep, two wagons, and one buggy.

According to a letter Harte wrote to his sister dated October 8, 1856, Bryant “had four young sons, and not caring to have them grow up like range-cattle, he decided to have a tutor...There is nothing of the rural character of a farm, saving the corral at the bottom of the field and the haystack at the top, and whole place is as wild as the God of nature made it.” Bryant was “not a farmer, but a drover” and lived in “a mere shanty that might be a hunter’s cabin in the wilderness.”

Also in this letter, Harte commented that “Mr. Bryan(t) is a very religious man.” That autumn the young writer joined the Bryants at an evangelical camp meeting in at the Alamo/Danville border. Later he wrote an article called “An Apostle of the Tules” which described the meeting’s revival atmosphere. He said it had a “singular resemblance to a circus” with “smaller tents which served for prayer meetings, classrooms known to the few unbelievers as ‘sideshows.’”

He probably sent mail at the village of Alamo, where the post office was in John and Mary Ann Smith house. Some articles mistakenly wrote he lived in Alamo because Bryant’s ranch was on Alamo Creek (many miles to the east). Another writer said Harte taught at the Union Academy which was not built until 1859. He and Mark Twain were contemporaries and friends, and much has been written about both of them. Bret Harte Corners was dedicated and had trees planted for the park in 1931 by Alda Stoddard and women from the Farm Bureau Home Department.

Other works by Harte that could well have drawn upon his life here include the famous tale A Legend of Monte Diablo, The Convalescence of Jack Hamlin, and A First Family of Tassajara...The Queen of the Pirate Isle.

Although Harte is credited with romanticizing the gold rush period in California, many of his works also recount the era’s harshness, prejudice against Indians, and isolation. His brief stint with the Bryant boys in the wilds of Tassajara probably helped give his writings some of their pioneer-era authenticity.

Sources: Oakland Tribune, March 30, 1931; Ida Hall, “Bret Harte in Contra Costa,” c. 1925; George Stewart, “Bret Harte, Argonaut and Exile,” 1931.

Bret Harte in 1872

S TOR M Y OU T S I DE , WA R M INSIDE

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, made 100% from nebbiolo grapes. Another option would be to try a Barbaresco, also made of 100% nebbiolo but much less expensive than Barolo. 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, cedar, and currant. Big and balanced, Cabernet is the perfect stormy match for a fatty 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, so 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 Lafayette, pop a cork anyway - It’s still winter, right? Which reds will you be sipping on throughout the winter?

Monica Chappell is a wine writer and educator. To view a list of wine appreciation classes, visit www.wineappreciation101.blogspot.com.

To place an ad in your hometown paper call us at 925.405.6397 or email editor@yourmonthlypaper.com

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PAGE 12 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • JANUARY 2018

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QUICK TRIPS By Linda Summers Pirkle MARINES MEMORIAL

Whenever I hear What a Wonderful World, sung by Louis Armstrong, my thoughts turn to my first-born child. Back in the day before iTunes, Amazon Echo, and Dot, I liked listening to “easy jazz” on my kitchen radio. No matter what my toddler and I were doing at the time, when the unmistakable violin intro to What a Wonderful World began I would crank up the volume, scoop my girl up in my arms, and the two of us would dance, swing, and sway. At her wedding this past year, my husband and I surprised her with a group sing-along of “our song,” What a Wonderful World. Life can be wonderful, and music sure can make it sweeter.

At a recent jazz presentation with renowned musicians at Peace Lutheran in Danville (Sunday evenings 5-7PM) a good friend said, “I really like jazz, and I would like to learn more about it.” It turns out Blues Jazz and Rock ‘n’ Roll with Robert Greenberg is a program all about jazz and its roots.

The website for the program describes the Blues, Jazz and Rock n’ Roll event: “We will pay special attention to the ‘birth’ of jazz in the amazing multi-racial, multi-ethnic city of New Orleans, and the role of the New Orleans native Louis Armstrong in the advent and popularization of jazz in the 1920s. From there, we’ll trace through the development of ‘Swing’ in the 1930s, ‘Bebop’ in the 1940s; and post-WWII youth culture and the advent of Rock & Roll in the 1950s, itself a harbinger of the Civil Rights and Youth movements of the 1960s.”

Blues Jazz and Rock ‘n’ Roll will be held in the Jewel Box theater at the landmark Marines’ Memorial building, located one block from Union Square in San Francisco. I recently visited this memorial to the armed forces. It is a gorgeous space and full of history.

The Marines’ Memorial Club/Hotel was built in 1926, and twenty years later, in 1946, it became the first “Living Memorial” in the United States and serves as a military museum. The entire hotel is a tribute to the men and women who gave their lives while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. The halls of the Marines’ Memorial Club are lined with historical and emotional remnants of the past – photos, medals, and interactive exhibits – on display for hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. Some of the memorabilia dates back to 1775. The centerpiece of the lobby is the ship’s bell from the USS San Francisco, which supported the marines, sailors, and airmen in the Pacific Theatre in World War II, most notably in the Battle for Guadalcanal in November 1942 and Pearl Harbor. The Marines’ Memorial Theater was the former home of the Actors Workshop and American Conservatory Theatre and some of the greats who have performed there are Jack Benny, Bob Hope, Jean Stapleton, and Lynn Redgrave. My favorite spot in the Marines’ Memorial Building is the lovely piano bar (Friday and Saturday nights) and restaurant on the 12th floor with its spectacular views of San Francisco’s bridges.

Blues, Jazz, and Rock ‘n’ Roll an Evening with Robert Greenberg, the Erik Jekabson Quartet & John Santos in collaboration with Berkeley-based California Jazz Conservatory will be held on Thursday, February 1st from 7:30PM – 10PM. Tickets are available exclusively through City Box Office. Call 415-392-4400 or email info@cityboxoffice.com to purchase.

Marines’ Memorial Club/Hotel is located at 609 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA. Their phone number is 415-673-6672.

Linda Summers Pirkle, travel consultant and long-term Danville resident, has arranged and led tours for the Town of Danville for several years. Inspired by the many wonderful places to visit in the Bay Area, she organizes day trips, either for groups or for friends and family. “What a great place to live, so much to see, so much to do.” To share your “Quick Trips” ideas email Coverthemap@gmail.com.

editor @ yourmonthlypaper.com

TECHNOLOGY MATTERS

HELPING WITH TECHNOLOGY

By Evan Corstorphine, Portable CIO, Inc.

Recently we witnessed natural disasters in both Northern and Southern California which affected thousands of people. I’m speaking about the wind-driven wildfires that ripped through the wine country, and then Ventura county a month later. Almost ten thousand structures of all types were destroyed between these fires, including homes, apartment buildings, schools, and businesses. The scope of loss is mind boggling, almost unimaginable. In most cases the devastation was total: there was nothing left.

Everyone I talk to locally is anxious to help in some way, but often they don’t know how. We live in such abundance in this area and we have so much we can offer. While the dramatic stories and pictures have fallen out of the news, there are still tens of thousands who need our help and who are falling between the cracks for one reason or another. My spouse has been using a combination of the Nextdoor and Facebook websites to identify people we can help. We’ve decided to focus our energy on those people who need things to get back into business so that they can resume earning money, hiring other people, and regaining their economic foothold.

We’re practicing the old adage with a bit of a twist: “Give a man a fish, feed him for a day. Give him a fishing pole, feed him for a life time.” (We are assuming he already knows how to fish, but his “fishing pole” was lost).

“Help” can arrive in many forms, and different sorts of help are appropriate at different stages of recovery. For instance, it doesn’t make sense to donate furniture until people have somewhere to live. It’s all about timing, and that’s where we come in. Sometimes we’ve identified someone who has a particular need, such as a house painter who needed to replace a lost power washer. In that case we used donated funds to buy him the tool so he could get back to work. Another instance was when a local man in the construction trade donated funds to help a hair stylist who lost all of her tools get back in business with a new set of hair scissors -- which are very specific and surprisingly expensive.

As PCIO is in the technology industry, we have also been working to gather and re-purpose electronics for others. Even an older smartphone such as an iPhone 5 or 6 is useful, because it can be provided to children to keep them busy with games while their parents attend the countless meetings required to rebuild their lives.

I had a two-year-old iPad Air that I had been thinking about upgrading. It was in excellent shape and I was actively using it. Rather than hanging onto the tablet when I upgraded to the newest model, I wiped its data and donated it to a family we identified.

That is the sort of donation I’m working to secure for these people, where we donate good, usable equipment that’s current technology, rather than obsolete gear that’s sitting in the corner waiting for e-waste recycling. In addition to donating any extra equipment you have that fits the profile below, I’m suggesting taking the opportunity to upgrade your technology for the specific purpose of donating what you’re currently using to someone in need. It’s a big “ask,” I know, and I’m trying to lead by example.

As such, I’d like to ask for your help, and I’m going to be very specific so that we can do the most good. If you have any of the following gear that you would like to donate, we would be happy to re-purpose it for someone who now has nothing.

Everything will be securely wiped prior to being distributed.

• Windows laptops, 5 years old or less with Windows 7, 8, or 10. (XP, Vista are too old) • MacBook Air, MacBook Pro laptops: 5 years old or newer • Smartphones: iPhone 5, 6, 7, 8, or Android “Lollipop” or newer. The current iTunes account or Android account should be “signed-out” and any passcodes removed, or we can’t use the phone. If you need assistance we can help you do this.

• Tablet computers: iPad 4th Generation or newer (4th Gen, Air, Air 2, 2017) • Android tablets from any manufacturer with “Lollipop” or newer (i.e., Samsung, Asus, etc.)

• Kindle or Nook Reader tablets: All versions.

• Amazon Fire tablets.

• Google ChromeBook – 3 years or newer. ~ Please note for now, no printers, desktop computers, or monitors are being taken as most people do not have the space to accomodate them.

Our goal is to enable our neighbors in the North to be productive using current technology that is ready to use. If you have extra or have been thinking about upgrading, please let us help someone less fortunate with your donation. As far as the financial particulars, this should be considered a gift from you to your neighbors in the North.

PCIO is not a 501(c) not-for-profit, so there are no write-offs for providing these gifts, rather, it’s a person-to-person transfer, and PCIO is acting as your conveyance.

If we can help you determine if something is worth donating or not, or to make a donation, please give our helpful staff a call at 925-552-7953 ext. 1, or email info@pcioit.com.

JANUARY 2018 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 13

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ROLE PLAYERS ENSEMBLE PRESENTS ANIMAL FARM

The animals have taken over the farm! Can they govern it better than the cruel humans did? Their primary law is “All Animals Are Equal.” Is that for real, or just a slogan that inevitably gets twisted? You will be astonished at how relevant this 1940’s story is to our modern political and social world, both internationally and domestically. George Orwell, author of 1984, spins a cautionary tale for our times and all times. Role Players Ensemble brings it to life.

The play runs February 2 – February 18 on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm and on Sundays at 2pm at The Village Theatre located at 2 3 3 Front St re e t , Danville. Tickets cost $20-$30 and are available online at www.

RolePlayersEnsemble.com, at Danville Community Center, 420 Front St, Danville, or via phone at (925) 314-3400.

A sneak peek of Artwork by Danville artist John Osgood the show will be held Thursday, January 18 at 7pm, at the Danville Library located at 400 Front Street. There is free admission to this entertaining look at the production process with the director, actors, and designers.

An Animal Farm discussion will be held Wednesday January 24th, at 6:30pm, at the Crow Canyon Country Club located at 711 Silver Lake Drive, in Danville. Admission to this fascinating discussion of Animal Farm’s Cold War historical roots and its astonishing relevance in the world we live in today will be held.

Full Role Players Ensemble season information is available at www.

RolePlayersEnsemble.com.

PAGE 14 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • JANUARY 2018

CLIP NOTES By Jody Morgan

Henry Wickham arrived at the residence of Joseph Dalton Hooker, Director of the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew, at 3AM on June 14, 1876, with 70,000 highly perishable seeds of Hevea brasiliensis, the mysterious tree known to produce the world’s best quality rubber. Hooker welcomed the seeds like favored relations, but he treated their bearer like an ill-mannered servant. Wickham waited 44 years for royal recognition of his role in bringing the British Empire the key to cornering the world market in a commodity soon to become indispensable. Finally knighted by King George V for his service to the crown on June 3, 1920, Wickham spent the intervening years rebounding from one near-death experience to another.

From automobile tires to wire insulation, the presence of rubber is so ubiquitous in our daily lives that we seldom consider how hard it was to adapt it for industrial applications. Although some 500 species of plants from several different families produce a sufficient stream of the milky sap known as latex to produce rubber, Europeans had never encountered the substance until Christopher Columbus came upon natives in Haiti playing with a rubber ball in 1493.

Dismissed as a novelty suitable only for toys, rubber got its English name in 1770 when Joseph Priestly, better known for identifying oxygen, discovered that the substance rubbed out marks made by lead pencils. Scotsman Charles Macintosh created waterproof garments in 1825 by sandwiching rubber dissolved in naphtha between layers of cloth. However, few wanted a coat that cracked in cold and got gummy in heat.

In 1839 Charles Goodyear accidentally discovered “vulcanization” when he spilled a mixture of rubber, sulfur, and lead on a hot stove. The cured substance neither hardened in cold nor melted in heat. Goodyear spent $30,000 of his own money on a magnificent display of the potential uses of rubber at London’s 1851 Great Exhibition.

In Thief at the End of the World: Rubber, Power, and the Seeds of Empire, Joe Jackson recounts the tortuous route taken by Wickham to get his precious cargo to Kew. As Jackson explains, “Henry came of age when explorers’ journals were best sellers.” Henry lacked horticultural training, but he recognized the

www.yourmonthlypaper.com commercial value of rubber. He described his experience tapping rubber trees during his second South American voyage in Rough Notes of a Journey Through the Wilderness from Trinidad to Para, Brazil by Way of the Great Cataracts of the Orinco, Atabago and Rio Negro. Wickham’s prose was no terser than his title, but his sketch of Hevea brasiliensis caught Hooker’s attention. Hooker commissioned Wickham to gather seed.

By 1872, when the book appeared in London, Wickham had married the publisher’s daughter Violet and brought her to Brazil along with members of his immediate family. Jackson’s carefully researched book includes information from Violet’s unpublished journal. She describes arrival in Brazil as “very like being dropped in deep water never having learned to swim.”

In 1855, Richard Spruce identified the South American tree yielding the finest rubber. Seeds he gathered went rancid in transit. In 1873, Charles Farris stuffed 2,000 seeds in crocodile hides to smuggle them out of Brazil. They failed to germinate. Bolivian trader Ricardo Chavez sent Hooker four barrels of seeds in 1875. They rotted en route.

Wickham understood how quickly the oil-laden seed coat decayed. He smuggled enough viable seeds to London for British rubber plantations to be established in the Far East. Of the 70,000 seeds Wickham carefully transported, 2,900 seedlings lived long enough to be distributed by Kew, with 1,700 surviving shipment to Ceylon (now Sri Lanka).

Hevea brasiliensis does not grow naturally in groves like redwoods. A rainforest acre holds 2-3 specimens amidst the tangle of other vegetation. Tapping requires making shallow cuts in the bark without injuring the inner cambium layer. A mature tree can be tapped for 20-25 years. Brazilian rubber production required experienced workers (seringuieros) tapping remote trees. In 1900, Amazonian exports accounted for 95% of the world’s rubber. By 1928, Amazonian exports were a mere 2.3%. Jackson writes: “The challenges of the jungle were too daunting, no matter how much one bribed, beat, flogged, or shot the seringuieros. By 1910, America produced 180,000 autos, and their automakers prayed for a new source of rubber.”

Although failure to follow Wickham’s advice on culture delayed success, Great Britain reaped immense profits from the cargo he delivered. In 1918, the United States imported 333.8 million pounds of rubber from the Far East.

Wickham’s seedlings were thriving.

Nights continued from front page

finding adequate employment and affordable housing to establish the foundation for a secure, sustainable, independent future. A project of the Social Justice Alliance of the Interfaith Council of Contra Costa County, WN partners with other organizations to help clients become self-sufficient. Over the past few years, 75-80% of WN clients have been able to achieve that goal.

Hosting locations are spread across the county. Shelters accommodate up to 30 individuals. Each family has its own tent. Approximately 200 volunteers at each location each week are needed to make and serve dinner and breakfast, pack bag lunches, and help children with homework or play. A site supervisor stays awake all night, while other on-site volunteers are permitted to sleep. Every two weeks all of the clients’ belongings are packed up and moved to the next facility. A volunteer provides the truck bearing their possessions and works with a friend to make moving day run smoothly. He even makes his vehicle available throughout the year.

Joann Oliver has been host coordinator for St. Timothy’s in Danville for 11 years. WN provides privacy for families with a tent for each.

She is pleased that services WN offers are becoming more sophisticated each year. “It doesn’t take much, in the Bay Area in particular, to become homeless,” she explains. “If you have an illness or lose a job, it’s hard to put together enough money for a first and last rent.” She’s seen people from all walks of life including teachers impacted by problems forcing them to become homeless. As proud as she is of the job WN is doing, she realizes, “If we had enough affordable or transitional housing, we wouldn’t have to move everyone every two weeks.”

Beth Chaim Congregation has been co-hosting Winter Nights Shelter at St. Timothy’s for the past 10 years, taking responsibility for the second week. Naomi Ehrlich, Beth Chaim WN coordinator, comments, “Winter Nights is my favorite week of the year for our congregation because it is a time when we as a community are able to help those less fortunate, to make a difference to families in need, and to teach the children of Beth Chaim (who also volunteer during the week) Tikkun Olam, which in Hebrew means ‘repairing the world.’”

Susan Dowling is host coordinator at San Ramon Valley United Methodist Church. She suggests, “My best advice to someone interested in becoming a host congregation coordinator is to be very flexible. Each year the clients are different, the volunteers are different, and the ages of the children are different, so appropriate activities are different. Volunteers who have worked with the program for a number of years understand and adapt to the need for change.” St. Isidore’s Catholic Church and Danville Congregational Church co-host. Individual volunteers from the area and Pledge to Humanity groups have also signed up to help in January 2018.

One of WN’s priorities is education. Every weekday morning children are taken by the WN van to the schools from which they became homeless so that they experience continuity. WN traveling tutors follow the children from one shelter location to the next to help them remain at or reach grade level performance. Reading is encouraged. Dowling remarks, “I enjoy reading to the kids and playing with them. One favorite experience for me was the year I had a six-year-old boy who loved having me read to him.”

Preferring to remain anonymous, one of WN’s successful clients gave permission for her story to be told. As a mother going through divorce and unable to get child

See Nights continued on page 16

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JANUARY 2018 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 15

PAGE 16 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • JANUARY 2018

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RECREATIONAL USE MARIJUANA - WHAT DOES THE NEW LAW REALLY ALLOW?

By Supervisor Candace Andersen

Voter enacted Proposition 64, the Adult Use of Marijuana Act (AUMA), permits the recreational use and sale of marijuana in California. The law allows for any adult 21 and older to possess and grow for personal use up to six indoor marijuana plants. It also permits cities and counties to decide whether they want to allow the outdoor cultivation, sale, and distribution of cannabis and related products in their jurisdictions.

Contra Costa County’s Smoke Free Contra Costa applies to marijuana use as well. In 2015, the Board of Supervisors passed an ordinance declaring Contra Costa County owned properties to be 100% smoke free. Smoking, including the use of marijuana and medical marijuana, is not permitted in all indoor and outdoor areas, including parking lots, courtyards, and break areas of every building and property owned or solely leased by the County and in County vehicles In addition, in 2006, the Board of Supervisors passed the Secondhand Smoke Protections Ordinance which covers all unincorporated areas within Contra Costa County. This ordinance prohibits any smoking of all substances within 20 feet of doors, windows, and ventilation systems of any building, in outdoor eating establishments, on public trails, and at parks, to name just a few. In addition, this ordinance prohibits smoking in multiunit housing residences and in common indoor/outdoor areas of these buildings.

Both San Ramon and Danville have banned dispensaries, outdoor cultivation, deliveries and delivery businesses, and commercial operations, including testing.

On January 17, 2017, the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors adopted an urgency interim ordinance No. 2017-03 prohibiting the cultivation, delivery, and sale of marijuana and marijuana products in the unincorporated areas of Contra Costa County. In October 2017, the Board of Supervisors made permanent that same ordinance, while giving staff direction as to possible amendments to the ordinance. Sometime in the summer of 2018, the staff ’s recommendations to amend the current marijuana ordinance will come before the Board of Supervisors for additional review.

Some Supervisors would like to see large outdoor grows, some would like to see manufacturing and distribution facilities, and some would like dispensaries. Not all uses are appropriate for every area of our very diverse county.

I will be meeting with each city council in my district at their public meetings to hear any concerns the councils and the community might have about impacts on cities or jurisdictions because of the County’s proposed ordinance amendments.

While I respect the right of adults to make decisions about their own use of marijuana, with the legalization of recreational marijuana I am very concerned about the increased access by youth and the long-term effects on developing brains. Studies have shown that using marijuana regularly in teens and early 20s may lead to physical changes in the brain.

A recent October 2017 report from the Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Traffic Area (HIDTA) revealed that marijuana use among youth increased 12 percent in the 3-year average (2013-2105) since Colorado legalized recreational marijuana compared to the 3-year average (2010-2012) prior to legalization. Marijuana used by college students also increased 16 percent during this same time period. The brain is still developing until the mid 20s. Studies also show that marijuana can increase the risk for anxiety, depression, suicide, and schizophrenia, as well as substance use or abuse.

Also of great concern is the possible increase of driving under the influence of drugs (DUID). There are no regulations in place to determine safe levels for driving.

However, currently, if you are under the influence of marijuana while operating a car, boat, or other vehicle, a law enforcement officer can pull you over and conduct a sobriety test. A recent October 2017 report from the Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Traffic Area (HIDTA) revealed that marijuana-related traffic deaths, where a driver tested positive for marijuana, more than doubled in the period from 2013 through 2016.

I am optimistic that as the County moves forward in looking at changing the current outright ban on outdoor cultivation, production, and distribution of marijuana, the Board of Supervisors will take into consideration the potential impacts on our communities, our quality of life, and most importantly, our youth.

My office is here to serve the residents of Contra Costa County District 2, which includes San Ramon, Danville, Alamo, Walnut Creek, Saranap, Parkmead, Lafayette, Moraga, Canyon, and Orinda. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if we can provide you with additional information on this topic or on other County issues.

I can be reached at SupervisorAndersen@bos.cccounty.us or (925) 957-8860.

Nights continued from page 14

support from her estranged husband, she was evicted from her apartment when she fell behind on the rent and lived in her car with her children, occasionally able to afford a hotel room, until discovering WN. She worked during the day and got her children to school, so no one realized for years that the family lacked a home. She turned her life around with WN support. Her oldest is now in college on scholarship, and her high school-age son is preparing to apply. She says, “A family unit needs to stay together; if they are separated, it adds another stressor.

Winter Nights takes away stressors and gives you someone to talk to.” Her advice to the homeless: “Keep your head up, and keep moving forward. It’s baby steps at the beginning, but if you don’t take those baby steps, you will trip and fall.”

The mother cited found the eviction on her record made getting an apartment impossible. WN partners with SparkPoint, a United Way agency, to help with clearing credit history. Employment counseling is available during the day at WN’s Oasis Center, located in Pittsburg at the St. Vincent de Paul Society. Oasis Manager Kathleen Purdy is herself a WN success story. Now she helps clients access benefits they can receive through government agencies.

Along with Bill Shaw, WN Program Manager, and fellow WN grant writer Stephanie Baker, Jo Kerner recently attended a United Way meeting on needs in Contra Costa County. She reports, “One of the real needs right now is child care.

Over the last several years, rents have risen dramatically, and many childcare providers rent their facilities. So a lot of them have moved to more affordable locations or gone out of business. From about 1,400 childcare providers in the county several years ago, the number has decreased to about 800 recently.”

Hardest hit by the lack of affordable childcare are working parents already struggling to stay financially solvent.

WN Executive Director Judy Stillman writes, “Many of our clients state that Winter Nights gives them ‘a chance to breathe.’ It puts a stop to the downward cycle and allows them to move ahead with more independence and a secure future with housing, jobs, and child care.” She explains the biggest obstacles for homeless

families to finding affordable housing are: 1) indebtedness, 2) no employment, 3) no vehicle, and 4) if employed, not enough money to pay for housing at present costs.

WN also partners with Shelter, Inc. to find affordable housing for clients and Mount Diablo Unified School District Homeless Outreach Program.

Never satisfied that WN is doing enough, Stillman describes two new initiatives. In January and February of 2018, Park Safe will volunteers play with children and encourage offer space at a church parking lot WN learning skills essential for succeeding in school. where families can sleep in their cars overnight. A Winter Nights supervisor will be there awake all night to keep families safe. All of the Oasis Center services, including showers, will be available during the day. The families will be placed on the WN waiting list. The second program will begin in January and February of 2019 and provide shelter facilities exactly like the current WN model for eight weeks in East County.

Thanks to a grant from Hedco Foundation (headquartered in Danville) and gifts from Lafayette Orinda Presbyterian Church as well as an anonymous donor, WN has purchased a slightly used 2017 van from Enterprise to take children to their schools and parents to public transportation to get to their jobs or the Oasis Center for aid in finding employment. The 2008 WN van was sold to Trinity Center, a center for homeless adults in Walnut Creek.

For more information, visit the Winter Nights website at www.cccwinternights. org. You’ll find a wish list of frequently used items, ways to donate, and much more information about WN.

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JANUARY 2018 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 17

Results.

Pure and Simple Some of Don’s Sales Q4 2017 Don Magalhaes 925.786.1855 don@compass.com CalBRE 00897221

119 Alamo Springs Drive, Alamo 4 Bed 4.5 Bath 5069 Sq Ft 3 Car garage Sold $2,988,000

3221 Griffon Street, Danville 4 Bed 3 Bath 3129 Sq Ft 3 Car garage Sold $1,414,000

275 Windstream Place, Danville 3 Bed 2.5 Bath 1902 Sq Ft 2 Car garage Sold $849,000

Compass is a licensed real estate broker and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdraw without notice. No statement is made as to accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footages are approximate. Exact dimensions can be obtained by retaining the services of an architect or engineer. This is not intended to solicit property already listed.

DIVORCE PLANNING & THE FINANCIAL RAMIFICATIONS

By Robert Cucchiaro

For a variety of reasons, studies have shown that January sees more divorce filings than any other month. When contemplating a divorce, the first place you probably go is to Google to find a local divorce attorney. And while there is nothing wrong with that, to make sure you get the most financially out of your divorce, you will need more than just a great

attorney at your side.

Here is a short list of financial areas that should be addressed when planning your divorce.

• Division of Assets – Don’t assume all assets will be split evenly. Often times there was separate property brought into a marriage, and this has to be accounted for differently. Plus, not all assets are treated equal in the eyes of the IRS when it comes to taxes. You might have cash value in a life insurance policy, a 401K from work, a brokerage account, and a rental house. All of these assets have very different tax treatment.

• Alimony/Spousal Support – Many factors go into establishing what is fair here, how long payments will last, etc.

• Child Support – While the ending date here is clear, there are still many other variables that go into determining this amount.

• Annual bonus income or stock options/restricted stock sales – Many families in Danville and Alamo receive a large year-end bonus or sell options/ RSUs each year to fund annual living expenses. Be sure to factor these in as well when negotiating ongoing support payments.

• Life & Disability insurance – If your financial livelihood is dependent upon spousal and child support payments, what happens if something happens to the person working and making those payments? Consider buying both life insurance and disability insurance on your ex-spouse to back-stop these payments.

• College funding – While there is no law that says parents have to pay for their kids’ college, it is something you should negotiate during your divorce settlement, especially if college savings plans are already in place.

• Health insurance – Given the increased cost of health insurance this has to be a major consideration when negotiating what is fair in a divorce.

• Estate planning – Last but not least, your Wills, Trust, health care directives, and financial powers of attorney will all need to be redone as a result of your divorce. And in the event you get remarried, they may need to be redone again.

As financial planners we are often hired to help someone make a large, important, and irrevocable decision. People have one chance to get this right, and the financial implications of a mistake are enormous. Planning for a divorce is a great example of this, and that is why our firm has offered this service on a flat-fee basis for over two decades.

On a similar note, Summit Wealth is also pleased to announce the addition of our newest team member: Debbie Pham, EA. Debbie is an IRS enrolled agent with over 15 years of tax planning experience, including 11 with Ernst & Young where she was a Tax Manager in their high net worth tax group.

Debbie’s specialties include complex tax planning for high-net worth families and strategic tax planning for local business owners.

As many of you know, Summit Wealth & Retirement offers in-house tax preparation and bookkeeping through our sister company, Summit Tax Planning (formerly known as Data Count Tax). This combination allows us to offer one-stop-shop financial advice for clients who want their taxes and their financial planning and investment management fully integrated.

Not having your tax preparer and your Certified Financial Planner on the same page could be costing you thousands of dollars in unnecessary taxes each year.

Robert Cucchiaro is a Certified Financial Planner and owner of Summit Wealth & Retirement, a financial planning firm that has been serving Danville for over 30 years. Rob specializes in helping people reduce their tax bills, enjoy a comfortable retirement, and pass along wealth to their loved ones. www.summitwealthandretirement.com.

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PAGE 18 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • JANUARY 2018

By Roger Smith, Alamo Improvement Association IS YOUR AUTO OR HOME A TARGET FOR “CRIMES OF OPPORTUNITY”?

A growing number of residents have had the misfortune of experiencing theft of items from their auto, burglary of their garage or home, and in a few cases the removal of what were thought to be secure wall safes.

Available evidence indicates that these thieves appear to be from out-of-Alamo areas. The thieves may act as a single operator but more likely have one or two accomplices that act as a look-out and/or driver and are very well prepared to break-in and escape quickly, leaving their vehicles with engines running while committing a crime.

Anyone can become a target for “crimes of opportunity” by being unaware of their circumstances and failing to take precautions. Simply put, do not allow yourself, family, auto, or home to become victims of criminals that can be traveling our roadways, streets, and shopping centers.

Here is a detailed list of DO’s for you to save and reference.

DO (For Your Auto) • Install and maintain auto security systems on your vehicles.

• Secure your valuables in a safe place where they will not be seen. Remove or cover from view laptops, smart devices, cell phones, backpacks, purses, wallets, checkbooks, and any other items of value to avoid observation by strangers.

• Always lock auto doors and roll up windows.

DO (For Your Home) • Install and maintain outdoor security lighting.

• Install and maintain an indoor security system, and post signs/window stickers.

• Install and maintain security cameras at points of access. Make sure that cameras have adequate lens definition for facial and license plate recognition and hard drive devices are adequately hidden or on-line and off-site at another secure location.

• Lock doors and windows.

• Consider a personal early warning and guard system (family canine).

DO (When Traveling) • Alert the Alamo Sheriff’s Substation office and complete their Vacation House Check form to verify status of lights, vehicles, alarm, dog(s), pool, gardener, and any maintenance services.

• Alert the Post Office to place a vacation hold on mail delivery.

• Alert a neighbor to remove any package or newspaper deliveries on a daily basis.

DANVILLE POLICE OFFER ‘EXCHANGE’ ZONE

Residents who purchase items via online services such as Craigslist will 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 video-recorded space.

Besides taking place right outside police headquarters, the spaces are under constant video recording, helping to create an atmosphere of safety and assurance for would-be buyers and dissuading criminals from using online merchandising for criminal purposes.

“Having the Exchange Zone should help prevent residents from being the victim of a crime using a classified ad site,” said Police Chief Steve Simpkins. “This should help us continue to convince criminals that Danville is not a good place to operate.”

To learn more about the safe zone, contact Detective Sargent Brian Sliger at (925) 314-3700 or bsliger@danville.ca.gov.

Remember: Report Suspicious Persons/Activities To: Alamo Sheriff’s Dispatch - (925) 646-2441 or Danville Police Dispatch – (925) 820-2144. For emergencies, call 911.

You can do something about crime prevention through both Neighborhood Watch and NextDoor.com.

Neighborhood Watch is a crime prevention program that stresses education and common sense. It teaches citizens how to help themselves by identifying and reporting suspicious activity in their neighborhoods. In addition, it provides citizens with the opportunity to make their neighborhoods safer and improve the quality of life. Neighborhood Watch groups typically focus on observation and awareness as a means of preventing crime and employ strategies that range from simply promoting social interaction and “watching out for each other” to active patrols by groups of citizens Are you interested in enhancing communication with your neighbors and neighborhood groups or in providing a speaker for neighborhood meetings to discuss theft prevention techniques? Would you like to establish a network of representatives from various neighborhoods and neighborhood groups to discuss the Neighborhood Watch program and its benefits? If so, and you live in Alamo, please contact Christina Land-Winters, Community Services Unit, Sheriff’s Office (925) 313-2682. Danville residents should contact Juliet Kelly, Administration, Danville Police Department at (925) 314-3700, ext. 3704 There are many benefits of starting or becoming involved in a Neighborhood Watch Group and becoming involved in a neighborhood group on NextDoor.com.

Visit www.NextDoor.com for more information and to join your local neighborhood group. NextDoor gives you the opportunity to know your neighbors. It also helps deter criminal activity near and around your home, offers a greater sense of security for those who live alone, trains you to be more aware of your surroundings, reduces your risk of becoming a victim, connects you to your neighborhood and makes you feel like part of a something larger, directly addresses quality of life issues, plugs you in to what emergency personnel are doing to help protect your community, offers you support following a natural disaster, takes power out of the hands of criminals, offers a sense of empowerment to law abiding citizens, and provides you with actionable and easy ways to protect yourself and your property.

CORNUCOPIA OF FRUIT AT ALAMO FARMERS’ MARKET!

With summer fruit now a sweet memory, your Alamo Farmers’ Market has a great selection of winter options now and coming out in the next few months.

Loof for oranges, clementines, mandarins, grapefruit, pomelos, grapes, persimmons, apples, and pomegranates. There is always live music and plenty of easy, free parking every Sunday 9AM-2PM.

AIA MEMBERSHIP

Alamo is a special community that all of our residents can be justifiably proud to call home. Now in its 63rd year, AIA, a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization, has the longest history of serving our community and helping shape it into “Alamo - the place where we love to live”! Since 1955, Alamo residents have been joining the Alamo Improvement Association and working in support of AIA’s mission statement, which is to “preserve the semi-rural character of Alamo.”

Don’t be left out; now is the time to renew or become a new member of AIA. Please visit www.ALAMOCA.org for more information.

SEARCH AND RESCUE

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

Lic# 1100014354; Bay Area Entertainment

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JANUARY 2018 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 19

NEW TAX LAW’S IMPACT ON ESTATE PLANNING

By Robert J. Silverman, Esq.

ACTION POOL REPAIR

Naturally, most of the focus of the recent tax reform Serving Alamo & Danville Since 1979! legislation is on income tax. Income tax matters are somewhat tangential to estate planning, so you might conclude that the bill has no significant impact on estate planning. That’s not necessarily a safe conclusion.

The bill’s major change in estate tax, outlined below, has important ramifications. The primary impact will be that estate planning attorneys will shift the attention of almost all of their clients away from estate tax matters; instead, they will concentrate on income www.actionpoolrepair.com tax and non-tax matters.

First, nothing in this new tax law changes or reduces the importance of the many critical non-tax reasons to do estate planning. Everybody still needs a will for orderly disposition of their assets upon death. Almost all financially successful individuals and married couples also need to establish a revocable Contractor Lic# 978033-C53 living trust - enabling loved ones to avoid the time, expense, and inconvenience of Probate; and controlling to whom, when, and under what conditions your assets will pass on death.

Likewise, virtually all adults still need a durable power of attorney for finances and an advanced health care directive. If you ever become incapacitated, these two documents enable you to appoint someone you trust to step into your shoes to handle your financial transactions and make your healthcare decisions, respectively.

Turning to the new law’s change in federal estate tax, the current exemption (amount of net assets owned at death under which an estate has no estate tax liability) has doubled to $11,200,000. Thus, married couples can now pass on $22,400,000 to their loved ones without having any estate tax liability. Estates of those fortunate enough to die with more wealth than this will have estate tax liability (applied to net assets in excess of the exemption) at the rate of 40%.

For the fewer than one tenth of 1% of U.S. residents who are faced with potential estate tax liability, the new tax law has not eliminated or diminished many extremely helpful planning strategies. But what about the remaining 99.9% of the population who neither has, nor is projected to have, net assets in excess of the estate tax exemption? Can they safely ignore the whole realm of estate tax when planning their estates? Unfortunately not.

Due to budget rules, if new tax legislation has not again passed in the next eight years, the new estate tax exemption amounts will revert back to where they are now (i.e. reduced by 50%), in which case you might be exposed to estate tax liability. Moreover, in the course of future presidential administrations, the estate tax rules could always be changed again - possibly reducing the exemption further.

In any event, if you are in the 99.9% group, you would be well advised to shift your focus toward income tax planning. Personal federal income tax rates continue to be quite high and California‘s personal income tax rates are the highest in the country. Accordingly, whatever you can reasonably do to reduce or eliminate income tax liability for yourself and/or for you or successors, can be extraordinarily beneficial.

The length of this article prevents me from elaborating, but one of the most favorable income tax rules - unchanged by the new tax law - is that appreciated assets, such as your home, investment real estate, and (non-retirement account) stocks and bonds are entitled to what is known as a “stepped up” basis upon death. Unbeknown to many married couples, many of their revocable living trusts are designed primarily to reduce estate tax, which is likely no longer necessary; however, they are often not conducive to enabling the robust income tax “step-up” advantage on the death of both spouses.

Hiring expert legal counsel to review your existing trust document may help you ensure that your trust is structured optimally to take advantage of this valuable income tax opportunity.

Estate Planning * Trust Administration & Probate * Real Estate * Business *Please contact the author to request a complimentary: i) “Estate Planning Primer”; ii) Real Estate titling brochure; iii) introductory meeting. Mr. Silverman is an attorney with R. Silverman Law Group which is located at 1855 Olympic Blvd., Suite 125, Walnut Creek, CA 94596; (925) 705-4474; rsilverman@rsilvermanlaw.com.

925.820.3640

This article is intended to provide information of a general nature, and should not be relied upon as legal, tax and/ or business advice. Readers should obtain specific advice from their own, qualified professional advisors.

Advertorial

MT. DIABLO BRANCH CALIFORNIA WRITERS CLUB DANVILLE LIONS CLUB The Danville Lions Club meets for dinner on the first Wednesday MEETING of every month. Danville Lions Club supports blind charities, Guide

Novelist, stage director, and performance coach Amana McTigue will present “Pitching: Telling the Story of Your Story” at the next luncheon meeting of the Mt. Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) on Saturday, January 13 at Zio Fraedo’s Restaurant, 611 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill.

McTigue will lead an interactive session on how to craft a pitch of your work, practicing your pitch, and overcoming nerves. Members and guests are encouraged to bring a one-sentence pitch, a 50 words-or-fewer pitch, and a pitch you’d like to work on.

McTigue has published her debut novel, Going to Solace, and her works for the stage have been produced at Carnegie Hall, the Minnesota Opera, and through collaborations with Disney and Paramount Entertainment. One of her short stories was nominated for a Pushcart prize. She is currently researching her second novel, set in Cuba.

Sign-in begins at 11AM, luncheon is from 12PM to 12:45PM, and the speaker will present from 1PM-2PM. The cost is $25 for CWC members and $30 for guests.

Reservations are required and must be received no later than noon on Wednesday, January 10. To reserve a space, go to the CWC Mt. Diablo website at https:/cwcmtdiablo. org/current-cwc-mt-diablo-meeting/.

The California Writers Club Mt. Diablo Branch web address is http:// cwcmtdiablowriters.org.

Dogs, Sight First, and has interesting speakers at meetings. Contact Truman Howard (925) 787-2565 or truman.howard@gmail.com for reservations. Visitors and new members are welcome. For more information, visit www.danvillelionsclub.org.

BLACKHAWK “FIRST SUNDAY” CARS & COFFEE

Blackhawk Automotive Museum hosts a monthly Cars & Coffee event year round for all car enthusiasts. Held on the “First Sunday” of each month, starting at 8 AM and going to 10 AM, the Museum welcomes all classic, collector, and special interest car owners and enthusiasts. On Cars & Coffee Sundays, the Museum opens an hour earlier, at 9 AM, and participating car owners will receive complimentary Museum admission tickets.

The Museum is located at 3700 Blackhawk Plaza Circle in Danville. For more information, visit www.blackhawkmuseum. org/carsncoffee.html, call (925) 736-2280, or email museum@ blackhawkmuseum.org.

PAGE 20 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • JANUARY 2018

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hung curtain rods, and fluffed pillows. “It was one of the most fulfilling ventures we’ve ever undertaken,” says Dana. “The end result of our efforts was something with which we are familiar – helping people and families find and create a home – but this time it was a bit different. The cozy home that was created was secondary to the most desired result of our efforts – the ability for Stephanie and her kids to reunite. Stephanie had to prove that she had a suitable home, with furnishings, in order to regain custody of her family. I can’t begin to describe how meaningful it was for our team to play a role in Stephanie’s family reunion.”

Grateful Gatherings’ headquarters are based in Oakland, though their reach is Bay Area wide. “The community is invited to help and get involved,” says Flitter, who suggests that a Grateful Gatherings donation and set-up day is a great teambuilding exercise for businesses or schools. “Giving is rewarding for both sides,” she says. “An emotional connection is made, and both sides are rewarded.”

Find out how you can help by subscribing to the Grateful Gatherings newsletter at www.Grateful-Gatherings.org. Cash donations are always accepted and can be sent to Grateful Gatherings, P.O Box 20086, Oakland, CA 94620.

GROUP HELPS PEOPLE COPE WITH DEATH OF PETS

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

Hospice of the East Bay (HoEB) and the Tony La Russa Animal Rescue Foundation is offering a support group where participants can share memories and feelings and talk to others who truly understand and care. Meetings will be held the second Tuesday of each month from 5:30-7PM at the Tony La Russa Animal Rescue Foundation, 2890 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek.

For further information and/or to register, please call Bereavement Services at HoEB (925) 887-5681. HoEB Bereavement Services are provided free of charge to all community members in need. However, donations are greatly appreciated.

MEALS ON WHEELS

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

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adults. The Danville Library ESL program has had participants who speak Russian, Chinese, and Farsi and are looking for others to participate.

Contra Costa County Senior Community Library Manager, Seng Lovan modeled her Danville English as a Second Language Circle which meets monthly, after the Hercules Library program for ESL speakers. “They had a very large and well established group. Most participants become regular attendees and many of them have formed friendships with one another which was so special to see.” On a recent farewell party for the founder of the program who was moving to another library system, the group put together an epic feast of foods from all the different countries represented by the English learners.

Librarian Lovan is continually developing the monthly meetings based on feedback from participants. The students talk about current events and library resources/services that may help individuals reach their goals whether it be to improve their English skills or work towards citizenship.

Lovan noted she has introduced participants to free resources available at the library that may assist people in practicing their pronunciation, grammar or learn about the Naturalization process and exam. She added the ESL Language Learning CD sets are resources available at the library that can be an excellent resource for students in the program. Lovan says, “These sets are in our audiovisual (AV) area and each set can include a combination of audio CD’s, DVDs, and /or books. They can be very helpful in that there are exercises that individuals can follow in the books. In addition, the combination of print and audio material can be very effective in the English learning process especially with pronunciation.” Two of the sets that are highly recommended are Drive Time English Deluxe which includes eight audio CD’s and a book, Perfecting Your English Pronunciation which includes two audio CDs, a demo DVD, and a book.

Feedback from participants of the Danville ESL Conversation Circle includes, “This is so helpful, thank you!” and “What do I need to do to get a library card?” People have been very appreciative. One individual requested a group meeting after work and the possibility of that is being explored.

Locations of English as a Second Language Conversation Circles for adults in Contra Costa County: • Danville Library - 400 Front Street, Danville. The group meets the third Thursday of the month from 1-2PM. For information call 925-314-3750.

• Dougherty Station Library - 17017 Bollinger Canyon Rd. The group meets the first and third Monday of the month from 6:45PM-7:45PM For information call 925-973-3380.

• Pleasant Hill Library - 1750 Oak Park Blvd, Pleasant Hill. The group meets Wednesdays from 1:30PM-2:30PM. For information call 925-646-6434.

• Walnut Creek Library- 1644 North Broadway, Walnut Creek. The group meets Thursdays from 2PM-3PM. For information call 925-977-3340.

No pre-registration is required for the programs, just come.

PUBLIC SPEAKING WITH TOASTMASTERS

Do you hate speaking in front of a group? You’re not alone.

However, good presentation skills are demanded by nearly every employer these days. Toastmasters can help you overcome your public speaking challenges!

Toastmasters is an organization where people can fine-tune their speaking skills and receive valuable feedback. Beginning and advanced speakers are welcome.

Local chapter Danville AM Toastmasters meets every Tuesday from 7 to 8:30AM in downtown Danville. For the location and other details, please visit 4143.toastmastersclubs.org, or email DanvilleAMToastmasters@gmail.com.

SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCING

Come dance every Thursday evening, year-round. No partner is required and no Scottish ancestry is needed. This dancing is aerobic and very sociable.

Adult beginners are welcome anytime. Classes take place each week at 8PM. More experienced dancers also begin at 8PM in a separate class. All classes are held at the Danville Grange, located at 743 Diablo Road in Danville. All dance nights are drop-in. The first beginner lesson is free; afterwards the cost is $8/ night or $6/night if attending a 10-week session paid in advance.

Call Witsie at (925) 676-3637 for more information.

editor @ yourmonthlypaper.com

JANUARY 2018 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 21

CULTIVATING SUSTAINABLE CHANGE

By Michelle Brown, Gumsaba Custom Fitness

The New Year is a perfect time to take charge of our future, to shape our destiny. Like a mighty tree takes time to grow, change can During our GRAND OPENING in January, receive: not be rushed. It requires preparation and patience. With consistent effort and the willingness to rise up in the face  $100 OFF a complete pair of glasses* of inevitable challenges, you can make your biggest dreams  $200 OFF a new fitting of Ortho-Keratology (CRT) Lenses* come to life!  20% OFF an annual supply of soft contact lenses* A specific, realistic, time bound goal is the quality seed  20% OFF the “21-Day Purification Program”* you need. Record your progress in a journal. Ask yourself *Discounts cannot be combined with Vision Plan Discounts. Offer expires 2/01/18 hard questions. What are you doing (or not doing) that is _______________ holding you back? Why? You may not have the answers yet, but they will come. Journaling will help you track your Michael Sonnleitner, OD, CNC progress and give you a reference point in times of need.

675 Hartz Ave., Ste. 103, Danville According to NBC news, “How to get healthy” is the most (925) 389-6883 searched resolution of 2018. Journal weekly and include daily healthfocus2020@gmail.com goals to make a big task like this more manageable. “Prep www.HealthFocusOptometry.com meals for two days,” or “Try a Gumsaba Boot Camp class on Saturday,” or “Get in bed by 9:00 tonight.” Smaller goals like these will help you navigate uncharted growth ahead.

Support from others is essential. Think of your support system as the rich soil in which your seed will grow its deepest roots. Tell loved ones about your plan, and ask for their support. Reaching out to others and proclaiming your resolution from the mountaintops will give you both clarity and accountability. When needed, seek professional guidance. An unbiased perspective from someone who has experience related to your goal can help you break through the surface and make big gains. If someone in your life is weighing you down, consider taking a break from that relationship. Sometimes you have to cut a few branches to help the healthy ones flourish. After all, it maybe good for both of you to spend some time working on youselves. Anxiety and fear are bound to rear up and attempt to hold you down. Be prepared to employ your resources. Setbacks are not failures. Should you have a failure, journal about it. This will not be the last storm you weather. Learn from it. Onward and upward!

If something in your life isn’t working, then you have two choices: own it or let it own you. Embrace your journey. It is yours and yours alone. You deserve to live your biggest dreams. Don’t wait for life to happen to you; make it happen for you. Go plant that seed. Ready, set, GROW! POPLAR SPECTACLES OPTOMETRY Michelle Brown is owner of Gumsaba Custom Fitness Studio in Alamo.

She is an ACE Certified Medical Exercise Specialist, ACE Subject Matter LOCATED IN THE SAFEWAY PLAZA

Expert, certified Personal Martial Arts & Self Defense Expert During our ACE GRAND OPENING in Trainer, January, receive: and Spartan SGX Coach. Michelle has been helping people in our communi $100 OFF a complete pair of glasses* ty surpass their goals for 20 years. To learn more about her programs, visit  $200 OFF a new fitting of Ortho-Keratology (CRT) Lenses* Advertorial gumsaba.com.  

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The East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) includes 65 regional parks in _______________ its two-county jurisdiction, covering more than 113,000 miles and 1,200 miles of trail. Helping to oversee and manage OD, this vast recreational territory are nearly Michael Sonnleitner, CNC 200 volunteers from all over the Bay Area.

675 Hartz Ave., Ste. 103, Danville EBRPD offers a volunteer position for nearly every interest. Consider (925) 389-6883 work in the healthfocus2020@gmail.com Botanic Garden, or help with a Coastal Clean-up Day. Become a Regional Parks ambassador, or participate in the companion dog patrol. www.HealthFocusOptometry.com Help with trail maintenance, or walk the trails as part of the safety patrol.

Whether you may seek a special one-time volunteer job or ongoing yearround programs, EBRPD would love to hear from you.

Positions are offered for all ages and can be tailored for school groups, students, corporate groups, and Scouting and service clubs. They also offer company team-building service projects.

Those seeking to help restore parklands to their original state can help replace non-native plants with natives, or work with staff to restore vital habitats. EBRPD volunteers help lead tours, take photos, distribute flyers, serve as hosts and greeters, and help with recycling activities.

Volunteering with EBRPD can provide new skills, new friends, a greater knowledge of natural and cultural resources, and the personal satisfaction of making a difference in the community.

For information, email Volunteers@EBParks.org, or visit www.ebparks. org/about/getinvolved/volunteer. (Some events require registration and some programs require training, fingerprinting, background checks, or TB testing.)

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PAGE 22 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • JANUARY 2018

DO YOU WANT TO PUT YOUR BEST FACE FORWARD IN 2018 WITHOUT SURGERY?

By Dr. Jerome Potozkin

MYOPIA EPIDEMIC Nearsightedness is increasing in epidemic proportions over the past 50 years.

The main reason seems to be the lack of exposure to sunlight for young people.

Increased myopia leads to earlier development of cataracts, 2-3 times increased risk of developing glaucoma, and an increased risk of retinal detachment. OrthoKeratology is a procedure that reduces or eliminates myopia through the use of rigid contact lenses worn during sleep. It’s safe, effective, and reversible. Please call us for more information. During our Grand Opening, we’re offering 20% off our usual fees.*

Each New Year we see people who decide that they would like to turn back the clock without surgery. Non-invasive skin and aesthetic treatments have dramatically evolved this decade. There is a huge demand for procedures and treatments that can help people look their best without undergoing the knife. For some 21-DAY PURIFICATION PROGRAM people, surgery can provide tremendous results. However, there After the excesses of the holidays, discover a new way of eating and living: are many who don’t want the downtime and risk that can be assopurification.

Learn how easy and enjoyable it is to make healthy choices. With the ciated with surgery and general anesthesia. People have different 21-day purification program, you can turn those choices into habits and turn those motivations in their wishes to look their best. It is much more habits into meaningful, healthy change. The average American diet is loaded with than simple vanity. For some it is a simple desire to look their added and hidden sugars, unhealthy trans fats, and highly processed foods that best. Others may have a big event such as a wedding or reunion. are nutritionally void. The good news is you can do something about it. Please With people working longer, many of our patients feel they need call us for more information on the 21-Day Purification Program. During our Grand to look their best to compete in the job market, especially in the Opening we’re offering 20% off our usual fees.* Bay Area’s tech arena. I have also treated people in sales, who Michael Sonnleitnr, OD, CNC *Grand Opening offers expire 2/01/18 notice that when they look their best they see a direct reflection 675 Hartz Ave., Ste. 103, Danville in their sales and commissions. This month we will explore a (925) 389-6883 very popular treatment combination mixing the Fraxel Dual healthfocus2020@gmail.com www.HealthFocusOptometry.com Laser treatments with Ultherapy. These incredible devices can help turn back the hands of time with minimal to no downtime.

As we age, a number of things happen to our face. Some of the changes we see are a result of our genetics, whereas others are a result of environmental factors such as exposure to ultraviolet radiation. The sun destroys collagen and elastin, resulting in textural changes, wrinkle formation, as well as the contribution to the appearance of unwanted brown spots and broken capillaries. Daily sunscreen and a topically applied antioxidant are great preventative measures. However, many people require more to correct these changes. In addition to textural and color changes, genetic factors and sun exposure can result in skin sag.

Many residents of our community have found that the Fraxel Dual Laser can dramatically improve the color and texture of their skin. The Fraxel was the first “fractionated” laser. This was an incredible innovation in laserMYOPIA treatments.

Instead of the laser hitting the entire skin surface, it hits small microscopic treatEPIDEMIC increasing in epidemic proportions theand past 50 years. ment zones like pixels on an LCD panel. Treating the skin this wayNearsightedness can heat deep intoisthe skin, resulting in dramatic changesover in color texture with minimal The main seems toLaser be the lack of for young downtime. Most people require a series of treatments to get the desired result.reason The Fraxel Dual actually hasexposure two laserstoinsunlight one, leading to muchpeople. better results myopia to earlier of treatments. cataracts, 2-3 times increased in both color and texture than previous devices. These treatmentsIncreased are done in a series,leads waiting about adevelopment month between Topical anesthetic cream is risk of developing glaucoma, and an increased risk of retinal detachment.

Orthoapplied one hour prior to treatment. For people with more significant damage who can take a week or two off from their social calendar, our Fraxel Repair CO2 Keratology is a procedure that reduces or eliminates myopia through the use of laser can yield more dramatic change in just one treatment. rigid contact lenses worn during sleep. It’s safe, effective, and reversible. Please The best treatment for sagging skin has been and currently is a facelift. For patients desiring the results seen with a facelift, I typically recommend seeing a call us for more information. During our Grand Opening, we’re offering 20% off plastic surgeon. We see many people who would never dream of having a face lift and are seeking a non-surgical alternative for skin tightening. They might be our usual fees.* afraid of general anesthesia or surgical risks, or they simply do not have the ability to take time off from work. Over the last few years, Ultherapy has become 21-DAY PURIFICATION PROGRAM one of the more popular non-surgical skin tightening devices. This technology uses microfocused ultrasound to heat deep into the skin. The outer layers of the After the excesses of the holidays, a new way of eating living: skin remain intact, and the energy is focused deep into the skin at the layer of tissue known as the SMAS.discover This is what is tightened during and a facelift.

Some people purification.

Learn how easy and enjoyable it is to make healthy choices.

With will see immediate results, but for most individuals it is a gradual change over 3-6 months. This treatment can be performed on a Friday, and you can be the back to 21-day purification program, you can turn those choices into habits and turn those work on Monday. In the past, New Beauty Magazine proclaimed Ultherapy “Best Nonsurgical Skin Tightener.” habits into meaningful, healthy change. The average American diet is loaded with A great combination is to do Fraxel and Ultherapy together. The Fraxel treats skin color and textural changes, while Ultherapy helps tighten the skin, miniadded and hidden sugars, unhealthy trans fats, and highly processed foods that mizing skin sag. Once we’ve turned back the clock, you’ll want toare maintain the results with a custom designed medical grade skincare regimen which includes nutritionally void. The good news is you can do something about it. Please daily sunscreen, topical antioxidants, and a topical retinoid. If you’re interested in looking your best and21-Day are not Purification interested in Program. surgery, callDuring us today schedule call us for more information on the ourtoGrand a complimentary consultation.

Opening we’re offering 20% off our usual fees.* Dr. Jerome Potozkin is a Board Certified Dermatologist specializing in minimally and non-invasive cosmetic procedures.

We are accepting new patients and Michael Sonnleitnr, OD, CNC Opening offers expire 2/01/18 can be reached at (925) 838-4900 and at www.MyBeautyMd.com. *Grand Advertorial 675 Hartz Ave., Ste. 103, Danville

LOCAL ROTARY CLUBS

The Rotary Club of Alamo meets on Wednesdays at 12:15PM at Forli’s Ristorante, 3160 Danville Blvd., 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 Jim Coleman at coleman_jd@pacbell.net.

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, located at 599 Blackhawk Club Drive in Danville. Networking and social time starts at 6pm with the meeting starting at 7pm and ending at 8:30pm. A sit-down dinner and cocktails are served, and the weekly program features interesting guest speakers. Guests attend free of charge and are always welcome! For more information, call Laura Montalvo at (925) 437-2445 or send her an e-mail at winechickathome@ gmail.com. You can also visit www.sanramonvalleyrotary.com.

EXCHANGE CLUB

(925) 389-6883

The Exchange Club of San Ramon Valley meets for lunch the second healthfocus2020@gmail.com Wednesday of every month atwww.HealthFocusOptometry.com 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.

KIWANIS CLUB OF SAN RAMON VALLEY

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 (up to 3x). For more information, call John Lineweaver at (925) 272-8207, email info@srvkiwanis.org, or visit www.srvkiwanis.org.

editor @ yourmonthlypaper.com

AND A HEALTHY NEW YEAR

By Dr. Jesse Call, Sycamore Valley Chiropractic

Every year we do it. We make health related goals that we are going to start on January 1st. Lose weight, exercise more, or quit drinking or smoking. Millions of New Year’s Resolutions are made every year, and only a handful are kept. A question arises from this situation: “How can I make my health related resolution stick this year?”

Here are four simple recommendations: 1. Make the goal simple, but also clear: Losing weight, eating better, or exercising more seem like great goals, and they are, but they are vague and lack substance. What is more or better? How much weight do you want to lose?

You are better served having a clear simple goal in mind. Run a specific 5k, complete a Spartan Race, eat one more serving of vegetables at every meal, or fit into your old jeans. These goals are simple, but it’s clear what you need to do to achieve them. By giving yourself a clear goal, it becomes far more difficult to rationalize your way out of them.

2. Set yourself up for success: If you are trying to stop eating chocolate, then it is not advisable to leave bowls of chocolate all over your house. Take the time to set yourself up for success. If exercise is a large part of your health related goals, but you have always been a night owl, then don’t schedule your exercise for first thing in the morning. You will be far better served to exercise after work or during your lunch hour. The time of day doesn’t matter; it is more important that it simply gets done. If healthy eating is part of your goal, don’t purchase vegetables you know you don’t like. Instead, purchase the kind you do like and prepare them the way you like. Small steps in the right direction are more beneficial than letting kale and brussel sprouts rot in your fridge because your new eating style called for them. By taking small steps and setting yourself up for success, you are less likely to fall off the wagon.

3. Have accountability: The person you lie to the most is yourself, so why keep yourself as the only person who knows or cares about your health goals? Rather, you will be more likely to find success by having a loved one, friend, doctor, life coach, or whoever be the person who you are accountable to. Let someone know you are working towards a goal, and ask them to hold you accountable. This way you can’t just lie to yourself and rationalize it away. Sometimes a little guilt that someone will find out helps you to make the right decision.

4. Be Flexible: What do you do if you fall off the horse? You get right back on. If you have a very ridged view on your goals, such as,“I’m done eating sugar!” it will crush you when you inevitably eat that piece of cake, pie, or cookie. Yes, you should try your best to keep your goals, but acting as if failure is not an option only sets you up for failure in this case. Improving your health is not an instantaneous event. Rather it is a journey that has hills and valleys. Enjoy the high moments and strive for them, but don’t quit because you slipped a little.

New Year’s Resolutions are a great way to start the year. Lets try our best to make them last all year. If you have already slipped up this year, take time today to reassert yourself and begin the road to doing better.

If you haven’t made any health related goals for this year, here are a few I recommend: • Run a 5k, 10k or half marathon • Hike Half Dome • Eliminate refined sugar from your diet • Stand at work half the time • Read one book a month • Take up intermittent fasting • Meditate for 30 minutes a day • Eat an additional vegetable at every meal Health goals do not have to be about weight, exercise, or food. You are a complex entity with many different aspects to your health. Take time to refresh your mind, body, and spirit. As always, we are here to help. We specialize in assisting our patients achieve their health-related goals. We would love to be part of your plan. Give us a call (925)837-5595, and we can work with you to achieve your best self.

Sycamore Valley Chiropractic is located at 565 Sycamore Valley Rd. West in Danville. Please visit www. sycamorevalleychiropractic.com or call (925)837-5595 for more information or to schedule an appointment.

Advertorial

JANUARY 2018 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 23

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HOSPICE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Hospice of the East Bay is seeking volunteers to assist Hospice patients and their caregivers. Opportunities include: Licensed Hair Stylists to offer hair cuts and styling, Certified Massage Therapists to provide massage therapy, Administrative Support Volunteers to assist in the Pleasant Hill office, Thrift Shoppe Volunteers to work in one of the organization’s five stores which are located in Alamo, Concord, Martinez, Danville, and Walnut Creek, Bereavement Support Volunteers to provide support to family members after their loved one has died, and Patient Support Volunteers to provide companionship and practical assistance To apply for free training, call Hospice at (925) 887-5678 and ask for the Volunteer Department, or email volunteers@hospiceeastbay.org.

Established in 1977, Hospice of the East Bay is a not-for-profit agency that helps people cope with end of life by providing medical, emotional, spiritual, and practical support for patients and families, regardless of their ability to pay.

To learn more or to make a donation of time or money, please contact (925) 887-5678 or visit www.hospiceeastbay.org.

FAMILY HISTORY CENTER

The Danville Family History Center has been open and serving the community for almost two decades. Everyone is welcome during library hours to use the resources available. There is a friendly and experienced staff who volunteer to help you to utilize the materials, including the Family Search web portal to over a dozen subscription-based genealogical research services, such as Ancestry.com. In addition, you may order online and have films or microfiche shipped from the main Salt Lake Library for viewing in our center. We are located inside the LDS building at 2949 Stone Valley Road. Enter the left side of the building. Hours are Monday 1-4pm, Tuesday 7-9pm, and Wednesday 10-4pm and 7-9pm. For questions, call 925-552-5920.

To advertise call 925.405.6397

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PAGE 24 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • JANUARY 2018

THE EYE OPENER

Medical & Surgical Dermatology For Healthy Skin Offering treatments for: Acne, Eczema, and Rashes Cysts and Lipoma Hair and Nail Disorder Keloid and Scar Revisions Moles Physician-Strength Skin Care Products Precancerous Lesions Psoriasis and Vitiligo Skin Cancer Underarm Sweating Warts, Molluscum

LID TWITCH

By Gregory Kraskowsky, O.D., Alamo Optometry

We have probably Revolutionary all felt a lid twitching Nonsurgical or pulsing at one Eyebag Therapy time or another. It is usually not noticeable available.

Cosmetic Dermatology to someone looking at you, but you can feel Call for For Beautiful Skin it. Although it is annoying, it is completely consultation!

Offering treatments for: benign. The lid twitching is not associated Body Sculpting Eyebag Reduction with any neurological problems such as a Introducing Face, Neck, Body Tightening, Lifting, lid spasm, and therefore it is not a medical and Rejuvenation Women’s Wellness emergency. A lid twitch is very common, can Frown Lines and Jawline/Jowl Center, featuring Vlase Reduction occur on either eye, and usually occurs on Hair Removal nonablative laser for feminine the lower lid. The twitches are painless but Pigmentation and Melasma dryness, atrophy, and stressannoying for most people. We will discuss Rosacea, Facial Redness, Veins, and induced urinary incontinence, Post-injection Bruising some of the causes and some of the things Sun Damage and Scars and PRP for hair thinning that can be done to help Tattoo, Moles, Birthmarks, and Scars and rejuvenation.

There are several causes for lid twitchThinning Hair and/or Balding ing, but by far the main cause for these are Technology & Procedures stress. These days it seems that everyone has Offered A place where beauty Cellfina stress; however, stress that causes lid twitch is Cool Mini for neck and healthy skin meet usually something that is above and beyond Coolsculpting Visit us at our Center of Excellence the normal daily grind. Things such as a Cryoshape Diolite 532 laser with a 10,000 square foot, change in job status or an extremely busy Enlighten Pico Genesis Laser state of the art, newly renovated time at work, moving, death in the family, Excel V Laser suite. We are dedicated to etc. will generally be the culprit. After the Excimer Laser Medical, Cosmetic, and Surgical Fractional CO2 Laser episode resolves, so does the twitching.

GenesisPlus Laser Dermatology and are a place for Fatigue is also a big cause; stress and fatigue Infini Microneedling RF medical skin consultation, are often related. The other main contributor Kybella aesthetic rejuvenation, and Liposonix is caffeine use. Most of the time it is secondface and body contouring.

Microneedling ary to a significant increase in caffeine intake, MiraDry Visit www.DrWilliamTing.com Mohs Micrographic Surgery but it can also be due to a quick, drastic NBUVB Phototherapy for an extensive list of medical, surgical, and cosmetic treatments, decrease. It is common for students studying PicoSure Laser product lines, lasers, and therapies offered. for midterms or finals to experience these PRP for Hair Loss and Rejuvenation Schedule your free consultation appointment today!

Vbeam Laser lid twitches because they have an increase Spectra Laser in stress, fatigue, and caffeine use.

Superficial Radiotherapy Dr. William Ting, MD Now that you know the causes, what can Thermage™ Board Certified Dermatologist and Mohs Surgeon Ultherapy™ be done to treat the twitching? The quick 2262 Camino Ramon 500 Alfred Noble Drive, #185 Vaginal Rejuvenation answer is nothing. However, there are several San Ramon, CA 94583 Hercules, CA 94547 Vaser Shape Tel: (925) 328-0255 Tel: (510) 669-5700 anecdotal things that can be done to reduce VLase for Feminine Rejuvenation *Welcoming new Medicare patients the symptoms. First, attempt to reduce the Email: staff@CalDermCare.com www.DrWilliamTing.com stress level and get more sleep. Of course, this is much easier said than done, depending on the situation. Regardless, any reduction SUPPORT GROUP FOR PEOPLE WITH ADULT in the stress and fatigue will go a long way. Some other remedies that have helped some people include cool compresses and oral antihistamines such LOVED ONES WITH MENTAL ILLNESS as Benadryl. Keep in mind that these can cause some drowsiness, so it is Open Our Hearts, an outreach program on mental illness, offers a free support best to take them before bed. Another treatment that works well is drinking group for family members of adults with severe mental illness from 7 to 8:30PM tonic water. The tonic water contains quinine which helps to relax muscles. I on the fourth Monday of each month at Temple Isaiah located at 945 Risa Rd., instruct patients to not put the tonic water in their eyes as I had one patient Lafayette. Drive across the parking lot and down the hill to the two-story building do this, and their eyes were completely irritated. Patients can also feel free on the right. This program is open to all faiths. For additional information or to to mix whatever they like with the tonic water, as it is does not taste that RSVP, contact karen@mmcohen.com. good by itself. ®

MODELS

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Even though a lid twitch is benign, other neurological lid conditions such as a Bell’s Palsy or facial spasms need to be ruled out since these can be serious issues that require further testing. If there are any questions about lid twitches, we would be more than happy to schedule an office visit for you.

Dr. K. at Alamo Optometry is your hometown eye doctor for outstanding service, vision care, and designer eyewear. He can be reached at 820-6622, or visit his office at 3201 Danville Blvd., Suite 165 in Alamo.

Visit our website at www.alamooptometry.com, and join us on Facebook, Advertorial Instagram, and Twitter @Alamo Optometry.

COMPUTER SERVICES, IT DESIGN & IMPLEMENTATION, IT INFRASTRUCTURE MANAGEMENT

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editor @ yourmonthlypaper.com

JANUARY 2018 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 25

YOUR PERSONAL NUTRITIONIST By Linda Michaelis RD, MS

LOSE YOUR WEIGHT FOREVER THIS NEW YEAR THE HEALTHY WAY

Happy New Year! Are you using this time as a motivator to drop the weight you have been struggling to lose all year round? You have the best of intentions to lose weight as the New Year begins, but somehow life happens and you often find yourself going back to your old ways.

Try a different approach for this New Year: instead of making a diet and weight loss resolution, focus on improving your health by making weekly nutrition and fitness goals. Decide what goal you will work towards for the coming week. Log your progress and check in with yourself at week’s end. This is the process that I follow when I work with my clients.

Don’t look at this year’s resolution as a temporary change; look at it as a lifestyle change. Making too many changes at once can cause you to burn out before the end of January and cause you to break your commitment. Therefore, instead of changing your entire way of living all at once, try making these small changes every day.

Try these nutrition and fitness goals, and you’ll see how great you feel.

1. Increase your intake of fruits and vegetables. Every day have two servings of veggies such as by adding veggies to your egg white omelet and having a soup with veggies at lunch or a salad. Have a fruit at lunch and one after dinner. The new recommendation is that half your plate should be veggies and fruit, and the other half should be a ½ cup of grains and 4 ounces protein.

2. Portion control. Work your way to smaller portions, and this will help control your calories. If you use a big dinner plate and fill the whole plate, try using a smaller size plate. You will always eat more when you have a pile of food on your plate.

3. Limit the sweets. You do not have to avoid sweets. The key is moderation. If you enjoy dessert and sweets several times a day, make a goal for yourself to limit sweets to either once per day, or a few times a week. I teach my clients to have their sweets after a meal instead of randomly during the day which will prevent cravings for sweets.

4. Swap out the soda and juice. These beverages are loaded with sugar and contribute to your daily calories. And let’s be honest: most people don’t only drink a can a day. So, imagine how many extra pounds in one year can be contributed from soda alone. I show my clients many beverages that are popular and have no calories.

5. Begin a walking program. Commit to a daily walk, first thing in the morning or after dinner. I teach my clients about interval training which shocks the metabolism and causes us to burn calories much faster.

6. Schedule your workouts. Just like you schedule a doctor’s appointment or a lunch date with a friend, schedule your workout on the calendar, and make it a part of your routine five times a week. I teach my clients how to set up their meal plan based on their exercise schedule for the day.

7. Make sure you are taking care of your basic needs such as eating and sleeping. It will then be easier to listen to what your body needs in terms of food and exercise. Often, I can see when my client is having a problem with overeating that it is because they have not gotten enough sleep or are very overwhelmed with family and work and will use food to get through these stressful times.

8. Practice Mindful Eating. Since you have vowed not to diet this year, practice being mindful when you are eating. Listen for your hunger and fullness signals, and respond appropriately. Don’t eat when you are not hungry, yet don’t let yourself get to the ravenous point either. When eating, stop midway and ask yourself if you are still hungry. If you aren’t hungry, stop and save the rest of your food for another time. I take a lot of time to practice this technique with my clients.

Health insurance such as Aetna, ABMG, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, United Healthcare, and Sutter will pay for nutritional counseling! Please call me at (925) 855-0150 about your nutrition concerns, or email me at Lifeweight1@yahoo.com and refer to my website www.LindaRD.com.

Advertorial

CARING HANDS ~HELP A SENIOR, MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Life at any age involves challenges, but these intensify as we age.

The first concern may be that it becomes too difficult to drive to the doctor, the grocery, or to just get a haircut. Support systems change, neighbors and friends may not help as expected, and loneliness may put a damper on daily routine.

Caring Hands volunteers offer friendship which makes an extraordinary difference in the quality of life for many seniors.

Caring Hands Volunteer Caregivers Program, a collaborative community outreach program between John Muir Health, social service agencies, congregations of various faiths and the community-atlarge, creates finely-tuned one-on-one matches. The Caring Hands Program is dedicated to helping aging adults in Contra Costa County remain independent as long as safely possible. Isolation and loneliness shorten lives and may make health problems worse.

If making time to volunteer is on your to-do list, consider joining Caring Hands as a caregiver or even as an occasional driver. Enriching matches are created; loving friendships and deep relationships are formed. Care receivers treasure a friendly visit, a walk in the park or other social outing. Reading mail, letter writing, or providing respite care to give a break to a family member are thoughtful services which can make a big difference to a frail or isolated senior.

Since so many older adults need transportation to doctor’s appointments or stores, the best volunteer for Caring Hands is someone who is available once a week for 1-3 hours on a weekday and who can provide transportation. Volunteers receive ongoing education, support, and recognition of their efforts. Training classes are held in odd numbered months. An orientation/interview and pre-registration is required Perhaps you can be that friend who gives a waiting senior hope and help.

For a volunteer application or for more information about Caring Hands, please contact Stacy Appel, Volunteer Coordinator, at (925) 952-2999.

The “Good Old Days” are now!

Rates are better than 50-60 years ago (see proof above)

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PAGE 26 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • JANUARY 2018

CANCER SUPPORT COMMUNITY

The following event will be held at the Cancer Support Community, located at 3276 McNutt Ave in Walnut Creek. Classes are free and open to cancer patients and caregivers. For more information and reservations, please call (925) 933-0107.

Clinical Trials: What You Need to Know ~ Tuesday, January 30, 6-8PM~ With Cheryl Schwab, Sr. Country Study Manager, Genentech, Inc., US Medical Affairs.

This workshop focuses on building awareness among patients and caregivers about clinical trials: how these trials are structured and how patients/caregivers can foster an open dialogue with their health care team about eligibility and viability as a treatment option. Bring your questions!

Coping with Chemobrain ~ Wednesday, February 28, 6-8PM ~ With Alice Barlettani, RN, Oncology Nurse During and after cancer treatment, many people report difficulty with their cognitive processes. Learn symptoms, tips, and strategies to help manage this frustrating side effect.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

White Pony Express (WPE) is a nonprofit group dedicated to helping to end hunger and poverty in Contra Costa County. The program has been so well received that additional volunteers are urgently needed to help keep up with its rapid growth. The need in our communities remains great.

Seven days a week, WPE Food Rescue volunteers take trucks to supermarkets, restaurants, and farmers markets where they pick up thousands of pounds of surplus food—high quality, nourishing food (fresh meats, dairy, eggs, deli, baked goods). Most all of this food is distributed to those in need within two hours of the donation. In its first two and half years, WPE delivered more than 3,000,000 pounds of food (equivalent to 2,500,000 meals) that the hungry would have gone without. Also, in addition to rescuing food, WPE collects donations of new or like-new clothing, shoes, toys, games, and books. More than 250,000 of these items have been distributed to those in need in the past two years—all free of charge, through WPE’s unique “Mobile Boutiques” and its Direct Distribution program.

Interested volunteers please contact Mandy Nakaya at 925-818-6361 or mandy@whiteponyexpress.org. For more information, visit www.whiteponyexpress.org.

IS FOOD A PROBLEM FOR YOU?

Overeaters Anonymous offers a fellowship of individuals who, through shared experience and mutual support, are recovering from compulsive overeating. This is a 12-step program. The free meetings are for anyone suffering from a food addiction including overeating, under-eating, and bulimia. The group meets Wednesdays at 6PM at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Lafayette. Visit www.how-oa.org for more information.

Do you have a story idea or local news to share?

Do you have an ad you’d like to place?

Call us at 925.405.6397 or email Editor@YourMonthlyPaper.com.

C L A S S I F I E D AUTOS WANTED We Will Buy or Consign Your Car. All cars displayed in our private and secure showroom. We are a locally family owned dealership serving the Lamorinda and San Ramon Valley for over 30 years in a very relaxed atmosphere. Free pick-up and delivery. 925-820-1188.

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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.

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MOM M Y M A K EOVE R : YOU DESERVE IT

By Dr. Barbara Persons

The holiday season has come to an end, and as we embark on a new chapter and welcome a New Year, we often think about transformation.

The experience of having three wonderful children has given me a unique perspective regarding how we view ourselves as women and mothers. I understand what it is to be a busy mother and what it is to want my body to look and feel like it did before I had children. I understand the work of trying to diet and exercise and the limitations of the abdominal muscles that are simply in need of a little work that even a million sit-ups will not provide.

Thankfully, advanced technology and the right Board Certified Plastic Surgeon has made it possible for men and women of all shapes and sizes to look and feel their best again. An abdominoplasty, commonly called a “tummy tuck,” is a plastic surgery procedure in which patients can achieve not only a more attractive silhouette but also a stronger, tighter abdominal core. Abdominoplasty involves removing excess fat and skin from the stomach area and stitching together separated and weakened abdominal muscles. This procedure results in a firmer, tighter abdominal wall which can ultimately benefit one’s overall core body strength and posture.

This procedure is particularly effective following major weight loss and pregnancy. It is sometimes even possible for the plastic surgeon to work with the obstetrician to perform a mini tummy tuck in conjunction with a cesarean section delivery. Abdominoplasty can offer long term positive results.

However, for best long term results, candidates should be at a stable weight and not considering future pregnancies. Abdominoplasty is not a substitute for weight loss and exercise, and it is ideal for healthy people who are at a stable weight and yet are concerned about the size and laxity of their stomach area.

A full tummy tuck involves a horizontal incision from hip-to-hip and just above the pubic area, as well as a second incision around the belly button to remove excess skin and fat both above and below the belly button. A mini tummy tuck involves removing excess fat primarily below the belly button and does not typically involve an incision around the belly button. In either case, the lower incision is generally below a conservative bikini line. Abdominal muscles, stretched and weakened by pregnancy, weight loss, and age are repaired and sewn together, while excess fat, tissue, and skin are removed.

Liposuction of the flanks is often performed at the same time to reduce lateral fat deposits.

A tummy tuck is typically done under a general anesthesia inside of our fully accredited operating facility, which is located on the premise of Persons Plastic Surgery. We have rooms for consultation, modern operating suites, and relaxing recovery areas.

Countless sit-ups and gym routines will help strengthen the abdomen but may not be enough to achieve a flat, well-toned appearing abdomen, especially following life changes including weight gain, weight loss, and pregnancy. Abdominoplasty is one way a woman or man can regain their familiar, more youthful silhouette.

The New Year calls for amazing changes that could bring you back to 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@

HEARING LOSS ASSOCIATION

Come to meetings of the Diablo Valley Chapter of Hearing Loss Association of America at 7pm on the 1st Wednesday of the month at the Walnut Creek United Methodist Church located at 1543 Sunnyvale Ave., Walnut Creek Education Bldg., Wesley Room. Meeting room and parking are at back of church. Everyone is welcome. Donations are accepted. An assistive listening system is available for T-coils, and most meetings are captioned. Contact HLAADV@hearinglossdv.org or (925) 264-1199 or www.hearinglossdv.org for more information.

editor @ yourmonthlypaper.com

JANUARY 2018 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 27

(Now partnered with Stone Valley Dental)

WE ARE ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS

CALL US AT (925) 831-8310

PAGE 28 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • JANUARY 2018

The Combs Team

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Professionals You Can Count On

Nancy

Joe

Call the Combs Team

This is Rockcliff Country

®

92 5 -9 8 9 -6 0 8 6 www.TheCombsTeam.com

ALAMO AND DANVILLE SINGLE FAMILY HOME SALES…GOOD NEWS CONTINUES!

I pulled a year’s worth of single family home sales data dating back to December 1, 2016.

I hope to provide a clear picture of Alamo and Danville annual home sales for you.

This year in Alamo there were a total of 426 properties listed on MLS that were not withdrawn or canceled. That works out to be a market availability of about 35 homes per month for buyers to choose from. That figure is not markedly different from last year. Unless things change dramatically during the next year, inventory is likely to remain tight in Alamo.

As of today there are 36 active listings, 196 properties pending, and 194 properties which have been sold. For homes sold, the average sold price for this time period sits at $1,873,577.

The median price for these sales stands at $1,650,000. The average days-on-market for the active listings is 63, for pending properties it is 32 days, and for sold listings it’s 33 days.

Included is a bell curve chart based upon our search criteria and divided into 25%, 50%, and 75% sections. This layout provides a better sense of how different listings fared for days-on-market and also a looks at the difference between median and average price by grouping rather than the market as a whole. In the center grouping, there is almost no difference between average and median price. Also, you can see that days-on-market for this grouping is a mere 24 days.

The bottom 25% is less than or equal to $1,448,500. The 50% section is between $1,448,500 and $2,103,750, and the top 75% is equal to or more than $2,103,750.

Although not included in this chart, pending sales are tracking almost perfectly with

sold properties in terms of price, which means sales during the late season are not retreating from early season prices. That is a good sign for continuing market strength.

This year in Danville there were a total of 744 properties listed on MLS that were not withdrawn or canceled. That works out to be a market availability of about 62 homes per month for buyers to choose from. This is similar to what we saw last year and suggests that in the year ahead we will still have tight inventory.

As of today there are 25 active listings, 362 properties pending, and 357 properties which have been sold. For homes sold, the average sold price for this time period sits at $1,333,544.

The median price for these sales stands at $1,250,000. The average days-on-market for active listings is 57, for pending properties it is 22 days, and for sold listings it’s 23 days. Included is a bell curve chart for Danville which is similar to the Alamo chart. In the center grouping, there is almost no difference between average and median price. Days-on-market for this grouping is a mere 21 days. Both Danville and Alamo are hot markets.

The bottom 25% is less than or equal to $1,050,000, the 50% section is between $1,050,000 and $1,476,000, and the top 75% is equal or more than $1,476,000.

Like Alamo, pending sales are tracking almost perfectly with sold properties in terms of price. The website www.linkedin.com just sent me an email reporting 173,000 job vacancies in San Francisco. That is a good sign for continuing market strength.

Happy New Year!

Trying to figure out your next move? Need numbers and answers to make your decisions?

Nancy and I will be happy to provide you with a personal consultation to help you figure it out. No charge and no pressure just our honest opinions. Please call 925-989-6086 or send me an email joecombs@thecombsteam.com.

Alamo 10 Acre Estate

Danville: Coming Soon

Round Hill: Coming Soon

Beautiful custom home with views, gardens, huge master, 3 ensuite bedrooms, bonus room/au pair suite with private entrance. Priced to sell $5,950,000.

Lovely five bedroom in great location.

Sensational Mediterranean backing the golf course. 4 beds, 3.5 baths, 2 master suites. Pool/ Spa outdoor kitchen and living room.

Alamo Custom Luxury Home

Danville Single Story

West Side Alamo

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DM

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Stonegate 4 bedroom, 3.5 bath with 1 bedroom downstairs. Pool/spa, BBQ, putting green.

Priced to sell $2,000,000

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Charming 3 bedroom 2.5 bath with 3 car garage, large, lot, pool and spa. Priced to Sell! $899,000.

Data presented in this column is based in whole or in part on data supplied by the Contra Costa and Alameda MLS service and other quoted sources.

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

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Unbelievable value on this 4 bed, 6.5 bath home in Jones Ranch. Pool, Spa, Au Pair Suite Priced to Sell! $2,045,000.

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