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June 2020 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 1
& JUNE 2020
A PASSION BECOMES A PROFESSION: NINA SANDELIN, CALLIGRAPHER
By Fran Miller
Nina Sandelin’s childhood ambition was to become a professional artist or writer. The desire was amplified during her fourth grade year at Green Valley Elementary when her teacher Mrs. Endicott encouraged her students to pursue their creative passions. Sandelin, an Alamo native and Monte Vista graduate, achieved both ambitions by becoming a professional calligrapher. But initially, she followed a more analytical professional path. She attended Reed College in Portland, Oregon and then moved to Montreal for a graduate program in linguistics at McGill. While working as a data analyst, she studied and practiced calligraphy as a creative outlet. It was Sandelin’s mom who encouraged her to start her own business. Having started her own advertising agency in her late 20s (Danville’s EMC Creative), her mom urged Sandelin to see where she could take a creative career. “We joked that it would be a good time to start it, knowing that if I failed, I only had a cat to support,” says Sandelin. “Fortunately it has taken off, and I'm happy to say I'm able to help support my small family of my fiancé, our cat Henry, and our dog Stella.” See Calligrapher continued on page 18
THE BOUNTY GARDEN & UC MASTER GARDENERS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY:
FOOD TO GO, FACTS TO GROW, FRIENDS TO KNOW By Jody Morgan
The Bounty Garden (TBG) grows food to go To all the kindergarten, elementary, junior high, school, and college grads, we wish you all the to area residents otherwise unable to afford fresh high best at this graduation time. The sky is the limit! organic produce. Working within a fenced area at Photo by Stanley Morales. Hap Magee Ranch Park, the non-profit encourages volunteers to exchange ideas and experiments with best practices in organic gardening, sharing facts discovered on what works best in Our Garden crew: Growing 12,000-14,000 pounds of food for Monument Danville. Fostering a community of friends who enlarge the TBG Crisis Center takes a crew of Master Gardeners. Photo courtesy of CCMG. family each year is an important aspect of the mission. UC Master Gardeners of Contra Costa County (CCMG), county chapter of the network of highly trained Master Gardeners throughout the state and nation, maintains a similar space at Our Garden in Walnut Creek. CCMG offers “Advice to Grow On” by email or phone. Forced by the pandemic to turn 2020’s Great Tomato Sale, CCMG's major annual fundraising event, into a Great Tomato Giveaway, CCMG has forged many new friendships throughout the area among residents and charitable organizations that have received fabulous free vegetable plants. Seeing TBG’s thirty-two raised beds filled with vibrant vegetables destined for distribution by White Pony Express, it’s hard to imagine why securing permission to launch the project took Heidi Abramson and her daughter Amelia two years. Government agencies worried that despite its well-researched design, the project would not succeed long-term. Because Hap Magee Park is jointly owned by the Town of Danville and Contra Costa County, and the small barn now restored for tool storage and meeting space has historical significance, multiple groups needed to be satisfied. Final approval from the Danville Town Council came on November 15, 2011. A young TBG volunteer proudly Mike McDonald and his wife Sandra are members of TBG’s volunteer management team known as the Hive. Their Garden Keeper displays his family's tomato harvest. Photo courtesy of TBG. duties involve caring for grounds inside the fence: weeding, repairing deer fences, keeping bird watering stations full, helping maintain the irrigation system, keeping 3000F Danville Blvd. #117
See Gardeners continued on page 15
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Volume XX Number 6
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PAGE 2 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • June 2020
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BOULEVARD VIEW By Alisa Corstorphine, Editor
Whether from college, high school, junior high, elementary school, or preschool, I’d like to wish all students who are ending a chapter of their school career, and going through this rite of passage, a happy graduation! This year has certainly been unique, but hopefully our grads can take away some positives from recent experiences. Former US Representative Gabrielle Giffords noted in one of her speeches, “Be bold, be courageous, be your best.” I think that those words are great words for our grads to strive for. For all of us, most plans we had at the beginning of 2020 have shifted dramatically. We find we need to pivot and shift from our past expectations and change our perspective with the new circumstances and restrictions that exist. Authors and bloggers Marc and Angel Chernoff, who have a website www.marcandangel.com, put some of what we are all going through into words that resonate with me. They note in an article, “Some chapters in our lives have to close without closure. There’s no point in losing yourself by trying to hold on to what’s not meant to stay. Remember this, and always keep two simple questions in mind: What opportunities do I have right now? What’s one small, positive step forward I can take today?” They go on to say, “Be determined to be positive. Understand that the greater part of your misery or unhappiness from this point forward is determined not by your circumstances but by your attitude.” As consumers, how can our attitude and behaviors pivot in order to continue to support our local businesses as they navigate this changing landscape, so they can continue to survive and thrive? For many local shopkeepers and service providers, there has been no, or restricted, access to their businesses and services. These folks are working hard to stay in business, pay the rent, and sustain themselves and their families. Many that aren’t allowed foot traffic have created new websites, set up shopping via Facetime or other video services, or have created new and different offerings to be flexible at this time. Theses small business owners are desperately in need of our support and are the people who for so long have given time and money back to our local communities. As you plan for graduation recognition, Father’s Day, birthdays, and more, how can your purchases be a win-win to keep these vital businesses in our neighborhoods afloat? DEL AMIGO HS Shifting our focus can bring some silver linings during this VENTURE HS “quarantime.” Have you enjoyed more family time, more home cooked meals, more chances for exploration and creativity? Have DE LA SALLE HS you noticed the air is a little fresher and the view from a highpoint extends further in the distance? Over centuries, mankind Monte Vista HS has endured wars, unemployment, natural disasters, and other CARONDELET HS deadly illnesses and pandemics. There will always be waves of ATHENIAN san ramon valley hs good and bad times. Fortunately, it is often the good memories that rise to the top. Perspective is an amazing art. There are basic human needs for physical survival, and food is one of them. Seeing my garden starting to produce and knowing I have some Costco-sized staples in my pantry gave me an idea. I started some posts on the NextDoor platform (www. nextdoor.com) as I know some are folks in our neighborhoods are feeling food-insecure at this time due to illness, job furlough or shutdown, or other circumstances. The posts have been head- AT HOME FUN! SPOT THE DIFFERENCES (answers on page 20) lined, “Are you STRUGGLING to afford food?” Yes, there are wonderful food banks in our area that are doing the best they can to keep up with an exponential increase in need. However, my posts are meant to be even more hyperlocal and direct. A respondent to one of the posts noted, “I’ve been laid off due to COVID. I have children. NEVER EVER could I imagine I would be in this situation - I have never been unemployed. Due to the California Unemployment computer systems being overloaded and crashing, it’s a mess, and I still have not received any unemployment funds. I think MANY people are in my situation. I have tears as I’m writing this due to the fact that this is already hard enough on my kids; I don’t need them to stress about basic needs. If I don’t receive any funds by mid-week, I DEL AMIGO HS would be grateful for anything. I’m so humbled and thankful.” VEN TURE HS Through these posts, I am partnering with others in the community to back me up, and we have taken care of five families so far. ATHENIAN DE LA SALLE HS I welcome anyone who is feeling food insecure at this time to email me directly at editor@yourmonthlypaper.com. There Monte Vista HS is no shame in reaching out. We can all be in need at one time CARONDELET HS or another. I will keep everything confidential, and myself and san ramon valley hs others are happy to put together some food items and coordinate drop-off or pick-up. To me, community is about neighbors helping neighbors. Please reach out to me with any ideas of how we can strengthen these bonds. Contact me via email, or join in on Facebook @Alamo Today & Danville Today News, or via Instagram @AlamoandDanvilleToday.
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June 2020 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 3
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THE KIWANIS DANVILLE 4TH OF JULY PARADE IS GOING VIRTUAL!
It is said that everybody loves a parade, and in times like these, that’s even MORE true. The annual Fourth of July Parade has been a fixture in the Town of Danville for over 60 years, and there’s no reason to stop now. This year, the Kiwanis Club of San Ramon Valley will be bringing you a spectacular virtual parade. Historically, the parade is attended by 30,000-40,000 spectators who view about 125 parade entrants, ranging from military veterans, first responders, marching bands, antique tractors, floats organized by local businesses and churches, various local rock bands, scout troops, and more. The parade, through its generous sponsors, raises money that is given to dozens of local non-profits in the local area. Since 1995, Kiwanis has donated over $1,000,000 to local charities. Those charities need our help now more than ever. The Kiwanis Club of San Ramon Valley is currently in the planning stages of organizing the parade and has a goal to reach at least 40,000 virtual spectators. Kiwanis is asking everyone in the community to send in film clips or photos they would like to be included. There is an opportunity for everyone to participate. There may even be a spot for you for a live interview or cameo on the 4th. If you would like more information regarding sponsorship and/or participation, visit www.srvkiwanis.org/parade. We look forward to having you join in the celebration!
GO '10-8' WITH CHIEF ALLAN SHIELDS EVERY WEDNESDAY
The ongoing Shelter in Place order has prevented the Danville Police Department from continuing programs like Coffee with the Cops, which allowed police a chance to directly interact with the community in a non-threatening environment. Not to be deterred, Danville Police Chief Allan Shields is coming to you via Facebook Live in a new community 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. “10-8” seemed to be a great title for the weekly program to reinforce to residents and businesses that the officers in Danville are here in service to the community. Come join the “10-8” meeting every Wednesday at 5PM on Facebook Live. Each program will have updates on what is happening in the Town of Danville, crime prevention tips, and answers to viewer questions. Community members can email questions to mailbag@danville.ca.gov. Questions can also be asked in the comment section on Facebook Live. The Facebook page is “Danville Police Department.”
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PAGE 4 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • June 2020
JOIN WHITE PONY EXPRESS IN MEETING A $300,000 MATCH CAMPAIGN!
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RUTH BANCROFT GARDEN REOPENS FOR VISITORS AND IS HIRING TOO!
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.
The Ruth Bancroft Garden (RBG), a “world-renowned 3.5-acre garden, housing a collection of succulents, both unique and beloved, as well as drought-tolerant plants from around the world,” has reopened both their garden and nursery for visitors. A lot has changed over the last two months. To conform to new County guidelines, daily parking gate-keepers will assure the number of people in the Nursery at any one time and allow for one-way entry to the Nursery. Garden Visitors now will enter through the Coit Family Visitor and Education Center, and exit through the former Garden entrance. The greenhouse “Forbidden Zone,” repaired in March after last fall’s major windstorm, has been configured to allow for more plants for sale and safe aisle space for customers. In addition, the RBG is hiring for several full time nursery positions including Nursery Sales Manager, Nursery Sales Assistant, and Kiosk Sales Assistant. For more details about these positions, please visit their website. The Ruth Bancroft Garden is located at 1552 Bancroft Rd. in Walnut Creek. For hours or to learn more about RBG, visit www.ruthbancroftgarden.org or call 925-944-9352.
VIRTUAL SERVICE OFFICE AVAILABLE TO HELP VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES
It’s time to celebrate the beauty of nature! Come and enjoy the 20th Annual Garden Tour sponsored by the Danville - Alamo - Walnut Creek branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW). The Garden Tour is scheduled for Friday, July 17th and Saturday, July 18th from 10am to 4pm. The Garden Tour will feature five outstanding gardens including a rustic “secret garden,” a backyard vineyard with magnificent views, a Tuscan terraced entertainment haven, an elegant sanctuary, and a gardner’s paradise. To learn more about AAUW, visit https://daw-ca. aauw.net. Garden Tour ticket information is under “Events/Programs.”
The Contra Costa County Veterans Service Office is now staffing a full-time virtual office. Veterans Service Representatives are available Monday through Thursday from 9AM – noon and 1PM– 4PM, and Fridays from 9AM–noon. Connect to the virtual office by phone at (669) 900-9128. Zoom Meeting ID: 979 2501 6051. Password: 028993. The Veterans Service team is standing by ready to serve Veterans and their families. If you’d like to check out the new virtual office, just pop in anytime, and they can show you around. For more information about veterans services, visit their website at contracosta.ca.gov/1557/Veterans-Service-Office.
ASSISTEENS “TAKE PEN IN HAND” FOR TELECARE CLIENTS AND SENIORS
Established in 1977, Assisteens®, an auxiliary of Assistance League® of Diablo Valley, accepts applications from tweens and teens entering grades 7-12 in the fall of each year. These energetic kids commit to a minimum of 35 volunteer hours per year. Activities they partake in include philanthropic community service programs, fundraising, monthly meetings, and special events. As a result, Assisteens learn the value of volunteerism while developing leadership and organizational skills. One gratifying project involves Assisteens writing cards and letters to TeleCare homebound clients and senior living residents. At Kensington Senior Residential Living, in Walnut Creek, Assisteens conduct four events, known as Season for Seniors. They include painting with seniors in October, making ornaments in December, playing balloon volleyball and making Valentines in February, and painting flowerpots in which to plant flowers in April. The Shelter-in-Place mandate preempted Assisteens’ usual gestures of goodwill. Undaunted, several Assisteens worked with Assisteens Coordinator Linda Benatar to make and send cards to send to the residents of Kensington, as well as to TeleCare clients, the homebound who receive reassurance phone calls. Assisteens ® volunteer Christian Assisteens rose above personal disruption Brandt prepares greeting cards. and isolation to reach out to people who might otherwise become invisible. To learn more, please visit www.assistanceleague.org/diablo-valley.
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AAUW GARDEN TOUR
CONCERT CANCELED
The leadership of the Danville Community Band (DCB) is saddened to announce that the season finale performance, scheduled for Sunday, June 14 at Community Presbyterian Church, has been canceled. These are uncharted waters for the music and entertainment business, and for the DCB, this represents the closing of their 2019-20 season. The band’s next performance remains undetermined. Once it is deemed safe to do so, the band will resume rehearsals and will again perform. DCB hopes you’ll attend when that time comes. Please visit www.danvilleband.org to learn more about the band and details about future performances.
ALAMO 2020 SUMMER CONCERT AND MOVIE SERIES CANCELED
Due to the County Health Department’s current COVID-19 restrictions and the Governor’s expectation that residents of California will not be allowed to gather in large groups for the foreseeable future, the County is canceling the annual Alamo summer concert and movie series at Livorna Park this year. The concert and movie dates were scheduled for the months of June 2020 and July 2020. County staff will be monitoring Shelter-in-Place orders and, if feasible, will work with the Alamo Municipal Advisory Council and Supervisor Andersen’s office to reschedule the event, if restrictions are lifted. If you have any questions, please contact Alamo Recreation Staff at 925313-2272, or visit www.contracosta.ca.gov/446/Parks-and-Recreation.
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June 2020 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 5
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PAGE 6 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • June 2020
EAGLE SCOUT AWARDS
Three local Boy Scouts have recently earned scoutings highest award, the Eagle Scout rank. Their recognition ceremony has been postponed due to current shelter-in-place rules but will be held at a future date. Matthew Kennedy has been involved in Boy Scouts since the first grade at St. Isidore School. Through Troop #803 in Danville, he participated in all aspects of scouting including volunteering, leadership, developing life skills, and lots of camping and outdoor challenges. A highlight was an 82 mile trek through Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. Matthew’s Eagle Project was to build a picnic area at the Venture School in San Ramon. This project involved landscaping, providing hardscape, and building and installing a picnic table. Matthew is a recent graduate of De La Salle High School and expects to attend Cal Poly San Luis Obispo later this year. Matthew Kennedy Ryan Hauh joined the Boy Scouts as a first grader at Alamo Elementary School and joined Danville Troop #803 in fifth grade. He enjoyed working on the many merit badges, outdoor adventures, such as camping at Catalina Island and Wente Scout Camp, and the 82-mile backpacking trip to Philmont Scout Ranch, as well as participating in many community services projects, including Scouting for Food. For his Eagle Project, Ryan erected a 230-feet split-rail fence at Hillcrest Community Park in Concord, which has helped reintegrate an area in the park that has been fenced off for over 40 years. Park-goers are now able to enter this area and enjoy the natural habitat and access the creek where kids can fish for crawdads. Ryan recently graduated from Monte Vista High School and is planning to attend San Jose State, majoring in Business. Ryan Hauh Chase Quinn has been involved with Boy Scouts since first grade at Alamo School. He has participated in all areas of scouting including troop leadership and community service. He has particularly enjoyed his experience in the outdoors including snow camping and the high adventure camps, Sea Base in Florida and two trips to Philmont Scout Ranch. For his Eagle Project, Chase designed and built two food storage boxes for the Mount Diablo campgrounds. These boxes are intended to assist campers in having a safe place to store their coolers so that raccoons and other animals can’t get to their food. The boxes have been installed at the Live Oak Chase Quinn campground sites 17 and 18. Chase is a recent graduate of San Ramon Valley High School and will be attending Montana State University in Bozeman, MT next year. Matt, Ryan, and Chase look forward to their BSA Court of Honor to celebrate these accomplishments [TBD].
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HWY 21 TO INTERSTATE 680
THE HISTORY OF THE ROAD THAT CONNECTS US
For most of us, the road that really gets us anywhere (when we’re allowed out of the house, that is) is a road with a long, interesting, and somewhat hidden history. Join with local historian Steve Minniear as he talks, and shows photos and maps, about that road as part of the first ever Museum of the San Ramon Valley “virtual brunch.” Whether we call it San Ramon Valley Road, Danville Boulevard, North Main Street, or even Contra Costa Boulevard, it was for a long time Highway 21. And, between the 1930s and the 1960s, it was the only way to go north and south through the San Ramon and Amador Valleys. Find out more about the “only road through town” and how it shaped farm life, regional business, and eventually the suburbs. Starting in Native American times, there were trails that connected communities in the San Ramon and Amador Valleys. These trails were then used by Spanish explorers trying to understand the geography of the San Francisco Bay Area. Later, Mexican landowners and their workers used the trails to move herds of cattle to and from Mission San Jose and outlying pasture lands. Following them, gold seekers on their way to and from the gold country traveled through the developing ranch and farmlands on the well-traveled dirt roads. Through the late 1800s and into the 1930s, horse drawn wagons and carriages gave way to bicycles, automobiles, and trucks. In the mid1930s, the long Alameda and Contra Costa county roads were incorporated into the State Highway system. For over 30 years, two lane Highway 21 was the only way to go north and south through the Amador and San Ramon valleys. By the mid-1960s, Highway 21 was replaced by Interstate 680. Please join historian Steve Minniear and the Museum of the San Ramon Valley on Thursday, June 18th from noon to 1:30PM for this free virtual program on the road that today connects us all, Interstate 680. To attend, please visit museumsrv.org and go to the Events section. If you have any questions, please call the museum at 925-837-3750.
GRADUATION WORD SEARCH
R.E.A.D. PROGRAM NOT FOR CLASSROOM USE ONLY
“If knowledge is power; then reading empowers!” In 2003, Assistance League® of Diablo Valley launched the Read, Enrich, Achieve, Discover (R.E.A.D.) philanthropic program. After reading two books each classroom visit, during the months of October through May, member volunteers left 14 books in each classroom as donations. Children seeing adults reading at home are likely to follow suit. Some suggestions to facilitate this are designating a time of the Assistance League volunteers and students day when family members can gather for a alike love to R.E.A.D! quiet reading session. Conclude the session with each family member contributing one sentence as to insights/enjoyment gained from the book they’re reading which brings the reading experience to life. Also, encourage children to draw/paint a visual that captures the spirit of their reading material to enhance the overall experience. Providing books as gifts and rewards reinforces “I Love to Read!” To learn more about Assistance League R.E.A.D. and other programs, visit assistanceleague.org/diablo-valley.
• ATHENIAN • BALLOONS • CAP • CARONDELET • CLASSMATES • COLLEGE • COMMENCEMENT • CONGRATULATIONS
• DEGREE • DELAMIGO • DELASALLE • DIPLOMA • ESSAY • GOWN • GPA • GRADES
• GRADUATION • HIGHSCHOOL • MONTEVISTA • MORTARBOARD • PROFESSOR • SENIORS • SRVHS • STUDENTS
• TASSEL • TEACHER • TESTS • VENTURE
See answer key on page 20
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June 2020 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 7
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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 8 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • June 2020
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALAMO SCHOOL PRINCIPAL STAN HITOMI ON YOUR RETIREMENT!
~ A LETTER FROM THE ALAMO SCHOOL COMMUNITY ~
The end of the 2019-2020 school year marks the retirement of Alamo School Principal Stan Hitomi, with a career spanning over 40+ years in education. Mr. Hitomi began his career with the SRVUSD as a teacher at Monte Vista High School in 1985. From 2001-2005, he was the Executive Director of the Edward Teller Education Center, established by the Lawrence Livermore Lab and the University of California. Following that, Mr. Hitomi returned to the district in 2005 as Coordinator of Math and Science. His last post was as our beloved neighborhood principal at Alamo Elementary School, a position he has held since 2009. Mr. Hitomi will be missed in our day-to-day school fabric with his open door and thoughtful, personalized approach. During his tenure, Alamo School was awarded the California Gold Ribbon for outstanding educational programs and practices in 2016. His commitment outside of school hours is unparalleled. He was the school’s #1 fan and engaged in milestone events with his school community--from concerts to Hoedowns to site improvements to Livorna/Wilson Road’s traffic light installation to celebrating the school’s 50 year anniversary, and more. A Renaissance man of sorts, Mr. Hitomi’s foundation is in science and math, but he is also a champion of the fine arts, music, technology, afterschool enrichment, and hands-on learning in the garden. He had a stint on a KQED advisory council, spends summers in programs at the Livermore Lab, loves to BBQ, and is a sports enthusiast. He has a coach’s eye for volleyball and throws down swishes at his PTA basketball dads’ games and tournament. One of the fondest memories his student body has is with Run for Education. Students remember his amazing incentives, from dying his hair red to doing the ice bucket challenge. If you were to ask a parent, staff member, or student, they would all agree that Mr. Hitomi puts people first. Mr. Hitomi genuinely cares and has always led by example. The Alamo Rotary acknowledged Mr. Hitomi in 2014 as Alamo Citizen of the Year. This year, his Retirement Open House has been postponed until the health guidelines will allow. Stay tuned for more details to celebrate and acknowledge this incredible career. Please contact Mary Dietler (mary@ dietler.net) for information about our future plans! We wish Mr. Hitomi the best in his retirement, enjoying time with wife Monica and son Sammy. We know his many interests and talents will keep him busy, but we will surely miss him. He was the light-keeper at our Alamo lighthouse, there always, providing light and direction. ~ Christina Heil and the Alamo School Community
VISTA GRANDE ELEMENTARY
By Osi Juergens, Principal
The 2019/2020 School Year has come to a close in a very different fashion. Our students spent the last three months of the school year remotely learning, and teachers adjusted to this new way of teaching. Our world has been living through difficult times, but together our community has supported one another. Our parents stepped up to the unbelievable challenge as the “go between” to support their children’s learning and their teachers online platforms, and we could not have done it without them! Our school community virtually celebrated our annual auction this year, and we are pleased with the donations that were raised. Vista Grande is an incredible place, and our teachers, staff, students, and parents are all blessed to call this “our school.” I would like to take this opportunity to formally thank every student, staff member, parent, and community member for their support as I conclude my first year as principal at Vista Grande. It has been a year of some unexpected times: from power outages to school closures, and a few things in between. But we made it. I am thankful to be a vital part of this school. I would like to wish our retirees a warm congratulations and good luck for those who are not returning to our campus. I would also like to congratulate our fifth graders as they begin their next educational journey, and I’d like to remind them to stay true to themselves. I am hopeful that we can all be together again soon, but for now, I wish everyone a restful and safe summer.
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ALAMO ELEMENTARY
By Stan Hitomi, Principal DEAR ALAMO COMMUNITY
This is my final article for the paper. After 10 years and over 100 articles, this will leave a big hole in my life. The Alamo Today & Danville Today News is symbolic of the connections I have felt with our school and our community. I want to take the opportunity of this final article to thank many of those individuals who have given above and beyond to support our school and our community. First, I want to thank the leaders of our parent organizations, the PTA and Education Foundations at Alamo Elementary. Rachel Berger and Erin Adams were our co-presidents of the EdFund this year. Both were first-year presidents and came bringing the typical gifts of dedication, spirit, creativity, and skill that we have come to expect of our leaders. Michelle Peterson was our PTA president this year, and like Rachel and Erin, she was assuming the role for the first time. It was the first time during my tenure at Alamo that we had new presidents in both organizations. You would have not known this by both the quality and resilience we had from our leaders, including the trying days of “safer-at-home.” For staff, we had two individuals selected for extraordinary recognition. Lynn Hoaglin, our garden educator, was recognized for the role she has played in not only creating our many incredible gardens but also engaging our classrooms, PTA, and community groups (like the Eagle Scouts) in creating and maintaining this signature aspect of our school. Thank You Lynn! Next, Kathy Sasaki was this year’s recipient of the Bright Lights Award, for individuals who have excelled in special education. Over the years, Kathy has guided our program in serving the needs of our students with special needs so well that her program is recognized as one of the top two in our district according to state assessments. Congrats Kathy! Each year, we recognize two fifth graders as Student of the Year for their classroom. This year the awardees are Charlotte (Charlie) Callison (room 201) and Ava Jack (room 003). Charlie’s teacher, Mrs. Angeletopoulos writes, “Charlie Callison is an excellent student. She strives to do her best both in and out of the classroom. Charlie is not only a strong academic student in all curricular areas but is a leader amongst her peers. The students often look to Charlie for guidance. Charlie is a good friend and always willing to lend a hand. She does not shy from working hard and going the extra mile. Charlie is organized and has an extremely good work ethic as well.” Mr. Telles and Mrs. Pegram write, “Ava Jack is a kind, helpful, and all-around wonderful student. Every day she comes to school ready and willing to work hard and do her best. She is a friend to all, respectful of her teachers, and always eager to learn. She is very responsible and always takes charge of her education. Others look to her as an example of what a good student and friend is. It has been our privilege to have her in our class this year!” The highest honor that is bestowed at Alamo Elementary is the “Shining Star Award,” given out by the Ed Foundation. This year’s recipient is Kristin Bush. For over 10 years, Kristin has helped to create the “magic” that is Alamo Elementary. She has served on the PTA since 2011, including terms as EVP, Co-President, and President. Kristin is a leader that “leads from the front.” Her willingness to become involved has resulted in a culture of collaboration at Alamo School that has blurred the lines between parent and school organizations. Thanks to Kristin, WE ARE #ALAMO NATION. My final recognition as principal is not to someone at our school but rather to someone in our community. I would like to recognize and thank Alisa Corstorphine, publisher of the Alamo Today & Danville Today News paper. Alisa has given the principals of Alamo and Danville a voice and connection to our communities. It has been a means for our families and neighbors to follow our schools long after their children have moved on. Alisa was recognized as the Alamo Rotary Citizen of the Year in 2008, and a dozen years later she continues to exemplify the spirit of that award. Thank you Alisa; you and Alamo Today & Danville Today News will always have a place in my heart and in the hearts of those in our community. The school years 2020-2021 will be a benchmark in education, a time when before and after will be compared and analyzed for some time to come. For our fifth grade class that is leaving, they will have known the before better than any of the classes to follow. I am confident that with our new principal, Monina Salazar, and our dedicated PTA and EdFund, we will make the after the best it can be. I will be leaving Alamo knowing “I have been a part of Alamo, and that Alamo will always be a part of me.” Thank you. Stan Hitomi ~ Principal, Alamo Elementary (2010 – 2020)
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JD ACADEMY OF SALON AND SPA
By Amanda O’Brien, JD Academy
June 2020 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 9
11 Critical Home Inspection Traps to be Aware of Weeks Before Listing Your Danville, Alamo Home for Sale
Sensible. Safe. Astute. These are the words that define JD Academy of Salon and Spa. Through embracing uncertainty, abiding by all California state rules and regulations, and being Danville-Alamo - According to industry experts, altogether. In most cases, you can make a comfortable in our own skin, we aim to set an there are over 33 physical problems that will come reasonable pre-inspection yourself if you know what example for each and every student. under scrutiny during a home inspection when your you're looking for, and knowing what you're looking Change is inevitable, but how we react to home is for sale. A new report has been prepared for can help you prevent little problems from growing change is what propels us. By standing firm in which identifies the eleven most common of these into costly and unmanageable ones. our core values and choosing to act in a safe and problems, and what you should know about them To help homesellers deal with this issue before responsible manner regarding COVID-19, we are before you list your home for sale. their homes are listed, a free report entitled "11 working in the most productive ways possible. Whether you own an old home or a brand new one, Things You Need to Know to Pass Your Home Although times of challenge and adversity has there are a number of things that can fall short of Inspection" has been compiled which explains the affected our school and community, we will not requirements during a home inspection. If not issues involved. subside to the surrounding pressures. We fully identified and dealt with, any of these 11 items could To hear a brief recorded message about how to cooperate with any and all orders provided to us cost you dearly in terms of repair. That's why it's order your FREE copy of this report call toll-free 1by the Contra Costa County Health Organization, critical that you read this report before you list your 844-941-0941 and enter 1003. You can call any time, Center for Disease Control, California Board of home. If you wait until the building inspector flags 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Get your free special report NOW to learn how to Barbering and Cosmetology, State Governor’s these issues for you, you will almost certainly ensure a home inspection doesn't cost you the sale Office, Bureau for Post-secondary Education, experience costly delays in the close of your home of your home. National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts sale or, worse, turn prospective buyers away and Sciences, and the Department of Education. This report is courtesy of The Jackson Group-EXP Realty DRE #01763819. Not intended to solicit buyers or sellers currently under contract. Copyright © 2019 The health of our students, staff, and clients is our primary concern. We highly value and respect our staff and students which is why coming back to school, when we are permitted to and ready to, is at the forefront of our goals. JD Academy has kept our students, staff, and school connected during shelter-in-place largely by utilizing technology wherever possible. Through transitioning classes to an online format, we have been able to use daily webinars to help teach and educate the future generations of cosmetologists and estheticians. We send out weekly, interactive newsletters to help staff and students stay up-to-date on policies, regulations, and events, and to provide them with links on how to stay in control of their mental and physical health. Our amazing staff members have been able to participate in online trainings with Sam Villa, Daniel Mason Jones, Andrew Carruthers, Jesse Linares, Anna Peters, Glo Skin Beauty, and the Dermalogica team PARADISO -- A JD SALON in order to continue learning tips and tricks from other professionals in By Janet Paradiso the industry! Additionally, we have been conducting job interviews via Paradiso, a JD Salon, is thrilled to announce a two-week-long event Zoom for new positions within JD Academy and have been practicing called, 12 Days of Makeovers! social distancing for new hire trainings. Furthermore, JD Academy is JD values you and what you have been going through these past 12 in the process of creating our very own app! Stay tuned! weeks, and it wants to treat you to an ultimate day of pampering. For 12 The future of JD Academy is incredibly bright, and we are looking days, Paradiso, a JD Salon, will give away FREE MAKEOVERS to the to reopen as soon as possible following the guidelines provided to us. community! For now, we are currently mailing retail orders for all of your hair and Five people a day, for 12 days, will provide 60 lucky men and women a skin necessities. We will deliver to your doorstep within five miles of pampering session that includes a full hair and makeup application, plus JD Academy or mail your order to the address provided. To make your a professional photo of your finished look. This $500+ value (per winner) payment via debit or credit card, please give us a call. To see a selection is on us. Who's ready?! We are! of beauty products and merchandise, please visit www.jdacademy.com. TO ENTER TO WIN We are here for the overall well-being of every student and the com• Follow @JDAcademyofSalonandSpa and @ParadisoaJDSalon on munity. Please let us know how we can assist you in any way possible, Instagram and Facebook and thank you for your patience and understanding during this time. It • Tag three friends in the comments is an honor and a privilege to serve you! • Submit the reason why you want this complete makeover to info@ The school is located at 520 San Ramon jdacademy.com Valley Blvd., Danville and can be reached • Be willing to participate in a short interview and have professional at 9 2 5 - 8 5 5 - 5 5 5 1 . L e ar n mo re at w w w. photos taken of your before and after beauty makeover experience! JDAcademy.com. Advertorial Paradiso, a JD Salon officially opens mid-June at the location of a former top Danville salon located at 822 Hartz Way, Suite 130. The new salon theme is designed to provide guests an outstanding experience with a natural/botanical feeling of health and revitalization. The Salon Team will open its doors with Master Artists, Master Makeup Artists, an Editorial Photographer, and eight top JD Academy graduates handpicked for employment and continuing education that is sure to springboard them to greatness. Be sure to check out the Salon and enter to win a free makeover—because we all know YOU deserve it! Exact dates of makeovers will correspond closely to the reopening of the Personal Service Sector. If you haven’t grabbed box dye yet, please don’t. Come tell your story, and let us honor you in the way you deserve!
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PAGE 10 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • June 2020
MONTE VISTA HIGH SCHOOL
By Dr. Kevin Ahern, Principal
Monte Vista is finishing the 2019-20 school year in unprecedented ways as we continue to work within our District and County orders to combat COVID-19. That means the final weeks of school are completely virtual, and we have gotten very creative in how we are celebrating the Class of 2020. To date, perhaps the most visible items celebrating our 2020 MV seniors are the banners that are currently displayed throughout Danville. These banners were a joint effort between Monte Vista and San Ramon Valley High schools where both schools agreed to split the costs of the project. It is always a positive when Mustangs and Wolves get together to support our students. A huge thank you to the Town of Danville for providing the space and the people-power to share these banners with the public. Monte Vista’s Virtual Commencement Ceremony was held Friday, May 29th. The ceremony provided the Class of 2020 some sense of closure as we hope for an in-person event sometime in the near future. The event was streamed for the public to view. On June 2nd, MV will enjoy another unprecedented event. Our seniors will have an opportunity to enjoy the MV campus one more time in our first ever Memory Drive. Students will drive a parade route through the front area of the school and will be greeted by the MV staff throughout their drive. Upon entering the horseshoe, students may get out of their cars – wearing a mask and adhering to social distancing – and walk across the graduation stage for a photo op, get their diplomas, and a bag full of 2020 memorabilia before returning to their vehicles. This event will also be live streamed, and we are excited to provide our seniors with a fun way to celebrate what has been a very trying school year. As the school year draws to a close, MVs students and faculty would like to thank our community for their continued support throughout a tumultuous 2019-2020. It has truly been an unprecedented year, and we are grateful to those who have been there for us.
SRVRWF SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS
Rachel Etherington
The San Ramon Valley Republican Women’s Federation (SRVRWF) awarded Scholar-Leader Awards to five Valley women. Awards were $1,000 each. Two recipients hail from Alamo and Danville and include Amanda Moed, a student at San Ramon Valley High School (SRVHS), and Rachel Etherington, a student at UC Berkeley. Amanda was the captain of the women’s golf team, a leadership liasion with Girls Who Code at SRVHS, vice president of Tassajara 4-H, and head lifeguard at Greenbrook Homeowners Association. Rachel Etherington is a student at UC Berkeley. She was a member of the Monte Vista Young Republican Club, was appointed by Supervisor Candace Andersen to the Alamo MAC, and is pursuing Political Science/ Urban Planning degrees at UC Berkeley. Congratulations to these girls and also to Aditi Bagepalli and Melinda Yuan from Dougherty Valley High Amanda Moedn School and Evelyn Andrade from Cal High.
ST. ISIDORE SCHOOL
By Maria Ward, Principal HELLO SUMMER!
Happy June! The faculty and staff at St. Isidore School are busy putting the finishing touches on another school year. This year was unusual, to say the least, and full of many unseen challenges. Together, we learned that these challenges provided us with unseen opportunities for creativity and growth. I continue to be in awe of how the St. Isidore faculty and staff quickly adapted to our circumstances and how they were able to inspire students from afar. We may not know yet what next year looks like, but we do know that we are prepared to handle whatever comes our way.
BITTERSWEET GOODBYES
The close of yet another year serves as a great opportunity to celebrate our students, their accomplishments, and those who are graduating. Welcome, Class of 2020, to the SIS Alumni family! The year’s end also serves as a reminder that people move on. It is always difficult to say goodbye to students and families we have grown to know and love, but we rest assured that we will see them again. I also want to notify you that I will not be returning as principal next school year. We are relocating back to my home state of Louisiana, where I will be serving as principal at my alma mater, St. Catherine of Siena, near New Orleans. I have loved my time at St. Isidore School as a parent, teacher, vice-principal, and principal. Danville is a fabulous community, and I have made forever friends here, whom I look forward to visiting. Mrs. Carol Bender will be the new principal for the 2020–2021 school year. Mrs. Bender, who currently holds a position in our Resource Department, previously served St. Isidore School in the capacity of Vice Principal and 8th-grade teacher. Mrs. Bender brings a wealth of experience to the position including five years as acting principal of Our Lady of Angels School, in Burlingame, California. She will do a great job for SIS.
JUST BREATHE
Summer serves as a great opportunity to perfect the “Three Rs”: rest, relaxation, and rejuvenation. I hope you get plenty of all three. Remember to encourage your children to read. Reading helps expand vocabulary and develops basic language skills. It also inspires the imagination. Setting up a quiet, cozy corner encourages children to grab a book and dive into reading. I want to wish you all a very happy and safe summer!
SAN RAMON VALLEY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY By Jamie Westgate, Principal
Summer is here, and although we’d all love to fall back into our normal rhythms of park days, trips to the pool, and vacation destinations, we’re heading into a different season due to COVID-19. I’m a big fan of letting kids use their imaginations, so I see some silver linings in what summer may afford. Backyards are a great place to discover insect habitats, the growth of plants, and bird families. Amazon may be delivering boxes to your homes that can be used to build cardboard structures, dollhouses, or other inventions. Kitchens are great places to try out fun recipes and learn a bit about nutrition; many treats can safely be made without even using a stove or oven. Summers never have to be boring, even if we have to seek new ways to entertain ourselves during a pandemic. While the kids are enjoying their time away from school, our administrative staff and teachers are quite excited about our plans for the 2020-2021 school year. Yes, there is a mystery about all of the potential restrictions, but we are determined to spread out around the remaining part of CPC, our church campus, and continue to creatively meet the academic, spiritual, social, and physical needs of our students. Part of the benefits to a school experience are to be “in-person” so we are committed to doing all we can to provide a meaningful one for our student body. I want to thank CPC whose efforts to be “FOR the valley” also support being “FOR our students” at SRVCA by allowing us to fill in the empty spaces on campus. We were proud of our efforts to finish the year on target, completing our curriculum and providing some fun moments along the way. Our teachers and students didn’t skip a beat, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, and managed to incorporate science experiments, spelling challenges, book clubs, and math races throughout their day. We even produced two virtual musicals with our elementary students! Our success is attributed to our common goal from Colossians 3:23 reminding us that “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord not for men.” I couldn’t have been more proud of all we accomplished together with God’s help! In closing, I want to congratulate our 38 eighth graders who flew out of our Eagle’s nest with a very celebratory and memorable “drive through” graduation. The party music, balloon arch, decorated cars, and dancing Eagle mascot was reflective of this fun-loving and special group of students. You will be greatly missed on campus, but God has great things in store for each one of you! Happy summer!
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THOUGHTS FROM A TEMPORARY ARMCHAIR TRAVELER
By Ilene Ferguson, Alamo World Travel
Having been in the travel business for the last several decades, I know one thing to be certain. Travel is addictive, and when I cannot travel, I feel as if something is missing in my life. For me, travel will remain one of life’s greatest pleasures and one that I will likely never take for granted again. I am sure many of you feel the same way. Our vacation plans, so carefully made, are being canceled. Instead of relaxing on beautiful beaches, visiting historic and iconic sights, or cruising to exotic ports, we are sequestered at home. In this “down time,” I have come up with a few suggestions to help fill the void left by canceled travel plans, and to begin looking forward to new ones. Start by visiting the tourist board sites for countries that you have on your bucket list for future travel. Nearly every site has helpful information including videos about their country. The videos alone make me want to pack my bags. It is also comforting to look at pictures and videos of past trips that you have taken. Nothing makes me smile, and sometimes laugh, like pictures I have taken during travels near and far. People often ask me my favorite travel destination and I usually say the one I recently visited. With its unique beauty and history, the last destination will be at the top of the list, replaced hopefully soon with a new favorite destination. You can ask yourself the same question, “What was my favorite travel destination?” Next, find pictures to bring back memories of that amazing trip. These tactics of course pale in comparison to actual traveling. At some point, we will be able end to our shelter-in-place orders, and we want to envision taking that missed vacation we had so eagerly awaited. I have researched many travel sites and talked to travel suppliers to find what travel will look like in the
June 2020 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 11
future. One thing is certain. Whether it was past tragedies such as hurricanes, Ebola, Zika, or 9/11, the travel industry has always found a way to overcome them and come out stronger. The US Travel Association recently sent a list of proposed health and safety recommendations to the White House to be used as guidelines for future travel. These guidelines will be to alert travelers to confidently know that the entire travel ecosystem is focusing on many new safety measures going forward. Whereas increased security was the new norm after 9/11, health and safety will be the new priority in travel. Such measures as wearing masks on airplanes, reinforcing hand hygiene, enhanced cleaning procedures in hotels and on cruise ships, transparent screens to provide a degree of social distancing, touchless check-in procedures, and enhanced health screening will likely become part of travel in the “new normal.” Over the years, I have discovered that people travel for different reasons, but most travelers fall into two categories. Some travel to relax and unwind, while others travel to explore and discover. Where do you fall? As I am hearing concern and reservation about future travel, I have realized that those who previously traveled to relax are anxious and stressed and need to travel now more than ever. And those who travel to explore are tired of staying home and are craving exciting new experiences. There have been many obstacles to travel in the past. Regardless of the obstacle, people have always continued to travel. The well-known phrase that “this to shall pass” is truer now more than ever. When that time comes, the pent- up demand for travel will bring people out in droves. For all of us who know how travel feeds the soul, we will continue dreaming of those first steps off the plane or ship, and the thrill we get knowing the sights, smells, tastes, and experiences of a new destination. For more information on CDC Guidelines relating to travel and COVID-19, visit our website, www.alamoworld.com/resources. Ilene Ferguson has been the owner of Alamo World Travel & Tours for 39 years. Their motto is “Travel with a Personal Touch.” Contact one of Alamo World Travel & Tours friendly staff members to experience our white glove service first -hand. Their office is located at 3201 Danville Blvd. #255 Alamo. They can be reached via phone at (925) 837-8742, or visit their website at www. Advertorial alamoworld.com.
PAGE 12 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • June 2020
VALLEY VIGNETTE
By Beverly Lane WOMEN WIN THE VOTE IN THE COUNTRY
It took over 70 years for women to win the right to vote, and the campaign’s final years included World War I and a devastating flu pandemic. August 26, 1920, was the date the Susan B. Anthony amendment was formally added to the United States Constitution. Throughout the country, there were well-deserved celebrations. In 2020, we recognize this important centennial during another pandemic. As women won the vote in one western state after another, the eastern and southern states lagged behind, and anti-suffrage forces grew in power. Southern legislators didn’t want to add black women to the voting rolls. They were already involved in the Jim Crow era, fighting against any civil rights for This 1915 drawing by Henry Mayer from Puck is black Americans. And black women called “The Awakening.” It shows Columbia bearing the torch of women’s equality from the West. leaders, such as Ida Wells who wrote about and publicized the horrifying southern lynchings along with Mary Church Terrell who organized women’s rights organizations like the National Association of Colored Women, were not about to back down. In New York, always a battleground for women’s rights, two referendum attempts were made to win women’s franchise. Elizabeth Cady Stanton’s daughter Harriot Stanton Blatch worked diligently on the 1915 failed effort with parades, political lobbying, movies, and other means. Finally, in 1917, organizer extraordinaire Carrie Chapman Catt adopted many of California’s campaign techniques and led the New York suffrage referendum to success. Catt became President of the National American Woman Suffrage Association in 1916 and 1917 New York City parade with NAWSA leaders Carrie Chapman Catt in white hat and Dr. Anna changed their focus from the exhausting state-by-state suffrage Shaw in academic cap and gown. effort to pursuit of a national amendment. At the same time, militant efforts by Alice Paul’s National Woman’s Party raised the attention of national leaders. Paul and Lucy Burns had trained with Britain suffragettes and, impatient with the Suffrage Association’s moderation, used non-violent, militant methods to pursue the Susan B. Anthony (19th) amendment. They were the first group to picket the White House with their dramatic and effective “silent sentinels.” Even as America entered the Great War, the Woman’s Party continued its advocacy which led to arrests, jail terms, hunger strikes, and forced feeding well Silent Sentinels in front of the White House. documented in the press. In October of 1918, Catt lay sick in bed with the flu, which by some accounts killed 200,000 people that month. The momentum which the Suffrage Association and the Women’s Party had begun to see was being squelched as people were ordered to stay at home and stop public gatherings. “These are sad times for the whole world, grown unexpectedly sadder by the sudden and sweeping epidemic of Influenza,” Catt wrote in a letter to suffrage workers across the country. “This new affliction is bringing sorrow into many suffrage homes and is presenting a serious new obstacle in our referendum campaigns and in the Congressional and Senatorial campaigns.” Nevertheless, as Susan B. Anthony had said, they knew that failure was impossible. Catt’s persuasive arguments and Paul’s in-your-face efforts finally persuaded President Woodrow Wilson to support suffrage and press Congress to pass the nineteenth amendment in the summer of 1919. The next step was ratification by three-fourths (36) states. California became the 18th state to ratify on November 1, 1919, during a special session called by Gov. William Stephens. Only two legislators opposed, one because he thought the special session was too expensive and the other because he thought it should be a state, not federal, decision.
www.yourmonthlypaper.com | Instagram: @Alamoanddanvilletoday | #atdtnews As with any amendment, the last state campaigns to ratify three-fourths approval were the most challenging. The Tennessee story is compelling. Catt came to Tennessee to help bolster the effort and later wrote that, in all her decades of campaigns, she had never seen anything like the battles there – bribery, lies, alcohol, threats -- the state capitol had it all. The Senate approved the amendment, but the house was evenly split, with legislators wearing red (anti) or yellow (pro) roses to show their positions. The youngest house legislator, Harry Burn, wore a red rose because he thought his constituents were opposed. He had grown up on a ranch Alice Paul managed by his college-educated, widowed mother. When it came to a final vote, he voted “yes” and supported woman suffrage, making Tennessee the 36th and final state to ratify. This astonished advocates on both sides, with the galleries erupting in applause from suffragists and antis yelling their objections. He finally had to flee the raucous chambers. This is what Burn said the next day: I want to state that I changed my vote in favor of ratification first because I believe in full suffrage as a right; second, I believe we had a moral and legal right to ratify; and third, I knew that a mother’s advice is always safest for a boy to follow, and my mother wanted me to vote for ratification. Final certification put the Susan B. Anthony amendment into the U.S. Constitution on August 26, 1920, and added 26 million potential new American voters. You are invited to view the new centennial celebration exhibit at the Museum of the San Ramon Valley, Women Win the Vote in California and the Country. when the Museum reopens. Hopefully, it will be open this summer, probably during Danville Farmers Market on Saturdays from 10AM to 1PM, with masks and physical distancing expected.
Sources: Alisha H. Gupta, How the Spanish Flu Almost Upended Women’s Suffrage, New York Times, April 28, 2020; Jean H. Baker, Votes for Women.
WAYS TO CONNECT WITH THE COUNTY DURING COVID-19 By County Supervisor Candace Andersen
Although the fight against COVID-19 remains, many, including myself, have already begun envisioning what our community and world at large will resemble once this deadly virus subsides and no longer poses a major community health threat. Though we all ache to return to “normalcy,” our behavior and habits have already changed and will continue to do so as a result of this pandemic. For some, this virus may even hinder what we are willing to do, the places we go to, and the people we surround ourselves with. When it comes to how we conduct business, some procedures we have grown accustomed to during the stay-in-place orders may remain. In the midst of this horrific tragedy, I have taken the opportunity to reflect on the standard practices we used prior to this virus and the methods we adopted during shelter-in-place (SIP), and I have since asked myself what practices should we continue to implement to avert wastefulness and promote efficiency, and what old procedures are absolutely necessary. Nothing is certain, of course. When it comes to matters at the County level, this virus has made myself and my colleagues ponder how certain future meetings will be held, and whether Zoom and similar platforms will be a tool routinely utilized even in a post-COVID-19 world. We have all been surprised by how easy it has been to receive public comment during our meetings and engage the community in important issues. At the moment, it is worth noting that essentially all County business is still moving forward despite SIP – public boards, committees, commissions, and other advisory services are still conducting business, just virtually. Technology has been an essential tool we have relied upon during these uncertain and difficult times. As such, we encourage all Contra Costa County residents to be actively engaged. Given the circumstances, it is more imperative than ever.
See Connect continued on page 21
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June 2020 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 13
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PAGE 14 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • June 2020
CLIP NOTES
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By Jody Morgan
Plants feed us. Plants heal us. Plants regulate the composition of the air we breathe. Recently, some super plants have accepted a new role as scientists discover ways to use plants to restore the health of land we have turned toxic. Happiest when engaged in studying horticulture as a gentleman farmer, George Washington was born 200 years before Cornelius Van Niel first expressed the fundamentals of photosynthesis in a general equation. Without knowing precisely how the process worked, Washington experimented with many ways to amend soil. In Founding Gardeners, author Andrea Wulf writes about his work at Mount Vernon after returning home from the Revolutionary War: “He scattered different amounts of gypsum -- ‘Plaster of Paris’ -- on his lawn to examine its viability as a fertilizer. He believed that mud from riverbeds might be used as manure, and when he heard of a dredge in Philadelphia -- ‘Mr. Donaldson’s Hippopotamus’ -- he decided in autumn 1785 ‘to make a full experiment upon a small scale,’ digging up the mud from the Potomac and spreading it on a field.” Adams, Jefferson, and Madison shared Washington’s passion, corresponding on the subject. Wulf notes: “While other farmers let their cattle and hogs drop the nutritious dung far away from the plantations, Washington was the first American to build a stercorary -- a covered dung depository where manure could be stored, aged and mixed. ‘Nothing is more wanting in this Country,’ Washington wrote to Jefferson, asking him to share all knowledge on manures with his friends.’” The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Plant, Soil, and Nutrition Laboratory was established in Ithaca, New York in 1940 with the mission of analyzing the impact of soil on the nutritional quality of edible plants. In the course of studying how plants take up mineral nutrients, the laboratory discovered that while most plants tend to shut off absorption of nutrients once their needs are satisfied, others just keep sopping up the minerals. Alpine pennycress (Thlaspi caerulescens) can accumulate 1,000 times more of specific elements than other plants. But what was the value of that discovery? In 1980, ARS agronomist Rufus L. Chaney wrote the first paper on the subject of phytoremediation -- the use of hyperaccumulator plants to remove toxic waste from
QUICK TRIPS By Linda Summers Pirkle
OLD TIME CHARM
I love discovering unusual items in markets that have been curated with an eye for the charming and distinctive. There is a tiny “Made in France” store located in the 3rd arrondissement of Paris with unusual items like snow globes with dancing bears, handmade expandable string bags (I purchased one in lime green), cuddly hand knit scarves made in Normandy, and delicious jams and honey. My recent favorite find is a pastel-yellow vintage linen handkerchief from the 1950’s. Quirky treasures make me smile. Another quirky and fun place to shop is Vermont Country Store. Eighty-five years ago, Orvan Vrest came up with the idea to create a catalog of unique products. In true Silicon Valley style, Vrest and his wife Mildred Ellen, two Vermonters, printed their first catalog called “Voice of the Mountains” on a printing press in their garage. The publication consisted of 36 items printed on 12 pages, and their Christmas card list was their mailing list. That was in 1945. Today, the Vermont Country Store is a successful company run by the founders’ three grandsons, Cabot, Gardner, and Eliot, who live up to their titles “purveyors of the practical and hard to find.” The store’s motto is “Country Store with So Much More.” Vermont Country Store is a treasure trove for those looking for unique items from days gone by. For years, I have enjoyed perusing the unique catalog with gardening tools and workers’ coveralls as well as whimsical products such as wooden pecking chickens and whistler tops, and their signature toaster tongs made of maple. Closer to home, Star Grocery, located on 3068 Claremont Avenue in Berkeley, is another example of bygone times. With its old timey feel, concrete floors, and vintage signage, the local fixture has been in business for the past 98 years. Among many other products, they carry fresh local produce, artisan cheese, wine, craft beer, local jams including Berkeley based June Taylor’s line (her Meyer lemon marmalade is wonderful), as well as fresh made cupcakes. One of the oldest family-run businesses in Berkeley, Star Grocery was founded in 1922 by brothers Jim and Nick Pappas. Groceries were originally hand delivered to their patrons in wicker baskets which were later replaced by a fleet of delivery trucks. During the Depression, the Pappas brothers generously extended credit to those in need and lost thousands of dollars in unpaid bills. In 1974, at the age of 28, Nick Pappas (Jim Pappas’ son) took over the management of the store. Nick, who is now in his early 70’s, has a long history with the
water and soil. Putting research into practice slowly followed. Susan Trueman explains in “Cleaning the Soil with Flowers” (www.thoughtco.com, May 20, 2019): “Over 500 plant species are reported to have hyperaccumulation properties. ... Different plants accumulate different metals; for example, Brassica juncea accumulates copper, selenium, and nickel, whereas Arabidopsis halleri accumulates cadmium and Lemna gibba accumulates arsenic. Plants used in engineered wetlands include sedges, rushes, reeds, and cattails because they are flood tolerant and are able to uptake pollutants.” Each toxic waste problem requires a somewhat different approach. Estimates on cost-savings compared to traditional methods range from 50% to 98%. Sunflowers can absorb several heavy metals including lead. In one study, sunflowers removed 95% of uranium from a contaminated area in a 24-hour period. Willow trees add aesthetic value to the landscape while cleaning up heavy metals from sites polluted with diesel fuel. In “Super Plants Clean Superfund Sites” (New York Times, April 7, 2020) Wudan Yan describes research by Dr. Sharon Doty, microbiologist at the University of Washington, that resulted in the 2013 planting of poplar trees in a 1,500-acre Mountain View, California Superfund site. Doty discovered that boosting trees by inoculating them with a microbe naturally occurring with poplars enhanced their ability to take up carcinogenic trichloroethylene and degrade it into two benign products: carbon dioxide and salt. The biologically enhanced poplars can “slurp up about 50 gallons of toxic water a day.” Phytoremediation is a relatively new discipline with many questions still to be answered such as how to dispose of plants used in the process and how sites can best be cleared for reuse. Clean up time may be several years if contamination concentration is high, the area is large, or the contamination is deep. Trees don’t mature overnight. The EPA “Citizen’s Guide to Phytoremediation” concludes: “The EPA uses phytoremediation for many reasons. It takes advantage of natural plant processes and requires less equipment and labor than other methods since plants do most of the work. Also, the site can be cleaned up without digging up and hauling soil or pumping groundwater, which saves energy. Trees and smaller plants used in phytoremediation help control soil erosion, make a site more attractive, reduce noise, and improve surrounding air quality.” store and says with a laugh, “I’ve either lived above the store, next to it, or two blocks away from it.” Today, Star Grocery is still a family affair that extends to the many neighbors in the close-knit community. Manager Rob was introduced to Star through his dad who was the store accountant. Many of the employees who worked at the store when they were young now have children and even grandchildren who are employed there. And some employees have stayed at Star for many years, including Cindy an accomplished chef who Nick attributes with keeping the store up to date, and Masaki, who has been creating magic for the past twenty-five years in their renowned produce department. A short walk from Star Grocery is one of the very cool public paths and stairways located in the hills of Berkeley. Walk approximately one-half block from Star Grocery on The Uplands, and look to your right for the sign “The Footway” at the base of a steep staircase. At the top of the stairs, on the corner of 18 and 15 Hillcrest Court, you will be rewarded with a spectacular view of San Francisco. Linda Summers Pirkle is a travel writer, consultant, and long-term Danville resident. To share your “Quick Trips” ideas, email Coverthemap@gmail.com.
ACTION POOL REPAIR Serving Alamo & Danville Since 1979!
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June 2020 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 15
LIFE IN THE ALAMO/ DANVILLE GARDEN
PLANTING ZONES AND MICROCLIMATES
By John Montgomery, Landscape Architect, ASLA
So, you’re picking out plants in a nursery or looking at gardening ideas online, and you notice those little “zone” numbers on the plant signage. What the heck IS a planting zone? Allowing you to select the right plants for your climate, planting zones are incredibly useful if you know how to work with them, so it’s worth learning more before you plant. There are two main systems of planting zones in the western states, USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) and Sunset (developed by Sunset Magazine). If you’ve ever spent a summer day in the San Francisco Sunset District, after a day at the foot of Mount Diablo, you know firsthand that there are completely different weather patterns happening in different parts of the Bay Area. These correspond to four distinct planting zones! Here in Alamo and Danville, our USDA zone is 9b. Most plants that come from nurseries on the east coast will be marked with the USDA zone numbers, like the picture at right. Since the example shown is within our zone, this plant thrives in our neighborhoods. Most plants can tolerate a zone above or below their range, but may not be as successful. We can observe this when we have difficulty with plants like peonies and lilacs, which require more cold (indicated by lower zones) for successful bloom. While the USDA system is highly useful in some ways, it is less specific than the Sunset system which was developed for the varied climates of the west. If you are buying from a local nursery or searching a website that caters towards western gardens, you are likely to find the Sunset zones used instead of the USDA zones. Locally, we are in Sunset zone 14. As the Sunset system is designed with California in mind, it is highly specific in distinguishing micro-climates based on humidity, elevation, and fog patterns. So what does all this mean? In your home garden, these zones can help you determine which plant will do best where you live. For example, fruit trees requiring chill hours (peaches and pears, among others) will do well in our Sunset zone 14 (aka USDA zone 9b). If you plant the same trees in the Jack London area of Oakland (USDA zone 10b), they are unlikely to get any fruit! Tea roses do great in Alamo, while they often develop mildew near the coast. Of course, there are always exceptions. I’ve been shocked to see folks growing bougainvillea where it should be impossible! So keep these zones in your mental toolbox, but also know there is flexibility. Happy gardening! J.Montgomery Designs has specialized in designing landscapes for the greater Bay Area for over 40 years. To book a complementary remote consultation or for design inspiration, visit jmontgomerydesigns.com. Advertorial
Gardeners continued from front page
the barn tidy, and the cool box clean. Mike was serving on the Alamo Municipal Advisory Council when the Abramsons submitted their proposal. He recalls: “I remember thinking that this was a wonderful idea, and their presentation was excellent, but I was very skeptical that they could actually pull it off given the issues, the approvals, time it would take, and so on. Had I known Heidi as well as I do now, I wouldn't have been skeptical at all.” Originally, half the beds raised spring and fall cool season crops; the other half warm season crops. With a single warm season planting now growing in all CCMG m a d e m a n y Ric h m on d beds, the harvest has been equal or greater in poundage, although not in variety. residents happy as Graciella Rossi sent them home with free veggie The single crop system gives the soil more time to regenerate and volunteers plants f rom the Great Tomato more time to get acquainted. Depending on weather, excessive smoke in the Giveaway (photo courtesy of CCMG) atmosphere, and other variables, TBG donates 2,500-3,200 pounds of produce each year. Each year, every bed gets its own individual volunteer or volunteer team, including families, garden clubs, service organizations, and youth groups. Heidi explains: “We try to achieve a balance of new and returning gardeners in each program. Many of the new volunteers are actually experienced gardeners and may be drawn to the program to be part of a community of other gardeners or for the community service aspect of it. But many new volunteers are brand new to gardening and in addition to wanting to help those in need, they are interested in learning the basics of organic gardening.” The constant influx of new volunteers fosters a sense of belonging to a family of gardeners who are life-long learners, always open to new ideas. (Sadly, with Opening Day and New Volunteer Training canceled, TBG Serving the Bay Area with honesty cannot welcome new volunteers in 2020). Asked what he values most about working 3191-J Crow Canyon Pl with TBG, Mike responds: “First, the people, San Ramon Carpets, Hardwood, Laminate & Stone the amazing Hive members and the volunteer (925) 866-2200
See Gardeners cont. on page 19
Since 1973 www.MacFloor.com • info@macfloor.com
and integrity since 1973 2395 Monument Blvd., Suite J Concord (925) 680-4433 (Across from Costco Gas Station, next to Harvest House)
PAGE 16 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • June 2020
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TECHNOLOGY MATTERS
SOLID STATE DRIVE CLONING By Evan Corstorphine, Portable CIO, Inc.
ALAMO IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION (AIA)
By Roger Smith, President
The AIA is abiding by state and county Health Department requirements for COVID-19 and public meetings. Upcoming meetings and presentations will be available for our community using online technology until further notice. Please visit our website www.AlamoCA.org for current information.
WATCH FOR FRESH STRAWBERRIES AND ASPARAGUS AT OUR 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. All produce is picked fresh and is at the local Farmer’s Markets within 24-48 hours. Check out the new vendors and your old favorite vendors!
UNDERGROUND PIPELINES ARE EVERYWHERE
Because we cannot see them, we seldom think about pipelines, their role in our community, or their potential hazards. The National Transportation Safety Board says that pipelines are the safest mode of fuel transportation, both for the public and the environment, and leaks are rare. But, if a leak occurs, it can be dangerous and requires caution and immediate action. The following steps will help protect the people, property, and environment. KNOW WHERE PIPELINES ARE LOCATED – Find the location of pipelines near your home or office by looking for pipeline markers. Write down the operator’s name and emergency phone number listed on the marker ALWAYS CALL “811” BEFORE YOU DIG – Call 811 at least two working days before you dig for any reason. The program is free and coordinates with local utilities to mark the location of underground utility lines including pipelines. WATCH, LISTEN, and SMELL FOR SIGNS OF A LEAK – If you see, hear, or smell signs of a pipeline leak, immediately leave the area, warn others to stay away, and call 911. SIGNS OF A LIQUID PETROLEUM OR NATURAL GAS PIPELINE LEAK • Dirt being blown into the air • A dense white cloud of fog • Colorful sheens on water surfaces • Fire at or below ground • A loud roar or hissing sound • Bubbles coming from bodies of water • Brown or discolored vegetation amid healthy plants • Stains or pools of hydrocarbons not usually present in the right-of-way • Distinctive petroleum type odors, the smell of mercaptan, sulfur (rotten eggs), or a mild fragrant odor
IF A LEAK OCCURS
1) Leave the area immediately in an upwind direction, and warn others to stay away. 2) Do not light a match, start an engine, use a telephone or cell phone, or turn on/off any electrical appliances. Avoid any potential ignition sources. 3) Once you are a safe distance away from the potential leak, call 911. 4) Do not drive into an area where you suspect a leak or vapor cloud, and do not touch or operate pipeline valves. 5) Avoid making contact with escaping liquids or vapors as potential hazards may include eye, skin, and respiratory irritation, and the produce may be highly flammable. For more information, visit the National Pipeline Mapping System (https:// pvnpms.phmsa.dot.gov/PublicViewer), the PHMSA Emergency Response Guidebook (www.phmsa.dot.gov/hazmat/erg/erg-2020 and www.phmsa.dot. gov/hazmat/erg/emergency-response-guidebook-erg), and Kinder Morgan Public Awareness (www.kindermorgan.com/public_awareness).
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.
Nobody knows exactly where business is heading in the next year or how long it will take to rediscover our “normal.” I do know a lot of businesses were ready to upgrade their fleet of computers when the shelter-in-place order was issued. Now, a few months later, many businesses will struggle to make ends meet as they woo back their clients; money will be tighter. Niceties such as upgrading an old, slow computer might easily take a backseat to paying the rent or taking care of employees. What to do? There are alternatives to simply replacing slow equipment. The first step is to determine exactly, factually, why the computer is slow. It may have nothing to do with the computer at all. For example, in a recent case, we assisted a client who worked from home in a typical residential neighborhood. They complained about their slow computer needing replacement, and indeed, their system was slow. The issue was that they were using poorly configured Wi-Fi equipment. When we changed their Wi-Fi situation, it was apparent their computer was totally fine, and suddenly everything was back to normal. If the slowness can be traced to a computer with certainty, our experience shows the majority of cases involve an ailing hardisk. It’s important to note that a compromised hardisk will not always produce errors, log entries, or show any other official sign that it is dying. In fact, in most cases we deal with, the hardisks we replace say they are “OK” when we test them, even though we can clearly see they’re not. However, once we replace them, and the computer is faster than when it was brand new, it is obvious where the trouble was. What if your computers have a slow processor, like an i3 or a low-end i5? Does a new solid state drive (SSD) help? A slow hardisk will amplify a slow processor, and an SSD upgrade will make a noticeable difference. Except in special circumstances, we no longer install traditional spindle-based hardisks. When replacement is necessary, we use an SSD. The advantage of an SSD is that it is at least 100% faster, uses less power, stays noticeably cooler, and is oblivious to vibrations or jarring. The before-and-after performance change from replacing a disk is stark and unequivocal. When using Windows 10 and an SSD, we typically see a computer boot to a state of complete usability within 30-35 seconds. Everything else you do will be faster, too. Both desktop and laptop computers benefit from this conversion. The key to this working smoothly is to catch your computer before your current disk crashes or becomes unusable. The cloning process, where we copy your current disk onto an SSD, is relatively straightforward if we are working with a functional (albeit slow) computer. In cases where a hardisk has already failed, we must perform a traditional rebuild. This requires reinstalling and layering of the operating system, your software, and your data. It takes more time. Although an SSD upgrade benefits all computers, laptops benefit more than desktops. Most middle-of-the-road laptops still ship with spindle drive hardisks, and most of those are the slowest variety. When these disks start to fail they become unbearably slow and unstable. Because SSD’s are faster, cooler, weigh less, are more rugged and, take less power than a traditional hardisk, laptops receive a five-way performance upgrade. What if your organization has many (5-50) computers that came with Windows 7, and you planned to replace them because they’re slowing down and because Windows 7 is at end-of-life? Tap the brakes! If the systems are still running, upgrading them to Windows 10 and cloning them to an SSD is an inexpensive way to get a few more good years out of them. We should talk before you take the plunge and buy all those new computers. If you’re interested in reading more about this subject, PC Magazine (www.pcmag.com) maintains a detailed online article comparing SSDs to hardisks, what to look for, best choices, etc. On their website they have the room to go into much more detail! PCIO helps businesses and the community at large to make smart choices about how to maintain a consistent end-user computing experience. Computers are a manageable expense, and we’re great technology managers. Give us a call at 925-552-7953 x1 or email info@ pcioit.com to setup your complimentary consultation. Advertorial
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June 2020 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 17
PAGE 18 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • June 2020
Calligrapher continued from front page
And now, amidst this unsettling time of sheltering in place, she is sharing her skills via a free download of her modern calligraphy guide (www.sandelindesigns.com/learn-engraving/the-sandelin-designs-guide-to-modern-calligraphy-digital-download). “My hope is to provide people and their children with a creative outlet during this stressful time, and make this fun and family-friendly art something that is available to everyone, no matter their financial situation,” said Sandelin. What is it that you love about calligraphy? - I love making art out of letters. I joke that my background in linguistics trained me for calligraphy, because it’s all about words. I love grammar, I love language, and I love writing words beautifully. Do you practice a certain style? - I am formally trained in traditional scripts by five Master Penmen from all over the world. Approaching the scripts as I did school work, I was able to study the letterforms and see the prescriptive ways to form each shape. Copperplate, a traditional script with thin and thick line contrast, is my first love, and the basis of most modern styles of calligraphy you see today. This style was derived from round hand, which was one of three styles deemed p e r m iss ibl e for legal documents in mid-17 th century France. I also love Spencerian script, the standard script for business correspondences predating the typewriter, and the basis for modern cursive script! Lately, I have been training in Italic script and am now working on Gothicized Italic -- I will be training via Zoom call with a Master Penwoman in Italy this month. What are some of your favorite calligraphy jobs? - My favorite jobs are the ones I get to do live, on-site. I am generally rather shy, but am so happy and comfortable working while people watch and ask me questions about calligraphy and engraving. I think my favorite job to date was getting to do the calligraphy for Steph Curry’s 30th birthday -- what a thrill that was! What is your advice for someone interested in getting started? - The best advice I can give someone interested in calligraphy is that you don't need anything more than a piece of paper and pencil to get started. They say if you want to be a writer, write. If you want to be a calligrapher, write! Try copying calligraphy you see online; print out pages and trace over them in pen or marker. You don't need to buy any fancy tools to get started -- the thick and thin lines associated with calligraphy can be mimicked with a pencil, applying heavier pressure for the thicks and using light strokes for the thin lines. Check out my modern calligraphy workbook if you're unsure where to start. Any funny stories to share? - Holidays have always been busy times for me, as luxury retailers are looking for live calligraphy and engraving as gifts for customers. I've joked that without fail, I grievously injure my right hand (my writing hand!) mere days before a season kicks off. This includes, but is not limited to, vicious paper cuts, shattering glass while engraving, as well an incident with a cheese grater, the details of which I will spare you. Let's just say I am thankful for the camouflaging properties of bandaids!
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.
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PAIN
By Peter T. Waldron, Managing Partner of Spectrum Wealth Partners
~ The aim of the wise is not to secure pleasure, but to avoid pain. ~ Aristotle While time is the great equalizer of fortunes, it is thought and reason that can stand the test of time. In these unprecedented times, fear has driven a lot of decisions. These actions have resulted in outcomes that were defined by emotion, not logic. Planning involves logic and thought, which leads to well-informed decision making. This month, I will tackle the idea of pain avoidance, the actions that occur as a result of it, and how planning can breed confidence and success. We must first understand fear, which is defined as an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat. It is the fear of pain that drives most people to make decisions that lack logic. It is logical that if a bear is attacking you, you should run. However, in your financial life, fear can drive illogical decisions that aren’t rooted in reason. It is extremely difficult to delineate between right and wrong when you do not have enough or accurate information. Most people presume risk or fear of loss when there is market volatility. This fear of loss leads people to act irrationally. While these acts seem to create a loss avoidance benefit, most actions are taken when the loss has already occurred: the age-old adage of buy high, sell low. When confronted with the reality of poor decisions, human rationale leads to justifying the actions. While that justification seems logical, it is usually an illustration of the fallacy that timing the market is a high probability outcome and that there is still more downside protection. What if the action wasn’t necessary, and you could still derive the outcome of loss protection? What is loss protection in the financial markets? Plainly, it is the ability to achieve your objectives with a high degree of certainty. While you can’t control the markets, you can test a variety of different strategies to understand which one helps you achieve your objectives. An example of a tested objective would be your ability to retire on time. If you have all your money in a concentrated position, and that position went down by twenty percent, how did that impact your ability to retire on time? Even worse, you then sold that position to avoid further loss, the market rebounded, and you didn’t get back in on time, missing all the recovery. Wouldn’t a more logical or rational approach be to understand your return need and then set volatility, return, income, and tax expectations for the money you are investing? From that point of understanding, you could then determine how (based on historical information and expectations) your portfolio would react given the predetermined expectations. If you knew that your portfolio would go up and down and you could still achieve all your objectives, would that reduce your fear? What if you knew what pain you could expect and, more importantly, if you could determine the pain tolerance you can handle? Understanding the potential outcomes of the market before they happen will increase your ability to employ logic and reason in times of extreme volatility. The financial world will always encompass pain and fear; that is something you must adjust to living with when it comes to your finances. Understanding your pain tolerance and how the pain will impact your ability to achieve your financial objectives will lead to greater confidence in your planning. The other desired outcome is that it will give you the ability to refrain from irrational and emotional decisions. The ability to think and act rationally will allow your fortunes to grow and stand the test of time. ~ If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the results of a hundred battles. ~ Sun Tzu To schedule a complimentary review of your financial situation, please contact me at 925-786-7686 or email peter.waldron@lfg.com. Peter T. Waldron: California Insurance License #0E47827. Peter T. Waldron is a registered representative of Lincoln Financial Advisors, a broker/dealer, member SIPC, and offers investment advisory service through Sagemark Consulting, a division of Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp., a registered investment advisor, Spectrum Wealth Partners is not an affiliate of Lincoln Financial Advisors. 3201 Danville Blvd, Suite 190, Alamo, CA 94507. Insurance offered through Lincoln Marketing and Insurance Agency, LLC and Lincoln Associates Insurance Agency, Inc. and other fine companies. This information should not be construed as legal or tax advice. You may want to consult a tax advisor regarding this information as it relates to your personal circumstance. The content of this material was provided to you by Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp. for its representatives and their clients. CRN3093732-051920 Advertorial
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LLC PROTECTION
By Robert J. Silverman, Esq.
In our litigious society, a fear of lawsuits is prevalent and understandable. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has not only caused people to be vulnerable from a health standpoint, but people who are fortunate enough to own a business or investment real estate face added uncertainty and potential liability. People make mistakes (negligent acts or omissions) that can cause, or allegedly cause, harm to others. As I often tell clients, insurance should be your “first line of defense.” But many people, including knowledgeable professionals and business owners, are not well informed about their property and casualty (P&C) insurance coverage. I encourage you to have a detailed discussion with your P&C insurance agent about whether or not you have personal and business policies that provide for: a) an appropriately broad scope of coverage for the areas in which you have significant risk, b) reasonably high coverage limits, c) optimal deductibles, and d) umbrella coverage that cost-effectively boosts your limits. Of course, all of this is particularly important now, given potentially new, coronavirus-related claims and lawsuits from, or related to, customers, tenants, guests, vendors, etc. Many business and rental property owners are complacent about potential liability because they believe they have terrific insurance coverage. Even if they indeed have optimal coverage, is this complacency warranted? Perhaps they do not, as every insurance policy has exclusions and coverage limits. These gaps expose the owners to unlimited liability for claims, lawsuits, and damages that may arise out of such business venture. The “bottom line” is that if someone files suit and obtains a judgment against the owner of such enterprise, the owner’s personal and other (unrelated) business assets are vulnerable – available to satisfy the judgment. One can go a long way towards filling these protection gaps by forming a business entity, such as a limited liability company (LLC) or corporation, that will own and operate the venture. Furthermore, those who own more than one business/property
Gardeners continued from page 15
June 2020 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 19
should ideally form a separate business entity for each separate business/property so that no enterprise is exposed to liability arising from a different enterprise. By properly forming, capitalizing, and operating an LLC or Corp. for an investment property or business, the owner is legally entitled to limited liability protection. Essentially, a potential judgment creditor can only obtain a judgment against the LLC or Corp, not the owner. Consequently, the only assets available to satisfy such potential judgment are those assets owned by the LLC (i.e. not the owner’s personal or unrelated investment assets). When evaluating what kind of business entity to form, there are a variety of tax and non-tax considerations. Ultimately, the optimal entity choice depends on many facts and circumstances; however, the entity of choice for the operation of most real estate investment properties and small, owner-operated businesses, tends to be the LLC. Fortunately, an LLC, and particularly a “single member LLC” (one in which the only member is an individual or married couple), has very few formalities and is relatively simple and inexpensive to form and operate. The potentially robust limited liability protection offered by a business entity requires not only proper formation of the entity but also the transfer of the real estate investment property or sole proprietorship business into the LLC before a problem arises. Real estate and business enterprises always have risks (and hopefully, rewards that more than compensate for the risks!). But why not do one’s best to reasonably mitigate those risks by forming a business entity, such as an LLC, when appropriate? As the old saying goes, if you fail to plan, you are planning to fail! Feel free to contact my office to obtain information about LLC formation. |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
gardeners. It’s especially great to see parents involving their kids in the Garden and the learning process. Second, is the harvest itself.” Roger Tuma, the Hive’s Garden Mentor, concurs. “Most rewarding of course is that we are providing good food for those in need. Most rewarding for me is when people who are walking past stop and want to know all about what we do, and for those with a small child, I can open the gate and let them come in, see what each plant is, explain how it grows, tell them how important it is to eat good food, and suggest they can have a little garden at home with food they like to eat.” Amending the soil with seasoned compost has always served TBG well. Tuma enjoys telling young visitors about how worms play their part. Recently adopted gardening practices include using a cover crop of twice-cut red clover to feed the soil while the beds are dormant and, beginning this year, protecting the integrity of the community of beneficial microorganisms in the soil by using a No-Dig method to prepare the beds for planting. Cover crops on commercial farms are plowed back into the soil. In smaller gardens, cutting them back and leaving their roots in place before scattering worm castings over the residue improves the health of the soil and saves labor. Marigolds in the beds have traditionally lured pollinators and repelled unwanted insects. A new pollinator garden beckons butterflies, bees, and birds while adding seasonal color. Panic in the face of the pandemic? No way! Hive members immediately rose to the occasion. The day before sheltering in place was ordered, Heidi and another volunteer rushed to acquire seedlings at local nurseries. Heidi and others ramped up their own production. Sandra McDonald writes: "I have raised vegetable seedlings indoors for our own garden for years. This year, I planted extra seedlings in mid-March, knowing that we would have extra beds to fill. Tending them through March and April while we were staying in place was Fresh produce from the Bounty Garden a daily reminder of what we are doing to help people in need.” The nine hive members managed to plant all 32 beds. Enough seedlings goes to people in need via White Pony Express. Photo courtesy of TBG. for several beds came from CCMG's Great Tomato Giveaway courtesy of Greg Letts, a Master Gardener who also volunteers at TBG. CCMG donates 12,000-14,000 pounds of produce each year to Monument Crisis Center. Canceling the Great Tomato Sale, annually held in three different parts of the county, cost the non-profit about $56,000 in funds that support outreach programs; many, like informative library lectures also canceled. But gardeners are remarkably flexible. Turning the events into a sensational Great Tomato Giveaway, CCMG donated plants to a list of individuals and non-profit organizations that would cover an entire page in this newspaper. In addition to an extensive selection of tomatoes, seedlings included peppers, eggplants, artichokes, beans, cucumbers, squash, melons, and herbs. Graciella Rossi limited families to two plants the first of the three days she distributed seedlings in Richmond. She writes; “I had over 30 responses, and all of the plants were cleaned out within two hours. It lifted my spirit and that of many others.” Parents and children clutched their bounty with smiling eyes visible above masked faces. They can discover whatever they need to know about growing the vegetables and herbs by calling the CCMG Help Desk: 925-608-6683 or emailing questions to ccmg@ucanr.org. Dawn Kooyumjian notes that none of the tens of thousands of seedlings went to waste on the compost pile. “Donating the plants on the front end rather than post-sale gave us an opportunity to support local gardeners by giving directly back to the community. While we will not generate the income we expected from the sale, we are building many great relationships and doing a little good in the world.” CCMG trials plant introductions as well as experimenting with best practices in organic gardening. Master Gardener Janet Miller explains that testing of the no-till method began a few years ago at Our Garden. “It has made a difference in the health of our soil and hence our plants. However, it’s not just about no till, our practice includes rotating cover crops that include multiple species in each bed (rather than a mono cover crop of fava beans or field peas for example). The reason for that is that the soil microbes are diverse and require a diverse plant biome to feed on. Also, when we remove any existing crop, we cut the plants off just above the soil line so as to leave all the roots in place.” View Our Garden, located at 2405 Shadelands Drive, Walnut Creek, and The Bounty Garden, located at 1025 Vibrant vegetables in TBG's 32 raised beds go via White Pony La Gonda Way, Danville, through their fences for now. Express to area neighbors in need. Photo courtesy of TBG.
PAGE 20 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • June 2020
YOUR DONATIONS LIFT US UP
By Lori Orr, MS
In the early phase of the coronavirus crisis, shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) compounded the challenges faced by medical facilities who needed to provide medical care to seriously ill patients, while at the same time protecting these patients and staff from infection. To address this shortage, many organizations, including ours, initiated PPE collection drives and started accepting masks, face shields, and other items from the local community. To those who answered our call for PPE donations - Thank you, thank you, thank you! You lifted us up with your generosity and thoughtful contributions! The first donation we received was from a construction company who donated their extra construction masks, and then the parents from Dorris Eaton School organized a mask donation drive on our behalf. The drive yielded one hundred N95 masks and goggles. Next, the Tri-Valley and Lamorinda Chinese American Communities donated hundreds and hundreds of surgical masks and face shields. There was a high school student who learned of our PPE drive and printed 3-D face shields, and a patient who generously donated hundreds of surgical masks through his business connections. Through it all, countless numbers of patients and community friends donated their extra masks and sewed cloth masks. We even received hundreds of cloth masks from a group called the Mountain Masketeers who were sheltering-in-place in a mountain community far away. The outpouring of donations and support has been overwhelming. These donations helped make it easier for us to remain open and to continue to provide high-quality medical care for our patients, including performing necessary diagnostic imaging exams, conducting oncologic surgery, and delivering radiation and chemotherapy. Our providers continue to see new and current patients with full clinic schedules, as well as offer teleheath visits via Zoom. Early on, we implemented infection prevention practices and protocols in all of our facilities, including temperature and respiratory symptom screening, and mandatory face coverings for all employees and patients. If you or a loved one are in need of urology, surgery, oncology, or hematology medical care, please call us for an appointment. The health, safety, and well-being of our patients and our staff remains our top priority. We are here and ready to take care of patients in a safe and secure environment. Lori Orr is the Chief Operations Officer for Diablo Valley Oncology & Hematology Medical Group, Pacific Urology, West Coast Surgical Associates and the Women's Cancer Center of the East Bay, with offices in Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill, Concord, Brentwood, and San Ramon. Please visit their websites for contact information or to request an appointment, or call Advertorial 925-677-5041. Donations of PPE are still being accepted.
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STRENGTHENING YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM WITH PEPTIDE THERAPY
By Dr. Niele Maimone, DC WHAT IS PEPTIDE THERAPY?
Peptides are made of short chains of amino acids. They can be thought of as a small protein. They bind to receptors on the cell surface and tell other cells and molecules what to do. There are over 7,000 known peptides in our bodies which direct an enormous number of different bodily functions ranging from hormone production, tissue and muscle repair, immune modulation, brain and central nervous system health, weight loss, inflammation reduction, and DNA repair. They can have direct antimicrobial effects. Peptide therapy, or the use of specific peptides in treatment, has gained great popularity in recent years due to its extraordinary high level of safety and uniquely specific effects. As we age, our production of our own peptides decreases. As a result, our bodies begin to show signs of aging and cease to perform at an optimal level.
CAN PEPTIDES HELP STRENGTHEN THE IMMUNE SYSTEM?
Yes, one peptide in particular, Thymosin Alpha-1 (TA-1) is showing impressive results in helping strengthen the immune system! Thymosin Alpha-1 is a peptide originally isolated from the thymus gland as the compound responsible for restoring immune function. The thymus is located in the upper anterior (front) part of your chest directly behind your sternum and between your lungs. The thymus is responsible for regulating the immune system. As a person’s immune function wears down, it leaves the body more vulnerable to illness. TA-1 is prescribed to optimize the performance of your immune health and improve general wellness by preventing viral and bacterial infections. Thymosin Alpha-1 is responsible for restoring immune system function as it activates various immune T cells, the first line of defense in the body. T-cells come in two forms: killer and helper cells. Killer T-cells are responsible for hunting down and destroying our body’s own cells that are cancerous or infected with bacteria or viruses. TA-1 is thought to modulate the immune system by augmenting killer T-cell function. Clinical benefits are expected in disorders where the immune response is impaired or ineffective, especially for patients with chronic infections or auto-immune conditions. In 2009, a novel influenza A/California/07/09 (A/H1N1v) virus was first identified in the United States. It caused outbreaks of disease in several countries, triggering the first pandemic of the 21st century. Thymosin Alpha-1 peptide was tested during that time as an immune enhancing peptide that potentiated the efficacy of viral vaccines especially in patients who had a weakened immune system. It has since been used in the treatment of several cancer and viral infections because of its direct influence of killing virally infected cells and cancerous cells.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF THYMOSIN ALPHA-1?
• Shores up the immune system • Supports the immune system in chronic bacterial or viral infections • Potential additive therapy for Lyme disease and autoimmunity • Supports anti-body production to virus’s • Repairs after acute injury or surgery • Suppresses tumor growth TA-1 is one of our core peptides used in our immune enhancement program along with Thymosin Beta-4 (another thymus peptide). These thymus-based peptides help restore the immune system and reduce inflammation. In these uncertain times, in the presence of COVID-19, it is imperative that we shore up our immune system so that we may feel strong and safe and live the life we were meant to live. Peptides must be used in conjunction with a healthy lifestyle and may be paired with other holistic treatments to get the maximum physical benefit. If you are interested in discussing if peptide therapy may be right for you, call us for a complimentary consultation 925-362-8283. Dr. James Dickens, MD and Dr. Niele Maimone, DC are the owners of Aspire Regenerative Medicine, a medical corporation, that runs alongside Align Healing Center to offer a broader range of services addressing people’s wellness needs. Find us on the web at AlignHealingCenter.com. Advertorial
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June 2020 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 21
EYE REJUVENATION
By Dr. Barbara Persons
In our current reality of wearing masks, the eyes have it! With the institution of universal mask wearing during the COVID-19 pandemic, the primary way our faces show happiness or expression is through our eyes. To that end, let’s talk about what we can do to make our eyes look brighter and younger. Botox can help make facial expressions look smoother, getting rid of lines and wrinkles. Dermal fillers can assist with reducing circles under the eyes, plumping of the lips, and softening the appearance of recessed scars. If you’re looking for longer-term results, surgery or laser skin resurfacing may be your best bet.
TRADITIONAL EYELID SURGERY
Blepharoplasty surgery, commonly known as eyelid surgery, is the best way to correct droopy, hooded, eyelids and sagging skin that creates folds or disturbs the natural contour of the upper eyelid and can sometimes even impair vision. The procedure takes one hour and does not require a general anesthetic. Surgery is performed on the upper lids, lower lids, or both and restores the youthful appearance of the eyes. Recovery takes about one week. An upper blepharoplasty procedure involves making a small incision in the natural crease of the upper eyelid. Excess skin and small amounts of fat are removed, lax muscles are tightened, and sometimes grafting may be used to fill areas that have hollowed, such as the tear troughs. For lower eyelid tightening, a small incision is made just below the lower eyelash or inside the lower eyelid. The upper and lower eyelid lift may be done separately or at the same time.
FACIAL REJUVENATION
For those wanting to combat horizontal forehead lines, sagging or heavy brows, and wrinkles between the eyebrows, I recommend also considering a brow lift. I most commonly use the endoscopic approach, which involves a few small incisions hidden in the hairline through which the brow is lifted. Like the blepharoplasty, this procedure may be performed under local anesthesia. CO2 laser skin resurfacing can tighten the skin and remove fine lines around the eyes, face, neck, and chest. The treatment takes one hour, and downtime averages ten days. However, at Persons Plastic Surgery, we have developed RecoverX to accelerate post-procedure skin repair. Patients have even cut recovery time in half! The non-irritant fragrance-free, paraben-free reduces redness and swelling and promotes faster skin healing. The proprietary formulation draws moisture from the air into the skin without clogging pores and continues to enhance skin tone, texture, and appearance hours after application. To achieve full facial rejuvenation, the combination of Blepharoplasty surgery and a CO2 laser maximizes benefits while decreasing recovery to a single period.
WE ARE OPEN!
We are actively scheduling appointments and safely re-opening for in-office procedures and surgical procedures per our government’s guidelines. We are implementing additional safety and efficiency measures, some of which include staff wearing masks and gloves, physical distancing, and increased office cleaning. We are also offering COVID-19 testing during your visit. I look forward to meeting with you at my practices in Lafayette and Brentwood 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 925-2834012 or drpersons@personsplasticsurgery.com. Advertorial !
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925.202.2846 Connect continued from page 12 Anyone interested in participating or simple viewing these meetings are still able to do so. Agendas for those meetings and contact information for specific departments are located on the County’s website. To watch the Board of Supervisors (BOS) meetings, which are held most Tuesdays at 9AM, visit contracosta.ca.gov. You can watch meetings online or on Contra Costa Television (CCTV), which is broadcast on both AT&T and Xfinity. If you are unable to view the BOS meetings live, they are recorded by CCTV and can be viewed online the same week they are held, usually within 48 hours. To watch the recorded meeting online, visit the Video Library. For information on public boards, committees, commissions, and other advisory services, visit contracosta.ca.gov, and click on the “Agenda Center” tab to see agendas. Currently, the agendas feature the instructions for virtual participation, such as the Zoom link or dial-in phone number. Agendas are also posted online at least 96 hours prior to the meeting, per the Brown Act and the County’s Better Government Ordinance. For questions or concerns regarding how the Brown Act and advisory body rules are being enforced during the COVID-19 crisis, contact my office at 925-957-8860. During this COVID-19 pandemic, please go to coronavirus.cchealth. org for regular updates and the latest information on how the County is responding. If you have questions pertaining to Health Orders, contact our County Call Center for assistance in English or Spanish at 844-729-8410, during the hours of 8AM to 5PM. For help after hours, and in multiple languages, please call 211, 800-833-2900, or text “HOPE” to 20121. Follow CCHS on Twitter @CoCoHealth and CCHS Facebook. Also follow @CCCounty. (You do not need a Twitter account to see posts.) As always, please contact my office for any and all County related matters at 925-957-8860 or SupervisorAndersen@bos.cccounty.us.
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PAGE 22 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • June 2020
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SKIN CANCER HASN’T GONE AWAY
By Dr. Jerome Potozkin
Every May I write an article about skin cancer. However, this year COVID-19 put everything on the back burner. The first Monday in May has been designated Melanoma Monday, and May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month. For most of us, our thoughts have been dominated by the global pandemic, leaving little mental energy for anything else. I think now is the time to give skin cancer the attention it usually receives in May. Better late than never. Hopefully, when you read this article, the Bay Area’s “Shelter in Place” is starting it ease. Our office was closed except for emergencies from mid-March until last month. We have carefully reopened following CDC, CMS, and a variety of professional society protocols to minimize any risk in our office. We have changed our schedule to see fewer patients each day so that social distancing is maintained. We are back in action screening for, and treating, skin cancer. Skin cancer has not taken a vacation during the COVID-19 outbreak, and we are here to help. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States. The most common types of skin cancer are so called non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSC). Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma make up the majority of these NMSCs. These cancers typically affect more than three million Americans each year. More than one million Americans are living with melanoma, and the rates have been increasing over the past four decades. Unfortunately, many young adults develop melanoma. Melanoma is the second most common cancer in women age 15-29, so it is not just a disease of older people. Despite what some may think, skin cancer affects anyone regardless of skin color. There are risk factors that you can control and those that you can’t. You can control how much UV light you are exposed to. Exposure to UV light from the sun and indoor tanning beds are the two most preventable risk factors. Other risk factors for melanoma include people with red or blonde hair, light colored eyes, more than 50 moles or atypical moles, a blood relative who has had melanoma, and previous personal history of skin cancer. One of the myths about tanning beds is that they give you a protective tan prior to a vacation. Skip the tanning bed, and pour on the sunscreen. What can you do to protect yourself? First, avoid the peak sun hours between 10am and 2pm. I apply sunscreen every day and recommend the same for my patients. Wear protective clothing. I don’t recommend being a hermit and staying indoors, but a little common sense goes a long way. An annual skin check by a board-certified dermatologist can also go a long way towards early detection. Studies have also shown that self-awareness is key. Many skin cancers are brought to the attention of a dermatologist by a patient noticing a new or changing mole, a new spot, or a bleeding non-healing spot. If you have a spot on your skin that you are worrying about, the worst thing that you can do is procrastinate. Early diagnosis leads to treatment and cure. Call us today, and stop the worry. Dr. Jerome Potozkin is a Board Certified Dermatologist specializing in minimally and non-invasive cosmetic procedures. We are accepting new patients and Advertorial can be reached at (925) 838-4900 and at www.MyBeautyMd.com.
YOUR PERSONAL NUTRITIONIST
KEEPING YOUR WEIGHT DOWN DURING THESE TIMES By Linda Michaelis RD, MS
I am spending much of my day listening to clients describe their unique homebound situations and helping resolve problems they are facing. I am seeing eating and drinking behaviors ranging from stress eating, the craving of comfort foods, and too many Zoom happy hours. Below I list some potential problems along with solutions of how to tackle them.
COMFORT FOODS
Most of us are stressed to the max being cooped up, trying to work from home, feeling anxious, and dealing with upset kids. At the end of a long day, your body often calls out for comfort food like pasta, meatloaf, breads, and casseroles. I know salmon and broccoli are not always available, and no one wants to go to the store often. You can have your comfort food, but you must lighten it up. Have your meat sauce as a topping over zucchini noodles or a bed of broccoli. Have a small slice of meatloaf over spinach as opposed to eating it with mashed potatoes. Your dinner meal should be smaller, and lunch should be more like your dinner since you are now at home to enjoy it. At lunch, you can have your larger servings of pasta or meatloaf as long as half the plate is filled with veggies.
BOOZING IT UP
After a long day sitting in the same place for 10 hours, a glass of wine or two, or three is very tempting. You probably would not drink this much when your life was more “normal.” The additional alcohol can easily contribute to an extra 500 calories. Excessive alcohol can also interfere with sleep. Our current stay-at-home practices can also easily cause heartburn, increased depression, and weight gain. I recommend to my clients that they fake those Zoom happy hours with sparkling water and lime while letting friends can think it is vodka. As I have mentioned in my past articles, if you are having alcohol, please alternate each cocktail with a glass of water to cut the intake by half.
COOKING UP A STORM
Cooking is often much healthier then ordering take out. Restaurants usually use too much oil and serve large portions of refined carbs. I have found great recipes on Skinnytaste.com and the New York Times (https://cooking.nytimes.com). I find my clients are enjoying macaroni and cheese made with cauliflower, tacos that are lettuce-wrap style, frittatas with less cheese and more veggies, and homemade pizza made with Boboli or pizza dough rolled out into a thin crust with your own added toppings. I am helping clients be more prepared and organized with their meals, and we enjoy menu planning based on what is available in the stores. Recently, a
couple that I am working with showed me a 10 pound bag of potatoes they had bought. We went over many ways to use them and their first meal cooking with them was baked potatoes with cottage cheese and salsa, which they enjoyed.
STOP THE SNACKING
It is important to be honest with yourself. Many find that having snacks around the house are too tempting. Eating balanced meals will prevent you from being hungry and snacking throughout the day. By skipping meals and constantly snacking, you never fill up, and it is an easy way to gain weight without realizing it. This way of eating can also lower your concentration at work and throughout the day. After dinner, allow yourself a 200 calorie treat that is low in fat and sugar like a fruit juice bar, a Fudgsicle, berries with Cool Whip, or a bowl of Corn Flakes or Rice Krispies.
TAKE A NAP
Napping is low calorie. Since hunger is black and white (either yes or no) with no grays, if you are not sure you are hungry, you are probably more tired than anything else. Take a nap, and then see whether you are still hungry when you wake up. During these stressful and difficult times, it is more important than ever to be mindful of eating. Otherwise, you may wake up one morning and realize you’ve had an unexpected weight gain. Prepare a balanced meal plan for yourself and your family. The meal plan should be high in protein and fiber and low in carbs. Give yourself an allowance for some 200 calorie desserts, maybe one after lunch and one after dinner. If you feel you need support and education, I am taking clients by the hand and getting them started to eat healthy again and lose any newly-gained weight. I am glad to inform you that nutritional counseling is covered by most insurance companies. Please visit my website www.LindaRD.com for a list of insurance companies that I am contracted with and to learn more about my services. Feel free to email me at lifeweight1@yahoo.com to tell me about your nutritional concerns and see how I may help you. Advertorial
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.
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THE EYE OPENER
By Gregory Kraskowsky, O.D., Alamo Optometry OFFICE REOPENING
Due to the shelter in place order, our office has been closed to the public since March 17. We were only permitted to service emergency patients and some contact lens direct-ship orders; comprehensive exams were not permitted. We are now back to our regular office hours, albeit with reduced exam availability due to social distancing requirements. Even though our office was closed for eight weeks, we made a lot of administrative upgrades to help us move forward. We now have a new communication system which includes two-way text, an online portal for forms and signatures, a safety and disinfection protocol, a new credit card processing platform which will allow for easier patient use, and an online link to pay outstanding invoices through our website. We are also beginning to update our website as well. Upon reopening, our first priority is the safety of our staff and patients. This “new normal” is how we are going to have to practice moving forward. All staff members and patients will always be obligated to wear a mask while in the office and will have their temperature taken via a non-contact thermometer until those requirements are lifted. Our new disinfecting protocols ensure our office is as safe as possible. Each surface, chair, frame, pen, tool, screen, door handle, and all patient and staff points of contact are cleaned and disinfected between patient encounters per recommendations from the CDC and other state and federal agencies. To adhere to social distancing requirements, we are also mandating all visits to the office must be by appointment only. This includes all exams, office visits, frame adjustments and repairs, and frame selections and deliveries. Since we can only safely have one person in the optical area at a time, we must strictly control patient flow. In addition, we are also requiring all patients come alone; minors are allowed one parent only. When visiting the office, please refrain from bringing other friends and family members. In addition, utilizing our text system, we are now using curbside delivery for your convenience of all contact lens orders and frame orders shipped to the office. To help with patient flow, we now have a new online system for necessary paperwork and COVID-19 questions. These will be required for all optical-related
June 2020 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 23
and exam visits to the office. We have updated our Privacy Practices along with other forms. All patients will be required to sign these documents, even if they are established patients. The goal of this new system is two-fold: to minimize time in the office filling out paperwork and to help reduce our dependence on paper and scanning moving forward. This new system does require a valid email address, so please be prepared to either supply a valid email address or verify the address we have on file. For exams and office visits, we will be taking the COVID-19 questions and medical history over the phone the day before your appointment. This will help us better prepare for your visit and reduce exposure time while in the exam room. Please be assured these new procedures were heavily researched and have taken many hours of development, staff education, and implementation. We have our procedures posted on our website, in an email that was sent to our active patient base, and also posted in the office. Our goal is to make the visit to the office as safe and efficient as possible considering the circumstances. We kindly request cooperation and adherence to these new requirements; it will make the process easier for everyone. When calling the office to schedule an appointment, it will take a few extra minutes to detail what is required, so kindly make sure you have a few extra minutes to talk. We are excited to see you again in the office. Dr. K. at Alamo Optometry is your hometown eye doctor for outstanding service, vision care, and designer eyewear. He can be reached at (925) 820-6622, or visit his office at 3201 Danville Blvd., Suite 165 in Alamo. For more information, visit www.alamooptometry.com, and join in on Facebook, Instagram, and Advertorial Twitter @Alamo Optometry.
C L A S S I F I E D PAINTING SERVICES
Interior, exterior, and commercial painting. 40 years of service in Alamo and Danville areas. Excellent references. Free estimates and color consultations. Call Richard Dean Painting 925-837-6291. License #540063
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PAGE 24 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • June 2020
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