editor @ yourmonthlypaper.com
March 2018 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 1
& MARCH 2018
BOCCE: NEW IMAGE FOR AN OLD SPORT
By Jody Morgan
Danville’s eight bocce courts at Sycamore Valley Park, are a popular place on weekday evenings from spring through fall as teams come together for camaraderie and competition. Once considered a pastime riveting only to octogenarian men, bocce is now a fast-growing sport attracting both women and men of all ages. The basic rules of bocce can be learned in minutes. The nuances are sufficiently subtle to keep players polishing their skills for decades. B o c c e historians suggest a painting found in an Egyptian tomb dating back to 5200 BC is the earliest representation of the game. Two Bocce points are scored by balls closer to the pallino than any of the boys are depicted opposition's balls. Measuring precisely is important. Photo courtesy tossing what may of Cat Bravo. be polished stones or balls. In any case, the sport has evolved over many centuries from the time the Greeks taught it to the Romans. Roman soldiers took time out from military matters to play their version with a small stone as the mark and larger naturally rounded stones for the balls. They occasionally used coconuts. Eventually wooden balls of boxwood, beech, or elm replaced stones as the game gained popularity. Balls wore down readily. Sometimes nails were driven into the balls to improve durability. When factorymade nails became more available during the 19th The Rockin’ Rollers captured the 2017 Fall Friday Night Championship century, bocce Photo courtesy of Palmira Brandt. makers began covering the entire surface of their balls with nails in intricate patterns. Those balls are highly collectible today. “Modern bocce was believed to be popularized by Italian general and politician
See Bocce continued on page 12
Local Postal Customer
PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Permit 263 Alamo CA
ECRWSS
IMPACT 100 EAST BAY
By Linda Summers Pirkle
Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, “What are you doing for others?” ~Martin Luther King, Jr. If you are like many people, you have given your time and money to worthy charities. Impact 100 East Bay (www.Impact100EastBay.org) is a new organization that, according to local business woman Nancy Clark and founder of the East Bay chapter, is, “the best kept secret in the area.” The first Impact 100 was started in Cincinnati in 2001 and has since grown through word-ofmouth to more than 50 chapters in the US and abroad. The intent is for women to pool their collective giving ($1,000 per woman) and to award high-impact, transformational, sustainable grants to local non-profit organizations. In 2017, the local Impact 100 group of 55 women joined together and awarded $55,000 in grant money to MISSEY (www.misssey.org) to provide technical training for girls/women who were caught in the sex trafficking industry. “Without the grant money,” according to Clark, “this program that teaches these women skills to build new lives would not be possible.” Clark, who is on the Board of another non-profit (OntheMoveBayArea. org), was reviewing their financials when she noticed a new funder, Impact 100 Sonoma, had provided a generous grant to the group. She spoke to several of the women in Sonoma to determine what it would take to start a group in her local community. She then met with two friends, Pat Burgess and Dee Clapp, to float the idea of starting an Impact 100 chapter. “They were hugely supportive!” Clark recalls. She then hosted a dinner at her house and invited friends to learn about Impact 100. Enthusiasm for the project was immediate, and Impact 100
See Impact continued on page 20
NATIONAL CHARITY LEAGUE
By Fran Miller
National Charity League (NCL) provides opportunities for mothers, known as Patronesses, and daughters, known as Ticktockers, to enjoy both mother-daughter and peer relationships through community service. NCL seeks to inspire and empower women to succeed as confident, well-rounded, and socially aware contributors in their communities. With more than 200 Chapters in 23 states and more than 56,000 total members, NCL embraces the philosophy
See NCL continued on page 16
The Editors Serving the communities of Alamo, Diablo, and Danville
Volume XVIII Number 3
3000F Danville Blvd. #117 Alamo, CA 94507 Telephone (925) 405-6397 Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher Editor@yourmonthlypaper.com
Volume IX Number 3
The opinions expressed herein belong to the writers, and do not necessarily reflect that of The Editors. The Editors is not responsible for the content of any of the advertising herein, nor does publication imply endorsement.
PAGE 2 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • March 2018
www.yourmonthlypaper.com
BOULEVARD VIEW
By Alisa Corstorphine, Editor
I recently posted on the NextDoor website a call to gather cookbooks for folks in the North Bay who have lost their collections. It is part of a “Cookbook Raiser” called Delicious New Chapters (deliciousnewchapters. org), led by Sondra Bernstein, founder of the iconic Sonoma restaurant “the girl & the fig.” The tagline on the Delicious New Chapters event page says, “A House is not a Home without Cookbooks,” and the pinings of those who are posting comments about the upcoming April 8th giveaway reflect as to what the lost physical cookbooks meant to them. As my house started filling up with literally hundreds and hundreds of donated books, my almost 30-year-old son and his friend both commented, “Who uses cookbooks anymore; can’t you just get everything on the internet?” While the answer of course is, “Yes, you can find almost everything on the internet,” I think the deeper answer is, “It’s just not the same.” I discussed this with others who held my viewpoint, including some the same age as my son. They noted that while they can look up a Mac and Cheese recipe on the internet, it isn’t THEIR Mac and Cheese - the one that’s been tested, adjusted, loved, and perhaps passed down through generations. I pondered that the internet doesn’t have handwritten notations that double, triple, or quadruples great recipes, or my own comments like “Excellent, not funky!” when referring to a gluten-free Oatmeal Cookie recipe that became a favorite. The cookbook with dog-eared pages or with recipes in
FREE ADMISSION
h 6t nual An
ALL FREE! Bring the entire family.
Find out about Camps, Day Care, Preschool, Sports, Scouts, Enrichment, Performing Arts, S.T.E.M. & S.T.E.A.M. programs, Tutoring and much more Schools for all ages & subjects
Don’t miss the Biggest Camp & School Fairs of the season
SAN RAMON
Sat. Feb. 25, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
FREE ROBOTICS, CODING
FREE
Pine Valley Middle School - 3000 Pine Valley Road
www.TriValleyCampFair.com
Goody Bag to first 200 families
LAFAYETTE
WORKSHOPS
Sun. Feb. 26, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Acalanes High School - 1200 Pleasant Hill Road 1/2 mile off Hwy. 24 near I-680
www.ContraCostaCampFair.com
Free Raffle at Camp Fair
Register today for Exhibitor Space www.TriValleyCampFair.com
Produced by (925) 408-4014 jay@BayAreaFamilyFest.com
1 Free Raffle Ticket for each canned good donation
Free Camps, Great Prizes
www.TriValleyCampFair.com
With daughter, Amy, sorting books for Delicious New Chapters.
Grandma’s handwriting showing their smudges and stains from repeated use, a smear of tomato sauce, special notes in the spine, or penned musings can never match what I see on a digital screen. While the computer provides a lot of searchable data, I personally find it more sterile. I am surrounded by technology, but when I want to“jot down a note,” I prefer just that: a pen with the right glide and feel, and a piece of paper. As I was pondering this article and working with a business friend, he whipped out a notebook to jot down something on his mind. I immediately asked him, “Why use a notebook?” (In the similar vein as to “Why use a cookbook?”) He replied that it gave him much quicker access to get down his thoughts and also to refer back to. I reflected that it’s also less interruptive than turning on a digital device or hearing the tick-tick of a keyboard. In the same light, I hope this paper-in-hand medium resonates with you. I hope you can slow down and learn more about our neighbors and communities, our local schools, and businesses. Please support our advertisers who enable the production, printing, and delivery of this hyper-local paper in a format that stands the test of time.
editor @ yourmonthlypaper.com
March 2018 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 3
LIVING ROOM CONVERSATIONS WORKSHOP
Rou n d Hi l l C ou n t r y C l u b
THE AMERICA WE WANT TO BE
The community is invited to a Living Room Conversations workshop, led by national facilitator Rev. Linda Taylor. The group conversation event will be on the topic, “The America we want to be.” The purpose of Living Room Conversations is to cultivate warm and respectful engagement among people who may hold different points of view, build relationships that generate understanding, and rediscover how to listen and enable collaborative problem-solving. The workshop will take place on March 10, from 9:30AM to noon, in the Wesley Center at San Ramon Valley United Methodist Church, 902 Danville Blvd in Alamo. Rev. Taylor will give a short presentation about the program, and you’ll have the opportunity to participate in a group conversation. The goal of the workshop is to encourage participants to be change agents for a kinder and more respectful world. Living Room Conversations provides a structured framework for meaningful conversations that bolster empathy, deepen community connections, and encourage civil discourse. All participants complete a Conversation Agreement pledging to engage in open, respectful, and inclusive conversation. This Agreement and conversation structure assures a good experience and allows participants to get to know each other. Refreshments will be served. A suggested $5 donation will be collected at the door. No one will be turned away for lack of funds. To register, go to http://www. signupgenius.com/go/10c0d4ca8aa2eab9-living. To learn more about Living Room Conversations, read Rev. Taylor’s bio, or view the conversation topics list, visit livingroomconversations.org or www.srvumc.org.
Time to Jump in! Come make a splash this year by joining Round Hill at the Associate-Swim level and gain access to our award-winning Swim Team*. We offer a full range of activities for your children, including swim lessons, activity camps and Kids Club. Our clubhouse renovation is nearing completion; to celebrate we have reduced our initiation fees on Social and Associate-Swim Memberships. • Social Membership: Initiation reduced from $1250 to $500. • Associate-Swim Membership: Initiation reduced from $2500 to $1000. *Swim Team Available for an additional fee.
• Tennis Membership: Initiation $6,000.
• Golf Membership: Initiation $40,000, increasing to $45,000 on April 1, 2018. Purchase of a share also required. Admissions Requirements apply. Offer subject to change without prior notice. Swim Team Participation based on availability.
Limited number of Memberships available. For more information, please contact our Membership Office rhcc@roundhillcc.org or 925.314.2901
www.rhcountryclub.com
www.yourmonthlypaper.com Jump Promo.indd 1
Alamo Rotary Annual Easter Egg Hunt at Livorna Park
Saturday, March 31st ~ 9AM-11AM
Egg Hunt Easter Bunny Visit Carnival Games Balloons Face Painting Music
Brought to the community by Rotary Club of Alamo With Special Thanks to Egg Hunt Major Sponsors:
Bach Group at Morgan Stanley | Diablo Fine Jewelers | John Muir Health Spectrum Wealth Partners | Thompson Consulting
2/21/18 4:22 PM
DANVILLE COMMUNITY BAND
The Danville Community Band presents Tributes, a concert recognizing music from film and stage, including Sound of Music, Mary Poppins, Hooray for Hollywood, and more. The band will be joined by a special guest, The Stockton Chorale, who will join the band on the regional premier of The Dream of Martin Luther King, a new work by David Conte. The concert will be held Sunday, March 25 at 2PM at the Blackhawk Museum, 3700 Blackhawk Plaza Circle in Danville. The concert is free with museum admission. Please contact the museum about pricing and advanced ticket sales at (925) 736-2280 or museum@blackhawkmuseum.org. For more information about the Danville Community Band and future performances, please visit danvilleband.org.
HOST FAMILIES SOUGHT FOR TWO WEEK STAY BY VISITING FRENCH STUDENTS
For the thirteenth consecutive year, students from a large high school in the south of France are coming to the Bay Area. The students will arrive on April 14th and depart April 29th. The teens stay with local families and have a full itinerary of activities during the days and only require your attention in the evenings and weekends. The visit is an ideal opportunity to experience another culture and hopefully consider visiting France in return. Anyone interested in hosting a student (or students!) is welcome to participate. For more information or to find out about past year’s programs, please contact Martine Causse (teacher in charge of the group), at dachary.martine@orange.fr. There are many local host families ready to discuss any questions with you. The local contact is Danville parent Kevin Dimler, who can be reached at kevindimler@gmail.com or (925)718-5052.
www.yourmonthlypaper.com
PAGE 4 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • March 2018
XENOPHON GALA
Join the Xenophon Therapeutic Riding Center group as they celebrate their 25th anniversary at their Silver Jubilee Gala to be held at Diablo Country Club. The event will be held from 6-10PM on Saturday, March 17th. The club is located at 1700 Club House Rd in Danville. Tickets are $125/person or $1,250 for a table of 10. Twenty-five dollars of the ticket purchase and all donations are tax deductible. An auction, wine toss, dinner, and dancing will be held. For tickets and more information, visit www.xenophontrc.org.
ANNUAL EGG HUNT AND FAMILY FUN DAY AT THE PARK
The Rotary Club of Alamo will sponsor the Annual Easter Egg Hunt and Family Fun Day on Saturday, March 31 at Livorna Park. The event will begin at 9AM and end at 11AM. In addition to the egg hunt and a visit by the Easter Bunny, where parents will have an opportunity to take photos, there will also be music, children’s games, balloon men, face painting provided by the Monte Vista High School Interact Club (sponsored by the Rotary Club of Alamo), and other fun activities. Coffee, donuts, chocolate milk, and water will be available for sale. The egg hunt will take place this year at 10:00AM sharp. There will be three age groups for the egg hunt: children three years of age and under (3-0), children ages four to six (4-6), and children ages seven to ten (7-10). Children should bring their own baskets for the egg hunt. In past years the egg hunt would start promptly at the assigned time and was finished in less than five minutes. Parents should allow ample time for their children to be on time to participate. Last year over 800 children participated in the egg hunt, and there were over 2,000 people in attendance. The Rotary Club of Alamo was founded in1971, and has 50 members. The Club meets every Wednesday at Forli's Ristorante and Bar, 3160 Danville Blvd., Alamo.
VETERANS MEMORIAL ST. PATRICK’S DAY DINNER FUNDRAISER
San Ramon Valley residents are invited to enjoy a corned beef & cabbage dinner at 5PM on March 17, St. Patrick’s Day, at the Veterans Memorial Building of San Ramon Valley at 400 Hartz Ave in Danville. This fundraiser includes a dinner, silent auction, live auction, and door prizes. All funds collected go directly to the Veterans Memorial Building Operating Committee to pay for the expenses of the Veterans Wing of the building. This section of the building helps support nine different local Veterans organizations. Tickets costing $40 per person are available for purchase by going to the Veterans Memorial Building ticket office Monday - Friday from 9AM to 3PM or Saturday from 8AM to 11AM, or by e-mailing Lee Halverson at lhazmateer@aol.com. For additional information, visit www.vmbsrv.org.
MUSEUM OF THE SAN R AMON VALLEY GAMBLERS AND DREAMERS
The first phase of the Museum’s Gamblers and Dreamers series, Sketching the West, is on display through March 18. Sketching chronicles the work of artists Paul Frenzeny and Jules Tavernier whose people, places, and things show what made the emerging west a very special place. The second phase of the series is The Chinese and the Iron Rail: Building the Transcontinental Railroad which opens on March 25. This exhibit has two parts. The first is a visual understanding of the incredibly difficult work accomplished by Chinese laborers that was required to build the railroad from California across the Sierra’s and ending at Promontory Point, Utah. At this famous meeting, a golden spike was driven to celebrate joining of the east and west. The second part of the exhibit covers the story of the 12,000 Chinese men who built the railroad. What happened to them? Did they return to China? Did they settle in California? These and other interesting details complete this exhibit and give a new insight into the Chinese that connected the west. Gamblers and Dreamers as shown in these exhibits will give you an entirely new understanding of the west and the people who opened it to the world. The dream was worth the gamble. The Museum is open Tuesday-Friday from 1PM-4PM, Saturday from 10AMPM 1 , and Sunday from 12PM-3PM. To learn more, visit museumsrv.org or call (925) 837-3750.
LOOKING FOR HELP TO ‘LEND-A-HAND’
Danville residents looking for a way to give back to their community have a wonderful opportunity to volunteer as the Town of Danville gears up for the 14th annual Lend-A-Hand Day, April 28. Lend-A-Hand Day provides assistance to Danville senior homeowners with basic yardwork and clean-up needs. The Town of Danville, along with an estimated 120 volunteers from the community, join forces to go to a number of residences to perform the needed work. Volunteers begin with a brief orientation at the Danville Community Center before heading out to their assigned tasks. Work generally runs from 8AM – 1PM. Volunteers who bring garden tools such as shovels, rakes, and weed whackers are especially needed. Volunteers, 16 years and older, are encouraged to register at https://www. surveymonkey.com/r/LendaHand2018. If Lend-A-Hand Day doesn’t fit in your schedule, other volunteer opportunities are available including Eggstravaganza, May the Fourth Be with You, the Danville Senior Center, Craft Prep, and Kid’s Night Out. Volunteer shifts are available at the Art Gallery and the Visitor Center at the Museum of the San Ramon Valley. Volunteering is great for your health, keeps your mind and body active, and allows you to give back to our community. Check out www.danville.ca.gov/volunteer for more information. For more information or if you have a group that would like to volunteer, contact Volunteer Program Specialist Julie Mason at (925)314-3478 or jmason@ danville.ca.gov.
SHOPS & HOPS CRAFT BREW STROLL
THURSDAY, MARCH 22 ~ 6-9PM IN DANVILLE
Enjoy a fun-filled evening of craft beer sampling and shopping during the inaugural Danville Shops & Hops Craft Brew Stroll benefiting the educational and community programs at the Museum of the San Ramon Valley. Danville Brewing Company, Eight Bridges Brewing Company, Shadow Puppet Brewing Company, Das Brew, E.J. Phair Brewing Company, and Knee Deep Brewing Company are a few of the craft breweries pouring at the Danville Shops & Hops Craft Brew Stroll. Local restaurants will offer small bites while area breweries pour their crafted creations and music will fill the air. Your $25 ticket includes a commemorative glass, beer tasting, food bites, and entertainment. The Designated Driver ticket is $10 and includes non-alcoholic beverages and food bites. Tickets sell out quickly so get yours soon! Tickets are $25 each and can be redeemed for beer glasses at the corner of Railroad & Prospect Avenues from 5:30-7pm the night of the event. The beer stroll will happen rain or shine! No refunds. Purchase tickets online at www.danville-shopsandhops.eventbrite.com.
THE SOUND OF MUSIC
The Danville Children’s Musical theater is putting on The Sound of Music on the weekends of March 22 and March 30, with shows on both Friday and Saturday nights and a matinée on Saturday afternoons at the Village Theater, 223 Front Street, Danville. Over 50 local teenagers will perform. Order tickets at www.villagetheatershows.com. Tickets cost $10 for adults and $8 for children. For more information, call the Box Office at (925) 314-3400.
SONS IN RETIREMENT SAN RAMON VALLEY
Looking for things to do in your retirement? Consider joining Sons in Retirement San Ramon Valley Branch 128. We have monthly luncheons with interesting speakers and good fellowship. Additionally, our members have lots of fun participating in a variety of activities including golf, bowling, bocce ball, movies, cooking, finance, bridge, reading, computers, and more. Many other activities such as travel, dine outs, excursions, baseball games and holiday parties include spouses, friends, and guests. Our next monthly luncheon will be on Wednesday, March 21st at 11AM. Our guest speaker will be Mr. Marvin Remmich from the One Hundred Club of Contra Costa County. This is a group of concerned citizens who care about the welfare of families of peace officers and firefighters who lost their lives while in the line of duty, in Contra Costa County. Be ready for a very interesting presentation. Your $25 luncheon includes a meal, guest speaker, and a great opportunity to socialize with at least 180 other retirees from the San Ramon Valley. To reserve a space, please email us by Thursday, March 15th at www.info@SIR128.com The luncheon will be held at The Bridges, 9000 S. Gale Ridge, San Ramon. For more information visit www.SIR128.com.
editor @ yourmonthlypaper.com
March 2018 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 5
CELESTE PACELLI Proudly Presents...
SOLD OVER ASKING WITH MULTIPLE OFFERS FOR $690,000!
SOLD!
This charming townhome is a wonderful end unit offering 3 bedrooms and 2.5 baths with approx. 1468 sq. ft. Carport with 2 spaces. www.100GardenCreek.com | $669,000
Exquisite French Chateau. The ultimate in luxury! 6 Beds, 5.5 bath, Apx. 7500 sf., Lot 1.4 ac. Outdoor kitchen with pizza oven. www.1625Campesino.com | $2,998,000
100 Garden Creek Place, Danville
1625 Campesino Court, Alamo
HEART OF DANVILLE!
SPECTACULAR VIEWS!
Gorgeous home built in 2015! 5 beds, 4.5 baths, approx. 4200+ sq. ft. 3 car garage. Large, level lot with room for pool and more. www.6TylerCourt.com | $2,098,000
Alamo Springs! Stunning estate built in 2014. Approx. 6500 sq. ft. with 5 beds, 5 full & 2 half baths, on a half acre lot. Endless pool and spa. www.331CorriePlace.com | $3,995,000
6 Tyler Court, Danville
331 Corrie Place, Alamo
COMING SOON!
COMING SOON!
Magee Ranch! Approx. 4800 sq. ft. with 4 bedrooms, 4 full and 2 half baths, home gym and media room. Call for details
Bettencourt Ranch! Approx. 3200 sq. ft. with 5 bedrooms and 3 baths, 3 car garage. Call for details
8 Mapleglen Court, Danville
204 Bristol Court, Danville
CELESTE PACELLI, QSC,CDPE See Celeste’s 49 client reviews on Zillow.com To receive Up-To-Date Market Analysis Reports, email me today.
Broker Associate | Lic#01862387
925.395.1511
celeste@celestepacelli.com www.celestepacelli.com
PAGE 6 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • March 2018
www.yourmonthlypaper.com
DANVILLE WOMEN’S CLUB
MONTHLY LUNCHEON
Please join the Danville Women’s Club on Thursday, March 15th for their monthly luncheon. The speaker, Jorgen Jensen, will discuss natural ways to care for the body as well as discuss the benefits of acupuncture. Socializing for the monthly luncheon begins at 11AM. The speaker will give his talk at 11:30, and lunch will be served at noon. Reservations are required. Please contact Bonnie at (925) 743-9437 or e-mail danvillewc@gmail.com to sign up for this event and obtain more information (lunch is free for first-timers). Monthly luncheons take place at the Danville Women’s Club, located at 242 W. Linda Mesa Avenue in Danville.
SHREDDING FOR SCHOLARSHIPS
It’s time to protect your identity and declutter your work and/or living space. Come out to the Danville Women’s Club on Saturday, April 7th from 9AM to 12:30PM, and let the services of Diablo Paper Shredding destroy your documents for $10 per banker’s box. When the job is done, you can be provided with a certificate of destruction endorsed by the National Association for Information Destruction.Please use banker’s boxes. Papers stapled or paper clipped are acceptable (no large metal clips or plastic though). The shredding day is a fundraiser for the Patty Hart Memorial Scholarship Fund for high school seniors.
FREE TAX PREPARATION
Free tax preparation for the 2018 tax season is available from AARP’s Tax-Aide and United Way’s Earn It, Keep It, Save It (EKS) programs. Service is provided by volunteer tax preparers who are IRS trained and certified. Both programs serve taxpayers of any age, and AARP membership is not required for Tax-Aide. EKS service is limited to those with incomes below $54,000, while Tax-Aide does not have an income limit. For information or to make an appointment for the Tax-Aide sites serving the San Ramon/Danville area, call (925) 973-3250 for the San Ramon Senior Center site or (925) 480-7202 for the Danville Veterans Memorial Building of San Ramon Valley site. For general information and other site locations, call (925) 726-3199. For information on EKS sites, call 2-1-1 or visit www.earnitkeepitsaveit.org.
SAN RAMON VALLEY REPUBLICAN WOMEN FEDERATED PRESENT PAUL GRAVES
The San Ramon Valley Republican Women Federated (SRVRWF) present Senior Deputy District Attorney Paul Graves at the Crow Canyon Country Club, 711 Silver Lake Drive in Danville, on March 27. Graves is a candidate for Contra Costa County District Attorney. He is endorsed by 23 law enforcement agencies and is highly respected by his colleagues and co-workers. Graves has spent his entire 22 year career as a prosecutor in the District Attorney’s office. He has been involved in prosecuting some of the toughest cases in the county including homicides, sexual assaults, and gang violence. He has taken over 70 cases to trial, resulting in over 20 life sentences. He currently serves as the Senior Deputy District Attorney in charge of Family Violence. Graves was born in South Bend, Indiana and as a child moved to Colorado where his parents opened up a local bookstore. Graves eventually went to high school in Long Beach, California and graduated from Loyola Marymount College after receiving a baseball scholarship. Paul married his college sweetheart and moved to Sacramento where he was one of the top five students in his class at University of the Pacific’s McGeorge School of Law. The event will begin with a social hour at 11:30AM followed by lunch and the program at noon. Cost is $30. Reservations can be made by calling Marianne at (925) 447-7023 or Carol at (925) 820-0774, or by going to www.srvrwf.org and paying by credit card. The deadline for reservations is March 23.
NEW EAGLE SCOUTS RECOGNIZED
Boy Scout Troop 36 in Danville recognized five Eagle Scouts at their recent Eagle Court of Honor ceremony. The boys and their Eagle projects are highlighted: Jake Mooyman constructed 15 kestrel nesting boxes and installed two in Alamo backyards for Native Bird Connections. The extra boxes will be sold by Native Bird Connections to help support their educational program/care for their birds. Kevin Peng replaced dilapidated small planter boxes at Rancho Romero Elementary school and built four large 4x8 feet redwood planter boxes to be used in their harvest-of-the-month program to encourage healthy eating habits. Austin Coleman revamped the Monte Vista Track and Field shot-put and discus area. He doubled the size of the shot put area and added five cubic yards of gravel. He revamped all the bleachers for the area and painted everything. He built and placed a leaderboard naming the top 10 all-time male and female throwers in each event. Jeff Mooyman led a toiletry collection drive throughout Alamo and outside Safeway collecting 28 boxes of toiletries and raised $500 for Calli House, a teen shelter in Richmond, CA. Liam Michka’s project was to build and install a redwood food storage box in Mt. Diablo’s Live Oak campground. The unit was designed to house and protect a large heavy cooler and other food items from animals. His project also included installing protective cages around sapling native oak and gray pine trees in this campground to help ensure their survival by protecting them from animal as well as human From left to right: Jake Mooyman, Kevin Peng, Austin Coleman, Jeff Mooyman, and interference. Liam Michka
Fourth grade St. Isidore’s CYO basketball team recently plated a scrimmage to open for the UC Berkeley Women’s basketball team’s game against Colorado. To play on a collegiate court was an inspiration to work hard for their goals.
editor @ yourmonthlypaper.com
March 2018 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 7
RO L E PL AY E R S E N S E M B L E PRESENTS THEY’RE PLAYING MY SONG
Role Players Ensemble (RPE) is presenting a new fundraiser musical, They’re Playing My Song, that will entertain and delight audiences at Danville’s Village Theatre on Saturday, March 17 with new and different insights into the Broadway musical and the famous composers who brought to life this wonderful part of our shared culture. A reception and silent auction will be PM held at 6 followed by the performance at 8PM. The event will be held at The Village Theatre, 233 Front Street in Danville. Tickets for the fundraiser are $110 and can be purchased at www.RolePlayersEnsemble. com, at Danville Community Center, 420 Front St, Danville, or by calling (925) 314-3400.
DIABLO CHORAL ARTISTS CONCERT
Diablo Choral Artists presents a concert featuring choral works by Bach, Brahms, Haydn, and Mozart, with string ensemble. The concert will be held on Friday, March 16th at 8pm at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, in Pleasant Hill and Sunday, March 18th at 4pm at Mt. Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church in Walnut Creek For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.dcachorus.org, call 925-680-7089, or email info@dcachorus.org. General Admission is adults $25, seniors 60+ $15, students $5, children 5-12 free.
GOLD COAST CHAMBER PLAYERS CZECH MATE
The award winning Gold Coast Chamber Players (GCCP) bring the fourth of this season’s five concerts, titled Czech Mate which will be performed on Saturday, March 10 at 7:30PM at the Lafayette Library Community Hall, 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd. in Lafayette. The program features three generations of Czech composers, Bedřich Smetana, Josef Suk’, and Dvořák. Tickets are $45 for general admission, $40 senior (65+), and $15 for students include a preconcert talk by musicologist Kai Christiansen at 7PM. Purchase tickets online at www.gcplayers. org or by calling (925) 283-3728.
Just Sold
Serving the Bay Area with honesty and integrity since 1973 Carpets, Hardwood, Laminate & Stone
Since 1973 www.MacFloor.com • info@macfloor.com
2395 Monument Blvd., Suite J Concord (925) 680-4433
3191-J Crow Canyon Pl San Ramon (925) 866-2200
(Across from Costco Gas Station, next to Harvest House)
Just Listed
Just Listed
200 Tim Court, Danville
400 Blue Ridge, Martinez
Jelincic Drive, Hayward
3 Bed + Bonus Room
3 Bed
Attention Developers:
Remodeled 2.5 Bath
2 Bath
4.4 Acres
3 Car Garage + Storage
Fully Remodeled + Large Corner Lot
Hayward Hills
~2,967 SqFt
~1530 SqFt
End of Jelincic Drive off Fairview Avenue
Sold on February 28, 2018 over asking price
$797,000
$1,899,000
at $2,275,000 with 5 offers.
400blueridge.com
200timcourt.com
Results. Pure & Simple
Don Magalhaes 925.786.1855 don@compass.com CalBRE 00897221
Compass is a licensed real estate broker and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdraw without notice. No statement is made as to accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footages are approximate. Exact dimensions can be obtained by retaining the services of an architect or engineer. This is not intended to solicit property already listed.
www.yourmonthlypaper.com
PAGE 8 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • March 2018
SAN RAMON VALLEY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
By Jamie Westgate, Principal
This past month our eighth grade class had a terrific trip to Washington D.C., Gettysburg, and New York City. No style of learning rivals that which can be done on location! Our students not only gained a better understanding of historical events in our nation, they learned more about the incredible character of some of our greatest leaders. Visiting places like the Washington Monument, Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, and the Lincoln Memorial provide an opportunity to learn what it means to be a true patriot and live out the familiar verse in Mark 9:35: “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.” In addition, we visited our national cemeteries at both Arlington and Gettysburg. Most teens in Danville lack an understanding of the sacrifices made by those serving in the military, simply because they haven’t grown up in a military family or near a military base. One of my greatest highlights on the trip is observing the ways our students absorb an understanding and develop an appreciation for those who valiantly fought and continue to fight for our freedoms. Trips like these shape the hearts of our students, who will not only look back fondly on their memories, but will also recognize and carry a sense of gratitude for what SRVCA 8th graders at Marine Corps Memorial in Washington D.C. with an arrangement of flowers in honor of fallen soldier, it means to live in America. former SRVCA graduate, and local Danville hero, Joshua Corral.
ALAMO ELEMENTARY
By Stan Hitomi, Principal
I always appreciate the opportunity to recognize students, staff or volunteers. This month I have the opportunity to recognize members of all three groups. In this years’ Spelling Bee we had an amazing group of students. Round after round they spelled words at the 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th grade levels and beyond! I am so proud of each and every one of our finalists: Nate Adelson, Kalen Atkinson, Valentina Deng, Sam Dickson, Erin Hennesey, Adam Mazhara, Jalen Moon, Analiese Riebli, Keegan Ruiz and Erin Yang. Our winner this year, advancing to the County finals, is Joelle Moon. I also want to recognize a very special staff member, Linda Henderson, who was recently selected as our Classified Employee of the Year. Linda is the em-
bodiment of the Alamo School community. She came to Alamo School in 2000 with husband Andy and their three children Yvonne (2002), Katrina (2005) and David (2008) who all attended Alamo School. Upon arriving she immediately became an active member of the PTA and in 2003 became a founding member of the Alamo School Education Foundation. In 2006 she made the switch from parent to para educator and became a member of the Alamo School staff. For 12 years she has served in that capacity, while still being an active member of the Ed Foundations at SVMS and MVHS. Linda also serves as one of our recess supervisors and a few years ago took over our homework club. She is respected, admired and loved by the students, parents and teachers. Linda Henderson is one of those people you “go to” whenever you need something done or want someone to help. Congratulations! Finally, I want to recognize our parent organization leadership for PTA and EdFund. For the first time in the history of our school we have co-presidents
See Alamo continued on page 20
editor @ yourmonthlypaper.com
March 2018 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 9
FAQ
Contra Costa
Starting this April, residents and businesses in Danville, along with Concord, Martinez, Moraga, Oakley, Pinole, Pittsburg, San Ramon, and unincorporated Contra Costa County will have more renewable and locally controlled energy service with MCE at lower rates than PG&E, or they can choose another option.
CHOOSE FROM 33%, 50%, OR 100% RENEWABLE ENERGY
50%
MCE Light Green | 50% RENEWABLE Take no action and starting in April your electric service will be at least 50% renewable and cost less than PG&E — Light Green is currently 55% renewable. MCE Deep Green | 100% RENEWABLE Eliminate your electricity–related carbon footprint by opting up to 100% California renewable energy at mceCleanEnergy.org/DG–enroll or 1 (888) 632–3674.*
33%
PG&E | 33% RENEWABLE You can choose to opt out and continue purchasing energy from PG&E at mceCleanEnergy.org/opt–out or 1 (888) 632–3674.*
*Please have your PG&E account number on hand.
How does MCE affect electricity services for Contra Costa residents and businesses?
Aside from having access to more renewable energy, not much will change. Residents and businesses can choose 50–100% renewable energy from a local public agency. MCE customers continue to enjoy the same reliable electricity service, with PG&E delivering power, maintaining the wires, and providing billing and gas services.
Is MCE’s power supply more renewable than PG&E’s?
HOW MCE WORKS
YOUR SERVICE OPTIONS
SOURCE
DELIVERY
CUSTOMER
Buy and build cleaner energy
Deliver energy, maintain lines, and send bills
Benefit from renewables, choice, and local control
MCE
PG&E
YOU
Yes, considerably! MCE’s power supply contains a higher portion of renewable resources like solar, wind, bioenergy, and geothermal. According to the most recent California Energy Commission Power Content Labels, MCE’s Light Green service is 55% renewable and PG&E’s service is 33% renewable.
Does MCE cost less than PG&E?
Which communities does MCE serve?
Yes. MCE’s 50% renewable electricity costs less than PG&E’s 33% renewable electricity. Part of MCE’s mission is to provide stable and competitive rates. MCE has reduced rates the past two years in a row. Discount programs such as CARE, FERA, and Medical Baseline are unaffected by enrollment; these customers receive the same discount with MCE as they would with PG&E. For rates and cost comparisons visit: mceCleanEnergy.org/rates
MCE has been serving Bay Area electric customers since 2010. Today, about 255,000 customers in Marin and Napa Counties, and the cities of Benicia, El Cerrito, Lafayette, Richmond, San Pablo, and Walnut Creek are buying more renewable energy from MCE. Concord, Danville, Martinez, Moraga, Oakley, Pinole, Pittsburg, San Ramon, and unincorporated Contra Costa County will enroll with MCE in April.
Will my billing change?
How is MCE funded?
No. PG&E will continue to send one monthly bill. Instead of one fee that combines charges for the delivery and generation of your electricity, the bill will show separate charges — one for electric delivery (PG&E) and one for electric generation (MCE). MCE’s generation rates simply replace the generation charges you currently pay to PG&E; they are not an additional charge.
WE’RE HERE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS!
mceCleanEnergy.org/ContraCosta | 1(888) 632–3674 | info@mceCleanEnergy.org
RANCHO ROMERO ELEMENTARY
By Sandy Kontilis, Principal
Like PG&E, MCE is funded by electricity ratepayers through their monthly energy purchases. MCE is not funded by taxpayers. A cornerstone to MCE’s mission is to redirect ratepayer dollars back to local economies, and reinvest in its communities by providing low, stable rates, supporting local workforce development, and partnering with community–based organizations.
Rancho Romero had a busy and exciting February. In an effort to promote literacy with students and families, The Wild Robot, by Peter Brown was chosen as the novel for our Family Literacy Night on March 21st. Sandrine Wright and Peggy Cox, teachers at Rancho Romero, three years ago had a vision to bring the love of reading to the entire school community. Family Literacy Night is a highly popular community activity at our school. Books were delivered to teachers and students on February 21st. Following a pacing guide set up via Google Docs, teachers read to their students (or students read along with their own copy). Additionally, teachers, admin, staff and guest readers signed up to read assigned chapters into a podcast which could be accessed nightly by families. The podcast was linked to the Rancho Romero website. Families loved hearing familiar voices read to them nightly. A culminating activity is planned for an evening in March. After a picnic style dinner on campus, I will read the final two chapters to our community. I can’t wait! Rancho Romero is eligible for the 2018 Distinguished School Award. Early February a congratulations letter from Tom Torlakson, State Superintendent of Public Instruction was delivered to our school. Rancho Romero was one of three elementary schools nominated from the SRVUSD and one of eight from Contra Costa County. In order to receive the reward, a model program will need to be described with the criteria of how this program benefits all students and affects school-wide achievement. The application will be submitted in early March and the announcement made in May. As our school year gets closer to our spring conference dates beginning on February 28, we reminded families that spring conferences could be scheduled by parent/guardian request or by teacher invitation. Our school district has high regard for consistent parent/student/teacher communication. We know that teachers contact families throughout the school year, and spring conferences are one other way to collaborate around support of your student. Continued efforts to maximize positive home/school partnerships is a top priority of Rancho Romero.
February’s character of the month was Compassion. Around our campus, students were observed helping teachers and younger students. Many of our fifth grade students spend time in our Kindergarten classrooms either reading with them or playing. We have many Buddy program where older students mentor their younger peers. Interactions such as these help all students feel connected and safe at school. I’m looking forward to reporting March’s celebrations, news, and updates.
CHARLOTTE WOOD MIDDLE SCHOOL By Christopher George, Principal
We hope you are having a good February and are enjoying the warm weather. We are working hard in order to continue making the best learning environment for kids in order to ensure high levels of learning for all students this semester. We continue to study collaborative curriculum, including taking a team this week to work with nationally renowned Response to Intervention expert Austin Buffum on building school wide systems that meet the needs of all students. Obviously, this month it is hard to get away from the tragic school news out of Florida and the immeasurable sadness that has visited that school. We know that everytime we see news like this, we are prompted by our community for the reassurance and reminders that their kids are as safe as we can possibly make them at school. We want our community to know that we revisit our safety procedures often and review them with trained law enforcement personnel whenever possible in order to make sure we are current with best practices. We know that if we can’t keep students safe, none of our other work matters, and as such, work hard to make sure that we are prepared for anything, including earthquakes, fires, hazardous materials as well as intrusion. That said, we know that this is a subject that creates fear in our students and parents and work to make sure that students know they are cared for, comfortable and safe when they are learning. Our thoughts in the meantime are with the students and the families of Stoneman, or any school tragedy. We are also inspired by the maturity and poise of the students who are using their voices following that tragedy and inspired by what well educated students can do to create change.
PAGE 10 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • March 2018
MONTE VISTA HIGH SCHOOL
By Dr. Kevin Ahern, Principal
www.yourmonthlypaper.com
11 Critical Home Inspection Traps to be Aware of Weeks Before Listing Yo e of We Aware of Weeks Before Listing Your Alamo or Danville Home for Sale
It is hard to believe altogether. In most cases, you can make a According to industry experts, there Alamo,Danville w e a re n ow i n t h e Alamo,Danville - over 33 physical problems that will come under reasonable pre-inspection yourself if you know what are y sical problems that will come un ysical problems that will come under er 33 physical pro ver 33 physical pro month of March, and scrutiny during a home inspection when your home you're looking for, and knowing what you're looking er our school year is is for sale. A new report has been prepared which for can help you prevent little problems from growing already accelerating identifies the eleven most common of these into costly and unmanageable ones. into spring. Monte Vista’s seniors are begin- problems, and what you should know about them To help homesellers deal with this issue before ning to see their futures in better focus as before you list your home for sale. their homes are listed, a free report entitled "11 college acceptance letters are received and Whether you own an old home or a brand new Things You Need to Know to Pass Your Home the one, there are a number of things that can fall short Inspection" has been compiled which explains graduation activities become finalized, unissues involved. of requirements during a home inspection. If not derclassmen are planning their schedules for To hear a brief recorded message about how to next year, and our incoming freshman class identified and dealt with, any of these 11 items could cost you dearly in terms of repair. That's why it's order your FREE copy of this report call toll-free 1is preparing to make the transition into high critical that you read this report before you list your 866-265-1682 and enter 1003. You can call any school. home. If you wait until the building inspector flags time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. One of the major events happening on the these issues for you, you will almost certainly Get your free special report NOW to learn how to Monte Vista campus this month is our official experience costly delays in the close of your home ensure a home inspection doesn't cost you the sale of your home. WASC Accreditation Team visit which is sale or, worse, turn prospective buyers away slated for March 4th through March 7th. Monte 00941526 This report is courtesy of McDaniel Callahan CalBRE #01763819. Not intended to solicit buy ers or sellers currently under contract. Vista’s students, faculty, parents, and commuCopy right © 2016 nity have worked very hard to get to this point in the accreditation process, and we intend on ST. ISIDORE SCHOOL putting our best selves forward for this final step. Once the By Maria Ward, Principal visit is completed, WASC will inform us of our accreditation Happy March! March continues our journey status in June. Many thanks to MV teacher David Matley for during this Lenten Season. Our Religion taking on the WASC coordinator position and organizing the Committee has developed our Lenten theme: entire three-year process that led us to the visit. If you would “Change Our Hearts.” More than ever, during like to see our report, please visit the MV website. th this season I realize that each day is truly a gift On Monday, March 5 , the Monte Vista campus will get its first look at the incoming class of 2022. Over 600 students and from God, and that each person has a purpose. However, it is easy to lose sight of this their families will have the opportunity to tour the MV campus; with our busy schedules. Time moves fast, and the days seem to turn into months and the meet with representatives from a variety of academic, art, and months into years. Our celebration of Lent is a wonderful reminder to slow down and athletic programs; see performances from our arts programs; reflect on what truly matters to you and how you want to use the time God has gifted you. and hear about class registration, graduation requirements, Thank you, thank you, thank you! We are thrilled that our St. Isidore School and our district’s new Personal Learning Initiatives from MV’s auction, “The Great Gatsby Gala,” was a HUGE success. This event is our school’s counseling team; and interact with a student panel that will biggest fundraiser of the year and a wonderful time for our community to celebrate and talk about student life on campus. The event is always well enjoy each other. This year our Auction Committee was truly spectacular, spearheaded attended and is an incredibly positive way for us to share the by Jen Favorito and Andrea DeLong. We are truly grateful for the endless hours of great things about Monte Vista. Hats off to Monte Vista’s Counhard work, love, and dedication that these women gave to our school. Our goal was to seling Department for putting this event together and to the raise money to continue to update our classrooms and to help keep tuition costs down. many programs and organizations that supported the event. We are working hard to provide an interactive learning environment for every grade, On Saturday, March 24 th, Monte Vista will celebrate its which includes standing desks, interactive projectors, organization systems, and more. annual Junior Prom at the Scottish Rite Temple in Oakland. I Kids Against Hunger: We are excited to be partnering with Kids Against Hunger again would like to thank our many parent and faculty volunteers, this year on Monday, March 26th. All of our students will learn about vegan and gluten-free leadership class, and activities director, Andrea Greco in nutritional meals and will be able to see and hear how these life-saving meals help children advance for all of their work in organizing this amazing and around the world. Our students will take shifts and assemble the meal kits throughout the classy event. day. Our lower grade students will also help decorate the sealed bags before the bags are At press time, Monte Vista’s Men’s and Women’s Soccer team boxed and shipped. These boxed meals will then be distributed to humanitarian organizaare preparing for their respective North Coast Section Chamtions worldwide. We hope to instill the Gospel value of service as we continue to support pionship games versus De La Salle and Carondelet. Regardless various outreach programs. of the outcomes, both teams are also slated to advance into We are still accepting apthe NorCal playoffs in early March. I look forward to sharing plications for TK-8th grade. outcomes in the next edition. Also, MV’s Men’s Basketball team Applications and further details is making a solid run into their NCS Playoff. Congratulations can be found at www.stisidore. to all of these athletes and their coaches for these accolades. org. On Thursday, March 1st, at Our Winter Musical, In the Heights, ran from February 3:15PM, we have New Student 28th through March 3rd. Thanks to MV Drama teacher, Chris Testing for grades 1–8. ApplicaConnor, and his incredible group of students for this outstandtions must be submitted prior to ing production. In addition, in late February, MV’s Choir went testing. If you would like to visit Gopher/Mole Removal on a performance tour to Seattle which gave our students a and see our school in action, great opportunity to perform in front of a variety of audiences. No Poison please contact our Admissions I hope you come out to these events and support Monte Director, Jill Tripaldi, at (925) Vista’s students as they continue to do amazing things in our Tri-Valley Trapper community. Please note that our Spring Break will run from 837-2977 to set up a tour. th th March 30 through April 8 . With all of these happenings, we I wish you a wonderful all deserve a little time off. March. Spring is in sight!
925-765-4209
editor @ yourmonthlypaper.com
SAN RAMON VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL
March 2018 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 11
By Jason Krolikowski, Principal
As of February 21, 2018, we are 100 days away from graduation! We have a lot going on in the coming months and we are excited to build on the relationships that make SRVHS the Home of Champions. Please check the srvhs.net website for updates, and also follow me on twitter: @MrK_SRVHS. During the weeks of March 12th - March 23rd, SRVHS 11th grade students will take the annual state testing called the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP). Please consider encouraging our students to give their very best effort as the CAASPP is an objective measurement of our students’ learning, and also builds pride in our school and community. Understandably, the weight of the tragic school shooting in Florida has impacted our community and raised concern and worry about our students’ safety. I want to reassure you that we take the safety of our students, staff, and community very seriously, and safety at school is our top priority. To this end, we have reviewed our protocols with our staff and students, including previous and upcoming safety drills. Additionally, I am very proud of the collaboration and communication between the SRVUSD and Danville PD (and surrounding law enforcement agencies). As always, please contact me directly with any questions or concerns. Ultimately, I believe we have a campus culture of caring and support. This mindset spreads from parents to community members, teachers and support staff, and into our students. Examples of our culture can be seen on a daily basis, through intentional acts of kindness, to a safe and welcoming classroom environment, to student connectedness and engagement, to school pride. This also means blanketing our students with support when they need it. We are blessed with a talented and committed group of adults who show their superpowers most when students are in need, on a daily, if not hourly, basis. To conclude, we have a great community and school. Our students are second to none, and I am incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to help shape the future with them. I hope you continue to do the same. Thank you for your support and belief in San Ramon Valley High School! Go Wolves!
AAUW SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS BEING ACCEPTED
Are you a young woman currently pursuing a Bachelor’s or Graduate degree or know someone who is? The DanvilleAlamo-Walnut Creek branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) is now accepting applications from eligible candidates for their Local 2018 Scholarship awards. To qualify you must have graduated from the San Ramon Valley Unified School District, or during high school resided in the district while attending a private school, and/ or currently reside within the San Ramon Valley Unified School District boundaries, or currently reside in the Walnut Creek city limits or unincorporated area of Walnut Creek boundaries during high school, and/or currently reside within the Walnut Creek city limits or unincorporated area boundaries. Guidelines and application form are located at https://daw-ca.aauw.net/2018-scholarship/. Completed applications must be postmarked by Monday, April 2.
Sierra Guerrero, a senior at San Ramon Valley High School, won Danville Lions Club Speech Contest on February 7. The topic was “Integrity and Civility Play What Role in Today’s Society?” Sierra will compete in the next Lions Zone Contest at the Livermore Library on Sunday, March 8th at 1PM. All are welcome at the contest.
PAGE 12 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • March 2018
www.yourmonthlypaper.com
DRONE USED TO IDENTIFY INVASIVE PLANTS NEAR HAP MAGEE RANCH PARK
By Supervisor Candace Andersen
It is very exciting when emerging technology can be used to solve everyday environmental problems. Contra Costa County Public Works (CCCPW) in collaboration with Diablo Valley College (DVC), the Friends of San Ramon Creek and the Walnut Creek Watershed Council performed an aerial drone survey for invasive plants within a 50-foot swath of San Ramon Creek near Hap Magee Ranch Park last month. This aerial survey covered just a small portion of San Ramon Creek which runs through part of San Ramon and Walnut Creek and all of Danville and Alamo with its headwaters in Bollinger Canyon. San Ramon Creek’s watershed encompasses 54 square miles and is part of the large Walnut Creek watershed. Arundo, also called giant reed or giant cane, is an invasive non-native plant that grows rapidly and causes erosion and bank failures by encroaching on the waterway. Arundo displaces native plants, destroys fish and wildlife habitat, and is a fire and flood hazard. We are seeing more of it clogging the San Ramon Valley Creeks. An initial test flight of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV, commonly known as a drone), operated by an FAA certified pilot and flown at a safe flying height above all structures below, was used to determine if the photos from the flight could detect where arundo is growing, with the goal of removing arundo from the watershed. The Friends of San Ramon Creek, which supports programs and projects promoting a healthy San Ramon Creek and the watershed (supported by CCCPW) sent letters to 27 neighbors to alert them to the possibility of the drone flying overhead. Community response was positive to the collaborative efforts to work on arundo mapping and eradication. The premier flight path included the southern end of Hap Magee Park north to Lewis Lane, approximately ¼- ½ mile of the creek length. The drone flew at an elevation of 315 feet above ground level, so its buzz was not even audible. As the drone flew back and forth across a nominal 50-foot band on either side of the creek, four pictures were taken with each pass, giving overlap across the width of the path. In all, the flight lasted only seven minutes. Reference points were taken at four points along the creek to further enhance the GPS coordinates recorded with each shot. The entire flight path was pre-programmed, so that the flight was autonomously controlled, with the pilot able to intervene if necessary. Professors Mike Quinn and Jeffrey Miller from DVC conducted the flight, downloaded the data, and will make a map (or terrain model) of the creek area. They will also be using this information for their students to develop a map of arundo stands along with the County’s Arundo removal team. Later this year a community cleanup will be held, and volunteers will help remove the arundo identified through this mapping. The Walnut Creek Watershed Council will host an evening creeks forum in mid-September before the cleanup to educate residents around the watershed on the impacts of invasive plants (especially arundo) and to allow signups for the cleanup event. For more information about the Walnut Creek Watershed and its tributaries, visit www.ccrcd.org/walnut-creek-watershed.html. Public Works looks forward to continued collaboration with DVC to ensure responsible stewardship of the environment throughout Contra Costa County for future generations. My office is here to serve the residents of Contra Costa County District 2, which includes San Ramon, Danville, Alamo, Walnut Creek, Saranap, Parkmead, Lafayette, Moraga, Canyon, and Orinda. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if we can provide you with additional information on this topic or on other County issues. I can be reached at SupervisorAndersen@bos.cccounty.us or (925) 957-8860.
Bocce continued from front page Giuseppe Garibaldi in the 1800s,” writes Danielle Selvaggio in a July 2017 article for La Gazetta Italiana entitled “Bocce: The Sport of Italians.” She notes that Italian immigrants have spread the pastime around the world and adds, “The sport has even found its way to America where it was popularized in the late-1980s California.” In The Joy of Bocce, Mario Pagnoni explains why there are so many variations of the game. “When Italian immigrants brought their game to America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it was a regionalized version of the activity. Just as there are similar yet somewhat different dialects throughout any country, there were similar yet varying ways of playing bocce.” Pagnoni believes that two factors have contributed greatly to the sudden spurt of growth bocce is experiencing across the US today. “The game was the domain of men. It may have begun to die out because men did not share with women and the younger generation. Its resurgence today is due to the fact that play is no longer confined to adult, Italian males. It has escaped its ethnic roots and has become a game for people of all ages. A movement is on today to construct courts in public parks. This is a major step toward spreading the game to more and more Americans.” Danville’s first four public courts, designed in the spring of 2001, were constructed during the winter of 2001-2002. In 2017, four more courts were completed. The surface is powdered oyster shell. While dimensions for home courts vary considerably (60’ long is not unusual), the Danville courts at 90’ long by 12’ wide meet standards for International play. Because the courts are in constant use, the Town of Danville has hired a private contractor for maintenance. Off-season The Pallino Brothers team pose as Monday Night in the winter, however, the courts take a beating from bikes, dogs, and assorted other non-bocce-related uses. Champions in Fall 2017. Photo courtesy of Cat Bravo. Two new courts are also available on a first-come, first-served basis in Alamo. The courts are located at Livorna Park at the corner of Livorna and Miranda roads. The courts are intended for casual, recreational use and not league play as they are just short of official league length. The courts are available year-round during daylight hours and you must bring your own equipment. Basics of play begin with the toss of a small ball called the pallino past the center of the court. Players then attempt to get their larger balls closer to the pallino than those of their opponents. Devices exist for precise measurement. A team gets one point for every ball closer to the pallino than the opposition’s closest ball. Each team plays four balls per round. Skill in moving the opponent’s ball away from the target or landing a ball next to the mark takes time to master. Modern balls are made of solid epoxy resin and come in various sizes and weights. The similar French sport of petanque uses hollow metal balls. British lawn bowls requires biased balls weighted to curve when bowled. Alamo resident Janet Neilsen has been captaining a team on the Sycamore Valley Park courts for many seasons. She writes that when she first began playing there were four courts, and it was no problem to get court space on the night of your team’s choice. “Then all of a sudden, bocce boomed! Everyone wanted to play bocce. The Rec department had to go through a lottery system with three different date choices; sometimes it was completely filled.” Elizabeth Baxter, a proficient USTA tennis player, has been a member of Janet’s team for the past three years. She comments, “It seems to me that bocce is a sport of many styles of play which makes it interesting.” While still engaged in studying the skills of more advance players, Elizabeth appreciates the fun associated with getting out to spend an evening with teammates. “I love to do anything to stay physically active, and while bocce doesn’t require much in the way of fitness, it does give you a couple of hours of movement. Another pull for me is playing with longtime friends.”
See Bocce continued on page 26
editor @ yourmonthlypaper.com
March 2018 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 13
TODAY’S FOOD WASTE. TOMORROW’S POWER. Thanks to these restaurants and businesses 23,847 TONS of food waste has been diverted from landfilling. The Food Recycling Project converts commercially produced food waste into clean, renewable energy.
THANK YOU
FOOD RECYCLING PROJECT PARTICIPANTS Alamo Alamo Café • Alamo Palace • Bagel Street Café • Brass Bear Delicatessen • Cherubini Café Don Jose's Mexican Restaurant • Extreme Pizza • Great Donuts • Ha-La Sushi • High Tech Burrito Katrina Rozelle Pastries • Papa Murphy's • Panera Bread • Peasant's Courtyard Cafe • Peet's Coffee RJ's Asian Fusion • Round Table Pizza • Roundhill Country Club • Starbucks (Las Trampas) • Xenia Bistro!
Blackhawk Bagel Street Café • Beep's Burgers • Blackhawk Bath & Tennis Club • Blackhawk Cinemark Theater Blackhawk Country Club (Falls & Lakes Clubhouses) • Blackhawk Grille • Blue Ginko • Draeger's Market The Little Pear • PG&E (Crow Canyon Rd) • Prickly Pear Cantina • Starbucks • Stella’s
Danville Acai-Me Superfoods Café • Amici's East Coast Pizzeria • Athenian School • Baci Café Bagel Street Café • Baja Fresh • Basque Boulangerie • Black Bear Diner • Blue Line Pizza Bridges Restaurant • Café Meyer's • China Gourmet • China Paradise • Chipotle Mexican Grill • Choice Lunch Chow Restaurant • Christy’s Donuts • Costco • Danville Brewing Co. • Danville Firehouse Bar • Danville Harvest Danville International Market • Danville Medical Center • Danville Village Care • Domenico's • Domino's Pizza Draeger's Market • East Bay Flower Company • El Cerro Medical Center • El Nido • Esin Restaurant & Bar • Faz Danville Ferrari's Cucina Italiana • Fish on Fire • Forbe's Mill Steakhouse • Forge Pizza • Gotta Eatta Pita • High Tech Burrito Homegrown Sustainable Sandwiches • Ike's Place • In the Mix Salads • Incontro Ristorante • Jamba Juice Jersey Mike's Subs • Juice Zone • Jules Thin Crust Pizza • Kahala Kitchen • Kanpai Poke • Leo's Chinese Restaurant Little Pear • Locanda Ravello • Los Panchos • Luna Loca Mexican Restaurant • Lunardi’s Market • Mangia Mi McDonald's • McGah's Pub & Pianos • Melo's Pizza and Pasta • Norm's Place • Old Towne Danville Bakery Panda Express • Peet's Coffee • Pete's Brass Rail & Car Wash • Piatti Ristorante & Bar • Pizza Antica Pizza Guys • Reutlinger Community for Jewish Living • Revel Kitchen and Bar • RPM Mortgage • Santorini Sideboard Kitchen & Coffee • Slow G's Eatery • Smart & Final • Starbucks (Crow Canyon Road) Starbucks (Railroad Ave.) • Starbucks (Rose Garden Plaza) • Sushi Bar Hana • Sushi Yokohama Tal's Patisserie • Taru Sushi • Thai House Restaurant • The Basil Leaf Café • The Great Impasta • The Growler Togo’s (Camino Tassajara) • Togo’s (San Ramon Valley Blvd.) • Tower Grill • Trader Joe's Vally Medlyn's Fountain & Coffee Shop • Vitality Bowls • Wonderland Danville • Yo’s On Hartz • Yuki of Tokyo
Learn about other ways you can protect our environment at RecycleSmart.org.
PAGE 14 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • March 2018
www.yourmonthlypaper.com
VALLEY VIGNETTES
MISSION SAN JOSE AND THE SAN RAMON VALLEY By Beverly Lane
Try to visualize the San Ramon Valley as it might have looked 200 years ago: grazing land with cattle and sheep from Mission San Jose dotting the landscape. One of 21 California missions established by Franciscan missionaries, Mission San Jose was founded in 1797. During the Spanish mission era, there were many links between this valley and the mission. Indians who had lived here were baptized at Mission San Jose. Jose Maria Amador (the owner of Rancho San Ramon) knew the mission well, and his father Pedro helped build it. Importantly, the valley itself was named for a baptized Indian called Ramon. And our earliest American settlers lived at the mission before coming to San Ramon. Mission San Jose’s location was chosen because of the excellent water supply, warm climate, potential agricultural land, and access to Indian populations. By the time it was founded in 1797 near the Ohlone Indian village of Orisom, hostile Indian activity, led by the Saclans of Lafayette, kept the Franciscans from locating in Mission San Jose by Al Greger the inner valleys. Missions were usually placed an easy ride or a hard day's walk apart, but San Jose was located a mere 13 miles from Mission Santa Clara. Pedro Amador, a soldier who came to Alta California with the first Spanish expedition, helped locate the Mission’s site. He was present at the dedication of the Mission, writing this in his diary: “June 11 (1797). We today took formal possession of the place which was named San Jose, the ceremony being solemnized by six volleys fired by six soldiers. In the afternoon we returned to Santa Clara.” Amador commanded the soldiers who constructed the initial Mission buildings, beginning on June 16 and finishing in 10 days. After the ground plan had been staked out, the first house for the priests was quickly constructed, using timbers along Alameda Creek and tules from the shore for the thatching of roofs. They built an enclosure 100 feet long and 5 1/2 feet tall of thick wooden stakes to provide some shelter from Indian attack. Pedro Amador’s son, Jose Maria Amador, was also a soldier from 1810 to 1827. He served as the Mission San Jose administrator several times. In 1834 as the missions were secularized, he received a formal grant for his Rancho San Ramon which included all of today’s San Ramon and a headquarters in Dublin. The missions existed because of the Indians; without Indian workers, none of the missions could have survived, and without Indian converts, the missionaries' reason for coming to California would not have existed. Despite threats from the Saclans, Indians from the inland valleys came to the mission and included Seunens (Ohlone) from San Ramon and Tatcans (Bay Miwok) from Danville. A Seunen Indian baptized as Ramon tended sheep in this area, and his name was given to the creek, the valley, and to two ranchos. Amador provided this information in a land case in 1855. (ND Case 322) Ultimately, the Western diseases for which the Indians had no immunities decimated their population. Typhus, measles, smallpox, and syphilis all took their toll. In 1806, nearly a decade after Mission San Jose had been founded, measles killed many young Indians there, and dread of the disease affected the growth of that mission. In 1805 there were 779 Indians at San Jose, and in 1810 there were only 545. By 1809 the large adobe church at Mission San Jose was finished and dedicated. Records from the Spanish era indicate that the Mission became very prosperous. Raymund Wood described it as “a good, sturdy workhorse of a mission, having at one time the largest number of neophytes and greatest number of cattle of any of the northern missions, and was second only to San Luis Rey in the more fertile valleys of the south.” Mission livestock grazed in the Tri Valley area during the summer and moved in the winter to the oak grove of the Chupcanes (Bay Miwok in Concord) about 14 leagues (36 miles) from the mission, close at hand to “Monte del Diablo.” At its peak in 1831, Mission San Jose listed 2,000 Indian neophytes, 12,000 cattle, 13,000 sheep, 13,000 horses, and generous crops of wheat, barley, and corn, as well as other vegetables, fruits, and olives. The Mission complex included the permanent church, monastery, barracks, guardhouse, guest house, dorm for single girls
See Valley continued on page 23
SIP AS YOU STIR
By Monica Chappell
When the topic of food and wine pairing comes up during my wine class, the usual flow of conversation revolves around what wine to drink with dinner. Yet sometimes the tougher decision is what wine to put in dinner. That’s because when listed as an ingredient, wine is often suggested in the most generic terms, and you’re left to wonder - will any wine do? But there is more to cooking with wine than using up last night’s leftovers. Take a look at my top 10 tips. 1. Leftover wine - As a general rule, never cook with any wine you would not drink. The month old leftovers in the refrigerator won’t do. Any off flavors in wine become more concentrated during cooking. 2. Cooking wine - Avoid using these all together. They are made of a thin, cheap base wine to which salt and food coloring have been added. 3. Dry white wine - If a recipe calls for dry white wine, the best all-around choice is an American Sauvignon Blanc. This wine will be dry and offer a fresh light herbal note that will enhance nearly any dish. 4. Aromatic white wine - If the dish has bold or spicy flavors, go for a more aromatic white wine such as Gewurztraminer, Riesling, or Viognier. These wines have fruity flavors and exotic floral aromas that counterbalance heavily spiced dishes. 5. Dry red wine - If a recipe calls for dry red wine, consider the heartiness of the dish. A long-simmered meat dish calls for a correspondingly hearty
wine, such as a Zinfandel. A lighter dish might call for a less powerful red such as Pinot Noir. 6. Sparkling wine – When you cook sparkling wine, you eliminate its primary qualities, bubbles and alcohol. However, a simple beurre blanc sauce can benefit from the two remaining qualities of a good sparkler: high acidity and yeast flavor. Fortified wines are among the best wines good cooks can have on hand. They pack the most intense flavors and with the added alcohol have the longest shelf life. 7. Port - Ruby port is probably the best for cooking. It has a rich sweetness and depth that’s especially good in meat-based casseroles. Port is powerful stuff and should be used in modest amounts. 8. Sherry – True Spanish Sherry adds considerable character to a dish. It’s complex roasted nutty flavors can enhance just about any soup, stew, or sautéed dish. The two styles of Sherry that work best are Amontillado or Oloroso. 9. Madeira - There is no good substitute when a recipe calls for Madeira. It’s lush toffee-caramel notes are hard to replace. Madeira sauces have an affinity for beef, game, and mushroom dishes. 10. Marsala – This Sicilian wine is a staple in southern Italian cooking. Marsala comes in both dry and sweet styles. Seek out the sweeter, richer style for cooking. To me, there’s no better way to spend an evening than creating a delicious dish while sipping a well-made wine for inspiration. Happy cooking! Monica Chappell is a wine writer and educator, wineappreciation101@ gmail.com.
editor @ yourmonthlypaper.com
March 2018 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 15
PAGE 16 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • March 2018
CLIP NOTES By Jody Morgan
Daffodils went out of style as desirable denizens of English gardens during the opening decades of the 1800s. Despite having been cultivated since at least 300 BC, the time-honored harbingers of spring were too prosaic to occupy beds assiduously groomed for the more fashionable exotics plant hunters were delivering from the ends of the earth. While growers enthusiastically embraced the latest difficult to propagate wildflowers brought from the Americas, they put their reliably blooming daffodils out to pasture. Romans brought daffodils to the British Isles for medicinal purposes, although at least one species may be native to Wales and northern England. The botanical designation Narcissus is derived from the Greek verb narkao (to benumb). Roman author Pliny the Elder insisted that the bulb was named for it’s narcotic properties and not for the mythological lad named Narcissus. One of the reasons why deer and other creatures don’t devour daffodils is that all parts are deleterious to their health. Other sources claim the legend of Narcissus (the boy so stupefied by his own beauty reflected in water that he succumbed to admiration for his mirrored self) is the root of the flower’s Greco-Roman name. In any case, Linnaeus chose the Latin label for the genus commonly known as daffodils. Daffodils flourished in the wild long before fashion-conscious gardeners banished them from cultivation. The exuberant display immortalized by William Wordsworth captured the imagination of his sister Dorothy as they wandered together along the shore of Ullswater in England’s Lake District. On April 15, 1802, she recorded in her journal that they “tossed and danced, and seemed as if they verily laughed with the wind, that blew upon them over the lake.” Her brother penned his poetic version of the encounter in 1804 but did not publish “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” until 1807. Colloquially called Lent lilies, the daffodils admired by the Wordsworth siblings (Narcissus pseudonarcissus) gave rise to innumerable naturally occurring variations as well as commercially bred hybrids and subspecies. Fortunately for those equating their nodding noggins with the hope engen-
NCL continued from front page
of strengthening the mother-daughter relationship and serving the communities through participating in philanthropy and developing future community leaders. Local NCL chapters include three within the Danville Area. The Rolling Hills Chapter, for instance, includes members who reside in the boundaries of the San Ramon Valley Unified School District in the towns of Alamo, Danville, Diablo, and San Ramon. Initially formed in 2004, the Rolling Hills Chapter retains a 300 plus membership of Patronesses, Ticktockers, and Sustainers who partner with more than 30 philanthropies to serve and support the local community. This past summer, members joined forces with San Ramon Valley sister chapters to paint Hap Magee Park fences for the Town of Danville. Members are junior high and high school aged girls and their mothers. Each grade level, seventh through twelfth, meets monthly, while the mothers hold their own monthly meetings at which they discuss their various duties as committee chairs, philanthropy liaisons, and advisors. The individual grades have their own multi-faceted and well-defined six-year plan, specifying philanthropies, cultural outings, and social activities. Two annual meetings are held for all members, as well as an annual tea and an end-of-year recognition event at which each member is honored for her hours contributed to the community. “Members are introduced to the chapter by sponsors,” says Shelly Gin Lee, president of the Rolling Hills Chapter. “We trust that our sponsors are forwarding excellent candidates to our chapter. All sponsored applicants are given an equal chance to join. If our applications received exceed our available spaces, then we hold a draw.” Kathy Mitchell is the chapter’s current VP of Communications. She and her daughter enjoy being part of an organization that gives back to the community
www.yourmonthlypaper.com dered by spring sunshine, several English enthusiasts encouraged horticultural highbrows to re-evaluate the garden-worthy aspects of the enchantingly diverse daffodil clan. Peter Barr, dubbed the Daffodil King, persuaded the Royal Horticultural Society to hold a daffodil conference in 1884. Barr began searching for lost varieties after learning about 94 examples extant when English botanist John Parkinson published his 1629 treatise on garden, kitchen, and orchard plants. By the time Mr. & Mrs. William Bourn II initiated design of Filoli, a California estate emulating an elegant country property in the British Isles, culture of daffodils was back in vogue. The Filoli gardens, initially planted 1917-1929, continue to connect visitors with many of the original daffodil species they installed. Some have been identified. Others remain a mystery. Now open to the public, Filoli showcases the latest daffodil developments in containers. Clumps of N. ‘Telemonius Plenus’ populate one pasture. Parkinson first described this recurrent resident of old American gardens in 1629. Vincent Sion, a Fleming dwelling in London, nurtured it in his garden until it first flowered in 1620. Sion gifted bulbs of his double-flowering variety to George Wilmer as well as to Parkinson. In England, it is known as Wilmer’s Double Daffodil. Bred in the Netherlands for commercial distribution, Vincent Sion’s treasure came to be called Van Sion and sometimes Von Scion. The site OldHouseGardens.com offers it but warns: “In it’s first year or a perfect spot, its doubling is neatly contained within the trumpet. Most years, though, it all explodes into a wild froth of green and gold.” Daffodils hybridize freely in natural settings. Breeders have produced abundant additional variations. While DNA testing confirms there are only some 36 distinct species within the 13 divisions of the genus Narcissus established in 1998, the Royal Horticulture Society’s Daffodil Registry Base includes 30,000 names. ‘Golden Dawn’ is a reliable repeat bloomer for hot, dry climates. William Welch of Santa Cruz, aka Bill the Bulb Barron, writes: “Easily the heaviest producer of flowers and one of the fastest increasers of anything I grow, this variety puts up an entire second crop of stems as the first ones are fading. Flowering here begins in mid-February, continuing until bout the first of April.” Filoli, located in Woodside, CA, features fantastic daffodil displays, February-March. March 10-11, the Northern California Daffodil Society stages the 23rd Annual Mother Lode of Daffodils Show at Ironstone Vineyards in Murphys, CA. Millions of daffodils dancing through the countryside welcome visitors. and does so in a way that creates opportunities for direct, active involvement. “Being able to see various philanthropies in action is amazing, and it provides much needed grounding for our girls, given we are in a community that has so much,” says Mitchell. “The girls are able to see first hand what it means to help others, and it increases their awareness of the larger community around them. The bonus is that by doing these activities together as a mother and daughter team, we have been able to share some very special experiences together.” For more information, visit https://rollinghills.nationalcharityleague.org.
WALNUT CREEK GARDEN CLUB
The theme of the Monday, March 12 meeting of the Walnut Creek Garden Club is “The Importance of Backyard Pollinators.” Presenting will be Steve Gentry, Master Beekeeper with Mt. Diablo Beekeepers Association. The meeting will take place at Heather Farm, 1540 Marchbanks Road, Walnut Creek. A business meeting will begin at 9:45AM followed by a 10:30AM social and 11AM program. Everyone is invited. For questions email mslittle44@gmail.com.
ACTION POOL REPAIR
ServingAlamo&Danville Since 1979!
925.820.3640 www.actionpoolrepair.com Contractor Lic# 978033-C53
editor @ yourmonthlypaper.com
QUICK TRIPS
DOGPATCH
March 2018 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 17
By Linda Summers Pirkle
My dad, who was born in 1920, was a proud native San Franciscan who enjoyed recounting stories from his youth. When he was not in school or selling papers on his corner, he and his posse of like-minded adventure seekers roamed the streets of “Butchertown” in southeast San Francisco. This gritty area was home to a mix of waterfront-oriented industries: ship building, dry-docks for repairing and maintaining ships, steel mills, open land, and Butchers’ Reservation, also known as Butchertown where the city’s slaughterhouses were located. The last slaughterhouse closed in 1971. The neighborhood adjacent to Butchertown of yesteryear is now called Dogpatch. There are different theories about the origin of the name Dogpatch. Some say it’s the fact that the plant dogfennel proliferates there. Others, including my dad, attribute the unique name to the ubiquitous packs of dogs who scavenged discarded meat parts found in Butchertown. Today, Dogpatch is an area known for its growing arts district. On a recent Sunday afternoon, my daughter, husband, and I visited the Museum of Craft and Design (MCD) which is San Francisco’s only museum devoted exclusively to modern and contemporary craft and design. Selected work by Tom Loeser is showcased through May 20. The exhibit Please Please Please presents a selection of playful and colorful furniture. My favorite piece is a whimsical spalted maple bench called DIG 23. Discarded broken farm shovels from Loeser’s native Wisconsin are used as the back and arm rests for this stunning and creative piece. The museum shop, located in Craft and Design Museum, is a true treasure. It was voted best museum store by San Francisco Magazine in 2016. Justine Wuebold; a master’s candidate in Museum Studies, guide, and shop employee; shared her thoughts: “Our lead store associate, Jessica Rian, plays a key role in ensuring that the museum store is curated to perfection. An emerging graphic designer, she offers her critical eye to creating an aesthetic that has both color scheme and contextual continuity. The items are purchased in such a way that while the shelves look full and well-stocked, they are not cluttered or disorienting. While the visitor may have to traverse the aisles multiple times to discover every item in the store, the shelves provide a feeling of exploration and the potential to find the perfect gift for any person.” The store has unique gifts, jewelry, office and home products, books, and cards. With a nod to Dogpatch and Butchertown history, Olivier’s Butchery (est. 2010) is known for house-made sausages and quality meats. Olivier, the proprietor, is a second-generation butcher from Bordeaux, France. Olivier’s Butchery is located at 1074 Illinois Street, San Francisco. Their phone number is (415) 886-4973. They are open Wednesday thru Sunday. Museum of Craft and Design is located on 2569 Third Street, San Francisco. A new hands-on program will be held every month starting March 15, and MakeArtFamily Day occurs on the first Saturday of every month starting April 7. Visit their website at sfmcd.org. Linda Summers Pirkle, travel consultant and long-term Danville resident, has arranged and led tours for the Town of Danville for several years. Inspired by the many wonderful places to visit in the Bay Area, she organizes day trips, either for groups or for friends and family. “What a great place to live, so much to see, so much to do.” To San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library (AAB-6727) Butchertown photo is dated January 11, 1921. share your “Quick Trips” ideas, email Coverthemap@gmail.com.
www.yourmonthlypaper.com
PAGE 18 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • March 2018
• PC & MAC Computer Services • Project Management & Architecture • Monitored Security Packages to Protect Your Systems from Threats
Technology. Simplified.
• Wired & Wireless Network Specialists • Network Design for Businesses & Homeowners
Portable CIO Since 2001
PCs/Macs/Servers/Tablets/Smartphones
Commercial | Residential
925-552-7953
helpdesk@pcioit.com w w w. p c i o i t . c o m TECHNOLOGY MATTERS
By Evan Corstorphine, Portable CIO, Inc.
Have you noticed that you don’t see my staff or me driving around as much these days? It’s all about the technology we use now and how empowering it has become for both us and our clients. In the “old” days, we kept an office stocked with technicians, and when you needed any type of support, we’d hop into our car and come to your office or home to solve your problem. However, since 2013, everything has changed as I’ve undertaken a concerted effort to make Portable CIO even more “portable” and modular as we adapt to new societal and technological circumstances. The reality of computing today is that we work in a vastly different environment than in 2001 when we began serving you. There are many reasons. For instance, we’re all more used to computing, so we’re better users and smarter and savvier than before. WiFi networking is now ubiquitous, and we expect it to be available everywhere we go. Computers are also a lot more reliable and capable than they used to be. Then, consider how the smartphone revolution combined with tablet computing has turned the concept of “information when you need it” on its ear. We’re so connected now that being over-connected has become an issue. Related to this, the sophistication of the tools we at PCIO use to serve you have skyrocketed, making our diagnostic processes much more efficient and powerful. While the internet is paramount in all of our lives, it is both the solution and the problem for most people. It’s the solution because of the myriad of nifty productivity and entertainment applications and services we use. Our businesses and homes run on these applications. These services make a huge difference in our productivity, ability to make money, and ability to communicate effectively. However, the internet is also the problem for us because through our computers we are inviting people into our lives that we never wanted nor intended to interact with. We are now unwittingly putting ourselves in the presence of people who may be desperate, unethical, or immoral, and who will not blink an eye while swindling you of your resources or hurting you. It is a lot like someone building a train station directly between
your home and the worst part of the city, and while the folks at the other end of the line have figured this out, most of us have not stopped to consider it, and that is the problem. Most people are sitting ducks. Coming back to PCIO, we’ve been seeing these trends develop and have been actively steering our firm to insert us between that unsavory side of the internet and your homes and businesses. We have invested considerable amounts in the tools and best practices to ensure you have the best chance of coming through your computing day unscathed. We’ve identified the core parts of your environment that need help, that are not getting the attention they deserve. Our experience is that people don’t reliably perform any critical maintenance tasks for their systems. These are the important but unglamorous maintenance tasks that people ignore, much like changing the oil on your car. We’ve found that by managing all of these for our clients, we can give you back that peace of mind and lower your overall IT support costs. Why? Because an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Computing is not free; there is a cost, and actively managing your systems lowers that cost by keeping your systems running well and safe. For instance, none of our managed clients have yet been infected by ransomware. That’s not an accident! It is a direct result of the safe cocoon we’ve built around their infrastructure. The categories we manage for you are System Management, Antivirus/ AntiMalware, Network Security, and Backups. We call the whole of these packaged components “TSP,” or “Total Security Package.” TSP is a combination of the toolset we install, together with our Helpdesk personnel monitoring and managing the alerts and necessary responses. You’re then linked to our Helpdesk (support@pcioit.com / 888-552-7953) and they can swiftly respond to anything that arises. TSP works as well for single computers as it does for a company of 6, 60, or 600. It works on PCs, MACs, and we have components to safeguard and manage smartphones, too. These tools have allowed PCIO to transform from a “drive around” company to one that manages vast numbers of computers more effectively from our offices, increasing satisfaction and lowering costs for our clients. If you’d like to know more about how to flatten your IT costs and increase your resilience to data loss, we should chat. We’re excited about what the future holds and would love to bring you along with us. You can reach me at info@pcioit.com, or call 925-552-7953, option 1 to schedule a free consultation. Advertorial
editor @ yourmonthlypaper.com
POWERS OF ATTORNEY & ADVANCE HEALTH CARE DIRECTIVES: “CINDERELLA DOCUMENTS”
By Robert J. Silverman, Esq.
Recently, I had lunch with a financial advisor colleague. He told me that he had looked at one of his client’s estate planning documents and noticed that there was no Power of Attorney. He was puzzled. I was not his client’s attorney, so I couldn’t say how this happened, but it prompted me to write this article. Powers of Attorney for financial matters (“POA”) and Advance Health Care Directives (“AHD”) might be characterized as “Cinderella documents” - unjustly neglected! Many people, even some who have valid Trusts and Wills: a) do not have a POA and/or an AHD; b) have these documents, but haven’t kept them up-to-date; c) established these documents without legal advice or assistance; and/or d) used deficient or inappropriate forms that they may have downloaded on the internet or purchased at a stationery store. This article will address why POAs and AHDs are critical and how they serve functions that Trusts and Wills do not and cannot serve.
POWERS OF ATTORNEY
Essentially, a Power of Attorney enables you to designate an agent who has legal authority to handle a broad variety of financial matters on your behalf. This can be imperative if you ever lack capacity to handle your own financial affairs. Here are some common misconceptions about POAs: 1) A spouse or child has automatic legal rights to act on your behalf upon your incapacity, and thus, there’s no need for a POA. The law provides no “default” agent who has legal authority to sign financial documents or transact financial business for you if you become incapacitated. Further, if you become incapacitated and have no POA, a long, expensive, and inconvenient court conservatorship proceeding may be the only way someone can legally manage your finances for you. 2) If you have a Revocable Living Trust, you don’t need a POA. A Trust can be a powerful financial management succession tool, but your successor
March 2018 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 19
trustee (who is designated to manage your Trust if you become unwilling or unable) only has authority to manage Trust assets. If you have any nonTrust assets such as automobiles, small bank accounts, or retirement plans (e.g. 401Ks or IRAs), upon your incapacity, you need a POA agent who can handle these assets and perform other functions, such as causing tax returns to be prepared and signed on your behalf. 3) POAs are generic and “one size fits all.” Based on the facts and circumstances and your particular desires and needs, important provisions should be customized, including those governing: a) when your designated agent’s powers become effective; b) what powers are included and excluded; and c) who will serve as alternate agent if the primary designee is unable or unwilling to serve.
ADVANCE HEALTH CARE DIRECTIVES
An Advance Health Care Directive (AHD; formerly “Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care”) enables you to designate an agent who has legal authority to make health care decisions for you if you ever lack the ability to make such decisions yourself. In addition to some common misconceptions like the ones outlined above for POAs, common problems with AHDs are: 1) the language is “canned” (i.e. not customized to match your wishes), 2) no alternative agent is named, and 3) a HIPAA (crucial federal privacy law) Release is not included, which can potentially interfere with your agent’s ability to obtain your medical records and handle your care. In summary, a POA and AHD provide very important functions; they should be carefully discussed with and drafted by an experienced attorney; and they should (like any estate planning documents) be reviewed and updated periodically. Estate Planning*Trust Administration & Probate*Real Estate*Business Please contact the author to request a complimentary: i) “Estate Planning Primer”; ii) Real Estate titling brochure; iii) 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
March 4th to 10th is National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW). NCPW is a coordinated campaign that encourages consumers to take full advantage of their consumer rights and make more informed decisions. The NCPW website https://www.ncpw.gov posts new scam alerts and offers a variety of different tools and services aimed at protecting consumers in fraud cases of banking, identity theft, technology, shopping, and more. For other tips, please also visit California Department of Consumer Affairs at www.dca.ca.gov. Your personal information may be your most valuable commodity. It’s not only the key to your financial identity but also to your online identity. Knowing how to protect your information, and your identity, is a must in the 21st century. For tips on how to do this, visit https://www.irs.gov/uac/irs-security-awareness-tax-tips or the State of California Department of Justice site at https://oag.ca.gov/idtheft.
Aune said in a School of Public Health at Imperial College London news release. The results for consuming 10 daily servings were a 24% reduced risk of heart disease, a 33% reduced risk of stroke, a 28% reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, a 13% reduced risk of cancer, and a 31% reduction in premature death risk. In their review, the researchers also found signs that some types of produce seemed to confer the greatest benefits: apples, pears, citrus fruits, green leafy vegetables, cruciferous vegetables (such as broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower), and green and yellow vegetables (such as green beans, spinach, carrots, and peppers). “Most likely it is the whole package of beneficial nutrients you obtain by eating fruits and vegetables that is crucial in health,” Aune said. “This is why it is important to eat whole plant foods to get the benefit, instead of taking antioxidant or vitamin supplements (which have not been shown to reduce disease risk),” Aune noted. An excellent source for fresh fruits and vegetables for your diet and dining pleasure is the Alamo Farmer’s Market! They have the best and the freshest fruits and vegetables full of taste, vitamins, nutrition, and fiber including oranges, clementines, mandarins, grapefruit, pomelos, grapes, persimmons, apples, and pomegranates. Make a visit to the Alamo Farmer’s Market part of your Sunday, and get your fruits and vegetables for the week. There is plenty of free and easy parking, live music, and friendly vendors. The Alamo Farmer’s Market is open 9AM -2PM every Sunday.
Randy Doting in the HealthDay Reporter (found at WebMD.com ) notes, “If you want to add years to your life, 10 daily servings of fruits and vegetables may be the best recipe you can follow, a new analysis suggests.” “The benefits appear to come through lower rates of heart attack, stroke, cancer, and early death. And if everyone found a way to get 10 daily servings of produce, 7.8 million premature deaths would be avoided each year worldwide,” the British researchers estimated. “Fruit and vegetables have been shown to reduce cholesterol levels and blood pressure, and to boost the health of our blood vessels and immune system,” Dagfinn
Now in its 63rd year, AIA, a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization, has the longest history of serving our community and helping shape it into “the place where we love to live”! Since 1955, Alamo (and Danville) residents have been joining the Alamo Improvement Association and working in support of AIA’s mission statement: to “preserve the semi-rural character of Alamo.” I want to thank all of our many volunteers, both past and present, for their efforts over the last 62 years in making Alamo into the wonderful community that it is today. Please visit our website at www.AlamoCA.org for information on AIA, articles of interest to residents, membership forms, and more.
ALAMO IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION
By Roger Smith, President NATIONAL CONSUMER PROTECTION
ALAMO FARMERS’ MARKET
AIA MEMBERSHIP
www.yourmonthlypaper.com
PAGE 20 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • March 2018
HELPFUL FINANCIAL ADVISOR/ AVERAGE FINANCIAL ADVISOR
By Robert Cucchiaro
One of the best business books I’ve ever read is The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz. In it lies a great essay called “Helpful Product Manager/ Average Product Manager” which goes on to explain the characteristics, habits, and mindset that separate helpful product managers from average ones. Inspired by that essay, I decided to write something similar when it comes to Financial Advisors. Having both been an Advisor myself for many years and manager/coach of over 80 Advisors, I feel like I have a good sense for what separates the helpful from the average. Helpful advisors understand all areas of financial planning, to include taxes, estate planning, insurance, personal economics, and investing. More importantly, they use this knowledge to help their clients make better financial and life decisions. Helpful advisors are clear in setting expectations with clients about what they can and cannot do. They are transparent when talking about investment strategies, fees, and performance. Average advisors do just the opposite, which often leads to missed expectations and poor performance. Helpful advisors know about smart investment strategies but also recognize that investing is only one component of real financial planning. A portfolio without a goal is much more likely to react to the latest investment fad or over-react to the slightest uptick in volatility. Average advisors have no interest in their client’s financial plans; they simply want to manage the money because all other activities are a waste of time in their opinion (though they never come right out and admit this). Helpful advisors take the time to have a conversation with clients about their recent life events, how their family members are doing, and anything else that’s on the client’s mind. Average advisors spend their time telling clients about the performance of their accounts, their firm’s market forecasts, and the latest reading of their crystal ball.
Impact continued from front page
East Bay was launched. Many things piqued the interest of the founding group. Clark shared, “We can make a real and high-impact difference in our community; we can control and see exactly where our charitable money is going, and we can build greater awareness of the needs of our community.” The goal of Impact 100 East Bay this year is to reach 150 in membership. Currently, there are well over 50 members. The largest chapter is in Florida with 1,200 members, and they award twelve $100k/grants each year. “We want our collective giving to make the biggest impact possible,” says Clark. “Our intent is not to fund general operations but instead to support ‘breakout’ programs and/or expansion of programs that can transform more lives. These programs must indicate how they plan to sustain and continue after our funding ends. Consequently, we rally to support local non-profit organizations that are high impact and transformational and sustainable.” As with any organization, Impact 100 East Bay cannot be all things to all nonprofits. The focus is on the following categories: Education, Health & Wellness, Family, Culture, and Environment. The organization must be local, in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties. Clark mentions it is equally important to identity what the organization does not fund: General operating expenses and overhead; general construction or renovation; general capital campaigns that are unrelated to a specific program/project/initiative; general advertising; debt reduction, operating deficits, interim/bridge financing, or endowment funding; individual or private foundations; activities that are religious, partisan, fraternal, sectarian, legislative or political in nature; annual appeals, fund drives, fundraising events; legal expenses in any action by or against the organization; or any program that unlawfully discriminates based on age, race, national origin, ethnicity, gender, disability, and /or sexual orientation. The year 2017 marked the first for grant giving by Impact 100 East Bay. The volunteers on the grant committee vetted all the organizations vying for the grants, and four semi-finalists were selected. After site visits, three finalists were chosen. The board/volunteers created a wonderful award celebration by getting sponsors, selling tickets, and holding at Lafayette Park Hotel in September an inaugural event at which members and their guests were able to meet and hear
Helpful advisors have an external focus. They are constantly looking to add value for their clients in all areas of life and ask questions like “What else can we be doing to help you?” Average advisors are inwardly focused, asking, “What are my priorities? What actions do I want this client to take?” Helpful advisors explain the pros and cons of various tax and estate planning strategies and don’t assume the client will always want the most complex choice. Average advisors complicate things in an attempt to sound smart or to confuse clients in order to make themselves seem more valuable. Helpful advisors look at changes in the industry (product, regulatory, etc.) and ask, “How is this better for my client?” Average advisors look at changes in the industry and ask, “How is this better for me?” Helpful advisors work for their clients and are free to give unbiased advice without conflict. Average advisors work for a big company (bank, insurance co., etc.) and have to toe the line, doing what’s suitable for their client but often best for their employer. They address these conflicts by simply disclosing them in lengthy agreements that clients never have time to read. Helpful advisors sometimes have to be the bad guy and say, “No, you can’t afford that,” or “At this rate, your money may not outlive you.” They then go on to design an alternative plan that will work. Average advisors stick their head in the sand because they don’t want to lose “the account.” And often times perhaps they assume they themselves will be retired by the time things don’t work out for the client. I could go on and on, but my space here is limited. Let’s just close by saying last but not least, helpful advisors are true fiduciaries. Our team of Helpful Advisors includes two CFPs, a CFA, an MBA, and a newly brought-on-board Tax Director (Debbie Pham, EA) to help our clients take advantage of the new tax laws. Give us a call or visit our website to see if we can help you plan a better 2018! Robert Cucchiaro is a Certified Financial Planner and owner of Summit Wealth & Retirement, a financial planning firm that has been serving Danville for over 30 years. Rob specializes in helping people reduce their tax bills, enjoy a comfortable retirement, and pass along wealth to their loved ones. www. summitwealthandretirement.com. Advertorial the finalists. Each of the members voted that night, ballots were tallied, and the grant recipient was announced. “It was heartwarming to attend our first Award Celebration and see nearly 100 caring members and guests not only enjoying the camaraderie, but also meeting the amazing non-profit finalists and watching the winning group MISSSEY accept their $55,000 grant,” says Clark. “Right now, these girls and women are learning technology skills that will change their lives forever.” Learning about the incredible work of nonprofits in our own community who could benefit from the support of Impact 100 East Bay was a stand-out moment for Clark. “I was fortunate to attend the site visits for all our semi-finalists. All of them deserve support and assistance,” she added. “That is why we are so driven to expand our membership. The more members we have, the bigger the grant and hopefully multiple grants there will be, and the greater the impact in our community.” To learn more about becoming a member, obtain general information, or share ideas and suggestions, email info@impact100eastbay.org. The website is www.Impact100EastBay.
Alamo continued from page 8
in both groups: Krista Ciapponi and Kristin Bush for PTA, and Christina Heil and Crissi Armstrong for the EdFund. We have long recognized that either position was too much for one person but the collaborative nature that each organization has fostered explains their current leadership. It has been a pleasure to work with these highly professional and competent ladies and I look forward to our work together through the spring. March is a big month with the Talent Show (PTA) and Auction Gala (EdFund) coming up!
MEALS ON WHEELS
Seniors in your community need your support! Meals on Wheels and Senior Outreach Services has been supporting seniors since 1968. Two of the programs, Meals on Wheels and Friendly Visitors, rely on the support of volunteers. Your help is needed 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.
editor @ yourmonthlypaper.com
March 2018 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 21
BREA ST SURGERY - THE IMPORTANCE OF EXPERIENCE
By Dr. Barbara Persons
Breast surgery procedures consistently rank as the most requested procedures by women. There are various options when it comes to breast procedures: breast augmentation, breast reduction, mastopexy (breast lift), mastopexy augmentation, or breast reconstruction. Of all the breast procedures I perform, breast augmentation is the most popular. There are several implant options to consider with augmentation. Saline-filled implants are silicone shells filled with sterile salt water. Silicone-filled implants are silicone shells filled with plastic gel. Several styles of “Gummy bear” implants, or implants with a form stable silicone gel, are on the market which give women another option to consider. Another popular procedure is mastopexy. A mastopexy is a procedure to lift the breast and reposition the nipple in order to obtain a more youthful appearance. Often, an implant is placed to contour the breast. With the process of motherhood, weight gain and aging, our breasts will undergo many changes. As we mature, our appearance and expectations grow with us, and many of my patients would like to look as young as they feel. Before any procedure, there are a series of steps to go through that will ensure that you achieve your desired results. The first important question is why you want to have this procedure; this surgery should be about your wants and needs, not someone else’s. We have been raised to be selfless, and we teach others to be as well, but in this case, it’s okay to be selfish! I consult with female patients almost every day for a variety of breast procedures. Their reasons for wanting a procedure ranges from need for greater self-confidence and improved self-image to correcting breasts that are asymmetrical, to reconstruction after breast cancer. Our breasts are both physically and emotionally important to our image as women. Making the right choice in a partnership with a plastic surgeon can make all the difference. I strongly believe and encourage you to accept nothing less than a surgeon who is Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Note: It is not the same to claim that one is “Board Certified” in a different medical specialty or by a board that is not endorsed by the American Board of Medical Specialties. Any procedure involving the breasts demands the highest levels of experience, knowledge, care, and understanding. Breast surgeries have always been an important focus in my practice. After my plastic surgery residency, I completed an additional fellowship which focused solely on aesthetic and breast surgery. I have presented papers and written chapters in published textbooks on the topic. I have placed over one hundred pairs of breast implants in the past year (that is an average of one breast procedure every three days!). I am proud of the extensive amount of time I have spent training and researching breast procedures. So what should you expect when you come into my office for a consultation? After taking the time to get to know one another and have an examination, my goal is to understand your goal and to explain what we can do to realistically achieve your desired results. I will review your implant options and expertly advise you on the best style and size to achieve your goals. As a patient, know you have options. Find a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon who listens to you, who believes they can help you achieve your goals, and who presents you with all the information. As always, it would be my pleasure to discuss breast surgery with you in my Lafayette office and surgery center. Barbara L Persons, MD, FACS is a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and owns Persons Plastic Surgery, Inc., located at 911 Moraga Rd, Suite 205 in Lafayette. She can be reached at 925-283-4012 or drpersons@ personsplasticsurgery.com. Advertorial
To advertise call 925.405.6397
POPLAR SPECTACLES OPTOMETRY LOCATED IN THE SAFEWAY PLAZA
Comprehensive Dilated Eye Exams Cataract Evalua�on, Macular Degenera�on, Diabe�c Re�nopathy, Glaucoma Evalua�ons
Contact Lens Exams Daily, bi‐weekly, monthly, colored
Prescrip�on Glasses and Sunglasses In many cases, we are able to make your glasses in our office with our On‐Site Lab Adult & pediatric pa�ents welcomed Most vision insurance plans accepted
OPEN MONDAY TO SATURDAY Monday –Friday: 9am‐6pm Saturday: 9am‐4pm
(925) 202-2846 We invite you into our conveniently located office next to Peet’s Coffee & Katrina Rozelle
To learn more about our office visit www.poplarspecs.com
The “Good Old Days” are now!
Rates are better than 50-60 years ago (see proof above)
The Alison Company
Nationwide Financing on Commercial Property
Douglas Scott DRE#00859191 | Kevin Corstorphine DRE#01944908
805.845.5200
Dscott@alisonmortgage.com | Kevin@alisonmortgage.com
www.alisonmortgage.com
SUPPORT GROUP FOR PEOPLE WITH ADULT LOVED ONES WITH MENTAL ILLNESS
Open Our Hearts, an outreach program on mental illness, offers a free support group for family members of adults with severe mental illness from 7 to 8:30PM on the fourth Monday of each month at Temple Isaiah located at 945 Risa Rd., Lafayette. Drive across the parking lot and down the hill to the twostory building on the right. This program is open to all faiths. For additional information or to RSVP, contact karen@mmcohen.com.
PAGE 22 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • March 2018
www.yourmonthlypaper.com
THE EYE OPENER
Medical & Surgical Dermatology For Healthy Skin
LASIK AND LASER VISION CORRECTION By Gregory Kraskowsky, O.D., Alamo Optometry
Offering treatments for: Acne, Eczema, and Rashes Cysts and Lipoma Hair and Nail Disorder Keloid and Scar Revisions Moles Physician-Strength Skin Care Products Precancerous Lesions Psoriasis and Vitiligo Skin Cancer Underarm Sweating Warts, Molluscum
Revolutionary Nonsurgical
Eyebag Therapy During the past few months, I have had available. more patients inquire about and proceed with Cosmetic Dermatology Call for LASIK. Most people at this point are well-inFor Beautiful Skin consultation! formed about the subject and have either gone Offering treatments for: Body Sculpting through the procedure themselves or know Eyebag Reduction someone who has. I will cover some of the freIntroducing Face, Neck, Body Tightening, Lifting, and Rejuvenation quently asked questions without going into the Women’s Wellness Frown Lines and Jawline/Jowl technical aspects of the available procedures. Center, featuring Vlase Reduction What is LASIK? LASIK is an acronym Hair Removal nonablative laser for feminine Pigmentation and Melasma which stands for Laser ASsisted In-Situ Kerdryness, atrophy, and stressRosacea, Facial Redness, Veins, and atomelusis. A thin flap is made with a femtoinduced urinary incontinence, Post-injection Bruising second laser in the shape of a horseshoe within Sun Damage and Scars and PRP for hair thinning Tattoo, Moles, Birthmarks, and Scars the cornea and then peeled back to expose the and rejuvenation. Thinning Hair and/or Balding inner structures of the cornea. The excimer Technology & Procedures laser is then applied to the tissue to remove Offered A place where beauty and reshape the cornea depending on your Cellfina correction. The flap is then put back in place Cool Mini for neck and healthy skin meet Coolsculpting and heals on its own. Visit us at our Center of Excellence Cryoshape What is the difference between LASIK and Diolite 532 laser with a 10,000 square foot, PRK? PRK, or PhotoRefractive Keratectomy, Enlighten Pico Genesis Laser state of the art, newly renovated Excel V Laser was the precursor to LASIK. The main difsuite. We are dedicated to Excimer Laser ference between the two procedures is that in Medical, Cosmetic, and Surgical Fractional CO2 Laser PRK a corneal flap is not made. Patients usually GenesisPlus Laser Dermatology and are a place for Infini Microneedling RF decide to do PRK if they are not an optimal medical skin consultation, Kybella aesthetic rejuvenation, and candidate for LASIK due to thin corneas and/ Liposonix face and body contouring. Microneedling or large pupils. Even though the end results are MiraDry the same, the healing time with PRK is longer, Visit www.DrWilliamTing.com Mohs Micrographic Surgery and only one eye is done at a time. NBUVB Phototherapy for an extensive list of medical, surgical, and cosmetic treatments, PicoSure Laser What is the new SMILE Procedure? SMILE product lines, lasers, and therapies offered. PRP for Hair Loss and Rejuvenation is an acronym for SMall Incision Lenticular Schedule your free consultation appointment today! Vbeam Laser Extraction. SMILE is the newest procedure for Spectra Laser Superficial Radiotherapy Dr. William Ting, MD laser vision correction. There are some simThermage™ Board Certified Dermatologist and Mohs Surgeon ilarities and differences between LASIK and Ultherapy™ 2262 Camino Ramon 500 Alfred Noble Drive, #185 SMILE. In SMILE, only a small 3-millimeter Vaginal Rejuvenation San Ramon, CA 94583 Hercules, CA 94547 Vaser Shape incision is made vs. a 20-millimeter circumferTel: (925) 328-0255 Tel: (510) 669-5700 VLase for Feminine Rejuvenation ence horseshoe-shaped incision in LASIK. In *Welcoming new Medicare patients Email: staff@CalDermCare.com both procedures, a femtosecond laser is used: www.DrWilliamTing.com in LASIK to cut the flap, and in SMILE to create the corneal lenticule that is removed through the small incision. Currently, SMILE is only approved for low levels of myopia (near-sightedness) and not for hyperopia (far-sightedness) or astigmatism. What is wavefront technology? This is an optimized or “personalized” version of LASIK. The procedure is the same except for the program the computer uses to apply the laser treatment. Everyone has corneas that are just a little irregular with hills and valleys in addition to being near-sighted or far-sighted. This procedure seeks to eliminate all the known aberrations in the cornea in addition to all refractive error, so the only limit is what your brain can process for you. This leads to crisper and improved vision, especially at night. Am I a candidate for LASIK? There is a wide-range of prescriptions that can be corrected by LASIK. Large amounts of far-sightedness, near-sightedness, and astigmatism can be eliminated with the procedure. Keep in mind that there are FDA limitations on the amount of correction that can be done by LASIK and that some prescriptions might not be optimal for full LASIK correction. A comprehensive eye examination is required to fully assess your prescription and eye health, and it must be done within six months of the surgery. How long is the recovery? Assuming the LASIK procedure goes well, you can be back to work within a few days. Most people schedule the surgery at the end of the week, so they have the weekend to rest and are ready to go on Monday morning. Are there any age limitations? Most surgeons will wait until you are 21 to do the procedure. There is no maximum age for the procedure; however, it is not recommended into your 60’s because of imminent cataract formation which will blur your vision. Keep in mind that your prescription needs to be stable to do the procedure. So regardless of age, if your prescription is always changing, LASIK will not halt the progression. Obviously, this is meant as some general information regarding the procedure. There are many other things that need to be discussed, along with other refractive surgery or contact lens options. We are more than happy to do your exam here in the office and give you an opinion on your visual and refractive surgery needs along with a surgeon recommendation if desired. Dr. K. at Alamo Optometry is your hometown eye doctor for outstanding service, vision care, and designer eyewear. He can be reached at 820-6622, or visit his office at 3201 Danville Blvd., Suite 165 in Alamo. Visit our website at www.alamooptometry.com, and join us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @Alamo Optometry. Advertorial ®
MODELS
®
editor @ yourmonthlypaper.com
DOES SELF MYOFASCIAL RELEASE REALLY WORK?
March 2018 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 23
the many
By Michelle Brown, Gumsaba Custom Fitness
of colorectal cancer You’ve seen it before: that guy at the gym on a foam roller writhing in agony or that gal at work wincing at her desk with a lacrosse ball under her foot. Are these people crazy? Does this stuff actually work? Come and experience The Many Faces of Colorectal Cancer, an event Our fascia is one interconnected tensional network that focusing on the unique issues of colorectal cancer patients. adapts its fiber arrangement and density to tensional demands. When we suffer from trauma, have surgical procedures, or form Join an engaging panel of medical experts as they present the most current habits we aren’t designed for (like sitting for prolonged periods of time), our bodies information regarding ongoing screening, minimally invasive surgical create a stress response, and adaptations to our fascia occur. Let’s call these problem techniques, targeted & immuno therapies and oncology nutrition. areas “anchors.” Fascial anchors create a tensile pressure of approximately 2,000 pounds per square inch. The next time you get up from a long drive and feel stiff, say hello to your anchors, your adapted fascia. The most effective way to elongate adapted fascia is with moderate pressure over 1644 N. Broadway an extended period of time. Consistent application of self Myosascial Release (MFR) Walnut Creek, CA can restore motion and may even eliminate pain. When you feel pain during self MFR, respond with breath and relaxation. If surgery and/or chronic pain are your other options, be willing to surrender to some discomfort during MFR. The pain of rolling will eventually subside when self MFR is consistently applied. Because many of us spend the majority of time seated, we can assume that we have common anchors. These anchors, when not addressed, will inhibit the movements we are designed to do. Our anchors cannot be seen in standard tests like X-rays and MRIs. The good news is they can be addressed with a few tips, some simple tools, and self MFR. Without further ado, let’s attack one of our common anchors. You will need a timer, a lacrosse or tennis ball, and a firm, stable chair for this self Moderator: Margaret Stauffer, LMFT MFR. It is important to start the process of self MFR gently. If you have had a traumatic injury, it is best to visit an MFR practitioner who can guide you without exacerbation. Self MFR directly on an injury is not recommended. Always consult a doctor before beginning any exercise program. While seated, place the ball between the chair and your thigh, centered between your knee and the top your thigh. Take a deep breath and relax your leg onto the ball. Continue to focus on breathing for 30 seconds, and then VERY slowly begin tracking RSVP to Shayna at 925.677.5041 x272 or sjung@dvohmg.com your leg side to side. Use small, steady, explorative movements. Where you feel the greatest tension, stop and breathe. Relax your leg again. Stay on this anchor without moving for two minutes. Slowly lift your leg, and repeat on the other leg. Self MFR, when performed properly and consistently, eases tension in the body, relieves joint stress, and allows for greater range of motion. To learn more, contact me today for information on upcoming seminars or one-on-one sessions at my gym in Alamo. To your health, Coach Michelle Michelle Brown is owner of Gumsaba Custom Fitness Studio in Alamo. She is an ACE Certified Medical Exercise Specialist, ACE Subject Matter Expert, ACE Certified Personal Trainer, Martial Arts & Self Defense Expert, and Spartan SGX Coach. Michelle has been helping people in our community surpass their goals for 20 years. To learn more about her programs, visit gumsabafitness.com. Advertorial
Valley continued from page 14
and women, adobe homes for the Indians, granary, schoolrooms, flour mill, tannery, smithy, and winery. Shops produced harnesses, shoes, candles, soap, and wool and cotton fabric. With the independence of Mexico in 1821, missions were transformed to parishes, and mission lands were distributed as ranchos to former Spanish soldiers. In the 1830s, two Mexican ranchos were carved from mission grazing lands in the San Ramon Valley, both called San Ramon. In the 1840s, before and after the Gold Rush, Americans lived in and around the now-defunct mission. Leo Norris and his family lived at Mission San Jose in the years from 1847 to 1850 and bought a square league of the northwest corner of Amador’s San Ramon Rancho from Amador in 1850-1. The Norris family with their cousin William Lynch moved to San Ramon, becoming the first Americans to legally purchase land in the San Ramon Valley. Today, the large reconstructed Mission San Jose Catholic church and small museum on Mission Boulevard in Fremont remind us of California’s Hispanic era, an era which included many historic links to the San Ramon Valley. Next month I’ll write about the San Ramon Ranchos in Alamo, Danville, and San Ramon.
Sources: Bancroft Library documents, Northern District Land Case 322 (1855), Mildred Hoover’s Historic Spots in California (Abaloe revision), Francis Weber’s The Map of the East Bay created by Fa. Narciso Duran of MSJ in 1824 Patriarchial Mission (San Jose).
PAGE 24 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • March 2018
MENOPAUSE MATTERS By Timothy
Leach, MD, FACOG, CNMP ANNUAL EXAMS MATTER! PREVENTING OVARIAN & UTERINE CANCER
Last month I reviewed how regular annual exams are important for optimizing gynecologic health and the role of pap smears in preventing cervical cancer. This month I will review the new paradigm around preventing ovarian cancer and how removing a woman’s fallopian tubes can be considered safe and effective cancer prevention. Ovarian cancer is the second most common gynecologic malignancy with 22,000 new cases annually and is the most common cause of gynecologic cancer death (14,000/yr.) in the US. Previously, it was thought that ovarian cancer primarily arose from damage to the ovarian capsule with monthly ovulation and poor repair of the ovarian surface. This theory was supported by the well-known association between ovulation and risk for ovarian cancer. Women who had a respite from ovulation because of pregnancy, increased number of pregnancies, breastfeeding, or oral contraceptives have a significant reduction in their risk for ovarian cancer at the same time women who had never been pregnant have an increased risk for ovarian cancer. The compelling new theory of ovarian cancer is that some high-grade ovarian cancers are derived from cells at the end of the fallopian tube, while other ovarian cancers originate from the uterine endometrium and travel down the tube, ultimately landing on the ovary. This is called the tubal hypothesis. In 1994, the BRCA 1&2 gene mutations were identified as putting carriers at an increased risk for developing breast and ovarian cancer. You may have remembered when Angelina Jolie disclosed that she carried the BRCA gene and encouraged women, like herself, to electively remove their ovaries/tubes to prevent future cancer. The unexpected finding in these women was that when the tubes and ovaries were examined after surgery, about 10% of these high-risk women were found to have an early fallopian tube cancer. Typically, these early cancers were located in the end of the tube, closest to the ovary. The evidence supporting this hypothesis is that (1) tumors in the ovary and tube have similar gene expression, (2) when ovarian cancer is found, the tube is involved but not contiguously (skipped areas) more than 70% of the time, and (3) precursor lesions for some ovarian cancer are not found in the ovary but are found in the tube. This means that when a woman is considering surgical sterilization and wants her tubes tied, it is now recommended that she have the entirety of both tubes removed. Most outpatient surgeries for sterilization previously involved interrupting the tube by banding, cutting, and cauterizing the mid-portion of the tube. Now, the American College of Ob/Gyn recommends that for elective surgical sterilization, both tubes in their entirety should be removed. It is estimated that for every 100 low risk women undergoing sterilization by removing their tubes, one ovarian cancer will be prevented. Currently there are 700,000 sterilizations being done in the USA annually, which means that we have the opportunity to prevent 7,000 ovarian cancers. There are 22,000 ovarian cancers diagnosed every year, and this number could be reduced by 30% if women undergoing surgical sterilization had both their fallopian tubes removed. Uterine cancer is the most common gynecologic malignancy in the US with over 60,000 new cases and 10,000 deaths annually. Seventy-five to 90 percent of women with endometrial cancer present with abnormal uterine bleeding, and the majority of patients are diagnosed with disease confined to the uterus and have a 90% chance of five-year survival. The take-home message here is to let your doctor know if you are having unexpected, prolonged, or intermenstrual bleeding for more than a few months. Any post-menopausal woman (no bleeding for 12 months after 50 years old) with any bleeding should see their gynecologist for an ultrasound and possible biopsy. The majority of pre and post-menopausal women who have vaginal bleeding do not have cancer. There are many benign reasons for vaginal bleeding, but you can’t know what is causing your bleeding until you are seen by your gynecologist. Last month’s column started out by sharing a story of a patient who was on too much low dose vaginal estrogen which caused her uterine cancer. She has had surgery, it was early, and she is making a full recovery. If she had been seen annually, I would have stopped her from using too much estrogen and prevented the cancer in the first place. Visit my website, go to the learning center link, and check out the Importance of Annual Well Check. Annual exams matter! Visit my website at www.leachobgyn.com for links to resources and our Facebook page, Timothy Leach MD, for more information. My office is located at 110 Tampico, Suite 210 in Walnut Creek. Please call us at (925)935-6952. Advertorial
www.yourmonthlypaper.com
HATE YOUR NECK AND DON’T WANT SURGERY?
By Dr. Jerome Potozkin
Have you ever looked in the mirror and been disappointed at how your neck appears? If so, you are not alone. This is an area which frustrates many people as they age. It impacts how both men and women see themselves. In the past, the only real option was to undergo a neck lift (face lift). Many people have avoided this type of surgery for fear of general anesthesia and the inherent risks of the procedure. For others, it was the social downtime or time off work associated with surgery which led to avoidance. Fortunately, as time has progressed, there are many more options to address the aging neck. Tumescent Liposuction of the neck is a procedure that we perform in our fully accredited outpatient setting with local anesthesia. There is no need to be put to sleep with general anesthesia. The tumescent technique was actually invented by a dermatologist in Southern California. Performing the procedure with local anesthesia makes the procedure less risky and provides a more rapid recovery. Short of a facelift, this procedure allows for the most reliable results. The procedure usually takes about an hour from start to finish. Local anesthesia is infused just under the skin. A small incision is made under the chin and sometimes at the angle of the jaw, a small tube-like instrument called a cannula is inserted under the skin, and the fat is extracted. Most people see their full result at 3-6 months.The two things that happen are the removal of the fat and then contraction of the skin. Some people are concerned that when the fat is removed that the skin will sag. What usually occurs is the skin contracts over 3-6 months, and the skin tightens instead of sagging. Two other popular methods to remove fat are CoolSculpting and Kybella. CoolSculpting has become the most popular non-invasive method of removing fat. About two years ago, the “cool-mini” adapter was invented to remove fat under the chin. This works by chilling the fat cells, which destroys them without injuring the overlying skin. Most people will need 1-2 treatments that usually take about 45 minutes. There is no pain during the treatment, and you can read or watch your favorite TV program while being treated. Kybella is an injectable medicine that permanently destroys fat cells. Most people will require 2-4 treatment sessions, waiting about 6-8 weeks in between treatment. There is some swelling after the treatment, so I don’t recommend having the procedure before any major social or work events. When we evaluate patients, we can usually educate them about what the better option will be. For some it will be a combination of the two. With the above treatments we usually see some degree of skin tightening in addition to removal of fat. However, we also offer Ultherapy, a device specifically designed to tighten skin. Ultherapy utilizes micro-focused ultrasound to heat the deeper structures in the skin and just above the muscle layer. Most people will see some degree of tightening over several months. The downside of all the non-invasive skin tightening devices is that no two people respond the same with respect to how much tightening they will see. For some it will be pretty significant, while for others the change will not be quite as much. The results are not equivalent to a facelift, and if you have a very saggy “turkey neck” with lots of loose skin, a facelift may be the only worthwhile option. However, if you have moderate skin sag, Ultherapy may be the best option for you as it doesn’t require the risk and downtime associate with surgery. In summary, there are many options for people who want to improve the appearance of their neck. Nonsurgical options have gained popularity because of the results we can obtain and because more and more people don’t want to take time off their work or social calendar. If you are interested in the noninvasive methods of turning back the hands of time on your aging neck, call us to now to schedule a consultation. During March we are offering a complimentary “Look Your Best” consultation. Dr. Jerome Potozkin is a Board Certified Dermatologist specializing in minimally and non-invasive cosmetic procedures. We are accepting new patients and can be reached at (925) 838-4900 and at www.MyBeautyMd.com. Advertorial
To place an ad, share a story, or for more information about our papers, call 925.405.6397 or email editor@yourmonthlypaper.com.
editor @ yourmonthlypaper.com
RADIATION FOR SKIN CANCER
By Christine Chung, MD
March 2018 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 25
“Home Care Assistance caregivers really do care! They were there for me 24/7 after my open heart surgery.”
Mr. S is a 70 year old man who noticed a lump on the left side of his nose several months ago. The - Bill S., Alamo, CA lump quickly grew, and a biopsy showed squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), a type of skin cancer. He was treated for a squamous cell carcinoma on his arm several years ago with Mohs surgery, a procedure in which a dermatologist shaves off layers of skin to remove the cancer. He asked me, “I hated going under the knife for my skin cancer. Is there another option?” SCC of the skin is one of the most common malignancies diagnosed in the US, with over 700,000 new cases each year. It occurs most frequently on sunexposed skin in fair-skinned individuals, though may also develop in people with darker skin. SCC of the skin is associated with exposure to ultraviolet light Home Care Liaison, Francesca Vogel and her client, Bill S. from the sun (UVA and UVB), and occurs more often in people over 45 years old. Patients who have undergone organ transplantation and require chronic immunosuppression are also at greater risk of developing skin cancer. This The Only Home Care Solution Offering an Innovative, type of cancer can take many forms, including flat red spots, painless bumps, Science-Based Approach to Aging or scaly patches on the skin. A doctor needs to biopsy the skin to confirm the Home Care Assistance has elevated the standard of care for older diagnosis of cancer. adults through our Balanced Care Method™, a holistic approach to Over 90% of skin SCC are cured with local therapy alone, usually surgical care for older adults that promotes healthy mind, body and spirit and excision like Mohs. An advantage of Mohs microsurgery is that the surgeon is based on the scientifically studied lifestyles of the longest-living can look at the cells as they are being removed, to ensure that all of the cancer people in the world. has been fully excised. Low-risk SCC may also be treated with freezing Speak to a Care Advisor to schedule your free in-home (cryotherapy) or a topical cream, such as Aldara. Some patients may need consultation today. radiation after surgical excision, if the cancer cells have aggressive features, such as invasion into the local nerves, or if the cancer could not be fully excised. From our family to yours! 190-G Alamo Plaza Radiation therapy alone is another non-invasive way to treat skin cancers. 925-820-8390 Alamo, CA 94507 HomeCareAssistance.com/Alamo Next to Safeway and Five Guys! High-energy X-rays are directed at the tumor to kill the cancer cells. Using radiation to treat skin cancer is a reasonable option for patients who cannot Changing the Way the World Ages tolerate surgery or those who have problems with wound-healing after surgery. Serving Happy Clients Across Alamo, Danville, Blackhawk, Lamorinda and Walnut Creek! It is also used for skin cancers in sensitive regions where surgery could be potentially disfiguring, such as at the tip of the nose or the ears. The cure rate for early stage skin cancer is over 95% with radiation therapy alone. Radiation therapy can be delivered in several different ways, including superficial electron radiation or electronic brachytherapy. Electronic brachytherapy using the XOFT system uses a miniaturized X-ray source to deliver radiation to the skin cancer. The treatment is given twice a week for four weeks, and each treatment lasts about five minutes. The side effects can include skin irritation and redness, hair loss in the treatment area, and possible blistering and peeling of the skin. The treatment is not ideal for all skin cancers, but may be a convenient option for some patients. Dr. Chung is a board certified radiation oncologist with Diablo Valley Oncology & Hematology Medical Group in Pleasant Hill. She has a special interest in treating skin and breast cancer. Dr. Chung sees patients in Pleasant Hill and Berkeley. For more information call: 925-825-8878. Advertorial month after her sprain, Mia is devastated that she followed the recommendRICE FOR SPRAINS & STRAINS? ed Aguidelines of RICE and is feeling no better. She isn’t able to go to practice, By Dr. Jesse Call, Sycamore Valley Chiropractic and she needs help. What can be done for her? How can she get back on the When 13-year-old Mia sprained her ankle at soccer practice and playing field? practice, it felt like it was no big deal. They weren’t doing First, we helped Mia and her mom properly understand what an ankle anything particularly strenuous, and although she was sprain is. It is more than just micro-tears in the ligament. The ligament has in pain, it was bearable. After practice when she took been stretched further than it is meant to. This has effects in the ligament, the her shoe off, it didn’t even swell that much. So, her mom musculature around that ligament, the joint(s) that are being held together by decided to lean on the old fall back of RICE: Rest, Ice, that ligament, and even the brain due to decreased sensory input from the ankle. Compression, and Elevation. A sprained ankle is a complex problem that needs more than just a little ice and One month later, Mia is still experiencing pain. She time. By fully understanding Mia’s problem, we were able to use chiropractic adcan’t run, and although she has tried to practice, the coach has told her to stop justments, soft tissue work on the injured ligament and the surrounding structures, coming until she is better because the pain just hasn’t gone away. She has now coupled with rehabilitation exercises to help with strength of the muscles and to missed most of the preseason, the regular season is about to start, and her coach stimulate the nerves to help Mia be pain free and back at practice the very next day. is telling her to stay away from practice. She isn’t getting better and can’t seem You see that the old fallback of RICE doesn’t get to the root cause of your problem. to figure out why. This is because RICE doesn’t fix your problem. A full understanding of the complexity of an injury coupled with appropriate treatment The principles of RICE seem sound on the outside. You have stretched a and care can lead to much faster healing times than the typical 6-8 weeks after a sprain. ligament past its limits, having either micro tears or a partial tear of the ligament. The real secret though is to prevent the ankle sprain from happening at all. Regular We call these either grade 1 or grade 2 sprains. When the tear happens, inflam- chiropractic care coupled with exercises and posture can greatly reduce the risk of mation or swelling rushes to the area. We apply ice, compression, and elevation ankle sprains. If you have a young athlete in your life or if you want to reduce your to the area in an attempt to reduce or ward off the swelling. We then rest the risk for ankle sprains and other sports based injuries, give us a call. We love to help. area to allow the great healer, “time,” to do its thing. Sycamore Valley Chiropractic is Here is the thing: swelling isn’t harmful. In fact, it is your body’s way of located at 565 Sycamore Valley Rd. increasing nutrients and healing which naturally braces an injured area. Why West in Danville. Please visit www. would you want to reduce nutrients and healing to an injured area? You wouldn’t. sycamorevalleychiropractic.com or call Recent research has shown that icing is one of the worst things you can do for (925)837-5595 for more information or a sprain. Gabe Mirkin, M.D., the originator of the RICE formula, came out in to schedule an appointment. Advertorial 2014 and stated he no longer recommends using it.
www.yourmonthlypaper.com
PAGE 26 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • March 2018
YOUR PERSONAL NUTRITIONIST
WHY AM I NOT LOSING WEIGHT WITH ALL THIS EXERCISE? By Linda Michaelis RD, MS
Springtime is the best time of the year to embark on a weight loss regimen. During the spring months we require less food due to the heat as opposed to during the winter when we need food for fuel to keep us warm. Many clients confuse hunger with feeling cold during the colder months. My best client is one that is tracking calories, exercising and eating better, and still not losing weight. When a new client calls me and says they are doing all the right things to lose weight and not making progress, a list of possible scenarios runs through my head. You are eating back all the calories you burn. When you work out, you are burning extra calories. Exercise is important in the weight-loss equation. But a lot of people overestimate how much they burn—and even use the “I exercised today” excuse to overeat and overdrink. How many times have you faced a food temptation and thought, “Well, I worked out today, so it’s OK this time.” Or, “I’ll have this now, but work out extra hard tomorrow.” If that sounds all-too-familiar, this is one major reason why you’re not losing weight. We overestimate how many calories we burn and underestimate how many calories we’re eating. Trainers even tell me that they think weight loss is 80% nutrition and 20% exercise. You’re relying on exercise alone to do the trick. Yes, exercising can help you lose weight because it helps you create that calorie deficit to lose weight. The real truth is exercise alone will not help you lose weight. It takes a lot of time and effort to burn even a few calories. A full hour of intense exercise may only burn 400-500 calories for a lot of people. On the flipside, it’s easy to eat hundreds or thousands of calories in even a few minutes.But it would take hours of exercise to offset those calories. If you are not changing your diet and reducing your calorie intake, exercise alone probably won’t help your weight-loss results. You are not eating as healthy as you think. We all think we eat pretty well. Even people who eat a pretty bad diet don’t think it’s that bad. Often I see that my exercise people skimp on eating during the day after exercise and eat heavier at night. It should be the other way around. After you exercise, your metabolism is speeded up, and calories are burned off at three times the rate compared to many hours later. We tend to eat late-night meals because of schedules which also can prevent weight loss. We enjoy our alcohol, but a large glass of wine can easily contain 200 calories. I suggest having vodka and gin martinis which my clients enjoy. They often see that with one drink they feel a buzz and don’t need several glasses of wine. I see many clients eating too much cheese, nuts, olives, and avocadoes which of course can be considered healthy fats. However, they often eat too much of them. You are doing the wrong kinds of exercise. When it comes to exercise, there is confusion out there. One day you hear that strength training is the best way to lose weight. The next day you’re told to focus on cardio. To my clients that walk for exercise, I tell them they must step it up and do interval training that will shock the metabolism. Cardio is the key for weight loss, and strength training helps to keep the body from turning soft and keep your muscles looking toned and feeling strong. You are not being consistent enough. When struggling to lose those final 5-10 pounds, consistent efforts are important. You try to eat “perfectly” and exercise for a whole week, only to step on the scale to see that you haven’t lost an ounce? You think, “What is the point?” and go on an all-out eating feast and skip the gym for a couple days. This is when clients call me and say it’s an emergency. It is my job to teach you how to enjoy birthday cake, drinks, and socializing with friends. You need a plan that includes your favorite foods and enjoyment with no deprivation. My eight week Royal Treatment Program is my most popular for successful weight loss. It includes a visit a week and coaching by text, phone, or email. Call me and I will tell you about the program and how it can work for you. I am glad to inform you that nutritional counseling is covered by many health insurance companies such as Aetna, ABMG, Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield, Sutter, and Cigna. Please call me at (925) 855-0150 about your nutrition concerns, or email me at Lifeweight1@yahoo.com and refer to my website www.LindaRD.com. Advertorial
Bocce continued from page 12
Danville League Coordinator Cat Bravo had never played bocce when she accepted the position. Once she had a chance to try the sport, she understood the appeal. “I knew nothing about bocce when I took over as league coordinator,” she recalls. “As Wellness Chair, we held a bocce/barbecue event for our organization, and that is when I learned to play. I discovered that bocce is easy to learn, and play creates a very social environment.” Spring league registration for the Sycamore Valley Park courts opened on February 12th. Play begins the week of March 25th. Up to 16 teams can play each weekday evening. All players must be registered. While leagues are all coed, some teams are all men or all women. There is no requirement that teams have an equal number of men and women on their roster. The minimum number of players per team is four, but most teams have more members. Players looking for a team can sign up as free agents to find a team or even form one. Senior bocce is offered Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings. Volunteers teach the eight-week program. Although there is currently no senior league, many seniors join adult league teams. Originally most league players were over 40. Recently, 20 and 30 year-olds are joining in the fun. Equipment is provided for league play, but those registering to use the courts on weekends need to bring their own bocce balls. Danville resident Palmira Brandt plays on a team with her husband and several neighbors. Their Rockin’ Rollers team captured the Fall 2017 Friday Night Championship. She says, “We have 11 people on our team, and our captain makes sure that everyone plays equally in the regular season and playoffs.” Socializing and sharing appetizers and beverages enhances the fun. “The win was very exciting because all 11 team players showed up that playoff night, and all 11 played.” Donna Dodge is not Italian. Her bowling buddies asked her to join the Women’s Auxiliary at the Prince Thomas of Savoy Club in Avon, CT. In May 2017, to celebrate the Italian Club’s 100th anniversary, Dodge and seven other players set the Guinness Book of World Records benchmark for the longest marathon team bocce game: thirty-two hours and four minutes.” Referees could have no affiliation with club members and had to be changed every two hours. Friends supplied food and beverages throughout the match. “I have never seen so much support from the community. People we’d never seen before came. The pavilion was packed the day we finished,” Donna recalls. Glorie Zeisz, who is Italian, learned to play on her home court. “We bought a house with a flat yard, so our three daughters bought a set of bocce balls for Christmas,” she explains. While you can play bocce on almost any dry, flat surface, Glorie says, “We soon built a hard har-tru bocce court because that grass thing is another game entirely.” She has taught friends to play in five minutes. Contact Cat Bravo, Town of Danville Program Coordinator, Sports and Facilities at (925) 314-3422 to learn how to get in the game.
C L A S S I F I E D TECH HELP FOR SENIORS
Need help with technical tasks? House calls for help with travel booking, photo organizing, Facebook set-up, online bill-pay, texting basics and more. $35 per hour. Call Shelly at (510) 915-9830.
HANDYMAN SERVICES
Home Services with 30 years experience •Plumbing •Electrical •Drywall repair •New toilets •Carpentry •Caulking •Grab bars •Pressure washing •Ceramic tile •Water heaters •Dead bolts •Faucets •Garbage disposals •Flooring •Sliding doors and more! Call James, owner, at 925-934-0877.
AUTOS WANTED
We Will Buy or Consign Your Car. All cars displayed in our private and secure showroom. We are a locally family owned dealership serving the Lamorinda and San Ramon Valley for over 30 years in a very relaxed atmosphere. Free pick-up and delivery. 925-820-1188.
Place Your Classified
Reach over 21,000 homes and businesses in Alamo, Danville, & Diablo - Help Wanted, For Sale, Services, Lessons, Pets, Rentals, Wanted, Freebies...$50 for up to 35 words,$5 for each additional 15 words.Send or email submissions to: 3000F Danville Blvd #117,Alamo,CA 94507 or editor@yourmonthlypaper.com. Payment by check made out to “The Editors”,or credit card placed on file by calling 925-405-6397 must be received before ad will print. Your canceled check is your receipt. We reserve the right to reject any ad.
editor @ yourmonthlypaper.com
March 2018 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 27
(Now partnered with Stone Valley Dental)
WE ARE ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS
CALL US AT (925) 831-8310
www.yourmonthlypaper.com
PAGE 28 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • March 2018
The Combs Team Professionals You Can Count On
Nancy
Joe
Call the Combs Team
This is Rockcliff Country
®
92 5 -9 8 9 -6 0 8 6 www.TheCombsTeam.com
DANVILLE / ALAMO AREA REAL ESTATE: LUXURY HOME PRICES UP 20%
Last year, 2017, was another solid year for Luxury Homes sales in our area. I have defined Luxury Homes to include homes that are 5,000 square feet and larger sitting on a premium lot that is between ½ and 1 full acre, equipped with a pool. This definition has been overlain on the geographies including Alamo, Blackhawk, Danville, and Diablo, basically what in my personal view comprises the Danville Area. The Luxury Home market bottomed in 2010 both in terms of average price and dollars paid per square foot. At that time you could have bought a 5,800 square ft. home for an average price of about $1.9 million with a value of $327 per square foot. Those prices were nearly 62% below the current market for a Luxury Home. During the Luxury Home market peak in 2007, only 14 homes sold, but they did so with an impressive average price of $2,920,833 and an average square foot price of $506. Today the chart tells us that with an average sold price of $3,397,825 the Luxury Home market has fully recovered and then some. Looking at the line of ascent from the bottom in 2010 things have been steadily Luxury Home Market Price improving. During 2016 a total of 25 Luxury Homes sold. During $3,500,000 2017 it’s a few less at 20. $3,000,000 There are currently 15 Luxury $2,500,000 homes on the market. This is unchanged from 2017. Their total $2,000,000 days on market range from 9 to $1,500,000 323 days. These active listings carry $1,000,000 an average list price of $3,606,582 $500,000 compared to last year’s list price of $$3,212,187, and an average square 2010 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 foot price of $582 compared to $537
Luxury Home Mkt. Alamo, Blackhawk, Danville, Diablo Year Units Sold DOM Sold Price $/Sq. Foot Avg Size 2010 14 91 $ 1,908,000 $ 327 5834 11 21 98 $ 2,163,102 $ 367 5894 12 14 154 $ 2,195,179 $ 369 5948 13 15 62 $ 2,464,961 $ 413 5968 14 17 69 $ 2,571,767 $ 440 5844 15 24 75 $ 2,974,642 $ 492 6059 16 25 95 $ 2,819,060 $ 455 5958 17 20 63 $ 3,397,825 $ 532 6029 Note: 5000 + Sq Ft. Home on .5-1.0 acre and Pool last year. It seems that the list price is getting a little ahead of the actual average selling price which sits at $532 per square foot. This is probably why days-on-market are increasing. The good news for Luxury Home sellers is that the market has more than recovered from the downturn and the market is not flooded. This market has moved very far, very fast, and made a big price sold price jump of 20% in 2017. Squarefoot price is up about 17% in the same time period. It’s going to be fun to see if this market can continue to climb in 2018. Please feel free to forward this article to your friends who might enjoy it. It’s important to remember that there really is no “average” home and no two homes are exactly alike. If you would like an honest “no strings attached “opinion of your home’s current market value and suggestions for preparing it for market, please give me a call 925-989-6086 or send me an email joecombs@thecombsteam. com. Please visit our website to discover more information on our local market www.thecombsteam.com.
Round Hill
Danville Two Story
Alamo 10 Acre Estate
ay 5d n i ing d n Pe
s!
day 1 n i ing d n Pe
!
Beautiful custom home with views, gardens, huge master, 3 ensuite bedrooms, bonus room/au pair suite with private entrance. Price available upon request.
Lovely five bedroom, 3 bath on an oversize lot. One bedroom downstairs. Priced to sell! $1,399,000.
Sensational Mediterranean backing the golf course. 4 beds, 3.5 baths, 2 master suites. Pool/spa outdoor kitchen and living room. Price to sell $2,900,000
Alamo Custom Luxury Home
Alamo Single Story
West Side Alamo
SO
M LD
rs f fe O iple ult
!
Stonegate 4 bedroom, 3.5 bath with 1 bedroom downstairs. Pool/spa, BBQ, putting green. Priced to sell $2,000,000
N! O O GS N I COM Charming light and bright 4 bedroom 2.5 bath Single story home on a large private lot. Call for pricing.
Data presented in this column is based in whole or in part on data supplied by the Contra Costa and Alameda MLS service and other quoted sources. Joe Combs, Nancy Combs, The Combs Team, J. Rockcliff and the MLS service do not guarantee the accuracy of this information. DRE #0144125.
SO
L
JA D
A NU
RY
Unbelievable value on this 4 bed, 6.5 bath home in Jones Ranch. Pool, Spa, Au Pair Suite Priced to Sell! $2,045,000. J. Rockcliff Realtors 15 Railroad Ave., Danville CA. 94526