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July 2015 The Award Winning Blueprint
Serving the Lafayette Community Operation Swingtime
work on the school’s award-winning newspaper was meaningful. Serving as Blueprint’s co print editor-in-chief this past year, and having previously been a staff writer and news section editor, Blake was well aware of his responsibility in covering subjects both controversial and routine. But a letter written to the Acalanes principal by an angry parent accusing Blake of bias caused him to reevaluate the importance of the newspaper and his role. “That letter was when it hit me that the work we do really does make a large impact.” says Blake. Acalanes’ Blueprint, published monthly during the school year, is consistently ranked by the American Scholastic Press Association as among the top high school newspapers in the country. This year, The Dean Lesher Scholastic Journalism Awards, which celebrate student journalistic talent in Contra Costa County, awarded Blueprint its top award of First Place in “Overall Excellence,” recognizing Blueprint as the best high school newspaper in the County. In addition, Quill and Scroll, a national organization Megan Yee, Adam Blake (seated) and Sam Fraser were the that honors individual journalistic tight-knit 2014/2015 editorial team behind Acalanes High talent, recognized seven Acalanes School's award-winning student newspaper, Blueprint. Blueprint journalists. The year’s surfeit of awards can be credited to the editorial team of Blake, his co print editor-in-chief Megan Yee, and managing editor Sam Fraser, whose group dedication to excellence motivated an entire staff. “I don't think it's much of a stretch to say that we were one of the most cohesive editor groups Blueprint has had in a long time,” says Yee, who is headed to the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University this fall. “We all have very different personalities, but we're all very close friends and were dedicated to making Blueprint the best it could possibly be,” says Blake, who will attend Wesleyan University in Connecticut in the fall. Though not majoring in journalism, he plans to write for The Wesleyan Argus. “There were countless times we were very close to missing deadlines or had to make a tough call at the last minute, but we were always able to keep our cool and figure things out. It’s crazy to think about the amount of hours we spent at school on the weekends or at home editing stories late into the night, but it was honestly a blast, even though that probably sounds very nerdy. We made enough memories and inside jokes to last a lifetime.” Blueprint offers comprehensive coverage of school activities, school sports, trending topics, and local and national issues. Editors and staff writers have never been afraid of tough subject matter, covering for instance this year’s District sexual education
There was a day when veterans came home to their community which had their arms wide open. Communities would organize, have a parade, and celebrate their return. In the spirit of remembering our veterans, five local Rotary clubs will honor veterans of all wars including WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan wars, as well as those in the reserves. Everyone is encouraged to attend this free event.
Twilight Concert and Picnic Honoring our Veterans and Recent Acalanes graduate Adam Blake remembers exactly when he realized that his Saluting our Troops ~ Saturday, July 18th, 5pm
By Fran Miller
Local Postal Customer
See Swingtime continued on page 8
Lafayette Joins National Night Out on August 4th Neighbors Knowing Neighbors is Critical By Carol Yates, Lafayette Emergency Preparedness Commissioner
Organize your block or neighborhood for a gathering on August 4th, and join the millions across our country who are celebrating the 32nd National Night Out (NNO). Lafayette joined the national movement last year and put ourselves on the map for this event. Your friends across the country have built their neighborhood strength and camaraderie on this annual date. Let’s join the movement. Call your friends from here to the East Coast, ask for ideas on their neighborhood gatherings, and then implement one of your own. Enlist the help of one or two of your neighbors for the organizing.
Senior Symposium
See Night continued on page 4
The 7th Annual Senior Symposium “Aging by Design,” sponsored by the Lafayette Community Foundation (LCF), will be held on Saturday, August 1, from 8 AM to noon. This free event is a most informative resource fair for seniors in the Lamorinda community, with more than 40 booths sponsored by local vendors of services to seniors, as well as many nonprofit organizations that serve seniors in the community. Volume IX - Number 7 This year the event will be 3000F Danville Blvd #117 See Blueprint continued on page 18 held in downtown Lafayette, at Alamo, CA 94507 Telephone (925) 405-6397 Lafayette Elementary School, PRSRT STD Fax (925) 406-0547 U.S. Postage 950 Moraga Road. There is editor@yourmonthlypaper.com PAID plenty of parking in the back of Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher Permit 21 the school on the black top in the The opinions expressed herein belong to the writers, and Lafayette, CA not necessarily reflect that of Lafayette Today. Lafayette play-area, across the street in the do Today is not responsible for the content of any of the adECRWSS vertising herein, nor does publication imply endorsement.
See Symposium cont. on page 21
Page 2 - July 2015 ~ Lafayette Today
Lafayette Hiking Group
Stanford University Hills & Anderson Art Gallery, July 18
**Meet in the parking lot out from Lafayette BART’s main entrance at 9am.** Join us as we visit the Anderson collection art gallery that opened this year at Stanford University. After we have lunch at a café on campus, or bring your own, we will take a hike passing the Stanford dish in the hills west of and above Stanford University with views to the East Bay hills. This easy to moderate, hilly, 4-5 mile hike on pavement will be with leader Mike Johnson. Bring snacks, water, layered clothing, good walking shoes, sun protection, and money for lunch and to contribute toward gas, bridge tolls, and parking ($5). We will form carpools.
Sustainable Lafayette Summer Film Series
Sustainable Lafayette summer film series at the Lafayette Library & Learning Center features recently released documentaries about waste reduction, food production, and food waste. The final award-winning films will be shown on weekday evenings in July from 6:30pm to 8:30pm in the Community Hall of the library. The final two films are:
Food Patriots – Tuesday, July 7th
“Food Patriots” is a new feature length documentary film designed to get everyone to improve their buying and eating habits by 10%. That’s 10% more fresh fruits and veggies, 10% more organics, and 10% more locally grown food. The goal of the film and its corresponding public engagement campaign is to get consumers to demand better food, food policy, and changes in our food system. (74 min)
Just Eat It – Tuesday, July 28th
Canadian filmmakers and food lovers Jenny Rustemeyer and Grant Baldwin dive into the issue of food waste from farm, to store, to fridge. After catching a glimpse of the billions of dollars of good food that is discarded each year in North America, the filmmakers pledge to quit grocery shopping and survive only on foods that would otherwise be thrown away. The images they capture of squandered groceries are both shocking and compelling. But as Baldwin’s addictive personality turns full tilt towards food rescue, the ‘thrill of the find’ has unexpected consequences. (74 minutes) Free snacks, cookies, coffee, and refreshments will be served at each movie and special guest speakers will be included when possible. A $10 donation is requested for adults and $5 for students. Sustainable Lafayette is pleased to work closely with the Lafayette Library & Learning Center on the film series and other educational events. For more information visit www.sustainablelafayette.org.
About Sustainable Lafayette
Sustainable Lafayette is a 501c3 grassroots not-for-profit organization that provides Lafayette citizens with the information, inspiration, tools, and assistance to facilitate the adoption of a more sustainable lifestyle. The organization supports the community by localizing information and collaborating with organizations and businesses in and around Lafayette to create programs that teach and encourage earth-friendly practices. For more information, please visit www.sustainablelafayette.org.
League of Women Voters of Diablo Valley
Parole & Probation - What is the Reality In California?
Please join members of the League of Women Voters of Diablo Valley on Saturday, July 18th from 3-4:30PM for the League of Women Voters of Diablo Valley’s monthly Saturday program and discussion. This month the topic will be, “Parole and Probation - What is the Reality in California?” The guest speaker will be Lawrence Strauss. Lawrence is a state appointed parole attorney who has the unique distinction of having worked as both a prosecutor and a public defender. He will be talking about the process inmates follow seeking parole, as well as the probation system in California. One area of his expertise is working with “lifers.” Learn, discuss, and share. Light refreshments will be served. The meeting will be held at the LWV Office at the Lafayette Community Center from located at 500 St. Mary's Road, #14, Lafayette. Everyone is welcome. For more information, call 925-283-2235 or visit www.lwvdv.org.
Sons in Retirement
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Lamorinda Branch 174
Sons in Retirement is a social organization of retired and semiretired men who enjoy spending leisure time with friends and doing activities. Our activities are golf, bowling, bocce ball, table pool, travel, fishing, computers & technology, bridge, poker, pinochle, investing, wine tasting, walking, astronomy, stamp collecting, etc. The group meets for lunch at 11AM on the second Wednesday monthly at Holy Trinity Culture Center at 1700 School Street, Moraga. The guest speaker for July 8th will be Dinah McFarlane from ARF. For attendance and membership info, call Tyler at (925) 284-5561. Please visit our website at www.branch174.sirinc2.org.
Las Trampas Branch 116
Sons in Retirement Las Trampas Branch 116 welcomes guests to socialize with us at our monthly luncheon beginning at 11:30AM on Monday, July 20th. The speaker will be Justin Alumbaugh, English and Social Studies Instructor and Head Football Coach at De La Salle. Lunch is $15. The luncheon will take place at the Walnut Creek Elks Lodge, located at 1475 Creekside Dr. Guests are welcome and may make reservations by calling 925-322-1160. 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. SIR Branch 116 has some enjoyable bridge sessions, and we get a good turn out of worthy and honorable opponents. Our bridge games are purely for fun, and Master Point skills are not a requirement for this group. We are always looking for new players to join the fun, and we generally have from 5-8 tables playing Chicago style bridge. We play on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays each month starting at 11:30AM at Round Hill Country Club, Alamo. Duplicate bridge is also offered the first Tuesday of the month at the Walnut Creek Bridge Center, starting at 10AM. For information about all of our activities for retired men, please visit www.Branch116.org.
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 for checkout bags (compostable bags, recycled paper bags, or reusable bags) that they provide. Customers can avoid the charge by bringing their own bag. 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/greenlafayette/plastic-bag-ban.
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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Boulevard View
How many ways can you eat zucchini? By Alisa Corstorphine, Editor
Lafayette Today ~ July 2015 - Page 3
Lafayette Motors Independent service and repair for Jaguar
It’s July. I’ve let my lawns go brown and am only watering my garden. At every house we have owned we have always carved out a small patch CARLOS “KIKO” CAICEDO of dirt for a garden. I love picking the seasonal fresh fruits and vegetables Shop (925) 284-4852 available right outside my door. Cell (925) 285-0783 lafayettemotors@gmail.com I am actually a fairly lazy gardner and don’t spend a lot of time with careful planning as to the layout of where the plants will go, or even planting 3470 Golden Gate Way , Lafayette, CA 94549 seeds in neat rows. I only loosely follow the seed planting instructions, and I generally let grow what may. I don’t spray or fertilize or even boost with Miracle-Gro. I figure whatever happens to pop up was meant to be. My garden is full of a variety of plants. Some are planted and some are “volunteers” arising from Independent service and repair for Mercedes Benz seeds that had fallen from a vegetable in a previous year. There are peppers, tomatoes, fava beans, beets, lemongrass, carrots, potatoes, eggplant, herbs, leafy greens, and zucchini -- LOTS of zucchini. A couple months ago I planted four zucchini plants. I’m not sure if I’ll ever learn the lesson of JERRY FIGUEROA thinning my garden; I somehow feel the need to keep every plant growing. Why did I think four Shop (925) 284-4852 zucchini plants was a good idea? Cell (510) 754-1942 All of our organic matter food scraps, as well as coffee grinds, napkins, and egg cartons get put lafayettemotors@gmail.com in a compost tumbler. The new dirt gets added to the planter beds which seem to be providing super 3470 Golden Gate Way , Lafayette, CA 94549 nutrients to the squash. It seems every day three or four 8-10” long zucchini appear. You can’t let the garden be unattended for even one day or else you’ll walk out to several green baseball bat sized squash which have been known to serve as temporary speed bumps on streets where drivers go a little too fast. There are many stories about prolific zucchini. On the Inlander.com website there is an article titled “Zombie Crop.” It begins, “In my old neighborhood, we only locked our doors during zucchini season. Waves of the vegetables would arrive at our doorstep, sent by those who were too sick of them to eat any more. No matter how many stir-fries, fritters, pizzas, and tamales we threw them at, the zucchini kept coming ... like a crowd of hungry zombies.” Being that zucchini has a fairly neutral flavor, it can be incorporated into many recipes. In the past I have made zucchini soup, zucchini-potato pancakes, zucchini casserole, zucchini fries, and zucchini bread. I have sauteed them, skewered them, and grilled them. I have sliced the zucchini in thin strips and substituted them in place of pasta. I was trying to get slightly ahead of my game this year and found a plethora of new recipes which use zucchini. Last weekend as I was trying to expand my zucchini horizons, I embarked on a cooking spree. I added grated zucchini to my waffles. I made a warm zucchini and cream cheese dip. I sliced them thin, added a little oil and salt, and made zucchini chips. However, the most creative new way I found to use my zucchini was for Cherry Limeade Zucchini Popsicles. You have to be careful when you “market” these to your guests and family members because their first thoughts may be, “Eeew, yuck!,” or “Gross.” It is perhaps best to just call them Cherry Popsicles and leave out the details. They were such a hit in our house that they all disappeared in a day! It is time for a new batch.
Lafayette Motors
Cherry Limeade Zucchini Popsicles from Creativegreenliving.com
Makes 6 popsicles • 1/2 of a medium sized zucchini • 10 cherries (fresh or frozen) • Juice of 1 1/2 limes • 1/4 cup sugar • 1/2 cup warm water Remove the stem and/or blossom ends from the zucchini and cut into about 8 pieces. Add to blender. Pit cherries and remove stems if needed (or use frozen cherries). Add cherries and lime juice to blender. Mix the sugar and water, stirring until dissolved (you can quicken the process by using warm water or cooking on the stovetop until sugar is dissolved). Add the sugar water to the blender, and blend about 1 minute or until smooth. Pour mixture into popsicle molds and freeze until solid. Even with all of my new recipes I am still not sure if I will be able to keep up with the abundance of zucchini. Be careful if you come over to our home. We hand out “party favors” just for stopping by!
Page 4 - July 2015 ~ Lafayette Today
Night continued from front page
The purpose of the national event is to bring together neighbors for the mutual goal of learning what is already in place for your emergency preparedness and crime prevention and what still needs to be done. Most importantly is that neighbors knowing neighbors has been shown to save lives and property! The Lafayette Emergency Preparedness Commission and Crime Prevention Commission are here to help you in your planning. With your request, they will assist you in inviting members of the Lafayette City Council, Fire Department, Police Department, CERT, Red Cross, or City Commissioners as guest speakers. Flyers are available to be used for invitations and can be sent to you by email. August is the perfect time for an outdoor gathering such as a backyard BBQ or poolside potluck. Bring your neighbors together! For questions or assistance contact Carol Yates, NNO Director for Lafayette, at lepccarol@ gmail.com.
Assistance League Way Side Inn Thrift Shop Presents Vintage Apparel and Jewelry Event
Dedicated member volunteers of Assistance League Way Side Inn Thrift Shop, located at 3521 Golden Gaye Way in Lafayette, agree that this wellknown landmark is the perfect “setting” for its annual Vintage Apparel and Jewelry event on July 7. Not only will you find high-end hats, gloves, purses and clothing, but you’ll discover pallets of jewelry “suitable” for daytime, evening, fun time, and formal occasions. Over one hundred high quality and unique pieces of jewelry-- necklaces, brooches, bracelets, pins, rings, and numerous sets of earrings, to mention a few—await the most particular of treasure seekers. Non-jewelry items will include antique as well as vintage gold and sterling items. You’ll find vintage costume jewelry fashioned by Miriam Haskell, Rebajes copper, Vendome, Sarah Cov, Kremenz, Lisner, Regency, and Richelieu. When you shop at Assistance League Way Side Inn Thrift Shop, you’ll not only find high quality pieces at Spartan prices. You will also improve the quality of lives of those in our community who are vulnerable. To learn about Assistance League of Diablo Valley’s philanthropic programs that the thrift shop funds and the recently awarded GuideStar Exchange gold participation level status, please visit diablovalley.assistanceleague.org or the GuideStar Exchange.
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.
Search and Rescue
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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. Gopher/Mole Removal The program provides required trainNo Poison ing; including wilderness traveling, first aid, map and compass usage, 925-765-4209 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.
Discovering Connection Through Miwok Eyes
The Lafayette Community Garden and Outdoor Learning Center is holding a summer camp entitled “Discovering Connection Through Miwok Eyes” from 8:30 - 11:30AM from August 10 – 12 for youth aged 8-12 years old. Come discover your connection to Nature and her peoples. Come experience Nature’s riches all around you, her foods, her materials, her peaceful sounds and spaces, and also discover that you might not want to leave. We’ll explore Nature’s land, plants, trees, and animals, and make acorn meal, arrow shafts, clapper sticks, and more. And from all this, you will see that as a prism can create a rainbow, so we are like the colors of the wind. The class, led by Peggy Magilen, will be held at 3932 Mt Diablo Blvd, Lafayette (across from Lafayette Reservoir) and cost $30 ($15 deposit required at time of registration). Register at http://lafayettecommunitygarden.org/classes-and-events/. Note: An additional session will be offered August 13 – 15 (8:30 – 11:30 AM) if the maximum number of registrants is met for the August 10 – 12 session. For additional garden events and activities, please visit lafayettecommunitygarden.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.
www.yourmonthlypaper.com 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
Mee Han Lee is our winner! Lic# 1100014354; Bay Area Entertainment
Luther was hiding on page 19 last month.
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Lafayette Today ~ July 2015 - Page 5
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 older is eligible to participate. Races begin around 10:30AM. The distance to be traversed is 250 meters. Medals will be presented to finalists. This novel event is the principal fundraiser for Lamorinda Sunrise Rotary (LSR) in partnership with Oakland Strokes. Proceeds benefit a variety of community service programs supported by the Rotary club as well as inner-city youth scholarships offered by Oakland Strokes.
ENJOY MORE AT
Merrill Gardens at Lafayette
You’ve built a great life doing things you love. Being with friends. Pursuing fun hobbies. Choosing the way you spend your days. Why should that have to change? Seats are $200 each. Entire boats consisting of six seats are Ask about our Summer $1,000. The seats are being promoted as opportunity for business, Sizzle Special, which organizational, or personal sponsorship. For those who want to spectate only – no rowing involved – tickets are $20. For more includes $500 towards informationandadvance-saletickets,visitwww.rowwithchampions. moving costs.* org. Purchases are tax deductible as provided by law. 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. (925) 854-1858 “We are excited to be able to present what promises to be a 1010 Second Street unique day for entire families,” said Buddy Burke, president of Lafayette, CA 94549 LSR. “Even if you have never held an oar in your hands, it is Lic #079200358 an opportunity to get some exercise, have fun, experience this *Call for details. merrillgardens.com exciting sport, and know you are contributing to a good cause.” Among programs the Rotary club sponsors are Las Trampas, Retirement Living • Assisted Living • Memory Care the well-known nonprofit in Lafayette that renders services to developmentally disabled adults; HOME team, which provides 062215g_Lafayette_LafToday_Enjoy_More_CMYK_U_A.indd 1 6/23/15 1:09 PM 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 to the Oakland Strokes will fund its inner-city outreach programs.
Bestselling Author Daniel James Brown to Appear in Lafayette
Daniel James Brown, author of the critically acclaimed, national bestselling book The Boys In The Boat, will appear in person on Saturday, August 1, at 7PM at the Veterans Memorial Building in Lafayette. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased online at www.rowwithchampions.org. Brown will be available to sign books after the talk. The book was hailed by one reviewer as the “nautical version of ‘Chariots of Fire.’” Since its publication two years ago, it has garnered a handful of prestigious awards. In fact, it has attracted so much attention that it is being made into a motion picture. The tome chronicles the almost-unimaginable true saga of nine men who during Great Depression days rowed competitively for University of Washington. All were hardscrabble, blue-collar types who despite all odds – and to the mortification of Adolph Hitler – went on to capture gold at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. In doing so, remarked another reviewer, they “provided hope … that the ruthless might of the Nazis would not prevail over American grit, determination, and optimism.” Brown attended Diablo Valley College before enrolling at UC Berkeley, where he earned a baccalaureate degree in English. After adding a master’s in English at UCLA, he taught writing at San Jose State University and at Stanford University before becoming a technical writer and editor. He later turned his attention to writing full time, specializing in historical nonfiction narratives.
Page 6 - July 2015 ~ Lafayette Today
The Bookworm By Joan Stevenson
It is my privilege to “worm” my way in and out of the events at the Lafayette Library and Learning Center and to give you a peak at what is coming up. But when I heard that all day on July 25 there will be a MakerFest, I was baffled. What on earth is that? So I asked Orlando Guzman, who is in charge. Orlando is the staff member who provides us with computer and eBook help. MakerFest is not an ordinary event. It is a place where a carousel of ideas unbound. There will be demonstrations for all ages including 3D printing, air-powered rocketry, Lego robotics, DIY instruments, book art, and more. There will be hands-on projects like CD zoetrope, candy sushi, button making, make your own slime, build a rocket, and computer programming for kids! Please come and create. Spend a day at the Lafayette Library and Learning Center celebrating makers in our community! There’s something for everyone. All ages are welcome and it sure sounds like a fun, free event to me! Register for the event at www.tinyurl.com/makerfestLAF2015. As I look over the programs and events of the past month, one line, “free event sponsored by the Friends of the Lafayette Library,” reminds me over and over how fortunate we are as a community to have willing and talented volunteers. The Friends thanked Ruthie Thornburg at the Friends Annual Meeting for her leadership as President as she handed over her gavel to Ellen Reintjes. Ruthie joins a long line of incredible Past Presidents. Hats off also go to the tireless leaders of the Book Shop – Sharon Lingane, Gayla Manning and Mary McCosker! The strength of the Friends is that it can move mountains…for proof, just watch them attack the pile outside the book drop on Monday morning. Note the time change - August 6 from 6:30 – 8PM in the Community Hall - for the WOW (Wonders of the World) event. Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775–1851) was one of the greatest British artists of the nineteenth century. His paintings are revered for their spectacular effects of light and color, and they have influenced generations of artists. The deYoung exhibit:
www.yourmonthlypaper.com J.M.W. Turner: Painting Set Free brings together more than sixty oil paintings and watercolors. It is the first major exhibition devoted to Turner’s achievements during his final period of productivity, when some of his most iconic works were created. This show reveals a painter distinguished by the broad scope of his knowledge and imagination, as well as his experimental techniques and use of materials. It will also provide the unique opportunity to experience firsthand some of the masterpieces featured this year in Mike Leigh’s critically acclaimed film Mr. Turner. Our popular music series continues on July 10 in the Community Hall from 7-8PM when the Lafayette Library presents, “Dirty Cello…cello like you have never heard it before!” Starting with a bang and never stopping, Dirty Cello features the virtuosic cello stylings of Rebecca Roudman, one of the San Francisco Bay Area’s most exciting cross-over cellists. Dirty Cello takes you on a wild tour of up-tempo music featuring down home blues, Eastern- European dance music, a bit of bluegrass, and some classic rock. This is a free event, sponsored by the Friends of the Lafayette Library. Sounds like a great date night, doesn’t it? All summer the theme of the reading program has been “Read to the Rhythm.” The next bit of rhythm is very special and comes to us from the Oakland Zoo on July 30 when the Zoomobile pulls up to our door. It is titled, “Hiss, Tweet, Roar”! We will be visited by some animals to listen to the music they make, both sweet and very scary. You must register ahead for one of the two sessions. The first is from 11-noon and the second session is from noon1PM. Check at the library soon to be certain of your seat. Well, as summer draws to a close, it is time to begin plans for your winter garden, and the Master Gardeners will be with us on August 4 from 6:30 – 8PM. Join the experts as they help you plan your winter garden for the upcoming season. Learn how growing vegetables in the winter has its advantages over summer vegetables and what allowances have to be made for the shorter days and less intense sunlight. Hopefully this winter may even have some rain! What better way to round out the summer than with a picnic. Join us on August 14 at noon as we celebrate the end of our Summer Reading Festival! Bring your lunch, we will provide the music and sweet treats! Don’t forget to turn in your reading record for some great prizes! Enjoy the last leisurely days of summer before the world starts to spin again.
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Beautification and Recreation Were Hot Topics Here 50 Years Ago (Just Like Today) By Ruth Bailey, Lafayette Historical Society
Lafayette Today ~ July 2015 - Page 7
11 Critical Home Inspection Traps to be Aware of Weeks Before Listing Your Home for Sale
Lafayette - According to industry ex- sale or, worse, turn prospective buyers The headline read “Underground Wires Call for perts, there are over 33 physical prob- away altogether. In most cases, you can Celebration.” Today we take for granted that our boulevard lems that will come under scrutiny during make a reasonable pre-inspection yourself is free of the sky-darkening clutter of utility wires. Here’s a home inspection when your home is if you know what you're looking for, and what Architect Aaron Green who compiled the Frank Wright for sale. A new report has been prepared knowing what you're looking for can help Survey of 1961, which is used as the guide for the Design which identifies the 11 most common you prevent little problems from growing Project, said in the May 14, 1965, Sun: “When the poles and of these problems, and what you should into costly and unmanageable ones. overhead wires come down July 28 in the downtown Lafayette know about them before you list your home To help home sellers deal with this issue M-2 district, there should be a gala celebration.” for sale. before their homes are listed, a free report A resident of the peninsula, Green said that “people Whether you own an old home or a brand entitled "11 Things You Need to Know to in Lafayette were too close to the scene to appreciate what new one, there are a number of things Pass Your Home Inspection" has been progress had been made in the beautification of the business that can fall short of requirements during a compiled which explains the issues involved. district. The cutoff date on the county ordinance to put the home inspection. If not identified and dealt To hear a brief recorded message about wires underground is July 28.” “This is the first and only with, any of these 11 items could cost you how to order your FREE copy of this report, underground wire ordinance in Contra Costa,” said Donn dearly in terms of repair. That's why it's call toll-free 1-866-265-1682 and enter Black, Design Project president. “In the M-2 district, county critical that you read this report before 2003. You can call any time, 24 hours a day, funds pay for construction and maintenance, but the Design you list your home. If you wait until the 7 days a week. building inspector flags these issues for Get your free special report NOW to learn Project supervises.” you, you will almost certainly experience how to ensure a home inspection doesn't The Design Project cleared weeds and dead trees along Mt. costly delays in the close of your home cost you the sale of your home. Diablo Blvd. and persuaded the State Division of Highways This report is courtesy of J. Rockcliff Realtors CalBRE #01763819. Not intended to solicit buyers or sellers currently under contract. Copyright © 2015 to plant a screen of trees for their “unsightly junk heap.” Regarding that junk heap, it was said: “The State uses the spot at the underpass before the turnoff An Evening with the Stars to Happy Valley Road for a temporary junk yard. It accumulates all of the debris collected in the By Jim Scala area for an occasional pickup.” Drive up Mt. Diablo on July 18th, and arrive at the lower summit “State landscape officials said it was necessary for the dump to be near the road so that a truck PM an inspiring evening with the stars. The could back into it for accessibility. With an eye to aesthetics and practicability, it was decided to parking lot by about 7 for PM . You’ll see the universe as never before. program will begin at 7:30 plant a baffle of pine trees to hide the junk heap. The county Public Works Dept. agreed to haul away the debris removed from the property. Total plantings by the state will include 14 Maples, Members of the Mt. Diablo Astronomical society (MDAS) will be standing by their telescopes to show you celestial objects. The views 7 Liquidambar, 22 Hopa Crabapple, 63 Monterey Pines, 32 Chinese Creeping Juniper, 3 Twisted will capture your imagination, and the night sky will never be the Juniper, and 39 pink Rapheolepsis shrubs. Water will be installed in the triangle so tank trucks same again. Every visitor says, “Wow!” many times during a viewing. may be filled.” What are the chances Lafayette denizens would tolerate a highway junk heap Astronomy is called the “gateway science” because many today near the Happy Valley Road residential district or anywhere else in our fair city? scientists, engineers, and medical doctors say their scientific cuAn April 1965 issue of the Sun ran a photo of the new sign at the western entrance to Lafayette. riosity was sparked and nurtured by looking through an amateur’s The sign, proclaiming “LAFAYETTE the sunshine valley,” was made by a group of Acalanes telescope. MDAS’s main mission is outreach. Any member will High School students interested in woodcraft. According to the caption, the group was called say, “We like to show everyone what’s out there.” The programs The Plainsmen, but it seems more likely they were “The Planesmen.” On one side of the sign for 2015 are outstanding. They will inspire anyone and cause many flowed a waterfall. (Note the abundance of H2O in the good old days. Sigh.) young people to think about science. Speaking of water, the June 16, 1965, Sun reported on Lafayette Reservoir’s revised master By about 10:30PM you’ll leave on an escorted drive down the plan, called the Lafayette Reservoir Park. “Work is going full steam ahead on the first phase of mountain with much to discuss. Return on one or all of the dates the East Bay Regional Park’s recreational facility on the Lafayette Reservoir. William Penn Mott, shown below for more inspiring evenings. Jr., general manager of the district, said at a meeting of the Lafayette Improvement Association July 18, 7:30PM ~ Explore our Sun ~ How does the Sun power recently that he expected the park’s gates to be opened next year. Earth? Arrive at 7:30 to safely view the Sun through telescopes. “Included in the plans will be a nine-hole golf course (at the rear), After sunset, view the rest of the stars in our Galaxy. pedestrian hiking trails, fishing and boating, parking and picnicking. August 15, 7:30PM ~ Our Place in our Galaxy ~ Build a The 3,300-yard golf course will have a par of 36. Future plans include mental model of our Milky Way Galaxy – and our place in it. Find a cultural center, amphitheater, and swimming lagoon-type pool with the center of our galaxy. Tour the telescopes through our galaxy. a boat house. Target date for completion of the park is three years, September 19, 6:30PM ~ Moon: Earth’s Lost Rock ~ How although, Mott said, it will never actually be completed. A ranger will would Earth be different without the Moon? How is our Earth like our Moon? Explore the surface of the Moon in telescopes. live on the premises.” Golf must have been as important to Lafayette residents half a You’ll be ready for the eclipse of September 27th. October 17, 6PM ~ Search for Alien Worlds ~ What will the century ago as it is today—maybe even more so. A May 1965 Sun want ad highlighted “LAFAYETTE APARTMENTS Loaded with Fringe first alien life we discover likely look like? Explore where weird Benefits. Glorious one-bedroom apartments for only $110/month. life exists on Earth. What does that tell us about life elsewhere There’s even a beautifully maintained golf driving range!” [exclamation in the galaxy? Which stars have planets where life might exist? For more information, visit www.mdas.net. Click on “Public point theirs.] The apartment complex was located at 3686 Mt. Diablo Program” for a link to the 2015 Event Calendar and also a link Blvd., and budding Arnie Palmers renting there could look forward to the Reservoir’s nine-hole golf course just a couple of five-iron shots to the west. In the meantime, for directions to Mt. Diablo and the Lower Summit Parking Lot. they could polish their swing at their apartment’s driving range. Reading these want ads, I realized Plan to enter the park before sunset, and allow 30 minutes for a hundred ten dollars just doesn’t go so far these days—as our local renters have dramatically the drive to the lower summit lot. Better yet, arrive early, bring a sandwich, and watch astronomers set up telescopes. Even that learned this year. And now the topic of rent control is before the City Council. will be a learning experience.
Page 8 - July 2015 ~ Lafayette Today
JULY
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Swingtime continued from front page
Mark your calendar for Saturday, July 18th from 5pm to twilight. Honor our heroes with your attendance. The concert under the stars includes: • The Big Band of Rossmoor featuring Mic Gillette on trumpet (formally with Tower of Power) • Special Guests -The Swingin Blue Stars (think of the Andrew Sisters singing “Don’t Sit Under The Apple Tree”) • Rotary’s new stage and picnic area overlooking the lake • Veterans, active duty troops, and reserves will be honored during the program Bring a blanket, lawn chairs, and a picnic. The Lafayette Reservoir is located just west of downtown Lafayette, and free parking is available at the Reservoir between 4 -7pm. Enter the parking lot through the kiosk, and let the attendant know you are there for the concert and picnic. The Mobile Vet Center will be onsite to counsel veterans and their families regarding Veterans benefits including health care, finances, education, and housing. Operation Swingtime is presented by the Rotary Club of Lafayette, the Lamorinda Sunrise Rotary Club, the Rotary Club of Moraga, the Orinda Rotary Club and the Rotary Club of Rossmoor. The Big Band of Rossmoor is presented by Generations In Jazz. For more information, visit www.thebigbandofrossmoor.org.
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Free Recycled Water for your Home Irrigation By Candace Andersen, Contra Costa County Supervisor, District 2
During this historic drought we’re all looking for innovative ways to save water. One idea for both conserving water and saving money is to use recycled water for outdoor landscaping. The Central Contra Costa Sanitary District and the Dublin San Ramon Services District are offering free recycled water for home irrigation. They have established water filling stations that allow residents to pick up water for outdoor use at their homes. These programs can help you conserve the drinking water supply by using recycled water for your lawns, gardens, and landscaping. Most people don’t think about the agencies providing their sewer services, but here is a little background about the two that serve the residents in my Supervisorial District. Central Contra Costa Sanitary District was formed in 1946 and began with a simple 50 miles of piping serving a population of 15,000. Today, it serves nearly 500,000 customers and has about 1,000 miles of piping. The Dublin San Ramon Services District had a slower start, as it began to form in 1960 under the name The Valley Community Services District. Back then only 30,000 customers were served, but today they serve 120,000 people with about 150 miles of piping. In order to use the recycled water station these Districts offer, you must first sign a Residential Recycled Water Use Agreement, be trained in proper procedures, and receive an ID card and stickers for your water containers. These Use Agreements are available on each District’s websites (dsrsd.com and centralsan.org) or at the stations. Please bring your own containers, which must have water-tight lids and be secured for safe transport. The minimum container size is 1 gallon, and the maximum container size is 300 gallons per trip. There are no limits on trips. Be aware: water is heavy! One gallon of water weighs 8.345 pounds; 100 gallons weighs 834.5 pounds. When driving a vehicle with such a heavy weight, be sure to allow enough stopping distance. Please note that anyone who signs up is allowed to use Dublin San Ramon Services District recycled water station, regardless of being a customer or not. However, the Central Contra Costa Sanitary District only allows customers to use their facility. Eligible communities include Alamo, Blackhawk, Clayton, Concord, Clyde, Danville, Lafayette, Martinez, Moraga, Orinda, Pacheco, Pleasant Hill, San Ramon, Walnut Creek, and other Central County unincorporated areas within the Central Contra Costa Sanitary District service area. Remember that the water you pick up at your local recycled water station should NOT be consumed or allowed to run off into storm drains as it does not meet drinking water standards. The Dublin San Ramon Services Residential Recycled Water Fill station is located inside the DSRSD Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility, 7399 Johnson Drive in Pleasanton. On Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays the station is open from noon until 7PM. On Tuesdays, Saturdays and Sundays it is open from 8AM to noon. The Central Contra Costa Sanitary District’s Residential Recycled Water Filling Station is located at their Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility, 4797 Imhoff Place in Martinez. It is open Monday through Saturday 9AM to 3:30PM. The Hazardous Waste Collection Facility is also a great resource for customers of Central Contra Costa Sanitary District. Bringing your Household Hazardous Waste to the facility helps prevent it from reaching our waterways. Examples include household cleaners, automotive care products, paint and related products, garden care and pest control products, and propane tanks. Understand that state regulations limit the transportation of Household Hazardous Waste to 15 gallons or 125 pounds per vehicle. Individual containers are also limited to a 5 gallon capacity. Be sure to seal the containers and pack them carefully to prevent tipping, spillage, or breaking when transporting them. The Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility is open Monday through Saturday from 9AM to 4PM, and it’s location is noted above. 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. A special thanks to one of my summer interns, Peter Hutchinson, for his extensive contribution to this article. 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.
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Lafayette Today ~ July 2015 - Page 9
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In Loehmann’s Shopping Center (next to Lucky’s)
Walking the Reservoir By Jim Scala
Golden State Warriors’ yoga coach at the Res. Thanks go to Brittany Benedetto, the Golden State Warriors’ Yoga Instructor, for helping them win the NBA championship. She imparted yoga’s flexibility and mind-body harmony that the Warriors displayed so well in winning the NBA championship. Brittany teaches yoga on the stage every Thursday at 10AM. Her athletic background includes springboard diving, gymnastics, running, fitness competition, triathlons, and Cross Fit. She understands what yoga brings to athletes, and having been a school teacher she knows how to communicate that knowledge. And she’s very pretty to walk with and witty to talk with. I met Brittany on the stage as she walked on her hands getting ready for her yoga students. She’s a founder of Earth and Sea Yoga and brings her unique talent to one of the world’s most scenic yoga studios. I say, “Two thumbs up to Brittany.” Meet Lafayette Reservoir’s new senior ranger. With a warm smile, set off by his light hair and fine build, Chuck Beckman welcomed Dudley, Ed, and me into his corner office in the Visitor’s center. His office looks out on the reservoir and has a large ariel view picture of the water and its surrounding land on the opposite wall. This six-foot, broad shouldered young man brings an excellent background to our reserve reservoir. His career began with Cal-Fire, and he was senior ranger of the Pardee-Comanche recreation area before coming to Lafayette. I knew he loved his job when he smiled and asked us, “How many rangers get to work in a place like this every day?” Lafayette Reservoir is an over 900 acre watershed, and there’s more than enough work for the five rangers and several part-timers. Their challenges range from being prepared for and preventing fires while considering requests by the over one million people who come for recreation. One person said, “I like to sit on a grassy knoll, read a book, and be able to see the water. Can’t you remove some trees to make my view better?” Chuck’s easy going personality definitely allows him to be taking on these diverse tasks, and we are fortunate to have him.
2395 Monument Blvd., Suite J Concord (925) 680-4433 (Across from Costco Gas Station, next to Harvest House)
Little Res-dogs – Res-trivia. Small dogs happily lead their owners around the paved trail and are ready to go again. Large dogs often finish a little tired and lack that starting enthusiasm. The little guys have legs about five inches long, and large dogs have legs over 10 inches long. As I counted the steps dogs took over a measured length, a lady asked, “Are you serious?” A large dog moves about 1.25 feet and a small dog about 0.3 feet per step. So, each foot of a large dog takes about 14,308 steps and a small dog 34,301 steps on a paved-trail circuit. That “back of the envelope” calculation confirms that those little ones are incredible! People average over 6,500 steps walking the rez. A small dog takes five times that many with each foot. Coffee before your Rez-walk? A recent study of exercise and coffee produced surprising results. It seems that during a good walk after coffee, the body takes more calories from fat rather than carbohydrate reserves. In the context of June’s discussion of visceral fat, it was suggested that a cup of coffee before walking can help. Remember, to lose weight you must cut calories. Wise saying on a lady’s shirt: Wine improves with age. Second line: I improve with wine. I said, “You’re looking good!” Retro walking. Ed walked the dam backwards for 15 minutes. I had to ask, “Why are you doing that?” He said that it improves leg muscle and tendon flexibility. Research shows that retro-walking’s reversal of the heel-to-toe stride relieves pressure on spinal discs. I don’t see it catching on though. Walking clockwise vs counterclockwise. An Asian lady said that clockwise is the correct way to walk the reservoir. She explained that in a Buddhist temple you’re directed clockwise. Add another thing we humans do that’s rooted in folk wisdom. Dragon flies have diminished. The drought has caused the numbers of these spectacular insects to dwindle. Look for the blue ones along the grassy area or the brilliant red ones in the reeds near the water. Senior’s walking program. When Maureen Neumann proposed a walking program, she didn’t know we’d have over sixty individuals sign up. Medical experts recommend 150 minutes of moderate exercise weekly. Since we total about 100 minutes on the Tuesday and Thursday walks, some ask, “Should we consider a third day?” Please let me hear from you at jscala2@comcast.net.
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Page 10 - July 2015 ~ Lafayette Today
Ready, Set, Toss
Cinema Classics and Musical Notes
By Monica Chappell Summer whites to serve with summer salads
Cactus Flower By Peggy Horn
This month’s Cinema Classic is a romantic comedy, Cactus Flower, (1969) starring Walter Matthau, Ingrid Bergman, and introducing Goldie Hawn. Miss Hawn won an Academy Award for best Supporting Actress for her performance, and the film was nominated for the Best Actress and Best Screenplay categories. The movie was based on a Broadway stage play, and that stage play was based on a French play. The movie is complicated and typically sixties with a confusing set of circumstances forming the plot. Toni Simmons (Goldie Hawn) has fallen in love with a dentist, Dr. Julian Winston (Walter Matthau) and would like to see the relationship follow a normal course towards marriage. Julian has told Toni that he is married with three children, so the option of marriage apparently doesn’t exist. In reality, Julian isn’t married so he is free to marry Toni but the lie he has told about his marital status stands in the way. Julian promises to get a divorce in order to marry Toni, which precipitates Toni’s desire to meet the first Mrs. Winston – in order to make sure she is happy. Now Julian has to find a wife so he can claim his divorce, and he turns to Miss Dickinson (Ingrid Bergman), his dental assistant. Love, marriage and fidelity are set against a lie with the flawed characters only appearing to misbehave. Eventually everything is sorted out, and the course of true love is victorious, although the parties have changed places.
Musical Notes
The movie Cactus Flower, begins and ends with the soulful voice of Sarah Vaughn singing, “The Time for Love is Anytime,” creating a poignant delight. The song was composed by Mr. Quincy Jones, and the lyrics were written by Ms. Cynthia Weil.
Lafayette Juniors Raise $50,000 for Charity
The Lafayette Juniors raised $50,000 in the past 12 months for local nonprofit organizations. The funds were distributed on June 4th by the Lafayette Juniors in a special ceremony at the Lafayette Community Center to Ruby’s Place, Boys & Girls Club of Diablo Valley, Las Trampas, Trinity Center Walnut Creek, and VESTIA. The Lafayette Juniors have a history of organizing fundraising events like the Rummage Sale in the fall and Kitchen Tour in the spring to raise money for selected beneficiaries. This year the Juniors chose Ruby’s Place, California’s first incorporated shelter for women and children impacted by domestic violence, as their major beneficiary. The Juniors donated $25,000 to support the work Ruby’s Place has been doing since the shelter’s founding in 1972. Today, 43 women and children each day call Ruby’s Place home and rely on the shelter and its staff for a comprehensive array of services for safety and healing as they begin to live their lives free of abuse. “The Lafayette Juniors are a dedicated group of women who take giving back to the community very seriously. They embody volunteerism at its best and understand the impact their generosity has on non-profits who provide services to people in need. Their donation of $25,000 will be used to remodel our intake room so that we have a confidential and safe space for women and children when
These wines are crisp and refreshing on the plate and in the glass. It’s that time of year again, the salad days of summer, when the best way to beat the heat is with a cool, crisp salad. When it comes to wine pairing, salads can be tricky: a salad that’s dressed with something tart can knock out the flavor of the wine
you’re trying to enjoy. These dry white wines are refreshing, affordable, and pair well with the lighter food we crave during hot weather. Here are a few ideas for something summery to sip alongside.
Green Salad
For a crisp, green salad with a vinaigrette dressing, you can’t beat Sauvignon Blanc, but if there are weightier ingredients in the salad, as in a Greek salad, for example, go for slightly weightier Pinot Gris/ Pinot Grigio. For heavier green salads, with a creamy dressing like a grilled chicken caesar or niçoise—try a crisper style Chardonnay.
Pasta Salad
A pasta salad lacks the crisp crunch of a green salad, but it is still relatively light because it’s cold and refreshing. Toppings from pesto pasta to a Mediterranean-style pasta to pasta salad with shrimp can be all over the map, so pick a middle-of-the-road white wine that’ll go with all kinds of ingredients – look for a clean, crisp Italian Pinot Grigio.
Fruit Salad
Adding summer fruits to your salad? Whether it’s spinach with chicken and strawberries or melon, arugula, and Serrano ham, you’ll need some sweetness in your wine to account for the sweetness in the food. Try something off-dry like White Riesling or Gewurztraminer. How about a simply delicious summer fruit salad for dessert? Pair it with a similarly sweet, fruity, and refreshing dessert wine like Moscato d’Asti, Muscat or an Ice Wine. Which salads are you most looking forward to this summer? Share with us at wineappreciation101@gmail.com. Monica Chappell teaches wine appreciation classes in Lafayette. For a class schedule visit www.backtothetablecookingschool.com. they are admitted to the shelter to speak openly with our staff. We will also use the Juniors donation to upgrade our existing shelter facilities with a handicap accessible bathroom,” states Vera R. Ciammetti, CEO of Ruby’s Place. “The Lafayette Juniors has made our dream a reality, and we thank them for supporting our mission as well as the community members who generously supported the Lafayette Juniors throughout the year to make this amazing donation possible.” The Lafayette Juniors also donated $10,000 to Boys & Girls Club of Diablo Valley, and $5,000 each to Las Trampas, Trinity Center Walnut Creek, and VESTIA. The Lafayette Juniors are looking forward to continuing this tradition of giving and are accepting applications from now until July 31st from all non-profits in Contra Costa and neighboring counties in the San Francisco Bay Area who serve women, families, seniors, and others requiring assistance. The Juniors will select four organizations from the applicant pool to become their 2015 – 2016 beneficiaries. Fundraising for these groups will begin this fall. To obtain an application or learn more about the Lafayette Juniors, please visit www.lafayettejuniors.org.
About the Lafayette Juniors
Founded in 1953, the Lafayette Juniors is a nonprofit organization made up of local women who come together to raise funds and offer service in support of other non-profits that serve children, families, seniors as well as other people in need throughout Contra Costa and neighboring counties in the San Francisco area. Over the past 16 years, the Lafayette Juniors have raised more than $600,000 for Bay Area non-profit groups.
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It’s Time to Move On!
Lafayette Today ~ July 2015 - Page 11
By Art Lehman, Village Associates Realtors
This will be my final article. As I came to reflect on my last few, I realized it was time to pass the torch. I wrote my first article in January 2007. At that time, unbeknownst to any of us, the real estate market in Lafayette appeared to still be strong. Looking back, we likely peaked in June of 2006, but it was rather hard to see given the never ending performance from 2000 till then. But clearly the shot across the bow was September 29, 2008 when the stock market had its single biggest loss, and we were hit with the reality that even our community was not immune to the financial devastation taking place everywhere. I have come to realize as I looked over eight years of articles that I started writing when the market was at the peak, then continued when the real estate market rode through a very difficult time in our community (which fared far better than most), and now am ending my writing when the market is back up and exceeding that initial peak. It’s humbling when I consider that I’m finishing this last article by coming full circle. From high to a low to high again – the variation in the market has taught me to be ready for just about anything when it comes to real estate. Just when I think I have figured the market out, another curve ball is thrown. It really has been great to run into so many of you over the years and talk about my articles and real estate. No, I’m not leaving real estate--I just want to leave on a high note in writing my articles. One of my associates, Erin Martin, will be taking my place. Just like me, she will begin writing at a high point in the market. I’m quite sure there will be plenty of ups and downs in the market as she takes over. At the end of my writing, I keep reminding myself how fortunate we are to live in Lafayette. Our top-rated schools, our superb location, our limited housing stock, and great climate still attract buyers into our community regardless of the economic climates. Right now we are riding the high. But as I’m always reminded by the stories in the news and the circumstances of life, life is short. In spite of all the twists and turns of everyday life, we should be thankful for all that is good and live life fully. As far as real estate goes, simply “stay the course.” Always feel free to drop me an email or give me a call if you have any questions about buying or selling a home in the area or for a free price evaluation. I can be reached as always at Village Associates at (925) 200Advertorial 2591 or art@artlehman.com.
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.
Hospice Volunteers Needed
Hospice of the East Bay is seeking volunteers to assist Hospice patients and their caregivers. Opportunities include: • Licensed Hair Stylists to offer hair cuts and styling • Certified Massage Therapists to provide massage therapy • Mobile Notaries to witness the signing of important documents • Bereavement Support Volunteers to provide support to family members after their loved one has died • Patient Support Volunteers to provide companionship and practical assistance To apply for free training, call Hospice of the East Bay at (925) 887-5678, and ask for the Volunteer Department, or email volunteers@ hospiceeastbay.org. Established in 1977, Hospice of the East Bay is a not-for-profit agency that helps people cope with end of life by providing medical, emotional, spiritual, and practical support for patients and families, regardless of their ability to pay. To learn more or to make a donation of time or money, please contact (925) 887-5678 or visit www.hospiceeastbay.org.
and
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Scottish Country Dancing
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 10-week 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) 2849068 for dates and fees.
Brainwaves by Betsy Streeter
Page 12 - July 2015 ~ Lafayette Today
Smart(er) Irrigation Schedules to Conserve Water By Pamela Palitz,Sustainable Lafayette
We’ve reduced our irrigation to no more than two times a week as ordered by Governor Brown. We have pails in our showers, and we’re flushing the toilet less. We’re really trying! However, the bottom line is that the yard is the best place to conserve water. Watering fewer times per week is critical (as well as mandatory), but watering “smart” can help too. If you’ve already made major adjustments, some of these suggestions might only be “tweaks,” but every drop counts. The goal is to water to the depth of plant roots—about 6” for lawns, 9” for ground covers, 12” for shrubs, and 18-24” for trees. For clay soil, a ½” of water will moisten the soil about 6” deep. This is perfect for lawns but only half of what’s needed to reach the root depth of most shrubs. A typical spray head sprinkler will apply ½” of water in about 15-20 minutes. Rotor sprinklers apply water at a lower rate and require more minutes per start. You can check the output of your sprinklers by placing one or more catch cans and timing how long it takes to reach ½”.
Knowing the Basics Helps Irrigation Tips Make Sense
Setup different programs for different watering needs – Because shrubs need to be watered about twice as long and a third as often as lawns, it’s best to create two different programs on your irrigation controller. With a typical spray head, your lawn needs a total of just 45 minutes of water per week during the summer (two watering days), and shrubs need about 24-30 minutes per week during the summer (one watering day). Use the “five-minute” rule – Set spray head sprinklers to run for five minutes per cycle to avoid run-off and water waste. The mostly clay soils in Lafayette can only absorb about four to six minutes of irrigation water at a time. After that, the soils become saturated and water will begin to run-off and be wasted. After applying water for five minutes, wait one hour and then re-apply water for five more minutes, and so on. Water only between 6pm – 9am – Watering early in the morning or late in the evening gives water time to soak in before being exposed to the mid-day heat and wind, which causes evaporation. These hours are non-negotiable; they’re in the new state regulations. Turn irrigation off when it rains – The new regulations prohibit watering within 48 hours of measurable rainfall. Inspect your system – Inspect all sprinkler valves and drip irrigation heads that may have cracked during the winter. Make sure there are no leaks or overspray, and trim plants when necessary to prevent interference. Adjust when fall arrives – Change your watering schedule when summer is over. Plants need half as much water in spring and fall as in mid-summer. Design smart landscaping – For future landscaping, consider reducing grass areas, choosing native and drought-tolerant plants and grasses that don’t require much water, and using drip irrigation and rotator sprinkler heads which are more expensive, but use 65% less water than conventional spray heads. EBMUD offers landscape and irrigation upgrade rebates to help you reduce your water use. New equipment such as drip irrigation, high-efficiency nozzles, self-adjusting irrigation controllers, pressure regulations and irrigation submeters can help you irrigate with greater efficiency and know when you are overwatering. New drought-tolerant plants can help reduce your overall irrigation needs. For rebate information, visit www.ebmud.com/water-and-drought/conservationand-rebates/residential/rebates/lawn-conversion-irrigation-upgrade-rebates. 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
By Mark Becker, GoSimple Solar
Almost 14 years after 9/11, it’s probably universally agreed that the greatest foreign policy challenge America faces centers on terrorism and the potential manifestation of large-scale terror attacks again onto our shores. There is no doubt that American energy policy is currently influenced by our reliance on foreign oil. In the spirit of Independence Day, I contend that reduction of reliance on foreign oil will enhance our domestic security. Stated less politically correct: If America didn’t need foreign oil, how deeply involved would we be in some of these regions? Many of these nations are vying for less of our influence; let’s grant them their wish. Citizen sacrifice as in wars past can be our path. Historically, America’s citizenry was forced to sacrifice to contribute to war efforts. Nowadays, citizen’s contributions to the war effort don’t necessarily have to be sacrifices in the traditional sense at all. Lessening a carbon footprint and improving energy efficiency are traditionally associated with “saving the planet” yet “contribute to the war effort” in geopolitical terms means helping to reduce our nations’ reliance on foreign energy sources. New paths can become clear in foreign policies matters, especially those related to the Middle East. Many veteran organizations, such as “Operation Free” (www.OperationFree.net), are marketing this same tactic as an excellent means to indirectly support our troops and our national security. If you are seeking a direct way of “supporting our troops,” www. SemperFiFund.org is amongst the best. Seeking energy savings at your home or business is one of the few tactics that citizens can adopt which benefit them and their finances, our national security, and hence our service-members (who follow the orders of our elected government). Having fought in a Middle East War myself, I’m a firm believer that energy efficiency and energy independence is a win-win for our citizens and our nation, and it was that vision which led to the creation of GoSimpleSolar. It may sound a bit altruistic, but I firmly believe, based on the above line of logic, that alternative energy businesses provide these and other benefits to the consumer/citizen, our nation, and indirectly to our much valued service-members and veterans. Indeed, tens of thousands of separating veterans are employed in the solar industry, five of them at GoSimpleSolar and our associated companies. Solar PV, done right, is a long-term investment, and shouldn’t be treated like a commodity product or service. It’s impossible to accurately rate the actual quality or long-term service of a company or product that hasn’t been in the market for very long. All consumers should follow this edict if they want to reduce risk in a solar PV or other construction related project. Relating the solar industry to stock market investment: There are three kinds of solar products and installation providers. “Day Trade” installers and products where long term risk is maximized via a quantity over quality approach at very low margin and lowest initial cost. These projects can indeed return short-term beneficial results. “Commodity Installers” partially mitigate the risk and can return mid-term results depending on how their commodity approach to installation performs. Long-term risk elimination and resulting highest and safest margins result with selection of an “AAA/Prime Bond” installation company. Proper licensing, installation practices, and reliable non-proprietary equipment choice eliminate risk. What a consumer must realize: The risk resulting from the business model that a solar PV installation company practices falls directly onto the customer’s lap. It will be their project that suffers the consequences of a shortcut approach (which may or may not be transparent to the customer). Customer education is paramount. An excellent finance path for consumers: PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) loans provide simple financing for solar and performance roofing projects through your property tax bill. Solar PV is especially compelling to finance. You can buy your own electricity at a much lesser cost for the next 30 years than you’ll pay PGE for it, you’ll get a 30% Federal Tax credit for doing so, and you’ll be cash positive from day one. When you OWN your own solar PV system, you’ll keep all the savings. If GoSimpleSolar can help you achieve the financial rewards a high quality solar PV system will provide and the energy independence that will result, please feel free to contact us. Of course, with our licensed tradesmen, we can properly provide for your roofing, day-lighting, back-up power, energy efficiency, or solar related needs. 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 925-331-8011.Advertorial
Lafayette Today ~ July 2015 - Page 13
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helpdesk@theportablecio.com www.theportablecio.com Seats on the CIO Bus
By Evan Corstorphine, Portable CIO
My favorite pastime is reading, and I have always enjoyed a good book. One I recently finished is called Good to Great. It was written in 2001 by Jim Collins after he and his team conducted an indepth study on what makes companies transcend from “good” to “great.” The lessons it teaches are vivid and timeless. One of the lessons is similar to one I learned from Walter Isaacson’s book written about Steve Jobs. That lesson? You have to “have the right people on the bus.” Steve Jobs called them “A Players,” as in A, B, C, etc., and he was fanatical about only hiring and working with “A” players. Beyond that rigid definition which spoke directly to skills of the individual, there is another way to look at having “the right people on the bus,” and how it relates to what we do so well at Portable CIO. I’ll explain. From my perspective, the “IT” service world is broken into segments. One of these segments is called the “One Man Band” (OMB), and it’s just like the name describes. It’s an individual who has some amount of technical expertise and who bops around fixing problems for people, usually for a bargain hourly rate. It might be a student who has an aptitude for computers, earning extra cash while he’s in college, or it could be someone who has decided to start their own consultancy after serving in some official capacity in the IT field. There are many OMB’s, usually advertising in places like Craigslist. The downfall of the OMB is that they only have time and skills to be a technician for hire, and they are limited in the breadth and depth of services they are able to deliver. A OMB is only one person servicing an account which makes them indispensable but also the weak link. And being only one individual, their skillset is often fairly static. When they are unavailable because they’re with another client or at their “real” job, or they’re sick, their clients needs go unmet and communication is slow. The primary complaint I hear when we take over an account previously serviced by an
OMB, is that the client just can’t get a call back, and there is a lack of “big picture” planning and guidance. Boiled down, the OMB is a screwdriver for hire, and firms eventually realize they need a lot more than that. For overall IT support it’s not effective or sustainable to hire one person to cover all of the disciplines necessary for a smooth running, safe, and reliable IT infrastructure. It’s just not a good use of your money. It’s at this point that our metaphor about “seats on the bus” begins to make sense. A full service team such as Portable CIO has the capability, vision, and experience to guide your business. In terms of the skills one can bring to the client, it’s the difference between someone riding a motorcycle with a backpack, and someone driving a panel-van full of tools to the client. A single individual cannot simultaneously bring all the skills of a strategically thinking CIO, an infrastructure specialist with an extensive software toolset, a network engineer, a project manager, and a staffed helpdesk to answer the phone and triage issues. Businesses need all the skills of a fully staffed IT department AND a manageable and predictable IT budget. That’s what Portable CIO brings. For a consistent and manageable monthly fee which is a miniscule fraction of what it would cost to “own” all of these resources and skills internally, we handle everything. This approach is called Managed Services, and we are a Managed Services Provider (MSP). A typical IT professional earns $65k before benefits and other employee costs. That one employee has a finite skillset. Put an IT team together, and you have a payroll of a half million dollars before any hardware or software tools are purchased. Or you can leverage someone who has already put together that team, who has bought the software and is expert with the hardware, and use what you need of their offering to help your business grow. It makes sense. That’s what we do. This approach enables us to deliver best-practice IT solutions to your company for a fraction of the price. If you think it’s time for a change, I’d like to talk with you about how fractional ownership of your own CIO team can make your life easier. It starts with an email to info@theportablecio.com or a call to Advertorial 925-552-7953.
Page 14 - July 2015 ~ Lafayette Today
How Much are your Trees Really Worth?
By Blaine Brende & Joe Lamb
With the world in economic and ecological turmoil, it pays to take a deep breath and consider the real value of your assets. It’s best to start this exercise close to home because for most Americans their largest asset is their home. A surprisingly large contribution— between 8 and 19%1 — to the value of your home comes from your trees, shrubs, and other landscape plants. If your house is worth $500,000, that places the value of your plants at between $40,000 and $90,0000. Your trees deserve care commensurate with the value they add to your home’s portfolio. Trees, of course, have value far beyond real estate. Here’s a quick tour of values economists give for urban trees: Trees add to home values and thereby form part of the tax base. In so doing trees help fund schools, fire protection services, and police. Trees work to clean the air. In the process of photosynthesis, trees absorb pollutants and even convert harmful chemicals, like nitrogen oxides and airborne ammonia, into benign forms. Trees act to reduce local tax rates by reducing infrastructure costs. Trees absorb rain and slow the speed at which storm water accumulates, thereby helping to prevent flooding and the need to install larger storm drains. Trees not only filter pollution, they help prevent it. Shade from trees can reduce air conditioning needs by as much as 30%, and trees planted to intercept prevailing winds can reduce heating needs significantly. “Projections suggest that 100 million additional mature trees in US cities (three trees for every unshaded single family home) could save over $2 billion in energy costs per year.” 2 Trees also help prevent car pollution. In the Sacramento area, an astounding 16% of air pollution comes from cars parked in the sun. Shade from trees greatly reduces the loss of gas, thereby reducing air pollution. Trees aid healing. When hospital rooms have views of trees, patients heal at a measurably faster rate. Trees help us fulfill Dorothy Day’s maxim: create a world in which it is easier to be nice to each other. Studies find that trees in public housing neighborhoods reduce levels of fear and decrease aggressive behavior; and students
San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park By Linda Summers Pirkle
In addition to his love of baseball, San Francisco Giants manager, Bruce Bochy has another passion: he loves San Francisco and he loves exploring it on foot. An avid walker, Bochy recently wrote a book, aptly called A Book of Walks. I enjoyed this very readable account of his favorite walks and thoughts on life. The little guide weaves delightful personal stories together with wonderful walks in seven areas of the nation (all close to baseball parks, of course). Not surprisingly, Bochy’s favorite walk is in San Francisco. The preface, by Steve Kettmann, publisher of A Book of Walks, sums up Bochy’s approach to life, or the “Bochy Way,” which consists of four points: Be yourself, don’t overthink, trust your people and your gut, and lastly, lose yourself in a long walk. Divided into eight short chapters, the guide appeals to me for a few reasons. The easy written style feels like you are having a chat with the beloved coach. I like the way Bochy suggests general routing on his walks as opposed to other walking tour guide books that meticulously steer the readers with very specific street by street directions saying where to turn, what to do, and which lamp post to notice. He seems to respect his readers and their ability to figure out the way to create their own walking adventure; the important point he makes is to get out and walk. As he says in the chapter called “My Everest: To the Golden Gate Bridge,” “If you need to move along at a pretty deliberate pace and stop often to rest, so what. Take the whole day! Make an adventure of it. Whether you’re a visitor to our city or you’ve lived here your whole life, that’s a walk that will make you feel good; it will make you feel alive. It will make you feel more like yourself.” Bochy’s favorite walking itinerary is from AT&T Park to Coit Tower. He explains, “I love that walk so much. I could tell you about every pier, every stretch of the way, shoot, almost every crack in the pavement…But if I described every detail for you here in my little book, I’d take some of the fun out of it
www.yourmonthlypaper.com with ADHD develop more self-discipline when they play in natural settings. Berkeley calculates that for every $1.00 the city spends on planting and pruning city trees, its citizens reap $1.40 in measurable benefits; for Sacramento the return is $1.80, and for New York City an astounding $5.00 is the return for every dollar spent. The value added to pruning and planting trees on your own property is higher than that for street trees because trees have a real effect on real estate prices. Overestimating the value of trees to the entire planet is impossible: how can you put a price on the continuation of human life? If too many trees are stripped from the planet, then tipping points in the carbon cycle are crossed making global warming spin out of control… and making the world too hot for human life. Our Earth is small, and global warming makes it ever smaller. The easy division between what is global and what is local no longer holds: a ton of carbon dioxide from burning rainforests in Borneo heats the air as much as a ton of carbon dioxide from the tail pipes of commuter traffic on I580. We are all part of the problem. We are all part of the solution. Trees play a role in all three strategies to fight global warming. Trees help reduce energy use, and they may someday become a source of renewable biofuels. We can protect and restore rainforests and other carbon sinks. Through its work in the Borneo Project, Brende and Lamb works hard to leverage local support for the protection of rainforests. Closer to home we can all help with strategic planting of urban trees to sequester carbon, to reduce heat island effects, and to lower energy consumption. The dividends far outstrip the costs of caring for trees as a necessary part of the ‘green economy.’ Like other living beings, trees do require care. With people it costs less to avoid getting sick than to pay for a cure. The same is true with trees. Quality care improves the health of your trees, extends their lifespan, and increases their beauty. Quality tree work pays dividends to you and to the planet. If you need help, do not hesitate to give us a call for advice or to do the work. At Brende and Lamb, we have 20 years of experience balancing the aesthetics of your trees and shrubs and maintaining your screening needs. If your trees need a little TLC, please call 510-486-TREE (8733) or email us at bl@brendelamb.com for a free estimate. Additionally, go to our website www.brendelamb.com to see before and after pictures, client testimonials, and work in your neighborhood. Advertorial 1. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090119210532.htm 2. http://www.treefolks.org/store_biglist.asp
for you.” The walk includes well known tourist spots Fishermen’s Wharf and Aquatic Park. “Aren’t we all tourists somewhere sometime?” he writes. “Thee tourists are usually friendly, and might even nod to me, like I’m some kind of local attraction, right up there with the sea lions barking out in the bay.” His trek takes him to restaurant row at the wharf, and being there, he writes, “always makes me hungry, even if it’s early and they’re not opened up yet: Castagnola’s, Lou’s Fish Shack, Pompeii’s Grotto, then Cioppino’s and Capurro’s Restaurant. Then you’re into Aquatic Park, where I’m always amazed to look and see whole groups of people swimming in the ice-cold water of the bay.” If you follow Bochy’s walking tour to either Coit Tower or to the Golden Gate Bridge and have a bit of extra time to explore the Fishermen’s Wharf neighborhood, the San Francisco Maritime National Park is a nice place to learn more about the city’s seafaring past. Besides exhibits in the Aquatic Park Bathhouse Building and the Visitor Center, you’ll see five vessels: Alma, Balclutha, Eureka, Hercules, and C.A. Thayer-all designated National Historic Landmarks. * San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park is open daily, except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s, year round from 9:30AM to 5PM. Admission is free. A ticket is needed to board the historic vessels on Hyde Street Pier, and the cost is $5 per person (price goes up to $10 October 2015); ticket is good for seven days. Ticket booth is located on the pier. The Waterfront Walking Tour, an hour long ranger-led guided tour, is offered on weekends at 10:15AM. Meet in the lobby of the Argonaut Hotel, 495 Jefferson Street, located across from Aquatic Park. It’s free; call (415) 447-5000 during business hours for more information. *The Fishermen’s and Seamen’s Memorial Chapel located across from Pier 45 overlooking fishing boat basin is interdenominational. There is a Catholic Mass in Latin every Sunday at 10AM. Bruce Bochy’s book, A Book of Walks, is available at local bookstores and as an eBook. Inspired by the many wonderful places to visit in the Bay Area, Linda Summers Pirkle 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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Life in the Lafayette Garden
Hardscapes By John Montgomery, ASLA, Landscape Architect #4059
Lafayette Today ~ July 2015 - Page 15
One of many important decisions you will make while designing your Lafayette garden will be what kind of surface materials you will be using for your patios, walkways, decks, and hardscape. Today the choices in materials are numerous and sometimes overwhelming! When you think of what has been available in the past, you think of dull gray broom-finished concrete, tan Arizona flagstone, red brick, and redwood. Today, a myriad of hardscape materials are available. Natural stone products such as flagstone, slate, wall ledger, and rock have dominated current trends in hardscape materials. In the past ten years the natural stone industry has grown by leaps and bounds. When considering natural stone as your primary surfacing material, you must understand that it is the most expensive approach. Generally, natural stone surfacing runs $20 to $45 a square foot when mortared over a concrete base. Those prices indicate current market averages including material, labor, and profit by licensed contractors. With the awareness of “Green” building methods, manufactured surfacing material choices have also gone off the chart. There is an abundant choice of Call for details manufactured stone and pre-cast concrete products in a multitude of colors. These products make long-lasting affordable surfaces for patios, walls, and veneers. They 925.939.8300 are less expensive and less labor-intensive to install, and prices range from $12 to solartechnologies.com $25 a square foot depending on your surface and product. Lic. #932914 A very popular trend that came into the industry about twenty years ago is interlocking concrete pavers. When first introduced, the shapes, colors, and surface choices were limited. Today, interlocking pavers span a wide range of colors, textures, and shapes. Pavers have become the new “cheaper” solution to large expanses of surfacing such as driveways, patio, plazas, and streetscapes. Concrete once dominated the industry as the number one choice of surface materials. Recently, pavers have taken over because of effective cost, ease of installation, sustainability, and a more creative design detail. Interlocking paving generally ranges from $12 to $25 a square foot. Concrete is still one of the most popular choices for hardscape. It is cost effective, although concrete prices have sky-rocketed over the past five years as petroleum prices increased shipping costs. Concrete’s versatility is its strong point. Innovations in concrete treatments have soared in efforts to keep up with the natural stone industry growth. New treatments such as dust-on color hardeners, pigmented acid stains, multi-colored stamped concrete, and creative designs have given concrete a new lease on life. These new treatments have replaced exposed aggregate, salt finish, and broom finished concrete. Concrete prices range from $12 to $25 a square foot. Wood surfaces have fallen in popularity because of rising costs, maintenance concerns, and environmental issues. Redwood was once abundant locally but has now become expensive and marginal in quality because of the halt in foresting and environmental concerns. If a natural wood product is what you’re looking for, redwood has been replaced with Ipe (e-pay) or ironwood ($35-$65 a square foot) and other sustainable woods. Manufactured wood products such as “Trex” and “TimberTech” have also become extremely popular because of their environmental approach and low maintenance. If you are looking for a wood look as a choice in hardscape, there are many choices ranging from $35 to $45 a square foot. One of my favorite hardscape materials is gravel or decomposed granite for informal patios and paths. This is the lowest cost solution, ranging from $3-$7 a square foot. When I work with my clients in the creation of their garden environment, choosing the hardscape material can sometimes be one of the highest hurdles to get over. With adherence to the design process the choices are narrowed by the design goals and budget decisions to an appropriate choice that you will be happy with for many years to come. A hot tip from your local Landscape Architect: Material selection is time consuming and can be very overwhelming when rummaging through stone supply yards. In our design process we order samples to bring out to your site to see in person. Check our HOUZZ profile, www.houzz.com/pro/jmla/john-montgomery-landscape-architects. Gardening Quote of the Month: “Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads.”~ Thoreau Advertorial If you would like me to write on any particular subject, email your ideas to jmontgomery@jm-la.com or visit www.jm-la.com.
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Page 16 - July 2015 ~ Lafayette Today
Gardening with Kate By Kathleen Guillaume
Summer is here at last--I knew from the first bite into a sun-warm peach right off my tree. My tomatoes are glorious, though smaller with tougher skins, which has a lot to do with the shorter amount of watering they get, but their taste is superb and they are easy to peel. I have planted Rudbeckia (varieties of Black Eyed Susan’s) all over my back garden. I buy them in six packs in early June. Now, they are about eight inches tall and starting to get buds. Each plant will end up with 20 to 30+ stems loaded with the most intense yellow blooms. In my mix one of the varieties is Irish Eyes which has a pale green center instead of a dark one. In a few weeks these will be breathtaking. I no longer plant them in my front garden because they are so spectacular that people come in the night and steal the entire plant, which I am sure will appear as 6-10 bouquets at a farmer’s market stall. I have a friend who has a silver dollar eucalyptus at the edge of her driveway, and it gets harvested for someone’s floral arranging needs. The strange thing is that most gardeners will share; all you have to do is ask. Lafayette has lost a wonderful, generous gardener: renowned floral arranger, writer, and friend to so many, Dariel Alexander. Her back summer garden has been featured in magazines. It is so glorious that it takes your breath away when you walk out into it. She shared divisions, seeds and cuttings, propagated for Lafayette Garden Club plant sales. At least we all have a little of Dariel’s garden in our own. She was the epitome of graceful Southern charm and was always so welcoming and generous to all. I look out in my garden at the tall yellow yarrow with bloom heads that are 4” across held on tall stems. Mine have about 25 blooms on them, and if I dead head they will bloom until autumn. While I know their varietal name, they are Dariel’s yellow yarrow, as they came from her garden. I also have a wonderful climbing rose with an enchanting scent, Madame Alfred Carrier, that came from a cutting from Dariel’s garden where it grew up a column by her porch, and I have waves of blue flowering oregano, Dariel’s Blue Oregano, which was from her garden and is now gracing mine. So Dariel will live on in my heart for her gentle kindness, her creativity, and her inner beauty, and she will also live on in my garden, my memories, and the memories of the hundreds of friends her life touched. Lafayette has lost a truly beautiful lady who shared her many talents and gifts with so many and was loved beyond words. To learn more about Dariel, read her memoire Wild Grapes: A Memoire, written under her maiden name, Alma Dariel Herreford. I sacrificed a complete passion flower vine to hundreds of caterpillars when they ate it to the stem last month, but now my garden is full of the most brilliant orange butterflies that dance in pairs all over my garden. They are a new visitor to my garden as I haven’t had this type of butterfly living here before. They probably moved north due to the changing climate, and I hope they will remain because they are wonderful. My hummers dance everywhere and have become so accustomed to all of the nectar bearing plants and my presence that they hover a few inches from my face to say hello whenever I go out to weed or deadhead. It takes so little effort to make a garden hummer and butterfly friendly, and the best news is that they are really attracted to blooming drought tolerant plants. So go to your nursery and speak to someone who can direct you to plant additions that attract these welcome visitors. Once they find a good and safe food source, they do take up residence. Nothing gives a child more joy than to enter a garden with hummers flitting around and butterflies dancing through the blossoms. Happy Gardening.
Chevron Family Theatre Festival Saturday, July 18, ~ 10am - 4pm
The Chevron Family Theatre Festival will return to the Lesher Center for the Arts for the ninth annual event with exciting new performers and popular favorites. The Festival offers families a low-cost day of non-stop theater, dance, and music performances along with visual arts activities both inside and outside the Lesher Center for the Arts (LCA). This year the Festival welcomes back Popovich Comedy Pet Theater. The show features Gregory Popovich and 30 trained animals including dogs, cats, geese, birds and mice in a comedy/circus act. Alex Ramon Magic will also be in attendance. Alex is wildly popular with the crowd. He returns this year bringing his unique brand of magic. Additional favorite returning acts include Fantasy Forum Actors Ensemble, who will perform their interactive version of The Crimson Pirate.
See Festival continued on page 23
Lafayette Today ~ July 2015 - Page 17
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Do You Need a Financial Plan?
By George M. Noceti, CRPS® -Wealth Advisor and Paul A. Noceti, Financial Planning Specialist with The Integra Group at Morgan Stanley
Even if you have limited resources, a financial plan is an invaluable tool to help you plan for the future. Learn more about the elements of a financial plan, and then contact us to work on creating one. Who needs a financial plan? The short answer is everyone. Even if you have limited resources, a plan can be a critical tool toward achieving your long-term financial goals. At its simplest, a financial plan is a document that presents your longterm financial goals and maps out the investment strategies to achieve them. According to the 2013 Household Financial Planning Survey, there is a positive relationship between the degree of planning and financial preparedness. People who engage in financial planning were more confident in their ability to make financial decisions and were more pleased with their progress in meeting their savings goals.
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Mapping a Strategy
Based on your goals, time frame and risk appetite, an experienced Financial Advisor will develop a plan with savings, asset allocation, and investment recommendations. Among the questions you will likely answer in preparation are whether you are an aggressive or risk-averse investor, or if your immediate need is for growth or income.
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In addition to mapping out an investment strategy, a financial plan also considers the full spectrum of your financial needs, including insurance, estate planning, and debt situation. Any of these elements can have a bearing on your investing strategy, as well as your ability to meet your long-term goals. Finally, a financial plan is an organic document. It changes with you as you grow older and your priorities shift. Marriage, children, and career changes all impact your goals and your financial situation. That’s why it is recommended that you revisit your plan at least once a year. A wellthought-out plan can help you define and articulate your goals, and provide the framework for achieving them. So get started today. For further information, as well as a complimentary Social Security analysis, 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 mentioned. Individuals should consult their personal tax and legal advisors before making any tax or legal related decisions. Morgan Stanley and its Financial Advisors do not provide tax or legal advice. Advertorial
Family Bike Rides
Every Sunday – 9-11:30AM
Join BikeLafayette for its weekly Family Bike Ride from Stanley Middle 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 bike. The children will have fun playing at the Commons. Riders are usually back at Stanley by 11:15AM. You are encouraged to bring snacks and water. For more information about BikeLafayette, visit www.facebook.com/ bikelafayette.ca.
SINCE
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City of Lafayette Contacts
10/27/14 12:05 PM
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 MondayFriday. 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.
Page 18 - July 2015 ~ Lafayette Today
Don’t Let Fear of Lawsuits Disrupt Your Sleep!
By Robert J. Silverman, Attorney at Law
Within the last decade, studies have shown that the wealthiest American families are increasingly worried about being targets for big lawsuits. Even people of more moderate wealth often have fears about potential liability from being sued. Relevant statistics are not comforting either, reflecting that 15-20 million civil lawsuits are filed each year in the U.S. and that the annual cost of litigation to our society exceeds $200 billion. Yet, many people commonly conduct their personal and financial affairs in a manner that leaves them unnecessarily vulnerable to the very litigation they fear. So, what are some of these common, dangerous actions and omissions? • Employing domestic help without proper insurance coverage. • Owning real estate investment property in one’s own name. • Owning a small business as a sole proprietorship. • Having insufficient scope and/or coverage limits of personal insurance (e.g. home, auto). • Having no estate planning documents or poorly/incompletely drafted ones. The “first line of defense” for most potential liabilities should be strong, comprehensive personal insurance. Many people, including knowledgeable professionals, are not well informed about detailed aspects of their P&C (property and casualty) insurance coverage. During our busy lives, insurance often gets the short shrift. I encourage you to call your insurance agent and schedule a complete review of each insurance policy you own. In fact, such reviews should be done regularly. During the reviews, you should identify coverage and explore what additional policies, endorsements, or riders you may be advised to purchase. If you employ domestic help, talk to your insurance agent about “employment practices liability insurance.” If you don’t have a personal umbrella insurance policy (which serves to increase the coverage limits of any applicable underlying policies), obtain a quote for one. Premiums are usually very affordable in view of the extra coverage provided. In general, obtain a broad scope of coverage to protect against all likely risks. Of course, you should also manage your premiums, deductibles, and limits to ensure optimal coverage at an affordable cost. If you own real estate investment property in your own name, or a sole proprietorship business, you should seriously consider forming a business entity,
Blueprint continued from front page controversy, for which staff writer Danny Ennis received a Quill and Scroll award for editorial writing. Blake and Fraser took a hard look at ‘study drugs,’ for which they won a Quill and Scroll award for ‘in depth/team reporting.’ Fraser joined Blueprint as a staff writer his sophomore year and immediately gravitated toward opinion and editorial writing. Named Opinion Editor his junior year, he took over the top spot as a senior. “Blueprint taught me personal responsibility and independence, and helped me develop independent thinking,” says Fraser. “As Opinion Editor, I wrote about many issues I otherwise may not have looked closely at. I learned to express myself and my views.” Fraser will attend Claremont McKenna College in the fall where he will study International Relations. While he does not have journalistic plans for the future, he expects that his studies will relate to his time in Blueprint, as he wrote many editorials and opinion pieces about international issues. “Regardless of what I do, I am sure that what I learned in Blueprint will stay with me,” says Fraser, an Eagle Scout who enjoys hiking, mountain biking, and kayaking in his free time. “No matter what you do, it’s very important that you are able to write and express yourself.” Yee, in addition to receiving individual Lesher and Quill and Scroll awards for her Blueprint work this year, was also honored by Diablo Magazine in March as one of “The Incredibles,” a group of high achieving high scholars. Quiet, reserved, and standing 4’11” Yee found it funny that many younger Blueprint staffers found her intimidating. “Blueprint definitely improved my people skills and helped me build
www.yourmonthlypaper.com such as a limited liability company (LLC). Properly forming and operating a business entity helps shelter your personal assets (e.g. home and bank/brokerage accounts) from potential liabilities arising out of owning, renting, and/or managing a business or investment property. Exposure to potential liability from your sole proprietorship or investment property may seem extraordinarily remote. But, rather than relying on statistical improbability (e.g. how relatively unlikely it is that you will be sued and found liable in connection with your business or investment property), you should focus on the potentially devastating financial consequences if such unlikely scenario were to occur. The “bottom line” is that business entities are typically a very attractive and affordable means of providing a great deal of extra protection in our litigious environment. Having no estate planning documents or documents that are poorly or incompletely drafted can also cost you or your family in countless ways. Besides having the basic documents in place (Trust, Will, Power of Attorney, Advance Health Care Directive), have you obtained recent legal advice about these important concerns: i) Is your Trust optimally structured in view of major new Federal Estate Tax law enacted in 2013? ii) Do your Health Care Directives contain HIPAA release provisions? iii) Is your Trust properly funded (are substantially all of your assets in the trust)? iv) Is your real estate properly titled? v) Do your Will and Trust have adequate provisions to protect your minor or young adult children? vi) Do you have beneficiary designations on file for your life insurance and retirement plans that are consistent with your current wishes and tax efficient? vii) Do your documents designate appropriate trustees, executors, and agents, in whom you have confidence to carry out your wishes reasonably and without damaging and avoidable family conflict? A wise man (many believe it was Thomas Jefferson) once said “the price of freedom is eternal vigilance.” The more vigilant you are in taking reasonable steps to protect yourself and your loved ones, the better off you and they will likely be. Besides being financially prudent, this vigilance just might help you sleep like a baby… 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
confidence,” says Yee, who found comfort and a ‘home-base’ in the sixth period Blueprint class. “Being a part of our school paper also helped me find my place in the school community, and I got to know teachers and administrators better than the majority of my peers.” Blake’s interest in Blueprint was spurred by the importance his family placed on current events. His dad used to cut out and leave New York Times articles on the kitchen table. Yee sought a spot on the paper when her freshman English teacher insisted she enroll, and Fraser simply liked to write. “Opinion writing was definitely natural for me,” says Fraser. “I’ve always been very interested in politics and current events, so getting to express my views on these topics attracted me immediately.” While all three concede the decline in the popularity of print newspapers, and each expresses a disdain for the proliferation of pseudo-journalism, or fake news, they are hopeful for the future of journalism in the digital age. “The internet opens countless doors for reporting,” says Blake. “The possibilities are endless.” As are the futures of these three bright minds. “Megan will probably end up editor-in-chief of the New York Times and a secret master chef, and Sam will be President of the United States,” predicts Blake. Acalanes’ Blueprint is available via subscription. Visit www. acalanesblueprint.com for more information.
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Immunotherapy Giving Hope for Cancer Patients By Gigi Chen, MD
There have been exciting advances in the area of immunotherapy for the treatment of cancer in 2015. Our immune system has the ability to differentiate self versus non-self. It also plays an important role in controlling cancer. This year’s American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting highlighted some new immunotherapy treatments for a number of cancers including metastatic melanoma, metastatic lung cancer, and colon cancer. One drug, called Ipilimumab (Yervoy), acts to increase the body’s immune response against cancer cells. It is the first drug to be associated with an improvement in overall survival in patients with metastatic melanoma. Two other drugs, Nivolumab (Opdivo) and Pembrolizumab (Keytruda), were approved by the FDA in 2014 for the treatment of metastatic melanoma after progression during Yervoy treatment and, in patients with BRAF-mutated melanoma, after progression during treatment with a BRAF inhibitor. These drugs are monoclonal antibodies that target PD-1, a protein that inhibits T cell responses. Blocking PD-1 pathway allows the immune system to recognize and target cancer cells and therefore has incredible promise as a therapeutic target. The plenary session at the American society of clinical oncology meeting this year highlighted the Checkmate 067 trial, which is a phase III trial of Opdivo alone or combined with Yervoy as first line treatment in patients with advanced melanoma. The study showed that Opdivo alone or combined with Yervoy resulted in significantly longer progression-free survival and higher response rate than Yervoy alone. There are, however, more side effects associated with combination therapy which need to be considered carefully. In the area of lung cancer, patients with advanced squamous-cell lung cancer who have disease progression after first-line chemotherapy have had limited treatment options. There was a randomized international, phase III study that evaluated the efficacy and safety of Opdivo, as compared with standard chemotherapy Docetaxel (Taxotere). Overall survival, response rate, and progression-free survival were significantly better with Opdivo than Taxotere. Opdivo is now FDA approved for treatment of metastatic squamous cell lung cancer after progression on first line platinum based chemotherapy. In the area of colon cancer, there was a small phase II study to evaluate the clinical activity of Keytruda in patients with progressive metastatic carcinoma. The researchers found overall survival rates to be superior for those patients who had mismatch repair–deficient colorectal cancer. There were many other trials with encouraging results in immunotherapy. Some of which include gastric, renal cell, hepatocellular, bladder, and triple negative breast cancers and Hodgkin’s lymphoma. At Diablo Valley Oncology, we have been using these newer agents in our practice as well as participating in clinical trials. We are optimistic that the research is showing great success with therapies that tap a patient’s immune system to help fight their disease. Gigi Chen, MD is a medical oncologist and hematologist with Diablo Valley Oncology and Hematology Medical Group. She treats all types of cancers and blood disorders, with a special interest in lung and gynecologic cancers. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call (925) 677-5041. Advertorial
Lafayette Today ~ July 2015 - Page 19
Use of Robotics Advances Laparoscopic Surgery By Richard Long, MD
As opposed to open surgery, which is done through larger incisions, laparoscopic surgery is abdominal or pelvic surgery performed by placing a scope and operating instruments through tiny incisions in the patient. Laparoscopic surgery represents a huge advance over open surgery, allowing faster recovery and shorter hospitalization for patients, and conventional laparoscopic surgery is the standard of care for many surgeries nowadays. However, it has its limitations. Robotic surgery represents an evolution in laparoscopic surgery. Robotic surgery differs from conventional laparoscopic surgery in that there is a robotic interface between the surgeon and the laparoscopic instruments and scope. The robotic instruments are the same long sticks used in laparoscopic surgery, but the instruments not only open, close, and rotate, but also articulate just like a human wrist. The movements are more intuitive; to move the instrument left, the surgeon moves to the left. Any tremor is subtracted by the robotic computer, making the instruments perfectly steady. Finally, the scope placed through a small plastic tube has two lenses and two cameras, each feeding one eye of the surgeon. This provides three dimensional vision and is far superior to the two dimensional view with no depth perception surgeons have with conventional laparoscopic surgery. The surgeon sits at a console, looking down towards his or her hands through a pair of binoculars. However, instead of seeing hands, the surgeon sees the instruments inside of the patient. Every movement at the console is duplicated precisely by the robot inside of the patient. This makes complex surgery in small spaces, particularly those with a lot of suturing, much easier and safer than conventional laparoscopic surgery. The effect is that the surgeon has become a tiny person inside of the patient. The robot is not performing the surgery. The surgeon is performing the surgery with a robotic interface. Some oppose robotic surgery and claim that it is too expensive and unnecessary; anything that is done robotically can be done with conventional laparoscopy. While this is true for some surgeries, more complicated surgeries such as prostate removal or partial kidney removal for cancer can now be done robotically, making the surgery available to all patients by surgeons who have access to a robot. What does all of this mean? Robotic surgery patients don’t recover faster than laparoscopic patients. However, robotic surgery expands the indications for laparoscopic surgery, allowing almost any surgery that used to be performed through an open incision to be done endoscopically. Overall, this results in a shorter hospital stay, faster recovery, less blood loss, and (for some surgeries) better cancer control. Dr. Long is a board certified urologist with Pacific Urology and sees patients in San Ramon, Concord, and Fremont. Dr. Long specializes in robotic surgery, prostate cancer, and complex kidney stone disease. He also practices general urology. For more information, call (925) 937-7740 or visit www.pacific-urology.com. Advertorial
Document Shredding Fundraiser
Safeguard your personal information and protect against identity theft while recycling and helping people fighting cancer in our community. Bring your old tax returns, business records, bank and credit card statements, cancelled checks, bills, receipts, and other documents to be shredded. The event will raise funds to benefit The Wellness Community and will be held at the California Cancer & Research Institute, located at 400 Taylor Blvd in Pleasant Hill, on July 25 from noon until 2PM. The cost is $20 for the first box (standard record size storage box) and $5 for each additional box.
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Page 20 - July 2015 ~ Lafayette Today
Cancer Support Community
The following events are held at Cancer Support Community, located at 3276 McNutt Avenue in Walnut Creek. Events are free. For information and reservations, please call (925) 933-0107. Helping Ourselves with Chinese Medicine ~ Tuesday, July 14th ~ 6PM – 8PM ~ Learn ancient and effective mind-body techniques for alleviating the side effects of treatment, building immunity, and promoting general well-being. Includes breathing visualization exercises, acupressure demo, and discussion about food energies. Facilitated by Anna Ritner, Lac. The Power of the Mind Body Connection – Wednesday, July 22 ~ 6PM – 7:30PM ~ Both empirical science and western medicine have observed a strong link between the mind and the body, a connection long recognized by many spiritual disciplines and traditional healing practices. Learn about this fascinating relationship and how to utilize it to the benefit of your wellbeing. With Orion Taraban, Cancer Support Community Predoctoral intern. Love and Laughter Comedy Night – Saturday, July 25th ~6PM to 8PM ~ Jason Loves’s quick wit and self-deprecating approach have endeared him to audiences the world over. He has performed overseas for the troops and on the seas for cruise lines. Jason was a finalist at the Cabo Comedy Festival and at the World Series of comedy in Vegas. For cancer patients and their caregivers. Ayurveda and Cancer Treatment – Tuesday, August 11 ~ 6PM – 8PM Learn about the philosophy of Ayurveda: how to identify your mindbody type, augment traditional cancer treatment, and minimize side effects using healthy nutrition, natural herbs, and other lifestyle changes. With Dawn Jacobson, MD. For cancer patients and their caregivers. Coping with the Cost of Care – Wednesday, August 12 ~ 5:30PM – 7:30PM This program addresses the impact of navigating insurance and financial systems, and incurring medical debt. Learn about the resources available to people in treatment for cancer to help them deal with the numerous and complex challenges of managing the cost of care and negotiating through issues that may arise. With Stephanie Fajuri, Esq., Cancer Legal Resource Center. For cancer patients and their caregivers. Self-Care For Caregivers – Saturday, August 15 ~ 10AM – Noon When someone you love has cancer, your feelings and needs often get put on hold while you care for the patient. It’s easy to become depleted, overwhelmed, or resentful. Taking deep and abiding care of yourself is essential so that you can give from a place of abundance rather than depletion. This workshop will teach you how. With Julie Levin, MFT. For caregivers of cancer patients.
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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.
Interested in Participating in Government?
Supervisor Candace Andersen is looking for interested, motivated residents to Sunset and Mount Diablo. serve on a few Contra Costa County citizen advisory boards. These voluntary boards usually meet monthly Dumploads OnUs and advise the Board of Supervisors on a variety of specializes in issues. They play a vital role in county government, providing the ultimate and Andersen is grateful for the input they provide. junk removal solution. Applications are currently being accepted from residents of District 2 for seats on the following boards. 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 • Arts and Culture Commission of Contra Costa about anything - from old household junk to construction and County: Advisory body to the District 2 Supervisor on yard waste. The only items we are unable to accept are matters and issues relevant to Arts and Culture, to adhazardous vance the arts in a way that promotes communication, materials. We • Computers education, appreciation and collaboration throughout make getting Contra Costa County • Cables rid of your • In Home Support Services Public Authority • TVs unwanted Advisory Committee: Make recommendations to the • Monitors BOS regarding the IHSS program. junk as easy 925.934.3743 • 925.934.1515 • County Service Area P-5 Citizen Advisory • Servers as 1-2-3; www.dumploadsonus.com • www.erecycleonus.com Committee: Advisory body to the District 2 Superwe load, we 1271 Boulevard Way, Walnut Creek • Phones visor and the Sheriff on the needs of the Roundhill, sweep, and Monday-Friday, 8-5 • Saturday 9-1, Sunday, closed • Printers Regency Woods, and Windsor Green communities for then we haul extended police services. •Copiers away. It’s that easy! District 2 includes Alamo, Canyon, Danville, Lafay• Fax Machines • Power Supply Units • Discs and Tapes Plus we do it ette, Moraga, Orinda, Parkmead, Rossmoor, San Ramon, with a smile! 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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The New Breast Implants By Dr. Barbara Persons
As a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon who completed a fellowship in Aesthetic, Breast, & Laser surgery, I have been on the cutting edge of breast augmentation surgery for many years. I have been amazed and delighted at the incredible advances the leading breast implant manufacturers have made in the past 10+ years and wanted to share the history of breast implants with you. • 1942 - Eugene G. Rochow of Harvard University, pioneered the manufacture of commercial silicones • 1963 - Dow Corning launches the first silicone gel-filled breast implant. • 1968 - Saline filled implants launched in the US in 1968. [First Generation] • 1970s-80s - Silicone implants widely used in the U.S. [Second Generation] • 1992-2006 silicone implants banned in the U.S. due to concerns about performance • 2006 Third Generation Silicone implants FDA approved The Third Generation implants offer many benefits over earlier products: • They feature a multi-layer shell (exterior) with a barrier layer to make them more durable • They are filled with a special gel that is quite cohesive (non-spreading). You can cut an implant in half, and there is no flow of the gel. Despite the advances in these Third Generation implants, every patient has unique needs and desires. In a typically week, I consult with a dozen or so women seeking breast augmentation. A number of questions and topics are discussed with the most popular being, “saline or silicone”? There are many factors involved in making the proper choice. This makes the need for an in-depth consultation even more critical. In general, most women are choosing the new generation of silicone gel implants versus saline, although an increasing number are also opting for fat grafting as an adjunct to implant augmentation or reconstruction. Recent studies have supported the use of fat grafting to the breast and I often perform liposuction of the bra roll for a “contour” breast augmentation. Both silicone and saline implants have an outer silicone shell. The silicone
Symposium continued from front page
city lot, or in the lot of the old library. Advanced registration qualifies for a special raffle prize. Either call (925) 284-8214 or visit the Lafayette Community Foundation’s website at www. lafayettelcf.org. There is no charge for attendees. Vendors will set up in the courtyard under the trees, and those speaking will be conveniently located in the gymnasium. Speakers will include Dr. Martin Iyoya, John Muir Health’s Director of Pharmacology, speaking on “Misadventures with Medications.” Also, Anne Ornelas, the new executive director of the Lamorinda Village, will give an update on this new community-based program to help seniors age in place. In addition, Matt Shriner, chair of the Lafayette Senior Commission, will describe the programming for seniors which is available through the city of Lafayette and the work of the Commission. Also, Dr. Patrick Arbore, executive director of the San Francisco Institute on Aging, will talk about “Managing your life to avoid loneliness.” This free event provides the most up-to-date resources for Lamorinda seniors and helps to raise funds for the Lafayette Community Foundation, which has historically supported many local organizations since its inception in 1999 with “Excellence Grants” totaling more than $300,000. John Muir Health is again a Diamond Sponsor for the Senior Symposium, and Merrill Gardens and Walgreens are Platinum sponsors. Stepping up with support at the Gold level are Atria of Lafayette, Aegis Living of Moraga, Minuteman Press of Lafayette, Meals on Wheels and Senior Outreach Services, Grace, The Kensington Vintage Senior Living, and Lafayette and Sunrise Rotary Clubs. Over the years, LCF has helped Meals on Wheels, Contra Costa Food Bank, Senior Helpline Services, and the Senior Transportation Program’s Spirit Van, among others. The LCF is best know for raising $14 million to build the new library, and more recently LCF worked with Rotary to build the stage at the Lafayette Reservoir.
Lafayette Today ~ July 2015 - Page 21 implants which come pre-filled with a cohesive silicone gel whereas the saline implants are filled with sterile saline after being placed. As an aside, the debate surrounding the safety of silicone implants has largely been resolved, as there has not been a single substantiated case of silicone filled implants causing systemic disease. Saline implants tend to be chosen by a younger demographic prior to having children. Because these implants are filled after they are placed under the breast tissue, the incision can be more distant (such as the umbilical method of implantation) and will result in almost no visible scarring and has no impact on breast feeding. Saline implants have a lifespan of 7-10 years. Saline implants are less optimal for women seeking larger implants such as a D cup. Silicone implants have once again become the more popular choice among all age groups, even though the implants themselves cost more, as the thicker, gel-like consistency creates a more natural look and feel. These implants can create a natural effect for women desiring small, moderate, or ample breast size. The procedure using this type of implants requires a small incision, often in the crease below the breast, resulting in a very small scar, typically hidden under the breast. The risks associated with silicone implants are similar to those associated with saline while having a significantly longer lifespan. Recent advances in fat harvesting and grafting have made fat transfer a growing method of breast augmentation in my practice. It is ideal for women looking to increase their breasts by one half to one cup size, for example from B to a small C. Fat transfer is often incorporated with breast lift (mastopexy), reconstruction and augmentation. Mild liposuction is used to remove the fat from an unwanted area such as the flanks or abdomen and injected without a need for any additional incisions. Whether you are considering a breast augmentation for the first time or are a patient with existing implants looking for a change, I look forward to sharing my experience and expertise in determining the most suitable augmentation option for you. Dr. Barbara Persons is a plastic, cosmetic and reconstructive surgeon and is Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, Inc. Persons Plastic Surgery, Inc. is her cosmetic & reconstructive surgery center, conveniently located at 911 Moraga Road, suite 205 in Lafayette. She may be reached at 925-283-4012 or drbarb@personsplasticsurgery.com. Advertorial
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Lafayette Today is a hyperlocal paper delivered exclusively to the Lafayette, 94549 zip code.
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www.yourmonthlypaper.com 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.
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.
Page 22 - July 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.
Anne Randolph Physical Therapy Presentations: Pain Management July 22 • 11:30AM - 12:30PM • Sequoia Room, LSC - Learn how improving posture and muscle strength can reduce or eliminate pain altogether. Stop suffering and take control.
Lafayette Community Foundation 7th Annual Symposium: Aging By Design August 1 • 8AM - 12PM • Lafayette Elementary School,
950 Moraga Rd - Morning symposium and conversation, experts on aging and vendors. In collaboration with Lafayette Senior Services Commission. www.lafayettecf.org. Consumer Scam Stopper Seminar Wednesday 7/15 • 10:30AM - 12PM • Elderberry Room, LSC - Seniors are the most targeted group for scammers. Join us and learn how to avoid becoming a victim of fraud. Topics covered will include scams related to home repair, phone solicitations, insurance, Medicare, mail/foreign lottery fraud and more. Attendees will have their questions answered and obtain assistance if they have been scammed. 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, 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 1st and 3rd Thursdays • 11AM - 12:30PM • Cedar 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
www.yourmonthlypaper.com 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 • Elderberry Room, LSC - Brighten your day with Dr. Bob Nozik, MD, Prof. Emeritus UCSF and author of Happy 4 Life: Here’s How to Do It. Brighten your day and take part in this interactive gathering which features speakers on a wide range of topics that guide participants toward a more ideal and positive life experience. Drop-ins welcome!
Words of Wisdom...From the Philosophical to the Lighthearted
3rd Tuesday Monthly • 10:30AM–noon • Elderberry Room, LSC - 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 • Cedar 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 - 1st Wednesday monthly • 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)
First Wednesdays and Tuesdays • 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.
TM
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Driving our Lafayette Shoppers
By Mary Bruns, Lamorinda Senior Transportation
On one of the beautiful days in May when we were trying to accommodate all the various driving needs, I drove two lovely ladies grocery shopping to Trader Joe’s, Diablo Foods, and Safeway, and then we went to the bank and a hair appointment. It was fun to get out of the office on a sunny, just-rightin-the-weather-department kind of day to experience being a Lamorinda Spirit Van driver – especially since I was able to use the much favored mini-van. As a “new” driver, I needed some help in figuring out how to open the gate that becomes the wheelchair ramp, and one of the firemen nearby found the latch that made everything work. It’s so easy once you know how! With Mapquest in hand, I found my way to each home to pick up my passengers; and off we went to buy groceries, go to the bank, and go to the hair salon. Along the way, we chatted; and by the end of our four hours of time together when I carried in their groceries, I felt like I had made two new friends while getting a little more exercise than sitting at the computer figuring out the monthly driving calendar, answering emails, and writing articles and reports. In the past, I’ve occasionally taken a passenger to the dentist, picked up someone from a class, taken another to a doctor, and even gone clothes shopping. These are the activities of daily living that older adults need to accomplish – just as all people do. It’s a lot like assisting your neighbor when s/he needs a little help. “My” passengers were so appreciative, and that is definitely the norm. The people we serve are so happy to be able to get to their appointments, accomplish their errands, and fulfill their shopping needs. As we have become better known, we are much more in demand which means we can’t always say “YES” to ride requests. With a few more drivers, however, we could do much more. We are hoping you can picture yourself joining our dedicated team of volunteer drivers who provide this gift of service and friendship for four hours each week or two. Woodrow Wilson reminds us: “Friendship is the only cement that will ever hold the world together.” And if you feel a little hesitant, Will Rogers adds: “Why not go out on a limb? That’s where all the fruit is.” Advisory Council on Aging News – Nicole Howell, Executive Director of the Ombudsman Office of Contra Costa County, spoke of her goals for the coming year at the recent June 17th meeting. “Ombudsman Services serves the more than 9,000 residents of licensed long term care facilities throughout Contra Costa County. Forty percent of the residents we serve have no one – no family or friends who ever visit or check up on them. The Ombudsman is the only person who is there to make sure that the resident is kept clean and comfortable, and gets nutritious food and medical attention.
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.
Lafayette Today ~ July 2015 - Page 23 Since 1977, Ombudsman Services has worked hard to advocate on behalf of all residents in licensed long term care facilities and have provided our services at no charge. Our staff and volunteers make more than 2,000 unannounced visits each year to check on the well-being of the residents we serve. More than 1,000 complaints are investigated and resolved each year. In addition, we provide more than 1,200 consultations to assist residents and facilities who are seeking information on Residents’ Rights and regulations pertaining to licensed long term care facilities.” – www.ccombudsman.org/ what-we-do
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Festival continued from page 16 The Emmy Award-nominated Pushcart Players will perform the classic Alice in Wonderland. There will also be plenty of free entertainment and activities for families. The Festival will kick off at 10am with the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and then children can join in the Prince and Princess Parade as it winds around the outside of the Lesher Center for the Arts. Other free offerings include: * A free dog or cat puppet will be given to children free of charge courtesy of Chevron. The puppet theater can be used to create their own show with their new puppet. *Na Mamo No’eau Polynesian Dancers. Kids will love the music and costumes featured in the authentic ethnic dances. *San Jose Taiko Drummers strive to connect people beyond cultural boundaries and teach kids about Japanese culture. *Puppet-Making gives kids the opportunity to get creative with scissors and glue to make their own puppet character. *Costumed Characters such as Cinderella, Snow White, and their handsome Princes will visit with kids and families. *Face Painting will give kids the opportunity to get into character (Outside) *Mother Goose storytelling is the perfect haven for youngsters to wind down (Inside, Third Floor Rotunda) There will be something for everyone inside and outside the LCA. Complete schedule and ticket information is available at www.LesherArtsCenter.org.
Contra Costa Yellow Cab and DeSoto Company 284-1234 20% discount for Lamorinda seniors.
Orinda Seniors Around Town
402-4506
Senior Helpline Services Rides for Seniors
284-6161
County Connection LINK Reservation Line
938-7433
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 - July 2015 ~ Lafayette Today
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