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June 2013 A Bond of Books
By Fran Miller
Their story began unremarkably – a group of Tri Delta sorority sisters, newly graduated from Cal in 1979. Each was working and living on her own in the Walnut Creek area, and each was seeking the comfort of familiarity. They had known each other in the sorority but they were not particularly close. Proximity, convenience, and a love of reading originally brought the group of six together in an informal book club. And they have been meeting every couple of months since. Thirty years of books and 30 years of life – marriages, careers, relocations, children, and great loss. The six women in Elizabeth Olson’s “book club” have become over the years a family of friends. They have known each other for 2/3 of their lives and have seen each other through the best and worst of times. “Real family can sometimes be more difficult to deal with,” laughs Olson. “With this group, it is sometimes easier to understand, easier to take advice, and easier to listen.”
Serving the Lafayette Community Calling All History Detectives
The Lafayette Historical Society is sponsoring a Lafayette History Treasure Hunt on the weekend of June 15-16th. Those interested in participating can register on the Historical Society’s website (www.lafayettehistory.org), by calling the History Room at (925) 2831848, or by sending an email to lafayette. history@comcast.net by Thursday, June 13th at 6PM. At 5PM Friday, June 14th, clues and instructions will be emailed to participants. The clues will give directions to markers or plaques at 14 different historical sites in Lafayette. Information found on a marker or plaque will answer a question specific to that location. Answers to the clues must be emailed to the Historical Society by 5PM on Sunday, June 16th. There will be a prize drawing from among those answering all of the questions correctly. For more information, please contact the Historical Society at 283-1848 or at Lafayette.history@comcast.net.
A Day in the Life of Lafayette
Part of the group in 1982: Left to right, Elizabeth Olson, Vicki Bradley, Karen Moulds and Karen Roland.
Their group includes Vicki Bradley of Lafayette, Karen Moulds of Palo Alto, Karen Roland of Piedmont, Karen Presnell of Alamo, Karen Llevano of Walnut Creek, and Olson, a Lafayette resident. (Having the name Karen was not a prerequisite - merely a fun coincidence.) Some of them are professionals; some are stay-at-home moms. “We are all different, and that’s the magic in our ability to nurture this longtime friendship,” says Olson. Moulds’ grandmother Lurlene inspired their book club. She lived to age 102 and was herself a Cal grad. Lurlene had been in her own book club for 50 years, and knowing the sense of place and fulfillment it brought, she encouraged her granddaughter to start her own group. The young women chose to begin with the classics, as none had read Bronte, Austin, and Dickens in high school. After delving-in, they were surprised at how much they enjoyed the literary mainstays. The group started meeting every six to eight weeks to discuss their novel of choice, and they haven’t stopped since. In 30 years, they have amassed an impressive reading list. When Presnell moved to London and then Hong Kong over a nine-year period during the 80’s, she kept up with the group’s reading list. When she joined book clubs with other ex-pats in her host cities, she would send
See Books continued on page 24
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The Lafayette Public Art Committee announces A Day in the Life of Lafayette, a community created photo event which takes place on How do you see your surroundings in Lafayette? What if st neighbors,Solstice. fellow students, co-workers Juneyou,21your, family, Summer went out and took pictures of what they see around them How doand from you seean image yourof what our in Lafayette, there build community really looks like through the eyes of those wh surroundings in Lafayette? live and work here? What if you, your family, On Friday, June 21 – the Summer Solstice, the longest day neighbors, fellow students, year –take pictures in Lafayette anytime between 12:01 am and 11:59 pm. The project aims to create a crowdsourced, co-workers went out and took community created snapshot of our community on that particular day. All are invited to participate, from 5 years ol pictures of what they see around 105 years old! This is your opportunity to think outside the lens. in Selected photographs willand be displayed at the Library them Lafayette, from Gallery at the Community Hall, September through Novemb there built an image of what our Rules for submittals: Photographers must live orlooks work in Lafayette community really like One photograph per person will be accepted Photograph can be any up topeople 11”x14” through the eyes ofsizethe Photograph must be mounted on a 11”x14” mat board (black, and white, or gray) – here? no frames who live work On back of mat board, provide the following: Introducing A in - Photographer’s name Day - Contact information for photographer This Expressing life in Lafayette through photographythe Life - If of under Lafayette! 18 years, age and school - Title of photograph on June 21st, Summer Solstice, the longestaims day ofto thecreate year a crowdsourced community sponsored event snapshot of - Time and location the photograph was taken A our community project sponsored Photographs must be appropriate for general community on a particular day. Everyone is invited to participate, viewing by the City of Lafayette Public Art Committee Submittals must be made between from 5 years old to 105 years old! This is your opportunity to think Friday, July 12 and Tuesday, July 30 (by 5 pm) City of Lafayette Offices For more information - www.lovelafayette.org outside the lens. Here’s how it works: 3675 Mount Diablo Boulevard, Suite 210 On Friday, June 21st – the Summer Solstice, the longest day of year – take pictures in Lafayette anytime Volume VII - Number 6 between 12:01am and 11:59pm. Choose 3000F Danville Blvd #117 a photo, note the time and location it Alamo, CA 94507 was taken, and submit it to the City of Telephone (925) 405-6397 Fax (925) 406-0547 Lafayette Offices between July 12th and th pm editor@yourmonthlypaper.com July 30 (by 5 ). The Lafayette Public Art Committee will review the entries Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher opinions expressed herein belong to the and select the winning photographs to The writers, and do not necessarily reflect that of Labe displayed at the Library Art Gallery fayette Today. Lafayette Today is not responsible the content of any of the advertising herein, at the Community Hall and on the for nor does publication imply endorsement.
See Photos continued on page 22
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Page 2 - June 2013 ~ Lafayette Today
Boulevard View
By Alisa Corstorphine, Editor
The Lafayette Chamber of Commerce and the City of Lafayette present
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For information contact the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce: (925) 284-7404 or lafayettechamber.org
This is a wonderful time of year. There are many things happening that celebrate the human spirit, and it’s exciting. All across the country hard-working graduates are beginning to make choices about what’s next in their lives. All of their accomplishments began with a single step. For some this step was programmed and mandatory. For others, it was a choice such as attending college, a trade school, or the military. In all cases, graduates share the experience of striving for, enduring, and eventually accomplishing something that initially looked perhaps daunting or intimidating. They persisted. They stuck with it all the way to its conclusion. Such discipline and persistence should be applauded, supported, and nurtured. At the end, what do they have? A piece of paper? That’s not important. The journey is the destination. The process of pushing one’s boundaries, of purposely making oneself uncomfortable while being exposed to new thoughts and skills is what we’re applauding. I’m grateful to see a resurgence of trade schools. Combined with education online such as Khan Academy, Udemy, Udacity, 2U and Coursera, and our traditional junior colleges and universities, there have never been more educational choices for the ambitious to choose from. Knowledge is power, and knowledge has never been more accessible than it is today. Maybe, for some young people, the courage to say no to college is just as important as the courage to stick with it. We’re so conditioned to believe that the only path our kids should travel includes a four year school and a corporate job. We don’t always stop to consider how many roads there are to adulthood. What will make these graduates successful in the job market? Should they simply follow their heart and ignore financial concerns? Maybe a balanced approach is what should be recommended, and all those commencement speakers compelling youngsters to follow their hearts might be better advised, as Carl McCoy wrote recently, to worry less about following what they love. Maybe they should worry more about love as a consequence of investing themselves in meaningful work instead of being the motivation for it. I don’t know. That seems so bereft of passion, so dry. You can’t accomplish anything unless you’re willing to act, take a risk, and seize the moment. That’s how you get what you want in life, because nobody is going to hand you a wonderful life on a silver platter. It can only be created and grown by its owner. Reward requires risk of some sort. Recently my son, Kevin, who just finished his college journey at UCSB, was taking a trip abroad. En route, plane troubles dictated an unanticipated missed connection in Beijing with an overnight stay. Seizing the moment, he found a kindred soul and caught a cab to Tiananmen Square at five in the morning to visit and take pictures. Empty but for a few souls, he knocked an item off his bucket list and snapped some pictures. It wasn’t particularly risky, but it took a sense of adventure and gumption that I admire. He seized the moment. There’s something that transforms in people when they reach their goals. The change is usually proportional to the amount of hardship and obstacles one endures to accomplish the objective. One such example is my sister-in-law who, at sixty years of age, just graduated with her Associates degree in Theatre Arts, with a term left before she is awarded a second degree in Criminal Justice. I think she enjoyed the process, but it was also incredibly hard for her to do it while working, managing a household, and supporting children and grand-babies. The process changed her. She speaks with confidence, seems more self-assured, and at sixty-years-young, is making plans for the future like never before. It reaffirms my belief in the human spirit and what people can do when they really believe in something. I really respect her sacrifice and dedication to reach her goal, and I am so proud of her. At a recent ceremony I attended, a speaker mentioned the 2005 commencement speech given by Steve Jobs at Stanford. I looked up the speech and took two things away from it. The first is that we never know how things today will be related to tomorrow. Steve didn’t know the Calligraphy class he crashed at Reed College was going to be the basis for a revolutionary technology a decade later; he took the class because it drew him in, fascinated him. Secondly, Steve was a huge proponent of doing what you love, because that’s where genius occurs and people can fully express their human potential. It worked out pretty well for Steve, and maybe it will work out well for your graduate, too. Congratulations to all graduates as you embark on your next journey!
editor@yourmonthlypaper.com ®
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Motorama World of Wheels Car Show is a unique exhibit of motorized vehicles that takes place on Sunday, June 16th on Golden Gate Way from 9am-5pm. There will be food and music, plus all-day access to the exhibited cars. Admission is FREE, so bring the whole family for a fun-filled day! To find out about how to exhibit your car in the show, or to become a sponsor, visit our website and click on the drop down menu under “Car Show.” We look forward to seeing you at this wonderful event. Proceeds support Lamorinda Sunrise Rotary community service programs.
Benefit Taiko Drum Concert
The Berkeley-based Tatsumaki Taiko percussion group will be holding a benefit concert to support the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society on Sunday, June 30th at 2:30PM. The concert will be held at the Lafayette Library and Learning Center Outdoor Amphitheatre, weather dependent, which is located at 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd. in Lafayette. Tatsumaki Taiko is dedicated to celebrating the rhythms of diversity through the sound of traditional taiko drums. Admission is free, but donations to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society are requested and are 100% tax deductible. Like us at facebook.com/TatsumakiTaiko.
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The Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, the City of Lafayette and Red House Studios today announced this year’s summer music series, “Rock the Plaza,” which will take place Friday nights in June at Lafayette’s Plaza Park at the corner of Mt. Diablo Boulevard and Moraga Road. The headliners start at 6:30pm and are presented free of charge. Arrive a little early for a good spot on the lawn. This year’s line up includes: • Friday, June 14 Azure Moon • Friday, June 21 The Floorshakers • Friday, June 28 The Buzztones Azure Moon plays rockin’ country, funky R&B, and classic hits. The Floorshakers are back for a third time to offer up funk, soul, and rock and roll. This 10 member band includes a full horn section. And The Buzztones return to Lafayette with their amazing versions of 60’s rock. The Buzztones homegrown David Martin is joined by Ken, Dan and Alan, just like back in the 70’s and 80’s. Ken Cooper will also be back for the Art & Wine Festival on the Premium Wine Stage with Mercey Beach. “Lafayette has countless numbers of musicians, both aspiring and accomplished, as well as music fans,” said Raja Singh, owner of Red House Studios and a Lafayette resident. “The ‘Rock the Plaza’ series is another great way for these musicians to share their music with the local community.” Food and beverages will be available, or you can pack a picnic. We will provide the music. Your job is to enjoy yourself! For more information, visit www.lafayettechamber.org or call 925-284-7404.
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.
Page 4 - June 2013 ~ Lafayette Today
Lafayette’s Farmers Market Returns
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Our very own Lafayette Farmers’ Market has reopened and can be visited on Sunday mornings from 9am - 1pm at the south BART parking lot. This gives you time to swing by the market before or after your other Sunday activities. This year’s market is a seasonal market, running through October, offering the best of fresh spring, summer, and fall produce. The market features roughly 30 vendors, offering locally grown organic vegetables and fruits, specialty foods, baked goods, fresh seafood, gourmet local cheese, local honey, fresh cut flowers, and more. In response to shopper requests, the market is now offering some more affordable options, such as vendors that farm organically but aren’t yet certified organic. Besides all the great food, the market also features different musicians each week. There is convenient parking in the south BART lot next to the market, on Happy Valley Road, and in the large parking lot behind the Town Center. Just turn in between Pet Express and Panda Express. Bikers and walkers can access the market from downtown by taking the walking path to BART behind Baja Fresh. Look for the bikes and their baskets of flowers to show you the way. Sponsored by Sustainable Lafayette, the market continues to be run by Urban Village who currently runs 10 other markets from the South Bay to Oakland. Learn more about Urban Village and how to apply to be a vendor at www.urbanvillageonline.com. The market is a fun way to shop locally, enjoy the outdoors, and participate in a weekly community event. It provides a unique experience where you can sample everything, develop a direct relationship with the grower, learn about unique food varieties and cooking tips, and greet your neighbors. The picnic tables shaded by umbrellas are a great place to snack and to meet up with friends. “Like” the Farmers’ Market Facebook page to stay up-to-date on market news and updates. And spread the word among your friends and neighbors!
Assistance League Way Side Inn Thrift Shop Starts the Summer with a Blast!
Member volunteers at Assistance League® Way Side Inn Thrift Shop, located at 3521 Golden Gate Way in Lafayette, are busy restocking the floor for upcoming events. Starting on Tuesday, June 11, Assistance League Way Side Inn Thrift Shop will virtually explode with red, white, and blue in preparation for this year’s Fourth of July observance, our nation’s 237th birthday. Celebrate your patriotism by purchasing tee shirts, caps, and such decorator items as table cloths, flags, patriotic table top figures, and coffee mugs. Salute our nation’s tenacity and endurance and American free enterprise. On Tuesday, June 18, the “Disneymania” event will bring about overall “insania”! MICKEY AFICIONADOS, UNITE! Resurrect the creative genius that changed the American, as well as worldwide, landscape by adding to your Disney memorabilia. Inventory will include classic Disney characters, as well as more recent additions to the Disney family, clothing, kitchen accessories, holiday décor, books, and jewelry. If you are considering downsizing your collection, you still have time to drop off your donations at the thrift shop’s back door. Member volunteers will happily reward you with a tax donation receipt. “Why? Because we like you!” Assistance League of Diablo Valley member volunteers thank you for your donations and purchases. They fund eight hands-on philanthropic programs to improve lives of those in need and at risk in our community. To learn more about Assistance League of Diablo Valley, please visit diablovalley.assistanceleague.org.
Save the Date
The Lafayette Summer Music Workshop will be hosting non-stop music being performed from 3:30pm – 9pm Friday, August 9th at Stanley Middle School. 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. On Thursday, August 15th the three Lamorinda communities are having a Lamorinda Picnic. In partnership with the Moraga Parks Department, you are invited to join at Moraga Commons Park and enjoy an evening “neighborhood” event. Bring a picnic or let the volunteers prepare food and beverage for you. The gathering starts at 4pm. Take off work early and join in the fun. At 6:30pm ZeeBop! the great Santana cover band will entertain from the band shell. More details to follow.
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.
Join the 2013 Trails Challenge
Are you ready to explore your Regional Parks? The award-winning EBRPD Trails Challenge program provides participants with a free PDF guidebook, featuring 20 different trails, including everything you need to know to plan your hike. Complete the challenge by hiking five of the trails listed or 26.2 miles of trails. Registration is open and free. Get started now by creating your online account. Go to RegionalParksFoundation.org.
Lost Dog!
$50 REWARD If you find him and your name is drawn!
He is very small, so you will have to look hard if you want to find him.
Lafayette Luther is Missing He has become lost in this paper.
Send a letter telling us where you found him, along with your name and address to:
Lost Dog! Lafayette Today, 3000F Danville Blvd #117, Alamo, CA 94507
Vera Sorum is our winner! Luther was hiding on page 15 last month.
editor@yourmonthlypaper.com
Lafayette Hiking Club
June 22 - Dimond Canyon, Oakland
The hike in Dimond Canyon, Oakland, will be bookended by a stroll through the charming Oakmore Highlands neighborhood. There is an easy descending stairway in the village. A dirt path leads down to the canyon. Wear sturdy shoes for rock treading in the creek bed, which may be wet and slippery. To participate in the hike, meet in the parking lot out from Lafayette BART’s main entrance at 8:30am. We form carpools to the trailhead. Bring snacks, water, layered clothing, good walking shoes, sun protection, and money to contribute toward gas ($3 local). The easy to moderate hike, led by Roxana Yau, is approximately three miles. For questions, email LafayetteHiking@comcast.net.
Meals on Wheels
Seniors in your community need your support! Meals on Wheels and Senior Outreach Services has been supporting seniors in YOUR neighborhood since 1968. Two of our 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.
Pints for Prostates at Pyramid Alehouse
The “Pints for Prostates” event will be held at Pyramid Alehouse, located at 1410 Locust Street in Walnut Creek, on June 13, from 6-8PM. “Pints for Prostates” is a grassroots campaign that uses the universal language of beer to reach men with an important health message about their prostate health. Founded by a prostate cancer survivor who was diagnosed at the age of 48, this non-profit campaign raises awareness among men about the need for regular health screenings and PSA testing. With a $25 donation, you will receive the “Pints Package” which includes a custom beer glass, beer, heavy hors d’oeuvres, and raffle tickets. Space is limited. Please RSVP at (925) 677-5041 or www.DiabloValleyOncology.md/contact.
Lafayette Today ~ June 2013 - Page 5
Lamorinda Idol 2013 Finalists Announced!
Lamorinda Idol 2013 auditions were recently held with close to 200 young people from Orinda, Moraga, and Lafayette auditioning before a panel of three judges, who selected the finalists. Commenting on the auditions, Lamorinda Idol Chairman Steve Harwood said, “I think those of us present knew we were witnessing something very special as each of the auditioners was well prepared, put themselves on the line, and gave it their all. We have a very talented group of finalists, but each of the auditioners was special.” Thirty-five soloists and 10 groups will compete at the finals on September 8th at Orinda Theater. The community will also be treated to several performances throughout the summer in Orinda and Lafayette from finalists and runners up. Further details are available at www.orindaartscouncil.org. K-2 Soloists - Finalists - Callie Barber, Amelia Chen, Claire O’Conner, Mia Palichio, Audrey Peatross. Runners-Up - Tobias Brock-Utne, Olivia Ting. 3-5 Soloists - Finalists - Fiona Akazawa, Lleyton Allen, Elizabeth Becker, Jenni Coletta, Helana Devine, Kiera Glenn, Valentina Navarro, Nicole Prozan, Lauren Staelin, Aislinn Welch. Runners-Up -Mackenzie Bunzel-Hardie, Bella Capozzi. 6-8 Soloists - Finalists - Niamh Akazawa, Grace Baer, Nathan Correll, Melissa Elliot, Jenna Englund, Kate Marvin, Jennifer McFarlane, Jocelyn Purcell, Lindsey Wallace, Leah Woodcox. Runners-Up - Amelie BeresfordWood, Avery Hansen. 9-12 Soloists - Finalists - Sophie Belinn, Sarah Cain, Forest Castillo, Lucy Clearwater, Jesse Epstein, Tosca Maltzman, Amrita Newton, Paige Powell, Eleanor Roeder, Alexis Zwahlen. Runners-Up - Anna Finnell, Paige McGill. K-5 Groups - Finalists - US2: Kiera Glenn and Maggie Heiskell, Rising Starz: Leah Douglas, Hannah Hoffman and Nicole Prozan, Soul Sisters: Marlene Monteih and Fiona Young, Stripes and Polka Dots: Jenna Grant and Haley Hunter, Three Musketeers: Jensen Rasmussen, Olivia Uzancan and Lily Wood. Runners-Up - GirlS: Grace Barmer and Sophie Lurie, Girls With White Dresses: Callie Barber and Janie Hollerbach. 6-8 Groups - Finalists - Awesome Fearsome 3some: Rachel Go, Jennifer McFarlane and Michaela Sasner, Liv & Kate: Liv Lagomarsino and Kate Marvin, Odd Duets: Malia Akazawa and Niamh Akazawa, Triple Threat: Isabel Fine, Jackie Patton and Dylan Smith, Lindsey & Arriana: Arriana Glenn and Lindsey Wallace. Runners-Up - Gracie and Sarah: Gracie Sterner and Sarah Westegren, Calia & Thalia: Cali Boustani and Thalia Bradley.
Page 6 - June 2013 ~ Lafayette Today
The Bookworm By Joan Stevenson
Drum roll, please. How does a town say “Thank You” to Kathy Merchant for all she has done to make the dream of the Lafayette Library and Learning Center a reality? With a celebration! On Sunday, June 23rd from 6:30 – 9pm in the Community Hall of the Lafayette Library and Learning Center (LLLC) we gather for wine and hors d’oeuvres, and storytime, and will wish our friend a very happy, well deserved retirement. What do you know about zombies? Well, if you hang out at LLLC you will encounter zombies, and you may be part of a “zombie apocalypse”! The kickoff is Thursday, June 27th from 2-4pm with a free showing of the zombie comedy Warm Bodies. The tale takes place after a zombie epidemic when R (a zombie) rescues Julie (a human survivor) from a zombie attack. The pair form a special relationship in their struggle for survival. R becomes increasingly more human - setting off a chain of events that begins to transform the other zombies and maybe even the whole lifeless world. The next day, Friday, June 28th from 4-6pm, Matt Mogk, founder of the Zombie Research Society, will teach us how to recognize and survive the “coming” zombie apocalypse. The zombie infection will spread, however, in a game of zombie tag after the library closes at 5pm. Help us take on the zombies! This event is especially planned for teens and adults. Reading is SO delicious, and now it’s time to prove it! On Wednesday, June 29th from 1-5pm in the Art and Science Center, you are invited to bring a themed dessert for our contest and carnival. Desserts can be inspired by a book like Chocolat or Fancy Nancy’s Delectable Cupcakes or even the story of the Gingerbread Man! Dessert drop-off is between 1 and 3pm. The public will judge the entries between 3-3:30pm. The Cake Walk and games begin at 4pm. I had finished my latte and planned to pick up a birthday gift for my granddaughter at The Storyteller when, to my shock, I discovered the shop was no longer in La Fiesta Square. At first my heart sank. Bookstores are closing all around us. It was with relief that I read the note on the door directing me across the street. I hustled over and was greeted by the same wonderful staff. I learned there was now an expanded adult section. Author Neil Gaiman
www.yourmonthlypaper.com recently blogged, “What I say is, a town isn’t a town without a bookstore. It may call itself a town, but unless it’s got a bookstore it knows it’s not fooling a soul.” Lafayette is so blessed to have two bookshops. We have the best of both worlds - The Friends Corner Bookshop with 25,000 gently used books at bargain prices and The Storyteller. By the way, were you aware you can access The Friends Corner Bookshop on Amazon.com? Visit www.amazon. com/shops/A2PSV30WYP3SF9. This is truly a town with soul. On June 27th from 6:30 – 7:30pm, join a doctor and a lawyer for a sobering conversation about building healthier and more resilient communities when the Commonwealth Club presents Overheated: The Human Cost of Climate Change. The speakers will be Andrew Guzman, Professor of Law, UC Berkeley, Richard Jackson, Professor, UCLA School of Public Health in conversation with Greg Dalton, Director of Climate One. With the earth running a fever, people in the United States and around the world are vulnerable to climate-driven disease, famine, war, and migration. Many scientists warn that a temperature rise of two degrees celsius, which is now highly likely, would result in catastrophe, and four degrees would be incompatible with organized society as we know it. For reservations, call (415)597-6700 or go to www.commonwealthclub.org. On a personal note: I just opened granddaughter Jessica’s BLOG for the day. It was titled, The revolution will not be shushed! She lives in Brooklyn and is passionately involved in efforts to Save NYC libraries. Libraries are up against the wall, facing the largest budget cuts in the history of New York City -- $106 million in cuts. That’s a 35% cut over last year’s funding levels. More than 60 libraries may be closed and shuttered. There will be massive layoffs resulting in disastrous cuts to hours and services. But the patrons are not being shushed. They are fighting with every tool in their quiver. It is a tough battle. I am so proud of Jessica. This month she received her PhD from Rutgers in Library Science. New York City, the most populous city in the United States and one of the leading cultural centers of the world, is struggling to keep libraries open. And I live in Lafayette where we imagined a very special library and made it happen. We must now continue to assure that we preserve what we have built and fund it to grow by responding to the annual fundraising drive, LibraryAL!VE. Have you sent your gift yet? If not, please visit www.lafayettelib.org/pdf/ LibraryAliveDonorForm.pdf. We need YOU!
editor@yourmonthlypaper.com
The 1950s
Eastern Gamblers Betting on Contra Costa? Part 1 By Ruth Bailey, Lafayette Historical Society
We all followed the crime wave in Lafayette a year or so ago, in which a couple of innocent-seeming massage parlors appeared to be offering some extra-special extras. But in going through the Lafayette Sun’s bound volume from 1950, we learned that Lamorinda was a festering swamp of crime six decades ago. Return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear, in which we’ll attempt to recap what went down in our fair town. The story began at New Year’s Eve, 1949, and was brought to light in the Sun’s issue of January 6, 1950, with this front-page headline: “Tunnel Strip Wide Open for New Year’s Gambling; Slot Machines Arrive in Time for Celebration.” The story claimed it was no secret that private clubs from Orinda to Walnut Creek offered one-armed bandits, and in one spot “A redhot blackjack game operated under the able guidance of a former dealer at the Wagon Wheels.” The biggest bet was $5. Gambling was prevalent in at least five Lafayette restaurants and probably others as well, the article stated. Evidently the piece hit a nerve, for the next round of stories included this: “We Are Offered a Bribe to Lay Off Gambling Stories (an editorial). The Sun has been offered $100 each month in ‘advertising’ if we lay off writing about slot machines and gambling in the county. Although coming to us in a roundabout way, the bribe offer apparently originated in the county’s
Lafayette Today ~ June 2013 - Page 7 gambling interests. This article and others on this page are, of course, the answer to this offer. We firmly believe it is a newspaper’s job to work toward bettering its community…we can improve or… remedy a situation by pointing the spotlight of publicity on it.” The January 8th issue highlighted a new part of the problem: “We have been trying to contact Sheriff James Long with absolutely no success. A letter was written to him, and in the past two days more than 15 calls have been placed. We hope to hear from the sheriff by next issue.” The paper reported that the owner of El Nido Restaurant [on the Tunnel Strip—see below] called to assure the publisher that the restaurant had no slot machines nor did they intend to install any. The only reaction that had financial consequences was notification from the owner of Casa Orinda that they were cancelling their advertising in the Sun and the Shopping News. Things heated up a week or so later. The January 20th issue carried this headline: “Gambling Interests Meet at Big Orinda Conference—Operators Hold Hot Discussion of Future Activities in County.” The story detailed a meeting between nightclub owners and “gambling operators and big shots” in the backroom of the Crossroads Restaurant in Orinda. “This meeting ties in with last week’s now-confirmed report that Easterners have taken over Las Vegas and are preparing to infiltrate Contra Costa County.” The meeting was said to have included Bill Pechart, “reportedly Contra Costa’s gambling boss, from El Cerrito.” According to the paper’s intrepid reporter
Looking for Answers About County Programs or Services? By Supervisor Candace Andersen, Contra Costa County District 2
Looking for answers about County programs or services? Tap into the “Live Chat” service. Navigating through the County’s large volume of programs, services and information can be difficult, but help is just a click of the mouse away. Contra Costa County’s website includes a LiveChat program, weekdays from 8:30am until 5pm. You can access it right from a button on the County’s homepage at www.contracosta.ca.gov. You will also find the LiveChat button on every page of the County’s website. Thousands of county residents have taken advantage of this service, posing questions ranging from how to access property information, where to pay taxes, or how to license a pet. Tap into the Live Chat team, and you’ll be talking in real time with staff at Contra Costa’s Libraries trained to help answer questions that might be tough to resolve just by searching online. Response to the service has been overwhelmingly positive, from both citizens who have used it and from staff who have expressed how rewarding it is to be able to help residents navigate the sometimes complicated maze of County government information. Much of the information is actually available on various pages of the County website. Your inquiries through LiveChat, which are tracked and reported to the County’s departments, will help to organize the information so that it will be easier for future visitors to find. My staff works hard to make my own District 2 website, www.cccounty. us/district2, informative and up-to-date with many useful resources for my constituents. In addition to links to all of the District 2 city websites, you will find links to many local, county, and state organizations such as East Bay Regional Park District, Contra Costa Water District, local CERT training groups, and the California Secretary of State for voter registration. You will be able to see the advisory boards I make appointments to, where there are vacancies, and how to apply for those openings. You can also quickly access the Board of Supervisors’ agendas for the current and past meetings, view past issues of my eNewsletter, as well as sign up to receive a copy each month via email. If you’re not already, I encourage you to become one of our many regular eNewsletter subscribers. Each month’s edition showcases local events and includes short, informative articles about what is going on in the County. Along with my Facebook page and Twitter account (@AndersenCandace), my eNewsletter is another way of communicating with you on a regular basis.
Dana McGaugh, “Jimmy Tarantino, Hollywood publisher and a factor in the underworld,” and agents of San Francisco’s betting commissioner were also invited. Evidently, the major concern was the rumored impending invasion of the county by Chicago and Cleveland gangsters. It was reported that the Eastern gangs were offering “protection” to the local gamblers, who were leaning toward accepting the offer, believing they would get a better split than under their present arrangement with the “Pechart regime.” Two main considerations influenced the locals’ willingness to accept the new terms: “Chicago now controls all race wire services and the poor bookie can’t tell a winner from an also-ran without swift race information.” Racing info from the East cleared through Las Vegas, under control of the Chicago group. The other issue was manufacture of slot machines and punch cards, “most of which came from the Syndicate and are available only to those who play ball.” To be continued next month… In the 1930s and ‘40s, when Mount Diablo Blvd. was still Old Tunnel Road, Lafayette’s restaurant row was known as the Tunnel Strip. People drove from Oakland and even San Francisco to dance at the El Nido Rancho on the west side of town or eat at the Curve (today Celia’s) and Planter’s Dock, which is perched high on the hill (now the Jewish Community Center). Alsam’s (today’s site of Citibank) was named for owners Al and Sam Morterra. Jay Bedsworth, owner of the Tunnel Inn (today, it’s Pet Food Express), flipped dollar bills with thumbtacks onto the ceiling. This description is excerpted from Voices of Lafayette, by Julie Sullivan, which is for sale at the History Room. Correction: In our last Lafayette Historical Society article, we cited “Edith Sterling” as the source of the oral history on the Hunts’ Ice Cream stand (now the Hen House). We received word from Kevin Shirling, who explained that his late grandmother was Edith Shirling. The Shirling family has been in Lafayette since 1941. Thanks for the correction.
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Page 8 - June 2013 ~ Lafayette Today
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Recently over 200 Lafayette Girl Scouts of all ages, kindergarten through high school, enjoyed an afternoon of ceremonies, skating, and fun to celebrate the birthday of the first Girl Scout meeting. On that day, in 1912, Juliette Gordon Low and two other women met with 18 girls to form the first Girl Scout troop in the United States. Each year, Girl Scouts celebrate the birthday of that Girl Scout meeting for an entire week. The Lafayette Coordinating Team hosted the special skate day as a way to honor and carry on an annual tradition. The skaters enjoyed a slide show set to music of girls participating in troop activities throughout the year while skating around the rink. Girl Scouts is a year-round activity, so it is never too late to join. To find out more, www. lafayettegirlscouts.org. Pictured are Daisy Girl Scouts from Troops 32928 and 33134 enjoying a cupcake at the party.
Keeping Cool This Summer By Sustainable Lafayette
Summer is almost here, and you may already be thinking about how to keep cool during Lafayette’s hottest days. If you’re interested in saving hundreds of dollar over the summer, the big secret is that air conditioning uses far more energy than you may realize. Luckily, there are many tricks for staying comfortable without it. In the typical home in the U.S., air conditioning uses more electricity than anything else — 16% of total electricity used, even reaching 50% or more of the summer electric bill in hotter regions of the country. In Lafayette, many homes have central air conditioning, which typically uses 3,500+ watts. That’s a lot of energy–the same as sixty 60-watt light bulbs and more than the average residential solar system produces. By comparison, a ceiling fan uses only 15-95 watts, and even if you leave its door wide open, a refrigerator uses about 350 watts. Now, consider how many ways there are to keep cool that are totally free! • Open windows that can be safely left open at night; close them during the day to lock in pre-cooled air from the night before. • Close blinds, curtains, and shutters that face the sun during the day. Direct sunlight can raise the temperature in a room by 1020 degrees. • Use ceiling fans and portable fans to create a cool breeze. Ceiling fans can make it feel 3-8 degrees cooler than it actually is, and a ceiling fan only costs around a penny an hour to run. • Find the areas in your house that naturally stay the coolest, and spend time there. • Consider planting shade trees that block the sun or applying lowemissivity film to windows that face the sun. • Skip using the oven or stove on hot days, and enjoy cold drinks, salads, and sandwiches. • Plan to be most active in the morning and evening when it’s cooler. If you do have air conditioning, try using it only when you expect to get uncomfortable, rather than trying to “manage” the temperature all the time. Instead of setting your thermostat at a frosty 68 degrees, PG&E recommends setting it at 78 degrees or higher when you’re home and 85 degrees when you’re away from home. Each degree you raise the thermostat will save 6 to 8 percent on your cooling bill. Close vents in rooms that you’re not using; if you have a zone thermostat, you can just cool the parts of the house that you plan to use. You can also leave AC off at night and when everyone in the household is away at work or school. By limiting your use of artificial cooling, you can participate in the rhythms of the day and of the season. Enjoy the nightly round of opening windows to let in cool nighttime air and the morning task of putting down the blinds. Nature has seasons, and we can enjoy them, including the relief when the heat of summer eventually gives way to autumn. For more tips from PG&E for saving energy and money over the summer, visit www.pge.com/myhome/saveenergymoney/savingstips/ seasonaltips/summer. To read real-world success stories about how residents in Lafayette are saving money and living more sustainably, please visit sustainablelafayette.org.
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.
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Solar Currents
Lafayette Today ~ June 2013 - Page 9
By Mark Becker, GoSimpleSolar Maximize Your Returns
In a recent article in Solar Today, the CEO of a large box solar installation General law practice with company provided advice to solar installers on how to “move into the maina concentration on Wills & Trusts stream.” However, the assumption that all installers want to be in the mainand Real Estate Law. stream is a false premise on which to base advice. In my opinion, an entirely different business model should be pursued to achieve the highest customer 925.283.2500 | 925.451.6679 derek@wagleylaw.com satisfaction and greatest long-term financial return from a solar energy system. www.WagleyLaw.com That being said, this following bit of advice was excellent: installers 3433 Golden Gate Way, Suite B | Lafayette should “emphasize the economic advantages of solar electric installations.” “Quality of life improvements” can also be achieved by the installation of solar photovoltaic systems. From personal experience, both talking points ring true and essentially work in unison. I’ve had solar panels installed on my home for some years now and recently Veterans & Spouses Only added more panels as the result of purchasing an electric car. I’m now able to even Your DD-214 could be worth thousands! better leverage the excellent credits available to me because of the PGE Electric Car Charge Utility Rate. I’m being credited upwards of $.55 per kilowatt-hour in the With first ever 25% Discount summer afternoons for my excess solar production, and recharging my car in the on pre-need purchases for traditional evenings starts at less than $.04 per kilowatt-hour. With solar photovoltaic, one can or cremation placement. live in increased comfort while saving money. This is because in PGE territory all kilowatts are not charged or credited at equal value. At beautiful Oakmont Memorial Park in Lafayette. Customer service: The CEO made a case for how a larger company’s call centers (excludes opening/closing) can “better connect” with customers. From my experience, a client would prefer to Through June 30, 2013 speak to a business owner, followed by a salesperson, and lastly, a call center. By their Contact: Thomas Corbett/Veteran Specialist nature, I don’t believe adequate customer service can be provided by call centers. Marine Officer/Vietnam Veteran Concerning products: The big box advice is to “put the product components and (925) 216-4785 or tcoak8@gmail.com specifications on the back of the brochure” because consumers have “shown little preference” towards brands. Conversely, my belief is that when it comes to a 25+ year investment and warranty, consumers need to be educated about brands! Final product choice has an effect on long term financial return. Warranties are only as good as the paper they are printed on. The world’s former largest manufacturer of solar panels, China’s Suntech, is in bankruptcy and on the verge of liquidation. Choosing a product from a Serving Bay Area businesses and residents since 2002 manufacturer that has a long performance history and no product recalls is How Can We Help You? the best warranty one can buy. “Quite simply, it’s not about the panels anymore.” From a consumer’s standpoint, it’s all about the panels and the individuals installing them. Finding excellent and reliable products takes research and effort. Downplaying product and technical details is doing the consumer a disservice. It allows for the least expensive installation, but at what long-term cost? Achieving lowest Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) is the goal. Lowest TCO is achieved by choosing quality proven products and qualified installation teams. This combination will generate maximum financial return over the 25+ year life of the system. Products and people do matter. Customer experience: “The drive for a better customer experience will be aided by ongoing consolidation among installation providers.” I highly doubt that “bigger is better” when it comes to individual customer experience. Consolidation typically means less competition, less creativity amongst the remaining players, and fewer choices of product, installer, or service. PC / Mac/ Laptops/ Desktops/ Tablets/ Smartphones/ iPads|Repairs Innovation: It is indeed critical to focus on innovation, manufacturing Upgrades| Maintenance|Office Moves and Networking | Data Recovery efficiencies, and installation cost reductions. There are many new and inVirus/Spyware/Adware Removal|Back-up Solutions|Internet/ Cloud Computing novative products becoming available. However, for individual customers, Email Solutions|Remote Phone Support |Free Recycling innovative products don’t necessarily translate into best value products. What is most important for a customer is selection of compatible and reliable products; innovation comes second to reliability and performance in the field. Wide adoption of new technology products should only occur after proven reliability is achieved. www.ThePortableCIO.com Differing business models exist because differing customer bases exist. Join Portable CIO, Inc. on Facebook! As for any construction project, do your research to find the best fit for you. 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
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Page 10 - June 2013 ~ Lafayette Today
Getting Out of Dodge Quickly!
By Art Lehman, Village Associates Realtors
Most homes in our area seem to be selling fast. Many of us wish for a quick, easy sale. But for some, be careful what you wish for. Many times the issue that comes up is a great price is offered, however the buyer needs to move in quickly. If you’re short on time and need to move out of your house in a hurry, here are some tips to assist you. If you want to sell some of your household belongings, consider turning to sites like eBay, which have the widest audience and bring the best prices. However, it will take valuable time to pack and ship the goods. Instead, you can use your city’s Craigslist or your local newspaper classified to sell items, and specify “cash and carry.” Since potential buyers will be coming to your house, for security’s sake, have someone with you when you arrange a pick up. Also consider selling through consignment stores, but make sure they have fast pick-up and a policy that if the merchandise doesn’t sell the store will donate it for the tax deduction so that you’re not stuck with taking it back. Don’t overprice what you own. Unless your furnishings are fashionable and
AAUW Awards Scholarships
www.yourmonthlypaper.com in great condition, they may bring as little as a tenth of what you paid for them. Ask your real estate agent for assistance. He or she may know someone in the market for some lawn furniture or may be willing to help you move furniture into the moving truck. You never know if you don’t ask. To keep moving costs to a minimum, carefully sort, sell, donate, or give away everything that you don’t need. Otherwise you’ll end up paying extra for movers to pack and ship items that you didn’t want or need in the first place. Look, moving is a pain in the…but I must say, having done so in the past year it is liberating. All of sudden you are forced to decide what is really important and what is never used and time to get rid of. For those of you that aren’t in the market just yet but are thinking about it – perhaps get started now. The authors of Your Money or Your Life refer to many of the items we have bought as “gazingus pins.” A gazingus pin is “any item that you just can’t pass without buying.” Do you have a few in your home? Maybe it’s the time to get rid of a few pins. If 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
Ask Dr. Happy
By Sandy Fox-Sohner & Chris Laszcz-Davis
The Orinda-Moraga-Lafayette (OML) branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) gathered with members, parents, and friends to award 12 remarkable young women from Lamorinda schools with Tech Trek camp scholarships and college scholarships.
By Bob Nozik, MD Dear Dr. Happy,
My husband, Bill, and I have been married 8 years. We have two children, a girl, 6, and a boy, 3. Bill is a hard-working interstate trucker and is away from home two to three nights a week. The problem is that when he is home, all he wants to do is drink beer, watch TV, and fall asleep in his armchair. This leaves me and the kids to fend for ourselves. When I complain, he says he’s tired, and if I don’t like it, I should just get a divorce. Dr. H, I don’t want a divorce, but I’m beginning to feel like a single mom anyway. I think we need help, but Bill won’t consider therapy. I don’t know what to do. ~ At a Loss
Dear At a Loss,
Tech Trek camp for intermediate school students provides girls with the opportunity to explore the sciences on the Stanford University campus in some very practical ways, helping to nurture the enthusiasm and confidence needed to succeed in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) courses, thereby strengthening their pursuit of science and engineering careers. The 2013 Tech Trek camp scholarship winners for 2013, who will be attending the Grace Hopper Tech Trek camp at Stanford University in July are Chun Che Free and Julia Moseyko from Orinda Intermediate School, Natalie Davis and Audrey Moore from Joaquin Moraga Intermediate School, and Molly Mudgett and Ariella Zulch from Stanley Intermediate School. These girls are outstanding students who have a passion for science and math. In addition, a generous bequest by the former Gayle Uilkema, an anonymous donor, and other AAUW OML donations resulted in yet six other scholarships which were provided to well deserving young women--two $5,000 scholarships, three $700 scholarships, and one $500 merit award. Each girl spoke impressively about her incredible accomplishments, career dreams, and college of choice. The five college scholarship winners for 2013 are Natasha Blazer from Miramonte High School, Mina Arasteh from Campolindo High School, Jenanne Margaret Vaccaro and Elise Peterson-Trujillo from Acalanes High School, and Mariah McKenzie Miller from St. Mary’s College. In addition, Kate Ruth Greer from Acalanes High School received a special merit award. Anyone interested in supporting the AAUW-OML Tech Trek and Scholarship programs or joining AAUW may obtain more information by visiting www.aauwoml.org.
I’m afraid I don’t have any magic cure to offer for your problem. If ever there was a case where therapy was indicated, this is it. It is not a good sign that: a) Bill refuses therapy, and b) he so casually uses what I call ‘the nuclearoption,’ that is, threatening divorce. Divorce should be reserved for when all else has failed. It seems to me that there is room for compromise here, and a good therapist could help you to find good alternatives. Something like, for instance, saving one night a week where the two of you go on a date together might be helpful. Perhaps, get a baby sitter and go to dinner and a movie, or maybe spend an evening out with friends. There are many possible solutions you might consider, but it sounds like Bill needs an attitude adjustment before these can be considered. This is where a good therapist could prove invaluable. Almost all studies on happiness show that married people score higher than singles, but that holds only for good marriages. If he won’t go for help, go yourself and then discuss what comes out of it with him. And after a bit, you may find he will be willing to go with you.
Happiness Tip
Fifty percent of marriages in the U.S. end in divorce, and I would estimate that half of the 50% that stay together are not what I would consider truly successful. Living well with another person in a close, intimate relationship takes skill, sensitivity, and effort; it’s not easy. Throw a couple of children into the mix, as in this case, and the difficulties compound. But the rewards of a good marriage are well worth the trouble it takes creating it. The happiest people of all are those in solid, long-term marriages. In this case, because Bill seems so unwilling to compromise, I suspect skilled marital counseling would give them their best chance for creating a happy marriage. Marriage can be a blessing or a curse. Not surprisingly, the devil is in the details. Most of us enter into marriage without the skills necessary for making it work. On-the-job learning works for some; others, as in this case, will need help for making it work. And when it does work, the payoff is deep, enduring happiness for all concerned. Send questions/comments for Dr. Happy to Pollyannan@aol.com.
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Lafayette Today ~ June 2013 - Page 11
Cinema Classics
The Courtship of Eddie’s Father By Peggy Horn
To commemorate Father’s Day 2013, Cinema Classics recommends for your viewing pleasure, The Courtship Of Eddie’s Father, (1963) starring Glenn Ford, Shirley Jones, and Ronny Howard. It also featured Jerry Van Dyke, Stella Stevens, and Dina Merrill. Directed by Vicente Mannelli, the film was based on a novel written by Mark Toby. The movie generated a popular television series of the same name. Mr. Ford plays the role of Tom Corbett, an attractive and elegant widower, and Ronny Howard plays his son, Eddie. Eddie tries to arrange dates for his dad with the likes of Dollye (Stella Stevens) and Elizabeth (Shirley Jones), but Mr. Corbett has an attraction for Rita (Dina Merrill), and therein lies a conflict. What makes the movie is the sense of humor, particularly in the scenes with Eddie. Ron Howard, even at such a young age, is a very talented actor and seems so credible and lovable that some of the best scenes are those with him in them. There are cameo appearances by Ron’s brother, Clint Howard, as one of the guests at the birthday party and by Ron’s famous director father, Rance Howard, who appears as a camp counselor. Stella Stevens provides a fabulous and funny drum solo. Also memorable is the swanky sixties style as seen in the clothes that characters wear and the way the apartments are decorated – beautifully. Movies that deal with issues of fatherhood are not plentiful. This film presents a caring and attentive dad who tries very hard to be a good parent, and although he makes mistakes, he succeeds overall. The image of a fallible parent working through issues with his son is a tribute to fathers everywhere – and moms, too. The Courtship of Eddie’s Father is available for purchase or rental online. Musical Notes – A fantastic download for Father’s Day would be, “Take Five,” recorded by the Dave Brubeck quartet (Dave Brubeck on piano, Paul Desmond on alto saxophone, Eugene Wright on bass, and Joe Morello on drums) on their 1959 album Time Out. “Take Five,” was recorded in a similar time frame as this month’s movie. This jazz music composed by Paul Desmond in quirky 5/4 time is always appealing and forever cool for any father to enjoy.
Shop Talk from The Mechanic (formerly Urban Suburban) The Mechanic is Here! By René Aguirré, The Mechanic
The Mechanic is here to help you with all of your automotive needs to get you ready for your summertime fun! Technology vs. mechanical- This is a topic we have addressed in the past. Our newer cars are more advanced than ever in many different arenas with the inclusion of GPS, parking assistance, DVD on board, voice activated climate controls, and much more. As these technologies make life on the road easier, they are additional items which need care and maintenance. Mechanics can no longer just look under the hood to fix your car. They need to plug it into a computer to “talk to it” and diagnose the issues. In other words these computers see how your car is feeling. Yes folks, our cars have “brains,” or more formally, central computers. The main computer in the car connects to a variety of sensors to maintain car health. These sensors are everywhere – on each tire, on the brakes, a few in the emissions systems, a couple in the dash, and more. Cars can have more than 36 sensors to keep everything running in balance. Our mechanics need to be computer and mechanically savvy to handle the combination of issues with this type of technology. Make sure you choose a mechanic who will completely diagnose what is wrong from the technology part of your car to the mechanical part of your car. Understanding both sides of the equation will provide you with a better, more trusting experience with your mechanic. A lot of news! In addition to launching The Mechanic, we also launched our restoration and fabrication business – Triple Nickel Resto-RaceFabrication. We hosted a large event at our shop with over 200 clients, friends and family showing their support. During the event, we showcased our year-long project – Galaxia de la Baja, a 1964 Ford Galaxie converted into an off-road racing machine. We took our Galaxie to the Mexican 1000 at the end of April hoping to, at the very least, finish the race. Not only did our amazing ten person team finish the race, we took home second place
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in our class and sixteenth overall! It was a fantastic showing for the brand new racing team and first off-road race! You can follow our racing team on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TripleNickelRestoRaceFab, or check out our website at http://triplenickelrestoracefab.com/# Speaking of websites, The Mechanic has a cool new website too! You can learn about what we do, read our articles, make an appointment, and sign up for our newsletter at http://themechaniclafayette.com. Recent and upcoming events - Not only have we attracted some great press with our recent racing experience, we participated in a few local car shows, too. We kicked off the car show season with the Galaxia de la Baja in Niles at their Mother’s Day car show. Various team members had a great time talking to spectators about our “Baja Beast.” Then at the beginning of this month, we really turned some heads at the Good Guys car show in Pleasanton. Many of our team members were out chatting with spectators about the build, our race, and everything in between. You could always find someone crawling around under the car to get a better look at our project. We were definitely the talk of the event taking home two awards – the Dare to be Different award and the Wild Card award. We will be taking our race car to many events around the Bay Area this summer. The team hopes to enter the Best in the Desert – Vegas to Reno off-road race in August. In the meantime, you can check out this awesome car at the Motorama – World of Wheels car show on Father’s Day, June 16th. Bring the whole family! If you have any questions about this or any other “Shop Talk” issues, call The Mechanic today at (925) 283-5212. Our hours of Donate Your Car 800-YES-SVDP (800-937-7837) operation are Monday am through Friday, 7:30 • FREE same day pickup - 5pm. The Mechanic is • Maximum Tax Deduction your personal car care • We do DMV paperwork consultant, taking care • Running or not, no restrictions of all of your auto repair • 100% helps your community and servicing needs. Serving the poor since 1860 www.yes-svdp.org ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY Advertorial
Page 12 - June 2013 ~ Lafayette Today
Volunteers at Local Girl Scout Camp Perform Spring Cleaning and ask Public for Help to Keep Camp Open for Future Generations Registerer now for Hike-A-Thon on October 5th Submitted by Twin Canyon Site Committee
Recently 104 volunteers gave the Girl Scout camp Twin Canyon (TC), located at the end of Springhill Rd. in Lafayette, a “Spring Cleaning” to make it ready for summer camp. They painted seven buildings, cleaned, took cut logs and made “seats in a circle,” and cleared the hiking trails of debris from winter. The camp was purchased by the Diablo Valley Area Girl Scout Council in 1954. It was financed by the sale of Girl Scout Cookies and calendar sales with an assist from direct donations. It is heavily used because it is easily accessible – seemingly remote while actually being less than 15 minutes from
nearby cities. It's one of the Girl Scouts of Northern California's (GS Nor Cal) camps and outdoor programs centers where girls and leaders learn outdoor skills (cooking and archery and so much more) that lead them on to new adventures and build life-long memories. The camp has aged and was in need of repair. In 2012 volunteers on the Twin Canyon Site Committee worked closely with the GS Nor Cal staff and Diablo Day Camp (DDC) to develop a long-term plan to make Twin Canyon self-supporting and sustainable for generations to come. DDC was able to raise fees and extend their season to serve even more girls, and the camper's fees helped put TC back on track. The plan is to be sustainable and get the camp to 50% break even operations by 2014 and 100% break even operations by 2017. A Hike-a-thon for Twin Canyon will be held. We are asking the public, 12 years and older, to sign up to have a rare opportunity to hike both Twin Canyon and East Bay Regional Park to support and help keep TC a great campsite for the future for all local Girl Scouts. For more information about the hike-a-thon on October 5, 2013 please go to www.twincanyon.org.
Acalanes Dons Baseball team defeated Analy High School 4-3 winning their third straight North Coast Section Division 3 Championship. Andrew Merken was the winning pitcher striking out the final batter swinging. Photo by Gint Federas.
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Walking the Reservoir By Jim Scala
Rod Trip, General Manager of the Lafayette Reservoir, walked with the grace of a well-conditioned athlete. He greeted Dudley and me with a warm smile and firm handshake. I thought, “If Hollywood ever makes a movie about our park, the casting’s done!” Taking advantage of the beautiful weather, we sat outside the Visitor’s Center and talked. I congratulated Rod on the dam parking area, the walkway, and the benches so well placed for enjoying the view after a walk. The Rez gets over one million annual visitors and about half that many dogs. Hence, park logistics and maintenance are not small tasks. I mentioned that Rez-walkers asked about tree trimming to open lake vistas from the grassy knolls. Rod pointed out that this is the driest year in a decade, and the summer’s focus must be on the higher, more fire-vulnerable areas. So, trimming around the paved walk’s grassy areas will wait until fall. When you see a ranger or stop by the Visitors’ Center, please tell them what a great job they do as a well-deserved pat on the back goes far – they deserve it! Gayle, a well-conditioned Rez walker, asked me why I always say that walking after work is beneficial – she was thinking about her successful executive husband. I explained that besides the 280 calories he burns, it helps reduce the risk of Type-2 diabetes. More than one in five people over 65 are Type -2 diabetic – that’s an epidemic. She asked, “Isn’t it all about being overweight?” Yes, however, abdominal fat in men is also a major risk factor. Recent research indicates that with all demographics being equal, stress is about as bad as abdominal fat. Medical research found that normal weight people who produce more of the stress hormone, cortisol, have about the same Type-2 risk as people who are overweight. And when the two are together, they more than double the risk! In short they’re synergistic in a bad way. I quickly added, “That’s where Rez walking can help big time.” Gayle asked, “Why not just go to the gym?” Going to the gym after work is fine, but stress is best dissipated by undistracted exercise. Typically the executive mounts some apparatus and goes at it watching TV News. I’ve even see execs read business reports while on an elliptical. That’s distracted exercise. Great physical and mental benefit comes from walking the Rez. Going twice around doubles the energy burn, especially without electronics! The trees, tranquility of the water, and the sounds of nature are mentally beneficial. You can listen to the gobble of the abundant wild turkeys. Add to this, green is the most relaxing of all colors. Yoga is also excellent for the harried executive. It brings flexibility to a stiff desk-abused body while improving mental health – more stress relief. It only requires a mat, and the poses can be learned from a video. Go to www. kitayoga.com for an excellent video. When walking the Rez, stop and look at the periodic display panels that explain its natural wonders with excellent pictures and descriptions. A professor of English told Rod that he studied every display and couldn’t find a single grammatical error. Moms and school teachers can urge kids to read them, and while learning about nature, they’re exposed to excellent prose. And while a 2.75 mile walk improves fitness, children experience nature and read well-written English. In our texting world, that’s good. In my past life I worked with Apollo astronauts who were quite philosophical and said, “We’re born with a set number of heartbeats.” It follows that if that was correct, people with a lower resting heart rate should live longer. A recent paper in the prestigious medical-research journal Heart proves they were right! A lower resting heart rate, all other things being equal, imparts a longer life expectancy. Men with 71 to 80 resting beats had about 50% the life expectancy of men with 50 beats or less, and the same applies to women. A lower rate usually reflects better conditioning. Chalk up one more reason to walk the Rez. Other thoughts - I saw two lawyer-related T-shirts on Rez-walkers recently. One, on how to hire a lawyer, said, first line: “A good lawyer works hard,” and the second line read, “A great lawyer knows the judge.” The second made a blanket statement; first line: Lawyers are Human! Second line: (Allegedly). Wasn’t the annual “Concert at the Res,” fantastic? Have you noticed the many harmless ring necked snakes? And what about the new ducklings? Let me hear from you at jscala2@comcast.net.
The Writing Studio Lamorinda Weekly 3.875 x 4 Final.pdf 1 5/14/2013 11:19:15 PM
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Lafayette Today ~ June 2013 - Page 13
Travelling Connected
By Evan Corstorphine, Portable CIO
Recently I was fortunate enough to travel abroad. My destinations included Japan, Thailand, and Vietnam. I could write several articles about these interesting and vibrant destinations, but today I’m going to give you some advice on how to stay connected while away from home. Staying connected means different things to different people. Since I was in a very unfamiliar environment, I erred on the side of wanting a working telephone and internet connectivity. I’m a lousy navigator, and I like to rely on Google Maps! I have found it is definitely not a winning strategy to simply hope you’ll find good Wi-Fi along the way. Free Wi-Fi is very hard to find, even at coffee shops. When you find it, it’s usually pretty wimpy or over-subscribed. Even paid-Wi-Fi can be hard to find, so do your homework. We in the US are very spoiled with fast internet access. Important note: If you are going to use free or paid public Wi-Fi, make sure to have your laptop’s firewall turned on, and do not conduct any financial transactions where your credit card or banking information would be transmitted through that connection. Public networks are often targeted by hackers ‘listening’ for unsuspecting travellers trying to perform a last-minute transaction. When we landed in Bangkok, I tried to access the “Free” Wi-Fi network at the airport so we could find our people. No go. I could connect to it, but I couldn’t get any access. The same thing happened in San Francisco and also Narita airport in Japan. If you do find one that works, congratulations! If I relied on it, I would have been sunk. Since the free Wi-Fi didn’t work, I tried the “Boingo Wi-Fi HotSpot” I had signed up for before leaving. This is a paid service that has hot-spots all over the world’s airports and other public places. They boast over 600,000 hotspots, so chances are there will be one near where you’re going. Check their website (www.boingohotspot.net) to see if the airports or locations you’re visiting have their service. This service does work, although it’s not strong enough to do much more than get a message out, which in my case was enough for that moment. A month of service only costs $11.95, so it’s a decent fall-back. You need to plan ahead. As I mentioned above, I’d already signed up for Boingo before my trip, but when you’re out on some country road and need a map, that’s not much help. When you’re out in country you need 3G data for your smart-phone. But your cell phone is not going to be compatible with the network in the country you’re visiting without some preparation. I use an iPhone, but the process is basically the same for all phones. You may have heard about the practice of “unlocking” your cell phone. Unlocking is the process of removing artificial barriers your carrier has put on your phone that prevent you from connecting to other carriers, here at home or abroad. I use AT&T, who will unlock your phone if you own your phone and can provide specific documentation. I own my iPhone outright, which means it’s past the original contract date. You’re not supposed to unlock your phone unless you own the phone. As I ‘own’ my phone but don’t have every scrap of documentation AT&T wanted, I unlocked it through a 3rd party website that charges $35. When I arrived in Thailand, I was able to take my unlocked iPhone to one of the several local telephone company booths in the Bangkok airport and purchase a local SIM-card. I purchased a plan which gave me 1GB of internet and unlimited calling for six weeks, which for me was perfect. The package for the SIM-card had the website info, and later on I was able to visit the website and recharge the card when I got low. Once I had the local SIM-card, my phone worked just like at home, with a local Thai telephone number. I could send text messages, make calls, and, most important of all, use the apps and local internet which were totally functional. It’s important to note that you can also purchase a simple “throw-away” cell phone at those same airport booths, which would allow T9 texting and phone calls without the 3G internet. They run about $40 and come with prepaid service plans. These are another great alternative when you want to have local access. We were very fortunate that I had planned ahead to have a working smartphone. As it turns out, our ride never got the message we were arriving. Eventually we took a cab for the hour and a half ride to the city of our destination and navigated close enough to our destination that we were in the neighborhood. We didn’t have an accurate address for our final destination, but we made ourselves at home in a local bar until daylight, when I used my phone to call our friend and navigate in the rest of the way. If I hadn’t had my phone, it would have been extremely sketchy to get to the right area and get in touch with our friend. Are you travelling soon? If you have questions about international access, email helpdesk@theportablecio.com, or call 925-552-7953 to check with the connectivity experts at Portable CIO. Advertorial C
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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.
The Writing Studio
A Summer Camp for Young Writers July 8-A ug
ust 2
Join THE WRITING STUDIO this summer as our young writers step into a world of CREATIVE STORYTELLING and ESSAY-BASED EXPOSITORY WRITING PROJECTS. Students will learn proper sentence structure, organizational skills, the elements of a five-paragraph essay, creative use of descriptive words, correct grammar, usage, and so much more. CAMP YOUNG WRITERS will be open to elementary and middle school students from July 8-August 2, 1 pm-4 pm. Weekly theme-based projects consist of classroom instruction and one-on-one sessions. Monthly fee is $425 per child. For further information, contact lafayettewritingstudio@comcast.net or call 925-385-0211. Learn about our year-long program at www.lafayettewritingstudio.com.
THE WRITING STUDIO Where Words Come to Life
3455 Golden Gate Way, Suite A, Lafayette (925) 385-0211
Lafayette Community Garden and Outdoor Learning Center
Please join us at our upcoming class at the Lafayette Community Garden across the street from the Reservoir. Our classes are interactive, informative, and fun, so come join us and prepare to get your hands dirty!
Tuesdays June 18th to August 6th – 9 to 10am ~ Our Secret Garden
The secret is out: the Lafayette Community Garden will be hosting an hour of stories, crafts and exploration for kids of all ages this summer. Starting on June 18, Eli Chan will lead children and caregivers on a journey of the lives of plants, animals, insects, and the great outdoors. So bring your curiosity (and your grubbies) and dig in to discover nature’s secrets.
Saturday, June 22nd- 10:30am–12 ~ Roots, Stems, Leaves, and Flowers
Heidi Plumb, preschool teacher, and Leah Ingram, Garden Manager and environmental educator, will lead this class. This is an opportunity for children ages 3 - 7, accompanied by an adult who is willing to play to explore the wonders of plants. We will take a close-up look at plants and their parts. What are they for? What do they do? We’ll explore those questions using our whole body and all of our senses.
Sunday, June 30th- 3:30 - 5pm ~ Solar Cooking for First Worlders
Solar cookers have been standbys in refugee camps and in third world countries for two decades. You can benefit from solar cooking, too! Imagine walking into the backyard after work, opening your solar cooker, and carrying dinner into the kitchen, a pot of food steaming and ready to eat from no input other than the sunshine. Retired educator, Rennie Archibald, will show us how to build and use a simple solar cooker and demonstrate a variety of alternative solar cooking devices. At the end of the class you will take home your own solar kitchen: a cooker, pot, and insulator. (Materials cost $40) Classes are free although a $5 donation is appreciated. To register for a class, please visit www. lafayettecommunitygarden.org, and click on classes.
Page 14 - June 2013 ~ Lafayette Today
When Family and Business Don’t Mix
By Robert J. Silverman, Attorney at Law
Family members often become “involuntary” co-owners of real estate and/or a business by inheriting a fractional interest in an asset co-owned by other family members. Proper planning and related documentation should be completed by the first generation of (voluntary) coowners, ideally at the time an asset is purchased. Otherwise, this co-ownership can become very problematic - even if such problems don’t arise until the death of a first generation co-owner. This article features an interesting case on point that I’m handling now. I’ll summarize the background, illustrate the core legal issues, and outline a lesser known legal remedy. Basic facts (names changed): My clients are siblings, John, Jane, and Judy, whose mother, Carol, died 17 years ago. For decades, Carol owned 50% of a commercial building with her brother, Sam. The family operated a retail business at the property, of which Sam long ago became 90% owner and Carol 10% owner. It’s unknown what amounts Carol received from Sam for her 10% of the business and for rent that should have been paid by the business to Carol and Sam, as equal owners of the property. When Carol died, my clients inherited her 50% of the property and her 10% of the business. My clients’ uncle, Sam, continued to run the business, and it seemed to be pretty successful. But Sam never provided any significant information to his nephew and nieces. He simply sent them each a small monthly check, without identifying whether these distributions were for rent and/or for business profits. My clients are of modest means and could certainly have used more funds from their inheritance. But they loved their uncle Sam and trusted that he was being fair. As the years went by, the value of the property increased substantially and presumably so did the business profits. Yet, while purchasing a large home for himself and buying a nice home for his daughter, Sam did not increase distributions to my clients. My clients began to suspect they were not being treated equitably. In recent years, my clients made numerous requests for a business accounting
www.yourmonthlypaper.com and other relevant information, but Sam gave excuses and failed to honor these requests. My clients became frustrated and finally asked Sam if he would buy their 50% of the property. Sam said he was unwilling to do so, and my clients felt as though they had no options. John was referred to me, and after doing some due diligence for John and his sisters, I informed them that: a) they were not at the mercy of Sam to continue to be co-owners of the property; b) Sam could be compelled to produce an accounting for the business and the property; and c) Sam had breached the fiduciary duty he owed to my clients as co-owners of both the property and the business, unjustly enriching himself as to his 90% interest in the business at the expense of my clients who were receiving far less than market value rent for their 50% interest in the property. I informed my clients that they could file a lawsuit, in which they could seek a Partition of the property. In a Partition action, if one (or more) co-owner of a property is not getting along with another co-owner or one wants to sell and the other does not, the judge will, except in rare circumstances, order the sale of the property. In addition, my clients had a right to demand an accounting and had various claims for damages. I wrote a demand letter to Sam, giving him an opportunity to buy out my clients and settle as to damages sustained by my clients. Sam’s lawyer responded, acknowledging that my client would ultimately be able to force the sale of the property in the Partition action, but rejected my clients’ valuation of the property and denied liability for damages. So, I filed suit for my clients. The parties have engaged in early settlement discussions, and reaching a pre-trial settlement is likely. Unfortunately, however, the lack of any written agreements between the parties – either between Sam and Carol of the first generation or between Sam and my clients of the second generation – helped enable a conflict to spin out of control and ruin a previously close family relationship. Mr. Silverman is an attorney with Buchman Provine Brothers Smith LLP, 1333 N. California Street, Suite 350, Walnut Creek, CA 94596; (925) 944-9700; rsilverman@ sbllp.com. His practice emphasizes Estate Planning, Trust Administration & Probate, Real Estate, and Business. Mr. Silverman offers a free introductory consultation. This article is intended to provide information of a general nature, and should not be relied upon as legal, tax, financial and/ or business advice. Readers should obtain and rely upon specific advice only from their own qualified professional advisors. This communication is not intended or written to be used, for the purpose of: i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code; or ii) promoting, marketing, or recommending to another party any matters addressed herein. Advertorial
Best White Cabernet in the Valley! 510-861-2722 5700 Greenville Rd Livermore, CA 94550 www.redfeatherwinery.com
Acalanes HS Boys Lacrosse – NCS Champions. Photo by Gint Federas.
Lic# 1100014354; Bay Area Entertainment
Acalanes HS Girls Lacrosse – NCS Champions. Photo by Gint Federas.
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How do you Choose an Investment Advisor? By Deborah Mitchell, CFA, MSW
Lafayette Today ~ June 2013 - Page 15
Lafayette Motors
Independent service and repair for Jaguar In the age of Ponzi schemes and fraudulent advisors, finding a competent and trustworthy investment advisor can be quite challenging. Granted, Wall Street scandals and deceitful practices are nothing new. Yet, hearing CARLOS “KIKO” CAICEDO the name of disgraced financier Bernie Madoff, whose numerous charges Shop (925) 284-4852 ranged from securities fraud to benefit plan theft, still elicits palpitations. Cell (925) 285-0783 lafayettemotors@gmail.com Due to such cases, the finance industry has been tarnished and left even the most seasoned investors wondering who they can trust. 3470 Golden Gate Way , Lafayette, CA 94549 Compounding the trust problem is the complexity that exists in the finance world today of a stock market making all time highs, yet a large number of investors remain on the sidelines. The most recent Economy and Finance Gallup Poll conducted found that stock ownership by U.S. adults is at its lowest level since 1998. The slow Independent service and repair for Mercedes Benz to improve economy, persistent concerns about unemployment, or simply lack of funding to buy could be reasons for the hesitancy to dive in. Clearly there is a need for professional guidance to navigate through the murky waters of investing. JERRY FIGUEROA Here are some discussion points to mull over when considering the services of an Shop (925) 284-4852 investment advisor. Cell (510) 754-1942 lafayettemotors@gmail.com Services Offered: The numerous titles used to describe a financial services professional can be confusing. According to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), an investment 3470 Golden Gate Way , Lafayette, CA 94549 advisor can be defined as an individual or firm that gives advice about securities toFINANCING clients. Some A FIXER-UPPER? advisors specialize in investing in the stock market, while others FINANCING A FIXER-UPPER? only recommend certain investment products or vehicles. It is FINANCING A FIXER-UPPER? important to get a clear understanding of exactly what services Remodeling or Home FINANCING A FIXER-UPPER? are (and are not) offered. It is also necessary to know exactly Improvement? Remodeling or Home ● Purchase or Refinance what services you are seeking. Improvement? Remodeling or(OWNER-OCCUPIED Home ONLY) ● 1-4 Unit Properties Investment Philosophy & Style: Identifying the ideology ● Purchase or Refinance FINANCING A FIXER-UPPER? Remodeling or Home ● FHA ● 1-4Down Payment (3.5%) Unit Properties (OWNER-OCCUPIED ONLY) behind the decision making process is critical. Terms such as Improvement? Improvement? ● FHA Down ● Flexible Payment Credit Qualifying “growth” or “value investing” are thrown around freely, but ● Purchase or(3.5%) Refinance Remodeling or Home ● Flexible Credit Qualifying • Purchase or Refinance ● Assumable Loans ● 1-4 Unit Properties (OWNER-OCCUPIED ONLY) knowing what the phrases mean specifically to the advisor is Improvement? ● Assumable Loans ● • 1-4 Unit Properties (OWNER-OCCUPIED ONLY) FHA Down Payment (3.5%) key. The investment vehicles used should be clarified as well, be ● Purchase or Refinance ● Flexible Credit Qualifying Payment (3.5%) ● 1-4Down Unit Properties (OWNER-OCCUPIED ONLY) it stocks, bonds, mutual funds, ETF’s (exchange traded funds), • FHA ● Assumable Loans ● FHA Down Payment (3.5%) • Flexible Credit Qualifying options, futures, REITs (real estate investment trust), etc. Asset ● Flexible Credit Qualifying • Assumable Loans allocation and diversification should be core components of the ● Assumable Loans investment strategy. It is important that there is a sound investment You just love the house. You just love the house. process in place and not a methodology that changes like the wind. Except for the leaky pipes. Or maybe the kitchen is too small. Except for the leaky pipes. Or maybe the kitchen is too small. Performance: Just because past performance is phenomenal You just love the house. You just love the house. Except for the leaky pipes. Or we maybe is too small. does not mean you should rush to sign on blindly. When asking For the house almost havethe the kitchen perfect solution: Youthat's just love the perfect, house. For the house that's almost perfect, we have the perfect solution: Except for the leaky pipes. Or maybe the kitchen is too one. small. about past performance, be sure to dig deep and ask for details, such Except for the leaky pipes. Or maybe theand kitchen is too small. Our Renovation Mortgage, a mortgage home improvement loanallallinin Our RenovationFor Mortgage, mortgage home one. the houseathat's almostand perfect, we improvement have the perfectloan solution: as the time period measured.Red flags should be raised if the buy For the house that’sMortgage, almost we have the perfect Ourhouse Renovation aperfect, mortgage and home improvement loansolution: all in one. For the that's almost perfect, we have the perfect solution: or sell disciplines were changed during the measurement period. Our ●●mortgage ● ● Purchase Add a porch, deck or patio Update electrical wiring, plumbing or refinance Mortgage, a and home improvement loan all in one. Our Renovation Mortgage, a mortgage and home improvement loan all in one. ● ●Renovation Add a porch, deck or patio Update electrical wiring, plumbing Purchase or refinance orheating heatingsystems systems ● ● Remodel As David Rombilt of Barclays Research put it, “A performance or Replace a leaky roof the kitchen or bath ● ● Remodel Replace a leaky roof the kitchen or bath ● Add a porch, deck or patio ● Update electrical wiring, plumbing ● Purchase or refinance Conserve energy with new windows ●●Conserve energy with new windows ●●Put ● or heating systems ● Add ● Update ● Purchase ininor carpeting Renovate or● or add a room a porch, deck patioflooring, plumbing or refinance ● Renovate ●new track record is not a leading indicator.” The focus should be on a • Purchase Put new flooring, carpeting add a room Replace a leaky roof electrical wiring, Remodel the kitchen or bath or refinance • Update electrical wiring, • Add a porch, deck, or patio or heating systems ● or tiling Plus much more! ● ● ● Replace a leaky roof thehouse kitchen or bath energy with new windows or tiling much more! ● Remodel ● Put in new flooring, carpeting ● PlusConserve ●house Paint the or add Renovate orsiding add a room ● Paint the or add siding disciplined investment approach. ● Conserve energy • Remodel kitchen or bath with new windows plumbing, or heating systems Replace a leaky roof ● Put • ● Renovate orthe in new flooring, carpeting add a room ● or tiling Plus much more! ● Paint the house or add siding ● Plus much more! or add a room or tiling ● Paint the house • Conserve energy with new windows • Put in new flooring, or add siding Fees: Exploring how the advisor gets paid for services is a • Renovate • Paint the house or add siding • Plus much more! carpeting, or tiling must. Some advisors are paid on an hourly basis and others by commission on products sold. Commonly, payment is determined by a percentage of assets under management. “Fee only” refers to a Jim, MBA Black ,MBA MBA set cost for services rendered, whereas “fee based” is a combination Jim Jim BlackBlack Jim ,Black , MBA VicePresident, President, Area Manager 203k Renovation Specialist Vice President, Area Manager | 203k Renovation Specialist Vice Area Manager || 203k Specialist Vice President, Area Manager | Renovation 203k Renovation Specialist NMLS #633511 | Cell: (925) 285-4898 | Fax:| (855) 450-1673 of a pre-determined fee and commission payments. NMLS NMLS #633511#633511 | Cell: (925) | Fax: (855)285-4898 450-1673 NMLS #633511 | Cell: (925) (855) 450-1673 | 285-4898 Cell: (925) 285-4898 | Fax: Fax: (855) 450-1673 Web: jblack@mmcdcorp.com | Web: www.MeetJimBlack.com Web: jblack@mmcdcorp.com | Web: www.MeetJimBlack.com Web: jblack@mmcdcorp.com Web: www.MeetJimBlack.com Web: jblack@mmcdcorp.com | Web:| www.MeetJimBlack.com Communication: An investment advisor should be interested in getting to know what your investment needs are. Time should be Oak Hill Road When Experience 999 999Hill Oak Hill Road Road Lafayette, CA 94549999 Oak spent getting a clear understanding of a client’s investment goals, risk Experience WhenWhen Experience Matters 999 Oak Hill www.mmcdcorp.comLafayette, Lafayette, CA 94549 CA Road 94549 When Experience Matters www.mmcdcorp.com www.mmcdcorp.com Lafayette, CA 94549 Matters tolerance, time horizon, liquidity/income needs, tax specifications, Matters www.mmcdcorp.com and any unique circumstances (such as not wanting to invest in San Ramon Valley tobacco, or defense stocks, etc.). As the client, you should feel comfortable with the advisor. The bottom line is that you need to choose an investment advisor whose philosophy and style Genealogical Meetings most closely meshes with yours. You need to select an individual that you can trust and that will The San Ramon Valley Genealogical Society work toward meeting your investment goals. At the end of the day, you need to be able to sleep at meets at 10 am the third Tuesday of every month, night knowing your money is in good hands. except August and December, at the Danville Deborah Mitchell holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation, a Bachelors Family History Center, 2949 Stone Valley Road, degree in Psychology and a Masters in Social Work degree. She is a Vice President for Noroian Alamo. A speaker is at every meeting. Everyone Capital Management, an independent investment advisory firm located in Lafayette, California is welcome. For information, call Ed at (925) 299-0881, for individuals and businesses. or visit http://srvgensoc.org. Deborah can be reached at 925-299-2000 or dmitchell@noroian.com. Advertorial
Lafayette Motors
Licensed by the Department of Corporations under the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act. NMLS #1141
Licensed by the Department of Corporations under the California
Licensed by the Department of Corporations under the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act. NMLS #1141 Residential Mortgage Lending Act. NMLS #1141
Licensed by the Department of Corporations under the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act. NMLS #1141
Page 16 - June 2013 ~ Lafayette Today
The Art of Screening
By Blaine Brende & Joe Lamb
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Trees and shrubs provide many valuable services in the urban ecosystem. One of the most important, from the perspective of homeowners, is screening for privacy and to hide undesired objects. Well-placed foliage can keep out prying eyes and enhance personal safety, and a view of beautiful leaves and branches gives more pleasure than the view of a neighbor’s garage. Over the long run, preserving a living screen requires planning and judicious pruning. Plants grow toward the sun; they maximize foliage where there is most light. As trees mature, the density of the canopy can act as an umbrella and shade out the interior lower branches, which causes them to die. To see a clear example of this, look at a mature oak in the forest. The majority of foliage is in the outer shell; the interior is bare. This natural phenomenon works well for plants in the wild, but it may not succeed well for your screening needs. Luckily, there are ways to avoid this loss of valuable screening. All strategies for maintaining screen involve keeping sunlight flowing to interior branches. Sufficient light on the leaves reduces dieback. It is best to act before the screen is compromised (an ounce of pruning is better than a ton of replanting). In plants with latent buds, English laurels for example, trunks can re-sprout even after interior branches have withered. However, many species lack latent buds and are incapable of re-sprouting, and for those species preventative medicine is the only medicine. Even for species with latent buds, keeping branches healthy is much easier, and more effective, than reinvigorating them. • Eliminate light competition from surrounding plants. Evaluate the plants growing near your screen plants to see if they are casting a shadow on branches critical to screening. Plants shading out important screen plants can be removed, or they can be thinned and shaped to increase illumination of screening branches. • Thin the screen plants themselves. This may seem counterintuitive, but the exterior of the screen plant may be shading its interior. It is not uncommon to see 40-foot pittosporums that look like balloons, with the only green occurring in the canopy. To revitalize, it is generally best to remove all dead wood, thin the top heavily, and even thin the screen area. The goal is to maintain layers of green from the edge of the canopy through the interior. A thick, multi-layered screen is less prone to failure. If it is not acceptable to lose any bottom screen, even temporarily, a good compromise is to thin those portions above the screen area. Thinning only one portion of the tree is an aesthetic challenge, but it can be done. • Shape the tops of screen plants. It is sometimes possible to shape back the tops of screen plants to allow more light to reach the lower branches. Our philosophy of pruning requires that the overall beauty of the plants be considered in all pruning cuts. Because health and beauty are often synonymous, we have found that bringing light into the interior usually enhances tree aesthetics. What do you do if you have already lost the screen? It is difficult to get branches to grow back once they have died, but radically thinning or lowering the plant may induce growth in lower foliage. Unfortunately, this is hard to achieve without sacrificing the aesthetics of your trees and shrubs. Sometimes it is possible to fill the gap with shade-loving plants. Other times the only solution might be to remove the plant and start over. Each case is different. If you need help, do not hesitate to give us a call, for advice or to do the work. At Brende and Lamb, we have 20 years of experience balancing the aesthetics of your trees and shrubs and maintaining your screening needs. 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
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Life in the Lafayette Garden
By John Montgomery, ASLA, Landscape Architect Water-Wise Design
Lafayette Today ~ June 2013 - Page 17
Over the years I have implemented into my practice water-wise landscape design. I am a 5th generation native Californian and have been designing landscapes for over 35 years here. Over the years, living in and out of drought conditions, I have learned to stay the course of good water-wise landscape design. As residents of Lafayette, it is vital to conserve water as a habit. It seems we should know better by now, but we get fooled from season to season when we experience many years of El Niño. With global warming concerns, it is time to get smart and stay smart. Here are seven practices I always implement into my designs, and these are some of the same practices you can take to implement into your new or existing landscape no matter what the forecast might be. One: Start with your soil; thriving soil with good organics is the foundation of a water conserving landscape. How much water you need to keep your landscape alive is directly equivalent to the amount of compost in your soil. Compost increases permeability and capacity to hold water, thus reducing the amount needed for irrigation and thus lowering your watering bills. Two: Use Plants and Landscapes for Summer-dry Climates of the SF Bay Region, an EBMUD book. The types of plants described in the book have adapted to summer dry conditions and once established can survive dry summers with little or no water. There is an old gardener’s adage: “right plant – right place.” Appropriately designed planting requires less watering, pruning, fertilizing and spraying, thus lowering operating costs and use of resources. Minimize your lawn area. 1,000 sq. ft. of turf can save about 10,000 gallons of water per dry season. If you absolutely need a lawn, minimize the size and place grass where it will be used for relaxation and play. Three: Cluster your plantings by water needs. This method is known as hydro-zoning. In a hot sunny location, group sun-loving, low water-use plants and then design the irrigation system to water that cluster of plants. Same goes for shade areas. Hydro-zoning can more easily match plant requirements, thus saving water. Hydro-zoning allows you to separate your irrigation valves so each zone can be managed more accurately. This method can save you an unbelievable amount of water! Four: Design and install high efficiency irrigation systems. Use bubbler and drip irrigation where possible so that water can be applied directly to the root zone. Minimize spray irrigation where possible. Use the newest irrigation technology; MPR (matched precipitation rates) sprinkler heads, bubbler, drip, micro-sprays, soaker lines and an upgraded new controller. There are many choices that offer high technology that uses historical weather data and solar, moisture, and rain sensors. Some systems can detect problems like a broken sprinkler head. I was able to adjust my controller last summer to save 15% on my water bill. With new technology I believe you could easily save 25-50% of the water you use for your landscape now! Five: Manage your landscape water use. Know your landscape watering needs and how much water is being applied. Adjust your controller often as weather conditions change. Install a new “Water Smart” controller. Set your controller to water early in the morning when evaporation rates are low and wind is calm. Water deep and less often. This will allow water to get into the root zones. Avoid overwatering and run-off. Good water management saves thousands of gallons! Six: Mulch! Mulch reduces water loss and prevents weed growth. Mulch often! Regularly mulch around your trees, shrubs, and ground covers and cultivate your soil regularly to allow water to penetrate more easily. Seven: Make saving water important to you! Every drip counts! Get involved in your garden. Use licensed landscape professionals to assist you in water-wise design and implementation of your garden. A hot tip from your local Landscape Architect: Investing in a water-wise planting and irrigation design for your new or existing garden can save you thousands of $$ over time! The savings can well exceed the cost of the design itself! Gardening Quote of the Month: “The frog does not drink up the pond in which 19th Annual Sculpture in the Garden Exhibit he lives.” ~ Native American Saying For one month every year, The Ruth Bancroft Garden (RBG) transforms If you would like me to write on any particular subject, email your ideas to into an outdoor art gallery. The Garden’s world-class collection of succulent jmontgomery@jm-la.com or for design ideas, visit www.jm-la.com. Advertorial and drought-tolerant plants provides a spectacular backdrop for artists to display their works. Follow the meandering pathways to discover art that ranges from classical to irreverent, spiritual to functional. All works are for sale. This is the perfect place to find art for the home garden. • Preview Party: Friday, June 14, 5:30 - 8PM Celebrate the unveiling of the exhibition, and mingle with the artists while sipping champagne in the Garden at sunset. Advance ticket purchase is required - $65/person; $60/RBG Members. • Opening Weekend: Saturday and Sunday, June 15 and 16, 10AM - 3PM Bring a picnic, take a tour, and meet the artists. Docent tours throughout the day. Live music on Father’s Day. Free admission for dads on Father’s Day. • The Sculptures will be in the Garden through July 13. General admission: Adults/$10; seniors and students/$7; children and RBG members free during regular hours. Free parking! The RBG is located at 1552 Bancroft Road in Walnut Creek. For a list of featured artists, please visit www.ruthbancroftgarden.org. For more information, contact Phoebe Berke at (925) 944-9352 or phoebe@ruthbancroftgarden.org.
Page 18 - June 2013 ~ Lafayette Today
Tame Those Monsters!
By Michael Anne Conley, LMFT
In childhood there’s a stage when imagination and certainty get all mixed up. Whether the monster you invented was under the bed or in the closet, you were sure that it was real. But at that age, distinctions between reality and fantasy are fuzzy. Wise parents know that the best way to reassure a kid back to sleep is to go along with the fantasy and shoo the monster away. As the brain develops, the child begins to grow out of this “magical thinking” phase. As adults, we have monsters in a different way. They don’t hide out under beds or in closets. Instead, they are internal aspects of ourselves that we don’t like or that create problems in our lives. One day many years ago, a client who was healing some monsters exclaimed something brilliant that she’d heard, “My mind is a dangerous neighborhood. I can’t go in there alone!” Last month’s article focused on the negative bias of the mind (the neighborhood). Its stop signs and warning flags are there to alert us about potential danger. It’s a strategy from our origins, when running from lions and tigers and bears could mean life or death. We are the beneficiaries of this ancient strategy. Our smaller stature and strength compared with other creatures would have led to our extinction long ago if the body hadn’t developed such a sharp mind. There’s reason to believe that the mind’s negative orientation continues to serve good functions (Don’t run out in the street! Don’t eat that pastry!). But this is not the cause if you get carried away with it. It turns out that another basic human survival strategy helps. The mind becomes a dangerous neighborhood when we isolate. So one of the best antidotes is being around others and seeking support. Of course, it’s wise to pick your spots. One reader wrote to me bemoaning the lack of friends or family whose input she could trust (because often they have their own biases). My clients frequently speak of not wanting to burden their loved ones with their worries and anxieties.
Gardening with Kate By Kathleen Guillaume
Well, here we are, summer at last, and my early peach is almost ready for picking. The fruits this year are smaller than usual, even though I had thinned them out some. I had almost no cherries as we got those strange rains just as the blossoms were setting in the spring. I have also noticed that my normal bee population is down this year. The big heavy black and white furry bumblers are out and about, but I’ve seen fewer honey and native bees. I can usually get a fairly good count of bees as at this time of year all of my thymes are beginning to bloom, and bees are drawn to thyme, which I use as under plantings, especially around my tomatoes. Our weather has been strange, going from the 90os to a sudden low of high 60os...hot, cool, hot, cool. This cannot help but confuse my plants to no end. I have fewer tomatoes forming, which I am assuming is directly related to my lower bee population. I thought that I would be somehow immune from the decimation that commercial bee keepers have been facing with the rapid decline of their bee populations. I was mentioning this to a friend the other day, and she said, “So...good riddance.” It seems a lot of people were not paying much attention to their biology classes all of those years ago. Like people: no sex equals no offspring.
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www.yourmonthlypaper.com So it can be quite helpful to seek the support One-hour monthly class of someone who isn’t so close to you, such as: Recovery Plus ~ • The Helpline, a 24/7 crisis service. The New Skills for the counselors there can help you consider your New You best steps: 800-833-2900. • A minister, priest, or rabbi. If you’re not Tuesday • June 18th, a member of a religious or spiritual community, 7-8pm, Lafayette or if you’re not comfortable seeking support • Have you ever covered within your own community, the Contra Costa up the gap between your Interfaith Council can direct you to one of “look good” and your their communities: 925-933-6030 “feel bad” with unhealthy • Self-help communities. They’re often habits? free, available all over the globe, online as • Do you hurt because well as in-person, and support all kinds of life someone you know engages and health situations: www.mentalhelp.net/ in an unhealthy habit (or selfhelp/. • Counseling. Talking with a professional even addiction)? Learn and practice timecan give you an important, neutral sounding tested, practical ways to board and a way to practice new skills. Psychology Today’s directory is a good option: feel just as powerful on www.psychologytoday.com. You can also the inside as you look on contact me at info@habitsintohealth.com or the outside! First visit is free. 925-262-4848 and I’ll do my best to help you find someone who could be a match. Reserve your place at least An overly negative mind can be an two days in advance at important part of a new kind of alert system. http://recoveryplusclass. It is telling you that it’s time to reach out. You eventbrite.com. don’t have to go there alone. To learn more, apply Michael Anne Conley is a holistic therapist now for a complementary and addiction specialist, practicing since consultation to clarify if this 1991. She is also the director of Stillpoint class could benefit you at integrative health center in Lafayette. You http://www.habitsintohealth. can reach her at info@habitsintohealth.com com/get-support. or 925-262-4848. Advertorial We only have vegetables and fruit IF some insect (primarily bees) gathers pollen from the male and brushes it along the female parts of plants...and squash needs more than one encounter with pollen to create a fruit, or squash. No bees means no food. I know my carnivore friends are saying, “So...,” but we have to remember all animal products that hit our tables are fed corn and grains and other vegetable products. Now most corn and grains are wind pollinated, but if we took all other foods out of the cycle, we wouldn’t be producing enough food to go around. Please don’t use systemic pesticides in your gardens, as they have great impact on the beneficial insects, primarily our pollinators. Some people are beginning to suspect that the newer pesticides containing neonicotinoids are major contributors to the diminishing bee population. This chemical affects the central nervous system of insects by causing paralysis and death. There are other factors, but this also could be a contributor along with others to the devastating commercial bee colony collapse. The EU has recently banned pesticides that have this chemical. Not all data points to this as the cause, but do take some time to look up information on this issue. Also, talk to your neighbors and see if you can encourage them to join you to make our gardens as near to pesticide-free as possible. Bees are not territorial; they do visit your neighbor gardens, too, so no matter how safe you make your garden for pollinators, your neighbors can undo all of your effort. This is an issue that everyone needs to be concerned with. Also, take the time to look up each and every chemical listed on any pesticide to determine if they are something you want to expose your pets and families to. If a garden is “balanced,” is planted in a way that attracts beneficial insect and birds, is kept stress free by watering appropriately (not too much and not too little), and is fed with natural fertilizers and composts, you will find that you have very few harmful insects making it a home. There are many home remedies - put “natural homemade pesticides” into your Google or Bing search, and you will find many recipes. Natural treamtents have the added benefit of being cheaper and safer for your family. I am just waiting for that first bite of sun warmed peach which will tell me it is truly summer, now that most of my blueberries have been harvested. Happy Summer and happy gardening.
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Healing with Minimal Scarring
By Barbara Persons, MD, Persons Plastic Surgery, Inc.
As summer approaches, I find that my practice is busier than ever. Most people would think that plastic surgeons become busy in the summer because that’s the time of year when people want to look better in a bathing suit. While it’s true that summer does bring people into my office looking to enhance their appearance through cosmetic surgery, summer is also the time of year when I see more patients after being involved in an accident. Local emergency rooms are packed in the summertime with people who have been involved in accidents while participating in warm weather activities such as swimming, hiking, and biking. I have spent years during my training in trauma centers and emergency rooms, working in high-pressure situations and focusing my attention on saving lives, and ensuring that patients are not at risk of serious illness or infection. My advanced training in aesthetics is an added benefit my patients receive. For example, repairs to facial lacerations from a biking accident can be done in a way that leaves minimal scarring. Please use me as a resource and give me a call, especially when kids are involved. I would be happy to help. This past week, my patient’s sister was involved in a car accident. She was taken by ambulance to the emergency room where they made sure she had no major injuries and evaluated for a number of horrible lacerations on her forearm. My staff and I told our patient to call us if there was anything we could do for her sister. Two days later we were asked to take a look at her sister’s arm because it was painful and oozing. The woman had baseball type stitches in the largest laceration and 17 centimeters of cuts in a star-like pattern on her forearm. During my fellowship in hand and microsurgery, and other advanced training in cosmetic and maxillofacial surgery, I repaired countless traumatic
Multiple Sclerosis
By Jim Carlson - Certified Senior Advisor
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a lifelong, chronic disease in which attacks cause inflammation and subsequent damage to parts of the central nervous system. Most MS patients experience muscle weakness and have trouble with coordination and balance as a result of their disease. More than 2.1 million people worldwide have MS, according to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and about twice as many women as men suffer from the disease. Seniors with MS need to be especially careful to prevent falls and to take measures to reduce the injury risk of falls if they do happen. MS suffers can also take steps to help prevent attacks and reduce their severity. Here’s what you can do: 1. Avoid extreme temperatures. High heat or humidity, as well as extreme cold can cause MS symptoms to worsen. Avoid saunas, hot showers, and outdoor activities during very cold weather. 2. Get physical therapy. Physical therapy can help people with MS compensate with the balance and coordination problems that MS causes. The right exercises can help improve quality of life, relieve pain, and keep you active and independent. 3. Stay happy. Stress has been tied to the worsening of MS symptoms. Take steps to manage your stress; think about what factors in your life cause you anxiety, and see if you can change them. Try yoga or mediation, both practices that help many people reduce their stress. 4. Eat smartly. Some doctors think a diet containing a lot of antiinflammatory foods may help reduce MS attacks. Look for foods that contain omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, such as fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, and tuna, oils made from plants, and flaxseed. 5. Move your body. Exercise can help decrease the severity of MS, and to keep your body strong in case you suffer a fall. One study found that just two 30-minute sessions per week of moderate activity, such as walking or swimming, helped reduce fatigue and depression in MS sufferers. Resistance exercises, such as lifting light weights, can also help strengthen bones and prevent
Lafayette Today ~ June 2013 - Page 19 injuries very similar to this woman’s. I consulted with her, and we agreed on a course of treatment that involved replacing the baseball stitches with 100 finer carefully placed sutures that will result in a more aesthetically pleasing and less painful repair. The result for this began with a consultation that allowed me to improve her situation and offer her a more aesthetically pleasing result in my office … away from the long lines and crowds of the typical ER. As a mother I know first hand that the emotions involved when your child is injured are amplified on an exponential scale. The injury (especially facial laceration) itself is traumatic enough, but add to that a lengthy wait time in an unfamiliar environment and what is already a scary experience can become almost unbearable. I treasure my involvement in this community, and I want to be used as a primary resource for these types of injuries. Please call me and I will ensure that it will be a calm and comfortable experience for your child. Most importantly, the injury will be optimally repaired the first time, avoiding the need for future scar revision. An additional note - It is a common misconception that lacerations must be repaired immediately. In some cases, if the laceration is cleaned well and kept moist, excellent results can be achieved days after the initial injury. Common sense must prevail with all bites, cuts, scrapes, or burns. Elevate and apply pressure for bleeding, ensure safety of the environment, and call 911 if there is a life-threatening emergency. The paramedics in our area are fantastic! Keep in mind that our office accepts most insurance plans and even on a cash payment basis treatment at our office is likely to be a less expensive option. As always, it is my pleasure to offer my expertise and I look forward to consulting with you soon. Wishing everyone a safe and happy summer season. Barbara L. Persons, MD is a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and owns Persons Plastic Surgery, Inc. located at 911 Moraga Rd, Suite 205 in Lafayette. She may be reached at 925.283.4012 or drbarb@personsplasticsurgery.com. Advertorial osteoporosis. MS patients need to take extra precautions when exercising, so make sure you run your regimen by your doctor before you begin. 6. Get some sun. Some studies have shown that getting enough vitamin D may help prevent MS relapses. Catch some rays for 15 minutes each day -- but wear sunscreen to protect you from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. You can also boost your vitamin D with foods like eggs, fortified milk, cod liver oil, or vitamin D supplements. 7. Hit the sack. Sleep problems are often linked to depression, another common problem among MS sufferers. One analysis of 473 adults with MS showed a strong link between depression and sleep problems. If you are depressed, seeking counseling may also help you with your sleep problems. You can also combat these problems with regular exercise and good nutrition, and with healthy sleep habits, including a consistent sleep schedule and a soothing bedtime ritual. 8. Stay healthy. Chronic conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes can worsen your MS and make it difficult for you to exercise and stave off depression. Many of the measures you can take to help manage your MS, such as eating right and staying active, may also help prevent or improve other health conditions. On top of that, make sure you regularly visit your doctor. Your body will appreciate it! Jim Carlson is a Certified Senior Adviser and Owner/Director of Griswold Home Care which specializes in providing Quality in-home care at an affordable price. Jim can be reached at 925-297-5110 or at www. griswoldhomecare.com/diablo-valley. Advertorial
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Page 20 - June 2013 ~ Lafayette Today
Your Personal Nutritionist
By Linda Michaelis, RD. MS. Meal Planning Made Simple for Families
In my practice I frequently educate families on good meal planning. Let me tell you about my recent work with a local family of four that was referred by their physician. Both kids are involved in sports, and since no one is consistently home, everyone helps themselves to convenient frozen items. Only when mom is not traveling for business are veggies made. As a result, everyone is overweight, and mom and dad have high cholesterol and high blood pressure. I asked dad if the kids were eating things like artichokes and asparagus, and he said, “no” because the kids did not like them. The kids said they would be willing to try them since they forgot how they tasted. I frequently see parents never buy healthy items because their kids rejected them years earlier, not taking into account how everything changes in our kids’ lives. I immediately saw that no one had any idea how to read a food label for proper nutrition. I explained to them that the food label shows measurements in grams, and to this day I do not understand why we have to constantly translate grams into more easily recognized quantities. For example, we have to learn that one ounce of protein is equal to seven grams where we take the grams of protein and divide by seven to find the ounces. I also showed them that four grams of sugar equals one teaspoon of sugar. They were shocked to learn that even healthy Greek yogurt can have 30 grams of sugar or almost eight teaspoons of sugar. We also discussed the need to eat 25 grams of fiber per day and the fact that we should keep our intake of fat down to 20%. After our meeting we all jumped in the car and went to Trader Joe’s where I showed them a new way of planning and shopping for fresh, healthy foods. Here are some decisions we came up with.
Breakfast
For breakfast they were eating Honey Nut Cheerios or bagels with cream cheese. I explained to them that this was like eating “paste and glue” that goes right to the hips. There is absolutely no protein and fiber in these choices. We talked about buying oatmeal packets, Kashi Go Lean Cereal, 100% whole wheat bread with peanut butter or with a few tablespoons of cottage cheese with sliced strawberries, or even a low sugar Greek yogurt.
Get Five “Second Opinions” at One Time By Judson Brandeis, MD
Do you know anyone whose life was touched by prostate, bladder, or kidney cancer? Have you ever wished you could get all of your doctors together in one room with you at the same time? Now you can! HIPAA laws, incompatible electronic medical records, and busy schedules sometimes make it difficult for physicians to work as a team on patient care. Despite cell phones, text paging, e-mail, and other modes of modern communication, collaboration in health care seems to be getting more and more challenging. However, I believe coordinated medical communication is precisely what is required to successfully manage patients with a cancer diagnosis. Caring for cancer patients requires treatment and diagnostics from doctors of different specialties. Surgeons perform biopsies and surgical removal of cancer. Pathologists look at tissue samples to determine if there is cancer, what type of cancer there is, and how aggressive the cancer is. Radiologist read imaging studies like CT scans, MRIs, and PET scans to look for abnormalities that might be cancerous. Medical oncologists determine the type of cancer and how far it has spread, create a treatment plan, and if necessary, infuse chemotherapy. Radiation oncologists administer radiation to shrink or kill the cancer cells. It is challenging for all of these specialists to simultaneously communicate about a patient, and it is next to impossible to have the patient present and participate during this communication. However, this collaborative team approach is essential for proper diagnosis, treatment, and optimal patient care. I am pleased to announce that Pacific Urology and Diablo Valley Oncology have developed a multispecialty treatment planning approach for urologic cancers, like prostate, bladder, and kidney. We bring cancer specialists from different disciplines (including medical oncology, surgical oncology, radiation oncology, pathology, and radiology) together to review and discuss individual
Mid AM/PM Snacks
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I explained the importance of having a source of protein during the day to keep blood sugar stable and in the afternoon to prevent excess hunger resulting in evening overeating. We all agreed to snacks of hard-boiled eggs, beef jerky, an ounce of nuts with a sprinkle of raisins, a stick of string cheese, peanut butter on celery or apple, or a piece of fruit. When returning from school they agreed to substitute their former choices of chips and crackers for bean soups, cottage cheese and veggies, hummus with veggies, beans with salsa and a sprinkle of cheese, or even oatmeal.
Lunch and Dinner
I told the family that their major problem was that their refrigerator contained no foods that provide protein and fiber. I was thrilled to show the family fresh Just Chicken, Seasoned Chicken Strips, Teriyaki Chicken, as well as 97% Hebrew National Hot Dogs that are only 45 calories each. I went on to show examples of precooked items such as brown rice, quinoa, whole wheat couscous, a variety of beans that would be great with salsa, and shredded lite cheese on a whole wheat tortilla. In addition we focused on the veggies they were doing without, and I showed them fresh broccoli florettes and string beans that kids like which can be steamed in the bag and available in minutes. All you need is a great sauce such as curry, satay sauce, or even a fresh salsa. I always tell my clients that if you are out of staples, there is always a tasty omelet option that can be made with an egg yolk and multiple egg whites which is best with mushrooms, peppers, and tomatoes with a sprinkle of lite cheese on top for taste. This can be enjoyed with 100% whole wheat English muffins. There is always baked potato night where everyone can add a topping of their choice of chili and cheese, sour cream and chives, or even broccoli and cheese along with an interesting arugula salad.
Desserts
Interestingly, mom was strict with not allowing the family to purchase desserts because everyone is overweight. I explained to her that if they cut down on the starch at night and eat more veggies they could easily enjoy a dessert such as fudgicles, creamsicles, two Oreo cookies, or a cup of non-fat frozen yogurt. I am glad to inform you that nutritional counseling was covered by the family’s Aetna PPO insurance for two months. Please feel free to call me at (925) 855-0150 and tell me about your nutritional concerns. Refer to my website www. LindaRD.com for past articles, recipes and nutrition tips. Advertorial patient medical conditions. Our integrated group allows access to high-level, collaborative cancer care including clinical trials and cutting edge technology. After reviewing the patient’s medical history, we consider all possible treatment options and develop a recommended treatment plan. The patient is then invited to join the conference and ask questions about their treatment options. As a team, we work with the patient to develop the most appropriate treatment plan at no additional cost. This is the only multispecialty Urology Tumor Board in the Bay Area that includes the patient in the conversation. If you have bladder, prostate, or kidney cancer and are interested in being considered for our monthly Multispecialty Cancer Consultation, please contact the program coordinator, Leslie Wolfe at (925) 771-2622. Dr. Brandeis is a Board Certified Urologist with Pacific Urology, with offices in Walnut Creek, Concord, San Ramon Brentwood, Livermore and Antioch. To contact Pacific Urology, call 925-609-7220 or visit www. PacificUrology.com. Advertorial
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Understanding Depression: It’s not as Simple as you Think! By William Shryer, LCSW, DCSW - Clinical Director, Diablo Behavioral Healthcare
Depression is a term everyone has heard of, and many think they have a basic understanding of what it is like to feel depressed. For years, if not decades, depression was thought to be related to early childhood issues, such as trauma, abandonment, loss, and the like. While these are all significant life issues, not everyone who experiences these very predictable life events becomes clinically depressed. What accounts for the vast difference in response rates? The answer to this question probably hides in your own genetic profile. Depression is not to be taken lightly or dismissed with such advice such as to just, “pull yourself up by your boot straps” and “snap out of it.” Depressed people cannot do that, as they are biochemically changed by their own genetic profile. Depression is a chronic illness that takes a huge toll on America’s health. It affects more than 21 million children and adults annually and is the leading cause of disability in the US for people aged 15-44. Few are aware that the lost productivity due to depression is estimated to cost the US in excess of 31 billion annually. Depression frequently co-occurs with a variety of medical illnesses such as coronary heart disease, cancer, and chronic pain. Not surprisingly, it is the principal cause of the 30,000 suicides in the US each year. What are the symptoms of depression? The essential feature of depression is a period of depressed mood with loss of interest or pleasure in nearly all activities. The individual may describe their feeling as low, down in the dumps, discouraged, or hopeless. The person may also just complain of feeling “blah,” having no feelings, or feeling anxious. In short, it is just a miserable way to live and to feel. Here is the good news. There are cutting edge treatments available that are going to change the way we look at a number of disorders. Traditional psychotherapy has a horrible track record with depression and so do the many antidepressants such as Prozac, Paxil, Effexor, Zoloft, etc. The side effects of medications for so many are
Sports Medicine
By Dr. Jeffrey G. Riopelle, MD
We are introducing a new column on Sports Medicine. My wife and I practice in San Ramon on the campus of the San Ramon Regional Medical Center. Future topics will include discussion on knee pain in the over-40 athlete, shoulder pain, back pain, neck pain, herniated discs, experimental use of one’s own stem cells in treatment of joints and other areas, and the use of the hyperbaric oxygen chamber in athletes. We have a long standing interest in sports and sports medicine both personally and professionally. We both participated in high school and college sports and have remained physically active ever since. At age 57, I still play basketball and volleyball as well as uses the treadmill, weight, bicycle, and pilates machines. My wife, Donna Riopelle, APRN, NP, jogs, lifts weights, and use the treadmill. I have personal experience with several sports injuries, having herniated a cervical disc playing basketball, herniated a lumbar disc playing golf, and fractured my sacrum (back) falling off a horse. I have made a complete recovery from each injury. I have coached CYO basketball and was the head coach of a Little League team. Our four children have all excelled in sports and have also had their share of injuries to come back from. Our son David was MVP of the freshman football team at De La Salle, playing running back and line backer. He had almost 800 yards as a varsity running back before his season was shortened by a torn thumb ligament in 2011. He suffered a torn ACL in rugby in 2012, but he returned just six months later to play and contribute to De La Salle’s National Championship football team. Our daughter Lexi was an elite gymnast, just one level below Olympic level, at age 11, when she suffered a back fracture that ended her gymnastics career. Both Lexi and her younger sister Natalie competed at the highest level cheer competition in high school going to the World Championships in Orlando, Florida on two separate occasions. All three daughters - Brittany, Lexi, and Natalie have cheered for Monte Vista with Lexi and Natalie serving as captains. Natalie, currently a junior at Monte Vista also coaches lower level cheer squads.
Lafayette Today ~ June 2013 - Page 21 intolerable with weight gain, dry mouth, loss of libido, sleepiness, and the list goes on. And it takes from 4-6 weeks of taking a medication to find out if it even works! The new treatment approach for those with depression, chronic pain, and a host of emerging diagnostic categories is TMS or Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation. This is not fringe medicine or smoke and mirrors. It is the first real breakthrough in decades. This is an FDA approved procedure that uses an electro-magnet that produces a magnetic pulse that stimulates the neurons to release the brain chemicals called neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine and noradrenaline. This is exactly what antidepressant medications attempt to do, without all of the side effects. It is not ECT or passing electricity through the brain that makes the treatment so cutting edge. This medically supervised procedure is performed in an office with the patient completely awake and alert. It is safe enough to be performed on pregnant women and an excellent treatment for postpartum depression without the danger of traditional medications passing on to the baby via breast milk. TMS or Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation is being used in most major university hospital centers in the US. TMS centers are in use currently at Harvard, Stanford, Weill Cornell, Yale, New York University, and University of Michigan, to name but a few. Why are so many of these major hospitals and universities so interested in TMS? First, the treatment has far fewer side effects. Secondly, studies show that TMS works when drugs fail. TMS is being called the “Gold Standard” for treating severe depression. Initially insurance companies were reluctant to cover TMS, but lately more and more are, as even insurance companies can see this as a win-win for them and the patients. Medications over the long run are very expensive and often don’t result in remission. Remission means cure, or feeling completely well. Most patients taking antidepressants are lucky if their response rate reaches 50%, meaning that with medications one may be able to feel somewhat better but not completely well. TMS is having high response rates with remission, meaning completely well, occurring in upwards of 70% of cases. TMS requires daily treatment for about 37 minutes for 4-6 weeks; about the same time it takes for antidepressants to become effective. For more information about this cutting edge treatment for depression, call our office to learn more at 925-648-4800. Please also visit our website at www.behaviorquest. com. We are located at 4185 Blackhawk Plaza Circle Suite 210 in Danville. Advertorial I authored a health and fitness book titled My Personal Trainer which is a comprehensive guide to health and fitness. I received my medical school training at UC Irvine, was freshman class co-president and finished medical school in the top 15% of my class. My residency training was done in Ventura at UCLA’s residency program. I stay on the cutting edge of medicine through training with The Ageless Regenerative Institute in Florida and with the Mastermind group, a group of doctors in the US and Canada whose purpose is advancement of high-quality, cutting-edge, ethical medicine. I have preformed free treatments for residents of Shepherd’s Gate and the Shelter for Battered Women, and I also started an annual Halloween candy buyback program to promote health in children, sponsored an annual Good Deed contest for children, as well as helped the Blue Star Moms send care packages for the holidays to overseas military personnel. I have been featured on CBS and NBC news multiple times reporting on medical advancements, have been featured on the CBS TV show Fabulous U Magazine, and have been interviewed on the radio by the famous DJ, Don Blue. Donna received her nursing degree from Cal State Long Beach and her Nurse Practitioner degree from UCLA in 1988. Her primary interest is anti-aging. She has completed and received her board certification from the Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine. She is also completing the final stages of the master’s program in Anti-Aging. Together we have practiced in San Ramon on the campus of San Ramon Regional Medical Center for almost 25 years. We share the passion of bringing the latest scientific advances to our patients, including those less known advances not sponsored by major pharmaceutical companies. Our goal is to create a better quality of life for our patients as each decade arrives. I am 57 years old, but I feel I’ve worked preventively over the years to keep myself in shape so that I feel 37 years old. I want the same for my patients. We can help you especially when it comes to your joints, muscles, tendons, back, and neck. Our next column will shed light on the field of sports medicine and on cutting edge of medical procedures available to benefit those searching for relief from pain and injury. 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 Road Ste., 312, in San Ramon. Advertorial
Page 22 - June 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 welcome. rd PM dancing every Wednesday, and learn some great new dance moves. On the first ‘As the Page Turns’ Book Club 3 Tuesday monthly 6/18 • 1– 3 Wednesday monthly, professional dancers Karen and Michael will provide a • Elderberry Room, LSC - Looking for a good book to talk about with dance lesson and live DJ services, playing your favorites and taking requests. others? Join this informal group of book lovers, and enjoy enrichment, discussion, fellowship, and refreshments. $2 Members/ $4 non-members. th Lafayette Senior Services Commission 4 Thursday of the month Words ofrd Wisdom…From the Philosophical to the Lightfrom 3:30 – 5:30PM at the LSC - View agendas at the City of Lafayette of- hearted 3 Tuesday Monthly 6/18 • 10:30 –Noon • Elderberry Room, LSC - Take part in this free-wheeling exchange of inspiration, information, fice or at www.ci.lafayette.ca.us. AM Senior Nature Walk and Bird-Watching Every Wednesday • 9 - and humor. Topics – from soup to nuts – will be explored, examined, and 11AM • Call LSC to find out weekly meeting locations - Experience nature discussed by participants. Stories and photographs will stimulate humorous at its finest along our local trails. Delight in the beauty that unfolds around discoveries regarding the benefits of becoming the ‘elders of our tribe.’ each bend, all the while learning to identify a variety of birds. Bring a water Discovering Opera: Wagner’s The Flying Dutchman ThursPM bottle; binoculars will be helpful if you have them. Join us every Wednesday day, 6/20 • 1:00 – 3:00 • Lafayette Library, Arts & Science Room Take the legend of a mysterious, accursed sea captain who is condemned to or whenever you are able. Come Play Mahjong! Every Tuesday • 1PM–3:30PM • Sequoia sail the seven seas forever unless he can find a woman whose redemptive Room, LSC - Come join us on Tuesdays for a drop-in game of mahjong. love will relieve his curse; add Richard Wagner’s unique musical voice, Mahjong is a game of skill, strategy, and certain degree of chance. All seasoned by his firsthand experience of a storm at sea; and you get an opera levels welcome. Bring your card, a mahjong set and a snack to share in which “if you open the score at any page, the North Wind blows out.” Lecturer Bradford Wade will describe the background of The Flying Dutch(optional). RSVP not required. Self-Discovery and Aging, Creative Writing Workshop 2nd and man and discuss its plot, complete with musical examples. 4th Thursday monthly 6/14, 6/28 • 3 - 5PM • Cedar Room, LSC - Join creative BART Senior Clipper Card Distribution Tuesday, 6/25 • 1:00 PM writing and English instructor Judith Rathbone, and write to explore issues – 3 • Elderberry Room, LSC - Submit an application and receive your around aging, emotion and perception–or get support to write on any topic! card on the spot. The green Senior BART ticket has been replaced by the Senior Clipper Card (minimum age: 65). This card is encoded to automatiWorkshop sessions include writing prompts, feedback and encouragement, and cally calculate the discounted cash fare or monthly pass fare each time you information about the world of writers, writing, and publishing. Positive Living Forum (“Happiness Club”) Thursdays 6/13, 7/11 use it. You must apply for the Senior Clipper Card in person. The card will • 10:30AM – noon • Cedar Room, LSC - Brighten your day with Dr. Bob be issued immediately. Any one of the following required forms of identifiNozik, MD, Prof. Emeritus UCSF and author of Happy 4 Life: Here’s How cation will be accepted as proof of your eligibility: birth certificate, driver’s to Do It. Take part in this interactive gathering which features speakers on a license or identification card issued by any state, alien registration/permawide range of topics that encourage and guide participants towards a more nent resident card, matricula consular/consular identification card, passport, or S.F. City ID Card. ideal and positive life experience. st pm Bi-Monthly Caregiver Support Group Mondays 6/3, 6/17, 7/1 • Hearing Screening 1 Wednesday Monthly 7/1, 8/7 • 1 – 2:20 • Al1:30–2:30PM • Elderberry Room, LSC - If you are a family member helping der Room, LSC - By Audiologists from Hearing Science/Diablo Valley to care for an older adult, join our support group to find balance and joy as Ear, Nose, and Throat. Appointment required. Minimum of two sign-ups required in order for screenings to take place. Please call Lafayette Senior you manage your responsibilities. rd PM Book Club 3 Tuesday monthly • 1 – 3 • Elderberry Room - Looking Services at 284-5050 to sign up for one of the 20-minute appointments. for a good book to talk about with others? Join this brand-new, informal Photos continued from front page group of book lovers, and enjoy enrichment, discussion, fellowship, and City’s website from September through November. A reception will be refreshments. held at the gallery in late September to recognize the finalists. Anne Randolph Presentation: Strokes 6/28 • 11:30 – 12:30 • Rules for submittals: Sequoia Room, LSC - The effects of a stroke can be devastating. Learn • Photographers must live or work in Lafayette what causes strokes, how to recognize when one is occurring in order to • One photograph per person will be accepted avoid some of the debilitating effects. rd • Photograph can be any size up to 11”x14” Free Peer Counseling 3 Wednesday of the month 6/19 • Cedar Room, • Photograph must be mounted on a 11”x14” mat board (black, white, LSC - Contra Costa Health Services offers free one-on-one counseling with or gray) – no frames senior (55+) counselors who use their life experiences to help other older • On back of mat board, provide the following: adults cope with life changes, problems, crises, and challenges. Confidentiality - Photographer’s name is strictly observed. Appointment required. Call LSC to sign up for one of AM - Contact information for photographer the following appointment times: 10:00, 10:30, 11:00, or 11:30 . - If under 18 years, age and school Yak n’Yarn 1st & 3rd Thursday monthly 6/6, 6/20 • 1–3PM • Elderberry - Title of photograph Room, LSC - Do you knit or crochet but wish you could do it in a more - Time and location the photograph was taken social setting with people of similar interests or expertise to brainstorm with • Photographs must be appropriate for general viewing when instructions make no sense? Drop-in and join us to work on your For more information, visit www.lovelafayette.org. current project while enjoying an afternoon of camaraderie. All levels are
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Lafayette Today ~ June 2013 - Page 23
Why Senior Transportation is Important!
By Mary Bruns, Lamorinda Senior Transportation an Alliance of Transportation Providers
Happy Father’s Day! If you would like to go to lunch at the C.C.Cafe/Walnut Creek Senior Center on Friday, June 14th to get a headstart on celebrating, they will feature a meal with Alaskan salmon, veggies, rice pilaf, and lemon meringue pie. Lunch is a $2-$5 donation, and the Lamorinda Spirit ride is free. Call 925-283-3534 for more information. One hundred and sixty people attended the John Muir/Senior Mobility Action Council sponsored event, “Out of Isolation – The Mobility Connection.” Dr. Carla Perissinotto of the UCSF Medical Center defined loneliness as the subjective feeling of being alone and the distress that results from the discrepancy between what a person expected in their relationships and what is. She defined “social isolation” as the complete or near complete isolation from society. She suggested that in our work with older adults, we should ask the following questions about loneliness and isolation. Hardly Ever Sometimes Often How often do you feel left out? 1 2 3 How often do you feel isolated? 1 2 3 How often do you lack companionship? 1 2 3 When a person circles the number 2, in the “Sometimes” column, she found when she talked to them, that the person was feeling lonely or isolated. In her study, she found loneliness to be an independent predictor of earlier functional decline and an earlier than expected death in older adults. “It is the caring connections we have with people that bind us to life.” says Dr. Carla. She reported that 29% of non-institutionalized older adults live alone. 47% of women age 75 and older live alone. She also added that living alone does not equal being lonely. (A substantial number of married people also report feeling lonely too.) When it is clear that someone is feeling lonely, a good question to ask is: “What gives your life meaning? Are there things you used to do that you don’t do now?” When one person answered that she used to enjoy playing bridge, the homework given was for her daughter to help her find a bridge group. Many older adults are not computer literate and are not comfortable texting. They would much prefer to see their children and grandchildren or receive a telephone call than be texted. This may change in future years as people who are computer literate and comfortable with texting begin to age. Why is Senior Transportation for Lamorinda Seniors important? By 2015, 22.6% of the Lamorinda population will be 65 or older. By 2030, 30% of the Lamorinda population will be 65 or older. About 25% of Lafayette’s residents are Baby Boomers who are also likely to have senior adult parents. According to the 2009 City of Lafayette Community Assessment on Needs of Seniors, the number of people 84 years and older will grow by 108% between 2000 and 2020. Most of us will become a senior, will probably have an age-based disability, and will reach the point where we outlive our driving ability. Since Seniors who don’t drive are at increased risk of becoming isolated and lonely, key indicators of earlier functional decline and an earlier death, Senior Transportation is vital
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ARCHITECT JOHN ROLF HATTAM - ARCHITECT Specializes in modest budget, new and renovated residences. Over 200 completed projects. Brochures available for all of our professional services •RESIDENTIAL RENOVATION •NEW RESIDENCES •CHURCHES •COMMERCIAL •MULTI-FAMILY. For the brochure meeting your need call 510-841-5933. 737 Dwight Way, Berkeley.
to creating a higher quality of life and longevity for our older adults. Another program participant spoke of feeling invisible now that she is older. Dr. Perissinotto reminded us that we need to change how we treat older adults. It’s important for older adults to stay engaged in their community. Providing transportation for those who responsibly give up their car keys is a key factor in improving the quality of life for older adults and preventing isolation and loneliness. Caring Hands (925-952-2999), a John Muir Program, pairs volunteers with older adults. The relationships that develop while going to an appointment, grocery shopping, running errands or going out for ice cream add to the quality of life for those who may feel isolated or lonely. Senior Helpline Services Rides for Seniors and Reassurance Phone Program (925-284-6161) connects Contra Costa County older adults to a phone volunteer and rides to medical appointments. Orinda Seniors Around Town (925-402-4506) provides rides for older adults in Orinda. The Lamorinda Spirit Van Program (925-283-3534) provides rides for Lamorinda Seniors. All these programs need additional volunteers to adequately serve our community. Each program enthusiastically awaits your call.
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. Reserve your seat at least two business days ahead of time by 1PM.
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. Phone for information, opportunities to volunteer, and to donate.
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Page 24 - June 2013 ~ Lafayette Today
Books continued from front
those book recommendations home, providing a different perspective to her original group. While good books continue to bind them together, their story is primarily about a bond of friendship that has supported and lifted each of them during times of joy and times of hardship. Their bi-monthly potluck “meetings” have become admittedly more about shared time together than their current read – but no matter the various topics and gossip, they do always end up discussing the book. “Oddly, we have liked every book we have ever read,” says Olson. Group favorites have included A Woman of Independent Means, The Red Tent, and To Kill a Mockingbird. Their husbands all know each other, and when their children were young, their families met occasionally for dinners or zoo trips and picnics. But their friendship is largely their own. Several years ago they began taking road trips to Tahoe where they try to convene for a few days each summer. They do a lot of walking and a lot of talking. “I can count on any one of these women equally,” says Olson. Last winter, after Olson and her family had experienced an unimaginable tragedy, the book club sent her an “anonymous” crate full of packages for each day of the December through Christmas Eve. Each bag was marked 1 through 24, and each day Olson’t family opened a different surprise – movie tickets, restaurant gift cards, small treats for her two boys, handmade gifts and moving keepsakes. “It was anonymous, but I knew exactly who it was from,” says Olson. She and the others had done exactly the same thing for another in the group 20 years prior. “It was just what my family needed to help lift our spirits. We all know each other so well after all of these years; my life is enriched by each of them.” While books were initially the bond that brought the group together, time has woven their six individual life histories into a story of their own - a story just as eloquent, rich, and poignant as anything on the bestseller list. It’s a story that each woman hopes will continue for Left to right: Karen Moulds, Karen Llevano, Elizabeth Olson, Karen Presnell, Karen Roland, Vicki Bradley. the rest of their lives.
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