Lafayette Today, April 2012 by The Editors, Inc

editor@yourmonthlypaper.com

April 2012

Serving the Lafayette Community J.F. Kapnek Trust By Fran Miller Dr. Dan Robbins’ ﬁrst experience with the J.F. Kapnek Trust was in 1988, when he traveled to Zimbabwe at the invitation of his aunt, Dr. Rebecca Polland, then Executive Director of the Trust. During that visit, Robbins became aware of the inequity of global healthcare. He recalls the painful experience of trying to treat a young toddler, convulsing with meningitis. As Robbins worked to resuscitate the child, fellow interns pointed out that there was only one ventilator and it was being utilized. With no capacity to provide intensive care, Robbins was told there was

Lafayette to Celebrate Earth Day By Sustainable Lafayette Mark your calendar for a special event! On Sunday, April 22nd, from 11am to 3pm, Lafayette will hold its annual Earth Day Celebration, when we gather to honor our planet and our community’s efforts to protect the environment. Hosted by Sustainable Lafayette, the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, Lafayette Library & Learning Center, and City of Lafayette, the celebration will include lunch, live music, informative displays, lectures, kids activities, movies, and more. This year the event will be celebrated at and around the Lafayette Library and Learning Center with a festive community picnic held behind the Library and educational activities in the Library. It all starts with great food. Fist of Flour Pizza, Nature’s Bounty, Whole Foods, and the Bookmark Café will all be offering fresh, organic lunch options. Picnic tables will be setup so you can enjoy a tasty lunch while listening to live music by local bands the Gypsy Chix and Dream Posse. Before or after lunch you can check out local non-proﬁts and select vendors that will line Golden Gate Way with informative displays and information, including booths setup by The Urban Farmers, Muir Heritage Land Trust, Lafayette Open Space, WasteDiversion.org, Ecolunchboxes. com, The Solar Company, Kiefer Koops, and many more! For home veggie growers, Moraga Gardens will be selling their wonderful starters, including heirloom tomatoes. On the Library patio, Sustainable Lafayette, one of the event’s hosts, will unveil a showcase of exciting new projects for 2012 and ways that you can get involved. For those with youngsters in tow, the Interactive Kids Center will feature live animals from Lindsay Wildlife Museum, an exhibit from Berkeley’s Lawrence Hall of Science, face painting, and earth-friendly art projects. And that’s not all. The winners of the 2011 City of Lafayette Green Awards will be announced, so you can learn which individuals, groups, and organizations have made impressive strides to make our town one of the greenest in the Bay Area. You can also be inspired by short movies and a special lecture in the Community Hall titled Preserving Precious Water

See Earth continued on page 19 Local Postal Customer

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Devon Bruzzone of Lafayette spent last summer in Zimbabwe, working with children as a volunteer with the JF Kapnek Trust.

no point in trying to stabilize the boy. “I will never forget that moment when I realized that the powers to which I’d been accustomed as a resident at Oakland Children’s Hospital were a luxury,” says Robbins, “and how wrong it was that a seriously ill child in Zimbabwe has so little access to

See Kapnek continued on page 18

A Special Treat By Tina Tankka If you slept in on Wednesday March 28th, you may have missed one of the most invigorating, inspiring music events to have visited Stanley Middle School’s music room. Seven musicians, a trumpeter, alto saxophonist, tenor saxophonist, bass trombonist, guitarist, bass player, and drummer from the U.S. Air Force Band of the Golden West Commanders Jazz Ensemble based out of Travis Air Force Base graciously shared with the students their “attitude and funk” that spoke volumes to the students and adults in attendance. If there was an Volume V I- Number 4 3000F DANVILLE BLVD #117 award that recognizes chivalry, gallantry, or ALAMO, CA 94507 good will, these messengers of music would Telephone (925) 405-6397 surely sweep the podium. Fax (925) 406-0547 Bob Athayde, music director of Stanley editor@yourmonthlypaper.com Middle School, hosted a pageantry Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher of Lafayette dignitaries. Mayor Carol The opinions expressed herein belong to the Federighi, City Manager Steve Falk, and writers, and do not necessarily reflect that of Lafayette Today. Lafayette Today is not students and teachers of all subjects were responsible for the content of any of the ad-

See Treat continued on page 20

vertising herein, nor does publication imply

Page 2 - April 2012 ~ Lafayette Today

Seniors Recreation Center Silent Auction and Fundraising Sale The Lafayette Seniors Recreation Center is having a Silent Auction and Fundraising sale on April 14th from noon 2pm at the Lafayette United Methodist Church located at 955 Moraga Road. There will be free coffee, tea, and cookies. Items for sale include hand-knitted items, homemade breads, jams, handmade gifts, and more! Tell your neighbors and friends to come and shop for that special handmade gift you won’t ﬁnd in a store. There will also be gift certiﬁcates from local merchants where you name your price. The Lafayette Seniors Recreation Center has operated solely by volunteers since 1950. We welcome all seniors to join us. For more information, call 925-284-5050.

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Emergency Preparedness The following classes will be held by the Lafayette Emergency Preparedness Commission at the Lafayette Community Center, located at 500 St. Mary’s Rd., in the Elderberry Room (back parking lot). Classes are taught by the Emergency Preparedness Commission and are free of charge. Register by calling the Lafayette Community Center at 284-2232.

Neighborhood Captains’ Training Wednesday, April 18th ~ 7-8:30PM Join other Lafayette residents in becoming a neighborhood captain in the Lafayette EmergencyAction Response Network (LEARN). This session is designed to help you organize your block or neighborhood in becoming self-sufficient for the first 72 hours following a major disaster. Attendance at a basic preparedness class (as above, CERT or Red Cross class) is recommended, but not required, prior to attending this class. Bring paper and pencil. Written materials will be provided. The Lafayette Emergency Preparedness Commission can arrange classes specifically for Lafayette homeowner, church, or service groups, possibly closer to home. For more information, call the Commission at 299-3220 or email csurges@lovelafayette.org.

Las Trampas Fundraisers What’s in Our Hat? Support adults with developmental disabilities by attending Las Trampas “The Royals Go for the Gold!” event. This fundraiser will be held Sunday, April 29th from 3PM – 6:30PM at the Lafayette Park Hotel & Spa which is located at 3287 Mt. Diablo Boulevard in Lafayette. • One Lucky person will win $10,000 from our Hat • Sponsored by KTVU 2 featuring Mornings on 2 John Sasaki • Sponsored by Diablo Valley 92.1 KKDV featuring Don Potter • Fabulous cuisine from Lafayette Park Hotel & Spa Executive Chef, John Avalos • Live Music performed by Generations in Jazz • Rafﬂe & Silent Auction Tickets are $100. For more information, contact Bonnie Peacock at (925)284-1462 ext. 239 or via email at bpeacock@lastrampas.org.

Book Fair Barnes & Noble is having a book fair to support Las Trampas, Inc. from April 14th – April 21st from 9am to 9pm at Barnes & Noble located at 1149 S. Main Street, Walnut Creek. Please make your purchases in Walnut Creek or online. Please note: You must visit www.lastrampas. org and print out a voucher to give to the store personnel prior to making your purchase. If you can’t attend the book fair in Walnut Creek visit BN.com/bookfairs to support Las Trampas online from 04/14/12 to 04/21/12 by entering Book fair ID10695930 at checkout. Since 1958, Las Trampas has supported men and women with developmental disabilities to lead full lives as active members of the community by providing the highest quality of residential, developmental, and vocational services. Proceeds from both events support adults with developmental disabilities.

Candlelight Labyrinth Walk Friday, April 13th, 7-8pm Celebrate spring by walking the Chartres style labyrinth at LafayetteOrinda Presbyterian Church located at 49 Knox Drive in Lafayette on Friday, April 13th from 7-8pm. As you walk, listen to classical music and relax, reﬂect, meditate, or pray. There will be contemplative readings in the chapel. This is a “come-and-go event,” so stop by anytime between 7pm and 8pm. For further information, call Karlene Pauﬂer 820-4332.

Nursery School’s Science Day of Discovery Make a volcano explode, send a rocket into space, explore the gooey texture of ﬂubber, become an archeologist for the day and dig for dinosaur bones, or create giant bubbles. These are just a few of the activities at the 36th annual Lafayette Nursery School Science Day of Discovery to be held Saturday, May 5th from 10am-1pm at the Lafayette Nursery School located at 979 First Street. This hands-on science fair features exhibits and experiments designed for children preschool age through third grade. The cost is $4 per child. For more information call 925-284-2448 or visit www.lafayettenurseryschool.com.

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Lafayette Today ~ April 2012 - Page 3

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Boulevard View By Alisa Corstorphine, Editor The few times I have watched the TV show Hoarders I have immediately felt the itch to tidy and clean. My feelings were mirrored by a 20-year-old friend of the family who recently posted on his Facebook Wall, “Sooooo just finished watching Hoarders. Yep, time to clean every square inch of my room.” I get it. That’s just how I feel. It is time for some “Spring Cleaning,” the annual act of cleaning a home from top to bottom. Wikipedia says, “It has been suggested that the origins of spring cleaning date back to the Iranian Norouz, the Persian New Year, which falls on the first day of spring. Iranians continue the practice of “khooneh tekouni,” which literally means ‘shaking the house’ just before the new year. Everything in the house is thoroughly cleaned, from the drapes to the furniture.” The citing continues, “During the 19th century in America, prior to the advent of the vacuum cleaner, March was often the best time for dusting because it was getting warm enough to open windows and doors (but not warm enough for insects to be a problem), and the high winds could carry the dust out of the house. For the same reason, modern rural households often use this time for cleaning projects involving the use of chemical products which generate fumes, opening up the winter darkness (although there was not as many dreary days this winter) and welcoming the warm weather.” A couple years ago my daughter started an event called “Together We Give,” and the event fits in nicely with the Spring Cleaning theme. This one-stop, one afternoon event is a gathering of local groups and organizations looking for your useful items you no longer need. They in turn collect the items and take them directly to their organizations. Do you have clothes you no longer wear, bikes you no longer ride, instruments you no longer play, or eyeglasses or hearing aids that are not your prescription anymore? Did you buy a five pack of deodorant or a case of paper towels at Costco and now wonder, “What was I thinking? I’ll never use up that much of this product!” If so, this is the perfect opportunity to share with others in need. As my daughter is away at college, the Alamo Women’s Club has taken over the Together We Give event. See the list of items below that the groups need and make your Spring Cleaning a personal scavenger hunt. Then, bring everything down to the Club located at 1401 Danville Blvd in Alamo on April 22nd from 1-4pm, and help out these

wonderful organizations. Please note all items must be “smoke-free.” For the full list of items, please email coordinator Pam Singh at momshouseinc@ymail.com. • New/unused yarn (any type), knitting looms for hats/scarves, hat/scarf patterns for Knit For The Kids • Bikes/protective gear, storage bins, DVDs for young adults, educational CDs/ DVDs, gardening kits & tools, large dufﬂe bags and backpacks, sports equipment, arts & crafts supplies, radios with CD player, board games, bath/face/hand towels, digital cameras, clock radios, MP3 Music Players for Youth Homes – Foster Care • Antiques, linens, glassware for Hospice of East Bay • Unopened hotel shampoo/conditioner/soap/razors, twin size bedding (blankets, sheets, bedspreads, pillow covers, mattress covers), towels for STAND! For Families Free of Violence • Usable “sunshine gifts” – packs of cards, hand creams, etc., clean/used sleeping bags, children books, interview and work clothes for Men/Women, and professional accessories (shoes, scarves, handbags, jewelry) for Wardrobe for Opportunity via VESTIA – Volunteer Emergency Services Team in Action • Eyeglasses and hearing aids for Lion’s Club • Cell phones for the Troops • New or gently worn dresses for 6th to 8th grade girls for Dress It Up 4 Girls • Diapers, baby clothes, baby toys, strollers, and car seats for Brighter Beginnings • School supplies, binders, nursery rhyme books, puzzles, towels, heavy push toys such as wagons, board games, sidewalk chalk, sand toys, Hot Wheels, jump ropes, boys dress up clothes, men’s ties for We Care Services for Children (ages 2-5) • Shoes for Pledge To Humanity (donated to local communities) • Canned and boxed food for the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano • Books, small furniture, Ewaste recycling - Computers, monitors, printers, laptops, TVs, iPods, stereos for CARH, Inc. (Community assistance for the disabled) • Gently worn coats, hats, mittens for One Warm Coat • Gently used clothing (men, women & children), household goods, books, toilet paper, paper towels for Shepherd’s Gate • Musical instruments for Local Schools • Adult dark colored knit hats, hand and foot warmers, paper back books, CDs, DVDs for Blue Star Moms • Blankets/Quilts for Contra Costa County Sheriff - Valley Station • Volunteer participation - puppy raising, assistance with special events, and donations for Canine Companions for Independence ~Be an Angel of Hope~

How can you help?

x x x x

x x x x x x x x x x

x x x x

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Page 4 - April 2012 ~ Lafayette Today

Acalanes High School Presents Hamlet

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The Acalanes High School DramaDons theater group presents Hamlet, William Shakespeare’s greatest tragedy. The story includes betrayal, murder, loyalty, madness, and revenge. This fast paced adaptation by Bay Area playwright/director Jon Tracy explores the bonds of youth and the inﬂuence that their elders exert on them. As loyalties shift, everyone hopes that when the dust settles they wind up on the right side. Showtime is 7:30pm, May 2nd-5th. Doors open at 7pm. General admission tickets are $10 and $7 for students/seniors. Tickets may be purchased online at www.dramadons.org or at the door. All proceeds beneﬁt the Acalanes Performing Arts Boosters Drama Discipline.

Opening Our Eyes In the summer of 2010, mother/daughter filmmakers Gail Mooney and Erin Kelly embarked on a 99-day journey around the globe. They were Showrooms in Pleasanton, Benicia, and Fairfield. seeking ordinary people who were making a positive difference in the world. Their documentary Opening www.SpecialtySales.com | 800.600.2262 Our Eyes tells the stories of eleven people on six continents who are making our world a better place through the power of Science Careers the Focus of AAUW Meeting ONE. The filmmaker’s goal is to inspire and motivate people as to what Motivate your daughters to have interesting careers in the sciences by they can do. attending theApril meeting of theAmericanAssociation of University Women, Come see the film on Saturday, April 21st at 7PM followed immediately Orinda, Moraga, Lafayette branch (AAUW/OML). On Sunday, April 22 with a question and answer time with one of the filmmakers. The event at 3PM, Margaret Race, PhD will discuss her career working with NASA will be held in the Community Hall at the Lafayette Library and Learning and the SETI Institute. Center. A $10 donation per person is requested which will be used to benefit Her presentation the Lafayette Library and Learning Center Foundation. is entitled, “From For reservations, call (925) 890-1441 or email candace94549@yahoo.com. Mudflats to Mars, a A Toast to Tutoring Personal Odyssey.” Buena Vista Auxiliary will be holding its annual A Toast to Tutoring event Dr. Race chose this on Friday, April 20th, from 6-10pm at Round Hill Country Club in Alamo. topic because, “My Buena Vista Auxiliary of Assistance League® of Diablo Valley is a career path has been nonprofi t, volunteer organization that operates the Buena Vista Tutorial a true odyssey, from Program, an early-intervention literacy program for elementary school marine biology to the children in Contra Costa County. solar system.” This year the event will feature several exciting wineries and breweries Additionally, we will hear from our six including Rombauer, Wente, Sierra Nevada, and Hannah Nicole. Prior Tech Trek Scholarship to a sit-down dinner, guests will enjoy a wine and beer tasting and have th winners-7 grade girls from local middle schools who will attend the the opportunity to meet Olympic skater and local children’s author, Kristi Grace Hopper science camp at Stanford University this summer. We also Yamaguchi. The event will also include both silent and live auctions with will honor and present the four branch scholarship winners chosen from fantastic getaways, amazing experiences, parties, sports tickets, and more! For more information visit www.atoasttotutoring.org. each local high school and St. Mary’s College. The meeting will be held at the Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Cultural Center, located at 1700 School Street in Moraga, and refreshments will be served.

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BVA members left to right: Maggi Kurimai and Kristina Massey of Lafayette and Julie Diekman of Alamo. Photo by Simon Eldridge.

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Lafayette Today ~ April 2012 - Page 5

Lafayette Juniors Host Kitchen Tour Tickets are now on sale for the 13th Annual Lafayette Kitchen Tour scheduled for Saturday, May 19th from 10AM until 3PM. Guests will have the opportunity to visit six exquisite kitchens located in Lafayette. Attendees will receive an event guide detailing all design elements and information on the contractors, architects, designers, and design resources featured in each home. “We invite you to bring friends and family to tour an array of brand new kitchens, showcasing the latest and up-to-date trends in kitchen design and style. This fabulous not-to-miss Lafayette event raises much needed funds for local charities,” says Amy Friedli, President of the Lafayette Suburban Junior Women’s Club. “On behalf of Lafayette Juniors, THANK YOU to the gracious homeowners who have opened up their beautiful homes, to our sponsors and local business supporters, and to all those in the community who have contributed to this event. We could not do it without you!” Over the past 12 years, the Lafayette Juniors Kitchen Tour has raised over $275,000 for local charities such as Contra Costa Interfaith Housing, Brighter Beginnings, Youth Homes, Inc., We Care, Xenophon Therapeutic Riding Center, and Futures Explored. This year’s major beneﬁciary is Shelter, Inc. which offers an integrated range of services including prevention, emergency and transitional housing, housing and budget counseling, education, employment services, and permanent, affordable housing to low-income residents of Contra Costa County. Tickets for the Tour are $40, $30 of which is tax deductible. A boxed lunch is available for an additional $12. Tickets may be purchased in advance from a Lafayette Juniors member, online at www.lafayettejuniors.org, or at one of the following Lafayette locations: • Douglah Designs, 3577 Mt. Diablo Blvd., 925-284-4560 • Premier Kitchens, 3373 Mt. Diablo Blvd., 925-283-6500 The Lafayette Suburban Junior Women’s Club, chartered in 1953, is an organization of approximately 50 women dedicated to promoting social welfare, education and civic improvement in the Lafayette and surrounding community. For more information, visit www.lafayettejuniors.org.

“Life in the Walnut Creek Garden” Fundraiser Saturday, May 5th, 11AM to 4PM John Montgomery Landscape Architects is delighted to announce their third annual Garden Tour Fundraiser presenting gardens exclusively designed by John Montgomery. Celebrate Spring, chat with John, stroll the gardens, enjoy live music, attend demonstrations, and nibble goodies in our outdoor living environments. Proceeds from the sale of tickets beneﬁt The Quincy Lee Foundation, Hospice of the East Bay, and Contra Costa County Guide Dog Raisers, Inc.. To sign up, visit www.jm-la.com and click on Garden Tour. For questions, please contact Debbie at dblumhardt@jm-la.com, or (925) 820-8884.

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Children’s Garden Tours Spring tours of the St. Perpetua Children’s Garden of Learning are currently being scheduled for local preschools. Lead by Monette Meo, certiﬁed Master Gardener, the children’s garden is a place of enjoyment where preschoolers can come for a walk, talk, and taste tour and enjoy a story, an organic snack, and a take home project.

AAUW Garden Tour The Danville-Alamo-Walnut Creek American Association of University Women’s (AAUW) 12th Annual Garden Tour will be held Friday, May 11th and Saturday, May 12th from 10AM - 4PM. Six delightful gardens located in Alamo and Danville will be presented. Landscape designers and expert gardeners will be on hand to share their knowledge. Tickets are $30 before May 4th and $35 after. Seniors 65+ are $5 less. No children under 12 or pets, please. Mail your check payable to “AAUW Funds” with a business size, self-addressed, stamped envelope to AAUW Garden Tour, PO Box 996, Alamo, CA 94507. Tickets will also be available after April 9th at East Bay Flower Company at 206 Sycamore Valley Rd.W. in Danville with cash or check payment only. All proceeds go to AAUW Funds, supporting aspiring female scholars. For further information about the tour, email gardentour@aauw.daw.org.

Montelindo Garden Club The Montelindo Garden Club will host Robin Stockwell on Friday, April 20th whose topic will be “Succulents.” Robin is the owner, grower and manager of Succulent Gardens in Castroville, California. Succulent Gardens is a wholesale/retail nursery covering over three acres where Robin cultivates over 400 varieties of quality succulent plants. Robin has worked with succulents since 1972 and has been active in the nursery industry for over 40 years. The lecture is at 10:30AM proceeded by a plant sale and social hour starting at 9AM. The program is held at the Orinda Community Church, 10 Irwin way, Orinda. For more information visit www.montelindogarden.com.

The Garden of Learning opened its doors to the community in 2004. Monette’s vision to create a place where children could explore and grow has surpassed all expectations and has become a teaching tool not only for science but also for ecology, art, history, and sociology for grades K-8 at St. Perpetua School. St. Perpetua School is pleased to invite the community to come to the garden for a visit. Please contact the school ofﬁce at (925) 284-1640 to schedule an educational preschool tour or visit our website www.stperpetua. org for more information.

Page 6 - April 2012 ~ Lafayette Today

The Bookworm By Joan Stevenson Salute to Spring! On Saturday, April 28th from 7-11PM we will welcome the season with an evening of wine tasting, hors d’oeuvres, and fun in the Community Room at Lafayette Library and Leaning Center. And, while you sip and savor, you will be entertained with dueling pianos, karaoke, and dancing. What is the purpose of all this joyful mirth? The evening will help the foundation fund 53% of library operations, including enriching programs, longer open hours, and the state-of-theart facility. Individual tickets are $65. To reserve your tickets, mail check payable to LLLCF 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd. #214, Lafayette, CA 94549, call 925.283.6513 x.103, or email reserve@LLLCF.org. Another way funds come to the Lafayette Library and Learning Center is from the Friends Corner Bookshop. The last half price book sale on March 17th broke all records...bringing in $3,510! The volunteer workers AND the customers were thrilled. A few collectors have discovered us and purchased some precious sets that were over 100 years old. Contributions to the library come in all sizes and shapes. Consider this - Burton Valley Elementary School teacher Carroll Martin and her class have once again chosen the Library as the recipient of $1,000. The kids created a business model and sold books to donate to a worthy cause. Last year the library was able to purchase a telescope and children’s astronomy books. This year, the money will go toward an Early Literacy Station that is also being partly funded by the Friends. The cool thing about these Early Literacy Stations is that it is an internet-free computer system for students 2 – 10 years old. It provides fun, colorful, educational content that covers seven curricular areas in alignment to national education standards. It contains 56 top-rated educational software programs that kids are instantly engaged by with touch-screen gesturing and page-turning functionality. The Early Literacy Station can also meet the needs of children with different types of learning challenges such as autism. Once again, to Carroll and her wonderful students, “Thank you!” Calling all writers, here is an event you will not want to miss! A Writer’s

15th..Sunday 1:30–2:30pm

A&S

15th...Sunday 4:00–6:00pm

19th...Thursday 3:30–4:30pm

20th...Friday 1:30–2:30pm

21st...Saturday 1:00–2:30pm

A&S

21st...Saturday 7:00–9:00pm

22nd...Sunday 11:00–3:00pm

library grounds

Lawrence Hall of Science: Colorful Science...........$20/child Discover and create amazing colors by mixing up your own rainbow recipes. Make a rainbow with incredible crystals to take home. Ages 3 - 6. www.lawrencehallofscience.org/library Pacific Chamber Symphony.........$30/gen, $25/Sr, $10/Stu. Handel and Mozart - PCS will bring its customary clarity & precision to bear on Handel’s Water Music and Mozart’s Symphony #41 “Jupiter”. brownpapertickets.com Lindsay Wildlife Museum: Animal Chemistry......$5/youth Living at Home - Youth will use hands-on activities to discover how animals use simple chemicals found in air, soil & water to survive and adapt. Ages 11-14. reserve@LLLCF.org Lafayette Senior Services....................$3/mbrs, $5/nonmbrs Afternoon Jazz Piano - “All That Jazz” - Come hear piano standards & originals by the Contra Costa Performing Arts Society. Light refreshments. To reserve call 284-5050 The Wildflowers of Mount Diablo..................................Free Author, Mt. Diablo docent and local resident Yulan Chang Tong, will share photos and stories of the beauty of local wildflowers & what we can learn from them. reserve@LLLCF.org Screening of Documentary Film: Opening Our Eyes.....$10 This documentary tells the story of 11 people on 6 continents who are making our world a better place through the power of ONE. Post screening discussion, too. candace94549@yahoo.com Lafayette’s 7th Annual Earth Day Celebration.............Free The LLLC will turn into a giant, family-friendly venue that celebrates learning about the environment. Includes organic food, entertainment & local organizations.

www.yourmonthlypaper.com Place presents Writing Strong Girls at the Lafayette Library Arts and Science Center room on Thursday, April 12th from 7 – 8PM. Ellen Klages is a noted speaker and author of two highly-acclaimed young adult novels. The Green Glass Sea tells the story of two misfit eleven-year-old girls living in Los Alamos as their parents create the atom bomb; it won the Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction. White Sands, Red Menace continues the story. On Sunday, April 22nd from11AM – 3PM Lafayette’s 7th Annual Earth Day Celebration will take place. You can enjoy a great organic lunch while you listen to live music in the amphitheater. Take time to stop by the Arts & Science room for special kid’s crafts, face painting, and displays by Lindsey Wildlife Museum. On Saturday April 21st from 1-2:30PM join us for a conversation with Yulan Chang Tong, local resident, author, and Mount Diablo docent as she discusses the Wildflowers of Mount Diablo. Mount Diablo, a small dot on the state map, is home to 10% of the state’s plants. The State Park has 11 endemic plants - plants that only grow here and nowhere else in the whole world! Spring is known for its bounty of wildflowers, but, fortunately, there is something in bloom on our lovely mountain all year round! Yulan will share her knowledge of wildflowers and her incredible photos, too. On April 24th come for a tasty talk and sweet treats as the LLLCF Science Cafe presents Howard and Sally Peters, aka Mr. and Mrs. Chocolate! Howard and Sally, both chemists by trade, will share many fascinating, fun facts about the science of chocolate, including its ancient history from the Mayan, Olmec, and Aztec cultures and why it’s been a part of our culture for thousands of years. They will explore the chemistry, biochemistry, and biology of chocolate and help us understand why this exotic processed food is in fact truly healthy for us. Isn’t that good news? Doors open at 6:30PM, and the program runs from 7-8PM. Boxed meals are $10 and available for pre-purchase (call for menu options and to order). Reservations are required and the charges is $5. To make reservations email reserve@LLLCF.org or phone 925-283-6513. And finally a literary note. April is National Poetry Month, and to celebrate the Academy of Poets suggests putting a poem in your pocket. The idea is simple: select a poem you love during National Poetry Month, then carry it with you to share with co-workers, family, and friends. I have tucked my favorite Frost poem in mine. What’s in your pocket?

22nd...Sunday 2:00–3:00pm

24th...Tuesday 7:00–8:00pm

25th..Wednesday 1:30–2:30pm

25th..Wednesday 3:00–4:00pm

A&S

25th...Wednesday 6:00–8:00pm

28th...Saturday 10:30–11:30am

A&S

Greenbelt Alliance: Preserving Precious Water.............Free Two Local Solutions - Hear from two water experts about how to create a “water neutral” garden, including creating graywater systems, rainwater harvesting and more. reserve@LLLCF.org Science Cafe: The Science of Chocolate.............................$5 Howard & Sally Peters, also known as Mr. & Mrs. Chocolate, will share the history, production, health aspects & chemistry of cocoa. Tasting, too. reserve@LLLCF.org Special Tour of the Lafayette Library for Seniors.........Free The LLLC invites all seniors to an exclusive talk, treats! and leisurely tour of the library. Enjoy a guided tour of the art, architecture and comprehensive collections. reserve@LLLCF.org Lafayette Historical Society.............$10/mbrs, $15/nonmbrs Downtown Lafayette - Then & Now: This presentation will introduce you to the rich history of our interesting town. Facilitated by history nut Mary McCosker. lafayette.history@comcast.net Alta Bates Summit Medical Center................................Free New, Customizable Options for Breast Cancer Treatment Two physicians will share the latest treatment choices targeted to a woman's own diagnosis. To reserve call (510) 869-6737 Lindsay Wildlife Museum..................................................$5 Every day is EARTH DAY! - Explore environmental stewardship and enjoy a fun Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Rot! activity. Ages 6 - 10. reserve@LLLCF.org

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Downtown Walking Tour April 29th By Julie Sullivan, Lafayette Historical Society (LHS)

Lafayette Today ~ April 2012 - Page 7

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Foreclosed Real Estate Partnerships Lafayette may be one of the oldest settlements in Contra Costa County, but we’re lucky that a number of our original historic buildings are not only still standing, but are still in use today. High Return Requires a Lafayette Historical Society is offering two events in April that will bring Lafayette’s past to Minimum Cash Investment With life for you and your children. On April 25th Mary McCosker, co-author of Images of America – No Experience in Real Estate or Construction. Lafayette will present “Downtown Lafayette Then & Now” as part of the LHS Speakers Series. The Contact: Adamsson Associates Inc. presentation will be held at 3pm in the Arts and Science Room of the Lafayette Library. On April 29th at 1:30pm McCosker will be joined by Michelle Chan, historic downtown Lafayette 888-293-8793 expert, when the two will lead a special walking tour of downtown. Meet at the LHS History Room on the ground floor of the Lafayette Library, Golden Gate Way entrance. The tour will encompass an hour of walking on flat, paved surfaces. Local Authorized Dealer Whether you’re new to town or a long-time Lafayette resident, you’re sure to learn something from these events. For instance, the Pony Express came through Lafayette between 1860 and 1861, Just Floors Lafayette has had a minimum of seven post office locations, and even though Postino means post 1051 #B Detroit Avenue office in Italian, that building was never one of Lafayette’s post offices. Learn where the first Concord, CA 94518 general store stood, as well as the second and third school houses. All these buildings still exist At the Back Entrance to Costco more than 150 years after Lafayette’s founding in 1848. 925-681-4747 JustFloorsConcord.com McCosker, a Lafayette native and a self-described “history nut,” teaches Lafayette history to third graders in local schools and is president of the Lafayette Historical Society. Her knowledge Lic. #708486 of the area and unique sense of humor make history come alive for her listeners. A donation of $10 for LHS members and $15 for non-members is requested for each event, with a discount of $5 if attending both. Attendance is limited. Send an email to Lafayette.history@comcast.net or call 925/283-1848 to make reservations. Another upcoming event at LHS is the Annual Meeting on May 9th. It will be held at 6pm in the Lafayette Library Community Hall. Mary Volmer, author of Crown of Dust will describe some of California’s most famous – and infamous – women. Joining the men streaming west after gold was discovered in California were prostitutes and preachers’ wives, escaped slaves and society grand dames, reformers, and saloon keepers. These women helped shape the region, yet their stories have been largely forgotten. Volmer uses the interplay of fiction and history for a compassionate reimagining of some of California’s most famous female residents. A professor and founding director of the Saint Mary’s College Honors Program, she is at work on her second novel. She will be available to sign copies of her book after the presentation. Tickets are $10 for LHS members and $15 for non-members. Email Lafayette.history@comcast.net or call 925/283-1848 to reserve a space or for information. For more information, visit www.lafayettehistory.org. LHS History Room in the Lafayette Library and Learning Center is open Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday from10am – 2pm.

What’s in Your Easter Basket? By Monica Chappell Easter is almost here, and families everywhere will be gathering around the dinner table to feast with friends and loved ones. This may not sound like the best time to think about serious food and wine pairings, but if your family is anything like mine, the end of Lent is one of the happiest of days. Whether you’ve given up chocolate, red meat, coffee or even (gasp!) wine for the last 40 days, it’s time to reintroduce yourself. The Easter meal should be a happy occasion, and what better way to enjoy good company than with a little vino at the table? If your family celebrates Passover, wow the crowd with a tasty kosher wine.

The Easter Ham Ham is often prepared with glazes or toppings that are sweet and can balance the inherent saltiness of the actual meat. Well-paired wines can accomplish the same objective. If I had to choose but one wine to accompany an Easter ham, I know what I’d choose in a heartbeat. Unfussy rosés are bursting with red fruit flavors and pair with a variety of holiday foods especially Easter ham. Rosé’s flavor profile has enough sweet fruit to balance the salt in the ham and enough acidity to support the combination without compromising the flavor in either the ham or the wine.

Rosé 101 Rosé wines are made from red wine grapes fermented just a short time

with their skins. Colors range from light salmon to bright pink to mediumdeep rose. The length of time the juice is in contact with the crushed skins determines not only the ﬁnal color of the wine, but to a certain extent the amount of tannin extracted from the skins and seeds as well.

A Rosé By Any Other Name Rosé spans the style spectrum. Because rosé refers to the color of the wine, as opposed to a speciﬁc grape variety, the wine can be made from a variety of red grapes and their blends, including Mourvédre, Sangiovese, Grenache, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot. With the variety of grapes used to make rosé, the character of the wine ranges from light and fruity to medium bodied with hints of tannin. Try rosé wines from California or Italy, and especially from Spain or from Provence, France. I’m happy to welcome spring with a glass of rosé, and as rosé becoming more popular people will discover the joys of drinking pink. Monica Chappell teaches wine appreciation classes in the East Bay. For a list of classes, go to www.wineappreciation101.blogspot.com.

Big Band Ballroom Dance Join the Big Band of Rossmoor for a Big Band Ballroom Dance on Friday, April 20th at the Veterna's Memorial Building located at 3780 Mt. Diablo Blvd. Dance from 8pm - 10pm. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased from the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce ofﬁce at 925-284-7404.

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Page 8 - April 2012 ~ Lafayette Today

Got Mold? ByGary&KarenGrunwald,PowerWashPros The valleys of the East Bay have one of the mildest and most desirable climates in the entire world with no humidity and very little frost. Any outdoor sport or recreation can be found within a short drive. Despite this mild climate, the outdoors is still the outdoors. There is dust and critters in dry times, and the recent rainstorms remind us of molds, mildew, and moss that accumulates during wet times. Our home is subject to the changing outdoor weather conditions and varying temperatures which require constant maintenance in order to maintain its value. Routine care and exterior maintenance is a must. One of the most cost effective processes for that maintenance is a good hot water power wash from top to bottom. This hot steam washing process cleans the entire exterior of your home including outdoor living areas. Applied with the appropriate amount of pressure for the surface being cleaned, the power wash will remove dirt and debris attached to your home’s exterior – roof tiles, gutters, stucco, brick, wood, siding, fences, window frames, as well as patios and decks. Power Wash Pros is here to help maintain your investment. With over ten years providing professional cleaning services in the Los Angeles and Sacramento regions, we are now expanding in the East Bay, back to where we were raised. Some of the biggest concerns we hear from homeowners this time of year can be easily addressed with our pressure washing services. Home Exterior Cleaning – During the fall and rainy season, mildew stains become dark and unsightly on wood siding and stucco. A hot steam pressure wash removes this mildew, and the appearance of the home is left sparkling. If your home’s appearance seems a little dull and dingy, it’s because it’s dirty. If it doesn’t have the same fresh look you remember the day you moved in or had it last painted, it’s dirty. Cleaning it will bring back that fresh appearance. We often have homeowners tell us they were able to put off the next repainting for a few more years because regular cleaning extends the life of the paint when done properly; too much pressure during this process can shorten it. Roof/Gutter cleaning – Branches, twigs, berries, leaves, dirt, and debris accumulate and clog your roof’s drainage system, forcing water to spill over and splatter into landscaping. It can erode away groundcover and soil and cause a mess, or it can dribble down the side of the house eventually causing black streaks of mildew and moss. Power Wash Pros can blow clear your

www.yourmonthlypaper.com entire roof and gutter system, restoring the proper drainage and protecting the living areas below. Fences, patios, decks, driveways, and outdoor areas – When the weather begins to warm, it’s time to restore your outdoor spaces to their best for your maximum enjoyment! Patios and pool decks collect moss and dirt, but with a pressure wash, these areas can be ready for spring and summer (the best time of the year!). Wood and composite decks can be cleaned and restored using cleaning products for a brand new look. Grey old wood can return to its original color without sacriﬁce to the wood. Small Businesses and Shopping Centers In addition to residential work, we have the insurance and licensing requirements necessary to work with commercial property management, and we have excellent references for retail, ofﬁce, and industrial buildings as well.

About Power Wash Pros Power Wash Pros is locally owned and operated by Gary and Karen Grunwald, Alamo residents and parents of four busy children/teens. Both were raised in the area and are thrilled to return to Alamo to continue to raise their children in this wonderful community. The Grunwalds founded the business in 2001. In ten years, the business expanded throughout the state, and additional services were added such as parking lot sweeping and day porter janitorial services. It’s a bit of a dirty job, but it is important work. We take pride in making homes and businesses look their absolute best. If you would like a free consultation and quote, please call Gary at (925) 953-3537 or visit their website at www.powerwashpros.net. Advertorial

The Commonwealth Club Presents Larry Gerston: California - The Not So Golden State May 2nd, 5:45PM check-in/6:30PM program at Lafayette Library and Learning Center The author of numerous deﬁning books on the subject of California, San Jose State University professor and political analyst Larry Gerston is widely recognized as a leading thinker on local public policy. In his latest book, Not So Golden After All: The Rise and Fall of California, Gerston takes us stepby-step through the economic, cultural, and political factors contributing to California’s upsurge and historic fall from grace. Is the Golden State a lost utopian dream? Can California’s former glory be restored? Join us as Gerston takes an in-depth look at the issues that have driven California to its current state of disrepair. Cost: $22 standard, $12 members, Students with valid ID are free. Learn more at www.commonwealthclub.org/events/2012-05-02/larry-gerstoncalifornia-not-so-golden-state.

Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger: Stories from American Leaders

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May 21st, 5:45PM check-in/6:30PM program at Lafayette Library and Learning Center The hero who landed the plane on the Hudson discusses the qualities that make for great leadership. Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger is a retired airline pilot, CBS News Aviation and Safety Expert, and author of Making a Difference: Stories of Vision and Courage from America’s Leaders. He reveals his own advice as well as the details of recent conversations with notables that include legendary baseball manager Tony La Russa, Costco founder Jim Sinegal, and Educator Michelle Rhee, among others. The cost is $20 standard, $12 members, $7 students (with valid ID); Premium: $40 standard and members, includes a copy of the book and seating in the front. For more information visit www.commonwealthclub. org/events/2012-05-21/captain-chesleysully-sullenberger-stories-american-leaderslafayette.

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Solar Energy: Passion and Purpose By Mark Becker, GoSimpleSolar My father tells the story of a young man who was driven by an inner principle. The story intrigues and humors me, because I’m the subject of the story. I don’t remember it quite like it’s told, but it’s set in the early 1980’s when the Soviet Union and their Iron Curtain were at the peak of their power. As a young man I was certain (according to the story) that I could personally do something about the threat that the Soviets presented to our nation. My dad chuckles when he tells the story. His understanding of me was validated when I joined the Marine Corps. My personal mission was to defeat the Soviet threat to our nation. Perhaps the fact that the Marine Corps offered meaningful employment and a paycheck minimized parental opposition to my pursuit. As parents do, they try to protect their children. In response to their attempts to have me “put more thought into it,” I reminded dad about the advice he always gave us: “You’ll spend most of your life working, so find a career that’s enjoyable and purposeful.” The rest is history. There was purpose in this pursuit. With bachelors degree in hand, I became one of “The Few, the Proud.” During the First Gulf War, I saw, smelled, and hacked up the resins of the burning oil fields in Kuwait. After some reflection, I knew there had to be a better way than energy from oil. After my active service I realized I could continue to contribute to the security of our nation via my passion for Solar Energy. I was still following dad’s advice. At GoSimpleSolar, we’re passionate about Solar Energy because it creates jobs which support the US economy and manufacturing base. The solar business reduces America’s reliance on foreign sources of oil, increases our domestic security, and improves our environment. The solar business is a rewarding business because the product provides financial return to the customer. The product often sells itself because of its financial returns. We feel strongly that those of us in alternative energy and citizens involved in resource conservation are making an important contribution to our nation. If you’ve installed solar, you’re also making contributions to your savings or retirement. A properly designed solar array with quality products installed for a reasonable price will generate significant financial returns. Five years ago, my home’s annual electric costs were over $1500. Thanks to solar, my annual PGE bill is now less than $250. Due to the average 6.7% annual cost increase of electricity, currently, my bill would have been over $2000 had I not installed a solar array Very simply said, my solar array is paying for itself, and it will continue to pay me well into my retirement. It’s like having an ATM on my roof. Solar Milestone Achieved: In 2011, the State Of California surpassed 100,000 in-

It’s Wet Out There! By Art Lehman, Village Associates Realtors As I’m writing this article, coincidently a few clients are calling me on drainage and roof questions. It made me realize that the timing for this information is perfect. It can be a cozy feeling, sitting in your home at night listening to the heavy rain hitting your roof. However, your sense of contentment might disappear quickly if you found out your house was receiving extensive rain damage while you were reading. Having your roof inspected on a regular basis by a qualified roofing contractor and hiring a drainage expert (if you suspect issues) can allow you to enjoy the sound of a heavy rain instead of thinking about whether the roof leaks, or the drains don’t work, and the repair costs it could bring. As far as drainage is concerned repairs are complicated and require high quality experience and proficiency. There are numerous contractors who are willing to inspect and deal with problems outside their scope of expertise. Do not hire just anyone. An experienced Realtor will be able to provide you with names of engineers and contractors who can assess the situation. There are three basic questions you need answered: • If there is a drainage problem, how serious is it? • What are the repair options? • What is the cost for the various possible fixes? The first step is to hire an engineer or drainage contractor to look at the site. He or she should write a report and draw a diagram that includes the detailed

Lafayette Today ~ April 2012 - Page 9 At a recent dinner given in her honor, Contra Costa County Supervisor and Lafayette Citizen of the Year Gayle Uilkema was recognized as Lafayette’s Citizen of the Year. Gayle was greeted warmly by appreciative guests with whom she worked and those whose lives she has touched with dedicated service to her community. In addition to directing energy towards quality of life in general, Gayle has focused her goals on children, women, and seniors which she has worked tirelessly to achieve through her steadfast commitment to local government and change when necessary. Two days after she moved to Lafayette, Gayle applied for the Parks and Recreation Commission to remedy lacking park facilities for her young children. Shortly thereafter, that success was followed by her election to the City Council and the four terms she served as Mayor of Lafayette. Gayle is now in her fourth term as a County Supervisor and recently completed her third term as Chair of the Board. Gayle’s quick intervention to preserve Acalanes Ridge Open Space is what Eliot Hudson had in mind when he nominated Gayle to be honored as the Lafayette Citizen of the Year. Congratulations to Gayle! Gayle Uilkema and Don Tatzin

stalled solar arrays for homes and businesses. Over 100,000 solar customers are reaping the financial rewards of solar. What do they know that you don’t know? As we enter the “high solar season,” I’ll keep you informed with Lafayette Today articles. I’ll help you understand the financial benefits you’ll enjoy should you decide to go solar. Electric Vehicle Update: If an electric vehicle suits your lifestyle, they’re getting more and more affordable due to the current and rising price of gas. PGEs electric vehicle charging rate is significantly lower than their standard rates. The Department of Energy will install a free fast charger to all purchasers of a Nissan Leaf in the Bay Area, a $2000+ cost when purchased at the dealership. When “refueled” by a solar array, electric vehicles become even more cost competitive. The story I’ve related above about my childhood convictions is by no means a unique story. It is an all too familiar story across America as our nation’s young men and women respond to their own inner callings to protect our great nation. As mentioned above, contributing to the security of our nation can be achieved in many ways. I believe that solar can help solve our nation’s energy problems. It’s rewarding helping other people to become a part of the solution. If you have a home or business that you think may benefit from a solar electric energy system, please contact us at info@GoSimpleSolar.com. For more information, visit us at www.GoSimpleSolar.com. Mark Becker is the President of GoSimpleSolar/Semper Fidelis Construction, Inc, a residential and small commercial solar power installation firm based in Danville. He can be reached at 925.915.9252. Advertorial specifications on which contractors will base their bids. With written report in hand, get two or three bids on the work to be done. You will find that there are numerous possible solutions and bids for each situation. In most cases, neither the expert who prepares the report nor the contractor hired to complete the repairs will guarantee that they can totally solve the problem. They will do their best, but determining the exact path of water is a not an exact science. Sometimes, more work is needed, at an additional expense, after the drainage system doesn’t function as well as anticipated. Regarding your roof, time and the elements can gradually wear out your roof system, but an annual inspection can take care of the small issues and may allow you to put off the expense of a new roof installation. Many potential problems don’t make themselves known during a light rain, but they can become apparent and escalate quickly when a heavy rain arrives. Unfortunately, you can’t turn off the water like you can with an interior plumbing leak; it just keeps causing rain damage until the storm finally passes. A roofing contractor has the experience to find the small problems that could lead to a leaking roof that many homeowners might overlook. A few areas they may check during a roof inspection are flashing, shingles, gutters, sheathing, and valleys. For those residents who are considering selling their home or would simply like more in-depth information, I can provide a customized home value report and a strategy for how to make a home worth more. The detailed information I provide helps homeowners better understand the value of the investment they have made in their home by detailing key factors such as a home’s value based on current market conditions and amenities, recent home sales in Lafayette, and listing prices of other homes that home buyers may be considering in the neighborhood. You can call me at 925-200-2591 or email me at art@artlehman.com. Advertorial

Page 10 - April 2012 ~ Lafayette Today

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Spring Time is Here…Check Your Crawl Space By Bay Area Drainage If you recently purchased a home or even if you have been a long time homeowner, you should check under the foundation of your home for standing water. If you notice cracks in your drywall or cracks in your foundation, this could all be caused by soil expansion. In the crawl space you may ﬁnd standing water (after a good rain) or damp soil up to twelve months after winter, or you may ﬁnd visible water stains on piers or water rivets. There are several different types of drainage solutions that can be done.

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French Drain Systems A French drain system will typically go around the entire perimeter of your home. A partial French drain will encompass only part of the perimeter of the home. The purpose of this type of drainage system is to prevent water intrusion before it enters into the crawl spaces of your home. A French drain system will start 12” below the foundation of your home. A four inch solid and perforated PVC pipe and Class II perm drain rock or ¾ drain rocks with ﬁlter fabric will be installed in this trench. All downspouts from the home will be connected to the solid drain line. Area drains are installed on the sub-surface and connected to the perforated pipe. With the full French drain system installed, all subsurface water, water that has penetrated into the ground, and all downspout water will be caught before it has a chance to enter into the crawl space or foundation of your home.

Surface Drain Systems This system is designed to catch surface water only. This system consists of one solid 4” PVC pipe with area drains and usually connects down spouts around the perimeter of a home. This system will capture service water and roof water and convey it away from home. These PVC pipes are all glued seam systems. This system is not designed to capture subsurface water or water that penetrates into the ground.

Sump Pumps

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A sump pump is generally used to pump water out of an area where there is not enough gravity fall to drain itself. A sump pump usually consists of an 18” sump, a debris sump pump, valve box, high water alarm (to alert the homeowner that the water is too high), and a 2” exhaust pipe with a check valve. When necessary, sump pumps can be included in a French drain project, where the slope is not great enough.

Underfloor Systems An underfloor system is used in cases where the water has already intruded under the home. If installed around the entire perimeter of crawl space, it will eliminate standing water under the home but cannot stop water intrusion into the crawl space. An under-floor system consists of a 3” or 4” perforated drain line in a trench filled with drain rock with possible finger trenches, and a vapor barrier.

Getting a Good Licensed Contractor Getting a good licensed contractor can make a world of difference when undertaking a household project. The ﬁrst thing to consider when looking for a good contractor is to make sure that they are licensed with the State of California. The contractor should have their license number printed somewhere on his letterhead or business card. You can go to www.cslb.ca.gov to verify that their license is still valid. Also make sure that the company has liability and Workers Comp insurance. There are several different places that you can check to see if the company has any complaints against them such as State licensing board or

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BBB. You can also look for companies that belong to Diamond Certiﬁed.

The Problem with Hiring Uninsured and Unlicensed Contractors At times it sounds appealing to hire an unlicensed contractor. Their price is generally less, and they quote timeframes that the homeowner wants to hear. The unlicensed contractor does not pay into Workers Comp insurance nor do they carry liability insurance. Thus, they leave the homeowner open to liabilities. If a worker is injured while working on your premises, they can sue the homeowner. In addition, when the unlicensed contractor does not complete the job according to what timeframes or scope of work was agreed upon, the homeowner has no recourse. The unlicensed contractor does not offer a lifetime guarantee on their workmanship or product. Think twice when hiring this type of contractor, and don’t let the price fool you. Bay Area Drainage, Inc. specializes in drainage for the Lamorinda and 680corridor. Customer satisfaction is our number one priority, and this is proven with our lifetime guarantee on our workmanship. Every aspect of this company takes a very “hands on” approach with our customer from the ﬁrst phone call to the last walk through. We are the only drainage contractor in the East Bay that is a Diamond Certiﬁed company. Please call us at 925-377-9209 for a free estimate. Advertorial

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The Car Guy By Paul Matthew Peterson, Specialty Sales Classics Today at our Fairfield showroom, I had the pleasure of meeting a nine year old young man whose knowledge of classic cars, and cars in general, was amazing. His parents were not traditional ‘car people,’ but they have done a fine job of nurturing his interests. “He makes us watch the Mecum Auctions on TV with him,” said his dad while the boy (We’ll call the boy “Mr. B.” for this articles’ purposes) was sitting in the dune buggy we have in stock, showing his mother how a five-point harness works. Mr. B. inspected EVERY vehicle in inventory, and he named nearly all of them before he was told what each was. He knew which cars had V8s and which cars had six cylinders. He explained what a GTO Judge was to me. Mr. B. was quite impressed with the ‘Pistol Grip’ shifter in the six-pack Roadrunner we have here and the Air Grabber hood graphics. I could’ve hung out with that kid for hours. What I got from our encounter, besides being thoroughly entertained for nearly an hour (and finding a future Specialty Sales Classics employee), was the fact that these classic cars really DO appeal to ‘kids of all ages.’ The future of the collector car industry was just here, and the industry will be just fine if Mr. B. is any indication. Are you looking for a way to peel the young’uns away from the video game console or a way to get them interested in something REAL and tangible? Try attending the next local car show. Flyers are usually available at the local auto parts store, or they’ll know of a show or a weekly local ‘Cruise Night’ at a drive-in nearby. Pry the kids away from the TV, and take them to the old car event. If you can’t find one, stop by one of our showrooms in Pleasanton, Benicia, Fairfield, and Redwood City – opening in May of this year, and browse our huge classic car inventory. We are open seven days a week, and we have over 220 Collector and Investment vehicles in stock and on display. You may be surprised at the interest kids take in classic cars. Perhaps take in a race at Laguna Seca, or one of the other tracks in the area, to see if there’s a

Power Protection and Preparedness

Lafayette Today ~ April 2012 - Page 11 spark of interest. By the way, take the girls too…Danica Patrick is a pretty good race driver, and she’s a far better role model than some entertainers. I’ve also met many very talented and knowledgeable women in this business, and they usually have better taste in cars than the men. There are many careers in the automotive industry, working with both classic and late model cars, that would be wonderful lifetime occupations for the young adults in your world. Who knows? You may have another Mr. B. or Ms. B. on your hands! With the weather warming up, the old cars will soon be peeking out from the garages and storage areas and expecting to be taken for a ride. If you parked yours last fall but neglected to put in a fuel stabilizing additive, you’ll want to contact a good shop to correct this problem...a shop that regularly deals with old cars. The gasoline without lead that we buy today will break down quickly, sometimes within a few months. There are many additives on the market available to combat this problem. However if it’s not specifically designed to work with Ethanol fuels, it won’t keep the gas stabilized. “Sea Foam” is available at most auto parts stores. It will help to stabilize your fuel (even Ethanol), and if the car has gas that hasn’t ‘turned’ completely yet, it will help keep the varnish from sticking to the inside of your entire fuel system. You can tell when you fuel is ‘bad’ when it smells like burnt varnish rather than gasoline. It is usually a lot browner as well. If your pride and joy does appear to have varnished fuel, DON’T START THE CAR! The repair bill for simply pumping out the bad gas and replacing it (Don’t try this at home unless you like that smell and want it around for a long time) will be one fourth of the bill to pump out the gas, flush the lines, change the fuel pump, and rebuild the carb. Call a shop (we have one in Fairfield that does this job daily) and have the car towed in to change the fuel out of the tank. Again, that bill will be far less than the one you will receive two days later after you try to drive it with contaminated fuel and have it towed to a shop anyway. I hope the spring weather gives you ‘Old Car Fever’ like it does me. See you at the shows, the races, and perhaps at one of our showrooms! Check out our inventory at www.SpecialtySales.com. Feel free to email me at TheCarGuy@SpecialtySales.com with any questions or comments, or call 800-600-2262. Advertorial

By Evan Corstorphine, Portable CIO

We recently had a significant power outage, and it lasted for a few hours. I always enjoy these interruptions to the routine of daily work. It began the usual way. First the power went out, like a surprised boxer taking an unexpected jab to the chin. It recovered briefly, like the boxer steadying on his feet, but one more jab followed a few of seconds later and it was lights out! We were down for the count. Over the years, I’ve created a safe and convenient way to power my house independently off the power grid. I found this necessary as we do a lot of work from our home. I immediately went to the side of our home where I keep our generator. Once there I reviewed my checklist for switching our home over to independent power. It’s important to follow a strict procedure, so that nothing is damaged and everyone is kept safe. Within five minutes, I had us switched over to auxiliary power, and except for the din of the generator, one wouldn’t know that our neighborhood was in a power outage. It’s important to be prepared, and I enjoy having the right tools when these little hiccups happen. I like to think that when ‘the big one’ hits, we’ll be better prepared to comfortably and safely survive than most. Every time we have a little power outage we’re practicing our survival skills. And, when you take time to prepare, you convert yourself from being a victim into being someone that can help others. There’s no higher calling than to help others in their time of need. I still have a challenge with my auxiliary power system that I’ve not figured out. The problem is how to trick my solar system into believing the PGE power is ON when it’s OFF, so that it will keep generating even though PGE is offline. The primary reason home solar systems don’t generate when the PGE power is off is for safety, and rightly so. If your home is generating at capacity while PGE power is off, it could electrocute a linesman trying to repair the circuit out on the street. There are other considerations as well, but the safety of the repair crew is tops in my mind. To prevent that from happening, my system is completely disconnected from street PGE power as soon as we have an outage, so mine is a more technical challenge of feeding my system the right voltage and frequency to fool it into thinking its OK to generate, so that I can use my solar power instead of relying on my very loud and stinky generator. If anyone has done this in a home solar environment, I’d love to discuss it over a cup of coffee. Just a few days before the power outage we were installing a new Vulkano TV viewing system for a client, and we installed an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) to protect their nice big TV and their network gear. Our timing couldn’t have been better, because this was exactly the kind of outage which is so hard on equipment. In fact, we got several calls afterward from people who lost network equipment and computers from the power outage. I protect all of our TV’s and computers with UPS’s. If you need to understand this better, call us, because it’s an inexpensive way to protect yourself. What would you do if the power was out for a couple of days? If we have a serious regional ‘event’, there may not be any option but to stay in your home sheltering in place until the infrastructure is repaired. Can you still cook? Is your stove electric or gas? Do you have non-perishable food in your pantry to last a few days? What about your water heater? An issue I need to address is that my ‘tankless’ Takagi water heater has electronic ignition, and needs 120vac to turn it on. When the power is out, I have cold water until the generator is online. Do you have any elderly citizens living with you who require supplementary oxygen? My father was on oxygen 24/7, and needed an automatically switched generator installed so that he wouldn’t have a potentially life-threatening oxygen interruption. Maybe your plans include “bugging out” and getting out of the area (if possible) when things get gnarly. If so, do you keep extra gas at home, and do you keep your car gas tank at least half full at all times? What if the highways are blocked? Do you have a motorcycle to use instead? Maybe that’s been the plan but you’ve become complacent. We all get complacent. Well, thank the power outage for reminding us to brush up on our preparedness! Why settle for being a victim, when being self-sufficient is so much more fun? If these topics surrounding power protection and preparedness resonate with you, and you’d like to improve your situation, we should talk and figure out a path forward that meets your goals. You can always reach the friendly staff at Portable CIO via email or telephone at info@theportablecio.com or (925)552-7953. Advertorial

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Page 12 - April 2012 ~ Lafayette Today

What’s Next? Is Going Local Replacing Going Global? By Daniel A Barnes, CFA Last week I saw The Economics of Happiness, an independent documentary film about the effects of globalization on societies around the world. Globalization is portrayed as the heartless spread of supranational corporations into indigenous markets that brings unhappiness to previously happy peoples. There’s some truth to that portrayal. Corporations do indeed seek to grow and optimize revenues and reduce expenses however, and wherever, possible. The globalization of consumer markets has led directly to the demise of local markets and the rise of international brands such as Wal-Mart, Nike, Procter & Gamble, Microsoft -- and many others. Globalization has also impacted the service economy dramatically; we see it directly with call centers set-up outside the U.S.. The outsourcing of service functions to lower cost economies has created tens of millions of jobs in Asian urban centers, drawing rural villagers to the cities in the greatest migration of people in the history of the world. And, when massive numbers of people are relocated, as happens in war or when the location of jobs changes dramatically, it is not pretty. Globalization is heartless, and it is also soulless. It has no agenda. It is simply a large trend, which carries its own momentum like a rock rolling down a mountain. The rock has no intent; it is simply falling, following the law of gravity. Similarly, global economics is equally without intent. Global companies are simply heartless rocks following the gravity of economic opportunity. There’s still a lot of elevation in those global companies, but I think the landscape is evening out. The foothills are upon those rocks and in the next years you are going to see many a rock stop falling, as it catches the shoals of the impending foothills and flatlands; global economics will inevitably give way to a new powerful force. What’s that force? Localization. Localization will drive the next great wave of societal transformation. And like all great trends, localization will likely be as almost heartless and economically driven as globalization. That probably sounds wrong or at least surprising, doesn’t it? We’ve all heard of the love that local farmers put into the produce; localization is the phenomenon of things like farmer’s markets and local produce. How can local be as heartless and soulless as corporate multi-nationals? Maybe they won’t be as soulless, but if you want to see the world change, look not at the idea, but the underlying economics behind the equation. Maybe there’s a billion people living in rich economies, and maybe half of those billion people care about pseudo-altruistic environmental policies. CONVENIENT SHUTTLE SERVICE TO The problem is that the influence of those 500 million people is dwarfed by HOME, THE OFFICE, BART AND BACK. the needs of the other 500 million consumers who are not environmentally sensitive. And those consumers are dwarfed by the six billion other global consumers who are trying to fulfill their basic needs. These other six billion souls want consumer goods that others have such as electrical appliances and cars. They are motivated by surviving and doing better, and every decision in FACTORY FAC TIMING BELT LUBE, OIL SCHEDULED S that equation is made on the basis of economics, not altruism. SPECIAL & FILTER MAINTENANCE MAI Multi-Point Last week at the Wall Street Journal’s ECO:nomics conference, Catherine Performance Inspection Improve mileage and extend the life of your Impro $ Drain and Replace vehic vehicle – follow recommended service schedules. Bessant, Global Technology and Operations executive at Bank of America (one All Engine Oil Install Genuine Factory Oil Filter of the most heartless corporations I know), talked about effecting change from OFF F 95 within. I think that concept is exactly what’s missing with the “Occupy” movement, OFF $ +TAX Any Timing Belt Service. The Economics of Happiness movie, and other, very “left” leaning progressive REGULAR PRICES movements. According to Bessant (and me), the first and most important rule in For Acura, Honda, Lexus, and Toyota vehicles only. Valid only at THE SERVICE OUTLET on the day of service. Please present coupon when service order is written. Not valid in conjunction with other coupons, offers or discounts. getting the ear of a CEO about environmental issues is this: “Be relevant.” You have to speak sustainability in the language of increasing revenue, decreasing expenses, and improving the customer experience. Sustainability and progressive movements fail to speak the language that the corporate, political, or investment worlds understand, which can make them seem irrelevant. My hope is that the future leaders and innovators of localization will also develop the vocabulary to speak with corporate and political factions in language that allows their message to be heard. Barnes Capital LLC is a Registered Investment Advisor. We manage trusts and SAN RAMON LAFAYETTE SINCE retirement income portfolios. Financial planning is an integral part of our process. 2151 San Ramon Valley Blvd. 3340 Mt. 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Lafayette Girls Celebrate 100th Year Anniversary of Girl Scouts 1009074-TSO-ALToday-5x6.25.indd 9/15/10 On March 12th Troop 30577 of1 the Lafayette Service Unit brought together over 400 Lafayette Girl Scouts to honor the 100th anniversary of the first Girl Scout meeting held on March 12th, 1912. This was when Girl Scout founder Juliette Gordon Low brought 18 girls together for the first meeting in the United States. The event was filled with dancing and celebrating as everyone counted down to the exact time of 7:12pm when that first meeting began. The Lafayette Elementary School 2nd grade Brownie troop led everyone in the singing of favorite Girl Scout songs. Currently there are 861 girl and 634 adult members in the Lafayette Service Unit and 3.2 million members in the USA.

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Lafayette Today ~ April 2012 - Page 13

2012 Eagle Scouts of Troop 204 On April 28th at the Lafayette Orinda Presbyterian Church, Lafayette Boy Scout Troop 204 will honor nine young men who have achieved the Eagle Scout Award, the highest rank in the Boy Scouts of America. Troop 204 has awarded this special honor to 330 scouts since 1935. The Eagle Scout Class of 2012 completed a variety of projects that benefited underprivileged children and disabled adults, beautifying parks, reaching out to our soldiers overseas, and helping children in Africa. Gregory Bontemps: Junior at Acalanes High School. Eagle Project: Planned and executed a week-long summer day camp for the children of Garden Park Apartments in Pleasant Hill. Nathaniel Evaristo: Junior at Acalanes High School. Eagle Project: Collected thousands of individual sized items such as toiletries, food, personal items, books, and comfort items that were then packaged and sent to our Troops overseas through the Blue Star Moms organization. David Furtado: Junior at Campolindo High School. Eagle Project: Collected over 500 pairs of shoes and delivered them to Mother of Peace Orphanage in Zimbabwe as part of the high school mission trip sponsored by Lafayette Orinda Presbyterian Church. Evan Groover: Junior at Acalanes High School. Eagle Project: Coordinated a drive to collect used musical instruments which were donated to benefit the underfunded music program at Westlake Middle School in Oakland. Joseph MacLeod Holden: Junior at Campolindo High School. Eagle Project: Coordinated a collection campaign and gathered almost 1,000 uniform jerseys and shorts from Lamorinda Soccer players to donate to Fund-a-Field, a Bay Area organization run by high school students who yearly visit Africa, and provide impoverished kids with uniforms. Harrison Naton: Junior at Campolindo High School. Eagle Project: Built a fence at Diablo Foothills Regional Park in Walnut Creek to help to keep cars off of hiking and equestrians trails. Justin Steuber: Junior at Acalanes High School. Eagle Project: Collected unwanted bicycles and repaired them. Delivered 31 bikes to Trips for Kids, a Marin organization that takes inner city kids on bike trips. Connor Tetzloff: Junior at San Ramon Valley High School. Eagle Project: Collected donated supplies to establish the production of organic dog treats for distribution and created a 26-page dog recipe book for George Miller Adult Services of Contra Costa ARC. This project will allow disabled adults to produce a consumable product while learning skills in their kitchen creating future opportunities for employment, marketing, and distribution. Kody Kiefer Wedell: Junior at Monte Vista High School in Danville. Eagle Project: Transformed a vacant hillside into a park-like setting at Alamo Elementary School in Alamo. His project included, building a retaining wall, pouring a cement pad, installing a park bench, laying a paver walkway, adding large boulders, /D )LQHVWUD conditioning the entire hillside, planting 40 native and drought resistant plants and flowers, and locating, installing, and refurbishing the original Alamo School sign.

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Tuesday, May 15, 2012 5:30pm to 9:00pm

Plaza Park in Downtown Lafayette A benefit for the Lafayette Community Foundation and the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce

Experience the BEST OF LAFAYETTE Top row from left to right: Joe Holden, Evan Groover, and Justin Steuber. Middle row left to right: Gregory Bontemps, David Furtado, Harrison Naton, Kody Kiefer Wedell, and Nathaniel Evaristo. Front: Connor Tetzloff.

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Stroll down RESTAURANT ROW while sampling Lafayette’s culinary fare Spectacular Raffle to benefit the Lafayette Community Foundation Wine, Appetizers, Desserts and Music • Free Shuttle Service Tickets $45 for THE TASTE TOUR Raffle tickets are $25 each or 5 for $100 Download your registration form or purchase tickets online at www.lafayettechamber.org

Lamorinda Peace and Justice The Lamorinda Peace and Justice Group meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month from 7 – 9PM in the ﬁreside room of Lafayette Methodist Church, 955 Moraga Road, Lafayette. Our group is committed to working to support a healthy planet, a thriving local community, and a safe, equitable world for all. For more information, call 925-946-0563.

Page 14 - April 2012 ~ Lafayette Today

Tree of the Season Japanese Maples By Blaine Brende & Joe Lamb Japanese maples have an elegance and sculptural quality that resembles dance. Careful study of their form, in any season, can call the viewer back to the natural world. In winter, the falling leaves raise the curtain on the form of the trunks and put the dance on center stage. Winter rain intensifies the show by adding a sensuality to the movement of stem and bough, one that beckons to even the unpracticed eye. In spring, certain varieties of Japanese maples send out new leaves so bright a green they appear lit from within. In summer, upright cultivars that are well pruned have spaces between the branches, giving the canopy the appearance of being composed of many floating islands. And in fall, Japanese maples mark the change of season by turning colors ranging from yellow to scarlet, depending on the variety of maple; there are many varieties. Luckily, Japanese maples are relatively easy to grow and relatively tough. In their long evolutionary dance–fossilized maple leaves date back over 60 million years–Japanese maples have developed the genetic information necessary to protect them against most common garden afflictions. They are, however, subject to verticillium wilt, a soil-borne fungal disease that can cause dieback, and sometimes death. There is no known cure for verticillium, but you can decrease the likelihood of your new maple getting the disease if you 1) don’t plant it in ground known to have verticillium, 2) make sure the soil around the tree is well drained so that the roots don’t remain soggy throughout the winter, and 3) protect the tree against environmental stresses by giving it summer water and keeping it well mulched. Maples can grow and remain healthy in gardens with a history of verticillium. If they are not stressed by soils too damp, too dry, or too compacted, some individual maples can thrive even though a near neighbor may die. It depends on the genetics of the individual. If your mature maple shows significant dieback, it may be fighting a case of verticillium. It is not necessarily a death sentence. Some trees succeed in fighting off the disease.

Gardening with Kate By Kathleen Guillaume My garden is buzzing with bees. When I walk by my flowering crab apple there is a sweet “zzzzzz” noise. I have no idea where they live, however hundreds are hovering above the blossoms very preoccupied with their task. I think sometimes that they might live in the attic of my garage which may collapse someday with the weight of honey. I love my bees, even though they are not mine. They guarantee that I will have bountiful crops and a great fruit harvest. If you plant things in your garden to attract bees, they will stay close throughout the year. In my garden I entice them with my Winter Daphne. If it is not a freezing February, the Daphnes’ scent draws bees that gather for these sweet blooms. Next, my crab apples start blooming almost in conjunction with my pears, followed by my peaches, cherries, citrus, salvias, and tomatoes. I know the crabapple is the big draw, so it anchors my long season of bees. Remember, if you have peaches and cherries that they are rapid growers. The spring and early summer growth is too weak to support fruit. It is best to trim 1/3 to 1/2 off each branch as it sends out new growth. Keeping these varieties pruned and shaped throughout this period keeps their size manageable and evens out fruit production so you don’t have a heavy bearing year and next to nothing the following year. Cherries grow so fast that if you bought a miniature tree and did not prune it for five years, your miniature would be 18 feet high. Dwarf and miniature trees are grafted on slower growing root stalk than the standard trees, but they will still carry the habit of their standard size parent trees. The dwarf varieties are more easily kept in an orderly manner...unfortunately that means you actually have to do something. Drats, because we all want a self-tending garden that provides food, blooms, wonderful foliage, and looks beautiful year round. However, such dreams are for heaven, and back here on earth it requires some toil. I find when I am working in my garden, that it is like a spa day or a quiet meditation. The chores such as weeding are rather mindless tasks and very soothing. Dead-heading spent blooms to encourage more blossoms is also quieting. Gathering fruit and vegetables is wonderfully satisfying. Yes, it is

www.yourmonthlypaper.com You can help them recover by pruning out the deadwood and improving the soil environment by mulching and aerating. Though some varieties can withstand full sun, Japanese maples do best in part shade. They do not thrive when exposed to the drying effect of constant wind. If you live on an exposed hillside, it is best to plant them in the lee of a larger tree. Dieback in Japanese maple crowns often is the result of too much sun, too much wind, or the even more deadly combination of the two. Maples need water. Keeping them moist throughout the summer and fall, and into the early winter in dry years, will make them happier and more disease resistant. Pruning, besides beneﬁting the mental health of the pruner, can enhance the grace of the plant. If your pruner is an artist, removing deadwood and teasing apart the plant’s natural layering opens little windows that reveal and accentuate the tree’s natural form. A well-pruned tree looks as if it hasn’t been pruned. Paradoxically, it looks more natural after pruning than before. Though it is sometimes necessary to lower the crown of a maple, as when it is beginning to block a treasured view, lowering should be done only when necessary, and the lowering should not be so drastic as to involve topping cuts (see the article on topping). Lowering a maple to gain a view is not something that you can do just once. Pruning down the crown stimulates new growth, and maintaining the view or the size reduction, will require yearly pruning. No matter how good the artist, you can’t make a topped maple look as good as a natural tree. Much pruning, and therefore expense, can be avoided by planting the right variety in the right place. When planting a new tree, plant a cultivar that won’t exceed the desired height when it matures. This is almost always preferable to containing a variety that will grow beyond the desired size. It is our hope at Brende & Lamb that the pleasure our clients derive from their well-pruned trees exceeds the considerable pleasure we get from revealing the beauty inherent in their trees. If your trees need a little TLC, please call 510-486-TREE (8733) or email us at bl@brendelamb.com for a free estimate. Additionally, go to our website www.brendelamb.com to see before and after pictures, client testimonials, and work in your neighborhood. Advertorial work, but the rewards are fantastic. If you have turned some of your garden to edible crops, you might think of trying to do some canning. Canning equipment is reasonably priced, and this is the time to order it as in-season supplies often run low. Go to www. freshpreserving.com, the Ball Company site. I trust the Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving, which is my canning bible. I like the consistent results of their recipes. I just made a small batch of lemon marmalade, which makes wonderful gifts for friends. You don’t have to can in the quantities of a farm family in the ‘40s that had no access to out-of-season fruit and vegetables. Canning is a fun evening or Saturday morning project. If you can stand and stir for 15 to 20 minutes, then you can can. Remember, though, when making jams or jellies you need a very tall pot, because when you add the sugar it boils and foams up a good 6 to 8 inches. Not only will it make a mess, but you risk getting burned. My favorite pot is an enameled tall 16 qt stockpot. WalMart online is a great place to shop for canning supplies. When selecting jars, I favor the wide mouth jars even for jams. There are some darling small jars that are perfect for gift giving. Buy the canning book ﬁrst, and then you will have enough information to select the right equipment. Spring is the time to feed just about everything. Please think of slow release organic fertilizers, or sterile steer manure which you can add to water to make “cow tea” if you want a liquid to pour on your potted plants. If the liquid is the color of a weak tea, then you know it is safe for your plants. Happy Gardening!

Weekly Dance Social Dance for joy at our weekly Social, or just come to chat; all are welcome. Twirl, chat, and tap your feet to the beat. The Social is for all-level and all-style dancers, music lovers, and observers. The Social is held Wednesdays from 12:30 to 2:50PM at the Lafayette Community Center located at 500 St. Mary’s Road. The longtime event, with continuous, professionally recorded music, is held in the big, bright Live Oak Room. Tables are set up for friendly conversation, and friends, visitors, and newcomers are especially invited to chat and watch, or dance, or both. The Social specializes in ballroom, but any style dance adds to the charm. Fees for the event are $2 for members of Lafayette Senior Center, and $4 for nonmembers. For more information visit sites.google.com/site/lafayetteteadance.

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Lafayette Today ~ April 2012 - Page 15

Life in the Lafayette Garden Celebrate Spring By John Montgomery, ASLA, Landscape Architect This year has been a little tricky figuring out if spring is really here or not. Spring started early but winter is still threatening. If you look closely in the garden at the trees, shrubs and perennials, you’ll see the glory of spring quietly emerging from the cold and wet. The beginning of spring is one of my favorite times in the garden. I love to observe the new and fresh leaves bud from dead and deciduous branches and bright new lime green leaves that stand out against older darker green ones. I like to watch how quickly daffodils, jonquils, and paper whites (Narcissus) push their fresh long leaves through the decaying leaves and mulch to bloom bright and cheery colors. The days are warming; the sun shinning and like clock-work life in the garden labors to show us the glory of spring. Here are some of the plants that you might have noticed that are the first to declare the beginning of spring. Cercis occidentalis (tree-Western Redbud) blooms lavender flowers on smooth gray branches before leaves form, Daphne odora (shrub-Winter Daphne) with its intoxicating fragrance fills the air, Hardenbergia violacea ‘Happy Wanderer’ (vine-Lilac Vine) weaves a lively trail of lilac flowers, Iberis sempervirens ‘Snowflake’ (perennial-Candytuft) trails profuse white flowers over the ground, and one of my favorites, Veronica umbrosa ‘Georgia Blue’ (ground cover-Speedwell), blooms profuse cobalt blue flowers as winter fades out. Other great note-worthy spring blooming trees are Pyrus calleryana ‘Redspire’ (ornamental pear), Magnolia stellata (Star Magnolia), and Prunus serrulata ‘Shirotae’ (Flowering cherry).

Western Tableau with Rhodesian Ridgeback (Trails West), 1993, oil on canvas, 48 x 70 inches. Courtesy of Louis K. Meisel Gallery.

At the Newly Expanded

Saint Mary’s College Museum of Art

Richard McLean: Master Artist Tribute IX Horses, Landscapes and Portraits

April 22 through June 17, 2012 In conversation: Richard McLean and Paul Karlstrom April 22, 2 PM, Soda Activity Center followed by a reception Studio Gallery: Master Artist Tribute Series I – VIII Armistead Gallery: River of Words: Youth Art and Poetry Keith Gallery: William Keith and the California Oak stmarys-ca.edu/museum (925) 631- 4379

After a long winter’s nap, we long to connect with nature to rejuvenate, relax, recreate, and renew ourselves. A garden is one of those places that has the gift to touch all of our human senses; sight, smell, touch, sound, and taste. Wandering through a beautifully designed Lafayette garden allows the senses to be stimulated by wonderful visuals, fragrances, textures, sounds, and tastes that nature can offer. Let your spirits be lifted twice this spring: first by strolling through inspiring gardens and second by knowing that you are helping to raise much-needed money for charity. Come join our spring tradition! I am thrilled to announce our 3rd annual Garden Tour Fundraiser: Life in the Walnut Creek Garden - a tour of five distinct Walnut Creek gardens designed by me. I personally invite you to come Celebrate Spring with us: stroll the budding gardens, nibble goodies, learn about urban farming in our veggie garden demo, listen to music as you meander, enjoy the spirit of Cinco de Mayo, chat with me, and enjoy other surprises we have planned while supporting our beneficiaries; The Quincy Lee Foundation, Hospice of the East Bay, Contra Costa Guide Dogs for the Blind, and Urban Farmers. Mark your calendar for Saturday, May 5th from 11am-4pm. For more info and tickets go to our website-garden tour page. It will be a pleasure to celebrate the glory of spring with you! A hot tip from your local Landscape Architect: Come have some fun with us in the gardens, help raise needed dollars for our beneficiaries and CELEBRATE SPRING! Gardening Quote of the Month: “Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today,

and creates a vision for tomorrow.” - Melody Beattie 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. Advertorial

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Page 16 - April 2012 ~ Lafayette Today

How to Sleep Well Amidst a Growing Fear of Lawsuits By Robert J. Silverman, Attorney at Law A recent article referenced a study showing that during this period of economic instability, the wealthiest American families are increasingly worried about being targets for big lawsuits. Even much more moderately wealthy people share this concern. Yet, the way many fearful people commonly conduct their personal and financial affairs leaves them unnecessarily vulnerable to the very litigation they fear. So, what are some of these common, dangerous actions and omissions? • Employing domestic help without proper insurance coverage • Owning real estate investment property in one’s own name • Owning a small business as a sole proprietorship • Having insufficient scope of personal insurance (e.g. home, auto) and/or coverage limits • Serving as a board member or director of a charitable or non-profit organization that does not have sufficient (or any) directors and officers (D&O) insurance • Having no estate planning documents, or poorly or incompletely drafted ones The “first line of defense” for most potential liabilities should be strong, comprehensive personal insurance. Many people, including knowledgeable professionals, are not well informed about detailed aspects of their P&C (property and casualty) insurance coverage. During our busy lives, insurance often gets the short shrift. I encourage you to call your insurance agent and schedule a complete review of each insurance policy you own. During this review, identify what additional policies or coverage you may be advised to purchase. You should do this on a regular basis – perhaps every few years or more frequently as circumstances merit it. Most good agents initiate, or at least welcome, this review process. If your agent doesn’t, perhaps you should interview another agent. If you employ domestic help, talk to your insurance agent about “employment practices liability” insurance. If you are a board member or officer of an organization, conduct proper due diligence to make sure the organization has D&O insurance and that it’s sufficient to provide you comfortable protection from personal liability. If you don’t have a personal umbrella insurance policy (which serves to increase the coverage limits of any applicable underlying policies), obtain a quote for one. In general, manage your premiums, deductibles, and limits to ensure optimal coverage at an affordable cost. If you own real estate investment property in your own name or a sole proprietorship business, you should seriously consider forming a business entity, such as a limited liability company (LLC), to shelter your personal assets (e.g. home and bank/brokerage accounts) from potential liabilities arising out of owning, renting, and/or managing a business or investment property. No matter how remote liability from your sole proprietorship or investment property seems, the costs and inconvenience of setting up a business entity, such as a corporation or LLC, is typically a minor price to pay for the limited liability (ability to shelter your personal assets) you receive in exchange. Having no estate planning documents or documents that are poorly or incompletely drafted can cost you or your family in countless ways. For example, I have a current client who is 102 years old (God bless her and her reasonably good health!) who has comprehensive estate planning documents. But when she and her late husband had their attorney at the time prepare a living trust for them, a commonly drafted “spendthrift” provision was not included. In short, a spendthrift provision enables the person(s) who establish a living trust to protect the assets that will be inherited by their loved ones from the potential creditors of those loved ones. As it happens, my client’s two grandchildren are her primary beneficiaries, one of whom has unfortunately run into difficulties and is defending several lawsuits that could lead to substantial judgments against him. So, I drafted a trust amendment to include a spendthrift provision that will potentially avail my client’s creditorchallenged grandchild approximately one million dollars (his share of the trust) of “inheritance protection.” A wise man once said (many attribute this statement to Thomas Jefferson) “the price of freedom is eternal vigilance.” The more vigilant you are in taking reasonable steps to protect yourself and your loved ones, the better off you and they will likely be. Besides being financially prudent, this vigilance just might help you sleep like a baby… Mr. Silverman is an attorney with Buchman Provine Brothers Smith LLP, 1333 N. California Street, Suite 350, Walnut Creek, CA 94596; (925) 944-9700; rsilverman@ sbllp.com. His practice emphasizes Estate Planning, Trust Administration & Probate, Real Estate, and Business. Mr. Silverman offers a free introductory consultation. This article is intended to provide information of a general nature, and should not be relied upon as legal, tax, financial 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

Cinema Classics and Musical Notes By Peggy Horn Absence of Malice This month’s film is Absence of Malice (1981), produced and directed by Sydney Pollack and staring Paul Newman and Sally Field. In this movie, the president of the longshoreman’s union has disappeared and, after six months, the district attorney’s office still has no leads as to his whereabouts. Consequently, one of the strike force attorneys initiates an inquiry into the life of Michael Gallagher (Paul Newman), an ordinary citizen who has apparent ties to people who could be responsible. The attorney has no evidence that Mr. Gallagher has committed any crime, but he predicts that this inquiry will “squeeze” Gallagher into solving the mystery of the union president’s disappearance in order to absolve himself from suspicion. Miss Field plays the part of a newspaper reporter, Megan Carter, who gets wind of this story and decides to pursue it because the public deserves to know. Prior to the story’s publication, Megan consults a lawyer for the newspaper who advises her that Mr. Gallagher is neither a public official nor a public figure, and the truth of the story is irrelevant. The fact that she does not know it to be false – the absence of malice – affords the newspaper protection from a lawsuit, as long as she has done a reasonable and prudent job of reporting. In fact, the lawyer assures her that Mr. Gallagher is powerless to do them harm as long as the rules have been properly observed. Megan

will now begin to explore the question that although she can proceed legally with the story, should she? When the story is printed, the consequences to Michael Gallagher are signiﬁcant, and, although he does not sue, he very cleverly manages to defend his rights - the rights of an ordinary man who has been unfairly accused. This very interesting movie has a brilliant ﬁnish and leaves us with the notion that justice has been done! It was nominated for Academy Awards for best actor, best supporting actress, and best screenplay. It’s available for rental or distribution online. Musical Notes – To emphasize the spirit of the movie’s theme, I suggest “Fanfare for the Common Man,” by Aaron Copland. This spirited music with horns and percussion even sounds like a salute and heralds the spunk and forthrightness of the common man. The fanfare was inspired by a speech by Vice President Henry A. Wallace in which he declared the dawning of the century of the common man and was premiered at income tax time in 1943. This piece of music is downloadable for an incredibly low price.

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Your Personal Nutritionist By Linda Michaelis, RD. MS. My Housecall with Frank who was Diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes Let me tell you about my client Frank who recently called very distressed after his doctor diagnosed him with Type 2 Diabetes. He was adamant about reversing his diabetes and working closely with me to learn all he needed to know in as little time as possible. Frank insisted I spend an intensive two days with him. I met Frank at his home and made an inventory of the foods that he had on hand. I could see that the family was eating too many starches such as Rice-ARoni, macaroni and cheese, pasta, crackers, chips, granola bars, and high sugar cereals along with a lot of frozen tortellini, ravioli, pizzas, and Hot Pockets in the freezer. Frank said these freezer items were typical quick dinners he had when he came home late. Fruits and veggies were almost non-existent. Frank, his wife Betty, and I talked about what I saw. I explained his meals at home were too low in protein and fiber and too highly processed. For example, I showed him how his cereals fell short of the goal of 5 grams of protein, 5 grams of fiber, and less than10 grams of sugar per serving, and I recommended substituting Kashi Go Lean cereal or oatmeal. I explained that he must substitute his white flour products with whole grains such as brown rice, whole wheat pasta, sweet potatoes, legumes, and quinoa that I wanted to introduce to him. I realized he just needed me to take him by the hand and put it all together for him. Our visit to Trader Joe’s was an eye opener for Frank and Betty. I showed Frank all the great vegetables both fresh and steam-in-the-bag as well as precooked beets and lentils. There were also sweet potato fries that made great snacks and sides for dinner. Frank was surprised to see all the ready-made cooked chicken with different choices of seasoning that could be added to

Ask Dr. Happy By Bob Nozik, MD Dear Dr. Happy, My 70-year-old twin sister and I are both widows, me for ﬁve years and Ellie just lost her husband four months ago. While I was happily married for forty years, I’m almost ashamed to admit that I am even happier now that I’m on my own than when I was married. I have plenty of money, a number of wonderful friends, and the freedom to do whatever I want without consulting anyone else. But, Ellie has been depressed ever since her husband, Ed, died. I’ve told her to be more positive, but she just tunes me out. How can I help her to move on? ~ Just Want to Help

Dear Just, We all deal with grief in our own way. You lost your husband ﬁve years ago, and if, as you say, your marriage was a good one, I suspect you had to go through your own grieving process at that time too. The late Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, MD described the ﬁve stages of grief that most people go through when they suffered major loss. They are: 1) denial, 2) anger, 3) bargaining, 4) depression, and 5) acceptance. While Ellie seems a bit stuck in stage 4, depression, four months is not an unreasonable length of time for her to be grieving. Try to be supportive, but don’t try and talk her out of her grieving with too much happy-talk; she just isn’t ready for it yet. In fact, excessive positivity if she isn’t ready for it could even slow her progress down.

Happiness Tip The most critical point in the grieving process happens between Kubler-Ross’ points 4 and 5; depression and acceptance. Most of us, when confronted by a major loss, as in this case, move through the ﬁrst three stages of grief rather well; it’s moving through depression to acceptance where the process can stall. So, how long is too long? Well, recovery from a major loss, as in this case, I wouldn’t think anything up to a year is excessive. If grieving lasts much beyond a year, it might be wise to consult a good therapist for helping in moving on to acceptance. And, of course, it is very likely and entirely normal to expect episodes of sadness to recur for many years, even throughout our entire lifetime. Please send questions/comments for Dr. Happy to Pollyannan@aol.com.

Lafayette Today ~ April 2012 - Page 17 salads or sandwiches for lunch. He was excited about the Hebrew National 97% fat free hot dogs that are 40 calories each and taste great with baked beans or sauerkraut on Trader’s whole wheat buns. Frank bought potatoes as we discussed that the family could have a baked potato night and offer different toppings like broccoli or chili with cheese. We discussed the benefits of the 17 Bean and Barley mix, quinoa, precooked brown rice in pouches, whole wheat pasta and couscous that he was willing to try as well as all the great soup like the Roasted Red Pepper soup, Lentil, and Black Bean soups. Leaving with a full cart we were hungry and went to lunch at one of Frank’s favorite spots in town, Forli’s. He told me his favorite foods, and I made a point to show him how he can enjoy his favorites as long as he balanced his meal with the proper protein, fiber, and carbs. We both ended up ordering calamari steak sautéed in a lemon and wine sauce that came with veggies and roasted potatoes. I explained to Frank that he can have two servings of bread/starch at lunch so he could eat a slice of the great sourdough bread and half of the potatoes. I also suggested that when he comes home late he should order a bowl of minestrone soup or one of Forli’s great salads to-go. Or, if he wanted a meal he could eat half and take the rest home where he could have a dinner the next late night. We continued our two day intensive program by (1) reorganizing his pantry according to the food groups, (2) going to Safeway and Costco to discuss his normal purchases there and suggest new items, and (3) going to two other restaurants he frequents with either clients or family to discuss recommended selections for lunch and dinner. We also discussed the need for aerobic exercise at least five days a week for 40 minutes. It has been over a month since my two-day adventure with Frank, and we have been communicating thru e-mail and phone. Frank got a membership to a gym, and I am glad to tell you that his blood sugars are now averaging 120 without medication which is very close to normal. He is down 10 pounds and feels like a new man. Linda is located in her office in Alamo. She welcomes your call to discuss your personal nutrition challenges. Please visit www.LindaRD.com for more information, helpful tips, recipes, and Linda’s blog, or call her at (925) 855-0150 Advertorial

Brainwaves by Betsy Streeter

Page 18 - April 2012 ~ Lafayette Today

Acne By Dr. Shanny Baughman Let’s talk about acne, that pesky skin condition that shows up even if you aren’t a teenager. Acne occurs primarily during teen years, but pre-teens and adults also have breakouts. At least 20% of acne occurs in adults, mostly in women. Acne is the result of excess oil production, triggered by androgens (male hormones), causing hair follicles to ﬁll with oil. Excess skin cells block the release of oil. This oil plug, or whitehead (closed comedone) or blackhead (open Dr. Shanny Baughman, Alamo comedone), enlarges and expands, providing abundant nutrition for bacteria living on our skin. An overgrowth of normal skin bacteria triggers inﬂammation leading to red bumps (papules), pimples (pustules), and deep painful cysts (nodules). While hormones and genetics are major causes of acne, vigorous exercise, sweating, mechanical rubbing from a sweat band, and stress also contribute. Chocolate, French fries, and pizza do not cause acne.

Daily Acne Care Cleanse your face twice daily with a gentle cleanser. Avoid cleansers with abrasive beads. They are too harsh and can damage your skin. If your skin is oily, wash once daily with a 2 ½% benzoyl peroxide or a 2% salicylic acid wash. Benzoyl peroxide destroys the build-up of skin bacteria and salicylic acid helps unplug pores. Don’t over-wash your face as you will remove natural oils, triggering inﬂammation and a backlash of excess oil production. Spot treatments help dry up an acne lesion. Consider Neutrogena ‘On the Spot Acne Treatment’ or 2% salicylic acid gel. A light moisturizer at night actually helps minimize skin oil production. Apply a small amount to the delicate crease by your nose and to your lateral cheeks. Products labeled ‘non-comedogenic,’ ‘non-acnegenic,’ or ‘oil free,’ should be tolerated by your skin. An oil-free sunscreen applied in the morning should protect without clogging your skin.

Avoid These Acne Mistakes DON’T touch your face frequently without thoroughly washing your hands. That can add extra residue and oil to your skin. DON’T rest your phone on your cheek, as that may cause more acne.

Kapnek continued from front page basic life-saving therapies.” Today, as Executive Director of the Trust that his relatives established in 1966, Robbins has culled the resources necessary to help save the lives of some of the planet’s most vulnerable inhabitants. As overseer of the largest pediatric HIV/AIDS transmission prevention program in Zimbabwe, his efforts are signiﬁcantly altering the path of the AIDS epidemic and are helping to bring the rate of transmission in Zimbabwe in line with that of the ﬁrst world. Through testing, training, counseling, education, and delivery of medications, the J.F. Kapnek Trust over the past decade has helped decrease the rate of new infections in newborns and young children from 60,000 per year to now less than 12,000 per year. Robbins was asked by relatives to assume the Trust’s directorship when his aunt died suddenly in 1997. He readily accepted and became in his words an ‘accidental philanthropist.’ “When I took over the Trust, there was one half-time employee in Zimbabwe and one half-time staff member in the US,” says Robbins. “We now have two part-time staff members in the US and over 60 full-time staff member in Zimbabwe.” In addition to its work with pediatric AIDS prevention, the Trust works with the Zimbabwean Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture in implementing Early Childhood Development (ECD) centers into all primary schools in the country and to make attendance a requirement for school entry. The ECD programs provide a supportive, child-friendly environment, with access to mental, physical and nutritional support. “It truly is through the generosity of our private, local donors that the ECD program exists,” says Kathi Torres, the Trust’s US Director of Events and Fundraising. “In a broad sense, this community is sustaining thousands of children and families in Zimbabwe. We hold events to raise awareness and funds for these programs; we collect donated preschool and medical supplies throughout

www.yourmonthlypaper.com DON’T use hair oils, and DON’T forget to wash your hair daily, as breakouts on the forehead may be worse. DON’T squeeze, ﬁddle with, pop, or pick at your acne - it won’t heal any more quickly, but it could scar. DON’T fall for ‘miracle cures.’ They just don’t work, despite the convincing testimonials and photos. DON’T use too many products at a time. Stick with a cleanser, an acne product, and moisturizer. Using a myriad of products won’t clear your skin up more quickly.

Emergency Acne Help When a large acne bump develops, try this to help Dr. Kelly Hood, Lafayette calm it down. Assemble a ‘ZIT KIT’ - a clean washcloth, warm water, 2% salicylic acid gel, Aquanil HC or another lotion containing 1% hydrocortisone, an ice cube, and two cotton swabs. First apply a warm washcloth to the area, and leave in place for 8 minutes. This will help the pimple come to a head. Next, apply a spot treatment of 2% salicylic acid to the area. If a whitish center is seen, apply gentle pressure on each side of the pimple to help it open up and drain. If nothing happens at ﬁrst, don’t squeeze harder. You don’t want to damage your skin. Don’t use your ﬁngers either. Lastly apply an ice cube for one minute, then reapply the salicylic acid and a cover-up.

When to See a Dermatologist If your acne doesn’t respond to cleansing, benzoyl peroxide, and salicylic acid, visit a dermatologist. Stronger medication can be prescribed, or a small corticosteroid injection can shrink a large, painful acne lesion. In-office treatments can kill skin bacteria and help improve acne. Improvement in acne may take up to eight weeks, so during that time just keep on with your regimen of cleaning and applying the topical medication. After acne pimples clear up, there may be a pink or purplish area left behind. That is not a scar, just residual inflammation. It takes about six more weeks to fade, so continue to apply your acne medication. To have your skin evaluated by a board certified dermatologist and have a treatment specifically designed for your skin, contact Dr. Shanny Baughman at Alamo Oaks Dermatology, 3189 Danville Blvd, suite 130, Alamo, 925-362-0992, shanny.derm@gmail.com or Dr. Kelly Hood, 970 Dewing, Suite 301, Lafayette, 925-283-5500, khoodderm@yahoo.com. Advertorial the year and send them over to Zimbabwe in a cargo container, where they are gratefully received and distributed. We have also had groups of teenage volunteers travel there to refurbish derelict classrooms for the ECD program.” Campolindo High School senior Devon Bruzzone is one of the teens who has experienced first-hand how the Trust is making a difference. During her freshman high school year, she helped pack boxes of donations that would eventually be transferred to an entire cargo container. “There were a couple instances when I had the heartbreaking task of scuffing brand new pairs of shoes just so they would not be confiscated by the government and resold,” says Bruzzone who had the opportunity to travel this past summer to Zimbabwe with 12 other local teens. They worked at an orphanage and in rural primary schools building basketball courts, painting classrooms, and teaching preschoolers. “Words can’t describe how incredible this experience was,” says Bruzzone. “I credit it almost entirely to the Zimbabweans we worked with. They went out of their way to immerse us in their lives and culture. They

Kapnek continued on page 24

Document Shredding Fundraiser A document shredding fundraiser will be held Saturday, April 21st from 1-3pm. This annual event is sponsored by Diablo Valley Oncology and raises money for the Cancer Support Community (formerly the Wellness Community). Bring old tax returns, business records, bank statements, cancelled checks, credit card statements, bills, receipts, and other documents containing personal information to our event, make a charitable donation, and ‘SHRED WORKS’ will shred your documents on the spot! The event will be held at the California Cancer and Research Institute located at 400 Taylor Blvd, Pleasant Hill. For information, call 925-677-5041.

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Bulging Disc-ussion By Michael Nelson, M.D. The other day, a patient came into my ofﬁce with the diagnosis of bulging disc disease. When I inquired further about what that might mean, they stated that they’ve had low back pain on and off for years. What struck me was the disease part of the statement. Bulging discs are not a disease. If that was true, then gray hair, wrinkles, achy knees, and my own ever growing bald spot should be considered diseases also. You are probably wondering why this could be true. Or thinking I have completely fallen off my rocker. However, a bulging disc in the spine will not make any symptoms unless it is pushing on a nerve or the spinal cord. A sore back or tight neck is not a symptom of a pinched nerve.

Earth continued from front page with speakers on grey water capture and rain harvesting. As always, the festivities include the Self-Propelled/Bike Parade, which meets at the Stanley Middle School parking lot at 11am and then proceeds toward the Library at 11:30am. This year, organizer Nanette Heffernan will award prizes for the best decorated bike, scooter, wagon, skateboard, or other non-motor vehicle and each participant will receive a free Chinook Book (a green coupon book worth $20). One of the most exciting new projects in town is the Lafayette Community Garden and Outdoor Learning Center, across the street from the Reservoir. Come see what it’s all about! From 2 to 4pm on Earth Day, the site will be open, with special exhibits and a donor acknowledgement at 2:30pm. An electric-car shuttle will run between the library and the garden during this time. The Earth Day celebration is being generously sponsored by the following local businesses: Mechanics Bank, Diablo Foods, Whole Foods, Rubens Nunnemaker LLP, Hunsucker Goldstein & Nelson, Lamorinda Weekly, and C&M Party Props. Don’t miss this special day of delicious food, creativity, discovery, and inspiration! For more information, please visit www.sustainablelafayette.org.

Hospice of the East Bay Estate Sale Service

Lafayette Today ~ April 2012 - Page 19 Even bending over and getting a twinge that turns into excruciating low back pain that puts you in bed for a week is not a pinched nerve. Not to minimize these symptoms, but you are experiencing very angry muscles of the low back. A compressed nerve or spinal cord will result in clear neurological symptoms. This can include weakness, numbness, shooting nerve pain, or burning. Sciatica is the most common example with shooting pain down the leg into the calf muscle. A pinched nerve in the neck will normally make shooting pain down the arm or across the shoulder. Spinal cord compression is much more serious and can cause bilateral leg weakness or numbness - with numbness that can be from the waist down. It can even cause a loss of bladder or bowel control. An MRI of the lumbar spine can be very misleading because it will almost certainly show a bulging disc, assuming you are over the age of 10 and have ever lifted more than a postage stamp. This disc bulge may lead to an inappropriately early referral for an epidural or surgical consultation. Fortunately, surgeons in our area are conservative, but I have seen out of state patients have an unnecessary surgery that has actually caused more pain. Also, while I’m not a fan of health insurance companies, most wisely require failing physical therapy prior to authorizing a lumbar MRI. If you do not have signs of a pinched nerve, then you really just need conservative treatment. Conservative treatment can include physical therapy, acupuncture, anti-inflammatory medications, or simply time. These treatments will relax the angry back muscles. Muscle relaxers sound great, but in my experience these medications only make patients tired. Improving your abdominal strength is the most likely path to successfully avoiding more back pain in the future. Most low back pain without any signs of a pinched nerve does not require a consultation with a neurologist. Your primary care physician or conscientious surgeon may refer you to a neurologist to confirm the diagnosis and rule out other potential cause of your symptoms. Because neurologists are not financially rewarded for performing procedures, we can also provide an unbiased opinion regarding the appropriate treatment of your symptoms. As always, the information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and does not replace proper medical care. Michael Nelson, M.D. is a board certified adult neurologist who has been serving general neurology patients in the East Bay for the past nine years. His office is located at 970 Dewing Ave, Suite #300 in Lafayette. He can be reached at (925) 299-9022 to schedule and appointment and can also be found on the web at www.michaelnelsonmd.com. Advertorial

After the death of a loved one, dealing with the entire contents of a home and a life time of possessions can be overwhelming. Hospice of the East Bay Estate Sales (HEB Estate Sales), formally known as Diablo Appraisal and Estate Sales, is an estate sale and liquidation service that manages and coordinates your entire estate Dumploads OnUs and provides you with a tax benefit by sharing the profits from specializes in the sale with Hospice of the East Bay. We provide caring and providing the ultitrained professionals that can help you handle the entire process mate junk removal making the seemingly impossible, attainable. solution. We’ll haul We will assess each item’s value, advertise the sale through away just about anything - from old household junk to construcmultiple channels, organize and display your estate items, pro- tion and yard waste. The only items we are unable to accept are vide security before, during, and after the sale, run the estate hazardous sale smoothly and professionally, take unsold items to Hospice materials. We • Computers of the East Bay thrift stores, and provide with a tax deductible make getting • Cables receipt for those items, clear out the house at the end of the sale, rid of your • TVs and leave the house empty and ready for cleaning. unwanted junk • Monitors Everything will be handled for you, and best of all you won’t as easy as 925.934.3743 • 925.934.1515 • Servers even need to be present! Families are provided with guaranteed 1-2-3; we load, www.dumploadsonus.com • www.erecycleonus.com • Phones we sweep, and honest, efficient, and reliable service. 1271 Boulevard Way, Walnut Creek • Printers HEB Estate Sales was established in 2001 for families re- then we haul Monday-Friday, 8-5 • Saturday 9-1, Sunday, closed •Copiers questing help selling the contents of their homes. Funds gener- away. It’s that • Fax Machines • Power Supply Units • Discs and Tapes ated from the sale help benefit the patients and families in the easy! care of Hospice of the East Bay. Please call Patricia Wright at Plus we do it • Scanners • Printer Cartridges and Toners • And More... (925) 887-5678 or email her at patriciaw@hospiceeastbay.org with a smile! for further information. Established in 1977, Hospice of the East Bay is a not-forprofit agency that helps people cope with end of life by providing medical, emotional, spiritual, and practical support for patients and families, regardless of their ability to pay.

Page 20 - April 2012 ~ Lafayette Today

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Vote YES on Proposition 29 By Matthew N. Sirott, M.D., Diablo Valley Oncology I would like to raise awareness of Prop 29, the California Cancer Research Act. Diablo Valley Oncology is one of the major backers in Central Contra Costa County, in coordination with the American Cancer Society. Proposition 29 is a one dollar surcharge on each pack of cigarettes sold in the State. The purposes of the proposition include: 1. Raising funds for cancer research (and other cigarette related disease, including heart disease). Expected to raise over 600 million dollars yearly, the money is sorely needed as other research funds have dwindled. 2. Saving lives. The California Department of Public Health has reported that the passage of this act will save 104,000 lives. 3. Preventing children from smoking. The California Department of public Health has also estimated that 228,000 kids will stop (or never begin) smoking because of the increased cost. The act also helps kids obtain the tools and access they need to quit. Proposition 29 has safeguards and accountability. The money will stay in California and go to California based research projects. The dollars cannot be siphoned off for other projects. Administrative costs are limited to 2%. Funding decisions are determined by an independent panel of leading research organizations, public health advocates, cancer researchers and doctors, and cancer survivors. Arguments against this proposition usually are raised by the “no new

taxes” organizations. The proposition is a two-edged sword; either way it cuts to the heart of illness. If smokers continue to smoke, then money is raised for cancer research and treatment. If smokers rebel against the new tax and quit, then the bill is even more successful. Lives are saved and health care costs drop. Nobody HAS to pay this tax! The major potential losers by passage of the proposition are the big tobacco companies. If passed, cigarette sales are expected to drop signiﬁcantly. The very powerful tobacco lobby will spend millions of dollars to mislead and misconstrue the purposes of the bill. They will talk about taking money from schools, taking money from existing revenues, the effects on current budgets, and draining funds out of California. Their obfuscation cannot change the bottom line: fewer people will smoke, fewer packs of cigarettes will be sold, and big tobacco proﬁts will drop. The physicians and staff of Diablo Valley Oncology wholeheartedly support Proposition 29. It is bad for the tobacco companies, but good for the health of all Californians. Lives will be saved, kids and adults will quit smoking, and important research will be funded. Please vote YES on Proposition 29 in June. Diablo Valley Oncology founded the California Cancer and Research Institute. Located in Pleasant Hill, the cancer center is the largest freestanding, non-hospital based facility in Contra Costa County. The center brings together medical oncology, hematology, radiation, chemotherapy, diagnostic imaging, laboratory, pharmacy, clinical trials and supportive care services – all in one convenient location. The facility provides the latest in technology and therapies – to better serve patients in the community. 925-677-5041 www.DiabloValleyOncology.md. Advertorial

Treat continued from front page treated to a morning of inspiring clinics. Commandeering the combo, Master Sergeant James Butler held the room in awe with his extraordinary saxophone range. Master Sergeant John Ruff riveted the group with his eloquent and uproariously funny delivery of “What we all experience when listening to languishing rehearsals but were afraid to say,” and the rest of the elite group got down and shared tips and tidbits, encouraging the kids to “blare their hearts out.” SrA Whitt, TSgt Hornbuckle, TSgt Gentry and A1C Lamar also inspired the students with their teaching, and all of the Air Force members generously shared their wisdom and experience with the students, both musically and as teachers/mentors. More importantly, their visit brought a message of “connecting with people, making friends, and building global relationships.” They shared stories about stations in Afghanistan and Kyrgyzstan. They told of journeys into Kenya where children leaped to their feet to share in the music and to dance in circles around them. They told about the Qatari musician in his Pictured left to right: Technical Sgt. Marshall Gentry, Technical Sgt. Michael Hornbuckle, Airman 1st long ﬂowing robes and headdress “getting down” with the group, leaving Class Isaac Lamar, Master Sgt. Jonathan Ruff, Master Sgt. James Butler, Staff Sgt Alex P. Nikiforrof, and Senior Airman Joseph Whitt. Kneeling in front is Stanley Music Director Bob Athayde. them smiling and honoring, all the more, the power of music. The morning proved to be not long enough. If you’d like a chance to see this wonderful group, they will be performing at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek on Thursday, April 12th at 7pm and at the Scottish Rite Auditorium in Oakland at 7pm on Saturday, April 14th. For show and band information visit bandofthegoldenwest.af.mil. Also, keep current about upcoming events at the Stanley Music Room by visiting stanleymusic.org.

Cancer Support Community The following class will be held at Cancer Support Community located at 3276 McNutt Avenue in Walnut Creek. The class is free, but reservations are required. For information, call (925) 933-0107.

Cancer Survivorship 101 Saturday, April 21 ~ 10 AM – Noon This is an introduction to post-treatment recovery and beyond. Learn how to create a summary of your treatment and map out a care plan for your recovery. You will leave empowered with the tools to improve your quality of life and achieve a greater sense of well-being. Patients and support people are welcome. With Shell Portner, RN, Survivorship Nurse Navigator at John Muir Cancer Institute and also a cancer survivor. Lic# 1100014354; Bay Area Entertainment

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Discover Life Beyond the Screen! By Michael Anne Conley, MFT How much are you facing a screen? How often do you clock out of your technology? What would happen if you set aside the cell phone for a day, or didn’t watch the tube – or the YouTube– for a week? These are not idle questions as we approach this year’s Screen-Free Week, scheduled from April 30th to May 6th. It’s only a few weeks away, so here’s a head start in considering whether – and how – you might play with life beyond the screen. I don’t know about you, but I can imagine a week without television because I lived it. Growing up in the high mountain desert of the southwest where I was a kid, television reception was hit-or-miss. Then we got hooked up to cable when I was about 12, and you would think the ﬂoodgates would open, but no. Our Los Angeles cousins could watch a gazillion TV stations all around the clock, and on visits we could guzzle along with them. But at home, the cable limited us to three networks that clocked out every night. And it only got worse! Parental rules decreed that television was off-limits on school nights. Just imagine, parents who make rules like that. And yet, it’s well worth considering — and trying just for a week. It’s possible you live in an average American home, which has more televisions than people. Although only 42% of us think TVs are a necessity, the Pew Research Center reported in 2010 that the televisions we do buy keep getting bigger. I thought it was good news that 42% is down 22 points from the 2006 statistic, but we all know this trend isn’t happening because we’re facing each other over the dinner table instead of a screen, much less going for more walks, playing games, or reading poetry. We’ve just expanded the kind of screen we watch. In the 1940s, television

Spring Back into Summer Shape By Barbara Persons, MD, Persons Plastic Surgery, Inc. With such a mild winter this year, it feels like spring came months ago. In reality, spring arrived on March 22nd, and for many that means the beginning of the season when we start trying to shed the weight gained during the cold winter months. For me it means heading to the gym, walking the Lafayette Reservoir and, new this year, participating in The Dailey Method. We all want to get back into that bathing-suit shape we had at the end of last summer, and I’m no exception. As always, proper diet and exercise are keys to transforming our bodies into top form. However, every year as we grow older, our skin changes, we can’t metabolize fats like we used to, and we have slightly less muscle mass. This is why we inevitably begin to see the signs of aging as sagging, wrinkles, and those stubborn little pockets of fat that seem to stay no matter how hard we work out. Add to this any major change in weight such as having a baby, and gravity may have the advantage. While a healthy lifestyle will always be important in helping to postpone many of the signs of aging, there are ways to play catch up with the help of your Board Certiﬁed Plastic Surgeon. Spring is a great time to consider surgical solutions for making your chest, abs and legs summer ready. This is also a great season for considering that Liquid Facelift with Laser Genesis to rejuvenate your look.

The Chest The chest area of both men and women is susceptible to the effects of gravity and time. For women, pregnancy and breast feeding magnify gravity’s effects. The perfect solution for many of these cases is breast augmentation, which can often be combined with a mastopexy (breast lift) that can reverse the course of gravity and return the breast back to a natural youthful position. When combined under the trained hands of a plastic surgeon with either silicone or saline implants, the results can yield that perfect bikini look. For men, the breast becomes a stubborn area for fat deposits that no amount of exercise can ﬁx. In most cases, small amounts of targeted liposuction can be a relatively easy solution. For more stubborn cases, I do have considerable experience with male breast reduction and mastopexy.

Lafayette Today ~ April 2012 - Page 21 began its ascent as the medium of the day. In 1984, Apple launched the Macintosh computer – and then used television itself to announce a sea of change in our relationship to screens with its infamous ‘big brother’ Super Bowl ad. Ten years later, the ﬁrst TV-Turnoff campaign was initiated. In 2010 it was renamed Screen-Free Week to acknowledge reality: The merging into a multitude of screens –television, computer, video game, cell phone, MP3 player, electronic reader, and tablet. The Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood sponsors Screen-Free week and says on average, pre-school children are exposed to more than 32 hours of screen time a week. Older children get even more. That’s equivalent to a full-time job! A number of concerns are tied to the number of hours that kids spend with their face in a screen, says the CCFC, including obesity, poor school performance, and problems with attention span. Children deserve to have broader experiences that will help them develop into vital, creative, and engaged adults. Some examples include: Learning to entertain themselves and play with each other helps children develop self-regulation – which is essential for healthy adult relationships; playing outdoors gives children a personal experience of their own physical capacity and attune to the natural world, which helps them develop an inner compass that can sustain them throughout life. Sure, the information provided by all of our screens can be valuable. But, knowledge alone is not wisdom. Wisdom comes from experience. Having a wider range of experiences, including time away from our screens, is a smart choice for parents to make for their kids and for adults to practice themselves. Screen-Free Week is a great time to experiment. The great thing is, you don’t have to do it on your own. CCFC has an information kit to invite individuals, families, neighborhoods, schools, and community groups to have fun with this. To “rediscover the joys of life beyond the screen,” go to www.screenfree.org. Michael Anne Conley is a health educator, marriage and family therapist, and the director of Stillpoint Integrative Health Center at 953 Mountain View Drive in Lafayette. She has been supporting people whose habits create problems for themselves and others for 27 years. You can learn more at 925-262-4848 or wellnesslafayette.com. Advertorial

Abs The abdomen tends to be one of the most troubling areas for both men and women. Luckily, targeted liposuction is a very effective way to combat stubborn midsections. Like most Plastic Surgeons, I prefer VASER Lipo because it uses LipoSelection®, which targets speciﬁc areas of the body and leaves surrounding vital tissues unharmed versus traditional liposuction which can result in lumpy or uneven skin. VASER Lipo (www.vaser.com or see the video vault on our website) is so precise and gentle that patients typically report dramatic reshaping with little downtime. Sometimes the effects of pregnancy and childbirth can be so demanding on a women’s body that simple liposuction is not enough and a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) may be the right choice.

Legs Inner and outer thighs, hips, knees and buttocks, are also very common areas for those difﬁcult to lose fat deposits to settle. Our high deﬁnition VaserLipo is the ideal solution for dealing with these deposits of fat. This body contouring procedure produces natural looking results with minimal downtime.

Face Sagging, dull skin on the face and neck are obvious signs of aging. Full correction involves combining a Laser Genesis treatment, neurotoxins and fillers. This “Liquid Facelift” can cost around $1,600 and lasts six to 24 months depending on the filler used. Combine this with ongoing quality skin care including good sunscreen, and gravity will have to wait much longer to claim victory. As we prepare for upcoming bathing suit weather, I see many of you taking the most important steps in fighting this battle through proper diet and exercise. I look forward to becoming an additional valued resource by seeing you in my office for a personal and highly-tailored consultation on those problem areas that diet and exercise alone can’t fix. Let’s spring back into shape and have our bodies ready for the perfect summer! 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

Page 22 - April 2012 ~ Lafayette Today

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Events for Lafayette Seniors

Our mission is to provide personalized care, help All classes are held at the Lafayette Senior maintain independence and enhance our Center (LSC) located at 500 Saint Mary’s Rd client’s quality of life on a daily basis. in Lafayette unless otherwise noted. Space is • Free in-home assessments • Regular home visits limited. Please call 925-284-5050 to reserve a ensure the right care plan • Hourly care Heartfelt & spot. Annual Membership fee: $10 per person. for you • Live-in care Supportive General Event fee: Members $1; Non-Member • Fully bonded and insured • Geriatric care mgmt. • Elder referral and placement $3. Special Concerts fee: Members $3; NonAt All Times... Members $5. Ongoing Caregiver Support 3645 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Suite D Lafayette, CA 94549 Group: Members: no charge; Non-members $1. (beside Trader Joe’s) www.excellentcareathome.com 925-284-1213 All That Jazz • Friday, 4/20, 1:30 – 2:30PM at the Community Hall, Lafayette Library and Learning Center – 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette An afternoon of jazz - it’s all that and more! Join us for piano standards and originals by members of the Contra Costa Performing Arts Society Jazz Piano workshop. We will be playing favorites from Hoagy Carmichael, Miles Davis, Oscar Hammerstein, and more! Join the fun! Discovering Opera: Gounod’s Faust • Tuesday, 4/24, 10:30 – noon • Elderberry Room, Lafayette Community Center Many operas have been written based on the story of the aged philosopher who sells his soul to the devil in return for youth and love, but Charles Gounod’s is by far the best known. It has some great arias, a very famous chorus, and a spectacular final trio to wrap things up. Lecturer Bradford Wade, opera lover for 35 years, will discuss the background of the Faust legend and present a guided tour of the opera, with a description of the plot interspersed with musical examples. This lecture is given in conjunction with Opera San Jose’s production of Faust, April 21-May 6. Lafayette Library & Learning Center Talk & Tour • Wednesday 4/25 1:30PM – 2:30PM Lafayette Library and Learning Center – 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd. The Lafayette Library and Learning Center (LLLC) invites all seniors to an exclusive talk and leisurely tour of the library. Enjoy its art and architecture. Learn about its comprehensive collections and entertaining and informative programs. Become acquainted with this magnificent building and its resources so you can take full advantage of all the library has to offer. Even if you’ve been there before, you’re sure to gain new insights! Reserve your spot by contacting LLLC: 925-283-6513 x101, reserve@LLLCF.org, or Lafayette Senior Services at 925-284-5050. Anne Randolph Workshop on Strokes • Friday 4/27 11:30AM – 12:30PM Sequoia Room, Lafayette Community Center One of the three most common killers is a stroke. Learn what causes strokes and how to recognize when a stroke is happening to help avoid some of the devastating effects. Anne Randolph, RPT, has been practicing physical therapy for 32 years. She provides outpatient therapy in Lafayette and specializes in the care of those 55 and over. Please call (925) 284-5050 to register. Bi-Monthly Caregiver Support Group • Mondays 4/9, 4/23 1:30–2:30PM Elderberry Room, Lafayette Community Center If you are a family member helping to care for an older adult, join our support group led by Carol Shenson, MA, Certified Geriatric Care Manager to find balance and joy as you manage your responsibilities. Drop-ins are welcome. Free for members/ $1 non-members Self-Discovery and Aging, Creative Writing Workshop • Alternate Mondays • 4/16, 4/30, 5/14 Noon – 2PM Elderberry Room, Lafayette Community Center Join Judith Rathbone, Creative Writing and English Instructor to write to explore issues around aging, emotion, and perception–or get support to write on any topic! Workshop sessions include writing prompts, feedback, encouragement, and information about the world of writers, writing, and publishing. Take a seat around our table! Lamorinda Dance Social Every Wednesday • 12:30 – 3PM • 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. $2 Members/ $4 non-members. Positive Living Forum (a.k.a “Happiness Club”) Thursdays 4/12, 5/10 • 10:30AM – noon Positive Living Forum features eminent speakers on a wide range of topics that will stimulate and guide participants towards a more ideal and positive life experience. Drop-ins are welcome. Moderated by Dr. Bob Nozik, MD.

Lafayette Senior Services Commission The Commission meets on the 4th Thursday of the month at 3:30 – 5:30PM at the Lafayette Senior Center. View agendas at the City of Lafayette ofﬁce or at www.ci.lafayette.ca.us.

Contra Costa County Library Offers Discover & Go Looking for something fun, educational, and free to do with the family? Have guests coming into town and want to show off the area’s cultural highlights? The Contra Costa County Library offers Discover & Go, an exciting new service providing library cardholders residing in Contra Costa County with free passes to local museums and cultural institutions. For questions call 800-984-4636. Make your reservations and print out up to two passes at discover.ccclib.org for the following destinations: •Asian Art Museum • Bay Area Discovery Museum • Beat Museum • Bedford Gallery • Blackhawk Museum • California Academy of Sciences • California Historical Society • California Shakespeare Theater • Cartoon Art Museum • Charles M. Schulz Museum • Contemporary Jewish Museum • Exploratorium • Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse • Habitot Children’s Museum • Lindsay Wildlife Museum • The Marine

Mammal Center • Museum of Craft and Folk Art • Museum of the African Diaspora • Oakland Aviation Museum • Oakland Museum of California • Pacific Pinball Museum • San Jose Museum of Art • San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles • The Tech Museum • Town Hall Theatre • UC Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive • USS Hornet Museum • Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum • Yerba Buena Center for the Arts • Zeum: San Francisco's Children's Museum.

San Ramon Valley Genealogical Meetings The San Ramon Valley Genealogical Society meets at 10am the third Tuesday of every month, except August and December, at the Danville Family History Center, 2949 Stone Valley Road, Alamo. A speaker is at every meeting. Everyone is welcome. For information, call Ed at (925) 299-0881, or visit http://srvgensoc. org.

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40% of Goal for the Lamorinda Spirit Mini-Van By Mary Bruns, Program Coordinator Lamorinda Senior Transportation, an Alliance of Transportation Providers “In order to create, there must be a dynamic force; and what force is more potent than love?” ~ Igor Stravinsky. The Lamorinda Spirit Van Program is at 40% of our goal in our efforts to raise $5,047 to pay for the local match for a $44,000 mini-van that accommodates both ambulatory passengers and those in wheelchairs – perfect for those trips to the doctor. To date, 23 community members have become part of a dynamic force to create a mini-van for the Lamorinda Spirit Van program by responding to our request for help and sending in donations totaling $2,125. We, of course, are hoping that you will also participate in helping our community reach the goal of attaining this minivan through the latest 5310 Federal grant program. If you have already responded, we sing your praises and thank you many times over. As the saying goes, “Many hands make light work.” Virginia Burden chimes in, “Cooperation is the thorough conviction that nobody can get there unless everybody gets there.”

Lafayette Today ~ April 2012 - Page 23 In February, we operated two vans for the first full month since we began our two-van program, doubling our usual mileage. This is very exciting in terms of how our program has expanded service. However, it is also expensive in terms of purchasing fuel at today’s prices – we have projected $1,200 a month or $14,400 for the coming fiscal year just for fuel. So, if through your generosity more than $5,047 is raised for the mini-van, the remainder would support annual operating expenses – particularly the fuel and van maintenance budget. “Let the beauty of what you love be what you do.” ~ Rumi To financially support this program, please make your tax-deductible check payable to the City of Lafayette, and mail it to the Lamorinda Spirit Van Program, Lafayette Senior Services, 500 Saint Mary’s Road, Lafayette, CA 94549. On the memo line of the check, write “Lamorinda Spirit Van donation.”

Lamorinda Senior Transportation An Alliance of Transportation Providers *Call each program for information, opportunities to volunteer and to make tax-deductible donations. Volunteer drivers are the glue that binds us together.

Lamorinda Spirit Van

283-3534

Taking Lamorinda Seniors to medical appointments, grocery shopping, special events, and lunch at C.C. Café. $10 round trip; rides to lunch are free. Reserve your seat two business days ahead of time by 1PM. Call for information about mobile advertising.

Contra Costa Yellow Cab and DeSoto Company 284-1234 20% discount for Lamorinda seniors. A taxi is often an economical alternative to owning, insuring, and maintaining a car.

Volunteer Driver Program Volunteers driving their own cars provide free rides for seniors.

Orinda Seniors Around Town A gentleman called the other day to ﬁnd out about transportation for his elderly parents. As he described the situation, it became clearer that his father was at that time of life when he should give up the car keys – for his safety as well as for the safety of others on the road. As I listened, I once again became aware of the enormity of what it takes to provide adequate care for our family members as they age. Just as it takes “a village to raise a child,” it takes “a village” to assist our elders when they become frail. In the “City Manager’s Friday Summary,” Master Sergeant Jonathan Ruff is quoted as saying “…you have the best middle school program I have seen. In fact, I think it may well be the ﬁnest school program. I know what it takes to have a program like yours…” Since we live in an aging community, I hope we can one day say that about our programs for the frail elderly.

402-4506

Serving Orinda seniors with rides for appointments and errands.

Suzanne, Norene, and Millie

Senior Helpline Services Rides for Seniors

284-6161

Serving Contra Costa seniors with rides to medical appointments during the week and grocery shopping on Saturdays.

Hearing Loss Association Come to meetings of the Diablo Valley Chapter of Hearing Loss Association of America at 7pm on the ﬁrst Wednesday of the month at the Walnut Creek United Methodist Church located at 1543 Sunnyvale Ave., Walnut Creek Education Bldg., Wesley Room. Meeting room and parking are at the back of the church. All are welcome. Donations are accepted. Assistive listening system are available for T-coils, and most meetings are captioned. Contact HLAADV@hearinglossdv.org or 925.264.1199 or www.hearinglossdv.org.

ARCHITECT JOHN ROLF HATTAM - ARCHITECT Specializes in modest budget, new and remodeled residences. Over 200 completed projects. AUTHOR: Houses on Hills and Other Irregular Places. Also, National Parks from an Architect’s Sketchbook Call for a brochure: 510-841-5933. 737 Dwight Way, Berkeley.

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Kapnek continued from page 18 treated us as friends and family. Besides making bonds with these people, and the obvious reward of giving back, one of the most meaningful things I have learned is how important this sort of involvement is to me. This trip truly increased my interest of working abroad in similar ways. I know as I look to my future that this is something I want to incorporate into my life, and I know I would love to return to Zimbabwe!” Robbins travels to Zimbabwe approximately every nine months. As a partner at Lamorinda Pediatrics since 1990, he is grateful to his patients, Exp. 5/4/12 partners, and staff for supporting the Trust and his time commitment to it. “Without all of their support, and the support of the Trust staff and Board members, I would not be able to balance my practice and my work with the Trust,” says Robbins. An initial desire to spend more time in Zimbabwe has been curbed by advances in technology: Robbins is in daily contact with Zimbabwe via email and skype. “And, there are many people there who are quite knowledgeable and capable of managing things with a little technical and financial support,” says Robbins. “Having too much input from even a well-intentioned American pediatrician can really lose the local responsiveness and sensitivity.” Robbins feels he has received from the Zimbabwean people equally as much as he has given. “The Zimbabweans are wonderful; culturally they are just bright, thoughtful, earnest, hard working and well humored people,” says Robbins. “It has underscored that we often get distracted Join us at our Danville Store on April 28th from 11-3pm by all the noise in our lives and miss out on for a BBQ and meeting with our factory rep. what is important. People there enjoy each Danville 925.648.0293 other, and while they often do not have all 3426 Camino Tassajara the material things we cherish, they have full and happy lives. They understand that Alamo 925.820.8492 Open Tues thru Sat 10 to 6 it is who you have in your life, not what 3189 Danville Boulevard Sunday 11 to 5 • Closed Monday you have…we miss that sometimes.” The J.F. Kapnek Trust is always in need of financial support, preschool supplies, and retired materials from local hospitals. A Speech Contest Winners local fundraiser, their 9th Annual Fun Run/Walk, will take place April 22nd, 9am at Three seniors from Miramonte High School swept first, second, and third Miramonte High places in the recent annual Four-Way Test Student Speech contest sponsored by school in Orinda. Lamorinda Sunrise Rotary. Taking top prize of $300 cash was Lisa Chang (center Participants will left). Second place, enjoy food, live $200, went to Alex music, African Chang (far right), crafts, and and third ($100) drumming lessons. was claimed by To register, visit Arjang Asadi (left). w w w. a c t i v e . The contestants com - keyword are pictured with Kapnek. For more KristenPlant,public information on the speech teacher at Trust, visit www. Miramonte. Photo JFKapnekTrust. by Thomas Black. org.

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