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August 2013
Serving the Lafayette Community Lamorinda Gathers and You are Invited!
On Thursday, August 15th, consider slipping out of work a little early, packing a picnic basket, and heading out to the Moraga Commons Park, located at 1425 St. Mary’s Rd. in Moraga. Lamorinda Presents, a Partnership of Lamorinda Community Volunteers, invites you, your family, and your friends to gather for an “old fashioned” summer picnic. The evening begins at 4pm. Lay your picnic blanket out in front of the band shell, and enjoy some games for both kids and parents. Tug-o-war, three-legged races, a water balloon toss, and a watermelon eating contest are just some of the activities planned. After the games
Teen participants practice the ancient art of henna tattooing in a LLLC class.
Lafayette Library and Learning Center has Something for Everyone By Fran Miller
Those who believe libraries to be relics of the past – akin to rotary dial phones and record players – have likely never set foot in the Lafayette Library and Learning Center (LLLC). Sure, at a glance one can still find traditionallooking stacks of books and quiet study spaces. But looks - and a quiet calm - can be deceiving. Originated in the belief that a library is more than just an economical and convenient place to grab a good read, the LLLC is a visionary construct of education, collaboration, and community - a place where all ages gather for enriched intellectual and cultural experiences. Ensuring funding for these varied experiences is The Lafayette Library and Learning Center Foundation (LLLCF), created to help keep the Library doors open and the building running seven days a week. More than 1,350 patrons pass through the Library doors daily to take part in a wide variety of programs that are geared to strike Actor Peter Coyote (center) with LLLCF Program Director Tricia Brazil diverse chords of (far left) and the Commonwealth Club's Mellen O'Keefe and Kylie Gordon. interest. Through the collaborative efforts of the Library, LLLCF, and Friends of the Lafayette
See LLLC continued on page 17
Local Postal Customer
PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Permit 21 Lafayette, CA
ECRWSS
stay for the music performed by Zebop! (a local Santana cover band). For questions, contact the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce at 925284-7404. We hope to see you at this FREE event!
Concours d’Elegance: How Can a Fundraiser Be This Much Fun? By Jody Morgan
On Sunday, September 22nd, for the ninth consecutive year, vintage vehicles will vie for attention on the streets of downtown Danville in one of the West Coast’s most prestigious automotive events: the Danville Concours d’Elegance. In lieu of admission, donations are encouraged. Every cent contributed benefits the Parkinson’s Institute (the PI) and the Michael J. Fox Tour and Thrill Ride participants gather at the Lafayette Foundation (MJFF). Park Hotel for refreshments before heading to Napa. To date the Danville d’Elegance Foundation (DDE) has raised $1.5 million toward research to cure and Volume VII - Number 8 care to aid the one million Americans cur3000F Danville Blvd #117 rently diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease Alamo, CA 94507 (PD), a progressive neurological disorder Telephone (925) 405-6397 affecting movement. Fax (925) 406-0547 Revving up for the weekend’s fun fun- editor@yourmonthlypaper.com draising action, the third annual Tour and Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher Thrill Ride commences at the Lafayette The opinions expressed herein belong to the Park Hotel on Saturday, September 21st, writers, and do not necessarily reflect that of Lafayette Today. Lafayette Today is not responsible with registration and morning refresh- for the content of any of the advertising herein,
See Concours cont. on page 18
nor does publication imply endorsement.
Page 2 - August 2013 ~ Lafayette Today
City Seeks Volunteer for Vacancy • Design Review Commission The five-
member body is responsible for matters relating to aesthetics and the physical appearance of the city. The commission advises the staff, planning commission, and city council and acts on applications for design review including residential and commercial development projects. Members of the design review commission are selected on the basis of education, training and experience in the fields of architecture, landscape architecture, design, city planning or a related field. Individuals interested in this volunteer position may obtain an application online at www.lovelafayette.org, in person at the City of Lafayette Offices, 3675 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Suite 210, Lafayette, or you may also call the main office at 284-1968 and an application will be mailed to you. Completed applications must be received by 5pm, September 9, 2013.
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Save the Dates!
Save the dates for the upcoming 18th annual Lafayette Art, Wine, and Music Festival and the Lafayette Reservoir Run. The Art, Wine, and Music Festival will take place on Saturday, September 21st and Sunday, September 22nd in downtown Lafayette. Come stroll among the over 250 stalls featuring arts, handmade crafts, foods, wines, and microbreweries while pausing to listen to and enjoy continuous music on the main stages. A kids area will host entertainment and activities of kids of all ages. For up-to-date information, visit www.lafayettefestival.com. The Lafayette Reservoir Run to support local education and services and programs of Lafayette Chamber of Commerce will take place Sunday, October 27th. The Lafayette Reservoir Run is the city’s most popular family affair, involving kids, parents, grandparents, and hundreds of serious runners from throughout the Bay Area. Participants compete in 10k or 5k Certified Runs and a two-mile run/walk for fun through the heart of the downtown, around the reservoir, and back. Sprinters, walkers, the “stroller brigade” and many of Lafayette’s top four legged residents share the streets on the festive Sunday morning. For registration information, visit www.lafayettechamber.org.
Lamorinda Peace and Justice
The Lamorinda Peace and Justice Group meets the fourth Tuesday of each month from 7 – 9PM in the Fireside Room of Lafayette Methodist Church, 955 Moraga Road, Lafayette. 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.
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. Lafayette Hiking Group Join the Lafayette Hiking Group on hiking trips in our area. Below are San Ramon Valley Genealogical Meetings upcoming outings. The San Ramon Valley Genealogical Society meets at 10am the third Friday August 9 - Valle Vista to Redwood Park Tuesday of every month, except August and December, at the Danville From the Valle Vista staging area enjoy oak and bay woodlands, Family History Center, 2949 Stone Valley Road, Alamo. A speaker and the crossing of Indian and San Leandro Creeks. Climb through the is at every meeting. Everyone is welcome. ferns and redwoods to the East Ridge trail in Redwood Park. For information, call Ed at (925) 299-0881, or visit http://srvgensoc.org. Carpools will be formed to the trailhead. Bring lunch or snacks, water, layered clothing, good walking shoes, sun protection, and money to contribute toward gas ($3 local). The hike is moderate with one steep hill and is about four miles in length. Hike leaders are Alison Dumploads OnUs Hill and Joyce Tse. Meet at the city parking lot located at 941 specializes in providing the ultiMoraga Road in Lafayette at 8:30AM.
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August 24 - China Camp, Marin County
On this hike, see views of San Pablo Bay, visit the Chinese shrimping village, see the replica of a junk used by Chinese shrimp fishermen, and also view the felucca which is currently under construction. Some climbing is involved. Bring walking sticks if you have them. Meet in the parking lot out from Lafayette BART’s main entrance at 8:30 AM. We will form carpools to the trailhead. Bring lunch or snacks, water, layered clothing, good walking shoes, sun protection and money ($5) to contribute toward gas, bridge tolls and parking. The hike is of moderate difficulty and covers about 4 miles. The hike leader is Chester Jung. For questions, email LafayetteHiking@comcast.net.
Friends Corner Book Shop
Stop by the Friends Corner Book Shop, which benefits the Lafayette Library and Learning Center, on Saturday, August 31st from 9am-5pm when everything will be 1/2 off! The bookstore is located at 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd, Lafayette.
mate junk removal solution. We’ll haul away just about anything - from old household junk to construction and yard waste. The only items we are unable to accept are hazardous materials. We • Computers make getting • Cables rid of your • TVs unwanted junk • Monitors as easy as 925.934.3743 • 925.934.1515 • Servers 1-2-3; we load, www.dumploadsonus.com • www.erecycleonus.com • Phones we sweep, and 1271 Boulevard Way, Walnut Creek • Printers then we haul Monday-Friday, 8-5 • Saturday 9-1, Sunday, closed •Copiers away. It’s that • Fax Machines • Power Supply Units • Discs and Tapes easy! Plus we do it • Scanners • Printer Cartridges and Toners • And More... with a smile!
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Boulevard View By Alisa Corstorphine, Editor
Lafayette Today ~ August 2013 - Page 3
Oh give me a home where the buffalo roam, Where the deer and the antelope play, Where seldom is heard a discouraging word, And the skies are not cloudy all day. ~ Home on the Range Lyrics to folk and camp songs rang through my head as my sister, niece, and I took a six state, 2,332 mile, eight day, road trip through the Mountain and the Midwest Fostering Self-Resilience regions of our country. in Children & Teens The diverse areas of the region were stunning. No YouTube video, documentary, website, or book could bring to life the sites as they could be experienced in person. The Grand Tetons were spectacular, the Craters of the Moon were almost eerie with their twisted trees and volcanic rock landscape, the Badlands reminded me of scenes from Star Wars movies, Mount Rushmore is definitely an engineering feat, and Yellowstone is so diverse that personally I found Old Faithful to be a minor attraction to the rainbow colored thermal pools, the mud pots, the hot springs, the fumaroles, and the spectacular waterfall situated in an area that resembled parts of the Grand Canyon. The first sighting of a buffalo was amazing as the buffalo chose the center divide of the two lane road for his evening stroll. The animal was Sunday, Sept. 22 bigger than our five seat rental car, and when we met eye to eye with the 6:00 p.m. $10 wandering mammal we really got a sense of its’ grandeur. On a short hike to see mud pots a buffalo walked right in front of our path! While obviously these animals were accustomed to Ken Ginsburg, M.D. 49 Knox Drive Lafayette humans, they are still wild animals, unpredictable, and in need of their space. The scenes of buffalo, moose, Nationally-Known Speaker pronghorn, and bear were unbelievable. As we crossed prairies and fields, and encountered more difficult terrain, I kept envisioning what it was Register today at LOPC.org Free childrcare available with RSVP like for the early settlers to make their way out to California. I took away a deeper respect for what it took to come settle out west. The national park system includes 388 national parks in every state except Delaware. In addition there are 6,624 state parks in the United States; California Lafayette • Moraga • Orinda alone has 278. These areas include parks, monuments, battlefields, military parks, historical parks, historic sites, lakeshores, seashores, recreation areas, scenic rivers and trails, and the White House. Many of the parks offer reasonable lodging options. For kids, both the National Park Service and many of the State Park systems offer a Junior Ranger program where kids can complete an activity book applicable to the area and earn a patch, badge, sticker, or stamp. It is a great way to engage younger travelers. The National Parks Service also has a “passport” program where you can Moraga Commons Park collect stickers and stamp a book of your travels to the many sites. Thurs. Aug 15 4pm - Dark A spontaneous stop in Whitney, Nebraska (my niece is named Whitney), with a populaPicnic with Friends, Family & Neighbors tion of 77 people, found us enjoying the $4 BYO Picnic Basket, Food Service starts at 5pm Ploughman’s Lunch noted on their handwritten menu - the lunch consisted of sausage, cheese, a pickle, a hardboiled egg, fresh bread with real Community Games Start 5:30 p.m. whipped butter and a cut up apple. It was simple but felt authentic. We were Tug-o-War, 3-legged race, water balloon toss, watermellon eating contest, egg relay, more... surprised when a quarter bought us 2.5 hours of time at a parking meter in Billings, Montana (contrasted with the 7 minutes I got for the same quarter in Palo Alto last week!) Music by Zebop! Starts 6:30 p.m. When planning trips we often think of exotic places, but the USA has Santana Cover Band amazing sites that are waiting to be explored. I can’t wait to see more! Organized by Lamorinda Presents, A Partnership of Lamorinda Community Volunteers This land is your land This land is my land From California to the New York island; From the red wood forest to the Gulf Stream waters Contact Lafayette Today This land was made for you and Me. at 925.405.6397 As I was walking that ribbon of highway, I saw above me that endless skyway: or I saw below me that golden valley: editor@yourmonthlypaper.com. This land was made for you and me. ~ This Land Is Your Land, by Woody Guthrie
You’re Invited
Lamorinda Community Picnic
Page 4 - August 2013 ~ Lafayette Today
Events at the Ruth Bancroft Garden
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Container Gardening with Succulents
Learn the art of container gardening with our instructor, Laura Hogan, former Ruth Bancroft Garden Nursery Manager and owner of Arid Accents. Laura will demonstrate the assembly of five different categories of succulent container gardens and show custom containers that she has handcrafted for the Ruth Bancroft Garden Nursery. Handouts will be provided that suggest fool-proof strategies for container arrangements as well as appropriate plant combinations. Each participant will assemble and take home a small mini-garden, and plants and pots selected by Laura will be available for sale after the class. The event will take place on Saturday, August 10 from 10AM – 11:30AM 3328 Mt Diablo Blvd, Lafayette at The Ruth Bancroft Garden. General admission is $25, and member admission is $20. Pre-registration is required. (925) 283-5212 | Monday - Friday 7:30AM-5PM Whether you are seeking a succulent container for your garden or inspiration for a living gift, this class will provide you with the foundation for creating quality arrangements.
Bluegrass Sunset Social
Get a dose of country music and dance until sunset when the Ruth Bancroft Garden presents ‘Bluegrass, BBQ and Beer,’ a sunset social for the entire family set amidst this stunning succulent garden. The much-loved Alhambra Valley Band play their brand of urban bluegrass and the celebration continues with tasty BBQ by Willowstone Catering and refreshing drinks by Pyramid Brewery in Walnut Creek. The social will take place on Friday, August 23 from 5 – 8PM at The Ruth Bancroft Garden. Admission is $15/person and food and beverage are sold separately. Parking is free For reservations or more information, please visit The Ruth Bancroft Garden or call (925) 944-9352.
About the Ruth Bancroft
Open to the public daily, 10AM - 4PM, the 3.5 acre Ruth Bancroft Garden, located at 1552 Bancroft Road in Walnut Creek, is filled with thousands of stunning succulents. Ruth started the Garden, adjacent to her home, in 1972 with one-gallon pots of a wide variety of succulents, many of which are still part of the Garden. Opened to the public in the early 1990s, The Garden is an outstanding example of a waterconserving garden, appropriate for its Mediterranean climate, and its staff are internationally respected authorities on succulents and dry gardens. The Garden houses important collections of aloes, agaves, yuccas, and echeverias.
Serving the Bay Area with honesty and integrity since 1973
Since 1973
3191-M Crow Canyon Pl San Ramon Carpets, Hardwood, Laminate & Stone (925) 866-2200 www.MacFloor.com • info@macfloor.com
In Loehmann’s Shopping Center (next to Lucky’s)
2395 Monument Blvd., Suite J Concord (925) 680-4433 (Across from Costco Gas Station, next to Harvest House)
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Lafayette Today ~ August 2013 - Page 5
Come Hear Non-Stop Jazz Music!
The Lafayette Summer Music Workshop will be hosting non-stop music being performed from 3:30pm – 9pm on Friday, August 9th at Stanley Middle School located at 3455 School Street in Lafayette. The annual jazz camp is sponsored by Generations in Jazz and features bands made up of this year’s attendees. For more information about the Summer Jazz Camp, please visit lafayettejazz@wordpress.com.
Lamorinda Idol Finals
The eighth annual Lamorinda Idol 2013 Finals will take place on Sunday, September 8th at the Orinda Theatre located at 4 Orinda Theatre Square in Orinda. Lamorinda Idol 2013 auditions were held May 16-18 with close to 200 young people from Orinda, Moraga, and Lafayette auditioning before a panel of three judges, who selected the finalists. Fifty-four finalists will perform as soloists and/or in groups based on their grade level. Awards will be given to the winner in each of six grade categories: K-2 solo, 3-5 solo, middle school solo, high school solo, and groups for K-5 and middle school respectively. The show will be emceed by NBC Bay Area’s Diane Dwyer and Amy Hollyfield from ABC7 News. Winners will be selected by a panel of distinguished judges who are musical professionals in the Bay Area combined with audience votes. One winner will be selected for the category of overall Audience Award. Cash prizes will be awarded to each winner. Lamorinda Idol Finals is an all day event beginning at 11AM and concluding with the announcement of winners at 7PM. Check www. orindaartscouncil.org for the full schedule of performances by age category. For questions or further details, please contact Lamorinda Idol Chairman, Steve Harwood at zzz9@comcast.net.
General law practice with a concentration on Wills & Trusts and Real Estate Law.
925.283.2500 | 925.451.6679 derek@wagleylaw.com www.WagleyLaw.com
3433 Golden Gate Way, Suite B | Lafayette
2013 Get to Know Contest
Bay Area agencies and the international Get to Know Program are working together to encourage youth to connect with nature through the 2013 Get to Know Contest. The contest invites youth (19 years and under) to get outdoors and submit works of art, writing, photography, video, or music inspired by their natural world. Entries may be submitted online at GetToKnow.ca until November 1, 2013. View entries online in the Get to Know Gallery during the entire contest run. Contest winners will receive prizes, including art supplies, books, outdoor gear, and cameras. For more information, visit GetToKnow.ca.
Meals on Wheels
Seniors in our community need your support! Meals on Wheels and Senior Outreach Services have been supporting seniors in YOUR neighborhood since 1968. Two of the programs, Meals on Wheels and Friendly Visitors, rely on the support of volunteers, and we need your help now more than ever. Meals on Wheels volunteer drivers deliver meals to local homebound seniors through regular two hour shifts once per week or as substitute drivers. Friendly Visitors volunteers provide weekly one-hour companionship visits to isolated seniors. To volunteer for either program, please call (925)937-8311.
Weekly Dance Social
Dance for joy at the 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.
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
Mona Nygard is our winner! Luther was hiding on page 21 last month.
Hospice Volunteers Needed
Hospice of the East Bay is seeking volunteers to assist Hospice patients and their caregivers. Opportunities include: • Licensed Hair Stylists to offer hair cuts and styling • Certified Massage Therapists to provide massage therapy • Mobile Notaries to witness the signing of important documents • Bereavement Support Volunteers to provide support to family members after their loved one has died • Patient Support Volunteers to provide companionship and practical assistance To apply for free training, call Hospice of the East Bay at (925) 887-5678, and ask for the Volunteer Department, or email volunteers@hospiceeastbay.org. Established in 1977, Hospice of the East Bay is a not-for-profit agency that helps people cope with end of life by providing medical, emotional, spiritual, and practical support for patients and families, regardless of their ability to pay. To learn more or to make a donation of time or money, please contact (925) 887-5678 or visit www.hospiceeastbay.org.
Page 6 - August 2013 ~ Lafayette Today
The Bookworm By Joan Stevenson
One writer described the dog days of August as “the very top of the summer, the top of the live-long year, like the highest seat of a Ferris wheel when it pauses in its turning.” It is the pause before everything starts into high gear again. Behind the scenes are stalwart groups of movers and shakers oiling those gears, and exciting things happen when they move and shake! I am good at eavesdropping and walking by such a group. This is what I overheard: “Joyce Maynard, author of Labor Day, has a new book coming out August 20th entitled After Her, a suspense novel loosely based on an actual Trailside Killer case from the late 1970s, and she is coming to the library in October!” Not only does she have the new book, but her 2009 novel, Labor Day, was optioned for the movies and the film starring Kate Winslet and Josh Brolin will be premiered at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival in September. Labor Day is scheduled to be released on December 25, 2013. Already the rumor mill has this film on the Oscar radar screen! Joyce will be our guest on October 22nd in the first of the Lafayette Distinguished Speaker Series for the year. This series of special guests is a project of the Lafayette Library and Learning Center Foundation. The proceeds from the events help support the library. Speaker fees (thus far) and most other expenses have been funded by private donors. The Diablo Ballet – The Dance on Film Series continues on August 15th at 6:30pm with Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, a movie that was nominated in 1954 for an Academy Award. The movie takes place in 1850 in Oregon, where a backwoodsman brought his wife home to his farm. His six brothers decided that they want to get married too. This film is known for the unusual choreography by Michael Kidd, which makes dance numbers out of such mundane frontier activities as chopping wood and raising a barn. Before the screening, Lauren Jonas, Diablo Ballet’s Artistic Director, and film critic Beau Behan will share fascinating facts about the making of the film. Everyone will be invited to enter a free drawing to win tickets to attend a future Diablo Ballet performance. The cost for the movie is $5 per person. To reserve a ticket call 925-283-6513 x103 or
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email reserve@LLLCF.org. The Lafayette Historical Society’s Speaker Series will present, “A Light at the End of the Tunnel (Yes THAT Tunnel)” on Saturday, August 24th from 3pm4:30pm. Please see page 7 for details! Join Town Hall Theatre Artistic Director Clive Worsley on August 20th at 6:30pm in the Arts & Science Center as he presents an in-depth look at the plays in the theatre’s exciting new season. Worsley will lead an informative and engaging discussion as he explains his selection of plays for this season, their history and relevance, along with a special introduction of the directors. The Friends Corner Bookshop was a busy place all summer long. Books were never meant to gather dust. They were meant to walk out the shop door and into a new life. Bookshop Manager, Sharon Lingane, shared with me some of the diverse paths they take. The Ford School in West County was especially grateful for dictionaries they received. They were given out to families to use at home as a resource for their student children. A bag of pristine young adult books found a home at the Kaiser Pediatric Oncology ward, and the county jail always welcomes the paperbacks. Before Ruthie Thornburg, President of the Friends, adjourned the July Board meeting she called attention to her new very smart looking summer skirt. Then she showed us the book, purchased from the shop she used to make it. Awesome! So here is the challenge. What gently used book walked out of the shop and into your life? The Bookworm wants to know. My own favorites are home decorating idea books. A wonderful party took place on July 21st at the Pleasant Hill Library in celebration of the 100th birthday of the Contra Costa Library System. Friends from the Lafayette Library set up a booth where kids could decorate their own bookmarks to take home. There were arts and crafts, children’s performers, music, and fun for the whole family. Contra Costa County Library and 511 Contra Costa teamed up to repeat last summer’s successful public transit promotion by offering free BART tickets to Contra Costa County Library cardholders with Discover & Go reservations. Patrons can submit their request for up to three $10 BART tickets by clicking on the banner ad on their Discover & Go pass. No wonder the Contra Costa Library System was the 2012 winner of the National Medal for Museum and Library Service from the Institute of Museum and Library Services!
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When Tunnel Vision is a Good Thing By Ruth Bailey, Lafayette Historical Society
Lafayette Today ~ August 2013 - Page 7
11 Critical Home Inspection Traps to be Aware of Weeks Before Listing Your Home for Sale
There was an old joke about the light at the end of the tunnel being an oncoming train...but we don’t have to worry about that just now. It’s exciting to know that we’re Lafayette - According to industry ex- sale or, worse, turn prospective buyers about to see a new tunnel bringing some light to the eastern perts, there are over 33 physical prob- away altogether. In most cases, you can side of the Oakland Hills and lightening traffic congestion lems that will come under scrutiny during make a reasonable pre-inspection yourself at the same time. a home inspection when your home is if you know what you're looking for, and Yes, Virginia, there really is going to be a fourth bore for sale. A new report has been prepared knowing what you're looking for can help to the Caldecott Tunnel, and it’s on schedule to open this which identifies the 11 most common you prevent little problems from growing year! of these problems, and what you should into costly and unmanageable ones. On Saturday, August 24th, the Lafayette Historical know about them before you list your home To help home sellers deal with this issue Society will host a program featuring CalTrans Senior for sale. before their homes are listed, a free report Geologic Engineer Chris Risden and Public Information Whether you own an old home or a brand entitled "11Things You Need to Know to Officer Ivy Morrison, who will bring us up to date on new one, there are a number of things Pass Your Home Inspection" has been the project. They will have dramatic tunnel photos and that can fall short of requirements during a compiled which explains the issues involved. geological specimens unearthed during the excavation, home inspection. If not identified and dealt To hear a brief recorded message about along with recent footage capturing the tunnel’s progress with, any of these 11 items could cost you how to order your FREE copy of this report, as it nears completion. Did the diggers unearth bones of dearly in terms of repair. That's why it's call toll-free 1-866-265-1682 and enter mastodons and elephants? How about camels? Or zebras? critical that you read this report before 2003. You can call any time, 24 hours a day, Or maybe a dinosaur? You will have to plan on being in you list your home. If you wait until the 7 days a week. the Community Hall of the Lafayette Library and Learning building inspector flags these issues for Get your free special report NOW to learn Center at 3PM on the 24th of August to learn the answers to you, you will almost certainly experience how to ensure a home inspection doesn't these and many other questions. costly delays in the close of your home cost you the sale of your home. When it opens to traffic later this year, the Caldecott Fourth This report is courtesy of J. Rockcliff Realtors #01763819. Not intended to solicit buyers or sellers currently under contract. Copyright © 2013 Bore will relieve traffic congestion in the off-peak direction on Highway 24 between Contra Costa and Alameda Counties. There Taking a Stand will be no more rushing to beat the noontime closure of the middle By Art Lehman, Village Associates Realtors bore, when you really don’t have to be in Oakland until 1:30. And I try to stay out of politics, but sometimes the timing of our it’s almost too much of a dream to realize we won’t be seeing the political leaders is amazing! dreaded “LEFT LANES CLOSED ½ MILE” sign signaling major Tax Reform is underway on Capitol Hill. The Senate has merging from the left as we creep westward. adopted a “Blank Slate” approach that initially eliminates every The $402 million Fourth Bore Project is one of the largest provision in the tax code, including those that encourage real recipients of the federal Recovery Act funding in the nation—a estate ownership and investment. testament to its importance in Bay Area transportation. The Senators submitted their tax reform priorities to Senate project has also received significant funding through Measure J, leaders in July. Our voices still need to be heard now so that a half-cent sales tax measure that Contra Costa voters passed in real estate provisions are on the top of the Senators’ lists. 2004, along with other state and regional funds. When approaching tax reform, Congress needs to be careful not to adversely affect the If you’ll recall, it was three years ago, on August 24, 2010, unique legacy of homeownership and real estate investment. It is precisely this legacy that has when Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) officials contributed to our country’s historical prosperity and the revitalization of today’s economy. and other dignitaries stood together next to a custom-built I can tell you that the tax treatment of real estate, whether residential, commercial, or monolithic electric-powered road header, to mark the beginning investment property, is an important consideration for all of us. of a long awaited and much needed tunneling project. The I understand that as part of an effort to overhaul the federal tax code, the leaders Historical Society scheduled this interesting program for the third of the Senate Finance Committee are starting with a “blank slate” that eliminates all anniversary of that day. If we were the sort of folk who were into deductions, credits, and exemptions. I also understand that they are asking for input puns, we would assure you that the program won’t be bor-ing. on what tax provisions should be maintained, modified, or improved in a potential tax Heck, we’d probably even have put quote marks around the word reform bill. Now is the time for all of us to be a voice for America’s seventy-five million “dignitaries.” But that’s not our style. homeowners, as well as the tens of millions of Americans who are directly or indirectly We just hope you’ll make your reservations early by calling (925) invested in commercial real estate! 283-1848. Or go to the LHS website at www.lafayettehistory.org to The current tax system contains many provisions that encourage real estate ownership sign up. But if you’ve attended other programs in our Historical and investment. Each provision deserves careful consideration in any tax reform effort. Society Speaker Series, you already know the drill. Dare we say The first rule in tax reform (recommended by National Association of Realtors) should we’re about to realize our tunnel vision? See you on the 24th. be “Do No Harm.” Our nation’s real estate markets are finally on the road to recovery. One of the surest ways to halt this recovery is to create uncertainty about whether the current tax treatment will be eliminated or impaired for real estate owners and investors. Congress must be mindful of the broad impact that the overnight elimination of long-standing and widely utilized tax provisions may have on our nation’s economy. I hope you will express your support for the vital role real estate plays in our economy to the leaders of the Senate Finance Committee by urging them to retain and improve these important parts of our tax system. (Excerpted from NAR Call for Action) On the day to day and practical part of real estate should you have any questions on selling or buying a home in the area, please contact me at 925-200-2591 or by email at art@artlehman.com. Please feel free to email a topic for the next article too. If you’d like a free automatic email update of current listings and sales, call or visit my website to sign up, www. artlehman.com. Advertorial
Page 8 - August 2013 ~ Lafayette Today
Cinema Classics San Francisco By Peggy Horn
This month’s Cinema Classic is a film from 1936 entitled San Francisco and stars Jeanette MacDonald, Clark Gable, and Spencer Tracy. It’s an exciting movie, especially for people who live in the Bay Area because its principle focus of time is 5:13AM, April 18, 1906, the day of the great San Francisco earthquake. Jeanette MacDonald plays the part of Mary Blake, a naïve and idealistic young woman who has come to San Francisco with the dream of becoming an opera star. In the meantime, she finds a job singing at Blackie Norton’s bar, “Paradise Saloon.” Blackie, played by Clark Gable, has a heart of gold along with some rough edges, and Spencer Tracy, playing Father Tim Mullin, manages to protect Mary from Blackie’s powerful and dangerous dark side until the earthquake shows Blackie the way. The filming of the earthquake is very effective for its time, but stories of how some San Franciscans helped the general population with generosity and heroism are not included and would have made the movie richer and more provocative. Apparently, some of the survivors in the audience during the premiere were so moved by the earthquake sequence that they became ill and had to leave the theatre. Nevertheless, San Francisco is a fine film with good acting and a credible plot. Miss MacDonald is provided numerous opportunities to sing both operatic and Paradise Saloon numbers, but her singing the title song, “San Francisco,” written by Bronislaw Kaper, Walter Jurman, and Gus Kahn, is surely one of the film’s highpoints! The religious faith of the general population and Blackie in particular following the earthquake is presented in a manner not usually seen in today’s movies. The film was nominated for five Academy Awards and won the Oscar for best directing in 1937. This movie can be rented or purchased inexpensively online.
Musical Notes
The title song, “San Francisco,” became the official anthem of the city of San Francisco from 1936 until 1969 when the city adopted “I Left My Heart In San Francisco” as its second anthem song. Although many artists have recorded “I Left My Heart In San Francisco,” Tony Bennett recorded it first in 1962. The lyrics were written by Douglass Cross with music by George Cory, and it is an excellent song for downloading, especially for those of us who live in the Bay Area and know the charms of San Francisco so personally!
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Walking the Reservoir By Jim Scala
Regular reservoir walker, Bo, asked why the water tower is so much higher than the dam. I said that the answer is complex and suggested we take a short walk to get the right perspective. We climbed the steps going up the hill at the north end of the dam and then followed the worn dirt path to the wooden retaining wall just below the picnic tables. We moved to our right so we could see the tower through the tree branches. I said, “Standing here, we’re about as high as the base of the water tower’s deck supporting the observation cupola.” Then, I pointed to the hill on the south side of the dam. “The original plan for the dam was for it to connect these two hills and be nearly this high.” “The tower’s observation house would have been somewhat higher than the original dam, and its deck would have been a little above the water level. In 1927, construction was started for the planned 3.4 billion-gallon reservoir, and the tower was completed rather quickly. Then, in 1928, the earthen dam started sinking, and construction was stopped. Once the engineers understood the situation, plans were modified for a more modest 1.4 billion gallon reservoir and the present dam. Construction restarted in 1932 and was completed in 1933. So you see, the tower was built for a larger, much higher dam, and that’s why it stands so tall.” We slowly descended to the base, looked over the water, and agreed that it all worked out because the tower releases water into the Lafayette Creek as intended, and the bonus is that we have a recreation area second to none. Had the original dam not sunk in 1928, our paved trail and the visitor’s center area would have been under water. Thanks to that sinking, we have two trails and incredible views. Our current low water level is testimony to the drought, but our wildlife seems more abundant this year. Perhaps water birds are coming from places where the water’s even lower. In early mornings and late afternoons a great blue heron usually lands or takes off from the large south cove. Standing tall and serene, her head’s over four feet tall, and her offspring is almost three feet high. Junior often stands by the bandstand eyeing people and takes off from the same area as mom. I finish my Rez-walk at the bandstand and do yoga. Doing that at different times brings out our social diversity. Early one morning two very fit young men donned boxing gloves and gracefully sparred. It was poetry in motion. On the summer solstice evening several young ladies made an alter with flowers on the north railing. A few minutes later I did my yoga poses immersed in the pleasant aroma of incense with their spiritual ritual as my backdrop. Was my timing spot on or what? On a hot day Rez-walker, Maris, watched her poodle, Mittens, eagerly lap water from the stainless bowel at the east fountain. I stopped for three swallows and asked, “Why don’t you take a drink?” Her typical reply, “Thanks, but I’m not thirsty,” was my cue to expound about water. Thirst is arguably our worst sensation. By the time we’re thirsty, our body’s in serious need of water. As we age we retain less water, and the sensation lags more. Both factors increase the likelihood of mild dehydration, and that increases the risk of stroke among other issues. A good habit and risk reducer is to stop at the three strategically located fountains, and drink three swallows of water. According to the Mayo Clinic, that can do wonders for your health –– could they be wrong? On the rim trail recently several people asked, “What’s that?” They pointed to a dome on a hillside across route 24. It’s an observatory, and the owner welcomes visitors. If you’re interested in visiting, e-mail me. When a doe with a fawn, sometimes with twins, crosses the trail, she usually stops, looks you over, and continues on. However, a doe with no offspring usually stops and turns back. I’ve checked several times to see if they turn back to protect a baby, but they don’t. Why that ritual? Let me know. Feedback time - Ask yourself, “What do I get from walking the reservoir?” To me, it’s a diverse, ever changing, society with incredible wildlife and natural beauty. I’d like to know what you see and if there’s something you’re curious about. E-mail me at jscala2@comcast.net.
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Prevent Fires: Handle Materials with Care
Summer is often the time of year when we get projects done around our homes – repaint a section of fence, refinish a wood deck, or finally get around to seriously cleaning a stamped concrete patio that got stained over the winter. And when you have completed such a project, it’s a real feeling of accomplishment to see how beautiful it all looks once again. As good as it feels to finish, you don’t want to shortcut the cleanup and disposal of the various products that you used. Recently, there have been three house fires in San Ramon that were caused by spontaneous combustion. How could such a thing happen? In each case, oily rags that were used in projects around the house were tossed into a trash can without allowing them to dry out first. With the high temperatures we have been experiencing this summer, the volatile rags in the enclosed trash cans reached a temperature which caused them to burst into flame. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), over 14,000 fires per year, causing millions of dollars in damage, were caused by spontaneous combustion or chemical reaction. In home structure fires, the garage was the most common area of origin (20% of fires), and oily rags were the most common item first ignited (35%). Abandoned materials were cited as a factor in 34% of home fires, and improper containers or storage was a factor in 33%. What can you do to prevent such a fire from beginning at your home? Your fire department has these suggestions: 1. Anytime you have an oily rag left over from a project, hang it up to dry outdoors. You can use a clothesline or fence, but be sure to hang each rag individually, and avoid piling them on top of each other. 2. Store any left-over volatile products, like turpentine, in their original containers, and always follow the manufacturer’s directions on proper use, storage, and disposal. It is advisable to store such products in a shed away from the house. If you must store them in the garage, place them as far away as possible from any heat source, such as a water heater or furnace. 3. Take the time to inventory what you currently have stored, and see if you really need to keep it. Oftentimes, cans of old paint, solvents, automotive fluids, etc. get put on a shelf and one left there for years. If you find that you have such material that you want to dispose of, take advantage of the Contra Costa Household Hazardous Waste facility which is available to you at no charge. Visit their website at www.cccounty.us/depart/cd/recycle/hhw.htm or call (800) 646-1431 for more information. To recycle other items and materials, visit wastediversion.org, the website for the Central Contra Costa Solid Waste Authority. The homepage has a very helpful “recycling wizard” which allows you to type in the material you wish to dispose of and search results provide you with various recycling locations. Enjoy the rest of your summer! If you have any questions about County issues, please don’t hesitate to contact my office at Dist2@bos.cccounty.us or (925) 957-8860. We’re here to serve you.
Applicants Sought for Seats on Advisory Boards
District 2 Supervisor, Candace Andersen, is looking for interested, motivated District 2 residents to serve on a variety of Contra Costa County citizen advisory boards. These voluntary boards usually meet monthly and advise the Board of Supervisors on a variety of issues. They provide a key communication link between the community and county government. Supervisor Andersen is looking for volunteers from her district to fill the following positions: • Assessment Appeals Board • Contra Costa County Fire Protection District’s Fire Advisory Commissioners (1 alternate seat) • Economic Opportunity Council • Mental Health Commission (1 consumer seat) • Merit Board District 2 includes Alamo, Canyon, Danville, Lafayette, Moraga, Orinda, Parkmead, Rossmoor, San Ramon, Saranap, and Walnut Creek (west of Main Street). Applications and more information are available on the county’s website, http://contra.napanet.net/maddybook/.
Lafayette Today ~ August 2013 - Page 9
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Shake it up with Wine By Monica Chappell
Who doesn’t look forward to happy hour—that time of day when you can exit the office and head home? Why not mix it up with wine? Unthinkable? There’s actually a long tradition of classic drinks made with wine, and it’s high time we gave wine cocktails their due. There are more varieties and varietals of wine available than ever before, and the number of liquors, liqueurs, and other mixers seems to multiply daily. Put these two elements together, and the possibilities are nearly endless. Many have probably had a Bellini or Mimosa, but here are a few new ways to integrate wine into your cocktail repertoire. These stylish sippers show off your reds, whites, and rosés. White Port and Tonic: Isn’t Port relegated to an after-dinner or dessert-time sipper? Not when it’s white Port. Whether dry or sweet, white Port makes a delightfully drinkable cocktail. Just fill a tall glass with ice, add a shot or two of white Port, top with tonic (or club soda), and garnish with a wedge of lime. You can also experiment with muddling some mint or basil for a distinct fresh herb note. Sangria: Perhaps you have a bounty of seasonal fruit on hand. Consider mixing up a pitcher of sangria for a group of friends. The nice thing about sangria is that you are only limited by your creativity. Use red, white, or even rosé wine, along with fresh fruit, sugar, and a touch of brandy. Right before serving finish with some sparkling water, lemon-lime soda, or ginger ale. Red Wine and Coke: Popular in Spain, this 50-50 mix of red wine and Coke (called akalimotxo or calimocho) is about as simple as making a cocktail can be. Served over ice, the sweetness of the Coke balances out the tannins in the wine, making for a fine late afternoon sipper. So mix up a wine cocktail and cheers! What easy wine-based cocktails can you recommend? Please let us know at wineappredciation101@gmail.com. Monica Chappell teaches Wine Appreciation classes locally. For a current list of classes, please visit www.wineappreciation101.blogspot.com.
Page 10 - August 2013 ~ Lafayette Today
Solar Currents
By Mark Becker, GoSimpleSolar
If only we could predict the future. Would it create more happiness? My initial thought would be yes! In the stock market, absolutely! Is it going to be a boy or girl? Well… sometimes surprise is nice. On further thought, despite its benefits, I think that being able to predict the future would take the excitement out of life. I would have never predicted that the disappearance of the California Solar Initiative rebates for residential customers (except for new or fully remodeled homes) would have had no negative impact on the solar business. Conversely, business is better than ever. Aside from an improving economy, the continued adoption of solar PV can be attributed to a growing recognition on the consumer’s part that there is essentially very little downside risk for solar as an investment. Unlike the potential of picking a poor stock or being stuck in a declining stock market, energy prices continually rise. A high percentage of our solar PV projects are installed on the homes and businesses of financial professionals; their only concerns are the details of the installation vs. the details of the financials. They know they want solar, and they are simply seeking the right contractor to install it. They understand the advantage of hedging energy costs at prices lower than today’s PGE prices. If you could have bought all the gas for your car ten years ago at $1.50/gallon, think of the money you’d be saving today. It’s the same principle. The financial professionals also understand that payments to PGE will never provide a financial return on investment. “Solar, part of a diversified investment portfolio,” is how the purchase of solar PV is viewed by these professionals. They also understand that the lowest long-term cost of ownership of a solar PV system is not achieved by lowest installation cost. It’s achieved by choosing field-proven products and a specialty licensed installation team. It’s your roof and a 25+ year investment. Electric Cars (EV): I’ve found that my EV has saved me the cost of maintenance and gasoline; it’s a business write-off as well. There’s no doubt that a car fueled with electricity is the car of the future. If you purchase or
www.yourmonthlypaper.com lease an EV, check out our website to determine if switching to an electric car charge rate is the correct choice for you. Not all kilowatts are charged equally. In most cases, due to the nature of the “time of use” costs of the PGE car charge rate, there are better rate choices unless you have a solar PV system installed. To reduce the cost of an EV, there are California and Federal rebates available up to $10,000. Many EV’s are inexpensive to lease as well. Further validation of the financial returns of solar: The United States has just surpassed 10 gigawatts of installed solar PV capacity, the fourth nation to do so. We’ve increased our energy sources and reduced the amount of emissions into our environment. It would be logical for one to think that the world’s largest economy, with the world’s largest energy demand, would have the most solar energy capacity. However, that title goes to Germany. To their credit, the world’s worst polluter, China, is trying to clean up its act by tripling their amount of solar PV production. Not all of this program is altruistic. This program has the added benefit of propping up their failing solar panel companies; even more reason to buy American. Technology: One of the most common questions posed to me is about solar PV technology; whether a customer should wait for something new. Two years ago I had the fortunate experience of visiting the home of the lead solar PV scientist for Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. I posed the same question to him. His response: “There is no new technology that will be within financial reach of the average business or homeowner for the next ten years.” It turns out that there are materials more efficient than silicon, but silicon is currently the most plentiful and inexpensive material to turn sunlight into energy. Quote of the Month: “I’ll talk to you first, then see if other contractors are bull(****)ing me.” I guess such is the nature of being in a service industry. “The future is not something we enter. The future is something we create.” ~ Leonard I. Sweet Mark Becker is the President of GoSimpleSolar, by Semper Fidelis Construction Inc, a Danville based Solar Installation Firm (License 948715). Mark can be reached at 925.915.9252. Visit GoSimpleSolar’s showroom at 114 West Prospect Avenue in Danville or www.GoSimpleSolar.com, or email Mark@GoSimpleSolar.com. Advertorial
How to Green Your Wardrobe By Sustainable Lafayette
A brand new outfit can give you a morale boost, but there is also an environmental cost to consider. Imagine walking out of a store with a single cotton polo shirt. It seems like a harmless purchase, but that shirt, on average, has traveled more than 14,000 miles, required 400 gallons of water to produce, caused 27 pounds of carbon emissions, expended 33 kilowatt hours of energy, produced its weight in waste, and depended on heavy use of pesticides and insecticides (cotton producers use 10% of all pesticides and 25% of all insecticides worldwide). The average American discards 68 pounds of clothing and other textiles each year, adding up to 10 million tons of unwanted duds that mostly go to U.S. landfills. Following are some tips to minimize your impact: Care for What You’ve Got – Conserve resources by preserving the clothing you already own. Wash like colors together in cold water to prevent bleeding and fading. Sew up holes and tears. If you’ve gotten too big or small for an item, have it taken out or in. Air-dry your laundry on a line or rack instead of putting it in a dryer, which uses energy and also strips fibers from your clothes, accelerating their deterioration (that’s where the “lint” in the “lint filter” comes from!) Give Something a New Life – You can get that new feeling without buying anything new. Re-imagine the clothes you don’t wear anymore: Cut tees into tanks, make jeans into shorts (or capris or a skirt), sew patterned clothes into purses, unravel an old sweater and knit it into a new style, cover stains creatively, or turn any item a different color (with planet-friendly dye, of course). Another option: try combinations you haven’t used before. A scarf that’s been idle in a drawer could perk up an outfit. Mix and match creatively instead of dressing yourself on auto-pilot. Buy Used or Swap – Buying used is the ultimate way to keep your closet’s carbon footprint small. Drop by Nifty Thrift, Wayside Inn, or They Grow So Fast, three stores right in Lafayette. Another great idea is to host or attend
a clothes swap with friends. Have everyone bring fashions and accessories that are still in decent shape, and pick out pieces that are new to you. Look for Eco-Friendly and Recycled Materials – If you have to buy new, look for materials like organic cotton, bamboo, hemp, or recycled anything. There have been many recent developments in fabrics made of recycled stuff, including plastic bottles. What to avoid? Avoid synthetic fibers (polyester, vinyl, nylon), animal products (leather, suede), and cellulose materials (rayon). Buy Things That Will Last – Make sure your choices are well-made and durable, and consider paying more for pieces that will take longer to land in the landfill. Buy classic styles, not trendy ones, to ensure timelessness. Donate – Goodwill, Salvation Army, and other charities receive donated clothing and sell it in their stores. Set up a bag or box to collect clothes that have reached the end of their time in your house, and periodically drop them off at these charities. PS: Goodwill and the others are GREAT places to BUY secondhand clothing, shoes, belts, and more. Go Online – There are a wide array of new online stores that feature ecofriendly clothes. Just search “eco-friendly clothes” or something similar. For more ideas on how to reduce your environmental impact and to read success stories about how others in Lafayette are living more sustainably, please visit www.sustainablelafayette.org.
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Getting Un-Wired
Lafayette Today ~ August 2013 - Page 11
By Evan Corstorphine, Portable CIO
Back in the 70’s when I grew up, we lived in the golden age of electronics. The transistor radio had been invented and we were in awe of those and everything else that was being “transistorized.” Radios rapidly became bigger and more complex. I remember how much I pined for one of the huge multi-band radio receivers that would receive broadcasts on fifteen different overseas radio bands. I used to stay up late with one of my friends who had such a radio, tuning in stations from countries all over the world and trying to perfect our antenna to improve reception. As we grew older, the radios and something new called “stereos” were becoming more sophisticated. The sound quality went from tinny and awful to ridiculously good. This was when the current era of audiophiles was born. I could never tell the subtle differences between the “good” equipment and the “excellent” equipment, but the audiophiles could and that’s what counted. Soon, home theatres became the rage and in the 1990’s, it seems that everyone was buying a 5.1 channel receiver, a DVD player, a giant subwoofer, and a big-screen TV to create their own home-theatre experience. If you have never put one of these together, you may not be familiar with how complicated they can be, how to connect it all together, and how many remote controls you had to master to make the whole thing work. Back then it was a serious undertaking! I confess, I fell into the home-theatre trap. All it took was seeing the “Top Gun” demo at the store and I was hooked. My wife hated it. I mean, she really hated it, because every time she went to watch TV, it became this byzantine process of turning things on in a certain order and finding the right remote controls to turn everything on. It took the enjoyment out of watching TV for her, because just getting to the point where she could sit down and relax took five minutes of utter frustration. I am absolutely certain that many of you guys reading this are nodding your heads and cringing at how you did the same thing to your poor wives! Hey wives: thanks for enduring our learning curve. And learn we did. As time went on and our tastes changed (ok, really, as we matured - there, I said it!), we found we could watch TV without having to have seventeen speakers turned on. We discovered that watching TV didn’t always have to be a theatre outing, and that the teensy little speakers on the TV actually sounded OK after all. All of our fancy-shmancy audio equipment began to gather dust. The age of personal home theatres had peaked, and lots of guys like me figured out that less is more. All the hassle just wasn’t worth it. Whereas we used to feel we needed to have a big stereo to run the music or accompany the TV in our homes, devices like the Bose Wave Radio or a simple BlueTooth speaker for our iPhone can completely suffice. The music sounds great, and it is enough. We found we didn’t need to have speakers in every room with their own volume control, or the ability to watch a prerecorded video in every room, or direct three different music channels or TV feeds to separate spots in the house. Is the hassle and complexity of these over-complicated technical monstrosities worth it? In my opinion, they fit firmly in the category of, “Just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should.” In fact, I have rarely seen one of the high-end all-inclusive whole-house audio/TV systems being used by the home owner, and I’ve never seen one really used to its full capacity. Instead of the homeowner owning these systems, I think these systems own the homeowners. I must sound like a Luddite this month. I’m really not. But, I’ve figured out some things that I hope more people will catch onto. That primary lesson is that all of this complexity causes stress, and it doesn’t add that much value. Use technology as a tool to accent your life, as you use salt to season your food. By choosing an appropriate level of technology for your life, you and your family will be a lot happier, you’ll save a ton of money and you won’t have all the soul-draining technical clutter throughout your living spaces. Do you need assistance in simplifying your systems, finding the right balance of technology? Portable CIO has the staff that can help you figure this out, and we can always be reached at 925-552-7953 or by emailing helpdesk@ theportablecio.com. Advertorial
Shakespeare for Kids celebrated their 30th anniversary this summer introducing young lords ‘n ladies to Renaissance England and the work of William Shakespeare.
Page 12 - August 2013 ~ Lafayette Today
Lafayette Community Garden and Outdoor Learning Center Classes
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Flavio Carvalho Law
Family Law
Please join us for one of our classes at the Lafayette Community Garden, Estate Planning across from the Reservoir. These classes are interactive, informative, and Immigration fun, so come join us and prepare to get your hands dirty! 2950 Buskirk Ave, Suite 300, Walnut Creek Registration for these classes should be completed through Lafayette Parks Two locations to serve you 100 Pine Street, Suite 1250, San Francisco and Recreation Department. Call them at (925) 284-2232 or go to www.LafayetteRec.org/camps. Classes are free, although a $5 donation is appreciated. To register for a class, please visit www. 415.745.3324 | fc@flaviocarvalholaw.com lafayettecommunitygarden.org, and click on “Classes.” www.flaviocarvalholaw.com Composting 101 Saturday, August 10 ~ 10:30AM to noon Linda Mizes, Master Gardener, helped establish school gardens throughout Contra Costa County and managed a lunch composting program at Orinda Intermediate School. She produced an instructional video, Compost Cooks, for elementary and middle school students and was awarded Orinda’s William Penn Mott, Jr. Environmental Award for her work in the schools. Come alone or bring the whole family, and learn how easy it is to enrich your soil and reduce waste through composting and worm composting. Meeting Nature Through Miwok Eyes August 12 - 16 ~ 8:30 to 11:30AM This experience, offered through our Parks and Recreation Department summer camps, will gather at the Lafayette Community Garden and Outdoor Learning Center. We will share an immersion into the abundant world of nature as experienced by the local Native American Tribe, the Miwoks. Youth and openhearted adults will live as tribal members, adopting Native American names and cultural observances. We will use what nature has provided to create tools, meals, clothing, and shelter. The last morning will conclude with a tribal sharing of food and ceremony with guests. Educator, Peggy Magilen, will lead this experience assisted by other members of the Community Garden. The Wonder of Our Senses: Bringing adults and children together to experience the wonders of nature in the spirit of Rachel Carson August 19 - 23 ~ 9 – 10:30AM In her book, The Sense of Wonder, Rachel Carson wrote: “If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement and mystery of the world we live in.” It is in that spirit that we invite children accompanied by an adult to join us at the Lafayette Community Garden and explore the sensory delights of nature’s treasures found there. This five-day program focuses on a different sense each day. Sign up for as many days as you would like to attend. Monday: Seeing—Discover the art in nature; see the garden from a bug’s or bird’s eye view, Tuesday: Hearing—Listen to the voices of the garden; build a wind chime, Wednesday: Smelling—Take a fragrance walk; make a natural sachet, Thursday: Touching—Discover what lives in garden dirt; plant a seedling, Friday: Tasting— Sample garden produce; create vegetable soup in a solar stove. This program is will be led by educator Lynn De Jonghe and other members of the Community Garden.
Quick Trips By Linda Summers Pirkle On a Clear Day
Recently, my youngest daughter, nineteen year old Cassandra, and I visited Rome and Paris. Our room in Rome (a convent converted into a hotel) was immaculate. Our location was great, just two blocks from the Vatican. In Paris, our apartment was located in the 10th arrondissement, four Metro stops from the Louvre. We can recommend our Rome property but not our Paris apartment. The biggest difference was the view. In Rome our room overlooked a beautiful courtyard. We woke up to birds singing, and at night the lighted cupola of St. Peter’s basilica was magnificent. Our view from our Paris apartment was a dark, interior courtyard. What a difference a view makes! The variety and abundance of great views are some of the primary reasons we love the Bay Area. One favorite view is from San Damiano Retreat house in Danville. A short drive (one mile) from downtown Danville, up a private road, the retreat house is a beautiful Spanish style complex built in 1961. Home to the Franciscan Friars, whose mission, according to their brochure, is to provide a peaceful environment of natural beauty where spiritual renewal and growth may be sought by people of all faiths and backgrounds. The view of Mt. Diablo and the lovely valley below is extraordinary. Deer Path and Hillside Trail, two loop trails on the grounds of the retreat, are great ways to see the property and enjoy the serenity of the area. “Everyone is welcome to visit and enjoy our beautiful grounds,” says Estrella Rusk, volunteer at the Retreat House. The two trails around the complex are less than a mile. There are meditation benches for enjoying the views and you will most likely see deer on your walk. For the more adventurous, a hike to the Las Trampas ridge above the retreat house offers incredible views. The Buddhist Gateway in Lafayette is another spot for reflection and great views. Open for visitors from 9am to sunset every day, their brochure says “The
monastery sits in the beautiful town of Lafayette. With views that expand the vision and peaceful air that calms the mind, it is the perfect environment for Chan practice.” Ask for a tour, and one of the monks can take you into the temple and up the hill to see the labyrinth, and gorgeous view. Rumored to have the second greatest view of the Earth’s surface, second only to Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa, Mt. Diablo is possibly our valley’s best spot for great views. According to Beryl Anderson, Communications Manager with Save Mount Diablo, “On a clear day it is possible to see the Farallon Islands, the Sierra, and 40 of California’s counties from the summit of the mountain.” Save Mount Diablo will host its twelfth annual “Moonlight on the Mountain” on Saturday, September 7th. Anderson states, “Since the mountain usually closes at sundown this event is a rare opportunity to enjoy the sunset and watch the setting sun play colors across the backdrop of the mountain from China Wall in Mt. Diablo State Park.” *San Damiano is located on 710 Highland Drive. Rooms are available for rent, and the retreat house can be booked for groups. Their phone number is 925.837.9141, and their website is www.sandamiano.org. The gift and book store is open daily; call for hours. *Buddha Gate Monastery is located at 3254 Gloria Terrace, Lafayette. Their phone number is 925.934.2411.Their website is www.buddhagate.org. *For ticket information on the Moonlight on the Mountain event, call 925.947.3535. Linda Summers Pirkle, travel consultant and long term Danville resident, 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.
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Senior Girl Scouts Receive Gold Awards By Barbara Millman Cole
Lafayette’s Campolindo High School Seniors Madeline Yzurdiaga and Heather Eagle, along with San Diego’s Torrey Pines High School Senior Nicolette Sorenson, earned their Gold Awards, the Girl Scouts’ highest honor, under the guidance of Lafayette’s Troop 31883 Leader Mary Ilyin. Madeline Yzurdiaga researched honey bees, built bee boxes, and taught children at the Merriewood Children’s Center about the importance of bees in the environment through her project, “Bees for a Better World.” She gave bee presentations to after-school program children and two fifth grade classes at Burton Valley Elementary School. “My project achieved a greater level of understanding among our youngest generation on the importance of honeybees and differentiated them from wasps and yellow jackets,” says Yzurdiaga. Yzudiaga donated the hives to Los Mochos Boy Scout Camp. The contribution of the hives help in creating greater bee populations and will continue to serve the community by providing youngsters with a permanent live exhibit of hives and with bees pollinating area gardens Madeline Yzurdiaga and open spaces. “The most successful aspects of this project were the end product of the hives and the interaction and connection with the kids,” says Yzurdiaga. “I have never felt so proud of what I have created with my hands as I feel about my beehives.” Heather Eagle taught “Basic Sewing 101,” which included two workshops at Shelter Inc., a non-profit organization serving homeless families in Antioch. Eagle was assisted by friends and family to give the children hands-on help and instruction. The workshops focused on making a small tote bag which Heather Eagel included teaching participants to sew a basic straight stitch and tie end-threads, and showing the children how to sew ladybug plush animals which included turning their sewing inside out, stuffing a stuffed animal, and attaching buttons. “I prepared all materials beforehand,” says Eagle. “This included making patterns, cutting fabric, and making examples for the kids.” The workshops did not include cutting the fabric because many of the participating children were too young to safely handle scissors. “The children thought the most successful part of the project was being able to ask questions, receive help one-on-one, and choose their own fabric.” Nicolette Sorensen created a self-sustaining vegetable garden, published a booklet on healthy eating and garden care, and revitalized an area of a local preschool with the help of friends. Sorensen demonstrated how even an old, cut down tree can be made into a garden. She utilized the unique vertical space optimally by planting in simulated pouches of chicken wire and moss which she attached to the old tree trunk. She further beautified the stump by painting and naming it The Giving Tree. “I am Nicolette Sorensen extremely proud of my project because not only did I transform an old eyesore into a functioning garden, but I also promoted healthy eating habits,” says Sorensen. “The kids were excited to have a prettier play area that also provides snacks. They had a great time helping me pick the seeds to plant.”
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Lafayette Today ~ August 2013 - Page 13
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Page 14 - August 2013 ~ Lafayette Today
Pruning for Fire Safety By Blaine Brende & Joe Lamb
In the spring and early summer, the landscape grows lush and beautiful. Our Mediterranean climate is blessed by sufficient winter rains to make plants grow, but our dry summers, and our even drier autumns, can make that new growth a fire hazard. In the greater Bay Area, we live surrounded by an ecosystem that has been shaped, over the last 10,000 years, by frequent wildfires. Because these woodland fires are inevitable, landscape trees, even healthy ones, require occasional pruning to prevent them from becoming fire ladders––bridges of flammable material that could carry flames from a woodland fire to your home. The threat posed by fires in the greater Bay Area is real and significant. The Oakland/Berkeley Hills fire of 1991 caused $1.7 billion in property damage, and it was the nation’s worst urban fire since the San Francisco fire of 1906. Failure to properly maintain landscape trees and shrubs played a significant role in allowing that fire to grow, intensify, and move. The Comprehensive Overview of the Berkeley/Oakland Hills Fire recommends that the risk of wildfire can be reduced by proper care of landscape plants: • Break up fire ladders. • Limb trees back from structures. • Reduce flammable biomass by thinning crowns. • Remove dead trees and shrubs from the landscape. • Remove deadwood from live trees and shrubs. Breaking up fire ladders helps prevent a fire from moving easily from the woods, or from your neighbor’s property, to your house. To break up fire ladders, increase the space between plants, both vertically and horizontally. In the 1991 fire, blowing brands of flammable material landed on ground plants and, if there was sufficient dry matter, caught the ground cover on fire. The fire burned along the ground plants horizontally for as long as it found material to burn. If it encountered trees with low branches, the fire would move vertically from the ground up into the crown of the tree. If those burning trees were close to a house, they would set the house on fire. If their crowns touched the crowns of other trees, the fire spread from crown to crown. Landscape plants pose little fire hazard when they are properly maintained, and
www.yourmonthlypaper.com proper maintenance does not mean sacrificing a natural, woodland aesthetic. If the limbing up, dead-wooding, and crown thinning are done by a craftsman with a sensitivity to plant aesthetics, then the trees will look natural, even though they may have had 30% of their biomass removed. Knowing how to identify potential hazards is important, but it is also important to know how to reduce those hazards in a manner that keeps your property looking natural and which doesn’t sacrifice important screening plants. Brende & Lamb specializes in balancing the conflicting needs for privacy, fire safety, tree health, and landscape aesthetics. It is possible to improve the fire safety of your property while promoting the health and beauty of your plants. Tree care is a craft requiring study and experience. Our trimmers are master craftsmen who understand that a well-pruned tree should not only be safer and healthier, it should look beautiful as well. At Brende and Lamb we take great pride in both the science and the art of pruning. If your trees need a little TLC, please call 510-486-TREE (8733) or email us at bl@brendelamb.com for a free estimate. Additionally, go to our website www.brendelamb.com to see before and after pictures, client testimonials, and work in your neighborhood. Advertorial
Gardening with Kate By Kathleen Guillaume
August is the month of harvest and abundance, the fading of summer, and people squeezing in lastchance vacations. It is also the month of delight for those who have summer gardens which are still in full bloom. I was lucky to visit the home of Dariel Alexander, a wonderful Lafayette gardener who has one of the most beautiful summer gardens in the area. Her garden area is divided into two sections. The one closest to the house is fenced off with a medium height fence and has a planting bed about three and a half feet wide against the fence. Centered off of the patio is a grape arbor with bench seats that enjoy the shade of the grape vines and lead to the vegetable garden which is mostly out of sight from the house. The border is filled with hollyhock, several varieties of dahalias, blooming oregano, Monarda (bee balm in lavenders and deep rose), tall yellow yarrow, gooseneck loosestrife, Rudbeckia (black-eyed Susans), penstomens, Shasta daisies, and a dozen other plants. Zinnias and other annuals fill in the front of the bed. It looks like it is out of an impressionist painting with such a wash of delicious color. There is a swath of perennial summer blooming plants which is managed by digging them up every spring, dividing them, and re-anchoring them in soil that has been amended for years with manures and compost, until now it is a loose rich loam that creates the most abundant and beautifully formed plants. Gardeners often want to have these showcase gardens but are certain that they don’t want to spend the effort. However, the effort is well worth it and not that daunting...really. The first thing to do when establishing such a bed is to prepare the soil. The box is only 3 1/2’ deep. Dig down 15-18” and mix the soil with sterile manure about half and half. Remember, nothing can be planted in a bed with hot manure as it has to age in the soil for a bit. Repeat the process again a
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month later, adding a rich compost about half and half. Now you will have a bed worth planting in. This summer walk around your neighborhood, and make a list of favorite summer bloomers, or visit your local nursery and look at everything in bloom. Most of these perennials are planted in the fall through winter so that they can get their roots established and be ready for a summer bonanza. Select the tallest plants, including hollyhocks, tall dahalias, and Mexican sunflower for the very back, and then place the 3’ plants in front of them. Next, add lower border plants, leaving just enough space for their growth patterns. These plants will look best if you use repeating patterns every 4-5 feet. After the first year (most of these are cut back in the winter), in the spring, on a cool day, dig up and divide those plant that have spread too much. Add more compost and replant using the divisions to fill-in areas. That is really not that much work if you are young. If you are older you can hire your gardener to assist you in the initial soil preparation and in the spring, after the plants are established have your gardener dig up each plant that needs division. Yarrows, penstemon and similar plants are easy to divide; just take a pruning saw and cut through the root ball making clumps about 6-8 inches across and spread them throughout your garden. If the soil had been prepared correctly this last spring process is very easy as the soil is so easy to dig in. Dariel even plants a few plants like loosestrife and bee-balm which can take over a bed if not divided, but they are so glorious that it is worth keeping them in check. Hope you will all give this a try - now is the time to start the planning. Happy Gardening.
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Life in the Lafayette Garden By John Montgomery, ASLA, Landscape Architect #4059 Process for a Successful Design
What does it take to create a successful landscape design? Some might say that success is measured by critics and experts, but I believe it is measured by the end user, you. A successful landscape design has to meet the expectations of the owner. What I love the most is getting a call a few years after my client has been living in their yard, and they say, “John, I’m sitting here in my backyard, and I was thinking of how much I enjoy the peacefulness and beauty, and I wanted to call you to say thank you!” For me, that is my measure of success.
Lafayette Today ~ August 2013 - Page 15
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Here are the three phases I use in creating a successful landscape design. theserviceoutlet.com The first phase of the design process is a “conceptual” design. Our first task, along with you, the owner, is to develop design goals and a design program to fit your needs. 1211138-TSO-ALToday-5x6.25.indd 1 11/16/12 9:28 AM Some of these design goals are practical and functional, while some are your dreams and desires. After we develop the goals and design program, we will analyze the site and off-site conditions so that we are familiar with the existing conditions and parameters with which we are working. Once we receive the necessary information, we draft a base plan (site plan) from which your conceptual design will be created. When we complete your conceptual design, you will have an accurately scaled, illustrative, and schematic landscape plan that will represent the design goals, existing conditions, and your dreams and desires. The “conceptual” design is visual communication so you can “visualize” the possibilities. Every idea, even a conceptual one, has an associated cost. From the concept design we develop a budget, a line-item spreadsheet detailing the cost of the project. At this point the owner has necessary information to make an educated decision based on what they want and how much it costs. Phase two is the “nuts and bolts” of the design. We will need to communicate to the contractor your design, details, and specifications in order for you to acquire bids, accept a contract, and build your project. During the Construction Documents phase we provide services that will complete the landscape design so that you may enter into the Construction Phase to bring your outdoor environment to reality. The construction documents will be the “building” set of drawings necessary for your contractor to acquire permits and build the project to the design and specifications. Construction documents include a detailed planting plan with planting specifications, botanical and common plant sizes and quantities, a hardscape plan, and plans detailing lighting, grading and drainage, irrigation, material selections, and notes and specifications. Working drawings (how to build) are included for built site elements like arbors, trellises, pergolas, swimming pools, cabanas, retaining walls, etc. After the completion of the Construction Documents, you are ready to build your project. The Construction Documents are the vehicle to communicating the parameters of your landscape project to the necessary contractors so they may provide you with “apples to apples” bid proposals. This will assist you in selecting your contractor(s) to build your project. You will also need the plans to acquire permits. Phase three is the Construction Phase. It is very important that the design intent and vision is brought to reality during construction. Construction Phase Services become a very important part of completing the design. The design process actually continues into construction. During construction, design decisions and interpretation are necessary in order to lay the design onto the land and bring the design vision to reality. Typically, this is when the design can be misinterpreted or contractors can make subtle changes to cut corners. This part of the design process ultimately guarantees the success of your design because it puts the control of the outcome in the hands of the owner and landscape architect. My clients have told me that the design process saved them time and money during construction by not having to make decisions under pressure, pay for changes, and take time off work to manage the contractors. AhottipfromyourlocalLandscapeArchitect:Builtlandscapestructuresmustbeexecutedwithproperconstruction techniques which are ensured through proper design, construction details and specifications, and on-site observations during the construction process. Landscape architects are licensed and qualified to draw construction documents. Gardening Quote of the Month: “Every day may not be good, but there’s something good in every day.” ~Author Unknown If you would like me to write on any particular subject, email your ideas to jmontgomery@jm-la.com or for design ideas, visit www.jm-la.com. Advertorial
Page 16 - August 2013 ~ Lafayette Today
Home (Real Estate) Planning Alternatives By Robert J. Silverman, Attorney at Law
Home values in this area have rebounded nicely since the downturn about five years ago. So, the future appears brighter for older property owners whose homes are their largest asset. Nevertheless, most homeowners do not save or invest as much as they hope before retirement. Social security is rarely enough to sustain their accustomed manner of living. Consequently, many look to their home equity as their key means of financial support in their later years. But, just how should they use their home as an income or cash source? Selling the home seems like a logical answer; however, that may or may not be the optimal decision. Tax and non-tax factors should be identified, and all reasonable alternatives should be explored. First, owners must evaluate their desire to continue to live in their home and their ability to do so safely. Given increasing longevity and skyrocketing health and long term care costs, more uncertainty exists about how long many owners will be able to keep paying property-related expenses and all other costs of living without running out of funds. One way for an owner to potentially “have his cake and eat it too” is to obtain a reverse mortgage. Qualifying homeowners who are 62 or older with sufficient home equity can, immediately upon obtaining a reverse mortgage, have no mortgage payment (principal or interest) to make as long as they stay in the home - with all accrued principal and interest due only after they move out or die. Eligible homeowners are further able to borrow additional sums from the reverse mortgage lender in the form of a lump sum and/or credit line for home improvements, living expenses, or whatever they wish. Unfortunately, many good candidates refuse to consider a reverse mortgage because of various misconceptions. They’re not right for everyone, but they are well regulated and beneficial under the right circumstances, providing the means by which an older owner can to tap into home equity, stay in the home, and live later years more comfortably. Homeowners who are not set on staying in their homes might sell and either buy a more modest residence or rent one. But, a few factors may make that choice less desirable, including potential income tax liability triggered by a sale. Applicable tax laws are way too complex to cover in detail (talk to your accountant!), but eligible homeowners are entitled to exclude a certain amount of capital gain on the home sale (e.g. $500,000 for married couples and $250,000 for an unmarried individual); however, all gain may not be excluded and thus some tax liability may still result. A related tax matter is that if a homeowner keeps the home for life, the person(s) inheriting (e.g. surviving spouse or children) receive a “step-up” in income tax basis on the homeowner’s death. This allows the inheritor(s) to escape any capital gains tax that would have been due on a sale prior to the homeowner’s death.
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www.yourmonthlypaper.com Aside from understanding the tax implications, a homeowner should consult with a financial advisor who can run realistic projections about: how much income and growth is realistic to expect from reinvestment of the net (after-tax) proceeds from a home sale; whether such returns are likely to accomplish the homeowner’s financial goals; and whether any alternatives to selling make more sense. Another option may be to refinance. With today’s low rates and a tremendous variety of loan programs available, restructuring property-related debt can sometimes make a big impact. Experienced mortgage brokers can provide valuable advice and assistance. Rents are currently robust, so leasing one’s home may be the right decision. Doing so may generate more net income, after available tax deductions, than selling it and reinvesting the proceeds. And again, if the home is leased (kept) until the owner dies, the tax basis step-up creates potential future tax savings. Of course, converting a personal residence to a rental requires finding a suitable substitute residence, and there are ongoing risks of owning and managing a rental property to consider (maintenance costs, tenant problems, vacancies, etc.). Similar scrutiny should be applied to investment real estate; albeit different alternatives are available. Evaluating, structuring, and implementing real estate financing and disposition alternatives can be complicated. Hence, they should only take place after you receive advice from appropriate professional advisors, including your estate planning attorney, who can help ensure proper integration with your estate plan (particularly your revocable living trust). Mr. Silverman is an attorney with Buchman Provine Brothers Smith LLP, 1333 N. California Street, Suite 350, Walnut Creek, CA 94596; (925) 9449700; 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
City of Lafayette Contacts
Below are key city departments and their contact information. Administration: Responsible for overall city operations such as human resources, finance and office operations. Key staff members include the City Manager, Administrative Services Director, City Clerk, and Financial Services Manager. The City Offices are located at 3675 Mt. Diablo Blvd., #210, Lafayette. Hours are 8am – 5pm Monday-Friday. For information call (925) 284-1968 or email cityhall@lovelafayette.org. Planning: Responsible for current and long-term planning for the physical development of the community that is consistent with the General Plan, Zoning Ordinance and the direction of the City Council. Planning Department hours are 12pm – 5pm Monday-Friday. For information call (925) 284-1976 or email planner@lovelafayette.org. Police: Responsible for public safety, law enforcement, emergency operations, and parking control. The Police Department is located at 3675 Mt. Diablo Blvd, #130, Lafayette. Hours are 8am-12pm & 1am-5pm Monday-Friday.For general questions call (925) 299-3220. For police dispatch call (925) 284-5010 or 911. Public Works: Responsible for maintaining the infrastructure of the City including road repair, storm drains, and landscaping of public property. The Public Works Corp Yard is located at 3001 Camino Diablo, Lafayette. Hours are 7am – 3pm Monday-Friday. For questions call (925) 934-3908. To report potholes, streetlight outages, traffic signal problems and other issues call the Hotline at (925) 299-3259. Parks & Recreation: Responsible for the management and operation of a variety of recreation programs, special events and facilities including the Lafayette Community Center, the Community Park and a system of city trails. The Parks & Recreation (Community Center) is located 500 St. Mary’s Road, Lafayette. Hours are 9am – 5pm Monday-Saturday. For questions call (925) 284-2232. Code Enforcement: Responsible for enforcing the Lafayette Municipal Code. The Code Enforcement Officer concentrates on the investigation and abatement of complaints involving land use (zoning), housing conditions, abandoned vehicles, signs, animals and vermin, weeds/fire hazards, fences and general public nuisances. Contact Mark Robbins at 925-299-3207. For more information visit www.ci.lafayette.ca.us.
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What’s Love Got to Do with It? By Deborah Mitchell, CFA, MSW
If “it” represents the stock market, then love could have plenty to do with it. Love is not simply a “second hand emotion,” as Tina Turner’s famous lyrics claim. The association between Wall Street and the emotions of investors is very strong. There are powerful feelings that heavily influence how people invest, both individually and as a group. Most of us, at one time or another, have “fallen in love” with a stock. It is easy to see how this can happen. Whether online, in print or by word of mouth, there are a plethora of opinions out there on what the next “hot” stock will be. A significant time may be spent researching the company before a final choice is made, resulting in an attachment from the get go. Then, the purchase is made with the utmost certainty that a star performer has been discovered. Initially the investment may perform well, cementing the belief of a job well done. But then, the stock may begin to vacillate, perhaps due to an earnings disappointment or product malfunction, and the investor starts to get nervous. The stock continues to drop, and the choice presented is to hold or sell. Despite the free-fall, investors often choose to hold on, and as a result, a substantial loss is incurred. The emotional attachment formed with a stock can result in obvious warning signs being ignored. Some examples of potential red flags could be the stock tanking while the broader market is advancing, consistent earnings misses, significant shareholders jumping ship or even a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) probe. Part of the issue of letting go may have to do with ego. Let’s face it, no one likes being wrong, especially when it comes to money. Even famed Chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, Warren Buffett admits that ego resulted in a “200 billion dollar mistake.” After a “gentlemen’s agreement” on a tender offer price went array, Buffett in retaliation decided to purchase a controlling interest in Berkshire Hathaway in 1964 just to fire the current CEO who tried to chisel him. Emotions do not discriminate and can get the best of anyone. There are fourteen stages of trader psychology that are commonly
LLLC continued from front page
Library, numerous programs for children, teens and adults take place each week, including everything from master gardening classes to wildlife presentations with the Lindsay Museum. On a recent morning, more than 80 children and their caregivers gathered behind not-entirely soundproof doors to ooh and aah over Lindsay’s native critters, joyfully breaching the quiet library norm. Overseeing the kaleidoscope of programming offered by the LLLCF is Program Director Tricia Brazil. Brazil serves as conduit to the LLLC’s Glenn Seaborg Learning Consortium, a partnership of 12 Bay Area premier education, science and arts institutions, each of whom plays a lead role in the LLLC’s event programming. The Consortium enables public library patrons, children, families, groups, and institutions to tap into an unprecedented wealth of materials, archives, workshops, exhibits, K-12 curricula, lectures, films, and hands-on discovery. Consortium members include: California Shakespeare Theater, Chabot Space & Science Center, Commonwealth Club of California, Greenbelt Alliance, John F. Kennedy University, Lindsay Wildlife Museum, John Muir Health, Oakland Museum of California, Oakland Zoo, Saint Mary’s College, UC Institute of Governmental Studies, and UC Lawrence Hall of Science. A sampling of recent Consortium programming includes a visit by St. Mary’s College astrophysicist Ron Olowin leading a group in a wave to Saturn as NASA’s robotic photographer Cassini beamed back images from the ringed planet, the Commonwealth Club of California presention by actor and writer Peter Coyote in a discussion on the power of intelligence to address social ill, and The Oakland Museum highlighted artists from the studio glass movement. In addition to the Consortium partners, Brazil orchestrates program offerings with a number of other Bay Area groups. Berkeley Rep sends a docent to lead discussions about each of their productions, Diablo Ballet
Lafayette Today ~ August 2013 - Page 17 referenced in the financial community. In sequential order the stages are: optimism, excitement, thrill, euphoria, anxiety, denial, fear, desperation, panic, capitulation, despondency, depression, hope, and relief. Optimism follows relief and then cycle starts over again. In 1994, famous investor and philanthropist Sir John Templeton explained the cycle well by stating that, “Bull markets are born on pessimism, grow on skepticism, mature on optimism, and die on euphoria.” In other words, euphoria is the point of greatest financial risk, while depression is the point of most financial opportunity. The internet boom and bust of the late 1990’s and 2000 provides a good example of what can happen when a group of investors fall in love with an industry. Feelings of excitement circulated when email and internet connections were new. Then, enthusiasm behind a concept known as the World Wide Web emerged, and the NASDAQ soared off the charts. Investors became euphoric. Soon, however, panic and depression emerged as the technology industry unraveled. Then, the recession of 2001 was born. In response, interest rates were lowered and the Federal Reserve pumped liquidity into the system. Hope appeared and the cycle started again. Market technician William O’Neill explained that having rules can help strip the emotion out of investing. Developing a set of sell rules can help protect gains, whether it is based on chart or financial limits. Whether utilizing an investment advisor or investing on your own, it is important that strong sell and buy disciplines are in place. Noroian Capital Management utilizes several parameters in the buy and sell disciplines such as cash flow analysis, strategic advantages, price targets, relative strength, and moving averages. When investing for the long term, careful analysis of financials in combination with momentum and technical studies provide consistent favorable investment results. If you have any comments or questions, please contact Deborah at 925-299-2000 or dmitchell@noroian.com. Deborah Mitchell holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation, a Bachelors degree in Psychology, and a Masters in Social Work degree. She is a Vice President for Noroian Capital Management, an independent investment advisory firm located in Lafayette, California for individuals and businesses. Advertorial presents a “dance on film” series, Alta Bates Medical Center presents the latest in medical discovery and technology, and a museum series includes presentations on premier exhibits by San Francisco’s Asian Art Museum, MOMA, DeYoung, and Legion of Honor. Every month from September through June, Brazil oversees “Science Café,” an evening program presenting current scientific topics in an unintimidating atmosphere, with the bonus of reasonably priced and delicious boxed dinners, made by the Library’s Bookmark Café. The Friends of the Lafayette Library also add to the rich menu of events by funding hours, collections, and programming. Friends sponsors the annual Lamorinda Reads and Lamorinda Kids Reads, popular "Sweet Thursday" author events, monthly museum programs, opera discussions, book clubs, children's craft programs, and much more. "We provide the support for these programs through the sales of used books in the shop located in the Library on the corner of Golden Gate Way and First Street," says Friends President Ruth Thornburg. "If you haven't been in the Corner Book Shop, please stop in to see the fantastic selection of used books we receive daily." Brazil, who has been at LLLCF’s programming helm for 2 ½ years, loves nothing more than walking into a patron-packed Library and seeing all ages taking advantage of the wide array of books, lectures, and discussion groups. She is relentless in her promotion of all the Library offers. Utilizing social media, e-blasts, flyers, local newspapers and word of mouth, Brazil makes it her mission to get the word out. “It is so rewarding to see patrons actively engaged in dynamic learning. I really appreciate this opportunity to bring great community enrichment programs to the people of Lafayette and those in neighboring communities.” One of those from a neighboring community is Concord resident Lynne Inman-Hoffert, a Library regular with a nose for fun, low, and no cost activities – a hallmark of most LLLC programs. “I am addicted
See LLLC continued on page 24
Page 18 - August 2013 ~ Lafayette Today
Breast Cancer, Reconstructing Female Form
By Barbara Persons, MD, Persons Plastic Surgery, Inc.
After the initial shock of diagnosis, a woman recently diagnosed with breast cancer is understandably overcome with disbelief and fear. Suddenly, she is faced with the question of how to preserve the essence of herself as a female and at the same time treat her cancer. Thankfully, advances in breast cancer treatments can often remove the cancer while preserving her shape. One option is reconstructive breast surgery, which can help maintain both personal and feminine identity, In many cases, breast reconstruction can be performed in conjunction with a mastectomy. Breast reconstruction rather than mastectomy alone can drastically improve a patient’s emotional and mental recovery. Many national studies support immediate reconstruction (done at the same time as the mastectomy) to preserve our sense of ourselves as women. Women who opt for immediate reconstruction can keep their physical form closer to what it was, never wake up without any breast form, and can feel more whole during their recovery. The challenges of possible chemotherapy or radiation are less daunting with breasts more intact. Based on the size and spread of the cancer, and patient’s intended therapy, a patient’s reconstructive surgery options vary widely. Many women can have a lumpectomy alone or a lumpectomy with radiation and be essentially cured of breast cancer. For others, the best treatment and chance of remission is with bilateral mastectomies, removal of the breasts and reconstruction with implants or with tissue flaps. The breast cancer team can help you decide what is best for you. This usually means seeing a general surgeon, who frequently performs breast surgery. This surgeon will refer you to the other doctors as required to treat your cancer. These include the oncologist, the radiation oncologist, the genetic counsellor, the radiologist, and the plastic surgeon. The entire reconstructive process, if a mastectomy is needed, generally takes three to twelve months and three surgeries - one major and two minor procedures for implant placement and nipple reconstruction. If you do not need removal of the entire breast (mastectomy), lumpectomy, with or without radiation, may be used to treat your breast cancer. For larger lumpectomies, oncoplastic techniques are both therapeutic and breast-preserving. These techniques involve removal of the lump followed by local tissue rearrangement to fill the defect. For patients requiring mastectomy, it is the current standard of care to offer im-
www.yourmonthlypaper.com mediate initial reconstruction. This first stage reconstruction commonly involves placement of special kind of breast implant, called a tissue expander, that can be expanded over time to create the look of a breast immediately following the breast removal. Unlike the final implant, this must be initially small in volume to protect the breast skin as it heals after the mastectomy. It can be expanded over a few months to the desired volume and changed out for a silicone gel implant in a minor surgery. If the nipple had to be removed, nipple reconstruction is the final stage of reconstruction, and this is performed as an outpatient surgery. In certain circumstances, the use of an implant is not ideal. In these cases, a flap reconstruction offers an effective and aesthetically acceptable alternative. Flaps utilize extra folds of muscle, muscle and skin, or fat and skin to create breast tissue post-therapeutic surgery. With this technique the breast can be created using a patient’s own tissue and with or without an implant. The lower abdominal wall, the back, the buttocks, and the hips are all viable donor sites for breast reconstruction. I work with a team of local doctors and surgeons in treating breast cancer. Your general surgeon will remove the involved breast tissue. If they feel that you need a mastectomy or that removal of the breast cancer will leave a defect, they will refer you to a plastic surgeon. This may lead you to see me. I see many breast cancer patients each week and maintain a steadfast commitment to my patients physical and mental wellbeing before, during, and after surgery. My staff and I recognize that finding and picking your team of surgeons is an important step in your recovery process. As I have mentioned in previous articles, breast cancer patients hold a special place in my heart and in my practice. As part of my commitment to continually improving our breast cancer program, we are going to host a series of educational events. We welcome interested parties to our first Reconstruction Brunch for an informative and candid discussion on the latest treatment options. This will be a great opportunity to connect with other local breast cancer patients and support groups, and to get valuable, personal insight from an experienced Plastic & Reconstructive surgeon. For more information on the time and location of the event, please call 925-283-4012 to reserve your seat. The $25 ticket includes brunch, admission to the talk, and coupons redeemable for skin care and products offered at Persons Plastic Surgery. Please visit us online or call our office for more information or to schedule a consultation! Barbara L. Persons, MD is a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and owns Persons Plastic Surgery, Inc. located at 911 Moraga Rd, Suite 205 in Lafayette. She may be reached at 925.283.4012 or drbarb@personsplasticsurgery.com. Advertorial
Concours continued from front page ments followed by a cavalcade of current, classic, and cutting-edge cars departing for a rally-style road trip at 8:30am. Joining participants touring in their personal autos, ten Thrill Ride purchasers will be piloting exceptional automobiles made available by local dealerships and partnering manufacturers. All of the cost incurred for the thrill (less than a day’s rental of these mesmerizing models) goes directly to funding the Parkinson’s research and care cause. Participants return home in time to dress for the Dinner d’Elegance at the Blackhawk Museum. DDE founders Chris and Jim Edlund, proprietors of ChristeJames Jewelry, witnessed the degenerative process of Parkinson’s disease in close relatives on both sides of their family. A dozen years ago they decided to take action by contacting the Parkinson’s Institute in Sunnyvale, California to offer support. “At first,” Chris laughs, “we thought it was just going to be donating a piece of jewelry to the auction, but we found ourselves heavily engaged in fundraising for three years in San Francisco at the Fairmont.” Wanting to bring their skills to bear closer to home, they staged the first Concours d’Elegance in 2004. For Jim Edlund, always a car person and follower of sports car racing, the concept of creating a car show came naturally. With many carcollecting friends and clients lending support, the Edlunds were able to coordinate an automotive exhibition that immediately grabbed the attention of the community. Chris Edlund estimates that 85% of committee members have a personal connection to someone with PD. Since 2010, DDE has divided donations between the PI and MJFF, rapidly becoming one of the top two Team Fox fundraisers nationwide. Founded in 1988, the PI provides patient care and clinical trials under one roof, directly connecting treatment with research.
Concours visitors get to examine engines, talk with owners and even view the interior of a racecar trailer.
Launched by Michael J. Fox in 2000, MJFF is dedicated, as its website explains: “to finding a cure for Parkinson’s disease through an aggressively funded research agenda and to ensuring the development of improved therapies for those living with Parkinson’s today.” Fox, winner of many acting awards including three Emmys and a Golden Globe, has been battling PD since 1991. Some 25 volunteers work year round on planning. An additional 90 individuals donate time during events. During Sunday’s Concours, trained volunteers answer questions about PD and direct those seeking in-depth
See Concours continued on page 20
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Your Personal Nutritionist
By Linda Michaelis, RD. MS. Is Evening Eating Destroying Your Weight Loss Effects?
Do you eat what you think is a balanced breakfast, mid-morning snack, and healthy lunch, and then come home in the evening and go on a feeding frenzy? You feel in control, everything is going fine - until you come home at night, and starving you eat a large dinner, say yes to dessert (and seconds), and finish off a bag of chips before bed. From a metabolic standpoint, there is really no reason not to eat food in the evening. A calorie is a calorie regardless of when it is consumed. A morning calorie is metabolized in basically the same way as an evening calorie. However, eating in the evening is a problem for many, not because of the way food is metabolized, but because of the quantity of food that is consumed. Skipping meals is a major culprit of overeating at night. Recent studies reveal that when people ate three meals a day only 13% binged at night. When people skipped breakfast, 24% binged at night and when people skipped breakfast and lunch, 60% binged at night. In general, people who spread their meals evenly throughout the day seem to be better able to control their eating. These people are less likely to feel hungry and less likely to overeat. So, by eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner and planning snacks in between, you can help yourself lose weight as well as maintain better control of your eating throughout the day and night. For most people, the evening is “down-time,” used to relax, watch television, and unwind from the stresses of the day. Others view this as a time to multi-task and catch up on household chores, bills, homework, and other responsibilities. Whether you’re winding down or working on your to-do list, unconscious eating can accompany your routine and result in a massive calorie intake. Devouring a bag of chips, a sleeve of cookies, or a pint of ice cream can easily occur when your mind is somewhere else. Sleep deprivation is also major source of excessive weight. Research strongly suggests a connection between obesity and lack of adequate sleep. Statistics show that overweight individuals sleep about 1.8 hours less a week than people of normal weight. Since the 1960’s sleep duration for American adults has
Ask Dr. Happy By Bob Nozik, MD Dear Dr. Happy,
Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve dreamt of getting married in a mountain top setting. Well, my fiancée, George and I are going to actually do it in the fall. We’ve invited our family and all of our friends, nearly 100 people in all. The problem is that more than 2/3rds of them say they won’t be able to attend because it’s either too far or they can’t afford to come. I’m crushed! My dream has turned into a nightmare. It’s too late to cancel and change plans due to high cancelation fees. Dr. Happy, I’m so stressed out, so unhappy, that all I do is cry. Also, I’m furious with my friends and family for letting me down. I hate beginning my marriage on such a negative note. What can I do? ~ Desperate
Dear Desperate,
Childhood marriage ceremony fantasies rarely take into account the costs and travel difficulties guests would have to incur. Welcome to reality. Don’t blame those who can’t make it. A mountain top wedding is a lot more difficult for most people to attend than one in town, so, scale back your plans. A wedding with 20-30 guests will differ from one where 100 are in attendance, but both have advantages and disadvantages. Accept the reality that you will have a smaller, more intimate, more personal sized wedding. And, when it comes to weddings, bigger is not necessarily better. Even more importantly, step back a bit and don’t allow your disappointment to infect what is good. Your fantasy-come-true wedding is actually happening. Rejoice and enjoy.
Happiness Tip
Of course Desperate is disappointed because her dream-wedding won’t happen exactly the way she wanted, but desperate? If she hopes to become a happy person, she will need to become much more adaptable than she is now. This would be a good opportunity for her to step back, calm down, and apply the happiness principle of acceptance. Accepting this situation is the best way for her to achieve closure as well as developing the mindset for coming up with a plan B (such as the one I’ve suggested, above). Raging over how bad it is and how terrible her family and friends are is the formula for guaranteeing unhappiness. Send questions/comments for Dr. Happy to Pollyannan@aol.com.
Lafayette Today ~ August 2013 - Page 19 dropped by as much as two hours a night, while obesity has drastically increased. Late night binging and sleep deprivation feed on each other – late night binging often creates indigestion and lack of sleep which, in turn, leads to overeating in subsequent days. The chemical link between lack of sleep and obesity lies in the fact that sleep is a regulator of two hormones that effect appetite, leptin and ghrelin. Leptin helps suppress food intake and stimulates energy expenditure, while ghrelin stimulates appetite, fat production, and body growth. When one is sleep deprived, the level of leptin drops and ghrelin increases. The result is a drastic increase in hunger. One study reported a 24% increase in hunger, with cravings for such items as cookies, candy, and cake when there is inadequate sleep time. I have found in my practice many helpful ways of reducing late night overeating. 1. After examining my clients eating patterns, I compute what percent of their calories are consumed after 6PM, and if the answer is one third or more there is a problem. 2. We often discuss the need to normalize sleep patterns. For example, if they are home in the afternoon, I suggest a nap if they are having a craving and know they are not hungry. Taking a nap is “low calorie” and the craving will definitely go away because it usually only last for minutes. 3. I establish a meal plan that includes their favorite foods with meals that are balanced. I show them how their best friend is protein and fiber for every meal which prevents cravings. I teach them how to read food labels for the important nutrition facts. I give them a list of snacks that are portable for the office or in the car when commuting. After dinner I allow them 200 calories of snacks that are low in fat and yummy such as a low fat ice cream sandwich, a bowl of cereal, or even a few Oreo cookies. 4. We also explore what activities at night tend to trigger their overeating and develop strategies for changing them. I suggest that my clients micromanage their nighttime with non food related activities such as going on-line, taking a bath, working on a hobby, or even cleaning out the closets. Watching TV all evening sets you up to want to snack, especially with all of the food commercials. 5. I inform clients of the critical importance of exercise where if practiced they are more relaxed at night and do not get caught up in mindless eating. I am glad to inform you that heath insurance is now paying for nutritional counseling. Call me and I will tell you the details. Linda is located at her office in Alamo. Please visit www.LindaRD.com for more information, helpful tips in her blog section, past articles or call her at (925) 855-0150 Advertorial
Brainwaves by Betsy Streeter
Page 20 - August 2013 ~ Lafayette Today
Bay Area Food Movement Paves Way By Michael Anne Conley, LMFT
When I tossed the french fry cooker, there was no place to go but up. If you celebrate the changes away from diets heavy on meat and processed foods to fresh organic greens, you can credit two women with Bay Area roots who led the way 42 years ago — practically ancient history if you were born after 1971. That was the year when author Frances Moore Lappé and chef Alice Waters came on the scene with Diet for a Small Planet and Chez Panisse. Before Diet for a Small Planet, meat-heavy meals were routine, and vegetables were not just side dishes. They were overcooked side dishes. With that book, Lappé disclosed that we grow enough food on this planet to feed every single person, but our production and distribution systems cause starvation. She also made plant-based diets acceptable and public policy about food understandable. The brief time I was an intern at the Bay Area headquarters of Food First, which Lappé co-founded, taught me that nutrition is not just what you eat – it’s also how that food is grown and distributed. Learn more at foodfirst.org. While Diet for a Small Planet sold like organic hotcakes, Waters opened her restaurant Chez Panisse in Berkeley. Although it was many years before her renown spread beyond the Bay Area, her Edible Schoolyard project that connects children personally with the food they eat has affiliates across the nation. The organic garden for the White House is a testament to her commitment (she first proposed it in the 1990s). Other indications suggest changes in the right direction. Want to know how to shop smart in a supermarket? Find out in less than two minutes from UC Berkeley journalism professor Michael Pollan, who made a name for himself with his book The Omnivore’s Dilemma. The “Supermarket Secrets” video was first posted online in 2010. Recently it’s getting new life on the Nourish Life project website (nourishlife.
www.yourmonthlypaper.com org/2013/03/). In the video Pollan, Waters, One-hour monthly class Lappe’s daughter Anna, and others offer Habit Healthy ~ education to schools and communities about New Skills for the food and sustainability. New You A second video, “Michael Pollan’s Food Tuesday • August 20th, Rules,” is good news, too. In 2012, Marija 7-8pm, Lafayette Jacimovic and Benoit Detalle won a special • Have you ever covered competition for their animated summary of up the gap between your Pollan’s 2010 talk to the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts in Britain (thersa.org/ “look good” and your events/film-competition). The RSA is the group “feel bad” with unhealthy who popularized those fast-paced whiteboard habits? illustrations of popular speeches. • Do you hurt because Then last year, Forbes Magazine reported someone you know engages on a study aptly titled, “Trouble in Aisle 5,” in an unhealthy habits? with tough news for supermarkets, saying Learn and practice that the Millennial generation isn’t interested time-tested, practical in food-like edible substances found in cans, ways to feel just as boxes, or other packaging (http://tinyurl.com/ powerful on the inside as forbesonfoodchoices). They want healthy food, you look on the outside! choose organic, and would rather buy their food First visit is free. from small stores or shops. That’s good news. Reserve your place at least If you feel caught in an unhealthy spiral two days in advance at about food, internet searches may not be http://recoveryplusclass. enough. Many problems with food start in eventbrite.com. Want to know more? the family, with attitudes, beliefs, and buying habits. Counseling can help you sort it all out Apply now for a and support life-affirming ways to nourish complementary consultation yourself — and not just with food! to clarify if this class could Michael Anne Conley is a holistic therapist and benefit you at http://www. addiction specialist, practicing since 1991. She habitsintohealth.com/getis also the director of Stillpoint integrative health support. center in Lafayette. You can reach her at info@ habitsintohealth.com or 925-262-4848. Advertorial
Concours continued from page18 knowledge to information areas staffed by personnel from the PI and MJFF. Since its 2004 inception the Concours d’Elegance has evolved into a fabulous family event, nurturing nostalgia for fondly remembered rides and offering close-up inspection of quality classic cars competing in their respective classes. Side streets may invite a glimpse into old-time mobile homes. A vintage fruit truck or a fully-equipped racecar trailer may be the crowd-pleaser of the year. Food offerings tempt the palate of gourmet visitors, while also providing popular family fare. The 21-and-over crowd can taste the wares of a dozen or more vintners. Already on board this year are Wente, Prestige, Jordan, Mitchell Katz, and Courvale. Silent auction items keep family members of all ages checking their bids, but for those who want instant gratification, a table of “Buy It Now” items is being added this year. Early risers can watch cars arrive in downtown Danville starting at 7:30am on Sunday. Judging begins around 10am. For the Ferrari Club, on board since the first DDE Concours, the display is one of two annual West Coast judged events. Lafayette resident Dee LeBlanc, Chief Judge for 2013, is a Blackhawk Museum docent inspired by past DDE events to complete course work for judging certification. With additional car clubs taking advantage of the venue every year, the number of categories judged keeps increasing. The always-popular racecar parade begins about 11:40am. James Bond fans will appreciate the Aston Martin exhibits honoring the manufacture’s 100th anniversary. Don Williams, President of the Blackhawk Museum, praises the show as an exceptional family outing that doesn’t require a Ferris wheel. “The first time you come,” he insists, “won’t be the last.” Traveling when DDE debuted, Williams decided a few years ago that he had to get involved. “I realized everything I specialized in, they didn’t have.” Heading that list was offering the Blackhawk Museum as a venue for Saturday night’s dinner crowd whose numbers could no longer be accommodated at private residences. Using his contacts to encourage owners of both premiere automobiles and fun, funky vehicles to participate, Williams helped DDE
The Ferrari Club, on board since the first DDE Concours, make it one of two annual West Coast judging events.
expand and diversify the Concours. In addition to savoring a lavish meal with accompanying Wente wines, dinner attendees can view the museum collection and enjoy the James Bond theme underscored by appropriate vintage Aston Martins before bidding on silent and live auction items. Roberta Gonzales, four-time Emmy awardwinning Weather Anchor for CBS 5, will be MC at this year’s dinner. Typical auction items include an African safari, a private garage tour of car collections not otherwise available to the public, and an all-inclusive barbecue cooked by the Men of d’Elegance. To learn more, register for events and follow links to the PI and MJFF, visit www.danville-delegance.org.
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My Aching Shoulder
Pearls for a full recovery, Part 1 By Dr. Jeffrey G. Riopelle, MD
Shoulder pain represents one of the most common easily treatable chronic sports and orthopedic injuries. More than half of people will experience shoulder pain sometime during their lifetime. Often shoulder pain lingers, having difficulty getting completely better due to the fact that we use our shoulder joint constantly throughout the day. As joints go, the shoulder anatomy is one of the most complex joints in the body. The ball and socket anatomy consists primarily of the top of the humerus (ball) and the outer upper portion of the scapula (socket). There is another small joint as well, the acromioclavicular joint, in which the end of the clavicle articulates with the acromion process, a projection off the scapula. There is also another unique projection off the scapula called the coracoid process. Then, intertwined amongst and around the joint are several other structures; the rotator cuff, the subacromial bursa, and the labrum. The rotator cuff consists of three tendonous structures attached to three muscles; supraspinatus, infraspinatus, and subscapularis. The subacromial bursa is a liquid sac that cushions and protects the tendons. The labrum is cuff of cartilage that helps form the socket in this ball and socket joint. The majority of chronic shoulder problems in the adult can be lumped into three major categories, although less frequent abnormalities also exist. Over the next several issues we will cover these three most common entities; shoulder tendonitis (and torn tendons), frozen shoulder, and shoulder arthritis. Today we will discuss the extremely common rotator cuff tendonitis and impingement. Shoulder tendonitis occurs due to inflammation of one or more of the rotator cuff tendons. The original injury usually occurs due to overuse of the tendons and muscles from sports or day-to-day activities, although it also occasionally occurs due to acute injury. The original cause can involve repeatedly reaching for items, lifting at arm’s length, moving rapidly (such as serving in tennis or volleyball), being traumatized such as being hit in the arm with arm extended, or having a jolt such as from an auto accident while holding the steering wheel. Once the tendon becomes inflamed, it is difficult to get the injury to heal on its own due to our constant use of the muscles and the shoulder joint. Common symptoms of rotator cuff tendonitis include pain with abduction (raising the arm laterally) and pain with forced internal and external rotation. The diagnosis is readily made by the clinician as the patient has pain with forced use of any one or all three muscles in the various directions the shoulder moves. Plain x-rays are usually normal although occasionally one sees calcium deposits along involved tendons. Treatment for the injury starts initially with ice, anti-inflammatory medications, and either home therapy using a theraband or physical therapy. If these are ineffective, a cortisone injection into the subacromial space coats the damaged tendons, often allowing tendonitis to heal. The injection is also diagnostic, since the tendons are also coated with lidocaine, anesthetizing the injury, causing an immediate temporary improvement in signs and symptoms of tendonitis. Without treatment, the tendonitis itself often causes enough inflammation that the subacromial space (the tiny space through which the tendons travel) becomes over-crowded. When the arm is lifted, the acromion presses on the tendons, causing pain, resulting in the so-called “impingement syndrome.” Impingement syndrome usually responds to cortisone, but occasionally it becomes so chronic that shoulder arthroscopy is recommended to clean out the joint. Most shoulder tendonitis is curable with proper treatment, and it should be treated as early as possible to avoid wear and an eventual full thickness tear of the involved tendon. In subsequent issues we will discuss the frozen shoulder and shoulder arthritis. In our practice, we treat most forms of shoulder injuries, acute and chronic. We do not perform shoulder surgery, but we do have an ongoing patient sponsored study for treatment of the shoulder with autologous stem cells (one’s own stem cells) in conjunction with the Ageless Institute in Boca Raton Florida. We did our original training with Dr. Joseph R. Purita, the physician who performed the stem cell joint procedure on A’s pitcher Bartolo Colon as well as numerous other pro and college athletes. We want to stress that this experimental protocol uses one’s own stem cells removed and purified out and re-placed in the joint the same day, NOT one of the highly controversial fetal stem cell procedures performed in other countries. For information on any of our programs, please call our office, San Ramon Valley Medical Group, Inc., at (925) 275-9333 or visit our website at www.riopellecosmetic. com. We are located at 5401 Norris Canyon Rd, Ste. 312 in San Ramon. Advertorial
Lafayette Today ~ August 2013 - Page 21
Genetic Testing, Cancer Risk, and Angelina Jolie’s Choice By Tiffany Svahn, MD
Actress Angelina Jolie stunned the world with her decision to have a preventive double mastectomy after testing positive for the BRCA1 gene mutation. “I hope that other women can benefit from my experience,” wrote Jolie. “Cancer is still a word that strikes fear into people’s hearts, producing a deep sense of powerlessness.” But for Jolie, and many others, getting genetic testing and taking action may offer control and comfort. How do you know if genetic testing is right for you? As a medical oncologist specializing in the treatment of breast cancer, I talk about BRCA testing, family history, cancer risk, and preventive options for breast and ovarian cancer with my patients. It’s a simple enough blood test to perform, and I strongly recommend it be done in conjunction with genetic counseling. We refer our patients to an expert in the field, Margo Thelander, MS, CGC at the Cancer Institute at John Muir Health. She has a masters in genetic counseling, is board-certified through the American Board of Genetic Counseling, and is licensed by the state of California. “It is important that patients understand the purpose and goals of genetic counseling. Together we explore the benefits of genetic testing, feelings about positive and negative test results, and the use of information to pro-actively make decisions for themselves and their loved ones,” Margo explains. “Everyone who meets with a genetic counselor ends up with a clearer sense of their risks and things they can do to modify them. After undergoing genetic testing, the results can either alleviate anxiety or provide information that allows the individual to take proactive steps to prevent cancer,” she continues. First, I recommend assessing where in life you are if you learn you have a genetic risk for breast and ovarian cancer. Next, I suggest having a thorough discussion of all medical options to be considered including: • A careful and aggressive monitoring program utilizing mammogram and breast MRI and self breast exam on a regular basis • Breast surgery to reduce risk • Removal of ovaries which can often lower breast cancer risk • Medications that can reduce the risk of breast cancer If you decide genetic testing is something you want to do, it is best to contact your primary care provider, gynecologist, or medical oncologist who can make the referral to a genetic counselor. Tiffany Svahn, MD is a Medical Oncologist and Hematologist with Diablo Valley Oncology. Dr. Svahn specializes in treating patients with breast cancer. Dr. Svahn sees patients at Diablo Valley Oncology’s comprehensive cancer center is located at the California Cancer and Research Institute in Pleasant Hill and at their satellite office in San Ramon. For more information call 925-677-5041. Advertorial
Skin Cancer Screenings Road to Healthy Skin Tour
On Wednesday, August 28, from 10am – 4pm at the Rite Aid parking lot at the Palos Verdes Mall in Walnut Creek, stop by for a prescheduled free fullbody skin cancer screening by licensed dermatologists. The event is sponsored by Skin Cancer Foundation and California Skin and Melanoma Center.
Just the Facts Regarding Skin Cancer
Dermatologist, Dr. Shanny Baughman from Alamo Oaks Dermatology will discuss prevention, early detection, and treatment options. This educational talk will highlight the ABCDEs of skin cancer, basal cell, squamous cell, and melanoma. Refreshments and skin screen are provided! The event will be held Friday, August 30 (please call for time), at 233 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill. For more information or to register for either event, call 925-677-7287.
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Page 22 - August 2013 ~ 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 Rd client’s quality of life on a daily basis. in Lafayette unless otherwise noted. Space is • Free in-home assessments • Regular home visits limited. Please call 925-284-5050 to reserve a ensure the right care plan • Hourly care Heartfelt & spot. Annual Membership fee: $10 per person. for you • Live-in care Supportive • Fully bonded and insured • Geriatric care mgmt. General Event fee: Members $1; Non-Member • Elder referral and placement $3. Special Concerts fee: Members $3; NonAt All Times... 3645 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Suite D Members $5. Ongoing Caregiver Support Lafayette, CA 94549 Group: Members: no charge; Non-members $1. (beside Trader Joe’s) www.excellentcareathome.com 925-284-1213 Lamorinda Dance Social Every Wednesday • 12:30 – 3PM • Live Oak Room, LSC - Enjoy afternoon and humor. Topics – from soup to nuts – will be explored, examined, and dancing every Wednesday, and learn some great new dance moves. On the first discussed by participants. Stories and photographs will stimulate humorous Wednesday monthly, professional dancers Karen and Michael will provide a discoveries regarding the benefits of becoming the ‘elders of our tribe.’ dance lesson and live DJ services, playing your favorites and taking requests. Anne Randolph Physical Therapy Presentation on Arthritis Friday, 8/23 11:30AM-12:30PM • Sequoia Room, LSC - Anne Randolph, $2 Members/ $4 non-members. Lafayette Senior Services Commission 4th Thursday of the month RPT, has been practicing physical therapy for 35 years. She provides from 3:30 – 5:30PM at the LSC - View agendas at the City of Lafayette of- outpatient therapy in Lafayette and specializes in the care of those 55 and over. Live the best life you can with arthritis! Understand the challenges fice or at www.ci.lafayette.ca.us. AM Senior Nature Walk and Bird-Watching Every Wednesday • 9 - and changes arthritis brings on, and find practical solutions to make daily 11AM • Call LSC to find out weekly meeting locations - Experience nature activities easier. at its finest along our local trails. Delight in the beauty that unfolds around Hearing Screening 1 st Wednesday monthly 8/7 • 1 – 2:20 pm • Aleach bend, all the while learning to identify a variety of birds. Bring a water der Room, LSC - By Audiologists from Hearing Science/Diablo Valbottle; binoculars will be helpful if you have them. Join us every Wednesday ley Ear, Nose, and Throat. Appointment required. Minimum of two sign-ups required in order for screenings to take place. Please call Laor whenever you are able. PM PM Come Play Mahjong! Every Tuesday • 1 –3:30 • Sequoia fayette Senior Services at 284-5050 to sign up for one of the 20-minute Room, LSC - Come join us on Tuesdays for a drop-in game of mahjong. appointments. Mahjong is a game of skill, strategy, and certain degree of chance. All Diablo Ballet Summer Get Movin’ Dance Movie Series levels welcome. Bring your card, a mahjong set, and a snack to share Thursday, August 15th 1 – 3:30pm • Lafayette Library - Seven Brides (optional). RSVP not required. for Seven Brothers - Join us as we screen some of the best dance films from nd Self-Discovery and Aging, Creative Writing Workshop 2 and Hollywood, hosted by dancers from Diablo Ballet. Learn fun, behind-the4th Thursday monthly 8/9, 8/23 • 3 - 5PM • Alder Room, LSC - Join creative scenes information about the making of these films. The series takes place writing and English instructor Judith Rathbone, and write to explore issues at the Lafayette Library and Learning Center, Community Hall. around aging, emotion, and perception–or get support to write on any topic! Alzheimer’s Association Walk Workshop sessions include writing prompts, feedback, encouragement, and The Alzheimer’s Association’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s is a united moveinformation about the world of writers, writing, and publishing. Positive Living Forum (“Happiness Club”) Thursday 8/8 • ment to reclaim the future for millions of people with Alzheimer’s which is the nation’s sixth-leading cause of death. The Walk is the nation’s largest event 10:30AM – noon • Sequoia Room, LSC - Brighten your day with Dr. Bob to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support, and research. Nozik, MD, Prof. Emeritus UCSF and author of Happy 4 Life: Here’s How The Walk to End Alzheimer’s will take place on October 5th at Heather to Do It. Take part in this interactive gathering which features speakers on a Farms in Walnut Creek. Participants will join in a three mile walk and will wide range of topics that encourage and guide participants towards a more learn more about Alzheimer’s disease, advocacy opportunities, clinical trial ideal and positive life experience. Bi-Monthly Caregiver Support Group Mondays 8/12 Alder Room, enrollment, and support programs and services of the Alzheimer’s Association. Each walker will also join in a meaningful tribute ceremony to honor 8/26 Toyon Room • 1:30–2:30PM • LSC - If you are a family member helping those affected by Alzheimer's disease. to care for an older adult, join our support group to find balance and joy as Start or join a team today at alz.org/walk, or call 1-800-272-3900 for you manage your responsibilities. Free Peer Counseling 3rd Wednesday of the month, 8/21 • Toyon Room, more information. Coping with the Death of a Pet LSC - Contra Costa Health Services offers free one-on-one counseling with When you lose your pet, you often feel like a part of you is lost. The senior (55+) counselors who use their life experiences to help other older death of your beloved animal companion is one of the most difficult losses adults cope with life changes, problems, crises, and challenges. Confidentiality you may ever feel. This loss is sometimes made more painful by society’s is strictly observed. Appointment required. Call LSC to sign up for one of seeming lack of support for pet grief. AM the following appointment times: 10:00, 10:30, 11:00, or 11:30 . Hospice of the East Bay and the Tony La Russa Animal Rescue FoundaYak n’Yarn 1st & 3rd Thursday monthly 8/15 • 1–3PM • Sequoia Room, tion is offering a support group where participants can share memories and LSC - Do you knit or crochet but wish you could do it in a more social feelings and talk to others who truly understand and care. Meetings will setting with people of similar interests or expertise to brainstorm with be held the first Tuesday of each month from noon - 1:30PM at the Tony La when instructions make no sense? Drop-in and join us to work on your Russa Animal Rescue Foundation, 2890 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek. current project while enjoying an afternoon of camaraderie. All levels are For further information and/or to register, please call Bereavement Serwelcome. ‘As the Page Turns’ Book Club 3rd Tuesday monthly • 1– 3PM • vices 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 Elderberry Room, LSC - Looking for a good book to talk about with to all community members in need. However, donations are greatly appreciated. others? Join this informal group of book lovers, and enjoy enrichment, To share your story, advertise,or see discussion, fellowship, and refreshments.
Words of Wisdom…From the Philosophical to the Lighthearted 3rd Tuesday monthly, 8/20 • 10:30 –Noon • Sequoia Room,
LSC - Take part in this free-wheeling exchange of inspiration, information,
past issues, visit www. yourmonthlypaper.com or call 925.405.6397
editor@yourmonthlypaper.com
Lafayette Today ~ August 2013 - Page 23
Tips for Managing Stress
By Mary Bruns, Lamorinda Senior Transportation
People often speak of feeling stressed by situations they are dealing with; and although older adults may have retired, they find that they are not exempt. For many, stress seems to be a by-product of the accelerated times we are living in. For older adults, stress appears to be caused by health and aging challenges, the increased loss of friends, financial concerns, loss of physical agility and strength, regrets, and concerns about maintaining independence. So, how do people successfully cope with stress? What strategies make a positive difference? • Consider the practice of daily meditation – committing 10 to 20+ minutes a day to intentional relaxation, learning to quiet the mind, turning inward to connect with a higher state of consciousness, rising above the level of the problem to the level of inspiration and solutions. • Spend one hour a day outside in nature – suggested by Shamans. • Exercise 30 to 60 minutes a day, 3 to 5 times a week; you will become more fit, your body will better support you, and you will release endorphins into your system. • Focus on what you like and appreciate in your life rather than on what you don’t like. What you put your attention on expands. • View people as “in process” – not intentionally causing you a challenge in most cases. “Our ultimate freedom is the right and power to decide how anybody or anything outside ourselves will affect us.” – Steven Covey • Find reasons to smile and laugh more. It keeps your energy up, making it easier to navigate life’s challenges. • Do something for someone else – it will make you feel wonderful. • Take a walk every day, and greet people you see with a big smile. “What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity. They are but trifles, to be sure, but, scattered along life’s pathway, the good they do is inconceivable.” – Joseph Addison • Ask yourself what you are learning through the situations you are facing. How are you becoming a larger person with increased capacity by meeting life’s challenges? • Consider the possibility that you are on an evolutionary journey and the choices you make create your future. Or as Neale Donald Walsch has said: “Your life has very little to do with what occupies most people’s ‘day-to-day’ experience. The purpose of your life is to express and experience who you are. That is, to know yourself as an aspect of the Whole. There are a thousand ways to do that every day. Look for the most exciting way for you to do it today. What do you think it might be?” • Remind yourself of your gifts and strengths, and appreciate yourself. Notice what is right about you. • Don’t compare your life to others’. They are on a different journey with different strengths and challenges. • Consider thinking of yourself as “in process.” Treat yourself with love, kindness, appreciation, and compassion. • Share your time, gifts, and talents by volunteering. “Happiness comes out of contentment, and contentment always comes out of service.” – Harbhajan Singh Yogi
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Lafayette Today Classifieds
Reach over 12,000 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.
• In the sleep state, we review our life experience – seeking to understand what we were learning. Dreams convey what you were reviewing although not everyone will remember those dreams. When you wake up “on the wrong side of the bed,” in a bad mood, and feeling tired, meditate and request your higher consciousness to heal the negative impact of that review on how you are feeling. • Read or listen to inspirational books or music. If you email mbruns@ lovelafayette.org, I will forward you the link to the Johnson Brothers singing “The Impossible Dream,” a clip from Britain’s Got Talent. • Take a ride on the Lamorinda Spirit Van to lunch at the C.C. Café, to have lunch with a friend, to go shopping, or to an appointment. Ask about upcoming mini-day trips - (925) 283-3534. Advocacy Alert: The Advisory Council on Aging recommends that if you want the Older Americans Act reauthorized, contact your Representatives and Senators this summer.
Lamorinda Senior Transportation An Alliance of Transportation Providers
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.
Contra Costa Yellow Cab and DeSoto Company 284-1234 20% discount for Lamorinda seniors.
Orinda Seniors Around Town
402-4506
Senior Helpline Services Rides for Seniors
284-6161
Volunteer drivers serving Orinda seniors with free rides to appointments and errands. Phone for information, opportunities to volunteer, and to donate. Volunteer drivers serving Contra Costa seniors with rides to doctors’ appointments during the week. Grocery shopping on Saturdays.
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Page 24 - August 2013 ~ Lafayette Today
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LLLC continued from page 17
to the events calendar on the LLLCF website,” says Inman-Hoffert. “Besides the books, other things I love at the Lafayette Library are the variety of speakers, concerts, theater discussions, Friends' Sweet Thursdays, Science Cafe, Berkeley Rep docent talks, Commonwealth Club, and several of the events for young children I attend with my renta-grandchildren (I'm a volunteer grandmother). Recently, I took a 5 1/2 year old and a 17 month old to have lunch at the amphitheater, listen to a story about the Hungry Caterpillar, and then to an event where we created a craft project using apple slices to paint caterpillars. I appreciate that there is an active audience to support these varied activities.”
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In addition to the daily programming, LLLCF is also developing special signature events such as “Authors & Athletes” and the “Distinguished Speaker Series.” Former Warriors center Adonal Foyle, both an author and an athlete, recently inaugurated this series aimed at children and teens. Cheryl Strayed and Alexander McCall Smith kicked-off the Distinguished Speaker Series. Joyce Maynard and Rick Steves will follow-up with appearances in September and December, respectively. “The programs supported by the Foundation are really a reflection of the rich diversity of the community and its interests,” says Beth Needel, LLLCF's Executive Director. “We continue to work to facilitate our mission to collaborate with community partners, sustain the Lafayette Library and Learning Center, home of the Glenn Seaborg Learning Consortium, as a community place and regional resource that offers enriched experiences for all ages, and with the support of our community, continue this for a long, long time.” For information on LLLC programs, presentations, events, room rentals and Bookmark Cafe hours, visit www.lllcf.org. For information on the Friends of the Lafayette Library, visit www.friendsoflafayettelibrary. org. For information by phone, call (925) 283-6513.
Support Your Local Businesses and Merchants
Youth volunteers participate in a Lindsay Wildlife Museum presentation at the Lafayette Library.