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March 2019 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 1
& MARCH 2019
WHERE HONEY BEES THRIVE SWEET CONNECTIONS COME NATURALLY
IMPACT DIABLO VALLEY ENCOURAGES FAMILY PHILANTHROPY By Fran Miller
By Jody Morgan
Now celebrating 40 years of connecting people fascinated by the social lifestyle of honey bees, Mount Diablo Beekeepers Association (MDBA) provides information essential to suc- Bee on Cosmos: Planting for bees is one of the best cessful backyard beekeeping things you can do. Photo by Judy Weatherly. at monthly meetings January-October and hands-on workshops. MDBA volunteers relocate swarms from infelicitous locations to appropriate homes. Community Education volunteers present programs on the importance of bees to groups of all ages. While harvested honey is a sweet reward, MDBA members rate lessons learned from bees as an even greater benefit. Judy Weatherly, MDBA Past-President, remarks, “Bees have Colleen & Gary: MDBA volunteers prepare the observation box given me a whole for a classroom visit by finding and marking the queen. Photo new appreciation courtesy of Judy Weatherly. for the cycle of life.
See Bees continued on page 16
SHEEP SHEARING DAY WITH SRHF
APRIL 27TH, 11AM – 3PM
Sheep shearing is one of the San Ramon Historic Foundations (SRHF) largest annual events drawing over 1,000 people to Forest Home Farms Historic Park located at 19953 San Ramon Valley Blvd, in San Ramon. The event is an opportunity for community members of all ages to come together and enjoy a day on the farm while learning and having fun. Sheep will receive their annual haircut and provide an opportunity for SRHF to demonstrate how sheep are sheared. You will see how
See Sheep continued on page 14
Local Postal Customer
PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Permit 263 Alamo CA
ECRWSS
Approaching its one-year anniversary, Impact Diablo Valley and its founders Gina Halow and Mindy Longo appear to have created a recipe for philanthropic success. The recipe’s secret ingredient? Children. “Unique to our non-profit organization is that we are getting kids involved,” says Halow, an Alamo resident who was raised in the area. “Philanthropy is about giving of time, talent, and treasure, and we are
Impact Diablo Valley founders Mindy Longo, Gina Halow, and young members.
teaching the importance of giving back from an early age. Impact Diablo Valley is about bringing philanthropy to the dinner table and starting conversations about the important work going on to help others in our local community.” The premise is simple. Participating families donate $1,000 annually. A grants committee reviews and vets grant applicants, six of which receive site visits. (26 applications were received this past year.) A final three are selected to make two presentations: one in October, specifically for Impact Diablo Valley’s participating children, and another in November, for the parents. A vote of both groups decides the final recipient – each participating family receives one vote, further encouraging family discussion and interaction. Families can be involved as much or as little as they wish with Impact Diablo Valley and its varied committees. The minimum requirement is attendance at these grant applicant presentations.
See Impact continued on page 17
The Editors Serving the communities of Alamo, Diablo, and Danville
Volume XIX Number 3
Volume X Number 3
3000F Danville Blvd. #117 Alamo, CA 94507 Telephone (925) 405-6397 Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher Editor@yourmonthlypaper.com 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 2019
BOULEVARD VIEW
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By Alisa Corstorphine, Editor
I used to think the phrase, an “attitude of gratitude” was just a “fluffy,” “feel-good” sentiment. However, as I get older, I see the wisdom in feeling gratitude and expressing it. Many studies have shown that being grateful has many benefits for health, career, social interactions, emotional well-being, happiness, and more. Furthermore, according to some studies, keeping a five-minute-a-day gratitude journal can increase your long-term well-being by more than 10%. To do this, just list three things you are grateful for each day. They don’t have to be big “a-ha” moments or jaw-dropping discoveries. Simple things are just as important to recognize. We live in an area that gives many opportunities for gratitude. I am grateful for the Iron Horse Trail that provides easy access to the outdoors and a place for people to mingle. I am grateful for the vista of Mt. Diablo - especially when covered in snow. I am grateful to my neighbors who brought my family and me treats and meals as I heal from my broken leg. Last month, I wrote about a crock pot campaign I am coordinating for the fire survivors in Butte County. Over 200 additional crock pots have been purchased and sent in the last month. I am thankful to Alamo Today & Danville Today News readers who pitched in to make this happen, and in particular, I appreciate Tressa from Danville who rallied her friends, family, and connections to buy almost 60 of them! Brother David Steindl-Rast notes, “Gratefulness is the key to a happy life that we hold in our hands, because if we are not grateful, then no matter how much we have we will not be happy — because we will always want to have something else or something more.” Expressing gratefulness via a hand-written note may seem old-fashioned to some, but receiving a letter in the mail definitely brings a different emotional response than a phone call or an emailed thanks. A handwritten note brings personality, warmth, and added gravitas that an electronic version of thanks can’t adequately convey. There is something about the action of the time spent to pick out a CROCK POTS FOR BUTTE COUNTY card, write a note and sentiment, address it, stamp it, and mail it that seems to Last Month Total Sent: 252 carry more meaning. And, for the recipient, finding a real LETTER in a pile At Press Time Total Now Sent: 466 of bills is exciting! A hand-written note is classy and never out of style. Would you like to purchase a crock pot I continue to be grateful for the advertisers who help bring you this paper each for those who have lost everything? A new month and grateful for your readership. Because of both, I am able to continue one shipped is less than $25. Email me at to produce, print, and distribute over 28,300 copies of the paper each month to editor@yourmonthlypaper.com if you’d like to help. our local communities and keep the newspaper medium alive and well.
DANVILLE COMMUNITY BAND
Join the Danville Community Band as they celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a musical trip to the cinema, “Let’s Go To The Movies!” The band will perform selections from film scores from the golden ages to recent including Guys and Dolls, Silverado, The Blues Brothers, La La Land, and more! The performance will be held Sunday, March 17 at 2PM at the Blackhawk Museums, located at 3700 Blackhawk Plaza Circle, Danville. The concert is free with museum admission; come early and check out the museum before the concert begins. 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 www.danvilleband.org.
GOLD COAST CHAMBER PLAYERS
The award winning Gold Coast Chamber Players bring the finest in chamber music to the Bay Area. Founded in 1987, GCCP distinguishes itself by its eclectic programming and by providing community access to leading musicians from throughout the world. The fourth of this season’s concerts, titled W.A.M.! (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart), will be performed on Saturday, March 16th at 7:30PM at the Lafayette Library Community Hall, 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd. in Lafayette, and again at 5PM on Sunday, March 17th at the Piedmont Center for the Arts, 801 Magnolia Ave. in Piedmont. Musicologist Kai Christiansen, provides a pre-concert talk 30 minutes prior to each performance. With this program, the Gold Coast Chamber Players present three of Mozart’s very finest and cherished chamber music works highlighting both the clarinet and the viola, two of Mozart’s personal favorites. Husband and wife team, San Francisco Opera clarinetist Tony Striplen and violist Pamela Freund-Striplen bring three decades of experience to the ‘Kegelstatt’ Trio, K. 498 along with Bay Area favorite, pianist Jeffrey LaDeur. The Alexander String Quartet joins the ensemble following the trio. list. In a single work, Mozart combines his gifts for three genres in which he was supreme: opera, the concerto, and the string quartet. Tickets are $45/ $40 senior (65+)/ $15 students. Purchase online at www.gcplayers.org or by calling (925) 283-3728.
Help us celebrate again and enjoy our FIFTH annual
combined
Veterans Service Organization
Fundraiser Tickets $40.00 Saturday March 16, 2019 at 5:00 PM Veterans Memorial Building 400 Hartz Ave Danville, CA
All funds collected go directly to the Veterans Memorial Building Operating Committee to pay for the operating expenses of the Veterans Wing of the building
Or Contact Dennis Giacovelli at houseworks@pacbell.net or Lee Halverson at lhazmateer@aol.com for tickets
editor @ yourmonthlypaper.com
March 2019 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 3
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TAO HOUSE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT DAY ROLE PLAYERS
A GRAND NIGHT FOR High school students, apply to join the Eugene O’Neill Foundation SINGING
SATURDAY, MARCH 23 FROM 8:30AM TO 3:30PM
for a free one-day master class in acting, playwriting, or photography. The theme for this year’s event is “Express Yourself!” Creative workshops will be led by professional artists at Tao House, the Eugene O’Neill National Historic Site in Danville, home of Nobel Prize-winning playwright, Eugene O’Neill. • Engage in workshops and activities led by professional artists • Tour Tao House with a National Park Service leader • Meet and share the day’s adventure with fellow high school artists • Create your own works of art! • Creativity will be sustained with a provided brunch and lunch The National Park Service shuttle will provide transportation to Tao House from two locations: Walnut Creek BART parking lot or Sycamore Valley Road “Park and Ride” parking lot near the 680 on-ramp. Students can apply at http://www.eugeneoneill.org/event/student-day-2019. The deadline for applications is March 15th.
PACIFIC CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
Join Role Players Ensemble for some fun on Friday, March 15 at 8PM and Saturday, March 16 at 8PM at the Village Theatre, located at 233 Front Street in Danville. Hear your favorite songs from The Sound of Music, Oklahoma!, South Pacific, Carousel, Cinderella, Flower Drum Song, State Fair, and other Broadway hit musicals by the team of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein. Dine out in Danville then come to the Village Theatre starting at 6:30pm for champagne and dessert prior to the performances. Tickets can be purchased online at www.villagetheatreshows, at Danville Community Center, 420 Front St, Danville, or by calling (925) 314-3400.
Pacific Chamber Orchestra, under the direction of Conductor Lawrence Kohl, performs Schubert’s Octet, Ravel’s Introduction and Allegro, and Françaix’s Dixtuor, on Saturday March 23rd at 7:30pm. The performance will take place at the Community Hall in the Lafayette Library and Learning Center, located at 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette. A second performance will be held Sunday, March 24th at 3pm at the Bankhead Theatre, located at 2400 First Street in Livermore. Tickets may be purchased online for this “Schubert – The Sublime” performance at www.pacificchamberorchestra. org and additionally for the Livermore performance by calling the Bankhead box office at 925-373-6800, in person at 2400 First Street, Livermore, or www.bankheadtheater.org.
925.314.1111
PAGE 4 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • March 2019
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SRVHS STUDENTS PRESENT SHREK THE MUSICAL
The San Ramon Valley High School Theater program is pleased to announce that it will present the Tony Award-winning Shrek the Musical, March 26-28 at 7pm, and a special Friday matinée at 3:30pm on March 29th. Based on the Oscar-winning DreamWorks animation film, Shrek the Musical is a fairy tale adventure which brings all the beloved characters you know from the film to life on stage and proves there is more to the story than meets the ears. "Once upon a time, there was a little ogre named Shrek...." And thus begins the tale of an unlikely hero who finds himself on a life-changing journey alongside a wisecracking donkey and a feisty princess who resists her rescue. Throw in a short-tempered bad guy, a cookie with an attitude. and over a dozen other fairy tale misfits, and you've got the kind of mess that calls for a real hero. Luckily, there’s one on hand... and his name is Shrek. Shrek presents a treasure trove of creative opportunities, including costumes, sets, puppets (there is a fire-breathing dragon after all) and more! Irreverently fun for the whole family, Shrekproves that beauty is truly in the eye of the ogre. Kyle Nash, the director of the theater program, has wanted to produce Shrek, the Musical since his first year at the high school. “It’s a true family musical. Something for everyone. Great music, big characters, and a wonderful message,” says Nash. “This year we wanted to create more opportunities for the community to come see what we have to offer. Tickets are available at https://www.srvhstheatre.com/tickets. The San Ramon Valley High School Theater is located at 501 Danville Boulevard, Danville.
ROTARY TO HOLD ANNUAL EASTER EGG HUNT AND FAMILY FUN DAY AT LIVORNA PARK
SATURDAY, APRIL 20TH
The Rotary Club of Alamo will sponsor the Annual Easter Egg Hunt and Family Fun Day on Saturday, April 20th at Livorna Park. The event will begin at 9am with games and music and end at 11am. About 10,000 eggs will be hidden for children to find. In addition to the Easter Egg Hunt and a visit by the Easter Bunny, there will also be children’s carnival games, balloon people, face painting (provided by the Monte Vista High School Interact Club which is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Alamo), and other fun activities. There will also be live music provided by The East Bay Banjo Club, and coffee, chocolate milk, water, and donuts for sale. The Alamo Elementary School Chorus will also perform. The Egg Hunt will take place at AM 10 sharp. The Egg Hunt will be split into three age groups: one for children three years of age and under, another for children ages four to six, and one for children ages seven to nine. Parents should allow ample time for their children to be on time to participate. The Rotary Club of Alamo was founded on May 7, 1971, and has 42 members. The major activities ongoing at the club include: • Support for two RotaCare clinics that provide free health care for the indigent in our community. • Cash and volunteer time for Meals on Wheels • Renovations at the East Bay Crisis Nursery • Renovations at the Choice in Aging Adult Day Care in Pleasant Hill • Support for two Cub Scout Packs • Support for water-harvesting projects in Tanzania • Contributions to the Rotary International End Polio campaign • School dictionaries distribution to third grade students • Support for the Wheelchair Foundation • Roadside cleanup and beautification in Alamo The Club meets on Wednesdays at 12:15pm at Round Hill Country Club, located at 3169 Round Hill Road, Alamo. For more information about the Egg Hunt and Family Fun Day “LIKE” the Club’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/RotaryClubofAlamo or contact Steve Polcyn at 925-548-3516 or steve_polcyn@earthlink.net, or Peter Waldron at 925786-7686 or peter.waldron@lfg.com.
THE SIXTIES AT FIFTY
“The Sixties at Fifty” exhibit is now at the Museum of the San Ramon Valley. The Sixties were an exciting, awful, inspiring, innovative, but always memorable, time. This exhibit shows the Sixties through a national as well as San Ramon Valley perspective. The Museum has a busy, informative, and entertaining March line-up with a group of programs and movies that capture the many themes and activities that took place in the 60’s. All events are free! • March 8, 1:45PM, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid will be shown at the Village Theater located at 233 Front St, Danville. • March 14, 7PM at the Vets Hall located at 400 Hartz Ave in Danville. Melissa Jackson a professor from Diablo Valley College will present “What's So Funny? Women's Lib Comics From Ms. to #MeToo.” This will be an entertaining and enlightening talk about the relevance of humor in the movement for women's rights. • March 28, 10:30AM, at the Museum of the San Ramon Valley. A presentation entitled “I-680 Changed Everything.” Where was this new freeway to be put, how could we save the heritage oak trees, where would the off ramps be located. These and many more issues around 680 will be discussed. • March 29, 1:45PM Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner at the Vets Hall 400 Hartz in Danville. The Museum of the San Ramon Valley is located at 205 Railroad Ave. in Danville. Hours are Tuesday-Friday 1-4, Saturday 10-1, and Sunday 12-3. For more information, call 925-837-3750 or visit www.museumsrv.org.
editor @ yourmonthlypaper.com
March 2019 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 5
BLACKHAWK CHORUS PERFORMANCE
On Saturday, March 16, and Sunday, March 17, 60 members of the Blackhawk Chorus will join forces with the California Symphony Orchestra to perform three pieces with the orchestra for two “All John Williams” concerts at the Lesher Theater in Walnut Creek. To purchase tickets, visit https://www.californiasymphony.org/shows/all-john-williams/. For either event click on “SEE TICKET OPTIONS,” and proceed from there. To view the program for both concerts, please go to https:// open.spotify.com/playlist/3Po1kDafayDAaBrUhKKE8R.
AAUW TALK ON AIR QUALITY & AIR POLLUTION
Come learn about air quality and air pollution with the American Association of University Women (AAUW) Danville-Alamo-Walnut Creek Branch on Saturday, March 9th at 10AM. Andrea Morgan, an AAUW National Career Development Grantee, will speak at the Veterans Memorial Community Hall, located at 400 Hartz Avenue in Danville. Air pollution has long been viewed as an environmental issue, but recognition of air pollution as a social justice issue has only recently become far more widespread. At this presentation you’ll hear about: • The hot spots of air pollution in the Bay Area and their implications for health. • New technologies which enable researchers to better understand the scope of the problem. • Actions being taken by the State and others to address these issues, and • What you can do to ensure that everyone can breathe clean air. Speaker, Andrea Morgan is an AAUW Career Development Grant recipient. She is in her final semester at UC Berkeley where she is pursuing concurrent master’s degrees in public policy and environmental engineering. Her work and studies center on reducing air pollution and combating climate change while promoting environmental equity. For five years prior to attending graduate school, she was an environmental engineer at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Coffee, tea, and pastries will be served. A $10 donation will be donated to AAUW Funds. For questions, contact Tena Gallagher at 925 878-5161 or mstena@gmail.com.
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HOST FAMILIES SOUGHT FOR TWO WEEK STAY BY VISITING FRENCH STUDENTS
For the 17th year, students from a large high school in the south of France are coming to the Bay Area for a two week visit of our area. The students will arrive on April 22nd and depart May 3rd. 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 motivate you to 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 Kevin Dimler, who can be reached at kevindimler@gmail.com or (925)718-5052.
FAMILY HISTORY CENTER
For almost two decades, The Danville Family History Center has been serving the community. Everyone is welcome during library hours to use the resources available. There is a friendly and experienced staff who volunteer to help you to utilize the materials, including the Family Search web portal which provides access to over a dozen subscription-based genealogical research services, such as Ancestry.com. The Center is located inside the LDS building at 2949 Stone Valley Road, Alamo. Enter the left side of the building. Hours are Monday 1-4pm, Tuesday 7-9pm, and Wednesday 10-4pm and 7-9pm. The Center is closed on major holidays and the last two weeks of December. For questions, call 925-552-5920.
ALAMO DANVILLE NEWCOMERS
Are you a new resident of Danville, Alamo, Blackhawk, or Diablo, a longtime resident, newly retired, or empty nester interested in making new friends and participating in various social activities? The Alamo Danville Newcomers Club is a woman’s organization, whose purpose is to enrich the lives of all its members and their families in a social manner. Check out all the club has to offer by visiting www.alamodanvillenewcomers.com. The next “Welcome Coffee” will be held on March 26th from 10AM to Noon. RSVP to alamodanvillenewcomers@gmail.com.
TREATS FOR THE TROOPS
Thanks to all of the generous shoppers who have helped charity group Delta Nu Psi send 40,256 pounds, over 20 TONS of gourmet junk food to American servicemen and women located in the War Zones! Temperatures in Kandahar and Kabul are in the teens at night and a little over freezing during the day. Hot cereal is always appreciated! The group will be collecting donations at CVS in Alamo on the first Friday of each month and at Lunardi’s in Danville on the second Friday of each month. Collection hours are 11:30AM until 1:45PM. Please shop for the men and women serving the United States. To learn more, visit www.deltanupsi.org.
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PAGE 6 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • March 2019
SONS IN RETIREMENT SAN RAMON VALLEY
Are you looking for things to do in your retirement? Consider joining Sons in Retirement San Ramon Valley Branch 128. There are monthly luncheons with interesting speakers and good fellowship. Additionally, members have lots of fun participating in a variety of activities including golf, hiking, biking, bocce ball, movies, cooking, finance, reading, computers, and more. Many other activities such as travel, dine outs, excursions, baseball games, and holiday parties include spouses, friends, and guests. The next monthly luncheon will be held on Wednesday, March 20th at 11am. The guest speaker will be former Olympian, Eddie Hart. Mr. Hart is an author, lecturer, speaker, mentor, coach, motivator, and team-builder. His presentation will include comments on his attempt to win the 100m sprint gold medal at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games. The $26 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 for the March luncheon, please send an email by Thursday, March 14th to info@SIR128.com. The luncheon will be held at The Bridges, 9000 S. Gale Ridge, San Ramon. For more information about the retirement branch and activities, please visit www.SIR128.com.
WPE BRINGS FOOD, CASH, & CLOTHES TO BUT TE COUNTY FIRE SURVIVORS IN ISOLATED AREAS
Through its programs of redistributing abundance, White Pony Express (WPE), a non-profit headquartered in Pleasant Hill, continues with its efforts in providing food, cash, and clothing to those suffering from the Camp Fire in Butte County, especially those located in remote locations. On November 14, 2018, WPE commenced making daily refrigerated truck runs to Butte County with perishable ready-to-eat meals and envelopes of donated cash to aid the fire victims. After two weeks, WPE learned that although a lot of food was being shipped to the affected areas, it was often not reaching those living in isolated areas where grocery stores are not available, where some residents don’t have transportation, or others are limited by physical disabilities. WPE thereafter changed its strategy by targeting its runs to provide sufficient food on a weekly basis to people living in out-of-the way locations with little access to food sources.
HIGHLIGHTS OF WPE’S CURRENT HELP IN BUTTE COUNTY
• Twice a week, WPE volunteers (no paid staff) drive a refrigerated van to Butte County (a six-hour round trip) with surplus ready-to-eat meals, fresh produce, bread, milk, eggs, and envelopes of individual cash donations. • WPE focuses on providing these items to fire survivors in trailers that are situated in remote locations with little access to grocery stores. • WPE has increased its delivery from 200 meals a week in December to currently 400 meals a week. Those who wish to volunteer with WPE to help with its Butte County efforts or with WPE’s other programs should visit https://www.whiteponyexpress.org/volunteer.
DANVILLE WOMEN’S CLUB
Join with members of the Danville Women’s Club at these upcoming events. Enjoy a lunch and speaker, Thursday, March 21st, with Club members at the Women’s Club, located at 242 W. Linda Mesa Ave., Danville. Sheryl Scherer, Executive Director of Monument Crisis Center will be presenting. Contact Marijke at (925) 997-2197 to make your reservation. Lunch is free for first-timers, and $8 for all others. Social time begins at 11AM followed by the speaker at 11:30AM, lunch at noon, and a12:45PM business meeting. You’re welcome to stay for the meeting to learn more about the Club! A domestic violence workshop will be held Friday, March 29th from 9:30-11:45AM. The workshop will be held at the Blackhawk Country Club ballroom, 599 Blackhawk Club Drive. The cost is $28/person (which includes breakfast). Speakers will include Linda Turnbull, Exec. Dir. Teen Esteem; Vicki Thompson, Dir., Tri-Valley Haven; and Dara Connolly, founder of Kurukula. Learn what YOU can do about physical, emotional, and social media abuse, bullying, sexting, and pornography. Contact Denise at (925) 719-2348 for your reservation.
DANVILLE “SHOPS AND HOPS”
THURSDAY, APRIL 4TH 6PM - 9PM
Enjoy a fun-filled evening of craft brew sampling and shopping during the second Danville Shops and Hops Craft Beer Stroll, benefiting the Museum of the San Ramon Valley. Select businesses will stay open late to host local craft breweries accompanied by small bites from local restaurants. Be sure to stop in at your favorite downtown stores to see their latest spring offerings. 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. Designated driver tickets are $10 each. This event promises to sell out, so be sure to reserve your glass early! Purchase tickets online at www.museumsrv.org.
APPLICATIONS SOUGHT FOR GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT PROGRAM
Contra Costa County Superior Court is accepting applications for Civil Grand Jury service for the fiscal year 2019 – 2020. Nineteen members will be selected and serve for one year, July through June, to monitor, review, and report on city and county governments as well as special districts and school districts. Once selected and sworn in, jurors will attend a two-week training session to meet key members of local government and learn their functions. They organize into committees to investigate local government agencies, research topical materials, interview county executives and their staff, gather facts, and issue written reports with recommendations that will benefit the citizens of Contra Costa County. This unique and powerful system of government oversight was established in the California Constitution in 1849 and applies to each of the 58 counties.
GRAND JUROR TASKS:
• Develop solutions to problems • Meet leading members of every level of the government and tour their facilities • Observe government in action • Experience a sense of making a contribution to the difficult task of governing • Write about the facts, findings and recommendations developed as a result of research, investigations, and reports • Develop strong working relationships with fellow jurors • Know that your ideas can ‘make things happen’
OTHER ISSUES TO CONSIDER:
• Jurors receive a stipend for their service, plus mileage reimbursement, and a parking permit. • Having a working knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel is a plus. • Be prepared to spend three days a week in committee meetings and perform some work at home. • Confidentiality is imperative and information cannot be discussed with anyone including family members. • Investigations and in-house jury activities are also strictly confidential. • Jurors must be a United States citizen, 18 years of age or older, and a resident of the County for at least one year prior to selection. Persons interested in applying may contact the Office of the Civil Grand Jury at (925) 608-2621. Applications are available online at http://www.cccourts.org/civil/grand-jury.aspx and at your local library. The deadline to submit an application is March 22.
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March 2019 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 7
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PAGE 8 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • March 2019
ALAMO ELEMENTARY
THE DAY THE MUSIC DIED By Stan Hitomi, Principal
Last month, I sat in the bleachers at Monte Vista Area Choral Concert, listening to an amazing performance by our Alamo School Chorus, directed by Mrs. Nancy Raaum. The concert was everything we hope for for our children. It represented an effort that required a commitment by our students at an age when they are just beginning to recognize the connection between effort and result. That excellence and satisfaction is proportional to commitment and work. The moment felt so right. I couldn’t have been happier for our children and their families. The moment was fleeting. As the applause ended, the realization set in that they were moving on to the middle schools, and ours would be the only elementary school performing that night. It was a repeat of so many concerts in recent years, fewer and fewer elementary choirs. And if they are disappearing in our neighborhoods, there is little hope that they are surviving elsewhere. In the world that I grew up in, music was universal. Music was a part of every culture, in every language. There was no part of the world, no part of life that music was not a part of. It was 50 years ago that Don McLean penned those now famous lyrics to “American Pie.” Reflecting upon the loss of three of music’s legends (Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and JP Richardson – the Big Bopper) McLean penned lyrics that spoke to the tragedy but also about the times: And in the streets, the children screamed The lovers cried and the poets dreamed But not a word was spoken The church bells all were broken And the three men I admire most The Father, Son and the Holy Ghost They caught the last train for the coast “The day the music died” Don McLean ~ “American Pie” That night as I sat in the bleachers, I felt that a part of music in our lives, in our schools, was dying. To be sure, there continues to be music in our classrooms, but the kind of magic that I saw and felt for our students is in danger of being lost. I was never a singer or musician in school, but I would still want those opportunities available to our children long beyond my tenure in education. I can’t imagine what our community would say if we were to propose the elimination of varsity football in our high schools. “But don’t worry your kids will continue to have the opportunity to play football in PE.”
SAN RAMON VALLEY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
By Jamie Westgate, Principal
Our eighth grade students returned safely from an adventurous trip across our country to visit our nation’s capital, Washington D.C. Also making stops in Gettysburg and New York City, it was truly a trip of a lifetime! This year we experienced something new that none of us will forget. Because of a unique connection for one of our 8th graders, our 43 students were invited to visit Vice President Mike Pence’s office at the Eisenhower Building. Not only did students stand in the Vice President’s office, sit at his personal desk, and peer out his window at the West Wing of the White House, but we also gathered around his conference table to pray for our country and its leaders. When asked, “What do people need to do to be considered for a future internship for the Vice President?” our host answered, “Three simple things: do what’s right, always do the very best you can in any situation, and treat people the way you want to be treated.” Not only do those principles reverberate those ways we hope to instill good character, but they were most exemplified in the life of Christ. Building Christ-like character takes hard work, and it’s refreshing to hear advice that reflects the importance of integrity, work ethic, and compassion. Our students will always cherish special moments like these along with the social experience of exploring the East Coast with their peers. Other favorite stops included the Capitol, Arlington National Cemetery, the Holocaust Museum, Radio City Music Hall, Gettysburg battlefield, and the opportunity to see a Broadway show. We were tired upon return but thankful for bringing home so many memories as souvenirs.
CLASSROOM FOCUS – FIRST GRADE
I always love the opportunity to step into classrooms and watch the magic. But I seldom get to step up the blackboard (or whiteboard) myself. A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to teach math to Mrs. Scott’s first grade class. The lesson was working with items in a variety of groups of 10’s, 5’s, etc. The lesson was from our recently adopted Eureka Math. The students were amazing! Problem after problem had them had them evaluating “how many” and analyzing things such as which amounts were greater or lesser. How many bundles would there need to be to make 20, 30, etc.? These kids knew their numbers! They were fully engaged, making it fun to teach. At one point, a student reminded me that I had drawn the coins inaccurately, that nickels are larger than dimes! Guess this principal needs to spend more time in first grade. Thank you to Mrs. Scott’s first graders; you are awesome!
Gettysburg National Military Park.
Weddings, Graduations, Memorials, Cioppino, Pasta, & Crab Feeds.
VETERANS MEMORIAL BUILDING OF SAN RAMON VALLEY
The Veterans Memorial Building of San Ramon Valley, located at 400 Hartz Avenue in Danville, offers a Historic Military Museum & Library as well as a Veteran Resource Center. The Museum & Library is open Monday through Friday from 9AM to 3PM. Every Saturday from 8AM to 11AM a Veteran Coffee and Pastry social is held. To access resources for Veterans, you can connect with a County Veteran Service Officer every Wednesday from 10AM to 2PM. For an appointment, call 925-313-1481. To learn more about the Veteran’s facility and programs, visit www.vmbsrv. org or email info@vmbsrv.org.
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March 2019 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 9
ST. ISIDORE SCHOOL By Maria Ward, Principal
HAPPY MARCH!
“Integrity is doing the right thing when no one is watching.” ~ C.S. Lewis Throughout March, we will celebrate the monthly gospel value of INTEGRITY. Integrity is the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles. Respect, trust, and responsibility are all part of living with integrity. I am proud to say that I see these traits on the St. Isidore School campus every day. Integrity is something that children must be taught. As a parent and as an educator, I know instilling these values in children takes hard work and constant dedication, but I also know that the effort is worth it. Raising good people is important and commendable.
ASH WEDNESDAY
On Wednesday, March 6th, we will observe Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent. The purpose of Lent is to set aside time for reflection on Jesus Christ, his suffering, and his sacrifice, life, death, and resurrection. Our 8th grade students traditionally write weekly reflections throughout the Lenten season, which we share with our school community, allowing us to see prayer through their eyes. All are welcome to join us as we gather for mass every Friday at 8:10AM during Lent.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
The 37th annual St. Isidore School Auction will be held on Saturday, March 9 , at the Marriott San Ramon. The auction is the school’s largest fundraiser of the year and serves as an excellent opportunity for parents and staff to come together in support of St. Isidore School. This year’s auction is sure to be a fabulous night filled with food, fun, and philanthropy. If you are interested in attending or would like more information on this event, please contact Rory Motas at rmotas@stisidore.org. Save the date for this year’s community Fish Fry and Bingo Night on Friday, April 12th, from 5:30PM – 7:30PM, in the Cardelli Gym. This event is fun for the whole family and includes dinner and refreshments. Test your luck and play a game or two of Bingo. Tickets will be available to purchase on our website, www.stisidore.org, in mid-March. th
COME FOR A VISIT
We are currently accepting applications for the 2019–2020 school year. Applications are available on our website, www.stisidore.org, and tours are available upon request at (925) 837-2977. Spring, warm weather, and longer days are on the horizon. Have a great month!
PUBLIC SPEAKING WITH TOASTMASTERS
Do you hate speaking in front of a group? You’re not alone. However, good presentation skills are demanded by nearly every employer these days. Toastmasters can help you overcome your public speaking challenges! Toastmasters is an organization where people can fine-tune their speaking skills and receive valuable feedback. Beginning and advanced speakers are welcome. Local chapter Danville AM Toastmasters meets every Tuesday from 7 to 8:30AM in downtown Danville. For the location and other details, please visit 4143.toastmastersclubs.org, or email DanvilleAMToastmasters@gmail.com.
DANVILLE POLICE OFFER ‘EXCHANGE’ ZONE
Residents who purchase items via online services such as Craigslist now have a designated neutral ‘Exchange Zone’ in the upper parking lot of the Danville Town offices to conduct their business. Signage has been installed, and the Danville Police Department has designated parking spaces at the Town of Danville offices, 510 La Gonda Way, for residents to conduct transactions in a constantly video-recorded space. With proximity to police headquarters and video recording, the goal is to have an atmosphere of safety and assurance for would-be buyers while dissuading criminals from using online merchandising for criminal purposes. To learn more about the safe zone, contact Sargent Ron Hoekwater at (925) 314-3700 or rhoekwater@danville.ca.gov.
RANCHO ROMERO ELEMENTARY
By Sandy Kontilis, Principal
Compassion is a characteristic that Rancho Romero students strive to demonstrate daily. All month long students were observed helping teachers and younger students. Many of our fifth grade students spend time in our Kindergarten classrooms, either reading or playing with them. Our popular buddy programs, where older students mentor their younger peers, is one of a kind. This month, 30 students showed kindness, caring, and a willingness to help others. Our all-student assembly recognized these special students for showing compassion for the month of February. Our Rancho Romero Green Team and Student Council hosted a student assembly to view the highly acclaimed documentary Straws - Last Plastic Straw. Hoping to start a movement at school to eliminate plastic drinking straws from their lunchroom, the student-led teams encouraged classmates to simply not use straws at school and restaurants. Weaving literacy into activism, students returned to their classrooms to write opinion essays focusing on persuasive arguments to eliminate straws. The young visionaries invited the Rancho Romero parent community to view the documentary with them one evening in February. A lively discussion ensued, and next steps were discussed. Basically, what they are asking us to do is have less consumption, less waste, and less straws. It’s a win-win. Rancho Romero’s PTA Inclusion and Diversity Committee planned, sponsored, and organized ”Start with Hello Week.” This special week focused on making sure that every child at Rancho felt included in their community. Our school proudly participated in this proactive initiative in honor of SRVUSD’s “Words Matter Week,”to empower young people to create a culture of inclusion and connectedness. Students participated in several age-appropriate activities such as daily announcements quoting famous (and not so famous) positive influencers, decorating hand cut-outs with words of kindness, and participating in classroom center’s activities. Thank you to all of our parent volunteers. It was a memorable week! Looking forward to reporting March’s celebrations, news, and updates. Spring is on its way!
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PAGE 10 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • March 2019
MONTE VISTA HIGH SCHOOL
By Dr. Kevin Ahern, Principal
March is upon us, and the members of Monte Vista’s senior class are beginning to see their futures with a better focus as college acceptance letters are received and graduation activities become finalized; underclassmen are planning their schedules for next year; and our incoming freshman class is preparing to make the transition into high school. On Monday, February 25th, the Monte Vista campus got its first look at the incoming class of 2023. Over 600 students and their families toured the MV campus; met with representatives from a variety of academic, art, and athletic programs; saw performances from our arts programs; heard about class registration, graduation requirements, and our district’s new Personal Learning Initiatives from MV’s counseling team; and interacted with a student panel that talked about student life on campus. The event was an incredibly positive way for us to share the great things about Monte Vista. Hats off to Monte Vista’s Counseling Department for putting this event together and to the many programs and organizations that supported the event. On Saturday, March 9th, Monte Vista will celebrate its annual Junior Prom at the Scottish Rite Temple in Oakland. I would like to thank the many parent and faculty volunteers, our leadership class, and our activities director, Tommy Greenless for all of their hard work in making this amazing and classy event. Once again, Monte Vista’s winter musical, was a rousing success. All Shook Up played to four nights of full houses as we all rocked out to a variety of Elvis tunes set to Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night.” Thanks to MV’s VAPA teachers Chris Connor, Annie Connors, Jodi Reed, and Ed Cloyd and their incredible group of students for putting together another outstanding production. Not to be outdone, in late February, MV’s Choir brought their standard of excellence to Carnegie Hall in New York for an unforgettable performance. Congratulations to our Choir Director Jodi Reed and our amazing singers for this unprecedented event. At press time, the women’s soccer team is preparing for a semi-final match against our rival San Ramon Valley with the winner moving on to the NCS Championship. I look forward to sharing outcomes in the next edition. Also, MV’s men’s basketball team made a solid run into the NCS Playoffs and is waiting on a possible berth in the CIF State Tournament. Congratulations to all of these athletes and their coaches for a great winter season. I invite everyone to come out to these events and support Monte Vista’s amazing students as they continue to represent our community in such positive ways. Please note that our Spring Break will run from March 30th through April 8th. See you at MV! overdose deaths through community education and policy change. To learn more BATTLING THE OPIOID about the MEDS Coalition, visit their website at cccmedscoalition.org. If you are a Contra Costa County resident, another way to get involved with EPIDEMIC WITH LIFE SAVING the alcohol and drug epidemic is by applying to serve on the Contra Costa County NALOXONE By Candace Andersen Alcohol and Other Drugs Advisory Board. The Board’s mission is to assess family Drug addiction crosses the boundaries of wealth and and community needs regarding treatment and prevention of alcohol and drug abuse social status, affecting people from all socio-economic problems. They report their findings and recommendations to the Contra Costa groups. Myths and misconceptions about drug addiction Health Services Department, the Board of Supervisors, and community partners. can get in the way of developing real solutions for the The board is comprised of 18 volunteers, appointed by the Contra Costa equal-opportunity problem of substance abuse. Board of Supervisors. Members attend meetings on the fourth Wednesday of Even as the Country’s attention is focused on the each month from 4pm to 6:15pm and are also expected to serve on one or more ongoing opioid epidemic, a new study shows that the United States has had a committees, which also meet monthly. Meeting times and locations vary to wide-ranging drug overdose problem for decades, and it’s growing worse. More encourage participation from various segments of the community. Members than 63,600 Americans died from drug overdoses in 2016, and overdoses by usually serve three-year terms. synthetic opioids were up 44 percent in California in 2017, the last year for which To receive an application or for more information, contact Fatima Matal Sol data was available, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. at (925) 335-3307 or email Fatima.matalsol@hsd.cccounty.us. Applications are Synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, currently top the list of drugs that cause also available at cchealth.org/aod/board/membership.php. the most overdose fatalities in the United States. The rise and fall of different My office is here to serve the residents of Contra Costa County District 2, drugs contributing to the overdose epidemic over the past four decades make it which includes San Ramon, Danville, Alamo, Walnut Creek, Saranap, Parkmead, difficult to predict what drug will be deadliest next. Lafayette, Moraga, Canyon, and Orinda. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if we One of the best tools to save someone from a fatal drug overdose is Naloxone, can provide you with additional information on this topic or on other County which is sold under the brand name Narcan. It is a medication designed to rapidly issues. I can be reached at SupervisorAndersen@bos.cccounty.us or 925-957-8860. reverse opioid overdose, an opioid antagonist that binds to opioid receptors, and can reverse and block the effects of other opioids. It can very quickly restore FREE TAX PREPARATION normal respiration to a person whose breathing has slowed or stopped as a Free tax preparation for the 2019 tax season is available starting February result of overdosing with heroin or prescription opioid pain medications. Since 2019 from AARP’s Tax-Aide and United Way’s Earn It, Keep It, Save It Naloxone only lasts about an hour, another dose may be needed to keep the (EKS) programs. Service is provided by volunteer tax preparers who are IRS person from overdosing again. Naloxone comes in different forms, the most trained and certified. Both programs serve taxpayers of any age, and AARP common are administered by injection or nasal spray. membership is not required for Tax-Aide. EKS service is limited to those In Contra Costa County, the Board of Supervisors supported the Naloxone with incomes below $54,000, while Tax-Aide does not have an income limit. Grant Program to provide opioid overdose prevention and education to homeless For information or to make an appointment for the Tax-Aide sites and other drug users. The Naloxone Grant Program was established by Senate serving the San Ramon/Danville area, call (925) 973-3250 for the San Bill 833 with the goal of reducing the number of fatal overdoses in California Ramon Senior Center site or (925) 480-7202 for the Danville Veterans from opioid drugs, including prescription opioids and heroin, by increasing Memorial Building of San Ramon Valley site. For general information and access to the life-saving drug Naloxone. other site locations, call (925) 726-3199. For information on EKS sites, call In California, you are allowed to carry and administer Naloxone to a person 2-1-1 or visit www.earnitkeepitsaveit.org. experiencing or reasonably suspected of experiencing an opioid overdose. To complete your return, you will need to bring the following documents: Ask your health care provider to prescribe Naloxone when you get an opioid • Social Security Card or ITIN letter for all individuals to be listed on prescription. You can also obtain Naloxone directly from participating the return pharmacies. However, you should call your pharmacy in advance to confirm • Photo identification for the taxpayer and spouse availability and requirements for obtaining Naloxone. Most Walgreens and CVS • Copies of all W-2s, 1098s and 1099s pharmacies have Naloxone available over the counter. • Other income and deductions If you are interested in getting involved in the awareness and prevention of • Your 2017 Tax Return prescription drug related overdoses, the MEDS (Medication Education and Disposal • Covered California: All documents including form 1095 Safety) Coalition meets the second Thursday of every month in Martinez. The • Tax Law Change: Although federal tax law changed, California tax coalition discusses upcoming events, community forums, and awareness, promoting law has not changed. If you itemized deductions for 2017, be sure to bring secure medication storage and providing Naloxone use training. It is a communityrelated records for 2018 based coalition that serves to prevent prescription drug related addiction and
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March 2019 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 11
VALLEY VIGNETTE
I-680 CHANGED EVERYTHING By Beverly Lane
In the sixties, the I680 freeway opened and changed the San Ramon Valley forever. After World War II people immigrated to California from all over the country, and the valley’s population tripled from 1950-60 (4,630 to 12,702) then doubled to 28,090 in 1970. During the years of Bay Area population growth after 1945, the two-lane road through Alamo, Danville, and San Ramon began to become congested. Called State Highway 12 at the time, it brought bumper-to-bumper traffic at rush hour. People with driveways leading to Danville Blvd. had a hard time getting on to the road. In Danville, gas stations replaced older homes along Hartz Ave., and the village Serving the Bay Area with honesty and integrity since 1973 was nicknamed “Gasoline Alley.” President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s vision 2395 Monument Blvd., Suite J 3191-J Crow Canyon Pl for a national highway system in 1956 came Concord San Ramon Carpets, Hardwood, Laminate & Stone (925) 680-4433 home to the East Bay as new freeways were (925) 866-2200 www.MacFloor.com • info@macfloor.com Since 1973 (Across from Costco Gas Station, next to Harvest House) planned and constructed. There were lively discussions about the freeway alignment and off-ramps. At Alamo the valley was narrow, and the plans altered San Ramon Creek and re-aligned Stone Valley Road and Bridge. At the Creek, engineers unearthed layers of Indian settlements, leading to a major archaeological dig. Remains and artifacts were found which dated back 5,500 years. Then the route cut through the Magee Ranch and took out buildings on the hill. Further south, the debate centered on a central or an easterly route. Although ranch lands and orchards covered the eastern valley, the modern new Aerojet-General plant in north San Ramon was on the east side. The valley’s largest employer (700 people in 1963), Aerojet vigorously opposed that alignment and, with its clout as a government contractor, the mid-valley route was selected. At San Ramon village, there were huge debates. The county’s principal planner, Russ Griffith, described the area as “blighted” and suggested drilling through the Brass Door Restaurant. Evidently, Congressman John F. Baldwin Jr. weighed in at that point after some discussions with Howard Wiedemann and others. The Brass Door was the go-to drinking hole for many locals, including Baldwin’s campaign coordinators, after meetings. He pointed out the federal source of funds for the freeway (and his pivotal role in the funding), and the freeway shifted slightly to the east, removing the Schlesinger home. Today I-680 borders the parking lot of the Brass Door. Off ramps brought other differing opinions to the fore. Initially, no off-ramp was planned for the still-agricultural San Ramon area. Then, a Crow Canyon access was installed. In Danville, the freeway plans created two new streets, El Cerro and Sycamore Valley Road. The ramp to the existing Diablo Road took out several heritage oaks, and people objected. When the Chamber of Commerce supported the access, anonymous callers threatened to boycott downtown merchants over their support. Another freeway access at Alcosta Road was opened on the county line next to Highway Front page of a special Valley Pioneer edition (Oct 21. It served the growing Volk/McLain “new city” development of 10,000 suburban homes in Dublin and San Ramon. 28, 1964) celebrating the I680 opening from Walnut Creek to Sycamore Valley Rd. in Danville Locals watched as the freeway was constructed, some riding their bikes and horses and driving cars over the new right of way and asphalt prior to the openings. They marveled at the vast expanse of lanes, wondering how many cars might eventually use it. A huge celebration recognized the completion of the Walnut Creek to Danville freeway at Sycamore Valley Road. The Valley Pioneer published a special commemorative edition on October 28, 1964. The party was called “Frontier 680.” The contractor, Guy F. Atkinson Co., advertised “The Completion of Freeway 680 Is a Red Letter Day for You and Us.” This section of the freeway cost $13,750,000. It constructed thirteen structures, all reinforced concrete on pile footings including four bridges over San Ramon Creek and one bridge which went above the still-active Southern Pacific Railroad near Danville. There was an antique car parade with pioneer Claude Glass of San Ramon as the grand marshal and speeches by dignitaries. The newspapers proclaimed that “Happiness is a new freeway.” John May, who lived on Danville Blvd. at the Alamo-Danville border, went out to get the paper after the freeway opened and said to his wife Margaret, “It’s as if a bomb dropped somewhere and we are the only people on earth.” Two years later, the “DD I680 Days” celebration marked the opening of the freeway from Danville to Dublin on September 24, 1966, for a distance of 5.9 miles. That elicited another big party. Danville pioneer son Wilson Close headed the celebration, and descendants Matilda Hartz Elliott, Friederiche Jackson, and Leo Norris road in a parade of antique cars. Other officials included the new Congressman Jerome Waldie, State Senator George Miller and County Supervisor James Moriarity. To clear the area for the Crow Canyon ramps, several nineteenth century buildings along San Ramon Valley Blvd. were demolished, including the historic Thorup house. Saving older buildings was not a priority in that period. San Ramon’s historic grammar school was razed in 1960, and in 1963 the San Ramon Fire Department burned down the General Store as a fire exercise. WiththeDanville-SanRamon-Dublinlinkcompleted,the“DD680”brochurebraggedthatmotoristscould now circle the entire East Bay for 73 miles and never see a stop light. Cars flowed to the freeway in October. The freeway’s arrival marked the time agriculture began to fade in the valley. Ranches were assessed for their “highest and best” use which resulted in skyrocketing taxes and sales of land which had belonged to some families for over 100 years. Greenbrook Homes covered the historic Meese Ranch and opened in 1966. Bishop Ranch was sold in 1969 and its master plan included the future Inverness Park on the south and Twin Creeks on the western hills. Asked for her opinion of the many new people moving to the valley, Ann Wiedemann Kaplan graciously said, “It’s a beautiful area with wonderful climate, and you can’t fault people for wanting to live here.” Visit the Museum of the San Ramon Valley (museumsrv.org) located at 205 Railroad Ave. in Danville to see their display, photos, and videos on the building of the I680 freeway. Sources: Museum of the San Ramon Valley archives, Valley Pioneer in 1964 and 1966, San Ramon Chronicles, San Ramon's Brass Door restaurant looking east before the freeway was built, c. 1960. Stories of Bygone Days.
PAGE 12 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • March 2019
QUICK TRIPS By Linda Summers Pirkle
BERKELEY REP - METAMORPHOSES
Cornwall, England, late 18th century, a British soldier, Ross Poldark, returns to his home from the American Revolutionary War to discover his one true love is engaged to his cousin, his father is dead, and his homestead is about to be lost. The award-winning PBS Masterpiece Theater historic drama Poldark is hugely popular and based on the equally engaging books (of the same name) by Winston Graham based on life in a tin mining town on the rugged coast of south east England. The main character, Ross, is a bit of a rogue who is dashing (of course) and honorable (mostly) who wins the hearts of those around him as well as the audience. Water, the source of life, is also a source of exquisite beauty as a backdrop in the series Poldark. Rocky cliffs, crashing waves, hidden coves, white sandy beaches and the endless sea captivate the audience along with beautiful costumes, a superb cast, and a wonderful story. Besides the effective use of water on the large Poldark can be seen on Amazon Prime - PBS Masterpiece screen and television, Theater. water is also used as a storytelling device in live theatre. I recently attended Berkeley Rep’s Metamorphoses which, according to the Berkeley Rep magazine and programs, “is legendary in the theater world, in large part for the extraordinary key feature of its set: a pool of water.” I enjoyed the show, and the set is indeed a pool of water that the characters romp, fall, crawl, dance, and swim in. In its 50th season, the Berkeley Rep brought Metamorphoses to the stage after a 23-year hiatus. Mary Zimmerman, the creator of Metamorphoses, in an interview
COLD WEATHER WINES
By Monica Chappell
The best wines to drink when it’s cold outside are rich, full-bodied wines—ones that warm you up and feel like a big bearhug. I’m sharing a few of my favorite reds to weather any storm. I did some legwork, err… umm…some glasswork and have three great red wine options to wash away the winter blues. Here’s what I’m hot for when the temperature drops.
ITALIAN REDS
If it’s a big storm, and you’ve got a big budget, go big with a big Italian red like a Barolo, which is made 100% from Nebbiolo grapes. Another option would be to try a Barbaresco, which is also 100% Nebbiolo like Barolo but much less expensive. Snuggle up to the fire, pour a glass of one of these intensely flavored reds, and cook up some risotto. The intensity of the wine will complement the richness of this classic northern Italian dish.
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Nothing says weather chaser better than a rich Cabernet. The Cabernet Sauvignon grape is a small berry with a thick skin, giving it a high solid to juice ratio, creating a wine high in color, tannin and extract. Some typical Cabernet descriptors include cassis, cedar, and currant. Big and balanced, Cabernet is the perfect stormy match for a richly flavored steak or something gamey.
www.yourmonthlypaper.com published in the Berkeley Rep Magazine said, “One of the charming things about it is that this is a freaking school play that went to Broadway.” The first production called Six Myths, when she chose myths that revolved around water. was performed at Chicago’s Northwestern University Gardiner, Steven Epp, Alex Moggridge, Lisa Tejero, and in 1996.“She (Zimmer- Rodney Benjamin T. Ismail. Photo: Kevin Berne/Berkeley Repertory Theatre. man) turned specifically to Ovid (43BCE-17CE), a Roman poet whose Metamorphoses...went on to become one of the most important sources of classical mythology.” The rest is history, Metamorphoses has since been performed many times all over the nation, and Zimmerman won the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play, and the play itself won both the Drama Desk Award and the Lucille Lortel Award of Outstanding Play. Temperature is only one of many concerns when using water as a stage (it is 98 degrees Fahrenheit at the start of the show). Heaters and dehumidifiers help with damage from humidity, and the stage is rubberized to prevent harming the floor and electrical equipment and to mitigate slippage. Costumes are made specifically for wearing in water, and the actors use warming booths backstage with space heaters while making their costume changes. The San Francisco Chronicle says, “Even if you’ve heard the hype about Mary Zimmerman’s Tony Award winning adaption of Ovid’s myths, Berkeley Rep’s revival exceeds expectations.” Metamorphoses has been extended until March 24, 2019 at Peet’s Theatre, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, 2026 Addison Street, in Berkeley. Their website is berkeleyrep. org and their phone number is 925-647-2949. Linda Summers Pirkle travel consultant and long-term Danville resident has arranged and led tours for the Town of Danville for several years. Inspired by the many wonderful places to visit in the Bay Area, she organizes day trips, either for groups or for friends and family. “What a great place to live, so much to see, so much to do.” To share your “Quick Trips” ideas email Coverthemap@gmail.com.
EAGLE SCOUT BADGE AWARDED
William John Cumbelich, a senior at De La SalleHigh School and resident of Alamo, has earned his Eagle Scout badge. William is a member of Troop 236. His Eagle project was the culmination of a year-long gardening workshop program that he started at the De La Salle Academy. Two planter boxes were designed to fit an existing walkway. They were fitted with wheels so that the Academy can wheel the planter boxes into classrooms for science activities and hands-on experiments. The boxes were built over the course of six hours on a Saturday morning and were integrated into the DLS Academy workshop program shortly thereafter. During his time as a scout, William became a Leave No Trace Certified Trainer. He is also a National Merit William Cumbelich. Photo by James Brian Studios. Semi-Finalist and a published research author.
ZINFANDEL
If the rations are low, Zinfandel is bold enough to keep you warm all on its own. Known as the quintessential California grape, it’s no surprise that Zin pairs perfectly with California cheese. Grab some and enjoy. Many Zinfandels are usually priced for longer storms incase multiple bottles are needed. Don’t shovel the driveway. Pop a cork instead. And since we don’t usually get snow, pop a cork anyway - It’s still winter, right? Which reds will you be sipping throughout the winter? Monica Chappell is a local wine writer and educator and can be reached at wineappreciation101@gmail.com.
The St. Isidore 5th grade CYO basketball team got a special treat and played at the halftime of the Saint Mary’s men’s basketball game against Pepperdine.
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March 2019 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 13
KAUAI IS THE PERFECT WINTER ESCAPE DESTINATION
By Jeremy Barcan, Alamo World Travel & Tours
In this cold and rainy winter season we are experiencing this year in northern California, I have discovered that the best antidote to our gloomy weather is a week’s vacation on the green and lush island of Kauai. Over the years, I have visited the Hawaiian Islands many times, but for some reason, I have never visited them in February. Whenever I did go to Hawaii in the winter, it was always to Maui or the Big Island. My thinking was that if it always rains in Kauai, it probably does even more so in the winter. I decided to put my prejudices to the test and chose to spend a week not only on the island of Kauai but in the northern part of the island, at Hanalei Bay, known for being the rainiest spot in the US. I chose to stay at a beautiful resort at Princeville, in JOIN THE DANVILLE CHAMBER ON A TRIP TO an oceanfront one bedroom, two bathroom condo. My first pleasant surprise was that there was very little rain, three or four periods of five to ten CUBA’S CHARMING COLONIAL CITIES AND HAVANA minutes of light showers, November 3‐10, 2019 usually in the afternoon, just enough to highlight the gorgeous rainbows. Since it never got too overcast, there was ample sun to help the rainbow last a little while Presentation on this trip, Tues. March 19 ‐ 5:30 at Chamber Office longer. The temperatures were a mild 75o for high and 62o for low. 117 Town & Country Dr. Suite E ‐ Limited Space My second pleasant surprise was how easy the driving around this island was. One needs to drive down to the southern and western parts of Kauai in order to RSVP to Alamo World Travel 837‐8742 explore all the sights worth seeing. In the eight years since my last visit to Kauai, new roads were constructed that bypass the congested areas of Kapa’a and Lihue that used to form a traffic bottleneck. Just as an example, driving from Princeville to the Waimea canyon, a distance of about 60 miles took only 80 minutes going and 90 minutes returning. All the other interesting tourist spots are much closer in distance. Besides the impressive Waimea Canyon, the Grand Canyon of the Pacific Rim, the other must-see points of interest are the Kilauea lighthouse, Hanalei Bay Wild Refuge Wetlands, Wailea Falls, Wailea River State Park with its adjacent Opaakea Falls, Poipu Beach and the nearby spouting horn, and the lovely missionary church at Hanalei town. Kauai is most famous for its year-round green look, with flora and fauna that is unique to the garden isle and wildlife that includes some rare species of birds. This is also the time of year when the whales begin their migration back north and occasionally make their presence known in Kauai by putting on a show. Even if you do not want to rent a car or drive extensively, you can easily spend a week on the JOIN THE DANVILLE CHAMBER ON A TRIP TO premises of the cliffs and never get your fill of watching the ocean from your condo’s terrace. CUBA’S CHARMING COLONIAL CITIES AND HAVANA Kauai has an array of dining choices with new restaurants that have opened in recent years, November 3‐10, 2019 offering a variety of cuisines at affordable prices. You can now fly nonstop to Kauai from any of the Presentation on this trip, Tues. March 19 ‐ 5:30 at Chamber Office three Bay Area airports. Should you wish to combine two islands, there are flights from Kauai to 117 Town & Country Dr. Suite E ‐ Limited Space Oahu, Maui, and the Big Island. RSVP to Alamo World Travel 837‐8742 For more information on travel to Kauai or any other locations, please contact me at jeremy@ alamoworld.com. For over 38 years, Alamo World Travel & Tours has been taking care of all your travel needs. Luxury, Standard, or Custom Travel; Cruises; River Cruises; Tours and Resorts for individuals or groups. Please visit our office at 3201 Danville Blvd. Suite 255 in Alamo, call 925 837-8742, or visit our website at www.alamoworld.com. Ask us; we’ve been there. Advertorial
PAGE 14 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • March 2019
DANVILLE-ALAMO GARDEN CLUB PRESENTATION
“Less is More Garden” garden design is the topic that Susan Morrison will be presenting at the Danville-Alamo Garden Club (DAGC) meeting on Thursday, March 14th. Susan is a landscape-designer and expert on small-space design at Creative Exteriors Landscape Design. Susan is also the author of The Less is More Garden: Big Ideas for Designing Your Small Yard (January 2018) and co-author of the best-seller Garden Up! Garden Up! Smart Vertical Gardening for Small and Large Spaces (2011). She is a Contra Costa Master Gardener and Bay-Friendly Qualified Design Professional, and online she is a founding member of the Lawn Reform Coalition and the Garden Designers Roundtable. The Danville-Alamo Garden Club (DAGC) meets on the second Thursday of the months September to June starting at 9:15am at the Alamo Women’s Club located at 1401 Danville Blvd, Alamo. The public is welcome with the guest fee of $10. For questions, email membershipvp@dagc.us or visit www.dagc.us.
WALNUT CREEK GARDEN CLUB MEETING
The Walnut Creek Garden Club March 11th meeting is titled, “Leaf Manipulations.” Liz Emmonds will show you how easy it is to manipulate plant materials to create interesting forms that will take your flower arrangements to a new and exciting level. The meeting will take place at Heather Farm, located at 1540 Marchbanks Road in Walnut Creek. The Business Meeting begins at 9:45AM, followed by social time at 10:30AM, and program at 11AM. Everyone is invited. Please contact mslittle44@gmail.com if you have any questions.
BRINGING BACK THE NATIVES GARDEN TOUR
Registration for the Sunday, May 5th “Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour” is now open! Register now to reserve your place. The Garden Tour includes 35 bird and butterfly friendly, pesticide-free, water-conserving, low-maintenance gardens that contain 60% or more native plants. The tour will be held Sunday, May 5th from 10AM to 5PM at various locations throughout Alameda and Contra Costa counties. More than forty garden talks will be offered throughout the day. Volunteers are needed to spend a morning or afternoon greeting tour participants and answering questions about natives. Complete the Volunteer section of the registration form if you can help out this year. In addition, applications for the 2020 Tour are now being accepted. You can download the application form from the Tour website. Garden visits will be made in May and June. Please note that gardens must contain at least 60% or more native plants. Donations and Garden Guide – A $15 per person donation is requested to help cover the cost of putting on the Tour. There is a $10 fee for your garden guide; one guide contains enough tickets for a group of four. To register or learn more, visit www.bringingbackthenatives.net.
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their wool is removed, cleaned, and spun into yarn all while the sheep dogs are herding the next sheep in line to get their haircut. Forest Home Farms was built and settled in the early 1800s and your attendance will make a difference in the preserving this unique piece of San Ramon history. Stop by for a fun-filled day on the oldest homestead in San Ramon that is open to the public. Besides the sheep shearing there will be a sheep dog demonstration, wool spinning, viewing at the tractor museum, music, crafts, a gift shop, Glass House Tours, food, tractor rides, and more. Order tickets online (Early Bird Tickets before April 14) at SRHF.org or purchase at the gate. If you have questions, please call Lynette Gerbert at 925-210-2290.
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LIFE IN THE ALAMO/ DANVILLE GARDEN
DESIGNING SMALL SPACES By John Montgomery, Landscape Architect, ASLA
Landscape design is an interesting challenge at any scale, but when working with a small space, or even a tiny space, how do you create a comfortable outdoor living space? When working with small spaces, the question of what to prioritize becomes even more important. Working within a courtyard or small terrace, it might be impossible to include every desired element, so we narrow it down. Maybe there is just room for a cozy sitting area, a firepit, and a few beautiful plants; it doesn’t take much for the perfect retreat! The key to a small space is making it feel spacious, so the last thing you want is too many elements to compete and clutter. Since horizontal space is limited, it may make sense to bring vertical elements into the equation. An arbor extending from the house is a perfect shade solution Even a small landscape can include many beautiful elements. for a small space and can Wise use of space keeps this courtyard from feeling crowded. support a vine and pendant lights for a cozy effect. Bird feeders, chimes, or even a hanging porch swing make the most of this extra level of design space. Walls and fences are also design spaces that are often overlooked. Hanging planters, sculpture, and vertical fountains add interest without competing for space, while shelves or hooks can provide storage in workspaces and outdoor bars. The challenge of tiny spaces offers the chance for unique solutions to be born from necessity! We love the opportunity to create something really different, and the challenge of small space often sparks ideas we wouldn’t have otherwise considered! A modern gas fire-pit designed to double as a cocktail and coffee table, a tiered retaining wall that doubles as a fountain, a cool floating bench that doubles as a planter and is actually hiding a utility box… these elements multi-task wonderfully and save space while offering a conversation piece to your garden. The u lt imate goal when it comes to any design is to create the desired ambiance. Is cozy and compact the feeling we want to invoke? Or do we want to create the feeling of expansion beyond this small footprint? Ultra-cool modern firepit with fire glass is easily fitted with a K n o w i n g t h i s wooden tabletop for a multi-purpose use of space. answer, we can rely on visual tricks to create the effect we want. Planting techniques can create the optical illusion of deeper space, or a view from the garden can be framed for a sense of vastness and connection with the world beyond. Simplicity is key, so that the space framed by these carefully chosen elements is where the ambiance lives. “You know you have reached perfection of design not when you have nothing more to add, but when you have nothing more to take away.” ~Antoine de Saint-Exupéry J. Montgomery Designs creates new landscapes and updates existing ones on any scale. Contact our Alamo studio at 925-820-8884 to schedule a Complimentary Consultation, or visit our online portfolio at jmontgomerydesigns.com. Advertorial
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March 2019 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 15
PAGE 16 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • March 2019
CLIP NOTES
By Jody Morgan
Who brought the rain? Various Native American legends credit hummingbirds with saving the planet from drought. Scientists believe that by 22 million years ago, ancestors of these tiny birds were well established in South America. All of the world’s some 330 known species are native to the Western Hemisphere, but only 17 breed in North America. Europeans were amazed when they first encountered them. Spaniards dubbed them “Flying Jewels.” The French called them “Flower Bird.” The Cochti people of New Mexico relate that long ago the people stopped believing in Mother Earth and followed their own ways. To punish them, she took the clouds and put them away for four long years. Only the hummingbird that never lost faith in her powers thrived. When the people regained their faith following hummingbird’s example, Mother Earth gave back the rain. The Hopi and Zuni Nations also credit the hummingbird with saving humanity. During a lengthy drought causing famine throughout the land, a young brother and sister were left alone while their parents searched for food and water. The boy made a toy hummingbird. The girl tossed it into the air. The hummingbird came to life and brought them an ear of corn every day. Fearing for their lives, the hummingbird flew to the center of the earth to plead with the god of fertility for help. By the time the parents returned, rain had come and green plants were sprouting. In a Pueblo saga with a slightly different twist, the hummingbird saves the earth after a disgruntled demon sets it on fire. Hummingbird gathers clouds from the four directions and uses the rain to put out the flames. Even if hummingbirds don’t bring rain, they do bring a rainbow of plumage to the landscape. Anna’s Hummingbirds are year-round residents of California. Insects and spiders account for 10% of their diet, providing essential proteins. It’s fun to watch them snapping insects in mid-air. Pollen ingested along with the nectar that provides the balance of their diet is a minor source of proteins but may offer vital support to their immune systems. In order to gather the nectar needed for a single day’s food supply, a humming-
www.yourmonthlypaper.com bird may visit as many as 1,000 flowers. Hummingbirds easily spot red or orange flowers against a background of green foliage or yellow blossoms contrasted by blue-tinged vegetation. The sugar solutions in hummingbird feeders supplement, but are not an ideal substitute for, natural nectar. Keeping the solution fresh by changing it as often as daily in hot weather is critical to hummingbird health. Hummingbirds are incredibly sensitive to pesticides and herbicides, so be sure the area to which you are luring them is chemical-free. What native wildflowers are available to nourish hummingbirds in the early spring? Scarlet Larkspur (Delphinium nudicaule) is one of only two types of delphiniums with red flowers. Also called Canyon Larkspur or Red Larkspur, this species has flowers that have evolved to better suit the needs of hummingbirds than those of bees. While stretching to a more tubular configuration, the blossoms resemble the unopened flowers of their cousins. According to Mount Diablo Wildflowers, published by the Mount Diablo Interpretive Association, scarlet larkspur blooms in open rocky areas throughout the mountain from March-June. Simultaneously, Indian Paintbrushes (Catilleja spp.) color slopes at the edge of woodlands and chaparral red or orange. Yellow-orange flowering Bush Monkey Flower (no longer Mimulus, but now Diplacus aurantiacus) is easier to establish in a cultivated hummingbird garden. Drought tolerant and deer resistant, the 3’-4’ shrub gives hummingbirds and butterflies a long season of dining pleasure from spring into summer. Add other Monkey Flower species to extend the feasting. Scarlet Monkey Flower (Diplacus cardinalis) blooms on Mount Diablo August-October. Hummingbird Sage (Salvia spathacea) is a personal favorite for a low-maintenance native that covers ground under oaks or goes summer-dormant in full sun. The whorls of deep rose flowers may open as early as late winter and continue to provide a show until summer. The semi-evergreen foliage has a pleasant fruity aroma. Plants spread slowly on underground rhizomes and are not hard to control. No California hummingbird garden is complete without something to feed the birds in winter. California fuschias (originally classified as Zauschneria and now listed as Epilobium) bloom red, pink, or white from late summer into December. For nesting sites, various species of currants (Ribes), elderberries (Sambucus), and manzanitas (Archtostaphylus) are favored. They add structure to the garden and flowers for hummingbirds and humans to enjoy.
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Their cooperation and collateral caring are amazing. I watched my first swarm of 30,000 bees going through a one-inch hole in a completely orderly fashion. Could you imagine 30,000 people exiting a stadium in the same way?” Today, MDBA has over 400 members. In 1979, the club was formed by just a dozen. Steve Gentry, a founding member, recalls visiting the Peace Center near Howe Homestead Park in Walnut Creek to view an observation bee box. He and several other attendees exchanged contact information so they could meet to talk about bees. In the early years, membership rarely exceeded 30 enthusiasts, but when dramatic declines in honey bee populations became front-page news, concerned individuals joined MDBA in unprecedented numbers. Although there are about 4,000 species of bees native to North America, European honey bees brought by settlers in about 1622 are the prime pollinators of many of our favorite fruits and vegetables. Approximately 85% of our native bees are solitary. Only the most social bees make harvestable quantities of honey. Consequently, the practice of managing bees has been predominantly limited to keeping honey bees. Beekeeping is a complex task requiring daily dedication and the capacity to cope with losing bees to a plethora of well-known threats like infestations of Bee & Borage: Honey bees pollinate many of our favorite herbs and the Varroa destructor mites fruits. Photo by Judy Weatherly. that arrived in the US in the mid 1980s and mysterious problems like Colony Collapse Disorder that began leaving honey and pollen stocked hives devoid of worker bees in 2006. “The best thing you can do for bees is not necessarily to have a hive, but to plant for them. Lack of nutrition is one of the worst crises facing bees,” says Weatherly. Hannah Nordhaus writes in The Bee Keeper’s Lament: “More and more research has suggested that bees may be suffering from the same kind of malnutrition afflicting humans who eat processed junk food. The problem is compounded by lack of natural forage. Sprawl, monocrops, flawless lawns, weedless gardens, and a general decline in pasture-land have made it hard for bees to find a suitable diversity of nectar and pollen sources.” Mike Vigo, MDBA President, advises anyone considering acquiring bees to, “join a local bee club before you invest in beekeeping. It’s not easy to keep bees healthy and you can’t just put bees in a box and walk away. New beekeepers can get overwhelmed quickly. Joining a bee club helps accelerate the learning curve of beekeeping and there is usually an experienced helping hand you can lean on. There’s lots to learn about management,
Little One: Little One garbed for Bee Day inspects the stacks of bee packages. Photo courtesy of Judy Weatherly.
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WHEN SHOULD YOU HAVE “THE TALK” WITH YOUR CHILDREN? By Robert J. Silverman, Esq.
Clients often ask, “When should we talk to our children about our estate plan?” or, “Should we give our kids a copy of our documents?” Of course, each person and each family is different, so these questions have no universally correct answers. Many factors should be weighed when considering whether to discuss these matters with your loved ones and whether to let them see your estate planning documents. These factors may include, among many others whether you have a blended family, the age and maturity of your children, whether or not you are treating children equally in your Will and/or Living Trust (“estate planning documents”), whether one (vs. others or all) of your children is nominated to serve as the Executor and/or Successor Trustee, how large your estate is, whether any beneficiaries other than children (individuals and/or charities) will receive a portion of your assets, and how likely you are to make substantial changes to your documents in the future. By discussing your estate plan, your family might benefit in any number of ways. Perhaps most importantly, your children will know before you’re gone - even if they don’t agree - what you’re planning and why. Even if you have a conventional plan, under which your estate planning documents provide essentially that all children will inherit equally, the failure to communicate could result in a missed opportunity to discuss related issues and impart insight about your thoughts and values. The case for communicating may be more compelling when your estate planning documents depart from the norm in any significant way. This is particularly true when you have a blended family or when your distribution and/or management provisions are unconventional. Often, these situations merit talking with your children candidly about your decisions as soon as you feel it’s appropriate. Sometimes, it’s helpful for your estate planning attorney
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March 2019 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 17
to facilitate or be involved in such discussions. Of course, communicating with children may be very useful when you have carved out certain tangible gifts or real property or closely held business interests for one or more specific children. Maybe you’ve simply chosen one child ahead of others to play a key role in the administration of your trust or estate. Some matters you perceive to be minor may be perceived by your children as a bigger deal. Your reaction to the above may be that these are your assets; it’s your estate; and you can choose to do whatever you want - whether or not such decisions are, or appear to be, objectively reasonable or fair to your children! If so, I agree wholeheartedly. Nevertheless, you shouldn’t deceive yourself that your children are certain to see things this way; in fact, they may take great umbrage upon learning what you’ve decided. Their reaction may result in friction among your children and/or resentment of a certain child who is viewed as being “favored.” This friction too frequently damages or destroys cherished familial relationships. Query: Might it be better to communicate about potentially sensitive matters during your lifetime rather than leaving your children with no explanation, potentially leading to anger and guilt when you’re gone? Even if one or more of your children believe your decision is unfair, disappointing, or illogical, at least they’ll know what to expect, and they’ll have some basis for understanding why you made your decisions. Naturally, discussion about these issues is rarely comfortable or stress-free. But deciding when to “have the talk” and what to reveal and discuss with the children is not a subject to be taken lightly or ignored. 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.
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The organization’s first grant in the amount of $65K was provided to White Pony Express, a Contra Costa County food rescue program. The grant will allow the expansion of a weekly grocery delivery program to three additional schools identified as underserved and impoverished. The other two finalists, Beyond Emancipation and Eden I&R, each received a community grant of $4K. A shared love of community giving brought Halow together with Impact Diablo Valley’s co-founder Mindy Longo, also an Alamo resident. Each is a former National Charity League participant, and each has a rich history of community involvement – Halow with Camp Okizu and the Buena Vista Auxiliary, and Longo with Costa County Child Abuse Prevention Council and pediatric cancer outreach programs. Their 2019 goals for Impact Diablo Valley are ambitious, and the duo plans to grow the group’s membership and grant size. Partnership with the highly regarded East Bay Community Foundation is indicative of their professionalism, and the promise that 100% of received donations are granted is especially appealing. “Impact Diablo Valley harnesses the power of collective gift giving and promotes our community coming together to really make a difference within Contra Costa County,” says Longo. “We live in a wonderful community that is often protected from the challenges that others face. We want to educate our children about these challenges and provide them with an appropriate level of engagement to increase their awareness and empathy.” “What makes Impact Diablo special is its platform for the entire family to support organizations serving unique needs in our community,” says member Kristen Loughmiller. “We have four elementary school-aged kids, and we really wanted them to understand how important charitable giving and service is as a core family value. The children's presentation was an inspiring and impactful hour. The three finalist charities delivered powerful and kid appropriate messages. Most importantly, I knew that hour made a difference in how my kids understand the greater world around them as they reiterated how much they liked the event and asked thoughtful questions.” “Our family got involved with Impact Diablo Valley because we wanted to learn more about local non-profits doing meaningful work and understand how our family could support those organizations financially,” says Katie Roland Allen, mother of two young boys. “We love the community aspect - giving alongside dozens of other families that care about making our region a better place and pooling our money so the funds have a huge impact. My husband and I want to teach our children to be generous givers, and Impact Diablo Valley has been a great organization to help us on our family's giving journey.” Continues Loughmiller, “The charitable mindset continued as our kids enthusiastically donated thanksgiving meals and adopt-a-family over the holidays. We look forward to supporting Impact Diablo Valley in the future and finding ways to be of service to our community.” Now is the time to join! To learn more and join Impact Diablo Valley Families, visit www.impactdiablovalley.org or send an email to info@impactdiablovalley.org.
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PAGE 18 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • March 2019
TECHNOLOGY MATTERS
By Evan Corstorphine, Portable CIO, Inc.
Computer viruses have evolved dramatically over the last 20 years. The first of these started as “worms” which were annoying, almost academic pieces of code to see if new networks of interconnected computers could be clogged with replicating programs. The answer was a resounding yes. As interest in network worms ran their course, new and more destructive code was on its way. My introduction to the power of computer viruses began in late 1999. There was a new virus that crawled its way across all of the computers in the company I worked for. Before we knew it, every workstation and our server had been wrecked. It caused a lot of damage, and many people lost all of their work documents as well as their personal music libraries. This was before iTunes, so losing your stored music was a big loss. The internet was still very new, personal laptops weren’t very common, and the antivirus wars were just getting started. Over the next 18 years, we saw the power and sophistication of these malicious programs explode. Antivirus companies struggled to catalog the identity of thousands of viruses being released every day. Our industry was 100% reactive to the malicious onslaught. It wasn’t until about five years ago that the antivirus companies began creating a new approach to detection which looked at virus behavior instead of its specific identity. There are millions of computer viruses circulating in the world. With the identity model, your antivirus software needs to know the name and size and characteristics of each and every virus before it can protect your computer. The limitation with this model of virus detection is that the bad guys always had the advantage until the antivirus company could catch up. Consumers had no protection from new threats until the antivirus company captured the new virus, analyzed it, and added it to their catalog of definitions. The revolution came when antivirus companies changed their detection paradigm and began looking for the aberrant behavior a virus exhibits on a computer instead of its specific name or signature. Using this method, they became able to detect and prevent a wide swath of viruses without needing to know individual virus names. The product we use,
Webroot, is one of the leaders using this model. Right around the time we felt we were getting a handle on viruses, the scourge of ransomware reared its ugly head. Right now, ransomware is a multi-billion dollar industry, and its growing. For around $6,000, a motivated (if misguided) individual can buy a ransomware design kit on the internet. With that kit, if some care is taken, a monthly revenue of up to $90,000 can be generated by preying on people like you for as long as it lasts. If that enterprising individual were smart enough, they could begin multiple different strains of ransomware and overlap their introduction to maximize their gain. This isn’t my imagination; this is happening. Whereas early viruses and worms were designed by bored teenagers, the industry of ransomware has been discovered by criminal syndicates and is being exploited to generate billions of untraceable dollars into the black market. Criminals are flocking to this exploit because with untraceable funds, there is virtually no risk of getting caught. It’s the perfect crime. What should you do to minimize your risk? First, take this seriously. If you care about the data on your home or business computers and you don’t want to get ripped off, use the comprehensive strategy we recommend. Start with backups. All of your data needs to be backed up to an offsite internet-based service. I do not recommend or support USB or thumb-drive backups, period. Second, we have found no protection service better than the TSP product we offer. Antivirus alone is not enough. And even though Microsoft includes Windows Defender antivirus with Windows 10, it too is not enough. You must have layered protection. TSP is a combination of three products we install and manage on your computers. We haven’t had any client who uses TSP become infected with ransomware or much of anything else. Your next step is education. Take the phishing test I published last month, and see how you do (https://phishingquiz.withgoogle.com). I’m confident in our software, and yet, there will always be new threats around the corner. Using bestin-class software and educating ourselves about how to avoid easy mistakes is a winning approach. How do you get started? It begins with deciding what data is important to you. What would happen if you opened your computer tomorrow morning and every file were inaccessible, and you found out your backups hadn’t been working? This is what we work to prevent. If you would like to discuss your situation and inoculate your computers, give us a call at 925-552-7953 x1, or email info@pcioit.com. Advertorial
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March 2019 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 19
RETIREMENT ADVICE
By Robert Cucchiaro
One of the issues I have with our industry is that most financial planning advice is either geared towards the very young, who are just starting out, or the very wealthy, who have already achieved significant financial success. In my experience, the folks who can benefit the most from what I call real financial planning is that in-between group. Typically, that means folks between the ages 45-75 who have less than $2M saved, excluding the equity in their homes. To channel my inner David Letterman, here is my top 10 list of issues that we help retirees and near-retirees face when they have less than $2M of investable assets: 1. When, and how, will I retire? 2. When should I start collecting my Social Security? 3. How will my portfolio be used to create a paycheck for me in retirement? 4. What should I do as far as Medicare, and what choices will I have to make? 5. Will I have to move or otherwise reduce my monthly expenses? And if so, how will I do this? 6. Will I have to tap into the equity in my home to stay in the Bay Area? And if so, how will I do this? 7. How can I protect myself against financial fraud? (This is especially important for folks who’ve always had a 401K or 403b plan at work and are now considering an IRA). 8. What should I do to prepare for long-term care expenses? 9. How will my plans change if my spouse dies before me? 10. What should I do as far as planning for my kids and grandkids, and how do I make sure I can leave them something? One of the most important things to notice about this list is that it has very little to do with picking stocks or mutual funds. I think it’s also important to notice that these issues are advice driven and not product driven. If you’ve read my articles before, you know this is one of the reasons I think everyone should have an Independent Advisor acting as a fiduciary in their best interests and not a bank or insurance company representative. Real financial planning addresses each of these and much more. Once addressed, this becomes a time-specific, dollar-specific, plan that both the client and their Advisor can work towards, measuring progress and making tweaks along the way. This is the type of work we do at Summit Wealth & Retirement and the type of work our firm has done for over 30 years. We are proud of the fact that our office in Danville has three Certified Financial Planning Professionals on-site, and we are here to help families in Danville, Diablo, and Alamo make better financial decisions. To learn more, visit our website at www.summitwealthandretirement.com, give us a call at 925-927-1900, or email me at rob@swrpteam.com. 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. Summit Wealth has three Certified Financial Planners (CFP®), a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), an MBA, and a Tax Director (EA) all on staff and in Danville. Advertorial
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SEARCH AND RESCUE
The Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team needs volunteer members to respond to missing person incidents, disasters, and other critical incidents. Team members are on call 24/7 year-round. The program provides required training; including wilderness traveling, first aid, map and compass usage, tracking disaster response, and search skills; and may also include special training for canine, equestrian, technical, mountain bike, or other rescue skills. For information and applications, visit www.contracostasar.org or call (925) 646-4461.
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Serving Alamo & Danville Since
925.820.3640 www.actionpoolrepair.com Contractor Lic# 978033-C53
Bees continued from page 16
observation, and manipulation. No matter how long you have been keeping bees, you learn something new every day.” When Vigo’s daughters joined Lamorinda 4H and the beekeeping project, the whole family became interested in beekeeping. Following a career change in 2010, Mike founded “The Bee Ranchers.” One service The Bee Ranchers provides is installation and management of hives for individuals who lack enough time or experience to succeed without support. Many clients, including MDBA Treasurer MJ Gordon, are ready to take over care of their hives after witnessing the first year of seasonal maintenance tasks. Research your town’s beekeeping regulations before purchasing a hive. In most cases, neighbors soon become supportive. Weatherly’s neighbors thought their cherry trees were dying until her bees moved in and their trees flourished. Gordon reports, “My neighbors appreciate that we have honey bees. When one had a swarm, they gathered, fascinated to watch us capture it. Many wanted to contribute to the upkeep of the bees and are very happy to visit the honey stand I often set in my front yard with an honor system for them to purchase honey.” Gary Lawrence decided to keep bees when he retired 28 years ago. Having noticed only four honey bees in his yard that entire summer, he began attending MDBA meetings. Now Gary hosts the annual Bee Day. For this Members Only workshop, participants pre-order packages containing a queen housed in a separate cage within the screened box and about 10,000 bees ready for placement in a hive. Experienced MDBA members demonstrate how to handle and install them. The day before this year’s April 13th event, a few hundred bee packages will arrive at Gary’s home. Do bees have a knack for finding their keepers? MDBA Vice-President Valerie Schmidt had no intention of keeping bees. When she saw bees flying in and out of the cassita behind her house, she searched for someone to take them away alive. The MDBA volunteer Valerie contacted to collect her bees convinced her to keep them herself. Weatherly considered herself bug-phobic before stragglers from a nest of bumble bees removed from an ornamental birdhouse on her patio captivated her attention by tenaciously regrouping. Soon, she had a honey bee hive. Three mentors who are available 24/7 helped her understand each problem encountered as a learning experience rather than a crisis. Lawrence recalls, “One summer day a friend arrived at my front door for a visit. A large swarm of bees gathered on a grapevine in my backyard, and I invited him to join me in gathering them in. We suited up, put a hive box under the swarm, dropped bees into it, and watched the whole scenting procedure. Afterwards, he confessed that he was terrified, because he had been afraid of bees since childhood. But after experiencing handling the swarm, he actually became a beekeeper and is still a member of MDBA.” Swarms occur when a hive is overcrowded and bees leave to seek a new living space. MDBA volunteers are experienced in gathering the usually docile insects and taking them to a proper home. MJ explains, “When beekeepers see a swarm of honey bees, we are excited to grab our veil and go capture them to give them a safe home. The public, in contrast, becomes
See Bees continued on page 26
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PAGE 20 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • March 2019
information on AIA, articles of interest to residents, membership forms, and more. Don’t be left out; now is the time to renew or become a member of AIA.
ALAMO FARMER’S MARKET ~ EAT RIGHT AND LIVE LONGER!
ALAMO IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION (AIA)
By Roger Smith, President CONSUMER PROTECTION
March 3-9 is National Consumer Protection Week. The National Consumer Protection Week website provides tools for consumers concerning identity theft, security, and safety. Find out more at https://www.consumer. ftc.gov/features/national-consumer-protection-week. 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. Some important sites to learn more include “Protecting Your Privacy” (https://www.us-cert.gov/ncas/tips/ST04-013), “Avoiding Social Engineering and Phishing Attacks” (https://www.us-cert.gov/ncas/ tips/ST04-014), and “Preventing and Responding to Identity Theft” (https:// www.us-cert.gov/ncas/tips/ST05-019). IdentityTheft.gov can help you report and recover from identity theft. The FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center can be accessed at https://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx. People are getting more robocalls than ever. Technology is the reason. Companies are using auto-dialers that can send out thousands of phone calls every minute for an incredibly low cost. So what’s the FTC doing to stop these illegal robocallers, and what can you do to limit the number of robocalls you receive? Learn more at https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/features/feature-0025-robocalls. To protect your bank accounts and money, here are seven steps from the IRS that taxpayers can follow. 1. Avoid unprotected WiFi. Unprotected public WiFi hotspots may allow thieves to view transactions. 2. Shop at familiar online retailers. Generally, sites using the “s” designation in “https” at the start of the URL are secure. User can also look for the “lock” icon in the browser’s URL bar. That said, some thieves can get a security certificate, so the “s” may not always vouch for the site’s legitimacy. Beware of purchases at unfamiliar sites or clicks on links from pop-up ads. 3. Learn to recognize and avoid phishing emails. Thieves send these emails, posing as a trusted source, such as a financial institution or the IRS. The criminal’s goal is to entice users to open a link or attachment. The link may take users to a fake website that will steal usernames and passwords. An attachment may download malware that tracks keystrokes. 4. Keep a clean machine. This applies to computers, phones, and tablets. Taxpayers should use security software to protect against malware that may steal data and viruses that may damage files. 5. Use passwords that are strong, long, and unique. Experts suggest a minimum of 10 characters, but longer is better. People should also avoid using a specific word in the password. They should also use a combination of letters, numbers, and special characters. 6. Use multi-factor authentication when available. This means users may need a security code, usually sent as a text from a financial institution or email provider to a mobile phone. People use this code in addition to usernames and passwords. 7. Encrypt and password-protect sensitive data. If keeping financial records, tax returns, or any personally identifiable information on computers, this data should be encrypted and protected by a strong password. Learn more at https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/follow-these-tips-to-protect-data-when-shopping-online.
HAPPY 63RD BIRTHDAY AIA
Now in its 64th 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 63 years in making Alamo into the wonderful community that it is today. Please complete and return your annual membership form to AIA at PO Box 156, Alamo, CA 94507. Please also visit our website at www.AlamoCA.org for
So you’ve been trying to eat right and working to fit in your “5 a day” servings of fruit and vegetables. Well, the government has some news for you: Forget five a day. More is better. The CDC and the Produce for Better Health Foundation have launched a national campaign with the message, “Fruits & Veggies -- More Matters.” The new slogan replaces the old “5 a Day” campaign. The reason? Under the U.S. government’s latest food guidelines, five servings of fruits and vegetables may not be enough. Adults need anywhere from 7-13 cups of produce daily to get all the health benefits of fruits and vegetables, including possible protection against obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer. An excellent source for fresh fruits and vegetables for your diet and dining pleasure is our Alamo Farmer’s Market! They have the best and the freshest fruits and vegetables full of taste, vitamins, nutrition, and fiber that everyone needs for their diet including oranges, clementines, mandarins, grapes, persimmons, apples, and pomegranates! The Alamo Farmer’s Market is located in Alamo Plaza, off of Danville Blvd near Bank of America in Alamo. It is open, rain or shine, Sundays, 9AM – 2PM.
DANVILLE LIONS CLUB
The Danville Lions Club meets for dinner at Crow Canyon Country Club on the first and third Wednesday of every month. Danville Lions Club supports blind charities, Sight First, the curing of pediatric cancer, local sight screening, the fight against diabetes, and many local charities. The group has interesting speakers at each meeting. Contact Truman Howard (925) 787-2565 or truman.howard@gmail.com for reservations. Visitors and new members are welcome. For more information, visit www.danvillelionsclub.org.
EXCHANGE CLUB
The Exchange Club of San Ramon Valley meets for lunch the second Wednesday of every month at Faz Restaurant, located at 600 Hartz Avenue in Danville. Sign-in and social time begin at 11:30AM. The meeting starts promptly at noon and ends promptly at 1PM. The one-hour program features guest speakers and business networking. Guests are welcome with luncheon reservations. The cost is $20 for members and first time guests, and $23 for returning guests. For reservations and information, please contact Karen Stepper at 925-998-8865 or coachstepper@yahoo.com.
KIWANIS CLUB OF SAN RAMON VALLEY
The Kiwanis Club of San Ramon Valley meets for lunch every Thursday at noon at Black Bear Diner, located at 807 Camino Ramon, Danville. The Club organizes the Kiwanis 4th of July Parade in Danville and many other exciting events. The Club has an interesting and informative weekly program speaker and specializes in fun and entertaining camaraderie. There is no charge for a guest lunch. For more information, call John Lineweaver at (925) 272-8207, email info@srvkiwanis.org, or visit www.srvkiwanis.org.
LOCAL ROTARY CLUBS
The Rotary Club of Alamo meets on Wednesdays at 12:15PM at Round Hill Country Club in Alamo. For information about the group, contact Peter Walron at peter.waldron@ lfg.com. The Danville Rotary Club meets every Monday at noon at the Black Bear Diner in Danville. For information, contact Bob Chace at bchace@pacbell.net or by phone at (925)838-7007. If you are interested in visiting the Danville/Sycamore Valley Rotary Club, contact Jim Coleman at coleman_jd@pacbell.net. Meetings are held on Tuesdays at 7AM at Crow Canyon Country Club. The Rotary Club of San Ramon Valley meets for dinner every Wednesday night at the Blackhawk Country Club in Danville. Networking and social time starts at 6:30PM with the meeting starting at 7PM. For more information, call Bernie at 925-352-2155. You can also visit www.sanramonvalleyrotary.com. Lastly, Rotary Club of San Ramon meets every Thursday between noon and 1:15pm at the Crow Canyon Country Club. For more information, contact Dennis Harvey at dennis@dharveyrealtor.com or 925-519-4748.
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THE EYE OPENER
AMBLYOPIA (LAZY EYE) By Gregory Kraskowsky, O.D., Alamo Optometry
Amblyopia, or “lazy eye” as it is commonly referred, by definition means an eye that is not correctable to 20/20 vision. Many times in practice I find that patients are using this term incorrectly; they always say that they have a “lazy” or “bad” eye when with glasses or contacts they see very well. The important distinction that has to be made is that this refers to best-corrected vision, whether that is with glasses or contact lenses. Amblyopia rarely affects both eyes, and most forms of amblyopia start in childhood, making it even more important for a child’s vision and eye health to be evaluated to ensure the eyes and vision are developing normally. The most common form of decreased vision is from strabismus, or an eye turn. If one eye is not focused on the same point as the other eye, that retina never receives a clear image and therefore does not develop normally. This is why it is mandatory that an eye turn be corrected with surgery and/or glasses at an early age. Since the wiring between the eye and brain does not completely mature until about age 10-12, it is imperative that in this time frame vision must be maximized. Compared to the other types of amblyopia, this is the most easily noticed by parents because of the obvious eye appearance and care is usually sought early on in development. The other main cause of amblyopia is refractive. A refraction is a measure of the amount of nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism needed to be corrected to attain 20/20 vision. When the prescription is extremely high, it is likely that the patient will not see a sharp 20/20. Because of the optics of the eye in conjunction with the thickness of the lenses, a patient will still see well but not as clearly as someone with a lesser prescription. Another variant of refractive amblyopia is anisometropia; this just means that the prescription between the eyes is very different. An example is when one eye is very nearsighted and the other eye has no prescription. Since the brain can only see well out of one eye, it tends to ignore the other eye because of the blurry vision. However, since the eyes are generally straight and the child can see well, it is very difficult for parents and teachers to pick this up. A child will generally respond well to visual tasks and will respond with the correct answers when asked about what they see. However, they are seeing out of only one eye, and have poor or non-existent binocular vision or eye teaming because the other eye cannot contribute to good vision. Again, this needs to be treated early with full-time glasses to maximize any vision that can be gained when the child is young. The goal is to minimize the visual acuity difference between the eyes, maximize eye teaming skills, and to protect the “good” eye from trauma as much as possible to avoid having two eyes that do not see well. Some other less common causes of reduced vision are trauma and disease. Most types of trauma to the eye can cause permanent damage to the eye. Conditions such as a retinal detachment and chemical burn (acid or base) can cause permanent vision loss. Diseases such as macular degeneration and glaucoma cause decreased vision in one or both eyes that cannot be fully corrected with glasses. Amblyopia develops in these cases from either the macula in macular degeneration or the optic nerve in glaucoma becoming diseased and not being able to function properly. Even though all of the causes of decreased vision were not discussed here, it is clear that there are many reasons for children and adults to have their eyes checked on a regular basis to help maximize their current vision and prevent further vision loss. Keep in mind that we see patients of all ages and look forward to seeing you in the office. Dr. K. at Alamo Optometry is your hometown eye doctor for outstanding service, vision care, and designer eyewear. He can be reached at 925-8206622, 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
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March 2019 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 21
WHAT’S NEW FOR MELASMA?
By Dr. Jerome Potozkin
Melissa came to see us several weeks ago, distraught over the pigmentation she started to see on her upper lip, cheeks, and forehead. She noticed this increase in dark brown pigmentation over the past three months. Based upon the pattern of hyper-pigmentation and the fact the she had recently started taking oral contraceptives, it was easy to diagnose what the problem was. Melasma is the most common problem of pigmentation that I see in my practice. It can be a challenge to treat, but the good news is there are many options. Melasma translates to the “mask of pregnancy.” It is most common to see in pregnant women or women on birth control because estrogen stimulates the production of the skin pigment known as melanin. Surprisingly, 10% of melasma patients are men. People with darker skin are more likely to get melasma. If you have a blood relative with melasma, your odds of getting melasma increase. Common triggers for melasma include sun exposure, hormonal changes, and irritating skincare products. Melasma can be stubborn and challenging to treat. There are some simple things you do to help your melasma before even seeing a board-certified dermatologist. Firstly, I recommend using daily sunscreen. Sun protection is the cornerstone of helping to improve melasma. I recommend a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 and above. Sunscreen isn’t enough, so I also recommend wearing a wide-brimmed hat to keep the sun off your face. Avoid waxing and irritating skin care products. Most melasma patients require ongoing sun-protection. Some people will see improvement with the previously described simple tips. However, many will require additional treatment. Hydroquinone, a prescription medication, is the most commonly prescribed treatment. We will often combine this medication with topical tretinoin and hydrocortisone. This combination tends to work synergistically to lighten the darkened skin. It is usually applied daily at bedtime. Topical tranexamic acid found in SkinCeutical’s Discoloration Defense can help as can oral tranexamic acid. The challenge with oral tranexamic acid is that there can be significant side effects, and once the medication is stopped, the pigmentation tends to come back. These topical treatments are the cornerstone of melasma treatment and work for most people. Melasma represents the overproduction of pigmentation in the skin, so treatment is targeted to decrease melanin production. Some people will find their melasma challenging to treat. For those, we will usually offer chemical peeling that can help turn the pigmentation over. We usually recommend lighter peels that have minimal downtime. A new advance that we are offering is the Clear and Brilliant laser. This laser has shown to help darker skinned patients with melasma. Most will require at least four treatments spaced two weeks apart. It offers great hope. The challenge with most laser and light-based treatments for melasma is that results can vary. Regardless of which treatment is needed, ongoing sunscreen use is a must. These treatments are usually combined with the topical medications previously described. If you suffer from melasma or another disorder of pigmentation, you’re not alone. We have helped many people just like you. Call us today to get your skin looking the way you want. 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
NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH
Neighborhood Watch is a Community Action and Problem-Solving Program and one of the most effective means available for resolving issues within your community. Through organized problem-solving activities, your block can remove crime from your neighborhood and address any community issues that concern residents. Meetings can be held by a Crime Prevention Specialist who will share more information about the program. Please contact Christina Lind-Winters (925) 313-2682 or clind001@so.cccounty.us for more information.
PAGE 22 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • March 2019
HARNESSING THE IMMUNE SYSTEM TO FIGHT COLON CANCER By Jewel Johl, MD
Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed in both men and women in the United States. The American Cancer Society estimates that almost 101,420 new cases of colon cancer will be diagnosed in 2019. While chemotherapy is still used to prevent recurrence of early stage colon cancer and to treat advanced/ metastatic colon cancer, immunotherapy is playing an increasing role in the treatment for certain groups of patients with this disease. Immunotherapy is the use of medications which utilize a person’s own immune system to better recognize and destroy cancer cells. It can be used to treat some people with advanced colorectal cancer as well certain other cancers that respond to manipulation of one’s own immune system. An important part of the immune system is its ability to keep itself from attacking the body's normal cells. To do this, it uses “checkpoint” proteins on immune cells, which act like switches that turn on or off to start an immune response. Certain cancers use these checkpoints to keep the immune system from attacking them. New immunotherapy agents that target these checkpoints hold a lot of promise as cancer treatments. Drugs called checkpoint inhibitors can be used for people whose colorectal cancer cells have tested positive for specific gene changes, such as a high level of microsatellite instability (MSI-H), or changes in one of the mismatch repair (MMR) genes. These drugs are used for patients whose cancer is still growing after treatment with chemotherapy. They might also be used to treat people whose cancer can't be removed with surgery, has come back after treatment, or has spread to other parts of the body (metastasized). These drugs are effective mostly in those whose tumors test positive for MSI-H. Checkpoint inhibitors are also being tested in clinical trials in combination with chemotherapy for treatment of patients with stage III colon cancer that is MSI-H following surgery to prevent recurrence. Pembrolizumab (Keytruda) and nivolumab (Opdivo) are examples of checkpoint inhibitors that are currently available that target PD-1, a protein on immune system cells called T cells that normally help keep these cells from attacking other cells in the body. By blocking PD-1, these drugs boost the immune response against cancer cells. These drugs are given as an intravenous (IV) infusion every two or three weeks. Even though checkpoint inhibitors can be very effective, and is an exciting treatment option for those suffering from colon and certain other cancers, serious side effects can potentially occur. These drugs work by basically removing the brakes from the body’s immune system. Sometimes the immune system starts attacking other parts of the body, which can cause serious or even life-threatening problems in the lungs, intestines, liver, hormone-making glands, kidneys, or other organs. Therefore, we closely monitor these side effects during clinic visits via physical exam and lab assessment. John Muir Hospital is participating in clinical trials to see if these checkpoint inhibitors can be used in combination with chemotherapy in early-stage disease (stage III) following surgery to prevent recurrence and in advanced-stage (stage IV) to see if these drugs can be used early in the course of the treatment, either by itself or in combination with chemotherapy. Join Dr. Johl and other medical staff at the Many Faces of Colorectal Cancer event on March 13th from 6:30-8:30pm at the Lafayette Library Community Room located at 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd. in Lafayette. Please register be sending an email to sjung@dvohmg.com or by calling 925-677-5041. Jewel Johl, MD is a Board Certified Medical Oncologist with Diablo Valley Oncology & Hematology Medical Group. He can also be reached by calling 925-677-5041. Advertorial
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YOUR PERSONAL NUTRITIONIST
SIMPLY LOWERING HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE By Linda Michaelis RD, MS
I have been seeing many clients that wish to get off of their blood pressure medication due to side effects. Many also feel they have to resort to eating a bland diet with high blood pressure. I am thrilled to be able to show them that dining can be enjoyable, especially when they are well educated. My client John and his wife Adelle were referred to me by a local physician. The doctor was inclined to increase John’s medication because his numbers were not in the normal range. The doctor noted that if John worked with me, he’d wait two months before adjusting the dosage. John and Adelle are retired, the kids are gone, and Adelle wanted a break from cooking. They felt that this was finally the time to enjoy more restaurants and travel, but John expressed some nervousness in going to restaurants because of a realistic fear that the food could raise his blood pressure. After seeing John’s food diary I decided our basic strategy was to limit his salt intake to 2,000mg of sodium per day which is equal to a teaspoon of salt. I saw that John’s choice of foods – breads, bacon, soups, chips, and deli meats -- all included heavy doses of salt. We first focused on how to read food labels, pointing out that in spite of claims on packages, a low sodium product is 140 mg per serving. In my counseling, I strive to take what my clients enjoy and set up plans based on favorite foods. I introduced John to breakfast options that have no salt such as oatmeal or even a slice of salt free bread with unsalted almond or peanut butter. I also recommended that John enjoy an omelet made with unsalted butter, Swiss cheese (that is naturally low in salt at 60mg/ slice), spinach, and mushrooms along with fresh salsa that has very little salt. I also introduced him to Kashi Go Lean as the best cold cereal with 80 grams of sodium per cup. I told Adelle that though I appreciate her desire to go out, there is a short list of foods that must be prepared at home to avoid salt traps. These include homemade soups (that easily can substitute in wonderful fresh herbs and spices for salt), baked turkey breast and chicken with BBQ sauce, vinaigrette salad dressings, and marinara and cheese sauces that John loves. I introduced Adelle to salt-free chicken stock as well as vinegars that provide a terrific flavor when splashed onto cooked veggies. She now cooks a great sauce for John’s beloved spaghetti consisting of chopped tomatoes along with fresh basil, oregano, and garlic, adding some aged Parmesan because it only has 75mg/ T of sodium. Adelle also loves to make beans soups, and I told her she can buy salt-free beans or dried beans and soak them over-night and cook them the next day. Adelle and John did not realize that all breads have an average of 150 mg of sodium per slice, so I suggested using salt-free bread for their sandwiches and adding yellow mustard (55mg per teaspoon) for seasoning. In addition, John was happy to learn he could still enjoy snacks such as unsalted baked chips, unsalted nuts, or even dry cereal that is low in salt. I told Adelle and John that it would be my job to make sure they will enjoy their glorious retirement in restaurants and become more comfortable eating out while traveling. We have discussed the advantages of ordering fish, beef, or chicken that is freshly cooked without salt where olive oil, lemon, pepper, and herbs are now very popular. Though salt is a favorite addition of many cooks to veggies, we discussed the need to be firm with the waiter that you cannot have salt. A side salad is great to order, and many restaurants will bring you a decanter of oil and vinegar. I emphasized that John can still enjoy a restaurant meal with salt if he keeps the other meals of the day relatively salt-free to meet the 2,000mg sodium goal. We also discussed the advantages of staying in condos with kitchens which will allow for eating breakfast and some lunches in and dinner out. I advised John he must drink 6-8 glasses of water per day to get rid of the salt he is consuming and also to walk 30 minutes per day. He agreed that he would begin doing both. I am glad to inform you that after working with John for a month his blood pressure is the best it has ever been in years, and he has lost 10 pounds. They have decided to go visit their kids in Texas, and John says he is not scared of eating in restaurants anymore. I will continue to follow John through phone and e-mail, even in Texas, and assist him with eating at his daughter’s home. The good news is that most insurance companies including Aetna, Blue Cross, Blue Shield, Cigna, and United Healthcare cover counseling. Please call me at (925) 855-0150 about your nutritional concerns, email me at Lifeweight1@yahoo. com, and visit my website www.LindaRD.com for past articles and nutrition tips on my blog. Advertorial
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FOR THE LOVE OF TEETH!
VENEERS CAN CORRECT MORE SMILE FLAWS THAN YOU THINK By Dr. Reshma Nazir, DDS - Smiles N Braces Family Dental
Manufactured from durable porcelain, veneers are thinly sliced and carefully shaped to fit and bond securely to the front of your natural teeth. They’re often recommended to cover significant stains or discolorations that don’t respond to even high-grade, professional whitening products. But that’s only one use for customized veneers.
March 2019 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 23
to veneers. A veneer is not a good choice, for instance, for teeth that are severely decayed or fractured. You must also have an adequate enamel layer for the veneer to bond to the natural tooth. We have the skill and expertise to correctly identify whether veneers are a good choice for you. Alternatively, we may recommend a different type of restoration or combine veneers with other techniques to provide the smile makeover you’re seeking.
WHAT’S THE PROCESS FOR DENTAL VENEERS?
The benefits of choosing porcelain veneers for correcting smile flaws are: • They’re stain resistant • They mimic the light-reflecting quality of teeth, which makes them appear extremely natural • They’re strong and durable • They don’t require the extensive tooth reshaping necessary for a dental crown • They’re easy to care for - just brush and floss Gum tissue also responds well to porcelain veneers, which means you won’t have to worry about irritation and discomfort due to the veneer. And we’re able to customize the shade of your porcelain veneers, leaving you with a “just right” tooth color that complements rather than overpowers your appearance.
It starts with an exam and discussion regarding your smile expectations. We will then make recommendations based upon the overall health of your teeth and your goals. For example, because porcelain veneers don’t respond to whitening and it’s important to match the veneer color to your natural teeth, I may then suggest a whitening treatment before you start the process. If you have issues with gum disease or other dental health problems, I will likely recommend treating those before starting on your veneer makeover. Otherwise, it typically takes two visits for veneers. During the first appointment, we prep the teeth and create a mold that’s sent to a dental lab which manufactures the veneers according to my instructions. We’ll also choose the color for your new smile during the initial visit. After your custom veneers arrive at the office, I will see you back to position the veneers, further customize the shape and size of your veneers as necessary, and bond them securely in place with a special dental cement. If you are anxious, we can also provide sedation for you. You relax/sleep through the procedure. Be sure to ask for it. We recently treated a lady who was self-conscious of her tetracycline stained teeth and would hesitate to smile. In addition, she had dental phobia. She chose the sedation option and is now the happiest person you would come across. A beautiful smile can change your life! Would you like to know if veneers are right for you? Please call or schedule your appointment online. Smiles N Braces Family Dental is located in Blackhawk Plaza at 3380 Blackhawk Circle, Suite 210 in Danville (above Blackhawk Montessori). Like us on Facebook and visit our website at www.smilesnbraces.com. Known for outstanding care with a personalized touch, Dr Reshma Nazir is an excellent choice for all your dental health needs and gladly welcomes children and adults to her top-rated practice. Advertorial
Veneers are an excellent choice for many individuals who desire a fix for a less-than appealing smile. There are, however, a few issues that don’t respond well
POPLAR SPECTACLES OPTOMETRY
WHAT DENTAL PROBLEMS CAN YOU CORRECT WITH VENEERS?
Veneers are an excellent choice for correcting numerous flaws in your smile. Commonly a solution for stained and discolored teeth, we can use veneers to create other cosmetically appealing changes to your smile. • Reshaping crooked teeth • Correcting teeth that are too pointy or otherwise unusually shaped • Repairing chipped or worn teeth • Resizing teeth that are too small or too large for a uniform smile • Filling in spaces between your teeth that detract from a healthy, vibrant smile
WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF PORCELAIN VENEERS?
CAN ANYONE GET PORCELAIN VENEERS?
TRAILS CHALLENGE 2019
The East Bay Regional Park District is a system of beautiful parklands and trails in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. The system comprises 121,397 acres in 73 parks, including over 1,250 miles of trails. The District acquires, manages, and preserves natural and cultural resources for all to enjoy now and into the future. The parks are ideal for healthful recreation and environmental education. You are invited to enjoy hiking, biking, picnicking, horseback riding, camping, fishing, boating, golfing, and nature study in the parks. No registration is needed to participate. While supplies last, a free printed Guidebook and t-shirt are available at participating Visitor Centers to get you started on the Challenge. You can also download the Guidebook at https://www. ebparks.org/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?blobid=30819. The Guidebook includes detailed trail descriptions for hikes in 20 regional parks and trails. Hikes range from easy to challenging. There are trails open to hikers, bicyclists, dogs, and equestrians, and many are wheelchair accessible. To complete the challenge, hike five of the trails – or 26.2 miles of trails. All 20 featured trails are also now available on the AllTrails app. Download the free app, sign-up, log in, and then go to https://www.alltrails.com/explore/ list/east-bay-regional-parks-trails-challenge-2019 and click on “Copy to my lists,” followed by “Continue in App.” The featured trails will show under “Lists” in “Plan.” The app indicates where you are on the trail, enabling easy return to the trail if you stray from it. You can also record your hikes, and share your photos, comments etc. with others. In addition to this self-guided program, the District offers many naturalist-led hikes throughout the year. Visit their calendar at https://www.ebparks.org/cals. For more information about the Trails Challenge visit https://www.ebparks. org/activities/hiking/trails_challenge.htm.
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
PAGE 24 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • March 2019
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MID-LIFE AND MENOPAUSE MATTERS By Timothy Leach, MD, FACOG, CNMP
At the North American Menopause meeting, I attended a one-day comprehensive scientific symposium highlighting updated thinking on uterine fibroids and new treatment paradigms. The discussion from national and international experts centered on why women get fibroids, risk factors other then ethnicity (prevalence in African-American women is 80% and in Caucasian women 70%), and new treatment paradigms other than hysterectomy which accounts for approximately 75% of the procedures done to treat fibroids. Fibroids are benign monoclonal smooth muscle uterine tumors sensitive to estrogen and progesterone that are NOT CANCERS. Fibroid location can lead to problems with the three B’s: Bleeding, Bulk, and Babies. Bleeding is heavier and longer with intermenstrual (extra) bleeding occurring in approximately 60% of women with fibroids. Heavy bleeding, which can soak through sanitary protection during the night or daytime, occurs in 33% of women with uterine fibroids. Excessive bleeding can produce low blood counts (anemia) that sometimes require blood transfusions to correct. Fibroids can cause absenteeism, lost time from work, lost productivity, and ultimately a decrease in economic earning of approximately $700/annually. Bulk symptoms, related to the size and location of uterine fibroids, can be associated with pelvic pressure, back, and leg pain. Anterior fibroids can cause urinary frequency, urgency, and incontinence, and posterior fibroids can cause constipation. Pain during intimacy can be due to large uterine fibroids. Many pregnant women will have incidental fibroids found at the time of fetal ultrasound and nothing needs to be done. Some women’s fibroids may be associated with greater risk for recurrent pregnancy loss, premature delivery, breech presentation needing cesarean, and post-partum hemorrhage. Treatment options include medical, interventional and surgical therapies. Non hormonal medicines taken only on days of heavy bleeding include antiprostaglandins i.e. Motrin (800 mg every six hours for heavy flow) and anti-fibrinolytics i.e. Lysteda (1,200 mg three times daily for heavy flow) can decrease bleeding by about 20-40%. Hormones are used throughout the cycle which can include birth control pills, patches, vaginal rings, long acting hormonal IUD’s, Depot Provera, aromatase inhibitors, and progesterone receptor blockers. These options can be associated with approximately 60% reduction in the amount of bleeding. These treatments do not change the size of the fibroids, so they do not relieve pressure or pain from fibroids. Ulipristal, a progesterone receptor blocker awaiting FDA approval, taken for three months followed by two months off, can both decrease bleeding and bulk symptoms by about 40%. This novel medication is currently available in Canada and Europe. Surgical therapies can be vaginal, abdominal, laparoscopic, or robotic to just remove the fibroid (i.e. myomectomy) or the entire uterus, which is a hysterectomy. Surgery can be done as out-patient or occasionally require a one night stay in the hospital if done laparoscopically. Interventional therapies (done by radiologists), with the goal of uterine preservation, include uterine artery embolization and MRI high-intensity focused ultrasound. The best treatment can depend on plans for future fertility. The plan will be determined by severity and acuity of symptoms, the size of the uterus, and the treatment’s unique ability for sustained reduction in both bleeding and bulk symptoms. I counsel patients that if menses are more often than 21 days apart, last more then 10 days in duration, and/or soaks through sanitary protection, one should have an ultrasound and a complete blood count. Our office is available for a comprehensive evaluation and review of treatment options. You can find us on the web at www.leachobgyn.com. We are located at 110 Tampico, Suite 210 in Walnut Creek. Please call us at (925)935-6952. Advertorial
CPC PRIME TIME
Community Presbyterian Church (CPC) “Prime Time” is a gathering of senior adults who like fellowship, fun, and making new friends! The group meets in the Multi-Purpose Room of Community Presbyterian Church from 9:30AM – 12:30PM on Tuesdays, September to May. Please join in the fun. Activities often include games (cards, dominoes, and mahjong to name a few), blood pressure screening, water painting, devotions, informative presentations, and various forms of entertainment that also take place. A home-made lunch is provided for $4. Get pampered, get fed, and get loved! For more information, visit www. cpcdanville.org/primetime/.
BOOKS FOR THE HOMEBOUND
If you or someone you know has a passion for reading and can no longer visit the library, find out more about the Danville Library’s Books for the Homebound program, a free and unique library service. Trained library volunteers check out and deliver books to homebound individuals residing in their own homes or residential care facilities. Contact Sandra Paiva, Volunteer Coordinator, at the Danville Library at (925) 314-3756 for more information.
GOLDEN CRANE SENIOR CENTER
No “digging” is needed to strike “gold” at the Golden Crane Senior Center (GCSC)! The mission of the Center is to promote physical and mental wellbeing through programs and social activities for those aged 50+ years old. On Mondays and Tuesdays, group learning and enjoyment of physical and mental abilities stimulate personal growth. Activities include Tai Chi, tap dance, line dance, karaoke, hiking, camera club, chorus, yoga stretch, Chinese brush painting, calligraphy, soft pastel, Chinese cooking class, MahJong, Yuan-Ji dance, walking, and aerobic exercise. GCSC celebrates members’ birthdays, organizes picnics and day trips, and observes Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and Chinese holidays. Members may volunteer and participate in charitable, educational, and community service activities. All activities are open to members for an annual $50 member fee. Classes and activities are held at the Alamo Women’s Club, located at 1401 Danville Boulevard in Alamo. For more information, contact Wendy Lee, 925-7186222. A complete class and activity schedule is posted at www.goldencrane.org.
CARING HANDS ~HELP A SENIOR
Life at any age involves challenges, but these intensify as we age. The first concern may be that it becomes too difficult to drive to the doctor, the grocery, or to just get a haircut. Support systems change, neighbors and friends may not help as expected, and loneliness may put a damper on daily routine. Caring Hands volunteers offer friendship which makes an extraordinary difference in the quality of life for many seniors. Caring Hands Volunteer Caregivers Program, a collaborative community outreach program between John Muir Health, social service agencies, congregations of various faiths and the communityat-large, creates finely-tuned one-on-one matches. The program is dedicated to helping aging adults in Contra Costa County remain independent as long as safely possible. If you have time to volunteer, consider joining Caring Hands as a caregiver or occasional driver. Enriching matches are created; loving friendships and deep relationships are formed. Care receivers treasure a friendly visit, a walk in the park or other social outing. Reading mail, letter writing, or providing respite care to give a break to a family member are thoughtful services which can make a big difference to a frail or isolated senior. Since so many older adults need transportation to doctor’s appointments or stores, the best volunteer for Caring Hands is someone who is available once a week for 1-3 hours on a weekday and who can provide transportation. Volunteers receive ongoing education, support, and recognition of their efforts. Training classes are held in odd numbered months. An orientation/interview and pre-registration is required. Perhaps you can be that friend who gives a waiting senior hope and help. For a volunteer application or for more information about Caring Hands, please contact Stacy Appel, Volunteer Coordinator, at (925) 952-2999.
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March 2019 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 25
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PAGE 26 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • March 2019
BREAST 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
Bees continued from page 19
alarmed due to lack of understanding.” Gentry recalled being intrigued as a nine-year-old scout by an observation beehive at Lake Merritt. He asked fellow MDBA founder Virgil Mangle whether he knew anyone who could construct an observation box to teach children and adults about bees. Virgil surprised him by replying he built the Lake Merritt box himself when he returned from World War II. Lawrence was recruited to take the observation box made for MDBA to classrooms. He notes, “I enjoy sharing information about bees with all age groups, but I find primary school children express the most wonder. They often ask, ‘Is there a king bee?’” MDBA Community Education programs served some 8,500 individuals in 2018. Newsletter editor Nils Kauffman writes: “A growing part of the work of MDBA is sharing our interest in bees. And, yes, we do work quite hard at sharing our bees with others. Whether this is during a chat with a homeowner who has called for a swarm catch, or sharing honey with a neighbor, or presenting bees to a class full of children, we share bees.” Community Education Vice-President Ellen Walters reminds those who want to schedule a program to register the request at least six weeks in advance through the link on the MDBA website. Available materials include observation hives, PowerPoint presentations, posters, and handouts. MDBA meetings feature informative speakers the second Thursday of the month (January-October) at the Pleasant Hill Community Center, located at 320 Civic Dr. in Pleasant Hill. The meetings take place at 7 pm and are free and open to the public. Newcomers with no experience are welcome. Members wearing yellow vests have volunteered to answer questions. Schmidt remarks, “I enjoy conversations that happen before and after the meetings. There is a wealth of information that can be obtained from these conversations.” Join for the modest $20 annual fee ($25 after 3/31). Workshops the weekend after each meeting and the monthly newsletter are available only to members. Visit www.diablobees.org for more information. MDBA is a 501 (c) 3 If you spot a swarm, MDBA volunteers are happy to collect the bees and give them a new home. Photo non-profit. by Judy Weatherly.
C L A S S I F I E D HAULING/CLEAN-UP
Residential, commercial, and office dump runs. Garage, yard, basement, and estate clean-ups. Construction, appliance, furniture, electronics, hazardous waste removal. Tree trimming-removal. Fast same day service. Low rates, free estimates. Insured. 925-899-5655
HAIRSTYLIST & COLORIST
Hair by Dana at Aqua Salon and Spa located at 3168 Danville Blvd. Ste. D, Alamo, (925) 915 – 7374, $10 off any service with this ad.
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 NO JOB TOO SMALL! Call James, owner, at 925-934-0877.
PAINTING SERVICES
Interior, exterior, and commercial painting. 40 years of service in Alamo and Danville areas. Excellent references. Free estimates and color consultations. Call Richard Dean Painting 925-837-6291. License #540063
Place Your Classified
Reach over 28,000 local homes and businesses. $50 for up to 35 words,$5 for each additional 15 words. Contact us at editor@yourmonthlypaper.com or 925-405-6397 to place your ad.
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March 2019 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 27
HELP TO KICK YOUR PLANTAR FASCIITIS
By, Dr. Niele Maimone, DC, Align Healing Center WHAT IS PLANTAR FASCIITIS?
Plantar fasciitis is an irritation and swelling of the thick tissue (plantar fascia) on the bottom of the foot. The plantar fascia is a thick fibrous band of connective tissue originating on the bottom surface of the calcaneus (heel bone) and extending along the sole of the foot toward the five toes. The plantar fascia helps hold up the bones on the bottom of the foot, creating the arch. When this fascia becomes inflamed, it makes walking painful and difficult. The pain is usually felt on the underside of the heel and is often most intense with the first steps of the day. Plantar fasciitis is commonly thought of as being caused by a heel spur, but research has found that this is not the case. On x-ray, heel spurs are seen in people with and without plantar fasciitis. Risk factors for plantar fasciitis include: • Foot arch problems (both flat foot and high arches) • History of low back pain or sciatica • Tight Achilles tendon (the tendon connecting the calf muscles to the heel) • Obesity • Running, extended amounts of driving, or repetitive stress to the foot or leg • Sudden weight gain
WHAT TREATMENTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR PLANTAR FASCIITIS
Western medicine typically treats Plantar Fasciitis with oral and/or injectable anti-inflammatories. These may temporarily reduce the pain associated with Plantar Fasciitis, but they do not treat the cause of the problem and by no means heal it.
LONG TERM CORRECTION OF PLANTAR FASCIITIS IS A TWO STEP PROCESS
First: Heal the Damaged Fascia Ending the pain caused by Plantar Fasciitis requires stopping the cycle of inflammation. Class IV laser therapy is an excellent method for this because it is presently the only modality that can both reduce inflammation and heal tissue simultaneously. Laser treatments at Align Healing Center are done with the K-laser Medical & Surgical Dermatology For Healthy Skin Cube a Class IV Laser. This laser does not Offering Treatments for: cut or burn but is gently absorbed by the Skin Cancer tissue. During Laser Therapy, the infrared Moles laser light interacts with tissues at the Precancerous Lesions INTRODUCING Acne, Eczema, and Rashes cellular level, increasing metabolic activity Warts, Molluscum EMSCULPT D and improving the transport of nutrients Keloid and Scar Revisions RE ONLY FDA CLEA Psoriasis and Vitiligo across the cell membrane. This initiates Cysts and Lipoma ELECTROMAGNETIC the production of cellular energy (ATP) ETING Hair and Nail Disorder TECHNOLOGY TARG Underarm Sweating that leads to a cascade of beneficial effects, ABDOMINAL AND Physician-Strength DY BO R FO S LE SC increasing cellular function and health. This GLUTEUS MU Skin Care Products PAD CONTOURING, FAT creates an optimal healing environment Offering Cosmetic Treatments for: T! TT LIF REDUCTION AND BU that reduces inflammation, swelling, muscle Tattoo, Moles, Birthmarks, and Scars lpt cu MS DrWilliamTing.com/E Face, Neck, Body Tightening, spasms, stiffness, and pain. As the injured Lifting, area returns to normal, function is restored and Rejuvenation Frown Lines and and pain is relieved. Jawline Reduction Second: Correct the Foot and Gait Rosacea, Facial Redness, Veins, and Post-injection Bruising Mechanics Pigmentation and Melasma This involves rehabilitation of spine as well Sun Damage and Scars A place where beauty as the arch of the foot. Arch rehabilitation is Body Sculpting Thinning Hair and/or Balding and healthy skin meet achieved by utilizing specific insoles and/ Hair Removal Visit us at our Center of or specific taping of the foot in order to reTechnology & Procedures Excellence with a combined establish proper motion of the arch while Offered 12,000 square foot, state Cellfina walking. Then, specific strengthening and Cool Mini for neck of the art, newly renovated stretching exercises are used to rehabilitate of Coolsculpting® Our Women’s suite. We are dedicated Cryoshape the musculature of the foot and lower leg to Wellness Center to Medical, Cosmetic, and Diolite 532 laser ensure lasting results. now offers EMSella, EMSculpt Surgical Dermatology and FDA approved noninvasive At Align Healing Center we are having EMSella are a place for medical electromagnetic technology Excel V Laser great success treating plantar fasciitis, treatment (with clothes on) Excimer Laser skin consultation, aesthetic sciatica, shoulder and neck pain, migraines, Fractional CO2 Laser for urinary incontinence rejuvenation, and face and GenesisPlus Laser arthritis, tendinitis, carpal tunnel, post and feminine intimate body contouring. Infini Microneedling RF rejuvenation! surgical pain, sports injuries and more; Models are used. Kybella DrWilliamTing.com/EMSella Liposonix® even if it’s long-term residual pain. Arthritis Microneedling with PRP Visit www.DrWilliamTing.com and degenerative disc disease sufferers MiraDry for an extensive list of medical, surgical, and cosmetic treatments, may also see long term benefits from this Mohs Micrographic Surgery product lines, lasers, and therapies offered. NBUVB Phototherapy treatment without any of the negative side Pico Genesis Schedule your free cosmetic consultation appointment today! effects experienced with the long term use PicoSure Laser PRP for Hair Loss and Rejuvenation William Ting, M.D., of medications. Vbeam Laser Board Certified Dermatologist and Mohs Surgeon For more information about Dr. Niele Silhouette InstaLift 500 Alfred Noble Drive, #185 Maimone, DC, Align Healing Center, or to Spectra Laser 2262 Camino Ramon Hercules, CA 94547 Superficial Radiotherapy San Ramon, CA 94583 schedule a complimentary consultation, Tel: (510) 669-5700 Tel: (925) 328-0255 Thermage™ please call (925)362-8283. Visit us on the Ultherapy™ Email: staff@caldermcare.com drwilliamting.com Vaser Shape web at www.AlignHealingCenter.com. *Welcoming new Medicare patients VLase for Feminine Rejuvenation Advertorial
PAGE 28 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • March 2019
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