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November 2020 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 1
& NOVEMBER 2020
WORLD OF NATURE: A TOTAL IMMERSION EXPERIENCE AT THE BLACKHAWK MUSEUM
SHARE THE WARMTH WITH ONE WARM COAT
COATS, SWEATERS, BLANKETS NEEDED
Now celebrating its 25 year anniversary, One Warm Coat is currently collecting warm items to distribute to the homeless and others in need via local East Bay The World of Nature Gallery brings a completely new focus to the world-class and outreach charities. Collection is happening now through November 30th. exhibits at Danville’s Blackhawk Museum. The multi-dimensional experience puts This program was started people in close proximity to animals from around the world, captured in timeless in 1995 by Rotary Club of expressions of natural interactions in their native habitats. It also immerses gallery San Ramon Valley member visitors in a symphony of authentic sounds, transporting them to remote corners of Dany Gregory’s late husband C.W. “Bill” Gregory. First year efforts took in 55 coats. Past years collections have received thousand of items that have been distributed to local shelters, charities, and the “Christmas for Everyone” project in Martinez. Due to COVID, charities and outreach organizations are counting on the program this year more than ever. As many past collection spots are not available at this time, Rotary members and other groups have opened up new spots. Drop-off bins are located at Heritage Bank, 387 Diablo Rd. in Danville, Pete’s Coffee located at 435 Railroad Ave, Danville, the office in front of Monte Vista High School, and at homes located at 172 Via Serena, Alamo (in front and on the porch) and 2097 Ahneita Drive, Pleasant Hill. A one-day drop off from 2-5PM on Wednesday, November 18th will be held at the Alamo
By Jody Morgan
See Coat continued on page 12
Local artist Roxana Hayden painted exquisite background murals based on extensive research.Photo courtesy of Blackhawk Museum.
the earth and its oceans. In compliance with current COVID-19 safety regulations, visitors must book timed-entry tickets with admission hours limited to Saturdays and Sundays 10am-5pm. Weekday hours will be added soon.
See Nature continued on page 17
PLANT A WINTER COVER CROP
By Keith Silva, UC Master Gardeners
A common soil type in the Alamo and Danville area is clay soil, frequently Clear Lake clay. Since this area was once agricultural, the soils here have been mapped by the University of California. To learn more, visit https://casoilresource.lawr.ucdavis.edu/gmap. A good way to improve our clay soil is to plant a cover crop. A good cover crop for clay soil are Bell beans. Bell beans (Vicia faba) are small-seeded fava beans. They are like fava beans with three important differences: 1. They germinate in cool soils, down to a soil temperature of 45 F. This means we can plant them in Alamo and Danville any time of the year; 2. They are pea-shaped, which allows them to be planted with simple and common garden and farm machinery; and 3. They produce a somewhat dwarf plant about three feet tall.
See Crop continued on page 16
Local Postal Customer
PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Permit 263 Alamo CA
ECRWSS
Fostering Wishes
Inspired by her experience as a long time foster parent to over 25 children, Alamo resident Sabine Lemmo started a gift-giving program seven years ago that she named “Fostering Wishes.” The aim of the program is to provide kids in foster care something special during the holidays. Sabine has searched for partners, turned her garage into a mini Santa’s workshop, and collected, wrapped, and delivered hundreds of gifts to local foster charities. This year, Sabine will be joined by a team of enthusiastic elves so that even more kids will receive a holiday surprise. Sadly, there are currently about 440,000 kids are in the U.S. foster system, 60,000 of them residing in California. These children experience multiple living situations and many school transfers during their childhood. Only 1-3% of them graduate from college, and nearly half of them become homeless within 18 months after leaving care. With COVID,
See Wishes continued on page 10
The Editors Serving the communities of Alamo, Diablo, and Danville
Volume XX Number 11
3000F Danville Blvd. #117 Alamo, CA 94507 Telephone (925) 405-6397 Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher Editor@yourmonthlypaper.com
Facebook: Alamo Today & Danville Today News Instagram:@AlamoandDanvilleToday
Volume XI Number 11
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 • November 2020
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What’s Your Home Worth?
Visit www.assessmyequity.com to find out for FREE! Jon Ahern, Real Estate Broker 925.838.9999 | jon@ahernregroup.com
Camille Ahern, CLHMS, Real Estate Professional
DRE# 01169357
Listed
2054 Hermine Ave., Walnut Creek
5 BED | 4.5 BATH | 4,458 SQ FT Luxury New Construction Napa Farm House single level on a large secluded lot in one of South Walnut Creek’s best locations. Offered at $2,795,000
Listed
Listed
31 Kimberley Pl., Alamo
5 BED | 4.5 BATH | 5,126 SQ FT Fautt Homes New Construction Luxury Estate, on a sprawling .77 acre lot in the Alamo Springs gated community at the end of a cul-de-sac. Offered at $3,595,000
2378 Heritage Oaks Dr., Alamo
5 BED | 4.5 BATH | 5,796 SQ FT New construction built by Fautt homes. 5+ acres of secluded grounds with sweeping panoramic views. Offered at $4,995,000
Pending
102 Rae Anne Dr., Westside Alamo
3 BED | 2 BATH | 1,938 SQ FT Westside Alamo home on a sprawling half- acre lot with endless opportunity! Price Upon Request
925.963.0068 | camille@ahernregroup.com DRE# 01865464
Pending
94 Red Fir Ct., Danville
5 BED | 6 BATH | 4,920 SQ FT Emotional appeal & exquisite craftmanship await the new owner of this Spanish Colonial Estate. Offered at $2,295,000
Sold
200 Railroad Ave., Unit 208, Danville
2 BED | 2 BATH | 1,383 SQ FT Luxury downtown Danville Hotel condo with Over-Sized patio & sweeping views of Las Trampas Foothills. Sold for $1,500,000
Coldwell Banker is a licensed real estate broker and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdraw without notice. No statement is made as to accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footages are approximate. Exact dimensions can be obtained by retaining the services of an architect or engineer. This is not intended to solicit property already listed.
BOULEVARD VIEW By Alisa Corstorphine, Editor
Local historian Beverly Lane is putting together a photo and historical book focusing on Alamo. The book is slated to be published next year. As I was doing some initial proofing for Beverly, I was reminded of, and once again surprised by the statistic that for decades Alamo had only a few hundred residents. In 1910, the population of Alamo was 258. Only 100 years ago, in 1920, the community had 309 residents, dipping in 1930 to 217 people. By 1940, the community grew to a whopping 396 folks. By 1960, the residents almost quadrupled to 1,791, and by 1980, the population exploded in size to 8,505 residents and almost doubled again with a population The Henry Hotel stood in “downtown” Alamo for almost 100 years. count in the year 2000 of 15,626. With not much available land for more growth, the population has stayed near the 15,000 range. In 1860, Danville was just a tiny village with a resident head-count right around 20 inhabitants in the town proper and about 200 in the surrounding area. Nine or ten years later, the population multiplied as more folks learned of Danville’s wonderful climate and fertile soil. In the 1890s, the population grew again after the train came. Nineteen-forty statistics show Danville numbered 1,225 residents. By 1960, the population count was at 3,585, and by 1980, it had catapulted to 26,446. By 2010, 42,039 residents filled the town’s borders. With additional housing being built, the number of residents is still climbing. On the corner of what is now Danville Blvd. and Alamo Square Drive, across from the legendary 73 year old Alamo Cafe, stood the Henry Hotel. The building served the community for nearly 100 years from 1858 to 1954. Descriptions of the establishment note it was not only a hotel with sleeping rooms, a dining room, bar room, and parlor, but it accommodated dancing parties and traveling shows. The building also served as the post office, a general store, a library, and a meeting place for the Alamo Women’s Club. World War II soldiers met there to eat home-cooked dinners. It was also an outpost of the Japanese American branch of the Salvation Army. When the hotel was torn down, the lot housed one of the many gas stations to dot the busy Highway 21 (Danville Blvd.), before the freeway was built. What was really apparent in Beverly’s book draft was the sense of community. The chapters describe people coming together to solve problems and create recreational opportunities, schools, and jobs. Local ranchers would gather at the Danville Grange and discuss new ways to be productive with the many crops that were locally grown. It was neighbors helping neighbors...not waiting for someone else to take care of an issue; folks took charge. If there was a fire, people rushed together to aid their neighbor (read more about their efforts in the “Valley Vignette” article on page 11). During World War II, residents took shifts at an Air Watch Tower that was built behind Alamo Grammar School. When food rationing took place, people planted Victory Gardens. When mail was delivered, it was an excuse to gather and chat. Even in these challenging times, we can each participate in community efforts. Readers have noticed and commented on trash littering trails and roads, and multiple people have taken it into their own hands to get a trash grabber and some socially distanced friends and neighbors and bag the litter they see. They aren’t waiting for someone else to deal with the problem; they are just making things happen. There are many stories in this issue of individuals and groups banding together to aid others. Please check out the stories on One Warm Coat, Fostering Wishes, Kiwanis food drive, Meals on Wheels, and TeleCare phone calls which offer daily reassurance phone calls to seniors and home bound. We can all make a difference. Now, more than ever, I believe we need each other and our communities. All the best this holiday season.
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November 2020 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 3
MODEL TRAINS RUNNING THROUGH THE MUSEUM THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
On November 21st the Museum of the San Ramon Valley, located at 205 Railroad Ave. in Danville, will be opening a great family exhibit celebrating Christmas and trains. The 2020 holiday exhibit will bring several favorites back to the Museum. Models, including the Polar Express and Christmas trains, will appear. These are a delight to observe for young and old. Models of local historical buildings will also be set up, including the GOLDEN GATE AREA COUNCIL Tassajara School, Danville Hotel, San Ramon General Store, and the SP Railroad Depot. New this year is a model of the New England Presbyterian Church which sat on Front Street from 1875 until it burned down in 1932. SCOUTS ARE HELPFUL AND KIND! Christmas will be celebrated with Santa and his reindeer sailing around the ceiling, and also a moving Ferris wheel and carousel. The Oak Tree Lighting celebration will be honored with a display of the Father Christmas’ outfit worn by Carmine DeVivi who was the original Father Christmas. A small exhibit, “Women Win the Vote in California and the Country” will continue in the Waiting Room. As you visit the many great downtown Danville shops, eat in one of the many wonderful restaurants, or if you are just strolling downtown, take a moment and visit this fun family exhibit celebrating the greatest time of the year! The Museum of the San Ramon Valley is now open on Friday 1PM-4PM, Saturday10AM-1PM, and Sunday noon-3PM with restrictions due to COVID. A variety of procedures to ensure your visit is safe and enjoyable have been implemented. The Museum is also now offering a free monthly virtual program series about the history of our area The need is great, especially due to COVID-19! and beyond. To learn more about these programs please visit www.museumsrv.org.
SCOUTING FOR FOOD
PAPER SHREDDING
NOVEMBER 14TH 9AM-NOON
OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS ARE ACCEPTING CANNED FOOD AND NON-PERISHABLE ITEMS
DROP-OFF
DROP-OFF LOCATIONS
NOV 14
DANVILLE The Rotary Club of Alamo is sponsoring St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church a paper shredding event. 1550 Diablo Road, Danville MORAGA The shredding will take place on Saturday, TH St. Monica’s Catholic Church th AM November 14 from 9 to noon at New 1001 Camino Pablo, Moraga 9:00AM to 1:00PM PLEASANT HILL Life Church parking lot located at 2501 We now serve 20,000 youth in St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church Alameda, San Francisco, Lake, Solano, Danville Blvd., Alamo. 1601 Mary Drive, Pleasant Hill Napa and Contra Costa County The cost for the shredding is $10 per box. Drop off and collection sites can be found here: https://ggacbsa.org/scouting-for-food-2020 The Rotary Club of Alamo has been serving the community for 50 years! Events like this Contra November is Cost a help fund the scholRecycles arships and charitable works of the club. Month! If you need further information, please contact Joan Grimes at (925) 323-7772 Do your part and recycle smart! or joangrimes@msn.com. Take the pledge to keep your recycle cart free of hazardous waste. America
“America Recycles”
Recycles Dayth is November 15
e online Take our rec ycling pledg th for the chance by November 30 s! to win zero-waste prize
Gopher/Mole Removal No Poison Tri-Valley Trapper
925-765-4209
cycles.com www.ContraCostaRe
Visit recyclesmart.org /hhw to learn how to properly dispose of hazardous waste. It is illega l and dangerous to put these items in any of your carts!
PAGE 4 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • November 2020
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ANNUAL FALL FOOD DRIVE TO BE HELD BY KIWANIS
The Kiwanis Club of San Ramon Valley is teaming up again with NBC Bay Area and Safeway Grocery Stores to help support the 16th annual Food Drive. The Food Drive’s theme this year is “Nourishing Neighbors,” reminding everyone that we’re all in this together, and that you never know who might need a little extra help this holiday season. Safeway will have scannable tickets at every cash register to give a $10 donation to the Food Bank of Contra Costa/Solano. Every donation will go directly to help provide food to our neighbors in need. In past years, the Kiwanis Club of San Ramon Valley would have volunteers from the Kiwanis Club, Key Club high-schoolers, members of the National Charity League, Boys Team Charities, and friends/family outside stores to help get the word out. This year, due to COVID concerns, this is not possible. Instead, Kiwanis will be mobilizing a social media campaign to spread the word about the Food Drive. The goal is to spread the message about the need and get as many members of the community to donate at Safeway as possible. “The Food Bank will use whatever funds the community donates to buy non-perishables items and produce and will help with the logistics of distributing food to those in need,” says Nancy Bray, Chair of the Kiwanis 2020 Food Drive. Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing the world one child and one community at a time. Founded in 1915 in Detroit and with headquarters now in Indianapolis, Kiwanis International is a thriving organization of service and community minded individuals who support children and young adults around the world. More than 600,000 Kiwanis family members in 96 countries make their mark by responding to the needs of their communities and pooling their resources to address worldwide issues. For more information, visit www.srvkiwanis.org.
FREE HELP WITH MEDICARE PLAN CHANGES FOR 2021
The Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) is a program of Contra Costa County Aging and Adult Services. HICAP is available to help you figure out how Medicare plan changes affect your coverage in 2021, so that you can make informed decisions. The website, www.cchicap.org has information on how to register for free one-onone counseling, online talks, and updated Medicare plan information. For questions, or to learn more, call (925) 602-4163.
LEARN ABOUT ADOLPH SUTRO AT MUSEUM PRESENTATION
Anyone who has been to San Francisco has seen Sutro Tower looming over the city, and with a visit to lands-end you see Sutro Baths. You may well have walked through Sutro Gardens to enjoy the views and beauty. These are all well known locations in San Francisco, but who was Sutro? On Thursday, November 19th at 11:30AM, the Museum of the San Ramon Valley will host a free virtual program that will help you learn about Adolph Sutro. Diana Kohnke of the Sutro Library will give a presentation on Adolph Sutro and the library he left to the city of San Francisco. Diana has been with the Sutro Library since 2011. Before that, she had the opportunity to work at several archives and special collections in the San Francisco Bay Area such as the Martha Heasley Cox Center for Steinbeck Studies. Her graduate research was concentrated on American History 1865-present, as well as archives and special collections. Diana’s presentation will discuss how this German immigrant made a fortune in the Comstock Lode. He became one of the largest landowners in San Francisco, was elected mayor of San Francisco, planted his own forest, and started a library to name a few of his accomplishments. To say this man led a full and interesting life would be an understatement. To attend this free online presentation please visit museumsrv.org and go to the “Events & Programs” section. Click on the “Adolph Sutro presentation” and register. If you have any questions please call the museum at 925-837-3750. The Museum of the San Ramon Valley, located at 205 Railroad Ave. in Danville, is now open on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday but with restrictions due to COVID. A variety of procedures to ensure your visit is safe and enjoyable, have been implemented.
ALAMO DANVILLE NEWCOMERS CLUB
Are you a new or long-time resident of Danville, Alamo, Blackhawk, or Diablo? Or are you newly retired, or an 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 its members and their families in a social manner. Check out all the club has to offer by visiting www.alamodanvillenewcomers.com. During this difficult time of COVID, it is even more important to have a way to meet new friends. The group is currently doing all that they can to offer new and different ways to meet new people, socialize, and have fun while staying within the COVID guidelines. Social distancing is being practiced and some groups are continuing via Zoom. An upcoming virtual “Information Coffee” meeting will be held November 17th, at 10AM, via Zoom. This is a great way to find out more about the club. To learn more or participate in the Information Coffee, email alamodanvillenewcomers@gmail.com.
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November 2020 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 5
DUDUM REAL ESTATE GROUP W H E R E R E A L E S TAT E I S S T I L L P E R S O N A L
RENDERING
COMING SOON
JUST LISTED
ACTIVE
ACTIVE - ALAMO LOT
5327 SAN SIMEON PLACE, CASTRO VALLEY 3 BEDS, 2.5 BATHS, 1,640 SF, TOWNHOME
2691 CABALLO RANCHERO DRIVE, DIABLO 4 BEDS, 3 BATHS, 5,600 SF, 1.46 ACRE LOT
1640 CERVATO CIRCLE, ALAMO 4 BEDS, 5 BATHS, 4,134 SF, 2.05 ACRE LOT
1327 LAVEROCK LANE, ALAMO FINISHED 28,740 SF CUT LOT W/UTILITIES AT STREET OFFERED AT $999,000 MARY PISCITELLI & PETER GILLIS | 925.765.9095
OFFERED AT $745,000 ALISON PETERSEN | 925.984.7214
OFFERED AT $4,800,000
OFFERED AT $1,998,000
BONNE WERSEL | 510.304.3303
BRYAN HURLBUT, HURLBUT TEAM | 925.383.5500
ACTIVE - NEW PRICING
PENDING - NEW CONSTRUCTION
PENDING - IN 2 DAYS
SOLD
200 EL DORADO AVENUE, #6, DANVILLE 2 BEDS, 2 BATHS, 891 SF, CONDO
3619 CROW CANYON ROAD, SAN RAMON 2 BEDS, 2 BATHS, 1,107 SF, CONDO
160 WESTWICH STREET, DANVILLE 4 BEDS, 3 BATHS, 2,961 SF, 0.25 ACRE LOT
MARGY LYMAN | 925.963.6380
335 LAS QUEBRADAS, ALAMO 5 BEDS, 6.5 BATHS, 4,900 SF, 3.00 ACRE LOT OFFERED AT $2,949,000 MARY PISCITELLI & PETER GILLIS | 925.765.9095
SOLD IN 5 DAYS - $117,000 OVER ASKING
SOLD - REPRESENTED BUYERS
SOLD - REPRESENTED BUYERS
SOLD - REPRESENTED BUYERS
520 FALLEN LEAF CIRCLE, SAN RAMON 3 BEDS, 2 BATHS, 1,739 SF, 0.13 ACRE LOT
7625 HANSEN DRIVE, DUBLIN 3 BEDS, 2 BATHS, 1,772 SF, 0.17 ACRE LOT
546 DOVECOTE LANE #4, LIVERMORE 3 BEDS, 2 BATHS, 1,806 SF, CONDO
2590 OAK ROAD # 148, WALNUT CREEK 2 BEDS, 2 BATHS, 1,168 SF, CONDO
OFFERED AT $499,900
OFFERED AT $615,000
SOLD FOR $1,650,000
DON & PAMELA COLOMBANA | 925.878.8047
BONNE WERSEL | 510.304.3303
SOLD FOR $1,135,00
SOLD FOR $1,075,000
SOLD FOR $734,000
SOLD FOR $607,000
DON & PAMELA COLOMBANA | 925.878.8047
DON & PAMELA COLOMBANA | 925.878.8047
MEREDITH & BONNIE KUMMELL | 925.984.1344
DON & PAMELA COLOMBANA | 925.878.8047
ALISON J. PETERSEN 925.984.7214
BONNE WERSEL 510.304.3303
BRYAN HURLBUT 925.383.5500
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DON & PAMELA COLOMBANA 925.878.8047 925.482.4142
EVA ELDERTS 925.726.9409
JOHN FONDNAZIO 925.817.9053
JULIE DEL SANTO 925.818.5500
KATIE HENDERSON 925.286.0026
REALTOR® | DRE# 02039328
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BROKER/OWNER DRE# 01290985
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MARY PISCITELLI & PETER GILLIS 925.765.9095 925.765.0629
MEREDITH & BONNIE KUMMELL 925.984.1344 925.980.9952
STEFANIE PASSEY 925.268.0780
TERESA ZOCCHI 925.360.8662
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REALTORS® DRE# 01426129 / 01364038
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KORY MADGE 925.366.9899
LESLIE SHAFTON 925.360.9192
MARGY LYMAN 925.963.6380
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WWW.DUDUM.COM
DANVILLE
WALNUT CREEK
LAMORINDA
BRENTWOOD
SIERRA TAHOE
Distinctive Properties
©2020 The information herein was obtained by sources deemed to be reliable by Dudum Real Estate Group. Dudum Real Estate group has not independently verified the information contained herein and therefore, assumes no legal responsibility for its accuracy. Buyer should investigate any matters or items disclosed, identified or about which they have concerns to their own satisfaction. DRE Lic. 01882902
PAGE 6 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • November 2020
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AAUW - EMBRACING LIFE ONLINE
VETERAN SERVICES BRING THE “OFFICE” TO YOU
With the COVID-19 County Health Order making it more challenging to get services from government offices, the Contra Costa County Veterans Services Office is removing barriers by opening a virtual office space. The virtual Veterans Office can give you close to an in-person experience. Veterans can learn about and apply for benefits, access VA health care, receive referrals for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder therapy, and much more. Visit the office website at www.contracosta.ca.gov/vets, during open office hours, for oneon-one assistance. Hours of operation are Mondays through Thursdays from 9am to noon and 1pm to 4pm, and on Fridays 9am to noon. Staffing the virtual office are Veterans Service Manager Sidney Jones, an Air Force Veteran, and Veteran Services Representative Buck Carmichael, a Marine Corps Veteran. Both have long-time experience connecting vets to critical services. For more information, please call the Veteran Services Office at 925-313-1481.
On Tuesday, November 10th from 6:30 - 8PM. Virtually, join AAUW (American Association of University Women) members and two local social media entrepreneurs for a lively discussion of how embracing Zoom meetings, attending virtual events, and participating in social media can enrich your life. Whether you are sharing your interests with friends, advocating for your favorite cause, or reaching out to your children and grandchildren, online tools can help you in almost every area of your life. Even in the pandemic, you can attend meetings, socialize with friends, and participate in many community activities. The speakers will inspire you to expand and nourish your digital life. Register at www.eventbrite.com/e/embracing-life-online-tickets-125827283793.
SONS IN RETIREMENT SAN RAMON VALLEY
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, TREATS FOR THE TROOPS biking, bocce ball, movies, cooking, finance, reading, computers, and more. Service group Delta Nu Psi has been collecting and sending fun foods and Many other activities such as travel, dine outs, excursions, baseball games, coffee to American servicemen and women located in the War Zones. To date, and holiday parties include spouses, friends, and guests. over 42,000 pounds of goodies have been sent! NOTE: Due to current Coronavirus challenges, and for the safety and Unfortunately, with COVID in our midst, collections have been halted. well being of members and guests, the SIR128 November meeting will be a However, a few packages are still being shipped. If you’d like to make a contribu- virtual event using Zoom. 10/26/2020 Word Search Generator :: Create your own printable worksheets @ A to Z Teacher Stuff tion to support the shipping of goodies, visit www.deltanupsi.org to learn more. word find The guest speaker will be Dr. Jon Haveman, Executive Director of the National Economic Education Delegation. Dr. Haveman is an expert on SEARCH AND RESCUE economic policy issues and speaks regularly at events across California. Dr. MAKE YOUR OWN WORKSHEETS ONLINE @ WWW.ATOZTEACHERSTUFF.COM The Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team needs volunteer members to respond to missing person incidents, disasters, and other critical inci- Haveman will provide an update on COVID-19 and its future effect on the U.S. economy. You won’t want to miss this informative and inspirational talk dents. Team members are on call 24/7 year-round. The program provides required NAME:_______________________________ DATE:_____________ The presentation will be held Wednesday, November 18th at 11AM. If training; including wilderness traveling, first aid, map and compass usage, tracking disaster response, and search skills; and may also include special training for canine, you’re interested in accessing the virtual meeting as a guest, please email membership@sir128.com. equestrian, technical, mountain bike, or other rescue skills. For information, visit To learn more about the Retirement branch, please visit www.SIR128.com. www.contracostasar.org or call (925) 646-4461.
T I U S I P C J S E V I R D D O O F R W B G P
November MEALS ON WHEELS NOVEMBER WORD SEARCH FRIENDLY HELPER PROGRAM B K Q S R L L A B T O O F C C E R M X C G J H
R L S C T L D I S C M Z T K S J R U Y H T Y W
E A A O U U I L U F E T A R G O T T I V R L Y
B X I C P B F C F A L L A W G F I V O T E I G
• BLACKHAWK • CELEBRATIONS • COATS • COMMUNITY • CORNUCOPIA • CRANBERRY • DAYLIGHTSAVINGS
M B E L K Y H F Y V E T E R A N S D A Y Y M T
E C L S R H O O I V A P L W U R J M Y U I A S
V F A T V O A Z J N Z B U M E F A U P Z N F C
O A Z V V O A W F T G J M M Y P C I D C D Y R
N M M X H G W D K V K O T P P B C M N U O V A
L I I T W T F H G T C T A L O K A O J S O A N
B T H A N K S G I V I N G N X J I T A Y R R B
A I P O C U N R O C M U S E U M Z N E T S G E
Y M S N O I T A R B E L E C S B D T P O S G R
D H M S G N I V A S T H G I L Y A D Z I M K R
A D G D D Q N L W W H I V D M I W S W P E C Y
I W T A J T U R K E Y E R Z V O L U N T E E R
• FALL • MUSEUM • TURKEY • FAMILY • NOVEMBER • VETERANSDAY • FOODDRIVE • PUMPKINPIE • VOLUNTEER • FOOTBALL • RAILROAD • VOTE • GRATEFUL • RAIN See answers • GRAVY • STUFFING on page 23 • INDOORS • THANKSGIVING
BLACKHAWK VOLUNTEER Meals on Wheels (MOW) Diablo CELEBRATIONS VOTE Region is launching the “Friendly COATS Helper Program (FHP)” to assist seniors COMMUNITY with their everyday errands, such as grocery shopping and picking up mediCORNUCOPIA cations at a local pharmacy. This pilot program will make it easier for seniors CRANBERRY to DAYLIGHTSAVINGS remain at home, especially during Covid-19. “With most of our seniors sheltering-in-place, MOW Diablo Region can now provide another essential FALL service that our seniors truly need,” said MOW Diablo Region Health and FAMILY Wellness Division Manager, Cynthia Black. FOODDRIVE The guidelines below determine if a senior is eligible for the Friendly FOOTBALL Helpers Program: • Seniors must be a participant in the existing Friendly Visitors or Friendly GRATEFUL Callers program. If this new program is successful, it is hoped to be able to GRAVY expand this pilot beyond existing clients. INDOORS • Seniors must provide at least a four-day notice before the errand is to MUSEUM be completed. NOVEMBER • Weekend errands may be available with a seven-day notice. PUMPKINPIE • If the volunteer pays for any item on behalf of the senior, the volunteer RAILROAD must be reimbursed at the time the item is delivered (cash or checks only.) • There RAIN is a $50 limit on all purchases. • MOW Diablo Region requires all seniors and volunteers to adhere to the STUFFING Contra Costa County Department of Health guidelines pertaining to COVID. THANKSGIVING For more information on the Friendly Helper Program, contact Eileen TURKEY Stephens, estephens@mowdr.org, 925-482-2622; or Tuyet Iaconis, tiaco-nis@ VETERANSDAY mowdr.org, 925-891-4872.
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November 2020 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 7
Celeste Pacelli “is the consummate professional.” CARMEL LIVING IN ALAMO SPRINGS
STUNNING ESTATE IN ALAMO SPRINGS
NEW CONSTRUCTION - SINGLE STORY
339 Corrie Place, Alamo
148 Alamo Springs Drive, Alamo
1698 Reliez Valley Road, Lafayette
5 Bed | 6.5 Bath | 5,966 Sq Ft +/- | 0.58 Acre +/-
5 Bed | 4.5 Bath | 5,718 Sq Ft +/- | 1.14 Acre Lot +/-
4 Bed | 3.5 Bath | 4,026 Sq Ft +/- | 1.3+ Acre +/-
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Celeste’s clients say: “Celeste did a great job of leading us throughout the sales process and we are very pleased with the results. Her knowledge of the market, her network of help, and her ability to create demand for our home was first rate! We would happily recommend her to anyone considering selling or buying a home!” See my 61 Zillow Reviews
Celeste Pacelli Broker Associate 925.395.1511 celestepacelli.com DRE 01862387
Compass is a real estate broker licensed by the State of California and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. License Number 01527235. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only and is compiled from sources deemed reliable but has not been verified. Changes in price, condition, sale or withdrawal may be made without notice. No statement is made as to accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footage are approximate.
PAGE 8 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • November 2020
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MONTE VISTA HIGH SCHOOL
CATCH UP ON SOME “Zs”
TIS’ THE SEASON! By Jaime Kaiman, Monte Vista High, sophomore
By Dr. Kevin Ahern, Principal
Remote learning continues at Monte Vista (MV) as we move into November. The holiday season is quickly coming upon us. With the County’s shift to the red tier, small groups of students in specialized programs have been able to return to campus for daily instruction. While these groups only represent a small fraction of our student body, it is nice to see students in person. In addition, we have also been able to have students return after school in small groups in order to receive academic support or participate in athletics, visual and performing arts, or other extracurricular activities. In another first, MV recently joined the other three comprehensive high schools in the district in hosting an SAT Exam for 12th graders. Since many current seniors did not have the opportunity to take the exam this past spring due to shelter in place, the event provided our students with another chance to complete the SAT before college applications come due. I am confident that our students made the most of their time and were able to do well on the exam. The MV community has continued to work together to support students through our current challenge. Spiritwear from Leadership, PTSA, choir, PTSA, drama, band, and athletic boosters have all been distributed around the community through our monthly Swag Day pickups. PTSA and Leadership have also distributed lawn signs, and everybody seems to love the many mustang face masks from a variety of organizations. The arts programs continue to inspire creativity at MV. Art students are picking up clay, glaze, sketch pads, and colored pencils, and we are now receiving the finished projects from our students. Choir performed in their premier virtual concert, and proud families enjoyed the event from homes across the country. A broader return to school has been on everybody’s mind over the past few weeks. Our entire district is working hard towards our announced January 5, 2021 return to school in a hybrid form. The school is well stocked with masks, gloves, and plexiglass, while signs to wear masks and stay six feet apart are posted in each classroom. Our District Health Educators continue to work with Contra Costa County Health Services, SRVUSD Management, and Site Management to ensure we are well informed and prepared for our planned return to campus. With the holiday season approaching, we are always reminded of being thankful to our community. As we plan for our return to campus, we feel very blessed for the MV community and its ongoing support of our students and staff.
SAN RAMON VALLEY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY By Jamie Westgate, Principal
It’s been pure joy having our Eagles back in the nest here at the San Ramon Valley Christian Academy (SRVCA)! On October 19th, SRVCA welcomed back nearly 400 TK-8th grade students for in-person learning to join our preschool students who began on October 5th. Smiles ran from ear-to-ear on students, teachers, and parents as we reunited with familiar faces and also welcomed in nearly 100 new students. After our first day back, one Kindergarten student shared with her mom, “This was the best day of my life.” In addition, a junior high student reported, “On a scale of 1-10, today was an 11!” Students have been noticeably happy, considerate, grateful, and appreciative, and we feel blessed to offer a program that provides the social boost they’ve been craving for months. Many procedures have changed in our efforts to keep students healthy, and we’ve welcomed in new employees to ensure fun and safety for all. In some cases, classrooms have moved into much larger spaces to honor distance requirements. We now have six designated play spaces to accommodate our students’ need to play hard at recess while staying together as a class cohort. Three new aides make up our “dream team.” They will plan and execute touchless games and individualized crafts to ensure the fun outside the classroom never stops. Our quad holds 12 new handwashing stations that students use multiple times a day, and kids “keep an eagle’s wingspan” to make certain they’re respecting the necessary distance to their classmates. Staff participate in mandatory COVID-19 testing twice monthly, and students and parents are encouraged to join them. All of these efforts are part of our plan to promote a healthy on-campus learning environment for all of our students and teachers.
Usually around this time of the year, my loved ones would be gathered around a nice round table. Laughter would be heard from different sides of the table, and the air would be filled with the sweet smells of turkey and delicious pumpkin pies. As the big feast would commence, we would all go around the table and state something that we were grateful for. Overall, we would all value the time we could spend together in that moment and make the most out of it. Now, because of the current condition the world is in, we aren’t able to have big gatherings with the people we love the most. Although it might be tough to spend this year’s big Thanksgiving holiday apart, we can most definitely still find ways to recreate the usual atmosphere and give thanks. One way in which we could do this is to hop on a Zoom with our loved ones! You could still see all of the faces of people you love sitting around the table, but from a virtual angle and a safe distance! Another way to still celebrate this Thanksgiving to the fullest could be to send letters, emails, text messages, or any other form of communication to your loved ones. These messages will let them know just how much you’re grateful for them! In addition to Thanksgiving changing, winter holidays like Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and others will be altered this year, too. As much as I want to spend this holiday season with my family and friends, I know that it’s not safe to do such a thing. Luckily, there are many alternatives to gathering, and my family, friends, and I will completely take advantage of them! To start, I can still spend my time this holiday season wrapped in a nice, warm blanket, with a comforting drink of hot-chocolate in my favorite mug. Next, my friends and I can call each other all we want to celebrate the holidays together in our favorite PJs and sing our favorite holiday songs together. Additionally, I can call my family that can’t celebrate with us this year and hug them digitally through the screen! All in all, I know that I’m super bummed that this time that is meant for togetherness has to be spent apart. This year’s holidays may look a little different than in past years, but there are many ways we can still incorporate holiday fun into the season this year. Join me in the next edition of this paper, where I’ll talk about the New Year and the different possibilities it holds! As much as things have changed, some things remain the same. Our motto is to love God, learn for life, and lead like Christ. Whether we hold school remotely or in-person, we are committed to shaping our kids to do these three things well. As we continue to settle into our new routines on campus, we’re already projecting into the 2021-2022 school year. Beginning November 4th, we open the application process for new families who may be interested in joining us in the nest. Please check out our website www.srvca.org for more information. Welcome back, Eagles!
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PAGE 10 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • November 2020
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SAN RAMON VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL
By Liz Pagano, Interim Principal
As October comes to a close, I look back at how we continue to come together, even when our school day is remote. On October 19th, we celebrated Halloween with a Comrades Parade for our students with special needs. Seeing teachers in costumes waving to students in cars brought into focus how important our school community is to so many people. October was also National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month. Our students engaged in lessons on inclusion, acceptance, and kindness, and our Leadership class helped us celebrate Unity Day. We all wore orange in solidarity on October 21st. School spirit is alive and well at SRVHS! Most exciting of all is our move towards reopening our school. We welcomed back one group of students with special needs in late October, and we are looking forward to opening to two more groups of students in November. In addition, students are beginning to come to campus after school to participate in small group activities designed by some of our amazing teachers and coaches. All of this is getting us ready for January 5th when we will return from Winter Break in a hybrid model. Though there are many details to work out, I can’t wait to see students return to our wonderful campus. In the meantime, November should bring cooler weather and pumpkin pies. I hope you make time to enjoy the fall season with your families.
ST. ISIDORE SCHOOL
By Carol Bender, Principal THE BULLDOGS ARE BACK
St. Isidore School has much to be grateful for, especially with our students’ recent return to campus. We take a moment to reflect on the many blessings of health and safety as we begin this holiday season but keep those families affected by COVID-19 in our thoughts and prayers. Our hope is that families will cherish the time they have together this season and continue to
bless and serve others. On Wednesday, October 14th, we welcomed our TK through 2nd-grade students back to on-campus learning. What an exciting and monumental accomplishment! Bringing back our first wave of students required our administration, teachers/ staff, and parents’ hard work and dedication. Together, we adjusted our classrooms, modified the Bensen Gym, built desks, and installed PPE, including sanitization stations, safety signage, and 600 desk shields. The anticipation continued through the month as we gradually welcomed back our 3rd through 5th-grade students on October 21 and our 6th through 8th-grade students a week later. Seeing the students return excited to be on campus and eager to learn was inspiring and a true testament to what a community can make happen!
ST. ISIDORE SCHOOL SALUTES OUR VETERANS
In compliance with the county’s health and safety regulations, we had to cancel our annual Veterans’ Ceremony. This beloved ceremony has become a tradition for our school community. Each year, students and families look forward to celebrating and honoring the men and women who have served and continue to serve our great nation. This year, our celebration looks different; however, we look forward to the day we can honor our Veterans back at school.
JOIN US FOR SOME HOLIDAY FUN
St. Isidore School’s Annual Sip & Shop Holiday Market is going virtual this year, and you’re invited! Our event will be held on the school website, stisidore. org, from November 30 through December 6. Fabulous local vendors will be offering fantastic gift ideas. Please show your support for St. Isidore School and the Danville Community by shopping local this holiday season! If you have any questions regarding the holiday boutique, please email ptg@stisidore.org. We wish you and your family a wonderful Thanksgiving! Take time to embrace the many blessings God has given.
Wishes continued from front page
most likely the number of children in the system will rise as job losses and economic downturn takes its toll. To give these youth a boost this holiday season, the elves at Fostering Wishes will be delivering gifts to these children. Thanks to generous people like you, the aim is to deliver hundreds of gifts to children under the care of one of these fully-accredited local agencies: Families for Children, Agape Villages, and EA Foster Agencies. Due to current health restrictions, instead of placing small trees with gift tags of wishes at retail establishments as they have in the past, Fostering Wishes has created an Amazon Wish List for gift giving. To choose individual items to give, visit www.tinyurl.com/y2jxnc2e, or cash donations for gift purchasing can be sent via Venmo to @FosteringWishes. For questions or more information email Fosteringwishes2020@outlook.com. Together we can make a foster child’s season bright.
COMMISSION VOLUNTEERS SOUGHT
TOWN RECRUITING FOR SEVERAL COMMISSION POSITIONS
The Town of Danville is looking for residents interested in serving on one of several commissions seeking new members. City Clerk Marie Sunseri notes the following commissions are in the process of accepting applications. • Design Review Board - One member for a four-year term ending December 31, 2024 • Arts Advisory Board - One youth member, for a two-year term ending June 30, 2022 • Heritage Resource Commission - Two regular members for terms ending December 31, 2024; one licensed architect to fulfill term ending December 31, 2023 • Parks, Recreation and Arts Commission - Two regular members to fulfill terms ending June 30, 2021 • Planning Commission - Four regular members and one alternate member for four-year terms ending December 31, 2024 • Contra Costa County Advisory County on Aging - One Danville representative for two-year term ending June 30, 2022 • Contra Costa Mosquito and Vector Control District - One Danville representative for four-year term ending December 31, 2024 Applications are available on the Town website, www.danville.ca.gov/284/ Commission-Recruitment and must be submitted by December 1. Interviews will take place in January, and successful applicants will be appointed by the Town Council at the meeting on January 12th. For additional information, contact City Clerk Marie Sunseri at (925) 314-3401 or msunseri@danville.ca.gov.
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VALLEY VIGNETTE By Beverly Lane
FIRES AND FIRE FIGHTING IN THE SAN RAMON VALLEY PART I OF II
Fires were a terrifying and real fact of life for San Ramon Valley pioneers. The long, dry summers and lack of water presented volunteer fire fighters with enormous challenges when fires started. The Contra Costa Gazette covered one conflagration in July of 1891: “We have had considerable excitement this week. The hot weather has dried grass so thoroughly that the least spark makes a roaring flame in a very few seconds. On Monday, everyone was called out by generous impulse to fight a fire in Mrs. Flournoy’s place near Danville. A hundred men or more rushed immediately to put it out with wet sacks and plows, but the field (a crop of chevalier barley) was strewn with bundles of heavy grain, and six inches of barley leaves lay all over the ground, so it was useless to try to stop it until the wind turned and blew the flames back.” Join for the amenities, and stay for the friendships! Volunteers usually fought fires with gunny sacks soaked with creek water Limited number of Memberships now available. and put water in leather buckets to douse the flames. And, as with the Flournoy fire, they depended on the wind to change. 18 Holes Round Hill Country Club In 1912, the Danville Improvement Club began the first local organization to 15 Courts fight fires. At a January meeting of men and women they decided to create the 3 Pools For more information contact Danville Volunteer Fire Department. The officers elected to lead the effort were 2 Bocce Courts Kristine Walton Joe Adams Freitas, Fire Chief; George W. Groom, 1st Assistant Chief; Harvey Eddy, 1 Fitness Center membership@roundhillcc.org 2nd Assistant Chief; Clarence W. Close, Treasurer; and Ed C. Wiester, Secretary. Fabulous Food, 925.934.8211 x 258 All of these men owned property in downtown Danville. Joe Freitas owned Endless Fun! the Freitas Big Store (near the corner of Prospect and Hartz), Groom had a blacksmith shop on Prospect and Railroad, Harvey Eddy’s houses were at the corner of Church and Hartz, Clarence Close had a substantial house on Diablo Rd. and owned businesses on Front Street, and Ed Wiester’s large warehouse sat north of the Southern Pacific station property in Danville. The organizing minutes of the Danville Department stated, that “Its object shall be the preservation and protection of property from and during such fires as may occur in the village of Danville.” A Fireman’s Ball was held in March of 1912 which raised $169.20. After expenses, $100 was deposited in the San Ramon Valley Bank in downtown Danville. The District was supported by many volunteers, using a trailer with ten 10gallon milk cans full of water and gunny sacks. The trailer was kept downtown, and when a fire was reported, the nearest volunteer with a trailer hitch would connect the trailer and get it to the fire. Ranches usually kept buckets, milk cans with water, and early extinguishers on hand. In 1921, a state law enabled special fire districts to organize and levy a tax to support the districts. On September 6, 1921, the Danville Volunteer Fire Department became the Danville Fire Protection District, headed by Commissioners James Jones, William A. Ward, and Frank Rutherford who were appointed by the County Board of Supervisors. Several San Ramon men including Fred Wiedemann, Joe Bettencourt, Bill Meese, and Elmer Baldwin wanted San Ramon to be included. But the first official boundaries became the Alamo, Danville, Sycamore, and Green Valley Grammar School Districts, an area of about fifty square miles. In 1922, the District came into its own. On March 18th, Ward, Jones, and Freitas became the first elected Commissioners. At a May 20th “preparedness meeting,” the commissioners appointed Oscar Olsson to be Fire Chief, R. J. Monroe Asst. Chief, and H. M. Fitchenmueller Captain. On July 15th, seventeen firemen met and “Commissioner Jones, in a few well chosen words, presented each one with a badge of authority.” In April, the department made its first investment: a Reo-American La France 45 chemical fire truck was purchased for $4,140 and was delivered shortly after. In July of 1925 the department brought a lot for a firehouse located at 150 N. Hartz Ave. in Danville and paid $600 for the property. A San Francisco architect selected the building style and proposed its cost to be approximately $5,000. The firehouse was completed and accepted on December 2nd, 1925. These were the origins of official fire fighting in the valley. Other fire districts Danville Fire Fighters c. 1930 organized later: Valley Community Services District (1960), San Ramon (1963), Tassajara (1969), and Dougherty Regional (1988). By 1997, all of these districts were formally joined, after some lively debates. Today, a modern professional San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District covers 155 square miles and provides fire prevention, fire fighting, and emergency medical service to its customers.
Live a life well-rounded...
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
White Pony Express (WPE) is a nonprofit group dedicated to helping end hunger and poverty in Contra Costa County. Additional volunteers are urgently needed to help keep up with its rapid growth. There are volunteer roles available for individuals, families, and groups. Seven days a week, WPE Food Rescue volunteers take trucks to supermarkets, restaurants, and farmers markets where they pick up thousands of pounds of surplus food—high quality, nourishing food including fresh meats, dairy, eggs, produce, and deli items. Most all of this food is distributed free-of-charge to those in need within two hours of the donation. In its first four years, WPE delivered more than 6,000,000 pounds of food (equivalent to 5,000,000 meals) that the hungry would have gone without. In addition to rescuing food, WPE collects donations (by appointment) of new or like-new clothing, shoes, toys, games, and books. More than 400,000 of these items have been distributed to those in need—all free of charge. To learn more, visit www.whiteponyexpress.org, email gsop@whiteponyexpress.org, or call their Hotline at 925-322-0604.
PAGE 12 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • November 2020
HAP MAGEE RANCH PARK
A JEWEL IN THE CROWN OF LOCAL RECREATION By County Supervisor Candace Andersen
During the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, amid the uncertainty and angst experienced by so many, residents, including me, have sought refuge in the great outdoors. Whether it be a simple evening stroll, a long bicycle ride down a trail, or a hike up a hill, the pandemic has allowed us to further appreciate the allure of our natural surroundings. Luckily, Contra Costa County, and especially the district I represent, has many great parks available for residents to experience. Parks are vital for a community’s well-being. Our health, the air we breathe, the water we drink, and wildlife all benefit from the existence of parks. Hap Magee Ranch Park, which is located at 1025 La Gonda Way, on the Danville/Alamo border, is one such park, with a storied past to match its beauty. Today the 17-acre park includes a water feature, walking trails, newly-installed separate play areas for younger and older children, picnic areas, and a dog park. The story of Hap Magee Park goes back almost 150 years and begins with a tale of philanthropy. Captain Isaac and Ann Trasker Swain bought the property on behalf of an orphanage in San Francisco in 1874. They felt the orphans should have a warm place to go during San Francisco’s foggy summers. From 1911 through 1952, orphans came by train and then bus to “Camp Swain.” The park today has a plaque memorializing this part of its history. After Camp Swain, Hap Magee Park was used as a ranch, called home only by cattle and the Magee Family. The barn facade we are greeted by today at the park’s entrance serves as a vestige to the longhorn steer that used to roam the property. The roots of the name of the park can be traced back to 1946, when Hap and his wife Ruth Magee purchased the parcel of land from the San Francisco-based Orphanage Asylum. They added a house and other ranch buildings, and many in the Valley still recall the rodeos held out on the property. Hap Magee, his wife, and their daughter Julie lived on the land until the late 1980s. When Hap Magee died in 1985, his wife sold the land to a nonprofit land agency, who then sold the land to Danville and Contra Costa County for about $1 million. In 1987, Contra Costa County and the Town of Danville reached a Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement (JPA) to purchase and develop the Hap Magee Ranch as a public park. This agreement created a joint operating and planning committee to oversee the development and ongoing operation of the park. A Master Plan was created which envisioned the park we have today. The Plan intended to keep the natural and rural surroundings, and to preserve and enhance the “riparian environment” near the creeks. The park was intended to be “passive” with a meadow, picnic area, children’s play areas, and dog park. Three of the original houses and outbuildings continue to be used for special events, classes, meetings, and camps. These buildings can be rented through the Town of Danville’s website. Because the park is jointly owned by both communities, Alamo residents pay the same “Resident Rate” as Danville residents when reserving them. In August 2011, Danville and the County disbanded the joint operating committee because it had served its purpose of overseeing the development of the park. However, the JPA remains in full force, and both the Alamo Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) and the Danville Parks Commission take an active role in approving any significant changes. Improvements to the park since the original master plan have included the creation of The Bounty Garden, where volunteers grow fresh vegetables for local food banks; the Labyrinth, where people can walk and reflectively meditate; and the recently replaced playground equipment. While Danville oversees the maintenance of the park, both agencies share the associated costs.
www.yourmonthlypaper.com | Instagram: @Alamoanddanvilletoday | #atdtnews The Alamo MAC was first established in 2009 and has played a crucial role in these projects along with many other decisions made regarding Hap Magee Park. The Alamo MAC is made up of seven members that serve as an advisory body to me and the entire Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors. Members are appointed to the council by the Board of Supervisors to serve the unincorporated area of Alamo. Parks and recreation are some of the many areas the body is tasked with addressing, along with lighting and landscaping, land-use and code enforcement, public safety, transportation, and other county services. There are currently vacancies on the Alamo MAC, and applications from Alamo residents are being accepted in my office. The partnership of Danville and Alamo throughout the years in overseeing this parcel of land has brought about one of the most beautiful and beloved parks in our region. Both agencies continue to work together for its continued improvement. Regardless of what additional changes may come in the future, Hap Magee Ranch Park will continue to serve as a cornerstone for the communities of Danville and Alamo for decades to come. My office is here to serve the residents of Contra Costa County District 2, which includes San Ramon, Danville, Alamo, Walnut Creek, Saranap, Parkmead, Lafayette, Moraga, Canyon, and Orinda. Please contact us if we can provide you with additional information on this topic or on other County issues. I can be reached at SupervisorAndersen@bos.cccounty.us or 925-957-8860.
Coat continued from front page
Women’s Club, located at 1401 Danville Blvd., Alamo as part of their “Together We Give” campaign. Items needed are coats, sweaters, blankets, hats, scarves, and new socks for men, women, children, and infants. On behalf of the volunteers who are collecting and sorting, as well as the recipients, PLEASE donate items that are washed and in a condition you’d be proud to wear. For questions, please contact Dany Gregory at OneWarmCoatRotary@gmail. com or 925-899-6771.
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PAGE 14 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • November 2020
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A SECURE RETIREMENT
By Robert Cucchiaro, Summit Wealth & Retirement
With the election around the corner (or perhaps decided by the time you read this), uncertainty has been one of the major themes in 2020. If you are retired or close to retirement, this can be quite nerve racking as you watch the fluctuations in your IRA and 401K plan statement each month. Believe it or not, despite all the uncertainty around the economy and the stock market, there is one area where the opinion of experts has actually been converging. And that is the opinion that all retires who lack a corporate pension should strongly consider creating one themselves through the purchase of an annuity. While Americian financiers Suze Orman and Ken Fisher claim to hate annuities, the fact is an annuity is just a contract between an investor and an insurance company. Annuities come in all different forms and can be highly customized to one’s needs. In the past six months, we’ve seen articles advocating for the use of annuities in retirement portfolios from Baron’s, Kiplinger’s, Forbes, Goldman Sachs, American Fundsm, and Wellington. Of note is the fact that none of those companies are in the business of selling annuities, making their recommendation all the more powerful. Why are annuities all of a sudden in favor with these prestigious publications and investment companies? Here are just a few reasons, though there are many more than this. 1) Most people severely underestimate how much money they will
need to retire comfortably and maintain their current standard of living. An annuity helps with this by increasing the amount of income one receives each month. 2) Even the wealthiest of retirees fears outliving their money. An annuity can be designed to guarantee you never outlive your money. 3) The traditional stock and bond portfolio is subject to low interest rates and high market volatility. An annuity can be designed to mitigate both of these risks. 4) And finally, a portfolio comprised of dividend paying stock is subject to pay cuts and portfolio declines of 50% this year in the case of energy stocks and 20%+ in the case of financial services stocks. An annuity can provide a greater level of income without a pay cut. If an annuity can help retirees with all these concerns, why do “experts” like Orman and Fisher claim to hate them? Annuities can be quite simple or extraordinarily complex. With complexity comes the potential for misunderstanding. Therefore, we recommend all retirees and near retirees hire an independent advisor, preferably one who has obtained the CFP® (certified financial planner) designation. This is the highest standard when it comes to financial planning, and the designation helps assure you are working with a professional who can design your ideal retirement plan and not an insurance salesman. If you want a second opinion on your retirement and investment accounts, 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. Visit us at www. summitwealthandretirement.com. Advertorial
QUICK TRIPS By Linda Summers Pirkle
RUSTY HINGES RANCH IN PETALUMA
Sospel is a small town in the Alpine-Maritimes region of south-eastern France, close to the Italian border. Because of its strategic location in the rugged mountains with nearly unpassable terrain, the area around Sospel became part of the Alpine Extension of the Maginot Line when in the 1930’s fortifications were built deep inside the mountains to protect France from invasion. The 35-minute drive on a narrow road from Monte Carlo to Sospel, with winding, hairpin turns, and jaw-dropping steep cliffs up into the Sospel mountains, is not for the faint of heart. My husband, our three children, and I rented a gîte in the outskirts of Sospel on a hill overlooking a meadow dotted with wildflowers under the shadow of the magnificent Alps. The city was once on the “salt route,” a well-travelled road between Nice and Turin, and is home to a beautiful cathedral and the remains of a 14th century tower. Each evening, as we relaxed after a day of hiking and exploring, a kine of Tarentaise cows (known for their use in producing Beaufort cheese) made their way home in single file on a pathway next to our chalet. Since each cow wore a large bell around her neck, the gentle clanking sounds announced their approach. My kids loved leaning out the large kitchen window to greet the gentle brown beasts as they slowly ambled by. It was a wonderful place to relax and re-charge. Closer to home, my husband and I recently visited Rusty Hinges Ranch in Sonoma County for a delightful regenerating experience. An email invitation promised an exclusive yoga and farm-to-table event on a private ranch in Petaluma featuring Chef Roberth Sundell of Stockhome (Petaluma) and Pläj (San Francisco). It was a wonderful morning. We arrived at Rusty Hinges Ranch at 9AM on a Sunday, and trekked up a driveway past a lovely old barn to our outdoor and socially-distanced yoga class. For an hour, our Danish instructor Nina (Ninajarnumyoga.com) charmed and inspired us to hold our poses a little longer than usual. Afterwards, a delicious brunch with mimosas was served on tables for two under a canopy of trees. Our morning culminated with a tour of the farm animals including Kune Kune pigs from New Zealand, goats, sheep, and chickens, and a lesson on regenerative agriculture (focusing management practices on boosting soil health) and rotational grazing. The proprietors of Rusty Hinges Ranch, Suzanne and Jim Kimbel, began their adventure two years ago when they purchased the 100-acre property in Petaluma. They both had careers unrelated to farming, so they immediately delved into researching principles of soil health, biodiversity, and biomimicry with the intention to grow healthy food. Their mission is to make it easy for people to buy local, regeneratively grown food. The Harvest and Provisions Bundles program is an avenue to do just that. Ten local farm and food businesses are part of the local responsibly grown food subscription program, Harvest and Provisions Bundles. The “bundle” includes vegetables, milk, bread, eggs, cheese, protein, and pantry items with recipes. Currently, pickups from Rusty Hinges Ranch are Tuesday through Thursday from 4PM-7PM. Subscribers are welcome to enjoy a beverage and visit farm animals in a safe and socially-distanced fashion when they come to pick up their bundle. Holiday bundles will be available starting mid-November with the possibility of weekend pickup. The ranch is a private residence and is not open to the general public. Check their website rustyhingesranch.com for special events. For details on the subscription service, see rustyhingesranch.com/subscribe. Rusty Hinges Ranch Stockhome (stockhomerestaurant.com) is located at 220 Western Avenue, Petaluma. It is open Wednesday-Sunday. A small store inside Stockhome is a great place to find special Swedish items, including Swedish candy. Yes, you will find the much-loved milk chocolate bars KEX. Stock up; they make great stocking stuffers. Linda Summers Pirkle, a travel writer, Francophile, consultant, and long-term Danville resident, has arranged and led tours for the Town of Danville for several years. To share your “Quick Trips” ideas, email Coverthemap@gmail.com.
Facebook: Alamo Today & Danville Today News | editor@yourmonthlypaper.com November 2020 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 15
TECHNOLOGY MATTERS
DATA SURVIVABILITY By Evan Corstorphine, Portable CIO, Inc.
It’s never comfortable to talk about one’s mortality. However, sometimes it’s necessary. This topic has gained more relevancy as technology and our worldly assets have become increasingly interwoven. Our computers and phones have become personal storehouses. Care must be taken to ensure information that matters to us is not locked away and lost forever. The most typical scenario we encounter is when someone’s relative has passed away, and they have no clue how to access the information on that person’s computer, iPad, or telephone. To further complicate things, perhaps the computer is losing its hardisk or the disk is encrypted with Bitlocker (Windows) or FileVault (Mac OSX). Information that’s stored on a device may include many valuables such as usernames and passwords for financial accounts, stock accounts, PIN numbers, IOU’s owed to the individual, special bank account numbers, computer decryption keys, a crypto-currency wallet, family photos, work documents, business plans, treasure maps, etc. If it’s worth keeping, it’s worth protecting. Here’s the advice we provide our clients and what I’d like everyone to do. 1) Set up a password manager, such as LastPass, OnePass, Keeper, etc. to hold your password and credit card information. There are many viable password tools available for keeping our information safe and secure. These companies are experts at encryption and data storage. I use LastPass for our family information, and I think they do a good job. The other apps are similar, and most all have the same core features. Look for one that offers a family plan, and ensure your spouse, partner, or empowered child has the same level of access to your system as you do. We have commiserated with many newly widowed spouses who only realized too late they had zero access to family information for their bills, their incoming revenue, their bank and stock accounts, important passwords, etc. My heart breaks for them. It is a stressful, difficult, and not always fruitful process to convince companies to give someone access when they’ve never heard of you before. It inevitably involves providing a death certificate and many, many rounds of emails or phone support until they have vetted your case. In some cases, it’s impossible because the company
involved will deny your request based upon a negative clause in their terms and conditions you didn’t know existed. This is not how you want to spend the period immediately after you lose your spouse or someone close. However, you may have no choice if money is locked up in accounts you cannot easily access. 2) Identify a relative, a friend, or your family attorney you can trust. Make certain they have an updated copy of your credentials and a “Do Not Open Until I Am Gone” envelope. Death and disability do not ever visit when it is convenient; they come at the worst possible time. The best time to think this through and ensure your loved ones have access to the family or business “keys to the kingdom” is right now. 3) Do not let “perfect” get the in the way of “good enough.” There have been many times when a single sliver of information someone had on a scrap of paper was the key that opened the first door and enabled us to recover client information. Start small, but get started. Try starting a Word document, or a simple spreadsheet with whatever information you have right now, and it will be a giant first step. Please remember that this is not a one-time event; this is a process, and you’re creating a “living document” as passwords and access keys are continually updated. And when they are, you must discipline yourself to update your file right then, before doing something else and forgetting about it. 4) Setup online backups on your PC or Mac. Call us if you need help. I prefer online backups offered by a major online service such as iDrive, Crashplan, or Carbonite. Although convenient, Microsoft OneDrive, Google Drive, or any other synchronized file storage are NOT backup solutions and do NOT offer you the protection you need, regardless of any confusing marketing double-speak you may read. Your USB-based hardisk is likewise not an adequate backup. I have no problem with you using the USB-based hardisk for backups, if-andonly-if you are first using one of the aforementioned backup services to ensure everything is getting securely sent up to the cloud. Local hardisk backups are infamous for failure, and too many people have sad stories because they relied upon them. I have never heard of someone’s cloud-backed-up data being hacked, anywhere, ever. However, I have experienced many, many cases of failed local USB hardisk backups and seen people lose all of their data. If you follow these four steps, you’re on the road to protecting your loved ones. I hope you will get started, and let us know if you get stuck. We’re here to help! Email support@pcioit.com, or call 888-552-7953 to contact our helpdesk. Advertorial
PAGE 16 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • November 2020
CLIP NOTES
By Jody Morgan
Urged by her family to record memories of her childhood, Laura Russell penned a memoir discovered by Marion L. Channing who printed it with explanatory notes as Laura Russell Remembers. Born in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1827, Laura recalls there were few holidays celebrated, but New England, unlike the rest of the country, followed the Pilgrims’ lead in giving thanks when the harvest was completed. “Thanksgiving day was one to which we looked forward with eager anticipation, for there was a family gathering and a lavish supply of good things to eat, both of which we found very delightful.” The menu she recalls includes “roast turkey, chickens and ducks with all the accompaniments followed by mince, apple and squash pies, cranberry tarts, nuts, raisins, and fresh fruits.” Note the reference to squash rather than pumpkin pie. Cooking at the time was done in an open hearth. Baking was a fine art accomplished once a week on Saturday in the brick oven by the side of the fireplace.“Great judgment was required in getting the right temperature, a matter which was never trusted to hirelings; our mother herself always superintending it. The oven-wood was oak, very long and very small; when it was supposed to have burned a sufficient time, the brands and coals were thrown into the fireplace, and the oven floor was swept out with a wet broom.” A test ball of dough proved whether the oven was sufficiently heated, and then breads, cakes, pies, and puddings went in to bake. Not surprisingly, the kitchen was the best place to be as winter approached. Laura describes the bright flames in the deep fireplace and the heavy iron andirons and long spit perforated with holes for skewers. “Then there were the yellow crook-necked squashes which garnished the walls and hung above the windows, suggesting delicious pies which our mother well knew how to make.” I think of the yellow crook-necked variety as a summer squash, but in the early 19th century, it was an incredibly sweet, well-known winter squash. Published in 1796, the earliest known American cookbook authored by Amelia Simmons includes a recipe for “A Crookneck, or Winter Squash
www.yourmonthlypaper.com | Instagram: @Alamoanddanvilletoday | #atdtnews Pudding.” A variation using pumpkin follows. The puddings were baked in a crust resulting in what we call pie. Measuring in the day was done by eye or something as variable as a teacup. “Core, boil, and skin a good squash, and bruise it well; take 6 large apples, pared, cored, and stewed tender, mix together; add 6 or 7 spoonsful of dry bread or biscuit, rendered fine as meal, half pint milk, a spoonful of rosewater, a spoonful of wine, 5 or 6 eggs beaten and strained, nutmeg, salt and sugar to your taste, one spoon flour, beat all smartly together, bake.” Mary Randolph’s cookbook, The Virginia Housewife, first appeared in 1824. Concerning the winter squash Russell remembers, she writes: “The crooked neck of this squash is the best part.” She recommends different preparations for the sweet neck and the tougher body of the squash. Unfortunately, the crooked necks tended to break when shipped long-distance. The closest relative readily available today is the butternut squash, bred from the same species -- Cucurbita moschata. Now marketed as “Canada Crookneck” and “Pennsylvania Dutch Crookneck Squash,” seeds for the variety baked in Laura’s favorite squash pies are available online from www.rareseeds.com and www.seedsavers.org. The Mayflower company was mostly composed of city dwellers with no farming experience. Half succumbed to disease the first winter. Seeds brought from England failed to grow. Corn, purloined from indigenous residents at a Cape Cod site raided before the settlers reached Plymouth, thrived. Grateful for the help of their Native American neighbors who taught them how to plant that corn, the Pilgrims set aside a day of thanksgiving in 1621. The first day of thanksgiving recognized by the entire United States of America newly formed under the Constitution was proclaimed by George Washington to be celebrated on November 26, 1789. His proclamation (available in full at www.mountvernon.org) reads: “And whereas both Houses have, by their joint committee, requested me “to recommend to the people of the United States, a Day of Public Thanksgiving and Prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.” “Abraham Lincoln initiated the national tradition of our annual celebration of Thanksgiving in 1863.
Crop continued from front page
Bell beans are good for our area because they send down a deep tap root that breaks-up the soil, and as a legume, they add nitrogen to the soil. Once planted, they grow during the winter, and in March, just as they are beginning to flower, they are cut down at the soil line, and the tops are allowed to act as a mulch. (For more information, visit http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/files/ filelibrary/5842/25997.pdf.) The roots decompose in-place, release nitrogen, and add organic matter to the soil. Once Bell beans are cut down, they do not return, and a vegetable garden can be planted. I usually plant Bell beans after our first rain of the season, when the soil is easier to work, and I don't have to irrigate. You can buy Bell beans at many places including online. We probably won't see rain here until mid to late November so there is plenty of time to make your plans for a cover crop! The UC Master Gardeners are trained volunteers for the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE). They are residents of the local community who have an active interest in horticulture, have taken the Master Gardener training offered by the UCCE, and now share their knowledge with other members of that community. They provide University of California research-based horticultural information to the citizens of California through their volunteer efforts as UC Master Gardeners. The acquisition of knowledge, the skill in gardening, and giving back to the community distinguishes a UC Master Gardener from other gardeners. Got a home gardening question? Ask the UC Master Gardeners of Contra Costa by sending an email message to ccmg@ ucanr.edu. Their Help Desk is staffed 50 weeks of the year, Monday-Thursday, 9AM to noon. For guidance regarding questions Bell beans with some crimson and the many programs offered to the public, visit http://ccmg.ucanr.edu. clover. Photo by Keith Silva Keith Silva is a member of the UC Master Gardeners of Contra Costa County with a gold badge for more than 1,000 hours of volunteer time. He is a retired engineer from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
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. The Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff will be hosting meetings via Zoom. If you have any questions or are interested in finding out more information, please email the Community Services Unit at csu@so.cccounty.us.
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.
Facebook: Alamo Today & Danville Today News | editor@yourmonthlypaper.com November 2020 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 17
ESTATE PLANNING AND “DIGITAL ASSETS”
By Robert J. Silverman, Attorney at Law
In recent years, social media companies, email services, banks and investment firms, and other prominent digital applications and websites have paid more attention to what happens to a user’s account when the account owner dies or becomes incapacitated. Now that these applications and sites play such a large role in our lives, companies have had to respond to the important, but often sensitive and difficult aspect of “user legacy.” Most digital service providers have established rather detailed policies. In the past, digital asset management and succession has not played any part in the formal estate planning process. Further, clients didn’t typically discuss (or even think of discussing) these issues with their estate planning attorneys. Finally, attorneys did not insert related provisions in their estate planning documents, such as Wills or Living Trusts. That has changed! Some frequent internet users – those who are big planners – have become familiar with the post-incapacity or death procedures that apply to the social media and other sites and apps that are most important to them. Moreover, they have submitted the required data and forms to ensure that their incapacity and/or post-death wishes are followed. It may be a bit mind-boggling that beyond your existing “to do” list (that’s probably quite long as it is), you now have the burden of thinking about what options you want, and who you want in charge of your social media and internet activity, after you die. The good news is that now you at least have more of a choice about the legacy you want for your digital assets, just like you have lots of choices about creating a legacy for your conventional assets in your estate planning documents. Within the last few years, most high-quality estate planning software includes a significant body of applicable law related to access and consent to disclosure to your representative (i.e. the agent under your Power of Attorney, successor trustee of your Trust, and executor under your Will) of your digital assets, including the contents of electronic communications (e.g. email). These important provisions are located in various state and federal statutes, including but not limited to Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act
(California Probate Code sections 870 et seq., and Stored Communications Act, 18 U.S.C. sections 2701 et seq., and Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, 19 U.S.C. section 1030). Generally speaking, if, or to the extent a digital account user becomes incapacitated or dies and has not submitted succession instructions to the company that owns and operates the digital account, the company will rely on the succession provisions in properly drafted estate planning documents. Since most people have at least some, if not many, digital assets for which they have not submitted requisite succession data and forms, pertinent provisions in your estate planning documents can be extremely important. Ultimately, if a digital asset owner has neither submitted appropriate succession instructions to a digital service provider AND has no applicable provisions in his or her estate planning documents, it can be very problematic. In that event, most companies will require a court order expressly providing that a particular successor to the digital account owner be allowed to access and control the digital account. Of course, it is inconvenient and costly to petition the court as to such matters. Moreover, uncertainty over who should have such access and control can be the subject of substantial conflict in connection with such court proceeding. The “silver lining” is that it is not difficult to insert comprehensive provisions in one’s estate planning documents about these matters. Good estate planning software (including mine) has, within the last several years, included very helpful provisions in this regard. Stay tuned for new legal developments in this interesting and highly evolving arena. Meanwhile, give some thought to proceeding down the road toward meaningful and important digital asset planning. For starters, if you have estate planning documents that have not been reviewed and updated within the last several years, it is highly unlikely that you are well covered as to digital asset management and succession. Thus, it would be prudent to conduct an estate planning review and update your documents accordingly. |Estate Planning | Trust Administration & Probate | Real Estate | Business| Please contact me to request a complimentary: i) “Estate Planning Primer”; ii) Real Estate titling brochure; iii) introductory meeting. I am an attorney with R. Silverman Law Group, 1855 Olympic Blvd., Suite 125, Walnut Creek, CA 94596; (925) 705-4474; rsilverman@rsilvermanlaw.com.
This article is intended to provide information of a general nature, and should not be relied upon as legal, tax and/ or business advice. Readers should obtain specific advice from their own, qualified professional advisors. Advertorial
Nature continued from front page
Founded in 1988 as a premiere presentation of automotive history, the Museum evolved dramatically over the last decade. Each permanent gallery expresses a different aspect of founder Ken Behring’s vision for stimulating the imaginations of visitors of all ages with diverse displays of global history and culture. His connection with natural history museum installations began when the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. accepted his offer of specimens from his collection to upgrade their exhibits, along with his generous contribution of $20 million. Taking three years to complete, the Kenneth E. Behring Family Hall of Mammals opened in 2003. In Road to Purpose, Behring writes: “Not only is the scope impressive, but the presentation is unique. One display lets visitors feel how cold it is for an Arctic squirrel as it hibernates in its burrow at 34 degrees below zero.” The challenge for everyone creating the World of Nature Gallery was to generate an even more compelling experience in a much smaller space. The result tops those of the world's most prestigious museums. In a zoo, you see animals behind bars. In a trophy room, you find them mounted in cabinets or hung on walls. In the World Visitors to the World of Nature are transported in time and space. It's a bit like entering of Nature, Curator Joel Hodge explains, “People can get really close to animals that Jurassic Park. Photo courtesy of Blackhawk Museum. they could never even approach in the wild.” He continues, “This gallery, more than any other, represents Ken Behring’s vision and desire to transport people to another place. There is a lot going on behind the scenes, and it takes a very talented team to make the illusion work.” Some members of the team, like Hodge, have worked together on a variety of Behring Global Educational Foundation projects. When Ken acquired the Frick Collection that launched the Spirit of the Old West Gallery, he asked Joel to take charge of the Native American side of the display. Elizabeth Premazzi, an architect inspired by Ken’s belief in her abilities to become a Blackhawk Museum designer, worked first on Art of Africa before completing the Into China gallery. Elizabeth credits Ken with teaching her to have a higher purpose. “He had time and money to just be, but instead he had a heart full of gratefulness, full of will to show the world that we shouldn’t be limited by our backgrounds, education, etc. -- that the limit is your mind.” Raised in rural Wisconsin during the Great Depression, Behring wanted to inspire children with similarly restricted resources to expand their horizons. He writes, “As children, teens, and young adults, we are consumed by getting as much as we can as quickly as we can. For me, a child of poverty, it was the basic necessities -- things as simple as hot water and an indoor bathroom.” Seeking expert help in staging the natural history dioramas, Elizabeth and David Behring joined Ken in Austin, Texas to tour the Warren Wildlife Gallery, a project of Chris Cammack’s Prairie Mountain Wildlife Studio. Liking what they saw, they hired Chris to work on the Watering Hole display with the understanding that if his work met expectations (as it did), he would build the remaining displays. In April 2018, the Watering Hole moved from drawing board to physical presence.
See Nature continued on page 18
PAGE 18 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • November 2020
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Nature continued from page 17
ALAMO IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION (AIA)
By Roger Smith, President ALAMO CERTIFIED FARMER’S MARKET
The Market is open Sundays year-round, from 9AM – 2PM, in Alamo Plaza, off of Danville Blvd., near Bank of America. There is plenty of free parking. Look for fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy, tamales, BBQ, Filipino food, artisan goods, and more! Experience live music while shopping at the Alamo Certified Farmers Market. Take a moment to pause and reflect upon the bountiful relationship agriculture provides for us all. Our vendors welcome the opportunity to discuss their work and produce with you.
EMERGENCY PLANNING FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY
What is Smart911? - Smart911 is a free service that allows you to provide valuable information about yourself and your family to 9-1-1 call takers and first responders in the event of an emergency call. First responders can have vital information such as home access instructions, utility shut off location, bedroom locations, and pet information. At a time when seconds count, being able to provide 9-1-1 with details that could impact response the moment an emergency call is placed could be the difference between life and death. Now is the time to create a Safety Profile for your family at www.smart911.com. What is Ready.gov? - Ready.gov has made it simple for you to make a family emergency plan. Visit the site and download the “Family Communication Plan for Parents and Kids.” Fill out the sections before printing or emailing to your family and friends. Who to call, where to meet, what to pack, material for kids - The planning process includes age-appropriate tools and resources to introduce conversations about disaster preparedness to children including a downloadable family emergency plan, an emergency kit checklists, and guidelines on how to make preparedness a year-round activity. Visit www.ready.gov/kids for materials. Family communication plan - Due to disaster damages and heavy phone traffic, it is often easier to communicate with someone that is out-of-state during an emergency. Therefore, choose a long-distance relative or close friend that your family will all contact if separated. Teach your household to use this number as a form of communicating and letting one know that the other is safe. Lastly, don’t forget to talk with your out-of-state contact to make them aware of the plan and ensure they are comfortable with this role. Visit www.ready.gov/make-a-plan for more ideas. Share information with family members - Make sure everyone carries a copy of your plan/emergency information in his or her backpack, purse, or wallet. You should also post a copy in a central location in your home, such as your refrigerator or family bulletin board. Practice your plan - Have regular household meetings to review and practice your emergency and communication plans, and meeting place. Prepare for a wildfire and evacuation - Visit www.cccfpd.org, www.cococws. org, and www.cocosheriff.org for Contra Costa County guides. Download “Residents Guide to Wildfire Preparedness and Evacuation” to aid in planning. Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) - During dangerous weather conditions, PG&E may proactively turn off power to reduce the risk of wildfires. This is known as a PSPS. Here are a few tips to prepare in advance for a possible PSPS: 1) Make sure PG&E can reach you by updating your contact information at www.pge.com/mywildfirealerts 2) If you require electricity for a medical device, consider applying for PG&E’s Medical Baseline Program so you can receive extra alerts 3) Practice manually opening your garage door 4) Pack or restock your emergency supply kit 5) Consider a backup power option like a portable generator 6) Protect your digital files, photos, and documents. Visit PC Magazine’s rating of these services for 2020 at www.pcmag.com/roundup/306323/thebest-cloud-storage-providers-and-file-syncing-services
AIA MEMBERSHIP
Since 1955, Alamo residents have been joining the AIA and working in support of AIA’s mission statement, which is to “preserve the semi-rural character of Alamo” Now celebrating its 65th year, AIA, a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization, has an outstanding history of serving our community. Visit www.AlamoCA.org for information on AIA, articles of local interest, membership forms, and more.
Local artist Roxana Hayden spent 10 days painting the background. Roxana first met Jeff Behring and his wife at the annual Wheelchair Foundation Fundraiser, Wine for Wheels. She donated some of her work to the silent auction. Roxana recalls, “When his father started the Spirit of the Old West, Jeff called me for the central mural there. He liked it so much that he decided to have me paint all the galleries.” She can't name a favorite mural. She puts so much care and research into each one that she confesses, “I must tell you that all of them are my children, so I like and love all my murals.” Attention to detail includes lighting. Structural columns in the Museum’s basement level where the World of Nature is housed are cleverly disguised as trees. Explanatory signs don’t disrupt the illusion that you have arrived in a pristine natural setting. Although COVID-19 precautions prohibit their use for the time being, Touchpads are loaded with information. Visitors have the option of simply soaking in the environment or absorbing as much detail about each diorama as they desire. The 600+ entries offer interesting facts as well as precise descriptions of size, habitat, diet, and conservation status of each species. All you hear in most museums is chatter from other visitors, unless you have plugged in to an audio tour device. That’s not what you would experience exploring a South American rainforest. What songs and calls do the birds there generate? Are there other noises you would hear as you wander? Thanks to the superb installation produced by the Wildscape Systems group from Blackhawk Media, the World of Nature is alive with sounds from the natural world. Eric Vejby, Digital Marketing Director for Blackhawk Media, met with David Behring in early 2019 for a personal tour of the Blackhawk Museum. Eric writes, “I was astonished by the scale and scope of the museum as well as David’s own passion and encyclopedic knowledge of each and every item. We jumped at the opportunity to collaborate with his team!” Vejby continues, “We each bring more than 30 years of professional experience in visual and sound design, and Blackhawk Museum World of Nature was our biggest installation. We started by carefully researching the wild habitats themselves in order to replicate the layered and balanced sound experience we feel in nature. Spatial outdoor ambiance is the first layer, then the chorus of natural voices and sounds, then soloists -- like a lion’s roar.” He adds, “The Behring team did such an amazing job of designing and building each ecosystem, we were able to quickly understand how to capture the essence of the animals in each scene.”
Elizabeth Premazzi and Chris Cammack discuss the design of the Watering Hole diorama. Photo courtesy of Blackhawk Museum.
Asked how they managed to acquire the authentic sounds, Wildscape Systems Acoustic Engineer Matt Moses replies, “We drew from a wide variety of curated sources. Some sounds we made ourselves in our studio and then engineered and mixed levels to maximize the effect of spatial acoustics. We also used speaker arrays that mimic the physiology and voicebox of some of the animals.” Pat Rickey, Wildscape Systems Composer, worked with Matt to create a 45-minute symphony of sound. He recalls, “The first time we powered-up the wildebeest migration soundscape, it took me by surprise -- the scene literally
See Nature continued on page 22
Facebook: Alamo Today & Danville Today News | editor@yourmonthlypaper.com November 2020 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 19
THE EYE OPENER
EYELID TWITCHING By Gregory Kraskowsky, O.D., Alamo Optometry
Medical & Surgical Dermatology For Healthy Skin
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We have all probably felt an eyelid twitching or ONLY FDA CLEARE pulsing at one time or another. It is usually not noELECTROMAGNETIC ETING ticeable to someone looking at you, but you can feel TECHNOLOGY TARG ABDOMINAL AND it. Although it is annoying, it is usually completely FOR BODY GLUTEUS MUSCLES benign. Eyelid twitching is not associated with any PAD CONTOURING, FAT neurological problems, such as a lid spasm, and Offering Cosmetic Treatments for: TT LIFT! REDUCTION AND BU Tattoo, Moles, Birthmarks, and Scars therefore is not a medical emergency. A lid twitch lpt cu MS DrWilliamTing.com/E Face, Neck, Body Tightening, is very common and can occur on either eye and Lifting, usually occurs on the lower lid. The twitches are and Rejuvenation Frown Lines and painless, but annoying for most people. Below, I Jawline Reduction discuss some of the causes and some of the things Rosacea, Facial Redness, Veins, and that can be done to help. Post-injection Bruising Pigmentation and Melasma There are several causes for lid twitching, but Sun Damage and Scars stress and fatigue are generally the main culprits. A place where beauty Body Sculpting The level of stress that triggers it is usually someThinning Hair and/or Balding and healthy skin meet Hair Removal thing that is above and beyond the normal daily Visit us at our Center of Technology & Procedures grind. Considering the current state of the country, Excellence with a combined Offered we are all under more stress than normal. Whether 12,000 square foot, state Cellfina it is COVID, virtual learning, working from home, Cool Mini for neck of the art, newly renovated Coolsculpting® fires, the election, etc., the stress bar has raised for Our Women’s suite. We are dedicated Cryoshape all of us. Normally, triggers such as a change in job Wellness Center to Medical, Cosmetic, and Diolite 532 laser now offers EMSella, status or an extremely busy time at work, moving, EMSculpt Surgical Dermatology and FDA approved noninvasive EMSella a death in the family, or something similar will are a place for medical electromagnetic technology Excel V Laser generally be the culprit. After the episode resolves, treatment (with clothes on) Excimer Laser skin consultation, aesthetic so does the twitching. Stress and fatigue are often Fractional CO2 Laser for urinary incontinence rejuvenation, and face and GenesisPlus Laser related, and fatigue can definitely show by increased and feminine intimate body contouring. Infini Microneedling RF rejuvenation! lid twitching. Models are used. Kybella DrWilliamTing.com/EMSella Another large contributing factor to lid twitchLiposonix® Visit www.DrWilliamTing.com Microneedling with PRP ing is caffeine use. Most of the time this cause is for an extensive list of medical, surgical, and cosmetic treatments, MiraDry secondary to a significant increase in caffeine Mohs Micrographic Surgery product lines, lasers, and therapies offered. intake, but it can also be due to a quick, drastic NBUVB Phototherapy Pico Genesis decrease. It is common for students studying for Schedule your free cosmetic consultation appointment today! PicoSure Laser midterms or finals to experience these lid twitches William Ting, M.D., PRP for Hair Loss and Rejuvenation because they have an increase in stress, fatigue, Board Certified Dermatologist and Mohs Surgeon Vbeam Laser 2262 Camino Ramon Silhouette InstaLift and caffeine use. San Ramon, CA 94583 Spectra Laser Tel: (925) 328-0255 Now that we know the causes, what can be done Superficial Radiotherapy TEXT us at (925) 328-0255 24/7 to treat the twitching? The quick answer is nothing. Thermage™ Email: staff@caldermcare.com Ultherapy™ However, there are several anecdotal things that Vaser Shape drwilliamting.com can be done to reduce the symptoms. First, attempt VLase for Feminine Rejuvenation *Welcoming new Medicare patients to reduce your stress level and get more sleep. Of course, this is much easier said than done, depending on the situation. RegardVOLUNTEERS NEEDED less, any reduction in stress and fatigue will go a long way towards resolving the twitching. Other remedies that have helped some people include cool RIDES FOR SENIORS AND VETERANS TO MEDICAL compresses to the eyes and the taking of oral antihistamines such as Benadryl. APPOINTMENTS Mobility Matters is a nonprofit agency that provides free rides for ambulaKeep in mind that the antihistamines can cause some drowsiness, so it is best to take them right before bed. Another treatment that works well is drinking tonic tory seniors and veterans who cannot take other forms of transportation. The water. Tonic water contains quinine, which helps to relax muscles. I instruct group is looking for volunteers that are willing to help out our community patients to not put the tonic water in their eyes, as I had one patient do this, and by driving homebound seniors and veterans to medical appointments. Most their eyes were completely irritated. Feel free to mix whatever you like with the volunteers drive once every week or two. Please contact David Benet at (925)284-2215 or david@mobilitymatterscc. tonic water, as it is does not taste that good by itself. Even though a lid twitch is benign, other neurological lid conditions such com if you are interested in more information about volunteer opportunities. as a Bell’s Palsy or facial spasms need to be ruled out since these can be sign of You can learn more about Mobility Matters at www.mobilitymatterscc.com. more serious issues that require further testing. If there are any questions about To place an ad,share a story, lid twitches, we would be happy to schedule an office visit for you. or for more information about our paper, Dr. K. at Alamo Optometry is your hometown eye doctor for outstanding service, vision care, and designer eyewear. He can be reached at (925) 820call 925.405.6397 6622, or visit his office at 3201 Danville Blvd., Suite 165 in Alamo. For more or email editor@yourmonthlypaper.com. information, visit www.alamooptometry.com, and join in on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @Alamo Optometry. Advertorial
PAGE 20 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • November 2020
ARE YOU SUFFERING FROM A PAIN IN THE NECK?
By Dr. Niele Maimone, DC
With all of the new work challenges that COVID has created, neck pain is on the rise. If you are suffering with neck pain from a pinched nerve or herniated disc, you know how debilitating it is and how the pain slowly leaks the vitality from your life. At Align Healing Center, we specialize in treating pain naturally. It is our mission to help relieve your pain without the use of drugs, or invasive procedures, and without inducing more pain! If you or someone you care about suffers from pinched nerves or disc related pain, it is worthwhile to explore the natural therapies that are available today.
WHAT IS CERVICAL DISC HERNIATION?
The bones (vertebrae) that form the spine in your back are cushioned by round, flat discs. When these discs are healthy, they act as shock absorbers for the spine and keep the spine flexible. If they become damaged, they may bulge abnormally or break open (rupture) in what is called a herniated or slipped disc. Herniated discs can occur in any part of the spine, but they are most common in the neck (cervical) and lower back (lumbar) spine. A herniated disc usually is caused by wear and tear of the disc. As we age, our discs lose some of the fluid that helps them maintain flexibility. A herniated disc also may result from injuries to the spine, which may cause tiny tears or cracks in the outer layer of the disc. The jellylike material (nucleus) inside the disc may be forced out through the tears or cracks in the capsule, which causes the disc to bulge, break open (rupture), or break into fragments.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF A HERNIATED DISC IN THE NECK?
Herniated discs in the neck (cervical spine) can cause pain, numbness, or weakness in the neck, shoulders, chest, arms, and hands. In some case, a very large herniated disc in the neck may cause weakness or unusual tingling affecting other parts of the body, including the legs. Arm pain from a cervical herniated disc is one of the more common cervical spine conditions. The arm pain from a cervical herniated disc results because the herniated disc material “pinches” or presses on a nerve in the
www.yourmonthlypaper.com | Instagram: @Alamoanddanvilletoday | #atdtnews neck, causing pain to radiate along the nerve pathway down the arm. Along with the arm pain, numbness and tingling can be present down the arm and into the fingertips. Muscle weakness may also be present due to a cervical herniated disc.
HOW CAN I HEAL MY PAIN WITHOUT DRUGS OR SURGERY?
1. Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Therapy Non-surgical spinal decompression is a state-of-the-art treatment that has been helping thousands of patients with chronic neck or low back pain, sciatica, and herniated, bulging or degenerated discs. This is an entirely different treatment from traditional chiropractic adjustments. Many of the patients who are candidates for this procedure have already tried chiropractic, physical therapy, and injections, and/or were told they would need surgery. This breakthrough treatment works by gently separating the vertebra which decompresses the disc, thus causing the bulging material to be drawn back into the disc. Non-surgical spinal decompression is very effective, has a high success rate, and can be utilized for both cervical and lumbar disc injuries. 2. Class IV Laser Therapy Laser treatments at Align Healing Center are done with the Summus Class IV Laser. Class IV Laser therapy gets to the root of the injury and treats it at the cellular level, providing energy to the cells so they can heal. This laser does not cut or burn but is gently absorbed by the tissue. During each painless treatment, laser energy increases circulation, drawing water, oxygen, and nutrients to the damaged area. This creates an optimal healing environment that reduces inflammation, swelling, muscle spasms, stiffness, and pain. As the injured area returns to normal, function is restored and pain is relieved.
THERE IS HOPE!
We have found that a combination of Class IV laser therapy and spinal decompression offers outstanding results in healing stubborn neck pain due to a pinched nerve, bulging discs, or spinal degeneration. This unique combination of non-invasive therapy offers a chance for realizing a permanent cure for neck or back pain. This eliminates the long-term care commitment forced upon patients by other symptomatic low-back pain treatments, such as drugs, injections, or surgery. With proper care and rehabilitation of your spine, you can be back to your healthy self quickly! For more information about Dr. Niele Maimone, DC or to set up a complimentary consult, call 925-362-8283 or visit www.alignhealingcenter.com. Advertorial
TURNING BACK THE CLOCK THROUGH COSMETIC FACIAL SURGERY
By Dr. Barbara Persons, MD, FACS
Let’s talk about facelifts. As we age, skin begins to lose elasticity, and our face loses volume. The lower face sags forming deep wrinkles, and we start to notice loose skin on the neck. The loss of youthful contours in the face are the result of thinning skin, loss of facial fat, gravity, sun damage or smoking, in addition to heredity and stress. While these changes are a natural part of growing older, we don’t have to leave our youthful looks behind as the years pass. With the help of a skilled plastic surgeon, you can take steps this winter to counteract the effects of time and gravity, and restore the naturally vibrant appearance you remember from years ago or even address the early signs of aging before they take hold. Both popular and commonly requested, facelifts produce results that patients find consistently satisfying. The operation, when performed with skill and care, is very safe. Rhytidectomy, which literally means wrinkle (rhytid) removal (-ectomy), is the medical term for the facelift operation which is designed to remove wrinkles and decrease the sagging that occurs on the face and neck with aging. The key to today’s facelift is lifting up tissues while restoring lost volume without pulling the face back. It is often said that having a facelift works to “turn back the clock,” helping a patient look like a younger version of him or herself by removing excess and sagging skin, smoothing deep folds, and lifting and tightening the deep facial tissues and muscles. Facelifts are frequently combined with eyelid surgery, brow lifting, laser resurfacing, and fat transfer to achieve facial rejuvenation. As we age, skin above and below the eyes tends to droop, making eyes look small and puffy. It also causes your forehead to wrinkle, trying to support your eyelid muscle when opening the eyes. Eyelid surgery, called blepharoplasty, removes excess skin and fat, and tightens sagging muscle, giving you a younger, sharper look. Laser resurfacing is a very effective tool in the rejuvenation of aging skin. Resurfacing removes or reduces fine lines, skin discoloration, acne scars, and other scars. At the same time, it tightens the skin. The action of the laser encourages collagen production, causing elastic fibers in the skin to increase in number. This means that the skin will have properties more similar to an earlier time in your life. Sun damaged, cigarette damaged, and aged skin is rejuvenated in a fashion, and to an extent, never before attainable with chemical peels and dermabrasion. Fat transfer to the face revitalizes and corrects volume loss. When combined with a facelift, fat transfer to the face can offer more youthful lips, brows, and eyelids, in addition to stronger cheeks, improved jaw lines, and facial contours that are both natural and youthful. Once the facelift is complete, excess sagging tissue is repositioned, volume is restored, the skin is resurfaced, and the clock is turned back. Aging will continue from there, of course, and you will look much better at any given age than you would have without the operation. Seeing our own patients around town up to 15 years after surgery demonstrates long-term results. To continue the conversation about facelifts and other ways to look your best this holiday season, please give us a call to schedule your consultation today! We are closely following local and state government guidelines to implement additional measures of safety for our patients and staff. We are also offering COVID-19 antibody tests with results in as little as 10 minutes. Our current hours of operation at our Lafayette location are Monday-Friday, 9AM-5PM, and our Brentwood location is open on Saturdays, 8AM-11AM. 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
Facebook: Alamo Today & Danville Today News | editor@yourmonthlypaper.com November 2020 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 21
PAGE 22 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • November 2020
YOUR PERSONAL NUTRITIONIST
WHAT TO EAT IF YOU HAVE PREDIABETES
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By Linda Michaelis RD, MS
If you get a call from your doctor, and they tell you your blood sugar is in the prediabetic range, what should you do? You may find you don’t know what to eat because carbs are everywhere. Do you need to cut out carrots, bread, pasta, or wine? The good news is that you can eat a lot more than you think. By making simple tweaks in your diet, you will be able to prevent and/or reverse prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. It is important that you know your blood sugar numbers. I want everyone to know their numbers. If your fasting blood sugar is 100-125, it is called prediabetes. If it is over 126, it is diabetes. After helping clients for 30 years, if you follow these guidelines, I can guarantee you will bring your blood sugar back into the normal range. 1. Consume mixed meals that include protein, fiber, fats, and sugars which will slow down the rise and fall of blood sugar. Please do not eat fruit first thing in the morning or by itself in between meals, as your blood sugars are usually high then. It is best to eat fruit along with a meal or as a dessert. The best breakfasts are eggs mixed with vegetables, cottage cheese on whole wheat toast with veggies, or oatmeal with added egg whites. For lunch, always have at least 4 oz. of protein, a cup of veggies, and a carb. For snacks, always include a protein along with a fruit or vegetables. Dessert is OK if it comes after a meal and not on an empty stomach. 2. Choose healthier types of carbs. Sugary or processed “white carbs” cause a rapid spike in blood sugar. Carbs that come from the ground such as legumes, quinoa, barley, whole wheat breads, potatoes, and non-starchy veggies such as broccoli and string beans cause a slower rise of blood sugar. I recommend if pizza or a pasta dish is planned for the day, it is OK to have it as long as you balance it out with lots of veggies that will prevent high blood sugar. Then, at the next meal, do not have any carbs so you can balance out your day. 3. Eat more fiber. I often note that when my prediabetic clients first come to meet with me that they typically do not eat any fiber until dinnertime. You must have fiber at each meal to keep blood sugar stable throughout the day. Add veggies to breakfast, and always have a veggie or salad at lunch. Ask for extra veggies on your sandwich or double veggies at a restaurant. Carrots are fine to eat. For dinner, you can feel good about using Birds Eye, Green Giant, or Cascadian Farms quality steamed veggies that are lightly seasoned. 4. Get exercise into your day. Often, I will get a morning call from a client telling me that their blood sugar is unusually high and admitting they over indulged the night before. I tell them the best thing to do is to go for a strenuous half hour walk, and their blood sugar will drop about 50 points. Exercise builds lean body mass which will cause your body to process sugar more quickly. 5. Alcohol. Yes, you can have wine, but please note, it is like a dessert. Of course, wine is made from grapes. It is best to drink either a dry red or white wine. Please also have a glass of sparkling water next to your wine to allow for alternating beverages. For other spirits, hard liquor such as vodka and gin have no sugar. In addition, there are sugar-free mixers you can use. Prediabetes is an epidemic. There are no symptoms, but there are easy actions you can take to prevent it. I am proud to say that I have helped hundreds of clients with prediabetes and even reversed diabetes type 2. I cannot stress the importance of working with a dietitian when you are diagnosed with either prediabetes or type 2 diabetes. My clients are thrilled to see the successful results after working with me. Nutritional counseling can be covered by health insurance companies including Aetna, ABMG, Blue Cross, Blue Shield, CCHP, Cigna, Sutter, and UHC. I am happy to call on your behalf and see what coverage your plan offers. Please visit my website www.LindaRD.com to learn more about my services. Feel free to email me at lifeweight1@yahoo.com, or call me at 925-855-0150 to tell me about your nutritional concerns and see how I may help you. Advertorial
Nature continued from page 18
roared to life!” The integrated sounds reach humans at a primal level. Pat notes the total experience has the uncanny ability to “transform adults into children.” The effect transports museum visitors to another time and place. All three members of the Wildscape System team agree. “Ken Behring always wanted something for the children.” More than any of the other permanent galleries, World of Nature fulfills Ken's mission. Although, once in place, the animals remain fixed, the symphony of sound can be recreated to offer diverse experiences. The exuberant cadence of the dawn chorus suggests a composition vastly different from the soothing rhythm of dusk’s lullaby. “Many Worlds, One Museum” headlines the Blackhawk Museum's website. Discover the interesting rotation of classic cars in the automotive gallery. Expect innovative ways sound will be incorporated in every gallery. Annual memberships available at many levels give visitors a chance to enjoy each gallery as often as they like. Once COVID-19 restrictions are eased, guided tours will be included again with admission, and group tours will be scheduled. The Blackhawk Museum is seeking docents and gallery guides. You can specialize in the gallery of your choice -- Classic Cars, Spirit of the Old Believing the future is in the hands of children, Ken West, Art of Africa, Into China, or World of Nature. Interested individuals should complete the Volunteer Behring created a superb educational hub. Photo courtesy of Blackhawk Museum. Application on the website or call the Blackhawk Museum at 925-736-2280, extension 238 or 239. am pm pm Book tickets (now limited to 100 visitors per two-hour time slot beginning at 10 , 12 , and 3 ) at www.blackhawkmuseum.org, and find information about permanent galleries, upcoming events, and joining the Blackhawk Museum family.
FREE CONSULTATIONS TO FAMILY CAREGIVERS WITH DEMENTIA-RELATED CONCERNS
Since Hope Hospice has had to temporarily suspend their Living With Dementia group classes for family caregivers they are launching a new video conference service that is, at this time, complimentary to the public.“Many of the family caregivers who attend our classes find themselves in the caregiver role unexpectedly and without resources,” says program manager Jill Smith, RN. “The face-to-face classes have helped these individuals tremendously in learning about the changes to expect in their loved one and how to adjust techniques as the disease progresses.” Zoom remote-conferencing will be used to conduct private consultations with family members who have questions on specific challenges they are facing in caring for a loved one living with dementia. Submit a meeting request to jills@hopehospice.com or call (925) 829-8770. Learn more at www.HopeHospice.com.
Facebook: Alamo Today & Danville Today News | editor@yourmonthlypaper.com November 2020 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 23
CONTACT DERMATITIS
CAN I BE ALLERGIC TO MY UNDERWEAR? By Jerome Potozkin, MD Recently, I saw a runner with a curious itchy rash just along his waistline. He said that it had been there for a while. He came to my office well dressed in a suit and tie. He thought that it was odd that he experienced more itching, and that the area was bright red and somewhat blistery on Mondays and Tuesdays, and as the week wore on, it would get better. It was becoming an annoying cycle. I really had to scratch my head on this one. I prescribed a topical corticosteroid cream and advised him to return in two weeks. At his follow up visit, I asked him if he wore different underwear on the weekend as compared to during the week. He mentioned that during the week he wore boxers, and that on the weekend he preferred briefs made by a different company. The diagnosis was made in an instant. He had an allergic contact dermatitis reaction to something in the elastic band on his briefs. He described himself as being pretty sedentary during the week while being an avid runner on the weekends. It is likely that because he was so active during the weekend, that profuse sweating could leach anything in the briefs’ waistband that he may have been sensitive to. This would account for the fact that the rash was worse early in the week and improved as the week went on. Allergic contact dermatitis is a common problem in dermatology. The most common reactions we see are to plants such as poison oak. Another common reaction is to neomycin which is found in Neosporin or triple antibiotic ointment. The reaction is indistinguishable from poison oak. For that reason, we recommend using Polysporin, Bacitracin, or Aquaphor instead of Neosporin. Nickel is the most common metal to cause an allergic contact dermatitis reaction, and it is estimated that 18% of people in North America are allergic to it. If you are allergic to nickel, your best bet is to avoid wearing items with it. One of the challenges in patients with nickel dermatitis is how prevalent nickel is. People most commonly will contact nickel in jewelry such as rings, earrings, and watch backs. People are usually surprised when I tell them that their “gold” jewelry is causing their nickel allergy. This is because most jewelry is made of metal alloys or mixtures of metals with nickel added. If you have a nickel allergy, it is important to only purchase nickel-free jewelry. The best way to treat any allergic contact dermatitis is to avoid exposure. Our runner did well simply by changing underwear brands. For someone with a flare-up, the treatment is usually applying a topical prescription cream containing a corticosteroid. For severe reactions oral steroids are sometimes needed. For instant itch relief, I recommend Sarna Lotion. Oral antihistamines can also help with itching. Avoid creams with Benadryl as an ingredient as you can become allergic to Benadryl by applying it to your skin. If you have a stubborn or severe case of contact dermatitis, we are here to help. Dr. Jerome Potozkin is a Board Certified Dermatologist specializing in minimally and non-invasive cosmetic procedures. The practice is accepting new patients and can be reached at (925) 838-4900 and www. MyBeautyMd.com. Advertorial
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10/26/2020
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215 ALAMO PLAZA SUITE D ALAMO, CA 94507 www.poplarspecs.com
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TELECARE CONNECTS WITH THE HOMEBOUND
Member volunteers of TeleCare, a free, philanthropic program of Assistance League® of Diablo Valley, have been making daily, weekday reassurance calls, to seniors and the homebound in our community. Clients can anticipate a friendly exchange of ideas with trained volunteers who provide high quality, consistent communications. If a client cannot be reached, family members will be notified. Make that call to get you or someone you know connected! For more information, call 925-934-0901. To learn about Assistance League of Diablo Valley’s other philanthropic programs, please visit www.assistanceleague.org/diablo-valley.
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PAGE 24 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • November 2020
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