Lafayette Today, October 2012 by The Editors, Inc

editor@yourmonthlypaper.com

October 2012

Serving the Lafayette Community Virtual Senior Village By Fran Miller

A trail ride is part of Mounted Patrol certification. Photo courtesy of EBRPD.

Volunteer Trail Patrols Put Safety First in East Bay Regional Parks By Jody Morgan Keeping multi-use trails safe throughout the 112,000 acres of the East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) is a daunting task. With 65 parks and only 60 sworn officers to supervise the more than 1,100 miles of trail open to the public, the 200 members of the Volunteer Trail Safety Patrols contribute significantly to ensuring the courteous sharing of this exceptional open space by park visitors. Volunteers currently serve on Mounted, Bicycle, Hiking and Companion Dog Patrols and may also qualify for Search and Rescue. Heather Gilfillan, EBRPD Volunteer Coordinator, meets with prospective volun-

Larry Fong on the Iron Horse Trail.

teers to assess their qualifications. A few are too interested in being enforcers, a role reserved for Park Police. Others lack the communication skills to turn an encounter with a visitor violating park rules into a cordial educational experience rather than a hostile confrontation. Some will not commit to remaining on patrol for at least a

See EBRPD continued on page 17 Local Postal Customer

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ECRWSS

As the baby boomer generation ages, and as life expectancy continues to rise, the need for elder care options is more urgent than ever. In Lamorinda, nearly 20% of the population is over the age of 65, and most of these 10,000 residents would prefer to stay in their homes and age in place – a challenging aspiration often met with great difficulty. Surveys of local seniors have revealed a strong desire by most to continue to live an active healthy life without having to move away from longtime homes and neighborhoods. Being able to continue living amongst friends and younger families, with familiar amenities at hand, is the basis of the Lamorinda Village concept – a virtual “village” membership program that affords its participants the ability to continue living in their own homes while having access to a variety of vital resources. With just one phone call, members are linked to high quality services from trustworthy providers at reduced prices, and opportunities to participate in activities that enhance quality of life and sense of community are offered as well. The objective of the program is to help members delay or, if desired, avoid relocation to a retirement community while retaining their quality of life. A grass roots task force of 12 local citizens is currently researching the feasibility of such a program in the Lamorinda area. They have compiled a simple questionnaire which determines senior residents’ needs and desires. All residents, regardless of age, are invited to participate in the survey. The Village concept is based on the successful “Beacon Hill Village” in Boston, established in 2002. Today there are over 89 Villages in operation across the United States and over 150 in various stages of development. All are linked by the Village to Village Network, a national peer to peer network helping communities to establish and effectively manage their own virtual villages whether in large metropolitan areas, rural towns, or suburban settings. Villages operating in the Bay Area include Ashby Village in Berkeley, Avenidas Village in Palo Alto, San Francisco Village, and North Oakland Village. Most Villages are private nonprofit corporations founded and managed by minimal staff and volunteers who provide members with both the practical means and the confidence to live their lives to the fullest in their own homes as they grow older. Members pay an annual membership fee, and in return they are entitled to a number of activities and services free of charge. A Village’s offerings are determined by the Volume V I- Number 10 needs and desires of its members, yet 3000F DANVILLE BLVD #117 most issues fall into one of six major ALAMO, CA 94507 categories: daily living and home Telephone (925) 405-6397 services, including transportation, Fax (925) 406-0547 meal preparation, and handyman and editor@yourmonthlypaper.com professional repair services; health Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher and wellness assistance services, The opinions expressed herein belong to the and do not necessarily reflect that of Laincluding home health care, medical writers, fayette Today. Lafayette Today is not responsible equipment and physical therapy; for the content of any of the advertising herein,

See Village continued on page 20

nor does publication imply endorsement.

Page 2 - October 2012 ~ Lafayette Today

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Emergency Preparedness Class and Neighborhood Captains’ Training

Help Needed by Acalanes High School Student to Complete Eagle Scout Project

The City of Lafayette’s Emergency Preparedness Commission presents two classes to help you become better prepared in the event of an emergency.

Acalanes High School Junior, Max Mirner, needs your help to fulfill his Boy Scout Troop 204 Eagle Scout Project. Max is collecting new and gently used socks for patients at Children’s Hospital Oakland and food for patients’ families staying at the Family House. There are collection boxes in the Lafayette school offices of Acalanes, Stanley, Springhill, Burton Valley, Happy Valley, Lafayette Elementary, and Bentley Middle School in Oakland. Further collection boxes can be found at Our Savior’s Lutheran church and Lafayette Orinda Presbyterian Church. Donations will be accepting until Friday, October 12. Bring socks sizes toddler - 18 years and non-perishable food items or paper goods. The Family House is a 16 room house across from the hospital where families can stay for free and be close to their ill child. If you have any questions, contact Max at maxmirner3@gmail.com. Thank you for your support.

Emergency Preparedness for Individuals and Families Don’t put it off any longer! This quick and easy session on Thursday, October 25th from 7-9PM will help you prepare yourself and your family for the next earthquake, whether you are at home, work, or out and about. Emphasis will be on earthquake preparation, but the information applies to other emergencies as well. Bring pencil and paper. Materials will be provided.

Neighborhood Captains’ Training Join other Lafayette residents in becoming a neighborhood captain in the Lafayette Emergency Action Response Network (LEARN). This session on Thursday, November 1st from 7-8:30PM is designed to help you organize your block or neighborhood in becoming self-sufficient for the first 72 hours following a major disaster. Attendance at a basic preparedness class (as above, CERT or Red Cross class) is recommended, but not required, prior to attending this class. Bring paper and pencil. Written materials will be provided. All classes will be held at the Lafayette Community Center located at 500 St. Mary’s Rd. in the Elderberry Room (back parking lot). Classes are taught by the Emergency Preparedness Commission and are FREE. Register by calling the Lafayette Community Center at 284-2232. The Lafayette Emergency Preparedness Commission can arrange classes specifically for Lafayette homeowner groups, church, or service groups, possibly closer to home. For more information call the Commission at 2993220 or email csurges@lovelafayette.org.

AAUW Holds Discussions The American Association of University Women (AAUW) Orinda, Moraga, Lafayette Branch (OML) invites the public to two meetings on Tuesday, October 16th at the Holy Trinity Serbian Church Cultural Center located at 1700 School Street in Moraga. The Public Policy meeting begins at 9:45AM. The Lafayette, Moraga, and Orinda Town Managers will present solutions for each towns’ decaying infrastructure. Orinda and Moraga have sales tax increase proposals on the November 6th ballot, with proceeds to be directed to improving roads. Lafayette attempted a parcel tax increase for improving roads that did not pass. See and hear about the current and projected conditions of our towns’ roads and the cost of delaying upgrades. Learn about each town’s proposal to address the issue. From 11:45AM to 1PM join us in a discussion on the Propositions on the California November 6th Ballot We will provide the California Voter Guide and the League of Women Voters Smart Voter pamphlet, and we’ll give information about whose financial support is behind each of the propositions. Attendees will discuss and then present a synopsis of the propositions and recommend positions. Bring a brown bag lunch. Beverages will be provided. The American Association of University Women Promotes Equity for Women and Girls through Advocacy, Education, Philanthropy, and Research. The OML Branch supports Tech Trek, Sister 2 Sister, Scholarships, and the Burkhalter School Library in Oakland along with the Legal Advocacy Fund and Education Fund Research and Grants. General meetings are held at 9:45AM the third Tuesday of the month from September through April. The public is always welcome. For more information, contact Deana Vick Davidson at (925) 631-0343 or (925) 808-8475, or visit www.AAUW-OML.org.

AARP Tax-Aide Call for Volunteers Do you like working with people? Are you good with numbers? Contra Costa County AARP Tax-Aide is looking for volunteers to become members of a team providing free tax preparation for individuals of all ages. Volunteer positions include Tax Counselors who are trained by Tax-Aide and certified by IRS and Client Facilitators who schedule appointment and assist clients at tax sites. If interested, call LaVerne Gordon, District Coordinator, at (925) 726-3199 for information and to apply. Orientation is in November 2012, and classes for tax counselors start in January 2013.

Red Cross Blood Drives - Drop by and Share a Pint Did you know your donation of an hour of your time and one pint of blood can save up to three lives? Moraga Valley Presbyterian Church (MVPC) will hold a blood drive on Saturday, October 13th from 9AM to 3PM at MVPC, located at 10 Moraga Valley Lane in Moraga. Everyone is welcome. Drop by, and bring your friends! The blood drive is a chance to be a hero and to give someone in need another birthday. Sign up online at redcrossblood.org and enter the sponsor code: Moraga925, or call the American Red Cross at 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800733-2767). For more information, call Les Deane at (925) 283-5648. Burton Valley Elementary PTA is sponsoring a Red Cross Blood Drive at the Multi-Purpose Room located at 561 Merriewood Dr in Lafayette on Friday, October 26th from 8:15AM-1:15PM. Visit www.redcrossblood.org and enter sponsor code: BURTON, or call Kelsey Kobayashi at 925-284-8147. Walk-ins are welcome but appointments are recommended.

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Lafayette Today ~ October 2012 - Page 3

Pillar Wealth Management might be right for you IF, Hutch Ashoo, CEOo

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Chris Snyder, Principal, SR. VP

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Visit www.PillarWM.com for a short video affluent families should watch. Pillar Wealth Management, LLC. | 1600 South Main Street, Suite 335 | Walnut Creek, CA 94596 Information about Pillar Wealth Management, LLC., as a Registered Investment Advisor, CRD number 147837, is available at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.

Boulevard View By Alisa Corstorphine, Editor Fall is here! The holidays are right around the corner, and soon our calendars and “to do” lists will be overflowing with things to accomplish. The season can be stressful, or it can be wonderful with the right attitude, so I’m going to share my secret with you; I’ve decided to stop sweating the small stuff. While “perfection” sounds great, it isn’t worth being stressed out. I think it’s time to work a little harder at not worrying about “getting it all done” and instead accept that it’s never all going to get done. If the laundry doesn’t get folded and sits on the couch for a few days, that’s OK. If there are a few dirty dishes in the sink, that’s OK too. I am a big fan of quick-repair items such as duct tape, super glue, and Sharpies. For example, my son and his friend were riding their motorcycles on some twisty roads. His friend laid his bike down going about 40mph, and both he and his bike were banged up. The bike had been in new, immaculate condition. He babied it, he polished it, and it was beautiful. The accident changed all that. It was scraped and dinged and broken. He brought the bike to our house for repairs, where we all labored on getting it back into working condition in time for an upcoming riding event. The time and expense dictated that aesthetics be sacrificed in lieu of making the bike “10 foot good,” or good enough if viewed from ten feet away. Everyone who sees it now doesn’t notice that some of the blue “paint” is actually a scrape colored over in blue Sharpie. To the casual eye it is truly ten-foot-good. The whole experience has been liberating for our young friend, who even asked us to bring our collection of Sharpies to our last get together for some touch-ups. While I am not a big fan of the statement sometimes chanted by college students, “C’s get degrees,” it does somewhat convey the same message. A “C” degree might not be good enough for grad school or scholarships, but a student getting a degree with a report card filled with a variety of grades may be busy with fulfilling and life-changing extracurricular activities that cannot be reflected with a grade. Is college just about the grades, or is it about the entire experience? An article found on the website http://happiness-project.com notes there are two types of decision makers. There are “Satisficers” who make a decision once their criteria

are met. When they find the product or service that has the qualities they want, they’re satisfied. Then there are “Maximizers” who want to make the best possible decision. Even if they see an object that meets their requirements, they won’t make a decision until they’ve examined every option. “Maximizers” drive “Satisficers” nuts because they take so long to make a decision. Not unsurprisingly, “Satisficers” tend to be happier than “Maximizers.” “Maximizers” expend more time and energy reaching decisions, and they’re more anxious about their choices. On the other hand, “Satisficers” have figured out that good enough is good enough, and have learned to move on. In an article by Rabbi Steven Pruzansky, spiritual leader of Congregation Bnai Yeshurun in Teaneck, New Jersey, he notes, “One of the secrets to a happy life is the recognition and appreciation of things that are ‘good enough.’One of the primary curses that plagues man, families, communities, countries and much of civilization is the cynical dismissal of things that are not ‘good enough’ only because they are not ‘perfect’ – a literal fulfillment of Voltaire’s dictum that ‘the perfect is the enemy of the good.’” Life becomes more enjoyable when we embrace the “good enough” model. Much as a person can be a slave to their video camera instead of enjoying the live event they’re attending, a perfectionist misses the same event by not allowing themselves to participate in and enjoy the beauty of what is by obsessing over what isn’t. Some might argue that the acceptance of “good enough” is tantamount to enshrining mediocrity. Absolutely not! Mediocrity is complacency with failure. The life properly lived always strives for continuous improvement, even if perfection will never be achieved. The real difference between the virtue of “good enough” and the vice of mediocrity is how we handle the present. “Good enough” appreciates the present, and hopes to improve it, but it does not obsess over the deficiencies, even if they are not fixed. The individual has a concept of the “perfect,” as the standard, but lives in a state of gratitude and acceptance. Conversely, the mediocre do not idealize the perfect and are content with that which is commonplace. They see no need to push themselves, and perhaps even discounts the value of success or denigrates those who succeed. The realization that what is “good enough” is actually “very good indeed” makes for happier people and more fulfilling lives. The byword is gratitude for all of our blessings. Someone once said, “The rich man is not the one who has what he wants, but rather the one who wants what he has.” I agree. So that’s the secret. Be in the moment and enjoy life, and accept that life’s imperfection is its beauty. It is OK to focus on just being good enough.

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Page 4 - October 2012 ~ Lafayette Today th

Lafayette Reservoir Run – October 28

“The fastest 5K and the toughest 10K in the land” The Lafayette Reservoir Run is the city’s most popular “family affair,” involving kids, parents, grandparents, and hundreds of serious runners from all over the Bay Area. Over 2,500 participants compete in a 10K, 5K, or 2 mile race through the heart of downtown Lafayette, around the reservoir, and back. Sprinters, walkers, the “stroller brigade,” and many of Lafayette’s top four legged residents share the streets on the last Sunday morning in October. Race times begin at 8am and “day of” registration begins at 6:30am. Enjoy music provided by Stanley Middle School and a pancake breakfast provided by the Lafayette Rotary Club. This event is presented by the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce and the City of Lafayette. Parking is available at the BART parking lot. Walk down to Plaza Center (Mt. Diablo Blvd. at Moraga Rd.) where all the fun is taking place. Pre-registration can be done by visiting the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce website, www.lafayettechamber.org, or www.active.com. Beneficiaries of the event are the local schools and the services and programs of the Chamber. There are division awards for all top participants in the 5K and 10K. The two mile fun run is a non-timed event.

Aging Successfully in our Community Helping senior citizens, their loved ones, and caregivers navigate the challenges of aging is the focus of the 4th Annual Symposium for Seniors sponsored by the Lafayette Community Foundation (LCF). The symposium will be held Saturday, October 13th at 8:30am at the Lafayette Orinda Presbyterian Church located at 49 Knox Drive in Lafayette. Dr. Alan Brast, Ph.D will speak about “Aging Gracefully with the Mind/ Body Connection.” Addressing senior transportation will be Mary Bruns, Spirit Van Coordinator with Lafayette Senior Services, and Elaine Welch, Executive Director of Senior Helpline Services. Ruth McCahan, Lafayette Senior Services Commissioner, will discuss the Lamorinda Senior Village concept – a local community based non-profit membership program providing members with practical means to remain in their own homes as they age. With a presentation titled, “Mom! We need to talk,” local estate planning attorney Stefanie West will discuss the nine issues that adult children and parents should share regarding estate planning. In between speakers, a variety of door prizes from favorite local businesses will be awarded, and refreshments will be provided. In addition, local senior resource providers will be available on-site to offer expertise and answer questions regarding a variety of senior services available locally. Please call 925-357-0056 for reservations, or email symposium.lcf@ comcast.net.

Junior Achievement Needs You Junior Achievement, a non-profit funded by foundations and businesses, offers an exciting opportunity for you and your office to partner with local schools to educate students about business and financial literacy. By volunteering in the schools or hosting a Job Shadow, companies can increase outreach. Programs are offered to the schools at no cost. For more information, please contact Shaun Rundle at 465-1082, email srundle@janorcal.org, or visit www.janorcal.org.

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

Jonathan Pass is our winner! Luther was hiding on page 5 last month.

SonRise Equestrian Foundation Holds Fundraiser On Saturday, October 20th at Round Hill Country Club in Alamo, SonRise Equestrian Foundation will hold its 6th Annual Wine and Equine Fundraiser. Enjoy estate grown wines, dinner, dancing, and entertainment. SonRise will also be offering a wine cellar raffle of premium wines, and there will be exciting live and silent auctions. SonRise continues to seek donors and sponsors for this event. All proceeds will provide support to children who are facing social, emotional, and physical challenges as well as help to rehabilitate horses in need. Tickets cost $125. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 925-838-RIDE (7433) or visit www.sonriseequestrianfoundation.org.

About SonRise SonRise Equestrian Foundation is a volunteer-based non-profit organization making a positive difference for children ages 6 to 18 living with social, emotional, or physical challenges including life limiting illnesses. Participating children develop confidence, integrity, and responsibility through mentoring and peer relationships centered around the care and enjoyment of horses.

Booktoberfest! Project Second Chance, the Contra Costa County program for adult literacy, is holding a fundraiser on October 26th from 6 to 8pm at the Lafayette Library Community Center, located at 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd. in Lafayette. Tickets are $25. Ale Industries brewery of Concord will serve their craft beers, author Ken Weaver will discuss his new book The Northern California Craft Beer Guide, beer-related books will be sold, and a drawing for prizes will be held. Servings of substantial appetizers and Ale Industries beer (and wine for non-beer drinkers) will precede the literary events. Guests must be 21 to attend. To purchase tickets with cash or check, contact Project Second Chance at 925-927-3250 or send payment to Project Second Chance, Inc., 1750 Oak Park Blvd. in Pleasant Hill, CA 94523. Credit card payments can be made over the phone to Maria at 925-930-7249. For more information, call Project Second Chance at 925-927-3250 or visit www.ccclib.org/psc.

Assistance League Way Side Inn Thrift Shop Assistance League® Way Side Inn Thrift Shop member volunteers have recently been asking each other, “Whoo-oo-oo-oo will have the most bloodcurdling Halloween this year?” You will need to sharpen your senses as you venture into the thrift shop, located at 3521 Golden Gate Way in Lafayette. Do take heart (not yours, of course), because this journey from the secure to the surreal will require the eye of a vulture. Getting in touch with your inner ghoul will have its whimsical moments as well. In fact, you’ll go out of your skull when you unearth racks of costumes for infants, children, and adults. An assortment of masks and make up will help you achieve that out-of-body experience. You will also find pumpkins, witches, scary cats, wall hangings, garlands, lights, and party items that will transfigure your home into a creature-infested crypt as you capture the spirit of this fateful night. Whoo-oo-oooo will have the most blood curdling Halloween this year? Yoo-oo-oo-oou will! When you donate and purchase items at Assistance League Way Side Inn Thrift Shop, you will improve the lives of those in our community who are in need and at risk. As always, dedicated member volunteers will keep an eye out for you by supplying you with a tax donation receipt. To learn more about Assistance League Way Side Inn Thrift Shop and the eight philanthropic programs it helps fund, visit diablovalley.assistanceleague.org.

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Lafayette Today ~ October 2012 - Page 5

From Gold to Diamond Reminiscent of the gala opening ceremonies of the recent London Olympics, Joyce Johnson Hamilton passed the conducting baton to Matilda Hofman as the new Music Director and Conductor of the Diablo Symphony at a recent reception. The reception had the dual purpose of welcoming Matilda Hofman and celebrating the Symphonyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 50th Anniversary. Hofman, 33, selected by the orchestra musicians from five candidates, will open the Symphonyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2012 - 2013 five-concert season with dual concerts on Friday, October 12th at 8PM in Rossmoor and Sunday, October 14th at 2PM at the Lesher Center for the Arts, located at 1601 Civic Drive in Walnut Creek. Hofman will lead the symphony in Dances from Ballet Suite No. 1 and Polka from the Age of Gold by Shostakovich and Rimsky-Korsakovâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Scheherazade.

Sunday, October 28, 2012 8am Downtown Lafayette Parking available at BART

Left to right: Pat Campbell, Diablo Symphony board president; Joyce Johnson Hamilton, retiring conductor; Matilda Hofman, new conductor of the DSO; and Mary Ann Osborne, board member and reception hostess. Photo by Paul Fillinger.

Hoffman is a native of Oxford, England. She studied at Cambridge University, the Royal Academy of Music, and the Eastman School of Music. In addition to symphony orchestras, she has conducted operas throughout Europe and was assistant conductor at Sacramento Opera. She is a regular guest conductor of the

2 Mile Run/Walk (8am) 5K (8:30am) â&#x20AC;˘ 10K (8:45am) To register, go to www.active.com or www. lafayettechamber.org, or call the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce at

925-284-7404

This event supports local education

See Symphony continued on page 20

How Much are my Coins and Collectables Really Worth? Many coins and collectables are worth more today. But, how much more are they worth? The 16th annual Contra Costa Coin and Collectables Show is the perfect place to get informal, free appraisals from over 30 West Coast dealers. The show will be held on Saturday and Sunday, October 13th and 14th, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel located at 45 John Glenn Drive in Concord. Doors open to the general public at 10AM each day. In addition to free appraisals, the show dealers will buy, sell, and trade a variety of items including coins, tokens, medals, paper money, estate jewelry, and watches. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The general public can really benefit,â&#x20AC;? said Bill Green, treasurer for the Diablo Numismatic Society, the non-profit coin club hosting this annual show. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no better way to make sure you get fair value for your coins and collectables than at a show like ours, and our safe, secure venue offers a fun, fascinating, and educational experience for the entire family.â&#x20AC;? Admission to the show is $3 and good for both days. Children under twelve are admitted free. A portion of the admission fees are donated to the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano counties. There will be drawings for valuable coins and other prizes. Also, Boy Scout Troop # 465 will host a youth exhibit that includes free coins for children. The Crowne Plaza has a special rate of $89 for those requiring overnight accommodations. Call (877) 276-4600 and ask for the â&#x20AC;&#x153;coin show rate.â&#x20AC;? Contact Bill Green of the Diablo Numismatic Society for more information at (925) 351 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 7605 or visit the clubâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website at diablocionclub.org. The show also maintains a Facebook page.

Lamorinda Peace and Justice The Lamorinda Peace and Justice Group meets the fourth Tuesday of each month from 7 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 9PM in the fireside room of Lafayette Methodist Church, 955 Moraga Road, Lafayette. We are committed to working to support a healthy planet, a thriving local community, and a safe, equitable world for all. For information, call 925-946-0563.

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Season tickets available at the Lesher Center for the Arts box office, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek, CA

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Page 6 - October 2012 ~ Lafayette Today

The Bookworm By Joan Stevenson Everyone loves a good mystery. Most of us honed our reading skills as we followed the Bobbsey Twins, Nancy Drew, and the Hardy Boys. So was it Mrs. Peacock in the kitchen with the dagger or was it Colonel Mustard in the conservatory with the candlestick? Or was it Miss Scarlett with the revolver in the library? Haven’t a Clue? Then you will not want to miss Sweet Thursday on October 18th from 7:30PM – 9PM when award-winning authors, Penny Warner and Ann Parker, are teaming up with two newly published mystery writers, Staci McLaughlin and Carole Price, for an evening of murder, mischief, and mirth. Penny Warner's latest book in the Presley Parker Party Planning series, How to Dine on Killer Vine, is set in the Napa Wine Country. Ann Parker's newest, Mercury's Rise, just won Best Historical Mystery at Left Coast Crime. Staci McLaughlin’s delightful new series, Going Organic Can Kill You, is set on an organic farm and spa and features a junk food connoisseur. And, Carole Price’s Shakespeare-in-the-Vineyard mystery, Twisted Vines, takes place in our own Livermore wine country. This event, sponsored by the Friends of the Lafayette Library and Learning Center, is free. Speaking of the Friends, their first WOW (Wonders of the World) presentation with a docent from the Bancroft Garden was a great success. This months presentation will detail The Paley Collection opening this month at the deYoung Museum in San Francisco. It includes paintings, sculpture and drawings, ranging in date from the late 19th century through the early 1970s. The docent will share information and highlights of the collection which includes paintings by Paul Cezanne, Henri Matisse, and Pablo Picasso as well as others of the period. The lecture, on October 16th from 2PM – 3PM, is free. Now heads up…tickets are going fast for the awesome Authors Dinner on November 3rd. Just imagine our library filled with 24 incredible writers

10th...Wednesday 10:00–11:00am

10th...Wednesday 7:00–8:00pm

14th...Sunday 2:00–4:00pm

15th...Monday 7:00–8:00pm 16th...Tuesday 2:00–3:00pm

18th...Thursday 5:45–7:30pm

A&S

18th...Thursday 7:30–9:00pm

19th..Friday 1:30–2:30pm

The Oakland Zoomobile:.................................................Free An Oakland Zoo animal ambassador will bring awe-inspiring small animals and will discuss animal care and conservation. Ages pre-K - 1st. reserve@LLLCF.org The World Affairs Council..$8 mbrs,$10 nonmbrs,Free stdt The US Economic Outlook in a Global Economy: Challenges and Prospects - SF Fed Reserve VP Reuven Glick will discuss global recovery and international finance. www.WorldAffairs.org Pacific Chamber Symphony...........$35 gen, $30 sr, $10 stdt The Magic of Mozart - PCS kicks off their new season! They’ll bring their customary clarity and precision to bear on Mozart’s classics. www.brownpapertickets.com Making Your In-Laws into Family..................................Free Dr. Ruth Nemzoff will be discussing her newly published book “Don’t Roll Your Eyes: Making Your In-Laws into Family.” no reservations necessary Friends of the LLLC: The de Young Museum................Free Join us as a docent discusses The William S. Paley Collection: A Taste for Modernism. We’ll learn about Paley’s many paintings, drawings & sculptures. no reservations necessary Family Science Series: Slime Time!...................................$30 Join the Spectrum of Science Foundation for a hands-on family workshop & participate in a supreme slime lab. Learn about polymers & mix up goo too! Ages 5-11 Reserve: 925-820-2415 Friends of the LLLC Sweet Thursday............................Free Murder in the Valley - Acclaimed authors Penny Warner, Ann Parker, Staci McLaughlin and Carol Price team up for an evening of murder mischief & mirth. no reservations necessary Lafayette Senior Services.........................$3 mbrs, $5 nonmbrs Afternoon Jazz Piano - Come hear songs from the great American Songbook performed by the Contra Costa Performing Arts Society. Light refreshments. Reserve: 284-5050

to mingle with and share A Literary Feast. To reserve online, visit http://bit. ly/PrRFhE. You may have a chance to share your table with a favorite author if you make haste with your reservations. The proceeds of this wonderful event will benefit open hours, programs, and building operations funded by the Lafayette Library and Learning Center Foundation. Lafayette Library and Learning Center Foundation outgoing President Mike Gilson and incoming Board President, Karen Mulvaney, have announced a new and exciting Foundation Fundraising Initiative tentatively titled, “AL!VE at the Lafayette Library and Learning Center.” It will bring distinguished speakers and other notable events to Lafayette. It will be underwritten by private donors and will benefit the Foundation via ticket sales and other event revenue. January 6th kick off with Cheryl Strayed, author of WILD, and Tiny Beautiful Things will be at Acalanes Performing Arts Center. Tickets will be on sale soon. On October 24th from 6:30PM-7:30PM the Commonwealth Club will bring Dan Walters, the political columnist for the Sacramento Bee to Lafayette for Ballot Box 2012: A Key to the CA Election. This election cycle is poised to be a watershed moment in California politics. This election Californians will consider solutions to the state’s budgetary woes, campaign finance reform, and a proposed repeal of the three-strikes law, among many other initiatives. Join Dan as he takes a look at the issues facing Californians in the upcoming election. The cost is $22 standard, $12 members, and $7 students (with valid ID). Tickets are available by calling (415) 597-6705 or visiting www.commonwealthclub.org.

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

21st...Sunday 4:00–5:30pm

23rd...Tuesday 6:30–7:30pm

A&S

24th..Wednesday 6:30–7:30pm

24th..Wednesday 7:00–8:00pm

25th...Thursday 12:00–12:30am

25th...Thursday 6:30–8:30pm

A&S

27th...Saturday 1:30–2:30pm

A&S

Jazz Improv Piano Concert...............................................$10 Hear innovative pianists Justin Levitt & David Glass perform 4-hand piano improv that will intermix classical, jazz, new age, blues, rock, and so much more. reserve@LLLCF.org Creating Dance at Diablo Ballet......................................Free Join Broadway choreographer Sean Kelly & Diablo Ballet Artistic Director Lauren Jonas and learn exactly what it takes to create a dynamic new dance work. reserve@LLLCF.org The Commonwealth Club..$12 mbrs, $22 nonmbrs, $7stdts Ballot Box 2012: A Key to the CA Election - Veteran Sacramento Bee political columnist Dan Walters will explore issues facing Californians this election. commonwealthclub.org Berkeley Repertory Theater Docent Talk.......................Free An Iliad - A docent will discuss the backstory behind this stunning show that captures the grief and glory of the battle for Troy. reserve@LLLCF.org Lindsay Wildlife Museum presents:................................Free (Not too) Scary Animals - Ms. Ginny will read a Halloween themed book at 11:30 and then Lindsay will bring animals at 12:00 for some post storytime fun. reserve@LLLCF.org Contra Costa Master Gardeners........................................$5 Pruning Basics - Join us as a master gardener Lorraine Frey shares the principles of pruning. Learn how, when and what to prune. higginssierra@gmail.com Lindsay Wildlife Museum presents:...................................$5 Going, Going, Gone! Lindsay will help us learn the stories of endangered or extinct animals & plant species from around the world & our own backyard. Kids 8+ reserve@LLLCF.org

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Lafayette Today ~ October 2012 - Page 7

The Lafayette Post Office Celebrates 155 Years! By The Lafayette Historical Society There are many institutions, places, and people that make a town feel like a real town, but none has cache like the post office. Every American city likes to have one: a place to connect with the rest of the world and maybe get the town gossip. This year, Lafayette’s very own post office celebrates 155 years in the business of knitting the community together. The first post office opened in 1857 as part of the Old Pioneer grocery store at 3535 Plaza Way. Mail was supervised by the first Postmaster, Benjamin Shreve, who served for 30 years and was followed by his son Milton. This location is best known as the site that served as a Pony Express stop from 18601861, but after just 20 runs the historic service was shut down. In 1904 the post office relocated to a small “hole in the wall” building at the corner of Tunnel Road (now Mt. Diablo Boulevard) and Moraga Road. Carrie Van Meter served as Postmaster there until 1927, when the office relocated again. The tiny set-up served just 11 families who lived in the area. As the city expanded and changed its name from La Fayette to Lafayette, town services consolidated in the relocated #2 Grammar School house at 3535 Mt. Diablo Blvd. That building contained the phone company, library and post office, with Emelia Schutt as Postmaster until 1952. At this point in its history, rural carriers still brought mail to distant houses and ranches and even occasionally delivered live animals like chicks, bee hives, and chameleons. With post-war growth came an ever bigger post office. The fourth office was located at 3561 and 3563 Mt. Diablo Blvd., and this iteration was where Lafayette’s office attained First Class status on July 1, 1949. Just ten years later, the office would relocate again, to the first building in La Fiesta Square, 973 Moraga Road. This fifth post office is best known as the “wild wild west” location, because three loaded long- barrel Smith and Wesson revolvers were installed at the finance windows. The guns didn’t last long, and neither did the location, with another move and post office number six opening in 1958 at 3498 Mt. Diablo Blvd. On July 1, 1971, the “Post Office Department” became the semiprivate United States Postal Service. Then on June 5, 1976 Lafayette lost its distribution clerks and all of its carriers to Walnut Creek. This was a hugely unpopular move, with many local post office workers having to relocate their jobs to Walnut Creek. The post office proper

was moved to two portable trailers at 3641 Mt. Diablo Blvd. The permanent building was completed in 1979. Happily by the year 2000, Lafayette got its mail carriers back. They were and are still housed in a “carrier annex” at 3426 Mt. Diablo Blvd. behind Bo’s Barbeque. It’s interesting to note that Lafayette has the third oldest post office in Contra Costa County, behind Martinez and Alamo, and still remains as evidence of Lafayette’s pioneer heritage. Special thanks to Dave Obera, who served the Post Office from 1946-1979 and prepared a very helpful history of the Lafayette Post Office. For more information and photos, visit the History Room in the Library and Learning Center – enter on Golden Gate Way.

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Page 8 - October 2012 ~ Lafayette Today

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Cinema Classics and Musical Notes Barefoot in the Park By Peggy Horn Need the refreshing lift of a good laugh? This month’s Cinema Classic, Barefoot In The Park, provides 106 minutes of hearty laughter, and, as everybody knows, laughter is the best medicine. This film from 1967 is based on a 1963 Broadway play of the same name written by Neil Simon. Other works by Mr. Simon include The Odd Couple, The Out Of Towners, and The Goodbye Girl, all three of which are also very funny. An American playwright and screenwriter, Mr. Simon began his writing career working with Sid Caesar on Your Show Of Shows, a ninety-minute weekly variety television program that aired from 1950 to 1954. Among his fellow writers for Your Show Of Shows were Woody Allen, Mel Brooks, and Carl Reiner. Mr. Simon is considered to be one of the most important comedy writers in American literature – although he has been overlooked somewhat specifically because of the comedic aspect of much of his writing. According to Mr. Simon, writing comedies was a way to block out some of the hurt he experienced as a child growing up during the Great Depression. In the film, Jane Fonda and Robert Redford star as Corie and Paul Bratter, a young newlywed couple who have just moved in to a fifth floor apartment in New York City. Mildred Natwick plays the role of Corie’s mother, Ethel Banks, and Charles Boyer is an eccentric and flirtatious neighbor, Victor Velasco. The five flights of stairs leading to the apartment (“Not counting the front stoop”) are a barrier for everyone but Corie who bounds them to the top floor effortlessly. Even though Corie climbs the stairs with ease, she finds it difficult to maneuver the steps required for a successful marriage, and things fall apart. Only true love can provide a solution, and, with some fairly hilarious dialogue throughout, these characters set about finding their way. This movie is available for rental or purchase inexpensively online.

Musical Notes Speaking of the 1960’s, a pre-eminent singer/entertainer of that era,Andy Williams, passed away in September 2012. To bring him back into focus, I propose downloading “Can’t Get Used To Losing You,” a 1963 release by Andy Williams that became a big hit song. Mr.Williams’ good looks, gentlemanly demeanor, and wonderful voice made him very attractive and launched his long and successful career.

What’s in a Glass? By Monica Chappell Do some wine glasses enhance the wine better than others? Should you invest in expensive wine glasses? Are all ‘good’ wine glasses expensive? These are some of the questions I often receive from my wine students. In my opinion, yes, the glass makes a difference. Why is this so? The shape of the glass can have a big effect on taste. Experts claim that the depth of the bowl and the curve of the rim changes the amount of air exposure and directs the flow of wine onto the tongue to enhance or mute flavors.

Wine Glasses 101: • 1. The size and shape of the bowl - The larger the bowl, the better the wine’s aromas can circulate. Glassware intended for red wine tends to be bigger, since red wines need more time and air to open up. • 2. The stem length - The stem of the glass allows us to hold the glass without having our hand on the actual bowl which can ‘interfere’ with the wine’s temperature. No more, no less. • 3. Stemless - Stemless wine glasses have become very popular. This is a good thing, as they are practical, especially for everyday and casual winedrinking occasions. I am a total convert. • 4. Fine lead crystal or regular glass - The finer the crystal, the thinner the glass. This does make a huge difference. Fine, lead crystal really does enhance the wine drinking experience. However, these are expensive glasses. • 5. Plain, colored or etched - In general plain, unadorned glasses are better for serious tasting, as they allow you to examine all the visual aspects of the wine such as the color -- its intensity as well as viscosity. However, most wine drinking situations are not ‘serious tastings’ so feel free to have some fun, add some color. • 6. Champagne/sparkling wine flutes - The ‘flute’ shaped glass has long been considered the best for Champagne and sparkling wines as it allows the wine to manifest its bubbles with greatest intensity and duration. Try it for yourself. Pour the same wine into two different glasses, and taste the difference. Monica Chappell, Wine Writer and Educator, offers wine appreciation classes. For a list, visit www.wineappreciation101.blogspot.com.

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Lafayette Today ~ October 2012 - Page 9

Sustainable Lafayette – Tip of the Month By Kim Curiel We live in a very special climate. California's Mediterranean climate is unique to only a tiny portion of the globe. Our wet winters and dry summers make growing things like Kentucky blue grass and English roses a particular challenge. Growing some of our beautiful native plants can take the headache out of gardening and the guilt out of water consumption, while benefiting native wildlife. If you look at California native plants, you notice right away the leaves are usually quite small, gray, or fuzzy. These are all ways they have evolved to get out of the sun. Their roots are tough and deep, which help them survive through our long dry summers and gusty winter rains. Unlike plants from other parts of the world, California natives often bloom in fall instead of spring, or they do in both spring and fall. They've adapted to our adobe soil and don't need special enhancements or fertilizers for them to thrive. Also, they have to get along outside of our fences and on hillsides, and most have adapted defenses against deer and other plant eaters. Turning to California natives can drastically reduce your water bill. Most natives do not tolerate summer watering and get along just fine with winter rains. Also they do not thrive on drip irrigation, which is a relief to those of us who have doggedly tried to keep drip irrigation systems working properly. One simply needs to plant natives during the right time of year, and then let nature do the work! Most native plants thrive if planted just after the rainy season begins in October. Others are fine planted in early spring. Native plants which are planted in June or July will need water to get established, and they will also become very confused to have the “rain” and heat together. It is far better to wait until October for planting. Why tell you this now? It is because now is the time to look at your yard and think about where you could replace some water hungry or high maintenance plants with natives. Perhaps you have a distressed or unwanted lawn area that could be converted to a beautiful native garden. Native grasses like rush and sedge never need mowing, fertilizing or pesticides. Sheet mulching makes it easier and faster than you might think to covert a lawn. Maybe the English Cottage Flowers are taking a lot of your time? Beautiful flowering natives like ceonothus, penstemon, and flowering currants could take over. Maybe you'd like to eat your garden as well. Some native edibles are California strawberries, yarrow, and native blackberry. Perhaps you love hummingbirds, yet filling and caring for the feeder takes too much time and effort. Native plants that have evolved to feed hummingbirds are fuschia, saliva, and coral bells. There are a host of plants that also attract local butterflies and native bees. Feeding our native pollinators helps their populations thrive. Some great plants for this are: California poppy, globe gilia, checkerbloom, monkey flower and butterfly bush. You may have read about how much of our national use of pesticides and fertilizers takes place in home gardens. Some lovely plants that can deter bugs on their own and happily thrive in our native soil are Western Red Bud, Douglas Iris, black sage, coffee berry, snow berry, toyon and mock orange. The opportunities for returning to natives are endless, and local nurseries are available to help. Ask what natives they have in stock and what they can order. The Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour also has plant sales around the East Bay in October (www.bringingbackthenatives.net). To learn more and read local success stories please visit www. sustainablelafayette.org and type “native plants” or “lawn conversion” in the search bar at the top.

Grief Support Group Helps People Cope with the Death of a Pet When you lose your pet, you often feel like a part of you is lost. The death of your beloved animal companion is one of the most difficult losses you may ever feel. This loss is sometimes made more painful by society’s seeming lack of support for pet grief. Hospice of the East Bay and the Tony La Russa Animal Rescue Foundation is offering a support group where participants can share memories and feelings and talk to others who truly understand and care. Meetings will be held the first Tuesday of each month from noon - 1:30PM at the Tony La Russa Animal Rescue Foundation, 2890 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek. For further information and/or to register, please call Bereavement Services at Hospice of the East Bay (925) 887-5681. Pre-registration is required. Hospice of the East Bay Bereavement Services are provided free of charge to all community members in need. However, donations are greatly appreciated.

Page 10 - October 2012 ~ Lafayette Today

Contra Costa County Supervisor, District 2 Realignment – What is the Best Way to Keep our CommunitySafe? By Supervisor Candace Andersen, Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors, District 2 Something you may be hearing about lately in County news is “Realignment.” In an effort to reduce State Prison overcrowding, the Public Safety Realignment Act (Assembly Bill 109) was signed into law last year. This law transfers the responsibility of supervising lower level--non-violent, non-serious, non-sex offenders–both inmates and parolees, from the State to local counties. This unprecedented change in how California handles those convicted of felony crimes greatly impacts the justice system. For example, some felony violations will be redefined resulting in shorter sentences. These sentences won’t be served in State prison but in our local jails which weren’t designed, or previously used, for lengthy stays. Some low-level inmates released directly from prison to community supervision will no longer be monitored by State Parole Officers, but by County Deputy Probation Officers. Parole violators won’t be sent back to prison but housed in County jails. Each California County has been allocated a certain amount of money and is required to create a Community Corrections Partnership (“CCP”) to oversee the realignment process. After the CCP makes its decision on how to proceed, its budget must be approved by the County Board of Supervisors with a 4/5 vote. The State Realignment legislation defines which County leaders or agencies should be on the CCP Committee. In Contra Costa, the members of the CCP Executive Committee are Chair, Chief Probation Officer Phil Kader, Sheriff David Livingston, District Attorney Mark Peterson, Public Defender Robin Lipetzky, Chief of Police Chris Magnus, Richmond Police Department, Presiding Judge of the Superior Court Diana Becton, and Cynthia Belon, Director of Behavioral Health for Contra Costa Human Services. Agencies represented on the CCP are considered “reentry stakeholders” in that they need to develop a plan to bring inmates who were previously housed and supervised by the State into County custody and probation supervision. A Community Advisory Board (“CAB”) was also developed to assist formerly incarcer-

www.yourmonthlypaper.com ated individuals return to the community by collectively providing job training opportunities, literacy skills training, affordable housing, behavioral and physical health care, family reunification, substance abuse treatment, and counseling. The CAB is made up of CCP members, community-based organizations, community members, and local service providers. The common goal of the realignment plan is to ensure public safety, reduce repeat offenses, and give formerly incarcerated inmates the tools they need to successfully reintegrate into our communities. Of great importance to the realignment process is risk assessment of the convicted individual to ensure that the community stays safe. Contra Costa County was initially allocated about $4.5 million for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2011/12 through AB 109 funding. Fortunately, this amount was increased, and for the next two years, Contra Costa will be allocated just over $19 million. This is supposed to be used to implement the reentry plan, expand services, and secure County coordinated community-based programs. There are no funding guarantees past June 30, 2014. At issue now is how to responsibly and effectively spend the allocated $19 million. Should it be spent on increasing our County jail capacity or on social programs to help released prisoners? Up until this past month, Sheriff Livingston was hoping to utilize some of these funds to add 150 beds to the existing West County Detention Facility, a jail that not only holds inmates but also provides a variety of services to help with successful reentry. However, many citizens and community groups came to the September CCP meeting and argued that we don’t need more jail beds, that the monies would be better spent on community-based programs which should help keep the released inmates from going back to jail. The Sheriff has taken the addition of the 150 jail beds off the table for the time being. Realignment is a significant undertaking, and all parties involved realize that having never done this before, it will remain a work in progress. As our County is given these new responsibilities, the highest priority should be to keep our communities safe. We are relying on the experts who make up the CCP to come up with a plan of how to best use the $19 million to serve that purpose. If you want to weigh in on how the County spends the $19 million allocated to it, attend future meetings of the Community Corrections Partnership, or learn more about Realignment, visit www.co.contra-costa.ca.us/index.aspx?NID=3113. If you have other County issues you wish to discuss or would like to contact me, please don’t hesitate to do so. I’m elected to serve you. I can be reached at Candace.Andersen@bos.cccounty.us or 925-957-8860.

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Over 100 people recently attended Creeks Day at Leigh Creekside Park. Local high school students, middle school students, and scouts eagerly trimmed back and hauled out 100 bags of invasive plants under the guidance of the Lafayette Creeks Committee members. They also learned about the local aquatic life, what types of native plants grow well on creek banks, how native willow branches control erosion, and why healthy creeks are important to all living things. For more information on the Lafayette Creeks Committee visit www.ci.lafayettte.ca.us. Click on Council & Commissions at left of page, then Committees & Task Forces, then Creeks Committee.

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Solar Currents By Mark Becker, GoSimpleSolar I’ve recently learned first hand that San Ramon Valley High School has a vibrant Environmental Engineering Program. We hired three young graduates from that program as summer interns to work in our showroom. I’m sad to say that they’ve left our nest and moved onto other pursuits: two off to college, one to culinary school. Another young intern was a freshman home from university for the summer. I believe every local business should take the opportunity to mentor and learn from our youth. I hope these young men are able to learn and earn their way into rewarding careers. Based on our experiences, it seems the community and the schools are doing a good job of preparing our youth for such endeavors. Tax filing extension periods are expiring for tax year 2011. The good news is that tens of thousands of American taxpayers will pay less tax via IRS renewable energy and energy efficiency credits. The Personal Tax Credits (PTC) for homeowners and Investment Tax Credits (ITC) for business owners are in place through tax year 2016. These tax incentives pay a homeowner or business owner 30% of the net installation cost of a qualifying solar electric or solar water heating system. There is no upper limit to the PTC or ITC for solar projects. These tax incentives will reduce alternative minimum tax liabilities as well. Lesser energy credits are available for windows, doors, furnaces, fans, and other household and business equipment. Solar water heat, used to heat a swimming pool, does not qualify. For specific details on all available technologies that qualify, see www.irs.gov/form5695. PGE also provides rebates for pool pump upgrades (single-speed pool pumps are so inefficient they are no longer legal to be installed if they are over ½ horsepower). A variable speed pool pump will pay for itself in energy savings in a couple of years. There are also other efficiency upgrade rebates for lighting, appliances, insulation, etc. Solar electric and solar thermal systems also qualify for PGE rebates. See pge.com/rebates. In tax year 2010, the installation of a small solar electric system on my home reduced my annual tax liability by over $4,000 (and brought my electric bill to $0). In tax year 2011, the installation of a solar water heater system on my

Lafayette Today ~ October 2012 - Page 11 home reduced my tax liability by $2,000 (and brought my water heating costs to $12). I’m no longer subject to rising electric or natural gas rates. Tax credits and escalating energy costs accelerate investment payback time that averages 5-6 years. For payback calculations, monies that would have gone to PGE are redirected to pay for the solar system. “Payback” is achieved when the PGE savings have fully paid for the solar electric system. I’m investing my “monies not paid to PGE” as pre-tax savings into a 401K-retirement savings plan. Monies paid to PGE never provide a return on investment. At this time of year, our business typically encounters an end of year “solar project rush” to complete projects before December 31st. Project completion prior to year’s-end 2012 allows customers to capture the 30% PTC or ITC when they file their 2012 taxes in April 2013. That’s good tax planning. Corporate business owners have an added advantage in the tax code concerning the ITC. Corporate businesses must file estimated quarterly tax payments as income is generated. With the installation of a solar PV system, the ITC can reduce an estimated current year quarterly tax payment because the ITC is a credit for the tax year in which the solar project was placed in service. Of course, business owners can depreciate their assets. Investments in renewable energy equipment qualify for accelerated Federal five-year depreciation. As always, get qualified advice from a tax professional. GoSimpleSolar is taking advantage of Federal tax incentives for our business at our solar showroom location in downtown Danville. Our small operational awning mounted solar electric system on the Railroad Avenue side of our business was built primarily as a demonstration solar system. This solar system enhances our customer’s experience. We can demo firsthand how solar and its technology works. Customers and curious visitors can also see our PGE meter spin backwards as the panels generate excess solar energy. The excess power from our business’ solar system and my home’s solar system is sent back to the utility grid to be consumed locally. Mark Becker is the President of GoSimpleSolar, by Semper Fidelis Construction, a Danville based Solar Installation Firm. Mark can be reached at 925.915.9252. Come visit GoSimpleSolar’s new showroom at 114 West Prospect Ave. in Danville to see, touch, and discuss solar and energy efficiency products. For more details, see Advertorial www.GoSimpleSolar.com or email Mark@GoSimpleSolar.com.

Quick Trips

By Linda Summers Pirkle San Juan Bautista San Juan Bautista State Historical Park is 90 miles southeast of San Francisco. The park includes several structures built in the 1800’s. These buildings, the 18th century Mission San Juan Bautista and several other historical buildings, surround the only original Spanish Plaza remaining in California. State Park Senior Aide, Marcos Raul Vizcaino says, “San Juan Bautista State Historical Park exists to preserve the rich legacy of the ancestors of San Juan Bautista. You can see the progression in time from the Native Americans known as the Amah Mutsun people, the Spanish era, the Mexican era, and then the American Gold Rush era.” Allow about an hour to visit the four main historic museums; the Plaza Hotel, the Zanetta House/Plaza Hall, the Plaza Stables, and the Castro-Breen Adobe. The Mission, an active Catholic church since 1797, is also open to visitors. In the cemetery behind the church, look for the large red cross which is the burial spot of the last indigenous Native American from the area. San Juan Bautista is a charming town. The wild chickens that roam the streets add to the ambiance of bygone days. “If you want a real sense of what it was like living during the 1800’s,” says Vizcaino, “come to our Living History Days; a hands-on historical event which is held every first Saturday of the month (except November).” * The hours between 10AM and 2PM on school days can be crowded with up to 300 children visiting the site during the week. A good time to visit the park is after 2PM on weekdays, or it is even better to go on weekends. *Portions of the film Vertigo, by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Jimmy Stewart and Kim Novak, were filmed in the Plaza Stable and the Zanetta House, and there is a scene when Miss Novak runs across the plaza. Rosie Murray, secretary at the Mission, says that people from all over the world come to the Mission to see the famous tower in the film. She explains the tower sequence was actually “Hollywood.” San Juan Bautista has some nice restaurants. Our group of 40 people dined at Jardines de San Juan Mexican restaurant. We sat outside in the gorgeous patio, which is really a large garden. Service and food were excellent. On Friday nights the house regional specialty at Jardines is Huachinango ala Alicia, fresh snapper served Veracruz style, and the Sunday special is Pollos Borrachos, or drunken chicken, an old pueblo recipe - chicken simmered in a sauce with ham, sausage, almonds, raisins and a hint of sherry. Jon Clark, manager at Jardines, recommends calling in your order for the weekend specials. “Our house specialties have been on our menu for years. We have people coming in from miles around for them, and we do sell out.” Jardines de San Juan is open daily (closed Christmas and Thanksgiving). Hours: 11AM to 9PM Sun. –Thurs. and 11AM-10PM Fri.—Sat. They can be reached at (831) 623-4466. San Juan Bautista Park is open Tuesday through Sunday 10AM to 4:30PM. Guided walking tours can be arranged with reservations. Call (831) 623-2753. Linda Summers Pirkle, is a travel consultant, and has been arranging and leading tours for the Town of Danville for several years. Inspired by the many wonderful places to visit in the Bay Area, she organizes day trips, either for groups or for friends and family. “If it's a trip for my husband and me, my husband drives and I talk (he’s a captive audience) - the perfect combination! What a great place to live, so much to see, so much to do.” To share your “Quick Trips” ideas, email Coverthemap@gmail.com.

Page 12 - October 2012 ~ Lafayette Today

Shop Talk from Urban Suburban AKA “The Mechanic” Yelp and Review Sites - From a Business Owner’s Perspective By René Aguirré Where has the time gone? The holidays are right around the corner! It is time to think about servicing your vehicle for the winter months when there is rain in the Bay Area and snow in the mountains. As we get into these months, it is important to have seasonal maintenance to check your René Aguirré brakes, tires, windshield wipers, and lights. Wherever your travels take you this winter, you will want to make sure you and your family arrives safely and comfortably. The elephant in the room - As a business owner, this is a difficult topic to discuss. Yelp is one of many internet resources for people to find services in their local area or a place they are planning to visit. There are reviews from other people which will help you in your decision to go to a particular place of business or not. It sounds like a fabulous resource. Krysten uses it to find new restaurants for us to try out. She even posts a few of her own reviews from time to time. The downside is you have a venue where people can essentially vent their frustrations without taking responsibility for what they write. So many reviews I read start out with, “I have been going to [this place] for years, but this one time…” The reviewer ends up giving the place a one or two star review based on their one bad experience. Some of the businesses we work closely with have seen reviewers post a bad review, create a new alias, and then post another bad review about the same experience. In other cases, we have heard the horrors of dealing with Yelp itself - promising better reviews if you buy their advertising package, getting bad reviews from Yelp employees if you don’t advertise with them. It is a never ending circle for a business owner handling reviews and deciding how to spend our budget for online advertising and other avenues for advertising. How can we offer customers peace of mind in researching our services online? We want to encourage everyone out there to do their own research. Look into the services you are about to use, not only in the reviews, but also the Better Business Bureau or other service industry watchdogs. When you try something new, or when you go to a “usual hangout,” post about it. Let everyone know about your good experiences as well as the bad. Through our own efforts as customers, we can

Bay Area Premier of Noodle The Lamorinda Film and Entertainment Foundation presents the film Noodle from Israel. It will open at the Orinda theater October 19th. At age 37, Miri is a twice-widowed, El Al flight attendant. Her wellregulated existence is suddenly turned upside down by an abandoned Chinese boy whose migrantworker mother has been summarily deported from Israel. The film is a touching comic-drama in which two human beings, as different from each other as Tel Aviv is from Beijing, accompany each other on a remarkable journey, one that takes them both back to a meaningful life. For show times go to www.lfef.org or www.lamorindatheatres.com.

Contra Costa Wind Symphony Presents A Patriotic Salute and Broadway Too Tony Award winner Michael Maguire of Les Misérables fame appears with the Contra Costa Wind Symphony as it performs classic Broadway selections and a patriotic salute showcasing the upcoming Veteran’s Day remembrances and our national election. The show will be held at 7:30PM on Sunday, November 4th at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek. For tickets and more information, call 925-943-7463 or visit www.lesherartscenter.org.

www.yourmonthlypaper.com improve the effectiveness and accuracy of the online review sites if we use them as the tool they are intended to be and not solely as a venting forum. As a business owner, I can promise we will do our best to monitor our online presence, respond to positive posts, and respond to negative posts to show we care about what people are saying about us. We will continue to use Facebook, Twitter, and other sources of social media to keep our customers informed on best practices for your vehicle. We encourage other business owners to do the same. We know we can no longer ignore the “elephant in the room.” We will make friends with the elephant! What has Triple Nickel been up to? By the time you read this, Triple Nickel Restoration, Racing, and Fabrication will officially be entered in the Norra - Mexican 1000, off road rally! Krysten is heading to Pomona the first weekend of October to make it official. We are super excited about the progress we are making with this car. We now have team t-shirts for sale. They look fantastic and can be seen at Urban Suburban or on our Facebook page, https:// www.facebook.com/TripleNickelRacing555. News around town - We had a great time at the Lafayette Art & Wine Festival this year! We poured ten kegs of Sam Adams and Sam Adams Oktoberfest beers to crowds of people on both days. It was great to see a lot of our existing customers out and about enjoying themselves as well as making new friends along the way. Lucas Paving sponsored the booth next door to us. We certainly had a good time hanging out with them and getting to know what a great company they are! We look forward to being neighbors with them next year! 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 Mechanic” to take care of all Advertorial of your auto repair and servicing needs.

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Lafayette Today ~ October 2012 - Page 13

Whom Can You Trust? By Evan Corstorphine, Portable CIO In past articles I’ve covered some of the intricacies of privacy and the changing landscape we find ourselves living in. One aspect I’ve not covered is how we at Portable CIO treat privacy and the implications of this in the way we work with you. For example, what happens to your computer when it comes into our shop? I must confess some irritation when someone whom we’re digging out of a terrific mess suddenly gets paranoid and questions the safety of their data in our hands or the motivations of my technicians. It’s a little like someone who’s having emergency surgery suddenly asking the doctor if he’s washed his hands and knows what he’s doing. I like to point out that it is they who called us, and that digging into their personal lives is just about the last thing anyone is interested in doing. In the course of a major system repair, we’re going to copy your system into a safer environment so that we safeguard that which cannot be replaced. The data is held securely on a locked and password protected server in an alarmed facility, and this data is deleted when your computer has been returned to you. Computers come and go, but your data is precious, and it’s our first responsibility to ensure that it is safe when it’s in our care. The average computer, whether it be for business or home use, has thousands of pieces of data on it. There’s browser information, cached passwords, Word and Excel documents, pictures, music, email database files, address books, and countless other bits and pieces that make your computer uniquely yours. While backing up data is always the customers responsibility, in cases where the customer has not taken that step, our challenge is to safeguard data, because so much of it is irreplaceable. Our office is not unlike a busy emergency room at a trauma hospital. When a patient comes in for treatment, we’re not worrying about the modesty of the patient as we cut off a garment to gain access to the “wound.” To paraphrase your mother, who walked in on you when you were changing as a teenager, “We’ve seen it all.” And by all, I mean ALL. Porn? Check. Cheating husbands? Check. Corporate intrigue? Check. We’re a bit numbed by it. As we’ve begun conducting HIPAA privacy and security audits for medical practices, and we’re working with financial firms who are governed by the SEC rules and guidelines for computer security, it’s become quite clear that a new day has dawned. We have composed our own Portable CIO Privacy and Confidentiality statement, available upon request, that explains our practices, methods, and commitments to client privacy. In the medical arena, physicians are called “covered entities,” and they are governed by a strict set of guidelines in how they handle and safeguard patient information. Patient information is called PHI, or Patient Health Information. In its electronic form, it’s called ePHI, for electronic Patient Health Information. When a company like ours works with a medical office, we must legally sign a type of contract called a Business Associate Agreement (BAA). This agreement extends the reach of PHI and ePHI compliance from the covered entity all the way to Portable CIO. This means that when we are working with the medical community, we are just as responsible, and just as liable, for the safeguarding of all patient information in any form, wherever and however we might come into contact with it. It’s a very big deal, and when data is accidentally released, it can costs thousands, even millions of dollars in fines. Now, in reality it’s rare to come across any of this data. It’s stored on electronic systems at the medical practices, and we don’t have (and don’t want) access to those systems. However, the potential exists that we might run across an extract of that data located on one of these systems, and we are bound to the confidentiality rules to ensure this data never sees the light of day. It’s part of what we do to ensure that secure data stays secure, and if we ever see anything, we’re to forget it immediately and move on to the next task. The same thing goes for when we’re working with a financial firm governed by the SEC’s rules on privacy or when working with Joe and Mary Smith down the street. It’s our job to ensure that everyone’s secrets stay secret and that computers get fixed in the most expeditious and secure way possible. Do you have questions or concerns about data privacy? If you do, you should give us a call or email, because we’d love to help you make sense of it all. Either call 925-552-7953, or email helpdesk@theportablecio.com. Advertorial

Lafayette Hiking Club To participate in the following hikes, meet in the parking lot out from Lafayette BART’s main entrance at 8:30AM. We form carpools to the trailhead. Bring lunch or snacks, water, layered clothing, good walking shoes, sun protection, and money to contribute toward gas, bridge tolls, and parking ($3 local, more if further).

October 13 - Marin Headlands and Point Bonita Lighthouse Enjoy views of the coastline, the Golden Gate, and San Francisco while hiking the hills. After lunch (bring it), we will go to the newly renovated lighthouse, which opens at 12:30 - accessed through a tunnel and suspension bridge and perched above the crashing waves. Bring hiking sticks if used. Leader Alison Hill will take us on this hilly, aproximately five mile hike.

October 20 - San Francisco – up the stairs to Coit Tower and over to North Beach Enjoy San Francisco staircases and views, as well as looking at historic landmarks and restaurants. Bring BART and lunch money. The hike is oderate with significant stairs, and travels about four miles. The hike leaders are Ardith Betts and Alison Hill.

November 3 - Joaquin Miller Park, Oakland Hills See trees, ferns, shade, and views. Enjoy this Oakland Park next to Redwood Park. The hike is a moderate three miles led by Elizabeth Jung.

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Page 14 - October 2012 ~ Lafayette Today

Maybe We Paid for the Boom Days? By Art Lehman, Village Associates Realtors

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Home prices are showing signs of life, but they have a long way to go to make up for losses from the housing bust. U.S. home prices dropped by a third from the start of 2007 to the start of 2012, according to Fiserv, an analytics firm. Fiserv forecasts prices will bounce back an average of 3.7% a year for the next five years -- a rate that would still leave prices 20% below their peak. At that forecasted growth rate, the national average high of $238,000 would not be hit again until 2023. It could take even longer in some areas. “In some hard-hit markets, prices could take decades to recover,” said Fiserv economist David Stiff. Among those areas facing a long haul are Arizona, California, Florida, and Nevada, the states most caught up in the speculative feeding frenzy of the mid-2000s. In California, for example, home prices should grow a little faster than the national average. Fiserv projects 4.4% gains during the next five years. But the hole is also deeper, with prices having fallen nearly 46% from early 2007 to early 2012. Break even won’t come until after 2026. Homeowners in Nevada may have to wait the longest to make up lost ground. Home prices in the state plunged nearly 60%, and Fiserv projects annual gains of just 2.3%. It would take some 40 years at that pace to get back to 2007 levels. Real estate, of course, is local, and there are many housing markets that never bubbled during the boom. In those places, buyers who bought in 2007 are much more likely to be in the money today. In South Dakota, Texas and West Virginia, prices are already slightly higher than they were five years ago. In North Dakota, a housing shortage driven by the oil boom has sent prices soaring 17.7% over the past five years. Iowa, Oklahoma and Nebraska, are nearly back to peak, as are Kentucky, Vermont and Alaska. These were all housing markets that recorded only mild price increases during the boom. Again most of what I’m discussing is regarding California overall and not just our local community. Well, the only thing to say is that California has always defied the pundits – let’s hope we return quicker than these projections, and I’m confident that Lafayette will be much quicker than the average. 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

Hearing Loss Association Come to meetings of the Diablo Valley Chapter of Hearing Loss Association of America at 7pm on the first Wednesday of the month at the Walnut Creek United Methodist Church located at 1543 Sunnyvale Ave., Walnut Creek Education Bldg., Wesley Room. Meeting room and parking are at the back of the church. All are welcome. Donations are accepted. Assistive listening system are available for T-coils, and most meetings are captioned. Contact HLAADV@hearinglossdv.org or (925) 264.1199 or www.hearinglossdv.org.

Is Food a Problem for You? Overeaters Anonymous offers a fellowship of individuals who, through shared experience and mutual support, are recovering from compulsive overeating. This is a 12-step program. The free meetings are for anyone suffering from a food addiction including overeating, under-eating, and bulimia. The group meets Wednesdays at 6PM at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Lafayette. Visit www. how-oa.org for more information.

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The John Muir Chapter of Mended Hearts will hold its monthly meeting on Thursday, October 11th at 7PM in the Lesher Auditorium at John Muir Medical Center-Concord Campus located at 2540 East Street in Concord. Featured will be speaker Maura DeGeorge giving a “heart presentation.” Maura is an R.N. in Cardiac Education. Mended Hearts is a national organization providing support for cardiac patients, their families, and caregivers. For more information contact Nancy Mitchell at (925) 943-7549.

Contact Lafayette Today at 925.405.6397 or editor@ yourmonthlypaper.com yourmonthlypaper. com.

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Life in the Lafayette Garden Autumn Color Ablaze in Lafayette By John Montgomery, ASLA, Landscape Architect The autumn months of September, October, and November bring a joyful change to the gardens of Lafayette. Autumn marks the change from the growing season to the cycle of rest and rejuvenation. As your plants prepare for a period of rest and rejuvenation, a whole new life cycle brings vibrant colors, scent, texture, and calmness to your garden. Creating garden environments that take advantage of the seasons enhance the all-year-around pleasure of your garden. Autumn is a wonderful time in a garden. Trees, shrubs, ground covers, and grasses bring a whole new dimension of color, scent, and texture as they prepare themselves to rest. As I work with my clients in creating their landscape, I think about how we can have the garden be active all year around. So, I select a plant palette that takes advantage of the seasons. The characteristics that can be used in the palette include color, texture, structure, scent, and movement. A good all-year-around plant palette has a diverse mix of trees, shrubs, perennials, ground covers, and ornamental grasses. Color can be provided either by flower or leaf. Colorful trees like Nyssa Sylvatica (Sour Gum), Red Sunset Maple, and Chinese Pistache are vibrant as the evening snap of chill fills the air. Red-twig Dogwood or Sango Kaku Japanese Maple has vibrant bark color. As winter approaches, Autumn and Mexican Sage bloom profusely. Texture can be found in leaves, seeds, and bark. As plants prepare for rejuvenation during the winter, they begin a last spurt of growth, bloom, and seed head expenditure. Crape Myrtle wonderfully flowers and turns to spent seed heads and bark peel. Other shrubs bloom and seed in a last ditch effort to propagate. Structure is an element of design that can really be taken advantage of during the fall. Multi-branching trees and shrubs with intricate or bold branching can provide a dramatic accent that will add pizzazz to any garden. Multi-branching trees like Crape Myrtle, Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Diabolo,’ and Buckeye can accent the drama of an autumn garden. As leaves drop and begin to expose the bold and intricate branching, new garden accents are created for new focal interest. Autumn is time to take in the wonderful aromas your garden can create. The heat of our Indian summer brings the strong scent of California Bay, sage, rose and forest floor. Often times you will see roses springing to bloom as fall daytime temperatures sore. Most sages bloom during the autumn. I like to take advantage of deciduous trees and shrubs when they begin to drop their leaves. Besides the vibrant leaf colors, they can dapple the landscape floor adding texture and scent as the leaves begin to decay. When the first rains of fall arrive the aroma of the forest floor can fill the air. Autumn also brings soft warm Nor-easterly breezes through Lafayette. Movement is an element I like to take advantage of in your garden environment. Ornamental grasses such as red fountain grass, California fescue, and Morning Light Miscanthus are profuse by now with seed heads that gracefully sway and add gentle movement to your landscape. Perennials that are spent and dying back can also provide interesting movement if left uncut as they move into winter. Lafayette’s unique climate allows for a long growing season yet brings forth a good autumn and winter for rejuvenation. Planning for seasonal change is an important aspect of my design philosophy.

Lafayette Today ~ October 2012 - Page 15 A hot tip from your local Landscape Architect: If you’re looking forward to installing your landscape project in the spring, fall and winter is a great time to start the design process for your garden so you’re ready to enjoy it next summer! Gardening Quote of the Month: “I am rich today with autumn’s gold, All that my covetous hands can hold, Frost-painted leaves and goldenrod, A goldfinch on a milkweed pod, Huge golden pumpkins in the field, With heaps of corn from a bounteous yield, Golden apples heavy on the trees, Rivaling those of Hesperides, Golden rays of balmy sunshine spread, Over all like butter on warm bread, And the harvest moon will this night unfold, The streams running full of molten gold, Oh, who could find a dearth of bliss, With autumn glory such as this!” - Gladys Harp 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

Ruth Bancroft Garden Fall Event On October 20th from 10am-11:30am explore the tasty side of the Ruth Bancroft Garden at the Exotic Fruit Tasting Tour. Never tasted a prickly pear fruit? They are quite intimidating with lengthy spines and stubborn glochids. Become a prickly pear fruit connoisseur while comparing several of the varieties we grow at The Ruth Bancroft Garden. The Garden has an abundance of fruit-producing plants which we will sample on this tour including palm fruit, dragon fruit, and other unique cactus fruits. Pre-registration is required. Participants must purchase garden admission for the day and pay an additional $8 fee to participate in the tasting tour. The Ruth Bancroft Garden, located at 1552 Bancroft Road in Walnut Creek, is open to the public daily, 10am to 4pm. The 3.5 acre Garden is filled with hundreds of stunning succulents. The Ruth Bancroft Garden, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit which owns the Garden and raises funds for its preservation. The Garden is an outstanding example of a water-conserving garden and houses important collections of aloes, agaves, yuccas, and echeverias. For more information, visit www.ruthbancroftgarden.org or call (925) 944-9352.

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

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Page 16 - October 2012 ~ Lafayette Today

Fall Pruning By Blaine Brende & Joe Lamb Now is a great time to prune your trees to protect them against winter storms. There are three kinds of tree failure: branch, column, and entire tree. Judicious pruning reduces the likelihood of all three kinds of failure. Selective removal of weight from leggy branches makes it much less likely that a branch would fall, causing injury or damage to property. It takes a lot of “in tree” experience to identify branches with weak crotches and/or with unsafe weight distribution. Thinning the canopy to reduce friction from the wind greatly reduces the odds of a column breaking, or of the entire tree falling over. When done correctly, a tree pruned for safety should still look natural, even after 30% of its foliage is removed. Many evergreens, such as cedars, cypresses, and redwoods, and many species of deciduous trees, such as valley oaks, can be pruned in this time of year. Monterey Pines should only be pruned between October 15th and February 15th unless compelling safety reasons dictate otherwise.. The timing for pruning is restricted because sap from pruning cuts attracts bark beetles that are destructive to pines. These beetles become dormant during the fall and winter months. Some species of beetles carry pine pitch canker, an increasingly common fungal disease that disfigures pine trees, sometimes killing them. If your tree has dead tips scattered throughout the canopy it probably suffers from pine pitch canker. To prolong the aesthetic life of a diseased tree, prune out the infected tips before February 15th. October is also a good time, if you haven’t already, to make your landscape more fire safe. It is not uncommon for the East Bay to experience hot, dry, and gusty winds in the fall due to sinking air from the bay combining with inland high-pressure systems. The Oakland Hills fire of 1991 occurred on October 20th, its precursor, the 1923 Berkeley Fire, started on September 27th. Removing dead wood, breaking up fire ladders, and limb-

Gardening with Kate By Kathleen Guillaume My wonderful Clematis arrived from Gardenvines.com. They are beautifully healthy and well packed in quart pots. I need to wait until it cools down a wee bit before placing them in my garden. When planting clematis remember to plant them high up in the soil as they need good drainage. The plants like moist, never wet soil. Their roots are fragile and close to the surface, so the root area needs to be kept in the shade, even though most of them like a sunny location. I have two Fuji apple trees that are loaded for bear, and these will be ready to pick in a week or two. Unlike some fruit, they keep well on the tree, so harvesting is not that great a chore. Cherries and apricots have a narrow window and must be completely harvested the minute they are close to ripe. In a few months it will be bare root season, which is a perfect time to select an apple for your garden. Typically it takes a few years to get a good yield. It’s never too late to add a fruit tree, which through continuous pruning can be kept a manageable size. Fall is a perfect time to add flowering perennials. You can browse online, or visit your local nursery to see all of the new hybrids and plant introductions. This has been a good year for new plants, it is like the hybridizers have been working overtime to create new wonders and breed old favorites with better habits. It is also time to plant winter vegetables like chard, my favorite, and lettuces and herbs. It is too late to start these from seed, but all nurseries have a good selection of starters in six pack cells. Before you go shopping take a morning to really prepare your planting bed. Work in some compost and sterile steer manure (or chicken or bat guano). Remember natural fertilizers are very hot, and the bed needs to be aged a bit before you plant in them. Chicken and bat manures are especially hot, and you should wait two to four weeks, watering and letting them start to break down, before you plant.

www.yourmonthlypaper.com ing vegetation back from your home can greatly improve the chances of your home surviving a wildfire. Brende & Lamb knows how to fire prune your landscape in a way that improves fire safety, without sacrificing the natural aesthetic. Clearing some under-story trees and removing dead wood usually enhances the natural feel of a landscape by making it look more like a mature forest. Pruning trees for safety is a craft requiring study and experience. A well-pruned tree should not only be safer, but it should look beautiful. At Brende & Lamb we take great pride in both the science and the art of pruning. Each plant has a natural growth pattern, and our trimmers are expert at accentuating the shape given the plant by nature. Our trimmers are well practiced in aesthetic pruning and are attuned to the artistic flow inherent in tree forms. One form is weeping, as with Willows and Chinese Elms. In some species, such as the Monterey Cypress, branches ascend at acute angles to the trunk, giving the tree an upswept look. Branches in the Coast Live Oak bend and twist, forming complex arcs. Each tree species has a unique form and flow. When necessary, trees and shrubs can be reduced in size, but crown reduction requires a good eye: a poorly reduced tree looks like a thicket of stubs. Topping is almost always a bad idea. However, the crown of many trees can be reduced by cutting back long branches to the crotches formed by shorter branches growing in the same direction. If the branch doesn’t fork, we cut back to the lowest growth point that will neither create a thick stub nor undermine the arching quality of the branch. When a tree or shrub has been reduced in this way, it’s difficult to detect the cuts or tell that the branches have been shortened. If your trees need a little TLC to protect them against winter winds, or if your property could use a little fire protection, please call 510-486TREE (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 It is almost time to pull up the tomato plants. If you have a lot of green tomatoes still on the vine, pull up the whole plant and hang it upside down in your garage or a shed. Most of these tomatoes will ripen slowly, or you can make fantastic fried green tomatoes which go well with a spicy aioli. I would be glad to eat a plate of fried green tomatoes for dinner, letting it be my main course. You can also slice them and place them on foil on a cookie sheet that you have coated with olive oil, drizzle some oil over the top, season with salt and pepper, and cover with shredded parmesan cheese, and broil until cheese turns golden. There is nothing as glorious as food from the garden, somehow it just tastes better and you know it isn’t covered in pesticides and fungicides. Also when you grow food you can enlist children and grandchildren to help. Even if they don’t like veggies, somehow when they have grown the vegetables they find them more palatable. Autumn is also time to clean out beds and plant small shrubs which can create year-round interest. Two of my favorites are a miniature variegated, very slow growing boxwood, and a miniature holly which is also variegated. When selecting shrubs and trees, remember never to plant them close to the foundation of your home. Most older homes in our area have raised foundations with vents for air circulation. It is important for the health of your home to make sure these are never blocked. Also, you never want to have irrigation water close to the foundation area. So, be sure to check on the height and width of any shrub, and make sure when it is mature that it will be at least three feet away from any structure. Have a wonderful harvest and happy pumpkin decorating!

Montelindo Garden Club The Montelindo Garden Club will be meeting on Friday, October 19th at 9AM at Orinda Community Church which is located at 10 Irwin Way in Orinda. The topic of the meeting will be “Fall and Winter in the Garden.” The speaker will be Dustin Strobel, manager of Sloat Nursery in Danville. He will speak on fall and winter color in the garden and how to maintain your garden in the winter. For more information, call (925) 254-3906 or e-mail luiseh@comcast.net.

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Lafayette Today ~ October 2012 - Page 17

Real Estate Succession Planning I By Robert J. Silverman, Attorney at Law Between your home and any vacation and/or investment property you own, a meaningful percentage of your total assets is likely comprised of real estate. It follows that serious consideration should be given to the succession of this property. People are often inclined to structure their Living Trust (or Will) in an “asset specific” manner. For example, they may dictate which children or other loved ones will inherit certain specific properties and/or financial accounts. They may also require that certain assets be sold upon their death so that the sale proceeds, rather than the assets themselves, are distributed to the beneficiaries. The problem with these inclinations is that a highly asset-specific estate plan is often impractical. Over time, asset values, the lives of your loved ones, and the economic marketplace for certain kinds of assets are likely to change significantly. This frequently throws a wrench into a very asset-specific (i.e. “micro-managed”) plan. A less asset-specific estate plan provides useful flexibility. It gives the successor trustee of your Living Trust the discretion to work with the beneficiaries in a practical manner that best suits their interests based on the circumstances at that time. This is typically accomplished by leaving all or nearly all of your assets in the “residue” of your trust – to be split up among your beneficiaries in the respective percentages you allocate to each person. With real estate, however, certain circumstances make it compelling for a property owner to designate a given piece of property to one particular beneficiary. Here are some situations, among others, in which careful consideration should be given to making a specific bequest of a property: 1. When one of the beneficiaries lives at the property. 2. When one of the beneficiaries would likely want to live in the property after the owner dies. 3. When one of the beneficiaries already owns a fractional interest in the property; or 4. When the owner is only the legal title holder - having gone on title for convenience purposes (e.g. to qualify for a purchase or refinance) - and one of the beneficiaries is really the true owner (“equitable title” holder). Absent a specific testamentary bequest of a property, it is possible, if not likely, that the successor trustee will decide to either a) sell the property and split up the proceeds among the beneficiaries, or b) distribute fractional interests in the property to each beneficiary. In either case, the beneficiary who lived in, and/or who could potentially reside in, or best use the property might need to try to buy the interest(s) of the other beneficiary(ies). In such situations, objections, complications and disputes can arise, and it’s never certain that the buy-out will happen. Furthermore, such a buy-out may be detrimental from a property tax standpoint. In any one or more of the above situations (1-4), and other similar ones, if you are the property owner, you don’t need to (and probably shouldn’t) leave it to chance that the property will end up in the right beneficiary’s hands. Instead, consider making a specific property bequest. By examining all potentially relevant factors and ramifications, including personal and familial issues, and tax aspects (including property tax, income tax, and estate and gift tax), and discussing these with your estate planning attorney and other professional advisors, you can come up with a customized Living Trust design that is most certain to accomplish your objectives. In my November article, I’ll outline a number of interesting, and not well known, property tax reassessment rules that can provide substantial help in shaping a real estate succession plan. I’ll present a hypothetical example of how a specific property bequest can be very advantageous for the inheriting individual. 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

EBRPD continued from front page year. Each patrol has its own certification testing. “Once we get them on patrol,” Heather laughs, “they stay on board a long time unless they move out of the area! Some have been on patrol for 30 years.” The concept began with four civilian riders who wanted to make a difference. In 1979 they formalized their vision as the Volunteer Mounted Patrol. Bicycle Patrol followed in 1989, Hiking Patrol in 1994 and Companion Dog Patrol soon after. While each of the patrols makes its own unique contribution to promoting safety and preserving natural resources, all share the mission of observing, reporting and educating. “We are the friendly face of the parks,” says Cindy Shon who has been on Mounted Patrol for the past decade. “Our role is to be friendly, helpful, and informative.” Patrol members answer questions, share maps, and advise visitors about park regulations. They report downed trees, animals left unattended in trailers or cars, and situations that may require intervention by sworn officers. Before going on patrol they call in their plans to dispatch and report in again when they return home. While on patrol, volunteers are covered by the same insurance as park employees. Hiking Patrol member Larry Fong remarks, “You have to be a mellow person to do this job. Your role is to make people feel safe and to educate the public. Not everyone responds politely to ‘education.’” Although volunteers are asked to spend 6-8 hours a month on patrol, most gladly work more time as last year’s total of 24,100 hours indicates. For Larry, “Being on patrol is a kind of ‘double-dipping.’ You get to be physically active and at the same time help other people.” Fong, also on Search and Rescue, always carries emergency supplies: first aid equipment, extra water, and power bars. Many of the problems he observes come from one type of trail user misunderstanding the needs of another. To a pedestrian, a cyclist passing at the 15 mile per hour speed limit on a paved trail seems to be speeding. To a cyclist, a bunch of pedestrians walking side by side appears to be hogging the trail. On multi-use trails, equestrians have the right of way over pedestrians and bicyclists. People unfamiliar with horses don’t know how dangerous the effect of startling a green mount with an inexperienced rider can be. Horses can be spooked by seeing a strange figure in a flapping poncho or being approached without warning by a cyclist whizzing around a blind curve. Pedestrians have the right of way over cyclists. With the exception of wheelchairs and electric-powered bicycles for the disabled, no motorized device is permitted on any trail. Jerry Buck promotes safety for all trail users. Volunteers attend monthly patrol meetings and also help with at least one special event a year. Favorite happenings include parades, safety fairs, and fishing derbies for See EBRPD continued on page 24

Page 18 - October 2012 ~ Lafayette Today

Three Generations, Three Trips, 12 Ballparks, Part II By Daniel A Barnes, CFA Last month I shared a story about baseball and some trips I have taken with my father and son. It was the story of three trips, three generations, and 12 ballparks, but, I ran out of space! Here is the continuation of our family trilogy. Someone asked me what the link’s between my personal stories and this advertorial for my investment advisory firm. That’s easy. To me, money is to be protected and conservatively grown to fund the things in life that really matter: family, experiences, and shared memories. As an advisor, I guide clients to open themselves to leading richer lives. The baseball trilogy is one way I try to stay open myself. We started our trip to Boston by touring the city. The Boston subway was built in the 19th century, and it shows. But, we got to the park, and what a delight it was. Fenway was built in 1912, and the Red Sox won the World Series that year as well. It is magnificent. One highlight was at the end of the 8th inning, when everyone stretches and smiles to sing Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline.” The tradition began in 1998, when the music director began randomly using the tune. However, it wasn’t until 2002 that the new team owners requested that “Sweet Caroline” be played in every game at the end of the 8th inning. What a great feeling it created. We saw six balls hit off the Green Monster (Fenway’s 37-foot left field wall), and finally one was hit out and over the wall in the 9th inning. Fenway made it to #1 on our list of 12 ballparks.

Westward Bound We drove southwest to Springfield, Massachusetts and the Basketball Hall of Fame. They’ve done a nice job with this, and it’s good for a two to three hour visit. Next we headed west, past Albany, New York, and on to Cooperstown. West of Albany, we got hungry. We all knew what we wanted: a small Italian restaurant with great food. Despite iPhone technology, we couldn’t find where to go. So my son Jonathan suggested we “ask a local.” What a concept. We were directed across the tracks to a great place called the Parillo’s Armory Grill in Amsterdam, New York.

Brainwaves by Betsy Streeter

www.yourmonthlypaper.com The next day we were up early and off to the Baseball Hall of Fame, which is a place like no other. The records that stand in Cooperstown are records of monumental longevity. Lou Gehrig played in 2,161 consecutive games, a record that in my youth, we all said, would never be broken. Of course, it was smashed by Cal Ripken Jr. in the 1990s. Ripken played in 2,632 consecutive games. We spent four hours taking in all of the great Hall. Then, we had a disappointing trip to Niagara Falls. The falls themselves are amazing, but the area around it has become a horrible tourist trap. The following day, we were off to Toronto, about 90 miles away from Niagara Falls. We took in the game with the Blue Jays in their ho-hum stadium. The highlight? During batting practice, Jonathan snagged his third ball, a 400foot home run. He caught it on the fly, right in the spot where he predicted a ball would come, when the previous 50 shots had all gone to the opposite field. We ended our trip in Pittsburgh, the site of 446 bridges, the most of any city in the U.S. Many of the bridges are beautiful. The Ohio River is formed by the joining of the Monagehela and Allegheny rivers in downtown Pittsburgh. PNC Park overlooks this juncture with arguably the best view of any ballpark in the U.S. It is a view across yellow truss bridges and a vibrant skyline. The fans in Pittsburgh are great, and the atmosphere was right up there with Wrigley Field and Fenway Park. In fact, the fans win the tailgating award, as they were out there from 11am to 11pm, and the next day, they were getting going again at 10am for a mid-day game. Pittsburgh nearly tied for second place after Fenway and Wrigley in my list of favorite parks. It was a great three trips -- with three generations and 12 ball parks. We won’t forget the memories. Barnes Capital, LLC is a Registered Investment Advisor. We build balanced portfolios for clients seeking conservative growth, retirement income, and capital preservation. Financial planning is an integral part of our process. We offer a level of service which clients struggle to find elsewhere. To learn more about us, call Daniel at (925) 284-3503 and visit www.barnescapital.com. Advertorial

Ask Dr. Happy By Bob Nozik, MD Dear Dr. Happy, I am a 22-year-old, average-looking guy with champagne-tastes in women. What’s happening over and over is that the women attracted to me don’t physically appeal to me, while the ones that do appeal to me won’t give me the time of day. I’m a college graduate, have a career, and I’ve been told I’m a nice guy. Dr. Happy, what can I do to attract the beautiful women I am drawn to? ~Frustrated

Dear Frustrated, Physical appearance is a major attraction to people your age. Let me relate this to happiness: Hedonic happiness and romantic love are similar in that both create a powerful punch; however, neither lasts. Much more significant, and in the long-run, important for lasting happiness and enduring relationships are Eudaimonic (inner derived) happiness and mature (lasting) love. What you need now, Frustrated, is to begin paying less attention to the physical appearance of your potential partners and more to qualities like kindness, intelligence, depth, personality, and compassion. In the long-run, it is what’s inside a person that means much more to your life satisfaction than what’s on the outside; outer beauty fades but inner beauty lasts.

Happiness Tip Certainly, physical beauty attracts, and while there is nothing that says this is incompatible with inner beauty, neither is it a given that they will be present together. Approximately 50% of marriages end in divorce while, in my informal, unscientific survey, I would estimate that half of the remaining marriages aren’t what I would consider successful either. A 25% success rate isn’t particularly encouraging. The major problem, as I see it, is that so many people marry based on romantic attraction; that is, physical appearance and sexual excitement. Over time, these attractions diminish in importance while qualities like kindness, compassion, values, and compatibility rise to the forefront. My advice for a happy, long-lasting relationship is to focus more on inner beauty and less on outward appearances. In the long-and even medium-run, that will be more valuable and bring more marital happiness than short-term, external qualities ever could. Please send questions/comments for Dr. Happy to Pollyannan@aol.com.

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Breast Cancer and Melanoma are Assoicated By Dr. Shanny Baughman Wading through medical literature can be confusing and overwhelming. Exhaustion can set in from conflicting medical reports, some touting an obscure herb as a cancer cure, and others decrying the same herb as a carcinogen. Before you give up on medical reports completely spend the next five minutes with me - it may change your life. Dr. Shanny Baughman, Alamo If you have had melanoma (the most serious form of skin cancer) or breast cancer, you have a higher risk of developing the other cancer.

Historical Associations Early associations between breast cancer and melanoma appeared in the 1970s when five patients with breast cancer and melanoma were documented. An increased association between the two cancers was found in a larger group analysis of a Connecticut cancer registry in 1980. A total of 835 women with melanoma and 18,010 women with breast cancer were followed. The rate of diagnosis of both cancers in the same patient was 60% higher than the predicted rate.

Recent Findings Gillian M. Murphy, MD, a photobiologist, in Dublin, Ireland, and her team of investigators examined 6,788 cases of melanoma and 27,597 cases of breast carcinoma between 1994 and 2004 documented in Ireland’s National Cancer Registry. They found a four-fold increase in the number of patients with both melanoma and breast cancer compared to the predicted rate. Mathematically, if there were no relationship between the two cancers, 30-35 patients would be expected to have both cancers, but the actual number of people with both cancers was 127. “In general, patients with melanoma or other skin cancers are always at higher risk of developing other malignancies,” Dr. Murphy commented. “But this is about a fourfold increase, which raises the possibility of a genetic predisposition linking the two cancers.”

Exploring Possible Links Potential genetic and/or hormonal factors contributing to the breast cancer and melanoma association are being explored. Mutations in CDKN2A, a gene that indicates high risk of developing melanoma, also puts carriers at up to 3.8 times greater risk of breast cancer. Mutations in the gene for breast cancer susceptibility, BRCA2, increase carriers’ risk of melanoma by as much as 2.58 times as well.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is Here Again! By Tiffany Svahn, MD It seems like just yesterday that we were honoring Breast Cancer Awareness in 2011. While the year has gone by quickly, it has not done so without leaving its mark in the advancement of breast cancer treatment. We all know that breast cancer is a very important health issue for women as it is the most common cancer in women and the second most common cause of cancer death. In 2011, there were more than 220,000 new diagnoses and more than 40,000 deaths due to breast cancer in the United States. But, the most important statistic is that there are more than 2.5 million breast cancer survivors in this country right now! That is due to improvements in screening, leading to earlier diagnosis, as well as advancements in treatments that increase the cure rate. We often hear the phrase that we need to “find a cure for breast cancer,” when in reality we actually cure more than 90% of women diagnosed with this disease. Although there are some women whose breast cancer cannot be cured, we now live in a time when incurable breast cancer can be treated as a chronic disease, like diabetes and heart disease. There are many different treatment options for women with metastatic breast cancer, and these treatments lead to longer survival and improved quality of life. In the past year, three new drugs have entered the arena for breast cancer treatment, making it a record year in breast cancer advances. Two of the drugs, pertuzumab (Perjeta) and TDM-1, target HER2-positive breast cancers, while everolimus (Afinitor) treats hormone-responsive breast cancer. Both pertuzumab and everolimus are already FDA-approved, and we anticipate approval of TDM-1 in the near future. We are fortunate to live in a time and a community in which there is a great focus on breast cancer awareness. Locally, there are some important events in the upcoming weeks. “The Many Faces of Breast Cancer,” a program that focuses on

Lafayette Today ~ October 2012 - Page 19 However, as Dr. Murphy observed, “Only a minority of melanoma cases have identifiable genetic mutations.” Just five to 10 percent of melanomas occur in families with multiple cases of the disease, and in only 20-40 percent of these families is there a mutation in CDKN2A. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are enzymes that breakdown proteins in both normal and pathological processes. There are over 23 MMPs, with MMP1 and MMP8 associated with both melanoma and breast cancer. A study performed in 2011 showed that having the MMP8 variant increased the risk of melanoma but not Dr. Kelly Hood, Lafayette breast cancer (in genotype A/G, but not G/G). There was no strong association between MMP1 and either melanoma or breast cancer. Hormone replacement therapy is associated with a slight increase in breast cancer and in melanoma, but the risk is statistically significant only for breast cancer. So far there is no data linking estrogens to both cancers in the same patient.

Conflicting Reports Although compelling, there is not complete agreement about the association between melanoma and breast cancer. Two studies did not show an increase in melanoma in breast cancer patients, or an increase of breast cancer in melanoma patients.

Key Points Despite inconsistencies in the data, evidence suggesting that an association between breast cancer and melanoma exists. A woman diagnosed with one is at higher risk of developing the other. All patients with a history of breast cancer should have a thorough skin exam annually by their dermatologist and perform skin self-exams regularly. All female melanoma patients, particularly those with a personal or family history of melanoma, should comply with the American Cancer Association’s recommendation for annual mammography, undergo breast self-examinations, and be examined at regular intervals by their primary physician or in a breast clinic. References Schoenberg BS,ChristineBW.Malignant melanoma associated with breast cancer.South Med J,1980,73(11):1493-7. Murphy,GM,Ho WL, Comber H, et al. Malignant melanoma and breast carcinoma; a bidirectional correlation. Irish Journal of Medical Science. Online First, March 2009. Debniak T, Jakubowska A, Serrano-Fernandez et al. Assoication of MMP8 gene variation with an increased risk of malignant melanoma. Melanoma Res,2011;21(5)464-8.

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 the issues of breast cancer survivorship, will see its fourth year of an auditorium filled with breast cancer survivors on October 13th at the Lesher Center in Walnut Creek. On October 18th, John Muir Health Center will have “An Evening in Pink” stroll that begins at the Women’s Health Center and continues through downtown Walnut Creek. These are just a few of the events occurring in our community throughout the month. Whether you are a survivor, a loved one, a caregiver, or just one who cares, we hope to see many of you out there this month supporting the cause! Tiffany Svahn, MD is a Medical Oncologist and Hematologist with Diablo Valley Oncology. Dr. Svahn specializes in breast cancer. Diablo Valley Oncology’s comprehensive cancer center is located at the California Cancer and Research Institute in Pleasant Hill. For more information, call (925) 677-5041. Advertorial

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I often see teens wanting to lose weight and look their best. I have a particular empathy with them since I too was overweight as a teen because of my own personal problems, which was a major cause for me to major in nutrition in college and develop my own approach that allowed me to lose weight and keep it off. Let me tell you about my teen client, Debbie, who attends a local high school, is in leadership, and plays soccer. Debbie is certainly quite active. Because of her busy schedule, she ends up eating most of her food at the end of the day. Her diet during the day could best be characterized as low fiber, low protein, and high sugar. Breakfast consisted of Honey Nut Cheerios. During the middle of the day she consumed smoothies, Think Thin and Cliff bars, and yogurt. For dinner, with her family, she ate double servings of meat and starches and skipped the veggies because they did not taste good to her. Late at night, she constantly snacked with bowls of Honey Nut Cheerios thinking they were a healthy choice. I calculated her nighttime snacks alone contributed over 1,000 calories to her daily intake. In my initial session with Debbie, I evaluated a food diary and showed her where her meals were lacking protein and fiber. I taught her how to read food labels for serving size as well as percentage of calories from fat, grams of protein, fiber and sugar. I always tell my clients that the food label is really backwards – we don’t use the metric system nor go by grams, and protein is listed as the last item where it should be first along with dietary fiber. After telling Debbie that 1 oz. of protein is equal to 7 grams, she could see her Honey Nut Cheerios has a skimpy 2 grams of protein compared to the king of cereals, Kashi Go Lean, that has 13 grams of protein or about 2 oz. of protein. When you add a cup of milk to cereal you get an additional ounce of protein and thus a breakfast can have 3 oz. of protein. I adamantly made the point that Debbie must consume at least 8 ounces of protein and 15 grams of fiber before dinner to function well during the

www.yourmonthlypaper.com day and not be starved for dinner. After looking at a list of her favorite foods, we put together a meal plan. For breakfast Debbie agreed to have oatmeal or Kashi Go Lean with some fruit after trying a sample at my office. Debbie liked the idea of taking to school a midmorning snack of an apple with peanut butter, beef jerky, or a small pack of almonds. Debbie tried Trader Joe’s fresh grilled chicken strips cut up with a cup of mixed beans and salsa and a leftover chicken breast with veggies and brown rice which she enjoyed. Now, as a routine, she takes the second serving that she used to have for dinner and saves it for lunch the next day and adds tasty veggies that she likes. When she comes home from school, before soccer practice, she now likes to have a hearty soup such as lentil or black bean, or even oatmeal. Debbie has traded in all her smoothies for fresh fruit, is drinking more water than ever, has eliminated bars, and is substituting low sugar Greek yogurt instead of high sugar Yoplait. She now tells me she goes to practice at 5PM feeling better than ever with high energy. She no longer comes home famished and can control her portions at night. Best of all she does not feel the need to snack endlessly at night. Now she is happy with a fat-free fudgicle or creamsicle or even some sorbet. Debbie and I have worked together through several follow-up phone and email sessions where we discuss strategies for eating at parties, social events, and restaurants with friends and family. The number one lesson for Debbie was not to go to a party hungry and avoid filling up on unhealthy junk food that is usually available at teen gatherings. When at a buffet, which her family and friends enjoy, I taught Debbie to first scan the choices and set up a plan instantly in her mind, and then keep to it. It is fine if she makes room for dessert as long as she eats less starch and fat. I am glad to inform you that Debbie has lost 10 pounds in one month, and we are still working together via phone and e-mail. Her goal is to lose 10 more pounds before the holidays. The good news is that Debbie’s visits were covered by 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 nutritional concerns. Refer to my website www.LindaRD.com for past articles, recipes and nutrition tips in my blog section. Advertorial

Symphony continued from page 5

Village continued from front page

Empyrean Ensemble at UC Davis and the Bay Area’s Left Coast Chamber Ensemble. In 2003 Hofman formed the Kreisler Ensemble, a group of seven Bay Area-based musicians, and she serves as its artistic director and conductor. While quiet-spoken in conversation, she wields the baton with power and authority. She is a diamond in the rough, about to be cut and faceted by her experiences with the Diablo Symphony. Joyce Johnson Hamilton, who retired as Music Director in 2011 after 31 years of leadership, was a master weaver of people and music, demonstrating a sensitive ear in communicating with the musicians. She has been described as a gold nugget finely burnished by her tireless enhancement of performers and programs. Also a trumpet virtuoso, Hamilton will be featured in the opening concerts as the guest artist, playing the Haydn trumpet concerto. Matilda Hofman. Photo by Christoph Trestler As a composer, she brings adventure to the audience and players, and the Symphony will honor her again in the March 22 and 24, 2013 concerts which will premiere her special composition celebrating the orchestra’s 50th anniversary. These concerts will also feature the season’s winner of the Yen Liang Young Artist Competition, a symphonic Junior Olympics with outstanding young performers. The Diablo Symphony is the oldest symphony orchestra of professionally trained musicians in Contra Costa County. Hofman becomes the sixth conductor of the Diablo Symphony since its founding in 1962. Tickets ($10-$25) are available at the Lesher Center for the Arts box office, by calling (925) 943-7469, or at lesherartscenter.org.

organized physical activities, with exercise classes and walking groups; organized social activities including discussion groups, parties, and musical events; continuing education with classes on a variety of intellectual subjects and how-to-classes on computing, the internet, or cooking; and personal, legal, and financial services. “Think of a Village as a ‘concierge service’ with one-stop shopping,” says Lafayette resident and Task Force Chair Ruth McCahan. “In their times of need, instead of enlisting a busy or uninformed family member, or relying on a neighbor or spouse, members will have one phone number to call for 24 hour assistance. Many of the services will be provided directly by program staff through arrangements with third parties under contract to provide services either at a discounted rate or on a priority basis, or both. All service providers will have been thoroughly evaluated and meet the program’s high standards. “The Village will provide comfort and convenience to members, in their own home, while allowing them to maintain their sense of autonomy and independence,” adds McCahan. “Membership will also give access to a community of like-minded people with opportunities to socialize and spend time with one another.” “It’s an idea that’s been tested and a movement that’s growing nationally,” says Steven Falk, Lafayette’s City Manager and a fan of the Village concept. “Membership in a village provides many of the benefits of a retirement community without giving up one’s independence, home, and neighborhood connections. Given Lamorinda’s growing senior population, it may be the right concept at the right time.” While the market is definitely responding to the rising need for elder care, the cost for senior housing facilities, gated communities, and personal managed care can be prohibitive. The Village concept promises to provide an affordable option for many. To participate in the Lamorinda Village Task Force’s survey of interest, please visit http://kwiksurveys.com/app/ rendersurvey.asp?sid=93gud5adtv9inxr1086.

Page 20 - October 2012 ~ Lafayette Today

Your Personal Nutritionist By Linda Michaelis, RD. MS. Teen Weight Loss the Healthy Way

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When Your Teen Pushes Back By Michael Anne Conley, MFT If I had my child to raise all over again, I’d build self-esteem first, and the house later. I’d fingerpaint more, and point the finger less. I would do less correcting and more connecting. I’d take my eyes off my watch, and watch with my eyes. I’d take more hikes and fly more kites. I’d stop playing serious, and seriously play. I would run through more fields and gaze at more stars. I’d do more hugging and less tugging. ~Diane Loomans, from If I Had My Child to Raise Over Again Several related questions about parenting teens came in last month, so let’s explore the “pushback” you might experience from your teen, whether it shows up as open opposition, subtle non-compliance, or a little bit of both. One reader describes how the family dynamic has changed with teenagers in the house. “My older son is 17, and he would rather be with his friends than spend time with the family. It’s like we’re a bed-and-breakfast. He’s here to sleep and eat, and we don’t exist at all!” Another writes, “I notice some parents who have a lot of rules. The kids are the nicest girls I know, but they sneak around. Instead of following the rules, the kids find ways around them.” A third reader notes, “My 16-year-old daughter can be pleasant and delightful one day, and then she’s rude and rejecting the next. I never know if a simple question is going to be answered in a friendly way – or ignored altogether. My husband says I should leave her alone, but that’s hard to do.” All of these behaviors are common – and they could be good signs! As a parent, your primary task during this stage in your children’s lives is to support them in their primary task: self-definition. They will do this whether you like it or not -- so it calls for a shift in authority from Boss to Respected Guide. Parenting styles fall into three camps: Authoritarian, Permissive, and Authoritative.

Shared Experiences By Barbara Persons, MD, Persons Plastic Surgery, Inc. This month I decided to stray away from my usual article relating to a reconstructive or cosmetic procedure and write about shared experiences— events we endure as a community. The last several weeks have been marked by several life-altering events for me. I experienced the death of a kindergarten classmate of mine, and friend to many, and the death of a young local boy. These loses, combined with trials occurring in my own life, left me feeling quite thoughtful. Ultimately, I asked myself what I wanted to say in the simplest terms. It was, “Thank you, to my community.” Thank you for teaching my children, who in turn teach me. Thank you for being a community when I needed a community - at a festive gathering one day and a touching memorial the next. Thanks for coming into my office and bringing cupcakes for my staff, and for giving me the opportunity to do what I love every day. Thank you for sharing a sunny day at the Art and Wine festival with me and for exclaiming, “I never knew you did such wonderful things at work!” These moments remind me that, despite how hectic our lives may be, life is utterly fulfilling. It is easy to get caught up with our crazy schedules, but it is essential to take the time to realize how blessed we are. It takes more than skill to perform delicate surgeries and more than a kind heart to be a compassionate doctor every day. Thank you, in short, for inspiring me, for inspiration is of great worth in my profession, and it is something I find from many people I am inspired by teachers whose lessons have taught me a great deal and will not be forgotten. I am inspired by my patients whose courage astounds me and whose gratitude make every extra hour at the office worthwhile. Most

Lafayette Today ~ October 2012 - Page 21 Authoritarian parents lay down rules, expect children to follow them, and punish wrong doing. Younger kids go along with this by keeping their developing opinions to themselves, but in adolescence, they confront. Former President Bill Clinton’s story is classic. He tolerated his stepfather’s alcoholism and abuse of his mother and younger brother until the age of 14 – when he literally stood up to him and said,”If you want them, you’ll have to go through me.” This stopped the abuse. Permissive parents don’t set rules or follow through. When kids begin the normal phase of self-definition as teens, they either demand that you take charge or they give up, telling you nothing. “Why don’t you just make me do my homework,” one young man recently told his parent. Another has a parent who doesn’t know about the award she received for her volunteer work. “She wouldn’t care anyway,”she told me. Authoritative parents know the score. They set rules and apply them consistently. They use reward systems instead of punishment, encouraging kids to discover the natural consequences for not following rules. They are the final decision-makers, but their kids also know it’s safe to express what they want. Because they count on their parents as guides, they don’t need to sneak around. In 1939, Psychologist C.G. Jung offered a clue when he wrote in Integration of the Personality, “If there is anything that we wish to change in the child, we should first examine it and see whether it is not something that could better be changed in ourselves.” All teens want engagement from responsive adults. Expect some pushback from your teens. They’re just figuring out who they are and where they stand. But, if you’re facing a lot of conflict, get support to change your parenting style. 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 Advertorial maconley@wellnesslafayette.com or 925-262-4848. importantly, I am inspired by family, they are my greatest support system and can turn a long, stressful day around with a simple smile. No matter what the inspiration, I am grateful for it. It’s a reason to listen a little more, to perfect that suture, and to make that extra stop at the hospital. While there are moments when all of this is nearly overwhelming, somehow the people who need me are also the ones that inspire me. I hear my father, when asked if he needed anything sitting in his hospital bed at John Muir, simply respond, “Will you pray with me?” I hear a patient, who is facing difficult challenges, say wisely, “I learned a long time ago not to lose my cool, it doesn’t get me anywhere.” I hear my son say, “Mom, it’s important to hold hands and stick together.” So, in summary, thank you for inspiring me to be a good surgeon, a good physician, and good person. Thanks for making my job wonderful. Thank you for brining community to me and letting me serve you. 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 Advertorial drbarb@personsplasticsurgery.com.

Benefit for Alzheimer’s & Parkinson’s Research Please join us at the Rossmoor Rotary Foundation’s 27th annual gala event which will benefit Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s research. The event begins at 5PM on October 13th and will be held in the Sierra Room of the Del Valle Clubhouse within Rossmoor. Featured will be a French-themed cocktail hour with music by The Baguette Quartette and a headline show with International Cabaret Star Lua Hadar and her four-piece backup band. A formal, elegant dinner will be presented by Susan Foord Catering. Tickets cost $125 per person, and black tie is optional. For tickets or more info, contact Debbie Williams (925) 942-0545.

Page 22 - October 2012 ~ Lafayette Today

Events for Lafayette Seniors

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Our mission is to provide personalized care, help All classes are held at the Lafayette Senior maintain independence and enhance our Center (LSC) located at 500 Saint Mary’s client’s quality of life on a daily basis. Rd in Lafayette unless otherwise noted. • Free in-home assessments • Regular home visits Space is limited. Please call 925-284-5050 ensure the right care plan • Hourly care Heartfelt & to reserve a spot. Annual Membership fee: for you • Live-in care Supportive • Fully bonded and insured • Geriatric care mgmt. $10 per person. General Event fee: Members • Elder referral and placement $1; Non-Member $3. Special Concerts fee: At All Times... 3645 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Suite D Members $3; Non-Members $5. Ongoing Lafayette, CA 94549 Caregiver Support Group: Members: no (beside Trader Joe’s) www.excellentcareathome.com 925-284-1213 charge; Non-members $1. 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. 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 (SKIP 11/21, 12/19, 12/26) • 10AM - Noon • Outside the Alder Room at LSC Experience nature at its finest along our local trails. Delight in the beauty that unfolds around each bend, all the while learning to identify a variety of birds. 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. ‘Common Threads’ Stitching Group Every Wednesday (SKIP 11/21, 12/19, 12/26) • 2 – 3:30PM • Elderberry Room, LSC You will be amazed at the works of art Ben Pettersson, AKA Stitcher Extraordinaire, has created with needle, embroidery floss, and cross-stitch fabric. Whether you are a seasoned cross-stitcher or newbie beginner, join this ongoing, drop-in group for instruction, guidance, or simply a relaxing afternoon spent with fellow stitchers. Allow Ben to guide you regarding supplies and designs for a new cross-stitch project, or bring your own (needlepoint, knitting, crochet, etc. are welcome, too!) Come Play Dominoes! Wednesdays 1:30-3PM • Cedar Room, LSC Join us every Wednesday for a rousing game of dominoes, refreshments, and socializing. Come out and challenge your brain, meet friends – old and new, or just spend an enjoyable afternoon over the game table. Feel free to drop in any time. “Tickling the Ivories” Jazz Piano Concert Friday, October 19th • 1:30 – 2:30PM • Lafayette Library, Community Hall, 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd. Come and get your groove on with our cool cats. Songs from the Great American Songbook may include tunes by Gershwin, Cole Porter, Miles Davis, and Rodgers and Hammerstein, as interpreted by members of Contra Costa Performing Arts Society. We promise to have something that will tickle your fancy! Light refreshments provided by Byron Park Independent and Assisted Living. Please call Lafayette Senior Services to reserve your spot. Estate Planning: Let’s Get It Done Together Thursday, October 18th • 10:30AM – noon • Cedar Room, LSC In this workshop, Estate Attorney Stephanie West will explain the basic estate planning forms in general. At upcoming workshops, each form will be explored in detail and some forms can be completed and notarized at the workshops for free. A Beautiful Experience Tuesday, October 23 • 10:30AM – noon • Elderberry Room, LSC First impressions are lasting. Would you like to update your ‘look’ but don’t quite know how to go about it? Model, fashion stylist, and ‘seasoned citizen’ herself, Pam Speka will share fashion tips and ideas for jazzing up your wardrobe, accessories, makeup, and hair for that put-together look. Gifts, raffle prizes, and more. Bring your questions! 2013 Medicare Update and Plan Changes Tuesday, October 30 • 10:30AM – noon • Elderberry Room, LSC Medicare’s annual enrollment period runs from 10/15/2012 - 12/7/2012. Do you need help understanding whether to change or join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan, HMO, or PPO plan for 2013? Do you want to know if you could be eligible for the ‘Extra Help’ program paying for prescription drug coverage? Medicare recommends that you review your plan each year as your needs may have changed or the plan’s list of allowed drugs and copayments could change for next year. HICAP (Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program) of Contra Costa County will provide information that can help lower your costs through various public or discount programs. HICAP does not sell or endorse insurance products. A minimum of 16 participants is required in order for this class to take place. Please call 284-5050 to register in advance. Words of Wisdom…From the Philosophical to the Lighthearted Discussion Group Tuesday, October 16 • 10:30AM –Noon • Elderberry Room, LSC, Tuesday, November 20 • 10:30AM –Noon • Cedar Room, LSC Take part in this free-wheeling exchange of inspiration, information, and humor. Topics – from soup to nuts – will be explored, examined, and discussed by participants. Long-time resident Paul Fillinger’s stories and photographs will stimulate humorous discoveries regarding the benefits of becoming the ‘elders of our tribe.’ Hearing Screening • First Wednesday of the Month: 11/7, 12/5 • Cedar Room, LSC Audiologists from Hearing Science/Diablo Valley Ear, Nose, and Throat will screen your hearing. An appointment is required. Please call Lafayette Senior Services at 284-5050 to sign up for one of the following appointment times: 1:00, 1:20, 1:40, 2:00 Anne Randolph Workshops - Building Your Bone Health Friday, 10/26 • 11:30AM – 12:30PM • Cedar Room, LSC What are the factors that put you at risk for osteoporosis? Learn how to prevent osteoporosis or live with it safely. Anne Randolph, RPT, has been practicing physical therapy for 32 years. She provides outpatient therapy in Lafayette and specializes in the care of those 55 and over. Self-Discovery and Aging, Creative Writing Workshop with Judith Rathbone, Creative Writing and English Instructor 2nd and 4th Thursday monthly 10/11, 10/25 • 10AM – noon • Cedar Room, LSC Write to explore issues around aging, emotion and perception–or get support to write on any topic! Workshop sessions include writing prompts, feedback and encouragement, and information about the world of writers, writing, and publishing. Take a seat around our table! Positive Living Forum (“Happiness Club”) Thursday, 10/11 10:30AM – noon • Toyon Room, LSC Brighten your day with Dr. Bob Nozik, MD, Prof. Emeritus UCSF and author of Happy 4 Life: Here’s How to Do It. 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! Bi-Monthly Caregiver Support Group Carol Shenson, MA, Certified Geriatric Care Manager, ResCare HomeCare Mondays 10/15, 10/29 • 1:30–2:30PM • Elderberry Room, LSC If you are a family member helping to care for an older adult, join our support group to find balance and joy as you manage your responsibilities. Drop-ins are welcome.

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Lamorinda Spirit Van News By Mary Bruns, Program Coordinator Lamorinda Senior Transportation, an Alliance of Transportation Providers The 2012 Culture to Culture Community Service Award Program was recently held. Our own volunteer driver, Bob Kelly, was one of the ten winners of this 5th Annual Senior Volunteer Award. What makes Bob so special, besides driving seniors to their appointments every week, is his willingness to go the extra mile, to take on extra driving when a sub is needed, and the work he put into becoming a Class B driver so he could drive our larger vehicle. When asked what he liked about driving for Lamorinda Senior Transportation, he said, “It gives seniors the opportunity to get out and go somewhere. One day at the lunch program, Jim, Bill, and I began talking about our experience riding motorcycles. After that, we always had something to talk about. I really enjoy being part of the volunteer staff, and I recognize that someday I will need a ride, and I hope this program will continue to be in place.” Bob is a “lifelong volunteer.” He drove for Meals on Wheels for six years, volunteered in the schools while his sons were attending elementary and middle school, helped tenants with home repair projects at a housing complex where he worked, and took on challenging duties at an American Diabetes Association Napa Valley event. Bob is one of 17 very valuable volunteers (including 13 volunteer drivers) for the Spirit Van Program. He is one of the 30 “Culture to Culture” nominees who represent the community of volunteers in Contra Costa County who are stepping up in their communities to provide needed services. Van Schedule: We have been working to find a good way to explain our van schedule to you. One van takes passengers to lunch at the C.C. Café Monday through Friday. Our newer van takes passengers to appointments, shopping, and Lafayette Senior Services events as described below.

Lafayette Today ~ October 2012 - Page 23 From the inspirational messages I receive online, I especially appreciated these words from Mahatma Gandhi: Each one has to find peace from within. And peace – to be real – must be unaffected by outside circumstances. I notice that more people of all ages are attending meditation classes, and generally they come because they are feeling stressed, sometimes experiencing health challenges, may be finding it difficult to quiet their minds, or having difficulty sleeping. Clearly this is a challenging concept to live. Last month we invited you to Bob Kelly, Culture to Culture award winner share a personal story from your life. How have you changed over time? How has your life shaped and transformed you? What are your “guiding principles?” One woman recently shared that her affirmation/guiding principle is: “I am a caring person.” We all learn from each other, so please send your story to the Lamorinda Spirit Van Program, Lafayette Senior Services, 500 Saint Mary’s Rd, Lafayette, CA 94549.

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.

PET CARE

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Lafayette Today Classifieds Reach over 11,500 homes and businesses in Lafayette - Help Wanted, For Sale, Services, Lessons, Pets, Rentals, Wanted, Freebies... $35 for up to 45 words. $5 for each additional 15 words. Send or email submissions to: 3000F Danville Blvd #117, Alamo, CA 94507 or editor@yourmonthlypaper.com. Run the same classified ad in our sister papers “Alamo Today” or “Danville Today News” and pay half off for your second and/or third ad! Payment by check made out to “The Editors” must be received before ad will print. Your cancelled check is your receipt. We reserve the right to reject any ad. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Name_________________________________________ Address___________________________________________ # of Words_______________

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Page 24 - October 2012 ~ Lafayette Today

EBRPD continued from page 17

END OF SEASON CLEARANCE SALE ON PATIO FURNITURE

children. Barbara Boehme enjoys sharing her mount with children at EBRPD Fishing Derbies. She brings carrots so they can feed as well as pet her horse. Barbara rides with her husband Dale in many of the more remote parks officers seldom have time to cover. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are out there anyway,â&#x20AC;? Dale explains. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Why not take it to the next level? Ride and perform a service.â&#x20AC;? Annual recertification ensures Mounted Volunteers are fully in control of horses sedate enough to shrug off unexpected sensory experiences: balls kicked at their feet or thrown by their ears, firecrackers, a police car with flashing lights and blaring siren. A trail ride and timed testing in an arena are part of the process. Newly certifying partners can keep retesting until they qualify. Canines and their owners on Companion Dog Patrol go through a similar certification process each year. Cathy Overmyer and John Moffitt signed up after seeing a television show about the program. They find the appreciation EBRPD shows its volunteers rewarding. Although they enjoy most of their meetings with dog walkers, they have encountered problems with off-leash dogs. Cathyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leashed German Shepherd was attacked on patrol by off-leash animals. She saw an off-leash Weimaraner lured away by a coyote never to be found. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We probably have the most liberal dog policy in the US,â&#x20AC;? Gilfillan comments. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have parks where dogs can be off-leash if they are under voice control. Unfortunately, not all owners understand voice control as we at the Regional Parks do.â&#x20AC;? On paved trails dogs +HU]PSSL must be on a leash not exceeding six feet in length. Extension leashes, not always *HTPUV ;HZZHQHYH visible to cyclists or even pedestrians, can cause accidents. (SHTV EBRPD holds helmet and bell giveOpen Tues thru Sat 10 to 6 +HU]PSSL )V\SL]HYK away days and training events for :\UKH` [V Â&#x2039; *SVZLK 4VUKH` cyclists. Bicycle Volunteer Jerry Buck sometimes brings a cracked helmet to are Certified Medical First Responders, the level just below Emergency demonstrate what would have happened to his head if he hadnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t been wear- Medical Technicians. ing it. Even though cyclists must call out or ring a bell when passing other â&#x20AC;&#x153;When someone goes missing,â&#x20AC;? Headley relates, â&#x20AC;&#x153;the police are called trail users, Jerry cautions that children learning to ride may be startled and in first, and Search and Rescue is not usually contacted until itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s already topple off their bikes. Awareness of the vulnerabilities of fellow trail users is dark. All parents should know that a simple device can save a childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life. important. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My number one rule is to keep the trail as safe as possible for all I was called out to look for a five-year old girl. She was at a campground users. If I see someone engaged in an unsafe behavior, I stop, talk, educate, with her parents and church group counselors. Something frightened her and persuade. Tact is one of the skills volunteers have to have.â&#x20AC;? Volunteers and she ran off. When the CHP helicopter flew over the pitch-black area choose the areas they prefer to patrol. Buck regularly rides the Iron Horse with night vision, they spotted the child in a deep gully almost immeTrail accessible near his Danville home. diately because her mother had put a glow-in-the-dark necklace around Monthly patrol meetings offer information on everything from snake- her neck.â&#x20AC;? He continues, â&#x20AC;&#x153;On another search, the EBRPD helicopter with bites to park history. Search and Rescue meetings concentrate on training. night vision was able to find a senior hiker in one of our parks using the Volunteers already certified on Mounted, Bicycle, Hiking, or Companion light on his key ring.â&#x20AC;? Dog Patrol must attend six meetings of Search and Rescue before they For information on EBRPD, the largest park and open space system in can be sworn in. As co-captain Walt Headley explains, skills not practiced the United States below the state level, visit www.ebparks.org. To volunteer regularly are quickly lost. Eighty percent of Search and Rescue volunteers click on â&#x20AC;&#x153;Get Involved.â&#x20AC;?

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