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always for the community VOL 23, NO 7
July 2018
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SPOTLIGHT
“It’s not how much we give but how much love we put into giving” –Mother Teresa Varun Thakur, a junior at California High School in San Ramon, has learned this early. In June of 2016 Varun started an organization called Discharge with Dignity with an idea of donating clothes and shoes to give to hospital emergency trauma centers. Many patients brought to trauma centers have their clothing torn in the process of their treatment. While in hospital they are in gowns but at the time of discharge they need
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On July 4th, the Kiwanis Club of the San Ramon Valley delighted thousands with their Danville Independence Day Parade. Every year this not-to-miss event offers up the best of the community, including elected officials, military flyovers, live bands, vintage cars, clubs and organizations, live animals and more.This fundraiser for the Kiwanis Club allows the club to donate tens of thousands of dollars in grants to area nonprofits. The parade brings the whole community together in such an exceptional way. Photo by Veronica Yoo.
American Mink by James Hale
The American Mink (Neovison vison) is locally common in the marshes, wetlands, and riparian habitats of Contra Costa County. I have encountered them frequently in my field work from the Truckee River to the San Francisco-San Joaquin delta. This fur-bearing, carnivorous, semiaquatic mammal is a member of the weasel family, Mustelidae, which includes river and sea otters, badgers, weasels, martens, fishers, and wolverines. All mustelids, except the sea otter, have anal scent glands that produce a strongsmelling secretion used for marking territories and sexual courtship. The American Mink is native to North America, ranging from Alaska and Canada throughout the United States, except Arizona and the more arid regions of the western states. Fifteen subspecies are recognized. They have been introduced to many parts
of Europe and South America. In Europe, they are classified as an invasive species, causing declines in European Mink, Pyrenean Desman , and Water Vole populations. Since the extinction of the Sea Mink (Neovison macrodon) in 1894, the American Mink is the only living (extant) member in the genus Neovison. The American Mink is the animal most frequently farmed for its fur, exceeding the silver fox, sable, marten, and skunk in economic importance. Fossil records of the American Mink date back to the Irvingtonian Land Mammal Age, from 1,350,000 to 160,000 years BP. The American Minks closest living relative is the Siberian Weasel of Asia, although they superficially resemble the European Mink. The American Mink has a long, streamlined body which allows it to enter the burrows
of its prey. This fusiform (streamlined) shape also reduces water resistance while swimming. Males are 15 to 18 inches long, with the tail, up to 10 inches long, constituting 38-51% of their total length. Females are smaller, usually less than 15 inches. Males are heavier than females, reaching 3 pounds in weight. Weights vary with sex and season, with maximum heaviness occurring in autumn. The American Mink’s winter fur is highly
This month’s Special Section:
Senior Living
pages 8 - 9
valued as it is denser, longer, softer, and more close-fitting than the European Mink. The winter fur’s tone varies from very dark blackish-tawny to light-tawny, with the color evenly distributed over the entire body. The underside is slightly lighter than the upper body. The underfur on the back is grayish-tawny with a bluish tint. The tail is darker than the See Mink page 4
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT dining out • music • art • theater • fun events
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THE VALLEY SENTINEL
8th Annual Juried Exhibition - Mix it Up! Now - August 18 An eclectic exhibition of varied art. In a juried ex h i b i t i o n , a r t i s t s f r o m throughout the area submit their creations for inclusion in the exhibit. The featured juror, Ric Ambrose, then assesses the entries and decides which go into the exhibition. Exhibit is free. Artwork in the exhibition will be for sale. The Village Theatre and Art Gallery, 233 Front St., Danville. Museum hours and information: www. villagetheatreshows.com or 925-314-3400.
The Museum of the San Ramon Valley presents: Totally Trains Now - August 26 T h e ex h i b i t h a s t wo elevations with 4 running trains, scenery, bridges, a trestle, tunnel and a village with a replica of the Museum, the former Southern Pacific Depot. On display are items
from three private collections of model trains dating from the early to mid-1900s. They include Lionel, American Flyer Standard gauge, and Marx O gauge. A special Thomas The Train table will be set up for the youngest visitors to play and enjoy. This year’s layout will showcase several new scale models of buildings which existed along the tracks in the Valley. Family $15, Adults $5, Children $3 (Under 5 free), Students (K through 12 with id) $3, Seniors (65+) $3. The Museum of the San Ramon Valley is located in the restored train depot at 205 Railroad Avenue, Danville. Museum hours and information: www.musemsrv. org or 925-837-3750. Spontaneous Shakespeare! presented by Synergy Theater July 12 - 15 Thou wilt not believe it’s improvised! Mayhem, mirth and merriment abound at Spontaneous Shakespeare!, a completely improvised twoact comedy in the style of the Immortal Bard! Chock full of raucous humor, mistaken identities, outrageous disguises, star crossed lovers, mischievous spirits, wily servants, hysterical wordplay and more “thees” and “thous”
2018
July 2018 valleysentinel.com than you can shake a cudgel at, this hysterical improvised comedy is made up entirely on the spot and all based on your suggestions! $20. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek. Information: www. lesherartscenter.org or 925943-SHOW (7469). Alamo Free Summer Concert Fog City Swampers - 60s to present - lots of dance music July 13 6:30-8:30 p.m. Presented by Alamo Municipal Advisory Council, this free summer concert series in Alamo Park invites families, friends and neighbors to bring low-back chairs, blankets, snacks and enjoy great entertainment free of charge. Free. Livorna Park, Livorna Rd & Miranda, Alamo. Information: alamore.org
Comedy with Liz Grant & Friends: Reggie Steele July 12 7:30pm. In this monthly
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Bay Area Children’s Theatre Presents: Elephant & Piggie’s – We Are In A Play June 14 & 15 Enjoy the pilot production of Elephant & Piggie’s – We are in a Play, performed by Bay Area Children’s Theatre Summer Performers Campers. Dougherty Valley Performing Arts Center, 7000 Bollinger Canyon Rd., San Ramon. Information: www. ci.san-ramon.ca.us/our_city/ departments_and_divisions/ parks_community_services/ san_ramon_performing_arts or 925-973-2500
www.srvkiwanis.org/parade
2018
Safeway Alamo World Travel Onstad’s Insurance Sweeney Kovar Accountants & Advisors Doyle Quane & Freeman Family Law Group Mike Doyle, Town Councilman/Mayor –1991-2016 Richard Frankel, Attorney
stand-up comedy series, Liz Grant brings a host of Bay Area and L.A. comedians to the Village Theatre stage! 16+ unless accompanied by an adult. $17 - $20. Village T h e a t e r, 2 3 3 F r o n t S t . , Danville. Information: www. villagetheatreshows.com or 925-314-3400.
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A Midsummer Melodrama: Free Outdoor Theatre July 14 & 15 4pm. Join us this midsummer for a fun outdoor theatre event for the whole family! Audiences get to playfully interact with the actors by cheering for the heroes, booing and hissing at the villain, and joining together to sing beloved, traditional songs. Free. Town Green, 420 Front Street, Danville. www. villagetheatreshows.com or 925-314-3400. Jack Wright’s Tribute to Neil Diamond July 14 7 p m . J a c k Wr i g h t ’ s acclaimed national touring
Tribute to Neil Diamond is a contemporary, sophisticated performance of the hit songs that have kept Neil Diamond in the hearts of his fans for more than five decades. Jack and his Heartlight Showband capture the essence of Neil’s timeless multi-generational appeal – without over-thetop mimicry or gimmickry. His interpretive singing and dynamic stage presence are pure Neil as he connects with his audiences the way Neil always has. $35 - $50. Dougherty Valley Performing Arts Center, 10550 Albion Rd, San Ramon. Located on the Dougherty Valley High School Campus. Information: www. ci.san-ramon.ca.us/visitors/ arts_culture or 925-973-2500. San Ramon Free Summer Concert Aja Vu - Steely Dan Tribute July 15 5:30 p.m. Bring the family for a perfect summer evening in Central Park. Enjoy great music, talk with friends and neighbors, bring a picnic and let the kids enjoy dancing barefoot in the grass. This is one of life’s simple pleasures, relax and enjoy the moment. Bring a picnic, blanket and/ or lawn chairs. Wine, beer, soda and snacks available for purchase. Sponsored by the City of San Ramon and the San Ramon Arts Foundation. Free. Central Park Amphitheater, 12501 Alcosta Blvd. San Ramon. Information: ci.sanramon.ca.us
The Jazz Room: Vocalist Clif Payne July 20 8pm. San Francisco smooth jazz vocalist Clif Payne,
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT dining out • music • art • theater • fun events
valleysentinel.com with Pianist Frank Martin, will perform contemporary and classic pop songs (www. clifpayne.org). $15 - $30. Village Theater, 233 Front St., Danville. Information: www. villagetheatreshows.com or 925-314-3400.
Twelfth Annual Chevron Family Theatre Festival July 21 10am - 4pm. This event offers families a low-cost day of non-stop theater, dance, and music performances along with visual arts activities both inside and outside the Lesher Center for the Arts. The Festival will open at 10 am with a Prince and Princess Parade. Then free events inside and outside the Center along with ticketed shows will run through 4 pm. Show tickets are $5 each. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek. Information and tickets: www.lesherartscenter.org or 925-943-SHOW (7469). Art Under the Oaks July 21 & 22 11am - 4pm. Artists will be displaying and selling their work under a grove of centuries old oak trees. Livermore wine tasting, food, demonstrations, live music and activities for the kids. Free. Alden Lane Nursery, 981 Alden Ln, Livermore. Information: www.aldenlane. com/art-under-the-oaks or 925-447-0280.
Dixieland Jazz July 21 1:30-4:30pm. On the 3rd Saturday of every month you can enjoy the music of the Devil Mountain Jazz Band. Bring your own beverages, snacks and a friend or two! There is a large dance floor and lots of free parking. $15. Grange Hall, 743 Diablo Road, Danville. Information visit www.jazznut.com or phone 625-2707.
July 2018 Danville Music in the Park A Touch of Class - R&B, Funk, & Oldies July 21 6-8pm. Bring a basket of food, lawn chairs or blankets to spread on the ground for some great music and family fun. Free. Oak Hill Park, 3005 Stone Valley Rd., Danville. Information: danville.ca.gov Pleasant Hill Free Summer Concert Top Shelf - 70s, 80s July 22 6-8 p.m. Sunset by the lake concert for the family to enjoy. Bring your blankets, lawn chairs, and get ready to enjoy the festivities. Vendors sell food for you to purchase at the event. Free. On the lawn by the lake at Pleasant Hill City Hall, Gregory Ln & Cleaveland Rd. Information: pleasanthillconcerts.com. San Ramon Free Summer Concert The Groove Doctors - 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s And Top 40 July 22 5:30 p.m. Bring the family for a perfect summer evening in Central Park. Enjoy great music, talk with friends and neighbors. This is one of life’s simple pleasures, relax and enjoy the moment. Bring a picnic, blanket and/or lawn chairs. Wine, beer, soda and snacks available for purchase. Sponsored by the City of San Ramon and the San Ramon Arts Foundation. Free. Central Park Amphitheater, 12501 Alcosta Blvd. San Ramon. Information: ci.san-ramon. ca.us Alamo Free Summer Concert Jake Gill - Country to swing July 27 6:30-8:30 p.m. Presented by Alamo Municipal Advisory Council, this free summer concert series in Alamo Park invites families, friends and neighbors to bring low-back chairs, blankets, snacks and enjoy great entertainment free of charge. Free. Livorna Park, Livorna Rd & Miranda, Alamo. Information: alamore.org San Ramon Free Summer Concert Petty Theft - Tom Petty Tribute July 29 5:30 p.m. Bring the family for a perfect summer evening in Central Park. Enjoy great music, talk with friends and neighbors. This is one of life’s simple pleasures, relax and enjoy the moment. Bring a
picnic, blanket and/or lawn chairs. Wine, beer, soda and snacks available for purchase. Sponsored by the City of San Ramon and the San Ramon Arts Foundation. Free. Central Park Amphitheater, 12501 Alcosta Blvd. San Ramon. Information: ci.san-ramon. ca.us
The Jazz Room: Audious featuring Isaiah Harwood August 3 8pm. Audious is a quintet led by Piano Prodigy and 2016 winner of Jazz West, Isaiah Harwood! Audious will perform visionary arrangements of jazz standards and original compositions by Isaiah Harwood and young leading jazz musicians in the Bay Area. $15 - $25. Village Theater, 233 Front St., Danville. Information: www. villagetheatreshows.com or 925-314-3400. San Ramon Free Summer Concert The House Rockers - Rock & Soul August 5 5:30 p.m. Bring the family for a perfect summer evening in Central Park. Enjoy great music, talk with friends and neighbors. This is one of life’s simple pleasures, relax and enjoy the moment. Bring a picnic, blanket and/or lawn chairs. Wine, beer, soda and snacks available for purchase. Sponsored by the City of San Ramon and the San Ramon Arts Foundation. Free. Central Park Amphitheater, 12501 Alcosta Blvd. San Ramon. Information: ci.san-ramon. ca.us Pleasant Hill Free Summer Concert The Big Jangle - Tom Petty tribute August 5 6-8 p.m. Sunset by the lake concert for the family to enjoy. Bring your blankets, lawn chairs, and get ready to enjoy the festivities. Vendors sell food for you to purchase at the event. Free. On the lawn by the lake at Pleasant Hill City Hall, Gregory Ln & Cleaveland Rd. Information: pleasanthillconcerts.com.
THE VALLEY SENTINEL Comedy with Liz Grant & Friends: A Monthly Stand-Up Series August 9 7:30pm. In this monthly stand-up comedy series, Liz Grant brings a host of Bay Area and L.A. comedians to the Village Theatre stage! Join these seasoned performers for this hilarious series. 16+ unless accompanied by an adult. $17 $20. Village Theater, 233 Front St., Danville. Information: www. villagetheatreshows.com or 925314-3400.
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Danville Music in the Park The Fog City Swampers Classic Rock August 11 6-8pm. Bring a basket of food, lawn chairs or blankets to spread on the ground for some great music and family fun. Free. Town Green, 400 Front St. (in front of the Danville Library) Information: danville. ca.gov The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) August 18 - 19 Times vary. Join us on the Town Green for a FREE outdoor performance! Can three actors really cover thirtyseven Shakespeare plays in less than two hours? This fast-firing comedy does just that as it parodies all of the Shakespeare plays (plus the sonnets!). Free. Town Green, 420 Front Street, Danville. www.villagetheatreshows.com or 925-314-3400.
Preschool Performance Series: Comedian & Juggler Unique Derique August 10 10am. Making little ones laugh, dance, and sing-along since 2009, the Town of Danville is pleased to continue to present fun and unique top-level entertainers for preschool-aged children. $5. Village Theater, 233 Front St., Danville. Information: www.villagetheatreshows.com or 925-314-3400.
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THE VALLEY SENTINEL
July 2018
valleysentinel.com
Technology that Revolutionizes Cancer Treatment By Gautam Prasad, MD, PhD
It is the one word no one ever wants to hear their doctor say – cancer. But according to the American Cancer Society, more than 1.5 million Americans received that diagnosis in 2012 alone. Being diagnosed or having a loved one diagnosed with cancer is frightening, stressful and overwhelming. The good news is that the majority of Americans can now continue to live full lives following their initial diagnosis thanks in large part to the new medical technology and treatments now available. In the past, having a cancerous tumor removed meant undergoing invasive surgery and recuperating in the hospital for days. Thankfully, today doctors have access to cutting-edge technology that target and eliminate many types of cancerous tumors without cutting into the patient or requiring an overnight hospital stay. The CyberKnife® Radiosurgery System was the first, and remains the only, full-body radiosurgery device designed to help destroy tumors with intense, highlyfocused beams of radiation. The CyberKnife System can treat tumors anywhere in the body, from the brain to the lung to the prostate, and is the best radiation oncology solution for treating, tracking
and adjusting in real-time to moving targets with extreme precision and accuracy. Unlike other radiation systems, the CyberKnife System is able to treat patients in one to five days as opposed to what can be months of other forms of daily radiation treatment. This is because of the CyberKnife System’s extreme accuracy, which enables it to deliver the maximum dose very precisely. Not only do most CyberKnife patients avoid surgery and finish treatment in a week, their brief course of treatment is pain-free and typically lasts an hour or less per treatment. The majority of patients go about their daily routine during treatment. A unique and important feature of the CyberKnife System is it’s tracking technology that enables continuous coordination with a patient’s tumor movement during treatment. This is especially crucial for patients receiving treatment for lung and prostate cancer – two areas that are in constant motion. Because of the CyberKnife System’s ability to continuously track and adjust in real-time in combination with its submillimeter accuracy, a patient can be confident their tumor is being treated while the surrounding healthy tissue and organs are spared. Who can receive CyberKnife treatments? It is up to a medical provider to determine whether the CyberKnife treatment is right for a patient. Factors that will influence their opinion are the tumor type, location and
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size of the tumor, and extent of disease. It is important to keep in mind that sometimes there are many different approaches and opinions can differ. The CyberKnife System is versatile and can treat cancers from early stages to advanced disease and, in some cases the treatment can be partnered with surgery, chemotherapy, and conventional radiation therapy. How many patients have been treated using CyberKnife? As of 2014, over 300,000 patients had been treated
worldwide by the CyberKnife System and that number continues to grow as more CyberKnife treatment facilities open up. What is a CyberKnife treatment like? When receiving treatment, patients simply lie down on a padded table and breathe normally while the CyberKnife System quietly moves around them. Once treatment is complete, a patient has follow-up appointments with their doctor as they follow the destruction of the tumor.
The CyberKnife System is a great option for patients who are unable to receive surgery, have surgically complex tumors or are seeking an alternative to surgery that will allow them to continue their active lifestyle with minimal disruption. For more information about the CyberKnife System, visit www.epiccarecyberknife.com or contact us at (925) 391-2220. Dr. Gautam Prasad is a Radiation Oncologist with Epic Care, a group of experts in the diagnosis and comprehensive treatment of cancer and blood disorders. www.epic-care.com
MINK from page 1
four hours, with the males biting the nape of females and pinning them down with their forefeet. Females are receptive for seven to ten days during the mating season and may mate with multiple males. The American Mink, along with the Striped Skunk, are among about one hundred mammals that exhibit delayed implantation or embryonic diapause of the fertilized egg in the wall of the uterus. This allows pregnant females to choose the timing of parturition or birthing to coincide with favorable environmental conditions, thereby increasing the odds of infant survival. Gestation lasts from 45 to 70 days, with usually litters of four kits being born from April to June. Exceptionally large litters of sixteen kits have been recorded in the United States. American Mink kits are blind at birth and covered with short, slivery-white, hairs. Their eyes open after 25 days, with weaning occurring in about five weeks. After five weeks, the kits begin to hunt, and they reach sexual maturity during their first spring at about ten months old. American Mink territories are held and defended by individuals, with male territories larger than females. Home ranges are linear and from .62 to 3.73 miles long. Dens are near water, and usually in river banks, under logs, tree stumps, rock crevices, stone piles, and other protected sites. American Mink dig their own burrows, about four inches in diameter and up to 15 feet long. They may nest in previously dug burrows of other animals such as badgers, muskrats, or skunks. The nest chamber at the end of the burrow, lined with straw and feathers, is about a foot in diameter. American Mink dens have a large number of entrances with twisting passages and from one to eight exits. They vocalize when encountering
other minks or predators. Loud, piercing shrieks, growls, snarls, and hisses are not uncommon. When asserting themselves, they will stamp and scrape the ground, arch their back, puff their body, and lash their tail, with the mouth wide open to expose the canine teeth. During mating, muffled, chuckling sounds are emitted. A pair of American Minks literally ran over my boots during the mating season while chuckling, with the male in hot pursuit of the female when I was hiking in the marshes of the Dow Wetlands. Another pair selected a den close to the beaver hut in Alhambra Creek near downtown Martinez a few years ago. The American Mink is a carnivore that feeds on rodents, rabbits, fish, crustaceans, amphibians, reptiles, and birds. It kills vertebrate prey by biting the back of the head or neck. Large birds such as gulls, ducks, and cormorants are killed by drowning. American Mink have been filmed while swimming out to attack and drown swans. They are persistent and may take an hour or more in the process of obtaining prey. American Mink are formidable predators of muskrats, which they pursue underwater to their burrows. They may pose a significant threat to poultry. Transmissible diseases and released or escaped domestic minks have caused declines in local populations. The fur of American Minks are used in the manufacture of coats, jackets, and capes. The American Mink was the most frequently trapped fur-bearing mammal prior to domestic mink fur farming. The most valuable, silkiest, darkest, peltries come from Eastern Canada. Individuals have been tamed and used for ratting. James M. Hale is a wildlife biologist and ecological consultant based in Contra Costa County. Please visit his website at - www.dochale.com
body and sometimes pure black at the tip. The chin and lower lip are white. The oily guard hairs and thick underfur provide the pelage with water resistance. American Minks molt twice a year, during spring and autumn. They do not turn white during winter like some weasels. Selective, experimental breeding on fur farms have given rise to a variety of color mutations. The American Mink moves at speeds up to 4 or 5 miles per hour on land with a bounding gait. They are excellent swimmers, divers, and tree climbers. American Mink have been documented as swimming without stopping for more than three hours in warm water. They may die in cold water in a half hour. American Mink generally dive to about a foot for about ten seconds as they pursue fish, although depths of more than three feet lasting for a minute have been recorded. They rely on their keen sight when foraging and are able to detect the ultrasonic vocalizations of their rodent prey. Sense of smell is less well developed. American Mink have two anal scent glands that they use for scent marking. They are able to expel the contents of the glands up to twelve inches when excited or stressed. Additional scent glands most likely used for courtship are located on the throat and chin. The smell produced by these scent glands are considered by some to be more unbearable than that of skunk spray. American Mink are promiscuous and do not form pair bonds. The beginning of mating season, which lasts for about three weeks, ranges from February in the south to April in the north. Males fight for dominance in loose, temporary hierarchies during the mating season. Mating is violent and lasts for ten minutes to
valleysentinel.com
July 2018
THE VALLEY SENTINEL
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Golfer’s Elbow Got You Feeling Sub-Par? By Dr. Niele Maimone, DC
What is Golfer’s Elbow? Golfer’s elbow, or medial epicondylitis, is similar to its counterpart, Tennis elbow. The primary differences between these conditions are the location of the pain and the activity that leads to injury. However, both conditions are caused by overuse of the muscles and tendons of the forearm, leading to inflammation and pain around the elbow joint, commonly called tendonitis. Golf is one common cause of tendonitis, but many other sports and work related activities can cause the same problem. The cause of golfer’s e l b ow c a n va r y f ro m a single violent action (acute injury) to, more commonly, a repetitive stress injury where an action is performed repeatedly and pain gradually develops. In an acute injury of the elbow inflammation occurs without substantial tissue damage. However in a repetitive stress situation a person may experience damage to the tendon and surrounding soft tissue causing tissue degeneration over time. Inflammation from acute injury often responds quickly to rest and anti-inflammatory
treatment. However, if the injury is due to tendon tissue degeneration, treatment will be longer and will be focused on improving the strength of the tendon as well as rebuilding tissues. Golfer’s Elbow Symptoms With golfer’s elbow pain is on the inside of the elbow, usually during or after intense use. Typically the pain increases during wrist flexion or pronation and often radiates to the forearm. Because this frequently occurs in golfers, it has become known as “golfer’s elbow”. However, it is also known as “pitcher’s elbow”. Treatment for Golfer’s Elbow G o l f e r ’s e l b ow d o e s not usually cause any longterm disability. However, the condition may become stubborn and proper re h a b i l i t a t i o n w i l l h e l p alleviate the symptoms and get you back to life again. Rest and Reduce Inflammation: The first step a person should take if tendinitis is suspected is to stop the activities that cause the pain and inflammation in this case, rest the arm. Use a topical cream containing Arnica to begin to reduce the inflammatory process quickly. Laser Therapy to Heal the Damaged Tissue: Ending the pain caused by golfer’s elbow
Alamo News Update ALPR for Alamo By Steve Mick
Automatic License Plate Recognition (ALPR) technology has come to Alamo. This is in response to a study performed at the request of the Alamo Police Services Advisory Committee (APSAC) and other groups. These groups had significant concern over local news articles reporting an increase in property crimes and residential burglaries. An assessment was performed of some options to address these issues. The choices came down to installing mobile ALPR cameras in police cars or installing stationary ALPR cameras at strategic locations in Alamo. District board members agreed that stationary cameras offered the best choice for the prevention and the investigation of crimes.
Consequently, 21 cameras have been put into service in Alamo. ALPR uses high-speed ,high-resolution cameras to photograph license plate images. Optical character recognition (OCR) technology is then used to transform the images into alphanumeric characters. Thus, the camera "reads" license plates. The i n f o r m a t i o n c a p t u re d i s automatically compared to an electronic "hot list" of cars identified as of interest to law enforcement personnel. If a "hit" is detected, appropriate personnel can be dispatched. There is concern among some individuals that the use of these cameras may bring up privacy issues. However, strict accountability and security of the information are employed. The camera collects license plate data at a specific time and place. The driver or passengers are not
requires healing the damaged tissue. Class IV laser therapy is an excellent method for this, because it is presently the only form of therapy that can both reduce inflammation and heal tissue simultaneously. Laser treatments at Align Healing Center are done with the K-laser CUBE a Class IV Laser. This laser does not cut or burn but is gently absorbed by the tissue. During Laser Therapy the infrared laser light interacts with tissues at the cellular level, increasing metabolic activity and improving the transport of nutrients across the cell membrane. This initiates the production of cellular energy (ATP) that leads to a cascade of beneficial effects, increasing cellular function and health. This creates an optimal healing environment that reduces inflammation, swelling, muscle spasms, stiffness, scar tissue and pain. Correct the Mechanics of Motion: Assessing the forearm, elbow, shoulder and spine for proper postural feedback is done to diagnose and correct improper alignment. After proper alignment is restored specific muscular taping is applied to improve circulation and insure proper motion on a daily basis. Lastly, specific strengthening and stretching exercises are given. By strengthening the muscles
known nor is the owner of the vehicle determined using this technology. The Federal Driver’s Privacy Protection Act (DPPA) restricts access and prohibits the release of personal information from State motor vehicle records to ensure the privacy of citizens (18 USC 2721-2725.) However, the owner can be determined by cognizant lawful authorities who have a valid need to know. According to Jason Haynes, Valley Station Commander, 2.1 million license plates were read in January, which led to three stolen cars being recovered. By all accounts, the ALPR cameras are proving to be a valuable asset to our local law enforcement efforts. Steve Mick is a long-time Alamo resident and is active in a number of community organizations. Among them are the Community Foundation of Alamo, the Exchange Club and the Alamo Municipal Advisory Council. You can reach Steve at steve@alamore. org.
and tendons involved with golfers’ elbow, you can prevent the problem from returning. At Align Healing Center we are having great success treating golfer’s elbow, tennis e l b ow, p l a n t a r f a s c i i t i s, sciatica, shoulder and neck pain, migraines, arthritis, carpal tunnel, post surgical pain, sports injuries and more; even long-term residual pain. Ar¬thritis and degenerative
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disc disease sufferers can see long term benefits from this treatment without any of the negative side effects experienced with the long term use of medications. Dr. Niele Maimone, DC is the owner and founder of Align Healing Center in Danville, CA. She has been active in our natural health & wellness community since 1999. For more information or to set up a consult call 925.362.8283 or visit www.alignhealingcenter. com.
The Second (Indianhead) Division Association is searching for anyone who served in the Army’s 2nd Infantry Division at any time. For information about the association and our 97th annual reunion in Jacksonville, Florida from September 19 - 23, 2018, contact Mike Davino at 2IDA.PAO@charter.net, visit www.2ida.org/2018-reunion or call 919-498-1910.
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THE VALLEY SENTINEL July 2018
Danville Children’s Triathlon
Annual non-competitive triathlon event set for August 12 Children ages 7-10 are invited to “tri” the fun sport of triathlon at the Third Annual Danville Children’s Triathlon, to be held on August 12, 2018 at Monte Vista High School. This swim-bike-run event is a great way to introduce children to the sport of triathlon. The majority of participants in the 2016 event were first-time triathletes. In order to keep the focus on safety and fun, the
event isn’t timed. All participants will receive a finisher’s medal and hat. The race distances for the age groups are: Ages 7 & 8: Swim four laps (100 yards), bike one mile, run one lap (.25 miles) around the track. Ages 9 & 10: Swim six laps (150 yards), bike two miles, run two laps (.50 miles) around the track.
To register, visit www. danville.ca.gov/197/RecreationArts-Community-Services. The cost is $35 for residents, $42 for non-residents. Volunteers, age 14 and up, are also needed for this event. To sign up, please visit danville. ca.gov/volunteer/ Registration can be done online at www.danvillerecguide.com or contact the Danville Community Center at 925-314-3400.
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Think Locally this Summer! School is out, summer is here, it’s a great time to head over to Danville to enjoy a day of relaxation with friends or family. Escape for the day, soak up the sun and smalltown quaintness. Discover artisan handmade chocolate from Danville Chocolate, ice cream and gelato from Small Cakes, Sweet Street, and Domenico’s Delicatessen, and gourmet cuisine from over 80 restaurants, with local favorites like Pete’s Brass Rail, Norm’s Grille, Amici’s Pizza, Basque Boulangerie, or for the finer palette, Esin, Danville Harvest, Dana’s or Peasant and the Pear. Alternatively, consider an afternoon of tasting specialty wine and craft beer at Auburn, the Vine, the Growler or Danville Brewery, or try a new artisan coffee at the East Bay’s only Starbuck Reserve bar. If shopping is your preference, simply take a stroll down treelined Hartz Avenue and browse unique stores like Cottage Jewel, brimming with vintage finds, Whim House, upscale
affordable home furnishings, Christina’s Fine Clothing, with looks for all ages. If you are looking for an artistic experience, how about a paint and wine night at Pinot’s Palette with the girlfriends, or discover the recently opened treasure AR Workshop, a DIY workshop where you and friends can make personalized home furnishings and accessories, a fun option to beat the heat and leave with a new treasure for your home. Make sure not to miss our calendar of summer events including Music in the Park, Moonlight Movies and more, all featured at www.danville. ca.gov. With its unique local businesses, arts and culture, p r i s t i n e p a r k s a n d va s t amount of open space for boundless recreation, Danville is the perfect summer-time destination. Spending a day will feel as if you went on a mini vacation without the travel logistics!
Local Cities and County Work to Keep the Water Flowing The Contra Costa County Flood Control District in partnership with the City of Walnut Creek, City of Concord, Friends of the Creeks, Friends of Pleasant Hill Creeks, Walnut Creek Watershed Council, C o n t r a C o s t a Re s o u r c e Conservation District, and Save Mount Diablo placed a rock dam in the San Ramon Creek Bypass to ensure water flow through the natural portion of San Ramon Creek throughout the summer season. It has become an annual tradition to place a coffer dam in the concrete channel on San Ramon Creek to assist in pushing the low flows into the bypass structure and into the natural creek section that flows by Las Lomas high school under Broadway Plaza into Civic park and ultimately back into the concrete channel by Ygnacio Valley Road. By forcing more of the summer low flows into
the natural section of the creek, the hope is to improve the water quality and assist the ecosystem within this natural section of creek. On June 1st, 12 cubic yards of small rounded gravel was delivered and Flood Control District staff and volunteers shoveled it into a coffer dam to back up the creek water and force it into the natural creek. Hopefully, most of the water will redirect into the natural creek. The goal is to not have to remove the coffer dam in the winter to allow the winter flows and rains to push this downstream. This past year the coffer dam was removed by hand at the end of September and then sections of the natural creek dried out until the winter rains in November. For more information about the Flood Control District and their programs and projects, visit www.cccounty.us/5586/ flood-control.
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July 2018
Interested in Participating in Government?
Supervisor Candace Andersen is Seeking Volunteers for County Advisory Boards it serves with dignity and Supervisor Candace Andersen is looking for interested, motivated residents to serve on a few Contra Costa County citizen advisory boards. These volunteer boards usually meet monthly and advise the Board of Supervisors on a variety of issues. They play a vital role in county government, and the input provided is invaluable. Applications are currently being accepted from residents of District 2 for seats on the following boards: District 2 includes: Alamo, Canyon, Danville, Lafayette, Moraga, Orinda, Parkmead, Ro s s m o o r, S a n R a m o n , Saranap, Walnut Creek (West of N. Main Street) Alamo Municipal Advisory Council, Youth Representative w w w. c o . c o n t r a - c o s t a . ca.us/3595/Alamo To advise on issues and concerns related to services provided by the County or other local agencies located within its boundary, which includes parks & recreation, lighting & landscaping, land use, code enforcement, public safety, and transportation. Alamo Police Services Advisory Committee (CSA P-2B) To advise the Board of Supervisors and the Sheriff’s Department on the needs of the
Alamo/Danville community for police services. Community Corrections Partnership, Community Advisory Board (AB109) - Central and East County representation needed http:// w w w. c c c o u n t y. u s / 41 6 5 / Community-Advisory-Board To p rov i d e i n p u t o n community needs; assess implementation of the realignment plan; review data on realignment outcomes; advise the CCP on community engagement strategies; offer recommendations for ongoing realignment planning; advise County agencies regarding programs for implementation in the County; and encourage outcomes that are consistent with the County’s Reentry Strategic Plan. Library Commission http://guides.ccclib.org/c. php?g=43927&p=277621 To serve in an advisory capacity to the Board of Supervisors and the County Librarian. Mental Health Commission-Family Member Seat https://cchealth.org/ mentalhealth/mhc/ To influence the County’s Mental Health System to ensure the delivery of quality services which are effective, efficient, culturally relevant and responsive to the needs and desires of the clients
Rules Of The Road
News from the East Bay Regional Parks Park It column by Ned MacKay
T h e o t h e r d ay, a f t e r walking along Nimitz Way in Tilden Regional Park in Trail Safety Patrol mode, I was approached by another hiker who was upset because a cyclist had brushed past him without warning. So now is as good a time as any to mention trail courtesy in the regional parks. The legend on each park map is your best guide for knowing the type of trail users that you might meet, as well as the type of trail use permitted for hikers, horse riders and cyclists at each park. Bicycle riders have access to the majority of the District’s trails. In general, bicycle riding is allowed on the fire roads, service roads, and paved regional trails such as the Iron Horse, Contra Costa Canal, Alameda Creek, etc. The speed limit is 15 miles per hour. With only a few exceptions, bicycles aren’t supposed to be ridden on the narrow-gauge trails or on the hiking or hiker/horse-
only trails. For a list of some narrow gauge trails open to bicycles, visit the Park District website, www.ebparks.org/ activities/biking/mountain. htm. Horseback riders have the right of way over hikers and cyclists. Cyclists yield to hikers. Bicycle riders overtaking hikers should a ring a bell if they have one or call out “On your left/right.” Skiers do it all the time on the slopes; it helps avoid accidents. And everyone has to be careful not to startle horses. In return, if you are walking on a multi-use trail, leave enough space so bicycle riders can pass conveniently, especially if you are with a large group. If you’re walking a dog on leash, avoid having the dog on one side of the trail and you on the other. On the whole, it’s just a matter of common courtesy. Regardless of the rules, if everybody cuts a little slack for other park visitors, we’ll
respect; and to be the advocate with the Board of Supervisors, the Mental Health Division, and the community on behalf of all Contra Costa County residents who are in need of mental health services. Contra Costa Sustainability Commission, District 2 Alternate - www.co.contra-costa. ca.us/6393/SustainabilityCommission Provide Advice to staff and the Board on successful implementation of the Climate Action Plan, including suggestions on how that work can be performed more efficiently and effectively; Advise the Board on opportunities to realize equity and fairness across the diverse communities of Contra Costa County in sustainability programs that support the Climate Action Plan; Provide suggestions to staff and the Board on how to better engage Contra Costa County residents and businesses on sustainability issues and implementation of the Climate Action Plan. For more information about each board go to cacontracostacounty2.civicplus. com/6408/Boards-and-Commissions-Database To apply on line, visit contra-costa.granicus.com/boards/ forms/321/apply. Or you may contact, Jill Ray, 925-957-8860 or jill.ray@bos.cccounty.us
all have a safer and more enjoyable experience. Crab Cove Visitor Center in Alameda will offer another of its free Concerts at the Cove from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, July 13. Bring a blanket or lawn chair and a picnic dinner or purchase local food and beverages at the concert. Parking is on Webster Street or the Crown Beach lot at Otis Drive. Sponsors are the Park District, Regional Parks Foundation and Alameda Rotary Club. Call 510-544-3187. There’s a family campfire planned from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Sunday, August 12 at Big Break Regional Shoreline in Oakley. Bring your family and a picnic dinner to enjoy before t h e p ro g ra m . N a t u ra l i s t Nichole Gange will lead activities highlighting Big Break’s natural wonders, and host a campfire with s’mores. Big Break is located at 69 Big Break Road off Oakley’s Main Street. For information, call 888-327-2757, ext. 3050. There are lots of other activities scheduled too. Check out www.ebparks.org for more.
THE VALLEY SENTINEL
page 7
Local students participate in the Boys and Girls State Program Congratulations to the 2018 Boys and Girls State delegates within the San Ramon Valley! 2018 Boys and Girls State Delegates: San Ramon Valley High School:Alex Mundle, Tatum Hall California High School:Max Prilutsky, Shivani Kharbanda Athenian High School:Gopaal Aggarwal, Jennifer Salako Dougherty Valley High School:Evan Siu, David Jung, Shreysi Mittal Monte Vista High School:Hunter Hinson, Keaton Littlefield, Sean Kim, Grace Rodgers The California Girls State program took place at Claremont McKenna College June 25-31; while the California Boys State program was the week earlier at Sacramento State University. While many students are relaxing over summer vacation, a select group of students are running for office, writing legislation, and prosecuting cases.
Girls and Boys State are week-long programs, respectively since 1943 and 1936, where students learn the ins-and-outs of our California Government system.These programs emphasize teaching young students responsible citizenship and local and state governmental procedures, leadership, and community engagement. This program would not be possible without the support and sponsorship from the American Legion Mt Diablo Post and American Legion Auxiliary Harding-Noia Unit.Other local community organizations also support the program through grants, including the San Ramon Rotary Club, the Dougherty Valley San Ramon Rotary Club, Soroptimist of San Ramon Valley, and DAR Mt Diablo Chapter. The Boys and Girls State Ambassadors, past Delegatesrodein the Annual Danville 4th of July Parade with the American Legion!
Curt Conklin promoted to Sergeant US Army in 2000. He was
Curt Conklin, a 2000 Graduate of San Ramon Valley High School, enlisted in the GIVING from page 1
their own clothing, which may not be easy for many poor and homeless patients. With his first donation drive he collected new and gently used shoes to give to John Muir Hospital Emergency Trauma Center in Walnut Creek. Varun then extended his donation drives to disaster relief operations renaming his organization “Living with Dignity.” In November 2016 he collected new and gently used clothes and shoes for the people affected by the Haiti hurricane. Generous donations of new and gently used shoes and clothes rolled in but “shipping the collected supplies to Haiti was a challenge,” said Varun. He raised some funds from friends and family and mailed
promoted to Sergeant Major in the United States Army July 5th at Ft Bragg North Carolina. Sergeant Major Conklin was an Army Ranger Medic at the 75th Ranger Regiment at Ft. Benning for 17 years with several combat deployments previous to his new post at Ft Bragg Joint Medical Augmentation Unit. SGT Major Conklin grew up in San Ramon, California and has 18 years of service in the Army. His proud parents, Mike & Peggy Conklin live in San Ramon.
the boxes to the Love a Child organization in Florida who then forwarded them to Haiti. Driving the streets and looking around Varun decided to do a donation drive for the homeless. Recently he joined with an organization that feeds the homeless weekly in downtown San Jose. There was a long line of people who waited for bottled water and milk. “I am going to collect bags and boxes of clothes and shoes for the next donation drive” Varun said. He is counting on community support. If you would like to help/ volunteer at Living with Dignity with donations of new or gently used clothes and shoes contact Varun by email: vthak16LivingwithDignity@ gmail.com
Senior Services page 8
THE VALLEY SENTINEL
July 2018
valleysentinel.com
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As a person with Medicare, do you have any rights and protections? You certainly do! You have rights whether you’re enrolled in Original Medicare – in which you can choose any doctor or hospital that accepts Medicare – or Medicare Advantage, in which you get care within a network of health care providers. Your rights guarantee that you get the health services the law says you can get, protect you against unethical practices, and ensure the privacy of your personal and medical information. You have the right to be treated with dignity and respect at all times, and to be protected from discrimination. You also have the right to get information in a way you understand from Medicare, your health care providers, and, under certain circumstances, Medicare contractors. This includes information about what Medicare covers, what it pays, how much you have to
pay, and how to file a complaint or appeal. Moreover, you’re entitled to learn about your treatment choices in clear language that you can understand, and to p a r t i c i p a t e i n t re a t m e n t decisions. One very important right is to get Medicare-covered emergency care when and where you need it – anywhere in the United States. If you have Medicare Advantage, your plan materials describe how to get emergency care. You don’t need permission from your primary-care doctor (the doctor you see first for health problems) before you get emergency care. If you’re admitted to the hospital, you, a family member, or your primary-care doctor should contact your plan as soon as possible. You’ll have to pay your regular share of the cost, or a copayment, for emergency care. Then your plan will pay its share. If your plan doesn’t pay its share, you have the right to appeal. In fact, whenever a claim is filed for your care, you’ll get a notice from Medicare or your Medicare Advantage plan letting you know what will and won’t be covered.
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If you disagree with the decision, you have the right to appeal. You don’t need a lawyer to appeal in most cases, and filing an appeal is free. You won’t be penalized in any way for challenging a decision by Medicare or your health or prescription drug plan. For more information on appeals, you can read our booklet “Medicare Appeals,” at www.medicare.gov/Pubs/ pdf/11525.pdf. Or call us, toll free, at 1-800-MEDICARE. If you’re concerned about the quality of the care you received, you have the right to file a complaint. If you have Original Medicare, call your Beneficiary and Family Centered Care Quality Improvement Organization (BFCC-QIO). Visit www. Medicare.gov/contacts or call 1 800 MEDICARE to get your BFCC-QIO’s phone number. If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan, Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, or other Medicare health plan, call the BFCC-QIO, your plan, or both. If you have End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) and have a complaint about your care, call the ESRD Network for your state.
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THE VALLEY SENTINEL
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The Sandwich Generation You’re rushing to get your son to soccer practice and your daughter to ballet class; you are mentally planning dinner and talking to your other children about helping them with their homework. As you are stuck in freeway traffic, your cell phone rings. It’s your father telling you that he desperately needs a prescription from his local pharmacy that he forgot to pick up. Or maybe you’re off to your children’s Back to School Night just as your mom’s neighbor calls to inform you that she has fallen again, is refusing medical care and needs you immediately. If these scenarios hit home, you have joined the “sandwich generation.” This term refers to adults who are caring for young children as well as one or more of their parents. Today, 44 percent of Americans between the ages of 45 and 55 have both living parents and children under 21 years old. In fact, 22 million Americans are caring for parents or older relatives, according to the AARP. You
are not alone in your efforts to take care of children, perform on the job as well as keep up on the household chores especially when it encompasses two households. Whether your parent lives with you, lives nearby or lives in another state, trying to juggle all these responsibilities is stressful, no matter how much support you have from family or friends. As if the stress of trying to juggle all of these things is not enough, add to it feelings of guilt. These burdensome feelings creep into your day as you agonize over not spending enough time helping your kids with homework because you’re cooking meals for your dad, as you ask your mom to postpone her doctor appointment because your meeting at work ran overtime, when you don’t have enough time to spend with your significant other or when you ask your next-door neighbor to drive your kids to practice, again, because you have to make arrangements to take care of a loved one’s needs.
The fact is that when you are dealing with your own family and caring for an aging parent or relative, you can feel stretched beyond your limits. Use these tips to help balance your life. • H ave a p l a n ! B e organized, make written lists of things that need to be done and set realistic goals. Always have a “Fall Back” plan. • Stay healthy! Proper nutrition, exercise and sleep go a long way to helping you overcome stress. • Make a little “You” time! Enjoying your life for a moment helps you remove the focus on your problems, helps you keep your emotional balance and will make you a better caregiver. • U s e c o m m u n i t y resources, such as Senior Centers, meal delivery services, and senior social groups to help lighten the load. • Find out about your company’s Employee Assistance Plans. They may offer benefits or services that can help. Even with all of your personal efforts and life
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THE VALLEY SENTINEL July 2018 Sponsored Content
Real Estate Values By Robert Cucchiaro
On December 22nd, 2017 new tax laws were enacted that will show up for the 1st time when you complete your 2018 time returns, sometime between April and October of 2019. These tax law changes were significant and will have unforeseen impacts on the economy and potentially real estate values. Given that for many of us in the Bay Area, our homes make up a large percentage of our net worth, I thought it would be helpful to think about the impact these tax laws will have on home prices. Let’s start with some basic assumptions: 1. The value of your home is what someone is willing to pay for it. 2. When a person or couple calculate how much home they can afford, the monthly payment is often more important to them than the actual purchase price. The new tax law has reduced what people can afford, even if they have not realized it yet. This is true for several reasons:
1. Itemized deductions are capped in many areas, with a specific cap on the tax deductibility of property taxes 2. The amount of tax deductible debt on a new mortgage has been lowered from $1M to $750K, meaning if you have a large mortgage less of the interest will be tax deductible 3. Tax rates have come down, making tax deductions in general less valuable. Regardless of whether or not we think this is good or bad policy, through the introduction of these 3 tax law changes the government has effectively made a decision to reduce its support for homeownership by limiting the tax breaks. The 2nd issue, and one of equal concern, is that interest rates have been rising, causing a 30 year fixed mortgage to jump from the high 3’s to the mid 4’s in a short period of time. Interest rates have a huge impact on how much home we think we can afford. Under the old laws, a $1.25M house with 20% down and a 3.875% 30 year fixed rate meant a monthly mortgage of $4,702 per month. All of the interest was tax deductible as was the property tax. Under the new tax laws and with higher interest rates, the monthly mortgage jumps to over $5,000 and is less tax deductible. When buyers figure
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this out that $1.25M house may not sell as quickly as it used to. And that could cause a shift in real estate prices. I am not one for predictions, especially about the future. I will say however that before you make any major housing decision (buying, selling, downsizing, etc.) it would
be good to rethink some old assumptions and maybe get a 2nd opinion from an unbiased professional. If you have real estate questions or major financial decisions to make in general, give me a call or send me an email: 925-927-1900 or rob@ swrpteam.com Robert Cucchiaro is a Certified Financial Planner and owner of Summit Wealth
valleysentinel.com & Retirement, a financial planning firm that has been serving Danville for over 30 years. Rob specializes in retirement, investment, tax, and estate planning. www. summitwealthandretirement. com
Cool Places To Walk In The Summer
By Beverly Lane, President, East Bay Regional Park District Board of Directors
Summer can be very hot in the East Bay Regional Parks, especially those far from the Bay and Delta. But there are some places nearby where you can escape the heat and still enjoy the great outdoors. One good bet is Radke Martinez Regional Shoreline. Renamed in 2016 in honor of longtime park board member Ted Radke and his wife, Kathy, the shoreline has picnic areas, a large grassy meadow, historic information panels, and hiking paths cooled by breezes from Carquinez Strait, where you can view abundant shorebird life. The Radkes were active in creating and preserving the shoreline for public enjoyment and led environmental protection efforts. Kathy Radke served on the Martinez City Council and worked for decades to restore Alhambra Creek. You can get to the park by driving on Ferry Street across the tracks near the Martinez railroad station. Or there’s a parking lot at the end of Berrellessa Street. Another option is the George Miller Regional Trail. It’s a paved trail open to pedestrians, cyclists and equestrians, located on Carquinez Scenic Drive between Martinez and Port Costa. George Miller was a congressman representing the area for many years. He was instrumental in obtaining funding for the trail, many regional parklands and other public open space. The trail named in his honor is about a mile and a half long, with spectacular views of Benicia and Carquinez Strait with its maritime traffic. That section is closed to motor vehicles except for rangers and emergency traffic. It’s a great escape on a hot summer day. Or you can plunge into the trees at Redwood Regional Park in Oakland. This is a beautiful stand of second-growth
redwoods in several shady canyons with picnic areas and trails for hiking, cycling and horseback riding. Right next to it is Roberts Regional Recreation Area, with picnic areas, a swimming pool and a ballfield. Take a short walk out the Manzanita Loop Trail for a beautiful view of the mountain. Look for the vista point sign. Redwood and Roberts have entrances on Skyline Boulevard in Oakland. Redwood also has a trailhead on Pinehurst Road near Moraga. You can download maps from the Park District website at www.ebparks.org. Another good summer escape is Castle Rock Regional Recreation Area in Walnut Creek. The park offers picnic areas, a swimming pool, a ballfield, and a shady trail up
from the Hazel-Atlas portal to the Greathouse Visitor Center. Guides describe mining history and technology along the way. It’s always 57 degrees Fahrenheit underground, so bring a sweater. Tours are at various hours on weekends through the summer. The fee is $5 per person. Tickets may be purchased through the Park District reservations department at 888-327-2757, or at the Greathouse Visitor Center. Black Diamond Mines is at the end of Somersville Road, 3½ miles south of Highway 4 in Antioch. Just in general, be prepared when you are outdoors in the summer. On hikes, take plenty of water, and drink even if you don’t feel thirsty. Bring water for your dog, too. Dogs wear permanent fur coats, and do not always fare well on hot days.
Pine Canyon with great views of the impressive Castle Rocks. It gets very hot in the summer at Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve in Antioch. But it’s always cool in the park’s mining museum. Tours, open to ages seven and older, take visitors on a quarter-mile underground walk through a former sand mine
For humans, wide-brimmed hats, long-sleeved shirts and sunscreen are a good idea. The East Bay Regional Parks have all kinds of programs and special events all summer long. You can find out more at the park district website. So don’t let the heat deter you from a good time in your parklands. Photos by Gary Crabbe
valleysentinel.com
July 2018
THE VALLEY SENTINEL
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FRUSTRATED SHAREHOLDERS OF OWENS REALTY MORTGAGE
ARE YOU FED UP WITH THE MINISCULE RETURNS OR LOSSES BEING GENERATED FOR YOU BY ORM AND ITS MANAGEMENT TEAM?
DO YOU THINK THE EXTERNAL MANAGER (OFG) SHOULD MAKE OVER EIGHT TIMES MORE THAN YOU AS SHAREHOLDERS? ORM Shareholders vs External Manager (OFG) 10-Year Income Difference Total Fees & Reimbursements to Manager (OFG) $50,050,996
$60,000,000 $50,000,000 $40,000,000 $30,000,000 $20,000,000
Net Income to ORM Shareholders $6,086,724
$10,000,000 $0 Source: SNL Financial, SEC 10-year fiscal period from 2007-2017. (formerly OMIF)
ARE YOU TIRED OF THE MANAGER (OFG) USING YOUR MONEY AS THEIR OWN PIGGY BANK? ARE YOU READY FOR A CHANGE?
HELP US FIX ORM–VOTE THE GOLD PROXY CARD Steven D. Hovde and James P. Hua Nominees for the Board of Directors at 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders Monday, July 16, 2018 For More Information: Visit www.FixORM.com or Contact us directly: Hovde Capital Advisors (203) 822-8117 Or call John Glenn Grau, (203) 972-9300, ext. 11
Hovde Capital advisors LLC (“Hovde Capital Advisors LLC”), Hovde Capital Ltd. (“Hovde Capital Ltd.”), Financial Institutions Partners III LP (“FIP III LP”), Opal Advisors LLC (“Opal Advisors LLC”), Opal Capital Partners LP (“Opal Capital Partners LP”), Steven D. Hovde, James P. Hua, and Eric D. Hovde (collectively, the “Participants”) have filed a definitive proxy statement and an accompanying GOLD proxy card with the SEC to be used to solicit proxies for the election of its slate of highly-qualified director nominees at the 2018 annual meeting of stockholders (the “2018 Annual Meeting”) of the Company. Stockholders are advised to read the proxy statement and any other documents related to the solicitation of stockholders of the Company in connection with the 2018 Annual Meeting when they become available because they contain important information, including additional information relating to the Participants. These materials and other materials filed by the Shareholder Group in connection with the solicitation of proxies will be available at no charge at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Community Calendar
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For additional Community Events visit: www.ValleySentinel.com Please email information about your events to info@valleysentinel.com July 13, and July 27 Moonlight Movies 6:30-10:30pm Themed arts & crafts at 6:30, and the movie starts at about 8:15pm. Bring the gang down to the Town Green, at 420 Front Street in Danville for some fresh air and a great flick. Moonlight Movies offer family-friendly films in a picturesque outdoor setting under the stars. Don’t forget your lawn chairs, blankets, and snacks to make it complete. There are the movie themed arts and craft for the kids and its sure to be a good time for all! July 13, showing Coco (2017) Rated PG. July 27, Showing Wonder Woman (2017). For more info call (925) 314-3400. July 14 A Midsummer Melodrama: Outdoor Theatre 4-6pm Join us this midsummer for a fun outdoor theatre event for the whole family! Melodramas are plays full of action, exaggerated characters, and heightened emotions with live musical underscoring. Audiences get to playfully interact with the actors by cheering for the heroes, booing and hissing at the villain, and joining together to sing beloved, traditional songs. Performance begins at 4pm. Town Green, at 420 Front Street in Danville. Free July 14 Annual Family Campout Join the Town of Danville for a fun, family-friendly, suburban camping experience at Oak Hill Park. At our July 14, 2018 Family Campout, participants can enjoy sleeping under the stars, swimming at Monte Vista Community Pool, youth crafts, family games, and a movie under the stars to round out the night. Pre-registration for ALL participants is required. Registration is available online at http://www.danville.ca.gov/Recguide Activity number #16268. Cost is $20 residents/$24 non-residents. For more information, contact Program Supervisor, Tamara Whitney at (925) 314-3426 or email twhitney@danville.ca.gov July 15, 22, 29, and August 5 Summer Concerts in the Park 5:30pm Bring the family for a perfect summer evening in San Ramon’s Central Park. Enjoy great music, talk with friends and neighbors. This is one of life’s simple pleasures, relax and enjoy the moment. Bring a picnic, blanket and/or lawn chairs. Wine, beer, soda and snacks available for purchase. Sponsored by the City of San Ramon and the San Ramon Arts Foundation. Central Park Amphitheater,12501 Alcosta Blvd., San Ramon, CA for more information visit ci.san-ramon.ca.us July 15, Aja Vu; Steely Dan Tribute, July 22, The Groove Doctors 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and Top 40; July 29, Petty Theft Tom Petty Tribute; and August 5, The House Rockers Rock & Soul. July 21 Car Seat Safety Workshop 9am-1pm Supervisor Andersen and Assemblywoman Baker, in partnership with AAA Northern California, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District, and California Highway Patrol will be holding a car seat safety workshop. The workshop will be at Contra Costa County Fire Station 1, located at 1330 Civic Drive in Walnut Creek. The entrance is off of Carlback Avenue. Come have an expert make sure your car seat is installed correctly and learn what your elected leaders are doing to keep children safe. By appointment only. To RSVP, please call (925) 328-1515 . July 21 Music in the Park 6-8pm Music by the A Touch of Class, R&B, Funk & Oldies band. Enjoy a harmonious day of music and merriment at Danville’s Music in the Park. Sponsored by the Town as a special “thank you” to its residents, this free summer concert series offers a wonderful array of live performances against the scenic backdrop of Oak Hill Park, 3005 Stone Valley Road, Danville. Bring a blanket, a picnic, and the whole family for singing, dancing, and socializing. Food Trucks provided by Food Truck Mafia, For more info. Call (925) 314-3400. Free and oopen to the public ONGOING Hope Hospice – Volunteers Wanted Are you interested in becoming a Hope Hospice volunteer? We are currently looking for volunteers in the Alamo, Danville, Walnut Creek, Rossmoor and Concord areas. If you’d like to learn more about the services our volunteers provide, contact Jill Smith, RN, director of Volunteers at jills@hopehospice.com; or Nikki Tildesley, Volunteer manager at nikkit@hopehospice.com, call (925)8298770 or visit HopeHospice.com for more information. Special Services for Children with Cancer and Their Families Cancer Support Community offers short-term counseling (12 to 20 sessions) at no cost to children with cancer and their families. Counseling can be for the family, siblings, and/or kids coping with
cancer. Counseling is provided by doctoral interns or post doctoral fellows under the supervision of our clinical psychologists. To request this service, please call us at 925-933-0107 and ask to speak with our program director, Margaret Stauffer, LMFT. Volunteers Needed: Read to Preschoolers Volunteers are needed at childcare centers in Concord, Pittsburg, and West County. The Contra Costa County Library will supply books and resources. For more information, please contact Maureen Kilmurray at 925-927-3288. Alamo Farmer’s Market Every Sunday, Year round 9am-2pm, rain or shine. Fresh seasonal fruit and vegetables, nuts, local honey, live music, delicious varieties of hummus with fresh pita and pita chips. Located in the Alamo Plaza Shopping Center, at Stone Valley Road and Danville Blvd., with convenient parking. Danville Farmer’s Market Every Saturday, Year-round 9am-1pm. Get the freshest seasonal fare at the Danville Certified Farmers’ Market. Railroad & Prospect Avenue, Danville. Information: www.ci.danville.ca.us. (You can make donations of fresh vegetables and fruit for our local food pantries at the Loaves & Fishes Booth at the Danville Farmers Market.) San Ramon Farmers Market Every Saturday & Thursday Year-round Buy fresh, seasonal produce directly from local farmers at San Ramon Farmers Market. Connect with your community while shopping at a festive gathering place with live music! www. SanRamonFarmersMarket.org. Bishop Ranch 3, 2641 Camino Ramon, San Ramon. Canine Companions for Independence Puppy Class each Saturday 10-11am. Become a puppy raiser! The East Bay Miracles Chapter invites you to help train puppies to become assistant dogs for children and adults with disabilities. Athenian High School, 2100 Mt. Diablo Scenic Blvd., Danville. Information: 925-838-3213, cci. org/eastbaychapter Forest Home Farms Historic Park & Glass House Museum– open for Fun on the Farm Every Saturday 11am-2pm. Enjoy tours of the Glass House Museum, the farm and its history. Tours are $5 per person, or $8 for both tours on the same day. 19953 San Ramon Valley Blvd, San Ramon. Information: 925-973-3284 or visit www.sanramon.ca.gov. Saturday without Reservations at the Tao House Every Saturday 10am, 12pm, and 2pm. Come explore this National Historic Site in Danville. Catch the shuttle at the bus stop in front of the Museum of the San Ramon Valley, 205 Railroad Ave. www.EugeneOneill.org SENIORS Danville Seniors Danville Seniors Unless otherwise noted, the following activities are held at the Danville Senior Center, Veterans Memorial Building, 115 E. Prospect, Danville. For more information call 925-314-3490 or visit www.ci.danville.ca.us/Recreation/Seniors. Sneaker Trips: The Town of Danville’s Senior Sneakers program is a great way for you to make new friends and get out and around the greater Bay Area. There’s always something new to see and learn. The Danville Area Senior Hikes (DASH) is open to all adults and meets on the second and fourth Wednesday of every month. The group starts at 8:45am at Osage Park, 816 Brookside Drive, Danville and returns about 1pm. Information: 925-314-3400 or visit www.ci.danville.ca.us/Recreation/ Seniors/Senior_Hiking. San Ramon Seniors The following events are held at the Alcosta Senior & Community Center, 9300 Alcosta Blvd., San Ramon, unless otherwise noted. For more information call 925-973-3250 or visit www.sanramon. ca.gov/parks/programs/ages55+.htm. Wisdom Wednesdays: 10:30am-12pm. Free workshops and informational sessions that will benefit you. They will give you free access to coffee, knowledge and a better understanding of important issues. Information: 925-973-3250.
Trips Trip Desk is open Tuesdays from 10am-1pm. Sign up for trips at the travel desk or by depositing payment with registration form in the gold drop box found at the main entryway. Information: 925-973-3250. Wednesday Morning Hikes (time and location varies) Join the San Ramon Trailblazers if you are interested in meeting new people, enjoying the outdoors, having fun and getting in shape. To find out the exact meeting location, please call the Senior Center at 925-973-3250 or email trailblazer88@comcast.net. Page Turners Senior Book Group Third Tuesday of the month 1:30pm. Drop in–all are welcome! Copies of this month’s book are on reserve for you at the Dougherty Station Library Front Desk. Book group meets at Alcosta Senior and Community Center, 9300 Alcosta Blvd. Information: Carol Yuke, Adult Services Librarian. 925-973-2850. BUSINESS July 12 After Hours Business Mixer 5:30-7pm. Join the Danville area Chamber of Commerce and the local business community at the July after Hours Business Mixer at The William White Insurance Agency located at 472 Hartz Ave. in Danville. CASA, serving Foster children will be there. Please consider bringing a backpack to donate. (no red or blue, bring neutral colors please) Refreshments, Networking, and New Faces! Members $5, Non-members, $10. For more information call the Chamber at (925)837-4400. For more information about CASA, visit www.cccocasa.org. July 13, 2018 The Danville Area Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business Council! 7:30 – 9am. The goal of the Small Business Council is to be a valuable resource for our community by identifying the needs of local business owners and bringing solutions to you. We meet the second Friday of every month from 7:30am – 9:00am. From 7:30am – 7:55am we offer refreshments and an opportunity for Networking. The topical presentation begins sharply at 8:00am and lasts for 1 hour including Q&A. July 19 Third Thursday Mixer 5:30-7pm Please join us for our Third Thursday Mixer at Whipple, Mercado and Associates, LLP. Meet other business owners for an opportunity to network and make your business more visible. Refreshments will be catered by Dos Coyotes, San Ramon! Pricing: $5 for Members and $20 for Non-Members No RSVP Required. Checks and Cash only please. Whipple, Mercado & Assoc is located at 2430 Camono Ramon, Ste. 325 (Bishop Ranch 6) in San Ramon. For information call Kathy Fanning at (925) 242-0600. July 19 Business Master Mind Class For Women EntrepreneursWalnut Creek 6-8pm. Join us for our ongoing meeting of Women Business Owners in Walnut Creek. Whether you are just starting your business or have an existing one, this venue can be a great place to learn how to grow your business in the company of other peers like yourself. We will present a different business topic each month, with opportunity for discussion, problem-solving and support. Held at Intero Real Estate Services, 590 Ygnacio Valley Rd., Ste. 102, Walnut Creek. Call for info, Mari Lovalvo at 925 437 3303. July 24, 2018 5:30pm - 7:00pm Right-Fit Hiring Practices-EVENING WORKSHOP 4 pm-7 pm This three-hour workshop focuses on excellence in recruiting and securing productive employees who desire to stay with your company. Owners and/or managers will receive valuable practical tools to hire talented, passionate, and committed right-fit employees. Free. Contra Costa SBDC, 300 Ellinwood way, Bodega Room, Pleasant Hill 94523. For more info call Oscar Dominguez at (925) 602-6806. July 31 Website Building Basics-Building and Publishing Your Very Own Website 9 am-12 pm This inspiring and interactive 1-day workshop is suitable for any level of experience or ability. It is designed to introduce you to building and publishing your own website. Bring your laptop to this workshop for an interactive session and
Please email your calendar events to the Sentinel at Info@valleysentinel.com by 5pm on the 20th of the month preceding publication month. Inclusion in the calendar pages is at the sole discretion of Sentinel Newspapers, Inc.
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learn;What is Wordpress - Introduction, Setting up a Wordpress Website, Themes, Plugins, Menus, How to create or edit pages, and so much more. Free. Contra Costa SBDC, 300 Ellinwood way, Bodega Room, Pleasant Hill 94523. For more information visit www.contracostasbcd.org or call Oscar Dominguez at (925) 602-6806. CLUBS & ORGANIZATIONS Alamo Danville Newcomers Club 10am-Noon. Are you a new resident of Danville, Blackhawk, Diablo or Alamo, a longtime resident, newly retired or empty nester interested in making new friends and participating in various social activities? The Alamo Danville Newcomers Club is a women’s organization, whose purpose is to enrich the lives of all its members and their families in a sociable manner. Visit www.alamodanvillenewcomers.com Danville Veteran Service Organizations 8am-11am. Every Saturday at Veterans Memorial Building of San Ramon Valley – in Danville – the VSOs jointly host a “Veterans Coffee Social” from 8AM until 11AM… Bring a friend or fellow Veteran and show them the museum - share some social time. Drop In - no reservations – all Veterans welcome… stop for a few minutes - or stay for hours! Please share information about our VMB / SRV Military Museum & Library open daily M-F from 9-3 and it’s free! Tri-Valley Fly Fishers Visitors welcome. Meetings feature speakers who share their knowledge of the sport. Held at 7:00 PM on the first Thursday of every month, September through June at the Livermore-Pleasanton Rod and Gun Club, 4000 Dagnino Road, Livermore, CA 94551. Information: email Roger Perry at President@Tri-valleyflyfishers.org Danville-Alamo-Walnut Creek Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) Advances equity for women and girls. AAUW membership is open to all graduates of accredited four year colleges or universities and those holding an Associate Degree Visit daw-ca.aauw.net for meeting dates. For information contact Marsha at (925) 351-8188 for details. Cancer workshops and support groups-Ongoing Most are free. Cancer Support Community, 3276 McNutt Avenue, Walnut Creek. Information / reservations call 925-933-0107 or visit www. cancersupportcommunity.net. Fibro? CFIDS? Chronic Pain? If these are familiar to you, call about the San Ramon Valley support group for people who need support, information, classes and friendship from people who know what it’s like. We like to laugh while getting well. Call 925-837-0510. Hope Hospice Grief Support Groups–Ongoing Hope Hospice provides support to help you understand and manage grief in a way that is healthy and appropriate. Our Grief Support Center is available to all community members at minimal or no cost. Information: visit www.HopeHospice.com or call 925-829-8770. Hospice of the East Bay Support groups and workshops for adults, children and teens experiencing grief after the death of a loved one. Classes will be offered at Hospice’s Administrative Offices: 3470 Buskirk Avenue; Pleasant Hill and the Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation: 2890 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek. Pre-registration is required for all groups and classes, except our drop-
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Community Calendar continued from page 12 in group. To register, please call Hospice of the East Bay: (925) 887-5681. Information: www.hospiceeastbay.org RECURRING
Walnut Creek Rotary 12:15-1:30pm. Meets every Tuesday. Heather Farms Garden Center, 1540 Marchbanks Drive, Walnut Creek. Information: rotarywc.org.
Mondays: The Walnut Creek Garden Club 9:45am The Walnut Creek Garden Club meets on the second Monday of each month at The Gardens at Heather Farm in the Camellia Room. The center is just off Ygnacio Valley Road at 1540 Marchbanks Drive. Call 925-947-1678 for directions. The business meeting is at 9:45am, socializing time is at 10am, and the program is at 11am. Contact mslittle44@gmail.com for more information. You do not need to be a gardener to join the WCGC!
ARF Pet Loss Support Group 5:30-7pm. Meets second Tuesday of every month. Register with Vicki at 925-887-5681 or vickis@hospiceeastbay.org. ARF, 2890 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek. Information: arf.net.
Sons In Retirement (Las Trampas Branch) Monthly Luncheon 11:15am. Meets the third Monday of each month, except for May and December. Make new friends and participate in fun activities. Make $25 luncheon reservations by calling 925-322-1160 by the preceding Wednesday. The Clubhouse at Boundary Oak, 3800 Valley Vista Road, Walnut Creek. Information: visit www.branch116.org.
Prostate Cancer Group 7:30–9pm. Meets 2nd Tuesday of the month. Drop-in prostate cancer group for men and their loved ones. San Ramon Regional Medical Center, South Building, West Day Room. 6001 Norris Canyon Road, San Ramon. Information: 925.933.0107 or www.twc-bayarea.org/communityprograms.html.
Danville Rotary 12pm. Meets every Monday. Black Bear Diner, 807 Camino Ramon, Danville. Information: danvillerotary.org. San Ramon Alzheimer Support Group 7-9pm. Meets the second Monday of each month, except on holidays. Sponsored by the Alzheimer Association. Caregivers of Alzheimer victims can get information on how to help them through this difficult time in life. San Ramon Senior & Community Center, 9300 Alcosta Blvd., San Ramon. Information: 925-973-3250 Tuesdays: TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) We meet every Tuesday at St. Timothy’s Office Building, Grace House, Basement 1550 Diablo Rd. Danville CA Our hours: Weigh in 8:15am, meeting is 9:30 - 10:30am. We are a weight loss club. Information, please call Mary Stoneburner, at (925) 8371882 Danville am Toastmasters 7-8:30am. Want to improve your speaking and presentation skills? Toastmasters can help! Meets every Tuesday in downtown Danville. www.4143.toastmastersclubs.org Danville/Sycamore Valley Rotary 7am. Meets every Tuesday morning. Crow Canyon Country Club, Danville. Information: dsvrotary.com. Diablo View Toastmasters 8:15-9:15am. Meets every Tuesday. CMG Mortgage, 4th Floor Conference Room, 3160 Crow Canyon Rd., San Ramon. Information: 4160.toastmastersclubs.org. Divorce Angels 5:30 - 7:30pm Going through a divorce is often a life altering experience, one that can make you feel lost. Divorce Angels is a volunteer organization that can help. We are made up of different professionals within the following industries: Legal, Financial, Real Estate, and Psychology. Our goal is to provide you with practical information so you can confidently move forward in your life. Visit www. divorceangel.com. Join us on the first Tuesday of each month at 5:30 pm at the Danville Area Chamber (117 Town & Country Drive Suite #E ) for help with the issues you are facing. San Ramon Valley Geneological Society 10am. Meets every third Tuesday at the LDS Church, 2949 Stone Valley Road, Alamo. http://srvgensoc.org
Divorced and Separated Workshop 7- 8:30pm. A new workshop series for divorced and separated people is being held on at St. Joan of Arc Parish, 2601 San Ramon Valley Blvd., San Ramon. Contact: Sue at smc9@ sbcglobal.net. 925 -819-1809.
Wednesdays: Danville Tennis Club (DTC) 6:30-9 PM Wednesday Night DropIn Tennis at San Ramon Valley High School, 501 Danville Blvd., for men and women of 4.0 level or above (and strong 3.5). Also have USTA teams and social events. Join free at https:// groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/danvilletennisclub/info Exchange Club of San Ramon Valley 12-1pm The Exchange Club meets every 2nd Wednesday at Noon at Faz Restaurant. Lunch included, $20 for members, $25 for non-members. RSVP coachstepper@yahoo.com, 275-2412. Faz is located at 600 Hartz Avenue, Danville 9526.
Danville Veterans Memorial Building, 400 Hartz Ave. Information: bluestarmoms.org. Diablo Valley Quilters 7-9pm. Meets the third Wednesday of every month. No charge for guests. Danville Congregational Church, 989 San Ramon Valley Blvd., Danville. Information: diablovalleyquilters.com. Veterans of Foreign Wars 7pm. Meets the third Wednesday of every month. Veterans Memorial Hall, 400 Hartz Avenue, Danville. Information: Post Commander Ernie Petagara at 925-362-9806 or vfwpost75.org. Diablo Singles Dance Club 7-10pm. Meets the last Wednesday of every month. Live music, refreshments. Members $8, Guests $12. All welcome. 111N. Wiget Lane, Walnut Creek. Danville Toastmasters Club #1785 7:30-9pm. Meets every Wednesday. Room W204 at Diablo Valley College,1690 Watermill Road, San Ramon. Information: danvilletoastmasters1785.com. Thursdays: Danville Alamo Garden Club Meets on the 2nd Thursday of the months between September and June starting at 9:15 am at the Alamo Women’s Club 1401 Danville Blvd, Alamo.. If you have any questions, contact Susan at membershipvp@ dagc.us or go to our website: www. dagc.us. San Ramon Valley Newcomers 11:30am-2pm. Meets the third Thursday of every month with a featured guest speaker at a local Tri-Valley restaurant. New and long-time adult residents are welcome. Reservations/ information: susansgotbling@sbcglobal.net or www.srvnc.com.
Walnut Creek Toastmasters 7-8:15pm. Meets every Wednesday. 1660 Oak Park Blvd., Pleasant Hill. Information: walnutcreek.freetoasthost.net
Rotary Club of San Ramon 11:45am. Meets every Thursday. Crow Canyon Country Club, 711 Silver Lake Drive, Danville. Information: sanramonrotary.org.
Sons in Retirement (San Ramon Valley chapter) Monthly Luncheon 10:30am; Social Hour, 11:35am meeting and lunch. Meets the 3rd Wed. of each month. Reservations, please email us at www.info@sir128.com by Friday prior to the luncheon. Bridges Golf Club, 9000 S. Gale Ridge Rd., San Ramon.
San Ramon Valley Kiwanis Club Thursdays at Noon. Black Bear Diner, 807 Camino Ramon, Danville. www. kiwanis-srv.org
Alamo Rotary 12:15pm. The Club meets on Wednesdays at 12:15 p.m. on a temporary basis, at Forli’s Restaurant, 3160 Danville Blvd, Alamo, at least until mid 2018, while Round Hill Country Club in Alamo undergoes a remodeling project.
Clutterers Anonymous 7-8pm. Meets the 2nd and 4th Thursday of every month. St. Luke’s Lutheran Church Room 3, 2491 San Miguel Drive, W alnut Creek. Information: 925-736-8627.
Diablo Valley Lions Club 7:30pm. Meets the 1st, 3rd, and 4th Thursday of every month. 1400 Montego Drive, Walnut Creek. Information: diablovalleyca.lionwap.org. Fridays: Transitions-“Navigating Life’s Turning Points Together” 9-11:30am. Our mission is to encourage and support women from empty nest, to aging parents and everything in between. Community Presbyterian Church, Room 116, 222 W. El Pintado Rd., Danville. Information: Contact Donna Hill at hillmom3@ comcast.net Saturdays: Diablo Region of the Porsche Club of America 7:30-9am. Meets every Saturday. Buttercup Bar and Grill, 660 Ygnacio Valley Road, Walnut Creek. Information: diablo-pca.org. Parkinson’s Disease Support Group 9am-12pm. Meets every 3rd Saturday. Join us to share, laugh, and learn from each other. Grace Presbyterian Church, 2100 Tice Valley Blvd., Walnut Creek. General questions may be directed to Co-Chairs Lance Gershen, (925) 932-1028; or Abraham Raja, (925) 304-2064.Web site: www.pnmd.net
Classifieds HELP WANTED Travel Sales Position - Long established Alamo Travel agency seeks part or full time highly motivated sales person. Requirements include: Personal travel experience, personable and organized. Comprehensive Training is provided for this commission only position. Reply to: info@alamoworld. com Sales Executive: Sentinel Newspapers, Inc. has an immediate opening for an advertising sales person for the Valley Sentinel. Sales territory includes Danville, Alamo, San Ramon, and Walnut Creek. Sales experience helpful. Will train the right person. Must have an outgoing personality and a positive attitude. This is a commission-only position. Local Central Contra Costa residents only need apply. Please email your resume and request for interview to us at drousset@ valleysentinel.com.
Walnut Creek Host Lion’s Club 12:15pm. Meets the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Wednesdays of each month. Black Bear Diner, 700 Bancroft Road, Walnut Creek. Information: walnutcreeklions.org.
Community News & Information
Danville Lions Club 6:30pm. Meets the first and third Wednesday at the Crow Canyon Country Club, 711 Silver Lake Dr., Danville. Information: Truman Howard 925-787-2565 truman.howard@ gmail.com
Publisher/Editor-Denise Rousset Chief Financial Officer-Jeff Gummere Graphic Designer-Laurie Prindle Auto-David & Judy Colman Intern-Veronica Yoo, SRVHS
San Ramon Valley Rotary 7pm. Meets every Wednesday. Blackhawk Country Club, 599 Blackhawk Club Drive, Danville. Info: sanramonvalleyrotary.com. Blue Star Moms 7-9pm. Meets the second Wednesday of every month to participate in service activities supporting sons/ daughters serving in the military.
Danville • Blackhawk Alamo • Diablo • San Ramon
925-820-6047
542 San Ramon Valley Blvd., #A Danville, CA 94526 www.valleysentinel.com
page 14
THE VALLEY SENTINEL July 2018
Pipeline Safety in Our Community By Candace Andersen. Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors
Pipeline safety continues to be a paramount concern. Communities are taking more initiative amongst themselves to become familiar with the layout of the various pipelines that run throughout their neighborhoods. Recently the Alamo Improvement Association (AIA), in partnership with Pipeline Safety Trust, via a grant opportunity, hosted a series of three workshops on this topic. They were held in Alamo, Richmond and Antioch, offering an opportunity for residents to become familiar with pipelines near their homes and businesses, and who operates and regulates them. Pipelines are divided into various categories depending on what material they carry. Hazardous Liquid Pipelines carry fuel such as gasoline, diesel and jet fuel. Gas Pipelines carry natural gas. Distribution Pipelines are those lines that carry mainly gas within our own communities and to individual homes and businesses, to name just a few. Prior to starting a summer improvement project, it has become even more important for homeowners to know what utility lines might lie in their
yards. Make sure to “Call before you Dig” – dialing 811 if you plan to turn any dirt. The 811 number is a national “Call Before You Dig” phone number designated to help save lives by minimizing damage to underground utilities. One easy phone call to 811 quickly begins the process of getting underground utility lines marked. Knowing where underground utility lines are buried before each digging project begins can prevent injury, expense and penalties. The local 811 Call Center personnel notify affected utility companies, who will send crews to mark underground lines for free. The depth of utility lines may vary and multiple utility lines may exist in one area. Simple digging jobs can damage utility lines and can disrupt vital services to an entire neighborhood, harm those who dig, and result in expensive fines and repair costs. Marked lines show those who dig the approximate location of underground lines and help prevent undesired consequences. www.call811. com for more information. Utility line safety along the Iron Horse Corridor, often referred to as the Iron Horse Trail, has been a priority for several years. East Bay Regional Park District has a license agreement with the County to operate and maintain the Iron Horse Trail within the Corridor.
The County continues to review property lines along the Corridor as they have become aware that some property owners have dangerously encroached into the utility easements. As most people know, the Iron Horse Corridor was previously the Southern Pacific Railroad Right-of-Way. It was purchased by Contra Costa County with grant money from the state and the sale of utility easements. The Corridor is typically 50-100 feet wide and includes various underground utilities, including fiber optic, sewer and water lines, as well as a high-pressure petroleum pipeline owned by Kinder Morgan. It is approximately 19 miles and stretches from Concord to the San Ramon/ Alameda County line. Over the years, some property owners have extended fencing, retaining walls, structures, bridges, stairs, pavers, landscaping and drainage into the corridor, landing near or on top of the Kinder Morgan pipeline. Kinder Morgan cannot allow encroachments in their easement as directed by the State Fire Marshall. These encroachments create a serious safety issue. The County requires property owners to remove the encroachments which have been built in this easement. Do you know what to do in the event of a gas line
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break or leak near your home or business? Some things to remember are: Make sure your gas appliances are turned off. Leave the area immediately and telephone 911 from a neighbor’s home or cell phone from a safe distance away to inform first responders of the gas leak. Warn others in the area about the leak . When we do have the need for emergency response for an emergency or disaster, you may want to be notified on your cell phone in case you are not home when a community alert is sent out. The County’s emergency notification system automatically telephones landlines using a reverse 911 directory. However, since more and more people are using cell phones as their primary means of communication, Contra Costa County cell phone users can receive emergency alert calls directly to their cell phone. Register your cell phone with the Contra Costa County Community Warning System (CWS) so you can be SQUEEZED from page 9
stress and anxiety that can arise when a family member or loved one is in need of additional care, assistance, or companionship. For this reason, they believe in the importance of communicating with clients and their families to ensure each person is receiving the personalized and attentive care that fits their needs. To determine the services needed for each client, Visiting Angels offers a complimentary, no obligation, in-house assessment conducted by Nurse Care Managers. Once individual needs are properly assessed, their staff and caregivers work to accomplish the following goals: • Provide quality and reliable care in our client’s homes and minimizing the impact of an illness or disability while maximizing independence and restoring, maintaining and promoting health • F a c i l i t a t e a collaborative communication process between the client, family, medical professionals, and caregiving staff MEDICARE from page 8
ESRD is permanent kidney failure that requires a regular course of Michael J. Tomcik, MD dialysis or a kidney transplant. AdvAnced LAser Board Certified Dermatologist To get the phone number for Over 35 years experience skin cAre center your local ESRD Network, visit 101 Park Place Medical Group, iNc. San Ramon Medicare.gov/contacts, or call 925-743-1488 www.SanRamonDerm.com 1-800-MEDICARE. For more details, read our Introducing Ultherapy booklet, “Medicare Rights and • Only FDA approved, Protections,” at www.medicare. non-surgical procedure that focuses ultra sound to stimulate the growth of new collagen • Lifts and tightens
valleysentinel.com informed about emergencies and disasters that could impact your neighborhood such as wildfires, gas line ruptures, earthquakes or floods. The CWS is operated by the office of the Sheriff and issues alerts about situations in the County that pose an imminent threat to life or health. Visit their website at www.cococws.us to enroll your cell phone number in the service. My office is here to serve the residents of Contra Costa County District 2, which includes San Ramon, Danville, Alamo, Walnut Creek, Saranap, Parkmead, Lafayette, Moraga, Canyon and Orinda. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if we can provide you with additional information on this topic or on other County issues. I can be reached by email at SupervisorAndersen@bos. cccounty.us or by phone at 925957-8860.
• Respond efficiently to the client’s immediate needs including hospital and facility discharges, respite care, and emergency coverage. With respect to providing service toward these goals, the Visiting Angels staff of licensed, screened, bonded, insured and experienced caregivers is available to provide part-time or full-time care. Services offered include companionship, light housekeeping, errands and shopping, meal preparation, assistance with personal hygiene, dressing and other activities of daily living -- all services that can provide a respite for families dealing with the care of a loved one. The office in San Rafael serves Marin County and the North Bay and two other office locations provide service to the East Bay and Central Valley regions. Call your local Visiting Angels office at (925) 552-6500 for a free consultation to help you assess your situation and address the issues that are important to you and your family or visit their Web site at www.visitingangels. com/SanRamon to see the services that are offered.
gov/Pubs/pdf/11534-MedicareRights-and-Protections.pdf? Greg Dill is Medicare’s regional administrator for Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, and the Pacific Territories. You can always get answers to your Medicare questions by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-6334227).
AUTO March 2009 July 2018
valleysentinel.com
2018 Volvo Xc60 T8 E-Awd Inscription By David and Judy Colman
Car model differentiation is getting so complicated that the official handle for this Volvo sounds more like a eulogy than a description. But let’s try and decode the official title word by word.“XC” refers to the fact that this model is a sports utility Volvo.“60” describes its position on the Volvo ladder, with 60 on a lower rung than 90. “T8” refers to the fact that the supercharged and turbocharged 4 cylinder engine is augmented by an electric motor and a lithium-ion battery good for 400hp.“E-AWD” indicates that this Volvo is a Plug-In Hybrid (“E”) that also boasts all-wheeldrive. So there you have all the attributes of this latest Volvo, which carries a base price of $52,900. However, the version we drove supplements that bottom line with enough expensive extras ( $17,695) to buy you a base model XC60 Volvo plus a new Rolex Daytona. If you haven’t driven a Volvo recently, you need to attend Volvo school first. Pretty much everything you know about operating a conventional car
needs to be discarded before you earn your Swedish driving permit. For example, that Orrefors crystal ice cube jutting up from the console between the front seats actually operates the shift mechanism for the Japanese built 8-speed Aisin automatic. For some reason, Volvo engineers have decreed that you can’t just move the cube into forward or reverse with one stroke. Rather you have to bump the stick twice in the intended direction of travel or the Volvo won’t budge. The wiper controls demand a similar idiosyncratic pattern of operation that can be difficult to decode. If you miss the memo, you are consigned to watching the blades arc endlessly to and fro long after the rain has stopped. Most driving and climate functions are controlled through a 9” x 4.5” Sensus touchscreen that demands familiarization. Ah, but once you have your PhD in Volvology, you will fall in love with this gorgeous SUV. From a sporting driver’s perspective, the Hybrid XC60 is intoxicatingly quick. Blame 472 lb.-ft. of torque for orchestrating
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massive bursts of acceleration. With that much torque on tap, you never need to manipulate the Aisin gearbox manually – although you could do so by selecting the available “B” gate on the console. From a knurled chrome drive-mode adjuster located just behind the shifter, you can choose one of 5 imaginatively named drive settings: AWD (all-wheeldrive), Pure (eco-drive), Hybrid (everyday use), Power (sporty driving), and Off-road (rough road). In order to savor the ample combined output of the 313hp direct injected gas motor augmented by the 87hp electric motor, we invariably chose Power mode. Once, when traversing some rough off-road terrain in a gravel parking lot, I deselected Power mode in favor of Off road, but could discern no difference in ride quality or suspension behavior. Although most sport mode menus tighten steering feedback, choosing Power mode on the XC60 had no noticeable effect on steering response, which remained overboosted and numb in all modes.
THE VALLEY SENTINEL
But with Continental Cross Sport LX tires (255/45R20) mounted at each corner, the XC60 is unexpectedly responsive in the handling department. Of all the add-on packages inflating the bottom line of this Volvo, the one you would least want to eliminate is “Inscription.” For $3,800, this grouping adds bright chrome front grill bars, chrome side trim with logotype, integrated tailpipes with body colored lower trim insert, mechanical driver and passenger seat extensions, driftwood decor dash inlays, tailored dashboard, keyless entry with hands-free tailgate opening, Sensus navigation pro, cooled glove compartment and illuminated door handles. The exterior touches turn an already good looking vehicle into a supreme visual asset. The interior improvements elevate the cockpit of the XC60 to palatial refinement. Especially nice were the driftwood dash inserts, the deft stitching on the dash, and the incised “Inscription” notations on the front seat headrests. Even the chrome strip next to the glove box is incised with a replica of the Swedish flag.
page 15
Blue and yellow flag tags are attached to the Nappa leather of the front seat seams because our test XC60 was fitted with the $3,000 optional Luxury Seat Package. That price tag also adds backrest massage to the front chairs,power seat extensions up front, and heated seats all around plus heated steering wheel. Volvo is the only company we have encountered with a pleasant 3 level heating element for the steering wheel. So if you want to turn the ultimate automotive parlor trick, order your XC60 with the Luxury Seat Package, then activate the massage feature without first warning your front seat passenger. 2018 Volvo XC60 T8 E-AWD Inscription Engine: 2.0 liter inline 4, turbo and supercharged direct injection, with electric motor and 10.4 kWh high voltage battery Horsepower: 400hp Torque: 472lb.-ft. Fuel Consumption: N/A Price As Tested: $71,590 Hypes: Superlative Fit and Finish, Exceptionally Quick Gripes: Volvo Operating System Can Be Intimidating Star Rating: 9 Stars out of 10
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