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August 2015 Get on Your Bike and Ride with BikeLafayette!
Serving the Lafayette Community Funny Name, Great Game By Fran Miller
By Fran Miller
Anyone who drives regularly through downtown Lafayette knows that the roads are becoming more and more congested. Observing the number of cars on Mt. Diablo Blvd., a recent visitor from Indiana asked and commented, “What is going on here? It’s so crowded!” He was experiencing what residents
See Bike continued on page 17
Our Sister City By Fran Miller
What could Lafayette possibly have in common with a small town in the L’Auvergne region of France? Langeac, in the Haute-Loire of L‘Auvergne is the birthplace of our town’s namesake: Gilbert du Motier, better known as the Marquis de Lafayette, whose statue sits adjacent to downtown Lafayette’s Plaza Park. In 1976, twenty years after President Dwight Eisenhower inaugurated the ‘Peopleto-People Program’ to enhance international understanding and friendship among peoples of different countries and diverse cultures, the Lafayette City Council, under the leadership of Mayor Barbara Langlois, established a Sister City relationship with Langeac, France. Residents of Lafayette visited the area, and a few Auvergnats (including a relative of the Marquis) crossed the Atlantic to Lafayette. But the relationship faded until last year, when Madame Catherine Jolivet, of Lafayette’s French for Fun program, reignited the program Madame Catherine Jolivet invites the public with the support of the Lafayette Chamber. to a birthday celebration for Lafayette's Jolivet recently returned from a trip to namesake, the Marquis de Lafayette, Langeac where she met with the mayor. “I September 6 at noon, Plaza Park. am really trying hard to make our Sister City Project a reality, as it is in many other cities around us, such as Orinda and its ongoing relationship with Tabor in the Czech Republic,” says Jolivet, who invites the public to learn more at her annual birthday celebration for the Marquis de Lafayette. Join her Sunday, September 6th at noon at Lafayette Plaza Park near the statue of the Marquis for birthday cake and live jazz with a French twist by Duo Gadjo (Isabelle Fontaine and Jeff Magidson). Bring a picnic and enjoy the festivities that are sponsored by the Chamber, the Lafayette Historical Society, and the Langeac Society. “Everyone is invited: Francophiles, Francophones, and history enthusiasts,” says Jolivet. “This is a community event for all.”
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The Italian game of bocce is familiar to many, but its sister sport – petanque – remains quietly in the shadows, or in the shaded grove off of Saint Mary’s Road in Lafayette. Just across from the Lafayette Estates neighborhood and down the road from the Lafayette Community Center, passers-by can watch participants of all ages throwing little silver balls (boules) across a flat crushed granite playing field towards a target (cochonnet). An easy sport to learn, petanque enjoys popularity the world over. Part of its appeal is that anyone of any age and ability can play almost anywhere. Age, strength and speed are not important. A player can be ahead for most of the game and yet lose a second later. Nothing is decided until the last boule is thrown. Also appealing is that equipment necessities are minimal: a set of boules per player, a cochonnet, and a patch of flat dirt. Boules are traditionally made of steel and are three inches in diameter, and the cochonnet is made of wood and is an inch and a quarter in diameter. And the patch of flat dirt can be found at the Lamorinda Petanque terrain at 480 Saint Mary’s Rd. The Lamorinda Petanque Club, a member of the Federations of Petanque USA, was founded by Orindan Pascal Gravier and includes 55 current members. “We have members from all walks of life, of ages ranging from 12 to 82, and of abilities ranging from beginners Volume IX - Number 8 to accomplished,” says club president 3000F Danville Blvd #117 William Hansen. “We welcome anyone who Alamo, CA 94507 Telephone (925) 405-6397 wants to experience petanque to come and Fax (925) 406-0547 watch or play. We believe in learning editor@yourmonthlypaper.com through ‘on-the-job-training,’ so we fold newcomers right into our games.” Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher The opinions expressed herein belong to the Newcomers need not bring their own writers, and do not necessarily reflect that of Laboules; the club will provide loaners. fayette Today. Lafayette Today is not responsible
See Petanque cont. on page 20
for the content of any of the advertising herein, nor does publication imply endorsement.
Page 2 - August 2015 ~ Lafayette Today
Eugene O’Neill Festival
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The annual Eugene O’Neill Festival, A Season of Desire, kicks off in August with free previews of the entertainment in store. Get the General law practice with a concentration on inside story from directors, designers, and actors, Estate Planning andLandlord/TenantLaw and learn about the treatment of the theme of desire in the featured plays: A Streetcar Named 925.283.2500 | 925.451.6679 Desire by Tennessee Williams and Desire Under derek@wagleylaw.com www.WagleyLaw.com the Elms by Eugene O’Neill. Danville Library: pm 3433 Golden Gate Way, Suite B | Lafayette August 13 – 7 ; Lafayette Library: August 20 – 7pm; Pleasanton Library: August 22 – 2pm. An all-inclusive Festival Package is available at a discount of 20% Blackhawk “First Sunday” Cars & Coffee through August 24th at www.villagetheatreshows.com includes: Blackhawk Automotive Museum hosts a monthly Cars & Coffee event • A Street Car Named Desire (choose a performance) at the Village Theyear round for all car enthusiasts. Held on the “First Sunday” of each month, atre 9/4-19 pm starting at 8AM and going to 10AM, the Museum welcomes all classic, collector, • Film: A Street car Named Desire 9/10 at the Village Theatre; 7:30 and special interest car owners and enthusiasts. • Lecture: “Eugene O’Neill: Evolution of an Artist – From Provincetown to On Cars & Coffee Sundays, the Museum opens an hour earlier, at 9AM, Tao House” by Eric Fraisher Hayes, Artistic Director Role Players Ensemble pm 9/12 at the Museum of the San Ramon Valley; 2 and participating car owners will receive complimentary Museum admispm • Panel discussion: “100 Years of Desire” 9/19 at Tao House Barn; 2 sion tickets. • Desire Under the Elms (choose a performance) 9/18-9/27 at Tao House Barn The Museum is located at 3700 Blackhawk Plaza Circle in Danville. For • Author event: Theatre critic John Lahr (son of Bert Lahr) talks about his more information, visit www.blackhawkmuseum.org/carsncoffee.html, call new book Joyride and his award-winning biography Tennessee Williams: A Mad (925) 736-2280, or email museum@blackhawkmuseum.org. Pilgrimage of the Flesh 10/4 at Rakestraw Books, Danville; 2pm • A free hour-long walking tour, “The Secrets of O’Neill’s Danville,” Family Bike Rides begins at the Museum of the San Ramon Valley 9/12; 3pm. Every Sunday – 9-11:30AM Visit www.villagetheatreshows.com for details and to purchase tickets Join BikeLafayette for its weekly Family Bike Ride from Stanley Middle for the Festival Package or individual events. School to Moraga Commons and back. The ride is recommended for people 7 years and up. Younger children are welcome in a bike trailer or on your Diablo Choral Artists Seeks Singers bike. The children will have fun playing at the Commons. Riders are usually Love to sing? Come join Diablo Choral Artists as they begin an excitback at Stanley by 11:15AM. You are encouraged to bring snacks and water. ing new season! The group has openings for all voice parts (especially For more information about BikeLafayette, visit www.facebook.com/ tenors/basses). Rehearsals are held on Mondays at 7PM at St. Paul’s Episbikelafayette.ca. copal Church, located at 1924 Trinity Ave. in Walnut Creek. Call (925) 670-7089, e-mail info@vmschorus.org, or visit www.vmschorus.org for Searching for Skyline Graduates for 50th additional information. Did you graduate in 1966 from Skyline High School in Oakland? The 50th Southwest Sunset Social reunion is being planned, and the committee is looking for 630 graduates pm pm from the class. Please contact us at skylineclassof1966@gmail.com. Friday, August 14, 5 -8 If you have a friend or relative who is deceased who was a member of Enjoy an evening of fun for the whole family in the Ruth Bancroft Garden this class, please let us know. at the Southwest Sunset Social. The Lindsay Wildlife Experience will be joining the event and bringing animals for you to see. Bring your friends Hospice Volunteers Needed along for the opportunity to experience this exciting and unique encounter Hospice of the East Bay is seeking volunteers to assist Hospice patients with wild animals! and their caregivers. Opportunities include: Food and beverages will be available for purchase to enjoy while • Licensed Hair Stylists to offer hair cuts and styling listening to a live band. General admission is $15, and ages 17 and under • Certified Massage Therapists to provide massage therapy admission is $8. Advance admission purchase is recommended. Tickets • Mobile Notaries to witness the signing of important documents can be purchased online at www.ruthbancroftgarden.org/rbgarden/pages/ • Bereavement Support Volunteers to provide support to family members SocialEvents.html#southwest or by calling 925-944-9352. after their loved one has died The Ruth Bancroft Garden is located at 1552 Bancroft Road in Walnut Creek. • Patient Support Volunteers to provide companionship and practical assistance To apply for free training, call Hospice of the East Bay at (925) 887-5678, and ask for the Volunteer Department, or email volunteers@hospiceeastbay. org. Established in 1977, Hospice of the East Bay is a not-for-profit agency that helps people cope with end of life by providing medical, emotional, spiritual, and practical support for patients and families, regardless of their ability to pay. To learn more or to make a donation of time or money, please contact (925) 887-5678 or visit www.hospiceeastbay.org.
Lamorinda Peace and Justice
The Lamorinda Peace and Justice Group meets the fourth Tuesday of each month from 7 – 9PM in the Fireside Room of Lafayette Methodist Church, 955 Moraga Road, Lafayette. We are committed to working to support a healthy planet, a thriving local community, and a safe, equitable world for all. For information, call (925) 946-0563.
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Lafayette Today ~ August 2015 - Page 3
Boulevard View
By Alisa Corstorphine, Editor
When I was young I remember my father trying to teach us the concept of compounding money. Once he hypothetically offered my sisters and me an extravagant allowance of either a $100 flat sum or, he said we could have a penny on the first day of the month, two cents on the second day, doubling to four cents on the third day, doubling again to eight cents on the fourth day, and doubling again each day for 30 days. As a little kid the $100 sounded like big bucks, and the thought of mere pennies doubling sounded crazy...until you do the math. The one penny that doubles over the course of 30 days would actually pay $5,368,709.12 on the thirtieth day. By that time you will the accumulated over $10,000,000 over those 30 days! I started thinking of this math lesson when my daughter brought home seven baby kittens from two different feral mothers. The two sets of kittens were about three and five weeks old when they arrived. As a family we took on the challenge to care and nurture these babies until they are old enough to be fixed and then adopted. There are many great animal care groups that help with domesticated pets. However, at the height of kitten and puppy season, many of them are swamped and lack the resources to help all of the animals in need. My daughter’s vision was to help get the animals cared for, socialized, and fixed. I agreed to sponsor this endeavor but with a key component being the trapping of the feral moms so they could be spayed and released to end this cycle. You’ve heard the stats before. One un-fixed dog or cat will generate tens of thousands of offspring over a five year period. You may have asked yourself how that can possibly be so, and the answer lies close to the simple math problem my father taught me years ago. I will use kittens in my example, but the math applies to puppies as well. At six months old a kitten is old enough to have her first litter and, being unspayed, is likely to have that litter with an average of three kittens who survive. So, half way through the first year, we now have four cats. Six months later, at the end of the first year, the three offspring each have litters
Mark Your Calendar
Come enjoy the many vendors at the upcoming Lafayette Art & Wine Festival to be held Saturday and Sunday, September 19th and 20th. There will be something for everyone. Save the date for the Lafayette Reservoir Run to be held Sunday, October 25th. To sign up or for more details, visit www.lafayettechamber. org/events/reservoir-run.
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with three surviving kittens each. So, now there is the original cat, her three surviving offspring, and their nine surviving offspring, for a total of 13 cats. And this goes on, and on, and on, and on. By the end of the fourth year, a conservative estimate is a total of 9,841 cats have been born and survived. Add 19,683 kittens half way through year five for a total of 29,524, then another 59,049 at the end of year five. In just five years, one unfixed cat has resulted in 88,572 offspring. And that does not include the offspring generated by the original cat and her offspring in their second and later seasons. Because these numbers become overwhelming in a relatively short amount of time, many of these animals end up in shelters, and according to the Human Society of the United States, about four million per year ultimately are euthanized. I feel like Bob Barker on The Price is Right, who encouraged his audiences with the phrase, “Help control the pet population. Have your pets spayed or neutered.” Having the seven kittens here makes me better understand his message and the reason behind it. I don’t have some pie-in-the-sky notion that I can radically change the world, but I can make a difference. To that end, these seven kittens are available to be adopted. They have been loved and socialized, and their initial shots have begun. Adoption will come with a coupon to have them fixed by my vet when they are old enough for the procedure. If you are interested in bringing one (or two, or three!) of them into your life, please email me at editor@yourmonthlypaper.com.
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Page 4 - August 2015 ~ Lafayette Today
Sons in Retirement Lamorinda Branch 174
The Sons in Retirement Lamorinda Branch 174 is a social organization of retired and semi-retired men who enjoy our leisure time with friends and activities. Our activities include golf, bowling, bocce ball, table pool, travel, fishing, computers and technology, bridge, poker, pinochle, investing, wine tasting, walking, astronomy, stamp collecting, and more. We meet for lunch at 11am the second Wednesday of each month at Holy Trinity Culture Center, located at 1700 School Street, Moraga. Our guest speaker on August 12th will be John Latchford with Goodwill Industries. For attendance and membership info, call Tyler at (925) 284-5561 or visit our website at www.branch174.sirinc2.org.
Las Trampas Branch 116
Las Trampas Branch 116 welcomes guest to socialize with us at our monthly luncheon beginning at 11am on Monday, August 17th to be held at the Walnut Creek Elks Lodge, located at 1475 Creekside Dr. Our August speaker will be Ms. Rosemary Robles, Driver Safety Manager from the Oakland Office of the California Department of Motor Vehicles. Rosemary will be discussing the obstacles and challenges facing Senior Drivers and will be offering advice for the Senior Driver. Please call 925-322-1160 to make lunch reservations. The cost for lunch is $15. If you are retired or semi-retired and want to make new friends, participate in fun activities, and better enjoy your leisure time, we welcome you to join with us. Our member activities include book discussions, bridge, computers, dine-outs, dominoes, fishing, golf, hiking/walking, investments, poker, travel, wine tastings, and more. In addition we have special golf events and bridge tournaments where wives, partners, and guests are welcome. If these are activities you like to do, then you may find even greater enjoyment in doing them with the friendly group of retirees in the SIR organization. For information about our activities for retired men, please visit www.Branch116.org.
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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
Sharon Meckenstock is our winner! Luther was completely missing last month!
An Evening with the Stars By Jim Scala
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Drive up Mt. Diablo on August 15th, and arrive at the lower summit parking lot by about 7PM for an inspiring evening with the stars. Gopher/Mole Removal The program will begin at 7:30PM. No Poison You’ll see the universe as never before. Members of the Mt. Diablo 925-765-4209 Astronomical society (MDAS) will be standing by their telescopes to show you celestial objects. The views will capture your imagination, and the night sky will never be the same again. Every visitor says, “Wow!” many times during a viewing. Astronomy is called the “gateway science” because many scientists, engineers, and medical doctors say their scientific curiosity was sparked and nurtured by looking through an amateur’s telescope. MDAS’s main mission is outreach. Any member will say, “We like to show everyone what’s out there.” The programs for 2015 are outstanding. They will inspire anyone and cause many young people to think about science. By about 10PM you’ll leave on an escorted drive down the mountain with much to discuss. Return on one or all of the dates shown below for more inspiring evenings. August 15, 7:30PM ~ Our Place in our Galaxy ~ Build a mental model of our Milky Way Galaxy – and our place in it. Find the center of our galaxy. Tour the telescopes through our galaxy. September 19, 6:30PM ~ Moon: Earth’s Lost Rock ~ How would Earth be different without the Moon? How is our Earth like our Moon? Explore the surface of the Moon in telescopes. You’ll be ready for the eclipse of September 27th. October 17, 6PM ~ Search for Alien Worlds ~ What will the first alien life we discover likely look like? Explore where weird life exists on Earth. What does that tell us about life elsewhere in the galaxy? Which stars have planets where life might exist? For more information, visit www.mdas.net. Click on “Public Program” for a link to the 2015 Event Calendar and also a link for directions to Mt. Diablo and the Lower Summit Parking Lot. Plan to enter the park before sunset, and allow 30 minutes for the drive to the lower summit lot. Better yet, arrive early, bring a sandwich, and watch astronomers set up telescopes. Even that will be a learning experience.
Interested in Participating in Government?
Supervisor Candace Andersen 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 Andersen is grateful for the input they provide. Applications are currently being accepted from residents of District 2 for seats on the following boards. • Arts and Culture Commission of Contra Costa County: Advisory body to the District 2 Supervisor on matters and issues relevant to Arts and Culture, to advance the arts in a way that promotes communication, education, appreciation and collaboration throughout Contra Costa County • In Home Support Services Public Authority Advisory Committee: Make recommendations to the BOS regarding the IHSS program. • County Service Area P-5 Citizen Advisory Committee: Advisory body to the District 2 Supervisor and the Sheriff on the needs of the Roundhill, Regency Woods, and Windsor Green communities for extended police services. District 2 includes Alamo, Canyon, Danville, Lafayette, Moraga, Orinda, Parkmead, Rossmoor, San Ramon, Saranap, and Walnut Creek (West of N. Main Street). For more information about each board, go to http://contra.napanet.net/ maddybook/. For an application, visit http://www.co.contra-costa.ca.us/ DocumentCenter/View/6433, or contact Jill Ray at (925) 957-8860 or jill. ray@bos.cccounty.us.
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Lafayette Today ~ August 2015 - Page 5
Assistance League of Diablo Valley Schedules Prospective Member Coffee
Since 1967, Assistance League® of Diablo Valley, a nonprofit member volunteer organization, has improved lives in our community through hands-on programs. You might have heard of its primary fundraiser, the Way Side Inn Thrift Shop, a well-known landmark which is located at 3521 Golden Gate Way in Lafayette. In response to a growing client base, we are actively pursuing prospective members who would enjoy clothing elementary schoolchildren for a more successful educational experience, testing preschool children for vision issues, performing educational puppet shows for school children, reading to second grade students, or helping in supplying Find out why we are so proud of Assistance League e m e rg e n c y Way Side Inn Thrift Shop and be a part of its success! c l o t h i n g , food and supplies to those in crisis. Two recently formed philanthropic programs concern implementing art in the classroom and staffing the Listen Program which helps identified students with verbal expression. Two other programs address the needs of our seniors. A Prospective Member Coffee will be held on Wednesday, August 12, at 9:30AM, at the Community Resource Center, 2711 Buena Vista Avenue, Walnut Creek. If you are interested in spending quality time and meeting energetic and upbeat people while helping those who are vulnerable, please phone 925-934-0901. For more information, visit diablovalley.assistanceleague.org.
Gateway to Hope: 31st Annual Shepherd’s Gate Banquet September 17th
Shepherd’s Gate has helped more than 11,000 battered and homeless women and children since the non-profit was founded in 1984. Anyone in need is welcomed to the Livermore and Brentwood campuses regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, age, disability, marital status, or veteran status. Gateway to Hope, the organization’s 31st fundraising banquet promises an evening of excellent food, beautiful music, and inspiring testimonials recounting the rebuilding of lives and the restoration of dignity achieved by Shepherd’s Gate. Hors d’oeuvres, a reception, and a silent auction run from 6-7pm with dinner and program being held from 7-8:30pm at the Blackhawk Auto Museum, located at 3700 Blackhawk Plaza Circle, Danville. Scott’s Seafood will be catering the event. Attire is business casual. The suggested donation per ticket is $75. Reservations close on September 4th. Silent auction donations are currently being gratefully accepted. To reserve space for yourself and your guests, offer silent auction contributions, or sponsor a table of ten, contact Shepherd’s Gate Development Director Krystin Higgins by calling 925-583-8109 or emailing khiggins@shepherdsgate.org. For more information about Shepherd’s Gate’s mission, visit www. shepherdsgate.org.
Meals on Wheels
Seniors in our community need your support! Meals on Wheels and Senior Outreach Services have been supporting seniors in YOUR neighborhood since 1968. Two of the programs, Meals on Wheels and Friendly Visitors, rely on the support of volunteers, and we need your help now more than ever. Meals on Wheels volunteer drivers deliver meals to local homebound seniors through regular two hour shifts once per week or as substitute drivers. Friendly Visitors volunteers provide weekly one-hour companionship visits to isolated seniors. To volunteer for either program, please call (925) 937-8311.
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Page 6 - August 2015 ~ Lafayette Today
The Bookworm By Joan Stevenson
There is a new fashion statement in Lafayette. It is the bright green shopping bag with the words, “Friends Corner Book Shop Selling Gently Used Books Since 1967.” You can get yours at the Friends Corner Book Shop for the bargain price of $1, and you can fill it at the Book Shop Bag Sales. The shopping bags were purchased with a generous donation from Mechanics Bank of Lafayette. Hats off to Mechanics Bank for their support. Way back, when Lafayette was “imagining a place,” a commitment to making it a “green” place was one of the goals. And what could be more “green” than a used bookstore, a place where used books can find their way into new homes for at a phenomenally affordable price. Who better to make that dream a reality than The Friends of the Lafayette Library and Learning Center? In the years that have flown by, the shop has flourished and gained a reputation as one of the best used book sellers in the state. Last year sales generated an amazing grand total for the year of $184,305. That kind of “green” (revenue) is what supports a wide variety of library programs, Sunday staffing, the Summer Reading Program, Lamorinda reads, and much more. Just imagine that. I just learned about a new program called “Teen Tech Help” that began on July 18th. If you encounter problems with your smartphone, laptop, eBook reader, or any of those pesky tech items we seniors stumble with, drop by the library any Saturday from 12-2 in the Homework Center. There you will find friendly, custom, on-on-one assistance, and it is free! WATER! It is the five letter word that dominated the summer. How did we get into this situation? Is it global warming or is there more to the story? On Sunday, August 26th from 2-3:30pm in the Community Hall, the Lafayette Historical Society continues its Speaker Series with programs focusing on the importance of water resources in our community. The guest speaker will be Janet Thomas who has lived in Lafayette for 31 years near Reliez Creek. Janet developed the Environmental Science curriculum for the Acalanes Unified High School District and used that creek (which borders the school and its
www.yourmonthlypaper.com surroundings) as an outdoor classroom. Ms. Thomas is now involved with the Lafayette Community Garden and Outdoor Learning Center. The cost for the event is $10 LHS members, $15 non-members and kids under 14 with adult are free. Contact LHS at (925)283-1848 or Lafayette.history@comcast.net for reservations or additional information. Ellen Reintjes, chair of the Wonders of the World programs, gave me a glance at the Fall lineup. On September 16th at 2pm in the library Community Hall we will hear about the Napa Valley Museum which Ellen describes as “a hop, skip, and a jump up in the heart of wine country. The Napa Valley Museum blends, art, nature, and history in a 21st century facility situated on the beautiful grounds of the Veterans Home of California.” Other museums in the lineup include St. Mary’s, deYoung, and Asian Art. These lectures are not to be missed. On a recent visit to the library, my attention was drawn to a display put together by the Lafayette Historical Society entitled “How Burton Valley Came to be the Burton Valley of Today.” This delightful display goes back to the Saclan Native Americans and traces the many changes including the arrival of squatters after the Gold Rush, the electric train with a stop on South Lucille Lane, and planting of the pear orchards. In 1956 a 200 home development, Lafayette Valley Estates, was built, and that is where I landed when I came from New York. Many of us old timers are still around, and this look into our past is a delight. Come to the Community Hall on Thursday, August 20th at 7pm to catch a “sneak-peak” of this year’s Eugene O’Neill Festival with Artistic Director Eric Fraisher-Hayes who will discuss the productions, A Season of Desire and A Streetcar Named Desire. Following up on the incredible, sold-out run of last year’s The Iceman Man Cometh and the record-setting Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, the Eugene O’Neill Foundation will be partnering again with Role Players Ensemble. For more information, visit http://www.eugeneoneill.org. I eavesdropped on a book club in the children’s section and listened to a discussion of “Hiding Out at the Pancake Palace” which had the kids totally engrossed. One is never too young to participate in a serious book club! In the words of Dr. Seuss, “You can find magic whereever you look. Sit back and relax; all you need is a book.”
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Looking Back on 40 Years at the Lafayette Historical Society– September 1975 By Judie Peterson
Ruth Bailey is on assignment. She’ll return next month with another article written with her dry wit which she loves to share. We know you have come to look forward to reading her articles! Judie Peterson, History Room Coordinator, pinch-hits this month as editor. When postage was only 10-cents and the Historical Society did not have a History Room, the only means of communication was a bulletin published monthly. Today postage is 49-cents, we have the History Room to visit, and electronic means of communication. Times have changed drastically in 40 years, but as you’ll see in the following newsletter from September 1975, many things have not.
The Lafayette Historical Society published Bulletin Vol. V No. 1
Chris Schreiber president of LHS - Martha Gridley editor.
Membership
Lafayette Today ~ August 2015 - Page 7
11 Critical Home Inspection Traps to be Aware of Weeks Before Listing Your Home for Sale Lafayette - According to industry experts, there are over 33 physical problems that will come under scrutiny during a home inspection when your home is for sale. A new report has been prepared which identifies the 11 most common of these problems, and what you should know about them before you list your home for sale. Whether you own an old home or a brand new one, there are a number of things that can fall short of requirements during a home inspection. If not identified and dealt with, any of these 11 items could cost you dearly in terms of repair. That's why it's critical that you read this report before you list your home. If you wait until the building inspector flags these issues for you, you will almost certainly experience costly delays in the close of your home
sale or, worse, turn prospective buyers away altogether. In most cases, you can make a reasonable pre-inspection yourself if you know what you're looking for, and knowing what you're looking for can help you prevent little problems from growing into costly and unmanageable ones. To help home sellers deal with this issue before their homes are listed, a free report entitled "11 Things You Need to Know to Pass Your Home Inspection" has been compiled which explains the issues involved. To hear a brief recorded message about how to order your FREE copy of this report, call toll-free 1-866-265-1682 and enter 2003. You can call any time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Get your free special report NOW to learn how to ensure a home inspection doesn't cost you the sale of your home.
This report is courtesy of J. Rockcliff Realtors CalBRE #01763819. Not intended to solicit buyers or sellers currently under contract. Copyright © 2015 Membership chairman, Betsy Willcuts reports 52 new members and 148 renewals for a total of 200 members. Bill Wakeman whose family moved to Oakland (Note: LHS currently has just about the same number of members!) Latest Avenue in 1919 has given 24 Indian arrowheads to new members are: The Donald Dawsons, John Parkanys, Jack Pedders, the LHS permanent collection. (The arrowheads are Louis Koenigs, H. K. Bartons, Lloyde Kindalls, Robert Mathias’, Thomas on display in the History Room today.) Henrys, Evan Sawderys, Jack Baileys, Roy Hedtkes, Dwight Swobes, Eleanor Starks Meyers and LeRoy Starks, whose Lloyd Peras, Ernest Andersons, Theodore w. Craigs, Norman L. Hawkins, family has been in this area since the 1880’s, have Jr., Robert Hobsons, and Steve Duncan. Welcome to all of you. (Do you given the historical society valuable information recognize any names?) about the early day activities of our town. Their
Programs
The Orinda Historical Society will host the first meeting of the year on Sept. 23rd at 8pm at the Orinda Library. The Moraga Historical society will present the October meeting at the Moraga Library at 8pm on October 9th. “Earthquakes and Faults” will be the subject. Moraga is holding a potluck dinner October 25th, details next month. LHS presents Randy Millikin with his subject “A Bi-centennial Talk on Contra Costa County in 1776.” This will be the November meeting held at 8pm at Lafayette school auditorium on November 18th. Our program chairman, Mary McIvor, is in the process of planning a field trip by bus in May. Anyone with ideas of a place of interest we could visit are asked to call Mary at 555-1212.
Bicentennial
Our bicentennial committee chairman, Lou Repetto, has been helping to make plans for the Lafayette celebration. There will be a town meeting at 8pm on Oct 11 in room 14 at Stanley school to discuss plans. If you wish to have a voice in these plans, attend this meeting.
mother, May Daley Starks, grew up in the house by the creek on Moraga Blvd. still referred to as the “Daley house.” Once part of a large farm, it is surrounded now by trees and neighboring homes. (The red house still stands on Moraga Blvd.) Photographs of the family market on Moraga Rd. as well as other scenes of Lafayette and its residents in the 1920’s and 30’s have been loaned to the LHS. These photos are now being processed and may soon be seen in the historical file cabinet in the Lafayette Library. (These photos and more are now available in the History Room as well as archived digital images.) We hope you’ll recognize some names and places. We owe a great deal of gratitude to these pioneers of the Lafayette Historical Society for their dedication to Lafayette history.
Oral History
Oral histories have been taken from Nat Martin, Clarence Brown and Louie L. Stein, Jr. (LHS continues to collect oral histories from long time residents.)
Pictures, Landmarks, and Artifacts
Joan Merryman has been busy unearthing old pictures to reproduce for our file at the Lafayette library. LHS thanks her for her efforts and she is grateful for the cooperation of the following people: Ken Brown, Alice McNeil Russi, Louis L. Stein, Jr., Eleanor Starks Meyers, Nancy Flood, Genevieve Gallagher, Leela Stevens-Craig, MD, Moraga Historical Society, Clarence Brown, Sybil Wilkinson, Carroll Nelson of Carroll’s Upholstery, John Mustard, Jane Putnam of Lafayette Sun, Nat Martin and Brian McRae of East Bay Water.
Walkers enjoy the trail at the Lafayette Reservoir. To learn more about the reservoir and all it has to offer visit www.ebmud.com/recreation/east-bay/lafayette-reservoir.
Page 8 - August 2015 ~ Lafayette Today
Our CountyAgriculture Department Does a Lot By Candace Andersen, Supervisor, Contra Costa County, District 2
I’m often asked, “What does the County do?” I always enjoy sharing the role County departments play in helping our community. Contra Costa County produces nearly $120 million of some of the finest fruits, nuts, and vegetables in the nation. Consumers know that when they purchase these products at a retail store or Farmer’s Market they will be clean, fresh, and delicious. That confidence is created through the Contra Costa County Department of Agriculture/Weights & Measures. Their fruits and vegetables program involves the enforcement of state laws and regulations pertaining to the packing, shipping and quality of these agricultural commodities. The department is also responsible for the certification of Farmers Markets and the registration of organic farmers. County inspectors also enforce state and federal laws and regulations pertaining to eggs and egg products. These inspections ensure wholesome eggs as well as correct size and truthful labeling. The Agriculture Department handles the protection of plants and crops through the Pesticide Use Enforcement program, which is responsible for the enforcement of state regulations as they apply to the safe and effective use of pesticides. This includes the issuance of restricted materials permits, the monitoring of pesticide applications, the auditing of pesticide dealers and advisors, and the inspection of government, grower, and pest control business equipment and facilities. The Nursery Inspection program ensures that consumers are supplied with correctly labeled, pest-free plants for food production and ornamental use. It also assists nurserymen in finding proper methods of controlling insects, diseases, and other pests that would seriously affect nursery stock. Additionally, the department has a Seed Inspection and Certification Program for the inspection of seed package labels to be certain that they reflect California Seed Law for the correct percentage of germination, date of test, purity, and weed seed content. The Agriculture Department also has a variety of approaches to control pests. The Pest Exclusion and Quarantine Program helps eliminate exotic pests before they can harm home gardens and agriculture. If pests are bothering you at home, you can call the department (925-427-8610) to aid in identifying pests, monitoring
www.yourmonthlypaper.com populations, and determining control options. The department uses an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) method, which utilizes mechanical, cultural, biological, and chemical control techniques. Also included within the Agriculture Department is the Contra Costa County Division of Weights and Measures, which promotes a fair and equitable marketplace by inspecting packages and commercial weighing and measuring devices for accuracy. This ensures that the sale of harvested crops, livestock, animal feed, vehicle fuel, and other commodities is based on an honest weight or measure. A variety of devices are tested. There are scales ranging from jeweler’s scales for tiny gemstones to scales that can weigh a loaded railroad car. Devices are inspected before they are put into commercial use and any adjustable parts that might affect performance are sealed. Each commercial scale that passes inspection has a visible county seal. The 2014 Crop Report for Contra Costa County was recently published and shows continued strong demand for agricultural products. The total gross value of agricultural crops and products in 2014 was $119,829,000, a 23.8% increase from 2013. The top five leading crops of 2014 were cattle/calves, sweet corn, tomatoes, grapes, and beans, all of which surpassed $4.5 million in gross value. The report also contains an important reminder regarding how we all can reduce our water use. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, more than 25% of fresh water used for agriculture gets lost through food waste, which occurs in homes, restaurants, and supermarkets when products are thrown away. By purchasing only needed food, eating what is cooked and limiting waste, anyone can significantly aid in managing the ongoing drought. In addition, the Commission urges gardeners to grow native plants, which are more adapted to drought conditions and therefore require less maintenance. As you can see, the County Department of Agriculture/Weights & Measures performs many services for our County, and its employees do a great job ensuring quality, fair, and equitable marketplaces, but also help keep pests away from our gardens. 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. Thank you to summer interns Peter Hutchinson and Isabelle Yan for their contributions to this article.
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Come dance every Thursday evening, year-round. No partner is required and no Scottish ancestry is required. Adult beginner classes for Scottish Country Dancing take place each week with free lessons at 8PM. More experienced dancers also begin at 8PM. Once a month Ceilidh dancing will take place as well. Dancing will be held at the Danville Grange, located at 743 Diablo Rd in Danville. All dance nights are drop-in. The first beginner lesson is free, afterwards the cost is $8/night or $6/night if attending a 10week session paid in advance. Call Witsie at (925) 676-3637 or Kathleen at (925) 934-6148 for more information. For children’s classes ages 7 and up, please contact Cathy at (925) 284-9068 for dates and fees.
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Walking the Deck and Reservoir
Lafayette Today ~ August 2015 - Page 9
By Jim Scala
Exploring the North. My wife and I are on the Crystal Symphony cruise ship exploring far Northern ports. A deck walk requires eleven circuits to equal one reservoir walk, and the wind makes up for the res-hills. I walk and then do yoga in the ship’s fitness center. Fowey. After leaving Dover, England we stopped at a village locals call “Foy.” It’s charming. Its winding, hilly streets, small cottages, and shops are deceiving because this quaint port had a major role in WWII’s Omaha Beach landing. All the ammunition for that battle was shipped from Foy. How do they get Foy from Fowey? Iceland is a Living Biology Classroom. Straddling the mid-Atlantic ridge, Iceland is known for its vast lava fields, glaciers, and abundant geothermal energy. As one of the world’s most active volcanic regions, the landscape is covered with lava fields dating back 7,000 years. The starkly barren, slightly older fields are slowly covered by beige moss that eventually yields to green moss which is taken over by grass and flowering plants, especially lupines and dandelions. After another hundred years, Norway spruce and birch trees take root and forests begin. Steam vents are everywhere. Mud pools gurgle and bubble, creating a strong sulfur smell, and geysers spout on an irregular schedule. Geothermal water is so plentiful that the Icelanders pipe it to heat their homes, buildings, and under streets to melt ice and snow. Iceland is the world’s most literate country, proving their education and school system works. Winters are so harsh that children are boarded at school on weekdays and spend weekends at home. Schools become tourist hotels in the summer. The World’s Northern-most City. Murmansk’s many monuments commemorate Russia’s need for an ice-free winter port in its two wars with Germany. During WWII American convoys faced horrific sea battles here, and many ships were lost. Merchant Marines from age sixteen and older are buried in the city’s American cemetery. A General Landscaping Contractor In summer the sun shines 24 hours, and in winter it’s dark. The harsh Locally Owned and Operated climate has only 16 sunny days annually, and starting in August, it th Lic. #938445 receives several meters of snow. When we were there on July 14 it was 44 degrees. We dressed warmly to tour the city and visit the many war monuments. Murmansk brings out some aspects of socialistic life. Families live in government high-rise, two-room, about 1,200 square feet, apartments, and many share a kitchen with other families. People fortunate enough to have a small balcony usually convert it into a third room. Most buildings Visit Our Website need serious stucco repairs, paint, and landscaping. The uneven streets are filled with potholes which add to the city’s grim appearance. We didn’t see many smiling faces. Solovetsky Island. In the early 15th century, monks built this monastery above the Arctic Circle to savor its stark isolation. An economy developed and it was slowly built into a huge fort to defeat Polish invaders. In the early 20th century, monastic life was abandoned, and it became the Solovetsky State Farm, the poster child for Russia’s Gulag prison system. Over half of more than 80,000 prisoners died here. In 1990, it reverted back to its monastic roots and now has only 1,500 residents. Many people make pilgrimages to seek blessings from the priests in the beautiful monastery-fort with its many icons, paintings, sculptures, and secluded religious sanctuaries. Norway’s North Cape. At 71° North, Honningsvag, in Norway’s Lapland, has been inhabited for over 10,300 years. Its 1,000 foot cliff, the North Cape, is Europe’s northernmost point. In summer this picturesque fishing village doubles to 8,000 people. Located near the end of a very long, many-forked fjord, its high rocky mountains are marked with large patches of snow, and occasional reindeer herds add to its incredible beauty Honningsvag was a welcome contrast to grim Murmansk. Its brightly colored small homes and buildings are well maintained, and its streets clean. Villagers say hello with a smile and make everyone feel welcome. The Midnight Sun. At this latitude the sun simply circles the sky at about the same altitude every day. And as we go east or west, time zones change almost every day. It’s tough on the sleep cycle, but every view is beautiful. Just ask me and a picture of the midnight sun is yours. Lafayette’s Senior Walking Program. Through WiFi, I’ve kept in touch with our robust walking program. Toni’s postings tell me it’s going well. Reswalkers meet by 9am at the dam’s center bench every Tuesday and Thursday, and everyone’s welcome. Let me hear from you. Email me at jscala2@comcast.net.
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Page 10 - August 2015 ~ Lafayette Today
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helpdesk@theportablecio.com www.theportablecio.com Accumulated Expertise
By Evan Corstorphine, Portable CIO
Isn’t it amazing how fast we move through summer? This year is no exception as we race toward autumn with several important projects for Portable CIO. As the year progresses you’re going to see some changes in our appearance as we modernize and update both our website and logo. We’re also refreshing our business plan because technology has evolved in the 14 years since our company was founded. The technology we use has changed, but the principles of safe and reliable computing upon which I founded this company have not changed one bit. As a result, we’re updating our look but not our adherence to the concepts which have made us successful. You’ve probably heard the term “Victim of your own success.” Sometimes I think it’s an apt description of what we have run into with some of our clients, because we often find ourselves in a Catch-22 as a result of performing our jobs so well. I’ll explain. The original Portable CIO business plan I wrote predicted we would first serve residential clients, then businesses at home, then brick and mortar businesses, and then vertical markets. The last stage after creating vertical markets predicted I would be flying myself around the Western U.S. giving technical seminars. I’m still working on that part! As it worked out, we’ve tracked perfectly to the business plan. Owing to advertising in this paper, we’ve built a broad and loyal clientele in the Alamo, Danville, and Lafayette markets. Many people work from home, so serving businesses at home was a natural next step. As a result of successfully serving both residential and home-based business clients, we were given the privilege of expanding our coverage into brick and mortar commercial enterprises. This accumulated experience was instrumental in our introduction to the medical community, our certification in HIPAA, and our success with electronic medical records system implementations. When someone works with Portable CIO they benefit from the accumulated expertise of an entire IT department, not just the opinions of a single technician. As we are a managed service provider (MSP), our MSP clients
pay a fraction of the amount it would cost to hire and maintain all the technical staff necessary to keep their systems running. Because our team works with a wide variety of technical situations, our technicians stay sharp and current. You benefit from working with a team that has skills ranging from a CIO down to a basic technician. Whereas an internal employee working for you may become technically stale, our team is quite the opposite. Most small businesses can’t afford to employ a team of experienced IT staff, but they can afford to pay a fractional share of an experienced team to keep things running. This model presents a very good return on investment by using our team instead of adding more full or part time-staff to your firm, then caring for them with benefits, training, a place to sit, etc. This model works very well. Everyone is happy when things run smoothly. Sometimes we find folks forget how bad things were running before we took over their systems. What many people forget is that systems don’t run smoothly by accident; it takes planning and execution to keep a fleet of computers and a network running properly, safely, and reliably. Is everything running well for your network and systems? If yes, great! It means “Keep doing what you’re doing.” It definitely does not mean “You’re done!” because computers and networks require constant care and feeding like children. Let’s be honest: IT is an expense, but it’s an expense that can be carefully managed and minimized by experienced professionals. Getting back to the point I was making above, when things are going well, it’s not time to take your foot off the gas. Good IT management is a process; it’s not an event. When things are going well, it means you’re doing the right things, and you should keep up the momentum by continuing to do what you’re already doing. We pride ourselves on setting our clients up for success. But even with the best planning there are things that will always go awry, so we still need to maintain our position with you to ensure your systems are available and problems are minimized and handled swiftly and effectively. Who can we best help with this branch of our business? We can help companies with 10-300 PC or Mac computers as well as servers to manage, and who are looking for an upgrade, a fresh look, or a different approach to their IT situation, or folks who have large homes with big wireless network requirements and need to tie it all together. Can we help you in your situation? We’ll never know until you call our helpdesk at 925-552-7953 or email us at info@theportablecio.com. We’re happy to discuss your situation and recommend a thoughtful course of action. Advertorial
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Lafayette Today ~ August 2015 - Page 11
Anesthesia-Free Dental Cleaning for Dogs and Cats By Jennifer Luna-Repose, DVM
Anesthesia-free teeth cleaning is a relatively new and controversial service being offered in veterinary clinics, pet stores, and grooming salons. Let’s begin by discussing why good dental hygiene is important for your pets. Plaque and tartar are not just cosmetic problems; they can lead to serious consequences and pain for your pet if not kept in check. Both plaque and tartar contain high levels of bacteria that can enter an animal’s bloodstream and lead to infections in other areas of the body, such as the heart and kidneys. One way to avoid these problems is to brush your pet’s teeth. But even with daily brushing, plaque and tartar will still build up on teeth, especially in areas that are difficult to reach with a toothbrush and with a wiggling pet. This is one reason pets benefit from having their teeth professionally cleaned at least once a year. During the procedure, those areas in the mouth you can’t reach with a toothbrush can be cleaned, and cavities and fractured teeth that are painful for your pet can be taken care of. Veterinary students are routinely taught that you cannot perform an adequate dental cleaning without putting an animal under general anesthesia. Some brave souls questioned this belief, and we now know that with gentle restraint most pets will tolerate having their teeth cleaned, even under the gum line, without the use of anesthesia. Here are some things to keep in mind when determining whether or not to put your animal under anesthesia for an annual teeth cleaning procedure. 1. Your pet’s health. Anesthesia is a drug and no drug is without risks for some animals, especially those with kidney, liver, or heart disease, or seizures. If you decide to go the anesthesia route, make sure your pet has blood work done beforehand to check for underlying health problems. 2. Your pet’s temperament. Very excitable, energetic animals may have a hard time staying still and being cooperative for the cleaning. Their teeth are cleaned using the same dental hand scalers and ultrasonic scalers used by your human dental hygienist. If your pet struggles or moves too much, he or she can be injured by these instruments. 3. Teeth cleaning is veterinary medicine. Any dental cleaning procedure should be done at a veterinary hospital under the guidance of a veterinarian. 4. Risks and side effects. There are no side effects with anesthesia-free dental cleaning. The risks include accidental harm to the animal from sharp dental instruments if he or she is very excitable. Also, since no dental x-rays are performed, another downside is that any diseased tooth roots or fractures under the gum line will not be discovered. Although dental cleaning without anesthesia is safe and effective, I always recommend that pets have a cleaning performed every year or so with anesthesia and dental x-rays so that the health of the roots of the teeth can be properly evaluated. Even teeth that look perfectly healthy can have diseased roots and be painful to your pet. Please take your animal’s dental health seriously. Brush his or her teeth daily, and make professional cleaning a regular part of their regular health care plan. Should you wish to find out more about anesthesia-free dental cleanings, please contact Alternatives for Animals at 925-683-6160. They are a holistic veterinary clinic that offers this service every other Saturday. Alternatives for Animals is located at 919 Moraga Road, Lafayette, CA Advertorial 94549.
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Cinema Classics and Musical Notes The Bear By Peggy Horn
This month’s Cinema Classic is The Bear, (1988) directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud. This film actually stars bears and other wildlife, and the human’s roles, although important, are small. The movie is based on a book from 1916 entitled The Grizzly King, by James Oliver Curwood that takes place in British Columbia, although it was filmed in portions of the Alps. There is very little dialogue in the movie, and the music becomes thereby more important and noticeable. The movie’s plot involves a grizzly bear cub who becomes orphaned and must fend for himself to stay alive. After several days alone he is excited to encounter an adult male bear as he misses his mother and would love a companion. But the male bear has been wounded by a shot from a hunter’s gun and doesn’t want to be bothered with the cub. Still, the cub persists and when he comforts the big bear’s bullet wound, the big bear relents and takes him under his wing. The hunters who shot the big bear are planning to finish the job they started and seek to kill him. Unbeknownst to them, the bear has begun stalking them. The big bear proves how intelligent he is by gaining control of the situation, and when the bear has the opportunity to kill his tormentor – he doesn’t! Apparently this portion of the story is true, and some version of this really happened to the author of the book upon which the movie is based. Some viewers feel that the movie denies the human characters all the sympathetic attributes and portrays the wild animals as having all the positive characteristics. However, there are many positive qualities illustrated by these hunters who have a complete change of heart. This is a wonderful movie full of beauty and themes of mercy and optimism, tolerance and understanding.
Musical Notes
The soundtrack to this movie is very pretty and available. Look for The Bear, Soundtrack (1989), composed by Phillipe Sarde.
Brainwaves by Betsy Streeter
Page 12 - August 2015 ~ Lafayette Today
Sustainable Lafayette Tip of the Month
Environmentally Friendly Options for Getting Your Kids to School By Pamela Palitz, Sustainable Lafayette
Fifty years ago, half of the children in the U.S. rode their bikes to school. By 2004, only 3% of kids rode their bikes to school. Biking and walking has been replaced by car-driving parents zipping their kids to and from school and other activities. This may seem safe and hassle-free for the kids, but it prevents them from getting needed exercise, adds considerably to traffic congestion (think Moraga Road at 8:15am!), sends a cocktail of pollutants into the air that we all breath, and emits greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Fortunately, there are many environmentally friendly options for getting your kids to school and many compelling benefits for those who try them. Bike or Walk – Walking and biking are great alternatives for students that live within 1-2 miles of their school. These activities can promote responsible behavior, increase awareness of the outdoor environment, and help students stay physically fit. Lafayette has a number of bike trails and routes located near our schools. If you live far away from the school, but want your children to start to experience walking/riding, find a safe place to drop them off and pick them up as far away from school as is appropriate for their ability. If your child plans to bike, take one or two trial runs to make sure he or she has the right size helmet, working brakes, properly inflated tires, appropriate attire, and enough time to get to school. Also, pay attention to weather reports for back-up plans in case of bad weather at the end of the school day. Help your child learn the rules of the road and ride in specially designated areas when possible. For bike safety tips, go to www.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/pedbimot/bike/ kidsandbikesafetyweb/index.htm. Form a “Walking School Bus” or “Bicycle Train” – A walking school bus is a group of children walking to school with one or more adults. The bus leaves when the farthest family begins to walk the route and pick up kids along the way. It can be as informal as two families taking turns walking their children to school or as structured as a planned route with meeting points, a timetable and a schedule of trained volunteers. A variation on the walking school bus is a bicycle train where a group of children and adult leaders ride together to school. Form a “School Pool” – This takes a little coordination but reduces your drives per week and definitely cuts down on energy use and air pollution. Carpooling also fosters a sense of community among riders. A carpool can give students a sense of responsibility about being on time and an arena where they can practice their pleases and thank-yous. Conversations in the car allow parents a chance to get to know what’s happening at school in a way a single child rarely shares. Take a Public Bus – Riding the public bus can be a wonderful experience for a child. Safe and reliable, there are public County Connection buses that stop at or near many of our schools. The school bus routes can be seen at http://countyconnection.com/maps-schedules/#school. Youth bus fares are $20 for a 12-ride pass and $60 for a monthly pass. Lamorinda School Bus Transportation Program – A popular school bus alternative in Lafayette is the Lamorinda School Bus Transportation program. Twenty 2009 model clean diesel buses service the Lamorinda area. These buses meet the latest federal standards and run on ultra-low sulfur fuel. Emissions are similar to buses running on natural gas. Stops are convenient to a student’s house. The bus fares are reasonable as a majority of the revenue for the bus program comes from Measure J in Contra Costa County, which, when passed, posed a half-cent sales tax to support the program. The service offers a 4:45pm bus for Stanley students involved in extra-curricular activities. For information about the bus program, call (925) 363-7327 or visit www.lamorindaschoolbus.org. For more ideas about how to transform your home and community into more sustainable places with enhanced quality of life for current and future residents, please visit sustainablelafayette.org.
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Energy Matters
“New” Electric Rates and Rocket Science By Mark Becker, GoSimple Solar
Lately I’ve been answering inquiries about the PGE electric rate changes that were recently approved by the California Public Utility Commission (CPUC). Predictions are that the rate changes, when they go into effect in 2019, will ultimately impact more than 75% of California electricity subscribers. I’ll caveat that my opinion is based on the limited information published about the rate changes, and historical precedents set by previous PGE rate changes. Calculations are that the rate changes will increase the cost of electricity for all but the highest tier users of electricity. The exact definition of “upper tier user” and “lower tier user” is not specifically defined. Currently, most PGE ratepayers are on a 4-tier billing method. Using more kilowatts will cost more per kilowatt. The utilities contended during CPUC rate change deliberations that upper tier users are “paying far more than their fair share” for electricity, and therefore are “subsidizing lower tier electric users” thus necessitating this rate change. The counter argument is that lower tier users will be penalized for being efficient. The CPUC’s and PGE’s retort to that argument is that lower tier electric costs are actually sold at a loss to the utility. The new tiers will have new pricing and there will only be two of them. I dislike assumptions, but…I’m going to assume that the rate changes will generate more revenue, not less, for PGE. Indeed, the consensus from consumer advocacy groups is that the majority of ratepayers will face higher electric bills. No surprise there. With a dearth of information from PGE, I’m going to go out on a limb and apply logic and historical precedent to try to answer the very obvious question posed to me by current and prospective solar customers: “How will these rate changes affect my investment in solar PV now and in the future”? If you are a solar PV system owner now, California law protects your net metering rights until July 17, 2037. If you go solar after July 17, 2017, there will be new regulations for solar PV interaction with the grid. Also, if you’re a solar customer now or before July 17, 2017, if historical precedent is a guide, you’ll stay “grandfathered” into your current electric rate, and not be subject to these new rates unless you move or voluntarily switch rates. If you go solar after the rate changes take effect, increased return on investment will occur for smaller solar PV projects because the lowest cost power will get more expensive with the new rates. A slightly lower return than current return on the solar investment may result for higher tier users because the highest tier cost may be lower than it is currently. On a much closer horizon and of greater concern for prospective solar customers is the phase out of the 30% Federal Tax credit for solar PV. If you’re considering solar PV, consider it with much closer scrutiny while your solar contractor simply has the time to do the work before the expiration date. Next year will be banner business year for solar PV contractors. Choose your contractor sooner than later; your “first choice” contractor may not be available and you may have to settle for your second or third choice. The principles of Economics 101 state that once demand goes up, price often follows. From a utility grid management standpoint: Ultimately, PGE risks putting more stress on the already tenuous utility grid unless they continue to incentivize solar PV by offering Time of Use rates. Essentially, commercial and residential solar PV systems are PGE subcontracted power plants. They help relieve the afternoon load when the grid is stressed. The relationship between solar PV and PGE has become one of mutual reliance. Power generation is shifting away from traditional power plants (by law, towards renewables) but power transport via the grid will remain with PGE. PGE must manage the demand of the grid and balance it with the advantages and mandates of California law. By 2030, the law says 50% of the grid must be powered by renewable or alternative energy sources. When considering solar, remember this: The lowest long-term cost of energy is determined by long-term reliability of products and workmanship. This is the beauty of installing the finest products, with the most highly qualified installation team. Virtually the only time we hear from customers is when they want to refer us. Energy independence the safe, secure, and reliable way. Mark Becker is the President and business owner of GoSimpleSolar, by Semper Fidelis Construction Inc, CSLB 948715. GoSimpleSolar is one of the very few (and proud) solar PV installers utilizing both licensed roofers and licensed electricians for installation work, project managed by a solar PV NABCEP professional. For questions or comments email Mark@GoSimpleSolar. com or call 925-331-801. Advertorial
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Big Shoes to Fill By Erin Martin, Village Associates Real Estate
Lafayette Today ~ August 2015 - Page 13
For many years I have pulled the Lafayette Today paper out of my mailbox and flipped to Art Lehman’s real estate column. He is a fixture in the Lafayette real estate community, and his thoughtful and insightful columns will be missed. It is an understatement to say I have big shoes to fill. I grew up in Lafayette, and I am a third generation Lafayette resident. My grandparents lived in Burton Valley, and my parents live in one of the first homes built in Lafayette. Like so many other people I know, my husband and I made the slow migration from being young and single in San Francisco to saving every penny so we could move to Lafayette. I feel extremely fortunate to live in such a special area and to give my kids the gift of Lafayette schools, parks, recreation, and a safe and nurturing community. I love being a part of making Lafayette home to families moving to the area or helping longtime residents get the largest return on their real estate investments. Now I am looking forward to writing about what I call, “the drama of Lafayette real estate.” There is never a dull moment. Right when you think the market is predictable or you know what buyers are looking for, something new pops up. Unfortunately, my first topic is uncharacteristically dry but one that will impact, and potentially further disadvantage all of us who need financing to purchase a home in Lafayette. This fall the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection will require new Integrated Mortgage Disclosures under the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act. The new rules are intended to ensure borrowers understand costs, aid comparison shopping, and to ensure there are no surprises at closing. What it boils down to is that lenders are required to provide borrowers with two new forms. The first must be provided three days after the loan application and must disclose key features, costs, and risks of mortgage. The second form provides disclosures that outline and describe all costs associated with the loan. The consumer must receive the closing disclosure statement no later than three business days before loan consummation. While the intent is greater consumer up-front transparency, in our market it means the time frame for traditional financing is extended. The non-allcash-buyer is at a further disadvantage because of the mandatory waiting period. Make sure that your lender, realtor, and title company are on top of these changes to minimize delays. Although these changes are scheduled to go into effect in October, this date may get pushed back. Please feel free to call or email me with your real estate questions or for a free home evaluation. I can be reached at (925) 951-3817 or by email at erin@erinmartinhomes.com. Advertorial
Lamorinda Sunrise Rotary
“Row With Champions” Regatta Promises Fun for Entire Family
A one-of-a-kind sporting event and festival never before presented in the Bay Area or perhaps anywhere else is scheduled for Saturday, August 22, at San Pablo Reservoir in Orinda. “Row With Champions,” as it is billed, is open to the general public. It will put as many as 100 eight-person shells in the water between 10AM and 3PM in a variety of races. Shells, measuring 60 feet in length, will be steered by members of the renowned Oakland Strokes, which has won national championships. A number of other boats will boast Olympic-experienced rowers and coxswains. There are two skilled rowers and a coxswain per boat, leaving six seats available to the general public. No rowing experience is required, and anyone 12 years of age or Independent service and repair for Jaguar older is eligible to participate. Races begin around 10:30AM. The distance to be traversed is 250 meters. Medals will be CARLOS “KIKO” CAICEDO presented to finalists. Shop (925) 284-4852 This novel event is the principal fundraiser for Lamorinda Sunrise Rotary (LSR) in partnership Cell (925) 285-0783 with Oakland Strokes. Proceeds benefit a variety of community service programs supported by lafayettemotors@gmail.com the Rotary club as well as inner-city youth scholarships offered by Oakland Strokes. 3470 Golden Gate Way , Lafayette, CA 94549 Seats are $200 each. Entire boats consisting of six seats are $1,000. The seats are being promoted as opportunity for business, organizational, or personal sponsorship. For those who want to spectate only – no rowing involved – tickets are $20. For more information and advancesale tickets, visit www.rowwithchampions.org. Purchases are tax deductible as provided by law. Independent service and repair for Mercedes Benz Besides the rowing spectacle, the event provides on-site attractions for all ages. Entertainment will include live music and games. Food trucks will offer a variety of fare. “We are excited to be able to present what promises to be a unique day for entire families,” JERRY FIGUEROA said Buddy Burke, president of LSR. “Even if you have never held an oar in your hands, it is Shop (925) 284-4852 an opportunity to get some exercise, have fun, experience this exciting sport, and know you are Cell (510) 754-1942 lafayettemotors@gmail.com contributing to a good cause.” Among programs the Rotary club sponsors are Las Trampas, the well-known nonprofit in 3470 Golden Gate Way , Lafayette, CA 94549 Lafayette that renders services to developmentally disabled adults; HOME team, which provides no-charge minor home repairs for seniors; Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano counties; Garden Park apartments, open to families in transition; and to Rotary International projects, including ongoing efforts to eradicate polio worldwide. Shared proceeds helpdesk@theportablecio.com to the Oakland Strokes will fund its inner-city outreach programs. www.theportablecio.com
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Page 14 - August 2015 ~ Lafayette Today
Pruning for Fire Safety By Blaine Brende & Joe Lamb
In the spring and early summer, the landscape grows lush and beautiful. Our Mediterranean climate is blessed by sufficient winter rains to make plants grow, but our dry summers, and our even drier autumns, can make that new growth a fire hazard. In the greater Bay Area, we live surrounded by an ecosystem that has been shaped, over the last 10,000 years, by frequent wildfires. Because these woodland fires are inevitable, landscape trees, even healthy ones, require occasional pruning to prevent them from becoming fire ladders––bridges of flammable material that could carry flames from a woodland fire to your home. The threat posed by fires in the greater Bay Area is real and significant. The Oakland/Berkeley Hills fire of 1991 caused $1.7 billion in property damage, and it was the nation’s worst urban fire since the San Francisco fire of 1906. Failure to properly maintain landscape trees and shrubs played a significant role in allowing that fire to grow, intensify, and move. The Comprehensive Overview of the Berkeley/Oakland Hills Fire recommends that the risk of wildfire can be reduced by proper care of landscape plants: • Break up fire ladders. • Limb trees back from structures. • Reduce flammable biomass by thinning crowns. • Remove dead trees and shrubs from the landscape. • Remove deadwood from live trees and shrubs. Breaking up fire ladders helps prevent a fire from moving easily from the woods, or from your neighbor’s property, to your house. To break up fire
Gardening with Kate By Kathleen Guillaume
We are truly into summer. Everyone’s apricot, peaches, and cherries have long been harvested, but the tomatoes are going strong and the apples are growing toward their early autumn harvest time. I have recently moved, and it was very hard saying goodbye to my wonderful garden. It is too late to start a new summer garden, so I will have to wait until next season for tomatoes in my new garden. I brought pots of Rudbeckia with me as I am unable to wait a season for their sunny blooms...they will hold me until a new garden is started and developed. I brought some of my shade plants with me including three pots of clivias which are from some that my grandfather gave me 40 years ago. They have journeyed through 12 moves. Their glorious brilliant orange blooms have faded, but they have formed their sprays of bright red seed pods. They are a plant that keeps on giving. Their bright blooms come at the edge of spring in our temperate zone, they have beautiful broad, evergreen, wide strapped leaves, and best of all they love to be in pots and totally root bound. How carefree can a plant get? When I first got them I wanted to put them in the ground under a bank of birch. “If you want to do that,” my Gramps said, “dig holes and add few inches of gravel at the bottom and place the pots in the holes...they need good drainage and they like their roots virtually strangling each other.” I repot them about every 10 years, and if I divide them I squeeze them into small pots so they feel root-bound again. A while back the plant hybridizers even managed to create a new color, a yellow cliva. When it was introduced it was $165 per plant! Now enough years have passed and growers have produced a good inventory from the seeds, so you can find them for under $60, sometimes as low as in the $40 range. It is a worthy specimen plant to add to the shady part of your garden. I had to give up my staghorn ferns, one I shared with a great gardener and sweet lady in Lafayette. The larger one went to my son which he can tuck below his shade trees. It is about 4 feet high and 4 feet across, a little bit too big for my smaller garden. Once he has built a stand for it, it will grow to about 8 feet in circumference. My original fern came from my grandmother, and she obtained it in the late 20s when some orchid thieves brought it with them to Santa Barbara. They wanted $50 for it, an outrageous amount at the
www.yourmonthlypaper.com ladders, increase the space between plants, both vertically and horizontally. In the 1991 fire, blowing brands of flammable material landed on ground plants and, if there was sufficient dry matter, caught the ground cover on fire. The fire burned along the ground plants horizontally for as long as it found material to burn. If it encountered trees with low branches, the fire would move vertically from the ground up into the crown of the tree. If those burning trees were close to a house, they would set the house on fire. If their crowns touched the crowns of other trees, the fire spread from crown to crown. Landscape plants pose little fire hazard when they are properly maintained, and proper maintenance does not mean sacrificing a natural, woodland aesthetic. If the limbing up, dead-wooding, and crown thinning are done by a craftsman with a sensitivity to plant aesthetics, then the trees will look natural, even though they may have had 30% of their biomass removed. Knowing how to identify potential hazards is important, but it is also important to know how to reduce those hazards in a manner that keeps your property looking natural and which doesn’t sacrifice important screening plants. Brende & Lamb specializes in balancing the conflicting needs for privacy, fire safety, tree health, and landscape aesthetics. It is possible to improve the fire safety of your property while promoting the health and beauty of your plants. Tree care is a craft requiring study and experience. Our trimmers are master craftsmen who understand that a well-pruned tree should not only be safer and healthier, it should look beautiful as well. At Brende and Lamb we take great pride in both the science and the art of pruning. If your trees need a little TLC, please call 510-486-TREE (8733) or email us at bl@brendelamb.com for a free estimate. Additionally, go to our website www.brendelamb.com to see before and after pictures, client testimonials, Advertorial and work in your neighborhood. time, so the ladies of the Santa Barbara Garden Club all pitched in together and purchased it and cut each pup out (the new fern growth), giving each member a small pup. From that my Grams kept dividing it, creating enough to fill several areas in two of her greenhouses. She was a Rex Begonia and fern hybridizer. In the late seventies she gave me a fern to remember her by. Mine are from pups of that fern. So again, I will take my trusty serrated knife and carve out a pup which will become a glorious specimen in 4-5 years. You occasionally see these ferns at nurseries -- either Stag Horn or Elk Horn ferns. They are normally wired to a porous board which can be hung on a shady wall, and they likely won’t survive a season. They originally come from deep jungle areas and form on tree branches where bird droppings keep them fertilized, and the constant fog of the rainforest keeps them moist. They are a glorious specimen plant, but if you want to make a go of one, take it off of the board and nest it in a pot slightly smaller than its base with no soil. It likes moisture but can’t be wet as it will rot completely if over watered. You treat it the same way you would an orchid, and it likes about the same condition as cymbidiums. It does need protection from frosts. I kept mine under a lath structure which had misters which ran for five minutes once a week in the summer. They are not water hogs and are a good plant to grow during our drought conditions. My clivias were nestled among them. It is fun to have one or two specimen plants that are designed to outlive you, so when you amortize their costs out they really aren’t that expensive. The lath structure I built was along a north facing fence line and was built off of the fence posts, high enough to get under with a shed roof of lath. That made it 6 feet high toward the back with a front opening of about 4.5 feet. It housed all of my shade plants, as I had little shade on my garden. A shade lath is a worthy project for ferns, begonias, cymbidiums, and clivia. It is easy to cover when frosts are predicted and a great autumn project. Happy gardening.
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Life in the Lafayette Garden
Inviting Entries By John Montgomery, ASLA, Landscape Architect
Inviting entries are an essential element in the creation of a successful landscape design. An inviting entry or portal is your first impression of your home and garden. It creates the mood! The portal gives your garden drama, definition, direction, structure, and interest. It leads you through the garden, frames the views, defines the “rooms,” and adds structural interest. A garden portal generally is an architectural element that is built such as an arbor, arch, gateway, fence, pergola, colonnade, or landscaped focal point. Most typically seen is an arbor, either arched or squared-off. It creates the portal framework that makes a distinction that you, the participant within the garden, are entering into something. Think about how you might want someone to feel as they approach your garden and your front door? First, you want them to know where to find the entry to your home. Then, you wish to create a welcoming feeling that sets the tone for entry into your living space. Once you pass through the door into your home you egress from one Call for details space to another and in doing so have gone from one environment to another. The garden portal essentially 925.939.8300 performs the same function solartechnologies.com in your garden. Lic. #932914 Gates beckon to be opened. The drama unfolds as you pass through from one space to another. What’s on the other side? Gates advance the opportunity to create the drama by how they are designed and where they are positioned. Fences provide an opportunity to frame an area of the garden as well as offer a portal to the next “garden” room. Fences give us security. They supply privacy so we can be ourselves. Fences add drama to expansive spaces that need to be brought into perspective. They create new rooms and therefore create new dramatic entries. Pergolas and colonnades offer a dramatic portal to view from while enjoying protection from a hot Lafayette summer day. Sit in the shade and view the garden and relax. Pergolas and colonnades are the structural framework that creates a room and a portal simultaneously. We want to enter. Pergolas and colonnades can be built in many architectural styles that suit the theme of your home and garden style. Landscaped focal points are an easy way to create a portal. Certain plants such as Buxus microphylla japonica ‘Winter Gem’ (Boxwood) and Ligustrum japonicum ‘Rotundifolium’ (Privet) provide a more formal structural plant that can be used to form a dramatic entry. Looser plant forms such as Alyogyne huegelii (Blue Hibiscus), Hibiscus syriacus ‘Collie Mullins’ (deciduous Hibiscus), or tree roses placed at either side of an opening through a hedge of Boxwood or Pittosporum tenuifolium “Varigata” (Variegated Pittosporum), give the effect of an entry to another room. Garden portals lead the garden wanderer to the next surprise. Interest and curiosity lead them to the next portal that might be the vegetable garden where they can pause to pick strawberries or cherry tomatoes. The next portal may lead them down a colorfully planted “alley” or path where they can “stop and smell the roses.” Remember to have fun and be creative! A hot tip from your local Landscape Architect: New entries added to an existing home can give your home a completely new look and feeling without redoing your entire landscape. Gardening Quote of the Month: “One of the most delightful things about a garden is the anticipation it provides.” ~W.E. Johns If you would like me to write on any particular subject, email your ideas Advertorial to jmontgomery@jm-la.com or visit www.jm-la.com.
Page 16 - August 2015 ~ Lafayette Today
When in Rome
By Monica Chappell
I was lucky enough to find myself roaming the Italian countryside this summer. Besides the scenery and history, there was one thing on my mind: Italian food & wine. While it's hard to go wrong with any kind of Italian food, some cities are known for their specialties, and that’s what I was on the hunt for.
When in Rome...
When it comes to food, culture and history, the capital city of Italy can do no wrong. While I knew any menu item here would most likely be bellissimo, Rome is where I indulged in the 'traditional' Roman plates such as spaghetti carbonara, lasagna bolognese and insalata caprese. The list could go on for days, but if you only have one meal in Rome, make it carbonara at Da Cesare in Trastevere. As for the wine scene, Latium is the wine region around Rome. Most of the wine made here is white from the Trebbiano grape, and it happens to go perfect with carbonara. Funny how that works!
A Little Taste of Florence...
Gelato anyone? While this dessert is done well all over Italy, it seems that Florence has found the secret to perfecting this delicious, creamy and sweet treat. My daughter and I tried almost every local gelateria. Our favorite was right off the Ponte alla Carraia (second bridge west of Ponte Vecchio, on the Oltrarno side), Gelateria Carraia. In our expert opinion, the gelato here was super creamy and most delicious. The Tuscany wine region extends from the city of Florence to the south. Some of the best-known Italian wines come from this region. Notable are the Chianti wines and Brunello di Montepulciano. The rising trend to create Cabernet Sauvignon based, or blended wines, has led to the unofficial designation “Super Tuscans” for these expensive and much sought after wines. Sangiovese (or Brunello as one of the clones is called) is the important red wine grape of the region. Gelato and wine…why not?
Seafood in Positano (duh)
This one may seem quite obvious considering this small town is the jewel along the famed Amalfi Coast. With that said, I did not miss the opportunity to sample some of the world's finest seafood; from mussels and clams to shrimp, there are few wrong choices you can make. I currently hold the family record for ordering Linguini con Vongole. Campania is the wine district around the town of Naples. The wines are not well known outside of the region, but visitors to the region usually run across some examples in the local eateries. Many of these wines pair beautifully with the seafood of the region. No matter where we found ourselves in this great country, we made sure to indulge in a bottle of vino and preferably a local one. We had no bad meals in Italy, but our mantra was, “If we get a bad meal in Italy, it’s still a meal in Italy.” Ciao Bella! Monica Chappell teaches wine appreciation classes in Lafayette. For a class schedule email us wineappreciation101@gmail.com.
Search and Rescue
The Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team needs volunteer members to respond to missing person incidents, disasters, and other critical incidents. Team members are on call 24/7 year-round. The program provides required training; including wilderness traveling, first aid, map and compass usage, tracking disaster response, and search skills; and may also include special training for canine, equestrian, technical, mountain bike, or other rescue skills. For information and applications, visit www.contracostasar.org or call 646-4461.
Tao House
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By Linda Summers Pirkle
On a recent visit to California, my friend, director and actor Rosario Tronnolone from Rome, Italy suggested we visit the home of Eugene O’Neill (18881953), the first American playwright to receive the Nobel Prize for Literature. It has been years since I toured the home (also known as Tao House), where the famous playwright and father of the modern American play wrote what are considered his best works. Just a ten minute drive from downtown Danville nestled in the hills of the Las Trampas range, Tao House was built in 1937 and inspired by O’Neill’s interest in Eastern philosophy and his wife Carlotta Monterey O’Neill’s love of Oriental art and decor. They lived in Tao House from 1937 until 1944. Our guide, Park Ranger and expert on Eugene O’Neill, Thaddeus Shay, mentioned with a voice that is deep, and full (perfect for reading the famous lines from the well known plays), “We get many visitors who enjoy this National Park site, yet have no idea who Eugene O’Neill is. We also get actors, directors, writers, and academia visiting the park, most of whom have an interest in Eugene O’Neill. Something I’ve heard from actors portraying a character in an O’Neill play is that it is one of the most challenging and satisfying things they have done because his plays usually cover some very emotional topics.” Our small group visiting Tao House included Donald Mackay, an actor who grew up in the Bay Area whose impressive list of TV credits includes West Wing, The Good Wife, Weeds, Criminal Minds, and NCIS. Mackay has always been a Eugene O’Neill aficionado, he says, “I grew up in Walnut Creek and as a young actor devoured all things O’Neill and toured Tao House even before it was a National Park site.” He recently received news that he landed the coveted lead role in an Irish production of an Eugene O’Neill play. Mackay was visiting the site for inspiration and reflection. “I feel incredibly fortunate to play a lead role of ‘James Tyrone’ in Eugene O’Neill’s final and great play A Moon for the Misbegotten, directed by Ben Barnes. I will be the only American in an all Irish cast of the O’Neill play, rehearsing and performing in Ireland and then touring the play to New York. I consider this to be the artistic highlight of my career as a professional actor.” Rosario, my director friend had some eloquent things to say about Eugene O’Neill’s house. “Tao House strikes me with its geometric order and sense of beauty. Much of the surrounding nature is part of the house itself, with the huge windows letting the landscape in. The fog, so present in O’Neill’s work, is redolent in the grey walls of his most private rooms and by the dark colored mirrors, and yet, the house keeps the strange feeling of lack of warmth. O’Neill’s dying words (spoken in a hotel in Boston) were “I knew it, I knew it! Born in a hotel dying in a hotel.” You sense that he was forever living as a guest. With a director’s perspective, Rosario commented on his favorite room of Tao House, “It is certainly the small room with the piano that looks like the most comfortable and peaceful room, with the beautiful view, the music sheets, and the records. Coming near the window, I could almost feel the presence of the artist sitting in the little veranda and looking at the serene valley.” • Tours are available at 10AM and 2PM on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday by reservation. Saturday “without reservations” tours are held at 10:15AM, 12:15PM, and 2:15PM. Meet at the bus stop located in front of the San Ramon Valley Museum located at 205 Railroad Ave., Danville. Visits are by tour bus or on foot only. Entrance is free. For more information, visit www.nps.gov/euon or call 925-838-0249. • Donald Mackay will be performing in A Moon for the Misbegotten at Theatre Royal in Waterford, Ireland March 6-12, 2016, at the Lyric Theater, in Belfast from March 15-19, 2016 and in New York from March 29-April 24, 2016. Linda Summers Pirkle, travel consultant and long term Danville resident, has arranged and led tours for the Town of Danville for several years. Inspired by the many wonderful places to visit in the Bay Area, she organizes day trips, either for groups or for friends and family. “What a great place to live, so much to see, so much to do.” To share your “Quick Trips” ideas email Coverthemap@gmail.com.
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Enrolling for Medicare: A Primer
By George M. Noceti, CRPS -Wealth Advisor and Paul A. Noceti, Financial Planning Specialist with The Integra Group at Morgan Stanley ®
The complexity of Medicare and the myriad options enrollees face can be daunting. Here are some pointers on how to go about enrolling, and suggestions on different alternatives such as working with a Medicare advisor. As any American over 65 knows, signing up for Medicare is not simple. There are four different parts, each with different options that can have widely divergent effects on costs and coverage. Enrollees may also wish to supplement their Medicare with private coverage. If you are approaching that landmark birthday, consider the following pointers to guide you through the enrollment process. Start by determining whether you’ll continue to have group coverage through an employer or association. This is an especially important first step for anyone who continues to work past age 65 or who can be covered by a spouse who continues to work. While not all private group plans allow people to keep their coverage after age 65, those that do could help give you better coverage at a lower cost than Medicare could alone, even after all of Medicare’s options are factored in. (Keep in mind that a purely Medicarebased strategy may still be a better deal in some circumstances). Sign up for Medicare two to three months before you turn 65 to minimize the risks of a gap in coverage. Everyone should enroll for Part A; it has no premiums for anyone who has paid Medicare taxes or was married to someone who did. If you plan to maintain private coverage, you’re likely to be asked to coordinate that coverage with Medicare. What’s more, you may not have to proceed any further in this process since many group plans replace the welter of Medicare options and supplements with their own benefits. Evaluate Medicare’s optional coverages. Part A is coverage for the basic cost of hospitalization--things such as a semi-private room for treatment and rehabilitation, along with related equipment and service charges incurred while in the institution. Other potential costs are addressed by optional coverages. Medicare Part B covers a major portion of costs for outpatient care, doctor’s services and durable medical equipment. The base cost for this coverage is $104.90 per month in 2015, increasing for individuals whose annual income was more than $85,000 in the prior year. Medicare Part D covers a significant portion of the cost of medication, even for chronic conditions. Part D terms and costs vary widely, so consider each one in the light of your medications and other needs. Note that unless you have private coverage in place, you should enroll for Parts B and D when you sign up for Part A. If your private coverage is later cancelled, you can readily switch over to Medicare. But if you merely forego coverage now, you’ll be limited to open enrollment periods if you desire coverage later. You’ll also face late enrollment penalties and higher premiums. Prepare for out-of-pocket expenses. Part A has some modest deductibles and potential cost-sharing for extended hospital stays. Part B is designed to account for 80% of its covered costs after deductibles and copayments. Part D has a variety of expense-sharing features that could cost someone taking common medications thousands of dollars per year. These potential financial risks can be managed with Medicare supplement policies from private insurers. Premiums may vary widely based on terms and conditions. One final wrinkle is Medicare Advantage, a managed-care alternative to traditional health coverage under Parts A and B. The exact terms of this coverage vary and are set by the insurance companies that offer these plans. As with the other private insurance choices, there may be complex tradeoffs.
Source: The Official U.S. Government Site for Medicare [http://medicare.gov/].
At Morgan Stanley, we can help you implement effective strategies for reducing Medicare expenses and set up customized savings and investment plans to help pursue your goals. Call us so we can talk about the best way to get started. For further information, as well as a complimentary Medicare Review, Social Security Review, and Financial Plan Review, please contact us at George M. Noceti, CRPS® -Wealth Advisor at (925)746-2982, via email at george.noceti@ morganstanley.com, or visit our website at www.ms.com/fa/theintegragroup. Connect LinkedIn: George M. Noceti, CRPS® Follow me on Twitter: @GNocetiMS.
The opinions expressed by the authors are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Morgan Stanley. The information and data in the article or publication has been obtained from sources outside of Morgan Stanley and Morgan Stanley makes no representations or guarantees as to the accuracy or completeness of information or data from sources outside of Morgan Stanley. Neither the information provided nor any opinion expressed constitutes a solicitation by Morgan Stanley with respect to the purchase or sale of any security, investment, strategy or product that may be mentionedMorgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”), its affiliates and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Financial Advisors or Private Wealth Advisors do not provide tax or legal advice. Clients should consult their tax advisor for matters involving taxation and tax planning and their attorney for matters involving trust and estate planning and other legal matters. Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC offers insurance products in conjunction with its licensed insurance agency affiliates. 2These examples are hypothetical and for illustrative purposes only. Your results will vary. Indicated returns cannot be guaranteed. They do not reflect the performance of any actual investment and do not allow for the fees and expenses incurred with investing. Calculations use monthly compounding at an annual rate of 6%, however actual investment returns may vary from year to Advertorial year, which could impact projected values. © 2015 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC.
Bike continued from front page
already know: Gridlock is Lafayette’s new normal - but not if Brad Crane can help it. In an effort to reduce traffic congestion, and in turn improve air quality, Crane, a member of Sustainable Lafayette, started ‘BikeLafayette’ last year. “The goal of BikeLafayette is to encourage, promote, and celebrate the local cycling community in Lafayette, said Crane. “Ultimately, we hope to increase the number of people using bikes instead of cars. More people on bikes reduces car congestion and is one sign of a healthy, thriving local economy.” Crane developed his interest in ‘lifestyle’ biking (as opposed to racing or recreation riding) as a young professional in Boston. He did not own a car, and his job was not accessible via public transportation. He biked 10 miles each way to his job in Cambridge. “At the time, my entire agenda was to get to and from work,” says Crane. Now, as a Lafayette stay-at-home dad, Crane’s agenda is to demonstrate that cycling or walking can be a primary method of transportation, and that driving can be considered a last resort. With BikeLafayette, Crane’s goal is to make it easier and safer for people to bike and walk around town. “If more kids biked/ walked to school or more people biked/walked to downtown, the traffic and parking situation wouldn't be as bad as it is,” says Crane. BikeLafayette is currently a small group of active biking advocates promoting current cycling news, local biking events, and volunteer opportunities. They welcome enthusiastic cycling advocates willing to volunteer their time. “Because our local cycling community includes a wide range of people -- kids learning to ride, moms grocery shopping, experienced mountain bikers, competitive road racers, daily commuters-- we’re employing a fairly general strategy of encouragement,” says Crane. In partnership with the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce who dedicates bike parking space, BikeLafayette currently hosts the valet bike parking at the major community events like the Art & Wine Festival, Reservoir Run, and the Earth Day Festival. The Chamber also recently purchased mobile bike racks to increase parking capacity at events. More than 250 bikes were parked at last year’s Art & Wine Festival. This year for the Earth Day Festival, BikeLafayette enlisted “Wheel Kids Walnut Creek” to conduct a bike skills rodeo for kids. They also brought in Bay Area Bike Mobile to perform free bike repairs and held a bike registration drive where local Boy and Girl Scouts registered bikes using Bike Index, a free national registry service. In four hours the scouts registered over 60 bikes. BikeLafayette also works closely with the Lafayette Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) on events like Bike to Work Day and promoting bike safety. The BPAC focuses on bike/ped policy and technical advising on local bike/ped infrastructure projects, whereas BikeLafayette focuses on activity based encouragement though there is a lot of overlap, says Crane. “For example, the city has secured a Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) grant to conduct bike/ped education for kids. The BPAC is responsible for executing the grant and BikeLafayette will help promote and support the events.” For more information on BikeLafayette, follow the group on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bikelafayette.ca.
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Page 18 - August 2015 ~ Lafayette Today
The Law and Unintended Consequences
By Robert J. Silverman, Attorney at Law
The estate planning “game” is one every adult plays, but some play more actively and more intelligently than others. The challenge lies in understanding how all the rules work, and thus the optimal way to play. It can be pretty tricky and difficult without expert professional advice. Sadly, if you lose this game, your loved ones usually suffer. Despite people’s best intentions, unintended consequences happen all too frequently, as described in the hypothetical examples below. Family #1: Judy has two adult children, John and Jane. Judy’s primary assets are a $1 million home, with no mortgage; and a $200,000 bank account. Family #2: Bob has two adult children, Bill and Betty. Bob’s primary asset is his $1 million 401K. Relevant Facts: Judy and Bob each divorced their first spouses, have been happily married for 15 years and live in Judy’s home. They keep a small joint checking account for routine living expenses, but otherwise maintain separate assets. Judy and Bob know that all responsible adults have a Will. Thinking they don’t need a lawyer, they download basic Will forms from the internet, and each sign one. Each Will states that on the death of the testator, all assets go to the testator’s children, in equal shares. It is simple and they are satisfied. 1) Judy takes out a home equity credit line on her home. In order to qualify, Bob’s income is needed. So Bob goes on title with Judy, as required by the lender. Their neighbor (who seems like a pretty smart guy) tells them that he and his wife hold title to their home as “joint tenants,” as do most married people. So, Judy and Bob tell their lender that they’ll take title as joint tenants. 2) In case anything ever happens suddenly to Judy, she wants one her children to have authority to access funds from her bank account. She thinks about adding both John and Jane to her account, but decides against that since the kids don’t get along well. So, Judy adds John as a signer. 3) Bob lists his children, Bill and Betty, as beneficiaries of his 401K so that they’ll receive the bulk of his assets. Let’s explore the harsh unintended consequences on the death of Judy
City of Lafayette Contacts
Below are key Lafayette city departments and their contact information. Administration: Responsible for overall city operations such as human resources, finance and office operations. Key staff members include the City Manager, Administrative Services Director, City Clerk, and Financial Services Manager. The City Offices are located at 3675 Mt. Diablo Blvd., #210, Lafayette. Hours are 8am – 5pm Monday-Friday. For information call (925) 284-1968 or email cityhall@lovelafayette.org. Planning: Responsible for current and long-term planning for the physical development of the community that is consistent with the General Plan, Zoning Ordinance and the direction of the City Council. Planning Department hours are 12pm – 5pm Monday-Friday. For information call (925) 284-1976 or email planner@lovelafayette.org. Police: Responsible for public safety, law enforcement, emergency operations, and parking control. The Police Department is located at 3675 Mt. Diablo Blvd, #130, Lafayette. Hours are 8am-12pm & 1am-5pm Monday-Friday. For general questions call (925) 299-3220. For police dispatch call (925) 284-5010 or 911. Public Works: Responsible for maintaining the infrastructure of the City including road repair, storm drains, and landscaping of public property. The Public Works Corp Yard is located at 3001 Camino Diablo, Lafayette. Hours are 7am – 3pm Monday-Friday. For questions call (925) 934-3908. To report potholes, streetlight outages, traffic signal problems and other issues call the Hotline at (925) 299-3259. Parks & Recreation: Responsible for the management and operation of a variety of recreation programs, special events and facilities including the Lafayette Community Center, the Community Park and a system of city trails. The Parks & Recreation (Community Center) is located 500 St. Mary’s Road, Lafayette. Hours are 9am – 5pm Monday-Saturday. For questions call (925) 284-2232. Code Enforcement: Responsible for enforcing the Lafayette Municipal Code. The Code Enforcement Officer concentrates on the investigation and abatement of complaints involving land use (zoning), housing conditions, abandoned vehicles, signs, animals and vermin, weeds/fire hazards, fences and general public nuisances. Contact Mark Robbins at 925-299-3207. For more information, visit www.ci.lafayette.ca.us.
and on the death of Bob: 1) Judy’s $1 million house. Joint tenancy carries with it the “right of survivorship” (RoS), which trumps a Will. This means that at the death of one joint tenant, title vests fully in the name of the surviving joint tenant. Since Judy added Bob as a joint tenant she took out a home equity line, the RoS feature results in Bob automatically becoming the sole legal owner of the house on Judy’s death. Even though John and Jane are in Judy’s Will to receive all of her assets, they receive no interest whatsoever in their mother’s house. 2) Judy’s $200,000 bank account. Judy didn’t understand that adding John as a signer meant that he would be the legal co-owner of this account. She also didn’t know that she could have instead established a Power of Attorney to give him access to the account if she became incapacitated. Even though Judy’s Will provides that John and Jane are to share equally in all of Judy’s assets, the joint account acts the same as a joint tenancy – on Judy’s death, John becomes the sole account owner. Though Judy wants each of her children to receive $100,000 from the account, John is entitled to all $200,000. John dislikes his sister, so when he becomes the legal owner of the account, he doesn’t feel any obligation to share half or any of it with Jane. 3) Bob’s $1 million 401K. ERISA (federal law governing 401K plans) dictates that the spouse of a 401K owner has rights to it on the death of the plan participant, regardless of what the beneficiary designation states. If Judy had signed a written waiver, formally consenting to Bob designating his kids as the beneficiaries, Bill and Betty would each receive half of Bob’s 401K on his death, as he intended and as set forth on the beneficiary designation on file with the custodian. But no such waiver is on file so Judy is automatically entitled to 50% of it. It would not have required a large investment nor been difficult for Judy and Bob to obtain legal advice from an experienced estate planning attorney. Had they done so, they would not have made the innocent, but damaging mistakes they made. Upon request, I’ll be happy to provide you, on a complimentary basis, any or all of the following: i) an “Estate Planning Primer”; ii) a brochure on alternative methods of holding title to property; iii) an introductory meeting. Mr. Silverman is an attorney with R. Silverman Law Group, 1855 Olympic Blvd., Suite 125, Walnut Creek, CA 94596; (925) 705-4474; rsilverman@rsilvermanlaw.com. This article is intended to provide information of a general nature, and should not be relied upon as legal, tax and/ or business advice. Readers should obtain specific advice from their own, qualified professional advisors. Advertorial
Hearing Loss Association
Come to meetings of the Diablo Valley Chapter of Hearing Loss Association of America at 7pm on the 1st Wednesday of the month at the Walnut Creek United Methodist Church located at 1543 Sunnyvale Ave., Walnut Creek Education Bldg., Wesley Room. Meeting room and parking are at back of church. All are welcome. Donations are accepted. An assistive listening system is available for T-coils, and most meetings are captioned. Contact HLAADV@hearinglossdv.org or (925) 264-1199 or www.hearinglossdv.org for more information.
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New Hope for Glioblastoma Patients By Christine Chung, MD
A couple of years ago I had a patient who was diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive type of brain tumor. She was only 53 years old, and went through a full course of treatment to fight the cancer: surgery, radiation, and temozolomide chemotherapy. For nearly the first year after her treatment she did well, but then the tumor came back. Normally patients with recurrent glioblastoma receive chemotherapy, but she called me to ask if there were any other treatment options that she should consider. Over 10,000 people in the US are diagnosed with glioblastoma every year. The median survival for glioblastoma patients is 15 months, even with standard therapy. Many patients have a recurrence and are then confronted with similar options: more surgery, more radiation, and/or different chemotherapy. I was particularly interested in helping my patient quickly because people with recurrent glioblastoma have a poor prognosis, with a median survival of less than a year. While it’s not a silver bullet, there is an interesting new treatment available for patients with recurrent glioblastoma called “Optune.” It does not involve surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy, and instead relies on generating low-intensity electrical fields in the brain called Tumor Treating Fields (called TTF). The TTFs seem to disrupt the ability of the cancer cells to divide so that the tumor cannot grow. Patients getting TTF have to shave their hair and place electrical transducers (similar to EKG pads) on their scalp for at least 18 hours a day. These transducers are hooked up to a device that generates the electrical fields. This is a tradeoff – while patients can avoid some of the side effects of chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery, they have to be willing to wear an apparatus on their head and carry around a six pound device. The FDA approved Optune in 2011 for patients with recurrent glioblastoma based on a study that showed comparable survival between patients treated with chemotherapy versus TTF. Patients in the TTF group reported fewer side effects such as nausea, vomiting, and fatigue. The most common side effect was skin irritation on the scalp due to the transducer pads. Then last month, researchers presented an analysis of 700 newly diagnosed glioblastoma patients who were either assigned to one of two groups: (1) those who received TTF and temozolomide or (2) temozolomide alone. Patients treated with TTF had an improved median survival of 19.4 months, compared with 16.6 months for patients treated with temozolomide alone. The FDA is currently reviewing the data, but Optune may become a treatment for newly diagnosed glioblastoma patients in the future. Optune shows promise as an alternative to conventional treatments, or as a potential supplement to them. It has different side effects that many patients may find more manageable, and may help to extend patients’ lives in the future. Christine Chung, MD is a board certified Radiation Oncologist with Diablo Valley Oncology & Hematology Medical Group and practices in Pleasant Hill and Berkeley. Dr. Chung and her colleagues are certified providers of the Optune treatment therapy. For more information, please Advertorial call 925-677-5041 or visit www.dvohmg.com.
A couple enjoys a dance at the USO Operation Swingtime event held at the Lafayette Reservoir.
Lafayette Today ~ August 2015 - Page 19
A Common Urologic Condition - Blood in Urine By Dr. Jeremy Lieb, Pacific Urology
Is there blood in your urine? Blood in urine, known medically as hematuria, is a symptom that is often painless and can come and go. Because of this, many individuals delay making a doctors appointment. However, this symptom should be taken seriously as it may be a red flag that something is wrong in your urinary tract. Hematuria is most often caused by kidney stones, bladder infections, or prostate problems. Symptoms often associated with kidney stones or bladder infections usually include a burning sensation when urinating and pain in the back, sides, lower abdomen or groin. Serious urinary tract infections usually cause pain, but sometimes patients do not have any discomfort and may only experience fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, or rash. Enlarged prostate or chronic prostate infections usually have symptoms such as loss of urine control, difficulty passing urine, or frequent urination. Some medications and foods can change the color of urine to pink, red, maroon, or even a dark smoky color. Rifampin, pyridium, phenolphthalein, some laxatives, and vitamins B and C can make urine red or orange. Beets, rhubarb, blackberries, and large amounts of red food coloring can turn urine red also. Prostate cancer, bladder cancer, and kidney cancer are less common reasons for blood in urine. Symptoms that typically accompany these conditions include unintentional weight loss, severe bone pain, and unusual fatigue. If kidney disease is the reason for blood in urine, the associated symptoms can include ankle, hand, or face swelling, sudden bloating or weight gain, new high blood pressure readings, and unusual headaches. If you notice blood in your urine and you are not eating or taking medications that can change the color of urine, make an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible. It is important for you to have a medical evaluation that will determine the reason for hematuria so that treatment can begin. Dr. Lieb is a Board Certified Urologist with Pacific Urology. He has extensive experience in treating all urologic conditions. Dr. Lieb has a special interest in treating pediatric urology, female urology and cancers of the prostate, bladder, and kidney. Pacific Urology has offices in Walnut Creek, Concord, San Ramon Brentwood, Livermore, Fremont, and Antioch. Advertorial 925-937-7740 or visit www.PacificUrology.com.
Plastic Bag Ordinance has Begun
On December 8, 2014, the City of Lafayette adopted Ordinance 626, regulating “Single-Use Carryout Bags” and “Food Packaging Recycling.” The regulations require that all bags provided by retail establishments or public eating establishments for the purpose of carrying away goods from the point of sale be recycled paper carry-out bags or reusable bags. The ordinance went into effect on July 1st. The regulations also require select businesses to charge a minimum of 10 cents for checkout bags (compostable bags, recycled paper bags, or reusable bags) that they provide. Customers can avoid the charge by bringing their own bag. Taking a quick survey mid-July of some employees at the McCaulou’s Department Store in Lafayette they noted back usage has already declined by 70-80%! Don’t be caught off guard. Although Senate Bill 270 (Ban on Single Use Carry Out Bags) was approved by Governor Brown, it is currently on hold subject to the referendum that will appear on California's November 2016 ballot. However, Lafayette’s ordinance supersedes the state initiative. The outcome of the ballot measure next November will have no direct impact on Lafayette’s current regulations. For more information, visit www.lovelafayette.org/why-lafayette/ green-lafayette/plastic-bag-ban.
Page 20 - August 2015 ~ Lafayette Today
Your Personal Nutritionist Why am I not Losing Weight? By Linda Michaelis RD, MS
One of my favorite challenges is seeing a client who is apparently doing the right things - tracking calories, exercising, and eating better – yet still not losing weight. When a new client calls me and says they are doing all the right things to lose weight and not making progress, a list of possible scenarios runs through my head.
You are eating back all of the calories you burn.
When you work out, you are burning extra calories. That is why exercise is so important in the weight-loss equation. However, a lot of people overestimate how much they burn -- and even use the “I exercised today” excuse to later overeat and drink. How many times have you faced a food temptation and thought, “Well, I worked out today, so it’s OK to splurge and eat something this time” or “I’ll have this now, but work out extra hard tomorrow.” If that sounds all-too-familiar, this is one major reason why you’re not losing weight. We overestimate how many calories we actually burn and underestimate how many calories we’re actually eating.
You’re relying on exercise alone to do the trick.
Yes, exercising can help you lose weight because it helps you create that calorie deficit needed to lose weight. The real truth is exercise alone will not help you lose weight. It takes a lot of time and effort to burn even a few calories. For many people a full hour of intense exercise may only burn 400-500 calories. On the flip side, it’s easy to eat hundreds or thousands of calories in even a few minutes, and it would take hours of exercise to offset those calories. If you are not changing your diet and reducing your calorie intake, exercise alone probably won’t help you lose weight.
You are not eating as healthy as you think.
Most people think they eat pretty well. However, the vast majority of people need to improve their diet. Often I see that those who exercise skimp on eating during the day after they exercise and eat heavier at night. It should be the other way around. After you exercise your metabolism is sped up and calories are burned off at three times the rate compared to many hours later. We tend to eat late night meals because of our schedules which also can prevent weight loss. We enjoy our alcohol but those drinks consist of
www.yourmonthlypaper.com hundreds of calories. Common diet pitfalls include eating items we learn include “healthy fats” such as cheese, nuts, olives, and avocados. The issue is we eat too much of them.
You are doing the wrong kinds of exercise.
There is a lot of confusion surrounding exercise. One day you hear that strength training is the best way to lose weight. The next day you’re told to focus on cardio. Many of my clients focus only on walking. I tell them they must step it up and do interval training that will shock the metabolism. Cardio is the key for weight loss and strength training is the key to not turning soft and keeping your muscles looking toned and feeling strong.
You are not being consistent enough.
When you’re struggling to lose those final 5-10 pounds or trying to overcome a plateau, consistent efforts are more important. If you try to eat “perfectly” and exercise “religiously” for a whole week, only to step on the scale that weekend to see that you haven’t lost an ounce, you think, “what is the point?” Often this is when individuals go on an all-out eating feast and skip the gym for a couple days. They then call me and say its an emergency. It is my job to teach you how to enjoy your favorite things and lose the weight you want. You need a plan that includes your favorite foods and does not make you feel deprived, while receiving frequent advice and feedback. Many studies say that eight weeks of counselling produce the best weight loss results. My eight week Royal Treatment Program is my most popular plan for successful weight loss. It includes a visit a week as well as coaching you by text, phone, or email and a visit to the supermarket of your choice. Call me and I will tell you about the program and how it can work for you. I am glad to inform you that most insurance companies such as Aetna, ABMG, Health Net, Hill, and Sutter Health cover nutritional counseling. Please feel free to call me at (925) 855-0150 about your nutritional concerns or email me at Lifeweight1@gmail.com. Check out my website at wwwLindaRD.com for nutrition tips and past articles in my blog section. Advertorial
Petanque continued from front page
The Club’s year-round weekly playing schedule is Tuesday and Thursday beginning at 2pm, and Sunday beginning at 1 pm. The Tuesday/Thursday dates draw a small number, and Sundays may find up to 24 players enjoying an afternoon of snacks, conversation, and play. “These games are social but also seriously Dumploads OnUs competitive and a lot of fun,” says Hansen. specializes in The game of petanque has a venerable history providing the ultimate and can be traced to Egypt in 5200 BC and junk removal solution. Greece around 800 BC. After spreading through We’ll haul away just Y O U R J U N K R E M O V A L S P E C I A L I S T S the Roman Empire, the game became a popular about anything - from old household junk to construction and European pastime by the thirteenth century and yard waste. The only items we are unable to accept are developed into regional variations. For instance, hazardous in Germany, it was known as skittles, and in materials. We • Computers Italy, as bocce. Petanque’s current version was make getting invented in 1907 in Marseilles, France. It is • Cables rid of your estimated that 30,000 people in the US now • TVs unwanted play petanque regularly in neighborhood clubs, • Monitors junk as easy schools, parks, and in backyards. 925.934.3743 • 925.934.1515 • Servers as 1-2-3; The Lamorinda Petanque Club welcomes www.dumploadsonus.com • www.erecycleonus.com anyone interested in learning more about the we load, we 1271 Boulevard Way, Walnut Creek • Phones sport. Drop by during their playing dates and sweep, and Monday-Friday, 8-5 • Saturday 9-1, Sunday, closed • Printers times, or contact a representative via their then we haul •Copiers website at www.lamorindapetanque.com. away. It’s that easy!
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• Fax Machines • Power Supply Units • Discs and Tapes
To advertise in Lafayette Today, Give us a call at 925.405.6397 or Email editor@
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Breast Cancer, Reconstructing Female Form
By Barbara Persons, MD, Persons Plastic Surgery, Inc.
After the initial shock of diagnosis, a woman recently diagnosed with breast cancer is understandably overcome with disbelief and fear. Suddenly, she is faced with the question of how to preserve the essence of herself as a female and at the same time treat her cancer. Thankfully, advances in breast cancer treatments can often remove the cancer while preserving her shape. One option is reconstructive breast surgery, which can help maintain both personal and feminine identity, In many cases, breast reconstruction can be performed in conjunction with a mastectomy. Breast reconstruction rather than mastectomy alone can drastically improve a patient’s emotional and mental recovery. Many national studies support immediate reconstruction (done at the same time as the mastectomy) to preserve our sense of ourselves as women. Women who opt for immediate reconstruction can keep their physical form closer to what it was, never wake up without any breast form, and can feel more whole during their recovery. The challenges of possible chemotherapy or radiation are less daunting with breasts more intact. Based on the size and spread of the cancer, and patient’s intended therapy, a patient’s reconstructive surgery options vary widely. Many women can have a lumpectomy alone or a lumpectomy with radiation and be essentially cured of breast cancer. For others, the best treatment and chance of remission is with bilateral mastectomies, removal of the breasts and reconstruction with implants or with tissue flaps. The breast cancer team can help you decide what is best for you. This usually means seeing a general
Coping with the Death of a Pet
When you lose your pet, you often feel like a part of you is lost. The death of your beloved animal companion is one of the most difficult losses you may ever feel. This loss is sometimes made more painful by society’s seeming lack of support for pet grief. Hospice of the East Bay and the Tony La Russa Animal Rescue Foundation is offering a support group where participants can share memories and feelings and talk to others who truly understand and care. Meetings will be held the first Tuesday of each month from noon - 1:30PM at the Tony La Russa Animal Rescue Foundation, 2890 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek. For further information and/or to register, please call Bereavement Services at Hospice of the East Bay (925) 887-5681. Pre-registration is required. Hospice of the East Bay Bereavement Services are provided free of charge to all community members in need. However, donations are greatly appreciated.
Lafayette Today ~ August 2015 - Page 21 surgeon, who frequently performs breast surgery. This surgeon will refer you to the other doctors as required to treat your cancer. These include the oncologist, the radiation oncologist, the genetic counsellor, the radiologist, and the plastic surgeon. The entire reconstructive process, if a mastectomy is needed, generally takes three to twelve months and three surgeries - one major and two minor procedures for implant placement and nipple reconstruction. If you do not need removal of the entire breast (mastectomy), lumpectomy, with or without radiation, may be used to treat your breast cancer. For larger lumpectomies, oncoplastic techniques are both therapeutic and breast-preserving. These techniques involve removal of the lump followed by local tissue rearrangement to fill the defect. For patients requiring mastectomy, it is the current standard of care to offer immediate initial reconstruction. This first stage reconstruction commonly involves placement of a special kind of breast implant, called a tissue expander, that can be expanded over time to create the look of a breast immediately following the breast removal. Unlike the final implant, this must be initially small in volume to protect the breast skin as it heals after the mastectomy. It can be expanded over a few months to the desired volume and changed out for a silicone gel implant in a minor surgery. If the nipple had to be removed, nipple reconstruction is the final stage of reconstruction, and this is performed as an outpatient surgery. In certain circumstances, the use of an implant is not ideal. In these cases, a flap reconstruction offers an effective and aesthetically acceptable alternative. Flaps utilize extra folds of muscle, muscle and skin, or fat and skin to create breast tissue post-therapeutic surgery. With this technique the breast can be created using a patient’s own tissue and with or without an implant. The lower abdominal wall, the back, the buttocks, and the hips are all viable donor sites for breast reconstruction. I work with a team of local doctors and surgeons in treating breast cancer. Your general surgeon will remove the involved breast tissue. If they feel that you need a mastectomy or that removal of the breast cancer will leave a defect, they will refer you to a plastic surgeon. This may lead you to see me. I see many breast cancer patients each week and maintain a steadfast commitment to my patients physical and mental wellbeing before, during, and after surgery. My staff and I recognize that finding and picking your team of surgeons is an important step in your recovery process. Barbara L. Persons, MD is a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and owns Persons Plastic Surgery, Inc. located at 911 Moraga Rd, Suite 205 in Lafayette. She may be reached at 925.283.4012 or Advertorial drbarb@personsplasticsurgery.com.
Is Food a Problem for You?
Overeaters Anonymous offers a fellowship of individuals who, through shared experience and mutual support, are recovering from compulsive overeating. This is a 12-step program. The free meetings are for anyone suffering from a food addiction including overeating, under-eating, and bulimia. The group meets Wednesdays at 6PM at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Lafayette. Visit www.how-oa.org for more information.
Genealogical Meetings
The San Ramon Valley Genealogical Society meets at 10am the third Tuesday of every month, except August and December, at the Danville Family History Center, 2949 Stone Valley Road, Alamo. A speaker is at every meeting. Everyone is welcome. For information, call Ed at (925) 299-0881, or visit http://srvgensoc.org.
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Page 22 - August 2015 ~ 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. Unless otherwise mentioned, events are free for members and $10 for non-members. Reservoir Walking Group Tuesdays and Thursdays • 9AM – 10:30AM • Meet at reservoir center bench on the dam - Led by Jim Scala, Lafayette Today’s “Walking the Reservoir” columnist. Join us every Thursday for camaraderie, fresh air, and enjoyable exercise, all in magnificent surroundings. Optional bonus: at the end of the walk, Jim will lead you through easy yoga poses and breathing exercises in the most beautiful outdoor yoga studio: the band stage overlooking the water. Increase your balance and fitness, both physical and mental, and leave each week feeling uplifted and radiating that overall sense of well-being! Please call (925) 284-5050 to add your name to the email notification list. Bring quarters or a credit card for the parking meter. Annual senior (62+) passes may be purchased at the reservoir visitor center. ‘As The Page Turns’ Book Club 3rd Tuesday • 1PM - 2:30PM • Tiny Tots Red Room 8/18, Elderberry Room 9/15, LSC - Looking for a good book to discuss with others? Join this informal group of book lovers and enjoy enrichment, lively discussion, fellowship and refreshments. Please call Lafayette Senior Services for the book title and to add your name to the email notification list: 284-5050. Lamorinda Nature Walk and Bird-Watching Wednesdays • 9AM - noon • Alder Room, LSC - Experience nature at its finest along our local trails. Delight in the beauty that unfolds around each bend, all the while learning to identify a variety of birds. Bring a water bottle; binoculars will be helpful if you have them. Join us every Wednesday or whenever you are able. For more information or to place your name on the route email/phone list, call Lafayette Seniors Services, 284-5050. Apple Basics 8/6, 8/20, 9/3, 9/17 • 11AM - 12:30PM • Sequoia Room, LSC - This on-going series covers topics such as 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. Free Legal Assistance for Older Adults (60+) 3rd Thursday monthly • 10AM and 11AM • Alder Room, LSC - NOTE: A $15 deposit, fully-refundable at the time of your appointment, is required to reserve your spot. Refund will be issued if cancellation is made at least 24 hours prior to appointment. In order for legal counseling to take place, both time slots must be filled. Please send check, made payable to Senior Legal Services, to Lafayette Senior Services, 500 St. Mary’s Road, Lafayette, CA 94549. • Landlord/Tenant Problems • Medi-Cal Issues • Durable Powers of Attorney • SSI Overpayment • Rights of Nursing Home & Long-term Care Residents 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 • Alder Room, LSC - Experience nature at its finest along our local trails. Delight in the beauty that unfolds around each bend, all the while learning to identify a variety of birds. Bring a water bottle; binoculars will be helpful if you have them. Join us whenever you are able. For more information or to place your name on the route email/phone list, call Lafayette Seniors Services. No charge. Positive Living Forum (“Happiness Club”) 2nd Thursday monthly • 10:30AM – noon • Sequoia Room 8/13, Elderberry Room 9/10, 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!
Words of Wisdom...From the Philosophical to the Lighthearted
3rd Tuesday Monthly • 10:30AM–noon • Tiny Tots Red Room 8/18, Elderberry Room 9/15, LSC
www.yourmonthlypaper.com Take part in this free-wheeling exchange of inspiration, information, and humor. Topics 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. Drop-In Mah Jongg! Every Tuesday • Noon–3PM • Sequoia Room, LSC - Calling all Mah Jongg players! Bring your card and mah jongg set, and join us every Tuesday afternoon. This group is for all levels. No need to RSVP – just show up and pay at the door. Lamorinda Dance Social Wednesdays • 12:30 – 3PM • Live Oak Room, LSC - Enjoy afternoon dancing every Wednesday, and learn some great new dance moves. On the first Wednesday monthly, professional dancers Karen and Michael will provide a dance lesson and live DJ services, playing your favorites and taking requests. Hearing Screening & Telephone Distribution - 8/5 & 9/2 • 1-2:45pm • Alder Room, LSC. In addition to your hearing screening, if it determined that you are eligible for specialized telephone equipment, a representative from the California Telephone Access Program (CTAP) will provide you with a free adaptive telephone at your appointment. Appointment required. Call Lafayette Senior Services at 284-5050 to sign up for a 20-minute appointments.
Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Programs (HICAP)
8/5 • 10AM, 11AM, and noon appointments • Alder Room, LSC - HICAP provides free and objective counseling and advocacy services to Contra Costa Medicare beneficiaries and their families who need assistance with Medicare enrollment and issues involving Medicare and associated insurance programs, including prescription drug coverage. HICAP does not endorse or sell insurance products. For appointments, call Lafayette Senior Services: 284-5050. Free Peer Counseling - Contra Costa Health Services offers free one-onone 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 to sign up for one of the 60-minute appointments: 284-5050.
Arthritis - Anne Randolph Physical Therapy Presentations
Wednesday, 8/26 11:30am – 12:30pm • Sequoia Room, LSC - Live the best life you can with arthritis! Understand the challenges and changes arthritis brings on and find practical solutions to make daily activities easier. Anne Randolph, RPT, has been practicing physical therapy since 1977. She provides outpatient therapy in Lafayette and specializes in the care of those 55 and over.
For advertising information contact Lafayette Today at 925-405-6397 Church Provides Community Care
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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Off to see the Wizard
By Mary Bruns, Lamorinda Senior Transportation
Every now and then we have an “aha moment.” As I was teaching a class on meditation and our path of personal growth and development, I realized that the story of The Wizard of Oz is really a story about life, and is actually more for adults than for children. Like Dorothy and Toto, I’ve come to realize that we’re all following the yellow brick road which represents our unique path of learning and growing. Some of us are like the Scarecrow working hard to develop our mind/brain power – delving into new areas of study, developing the intellect, working at becoming more objective. Some of us are like the Tin Man and are developing the compassionate and loving heart by going through both joyful and painful life experiences. And, some of us like the Cowardly Lion, building courage through going out on a limb, stretching into new situations that we find somewhat intimidating. Along the way, there are many challenges – difficult situations and obstacles to
Lafayette Today ~ August 2015 - Page 23 having with our body or mind. Perhaps parts of us don’t work as well as they once did. Although this is not necessarily fun, these experiences do provide more opportunities for developing greater understanding, inner strength, and compassion. Writing grant applications to keep the Lamorinda Senior Transportation Programs funded is all about telling the story of older adults and what they need in order to have an enhanced quality of life as they age safely at home. We know that older adults want to age at home. We also know they need affordable housing, nutritious food, social contact, quality medical care, and transportation to get out and about. They want and need to go to the grocery store, the doctor’s office, visit a friend, get a haircut, go to an exercise class, workshop or a meeting. These activities of daily living keep us going, engaged in life, and growing as we age. When we isolate, we begin a downhill spiral into loneliness, often accompanied by illness. When we stay active and engaged, we spiral up.
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overcome. As we master these challenges, we evolve and expand, becoming more than we were before. Our brain expands to new levels of understanding and higher states of consciousness, our heart becomes more accepting of diverse people living the human experience, and we become more kind. Our developing courage allows us to speak up where we couldn’t before bringing expanded awareness into diverse situations. As we mature, we recognize that our path has been purposeful – taking us to the next level in our personal development. And although we wanted to find the Wizard to give us what we were missing, or to make things right or easier, we found we had to do the work. As we age, we review. We might fall asleep in our easy chair to take a much needed nap but our mind remains active and alert – looking over our life to review and understand what we have been learning and developing, assessing what remains to be done, giving us insights as to how to accomplish our goals, helping us to release negative emotion we are holding onto. Meditation facilitates this review; understanding and acceptance blossom. Some people meditate by playing golf, going fishing, or day dreaming in a lawn chair on the deck. Others meditate with a more formal practice. Regardless of the method, we become increasingly aware of our accomplishments and what remains to be done. As we age, we may find ourselves focusing on the challenges we are
Lamorinda Senior Transportation An Alliance of Transportation Providers
Volunteer Drivers – Needed, Valued, and Appreciated We will accommodate your schedule, travels, and vacations. You will be helping your friends, family, and community!
Lamorinda Spirit Van
283-3534
Takes Lamorinda older adults to errands, appointments, grocery shopping, special events, and to lunch at the C.C. Café. Call early to reserve your ride. WE LOVE TO SAY “YES!” Wheelchair and walker accessible.
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Contra Costa Yellow Cab and DeSoto Company
284-1234
Orinda Seniors Around Town
402-4506
Senior Helpline Services Rides for Seniors
284-6161
County Connection LINK Reservation Line
938-7433
20% discount for Lamorinda seniors.
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. Older adults often have “age-based” disabilities. By describing your disability, you can become eligible for this service – providing you with additional transportation options.
Page 24 - August 2015 ~ Lafayette Today
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