Lafayette Today, April 2014

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Lafayette Today ~ January 2014 - Page 25

April 2014

Serving the Lafayette Community Lafayette’s 9th Annual Earth Day Festival Learn All About Water Conservation

Friends of the Lafayette Library former president Mary Ann Hoisington and current president Ruth Thornburg replenish the stacks at the Friends Corner Book Shop.

Friends of the LLLC Celebrate 75 years

By Fran Miller

If Lafayette’s library were a living entity, it could be said that its beating heart is its most ardent volunteer supporter - the Friends of the Lafayette Library and Learning Center. For several decades – seven and a half to be exact – this group of capable and dedicated volunteers has been the instigator, visionary, and lead supporter of each metamorphosis of the library.

To follow the history of the Friends, one need only follow the history and timeline of the library itself. The Friends, in one fashion or another and under one pseudonym or another, have nearly always had the library’s back. While officially incorporated as the Lafayette Cooperative Library Association in 1939, a version - The Lafayette Improvement Club - existed as early as 1913. During this time period, the library shared space with the post office and “telephone central.” In 1937, Lafayette Town Hall served as the library location. In 1940, the library moved to the small premises on Lafayette Grammar School property, and in 1962, the library moved yet again to its own building, where it remained until the new Lafayette Library and Learning Center (LLLC) opened in 2009.

Friend’s volunteers were instrumental in all aspects of each of the relocations, from surveying sites, to interviewing architects, to securing fire insurance.

In 1967, the Friends turned their focus to fundraising and started selling gently used books out of the library parking lot. Proceeds covered items such as new carpeting and a revamped parking lot. Progress came in 1984 when formal selling space was secured at the Lafayette Community Center. The very small Friends Book Room was open twice per month for sidewalk sales, where bargain book hunters could find all titles and genres. Years and years of proceeds from these dollar book sales accounted for a substantial portion of the Friends’ $1 million “angel gift” donation to current LLLC’s capital campaign.

When the new library opened in 2009, the Friends opened their Friends Corner Book Shop on the backside of the library at the corner of First Street and Golden Gate Way. Featuring row upon row of neatly organized bookshelves, brimming with 25,000 titles, the sheer number of volumes causes many visitors to assume they’ve entered the library itself or a traditional book-selling store.

Other marquee Friends programs include “Sweet Thursdays,” a writers on writing conversation and dessert series, “Wonders of the World” museum docent programs, and the annual book mark contest, open to all first through

See Friends continued on page 24

Local Postal Customer

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For the ninth consecutive year, Lafayette will host a special Earth Day Festival at the Lafayette Library and Learning Center on Sunday, April 27th from 11AM-3PM. Hosted by Sustainable Lafayette, Lafayette Chamber, Lafayette Library, and City of Lafayette, the festival will feature food, live music, fun, learning, and camaraderie for children and adults.

In light of the ongoing drought, the theme this year is WATER – how to use it wisely and save money, too. The back patio of the Library will feature EBMUD, landscape experts, and other knowledgeable folks who will explain water-efficient landscaping and ways to conserve water in the home. Come and find out how “rainwater harvesting” works, learn about water conservation programs, and pick up coupons for local water conservation rebates.

You’ll also find a “Hydration Station,” where drinking water will be available for free, so bring your reusable water bottle to the fair. If you forgot to bring a reusable bottle, or don’t have one yet, Kleen Kanteen water bottles will be available for sale.

For early birds, there will be a limited number of free bottles available.

See Earth continued on page 14

Bringing Back the Natives: Gardens Good for Life By Jody Morgan

Each of the 35 gardens on the Tenth Annual Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour offers a different perspective on how the owner’s lifestyle has been enriched by trading a traditional home landscape for an eco-friendly habitat.

Open free from 10am to 5pm on Sunday, May 4th, gardens range from new installations professionally designed to mature masterpieces created over the course of decades by self-trained amateurs.

More than 40 short talks offered throughout the day touch on reducing water bills, luring birds and butterflies to your yard, eliminat- Al Kyte enjoys sharing the diverse native habitats ing the need for pesticides, and he has been creating for almost 40 years. choosing native plants to suit your personal priorities. Requisite pre-registration gives participants a chance to thoughtfully plot their self-guided day.

Kathy Kramer had no idea that organizing the event would evolve into a fulltime volunteer job when she launched the first tour as a reaction to her own frustration at the lack of readily available information. “After reading Volume VIII - Number 4 Sarah Stein’s Noah’s Ark in the early 1990s, I was 3000F Danville Blvd #117 eager to turn the small garden space around our Alamo, CA 94507 home into a habitat for wildlife,” Kramer recalls.

Telephone (925) 405-6397 “Unfortunately, at that time, finding native Fax (925) 406-0547 plants and advice on which native plants to editor@yourmonthlypaper.com select proved difficult. I wanted to make the Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher process of gardening with natives easier for The opinions expressed herein belong to the and do not necessarily reflect that of Laothers.” A tour of pesticide-free gardens in writers, fayette Today. Lafayette Today is not responsible Portland, Oregon inspired her to develop for the content of any of the advertising herein,

See Natives continued on page 14

nor does publication imply endorsement.

Page 2 - April 2014 ~ Lafayette Today

Las Trampas 26 “What’s in Our Hat?” Fundraising Event th

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Las Trampas has been a Lafayette institution since 1958, and yet it’s one of Lafayette’s best kept secrets. Tucked away on a quiet plot of land off Moraga Blvd., Las Trampas has been providing services to individuals with developmental disabilities for 56 years, a population often as hidden from community awareness as the building itself. But this is changing in several ways.

Las Trampas folks are out in the community, visiting the Library several times a week, dining in local restaurants, going bowling, doing community service for homeless shelters and Children’s Hospital, working for Walnut Creek and others in park or general maintenance, earning money with recycling and shredding businesses, and with great pride taking the dollars earned to Mechanics Bank.

And the community has taken notice. Every year in April, over 300 people gather at the Lafayette Park Hotel & Spa to enjoy a fabulous party and salute this long legacy of serving Bay Area families with members who have developmental challenges…from autism, to cerebral palsy, to down syndrome and other physical and mental limitations. The 26th annual gathering, long known as What’s in Our Hat?, will be held on Sunday, April 27th, 3:00-6:30PM. What IS in that famous Hat? There’s a chance for one lucky person to win $10,000 that comes with a free drawing ticket accompanying the $100 event ticket.

The theme this year is World Soccer 2014 – Bravo Brasil! with touches of Carnaval to the samba beat of Generations in Jazz, an international buffet, wine toss, magician, and silent auction extraordinaire.

The goal is to raise $100,000 to sustain the quality and diversity of Las Trampas programs and services…from job skills training, to recreational activities, to licensed residential homes, and to support services for those able to live independently. Details of the event can be found online at www.lastrampas.org, or contact Suzanne Pestal at spestal@lastrampas.org or (925) 310-2363.

Dogtown Downtown

Long considered a pet friendly town, Lafayette is giving top billing to its canine community for its first-ever Dogtown Downtown event, scheduled for Saturday, April 12, from 10AM to 1PM. This is an event about – and for – dogs and dog lovers.

Designed to be a fun and festive canine-focused event, Dogtown Downtown includes outdoor demonstrations, fun dog competitions, and other activities for dog lovers of all ages. Pet adoptions will be available, and animal rescue group representatives will be on hand, as well as other dog-related vendors.

True to Lafayette’s passion for lifelong learning, the Dogtown Downtown event also has a strong educational offering – a curriculum of ten 30-minute presentations by veterinary specialists from UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine and the Bay Area’s SAGE Centers for Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Care. Organized in two tracks, topics range from pet first aid, toxins, environmental hazards, behavioral issues, and the veterinary blood bank, to how to become Lafayette Hiking Group ~ Spring a veterinarian or veterinarian technician.

To participate in hikes, meet in the parking lot out from Lafayette Admission and related activities, including the presentations, are free, but BART’s main entrance at 8:30AM, unless a different meeting time or place registration is encouraged, either online or at the event. Be among the first is indicated. We form carpools to the trailhead. Bring lunch or snacks, to register, and receive a complimentary Dogtown Downtown canine first water, layered clothing, good walking shoes, sun protection, and money to aide starter kit when you check in at the event, while supplies last. For more contribute toward gas, bridge tolls, and parking ($3 local, more if further). information about Dogtown Downtown, including the presentation schedule Saturday, April 12 – Paso Nogal Park, Pleasant Hill and registration link, go to www.lllcf.com/dogtown.

Walk trails meandering among oak trees and some neighborhood streets Don’t forget: Dogs Are Invited! Well-behaved dogs on leash and under the with nice views to the north and east. Enjoy dog friendly trails on this easy control of their pet owners are invited to attend. to moderate 3 – 4 mile hike with leader Linda On. Here are the top six reasons you should bring your dog to Dogtown Monday, April 21 – Moraga County Club, Moraga Downtown: This hike meets at the Lafayette City parking lot on Moraga Road. The 1. This event celebrates dogs. Why would you leave yours at home? hike starts from MCC’s clubhouse and does a figure 8 on the golf course on 2. Show furry family pride! Dogtown Downtown kicks off with a Grand its “no golfing” day. Enjoy the spring greenery and views of the surrounding Parade that starts at 10AM from Lafayette Plaza Park (Mt. Diablo and Moraga hills including Mount Diablo. The terrain varies from flat to hilly on this Road) and continues down Golden Gate Way to the Lafayette Library and easy to moderate 5 mile hike with leader Roxana Yau. Learning Center. After the parade, there are friendly competitions in the Saturday, May 3 – Sunol Regional Park Enjoy a steep three mile loop hike, with possible add-on for those following categories: Best Dog-Owner Team Trick, Looks Most Like Owner, Waggiest Tail, Best Costume (dogs only!), and Best of Show. Imagine the who wish to go higher. Enjoy beautiful spring meadows with possible wildflowers. Great picnic facilities – bring food to share for a pot-luck photos – wouldn’t those be better with your dog in them?

3. Encourage your dog to learn new tricks. Throughout the event there lunch. Bring hiking poles if you use them. Parking is $5 per car. This hike will be demonstrations from the “professionals” – service dogs, police dogs, is a strenuous 3 miles. Leaders are Sue Ewing and Carol McNulty.

Email any questions you may have to LafayetteHiking@comcast.net. dancing dogs, and dogs advanced in agility training, among others.

4. Make easy conversation. Can you think of an easier way to strike up Tech Trek and Scholarship Awards Meeting a conversation or find immediate common ground with neighbors at a dog Orinda resident Dr. Marinda Wu, keynote speaker at American Association event like this than to let your dog sniff out new friends? of University Women Orinda-Moraga-Lafayette Chapter’s (AAUW OML) 5. Break the library rules. Chance of a lifetime: During the Dogtown upcoming awards ceremony, dreamed of growing up to be either a scientist Downtown event only, dogs are allowed in the library and its classrooms, or an ambassador, and her career path has provided opportunities to do both. including during the veterinary presentations.

Dr. Marinda Wu has a Ph.D. in inorganic chemistry and recently served as 6. Get help picking out a new furry brother or sister. ARF and the Humane the elected President of the American Chemical Society, one of only a few Society will be on hand with adoptable pets. Is your family ready to expand? women to have a high-level position in that society.

For more information, please contact Karen Rose at Karen@ “A Career in Science: Determination and Drive Make the Difference” is lafayettechamber.org or call (925) 284-7404.

See Tech continued on page 11

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Boulevard View

By Alisa Corstorphine, Editor

As we approach Earth Day I think of the impact my family and I make in the world when we consume something. As my refrigerator sits with a bounty of delicious takeout food, I notice that they all came home in single use styrofoam and plastic containers. I consider the space they take up and the resources that were used to produce them, and I ponder where the containers will end up next.

A line from the documentary Bag It rings in my brain saying, “When we throw something away, what exactly is away?” In reality there is no “away.” Our trash gets kicked down the road. I look at the takeout containers and wonder if there is a way to create some sort of deposit and exchange system with local restaurants which would use reusable, stainless Tiffin boxes that are very popular in the Indian culture. Thinking outside the box, what changes can be made to improve this throw-away stuff and still enjoy the take-home food?

During a recent remodel of our backyard a large wallball wall and deck we built when our children were young was dismantled. We were left with a stack of perfectly good lumber. My brother-in-law suggested I sell the wood on Craigslist.

I took a new eye to the pile and remembering another project my giant “to do” list thought the wood could be repurposed for our own use into new garden boxes.

The wallball wall and deck have now been transformed into six new planter

Lafayette Today ~ April 2014 - Page 3 boxes. The boxes have been filled with dirt we sifted from a large compost pile which is rich with our own leaves, grass clippings, and food waste. This new garden area will create food for our family and friends. It will reduce our grocery and transportation expenses, and it will inevitably expand our horizons of new recipes as we find creative ways to consume anticipated bumper crops of squash and tomatoes. I have found guides to freezing our bounty (www.rodalenews.com/ freezing-food?cm_mmc=TheDailyFixNL-_-1622976-_-03062014-_-How_to_ Freeze_Anything,_from_Berries_to_Zucchini) and am ready to preserve crops into next winter in ways I never considered before.

After a spring cleaning trip to the dump, I am amazed every time what items get thrown away. I think that at one time people made conscious decisions and spent their hard earned money on an item that they are now tired of or has broken in some manner. I think about how all of the items can get reused instead of tossed.

Twice a year the garbage hauling companies come through our neighborhoods to pick up our “garbage.” Reuse of the items left has become paramount as they try and realize a higher diversion rate of what goes to the dump.

I do a lot of online shopping and receive a plethora of cardboard boxes and packing materials. I used to toss them into the recycling bins, but now I post the boxes and packing materials on Craigslist and have a few “regulars” who graciously come pick them up so they can use them for their eBay businesses.

Receiving the supplies from me extends the life of the materials and saves money and resources for the person who will be using them.

For the fourth year the Alamo Women’s Club will host a reuse day called “Together We Give.” The event will be held April 27th from 1-4pm at the Alamo Women’s Club, located at 1401 Danville Blvd. in Alamo.

A complete list of items that each philanthropy is collecting for donation can be found at www.togetherwegive.org. Philanthropies include Youth Homes – Foster Care, Hospice of the East Bay, STAND! For Families Free of Violence, VESTIA, Lion’s Club, Brighter Beginnings, We Care Services for Children (ages 2-5), Pledge to Humanity, Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano, CARH, Inc., local school music programs, Contra Costa County Sheriff – Valley Station, eWaste, and Canine Companions for Independence. Representatives from these groups will be on hand to help you repurpose items that you no longer want or need. It is a great event to help in keeping items out of the landfill and getting them into the hands of someone who can give them a new life.

Bunny Brunch Breakfast and Egg Hunt at Community Center

Family fun awaits you at the annual Bunny Brunch on Saturday, April 19th at 11am. Ticket price includes a pancake breakfast, an exciting children’s puppet show put on by California Puppets puppeteer “Jungle Joe,” an exciting egg hunt for the kids, ARF’s Pet Hug Pack, and a visit from the Big Bunny! Tickets are on sale and can be purchased for the advanced sale price of $7 per person. Tickets at the door are $9 per person, but space is limited so purchase tickets early before it sells out! For more information or to register for this or any of the other wonderful events and classes from the Lafayette Community Center, visit www.lafayetterec.org or call the Community Center office at 925-284-2232.

Lafayette Rotary Club Spring Egg Roll

The Lafayette Rotary Club is pleased to announce the date for the “Annual Egg Hunt.” This event is open to all children ages two through third grade. The event takes place at Lafayette Plaza (corner of Mt. Diablo Blvd. and Moraga Rd) in Lafayette, at 10am, Saturday, April 19th.

The park lawn will be covered with candy for the kids to put in their baskets. The youngest are always given extra time to get their share! The Bunny will be there to take pictures with the kids. Please arrive on time. We start promptly at 10am. Join us for the fun.

We are Rotarians working with youth, helping our community, and playing an active part in International and World Community Service.

We meet every Thursday at 12:15pm at Oakwood Athletic Club located at 4000 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette.

Lafayette’s

DOGTOWN DOWNTOWN SATURDAY, APRIL 12 10AM - 1PM Lafayette Library and Learning Center & Lafayette Plaza

DOG PARADE 10am (begins @ Lafayette Plaza)

ACTIVITIES • Workshops • Lectures • Demonstrations • Dog Adoptions

CONTESTS Enter your dog in any/all contests – FREE registration starts @ 9am @ the Lafayette Library and Learning Center • Best Team Tricks • Best Costume • Looks Most Like Owner • Waggiest Tail • Best of Show

MORE INFO www.LLLCF.org/dogtown/

PRESENTED BY Lafayette Library & Learning Center • Lafayette Chamber of Commerce • City of Lafayette • U.C. Davis School of Veterinary Medicine Minuteman Press Lafayette

Lafayette Animal Hospital • The Pet Ranch at Waiterock • Share the Joy Photography • Amy Dryer Design

Page 4 - April 2014 ~ Lafayette Today

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Lafayette Garden Club Annual Plant Sale

The Lafayette Garden Club will be holding their annual plant sale on Thursday, April 10th at 10AM at Lafayette Christian Church, located at 584 Glenside Dr. in Lafayette.

You can purchase seedlings, flowers, and potted plants of all sizes and varieties.

Prices are very reasonable. Don’t miss this wonderful annual plant sale!

For more information, contact cpoetzsch@gmail.com.

Lose a Lawn, Get A Garden!

The Gardens at Heather Farm and the Contra Costa Water District present “Lose a Lawn, Get A Garden!” on April 26 and August 23 from 9AM - noon at Contra Costa Water District Center, located at 1331 Concord Avenue in Concord.

This inspiring and informative free workshop is designed for homeowners interested in replacing their existing water-thirsty lawns with beautiful water efficient landscaping. Experts will provide advice and instruction about design, irrigation, and plants native to the Diablo Valley climate. In addition, participants will learn about Contra Costa Water District’s Lawn to Garden Rebate program. Participants will be able to meet with a variety of landscape professionals. Registration is required for this free program in order to receive an informational packet.

For more information and to register, please visit www.gardenshf.org or call (925) 947-1678.

Acalanes Drama Dons Present Twelfth Night

Mistaken identity, intrigue, unrequited love, and cross dressing. No, it is not the latest reality show; it is William Shakespeare’s comedy, Twelfth Night and it is coming to Acalanes High School, April 30, May 1, 2, and 3.

When Viola, a castaway, disguises herself as a boy to find work as the lovesick Count Orsino’s servant, she gets caught in a love triangle. Despite working on the Count’s behalf in his pursuit of the beautiful Lady Olivia, Viola finds herself the object of Lady Olivia's affections. And did we mention that Viola has a twin brother? Along the way we meet Sir Toby Belch and other riotous court characters, as well as that officious steward, Malvolio. The result is one of Shakespeare’s true comic masterpieces.

The house opens at 6:30pm with a 7pm curtain. General admission tickets are $10 and students pay $7. Tickets are available at the door. All proceeds benefit the Acalanes Performing Arts Boosters-Drama.

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Lafayette Juniors Host Kitchen Tour

Tickets are on sale now for the Lafayette Juniors 15th Annual Kitchen Tour. This self-guided tour will be held on Saturday, May 17th from 10AM to 3PM and will feature six special Lafayette homes with beautifully designed rustic, ranch, Cape Cod, open concept, traditional, and farmhouse kitchens.

Attendees will receive a Kitchen Tour program detailing all the special design elements of the kitchens as well as information on the architects, designers, and contractors who created these inspired spaces.

Proceeds from this year’s Tour benefit the work of five local non-profit organizations including First Place for Youth, STAND!, the Lafayette Library, SEED, and Twin Canyon Camp. These organizations were selected by the Lafayette Juniors for the support they provide to children and families in need in Contra Costa and neighboring East Bay counties.

Tickets are $40 ($30 tax deductible), with a box lunch available for $15. Tickets can be purchased online at www.lafayettejuniors.org or from Douglah Designs and Premier Kitchens in Lafayette.

“As we prepare for our 15th annual Kitchen Tour, I’m reminded of what’s possible when we come together to raise funds for charity. The Tour has become a substantial fundraiser for our beneficiaries and gives them the ability to continue to offer as well as grow important programs and services,” said Tina Sebree, President of the Lafayette Juniors. “We would like to thank everyone who is helping to make this year’s Kitchen Tour possible, from our sponsors and donors to our generous homeowners who are opening their homes to us all.”

For more information on the Lafayette Juniors Kitchen Tour and beneficiaries, visit www.lafayettejuniors.org.

Founded in 1953, the Lafayette Juniors is a non-profit organization made up of local women who come together to raise funds and offer service in support of other non-profits that serve children, families, and seniors in need throughout Contra Costa and neighboring counties in the San Francisco area. In the past 15 years, the Lafayette Juniors have raised more than $500,000 for Bay Area non-profit groups.

ACT and SAT Prep

ACT and SAT Prep, sponsored by American Association of University Women (AAUW), Orinda-Moraga-Lafayette Chapter, will be held with a test on Saturday, May 3, 8:45AM -1:15PM at the Moraga Library, located at 1500 St. Mary’s Road in Moraga. Cost is $35/student. Register by going to http://oml-ca.aauw.net/sat-act. For additional information, email Lisa Geary at lisageary@comcast.net.

Organic Food Direct to You

Have you ever wondered about the easiest way to get fresh, local, organic food? Come to a presentation in the Arts and Science Discovery Room at the Lafayette Library at 7PM on Thursday, April 10 to learn about ways local organic farmers are delivering their delicious wares to folks in Lamorinda.

Sustainable Lafayette is hosting a display, presentation, and movie. Meet with farm representatives to find out your produce options, and meet with current customers who enjoy fresh weekly produce boxes.

Following, stay to see the 50-minute movie Grow, which takes a look at “a new generation of sustainable farmers through the eyes, hearts, and minds of 20 passionate, idealistic, and independent young growers.”

Light refreshments will be provided.

This event is brought to you by Sustainable Lafayette. For more information, contact alison@sustainablelafayette.org or linda@sustainablelafayette.org.

Lamorinda Republican Women Federated

Lamorinda Republican Women Federated welcomes luncheon speaker Mike Winther at noon on April 17 at the Orinda Country Club. Mike Winther is the President for Principle Studies and sits on the Board of Scholars at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy.

For luncheon information and reservations, contact Elsie Euing at (925) 254-8617 by no later than April 14th. Cost is $25. Men are always welcome.

Volunteers Needed for Amgen Tour

Mount Diablo State Park is looking to recruit several hundred volunteers to help as course marshals, in hospitality, in media support, and in a host of other volunteer roles at the Stage 3 finish of the 2014 Amgen Tour of California bike race. To register as a prospective volunteer, please visit www. amgentourofcalifornia.com/Tour/volunteer.html.

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Lafayette Today ~ April 2014 - Page 5

Enrich the Life of a Student in 12 Days!

NEW!

For the ninth consecutive year, high school students from the south of France are coming to the area. Host families for 20 students are still needed during their stay from April 27th until May 9th .

The teens will have a full itinerary of activities with their class during the days and only require your attention in the evenings and on one weekend.

For more information, contact Martine Causse (teacher in charge of the group) at caussefly@wanadoo.fr or dachary.martine@orange.fr. The local contact is Kevin Dimler, who can be reached at kevindimler@gmail.com or 925-718-5052.

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Garden and Outdoor Learning Center Classes

The upcoming classes will meet rain or shine at the Lafayette Community Garden on Mt. Diablo Boulevard, across from the Lafayette Reservoir. A $5 donation (unless otherwise noted) per person to support the education programs is appreciated but not required. Register for classes at www.lafayettecommunitygarden.org.

April 26 - 1 to 4pm Growing Herbs for Teas - Learn how to grow, harvest, store, and make teas grown in your own garden. Hollie Lucas-Alcalay of Hollie’s Homegrown in Moraga has made her own herb farm into a thriving business and will share her expertise and passion for herbs. Sample and savor herbal teas made from local herbs and take home seedlings to help you get started. This a special fundraising event, so a $40 donation is suggested.

May 3 - 11:30 to 12:30pm Butterflies and Their Foods - After a month developing in the Lafayette Library, butterflies will be ready to release in the butterfly garden. Come hear butterfly stories, make wands, and create butterfly cookies. Take home a butterfly plant to coax butterflies into your own garden.

May 3 - 3 to 5pm Bio-Intensive Gardening to Feed the World - Global Student Embassy students from the Acalanes School District will speak about biointensive gardening and how such practices are used around the world to address food access. They’ll share their experiences working on organic farm projects and reforestration in Nicaragua and Ecuador, as well as in their school gardens. Basic technical aspects of bio-intensive agriculture and how to effectively use small garden plots to grow an abundance of produce will be covered.

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by John Montgomery. Celebrate Learn tips from our own spring, chat with John Montgompros and a special guest ery, stroll the gardens, enjoy live music, nibble goodiesand from Martini Sky of Danville, on organic conventional gardens. and visit The Bounty Garden at this self-guided tour. The event will take place on AM PM May 3 from 11 - 4 . Proceeds from the sale of tickets benefit The Bounty Garup Today!

Limited den, The Quincy Lee Foundation, LazarexSign Cancer Foundation, Contra Costa County Seating Available.

Guide Dog Raisers, Inc., and the Rotary Club of Alamo. To sign up, go to www.jm-la. com and click on Garden Tour. For additional information, please contact Debbie at dblumhardt@jm-la.com or (925)820-8884.

Fun Run

When: Saturday April 5th Are you ready to dance, walk, run, or jog?

Come to Time: 9:30AM - 10:30AM th JF Kapnek’s 11 annual Family 5k/1k Fun Run! Help Come in Early to get a great seat celebrate Kapnek’s accomplishments in our effortsAsk to the front desk for more info Reserve: www.AlamoHardware.com/Classe Reserve diminish the effect of the HIV/AIDS epidemic on Online: the Where: Our Alamo Location children and families of Zimbabwe.

Grab your friends and join us on Sunday, May 4th at 9am at Miramonte High School. Get your face painted, enjoy crafts for the kids, enjoy a kids 1k Fun Run, eat a healthy brunch, win prizes for the top 5k runners, listen to an African Alamo Ace Hardware Located at 3211 Danville Blvd, Alamo CA 94507 Our WebsiteMORE! for more information www.AlamoHardware.com Band, receive a cool T-shirt and experienceVisit MUCH Alamo Hardware OOers An Excellent Handyman Service Text (925)272-9262 To Schedule A Free Estimate To register go to www.active.com (keyword Kapnek).

For questions, email Carey@JFKapnekTrust.org.

Page 6 - April 2014 ~ Lafayette Today

The Bookworm

By Joan Stevenson

Guess who is coming to our place? On Friday April 11 in the Community Hall at 6:30pm, we will roll out the red carpet for Kristi Yamaguchi as part of the Lafayette Library and Learning Center Foundations Speakers series, Authors and Athletes. She is joined in conversation with Dennis O’Donnell, Sports Director for KPIX 5. Kristi Yamaguchi is a Bay Area native, U.S. figure skater, and Olympic gold medalist. Did you know she is also an author, philanthropist, and founder of the Always Dream Foundation? We'll hear of her recent travels to Sochi and her inspirational work to improve childhood literacy. Kristi’s Always Dream Foundation inspires underserved children to reach for their dreams through innovative reading programs and by advancing the cause of early childhood literacy. The cost is $20/ adults and $10/youth 12 and under. Funds raised support the Lafayette Library and Learning Center. To reserve go to www.tinyurl.com/KristiLLLCF, or for more information call 925-283-6513 x103.

There is no question about it…the museum docent lecture series has been a huge hit. This month’s discussion on April 10 in the Community Hall at 6:30pm will cover the Asian Art Museum’s latest exhibit; Yoga: The Art of Transformation which explores yoga's goals, its Hindu as well as Buddhist, Jain, and Sufi manifestations, its means of transforming body and consciousness, and its profound philosophical foundation. The docent will share highlights of the more than 120 works included in the exhibit that date from the third to the early twentieth century, temple sculptures, devotional icons, illustrated manuscripts, and court paintings as well as colonial and early modern photographs, books, and films - illuminating yoga’s central tenets and its obscured histories. The cost is $5 per person I haven’t broken this yet to my rescue dog, Captain, but we have a special outing planned on Saturday, April 12 from 10am-1pm when we participate in Lafayette’s Dogtown Downtown. The event will kick-off with a dog parade

7th...Tuesday 6:30–8:00pm

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8th...Wednesday 6:30–8:00pm

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9th...Thursday 3:00–4:30pm

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14th...Tuesday 2:00–3:00pm

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16th...Thursday 7:30–8:30pm

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18th...Saturday 7:00–9:00pm

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22nd...Wednesday 7:00–8:30pm

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Contra Costa Master Gardeners............................................$5 Pruning - A gardening expert will be on hand to share the basics of healthy pruning practices for your trees, shrubs, and roses.

Learn how, when and what to prune! higginssierra@gmail.com Life after Work:....................................$15/Person, $25/Couple How to Create a Sustainable Income Stream in RetirementAspiring retirees - join us to learn how to replace your paycheck by creating multiple sources of income. reserve@LLLCF.org Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI)........................Free OLLI @Berkeley Info Session in Lafayette! Meet faculty and OLLI members & learn about the compelling courses offered in Lafayette and Berkeley this winter. olli.berkeley.edu Friends of the LLLC present.............................................Free Docent Talk - Tao House: Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site - Learn about America's only Nobel Prize winning playwright’s literary life in Danville. no reservations necessary Friends of the LLLC Sweet Thursday...............................Free Shirley Streshinsky & Patricia Klaus - The authors join us to discuss their book - An Atomic Love Story: The Extraordinary Women in Robert Oppenheimer’s Life. no reservations necessary Gold Coast Chamber Players............$35 gen, $30 sr, $10 stdt Horn and Plenty - Featuring two principals from the SF Opera Orchestra: French horn virtuoso, Kevin Rivard & oboist Mingjia Liu. Pre-concert talk 7:00, concert 7:30. www.gcplayers.org Sustainable Lafayette...........................................................Free What's Changed Since An Inconvenient Truth? - Come learn the latest facts about climate change from Wei-Tai Kwok, a Climate Reality Leader trained by Al Gore. no reservations necessary

www.yourmonthlypaper.com beginning at Lafayette Plaza at 10 followed by workshops, lectures, demonstrations, and even dog adoptions. Contests include best team tricks, best costume, dog that looks most like owner, waggiest tail, and best of show. Free Canine First Aid Starter Kit for the first 250 who register (one per family) to be picked up the day of the event. The other day we practiced our good behavior over lunch at La Boulange. We are a work in progress. The event is free!

Sweet Thursday welcomes Ron Shoop, book expert extraordinaire. He represents Random House and over 100 different publishers. On Thursday, April 17 at 7pm (note new time) he will present, Top 15 Reads for 2014. For summer reading ideas, both best sellers and hidden treasures, nothing tops an evening with Ron. He has a terrific list of books he'll share...all paperbacks...so they're affordable! Some might even be found in the Book Shop.

“Fires and Earthquakes and Asteroids, Oh My!” is the title of April’s Science Café on Tuesday, April 15 at 7pm. Let’s gather at Lafayette’s official emergency command center, also known as LLLC Community Hall. We will hear and altogether different perspective on the art and science of emergency preparedness and management from Lafayette to the entire planet (think asteroid!). There is more to it than just dialing 911. Our speakers are Fred Lathrop, Chair, Lafayette Emergency Preparedness Commission, and Dr. Margaret Race, Senior Scientist, Planetary Protection of the SETI Institute. The cost is $5 per person. To reserve, call 925-283-6513 x103 or go to tinyurl.com/ LLLCFDisasters.

How about a Family Science Night? Come to the Electricity Festival brought to us on Wednesday, April 30 from 6-8pm in the Community Hall by the Lawrence Hall of Science. Electricity - it lights things up and makes bells ring, but what other interesting things can it do? Learn and have fun as you create circuits with wires and playdough, experiment with various materials and discover which ones conduct electricity and which don't, create a jumping bug, and safely shock your friends as you explore electricity! The cost for the night is $5 per child. To reserve, call 925-283-6513 x103 or visit TinyURL. com/LHSElectricity.

March 15th was another half price sale at the Friends Corner Book Shop which brought in a total of $2111.80. There were only 15 customers waiting for the doors to open at 9am, but by 11am there were 153 people and 317 customers in all! The favorite shopper was the cute little boy who was so proud to buy a $2 cookbook and am

23rd...Thursday 6:30–8:00pm

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24th...Friday 7:30–8:30pm

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28th to Feb 18th Tuesdays 1:00–3:00pm

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28th...Tuesday 7:00–8:00pm

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29th...Wednesday 3:30–5:00pm

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29th...Wednesday 6:30–7:30pm

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30th to March 6th Thursdays 10:00am –12:00pm

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New Year, New You - Meditation:......................................Free Isn’t it time you learned how? Join Dr. Marshall Zaslove, a Board certified psychiatrist with 40+ years of daily meditation experience, for this benefical workshop. no reservations necessary Contra Costa Performing Arts Society:............................Free Jazz Piano Concert - Join us for a special concert! Event and free refreshments sponsored by the Friends of the LLLC. no reservations necessary Osher Lifelong Learning Institute..........................Fees Apply War, Peace and the Media - Join foreign correspondent Reese Erlich as he analyzes post-9/11 military actions and how the major news media has covered them. www.olli.berkeley.edu Science Cafe - Synthetic Biology.............................................$5 What does Synthetic Biology promise for the future? How is it currently being utilized? What are the risks? Synberc’s Leonard Katz, PhD answers these questions & more. reserve@LLLCF.org Let’s Make Sushi!................................................................ Free Join us to learn the fine art of sushi. We’ll learn how to make both hand rolls and Maki style sushi (no raw fish will be used).

Space is limited. Ages 12 to 19. ccclib.org The Commonwealth Club...$12 mbrs, $22 nonmbrs, $7 stdts Patricia Schultz: 1000 Places to See Before You Die - The NY Times best-selling author brings a special Europe presentation to us, highlighting a few dozen favorites. commonwealthclub.org Osher Lifelong Learning Institute..........................Fees Apply The History of the Symphony - John Prescott PhD will explore different milestones of the symphonic repertoire each week, including Haydn, Beethoven & Tchaikovsky. www.olli.berkeley.edu

editor@yourmonthlypaper.com

Fifty Years Ago

By Ruth Bailey, Lafayette Historical Society Taxes and Traffic and Schools, Oh My…

Lafayette Today ~ April 2014 - Page 7

This being the month we annually dance with the IRS, we thought you’d be interested in the tax situation in the county half a century ago. The State Board of Equalization issued a press release on taxation results for fiscal 1963-64, which noted that assessed property valuation in Contra Costa County was $1,042,992,000, making the county one of eight in the state with an assessed valuation exceeding one billion.

The report said the total general property tax levy amounted to $92,289,000, representing 8.85% of the assessed valuation. While not the highest in the state (that doubtful honor went to neighboring Alameda County, with a 9.73% levy), Contra Costa’s percentage was above average for the state, which reported a flat 8%.

In July of 1964, The Sun questioned whether after-school recreation programs were out for the schools, in the light of salary increases. The Board of Trustees passed a Lafayette schools budget of $2,274,911, an increase of about $175,000 from the previous year. [The 2013-14 adopted Lafayette schools budget was $29,771,054 revenue; $30,390,698 total expenditures] The 1964 Board President Boardman Moore acknowledged, “There is no provision for the after-school recreation program. We’re pretty much trapped with dollars committed already.” About 60% of the increase was earmarked for salaries. Principals, assistant principals, and classified personnel were given a 5% salary boost. The superintendent’s salary jumped from $16,000 to $17,000, the assistant superintendent’s pay was also boosted $1,000, to $14,500, and the business manager’s salary went from $12,000 to $13,000.

Seven teachers were added, instead of the three positions forecast in April’s tentative budget. Among the economies was eliminating $7,000 to pay salaries for teachers directing the after-school recreation program.

Schools had been leading the news since early in 1964, when The Sun headlined: “TV Hookup Will Pioneer School Education System; Students Will Learn Spanish in 10 Schools.” According to the story, “More than 61,000 feet of coaxial cable will link 10 Lafayette schools together in February, in what’s been described as the first educational television network of its type in Northern California. The school district will pioneer teaching by television as a method of meeting a state law calling for grade school foreign language instruction by September 1965.

“Lafayette, Happy Valley, Ellis, Springhill, Montecito, Stanley, Burton Valley, Vallecito, Fairview, and Merriewood elementary schools will be hooked up. Pupils in th th 6 , 7 , and 8th grades will receive Spanish instruction as a forerunner to a larger number of courses to be developed in the school system. Expansion plans include sub-6th grade levels, and offer social studies, science, and music. TV offers a cheaper and better way of getting instruction to each pupil almost once a day,” the superintendent said.

In 1964, the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce took a bold step and, by a vote of 17-7, endorsed lowering the speed limit on Mt. Diablo [then called the Highway] from 35 to 25 miles per hour. The county and Highway Patrol were against the plan when it was first proposed by the Chamber, but they decided to give it a try for six months.

During the trial, merchants were asked to keep a record of store traffic and see whether the speed limit change increased sales. “We have never used the economic factor before,” said Captain Edward Jelich of the California Highway Patrol. He added that 19,000 cars use Mt. Diablo Highway in a typical 24-hour period. [This was before Highway 24 opened. In 2014, approximately 23,800 cars per 24 hours use Mt. Diablo Blvd. east of Moraga Road, according to Leah Greenblat, City of Lafayette transportation planner.]

A week after the reduced speed announcement, a letter published in The Sun carried a strong reaction to the change. The Lafayette resident charged that the reduced speed limit “was unconstitutional and mainly for the benefit of retail businesses in this area.” He indicated that he’d written to the Board of Supervisors that the only purpose is to benefit a private group. “It will prove to be unconstitutional as soon as it is tested in the lowest traffic court,” he predicted, adding, “The new speed limit places the CHP in a position of arresting speeders—not because they are driving dangerously, but because slower speeds are needed to benefit retail sales.”

Program has numerous fact sheets on managing pests in and around the Alternatives to Toxic Pesticides home with a minimum amount of pesticide. You can find the fact sheets at

By County Supervisor Candace Andersen www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/index.html.

Growing up in Hawaii it was common for me to The Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program also has a variety of encounter a wide range of insects and pests both inside links to inform you of the types of pesticides on the market with their risks and outside my home. Weeds grew quickly in the warm to the environment and your family. They offer non-toxic methods, disposal tropical environment. Our response? My family had a suggestions, and more. Visit their site at www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/GENERAL/ monthly contract with a pesticide company to spray pesticides_urban.html. both the inside and outside of our house with a thick Trained volunteers from the Contra Costa Master Gardener Program layer of toxic chemicals. Fortunately, these pests and answer questions from Contra Costa County residents about pests and pesticides fast growing weeds aren’t as prevalent here in Califorduring their Help Desk hours, Monday through Friday from 9am to Noon. You nia, but how I manage them now is very different from can visit them at 75 Santa Barbara Road, 2nd Floor, Pleasant Hill, call them at my childhood in Honolulu. There are some great alternatives available to using 925-646-6586; or send an email to ccmg@ucanr.edu. Visit their website at www. highly toxic pesticides. ccmg.ucanr.edu for more information about gardening in Contra Costa.

It is important for us to do our part to preserve our environment for future The Contra Costa Agriculture Department can also answer questions generations. We also want to keep our children, pets, and wildlife safe from about pests and pesticides. They have a biologist on-call from 8am to 5pm at harmful chemicals. Since 2001, Contra Costa County governmental departtheir Concord office, 2366-A Stanwell Circle. You can bring your pest probments have reduced their pesticide use by 60%. However, the County’s use lems into the office or call 925-646-5250 for advice. of pesticides is only 2% of all reported use in Contra Costa.

The Mt. Diablo Audubon Society has information on their website reBefore using pesticides or rodenticides around your home or business, garding a variety of issues that affect our wildlife such as DON’T TAKE THE consider other options. There are great resources available to help you make BAIT! AntiCoagulant Rat Poisons Kill, which you can read on their site at an informed decision about how to handle any number of pest problems, www.diabloaudubon.org/conservation.php#RatPoison. There is also a link to whether it is insects, rodents, or weeds. Some alternatives that I have found their brochure called Who Will Save Us?, which you can print and distribute to very helpful include the following. others, also on their site at www.diabloaudubon.org/WhoWillSaveUs-E.pdf.

The Our Water-Our World program is a partnership between many difFinally, if you have any of these toxic products on hand, please dispose ferent water pollution prevention agencies and stores that sell pesticides to of them safely by taking the materials to your hazardous waste facility. In the public. Their goal is to help you manage home and garden pests in a way Contra Costa County, call 1-800-750-4096 for locations and information or that protects the health and safety of your family, pets, and the environment. go to www.co.contra-costa.ca.us/depart/cd/recycle/.

Visit their website at www.ourwaterourworld.org to find materials designed to My office is here to serve the residents of Contra Costa County District assist you in finding non-toxic and less-toxic solutions for managing pests in 2, which includes San Ramon, Danville, Alamo, Walnut Creek, Saranap, and around your home, including helpful fact sheets and their booklet Pests Parkmead, Lafayette, Moraga, Canyon, and Orinda. Please don’t hesitate Bugging You? Choose Products Less Toxic to People, Pets and the Environto contact us if we can provide you with additional information on this topic ment! Click on “promotional materials” and then on “booklets.” or on other County issues. I can be reached at SupervisorAndersen@bos.

The University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management cccounty.us or 925-957-8860.

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Page 8 - April 2014 ~ Lafayette Today

Wine with that Grilled Cheese

By Monica Chappell

April is National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Month. Who knew? In honor of this joyous occasion, we thought it only seemed appropriate to pair our favorite beverage with our favorite grilled cheeser. We certainly don’t need a reason to eat grilled cheese, but when the calendar says National Grilled Cheese Month…let’s celebrate! The With this being said, it’s also a great opportunity to Alamo Women’s Club presents roundup your favorite wine to part with that grilled cheese goodness. Together We Give ~ Honoring Earth Day Mention wine and the first thought that comes to mind is “cheese.” Cheese and wine is a classic pairing - like peanut butter Date/Time: Sunday, April 27, 1- 4:00pm Where: 1401 Danville Blvd., Alamo and jelly or cookies and milk. Wine and cheese How: Drive through and drop off! have a long history together; both are natural Why: Community Donation Day Benefiting Local Charities The Alamo Women’s Club presents products, created using a standard process but with Together We Give ~Be an Angel of Hope~ ~ Honoring Earth Day a myriad of results. This is a perfect introduction to the basics and should help you expand your knowledge and understanding Date/Time: Sunday, April 27, 1- 4:00pm of wine and cheese.

Where: 1401 Danville Blvd., Alamo

Which Wine with that Grilled Cheese Sammie?

How: Why:

Drive through and drop off! can you help?

CommunityHow Donation Day Benefiting Local Charities

• White or bloomy rind cheeses such as Camembert and Brie are the April 27 , clean out your closets, recycle, donate and help others through Together We Give’s Community Donation trickiest to match; safe bets include soft, fruity reds such as Merlot, Pinot On Day. Please note, since this is an item-specific drive, only (not impacted by smoking) below will be ~Be an Angel ofitems Hope~ accepted.

Noir, or Beaujolais-Villages. gear (helmets/pads), storage bins, DVDs for Young Adults, educational CDs/DVDs, gardening kits • Hard cheeses such as Cheddar or Manchego go with the widest range  Bikes/protective & tools, suitcases, large duffle bags and backpacks, sports equipment, arts & crafts supplies, radios with CD player, board games – ages 10-18, bath/face/hand towels, hair care products, digital cameras, clock radios, MP3 Music of wines; safe bets are medium to full bodied reds without too much tannin Players, non-perishable foods, gift cards for Youth Homes – Foster Care such as a softer style Bordeaux or good quality Cotes du Rhone-Villages. A  Vintage items, linens, jewelry, fashion accessories, housewares for Hospice of East Bay  Jewelry, quality fashion accessories, perfume, holiday collectables, children’s books, small and unique home and buttery, medium bodied Chardonnay is a surprising star as well. garden items, toys and games, new twin size bedding (blankets, sheets, bedspreads, pillow covers, mattress covers), new towels, BART tickets for STAND! For Families Free of Violence • Strong, pungent cheese offers no safe bets. Sweet or fortified wines are  Useable “sunshine gifts” – a token of concern for Seniors – packs of cards, hand creams, etc., clean/used sleeping bags, children books, interview and work clothes for Men/Women and professional accessories (shoes, scarves, likely to pair well, or try an aromatic white such as the classic combination of handbags, jewelry), gently worn coats, hats, mittens for Wardrobe for Opportunity via VESTIA – Volunteer Emergency Services Team in Action How can you help?

Munster and Gewurztraminer.  Eyeglasses and hearing aids for Lion’s Club  Diapers, baby clothes, baby toys, gently used strollers and car seats for Brighter Beginnings • For goat’s milk cheeses, Sauvignon Blanc is a good match, especially with  School supplies, binders, nursery rhyme books, puzzles, towels for swim day, heavy push toys such as wagons, th On April 27 , clean closets, recycle, donate help othersHotthrough Wedress Give’s Community games, sidewalk chalk, sand toys,and buckets and shovels, Wheel cars,Together jump ropes, boys up clothes, young soft cheeses; the more acid in the cheese, the more acid the wine will need.out yourboard men’sis ties for We Care Services for drive, Children (ages 2-5) Day. Please note, since this an item-specific only items (not impacted by smoking) below will Shoes, toiletries for Pledge To Humanity (donated to local Communities) • Sheep’s milk cheese can handle a robust red made fromaccepted.

Syrah, Mourvedre,  Canned and boxed food for the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano Grenache, or Tempranillo grapes. Or try countering the cheese’s saltiness  Books, small pieces of furniture, Ewaste recycling - Computers, monitors, printers, laptops, TVs, iPods, stereos for CARH, Inc. (Community assistance for the disabled) with a little sweetness in the wine.

Musical instruments forstorage Local Schools  Bikes/protective gear (helmets/pads), bins, DVDs for Young Adults, educational CDs/DVDs, garde  Blankets/Quilts for Contra Costa County Sheriff - Valley Station & tools,American suitcases, large duffle bags and backpacks, sports equipment, arts & crafts supplies, radios with C We couldn’t be more excited to pay homage to the classic  Volunteer participation - puppy raising, assistance with special events and donations for Canine Companions for Independence board games – ages 10-18, bath/face/hand towels, hair care products, digital cameras, clock radios, MP3 sandwich.

Players, non-perishable foods, For giftadditional cards information, for Youth Homes Foster Care contact Pamela–Singh at momshouseinc@ymail.com or go to Monica Chappell teaches wine appreciation classes. For upcoming classes, www.togetherwegive.org for the most current information.  Vintage items, linens, jewelry, fashion accessories, housewares for Hospice of East Bay visit www.wineappreciation101.blogspot.com.  Jewelry, quality fashion accessories, holiday books, small and unique hom Donation perfume, receipts will be provided collectables, – all donations are children’s tax deductible per government guidelines. th

garden items, toys and games, new twin size bedding (blankets, sheets, bedspreads, pillow covers, mattre covers), new towels, BART tickets for STAND! For Families Free of Violence  Useable “sunshine gifts” – a token of concern for Seniors – packs of cards, hand creams, etc., clean/used bags, children books, interview and work clothes for Men/Women and professional accessories (shoes, sc handbags, jewelry), gently worn coats, hats, mittens for Wardrobe for Opportunity via VESTIA – Volunteer $10.00 Coupon good towards your purchase ofEmergency $50.00 orServices Team $10.00 Coupon good towards your purchase of $50.00 or in Action more in the McCaulou’s Kids Department Infant Size 20 the McCaulou’s Shoe Department TOMS & Ugg excluded  –Eyeglasses and hearingmore aids forinLion’s Club baby clothes,Coupon baby toys, gently used strollers and car seatsper forcustomer.

Brighter Coupon must be presented at time of purchase. 1 coupon per customer. NotDiapers, valid in conjunction must be presented at time of purchase.

1 coupon Not Beginnings valid in conjunction  School supplies, binders, nursery rhyme puzzles,Valid towels for April swim25, day, heavy push toys such as wa with other promotions. Valid thru April 25, 2014 withbooks, other promotions. thru 2014 board games, sidewalk chalk, sand toys, buckets and shovels, Hot Wheel cars, jump ropes, boys dress up men’s ties for We Care Services for Children (ages 2-5)  Shoes, toiletries for Pledge To Humanity (donated to local Communities)  of Canned and for the Food Bankgood of Contra Costayour and Solano $10.00 Coupon good towards your purchase $50.00 orboxed food$10.00 Coupon towards purchase of $50.00 or  Books, small pieces of furniture, Ewaste recycling Computers, monitors, printers, laptops, TVs, iPods, ste more in the McCaulou’s Women’s Department more in the McCaulou’s Jr’s Department CARH, Inc. (Community assistance for the disabled) Coupon must be presented at time of purchase. 1 coupon per customer. Not valid in conjunction Coupon must be presented at time of purchase. 1 coupon per customer. NotMusical valid in conjunction instruments for Local Schools with other promotions. Valid thru April 25, 2014 with other promotions. Valid thru April 25, 2014  Blankets/Quilts for Contra Costa County Sheriff - Valley Station  Volunteer participation - puppy raising, assistance with special events and donations for Canine Compani Independence

$10

Kids Dept

$10

SHOES

$10

Womens

$10

JR’S

$10

Men’s

ENTER FREE DRAWING

$100.00

$10.00 Coupon good towards your purchase of $50.00 or For additional information, contact Pamela Singh at momshouseinc@ymail.com or go to www.togetherwegive.org for the most current information. more in the McCaulou’s Men’s Department

Coupon must be presented at time of purchase. 1 coupon per customer. Not valid in conjunction Donation with other promotions. Valid thru April 25, 2014

$10

SPENDING for receipts will be provided – all donations are SPREE tax deductible !! per government gui Bring this coupon in to any McCaulou’s Store. No purchase necessary.

One entry per customer. Enter drawing by Sunday, April 20

Lingerie

$10.00 Coupon good towards your purchase of $50.00 or more in the McCaulou’s Lingerie Department

Coupon must be presented at time of purchase. 1 coupon per customer. Not valid in conjunction with other promotions. Valid thru April 25, 2014

Email Address:

______________________________________ Winner will be notified by email on April 22, 2014

Lancome, Estee Lauder, Clinique, Brighton, Pandora, Boy Scouts excluded Lafayette

Danville

Moraga

Countrywood

Clayton Rd.

Plaza Center

Town & Country

Moraga Center

Treat & Bancroft

Vineyard Center

Orinda Village Square

Montclair 6211 Medau Place, Oakland

Sonoma Market Place

Napa Town Center

Auburn 372 Elm Ave

editor@yourmonthlypaper.com

Sustainable Lafayette Tip of the Month

Lafayette Today ~ April 2014 - Page 9

11 Critical Home Inspection Traps to be Aware of Weeks Before Listing Your Home for Sale

This month we’re doing something a little different.

Instead of offering information and advice on specific earth-friendly options, Sustainable Lafayette shares with Lafayette - According to industry ex- sale or, worse, turn prospective buyers you a heart-warming depiction of ten environmental things perts, there are over 33 physical prob- away altogether. In most cases, you can that make our town special, written by new Sustainable lems that will come under scrutiny during make a reasonable pre-inspection yourself Lafayette board member Erika Pringsheim-Moore. a home inspection when your home is if you know what you're looking for, and There are many reasons to Love Lafayette: picturesque for sale. A new report has been prepared knowing what you're looking for can help hills, favorable weather, top-notch schools, and thriving which identifies the 11 most common you prevent little problems from growing downtown. Here are 10 more reasons to appreciate our city of these problems, and what you should into costly and unmanageable ones. know about them before you list your home To help home sellers deal with this issue from an ecological perspective. for sale. before their homes are listed, a free report 1. Climate: Our Mediterranean climate offers perfect Whether you own an old home or a brand entitled "11 Things You Need to Know to growing conditions for drought-tolerant plants such as new one, there are a number of things Pass Your Home Inspection" has been rosemary, lavender, and California poppies – plus fruits that can fall short of requirements during a compiled which explains the issues involved. and vegetables year-round. In my winter garden there are towering fava beans, Swiss chard, kale, broccoli, Meyer home inspection. If not identified and dealt To hear a brief recorded message about lemons, lettuces, and peas. Numerous stores and restaurants with, any of these 11 items could cost you how to order your FREE copy of this report, dearly in terms of repair. That's why it's call toll-free 1-866-265-1682 and enter offer organic, local, and sustainable food. critical that you read this report before 2003. You can call any time, 24 hours a day, 2. Solar Energy: Lafayette has an average of 262 sunny you list your home. If you wait until the 7 days a week. days annually, compared to a national average of 205 -- ideal building inspector flags these issues for Get your free special report NOW to learn for taking advantage of solar power. All of the Lafayette you, you will almost certainly experience how to ensure a home inspection doesn't School District’s public schools have installed solar panels, costly delays in the close of your home cost you the sale of your home. which produce more than 438 thousand watts of electricity This report is courtesy of J. Rockcliff Realtors #01763819. Not intended to solicit buyers or sellers currently under contract. Copyright © 2013 (enough to power almost 30,000 compact fluorescent bulbs).

3. Lafayette Reservoir: Our beautiful Lafayette Reservoir, a 500-acre Spring Plant Sale undisturbed oak woodland located just a half mile from downtown, stores drinking The Gardens at Heather Farm (GHF) hosts its annual Spring Plant Sale on water for EBMUD customers and offers hiking, biking, jogging, fishing, boating, April 26 from 9AM - noon at 600 North San Carlos Drive in Walnut Creek picnicking, a children’s playground, and live concerts. (beyond the baseball fields in Heather Farms Park). Available to you will be a 4. Urban Farming: Lafayette is home to The Urban Farmers, a nonprofit wide variety of plants, including Mediterranean and California native plants, organization which harvests backyard fruit to give to food banks and other and plants for birds and butterflies. GHF members enjoy a 10% discount on community organizations. If you have trees with unused fruit that you would like all plant purchases, and non-members can take advantage of the discount by to donate, visit www.theurbanfarmers.org. becoming members on the day of the sale. All proceeds benefit the ongoing 5. Bike Friendly: Lafayette is bike friendly. Signs throughout the city provide maintenance of The Gardens at Heather Farms and its educational programs cyclists with directions and distance to local destinations like the Lafayette Library for children. Plant lists are available online at www.gardenshf.org. and Learning Center. The signs also designate preferred routes throughout Lafayette, For additional information, call (925) 947-1678. so that cyclists can avoid high traffic areas on Mt. Diablo Blvd. The road improvements being made downtown include additional bike racks and high-visibility crosswalks. Day of Discovery Stop by Lafayette Nursery School’s 38th Annual Science Day of 6. Community Garden: Lafayette’s Community Garden and Outdoor Learning rd am pm Center, located across the street from the Lafayette Reservoir, offers a beautiful Discovery on Saturday, May 3 from 10 - 1 . Make a volcano explode, setting for members to grow organic food, hold educational classes and events, and send a rocket into space, or explore the gooey texture of flubber. If that’s not enough, become an archeologist for the day and dig for dinosaur bones provide a wealth of resources for local gardeners.

7. Lafayette Library: The Library is one of the greenest buildings in or create giant bubbles.

This hands-on science fair features exhibits and experiments designed Lamorinda, with many LEED features: water-efficient landscaping, occupancyfor children preschool age through third grade. It’s a great experience for sensors for lighting controls, large windows and skylights for natural light, and close proximity to public transportation. The Library also hosts many workshops the whole family!

The cost is $4 per child. Proceeds are donated through donorschoose. and lectures on environmental topics.

8. Parks & Trails: Lafayette has over 40 miles of dedicated trails and more org to math and science programs at local schools in need.

Lafayette Nursery School is located at 979 First Street in Lafayette. For than 90 acres of public parklands ranging from wilderness and nature areas, to more information, call 925-284-2448 or visit www.lafayettenurseryschool.org. sports fields, playgrounds and the downtown plaza. Hike three miles of trails in the Lafayette Community Park and about six miles of City trails, which connect to other hiking areas such as the Lafayette Reservoir, Lafayette Ridge, and Briones Regional Park.

9. Food Scrap Recycling Program: The majority of Lafayette’s restaurants If you find him and your name is drawn! and all of its schools participate in the Food Scrap Recycling Program, in partnership with Central Contra Costa Solid Waste Authority and Allied Waste.

He is very small, so you will have to look hard if you want to find him.

Collected food scraps are turned into clean, renewable energy in bio-digesters located at EBMUD's water treatment facility in Oakland.

10. Green Businesses: Lafayette’s Chamber of Commerce is actively He has become lost in this paper. contributing to a sustainable community by helping local businesses adopt Send a letter telling us where you found him, along with your name and address to: green practices, like recycling. Over 40 local businesses have been recognized as “Lafayette Green.” In 2013, the Chamber set a county record by recycling Lost Dog! Lafayette Today, 3000F Danville Blvd #117, Alamo, CA 94507 89% of the waste from the Lafayette Art & Wine Festival.

Maria Reardon is our winner!

This is a slightly abridged version of Erika’s article. For the full version, Luther was hiding on page 17 last month. please visit sustainablelafayette.org and scroll down to the link.

Lost Dog!

$50 REWARD

Lafayette Luther is Missing

Page 10 - April 2014 ~ Lafayette Today

Classic Local Theatres

The Writing Studio Lamorinda Weekly 3.875 x 4 Final.pdf 1 5/14/2013 11:19:15 PM

By Linda Summers Pirkle

www.yourmonthlypaper.com

The Writing Studio

One of my favorite landmarks in the area is the iconic Orinda Theatre marquee. Driving either direction on Highway 24, I always A Summer Camp for Young Writers take a moment to admire the impressive beacon, and most likely tens

of thousands of other motorists do the same. The “movie palace” was

built in 1941. Alexander Aimwell Cantin(1876-1964), who designed Join THE WRITING STUDIO this summer as our young writers step

into a world of CREATIVE STORYTELLING and ESSAY‐BASED theatres since the 1920’s, was the architect. The art deco movie house EXPOSITORY WRITING PROJECTS. was modeled after the Temple of the Moon in the 1939 World’s Fair

Students will learn proper sentence structure, organizational skills, at Treasure Island. The builder was Donald Rheem, of the Rheem the elements of a ve‐paragraph essay, creative use of descriptive Water Heater Company, who also built the Rheem Theatre located words, correct grammar, usage, and so much more.

in Moraga, just four miles from the Orinda Theatre.

CAMP YOUNG WRITERS will be open to elementary and middle The Rheem Theatre (1958) was built as a Performing Arts Center, with seating for 1,000 school students from June 23‐July 11, 1 pm‐4 pm. Weekly people. Johnny Cash, June Carter, and Comedienne Phyllis Diller are a few of the entertaintheme‐based projects consist of classroom instruction and one‐on‐one sessions. Camp fee is $400 per child. For further ers who performed at the center. In 1961, feature films were shown at the venue. The ticket information, contact lafayettewritingstudio@comcast.net kiosk in the front of the theatre is a nostalgic nod to the past. or call 925‐385‐0211. Learn about Long time employee Vince Townsend; who has worked at the Orinda, Rheem, and our year‐long program at www.lafayettewritingstudio.com.

Park(Lafayette) theatres for the past 27 years; says, “People seem to enjoy going to these THE WRITING STUDIO theatres because the venue is beautiful and historic. Generally, the theatres have a relaxed Where Words Come to Life neighborhood feel to them. We are so lucky to have three gems still standing in this area.”

3455 Golden Gate Way, Suite A, Lafayette (925) 385‐0211 Recently, I attended a ribbon cutting for the Classic Film Hall of Fame at the Rheem Theatre. Memorabilia showcased in the theatre’s lobby and hallways include signed articles from Jimmy Stewart, Mary Pickford, Boris Karloff, Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Cinema Classics and many othSullivan’s Travels er stars of the

By Peggy Horn Golden Age. This month’s Cinema Classic is a film from 1941 Take time to entitled, Sullivan’s Travels, starring Joel McCrea visit the interand Veronica Lake, and written and directed by active display Preston Sturges. The film is dedicated at the outset of the “Walk as follows, “To the memory of those who made us of Fame,” fealaugh: the motley mountebanks, the clowns, the turing touch buffoons, in all times and in all nations, whose screens for the efforts have lightened our burden a little, this picture is affectionately stars inducted into the Hall of dedicated.” My thanks go to my friend, Michelle, for recommending this Fame. Cloris Leachman, Mickey Rooney, and Margaret O’Brien are three movie to me.

Joel McCrea plays the title role of John L. Sullivan, a famous Hollywood of the stars who recently attended their “induction” into the Hall of Fame at the Rheem Theater, supporting the efforts of the California Independent director who is determined to make an important film dealing with issues of societal injustices. To accomplish this goal he has selected a fictional Film Festival and the conversion to digital projection.

Don’t miss the two framed photos of glamorous patrons at the 1958 novel upon which to base his movie entitled, Oh, Brother, Where Art Thou? opening night of the Rheem Theatre. The photos are located on the main by Sinclair Beckstein (a made-up name that alludes to authors Upton Sinclair and John Steinbeck). To this end, Sullivan makes several attempts floor next to the display from the film Silver Linings Playbook. *The Orinda Theatre features a free movie night every second Thursday to leave Hollywood, donning clothes a hobo would wear and taking to the at 7PM. The theatre is located at 1 Orinda Theatre Square, Orinda. Their road to experience for himself a life with no means and no advantages. In discovering life on the sordid side, opportunities to laugh are rare and they phone number is 925-254-9065. *The New Rheem Theatre is located at 350 Park Street, Moraga. Their are treasured. Through his hobo adventures Sullivan begins to understand phone number is 925-388-0752. The website for the two theatres is www. the power of laughter and its importance in the lives of the ordinary people he meets, especially the downtrodden. lamorindatheatres.com.

Veronica Lake portrays a character called simply “The Girl,” who *The Park Theatre in Lafayette, which has been closed for eight years, is the topic for a grassroots effort to reopen and refurbish the historical accompanies Sullivan on his adventures. Apparently no name was deemed venue. Their email is savenecessary, even though she becomes a central figure in the film. Although thepark@.gmail.com. this movie was under appreciated when it was first released, it has become Linda Summers Pirkle, more highly regarded since then for its faithful representation of the period has been arranging and in which it took place – a time when many people in this country were leading tours for the Town homeless, hungry, and completely without resources. In 1990 Sullivan’s of Danville for several years.

Travels was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry based Inspired by the many wonon its culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant attributes. derful places to visit in the The film is available for rental or purchase online.

Bay Area, she organizes day Musical Notes trips, either for groups or for The Coen Brothers’ famous film, O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000) friends and family. What a was apparently named for the fictional book in Sullivan’s Travels, so this great place to live, so much month’s musical notes recommendation, thanks to my son, Mike, is the to see, so much to do.” To O Brother, Where Art Thou? Grammy Award winning soundtrack. Its share your “Quick Trips” bluegrass/blues/gospel music fits right in with the mood of “Sullivan’s ideas email Coverthemap@ Travels!” gmail.com.

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Photo by Derek Zemrak

editor@yourmonthlypaper.com

Lafayette Today ~ April 2014 - Page 11

Walking the Reservoir

By Jim Scala

Yokohama, Japan. On a recent cruise we stopped in Yokohama where my friend Mark and his lovely Japanese companion, Akiko, came aboard for lunch. Mark grew up in the Lafayette area and, after a UC Berkeley education, moved to Tokyo. As we spoke about home, a gleam came into his eye when he mentioned that as a boy he walked the reservoir with his parents and continued as a teenager. He told of sailing a small boat, capsizing, and learning to right it again. On his visit home this summer, we plan to walk the reservoir.

Can walking the reservoir add years to your life?At the February meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), several important findings were released that relate to the effect walking the Lafayette Reservoir has on your health. Since the AAAS is arguably the world’s most prestigious scientific organization, the reports are important.

One group reported on the adverse effects of simply feeling alone. After studying 20,000 people, the scientists found that loneliness increased sleep problems, led to high blood pressure, affected immune-system quality, and increased depression, which often caused a sedentary lifestyle. Hence, loneliness carried a premature death risk 14% above average. That’s worse than being obese.

Our reservoir can work wonders for lonely people. I often ask a person walking alone, “Do you mind if I walk with you?” With all that natural beauty, there’s plenty to talk about and you can finish with, “What say we meet here tomorrow and walk again?”

Can it add life to your years? At the same AAAS meeting, a research group who had followed people for several years starting at age 65 reported that walking about an hour daily slowed the general aging process and, surprisingly, reduced the risk of Alzheimer’s by 50%. Consequently simply walking about one circuit of the paved trail regularly produces those benefits.

That’s a no-brainer. Is it time to start a regular Meetup group for people over 65? Are there any volunteers?

What about the children? Moms start walking with their three week old infants in a front-pack and segue to a stroller as they grow. As advanced toddlers, the moms guide them as they walk. This progression continues into their teens when experts say our influence continually declines. However, no matter where life takes those children, their early formative years instill critical attitudes about health and people that stay with them. An excellent plan is to walk the paved path and stop at the children’s play area. It has plenty of activities designed for them to learn while having fun.

Toddlers meet other children in the sandbox and learn how to get along and share with kids. They learn about music and tunes while playing the built-in xylophone, and the tic-tac-toe board teaches pattern recognition. Going down the chutes and climbing the ladders develops depth perception. After watching the older kids do something, they try it, and by doing these new activities they learn to control fear and build self-confidence. Next time you’re at the children’s area, observe how kids learn while they’re having fun.

Is the Rim Trail an all-or-none hike? There are several places to get on and off the Rim Trail. A good way is to start walking above the fish-cleaning station.

After about a mile, the first turnoff comes out near the far end of the paved path. It’s an easy segment with excellent views and is great for learning to walk a more challenging path. Along the paved walkway there are several access turnoffs to the Rim Trail that allow you to do the other segments and build up to the complete circuit slowly. Can you spot the observatory in the Upper Happy Valley Road area?

Is being wired a good thing? Rez walkers and joggers usually smile and say, “Hello.” Not so with wired walkers. Some are attached to iPods and listen to music or books, while others speak loudly on the phone, giving others one side of a conversation. Texters who do their thing in silence are generally younger walkers, and their ranks are increasing. Somehow, they text but stay on course. In contrast, unwired folks still hear the owls hoot, turkeys gobble, and ducks quack, and they even converse with other walkers.

A grammar lesson. I saw a T-shirt on our unusually warm March 15th. First line: The past present and future walked into a bar. Second line: It was tense!

Let me hear from you, jscala2@comcast.net.

Tech continued from page 2

the title of her presentation. She will tell us about her incredible career path and her work to encourage young women to enter STEM careers.

In addition, attendees will hear from Tech Trek and Scholarship winners.

AAUW OML will also honor and present the four branch scholarship winners chosen from local high schools and St Mary’s College. These young women demonstrate a passion for community service and academic achievement. This year, AAUW OML is able to offer one $5,000 scholarship to an outstanding high school student and another $5,000 scholarship to a St. Mary’s student. In addition, two $800 scholarships are available for high school students.

Plan on attending this special program to honor and meet these extraordinary women! The event will take place Sunday, April 27 at 3PM at the Serbian Cultural Center, located at 1700 School Street in Moraga.

For more information, contact communication-publicity@aauwoml.org.

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Page 12 - April 2014 ~ Lafayette Today

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In the Cloud

1211138-TSO-ALToday-5x6.25.indd 1

11/16/12 9:28 AM

By Evan Corstorphine, Portable CIO

Modern culture produces concepts and technologies, then it figures out ways to convey these ideas to you and me, the consumers. The smart company with an elaborate concept will work as hard as it can to simplify its message so that the average adult can understand it, buy it, and hopefully tell others about it. Never was this so true as it is today, with the explosion of technologies and inventions surrounding the internet. Our lives have changed in countless ways because of the internet, and so has our vocabulary.

I do not know exactly who first coined the term ‘cloud’ with reference to the internet, but I can tell you where I think it came from. I believe it unintentionally came from Microsoft. About ten to fifteen years ago, we technologists were creating PowerPoint and Visio diagrams to convey network and data architecture plans for customers and management. You may remember having to sit through someone’s dreaded PowerPoint deck in a dimly lit boardroom. It’s in those meetings, watching slide after slide, that the “cloud” concept was born.

When we made a diagram that included some reference to the internet and showed data moving from one place to another, into the slide we would insert this puffy “cloud” image that had the word “INTERNET” stamped in the middle. This puffy cloud image would represent the big amorphous blob we call the internet. On the PowerPoint diagram it looked like a cloud, and somewhere along the way, someone decided to verbalize that concept in their description of “where we’re going to put all this data,” and the description stuck. Where will the data go? In the cloud, of course! It’s a great catch-all phrase to convey this concept of a vast and ever-changing place where data traverses and is stored for everyone to enjoy.

When we say, “It’s in the cloud,” all we’re really saying is that we’re not storing it here, locally. That’s all. That’s because “the cloud” is anywhere

No Inventory in Lafayette!

By Art Lehman, Village Associates Realtors

Here we are in April and still waiting in Lafayette for some real inventory of homes on the market. Forty-five available homes for sale is not exactly an abundance. Many of the homes for sale have been getting multiple offers.

If you are a potential seller, don’t wait for the market to go up. It has! When you look at the prices that many of these homes are selling for, you start remembering the good old days when home prices were at their peak.

If I was inclined to sell I would do it now! Why wait? Prices could go up some more but then you’ll pay the increased market value on your next home purchase, or sellers could mobilize and create more inventory – maybe too much – which might cause the high price of a home to be more than a buyer is willing to stomach. If I had the choice I’d rather sell when buyers are hungry and not when they have too many choices.

So we’ll make this month short and sweet, get on the phone and call a lender so you can see what you can buy. Call a realtor (I love calls too!), and find out what your home is worth so we’ll have more inventory in Lafayette! Next, get started looking for your next purchase.

Of course if none of this was a very compelling argument just sit back, watch you money on paper grow, and continue to enjoy our vibrant city!

For those residents who are considering selling their home or would simply like more in-depth information, I can provide a customized home value report and a strategy for how to make a home worth more. The detailed information I provide helps homeowners better understand the value of the investment they have made in their home by detailing key factors such as a home’s value based on current market conditions and amenities, recent home sales in Lafayette and listing prices of other homes that home buyers may be considering in the neighborhood. You can call me at 925-200-2591 Advertorial or email me at art@artlehman.com.

you aren’t. Conceptually it’s meant to convey that your data or the service you’re using is being provided by someone else. When we say, “It’s in the cloud,” it usually connotes a vendor relationship of some sort, because it’s someone else offering to do something for you.

Can a “cloud” be in your own business or home? No, a network in your home is just a local area network, or LAN. Remember, to be “cloud-based” the number one rule is that it’s not here, it’s “out there.”

The whole cloud concept began to gain traction when internet connections began to improve. Think of it like a huge shopping mall that someone built out in the middle of the desert. The mall has every type of store you can imagine, and right next to the store is a huge storage facility where you can also pull in your moving truck and unload all the stuff you’ve been storing in your garage. The problem was that there was only one road into the mall, and it was only two-lanes wide, so hardly anyone used the mall. But, when more and wider roads began being built, and when you could get to the mall from any direction on nice, fast, smoothly paved highways, the mall went crazy and everyone visits now. The internet is the same way.

Ten years ago in 2004, we had lousy DSL service, and we were lucky if we could download a large file from a vendor online. Many companies didn’t have fully built websites. There were no internet-based backup services like Crashplan, and Netflix only rented DVD’s, because there was no streaming yet. There was no Pandora, and there was no Spotify or iTunes. But as our connections to the internet got bigger and faster (Comcast Xfinity, AT&T Uverse), overnight the concept of storing all of your data on the internet, or bringing someone else’s data to you (Netflix), became completely viable ideas. And so we did. Welcome to the cloud.

Because of the increasing reach of internet applications, we are having to rethink whether we need computers at all. Maybe, instead of replacing our laptop or desktop, we can get away with just having our smartphone and a tablet. I realize it’s not that simple yet, but it will be. Portable CIO is your local technology leader, and can help you with a wide array of services and advice. Give us a call at 925-552-7953, or email us, info@theportablecio.

Advertorial com to discuss your situation. We’re here to help!

editor@yourmonthlypaper.com

Pet Allergies

Lafayette Today ~ April 2014 - Page 13

By Dr. Bettina Herter, Alternatives for Animals

Spring is here with all its beauty.

While this may be the most favorite season for many people, it is also the most dreaded by some pet parents. The reason for this is allergies.

All of a sudden we see our furry friend licking and chewing to try and get rid of the agonizing itch, creating sores, and generating very painful hotspots.

What can be done you ask? In the west, the usual way to treat these symptoms is with antibiotics, steroids, antihistamines, or newer non-steroidal drugs like Atopica.

Have you and your dog become dependent on these? While we all love these conventional medicines for their quick and effective relief of symptoms, we have to be aware of the long term side effects to your pet’s health. Sometimes these side effects outweigh the condition being treated.

Here’s how: Antibiotics kill the bad bacteria in your pet’s gastrointestinal system. Great you think, but unfortunately they kill the good bacteria as well. This may lead to diarrhea, vomiting, and inappetence. Frequent use of antibiotics can also create resistant bacteria.

Antihistamines like Benadryl are very limited in their effectiveness and leave you with a drowsy pet. Steroids pose a litany of side effects ranging from the seemingly just bothersome increased panting, drinking, and urination to the potentially lethal immune system suppression, gastrointestinal ulceration, muscle wasting, and metabolic diseases like diabetes, Cushings, and liver disease.

The good news is that Alternative Veterinary Medicine offers a wide array of modalities to balance your pet’s body to achieve optimal health and be supported by a strong immune system.

Let’s explore some of the main concepts.

One of the most beneficial tools is food therapy.

As Hippocrates stated 2000 years ago, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.”

Now in the twenty-first century we are relearning that the healthiest foods are minimally processed organic whole foods.

With more awareness of GMO’s, we have adapted our lifestyle and conscious living towards organic foods, not just for ourselves but also for our pets.

As Holistic Veterinarians we have the skills and knowledge to guide you through the vast selections of food; be it kibble, canned, freeze dried, dehydrated, or raw; to find the most compatible food source to meet the nutritional needs of your pet.

Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) has taught us to look at the body as a whole rather than just looking at the symptoms. Allergies are a symptom of an underlying disharmony within the body. Using our knowledge of acupuncture, Chinese herbs, food therapy and Tui-Na, we can re-regulate the body systems, balance Yin and Yang, move Qi smoothly through the body, and work on pathways to create equilibrium and harmony once more.

By inserting very fine acupuncture needles along the energetic pathways of the body, we can reduce inflammation and itchiness. You will be pleasantly surprised at how well your pet will tolerate these needles, falling into a deep and restful sleep.

Chinese herbal therapy is tailored to the individual animal and is used to relieve the symptoms of itching by cooling and calming the agitated pet. While pharmaceutical drugs can be taxing to the animal’s kidney and liver, Chinese herbs may actually strengthen these organs as part of the therapeutic process.

Whole food nutritional supplements are a key player when it comes to

allergies. Despite feeding the best foods available, there still may be nutritional deficits. It is the job of the supplements to provide additional support where it is lacking for healthy coats, skin, and organ systems of the body. The supplements assist with detoxifying the body from a multitude of environmental loads or aiding in the healing of underlying bacteria or fungal infections.

Surprisingly Chiropractic care is important in the treatment of skin conditions. Your pet may not show signs of physical pain. Instead they will chew incessantly over the area of pain, for example a painful joint. It is then the job of the skilled chiropractor to assess and localize the problem area, and adjust it in a gentle safe and pain-free way. The effect is immediate and the pet’s response is one of instant relief.

Furthermore, we make use of topical soaks and sprays made right from your kitchen pantry. We use natural, chemical free flea and tick prevention as well as homeopathic and bach flower remedies. Essential oils and bioresonance therapy are used to aid in calming inflamed skin.

Alternative Medicine is a more complex path to wellness, but the reward is effective, deep healing.

Alternatives for Animals is a holistic veterinary clinic located at 919 Moraga Road, Lafayette. Please call (925) 283-6160 for more information or to schedule an appointment.

Advertorial

Page 14 - April 2014 ~ Lafayette Today

Tree of the Season

Japanese Maples

By Blaine Brende & Joe Lamb

www.yourmonthlypaper.com

Japanese maples have an elegance and sculptural quality that resembles dance. Careful study of their form, in any season, can call the viewer back to the natural world. In winter, the falling leaves raise the curtain on the form of the trunks and put the dance on center stage. Winter rain intensifies the show by adding a sensuality to the movement of stem and bough, one that beckons to even the unpracticed eye. In spring, certain varieties of Japanese maples send out new leaves so bright a green they appear lit from within. In summer, upright cultivars that are well pruned have spaces between the branches, giving the canopy the appearance of being composed of many floating islands. And in fall, Japanese maples mark the change of season by turning colors ranging from yellow to scarlet, depending on the variety of maple; there are many varieties.

Luckily, Japanese maples are relatively easy to grow and relatively tough. In their long evolutionary dance–fossilized maple leaves date back over 60 million years–Japanese maples have developed the genetic information necessary to protect them against most common garden afflictions. They are, however, subject to verticillium wilt, a soil-borne fungal disease that can cause dieback, and sometimes death. There is no known cure for verticillium, but you can decrease the likelihood of your new maple getting the disease if you 1) don’t plant it in ground known to have verticillium, 2) make sure the soil around the tree is well drained so that the roots don’t remain soggy throughout the winter, and 3) protect the tree against environmental stresses by giving it summer water and keeping it well mulched. Maples can grow and remain healthy in gardens with a history of verticillium. If they are not stressed by soils too damp, too dry, or too compacted, some individual maples can thrive even though a near neighbor may die. It depends on the genetics of the individual. If your mature maple shows significant dieback, it may be fighting a case of verticillium. It is not necessarily a death sentence. Some trees succeed in fighting off the disease. You can help them recover by pruning out the deadwood and improving the soil environment by mulching and aerating.

Though some varieties can withstand full sun, Japanese maples do best in part shade. They do not thrive when exposed to the drying effect of constant wind. If you live on an exposed hillside, it is best to plant them in the lee of a larger tree. Dieback in Japanese maple crowns often is the result of too much sun, too much wind, or the even more deadly combination of the two. Maples need water. Keeping them moist throughout the summer and fall, and into the early winter in dry years, will make them happier and more disease resistant.

Pruning, besides benefiting the mental health of the pruner, can enhance the grace of the plant. If your pruner is an artist, removing deadwood and teasing apart the plant’s natural layering opens little windows that reveal and accentuate the tree’s natural form. A well-pruned tree looks as if it hasn’t been pruned.

Paradoxically, it looks more natural after pruning than before. Though it is sometimes necessary to lower the crown of a maple, as when it is beginning to block a treasured view, lowering should be done only when necessary, and the lowering should not be so drastic as to involve topping cuts (see the article on topping). Lowering a maple to gain a view is not something that you can do just once. Pruning down the crown stimulates new growth, and maintaining the view or the size reduction, will require yearly pruning. No matter how good the artist, you can’t make a topped maple look as good as a natural tree. Much pruning, and therefore expense, can be avoided by planting the right variety in the right place. When planting a new tree, plant a cultivar that won’t exceed the desired height when it matures. This is almost always preferable to containing a variety that will grow beyond the desired size.

It is our hope at Brende & Lamb that the pleasure our clients derive from their well-pruned trees exceeds the considerable pleasure we get from revealing the beauty inherent in their trees.

If your trees need a little TLC, please call 510-486-TREE (8733) or email us at bl@brendelamb.com for a free estimate. Additionally, go to our website Advertorial www.brendelamb.com to see before and after pictures, client testimonials, and work in your neighborhood.

Earth continued from front page

As always, events begin with the beloved Self-Propelled Parade, kicking off the festival from Stanley Middle School at 11AM. Bring your decorated bike, scooter, skateboard, or just your feet, and join the parade participants as they make their way to the festival. For spiffing up your wheels, Sharp Bicycle Shop will be at Stanley adjusting seats and helmets, starting at 10:30AM. The Lafayette Community Garden and Outdoor Learning Center will be offering plant starters for sale, and Master Gardeners will have a booth with ideas and advice. Golden Gate Way, behind the Library, will be lined with organizations and non-profits sharing tips and tools for greening your lifestyle and reducing your energy bills. The Central Contra Costa Solid Waste Authority will be sharing their latest tips for reducing waste and helping the city achieve a 75% diversion rate. There will be also live music throughout the day, featuring local musical groups and musicians like the Contra Costa Children’s Chorus.

Kids will have plenty to do. They can participate in interactive activities from the Lawrence Hall of Science and Lindsay Wildlife Museum. Returning this year is the bounce house, where children can jump and bounce to their hearts’ content.

Want to know who is playing a starring role in our city’s march toward sustainability? Stop by the patio at noon, when the City of Lafayette Green Award winners for 2013 will be announced. Find out the organizations and individuals who are making impressive efforts to help Lafayette become one of the most sustainable cities in the Bay Area.

An exciting new event has been added this year: sending your really worn-out clothes back into a useful life. Two innovative companies, I:CO and H&M, will sponsor a clothing-recycling collection site at the festival.

Bring your stained, torn, or old clothing that is not suitable for donation or re-use, and it will be recycled into new fabric or household items. Drop off your used clothes, and receive 15% off your next H&M purchase and a chance to win a $10,000 scholarship.

This is a don’t-miss event. Come join us and help celebrate Earth Day! More details about the event are available at www.sustainablelafayette.org.

Natives continued from front page

an East Bay version, focusing on the use of locally appropriate native plants to create water-conserving, pesticide-free, wildlife-welcoming gardens.

Kramer characterizes the start-up process the first year as “horrific,” but her diligence was rewarded by an overwhelming response. Aiming to get 1,500 attendees, Kramer was delighted when 5,000 people registered for the inaugural tour. What can you save by adhering to principles exemplified in tour gardens? A

Euphorbia Gardens

nine-year study of two adjacent Santa Monica bungalows found the native plant garden used 83% less water, generated 56% less green waste and required 68% less maintenance than the traditional lawn with a modest border of exotic plants.

Most yards don’t require the massive movement of materials needed to revamp Kramer’s 40’ x 50’ backyard. In 2009, she and her husband Michael May followed advice from two designers who regularly donate time to the tour: Michael Thilgen and Kelly Marshall. Forty thousand pounds of concrete went out. A water feature and graceful retaining walls went in. “The first year our garden

See Natives continued on page 16

Lafayette Today ~ April 2014 - Page 15

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Life in the Lafayette Garden

By John Montgomery, ASLA, Landscape Architect Celebrate Spring!

Boy! This year has been a little tricky when figuring out if we were getting a winter or NOT. No doubt now; spring is here! If you look closely in the garden at the trees, shrubs and perennials, you’ll see the glory of spring quietly emerging. The beginning of spring is one of my favorite times in the garden. I love to observe the new and fresh leaves bud from dead and deciduous branches and bright new lime green leaves standing out against older darker green ones. I like to watch how quickly daffodils, jonquils, and paper whites (Narcissus) push their fresh long leaves through the decaying leaves and mulch to bloom bright and cheery colors. The days are warming. The sun is shinning and like clockwork life in the garden labors to show us the glory of spring.

Here are some of the plants that you might have noticed that are the first to declare the beginning of spring. Cercis occidentalis (tree-Western Redbud) blooms lavender flowers on smooth gray branches before leaves form, Daphne odora (shrub-Winter Daphne) with its intoxicating fragrance fills Offer expires 04/30/14 the air, Hardenbergia violacea ‘Happy Wanderer’ (vineLilac Vine) weaves a lively trail of lilac flowers, Iberis sempervirens ‘Snowflake’ (perennial-Candytuft) trails profuse white flowers over the ground, and one of my favorites, Veronica umbrosa ‘Georgia Blue’ (ground cover-Speedwell), blooms profuse cobalt blue flowers as winter fades out. Other great noteworthy spring blooming trees are Pyrus calleryana ‘Redspire’ (ornamental pear), Magnolia stel-

lata (Star Magnolia), and Prunus serrulata ‘Shirotae’ (Flowering cherry).

After a long winter’s nap, we long to connect with nature to rejuvenate, relax, recreate, and renew ourselves. A garden is one of those places that has the gift to touch all of our human senses: sight, smell, touch, sound, and taste. Wandering through a beautifully designed Lafayette garden allows the senses to be stimulated by wonderful visuals, fragrances, textures, sounds, and tastes that nature can offer.

Let your spirits be lifted twice this spring, first by strolling through inspiring gardens and second by knowing that you are helping to raise much-needed money for charity. Come join our spring tradition!

I am thrilled to announce our 4th annual Garden Tour Fundraiser: “Life in the Alamo-Danville Garden,” a tour of five distinct gardens designed by me in Alamo and Danville. I personally invite you to come celebrate spring with us. Stroll the budding gardens, nibble goodies, learn about the importance of bees, attend a veggie garden demo, listen to music as you meander, chat with me, and enjoy other surprises we have planned while supporting some of my favorite beneficiaries: The Quincy Lee Foundation, The Bounty Garden, Lazarex Cancer Foundation, Contra Costa Guild Dogs for the Blind, Urban Farmers, and Alamo Rotary. Mark your calendar for Saturday, May 3 from 11AM -4PM. For more info and tickets, go to our website garden tour page at www.jm-la.com/garden_tour.php. It will

Offer expires 04/30/14

Offer expires 04/30/14

be a pleasure to celebrate the glory of spring with you!

A hot tip from your local Landscape Architect: Come have some fun with us in the gardens, help raise needed dollars for our beneficiaries, and CELEBRATE SPRING! Gardening Quote of the month: Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow. ~Melody Beattie If you would like me to write on any particular subject, email your ideas to jmontgomery@jm-la.com or for design ideas, visit www.jm-la.com. Advertorial

Page 16 - April 2014 ~ Lafayette Today

Gardening with Kate

By Kate Guillaume

If you missed the ‘Great Tomato Plant Sale’ with all of those great Heirlooms, it is not too late to get them as Master Gardeners added a West County Sale on April 12th. Visit www.ccmg.ucanr.edu/EdibleGardening/ GreatTomatoPlantSale for information on the sale, how to care for and grow these great tomatoes, and how to deal with the drought and tomatoes.

We finally got a few more sprinkles of rain with promises for more. Although the weather person always seems to over-promise and nature under-performs, we can be thankful for every drop of rain. My sweet cherries have just burst into bloom, and the blossom load looks promising. I have dwarf ‘Black Tartans,’ which are much like the commercial Bing that get harvested in the Lodi/Stockton area. I am sure this year the drought will have an impact on many of the fruit varieties we have come to love because they are all grown within 90 miles of our Farmer’s Markets, and the Valley is suffering more than we are.

Due to disease and drought, limes are getting rarer, and their costs have tripled in the last few months, so I am thankful for the few I have forming on my two varieties. This year I will pick every lime and freeze the juice in ice cube trays, then double bag the frozen cubes for later use. This citrus disease is called Huanglongbing, or citrus greening disease. It has devastated citrus production from Florida and Mexico. The carrier is a small flying insect, the Asian citrus psyllid, and it has recently been found all over Southern California. The bacteria it disburses, has no current cure, damaging first the fruit then killing the tree in a short period of time. You may see California Agriculture Vector Control setting traps for this pest as well as those we are familiar with, such as the Japanese beetle. Always cooperate with these workers who request placement of traps as it helps them determine how likely local produce is to become infested. Vector Control normally hangs a trap in a tree and retrieves it later to check for insects that have major impact on food production.

Ask Dr. Happy By Bob Nozik, MD

Dear Dr. Happy,

My name is Suzie, and I’m 22 and single. Last year, after too much drinking, I got pregnant from an illadvised one-night-stand. I do want to start a family one day, but I don’t want to do so without a husband, not this way. After much internal debate, I had an abortion.

I told no one about it except for my best friend, Betty.

Despite knowing that I’m a very private person, she went out and told everyone we both know! She apologized but acted like what she had done was no big deal. I am furious and ready to end our long friendship.

Dr. Happy, I hate to lose my best friend, but I feel what she did was a serious betrayal. ~ Am I right?

Dear ‘Am I,’

What Betty did was a clear violation of friendship and trust. As your best friend, she had to know telling everyone about your abortion was not something you would want. Despite this violation, this is your best friend, and as such, it is worth trying to save the relationship. Get together with her, perhaps over dinner, and tell her how important it is for you to be able to trust her. Yes, I know, how could your best friend not know what a major betrayal she committed? Still, give her a chance to explain her action. Even more importantly, she needs to let you know she won’t betray you like that again.

So, yes, I believe you should give her another chance.

Happiness Tip

Trust is a very important aspect of happiness, especially with those to whom we are closest. We need to be able to discuss our problems, concerns, hopes, and fears without worrying that a confidant might betray us. When that trust is broken, our self-esteem takes a big hit. We feel abandoned and alone, and the world becomes a lonelier, more frightening place. Each of us needs to remember this and try and be the best friend we can to our close friends and loved ones.

Send questions/comments for Dr. Happy to Pollyannan@aol.com.

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www.yourmonthlypaper.com Not only is the drought in and of itself going to impact our food sources, but for trees bearing fruits and nuts the drought stresses the trees and makes them more susceptible to diseases that a healthy tree could battle with its own immune system. If you want more info on keeping your garden stress free, go to the Master Gardener’s of Contra Costa county site and also make use of East Bay Municipal Utility Districts’ site. Both websites provide wonderful information.

Soon to start are the Master Gardeners’ free lectures which will be held every Wednesday at “Our Garden,” a joint effort of Master Gardeners and the Contra Costa Times. The garden is located at the intersection of Wiget and Shadelands in Walnut Creek. You can also bring insect or fungus damaged items (be sure to place them in plastic bags to prevent spreading disease), and the Master Gardeners will help you identify the culprit and give you information on the best treatment practices. They do this with a smile on their face, and the expertise they share is free - what a wonderful gift to the community.

If you are thinking of having a vegetable garden this summer, plan carefully.

I grow only those items that I cannot get easily and that are of equal quality to vegetables available from Farmer’s Markets. I don’t waste water and effort to grow corn when we can get Brentwood sweet picked the day before. I stopped growing zucchini when I thought about the effort and the amount of water used compared to the low cost of commercially grown varieties. In my garden my primary crops are fruits, tomatoes, and blueberries. A store peach does not even taste like a peach, and no tomato tastes like ones you have let ripen on the vine.

So save your water and energy for the things that will bring you the best rewards.

If your beds have been cleaned up, it is time to lay down a barrier of mulch to hold water in the soil and prevent moisture loss through evaporation. If it is a sheer mulch barrier, like bark, it should be 4” thick (remember to leave a space around the base of the plant that is mulch free...also leave a few areas bare so that native ground bees can nest). You can also place cardboard or several layers of newspaper over the bare areas of ground, wet them down, and cover them with enough bark or leaves to hide the paper barrier. Both systems will save you a lot of water (so you have some for tomatoes) and will eventually decompose to make a healthy soil.

Natives continued from page 14 was transformed we spent more time outside than we had in the previous twenty years we had been here,” Kathy reports.

For Al Kyte the impetus to replace grass, ivy and juniper at his Moraga home with native plants came from attending a University of California Extension class: “Attracting Birds to your Yard.” He writes: “There my eyes were first opened to the possibility of surrounding myself with the type of plants and habitat I loved to experience when fly fishing, back-packing or birding – California Native Plants.

Instead of stepping out of our house into a garden, I could step out into the feel of a chaparral, woodland, or dry streambed. I have been influenced by people, books, and visits to Botanic gardens – but mostly by nature itself. I look for niches of beauty in nature to photograph and mimic.”

Kyte has learned to plan for the natural succession of individual specimens, experiment with placement of favorites and look at his creation from every possible angle. A walk through his garden is a journey across miles of California wilderness managed in a few memorable moments.

Nancy Wenninger, Mt. Diablo Audubon Society Conservation Chair, counts more than ninety species of birds among the creatures taking advantage of her Walnut Creek garden. “I got into gardening through birding and making the connection between the habitat where I found the birds and the plants that grew there,” Nancy explains. Maintaining a healthy ecosystem simplifies her gardening tasks. “It is amazing how problems disappear. I haven’t used pesticides in 20 years. Soldier beetles, for example, control the aphids.” Ninety-five percent of garden insects are beneficial. Birds are excellent at eradicating the 5% that aren’t.

Stephen Barbata and Joyce Kirstein welcome wildlife by combining droughttolerant Mediterranean plants with California natives. The acre they garden, once part of the 160-acre Walnut Creek ranch owned by world-famous nineteenth century performer Papinta the Flame Dancer, holds a few reminders of former residents.

“One old fig tree,” Kirstein comments, “serves as a cafeteria for many species.”

Restoration of the creek along the edge of the property is an ongoing project. First published in the Richmond Record in 1901, a description the creek meandering along the Papinta Stock Farm reads: “…for miles along its banks all sorts of sylvan loveliness abound, and there are wildflowers, ferns and bits of beauty in abundance.”

See Natives continued on page 17

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Energy Matters

Lafayette Today ~ April 2014 - Page 17

By Mark Becker, GoSimpleSolar

As geopolitical events unfold around the world, it has become apparent that the ability to export energy continues to be one of the most powerful tools Independent service and repair for Jaguar of foreign policy. For too long the United States has been subjected to the blackmail of Middle Eastern despots and South American dictators because CARLOS “KIKO” CAICEDO we’ve relied on their oil reserves to fuel our economy. Currently Russia is threatening export reductions of natural gas to our western allies in Europe Shop (925) 284-4852 Cell (925) 285-0783 and expanding the export of gas to the People’s Republic of China. The United lafayettemotors@gmail.com States is considering the option of exporting our natural gas reserves to Europe to reduce the geopolitical power of Russia in Europe.

3470 Golden Gate Way , Lafayette, CA 94549 The point is that nations without energy resources of their own are subject to the whims of energy exporting nations. The “Energy Cold War” has now begun where allies and adversaries are made based on who has the ability to export energy and who has the need to import it.

The good news is that the USA is becoming a more energy independent and secure nation due to the high Independent service and repair for Mercedes Benz deployment of renewable energy and our extensive natural gas resources. Soon we may be a large exporter of energy. At the very least we’re importing less energy every day.

JERRY FIGUEROA Individual consumers are becoming more energy independent as well. There are currently over 204,000 solar electric systems in operation in California, each providing excellent and safe financial returns to their owners.

Shop (925) 284-4852 Recently installed at my home is a new generation inverter that will allow my solar panels to Cell (510) 754-1942 lafayettemotors@gmail.com provide power to my home when the utility grid is down, without the need for batteries. My refrigerator and internet will remain powered during utility power outages due to this new technology 3470 Golden Gate Way , Lafayette, CA 94549 inverter. Installed by our licensed electrician, our customers are finding this option very appealing.

Also appealing is the new kilowatt production records my solar PV system has set as compared to my previous inverter. The tangible result is less money I have to give to PG&E and more money I can add to my children’s college fund.

Some solar companies are better positioned than others to compete in the future solar marketplace by designing products that work in conjunction with upcoming smart grid legislation. One particular company’s products allow limited back-up power (as described) as an inexpensive option. These products also have electric characteristics that help utilities manage grid voltages and stability, such as reactive power capabilities. Battery back-up systems will become VERY prevalent in the future as battery technology improves. The intermittent nature of solar electric distribution during daylight hours will be erased when excess energy is inexpensively stored and distributed for nighttime use. The utility grid as we know it will ultimately become decentralized away from large power stations. My home and other solar power installations will be a power generating station for neighbors by day and night. At the rate of adoption of renewable energy, it will be sooner than later that this will become commonplace.

Companies which don’t offer product flexibility to adapt to the future utility grid will soon be disadvantaged in the marketplace. Properly managed and designed, more solar energy penetration into the grid will mean a more reliable and efficient utility grid.

The case for back-up power and energy independence at home - Last year, in a not well-publicized attack on the PG&E Metcalf transmission substation in San Jose, snipers (yes, snipers) knocked out 17 transformers. Jon Wellinghoff, Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, said it was “the most significant incident of domestic terrorism involving the grid that has ever occurred in the U.S.” Repairs took 27 days. There is no doubt that a large-scale attack on our grid would be devastating to our economy and way of life. It doesn’t take a survival preparedness (“prepper”) mentality to recognize the convenience and advantage of having electricity of your own when the utility can’t provide it, whatever the reason may be.

On a lighter note, Facebook is in discussions to buy a solar drone company. The drone can fly for five years on solar power at 60,000+ feet. It will transmit broadband connectivity to the 2/3rds of the world’s population that doesn’t have it.

Drop us an email if you’d like to know about back-up power and the security it can bring to your home.

Mark Becker is the President of GoSimpleSolar, by Semper Fidelis Construction Inc, a Danville based Solar Installation Firm (License 948715). GoSimpleSolar can be reached at 925-331-8011. Visit GoSimpleSolar’s NEW and larger showroom at 100 Railroad Avenue, Suite B, Danville (behind Pete’s Brass Rail) and receive a $500 discount on your solar system. Go to www.GoSimpleSolar.com for a free quote, or email info@GoSimpleSolar.com.

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Lafayette Motors

Lafayette Motors

Natives continued from page 16

Barbata underscores the importance of giving nature a chance to rebalance.

“Pine Creek is part of a wildlife corridor that extends from Mount Diablo to Golden Gate. We hope what we do along our portion of the creek may in some small way contribute to ‘rewilding’ that corridor and keeping the food chain moving so that predators can keep the herbivores in check.” Whimsical sculptures placed throughout the garden invite humans to linger, while plentiful food beckons nature’s artists to put on a show.

In celebration the 10th anniversary of the tour, human musicians will be accompanying the natural symphony of birdsong in many gardens. Some native plant nurseries will be open on May 3rd for tour participants, others will be open on May 4th.

Workshops are a recent addition. On Saturday, April 12th, renowned environmental educator Judy Adler invites 15 pre-registered guests to “Gardening with Nature in Mind: Part 2. Part 1 is not a pre-requisite for this in-depth study of sustainable gardening principles, from harvesting rainwater to collecting and preserving seeds. Adler’s Walnut Creek garden is a testament to how much food can be produced for human and wildlife consumption in a relatively small plot.

“Nothing toxic enters and nothing organic leaves my garden,” Adler proudly announces. When the front gutters on her house needed to be replaced, she studied revamping the system to collect and store rainwater. “I water my garden with nature’s water rather than treated water wherever possible.”

One of the first gardens to be certified as a Backyard Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation, Adler’s yard contains over 400 species of plants.

“I use plants as the vehicle to attract pollinators and beneficial insects.” Adler

used recycled materials to construct her lathe house, which is cleverly designed with a window shutter transforming into a teaching surface and built-in storage benches doubling as seating.

The elaborate Bringing Back the Natives Garden Guide mailed free to each registrant takes months to produce and is funded by donations. Gardens for the 2015 tour are now being solicited. Kathy will personally visit each prospective garden between early May and July to assess suitability for the tour as well has how each space contributes to the overall offering. Each year she includes gardens from a wide range of East Bay microclimates from Livermore to Oakland.

Sizes range this year from a 400–square-foot gem packed with native flowers to a sprawling five-acre restored woodland retreat.

To properly appreciate how much information 2013 Jefferson award winner Kathy Kramer’s Bringing Back the Natives program has to offer, visit www.bringingbackthenatives.net. View current and past tour gardens, find sources for native plants, study the work of various landscape designers, register for workshops and the tour, volunteer to be a greeter or guide, or make a monetary contribution to this non-profit resource.

American Lady butterfly visits verbena.

Page 18 - April 2014 ~ Lafayette Today

Brainwaves by Betsy Streeter

1st Annual Writing and Photography Contest

“I had never experienced such terror as I did at this moment. Not for the reason that I was hopelessly marooned in a malevolent wood, or that an inky blackness had descended, or even that I’d heard an indistinct snap directly behind me. No. What struck such fear into me was the complete absence of distraction. During the idle activities of the day, one may escape the primitive worries lurking in the shadowy recesses of our minds. Simply by participating in modern civilization, the malice within oneself may be quashed, controlled, unnoticed. We believe we are secure, that nature no longer influences us. It is only when we venture into the frontier which is devoid of technology and ruled by chaos, that we realize our weakness and utter inferiority to the many forces we cannot control.” ...

“Who was this written by?” one might ask. Perhaps it was a novelist or a screenwriter. Certainly, few would suggest that it was written by a middle school student. In fact, this piece was submitted to the Lafayette Youth Writing and Photography Contest by Cameron Fisher, a 7th grader at Stanley Middle School and the contest’s second place winner in the writing segment. In this, the contest’s first year, almost 150 students wrote and took photos to submit to the new contest. The judges were pleasantly surprised by the high quality of the entries, especially considering the ages of the writers and photographers.

The contest was originally founded by two Lafayette teens, Uma Unni and Linnae Johansson, in an attempt to shine a spotlight on the artistic kids of Lafayette. However, the contest also ended up bringing out the artistic sides of kids who previously had never considered themselves to be writers or photographers.

To see the rest of Left to right: Noam Franbuch, Sophia Benveniste, Isabel Rurka, the contest’s winners, Elie Singer, Clare Fonstein, Clare Needs, Kate Gilberd, and visit www.lyas.org. Cameron Fisher.

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Why is the Market...?

By Deborah Mitchell, MSW, CFA

As Paul Harvey put it, “If ‘pro’ is the opposite of ‘con,’ what is the opposite of ‘progress’?” The answer is Congress. Yet, for their part, Congressional members have been actively working to promote measures to help soften the ongoing turmoil involving Russia and Ukraine. Prior to Russia’s annexation of Crimea, the temporary Ukrainian government sought global financial assistance. Recently, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) announced its intention to lend Ukraine up to $18 billion in loans, provided that certain requirements are met. If the recommended changes are implemented, then Congress is expected to follow with a $1 billion loan guarantee.

One of the IMF stipulations for aid is that Ukraine raise the price of natural gas for its consumers, which has been met with resistance. There is concern about Europe’s reliance on Russia for natural gas, with Russia providing roughly 25% of the regions supply. Anxiety about possibly supply disruptions due to the conflict has presented the notion of a potential opportunity for domestic natural gas producers. Although promising in theory, the reality is that the cost of transporting the gas and lack of sufficient infrastructure in both regions are significant roadblocks.

Sanctions have been imposed against Russia for aggression against Ukraine by the United States, the European Union (EU) and Canada. As time progresses and Russia fails to retreat, the sanctions intensify.

What started off as travel bans and Russian bank asset freezes now has been expanded to include a ban on exporting defense items and services. Also, the House of Representatives recently imposed more assets freezes and bans on certain senior Russian officials, their associates, and their families. Further, international outcry in response to Russia’s actions resulted in the ousting from the Group of 8. With the threat of tougher sanctions on the horizon, Russian President Putin has reached out to President Obama to discuss possible resolutions. The markets have held up remarkably well, considering.

Despite the Russian conflict dominating the news, the Federal Reserve (FED) still found a way to create a stir with the post-meeting commentary.

As universally expected, the FED revealed another $10 billion reduction in the monthly bond purchases to $55 billion per month. However, when FED Chairwoman Janet Yellen was asked to clarify statements about the interest rate increase timeline, some market volatility ensued. Specifically, she said that rate increases could take place approximately six months after the asset purchase program ends. Quick calculations put the new time frame at Spring 2015, which was sooner than the previous estimate of mid-2015. It’s no wonder the markets were rattled.

The economic data continues to tell essentially the same story. The housing data was mixed. The colder than normal weather in some regions has played a significant role in discouraging home buyers, especially when higher mortgage rates and lower inventory are factored in. Retail sales revealed increased spending on restaurants and furniture stores, considered an improvement. Consumer confidence as up and the best since 2008. Economic growth is expected to continue to proceed at a slow pace in the months ahead.

Year to date, the major market indices have done nothing to write home about. Specifically, the Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500, and Nasdaq have all vacillated around flat performance, plus or minus a few percentage points. The markets have settled into a trading range pattern. It can’t be ignored that there has not been a meaningful double digit correction since 2011. Of concern is the lack of new sector leadership emerging. For quite some time health care, defense and biotech sectors have taken the lead, but they are now starting to lag. In the near term, with international conflict heating up, signals are more evident that a pause is in the works. Longer term we expect the market to continue its upward momentum.

If you have any comments or questions, please contact Deborah at 925299-2000 or dmitchell@noroian.com.

Deborah Mitchell holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation, a Bachelors degree in Psychology, and a Masters in Social Work degree. She is a Vice President for Noroian Capital Management, an independent investment advisory firm located in Lafayette, California for Advertorial individuals and businesses.

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“Outlaw” Protection

By Robert J. Silverman

During the estate planning process for clients with children, the topic of in-laws - current and/or future spouses of the children - arises.

Clients occasionally make a specific bequest in their Living Trust or Will for their daughter-in-law or son-in-law.

However, this is relatively rare as a result of a high divorce rate, uncertainty about the future, and a strong natural inclination to provide only for descendants or “blood relatives.”

A related but more complex issue involves how assets might be protected so that if a child divorces after inheriting, that child’s spouse is not able to take any portion of the child’s inheritance. Varying degrees of concern by clients may stem from simple caution, a fragile relationship between one’s child and his or her spouse or a doubt about the possible motives of an in-law. It is in this context that I sometimes facetiously refer to the in-laws as “outlaws”!

Let’s take an example. John and Jane Doe have a daughter, Betty. Betty has been married to Bill for eight years, and they have two young children. John and Jane are working with their estate planning attorney to establish a Living Trust.

They want Betty to inherit all of their assets.

Jane and John ask their attorney: “How do we make sure that part (e.g. half) of Betty’s inheritance does not go to Bill if Betty and Bill later get divorced?”

It’s an important question, but it’s not a quick, easy one to answer.

It is first helpful to explore the basic California rules of community and separate property. It’s not necessarily intuitive, but lifetime gifts made to and inheritance received by a married person constitute separate property. So, if a married person (here, Betty) receives an inheritance from her parents and then she and Bill divorce, Bill has no claim over the assets Betty inherited. So, why worry about Betty, right? Unfortunately, we can’t jump to that conclusion.

Betty, like many married people, believes in the strength and longevity of her marriage. After Betty inherits from her parents, Bill says to Betty: “We love each other; what’s yours is mine and mine is yours; and it’s forever, right?” Betty answers, “Yes, of course, Bill.”

Following a brief discussion, all of the inherited assets are placed in the name of both Betty and Bill. Or more likely, no discussion takes place and Betty (with-

In Plastic Surgery, it’s the Little Things that Count

By Barbara Persons, MD, Persons Plastic Surgery, Inc.

For most of us, the littlest things can have the biggest impact on our happiness. As a mother of three, nothing makes me happier than a pair of little arms from one of my kids wrapped around my neck. As a board-certified plastic surgeon, nothing is more precious to me than the big hug I get from a patient on whom I have operated after a difficult ordeal (like breast cancer) or performed a cosmetic procedure on that helps them get their ‘groove’ back.

I think a lot about the little things as summer approaches and we begin to bare more of our skin. Many people panic about this level of exposure and we begin to focus on the parts of our body and face that feel less than perfect to us.

What most people unfamiliar with cosmetic and reconstructive surgery do not know is that there are many little ways that we can address and improve how we look that can have a huge impact on how we feel about ourselves. In many cases, my patients experience the most satisfying results when we take an incremental approach to improvements. For example, using fillers like Radiesse®, Juvéderm®, and Restylane® in strategic spots on the face can create a look of vibrancy and youth that is completely natural, budget-friendly, and results in no down-time.

This is also the time of year when many of my patients choose to do more advanced procedures like blepharoplasty (eyelid lifts) and breast augmentation or lifts. While these surgeries do require more healing time, the impact they have is quite remarkable.

Here are a few of the procedures that we offer at Persons Plastic Surgery, Lafayette that can help you look and feel ready for summer: Fraxel® Laser is proven laser technology that can help reverse the visible effects of aging, naturally helping you look as young as you feel. Fraxel technology is proven, effective, and non-invasive.

Fraxel® Laser is the original fractional laser treatment that works below the

Lafayette Today ~ April 2014 - Page 19 out obtaining legal advice) proceeds to title the inherited assets jointly with Bill, mixing them up with community property funds.

Suppose that a number of years goes by, during which various sources of income is deposited into and expenses are paid out of these accounts for many purposes. Then, the passage of time and volume of financial transactions is such that it is extraordinarily difficult to trace which assets are separate and which are community. Bill and Betty then get divorced, and Bill ends up with a substantial portion of Betty’s inheritance.

What terms might John and Jane include in their Living Trust to protect against this scenario? The most common alternatives are: 1) Betty inherits outright but John and Jane have a delicate conversation with her to advise her to keep inherited assets separate from Bill; or 2) upon their death, a protective “spendthrift trust” (type of irrevocable trust) is to be established for Betty from which she has lifetime rights to access the inherited funds based on certain stated income and principal distribution standards. In my practice, I add another alternative into the mix: 3) Betty inherits outright but the trust states expressly that it is John and Jane’s strong desire that Betty keep the inherited assets as her separate property.

Option 1 is fine for many. Option 2 has strong “outlaw” protection (and protection against other creditors of Betty); however, it’s a bit more costly and inconvenient to administer. Many clients like Option 3, using a clause I’ve developed that gives their children, like Betty, a tool. The clause does not handcuff Betty, but it enables her to explain to Bill that she needs to keep inherited assets separate to honor her parents’ wishes – rather than out of any distrust of or doubts about Bill or their marriage.

Pros and cons of such alternatives should be discussed with an estate planning attorney so that your Living Trust can be drafted or revised in accordance with your applicable wishes.

Mr. Silverman is an attorney with R. Silverman Law Group, 1855 Olympic Blvd., Suite 240, Walnut Creek, CA 94596; (925) 705-4474, rsilverman@rsilvermanlaw. com, www.silvermanlaw.com. * Estate Planning * Trust Administration & Probate * Real Estate * Business

This article is intended to provide information of a general nature, and is not intended nor should it be relied upon as legal, tax 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.

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skin’s surface to address fine lines and wrinkles, surface scarring, pigmentation (including age spots), and sun damage. Fractionated laser light energy stimulates your skin’s natural collagen, rejuvenating skin cells below the surface to help smooth the creases and pockets that cause wrinkles and scars. Patients can see results after a single Fraxel treatment and will continue to see softer, smoother, and more even-toned skin over the next 3-6 months. There are several types of Fraxel procedures to meet your specific needs. For most Fraxel Laser procedures, there are few side effects and low downtime. As with all procedures, a consultation with our expert staff will help you decide if Fraxel Laser or another laser treatment is right for you.

Blepharoplasty is a surgical procedure for saggy eyelids. Eyelid surgery (upper and lower) is a great way to rejuvenate and refresh your appearance.

This procedure targets the bulges, bags, and excess skin of the upper and lower eyelids that can make you look tired and droopy-eyed. While saggy eyelids may start as early as our 20’s, eventually, it affects everyone. Happily, no matter what your age, it can be surgically corrected to create a more youthful and vibrant-looking you.

At Persons Plastic Surgery, we usually perform upper and lower lid surgery simultaneously. But we can address just upper or lower as needed, or in conjunction with face, neck, or brow lift surgery.

What makes eyelid surgery such an excellent ‘quick fix’ procedure is that there is usually only mild discomfort and little downtime. You may see some discoloration, but this will improve after a week or two. And most patients can go back to work in 8 to 10 days. You will look like you, only better.

As a Plastic Surgeon, I have a great passion to help my patients look and feel their best. At Persons Plastic Surgery, we take a holistic approach to helping you look and feel happy. We invite you to come in for a consultation. Even a minor procedure can have a major effect on your sense of well-being. Small can be the new big!

Persons Plastic Surgery, Inc. is located at 911 Moraga Rd, Suite 205 in Lafayette. To contact me call 925-283-4012 or email drbarb@personsplasticsurgery.com. Advertorial

Page 20 - April 2014 ~ Lafayette Today

Your Personal Nutritionist

Teen Weight Loss Made Simple, Yummy, and Healthy

By Linda Michaelis RD,MS

I have worked with many local teens that want to lose weight and look their best. I was an overweight teen, and I feel very qualified to counsel teens because of my own personal problem as well as 25 years of teen counseling experience. I know that majoring in nutrition was a huge help to my success with weight loss, and nutrition education is what a teen needs to lose weight and keep it off.

Let me tell you about my teen client Diane. Diane attends a local high school, is in leadership, and plays soccer. Diane is certainly quite active, but unfortunately, because of her busy schedule, she ends up eating most of her food at the end of the day. Her breakfast used to consist of a bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios, and the rest of the day she would consume smoothies, Think Thin and Clif bars, as well as yogurts. Diane was eating a low fiber, low protein, and high sugar diet. At night with her family she would eat double servings of meat and starches and often skip the veggies because they did not taste good to her. At night she would snack on more bowls of Honey Nut Cheerios which, she thought was a healthy choice. I calculated that at night she was consuming at least 1,500 calories.

In my initial session with Diane I evaluated a food diary she had kept and showed her where her meals were lacking in protein and fiber. I taught her how to read food labels for serving size, percentage of calories from fat, and grams of protein, fiber, and sugar.

I always tell my client that the food label is backwards, in that we do not have the metric system and we do not go by grams, and that protein is listed as the last item when it should be first along with dietary fiber. I continued to teach Diane that 1 oz. of protein is equal to 7 grams. Now she could see that her Honey Nut Cheerios have a skimpy 2 grams of protein compared to the king of cereals, Kashi Go Lean, which has 13 grams of protein or about 2 oz. When you add a cup of milk to the meal, you get an additional ounce of protein and thus a breakfast can have 3 oz. of protein. I was adamant with Diane that she consume at least 8 ounces of protein and 15 grams of fiber before dinner.

After also looking at a list of favorite foods that I asked Diane to bring in, I began setting up a meal plan for her. For breakfast Diane agreed to have oatmeal or Kashi Go Lean with some fruit after trying a sample at my office. Diane liked the idea of taking to school for a mid-morning snack an apple with peanut butter, beef jerky, or a small pack of almonds. Diane was open to trying Trader Joe’s fresh grilled chicken strips cut up and mixed with a cup of beans and salsa or a leftover chicken breast with veggies and brown rice. She is going to make it a routine to take the second serving that she used to have for dinner and save it for lunch the next day and add tasty veggies that she liked.

When she came home from school before soccer practice she liked the idea of having a hearty soup such as lentil or black bean or even a bowl of oatmeal.

Diane has traded all of her smoothies for eating fresh fruit and is drinking more water than ever. She has completely eliminated bars and is trading Yoplait yogurt for low-sugar Greek yogurts.

I was glad that Diane reported after our meeting that she went off to practice at 5PM feeling better than ever with high energy. She no longer came home famished and can control her portions at night and better yet did not feel the need to snack endlessly in the evening. Now she is happy with a fat-free fudgesicle or creamsicle or even some sorbet.

Diane and I worked together for several follow-up sessions where we discussed strategies for parties, social situations, and restaurant eating with friends and family.

The number one lesson that I taught Diane was to not go to a party hungry and to avoid filling up on unhealthy junk food that is usually available at teen gatherings. When it is a buffet, I taught Diane to first scan the choices and set up a plan instantly in her mind and keep to it. It is fine if she makes room for dessert, as long as she eats less starches and fat.

Diane would always inform me beforehand about a restaurant that she was go-

925.934.3743 • 925.934.1515

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www.yourmonthlypaper.com ing to, and we would preview the menu together online. We came up with options that she would enjoy. Often she said she did not even open the menu and ordered exactly what we discussed.

I am glad to inform you that Diane has lost 10 pounds in one month, and we are still working together via phone and e-mail. Her goal is to lose 10 more pounds before the summer.

The good news is that Diane’s visits were covered by Sutter Select insurance with a small copay. Please feel to call me at (925) 855-0150 or e-mail me at Lifeweight1@yahoo.com, and tell me about your nutritional concerns. Refer to my website www.LindaRD.com for past articles, recipes and nutrition tips in my blog section. Advertorial

HPV and Head & Neck Cancer

By Matthew Sirott, MD

April has been designated “Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Month.” Historically, it was assumed that head and neck cancers were caused by excessive use of tobacco and alcohol. Within the last five years, however, a new risk factor has reared its ugly head.

Head and neck cancers account for 6% of cancers in the United States today. Head and neck cancers are typically squamous cell carcinomas, found in the mouth, nose, and throat. The most common types of head and neck cancers are oral cancers and orophayngeal cancers. Oral cancers are classified as cancers of the oral cavity (gums or inside of cheek) and are primarily caused by heavy tobacco and alcohol use. Oropharyngeal cancers include cancers of the base of the tongue and tonsils, primarily caused by HPV. Some studies indicate that by the time oropharyngeal cancers are diagnosed two thirds of them are already in late stage III and IV. Symptoms of head and neck cancer can include a lump or sore in the mouth that does not heal, a sore throat that does not go away, difficulty swallowing, and a change in voice. Typical treatment for head and neck cancers includes surgery and radiation treatment. Chemotherapy may be used in the more advanced stages.

Heavy alcohol and tobacco use (including smokeless tobacco) are known to cause at least 75% of head and neck cancers. Smoking increases your risk by 15%, and people who use both tobacco and alcohol are at a greater risk.

Head and neck cancers that develop due to alcohol and tobacco use typically occur on or near the areas with the most contact (where a cigarette sits on the lip, or where chewing tobacco is placed in the mouth).

A newer risk factor for developing head and neck cancer is the human papillomavirus (HPV). Currently in the United States, the incidence of head and neck cancers caused by HPV is increasing, while head and neck cancers caused by alcohol and tobacco are decreasing.

The human papillomavirus (HPV) is a DNA virus from the papilloma virus family that is capable of infecting humans. It is the most common sexually transmitted infection with an estimated 6.2 million people being newly infected each year. Cervical cancer is the most common cancer caused by the HPV infection; however oropharyngeal cancers are clearly on the rise. Not all types of HPV are cancer causing, however. Studies show that 7% of people in the United States have some type of HPV, while 1% of the population has HPV-16 (a type of oral HPV). Oral HPV is about three times more common in men than it is in women.

The HPV vaccine currently on the market is strongly recommended for young women and men. The vaccine was developed to prevent cervical and other less common genital cancers. The vaccine might also prevent head and neck cancers since the vaccine helps prevent initial infection with HPV types. However, there are currently no studies that can determine if the HPV vaccine would help prevent head and neck cancers.

To decrease your chances of contracting HPV and oral HPV, the best alternative is to use protection when engaging in any form of sexual activity. If you have any of the symptoms listed above, or think you may have contracted HPV, visit your doctor immediately to be tested.

In recognition of Oral Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Week, we are partnering with Dr. Arash Mohebati from Walnut Creek Surgical Associates to provide free visual screenings on April 22. By appointment only - please call 925-933-0984.

Dr. Sirott is a Medical Oncologist and Hematologist with Diablo Valley Oncology & Hematology Medical Group – located in Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill, San Ramon and Brentwood. For more information, call 925-677-5041 or visit www.DVOHMG.com.

Advertorial

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Not Your Usual Suspects

By Michael Anne Conley, LMFT

Do you sit around a lot — at work or in a car — even if you exercise?

If this is true, you qualify for the #1 habit that is just as unhealthy as smoking.

The folks at Rodale, who bring you Prevention Magazine, learned that six habits lead to the same cancer rates as smoking or expose you to the same contaminants that are in cigarette smoke!

Smoking is one of those habits that I call ‘The Usual Suspects.’ Others are drinking or eating too much and using street drugs. Most of us recognize these as unhealthy behaviors.

But what about habits that are ‘Not The Usual Suspects.’ These behaviors create problems that are easier to ignore, avoid or cover up with a joke or a smile. But just because they aren’t likely to lead to an arrest or an emergency room visit doesn’t mean you’re not hurting.

Thirty years ago I started helping addicts and alcoholics find new directions for their lives. I started wondering about what all habits have in common because unlike my colleagues, I had little personal experience with addictions. But I certainly could relate because of my own experiences with smoking as a kid, overdoing alcohol and drugs as a young adult, and the impact of certain foods on my health.

It became clear that there can be just as much suffering from habits that aren’t life-threatening or as serious as the usual suspects. I decided to find what I could about this.

Over time, I learned about the hidden patterns underneath most selfdefeating habits. These perspectives were helping my clients in addiction recovery, and it just wasn’t fair not to share. So I began bringing this to other folks who wanted to find peace and empowerment in their everyday lives.

On Saturday, May 3, I am hosting a four-hour retreat in Lafayette to support you in exploring your own dilemmas, no matter what kind of habits are perplexing you. Check the sidebar for more information and to sign up.

Here are some examples of the kinds of unhealthy habits that might be

Stop Locating the Nearest Bathroom

By Judson Brandeis, MD

Lafayette Today ~ April 2014 - Page 21 blocking your way: • Procrastinating • Ready to get unstuck?

Eating too little • Putting yourself down New Skills for the New You • Blaming others • Pleasing others • Yelling or screaming • Stuffing your Saturday • April 15, 2014 feelings • Controlling others • Worrying 7-8 pm Lafayette • Rushing around • Being preoccupied about somebody else.  Do you promise yourself or others that you’ll stop doing this or start doing that Here’s the Rodale top six list, which – and don’t keep your promise? you can find more about at www.  Are you stuck because someone you care rodalenews.com/unhealthy-habits. about engages in an unhealthy behavior? #1: Sitting around.

The new you starts here! #2: Eating too much meat and cheese.

(1st visit free, space limited) #3: Cooking with natural gas. http://recoveryplusclass.eventbrite.com #4: Cooking with the wrong oil. #5: Tanning indoors.

A sacred retreat #6: Not getting enough sleep.

Please consider joining me on Saturday, Five Steps to the New You May 3 to create your new direction.

Here’s some other news: Saturday • May 3, 2014 12-4 pm • May 31, 2014 — Save the date for Lafayette this free tele-seminar: “The Inner Game This live event of Habit Change.” blends the practical and the profound.

• Check out my ebook, Do YOU Explore the hidden habits that create barriers to change, HAVE a habit ~ or does your habit HAVE and learn specific skills YOU: 5 warning signs that you’re stuck to lead you toward your new direction. and what to do about it. For a free copy, Your host: go to www.habitsintohealth.com.

Michael Anne Conley Creator of The Habits Into Health System Michael Anne Conley is a habit Holistic therapist and habit change coach change expert and holistic therapist who For Lafayette Today readers only practices in Lafayette, where she founded $57 until April 21 and directs Stillpoint Center for Health, (space limited) Find out more: Well-Being & Renewal. Reach her at http://fivestepstonewyou.eventbrite.com info@habitsintohealth.com or 925-262Advertorial 4848.

To get an Urgent PC treatment, you visit a clinician’s office. During Not Your Suspects treatment you will sit with your foot elevated.

ThisUsual allows the clinician to stimulate the area near your tibial nerve using a very thin

By Michael Anneneedle Conley,temporarily LMFT placed in your ankle. Impulses travel along your leg to the nerves in your Do you sit around a lot — at work or in a car — pelvis that control bladder function.

What does a PTNS treatment feel like? Most people simply feel a mild tingling If this is true, you qualify for the #1 habit that is sensation in their foot or ankle during treatment.

You will receive an initial series of 12 treatments for 30 minutes each, typically scheduled a week apart. After the initial 12 treatments, you may only need occasional treatments or none at all.

Dr. Brandeis is a urologist with Pacific Urology. His practice provides a “Continence Center” for men and women. For more information or to schedule an appointment to learn if PTNS can help you, visit our website www.pacific-urology.com or call 925-937-7740.

Advertorial

Do you constantly feel like you “gotta go”? When you leave the house, do you always look where the nearest bathroom is, just in case? Bladder control problems are more common than you might think. Having an overactive bladder can affect your quality of life, and 16% of the adult population, or about 33 million people, have this condition, according to the Journal of Urology.

People with an Overactive Bladder, or OAB, often experience: 1. High urinary frequency: More than eight times in a 24 hour period 2. Urinary urgency: A strong, compelling need to urinate that cannot be delayed 3. Urge incontinence: Wetting accidents which occur before reaching a toilet If you have bladder control issues, don’t let embarrassment stand in the way of finding a solution. After talking with a doctor, most people start with conservative therapies. For example, patients start by doing exercises like kegels to strengthen the pelvic floor muscle. Other first-step treatment options might include dietary modification, bladder training programs, and prescription medication.

Now there is another option: Posterior Tibial Nerve Stimulation, otherwise known as PTNS, which is a non-drug, non-surgical therapy that is helping many people with OAB take control. Bladder function is regulated by a group of nerves at the base of the spine called the sacral nerve plexus.

By stimulating these nerves through gentle electrical impulses, you can gain better control of your bladder.

The Urgent PC Neuromodulation System provides this low-risk treatment by indirectly stimulating the nerves responsible for bladder function using a nerve in your lower leg. Up to 80% of people who get PTNS have significant improvement in their bladder control sympLic# 1100014354; Bay Area Entertainment toms, even when other treatment options have failed them in the past.

Page 22 - April 2014 ~ Lafayette Today

Events for Lafayette Seniors

www.yourmonthlypaper.com 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 & for you • Live-in care Supportive spot. Annual Membership fee: $10 per person.

• 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 (beside Trader Joe’s) Group: Members: no charge; Non-members $1. www.excellentcareathome.com 925-284-1213 st rd Apple Basics 1 & 3 Thursdays; 4/17, 5/1 • 10:30AM– noon • Cedar Room, LSC - This series will start at the very to reserve your spot at least three days prior to each class. Fee, which includes beginning: the technology needed for wireless communication, your Apple lunch, is $10 for members and $11 for non-members.

PM ID, iTunes, iCloud, and the basics of iPad and iPhone usage. Topics for future Lamorinda Dance Social Wednesdays • 12:30 – 3 • Live Oak Room, sessions will be determined by participants’ input and needs. There will be LCC - Enjoy afternoon dancing every Wednesday, and learn some great new time for Q&A at the end of each class. Please note, this series deals with Apple dance moves. On the first Wednesday monthly, professional dancers Karen and Michael will provide a dance lesson and live DJ services, playing your devices only. Facilitated by Sharon Beck, Owner of Mac-Senior AM Discovering Opera: Mozart’s Don Giovanni 4/17 • 10:30 – noon favorites and taking requests. $2 Members/ $4 non-members. th • Lafayette Library, Arts & Science Room - Yes, it’s the story of Don Juan, Lafayette Senior Services Commission 4 Thursday of the month PM the seducer whose servant keeps an extensive catalog of his conquests and who from 3:30 – 5:30 at the LSC - View agendas at the City of Lafayette ofannounces his intent to add ten more names to the catalog before the night is fice or at www.ci.lafayette.ca.us. over—but winds up getting dragged down to Hell by the come-to-life statue of the Lamorinda Nature Walk and Bird-Watching Every Wednesday AM man he killed early in the first act. Lecturer Bradford Wade will give a guided tour • 9 - noon • Call LSC to find out weekly meeting locations - Experience of the opera, with a description of the plot interspersed with musical examples. nature at its finest along our local trails. Delight in the beauty that unfolds This lecture is given in conjunction with Opera San Jose’s production of Don around each bend, all the while learning to identify a variety of birds. Bring Giovanni, April 19-May 4. Presented by Bradford Wade, opera lover for 35 years a water bottle; binoculars will be helpful if you have them. Join us every ‘Fly Me to the Moon’ Jazz Piano Concert at the Library 4/18 • Wednesday or whenever you are able.

PM PM 1:30PM– 2:30PM • Lafayette Library, Community Hall - Come and hear some Come Play Mahjong! Every Tuesday • 12:30 –3 • Cedar Room, jazz standards that are out of this world! The Contra Costa Performing Arts LSC - Come join us on Tuesdays for a drop-in game of mahjong. Mahjong is a Society jazz cats will perform celestial tunes from Frank Sinatra, Bill Evans, game of skill, strategy, and certain degree of chance. All levels welcome. Bring Chick Corea, George Shearing, and more. Your spirits will be sent to the moon your card, a mahjong set, and a snack to share (optional). RSVP not required.

Creative Writing Workshop 2nd and 4th Thursday monthly • 10:30AM and back in this uplifting afternoon of music. Refreshments generously provided

by Byron Park Independent and Assisted Living and Hillendale Home Care. noon • Cedar Room, LSC - Join creative writing and English instructor Judith Rathbone, and examine the possibilities of self-expression through writing. This Please call Lafayette Senior Services to reserve your spot.

Document Your Life Story 4/10, 4/24 • 10AM–11:30AM • Cedar Room, friendly group, with an ever-changing membership but lots of returning participants, LSC - If you have wanted to write the stories, memories, and experiences will welcome you and any of your writing efforts. Find encouragement and feedback of your life but haven’t known where to start, wait no longer. Yuska Lutfi, and bring out the writer in you. If you can speak, you can write, and we will show MFA Candidate in Creative Writing at Saint Mary’s College, will guide you you how! Beginners to established writers welcome.

AM through the process of leaving a living history for future generations –what a Positive Living Forum (“Happiness Club”) 4/10 • 10:30 – noon • gift! Included will be an optional outing to St. Mary’s for their creative writing Sequoia Room, LSC - Brighten your day with Dr. Bob Nozik, MD, Prof. Emeritus UCSF and author of Happy 4 Life: Here’s How to Do It. Take part in this interactive reading series, “Afternoon Craft Conversations.”

Lafayette Oral History Project Do you have stories about Lafayette in the gathering which features speakers on a wide range of topics that encourage and guide participants towards a more ideal and positive life experience. days of yore? Allow Ryan to document that history which will then be included Bi-Monthly Caregiver Support Group Mondays, 4/7, 4/21 • in the Lafayette Historical Societies’ archives, preserved for generations to come.

1:30–2:30PM • Elderberry Room LSC - If you are a family member helping All you have to do is tell those stories to Ryan; he’ll do the writing. You’ll receive to care for an older adult, join our support group to find balance and joy as a copy of the final document at the time of completion. Call Lafayette Senior you manage your responsibilities. Drop-ins are welcome.

Services for details and to be a part of this project. No charge. the Philosophical to the Lighthearted St. Mary’s College Afternoon Craft Conversations Wednesdays, Words of Wisdom…From AM 4/9 • 2PM – 3:35PM • Hagerty Lounge, St. Mary’s College, 1928 St. Mary’s 4/15 • 10:30 –Noon • Elderberry Room, LSC - Join discussion group leader Craig Janke, and take part in this free-wheeling exchange of inspiration, Rd, Moraga Lamorinda Lunch n’ Learn: Gardening, Habitats for Humanity information, and humor. Topics – from soup to nuts - will be explored, examined, 5/6 • 10:30AM–1PM • Orinda Community Center, 28 Orinda Way - The and discussed by participants. Stories and photographs will stimulate humorous discoveries regarding the benefits of becoming the ‘elders of our tribe.’

Cities of Lafayette and Orinda and the Town of Moraga are partnering to offer a series on backyard habitat gardening. Contra Costa Master Gardener Linda Mizes has managed habitat and organic gardens at Orinda Intermediate and Miramonte High School, and serves as a garden consultant working with other local schools. Linda is also a certified Master Composter and instructor providing workshops throughout the county. A winner of Orinda’s William Penn Mott, Jr. Environmental Award, Linda continues to be concerned with sustainable ecosystems and healthy gardens. Lecture/Q & A: 10:30AM - noon.

Lunch: noon – 1:00PM. May’s class is titled “It’s for the Birds (and Bees...).”

Learn about providing and protecting habitat resources for the birds, bees, and other critters in your garden using native plants, permaculture, organic gardening, and other gardening strategies. Lunch is generously provided by Tiffany Court Assisted Living of Walnut Creek. Call Lafayette Senior Service

Free Peer Counseling 2nd Tuesday monthly • 10AM - noon • Alder

Room, LCC - Contra Costa Health Services offers free one-on-one counseling

with senior (55+) counselors who use their life experiences to help other older adults cope with life changes, problems, crises, and challenges. Confidentiality is strictly observed. Appointment required. Please call Lafayette Senior Services at 284-5050 to sign up for one of the 60-minute appointments.

Anne Randolph Physical Therapy Presentation: Fall Prevention 4/25 • 11:30AM - 12:30PM • Elderberry Room, LCC - Anne Randolph,

RPT, has been practicing physical therapy for 35 years. She provides outpatient therapy in Lafayette and specializes in the care of those 55 and over. Falls are a threat to health and independence. Learn how to gain better balance, avoid falls, and remain self-sufficient.

editor@yourmonthlypaper.com

Older Californians Act

By Mary Bruns, Lamorinda Senior Transportation

“Assemblyman Manuel Perez submitted a request…to the Assembly Budget Subcommittee 1 on Health and Human Services for the restoration of funds for community-based services in the Older Californians Act....Since 2004, approximately $25 million has been cut, resulting in the elimination or dramatic reduction of critical community-based programs and services, includingAlzheimer’s Day Care Resource Centers, Senior Companion, Linkages, Respite Care, Brown Bag, Caregiver Resource Centers, and the Long-term Care Ombudsman.

Community-based programs through the Older Californians Act enable seniors to remain independent in their own homes, avoiding costly placement into institutional settings. These programs provide seniors with nourishing meals, home visits, respite care, caregiver support, and case management among other critical supports. Prior to the funding cuts, these services were delivered through a robust network of culturally competent and community-based organizations.

Unfortunately the drastic cuts of the last ten years have done serious harm to the infrastructure of the aging services network, devastating the ability of Area Agencies on Aging to fulfill their mission to serve California’s older population.

Especially now with the state’s older population on the rise and projected growth over the next three decades, we must make essential state investments to repair and revitalize this network of flexible, locally driven, person-focused services.

Advanced by the California Association of Area Agencies on Aging (C4A), the budget restoration request has so far gained support from the Congress of California Seniors…California Health Advocates, American Association of Retired People…” 3/13/14 Advisory Council on Aging – Press Release.

As we think about budgets and programs we value, the discussion comes up around how we pay for what is important to us. California went through budget reductions to reduce debt and to bring the budget into balance. In that process some of our most vulnerable people, such as older Americans, lost important supports that make it possible for them to “age in place,” i.e. live in their own homes while they age.

Now, effort is being made to restore some of that funding to once again have supports in place to assist older adults to age in their own homes. At a recent Senior Mobility Action Council meeting, it was reported that it costs a minimum of $6,000 a month to live in an assisted living facility. Many older adults do not have the financial resources to afford that level of care.

At a recent City Council meeting, people were advocating against increasing taxes. No one wants to pay more in taxes, and yet we all want those programs and services in place that we feel we need. We all want adequate police and fire protection services. If we have children or grandchildren in school, we want a good education for them. If we live on a street with potholes, we would like to see the street fixed. If we are an older adult, we want the transportation services we need to continue to live in our own home after we no longer drive.

The question is – who will pay for these services? Many years ago when I

C L A S S I F I E D S BURIAL PLOT

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Cremation site for three people which overlooks oak trees and Mount Diablo.

Private sale $25,276. Please call 925-820-7337 or email sgcook5@msn.com.

DECK REPAIR

GOT AN UGLY DECK? IS THERE SUN DAMAGE, DRY ROT, OR DINGINESS? Decks are subject to the same elements as your home resulting in mold, stains, mildew, moss, and structural failures. KDL CONSTRUCTION helps maintain the integrity of your deck and the safety of your family. Proper maintenance enhances the longevity and beauty of your deck.

Cleaning, repair, color restoration, and refinishing. Call for a free assessment.

Ask about our OTHER SERVICES. KDL CONSTRUCTION RestorationRemodel-Maintenance-Repairs CA License #989926. Call 510-590-2846.

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Lafayette Today ~ April 2014 - Page 23 founded and managed a small spiritual center that relied on peoples’ donations to stay afloat, I knew it was difficult for the people of this little congregation to donate enough to pay the bills. I wished for a way to find new contributors. What I learned was that there is no one else but us to pay the bills. That’s true whether we are a church, a business, a city, or a state. When we vote to pay increased taxes, we are voting to keep programs and services in place that we value. We can only cut budgets so far before the consequences are so severe that we see the need to change direction.

Lamorinda Senior Transportation An Alliance of Transportation Providers

Lamorinda Spirit Van

283-3534

Takes Lamorinda Seniors to errands, appointments, grocery shopping, special events, and to lunch at the C.C. Café. Reserve your ride two business days in advance (or sooner) by 1pm or when you make your appointment.

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.

Volunteer drivers serving Contra Costa seniors with free rides to doctors’ appointments during the week. Grocery shopping on Saturdays.

County Connection LINK Reservation Line 938-7433 LINK Applications and Questions 680-2066 or 2067 Fixed-Route Bus Service Information 676-7500

VARMINT CONTROL

GOPHER AND MOLE REMOVAL : NUISANCE WILDLIFE CONTROL Trapping No poison, safe for your family, pets and the ecosystem.

I’m a licensed and insured state trapper; resolving human and animal conflicts. Habitat modification, ( to make your home or property less desirable), exclusion barriers, (fencing, wire mesh or sheet metal to keep the animal/s out of your home or property), and trapping, (removing problem wild animals.)

For more information visit www.trivalleytrapper.com. Call TRI VALLEY TRAPPER for a FREE phone consultation and estimate (925)765-4209.

Lafayette Today Classifieds

Reach over 12,000 homes and businesses in Lafayette - Help Wanted, For Sale, Services, Lessons, Pets, Rentals, Wanted, Freebies... $35 for up to 45 words. $5 for each additional 15 words. Send or email submissions to: 3000F Danville Blvd #117, Alamo, CA 94507 or editor@yourmonthlypaper.com.

Run the same classified ad in our sister papers “Alamo Today” or “Danville Today News” and pay half off for your second and/or third ad! Payment by check made out to “The Editors” must be received before ad will print. Your cancelled check is your receipt. We reserve the right to reject any ad.

Page 24 - April 2014 ~ Lafayette Today

Friends continued from front page

www.yourmonthlypaper.com

eighth grade Lafayette students. But it is the book shop that is Friends’ crowning glory; it is overseen and managed by longtime Friend volunteer Sharon Lingane and a team of 135, all of whom volunteer their time sorting, shelving, pricing, and selling books – most priced between $.50 and $2.

“The Friends provide a level of support that allows us to bring a rich variety of programs and opportunities to the community for people of all ages,” says LLLC manager Vickie Sciacca. “They support our collections, keep our doors open on Sundays, and are always seeking new ways to help us achieve our goals as we continually assess the needs and interests of the Lafayette Community.”

As with many volunteer organizations whose mission is for the greater good, members often receive as much, if not more, as they give – and active Friends’ volunteers claim no exception.

Membership in Friends (“membership” is free) means access to a diverse and interesting group of community members, each of whom shares the common goal of helping the community.

Former president (1984-85) Barbara Levander states, “In all of my years as a member, people with many different backgrounds have expanded my world as we have worked together for a common interest in books and the library.”

Current president Ruth Thornburg is continually struck by the vibrancy of the groups’ members. “We have volunteers ranging in age from teens to 90’s and it has been pretty special for me to be a part of this group,” says Thornburg.

“Friends members have bright minds and good intentions; they are good citizens and are connected to the community. I consider several members to be role models.”

One of those role models is former Friends’ president Mary Ann Hoisington. Having served five terms between 1993 and 2000, Hoisington is Thornburg’s “go-to” mentor for Friends’ history and advice. “Friends has been an important part of my life for many years as I believe a strong society requires an educated electorate and a free public library is a foundation,” says Hoisington. “If one loves books and enjoys intelligent, interesting people, Friends is the organization to join.”

“The Friends are a tremendous and extremely important asset to the LLLC,” says Sciacca. “They are an integral part of everything we do for Lafayette!”

In celebration of their 75th anniversary and all they have meant to each other and to the Lafayette community, Friends is throwing a community-wide anniversary party on May 12th at the library. For more information on the celebration, the Friends Corner Book Shop and other Friends’ programs, please visit the Friends’ website at www.friendsofthelafayettelibrary.org. Book shop donations are always accepted and can be dropped off in the marked parking area reserved for that purpose, located in the library garage off of Golden Gate Way. Girl Scout Film Night - Sixth Grade Stanley Girl Scout Cadette Troops 32789 and 32939 hosted the first annual “Lafayette Girl Scout Film Night” at the Rheem Theatre in Moraga in preparation for their Silver Award. Over 300 guests including 160+ Girl Scouts packed the theatre for a mini film festival. The Cadettes invited all Lafayette Girl Scouts grades K-12 to submit a 1-5 minute short film to the theme “Shine” hoping this abstract subject would spawn creativity and ingenuity. The response was strong and ten films were submitted by troops from all four elementary schools and Stanley Middle School including one individual entry from Chloe Parmelee depicting her beloved aunt’s triumph over cancer. Some films were serious and some humorous but all were unique and it was a chance for the girls to gain the exhilarating experience of seeing their work on the big screen. The Girl Scout hosts kicked off the evening showcasing their own film; a documentary they made called “Twin Canyon: Love it! Use It!” about the Lafayette Girl Scout-owned campsite, which tells of the history of the camp and that it is in need of support. The girls’ film stressed that all non-profit groups can use the campground and the fees will help keep it alive. The girls will donate funds raised from "Lafayette Girl Scout Film Night" to the Twin Canyon Scholarship Fund to help Girl Scouts attend Diablo Day Camp at Twin Canyon. The film night was so successful, the Lafayette Girl Scout Council is hoping to make it an annual event.