Lafayette Today, May 2014

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May 2014 Creativity Hacked

Lafayette Today ~ January 2014 - Page 25

By Fran Miller

Jill Marek of Lafayette looked long and hard for extracurricular activities that would allow her 10-year-old to exercise his inventor dreams. She was specifically looking for STEM activities (science/technology/engineering/math) within a likeminded community. What she ultimately found was a relatively new and unique youth group entitled “Creativity Hacked.” Creativity Hacked not only met her STEM requirements, but they threw-in an “A” for art as well – providing STEAM. Creativity Hacked is a thoroughly modern take on organized youth group activities. It is an inclusive non-profit organization that provides real world education, skill building and community engagement for boys and girls ages 8 – 14. At the end of their first year in Creativity Hacked, participants will be able

to solder, recognize, and understand basic circuit components, program simple loops, hand stitch, machine sew, use open-source CAD for prototype design, and have a positive attitude to tackle challenges.

Founded in the fall of 2012 in Oakland as “Hacker Scouts,” legal action by another scouting group led to a re-branding, and Creativity Hacked emerged.

They now boast 40 chapters, or guilds, throughout the country. Their goal is to prepare the next generation for a complex world through creative innovation and adaptation to new technology, and to promoting collaboration as well as sustainability. And like the other scouting group, Creativity Hacked offers its own variety of merit badges in six categories: programming, robotics, electronics, mechanical, art, and textiles. They also focus on “Pillars of Character,” such as resourcefulness and persistence.

Following the mantra “a relentless pursuit of knowledge,” Creativity Hacked gives kids the opportunity to work with a variety of experts and mentors from the community while ensuring a high level of attention for all its young members.

Guild Masters encourage participants to dream big and create big, and they aspire to help children develop skills and abilities in the areas in which they

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Serving the Lafayette Community Cake4Kids By Fran Miller

Just as Valentine’s Day and chocolates go together, and July 4th goes with fireworks, so do birthdays and cake. Some may argue that a birthday isn’t properly celebrated unless a cake makes an appearance. But what if a birthday takes place while one is seeking refuge in a crisis center, or is in the care of harried foster parents, or is at a shelter or group home where baking is the last thing on anyone’s mind?

Enter Cake4Kids, a unique Bay Area organization whose volunteers aim to fill the birthday cake void for disadvantaged and at-risk children and youth. A Cakes4Kids volunteer baker adds the finishing Cake4Kids volunteers bake and touches to a birthday cake that will be delivered decorate cakes in their home to a child in need. kitchens for delivery to at-risk youth, ages one to 21. Serving a wide variety of Bay Area agencies, the Cake4Kids’ mission is to help one child at a time feel good about his or her self at least one day each year. “We are serving children who, due to extreme circumstances, are often forgotten on their birthdays,” says Cake4Kids board member and acting executive director Julie Eades. “We know that that these children are receiving basic essentials and support from the wonderful agencies we serve, and we strive to provide a little something more. Making and delivering a cake is such a simple act that can make a huge difference to a child’s sense of self. Children who are loved and valued

See Cake continued on page 16

Lafayette Students off to World Competition

By Michelle Regan

Lafayette 4th and 5th grade Odyssey of the Mind Division 1 “Driver’s Test” team: Kaitlyn Srinivasan, Charlie Schofield, Nathanial McManus, Peter Husch, Matthew Brock-Utne, William McGlothlen, and Cole Regan.

Lafayette 4th and 5th graders are heading to Iowa for the World Finals for the Odyssey of See Creativity continued on page 16 the Mind’s Division 1 “Driver’s Test.” The team secured a 1st place finish at the San Francisco PRSRT STD Bay Region competition and a 2nd place U.S. Postage finish at the California State Competition to PAID earn the honor of representing California in Permit 21 Lafayette, CA the elementary school division.

The competition includes constructing ECRWSS

See Odyssey continued on page 18

Volume VIII - Number 5 3000F Danville Blvd #117 Alamo, CA 94507 Telephone (925) 405-6397 Fax (925) 406-0547 editor@yourmonthlypaper.com Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher

The opinions expressed herein belong to the writers, and do not necessarily reflect that of Lafayette Today. Lafayette Today is not responsible for the content of any of the advertising herein, nor does publication imply endorsement.

Page 2 - May 2014 ~ Lafayette Today

Boulevard View

By Alisa Corstorphine, Editor

I recently went to a gathering in the town of Lincoln, California which is about an hour and a half northeast of our area. When I programmed the address I was going to into my Maps program, I was given three routes I could take. The first route was the quickest, and the trip was all traveled major highways. The second choice added an estimated five minutes to the journey and traveled on some lesser traveled highways and back roads. The third choice added 30 minutes to the route and took more a few more back roads. I figured that for an extra five minutes I would change up the scenery a little and see a few new roads in California that I had never traveled.

The drive started off on the busy multi-lane highways of 680, 80, 505, 5, and 99. As soon as I exited the highway for the back roads part of my venture, I found myself on a narrow two lane road. I was in another world. Where I could have been in a bustling pack of cars and looking out at billboards, retail

www.yourmonthlypaper.com establishments, and fast-food joints, I found myself in the midst of farms and rice fields. I heard flocks of birds and passed roads named with simple names like “Critter Creek.” Only nature and a few homes and farms surrounded me.

I took an extra few minutes out of my journey and scoured around for a few hidden geocaches (learn more at www.geocaching.com) en route to my destination, learned a little history of the area, and added a couple logs to my geocache collection.

Where before I may have arrived at the gathering feeling frenzied, instead I arrived calm and refreshed.

With just a minimum of planning there are a lot of things to see and do that might be a little different or unique when going on a trip. When planning vacations I always search the internet with queries such as “unique things to do in ____location.” This has led me away from some of the tourist trap hotspots in favor of a jaunt off the beaten path.

I recently stumbled upon a website called Atlas Obscura (www. atlasobscura.com). The site is “for people who still believe in DISCOVERY,” their “About Us” page describes. They go on to say the site is the “definitive guide to the world’s wondrous and curious places.” While they list unique places and sites to see all over the world, such as homes built entirely out of paper, gigantic flaming holes in the ground, the Smile Face museum, and the “Crypt of Civilization,” considered to be the first conventional time capsule; there are also over 100 places that have been shared on the site that are within an hour of our local community. There is the Mazzariello Labyrinth in Oakland, the “Cow Bones of Mount Diablo,” the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum in Fremont, the “Gnomes of Lake Merritt,” the Bohart Museum of Entomolgy at UC Davis that holds a collection of over six million insects from all over the world, and the Pacific Pinball Museum in Alameda. I have had a chance to visit a few of the local spots and now have a queue of sites to see when we have out-of-town guests or are just looking for “Staycation” ideas.

As summer is drawing near, now is the time to put a list together of places to see and things to do, before heading out on the road less traveled!

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Lafayette Today ~ May 2014 - Page 3

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The Jazz Café returns to Lafayette

Lafayette’s Annual Jazz Café will be held Friday, June 6 at 6 in the Stanley Middle School Auditorium. There is a fabulous lineup featuring the Wednesday Morning Jam Session, the Stanley Crusaders, the Stanley Jazz Messengers, the Campolindo Big Band, and the Acalanes Jazz Ensemble.

There will be pre-concert entertainment by the Dominant 7, a Stanley/ Acalanes student combo. General admission is $10 per person, reserved seating is $15, elementary students are $5 and children under six are free.

If that’s not enough, Los Primos Taco Truck will be selling scrumptious food from 5:30-7:30pm. Dessert, coffee, and beverages will be available for purchase all evening. And to top it off, drawings will be held to give away fabulous gift baskets! This is the only fundraiser for the Stanley Middle School Jazz Program. The Jazz Café has become a real go-to event for the City of Lafayette. Don’t miss out on this once-a-year treat!

For more information, contact Jodi Schiller at 925-322-9136 or email jodi.schiller@gmail.com.

Taste of Lafayette

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pm

Don’t miss the town of Lafayette’s favorite dinner party – the “Taste of Lafayette” restaurant stroll is scheduled for Tuesday, May 20th from 5:30-9pm.

There will be 24 participating restaurants. Tickets are on sale now.

Sample signature dishes from the town’s regionally popular Restaurant Row restaurants and local caterers as you stroll through downtown Lafayette.

The evening starts with entertainment and a hosted wine and beer reception for all at 5:30pm at the Lafayette Plaza Park.

The “stroll” begins at 6:30PM, when ticket holders head out at their own pace to stop at any or all of the participating restaurants for sampling over the next two hours. Participating restaurants include Amarin Thai Restaurant, American Kitchen, Back to the Table, Chevalier Restaurant, La Finestra Ristorante, Mangia Ristorante, Patxi’s Pizza, Postino, Round Table Pizza, Rustic Tavern, Susan Foord Catering, SusieCakes, The Cooperage, Uncle Yu’s Szechuan, and Yankee Pier. Two free shuttle buses will also serve the route.

At the end of the stroll, everyone meets back at Lafayette Plaza Park at 8:30PM to compare notes over dessert and coffee.

Tickets are $50 and are available online at www.lafayettechamber.org; at the Lafayette Chamber offices, located at 100 Lafayette Circle, Suite 103; or by calling 925-284-7404.

Pet Adoption Days

A miniature schnauzer named Maddie inspired a $300 million legacy dedicated to giving every dog and cat in the United States what she had: a loving home. This year, $10 million of that legacy will go to Maddie's® Pet Adoption Days, a free pet adoption event for the nation’s homeless dogs and cats, now in its fifth year.

Maddie was a beloved four-legged family member of David Duffield, founder of Workday® and PeopleSoft, and his wife, Cheryl. For the last four years, Maddie's Fund®, their family's foundation, has sponsored Maddie’s® Pet Adoption Days to honor her memory.

“When we look into the eyes of the dogs and cats at the adoption event, we see Maddie's spirit in every one of them,” says Duffield. “We want all of them to have a chance to inspire, love, and enrich the lives of their future families the way Maddie did ours.”

This year, Maddie’s® Pet Adoption Days will be held the weekend of May 31 - June 1, and will expand to include 200 animal shelters and rescue groups in 14 communities across the United States. Maddie’s Fund has earmarked $10 million as a way to give back to the participating organizations, donating up to $2,000 per adopted dog or cat. The goal of the event is to find loving homes for 10,000 homeless dogs and cats over the weekend by waiving all adoption fees for the public.

For locations and hours of upcoming adoption sites, please visit adopt. maddiesfund.org.

Lafayette Recreation is Here to Help!

The City of Lafayette Recreation Department is excited about the new recreation registration site and the many benefits it has to offer. However, we understand that with change there can also be growing pains. Starting with summer 2014 registrations, everyone will need to create a new account (even if you have a current user name and log in). We suggest that you create your account soon to speed up the process when you sign up for your camps and classes.

Go to www.LafayetteRec.org to create your account. You can also always call the recreation staff at (925) 284-2232, Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm, and they will be happy to provide any help needed. We recommend visiting the site on your laptop or desktop as some mobile devices may have trouble due to the required plugins. There is an app in the developmental stages, and we do not recommend utilizing it at this time. Thanks everyone for their patience during this time of transition, and we look forward to a summer full of fun at our many camps and classes for all ages.

Page 4 - May 2014 ~ Lafayette Today

LOPC.org

Sundays — 9:00 & 11:00 a.m.

Programs for Kids, 3-mos.-12th grade Classes & Activities for Adults LAFAYETTE-ORINDA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH SUMMER SUNDAYS: July 6 through August 31, 9:00 & 10:30 a.m.

Lafayette Hiking Group

Lafayette Juniors Host Kitchen Tour

Tickets are on sale 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 the Tour benefit the work of five local nonprofit 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.

To participate in hikes, meet in the parking lot out from Lafayette BART’s main entrance at 8:30AM unless a different meeting time or place is indicated. We form carpools to the trailhead.

Bring lunch or snacks, water, layered clothing, good walking shoes, sun protection, and money to contribute toward gas, bridge tolls, and parking ($3 local, more if further).

May 17- Bartholomew Park Hike & Winery, Sonoma Hike for about two miles with 500 feet elevation gain. See varied vegetation and valley views, and end the hike with wine tasting in the museum and a potluck picnic. Please make reservations to georgedenney01@comcast.net by May 12th. The hike can accommodate a maximum of 14 people.

For additional information, visit www.bartpark.com or contact leader George Denney at (925) 7879437. Note, this hike meets at Lafayette BART at 9AM. June 7 – Briones Park from Bear Creek Enjoy a three mile loop hike starting from the Bear Creek staging area and heading uphill with great views of Mount Diablo and the Carquinez Strait, weather permitting. This is an easy-moderate hike on fire roads. Hiking poles are useful on a couple of steep hills. The hike leader is Kate Marshall.

For questions, email LafayetteHiking@comcast.net.

Bookmark Contest Draws Hundreds of Entries

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The winners of this year’s Friends of the Lafayette Library and Learning Center’s Bookmark Contest are 1st grade - Leela Anzenberger, 2nd grade - Ella Thomason, 3rd grade - Declan Henderson, 4th grade - Kristi Conner, 5th grade Hayden van Steyn, 6th grade Gavin Jones, and 7th grade - Felix Varnai. Hall of Fame winners are Chaya Tong, 5th grade, and Owen Gonzales, 6th grade.

Nearly 450 Lafayette students participated in the annual contest. Each first-time winner received a $25 gift certificate from the Storyteller, and the “Hall of Fame” winners received a $25 gift certificate from the Friends Corner Book Shop.

The Hall of Fame honors students who submit outstanding artwork and have won the contest previously. In addition, Anthony Ruiz of Fastframe in Lafayette is framing each student’s bookmark free of charge. Mr. Ruiz also frames all the winners’ artwork for display in the Library. He has generously supported the Bookmark Contest for over 15 years.

Knife and Fork Clipart

3/27/14 5:32 PM

Taste Taste

of Lafayette of Stroll Down A AStroll Down

L a f a y e t t e

Resturant Row Restaurant Row Tuesday, May 20 5:30 - 9 PM

http://www.clker.com/cliparts/O/N/5/U/m/I/knife-and-fork-clipart.svg

Wine & Appetizers 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.

Lafayette Plaza Reception Music -Beatles Tribute

Stroll & Taste 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Sample 20+ Restaurants Walk -- or Take Free Shuttle

8:30 - 9:30 p.m.

Lafayette Plaza Reception

SPECTACULAR RAFFLE Tickets Limited! $50/person * http://bit.ly/Taste-Lafayette * Early Bird Price:

$45 thru 5/9

Presented by Lafayette Chamber of Commerce

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Lafayette Today ~ May 2014 - Page 5

Lafayette Green Awards

The City of Lafayette and the Lafayette Environmental Task Force are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2013 Lafayette Awards of Environmental Excellence, more commonly known as the Lafayette Green Awards, which recognize outstanding efforts that contribute to a more sustainable community and help the City achieve its environmental goals. Awards are chosen across five different categories: residents, local businesses, schools, community organizations, and green building.

The 2013 winners include: • Resident – Tina Goodfriend • Local Businesses – Rising Loafer Café & Bakery, and Hunsucker Goodstein PC • Schools – Erika Pringsheim-Moore • Community Organizations – Friends Corner Book Shop • Green Building – The Fresh Connection (Scott Thomsen, Architect, and Hank Miller, Owner) The winners were formally announced at the Lafayette Earth Day Festival, and Mayor Tatzin presented the awards to the recipients at the end of April City Council meeting.

For more information on the Green Awards, please visit www.lovelafayette.org/GreenAwards.

Interested in Government?

Seeking Volunteers for County Advisory Boards

Supervisor Candace Anderson is looking for interested, motivated residents to serve on a few Contra Costa County citizen advisory boards. These voluntary boards usually meet monthly and advise the Board of Supervisors on a variety of issues. They play a vital role in county government, and provide important input.

District 2 includes Alamo, Canyon, Danville, Lafayette, Moraga, Orinda, Parkmead, Rossmoor, San Ramon, Saranap, and Walnut Creek (West of N. Main Street). Applications are currently being accepted from residents of District 2 for seats on the following boards: • Alcohol and Other Drugs Advisory Board: Applicants shall have a professional interest in, or personal commitment to, alleviating problems related to drug abuse and inappropriate alcohol use in their community.

• Aviation Advisory Committee: Advise the Board of Supervisors on aviation issues as they relate to the airports in Contra Costa County.

• In Home Support Services Public Authority Advisory Committee: Make recommendations to the BOS regarding the IHSS program.

• Mental Health Commission: Reviews and evaluates the community’s mental health needs, services, facilities.

Consumer Seat available.

For more information about each board, go to http:// contra.napanet.net/maddybook/. For an application, go to www.co.contra-costa.ca.us/DocumentCenter/View/6433.

For additional assistance, you may contact, Jill Ray at (925) 957-8860 or jill.ray@bos.cccounty.us.

PROUDLY INTRODUCING Merrill Gardens at Lafayette Opening Summer 2014!

Retirement Living, Assisted Living and Memory Care Delight in our exclusive Anytime DiningSM program and enjoy fresh, restaurant-style meals served on your schedule – 7 am to 7 pm – seven days a week.

If that isn’t enough, consider this commitment: If you choose to leave within the first 60 days, we will refund your rent in full!

Call to schedule a visit to learn more!

(925) 854-1858 1010 Second Street Lafayette, CA 94549 merrillgardens.com 042914bCT_LAF_LafToday_A.indd 1

License Pending

5/2/14 Lafayette Girl Scouts Celebrate Volunteer Appreciation Week

9:55 AM

Girl Scout volunteers do more than just give of their time and skills. They continue to build upon a legacy that has inspired girls and young women all over the world for nearly 100 years. Our 604 volunteers have fun and feel great knowing that they have helped build our local membership of 869 girls with courage, confidence, and character to make the world a better place. Did you know that there are waiting lists to place girls in troops? You could be their cheerleader, guide, and mentor, helping them develop skills and confidence that will last long after the meeting is over. Imagine the smiles, the excitement, and the memories made those are the moments you'll share at Girl Scouts. For more information or to join Lafayette Girl Scouts, visit www.lafayettegirlscouts.org.

Pictured (not in order): Janene Goodman, Stephanie Burton, Sandy Magnus, Lisa Palma, Colleen McCarty, Linda Bailey, Julie Bishop, TJ Kirke, Darci Olson, Kristin Ingram, Alison Wash, Kim McLellan, Joan Lo, Joan Toney, Tanya Parmelee, Lulu Braunstein, Diella Wottrich, Heidi Felt, Susie DeCarlo, Leslie Machtmes, Charisse Stratford, Carolyn Wan, Liz Shipman, Francesa Lohman, Angela Starbuck, Justine Parmelee, Tina Sappal, Robin Nick, Sibel Giftgi, Queen Hui, Trish Gregovich, Nicole Carberry, Danette Webb, and Sue Reimer.

Page 6 - May 2014 ~ Lafayette Today

The Bookworm

By Joan Stevenson

The town sign in front of Safeway announces... The Friends of the Lafayette Library are celebrating their 75th birthday! I wondered, “Where would we be without our wonderful Friends?” I put this question to Vicki Sciacca, our librarian at Lafayette Library and Learning Center. Here is what she said.

“I celebrate the Friends 365 Days a year. The Friends keep the library open on Sundays all year long by providing support for all the staffing hours required.

Their financial support provides a very large portion of the book, audiobook, DVD, CD, and periodical collection as well as financial support of children, teen, adult, and family library programs. The summer reading program book prizes for kids comes from gifts to the library as well as 35% to the annual Lamorinda Reads including the purchase of the selected book for community reads and the cost of the author event. The Friends support and host Sweet Thursday, a monthly author event and have since its inception at the old library.

Plus, the Friends provide financial support to the LLLC Foundation.

Who would have thought 75 years ago, when the Friends began selling donated books on Saturday morning at the Community Center parking lot, that they would actually help grow an essential community anchor? Thank you for never losing sight of the dream because you helped to build our amazing library and the LLLC program. The annual meeting will be a celebration on May 12th.

One more congratulations to those high achievers - The City of Lafayette and the Lafayette Environmental Task Force announced the recipients of the 2013 Lafayette Awards of Environmental Excellence, more commonly known as the Lafayette Green Awards, which recognizes outstanding efforts that contribute to a more sustainable community and help the City achieve its environmental goals. The winner in the Community category is The Friends Corner Book Shop. Awesome! Support the next Corner Book Shop Half Price Book Sale on Saturday, May 17 from 9-5PM.

www.yourmonthlypaper.com A docent from the California Legion of Honor joins us on Tuesday, May 13 from 2-3PM in the Community Hall to discuss the extraordinary exhibit, “Intimate Impressionism” as the Friends present “Wonders of the World.”

The docent will discuss the painter’s process in capturing fleeting moments and personal places, highlighting some of the Impressionists’ most iconic subjects, such as ballerinas and racehorses by Degas, still lifes by Paul Cézanne, and beautiful young women by Renoir. We’ll also see examples of flattened perspectives and patterned surfaces by the Nabi painters Vuillard and Pierre Bonnard. The event is free. Reserve by calling 925-385-2280 x1 or visiting www.tinyurl.com/LLLCFImpressionism.

That same day, Tuesday, May 13, The Whale Bus is coming to Curiosity Corner! The Lafayette Library will be transformed into a Marine Mammal Museum. This ocean field trip includes hands-on activities and exploration of specimens as we learn about whales, dolphins, and porpoises. There will be two sessions – 1:45 - 2:45PM or 3:15 – 4:15PM. Each session limited to 30 children. Since space is limited, this is for children only. Please register by calling 925-385-2280.

So, while we are out there in the ocean, let’s think dolphins. On Thursday, May 15 at 7PM in the community Hall, the Friends will welcome author Pamela Turner to Sweet Thursday. As she tells us about her book, The Dolphins of Shark Bay, we can travel alongside her and meet a cast of dolphin characters, Puck, Picolo, Flute, and Dodger who will help us answer the question, “Why are dolphins so smart?”

You are invited for a special storytime with crafts and treats on Saturday, May 17th at 12:30PM. The Assistance League of Diablo Valley will be at the library to share their book, Where’s Your Grandma Today? So come…and bring your grandma!

The next event in the Distinguished Speaker Series to be held on Sunday, June 8 at 4PM in the Community Hall, will feature the dynamic duo – Kelly Corrigan and Katie Hafner in a conversation on the topic of mothers and daughters. Corrigan is the bestselling author of The Middle Place and her new book, Glitter and Glue. Katie’s memoir is titled, Mother, Daughter, Me. For more information and reservations, call 925-283-6513. This series is a project of the Lafayette Learning Center Foundation.

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Fifty Years Ago

By Ruth Bailey, Lafayette Historical Society

Half a century ago this month, the hot topic in Lafayette was control of the town’s raging waters.

According to an issue of the Lafayette Sun in June 1964, “Scores of Lafayette and Las Trampas Creek dwellers blasted the Contra Costa Flood Control District (CCFCD), charging gross neglect. The district’s chief engineer said that since 1955, the CCFCD had spent $688,000 on construction in the Lafayette area on five projects.” The residents countered that except for a $47,000 bridge across Las Trampas Creek adjacent to Glenside Drive, the construction money has all been spent in the business district, which takes up less than 5% of the footage along the two creeks.

Las Trampas Creek comes from the south, follows St. Mary’s Road, makes a right turn in the Lafayette business district, and flows east into Saranap and Walnut Creek.

Lafayette Creek starts at the Lafayette Reservoir and runs east through the town parallel to Mt. Diablo Blvd. where it joins Las Trampas Creek at Golden Gate Way. “Ninety-five percent of the banks of these two creeks are along residential areas in Lafayette. During winter or after a lengthy rain, Lafayette and Las Trampas creeks become rivers jumping their banks and allowing people in boats to be carried downstream,” reported a resident living alongside the troubled waters.

He continued: “The cave-in was three feet from my driveway last year, so I called the Flood Control people. They said they sympathize…and would give me a permit to build a retaining wall…so I had to spend $2,000 on materials.

When I asked if I could put trout in the creek nine years ago, they said it isn’t my property. Last year, when I asked them to clean out the creek when it was flooding my house, they said ‘Clean out your own creek.’”

“I spent hundreds of dollars on a retaining wall.” said a 77-year-old blind man who lives on Brook Street near Lafayette Creek.

On Other Matters

The issue of fluoridation was scheduled to go to voters on the June 1964 ballot. The arguments: PRO: “Fluoridation of the public water supply is the safest, cheapest and most efficient means of reducing the incidence of dental caries in our young people. It is our moral duty and legal right to select this means of promoting the general public health.”

CON: “It is unreasonable expensive, dangerous--risky because it hasn’t been properly studied or tested--immoral because a relatively few children

County Victims Assistance Program Gives Victims a Voice

By Supervisor Candace Andersen, Contra Costa District 2

Recently, I attended the District Attorney’s (DA’s) Office Victims’ Rights Week Recognition Ceremony.

This annual event honors individuals who make a difference for crime victims in Contra Costa County.

This year’s recipients included Victim Assistance Program support staff, District Attorneys and Investigators, local Law Enforcement Officers, community crime victim advocate volunteers, a witness to a crime, and a crime survivor.

The Contra Costa County Victim Assistance Program seeks to empower victims and witnesses of crime through advocacy and support. Support staff and volunteers work tenaciously to give victims a voice in the criminal justice system, protect their rights, and treat each individual with dignity and respect.

The programs are 100% grant funded through Cal-OES, the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. Victim Witness Centers are located in all 58 counties in California and provide mandated services under Penal Code section 13835. The Centers were put into effect with the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) in 1984 with the recognition that victims needed access to services to recover from trauma and to give them some rights in our justice system.

Advocates are assigned to all filed violent crimes that are being prosecuted in the DA’s Office. An advocate makes contact with the victim or family and will stay with them through the end of the criminal case and even beyond.

require a great number of adults to be forcibly medicated, and it’s un-American because it deprives the individual of the basic right of the freedom of choice.”

The actual vote in June 1964 was “Yes,” 37,447; “No,” 43,207.

Lafayette Today ~ May 2014 - Page 7

Also in the News

• “Cruising the Creek (referencing the city of Walnut Creek) Gains Popularity.”

Beneath the headline a photo of a bumper-tobumper traffic taken at 9PM on a Friday night, the caption read: “Walnut Creek street scene shows the intersection near Civic Drive and North Main Street, as hundreds of teenagers in and on assorted vehicles contribute to the mounting congestion, which is causing increasing concern to businessmen, city officials and those trying to move down the street. The time exposure was made to illustrate the problem, which becomes acute on Friday and Saturday nights, as youngsters from throughout the area drive up and down the narrow street.” George Lucas could have made America Graffiti much closer to home, apparently, though he was living the cruising life in Modesto in the ‘60s, and that’s what the movie portrayed.

• On the morning of April 30, 1964, 43 people died when a Pacific Airlines turbojet on a flight from Reno to San Francisco crashed on the Brown Ranch near Tasajara Road in Danville.

• But to end on positive notes, an advertisement for Mother’s Day suggested making mom happy with a new GE portable TV for $99.95. “It weighs only 12 pounds,” was a key selling point. And the Yarn Basket in Walnut Creek announced a knitting contest. The lucky winning knitter was to receive two tickets to the Beatles’ August show in San Francisco!

The focus is to provide information about the court process, offer resources, and assist with applications to the California Victim Compensation Program.

They also help protect and advocate for victims’ rights --under Marsy’s Law which was passed by the voters in 2008 and is part of the California Constitution -- assist with restitution and victim impact statements, and provide emotional support. Advocates go to court with victims and act as a liaison with Deputy District Attorneys, law enforcement, and community agencies.

There are two Victim Assistance Centers, one in Martinez at 900 Ward Street, (925) 957-8650; and one in Richmond at 100 – 37th Street, (510) 3743272. There are also Advocates located at the Pittsburg and Richmond Police Departments who focus on reaching out to crime victims shortly after a crime occurs to provide services and resources as soon as possible. They work closely with law enforcement in East and West County to offer support and information about the criminal process. These advocates help victims in situations where there may not be a suspect or not enough information to file charges, or when the investigation may take a lot of time to complete. Advocates are reaching out to people who were previously underserved to make sure that they have the needed resources to begin recovering from the crime.

The program is always in need of volunteers to help support the work the advocates do. In fact, grants require that volunteers are utilized to help provide services to victims. If you are interested in volunteering, call (925) 957-8650 or email vwp@contracostada.org.

My office is here to serve the residents of Contra Costa County District 2, which includes San Ramon, Danville, Alamo, Walnut Creek, Saranap, Parkmead, Lafayette, Moraga, Canyon, and Orinda. Please don't hesitate to contact us if we can provide you with additional information on this topic or on other County issues. I can be reached at SupervisorAndersen@bos.cccounty.us or 925-957-8860.

Page 8 - May 2014 ~ Lafayette Today

Reducing Your “Water Footprint”

By Linda Riebel, Sustainable Lafayette

www.yourmonthlypaper.com

You’ve probably heard of the term “carbon footprint,” which refers to the total amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions that a person produces from his or her home, transportation, and so on. With the ongoing drought in California, it may be even more important to think about our “water footprint” – the total amount of water used to supply our home and yard AND to produce all the products and services that we use.

When we think about our total water consumption, we tend to think primarily of the water we use at home and in our yards, but the products we buy, especially food, have a significant water footprint as well. Did you know that in California about 80% of our fresh water is used for agriculture? This means that some of the most water-intensive products you use are on your dinner plate.

Every ounce of food is the product of sun, soil, nutrients – and water. But some foods take much more water to produce than others.

To produce a ton of vegetables, growers use over 85,000 gallons of water. By contrast, producing a ton of beef uses 4 million gallons of water – 47 times as much.

Let’s look at the water required for some familiar items: • Apple – 30 gallons • Cup of coffee – 37 gallons • One egg – 53 gallons • Quarter pound of cheese – 150 gallons • One chicken breast – 300 gallons • One hamburger – 600 gallons • One steak – 1,100 gallons One surprising fact is that soft drinks require much more water than you see in the can or bottle. Counting the growing of sugar, making plastic bottles and packaging, and other manufacturing steps, you drink only 1% of the water that goes into a serving of soda!

Keep in mind that facts may vary depending on the variety of a given food, where it was grown and by what method, how it is transported, and so on. But even having good estimates can enable us to create a smaller “water footprint” with our food choices.

You can estimate your personal water footprint by using the calculator at www. waterfootprint.org. This website also contains a gallery of photos and facts about the water footprint of various products. Other fascinating websites are Food and Water Watch (foodandwaterwatch.org) and Virtual Water (virtual-water.org). “Virtual water” is a concept that is now being used to measure the environmental use of all sorts of products, including food.

A few simple ideas for lowering your water footprint: • If you eat meat, try to choose meats that require less water to produce.

• Learn meat-free recipes and menus. Every meal without meat saves water.

• Try dairy-free drinks like soymilk and almond milk.

• Reduce food waste and compost the scraps.

• Drink tea or water as an alternative to soft drinks.

To see more water saving tips and real-world success stories written by your neighbors, please visit sustainablelafayette.org.

editor@yourmonthlypaper.com

Lafayette Today ~ May 2014 - Page 9

Chardonnay Day

By Monica Chappell

Hooray for Chardonnay! How popular is Chardonnay? It’s popular enough to have May 22nd dubbed World Chardonnay Day. Almost without question, Chardonnay is the world’s greatest white wine. The drink has characteristics ranging from citrus and green apple in cool climates to pear, tropical fruit and fig in warmer areas, and it is almost always complicated with some spice, vanilla, and toasty notes from contact with oak.

v

Growing Regions

Chardonnay grows in nearly every wine producing area in the world, but it shines in Burgundy, France. In addition, it does particularly well in California, Chile, and Australia, producing a full blown style which can be big, heavy, and usually oaky. The French versions are often described as being more restrained and higher in acidity.

Style Variations

Chardonnay styles can vary dramatically based on origin and wine maker. Chardonnay is less acidic then other whites and can be bold, rich, complex, and oak loving.

Lighter styles are fermented in stainless steel tanks, have less alcohol, and are more restrained and tend to go with food better based on the higher acid levels.

Medium style have a bit more oak and increased alcohol.

Full bodied styles are richer with lots of oak and perhaps malo-lactic fermentation.

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Chardonnay can be hard to match with food if it is high in alcohol (13-14%) or has a lot of oak flavor, creating a heavier weight and body. A few matching tips for food pairings with Chardonnay: • Match with dishes of similar weight and body. Look for textural elements in both the food and the wine.

• Spicy food tends to accentuate the alcohol and oak in the wine and usually are not pleasant together.

• Decadent Chardonnays can match the buttery richness of foods.

• High alcohol wines can go well with slightly sweet food.

Bridge Ingredients can Help Marry the Dish to the Wine

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Label Lingo

You may see the following words on Chardonnay labels: barrel fermented (which imparts toasty oak flavors), cold fermented (which preserves fresh, youthful fruit flavors), and lees contact or sur lie (increasing the contact time between the lees, or sediment, and the wine to add complexity and richness).

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Chardonnay Aliases

Burgundy produces Chardonnays under many local place names, such as Chablis, Pouilly-Fuissé and Meursault, as well as wines with Montrachet in the name.

Go out and enjoy some Chardonnay today!

Monica Chappell teaches wine appreciation classes. For upcoming classes, visit www.wineappreciation101.blogspot. com.

Page 10 - May 2014 ~ Lafayette Today

www.yourmonthlypaper.com

Ruth Bancroft Garden

By Linda Summers Pirkle

My sister and I inherited our mother’s jade plants. Mine are planted in three very heavy terra cotta pots. Every winter I drag the pots from the edge of my patio to a place near the house to keep them from freezing, then come spring I drag them back out to their spots. My mother had them for many years before I got them; they are at least forty years old. I have to admit, they are not my favorite plant -- I always thought they were a bit old fashioned, a bit like the purple carpet of ice plant we had in our front yard. But they were mom’s, so of course they have a special place in my heart.

Succulents, like my jade plants, echeveria, and aloes are very popular plants now, because of their drought resistance and easy maintenance. The latest Martha Stewart Living magazine features an article called “Sensational Succulents.”

A portion of the article states, “This group of plants is quickly becoming popular with home gardeners because of the ease with which they can be propagated, raised, divided, and even shared with friends and other gardeners. In addition, because Offer expires 06/30/14 Offer expires 06/30/14 Offer expires 06/30/14 most require only small amounts of moisture, little cultivation, and pruning, and modest amounts of growing medium, they are excellent Cinema Classics varieties to enjoy in even drought-plagued areas and warm or hot climates.”

Yours, Mine, and Ours For Ruth Bancroft, age 105, of the Ruth Bancroft Gardens in Walnut Creek,

By Peggy Horn these plants have never gone out of “style” and have been a focus for her This month’s Cinema Classic is a favorite film incredible collection for the past 40 years. According to the website for the of mine entitled, Yours, Mine, and Ours, (1968) Garden, when Ruth was in her 60’s she began to plant succulents on the threestarring Lucille Ball and Henry Fonda. The acre property, and her garden attracted much attention from horticulturists and screenplay, written by Melville Shavelson and gardeners. She learned about gardening from reading and experimenting and Mort Lachman, is funny, clever, and heartwarming. figuring out what worked. The garden opened to the public in the early 1990’s.

Even though I have seen this movie several times, I I visited the Ruth Bancroft Gardens on one of the few rainy days this spring.

Although the garden is located on a parcel of land between the busy streets still laugh out lout all over again watching it.

The movie is based on the true story of the Beardsley family, a blended family of Treat and Ygnacio Valley Road in Walnut Creek, it is a very serene spot. with eighteen children. Apparently Desilu Productions purchased the rights to With umbrellas, our group of ten followed Adrian, our guide, down pathways, the movie several years before Helen Beardsley wrote a book about her family’s under trees and into a glorious green house filled with gorgeous, sometimes life entitled, Who Gets The Drumstick? (1965). Critics were cool on this movie, eerie plants that are examples of what may be a garden of the future because of its ability to thrive with little water. but the public loved it and it generated the television series, The Brady Bunch.

Adrian shared stories of how Ruth collected some of the plants and pointed Lucille Ball plays the role of Helen North, the widow of a naval test pilot who dies during the routine test of an airplane. Henry Fonda is Frank out various drought tolerant plants, all unique, each with its own story.

There is a lot going on in this special garden. They offer tours, seminars, Beardsley, a Naval warrant officer who happens to be a widower. Frank and and events including author events, art and jazz, agaves and tequila, and Helen meet on the naval base through Frank’s daughter and fall in love! In the sculpture displays in the garden. movie, their courtship takes place in San Francisco, and it’s fun to see them The garden is a nice spot to take a picnic lunch; there are picnic tables and getting a seafood snack at Fisherman’s Wharf, strolling around Ghirardelli benches tucked in among the many plants.

Square, and even taking a walk on what appears to be the Berkeley Pier. The *The 20th annual Sculpture in the Garden event, is a one of a kind event family issues are real and develop as the characters become one family. One combining outdoor art with the garden’s stunning sculptural succulents. of my favorite scenes takes place in the Buena Vista Café in San Francisco Opening day is June 13. when Frank and Helen are attempting to have an Irish Coffee – it isn’t easy! *Outdoor weddings are now available at the garden. As of April 2014, the This is a hilarious movie and even survives the test of time; the sixties beautiful grounds are available for your special event. This brand new service references are easily absorbed and don’t interfere with the rest of the movie. is not being advertised, but the garden will most likely be a very popular venue Yours, Mine, and Ours is delightfully funny, delightfully witty and, in short, for outdoor weddings of 75 to 150 people. *Ruth Bancroft Garden is located at 1552 Bancroft Road in Walnut Creek. Their just delightful. It is available for purchase or online download. It can even phone number is 925-944-9352. Their website is www.Ruthbancroftgarden.org. be viewed on YouTube! * Hours are 11AM to 6PM, Monday thru Sunday, and 7PM on Thursdays.

Musical Notes Linda Summers Pirkle, inspired by the many wonderful places to visit in For fun I have compiled a list of songs that came out in 1968, the same the Bay Area. She organizes day trips, either for groups, or for friends and year Yours, Mine, and Ours was released. They can all be heard on YouTube, family. What a great place to live, so much to see, so much to do.” To share enabling us to take a trip down memory lane or simply get a flavor for the your “Quick Trips” ideas email Coverthemap@gmail.com. music that year. They are “Suzie Q,” by Creedence Clearwater Revival, “Do You Know The Way To San Jose?” by Dionne Warwick, “Green Tambourine,” Friends Corner Book Shop The Friends Corner Book Shop, located at 1st St and Golden Gate Way, is

by The Lemon Pipers, “Classical Gas,” by Mason Williams, “Spooky,” by the Classics IV, “Dance to the Music,” by Sly and the Family Stone, and “This holding a sale with everything priced half-off on Saturday, May 17 from 9 to 5PM. Come stop by!

Guy’s in Love with You,” by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass.

editor@yourmonthlypaper.com

Walking the Reservoir

By Jim Scala

Lafayette Today ~ May 2014 - Page 11

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

Spring is nature’s special time.

Spring is nature’s time to show off all her glory.

Lafayette - According to industry ex- sale or, worse, turn prospective buyers A group of Cub Scouts walked perts, there are over 33 physical prob- away altogether. In most cases, you can the paved trail and scouter, Blaine, excitedly told me about the newborn lems that will come under scrutiny during make a reasonable pre-inspection yourself fawn being bottle fed by a ranger. a home inspection when your home is if you know what you're looking for, and Another Cub Scout described a for sale. A new report has been prepared knowing what you're looking for can help small snake that slithered across the which identifies the 11 most common you prevent little problems from growing trail. Snakes signal that summer’s of these problems, and what you should into costly and unmanageable ones. almost here. I told them to be wary know about them before you list your home To help home sellers deal with this issue before their homes are listed, a free report of rattlesnakes, especially the little for sale.

Whether you own an old home or a brand entitled "11 Things You Need to Know to ones, because they’re more dangerous. new one, there are a number of things Pass Your Home Inspection" has been Low Water. Our low water level is obvious. In most that can fall short of requirements during a compiled which explains the issues involved. years the dam apron is under water and now it’s well above. home inspection. If not identified and dealt To hear a brief recorded message about Egrets and kingfishers have moved further into the reeds with, any of these 11 items could cost you how to order your FREE copy of this report, to eat, making them more difficult to see. Worse, drought dearly in terms of repair. That's why it's call toll-free 1-866-265-1682 and enter means fewer frogs and small fish, so their food search is critical that you read this report before 2003. You can call any time, 24 hours a day, grueling. As you walk the trails, notice how nature deals you list your home. If you wait until the 7 days a week. with this dry year. It is a visual learning experience for building inspector flags these issues for Get your free special report NOW to learn the children. It teaches them the importance of conserving you, you will almost certainly experience how to ensure a home inspection doesn't water and how nature copes. costly delays in the close of your home cost you the sale of your home.

A sunny Rim walk. Doris attended my discussionThis report is courtesy of J. Rockcliff Realtors #01763819. Not intended to solicit buyers or sellers currently under contract. Copyright © 2013 demonstration about balance on the band platform. We discussed yoga poses that can help improve that essential, usually overlooked function.

I explained “balance age,” which is assessed barefooted by standing on one foot with the other held off the floor at an angle. A young person in good shape can easily stand that way and count to 30. As we get older, it becomes more difficult, especially if a person’s sedentary. Balance-age often exceeds chronological age, making the senior years more fragile. It’s just one more reason to walk the Res and do yoga poses that can help maintain and restore it to at-or-below your chronological age. After a few yoga poses, we agreed to walk the Rim Trail.

It was a clear day with a bright warm sun at 10AM when we started at the east end. I soon learned Doris is pleasant to talk with, and her enthusiasm is a bonus.

Recent rains have made the lush green hills even more vibrant and birds – including hawks and crows – seemed to be everywhere. We met several young mothers, pushing large wheeled strollers while navigating the steep, hard-packed hills. Going up the Big Oak Trail and down the Campolindo Trail allows parents with strollers to enjoy the southeast end of the rim trail with its spectacular views of Mt Diablo. It’s important to use strollers made for dirt trails.

Doris and I completed the 4.7 mile Rim Trail in a respectable 1.5 hours. Besides getting a great workout, we discussed and solved every national problem – we’ll invite President Obama next time.

Use the Westview Trail. An easy way to work into the Rim is to start the paved route counterclockwise. Turn onto the Westview, near the South end, that goes up to the Rim Trail, turn right and exit at the fish-cleaning station. It’s a spectacular 2.7 mile walk. The park office offers free trail maps and information. If you spot the observatory in the Upper Happy Valley area, please let me know.

Going to the dogs. Spring weather means more abundant and happier dogs. While walking I often comment, “That’s a magnificent dog,” or ask, “What breed is that beauty?” Dog owners always stop and thank me for the compliment, and we often start an enjoyable conversation. Without knowing, I have fallen into socialization by dogs. Studies have proven that pets, especially canines, elicit conversation and combat loneliness.

Digging into the scientific literature, I learned that owning a dog is healthy. In 1980, Dr. Erika Freedman followed people released from a coronary care unit and learned that those with dogs lived over a year longer than those without. Many studies have since confirmed and extended her findings to other aspects of health. Since laughter is good medicine and dog owners have more laughs in response to their pet’s crazy antics, isn’t it just common sense?

It’s a gift-giving time. As kids graduate and school gets out, we usually think about gifts for people we treasure. College grads will be leaving home, and school kids recognize their teachers. Steve Hobbs coffee-table book, entitled A Visual Celebration, about the Lafayette reservoir is a gift that doesn’t age and shows every aspect of the reservoir’s beauty, including Res dogs. It’s a gift that will help teachers and graduates remember Lafayette long after they’ve gone onto bigger things.

Warm weather brings opportunity. If you’d like to learn more about fitness or just link up for a Res walk, let me hear from you at Jscala2@comcast.net.

Lost Dog!

$50 REWARD If you find him and your name is drawn!

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

Lafayette Luther is Missing He has become lost in this paper.

Send a letter telling us where you found him, along with your name and address to:

Lost Dog! Lafayette Today, 3000F Danville Blvd #117, Alamo, CA 94507

Leslie Savoye is our winner!

Luther was hiding on page 15 last month.

Contra Costa Wind Symphony Presents “Johan de Meij Live!”

The Contra Costa Wind Symphony (CCWS) will present “Johan de Meij Live!”on Sunday, May 18 at 7:30PM. The event will feature a rare Bay Area appearance by the Dutch composer, who will conduct several of his works including the West Coast premiere of his new “Symphony No. 4, Sinfonie der Lieder (Symphony of Songs).” This work features acclaimed mezzo-soprano Kristin Gornstein from New York and the Piedmont East Bay Children’s Choir.

The performance will take place at the Lesher Center for the Arts, located at 1601 Civic Drive in Walnut Creek. Tickets can be purchased by calling (925) 943-SHOW(7469) or visiting lesherartscenter.org. Tickets are $25 for adults, $18 for seniors, and complimentary for students.

To learn more, visit the CCWS website at www.CCWindSymphony.org.

www.yourmonthlypaper.com

Page 12 - May 2014 ~ Lafayette Today

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Make music in the garden at the Wind Chime Workshop being held May 17th from 2 - 5PM. Wind chimes can be made with many elements, so use your imagination!

There will be filament, string, drills, fasteners, and glues along with bamboo and assorted materials to use in creating your chime! Bring old keys, bottle caps, beads, utensils, nuts and bolts, and anything else to make your wind chime uniquely yours!

Meet rain or shine at the Community Garden located at 3932 Mt Diablo Blvd. A $5 donation per person is appreciated. Register at www.lafayettecommunitygarden.org.

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Your house goes on the market, and by all accounts from your Realtor® there is plenty of interest – in fact you might get multiple offers. So, what does that really mean? Simple put, you have more than one suitor for your property! You can never be sure whether your home’s value will be less than, more than, or at asking price until potential buyers arrive.

However, while having multiple offers is a great situation to be in for sellers, there are plenty of cautions to heed before you get too excited.

Buyers are starting to get very leery of the way home prices have increased in such a short period of time. Sellers have a pricing mentality that if a particular house down the block sold for one price, and another one which is not as nice sold for another price, then theirs is clearly worth way more than those two. In order to create a multiple offer situation, you have to price your home correctly. When a home is priced too high, leery buyers may pass and at best leave you stuck with only one offer. Buyers in this situation feel like they are in control because they are the only ones to show interest in a high priced property. Sellers who price too low make it seem like buying your home is a ticket to the moon, and the opposite effect may occur, and buyers may get nervous and decide not to bid on the home because D N OT H they think they have no chance.

AD 100% I say the best strategy is humility. There has definitely been interest in T U R A market, and I am cautiously optimistic that there may be more theNAhousing L than one LA R offer on a home – we’ll finally know on judgment day! Remember, E UG T it justH takes two to be a multiple offer. Certainly more offers are nice, but be thankful if they come your way because it doesn’t always happen that way, and for a long time it didn’t happen at all!

If you have any questions about selling or buying a home in the area, please contact me at (925) 200-2591 or by email at art@artlehman.com.

If you’d like a free automatic email update of current listings and sales, Advertorial visit my website to sign up at www. artlehman.com or call!

Come hear a scientific presentation on the health effects of cell phones, cell towers, smart meters, and other devices on May 29th at 6:30pm.

Last December members of the St. Perpetua school and church were presented with a proposal for a cell tower to be erected by AT&T. A group of concerned parents researched potential hazards a cell tower might have on our children and found compelling data showing adverse biologic effects of electromagnetic radiation emitted by cell towers and wireless technology.

As AT&T’s application to construct a tower is with the City Counsel, parents continue their quest to educate the community on the topic. Come to the Lafayette Library at 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd. and hear author Martin Blank talk on how we can keep our families and communities safer while using technology. There will be special guests and clips from the new film Mobilize.

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Energy Matters

By Mark Becker, GoSimpleSolar

Lafayette Today ~ May 2014 - Page 13 fully remodeled homes. Most new homes automatically qualify because of local efficiency regulations for a new build. Today’s average rebate is about $8,000 additional monies back to the homeowner for an average sized solar system. The 30% Federal Tax Credit is still available for two and a half years.

A recent article in Solar Today titled “Sorting Out Legal Responsibility for Defective Solar Panels” was a head shaker yet provided me much business model validation. If a business offers safe product choices to its customers, and installs them properly, “defective solar panels” and “sorting out responsibility” will never be an issue. The best warranty IS the best product. The finger pointing in the article is tragic; the manufacturer blames product failure as a result of poor installation practices on the installer, and the installer blames poor quality control at the manufacturing plant. The agreement between the insurer and solar panel project owner restricts the ability of the claimant to identify the solar panel manufacturer so as to not “harm” the manufacturer. Who suffers? The consumer. Why put risk into an investment that essentially doesn’t have any if done properly and with the right products?

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 Advertorial quote, or email info@GoSimpleSolar.com.

As a business owner, there is no better place than the contracting industry to apply some very basic principles which I was fortunate enough to learn while on active duty as an officer in the military.

A business needs to have and execute a “mission statement.” Ours is simple: do what we say, when we say, for the price we say. A business must also recognize the importance of continually communicating to its customers.

Price changes are rarely legally justified and typically inappropriate. There are obvious differences between business and military missions, but success is a result of planning, executing, and improving for the next project or mission.

To guarantee success of a solar project: Find a high quality contractor with the appropriate licenses to install your solar PV system. Ninety percent of construction litigation stems from issues involving water damage which are mostly preventable with use of licensed roofer. In addition, many municipalities require an electrician to do the electric portion of the solar work because of the complexity of the installation.

A high quality contractor will recommend products that have a 25 plus year history of performance in the field. If documentation of long-term performance history is not provided, find a contractor who will provide documentation. Trust, but verify.

NEMA (Net Energy Metering Aggregation) is a new PG&E solar rate which GoSimpleSolar, by Semper Fidelis Construction, Inc is seeking a allows an electric customer with a single solar system to reduce electric costs to recently separated United States Marine or other armed service member multiple electric meters on the same or contiguous properties. Electric connection to for an entry level position. The candidate should be disciplined, have only one of the meters is required. Cost offset percentages are proportioned by the the ability to work with people, be agile, and motivated. SFC Inc/ property owner and credited to the other meters on the account via PG&E software.

GoSimpleSolar will offer a true career path to the right individual for The ability of a consumer to check a businesses’ performance and customer growth in earnings, experience, and leadership. satisfaction via online review websites is getting very popular. Review websites have the potential to become “the great equalizer” between businesses, large and small.

For the most part, it’s a valid process and makes companies’ business practices transparent to the public. Unfortunately, some false reviews do exist. Some consumers choose a local small business because of an assumed service quality advantage, while others find comfort by doing business with big box companies for the perceived stability of that company. But no longer can a large business hide behind its size as an obvious consumer choice if it has a history of poor reviews. The moral of the story for construction and solar projects: Do business with those with the best business record and products. These things are easily searchable online these days. Even Facebook is getting into the review business. Of course, back up your initial choice by checking license status at www.cslb.ca.gov, confirming liability and workman’s comp insurance status, and the oft forgotten step of calling references.

State rebates, still available: The New Solar Homes Partnership is a program Limited quantity available, while supplies last. which provides rebates to The Kitchen at Alamo Hardware & Garden Center 3211 Danville Blvd.

Items from the Kitchen availbale at Alamo Store Only!

Alamo, CA 94507 Call (925)837-2420 Text (925)272-9262 solar projects on new and Expiration date May 31st 2014

Page 14 - May 2014 ~ Lafayette Today

Don’t be Afraid of Windows 8

By Evan Corstorphine, Portable CIO

www.yourmonthlypaper.com

Recently I was invited to speak to a large group of gentlemen in Walnut Creek. We covered a variety of topics, however there was one subject which is beginning to be a common part of any computer discussion I’ve had lately. That is, “I need a new computer, but do I have to get Windows 8 with it? I’ve read reviews and they all said it’s terrible…” The Windows 8 situation is a very good example of what can happen when you have a great idea but don’t execute it very well. This month we’ll explore the issue, and I’ll give you a great tip you can use to make Windows 8 as tame as your Windows 7 or XP computer.

I respect Microsoft for their accomplishments just as I respect any successful company which has managed to be huge and prosperous like Xerox, Apple, and IBM. They are all great companies which have taken the market by storm at one point or another, and who have faced good times as well as bad. They all survive today because they employ smart people who figure out their problems and keep innovating, even when they make mistakes or the market doesn’t go their way. Sometimes, companies seem to succeed despite repeated missteps that sabotage their own success. Microsoft is in this category.

Do you remember the Windows Vista operating system? It was actually just the early version of the popular Windows 7 operating system, but Vista was released prematurely. It was slow and worked poorly. To make things worse, Microsoft “certified” it to work on under-powered computers to try to sell more units. Millions of computers were sold with insufficient processors and memory, and they ran very poorly as a result. The issue ensured that millions of people would have slow computers, and consumers held Microsoft responsible. It hurt Microsoft’s reputation, and millions of people switched over to computers running the Apple Mac operating system as a result. Apple rightly made out like a bandit.

Because of these missteps we’re perhaps a little too quick to believe the next negative piece of information we hear about Microsoft. Windows 8 is a target for that negativity because it introduced significant changes into the sacred “triangle of user experience.” The triangle of user experience is the keyboard, the mouse, and the display, which encompasses what you see and experience. If you impact what people interact with, you’re going to get some reaction, and that is exactly what the market did.

The two biggest things that bother people about Windows 8 are the “Metro” interface – the new way all of your programs are represented as multi-colored tiles, and navigating the “hot corners” to switch between the “Metro” tiles and the desktop that we’re familiar with. People get lost and frustrated because it’s not intuitive as to how to navigate the new environment. Consumers are so frustrated they don’t have time to appreciate how much faster and better their system runs.

The reason for the creation of the Metro interface is because Microsoft is unifying the “look and feel” of their product-line, including their telephones, their tablets, and their laptop and desktop operating system. The good news is that this “Metro” interface works very well on the phones, tablets, and laptops that have touchscreens. It’s very smooth and intuitive when you have a touchscreen, but it can be difficult if you don’t have one.

That means every laptop and desktop sold which doesn’t have a touchscreen is potentially frustrating for the user. Not good.

Some software engineers recognized this problem and wrote a program they call “Classic Shell,” which is a program you can use to bring back the “Start Menu” button in the lower left corner of your screen. It works great as-downloaded, but is also very customizable if you want to change the way your menus work. It’s available at www.classicshell.net. If you or someone you know has been struggling with Windows 8, download this program, run it, then reboot the computer. It will change everything for the better. When your system reboots, it will again look like your old familiar Windows desktop. Just like that, you’re going to enjoy using your computer again. Try it out and let us know how it works. I think you’ll love it.

As you revel in how much more usable your computer is after installing Classic Shell, remember Portable CIO is your local resource to fix computers of all varieties, networks, and just about everything else electronic.

Call 925-552-7953 or email helpdesk@theportablecio.com to speak with one of our friendly, knowledgeable staff.

Advertorial

Cultivating Change Fundraiser

On Sunday, June 1 from 2 - 5PM, Global Student Embassy will be holding their annual fundraising event at the Lafayette Library, located at 3491 Mt Diablo Blvd. The group is excited to partner with local businesses that are at the forefront of the sustainable movement. The family oriented event will include small bites from local food vendors, live music, wine tasting, a photo and art exhibit, a presentation about Global Student Embassy, a silent auction, and more!

To purchase tickets or learn more, visit www.globalstudentembassy. org/cococultivating change.

Global Student Embassy is a non-profit whose mission is to empower young people to become environmental stewards, social innovators, and community leaders. In collaboration with international peers, local high school students generate and implement powerful community-based solutions to shared ecological concerns.

editor@yourmonthlypaper.com

Life in the Lafayette Garden

By John Montgomery, ASLA, Landscape Architect Timeless and Transitional

I like to follow-up with my clients after a period of time to see how they were enjoying their beautiful yards. After 35 years of creating gardens, I have discovered a new distinction for how a landscape matures and why some of my clients were disappointed even though they absolutely loved their gardens initially. Timeless and Transitional, that’s it!

At first glance the phrase “Timeless and Transitional” seems a little dramatic. Well, it isn’t really and I will tell you why. It all begins with expectations! We all know a garden can be beautiful, relaxing, stunning, delightful, therapeutic, and all those great things I usually write about. On the other hand, gardens can be ugly, annoying and agitating, and sometimes they just don’t meet your expectations, and that is disappointing! Most likely you have felt the way I feel about my own garden sometimes; you too, at one time or another, have been disappointed and down right upset about your garden.

Don’t get me wrong, I love my garden and my clients love the ones I design for them, but sometimes it just seems like nature (and untrained gardeners) get the best of our expectations. Case in point, I went to visit one of my client’s gardens only to find plants that I had designed in the plans were either missing, woody and misshaped, or turned into little balls and squares. Plants were missing because nature over the last two years had taken its toll. Perennials were missing, lavender was just woody half broken stalks, and lovely arching shrubs turned into balls and squares in their prime bloom time! This is not what I expect, and most of my clients didn’t either.

I have written about the importance of the hardscape (built elements) timeless element as one aspect of creating an outdoor environment while the other element is the softscape (living elements) transitional. What I discovered in this distinction of timeless and transitional is that while the backbone of the design of the garden was still there, beautiful and functioning just as I had designed it to be, the softscape was displaying the transitions of the years. If it wasn’t the harsh cold winter, the ultra-wet spring, and the long hot Indian summer, it was untrained gardeners, the varmints, the pets, fungus, and youname-it that thrashed our expectations for a beautiful and everlasting show-piece.

Here is the good news and the bad news...Good news, there is hope! Bad news, rearrange your expectations! Gardens are truly “Timeless and Transitional.” Good design will always be timeless and will last over the years. The timeless aspects of a good landscape design are the beautiful and elegant elements of the hardscape such as well-crafted stone work on your patio, seat wall, and pool; a detailed trellis, pergola, arbor, fences, and garden gates; well-placed timeless trees like Oaks, redwoods, maples, olives, crape myrtles; and long-lasting plantings like laurel, boxwood, mock orange, wisteria, camellias, and more than I can name in one article.

While “Timeless” is a little easier to swallow, “Transitional” is the one that forces us to rearrange our expectations. We need to learn to understand that the living aspect of your design is a moving target and more unpredictable.

It has taken me almost 30 years to get it. Snails eat your plants, fungus curls your peach leaves (unless you remember to spray at the precise time), aphids

Lafayette Today ~ May 2014 - Page 15 arrive every year to devour your roses, and plants need replacing every so often just like your home needs fresh paint and new carpet.

Now you can relax in your garden; watch the transitions happen, replace and update as necessary, appreciate the majesty of your timeless elements, and rearrange your expectations to accept the transitional! I have a newfound appreciation and patience for the transitional after thirty-something years in the garden.

A hot tip from your local Landscape Architect: One of the services we offer is to work with my staff horticulturist to do consulting for clients who don’t need a full Master Landscape Plan. This service offers on-site practical advice addressing your “transitional” concerns.

Check out my website!

Gardening Quote of the Month: My green thumb came only as a result of the mistakes I made while learning to see things from the plant’s point of view. - H. Fred Ale 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

Montelindo Garden Club

The next Montelindo Garden Club Meeting (third Friday, September through May) will be on Friday, May 16th at 9AM at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, located at 66 St. Stephens Drive in Orinda. Visitors are welcome.

The topic for May’s meeting is “Critters in the Garden.” The speaker will be Joan Morris of the Contra Costa Times.

Mt. Diablo Peace & Justice Center

The Mt. Diablo Peace & Justice Center is hosting an evening with Miko Peled, author of The General’s Son, on Thursday, May 29th. A potluck will be held at 6PM, and Peled will speak and make his presentation at 7PM in the Owl Room at Mt. Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church which is located at 55 Eckley Lane in Walnut Creek.

Peled is the son of an Israeli General who believes that peace for Israel and the entire region will only come when the walls come down and a secular democracy is established where Israelis and Palestinians are able to live as equals in their shared homeland.

He will share his vision for transforming what he views as an Israeli apartheid system into a secular democracy. For more information, visit www.mikopeled.com.

Suggested donation is $20, and bring a dish to share if attending the potluck (No one will be turned away). Students attend free of charge. Additional information is available at www.ourpeacecenter.org or by calling (925) 933-7850.

Page 16 - May 2014 ~ Lafayette Today

Gardening with Kate

By Kate Guillaume

The late April rains have created an abundance of blooms. I am virtually drowning in roses, each branch is laden and hanging over my paths blocking them entirely...but they are so beautiful that I am going to let them be as long as I can manage. I will clear the paths when it is time to deadhead them next week.

While recently driving around Lafayette with some Garden Club friends on the way to see someone in Orinda I noticed that the neighborhoods have a fuel load that is going to make this fire season more of a worry than usual. Because of the drought our fire season is going to start a lot earlier this year. The Contra Costa Fire District deadline for weed abatement and clearing a defensible barrier around your home is May 31st. Fires can be deadly serious, so it is important to not only take care of your property but to pay attention to adjoining properties that have not been properly cleared. The Fire District site has information on how to treat some of the trees that are stressed and diseased which add to fire danger. Pay additional attention to tree litter, especially eucalyptus litter near or on your property. Lafayette is bounded by many open space areas, so this is going to be a season to pay close attention to all open space areas and to demand that they get abated appropriately.

Several communities have already started to implement mandatory watering restrictions. Some water districts do this by first enforcing restrictions on properties that are high water users...other water districts apply a demand that water use gets cut by ‘x’ percent...which in my opinion is a BAD policy, especially for gardeners

Creativity continued from front page

are truly interested. The program provides relevant hands-on activities, mentorship, community and family engagement, and leadership skills.

Marek is now Assistant Guild Master for the Lamorinda chapter that Rob Schwartz of Moraga stepped forward to organize a year ago. “As a child, my electrical engineer father taught me skills of soldering, circuitry,

www.yourmonthlypaper.com who have long planned and implemented gardens that are low water use and have always been good water conservationists in home water usage. If our district demands a 20% cut in water use and you have been a water-wise user, you don’t really have any reductions left to make. Make sure you contact your water district and demand that they implement a sane water restriction policy.

A great source for all gardening needs is the Master Gardeners of Contra Costa, www.ccmg.ucanr.edu. Check out their ‘Drought Tips’ and ‘Home Landscaping’ tabs. They run in conjunction with the Contra Costa Times a place called “Our Garden,” which is a true working garden. They hold free classes every Wednesday, from 9am to noon and are located on the corner of N. Wiget and Shadelands in Walnut Creek. There is plenty of parking, and the classes are perfect for beginners to professionals. There are Master Gardeners on site who are glad to share their knowledge on any gardening question.

Our Garden will be having a great class on June 25th on ‘Drought Tolerant Ornamentals.’ When you are on the Master Gardner website, put “Our Garden” in the search bar, and it will open up all of the events that are held at this location.

This is a good time to visit your local nurseries and ask them to show you their great selection of attractive water-wise plants. If you want to shop online or get familiar different plants, one of my favorite sites is www.highcountrygardens. com. This is a good resource company. I get their catalog which I refer to each spring as I plan any additions to my garden. They have a great zinnia, “Golden Eye,” which is a form of Prairie Zinnia with moon yellow flowers. It is beautiful as a filler around lavenders. Another favorite of mine is their Ratibidas columniferas, ‘Mexican Hat,’ with its burgundy yellow edged flowers...it also comes in a pale yellow. Both bloom for months on end and liven up any garden space.

Happy gardening. board, and I’ve learned how to use a sewing machine to make a case for the circuit-board,” says Zevin. “Now we are learning how to program computers. This is a group that teaches practical activities and skills that I will really use in the real world.”

When Schwartz took-on the challenge of starting the local branch, he had no idea how popular it would become. With 29 active participants, and another 21 on the wait list, the local branch is seeking volunteer adults who are willing to train and learn the program components in order to open more chapters. “The more adult volunteers we have, the more kids that can participate,” says Schwartz.

“As our youth participants’ interest and knowledge base is expanding, we are trying to enlist parents and community members as mentors and guest instructors,” says Marek, “The kids have been really receptive to seeing adults they thought of only in social contexts in a new light, as experts in professional fields and skills.”

For more information on Creativity Hacked and how to become a Guild Master, contact Lamorinda Guild Master Rob Schwartz at guild023@ hacker-scouts.org.

Cake continued from front page woodworking, and old-fashioned tinkering,” says Marek, who studied electrical engineering at Stanford for three years before changing to Science, Technology and Society. She then taught high school before changing paths and becoming an ER doctor. “I was fortunate to have my dad as a mentor, and I have used the skills he taught me in my home and in my career, and now, as assistant guild master with Creativity Hacked.

Marek, who was one of only a handful of female engineers in her college classes, is now a mother of three - ages 5, 8, and 10 - and is pleased to have found a group that offers to her kids the same skills her father taught her.

She was especially pleased to find that the group is co-ed and shows young girls the excitement of the engineering world. “Creativity Hacked is unique because it focuses on teaching kids foundational skills to be able to invent and create,” says Marek. “As a former teacher and current education innovator, Rob Schwartz has done an amazing job of organizing this guild. His Socratic questioning has encouraged cooperation and inclusiveness between the kids, and challenges them to use resources to answer their own questions.”

Zevin Acuna, 11, of Lafayette, has been attending Creativity Hacked sessions for nearly a year. He likes that the group includes both boys and girls, and he loves the hands-on activities. “I’ve learned to solder a circuit-

have a higher level of self esteem which is critical to success in life.”

Libby Gruender of Sunnyvale founded Cake4Kids in September 2010. Her goal was simple - to provide a service that brought smiles and hope to at-risk youth. In 2013 300 volunteer home bakers baked and delivered 1,000 cakes to South Bay youth. And now, Cake4Kids has expanded beyond the Peninsula to include active organizers and volunteer bakers in the East and North Bay areas.

One such volunteer baker is Janinne Franke of Danville who admits that she “needs” to bake in order to relax. It was when her husband and kids reached their baked goods saturation point that she signed-on with Cake4Kids. “I needed an outlet for my passion, and there is only so much you can bake for the local firefighters and police,” says Franke. As part of the operations team, Franke conducts orientations for East Bay bakers. Though an expert herself (trained by her grandmother whose baking skills were intuitive), Franke maintains that baking is not difficult, and that decorating is the most fun. “It is amazing what one can do with a couple of marshmallows, M&Ms, and fondant icing,” she says.

Baking expertise is definitely not a prerequisite for interested bakers, as Cake4Kids provides basic, foolproof cake recipes as well as decorating classes. Driver’s license and insurance information is required from volunteers, as is mandatory attendance at one of the orientation sessions where the “dos and don’ts” are covered. Cake bakers cover their own costs and are some-

See Cake continued on page 17

editor@yourmonthlypaper.com

The Incense-Cedar

By Blaine Brende & Joe Lamb

The incense-cedar graces many Bay Area gardens with its shade, beauty, and intriguing fragrance. Calocedrus decurrens, its Latin name, means beautiful cedar. The striking contrast between the vibrant greens of its leaves and the trunk’s rich reds creates a pleasing aesthetic further enhanced by the relaxed elegance of the weeping foliage. The beauty of this tree is not confined to the realm of the visual. The incense-cedar gives off a distinctive fragrance that fills the air with a pungent aroma strongly reminiscent of grade-school classrooms and the unforgettable smell of the pencil sharpener. In my youth, and still largely today, pencils were made from the soft and distinctively fragrant wood of Calocedrus decurrens.

The incense-cedar is not a true cedar (thus the hyphen). The so-called “true cedars” are native to the Mediterranean and the Himalayas, and are members of the genus Cedrus. These include the majestic Deodora and Atlas cedars, as well as the famous Cedar of Lebanon.

The incense-cedar, which may live a thousand years and attain a height of 150 feet, is a true California native. It evolved in North America, and its current range extends from the Cascade Mountains in northern Oregon, through the Sierra Nevadas, and down to the Sierra San Pedro Matir of Baja California. Throughout its range it has been important in the lives of Native Americans. The Klamath tribe of Oregon wove its bark into baskets. The California Paiutes made infusions of its leaves for colds. The Round Valley tribe of Mendocino Country used leaflets as flavoring when leaching acorn meal. This species has provided Native Americans with food, shelter, clothing, and music.

The incense-cedar’s natural resistance to rot made it very useful both in antiquity and in modern times. Homebuilders use it for siding, decking, moulding, and interior paneling. Landscapers use its chips and bark for mulch. Its wood is made into furniture, shingles, and railway ties. Sawdust and wood scraps help fuel cogeneration of electricity.

The softness of the wood and its resistance to splintering make the incense-cedar ideal for encasing pencil lead. However, these qualities also make the wood fragile, brittle, and potentially somewhat problematic as an urban landscape tree. When it grows as one trunk from a thick base to a single pyramid-shaped crown, the incensecedar is relatively stable; it requires little work other than the periodic removal of deadwood. But if the trunk of the tree divides into multiple columns or has large branches which turn up and rise parallel to the trunk, the tree has structural problems that make it vulnerable to column failure. After some recent winter storms, Brende & Lamb looked at many incense-cedars that had shed branches and sometimes entire columns. Most of the failed trees suffered from a malady of tree anatomy called included bark. This structural defect occurs when the bark at the crotch folds inward, and interrupts the continuity of the fibers supporting the columns.

Good pruning can ameliorate many structural problems. Co-dominant stems (more than one column of roughly the same diameter) are more likely to fail than trees with a single leading column. Sometimes reducing one of the competing leaders can minimize the hazard. If column removal is not advisable for aesthetic or functional reasons, it is often possible to cable the multiple stems together.

However, individual trees are so unstable that removal is the safest alternative.

Whatever you do, do not top these trees. Topping a cedar will eventually produce many unstable columns multiplying the risk and, ultimately, the expense of keeping the tree. Preventative medicine is almost always less expensive and more effective than later surgery. If you plant an incense-cedar, choose nursery stock with only one trunk and no crotches with included bark. Remember that a seedling cedar can grow to over a hundred feet, and that tall trees may cause view concerns for yourself and your neighbors.

Calocedrus has graced the California landscape for almost 200 million years.

With a little forethought and good pruning, the incense-cedar can continue to bless Bay Area gardens with the subtle fragrance of childhood. It takes a little effort to live at peace with this large California native, but its bounty of colors, shapes, and scents make that effort worthwhile.

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

Lafayette Today ~ May 2014 - Page 17

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Cake continued from page 16

times requested to follow a décor theme such as Thomas the Tank Engine, Princess, or simply ‘chocolate.’ “The most important aspect of a Cake4Kids cake is not that it be expertly decorated, but that the child’s name be spelled accurately and legibly, and that the cake be made with love,” says Eades.

Cake4Kids’ operations director Trish O’Dwyer is in charge of all operational elements of Cake4Kids and leads a passionate team of volunteers who keep the ship running smoothly. She is also responsible for recruiting and vetting the agencies, group homes, and shelters whose patrons become recipients of birthday cakes. The process is formal and includes verification of non-profit status as well as disclosure of financials. The volunteer bakers deliver their cakes directly to the agency, and they remain anonymous to their beneficiary. Often, the cake will be presented to the child by the child’s caseworker, helping to create a beneficial bond between the two. “We try to help reinforce with the children that their caseworkers care for them and are looking out for them,” says O’Dwyer.

“The small and kind act of baking a cake for a stranger carries great impact for both the giver and receiver,” says O’Dwyer. “The delight in recipients’ faces when they receive their large pink or white cake box is so rewarding, and our volunteers love hearing how their efforts make a difference.”

“Making a child smile and filling them with the joy of having a cake specially made for them with their name on it is a basic family gesture that I am honored to perform for a child outside of my family circle,” says Franke.

Cake4Kids is actively seeking East Bay bakers and encourages interested parties to fill out an online application. Example photos of cakes can be found on the Cake4Kids Facebook page. For more information, visit www.cake4kids.org.

If you represent a nonprofit agency and would like to be considered for client cake deliveries, please send an email to info@cake4kids.org.

Page 18 - May 2014 ~ Lafayette Today

Living Trusts – How Far Does Privacy Go?

By Robert J. Silverman

One of the many benefits of a revocable Living Trust is substantial privacy. This is in sharp contrast to the court-supervised probate process that’s virtually guaranteed upon your death if you just have a Will, in which many private details about your assets, creditors, and close family members are open to the public.

In general, when you establish a Living Trust, you dictate who will play key roles on behalf of you and your loved ones, when those roles will commence, how your plan will be implemented, and to whom and when you disclose important estate planning information and give copies of key estate planning documents.

Some people incorrectly believe that you are required to have your Living Trust recorded or registered with some governmental agency. Fortunately, this is not true since your privacy would obviously be compromised if you needed to make your trust a public record. For the most part, you don’t need to disclose the terms of your Living Trust nor give a copy of it to anyone unless you choose to do so.

Of course, you may voluntarily communicate with loved ones about your Living Trust, and you may give third parties a copy of the document. However, since you may decide to make significant amendments to your Living Trust in the future, you should exercise caution about when and to whom you elect to provide such crucial, private details.

This broad privacy associated with Living Trusts is, however, trumped to a certain extent by a California Probate Code statute that requires that notification about a trust must be given by the trustee within 60 days after part or all of the trust becomes irrevocable. Recipients entitled to the notice include: a) those mentioned in the trust and b) “heirs” (i.e. closest of kin) of the person(s) who established the trust.

The notification must: i) state certain basic data about the trust and who is serving as the trustee (i.e. manager); ii) enclose a full copy of the trust or inform recipients that they may request a copy; and iii) state in certain minimum font

Odyssey continued from front page

a vehicle to meet specified performance requirements and creating and presenting an original eight minute ‘story’ that incorporates the vehicle, its capabilities, and team members. A separate portion of the competition challenges the team in ‘spontaneous’ creativity and imaginative problem solving.

In the team’s story, characters are living in a world of carrots fearful of “rampant robot bunnies” which were thoughtlessly developed by an absentminded scientist. Vuafu, an unprepared and lackadaisical teenage carrot, is taking his driver’s test. Fortunately, he takes the test in the OM team’s specially designed vehicle which is completely camouflaged as a bunny. Just as he’s ready to take the driver’s test, Vuafu’s driving professor is abducted by a robot bunny, and Vuafu is left to fend for himself.

Vuafu keeps his ‘cool’ and somehow manages to successfully perform the tasks required for his driver’s test while, at the same time, saving baby carrots stranded in the road by picking them up and safely delivering them to a new location, knocking over an evil robot bunny, and crashing through a wall to rescue the captive professor.

Although Vuafu now has his driver’s license and a robot bunny car, he still needs help to get to the Odyssey of the Mind World Competition in Ames, IA. If you can help Vuafu and the Lafayette Odyssey of the Team get to Iowa, please donate at http://www.gofundme.com/88yrcw.

Odyssey of the Mind is a program that taps into creativity and promotes imaginative paths to problem solving. It teaches students how to think divergently by providing open-ended problems. Students work together in a group to develop solutions to the Odyssey of the Mind challenges. If you are interested in participating in the Odyssey of the Mind program as a competitor or a volunteer, please visit the organization’s website at www.odysseyofthemind.com.

Share Your News and Events With Us! Contact us at 925.405.6397 or editor@yourmonthlypapercom

www.yourmonthlypaper.com size and in bold that any recipient who wishes to contest the trust must do so within 120 days of the notification or 60 days after the recipient receives a full and complete copy of the trust, whichever is later.

A common client question is: “When must I [or we] give a copy of our trust to our children [and/or other loved ones]?” Applying the above-referenced statute, if you are unmarried, the answer is when you die – because that’s when your revocable Living Trust becomes irrevocable. If you are married and have a trust, the answer depends on how your trust is structured.

Those who are married and have a “streamlined” trust, under which all assets owned by both spouses are kept in the same trust pot after the first spouse dies (i.e. the surviving spouse owns and controls all the assets), have a trust which remains revocable during the surviving spouse’s life. As such, the above-referenced notification requirement is not triggered until the surviving spouse dies.

Alternatively, for those who are married and have an “A-B” trust (or other such trust under which “his” and “her” assets are allocated into two or more separate pots after the first spouse dies), the “B” trust – that sub-trust containing the deceased spouse’s assets - becomes irrevocable upon the death of the first spouse. So, with an A-B trust, the notification requirement is triggered at that time and may not be withheld or delayed until the surviving spouse dies.

As I’ve written about previously, a major Federal Estate Tax law change occurred in early 2013. One of the consequences of the new legislation is that most married couples no longer need an “A-B” Living Trusts for Estate Tax purposes.

So, for this and other potentially compelling reasons, married couples would be wise to review their trust with an estate planning attorney to evaluate the pros and cons of restructuring it to the simpler “one pot” trust. A relevant consequence of converting to a simpler trust is that no notification requirement is triggered until after the surviving spouse dies.

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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Brainwaves by Betsy Streeter

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Lafayette Today ~ May 2014 - Page 19

Why is the Market...?

Portable CIO Computer Service

By Deborah Mitchell, MSW, CFA

“It’s tough to make predictions, especially about the future” (Yogi Berra). And corporate earnings season is no exception. Prior to the onslaught of first quarter 2014 earnings reports, analysts deeply discounted estimates based on the premise that Mother Nature would wreak havoc on the bottom line. Although the bar was set low from the onset, results have been a mixed bag with daily hits and misses in consensus expectations. The majority of companies listed on the S&P 500 have reported thus far. With several business reports to come, the jury is still out on the recovery outlook for Corporate America.

Realistically, the full impact of the weather will not be clear until data from April rolls in later this month. The assumption is that as the temperature heats up, so will the economy. March economic data numbers were consistent with the bad weather theory. Both existing home sales and new home sales were disappointing. Consumer confidence was below expectations, but it was fluid enough to indicate belief that business expansion is underway. The first estimate of the first quarter Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was below par, but there is hope for a stronger showing in the second quarter of 2014.

At first glance the labor report for April appeared gangbusters, with a whopping 288,000 non-farm payroll gain and unemployment rate drop to 6.3%. True, job growth was impressive, especially with upward revisions for February and March. However, the reasoning behind the decreasing rate was disturbing. Although the rate was the lowest since September 2008, the explanation was due to a lower number of workers returning to the labor force rather than more workers finding employment.

Despite the soft economic data and mixed first quarter earnings reports, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) soared to a new record high, closing above 16,580 for the first time. It is unclear how long this movement will be sustainable. Well known bears such as New York University Economist Nouriel Roubini have vocalized concerns. Specifically, Mr. Roubini warns that war in Ukraine could push Europe into a recession. Recently, the U.S. placed additional economic sanctions on Russia and many of its top officials and companies considered in close association with President Putin. In addition, rating agency Standard & Poor’s downgraded Russia’s credit rating to near junk status. There are concerns that the conflict between Ukraine and Russia will continue to ramp up. Evidence of troops moving more aggressively into Ukraine or sanctions becoming more arduous in nature would signal a clear escalation in conflict that could potentially roil the markets momentum.

Although it is believed that “April showers bring May flowers,” market technicians are quick to highlight that the said time period may not be so rosy. The commonly known phrase “Sell in May and go away” marks the tendency for stocks to perform less favorably than in November – April months. In theory, however, the Presidential Election Cycle could potentially counteract any downside. Typically the third year of the cycle (where we are today) has performed the best. Yet some studies have shown that the crossover of the third year in the Presidential Election Cycle with the May - October time frame has amplified returns in a negative manner. The bright spot though is that the combination of the cycle with the November – April period has been shown to push performance to the upside (Stock Traders Almanac).

The market remains in a primary uptrend longer term. The presence of increased insider selling along with the buckling of some high flyers from last year indicates some cracks in the ointment are forming. In the near term, some overdue consolidation is expected.

If you have any comments or questions, please contact Deborah at 925-299-2000 or dmitchell@noroian.com.

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

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Ask Dr. Happy By Bob Nozik, MD

Dear Dr. Happy,

I am a 37 year old woman who was sexually abused by a family friend for almost a year when I was 10 years old. Because I was scared and embarrassed, I didn’t tell anyone about it for another six months. When I told my mom, she didn’t believe me, and I was punished for lying. I am still very angry at the perpetrator, who died six years ago, and my mom, who died two years ago. I am seeing a psychiatrist for anti-depressants and because I can’t get over my anger at what happened to me. Also, I have never had a romantic relationship because I don’t trust men. I don’t know what else I can do. ~Still Angry

Dear ‘Still Angry,’

You were treated horribly and at a tender, impressionable age. However, you can’t go back and change what happened to you. You’ve been suffering for 27 of the 37 years you’ve lived. As bad as it was, you need to accept what happened and move on with your life. I’m glad you are seeing a psychiatrist for your depression, but you need more than anti-depressants. I am suggesting that you see a psychologist with experience in treating people like you with talk-therapy.

Your abuser damaged your childhood and beyond. And your mother just added to the problem by not believing and supporting you through that tough time. You need to forgive them so they don’t ruin any more of your life than they already have. There is help for you, and now is the time for you to get it.

Happiness Tip

When someone has suffered unimaginable pain as a child and then not been believed by those who should be their protectors, it is very easy for them to become depressed and embittered later in life. Though understandable, this attitude adds still another layer of pain they have imposed upon themselves.

At some point, in order for them to recover and heal, they must accept what happened and even forgive their perpetrators. This forgiveness does not in any way excuse those perpetrators for what they have done. But forgiveness opens the door for them to finally have a chance to go on to have a good life, despite all the earlier pain they endured.

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

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Page 20 - May 2014 ~ Lafayette Today

Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer: Treatment Options

By Sophia Rahman, MD

Skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer. Some form of skin cancer is diagnosed in more than three million people each year in the U.S. The vast majority of skin cancers (over 90%) are of the non-melanoma variety, with most being basal cell (BCC) and squamous cell carcinomas (SCC).

While they have malignant potential, most BCC and SCC are unlikely to spread to other parts of the body when caught early.

They may be locally disfiguring if not treated. Because non-melanoma skin cancers rarely metastasize, the prognosis is generally very good. There are certain characteristics, however, that are linked with a higher risk of recurrence or metastasis. Some of these high risk features are large tumor size, greater tumor depth, poorly defined tumor border, aggressive tumor growth pattern, tumor invasion near nerves or blood vessels, recurrent tumors, and tumor location in the head and neck region.

Treatment of most non-melanoma skin cancers depends on the size and location of the cancer, whether it is a BCC or SCC, patient age, and overall medical condition. Treatment of the majority of BCC and SCC most often involves surgery, but there are non-surgical approaches that may be considered in certain situations. With surgery, the goal is to destroy or remove the entire skin cancer with a margin of cancer-free tissue around the tumor.

There are different types of skin cancer surgery, and the choice of which to use depends in part on the characteristics and location of the tumor. Mohs micrographic surgery is a highly specialized type of surgery for skin cancer and requires special expertise. The Mohs procedure removes the skin cancer one layer at a time, checking each layer for cancer cells, until it is completely cleared. The Mohs procedure removes the least amount of normal tissue and also has the highest published surgical cure rates for both primary and recurrent skin cancers. Other common types of skin cancer surgery are simple excision and curettage with electrodesiccation. Simple excision involves the use of a scalpel to remove the skin cancer with a small margin of surrounding normal tissue. Curettage uses a spoon-shaped instrument (curette) to scrape off the skin cancer, and electrodesiccation uses an electric current to cauterize the edges to control bleeding and destroy any remaining tumor cells.

Common non-surgical options for BCC and SCC include cryotherapy, topical therapy, and radiotherapy. Cryotherapy is used to destroy a skin cancer by freezing it with liquid nitrogen. Topical skin cancer therapy involves application of medications like 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) or Aldara (imiquimod) directly to the tumor on the skin. Radiotherapy for skin cancer is completely non-invasive and uses high-energy X-rays to kill cancer cells by preventing them from growing and dividing. Common types of radiotherapy used to treat skin cancer include electron therapy, superficial or orthovoltage therapy, and brachytherapy. Like Mohs surgery, treatment with radiotherapy is very technical and, in order to optimize outcomes, requires expert involvement of a highly trained team of personnel, including radiation oncologist, radiation physicist/dosimetrist, and radiation therapist. Radiotherapy may be appropriate for older patients with wound-healing problems who cannot tolerate surgery or in cases where surgery may be difficult and/or disfiguring.

Sometimes, radiotherapy is recommended after surgery to kill any residual cancer cells that may be hiding in the operated region.

When diagnosed in the early stages, the cure rates for BCC and SCC are very high (over 95%) with good cosmetic outcomes. Within the first five years after diagnosis of a non-melanoma skin cancer, between 30% and 50% of patients will develop another non-melanoma skin cancer. Patients who have had non-melanoma skin cancer are also at an increased risk for developing melanoma, which is known to be more aggressive and challenging to treat.

Dr. Rahman is a radiation oncologist with Diablo Valley Oncology. Located in the California Cancer and Research Institute at 400 Taylor Blvd in Pleasant Hill, the practice is home to the largest single site for cancer treatment in Contra Costa County. For more information call 925-825Advertorial 8878 or visit our website at www.DVOHMG.com.

New Treatment for Advanced Prostate Cancer

By Brian Hopkins, MD

A new treatment that effectively targets cancer cells is offering pain relief, improved quality-of-life, and extended survival time for men with late-stage prostate cancer that has spread to the bones.

This new cancer treatment, Xofigo (Radium-223 dichloride), is for patients with advanced-stage prostate cancer that has metastasized to the bones but not other organs. Xofigo was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in May 2013 for treatment of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. Diablo Valley Oncology’s cancer center in Pleasant Hill is among the first in the Bay Area to offer this new treatment.

Xofigo uses radiation to target cancer cells in bone tissue, while causing less damage to surrounding tissue than other types of radiation treatment. Its ability to chemically mimic calcium makes it especially effective in bone tissue.

“This drug has very low toxicity and has the potential to create comfort in men who are suffering, and it may even prolong their lives,” says Sachin Kamath, M.D., a Diablo Valley Oncology radiation oncologist. “It is an important drug — similar to other types of radiation treatment but more effective.”

Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States, and it is the second most common cause of cancer death in men. The New England Journal of Medicine published results of a study in July 2013 showing Xofigo significantly improved overall survival rates in men with advanced prostate cancer.

Dr. Hopkins is a urologist with Pacific Urology. He sub-specializes in cancer of the prostate, kidney and bladder. He also has extensive experience with reconstructive and minimally invasive surgeries. For more information or to schedule an appointment please visit www.pacificurology.com or Advertorial call 925-937-7740.

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Five Elements for Facial Rejuvenation

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

I was in the checkout line at a local drugstore when a gal next to me was talking on the phone. She said, “My sister needs a facelift and a laser peel.” She then looked over at me and we both started laughing…seeing me in scrubs with my John Muir Hospital badge saying Barbara L. Persons, MD, Plastic Surgeon.

We went on to laugh some more and also to talk about the basic concepts of facial rejuvenation while checking out.

You simply would not believe how many men and women around you have had facial rejuvenation surgery. When facial rejuvenation is done correctly, no one will ever know. This is not your great grandmother’s wind swept look or the slick advertisements of a style that does not last and has many complications.

My patients seek the five elements of facial rejuvenation intuitively without knowing the terms. They seek improvement not out of vanity or because they want to look 22 again. They want to be perceived as naturally vibrant, happy, confident, and whole. As a natural Healer and Hypnotherapist who came to me for eyelid rejuvenation said, “Our bodies are the vessels through which we project our personalities.” It is okay to want to look better. Today, however, in my opinion, we are at times using fillers and Botox, facials, and light therapies because we are afraid to go ahead and fix issues with minor surgery.

There are five elements that come together to create a youthful face (with naturally balanced bone structure and volume, skin and fat in the right position, no sun damage, and minimal scarring), fix a broken face, or create the beautiful face the patient envisions.

The five elements are structure, volume, support, stress expressions, and skin.

Structure: The temples, cheeks, chin, and nose should form a pleasant balance. We lose bone volume with age, especially in women, which can lead to a weak jaw line, loss of cheek projection, sad looking eyes, temporal hollowing, and recessed nasal folds.

Your Personal Nutritionist

Lose Weight Forever the Right Way and Only Way

By Linda Michaelis RD,MS

Lately, I’ve been seeing many clients who are casualties of the latest quick weight loss schemes such as Ideal Protein, Paleo, Cambiati Cleanse, and John Muir’s Fasting Program. As I commonly hear, my client Jim told me he lost 40 pounds in six weeks on Ideal Protein and was very happy about it but did not feel well throughout the time he was on the program, often felt food deprived, and did not have the energy to exercise. As I see in almost all these programs, Jim gained back the 40 pounds he lost plus more.

I feel that it is my job as a Registered Dietitian to educate my community, where people have sophisticated tastes and enjoyment of the good things in life, to help them achieve their weight loss goals and keep those pounds off forever.

The story has not changed with fasting programs. Your body gets used to a regimen of 800 calories a day, and then when you get off the fast and eat 1,500 calories a day, the weight comes back - plus more. Unfortunately, these programs have a major downside because they do a very poor maintenance job – people are confused as what to do after the initial weight is lost. I tell the post-fasting people who find me that I am adamant about them exercising at a high level twice a day and eating meals close to the time after they exercise so that their food will be burned off more rapidly.

The best of the new fads is the Paleo Diet since it includes fruits, veggies, and nuts and eliminates all processed foods that tend to have ingredients which do not provide much nutritional benefit such as excess fat, sugar, salt, and preservatives.

The negative side of this diet is that it does not allow for whole grains, potatoes, and legumes that are important sources of B vitamins for energy, or dairy that contains calcium, which many people lack in their diet, for bone health. The big failure of these diets is that they rigidly restrict eating for enjoyment which leads to cravings that cause binging that can often lead to low self esteem and a sense of defeat. When I hear about their experiences on these crazy fad diets, I only wish my new clients had seen me first to save time, energy, and money so I could put

Lafayette Today ~ May 2014 - Page 21 Volume: The overall volume of the face is reduced and temples begin to hollow. The rounded curves and heart shape of the upper face volume give way to a more squared look as volume is both lost and “moves south.”

Support: The ligaments of the face, superficial muscular aponeurotic system fascia beneath the skin, and deep layers of the skin sag with age. This can cause heavy eyes, tear troughs, sagging cheeks, nasal folds, marionette lines, jowls, and extra neck skin.

Stress Expressions: These include forehead creases, glabella 11 lines, crow’s feet, bunny nose, smokers lines, and downturn of the mouth. A balanced approach in addressing these issues is key.

Skin: Pigmentation, fine lines and wrinkles, red spots, scars, and laxity.

These signs of ageing are especially noticeable around the eyes and mouth.

To start the process of facial rejuvenation, I examine the patients face. I immediately see what procedures will create or recreate the beautiful normal that they desire.

Many of you know I am the poster child for facial surgery. At 25 I was hit by a semi-truck whose driver had a seizure from drinking and not taking his seizure medication. After 18 surgeries, bone grafts, implants, titanium plates, and screws, I still work on the five elements every year. I want the beautiful normal. I have personal experience with the products I use on my patients.

I value my plastic surgeon’s expertise and know my face is worth it. Many of my patients have wasted tens of thousands of dollars on therapies that simply do not work. When a modality actually works, I will add it to my other modalities and promote it like crazy.

When I see you, I will be honest about what will make the most significant and excellent improvement in your face over time, with the least risk, and within your budget. I will make sure you are within your comfort zone, doing what I do best, which is to perform surgery and procedures. Using my hands, my heart, and my artistic sense, our private surgery center in Lafayette is one of my most perfect places on this earth where I can make a real positive difference in your life.

Persons Plastic Surgery, Inc. is located at 911 Moraga Rd, Suite 205 in Lafayette. To contact me call 925-283-4012 or email drbarb@ Advertorial personsplasticsurgery.com. them on the road for permanent weight loss.

I was very overweight as a young person, and only through quality nutrition education was I able to finally lose the weight permanently. To this day I know my method is the only effective way to achieve weight loss forever.

When I work with a new client, I take a lot of time to look at their home and work life to understand how food, restaurants, and social life play a role in their life.

Everyone is different with their own unique triggers for eating the wrong things. I know that taking an individualized approach is the essence of my success with people.

Whether they are sophisticated foodies, overindulge due to emotions, or are plain uneducated about nutrition, I work with each person to establish a day-to-day meal plan right for them. It is an exciting challenge for me to do whatever it takes to make my client successful with weight loss. I will often visit my client’s home and evaluate their present food shopping habits, go food shopping with them at their favorite store, discuss and help them decide on restaurant choices, and be there for motivation and support to help create successful days or encourage them to keep going when they fall apart from binges or when they hit plateaus. If my client wants to have their martini and a glass of wine for dinner, I show them how. If they want to have pizza every Friday night with the kids, I show them how. If they don’t want to give up the desserts they love, I show them how. For example, I show them how to avoid sweets on an empty stomach or in between meals where the result is usually feeling tired, dehydrated, and brain dead. Instead I tell them to eat those delicious desserts after a meal when they can better control portion size. There is no need to deprive yourself of the foods you enjoy; you just need to consume them in the right way.

You can learn, once and for all, how to enjoy your favorite foods and not make them the enemy while permanently achieving your weight goals.

Linda has found that she is most successful when she interacts with her clients, often daily, to help them navigate their way through their food world.

Each phone call spans across client meals from the previous day through the following day. The phone calls enable clients to receive just enough nutrition information to take them forward to the next day. Linda is very excited tell you how this method has proven to be very successful for weight loss. Linda’s services are often covered by health insurance. Please feel free to call Linda at (925) 8550150 or e-mail her at lifeweight1@gmail.com, and tell her about your nutrition concerns. Refer to website www.LindaRD.com for past articles, recipes, and Advertorial nutrition tips in her blog section.

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Page 22 - May 2014 ~ Lafayette Today

Events for Lafayette Seniors

All classes are held at the Lafayette Senior Center (LSC) located at 500 Saint Mary’s Rd in Lafayette unless otherwise noted. Space is limited. Please call 925-284-5050 to reserve a spot. Annual Membership fee: $10 per person.

General Event fee: Members $1; Non-Member $3. Special concerts fee: Members $3; NonMembers $5. Ongoing Caregiver Support Group: Members: no charge; Non-members $1.

Crime and Fraud Prevention Forum

Our mission is to provide personalized care, help maintain independence and enhance our client’s quality of life on a daily basis.

Heartfelt & Supportive At All Times... www.excellentcareathome.com

5/15 • 10:30AM–noon • Sequoia Room, LSC - Because seniors are a vulnerable segment of the population, they are often targeted and fall victim to fraudulent schemes. Hear from the experts how you can protect yourself and your loved ones from these scams and schemes. No charge CHP: Age Well/ Drive Smart 5/29 • 10:00AM–noon • Cedar Room, LSC - Discover the keys to driving safer and driving longer. You have the ability to change your driving habits or take other corrective steps that will allow you to stay safe on the roads. Hear about the warning signs and solutions to aging well and driving smart.

Apple Basics 5/15, 6/5 • 10:30AM–noon • Cedar Room, LSC - This series will start at the very beginning: the technology needed for wireless communication, your Apple ID, iTunes, iCloud and the basics of iPad and iPhone usage. Topics for future sessions will be determined by participants’ input and needs. There will be time for Q&A at the end of each class. Please note: this series deals with Apple devices only.

Lamorinda Lunch n’ Learn: Gardening Habitats for Humanity

6/10 “Inside Dirt” • 10:30AM–1PM • Moraga Gardens Farm, 1370 Moraga Way - Soil composition is one of the most important factors of a flourishing garden. Learn about soil biota and how to keep soil organisms healthy.

Composting basics, mulching guidelines and fascinating soil facts will be discussed. Lunch is generously provided by Moraga Royale Assisted Living.

Members $10/Non-members $11. Call Lafayette Senior Service to reserve your spot at least three days prior to each class.

Physical Therapy Presentation with Anne Randolph: Strokes

5/23 • 11:30AM–12:30PM • Elderberry Room, LSC - The effects of a stroke can be devastating. Learn what causes strokes and how to recognize when one is occurring in order to avoid some of the debilitating effects.

Document Your Life Story 5/22 • 10:00AM–11:30AM • Cedar Room, LSC - If you have wanted to write the stories, memories, and experiences of your life but haven’t known where to start, wait no longer. Yuska Lutfi will guide you through the process of leaving a living history for future generations –what a gift! Included will be optional outings to St. Mary’s for their creative writing reading series, “Afternoon Craft Conversations.”

Lafayette Oral History Project Do you have stories about Lafayette in the days of yore? Allow Ryan to document that history which will then be included in the Lafayette Historical Societies’ archives, preserved for generations to come.

All you have to do is tell those stories to Ryan; he’ll do the writing. You’ll receive a copy of the final document at the time of completion. Call Lafayette Senior Services for details and to be a part of this project. No charge.

Lamorinda Dance Social Wednesdays • 12:30 – 3PM • Live Oak Room, LCC - Enjoy afternoon dancing every Wednesday, and learn some great new dance moves. On the first Wednesday monthly, professional dancers Karen and Michael will provide a dance lesson and live DJ services, playing your favorites and taking requests. $2 Members/ $4 non-members.

Lafayette Senior Services Commission 4th Thursday of the month from 3:30 – 5:30PM at the LSC - View agendas at the City of Lafayette office or at www.ci.lafayette.ca.us.

Lamorinda Nature Walk and Bird-Watching Every Wednesday • 9AM - noon • Call LSC to find out weekly meeting locations - Experience nature at its finest along our local trails. Delight in the beauty that unfolds around each bend, all the while learning to identify a variety of birds. Bring a water bottle; binoculars will be helpful if you have them. Join us every Wednesday or whenever you are able.

Come Play Mahjong! Every Tuesday • 12:00PM–3PM • Cedar Room,

• Free in-home assessments • Regular home visits ensure the right care plan • Hourly care for you • Live-in care • Fully bonded and insured • Geriatric care mgmt.

• Elder referral and placement 3645 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Suite D Lafayette, CA 94549 (beside Trader Joe’s)

925-284-1213

LSC - Come join us on Tuesdays for a drop-in game of mahjong. Mahjong is a game of skill, strategy, and certain degree of chance. All levels welcome. Bring your card, a mahjong set, and a snack to share (optional). RSVP not required.

Creative Writing Workshop 2nd and 4th Thursday monthly • 10:30AM noon • Cedar Room, LSC - Join creative writing and English instructor Judith Rathbone, and examine the possibilities of self-expression through writing. This friendly group, with an ever-changing membership but lots of returning participants, will welcome you and any of your writing efforts. Find encouragement and feedback and bring out the writer in you. If you can speak, you can write, and we will show you how! Beginners to established writers welcome.

Positive Living Forum (“Happiness Club”) 6/12 • 10:30AM – noon • 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. Brighten your day and take part in this interactive gathering which features speakers on a wide range of topics that guide participants toward a more ideal and positive life experience. Drop-ins welcome!

Bi-Monthly Caregiver Support Group Mondays, 6/2 • 1:30–2:30PM • Elderberry Room LSC - If you are a family member helping to care for an older adult, join our support group to find balance and joy as you manage your responsibilities. Drop-ins are welcome.

Words of Wisdom…From the Philosophical to the Lighthearted

5/20 • 10:30AM –Noon • Elderberry Room, LSC - Join discussion group leader Craig Janke, and take part in this free-wheeling exchange of inspiration, information, and humor. Topics – from soup to nuts - will be explored, examined, and discussed by participants. Stories and photographs will stimulate humorous discoveries regarding the benefits of becoming the ‘elders of our tribe.’

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.

Local Church Provides Community Care

By Bill Sautter

Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian’s Stephen Ministry has 25 trained lay people who provide ongoing, one-on-one Christian care to those in our congregation and in the community who are experiencing transitions in their lives. LOPC Stephen Ministry is confidential and is provided at no cost. A Stephen Minister is...

• A congregation member with a gift for listening, • A lay person who has received 50 hours training in providing emotional and spiritual care, • A committed caregiver who listens, cares, prays, supports, and encourages those who are hurting, and • Someone who will “be there” for his or her care receiver, meeting faithfully for about an hour each week, for as long as there’s a need.

Stephen Ministers are available for those who are dealing with illness or hospitalization, loneliness, aging, being shut-in, separation due to military deployment, death or serious loss, separation or divorce, disabilities, or grief and anxiety.

If you know of someone who would benefit from the ongoing confidential, no cost, spiritual, and emotional support of a Stephen Minister, contact Jean Lee at (925) 943-2237, or visit www.lopc.org/ care_stephen_ministry.asp.

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Our Community

In Memory of Vera “Billie” Dodge

By Mary Bruns, Lamorinda Senior Transportation

“We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men (and women).” ~ Herman Melville What I love about the Lamorinda Spirit Van Program is the sense of community that is created by the passengers who regularly use the service and the drivers who help our older adults with their transportation needs.

This feeling of a bonded community was experienced at the May 3, 2014 memorial service held for one of the two original Lamorinda Spirit Van passengers: Vera “Billie” Dodge.

Lunch driver and friend, Eddie Caravalho, friend, Liz Caravalho, dispatchers, Doreen Pasco and Mauna Wagner, several lunch passengers, and I attended the memorial service that was facilitated by Billie’s Arizona family. Together with Billie’s Chateau Lafayette neighbors, we shared our memories and stories of this vital and active 98-year old woman who still walked to the grocery store and church each week.

To many of us, Billie Dodge is an inspiration because in spite of her very challenging early life, she was known for her loving disposition, positive attitude, giving spirit, and sense of humor. At the C.C. Café, she was fond of dancing when the pianist entertained the lunch group, giving lunch partner, Jim a kiss on the cheek, and referring to herself as a “cougar of 98” to 92-year old lunch partner, Gino. Billie is remembered for buying flowers when she went grocery shopping and sharing them with her neighbors. She loved to go on outings and could be ready at a moment’s notice. When we first met her eight years ago, she was volunteering in the kitchen at the C.C. Café. She will be missed.

Beverly Wallace writes, “Few emotions are more severe than loneliness.

The aging population is one group that is oftentimes subject to neglect, both by society and those who are expected to care for them. One can only imagine what it must be like for these seniors to live without any family to visit and bond with them. There are many causes of loneliness which can develop into depression. Self-confidence can decrease, loss of energy can occur, and one’s life can get out of hand if loneliness is not alleviated.” Some tips to overcoming loneliness are: to learn to become more self-sufficient, to take up a hobby, to join a group, to get a companion animal, to help others, to get out of the house, to develop your mind, to write about your feelings, to get some physical exercise, and to use community resources.

You can combat loneliness by doing something you love, taking positive action steps, and thinking encouraging thoughts. A quote from the Movers and Shakers newsletter for seniors published by the Richmond Commission on aging says, “Try something new or do something nice for someone and you’ll be feeling like a million bucks in no time!”

Billie Dodge enacted many of these principles, becoming self-sufficient

C L A S S I F I E D S LACROSSE GOALIE COACHING

WOMEN’S LACROSSE GOALIE COACHING available June 25-September 15. Eight years playing experience, has won College Club (WCLA) National Championship, All-League Team (WWLL), All-Tournament Team (WWLL/WCLA).

Contact Amy Corstorphine at amy.corstor@gmail.com for more information.

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.

ARCHITECT JOHN ROLF HATTAM - ARCHITECT Specializes in modest budget, new and renovated residences. Over 200 completed projects. Brochures available for all of our professional services •RESIDENTIAL RENOVATION •NEW RESIDENCES •CHURCHES •COMMERCIAL •MULTI-FAMILY. For the brochure meeting your need call 510-841-5933. 737 Dwight Way, Berkeley.

Lafayette Today ~ May 2014 - Page 23

at a young age, joining a group, using community resources, getting out of the house by going to lunch with the Lamorinda Spirit Van, walking everywhere, and giving to others. To take a page from Billie’s book, consider: How can you brighten someone else’s day? What exercise would you be willing to commit to? Is there someone you know who would enjoy receiving flowers? Where might you volunteer a few hours a week? Which program sponsored by Lafayette Senior Eddie and Billie Services would you like to attend?

Our lunch driver, Eddie, is taking some of our passengers to the San Francisco Zoo on Saturday, May 17. Would you like to join us? Call 2833534 to reserve your seat (for those age 60 and up).

“True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost.” Arthur Ashe

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

NUISANCE WILDLIFE 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 - May 2014 ~ Lafayette Today

www.yourmonthlypaper.com