2021 SEPTEMBER ~ Alamo Today & Danville Today News

Facebook: Alamo Today & Danville Today News | editor@yourmonthlypaper.com September 2021 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 1

& SEPTEMBER 2021

EVERYBODY LOVES A PARADE

9-11 REMEMBRANCE CEREMONY

By Jody Morgan

Danville’s 2021 parade steps off on September 4th, rather than the Fourth of July, breaking with longstanding tradition but also honoring an important time in town history. From September 4-7, 1958, Danville commemorated the 100th Anniversary of the town’s founding, culminating in a parade down Hartz Avenue.

Anyone familiar with Parade Grand Marshall, Congressman John F. Baldwin Jr, (R), Danville’s most recent parades grandson of valley pioneers R.O. Baldwin and Mary Cox, ride in style in might assume the festivities the 1958 parade. Photo courtesy of the Museum of the San Ramon Valley. drew similar crowds. Sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of San Ramon Valley in partnership with the Town of Danville since 1975, the popular 4th of July parade regularly draws a crowd of 30,00040,000. The entire population of the San Ramon Valley was only 12,702 in 1960.

Nevertheless, the four-day Centennial Celebration advertised as “Hay Days” was geared to bring as many visitors to Danville as possible. The entrepreneurial aspirations of Russell Glenn are credited with getting plans underway. Dolores Fox Ciardelli writes in the 2008 Sesquicentennial Keepsake Edition of the Danville Weekly: “At that time, Russell Glenn, owner of the Danville Hotel, was lobbying to make Danville look like an old Western town, and started a group called the Danville Confederacy to make it happen."

In his second term as President of the Danville Chamber of Commerce, Tom Ohlson enthusiastically endorsed the proposed Hay Days festivities. The 1958 Centennial Edition of The Valley Pioneer notes: “Ohlson has gained the admiration of not only the residents of Danville but the vast majority of animal life in the area -- he is a veterinarian during the working day!” As the only veterinarian practicing between Walnut Creek and Pleasanton in what was still primarily a ranching and farming area, Ohlson was a very busy man.

Asked by Ciardelli in 2008 to describe plans for Hay Days, Ohlson recalls: Russell said, “Let’s have a celebration -- we’re 100 years old! We had a professional carnival for four days and at the end was the parade.”

A beard contest caused Ohlson to grow and sport whiskers for three weeks. The Aquacade at the San Ramon High School pool on September 4th was followed by an old-timers’ bathing suit fashion show. Kids Day the following day included a pet parade.

Saturday, a Junior Horsemen’s Show was held at Humphrey Ranch on Stone Valley Road.

That evening, Miss Pioneer Belle was crowned, and a street dance with music by Murray Peterson’s orchestra followed. The Centennial Parade started at 1PM on Sunday and was capped off by the old timers’ flag raising ceremony. A 3PM barbecue steak dinner

See Parade continued on page 14

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The Exchange Club of San Ramon Valley will be hosting their 20th Annual 9-11 Remembrance Ceremony on Saturday, September 11th to honor the firefighters, police, and military first responders to the 9/11/2001 attack on New York.

The event will be held at the All Wars Memorial at Oak Hill Park, located at 3005 Stone Valley Road, Danville. The pre-program flyover and Procession of Scouts with American Flags begins at 4:20PM, followed by the program from 4:30-5:30PM. The MCs of the event will be Tim White, SRV Exchange Club President, and Karen Stepper, past President. The keynote speaker will be Major David Yuers.

Major Yuers served as the Air Force Reserve Deputy Director and Operations Officer for the Joint Reserve Intelligence Support Element for United States Strategic Command, based in Phoenix, Arizona. Prior to that, he worked directly for the Air Force Chief of Staff at the Pentagon.

This event will feature other prominent guest speakers, joint Police and Fire Department Honor Guard, and the Monte Vista High Chamber Choir.

For questions please contact Karen Stepper at 925-9988865 or coachstepper@yahoo.com.

AUTOS OF ALAMO

Alamo’s Eighth Annual “Autos of Alamo” Car Festival will be held on Thursday, September 8th from 4PM to 8PM in Alamo Plaza located at 150 Alamo Plaza, Alamo.

Please stop by the free event for live music by the “Tune Riders,” and enjoy locally-owned vintage, classic, custom, hot rod, muscle cars, and more from the years of 1980 and before! A few exotic cars may be on display as well.

Would you like to show off your car? Auto registration is only $25 and includes a “gift bag” of special items. Please preregister by calling (925) 247-8081 and plan to arrive before 3PM to be guaranteed a space.

The Editors Serving the communities of Alamo, Diablo, and Danville

Volume XXI Number 9

3000F Danville Blvd. #117 Alamo, CA 94507 Telephone (925) 405-6397 Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher Editor@yourmonthlypaper.com

Facebook: Alamo Today & Danville Today News Instagram:@AlamoandDanvilleToday

Volume XII Number 9

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 • September 2021

BOULEVARD VIEW

By Alisa Corstorphine, Editor and Publisher

Classics, Custom, Vintage, Hot Rods, 1980 & Older Plus Exotics

www.yourmonthlypaper.com | Instagram: @Alamoanddanvilletoday | #atdtnews

8th Annual Autos of Alamo Festival

In my childhood Live Music Thurs. Sept. 9, 4-8 PM school days, I think I could have been deAlamo Plaza Shopping Center scribed as a wallflower, “a person who feels shy, awkward, or excluded,” more than one of the popular “in crowd kids.” However, time has an interesting way of changing things. As I’ve aged, I’ve grown more confident and have Food & beverage shed the wallflower persona.

Last month, my husband and I attended our 40-year high school reunion. Lucky for For Kids of All Ages us, neither of us felt like “odd man out” as we Presented by Alamo Improvement Association with: were high school sweethearts from the same school and same graduating class. While only about 10% of our 580 person class attended, it was a wonderful evening shared with folks we had a past history with. It is amazing how conversations continued without missing a beat even with a decades-long gap.

Maybe I was giving a hint of my future-self when I chose my highschool yearbook quote from the Genesis song, Squonk. Under my senior class picture, it reads, “If you don’t stand up, you don’t stand a chance.”

Over time, I got more comfortable in standing up, reaching out, and doing instead of watching.

Recently, I was online and came across an effort that was easy to get behind. Julie’s Purse Project, www.juliespurseproject.org, is a passion project started by Julie Nakayama of Granite Bay, CA. She began her efforts in the fall of 2015 and has since formed a nonprofit organization. Her initial mission was to give back to those in need during the holidays.

The project has since grown into a year-round mission of collecting new and gently used purses and filling them with essential items that women would want or need in their purses if they were starting over with nothing.

Exhibitor registration ($25) at gate or call AIA 925/247-8081 (subject to space availability) The filled purses are delivered to nonprofit organizations throughout Northern California.

They directly help and impact the lives of sex trafficking and domestic violence survivors, women being released from incarceration, fire survivors, and homeless women. As of last year, a total of 14,615 purses have been filled and provided to women in need.

A few weeks ago, Julie sent 200 filled purses to those who fled the Dixie Fire in Plumas County. Seeing her need, I rallied friends and NextDoor neighbors and have currently sent over 100 pounds of purses, jewelry, and accessories to the cause. I am grateful for those who have shared with me to provide for others in need. Julie wrote to me, “Thank you. The need is great right now. I’ve never been so busy or rushed to get purses out.”

This effort could easily be expanded and extended to men, children, new moms...with to-go backpacks filled with essentials. Maybe one of you, or a local group, is up for such a challenge.

Efforts to help others don’t have to be expensive or overly time consuming. I read a post from a woman in Quincy that simply said, “I can pick up laundry in Quincy, wash, and fold it! Please text me.” What a great, relatively easy, and helpful service. Whether fire, medical issues, or losses, we all can use a helping hand at times.

Some may believe we can get through this life by ourselves and not rely on others. Unless we’re 100% off-grid and living entirely off the land, we need each other. We need products and services that others create, provide, sell, and serve. Don’t stand around waiting to see what you can do; jump in and do something.

Whether your efforts be neighbor helping neighbor, causes overseas, or connections from long-ago, to me, that is what community is all about.

Our schools, that have just come together again, are a great local place to connect. Whether it’s our students getting to know each other, a PTA parent project or hosted event, or attendance at a high school concert, play, or sporting match, I hope you can find life-long connections that you’ll look back on fondly.

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NATURALIST TO SPEAK ON CHANGES TAKING PLACE IN OUR PARKS

On September 16th at 11:30AM, the Museum of the San Ramon Valley’s Third Thursday program will offer a free virtual presentation on Climate Resilience in our Parks.

The speaker will be Sunol Regional Wilderness Supervising Naturalist, Ashley Grenier. Ashley will discuss the changes that are occurring in our regional parks. Hear how the drought and increasing temperatures are impacting our wonderful local park system. Learn what the park is doing to ensure our jewel of a regional park system continues to grow and prosper. In addition, learn what you can do to help our parks.

Please join in for this interesting discussion on the beautiful East Bay Regional Parks.

To attend this free online presentation, please visit museumsrv. org and go to the “Events” section, or call 925-837-3750.

The Museum of the San Ramon Valley is located at 205 Railroad Ave. in Danville. The Museum is open Tuesday-Friday from 1PM3PM, Saturday from 10AM-1PM, and Sunday from 12PM-3PM.

BUZZ SESSIONS RETURN TO DANVILLE SENIOR CENTER

FREE BI-WEEKLY LECTURE SERIES COVERS A RANGE OF TOPICS FOR SENIORS

With in-person programming coming back to the Danville Senior Center, the Town is excited to announce the return of the popular free lecture series “Buzz Sessions.” Seniors are invited to the Danville Senior Center on Tuesday mornings at 10AM for free biweekly lectures on an assortment of topics. Topics can be educational, medical, good old-fashioned fun, and anything in between.

Upcoming topics include a 2021 Income and Estate Tax Survival Workshop, Technology Tools for the Caregiver, Journey to Wellness-A Functional Medicine Approach Using Natural Treatments, Premier Travel 2021, and How to Avoid Holiday Scammers. A complete list of Buzz Sessions, dates, and topics through the end of the year can be found at www.danville.ca.gov/seniors.

The Danville Senior Center will be offering two lectures per month through the end of the year. In January 2022, Buzz Sessions will return to a weekly Tuesday morning schedule.

All participants, age 55 and up, are welcome. To register, call (925) 314-3430 or visit www.danville.ca.gov/recguide. The latest information on all Town events can be found on the website calendar at www.danville.ca.gov/calendar.

BEYOND THE HORIZON AND TINY HORIZON STORIES

EUGENE O’NEILL FESTIVAL SEASON 2021

Just beyond the horizon this September is the exciting return of The Eugene O’Neill Festival.

The festival’s centerpiece, a filmed version of O’Neill’s first great drama, Beyond the Horizon will be released on October 2nd, via the Eugene O’Neill Foundation (EONF), Tao House website.

Supporting the unique film offering will be two live performances at Tao House on September 25th and 26th.

The 2021 Festival Season will also debut a lively theatrical lecture entitled “Eugene O’Neill: 51 Plays in 51 Minutes” by Artistic Director Hayes on September 30th and October 1st. Hayes’ presentation promises to be an informative and playful overview of the playwright’s entire body of work in less than an hour.

Continuing the lead up to the premier film release, participate in a historic walking tour of downtown Danville on Saturday, September 18th and learn about when Eugene O’Neill lived at Tao House. Then, on the morning of the premier film release, Saturday, October 2nd, come join the EONF for the Annual Hike to Tao House.

Visit www.eugeneoneill.org for a full calendar of events, to purchase access to the film premier, and to purchase tickets for the live performances once available. Engage with EONF on Facebook and Instagram: @eugene_ oneill_foundation, #BeyondTheHorizon, and #EONF2021Festival.

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PAGE 4 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • September 2021

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RELICS ON RAILROAD

20TH REMEMBRANCE

AN UPSCALE ARTISAN MARKET ~ SEPTEMBER 6TH, 9AM-3PM

On Monday, September 6TH from 9AM-3PM, the parking lot behind the Museum of the San Ramon Valley located at 205 Railroad Ave. in Danville, will transform into a marketplace of upscale recyclers and makers.

Old favorites from past years of Relics on Rail and new sellers offering quilts, cottage trunks, vintage clothing, and old train sets will show their wares. If you are getting ready for Halloween, take a look at some of the unique handmade holiday decor.

This year at Relics on Railroad, Cottage Jewel will launch its 22-year anniversary sale. It will be an event not to be missed.

Spend part of your Labor Day strolling through this unique marketplace.

It is only here for one day, and when it is over, it is gone!

9/11 KEYNOTE MAJOR YUERS

HONOR FIRE, POLICE & MILITARY

SATURDAY 9/11/21 4:30-5:30 OAK HILL PARK MONTE VISTA CHOIR HONOR GUARD SCOUT FLAG ARRAY STUDENT ESSAY PRESENTED BY SRV EXCHANGE CLUB Danville Sunday Car Shows

Questions 925-998-8865

SALE TO SUPPORT DIABLO VALLEY QUILTERS PROJECTS

Diablo Valley Quilters is ready for “Fabric Follies & More,” their sale to help support the ongoing activities and community outreach projects of the group.

Stop by the Danville Congregational Church, located at 989 San Ramon Valley Blvd., Danville, on Saturday, September 18th between 9:30AM and 3:30PM. There, you will find outrageous bargains on many fabrics including batiks, florals, juvenile, holiday-themed, specialty, and more priced at just $3/yard. In addition, there will be books, patterns, tools, notions, kits, batting, yarn, and other accessories for sale.

Bring your friends, and find some great deals that help support a worthy cause. Check, cash, and credit cards will be accepted. Mask wearing is requested.

To learn more, visit www.diablovalleyquilters.org or call Pauline O’Connell at 925323-5550 or Mayann Maiorana at 925-918-1259.

VOLUNTEER WITH AARP TAX-AIDE FOR TAX SEASON

Do you like working with people? Are you good with numbers? AARP Tax-Aide is looking for volunteers to become members of a team providing free tax preparation for individuals of all ages residing in Contra Costa County. Tax-Aide volunteer positions include Tax Counselors who are trained by Tax-Aide and certified by IRS and Client Facilitators who schedule appointments and assist clients at tax sites.

Orientation is in November 2021, and classes for tax counselors start in January 2022. Service is from February through April 15, 2022.

If interested, apply online at www.aarp.org/taxvolunteer, or call (925) 726-3199 for additional information.

SONS IN RETIREMENT

Gopher/Mole Removal No Poison Tri-Valley Trapper

925-765-4209

Anniversary Sale 22 years

September 22nd 12-6 pm

Balloon Pop Sale Patron Raffle and more treats to unveil…

391 Hartz Ave. Danville 925.837.2664

Looking for things to do in your retirement?

Consider joining Sons cottagejewel.com in Retirement (SIR) San Ramon Valley Branch #128. There are monthly luncheons with interesting speakers and good fellowship. Additionally, members have fun participating in a variety of Zoom-related activities including investing, book groups, fantasy football, technology, wine tastings, and more. Members are also now participating in various outdoor activities including golf, bocce ball, bicycling, and hiking.

The September meeting will be a virtual event via Zoom. The speaker will be Dr. Jon Haveman, Executive Director of the National Economic Education Delegation (NEED). Jon is a noted California economist who has spoken to the Branch in the past and is returning to talk on U.S. Infrastructure. As infrastructure is a primary topic of discussion in Congress these days, get ready for a very interesting and timely discussion.

The presentation will be held Wednesday, September 15th at 11AM. To access the virtual meeting as a guest, please email membership@sir128.com. To learn more about the group, visit www.SIR128.com.

Facebook: Alamo Today & Danville Today News | editor@yourmonthlypaper.com September 2021 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 5

“Celeste is all about going the extra mile to sell your home.”

– B. C.

SOLD $755,000 OVER ASKING WITH 31 OFFERS! There are 30 buyers that are still looking to buy. If you’re thinking of selling, please reach out to learn about my selling strategy.

6 SCENIC COURT, DANVILLE 4 Bed | 2.5 Bath | 2,825± Sq Ft | 0.34± Acre Lot Fabulous single story with phenomenal views of Mt. Diablo.

Enjoy comfort and sophistication in this recently remodeled home with all new hardscape and softscape. Soak in the views and relax around the gas fireplace and firepit.

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Celeste Pacelli Broker Associate DRE 01862387 | 925.395.1511 celeste@celestepacelli.com celestepacelli.com Top 1.5% of All Agents Nationwide - WSJ Real Trends America’s Best Real Estate Professionals List Top 1% of Agents in Contra Costa & Alameda Counties!

See more of my 70 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ reviews on Zillow!

Compass is a real estate broker licensed by the State of California and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. License Number 01527235. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only and is compiled from sources deemed reliable but has not been verified. Changes in price, condition, sale or withdrawal may be made without notice. No statement is made as to accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footage are approximate.

PAGE 6 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • September 2021

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LOOKING FOR NEW MEMBERS!

DANVILLE-ALAMO-WALNUT CREEK BRANCH AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN

The American Association of University Women (AAUW) has worked to empower women since 1881 by advocating for equal rights, gender equity, and education for women and girls. Members are tenacious and trailblazing!

The group sponsors and raises funds for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) education through TechTrek and Expanding Your Horizons (EYH) for local girls.

Scholarships are also awarded to local women to help them complete academic degrees and graduate programs.

Besides having a love for community, members enjoy a rich social event calendar Members (from left to right) Lisa Simone, Chris Ritter, as well as a broad selection Debbie Block, Joanne Quijano, Wendi Whitcomb, and of interest groups such as Claudia Schwarz at a recent Meet and Greet event.

Books, Movies, Bridge, Gourmet, Writing, Art and Garden, Mah Jongg, Hiking, and Great Decisions.

Please explore the website (or join!) at daw-ca.aauw.net/membershippayment, or contact Claudia Schwarz, Membership VP at claudiaschwarz@ comcast.net to learn more.

SRV GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY

The San Ramon Valley Genealogical Society (SRVGS) was organized in 1985 to provide its members with resources, assistance, and educational opportunities that help them successfully research their ancestry. The group publishes a monthly newsletter and offers monthly meetings of small groups with common interests to discuss their specific areas of research. SRVGS also provides resources ranging from a large selection of reference books to information on local genealogical libraries. Classes are also offered for the beginning researcher and those interested in genetic DNA. You are invited to join the Tuesday, September 21st, 10am ZOOM meeting with a presentation by Diana Elder on Citing Sources: The Good, Bad, & Ugly.

How do you document the death certificate you found in your grandmother’s stash of papers? How about the tidbit of information from a website or book?

Documenting sources doesn’t have to be difficult. Learn the who, what, where, and when method of creating your source citations and give your research some credibility. Discover what details need to be included in a source citation and how to deal with online sources as well as those in personal files.

Diana Elder is a professional genealogist accredited in the Gulf South region of the U.S. and serves as a Commissioner for the International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists (ICAPGen).

Diana authored Research Like A Pro: A Genealogist’s Guide and co-authored the companion volume, Research Like a Pro with DNA. She created the study group and eCourse that teach the Research Like a Pro process through videos and learning modules. Diana and her daughter, Nicole, share research tips on their website, Family Locket (http://familylocket.com) and are the hosts of the Research Like a Pro Genealogy podcast.

To become a member of SRVGS, visit srvgensoc.org and click on the “Join SRVGS” tab on the left side of the Home Page. To attend as a guest, please email your request to president@srvgensoc.org.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO GIVE RIDES TO SENIORS AND VETERANS

Mobility Matters is a nonprofit agency that gives rides to seniors and veterans in Contra Costa County. Volunteer drivers are needed to escort seniors to medical appointments and grocery shopping. Volunteers must be 25 to 75 years old.

Please call Mobility Matters at (925) 284-2215 for more details. You can learn more about Mobility Matters at www.mobilitymatterscc.com.

ASSISTANCE LEAGUE THRIFT SHOP’S SUMMER SEMI-ANNUAL SALE RETURNS

In response to Contra Costa County’s, thrift shop staffers’ and customers’ concerns, thank you for wearing a mask.

The dedicated member volunteers at Assistance League of Diablo Valley Thrift Shop at the Way Side Inn, located at 3521 Golden Gate Way in Lafayette, are busily preparing for the Summer Semi-Annual Sale scheduled for Tuesday, September 7th through Saturday, September 11th, from the hours of 10AM to 3PM. Here’s how the week will unfold. On Tuesday, September 7th through Thursday, September 9th, you will find all merchandise reduced to half price when you check out at the cash register. On Friday, September 10th, items will be priced at $2 each or less! On Saturday, September 11th, you can fill a bag for a mere $10!

Unfortunately, the helpful volunteers cannot guarantee that one visit will suffice!

We hope that you will be the first one at the door to take advantage of this retail therapy coup! Once in the thrift shop, you will notice racks of garments neatly arranged according to size and color shades, from light to dark, that allow for easy selection. Keep in mind that the layered look will see you through crisp early mornings, warm afternoons, and moderate evenings in the early autumn.

As always, when you shop at Assistance League Thrift Shop at the Way Side Inn, you will not only find quality items priced at a fraction of their retail value; you will help those in our community who are vulnerable. How’s that for a winwin? To learn more, please visit assistanceleague.org/diablo-valley.

THE FIRST PEOPLE

AN EXHIBIT AT THE MUSEUM OF THE SAN RAMON VALLEY

The First People, an exhibition of California Indians, is open at the Museum of the San Ramon Valley through November 14th. In this display, visitors will see Indian home models, cave paintings, maps, hunting nets, arrowheads, a complete acorn-processing set up, and stunning Indian-made baskets. Examples of some beautiful, hand woven baskets from the Phelps Collection will be on display.

Docents will allow visitors to try some traditional Indian games as well.

A special section will showcase the arrival of Spanish soldiers and missionaries after 1769. “Two Cultures Collide” will show contrasts in building materials, food, art, music, and tools.

The Museum will sponsor a special event on Saturday, October 16th from 10AM to 1PM in front of the Museum.

Don Phelps will be holding a sale of his American Native silver and turquoise jewelry. He will also give appraisals at $10 per evaluation. Proceeds from the appraisals will be donated to the Museum.

The Museum of the San Ramon Valley is located at 205 Railroad Ave. in Danville. The Museum is open Tuesday-Friday from 1PM-3PM, Saturday from 10AM-1PM, and Sunday from 12PM-3PM. You can contact the Museum at museumsrv.org or call 925-837-3750.

VETERAN SERVICES BRING THE “OFFICE” TO YOU

The Contra Costa County Veterans Services Office is removing barriers by opening a virtual office space. The virtual Veterans Office can give you close to an in-person experience.

Veterans can learn about and apply for benefits, access VA health care, receive referrals for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder therapy, and much more. Visit the office website at www.contracosta.ca.gov/vets during open office hours for one-on-one assistance. Hours of operation are Mondays through Thursdays from 9am to noon and 1pm to 4pm, and on Fridays 9am to noon.

Staffing the virtual office are Veterans Service Manager Sidney Jones, an Air Force Veteran, and Veteran Services Representative Buck Carmichael, a Marine Corps Veteran. Both have long-time experience connecting vets to critical services.

For more information, please call the Veteran Services Office at 925-313-1481.

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DUDUM REAL ESTATE GROUP W H E R E R E A L E S TAT E I S S T I L L P E R S O N A L

JUST LISTED

ACTIVE

ACTIVE

PENDING

457 RYAN TERRACE, SAN RAMON 3 BEDS, 3.5 BATHS, 1,956 SF

101 RUBICON CIRCLE, DANVILLE 2 BEDS, 2 BATHS, 1,287 SF

22 PINEVIEW COURT, PLEASANT HILL 4 BEDS, 3 BATHS, 2201 SF, 0.16 ACRE LOT

OFFERED AT $960,000

2470 CABALLO RANCHERO, DIABLO 4 BEDS, 4.5 BATHS, 5,081 SF, 1.33 ACRE LOT OFFERED AT $3,895,000

OFFERED AT $724,000

OFFERED AT $1,248,000

ALISON PETERSEN | 925.984.7214

BRYAN HURLBUT | 925.383.5500

ALISON PETERSEN | 925.984.7214

MEREDITH & BONNIE KUMMELL | 925.984.1344

PENDING

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD

221 OPAL COURT, SAN RAMON 3 BEDS, 2.5 BATHS, 1,523 SF, 0.07 ACRE LOT

695 CHRISTINE DRIVE, DANVILLE 3 BEDS, 3 BATHS, 2,470 SF, 0.37 ACRE LOT

24 ALTA HILL WAY, WALNUT CREEK 3 BEDS, 2 BATHS, 1670 SF, 0.33 ACRE LOT

1655 N. CALIFORNIA BLVD #334, WALNUT CREEK 1 BEDS, 1.5 BATHS, 886 SF

OFFERED AT $1,075,000

SOLD FOR $1,750,000

SOLD FOR $1,460,000

SOLD FOR $625,000

SCOTT & FONIA HUMPHRIES | 925.298.2249

BONNE WERSEL | 510.304.3303

DON & PAMELA COLOMBANA | 925.878.8047

BONNE WERSEL | 510.304.3303

SOLD - REPRESENTED BUYER

SOLD - REPRESENTED BUYER

SOLD - REPRESENTED BUYER

SOLD - REPRESENTED BUYER

110 SAINT ALICIA COURT, ALAMO 4 BEDS, 3 BATHS, 2,925 SF, 0.48 ACRE LOT

123 BRIA COURT, WALNUT CREEK 5 BEDS, 3 BATHS, 2,908 SF, 0.31 ACRE LOT

310 ALAMO SQUARE, ALAMO 3 BEDS, 2 BATHS, 1,639 SF, 0.06 ACRE LOT

10 MELROSE COURT, WALNUT CREEK 2 BEDS, 1 BATHS, 989 SF, 0.28 ACRE LOT

SOLD FOR $2,300,000

SOLD FOR $2,205,000

DON & PAMELA COLOMBANA | 925.878.8047

DON & PAMELA COLOMBANA | 925.878.8047

SOLD FOR $1,121,000 EVA ELDERTS | 925.726.9409

MARGY LYMAN | 925.963.6380

ALISON J. PETERSEN 925.984.7214

BONNE WERSEL 510.304.3303

BRYAN HURLBUT 925.383.5500

DANI O’CONNELL 925.786.2176

REALTOR® | DRE#01177737

REALTOR® | DRE# 01173288

REALTOR® | DRE# 01347508

BROKER ASSOCIATE DRE# 01892167

SOLD FOR $1,025,000

DON & PAMELA COLOMBANA 925.878.8047 925.482.4142

EVA ELDERTS 925.726.9409 REALTOR® | DRE# 02039328

REALTORS® DRE# 01979180 / 01979181

JOHN FONDNAZIO 925.817.9053

KORY MADGE 925.366.9899

MARGY LYMAN 925.963.6380

REALTOR® | DRE# 01938194

REALTOR® | DRE# 01345227

REALTOR® | DRE# 02067680

DRE# 01882902

WWW.DUDUM.COM

DANVILLE

WALNUT CREEK

MEREDITH & BONNIE KUMMELL 925.984.1344 925.980.9952

SCOTT & FONIA HUMPHRIES 925.298.2249 925.998.4444

REALTORS® DRE# 00905114 / 01364056

REALTOR® / BROKER DRE# 02078065 / 01019063

LAMORINDA

BRENTWOOD

SIERRA TAHOE

SUZY PECK 925.200.2988 REALTOR® | DRE# 01224695

Distinctive Properties

©2021 The information herein was obtained by sources deemed to be reliable by Dudum Real Estate Group. Dudum Real Estate group has not independently verified the information contained herein and therefore, assumes no legal responsibility for its accuracy. Buyer should investigate any matters or items disclosed, identified or about which they have concerns to their own satisfaction. DRE Lic. 01882902

PAGE 8 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • September 2021

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ONE WARM COAT

Mark your calendar for Wednesday, November 3rd from 2PM to 5PM for the annual One Warm Coat drive.

Gather coats, sweaters, blankets, and outerwear for curbside drop off for Alamo Women’s Club’s Together We Give project.

We are again partnering with the Rotary Club of San Ramon Valley for this collection. Items received will be distributed in early December to local shelters, charities, and Christmas for Everyone in Martinez. The Alamo Women’s Club is located at 1401 Danville Blvd., Alamo.

Grand Opening

DANVILLE ALAMO GARDEN CLUB

The Danville Alamo Garden Club would like to invite you to their monthly meetings where they will share their knowledge and love of gardening.

Monthly meetings are held on the second Thursday of each month and are currently presented via Zoom.

The meetings feature an inspiring and educational guest speaker and program.

Please visit www.DAGC.us to find detailed information about the monthly program, activities, and contact information.

To contact the Membership VP, click on “About DAGC” then “About Membership.” The group looks forward to meeting you!

COUNTY HEALTH RESOURCES

Below are resources to get updated COVID-19 health information in Contra Costa County.

• Visit coronavirus.cchealth.org for updated and comprehensive information and answers to the most frequently asked questions.

• Additional resources of all kinds can be found at contracosta.ca.gov.

• Email Supervisor Andersen at supervisorandersen@bos.cccounty.us, or call her office at (925) 957-8860. The Supervisor is able to respond to questions you have that cannot be answered at the County Health website.

25 Alamo Square, Alamo Next to Alamo Cafe

hippievibetribe.com 925-451-2443

TOWN TALKS FOR DANVILLE RESIDENTS

Danville residents can stay informed on community matters as Mayor Renee Morgan hosts a monthly livestream broadcast called “Town Talks.” The Zoom-based program takes place at 9AM on the first Friday of each month. The program is intended to provide a safe way for residents to hear from their community leaders and get up-to-the-minute information on the issues and topics facing Danville. Viewers will have the opportunity to ask questions in the chat and have them answered.

Questions can also be asked in advance by emailing towntalks@danville.ca.gov.

Following the program, residents can either view the entire program or short snippets from each episode on the Town of Danville’s YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/user/TownofDanvilleCA. To get more information or register for upcoming talks, visit www.danville. ca.gov/798/Stay-Connected. Look about half-way down the page for the current link. You can also contact Assistant to the Town Manager Diane Friedmann at (925) 314-3378, or email her at dfriedmann@danville.ca.gov.

VETERAN SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS

Feral Cat Foundation

Kitten and Cat Adoptions Saturdays 11AM-3PM | Sundays Noon-3PM Petco 2005 Crow Canyon Place, San Ramon All cats will be spayed or neutered, receive FVRCP shots, feline testing, microchip Learn more at feralcatfoundation.org 925-829-9098

Veteran Service Organizations (VSOs) meet at the Veterans Memorial Building of San Ramon Valley, 400 Hartz Avenue, Danville, except as otherwise noted.

• American Legion Post 246 meets on the first Wednesday of each month at noon. For information, visit americanlegionpost246.org, email commanderpost246@gmail.com, or call 925-272-8480.

• Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 75 of San Ramon Valley meets on the third Wednesday of each month at 7:30PM. For information, visit vmbsrv. org or email info@vfwpost75.org.

• Viet Nam Veterans of the Diablo Valley meets on the first Thursday of each month at 5PM at Crow Canyon Country Club, 711 Silver Lake Drive, Danville. For information, visit vnvdv.org/index.html or call 925-838-6445.

• Marine Corps League Detachment 942 meets on the fourth Saturday of each month at 8:30AM. For information, visit mcldet942.org.

• Blue Star Moms Detachment 101 meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 7PM. For information, visit bluestarmoms.org or call 925-587-4037.

• Bay Area Navy Nurse Corps Association holds two general meetings in June and December. For information, visit nnca.org or email bannca@nnca.org.

Facebook: Alamo Today & Danville Today News | editor@yourmonthlypaper.com September 2021 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 9

HOUSING MARKET: HOW DO I ENTER OR DOWNSIZE IN THE GREATER DANVILLE AREA? By Joe Gatti

In this month’s article, we’re going to look at the condo/townhouse market in our local community. The value of these types of properties appeals to buyers looking to enter the greater Danville area at a less expensive level than the current prices for single family detached homes.

The other main group of buyers seeking these properties are those downsizing from a larger detached property, looking for less maintenance (such as yard upkeep), and are looking to stay in the community they have lived in for years so they can remain close to friends and family.

Condo/Townhome 101: A condo/townhouse usually exists within a Homeowners Association (HOA). Such an association requires new property owners to become members and follow the governing documents such as CC&Rs (Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions) and By-Laws. These rules often regulate the unit appearance within the development or complex; for example, limiting exterior paint colors that can be used on the properties, how many vehicle spaces are available per owner, or vehicle sizes that are allowed in the complex. An HOA often collects monthly or quarterly fees for maintaining some portion of the exterior of the buildings and/or maintaining the landscaping/ roads within a complex. These fees in our greater Danville area can range from $250-$600, depending on the HOA and the common area maintenance the HOA is responsible for keeping attractive.

The graph* above compares the greater Danville area’s sold-market data for condos and townhouses from January 1st to August 21st in 2019 and 2021. During that roughly eight month time period, 298 properties sold in 2019 compared to an eye-popping increase in 2021 of 430 properties sold. That’s an increase of 44.2% of condos/townhouses for sale in 2021 versus two years prior. I will note that the majority of these sales are either in San Ramon or Danville, with a small handful in both Blackhawk and Alamo in both years. When comparing the price extremes (low and high), 2019 and 2021 are basically the same for entry-priced properties, with 2019 actually having a higher entry price than the lowest priced condo this year. The lowest priced condo in 2019 was a 1 bed, 1 bath, 474 sq. ft .San Ramon property closing for $361,000, while the lowest for 2021 was a 1 bed, 1 bath, 726 sq. ft. condo (also in San Ramon) with a closing price of $321,750. On the other extreme, the highest priced townhomes in 2019 and 2021 resemble the increase in value appreciation we have come to expect from our research in past articles. The highest priced property in 2019 was a downtown Danville townhome that sold for $1,098,000 and consisted of 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, and 1,884 sq ft of interior space. Fast forward two years, and the highest priced townhome, located in San Ramon, has jumped to $1,400,000 and consists of 3 beds, 3 baths, and 2,125 sq ft., resembling the interior space and price of some small detached homes in our area.

Finally, the difference in median sold price of condo/townhomes between 2019 and 2021 continues the narrative we unpacked last month regarding single family detached homes, which is there is a significant appreciation increase from 2019 to today. This is largely in part due to the higher level of attractiveness Contra Costa County, and specifically our area, has received during the pandemic due to work-from-home flexibility, safety, and award-winning local schools. In 2019, the median selling price for a condo/townhome was $699,000, while the median sold price thus far in 2021 has jumped to $835,000. That’s an appreciation of 19.4% over the last two years!

I hope you found this article helpful. I’ve been serving our real estate community for close to 10 years. Ron Gatti, my business partner and father, has been a fulltime real estate professional for over 40 years, all in the greater Danville area. We both are Associate Brokers with Compass and work out of the 15 Railroad office in downtown Danville. If you have any real estate questions during this extraordinary time or have questions about this article, please email GattiRealEstate@gmail.com or call Joe Gatti at 925-588-3590. Our services are here for you! *Data taken from the MLS during specific dates and under the criteria mentioned within the article.

Recent Activity in Your Community!

As Danville Natives, We Know Danville and the San Ramon Valley Pending Over Asking

Peding Over Asking

Pending Over Asking

140 Clover Hill Ct, Danville

135 Gaywood Rd, Westside Alamo

357 Cordell Drive, Danville

3 Beds | 2.5 Baths | 2,126 Sq Ft | $1,525,00 Fantastic Sycamore single story combining unique interior elegance and private end of cul de sac location.

The tastefully updated backyard is the quintessential entertainer’s dream!

4 Beds | 3 Baths | 2,227 Sq Ft | $1,799,000 Location, Location, Location! First time on market in 45 years! This single story rancher is three short blocks from the Iron Horse Trail, shopping, Hemme Station Park, and a short distance to award-winning schools.

4 Beds | 3 Baths | 2,666 Sq Ft | $2,195,000 Westside Danville location on one of the most soughtafter streets. Located on a flat 1/2 acre, the future home possibilities are endless. A short distance from the Iron Horse Trail, award-winning schools, and Downtown Danville.

Call us regarding how our Compass Concierge and Bridge Loan programs can help you!

Joe Gatti Broker Associate 925.588.3590 gattirealestate@gmail.com DRE 01914487

Ron Gatti Broker Associate 925.596.1972 gattirealestate@gmail.com DRE 00623995

gattirealestate.com Compass is a real estate broker licensed by the State of California and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. License Number 01527235. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only and is compiled from sources deemed reliable but has not been verified. Changes in price, condition, sale or withdrawal may be made without notice. No statement is made as to accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footage are approximate.

PAGE 10 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • September 2021

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CATCH UP ON SOME “Zs”

CHANGES OVER TIME

By Jaime Kaiman, Monte Vista High, junior

It’s hard to believe it is September already. To put just how fast the year is going into perspective, it’s only three months until we will be screaming “Happy New Year” from the top of our lungs. Not only is this year moving quickly, but time in general seems to be moving at the speed of light. In this edition, I thought it would be fun to look at certain things that have grown and changed over time. Each generation has experienced different inventions and ideas coming about, and as time goes by, we watch as those inventions and ideas evolve.

One thing that has changed immensely from the time it was established to now would be social media. In the early 2000s, the popular trend was having a Facebook page or a Myspace account. However, in 2021, social media has advanced significantly. Facebook and Myspace accounts are extremely rare for a teen to have these days. Why is that? It’s difficult to say, but I think it’s because social media has evolved.

While it was once a novelty to be able to post pictures and write captions, this is now a popular activity on many social media apps. People my age are now drawn to apps that have unique features about them. Relevant social media platforms today include apps like Instagram and Snapchat. Both of these apps bring something interesting and new to the table such as filters that can change the lighting of your photo or even make your photos distorted, if you choose. Of course, people still use apps like Facebook, but it’s features like these that have captured people’s attention toward different social media platforms.

Another thing that’s greatly changed is school. When I went to school to pick up some things for the start of the school year, I was surprised to hear that everyone would receive a school Chromebook to take with them to school and back home. It made me think about how much we’ve progressed from just a span of five or ten years. I remember relying solely on my physical textbooks, but now there are websites we use with our school that have the textbook online. Additionally, I remember on certain days, we’d have a cart full of computers in the front of our classroom to use if we were doing work on them that day. Now, we use our own computer every day because a huge portion of our work is digital, both at home and in school.

Overall, this year is flying by, just as the past few years have gone by quickly. There are ideas and inventions that have developed and changed over time. Some of those changes might not feel that big, but if you look back on how things were only a few years ago, you might be surprised to see just how much is different.

Danville friends Ailya (left) and Evelyn (right) recently held a threehour pop-up stand event and sold lemonade and homegrown tomatoes to folks passing by. They raised $160 which they donated and split between ARF (Animal Rescue Foundation) and the Feral Cat Foundation (FCF).

They recently dropped off their donation and a note at a FCF adoption event (see ad on page 8 for adoption days and times).

The note read, "Dear Feral Cat Foundation, We made a lemonade stand and earned a lot of money!

We are donating it to you and ARF because we adopted a pet from each of these foundations! We love both Sesame (cat) and Sushi (dog)! Thank you for giving us an opportunity to adopt an animal!”

MONTE VISTA HIGH

By Dr. Kevin Ahern, Principal

Tuesday, August 10th, the First Day of School, was truly a celebration as we welcomed our 2,400 students back to Monte Vista (MV). There is a huge, positive, buzz around campus as we were all excited to get the 2021-22 school year up and running.

In preparation for the first day of school, both students and staff put in countless hours to make our return to school as great as possible. In the last week of July, our leadership class students went on a two-day retreat where they honed their skills as school leaders. On August 4th, MV upperclassmen took part in Mustang Mentor training in order to prepare for our Freshman Orientation, and on Friday, August 7th, MV officially welcomed the class of 2025 to our campus. I would like to thank this amazing group of students and their advisors; Tommy Greenless, Stacy Brix, and Chris Connor; for their hard work in preparing and executing this fabulous event.

On Thursday, August 6th, MV held its annual Stampede Day. The event was well supported by our community groups including our PTSA, Academic Boosters, Athletic Boosters, Keynoters, Friends of Choir, The Class of 2022, and ASB Leadership. A huge thank you to our PTSA, Leadership students, Office Manager, Jodi McFarland, the many community groups who attended in support of MV programs, and the MV families who showed their generosity in supporting our students through these programs.

On Monday, August 9th, MV’s faculty met as a full team, in person, for the first time in over a year. They spent the morning team building and problem solving through a variety of activities. The three-hour session was a lot of fun, connected and re-connected our staff, and set a great tone for the new school year.

Things kept going the first week of school with our annual Back-to-School Dance on Friday, August 20th which was well attended by MV’s students. In the upcoming weeks, the year really starts off with our first athletic contests.

MV is off to a fast and successful start to the 2021-22 school year. Please check our website, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for up-to-date information about our programs. We look forward to a great year.

WALNUT CREEK GARDEN CLUB

You are invited to visit meetings and to become a part of the Walnut Creek Garden Club! You’ll find friendly members, with varying interests including: • Creating and improving gardens with new plants and techniques • Supporting garden education in local schools • Supporting local environmental charities with community grants • Learning about the fun of arranging flowers • Volunteering to help local gardens, fundraisers, and plant sales The group meets the second Monday of each month at 9:30AM, September through June, at The Gardens at Heather Farm, 1540 Marchbanks Dr., Walnut Creek.

If you are interested in joining the Club or for more information, please visit www.walnutcreekgardenclub.org.

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Facebook: Alamo Today & Danville Today News | editor@yourmonthlypaper.com September 2021 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 11

SAN RAMON VALLEY HIGH

HELLO SAN RAMON VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL COMMUNITY

By Whitney Cottrell, Principal

Welcome to the 2021-22 school year! We are thrilled to welcome the Class of 2024 and have all of our students on campus. As we open the school year, we are committed to ensuring every student feels deeply connected to the San Ramon community as student success increases when students feel connected to their school. We began our connectedness efforts before the first day of school with a Link Crew Orientation for sophomores and newto-SRV juniors and seniors, and a second Link Crew Orientation for freshmen. Link Crew Orientation was a great way for students to become acquainted with our campus and participate in activities to build community and connections. Hundreds of students took part and filled the SRV campus with energy and enthusiasm.

Our entire student body was invited to our annual Wolf Pack Day. It was wonderful to see students excited to complete registration for the upcoming school year, buying ASB cards, taking school pictures, and picking up a Chromebook as part of the San Ramon Valley Unified School District’s 1:1 program. Our partnership with SRVHS Academic Boosters is a vital component in our school’s heritage of excellence. During registration, our families generously donated to SRVHS Academic Boosters, and it is because of these donations that we are able to offer a robust array of courses across all subjects and reduce class sizes in core subjects. We are extremely grateful for the generosity of our parents.

Our campus was full of vitality as students began the school year on August 10th and SRV classrooms were alive with positive interactions, community building activities, and learning. While our teachers focused on connectedness in the classroom, they were also able to connect with each other as the PTSA hosted a delicious luncheon for the staff of SRV. We are so appreciative of all of their support.

The busy month of August at SRV included the official start, and exciting return, of fall sports. We look forward to uniting our entire community in support of our Football, Sideline Cheer, Pom, Cross Country, Golf, Tennis, Volleyball, and Water Polo teams as they begin competition. On Monday, August 23rd, students participated in one of two “Breaking Down the Walls” assemblies followed by two days of workshops. Breaking Down the Walls is another wonderful opportunity for students and staff to connect, build positive relationships, and establish an inclusive campus culture. Parents also had a chance to connect with teachers at this year’s in-person Back-to-School Night. The month’s activities culminated with an outdoor rally, JV and Varsity Football games, and an outdoor Welcome Back Dance. September promises to be will be just as eventful!

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Many of our neighbors cannot afford to feed and clothe themselves or their families. Volunteer opportunities for individuals, families, and groups to serve the community are available at White Pony Express (WPE).

WPE, founded by Dr. Carol Weyland Conner in 2013 and headquartered in Pleasant Hill, is a nonprofit that rescues fresh surplus food from supermarkets, restaurants, and farmers markets. This nutritious food is then delivered free to organizations that feed the hungry. In addition, high-quality clothing, children’s toys, and books are distributed free of charge.

Hundreds of volunteers make WPE possible. They volunteer because they believe in the mission and know they are helping others who have urgent needs at this critical time in their lives. If you are interested in volunteering, please visit whiteponyexpress.org/volunteer or call Mandy Nakaya, Volunteer Services Coordinator, at 925-818-6361 or email Mandy@ whiteponyexpress.org.

DANVILLE POLICE OFFER ‘EXCHANGE’ ZONE

Residents who purchase items via online services such as Craigslist now have a designated neutral ‘Exchange Zone’ in the upper parking lot of the Danville Town offices to conduct their business. Signage has been installed, and the Danville Police Department has designated parking spaces at the Town of Danville offices, 510 La Gonda Way, for residents to conduct transactions in a constantly video-recorded space. With proximity to police headquarters and video recording, the goal is to have an atmosphere of safety and assurance for would-be buyers while dissuading criminals from using online merchandising for criminal purposes.

To learn more, contact Sargent Ron Hoekwater at (925) 314-3700 or rhoekwater@danville.ca.gov.

PAGE 12 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • September 2021

VALLEY VIGNETTE By Beverly Lane

RUSSEL GLENN AND DANVILLE’S PLANNED RETROGRESSION

In 1952, Russel Glenn came to Danville, sparking all sorts of changes in the quiet burg. Picture the valley that year -- small communities in Alamo, Danville, and San Ramon with no freeway, gas stations along the boulevard, and walnut and pear orchards spreading out across the landscape. The whole valley had only 4,630 people in 1950.

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L-R Tony Cicero, John May, Bill Hockins

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Glenn leased, then bought the Danville Hotel Restaurant, painted it red, decorated it with antiques, and built a Ghost Town and facades nearby -- all with the intent of turning the Danville Hotel Restaurant into a tourist attraction.

He was full of ideas about how to improve and promote the entire downtown.

Glenn had been mechanic, a Marine, a race car driver, a sales manager for Duchess Incorporation of Oakland, a middleweight boxer, and a gold prospector.

With his fertile imagination, persuasive words, effervescent personality, willingness to work and way with the ladies, Danville had never seen anybody like him.

In 1958, Glenn spoke to his friends Dr. Tom Ohlson, John May, Bill Hockins, and John Roberts about the shabbiness of downtown. Some people had nicknamed Hartz Avenue “Gasoline Alley.” Together, they created the “Confederacy of Danville” and proclaimed that Danville was “resigning from the twentieth century.”

Their slogan was “Old Century Leisure -- New Century Convenience.” They wanted “to retain and enhance the charm and leisurely atmosphere of the San Ramon Valley.”

Merchants were encouraged to spiff up their businesses, use old fashioned letters on signs, and put in leaded windows and cupolas.

John May’s Shoe Stable already had an old fashioned look; Mildred Fereira and her mother changed the front of their Diablo Beauty Shop to improve its looks; Dr. Ohlson put flowers in an old bathtub in front of his Danville Veterinarian Hospital on Rose Street.

A bold declaration was made, and the efforts were noted by newspapers, in particular the San Francisco Examiner.

There was plenty of local conversation, with some saying the Confederacy was just a Danville Hotel promotion. Others thought it would improve the historic town. Needless to say, when the county built its modern “space age” library in the sixties, Confederacy supporters were none too enthusiastic.

Glenn discovered that Danville was named (and therefore founded) in 1858, and plans for a centennial celebration were soon in place. The Chamber of Commerce with Ohlson as president recruited people to put on a four-day event in September of 1958, and the community went all out. What a party! “Hay Days” provided a carnival, aquacade, bathing suit fashion show, pet and car parades, and a barbecue.

The Valley Pioneer published a Centennial Edition on September 4, 1958, which featured letters of congratulations from President Dwight D. Eisenhower and others. This edition had articles on the history of the valley, agriculture, Mt. Diablo, schools, and pioneer families including Charles Wood, August Hemme, Joel Harlan, and R. O. Baldwin. Charlotte Wood wrote a Centennial Danville poem for the occasion.

It was altogether a smashing, fun-filled four days. Hay Days was celebrated for a few more years in September. Then, in 1962, Virginian Deaton, Casey LaFortune, and Liz DeChene, supported by their husbands, pressed to have an old-fashioned family Fourth of July parade with a program featuring inspiring speaker and former POW General Dean, and fireworks. It was folksy, patriotic, and very popular. That was the start of the recent July Fourth events. This years’ Labor Day Parade has a historic precedent -- not all big parades happen July 4th!

In 1959, Glenn had 10 decorators redo the second floor of the Hotel and provided public tours. He then moved into the new rooms.

He tried to sell the hotel and buildings in 1962, but the transaction fell through. The prospective owners had planned a motel on the site. View of Danville Hotel Territory 2007 Glenn gradually purchased the whole block and, in 1965, built a large new restaurant, the Silver Dollar banquet room. Photographer Michael Macor Artist-craftsman Leon Erickson designed the room and other buildings which Glenn called “a genial merchandise center.” Local builder Vern Ryan constructed the project. When the 300-person banquet room opened in June of 1965, Glenn touted it as part of “Planned Retrogression To The Lusty Elegance of Early California…The Ornate New Silver Dollar Banquet Room at the Danville Hotel.”

The block took the name “The Danville Territory” when Jerry and Eileen Carter bought and renovated it in 1976, renaming the banquet room the Danville Hotel Restaurant and Saloon. For many, it was the symbol of Old Town Danville. Today’s retail, restaurant, residential development, while still called The Danville Hotel, is a very different kettle of fish from the Territory old-timers recall.

When Russel Glenn passed away in 1982, he left $5,000 for a “celebration of life,” directing that the invitation state, “I hope that my friends will enjoy themselves and accept my gratitude for having made my life a very happy one.” One hundred people came, partied, and traded stories well into the evening, a fine tribute to Danville’s unique spark plug.

Sources: Valley Pioneer Nov. 6, 1968, May 7, 1975; The Silver Dollar Special, June 23, 1965; The History of the Danville Hotel and McCauley House (2004); Irma M. Dotson, interview with Virgina Deaton.

Facebook: Alamo Today & Danville Today News | editor@yourmonthlypaper.com September 2021 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 13

QUICK TRIPS By Linda Summers Pirkle

NIGHT MARKET

The 2014 film, Chef, starring Jon Favreau who also wrote and directed the instant classic, is a must see. The fabulous music, the sentimentality, and the humor are all part of the recipe for making this movie the gem that it is. In one memorable scene, Carl Casper, also known as El Jefe, played by Favreau, a successful chef in Los Angeles, makes a mouthwatering grilled cheese sandwich.

He drizzles olive oil on a hot grill, smears two slices of sourdough bread with whipped butter, and piles on slices of cheddar, Gruyere and Parmesan. As the bread sizzles to a tantalizingly glorious golden-brown color, he flips the sandwich and waits for the perfect ooze of the melted cheese. Once done, El Jefe spatulas the toasty gooey goodness on a plate for his son who takes a bite and says, “It’s good Dad.” If you have not seen the film, spoiler alert, the once big time Los Angeles Chef Carl Casper, in a fit of anger, loses his job but re-invents himself as he refurbishes a food truck and travels across the country.

The precursor to food trucks in the US, according to a Google search, started in the late 1800s with the Texas chuckwagon. Cowhands herding cattle from the southwest to markets in the north and east were kept on the trails for months at a time. A Texas cattle rancher, Charles Goodnight, fitted a sturdy old Army wagon with interior shelving and drawers, and stocked it with all he needed to serve up meals for the cowhands.

In the 1950’s, mobile canteens set up their outfitted trucks near stateside army bases. Eventually, these grab-and-go trucks spread to locations such as construction areas, factories, and blue-collar sites where quick, affordable meals could be purchased.

Today, gourmet food trucks are everywhere, and entrepreneurs, including established chefs, like the character in the film Chef are serving all kinds of delicacies from tacos, to donuts, lobster rolls, ice cream, and everything in between.

On a recent weekend, my daughters and I attended the very popular food truck extravaganza called 626 Night Market held at the Pleasanton Fairgrounds.

The Night Market featured food trucks, vendors, artists, crafts, and entertainment. Named after the San Gabriel Valley (northeast of Los Angeles), where the event originated, we, along with throngs of others, went for the food. It was hot, and with the event entirely held on blacktop, it seemed much hotter.

The interesting and delicious food choices made it all worthwhile.

Our top favorites were Pineapple Whips (pineapplewhips.com) owned by Janeen Taplin whose refreshing creamy soft ice cream is a perfect combination of tart and sweet; The Ensaymada Project, run by Chari using her mom’s artisanal recipe showcases velvety, pillowy-moist texture in her ensaymadas which is paired with her signature buttercream (ensaymadaproject. com); and Paraiso Juice Bar and Grill (instagram.com/paraisojuicebar) with their scrumptious Tacos De Birrio. You will want to go back for more, which is exactly what we did.

The next 626 Night Market is scheduled September 24th-26th from 3PM-11PM at the Pleasanton Fairgrounds. You must order your tickets online at 626nightmarket.com prior to arrival. Tickets sell out. It is less crowded on Friday afternoon when it first opens. Parking is by credit card only, and the cost is $10 per vehicle. The Fairgrounds are located at 4501 Pleasanton Avenue, Pleasanton.

Linda Summers Pirkle, travel writer, Francophile, consultant and long-term Danville resident, has arranged and led tours for the Town of Danville for several years. She is currently working on a guide featuring off-the-beaten path destinations. To share your “Quick Trips” ideas, email Coverthemap@gmail.com.

PAGE 14 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • September 2021

SLOW DOWN: HOW TO PRACTICE ROAD SAFETY THIS SCHOOL YEAR

By County Supervisor Candace Andersen

Wear a seatbelt. Don’t text and drive. Obey the speed limit.

These are just some of the many laws all drivers know they must abide by.

But every year, in the early fall, as children bid farewell to summer break and return to the classroom, all drivers should become reacclimated with the rules of the road when it comes to driving in school zones.

California law enforces a strict speed limit of 25 mph when driving within 500 to 1,000 feet of a school while children are outside or crossing the street. Slowing down and taking the time to be aware of your surroundings while operating a vehicle could make all the difference when it comes to preventing disaster, as our roads have once again seen an influx of congestion before and after school.

With most Contra Costa County schools back in session for in-person instruction, the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff felt it was important to share some safety tips on this matter.

• Children walking to school should only cross streets at crosswalks and intersections and never between cars. Obey crossing guards.

• Children riding their bikes or scooters to school should wear helmets and bright clothing.

• Drivers must stop when a school bus has its red lights flashing and stop-arm extended, or when children are boarding or unloading. You can continue once the bus starts moving again. Yellow flashing lights on a school bus indicate you should slow down.

• Drivers should slow down and be aware of children walking and on bicycle, especially in residential areas and school zones.

For children who ride their bicycle to school, NHTSA recommends that students: • Always wear a correctly fitted helmet, and securely fasten the chin strap.

• Ride in the same direction as traffic, and follow traffic signs and signals.

• Stay in the bike lane whenever possible.

• Never use electronics while riding – they are distracting.

The NHTSA encourages pedestrians to avoid distractions and watch the road as opposed to their phones, use the sidewalk whenever possible, walk on the edge of the street facing traffic, use marked crosswalks, and of course, look both ways when crossing.

Locally, there are several groups in our County who have been working for many years to promote road safety practices for children and drivers in our communities. In October 2002, the Contra Costa Safe Communities Project (WCCSC) recommended “a regional traffic safety education campaign to include a variety of traffic safety messages aimed at motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists.”

Street Smarts in the San Ramon Valley was created in 2004 following the tragic deaths of three San Ramon Valley children in two separate traffic-related accidents. Since traffic incidents do not stop at city borders, the San Ramon Valley community came together to create the Street Smarts program.

In its first year, the Street Smarts program launched efforts targeted to the elementary school population through a poster contest. The program expanded in 2005 to reach middle school students with a video contest, and in 2007 it expanded to high school students. For more information about Street Smarts, visit street-smarts.com.

In partnership with Street Smarts, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) program Start Smart has been presented at local high schools to better educate teen drivers.

The graphic presentation of real-life accidents encountered by the CHP on our local roads has had an impact on many teen drivers, including my own children.

Our local high schools require a student attend this program before they will issue an on-campus parking permit. Because of the pandemic, this class has shifted online. Information about it can be found at www.srvusd.net/startsmart.

Another resource that enhances safety around our schools is the TRAFFIX program. Launched in 2009, TRAFFIX was created to reduce the high volume of traffic congestion at the most impacted schools in the San Ramon Valley. In the Alamo and Danville areas, the TRAFFIX fleet serves Green Valley Elementary School, Vista Grande Elementary, Los Cerros Middle School, Monte Vista High School, and San Ramon Valley High School. At $475 per student, for an entire school year, this bus program offers student transportation services at a fraction of the cost of other school bus programs.

www.yourmonthlypaper.com | Instagram: @Alamoanddanvilletoday | #atdtnews Above all, the top priority of TRAFFIX is safety. As such, TRAFFIX has created an extensive Rider Guide that details safe practices all passengers should learn. To view the TRAFFIX Rider Guide, visit www.ridetraffix.com/rider-guide.

Having students back to school with in-person instruction is such a welcome sight this fall as we continue battling the pandemic. While we have many ways to keep students safe from illness while in the classroom, ensuring their safety while traveling to and from school is equally important.

My office is here to serve the residents of Contra Costa County District 2, which includes San Ramon, Danville, Alamo, Walnut Creek, Saranap, Parkmead, Lafayette, Moraga, Canyon, and Orinda. Please contact us if we can provide you with additional information on this topic or on other County issues. I can be reached at SupervisorAndersen@bos.cccounty.us or 925-957-8860.

Parade continued from front page

finished the festivities with an appropriate Western flair.

Valley historian Virgie Jones, author of Remembering Alamo ... and Other Things Along the Way, penned “I Remember Hay Days!” for the 2008 Danville

1958 Hay Days Centennial Parade. Photo courtesy of the Museum of the San Ramon

Weekly special edition. “We Joneses participated in all of it. We wore costumes for the entire four days. My husband, Al Jones, wore a cowboy outfit resembling ‘Cowboy Wild Bill Cody’ or a ‘Southern Colonel.’ By day, I wore a pioneer dress and bonnet, and at night I wore a black slinky, side-slitted, form fitting beaded gown complete with feather boa and fan and became a dance hall ‘cutie.’” Al Jones grew a beard for the Whiskerino contest, “but Russ never shaved his beard off.”

This year’s September 4th parade is expected to last 2 1/2-3 hours. Attendees are advised they cannot save spaces along the route until 6PM on September 3rd and only those designated by chairs in place will be recognized. Back in 1958, no one had trouble finding a great viewing position. Gary Soto filmed the entire 1958 parade with his 8mm camera as he perched on a ladder outside Elliott’s bar. He estimates the event took only 15 minutes. He remembers that an early 1940s sign near the San Ramon High School listed Danville’s population then as 1,200. The official 1940 census tallied 1,225 residents. By 1960, Danville’s population had only risen to 3,585. The 2020 census counted 43,582 topped by a 2021 estimate of 44,510.

One of few Danville businesses that have outlasted the town’s growth, Elliott's, established in 1907, has stood at 369 Hartz Avenue since 1912. Catering to local clientele, Elliott’s was mentioned

by Joy Lazendorfer in “Discovering O’Neill’s San Francisco,” an article focused on her tour of Tao House (New York Times 10/3/2018). “Back in Danville, I stopped at Elliott’s for a Virginia Deaton was instrumental in changing drink. There’s no evidence O'Neill came Danville's festivities back to a hometown 4th of to this bar, and he probably didn’t -- he July celebration in 1962. Photo courtesy of the was sober at Tao House. However, the Museum of the San Ramon Valley. bar was full, though it was only 4PM, and there was a jovial camaraderie in the air.”

Hiram Elliott rode out the Prohibition era by turning his bar into an ice cream parlor. While others were happily breaking the law, he felt bound to set a good example for his sons. In Vintage Danville, Beverly Lane and Laura Grinstead write: “Duane Elliott recalled that his father lined up bottles on the bar the night before prohibition and invited patrons to finish them off. The next day, Hiram broke every single remaining bottle.”

See Parade continued on page 15

Facebook: Alamo Today & Danville Today News | editor@yourmonthlypaper.com September 2021 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 15

CLIP NOTES

By Jody Morgan

Danville Glass Shower & Windows

What does the favorite food of the extinct Passenger Best Quality, Prices, & Service Pigeon have in common with the election campaign of the All types of residential glass 11th president of the United States? Tasty yet toxic, some Fogged Dual Panes • Mirrors folks have celebrated it as a culinary delight and medicBroken Glass • Shower Doors inal herb for centuries. Others revile it as an aggressive nuisance. It usually sprouts as a gift from the birds that relish the purple-black berries. Delicate spikes of predomBy appointment only: inantly white flowers precede the fruit. Native to all but a 4115 Blackhawk Plaza Cir #100, Danville handful of states, it is classified as an introduced species in 925-277-0555 California, present in Contra Costa and Alameda as well as many other counties.

Sho I had yet to encounter the plant when Tony Joe White’s song climbed toward the p Lo cal! top of the hit parade charts. If you are old enough to recall lyrics penned in 1968 danvilleglasscompany.com made popular in 1969, you’ll remember “Polk Salad Annie.” One stanza goes: “Every Email for free estimates Licensed and Insured day before supper time, she’d go down by the truck patch and pick herself a mess of dgc94526@gmail.com #795837 Polk salad and carry it home in a tote sack.” There are at least fifty common names for this species, properly designated Phytolacca americana, including pokeweed, poke salad, poke sallet, inkberry, red-ink plant, pigeonberry, and poor man’s asparagus.

Interestingly, White’s title is spelled “Polk.” During James Polk’s successful 1844 campaign for president of the United States, his supporters wore poke leaves in their lapels to advertise their candidate. Playing off Polk as a homonym for “poke” worked on many levels. Born in a Pineville, North Carolina cabin, the oldest of ten in a farming family, Polk undoubtedly grew up savoring the cooked parts of pokeweed.

All parts of the plant improperly handled can be toxic to people and livestock. Despite finding “salad” and “sallet” among the colloquial terms for the species, pokeweed is most safely consumed cooked. Although I have used the beautiful berries in floral arrangements, I have never tried recipes for cooking the young leaves and stems or making medicinal salves and tinctures.

In Wildflower Folklore, Laura Martin offers, “Probably no other plant gets as much attention in the spring as does the pokeweed, or poke sallet as the mountain people call it. The young shoots are collected and then cooked like greens. An old mountain recipe says to wash and cook the stems and leaves together, and to boil and drain them several times.” Trish Sommers, who grew up in Tennessee, insists her family never boil the greens like most people. “Instead, we take the young tender leaves and soak them in water. Then we tear them into pieces, dip them in flour, and fry them in canola oil until they are crunchy (like you do with okra or squash).” Up until 1990, If you couldn’t harvest the greens on your own, you could buy them canned by Bush Brothers & Company in Tennessee. Allen Canning Company of Siloam Springs, Arkansas canned their last batch in April 2000.

During the Civil War, soldiers wrote letters using ink made from pokeweed berries. Unfortunately, the red ink faded overtime. Despite what you may read on the internet, oak gall ink, rather than pokeberry, was used to pen the Declaration of Independence. The common name poke comes from the Algonquin name for the plant (variously spelled) puccoon, pocan, pokan or poughkone, meaning “plant used for staining or dying.”

Current research shows promising potential for using drugs derived from pokeweed to treat certain cancers, herpes, and HIV, confirming some of the applications practitioners of folklore medicine have considered effective for centuries. Several Shaker communities offered pokeweed for sale as a medicinal herb during the mid-nineteenth century including New Lebanon in New York and Canterbury in New Hampshire.

“Pokeberries Provide Boost for Solar Cells,” proclaims an article by Stephen Graff, posted online by the US Department of Energy (5/20/2010). He writes: “Researchers at Wake Forest University’s Center for Nanotechnology and Molecular Materials in North Carolina have discovered that red dye from the pokeberry weed makes their low-cost, fiber-based solar cells even more energy efficient.”

Pulling out young seedlings is easy. Once poke puts down its taproot, removal is a big chore. While you probably don’t want pokeweed in your perennial bed, if you have a bit of woodland edge or open ground where nothing desirable is growing, letting the birds’ landscape contributions thrive will provide habitat for quail and food for songbirds, small mammals, and even foxes, opossums, and raccoons. Pokeweed is remarkably successful at reproducing. A single plant can yield 1,500-7,000 seeds-a-year.

Parade continued from page 14

From the time Daniel Inman endorsed construction of the first shop on Front Street in 1858 until the beginning of the 20th century, Front Street rather than Hartz Avenue was the place to open a business.

The oldest living Danville resident in 1958, 85-year-old Ina Boone Root, was interviewed for The Valley Pioneer’s centennial edition. She remembered when the railroad service came to town in 1891: “Hartz Avenue was merely a path running through a grain field at the time.” She explained, “As the winters kept washing away the sides of the San Ramon Creek along Front Street, Hartz Avenue became the main thoroughfare of the town at the turn of the century.’”

In the same September 4, 1958, special release, Fay Tarlock explains in “Danville -- A Portrait” how Hartz Avenue came to be. “Still greater changes were to come with the railroad. Not long before the line was built, shrewd John Hartz, from Holstein, Germany via Hayward, bought a farm in Danville west of the village. His home was the large white house once owned by the Houston’s and in suburban times first by the Quinn’s, who named Quinnterra Lane. Hartz Avenue was a wheat field in 1891, but within three years, the fields would retreat. John Hartz sold the first lot to the first man who could put money on the counter.”

Like, many other San Ramon Valley pioneers, brothers Daniel and Andrew Inman came to California Miss Pioneer Belle and her entourage. Photo courtesy of the to mine during the Gold Rush and settled in the area after earning enough money to buy land. In 1858, Museum of the San Ramon Valley.

Daniel purchased 400 acres in what became Danville. His letter, published originally on January 3,1898, in the Danville Sentinel, is quoted in the 2008 Danville Weekly “Hay Days” commemorative paper.

“In the summer of 1859, a man named Davis came along and wanted to start a blacksmith shop where the one now stands (Close’s), and I gave him permission to do so. He sold out that winter to Jim Johnson, now deceased. Johnson soon after sold to Simon Whitmore. Then, a man named Long started a wheelwright shop. About the same time, H.W. Harris started a hotel, and Wolff & Cohen a store.” When a post office was added in 1860, residents needed to name the town. The Inman brothers didn’t like Inmanville, but as it happened, Andrew’s mother-in-law hailed from Danville, Kentucky. Danville was a nod to both Daniel Inman and Grandma Sallie Young.

Greetings from towns around the country named Danville were highlighted in the September 4,1958, Valley Pioneer. Danville, Kentucky had just celebrated its 179th birthday. The Inman brothers traveled west from Illinois in 1849. Danville, Illinois celebrated its centennial in 1926. In 1858, as Danville, California began to be a village, back east in Illinois an unknown candidate named Abraham Lincoln debated against incumbent Senator Stephen Douglas. Although Lincoln lost that election, related

See Parade continued on page 20

PAGE 16 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • September 2021

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Hometown help from your local and personal technology experts, since 2001.

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925-552-7953 support@pcioit.com w w w. p c i o i t . c o m

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TECHNOLOGY MATTERS

TAKE A PICTURE!

By Evan Corstorphine, Portable CIO, Inc.

Whoever first uttered the phrase, “A picture is worth a thousand words,” must have been in the remote helpdesk business! Computers are complex, and there are countless ways things can break. Actually seeing an error sometimes can be the only way we can figure things out. Today, with so many ways to actually “see” errors on a remote computer, we’re spoiled compared to yesteryear. It wasn’t always like this.

Today, our business clients have special remote agents on their systems that keep us informed about what is going on with the computer. The agents also include software the client can invite us to use for remote control. When we began PCIO twenty years ago, the support tools we use today didn’t exist. All remote support was via telephone, and it was challenging! With no remote tools, we had to use the customer’s eyes to see the screen. We had to tell our clients what to type or how to click the proper commands. At times, it was excruciating, but we made it work. Everything took a lot longer to fix.

When we’re helping someone on the phone, it’s not always an easy conversation. Something as simple as asking someone to describe the problem may turn into a frustrated venting. Their stress level becomes an obstacle to moving forward because they’re usually anxious about what’s happening. Everyone knows technical issues love to appear most whenever there is a deadline.

Because folks become stressed, fixing their technology sometimes requires we first help them get re-centered. It can be traumatic when something awful happens to your project or when you lose data that’s hard to replace. We’ve spent many hours consoling grieving clients over the loss of important and irreplaceable data like family pictures or a document not saved. All of this is the reason we are insistent that our clients use proper off-site backup systems.

Another factor that gets in the way of remote support is a poor internet connection. Although this is less of a problem now than just five or ten years ago, it still happens. It’s most common when someone is using WiFi at too great of a distance. Of course, if the computer is simply too slow because

the disk is failing, or the system is dead, there is no alternative other than to bring it into our shop.

There are situations that we cannot understand or fix without using our own eyes. Examples include when an error is intermittent or someone cannot remember what they did to cause the error to start. It’s not uncommon for us to ask our clients to send us a picture or a video of their problem. Whether it is a message on a screen, a piece of equipment, blinking LEDs, or audio of something that’s beeping, pictures and videos are worth their weight in gold.

Smartphones and texting of this type of media have saved us countless hours of running in circles.

Another way to see what is happening is through video conferencing tools like Zoom. These tools allow us to share screens for presentations. They also enable the viewer to request control of the mouse and keyboard of the other party. When granted, this becomes a remote control session that can be used for exploration and troubleshooting. This is a feature you can use with family members or friends, and without complicated IT management tools.

Before I close, I want to say a quick word about the faux-support people who call you. You know them as the people who say they are from Apple, or Microsoft, Dell or HP. Instead of being content taking your credit card information and pillaging your data, they have also begun to remotely install ransomware on their victim’s computers. Once they do that, you’re absolutely sunk unless you have excellent off-site backups that they can’t get into. If you need help, call someone local who you can trust before doing anything else.

And never take an unsolicited call purporting to be from one of these giant tech companies. Believe me! They don’t know who you are and would never, ever call you. If in doubt, ask for their call-back number, and then call PCIO. We will determine if they are safe to speak with or not (probably not!).

Computer support is about relationships, not technology. For your own good, and to avoid scammers, only work with a local firm like PCIO to ensure you get the help you need. Our firm can be reached at 925-552-7953 or by Advertorial email at support@pcioit.com.

To advertise call 925.405.6397

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JOINT TITLING - PANACEA OR PROBLEM?

By Robert J. Silverman, Esq.

Titling assets jointly is common. Often it’s appropriate; frequently, it’s not. Most importantly, people who own or consider owning assets in joint form should be aware of the potential pitfalls and alternatives.

MARRIED COUPLES

If you are married and do not have a revocable living trust (“Trust”), you and your spouse likely own your bank and investment accounts jointly, and you own your home jointly - in either “joint tenancy” or “community property with right of survivorship.” On the surface, this makes sense. If one spouse dies, the other spouse automatically and seamlessly owns 100% of the asset (by “right of survivorship”), and the deceased spouse’s interest is not subject to probate. Nevertheless, this can cause at least two major problems.

First, upon a spouse’s incapacity, it is difficult and expensive for the non-incapacitated spouse to refinance or sell real estate. Generally, a cumbersome court conservatorship proceeding is required. Fortunately, this situation can be avoided if the incapacitated spouse had previously established a valid Durable Power of Attorney.

Second, if both spouses die in a common accident (or upon the death of the surviving spouse), the property must go through probate - a long, expensive, and inconvenient court-supervised estate administration proceeding.

So, even for married couples, titling assets jointly can be unfavorable.

Fortunately, from a management and succession standpoint, there is a great alternative - a joint Trust. If a joint Trust is established and substantially all assets are titled in the Trust: a) each spouse has access and control as they would if the assets were titled jointly; AND upon the incapacity or death of one or both spouses, no probate or court intervention should be required.

JOINT OWNERS WHO ARE NOT MARRIED

Here, the potential problems tend to be magnified. I regularly see new clients who have bank accounts, and sometimes real estate, owned jointly with a child or other close relative. Frequently, the owner put the other person (“joint owner”) on title “for convenience” - so the joint owner will have access to the asset if the owner becomes incapacitated. While this arrangement may be convenient and appear harmless, it can be dangerous.

Perilous examples: i) the joint owner withdraws funds from a joint account for himself without the owner’s knowledge or blessing (or if it’s real estate, the joint owner forces the sale of the property and takes half of the sales proceeds); ii) the joint owner’s creditors execute a judgment or lien against the asset that equitably belongs to the owner.

Another consequence of joint titling (with real estate, “joint tenancy”) is not widely understood: upon the owner’s death, the joint owner automatically owns 100% of the asset. This can trigger serious conflicts, damaged relationships, and/or litigation. Example: Facts - an owner has: a) two children; b) a Will bequeathing all assets to her two children, equally; and c) a $200,000 bank account she has jointly titled with one of her children. Result on the owner’s death: per her Will, the owner wanted and expected all assets to be split equally between her two children; however, by operation of law, the joint owner child will be legally entitled to the entire $200,000 account. In other words, joint titling takes precedence over the provisions of a Will.

When an owner adds a loved one to the title of real estate, the potential problems, including detrimental income and property tax liability, are more extreme. Nevertheless, many people do so innocently, without understanding the legal or tax consequences.

Despite the popularity of joint titling, unintended consequences and costs can be harmful. Proper estate planning typically provides appealing alternatives. |Estate Planning | Trust Administration & Probate | Real Estate | Business| Please contact me to request a complimentary: i) “Estate Planning Primer”; ii) Real Estate titling brochure; iii) introductory meeting. I am an attorney with R. Silverman Law Group, 1910 Olympic Blvd., Suite 330, Walnut Creek, CA 94596; (925) 705-4474; rsilverman@ rsilvermanlaw.com.

This article is intended to provide information of a general nature, and should not be relied upon as legal, tax and/ or business advice. Readers should obtain specific advice from their own, qualified professional advisors.

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FOUR-DIMENSIONAL THOUGHT

By Peter T. Waldron, Managing Partner of Spectrum Wealth Partners

“Evolution has ensured that our brains just aren’t equipped to visualize 11 dimensions directly. However, from a purely mathematical point of view, it’s just as easy to think in 11 dimensions as it is to think in three or four.” ~ Stephen Hawking When I was a child, I was diagnosed with attention deficit disorder (ADD). This was difficult because it made me think of myself as different. It wasn’t until I started working as a financial planner that I began to understand the value of my “difference.” Having ADD allows me to think in an abbreviated manner about multiple trains of thought simultaneously, which is not the same as multitasking. Instead, I can take something that is complex and simplify it to develop creative solutions while sourcing various elements of unrelated disciplines. I describe this as thinking in multiple dimensions. Comprehensive financial planners must be able to understand all the elements – or dimensions - of someone’s financial life. We use our financial planning wheel (shown) to illustrate the comprehensive nature of planning.

There is a certain level of interplay with each element of a person’s financial life.

Basic arithmetic can only get you so far in financial planning. When you begin to incorporate the complexities of taxes, estate laws, investment performance, inflation, risks, etc., the equation becomes much more than basic. As an example, someone who is looking to retire must consider the following: 1. How much money do I have saved?

2. What income streams will be available to me (e.g., SSI, a pension)?

3. How much do I want to spend in retirement?

4. Should I include future gifting from parents or to children?

5. Will I want to help with my grandkids’ college costs?

6. How much will long-term care impact my plan?

7. Will I want to travel more?!

While this is just a surface-level list, it helps to illustrate that financial planning is not straightforward and simple. All of these items should be considered before someone gives notice and officially retires.

Furthermore, as you dig into all the dimensions of financial planning, there are also the complexities of human emotion to consider. This list includes greed, internal bias, fear, and anxiety, just to name a few. In the realm of financial planning, these need to be considered before a recommendation is made. For example, let’s say someone fears the stock market because they are concerned about losing money. Should they then stay in cash? A comprehensive financial planner must consider their goals. If they want to buy a home in a year, then cash is a suitable asset. If they want to buy a house in ten years, however, they can feel more confident that their funds will have time to recover if they invest in the stock market. While confidence and experience might not be enough to overcome the fear of loss, the use of modeling, analysis, and education (knowledge in general) can help to resolve it.

While knowledge can be a useful weapon in combating emotions, it can also result in an influx of negative externalities. As a planning model is followed, the negative influences of life can start to seep in.

Let’s say that you have decided to sell your business. You receive an offer for it, but you think there might still be a better offer in the market because your friend told you to hold out. If the offer you’ve already received allows you to achieve financial independence or establish a legacy for your generational wealth plan, why would you allow negative outside interference?

Pre-planning should outline all possible outcomes, how they might impact

See Thought continued on page 22

PAGE 18 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • September 2021

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AGGRESSIVE & SKILLED LEGAL ADVOCACY Protect your rights after serious injury or wrongful death.

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ALAMO IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION (AIA)

By Roger Smith, President 8TH ANNUAL AUTOS OF ALAMO FESTIVAL, SEPTEMBER 9TH

Alamo’s eighth annual “Autos of Alamo” car show will be held Thursday, September 9th from 4PM to 8PM in Alamo Plaza. The event is free. Stop by for live music and to enjoy locally-owned vintage, classic, custom, muscle cars, and more.

Call us today to schedule a consultation.

Watch for fresh strawberries, peaches, nectarines, plouts, and melons as well as wonderful other produce, prepared foods, dairy items, and more at the Alamo Farmer’s Market! All produce is picked fresh and is at the Market within 24-48 hours.

The Market is open Sundays from 9AM – 2PM, in Alamo Plaza, off of Danville Blvd., near Bank of America. There is free parking, live music, and friendly vendors.

Alamo resident since 2002

ALAMO CERTIFIED FARMER’S MARKET

FIRE SEASON AND POWER OUTAGES

The Contra Costa County (CCC) Office of Emergency Services is responsible for planning, outreach, and training as it relates to disaster management and emergency preparedness. Additionally, Homeland Security maintains partnerships with infrastructure partners, as well as local, state and federal agencies in order to share critical information to safeguard persons and property. Homeland Security reviews tips and leads to ensure appropriate agencies and resources are notified.

In an emergency, the County’s Emergency Response Services (CERS) coordinate their efforts. The CERS utilize the initial input from the first Field Commander on-site.

For Alamo, this would be either the Sheriff’s Department or the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District (for North Alamo, this would be the CCC Fire Protection District). A Unified Command Post is then established within close proximity to the emergency site to assist in coordination between first responders, law enforcement, fire protection, CERS, and a County Public Information Officer for media response. There are mobile communication vehicles and trailers available and routed to the emergency site as needed. If the Emergency escalates, a County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is brought on-line for coordination of additional services, such as Red Cross and the possible need for assistance from other Bay Area First Responders. CCC has several Radio Equipment Distribution Centers to insure first responders from other counties have equipment matched to Contra Costa’s radio equipment, if needed. Typically, a municipality, such as Danville or San Ramon may have their own emergency response department or manager responsible for a local emergency response, Level 1. Then, if the emergency escalates, the County would be informed, and a response would be activated, Level 2. However, Alamo, as a non-municipality, has direct access to CERS, providing our community with a Level 2 response immediately.

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY HEALTH SERVICES (CCCHS)

CCCHS has overall responsibility for protecting the public’s health in an emergency.

A catastrophic event will cause widespread damage and death with possible disruption to the health care system, including hospitals, emergency and primary care, and public health services. There will also be secondary hazards such as fires and hazardous materials releases that may require the redirection of resources, population evacuation, or shelter in place events. Absence of key personnel due to injury or delay in assuming emergency functions (while assuring the safety and welfare of their families and homes) will occur. There will be a depletion of essential equipment and supplies as well as serious transportation limitations, including impassable roads that further delay emergency workers. Communication disruptions for over 48 hours can be expected after a major event, making accurate information about the nature and extent of damage, including health care and resources, initially unavailable or difficult to obtain.

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO

In the event of a major disaster, CCCHS will issue regular updates to the public at www.cchealth.org. Public access television and radio stations such as KCBS 740 AM or KGO 810 AM will have ongoing reports and information. The public may also call 211 or visit cccc.myresourcedirectory.com for health emergency information and also www.co.contra-costa.ca.us/2269/Emergency-Information.

Visit www.AlamoCA.org to view the recent presentation on Emergency Preparedness for Wildfire Season, presented by the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District.

AIA SERVING OUR COMMUNITY

Now in its 66th year, AIA, a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization, has the longest history of serving our community and helping shape it into “the place where we love to live”!

Visit www.AlamoCA.org for information on AIA, articles of interest to Alamo (including Danville and Walnut Creek) residents, membership forms, and more.

925-587-9949

“Making the world a safer place, one case at a time.” www.gattopc.com

2540 Camino Diablo, Suite 200, Walnut Creek, CA 94597 Past results are not a guarantee of future outcomes.

FACELIFTS

By Dr. Barbara Persons

Let’s talk about facelifts. As we age, skin begins to lose elasticity, and our face loses volume. The lower face sags, forming deep wrinkles, and we start to notice loose skin on the neck. The loss of youthful contours in the face are the result of thinning skin, loss of facial fat, gravity, sun damage, smoking, in addition to heredity and stress. While these changes are a natural part of growing older, we don’t have to leave our youthful looks behind as the years pass. With the help of a skilled plastic surgeon, you can take steps this winter to counteract the effects of time and gravity, and restore the naturally vibrant appearance you remember from years ago or even address the early signs of aging before they take hold.

Facelifts produce results that patients consistently find satisfying. The operation, when performed with skill and care, is very safe. Rhytidectomy, which literally means wrinkle (rhytid) removal (-ectomy), is the medical term for the facelift operation designed to remove wrinkles and decrease the sagging that occurs on the face and neck with aging. The key to a 2021 facelift is lifting up tissues while restoring lost volume without pulling the face back.

It is often said that having a facelift works to “turn back the clock,” helping a patient look like a younger version of him or herself by removing excess, sagging skin, smoothing deep folds, and lifting and tightening the deep facial tissues and muscles. Facelifts are frequently combined with eyelid surgery, brow lifting, laser resurfacing, and fat transfer to achieve facial rejuvenation.

With Covid shutdowns and more meetings held via Zoom, facial rejuvenation is more popular than ever. On camera, skin above and below the eyes tends to droop, making your eyes look small and puffy. Squinting at a screen also causes your forehead to wrinkle, trying to support your eyelids when opening the eyes. Eyelid surgery, called blepharoplasty, removes excess skin and fat and tightens sagging muscle, giving you a younger, sharper look.

Laser resurfacing is also an effective tool in the rejuvenation of aging skin.

Resurfacing removes or reduces fine lines, skin discoloration, acne scars, and other scars, and at the same time tightens the skin. The action of the laser encourages collagen production, causing elastic fibers in the skin to increase in number. This means that the skin will have properties more similar to an earlier time in your life. Sun damaged, cigarette damaged, and aged skin is rejuvenated in a fashion, and to an extent, never before attainable with chemical peels and dermabrasion.

Fat transfer to the face revitalizes and corrects volume loss. When combined with a facelift, fat transfer to the face can offer more youthful lips, brows, and eyelids, in addition to stronger cheeks, improved jaw lines, and facial contours that are both natural and youthful.

Once the facelift is complete, excess sagging tissue is repositioned, volume is restored, and the skin is resurfaced. The clock is turned back. Aging will continue from there, of course, but you will look much better at any given age than you would have without the operation. Seeing our own patients around town up to 15 years after surgery demonstrates long-term results. To continue the conversation about facelifts and other ways to look your best, please give us a call to schedule your consultation today!

Barbara L Persons, MD, FACS is a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and owns Persons Plastic Surgery, Inc., located at 911 Moraga Rd, Suite 205 in Lafayette.

She can be reached at 925-283-4012 or info@personsplasticsurgery.com. Advertorial

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925-831-8310 Meet Dr. Yvonne Hyland & Her Family Dr. Hyland has been in private practice since 2000. She received a DDS degree from Baylor College of Dentistry in Dallas, Texas. Following dental school, she pursued a hospital-based General Practice Residency at the Veteran’s Medical Center in West Los Angeles for two years. Realizing this was not the end of her formal education, she completed a successful threeyear post-graduate surgical residency in periodontics. Dr. Hyland’s experience and professional skills excel in every aspect of dentistry from general cosmetic procedures to complex surgical cases. She has placed thousands of successful dental implants and is highly trained in all phases of gum disease therapy, tissue and bone grafting procedures, and wisdom teeth extraction.

Dr. Hyland understands the desire to provide the very best care for the entire family. As a resident of Alamo, she strives to meet community needs by providing unparalleled services for those seeking the finest complete dental care in one location. In her spare time, Dr. Hyland enjoys spending time with her husband Terry, two sets of twin boys, and their three rescue dogs adopted from ARF.

Open Monday - Thursday and the first two Saturday’s of each month.

Meet our patients, Ann and Larry Kaye of Alamo “When Dr. Hyland opened her office in Alamo I thought I’d give her a try. Now I wouldn’t consider going anywhere else. She’s extremely gentle and patient — just what I need, since I have had a lifelong fear of dentists. I would not hesitate to recommend her to anyone!” ~ Ann Kaye Ann is the Past President of the Diablo Garden Club, member of Alamo Women’s Club, and mom to a German Shepherd, and a fluffy kitty.

“My teeth are very important to me. It’s the first thing my clients see. I use Dr. Hyland because she cares. The quality and service I receive are second to none. Her experience and attitude made me a patient forever. I will gladly share my smile with anyone.” ~ Larry Kaye Larry is the Past Planning Commissioner for the San Ramon Valley, responsible for planning and implementing both Livorna Park and Hap Magee Ranch Park. Larry is a U.S. Naval Submarine service veteran, and an avid fisherman, cyclist, and runner. He is the owner of At Risk Welding, a small welding repair firm that’s dedicated to helping folks fix those small projects at a reasonable price.

PAGE 20 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • September 2021

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THE EYE OPENER

By Gregory Kraskowsky, O.D., Alamo Optometry VISION SCREENINGS

Now that kids are back at school for in-person learning, the time for vision and hearing screenings is beginning. A question I often get from parents is whether a screening at school or their pediatrician is sufficient to ensure good vision and eye health.

Considering students are straining their eyes with increased computer and screen use, it is almost required to evaluate how your child’s eyes are handling this increased burden. 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 the screening gives no information whether a child can read a book and use the eyes well as a team up close.

In addition, a rough determination of prescription and eye alignment is sometimes attempted, depending on who is conducting the screening. This information is then used to either pass or fail the child’s vision. However, the standards for pass/fail are arbitrary and can differ from clinic to clinic, and child to child. However, 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 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 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 addition, 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 and occurs when one or both eyes cannot be corrected to 20/20 vision. The need to correct this is 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 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. My recommendation is to have your child’s eye examination early (preschool age or by kindergarten), and if a recommendation for a vision evaluation is given, we would be more than happy to examine your child and give you an honest recommendation 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 (925) 820-6622, or visit his office at 3201 Danville Blvd., Suite 165 in Alamo. For more information, visit www.alamooptometry.com, and join in on Facebook, Advertorial Instagram, and Twitter @Alamo Optometry.

Virtual event with speaker Gigi Chen, MD September 28, 2021 6:30 pm - 8 pm

Virtual event with speaker Tiffany Svahn, MD October 27, 2021 6:30 pm - 8 pm

Sponsored by the Cancer Support Community Call 925.933.0107 to register Parade continued from page 15

publicity made him a nationally recognized figure when he ran successfully for President of the United States in 1860, the year Danville, California was named.

Danville continued celebrating Hay Days in the fall for four years until Virginia Deaton and Liz DeChene organized a movement to return to honoring the 4th of July and replace carnival rides with old-fashioned family fun. Gary Soto helped with a favorite

Cora Boone and Shelby Flounoy, valley old timers, rode behind two white horses in the 1958 Danville parade. Photo courtesy of the Museum of the San Ramon Valley.

kids’ event: the Frog Jump. He used a flashlight to identify his quarry as he traversed a local pond in a canoe to collect a bucket of frogs. Safely secured in a watering trough at his house, the frogs were on offer for local children to come and make their choices.

Some frogs jumped, so a winner could be determined. Others remained spectators.

Everyone had a good laugh. Returned immediately thereafter to their home pond, the frogs may have been puzzled by the experience, but they were never harmed.

To learn more about the upcoming September 4th parade which takes place downtown beginning at 9AM, visit www.srvkiwanis.org/parade.

Thanks to Beverly Lane and the Museum of the San Ramon Valley for archival material and photographs. Visit www.museumsrv.org for more valley history and exhibition schedule.

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YOUR PERSONAL NUTRITIONIST

By Linda Michaelis RD, MS HOW TO TALK TO YOUR KIDS ABOUT NUTRITION SO THEY WILL LISTEN

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Be prepared and organized by making a family menu that includes meals along with reasonable desserts.

Dedicate one night a week for “kid-cook night.” Have your child pick out a healthy recipe, and have them shop with you. They will definitely eat the meal they prepare and be very proud of themselves.

One area that I work on with families is how to understand the food label. Take the time and teach your child how to read the food label. Show them the serving size, and demonstrate what that actually looks like. Often, the serving size is very small compared to what we might eat. Maybe they are having three servings of cereal at a sitting and need to realize that they are also taking in three times the amount of calories. Show children the sugar content of a food, which can often be a big surprise.

Kids will not be successful if you are not a role model for them. The best way for them to do succeed with a nutrition plan is to not be singled out, and for the family to be following the healthy meal plan as well. Maybe this is your chance as a parent to improve your nutrition for the sake of your child.

Parents can also help and influence their child’s nutrition choices by helping them understand how media is superficial and how much work (or Photoshopping) goes into making people look perfect with their makeup and hair. Kids need to understand how unrealistic advertising is and not to be taken by the commercials on TV. In summary, this is typically what I will discuss in my sessions with families. If you feel that you need support and nutritional education for the family, I am happy to help you.

Nutritional counseling can be covered by health insurance such as ABMG, AETNA, Blue Cross, Blue Shield, CCHP, Hill, Sutter, and UHC. Feel free to call me, and I will check with your insurance and see what the exact coverage is in terms of your deductible, copays, and how many visits are allowed. Please email me at lifeweight1@yahoo.com, call me at 925-855-0150, or refer to my website, www.LindaRD.com.

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PAGE 22 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • September 2021

HOPE FOR HEADACHES & MIGRAINES

By Dr. Niele Maimone, DC

If you find yourself or a loved one in the clutches of regular headaches or migraines, it is vitally important to understand what you’re actually experiencing so you can navigate your care properly and emerge from the pattern of pain. Understanding the difference between a headache and migraine has a significant effect in the treatment outcome for those who suffer.

What is a headache? Headaches are unpleasant pains in your head that can cause pressure and aching. The pain can range from mild to severe and usually occurs on both sides of the head. Some specific areas where headaches can occur include the forehead, temples, and back of the neck. A headache can last anywhere from 30 minutes to a week. According to the Mayo Clinic, the most common headache type is a tension headache. Triggers for this headache type include stress, muscle strain, and improper head or neck positioning.

Tension headaches aren’t the only type of headache. Other types include: Cluster headaches are severely painful headaches that usually occur on one side of the head and come in clusters. This means you experience cycles of headache attacks, followed by headache-free periods.

Sinus headaches are often confused with migraines. Sinus headaches co-occur with sinus infection symptoms like fever, stuffy nose, cough, congestion, and facial pressure.

What is a migraine? A migraine is usually an intense pounding headache that can last for hours or even days. The pounding or pulsing pain usually begins in the forehead, the side of the head, or around the eyes. The headache gradually gets worse. Just about any movement, activity, bright lights, or loud noise seem to make it hurt more. Nausea and vomiting are common during a migraine. Migraines may happen only once or twice a year, or as often as daily. Women are more likely to have migraines than men.

There are different types of migraine headaches. The most common types are the following.

Classic migraines start with a warning sign called an aura. These types of migraines are also called “migraines with aura.” The aura often involves changes in the way you see. You may see flashing lights, colors, a pattern of lines, or shadows. You may temporarily lose some of your vision, such as your side vision. You may also feel a strange prickly or burning sensation, or have muscle weakness on one side of your body. You may have trouble communicating. You may also feel depressed, irritable, and restless. The head pain of classic migraines may occur on one side of your head or on both sides.

Common migraines don’t start with an aura. These types of migraines are also called “migraines without aura.” Common migraines may start more slowly than classic migraines, last longer, and interfere more with daily activities. The pain of common migraines may be on only one side of your head.

Common migraines are more common than classic migraines.

www.yourmonthlypaper.com | Instagram: @Alamoanddanvilletoday | #atdtnews with a focus on reducing neurological inflammation and increasing circulation, whereas with headaches we focus on the reduction of muscle tension and physical stress. Depending on the individual, a combination of the following therapies are used to break the patients pain cycle.

• Class IV Laser Therapy - Laser treatments are very effective at treating migraines and headaches. The laser is a form of light therapy that increases blood flow to the affected area in order to release the tight muscle and pump away inflammation that has built up around the nerve. It is a very gentle and relaxing treatment that almost always causes IMMEDIATE relief from the pain.

• Gentle Chiropractic Care - This can help to realign vertebrae that have become misaligned and have begun to irritate the nerves in the head and neck. By gently adjusting the neck, the pressure on the nerve is decreased, and symptoms of headaches and migraines will begin to decrease. This maneuver can be done very lightly and can even be done without hearing the “popping” sound.

• Specialty Lab Testing - In chronic cases, nutrient deficiencies can be found to contribute to headache and migraine symptoms. By specifically testing for inflammation, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, offending foods, and toxicity, we can pin-point specific issues that are contributing to the migraines or headaches.

• Custom Treatment Protocols - Once labs reveal specifics about the patient’s status, we go to work creating a custom treatment plan to help the body heal and reduce the irritation to the muscles and nerves.

HOW EFFECTIVE IS THIS TREATMENT?

We have treated hundreds of people suffering from headaches and migraines, and our patients have seen a huge decrease in the incidence and severity of their migraines and headaches, allowing them to get back to normal life. Everyone responds differently to this type of care, and we find that the longer someone has had this condition, the longer it typically takes to treat. If complete pain relief is possible in your case, it will most likely take a series of visits.

Dr. Niele Maimone, DC of Align Healing Center Maimone Chiropractic Inc. in Danville has been active in natural health and functional medicine since 1999. For more information or to set up a complimentary consult call 925-362-8283 or visit www.alignhealingcenter.com.

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HOW DO WE TREAT MIGRAINES AND HEADACHES?

The treatment for a migraine is very similar to the treatment for a headache with the exception of the focus. At Align Healing Center, we treat migraines

Thought continued from page 17

your emotions, and what influence external forces might have over your decision. And because of the pre-planning, the outcomes can be tested for the highest probability of success.

Hopefully, this article provides a basic understanding of dimensional thought while planning your financial future. Linear thought can only take you so far. You must incorporate the multiple layers of financial, emotional, and external factors to achieve a genuinely effective financial plan. Failure to do so would risk one-dimensionality, and that would deprive your future of the attention it deserves.

“The key to growth is the introduction of higher dimensions of consciousness into our awareness.” ~ Lao Tzu To schedule a complimentary review of your financial situation, please contact me at 925-786-7686 or email peter.waldron@lfg.com.

Peter T. Waldron, California Insurance License #0E47827, is a registered representative of Lincoln Financial Advisors, a broker/dealer, member SIPC, and offers investment advisory services through Sagemark Consulting, a division of Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp., a registered investment advisor, Spectrum Wealth Partners, 3201 Danville Blvd., Suite 190 PO Box 528, Alamo, CA 94507. Spectrum Wealth Partners is not an affiliate of Lincoln Financial Advisors. Insurance is offered through Lincoln Marketing and Insurance Agency, LLC and Lincoln Associates Insurance Agency, Inc. and other fine companies. This material is for use with the general public and is designed for informational or educational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, tax or direct investment advice. Lincoln Financial Advisors does not offer legal or tax advice. CRN-3727221-082021

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AGING HANDS

By Jerome Potozkin, MD

Look at your hands. Is the skin thinning? Do you see a bunch of brown spots cropping up? You are not alone. While we pay lots of attention to our face, many people ignore their hands. For some, their hand condition can make them look older. Most of the changes are from sun damage as well as naturally getting older. There are many things you can do to prevent and treat these signs of aging.

The sun is your enemy when it comes to aging skin. Most of us apply sunscreen to our face, yet many forget about our hands. I recommend applying a sunscreen of at least a 30 SPF to all exposed skin each morning. For most people, this means their hands and face. Additional topical treatments that can help include SkinCeutical’s Neck Chest & Hand Repair Cream as well as SkinCeutical C E Ferrulic Serum. This can help with the damage inflicted by ultraviolet radiation. The most important part is sun avoidance and sunscreen.

Many people notice that as they age, the skin on the back of their hands appears thin, and the veins and tendons become more noticeable. In general, there is not a lot of fat in our hands. As we age, the fat atrophies, and there is a loss of collagen and elastin. This creates that thin veiny look that many don’t like. The look can be improved with a simple in-office procedure.

Radiesse is the first filler deemed safe and effective by the FDA to correct volume loss in hands. Restylane has also been approved for this. The procedure takes about 10 minutes. We usually apply a topical numbing cream, then inject the filler into the back of the hands, and massage it into place. This results in an instant, long-lasting, smoothing effect. Veins and tendons become less noticeable.

Age spots, also known as liver spots, on the back of hands have nothing to do with age nor your liver. These brown spots are caused by the sun exposure you receive during your lifetime. They can be pesky and annoying. Fortunately, they can be treated with laser or light-based technology. We use the PicoWay Laser to treat these spots. This advanced laser shatters the pigment into small dust-like particles that get reabsorbed by your body. The spots can be crusty for about 5-7 days and then pink for a week or two, before they fade.

Most people that we see concerned about how their aging hands appear

choose to have Radiesse injected as well as have their brown spots zapped.

For the month of September, we are offering a complimentary PicoWay Laser treatment for brown spots on the hands ($500 value) for any patients that receive Radiesse or Restylane hand rejuvenation injections. Call us today at 925-838-4900 to schedule your consultation. To take advantage of this special offer, please bring this article or a copy of it with you.

Dr. Jerome Potozkin is a Board Certified Dermatologist specializing in minimally and non-invasive cosmetic procedures. The practice is accepting new patients and Advertorial can be reached at (925) 838-4900 and www.MyBeautyMd.com.

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Coldwell Banker is a licensed real estate broker and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdraw without notice. No statement is made as to accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footages are approximate. Exact dimensions can be obtained by retaining the services of an architect or engineer. This is not intended to solicit property already listed.