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July 2020 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 1
& JULY 2020
WHEN A STUDENT THEATRE COMPANY BECOMES SOMETHING MORE By Fran Miller
Shayna Ronen and Jarush Ariel founded their nonprofit youth theatre company four years ago with a simple goal of raising the bar on the art form. But from the outset, it became clear to the duo that theatre was not the purpose: it was the vehicle. They realized that what they had created was much more than a theater program.
WHITE PONY EXPRESS DELIVERS DAILY DONATIONS WITH LOVE By Jody Morgan
White Pony Express (WPE) continues to grow exponentially as the innovative non-profit works to eliminate want by preventing waste. Three hundred and sixty-four days a year, ten refrigerated WPE trucks collect fresh, nutritious food that donors, including many local supermarkets, would otherwise have to discard. Sorted by Deena White repacks eggs. Retailers cannot repack volunteers according to client and sell a carton if one egg breaks. Photo courtesy of WPE. requests, the food is delivered the same day to agencies throughout Contra Costa County. Always ready to respond to the needs of others, WPE staff and volunteers live by their motto:
See Theatre continued on page 22
ALAMO FAMILY LEADS SUPPORT FOR THOSE DIAGNOSED WITH NEPHROTIC SYNDROME
By Fran Miller
The lives of the Callaway family of Alamo changed forever when their son was diagnosed at age six with Nephrotic Syndrome (NS). Mom Andi Callaway will never forget the day when her healthy and eager kindergartener woke up with swollen eyes, a symptom of the rare and serious auto-immune disease that causes the kidneys to shut down. “The next year brought so many dark days,” says Andi. “There was so much medication, so many ap- Recipient of a Backpack of Hope pointments, and so many disappointments. Over the next seven years of our journey, and since, we have found a way to manage as any family would; however, our whole family is forever changed by this disease. It has been extremely tough on all of us. Our days are filled with doctor appointments,
See Support continued on page 21
Local Postal Customer
PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Permit 263 Alamo CA
ECRWSS
Sorting food according to client preferences is a favorite WPE volunteer activity. Photo courtesy of WPE.
“All of us taking care of all of us.” The WPE General Store provides new and gently used clothing, toys, and children's books using mobile boutiques to bring free goods to individuals and families needing them most. Complicating the delivery process and escalating the demand for essential services, the COVID-19 pandemic finds WPE soliciting emergency funding to add 30 agencies on the waiting list to the 70 county agencies already being served. The COVID Care Campaign Challenge (see page 8 for more information) matches up to $300,000 in donations received by June 30th.
See White Pony continued on page 16
The Editors Serving the communities of Alamo, Diablo, and Danville
Volume XX Number 7
3000F Danville Blvd. #117 Alamo, CA 94507 Telephone (925) 405-6397 Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher Editor@yourmonthlypaper.com
Facebook: Alamo Today & Danville Today News Instagram:@AlamoandDanvilleToday
Volume XI Number 7
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.
PAGE 2 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • July 2020
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BOULEVARD VIEW By Alisa Corstorphine, Editor
From COVID-19, to protests and demonstrations in response to the killing of George Floyd in Minnesota, the year 2020 has thrown many curveballs our way. These times have also brought to light the true meaning of community. In concern of disruptive protests, merchant windows were recently boarded up to protect our local businesses which were already struggling due to COVID-19 shutdowns. Folks banded together and posted offers of help, both financial and physical, on social media. Funds were raised for the purchase of plywood, and notes such as, “Happy to assist with boarding up windows. I’m free tomorrow. I have my own hammer and drill/screwgun,” showed that many were ready to jump into service. Fortunately, our communities were spared damage and now our businesses have been given the “green light” to reopen their doors. Recently, Zae Perrin, President/CEO of the Danville Area Chamber of Commerce, sent out an email blast. In it he notes, “Now, more than ever, it is time for our community to unite and support each other as businesses, neighbors, families, and partners. We are all investors in the success of our community’s future, both socially and economically, and together we will be better than our “old” normal. Together we will sculpt a new community, steeped in history, resilient through strife, and focused on a sustainable rise from the hardships that we have been faced with.” He goes on to say, “With our current socioeconomic climate, that support is more crucial than ever. We need Marcia Harmon, owner of antique shop to stay resilient and vigilant in our fight for the health of our community, whether that is against the spread of COVID-19, “Cottage Jewel” in downtown Danville in the support of our businesses, or in listening for understanding in the wake of the continued protests around the world.” is happy to reopen her store. Our local businesses are OPEN. Some have temporarily expanded into the streets and parking lots, and others have flung their doors wide open and have new processes in place to address COVID concerns. It is more important than ever to patronize and support them. With all of the recent, events there has also been a sharp increase in folks experiencing mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. Fortunately, we have local medical providers and non-profits such as Teen Esteem (www.teenesteem.org) that can help us over hurdles and address issues we are facing. Never has there been a more important time to take care of ourselves. During this time of sheltering, our family has chosen to foster once feral kittens, in order to give them a healthier and more stable life. We know we aren’t in a position for a long-term commitment, but short-term we have the availability to make a difference. In recent weeks, 11 kittens and one momma cat have come our way. Our goal is to socialize, make sure they are healthy, spay or neuter, and find new forever homes for them. If you are interested in adoption of a fantastic kitten or two, email me at editor@yourmonthlypaper.com. All adoptions will take place through the local Feral Cat Foundation, www.feralcatfoundation.org. If you are able, reach out to others, and start volunteering. St. Francis of Assisi wrote, “It is in giving that we receive,” and studies have shown that putting the well-being of others before our own without expecting anything in return stimulates the reward centers of the brain. Those feel-good chemicals flood our system, producing a sort of “helper’s high.” Local organizations have on-site positions, work-from-
See View continued on page 26
The Cox Team REAL ESTATE
LE IL N V N TIO A D STA
K B AWCLU H Y CK TR A BL UN CO
1096 Lehigh Valley Circle, Danville $1,150,000 | 4 Beds 3 Baths
3270 Blackhawk Meadow Drive Danville $1,975,000 | 4 Beds 2.5 Baths Fabulous recently remodeled custom home on .38 acre. Fine finishes throughout include extensive hardwood flooring, Anderson windows, plantation shutters, designer light fixtures & three fire places. Great location! Vacation in Paradise in your own backyard! Close to top-ranked schools!
Charming & updated single story 4BR/2BA Danville Station home situated on a generous 9504SF lot. Shows like a model home! Recessed lighting, plantation shutters, fresh exterior paint, granite kitchen, two fireplaces & more! Rear grounds offer lush lawn and garden areas, spacious patios, play structure, & storage shed. Close to top-ranked schools!
DRE 00635222 | 925.963.6404 | TheCoxTeam.com |
Pat Cox
Compass is a real estate broker licensed by the State of California and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. License Number 01527235. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only and is compiled from sources deemed reliable but has not been verified. Changes in price, condition, sale or withdrawal may be made without notice. No statement is made as to accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footage are approximate.
601 Sycamore Valley Road West
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#4THGONEVIRTUAL DANVILLE PARADE FESTIVITIES HAVE BEGUN!
Because social distancing means the Kiwanis can’t put on an in-person parade this year, they’re bringing the fun to YOU at home! This year’s Kiwanis-Danville 4th of July Parade will be virtual and live-streamed online on Vimeo, YouTube, Facebook, and srvkiwanis.org/parade. The live event will start at 10AM on the 4th and run 1.5-2 hours. A pre-parade slideshow will be streamed from 8AM-10AM. This years’ parade theme is the 100th Anniversary of Women’s Suffrage (the right to vote). The Museum of the San Ramon Valley is serving as Grand Marshal and will share some history and a sneak-peek at their women’s suffrage exhibit, which will be opening soon and on display through September. The event will have live emcees, live footage from around town (maybe even in your neighborhood or at your local business!), a few special guests, and newly-created videos from nearly all of the groups you are used to seeing march down the parade route including military groups, nonprofits, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, local businesses, sponsors, bands, cars, and some of our local representatives. Recent 2020 graduates will be honored, and snippets of past parades will be shown. Just about the only thing missing is being side by side with neighbors downtown, which of course everyone loves and looks forward to returning to in 2021. Viewers are invited to join in on the fun from home with a driveway (or front yard, porch, mailbox, car, bike, or whatever else you’d like to spruce up!) decorating contest. Post your decorating contest photos to social media using the hashtag #4thGoneVirtual. Contest winners will be announced the evening of the 4th and will receive the grand prize of bragging rights! Don’t forget, srvkiwanis.org/parade will have the very latest details of the livestream link by the 4th!
AAUW GARDEN WALK 2020 REGISTRATION NOW OPEN
Registration is open for the Danville Alamo Walnut Creek (DAW) Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) “Joy of Nature Garden Walk 2020.” The tour will be held Friday and Saturday, July 17-18th from 10am to 4pm. Five homeowners in Danville and Alamo are opening their spectacular private grounds to garden enthusiasts from all over the Bay Area in order to raise money to support women’s education. The Garden Walk marks the 20 year anniversary of the organization’s annual event. Participants are invited to enjoy a self-guided tour of each of the five gardens. Each place is unique in its appeal and approach to creating the perfect home garden space. All visitors and docents will be required to wear masks and to observe social distancing during this outdoor event. Registrants will also receive a link to an online Garden Walk Highlights video to enable remote participation. The AAUW Garden Walk 2020 is a tax-deductible fundraiser to support scholarships through the AAUW CA Special Projects Fund, a 501(c)(3) fund, Tax ID 68-043071. The DAW AAUW has awarded over $93,000 in scholarships over the last eight years to help local college women complete their degree programs. Registration is open online at https://daw-ca.aauw.net/garden or in person at East Bay Flower Company, located at 206 Sycamore Valley Rd in Danville. The suggested donation is $35 per person. Children must be over 12. No pets, please. “The outdoor Garden Walk 2020 is a great way to celebrate the beauty of nature after self-isolating,” said Kathy Harkins, AAUW Garden Walk 2020 Chairwoman. “We look forward to welcoming all garden lovers to enjoy these beautiful and unique home places while supporting scholarships for women.” Learn more at https://daw-ca.aauw.net.
July 2020 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 3
For more information, visit srvkiwanis.org/parade
2020 Due to COVID-19, the parade has gone virtual this year as a livestream event. Watch online from 10-11:30am on Saturday, July 4th srvkiwanis.org/parade | #4thGoneVirtual
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS DIAMOND SPONSORS
PLATINUM SPONSORS
GOLD SPONSORS
SILVER SPONSORS
Doug & Cindy Gin
BRONZE SPONSORS
Piet Brouwer & Family MEDIA SPONSORS
PAGE 4 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • July 2020
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DUDUM REAL ESTATE GROUP W H E R E R E A L E S TAT E I S S T I L L P E R S O N A L
WE’RE GROWING! We are excited to announce the affiliation of these amazing agents to our great brokerage! We are so proud to count them among our Dudum family of agents and look forward to furthering their success in real estate. WE ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE APPOINTMENT OF LORI LEGLER AS REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENT JACOB ADAMS REALTOR®
JESSICA CATHEY REALTOR®
JOE DAJANI REALTOR®
JANICE DALTON BROKER ASSOCIATE
(925) 255-5013
(925) 257-4314
(925) 457-7080
(925) 785-3680
RUTH EDDY REALTOR®
CHERYL HATA REALTOR®
JOHN & CANDI HOYLE REALTOR®
(925) 788-5449
TARA HENEGHAN REALTOR®
(510) 912-5882
(925) 448-4637
J: (925) 984-3941 | C: (925) 984-3942
FONIA HUMPHRIES BROKER ASSOCIATE
SCOTT HUMPHRIES REALTOR®
KELLIE KEMP REALTOR®
KORY MADGE REALTOR®
(925) 998-4444
(925) 298-2249
(925) 268-8152
(925) 366-9899
MATTHEW MURRAY REALTOR®
ROSEMARY TOOL REALTOR®
ELENA TYSON REALTOR®
BONNE WERSEL REALTOR®
(510) 750-2695
(925) 330-2098
(510) 304-3303
LORI LEGLER
REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENT LAMORINDA 925.286.1244 | lori@dudum.com
We are pleased to announce Lori Legler as Regional Vice President of Dudum Real Estate Group. Lori joins us with an esteemed track record of success spanning over 30 years. Lori’s industry leadership and real estate knowledge is widely respected throughout the East Bay real estate community and beyond. We are excited to call Lori one of us, and look forward to many years of success together.
(510) 650-5680
For more information on these amazing REALTORS, or about Dudum Real Estate Group, please visit WWW.DUDUM.COM
DRE# 01882902
DANVILLE
WALNUT CREEK
LAMORINDA
BRENTWOOD
SIERRA TAHOE
Distinctive Properties
©2020 The information herein was obtained by sources deemed to be reliable by Dudum Real Estate Group. Dudum Real Estate group has not independently verified the information contained herein and therefore, assumes no legal responsibility for its accuracy. Buyer should investigate any matters or items disclosed, identified or about which they have concerns to their own satisfaction. DRE Lic. 01882902
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July 2020 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 5
DUDUM REAL ESTATE GROUP W H E R E R E A L E S TAT E I S S T I L L P E R S O N A L
WISHING YOU A HAPPY AND SAFE 4TH OF JULY!
COMING SOON | LEASE
COMING SOON
JUST LISTED
JUST LISTED
2700 MIRANDA AVENUE, ALAMO 4 BEDS, 3 BATHS, 2,445 SF, CUSTOM HOME
1098 UPPER HAPPY VALLEY ROAD, LAFAYETTE 3 BEDS, 2 BATHS, 1,883 SF, 0.26 ACRE LOT
155 E. B STREET, BENICIA 3 BEDS, 2.5 BATHS, 1,743 SF, CONDOMINUM
180 COPPER RIDGE ROAD, SAN RAMON 2 BEDS, 2 BATHS, 1,070 SF, TOWNHOME
CALL FOR DETAILS
CALL FOR DETAILS
OFFERED AT $619,000
OFFERED AT $610,000
DON & PAMELA COLOMBANA | 925.878.8047
DON & PAMELA COLOMBANA | 925.878.8047
ALISON J. PETERSEN | 925.984.7214
BONNIE KUMMELL | 925.980.9952
JUST LISTED
ACTIVE
ACTIVE
ACTIVE
405 WHISPERING WILLOW DRIVE F SANTEE 2 BEDS, 2 BATHS, 984 SF, CONDOMINUM
1182 GLEN ROAD, LAFAYETTE 3 BEDS, 3.5 BATHS, 3,700 SF, 0.41 ACRE LOT
3526 EAGLE POINT ROAD, LAFAYETTE 4 BEDS, 3.75 BATHS, 2,866 SF, 3.07 ACRE LOT OFFERED AT $2,400,000 ZOCCHI & ASSOCIATES | 925.360.8662
2638 ROUNDHILL DRIVE, ALAMO 5 BEDS, 3 BATHS, 3,151 SF, 0.38 ACRE LOT
OFFERED AT $420,000
OFFERED AT $3,595,000
ALISON J. PETERSEN | 925.984.7214
JULIE DEL SANTO | 925.818.5500
CALL FOR DETAILS DON & PAMELA COLOMBANA | 925.878.8047
PENDING
SOLD
SOLD
SOLD
1750 DONALD DRIVE, MORAGA 3 BEDS, 3 BATHS, 2,800 SF, 1.64 ACRE LOT
5 HEATHER LANE, ORINDA 6 BEDS, 5 BATHS, 5,150 SF, 0.81 ACRE LOT SOLD FOR $3,800,000 MARY PISCITELLI & PETER GILLIS | 925.765.9095
2484 BILTMORE DRIVE, ALAMO 6 BEDS, 5.5 BATHS, 4,487 SF, 0.7 ACRE LOT
1131 DOUGLAS COURT, ALAMO 4 BEDS, 3.5 BATHS, 2,418 SF, 40,115 SQ FT LOT
SOLD FOR 2,050,000
MARGY LYMAN
BRYAN HURLBUT, HURLBUT TEAM | 925.383.5500
925.963.6380
OFFERED AT 1,350,000 LESLIE SHAFTON | 925.360.9192
ALISON J. PETERSEN 925.984.7214
BRYAN HURLBUT 925.383.5500
REALTOR® | DRE#01177737
REALTOR® | DRE# 01347508
DON & PAMELA COLOMBANA 925.878.8047 925.482.4142
EVA ELDERTS 925.726.9409
JOHN FONDNAZIO 925.817.9053
JULIE DEL SANTO 925.818.5500
KATIE HENDERSON 925.286.0026
KERI FRYER 925.980.9979
REALTOR® | DRE# 02039328
REALTOR® | DRE# 01938194
BROKER/OWNER DRE# 01290985
REALTOR® | DRE# 02061210
REALTOR® | DRE# 02068960
MARY PISCITELLI & PETER GILLIS 925.765.9095 925.765.0629
MEREDITH & BONNIE KUMMELL 925.984.1344 925.980.9952
MICHAEL & JACKIE GERRY 925.209.5140 925.209.5130
SABRENA LAWTON 925.768.2992
STEFANIE PASSEY 925.268.0780
TERESA ZOCCHI 925.360.8662
REALTOR® | DRE# 01821910
REALTOR® | DRE# 01442889
REALTOR® | DRE# 01907345
REALTORS® DRE# 01426129 / 01364038
REALTORS® DRE# 00905114 / 01364056
REALTORS® DRE# 01307893 / 01702866
REALTORS® DRE# 01979180 / 01979181
LESLIE SHAFTON 925.360.9192
MARGY LYMAN 925.963.6380
REALTOR® | DRE#01944775
REALTOR® | DRE# 02067680
DRE# 01882902
WWW.DUDUM.COM
DANVILLE
WALNUT CREEK
LAMORINDA
BRENTWOOD
SIERRA TAHOE
Distinctive Properties
©2020 The information herein was obtained by sources deemed to be reliable by Dudum Real Estate Group. Dudum Real Estate group has not independently verified the information contained herein and therefore, assumes no legal responsibility for its accuracy. Buyer should investigate any matters or items disclosed, identified or about which they have concerns to their own satisfaction. DRE Lic. 01882902
PAGE 6 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • July 2020
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BUSINESSES ARE OPEN!
COME VISIT COTTAGE JEWEL By Marcia Harmon, Cottage Jewel
Businesses, including Cottage Jewel Antiques, are once again open and eager to safely serve you! I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who followed my live videos, Facebook adventures, and Instagram posts during the shelter-in-place. Now, it’s time to reunite for some good-old-fashioned retail therapy! In addition to following new safety protocols, we can also serve you via private appointment and curbside pick-up. We are currently hosting a moving sale and a “Community Heart” collaborative art project. Patrons are invited to purchase a vintage souvenir as well as write a note or share words of wisdom to be added inside the heart vessel. After a decade at our location, we are moving steps down the block towards Hartz Avenue. Enjoy the great finds during our July moving sale, and then come back in August for the grand opening of the Danville Emporium! The treasure trove at Cottage Jewel will be expanding the antique and artful boutique to include more artisan pop-ups, DIY workshops, Chi House tea events, heirloom trunk shows, and Mad Hatter wonderment!
JOIN US AT OUR FUN JUNE EVENTS
• Saturday, June 27th - The Jazz Room LIVE, 4PM to 6PM. Celebrate Cottage Jewel being voted the Best Boutique by the East Bay Times readership! • July 1-4 - Sale on Patriotic Tablewares • Mid-July - Moving Sale Cottage Jewel is located at 100 W. Prospect Ave. in downtown Danville. For hours or more information, call 925-837-2664 or visit www.cottagejewel.com. Advertorial
FREE VIRTUAL CELEBRATION OF THE TASSAJARA ONE ROOM SCHOOL HOUSE
Join the Museum of the San Ramon Valley (MSRV) for a celebration of The Tassajara School House, also known as the One Room School House. The school provided education for four generations of San Ramon Valley children from 1889-1946 and has an honored spot on the National Registry of Historic Places. The School House now is owned and operated by the MSRV. It is most well known now as part of a living history curriculum experience for third-grade students in the San Ramon Valley Unified School District, Valley private schools, and home-schooled settings. The program has children dress as students did in 1889 and attend a school day much as it would have been at that time. This includes writing with quill pens, in cursive of course, ciphering aka arithmetic, and using an 1889 version of current events to name a few activities. Over the 20 years of the program, approximately 40,000 students have had the pleasure of this unique experience. There is a good chance you or your children may well have attended. Sadly, this year for the first time, MSRV was not able to complete this great program due to the pandemic. In addition, the MSRV was forced to close as well. The financial impact of these closures are substantial, and your help is needed to keep these jewels of our community going. On Saturday, July 18th at 6PM, the annual Back-to-School Under the Stars celebration and fundraiser for the school and MSRV will be held. In most years, this event takes place at the One Room School, but this year it will be a free virtual event. The evening will be hosted by Brodie Brazil, the Emmy award winning host of NBC Sports Bay Area. Attendees will experience a short video highlighting a day at the One Room School, a conversation about the history of the school, as well as some very unique stories and pictures of the Museum of the San Ramon Valley, along with a few surprises! Everything will be done virtually and safely. Please join On July 18th at 6PM for this entertaining event. To attend, please visit www.museumsrv.org, and go to the Events section. Click on “Back to School Under the Stars.” If you have any questions, please call the Museum at 925-837-3750.
July 2020 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 7
EXPLORE DOWNTOWN DANVILLE FOR “HEARTS AROUND HARTZ”
This summer, the Town of Danville’s got heart! Following up on last year’s popular ‘Dogs of Danville’ public art exhibit, the Town is presenting “Hearts Around Hartz,” a fantastic new exhibit featuring 17 uniquely adorned heart sculptures placed all around downtown. The new public art exhibition will run through October 16th. The hearts in the exhibit are all unique, each one created by a different Bay Area artist. Some of the hearts boast a Danville theme with imagery ranging from oak trees, to Mount Diablo, to more playful designs and motifs. To learn more about the hearts and the artists, or to take part in sponsoring one of the pieces, visit www.danville.ca.gov/heartsaroundhartz. When the exhibition closes, an online auction of the pieces will be held. The auction will be up for 10 days, allowing people to decide which heart they would like to bid on to take home and enjoy. All proceeds from the online auction go toward a public art fund for future public art projects. For more information, contact Visual Arts Coordinator Marija Nelson Bleier at (925) 314-3460 or mbleier@danville.ca.gov.
VETERAN SERVICES BRING THE “OFFICE” TO YOU
With the COVID-19 County Health Order making it more challenging to get services from government offices, the Contra Costa County Veterans Services Office is removing barriers by opening a virtual office space. The virtual Veterans Office can give you close to an in-person experience. Veterans can learn about and apply for benefits, access VA health care, receive referrals for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder therapy, and much more. Visit the office website at www.contracosta.ca.gov/vets during open office hours for one-on-one assistance. Hours of operation are Mondays through Thursdays from 9am to noon and 1pm to 4pm, and on Fridays 9am to noon. Staffing the virtual office are Veterans Service Manager Sidney Jones, an Air Force Veteran, and Veteran Services Representative Buck Carmichael, a Marine Corps Veteran. Both have a combined three decades of experience connecting vets to critical services. For more information, please call the Veteran Services Office at 925-313-1481.
Our Shoppes are Open Again! We are so excited to welcome you back to our six Hospice Thrift Shoppes! We have missed your smiles and conversation. Our hours have changed slightly. We will be open until 4pm, and accept donations between 11am-3pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays only. Please come in and see us soon, but remember to wear your face mask!
HospiceEastBay.org | (925) 887-5678
PAGE 8 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • July 2020
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JOIN WHITE PONY EXPRESS IN MEETING A $300,000 MATCH CAMPAIGN!
White Pony Express (WPE) is pleased to announce the launch of its “COVID-19 Care Campaign.” All donations through June 30th will be matched by five “Angel Donors” up to $300,000. WPE is a 501 (c)(3) organization that operates a Food Rescue Program which picks up quality surplus food every day from supermarkets and food distributors, and then delivers that food—free of charge—to shelters and churches that feed the hungry. WPE also has a General Store that distributes high-quality clothing, toys, and books free to the underserved. The demand for WPE’s rescued food has skyrocketed since the onset of the COVID-19 crisis, putting a substantial strain on its financial resources and its volunteer base. The effects of COVID-19 have especially hard hit seniors, the homeless population, students, and sheltered-in neighbors in need—the very populations that WPE serves. WPE has just added seven senior centers on its recipient list, and there are about 30 organizations on its wait list who would like to receive food. However, resources at WPE are quite limited. Adding additional recipients requires fuel, qualified drivers, cooler space, GPS units, pallet equipment, additional staff, and related expenses. For those who can make a financial gift to WPE before June 30th, their donations will be matched dollar-for-dollar. If the spring goal is met, $600,000 of WPE’s estimated $2.3 million budget will be available now—when it is especially needed to deal with the current pandemic. If you are interested in making a contribution to help WPE with this matching opportunity, please send your donation to White Pony Express at 3380 Vincent Road, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523, or contribute online at www. whiteponyexpress.org/donate-funds. For more information on WPE, visit www.whiteponyexpress.org.
CALL FOR ARTISTS
CALIFORNIA DREAMING, FINDING BEAUTY IN MY OWN BACKYARD 10TH ANNUAL JURIED ART EXHIBITION
The Town of Danville is looking for artists interested in bringing their vision to the Village Theatre & Art Gallery in the 10th Annual Juried Art Exhibition. The theme for this year’s exhibition is California Dreaming, with exhibition dates set for September 16-December 11, 2020. COVID-19 has changed life for all of us, and sheltering in place has provided many with the time to get out, explore, and gain a new perspective on the amazing place in which we live. Residents are fortunate to be surrounded by the natural beauty of this great state. California presents opportunities for daily awe in every direction, from majestic mountain ranges, the roaring sea, redwood trees, deep valleys, roaring rivers, dramatic deserts, and hillsides covered in wildflowers. The new juried exhibit, California Dreaming, asks artists to bring that beauty to the Village Theatre Art Gallery. Artists can give the gift of beauty through their lens, their brush, or their palette to share with others. Art can be healing in a time of chaos. Now is the time to share your artistic gifts and show the beauty you have found in your own backyard. Show what you love about this gorgeous and inspiring state. For entry information, visit www.villagetheatreartgallery.com. Apply online at www.callforentry.org. The deadline for entries is July 26th. For more information, contact Visual Arts Coordinator Marija Nelson Bleier at (925) 314-3460 or mnelsonbleier@danville.ca.gov.
ASSISTANCE LEAGUE DIABLO VALLEY THRIFT
Customers who have signed up to be on Assistance League® of Diablo Valley’s “Thrift-e-Mail” have the opportunity to view for purchase specially selected items from the thrift store collection. Thrift-e-Mails feature special merchandise available to “Buy It Now or Make an Offer.” Your online purchase concludes when you make an appointment to pick up your purchase at the Assistance League Thrift Shop at the Way Side Inn, 3521 Golden Gate Way, in Lafayette. Not on Assistance League Thrift-e-Mail list? You can sign up at www. assistanceleague.org/diablo-valley. Click on “Thrift Shop,” and scroll down to click on the red button, “Join Our Mailing List.” As always, your ongoing support is appreciated.
July 2020 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 9
JD ACADEMY OF SALON AND SPA
By Amanda O’Brien, JD Academy
It is with great enthusiasm we welcome our staff and students who are returning to campus! We spent a long, unexpected few months apart utilizing temporary distance education, but it feels fantastic being together again in person. We are back and better together. Our students have, and always will be, our greatest priority. JD Academy transitioned students back to school in three separate phases, in order to master and implement our new COVID-19 safety procedures and protocols. We reopened in a safe and sensible manner and will continue to strictly adhere to these guidelines as we welcome back our beloved JD Academy clients too. Like many businesses, JD Academy is now living and operating with a “new normal” mindset. Each staff member and student were required to complete two Barbicide Certification courses upon returning to campus. These certifications helped to ensure complete understanding and comprehension of salon health and safety protocols during this pandemic. JD Academy is also practicing social distancing and the wearing of masks. Additionally, sanitation is key for our industry which is why JD Academy has implemented a new role of Sanitation Manager. The Sanitation Manager is responsible for helping make sure all new protocols and procedures are in effect. We are taking these extra measures to ensure the overall safety of our students, staff, and clients. Congratulations to the new JD Academy graduates who continued to dedicate their hard work and efforts towards completing either the 1,600-hour cosmetology program and those that completed the 600-hour esthetician program. Woohoo, you did it! Your JD Academy team could not be prouder of you! It’s time to go show California State Board what you’re made of. Thanks to our wonderful clients and Danville community, for the continued love and support. We are here to serve you, so please let us know if you need anything. JD Academy is accepting applications for future enrollment dates. Please contact our admissions staff at pauline@jdacademy.com with any questions you may have. Moreover, we would LOVE to connect with you on social media! Please follow @ JDAcademyofSalonandSpa on Instagram and Facebook. We hope you are staying safe and healthy. The school is located at 520 San Ramon Valley Blvd., Danville and can be reached at 925-855-5551. Learn more at www.JDAcademy.com. Advertorial
ENTERING KINDERGARTEN THIS FALL?
Girl Scouts Daisies is open to girls in grades K-1st. Daisy Scouts do everything from planting an indoor garden, to helping their community, to adding achievement petals to their vest. Your girl will make friends, grow her confidence, and build skills that will help her in school and beyond. In these unprecedented times, Scout leaders know families like yours are looking for ways to bring optimism, joy, and purpose to each day. Whether you’re familiar with Girl Scouts, or are looking to get to know more about Scouting for your daughter, leaders are eager to answer your questions. At Pre-K meet-ups, girls entering Kindergarten will attend virtual Girl Scout troop meetings with other girls their age and experience a sample of what Girl Scouts has to offer. They will have the opportunity to earn their first Girl Scout patch and participate in some scouting traditions in a fun, supportive environment with their Girl Scout sisters and Girl Scout NorCal staff members. For more information, contact Anna Lomas at alomas@gsnorcal.org, or visit www.gsnorcal.org.
BRUSH CLEARING AND TREE TRIMMING ON THE IRON HORSE TRAIL
Kinder Morgan Energy Partners (Kinder Morgan) will perform brush clearing and tree trimming operations along the Iron Horse Trail at the following locations: • Alamo, south of Wayne Avenue. Approximately 375 linear feet of tree and brush clearing will occur near the pedestrian bridge. • Alamo, south of La Serena. Approximately 210 linear feet of tree and brush clearing will occur near the pedestrian bridge. • Alamo, north of Hillgrade Avenue, west side of Iron Horse Corridor. Approximately 1,800 linear feet of tree and brush clearing will occur on the west side of the trail.
See Brush continued on page 27
PAGE 10 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • July 2020
ALAMO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
By Monina Salazar, Principal
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11 Critical Home Inspection Traps to be Aware of Weeks Before Listing Your Danville, Alamo Home for Sale Danville-Alamo - According to industry experts,
altogether. In most cases, you can make a
It is an honor to be the there are over 33 physical problems that will come reasonable pre-inspection yourself if you know what next principal at Alamo under scrutiny during a home inspection when your you're looking for, and knowing what you're looking School and continue Stan home is for sale. A new report has been prepared for can help you prevent little problems from growing Hitomi’s work of excel- which identifies the eleven most common of these into costly and unmanageable ones. lence. We shall keep making data-driven deci- problems, and what you should know about them To help homesellers deal with this issue before sions for students, and provide opportunities for before you list your home for sale. their homes are listed, a free report entitled "11 targeted instruction and enriched learning. Whether you own an old home or a brand new one, Things You Need to Know to Pass Your Home I’m fortunate to enter a collaborative culture of there are a number of things that can fall short of Inspection" has been compiled which explains the teaching and learning. Students are my focus, and requirements during a home inspection. If not issues involved. I am grateful to be supported by a staff that strives identified and dealt with, any of these 11 items could To hear a brief recorded message about how to cost you dearly in terms of repair. That's why it's order your FREE copy of this report call toll-free 1for professional distinction. 844-941-0941 and enter 1003. You can call any time, My career in education began in San Ramon critical that you read this report before you list your 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. twelve years ago when I was a 3rd and 4th grade home. If you wait until the building inspector flags these issues for you, you will almost certainly Get your free special report NOW to learn how to teacher. After seven years in the classroom, I tranensure a home inspection doesn't cost you the sale sitioned to a district literacy intervention coach experience costly delays in the close of your home of your home. position. For the next three years, I supported sale or, worse, turn prospective buyers away elementary and middle school staff and students. This report is courtesy of The Jackson Group-EXP Realty DRE #01763819. Not intended to solicit buyers or sellers currently under contract. Copyright © 2019 My passion for expanding my impact on instruction and the well being of students propelled me to pursue administrative positions. I served two years in San Bruno as a middle school assistant principal and an elementary school principal. Now, I will be serving as Alamo School’s principal. It’s good to be back home in the San Ramon Valley Unified School District. In the upcoming school year, we have challenges to keep our students safe while we maintain a rigorous learning tradition. The key to success will be open communication between the school and the community. Candid feedback on our new normal, which will surely include some trial and error, will help us on this path. I have a deep respect for the resilience of parents. Through all of the swift schooling transitions that began March 16th, at the start of the shelter-in-place order, through the end of the school year, parents never wavered in navigating distance learning with their children. We shall prevail together. I am excited to serve the students of Alamo School and to partner with the parent community to meet the needs of the whole child and foster a healthy social-emotional foundation for academic growth. I have some big shoes to fill. I am ready for the challenge!
MONTE VISTA HIGH SCHOOL
By Dr. Kevin Ahern, Principal
We have come to the end of a truly challenging school year. The 2019-20 school year at Monte Vista (MV) started with a great deal of excitement and anticipation from our students and staff. However, no one could have predicted how we finished. Our school closure due to COVID-19 threw us all for a loop, but I can say with confidence that MV’s response was amazing. I am proud of our students and staff for making the rapid switch to online learning. Our teachers put in extra time to ensure that their lessons could continue to reach their students. Everyone learned all about virtual classrooms via Zoom and Google Meet in the process. Despite the shift from an A – F grading system to a Pass / No Mark policy, most of MV’s students continued to take school seriously and shifted their emphasis from earning points to really learning something. We all knew that this was not the optimum way for school to be conducted, but we made the most of it, and the experience will make us better in the end. MV’s Commencement Ceremony also took a different form in 2020. This year’s graduates enjoyed a virtual graduation that was live-streamed. Despite not all being together at the ceremony in person, we were able to include most of the usual fanfare – most notably, speeches from our ASB President, Zoe Damaschino and Senior Class President, Johnny Carter, as well as hearing from student speakers, Zaynab Jawaid and Shanmigesh Raja. In addition, we were able to celebrate each graduate individually as their pictures crossed our screens. While it was not in person, the virtual graduation definitely exceeded expectations and truly gave the Class of 2020 something to celebrate. A big thank you goes out to MV’s Office Manager, Jodi McFarland, for all of her hard work in making this event really happen. We were not done with celebrating our graduates! Following the graduation ceremony, we held another “first-ever” event. We had a MV Memory Drive where our seniors and their families had the opportunity to participate in a car parade through campus. On the route, each graduate had a chance to see their teachers one more time, get out of Serving Alamo & Danville Since 1979! their car to walk across a stage, get a picture in their graduation garb and regalia, and officially receive their high school diplomas. The event was fun and well attended. Families decorated their cars, graduates decorated their caps, and lots of celebration was had. I have already received a few requests about how we can make the MV Memory Drive part of our annual celebration for graduating seniors. The 2019-20 school year has truly been a test, but MV’s students, staff, www.actionpoolrepair.com and community have risen to the occasion. We rolled up our sleeves, yourpoolman@hotmail.com made things work to the best of our abilities, and found ways to finish strong. We can celebrate the fact that we made it through together. I would like to thank the MV community for an amazing school year. As I look forward to a few weeks off to clear my head, I will Contractor Lic# 978033-C53 also be looking forward to our return in August. Make it a safe and enjoyable summer.
ACTION POOL REPAIR
925.820.3640
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July 2020 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 11
Celeste Pacelli “is the consummate professional.” Single Story with Magnificent Views!
1514 Rancho View Drive, Lafayette 4 Bed | 3 Bath | 2.942 Sq Ft +/- | 1+ Acre +/$1.869.000 | 1514RanchoViewDrive.com
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1698 Reliez Valley Road, Lafayette 4 Bed | 3.5 Bath | 4,026 Sq Ft +/- | 1.3 Acre +/$3,395,000 | 1698ReliezValleyRoad.com
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Celeste’s clients say: “Celeste is an amazing Realtor and stayed on top of all the steps in the process. Celeste is very accommodating with the schedule. We were very lucky to have Celeste on our side and closed our sale transaction.” See my 60 Zillow Reviews
Celeste Pacelli Broker Associate 925.395.1511 celestepacelli.com DRE 01862387 Compass is a real estate broker licensed by the State of California and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. License Number 01527235. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only and is compiled from sources deemed reliable but has not been verified. Changes in price, condition, sale or withdrawal may be made without notice. No statement is made as to accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footage are approximate.
PAGE 12 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • July 2020
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VALLEY VIGNETTE
By Beverly Lane PARKS FOR THE SAN RAMON VALLEY, PART I
As we travel through the unique experiences of 2020, one “essential activity” supported by the health department has been outdoor exercise. People are walking, skating, biking, hiking, and dog-walking in numbers never seen before, especially at their local and regional parks. Cities are closing streets (“slow streets”) and encouraging all of us to get out and exercise. So, let’s talk outdoor activity, recreation, and the history of parks in the San Ramon Valley. Parks in a formal sense were not Grange picnic at Cox’s Grove c. 1890 mentioned in San Ramon Valley historical accounts until the 1870s. People gathered on ranches and schoolyards for family or church picnics, and July 4th celebrations. Properties frequently used for large community events included Uriel Huntington’s ranch at the foot of Mt. Diablo, Cox’s Grove just north of the village of San Ramon, Flournoy’s ranch in Danville, and Hemme’s ranch in Alamo. Outdoor celebrations and May Days festivals took place at the various grammar schools, complete with speeches, poem recitations, and May poles. After the Danville Grange No. 85, Patrons of Husbandry, was organized in 1873. The Grange hall was built at an area on Front Street -- framed by the Danville Grammar School, the Grange, and the Presbyterian Church. The area was called Grange Park. Some local gatherings and some large regional Grange harvest feasts were reported in the newspapers of the day. One harvest feast in 1887 was described in the Pacific Rural Press: “The weather on Friday of last week was decidedly unpleasant in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. In some parts, brisk showers of rain fell, and in others not enough to settle the dust. Saturday, however, proved one of the pleasantest days of the season, and Grangers, farmers, and their friends wended their way to the picnic grounds at Danville in great numbers.” They went on to note, “Four to five hundred teams and vehicles, gathered together from all parts of the country, were strung along the highway for a great distance, affording a very novel sight. It was estimated that at least 1,500 people were in attendance during the day. It was undoubtedly the largest gathering ever held in that part of Contra Costa County know as San Ramon Valley. The picnic grounds consisted of three good-sized lots, enclosing the Grange Hall, Presbyterian Church, and schoolhouse. These lots were shaded and ornamented by well-grown locusts in full, snowy bloom, looking beautiful and adding sweet fragrance to the occasion. The speaker’s stand was handsomely decorated with American flags, but the greatest attraction of all was the decoration of the Danville Grange Hall. See Vignette continued on page 20
QUICK TRIPS
GARDENS By Linda Summers Pirkle
My youngest daughter vividly remembers a statue of Peter Pan near our hotel overlooking Green Park in the heart of the Mayfair district of London. She was eleven years old when we stayed at the lovely Athenaeum hotel. My standout memory from the trip is the incredible vertical garden that extends all the way up from the street level to the tenth floor on the outside of the family-owned hotel. All sorts of different shades of green succulents from forest green to lime green and everything in between along with cascading vines and bright colored flowers all fit together in a mélange of gorgeous textures and hues. It is stunning. The famous vertical garden was designed by French artist and botanist Patrick Blanc. His specialty includes the study of how wild plants grow naturally on vertical rock faces and trees. His vertical walls, including the one on the Athenaeum hotel, allow urban plants to grow vertically without the need for soil. I am not a gardener, but I do love gardens and admire the gardeners who create splendor wherever they start digging. I have a friend, Brother Tandy, who works at St. Anthony’s in San Francisco and puts his gardening talents (he was a landscape designer before he became a Franciscan Brother) to good use. His latest project is a rooftop garden atop the Friary building where he lives in the Tenderloin district. His voice comes alive when he shares the drama and challenges with worm bin composting and building a self-watering rain garden grow system. Long time Danville resident, Erin, shares her gardening projects with me via text photos from her new digs. After planting her backyard, side yard and
front yard along with building a new fence, she tackled a nearby deserted lot that was overgrown with weeds and scattered debris. She carted away the rubble, pulled the weeds, then planted shrubs, flowers, vegetables, herbs, and ground cover. Her neighbors, who were inspired by her effort transplanted some of their own plants. The project is still in progress, and Erin says, “I like working in the dirt; it takes my mind off of other stuff.” Once a fruit stand and orchard owned by Kergen cattle ranchers, Lafayette’s Orchard Nursery, Lazy K & Atrium (established in 1946), is a favorite destination for seasoned gardeners as well as novices. The nursery is well-known for its legendary Christmas displays, knowledgeable and helpful staff, and workshops. I was most impressed with their “Creative Corner,” a table with an assortment of unique plants. I found a Rudbeckia hirta “Cherry Brandy,” a gorgeous red Black-Eyed Susan. Next to the nursery, Lazy K House Gift Shop (named for the original ranch owners’ cattle brand) is full of unique garden art, gifts, jewelry, and apparel. For the past forty years Anne Mercer, a veritable genius in fashion, has been managing the shop and carrying designs from Los Angeles, England, as well as local suppliers. Her light-weight linen shirts in soft stripes and polka dots are perfect for summertime weather in Lamorinda and the Tri-Valley. Orchard Nursery and Lazy K & Atrium are located at 4010 Mt. Diablo Blvd. in Lafayette. Their phone number is 925-284-4474, and their website is orchardnursery.com. Linda Summers Pirkle is a travel writer, consultant, and longterm Danville resident. To share your “Quick Trips” ideas, email Anne Mercer, Manager at Lazy K at Orchard Coverthemap@gmail.com. Nursery.
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July 2020 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 13
Shop Our On-Line Store:
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PAGE 14 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • July 2020
CLIP NOTES
By Jody Morgan
Last fall, I attended a talk by garden writer Suzanne Staubach, highlighting her latest book: An Illustrated Guide to the Elements of the Garden. Arranged alphabetically by subject, each short chapter covers the history of structural components from Arbors to Water Features. Asked following the presentation what she most wanted to add to her own garden, Staubach surprised the audience by immediately answering with an unexpected item not mentioned in her program: “A gypsy wagon!” You won’t find it listed as such in the table of contents. The Romani caravan is tucked into a chapter titled “Garden Retreats.” Without intending to launch a trend in garden accoutrements, Roald Dahl, renowned author of children’s books including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and James and the Giant Peach, acquired a gypsy wagon in 1960, originally purchased by his sister from a Romani neighbor. Installed on the property Dahl and his first wife, American actress Patricia Neal, owned at the edge of Great Missenden in England, the wagon served primarily as a playhouse for their children rather than an adult garden retreat. The protagonist of Danny The Champion of the World, Dahl’s 1975 release, lives in a similar gypsy wagon with his father. Roald and Patricia first dubbed their cottage Little Whitefield, but renamed it “Gipsy House” shortly after the wagon arrived. Dahl had a separate hut built to secure his privacy when writing. Realizing he needed a place to work apart from the noisy chatter of his children, Dahl traveled to Wales to inspect the structure Dylan Thomas called his “word-splashed hut.” Wally Saunders, the friendly giant-sized man who inspired the BFG, constructed a faithful replica. Lucy Ballinger quotes Dahl’s second wife Felicity Crosland on a BBC program which aired September 14, 2016: “He built it exactly to the same proportions as Dylan’s hut, the same roof, one skin of brick. Of course, Dylan’s was a garage originally, whereas Roald had nothing, it was an empty space that he built on.” Gardening was both passion and solace for Dahl. In The Writer’s Garden: How gardens inspired our best-loved authors, Jackie Bennett describes how
KNOW YOUR TAXATIONS THE GANN LIMIT
www.yourmonthlypaper.com | Instagram: @Alamoanddanvilletoday | #atdtnews Dahl coped with the death of his oldest daughter Olivia, who mastered the Latin names of all of the garden’s roses before succumbing to measles at age seven. “Characteristically, it was plants and Roald’s interest in plants that helped him at this time. He sought advice from alpine expert Valerie Finnis, and in the churchyard he planted a tiny rock garden with more than two hundred plants. Day after day, he would weed and tend this miniature world of rare plants next to Olivia’s grave ...’” The garden itself, rather than the caravan or the hut, gave Dahl the kind of retreat he needed to restore his spirit. Bennett explains: “Whenever he was tired or disillusioned with the literary world, Roald would turn to the garden. After finishing Danny, he gardened non-stop for nine months. And, after receiving criticism for his work, he would just immerse himself in cultivating his orchids until he felt more like writing again.” Dahl also raised vegetables. Onions formed the motif for a favorite garden bench. He held a friendly competition with Wally, the plumber, the electrician and some snooker friends each year for growing the largest onion. Also known as a vardo, an authentic gypsy wagon is difficult to obtain. Romani tradition insists a deceased individual’s wagon is bad luck and should be burned. In Great Britain, there’s an active market not only for caravans to purchase but also for vacation rentals. Found on www.wanderlust.co.uk, Wanderlust’s horse-drawn gypsy caravans take travelers from place to place through Cumbria, visiting quiet villages each day and camping in secluded meadows overnight. Another option is a stay in a vardo at Huntstile, a 650-acre organic farm. Or, if you want to support the Sinfield Nature Conservation Trust, book time with Secret Meadows at Whitehouse Farm. The caravan has its own kitchen and bathroom with shower. The site is a birdwatcher’s paradise, boasting 50 species to observe. If you prefer to startle your neighbors by parking an American-crafted caravan in your garden, the website of American Vardo suggests: “The caravan is the original ‘Tiny House,’ and it may be used as a camper, an office, a studio, extra bedroom, a child’s playhouse, or whatever your imagination dictates.” Gypsy Getaway Wagons, based in Reno, Nevada and Northeastern California (https://gypsygetawaywagons.com), offers caravans to rent by the day as well as custom-built wagons.
SUMMER WORD SEARCH
By County Supervisor Candace Andersen
We are drawing close to another election season. Periodically, unfamiliar things show up on our ballots, and we wonder why they are there. Alamo residents will be asked this November whether they want to raise the Gann Appropriation Limit for their Community Service Area R-7A. What is a Gann Appropriation Limit, you may wonder? Forty-one years ago, Californians overwhelmingly voted to pass Proposition 4, also known as the Gann Limit. This 1979 amendment to the State Constitution established a limit on the amount of tax money that the State and most local governments can legally spend. It sets and defines annual spending limits based upon appropriations from the previous year. The goal behind it was to keep “adjusted” per person government spending under 1978-1979 levels. The Gann limit came into existence on the heels of another important measure: Proposition 13, which changed property tax laws in our state by replacing the model of annual property reassessment at market value with one based on cost at acquisition, and annual assessments limited to 2% or less in future years. Though the Gann Limit has received far less fanfare than Proposition 13, both measures go hand-in-hand, with concerned voters some four decades ago ultimately viewing the Gann Limit as a way to stop the state and local governments from potentially resorting to increasing spending to make up for losses in property tax revenue from Proposition13. The Gann limit we know today is quite different than the form of it that was passed in 1979. It was modified as a result of ballot initiatives in 1988 and 1990. For instance, 1988’s Proposition 98 required the state to compensate for drops in spending for education that arose when revenues declined. Proposition 111, which came two years later in 2000, increased
See Gann continued on page 18
• ANTS • BBQ • BEACHBALL • CAMPING • FIRECRACKER • FLAG • FLIPFLOPS • FRISBEE
• GARDEN • HOT • ICECREAM • INDEPENDENCE • JULY • LAZY • LEMONADE • MOSQUITOS
• PICNIC • VACATION • PIE • WATERMELON • RAFT • SAND • SPRINKLERS • STARGAZING See answer key • SUNSCREEN on page 18 • SWIMMING
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LIFE IN THE ALAMO/ DANVILLE GARDEN By John Montgomery,
Landscape Architect, ASLA DESIGN ON A BUDGET
So, you’ve decided you want to make some changes to your yard. Maybe your existing landscape is tired and needs an update, or maybe you’ve recently moved and want to personalize your outdoor space. At the same time, you may only have a limited budget to spend on your landscape. Designing a great yard on a budget is not only totally possible, but it is a common solution for most homeowners balancing their lives and financial responsibilities. You can have a beautiful, unique outdoor space without breaking the bank! We find a few cost-saving tricks go a long way in creating yards as economical as they are irresistible. L ands c api ng a f u l l property or a large yard may seem financially daunting. One of the best solutions is “Master Planning” the site and “Phasing” the landscape construction. Since it’s important for your landscape to feel cohesive, even a seemingly simple yard benefits greatly from a Master Plan. The designing of your landscape is not only the least costly part, but it gives you a sense of what your finished landscape will be like and makes your options clear as to materials and construction. Once you have this, it’s easy to Phase your construction (break it up into different areas). For example, you might choose to have a patio built and increase curb appeal in the front of the house first, and hold off on constructing the rest of your yard until a later date, which can be much less overwhelming. When it comes to landscape construction, you have many choices that will affect your overall cost. Informing your landscape designer of your budget will help them suggest different paving materials, plantings, and landscaping treatments to keep your costs within range. Paving, stonework, decking, and fencing are often the costliest parts of a landscape, but the materials and the ease of installation vary greatly and can be huge factors in the overall cost. The most important thing is that these elements be installed correctly. It’s better to choose less expensive pavers than to have someone without experience install them! Choosing high-impact plants, such as large grasses, hardy shrubs, and quick-growing trees purchased when they are young, also cuts back on cost and creates a strong base that you can always add to in future years. Finally, for irrigation, don’t skimp but choose a quality system, just opt for low-water plants for long-term savings on your water bill. While landscaping can be costly, it is an investment that seems to pay for itself many times over. Our own yard has been through many construction phases and many DIY building projects, but after all we spend as much time out there as in the house! So even if it takes a few phases to complete, make sure your yard becomes a space you love to live in. J.Montgomery Designs is a local firm creating landscapes throughout the greater Bay Area. Their varied work can be found online at Advertorial jmontgomerydesigns.com.
July 2020 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 15
ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS
WHAT ARE THEY AND WHY ARE THEY BECOMING SO POPULAR? By Cole McKnight, Perpetual Homes
An accessory dwelling unit (ADU) is simply a second small dwelling located on the same grounds as your regular single-family home. An ADU can be in the form of a small house, backyard retreat, or even a home office. ADU’s are oftentimes called granny flats, in-law units, tiny houses, or secondary dwelling units. In addition, many multi-family attached properties can add two detached ADU’s per property. ADU’s are appealing because they cost less than other forms of housing and make use of existing land.
IN CALIFORNIA, ADU’S ARE BECOMING EXTREMELY APPEALING FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS
People build ADU’s for many reasons, but the most common one is to provide housing for multi-generation family members or to gain rental income. In fact, Alamo ADU’s command approximately $3,600 per month. That is a 15% return on investment!
The cost of housing has increased so much that young families and aging parents, are finding it difficult to be able to afford to live in this area. For aging parents ADU’s allow for people to age in place or form multi-generational households to ease caregiving responsibilities and cost. ADU’s can be used as an incredible source of rental income. Some people rent out the ADU or even decide to downsize and live in the ADU while renting out their primary dwelling. More companies are allowing their employees to work from home, and that can be extremely difficult with small children or pets present. An air conditioned office shack (prices start at $29,500) can provide that perfect quiet retreat for someone that works from home. New California laws have made adding an ADU more attractive than ever. Some of these new laws include: • No minimum lot size required. • A setback of only four feet which opens up a vast number of properties to ADU development in their backyards. • Homeowners Associations can no longer prohibit ADU’s. The presence of an ADU can enhance the attractiveness of a house on the market, typically increasing the value of the property. The ADU units can be fully equipped with a bathroom, kitchen, heating and air conditioning, as well as washer and dryer, making them fully-functioning living spaces. Quite simply, an ADU can be the perfect solution for housing extended family, for gaining monthly rental income, or for allowing people to simplify their lives and still live in a neighborhood setting. The highly regarded ADU builder, Perpetual Homes, specializes in providing affordable, sustainable, turn-key backyard ADU’s in the Bay Area. Perpetual Home ADU’s are placed on a permanent foundation so they are earthquake resistant. Assembled off-site to ensure the highest standards of quality, with minimal disruption to the homeowner, Perpetual Homes offers a huge array of floor plans/exterior design options, and dwelling sizes (that can range in size from the 160 sq ft office shack all the way up to two bedroom / 2 bath 700 square ft dwelling). To find out more about adding an ADU, visit www.perpetualhomesadu.net, email Advertorial cole.w.mcknight@gmail.com, or call Cole at 925-360-5451.
PAGE 16 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • July 2020
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White Pony continued from front page
ALAMO IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION (AIA)
By Roger Smith, President EMERGENCY EVACUATION PLANNING AND PREPARATION
Ron Marley, Emergency Preparedness Coordinator for the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District (SRVFPD) and assistant with the Fuels Management Program and disaster management, will deliver a Powerpoint presentation followed by a question and answer session on emergency evacuation planning and preparation for the wildfire season. The presentation will include evacuation maps, processes to initially establish evacuation mapping and its on-going evolution; district website and QRF scan code for mobile phone use, developing of technology for real-time enhancements to evacuation routes; planning for how to save your home, yourself, family, and pets; perimeter planning for clearing foliage, and do’s and don’ts for emergencies. The presentation will be available for our community using either online technology or as a part of our public meetings (should County Health Restriction provide the ability to resume in-person public meetings) in July. Please visit www. AlamoCA.org for current information.
ENVISION 2040 PROJECT
The Contra Costa County General Plan outlines the County’s goals for physical growth, conservation, and community life in the unincorporated area, and contains the policies and actions necessary to achieve those goals. County staff members use the General Plan to guide decisions about zoning, permitted development, provision of public services, and transportation improvements. The task is to envision Alamo in 2040 and to imagine the future for our community, its challenges, opportunities, and realities. You can only visualize the future of a community by examining its history and the forces that led to the present. What created this community, and what are its particular attributes and characteristics? What attracts people to live here, buy a home, and raise their families? How will future economic and political trends and dynamics of demography affect the community, and to what extent should those forces of change be embraced, controlled, mitigated, or rejected? Learn more at https://envisioncontracosta2040.org, and join in discussions covering the project and potential impacts on Alamo this fall.
WELCOME YOUR BOARD MEMBERS
Welcome to your AIA 2020 Board Members. Thank you for your interest in AIA and your willingness to volunteer your valuable time to preserve our community. Board members are Jim Dobrzynski - 7 year resident, EHS professional, Planning Committee Member, Community Proponent. Sandy Fink - 46 year resident, AIA Board Member, Transportation Committee Member, Co-Chair Community Affairs Committee, AIA Liaison to TVTC. Mike Gibson - 35 year resident, Architect/ Planner, AIA Board of Directors, current AIA Transportation Committee Chair, liaison to Alamo MAC, past AIA Board President and Planning Chair, Association for the Preservation of Danville Blvd. Board of Directors, Past Vice President San Ramon Planning Commission, 2005, 1994-2010 Alamo Road Improvement Committee, 1993-2004 Alamo Road Advisory Committee, 2005 Alamo Citizen of the Year. Steven Meyers - 10 year resident, attorney, Planning Committee Member, Tree Preservation, Community Proponent. Lou Plummer - 70 year resident, realtor, Community Affairs Committee Member, Alamo Rotary, Community proponent. Roger Smith - 28 year resident, businessman, current AIA President, 2011 Alamo Citizen of the Year. Alicia Watson - 31 year resident, retired teacher, Community Affairs Committee Member, current AIA Secretary, community proponent.
ALAMO CERTIFIED FARMER’S MARKET
NOTE: The Alamo Certified Farmer’s Market complies with all County Health Department requirements. Plan a visit to the Market each Sunday year-round, from 9AM – 2PM, in Alamo Plaza, off of Danville Blvd., near Bank of America. Look for fresh berries, stone fruits, squash, greens, and more. All produce is picked fresh and is at the local Farmer’s Markets within 24-48 hours. Check out the new vendors as well your old favorite vendors!
AIA MEMBERSHIP
Now celebrating its 65th year, AIA, a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization, has an outstanding history of serving our community and helping shape it into “Alamo the place where we love to live!” Visit www.AlamoCA.org for information on AIA, articles of interest to Alamo (as well as Danville, Diablo, and Walnut Creek) residents, membership forms, and more. Don’t be left out; now is the time to renew or become a new member of AIA! Please follow us on Facebook, Linkedin, and Twitter.
Launched in 2013 as an all-volunteer organization, WPE quickly evolved into a volunteer powered program. Steve Spraitzar, WPE Public Relations, explains, “As we matured, we found we needed certain important administrative and operational jobs to be performed on a regular basis to keep our organization running smoothly.” WPE 's reliability formed the basis for successful partnerships with businesses donating food. Spraitzar notes: “We moved to hiring part-time and full-time drivers to make sure that pick-ups and deliveries would be completed.” Today, 20 staff members are empowered by 400 dedicated volunteers. As of June 10, 2020, WPE has delivered 11,842,630 pounds of rescued food. Erica Brooks, Chief Growth Officer, recalls, “I remember when there were four of us, and things really started scaling -- we looked at each other from the couches in one of our living rooms during a late-night meeting and all simultaneously recognized what was happening. We had built trust within the community, and our recipients had come to depend on our deliveries to run their programs. We realized that to honor what we had built and our commitments, we Happy recipients of school pantry goods pick needed to become a viable, sustainup food in drive-though events during the able, organization.” pandemic. Photo courtesy of WPE. Forged early on, the connection with farmers’ markets generates joy all around. Farmers sometimes drive for hours to bring produce to Saturday and Sunday markets, only to have to toss anything unsold at the end of the weekend. One farmer said it was like “watching his family’s money swirl down the drain.” Erica recollects, “When we told him that whatever they couldn't sell, we could take and give to other families who needed it, his face lit up. It has always touched me how those living so close to poverty, those who have so little, often give so much. It feels real to them.” WPE was still operating on a shoestring budget when the General Store opened in 2014. The guiding WPE principle dictates that every item offered must be something a staff member or volunteer would proudly give to his or her own family. Brooks describes the first customer who came to find clothing appropriate for a job interview. He arrived in a hoodie and left in a color-coordinated ensemble complete with tie. He described the experience as “The best day of my life!” He landed the job and kept it. Growth came in spurts as funding from angel donors Bush cheers a load of fresh rescued food ready made expansion possible. Mindy for delivery. Photo courtesy of WPE. In 2015, after reading my article in Alamo Today (now Alamo Today & Danville Today News). Alamo resident David Gemmer asked to tour the WPE facility and wrote a check on the spot for $5,000. President of the Board of the Gemmer Family Foundation and a major WPE supporter, Dave recounts his experience: “A light bulb went on. This seems to be exactly what the Gemmer Foundation is looking for.” All of the food picked up by WPE is surplus, nutritious, and free to WPE. Thereafter, it is immediately delivered free of charge to shelters, community centers, and faith-based organizations. Dave says, “Each dollar donated was
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White Pony continued from page 16
a home run!” He explains WPE significantly multiplies the impact of each dollar by caring enough to match rescued products with specific needs, such as finding a cake for a child’s birthday. School pantries, currently established at 11 county schools, were added following a test run with a mobile pantry. Having food available daily rather than only on specific delivery days makes a huge difference for many vulnerable families. Although the COVID-19 pandemic currently limits access to food pantries to drive-through opportunities, the ultimate goal is creating pantries in every qualifying Contra Costa school. The Cold Weather Project, founded in 2016, focuses on helping people coping with homelessness during the winter. The 2019 objective projected delivering 12,000 cold weather supplies and 500 emergency backpacks to comfort more than 3,000 people lacking shelter. Backpacks are stuffed with useful items like mylar blankets, tarps, rain suits, umbrellas, hats, and gloves. Working with Contra Costa agencies, faith-based organizations, and schools, WPE fills requests for sleeping bags, winter coats, and boots. Outreach goes beyond agency connections when a need is spotted. In the December 2019 WPE newsletter, Steve Harrell, Director of the WPE General Store, wrote that he was at a large shopping mall, a short walk from WPE’s Pleasant Hill headquarters, when he saw a man sitting on a bench. A brief conversation revealed the man didn’t do drugs or drink alcohol, and he was barely able to rent a room and really needed a warm coat.“I went straight back to WPE, got a coat in his size (XL) and an emergency backpack from the Cold Weather Project, and I delivered both to him promptly with a huge smile.” Peter Brooks, currently serving on WPE's Development Team, coordinates the Heart to Heart project. Several years ago, he discovered Cliff Strand homeless and desperate following repeated bouts with drug addiction. Strand subsequently joined the WPE family as a driver and coordinator after entering a life-saving rehabilitation program. An April 24, 2020 Yahoo Lifestyle article records Strand’s comments. “‘Peter Brooks, one of the pioneers [of White Pony Cliff Strand epitomizes the WPE's successful circle of Express], had no business being under that bridge outside of Oakland, but what he did was deliver me food with love giving now delivering donations with love to shelters where he once resided. Photo courtesy of WPE. and dignity and hope.’” Now Strand delivers with understanding and compassion to shelters where he once resided. Strand’s experience illustrates one of WPEs three core principles. The interaction - giving with love, fostering hope, and respecting the dignity of each individual - is as important as the transaction of delivering essential supplies. Food pantries offer the opportunity to select items. Mobile boutiques allow children, whose home life may be falling apart, to choose a toy or book. Erica explains that their world becomes much bigger the moment individuals are given the ability to choose. Harnessing the power of volunteerism is the second principle. Whatever your talent or time limitations, WPE welcomes your contribution. Most popular is sorting food for distribution. Maybe you love ironing and have only half an hour a week to help with goods for the General Store or can offer support in technology. The circle of giving is the primary principle that defines the WPE model. A donor’s surplus food and clothing is picked up by WPE and distributed to those most in need. Having healthy food and an attractive wardrobe enables recipients to move from the margins of society into the mainstream where they in turn extend a helping hand to others. Eve Birge, recently welcomed as WPE Executive Director, writes about the organization's strengths for the April 2020 newsletter: “We listen carefully to our communities to learn about changing needs, and then we mobilize hearts and hands to address them. At WPE, we don’t see red tape -- we see a need,
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PAGE 18 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • July 2020
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Word Search answers from page 14
GO '10-8' WITH CHIEF SHIELDS
Gann continued from page 14
10-8
Danville Police Chief Allan Shields is hosting a new Facebook Live program called “10-8.” “10-8” is the radio code every officer says at the start of their shift and every time they finish helping someone and are ready to help someone else. Join every Wednesday at 5PM on Facebook Live. Programs will have updates on what is happening in Town, crime prevention tips, and answers to viewer questions. Questions to discuss can be emailed to mailbag@danville.ca.gov, or be asked in the comment section on the Facebook Live. The Facebook page is “Danville Police Department.”
the spending limit by restricting it to per‐capita personal income growth rather than inflation. Every June in Contra Costa County, our County Auditor presents the appropriations limits to the Board for each governmental agency. A determination must be made of whether or not the anticipated tax revenue is going to be above the Gann appropriations limit. There are two possible courses of action if anticipated revenue is above the Gann appropriations limit: return the amount collected that is higher than the Gann limit to taxpayers; or conduct a Gann appropriations limit override vote for a four-year period of time, thus raising the base rate and the annual adjustments for four years. If an election to raise the base rate is unsuccessful, don’t wait for a check to be sent to you in the mail. The “return to taxpayers” is accomplished by revising tax rates or fee schedules within the following two fiscal years. A successful vote would allow the governmental entity, in this case Alamo’s CSA R-7A, to continue to accumulate its revenues for future projects and pursuits. Past R-7A projects have included the development and ongoing maintenance of Hemme Station Park, the bocce ball courts and other improvements at Livorna Park, the Alamo summer Music and Movie series, and shared expenses with Danville for improvements and maintenance at Hap Magee Park. When the County has put a Gann Limit election before Alamo voters, it has been approved all but one time, earning approval nine times in the past 23 years. In 2017, voters supported an increase in spending of up to $1.65 million. In November, the County is seeking a $50,000 increase -- asking voters to approve raising the spending limit to $1.7 million for parks and recreation services. It’s important to remember that this is not a request to raise taxes, just asking for permission to spend the taxes currently being collected! With the November election a little less than five months away, please check to make sure you are properly registered to vote at your current residence: go to cocovote.us/registration-and-voting-options. For questions related to the Gann Limit or any other questions or concerns, please contact my office at 925-957-8860 or SupervisorAndersen@ bos.cccounty.us.
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IS YOUR LIVING TRUST A BOMB TICKING SILENTLY?
By Robert J. Silverman, Esq.
I last wrote about this topic a number of years ago, but the subject is so important that a refresher is overdue. Within the last decade, Federal Estate Tax legislation may have transformed your existing Living Trust into the proverbial ticking time bomb. This article focuses on married couples who have a type of Living Trust that was very commonly drafted for decades -- generally referred to as an “A-B” (or “A-B-C”) trust. The bad news: Your A-B Living Trust bomb may be set to detonate when the first spouse dies. Sadly, I have had to explain to too many widows and widowers why their trusts exploded and how to clean up the damage. The good news: It’s fairly easy to avoid the potential explosion, and thus the damage; but you must change your A-B trust (assuming it is advisable upon advice from legal counsel) before the first spouse dies. A-B trusts were rightfully popular for many years. This structure enabled married couples to eliminate or minimize Federal Estate Tax liability (taxed at a previously top rate of 55%) that would otherwise be due upon the surviving spouse’s death if he or she died owning more than a certain amount of net assets. This threshold, the amount exempt from Federal Estate Tax liability (“exemption”), has varied dramatically over the years and was as low as $600,000 through much of the 1990’s. At such low thresholds, many couples were vulnerable to this “death tax.” Given this vulnerability, it was highly advantageous for many married couples to set up their trusts so that each spouse could use his/her own exemption. By doing so, they could shelter twice as much from Federal Estate Tax and thus enable their loved ones to inherit more. But, the only way a married couple could use two Federal Estate Tax exemptions, one for each spouse’s assets, was to segregate their assets into two separate (A & B) subtrusts after the death of the first spouse. Otherwise, their loved ones who
TECHNOLOGY MATTERS
SOLID STATE DRIVE CLONING By Evan Corstorphine, Portable CIO, Inc.
If your business needs computer equipment, checking in with your IT professional should be your first stop. Why? For businesses, buying a computer is not as simple as going to Costco, Best Buy, or the Apple Store. When you obtain business systems through retail, the chances are high that you’ll end up with an under-configured, unmanageable computer that will not last for the full expected lifespan. Unless a computer malfunctions, it isn’t easy to return computers once they’ve been opened and set up. The first “retail” issue is the computer’s basic configuration. If you’re buying a system with only 8GB of RAM, an i5 processor, and a slow disk for your business, it is unlikely you’ll have an asset that will survive its fully depreciated 5-year lifespan. And during those years, it will perform modestly, at best. Most likely, you will have to buy a replacement in year three or four. Software only gets bigger and heavier. If the machine performs “ok” now, it will probably not work “ok” in just a revision or two. All computers are not alike. Retail outlets often sell “dumbed down” computers with modest configurations so they can move their inventory. Remember, caveat emptor. They aren’t stocking the type of equipment you need for business. They’ll tell you what you want to hear instead of the truth. They are selling computers that fit into their retail price-point and bonus model so that they can move boxes. That serves their needs, not yours. The other critical aspect is the manageability of the computer and your company’s ability to control who can access or even own the machine. These days, our workforce is quite mobile, and “work from home” is becoming the new “normal.” For most employees, this is a blessing and has the potential of radically changing an employee’s quality of life, their overall productivity, and notably, our freeway congestion. For IT departments, it presents new challenges in asset and security management. We can manage this; however, we need your help. One of the ways IT can facilitate your decentralized workforce is to install management software on your computer that hooks into our systems. PCIO’s management software is called “TSP.” With TSP alone, we can protect and manage
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stood to inherit were potentially exposed to tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars in unnecessary Federal Estate Tax liability. Fortunately, a new “game changing” Federal Estate Tax law passed in January 2013. The exemption became $5.45 million (subsequently, Congress raised it to its current $11.58 million limit, indexed annually for inflation; however, the exemption amount is subject to a “sunset provision” at the end of 2025). The more important structural change involved a new feature called “portability.” Portability enables married couples to use two full exemptions without splitting the assets into two separate pots (A-B) after the first spouse dies. Consequently, a huge number of married couples can streamline and simplify their trusts (to a “one pot” trust) because they no longer need an A-B Trust for Federal Estate Tax reasons! You might nevertheless still wonder why there is any bomb ticking? In other words, what harm is there in just keeping your old A-B trust? There are substantial, yet not commonly understood, disadvantages of an A-B trust. Upon your request, I’d be happy to chat with you about this and/or send you more detailed information. Note that some non-tax reasons (particularly for blended families) and tax reasons (particularly for extremely affluent families) make a two or three pot trust a smart option; however, current strategies other than an A-B trust are often more advantageous. Married couples are well advised to seek counsel from an experienced estate planning attorney about the pros and cons of keeping or revising their existing Living Trust structure, especially if they have not had it reviewed in recent years. |Estate Planning | Trust Administration & Probate | Real Estate | Business| Please contact me to request a complimentary: i) “Estate Planning Primer”; ii) Real Estate titling brochure; iii) introductory meeting. I am an attorney with R. Silverman Law Group, 1855 Olympic Blvd., Suite 125, Walnut Creek, CA 94596; (925) 705-4474; rsilverman@rsilvermanlaw.com. This article is intended to provide information of a general nature, and should not be relied upon as legal, tax and/ or business advice. Readers should obtain specific advice from their own, qualified professional advisors. Advertorial
your systems purchased through the retail channel up to a certain point, and it is the minimum protection you should have installed. A computer purchased through the corporate buying program, however, has additional hooks that work with our software to ensure the company can control that asset. With a retail-purchased computer, a technically educated or malicious party can strip off all the management controls that we’ve installed. Then it’s “their” laptop. It could be an ex-employee, or it could be someone who stole the computer from an employee. Usually, when a computer is lost, companies tend to grit their teeth and writeoff the cost of the laptop and hope the “new owner” ignores the data contained within. With retail-purchased computers, there is nothing more we can do. However, machines acquired through a proper business account, such as from Dell or Apple, when properly managed are a completely different situation. Business accounts are easy to set up. Picture a situation where a commuting employee loses possession of their laptop while in the airport or while riding BART. If it was a computer purchased through proper commercial channels, the following is true: 1) As soon as someone notifies us, we (PCIO) can use our software to lock the device and change the password so that someone cannot awaken the sleeping computer. It becomes locked, and nobody is getting back inside. 2) Through policies that we enforced using the business “hooks” in the software I mentioned above, we encrypt the computer when we set it up. Thus, if someone tries to remove the disk and access your data, they’ll see nothing but random characters. The computer will also not boot. It is useless to them. 3) Finally, using other policies, we can guarantee that nobody will be able to install a new disk and reload or use the computer with new software. At the serial number level, your company “owns” that device. When you have us lock down a missing asset, it now performs better as a door-stop than a computer. What I wrote above also applies to phones and tablets purchased through the same business channels. In a nutshell, computers you buy through retail channels “off the shelf” are in a lower technical class than those purchased through commercial accounts. If I can motivate you to “tap the brakes” on your urgent computer purchase long enough to speak with us, we can work with you to better control your assets and your intellectual property. Like all topics, there is much more to discuss. As always, I’m happy to chat about this topic! Give me a call at 925-5527953x1 or email info@pcioit.com. Advertorial
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KEEPING FEAR & GREED OUT OF THE INVESTMENT PSYCHE
By Robert Cucchiaro, Summit Wealth & Retirement
Every year, a research company named Dalbar does a study in which they compare the investment returns of the average retail investor with the returns of the stock market over the most recent 20 year period. Every year, the results are nearly the same: retail investors under perform the stock market and often under perform the very same mutual funds they are invested in. How can this be, you ask? Simply, if you buy stocks/mutual funds after they have gone up and then sell them after they have gone down, you will not get very good returns. Many have heard of the great investor Peter Lynch who famously ran the Fidelity Magellan fund for years. He had an incredible streak of beating the S&P 500 index for many years in a row. What few realize, however, is that very few investors had the same results that the fund itself had. Instead, many piled into the fund after the good years and then bailed during the bad periods. The only way to get the returns that the fund itself generated was to stay in the entire time. Financial Advisors are apt to say, “You can’t buy yesterday’s performance” whenever a client tries to justify an investment decision based on the recent performance of a stock or fund. When the market has just gone on a run (like it did in April and early June), investors will often feel the fear of missing out and want to get more invested in equities. Conversely, when the market is falling (like it did in late February and early March), investors will often feel the fear of watching their hard-earned savings get decimated in a matter of weeks.
www.yourmonthlypaper.com | Instagram: @Alamoanddanvilletoday | #atdtnews Neither one of these emotions are incorrect on the part of the investor, and it’s just human nature to feel this way. However, these feelings are not helpful and do not make one a better investor, in fact just the opposite. So, the question becomes, how can one not succumb to the greed/fear cycle that courses through the veins of every human investor? The answer is, develop a plan, stick to it, and get an accountability partner. Investing is about having more money in the future than you do today. Often, this is because you have a specific goal in mind (retirement, college, second home), and you know that over time, these items will go up in cost by at least the rate of inflation. Successful investments have historically outpaced inflation, so letting your money work for you means less savings is needed on your part to reach your goals. With that being said, everyone needs a time specific, dollar specific goal in mind, and a realistic idea of what type of investments and rates of return are needed to hit those targets. That goal then informs the investment plan and the portfolio. From there, the only real decisions that need to be made are around when to rebalance and how much will get added or subtracted from the portfolio along the way. That’s actually the easy part. The hard part is selling some bonds and buying some stocks when stocks have just fallen 30% in the past month and the headline news is all bad news. That’s called rebalancing. This is where your accountability partner comes in. This is the type of work real financial planners do for their clients every day. If you would like us to assess your investment plan, give us a call at 925927-1900, or email me at rob@swrpteam.com. 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. Visit us at www. summitwealthandretirement.com. Advertorial
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“All this was the work of Mrs. William Z. Stone, Flora of Danville Grange, who had charge of the decorations, assisted by many and willing hands. Beneath stood the piano, fringed with locust blossoms and wreathed with roses, while several vases holding beautiful bouquets were placed along its top. Festoons of roses drooped gracefully from either corner of the ceiling to the center, where they were caught up and finished by a long pendant of white flowers and bright marigolds, from which hung a huge ball of many-colored roses. The chandeliers were fringed with locust blooms, while each cup held, instead of the usual lamp, a bunch of roses. The windows were framed in festoons of wheat and wild oats. Wreaths were scattered all along the walls, while at each side of the main entrance were beautiful triangles of flowers, the work of Miss E. Wood.” In 1906, William Meese opened a group picnic area, Ramona Park, on part of his ranch at the border of Danville and San Ramon. It was on the Southern Pacific railroad line. The Park was available for rental and had a dance floor, baseball field, and other amenities. It was managed following “temperance principles” to guarantee that the area would provide a family-friendly setting. An April opening was originally planned, but the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire intervened with supplies sent to the city and refugees moving to the east side of the Bay. It actually opened July 4, 1906, with profits going to fund refugee relief. Ramona Park hosted end-of-the-year picnics for the high school, Wood family on a Mount Diablo Excursion after the school opened in 1910 when Meese served on the School Board. Sometimes called Meese’s Grove, it was enjoyed for over 30 years by groups arriving on the train and locals having outdoor parties. Sources: Inez Butz, History of the Grange, 1995 lecture; Ross Smith’s History of the Danville Grange, Pacific Rural Press, 1887
SONS IN RETIREMENT SAN RAMON VALLEY
Looking for things to do in your retirement? Consider joining Sons in Retirement San Ramon Valley Branch 128. There are monthly luncheons with interesting speakers and good fellowship. Additionally, members have lots of fun participating in a variety of activities including golf, hiking, biking, bocce ball, movies, cooking, finance, reading, computers, and more. Many other activities such as travel, dine outs, excursions, baseball games, and holiday parties include spouses, friends, and guests. Luncheons occur on the third Wednesday of each month at 11:30AM at The Bridges, located at 9000 S. Gale Ridge, San Ramon. NOTE: Due to current Coronavirus challenges, and for the safety and well being of members and guests, the SIR128 July meeting will be a virtual event using Zoom. Our guest speaker will be Mr. Justin Alumbaugh, head coach of the nationally acclaimed De La Salle High School football team. If you’re interested in accessing the July virtual meeting as a guest, please email membership@sir128.com. Be ready for an interesting presentation! To learn more about the Retirement branch, please visit www.SIR128.com.
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THE EYE OPENER
By Gregory Kraskowsky, O.D., Alamo Optometry CATARACTS
Cataracts are one of those conditions that everyone is familiar with, and many have either had them personally or knows a friend or family member that has had the surgery to remove them. Therefore, we will discuss this normal aging condition and how it is treated. Assuming you live to normal life expectancy, everyone will feel the effects of cataracts, and most will need to have them removed. A cataract is the maturing of the lens which is inside of your eye. The lens allows you to change the focus of the eye from distance, to near, and vice versa, and is one of the parts of the human body that continues to grow throughout life. As the lens continues to mature, it becomes more thick and more dense. As this occurs, less light is able to pass through it and thus decreases your vision. In addition, as the lens becomes more opaque, your vision generally takes on a dulling, foggy, or yellowing effect, which makes colors more dull. The typical onset for early cataracts is in your 60’s to 70’s. Everyone develops them at different paces, but factors such as long-term UV exposure, diabetes, steroid use, and trauma can cause the process to speed up. In the early stages, your distance prescription can sometimes shift to become more near-sighted. It is during these times that just a simple prescription change in your glasses can help restore or improve your vision. However, there comes a point as the cataract progresses that changing your glasses provides little or no improvement. It is at this time that the limiting factor in the visual system is the cataract itself, not your glasses or contact lenses. This is the point where I usually introduce the option of cataract surgery. Even though most people are scared or leery of surgery, cataract surgery is a very safe and quick procedure that restores your lost vision. Cataract surgery
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is the most widely done procedure in the United States, and the numbers will continue to climb as baby boomers continue to age. Keep in mind that even though the surgery is done all the time, there are potential side-effects that need to be discussed with your doctor and/or surgeon. The procedure itself takes less than 10 minutes, and you are not under general anesthesia. I tell my patients that it generally takes longer in the operating room to prep you for the surgery than it does to actually perform it. The incision is very small and does not require stitches, thus enabling a quicker recovery. The surgeon goes into the eye with a tool that breaks up the cataract into small pieces and then removes these smaller pieces from the eye. The clear implant that is put in the eye folds up very small and can fit through the small incision. If both eyes need to be done, only one will be done at a time. The eye that is more advanced is generally done first, and after it has healed sufficiently, the other eye is done a few weeks later. Recently, there have been many new types of implantable lenses to choose from. There are standard single vision lenses, which can be implanted for distance vision only, or mono-vision, which is one eye distance and the other reading. There are also now toric implants that help correct for astigmatism, which can be also used for distance only or mono-vision. If you have mono-vision in your contact lens wear, then going to this setup after surgery should work well. There are also multi-focal and accommodating lenses that help reduce the need for reading glasses. These lenses work very well and give good vision at all points of focus. However, just like anything else, they do have their pros and cons and absolutely need to be discussed with your optometrist and surgeon. As always, we are here to answer any of your questions regarding surgical and non-surgical options. Dr. K. at Alamo Optometry is your hometown eye doctor for outstanding service, vision care, andThe designer eyewear. He can be reached at (925) 820-6622, Local non-profit, Nephrotic Syndrome Foundation, or visit his office at 3201 Danville Blvd., Suite 165 in Alamo. For more information, visit www.alamooptometry.com, join in on Facebook, Instagram, Supports Little Warriors Duringand Covid-19 Quarantine and Twitter @Alamo Optometry. Advertorial
Support continued from front page
labs, missed events, missed school, and upwards of 20 pills a day for our son, all which have extreme side effects, both immediate and long term, physical and emotional.” There is no known cause or cure for NS. Treatments are limited and consist primarily of transplant and cancer medications, all of which have extreme and often permanent side effects. Many patients are children who spend the majority of their days in and out of the doctor's office and hospital trying to find a treatment that keeps them in remission while trying to manage the side effects. Yet rather than wallowing in the bleak diagnosis, Andi and her husband Tucker took action. After realizing there was no support for those facing a diagnosis of NS, she started the Nephrotic Syndrome Foundation (NSF) in 2017 with the hope that no mother, father, or child should ever have to travel the NS journey alone. “No one can change the fact that these kids have been diagnosed with this tough disease,” says Andi. “However, together, we CAN change their lives. We can offer support, love, education and community, and we can ensure that neither they, nor their parents or siblings, have to travel this road alone. We have BIG plans to help children diagnosed with this disease.” NSF offers seven programs in support of families with a child diag- NSF supports “little warriors,” during COVID-19 quarantine. nosed with Nephrotic Syndrome including Backpacks of Hope (an assemblage and distribution of medical supplies and comfort items for 100 NS patients), Camp NSF, Direct Patient Grants, Summer Splash Campaign, and more. In addition, NSF is expanding their Finding Health Speaker and Peer Group Series to a virtual platform, allowingMay them22, to reach allCA) across the United States and internationally in a new and accessible format. (NSF 2020patients (Alamo, Alamo-based non-profit, The Nephrotic Syndrome Foundation Their first two sessions featured collaboration with Mindful Life Project on the topic of mindfulness. NSF is also launching some much needed love and support with personalized cards to over 350 children suffering w a Mentor Team program, founded by a group of older patients in the journey who have come together with NSF to offer Nephrotic Syndrome. Each card included a personalized written by a NSF volunteer, a co mentor connections and community programming to younger patients dealing withnote Nephrotic Syndrome. Additionally, page, NSF 2 pages effort of Quarantine ideasprograms for kids at well as information on NSF’ the foundation launched Teamsticker, NSF, a volunteer to support these andhome NSF’s as growing patient population. th th Made up of dedicated mothers and daughters, 6 -12 grade, Team NSF hosts monthly meetings, provides unique leaderPatient Support offerings. ship opportunities for these young women, and fosters a community of compassion and connection to others. “We are gratefulThe to those who helped us get to Foundation, this point,” saysan Andi, who,based prior tonon-profit, founding NSF, held achildren career in diagnosed finance Nephrotic Syndrome Alamo serves w and public accounting. She also served in 2011 as chairman of another local non profit, Buena Vista Auxiliary, helping to Nephrotic Syndrome and their families year round; however, once the threat of COVID-19 bec prepare her for her work in establishing NSF. “Our community has been incredibly supportive, helping us raise more than clear, they knew they needed to take immediate action. Families impacted by Nephrotic Synd $1,000,000 since we started. Because of this, we were able to establish a formal avenue for direct support for those battling NS.” exact population most at risk under COVID-19. Nephroticsuch Syndrome is a serious and rare To learn morethe about Nephrotic Syndrome, the foundation’s various programs as Summer Splash 2020, the Backpacks ofauto-immune Hope assemblage, or affecting donation the in support these impactful programs, please visitis www. disease kidneys,ofcausing them to stop working. There no known nephroticsyndromefoundation.org. and no cure for Nephrotic Syndrome, treatments are extremely limited and consist of chemot
and transplant medications taken for years on end if not a lifetime. Families with a child battli Nephrotic Syndrome are the exact population most at risk with Covid-19.
PAGE 22 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • July 2020
YOUR PERSONAL NUTRITIONIST
TEEN WEIGHT LOSS AFTER SHELTER IN PLACE By Linda Michaelis RD, MS
Now that communities are opening up and folks are getting back into the world, I have been receiving many phone calls from parents of teens whose children want to lose weight. After three months of online school, sleeping in, and inconsistent exercise, many teens have gained 10-20 pounds over this time. Many families have done lots of baking, and made many comfort food meals while sheltering. I have heard some families, out of an abundance of caution, stopped buying fresh fruits and veggies because they heard that eating them was an easy way to catch COVID. I tell teens that now is the time to move ahead and not worry about the poor past eating habits they developed. I find it is important to educate my clients about what is considered a healthy regimen with respect to meals and snacks. In addition, I take a lot of time to teach clients how to read the food label for calories per serving, percentage of fat calories, ounces of protein, grams of carbs, teaspoons of sugar, and grams of fiber. This information will allow them to go to the market to evaluate whether a food product can be considered part of a healthy meal plan. I recently have been working with a teen named Kelly. I was able to clear up many misconceptions about foods and nutrition that she had. For breakfast, Kelly was eating premade Kodiak Cakes Protein-Packed Blueberry waffles that came frozen and were reheated in the toaster. Evaluating the label finds the product has only has 12 grams of protein for two waffles which is less than 2 ozs. of protein. Calculations show the waffles are 50% fat. I suggested to Kelly that she buy the Kodiak pancake mix that has 2 ozs. of protein per serving. Kelly can add egg whites for more protein and fold-in blueberries as well. The pancake mix is low in fat and not as processed as the frozen waffles. Kodiak pancake mix is now available in grocery stores and often at Costco. Kelly’s other favorite breakfast choice was Honey Nut Cheerios. This cereal
www.yourmonthlypaper.com | Instagram: @Alamoanddanvilletoday | #atdtnews has very little protein and fiber, but surprisingly not a lot of sugar. As the cereal is void of much protein, it will not keep you full. However, the cereal is a great dessert choice as something a little sweet and not on the heavy side. For lunch, Kelly always had a sandwich which included a couple slices of meat and two slices of cheese, and some chips. Again, she was not having enough protein, excess fat from the cheese and chips, and not much fiber. I gave her some suggestions for healthier lunches which included increasing the meat on the sandwich by double, reducing the cheese to one slice, and adding in a cup of vegetables. Another suggestion was to wrap a 4 ozs. portion of meat around pickles and lettuce, and enjoy a handful of chips. Kelly liked to snack. I knew the reason for this was that her choices for breakfast and lunch were not well balanced as she was consuming very little protein and fiber to keep her full. I stressed to Kelly that she understand the importance of protein and fiber at each meal. After discussing her preferences, we set up a list of snacks that Kelly now enjoys. These include an apple with peanut butter, beef jerky, turkey wrapped around pickles, cottage cheese and salsa, or even a shrimp cocktail. We also talked about desserts. Kelly was eating sweets haphazardly through the day. I explained to her that sweets are a dessert and must come after a meal. If you eat sweets when you are hungry, you tend to overeat them. We set up a plan where she can have a dessert after lunch and one after dinner. Her choices included chocolate pudding and a skinny cow ice cream sandwich. Kelly realized that when she sat down with the family at dinner time, she was often not hungry. I taught her how to listen to her hunger and helped her decide what food she should have at that time. My specialty is working with teens as I was an overweight teen myself. I am available to help your teen feel the best that they can. I am glad to inform you that nutritional counseling is covered by most insurance companies including Aetna, ABMG, Blue Cross, Blue Shield, CCHP, Cigna, Hill Physicians, and UHC. Please visit my website www.LindaRD.com to learn more about my services. Feel free to email me at lifeweight1@yahoo. com, or call me at 925-855-0150 to tell me about your nutritional concerns and see how I may help you. Advertorial
Theatre continued from front page
“From day one, our middle school and high schoolers came early and stayed late after rehearsals,” says Ronen, president of Danville’s I Can Do That! Performing Arts Center. “In the studio, their phones were down, and they were connecting with their friends and us about the reality of their lives. Clearly, our program provided a safe environment for our kids to learn, connect, and grow.” While Ronen knows that Danville is an incredible community in which to grow-up, she concedes that the world is changing, and through I Can Do That! (ICDT!), she and Ariel are provided a front row seat to how these changes affect young people. “In a seemingly connected world via social media, our youth are actually losing the ability to understand themselves, connect with their peers and find the tools necessary to navigate an increasingly complex world,” says Ronen, who fears that this reality is not soon to change. “It's only going to get more competitive, and technology is only going to increase. There must be a balancing of the scales to counter this incredible pressure.” Ronen and Ariel (the organization’s artistic director) believe the antidote to young peoples’ current stresses and demands is community and purpose. They believe that goals and passion provide a more desirable path. “When a child is struggling, as many undoubtedly will, we know that their chances of survival increase dramatically if they are surrounded by a healthy community,” says Ronen. “They need friends and mentors who can hold space for them, acknowledge their pain, allow them to see that it is temporary, and help them with empowerment tools.” And so, ICDT!, while at its roots continues to be primarily a theatre company, has also become a place to belong. The program is a place where all members know they are accepted, challenged, and celebrated. “We have a scholarship program and definitely want to work with families who need help with a partial or full scholarship to participate,” Ronen notes. “I started doing ICDT! when they first opened,” says Emily Doran, a recent San Ramon Valley High School, graduate who this fall will attend The American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York to pursue a career in musical theatre. “Little did I know that it would be even better than I could have imagined. ICDT! has not only inspired me to take on musical theatre as a career, but it also gave me a family and a place where I truly felt safe and welcomed. ICDT! changed my life and showed me what it’s like to appreciate life!” Alex Holton, a rising Junior at San Ramon Valley High School, first got involved with ICDT! through one of its improv classes, and from there he learned about their musicals. “Being part of this company has been one of the most beneficial things I have ever done,” says Alex. “Shayna and Jarusha helped me grow exponentially as an actor and a person. Some of my closest friends I met through this company. ICDT! has truly changed my life for the better.” And just as the founders’ intended purpose has expanded, so has their vision. They are in the process of renovating a 6,000 square foot facility in downtown
See Theatre continued on page 23
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July 2020 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 23
LIP FILLERS: POSSIBILITIES AND PITFALLS
By Dr. Samantha Ellis, MD
When I think about the most popular beauty trends over the past decade, lip enhancement with injectable fillers is at the top of my list. Fuller lips, achieved with injections, have become popularized as a sign of beauty and youth. But for every pretty pout, there is someone sporting over-inflated, unnatural looking lips. Because of this, I find that patients often have mixed feelings about lip augmentation. On one hand, they are excited about the prospect of achieving rejuvenated, more voluptuous lips, but on the other hand, they worry about looking overdone or “ducky.” These are completely reasonable concerns to have, but with the right doctor, beautiful, natural-appearing lips are achievable. Did you know that we reach our maximum lip volume at age 14? I hate to say that it’s all downhill from there, but for lip volume, it actually is! Loss of facial volume, and lip volume in particular, is part of the normal aging process. However, using precisely placed injectable fillers to replenish lip volume can make people not only look younger but also more attractive. It frustrates me to see people with over-filled lips or “duck lips,” because I know they were treated with improper technique. Natural lips are full in the center, and taper at the corners. With lip injections, the goal is to maintain natural proportions, not erase them. Many times, “duck lips” occur when too much filler is placed towards the corners of the mouth, or when too much filler is used in a single injection session and the filler spills out beyond the borders of the lip line. Another mistake I see is over-injection of the top lip, so that the ratio between the upper lip and lower lip is no longer aesthetically pleasing. Any injector can make a patient’s lips look bigger, but not every injector can make a patient’s lips look better. All of the lip fillers I use are made of hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is a sugar molecule that is naturally found in the human body, and is incredibly safe for injections. Two of the most popular brands of filler are Restylane® and Juvéderm®, and each of these brands has a variety of different filler products. The filler I choose for a patient depends on the patient’s desired outcome and the current appearance of their lips. When I sit down with someone for a lip filler consultation, we not only look at their lips but at their entire face. The key to creating beautiful lips is ensuring that they are in harmony with someone’s other facial features and in line with the patient’s aesthetic goals. The lips are also numbed before treatment to make every augmentation a comfortable experience. Ultimately, the goal of lip augmentation is to enhance a patient’s overall appearance by addressing any lip inconsistencies or deficiencies. The beauty of lip fillers is that they don’t have to be used to just increase lip fullness. Specialized injection techniques, and an aesthetic eye, can be used to improve lip shape, symmetry, volume, and border definition. If you are interested in enhancing your lips, call our office today for a cosmetic consultation. Dr. Ellis is a board-certified dermatologist and an Assistant Clinical Professor of Dermatology at UC Davis. She practices at PotozkinMD Skincare Center, located at 600 San Ramon Valley Blvd, Suite 102 in Danville. You can follow her on Instagram at @drsamanthaellis. Please call (925)838-4900 Advertorial or visit mybeautymd.com for more information.
COUNTY HEALTH INFORMATION RESOURCES
Posted by Contra Costa County Supervisor Candace Andersen
Below are some resources to get updated shelter-in-place information in Contra Costa County. • Visit coronavirus.cchealth.org. The site provides the most updated and comprehensive information and answers to the most frequently asked questions about COVID-19 and the County Health Officer’s order to shelter at home. • There is additional resource information of all kinds on the County website at contracosta.ca.gov. • Call 1-844-729-8410. It is an information line to answer questions you may have about the order. The line operates 8AM to 5PM each day. • Email Supervisor Andersen at supervisorandersen@bos.cccounty.us or call her office at (925) 957-8860. The Supervisors office is closed to visitors, but is able to respond by phone or email to questions you have that cannot be answered at the County Health website or information line above.
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Comprehensive Dilated Eye Exams
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Contact Lens Exams
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Prescription Glasses and Sunglasses In many cases, we are able to make your glasses in our office with our On-Site Lab
215 ALAMO PLAZA SUITE D ALAMO, CA 94507 www.poplarspecs.com
OPEN MONDAY TO SATURDAY MONDAY—FRIDAY: 9 - 6 SATURDAY: 9 - 4
925.202.2846 Theatre continued from page 22
Danville to become a Youth Center that uses the power of community and the performing arts to fuel the area’s youth. The center will feature three large studio spaces suitable for a multitude of performing arts, community, and wellness programming. Wellness programming will include meditation, yoga, journaling, and stress management classes, each focused on physical, mental, and emotional health. A café will provide space for youth to meet with friends and do their homework. “In this new space, we will continue raising the bar in our theatre arts education by offering more productions, classes, and workshops,” says Ronen. “We will also create a more connected and supportive community by hosting activities and events for the whole family such as karaoke nights, family dance parties, and open mic nights.” While ICDT! is a fully self-sustaining non-profit, Ronen, Ariel, and their team are raising funds through a capital campaign in order to complete the Youth Center. They are in the process of raising $750, 000 to cover the complete renovation of the new space. Since the campaign launch in November 2019, they are more than halfway to their goal. “So far, 100% of our funds have come directly from the families of our students who believe in our vision and have experienced first hand how we have impacted their lives,” says Ronen. “We can’t take away the pain of growing up, and we can’t change the world and shield our children from reality, but we can give them a place where they belong, where they feel safe, and where they can discover the tools to become the empowered world-changers they are destined to be.” For more information, visit www.icandothatpac.org.
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White Pony continued from page 17
and we respond with love by giving what is needed.” Although eager to aid non-profits seeking to replicate the WPE model, WPE extends services outside Contra Costa County only in response to extreme emergency. WPE founder, Dr. Carol Weyland Conner received the prestigious 2019 AARP California Andrus Award in recognition of WPE’s immediate support of survivors of the 2018 Butte County Camp Fire. From November 2018 through mid-August 2019, WPE sent vans stocked with fresh food and clothing along with small cash donations to deal with daily necessities. Donate, volunteer, and find more information at www.whiteponyexpress. org. The COVID-19 Care Challenge $300,000 contribution match is generously offered through June 30th by the Gemmer Family Foundation, Luis Gerardo del Valle Torres, Heart's Path Charitable Foundation, Coit Family Foundation, and Brad and Lynn Smith.
DANVILLE POLICE OFFER ‘EXCHANGE’ ZONE
Residents who purchase items via online services such as Craigslist now have a designated neutral ‘Exchange Zone’ in the upper parking lot of the Danville Town offices to conduct their business. Signage has been installed, and the Danville Police Department has designated parking spaces at the Town of Danville offices, 510 La Gonda Way, for residents to conduct transactions in a constantly video-recorded space. With proximity to police headquarters and video recording, the goal is to have an atmosphere of safety and assurance for would-be buyers while dissuading criminals from using online merchandising for criminal purposes. To learn more about the safe zone, contact Sargent Ron Hoekwater at (925) 314-3700 or rhoekwater@danville.ca.gov.
SAN RAMON VALLEY GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY
VIRTUAL RELAY FOR LIFE A SUCCESS STORY
By Sarah Svahn
On June 6th, 2020, the American Cancer Society’s Diablo Valley Relay For Life held its first virtual event. In previous years, the Relay’s home was Pleasant Hill Middle School, where many teams of individuals of all ages Sarah and Tiffany Svahn set up booths and tents, and filled the track and field with their activities. This year, the leadership team, headed by Sara Wright, Sharon Wilkerson, and Karen Sanderson-Graham, under the guidance of American Cancer Society’s Jennifer Nash, was not deterred by the necessary shelter-in-place restrictions caused by the pandemic -- they were determined to make this year’s Relay as successful as ever. In fact, the online platform allowed for some additional opportunities that were not previously available. Content such as speeches, scavenger hunts, exercise videos, and performances were uploaded to the website according to the schedule. The virtual event also had pre-recorded messages from the mayors of Pleasant Hill and Walnut Creek. Participants could follow along as the day progressed or watch each piece at their convenience. My mom, Tiffany Svahn, an oncologist at Diablo Valley Oncology, delivered a speech about her work with cancer patients, advances in cancer treatment, and the role that fundraising plays in raising money for cancer research. One of everyone’s favorite events at the Relay is the Luminaria Ceremony, which is typically held at nightfall. The ceremony includes meaningful words, poems, music, and a survivor speech. The track is beautifully lit by luminaria bags that have been decorated in honor of survivors or in memory of those who have lost their lives. This year, the luminaria bags were decorated online, and a video montage of the bags was set to live music by the talented Don Richardson. Cancer survivor Shari Palladino poignantly shared the story of her cancer journey. It was my role to lead the Luminaria Ceremony, which I have done for the past three years. My goal and hope this year was that our virtual attendees felt they were actually sitting on the field and experiencing the ceremony in person. This year’s virtual Relay For Life had 132 registered participants and many more that “stopped by” to take part in the event. The event raised an impressive $74,835! Donations can still be made through Saturday, July 18th via the Diablo Valley Relay For Life website at https://bit.ly/30Yyom8. Sponsors included Diablo Valley Oncology, Postino, Rotary Club of Pleasant Hill, Fremont Bank, abd, Republic Services, 96.5 KOIT, Pleasant Hill Lions Club, and 102.9 FM KBLX. All content from the 2020 Virtual Relay For Life of Diablo Valley is still available for viewing on the website as well. All in all, Diablo Valley’s first virtual Relay For Life was a tremendous success, and we look forward to seeing what next year’s Relay will bring! Sarah Svahn is a senior at Miramonte High School, the Volunteer Coordinator at California Cancer & Research Institute, and chairperson for American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life Luminaria Ceremony. Dr. Svahn is a Medical Oncologist and Breast Cancer Specialist with Diablo Valley Oncology and Hematology Medical Group in Pleasant Hill. She is the Medical Director of the Women’s Cancer Center of the East Bay. For more information, please call 925-677-5041 or visit www.dvohmg.com. Avertorial
The San Ramon Valley Genealogical Society (SRVGS) was organized in 1985 with the idea of providing resources, assistance, and educational opportunities in a social environment that would allow its members to successfully research their ancestry. To fulfill these goals the society offers monthly meetings with speakers who present topics covering various aspects of genealogical research. The group publishes a monthly newsletter and offers several special interest groups where members with common interests can meet and discuss their specific areas of research. SRVGS also provides resources ranging from a large selection of reference books, to information on local genealogical libraries. Classes are offered for the beginning researcher and those interested in genetic DNA. There are many educational opportunities currently available to explore genealogy from the safety of your own home. On Tuesday, July 21st at 10am there will be a Zoom presentation on “Finding Your Civil War Ancestors.” Jeff Vaillant will be discussing the basics of how to start researching your Civil War Ancestors. He will also be giving the steps to find information from the National Archives Civil War Pension Files. Call-in details will be emailed to all SRVGS members. To become a member visit srvgensoc.org and click on the “Join SRVGS” tab on the left side of the Home page.
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July 2020 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 25
PAGE 26 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • July 2020
TIME FOR YOU
By Dr. Barbara Persons
www.yourmonthlypaper.com | Instagram: @Alamoanddanvilletoday | #atdtnews anti-aging treatment! PRF can be done as a standalone injection or blended with a compatible hyaluronic acid-based dermal filler like Sculptra in a one-to-one ratio.
PRF COMBINED WITH MICRO-NEEDLING
I love being a plastic surgeon, and I love being a mother of three children. Trying to juggle a career and a family during COVID-19 is hard. Juggling just a family at this time is hard. Many women have confided in me during this unprecedented time. “I love my children, but this is too much,” a close friend quietly whispered to me during a recent phone chat. She said she felt ashamed even to think it, let alone say it out loud because of her fear of being judged. As women, we are used to juggling but not like this. We have home-schooled, prepared meals, and policed screen time, all while working. Not to mention we have dealt with the guilt and stress that comes with having to accept that one isn’t doing any of those things particularly well. As the world slowly starts to reopen and we see glimmers of a pre-pandemic world, I encourage you to take some time for you to breathe and care for yourself. I am ecstatic to safely reopen my practice and welcome my patients back with open arms (figuratively that is). A cosmetic treatment I am loving is Platelet Rich Fibrin (PRF) with Rejuvapen for a Micro-Needling option or with Micro-Cannula injections for both skin and scalp. I’ve tried it, my staff has tried it, and we’ve all witnessed the amazing results firsthand.
Micro-needling with PRF stimulates collagen production and produces new collagen and elastin fibers. It shrinks pores, reduces fine lines and wrinkles, and improves skin texture and tone for beautiful skin for a healthy glow. We begin the treatment by applying a potent topical numbing cream to the targeted area for optimal comfort. Then, we put a new sterile cartridge containing nine microneedles into the pen and set the depth based on your skin’s unique needs. Before, during, and after the micro-needling procedure, we apply your prepared PRF to the treated area to ensure it gets fully absorbed. A microcannula is used from a small numbed port site to inject the PRF, allowing you to have minimal downtime. With the micro-cannula injection method, there is no visible damage to the epidermis. At the same time, underneath, immediate activation of the longer-term release of the stem cell cascade stimulates keratinocytes that activate the production of new collagen and epidermal growth factors yielding the best anti-aging result from the cellular level. The procedure is quick and painless. Areas most popularly injected with PRF are tear troughs (under eyes), fine lines around lips, nasal labial folds, and marionette lines, in addition to supporting hair restoration for both men and women. You can expect to be puffy under the eyes for 48 to 72 hours after the procedure. It is sporadic to bruise from this procedure.
PRF is the newest development in using one’s own body to help create beautiful glowing fresh skin. It is a natural way to look young. A progression from Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP), PRF has been used in other areas of the world, including Europe and specifically France. Now, it’s catching on here. It’s no wonder why it’s gaining popularity. It’s 100% natural and offers real results. PRF is a treatment that involves the use of your body’s platelets. Your treatment begins with a blood draw, no different than the one you might have at a lab. The blood is then spun in a centrifuge, which separates the PRF. The growth factors found in PRF are vital to helping reverse the telltale signs of aging. It has a higher concentration of platelets, fibrin, and white blood cells, along with a small number of stem cells. The platelets attach to the fibrin network and release the growth factors that are responsible for creating new skin cells, collagen, and blood vessels. The growth factors in PRF are also released slower than in PRP, which provides the bonus of a longer-lasting
PRF is performed in a series of treatments, spaced four to eight weeks apart. The visibility of expected benefits and results of the PRF treatment is typically seen six weeks after the initial treatment. The volume will dissipate within the first week, although long-term effects, such as skin tightening, collagen production, and enhanced skin quality, may take up to two to four months to be noticed and will last up to a year or longer. We are scheduling appointments and safely reopening for in-office and surgical procedures per our government’s guidelines. We are implementing additional safety and efficiency measures and are also offering COVID-19 testing during your visit. I look forward to meeting with you to discuss what may be best for you. Barbara L Persons, MD, FACS is a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and owns Persons Plastic Surgery, Inc., located at 911 Moraga Rd, Suite 205 in Lafayette. She can be reached at 925-283-4012 or drpersons@personsplasticsurgery.com. Advertorial
WHAT IS A PLATELET-RICH FIBRIN?
HOW LONG DO THE RESULTS LAST?
ASSISTANCE LEAGUE’S TELECARE CONNECTS WITH THE HOMEBOUND
Since 1971, member volunteers of TeleCare, a philanthropic program of Assistance League® of Diablo Valley, have been making daily reassurance calls, Monday through Friday, to seniors and the homebound in our community. Clients can anticipate a friendly exchange of ideas with trained volunteers who provide high quality, consistent communications. If a client cannot be reached, family members will be notified. This service is free! Additional TeleCare activities include an annual holiday party, and they also receive greeting cards from the Assisteens, an auxiliary where tweens and teens learn to participate in a community service at a young age. Make that call to get you or someone you know connected! For more information call 925-934-0901. To learn about Assistance League of Diablo Valley’s other philanthropic programs, primarily funded by the Way Side Inn Thrift Shop in Lafayette, please visit www.assistanceleague.org/diablo-valley.
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The “Good Old Days” are now!
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home tasks, financial needs, and ways to remotely assist groups and individuals via technology and phone calls. If you are able to mentor a local child, visit Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bay Area (www.bbbsba. org). Mentoring can be life-changing to both the mentor and the child. Or reach out to one of the groups featured in our articles, and see how you can help. American political scientist Kalu Ndukwe Kalu noted, “The things you do for yourself are gone when you are gone, but the things you do for others remain as your legacy.” I couldn’t agree more. I hope your summer provides you opportunities to distress, reconnect, explore, and rediscover Born outdoors to a feral mom, these “noodle babies” - Rombi, Butters, Mac(aroni), Stelle, Ziti, and Diti will be looking for our wonderful local communities. their forever homes in the next few weeks.
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LOW BACK PAIN OR SCIATICA? THERE’S HOPE!
By Dr. Niele Maimone, DC
The condition known as sciatica is one of the most common conditions that we treat at Align Healing Center. Some of the typical symptoms of sciatica are sharp pain in the low back and/or buttocks accompanied by numbness, tingling, aching, or burning down the back of the leg. In severe circumstances, weakness in the leg may also be seen. The sciatic nerve is large and travels down the back of the leg to the foot. The nerve is buried deep within the muscles of the buttock and leg, making it difficult to treat with common physical therapy methods. The sciatic nerve is composed of several smaller nerves and originates from the low back. It passes under the piriformis muscle (underneath the main buttock muscles) on its way down the leg. Irritation of the sciatic nerve at any point along its path is commonly known as “sciatica.”
UNDERSTANDING SCIATICA
Let’s talk about nerves for a moment. Nerves are the electrical wiring of the human body. They carry the signals that allow us to move, feel, digest, detoxify, respond to our environment, and so much more. Plain and simple, if the nerves do not work, the body will not work. That being said, it is important to understand that unlike other tissues, the primary blood supply to nerve tissue is actually located WITHIN the nerve itself. So, if a nerve becomes impinged or compromised, so does the blood supply to the nerve. Without proper blood supply, the nerve does not receive the energy and nutrition that are needed for the nerve to heal. Over time, neural impingement leads to a painful chronic condition called neuropathy. The definition of neuropathy is a disease or injury affecting nerve cells. The common symptoms of neuropathy include sharp pain, burning, muscular weakness, numbness or tingling either at the site of the nerve injury or wherever the nerve travels. The condition known as sciatica is a form of neuropathy that specifically affects the sciatic nerve.
WHAT CAN I DO TO RELIEVE MY SCIATICA WITHOUT DRUGS OR SURGERY?
Since 1999, Align Healing Center has been offering many different modalities to heal sciatica. We have found that a combination of Class IV laser therapy and spinal decompression offers outstanding results in healing stubborn sciatica. Class IV Laser Therapy allows the practitioner to stimulate healing within the damaged tissue by delivering the necessary energy directly to the injured area. This creates an optimal healing environment that reduces pain and inflammation, swelling, muscle spasms, and stiffness. In addition to laser therapy, we implement spinal decompression to restore spinal disc health. Decompression works by gently stretching the spine, creating a vacuum effect which can restore disc height and even reduce the severity of bulging disc conditions associated with chronic pain and neurological symptoms. We have found laser and decompression therapy to be most beneficial for patients with pinched nerves, arthritis, herniated discs, and degenerative disc disease. This unique combination of non-invasive therapy offers a chance for realizing a permanent cure. The treatment is finite and typically lasts for about a month. This eliminates the long-term care commitment forced upon patients by other symptomatic sciatica treatments. With proper care and rehabilitation of your spine and nervous system, you can be back to your healthy self quickly! Dr. Niele Maimone, DC of Align Healing Center in Danville has been active in natural health & wellness since 1999. For more information or to set up a consult call 925-362-8283 or visit www.alignhealingcenter.com. Advertorial
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The work is scheduled for Monday, June 29th through Friday, July 10th, Monday through Friday, between 8 AM and 3 PM. Trail users may experience delays due to this work and should consider alternative routes during this period. This pipeline maintenance work has been requested by the California State Fire Marshal. This work will improve public safety in the area. For questions or more information, contact Contra Costa County Public Works Department at www.cccpublicworks.org.
July 2020 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 27
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
GROCERY SHOPPING FOR SENIORS AND VETERANS
Mobility Matters is a nonprofit agency that provides grocery shopping for ambulatory seniors and veterans who cannot take other forms of transportation. Since the shelter-in-place order went out, our seniors are relying on Mobility Matters to help them get groceries. The group is looking for volunteers that are willing to help out our community by grocery shopping for these folks. Most volunteer drivers grocery shop once every week or two. Please contact David Benet at (925)284-2215 or david@mobilitymatterscc. com if you are interested in more information about volunteer opportunities.
FREE CONSULTATIONS TO FAMILY CAREGIVERS WITH DEMENTIA-RELATED CONCERNS
Since Hope Hospice has had to temporarily suspend their Living With Dementia group classes for family caregivers they are launching a new video conference service that is, at this time, complimentary to the public in our area. “Many of the family caregivers who attend our classes find themselves in the caregiver role unexpectedly and without resources,” says program manager Jill Smith, RN. “The face-to-face classes have helped these individuals tremendously in learning about the changes to expect in their loved one and how to adjust techniques as the disease progresses.” Zoom remote-conferencing will be used to conduct private consultations with family members who have questions on specific challenges they are facing in caring for a loved one living with dementia. Submit a meeting request via email to jills@hopehospice.com or via phone at (925) 829-8770. Email is preferred. Learn more at www.HopeHospice.com.
CANCER SUPPORT COMMUNITY’S 6TH ANNUAL HOPE WALK RESCHEDULED
Cancer Support Community San Francisco Bay Area(CSC) has rescheduled their major fundraiser, the 6th annual Hope Walk, to October 17th. CSC has been able to continue bringing support, hope, and healing to cancer patients and their caregivers without interruption during shelter-in-place. “It’s one of the most isolating of diseases, creating anxiety and fear. We are proud and profoundly grateful that we can continue to be a source of hope, community, and relief for our members,” the staff notes. People can register for the walk and make donations at www.hopewalkbayarea.net. All registrations for the May date will be transferred to the new date. CSC’s gala, “An Evening of Hope and Healing,” is still scheduled for September 19. For further information, contact Carol Louisell at clouisell@ cancersupport.net.
MEALS ON WHEELS
Seniors in our community need your support! Meals on Wheels Diablo Region has been supporting seniors since 1968. Two of the programs, Meals on Wheels and Friendly Visitors, rely on the support of volunteers. Your help is needed now more than ever. Meals on Wheels volunteer drivers deliver meals to local homebound seniors through regular two hour shifts once per week or as substitute drivers. Friendly Visitors volunteers provide weekly one-hour companionship visits to isolated seniors. To volunteer for either program, please call (925)937-8311.
C L A S S I F I E D HANDYMAN SERVICES
Home Services with 30 years experience •Plumbing •Electrical •Drywall repair •New toilets •Carpentry •Caulking •Grab bars •Pressure washing •Ceramic tile •Water heaters •Dead bolts •Faucets •Garbage disposals •Flooring NO JOB TOO SMALL! Call James, owner, at 925-934-0877
Place Your Classified
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PAGE 28 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • July 2020
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