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August 2012 Lafayette’s New Community Garde rden
Serving the Lafayette Community
By Fran Miller Lafayette’s new community garden will one day provide a harvest bounty to those who water, plant, mulch and nurture but the promise of sun-ripened produce is not necessarily the garden’s allure. Perhaps the most enticing aspect of the garden, located on Mt. Diablo Blvd. across from the Lafayette Reservoir, is the sense of community that is engendered amongst its membership of fifty individuals and/or families, each of whom commit to a minimum two hours per week of service.
Trust In Education volunteer Grace Magney, a resident of Kabul, Afghanistan, shares her solar cooking expertise with villagers.
Trust in Education Brings Solar Ovens to Afghanistan By Fran Miller
Lafayette Community Garden members John Eaton, and Alice and Gary Stern, display the garden's first harvest.
The Lafayette Community Garden (LCG) members know that real community is more than sharing a similar address in the same town. Interdependence, hard work and cooperation – all aspects required for a successful community-based garden - are integral components in bringing people together. While LCG member Peggy Magilen definitely looks forward to the tomatoes, zucchini, watermelon, and Lafayette Community Garden entrance. lettuces that will be soon be her due in exchange for soiled fingernails and a slight sunburn, she is far more motivated by the positive mental health aspects of working in a team of like-minded people. “We all spend so much time secluded in our own
See Garden continued on page 20
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PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Permit 21 Lafayette, CA
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Solar power aficionado Jack Howell was enjoying his morning coffee at the Lafayette Peet’s about a year ago, when he made a serendipitous discovery which subsequently resulted in a cooperative arrangement which has served to increase the quality of many lives, half a world away. Howell took notice of the mylar bags in which Peet’s packs its whole beans. Mylar, an expensive material, is the key ingredient in the making of solar ovens. Howell had joined forces with Budd MacKenzie and his Trust in Education program (TIE) in introducing the use of solar ovens to the citizens of Afghanistan. A quick conversation with Peets’ manager, in which Howell explained the Solar Oven Project, has since led to a cooperative mylar donation arrangement between TIE and Peet’s locations in Lafayette, Pleasant Hill and Alamo, enabling TIE to send 950 solar ovens to Kabul. Most will be distributed to families living in refugee camps in and around Kabul. Many in Lafayette are familiar with Budd MacKenzie and his Trust in Education program, initiated in 2003 as a pro-active effort to help the victims of wars waged in Afghanistan. He felt that his friends and neighbors could rally around the ideology that all children deserve an education and a building in which to be educated. They raised $60,000, and a school was built in the village of Lalander. His grass-roots organization is now providing educational, economic, and health care assistance to ten villages in Afghanistan. TIE informs and enlists
See Solar continued on page 8
Shakespeare for Kids For nearly 30 years Carol Upshaw’s Shakespeare for Kids for Renaissance Study, aka Shakespeare Camp, has been held in Lafayette. Pictured are campers singing “Here's Good Luck to Will Shakespeare! Good luck to the ‘Barley Mow!’” To learn more about the Shakespeare program, visit shakespeareforkids.us.
Volume V I- Number 8 3000F DANVILLE BLVD #117 ALAMO, CA 94507 Telephone (925) 405-6397 Fax (925) 406-0547 editor@yourmonthlypaper.com Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher The opinions expressed herein belong to the writers, and do not necessarily reflect that of Lafayette Today. Lafayette Today is not responsible for the content of any of the advertising herein, nor does publication imply endorsement.
Page 2 - August 2012 ~ Lafayette Today
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On Saturday and Sunday, September 15 and 16 , the 17 Annual Art & Wine Festival will be held in downtown Lafayette. Spend the weekend enjoying music, food, drinks, and handmade crafts. For information, contact the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce at info@lafayettechamber.org or call 925-284-7404. The Big Band Dance/Concert continues on Friday, September 14th at the Rheem Theater, and Friday, October 19th at the Veterans Memorial Building. For information, visit www.thebigbandofrossmoor.org. On Sunday, October 28th, the 20th Annual Reservoir Run will be held in downtown Lafayette. For information, contact the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce at info@lafayettechamber.org or call 925-284-7404.
Sentinels of Freedom Dinner and Golf Gala Diablo County Club welcomes Sentinels of Freedom on Sunday, September 16th and Monday, September 17th for their 5th annual dinner and golf tournament benefiting the Sentinels of Freedom Scholarship Fund. Supporters may choose from a range of options including Sunday’s dinner/auction only for non-golfers, Monday’s golf tournament with lunch only, and various donation levels for individuals and groups attending both functions. Sentinels of Freedom provides life-changing opportunities for men and women of the US Armed Forces who have suffered severe injuries and need the support of grateful communities to realize their dreams and goals. Sunday’s festivities begin with cocktails at 4pm and continue with dinner and auction. Speaker Col. Danny McKnight, whose combat duty included the 1993 incident in Somalia that was the basis for the book and movie “Blackhawk Down,â€?has recently released his own book: Streets of Mogadishu. McKnight says of his work: “Understand this, I am quite possibly the most ‘politically incorrect’ person in America ‌ the book projects this through my honesty, truthfulness, opinions, and beliefs.â€? Each dinner guest will receive a copy of the book and the opportunity to have it signed. For more information and registration, visit www.sentinelsoffreedom.org or contact Carla Goulart by phone at 925-380-6342 ext. 2 or email carlagoulart@ sentinelsoffreedom.com.
Please join Las Trampas, Inc. at the 3rd Annual Walk n' Roll familyfriendly fundraiser on Saturday, September 22th! Enjoy a fun one mile or 5K walk/run/roll on the Lafayette-Moraga trail. The trail is wheelchair friendly. Registration begins at 8:30AM, the Walk/Roll/Run begins at 9AM, and from 11AM- Noon there will be post-walk/run entertainment. A registration fee of $25 includes a T-shirt, gift, raffle, food, and music. There is no fee for children under 5 years of age. Proceeds support adults with developmental disabilities. Our mission is to help people with developmental disabilities to discover their capabilities and lead full lives in their homes, at work, and in the community. We provide Residential, Vocational, and Day Programs. With drastic budget cuts we need your help more than ever. The event starts at Las Trampas, Inc., 3460 Lana Lane in Lafayette. General parking is available on Moraga Blvd. For more information, visit www.lastrampas. org or call 925-2841462 ext. 239.
South Yuba River Retreat in Nevada County
9-11 Remembrance Ceremony The Exchange Club of San Ramon Valley along with local veterans’ organizations is hosting the Annual 9-11 Remembrance Ceremony on Tuesday, September 11th. The Remembrance begins at 5:50PM and concludes at 6:40PM at the All Wars Memorial in Oak Hill Park located at 3005 Stone Valley Rd in Danville. This event will feature prominent guest speakers, hundreds of Scouts with an array of American Flags, joint Police and Fire Department Honor Guard, a bagpiper, a flight of doves, and many other patriotic contributions. Immediately following the ceremony there will be free ice cream, Crackerjacks and bottled water.
International Film Showcase The International Film Showcase returns to the Orinda Theatre August 24th -30th with the charming, Oscar nominated Swiss comedy Late Bloomers. Four older ladies from a small village in the Emmental region turn a corner shop into a chic lingerie shop which throws the whole community into disarray. Show times are 1:30, 4:00, and 6:30 with additional screenings at 8:45 on Friday and Saturday. Check our website for additional details at www.lfef.org/.
ECT PERFTER’S WRI AWAY GET This is one of the most impressive properties you will find with South Yuba River frontage in Nevada County. Enjoy your own private beach, with spectacular swimming holes and gorgeous sunlight all year round, even in winter. Take long walks along the river, hike, swim, fish, kayak, picnic, hunt for gold or just relax. Located in “The Little Town of Washington� – one of the classic mining towns of the Old West – this property is 2.29 acres (+/-) and has 500 feet (+/-) along the pristine, crystal clear South Yuba River, which is a protected Wild & Scenic River by the State of California. Built in 1998, the main house is 900 square feet (+/-), has an open kitchen and counter bar, living room, 2 bedrooms and 2 full baths (one set at each end), an easily accessible basement with a workshop and a sundeck overlooking the river. Also included are two outbuildings down on the beach: an A-frame, which is ideal for kids sleep overs, and a screened-in gazebo that has the perfect party set-up. Everything on this property has been perfectly maintained and cared for. Go to the website below for more info:
17265MaybertRoad.com 17265 Maybert Road, Washington, CA 95986 Only a 2.5 hour drive from Lafayette. 40 minute drive from Nevada City/Grass Valley
1/2 Ownership: $275,000 +PIO r &NBJM KHM3@mac.com For Sale: $474,500 Century 21 Gold Dust Realty (MLS #1043301): + % .JMMFS #SPLFS .PCJMF rĚž&NBJM KE! HE DPN
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Lafayette Today ~ August 2012 - Page 3
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Boulevard View By Alisa Corstorphine, Editor In some aspects of my life I am trying to slow down, simplify, and go back the basics. I am not giving up my iPhone, digital camera, or internet connectivity but sometimes find it is more peaceful to lay down my electronics and work with my hands, tend to my garden, cook my food from scratch, and read my book, magazine, or newspaper in their paper form. Maybe it’s a part of getting older, or maybe I’m just maturing and realizing what’s important in life. I’m incorporating more of an “attitude of gratitude,” trying to keep the line starting at the doorway a “no drama zone” and trying to be the “glass half full” kind of gal keeping the “Eeyore’s” out of my life. Research shows that adopting an attitude of appreciation towards the things in your life makes an enormous difference to your level of happiness. People who consciously attempt to be thankful and appreciative tend to feel happier and at peace to a greater extent than others. According to a research project from the University of Miami, people who practice some form of conscious gratitude exercised more regularly, were healthier, slept better, felt more optimistic, made more progress towards personal goals, were more alert and enthusiastic, and could handle stress more effectively. People value authenticity and know when it’s missing. I think many of our local businesses feel the same way, and I treasure the relationships I’ve developed over the years. Some businesses “get it,” while some certainly don’t. I have definitely steered my patronage to those businesses who take the long view and who exude a natural friendliness, not a forced familiarity as if it’s a script they must read at every encounter. Just like the old sitcom Cheers, I love to go where everyone (genuinely) knows my name or is always happy to see me even if we aren’t on a first or last name basis. The Golden Rule is a maxim that essentially states “One should treat others as one would like others to treat onself.” I have been making a concerted effort lately to praise and recognize those who I interact with in my daily
rounds and routine who go the extra mile to make me feel that my visit to their place of business is welcomed and appreciated. I have tried to reciprocate their “positive energy” and use the multi-media tools at hand by giving positive reviews on Yelp or other sites and/or “Liking” them on their Facebook page. A compliment or “attaboy” to a supervisor or a manager goes a long way in “making” someone’s day.
Sometimes people are quick to react, threaten, or shout out to the world about how they’ve been wronged due to a negative situation, but it seems these people are often less likely to do the reverse when they are treated well. When I feel deceived or cheated, I head out the door; vote with my feet. Life is too short to feel unappreciated, bullied, or duped. The recent wedding of a friend found me in a Reno casino. Slot machines have changed to where they no longer take coins. Everything is artificial done to the electronic clank of faux coins landing in the tray. I was intrigued by the “new” one-cent slot machines. It looked like entertainment could be had for mere pennies. However, once the dollar bills enter the slot machines, the pennies magically morph and become “credits.” The one-cent slots then have minimums - like you must play 30 credits per “spin” (another artificial experience as the pull handles have been mostly replaced by the much quicker push of a button). Less than $10 later I felt cheated and not entertained. I think I’d rather spend my money or time watching a good show, reading a good book, or sending a handwritten note or an “I’m thinking about you” text at random. A dripping faucet soon fills a bucket until it is overflowing. The same is true of anything in life, and developing appreciation is no different. Appreciating the many small things in your day will lead to greater and greater levels of gratitude and happiness, and the world can alway use a little more of that.
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FunFest 2012 The first-ever FunFest is a family-friendly, all-day event featuring live performances, special screenings, activities, games, and more which will take place on Saturday, August 25th from 10AM – 11PM. The line-up includes Juice Box Heroes, local Moraga-dads rocking out to familiar tunes with parodied kid-friendly lyrics. The live band phenomenon continues into the evening with an acoustic performance Purveyors of classic, exotic, and by Jay Whitlatch of Aspect, edgy and eclectic sounds high-performance cars for more than 30 years. from Dream Posse’s Kiki Stack & Friends (www. California’s #1 Classic Car Dealer dreamposse.com) and local rockers Juice, who have Over 200 vehicles in inventory! played throughout the Bay Area including one of Lamorinda’s favorite watering holes, The Round Up Saloon (www.juicemusic.org). The fun spills over outside of the theatre with loads of carnival-style games, kid-friendly activities, a t-shirt decorating contest, more crafts, and famous food-trucks. In addition to bringing FUN to Lamorinda, FunFest 2012 is also raising funds to help The New Rheem Theatre purchase the digital projectors they need to continue showing blockbuster films. The major movie Showrooms in Pleasanton, Benicia, and Fairfield. studios have mandated that all theatres in the U.S. www.SpecialtySales.com | 800.600.2262 purchase these new projectors in order to continue showing new films, and this has been a challenge for independently-owned and operated theatres like The New Rheem Theatre. Lafayette Hiking Group The New Rheem Theatre is one of a handful of independently owned theatres Join the Lafayette Hiking Group in local hikes in our area. To participate meet in the parking lot out from Lafayette BART’s main entrance at 10AM. in the Bay Area and is home to the California Independent Film Festival. For more information, performance times and ticket information, visit www. Bring BART money or ticket, lunch money, water, layered clothing, good MoragaFunFest.com. walking shoes, and sun protection.
August 11 - Downtown San Francisco We will walk through the theater district, Union Square, Maiden Lane, the French Quarter, and Chinatown. We will find an interesting place to eat. The hike is an easy 3 - 4 miles led by Ardith Betts and Alison Hill.
August 24 - Architectural Walk in Uptown Oakland See Art Deco buildings, the view from the Kaiser rooftop garden, Oakland Museum gardens, Chinatown shops, Beaux Arts style City Hall and Rotunda, Preservation Park, and historic stores. We will end at the Farmers’ Market and eat there or in a nearby restaurant. The easy hike is approximately 4 miles and led by Linda On.
Church Service and Picnic On Sunday, August 26th at 10am, the Lafayette Methodist Church is having a casual Sunday morning worship service outdoors at Lafayette Community Park located at 480 St. Mary’s Road, just south of the Lafayette Community Center. Parking is available at the park, and overflow parking places can be found at the Community Center. Some chairs will be provided, but those who attend can also bring their own. A furnished picnic lunch is planned for afterwards, and visitors are welcome to come to the service and stay for the picnic. For more information, call the church office at 925-284-4765.
Lost Dog!
$50 REWARD If you find him and your name is drawn! He is very small, so you will have to look hard if you want to find him.
Lafayette Luther is Missing He has become lost in this paper. Send a letter telling us where you found him, along with your name and address to:
Lost Dog! Lafayette Today, 3000F Danville Blvd #117, Alamo, CA 94507
Keely Murphy is our winner! Luther was hiding on page 20 last month.
Kim Vandenberg shares her Olympic medal with LMYA swimmers.
Olympian Inspires Local Swimmers The 2012 Summer Olympics has inspired local swimmers as they get ready for end of season competitions. Kim Vandenberg, a 2008 Olympic bronze medalist and UCLA All-American, recently joined LMYA’s coaches to help team members prepare for the recent inaugural Lafayette Swim Conference Championship and the upcoming Contra Costa County Swim Meet. Head Coach Marc Cavallero believes the Moraga native’s experience and third place finish at this year’s U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials will inspire local swimmers to swim with confidence and finish their season with their best performances to date. Cavallero noted “We are lucky to add Kim to a group that includes U.S. National and NCAA champion Hayley Peirsol and former Cal men’s swim team member and school record holder Peter Davis. I’m confident their big meet experience will serve our team well.” Peirsol added, “Our swim season is short but action-packed. Young swimmers improve so quickly, and we work together with a common goal of making this fun for them and fun for us. We want young swimmers to learn and to love sports.” The new Lafayette Swim Conference includes teams from LMYA, Rancho Colorados, Sun Valley Swim Team, Oakwood, and Springbrook Pool. LMYA will host the 52nd annual Contra Costa County Swim Meet August 11th and 12th at Acalanes High School.
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Lafayette Today ~ August 2012 - Page 5
Sustainable Lafayette – Tip of the Month In case you haven’t noticed, we’re drowning in plastic. Plastic use has exploded in the past 50 years because it’s light, durable, moldable, cheap, and water resistant. But as plastic use has multiplied, more and more evidence is convincing people that plastic is bad for the environment and bad for our health. Some of the issues: Plastic doesn’t biodegrade – It takes hundreds of years to biodegrade, so every ounce of plastic that’s ever been created is still in our environment somewhere. Plastic recycling is sort of a myth – Most plastic in the U.S. isn’t recycled, and the plastic that is collected is expensive to process and is really “down cycled” to textiles, bumpers, or plastic lumber – all unrecyclable products.
Plastic is polluting our oceans – You’ve probably heard about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch – the world’s largest landfill. Recent studies have shown that there’s more plastic than plankton in some parts of our oceans! And plastic is being eaten by marine animals that mistake it for food, and sometimes they die as a result. Plastic is a health concern - There are increasing reports on the human health effects of chemicals used in plastic products, such as BPA and others. So, reducing the amount of plastic in your life is a good goal. Try to avoid anything that is single use or disposable. Following are ten tips to get started with: 1. You’ve heard it before but it’s critical: The simple most profound solution to reduce plastic consumption is to bring your own bags when you shop at the grocery store, drugstore, or mall. Keep them in your car so you’re never without a couple of reusable bags! 2. Another major source of plastic bag waste are the flimsy plastic produce bags. Try to reuse and recycle them. The best solution is to use reusable cotton mesh produce sacks, available at Diablo Foods and Whole Foods. 3. Avoid using disposable plastic water bottles. Use a reusable water bottle and rediscover drinking fountains. At work, try the novel concept of a pitcher or a glass of water. 4. When shopping, choose products with less product packaging and that are recyclable, buy larger sizes, and try buying from the bulk section at your grocery store and eliminate packaging completely. 5. When storing leftovers, packing lunches or food to go, ditch those plastic baggies and foil. Instead, adopt those neat containers that come in endless shapes and sizes. You can use them over and over again! 6. Take your reusable coffee mug with you when get coffee to go. Disposable coffee cups are lined with plastic and not recyclable. And skip the lid and straw for your soft drink. 7. Stop using traditional garbage bags - just empty your trash into the garbage bin, or get yourself some recycled or biodegradable, compostable garbage bags. 8. Request that your daily newspaper not be wrapped in plastic when delivered. (Or cancel your newspaper subscription and go totally online for your news fix.) 9. Take your own container to the restaurant to take home your leftovers when you’re eating out. And remind your favorite take-out place to skip the plastic utensils and plastic bag when they pack your food to go. 10. Ask your dry-cleaners to eliminate the plastic wrap on your clothes. Don’t forget to choose an eco-friendly, non-toxic dry cleaner, too. Just as recycling has become second nature, these simple ways to reduce our consumption of plastic make a world of difference! To learn more about how to live plastic free visit http://myplasticfreelife.com and to learn about plastic misconceptions visit www.ecologycenter.org/ptf/misconceptions.html. To read real-world success stories about how Lafayette residents are reducing waste and living more sustainably, please visit www.sustainablelafayette.org.
Page 6 - August 2012 ~ Lafayette Today
The Bookworm By Joan Stevenson The term “re-gifting” has a special meaning at the Friend’s Corner Book Shop. Your contributions – gifts – are priced (incredibly reasonably), shelved, and sold to delighted customers. The periodic halfprice sales (next one August 18th) are so popular that there is a gathering huddled by the front door at 9AM when the shop opens, and a steady stream of customers follows until closing at 5PM. The next day the weary volunteers take a look at the inventory, and if the stock seems abundant enough, the re-gift continues. Last month Judy Garvens had the great pleasure of delivering 15+ bags of books (about 300 books total) to Bree Brooks, founder and guiding light of Satori’s Circle, a Richmond-based organization that serves at-risk young women. One focus of Satori’s Circle is literacy. To that end, they co-sponsor with the Richmond Library events/festivals to promote literacy. These events include the distribution of free books. And the re-gifting goes a full circle and comes back to you because the Friends of the Lafayette Library and Learning Center Foundation were able to step up for the second year to fund Sunday Hours thanks to the extraordinary success of the Friends Corner Book Shop. Isn’t re-gifting great? On August 15th one of my favorite films is coming to Lafayette Library and Learning Center hosted by Diablo Ballet – An American in Paris with music by George Gershwin. It stars Leslie Caron and Gene Kelly. It is the tale of an American painter, Jerry Mulligan, living in Paris, the City of Light. While enjoying the support of a well-heeled, amorous American gallery owner, Jerry simultaneously falls for a willowy French street urchin. Trouble is, the object of Mulligan’s affection also happens to be engaged to a famous French singer. This wonderful 1951 movie musical won seven Oscars. The Diablo Ballet Artistic Director and/or a dancer will provide an engaging introduction and then share the “back story,” focusing on the role of choreography, following the film. Attendees may participate in a special FREE drawing for a chance to win tickets for two to a Diablo Ballet
11th...Saturday 11:00–12:00pm
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12th...Sunday 1:00–2:30pm
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14th...Tuesday 6:00–7:00pm
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15th...Wednesday 6:30–8:30pm
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22nd...Wednesday 6:30–7:30pm
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28th...Tuesday 7:00–9:00pm
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29th..Wednesday 7:00–8:00pm
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Kenn Adams Space Adventure Theater!..........................Free Join us for some Out-of-this-World Family Fun! You create the story, sound effects and star in the play! All ages. Sponsored by Friends of the LLLC. no reservations necessary Greenbelt Alliance presents...............................................Free Native Trees - Join Ken Lavin as he shares interesting tidbits & stories about our trees, including how they were used in the past & what's in store with climate change. www.greenbelt.org Dinosaurs Rock!................................................................Free Dinosaurs are taking over the Lafayette Library! See an amazing display of dino bones and other fossils dating back to over 500 million years ago. Ages 5 - 11. no reservations necessary Diablo Ballet “Dance on Film” Series..................................$5 An American in Paris - Enjoy this 1951 MGM musical classic. Includes intro by the Artistic Director and a dancer, post-film Q&A and a raffle for two ballet tickets! reserve@LLLCF.org The Commonwealth Club...$12 mbrs, $22 nonmbrs, $7 stdts Jonathan Moscone: Spunk, Blithe Spirit and Success at Cal Shakes - Join us for an enlightening evening with the brilliant and dynamic theatrical director. commonwealthclub.org Sustainable Lafayette Film Series:.........suggested donation $5 Join us for a screening of The First 70 in partnership with Lafayette Open Space Group. Learn more about helping our parks & saving our open space. no reservations necessary Berkeley Repertory Theatre Docent talk.........................Free Chinglish - A docent will discuss Tony award-winning David Henry Hwang’s canny new comedy of cross-cultural errors. reserve@LLLCF.org
www.yourmonthlypaper.com performance! Tickets for the film are $5. For reservations, call 925-2836513 x101 or email reserve@LLLCF.org. On September 8th from 3-6 PM at the Community Hall located at the Lafayette Library there will be an important community program -- Drugs & Youth: A family Resource Night, presented by New Leaf Treatment Center. The featured speaker, Dr. Alex Stalcup, and the Clinical Staff from New Leaf Treatment Center will discuss the problem of drug use among youth and other common behavioral addictions such as video-game playing and gaming. The presentation will be centered from New Leaf’s Craving Identification and Management (CIM) curriculum, which has been reviewed by the California Healthy Kids Resource Center (CHKRC) and identified as high-quality for California schools. A free preview of the CIM Curriculum is available at www. nltc.com. This educational seminar, meant for parents, students, educators, professionals, or community members, will examine the current environment of drugs in Contra Costa County, cover the factors which lead to drug use, explain how to identify signs of use, and introduce intervention or cessation techniques which can be implemented by anyone without a medical background. There is a fee of $25 per family or per group, and no reservations are necessary. If you are still in the market for a beach book to read, let me suggest a mystery and specifically one by either Penny Warner, Staci McLaughlin, Carol Price, or Ann Parker because on October 18th they will kick off the fall Sweet Thursday series with a mystery writers get-together. More on that next month, but mark your calendar to save the date. Haven’t we all longed to get up close and personal with an author we admire? It would be a chance to hear their own story and to learn where their ideas and plots come from. Lafayette Library and Learning Center Foundation will celebrate its third birthday at their first author’s dinner, A Literary Feast. And guess who is coming to dinner? Tamim Ansary, Annie Barrows, David Corbett, Kelly Corrigan, Christopher Gortner, Joyce Maynard, Robert Dugoni, Karen Joy Fowler, Adrienne McDonnel, Michelle Richmond, David Talbot are coming. Watch for details at LLLCF.org. Don’t forget the Half Price Sale on August 18th from 9AM-5PM at the Friends Corner Book Shop.
11th..Tuesday 1:30–3:00pm
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12th...Wednesday 6:30–8:30pm
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18th...Tuesday 6:30–8:00pm
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20th...Thursday 5:45–7:30pm
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22nd...Saturday 7:30–9:00pm
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23rd...Sunday 2:00–4:00pm
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25th...Tuesday 6:00–7:30pm
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Lafayette Senior Services.........................$1 mbrs, $3 nonmbrs Discovering Opera: Bizet’s The Pearl Fishers - Opera aficionado Bradford Wade will present a guided tour of this evocative opera. Musical samples, too. Reserve: 284-5050 Diablo Ballet “Dance on Film” Series..................................$5 West Side Story-Enjoy a screening of this 1961 dramatic dance film. Diablo Ballet will provide a special intro, post-film Q&A and a raffle for two ballet tickets! reserve@LLLCF.org Alta Bates Summit Medical Center presents...................Free Find a Healthy Beat: Important Information for People with Heart Murmurs - Author Adam Pick & Surgeon Junaid Khan, MD discuss the condition & treatment. Reserve: 510-869-6737 Family Science Series: Space-Quivering with Curiosity!..$30 Join the Spectrum of Science Foundation for a hands-on family workshop & discover what NASA’s “Curiosity” is, how it landed on Mars, and why. Ages 5-11 Reserve: 925-820-2415 Gold Coast Chamber Players.......$35 gen, $30 sr, $10 stdt Join Gold Coast’s musicians & guest Juliana Athayde, concertmaster of Rochester Philharmonic, as they perform quintets by Schubert & Glazunov. gcplayers.org Science Cafe: Sun-day Sun Gazing.......................................$5 Celebrate the Equinox! Professional & amateur astronomers bring telescopes for an afternoon of gazing at our brightest star. Post-gaze talk by Dr. Ron Olowin reserve@LLLCF.org John Muir Health presents...............................................Free No Two Knees are Alike: New Treatment Options for YOUR Knee Pain - Orthopedic Surgeon John Knight, MD will discuss non-surgical & surgical treatment options for knee pain, including “custom-fit” surgery. johnmuirhealth.com/classes
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Lafayette Today ~ August 2012 - Page 7
How Much Do You Know About Your Neighborhood? By Julie Sullivan, Lafayette Historical Society (LHS) The Lafayette Historical Society is bringing the history of Lafayette’s neighborhoods to life in a new series of four displays. The first, Downtown, on view now at the Lafayette Library, traces the development of the central business district from land grant to present day. “Over the time I have volunteered at the History Room, people have often asked about the place where they live, the history of their neighborhood,” says Laura Torkelson, the LHS board member who is coordinating the exhibit. “We’ve divided Lafayette into four areas: Downtown, Happy Valley, Burton Valley, and Reliez Valley,” Laura says. The first exhibit on Downtown will run for several months, followed in the fall by Happy Valley. John Stevens, a local realtor, made a model of a home for each area, and Patrick Kikkert researched and assembled aerial photos and maps from the LHS archives. “Because it all began in downtown, the first display traces the development from native Americans and land grant days to the present,” Laura says. “Pictures show the people who were our pioneers, and maps show the housing developments. We also have snippets from oral histories describing what life was like in the early days. Three model houses show the Bickerstaff area behind Trader Joe’s, which was developed in the 1920’s mainly as summer homes.” In the 1930’s many summer homes were converted to year-round residences. Lafayette Oaks, at the end of Moraga Boulevard in the hills, was developed in the 1940’s and represents the first builder tract development. Silver Springs, off Moraga Road above Hamlin Road, was developed in the 1950’s. “It’s much fancier,” Laura says, “because it was built specifically to attract people who worked in San Francisco and wanted to live in the suburbs.” Laura was surprised when she learned through her research that Elam Brown, Lafayette’s founder, had a concept for a planned town. Brown had a land survey done and laid out a map of town sites as early as 1860. “The aerial photos are amazing,” she says. “You can actually see the changes through the years.” The first aerial photos date from 1928, and they continue up to the 1960’s. “I hope everyone will pour over the exhibit looking for places they know and seeing how they have changed,” Laura says. LHS needs photos, artifacts, and stories about the Happy Valley neighborhood for the next display. Please contact LHS if you can help. Call 925-283-1848 or visit www.lafayettehistory.org. LHS History Room in the Lafayette Library and Learning Center is open Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, 10AM – 2PM.
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The Best Wine Blogs By Monica Chappell At any time of the day or night, someone somewhere is pouring out his or her thoughts about wine on a blog. Blogs offer an unfiltered, conversational, and passionate point of view. From last count there were over 700 wine blogs. Although many of these sites are recitations of “wines I’ve tasted,” a few stand out for their quality. The ones mentioned here are some of my favorites and offer a variety of perspectives. Vinography - vinography.com - Alder Yarrow is a San Francisco high-tech consultant and wine lover who runs Vinography, perhaps the Web’s most popular and comprehensive wine blog. Dr. Vino’s Wine Blog - www.drvino.com - Dr. Vino, a.k.a. Tyler Colman, really is a doctor. After teaching political science for two years, he settled into full-time wine writing and education. Fermentation - fermentation.typepad.com - While most wine bloggers focus on specific bottles, this site looks at wine PR, interstate wine shipping laws and labeling restrictions. Included are also interviews of other wine bloggers. Good Wine Under $20 - goodwineunder20.blogspot.com - Budget wines might be the most-blogged subject in the wine web, and this site searches out great everyday wines. Bitten by the blog bug myself, I launched my own wine blog and use it as an educational tool as well as an archive for my wine articles. My blog also provides a means of communicating about upcoming wine classes, dates and locations. My site, wineappreciation101.blogspot.com, may not have the following of Julie Powell of Julie & Julia fame, but it’s a fun way to stay in touch with students who have taken my wine classes. Monica Chappell, Wine Writer and Educator, offers wine appreciation classes. For a list visit www.wineappreciation101.blogspot.com.
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Page 8 - August 2012 ~ Lafayette Today
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See Solar continued from front page Americans to become directly involved in the reconstruction of Afghanistan, and it serves as a tie between Afghan villages and American communities. Projects over the past nine years have included building two schools and two community learning centers, working with villagers to prioritize needs, funding economic development projects, sponsorships of street children, and micro credit financing. TIE supports improved health care, various sports programs, and the installation of playground equipment at several An Afghan refugee family poses with their solar oven, a gift from schools. And, they Budd MacKenzie's Trust in Education program. provide solar ovens. MacKenzie states that the case for solar ovens is compelling, not only for Afghanistan but for the entire planet. Two million people die each year due to smoke inhalation injuries from wood fires; wood is prohibitively expensive for many families, and deforestation is a major problem in several countries, including Afghanistan. Half of Afghanistan’s drinking water is contaminated, but the simple use of a solar oven to heat water kills all harmful bacteria. And, Afghanistan has 300 sunny days per year – the perfect environment for solar cooking. The program was initiated with five Howell-made solar cookers being sent to Afghanistan in August 2010. MacKenzie remembers the reaction, “They were welcomed not unlike the coke bottle in the 1981 film The God’s Must Be Crazy, he says. “In other words, they thought, ‘What in the world is this crazy thing?’” A year later, 100 more ovens, assembled by a small group of TIE volunteers, were sent to Kabul along with 850 cookits, another type of solar oven. In order to face the educational challenges in converting to solar cooking,
See Solar continued on page 12
Contra Costa County Supervisor, District 2 My New Role as County Supervisor By Candace Andersen On the evening of Monday, June 25, 2012, I received a phone call from Governor Jerry Brown’s office informing me that the next morning I would be appointed to the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors. I had won the seat in the June 5th election but my term did not officially begin until January 2013. With the passing of my friend and colleague, former Supervisor Gayle Uilkema in May, the seat now sat vacant. The Governor had the discretion to appoint someone to fill the remainder of her term. Receiving the news that I would soon become Supervisor was an exciting but bittersweet moment. I had truly enjoyed my tenure on the Danville Town Council for the previous nine years. I was halfway through my second term as Mayor, and I knew I would miss my association with my fellow Council members Newell Arnerich, Mike Doyle, Karen Stepper, and Robert Storer, along with the Town Staff which does an excellent job of maintaining Danville's small town atmosphere and outstanding quality of life. Nevertheless, I was looking forward to the challenges and opportunity to serve our County of close to one million residents. I’m often asked what a County Supervisor does. Being a County Supervisor is much like being on a City Council for the entire County. For those who live in unincorporated areas such as Alamo, Canyon, and Saranap, the Supervisor is their elected representative. The Board has five elected supervisors from specific districts. I preside over District 2 which covers the communities of Orinda, Moraga, Canyon, Lafayette, Rossmoor, Parkmead, Saranap, and additional parts of Walnut Creek, Alamo, Danville, and San Ramon. Supervisors make land use decisions for unincorporated areas. They set policies and allocate funds for many different services provided to all of the County including law enforcement, fire protection, jails, libraries, health services, social services, transportation, and transit. County Supervisors can be very helpful to our cities. They sit on boards with City Council members and advocate on behalf of the cities. They also appoint most County department heads, provide compensation for County officials and employees, award contracts for public works, and adopt an annual budget of approximately $1.2 billion. There are close to 8,000 employees. Supervisor Uilkema had three offices to cover the district, and we are consolidating down to two. Over the past month we have been transitioning the main office from Martinez to Danville, utilizing the same space that has been used by previous supervisors at 309 Diablo Road, near Danville's big Oak Tree. Starting in August, the Danville office will be open daily from 8AM-5PM. We are also keeping the Lamorinda Office in the Fire District Headquarters located at 3338 Mt. Diablo Blvd, Lafayette. That office will be open Mondays from 10AM-2PM and Thursdays 11AM-4PM, and by appointment. I am fortunate to have a dedicated staff helping serve the needs of the communities in District 2. Four of the five served under Supervisor Uilkema. Chief of Staff Steve Dexter, steve.dexter@bos.cccounty.us, oversees the office and is the liaison to Orinda. He also served as Supervisor Uilkema's Chief of Staff. Deputy Chief of Staff Gayle Israel, gayle.israel@ bos.cccounty.us, is new to the office. She is the liaison to San Ramon, and oversees communications and transportation issues. Field Representative Jill Ray, jill.ray@bos.cccounty.us, oversees planning and zoning issues, and is also the liaison to Moraga and Canyon. Field Representative Lauri Byers, lauri.byers@bos.cccounty.us, handles scheduling and is the liaison to Lafayette. Field Representative Donna Maxwell, donna.maxwell@bos. cccounty.us, works with Alamo, Danville, and Walnut Creek. As you have questions about the County, please don't hesitate to contact me. I’m elected to be your representative and want to hear from you. I can be reached at candace.andersen@bos.cccounty.us, or call my office at 925.957.8860.
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Lafayette Today ~ August 2012 - Page 9
Creating a Website for Your Company By Evan Corstorphine, Portable CIO In the past 15 years our awareness of the world has been dramatically influenced by the emergence of the worldwide web. The internet is a massive distributed database of every sort of information one could ever hope to learn. Most of it is good information, or at least it’s sincere, but some of it is junk. When you own a business, having a website is as important as listing a telephone number for your customers to call. At the minimum, it’s expected that you’re going to have a basic, informative website that gives others the ability to learn about you. If you’re trying to sell things over the internet, it’s expected that you will have up-to-date information, excellent pictures, and that this electronic storefront works flawlessly every time someone buys something. This is a whole new concept for a major part of our population, and it’s daunting to figure out where to start. If you want to build a website, my advice is to start simple. Before I get too far here, please realize this is an abbreviated 750 word essay on a rather involved process. So, if you’re going to start this journey, it would be a good idea to sit down with an expert and go over the process before you dive in. Website development isn’t difficult for the people who do it all the time. If you’re new to it, you’re going to need help. How much this costs is directly related to how much responsibility you are willing to take to do things yourself, and how well you choose the website developer who will ultimately transcribe your wishes into web code. Nobody works for free, and a good website requires plenty of thought and planning to work well. Good sites don’t occur by accident. If you do your homework and take responsibility for your website, you should end up with a result you really like at a cost that doesn’t bankrupt you. You’re going to want a nice fresh website, maybe with an e-commerce cart hooked into either PayPal’s or perhaps Amazon’s payment engine so you can sell your goods online. Both shopping carts are familiar to most people. For example, if you’re a flower shop you are going to want your website to be searchable, in that you want people to find you when they think ‘flowers online,’ or some such combination of terms regarding florists. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a discipline unto itself. You’re going to want whoever helps you to have at least a basic understanding of how SEO works, and how to create your website so it is found by the search-engine-web-crawlers and ranked onto the first page. The number one way to make your site attractive to the search engines is to have original content that is interesting and unique to the web. Content is king. All the little things like labeling your pictures (the ‘alt’ tags on them) make a big difference, because every word on your site is considered searchable content. The search engines are rating you on how useful your website is to the greater web community, and ranking you based on that finding. With websites, the hard part is not fonts, colors, or page design. The hard part is figuring out what to say. We’ve all seen great sites, and what makes them great is that they have interesting content (words and pictures) that inform us and help us make decisions. Your challenge is to figure out what to say. I like to “story-board” my ideas before we code them into a website. Use butcher paper or binder paper, and let each sheet represent a web page. On each sheet, place every picture, every word, every link and every graphic so that you can conceptualize how it will look. This approach will help you clarify what the site should look like, and it will save hundreds (thousands) of dollars in web developer time, preventing them from having to re-create pages over and over again until you like them. There is so much more to write, but I’m out of space. If you go to our Facebook page (and “like” us!), I have the extended article and many useful links for templates, web developers, shopping carts, and a good software development method for making websites. There’s always more to things than meets the eye, and you need expert insight and guidance, so give us a call or email at Portable CIO. By phone, 925-552-7953, or email helpdesk@theportablecio.com. Advertorial inexpensively for rental or purchase online. Cinema Classics
Babette’s Feast By Peggy Horn This month’s movie, Babette’s Feast (in Danish with English subtitles), won the Best Foreign Language Film in 1989 and is based on a short story by Danish author, Isak Dinesen. With humor and tenderness the film presents two elderly sisters residing in a small Danish town. The sisters have always lived a cloistered, severely plain life in accordance with the religious beliefs of their pastor father whose sacred ways they seek to continue. Babette, down on her luck, comes to live with them and inserts some extravagance into their lives by means of a gourmet meal that she cooks especially for them and the members of the congregation. In the past, Babette has been a thrifty but apparently wonderful cook, but for this meal she pulls out all the stops. In her previous life Babette had been a chef at a famous Parisian restaurant, Café Anglais. Café Anglais actually existed during the period 1802 to1913 and attracted the famous, the wealthy, and members of the aristocracy during the height of its popularity. This film is beautiful, fine, and has the rare quality of being subtle. It also contains some gorgeous musical performances by the characters. Moreover, it demonstrates how beauty makes life richer and, as a consequence proves “An artist is never poor.” This movie is available
Musical Notes
Here is a feast of music for your downloaded music collection. First up is “The Gravy Waltz,” by Steve Allen, a solid piece of music that won a Grammy Award for best jazz composition in 1963. Steve Allen is usually thought of as a comedian, but he was that AND a composer, a lyricist, a conductor, a singer, and a pianist! Next, I propose Eydie Gorme (her name says it all!) with Trio Los Panchos, singing a vintage Mexican song by composer Alvaro Carrillo entitled, “Sabor A Mi.” Very nice! For a light dessert, singer-songwriter Michael Franks sings, “Popsicle Toes,” from his album “The Art of Tea.” All three of these are easily and inexpensively downloaded.
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Page 10 - August 2012 ~ Lafayette Today
Shop Talk from Urban Suburban
The Lafayette Chamber of Commerce and the City of Lafayette present
Not the End of Summer Vacation! By René Aguirré
listen
Can you believe it is August? Another summer of fun is threatening to wind down all too quickly. It is the end of FREE ! vacation, back to school, back to work… or is it? We think August is a great month to get in a last minute vacation; a quick trip to somewhere new, different, and exciting! Try a cruise through the little towns on Highway 49 from Nevada City down to Angel’s Camp. We have done this trek a few René Aguirré times and always manage to find something new. Team 2012 Urban is “The Mechanic” to help with preparations for your last minute adventures! The latest adventures in the shop - At Urban Suburban we see cycles of repairs during the year. Sometimes it is a lot of transmission work, and sometimes it is a lot of engine work. Now, we are seeing a lot of suspension issues walking in our door. The suspension is responsible for the comfort of your ride. It will automatically FRIDAY EVENINGS AT PLAZA adjust to accommodate the weight in the vehicle. Many manufacturers upgraded the suspension in the larger SUV models to air or hydraulic systems. The common problem with these systems is they tend to leak, which means they are unable to automatically adjust. It is a very expensive problem to fix. In most cases, we convert the suspension back to the standard spring and shock set up - no electronics to worry about and no leaking problems. Standard spring and shock set-ups are just as safe and last longer. Most The Floorshakers Mixed Nuts mechanics are equipped to take care of these conversions if you are having problems Night Fever thefloorshakers.com mixednutsband.com nightfeverband.com with the air or hydraulic suspensions. It will save you time and money in the long run. Our customer appreciation special continues through August. Summer is “Refer a Friend” time. If you are an existing customer and you “Refer a Friend” during August, you will get a free minor service ($150 value), and the “friend” will receive 20% off of selected services. Make your appointment today! What has “The Mechanic” been up to? Modification of the 1964 Ford Galaxie for the Mexican 1000 to be held in May 2013 is going full steam ahead! The suspension and roll cage are almost finished. We have installed seats and steering. This month, we will focus on the engine and transmission. The Livermore car show, hosted by the Altamonte Cruisers, is at the end of For information contact the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce: (925) 284-7404 or lafayettechamber.org September. We hope to have our first public appearance at that show. Now for you vintage buffs and fabrications maniacs, we have had a few interesting visitors stop by to see what is happening. Doug McBurnie, co-driver with Walker Evans in the last Norra 1000, stopped by to check out the project and give us the thumbs up. Brendan Thompson, who works for PJD, (Paul Jr. Designs), also stopped by to give us his thumbs up. The project is definitely attracting some attention. Between you and me, I hope Sammy Hagar and Cabo Wabo take notice too! You can keep up with updates on our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/TripleNickelRacing555. News around town- Team Urban is pleased to announce their support of the 2012 Lafayette Art & Wine Festival as a beer booth sponsor. The Lafayette Chamber of Commerce with the help of hundreds of volunteers always has the best art, food, wine, and entertainment on hand. Monies raised from the festival support many local charities. We hope to see you at our booth! Leola Moolah, our gorgeous green cow, has been out and about too! Thanks to our fabulous customers Alehna and John Behnke for getting us involved in the Everyday Heroes Golf Tournament supporting the Orinda Community Foundation and the Contra Costa Food Bank. Leola was in full form on the course. She is always ready to make an appearance to support local fundraising efforts! Urban Suburban is available as a free small event venue. If you are looking for a place to showcase a local musician, hold a fundraising event, or have a celebration, we are available. Our shop is the cleanest in the Bay! Krysten has hosted many different kinds of events from Chamber mixers to major fundraisers in our shop, providing a unique background for people to enjoy. Contact us if you are interested in having your event with us. Like our page on Facebook to keep up with our events, car tips, and special offers. If you have any questions about this or any other Shop Talk issues, call US today at 925-283-5212 or visit our website www.urbansuburban. com. Our hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 7:30am - 5pm. We provide free shuttle service to the local area. Urban Suburban is “The Advertorial Mechanic” to take care of all of your auto repair and servicing needs.
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How Times do Change! By Art Lehman, Village Associates Realtors It is sometimes difficult to make sense out of what we hear in the media regarding real estate. One day foreclosures are up, the next they are down, the following day sales are down, and then sales are up. Well, there is no question in our area that sales the past few months are up. Very up! Prices in some cases are up and in other cases level and just selling more quickly. So why is this happening? It’s not like our economy and jobs markets are back to normal. It appears even lower interest rates for buyers and very low inventory has turned the tide at this point in time. I will pat myself on the back after reviewing years of my articles and predicting the same thing – that if sellers that didn’t have to sell stayed away and only those that needed to do go ahead just do it, then that will keep inventory low and create a real demand for housing. There are always going to be people moving into our area regardless of the market.
This June was a month with the most sales since 2008. On the other hand, only 43 single family homes are on the market in Lafayette at the time of this article. This is a very low number! There really is not much more to say. If we keep this formula in place, a well-balanced (perhaps on the side of sellers) market is in our future. I think we all deserve a pat on the back for selling when we needed to and not just because we wanted to, or selling simply out of fear! Let our home appreciation start to recover--that is the next hurdle! For those 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
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Lafayette Today ~ August 2012 - Page 11
Life in the Lafayette Garden Personal Path By John Montgomery, ASLA, Landscape Architect To view a beautiful garden from a distance is to bring joy to the eyes, but to walk through and experience a beautiful garden touches all the human senses. The pathway is an essential structure to any successful landscape design. A pathway brings you into the garden and brings the garden to you. The goal of any garden path is to allow egress in and out of your landscape. It can lead you to that hidden secret sitting area where you love to sit in the warm sun and read a good book or enjoy quiet meditation away from the fray of life, or it can provide functional access to high-use areas in your yard such as swimming pools, patios and decks, and sports amenities. Depending on the purpose, the path can either be formal or informal. A formal path generally is more structured, permanent, and more direct. For instance, the path to your front door, pool, or patio should be more formal. Design it with the idea of transporting people more directly. A path to your door should be proportionate to the size of your home. If you have a large two-story façade, you don’t want a three-foot wide meandering path to your front door. Generally, a path for a larger proportioned home should be a minimum of five feet wide. It should be constructed of a permanent surface like concrete, stone, or brick mortared onto concrete for stability. Pick a ma-
terial that is solid and easy to walk on. A formal path should be more direct. It doesn’t need to be straight, but it does need to be direct. A formal path can have curves, angles, or straight edges. In other words, it shouldn’t take you from the entry at the street around the side of your house, curve back around to the front through a grove of trees, and across to the other side before arriving at your front door. Just being funny! An informal path can be an added design feature to any Lafayette landscape. Most Lafayette lots tend to be quite spacious which allows for informal paths to get you out into your garden. An informal path generally is less structured, less permanent, and less direct. The purpose of an informal path is to provide access to the sights, sounds, smells, textures, and tastes of your garden. It is a less direct way of getting someplace or nowhere. It gives you access to a hillside with views, a quiet corner for meditation, or a place for gathering an assortment of fruits, herbs, and flowers. It should be constructed of a less permanent material such as loose-set flagstone with ground cover in between, concrete steppers, or gravel. I particularly like gravel because of the “crunching” sound it makes when you walk on it. A garden path is one of the most important hardscape elements in your landscape design. It is a core element of your landscape. One of the first elements that I work out in my design process is the pathways. The path system defines the softscape areas and provides access for use. A path system can be as elaborate or as simple as you want. Remember that every element in your garden has purpose. Define the purpose of your path system before you design it. The garden path is most likely the most used hardscape element of any landscape design. A hot tip from your local Landscape Architect: A primary path should always be wide enough (4-5 ft at minimum) for two people to walk side-byside comfortably.
Gardening Quote of the Month: “It is a great art to saunter.” - Henry David Thoreau, 1841 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
Page 12 - August 2012 ~ Lafayette Today
Tree of the Season: The Monterey Pine By Blaine Brende & Joe Lamb The imposing Monterey Pine, Pinus radiata, perhaps the most common large landscape tree in the Bay Area, is one of the most widely-planted trees on the planet. It covers millions of acres in places as far-flung as England, Chile, and Australia. However, its native range covers just a few square miles of the California coastline, which explains why it prefers a cool, moist coastal climate with well-draining soils. With their dense, towering canopies, dark, glossy green needles, refreshing scent, and magnificent sweep of boughs, Monterey Pines give the feeling of being in a forest. They provide habitat for many species of birds and butterflies. The beauty of these trees, combined with their immense vigor and rapid growth, appeals to landscapers who want a quick, tall screen between houses, a cool shady hillside behind their home, or an instantly woodsy subdivision. Unfortunately, the quick hedge or woodland effect you enjoy in the first year of the tree’s life can become a major safety hazard and a source of conflict with uphill neighbors when, two decades later, the tree reaches 50-70 feet in height. The Monterey Pine’s soft, brittle wood and its shallow root system combine to make it a serious hazard during winter storms on the hilly slopes. Away from its native habitat, it is vulnerable to root-rot diseases and, stressed by lack of water during our dry summers, it becomes prey to often fatal beetle infestations. The species is relatively short-lived, around 75 years, and its proclivity for toppling, or for shedding large branches, increases with age.
Coping with Pines So what are we to do with these beautiful but bothersome pines that define so much of the Bay Area landscape? First of all, don’t plant any more of them unless you are willing and able to offer them ideal conditions. These include a large, level, adequately moist planting site, with porous soil, far from both houses and power lines, and with no uphill neighbors whose views your growing tree will obstruct. Monterey Pines also require regular care, including safety thinning every few years,
Gardening with Kate By Kathleen Guillaume My last peach has been eaten. I am harvesting my late producing blueberries and enjoying the warm harvest colors of my late summer garden. But now is the time to also get some work done. The wonderful thing about gardens is that they always need your attention and always want to engage you at all levels. It is time to do some more summer pruning of fruit trees that have been harvested. Last year I attended a wonderful class on summer pruning of fruit trees at “Our Garden” at the Contra Costa Times facility located at 2640 Shadelands Drive in Walnut Creek. This year’s class was taught by Helen Erickson, a Master Gardener with our own Lafayette Garden Club. Her article on this can be found at www.mercurynews.com/home-garden/ci_21058289/our-garden-summerpruning-fruit-trees. These great classes are free and available so close to home every Wednesday at 10am. There are two wonderful upcoming classes. The first class, “Succulents,” will be held August 15th and led by Brian Kemble from the Ruth Bancroft Gardens. On August 29th Annie Hayes from Annie’s Annuals will be introducing “New Plants in the Garden.” Believe it or not, it is time to start your winter vegetable seedlings. My Swiss Chard has just broken out of their peat pots with small colorful leaves and will be ready to be placed in the garden next month. I don’t grow a lot of winter vegetables, but chard is a must. It tastes much better than anything I can find in stores and is far more tender. It is the base vegetable in a lot of my winter soups. It is also time to start the wonderful soup herb - Winter Savory. It is often hard to track down at the nursery, but once you find Winter Savory and crush a leaf, you will understand this is the ingredient which has been missing from your soups and stews. Its elusive fragrance shines in its fresh form rather than it a dried state. I heavily use thymes for ground covers (natural mulch). They are my second most favorite herb for cooking and salad dressings, and I have blankets of thyme everywhere, in every color. They are under my roses and bumping up against my tomatoes. Thymes need to get a haircut or mow after they flower. For culinary use, you want the newer growth which appears within a week of the blooms being cut off. If you are enjoying an abundance of tomatoes, try one of my favorite summer salads - a tomato avocado salad. To make, mix some mayo and lemon juice (to
www.yourmonthlypaper.com as well as periodic watering, aerating, and fertilizing. If you are already living with Monterey Pines, reduce the safety risks through preventative maintenance before it’s too late. To improve drainage, invigorate your pine’s root system, and strengthen its resistance, we suggest aerating, then filling the holes with rich, porous organic matter (we use American Soil’s “Clodbuster” mix). Check your pine for infestations by looking for areas where whole branches are turning brown, as well as for small holes, tubes or splotches of pitch, or red “sawdust” droppings around the trunk and major branches.
Pruning Pines The best time to prune any type of pine trees, and the only recommended time to prune Monterey pines, is between October 1st and February 15th. Sap from pruning cuts attracts beetles destructive to pines. These beetles are dormant during the fall and winter months. Given that the beetles can smell sap from long distances, it is important to prune your pine when they are inactive. Not only are the beetles themselves harmful, but some species can carry pine pitch canker, a fungal disease that disfigures pine trees and sometimes kills them. If your tree has dead tips scattered throughout the canopy it probably has pine pitch canker. If you want to prolong the life of the tree, as well as its appearance, now is the best time to prune out the diseased tips. Even healthy pines require occasional pruning to keep them safe and beautiful. To reduce the fire hazard associated with pines, fire departments recommend removing deadwood and taking branches back from buildings. Pines are sometimes subject to branch and column failure. Judicious thinning of the crown reduces the wind-sail effect of the canopy and thereby reduces the risk of the tree falling in a windstorm. Removing weight from the ends of heavy branches reduces the likelihood that those branches will break. The safety pruning of trees is an art as well as a science. A well-pruned tree should not only be safer, it should look beautiful. At Brende and Lamb, we take great pride in both the science and the art of pruning. Now is the best time to make your pines as safe, healthy, and beautiful as possible. 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 taste) to make dressing, add a ¼ cup of thinly sliced green onions to the dressing, and chill. Tomatoes should never be refrigerated-- always keep them at room temperature. Cut up tomatoes and avocados right before you are ready to serve them. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Pour dressing over the tomatoes and avocados, and toss until ingredients are covered. It is also time to recheck your irrigation system. Make sure everything is getting the appropriate amount of water. This can be checked by taking a sharp trowel and digging down 5-6 inches. Soils should be slightly damp (not wet). This is the best test to determine if you need more or less time programmed into your system for each station. Enjoy the last lazy days of summer, whether it is the re-bloom your roses gift you or the warm colors of your summer perennials. Happy Gardening!
Solar continued from page 8 MacKenzie joined forces with Grace Magney, an American living in Kabul. “I was told, according to several sources, that Grace knows everything there is to know about solar, and my sources were correct,” says MacKenzie. Magney, along with TIE’s three Kabul-based Afghan program managers, provide training seminars at TIE’s office in Kabul. Those who receive training are then asked to pass along their expertise to other families, creating a self-sustaining program. MacKenzie, who travels to Afghanistan twice each year (14 times in all), was present for a training day which included a satisfying solar cooked meal of rice, kidney beans, okra, onions, tomatoes, and chicken legs. Nearly 25 Afghan children were present for the demonstration and subsequent feast. “It was a great day for science, the children, education, and for TIE,” says MacKenzie. “As our government devises an exit strategy for our military, we should not abandon the Afghan people, as our government did in 1993,” says MacKenzie. “Our role in Afghanistan is clear: Join in the reconstruction and humanitarian aid effort. History has favored Americans with an opportunity to join with Afghans in remedying the consequences of over thirty years of war. We must recognize that we either financed or directly waged war in Afghanistan for more than twenty of those years. It’s not enough to be anti-war. We must also be pro-victim and proactive in helping Afghans rebuild their lives and country. Afghans are asking for our help. We cannot reverse history, but we can certainly embrace the role we have been invited to play. Under the circumstances, the least that we can to do is try.” For more information on TIE and the solar oven project, visit www. trustineducation.org.
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Lafayette Today ~ August 2012 - Page 13
Solar Currents By Mark Becker, GoSimpleSolar
CONTRA COSTA ONCOLOGY
“Bankability” is strictly defined as a project or proposal that has sufficient collateral, future cash flow, and high probability of success. In reality, it’s a practice that we should exercise in the decision making process in many aspects of our life. Decisions are often based on emotion, money, or haste. Bankable decisions are decisions that are well thought out whilst considering other pertinent factors. Oftentimes a decision based solely on emotion or money can be a very poor decision. The construction industry in California is a multi-billion dollar industry. As a group, contractors suffer from a lack of credibility as a result of poor communication and business management skills and poor business practices. Since our economic downturn, the industry has been especially subject to the negative economic forces in action. According to the California Contractor’s State License Board, many contractors still in business have tried to survive by “further alteration of their business methods,” otherwise known as “cheat to compete.” In each issue of the Licensed Contractor’s Newsletter, which we receive quarterly, there is a list of hundreds of contractors whose licenses have been revoked in the past three months for a variety of illegal activities. The offenses that subject a contractor to license revocation are too numerous to mention. I’ll bet that at least 20% of people who read this article have contractor horror stories of their own. Illegal change orders, project price increase, greater than $1,000 maximum down payment are all license revocable offenses. When considering competing contractors for your project, re-read the definition of bankability, then consider how bankability may relate to the contractor you AT CONTRA COSTA ONCOLOGY, we are committed to providing WALNUT CREEK ultimately select. Do a thorough background check the highest quality care. Specializing in comprehensive cutting-edge treatment SAN RAMON via the “instant license check” link at the California programs for all forms of cancer and blood disorders, our nationally recognized CONCORD Contractors State License Board website at www. oncology experts and specialized oncology nurses are dedicated to providing ROSSMOOR the best possible care experience. We understand the wide array of concerns cslb.ca.gov. Here you’ll find the license and insurand challenges faced by you and your family, so we ensure the most sophisticated ance status of contractors. You’ll also find if there DANVILLE levels of medical oncology and hematology care, while providing you with the is any litigation in progress against the contractor, contracostaoncology.com utmost support, compassion, and respect. the contractors employee declaration and required 925.939.9610 workman’s compensation status. Did you know that if your contractor has employees and does not pay for workman’s compensation insurance you can be subject to suit from an injured is safer than nuclear energy, cleaner than coal and natural gas, and better for the long-term health of our nation’s people. In locations where the price of electricity employee of this contractor if they are injured at your home or business? After gathering this information, make a determination if your contractors profile is high, such as in California, it is also a better long-term economic choice. During the product selection phase of any construction project, balancfits the definition of bankability, and if your investment of time and money in that ing quality and price is an ideal goal to achieve. Specifically for solar projects, contractor will result in long-term advantage for you. Statistically it is safe to say that in many cases the lowest initial bid cost will actually result in greater long- find and utilize products that will have the lowest long-term cost of ownership. term costs because the means by which the low bid cost was reached, oftentimes Achieve this by balancing price, compatibility, warranty, manufacturer viability, by cutting corners. Illegal change orders are an unscrupulous tactic used by low and technology. Quality made solar products are very reliable, but in the next 30 bidders to increase the project cost. The “underground economy” operating in the years you may need someone to answer the tech support line. Pricing is very important these days. Very few contractors can succeed on construction sector is rampant, and consumers suffer every day as a result of it. Next month I’ll further touch on how to further vet contractors competing for your “value add” higher cost projects alone. Conversely, it’s common for the consumer to confuse low bids as best value. Construction projects are investment decisions project. There are many good contractors; “trust but verify” is the best approach. like any other investment decision. They require the careful thought and planning Energy Milestone: Germany is not a nation known for it’s sunny climate. On so that long-term cost of ownership is kept to a minimum. st the 21 of July, 30% of all power needs for Germany were supplied by solar energy. Mark Becker is the President of GoSimpleSolar, by Semper Fidelis Construction, On Saturday, 50% of the nations power needs were supplied by solar energy. Gera Danville based Solar Installation Firm. Mark can be reached at 925.915.9252. many has almost as much solar power generation capacity as the rest of the world Come visit GoSimpleSolar’s new showroom at 114 West Prospect Ave. in Danville combined. It is a nation that is 20 years ahead of us in deployment of renewable to see, touch, and discuss solar and energy efficiency products. For more details, see energy. It’s slowly being generally accepted in the USA that renewable energy www.GoSimpleSolar.com or email Mark@GoSimpleSolar.com. Advertorial
With Them
my story Continues.
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Page 14 - August 2012 ~ Lafayette Today
Relationships and Money
Brainwaves by Betsy Streeter
By Daniel A Barnes, CFA A friend asked me several meaningful questions recently. He asked, “What basis do I build a relationship with clients in business?” “What is most important to me in a business relationship?” “What other areas of life do I apply the same principles to?,” And finally “What is my attitude on money?” These are keen questions indeed.
Trust in Business My first response was about business. I said, “I try to build trust. Trust is a feeling. It originates more from my heart than my mind. I endeavor to build business relationships on foundations of deep trust.” But, I didn’t exactly know how to say or explain how I do this. Probably, most simply, I say what I do, I mean what I say, and I do what I say, and that’s behavior which helps build trust.
Trust in Non-Business Regarding the question about personal and family life, I wrote, “I try to lead my personal life and family life in similar, if not identical, ways.” Do I succeed at this? I don’t know. Perhaps, “Increasingly, yes” is close to the truth.
Money How and what do I think about money? As a professional investor, I make money, and I invest money. I love the numbers, the game. But when I sit back and think about it, I realize that money isn’t that important to me. Being wise with it is important. I was raised by school teachers, so we were careful with money. Spending it was fine, but careless spending was not. Above all, it was impressed on me that you want to get value for your dollars. However, it wasn’t until an event at the Los Angeles airport that my real view of what money means to me became clear.
A Hard Lesson
Ask Dr. Happy By Bob Nozik, MD Dear Dr. Happy, I am a 20-year-old man who just finished my first year at the university in Toronto. I am spending the summer at home with my mom; she’s the problem. She went through a nasty divorce from my dad six years ago and never really recovered. She cries all the time, blaming herself even though he was the bad guy. Her constant despair has cost her all her friends. I hate seeing her this way; what can I do? ~ Help
Dear Help, The late Elizabeth Kubler Ross, MD, identified five stages of grief that most people go through following loss: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. The goal is reaching acceptance which frees us to move on. Depression is where many people, your mom included, get stuck. Although there is no set time-table, six years seems to me to be too long for her to still be actively grieving. Grief experts, John W. James and Russell Friedman, have a wonderful book called Grief Recovery, which presents an easy-to-follow plan for emotional recovery. I would suggest that your mom try their program. If she won’t do that, then she should seek help from a therapist who specializes in grief management.
Happiness Tip Sooner or later, I’m sorry to say, we are all going to experience grief: a friend or loved-one dies, we get bad news from our doctor, or, as in this case, divorce. Well-meaning friends often advise things such as “time heals all wounds,” or “you’ll find someone else,” or maybe “all things will pass.” Most are intended to appeal to our mind, but that won’t really help because grief is a malady of the heart, the emotions. Much better would be encouraging the griever to identify and express their feelings. What I like about the James and Friedman book is that its focus and advice is aimed squarely at the griever’s emotional pain. Please send questions/comments for Dr. Happy to Pollyannan@aol.com.
On a hot day in August some 21 years ago, I suffered a hard lesson and an “aha moment.” In order to save some money (trying to get value), I bought an already-issued plane ticket for Monika, my then-girlfriend. Monika was a brilliant Polish intellectual who wanted to visit a friend in the Big Apple on her way home. At the airport the plane ticket was refused (this was just a little while after airlines ceased allowing transferrable tickets). They told me that they could sell me a new ticket to NYC for $220. I just barely had that much money in my bank account, but it would have wiped me out. I didn’t even attempt to get the money. No, I was trying to be so “responsible” with money that I hindered the opportunity for Monika to see her friend. She went to catch her plane, and I went to catch her, to change my decision, but it was too late. She’s passed through the security check point and had taken the disappointment in stride. That’s when I fell apart. There weren’t wet tears, but inside I was a disaster. I was heartbroken, beside myself, inconsolable. It was my fault, my error to save a buck, and she paid for it. From that moment on, I vowed to never let small financial considerations stand in the way of paying for and enabling those I care about, including myself, to live and support life’s rich experiences, the things that matter–people! I vowed to never scrimp on opportunities to build and maintain relationships. Spend freely on travel, events, and visiting friends that’s where spending money makes infinite sense and carries real value!
A Life Lesson—Well Learned Now I am a grown man, and this is what I believe still. While I suffered greatly for my decision on that hot August day at the airport, I’ve remained true to what I learned about myself that day. As an Advisor, I encourage clients to lead rich lives - visit friends, take trips, support loved ones. I encourage wise spending on meaningful relationships while reducing frivolous or very expensive spending. The original question: How do I build relationships with new people? The answer is simple. I keep digging inside myself, to know, to understand, and to accept myself. Then I work to be true to that understanding, and this I share with clients, with friends, and with family. Barnes Capital LLC is a Registered Investment Advisor. We manage trusts and retirement income portfolios. Financial planning is an integral part of our process. We protect client capital using municipal bonds and high-quality companies which raise their dividend every year. We add Gold to portfolios for diversification. Call Daniel at (925) 284-3503 and visit www.barnescapital.com Advertorial
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Lafayette Today ~ August 2012 - Page 15
Infertility, Diminished Ovarian Reserve, and Chinese Medicine
Health Reform for Cancer Patients By Matthew Sirott, MD On June 28, 2012, the Supreme Court ruled that Barack Obama’s signature piece of legislation, the Affordable Care Act of 2010, is constitutional. This landmark legislation, though controversial, has several undeniable beneficial aspects, specifically for cancer patients. In 2014, insurance companies will not be able to deny health care coverage to 13 million Americans because of preexisting medical conditions. Cancer survivors often state that this is their biggest concern with their health care, after completing their therapy. Often, they cannot change jobs or move because of the potential loss of coverage, and so they are prevented from moving on with life. Another benefit is that young adults will be allowed to stay on their parents’ health care plans until they are 26 years old, if they so choose. Many children are still in school at this point in their career, or they have taken internships without benefits. Although cancer in this age group is uncommon, it can have catastrophic outcomes if that child is uninsured. Further, routine cancer prevention, including checkups, mammograms, and colonoscopies will be covered benefits. Insurance coverage will be affordable and subsidized when necessary, so patients will be able to obtain their preventive care. Hopefully we will stop seeing patients in emergency rooms with cancer at advanced stages. Finally, the Affordable Health Care Act will remove lifetime coverage limits. As any cancer survivor knows, treatment can be lengthy and expensive. Though this law is currently controversial (just as Medicare was in the 1960’s), it is clear to me that patients and the physicians who care for them should see these aspects as beneficial in our fight to diagnose, treat, and prevent cancer. No matter who wins the upcoming elections, I foresee improvements in the overall care of cancer patients in America. Matthew Sirott, MD is a Medical Oncologist and Hematologist with Diablo Valley Oncology, a comprehensive cancer center located at the California Cancer and Research Institute in Pleasant Hill. For more information, call (925) 677-5041 or visit www.DiabloValleyOncology.md. Advertorial
By Megan Dauphin, L.Ac, MSTCM In today’s world many women are marrying later and focusing on their career during their peak fertile years. As a result of this trend, we find a generation where many women struggle with infertility. Roughly 20% of women in the U.S. have their first child over the age of 35, and 1/3 of these couples will have fertility problems. Although women know there is risk to their fertility if they wait past their mid-thirties to get pregnant, most women do not know how prevalent age-related fertility issues are. Diminished Ovarian Reserve (DOR) is a diagnosis of ovarian decline or aging. Currently there is no Western medical treatment to slow or reverse this natural process. Acupuncture and herbal medicine have shown promising results in increasing ovarian reserve in women with premature ovarian decline or those at the high-end of child-bearing age. DOR is a condition characterized by a lowAnti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) level and elevated Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) level at day three of a woman’s menstrual cycle. These hormone levels tell us that the ovaries are beginning the gradual process of shutting down. Women in their forties will begin to show these hormonal changes which reflect the natural aging process. If these changes occur earlier than age forty it may indicate premature ovarian failure. Even if a woman’s AMH and FSH levels are normal, we can assume the egg quality of women age forty and beyond is reduced. Where does this leave women struggling to conceive with a DOR diagnosis? The current treatment options are IVF, IUI, and drug stimulated timed intercourse. The success rate for DOR patients undergoing these
Case Study on Estate Planning “Short-Cuts”
See Infertility continued on page 16 By Robert J. Silverman, Attorney at Law
Last month, I wrote about a gentleman who died without an attorney-drafted Will or Living Trust and the very unfortunate result for his beloved sister when his neighbor produced a purported hand-written Will. Of course, results are not always positive when people do plan, especially when they attempt any “short-cuts.” Below, I’ll tell you about an estate administration I’m handling now that’s an excellent example of just how myopic such attempted short-cuts can be. The case involves the estate of the grandmother (I’ll call “Camelia”) of my client (I’ll call Jake). Camelia owned a home and a modest amount of other assets. When she was in her mid 70’s, Camelia went to an attorney and had a Living Trust drafted. Over the next 4-5 years, she had a different attorney draft several amendments to the Trust. While these documents were not terribly drafted, neither the Trust nor amendments stated who would be successor trustee (trust “manager”) or how one would be chosen, if the designated successor trustee couldn’t serve. Worse yet, a year after Camelia executed the second Trust amendment, she sat down with her friend and neighbor, Nellie, telling Nellie she wanted to make substantial changes. Several of Camelia’s children had deceased, and another child had been imprisoned. Camelia had several grandchildren and some nieces and nephews she cared about, whom she wanted to name as new beneficiaries. For reasons that are not clear, but likely included convenience and a desire to avoid legal fees, this time Camelia did not go to an attorney. Instead, when she and Nellie discussed Camelia’s then current estate planning wishes, Nellie made notes, typed up a Will for Camelia, and Camelia (and two witnesses) signed it. Some of the provisions in this new Will were unclear, and many were radically different than those in the prior Trust and Trust Amendment. Even more problematic was the fact that the Will contained language in which it purported to also serve as another Trust amendment. After Camelia died, Jake was referred to me by a lawyer friend who does not handle “messy” estate administration matters. Jake shared that a number of the members of his dysfunctional family who were listed as beneficiaries in the Will and/or Trust documents are financially needy. As such, they were pestering Jake to administer the Trust/estate quickly so that they could receive their respective inheritance shares right away. When I completed my thorough examination of the documents, and conducted appropriate due diligence about the background and related facts, I had to be the bearer of bad news to Jake. First, since the successor trustee nominated in the Trust was deceased, and neither an alternate trustee nor a mechanism to appoint an alternate were set forth in the documents, I would need to file a petition, asking the court to designate my client as trustee. This court proceeding would take several months, and fees and costs would run several thousand dollars. Further, there was no guarantee that my client would be so appointed (particularly if any objections were filed). Next, I explained that only upon a ruling from the court could Jake be clear about to whom he should distribute his grandmother’s assets. So, Jake had to protect himself by having me also petition the court to ask for help interpreting the ambiguous testamentary documents. My client and Nellie believe that the Will, which was prepared last, contained Camelia’s true intentions. Thus, we would ask the court to deem the Will to be a Trust amendment so that Jake could administer the estate as he believed his grandmother would want. When a court order is obtained and assets are finally distributed, at least four things will be certain: 1) a number of relatives will be upset; 2) nobody will be absolutely sure that the court’s order is consistent with Camelia’s final wishes; 3) it will take much longer than it should to administer this estate; and 4) significantly more money will be spent in attorney’s fees and court costs (and less available for loved ones) than if Camelia had hired and continued to work with an experienced estate planning attorney to make changes, as appropriate. 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
Page 16 - August 2012 ~ Lafayette Today
Infertility continued from page 15 procedures is very low. This is because as a woman’s ovaries begin to age their eggs are harder to stimulate with medications. In addition the eggs successfully stimulated may be of poor quality. At this time, Western medicine offers no treatment to revitalize the ovaries. That is, it does not have a treatment to restore egg quality and quantity. Chinese medicine is a system of medicine that dates back 5,000 years. Acupuncture and herbal medicine are the two core modalities used in Chinese medicine. Eastern medicine views the body in a completely different way than Western medicine. In Chinese medicine the body is seen as an ecosystem that must be balanced in order for all systems of the body to function properly. For patients with DOR the ecosystem of the body is diagnosed primarily in two ways: deficient moisture with excess heat and/or deficient fire causing cold. Treatment is about correcting the imbalance. This means tonifying moisture and clearing heat and/or tonifying source fire to expel cold. This is accomplished through herbs and acupuncture. Chinese herbs are categorized as moisturizers, driers, heaters, and coolers. Herbs and formulas are selected to balance the ecosystem of the human body. Modern day research has shown that Chinese herbal formulas working in this way can lower FSH and help to regulate the menstrual cycle. Acupuncture works similarly, but has additional functions as well. There are specific energy meridians that become blocked as we age, correlating with elevated FSH and diminished AMH levels. Acupuncture can unblock these meridians thus lowering FSH and raising AMH. In addition, acupuncture has been proven to increase blood circulation to the ovaries. Western medicine acknowledges that elevated FSH is accompanied by reduced blood flow to the ovaries, and acupuncture used in the low abdomen helps correct this. There are many research studies supporting the use of acupuncture to lower FSH levels, induce ovulation, increase circulation to the ovaries, and help to regulate the menstrual cycle. A typical course of treatment using Chinese medicine for DOR includes acupuncture one to two times per week with powdered Chinese herbs taken in tea form two to three times per day. There are also a variety of supplements and antioxidants that are recommended to help slow ovarian aging, all of which are backed by research. Patients are recommended to test FSH and AMH at the start of Chinese medicine treatment and then retest every three months to confirm the lowering of FSH levels and the raising of AMH levels. This positive change in hormone levels confirms egg quality and quantity is being restored to a healthy level. Once these hormones are within the normal range patients may continue trying to conceive naturally or seek Western fertility treatment to increase the amount of eggs produced in a cycle, thus increasing conception success rates. Megan Dauphin is a licensed acupuncturist specializing in infertility, women’s health, and pain management. She owns Revive Acupuncture in Danville and Fremont. The Danville clinic is located at Align Healing Center. You can read about Megan on Yelp or her website www.ReviveAcupuncture. com. Call 925-683-6484 or email Megan@ReviveAcupuncture.com. Advertorial
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Breast Surgery - The Importance of Experience By Barbara Persons, MD, Persons Plastic Surgery, Inc. As women, we know ourselves and our bodies better than anyone else. As we mature, our appearance and our expectations grow with us. Through the processes of motherhood, weight gain, and aging, our breasts will undergo many changes. It is not surprising that breast surgery procedures consistently rank as the most requested procedures by women. Whether you are choosing to have a breast augmentation, breast reduction, mastopexy (breast lift), mastopexy augmentation (lift and augmentation), or breast reconstruction, there are essentials steps and choices that will ensure that you get the result you desire. An important first question is why you want to have the procedure; this type of surgery should be about your wants and needs, not someone else’s. Yes, it’s okay to be selfish in this case! I consult with female patients almost every day for a variety of breast procedures. Their reasons for wanting surgery range from need for greater self-confidence and improved self-image to correcting breasts that are asymmetrical to reconstruction after breast cancer. Our breasts are both physically and emotionally important to our image as women. Making the right choice in a partnership with a plastic surgeon can make all the difference. I strongly believe that you should accept nothing less than a surgeon who is Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Note: It is not the same to claim that one is “Board Certified” in a different medical specialty, or by a board that is not endorsed by the American Board of Medical Specialties. Any procedure involving the breasts demands the highest levels of experience, knowledge, care, and understanding. Breast surgeries have always been an important focus in my practice, and I am proud of the extensive amount of time that I have spent training and researching breast procedures. After my plastic surgery residency, I completed an additional fellowship focused solely on aesthetic and breast surgery. I have presented papers and written chapters in published textbooks on the topic. I have placed over one hundred pairs of breast implants in the past year (That is an average of one breast procedure every three days!) Practice does make perfect and breast surgery requires an artist’s touch. I have had a passion for sculpting the human form for over twenty years. In order to create a stunning and life-like sculpture, one must intimately know how the body works and how to create natural shapes and curves. My study of sculpting contributes to my ability to place implants aesthetically and use the most appropriate implant style and size for a woman’s body. Of all the breast procedures I perform, breast augmentation is the most popular. There are several implant options to consider concerning augmentation. Salinefilled implants are silicone shells filled with sterile salt water. Silicone-filled implants are silicone shells filled with a plastic gel. Several styles of “Gummy bear” implants, or implants with a form stable silicone gel, are on the market which give women another option to consider. Although silicone implants are more expensive, many women believe they feel more natural, as they are lighter and can last longer. Another popular procedure is mastopexy (breast lift). Mastopexy is a procedure to lift the breast and re-position the nipple in order to obtain a more youthful appearance. Often, an implant is placed to contour the breast. The amount of ptosis (sagging) and elasticity of the skin determines the best procedure and affects the decision to include augmentation or reduction as part of the surgical plan. So what should you expect when you come into my office for a consultation? After taking the time necessary getting to know one another and an examination, my goal is to understand your vision and to explain what we can realistically achieve before you commit to your procedure. I will review your implant options and expertly advise on the best style and size to achieve your goals. As a patient, know that you have options. To get the quality care you deserve, there are steps you must take to ensure safety and ultimate happiness. Find a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon who listens to you, who believes they can help you achieve your goals, and who presents you with all the information. Any procedure involving the breasts demands the highest levels of experience, care, and understanding. As always, it would be my pleasure to discuss breast surgery with you in my Lafayette office and surgery center. 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
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Stuck When They Don’t Change By Michael Anne Conley, MFT “What did you do today?” – Rita to Phil “Oh, same old, same old.” – Phil to Rita - Groundhog Day (1993) We all have habits, right? Like, do you brush your teeth in the morning before you wash your face or the other way around? Every human develops sets of behaviors so we can function on a routine level. If we didn’t, we’d have to learn how to eat and talk, dress and walk over and over — every single day. It would be the “same old, same old,” as Phil, the character played by Bill Murray, says to Andie McDowell’s character Rita in one of his many Groundhog Days. We call these behavior sets “habits,” and everyone’s got them. Most of the time we don’t pay them any mind. Who cares whether you brush your teeth first or not? But many people develop habits that create problems –not just for themselves, but also for others. What do you do if someone else’s habitual behavior is creating problems in your life– and in theirs as well? In some cases you probably just bite your tongue and smile, or you limit the amount of time you spend with them. This can work with acquaintances, friends, and the clerk at the grocery store. But, what if it’s a close family member, your spouse or your child, even your child who is an adult? Well, then it can feel pretty near impossible. The hardest thing that my clients report is that the other person’s behavior is so obvious that it is problematic. Maybe they’re angry and yell a lot. Or they leave their clothes on the floor no matter how many times you ask them to pick up after
Lafayette Today ~ August 2012 - Page 17 themselves. They might drink themselves to sleep more nights than not. They don’t keep their agreements. They might eat foods that are unhealthy for them or watch too much television. Perhaps you don’t see them as much as you’d like, because they spend too many nights at the office – or too many nights out with their friends instead of home with you. Maybe their friends are an unhealthy influence. The question of how to handle these situations is tricky, but focusing on yourself is worth considering. Here’s why: 1. Consider your filter. It’s so much easier to see the end of someone else’s nose than our own. We all filter our perceptions through our own beliefs and values. If you believe in being on time, you’re more likely to expect other people to do the same -- and when they don’t, it may bother you more because of your own standards and expectations. Although you may be right, it’s also possible that your way of handling things creates problems, too. 2. Change yourself. What I often hear in my office is, “Why am I the one who has to change?” Sometimes it’s the teenager saying this about a parent. Sometimes it’s the alcoholic complaining about the spouse. But just as often, it’s the parent talking about their teen or the spouse who’s in blame about the alcoholic. If you’re caught in the blame game about other people’s behavior, it’s hard to face that working with yourself is a more effective way to go. That’s because, like it or not, you can’t change anyone else but yourself. This does not feel comfortable, I know. 3. Ask for help. If someone else’s behavior is creating problems for you, it’s possible to turn this around, but you may be too close to the situation to see a way out. A professional can help you get perspective and create a plan for action. Someone else’s habits don’t have to keep you in the same old, same old! Michael Anne Conley, MFT, supports people in transforming old habits into new behaviors. She is a health educator, licensed marriage and family therapist and director of Stillpoint integrative health center in Lafayette (http:// wellnesslafayette.com).You can listen to her weekly podcast, Habits Into Health, at www.habitsintohealth.com. To schedule a strategy session, contact her at maconley@wellnesslafayette.com or 925-262-4848. Advertorial
Your Personal Nutritionist By Linda Michaelis, RD. MS. Simply Lowering Blood Sugar My friend Frank called me telling me his blood sugar had jumped from 120 the previous few weeks to the mid 160’s and asked me to recommend a good endocrinologist to prescribe diabetes medicine. I told him, if possible, he should avoid commonly prescribed drugs such as Glucophage since many people report difficult side effects. I often have great success with clients and recommended he work with me before taking any medication. I told Frank that when he wakes up in the morning and has a high blood sugar count, he should go for a brisk 30 minute walk and he will most likely see his blood sugar count drop 50 points. If he does get the blood sugar in the normal range after a walk, he can have one serving of starch such as a slice of Milton’s 100% whole wheat bread, an Orowheat 100% whole wheat english muffin, or a cup of cooked oatmeal with a sprinkle of sweetener such as brown sugar and cinnamon or a veggie omelet sprinkled with a little shredded cheese for taste. I stressed the importance of eating protein and fiber with all meals and snacks as a way to prevent the rise of blood sugar. I told him to have no fruit at breakfast and only one serving with either lunch, mid-afternoon snack (an apple and peanut butter are a favorite), or after dinner. Coffee and tea would be fine with low fat milk and but no sugar or Splenda. Frank often goes without a mid-morning snack and then is very hungry for lunch. I said he must eat again at least three hours after breakfast, suggesting a serving of protein and fiber such as peanut butter on celery or an apple, turkey or beef jerky with veggies, sliced meats wrapped around pickles or veggies, cottage cheese and sliced tomatoes, or leftover meat with cucumbers. After discussing his likes and dislikes we decided that for lunch he should enjoy a sandwich on two slices of whole wheat bread or even a whole wheat tortilla with at least 4-6 oz. of meat topped with veggies galore or even drained coleslaw. He can have condiments such as lite mayo, mustard, tapenade, or salsa, but he should stay away from ketchup. Since Frank loves chips, I said he could have a bag of Baked Lays or Sun Chips if he leaves off one slice of bread and eats the sandwich opened face. I also recommended a soup to create fullness without noodles, rice, or potatoes such as gazpacho, tomato basil, or veggie soup. Frank reports he is enjoying Trident Wild Salmon Burgers on Orowheat 100% Whole Wheat Sandwich Thins with pickles, coleslaw, and a tomato soup. For a mid-afternoon snack he can have his serving of fruit, but he should reduce his four small peaches to two. Good mid-afternoon snacks to avoid being famished at dinner include cottage cheese or Greek yogurt with tomatoes, cucumbers and herbs, hummus or hard boiled eggs and red peppers, jicama, and radishes. I told him this is another example of having a protein along with fiber which is so important to keeping the blood sugar stable. Since he eats mid-afternoon snacks now, he is not so famished for dinner and can now have a lighter meal. Frank is now making his lunch the largest meal of the day. I suggested he have a small serving of meat at night and a cup of whole grains like quinoa, brown rice, whole wheat pasta or couscous, barley, bulgar, legumes, or even a six ounce baked potato and large serving of sauteed veggies in olive oil and herbs, or a wonderful salad and an artichoke. Fish is a great selection for dinner, preferably sole, cod, scallops, or shrimp and not the oily fishes like salmon. Frank is enjoying tuna and white bean salad, vegetarian chili, and many entrees with lentils, black beans, and kidney beans. He is even now enjoying 100 calorie frozen desserts after lunch and dinner like fat free Fudgsicles, Creamsicles, and Dreyers fruit juice bars. He is still enjoying his alcohol but keeping to sugarfree mixers. He has cut out sodas and juices and says he doesn’t miss them and has substituted them for Crystal Light, Sugar Free Snapples, and flavored waters. I am glad to inform you that Frank’s blood sugars have stabilized in the 120’s. I know if he adopts a consistent exercise program we will do even better. There is certainly a smile on Frank’s face, especially knowing that he can avoid medication. The good news is that Frank’s visits were covered by his Sutter Select insurance with a small copay. Please feel free to call me at (925) 855-0150 or e-mail me at Lifeweight1@yahoo.com, and tell me about your nutrition concerns. Refer to my website www.LindaRD.com for past articles, recipes, and Advertorial nutrition tips in the blog section.
Page 18 - August 2012 ~ Lafayette Today
Road to Healthy Skin Tour Bus Arrives in Pleasant Hill August 8th By Dr. Shanny Baughman Free, full-body skin cancer screenings will be offered by local dermatologists from 10AM – 4PM August 8 th at the Road to Healthy Skin Tour Bus event to be held at the Rite Aid parking lot located at 1526 Palos Verdes Mall in Walnut Creek. Educational material and updates on skin cancer Dr. Shanny Baughman, Alamo and skin cancer protection will be available. The Skin Cancer Foundation began the tour in 2008. The Tour offers free skin cancer screening across the continental United States performed by local board certified dermatologists. These dermatologists volunteer to increase awareness and to detect skin growths that are suspicious for skin cancers or precancers. Since 2008, over 13,000 people in 28 states have been screened. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, “More than 5,200 potential skin cancers and precancers were found, including 239 suspected cases of melanoma – the deadliest form of skin cancer.” Before this year, the closest bus stop was Sacramento, Oakland, or Castro Valley, until Sandy Goldberg, Outreach Manager at Diablo Valley Oncology, invited the bus to make a local stop. Our thanks to Sandy!
www.yourmonthlypaper.com a suspicious growth is found, you will be advised to follow up with your dermatologist. If you do not have a dermatologist, a roster of local board certified dermatologists can be found at www. aad.org/find-a-derm/. The exam takes about 10 minutes. There will be educational material about performing skin exams at home and sunscreen samples available also.
How to Make the Most of Your Visit If you are concerned about a changing growth, Dr. Kelly Hood, Lafayette mark it before you come to the exam. Also, remove polish from your fingernails and toenails. The doctor will want to look at your scalp, so wear a relaxed hair style. Now is not the time for cosmetic questions, as this visit is specific for skin cancers. For any questions about your skin or nails please contact Dr. Shanny Baughman at Alamo Oaks Dermatology, 3189 Danville Blvd, suite 130, Alamo, 925362-0992, shanny.derm@gmail.com or Dr. Kelly Hood, 970 Dewing, Suite 301, Lafayette, 925-283-5500, khoodderm@yahoo.com. Advertorial
What to Expect at the Skin Cancer Screening When you visit the mobile medical office, you will be given a brief form to complete, then you will be taken to one of the two private exam rooms on the Road to Healthy Skin Bus. Next, a dermatologist will look at your skin from head to toe and make recommendations on the form. If
Events for Lafayette Seniors All classes are held at the Lafayette Senior Center (LSC) located at 500 Saint Mary’s Rd in Lafayette unless otherwise noted. Space is limited. Please call 925-284-5050 to reserve a spot. Annual Membership fee: $10 per person. General Event fee: Members $1; Non-Member $3. Special Concerts fee: Members $3; NonMembers $5. Ongoing Caregiver Support Group: Members: no charge; Non-members $1.
Our mission is to provide personalized care, help maintain independence and enhance our client’s quality of life on a daily basis.
Heartfelt & Supportive At All Times... www.excellentcareathome.com
Digital Camera How-to’s: Archiving Photos and Choosing a Digital Camera Tuesday 8/14 • 11:00 – 12:30 • Elderberry Room, LCC
• Free in-home assessments • Regular home visits ensure the right care plan • Hourly care for you • Live-in care • Fully bonded and insured • Geriatric care mgmt. • Elder referral and placement 3645 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Suite D Lafayette, CA 94549 (beside Trader Joe’s)
925-284-1213
Don’t lose the precious photos you’ve taken with your digital camera! This class will teach you how to back up your photos for posterity. You will also learn what to look for in a digital camera when purchasing one. Plenty of time will be devoted to questions and answers. Presented by Fred Winslow, digital photography enthusiast. Bi-Monthly Caregiver Support Group Mondays, 8/13, 8/27 1:30–2:30PM 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. Self-Discovery and Aging, Creative Writing Workshop Alternate Mondays • 8/20, Noon – 2PM Elderberry Room, LSC Join Judith Rathbone, Creative Writing and English Instructor to write about and 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. 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”) Thursday, 8/9 • 10:30AM – Noon • Elderberry Room LSC Brighten your day and take part in this interactive gathering which features speakers on a wide range of topics that encourage and guide participants towards a more ideal and positive life experience. Drop-ins welcome! Moderated by Dr. Bob Nozik, MD. Lafayette Senior Services Commission 4th Thursday of the month from 3:30 – 5:30PM at the Lafayette Senior Center. View agendas at the City of Lafayette office or at www.ci.lafayette.ca.us. Senior Nature Walk and Bird-Watching Every Wednesday • 10AM - Noon • Outside the Alder Room at LCC Experience nature at its finest along our local trails. Delight in the beauty that unfolds around each bend, all the while learning to identify a variety of birds. Trail maps will be distributed. Bring a water bottle; binoculars will be helpful if you have them. Paths are accessible to wheelchairs and scooters. Join us every Wednesday or whenever you are able. This free event is led by Ben Pettersson, long-time Lafayette resident, hiker, and bird-watcher. Anne Randolph Workshop Friday 8/24 • 11:30AM – 12:30PM • Sequoia Room, LCC • Arthritis - Learn about living your best life with arthritis. Understand the challenges and changes arthritis brings on, and find practical solutions to make daily activities easier. Anne has been practicing physical therapy for 32 years. She provides outpatient therapy in Lafayette and specializes in the care of those 55 and over. Words of Wisdom…From the Philosophical to the Lighthearted 8/21, 9/18 10:30 –Noon • Elderberry Room, LCC Join long-time Lafayette resident Paul Fillinger and take part in this free-wheeling exchange of inspiration, information, and humor. Topics – from soup to nuts will be explored, examined, and discussed. Paul’s stories and photographs will stimulate humorous discoveries regarding the benefits of becoming the ‘elders of our tribe.’
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Lafayette Today ~ August 2012 - Page 19
A New Reality: Is Driving Safe for Me? By Mary Bruns, Program Coordinator Lamorinda Senior Transportation an Alliance of Transportation Providers True creativity quite simply starts with balancing your emotions and activating the power of the heart. Through practicing emotional management from the heart, you tap into the highest form of creativity possible – recreating your perceptions of reality. ~ Doc Childre We live in a time when most of us have become accustomed to getting to places by car; that is our reality. So when we start to notice that we aren’t as comfortable driving as we used to be, we are beginning to face a new reality, one that we may feel very emotional about. How will I get to places when I no longer drive or when my spouse is no longer here to drive me? Our attachment to driving and the independence it brings may keep us driving longer than is safe. It takes creativity, strength, and the courage of the heart to embrace a new reality where we allow others to take over the driving. Gandhi says“Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.” Our seniors are displaying this indomitable will and the power of the heart as they manage to live independently without driving. They have recreated their perception of what’s important – the safety of all of us – by giving up the keys when they recognize their limitations. The DMV has identified some warning signs that can help you decide if you or someone you know may be an unsafe driver. Some of them are listed below, and more information is available in the DMV Handbook Senior Guide for Safe Driving. AARP also offers a free online seminar called “We Need to Talk” that will help you to determine whether or not it’s time to give up the keys. The DMV identified these warning signs: • Feeling uncomfortable, nervous, or fearful when driving • Dents and scrapes on the car, fence, mailbox, garage doors, curbs, etc., caused by your driving • Drifting across lane markers or into other lanes • Getting lost in familiar places • Ignoring signs and signals • Driving too slowly or too fast • Frequent close calls or collisions • Late braking • Difficulty judging gaps in traffic • Being honked at by other drivers • Friends or relatives don’t want to ride with you • Being easily distracted or having a hard time concentrating while driving • Difficulty turning your head to check over your shoulder when backing or changing lanes • Getting frequent traffic tickets or warnings from police officers • Having trouble finding your parked vehicle. Fortunately the Lamorinda community has created transportation options for seniors who decide it’s better to give up the car keys, to be safe rather than sorry. Transportation needs are being discussed at every level of our community. • The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) is in the process of updating the Coordinated Public Transit-Human Service Transportation Plan for the San Francisco Bay Area. The Coordinated Plan addresses the unmet transportation needs of persons with disabilities, older adults, and individuals of low income. • Members of the Lamorinda and Contra Costa County Transportation Community recently met to discuss a possible Contra Costa County Mobility
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Management Plan. This Ad Hoc committee will continue to meet, discuss, and review the draft plan that is expected to be proposed from the results of three Community Transportation Summit meetings that are being planned. • Paul Branson leads a Regional Mobility Management Group which keeps us apprised of government funding changes and discussions of proposed changes to the coordinated plan. • Tighe Boyle co-chairs the Senior Mobility Action Council which advocates for senior transportation in Contra Costa County. This “work group” functions under the umbrella of the Advisory Council on Aging. • The Transportation Forum meets to assist communities in Contra Costa
Lamorinda Senior Transportation An Alliance of Transportation Providers Call each program for opportunities to become a volunteer driver or volunteer, transportation information, and/or to make tax-deductible donations.
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.
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. Call 283-3534 for a discount card.
Volunteer Driver Program Volunteers driving their own cars provide free rides for seniors.
Orinda Seniors Around Town
402-4506
Serving Orinda seniors with rides for appointments and errands.
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.
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Page 20 - August 2012 ~ Lafayette Today
Garden cont. from front page
SUMMER SALE
homes, not interacting with others,â€? says Magilen, a longtime Lafayette community volunteer. “It is part of our overall health to be amongst people, working in a cooperative effort to better our community. I’ve made so many new friends at the garden.â€? Empty nesters Gary and Alice Stern can Exp. 8/31/12 Not valid with other offers or prior purchases walk to the garden from their Lafayette home, an abode that boasts no garden of its own. “We were very interested when we first drove by the garden upstart, and we were lucky to fill the last few remaining memberships,â€? says Alice, who is on the ‘watering team.’ “Gary and I both like projects, and this is a nice way to be involved with a project that has a real sense of community.â€? Since 2008, community members and local groups such as Sustainable Lafayette have been seeking a site on which to establish a collaborative community garden and outdoor education center. In February 2011, the City of Lafayette and EBMUD agreed to allow use of the garden’s current location, and nearly a year later, in March 2012, the City approved their permit. Opening day was April 22, 2012 – Earth Day. The garden site is a model of cooperation $100 Off on All Gas Fire Pits – civic groups, Scouts, private donors, garden clubs, and local families have come together to create a garden tool-stocked environ with raised beds, a tool shed, a greenhouse, a watering system‌.and a plethora of vegetables and herbs. Plans are underway for further creative additions, such as a fountain and other artworks. One part-time paid garden manager, Leah Ingram, oversees all garden activities and monitors the chore board where members check-in for their daily duties. She has a degree in landscape architecture from Cal Poly and minor degrees in land rehabilitation, soils science, and sustainable environments. +HU]PSSL She also worked on Cal Poly’s organic farm and performed small-scale design and *HTPUV ;HZZHQHYH residential landscape installations in San Luis Obispo. The LCG is her biggest ‘from (SHTV the ground-up’ project to-date. Open Tues thru Sat 10 to 6 “This garden community has three +HU]PSSL )V\SL]HYK :\UKH` [V ‹ *SVZLK 4VUKH` missions,â€? says Ingram. “We seek to grow, share, and eat our crops. We hope to arrange a gleaning program to facilitate the harvesting and distribution of fresh produce from gardens in the community, and we seek to provide outdoor education programs.â€? Gardens in an urban environment inherently contribute to increasing diversity of land use, activities, cultural traditions, and bio-diversity, and Lafayette’s new garden is no exception. Surrounded by oak and bay laurel trees, with a creek running behind, the garden site is also an outdoor classroom where educational offerings take place. Classes have included “The Creekside Ecosystem,â€? “Bug: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly,â€? and “California Edibles and What Native Americans Ate.â€? LCG membership is currently capped, and a waiting list grows; members pay a nominal annual fee and are selected on a first come basis. Ten spots are reserved for seniors 65 and older, and ten are reserved for Lafayette residents who have no alternative access to gardening or growing food. All members of the community, however, are welcome to participate in classes, as well as visit the site for tours. The hope is that the garden become a Lafayette community resource for all community members. Janet Thomas, the garden facilitator, encourages interested community members to visit the garden during open hours, which are Tuesday, 3pm – 8pm, Thursday 9am – 11am and Saturday 8am – 2pm. Check the website www.lafayettecommunitygarden.org for information about educational workshops. Learn about winter gardening at LCG’s next class on September 29th from 3pm – 5pm. Garden manager Leah talks with garden visitors. Nanette Heffernan will discuss how to prepare a garden for winter to ensure a healthy spring.
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