The Valley Sentiinel_January 2022

for: Look inside Alamo • Danville • Blackhawk • Diablo • San Ramon

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The

Nature Regional in

e Ac tivity Guid RY 202 2 – FEB RUA JAN UARY

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always for the community VOL 28 NO 1

Postmaster: Dated Material

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VNDV member Lorrie Sammons was presented the Town of Danville 2021 Award of Merit at the 40th Annual Mayor’s Installation and Community S e r v i c e Aw a r d s event on Tuesday December 7, 2021 in the Village Theatre.

Pictured receiving t h e Aw a r d a r e Lorrie and Council member Dave Fong, who congratulated Lorrie for “her passion and commitment” serving our Veterans, their families, Veterans Service Organizations, and the community.

Sentinel Newspapers, Inc. P.O. Box 1309 Danville, CA 94526 925-820-6047

in sid e – ional Park Marshall Reg ago 50.

Thurgood the Por t Chic2021, page 2 Home of of ievements Notable Ach

urn, page 3 Programs Ret • In-Person get, pages 4-5 District Bud • 2022 Park s, pages 7-8 • King Tide s, page 10 Slippery Slug • Slithering

www.valleysentinel.com

e, page 12 Woodrat Hom • Build a Fun , page 13 vel Bike Ride 14 • Take a Gra ing Skills, page Bird r You • Sharpen 15 gus Fair, page • Tilden Fun

Notable Achievements of 2021 In-Person Programs Return 2022 Park District Budget Take a Gravel Bike Ride Tilden Fungus Fair

The Town of Danville Honors VNDV Member Lorrie Sammons

PRESORTED STANDARD US POSTAGE PAID DANVILLE, CA PERMIT NO. 70

Pole rd/Peace Citizen Awa See page 3 UN Global

January 2022

SPOTLIGHT

Look inside for the latest Regional in Nature Activity Guide!

Plus many more fun activities for kids and families!

Every year more than 10,000 people participate in this FREE self-guided hiking and bicycling program to explore the East Bay regional parks and to keep fit outdoors. The 29th annual Trails Challenge is sponsored by the Regional Parks Foundation, Kaiser Permanente, and East Bay Regional Park District. It kicks off now and with your results being submitted by December 1st 2022. Its fun and easy. There are trails for all levels and abilities. This is a photo of Shadow Cliffs by Cali Godley. For more information see page 7 or visit www.ebparks.org/trails-challenge.

Get a glimpse of elegance in the marshlands

By James M. Hale

The Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) is a small, dainty, white heron that is a permanent resident in most of California, South America, Central America, the Atlantic Coast, and Gulf Coast. It is found widespread in the ponds, marshes, sloughs, and wet fields throughout Contra Costa County, particularly in winter, when post-breeding individuals disperse from their nesting colonies.

Adults are about two feet long with a wingspan that may exceed forty inches. The Snowy Egret typically weighs less than one pound.

The slim black bill and long black legs with bright golden yellow feet are diagnostic. The area of the upper bill, in front of the eyes, known as the culmen, is yellow. During the breeding season, the culmen turns red, as adult Snowy Egrets grow long, recurved nuptial plumes on their backs for courtship displays.

T h e s e b e a u t i f u l p l u m e s, called aigrettes, were in great demand by market hunters as decorations for women’s hats.

The population of the species was reduced to dangerously low levels nearing extirpation.

The first breeding evidence documented for California wasn’t provided until W. L. Dawson found a nest in Merced County in 1914. Fortunately, full protection in the United States by law, under the Migratory Bird Species Act, has allowed the Snowy Egret population to dramatically rebound.

S n ow y E g re t s n e s t i n isolated colonies protected by dense vegetation. Salt marsh islands, swamps, and marshes are ideal nesting habitat. They often change location year after year. Such is the case in Contra Costa County where Snowy

Egrets nest sporadically. Ninetyfive nesting pairs occupied Brooks Island near Richmond in 1994. The first known nesting for Contra Costa County was at Browns Island north of Pittsburg where an estimated 100 pairs were nesting in kangaroo thorns in 1962. These sites have been abandoned and reoccupied over the years. Nesting season usually runs from April through July. After courtship, the male Snowy Egret selects the nest site with both sexes constructing the platform stick nest. Usually three to five pale blue-green eggs are laid. Both sexes incubate the eggs for twenty to twenty-four days. Nestlings fledge after thirty days. The average lifespan is about fifteen years in the wild.

The Snowy Egrets diet includes fish, insects,

crustaceans, frogs, snakes, lizards, snails, worms, and rodents. They actively pursue and forage for their food. On occasion, they may ambush their prey by standing still and waiting. A peculiar method of See EGRET page 7

This Month’s Special Section:

New Year, New You!

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THE VALLEY SENTINEL January 2022

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Mountain Bikes—Scourge of the Trails?

By Wallace de Young

Recently, I set out on a joyful bike ride through the parks and open spaces that I have come to know and love. All of the stereotypical descriptions of the wind in my hair (albeit helmeted) and the feeling of flying seemed particularly poignant on this day. There is not another feeling I know that truly compares to being on a mountain bike on a trail that I love. I soon came upon good friends who had never before seen me riding the trails. My Zen-like feeling was short-lived, however, as their reactions of surprise, a n d eve n d i s t a s t e, we re hard to miss. The negative reaction I experienced from these loveable naturalists has become something that I’ve come to occasionally expect when on my mountain bike.

Steve Graepel once wrote that mountain bikers have been known as “the drunk uncle at the outdoor buffet:

socially awkward, irreverent, too noisy, too fast, outcasts on the dusty lam, ‘harshing the trail’s mellow’, trail wreckers.” And if all this is true, then e-mountain bikers must truly be the drunk uncles more obnoxious brother. While we know that such reputations are usually earned based upon actual bad biker behavior, they are often, unfortunately, applied unfairly to considerate trail bikers with this same broad brush. We have all been on the trail and had encounters with those on bikes that make us angry. But I think we could all agree that in reality, we’ve had similar reactions to some of our fellow hikers’ behavior. The fact is that the popularity of mountain bikes, and e-mountain bikes (eMTB’s), are on the rise.

Several fine organizations have done a fantastic job in recent years of educating all trail users of the real impacts of our use of wild places, and

helping us understand the behaviors that cause negative impacts. Science and data are coming to the rescue, even as electronic innovation creates potential threats that must be examined.

The birth of mountain b i k i n g i s g e n e ra l l y, b u t not always, attributed to a group of riders known as the “Larkspur Canyon Gang” in the late 1960’s around Mt Tam. Fifty years later mountain biking has attained a level of legitimacy as an Olympic sport. But somehow, it has retained some of the daredevil persona that its creators must have enjoyed w h e n t h ey n a m e d t h e i r “gang.” Biking in general has exploded in popularity during the pandemic, with people hungry for a healthy way to exercise outside of the confines of their shelter-inplace locale. The advent of eMTB’s has only exacerbated this image as the perception of a trail-going Harley rider seems to have attached itself to these power-assisted rides.

If one thing has become clear, it is that mountain biking, and eMTB’s, are here to stay. It is now in the hands of public land managers to define appropriate related rules for each area.

But not all electric mountain bikes are created equal. In fact, when determining use restrictions, three very distinct classes of e-bikes are considered: C l a s s 1 : Pe d a l - a s s i s t motor that boosts pedal speed, but caps at 20 mph Class 2: Throttle-assist that can accelerate the bike up to 20 mph without pedaling Class 3: Pedal-assist bike that caps throttle speed at 28 mph For the most part, Class 1 eMTB’s are allowed anywhere that standard bikes are allowed.

There are certainly exceptions, but National Parks, California State Parks, regional parks and local open spaces have by and large adopted this simple strategy. One need only click on an outdoor blog, or check NextDoor, to see that the controversy on this topic rages.

And rightly so, as there is much work to still be done in order to establish appropriate guardrails that protect all trail users, our wild environs and wildlife. The current lack of clear guidance dramatically exacerbates the problem.

So, what are the actual relative impacts of hiking, mountain biking (and eMTB’S) and equestrian trail use as measured by soil erosion,

soil compaction and wildlife reaction? The answers might surprise you. What is not a surprise is that all trail use (or off-trail use for that matter) has an impact. All users loosen soil, and the next good rainfall washes away some of that disturbed soil. Poor trail design, not the composition of users in an area, is the major contributor to trail erosion. We certainly create trails in our wild places to allow access to remote places by users, but just as importantly, they are created in order to concentrate the inevitable damage done by our passage to a narrow, more resilient surface. Many studies indicate that most damaging effects of trampling occur early in the life of a trail, with a significant diminishment of the environment as time goes on. This is a primary reason why “bushwhacking” a trail is so damaging, as that damage takes considerable time to recover from.

There is a general perception that mountain bikes are the major culprit of trail degradation, and as a result, land managers have historically been circumspect as it relates to such regulations.

(An interesting position, as Congress banned bikes in wilderness areas in 1977.) On the other hand, many critics of MTB argue that government and regional policies have an inherent bias that favor MTB and eMTB. Specific concerns around ebikes are often focused on “speed”, and of the possible slippery slope of allowing electrically powered machines of all kinds on our trails.

So let’s break it down.

Speed – My own experience as a mountain bike,r a newbie eMTB’r is that if speed becomes a problem i t a l m o s t a l ways o c c u rs downhill. Electric mountain

bikes allow me to climb hills that I might otherwise have to walk my bike up, or, if I can pedal my way to the top, I am likely to be so pooped out that my ride time will be severely cut short. I honestly don’t believe that e-bikes are responsible for increased downhill speeds. Gravity does that very well without any “e” help. All that said, any bike on a trail is capable of traveling at an unsafe speed, especially downhill.

And while any trail user is capable of bad behavior, bad behavior by bikers more often results in injury, or even death, than other use classes. If the danger posed by fast riding MTB’s was limited to the rider only, we likely wouldn’t be having this conversation. While there is still the environmental aspect to consider, what seems to really whip people up is our own stories of being personally, negatively affected by a speeding MTB, or a bike on a trail where they are not allowed.

Environmental Concerns - Thankfully, scientific studies have helped to bring clarity to the true environmental impacts associated with mountain biking, and eMTB’s.

Critics argue that e-bikes go too fast for narrow dirt t ra i l s, p re s e n t i n g s a f e t y challenges. Some advocacy groups, like Back Country Horsemen of America, say government policies have an inherent bias that favors e-bikes at the expense of other trail users. And others are concerned about the environmental impacts of e-bikes and the precedent they may set, perhaps See MOUNTAIN BIKES page

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January 2022

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New Years resolutions The New Year has arrived, and with it the traditional resolutions that we all make to complete long-postponed projects, try out new activities, and generally strive for self-improvement.

By Beverly Lane East Bay Regional Park District Board of Directors

If seeking new adventures in the outdoors is one of your resolutions, the East Bay Regional Park District has lots of opportunities. Here are some suggestions: • S i g n u p f o r t h e park district’s 2022 Trails Challenge. Now in its 29th year, it’s a free program sponsored by the district,

Kaiser Permanente, and the Regional Parks Foundation, open to hikers, bicyclists and equestrians. Obtain a guidebook, hike, bicycle or ride any five of the 20 listed trails and receive a commemorative t-shirt and pin, while supplies last.

Details are available at www. ebparks.org. It’s a great way to explore a regional park new to you.

• Whether you sign up for the Trails Challenge o r ve n t u re o u t o n yo u r

On To The New Year News from the East Bay Regional Park District

by Ned MacKay

The new year brings resumption of in-person programs at East Bay Regional Park District visitor centers, in addition to the online programs that will still be offered via the park district website, www. ebparks.org.

For example, the visitor center at Coyote Hills Regional Park in Fremont is open and wheelchair accessible from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, masks a re re q u i re d a n d s o c i a l distancing must be maintained.

The center offers Discovery on Demand, a naturalist-hosted program, from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday. Discovery includes a variety of hands-on activities, craft projects, and watching live animal feedings. All ages are welcome, though parental participation is required.

The naturalists also offer programs at the center’s nectar garden every Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to noon.

There’s a vivarium where butterflies and other insects go through their life cycles. You can learn about pollinators, and how to set up your own native plant garden.

And there may be time to register for an ethnobotany hike from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Jan. 8 with naturalist Dino Labiste. Dino will point out plants that are used as food, medicine and tools by the Ohlone Peoples, and discuss California Native techniques used to manage the land and restore natural resources.

The program is for ages eight and older, and free of charge. Registration and parent participation are required. To

register, call 888-327-2757.

Refer to course 42934. For information, call 510-544-3220.

Coyote Hills is located at the end of Patterson Ranch Road off Paseo Padre Parkway.

There’s a parking fee of $5 per vehicle. *** Nearby at Ardenwood Historic Farm, Victorian fun and games are on the agenda from 1 to 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 9.

Visitors can try out stilt walking, and play a variety of old-time games. The program repeats at the same time on Jan. 23.

Ardenwood re-creates life on a prosperous 19th century estate. The centerpiece is the beautifully restored Patterson House, once home to the family that established the farm in the mid-19th century. Attractions include farm animals, harvesting in season, a narrow-gauge railroad, and a variety of special events.

Ardenwood is located at 34600 Ardenwood Boulevard, just north of Highway 84 in Fremont. For fees and hours of operation, call 510-544 2797. *** The Environmental Education Center at Tilden Nature Area near Berkeley offers all kinds of programs showcasing the natural history of the park.

The Naturalist’s Trail is a series of easy, guided walks around the Nature Area from 1 to 3 p.m. on Sundays, Jan. 9, 16 and 23. Meet at the EEC, which is at the north end of Tilden’s Central Park Drive.

Another program, led

by Tilden naturalist Gail Broesder, is the Over-The-

own, resolve to hike with a friend. Besides the benefits of companionship, if either of you has a problem, the other can go for help.

• If you do hike or ride alone, tell someone responsible where you are going and when you plan to return. Then check back in with them after the hike.

Carry a whistle, too. If you are injured, you can blow a whistle for a lot longer than you can shout. Three blasts is a distress call. The park district website has lots of other safety tips, too.

Hills Gang. The informal gang consists of hikers ages 55 and older who enjoy exercise and nature exploration in various regional parks. Gail plans another hike from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 11 at Leona Canyon in Oakland. Meet her at the trailhead at 770 Canyon Oaks Drive off Keller Avenue.

There are no facilities at the trailhead.

For more information on EEC programs and Gail’s next hike, call 510-544-2233. *** There’s always something going on at Big Break Regional Shoreline i n O a k l e y. T h e v i s i t o r center there has exhibits on the remarkable natural and cultural history of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. There’s an outdoor amphitheater, a scale model of the entire Delta waterway, a place to launch kayaks, and a pier from which abundant wildlife can be observed.

The visitor center offers free public programs every S a t u rd ay a n d S u n d ay a t 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. The January program is “Flyway Highway: Birding Road Trip.”

And kids will enjoy Big Break Littles programs on the first and second Tuesday of the month from 10 to 11 a.m. January’s theme is “Bird Bingo.”

Big Break is at 69 Big Break Road off Oakley’s Main Street. Call 510-5442753. *** For complete information on all the regional park district parks, trails, visitor centers and programs, check out the newly designed website, www.ebparks.org.

• Resolve to visit Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve in Antioch. Tours of the underground mining museum are fascinating, and the new replica coalmine experience is a vivid recreation of the miners’ hard working lives. Aboveground, the park has miles of hiking trails through areas made green by winter rains.

• Check out the new visitor center at Del Valle Regional Park near Livermore.

Its interactive displays bring home the all-important water supply issues now facing us statewide.

• S i g n u p f o r a naturalist-led hike or program. The park district’s nature educators are always thinking up creative ways to showcase the regional parks’ rich cultural and natural history.

• Visit a regional park, new or long-standing, that you haven’t seen before.

Possibilities include Judge John Sutter Regional Shoreline right by the Bay Bridge in Oakland, or the Encinal Beach area of Crown Beach in Alameda.

Out in Antioch, Bay Point Regional Shoreline always has interesting programs.

So do Coyote Hills and Sunol Re g i o n a l W i l d e r n e s s i n southern Alameda County. Or you can roam the extensive, unspoiled open spaces of Briones Regional Park in central Contra Costa. The park district websiteis your best guide, with complete program listings and maps you can download. Go to www.ebparks.org.

Looking to the future, several projects are online this year to improve public access and enjoyment of the regional parks. The Brickyard Cove project at the end of University Avenue will enhance public access to the Bay shoreline.

A new staging area at the Tyler Ranch property in Sunol will provide hiking, biking and equestrian access to the south end of Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park. And a great new RV camping opportunity is already available with the recent opening of Dumbarton Quarry Campgrounds next to Coyote Hills in Fremont.

But however you spend your time in the regional parks, I know that the other board members and the staff of the East Bay Regional Park District join me in wishing you a happy and healthy New Year.

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THE VALLEY SENTINEL January 2022

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County Office Of Education Wins Homeless Grant Gill to Protect Reproductive The Contra Costa County Office of Education (CCCOE) won a three-year grant from the California Department of Education (CDE) worth $4.5 million to serve as one of three Education for Homeless Children and Youth Technical Assistance Centers in the state.

CCCOE will serve 25 counties in Northern California. Los Angeles and San Diego county offices of education will host the other two technical assistance centers.

“This grant brings important resources to help educators support unhoused students and their families i n C o n t ra C o s t a C o u n t y and throughout Northern California,” Contra Costa County Superintendent of Schools Lynn Mackey said. “ W i t h m o re t h a n 2 , 50 0 unhoused children and youth in our county alone,

there is a tremendous need to figure out how to better serve these students. We look forward to working with our colleagues in other counties and communitybased organizations on the best way to educate students who are most in need.”

CCCOE will serve as the technical assistance center for the counties of Alameda, Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, Colusa, Contra Costa, El Dorado, Lake, Marin, Mendocino, Napa, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Sierra, Solano, Sonoma, Sutter, Tuolumne, Yolo, and Yuba.

As a technical assistance center, CCCOE will provide s u p p o r t , g u i d a n c e, a n d expertise to all county offices of education homeless liaisons regarding the McKinneyVento Homeless Assistant Act. Homeless liaisons at each

Tax tips for students Income tax filing season is approaching, and students may want to consider these tips from KHEAA to help the tax preparation process go more smoothly.

Before students file their tax return, they should discuss the situation with their parents who may be able to claim them as a dependent, which could save them thousands of dollars.

Additionally, students and parents may be able to take advantage of these programs on their federal taxes: • A m e r i c a n Opportunity Credit, available for the first four years of college.

• Lifetime Learning Credit, available if a taxpayer or a dependent is taking college courses to acquire or improve job skills.

• Tu i t i o n a n d f e e s deduction, which lets taxpayers deduct qualified education expenses paid during the year for themselves or a dependent.

These expenses must be for college.

• S t u d e n t l o a n interest deduction, which lets people deduct up to $2,500 per year on federal taxes for interest paid on federal student loans.

Fo r m o re d e t a i l e d information about federal programs, go to irs. gov to download the free Publication 970 Tax Benefits for Education.

Tax rules may change from year to year, so make s u re yo u h ave t h e m o s t up-to-date information before filing a return. If you have questions about

county office of education are stationed to support interagency collaboration and capacity building, both at the state and individual student level, focused on improving identification and educational outcomes for children and youth experiencing homelessness.

As part of the grant, each of the regional centers is expected to conduct a needs assessment and program evaluation, provide professional development and technical assistance, use new and existing training resources, and create, model and sustain partnerships.

S t a t ew i d e, t h e t h re e centers will work with CDE to develop online training materials, an online resource hub, lead efforts to assist rural counties with homeless education and facilitate work with community-based organizations.

what financial aid is taxable, you should consult a tax professional.

KHEAA is a public, nonprofit agency established in 1966 to improve students’ access to college. It provides information about financial aid and financial literacy at no cost to students and parents. KHEAA also helps colleges manage their student loan default rates and verify information submitted on the FAFSA. For more information about those services, visit www.kheaa.com.

In addition, KHEAA disburses private Advantage Education Loans on behalf of its sister agency, KHESLC. For more information, visit www. advantageeducationloan. com.

San Ramon Valley Education Foundation Announces 2021 Grant Awards The San Ramon Valley Education Foundation (SRVEF) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2021 Teacher Grants. Once again, SRVEF partnered with DonorsChoose. org. As a result of matching funds and external donations, SRVEF funded ALL ELIGIBLE grants.

This year, SRVEF has awarded 90 grants totaling $30,756, including 20 music and science grants funded by the SRVEF Endowment Committee.

T h e S RV E F G ra n t Program is funded primarily through proceeds from the Run for Education and the Auction for Education. The Endowment Grant Program is funded through our annual donation drive and annual recognition dinner, C e l e b ra t e I n n ova t i o n i n Education.

Unfunded teacher grants will remain active on the DonorsChoose.org website for approximately two more

months during which time the grants may continue to receive external funding, including funding from individual and corporate donors, and matching fund donors. If a grant is not fully funded by the expiration date, any external money pledged is returned to the donor.

A l l f u n d e d S RV U S D Grants may be reviewed on the DonorsChoose.org site.

HealthCare went into effect January 1 2022

AB 1356 protects patients and providers from harassment and doxing at reproductive health clinics in response to uptick in extremist activity around California In a 4th quarter virtual signing ceremony, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan’s (D-Orinda) bill, AB 1356, which secures a patient’s right to access re p ro d u c t i ve h e a l t h c a re safely and privately. When the bill goes into effect in January, it will ban aggressive doxing and increase fines for harassment at reproductive health clinics. “ I ’ m p ro u d t h a t i n California, we are stepping up to guarantee that women can access the reproductive healthcare which they not only need, but they have a legal right to access,” said Assemblymember BauerKahan who serves as Chair of the Assembly Select Committee on Reproductive H e a l t h . “A B 1 3 5 6 i s a n absolutely essential step to safeguard this right that is threatened now more than ever.”

Extremist antireproductive rights protestors return to clinics statewide day after day to harass all who enter. They are well organized, well-funded, and undeterred by low fines. They aggressively film patients and providers, and post personal information about patients and providers on extremist websites. This doxing threatens patient safety for simply exercising their legal right to healthcare. AB 1356 updates laws untouched for over a decade to ban this type of harassment and doxing at clinics.

“As people face historic attacks and unimaginable restrictions to abortion from extreme politicians, California is providing an example of how to protect access to essential care. Reproductive health care providers deserve to feel safe when showing up to provide care, and patients deserve to feel safe when showing up to receive critical healthcare,” said Jodi Hicks, CEO Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California. “AB 1356 updates existing law to ensure safety and security.

True access to reproductive healthcare requires safety and privacy. When protestors harass patients

and providers, they don’t just state their opinions – they fundamentally threaten a patient’s right to reproductive healthcare. Current law does not reflect these threats online and in person – that have increased over the past decade. With Roe v. Wade in the hands of the states and the Supreme Court, protecting reproductive healthcare in California requires proactive measures like AB 1356.

In addition to AB 1356, Governor Newsom also signed Assembly Bill 1184 authored

by Assemblymember David C h i u . A B 11 8 4 p rov i d e s critical privacy protections for patients around sensitive health care. “ I ’ m p ro u d t o d ay t o sign these two bills that demonstrate our dedication to strengthening and further protecting access to reproductive health care services in California,” said Governor Newsom. “Our state has been a leader in protecting access to sexual and reproductive rights, but as we’ve seen recently with unprecedented attacks on these rights, we can and must do more.” “ Pa t i e n t s s h o u l d n o t forgo the health care they need because they are worried about their privacy being violated,” said Assemblymember David Chiu (D-San Francisco) said of his AB 1184. “With the signing of this bill, California is protecting and expanding access to crucial health care services for our most vulnerable.”

AB 1356 was sponsored b y P l a n n e d Pa r e n t h o o d Affiliates of California and is co-authored by Assemblymembers AguiarCurry (D-Winters), BoernerHorvath (D – Oceanside), Cervantes (D-Corona), Gabriel (D-Woodland Hills), Friedman (D-Glendale), Irwin (D-Thousand Oaks), Carrillo (D-Los Angeles), Levine (D-San Rafael), and Blanca Rubio (D-WestCovina), and is supported by NARAL Pro Choice, and many other reproductive rights groups.

AB 1356 took effect on January 1st, 2022 and AB 1184 goes into effect in July of 2022.

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January 2022

THE VALLEY SENTINEL

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The James Webb Space Telescope and the Beatles…What do they have in common?

By Richard Eskow, Host of The Zero Hour

G u i t a r p l aye rs s p e n t decades trying to solve the riddle of the “mystery chord,” the seemingly unplayable combination of notes that opened the Beatles’ workingclass lament, “A Hard Day’s Night.” The secret of that chord hints at a deeper music, the kind that can’t be shaped from loneliness or ego, the kind that can take us anywhere.

If that sounds like a lot to lay on something as simple as a guitar chord – yeah, it probably is. It’s just one chord, after all, in a pop song that’s almost sixty years old.

But the story of that chord still resonates.

None of us could figure out how to play that chord, no matter how hard we tried.

Even the experts were baffled.

Here’s the secret: it can’t be played by a single guitarist working alone. John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison were each playing a different combination of notes. It took 15 fingers on three left hands, the hearts and souls of three people working together, to make that sound. It’s a communitarian chord, the sound of a whole that’s more than the sum of its parts.

The James Webb Space Telescope is a little bit like that chord. It will unveil new realities about the origin of the universe, the moment when that single note sang everything into existence. The only way to understand this achievement is by recognizing all the hands, all the fingers, that are working together to make it happen.

As NASA tells us, “Thousands of scientists, engineers, and technicians from 14 countries, 29 U.S. states, and Washington, D.C. contributed to build, test, and integrate Webb.”

At least 258 public and private entities collaborate on the telescope, under the guidance and funding of three government programs: NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).

This is the newsletter for my writing, and for The Zero Hour program, now reaching 136,000 progressives. The Zero Hour is available via cable on Free Speech TV and syndicated nationally on broadcast radio. To update your email or to stop receiving these emails, click here.

The project was American in origin, but it could not have succeeded without international cooperation.

Europe’s Ariane 5 rocket was especially helpful. Designers were hoping for 10 years of fuel for its ongoing activities.

Happily, designers now say that “because of the efficiency or the accuracy with which Ariane 5 put us on orbit, and our accuracy and effectiveness implementing our mid-course corrections,” that propellant may last as long as 20 years.

O u r c e l e b r i t y - c ra z e d media culture gave much more coverage to Richard Branson’s and Jeff Bezos’ billionaire egotrip launches than it did to the space telescope, even though the telescope has the profound scientific importance those launches lacked. (Branson didn’t even enter space, at least not officially. My commentary on that is in The Emperor’s New Rocket.)

Both Branson and Bezos have a history of environmental advocacy, but only on their terms. They have always put profit first, whether it’s Branson monetizing an island paradise or Bezos monetizing ... well, everything. They want to monetize everything that’s beautiful, everything that should be shared by everyone.

They’d harness the wild stars to pull the wagons of commerce. They’d use the turning of the galaxies to time their employees’ bathroom breaks. They’d imprison an angel to sell the diamonds in its tears.

The only thing the Webb mission has in common with those billionaire junkets is that all three were financed with public money. NASA, the ESA, and the CSA got their funding by inspiring the public with a vision. Branson and Bezos got theirs by lobbying for government funds, through tax evasion (legal or otherwise), and through their business practices (monopolistic or otherwise).

“We are all in the gutter,” an Oscar Wilde character once said, “but some of us are looking at the stars.” People often misunderstand that line, which is spoken by an unscrupulous man trying to deflect well-deserved criticism with glib talk. That reading applies to Bezos and Branson, perhaps, but not to the kinds of people who look to the stars with hope and idealism.

The Webb Space Telescope will “revolutionize the study of space”, said astrophysicist Karl Glazebrook, “allowing us to see back to the beginning of time, to the first stars and galaxies after the big bang, and solve some of the greatest mysteries of the universe.”

Times are hard. We’re struggling to survive in the gutter they’ve dug for us. But we’re still staring into the night for answers. We want to understand where we came from. And we’re searching for the mystery of beauty itself, the secret longing that made us look up in the first place.

We’re looking at the stars, not because there’s money or ego gratification in it but because ... well, because that’s what living beings do. We look at the beauty around us with wonder, and awe, and appreciation.

Imagine. All that beauty, and it costs nothing to enjoy it. That’s what they want to take away.

Beautiful things like that are called public goods, and they should be part of a public economy. That’s how public goods are protected, and kept wild, and made available to everyone forever. That way, we come to love them. And when we love them, we protect them.

The James Webb Space Telescope is a beautiful example of that principle in action. It shows what people and countries can do when they work together for the benefit of everyone. It shows what all of us can do together, what the monetizers of the universe can never do alone.

As for the Beatles ... well, no wonder we couldn’t figure

out that chord. We were looking for an individualistic solution to a problem that can only be solved collaboratively. And that’s the lesson, really, isn’t it?

The secret that unlocked

that chord is the secret that unlocks the stars.

This article has been reprinted with permission from Richard Eskow, host of The Zero Hour

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New Year, New You page 6

THE VALLEY SENTINEL

January 2022 valleysentinel.com

Mind, Body and Personal Balance

By Staff writer

Sometimes it may feel like, “You can’t see the forest for the trees.” Contemporary American life is cluttered with messages, choices and diversions. Our values and personal well-being can be lost in the trees.

How’s your health?

“I’m fine,” is the standard response to, “How are you?”

Take time to notice if that is true.

Learn the basics about how your own body works and

One’s mind and body are really one subject in terms of personal balance. If either is deficient, personal well being suffers. Too much emphasis on one causes the other to fall out of balance.

Depression and illness are wake-up calls that signal serious imbalance. Many times one might manage to live in a state of imbalance without a crisis, but may suffer a diminished quality of life without noticing.

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what its individual needs are.

A multitude of advice books recommend regular check-ups, regular moderate exercise, and moderate, well-balanced meals.

Most of us ignore it until there is a motivating event in our lives, such as a severe chest pain, a new lover, or a new baby.

If this is the year a new baby will be born in your family, it is time for the whole family to start eating with baby in mind.

Not eating for two, but choosing nutritious foods, with expectant mother adding only about 300 more calories a day, is a good way to go. Keep fresh fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, lean protein and low-fat dairy products in mind.

Culinary consultant Rosemary Mark recommends mini-meals to help avoid heartburn, indigestion and nausea. Good choices include fruit, low fat yogurt, smoothies made with frozen bananas, milk and yogurt, half a bagel with light cream cheese, shredded carrots and sliced cucumber.

For simple cooking ideas and new recipes, visit her blog GetCookingSimply at www. rosemarymark.com Look for minimally processed foods, and try to eat home-cooked meals if possible.

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That is why meditation or prayer are frequently keys to unlocking personal growth.

Many people live life guided by the 23rd Psalm, or anchor themselves with the rules of a 12-step program.

A new attitude is the result of new behavior. First we need to know how to be healthy physically, mentally, or financially. Next, we must see ourselves behaving in the new ways.

Teachers, spiritual guides and philosophers may provide ways we can “cue” ourselves, and reestablish focus on important priorities.

Eckhart Tolle, author of Practicing the Power of Now, Deepak Chopra and others emphasize the value of awareness. When we can be quiet enough to nonjudgmentally notice our own behavior, we can change it.

Apply this idea to physical and mindful thinking patterns.

Familiar behaviors that have worked adequately in the past, may not be working as well now that things have changed.

Just noticing has a positive effect. Quiet time in meditation actually changes the brain and body, evetually affecting ones’ outlook and clarity. Striving to practice meditation, quiet reflection or “mindfulness” can make a huge difference in finding balance both physically and mentally.

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That advice is good for anyone, but knowing what to do is only half the battle. Actually doing it is the tough part.

If avoiding restaurants that lure you off track, or walking after dinner to skip dessert works for you, do it. Look for ways to put the odds of doing the right thing for yourself in your favor.

Join a health club, or take a tai chi, karate, yoga or dance class. Local recreation programs are perfect for making new friends too. Round up some friends for baseball, golf or bowling. Start to have some physical fun. Swimming is the best at any age, but it works wonders without pain or damage for those over fifty.

Just walking the wonderful East Bay parks and trails for the day is a healthy escape from the computer and sofa.

Spend time with people who are on the same h e a l t hy p a t h , a n d l e a r n from them. Avoid people whose habits are unhealthy physically, or mentally. They can be contagious.

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Inflammation—Can’t Live With Or Without It

By Dr. Robert Brown

In the healthy animal, living on pure, organic foods, inflammation is a normal. It is an absolutely healthy response to injury or attack by infectious agents such as germs, viruses and foreign bodies. Due to the human animal changing its environment by adding foreign bodies to his food, by changing his lifestyle habits and by creating within its environment those conditions resulting in excessive stress, inflammation has become very unhealthy. In fact the World Health Organization declared that inflammation is the number one cause of death.

N o r m a l , g o o d inflammation can turn bad when it becomes chronic, such as in periodontal disease.

Chronic inflammation can be caused by stress, obesity and sleep apnea. Poor diet is a quite prominent factor not

only causing this problem, but tearing apart the very mechanisms that fight the bad inflammation, causing adrenal fatigue and a domino effect on one’s health. The result brings its victim such symptoms as arthritis, colitis, ileitis, periodontitis and many others. The suffix “itis” means inflammation of a specified organ. You might have noticed I called the above ailments symptoms, not diseases, as many consider and treat them.

They are only symptoms of an underlying problem that itself must be addressed.

One of the best approaches to these symptoms is to change to an anti-inflammatory diet, especially a diet that s t re n g t h e n s t h e i m m u n e system and is high in colloidal fiber. As I mentioned in my See INFLAMATION page 9

valleysentinel.com

January 2022

THE VALLEY SENTINEL

page 7

Trails Challenge 2022

by Ned MacKay

Hikers trekking through Curry Canyon Ranch in May 2021. Photo by James Fong.

Enter the Nature Experience with Save Mt. Diablo’s Discover Diablo Hikes Explore some of the East Bay’s premiere hiking spots with Save Mount Diablo in 2022, including areas rarely open to the public.

The Discover Diablo hikes and outings series offers guided hikes and themed walks; mountain biking, rock climbing, and trail running events; and property tours, all free to the public. Trailblazers of all ages and skill levels are welcome.

In response to growing demand, Save Mount Diablo is offering hikes as well as new activities in the series for a total of 36 excursions.

New offerings will include a plein air painting walk and a trail run.

The ever-popular tarantula walk will be offered twice, and we are offering three meditation hikes in 2022. We will also be offering rockclimbing and mountain-biking events, and bilingual hikes in Spanish and English.

Generously sponsored by the Martinez Refining Company, the 2022 Discover Diablo free public hikes and outings series will begin on January 22nd.

“Through the Discover Diablo series, people are fortunate to be able to

explore and discover the beauty of Mount Diablo with experienced guides,” said Ann Notarangelo, Community Relations Manager for the Martinez Refining Company.

“Our refinery has sponsored these hikes since 2017 in the hopes people will enjoy learning more about the mountain, while spending quality time with family and friends.”

T h e D i s c ove r D i a b l o program was started by Save Mount Diablo in 2017 to connect local communities with the amazing natural world of the Mount Diablo area and to build awareness about land conservation.

Discover Diablo hikes are guided by experts steeped in the natural history and lore of the region, who both educate and entertain while emphasizing the breathtaking beauty that the Diablo Range has to offer.

Save Mount Diablo hopes the Discover Diablo series will spark a passion for the Diablo Range and deepen people’s connections to the land and nature. All Discover Diablo hikes are subject to, and will honor, all applicable COVID-19–related restrictions then in place for our area.

According to Ted Clement, Executive Director of Save Mount Diablo, “It is the goal of the Discover Diablo program to build connections between people, Save Mount Diablo, and the land, helping our communities develop a strong sense of place and a deepened appreciation for our collective backyard. Most importantly, we want to cultivate a love of the land in participants, as that is what it will take to ensure the precious Mount Diablo natural area is taken care of for generations to come.”

There is something for us all to discover in the nooks and crannies surrounding Mount Diablo, so be sure to hit the trails in 2022 and find your own individual inspiration!

R S V P r e q u i r e d . To ensure everyone has an equal opportunity to attend, registration for hikes and outings in March onward will open two months prior to each hike’s date.

See our full schedule of upcoming hikes and outings; view and RSVP online here: bit.ly/Discover-Diablo-HikesCalendar You can also download and print a flyer of the schedule here: http://bit.ly/ DiscoverDiablo

Community Input We at The Valley Sentinel welcome comments and suggestions from the community at large. We love hearing from you! However, consideration is only given to those who provide their name, address and phone number. Two-way communication is essential for growth and understanding. Write us at P.O. Box 1309, Danville, 94526, email to drousset@valleysentinel.com, or call us at 925-820-6047.

Thank you!

—Denise Rousset, Publisher

If getting more outdoor exercise was one of your New Year’s resolutions, or even if it wasn’t, consider taking up East Bay Regional Park District’s 2022 Trails Challenge. It’s easy, it’s fun, it’s free, and annually for almost three decades, more than 10,000 people have participated.

Here’s how it works. Go to the park district website, ebparks.org/TC. Download the 2022 Trails Challenge Guidebook, which describes 20 hikes within the regional parks, designed for all levels of fitness from easy to challenging. There are trails for hikers, bicyclists, dog walkers and equestrians; some are wheelchair accessible.

To complete the challenge, hike or ride any five of the 20 listed trails, or 26.2 miles of trails within the park district. Submit your trail log online or through the mail

by Dec. 1, 2022 and receive a commemorative pin, while supplies last.

All 20 of the trails are available on the AllTrails app.

First download the free app, sign up and log in. Then go to www.alltrails.com/lists/ ebrpd-trails-challenge-2022 and click on “Copy to my lists”, followed by “Continue in App”. The featured trails will show under ‘Lists’ in ‘Plan’.

The app indicates where you are on the trail, enabling easy return to the trail if you stray from it. You can also record your hikes, share your photos and comments with other park users.

To offer some examples, easy trails listed on the challenge include the Alameda C re e k Re g i o n a l Tra i l i n Fremont and the Bollinger Creek Loop at Las Trampas in San Ramon. One of the longer trails is the Brushy Peak Loop Trail near Livermore. And one of the strenuous ones is a trek at Morgan Territory Regional Preserve east of Mt. Diablo.

Besides trail maps and d e s c r i p t i o n s , t h e Tr a i l s Challenge guidebook contains EGRET from page 1

foraging involves stirring the bottom sediments with their feet to startle prey into motion.

The Snowy Egret population has recovered significantly from the plume trade and is actually increasing its range to the north. Pesticides and habitat loss are the biggest threats to the Snowy Egret.

James M. Hale is a wildlife biologist based in Contra Costa County. Please visit his website at www.dochale.com

lots of other useful information, such as outdoor safety tips and equipment recommendations.

The 29th annual Trails Challenge is sponsored by the Regional Parks Foundation, Kaiser Permanente HMO and the park district. *** Apart from the Trails Challenge, the park district naturalists are offering lots of programs that highlight the cultural and natural history of the regional parks.

Appropriately, rain and its impact is the theme of a program from 2 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 15 at Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve in Antioch with naturalist aide Aki McKinzie.

Bring binoculars and meet at the uppermost parking lot at the end of Somersville Road, 3½ miles south of Highway 4. Find out how the park environment changes in the wet season.

The program is free of charge, but registration is required. To register, call 888327-2757 and select option 2.

Black Diamond Mines has a parking fee of $5 per vehicle when the kiosk is attended. *** Or you can join naturalist Kevin Dixon to explore the trails and dramatic rock outcrops at Diablo Foothills Regional Park during a hike from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 16.

Meet at the Orchard Creek Staging Area near the end of Castle Rock Road in Walnut Creek. Bring a snack, dress for the weather, and expect possibly wet and muddy trails.

The program is free, but registration is required.

Minimum age is seven and parents must participate. To register, call 888-327-2757. *** This is just a sample. For the full list of programs and their availability, visit apply. ebparks.org.

Senior Living page 8

AARP Free Tax Preparation

Wednesdays Feb. 2 through April 13, 8:30am-3:pm By appointment only. (925) 973-3250 Need help with your 2021 tax return? AARP Tax aide certified Counselors are ready to prepare income tax returns at the Alcosta Senior & Community Center. All tax prepareers are trained and certified by the IRS. The program serves taxpayers o f a ny a g e w i t h s p e c i a l attention given to seniors 50+. Tax-Aide does not have an income limit but targets those with low to moderate earnings. Counselors will prepare and file tax returns electronically. Electronic filing ensures accuracy, and refunds and tax payment arrangements are completed quickly. Both spouses must be present to sign a joint return.

valleysentinel.com

January 2022

Bring the following documents to your appointment: • Social Security card or ITIN letter for all individuals to be listed on the return • Photo ID for the tax payer and spouse (if applicable) • Copies of all 2021 w-2s, 1098s and 1099s • Your 2021 tax Return • Covered California: All documents including form 1095 Other income and deductions documentations The Alcosta Senior & Community Center is located at 9300 Alcosta Blvd. in San Ramon. Phone: (925) 9733250 for more information.

Night Driving Winter has arrived and with it the change of daylight savings time. This means that more drivers are out and about after dark. Parents are encouraged to work with their new drivers to be aware of the need for alert driving in the evening.

Despite lacking experience, teen drivers also have no longterm negative driving habits and it’s a great time to instill simple wisdom for safe practices at night, when accident rates are triple the number of daytime accidents.

The leading factors of traffic accidents at night are poor visibility, drowsiness, and alcohol. The latter is the leading cause of accident and fatalities on weekend nights. Along with the well-known message that drinking and driving never mix, the National Safety Council recommends these steps to minimize challenges of night driving:

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1. Keep headlights, tail lights, signal lights and windows clean.

2. Have headlights on and properly aimed. Misaligned headlights blind other drivers and reduce ability to see the road. Being seen is as important as seeing.

3. Reduce speed and increase following distances.

4. Don't overdrive headlights. Drivers should be able to stop inside the illuminated area. If you can’t stop in that range, you are creating a blind crash area in front of your vehicle.

5. When following another vehicle, keep your headlights on low beams so you don't blind the driver ahead of you.

6. If an oncoming vehicle doesn't lower beams from high to low, avoid glare by watching the right edge of the road and using it as a steering guide.

7. Make frequent stops for light snacks and exercise. If

you're too tired to drive, stop and get rest.

8. If you have car trouble, pull off the road as far as possible. Warn approaching traffic at once by setting up reflecting triangles near your vehicle and 300 feet behind it.

Turn on flashers and the dome light. Stay off the roadway and get passengers away from the area.

Observe night driving safety as soon as the sun goes down. Twilight is one of the most dangerous and difficult times to drive, because your eyes are constantly changing to adapt to the growing darkness.

With the right foundation, your newly minted driver can be one of the safest drivers out there, with good habits to last a lifetime.

For more information about driving at night, visit the Street Smarts web site at http://streetsmarts.com/resources/driving_ at_night.htm

valleysentinel.com

January 2022

THE VALLEY SENTINEL

page 9

Injured Sailor—The Long Road Home

By Mike Conklin, Chairman & CEO Sentinels of Freedom

Navy Petty Officer Ryan Sykes, who was severely injured on duty in Afghanistan, will receive a free handicap equipped home in Grass Valley from Homes For Our Troops and assisted by Sentinels of Freedom.

After Ryan was medically retired he spent several years in San Ramon rehabilitating

from his injuries. For 6 years Ryan has been assisted in his rehabilitation by Sentinels of Freedom who assembled a team of citizens, corporations, Dougherty Valley Rotary, the San Ramon Police Dept., veterans and Blue Star Moms.

And now with all this help he is finally back at home in Grass Valley near his family.

Mike Conklin, Chairman and CEO of Sentinels of Freedom says “ We are very proud of Ryan and very proud to have assisted him, his rugged determination to succeed in his dreams and goals has been nothing short of miraculous. Our sincere thanks goes out to all in our Community who stepped up to help Ryan.”

Meal Assistance For Seniors

By Judith Horvath

Cal High Student is awarded Presidential Volunteer Service Award also helped to train her fellow Dhriti Avala, a senior at California High School in San Ramon has been awarded the Presidential Volunteer Service Award. This award is given to honor the most outstanding volunteers and the impact they have made.

The Museum of the San Ramon is proud to have made this possible by being the Certifying Organization for Ms. Avala. She has also volunteered at Kaiser Hospitals but this was cut short by the onset of Covid19.

At the Museum she has amassed over 2000 volunteer

hours. During this time she has been a greeter at the entry to the museum welcoming visitors, handling fees, and admission.

Beyond that she answers the many questions visitors have about the 1891 building they are visiting. In addition to her greeter responsibilities she has trained and mentored many of the student volunteers that staff the museum on Sundays.

“The museum could not survive without our dedicated group of volunteers. Dhriti b ro u g h t d e d i c a t i o n a n d enthusiasm to her volunteer efforts at the museum and

volunteers. We are indebted to her for her time spent at the museum. We wish her well as she moves on to her college studies and hope to get her back during breaks in the future.” said Dan Dunn Executive Director of the museum on having Dhriti as a volunteer.

The Museum of the San Ramon Valley is located at 205 Railroad Ave Danville CA 94526. Our hours are TuesdayFriday 1-3 Saturday 10-1 and Sunday 12-3. You can contact the museum at 925 837-3750 or visit our website at museumsrv. org.

As we age, it often becomes apparent that there is a significant loss of appetite. Families know that their elderly parents must maintain a nutritious balance of meals but they are often not able to oversee this for their parents.

Either the senior cannot fix their own meals, or tells the family that they are eating regularly and they are not. At times, they may actually forget to eat.

Fortunately in Contra Costa County there is a wonderful organization that can provide daily meals for seniors who are in need. This organization is Meals On Wheels and Senior Outreach Services. This wonderful organization provides a wealth of services and we will highlight a few today.

Some of the services that this organization provides are: CC Cafes – Seniors who can transport themselves can go here and receive lunch for the minimal cost of $2.00 per meal. There are six locations, Bay Point, Concord, Crockett, Pittsburg, Rodeo, and Walnut Creek.

Care ManagementCare Managers are trained, experienced professionals who help older adults locate resources and services that will enhance their lives.

Fall Prevention provides home safety assessments and home modifications to reduce preventable injuries, educate community organizations, and provide exercise and balance programs.

Friendly Visitors match seniors with volunteers for weekly one-hour companionship.

Meals on WheelsVolunteers deliver hot, nutritious meals to the seniors’ home.

Delivering over 200,000 meals a year, many seniors depend on these for their major meal of the day. Volunteers not only deliver meals but also check on the resident to assure their safety. Meals provided are based on need, not income although a donation is suggested. No one is turned away if they cannot contribute. Meals are delivered to the following cities: •Alamo •Antioch •Bay Point •Clayton •Concord •Danville •Lafayette •Martinez •Moraga •Orinda •Pacheco •Pleasant Hill •Pittsburg •San Ramon •Walnut Creek Meals are delivered to seniors (60 years or older) who are homebound, no longer driving, unable to prepare food themselves, and do not have a caregiver that prepares meals. As you can see this is a great nonprofit organization that depends completely on volunteers to assist in all of their programs and their delivery. If you or a family member or a friend is in need of these services please call their main number 925-9378311, or if you would like to be that very special volunteer. They also have a highly informational website: www.mowsos.org J u d y H o r v a t h , C SA , Certified Senior Advisor, is the owner operator of Tender Heart Home Care. Tender Heart is headquartered in the Danville, San Ramon area and provides Seniors with in-home care. For further information, please call 925 838 4444 or email thoffice@ atenderheart.com

page 10

THE VALLEY SENTINEL

AUTO March 2009 January 2022

valleysentinel.com

2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz Limited AWD

By David and Judy Colman

One of my first press vehicle loans was a 1986 Ford F-150. I reviewed the truck after using it to tow my race car to the SCCA Solo 2 Nationals in Kansas.

That Ford had a big open bed, but no way to hide all my tires and equipment from theft and weather. So I laboriously constructed a plywood deck to serve as a bed cover. Each removal and reinstallation took forever, but it did serve its purpose. It’s taken 35 years for a manufacturer to come up with a better pickup protection policy.

The ingenuity award goes to Hyundai for the roll-up bed cover that hides the 52”(L) x

42”(W) open box of the new Santa Cruz mini pickup. First, you drop the hydraulic tailgate.

Then activate a trigger like release mounted atop the segmented bed cover. The cover magically slides open and stores itself in an aluminum canister mounted beneath the rear cab window.

Retrieve it with the provided lanyard. This device has just got to be the best invention since Henry Ford replaced the Model

T’s trunk with an open box and called it a truck.

Inside the Santa Cruz’ open bed you discover a full complement of added features. A fully covered storage locker hides beneath the bed floor. When you

open it, a pair of pneumatic struts hold the lid open while you pack your goods out of sight. Two additional storage cubbies mounted on the sidewalls of the bed add to the useful division of space. A complement of sliding tie down hooks and fixed stanchions allow you to tote a wide variety of equipment in this box and tie everything down properly.

Although we discovered that a bike would not store inside the box with the tailgate shut, we were able to it with the tailgate dropped by using a bungee cord to secure the bike in place.

Even if the rest of this truck were junk, it would earn its keep just for its utilitarian value. But the Santa Cruz, especially in top line Limited form, is an absolute blast to drive. This is a rare pickup with definite sports car attributes.

Although the base model SE Santa Cruz retails for just $25,215 versus the $39,720 base price of our test truck, you’ll definitely want to shell out the extra bucks for the top-tier turbo (281hp) versus the sluggish non-turbo SE (191hp). The first time we laid into the throttle hard, we were frankly astounded at the scat this 2.5 liter engine generated.

With skillful assistance from the 8-speed double clutch automatic gearbox, the Limited AWD Santa Cruz pops off 0-60mph runs in 6 seconds flat, and sprints through the quarter mile in 14.5 seconds at 98mph - on its way to a top speed of 130mph. This thing is a bullet, and you don’t even have to touch that nifty gearbox to achieve max blast off.

Even more surprising is the adept handling of the Santa Cruz Limited. At first we were cautiously concerned about the truck’s ability to negotiate twisty back road curves. After all, it sits tall in the saddle, with a height of 67 inches, and weighs in at 4,132lb - not exactly sports car specifications. But once we became confident of its handling propensity, we started flinging it through tight curves like a Mazda Miata.

This truck generates great amounts of pavement stick.

The Michelin Primacy LTX radials (245/50R20), which are mounted on very distinctive 5-spoke alloy rims, never gave a hint of losing their grip, even when we went apex hunting with real determination. And they’re even mud and snow rated.

Hyundai has done a remarkable job of catering to comfort inside the airy cab.

The front seats are infinitely adjustable, ventilated, and heated, as is the steering wheel. That wheel features Hyundai’s patented two-level set of spokes which allow you to get a grip up high or slouch your hands down low.

The rear seat lower cushions flip up with a simple strap pull to reveal a vast hidden storage bin that’s perfect for holding grocery bags. Once we figured out how to delete the exceptionally annoying lane centering nanny (hold the button on the steering wheel spoke down for 3 seconds) freeway lane changes became a pleasure instead of a perpetual nuisance.

Hyundai has selected a flat expanse of obsidian glass and plastic to control almost all HVAC, infotainment and navigation inputs. This is unfortunate, but at least the seat heaters have their own button. Most of all, we missed a simple volume control knob, though a switch on the left spoke of the steering wheel suffices for driver control of

sound level. Stylistically, the attractive flip-ups of the sheet metal on the rear doors look great, but reduce your view out the side windows. This makes parking a blind proposition.

Finally, the AWD system saddles the Santa Cruz with a vast turning radius that makes U-Turns two-cut propositions on any street. Aside from those modest complaints, the Santa Cruz Limited wins our vote as the best new combo concept for 2022.

2022 HYUNDAI SANTA CRUZ LIMITED AWD ENGINE: 2.5 liter inline 4, turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16 valve, aluminum block and head, port and direct fuel injection H O R S E P OW E R : 281hp@5800rpm T O R Q U E : 311 l b . ft.@1700rpm FUEL CONSUMPTION: 19MPG City/27MPG Highway PRICE AS TESTED: $41,500 HYPES: Hands Down Ingenuity Award Winner GRIPES: Dash Volume Knob Please STAR RATING: 10 Stars out of 10

Single Family Home Customers – 2022 Holiday Tree Collection Schedule Your tree pickup will be on the same day as your regular garbage service but by a separate truck.

Regular service will not be affected for Christmas and New Year’s Day because they fall on a Saturday.

Week of Jan 3–7 Customers in Walnut Creek, Danville, Alamo, Diablo, and Blackhawk (including unincorporated areas).

Week of Jan 10–14 Customers in Lafayette, Orinda, and Moraga (including unincorporated areas).

Week of Jan 17–21 Customers who missed prior tree collection.

AFTER Jan 21

If possible, cut tree and place in organics cart with lid closed, or call (925) 685-4711 to schedule a pick-up for a fee.

Don’t:

Do:

Tree Pickup Do’s & Don’ts • Remove lights, ornaments, and tinsel before placing at curbside.

• Trees over 8’ must be cut in half.

• Flocked trees can be collected using your annual on-call garbage cleanup at no cost, but must be scheduled in advance. Call (925) 685-4711. If cut to fit inside with lid closed, flocked trees may be placed in your black landfill cart.

• Do not leave stands (whether plastic, metal, or wood) on the tree.

Trees with these items still attached cannot be picked up.

Leave trees at curbside on the same day as your regular collection day, during your city’s assigned week.

COLLECTED TREES WILL BE COMPOSTED.

MOUNTAIN BIKES from page 2

making it easier for electric motors of all kinds to access nonmotorized terrain in the future.

A Canadian study looked specifically at the vegetation impacts of mountain biking and the data analysis and statistical testing showed that the impacts of hiking and biking were about the same. Other studies showed that avoiding or minimizing such impacts can best be achieved by designing trails with each user group in mind that reduced user desire to

travel off-trail. It’s no surprise either that “Bushwhacking” unauthorized trails destroys vegetative cover, spreads non-native plants and causes serious soil erosion.

Proper trail creation (and maintenance) is truly a science.

Loose, uncompacted soil is the real erosion culprit, s o u n d e rs t a n d i n g w h i c h activities are the most prone to creating these conditions is critical. A study in Montana found that the amount of “ s e d i m e n t ava i l a b l e f o r erosion” was significantly higher after an equestrian “pass”, than a pass by a

valleysentinel.com

January 2022

SB 1383 – New Recycling and Organics Collection Processes Coming Soon

By Candace Andersen. Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors

In order to address climate change caused by greenhouse gases emitted by organic waste, California lawmakers introduced SB 1383 in September 2016. It sets state-wide methane emission reduction targets to cut emissions of pollutants, setting goals to reduce statewide disposal or organic waste by 50% by 2020, and by another 75% by 2025, and and collect and distribute to those in need at least 20% of currently disposed surplus food by 2025.

What is organic waste?

Examples include food, green waste, landscape and pruning waste, organic fabrics and carpets, lumber, wood, paper goods, printing and writing paper, manure, biosolids, digestate, and sludges. SB 1383 also contains signficiant requirements for cities and counties related to recycling and organics collection, field inspections, enforcement policies, and edible food recovery in order to achieve these statewide goals.

The law includes both performance target standards and fines that can be imposed on cities and counties that fail to comply starting January 1, 2022. Some of the things SB 1383 now requires are: • O r g a n i c w a s t e collection services must be provided to all residents, MOUNTAIN BIKES from page 2

mountain biker, or hiker (which were about the same).

We know that the volume of each type of trail use is a key component of the equation, but “Trails predominantly used for mountain biking had the least erosion of the use types investigated.

Computed estimates of soil loss per mile of trail also revealed the mountain biking trails to have the lowest soil loss.”

At the end of the day, “existing studies indicate that mountain biking differs l i t t l e f ro m h i k i n g i n i t s contribution to soil impacts.”

Wildlife Disturbance – Our mere presence in wild places disturbs wildlife.

including those in apartments and to all businesses, and those materials must be recycled through methods such as anaerobic digestion or composting.

• Local governments much purchase products made by the recycled organic material, such as renewable energy, compost or mulch.

• Some food service businesses must donate edible food to food recovery organizations, helping feed additional Californians who don’t have enough to eat.

As the law and supporting programs take effect, SB 1383 contains particular education requirements for jurisdictions.

Residents and businesses will be educated about collection standards, including what things should be placed in curbside bins. This instruction will be in a variety of ways, including electronically, through hard copy materials, or through direct outreach.

Residents must sign up for and participate in their municipality’s organics curbside pickup program.

They must also properly sort their organic garbage and place it in the appropriate bins.

Residents in some jurisdictions will still be able to self-haul their organic trash. If this is the case, the jurisdiction will provide details on the selfhauling requirements.

RecycleSmart, which serves the District 2 communities of Danville, Lafayette, Moraga, Orinda, Walnut Creek, and unincorporated areas of Contra Costa County, along with ACI, which serves the City of San Ramon, have plans

in place to comply with this State Law. They will educate those who generate organic waste, residents, businesses, multifamily unit complexes, townhomes, self-haulers, e d i b l e f o o d g e n e ra t o rs, schools, and non-local entities, in their geographic region about the bill’s requirements each year.

One of the main features of the law requires different bins for diverse organic and recycling goods. These are already in place and used by households throughout Re cyc l e S m a r t a n d AC I ’s region. Both organizations are well positioned to help their cities and the County meet the criteria of the new law. RecycleSmart has already formed a partnership with local non-profit White Pony Express to collect and distribute unused but still edible food from food service businesses such as restaurants or grocery stores.

SB 1383 will require jurisdictions to take all enforcement action necessary against those who are noncompliant beginning January 1, 2024. A Notice of Violation will be issued, together with a penalty assessment, to educate individuals who are unwilling or unable to comply.

To learn more about the many nuances of this law, please go to calrecycle.ca.gov or RecycleSmart.org. My office is here to serve you. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if we can provide you with additional information on this topic or on other County issues. I can be reached at SupervisorAndersen@bos. cccounty.us or 925-957-8860.

The impact differs greatly based upon species, but s t u d i e s s h ow t h a t m o s t wildlife habituates when faced with consistent, nonthreatening encounters with trail users. Most critters will flee before we are even aware of their presence.

So, which type of trail use has the most significant impact on wildlife? A study in Utah showed statistically similar responses of wildlife disturbance created by hiking and MTB’s. They very fairly point out though, that MTB’s will obviously cover more distance in the same amount of time, therefore are likely to disturb more wildlife per time unit. A study of flushing eagles found more and earlier flushing caused by hikers

than by bikers. (Stopping to observe wildlife is the biggest driver here as it relates to flushing.)

Please know that I did not set out to identify studies that supported the conclusions I might have hoped for, but rather went down this particular rabbit hole in search of the truth.

The truth I found, above all others, is that it is incumbent upon all of us to show respect, tolerance and kindness to each other, and for the beautiful wild places that we all enjoy, regardless of our choice of trail use. Bad behavior is bad behavior.

And let’s face it – none of us intends to stop going out there!

THE VALLEY SENTINEL INFLAMATION from page 6

page 11

cell can be mistaken by one’s body for foreign bodies, thus setting up an immune response with the resulting inflammation. There is a lot of scientific research warning us of the dangers of GMO’s, but greed prevails. The last time we voted on labeling GMO products, big money appeared to stop it. Now there are volunteers in the food industry that will be labeling non GMO products.

In my treatment of severely painful TMJ cases, c o n t ro l o f i n f l a m m a t i o n by correction of diet and lifestyle is essential to optimal treatment. If you are suffering from headaches; deferred tooth pain; jaw pain; sounds in your joints; limited mobility of the jaw; or are just a person who clenches and/or grinds their teeth, please contact my office to schedule a complimentary consultation/ evaluation. Life is too short to not feel your best. Advanced Oral Diagnosis & Treatment Center is located in Danville.

Dr. Robert J. Brown of Advanced Oral Diagnosis and Treatment Center can be reached at (925) 837-8048 for more information or to make an appointment. You can also visit his website at www.aodtc.

book “WHY—The Question that Could Save Your Life”, one must not leave it up the health care practitioner to treat your ailment. One must study the cure oneself.

The Internet can give you the knowledge of which foods are inflammatory and which are anti-inflammatory.

T h e w e b s i t e, w w w. inflammationfactor.com, lists over 2000 foods and their inflammatory factor. An “IF” rating ap (IF=Inflammatory Factor) is available for your smart phone. If you love the pain of arthritis, all you need to do to make it worse is load up with sugar, a very inflammatory food.

Another cause of inflammation has only recently been introduced to our food supply. GM, or genetically modified foods, are so bad that they are not legal in Europe. 94% of Soy is genetically altered. In this process the gene of one species is forcibly transferred into the cell of another, in order to achieve a result that brings more profit. The profit in the case of soy, is that the new altered soy is resistant to Roundup. Once this new soy is consumed, the new

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THE VALLEY SENTINEL January 2022

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