editor @ yourmonthlypaper.com
OCTOBER 2017 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 1
& OCTOBER 2017
RESEARCHING YOUR FAMILY HISTORY
By Linda Pirkle
Family History Center, located in Danville, offers a combination of cutting edge technology in genealogy research and old-fashioned customer service at a price that can’t be beat: it’s free!
HAP MAGEE LABYRINTH TO BE ENHANCED WITH LANDSCAPING, SEAT WALL
By Sharon Burke
Teresa Coons, Director Family History Center
The perimeter of the tidy Danville office is lined with work stations and computers that are linked to Salt Lake Family History Library, the leading genealogy resource of the world. Patrons can access images of hand-written census ledgers, marriage and death certificates, ship manifests, and many other historical documents that tell the story of our ancestors. Danville Family History Center(FHC) subscribes to a myriad of sites that assist with genealogy research and offers free access to subscription genealogical websites. And, most importantly, the Family History Center offers assistance and guidance from passionate and caring genealogy research volunteers. In a stunningly beautiful and richly filmed television ad that aired this past Independence Day, close-up and wide-angle shots of black, white, young, and old individuals of different ethnicities, ages, and gender are filmed in the historic Declaration Room as they individually and as a united voice recite the Declaration of Independence. Using science and facts, a leading DNA genetic testing company has pooled together this diverse group of people who all incredibly happen to be descendants of the original signers of the Declaration of Independence. It is a poignant and moving work of cinematic art that should raise hairs on the back of your neck and cause you to swell with pride at being an American. Although not everyone has the luck to be descendants of our esteemed signers of the Declaration, many of us are interested in finding out about our past. Millions of people have signed up to have their DNA tested. The tests are inexpensive and
See Family continued on page 22 Local Postal Customer
PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Permit 263 Alamo CA
ECRWSS
Alamo and Danville residents have enjoyed an eleven circuit, Chartres-style labyrinth in Hap Magee Ranch Park since the labyrinth opened in April 2015. The labyrinth is located in a quiet corner of the park where San Ramon Creek can be heard rushing nearby. Meditative walking of the labyrinth has become a popular activity at Hap Magee. Several weddings have even occurred on the 42 foot diameter labyrinth, built with concrete pavers in two colors outlining the path.
See Labyrinth continued on page 6
T E CH T R E K : C A L I F O R N I A S E T S T H E STANDARD FOR NATIONWIDE CAMPS
By Jody Morgan
Founded in 1998 by Marie Wolbach, a California member of the American Association of University Women (AAUW), Tech Trek has expanded from a single California site to college campuses throughout the country. Currently eight college campuses within California host ten summer camps for young women entering eighth grade. Led by women Every dorm group of 10 campers participates in who are professors and profes- the paper creation project. sionals in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM)
See Tech continued on page 18
The Editors
Serving the combined communities of Alamo, Diablo, and Danville, Since October 2017
Volume XVII Number 8
Volume VIII Number 10
3000F Danville Blvd. #117, Alamo, CA 94507 Telephone (925) 405-6397 Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher Editor@yourmonthlypaper.com
The opinions expressed herein belong to the writers, and do not necessarily reflect that of The Editors. The Editors is not responsible for the content of any of the advertising herein, nor does publication imply endorsement.
PAGE 2 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • OCTOBER 2017
BOULEVARD VIEW
By Alisa Corstorphine, Editor
I hit a wall--not literally, but figuratively. I thought I was Superwoman and could tackle multiple businesses, projects, and family all at the same time. That was my thinking until things started to go wrong. And everything went wrong at once....businesses, car, washing machine, last child moving and leaving us with an empty nest, advertisers who quit business or lost their lease... It was too much. Call it whatever you want: depression, anxiety, stress... It all landed with a bang. I was ready to throw in the towel but instead took a hiatus to rethink what I was doing. It became a mini-sabatical, although I didn’t travel to anywhere exotic. I did however reconnect with a lot of people, made new friendships, started walking more, and joined a yoga class. There are many different ways to tackle problems: talking with friends, neutral third parties, or therapists; watching videos; or reading books. Everyone takes in and applies information and advice differently. Some people respond better to talking, others to hearing, others to reading, or a combination of methods. One of my children took Spanish 1 in high school...“Hola, buenos dias”... This will-not-be-named child of mine didn’t pass the class... not once, but twice! It is not because they were incapable of learning; it was that style in which they were being taught Spanish didn’t click or apply to their method of learning the language. They took in information differently, and that was okay--not every method works for every person. Through my “time off,” I found that there are many people in our community who often feel the same overwhelming feelings that I did, and there are many lonely people in our communities as well. However, even in the rat race of where we live, our area is beautiful and hopeful. There is much to see, do, explore, and have which challenges the mind. There is a lot to be grateful for. I used to think some of the lingo I hear of “being mindful,” “deep breathing,” “self-care,” and “being grateful” was trendy buzz words, but I think a lot of us need these concepts in our lives. I started reading a blog called “Marc and Angel Hack Life.” (www.marcandangel.com). One of their posts notes, “Everything that happens helps you grow, even if it’s hard to see right now. Circumstances will direct you, correct you, and perfect you over time. Sometimes these circumstances knock you down, hard. There will be times when it seems like everything that could possibly go wrong is going wrong. And you might feel like you will be stuck in this rut forever, but you won’t. When you feel like quitting, remember that sometimes things have to go very wrong before they can be right. Sometimes you have to go through the worst to arrive at your best. Our most significant opportunities are often found in times of great difficulty. Thus, you will face your greatest opposition when you are closest to your biggest miracle.” I must say that when I was down it definitely didn’t feel like anything would be right again, but like everything in life there are cycles, and what they wrote was really accurate for me. In another one of their blogs they stated, “It takes a great deal of courage to admit that something needs to change and a lot more courage still to accept the responsibility for making the change happen. But doing so is worth every bit of effort you can muster. If you believe in something, keep trying. Don’t let the shadows of the past darken the doorstep of your future. Spending today complaining about yesterday won’t make tomorrow any brighter. Take action instead.
SAN RAMON VALLEY CHORALE
The San Ramon Valley Chorale is a professional-caliber choral group for adult singers in the San Ramon Valley who work to increase appreciation for music in the community. Directed by Bruce Koliha, former Director of the Monte Vista High School choirs, the San Ramon Valley Chorale has two goals: to make great music and to spread the love of choral music to the community. The group is currently underway with their Fall 2017 session, preparing for several concerts to be held in the month of December. The Chorale’s main concert will be held Sunday, December 3rd at 4PM in the Performing Arts Center at Dublin High School, followed by two performances later in December in collaboration with the Diablo Symphony, Diablo Choral Artists, and Chromatica. For further information, please visit www.srvchorale.com or e-mail srvchorale@gmail.com.
www.yourmonthlypaper.com And regardless of what happens in the long run, remember that true happiness begins to arrive only when you stop complaining about your problems and you start being grateful for all the problems you don’t have. The mind is your battleground. It’s the place where the greatest conflict resides. It’s where half of the things you thought were going to happen, never did happen. But if you allow these thoughts to dwell in your mind, they will succeed in robbing you of peace, joy, and ultimately your life. You will think yourself into a nervous breakdown, into depression, and into defeat. You are what you think. You can’t change anything if you can’t change your thinking. A beautiful day begins with a beautiful mindset. The moment you start acting like life is a blessing, I assure you it will start to feel like one.” So I’ve been changing and hopefully for the better. It was because of support from readers like you and wonderful advertisers that provide the funds for production, printing, and distribution of the paper that I had the motivation to come back, to restart with a fresh set of eyes, to reboot and bring out Alisa 2.0, and to produce a combined community newspaper that serves Alamo, Danville, and Diablo. The advertisers and businesses are the lifeblood of our communities. Please go out of your way to support them. “Like” them on Facebook, and write a positive review of service you have received on Yelp or NextDoor. While I come from good genes and my grandmother just celebrated her 100th birthday, I realize I am more than halfway through my life. It is time to continue making bold steps to make myself the best revision of the me I can be.
editor @ yourmonthlypaper.com
ALAMO DANVILLE NEWCOMERS CLUB
Are you a new resident, a longtime resident, newly retired, or an empty nester in the Alamo and Danville area interested in making new friends and participating in various social activities? The Alamo Danville Newcomers Club is a woman’s organization whose purpose is to enrich the lives of all its members and their families in a social manner. Check out all the club has to offer by visiting www.alamodanvillenewcomers.com. The next Welcome Coffee will be held on October 24th from 10AM
DANVILLE LIBRARY BOOK SALE
The Friends of the Danville Library (FODL) are holding a book sale in October at the Library located at 400 Front St. in Danville. • Friday, October 13: FODL Members Preview ~ 9AM - 10AM; Public Hours ~ 10AM - 5PM • Saturday, October 14: Public Hours ~ 10AM - 4PM • Sunday, October 15 - $5 Bag Sale Public Hours:12:05PM - 3:45PM Prices Friday & Saturday: • All hardcover books, books on tape, and DVD’s: $2 • All paperback books and CD’s: $1
ENJOY THE CLASSICS: SCOTCH, CIGAR, WINE & CHAMPAGNE TASTING DINNER
Please join the San Ramon Valley Rotary (SRVR) at the Blackhawk Country Club for scotch, cigar, wine, and champagne tasting and a fine dinner prepared by the Club. The Club is located at 599 Blackhawk Club Drive, Danville. The evening starts at 6pm on Saturday, October 21. Whisky educator and director of Whiskies of the World Douglas Smith will take you on a sensory perception journey of whisky and food. This is the SRVR Club’s signature fundraiser, and the proceeds go to benefit the local and worldwide charity work of the Diablo/San Ramon Valley Rotary Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Cost is $96 per person, and a special price for a table of 10 is $850. For reservations, go to www.sanramonvalleyrotary.com/enjoy-the-classics-fundraiser. A check made out to Diablo/SRVR Foundation can be sent to PO Box 2935 San Ramon, CA 94583, or contact Valerie at vamunoz@comcast.net or (925) 683-6310. For additional information, visit www.sanramonvalleyrotary.com.
OCTOBER 2017 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 3
PAGE 4 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • OCTOBER 2017
SONS IN RETIREMENT SAN RAMON VALLEY
Are you looking for things to do in your retirement? Consider joining Sons in Retirement San Ramon Valley Branch 128. The group has monthly luncheons with interesting speakers and good fellowship. Additionally, members have lots of fun participating in a variety of activities including golf, bowling, bocce ball, movies, cooking, finance, bridge, reading, computers, and much more. Many other activities such as travel, dine outs, excursions, baseball games, and holiday parties include spouses, friends, and guests. The group’s next monthly luncheon will be held on Wednesday, October 18th at 11AM. The guest speaker will be retired FBI Special Agent, Mike Stapleton. Be ready for a very interesting presentation on Mike’s involvement with the FBI’s Disaster Squad of forensic identification specialists during the volcanic eruption of Mount St. Helens. Your $25 luncheon includes a meal, guest speaker, and a great opportunity to socialize with at least 170 other retirees from the San Ramon Valley. To reserve a space, please email by Thursday, October 12th to www.info@ SIR128.com. The luncheon will be held at The Bridges Golf Club, 9000 S. Gale Ridge, San Ramon. For more information about the group and activities, please go to www. SIR128.com.
TREATS FOR THE TROOPS
Charity group Delta Nu Psi will be collecting treats to ship to American troops in Afghanistan. The collections will take place at CVS in Alamo on October 6th and Lunardi’s in Danville on October 13th. Both events take place from 11:30AM until 1:30PM. Thanks to all of the fantastic shoppers who have donated, the group has mailed 1,503 boxes filled with 37,273 pounds of “gourmet junk food.” The troops especially love fresh, ground, strong coffee! To learn more and see photos of recipients receiving packages, visit www.deltanupsi.org.
VOLUNTEER WITH AARP TAX-AIDE FOR 2018 TAX SEASON
Do you like working with people? Are you good with numbers? Contra Costa County AARP Tax-Aide is looking for volunteers to become members of a team providing free tax preparation for individuals of all ages. Tax-Aide volunteer positions include Tax Counselors who are trained by Tax-Aide and certified by the IRS, and Client Facilitators who schedule appointments and assist clients at tax sites. Orientation is held in November 2017, and classes for tax counselors start in January 2018. Service is provided from February through April 15, 2018. If you are interested, apply online at www.aarp.org/taxvolunteer or call LaVerne Gordon at (925) 726-3199 for additional information.
BLUE STAR MOMS COLLECTION EVENTS
The Blue Star Moms group has two major packing events each year. They pack boxes with snacks, proteins, toiletries, and other items to send to troops deployed overseas. To gather items for the packages, several drop-off events are held to collect donations of items. Upcoming events include: October 21 - Danville Veterans Memorial Building, 400 Hartz Ave, Danville from 10AM to 4PM. November 4 - Walmart, 4501 Rosewood Dr, Pleasanton, from 9AM to 3PM. Blue Star Moms is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit support and service group for families with sons/daughters in the military. Their mission is to support active military, veterans, families who have lost sons/daughters while serving (Gold Star families), and wounded. You can get more info on the group at www.bluestarmoms.org. For more information or to find out how to drop off other donations contact Joan Jachowski at joan@pacificventures.net, or call (925) 7755084. Monetary donations are always appreciated to cover postage expenses. Checks can be made payable to and mailed to Blue Star Moms, PO Box 2537, San Ramon, CA 94538. For a list of items the group is looking for, visit www.bluestarmoms.org.
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SRVRWF HOSTS GUEST SPEAKER JUNE GILLIAM
San Ramon Valley Republican Women Federated (SRVRWF) presents guest speaker June Gilliam at their program to be held on Tuesday, October 24th. June was born and raised in Shanghai, China. She graduated from one of the top universities in China and was a member of the Communist Party. In 1988 she came to the US hoping to advance her career. Ms. Gilliam has worked for Cisco Corporation for over 17 years in business operations management. She is a member of the Santa Cruz RWF and an avid world traveler, sailor, and hiker. When she came to the US she realized communism was NOT the answer and started her speaking career in 2008 offering honest insights of the situation in China and to raise awareness of China’s Human Rights issues. Ms. Gilliam is a passionate advocate of capitalism. The presentation will take place at the Crow Canyon Country Club located at 711 Silver Lake Drive, Danville. Social/Buffet time begins at 5pm, and the program will start at 6pm. The cost is $40 per person. Family, friends, and students are cordially invited! Reservations can be made online at www.srvrwf.org or by calling 925820-0774.
M T. D I A B L O B R A N C H CALIFORNIA WRITERS CLUB
Jordan Rosenfeld will present a workshop TRICKKORRTREATING At Parrcipaang Stores titled “Get Intimate With Your Characters: FACE PAINTING AND BALLOON TWISTING Mastering Point of View For Dazzling Char- INTERACTIVE MODEL TRAIN DISPLAY acter Development” at the next luncheon KIDS CRAFTING ACTIVITY workshop of the Diablo Branch of the CalFOOD DRIVE • Sept. 29 - Nov. 1 Benefifing the Food Bank of Contra Costa & Solano ifornia Writers Club (CWC) on Saturday, Ben Food barrel located inside Safeway October 14th at Zio Fraedo’s Restaurant, 611 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill. Located at Danville Blvd. & Stone Valley Rd. Ms. Rosenfeld will discuss how to unlock www.AlamoPlazaShoppingCenter.com the essentials of each point of view using key Show this ad to the Guest Services Table to redeem a bonus prize! “cues” to reveal character and other secrets of powerful character development. Jordan is the author of three novels and five books on writing. She has been published in numerous magazines and newspapers, including The Atlantic, The New York Times, Scientific American, and Writers Digest. Sign-in starts at 8:30am. The workshop will be held from 9am to noon, followed by a luncheon. The cost is $45 for members and $55 for guests. Reservation deadline is noon Snuggle up to the Giving Bear. on Wednesday, October 11th. 100% huggable, a great listener, To reserve a spot, visit the softest friend anyone could ask for, CWC Mt. Diablo website at treasured keepsake. https:/cwcmtdiablo.org/current-cwc-mt-diablo-meeting. The California Writers Club Mt. Diablo Branch web address is http:/cwcmtdiaWalnut Creek, Broadway Plaza blowriters.wordpress.com. Danville, The Livery
Giving BEAR
29.95
editor @ yourmonthlypaper.com
OCTOBER 2017 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 5
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PAGE 6 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • OCTOBER 2017
DACC2017-FallFest poster-R4-bleed.pdf
Labryinth continued from front page
The labyrinth was planned and funded by the Labyrinth Committee at San Ramon Valley United Methodist Church, which began the project after the death of 24 year old Alamo resident Will Schramm in 2013. His parents, Tom and Dory Schramm, sought a way to honor his memory after his passing. Almost 400 local residents volunteered and donated to help raise $117,000 to build the labyrinth, which was approved by the Alamo Municipal Advisory Council and the Danville Parks and Leisure Commission after many months of research, drawings, and meetings. After the death of Danville resident Steve Colman in 2015, many of his friends and family also made donations to the Labyrinth project. Volunteers heading up the Labyrinth Project worked closely with Danville Town staff, particularly Maintenance Superintendent Dave Casteel, whose assistance was invaluable to making the labyrinth become a reality. Marty Kermeen of Labyrinths in Stone, a world renowned labyrinth artist, built the labyrinth in a six week period in Spring 2015, hand cutting concrete pavers to the elaborate design. The Committee is now ready to move forward with Phase 2 of the project, consisting of landscape improvements to enhance the site. The plans include a variety of drought tolerant shrubs and trees along either side of the decomposed granite entry path, boulders to define the landscaped area, a 20-foot curved seat wall along the northerly path of the labyrinth, and a boulder near the entry path with a plaque providing information about walking the labyrinth as well as thanking those who made it possible. These enhancements have been estimated to cost from $15,000 to $18,000, which is now being raised so that the project will be 100% financed by donations and not taxpayer funds. The Town of Danville has already installed the necessary irrigation infrastructure. The project is expected to take place this fall when the weather is cooler and more accommodating to new plantings. Based on a thirteenth century design from the Chartres Cathedral in France, the labyrinth is designed to be a peaceful place of quiet reflection. A labyrinth is often incorrectly called a “maze.” It is different from a maze in that there is only one path in and one path out. It has been said that you enter a maze to get lost, and a labyrinth to find yourself. Contributions from the community are welcome. If you would like to contribute to Phase 2 of this project, please send your check to SRVUMC Labyrinth Project, 902 Danville Boulevard, Alamo, CA 94507. Any size contribution is gratefully appreciated.
BLACKHAWK REPUBLICAN WOMEN PRESENT ILDIKO SCOTT
1
9/8/17
www.yourmonthlypaper.com
11:48 AM
THE DANVILLE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PRESENTS
Sat & Sun • October 21 & 22 • 10-5 IN H ISTO RIC DOWNTOWN DA NV I L L E
Classic Car Show
200
Artisans
Glass Pumpkin Patch
sunday only
Live Music Beer & Wine Booth Children’s Costume Parade Saturday 10am
R&B Cellars Food & Drink
Performing Live
I Can Do That! Theatre Group
Children’s Activities Concierge Booth
Local Shops & Eats
Performing Live
Next Step Dance Studio
Safe Trick or Treating
Performing Live
Uncle Rico Classic Rock Band
www.danville fall fest.com
The Blackhawk Republican Women are pleased to welcome back Ildiko Scott, author of Love’s Orphan: My Journey of Hope and Faith, on Thursday, October 12th at the Blackhawk Country Club Grille Room. Many of the Club members fondly remember the charming and vivacious Ildiko Scott as a member of the club before her family moved away. She is coming home to share her unique appreciation of what America offers. Born in 1947 to a family decimated by the holocaust, Ildiko Scott’s gripping memoir of life in post-war Hungary is a timeless story of hope and faith. After the divorce of her parents, young Ildiko spent most of her youth in a Jewish orphanage in Budapest, where she witnessed the Hungarian revolution of 1956 and the brutal Soviet occupation that followed. After attempting to escape the country with her father, Ildiko was eventually able to immigrate to America, where she found a new life, an enduring love, and a long and successful career in the fashion industry. Love’s Orphan puts the reader at the center of a turbulent era in European history and shows how a young girl's faith enabled her to overcome fear and poverty and realize her dream of a new life in America. Please join in welcoming Ildiko back to her home club and hearing how she made the American dream come true! The event starts with a 5:30PM check-in and social with hors d’oeuvres and no-host bar followed by the speaker presenting at 6PM. The cost is $25. Everyone is welcome, but denim is not allowed to be worn. For reservations, cancellations, and payment, visit www.blackhawkrepublicanwomen.com, or e-mail or phone Jane Parish at janeparish@sbcglobal. net or (925) 216-6663, and then mail a check made payable to “Blackhawk Republican Women” to 366 Jacaranda Drive, Danville 94506-2125, to arrive by Tuesday, October 10th, the deadline for reservations, payment, and cancellations.
editor @ yourmonthlypaper.com
OCTOBER 2017 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 7
SRVHS SKI AND SNOWBOARD SWAP OCT 28TH
The San Ramon Valley High School Parent-Teacher-Student Association will host a community-wide Ski and Snowboard Swap on October 28th, from 9am to 3pm. Admission is $5 and free for children 5 and under when accompanied by an adult. The Swap is a great place to see the latest products and outfit the entire family with skis, snowboards, bikes, apparel, and accessories. Donations are accepted anytime. Please contact srvswap@gmail.com. Update your equipment and support the students at San Ramon Valley High School. For more information, visit www.srvskiswap.com.
AAUW LUNCHEON
The Danville-Alamo-Walnut Creek (DAW) Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) presents “What You Need to Know for Updating your Wills and Trusts” on October 26th, from 6-8PM at the Danville Town Meeting Hall, 201 Front Street, Danville. There have been numerous changes to estate laws over the years. Sarah Nix, an AAUW member and estate attorney for Gagen and McCoy will review these changes and the importance of having a will or trust to protect yourself and to make sure your wishes are followed. Experts recommend these essential documents be updated every few years. Sarah will explain what is important and why. There is no cost to attend, however reservations are required. To register, email your name and the number of people attending to daw.aauw@gmail.com. To learn more about AAUW and the DAW branch, visit http://daw-ca.aauw.net.
CHROMATICA CONCERTS
CELEBRATING AMERICAN CHORAL COMPOSERS
Chromatica, a regional chorus known as the undiscovered musical jewel of the East Bay, will offer concerts celebrating the best of American choral composers as recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts. Its three fall concerts will take place at 7pm on November 11 at Clayton Valley Presbyterian Church, 1578 Kirker Pass Road, Clayton, at 3pm on November 12 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 1658 Excelsior Ave., Oakland, and at 7pm on November 18 at Peace Lutheran Church, 3201 Camino Tassajara in Danville. Chromaticas’ repertoire ranges in time from the 12th to the 21st century and in genre everywhere from classical to contemporary to (occasional) show tunes. The concert series includes works by well-known American choral composers like Samuel Barber’s Reincarnations, Morton Lauridsen’s Madrigali and Dominic Argento’s A Nation of Cowslips. Chromatica also takes a deep dive into American spirituals, from Stephen Foster’s Hard Times Come Again No More to Burleigh’s My Lord, What a Mornin.’ Arranger Moses Hogan supplies Music Down in my Soul, and Ezekiel Saw De Wheel. Chromatica was founded in 2011 and now includes 28 men and women singers. Led by David P. Huff and accompanied by pianist, Julie Rieth, it seeks to perform challenging pieces at a high level of professionalism. Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for students, and children 10 and under are admitted free. For tickets and to find out more about Chromatica, visit www. chromaticachorale.org.
DANVILLE WOMEN’S CLUB
TINSEL AND TREASURES EVENT
The Danville Women’s Club, in conjunction with the Town of Danville, is hard at work on the Tinsel & Treasures event scheduled for Saturday, October 7th. This year the Bay Area Crisis Nursery is the charity the Club has selected to receive the $5/person entry fee. The artists are amazing, with wonderful, hand-made items. This is the kick-off to the Town of Danville’s holiday season, so there are Halloween, fall, Thanksgiving and Christmas decorations and lots of gifts to consider. The event will take place at the Veterans Memorial Building, located at 400 Hartz Avenue in Danville. Doors will open at 10AM and close at 4PM.
DANVILLE WOMEN’S CLUB LUNCHEON
The Danville Women’s Club invites you to lunch on Thursday, October 19 , with socializing at 11AM, lunch at 11:30AM, and a guest speaker at noon. The speaker that day will be Wisti Quenneville from Search & Rescue, giving a talk entitled “You Are Not Alone.” Please contact Lynne Vuskovic at (925) 285-8285 or e-mail danvillewc@gmail.com to make your reservation (a “must”). There is no fee for first-timers. The group’s clubhouse is located at 242 West Linda Mesa Avenue in Danville. th
BRIDGE FUND-RAISER
Also coming up in October is an “Afternoon of Bridge” at the Danville Women’s Club. The Club has two Bridge parties each year, both of which are fund-raisers for the Patty Hart Memorial Scholarship Fund for high school seniors headed to college. Lunch will be served by the good ladies of our club. The date for this fund-raiser is Thursday, October 26th, with all the fun starting at 11:30AM. The fee is $20/person or $80 for a table of four. To RSVP, please call the Danville Women’s Club main number at (925) 837-1165, or e-mail the club at danvillewc@gmail.com.
LOCAL ROTARY CLUBS
The Danville Rotary Club meets every Monday at noon at the Black Bear Diner in Danville. For information, contact Bob Chace at bchace@pacbell.net or by phone at 925-838-7007. If you are interested in visiting the Danville/ Sycamore Valley Rotary Club, contact Jim Coleman at coleman_jd@pacbell. net. Meetings are held on Tuesdays at 7AM at Crow Canyon Country Club. The Rotary Club of San Ramon Valley meets for dinner every Wednesday night at the Blackhawk Country Club, located at 599 Blackhawk Club Drive in Danville. Networking and social time starts at 6pm with the meeting starting at 7pm and ending at 8:30pm. A sit-down dinner and cocktails are served, and the weekly program features interesting guest speakers. Guests attend free of charge and are always welcome! For more information, call Laura Montalvo at (925) 437-2445 or send her an e-mail at winechickathome@gmail.com. You can also visit www.sanramonvalleyrotary.com.
PAGE 8 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • OCTOBER 2017
RANCHO ROMERO ELEMENTARY
By Sandy Kontilis, Principal
September was an exciting month for our Rancho Romero Elementary Community. As its new principal, I enjoyed welcoming our newest learners. This year a Transitional Kindergarten (TK) was added to our existing Kindergarten through Fifth grade school. The smiles, looks of uncertainty, curiosity, and joy warmed my heart as 18 young children walked away from their parents towards a new learning environment. Along with our TK students, our staff and I welcomed all students and began the new year with several new programs to build character and a culture of inclusion and safety. Thanks to the support by our PTA and Rancho Romero Education Fund, Soul Shoppe; a highly successful program focused on bullying prevention, character education, and teaching valuable life skills to young people; was introduced to students, staff, and our parent community. Soul Shoppe’s influence has been noticeable on the playground, lunchroom, and in our classrooms. Students are learning to regulate their impulses, use “I” statements, and improve their awareness of triggers that cause problems leading to the
ALAMO ELEMENTARY
ALAMO SCHOOL: STAYING CONNECTED By Stan Hitomi, Principal
For some time now, we have known that many of our families, past and present, rely on the Alamo Today paper as a means to stay connected to our school. I want to thank Alisa Corstorphine for working so hard to continue the publication in its new format so that our many families-- past, present and future--will be able to read about current events and ways to remain connected to Alamo School. This is a perfect segue to one of the most recent developments at Alamo School. On September 13th, the very first meeting of the Alamo School Alumni Association (ASAA) was held. The effort is being led by Jo Stratton, who most recently served as president of the Alamo Education Foundation for two years. Joining the meeting included several past and present parents and staff, which included Sue Benit, Lisa Miller, Raylinn Bianchi, Lana Sainio, Christy Campos, and Stan Hitomi. Some of the early thinking for the groups’ Mission includes: • Strengthening ties between alumni, community • Networking and connections • Educating and inspiring current Alamo School students • Supporting all levels of alumni with future planning • Supporting current parent organizations (PTA, EdFund) We will have a lot more information about the ASAA in future months, including a networking event in early November. If you are interested in joining the Alamo School Alumni Association, please contact me at hitomi@ srvusd.net. The ASAA is just one of example of how our “little school on the hill” is such a unique and special place. We are always searching for new ways to support our students and their families. In addition to new ideas, we are also deeply rooted in our past and our many wonderful traditions. No tradition is more coveted by our students than our Annual Hoedown. This year the Hoedown will take place on October 13th, and for the second year in a row the event will take place under the lights, from 5PM – 8PM. Peter Roehm and Carrie Carleton (Alamo PTA) are in charge of organizing the Hoedown. The event will include some classics, like the cake walk, as well as some new exciting games – like panning for gold! The Hoedown continues to be an exceptional family event with food and entertainment for all. We hope families, past and present, will be able to join us.
IMPORTANT DATES
October 6 NO SCHOOL – Teacher Work Day October 9 – 13 Conference Week (minimum days) October 13 Hoedown, 5PM – 8PM October 31 Halloween Parade, 8:30AM
www.yourmonthlypaper.com disruption of learning. Teachers, educational assistants, and parents, have had several trainings within the past six weeks. In October, selected fourth and fifth grade students will be trained as Peacekeepers. Their role will be to help regulate playground and lunchroom disagreements. Besides Soul Shoppe, our campus embraces mindful practices. In August, Allen Isbell, a teacher and mindfulness expert, led our staff in a Mindfulness training. We learned the “why” and “importance” of slowing our minds down for a few minutes, in order to gain focus. Taking this to the classroom, a noticeable difference in students’ awareness and ability to slow down their breathing is evident. After a hearty game of basketball or soccer, students have been coached to relax and breathe. Within five minutes, they are calm and ready to learn. Mindfulness is commonly practiced by teachers and staff on our campus, and it has been wonderful to share this tool with our students. As I write this article, Rancho Romero Elementary is preparing to participate in our district’s “Run for Education.” Rancho Romero is a school that likes to “run” as our 7:45AM Run Club has begun. Twice a week, students, teachers, and parents run laps around the school’s track. Wearing powder blue T-Shirts and gigantic grins, running provides exercise and a boost of energy for the classroom. As the leaves begin to turn color and the temperatures dip, Rancho Romero students look forward to learning, growing in friendship, and building solid relationships with their teachers and staff. Happy autumn!
STONE VALLEY MIDDLE SCHOOL
By Jon Campopiano, Principal
It has been a tremendous start to the 2017-2018 School Year. Last year, Stone Valley Middle School was awarded the prestigious California Gold Ribbon Award because of our work in ensuring that all students achieve at high levels. Students, staff, and parent groups helped us prepare our application and host a site visit, and we were thrilled to be recognized and honored. Additionally, Stone Valley received certification from Common Sense Media for our work around Digital Citizenship and our focus on creating cyber-safe young adults. The social media pressure facing our students is tremendous, and we have created an excellent website full of resources for you to review with your family, www.digitalsrvusd.net. If you haven’t been by our campus recently, it is worth a visit. We are making great progress with our construction. Visit www.buildsrvschools.org to track the progress and see an updated rendering of the project. Every day, students, and staff work hard to be kind, tolerant, and empathetic with each other. We strive to resolve conflicts in a timely and solution-focused manner. In October, we will kick off the work of our Kindness team with a school-wide activity. We greatly appreciate your support as we strive every day to create an inclusive and caring learning environment. As a school, we are placing strong emphasis on treating each other with kindness, respect, and tolerance. We are a designated No Place for Hate School, an Anti-Defamation League (ADL) program that is partnering with schools to build programs that will support all students. Additionally, we will continue the work of our Kindness team that consists of students, staff, and parents creating activities to support an inclusive and positive school climate. On October 3, all students will sign the Resolution of Respect, as follows: ● I will seek to gain understanding of those who are different from me. ● I will speak out against prejudice and discrimination. ● I will reach out to support those who are targets of hate. ● I will promote respect for people and help foster a prejudice-free school. ● I believe that one person can make a difference – no person can be an “innocent” bystander when it comes to opposing hate. ● I recognize that respecting individual dignity and promoting intergroup harmony are the responsibilities of all students. Each student and staff will receive a No Place For Hate Bracelet and a No Place For Hate Bookmark. Additional activities will be conducted by the Stone Valley Kindness Team and during Words Matters week.
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SAN RAMON VALLEY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
By Jamie Westgate, Principal
We are well under way in a new school year, and students and staff love our 2017-2018 theme “All In!” Throughout the year, we will use this theme to focus on Luke 10:27 which reminds us the ways we can be “all in” for God and for each other. This past month we had the opportunity to test out our efforts to be all in during our 7th and 8th grade retreat to Camp Woodleaf. For four days we put the typical school activities on hold to nurture the faith of our Jr. High students. Our speaker talked about our theme for the year, where he challenged kids to be supportive to one another because God modeled that first for us. Kids grew relationally with both peers and teachers. They also enjoyed the opportunity to swim, paddleboard, play games, make crafts, and eat some great food. Back on campus, teachers have been inspired to Teach Like a Pirate. We are using Dave Burgess’s book to help teachers apply the pirate acronym: Passion, Immersion, Rapport, Ask/Analyze, Transformation, Enthusiasm. The gist of this teaching philosophy is one that supports creative lesson planning and a desire to make the learning come alive. Teachers are excited to implement new ideas that will ultimately ignite a curiosity for learning and spur students on to be more independent in their education and apply critical thinking skills. One of the ways we see teachers implementing the “pirate method” is in our STEAM program (science, technology, engineering, art, and math). In grades 4-8, students have been tasked with some high-interest challenges in which they collaborate with peers to solve and or create. They’ve built bridges with spaghetti, created geometric isotopes, and even rescued Fred, a stranded gummy worm. Students have loved the extension of learning and we look forward to more weekly projects. The month of September provided some wonderful family events that allowed us to be “all in” for one another. We thoroughly enjoyed our back-to-school carnival and look forward to our upcoming worship night in October. It has been a fantastic start to the year, and we look forward to an excellent school year ahead.
OCTOBER 2017 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 9
DANVILLE POLICE OFFER ‘EXCHANGE’ ZONE
Residents who purchase items via online services such as Craigslist will 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 video-recorded space. Besides taking place right outside police headquarters, the spaces are under constant video recording, helping to create an atmosphere of safety and assurance for would-be buyers and dissuading criminals from using online merchandising for criminal purposes. “Having the Exchange Zone should help prevent residents from being the victim of a crime using a classified ad site,” said Police Chief Steve Simpkins. “This should help us continue to convince criminals that Danville is not a good place to operate.” To learn more about the safe zone, contact Detective Sargent Brian Sliger at (925) 314-3700 or bsliger@danville.ca.gov.
SAN RAMON VALLEY GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY
Please join the San Ramon Valley Genealogical Society for a free meeting on October 17th from 10AM to noon. The meeting will be held at the LDS Church located at 2949 Stone Valley Rd. in Alamo. The speaker will be Dr. Jan M. Joyce who will give a workshop on how easy it is to create a video of your family history that can be shared with others. Meetings are open to the public. For more information, visit www.srvgensoc.org.
BOOKS FOR THE HOMEBOUND
If you or someone you know has a passion for reading and can no longer visit the library, find out more about the Danville Library’s Books for the Homebound program, a free and unique library service. Trained library volunteers check out and deliver books to homebound individuals residing in their own homes or residential care facilities. Contact Sandra Paiva, Volunteer Coordinator, at the Danville Library at (925) 837-4889 for more information.
PAGE 10 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • OCTOBER 2017
MONTE VISTA HIGH SCHOOL
By Dr. Kevin Ahern, Principal
Monte Vista classes began in August, and our student and staff are well into a full schedule of academics, arts, athletics, and activities. As I walk through classrooms, I continue to see exceptionally great instruction and high levels of student engagement which indicate that there is a lot of learning going on. It always makes me proud to visit classrooms and see that our students have such great teachers and vice versa: our teachers and faculty are truly blessed to work with such an amazing group of students. This past week we were honored with the announcement that 11 Monte Vista Seniors have been named National Merit Scholars as well as an additional 25 earning commendations. We look forward to hearing more great news about our many outstanding students in the coming month. MV’s athletics teams have also enjoyed early success. Women’s volleyball has been particularly dominant in EBAL and tournament play as they aim to build on the past three years of outstanding success. Women’s tennis is vying for a fourth straight EBAL and NCS championships, and our young football team is working hard to defend last year’s EBAL and NCS titles. MV’s men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s water polo, and women’s golf also have all gotten off to fast starts in league and regional contests. We are very proud of these athletes and hope to add more championship banners to our collection throughout the 2017 fall campaign. Monte Vista’s arts programs have also been performing quite a bit this past month. Our marching band has entertained our fans at all home football games, and our choir has their annual Bach-to-School Concert is slated for the last week in September. Dance and drama will add more performances as we move deeper into the fall season. The first week in October begins with our Homecoming Week which is set for October 2nd through October 7th. As always, we will conclude the festivities with our Friday Homecoming Game against Dougherty Valley and the Homecoming Dance on Saturday evening. There are also plenty of ways for parents to engage with our school. There are monthly Coffees with Kevin where I have the opportunity to speak directly with parents and the community about what is happening on the Monte Vista campus, and there are many more opportunities to engage – just check the Monte Vista website for the latest about what is happening on our campus. As always, I invite the community to come to any of our events and support our outstanding students. Thank you all for your support.
VOLUNTEER AT A TOWN OF DANVILLE EVENT
Volunteer at a Town of Danville event. It’s fun, rewarding, and can count towards community service hours. Upcoming fall and holiday events include CHILDREN’S SPOOKTACULAR on Thursday, October 26 th from 3:30-6 PM or 5:30-8 PM. Volunteers aged 13 and older are needed to assist with arts and crafts, leading games, facepainting, food, and more. HOMEMADE HOLIDAY will take place Thursday, December 7 th from 3:30-6 PM. Volunteers aged 15 and older are needed to help youths aged 8-12 create homemade holiday gifts. ELF WORKSHOP will take place Friday, December 9th from 3:306:30PM and Saturday, December 10 th from 8:30-11:30 AM or 11AM-2 PM. Volunteers aged 13 and older are needed to assist with arts and crafts, leading games, face painting, food, as Santa’s helpers, and more. SANTA’S MAILBOX will be held December 4th, 12 th, and 14 th from 3:30-5:30 PM and December 9 th from 10 AM to noon. Volunteers aged 14 and older are needed to help Santa return his mail by handwriting letters to kids. CRAFT PREP is needed various Tuesdays after school. Volunteers 12 years and older are needed to prepare craft materials for special events. KID’S NIGHT OUT will be held on Friday evenings from 6-9PM. Volunteers aged 16 and older are needed to help lead crafts and activities for kids. Other opportunities are available at the Senior Center and the Village Theatre Are Gallery. For details and to register, go to www.danville.ca.gov/Volunteer. Need more information? Contact jmason@danville.ca.gov or call (925) 314-3478.
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ST. ISIDORE SCHOOL
HAPPY FALL Y’ALL! By Maria Ward, Principal
We’ve been busy as we remodeled the main building of the school, updated the front of the school, and created a makerspace for our students. Our classrooms look awesome! There are new floors, ceilings, lights, and boards. The front of the school has new landscaping and seating, which has created a space for our community to enjoy. Makerspace is a classroom that integrates STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) in one learning environment. Of all our upgrades, this is the students’ favorite. The St. Isidore School Community has generously responded to the needs of our brothers and sisters who are victims of the recent hurricanes. We have raised over $6,000, and our contributions are being distributed to several organizations, such as the Red Cross and Troops Direct, in order to best benefit those in need. We will continue to do different fundraisers, led by our Student Leadership students, to support the families suffering from tragedies and natural disasters. We are gearing up for Parent/Teacher Conferences. Our teachers are busy working with students to set individual goals. We love having the opportunity to sit down with both parents and students to learn more about their children, set individual goals, and develop a relationship with each one of them. We believe in educating the WHOLE child – spiritually, emotionally, intellectually, and physically. Our Challenge Success Team had an overnight in-service training last month at Stanford University. Dr. Denise Pope and Dr. Madeline Levine were the two keynote speakers, and our team participated in a plethora of workshops. Topics included the “New Adolescence,” project-based learning, the “Well-Balanced Student,” and assessment roadmaps, to name a few. This is an exciting opportunity for our school and community. Schools that have participated in Challenge Success have seen much growth and improvement in the areas of homework and assessment, while students feel more connected, supported, and motivated in school. We hope to implement their philosophy of “PDF” – Playtime, Downtime, and Family Time – as a set norm. Red Ribbon Week is coming up! During the last week of this month, our school will participate in Red Ribbon Week. At St. Isidore School we focus on being healthy and making good choices. We integrate our Gospel Values into Red Ribbon Week, which helps us promote a Christian atmosphere where students feel valued and safe. At St. Isidore we strive for our first choice to be to always follow Christ. I am truly grateful to be part of such a wonderful community.
MUSEUM VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Looking to get involved in the community? The Museum of the San Ramon Valley needs your help. Volunteer positions are available in the following areas: • Walking Tour Docents • Museum Docents • Events Committee • Greeters • Educational Programs (One Room School/Indian Life) Call Eve or Donna at 552-9693, or email srvmuseum@sbcglobal.net for additional information.
ACTION POOL REPAIR
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OCTOBER 2017 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 11
10TH ANNUAL TINSEL AND TREASURES FOLK ART SHOW SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7TH FROM 10-4
Come one! Come all! Discover amazing seasonal notions and novelties, whimsy, and wonderment! Bring your friends to experience a magical showcase of over 30 noteworthy mixed-media artisans and creative spirits offering a diverse array of one-of-a-kind, original handmade works of art, unique jewelry, antique artifacts, hard-to-find vintage supplies, felted animals, home furnishings, wreaths, upcycled goods, folk art dolls, painted ceramics, organic soap, paper pop-ups, papermaché, fabric sculpture, portraiture, and both Halloween and Christmas holiday decorations.
COMING BACK SOON!
COMING BACK SOON!
COMING BACK SOON! FORLI RESTAURANT & BAR
FORLI RESTAURANT & BAR PROJECTED RE‐OPENING
FORLI RESTAURANT & BAR DECEMBER 2017
PROJECTED RE‐OPENING
GABRIELE DAVANZANTE & PARTNERS DECEMBER 2017
PROJECTED RE‐OPENING STONE VALLEY CENTER 3160 A DANVILLE BLVD., ALAMO
GABRIELE DAVANZANTE & PARTNERS
DECEMBER 2017 STONE VALLEY CENTER 3160 A DANVILLE BLVD., ALAMO
GABRIELE DAVANZANTE & PARTNERS STONE VALLEY CENTER 3160 A DANVILLE BLVD., ALAMO Renowned returning craftswomen include doll maker Colleen Moody of Danville, florist/folk-artist Charlene Geiger of Alamo, painter/sculptor Gerry Wallace of Orinda, and pet felter/painter Eileen Crowley of Pleasanton. Three local boutique owners (antiques proprietress Marcia of Cottage Jewel, chalk paint specialist Kathy of The Bloom Space, and florist/upcycler Kathy of The Flower Theory) plus a dozen new craftswomen will complete the show and surprise annual patrons Each artist has their own signature style from funky or retro to fairyland finery. Shoppers will find felted creatures, pet portraiture, lacy dolls, painted pillows, wisdom keepers, quilts, scrapping kits, wearable art, snow people, paper houses, banners, crowns and tiaras, embellished journals, jewel boxes, ornaments, haunted houses, French tinsel trims, a tarot reader, and more! The $5 show entrance fee is a 100% charitable donation going directly to the Bay Area Crisis Nursery. The first 300 patrons receive a Danville shopping tote, and all guests get a program, discount coupon to Cottage Jewel, plus a raffle drawing for vendor art. DIYers are welcome! This boutique inspires artful living. A number of these professional craftswomen will be selling kits and supplies, or offering demonstrations. Live entertainment will be performed for visitors to the Senior Center plaza on E. Prospect Avenue before entering the show: warm up by Ellen Frost on the dulcimer and ukulele, then 11-2 vocalist Stacy Carter T&T sponsors are GFWC Danville Women’s Club, the Town of Danville and Cottage Jewel Antiques For more information, contact Marcia Harmon, Cottage Jewel at 925 837-2664.
BLACKHAWK “FIRST SUNDAY” CARS & COFFEE
Blackhawk Automotive Museum hosts a monthly Cars & Coffee event year round for all car enthusiasts. Held on the “First Sunday” of each month, starting at 8AM and going to 10AM, the Museum welcomes all classic, collector, and special interest car owners and enthusiasts. On Cars & Coffee Sundays, the Museum opens an hour earlier, at 9AM, and participating car owners will receive complimentary Museum admission tickets. The Museum is located at 3700 Blackhawk Plaza Circle in Danville. For more information, visit www.blackhawkmuseum.org/carsncoffee.html, call (925) 736-2280, or email museum@blackhawkmuseum.org.
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PAGE 12 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • OCTOBER 2017
QUICK TRIPS
SONOMA ART WALK & HIDEAWAY By Linda Summers Pirkle
Francophile that I am, the Eiffel Tower is a favorite outdoor architectural wonder. Closer to home, the startling, strange angled sculpture originally called “Boeing” by Alexander Calder on the UC Berkeley campus is both unique and edgy. This Calder work of art which was installed near the Campanile on the Cal campus back in 1969 was renamed “The Hawk.” Currently under repair, this sculpture is now known as “Hawk for Peace.” Outdoor exhibits continue to inspire and captivate the public. Large scale sculptures by the artist Albert Paley (b.1944) are on display within walking distance around the Sonoma Plaza in historical Sonoma, and it is one of the largest exhibits of its kind in Northern California. Sonoma Valley Museum of Art (SVMA), located one block off the Plaza, is hosting the exhibit. The abstract works of art by Paley are quite different than anything else seen in the Plaza. Paley, who started out as a jeweler, is now one of the most distinguished and influential metalsmiths in the world. Ron Richards, Administrative Manager of SVMA says, “Sonoma has not had a public art installation in the downtown area of a non-monumental nature in recent history.” Visitors can take a walking tour around the Plaza to view the sculptures which are located at Depot Park, Sonoma Valley Art Museum, and the Sonoma Community Center. “Although difficult to say which piece has generated the most interest,” said Richards, “the Apollo, located at Depot Park, is the largest (five tons) and probably the most imposing.” Paley is the first metal sculptor to have received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Institute of Architects. On our recent trip to lovely Sonoma, my husband and I enjoyed walking around the huge plaza with its many historical adobe buildings which include Mission San Francisco Solano (the last of the 21 Franciscan Missions), Casa Grande (one of the former homes of General Vallejo), little shops, cafés, and restaurants. The Plaza is eight acres large, and with many shade trees, it’s a delightful spot for exploring. Sonoma Plaza is also the home of the Bear Flag
Bungalows 313 in Sonoma includes this 108 year old two-story apartment.
Revolt, when Sonoma was the capital of the independent Republic of California. It is a history buff’s haven and a walker’s paradise. A couple blocks off the Plaza is the Bungalows 313, and if a trip to Italy is not in the cards for you right now, consider staying at this lovely European style property with six apartments all facing a courtyard with a large fountain, wood burning pizza oven, BBQ, and gas fire pit. “When we first visited Bungalows,” shared Isac and Minetta Gutfreund, who purchased the property in 2012, “we fell in love with the property, and it reminded us of a Tuscan villa.” Isac, who was born in Milan, Italy, said he and his wife felt an immediate familiarity with the property. Sitting outside in the patio under the stars after a day of exploring, we could not agree more with the proprietors that they have created a bit of “Romantic Mediterranean environment with all the modern conveniences.” Artist Albert Paley’s outdoor exhibit, originally scheduled to end on September 28, has been extended to October 15, 2017.The website is SVMA.org. Bungalows 313 is located at 313 First Street East, Sonoma. Sonoma Properties Management can be reached at (707) 939-2024.Their website is bungalowssonoma.com. Linda Summers Pirkle, travel consultant and long-term Danville resident, has arranged and led tours for the Town of Danville for several years. Inspired by the many wonderful places to visit in the Bay Area, she organizes day trips, either for groups or for friends and family. “What a great place to live, so much to see, so much to do.” To share your “Quick Trips” ideas, email Coverthemap@gmail.com.
S u n d a y, D e c 3
4 : 30pm - 6 : 3 0pm
POLCYN NAMED ALAMO CITIZEN OF THE YEAR
Steven R. Polcyn, longtime Alamo resident and exemplary Alamo Rotarian, has been selected as the 2017 Alamo Rotary Citizen of the Year! Steve is a well-deserving recipient of the honor as the 32nd Alamo citizen recognized since the Rotary Club of Alamo began the program in 1985. Steve has long-served the community and beyond by filling many roles in Rotary, including two stints as Club President in 1992-3 and 2010-11, and most notably serving as the current chair of the Rotary District 5160 Foundation Grants Committee. Steve is also the President of RotaCare Bay Area, Inc., Board of Directors and was one of the founders of the RotaCare Free Medical Clinic in Pittsburg as well as the co-founder of the RotaCare Free Medical Clinic in Richmond. As Alamo Citizen of the Year nominating committee chair, Dick Olsen wrote, “Steve has epitomized the Rotary slogan of Service Above Self. He has helped alleviate human suffering and provided healthcare for the neediest individuals in our greater community.” In addition, Steve has been instrumental in securing the passage of numerous local and international Rotary grants, easily totaling a million dollars in value, split here and abroad. Steve’s latest efforts have secured over $165,000 from Rotary International for a special Transitional Care Clinic for diabetic, hypertensive, and asthmatic patients study and treatment program at the RotaCare Pittsburg and Richmond Free Medical Clinics. The Rotary Club of Alamo was founded on May 7, 1971, and has 50 members. The Club supports various programs at local schools; sponsors two free medical clinics for uninsured and underserved adults with acute or chronic medical conditions; as well as other community and international projects. The Club meets on Wednesdays at 12:15PM, temporarily at Blackhawk Country Club in Danville, while Round Hill Country Steve accepts a congratulations certificate from County Supervisor Candace Anderson. Club is undergoing remodeling.
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HONEYMOON IN PARADISE
By Adam Isseks, Alamo World Travel
Last month my wife and I went on our honeymoon to the Dominican Republic for 10 days. We stayed at the all-inclusive, adults-only Secrets Cap Cana Resort, located in the resort area of Punta Cana. After flying on Copa Airlines with complimentary wine, spirits, full meals, and snacks, we picked up our bags, walked outside…and were greeted by our driver holding a sign that said “Newlyweds – Adam & Olivia.” Seeing that newlywed sign and having our own private driver pick us up from the airport and take us to our hotel was the perfect way to arrive in Punta Cana. The lush rain forest of Punta Cana has streets lined with tropical mangroves, and Punta Cana’s resort area is gated with manicured roads and palm trees. It was a sunny and safe paradise. As we pulled up to the resort we were greeted with champagne and a chocolate-covered strawberry. The first thing the staff said when we arrived was “Welcome home!” The lobby of the resort is elevated and has an open-air concept with fans circulating the balmy Caribbean breeze. We had a picturesque, unobstructed view of the pools, restaurants, and ocean from the lobby. Our Preferred Club ocean view swim-out room came with our own VIP butler for the week. The butler helped us plan excursions, dinner on the beach, and off-site activities. When we got to our room, we found a huge banner that said “Honeymooners,” and there was a bottle of champagne, rose petals on our bed, and a sign that said “Congratulations!” Secrets Cap Cana Resort has nine restaurants, three swim-up bars, and two pools: one pool was for preferred guests and one was for the other guests. There was never a line or reservations needed at any of the restaurants. The weather was a perfect 90 degrees with 60% humidity the entire week. At night, it was common for it to rain for about 10-15 minutes but then clear up ,which the staff said was normal for the Caribbean. The staff at Secrets Cap Cana were amazing, calling us by our first names every chance they could and always had a smile on their faces. The resort
OCTOBER 2017 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 13
offers a variety of complimentary daily activities which we enjoyed including beach volleyball, catamaran sailing, and stand-up paddle boarding. And there are several excursions available off-property as well including deep-sea fishing, golfing, ziplining, sailing, an excursion to nearby Saona Island, and a Santo Domingo cultural tour. We rented a car from our hotel and drove to a surf beach called Macao Beach which was located 45 minutes from our resort. Macao Beach has the softest, white sand beach lined with palm trees and was packed with tourists and locals. There was a small restaurant and surf school at Macao where you could take surf lessons or rent a surf board if you already knew how to surf. I ordered fresh caught snapper from the restaurant which was one of the best meals I had the entire week. If you are a golfer, there is no shortage of pristine golf courses in Punta Cana. Our resort secured a tee time for us at La Cana Golf Course which was about a 15-minute drive and is located within the Punta Cana Golf Club. Punta Cana Golf Club is in a gated community and feels like you are in Coral Gables with palm tree-lined roads and wildlife roaming the course. We were treated like royalty wherever we went at the romantic Secrets Cap Cana Resort, and you will be too! I look forward to helping you plan your own adventure to the Dominican Republic or other destinations in the Caribbean or South America. Please call me at (925) 837-8742 x 22 or email me adam@alamoworld.com, and let’s start planning soon! Advertorial
PAGE 14 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • OCTOBER 2017
MAKING WINE, MAKING MAGIC
By Monica Chappell
What is the magical mix of chemistry and craft that turns a grape on the vine into wine in your glass? Perhaps equal parts art and science, wine-making has evolved over human history to represent the best of both. From the home wine-maker to the modern-day lab, there has always been a touch of magic in making wine – but today, we have the power to get the wizardry right, time after time. While specific wine-making practices still vary by country, region, and vintner, a generally accepted process – a universal language of the vine – has made its way around the world to produce this wonderful elixir in record quantities with quality and consistency at an all-time high. Of course, there’s been plenty of time to practice, as wine is as old as the ages. In the late 1800s, French chemist Louis Pasteur made his great contribution to history by discovering that the reaction between bacteria and yeast could be controlled in the wine-making process, and thus fundamentally improved the quality, consistency, and stability of wine from that day forward. Since then, the scientific community has become an essential and fruitful partner in improving our wine-making ways, while gifted vintners continue to advance this fine art.
WINEMAKING 1-2-3
Once grapes are grown and harvested, three basic steps turn them into wine: 1. Crush: releasing the grape juice • The Crush, as the name suggests, turns whole berries into juice with a strategic squash. 2. Fermentation: converting the juice into alcohol • Fermentation converts sugar into alcohol and grape juice into wine. 3. Maturation: stabilizing and aging the new wine • Maturation is the period in which a wine-maker prepares the new wine for final consumption. Of course, within each step is a world of complication and finesse, which is why most of us leave it to the experts. The 2017 Harvest is in full swing which makes it a fun time to stop by your favorite winery for a visit. Monica Chappell is a wine writer and educator, and can be reached at wineappreciation101@gmail.com.
OKTOBERFEST
The San Ramon Historic Foundation invites the community to join them in celebrating Oktoberfest at Forest Home Farms Historic Park, 19953 San Ramon Valley Blvd. in San Ramon, on October 14 from 11AM – 4PM. Bring the whole family. Enjoy live music, learn the polka, and have fun! Featured entertainment will include the Olympia Fields Brass Band, the Golden Gate Bavarian Dancers, and new this year Dachshund Races. Do you have a doxie that is ready to race? Visit srhf.org for details on how to enter your doxie in the competition. Tickets to the event are available for purchase through PayPal online at srhf.org. Advanced Ticket Prices (deadline Oct 12) • $25/adult Includes Beer Stein, One Beer & Lunch ($30 day of) • $15/ages 13 - 20 Includes Root Beer & Lunch
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NEW PARK OPENS ALONG THE IRON HORSE TRIAL
By Supervisor Candace Andersen
Travelers on the Iron Horse Trail in the quaint community of Alamo are now able to enjoy a new trailside park, located at the corner of Danville Boulevard and Hemme Avenue, with its entrance on the trail. The train-themed Hemme Station Park opened last month for all to enjoy while walking or biking. The park features a tot lot play area, picnic pavilion, restrooms, bike racks, drinking fountains, walking path, tables, benches, trash cans, turf area, and beautiful native landscaping. This park has an interesting past. In 1891, the local train station was placed on the Hemme Ranch near today’s Hemme Avenue. The park site was once part of a large orchard, and in the mid-1900’s it was the site of the Shady Way Inn, a roadside fruit stand and restaurant with a few gas pumps along Danville Boulevard. A home eventually replaced the inn, and the parcel was most recently owned by the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District (SRVFPD), which purchased the lot as a possible site for a future fire station. They used the older home for fire training purposes and ultimately chose to build their new Fire Station 32 at the corner of Stone Valley Road and Miranda Avenue in Alamo. When SRVPD decided to “surplus” the Danville Boulevard/Hemme Ave property, the Alamo Municipal Advisory Council (“MAC”), which is comprised of eight Alamo residents, immediately requested that the County consider purchasing the property as the site of a future Alamo park. One of my most memorable MAC meetings was held at the park site at dusk, where we walked the property and talked about our ideas for the park’s future development. What we have today reflects the vision of that evening together. Throughout the park, visitors will be able to read about the history of Alamo, native plants, and the original Southern Pacific Railroad Hemme Station on informational plaques. The Hemme Station Park project is the result of a partnership between my office, the Contra Costa County Public Works Department, and the Alamo Municipal Advisory Council. The project was fully funded through the County Service Area R7 Parks and Recreation Fund. This was a labor-of-love project for many after several months of additional testing of the park grounds due to concern of ground contamination from previous operations at the site. Many have dubbed this park the cleanest in the County after Phase I and Phase II environmental remediation work took place. The park will be a wonderful respite spot for the local community and Iron
Horse Trail users, who will access the park on foot or by bicycle from the Iron Horse Trail. There is no car parking provided at the site or on the adjacent streets. Make this trailside park your next stop when you travel through Alamo along the Iron Horse Trail. I expect Hemme Station Park to be a favorite spot of many in the San Ramon Valley. My office is here to serve the residents of Contra Costa County District 2, which includes San Ramon, Danville, Alamo, Walnut Creek, Saranap, Parkmead, Lafayette, Moraga, Canyon, and Orinda. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if we can provide you with additional information on this topic or on other County issues. I can be reached at SupervisorAndersen@bos. cccounty.us or (925) 957-8860.
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OCTOBER 2017 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 15
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DANVILLE-ALAMO GARDEN CLUB
Danville-Alamo Garden Club (DAGC) meets on the second Thursday of the month between September and June. Meetings begin at 9:15am at the Alamo Women’s Club, located at 1401 Danville Blvd, Alamo. At the October 12 meeting, Bill Williams of Spirit Space Landscape Design in Alamo will be speaking. Bill started working in his grandfather’s nursery in South San Francisco when he was eight years old. In college, he began studying political science and quickly became disenchanted with the non-scientific basis of the major. Bill took his one and only class in landscape design as a freshman and learned about texture in the landscape - never dreaming of a career in the field, but just for the love of plants and landscape. He ended up working in plant molecular biology until he abandoned the corporate world for the world of garden design which he loved. Please join the group for a wonderful presentation. For answers to questions, email membershipvp@dagc.us or visit www.dagc.us. Guests are welcome to attend for a $10 fee.
WHAT’S UP?
By Jim Scala
On October 21st at 6PM, the Mt Diablo Astronomical Society (MDAS) will host a public night sky viewing party at the visitor’s center parking area atop Mt. Diablo. An evening with the stars begins with a short talk explaining what you will see through the member’s many excellent telescopes. Try to arrive at about 5PM, to see the telescopes and the slender Moon. MDAS’s monthly meeting on October 24th starts at 7:15PM at the Lindsey Wildlife Experience, located at 1931 1st Ave, Walnut Creek. Dr. Casey Law will deliver the featured talk on Transient Events. Looking west at sunset on Mt. Diablo you’ll see a slender crescent Moon and with some excellent telescopic views.
Saturn as it will appear on October 21. Photo by Jim Scala.
Saturn, the spectacular ringed planet, will be visible, and the rings are beautiful. While the rings are spectacular, you can see as many as six of Saturn’s moons as well. MDAS member’s telescopes will focus on the many stellar objects visible in our galaxy, the Milky Way, and intergalactic space. Over 21 globular clusters are visible, and the largest, M-13, in the constellation Hercules is beautiful. A globular cluster is a celestial globe consisting of many stars. If the sun was in M-13, our night sky would be bright with many nearby stars. Stellar distances are measured in light years, and our closest star is four light years away. Since light travels 186,000 miles a second, that’s far. In contrast, stars in a globular cluster are light-days and weeks apart. Viewing the Hercules Cluster is an unforgettable experience. A special object is the Ring Nebula M-57 in Lyra. In a telescope it lives up to its name and you could mistake it for a telescopic smoke ring. This planetary nebula is a ring of gas and dust heated and made to glow by the hot, bright, exploded star at its center. Another planetary nebula, the Dumbbell nebula will also be visible. When you look at it, you’ll understand how it got its name. Like the Ring Nebula it’s made to glow by the star at its center. Possibly most inspiring is to see our sister galaxy, M-31 the Andromeda Nebula, 2.2 million light years away. It’s how our milky way would look if we were there looking at us. Since we see Andromeda as it was 2.2 million years ago. If someone there was looking at us we’d be in their remote future. Think about stellar time during your drive home. Let me hear from you: jscala2@comcast.net.
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POOL, SPA, PATIO, AND LANDSCAPE DESIGN
ADVANTAGES OF A SPOOL! By Peter Whipple, Limescape Designs
What is a spool? In simple terms, it’s a small pool or a large spa, also referred to as a cocktail pool. I will explain why it is becoming a popular option and reasons many are choosing a spool over a standard pool or spa. Also, I will go over the different benefits of a spool compared to a pool, spa, or both. I will share my experiences with the spool concept and feedback from customers we have designed and built them for. In today’s typical modern housing developments, home lots are smaller, and this is one of the big reasons many decide a spool is the perfect option for them. A spool is a little like a hybrid car: you want to still be able to get where you need to go in comfort, but you don’t want to consume large amounts of fuel to get there. The spool is a hybrid of the standard pool and spa. You can fit it in a much smaller area in the yard and get many of the benefits of both a pool and spa all combined into one. This also leaves valuable space in a small yard for other elements like a firepit, outdoor kitchen, pergola, etc. Even where space is not an issue, the spool is selected by many homeowners just for the simple fact that they can heat the spool water in a small amount of time and be able to actually enjoy the warm water. Too many times have I seen typical sized pools where the client infrequently enters the pool because of the cold water temperature and high cost to heat a large body of water. Even if cost to heat weren’t an issue, you still have to plan one or several days ahead for a larger pool to reach temperature. Just the thought of a pool heater running that long is enough for many to forget the idea of heating their pool altogether, but not with a spool. In just a couple of hours of adding heat, you can be using the spool in a reasonable amount of time. Many customers report heating and maintaining water at a usable, comfortable, temperature for weeks or months on end with the spool, providing a relaxing therapeutic jet massage or water aerobics and stretching time before departing for a long day at work. Others use it after work to decompress and enjoy it as if they were on vacation at a resort in their own back yard. A spool can also provide a variety of uses for different members of a household. For instance, you want to have a place for evening entertaining, even in the fall or winter, it is no problem for the spool. It will be ready to dazzle you guests with all the glitz and glamor of a standard pool with the added ability to economically heat the water for actual comfortable entry like a spa and still be spacious for many guest to enjoy and not feel cramped. Or maybe the spool will be used for the kids or grand kids to cool off and play during a warm sunny day. The spool provides a body of water that is more manageable and usable for many occasions throughout the year. With the right mix of customization and added features like automation, color changing LED underwater lights, fire bowls on pedestals, raised beam pool walls, shallow water shelfs, deck jets, waterfalls, sheer descents, vanishing edges, flush mount umbrella holders, bubblers, and more, you can create a versatile water environment with many options and uses. If you would like to learn more about design for an outdoor living space or adding a spool, pool, spa or with other elements please feel free to call Pete at (925) 640-2036. For more information, visit us online at limescapedesigns.com. Advertorial
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OCTOBER 2017 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 17
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CLIP NOTES
BEATRIX POTTER By Jody Morgan
What child isn’t charmed by the antics of the mischievous Peter Rabbit? Although I considered Farmer McGregor a mean-spirited old codger in my unenlightened youth, I now find him a rather sympathetic character. As a gardener, I am learning to tolerate holes in foliage made by caterpillars that are soon to be beautiful butterflies, but I declare war when pesky bunnies munch on my ornamental plants or try to harvest my vegetables. Beatrix Potter was not a gardener when she penned Peter Rabbit’s story, but she did become an accomplished gardener when the money she earned through the popularity of her tales gave her the means to purchase Hill Top Farm in 1905. While she may never have trapped a four-legged marauder in her tool shed, she did confess a few months before her death in a letter to her physician written August 18, 1943: “I can still work in the garden and grow vegetables. We are bothered with rabbits.” From the time of her birth on July 28, 1866, Potter’s affluent parents had plans for their daughter. As Linda Lear notes in Beatrix Potter: A Life in Nature, “A husband for Beatrix had to offer one thing that Potter wealth could not buy: family name and inherited land.” Educated in the third floor nursery of her London home by a series of governesses, Beatrix had little contact with other children except during summer holidays when her younger brother returned from boarding school. Consequently, she turned to her menagerie of pets for companionship. Annie Carter, the last of her governesses, barely older than Beatrix, married Edwin Moore and began bearing numerous children. When Noel, the eldest, was five, he was taken ill. Beatrix immediately sent the boy a cheering message, turning to her pet rabbit Peter for inspiration. In The Tale of Beatrix Potter: A biography, Margaret Lane quotes the opening of that letter dated September 4th, 1893; “I don’t know what to write to you, so I shall tell you a story about four little rabbits, whose names were Flopsy, Mopsy, Cottontail, and Peter.” Since drawing was considered
INDIANS AND WATERSHEDS
By Beverly Lane
Indians lived in the San Ramon Valley for at least 5,000 years in permanent and seasonal locations. Their villages dotted the landscape and were always located near to water supplies. Water was used for cooking and cleaning, and the creeks had a variety of fish and water birds. Young branches which grew near water yielded a variety of basket-making materials. California Indians used sweathouses regularly and one part of such use involved bathing in an adjacent body of water.
Drawing of Bay Area Indians created in 1816 by Louis Choris features two views of a Bay Miwok Saclan woman on the right.
The watersheds in which California Indians lived provided a cornucopia of rich food resources and varying environments. Stephen Powers in the 1870s wrote about tribal knowledge of their territories: “The boundaries of all tribes are marked out with the greatest precision, being defined by certain creeks, canyons, bounders, conspicuous trees,
See Indians continued on page 20
a ladylike accomplishment, Beatrix had been permitted professional instruction to hone her talent. Her letter to Noel included delightful illustrations. Beatrix wrote additional illustrated story-letters over several years to Noel’s siblings. All of the cherished tales were saved, eventually serving as first drafts for several of Beatrix Potter’s books for children. Despite striving to be a dutiful daughter, Beatrix longed to do something more with her life than make social calls with her mother and manage a household with servants. She self-published the first edition of Peter Rabbit in 1901 after six publishers rejected her manuscript. By the time she began working with Norman Warne on the commercial release of the book by his family’s publishing house, Beatrix had very firm ideas about the size and cost of her “little book.” Potter’s parents disapproved of her engagement to Norman who possessed neither title nor land. Just over a month after Beatrix accepted his proposal in July 1905, Warne died suddenly. Potter, already 39, found consolation in creating an independent lifestyle purchasing rather than marrying into property. Friendship plants filled her Hill Top garden. Beatrix wrote to Norman’s sister Millie: “I have had something out of nearly every garden in the village.” In The Writer’s Garden Jackie Bennett explains: “Local people would dig up clumps and bring them to her, knowing she had big empty spaces to fill.” Bennett continues: “What Hill Top did for Beatrix was to release a creative force which had only just emerged.” The acquisition of Hill Top, in England’s Lake District where Potter’s family had often summered, led to further real estate purchases. In 1913, Beatrix married William Heelis, the local solicitor who had helped her negotiate far better deals for additional land. As Mrs. Heelis, Beatrix was locally recognized as a dirt-under-the-fingernails farmer passionate about her crops, her animals, and the architecture of the area. She worked closely with the National Trust, the recipient of 4,000 acres in her will. “With her early desire to do something useful with her life, she had written books and drawn pictures that will forever conjure nature for millions of big and little children,” Lear writes. “Through her imaginative stewardship of the land, she challenged others to think about preservation, not just of a few farms or fells, but of a regional ecology, of a distinct farming culture, and of a particular breed of nimble-footed grey sheep.”
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subjects, students participate in hands-on experiments and bond with peers who share their enthusiasm in pursuing courses of study traditionally profiled as best suited to men. This year the Danville/Alamo/Walnut Creek (DAW) branch of AAUW funded the Tech Trek experience for eleven girls representing six local middle schools at Sonoma State University in June. The week-long Tech Trek program schedule begins with morning core classes taught by college professors. Afternoon workshops, led by professionals in their respective disciplines, engage small groups of campers in solving intriguing problems together. Evening events and two field trips still leave time for girls to bond with one another. Thank you correspondence to DAW from this year’s campers underscores how incredible the opportunity is. From Charlotte Wood students: “We were constantly doing experiments, and I couldn’t wish for anything more.” “Over the period of a week, I learned how to extract DNA from fruit, dissected a frog, and learned about the universe in the sky.” From Diablo Vista: “The experience has inspired me to think about typical experiments differently. It has been great to meet other girls who love science, too.” “Some favorites for me this week were visiting the Russian River and stargazing. My core class, Engineering, was challenging but fun.” From Foothill: “I loved the field trips, and I feel like I now can help the environment using all the knowledge I gathered from them. I got a chance to make and launch a rocket!” “I also loved the career night where I got to see/meet women who had STEM careers; they told about what I should do to get into a good college, and that I should go into a career I feel passionate about.” From Los Cerros: “I have learned so much about myself and that I can be independent.” From Stone Valley: “The most valuable and exciting thing about this camp is the girls. We come from diverse backgrounds but with the same mind set.” “Some of my favorite activities were building a roller coaster from tubing and dissecting a fresh pig heart.”
See Tech continued on page 26
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KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES...
By Peter T. Waldron, Managing Partner of Spectrum Wealth Partners
Before I dig into my article this month, I wanted to take a moment to thank Alisa Corstorphine for deciding to continue to publish the Alamo Today & Danville Today News papers. The local community newspaper serves as a great medium for communication and helps keep the small town feel alive. Additionally, I look forward to rotating my column space every other month with an industry contemporary Robert Cucchiaro. Lastly, I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself to the new Danville readers. I am a Managing Partner at Spectrum Wealth Partners, a comprehensive financial planning firm whose representatives have over 100 years of combined experience. Our mission is to immerse ourselves in our client’s financial situations and understand their emotions, behaviors, and desires. It is with this deeper understanding we can bring creative and innovated ideas. The tax, legal, investment, and insurance industries are ever changing, and it takes a proactive firm to help clients achieve extraordinary results for their family’s wealth. In my thirteen years of financial planning, I have seen all different types of client situations, and no two scenarios have been the same. There may be commonalities among clients but each client’s financial situation varies. There is one common question I have often heard from prospective clients over the years which is, “How is my financial situation compared to other people like me?” The majority of the people I meet with are doing great compared to their peers. The number one reason why they are doing so well is because they are taking the time to plan their financial future. For example, last year I had the opportunity to sit down with a family that has been with our firm for over 30 years. The clients did not care about what their neighbors were doing, and they didn’t care about what their friends were buying; they focused on their financial plan. Specifically, they planned out their objectives and used our advice to map out the best course of action. They knew what direction they wanted to head towards, but they needed
HOW DO YOU HOLD TITLE TO YOUR REAL ESTATE?
By Robert J. Silverman, Esq.
I write about this topic regularly because real estate owners are frequently ill-informed or have misconceptions about real estate titling alternatives. Furthermore, one’s titling choice has critical legal and tax consequences. This article focuses on the estate planning consequences. Let’s explore the essential question: On an owner’s death, who will own the property and how will that transfer happen? Note that limited liability company (LLC) titling has great appeal for business and investment property, but LLC titling features and benefits are beyond the scope of this article.
COMMON REAL ESTATE TITLING METHODS:
Individual. On the death of an individual title holder, the property is subject to probate - whether or not the decedent had a valid Will. Unfortunately, probate is a long, expensive, and inconvenient public court proceeding. Joint Tenancy. Joint tenancy requires two or more co-owners, each of whom owns an equal, fractional share. Many married couples take title in this form because of a feature known as the “right of survivorship” (ROS). Under ROS, when one joint tenant dies, the surviving joint tenant(s) automatically (without probate) becomes the owner of the decedent’s interest. Despite this feature and its popularity, for various reasons joint tenancy is often unwise and problematic. NOTE: Some people try to avoid estate planning (e.g. they fail to establish a Trust) by adding one or more children to the title as joint tenants. This can be extremely detrimental for many tax and non-tax reasons and should never be done without first consulting an attorney. Community Property. Community property titling is available only for married couples who can choose to include the ROS feature (by causing the deed to state: “community property with right of survivorship”). Like joint tenancy, the advantage of community property with ROS is that a probate
OCTOBER 2017 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 19
an advisor to show them how to reach their goals. It is with discipline and our guidance that they have worked towards their financial goals. Most people have a sense of what they want their finances to look like. The difficult part is putting what they want into a detailed workable monthly plan. More importantly, it has to be a plan that is not only tailored to their individual needs but it needs to be in their own words. There are several online tools that offer generic advice, but they do not offer a 360 degree view of your finances. For example, people will use the “Ten Times Guideline” (10x of your income for life insurance), but at our firm we don’t live by generic guidelines; we live by our clients objectives. If our clients want to provide for their family in the event of a premature death, we do modeling to determine if the assets and other income sources will allow them to achieve their objectives. It is living in the world of meritocracy which is our differentiator. At our firm we don’t give out trophies for the most life insurance sales or awards for the most assets under management; we celebrate when our clients meet their retirement and financial goals. Keeping up with what the Joneses are doing is not always in your best interest. If the Jones’ are getting medical advice to begin a treatment, would you also begin the same medical treatments? No, you would go to the doctor and ask for a treatment that is appropriate for your situation. The world where “one size fits all” has come and gone. We are all individuals, and our advice should be just that; individual. Please contact me at (925) 786-7686 or peter.waldron@lfg.com to schedule your complimentary review of your financial situation. We are located at 3201 Danville Blvd. Ste 190, Alamo. Peter T. Waldron: California Insurance License #0E47827. Peter T. Waldron is a reg-
istered representative and investment advisor representative of Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp., a broker-dealer (member SIPC) and registered investment advisor, offering insurance through Lincoln Marketing and Insurance Agency, LLC and Lincoln Associates Insurance Agency, Inc. and other fine companies. This information should not be construed as legal or tax advice. You may want to consult a tax advisor regarding this information as it relates to your personal circumstances. CRN1900732091917 Advertorial
proceeding is avoided on the death of the first spouse. However, like the other titling forms, this is usually less optimal than titling in a Trust. Tenancy in Common. Tenant in Common (TIC) titling requires two or more co-owners and simply reflects ownership by each tenant-in-common of an undivided, fractional interest in the property. TIC titling is commonly used by friends, relatives, or associates who acquire property as a business venture. TIC contains no ROS feature. Thus, on death of a co-owner, her interest does not automatically go to the remaining tenant(s)-in-common; rather, each tenant-in-common (co-owner) can designate in his or her own Will who will inherit the TIC interest. The substantial estate planning problem is that, upon death, the TIC property interest will be subject to probate. To overcome this problem, a co-owner can transfer title to his or her TIC interest into a Revocable Living Trust (hereafter “Trust”). Trust. For probate avoidance and other reasons, individuals and married couples are typically best advised to establish and hold title to their property in a Trust. By statute, titling property in one’s Trust renders it exempt from probate. So, when the owner dies, the property transfers privately, without probate, to the beneficiaries listed in the Trust. Given the high costs and inconvenience of probate, this is a valuable exemption. Planning Benefit. When married couples evaluate alternative titling methods, it is critical to understand that the ROS feature that makes titling in “joint tenancy” and “community property with right of survivorship” seem so attractive is largely illusory - probate is avoided only on the death of the first spouse; when the surviving spouse dies, probate will be required! Trusts are such a compelling alternative because, among other advantages, probate is avoided on the death of any and all owners whose interests are titled in a Trust. * Estate Planning * Trust Administration & Probate * Real Estate * Business * Please contact the author to request a complimentary: i) “Estate Planning Primer”; ii) Real Estate titling brochure; iii) introductory meeting. Mr. Silverman is an attorney with R. Silverman Law Group which is located at 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
PAGE 20 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • OCTOBER 2017
By Roger Smith, Alamo Improvement Association ALAMO FARMER’S MARKET
October marks the month when we think of autumn, colorful foliage, and pumpkins! To celebrate the season, the Alamo Farmer’s Market will be hosting a Harvest Festival theme during October. Please come experience the live music and family-oriented activities at the Market. Our vendors welcome the opportunity to discuss their work and produce with you. The market is open every Sunday from 9AM-2PM in Alamo Plaza. There is plenty of free parking and easy access!
AUTOS OF ALAMO
Alamo’s fifth annual “Autos of Alamo” Car Show was a great success! A big “Thank You” to Jim Farrell, Jim Wadsworth, the Committee Members, AIA volunteers, and the owners that presented their prized autos and motorcycles. Thanks also to everyone who stopped by to enjoy a great family activity and live music!
THE GREAT CALIFORNIA “SHAKE-OUT”
The Great California “Shake-out” will occur at 10:19AM on October 19th. This event now draws millions of participants from around the world. More than nine million Californians have already registered online for the event, have you? What we do now will determine our quality of life after our next big earthquake. Are you prepared to survive and recover quickly? Participating is a great way for your family or organization to be prepared to survive and recover quickly from big earthquakes, wherever you live, work, or travel. Protect yourself – Spread the word. Official rescue teams who have been dispatched to the scene of earthquakes and other disasters around the world continue to advocate use of the internationally recognized “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” protocol to protect lives during earthquakes. 1) DROP to the ground (before the earthquake drops you!) 2) Take COVER by getting under a sturdy desk or table. 3) HOLD ON to the desk or table until the shaking stops. The main point is to not try to move but to immediately protect yourself as best as possible wherever you are. If there isn’t a table or desk near you, drop
Indians continued from page 18
www.yourmonthlypaper.com to the ground inside a corner of a building, and cover your head and neck with your hands and arms. Do not try to run to another room just to get under a table. Earthquakes occur without any warning and may be so violent that you cannot run or crawl. You will most likely be knocked to the ground where you happen to be. You will never know if the initial jolt will turn out to be the start of the big one. You should Drop, Cover, and Hold On immediately! Learn more at www.shakeout.org/california/dropcoverholdon. For more information on the annual Shake-Out event, visit www.shakeout. org/california, shakeout.org/california/whyparticipate, earthquakes.usgs.gov/ regional/nca/maps/index.php, or www.conservation.ca.gov/cgs/geologic_ hazards/earthquakes/Pages/index.aspx#Faults. Your family may not be together when disaster strikes, so it is important to plan in advance. Determine how you will contact one another, how you will get back together, and what you will do in different situations. A “Family Emergency Plan” should be part of your preparation. 1) Identify an “out-of-town” contact. It may be easier to make a long-distance call than to call across town. The contact can act as a communication coordinator for your family. 2) Make sure each family member knows the contact number and has a way to contact them by cell phone or prepaid phone card. Don’t forget to program your cell phones with the contact’s number. 3) Teach family members to text messages as the Short Message Service (or SMS) used for text messaging is often more reliable in an emergency than the wireless or ground-based telephone system. 4) Subscribe to “Alert Services” that send instant text alerts or emails about bad weather, road closings, and local emergencies!
AIA’S ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP DRIVE
Now in its 62nd year, AIA, a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization, has the longest history of serving our community and helping shape it into “Alamo - the place where we love to live”! Since 1955, Alamo residents have been joining the Alamo Improvement Association and working in support of AIA’s mission statement, which is to “preserve the semi-rural character of Alamo” I thank all of our many volunteers, both past and present, for their efforts over the last 61 years in making Alamo into the wonderful community that it is today. Please visit our website at www.AlamoCA.org for information on AIA, articles of interest to Alamo residents, membership forms, and more.
springs, etc., each of which has its individual name…(The mothers) teach these things to their children…Over and over, time and again they rehearse all these boundaries, describing each minutely and by name, with its surroundings…If any Indian knows but little of this great world more than pertains to boundary bush and boulder, he knows his own small fighting ground intimately better than any topographical engineer can learn it.” (R. E. Heizer, The Natural World of the California Indians, p. 205) Many of California tribal boundaries followed watersheds, which extended from hill and mountain ridges and led to creeks. When travelers wanted to cross tribal lands, they were expected to recognize tribal boundaries and request permission to enter. In the Alamo-Danville area, the tribe (named by the Spanish) was the Bay Miwok Tatcans. Just over 200 years ago, two language groups existed in the San Ramon Valley: Bay Miwok and Costanoan/Ohlone. Indians who spoke these languages lived in two different watersheds which include the Valley. The Bay Miwok-speaking Tatcan (and Saclan to the north) lived in the Walnut Creek watershed. This watershed extends over 93,556 acres and flows north through Danville and Walnut Creek to the Carquinez Strait. The major San Ramon Valley waterway in this watershed is San Ramon Creek, which is now partly underground and altered for flood control. Evidence of Indian occupation has been found adjacent to San Ramon Creek’s watershed and all of the major creeks which feed it such as Bollinger, San Catanio, Sycamore, and Green Valley. The southern territory of the San Ramon Valley is part of the Upper Alameda Creek watershed which includes 39,142 acres in Contra Costa County. The entire watershed covers an enormous 405,120-acre area which eventually flows west through Niles Canyon into San Francisco Bay. Creeks in the Contra Costa County portion include the South San Ramon Creek (a 8,357-acre watershed) which is fed by Oak, Big Canyon, Watson Canyon, Norris and Coyote Creeks, the Cayetano Creek (4,395-acre watershed), and the Alamo Creek/Tassajara Creek complex (26,390 acres). The Seunen (in today’s San Ramon and Dublin areas) and the Souyen (Dougherty and Tassajara Valleys) were Costanoan/Ohlone. An enormous marsh around today’s I580/I680 interchange once provided abundant food for them in the Tri-Valley. We know about these first people from archaeological investigations such as the ones Dave Fredrickson supervised during the 1960s in Alamo and Danville. Information also comes from Indian accounts, observations by the Spanish, and academic studies in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Prominent scholars who studied the Indians include A. L. Kroeber, J.P. Harrington, Robert E. Heizer, and, in more recent times, Randall Milliken and Beverly Ortiz. Currently at the Museum of the San Ramon Valley an exhibit with pictures, maps, artifacts and contemporary Indian baskets helps visitors learn about the valley’s First People. During October, an Indian Life program and exhibit at the Museum of the San Ramon Valley provides information and hands-on experiences to 44 fourth grade classes studying California history. The exhibit includes California baskets loaned by generous private collectors and model houses created by Geoff Bishop and Norm Kidder.. For people interested in learning about Indians and watersheds, try these websites: cocowaterweb.org (Contra Costa watersheds), ebparks.org (visitor centers), heydaybooks.com (excellent current books), and the quarterly News from Native Californian) news@heydaybooks.com. Also search the web for “Ohlone” and “Bay Miwok.”
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OCTOBER 2017 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 21
TECHNOLOGY MATTERS
ARE YOU PREPARED FOR A MOVE? By Evan Corstorphine, Portable CIO, Inc.
Over the span of 15 years, we have helped scores of homeowners and businesses move to new locations around this area, and across the US and Europe. There have been good moves where everything went great, and there have been some dreadful moves where nothing went smoothly. I want to share some of my lessons learned so that when your turn comes, everything goes as planned. PCIO’s dual role is that of technical project manager and technical architect. Our job is to ensure all the vendors and services come together at the right time and place for our client, and to “see around corners” to insulate you from issues you hadn’t even thought of. If you are planning an expansion, a rebuild, a move, or a new office, this is a good article to read. Two sayings come to mind when I think about “move” or “build-out” projects: The first is “The Five Ps”: Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance,” and I think we can all relate to that one. The second saying is, “There is no escaping the Iron Triangle.” This one is a bit more subtle. The Iron Triangle describes that there are three cornerstone factors for every job: speed, quality, and cost. Conventional project management says you get to choose two of those three factors in any instance, but you cannot have all three. Why is this? It’s because we live in a realm of constrained resources. Perhaps if you had unlimited funds and manpower, all three would be possible, but here in the real world, it’s two out of three. For example, you can have a complicated job that takes two weeks but is finished in only one week. However, it’s either going to cost you a ton of money to deliver even the same basic quality on that timetable, or it will cost you the same, but the quality will be substandard because you’re pushing the vendor outside of their process. I believe everyone does their best to perform their personal tasks, and, when confronted by constrained resources (of either money or time), quality usually suffers. What is the best way to combat this devilish equation? Just as your 7th grade algebra teacher told you, “Simplify the equation!” The best
way to simplify is to eliminate variables, and the easiest one to affect is TIME. And that, 389 words into this essay, is the crux of the point I want to make: give people enough time to be successful, and you won’t have to sacrifice your money or project quality to have the outcome you desire. In the event of a move or expansion, your technical team should be brought in the moment you know it may occur or are even thinking about it. Getting the technical architect involved early gives you options and can lower costs. For example, it’s much easier and less expensive to cable a building when the walls are open, before sheetrock has been installed. Another example: telephony and internet vendors such as AT&T, Level 3 or XO Communications quote 60-90 day lead-times (2-3 months!) when ordering dedicated internet circuits, PRI’s for phones, fiber circuits, or anything else special. Sometimes it takes even longer. In residential projects the situation is somewhat better because most people use Comcast or AT&T, both of whom can typically service a move in under three weeks if all goes well. Some considerations for your build-out include wiring the new space, how many jacks and where they should be installed, television considerations, WiFi coverage, electrical, new equipment lead-times, card-key systems, TVwalls, local permits, certificates of insurance, vendor scheduling dependencies, choosing the internet circuit and their three-month lead-times, telephones and how they will be handled in the new location, etc. There are a lot of things to juggle. We are relying on and coordinating many vendors to pull it all together, and that is why it gets complicated. And while we are your technical experts, we’re not your legal representative, so along the way we need your signature and authorizations for your vendors to keep things moving along. On a good day, it’s like herding cats, but when you add a compressed timeline because someone scheduled backward from an arbitrary move-in date, instead of scheduling forward from the requirements of your move, it adds a ton of stress for all involved, and inevitably quality will suffer. Time is your “X” factor, and your success starts with good up-front planning and communication. When you have an important project, it pays dividends to involve someone who has done it before and knows how to navigate the process. If you’re looking for a positive and predictable outcome, call me and let’s chat about it before you begin. A little prior planning will prevent poor performance! 925-552-7953 or email info@pcioit.com. Advertorial
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PAGE 22 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • OCTOBER 2017
Family continued from front page
easy to do. In my own case, I verified my European Czech background and was surprised to discover my European Jewish and Scandinavian background. Like many people, I want to find out more about who my ancestors were. The science of DNA testing is fascinating, and the results are intriguing. Combining this information with the research provided by historians provides rich and exciting details. With her bright blue eyes and a warm smile, Teresa Coons, Director, is eager to get the word out about the genealogy services offered at the Family History Center. “We have been called a hidden gem,” says Teresa. Sixteen volunteers who all are passionate about genealogy freely give their time and expertise at FHC. Logging in thousands and thousands of research hours among them, these veterans of their craft are well equipped to answer most questions that may arise in genealogy research. Teresa began her own family history quest many years ago. “Back in the 1980s,” she recalls, “I was at the Oakland Family History Library going through reels and reels of microfilm and finally found my Irish great-grandparents. When I saw them on the microfilm, I was so excited that I said out loud, “I found them!” Everyone in the library started clapping for me. They knew how I felt. We may have heard their stories from parents and grandparents, but there is nothing like looking at the documents that proves they lived, worked, and died. Seeing their signature on a draft card, it gives a very clean high.” Even with all the progress in technology, there are many frustrating blocks and puzzles with a family search. The volunteers at Family History Center can assist with the inevitable glitches that will arise with genealogy research. Teresa stresses that finding your own family history binds you to ancestors from your family in a way that no other person can give you. “While professional genealogists have their place, sometimes we just need that extra level of help.” Family History Center is a busy place. “On Wednesday nights,” shared Coons, “We have a delightful woman, Frances Malsbury, from Scotland who has been doing genealogical research for years. She has helped many people, all for free. Two women who started the center 20 years ago will research difficult “brick wall” situations. A retired scientist, Eugene Bissell, works at the center on Wednesday afternoons. He has tremendous abilities to find that person and story!” A local genealogy group, San Ramon Valley Genealogical Society (SRVGS) ,meets at the Family History Center the third Tuesday of each month. The group, which was formed in 1985, has over 100 members. Guests speakers in the genealogy field are scheduled monthly. October’s subject will be Making a Family Research Video. Guests are welcome to Cynthia Henderson who works Tuesday nights at Family attend. History Center. Besides helping patrons with their family history searches, volunteers at FHC are involved with the Granite Mountain Project. Ms. Coons explained that the world’s largest collection of genealogical records is housed in a secure vault located in the mountains near Salt Lake City, Utah. Granite Mountain Records Vault was built in 1965 to preserve and protect records of importance to the LDS Church, including its vast collection of family history microfilms. The vault safeguards more than 3.5 billion images on microfilm, microfiche, and digital media. Family History employees are digitizing the microfilms and making those digital records available through the Family Search website. These records are in need of indexing to make them searchable. All are invited to help make these records available. Last year the push was to index World War 1 records in honor of the 100th year since that war. There are currently 591 projects from 20 different countries; you can choose your favorite. October is National Family History Month, and on Saturday, October 14,
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LIQUID GOLD
By Dr. Barbara Persons
There is good news about that unwanted fat you may be carrying around! Here at Persons Plastic Surgery, fat is known as “liquid gold.” Why? You may ask… By removing unwanted fat from one area and grafting it to another, your own excess fat can be used to increase your breast size, enhance the buttocks, and bring back lost volume to the face and hands. Fat contains stem cells as well as platelet rich plasma and is a true graft. When we retrieve fat from the body, it is the color of glistening gold; hence, the name “liquid gold.” Once the fat is delicately placed into its new area of the body, the fat thrives and naturally adapts to its new location without any reaction or possibility of rejection because it is from within your own body! Because fat grafting is so effective in achieving desired results, I am seeing more and more patients choose this for breast augmentation as opposed to traditional augmentation with implants. Fat transfer for breast augmentation is ideal for women who are looking for a relatively small increase in breast size without the use of implants and would prefer natural results. Fat grafting to the breasts achieves about half a bra cup size per fat grafting session and is about the same price as augmentation with implants. To achieve maximal results, most patients report that two sessions of fat transfer for breast augmentation is ideal. The second session should be completed six weeks to a year after the first fat transfer. Fat transfer is also widely used in breast reconstruction after a mastectomy or lumpectomy. Women aren’t the only patients opting for fat grafting either. There are a number of women who have brought their own partners in for a little “work” after they witness the improvement with fat grafting for themselves. Men commonly have excess fat in their chest and flanks, which can affect their physique. These issues can be improved with liposuction and fat grafting as well. During the fat grafting procedure, numbing solution is placed subcutaneously. Fat is then skillfully suctioned using a blunt tipped cannula. This fat is kept sterile and purified. Growth factors and plasma are left in the fat. Then, syringes are filled with your own fat and used to add volume to the desired body parts. About 60% of the solution takes as fat that will live in its new location. Something important to note regarding liposuction and fat grafting is that you should be at a stable weight before undergoing the procedure. We say that liposuction is a shape changer, not a weight changer. You are born with the same number of fat cells that you die with – unless some are surgically removed. However, even if fat cells are removed, if a patient fails to change their diet and activity level, the remaining fat cells will grow in size and fill back up with lipids (fat). This explains the misconception that after liposuction fat moves from one place to another. This is inaccurate – fat cells do not move. Fat grafting can be great when it comes to enhancing your youthful appearance. Contact Persons Plastic Surgery to schedule a consultation to find out if it’s the right procedure for you! Persons Plastic Surgery, Inc. is located at 911 Moraga Rd, Suite 205 in Lafayette. To contact me call 925-283-4012 or email drbarb@personsplasticsurgery.com. Advertorial FHC is hosting Family Discovery Day: Celebrating Families across Generations. From 9:30AM-1:30PM at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on 655 Old Orchard Drive in Danville, the public is invited to visit booths, take classes, rub shoulders with genealogy experts, find out how to share genealogy discoveries with others, and be inspired with new ideas. One class, “Things to know about different DNA tests,” is offered from the perspective of someone who has taken five of the tests. The lecture will compare and explain the advantages of each. Some of the other 20+ displays and booths will be Ideas on Journaling, Using Social Media to tell your story, Family Reunions, Using the internet to visit an ancestor’s grave, Family recipes that tell your story, India and the Indian Diaspora: Quest for Our Ancestors, online sources for Chinese
See Family continued on page 24
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THE EYE OPENER
VISION SCREENINGS By Gregory Kraskowsky, O.D., Alamo Optometry
Now that kids are back at school, the time for vision and hearing screenings are going to start. The question I get from parents is whether a screening at school or their child’s pediatrician is sufficient to ensure good vision and eye health. Obviously, each parent must make their own decision. However, here are some of the differences between a screening and a comprehensive examination. Vision screenings conducted at school or in a doctor’s office generally test for distance vision only. Since distance vision is defined at 20 feet, a child might pass this without any difficulty, but this test gives no information as to whether a child can read a book and use the eyes well together up close. In addition, a rough determination of prescription and eye alignment is attempted in these settings, and this information is then used to either pass or fail the child. However, the standards for pass/fail are arbitrary and can differ from clinic to clinic and child to child. Regardless of where the screening was conducted, the ability for the child to focus on the tasks at hand and for the tester to get accurate results are often compromised due to the noise and distractions of other children and students waiting to be tested. Comprehensive eye examinations should be conducted by an eye care professional. Optometrists have the necessary training and experience to make a diagnosis of vision, binocular vision, and health status and to recommend treatment if needed. Often, the necessary equipment and tests to fully evaluate the status of the eyes are not available at a more simple vision screening. Here are just some of the highlights of a pediatric exam at our office. Visual acuity at distance and near is determined. Since a child needs to be able to see and function at many distances, simply testing distance only is not sufficient. In our office the focusing ability is also assessed. The exact prescription for good, comfortable vision is determined. Amblyopia, or “lazy eye,” occurs in about 8% of the pediatric population. Amblyopia is when one or both eyes cannot be corrected to 20/20 vision. The need to correct this is
OCTOBER 2017 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 23
important early in life to help both eyes develop and see well. Sometimes glasses or contact lenses are needed, and sometimes they are not; however, knowing the exact status of the eyes is paramount. Binocular vision, color vision, eye tracking, and depth perception are also all tested. If your child cannot move his/her eyes well to track objects or to differentiate colors well, activities such as reading, sports, and copying information from the white board will be affected. Good eye alignment allows the muscles in the eye to converge (come together) and diverge (move apart) depending on the task. This allows for good depth perception and a precise eye alignment so the brain can fuse what it sees from each eye into a single, clear image. Finally, the health of both the front and back (retina) part of the eyes is determined by examining all structures through the use of a microscope and lenses. We will also measure the pressure in the eyes and use drops if needed to make the health assessment process easier. Even though most screenings figure out which children need to be evaluated further, it is based on decreased distance visual acuity alone. As stated above, many things aid or are a detriment to good and comfortable vision, and are usually not evaluated at a screening. It is best to have your child’s eye examination done by preschool or kindergarten age. If a recommendation for a vision evaluation is given, we would be happy to examine your child and give you an honest assessment based on the findings of the exam. Dr. K. at Alamo Optometry is your hometown eye doctor for outstanding service, vision care, and designer eyewear. He can be reached at 820-6622, or visit his office at 3201 Danville Blvd., Suite 165 in Alamo. Visit our website at www.alamooptometry.com, and join us on Facebook, Instagram, Advertorial and Twitter @Alamo Optometry.
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PAGE 24 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • OCTOBER 2017
BREAST CANCER PATIENTS LOOK GOOD FEEL BETTER!
By Tiffany Svahn, MD
As a breast cancer specialist, I believe it is very important to be aware of local and national organizations that can benefit my patients. Undoubtedly, one of the largest non-profit organizations for cancer survivors is the American Cancer Society. They have several programs available to help patients all over the country. One of the services they offer is a free group session for woman going through cancer treatment. Many of my patients have attended this session, where a licensed cosmetologist offers beauty techniques that help improve their self-image. Side effects experienced by patients going through treatment can include dry skin, brittle nails, hair loss and changes in skin coloring. For nearly 30 years, Look Good, Feel Better has provided makeup, tools and lessons to women undergoing cancer treatment. During these sessions the cosmetologist helps women learn to style scarves, turbans and wigs.Women also receive a personalized make-up bag with tools to help combat the most common side effects. Attendees have an opportunity to share their personal struggles and learn that others are experiencing similar issues.The Look Good, Feel Better session can lift spirits and brighten outlooks - helping patients stay psychologically fit! My approach to patient care involves treating the whole person. I find it important to address not only my patient's medical needs, but their emotional and psychological ones as well. In addition to focusing on treatment of the disease, I urge my patients to lead a healthy life, and I am committed to helping individuals learn about the different aspects of wellness.
With this commitment in mind, we planned this year’s Many Faces of Breast Cancer event to include updates on the latest treatments for breast cancer plus oncology nutrition, menopausal issues, and solutions. Saturday, October 28th from 10am-12pm at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek. To register, please call 925-677-5041 x260.
Dr. Tiffany Svahn is a board certified Medical Oncologist with Diablo Valley Oncology & Hematology Medical Group. Her practice partners with the American Cancer Society to offer quarterly Look Good, Feel Better classes at their Pleasant Hill cancer center. The next class is on October 23, 2017, from 10AM-12PM at 400 Taylor Blvd. Suite 300, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523. It is open to all cancer patients with advanced registration is required. Please call 1-800-395-5665. Advertorial
Family continued from page 22
genealogy, and more. Families are welcome, and special activities for children include playing games from years gone by and Story Time. Keynote speaker Brad Lowder, Vice President of Family Search International, will start the program out with a talk on “Stories that bind us.” Guests will have access to the tools to discover and keep track of their own family history. Teresa says, “Everyone who gets “into” genealogy has a story or two to share. People tell story after story of how they found their records and their breakthroughs in finding that information. It’s easy to get hooked.” From the novice who is beginning a family search to the seasoned genealogist who may need some extra assistance, the Family History Center is open to all. • Family History Center is located at 2949 Stone Valley Road, Danville. Their hours are Monday 1PM-4PM, Tuesday 7PM-9PM, and Wednesday 10AM-1PM and 7PM-9PM. Their phone number is (925) 552-5920. • Family Discovery Day will be held on Saturday, October 14, 9:30AM1:30PM at 655 Old Orchard Drive, Danville. Everyone is welcome. There is no need to register for the event. For more information, call 925-552-5920. • “The Declaration Ad” which was aired on the 4th of July can be accessed at www.ancestry.com/cs/declaration.
IS FOOD A PROBLEM FOR YOU?
Overeaters Anonymous offers a fellowship of individuals who, through shared experience and mutual support, are recovering from compulsive overeating. This is a 12-step program. The free meetings are for anyone suffering from a food addiction including overeating, under-eating, and bulimia. The group meets Wednesdays at 6PM at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Lafayette. Visit www.how-oa.org for more information.
MENOPAUSE MATTERS
By Timothy Leach, MD, FACOG, CNMP
The North American Menopause Society (menopause.org) just published their updated 2017 position statement on the use of hormone replacement therapy. The new recommendation encourages providers to have a conversation with their menopausal patients that is individualized for a specific woman’s needs instead of the 2012 recommendation that when prescribing hormones use smallest dose for the shortest time possible. The 2017 statement reflects new literature and consensus recommendations about the unique risk/benefit ratio of hormone replacement for women younger than 60 or who are within 10 years of their menopause (where there are more benefits then harm) vs. women over 60 years old. The new mantra is to use an appropriate dose, duration, regimen, and route of administration that is individualized with shared decision making when considering hormone therapy. Hormone therapy is currently FDA approved for four indications: bothersome hot flashes, prevention of bone loss, low estrogen state due to premature ovarian failure, and genitourinary symptoms. Hot Flashes: Hormone therapy has been shown in double-blind randomized trials to relieve hot flashes and is approved as first line therapy for relief of menopause symptoms in appropriate candidates. Hot flashes persist on average 7.4 years and appear to be linked to cardiovascular, bone, and cognitive morbidity. Compared with placebo, estrogen alone or combined with a progestogen is the “gold standard” to reduce weekly symptom frequency by 75%. Estrogen alone can be used in women with a prior hysterectomy. Micronized progesterone 300 mg nightly significantly decreases hot flashes and improves sleep. Osteoporosis: Hormone therapy prevents bone loss in healthy postmenopausal women and leads to significant reduction in hip fractures. For women with hot flashes aged younger than 60 years or who are within 10 years of their menopause onset, hormone therapy is the most appropriate bone protective therapy in the absence of contraindications. Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM): Low dose vaginal estrogen preparations (cream, ring, pills) are effective at reducing genital dryness, burning, irritation, painful intimacy, and urinary urgency, frequency, and recurrent UTI’s. These low dose preparations have minimal systemic absorption and are preferred over systemic therapies. Progesterone is generally not indicated when estrogen therapy is administered vaginally at recommended low doses. Vaginal estrogen can decrease urinary incontinence and overactive bladder whereas oral estrogen can exacerbate incontinence. Non-estrogen prescription therapies that improve GSM in postmenopausal women are Ospemifene and intravaginal DHEA. Fractional CO2 laser therapy, MonaLisa Touch, is FDA approved for use in the vagina and has over 25 clinical published studies on safety and efficacy. Sexual Function: Systemic hormones and low-dose vaginal hormones provide effective treatment of GSM by increasing lubrication, blood flow, and sensation in genitourinary tissues. Sleep Disturbances: Hormone therapy in the form of low dose estrogen or progestogen can improve chronic insomnia in menopausal women. Skin, Hair, and Special Senses: Estrogen appears to have beneficial effects on skin thickness and elasticity and collagen synthesis. Changes in women’s hair density worsen after menopause, but no positive role has been identified for hormone therapy. Next month I will summarize the effects hormones have on mood, cancer risk, cardiovascular morbidity, and all-cause mortality. Visit my website at www.leachobgyn.com for links to resources and our Facebook page, Timothy Leach MD, for more information. My office is located at 110 Tampico, Suite 210 in Walnut Creek. Please call us at 925-935-6952. Advertorial
MEALS ON WHEELS
Seniors in your community need your support! Meals on Wheels and Senior Outreach Services has been supporting seniors since 1968. Two of the programs, Meals on Wheels and Friendly Visitors, rely on the support of volunteers. We need your help now more than ever. Meals on Wheels volunteer drivers deliver meals to local homebound seniors through regular two hour shifts once per week or as substitute drivers. Friendly Visitors volunteers provide weekly one-hour companionship visits to isolated seniors. To volunteer for either program, please call (925)937-8311.
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OCTOBER 2017 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 25
TRANSFORM YOUR HEALTH WITH CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY
Don’t let your money go to waste!
By Marchelle Milligan
Do you have back pain, neck pain, headaches, TMJ, or continual feelings of stress? Have you had an accident, a concussion, a life trauma, or a surgery that just hasn't healed completely? What is Craniosacral Therapy (CST) and how can it be a transformation for your health? CST is a gentle, hands-on method of helping the body to self-correct. CST locates restrictions in the body and facilitates the release of those restrictions. Restrictions can develop for many reasons. Some reasons are a physical accident, emotional trauma, or an illness. You may have headaches because there are restrictions in the cranial bones or back pain because of a restriction in the spine. After the body experiences a trauma such as a fall or accident, or has been in a cycle of repeated stress, the craniosacral system can be disrupted, and a restriction can occur in the natural flow of the cerebrospinal fluid (which bathes all the nerves along the spine). The body then must try to function around this restricted area which over time can cause symptoms to develop such as pain, tightness, fatigue, depression, or anxiety. As the body reduces restrictions, less energy is needed to “try” to keep the body balanced, and the body can recover. Everyone can potentially benefit from CST. By supporting brain and spine function and reducing stress on the central nervous system, it can be effective in treating stress, headaches, neck and back pain, concussions, TMJ dysfunctions, depression, post traumatic stress disorders, chronic pain, sleep disorders, and vertigo/dizziness to name a few. For more information, log onto www.therhythmwithin.org. To schedule an appointment, please contact Marchelle Milligan at (925) 286-6237. I am located in Alamo. Advertorial
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YOUR PERSONAL NUTRITIONIST
END TYPE 2 DIABETES WITHOUT DRUGS By Linda Michaelis RD, MS
Yes, it’s true: minor changes in your diet along with moderate exercise will bring your blood sugar levels down to normal in a very short time. This is not an exaggerated claim but reflects real results I see everyday in my practice. Even my husband received blood-work that indicated that he was diabetic. He made the changes that I suggested, and I am happy to report his levels came down to normal within weeks. Close to 25 million Americans over 65 have Type 2 diabetes (blood sugar over 140 mg/dL) while another 90 million individuals who are 20 years or older have been diagnosed with pre-diabetes (blood sugar over 120 mg/dL). You should be aware of the fact that studies have shown that the diabetes epidemic is a great contributor to the scourges of cancer, heart disease, and stroke. Your physician will confirm a diabetes diagnosis by looking at results of an A1C test which should not be greater than 6.5%. This test tells what your average glucose level has been over three months. I am glad to report that I am able to typically get my clients’ A1C down from 8.6% to 6.5% in three months. Doctors often express amazement, telling me they were about to put my clients on higher doses of Metformin to reduce levels. Often, the first reaction to a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes is shock, fear, and even depression. Most people will immediately start taking 500-1000mg of Metformin twice a day. Type 1 diabetes does require medication. Clients frequently report that for a couple of months after starting Metformin they have diarrhea, gas, stomach pain, and flu like symptoms until their body adjusts to the medication. I am adamant with my clients that they do not have to live with these side affects if they work very closely with me and follow a planned dietary regimen. A major problem with diabetes is that blood sugar levels spike throughout the day and result in the constant need for insulin to break down the sugars which, in turn, causes a large strain on the pancreas. People with diabetes either don’t make insulin efficiently, or their body’s cells no longer are able to recognize insulin, leading to high blood sugars.
5 MEAL A DAY PLAN
It is extremely important to eat five small meals a day that will prevent blood sugar from spiking and cause the need for greater amounts of insulin. Small meals should be eaten every few hours, and it is best to keep to the same times each day so your blood sugar will adapt. I not only recommend five meals but also suggest balancing the amount of proteins, carbs, and fats at each meal. For the first four meals, I recommend large amounts of protein, a carb, and some veggies. The evening meal should include a smaller amount of protein (harder to digest at night) to be enjoyed with at least a cup or more of whole grains and two cups of veggies. With few exceptions, I find my clients actually begin to enjoy spacing out their meals during the day where they are happy not to feel bloated from heavy meals. They enjoy the variety of smaller, tasty meals and large snacks. Clients easily lose weight and report higher levels of energy during the day.
EXERCISE
An hour of exercise for 5-6 days a week is recommended. I have found that breaking exercise, such as brisk walking, up into two half-hour segments is quite effective. It is quite common to see a 50 point reduction of blood sugar after a walk which is the best pill in town.
DESSERTS
Yes, you can have desserts as long as they are eaten after a meal and not on an empty stomach. At first I recommend 200 calories of dessert such as fudgsicles, fruit juice bars, puddings, cupcake, or slice of cake with very little frosting. I know this all may sound too good to be true, but it can be done if you do not want to rely on diabetic medications your whole life. The good news is that most insurance companies such as Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, United Healthcare, Sutter Select, ABMG, Health Net, and Hill Physicians pay for nutritional counseling for diabetes. Please visit LindaRD.com for more information about your nutritional concerns. Call me at (925) 855-0150 or e-mail me at lifeweight1@ gmail.com. Advertorial
PAGE 26 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • OCTOBER 2017
Tech continued from page 18
From Walnut Creek Intermediate: “My core teacher had us do the most interesting labs like splitting water molecules, extracting DNA from strawberries, and testing sunscreen against UV rays. Women’s night was so inspiring and made me realize I can do whatever I want.” “I enjoyed every second. It gave me the closest thing possible to living in a dorm and having a real college experience.” The selection process for Tech Trek participants begins in late fall. DAW contacts science and math teachers at the six public middle schools serving Danville, Alamo, and Walnut Creek for each educator’s five recommendations. Students selected are asked to fill out an application which includes an essay. DAW representatives then interview each applicant. The number of girls DAW can send is limited not only by funding available from money raised by the DAW Holiday Home Tours, but also by the Tech Trek Directors’ analysis of the most equitable distribution of camperships across the population served by each camp. Every participant is fully sponsored by her local AAUW branch. No one can buy into a campership. Deborah Wechsler, AAUW-DAW Tech Trek Chair 2017-2018, visited the Sonoma Camp in June. Asked what surprised her most, she responded, “I was surprised by how engaged and enthusiastic these middle school girls were, although based on the interviews I did, that should not have surprised me!” Former DAW Tech Trek Chair Loretta Altshuler comments: “ I enjoyed organizing this program for the branch and girls, and helping make this program successful. It was a big effort and required many hours of time and devotion to the branch, schools, and families.” Judy Lauper spent the entire week at camp as a dorm mom. She reports, “I appreciated the diversity of students and interacting with them about their present interests and their hopes for the future.” Dorm moms monitor 10 girls who are not from their local branch. Lauper notes, “Every minute is planned, so you don’t have to think of activities yourself. It is wonderful to see how all the fundraising to send our 11 girls was more than worth it.” Monte Vista Senior Carmen David, who participated in Tech Trek Camp in 2013, has returned as a junior counselor each of the following years. She writes: “Tech Trek has definitely opened my eyes to a wider variety of career options within the fields of STEM. Every year, new opportunities are presented to the girls, and as a junior counselor I have the opportunity to see the progression of these advancements.“Her duties included serving as a teaching aide for morning core classes, helping with a specific afternoon workshop schedule, and assisting in running evening activities. Carmen says, “My favorite part about being a junior counselor is that I am given the opportunity to work with and mentor 90 girls in math and science. They are all incredibly inspiring, and it is amazing to see them succeed in fields I am passionate about.” In 2015, AAUW released Solving the Equation: The Variables for Women’s Success in Engineering and Computing, a study on gender profiling and inequality in hiring practices in STEM fields. Speaking at the Silicon Valley event launching the release, AAUW CEO Linda D. Hailman warned, “By 2022, the United States will need 1.7 million more engineers and computing professionals. Women – who make up more than half of the population -- are still significantly underrepresented in these fields.” As she spoke, women comprised only 12% of engineers in the American workforce with those employed in computer technology down to 26% of the workforce from a high in 1990 of 35%. The AAUW report notes: “Researchers found that scientists were more likely to choose a male candidate over an identical female candidate for a hypothetical job opening at a lab. Both female and male scientists offered a higher salary to the male candidate and were more willing to offer him mentoring opportunities.” The study also underscores the need to address biases that cause girls to lose belief in their ability to succeed in STEM occupations in their early middle school years. Marie Wolbach recognized the problem long before the 2015 study was completed and came up with a means of generating confidence in young women so that they could succeed in male-dominated STEM fields. In 1998 she founded Tech Trek with funding from an AAUW Community Action Grant. In June 2015, following selection from a group of 100 qualified nominees, Wolbach received one of five national Jefferson Awards. Wechsler’s reasons for staying involved echo comments by many of the 170,000 AAUW members nationwide. “Being a member of AAUW-DAW
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PR ACTICING SUSTAINABLE HEALTH
By Michelle Brown, Gumsaba Custom Fitness
The practice of sustainable health is not something you stumble upon. Of course a portion of our health depends on our genes, but much of our health is a product of daily habits. Things add up. Late nights at work or on the couch, sugary snacks and junk food, lack of workouts, lack of sleep...the list goes on. Temptation to live a lazy lifestyle is everywhere, and much of it comes at a low monetary cost. The sedentary lifestyles we lead start early. We spend a good percentage of our youth seated in school. Through college and right into our working years, sitting becomes a position our bodies get very used to. Our lack of activity coupled with the convenience of processed, junky food makes developing sustainable health a challenge. The good news is we can make choices every day that break bad habits! Finding sustainable health is a matter of reprioritizing our lives. With good planing and preparation, we can do it. There is no such thing as perfection. There will be times when ordering pizza is the answer and skipping a workout is a must. But most days, we can afford to prep a few meals or hit a quick workout. We can choose to get up before work to exercise if we also choose to skip that must-see show and go to bed an hour earlier. If work starts too early to get up, then carve out a half hour during lunch for a workout. The more you choose health, the easier it becomes. If you hate to workout, try something new. Most fitness programs, like Gumsaba Boot Camp, have a free first session or free consult. Whatever you do, do what you enjoy. It is totally possible to enjoy your workouts. Whether it’s a hike or ride with a buddy, an online program, dancing for a half hour to your favorite 80s music, Gumsaba, or all of the above, find something that feels right for you, and it will become sustainable. A great meal service like Purple Carrot is helpful for those who find grocery shopping too time consuming. When you go to the store, visit the produce section first. Just like your plate, make veggies the bulk of what is in the basket. A container of roasted veggies in the refrigerator can help you win at snack time! Take advantage of the opportunities that each day brings by making conscious choices that create healthier habits. The path of sustainable health is yours for the taking, and it starts with the next choice you make! To your health, Coach Michelle Michelle Brown is owner of Gumsaba Custom Fitness Studio in Alamo. She is an ACE Certified Medical Exercise Specialist, ACE Subject Matter Expert, ACE certified Personal Trainer, Martial Arts & Self Defense Expert and Spartan SGX Coach. Michelle has been helping people in our community surpass their goals for 20 years. To learn more about her Advertorial programs visit gumsaba.com. affords me the opportunity to interact with a group of intelligent, well-informed women who are passionate about helping other women succeed in their education and professions. Working with these women on projects that deliver results is what I enjoy most.” The entire community is invited to enjoy this year’s DAW Holiday Home Tour on December 8-9. Proceeds fund Tech Trek and scholarships to help local women complete their college education. Tickets can be purchased online at daw-ca.aauw.net. More information on DAW events and membership can be found on the same website. Tech Trek Campers take two field trips each session. In 2017 they visited a waste water treatment plant.
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HOW CAN I LOOK BETTER IN A BATHING SUIT, AND DOES COOLSCULPTING REALLY WORK?
By Dr. Jerome Potozkin
If you’re like many people, you’re glad the summer is over. You might be rejoicing that you don’t have to go out in a bathing suit until next summer. A few years ago, when our kids were younger, I stopped going to the gym as much as I usually did. I also started to finish the food my kids left on their plates when we went out to eat. Chicken tenders and french fries sure tasted good but certainly did nothing for my physique. Fortunately, I was able to reverse this trend, and so can you. Small changes in your daily habits can make a great impact. If you’re hoping to change how you look in a bathing suit, the single most important change is that of your diet. My wife recently nagged me to death to watch What the Health on Netflix. Although I think the movie is one sided in its point of view it raises some great points. As a direct result of watching the film, I have transitioned to a whole-food, plant-based diet. It was a big change but easier than I thought it would be. I believe the evidence is compelling with respect to the health benefits. As a board-certified dermatologist, I’ve always been surprised at the limited number of studies and information about the impact of our diets on our skin. There is so much information available to us via the internet and via professionals to guide us to a way of eating that will bring us the most benefit. In general summary, lowering your caloric intake will result in the weight loss you desire. Of course, the second most important ingredient in achieving the physique you desire is exercise. You can join a gym, go online to a company like beachbody.com and peruse workouts for streaming, hire a trainer, or just walk your dog. The key is to keep your body moving. One thing I’ve learned along the way is that I can always “out eat” my workout. So, the single most important factor for me (and many others) is what I eat as we tend to overestimate the amount of calories we burn while we exercise. So, it’s important to make exercise a part of your daily (or almost daily) habit while at the same time being cognizant of your caloric intake. Find an exercise activity that’s fun. I recently discovered the Peloton. I put this on my top ten of favorite “things.” It is essentially a great spin bike with a built in flat panel TV screen which allows you to join live spin classes at the Peloton Studio in New York City as well as access thousand of classes from their library. What if you’re in shape, but you still have some stubborn fat? CoolSculpting can freeze the fat away. Currently, CoolSculpting is the gold standard for non-invasive fat reduction. It is not for weight loss but rather removal of localized stubborn fat deposits. Most patients are highly satisfied with their results. A small percentage of people are disappointed. The technology works by freezing fat cells which are more sensitive to cold temperatures than other structures of the skin. The fat cells die and are broken down. Because the number of fats cells are fixed, once the fat cells are destroyed they are gone forever. There are many places you can have CoolSculpting done. There are several advantages to seeking the treatment with us. Firstly, my team is highly trained and experienced. Secondly, we have two machines so that we can treat you in half the time. Few center doing CoolSculpting also offer the Zwave post procedure treatment. The Zwave device is used immediately after CoolSculpting to help break down the fat cells. We offer this at no charge and have found superior results compared to CoolSculpting without the Zwave. Our dedicated CoolSculpting room is outfitted with Cable TV, so you can watch ESPN or your favorite show on HGTV. This procedure is popular with both men and women. Please call us now as for the month of October we are offering complimentary CoolSculpting consultations. Dr. Potozkin is a board certified dermatologist who has been serving the local community since 1993. His fully accredited dermatological and laser facility is located at 600 San Ramon Valley Blvd, Suite 102 in Danville. He is accepting new patients. Please call (925) 838-4900 Advertorial or visit www.Potozkin.com for more information.
OCTOBER 2017 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 27
SPINAL HEALTH MONTH
By Dr. Melissa Ko, Sycamore Valley Chiropractic
October is Spinal Health Month! Your spine is a vital part of your body, providing stability and motion as well as protection for the most important system: your nervous system. To celebrate your spine and how amazing it is, here are some back facts! 1. Humans are born with 33 vertebrae, and as we grow, the tailbones and pelvic bones fuse, resulting in 26 vertebrae in adults. 2. Back pain is the top reason why people see a doctor and miss work days. 3. About 80% of Americans will experience back pain. 4. The spine can bear up to 220 pounds (100 kg) in weight. 5. There are over 120 muscles, 220 ligaments, and 100 joints that support and move the spine. 6. Humans and giraffes have the same number of neckbones: seven cervical vertebra! 7. Car accidents are the number one cause of spinal cord injuries. Always get checked by a chiropractor when you’ve been in an accident, whether you’re hurting or not! 8. Men are 70% more likely to suffer spinal injuries than women. 9. Humans are the only mammals to suffer from scoliosis. Adolescent females are more likely to develop scoliosis than males. We recommend that girls ages 9-12 get checked annually by their chiropractor. 10. A healthy, flexible spine can form ⅔ of a perfect circle when flexed. 11. Posture isn’t just good for your body. Standing up straight increases hormones that boost your confidence and mood. Poor posture promotes hormones that can lead to depression. 12. Americans spend more than $50 billion on back pain treatments a year. (Chiropractic care reduces health expenses and doctor’s visits!) 13. Much of human back pain is a result of being bipedal (walking on two legs). 14. Smokers are at higher risk for back pain due to decreased circulation and increased pain sensitivity. It’s yet another reason to quit! 15. You are taller when waking than when you go to bed due to gravity’s effect on your spine. 16. The first bone in your spine is also called the Atlas. Atlas was a Greek mythological character who had to carry the weight of the earth on his shoulders. 17. Back pain is the biggest cause of work disability. Chiropractic care returns people to work faster! We are blessed with one spine in our lifetime. Like all important things in our lives--our houses, cars, heart, eyes, teeth--spines require care and maintenance. Getting your spine checked, staying active, and exercising will keep your body healthy and prevent issues as you age. And if your back starts giving you trouble, Sycamore Valley Chiropractic is here to help! Sycamore Valley Chiropractic is located at 565 Sycamore Valley Rd. West in Danville. Please visit www.sycamorevalleychiropractic.com or call (925)837-5595 for more information or to schedule an Advertorial appointment.
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PAGE 28 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • OCTOBER 2017
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DANVILLE AREA REAL ESTATE: MILLENNIALS ENTER THE MARKET By Joe Combs
I have always defined four bedroom homes as family homes as they represent the majority of homes in our market of Alamo, Danville, and Diablo, and, for the most part, people seek to live here because of the location and the quality of our schools. We often hear from prospective buyers that they are willing to trade a bigger commute for the high quality of family life these three communities provide. So this month, I thought I would look at the four bedroom home exclusively. Condos and town-homes are not included. These four bedroom homes are both single and multiple story and bathroom count isn’t considered, and neither is the presence, or absence, of a pool. Truly, the only commonality they share is four bedrooms and their respective locations. The Town of Danville leads the area with the shortest time from listing to sale at an average of 15 days. During the most recent time period, Alamo came in at an average 25 days on market and Diablo at an average of 121 days. Although Diablo’s days on market appears to be relatively high, the number is actually coming down. This suggests growing strength in the market for expensive real estate. A normal days-on-market time period would be 3-6 months from listing to sale. So, for this type of property only Diablo is normal, and Alamo and Danville are still red hot. Diablo leads the pack when it comes to average sales price, coming in at nearly $2.7 million. Alamo is number two with a sold price of $2,005,000. No surprise that Danville trails both these locations. Danville registers an average price of $1,456,220. When you compare the price to days on market for each of the three markets, we would expect lower priced homes to sell more quickly, and the Danville numbers confirm this. Of significance is that Danville alone has a higher average closing price than list price. A buyer in Danville could anticipate having less leverage with sellers than those purchasing in either Alamo or Diablo. The largest four bedroom homes sold are located in Diablo with an average size of 5,110 square feet. Alamo comes in second at 3,686 square feet. Danville homes are significantly smaller at just over 3,000 square feet. Alamo wins the battle of dollars paid per square foot coming in at $558. Diablo sits at number two,
Alamo 10 Acre Estate
capturing an average $542 per square foot, and Danville trails both with $488 per square foot. It’s normal for larger homes to sell at a lower value at the square foot level, so this data should come as no surprise. It seems incredible that the Real Estate Market continues to be strong without a sign of weakening demand. In recent articles I’ve discussed many of the possible reasons for low inventory, but what about the other side of the equation, demand? Bay Area employment continues to be strong, and more office space is being created in San Francisco and the Valley, so I think we can anticipate more people moving to the Danville area in the future. Interest rates remain historically low, and new home construction cannot rise to meet current demand which I think portends real estate prices moving up in lock-step with the Millennial generation as they advance in their careers and seek quality schools and larger homes. In recent months, I’ve witnessed what I believe to be the beginning of Millennial entry into our upscale markets. Older Millennials who are reaching their late 30’s are beginning to show up at open houses. Presently, they appear to be limited to professional couples, mostly doctors and lawyers. Recently, Nancy and I have encountered several Millennials, well-qualified young couples, who are making serious runs at pricey properties. Although they are a small force today, over the next 10 years the Millennials could potentially, due to their numbers, exert an even greater impact on real estate than perhaps even the Baby Boomers. I am hopeful that this just the beginning of an incredibly exciting time in real estate. Please feel free to forward this article to your friends who might enjoy it. It’s important to remember that there really is no “average” home and no two homes are exactly alike. If you would like an honest “no strings attached “opinion of your home’s current market value and suggestions for preparing it for market, please give me a call 925-989-6086 or send me an email joecombs@thecombsteam.com. Please visit our website to discover more information on our local market www.thecombsteam.com.
West Side Alamo Single Story
Alamo Crest Beauty rs f fe O le ltip u M LD O S
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Beautiful custom home with views, gardens, huge master, 3 ensuite bedrooms, bonus room/au pair suite with private entrance. Priced to sell $5,950,000.
Enchanting updated 3 bedroom single story on a Private drive. Private gate to the Iron Horse Trail. Priced to Sell $1,433,000.
Luxury Mediterranean Resort Living in Alamo. We represented the buyer and the seller. We have more buyers. Price $3,195,000.
Alamo Custom Luxury Home
Danville Single Story
Danville Sycamore
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Stonegate 4 bedroom, 3.5 bath with 1 bedroom downstairs. Pool/spa, BBQ, putting green. Priced to sell $2,000,000
SO
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Four bedroom single story. Like new with view. Priced to sell $1,299,000
Data presented in this column is based in whole or in part on data supplied by the Contra Costa and Alameda MLS service and other quoted sources. Joe Combs, Nancy Combs, The Combs Team, J. Rockcliff and the MLS service do not guarantee the accuracy of this information. DRE #0144125.
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Storybook 4 bedroom in Danville Sycamore. Spacious back yard, pool and barbecue. Sold off market. Nancy and I represented the sellers. Call for details. J. Rockcliff Realtors 15 Railroad Ave., Danville CA. 94526