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June 2016
Serving the Lafayette Community
Mount Diablo Interpretive Association: Unmasking the Mountain’s Marvels By Jody Morgan Mount Diablo Interpretive Association (MDIA) partners with the California Department of Parks and Recreation to promote awareness of and accessibility to the remarkable resources available within Mount Diablo State Park. An all-volunteer, non-profit MDIA produces publications and interpretive materials, provides guided hikes and educational programs, and supports the work of rangers to enrich the experience of every visitor. Roving docents and hike leaders are clearly identified by their VIP vests. Although they are both very important and very informative people, these dedicated individuals wear the VIP designation as graduates of Volunteers in
See Observatory on page 21High to Raise Money for Burton Valleycontinued Class Shoots the Hidden Genius Project
The Book Bonanza is an annual fundraiser that has been a long-standing tradition at Burton Valley Elementary School. Every year, the students from Ms. Martinsen’s 4/5 grade AIM class collect, price, and, of course, sell, books. . . at incredibly low prices (some books are as cheap as 10¢).All proceeds go to a charitable cause, and this year the students chose to support The Hidden Genius Project. Based in Oakland, this non-profit organization provides Oakland (and surrounding area) black male youths with the knowledge, skills, mentors, and experiences to obtain and create technological jobs in this new, global, 21st-century economy. The whole class banded together to complete each step in the process, and after three weeks of collections and pricing, the two-day sale was on. Classes from the Burton Valley community came to support the AIM class, buying books and contributing donations to the donation jar . After the frenzy, the students counted their change bags and were thrilled to realize they had surpassed their goal and raised $1,439.21! The students presented a check to Brandon Nicholson of The Hidden Genius Project right after winter break and felt good knowing they had made a difference in many disadvantaged children’s lives.
Alzheimer’s Association By Fran Miller While the purple that you see adorning local storefronts this month might indicate a proprietor’s fondness for a certain musician, the presentation is more likely a show of support for Alzheimer’s Awareness month. The colorful show of June solidarity is one way the Alzheimer’s Association promotes brain health; a Reservoir walk followed by a picnic on June 20, the longest day of the year, is another way the Association seeks to bring awareness to the disease. For the past ten years, Desco Plaza in Lafayette has served as home to the Alzheimer Association’s East Bay office. Serving all of Contra Costa County, Alameda and Solano Counties, the Alzheimer Association works not only at our local level, but it also works globally to enhance care and support for all those affected by Alzheimer’s and other dementias and is the world’s leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care, support, and research. Lafayette’s local office oversees 26 different support groups for those in early stages and for caregivers, provides oneon-one care consultations, and helps families to create road maps for the future. “Alzheimer’s is a complicated disease,” says East Bay site director, Grace Liu. “It’s not like other diseases. Half of those ultimately
See Alzheimer’s continued on page 22 Ken Lavin leads a hike with frequent stops to spot wildflowers and wild creatures. (Photo courtesy of Jim Mitchell)
the Park training. On January 30, 1974, Sam Stoker, Executive Director of the Lindsay Wildlife Center, hosted a gathering to explain his vision for an organization that would awaken the public to the value of Mount Diablo’s natural assets. Among those present was Mary Bowerman, who co-founded Save Mount Diablo (SMD) in 1971. While SMD concentrates on preservation through acquisition of parcels of private land within the state park boundaries as well as adjacent properties essential to sustaining the area’s biodiversity, MDIA focuses on disseminating information about the mountain’s ecological, geological, and recreational significance. Just as the park has tripled in size since the early 1970s from 6,788 to about 20,000 acres, MDIA has grown from 29 enthusiastic members in 1974 to several hundred today. MDIA President Mike Woodring explains, “The MDIA mission is preservation through education. When we see things where we can make a difference, we get involved.” That response ranges from updating signage to marking the 6.25-mile “Trail Through Time” with twenty interpretive panels elucidating the mountain’s geological history. MDIA Board member Ken Lavin notes, “Mount Diablo displays much of the geological history of the Bay Area, though the history is upside down. A vertical fault under Mount Diablo has shoved older rocks up and over younger rocks.”
Local Postal Customer
Meals on Wheels and Senior Outreach Services By Fran Miller
Senior citizens aged 80 and older are the fastest growing population segment in Contra Costa County. Many are homebound and unable to cook or otherwise obtain daily meals to maintain their health and remain independent in the comfort and security of their own homes. Since 1990, Meals on Wheels and Senior Outreach Services (MOWSOS) of Contra Costa and its coalition of volunteers has been ensuring that these homebound seniors receive daily nutritious meals. “Our services are free and there are no financial restrictions,” says Volume X - Number 6 3000F DANVILLE BLVD #117 See MDIA continued on page 17 Leigh Shughrou, Public Affairs ALAMO, CA 94507 Specialist for MOWSOS. “We Telephone (925) 405-6397 PRSRT STD coordinate care for older adults Fax (925) 406-0547 U.S. Postage editor@yourmonthlypaper.com (60+ years) in Contra Costa PAID County who have a wide range of Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher Permit 21 opinions expressed herein belong to the writers, and needs. Our six programs (Meals The Lafayette, CA do not necessarily reflect that of Lafayette Today. Lafayette on Wheels, Friendly Visitors, Fall Today is not responsible for the content of any of the adECRWSS
See Meals cont. on page 19
vertising herein, nor does publication imply endorsement.
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Page 2 - June 2016 ~ Lafayette Today
Boulevard View By Alisa Corstorphine, Editor Happy June! Years ago while reading Sunset magazine, I ripped out an article that talked about burritos. The article asked the question, “Who makes the better burrito in California?” It was a North vs South discussion. What caught my eye wasn’t who the winner was; it was the descriptive writing that captivated me and painted pictures in my mind. In the first paragraph the author wrote, “In the North, a burrito is a foil-wrapped behemoth: a tortilla the size of a manhole cover bursting with rice, black beans, meat, and an unending list of ingredients that would empty the shelves of most Latino markets. Buried in a blizzard of guacamole, sour cream and salsa, it’s unrecognizable to partisans of the austere (and rice-free) parcels of refried beans and cheese found in the South.” I have witnessed those manhole sized tortillas and even ordered one once or twice…what was I thinking? I mean, it probably weighed three pounds! The Sunset article continued to discuss the burrito. The author went on to say, “When I moved to the Bay Area and ordered my first burrito, I thought it was a mistake, a misguided interpretation, a burrito made by someone who had no idea what a burrito was. NEW YEAR I soon realized, I was the misguided one. This log the size of a car muffler, with enough calories to fuel a 19-year old linebacker, • CARPET NEW FLOORS! was actually a beloved dish.” From that moment, my vision of burritos changed. Now, every time I see a burrito wrapped in foil, I envision a car muffler and chuckle. • HARDWOOD That one sentence encapsulated the type of writing I love, respect, and aspire to achieve. I’ve always been a “just the facts” type •• CARPET RUGS of writer, but it’s a story-teller’s gift to draw pithy metaphors and paint such a vivid picture that readers lose themselves while readCUSTOM RUGS •• HARDWOOD ing, then remember those same words for years after. Good writing isn’t accidental. It takes practice and is as much of a science of LINOLEUM following important grammatical rules as it is an art of weaving one’s words into a meaningful tapestry. When I think about it, a • RUGS great writer is as much of an artist as one who works with paint; both need to know where to put their colors, how much to apply, • LINOLEUM TILE and when to stop because they’ve conveyed what was in their heart. For years this paper has sponsored a monthly “Lost Dog” contest. Sometimes the entries are simple, and sometimes they include Family Owned Business notes. Some entrants make up a story about the “lost” dog and where they found him, and it’s always fun to see their creativity. Since 1989 What captured my eye recently was an entry and letter I received. The writer sent a thank you note as they were a past winner. They went on to say, “I am now enclosing this letter in support of my grandson’s entry for the current contest.” The writer’s eight-year- 3344 Mt. Diablo Blvd. Lafayette, CA old grandson was eager to look for the lost dog himself, found him, then wanted to enter the contest. The boy wanted to submit his 925.284.4440 entry, and his grandfather helped, noting, “His letter is a bit of a joint effort because he’s never written a letter to anyone before.” That touched me. I felt honored to be the recipient of someone’s very first letter, and I was happy that the paper could provide a www.LamorindaFloors.com License# 708486 vehicle for a memorable activity between a grandfather and his grandson. I hope the letter he wrote is the first of many, and that his writing skills will continue to be nurtured. While typing is a necessary and required skill in this computer age, there isn’t anything as personal or effective as a hand-written note to convey oneself. Coincidentally, I have recently ordered several handmade items off of Etsy.com. What made those purchases special for me is that many of them came with personalized handwritten thank-you notes from the designers. They were thoughtful and unique, and contained little anecdotes about the product. Some explained how their craft came into existence or special features they wanted to point out. It takes just a few minutes to craft a note, but the extra effort is noticed and, at least for me, very appreciated. To me, it’s that extra little something that confirms I bought from the right person, and it evokes a feeling of connection between the designer and me that I wouldn’t have otherwise. In all its forms, writing is a wonderful way of expressing oneself and communicating with others. Whether it’s a thank-you note or a love note, I urge you to pick up a card and write someone a note today. Make their day, and you’ll be making yours, as well.
AAUW is Looking for Gardens to Feature on Tour The Danville-Alamo-Walnut Creek Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) is looking for gardens for our 2017 Garden Tour to be held on Friday and Saturday, May 12th and 13th, 2017. If you’re interested in showcasing your garden, we’d like to visit it now. Or, if you know someone who has a beautiful garden, please have them contact us. The proceeds from the tour are donated to AAUW Fund, one of the world’s largest sources of funding for graduate women. AAUW is providing more than $3.7 million in funding for more than 244 fellowships and grants to outstanding women and nonprofit organizations in the 2014–15 academic year through this 501(c)3 non-profit. To learn more about our branch and garden tour, please visit http:// daw-ca.aauw.net/. Or if you or someone you know loves to decorate for the holidays, we are also looking for homes to share on Friday, December 9 and Saturday, December 10, 2016. To learn about AAUW Fund, visit www.aauw.org/what-we-do/ educational-funding-and-awards/. If you have a suggestion, please email daw.aauw@gmail.com.
Lamorinda Peace and Justice The Lamorinda Peace and Justice Group meets the fourth Tuesday of each month from 7 – 9PM in the Fireside Room of Lafayette Methodist Church, 955 Moraga Road, Lafayette. The group is committed to working to support a healthy planet, a thriving local community, and a safe, equitable world for all. For information, call (925) 946-0563.
Toastmasters
Develop Your Presentation Skills! Goal Achievers Toastmasters meetings are held every Monday from 7:15 8:15pm at Atria Park Lafayette, located at 1545 Pleasant Hill Road. Become the speaker and leader you want to be. The group is open to everyone aged 18 and up. For more information, visit http://goalachievers.toastmastersclubs.org.
Search and Rescue The Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team needs volunteer members to respond to missing person incidents, disasters, and other critical incidents. Team members are on call 24/7 year-round. The program provides required training; including wilderness traveling, first aid, map and compass usage, tracking disaster response, and search skills; and may also include special training for canine, equestrian, technical, mountain bike, or other rescue skills. For information and applications, visit www.contracostasar.org or call 925-646-4461.
Is Food a Problem for You? Overeaters Anonymous offers a fellowship of individuals who, through shared experience and mutual support, are recovering from compulsive overeating. This is a 12-step program. The free meetings are for anyone suffering from a food addiction including overeating, under-eating, and bulimia. The group meets Wednesdays at 6PM at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Lafayette. Visit www.how-oa.org for more information.
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Lafayette Today ~ June 2016 - Page 3
Lafayette Hiking Group To participate with Lafayette Hiking Group events, meet in the parking lot out from Lafayette BART’s main entrance at 8:30AM. The group forms carpools to the trailhead. Bring lunch or snacks, water, layered clothing, good walking shoes, sun protection, and money to contribute toward gas, bridge tolls, and parking ($3 local, more if further).
The Danville Area Chamber of Commerce Presents:
Saturday, June 18, Special Climate Hike on the Oursan Trail *Meet at Lafayette BART at 8:30AM to carpool or at the Bear Creek Staging Area at 9AM * Steve Richard, one of the founders of Sustainable Lafayette, will lead a moderate, four mile, “climate hike� on the Oursan Trail. This is a fantastic trail, through open fields and scattered oak trees, along the northern shore of Briones Reservoir, with lovely water views. Along the way Steve, who was recently trained by the Climate Reality Project, will provide a handful of 3-5 minute updates on the climate crisis, including the impact of the historic agreement reached in Paris. Snacks and beverages will be provided at the turnaround point - about two miles. For additional details, visit https:// lamorindahikes.com/2014/04/14/oursan-trail/.
Along Hartz & Prospect Avenues
June 18 & 19 10am to 5pm
Great Food!
Great Music!
Great Art!
Do you have a story idea, photo,or sporting news to share? Contact us at 925.405.6397 or editor@yourmonthlypapercom
Classic Car Show! (Sunday Only)
www.danvillesummerfest.com The Lafayette Chamber of Commerce and the City of Lafayette present
2016
PAWS de Tutu Dog Costume Competition and Parade
FREE
!
ROCK THE PLAZA FRIDAYS IN JUNE 6:30-8:30 PM
June 3
June 10
June 17
June 24
The Allmond Brothers Clan
Ticket to Ride
The Big Jangle
2016 Lamorinda Idol Finalists
allmondbrothersclan.com
tickettorideband.com
danhertlein.wix.com/ bigjangleband
lamorindaarts.org/ lamorinda-idol
Diablo Ballet and its Teen Board present their first annual PAWS de Tutu event, June 18 from 10AM – 1PM at the Lafayette Reservoir. The dog costume competition and parade, benefitting Diablo Ballet’s PEEK Outreach programs, will feature guest judges Renel Brooks-Moon, Public Address Announcer for the San Francisco Giants; Pam Kessler, Publisher of Walnut Creek Magazine; and Scott Ostler, Sports Columnist at the San Francisco Chronicle. Charly Kayle of the “Andrew & Charly� Morning Show on 96.5 KOIT Radio will be the guest emcee. Participants are invited to dress up their dogs and enter the dog costume “ComPAWtition� and win some amazing prizes including a Grand Prize: $500 VISA Gift Card and a $250 Gift Basket from Pet Food Express, Second Prize: A WHISTLE dog GPS tracker and a $250 Gift Basket from Pet Food Express, and Third Prize: $250 gift card for Consignitcouture. If you don’t have a dog or don’t want to dress your dog up, participants can join in the “PAWrade� walk around the reservoir, watch the costume competition, and enjoy the vendors, snacks and fun. All proceeds from PAWS de Tutu benefit Diablo Ballet’s PEEK Program (Performing Arts Education & Enrichment for Kids), the only arts education program of its kind offered by a professional dance company in the Bay Area. PEEK provides in-school movement curriculum and free dance performances to students and families in under-served areas who have few opportunities to participate in the arts. In 2015, Diablo Ballet extended the program to provide arts education to teenagers incarcerated within the Contra Costa County juvenile justice system. Anyone interested in participating should register online at www.diabloballet.org as participation is limited. Registration fees are $30 for adults and $20 for youth 17 and under. Every registered participant receives a goodie bag with sponsor coupons, snacks, and a t-shirt.
About Diablo Ballet
LAFAYETTE ROTARY
Minuteman Press Lafayette
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For 22 years, Diablo Ballet has been the professional dance company for Contra Costa County. Presenting acclaimed classical and contemporary ballets, the company is committed to exposing youth to the arts through its renowned PEEK Outreach Program, which has reached over 65,000 under-served school children in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. In 2015, Diablo Ballet was one of eight state-wide organizations to receive funding from the California Arts Council to bring its PEEK Extension Program to teenagers incarcerated within the Juvenile Justice system.
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Page 4 - June 2016 ~ Lafayette Today
Scottish Country Dancing
Sons in Retirement
Come dance every Thursday evening, year-round. No partner is required and no Scottish ancestry is needed. This dancing is aerobic and very sociable. Adult beginners are welcome anytime. Classes take place each week at 8PM. More experienced dancers also begin at 8PM in a separate class. All classes are held at the Danville Grange, located at 743 Diablo Road in Danville. All dance nights are drop-in. The first beginner lesson is free; afterwards the cost is $8/night or $6/night if attending a 10-week session paid in advance. Call Witsie at (925) 676-3637 or Kathleen at (925) 934-6148 for more information. Classes for youth are also offered at a different location; please call Kathleen for dates and fees.
Las Trampas Branch 116
Lafayette Community Garden and Outdoor Learning Center Organic Card Printing On Saturday, June 25th from 2PM to 4:30PM join Artist Suja Pritchard as to use leaves and other materials from nature to create a wonderful fresh gallery of stationery in an Organic Card Printing class. Spend the afternoon printing onto small pieces of paper and then mounting these “leaves” onto cards for you to enjoy and use. The class will play with simple printing techniques using ordinary acrylic paint and add artistic touches to complement the organic leaf print. The class is free although a $5 donation is appreciated to support the programs. All materials will be provided. The Lafayette Community Garden and Outdoor Learning Center is located at 3932 Mt. Diablo Blvd. in Lafayette. For more information visit lafayettecommunitygarden.org.
Chevron Family Theatre Festival Low Cost Fun for Everyone, Saturday July 16th, 10AM-4PM The Chevron Family Theatre Festival will return to the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek for the annual event featuring exciting new performers and popular favorites. The Festival will open at 10am with a Ribbon Cutting ceremony, birthday cake, and Prince and Princess Walk. Then free events inside and outside the Center along with ticketed shows will run through 4pm. Show tickets are just $5 each. Ticketed shows will go on sale June 16th. The event offers families a lowcost day of non-stop theater, dance, and music performances along with visual arts activities both inside and outside the Lesher Center for the Arts (LCA). This year’s headlining act is Artrageous - an amazing team of artists painting at electric speed right before your eyes. The show includes amazing vocals, creative choreography, high energy live music and unforgettable audience interaction. During the show, giant artworks jump to life with amazing speed unveiling larger than life icons and masterpieces in just moments. Learn more about them at http://artrageousexperience.com. Alex Ramon Magic also returns to the Festival bringing his unique brand of magic. Audiences will be entertained and impressed with his card tricks, illusions and modern day magic. http://alexramonmagic.com/media/videos/ Fantasy Forum Actors Ensemble will perform their interactive version of The Wizard of Oz. After a stormy beginning, Dorothy shares friendship with a Scarecrow, Tin Man, and a Lion. The audience helps them on their journey to find the heart, brains, and courage that they need on their dangerous journey to Oz. Emmy Award-nominated Pushcart Players will perform the classic Peter and the Wolf. This tantalizing version of the Russian folk tale, brings together all the elements of growing up – daring, defiance, confidence and courage. Other free offerings inside and outside the Lesher Center for the Arts include puppets for children, a Star Wars STEM: Build-a-Droid Station, Na Mamo No’eau Polynesian Dancers, San Jose Taiko Drummers, a Birthday Party, a Barbershop Quartet, Pirates – Buy a Bride, Princesses Live, and costumed characters. A complete schedule and ticket information is available at www. LesherArtsCenter.org.
Sons In Retirement (SIR) - Las Trampas Branch 116 welcomes guests to socialize with them at their monthly luncheon beginning at 11AM on Monday, June 20th at the Walnut Creek Elks Lodge, 1475 Creekside Drive. The group’s guest speaker will be Phil Shannon, a Certified Risk Management Consultant who for over 30 years has help mitigate and reduce the risk associated with identity theft. Identity theft has been the number one consumer complaint to the FTC for the past twelve years and surpassed drug trafficking as the number one crime in America in 2007. The FTC states there is a new victim of identity theft every two seconds and there is no end in site. Mr. Shannon will explain what steps can be taken to help, but more importantly he will debunk some of the myths associated with this crime and help people understand the grave concerns all individuals and companies need to be aware of that are much more important than credit card issues or financial institutions with breeches. He will try and help traverse the very confusing programs currently available to consumers. Please call (925) 322-1160 to make lunch reservations; the cost for lunch is $15. For more information about the group’s activities for retired men, please visit www.Branch116.org.
Lamorinda Branch 174 We are a social organization of retired and semi-retired men who enjoy our leisure time with friends and activities. Our activities are golf, bowling, bocce ball, table pool, travel, fishing, computers & technology, bridge, poker, pinochle, investing, wine tasting, walking, astronomy, stamp collecting, etc. We meet for lunch at 11 a.m. the Second Wednesday monthly at Holy Trinity Culture Center 1700 School Street, Moraga. Our guest speaker on June 8th will be Dr. George Selleck. He is a psychologist and a member of the Pac12 Hall of Honor and the Stanford Athletics Hall of Fame. He has developed and directed Leading2Play, a youth-driven sports, fitness and leadership program. For attendance and membership info, call Tyler at (925) 284-5561. Please visit www.branch174.sirinc2.org for more information.
Iris Wang Named Semifinalist in U.S. Presidential Scholars Program Iris Wang, a graduating senior at Acalanes High School, was recently named one of 689 semifinalists selected from nearly 4,700 candidates in the 2016 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. Scholars are selected on the basis of superior academic and artistic achievements, leadership qualities, strong character, and involvement in community and school activities. The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964 by Executive Order of the President to recognize some of the nation’s most distinguished graduating seniors for their accomplishments. Annually, up to 161 U.S. Presidential Scholars are chosen from among that year’s senior class, representing excellence in education and the promise of greatness in America’s youth. All Scholars are invited to Washington DC for the National Recognition Program.
Lost Dog!
$50 REWARD If you find him and your name is drawn! He is very small, so you will have to look hard if you want to find him.
Lafayette Luther is Missing He has become lost in this paper. Send a letter telling us where you found him, along with your name and address to:
Lost Dog! Lafayette Today, 3000F Danville Blvd #117, Alamo, CA 94507
Cathy Seitz is our winner! Luther was hiding on page 3 last month!
editor@yourmonthlypaper.com
Lafayette Today ~ June 2016 - Page 5
St. Paul’s Piano Improvisation Contest In June the first ever piano improvisation contest at St. Paul’s Episcopal in Walnut Creek will be held. This contest is open to all ages, and it aims to encourage the art of piano improvisation. The contest will take place on June 24th at 7:30PM, with preliminary auditions if necessary. Participants will improvise at the piano 1) In a given key - 1 minute, 2) On a given melody - 2 minutes, and 3) Freestyle - 3 minutes. There will be three judges who are currently members of the Composer/Pianists’ group of the Contra Costa Performing Arts Society. Aspiring contestants should register before June 1st. Please contact stpaulsconcerts@gmail.com or call Dwight Stone at (510) 512-2623 for more information or to enter. Registration fee is $20. Prizes are 1st place $250, 2nd place $100, and 3rd place $50. This event is open to participants of all ages and skill levels. The public is invited to the finalists’ concert on the evening of June 24th. Diablo Choral Artists Concert St. Paul’s Episcopal Church is located at 1924 Trinity Ave in Walnut Creek. Parking is free Diablo Choral Artists (formerly Voices of Musica Sacra) in the church lot across the street. presents Summer Nocturne, a concert featuring Lauridsen’s “Nocturnes,” Brahms’ “Vier Quartette,” Faure’s “Cantique de Jean Racine,” and Debussy’s “Trois Chansons.” The Music Director is Mark Tuning. • June 10, 8PM ~ Mt. Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church, 55 Eckley Lane, Walnut Creek, • June 12, 3PM ~St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 66 St. Stephen’s Dr., Orinda For additional details and to purchase tickets, visit www. dcachorus.org or call (925) 680-7089.
Enjoy More Anytime Dining at Merrill Gardens
Art & Photography Show Offers “The Best” of Student Work The public is invited to attend the Art & Photography Show featuring works by some 80 adult students at Acalanes Adult Education (AAE) on Friday, June 10, 69PM. This free opening night reception includes samples of drawing, multi-media, oil/acrylic paintings, and special projects created in Art Lab. The exhibit also includes the photography of advanced students who have been working on personal projects. Samples of quilts, mosaics, and creative writing round out the exhibit. Some items will be available for sale. Refreshments will be served. AAE is located at 1963 Tice Valley Blvd, Walnut Creek. The exhibit will continue on weekdays only through July 29, from 9AM -4PM.
Church Provides Community Care
A full life is a happy life. And nothing should keep you from enjoying a great meal. That’s why we created our Enjoy More Anytime Dining program – so you can dine on your own schedule, whenever it works for you. Call today to schedule your personal visit and enjoy lunch on us! (925) 854-1858 1010 Second Street Lafayette, CA 94549
merrillgardens.com
Lic #079200358
Retirement Living • Assisted Living • Memory Care
Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian’s Stephen Ministry has 25 trained lay people who provide ongoing, oneon-one Christian care to those in our congregation and in the community who are experiencing transitions in their lives. LOPC Stephen Ministry is confidential and is provided at no cost. A Stephen Minister is... • A congregation member with a gift for listening, • A lay person who has received 50 hours training in providing emotional and spiritual care, • A committed caregiver who listens, cares, prays, supports, and encourages those who are hurting, and • Someone who will “be there” for his or her care receiver, meeting faithfully for about an hour each week, for as long as there’s a need. Stephen Ministers are available for those who are dealing with illness or hospitalization, loneliness, aging, being shut-in, separation due to military deployment, death or serious loss, separation or divorce, disabilities, or grief and anxiety. If you know of someone who would benefit from the ongoing confidential, no cost, spiritual, and emotional support of a Stephen Minister, contact Jean Lee at (925) 943-2237, or visit www.lopc.org/ care_stephen_ministry.asp.
Page 6 - June 2016 ~ Lafayette Today
The Bookworm By Joan Stevenson The annual meeting of the Friends of the Lafayette Library and Learning Center was held on May 9th. Following a delicious brunch and all the necessary business, it was time to celebrate a year of successes…sorting, shelving, and selling gently used books and putting the revenue earned from those efforts into supporting programs and special events, purchasing books for the library, and keeping the doors open on Sunday afternoon. The Shelby Award each year recognizes a volunteer for outstanding achievement. This year’s winner was Mary Solon. Mary was recognized for her efforts in shelving! Presenting the award was Joel Roster, Artistic Director of Town Hall Theatre. He presented the award to Mary and donated two (2016-17) season tickets to Mary and shop volunteers whose names were drawn. Last month I reported about the book bags that were a gift from the Friends to all Lafayette teachers. It was wonderful to have grateful feedback from the teachers. “Thanks so much for doing this for us!…. I am SO excited about the orange bag! Now I can go in anytime and get half price books and don’t have to wait for the Saturday sales! My class has benefited tremendously from all of the books I have been able to purchase from the library bookstore! THANK YOU!” School’s out! The library is open and will welcome “The Big Bugs” on June 15th from 6:30PM-7:30PM. They will be visiting from the Insect Discovery Lab in San Francisco. Don’t miss the opportunity to see and touch these bugs. Please register at tinyurl.com/InsectDiscoveryLab. On Monday June 30th, Lindsay Wildlife Experience will be here with some live animals and specimens to talk about the creatures that live in Yosemite National Park. Join us as part of our 100th birthday celebration of the National Park Service! Please register for this event. Once you have learned about the wildlife in Yosemite, you will be ready to go backpacking. Join us on Thursday, June 23rd from 6:30PM-8PM as a backpacking expert from REI shares tips on their favorite overnight backpacking trips in Yosemite National Park! The park has so much to offer beyond the extraordinary world-famous valley. Within the park's 1,200 square miles there are deep glacialcut valleys, tranquil meadows, rugged High Sierra peaks, a vast wilderness area, and much more. It is surprisingly easy to find solitude in Yosemite's backcountry despite the park’s three million annual visitors. Learn how to take full advantage
www.yourmonthlypaper.com of the wonders of Yosemite National Park. The event is free; register at tinyurl. com/BackpackYosemiteLAF. On June 25th from 7:30PM-8:30PM, Science Cafe will look at the health benefits of medical marijuana and its use in treating serious illness, in managing chronic diseases, and in providing pain relief from chronic conditions. This panel discussion on medical cannabis (aka medical marijuana) features Steve DeAngelo who has been a cannabis activist, advocate, entrepreneur, and educator for almost four decades. His landmark Harborside Health Center is the largest medical marijuana dispensary in the world and sets the standard for providing safe access, responsible use, and lab-tested, high quality medicine. Steve is also the author of The Cannabis Manifesto. Also featured is Uwe Blesching, Editor-in-Chief of Healing Times magazine and author of several books including The Cannabis Health Index. Uwe is a regular contributor to Mind-Body-Medicine and a medical journalist who focuses on cannabinoid medicine. Joining them is Eloise Theisen, a dedicated patient-focused nurse specializing in cancer, epilepsy, chronic pain, ALS, dementia, Alzheimers, Parkinson, PTSD, fibromyalgia, and various autoimmune and neurological diseases. In 2014, she started Green Health Consultants (GHC), a clinic providing patients with consulting to safely and effectively use cannabinoids to manage health conditions. Register today! Tickets are $10 If your idea of summer vacation is more laid back, here are two book groups that might be perfect for your time in the hammock. The Lafayette Book Club is meeting on June 22nd from 7PM-8PM. This lively discussion group meets on the 4th Wednesday of each month. This month's selection is A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler. One reviewer commented, “A Spool of Blue Thread is a throwback to the meaty family dramas with which Tyler won her popularity in the 1980s. As in the best of her novels, she extends her warmest affection to the erring, the inconstant, and the mismatched—the people who are “like anybody else.” Now, doesn’t that sound like the perfect summer read? The classic book group meets on the 2nd Monday of every month (July 11th from 7PM-8PM) and gives readers a chance to re-read a book that has stood the test of time and participate in a discussion about it. This month’s selection is Persuasion by Jane Austin. First published in 1818, Persuasion was Jane Austen's last work. Its mellow character and autumnal tone have long made it a favorite with Austen readers. Well, that is just a glimpse of the opportunities for you at LLLC. Check out the new library website for more ideas at www.lllcf.org. See you next month with details about a very special Teddy Bear Camp Out!
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Lafayette Today ~ June 2016 - Page 7
In 1966 Community Center Construction Initiated by Students’ Fund-Raising Efforts By Ruth Bailey, Lafayette Historical Society
See Grants continued on page 19
The June 3, 1966, issue of the Lafayette Sun glowed with the announced start of a Community Center for the townsfolk. The paper reported that in 1954 the people of Lafayette had hoped to raise, by private subscription, enough money for a building where private groups could meet. Enough money was raised to purchase 12 acres of Gopher/Mole Removal land on St. Mary's Road—land appraised at $80,000 in 1966. And there was a balance [undisclosed] which had No Poison lain dormant for several years. Unfortunately, that bank account lacked enough money to build a facility large enough for the needs of the community, and the dream started to fade. The City owned a plot of land where locals could walk their dogs. 925-765-4209 Many of the original contributors moved away or gave up hope, and others called it “a ridiculous idea that never could get off the ground anyway.” But they didn't realize the idealism and energy of local high school students. It was the era of Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland's “We’ve got a barn, let's plan a show!” Except our youngsters didn’t have a barn for their show. Students from Del Valle, Campolindo, and Acalanes high schools formed a junior board to give the City their ideas and enthusiasm and contribute in any way possible to building the Center. “Purely for the sake of publicity and in order to demonstrate how desperately all of the people of Lafayette need a Community Center building, these youngsters decided to have a street dance on the dirt field where no building now stands—originally proposed for the future site of the Center. Counting on selling 500 tickets at 50 cents per person in order to make expenses, both junior and senior boards were astonished at the results.” As the Sun reported, “The youngsters, like the water in The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, kept pouring in until the financial returns indicated there were close to 1,000 high-schoolers there. And, although the object of the dance was to enlist the interest and help of Lafayette parents, the kids were terribly pleased to turn over $277.70 to the treasurer of the adult community center board, Herbert Gueldon. “Guelden announced that, with the receipt of this money, the building fund would go over $20,000, which would make a fine start for what is hoped will become a Park and Recreation Service area. If ever proof of the need for a building existed, the youth have done it!” The article continued, “Although the end of their school year is rapidly approaching, and there are final exams, the pace has slowed down only temporarily. At their most recent meeting, the students discussed their hopes for a high school gym-sized building, feeling that after their phenomenally successful dance, anything less would be inadequate for Lafayette’s growing population. ‘And some day,’ they added, ‘an Olympic-size swimming pool.’ Expensive? Certainly. But desperately needed when teenagers have no local rendezvous, senior citizens have no place to call their own, service clubs would like to find a permanent home, and intermediate school youngsters are literally crying for something to do.” “Can and will the people of Lafayette meet the challenge this time? Our youth is leading the way. Let’s not fail them again. If they can throw a dance for 1,000 youngsters with only five weeks’ planning and preparation, can’t we be ‘young and ignorant enough to accomplish the impossible,’ concluded Mrs. Dyer, referring to the quotation, ‘Never tell a young person that something cannot be done. God may have been waiting for centuries for someone ignorant enough to do the impossible.’” Think of the work that went into creation of the Community Center the next time you register for a Senior Driver Safety Program there, or an exercise class or preschool entertainment for your tots. Today’s population, young and old, benefits from the enthusiasm of those long-ago Baby Boomers.
HairCare Professionals and MassageTherapists Needed
CYO Presents Inspirational Award
Hospice of the East Bay provides care to terminally ill patients and their families in their homes or facilities throughout Contra Costa County. Many of our patients benefit greatly from a haircut or hair set or from the gentle and compassionate touch of a massage therapist. Would you be interested in volunteering a few hours a month to provide comfort to our patients? If so, please call the Volunteer Department at Hospice of the East Bay, (925) 887-5678. (License/Massage Certification Required).
Recently the St. Perpetua CYO Board presented the annual Ken Nelson Award 2015-2016 to one member on each of the 8th grade St Perpetual CYO basketball teams. This award is in special recognition for basketball athletes who have inspired coaches and best represent the values of CYO sports. These players demonstrated team leadership, sportsmanship, dedication, hard work and respect for coaches, teammates, opponents, and officials. These players are selected by their teammates. For more information on this award or to register for CYO sports, visit www.stperpetua.org.
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Recipients of the Ken Nelson - St. Perpetual Awards, who best represent the values of CYO, as voted by the players pictured left to right - Front row - Mallory Louis, Scarlette McCullough, and Ellie Meyer. Middle row - Jonathan Enriquez, Nick Bamont, Deven Kadlic, Isaiah Coleman, Lucas Eppinger, Lucas Julian, and Anthony Banis. Back row Mark Poole, Steve Coleman, Nick Murgia, Brian Miles, and Jeff Julian. Photo by Keb Byers.
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Page 8 - June 2016 ~ Lafayette Today
Killer Bees in Contra Costa? By Supervisor Candace Andersen, Last month we had a bee scare in our County when a swarm of bees was discovered in Concord. The bees were aggressive and two small dogs died after being stung. While initial media reports indicated that the swarm included Africanized Honeybees (AHB), also known as “killer bees, ” tests with CDFA Labs determined the bees from the incident in Concord were not, in fact, Africanized Honeybees. Bees have always played a valuable and important role in agriculture in Contra Costa County. Besides the honey they produce, we depend on them to pollinate fruits, vegetables and flowers. Killer bees first arrived in California in 1994, and since then they have pushed their way north. Their movement has slowed since 2004 when they found their way to Southern Tulare County. Killer bees do not survive well in colder temperatures, which may explain the decreased rate of spread. As the average temperatures continue to rise in California, killer bees have been slowly moving more to the north. Killer Bees are nearly indistinguishable from European Honeybees without DNA testing. Their sting is no different from the European Honeybees; it is their aggressive behavior when defending their hive that sets them apart from the European variety. The killer bees tend to aggressively defend their hive with vibrations and noise 100 feet from the hive or if something moves within 50 feet of the hive. They will chase someone up to a quarter of a mile away, while the European Honeybees will only chase someone for about 100 feet. Killer bees will remain agitated for up to 8 hours after being disturbed whereas the European Honeybees will normally calm down after an hour or two. Killer bees were found in Contra Costa County in 1997 and 2008 in Crockett. The bees hitched a ride on a ship from Guatemala in 1997. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) came out and treated those swarms. Since then, a suspected killer bee was discovered last year in Lafayette. Any swarm of bees can be dangerous. If you find a bee swarm you can call the Contra Costa County Department of Agriculture at (925) 646-5250 or the Contra Costa Mosquito and Vector Control District at (925) 685-9301. In many cases a swarm will leave after a few days, but can be removed by a beekeeper if it is in a high traffic area or in another area of concern. Volunteers with the Mount Diablo Beekeepers Association offer swarm removal services by city for a $50 donation. Their website is www.diablobees.org/MDBA/swarms.html. You can also find information on beekeeping on UC Davis’s website at http://ucanr.edu/sites/UrbanAg/Production/Animals_and_Bees/Beekeeping/. Thank you to Assistant Agricultural Commissioner Matthew Slattengren for his contributions to this article. My office is here to serve the residents of Contra Costa County District 2, which includes San Ramon, Danville, Alamo, Walnut Creek, Saranap, Parkmead, Lafayette, Moraga, Canyon, and Orinda. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if we can provide you with additional information on this topic or on other County issues. I can be reached at SupervisorAndersen@bos.cccounty.us or (925) 957-8860.
Lafayette Music Director Honored Bob Athayde, Music Director for Stanley Middle School in Lafayette, was recently honored with the 1st Annual Ann Denny Memorial Award during a concert at the school. On hand to honor the long-time musical director was Dennis Garrison, President of the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, Don Tatzin, Lafayette Councilmember and “honorary” band participant, Mike Anderson, ViceMayor of Lafayette, Teresa Gerringer, District Director for Senator Steve Glazer, Cameron Deal from Assembly Woman Catharine Baker’s office, Michael McRae from Congressman Mark Desaulnier’s office, Lauri Byers, Staff to Supervisor Candace Andersen, Honoree Bob Athayde, his wife Julie, Kyle Athayde and Ginni Reynolds.
Play it Again Sam Opens at Town Hall By Joel Roster, Artistic Director Woody Allen, the undisputed master of neuroses, pens this tale about Allen Felix, a divorcee who’s trying to re-enter the dating world with absolutely no tools in his arsenal. Striking out on all fronts, he turns to the coolest guy he can think of: Humphrey Bogart. But when Bogey’s time-specific And Reality: (From left) advice doesn’t translate too well into Allen’s Fantasy Humphrey Bogart (Jerry Motta), the life, Allen must follow his own heart…and Fantasy Woman (Ginny Wehrmeister), his own confused mind. Linda Christie (Heather Kellogg) and Town Hall favorite and Bay Area legend Allen Felix (Alan Coyne) in Town Søren Oliver returns to direct this hysterical Hall Theatre’s “Play It Again, Sam.” story to close out Town Hall’s 2015-16 Season. Oliver states that he’s always been drawn to Woody Allen’s plays and films. “It’s sort of like Charlie Brown for adults,” Oliver says. Play it Again, Sam speaks to all romantics who feel they don’t have the right to be in the ‘love game.’ The play asks those of us who might feel that no one will ever love them to step up and take a chance. Life is risk. I like that.” Taking on the role of Allen Felix is Alan Coyne. As anyone who’s seen a Woody Allen film or play is aware, there’s usually a central Woody Allen character, which presents a challenge for any actor trying to overcome the iconic nature of such a personality. “It’s the Woody Allen role in a Woody Allen script written for Woody Allen by Woody Allen,” laughs Coyne. ”Luckily, it’s early Woody Allen, so he’s still in the process of becoming Woody Allen, which mean there’s some room [for an actor’s interpretation].” Town Hall Theatre, which was first established in 1944, is the winner of numerous accolades and awards. It has been honored with the top Shellie (equivalent of Tony award) for Best Play in Contra Costa County for three years in a row. Play it Again, Sam runs June 2- June 25 at Town Hall, located at 3535 School Street in Lafayette. Tickets range from $20 to $32 with discounts for students and seniors. Special theatre club nights, with a talk-back and complimentary wine after the show, are June 10 and 24. Purchase tickets online at www. TownHallTheatre.com or contact the box office at (925) 283-1557.
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Lafayette Today ~ June 2016 - Page 9
Walking the Reservoir By Jim Scala Reflecting on our Grand Pacific tour. Our 102-day cruise traveled the Pacific Rim and visited 48 ports in 19 countries. Our first stops were tropical islands, then Australia was followed by the Asian countries, Russia, Alaska, and Vancouver, then home. Asia booms with extensive prosperity. The people smile and are enthusiastic; countries are clean. In contrast, Russia lacked growth and the people were somber, yet friendly, and interested in America. I propose our politicians visit Asia and see its prosperity first hand. I snorkeled over beautiful coral reefs in the South Pacific Islands, explored Tokyo’s crowded streets, visited a 900-year-old water village in China, toured the heart-wrenching Cambodian killing fields and hiked snow-packed mountain tracks in Alaska before we sailed back under the Golden Gate Bridge into the world’s most beautiful Bay, San Francisco. Global Warming makes money. The Northwest Passage is now navigable in the summer. A cruise leaves from Seward, Alaska, goes north, and then turns east to Greenland and finishes in New York harbor. Global warming has opened at least one new venture. Our 22nd reservoir concert was outstanding. Dick Holt’s idea, 25 years ago, to enjoy concert music at the res, is now Lafayette’s annual free Concert at the Res. As people climbed the gentle grade to the bandstand, they were greeted with a “Welcome Veterans” sign that graced the Rotary’s display. It included raffle gifts, food, and soft drinks donated by Diablo Foods and Norma Evans’ cookies. All proceeds go to the Rotary’s school music programs. Keeping with tradition, Brass Fanfare opened the concert with eighteen horns from the combined Stanley and Westlake combined symphonic band, with ex-mayor Don Tatzin on the baritone. Then we were treated to jazz by the Bentley and Acalanes schools and the Dominant 7. Vocal music began with the Lamorinda Theatre Academy’s 27 singers, followed by Lafayette’s Town Hall Troup singing stirring arrangements from HMS Pinafore. Bob Sutherland of the Rossmoors’ Big Band is still playing the trumpet at 92. Bob is a WW-II Battle of the Bulge vet. Rossmoor’s youngest student musician put their age spread at 80 years. The Stanley and Westlake orchestra closed the concert with a resounding Armed Forces on Parade. I detected a tear in many veteran’s eyes. John Sherry’s commemorative bench. Town Manager Steve Falk described John as “The guy with the clipboard.” Steve told how John took care of the Rotary Club’s many details and is sorely missed. John’s bench, set in the grass near the stage, lets us enjoy the Reservoir’s breathtaking beauty while reflecting on the many dedicated people, like John, who make Lafayette a great place to live. Preventive medicine is right here for the taking. I sometimes feel that I preach too much about walking the res to get the 150 minutes of weekly moderate exercise we all need. I won’t stop, because in recent years there have been a number of reports in medical journals confirming that walking reduces the risk of breast and colorectal cancer. Indeed, risk reduction in the studies ranged from 9% to 19%. I hereby declare, “Moderate exercise is preventive medicine, and Walking the Reservoir is a part of its practice!” Take it seriously. Garter snakes put on a show. On Sunday, May, 16th, a garter snake went quickly into the west end marsh, so I followed. There were over eight garter snakes doing all sorts of things. Did I happen onto a Garter Snake group mating ritual, or were the snakes simply playing? Whatever, it was an interesting sight. Lafayette Reservoir’s senior walking program. Over a year ago, Maureen Newman and Molly Cohen, who manage Lafayette’s senior center, started the walking program at the Lafayette Reservoir. In the recreation bulletin, they asked for people to sign up via e-mail or phone. We maintain over 75 people on the email list, even though some people have moved away or, for other reasons, dropped off. Walkers meet at the dam’s center bench on Tuesday and Thursday at 8:50AM and start walking at 9AM. After the walk, some of us do yoga on the bandstand. “Senior” is loosely interpreted, and we welcome anyone to walk, enjoy good conversation, and share in friendly fellowship. If you’re interested, contact me or the Lafayette Senior Center to sign up. If you already enjoy or want to try yoga, bring a yoga mat, or ask me and I’ll bring one for you. And you’re always welcome to just watch.
The East Bay Regional Park District Wants You! By Fran Miller The East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) includes 65 regional parks in its two-county jurisdiction, covering more than 113,000 miles and 1,200 miles of trail. Helping to oversee and manage this vast recreational territory are nearly 200 volunteers from all over the Bay Area. EBRPD offers a volunteer position for nearly every interest. Consider work in the Botanic Garden, or help with a Coastal Clean-up Day. Become a Regional Parks ambassador, or participate in the companion dog patrol. Help with trail maintenance, or walk the trails as part of the safety patrol. Whether you may seek a special one-time volunteer job or ongoing year-round programs, EBRPD would love to hear from you. Positions are offered for all ages and can be tailored for school groups, students, corporate groups, and Scouting and service clubs. They also offer company team-building service projects. Those seeking to help restore parklands to their original state can help replace non-native plants with natives, or work with staff to restore vital habitats. EBRPD volunteers help lead tours, take photos, distribute flyers, serve as hosts and greeters, and help with recycling activities. Volunteering with EBRPD can provide new skills, new friends, a greater knowledge of natural and cultural resources, and the personal satisfaction of making a difference in the community. For information, email Volunteers@EBParks.org, or visit www.ebparks.org/about/getinvolved/volunteer. (Some events require registration and some programs require training, fingerprinting, background checks, or TB testing.)
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Page 10 - June 2016 ~ Lafayette Today
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Technology Matters By Evan Corstorphine, Portable CIO, Inc. What if you went into work tomorrow morning and found every single file on your computer was unreadable? What if all of your documents, spreadsheets, and databases were all useless? Would you be out of business? This is not a hypothetical question, as a form of virus called “ransomware” has exploded in popularity among cyber-criminals, and it’s keeping us very busy. At its core, the purpose of ransomware is to encrypt all of the victim’s computer files, then hold them for “ransom” until a payment is received, usually in the form of the cyber-currency called “Bitcoin.” People don’t usually realize there is a problem until they try to open a document and get a strange error indicating the file is corrupted, or they notice a “Your files have been encrypted” message file on their desktop or in their file folders. By then it’s too late. The taunting messages goes on to say that your data has been encrypted, and that any attempts to decrypt it will result in the total irrevocable loss of everything, and that payment of a Bitcoin is required to purchase the decryption tool. Reports vary on what happens when payment has been made. Sometimes the criminals do actually give the victim their decryption tool, but an equal number don’t deliver anything at all. I do not believe in paying these criminals. Paying them rewards their behavior, which means we’ll get more of the same in the future. Plenty ot people do pay, however, and that is why this is a $350 million criminal business. For the most part the threats seem to be coming from Eastern Europe, although many others are jumping on this lucrative bandwagon. Our team is focused on A) Prevention, B) Detection, and C) Remediation. For Prevention, there are a myriad of highly technical steps that must be taken by our system administrators to protect the fleets of computers we care for. Even then, because the viruses have become so sophisticated and constantly change, it is impossible to 100% prevent these infections from occurring, but our steps, plus your education, can significantly reduce your exposure. The criminals have endless time and resources, and it’s much
easier to destroy something than it is to protect it. Nonetheless, we have made good strides in assembling world-class prevention tools and strategies for our subscription clients. If we cannot prevent the infection, we want to know as quickly as possible when it attacks. New variants of ransomware are being released all the time. The ones we know of all leave specific trails, which we can scan for and trigger alerts from. Detecting the infection early means we may be able to stop it while it’s on one computer, rather than wait until the whole network of computers is infected. Remediation is about improving your resiliency to the event. We need to be able to return a computer or a server back to a full operating condition in a short time frame. This usually means having “image-based backups” and being able to re-create a fully functioning server in a matter of hours. Recovering from ransomware is not dissimilar from what we would do in a “disaster recovery” situation for a business that had a fire, for instance. For a homeowner, this means having internet-based backups in the form of a service such as CrashPlan or Carbonite. We’ve rescued scores of people using these amazing services, and if you do not use them yet, you should protect yourself with internet based backups immediately. Having your data stored off site is critical. The newer variants of ransomware are “network aware,” and they know how to crawl from computer to computer looking for files to encrypt. If you are unlucky, this means any backups you have stored on a locally connected device also get zapped by the ransomware, which in essence is like having no backup at all. The solution is to ensure your backed up data is transmitted off site, such that if the worst happens, your data is safely ensconced elsewhere. The protection of your systems is not just a matter of buying some antivirus. There are many other technologies and techniques that need to be employed in addition to antivirus to keep your systems protected. This is what we do and part of the value of having an external IT department manage your systems. Ransomware is absolutely going to get worse before it gets better, and I encourage you to contact us for an audit before you fall victim. For more information, please contact your friendly IT Team at Portable CIO, via info@pcioit.com, or by calling 925-552-7953. Advertorial
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Summertime is Here
Lafayette Today ~ June 2016 - Page 11
By Erin Martin, Village Associates Real Estate
Spring is traditionally when people decide to sell their homes in Lafayette for a multitude of reasons. When the weather is beautiful and flowers are in bloom, homes look their best. Buyers traditionally receive their end-of-the-year bonus the first of the year, have the money for a down payment, and are no longer distracted by the winter holidays. Not to mention families are looking forward to the next school year and are trying to move to Lafayette in time to enroll their children in our award winning schools before summer break. Springtime is when sellers historically do best. So, what has the spring market been like in Lafayette in 2016? According to statistics collected by Contra Costa Association of Realtors, as of April 30th, inventory is down 9.2%, the number of single-family pending & closed home sales are down 21%, and the average sales price is up 6.3% to $1,586,903 compared to $1,419,886 in 2015. The low inventory has pushed prices to new heights in Lafayette. Prices are significantly higher than the previous high water mark of 2006 where the average sales price was $1,359,845. While Lafayette single-family inventory is definitely an issue, townhome/condo listings have doubled and closed sales are up 150% thanks to new developments like the Woodbury. If you are curious how Lafayette stacks up against Orinda and Moraga, I am too. A little friendly competition never hurts. For Orinda, the average home price is $1,635,741, the number of listings are down 6.1%, and closed transactions are also down 41.6%. Moraga inventory is actually up 14.7% from last year, while the average home price is $1,281,815, up 2.35% over 2015. As the spring market wraps up, what is in store for this summer? There are definitely buyers who will be continuing to look through the summer months because they have not secured a home during the spring due to the short supply of single family homes. Despite the significant increase in the average sales price across the board in Lamorinda, you can’t ignore that the number of closed transactions has slowed. Interest rates are holding near historical lows, but we will likely need further appreciation in Bay Area technology company valuations to push prices higher from here. Please feel free to call or email me your real estate questions or for a free home evaluation. I can be reached at (925) 951-3817 or Advertorial by email at erin@erinmartinhomes.com.
Interested in Participating in Government? Volunteers are Needed Throughout District Two Below is a list of vacancies on a variety of advisory bodies to share your time and talents for the betterment of our community.
District 2 Vacancies Available • Contra Costa County Disproportionate Minority Contact Task Force - seeking residents interested in reviewing data and discussing issues regarding disproportionate minority contact within the local criminal justice system. Seats available for District 2 residents are: Community-based organization representatives with at least one representative from the faith and family, Mental Health representative, Public Member. Application deadline is June 15th. • Economic Opportunity Council - expiring seat In addition, Supervisor Andersen would like to draw your attention to the following list of countywide advisory bodies that currently have seats available: • Advisory Council on Aging • Affordable Housing Finance Committee • Alcohol and Other Drugs Advisory Board • Countywide Bicycle Advisory Committee • County Connection Citizen Advisory Committee • Developmental Disabilities Area Board • East Bay Regional Park District - Advisory Committee • CCC Local Planning Advisory Council for Early Care & Education • Advisory Council on Equal Employment Opportunity • Juvenile Justice Commission/Delinquency Prevention Commission • Managed Care Commission • Contra Costa Commission for Women To apply for any of these seats, visit www.contracosta.ca.gov/ DocumentCenter/Home/View/6433.
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Page 12 - June 2016 ~ Lafayette Today
Sustainable Lafayette Tip of the Month Recycling Conundrums … Which Bin Do I Pick? You’re standing in the kitchen, clutching a plastic bag in your cold, clammy hand. Does it go in your recycling bag? The trash can? It has the remains of a long-forgotten leftover tomato inside … can it go into the food scrap pail? The answer is that a dirty plastic bag, once the rotten food has been dumped into the food scrap bucket, goes into the garbage. Yes, the plain old garbage, destined for the landfill. Only clean and dry plastic bags are recyclable. They don’t need to be intact or in any way “usable.” Dry cleaner bags, which often end up torn, are recyclable. So are those really thin newspaper bags. They are all going to be bundled together and sold in bulk. (Note: plastic wrap, so similar to dry cleaner bags, is NOT recyclable and goes in the trash.) Kimberly Lam, the recycling coordinator for Republic Services, the garbage contractor for Lafayette, has put together a list of five common questions and misconceptions about recycling. Some of the rules have changed since Republic took over the garbage hauling contract last year. And improved technology and new markets for raw materials means that some items, such as plastic bags, which never were recyclable before, now can go in the blue bin. Even if you are committed to a zero-waste home, there are some items that simply can’t be recycled and go into the black bin. Pet poop, for example – can’t be composted either. The facility that makes compost out of our green waste cannot process it. And Styrofoam, even if it bears a recycling icon, is not recyclable; try to avoid bringing it home. Here’s a comprehensive list of what goes into your blue bin. Paper towels and napkins, even if they’re clean, go into the green (compost) bin because the short fibers that comprise them cannot be recycled. They decompose quickly. Pizza boxes, ice cream cartons, and any paper that is contaminated with food and grease, also gets composted. Among the questions that Republic’s Lam most often fields is this
Rockridge Ice Cream Tour By Linda Summers Pirkle For many people, including my daughters and me, ice cream is a favorite treat. It seems we are not alone since according to fun facts of ice cream history, 90% of American households enjoy ice cream. Perhaps it is the cold, creamy texture and the sublime flavors that have made ice cream so popular over the years. I remember childhood friends who were prescribed the “ice cream diet” after tonsillectomies and thinking no matter the inconvenience and pain of the operation, it would be worth it to eat ice cream all day! Even now, my husband knows for special occasions jewelry is not so important to me and beautiful flowers are appreciated, but ice cream (and a trip to Paris) are the way to my heart. Rockridge neighborhood in Oakland is a food and coffee-lovers delight with European style Rockridge Market Hall and the many eateries along College Avenue including La Farine; the French bakery famous for delicious morning buns, croissants and brioche (their mocha chocolate cookies are divine); Ver Brugge Foods with their house-made sausages (try the lamb and rosemary, best ever); and six coffee shops within two city blocks. I was excited to learn the area is also an ice cream lover’s destination. Lauren Herpich; owner, proud new mom, and founder of the Rockridge Neighborhood Heritage and Walking Food Tour; invited me on a personal pre-season tour featuring ice cream. What fun! Our first stop was Dreyer’s Ice Cream Parlor on College Avenue in Oakland. It is the only ice cream parlor for the world’s largest ice cream company. According to Lauren, back in 1928, Jim Dreyer partnered with Bay Area candy maker Joseph Edy, and the well-known ice cream company was founded. In 1929, after the infamous Black Thursday, Dreyer, in an effort to calm his nerves, added walnuts (later almonds) and bite-sized marshmallows (which he created using his wife’s sewing shears to cut the marshmallow sheets) to his chocolate ice cream. His new creation was called Rocky Road in an effort to put a smile on his patrons’ faces in the rocky times of the Great Depression. In those days, the price was a penny a scoop. Fittingly, a scoop of the famous Rocky Road ice cream is given on the tour. Another stop on the tour is Powell’s Candy Shoppe. Besides the most delicious
www.yourmonthlypaper.com one: How clean do materials need to be for the recycling bin? The answer is a big relief… fairly clean, but by no means spotless. She Recycling Myths, Tips suggests wiping out a peanut butter jar with & Misunderstandings an old napkin and then sending the napkin 1. Pizza boxes and paper towels are into the food scrap bucket. made from paper – why can’t I recycle it? And it’s better to compost food scraps than These items are often contaminated with food and grease – food-soiled paper products should to use a garbage disposal. Even though the food go in the green organics cart for composting. Also, the fibers in paper towels gets ground up, it still clogs wastewater lines and napkins are too short to recycle into paper again. and costs the sanitary district a lot to filter out. 2. Which cart should I put pet waste in? To make your food scrap process somewhat Pet waste (and diapers!) should go in your black tidier, you can line your under-sink bucket landfill cart. Our compost facility cannot accept any with newspaper or purchase compostable pail human or animal waste. liners. RecycleSmart’s website offers more 3. What’s the deal with styrofoam? info about the food scrap program. Unfortunately, styrofoam should go in the black landfill cart. It If you’re wondering whether there’s an is not easily recyclable. Try to avoid purchasing products with optimal size when you’re breaking down those this material instead! large cardboard boxes, the answer is no. As 4. Why can’t I just put food waste down my garbage disposal? long as it fits in your blue bin, it’s small enough. Large amounts of food and grease can clog The good news from Republic is that, your sewer line, and also takes a lot of energy and resources for the sanitary district to treat according to the garbage and recycling this waste water. Instead, put all food in your green organics cart truck drivers, residential customers are for composting. relatively accurate on their recycling triage; 5. How clean do materials need to be for recycling? Lam said there are many more issues with No need to wash your recyclables, but make sure they are empty and fairly commercial clients. clean –shake out remaining liquids, use a spoon or spatula to scrape out materials, RecycleLafayette.org will help you help or use a napkin to wipe it empty (and then compost the Lafayette reach its goal of 75% diversion napkin in your green bin!). from the landfill. Sustainable Lafayette’s website – sustainablelafayette.org – is another great resource for ideas and inspiration on transforming your home and community For more information, call Republic Services (925) 685-4711 or visit into more sustainable places with enhanced www.republicservices.com/site/pacheco-ca quality of life for current and future residents.
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gelato and sorbets, Powell’s is a candy lover’s haven with candy of all kinds. The shop specializes in old fashioned sweets that baby boomers grew up with including Sky Bars, Goo-Goo Clusters, Sugar Babies, and Caramel Creams as well as delicious chocolates and so much more. This small and charming shop is delightful. Prepare to spend some time perusing the unique articles that owner Shahrazad Junblat has on display. I enjoyed seeing the riding boots, cap and riding crop she used as a teenager in Egypt, reminiscent of Elizabeth Taylor’s National Velvet attire, and the collection of Candy Land board games through the ages. Rockridge Ice Cream Tour is a one-hour guided walking tour. The seasonal Sundays-only tour starts June 5 and runs thru October. Departure time is 3PM. Price is $15 for adults, and kids 12 and under are $7.50. Advance reservations are required. Purchase tickets online at rockridgefoodtour.com, or call (510) 6046546. Private food tours and kids’ birthday parties are available. Parking is free on Sundays at Rockridge BART station. Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream is located at 5925 College Avenue, Oakland. Their phone number is (510) 594-9466. Hours of operation are Monday-Saturday noon7PM and Sunday noon-6PM. Powell’s Sweet Shoppe is located at 3206 College Avenue, Berkeley. They offer Children’s birthday parties and the unique “Sweet Rewards” program, honoring achievements for kids. Their website is powellssweetshoppe.com and phone number is (510) 658-9866. Hours are MondaySaturday 11AM-9PM and Sunday 11AM-8PM. Linda Summers Pirkle, travel consultant and long term Danville resident, has arranged and led tours for the Town of Danville for several years. Inspired by the many wonderful places to visit in the Bay Area, she organizes day trips, either for groups or for friends and family. “What a Lauren Herpich, founder of Rockridge great place to live, so much to see, so much Neighborhood Heritage and Walking to do.” To share your “Quick Trips” ideas Food Tour tasting one of the treats on the Ice Cream Tour. email Coverthemap@gmail.com.
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Lafayette Today ~ June 2016 - Page 13
Energy Matters By Mark Becker, GoSimpleSolar California’s Net Metering laws, which are very advantageous to an investment in solar PV, have been extended for another 20+ years. Net Metering 2.0 has been regarded as a big win for the average electric consumer and the solar industry. NEM 2.0 introduces a small interconnection fee, an annual charge for solar “credits,” and a requirement to be on a Time of Use utility tariff (which is usually most advantageous when paired with solar PV in any case). NEM 2.0 is about to become active. If all of the “approved” solar PV projects in the PGE queue were interconnected today, the current and slightly more advantageous NEM 1.0 law would expire. A current “reservation in the NEM 1.0 queue” will only ultimately qualify if interconnected to the PGE grid before the Net Metering cap of 5% solar penetration is met, which is imminent. Even projects without a current “reservation,” which are interconnected in the next couple of months, will qualify for NEM 1.0. Some projects will push some approved but not interconnected projects out of NEM 1.0 into NEM 2.0. Small commercial and residential projects currently have an advantage because of a relatively quick design, permit, and installation process. “Get while the getting is good” is not quite appropriate advice since NEM 2.0 will still be wonderfully advantageous for the solar PV investment and will be in place until 2020. However, NEM 1.0 provides slightly higher returns because there are virtually no additional fees associated with it. “Get while the getting is better” may be more appropriate advice. Summary: There are “slots” of solar PV interconnections remaining to qualify for NEM 1.0. If you “signed up now” you’d most likely qualify for NEM 1.0, assuming your solar contractor can complete your project within the next 2-3 months. Recently, there was an interesting article titled “Rooftop Doors | Windows | Blinds & Shades | Home Automation Solar Transformation Could Hurt Solar City and Sun Run” in The Motley Fool, a financial website.The article makes an interesting observation as to how current market forces seem to be giving advantage to local and smaller scale solar companies. Visit Our Alamo The article also questions the potential for long-term success Showroom for national solar companies when there is not an equivalent business model in other construction related remodeling trades. 3221-B Danville Blvd The market forces referenced are consumer’s desires to own and not lease their solar systems, the ability of local installers Alamo, CA 94507 to source the finest equipment at competitive cost, and the By Appointment Only superior responsiveness of a local vs. national company. Communicating to our customers a preferred solar panel and inverter product is a part of doing business. A choice of mature, proven technology vs. immature and new technology will always be, in my opinion, the best means to mitigate long-term risk and achieve lowest long-term project cost and lowest levelized cost of electricity. As with any purchase, choose the product wisely. If you choose high quality solar PV products, your project can indeed be a “one and done/no callback” project. For consumers working with any type of contractor, www.CSLB.ca.gov is a California taxpayer funded website which educates a home or business owner about doing business with contractors. There is very specific guidance concerning the California Consumer’s rights, recourse in the case of being the victim of inappropriate contractor behavior such as increased prices for a previously quoted project, project delays, etc. There are also “checklists” to help in the planning stage to ensure that a construction project goes smoothly from start to finish. Solar panels and solar inverter products are not commodities. There are many differentiators in product efficiency, aesthetics, reliability, and long-term performance. Also, very few contractors offer labor warranties longer than the CSLB minimum “free from installation defect” required labor warranty of 10 years. Solar PV projects have excellent longevity. A consumer should be able to rely upon a contractor to provide a warranty for the expected life of the project, which is typically a minimum of 25 years. The greatest number of insurance claims from Solar PV projects results from water damage. Ensure those who are penetrating your roof, no matter the project type, have an appropriate roofing license to do so. Otherwise, you’ll lose the warranty on your roofing product and risk leaks in your home. The electric and roofing skills required to properly install a solar PV system are skills that require years to master. An aesthetically pleasing solar project also takes time and effort to design and install. Mark Becker is the President and business owner of GoSimpleSolar, by Semper Fidelis Construction Inc, CSLB 948715. GoSimpleSolar is one of the very few solar PV installers utilizing both licensed roofers and licensed electricians for installation work, project managed by a solar PV NABCEP professional. For more information visit www.GoSimpleSolar.com. Advertorial
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Page 14 - June 2016 ~ Lafayette Today
Summer Sangria
Cinema Clasics Back When We Were Grownups By Peggy Horn This Cinema Classic recommendation is a Hallmark movie from 2004 entitled, Back When We Were Grownups, starring Blythe Danner, Faye Dunaway, Peter Fonda, and Jack Palance. Directed by Ron Underwood, it is based on a novel of the same name written by Anne Tyler. Join me in a break from the precedent of big screen movies because, as my screenwriter friend points out, there have been some very interesting things going on in television. The movie, Back When We Were Grownups, is about a 53 year old widow named, Rebecca Davitch (Blythe Danner), who runs a catering and celebrations business aptly called, Open Arms. Rebecca is a mother, a stepmother (she inherits her husband’s three daughters), a grandmother, and the head of Open Arms. Her phone rings nonstop between family issues and business concerns and yet she manages to handle family and business graciously and lovingly. A boyfriend from back in college days, Will (Peter Fonda), remarks that her scrapbooks are filled with photographs of parties, which fact he seems to find irritating. This observation appears to generate some introspective thinking and Rebecca wonders if anyone appreciates her efforts to please. If Rebecca has a fault (and who doesn’t?), it is that she doesn’t call her family members on their bad behavior. Back When We Were Grownups, is an amusing and wholesome look into a family that is entertaining and fun. See if you don’t agree. It can be purchased inexpensively online.
By Monica Chappell Most summer weekends are all about sitting outside with a cool drink while you wait for the grill to heat up, the guests to arrive, and the fun to begin. Sure, you'll want to offer a hearty red wine such as Zinfandel with the burgers...but what about a wine cocktail to get things started? I love to start off with a simple white Sangria. Odds are that you have a bottle of white wine and some fresh fruit lying around-and this is as easy a drink to make as it is to sit back and sip. In an effort to make the best Sangria, I tested five classic Sangria recipes. After testing, I concluded that the best recipes were surprisingly simple. Here is one of my favorites.
Ingredients • 1 bottle of white wine, chilled • 2/3 cup sugar • 3 oranges, quartered • 1 lemon, quartered • 1 lime, quartered • 1/2 liter of club soda (optional, though increase or reduce the amount to taste or desired level of spritziness) • A shot or two of gin or brandyas well as other fresh fruits such as peaches, strawberries and apples, cut into chunks
Instructions
Pour the entire bottle of wine into a pitcher. Squeeze in the juice from all three citrus fruits, and place the wedges in the pitcher. Add sugar and stir or shake the pitcher, if it has a lid, to dissolve the sugar fully. (You can use more or less than the 2/3 cup of sugar, depending on your personal taste or the amount of natural, residual sugar in the wine.) Add any other fruits or spirits desired. Add the club soda to taste. Serve in a highball glass, filled with ice. Keep the pitcher in the refrigerator. Don’t sweat the Sangria! There is not a standard wine for Sangria; however, if you’d like to make a sangria in tune with Spanish tradition, use Garnacha or find Musical Notes another medium bodied red. For white sangria, pick a zesty and/or aromatic white This movie’s main character reminds me of a song by Richard wine such as a Spanish Rioja, Albariño or Verdejo, but Pinot Gris and Sauvignon Rodgers and Lorenz Hart entitled, My Funny Valentine, (1937). Blanc work well, too--just steer clear of sweeter-style Rieslings and Gewürztraminers) I’m a huge fan of Lorenz Hart’s beautiful and touching lyrics and Sangria is easy to make and delicious to sit back and sip. included here is a potion of that song: Monica Chappell teaches and writes about wine. Contact wineappreciation101@ Is your figure less than Greek? gmail.com for more information about upcoming wine programs. Is your mouth a little weak? City of Lafayette Contacts When you open it to speak, Below are key Lafayette city departments and their contact information. Are you smart? Administration: Responsible for overall city operations such as human But don’t change a hair for me. resources, finance and office operations. Key staff members include the City Manager, Administrative Services Director, City Clerk, and Financial Services Not if you care for me. Manager. The City Offices are located at 3675 Mt. Diablo Blvd., #210, Lafayette. Stay little Valentine, Stay! Hours are 8am – 5pm Monday-Friday. For information call (925) 284-1968 or email Each day is Valentine’s Day. cityhall@lovelafayette.org. See what I mean? Planning: Responsible for current and long-term planning for the physical development of the community that is consistent with the General Plan, Zoning Ordinance Hospice Volunteers Needed pm pm Hospice of the East Bay is seeking volunteers to assist Hospice and the direction of the City Council. Planning Department hours are 12 – 5 MondayFriday. For information call (925) 284-1976 or email planner@lovelafayette.org. patients and their caregivers. Opportunities include: Police: Responsible for public safety, law enforcement, emergency operations, • Licensed Hair Stylists to offer hair cuts and styling and parking control. The Police Department is located at 3675 Mt. Diablo Blvd, #130, • Certified Massage Therapists to provide massage therapy Lafayette. Hours are 8am-12pm & 1am-5pm Monday-Friday. For general questions call (925) • Administrative Support Volunteers to assist in the Pleasant Hill office 299-3220. For police dispatch call (925) 284-5010 or 911. • Thrift Shoppe Volunteers to work in one of the organization’s Public Works: Responsible for maintaining the infrastructure of the City including five stores which are located in Alamo, Concord, Martinez, Danville, road repair, storm drains, and landscaping of public property. The Public Works Corp and Walnut Creek. Yard is located at 3001 Camino Diablo, Lafayette. Hours are 7am – 3pm Monday-Friday. • Bereavement Support Volunteers to provide support to family For questions call (925) 934-3908. To report potholes, streetlight outages, traffic signal members after their loved one has died problems and other issues call the Hotline at (925) 299-3259. • Patient Support Volunteers to provide companionship and practical Parks & Recreation: Responsible for the management and operation of a variety of assistance recreation programs, special events and facilities including the Lafayette Community Center, To apply for free training, call Hospice at (925) 887-5678 and ask the Community Park and a system of city trails. The Parks & Recreation (Community for the Volunteer Department, or email volunteers@hospiceeastbay.org. Center) is located 500 St. Mary’s Road, Lafayette. Hours are 9am – 5pm Monday-Saturday. Established in 1977, Hospice of the East Bay is a not-for-profit For questions call (925) 284-2232. agency that helps people cope with end of life by providing medical, Code Enforcement: Responsible for enforcing the Lafayette Municipal Code. The Code emotional, spiritual, and practical support for patients and families, Enforcement Officer concentrates on the investigation and abatement of complaints involving regardless of their ability to pay. land use (zoning), housing conditions, abandoned vehicles, signs, animals and vermin, weeds/ To learn more or to make a donation of time or money, please contact fire hazards, fences and general public nuisances. Contact Mark Robbins at 925-299-3207. (925) 887-5678 or visit www.hospiceeastbay.org. For more information, visit www.ci.lafayette.ca.us.
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Lafayette Today ~ June 2016 - Page 15
Life in the Lafayette Garden A Kitchen Garden By John Montgomery, ASLA, Landscape Architect #4059
Lafayette Today ~ August 2015 - Page 15
I am feeling optimistic about the possibility my kitchen garden will be productive this year. I planted 30 varieties of tomatoes, squash, chard, pole beans, etc. A kitchen garden is a “featured” element to any landscape project. Here are some ideas if you are thinking of starting your kitchen garden. A kitchen garden mixes practicality and beauty when designed as a garden element. A vegetable garden and fruit orchard can be a fruitful adventure (pardon the pun!). When done tastefully and designed with intention and purpose, a kitchen garden will produce enough delicious produce to feed a family of four easily. I approach the design of a kitchen garden as a main element in the overall theme of the landscape. Like a trellis, a water feature, or a garden path, the kitchen garden is a hardscape element that you can unleash your creative genius on. The design of your kitchen garden should be functional. It should have a central pathway paved with a loose material such as crushed rock, pea gravel, or decomposed granite fines (DG). The pathway should allow physical and visual access to the whole garden. Overall, the garden’s layout should attract its visitors to its heart, whether it is for a moment of reflection; to pick and eat some sun-ripened strawberries; to harvest bell peppers, zucchini, eggplant, and onions for a grill on the barbecue; or to relish in your handy-work when you see your spring-sown seeds germinating into a future harvest. The pathway system in your vegetable garden should be wide enough to get your wheelbarrow easily around your raised beds. Most successful kitchen gardens in Lafayette have raised beds, usually 18” to 24” high, to get your vegetables up out of the adobe clay so prevalent in Lafayette. What you put in your raised beds is also very important. What I do for raised beds is construct them out of two 2” X 12” in height with 4” X 4” posts set into the ground with concrete footings to support them. You can make them in different shapes depending on your design. Squares, rectangles, triangles, pentagons, and polygons are all acceptable. Once they are built, I staple a solid layer of half inch galvanized hardware cloth across the bottom to keep the gophers and other varmints out. Then fill your boxes with a good organic vegetable mix soil. The soil is the most important aspect of a successful veggie garden. Make sure it contains certified organic material. Some store bought composts of late contain low levels of herbicides which seem to retard seed germination. Other composts, especially the ones from recycled green waste, can contain some heavy metal elements. The best mix I have found is unfortunately only available at American Soil & Stone in Richmond. (They do deliver out here!) I recommend automatic irrigation for your boxes. Overhead irrigation can be risky because of rots and molds it can perpetuate. I sprinkler my leafy crops, but drip or flood my tomatoes, beans, corn, and fruit trees. Unless you are dedicated gardener that has the time to hand water your crops, automatic irrigation is the best way to go. All it takes is one hot afternoon to fry your seedlings! Make your kitchen garden fun! Decorate it with fun and funky stuff: a water feature, old garden tools, statues, or whatever style décor you prefer. Make it a functional garden. It’s nice to have a potting bench or tool shed. Even a hot house is great for starting veggies from seeds in early spring. A kitchen garden takes a certain level of commitment, but the results can be very satisfying. I love my kitchen garden. It brings me a lot of joy to watch a seed germinate, grow and produce a delicious side dish at the dinner table, and my kids love wandering through it grazing on the strawberries, cherry tomatoes, peaches, and carrots. A hot tip from your local Landscape Architect: Even though I love watching seeds grow, some of the better results I have come from buying my plants already started. For instance, buy corn in six-packs as early as possible. Buy tomato starts from the Contra Costa Master Gardener’s Great Tomato sale. The results are fun and abundant. Gardening Quote of the Month: “I used to visit and revisit it a dozen times a day, and stand in deep contemplation over my vegetable progeny with a love that nobody could share or conceive of who had never taken part in the process of creation. It was one of the most bewitching sights in the world to observe a
hill of beans thrusting aside the soil, or a row of early peas just peeping forth sufficiently to trace a line of delicate green.” ~Nathaniel Hawthorne, Mosses from an Old Manse If you would like me to write on any particular subject, email your ideas to jmontgomery@jm-la.com or for design ideas visit www.jm-la.com or www. Advertorial houzz.com/pro/jmla/john-montgomery-landscape-architects.
Page 16 - June 2016 ~ Lafayette Today
Gardening with Kate By Kathleen Guillaume I was almost giving up on my new (to me) garden, as I have been in search of bees since I moved and was beginning to despair. I knew there were some in the neighborhood as I had seen some fruit last year, but I had yet to encounter a bee anywhere around my small garden. Today spelled victory! As I went out to do some early watering, I noted my lavender butterfly bush was loaded with very happy bees...I may yet enjoy tomatoes! I think that some of my neighbors are bee unfriendly, and I know unfortunately this is not a pesticide free neighborhood, like my old one, so I will have to work harder and keep my fingers crossed that bees will survive in enough quantity that I may enjoy a harvest by late June. I was starting to think that I would have to set out a chair and, with the softest of sable brushes, gather pollen and flick it on female blossoms to pollinate my garden. I remember helping my grandmother in her greenhouses when I was very young. She was a rex begonia hybridizer. In the hybridizing process, since you absolutely don’t want nature interfering with your creations by random pollination, each blossom was covered with a small paper bonnet, and each new hybrid was assigned a clean brush. For the process you gently gathered pollen and carefully deposited it on other blossoms, then you replaced the paper cap to make sure no stray bee brought pollen from a competing hybrid contaminated it. It was a slow labor of love, and as we dabbed pollen from one blossom to the next, we would talk to her plants, explaining what we were doing and bringing them up-to-date on the news of the day. My Grams totally believed that it was necessary to get up close and personal with our carbon dioxide exhalations inches from each plant on a daily basis, although she eluded to our conversations with her plants in a more personal way. It was hard to spend loving time with Grams in
www.yourmonthlypaper.com her greenhouses and not fall in love with gardening. My heirloom tomatoes are holding some promise, and I am banking on them providing a good harvest. Grocery stores will sell the heirlooms for $4.99/lb, and with each tomato weighing about a pound, this is the most money saving crop for any home gardener. The water cost to grow a zucchini, on the other hand, is often more than purchasing the zucchini in the store. They produce in such abundance that your neighbors will beg you not to share, and there is only so much zucchini bread, z-cake, fried-z, baked-z, stuffed-z, sauted-z, and ragout-z that any family can endure. While our drought water restrictions are being lifted slightly, it is always wise to plan your vegetable garden around water use and taste considerations. Nothing tastes like a home grown, sun warm tomato or peach. No matter what you spend at any store there is no comparison, whereas a store bought zucchini or apple tastes close to a home grown one. A home grown apple does, however, offer many months of free apples, as they last much longer on the tree than any apple you purchase at a store. Sugar snap peas are a garden plus because freshness is critical to the joy they bring your mouth. Always invest in the win-win vegetables for small gardens. Also think outside the box: I was introduced to sorrel by a professor famous for her cream of sorrel soup, and as it is not available in stores, it becomes a worthy garden addition. Four plants will be plenty for even the most avid sorrel soup consumer. As I head into June I find my new garden is filled with bright red/gold lantanas, lavender butterfly bush, the blue lavender blooms of my sage, lavender clematis, loads of bright yellow Rudbeckia Goldstrum, and the deep purple of my lavender all are low water use, and all are heavy and long blooming. I am set for summer and only wishing I had slightly more space. My only remaining summer task is to get a few more inches of mulch bark down. I am aiming for 3-4” as I have a feeling that we are in for a blistering summer. Happy Gardening
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Brainwaves by Betsy Streeter
22nd Annual Sculpture in the Garden For one month every year, Walnut Creek’s Ruth Bancroft Garden transforms into an outdoor art gallery. Follow the meandering pathways to discover sculptures by artists from the Bay Area and beyond. The stunningly sculptural succulent and drought-tolerant plants create a magical setting for public-scale works and pieces perfect for your home garden. For a list of featured artists and more information, visit www. ruthbancroftgarden.org.
Event Highlights • Opening Night Sunset Social: Friday, June 17th, 5 to 8pm. Celebrate the unveiling of the exhibition and mingle with the artists. Live music by Derek Smith Steel Drum Duo. Food by United Bites food truck. Advance ticket purchase required – General admission $25/person; RBG members $20/person. Food and drinks sold separately. • Opening Weekend: Saturday and Sunday, June 18th and 19th, 10am4pm. Bring a picnic, take a tour, and meet the artists. Docent garden tours throughout the day, live music on Father’s Day. $10/person; $8/Seniors (65+) and Students; free for RBG members and children under 12 • Art and Swing Sunset Social: Friday, July 15th, 5pm-8pm. Live music by Swing Fever, food by Classic Catering, and Beer by Morgan Territory Brewing Co. Enjoy a summer evening in the Garden on the last Friday of the sculpture exhibit. General admission $25/person: RBG members $20/ person, advance ticket purchase required. Food and drinks sold separately. The Sculptures will be in the Garden located at 1552 Bancroft Road, Walnut Creek through July 17. General admission is Adults/$10, Seniors and students/$8; Children under 12 and RBG members free during regular hours.
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Lafayette Today ~ June 2016 - Page 17
Is it Time for a Review?
MDIA continued from front page
By Robert J. Silverman, Esq.
Naturalist Michael Marchiano gives monthly programs at the Summit Museum. For “Snakes Alive!” he’ll bring live serpents that visitors can hold. Marchiano characterizes the mountain as an “island jewel in the midst of suburbia.” He loves sharing his knowledge of every life form found on that island. “The various intriguing habitats offer a richness and fantastic diversity of plant and animal life.” He urges park visitors to take time to savor and protect that island. “Don’t just hike to reach a destination … hike to appreciate the delicate and delectable surroundings that make up this exceptional natural preserve.” Studying the intricate interdependence of Mount Diablo’s living organisms is a fascinating enterprise. Marchiano relates, “On one of the first hikes I led, I had a UC Berkeley biology professor. Rather intimidated, I asked him to correct me if I misspoke. When we came to a beautiful Valley Oak, I said that the tree would be a good subject for a doctoral thesis. The professor said, ‘I’m going to correct you. No one could do a PhD thesis on that tree. One species of gall and all of the related species of insects could be a doctoral thesis. That tree could be the subject of 50 PhD projects.’”
People are often warned about how important it is to establish a comprehensive estate plan. But some are under the terrible misconception that no future action will be necessary, and that they can simply place their estate planning documents in a cabinet and ignore them. As a general guideline, I advise my clients to have their estate plans reviewed every 3-5 years or sooner if anything material changes: a) in their personal, marital, or financial circumstances, or b) with the people they’ve nominated to serve in key positions (e.g. successor trustees of their Trust, executor under their Will, guardian of their minor children, agent under their Power of Attorney and/or Advance Health Care Directive), or c) in connection with their wishes as to the key provisions in these documents. Law changes can cause havoc with your estate plan or render it much less effective than it should be. A good example of this is the major Federal Estate Tax changes that took place in January 2013 (I’ve written about this several times in recent years), which presents a golden opportunity for many married couples to change and streamline/simplify their older ‘A-B’ Trusts. One or more of the following serious consequences often result from failing to have one’s estate plan reviewed with legal counsel on a regular basis – before death or incapacity: 1) the wrong person ends up with legal authority to handle your financial affairs, 2) an unwanted person will have the power to make medical decisions for you if you’re unable to make them yourself, 3) all or some of your assets will be subject to probate, 4) your desired beneficiaries will not receive assets you want them to have on your death, 5) young adult beneficiaries will inherit from you before they are mature enough to handle the inheritance, 6) unnecessary income tax and/or estate tax will diminish the amount of assets your loved ones will receive, 7) expensive and burdensome litigation – for example, a Trust or Will contest – will be filed, or 8) valuable relationships among your loved ones will be damaged or destroyed. Below is an example of an actual case I’m handling that illustrates my point (I’ve changed the names and facts to keep my client anonymous). I represent Roger, an only child, whose parents divorced decades ago. In 1998, Roger’s mother, Regina, remarried a guy named Fred. In 2004, Regina, established a Trust that provided, in pertinent part, that Regina’s $500K IRA would go to Fred. Regina’s Trust was the designated beneficiary on file with the IRA custodian. In 2006, Regina divorced Fred. Regina (who didn’t like to spend money on lawyers) made a critical mistake – she never went to her estate planning attorney to review her estate plan after divorcing Fred. Thus, she never amended her Trust and she never changed the IRA beneficiary designation before she died in 2014. First, for some technical income tax reasons, it’s generally better not to list a Trust, but frequently more favorable to list an individual(s) as designated beneficiary of an IRA. So, following her divorce from Fred, most attorneys would have advised Regina to submit a new beneficiary designation form to the IRA custodian to designate the desired individual (her son, Roger), as beneficiary. At the very least, an attorney would have prepared an amendment to Regina’s Trust to delete the provision under which Fred would receive the IRA (or, for that matter, anything at all). After Regina died, and while I was helping Roger administer Regina’s Trust, Fred’s attorney asserted that pursuant to the Trust provision, Fred was entitled to the IRA. Fortunately, helpful legal defenses make it very unlikely that Fred will prevail in his claim. So, Roger should ultimately and rightfully receive the IRA. Nevertheless, defending the claim has been costly, inconvenient, and emotionally draining for Roger. If Regina had hired an experienced estate planning attorney to review her Trust after divorcing Fred, all of the associated stress, expense, and hassle incurred by Roger would have been avoided. I’m sure Regina believed she saved money by not having had her attorney review her estate plan. Instead, her failure to do so caused Roger to spend ten times the amount she “saved.” Perhaps worse, it caused her son to suffer substantial unnecessary inconvenience and anxiety. Is it time for a review? * Estate Planning * Trust Administration & Probate * Real Estate * Business I offer a complimentary Estate Planning Primer and/or a free, introductory meeting. My primary practice areas are Estate Planning; Trust Administration & Probate; Real Estate; and Business I am an attorney with R. Silverman Law Group which is located at 1855 Olympic Blvd., Suite 125, Walnut Creek, CA 94596; (925) 705-4474; rsilverman@rsilvermanlaw.com.
This article is intended to provide information of a general nature, and is not intended nor should it be relied upon as legal, tax and/ or business advice. Readers should obtain and rely upon specific advice only from their own qualified professional advisors. This communication is not intended or written to be used, for the purpose of: i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code; or ii) promoting, marketing, or recommending to another party any matters addressed herein. Advertorial
Endemic to Mount Diablo, the Globe Lily (Calochortus pulchellus) lights up the landscape. (photo by Mike Woodring)
Hiker’s Guide to Mount Diablo State Park is MDIA’s latest publication. Work on the guide began in 2009 and culminated in 2015 in a compact book detailing hike distances, difficulty, and interesting natural features. Color photographs indicate each hike’s most alluring views. The introduction explains: “The fifty hikes described in this guide represent a cross-section of the 162-mile trail network in Mount Diablo State Park. They have been selected to help you explore the astonishing variety of environments that characterize the mountain.” Each description includes a route map, but the Mount Diablo State Park trail map published by MDIA in 2012 is an essential companion for anyone hiking in the park. Like most MDIA/VIP Hike Leaders, Jake Van Akkeren also spends time on the trails on his own. “As an MDIA rover,” Jake says, “I always wear my VIP vest and greet other hikers. I ask how their hike is going. I stay friendly and informative even when I find people where they shouldn’t be. A surprising number have no map or an inadequate map. I carry the very detailed MDIA map and often suggest people take a snapshot of the area needed with their camera phones which almost everyone seems to have these days.” Roving docents pick up litter and note downed trees and other obstacles. Because so much of the mountain was once private ranchland, old pipes and sections of fence are still being found and removed by crews of MDIA volunteers. Woodring praises their dedication. “MDIA volunteers are focused on giving all park visitors a better experience. MDIA volunteers always miraculously show up when you need them without being asked.” Leslie Contreras, MDIA Hike Coordinator, fills multiple volunteer roles including co-managing the Mitchell Canyon Visitor Center. “On backcountry patrol,” she relates, “I do encounter hikers with dogs who don’t know about or choose to ignore the park’s No Dogs on Trails policy. I carry maps of
See MDIA continued on page 20
Page 18 - June 2016 ~ Lafayette Today
Retirement Planning for DualIncome Households By George M. Noceti, CRPS® -Wealth Advisor and Paul A. Noceti, Financial Planning Specialist with The Integra Group at Morgan Stanley The typicalAmerican family reflected in iconic television shows of the 1950s and 1960s, in which the husband went off to work each morning and the wife happily played out the role of homemaker, is firmly in the minority. By 2012, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that six in 10 families with children have two working parents. What’s more, the majority of Americans feel they need dual incomes in order to reach their financial goals.1 For a major goal like retirement, working couples need to be especially vigilant to coordinate their planning efforts in a way that supports their combined accumulation objectives. As you and your spouse execute your joint retirement strategy, keep some of the following tips in mind.
IRA Contributions and Deductibility In 2016, you and your spouse can each contribute $5,500 to a traditional or a Roth individual retirement account (IRA), if you have sufficient taxable compensation (or earned income from self-employment).2 If you are age 50 or older, you can direct an additional $1,000 to your IRAs for a combined total of $13,000. Your eligibility to contribute to a Roth IRA is dependent on your filing status and modified adjusted gross income for the year. You also may be able to deduct all or a portion of your traditional IRA contributions if you satisfy Internal Revenue Service guidelines. For example, if you file a joint tax return, and neither spouse is covered by an employer-sponsored retirement plan, traditional IRA contributions are generally fully deductible up to the annual contribution limit. If you both are covered by an employer-sponsored retirement plan, traditional IRA contributions will be fully deductible if your combined adjusted gross income (AGI) is $98,000 or less. The amount you can deduct begins to phase out if the combined AGI is between $98,000 and $118,000, and no deduction is allowed if it is equal to or exceeds $118,000. Similarly, if one spouse is covered by an employer-sponsored retirement plan and the spouses file a joint federal income tax return, the spouse who is not covered by an employer-sponsored retirement plan may qualify for a full traditional IRA deduction if the combined AGI is $183,000 or less. Deductibility phases out for combined incomes of between $183,000 and $193,000, and is eliminated if your AGI on a joint return equals or exceeds $193,000. Note, however, Roth IRA contributions are not income tax deductible.
Coordinating Multiple Accounts Like any investment portfolio, retirement accounts should work in unison to help you pursue a specific accumulation goal. However, with job changes so prevalent, it is likely that a couple may have multiple retirement accounts, including 401(k), 403(b), or 457 plans, rollover IRAs and possibly defined benefit plans. Because of the range of investment options offered under such plans, it is important to keep the big picture in mind in order to maintain a coordinated investment strategy. As you review your accounts, ask the following questions: • Is your overall asset allocation in line with your objectives and risk tolerance? • Are the portfolios adequately diversified? Are they overweighed (or underweighted) in any one asset class or individual security? • Do the portfolios complement your other investments (e.g., taxable investment accounts, real estate and other assets)? • Consider the fees associated with your retirement accounts and how they might affect returns. Would it make sense to consolidate some accounts to help minimize these costs?
www.yourmonthlypaper.com for DB plans, a single life option, pays out a fixed benefit for your lifetime; the joint life option continues paying some portion of the benefit upon death to another party, typically the surviving spouse. DC plans may also offer the option to annuitize, convert all or a portion of the account balance to a guaranteed stream of income for life. • A lump-sum payment – Typically an option for both DB and DC plans, in which the full value of the account is paid out upon retirement. It is up to you to then decide whether and how to reinvest the proceeds.
Social Security You can begin receiving Social Security payments as early as 62, although delaying the election increases the monthly total. Married couples may want to consider first tapping one spouse’s benefit and delaying the other one’s until age 70, which maximizes the income and may substantially increase the couple’s total Social Security payout over a lifetime. Determining when and how to claim Social Security benefits is a complex matter involving many variables. Please contact me for assistance in considering the particulars of your situation as you and your spouse plan for retirement. For further information on how our advice can better help you plan philanthropically, or retirement planning, as well as a complimentary Medicare Review, Social Security Review and understanding the new rules, and Financial Plan Review, please contact us at George M. Noceti, CRPS® - Wealth Advisor at (925)746-2982, via email at george.noceti@morganstanley.com, or visit our website at www.ms.com/fa/theintegragroup. Connect on LinkedIn: George M. Noceti, CRPS®. Follow me on Twitter: @GNocetiMS.
Sources: 1 1 Forbes, “4 Dual-Income Households Tell All: How We Save and Spend,” November 4, 2013. 2 If an individual has more than one IRA, the limits apply to the total contributions made in the aggregate to all the Traditional and Roth IRAs an individual owns. A Roth Conversion may not be right for everyone. There are a number of factors taxpayers should consider before converting, including (but not limited to) whether or not the cost of paying taxes today outweighs the benefit of income tax-free Qualified Distributions in the future. A 10% penalty tax will apply on funds converted to a Roth IRA, if those funds are withdrawn before five years have elapsed unless the owner is age 59 ½ or another exception applies. Before converting, taxpayers should consult their tax and legal advisors based on their specific facts and circumstances. Asset allocation and diversification do not assure a profit or protect against loss in declining financial markets.Article by Wealth Management Systems Inc. and provided courtesy of Morgan Stanley Financial Advisor. Tax laws are complex and subject to change. Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”), its affiliates and Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors and Private Wealth Advisors do not provide tax or legal advice and are not “fiduciaries” (under ERISA, the Internal Revenue Code or otherwise) with respect to the services or activities described herein except as otherwise provided in a written agreement with Morgan Stanley. Individuals are encouraged to consult their tax and legal advisors (a) before establishing a retirement plan or account, and (b) regarding any potential tax, ERISA and related consequences of any investments made under such plan or account.© 2016 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC Advertorial
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TeleCare Connects with the Homebound Since 1971, member volunteers of TeleCare, a philanthropic program of Assistance League® of Diablo Valley, have been making daily reassurance calls, Monday through Friday, to those in our community who are homebound. As the chapter’s longest standing philanthropic program, TeleCare empowers the clients, no matter what their ages, to remain in their homes. What ensures this is a daily confidential journal kept for each client that member volunteers consult prior to the phone calls then update accordingly. Last year alone, member volunteers devoted 765 hours to connecting with homebound clients. Unfortunately, many clients are socially isolated and don’t have anyone to check on them daily. Statistics indicate that loneliness can cause a 20% decline in health, a number that increases for seniors, the elderly and the homebound. TeleCare not only offsets that statistic, it ultimately serves as a safety net for clients and their families especially if volunteer callers are unable to reach the client. If you live alone or know someone who does, a daily phone call would be a great way to stay connected with life and make new friends. Other TeleCare activities include attending an annual holiday party to meet fellow clients and member volunteers face to face, as well as receiving greeting cards from the Assisteens®, an auxiliary where kids learn to participate in a community service at a young age. To help, or for more information about TeleCare, please call (925) 934-0901.
Retirement Distributions Couples nearing retirement need to decide the timing of retirement account distributions in light of their income needs, tax situation and market dynamics. Among the issues to consider are: • Tapping taxable and tax-deferred accounts. Conventional wisdom suggests that tapping taxable accounts first enables your tax-deferred accounts to continue compounding longer – and potentially growing larger – over time. However, there are also those who argue that waiting longer to tap tax-deferred accounts could result in larger required minimum distributions. • Converting a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA, allowing you to put off distributions as long as possible and/or receive tax-free income.3 If one or both spouses are covered by a defined contribution (DC) and/or a defined benefit (DB) pension plan, you will typically be given several pay-out options to consider. These may include: • A single life or joint life annuity – Typically the distribution method of choice
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Cardiovascular Disease & Men’s Health By Diane Kwan, MD, West Coast Surgical Associates
afayette Loss Association Contacts
ey Lafayette city departments and of their contact information. eetings of the Diablo Valley Chapter Hearing Loss Association tion: for overall such as human 7pm onResponsible the first Wednesday ofcity the operations month at the Walnut Creek nce office operations. Key staff members includeCreek the dist and Church located at 1543 Sunnyvale Ave., Walnut Administrative from front page page 14Services Director, Cityparking Clerk, and Financial g., Wesley Room. Meeting room and are 16 at the back tm page age 17 City 20 See ces Natives continued onMt. page ger. The areUSO located at 3675 Diablo Blvd., A couple enjoys aOffi danceDonations atGlioblastoma the Operation Swingtime event held at the Lafayette Reservoir. All areHope welcome. are accepted. Assistive listening New Patients pm e. Hoursfor areT-coils, 8am for – 5and Monday-Friday. For information call ailable most meetings are captioned. Contact By Christine Chung, MD or email cityhall@lovelafayette.org. earinglossdv .org or (925) 264-1199 or www.hearinglossdv .org. A couplefor ofcurrent years ago had a patient who was with glioblastoma, esponsible andI long-term planning fordiagnosed the physical the communitytype thatof is brain consistent with General Zoning an aggressive tumor. Shethe was only 53Plan, years old, and went through the direction of treatment the City Council. Planning hours and temozoloa full course of to fight the cancer: Department surgery, radiation, Monday-Friday. For information callfi(925) 284-1976 email she did well, mide chemotherapy. For nearly the rst year after herortreatment afayette.or g. tumor came back. Normally patients with recurrent glioblastoma but then the ponsible for public safety, law enforcement, emergency receive chemotherapy, but she called me to ask if there were any other treatment parkingthat control. The Police Department is located at 3675 options she should consider. pm pm d, #130, Lafayette. Hours areUS 8amare -12diagnosed & 1am-5with MondayOver 10,000 people in the glioblastoma every year. eral questions call (925) 299-3220. For police dispatch The median survival for glioblastoma patients is 15 months,call even with standard or 911. Many patients have a recurrence and are then confronted with similar therapy. ks: Responsible for maintaining the infrastructure of chemotherapy. the City options: more surgery, more radiation, and/or different I was parpair, storminterested drains, and landscaping of public property. The Public ticularly in helping my patient quickly because people with recurrent d is located at 3001 Camino Diablo, Lafayette. Hours are 7am – 3pm glioblastoma have a poor prognosis, with a median survival of less than a year. For questions call (925) 934-3908. To report potholes, streetlight While it’s not a silver bullet, there is an interesting new treatment available gnal problems and other issues call the Hotline at (925) 299-3259. for patients with recurrent glioblastoma “Optune.” creation: Responsible for the managementcalled and operation of Ita does not involve surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy, andthe instead relies on generating ion programs, special events and facilities including Lafayette low-intensity electrical eldsa in the brain called Treating nter, the Community Parkfiand system of city trails.Tumor The Parks & Fields (called TTF). The TTFsisseem to500 disrupt the ability ofLafayette. the cancerHours cells to divide so that mmunity Center) located St. Mary’s Road, the tumor cannot Patients TTF have to shave their hair and place nday-Saturday. Forgrow. questions call getting (925) 284-2232. electrical transducers to EKG pads) on their scalp for at least 18 hours ement: Responsible for(similar enforcing the Lafayette Municipal Code. a day. These up to a device that generates cement Officertransducers concentratesare onhooked the investigation and abatement of the electrical fields. This a tradeoffhousing – whileconditions, patients can avoid some of the side effects of ving land useis(zoning), abandoned vehicles, radiation, and surgery, they have to nuisances. be willing to wear an apdchemotherapy, vermin, weeds/fi re hazards, fences and general public paratus on their head and carry around a six pound device. obbins at 925-299-3207. The FDA approved Optune in 2011 for patients with recurrent glioblastoma formation, visit www.ci.lafayette.ca.us. based on a study that showed comparable survival between patients treated with chemotherapy versus TTF. Patients in the TTF group reported fewer side effects Lafayette Today is delivered exclusively to Lafayette. such asReach nausea, vomiting, and 12,000 fatigue. The most common was skin out to over LOCAL homesside andeffect businesses. irritation on the scalp due to the transducer pads. Then last month, researchers presented an analysis of 700 newly diagnosed glioblastoma patients who were either assigned to one of two groups: (1) those who received TTF and temozolomide or (2) temozolomide alone. Patients treated with TTF had an improved www.yourmonthlypaper.com median survival of 19.4 months, compared with 16.6 months for patients treated with temozolomide alone. The FDA is currently reviewing the data, but Optune may become a treatment for newly diagnosed glioblastoma patients in the future. Optune shows promise as an alternative to conventional treatments, or as a potential supplement to them. It has different side effects that many patients may find more manageable, and may help to extend patients’ lives in the future. Christine Chung, MD is a board certified Radiation Oncologist with Diablo Valley Oncology & Hematology Medical Group and practices in Pleasant Hill and Berkeley. Dr. Chung and her colleagues are certified providers of the Optune treatment therapy. For more information, please call 925-677-5041 or visit www.dvohmg.com. Advertorial
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In June, we celebrate Men’s Health Awareness Month. This tradition began in 1994 in coordination with Father’s Day to increase awareness of men’s health issues. Three important and closely related issues which directly affect men are cardiovascular health, nutrition, and obesity. Cardiovascular disease is a broad term that describes diseases affecting the heart and blood vessels which can affect the heart’s ability to function properly. The most common form of cardiovascular disease is atherosclerosis, which results in clogging or narrowing of your blood vessels. This can cause high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke. The causes of cardiovascular disease are multifactorial. Major risk factors include high cholesterol, diabetes, poor diet, physical inactivity, smoking, and excessive alcohol use. Many of these risk factors center around weight and obesity. As a surgeon, I rarely encounter a patient who is not on medicine for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes. Both patients and friends frequently confide that they are trying to maintain a healthy weight by changing their diet or joining the gym. Many patients joke with me, “Doc, can you shave off a few pounds from my belly during the surgery?” Weight and health are a constant on everyone’s minds, and we all tend to feel guilty about it. But the truth is that behavioral factors are just one part of the problem. We now know that genetics and environmental factors play a significant role in contributing to weight as well. As a society, we have many elements working against us: sedentary lifestyle, highly processed foods, demanding work schedules, poor sleep, and stress, just to name a few. And as a society, we have become overweight. About 2 in 3 adults in the U.S. are now overweight, with 1 in 3 clinically obese. With this comes weight-related medical conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and sleep apnea. Even though obesity was designated as a disease by the National Institutes of Health in 1998, we are still fighting the stereotypes and stigma that keep patients from seeking counseling and treatment. Why is this important? Statistics from the American Heart Association report
Meals continued from front page Prevention, Care Management, Home Care Referral, and C.C. Cafés) all work together to form an umbrella of services that allow seniors to stay healthy and at home for as long as possible. We bridge the widening gap between the increasing number of frail homebound elders and insufficient government funding for these critical services.” The average MOWSOS participant is 80 years old, lives alone or with a co-dependent spouse, and has one or more chronic health conditions that prevents him/her from preparing or shopping for daily meals. Most live below the Bay Area basic low-income standards, and many must choose between paying for food, medicines, rent or utilities with their meager resources. Volunteer driver Cindy Russey is often the only contact that a client on her route might have during the week. “My clients tend to be homebound and have no caregiver,” says Russey, who sought her MOWSOS position upon her retirement. “Several have become friends and we chat for awhile at meal drop-off; others are more private, but all are appreciate of our service. “I really do feel that there is nothing more important than taking care of our elders,” continues Russey. “We are all going to eventually be in a situation of being aged, and hope-
Lafayette Today ~ June 2016 - Page 19 that 39 million American men (or 1 in 3 men) suffer from cardiovascular disease and that every year 1 in 4 men will die of cardiovascular disease. That is more than cancer and diabetes combined. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men. It is also a major cause of disability and decreases the quality of life for millions. The first step in preventing cardiovascular disease is a healthy diet and exercise. Eat whole grains and heart-healthy foods such as wheat, oats, and brown rice. Have five to six servings of fruits and vegetables each day. Limit salt and fat intake by using less oil, changing to low-fat dairy, and avoiding cookies and soda. Exercise at least 30 minutes a day for five days of the week. These are the recommendations for all individuals in addition to being the cornerstone of any weight-loss program. Often, however, traditional diet and exercise are not enough to shed and keep off the weight. This is especially true for the large percentage of our adult population that is overweight or obese. Many patients who come to see me are frustrated from having tried to lose weight on their own for years, going through numerous weight-loss programs and medications, and having lost and regained weight multiple times. When traditional methods are unsuccessful, weight loss surgery can be a very effective tool to treat obesity. There are several types of surgery performed today in the U.S. They work by reducing the size of the stomach or bypassing a portion of the intestine to decrease calorie absorption. Surgery can be intimidating, but numerous research studies have shown the safety and benefits of weight loss surgery. Not everyone is a good candidate for surgery, but if one has struggled with weight in the past, weight loss surgery can be life changing. The goal of weight loss surgery is not just cosmetic. What we find is that with weight loss, obesity-related medical issues also improve. That includes high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol—the major risk factors contributing to cardiovascular disease. Healthier men live longer, happier lives. Diane Kwan, MD, FACS is a Board Certified General Surgeon with Fellowship training in Minimally Invasive, Robotic and Bariatric Surgery. She practices at West Coast Surgical Associates & 680 Bariatrics. At 680 Bariatrics, our goal is to offer care that is multidisciplinary, comprehensive, and above all, compassionate. For more information, please call (925) 933-0984 or visit wcsurgeons.com and 680bariatrics.com. Advertorial fully a stranger will someday be willing to drop by for me.” MOWSOS is currently in need of volunteer drivers to deliver meals in Antioch, Bay Point, or Pittsburg -- the areas with the greatest need but the most difficult cities to find volunteers. “We would love to inspire Lafayette civic groups, church ministries, or companies to ‘Adopt A Route’ in those East County cities,” says Shughrou. Routes are typically between 10-15 homes, and delivery is between 10:30-12:30pm, Monday-Friday. In addition, MOWSOS’s Friendly Visitors Program matches isolated seniors with screened volunteers who visit a senior for an hour each week and read, share stories, work on puzzles, take walks together, or other shared interests. There is currently a wait list of seniors seeking friendship. To volunteer, call Carol Louisell at 925-954-8736 or email clouisell@ mowsos.org or visit www.mowsos.org/volunteers/volunteer-form. To sign up for services, call 925-937-8311. MOWSOS Care Managers will complete an over-the-phone evaluation and determine the needed service(s) for the caller.
Group Helps People Cope with Death of Pets When you lose your pet, you often feel like a part of you is lost. The death of your beloved animal companion is one of the most difficult losses you may ever feel. This loss is sometimes made more painful by society’s seeming lack of support for pet grief. Hospice of the East Bay and the Tony La Russa Animal Rescue Foundation is offering a support group where participants can share memories and feelings and talk to others who truly understand and care. Meetings will be held the second Tuesday of each month from 5:30-7PM at the Tony La Russa Animal Rescue Foundation, 2890 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek. For further information and/or to register, please call Bereavement Services at Hospice of the East Bay (925) 887-5681. Hospice of the East Bay Bereavement Services are provided free of charge to all community members in need. However, donations are greatly appreciated.
Page 20 - June 2016 ~ Lafayette Today
Practice Makes Perfect – Especially in Medicine By Sravana Chennupati, MD A recent analysis has found that patients with advanced prostate cancer treated at higher volume treatment centers have a statistically improved overall survival rate after a follow up of over six years. For surgery, there is an established correlation between practices with higher surgical volumes and patient outcomes. Examples include hernia repair, prostatectomies, and whipple procedures. Benefits have been shown with regards to the success of the treatment as well as minimizing complications. This makes sense; the more one performs a procedure, the better he/she becomes at doing it. So it stands to reason that cancer centers that treat more prostate cancer patients have better outcomes. But why? Caring for prostate cancer patients requires a multidisciplinary approach including input from urologists, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, radiologists, and pathologists. Higher volume centers are likely to better coordinate care, particularly for those patients that require multiple forms of treatment. In addition, these centers are likely to have increased communication among specialists leading to more streamlined and consistent treatment for patients. Such centers are more likely to have specialists meet and review cases together as well as keep each other up-to-date with advances. In the modern era, radiation oncology is increasingly a team sport. Radiation oncologists collaborate closely with a treatment team which includes dosimetrists, therapists, and nurses. This collaboration ensures that planning is done correctly, patients are set up accurately, and that treatment is delivered precisely as planned. In addition, a radiation oncologist must be familiar with pelvic anatomy to determine which areas should be targeted or avoided to minimize toxicity. Patients requiring treatment for prostate cancer should consider the overall experience of their treatment team when deciding where to receive care. Dr. Chennupati is a board certified radiation oncologist who practices at Diablo Valley Oncology’s high volume prostate cancer treatment center in Pleasant Hill. His practice incorporates a team of highly experienced prostate cancer specialists who offer advanced diagnostic tools and treatment technologies for their patients. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call (925) 825-8878. Advertorial
MDIA continued from page 17 Mount Diablo and East Bay Regional Parks so I can point out where hiking with dogs is permitted. Mount Diablo State Park is a wildlife refuge. Even on leash dogs cause wildlife to disappear, and off-leash dogs may become a coyote, bobcat or mountain lion’s meal.”
MDIA leads hikers to places within Mount Diablo State Park they might never enjoy on their own. (Photo courtesy of Liz Watson)
One type of trail sign regularly displaced is the No Dogs symbol. State Park Peace Officer Cameron Morrison warns violators that “a citation for having your dog in the backcountry may result in a citation for almost $500. If your
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Menopause Matters By Timothy Leach, MD, FACOG, CNMP Last week I got a nice letter from a respected colleague who read April’s “Menopause Matters.” He sent me a copy of his thoughtful summary regarding the Women’s Health Initiative’s (WHI) findings for postmenopausal women using estrogen and breast cancer risk. You will remember that the WHI was the first and only randomized control trial in low-risk women comparing women using E+P vs. E alone versus no hormones. This month I wanted to share my summary of a North American Menopause Society (NAMS) “Practice Pearl” (released 5/5/2016) titled “Use of Systemic Hormone Therapy in BRCA Mutation Carriers” by Susan Domchek MD and Andrew Kaunitz MD. BRCA patients are women high-risk for breast and ovarian cancer because of a gene they inherited from either their mother or father. By age 70, women with BRCA 1 or 2 gene, risk for breast cancer is 60% and 50% respectively, and ovarian cancer 49% and 18% respectively. Since these women are at such high risk for ovarian cancer, they are encouraged to undergo an early menopause. When premenopausal women have both tubes and ovaries removed, it reduces ovarian cancer risk by 75% and breast cancer by 47%. Women mutation carriers with no personal history of breast cancer or ovarian cancer (known as previvors in the BRCA community) are encouraged to complete childbearing and undergo risk reducing surgery (removing both tubes and ovaries /BSO) resulting in menopause by age 35-40. Without the use of systemic hormone therapy (HT), young surgically menopausal women in observational trials appear to have an elevated risk for cognitive impairment and dementia. In addition, hot flashes are often more severe, and risk for osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease may be elevated in women with early induced menopause who are not treated with HT. Accordingly, in the absence of contraindications, use of systemic HT should be considered for women with early menopause and generally should be continued at least until the normal age of menopause, ~51 years old. Assessing the safety of HT in BRCA previvors with intact breasts. Randomized trials to inform decision-making regarding use of HT in previvors have not been performed. However, three observational trials address the risk of breast cancer with the use of systemic HT in menopausal previvors with intact breasts. A 2005 study followed 462 women with BRCA 1&2, 155 of whom underwent BSO of which 60% (93) initiated HT; 7% of those who had not undergone BSO used HT. With a mean follow up of 3.6 years, the researchers observed that BSO was associated with a 60% reduced risk for breast cancer, with a similar risk reduction whether a women used HT or not. A case-control study published in 2008 assessed 472 menopausal BRCA1 carriers, 50% diagnosed with breast cancer (cases) and 50% were previvors (controls). Approximately 75% of cases and controls had undergone spontaneous menopause. There was a history of prior and current HT use in 20% and 29% of cases and controls, respectively. Accordingly, HT use was associated with a 43% reduction in the risk of breast cancer. Mean duration of HT was 3.9 years and duration of HT was not significantly associated with risk of breast cancer. Use of ET vs. EPT showed no differences. A 2011 study by Rebbeck assessed the risk of breast cancer in 1,299 previvors with BRCA 1 or 2 who underwent BSO compared to women who did not have surgery. Women using HT postoperatively were followed for mean of 5 years. Compared with nonusers who had not undergone BSO, HT use among women who underwent BSO was not associated with an elevated risk for breast cancer. As with case control studies, women with BRCA 1 undergoing BSO, use of systemic HT was associated with 48% reduced risk for breast cancer. The three studies cited are limited by their observational design, size, and limited duration of follow-up. Nonetheless, these reports provide some reassurance for clinicians and previvors that the use of systemic HT does not substantially increase breast cancer risk in BRCA 1&2 mutation carriers with intact breasts. Think of what this means to low-risk women considering the use of systemic HT. I will post the original NAMS article summarized here along with Menopause Matters columns’ on my Facebook page @ Timothy A Leach MD. More will come next month on WHI and HRT, and then in July I will be attending a two day conference at UCSF on osteoporosis and will share over the summer what’s new to protect your bones. Tell your friends that “Menopause Matters!” Visit my website at www.leachobgyn.com for links to resources and our Facebook page: Timothy Leach MD for more information. My office is located at 110 Tampico, Suite 210 in Walnut Creek. Please call us at 925-935-6952. Advertorial
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Healing with Minimal Scarring By Barbara Persons, MD, Persons Plastic Surgery, Inc.
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As summer approaches, I find that my practice is busier than ever. Most people would think that plastic surgeons become busy in the summer because that’s the time of year when people want to look better in a bathing suit. While it’s true that summer does bring people into my office looking to enhance their appearance through cosmetic surgery, summer is also the time of year when I see more patients after being involved in an accident. Local emergency rooms are packed in the summertime with people who have been involved in accidents while participating in warm weather activities such as swimming, hiking, and biking. I have spent years during my training in trauma centers and emergency rooms, working in high-pressure situations, focusing my attention on saving lives and ensuring that patients are not at risk of serious illness or infection. My advanced training in aesthetics is an added benefit my patients receive. For example, repairs to facial lacerations from a biking accident can be done in a way that leaves minimal scarring. Please use me as a resource and give me a call, especially when kids are involved. I would be happy to help. Recently my patient’s sister was involved in a car accident. She was taken by ambulance to the emergency room where they made sure she had no major injuries and evaluated her for a number of horrible lacerations on her forearm. My staff and I told our patient to call us if there was anything we could do for her sister. Two days later we were asked to take a look at her sister’s arm because it was painful and oozing. The woman had baseball type stitches in the largest laceration and 17 centimeters of cuts in a star-like pattern on her forearm. During my fellowship in hand and microsurgery, and other advanced training in cosmetic and maxillofacial surgery, I repaired countless traumatic injuries very similar to this woman’s. I consulted with her, and we agreed on a course of treatment that involved replacing the baseball stitches with 100 finer carefully placed sutures that will result in a more aesthetically pleasing and less painful repair. The result for this began with a consultation that allowed me to
MDIA continued from page 20 dog is in the backcountry and off leash, you may face fines of almost $1,000.” Asked about the amount of time she spends as a VIP, Contreras responds, “I have been on the mountain since I was 12. I put in at least 1,000 hours a year because I am doing what I love to do.” As Hike Coordinator, she posts available guided hikes on the MDIA website. Leslie reviews information including distance to be traveled, estimated time on the trail, and elevation change indicating the outing’s level of difficulty. Leaders write descriptions reflecting their personal style of presentation. Lavin writes about his May 8th plan: “Mother Earth’s natural beauty is on display this day, and the old girl can still strut her stuff. Our wild flower saunter will follow in the footsteps and pawprints of 19th century explorer David Douglas and his faithful dog Billy.” He enjoys sharing amusing anecdotes, information about how wildflowers came to be named, and facts about how Native Americans used plants found on Mount Diablo. “I find people who come on MDIA hikes are interested in learning about the mountain and the outdoors. And I always learn something from them.” Van Akkeren agrees. “At the beginning of each hike, I ask participants to introduce themselves and let the group know if they have any particular expertise that they could share during the hike. At various times, I’ve had experts on geology, mushrooms, chaparral, wildflowers, insects, and birds join us.” Guided hikes promote a spirit of camaraderie, sometimes leading to lasting friendships. “Many people don’t have the confidence to hike on their own,” Jake notes. “I am gratified to lead people to areas of the mountain they would never otherwise enjoy.” A professional geologist, Phil Reed has become an expert on the flora of Mount Diablo. “Once I learned everything I wanted to know about the rock formations on Mount Diablo, I wanted to study something else. Birders tried to get me interested in birds, but every time one was pointed out to me it took flight before I could study it. Rocks don’t move. I appreciate being able to take my time. So I turned to teaching myself about wildflowers.”
Lafayette Today ~ June 2016 - Page 21 improve her situation and offer her a more aesthetically pleasing result in my office … away from the long lines and crowds of the typical ER. As a mother I know first hand that the emotions involved when your child is injured are amplified on an exponential scale. The injury (especially facial laceration) itself is traumatic enough, but add to that a lengthy wait time in an unfamiliar environment, and what is already a scary experience can become almost unbearable. I treasure my involvement in this community, and I want to be used as a primary resource for these types of injuries. Please call me and I will ensure that it will be a calm and comfortable experience for your child. Most importantly, the injury will be optimally repaired the first time, avoiding the need for future scar revision. An additional note - It is a common misconception that lacerations must be repaired immediately. In some cases, if the laceration is cleaned well and kept moist, excellent results can be achieved days after the initial injury. Common sense must prevail with all bites, cuts, scrapes, or burns. Elevate and apply pressure for bleeding, ensure safety of the environment, and call 911 if there is a life-threatening emergency. The paramedics in our area are fantastic! Keep in mind that our office accepts most insurance plans, and even on a cash payment basis treatment at our office is likely to be a less expensive option. As always, it is my pleasure to offer my expertise, and I look forward to consulting with you soon. Wishing everyone a safe and happy summer season. Barbara L. Persons, MD is a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and owns Persons Plastic Surgery, Inc. located at 911 Moraga Rd, Suite 205 in Lafayette. She may be reached at 925.283.4012 or drbarb@personsplasticsurgery.com. Advertorial
To place an ad, share a story, or for more information about our papers, call 925.405.6397 or visit our website www.yourmonthlypaper.com Popular evening hikes include the Summer Solstice Stroll on June 18 where participants will be “on the look out for critters that … slither, swim, flap, hoot, burrow, and even glow in the dark.” Black lights carried by guides may light up an entire hillside of glowing scorpions. Late summer-early fall Tarantula Hikes are a family favorite. Male tarantulas leave their burrows with only one purpose – to mate and die happy. There’s a 90% certainty of viewing one or more of the arachnids and a 100% certainty of learning about their lifecycle. Some hikes are posted last minute, so keep checking www.mdia.org. Private guided hikes and programs for scouts, schools, and youth and adult groups are available.
Lic# 1100014354; Bay Area Entertainment
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Events for Lafayette Seniors All classes are held at the Lafayette Senior Center (LSC), located at 500 Saint Mary’s Rd in Lafayette, unless otherwise noted. Space is limited. Please call 925-284-5050 to reserve a spot. Unless otherwise mentioned, events are free for members and $10 for non-members.
Anne Randolph Physical Therapy Presentation: Exercises for Daily Living Wednesday, June 22 • 11:30AM – 12:30PM • Tiny Tots Red Room, LSC - If you think you’re too tired or busy to exercise, or that exercise is too boring, think again. Exercise can actually boost your mood, increase your energy, and keep you going strong! Anne will demonstrate simple, low-key exercises you can perform anytime, anywhere. Apple Basics 1st & 3rd Thursdays • 11AM – 12:30PM • Elderberry Room, LSC - This on-going series covers topics such as the technology needed for wireless communication, your Apple ID, iTunes, iCloud, and the basics of iPad and iPhone usage. Topics for future sessions will be determined by participants’ input and needs. There will be time for Q&A at the end of each class. Please note: this series deals with Apple devices only. Lamorinda Tea Dance Wednesdays • 1 – 3:30PM • Live Oak Room, LSC - Enjoy afternoon dancing every Wednesday, and learn some great new dance moves. On the first Wednesday monthly, professional dancers Karen and Michael will provide a dance lesson and live DJ services, playing your favorites and taking requests. Smart Driver 4.5 hour Refresher Course This abbreviated refresher course is for those who have taken an AARP driving course within the last four years. Refine your driving skills, develop safe, defensive techniques, and possibly lower your insurance premium. Max: 25 pre-paid registrants. Send check, made payable to AARP, to Lafayette Senior Services, 500 St. Mary’s Rd., Lafayette, CA 94549. Important: Prior to sending check, please call 284-5050 to determine space availability.
Words of Wisdom...From the Philosophical to the Lighthearted 3rd Tuesday Monthly • 10:30AM–noon • Elderberry Room, LSC Share your opinions with us in a freewheeling exchange of ideas: from current events to philosophy to the inspirational. There may be agreement or there may be different opinions -- it’s all in the spirit of learning, sharing, enrichment, and good humor. Our “elder perspective” frequently sounds a lot like wisdom! Reservoir Walking Group Tuesdays and Thursdays • 9 AM – 10:30AM • Meet at reservoir at 8:45AM center bench on the dam - Led by Jim Scala, Lafayette Today’s “Walking the Reservoir” columnist. Join us for camaraderie, fresh air, and enjoyable exercise, all in magnificent surroundings. Optional bonus: at the end of the walk, Jim will lead you through easy yoga poses and breathing exercises in the most beautiful outdoor yoga studio: the band stage overlooking the water. Increase your balance and fitness, both physical and mental, and leave each week feeling uplifted and radiating that overall sense of well-being! Please call (925) 284-5050 or email seniors@lovelafayette.org to add your name to the email notification list. Bring quarters or a credit card for the parking meter. Annual senior (62+) passes may be purchased at the reservoir visitor center. Positive Living Forum (“Happiness Club”) 2nd Thursday monthly • 10:30AM – noon • Elderberry Room, LSC - Brighten your day with Dr. Bob Nozik, MD, Prof. Emeritus UCSF and author of Happy 4 Life: Here’s How to Do It. Brighten your day and take part in this interactive gathering which features speakers on a wide range of topics that guide participants toward a more ideal and positive life experience. Drop-ins welcome! Free Peer Counseling 2nd Tuesday monthly • 10AM - noon • Alder Room, LSC - Contra Costa Health Services offers free one-on-one counseling with senior (55+) counselors who use their life experiences to help other older adults cope with life changes, problems, crises, and challenges. Confidentiality is strictly observed. Appointment required. Please call Lafayette Senior Services to sign up for one of the 60-minute appointments. Lamorinda Nature Walk and Bird-Watching Wednesdays (skip June 15, 22, 29) • 9AM - noon • Alder Room, LSC - Experience nature at its finest along our local trails. Delight in the beauty that unfolds around each bend, all the while learning to identify a variety of birds. Bring a water bottle; binoculars will be helpful if you have them. Join us every Wednesday or whenever you are able. For more information or to place your name on
www.yourmonthlypaper.com the route email/phone list, call Lafayette Seniors Services. Hearing Screening June 1 • 1 - 2:20PM • Alder Room, LSC - Please call Lafayette Senior Services to make an appointment. Minimum of two sign-ups required in order for hearing screenings to take place. Drop-In Mah Jongg! Every Tuesday • Through 6/7, Noon–3PM • Cedar Room; 6/14-8/30 (skip 6/28), 12:30-3:30 • Sequoia Room, LSC - Calling all Mah Jongg players! Bring your card and mah jongg set, and join us every Tuesday afternoon. This group is for all levels. ‘As The Page Turns’ Book Club 3rd Tuesday Monthly • 1PM - 2:30PM • Tiny Tots Red Room, LSC - Looking for a good book to discuss with others? Join this informal group of booklovers and enjoy enrichment, lively discussion, fellowship, and refreshments. The group is of mixed gender, and everyone gets to participate in the discussions as well as the selection of books to read. Please call Lafayette Senior Services for the book title of the month.
Alzheimer’s continued from front page diagnosed are not initially told by their doctor that they are affected. Because there is no treatment, it’s a frustrating diagnosis for a doctor to make. The disease requires a tremendous amount of caregiving and hands-on assistance. Caregivers often have to give up jobs and careers, and they are sandwiched between taking care of children and their parents. We are here to help.” The Lafayette office, located at 3675 Mt. Diablo Blvd #250, is open from 8:30 – 5PM, Monday through Friday, and walk-ins are welcome, though appointments are encouraged. “We have an incredible amount of information, and we serve as a resource library where you can check-out or purchase books,” says Liu, who has a masters in social work. Nearly all of the office staff have a personal connection to the disease. Liu became acquainted with the organization in the 1990’s while caring for her Alzheimer’s-diagnosed grandmother. When her husband was diagnosed with another form of dementia in 2004, she became his full-time caregiver and ultimately joined the Association’s staff. In addition to the services offered at the local Alzheimer’s Association office, the organization as a whole provides a professionally staffed 24/7 Helpline at (800) 272-3900 to offer information and advice in more than 200 languages. They connect people across the globe through online message boards, and they offer caregivers and families access to comprehensive online resources and information through their Alzheimer’s and Dementia Caregiver Center, which features sections on early-stage, middle-stage, and late-stage caregiving. The Alzheimer’s Association also helps people find clinical studies through their free, easy-to-use matching service that connects individuals with Alzheimer’s, caregivers, healthy volunteers, and physicians with current studies. A free online tool, Alzheimer’s Navigator®, helps those facing the disease to determine their needs and develop an action plan, and their online Community Resource Finder is a comprehensive database of programs, housing and care services, and legal experts. The Association is also the largest nonprofit funder of Alzheimer’s research and is committed to accelerating the global progress of new treatments, preventions, and ultimately a cure. “Alzheimer’s is the most expensive disease in America right now,” says Liu. “Our office helps to provide options. For instance, we can recommend a really good adult day care center for those with memory impairment. We can offer suggestions on protecting assets, recommend elder law attorneys or low cost legal services, and provide individualized care plans and advice in dealing with the medical community – all for free. We try to help keep loved ones living at home with family members and with a quality of life.” For more information on the Association and the June 20 Reservoir walk, visit http://www.alz.org/norcal/.
925.934.3743 • 925.934.1515 www.dumploadsonus.com • www.erecycleonus.com 1271 Boulevard Way, Walnut Creek Monday-Friday, 8-5 • Saturday 9-1, Sunday, closed
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Lafayette Today ~ June 2016 - Page 23
Senior Transportation Highlights By Mary Bruns, Lamorinda Senior Transportation Ride Availability Increasing: As some of our Lamorinda Adult Respite Center (LARC) passengers have moved away, we have more availability than before in the Lamorinda Spirit Van schedule on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. WE LOVE TO SAY “YES,” and our drivers like to stay busy, so it’s always a good idea to call early to reserve your ride before the calendar becomes too full. An Upcoming Outing: On Saturday, September 3, our lunch driver, Eddie Caravalho, will take passengers on a trip to the Rosie the Riveter Museum in Richmond and then out to lunch. If you would like to join this fun outing, call (925) 283-3534 to reserve a seat. There may be additional outings this summer, so call us with your name and phone number if you would like to be notified. Senior Rally Day Update: On May 11th seniors and senior advocates attended Senior Rally Day at the Sacramento State Capitol. Over 500 people from around the state attended, up from 100 last year. A bus from San Bernardino began the trip to Sacramento at midnight. Contra Costa County sent three buses of advocates – one from each area of the County: Central, East, and West, bringing 100 people to this amazing event. This was a great opportunity to call Legislators’ attention to the fact that people are becoming age 65 at the rate of 10,000 a day. From 10AM to noon, we heard a number of Legislators speak. From 1 to 3PM, small groups visited Legislators’ offices and spoke to their staffs about the growth of the older adult population, highlighting the need for funding resources that we all may need as we age: transportation, affordable senior housing, in-home supportive services, and adult day-care. The Silver Tsunami: According to the California Department of Finance, from 2010 – 2060 the age range of 65-74 will grow by 140%, the age range of 74-84 will grow by 203%, and age 85 and older will grow by 316%. To put this into perspective, the next largest growth age range is what is termed the working age range of 25-64, which in the same period will grow by only 23%. These projected numbers give added emphasis to why developing resources for older adults is so important. Planning is already beginning for next year’s Senior Rally Day, tentatively scheduled for May 10, 2017. Consider joining us next year to observe or let your voice be heard. It’s important for Legislators to see the increasing size of the senior population. YOU ARE NEEDED! Volunteer Drivers providing rides to older adults every week or two meet a critical community need and enjoy abundant appreciation. Think of your parents or grandparents and how they will get around when they no longer drive. How can they age in their own homes without becoming isolated? How will they get to the doctor or grocery shopping when family members do not live nearby? One of our drivers
Lamorinda Senior Transportation An Alliance of Transportation Providers
Volunteer Drivers – Needed, Valued, and Appreciated We will accommodate your schedule. Call one of the programs below to volunteer.
Lamorinda Spirit Van
283-3534
Takes Lamorinda older adults, age 60 and up, to errands, appointments, shopping, classes, and to lunch at the C.C. Café. Wheelchair and walker accessible. WE LOVE TO SAY YES, so call early to make your reservation.
Contra Costa Yellow Cab and DeSoto Company
284-1234
20% discount for Lamorinda seniors.
Orinda Seniors Around Town
402-4506
Volunteer drivers serving Orinda seniors with free rides to appointments and errands.
Mobility Matters Rides for Seniors (formerly Senior Helpline Svcs) 284-6161 Volunteer drivers serving Contra Costa seniors with free rides to doctors’ appointments during the week. Grocery shopping on Saturdays.
County Connection LINK Reservation Line
938-7433
For people with disabilities. (Older adults often have “age-based” disabilities.)
Mobility Matters Information and Referral Line 284-6109
volunteered because he was so appreciative of the transportation service his mother received in the Midwest. We hope you will consider becoming one of our valued volunteer drivers. At Mobility Matters or Orinda Seniors Around Town, you may escort one older adult at a time while driving your own car. At the Lamorinda Spirit Van Program, you may drive one to four older adults during a 4-hour period, taking them to medical/hair/ nails/physical therapy appointments, errands, lunch, or grocery shopping using our wheelchair accessible mini-van or paratransit vehicle. Training is provided. Requirements include being a caring, mature individual with a valid driver’s license, a good driving record, age 25-75, in good health, and a background check.
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C L A S S I F I E D S FOR SALE Safety, quality, and value are all things you find in cars, but in knives? Sharp and durable, with a warranty to last the ages, Cutco knives are the last set of kitchen knives you will ever have to buy. To learn more contact Nicholas Risinger at (916)-584-4141, or risingernick5@gmail.com.
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