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toric buildings have always for the community Icons of the Valley. VOL 21 NO 1 January 2016 Museum of the San Valley and discover SPOTLIGHT unique stories.
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Historic Icons of the Danville Hotel San Ramon Valley
Southern Pacific Railroad Depot Southern Pacific Railroad Depot A new exhibit featuring historic Danville a Grammar School buildings in the San Ramon Valley will be open from Saturday, January 23 through Sunday, February 28, 2016, at the Museum of the San Ramon Valley in Danville. Each Saturday, beginning January 30, one building will be featured in a 10:30 talk. The exhibit is underwritten by Linda Gossett. Calling buildings “icons” may be a February 28,stretch, 2016 but in the case of five buildings in the Museum’s new Historic Icons of the Valley exhibit, the word fits. Featured in the exhibit
ns of the Valley
Postal Customer
a Grammar School
ECRWSS
See EXHIBIT page 3
PRESORTED STANDARD US POSTAGE PAID DANVILLE, CA PERMIT NO. 70
toric buildings have Icons of the Valley. Museum of the San Valley and discover unique stories.
Celebrate amazing views and Mary Bowerman’s 108th birthday on the newly renovated Mary Bowerman Trail on Sun. Jan. 24th at 9:30 AM. Botanist Mary Bowerman co-founded Save Mount Diablo in 1971. The trail, also known as the “Diablo Necklace” is the single best short trail on the mountain, and circles the peak just below the summit, providing incredible 360 degree views. Half of the 0.7mile trail is paved and disabled accessible, the other half passes Devil’s Pulpit and is single track but mostly level. For more information call Save Mount Diablo at (925) 947-3535. Photo by Chris Benton.
The California Saber-Toothed Cat roamed the hills and valleys of Contra Costa as recently as 10,000 years ago By James Hale
Danville Hotel
The California Saber-Toothed Cat (Smilodon fatalis californicus) was an apex, keystone carnivore that lived locally throughout the East Bay during the Pleistocene epoch, from 2.5 million years ago until about 10,000 years ago, preying on large herbivores such as bison, mammoths, camels, and giant ground sloths. The middle to late Pleistocene was the age of the enormous beasts known as Southern Pacific Railroad Depot megafauna, after Rancholabrean the famous Rancho La Brea tar pits, which yielded one of the greatest concentrations of diverse fossils. Situated in downtown Los Angeles, its tar-impregnated stream deposits have yielded the remains of 42 mammalian and 133 avian species as well as many other vertebrates, insects, plants, and others. More than one thousand two hundred individuals of the great Sabertooth
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(Smilodon fatalis californicus), California’s state fossil, have been identified. Archaeologist E. Breck Parkman estimates that perhaps 450 Sabertooths inhabited the Bay Area. He further suggests that 227,000 bison, 35,000 horses, 7,000 camels, 1,450 mastodons, 725 Columbian mammoths, and 400 dire wolves shared the Bay Area’s diverse habitats with these giant cats. The genus Smilodon was named in 1842 , based on fossils from Brazil. Three species are recognized today: S.gracilis, S. fatalis and S. populator. Smilodon was built more robustly than any extant cat, with particularly well-developed forelimbs and exceptionally long upper canines adapted for precision killing. Unlike modern large
cats, Smilodon had a short tail. The front and back limbs were about the same length, with strong retractable claws. S. gracilis was the smallest at 120 to 220 pounds in weight. S. fatalis had a weight of 350 to 620 pounds and a height of 40 inches at the shoulder. S. populator is the largest known felid at 490 to 880 pounds, with one estimate suggesting up to 1,040 pounds and a height at the shoulder of 47 inches. The structure of the hyoid bones suggest that Smilodon communicated by roaring, like modern big cats. The coat pattern of Smilodon is unknown, with convincing arguments for plain, spotted and striped patterns. The genus name for Smilodon means “tooth shaped like double-edged
This month’s Special Section:
Mind and Body Awareness: New Year, New You! pages 8 - 9
knife” in Ancient Greek. The species name fatalis means “fate” or “destiny”, however it probably was intended to See CAT page 5
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT dining out • music • art • theater • fun events
page 2
The Valley Sentinel
Born Yesterday Now - February 27 America’s favorite screwball comedy proves that it’s as timely today as it was when it first burst onto the scene as a Broadway triumph and Oscar –nominated film in the 1940’s. Unscrupulous millionaire Harry brock comes to Washington to influence an ethically challenged senator and realizes that his brassy
chorus girl moll Billie Dawn needs to be “culturefied” to fit his new image. After hiring a journalist to give her a crash course I the finer points, he learns that a little bit of learning can be a dangerous thing. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr. Walnut Creek. Information and tickets call 925-943-SHOW (7469) or visit www.lesherartscenter.org. Beyond the Horizon January 9 at 8pm, January 10 at 2pm With Beyond the Horizon, Eugene O’Neill captured the longing and mystery of the American spirit. Join us for a rare opportunity to see the play that shaped the American imagination. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at www. eugeneoneill.org. The Museum
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January 2016 of the San Ramon Valley, 205 Railroad Ave, Danville. 925837-3750, museumsrv.org
Monkey See, Monkey Do! Family Friendly Improv January 10 2pm. Our one hour improv show is designed especially for children and their families to enjoy together! The show is made up on the spot and based on your audience suggestions. Make suggestions and play games for prizes! Tickets are $10. Front Row Theater, 17011 Bollinger Canyon Rd, San Ramon. www.sanramon. ca.gov/parks/theater Disney’s High School Musical Jan 12 - Jan 14 It’s the first day after winter break at East High. The Jocks, Brainiacs, Thespians and Skater Dudes all find their cliques. Basketball team captain and resident jock Troy discovers that the brainy Gabriella, a girl he met singing karaoke on his ski trip, has just enrolled at East High. The couple causes an upheaval when they decide to audition for the high school musical. Tickets are $12. Village Theater, 233 Front Street, Danville. www. villagetheatreshows.com
at the Kate & Dyke Brown Hall
Grades 6-8 January 9 1pm - 3:30pm Grades 9-12 January 10 1pm - 4pm
To register for Open House, please visit the Admission page on our website. Click on the “Request Info & Register for Events” ribbon and complete the “Inquiry for The Athenian School.”
Celebrating 50 Years
Garry Krinsky, Toying With Science January 13 9:30am. Toying with Science is a fast-paced, varied and dynamic program that combines circus skills, mime, original music, and audience involvement combined with scientific exploration. Garry and his audience investigate basic scientific information and delve into the imaginations of scientists who have played important roles in the exploration and discovery of
valleysentinel.com concepts that define our world. Tickets are $10. Hofmann Theatre, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek. www. lesherartscenter.org
Winds Across the Bay Winter Concert January 22 8pm. This winter concert is presented by Winds Across the Bay Youth Wind Ensemble. Tickets are $12. Margaret Lesher Theatre, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek. www. lesherartscenter.org
A Year With Frog and Toad, Kids January 15-17 Performed by the 5-10 year old students of Bay Area Children’s Theatre’s Education Program, Arnold Lobel’s treasured characters hop from page to stage in this musical story of friendship and adventure. Part vaudeville, part make believe, all charm, A Year With Frog And Toad Kids tells the story of a friendship that endures throughout the seasons. Tickets are $10. Dougherty Valley Performing Arts Center, 10550 Albion Rd, San Ramon. 925-973-2787, www.sanramon.ca.gov/ parks/theater
Tales of Olympus, Jr. January 22-24 Peering down from their home on Mount Olympus, the ancient Greek gods and goddesses see a fast paced, modern world filled with folks who don’t know who they are. Who will tell their stories? Join us on this musical journey with Jason to meet Zeus, Athena, Aphrodite and the rest of the Greek pantheon to hear the Tales of Olympus. Performed by the 5th - 8th grade students of Bay Area Children’s Theatre’s Education Program, this 30 minute show is a perfect family outing! Tickets are $10. Dougherty Valley Performing Arts Center, 10550 Albion Rd, San Ramon. 925-973-2787, www.sanramon. ca.gov/parks/theater
Disney’s Aladdin Jan 15 - Jan 17 When the street urchin Aladdin vies for the attention of the beautiful princess Jasmine, he uses a genie’s magic power to become a prince in order to marry her. Iago, Jafar, the Genie, and more are here in Disney’s Aladdin, a musical adventure filled with magic, mayhem, and the power of love. Tickets are $12. Village Theater, 233 Front Street, Danville. www. villagetheatreshows.com 37th Annual Shellie Awards January 16 7:30 pm. Patterned after Broadway’s Tony awards, the Shellies honor over 120 individuals and their work in musical and non-musical theatrical productions that took place between September 1 and August 31. Tickets are $30. Hofmann Theatre, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek. www. lesherartscenter.org
Thoroughly Modern Millie, Jr. January 22-24 Based on the zany new musical that has taken Broadway by storm, this is the highspirited musical romp that has all of New York dancing the Charleston! Tickets are $20. Knight Stage 3 Theater, Lesher Center, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek. www. lesherartscenter.org
Love for Piano Recital 2016 January 23 1:30pm. Come to a piano recital for students age 5 to 65, playing pop, classical, and international music. Tickets are $25. Lesher Theater, 1601 Civic Dr, Walnut Creek. www.lesherartscenter.org
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT dining out • music • art • theater • fun events
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San Ramon Youth Symphony January 25 8pm. Enjoy a short classical concert performed by San Ramon’s youth symphony under the direction of David Sego. Admission is free, so bring the entire family! DV Performing Arts Center, 10550 Albion Rd, San Ramon. www.sanramon.ca.gov/ parks/theater Bedtime Theater - Outer Space Musical Adventure Show January 29 6:30 pm. Join children’s musician, Peter Apel for an exciting concert and show covering stars, planets, moons, and (of
January 2016 course) Fred Pinsocket, the Spaceman who loves bananas. Peter’s catchy, educational, and original songs have been charming and cracking up audiences for years. This program is appropriate for children of all ages and their families, too! Tickets are $7 per person. San Ramon Community Center, 12501 Alcosta Blvd, San Ramon. www. sanramonperformingarts. com Good People January 29 - February 14 Margie Walsh is barely getting by on her Dollar Store salary. When she loses her job and faces eviction, Margie takes a chance by rekindling things with an old flame (well, more of a spark), hoping for a fresh start. Quirky, unpredictable and grounded in genuine humor that comes from hitting rock bottom, Good People will have you laughing one moment and crying the next. Tickets start at $20. Village Theater, 233 Front Street, Danville. www. villagetheatreshows.com
Author Tracy Guzeman shares The Gravity of Birds January 30 2pm. Pushcart Prize nominee, Tracy Guzeman, shares her fabulous first novel and Indie Next pick, The Gravity of Birds. With its deft interweaving of psychological complexity and riveting narrative momentum, with its gorgeous prose and poetic justice, Guzeman’s book is about sibling rivalry, tragedies and resurrections. Dougherty Station Library, 17017 Bollinger Canyon Rd, San Ramon. 925-973-3380 Looking East: How Japan Inspired Monet, Van Gogh and Other Western Artists February 3 7 - 8pm. Live! from the Library presents “Looking East: How Japan Inspired Monet, Van Gogh and Other Western Arts. Docent Pauline Tsui will give an illustrated presentation on Looking East, an exhibit at the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco that explores how Japan changed the course of Western Art. Free. Oak View Room Walnut Creek Library, 1644 N. Broadway Ave., Walnut Creek. 925-935-5395.
The Valley Sentinel EXHIBIT from page 1 will be the Danville Hotel, the San Ramon Store, the Tassajara Grammar School, the Southern Pacific Depot and Diablo
page 3
Country Club’s Red Horse Tavern. The Museum is located at 205 Railroad Ave, Danville. For more information, contact the Museum at 925-837-3750 or visit museumsrv.org.
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page 4
The Valley Sentinel
January 2016
valleysentinel.com
Advertorial
Brain Tumors And New Advances In Cancer Therapies By Dr. Tyler Kang
The brain is the master of the body, and we know that diseases that afflict the brain can cause significant problems even if other organs remain functional in a person. Similarly, cancers that affect the brain can cause tremendous difficulties and may lead to rapid death due to the critical effects they can have on bodily functions. While the incidence of primary brain tumors is
relatively rare in comparison to other cancer types, these cancers usually affect people in the prime of their lives and lead to significant physical, social and emotional issues. Glioblastoma is a malignant tumor of the brain that is derived from the glial cells, or the support cells of the brain. Its effect is devastating and treatment is usually aimed at delaying recurrence rather than being able to affect a cure of this disease. Part of the reason is that these cancers infiltrate the normal brain, and we cannot take out too
much of the brain without affecting critical functions, therefore surgery can never safely remove all of the cancer cells that dwell there. Subsequent treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation can be well tolerated, but only have limited effectiveness and again almost never leads to long-term remission for these patients. Due to something called the “blood-brainbarrier” that the body uses to protect the brain from foreign substances and disease from getting into the brain, typical anticancer therapies usually have a hard time penetrating this and getting into the brain as well, which compounds the difficulty we have with treatment of this disease. In trying to come up with additional treatments for this disease, investigators have looked into other cancer causing pathways in order to combat the illness. A groundbreaking treatment method was developed known as a tumor treating field (TTF). We know that by applying a certain electromagnetic
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use in newly diagnosed glioblastoma patient in the up front setting following initial chemoradiation. This study convincingly demonstrated that those patients who received TTF in addition to chemotherapy, improved survival of this group of patients by an unprecedented 5 months, a 33% improvement in longevity, this will become the standard of care for all patients who are afflicted with this devastating illness. We know that most of the time, science and medicine move in incremental steps in terms of improvement in outcome. But once in a while, when there is a dramatic paradigm shift in thinking about the disease process and pathophysiology, then great strides can be made in the treatment of cancer. Dr. Kang is a board certified Medical Oncologist and Hematologist with Epic Care, a group of experts in the diagnosis and comprehensive treatment of cancer and blood disorders. www.epic-care.com
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The Back Doctors are a network of CHIROPRACTORS, MEDICAL DOCTORS and other health care professionals all with one common goal, the effective treatment of your pain. • Recurring Headaches • Low Back and Leg Pain • Neck, Shoulder and Arm Pain • Pain Between Shoulders
frequency over cells in a petri dish, the rate at which they multiply is impaired. In glioblastoma cells, applying a certain frequency across them induces cellular death, both in the petri dish and in an animal model. This idea was then carried over to human subjects by using electrodes placed over the scalp. In a major clinical trial study published in 2012, patients with recurrent glioblastoma were randomized to either TTF or physician’s choice of salvage chemo, the outcome of the two arms showed equivalent survival, suggesting that TTF has at least efficacy when compared to standard treatments but with significantly less toxicity. Still, in the minds of skeptics, that without any improvement in efficacy, TTF was still an afterthought compared to the “tried and true” chemotherapies. That all has changed when in December 2015, Dr. Stupp published a landmark clinical trial in the Journal of American Medical Association, of TTF
Sometimes life is not a bowl of cherries, as was said in an old song. Our daily challenges can result in stress and responsibilities that can fill our minds with so much that getting a good night’s sleep can be really tough. Here are some tips that have proven to be useful. 1. Try to have a natural rhythm to your activities. • Do your best to go to sleep and get up at the same time every day. • Avoid sleeping in, even on weekends or after staying up late. • Fight after dinner drowsiness. An activity or hobby that is not too stimulating or talking to a friend can help. • Taking naps can create wakeful nights. (If you must nap, limit it to 20 minutes.) 2. Control your exposure to light and to the type of light you experience. • There is a natural brain clock that can be set by looking at a bright light. Expose yourself to sunlight
as soon as possible after waking. • Get as much natural light a possible during the day. • All through our evolution, after sundown, the only light we had was firelight. Firelight stimulates your melatonin production. Watching TV, looking at a phone screen, computer or Kindle before bed stops this. • If you must work on a device before bed, wear glasses with a yellow lens that will help to block the harmful effects of the blue light. • Make sure your bedroom is quiet and dark. If you have to get up use very dim light. 3. Get regular exercise. • Vigorous exercise three hours or more before bed should be avoided. • Relaxing, low impact exercise, before bed can promote sleep. • Exercise has been shown to improve sleep for people with sleep disorders, including insomnia. 4. Watch what you eat and drink. • Cut down on caffeine. In some its effects can last 12 hours.
• Avoid big meals with desserts and try to allow two hours without food before bed. • Avoid alcohol before bed. It may help you fall asleep but will wake you up later. • Avoid drinking anything an hour or two before bed to prevent bathroom trips. Stay hydrated all day to avoid waking up thirsty. Balance is the key • Some natural supplements can help promote sleep such as Magnesium citrate and valerian tea. 5. Learn to calm yourself and become relaxed with worries dismissed. The best book that has taught me to control stress is Happiness, by Matthieu Ricard. He teaches readers to break down their problems in order to be able to understand them so well that they can laugh at them. Guided meditation can also work miracles. At the Advanced Oral Diagnosis and Treatment Center our only two specialties are TMJ and Sleep Apnea. Dr. Robert Brown of Advanced Oral Diagnosis and Treatment center cam be reached for a free consultation at 925-837-8048. You can also visit his website at www.aodtc.com.
valleysentinel.com
January 2016
Advertorial
Start 2016 Free From Neck Pain By Dr. Niele Maimone, DC
If you are suffering with neck pain from a pinched nerve or herniated disc, you know how debilitating it is and how the pain slowly leaks the vitality from your life. At Align Healing Center we specialize in treating pain naturally. It is our mission to help relieve pain without the use of drugs, invasive procedures and without inducing more pain! If you or someone you care about suffers from pinched nerves or disc related pain, it is worthwhile to explore the natural therapies that are available today. What is cervical disc herniation? The bones (vertebrae) that form the spine in your back are cushioned by round, flat discs. When these discs are healthy, they act as shock absorbers for the spine and keep the spine flexible. If they become damaged, they may bulge abnormally or break open (rupture), in what is called a herniated or slipped disc. Herniated discs can occur in any part of the spine, but they are CAT from page 1 mean ”fatal”. The famously long canines, up to 11 inches long, were slender with fine serrations on the front and back sides. They were more resistant to bending and breaking than round canines. Smilodons jaw gape is enormous, approaching 130 degrees, compared to around 65 degrees for modern large cats. The gape was necessary for food items to get past the long canine teeth. Analysis of the narrow jaws indicates that it could produce a bite only a third as strong as that of a lion. Smilodon was thought to have killed its prey by holding it still with its forelimbs and biting it. It is unclear in what manner the fatal bite itself was delivered. Most Smilodon fossils are found in sediments from plains or woodland environments. The California Sabertoothed Cat was similar in size and shape to the modern African Lion, with an affinity to similar habitats where it pursued large herbivores like bison, giant ground sloths, horses and mammoths. It ranged
most common in the neck (cervical) and lower back (lumbar) spine. A herniated disc usually is caused by wear and tear of the disc. As we age, our discs lose some of the fluid that helps them maintain flexibility. A herniated disc also may result from injuries to the spine, which may cause tiny tears or cracks in the outer layer of the disc. The jellylike material (nucleus) inside the disc may be forced out through the tears or cracks in the capsule, which causes the disc to bulge, break open (rupture), or break into fragments. What are the symptoms of a herniated disc in the neck? Herniated discs in the neck (cervical spine) can cause pain, numbness, or weakness in the neck, shoulders, chest, arms, and hands. In some cases a very large herniated disc in the neck may cause weakness or unusual tingling affecting other parts of the body, including the legs. Arm pain from a cervical herniated disc is one of the more common cervical spine conditions. The arm pain from a cervical herniated disc results because the herniated
disc material “pinches” or presses on a nerve in the neck, causing pain to radiate along the nerve pathway down the arm. Along with the arm pain, numbness and tingling can be present down the arm and into the fingertips. Muscle weakness may also be present due to a cervical herniated disc. How can I heal my pain without drugs or surgery? 1. Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Therapy Non-surgical spinal decompression is a state of the art treatment that has been helping thousands of patients with chronic neck or low back pain, sciatica, and herniated, bulging or degenerated discs. This is an entirely different treatment from traditional chiropractic adjustments. Many of the patients who are candidates for this procedure have already tried chiropractic, physical therapy, injections, and/or were told they would need surgery. This breakthrough treatment works by gently separating the vertebra which decompresses the disc, thus causing the bulging material to be drawn back into the disc. Non-surgical spinal decompression is very effective, has a high success
throughout the western United States where it competed with the American Lion (Panthera leo) and the Dire Wolf (Canis dirus) for prey. Tooth wear in fossils suggest Smilodon probably avoided eating bone as it had no bone crushing teeth, and may have associated with large scavengers like hyaenas. Smilodon was most likely an ambush predator that concealed itself in dense vegetation. Its long heel bone suggests it was a good jumper. Exactly how Smilodon killed its prey is debatable. The most popular hypothesis is that the cat delivered a deep stabbing bite or open-jawed stabbing thrust to the throat, generally cutting through the jugular vein and/or the trachea and thus killing the prey very quickly. Alternatively, it may have used its “sabers” to puncture the thoracic wall of its prey with a closed-mouth stab, thus collapsing the preys lungs. Another hypothesis suggesting Smilodon attacked the belly of its prey has been disputed. There is considerable debate among scientists as
to whether Smilodon was a social predator. One study focuses on whether Smilodon was attracted to distress calls of prey. Another study for sociality is based on the healed injuries in Smilodon fossils, which would suggest that the animals needed others to provide food. Neither study offers definitive conclusions. The California Saber-Toothed Cat (Smilodon fatalis californicus) went extinct around 10,000 years ago in the Quartenary extinction event. Its extinction has been linked to the decline and extinction of the large herbivores. Whether humans (Paleo-Indians) killed off the megafauna herbivores that Smilodon relied upon for food, or climactic changes brought about by the end of the last glacial period did them in, or both, the magnificent creatures that had flourished for more than 240,000 years (some for much longer) suddenly died off. In just 1,500 years, most of them vanished forever. James M. Hale is a wildlife biologist, ethnobiologist and ecological consultant based in Contra Costa County.
The Valley Sentinel rate, and can be utilized for both cervical and lumbar disc injuries. 2. Class IV Laser Therapy Laser treatments at Align Healing Center are done with the K-laser Cube Class IV Laser. Class IV Laser therapy gets to the root of the injury and treats it at the cellular level, providing energy to the cells so they can heal. This laser does not cut or burn but is gently absorbed by the tissue. During each painless treatment, laser energy increases circulation, drawing water, oxygen and nutrients to the damaged area. This creates an optimal healing environment that reduces inflammation, swelling, muscle spasms, stiffness and pain. As the injured area returns to normal, function is restored and pain is relieved.
page 5
There is hope! We have found that a combination of Class IV laser therapy and spinal decompression offers outstanding results in healing stubborn neck pain due to a pinched nerve, bulging discs or spinal degeneration. This unique combination of non-invasive therapy offers a chance for realizing a permanent cure for neck or back pain. This eliminates the long-term care commitment forced upon patients by other symptomatic low-back pain treatments, such as drugs, injections or surgery. With proper care and rehabilitation of your spine you can be back to your healthy self quickly! For more information about Dr. Niele Maimone, DC or to set up a complimentary consult call 925.362.8283 or visit www.alignhealingcenter. com.
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CUSTOM HOMES ADDITIONS REMODELS BATHROOM AND KITCHEN REMODELS TENANT IMPROVEMENTS COMMERCIAL RESIDENTIAL
Happy New Year! From the staff at
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page 6
The valley Sentinel
January 2016
Alamo News Update Who’s in charge around here? By Steve Mick
The answer to this question may depend on where you live and what form of local government, if any, has been created by either a vote of the community or appointed by cognizant authority. Depending on a number of factors, a community may decide to have a strong local government with powers that can impact everyone. Other communities may choose to have a weaker governmental structure or even none at all. Let’s take a brief look at the hierarchy of options for local control and governance. Incorporation The most common and most powerful form of local government is incorporation. A community can decide through an election to incorporate and elect a city council. Incorporation will give the community the greatest local control over services, standards and local
ordinances. These include zoning and land use decisions, police protection and road maintenance. Incorporation also provides protection from unwanted annexations Community Services District For various reasons, some communities may choose not to incorporate. However, the residents may still have a desire for a level of local control of specific services. If this is the case, the unincorporated community can vote to form a Community Services District (CSD). There are about 400 CSDs in California and they provide an alternate choice to a county’s efforts to provide essential and desired services in a given geographic area. In most cases, the county cannot provide dedicated local services tailored to community needs due to the county’s wideranging responsibilities. On the other hand, a CSD is a local entity that has a locally elected board who are answerable to the residents. This independent form of local government has proven to be responsive to
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with local issues and provides a forum for the community to be heard on those issues. Alamo has a Municipal Advisory Council that meets the first Tuesday of each month at 6:00 PM Alamo Women’s Club, 1401 Danville Blvd. Agendas are available on the county website or at www. alamore.org. So who’s in charge? The answer to this question may be found in the opening lines of the Brown Act, California’s opening meeting law. It states in part, “The people insist on remaining informed so that they may retain control over the instruments they have created.” So who’s in charge of all the above entities? The bottom line is that you are.
Steve Mick is a long-time Alamo resident and is active in a number of local 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 the Award Goes To…
Annual Mayor Installation and Community Service Awards honor residents for their service On Tuesday, December 1, The Village Theatre and Art Gallery on Front Street in Danville was packed for the annual presentation of community service awards for longtime volunteers. Hundreds of people enjoyed the evening of recognition and the following reception. The five-member Town council presided over the event, which honored people for their service to the community on commissions, committees, fundraising and creating programs that enrich the lives of children in the Bay Area and beyond. Photos from the event can be found on the Town’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ danvilleca. The list of award recipients is as follows:
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specific community needs. The California Legislature notes the following in its enactment of the Community Services District Law: “The differences among California’s communities reflect the broad diversity of the state’s population, geography, natural resources, history, and economy. The residents and property owners in California’s diverse communities desire public facilities and services that promote the public peace, health, safety, and welfare. Between 1955 and 2005, the voters in more than 300 communities have formed community services districts to achieve local governance, provide needed public facilities, and supply public services.” When formed, a CSD’s boundaries must be specified
and the particular services it will provide are defined. Some CSDs provide a single municipal service such as parks and recreation while others provide multi-function municipal services that are defined in Section 61000 of the California Government Code that describes CSDs. Municipal Advisory Council Members of a Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) are appointed by the local district supervisor and serve at the will and pleasure of the county board of supervisors. There are currently 11 MACs in Contra Costa County. The MACs provide an opportunity for a focused voice and input from the residents of an unincorporated area to the board of supervisors. Typically, MAC responsibilities include parks and recreation, lighting and landscaping, land-use issues, code enforcement, public safety, roads and transportation and other county services. A MAC deals
valleysentinel.com
Parks & Leisure Services Commission Volunteer of the Year Award San Ramon Valley United Methodist Church Labyrinth Committee The Labyrinth Committee, headed by Dory Schramm, Cathy Colman and Sylvia Benzler, coordinated the donation of a hand-sculpted stone paver labyrinth at Hap Magee Ranch Park. This donation included organizing multiple fundraisers to finance the $100,000+ project. Completed in the spring of 2015, the 42-foot diameter
Stepper awards Patty Dobbin eleven-circuit medieval labyrinth is located directly behind the Magee house. Arts Commission Volunteer of the Year Award Mary Camezon who has been a member of the Role Players Ensemble Theater for 8 years and a member of the Eugene O’Neill Foundation for over 23 years Town Volunteer of the Year Award Senior Bocce leaders: Bob Braaten, Charles (Spike) Leonard, and Ed Walden The Town’s Senior Bocce League, which has been running for over eight years, depends on the support of three very committed volunteers: Bob Braaten, Charles (Spike) Leonard, and Ed Walden.
Outgoing Commissioners In 2015 Arts Commission: Susan Magee (7/1/13-2/28/15), and Jo Loecher (3/1/076/30/15) Heritage Resource Commission: Patty Dobbin (12/1/07-12/31/15), and Doug McQuillan (3/18/0912/31/15) Design Review Board: Marc Silveira (9/1/087/6/15) Planning Commission: Lynn Overcashier (1/2/9112/31/15)
Service Awards Eight Years Of Service: Patty Dobbin and Jo Loecher Twelve Years Of Service: Kent Rezowalli (Parks 9/16/03) See AWARDS page 11
valleysentinel.com
January 2016
Park District Buys 646-Acre Delta Property
Board Envisions Regional Trails, Habitat Restoration for Delta Property “This presents a unique The East Bay Regional Park District Board of Directors voted unanimously to purchase 646 acres of farmland in eastern Contra Costa County to expand the District’s holdings in the ecologically sensitive Delta area. The property will eventually be restored to tidal and freshwater wetlands, alkali meadow and oak savanna, providing habitat for the Swainson’s hawk, giant garter snake, silvery legless lizard, western burrowing owl and tricolored blackbird, among other species. In addition to providing habitat for special status species, the restoration will also address persistent flooding issues in the community of Knightsen. Park District planners also hope the property will provide a key trail link–both for hikers and bicyclists as well as kayakers–connecting Big Break Regional Shoreline and the future Delta Access Regional Recreation Area. “This is great news for eastern Contra Costa County as well as the whole East Bay,” said Board member Diane Burgis, whose ward includes the Delta area. “Not only will we be providing recreational opportunities, but we’ll be preserving beautiful Delta land for wildlife as well as future generations.” East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservancy Board Chair Randy Pope agreed.
opportunity for the region,” Pope said. “We can conserve valuable habitat on the shoreline of the Delta, provide more recreation opportunities, and address the risk of flooding in a vulnerable area.” The Park District is purchasing the property from the Nunn family, a longtime Contra Costa County farming family, for its appraised fair-market value of $6.1 million. The East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservancy will provide 90 percent of the purchase price (through state and federal land conservation grants) and the Park District will pay the remaining 10 percent (through Measure WW funds). The Park District will lease the land back to the Nunn family for two years, beginning Jan. 31, 2016, before moving ahead with restoration plans in partnership with the Conservancy. The property is located 2 miles north of Brentwood in the community of Knightsen. The East Bay Regional Park District is a system of beautiful public parks and trails in Alameda and Contra Costa counties east of San Francisco Bay, established in 1934. The system comprises 119,000 acres in 65 parks including over 1,250 miles of trails for hiking, biking, horseback riding and nature learning. For information, please contact Carolyn Jones, Public Information Supervisor, (510) 544-2217, cjones@ebparks.org.
The valley Sentinel
page 7
Regional Parks 2016 calendar By Beverly Lane, East Bay Regional Parks District
From either starting point, a climb to the top of the section’s ridge will reward you with panoramic views of the San Ramon Valley. Wildlife you may see in the preserve includes deer, coyotes, raccoons, Thirteen of everyone’s skunks, red-winged favorite regional parks are blackbirds, great blue featured in the East Bay herons, and hawks. Regional Park District’s Other regional parks 2016 calendar, with limited featured in the calendar supplies available at visitor are Round Valley, Contra centers and park district Loma, Briones, Don Castro, headquarters in Oakland. Anthony Chabot, Martin Calendars will be mailed to Luther King Jr. Regional park members. Shoreline, Miller/Knox There’s no prize involved, Shoreline, Crown Beach and but it would be fun to hike Pt. Isabel. or ride at least one park per Another incentive to get month, and see if you can out and explore the regional find the vantage point from parks is the Trails Challenge which the image was taken. program. Participants hike, Coyote Hills Regional bicycle or ride horseback Park in Fremont would be on specific a good start, trails in since it’s on the various calendar cover. regional There are lots parks, then of pretty hikes receive a pin there, but one and t-shirt option is to start as a reward. at the visitor For more center and information, circumnavigate visit the the Coyote Hills park district on the Bayview web site Trail. And for at www. panoramic views ebparks.org. of the South Bay, But climb the Nike whether or Soaproot Trail Sycamore Valley Open Space Preserve (photo by Robin Mayoff) you follow to the Red Hill the lead of Trail. The park for March the calendar, take up the Coyote Hills is at the is Sycamore Valley Open Trails Challenge, or set your end of Patterson Ranch Road Space Preserve in Danville. own agenda, winter is a off Paseo Padre Parkway. It Sycamore Valley has two great time in the regional has a great visitor center, non-adjacent sections, both parks. The air is fresh, the with displays and a diorama accessible from Camino vegetation is green, and depicting the Indian village Tassajara. The main trailhead early flowers are blooming. that thrived there for 2,000 is at the end of Holbrook So there’s no time like the years. Drive next to Sycamore present to get out and enjoy Nearby Ardenwood Valley Elementary School. some of the Bay Area’s Historic Farm is the featured The other trailhead is at the most beautiful open spaces. park in January. Ardenwood end of Woodside Road. is a working farm with the beautiful Patterson House as its centerpiece. The big winter PORTEOUS PORTEOUS PORTEOUS PORTEOUS attraction is the monarch FAMILY DENTISTRY FAMILY DENTISTRY butterflies that gather in the FAMILY DENTISTRY Larry Porteous D.D.S. ++Linda Porteous R.D.H. Larry Porteous D.D.S. Linda PorteousR.D.H. R.D.H. park’s eucalyptus groves Larry Porteous, Linda Porteous, Larry Porteous D.D.S. +D.D.S. Linda + Porteous R.D.H. as part of their multi“Let Our Family Be Family Dentist” OurBe Family BeYour Your Family Dentist” Our Family Be Your Family Dentist” “Let“Let Our“Let Family Your Family Dentist” generational migratory life WeWeare celebrating 2929years 50% OFF are celebrating years cycle. We are 29 in years 50% OFF We arecelebrating celebrating 30 yearsArea. in in practice 50% OFF Teeth Whitening practice inthe theBay Bay Area. 50% OFF in practiceininin the Bay Area. Teeth Whitening Ardenwood’s naturalists practice the Bay Area. Our Teeth Whitening Teeth Whitening Our practice isisdedicated for new patients (reg $450) Our practice dedicated forfor new patients (reg(reg $450) Our practice is dedicated to treating for new patients (reg $450) new patients $450) practice istodedicated conduct butterfly programs totreating treatingand andpreventing preventing to treating and preventing and preventing dental diseases in a dental diseases in a friendly, (925) 736-9000 at 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. dental (925) 736-9000 dental diseases in a diseases friendly, in a friendly, 925-736-9000 (925) friendly, relaxed atmosphere. is 736-9000 relaxed ItItisisIt our every Saturday and Sunday in relaxedatmosphere. our relaxed atmosphere. Itatmosphere. is our 3840 Road our philosophy to give each person philosophy totogive person 3840Blackhawk Blackhawk Road 3840 Blackhawk Road 3840 Road giveeach each personBlackhawk philosophy tophilosophy give each person January. They also will stage Suite 110 the same respect, care and concern the same respect, care and Suite 110 Suite 110 Suite 110 the same respect, care respect, and the same care and interactive puppet shows for concern thatwant we would wantasto Danville Danville that wethat would want Danville concern we would Danville concern thatto wetoreceive would want to young children from 11 a.m. Across(Across Blackhawkfrom Rd. as a patient. patients. Across Blackhawk Rd. receive as areceive patient. Across Blackhawk Rd. receive as a patient. fromDraeger’s Draeger’s Market NINTH from Draeger’s Market Market) NINTH NINTH from Draeger’s Market to noon on Jan. 10, 16, 24 IfIf you have an have aching tooth,tooth, want Ifanyou an aching you have tooth, and 30. If aching you have an aching tooth, to maintain good wantyour to maintain your good want to maintain good dental The park is located at wantyour to maintain your good health, are interested in interested improving dental are dental health, are health, interested dental health, are interested 34600 Ardenwood Boulevard, your smilein your or just have questions improving your smile or justor in improving smile or just in improving your smile or just just north of Highway 84 in have or concerns, concerns, please call our office. We have questions orquestions concerns, have questions or concerns, Fremont. For more information ourlook office. We look pleaseforward call please our office. We look tocall meeting you. please call our office. We look forward to meeting forward you. to meeting you. about Ardenwood’s fees and forward to meeting you. hours of operation, call 510Providing Full Service Dentistry the Entire Providing Full Service Dentistry For The for Entire Family Providing Full Service Dentistry For The EntireFamily Family Providing Full Service Dentistry For The Entire Family 544-2797. WWW.pOrteOusFAMILYDeNtIstrY.coM www.PorteousFamilyDentistry.com WWW.pOrteOusFAMILYDeNtIstrY.coM WWW.pOrteOusFAMILYDeNtIstrY.coM Antioch/Oakley Regional Shoreline is the park featured in February. It’s at the south end of the Antioch Bridge. To get there drive east on Highway 4 to Antioch. Exit at Wilbur Avenue and turn right on Wilbur. Follow Wilbur to Bridgehead Road and turn left to the park entrance. Antioch/Oakley Shoreline has picnic areas and a fishing pier on the San Joaquin River. A fishing license is required. It’s a good place for bird watching, too. A plaque at the foot of the pier marks the spot where Juan Bautista de Anza’s expedition likely camped during its 1776 exploration of the San Francisco Bay Area.
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New Year, New You! page 8
The valley Sentinel
January 2016
Listen, Act, Trust: Being Bold in 2016 by Lisa T. Wood
2016 is here—what a gift! Each New Year brings 365 days to write our life stories into. January asks for New Year’s resolutions and plans, lists and ideas to craft the plot lines of these stories. Typically hard-to-reach yet rewarding, these annual goals help us focus personal growth towards meaning, commitment and improvement. But at another level, deep within our souls, there are other quiet, unnamed wishes and dreams patiently waiting their turn in the spotlight. These humble wishes live beyond the yearly cycle of New Year’s lists, instead forming a timeless core vision of who you are and the life you envision living. Most of these ideas have been with us so long, and we have spoken them so faintly to ourselves, that they may forever live in the shadows of louder, more traditional goals. Exercise more! Become better organized! Eat healthier! Save money! By March of each New
Year, the evidence of these unrealized typical resolutions litter calendars and to-do lists, mercilessly reminding us that there must be something more. And there is. There all along are those quiet wishes and dreams. I recently heard one of my own, yet it passed by so softly I almost missed it. I was at the beach, my favorite place in the world. It was a glorious day; warm, bright and the water bounced with sunlight like diamonds on a trampoline. My dog and I walked along the sand, watching the surfers gracefully slide down the front of waves. And suddenly in that private place in my mind—or was it my heart— where timid ideas wait, I heard a thought: “I’ve always wanted to surf.” Oddly, as soon as the thought registered, a wave of regret came right after it. Both the thought about surfing and the feeling of regret were so honest, so true, they stopped me in my barefoot tracks. I looked more intently at the surfers now, and realized my wish to surf wasn’t new. It was familiar like an old friend whose face I recognize but name I couldn’t recall. I was
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so surprised by the strength of this little dream because it was something I’d never really thought about. Well, now I was thinking about it. I walked back to town, stopping at an overlook to study the surfers, swimmers and paddle boarders, feeling the refreshing mist from the waves. The watery playground called to me so sweetly that I considered the real possibility of me surfing. As I quickly shifted from watching someone else do it to thinking about myself on a board, I was tackled by a parade of fears and concerns that pushed the timid dream back. Under the brim of my big hat, my brain whirled with worries about deep dark water, sharks, injury, kelp and looking foolish. Did I mention sharks? Two days prior I watched a film at the Monterey Bay Aquarium about the migratory pattern of great white sharks. Like people that flock to the beaches, the sharks come very close to this gorgeous curve of the California coast. But that wash of regret! Honestly, it worried me more than gnashing of teeth and feet dangling under a board. My dog lay at my feet while I worked through the unexpected potential of getting in that water, nothing of which had anything to do with the already planned course of the day. I turned down the noisy fears and let that feeling of regret course through my veins, coat my heart. It brought
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along friends—remorse and disappointment—which also settled in, wrapping around my shoulders with weight and pressure. How many other shy wishes and dreams do I have that are unknown, unnamed? How would I feel at the end of my days knowing I just needed to listen and say, “yes,” to myself more often? Regret squeezed a little harder. The sun sparkled a little brighter. And that did it. Before I consciously realized it, I walked to the surf shop with my heart pounding and scheduled a surf lesson. What are these nudges, these desires in life? We can call them wishes and dreams, the inner voice or intuition. Either way, we all have an internal monologue going on as a near constant narrative stream, just for us, our own private one-person show. There, within that busy dialog, these more quiet and patient dreams try to find a voice. This takes some time. They are hard to “hear” for two reasons. First, the constant internal chatter can crowd them out for years, or even a lifetime. Like my own wish to surf, once I finally paid attention I realized it had been part of me for a long time. Remember, my thought was: “I’ve always wanted to surf.” But in the noise of living, that little dream went unrecognized. Secondly, much of our internal monologue is semiconscious! It doesn’t register in our full consciousness, and we can’t act on something we don’t fully know. These thoughts bubble along below the surface in the vastness of our minds. When one finally breaks through, the heart knows it and, as in my own case, jumps in with a lifeline to pull the determined wish up from the depths. Knowing that internal noise and lack of awareness block these hopes, how do we still hear ourselves? 1. Listen. Yup, we’ve got to be still enough to listen to the quiet stirrings. By “still” I mean, stillness in mind. You can walk on a beach, sit in the sun, stroll through a park or meditate with your eyes closed. But somehow we each must build stillness into our lives to hold back the noise and internal chatter. Listen
valleysentinel.com with your heart, not your ears. Step away from the phone, put down the snack, say hello to your breath. What do you hear? 2. Act. You learn that you want to surf? Write? Study birds? Go to Thailand? What will it take to make it happen? If the wish is true, and yours alone, and meant to come true, how will it feel if it doesn’t happen? Let yourself have the feelings and emotions of not doing it. Then consider what it will feel like to make the dream come true. Action is an act that one consciously wills and that may be characterized by physical or mental activity. Can you act on behalf of yourself and your dream? 3. Trust. Ah, but what about the fears? Costs? Timing? Practicality? These are the questions from the part of you that doesn’t like change, wants to be safe and not rock the boat. This is where you take charge of the discussion and encourage yourself. Do what it takes to feel safe, comfortable and ready to make the wish a reality. Fears rarely go away, but courage means we act anyway. Trust yourself to know it’ll be a good thing. The night before my surf lesson I barely slept. In my thoughts the water was deeper and the sharks circled hungrily below as I flailed around, a rookie in the water. What had I gotten myself into? I let the feelings of potential regret come up to remind me that for some reason I needed to get in the water. In the morning’s light I stumbled to the lesson, tired and uncertain. It was awesome, the best! I did flail around and the water was dark and deep. And it was all okay; more than okay. The surfing bug bit me, I took several more lessons and my whole family eventually joined, too. The peace of waiting for the right wave, the glorious sense of accomplishment, the sea otters paddling near, the pure fun of it, the new friends I met, the hard physical effort—all 100% worth the hand-wringing and midnight worries. What quiet wishes and dreams are patiently waiting for you? Is 2016 the year listening sets you free, action brings your dreams to life, and trust encourages you to live boldly?
New Year, New You! valleysentinel.com
January 2016
The valley Sentinel
page 9
Advertorial
Asking for Help
REBOOT & START FRESH THIS NEW YEAR
By Robert Cucchiaro
Achieving financial security is a goal most people have and yet few ever accomplish. I would suggest there are several reasons for this, but one of them is simply that people are afraid to ask for help. I don’t mean help in terms of asking for a handout, I mean help in terms of asking someone to help them define what financial security really means, help them develop a plan to get there, and help them implement and monitor that plan. If you’ve never sat down with a Financial Planner, this is what we do. The other day I sat down with a very nice couple that recently came into a large sum of money. These folks were in their late 60’s and had never once sat down with a financial planner or investment advisor of any kind. I asked them why not, and they said they weren’t
sure they had enough money before this event occurred to really justify needing one. This is not the first time I’ve heard this from a prospective client and I am sure it won’t be the last. I do understand the rationale because I can relate; I don’t go to the doctor if my throat is a little sore or I have a runny nose. Why not? Because I’m not sure I really need a doctor to help me. But at some point I do get sick enough that I go and see a doctor because I know that my illness is beyond what the over-the-counter aisle at CVS can handle. I guess for most folks they are making this same sort of calculation in their head. They know their personal finances are not in perfect shape and they use the internet, their co-workers, their friends, etc. as their version of the CVS over-thecounter aisle to get the “help” they think they need. Here is where the problem lies with this strategy – over time your personal finances tend to get worse, not better, if you simply ignore them. Furthermore, the closer you are to retirement age the more urgent the
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need for a retirement income plan. Even in a town like Danville, there are far too many folks who are earning a great income but not saving enough for their future. What better goal to accomplish in 2016 than to design and implement a written financial plan that will serve you and your family for the next 5, 10, 20+ years. Start the process today by sending us an email or giving us a call. Happy New Year! Want to read more articles like this one? Visit our website at www. summitwealthandretirement. com and sign up for our newsletter and research papers. Robert Cucchiaro is a Certified Financial Planner and a registered tax preparer. He is a Partner and owner of Summit Wealth & Retirement, a financial planning firm that has been serving Danville for almost 30 years. Rob specializes in retirement, investment, tax, and estate planning. www. summitwealthandretirement. com. He can be reached at 925-927-1900 and at rob@ swrpteam.com.
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San Ramon Chamber of Commerce Honors Local Business and Volunteer Leaders On Thursday December 3, the San Ramon Chamber of Commerce held its 31st annual “Night of the Stars” community awards ceremony. Held at the Bridges Golf Club in San Ramon, over 125 people gathered to honor the top business, employee and volunteer leaders, showing appreciation to those who have made a difference in the San Ramon community. Awards were presented for Citizen of the Year, Employee of the Year (both public and private sectors), Green Business of the Year, Chamber Ambassador of the Year and also a Superior Service Award. This year’s award for Citizen of the Year went to Roxanne Wiedemann Lindsay who is currently a Tri-Valley community
Outreach Representative and has volunteered for the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District for more than 15 years. The Business of the Year award went to Buffalo Wild Wings, for their significant contributions to the community with sponsorships to youth sports including fundraising, donations and donating a portion of sales to organizations such as Boys and Girls Club of America and other worthy organizations. The Green Business of the year Award was given to Whole Foods Market, San Ramon, a “green company role model”. Regularly donating to community groups and charitable organizations, the store holds
Community Giving Days or “5% days” where five percent of the day’s net sales are donated to a local nonprofit or educational organization. This year’s Educator of the Year Award was given to Julie Walters, of Diablo Valley College, San Ramon campus. Julie spends many hours every week working in the math tutoring center with students and is currently an advisor for the Diversity Club. Ambassador of the Year was awarded to Natalie Cohan of Giammona Insurance Agency. She has been attending Chamber events since 2008 since she started her insurance career. Natalie grew up in San Ramon. See SAN RAMON page 10
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Senior Living page 10
What’s new in Medicare for 2016 By David Sayen
The biggest news in Medicare for 2016 is the Part B premium. I’m happy to report that for most people with Medicare, the premium will stay the same as it was in 2015: $104.90 per month.
In fact, Part B premiums – which pay for doctor services, outpatient care, and preventive health benefits, among other things – haven’t changed for the last three years (2013, 2014, and 2015). That’s because of slow growth in medical costs and inflation. Since there’s no Social Security cost-of-living increase for 2016, the law
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requires that most Medicare beneficiaries be protected against any Part B increase in 2016, too. Beneficiaries not subject to this “hold harmless” provision will pay $121.80 per month, according to the Bipartisan Budget Act signed into law by President Obama in November. Such beneficiaries include those who enroll in Part B for the first time in 2016, those not currently collecting Social Security benefits, “dual eligible” beneficiaries whose premiums are paid by Medicaid, and beneficiaries who pay an additional income-related premium. These groups account for about 30 percent of the 52 million Americans expected to be enrolled in Medicare Part B in 2016. As we head into the new year I also want to urge you to take advantage of the large array of preventive services that Medicare offers, many at no out-of-pocket cost to you. Preventive services are intended to keep you healthy and detect disease in its earliest stages, when it’s most treatable. Such services include vaccinations for flu, Hepatitis C, and HIV; screenings for breast,
colorectal and prostate cancer; and tests for cardiovascular disease. These services can improve the quality of your life and even extend your life span, so make sure you get the services you’re entitled to! During the first 12 months that you have Part B, you can get a “Welcome to Medicare” preventive visit. This includes a review of your medical and social history (as it relates to your health), and education and counseling about preventive services, including referrals for other care, if needed. If you’ve had Part B for longer than 12 months, you can get a yearly “Wellness” visit with your doctor to develop or update a personalized plan to prevent disease or disability based on your current health and risk factors. Medicare covers the “Wellness” visit once every 12 months. Your provider will ask you to fill out a questionnaire, called a “Health Risk Assessment,” as part of this visit. Answering these questions can help you and your provider develop a personalized prevention plan to help you stay healthy and get the most out of your visit.
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The questions are based on years of medical research and advice from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Other preventive services available to people with Medicare include: • Alcohol misuse screening and counseling; • Bone mass measurement (bone density); • Cervical and vaginal cancer screening; • Depression screening; • Diabetes screening; • Glaucoma tests; • Lung cancer screening; • Obesity screening and counseling; • Sexually transmitted infections screening and counseling; • Smoking and tobacco use cessation counseling. And don’t forget to exercise, eat well, and maintain a healthy weight in 2016. And for goodness sakes stop smoking! David Sayen is Medicare’s regional administrator for Arizona, California, Nevada, Hawaii, and the Pacific Territories. You can always get answers to your Medicare questions by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
Free tax preparation for the 2016 tax season is available starting February 2016 from AARP’s Tax-Aide and United Way’s Earn It, Keep It, Save It (EKS) programs. All tax preparers are trained and certified by the IRS. While both programs serve taxpayers of any age, Tax-Aide does not have an income limit in whom they can serve but EKS can only serve individuals whose incomes do not exceed $50,000.
For information or to make an appointment for the Tax-Aide sites serving the San Ramon and Danville areas, please call: (925) 973-3250 San Ramon - San Ramon Senior Center site; (925) 480-7202 Danville - St. Isidore Ministry Center site. For general information and other site locations, call: (925) 726-3199. For information on EKS sites call 2-1-1 or visit www. earnitkeepitsaveit.org.
To complete your tax return, Tax-Aide will need you to bring to the appointment your: • Social Security Card or ITIN letter for all individuals to be listed on the return • Photo ID for yourself and spouse • Copies of all W-2s • 1098s and 1099s • Other income and deductions • Your 2013 Tax Return • Proof of medical insurance if you are not on Medicare.
SAN RAMON from page 9 The Employee of the Year - Private Sector is Melissa B. Yago, of Whipple, Mercado and Associates, LLP, where she is the Operations Manager and Paralegal. Hard working and dedicated, she is also a member of the Dublin/San Ramon Women’s club and ambassador for the San Ramon Chamber of Commerce. The Employee of the Year - Public Sector is Karen
McHenry-Smith of the City of San Ramon. Karen is the Executive Assistant to the City Manager since she was appointed in 2009. A member of the Leadership San Ramon Valley Class of 2009, she has also served on the City’s Social Media Team, Web Development Team, Employee Events Committee and the Safety Committee. Lastly, the Superior Service Award honored AlphaGraphics Tri-Valley,
owned and led by Dick W. Gonzales and Maureen L. Haber. Dick serves on the Board of Directors for the $500 Million in Assets Vons Credit Union and is Executive Mentor for the Bay Area National Society of Hispanic MBA’s. Maureen’s marketing expertise supports business development of startup organizations, and she specializes in print procurement of the life science and healthcare industries.
valleysentinel.com
January 2016
The valley Sentinel
page 11
Sentinels of Freedom to Host Four-Star General and Medal of Honor Recipient at Annual Gala of Joint Special Operations in the loss of his right The local non-profit that serves wounded and injured veterans through multi-faceted scholarships has announced the guests of honor at their upcoming annual gala. The April 9th event will feature four-star General Joseph Votel, US Army, and Medal of Honor recipient, Mast Sergeant Leroy Petry, US Army (Ret.) Votel currently serves as the 10th commander of the U.S. Special Operations Command. Prior to his current command, he served as the commander AWARDS from page 6 Sixteen Years Of Service: Randy Haberl (Heritage Resource 12/1/99; Parks 1/1/13) Twenty-Four Years Of Service: Mike Doyle - (Town Council 12/3/91) Awards Of Merit Casey Stivender, for his leadership development and extensive volunteerism in the Town’s Counselor In Training Summer Day Camp Program. Teen Esteem: Linda Turnbull, Nick Vleisides, Tim Hunt, Chris Crawford, Jim McMillin, Kim Pace, for their commitment to informing youth, parents and the community on issues related to adolescent health while addressing the importance of self-respect and respect for others. Danville Children’s Guild: Michelle Storm, Marcy Golden, Heather Ninekirk, Lisa Pellegrini, Angie Best, Patty Giammona, Tracie Vollgraf, for their dedication to delivering life-enriching services and needed funds that build better futures for children in Bay Area
Command. Petry was awarded the Medal of Honor, this nation’s highest award for valor, in 2011 for his valiant service in May of 2008. Petry and his unit were on a mission in Afghanistan on a daylight raid when he was shot, the bullet going through both his legs. Soon after, a Taliban fighter threw a grenade that landed just a few feet from Petry’s comrades. He picked up the grenade and attempted to throw it back, but it exploded before leaving his hand, resulting
hand, and severe injuries from shrapnel to his torso. Directing the medic to treat another wounded soldier, Petry placed a tourniquet on his own right arm. Sentinels of Freedom’s Annual Sentinels Gala is a way for the organization to gather supporters as well as celebrate and honor scholarship recipients. Last year’s gala was hosted at The Bridges Golf Course, which featured a military chopper flying in two Sentinels of Freedom scholarship recipients before a Marine
communities and positively impacting the lives of children in need. Library and Historical Collections Committee of the Veterans Memorial Building of the San Ramon Valley: Robert Sada, John Reese, Lorrie Sammons, Tim Sammons, Dennis Giacovelli, Lee Halverson, Ron Huesman, Del Loewe, Greg Brown, Ron Farrell, and Alla Cruz, for fostering an appreciation and promotion of knowledge of our country’s history by collecting and preserving memorabilia and books of the military history of the United States with special emphasis on veterans and their families of the San Ramon Valley. Michael K. Shimansky Community Service Award – presentation by the Shimansky family to: Katherine Parker, President of the Environmental & Engineering Club (E2) at SRVHS, working to make the school and the community more sustainable and more aware of environmental issues. The Danville Award Major General Ronald Lowe, for his extensive volunteerism and continued
support for the veterans of the San Ramon Valley and the Danville community. Following the awards ceremony, the Town Council held a brief meeting in which outgoing Mayor Mike Doyle commented on his year as Mayor, and held an election for the 2016 Mayor. Vice Mayor Karen stepper was nominated and approved unanimously. Councilmember Renee Morgan was nominated and approved as Vice Mayor for 2016. For more information about the Mayoral Installation and Community Service Awards, contact City Clerk Marie Sunseri at (925) 314-3401 or email her at msunseri@dancille.ca.gov.
Local Sentinels scholarship recipients color guard and local veterans organizations. Major General Lawrence Nicholson, USMC was the featured guest speaker who told personal stories from his time in service to the 300 guests.
This year’s gala will be at the Blackhawk Automotive Museum, on April 9th, 2016. For more information about the event please visit www. sentinelsoffreedom.org/2016annual-sentinels-gala.
Offering Cremation and Burial Services
We Invite Price Comparison
125 Railroad Avenue, Suite D, Danville, CA (925) 837-2500 FD2088 www.ghmemorial.com
SENTINELS OF FREEDOM Scholarship Foundation
Housing • Education • Employment • Mentoring • Ongoing Support
Sentinels of Freedom provides the resources and support needed for severely wounded veterans to live active, engaged, and successful lives as they recover from the physical, emotional, and psychological impact of their injuries, learn to live with their disabilities, and work their way back to a life of complete self-sufficiency. To learn more about our organization please visit us at: www.sentinelsoffreedom.org www.facebook.com/sentinelsoffreedom (L-R) Newell Arnerich, Renee Morgan, 2016 Mayor Karen Stepper, Robert Storer, and Mike Doyle
(925) 380-6342 info@sentinelsoffreedom.org
Community Calendar
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For additional Community Events visit: www.ValleySentinel.com Please email information about your events to info@valleysentinel.com COMMUNITY EVENTS Hope Hospice seeking volunteers Hope Hospice is currently looking for individuals who are interested in volunteering to assist hospice patients and their families. In keeping with Hope Hospice’s goal to make sure patients can live their lives to the fullest and with dignity, volunteers provide a variety of services that help enhance the quality of care of our patients’ lives. Volunteer opportunities include; Home Care; Cosmetology; Healing Touch; Reiki; Massage Therapy; Vocalists. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, contact Jill Biggs, RN, at 925-829-8770. 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. 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, Bishop Ranch 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 Canine Companions for Independence Puppy Class Each Saturday 11am-12pm. 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. Make sure to check out their online calendar before heading off to volunteer. Athenian High School, 2100 Mt. Diablo Scenic Blvd., Danville. ccieastbay.org. FREE E-Waste Recycling Event First Saturday of every month 9am-1pm. Bring your old, unwanted electronic equipment. Drop off is FREE and all e-waste will be recycled right here in the good old USA. Diablo Valley College, 321 Golf Club Road in the Overflow Parking Lot #7, Pleasant Hill. Visit www.NoEwaste. com for accepted and non-accepted electronic items. Information: 866-335-3373 or info@NoEwaste.com.
Textile Makerspace – Drop-In Sewing Workshop January 9 2 - 4:45pm. We are continuing our popular Textile Makerspace series with drop-in sewing workshops. Join us to complete the projects you began in our Creative Thursdays sewing workshops, or just work on your own sewing projects in the company of other sewers! We provide access to sewing machines, a serger, basic sewing tools, and scrap fabrics. Free. Walnut Creek Library Las Trampas Conference Room, 1644 N. Broadway Ave., Walnut Creek. 925-977-3340 Pruning Fruit Trees January 10 at 11:30am, January 16 at 10:00am Pruning Fruit Trees: We’ll show you the right way to prune your fruit trees, berries and grapes. Our method encourages healthy plants and promotes the best crops possible. Navlet’s Garden Center, 800 Camino Ramon, Danville. 925-837-9144. Winter Game Day January 16 11:00am - 2:00pm. Come by the farm to play some old fashioned games inside the walnut barn. Learn about and play some games that were popular with children over 100 years ago. Free. Forest Home Farms, 19953 San Ramon Valley Blvd, San Ramon. 925-973-3284 Walnut Festival BBQ Fest January 16 6:30pm no-host cocktails, 7:30pm dinner. The Walnut Festival Association celebrates its 80th year of giving to East Bay communities with a delicious fundraising BBQ Fest. This year’s BBQ Fest replaces the annual Crab Feed, due to Northern California’s closed crab fishing season. The family-friendly evening includes BBQ dinner, raffle prizes, silent auction, and a chance drawing for the Grand Prize television. Admission is $20 for children under 7 and $55 for adults. Pleasant Hill Community Center, 320 Civic Drive, Pleasant Hill. (925) 935-6766, www. thewalnutfestival.org Pruning Roses January 17 11:30am. Pruning Roses: From Floribundas, Hybrid Teas and Climbers to English and Tree Roses, we’ll teach you how to prune your roses like a professional. Navlet’s Garden Center, 800 Camino Ramon, Danville. 925-837-9144.
Saturday without Reservations at the Tao House Every Saturday 10am, 12pm, and 2pm. Come explore the 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
Sierra Club – After the Fire: Tracking Mt. Diablo’s Amazing Recovery January 20 7 - 8:30pm. The embers of the 2013 Mt. Diablo fire were still smoldering when nature writer and photographer Joan Hamilton began tracking Mount Diablo’s recovery from the Morgan Fire for Bay Nature magazine. Join us as Joan shares her photographs and observations documenting how various parts of the mountain changed over time–and what scientists are learning from the fire. Free. Ygnacio Valley Library, 2661 Oak Grove Road, Walnut Creek. 925-938-1481. Connecting the Dots: Happiness, Breath and You January 21 6 - 7:30pm. Mindfulness impacts not only our personal well-being and effectiveness, but also our perception of the world. How can we live fully and happily amidst an environment of constant change? Explore the secrets of unlocking inner freedom to create sustainable happiness in your life. Free. Oak View Room - Walnut Creek Library, 1644 N. Broadway Ave., Walnut Creek. 925-977-3340 Chicken Tales January 23, 2016 11am - 2pm. Meet the chickens that live on the farm, learn how they provided for pioneer families and how people are bringing farming to their home with backyard chickens. Make a chicken craft to take home. Forest Home Farms, 19953 San Ramon Valley Blvd, San Ramon. 925-973-3284
Tough Guys & Drama Queens, a Parenting Seminar by Mark Gregston January 9 9am - 3pm. Our kids are facing an entirely new set of challenges today. Mark Gregston is a renowned author and dynamic communicator. His sharp sense of humor and wealth of biblical wisdom will help steer us away from common parenting mistakes. This event is free but there is a $10 optional lunch. Community Presbyterian Church 222 W El Pintado Road, Danville. 925837-5525, www.cpcdanville.org
Why Wait? – Meditate! January 26 6:00 - 8:00 pm Stress, anxiety, depression, emotional and physical symptoms can all be relieved or eliminated by meditation. You can learn this simple, direct method of stilling the body and mind in just a few minutes. Join Marshall Zaslove, MD for a fascinating and life-transforming experience of accurate meditation. Ygnacio Valley Library, 2661 Oak Grove Road, Walnut Creek. (925) 938-1481
Forest Home Farms Historic Park & Glass House Museum– open for Fun on the Farm 2nd Saturday of each month. 10am-2pm. Enjoy tours of the Glass House Museum, the farm and its history, interactive exhibits including the tractor museum, the beautiful grounds and free activities. Visit the Welcome Center and purchase old-fashioned toys and gifts at the Gift Shoppe. 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. First Thursday Shop Local Day and Night 10am-7pm. Join in the fun in downtown Danville at the First Thursday Shopping and Dining Event. Downtown Hartz Avenue, Danville. www.danville.ca.gov.
Pruning Roses with Buzz Bertolero January 30 2 pm. Pruning Roses with Buzz Bertolero, The Dirt Gardener: From Floribundas, Hybrid Teas and Climbers to English and Tree Roses, we’ll teach you how to prune your roses like a professional. Navlet’s Garden Cetner, 800 Camino Ramon, Danville. Filling Out the FAFSA February 1 Filling out the FAFSA can be stressful and confusing. Learn tips and tricks for successfully filling out this application for college financial aid. Free. Ygnacio Valley Library, 2661 Oak Grove Road, Walnut Creek. 925-938-1481, ccclib.org/locations/ ygnaciovalley.html Majors and Careers Workshop February 2 6 - 7pm. This hour-long workshop will help high school students and their parents learn about the importance of selecting a major in college and the various career paths available post-graduation. The workshop is free, and no registration is required. Oak View Room - Walnut Creek Library. 1644 N. Broadway Ave., Walnut Creek. 925-977-3340 Pruning Roses with Buzz Bertolero, The Dirt Gardener: February 6 10 am. From Floribundas, Hybrid Teas and Climbers to English and Tree Roses, we’ll teach you how to prune your roses like a professional. Concord Navlet’s Garden Center 1555 Kirker Pass Road, Concord. (925) 681-0550 7th Annual Recreation Program Expo February 6 10am-1pm. Get a sneak peek of what the Town of Danville has in store for Spring and Summer 2016! Meet Recreation Services staff, plus a variety of specialty class instructors, and get all of your questions answered in person! All Expo attendees will receive a coupon code to use for a 10% discount on fees for programs listed in the Spring Activity Guide and Summer Camps Brochure. Danville Community Center, 420 Front Street. 925-314-3400, www.danville.ca.gov/Services/ Recreation-Services Master Gardeners: Building Healthy Soil February 13 10:30 - 11:30am. Healthy soil is the cornerstone of a healthy garden. It isn’t just “dirt”; it’s a fascinating living partnership between plants, soil microbes and other soil dwelling creatures. Come discover this essential resource and find out the simple things you can do (and not do!) to build and maintain a healthy soil environment. Free. Oak View Room - Walnut Creek Library, 644 N. Broadway Ave., Walnut Creek. 925977-3340.
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. All trips meet at the Danville Park & Ride lot unless otherwise noted in the trip details. Reserve your spot at the Danville Senior Center, 115 E. Prospect, Danville, CA 94526, on or before the registration date beginning at 8:30am. Information: 925-314-3400 or visit www.ci.danville.ca.us/Recreation/ Seniors/Senior_Sneaker_Trips. The Danville Area Senior Hikes (DASH) are open to all adults and meets on the second and fourth Wednesday of every month. The group starts at the Danville Park-n-Ride (next to the Sycamore Valley 680 North exit) at 9AM and returns about 1Pm. Most hikes are not strenuous, but gradients are involved due to the local terrain. Distances are usually in the 4-5 mile range, and the pace is moderate, with stops to view scenery, wildlife and to talk about location history when appropriate. Information: 925-314-3400 or visit www.ci.danville. ca.us/Recreation/Seniors/Senior_Hiking.
Please email your calendar events to the Sentinel at Info@valleysentinel.com by 5pm on the 15th of the month preceding publication month. Inclusion in the calendar pages is at the sole discretion of Sentinel Newspapers, Inc.
valleysentinel.com 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 Tuesday 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: 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. The group meets once a week at various locations, This is an adults only group; pets are not permitted on hikes. To find out the exact meeting location and to get on the email list, please call the Senior Center 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 San Ramon Library Front Desk. Book group meets at Alcosta Senior and Community Center, 9300 Alcosta Blvd. Information: Carol Yuke, Adult Services Librarian. 925-973-285.
BUSINESS Danville Area Chamber of Commerce 2016 Business Kick Off Luncheon January 22 11:30am - 1:30pm. Join the Danville Area Chamber of Commerce, and community businesses & leaders for the 2016 Business Kick-Off Luncheon and Board Installation, featuring Guest Speaker Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger. The main topic will be “Preparing for Excellence: Leading Your Team to Success”. Reservations are required by January 15th. Tickets are $60 per person before Jan. 8 and $75 after. Blackhawk Country Club, 599 Blackhawk Club Drive, Danville. To buy tickets visit www.danvillechambercart. com or call 925-837-4400 San Ramon Chamber of Commerce Third Thursday Mixer 5:30 - 7:30pm. Meet other business owners for an opportunity to network and make your business more visible. $5 for Members and $20 for Non-Members. No RSVP Required. Checks and Cash only please. Villa San Ramon, 9199 Fircrest Lane, San Ramon. San Ramon Chamber of Commerce New and Future Member Orientation 4-5pm. Learn about the various Chamber services that can benefit your business. Free. RSVP and for location call 925-242-0600.
CLUBS & ORGANIZATIONS
January 2016 advocacy, education, philanthropy and research. AAUW membership is open to all graduates of accredited four year colleges or universities and those holding an Associate Degree or equivalent. Prospective members are welcome and may contact Liz at 3890152 for details. Visit daw-ca.aauw.net for meeting dates. 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 GroupsOngoing 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 925-8298770. 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-in group. To register, please call Hospice of the East Bay: (925) 887-5681. Information: www.hospiceeastbay.org Wind ‘n Sea Sailing Club Sailing training classes take place at members’ homes. Information: Call Jan at 925-837-3381.
RECURRING Mondays: The Walnut Creek Garden Club Meets the second Monday of each month. Meeting begins at 9:30 with community and socializing from 10:30 to 11:00. You do not need to be a gardener to join the club. The Gardens at Heather Farm, 1540 Marchbanks Road, Walnut Creek. Information: californiagardenclubs. com/content/walnut-creek-gardenclub or mslittle44@gmail.com 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. People who know or are 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.
Danville Women’s Club January 21 Guest speaker will be Nancy Labelle (Executive Director from the Down Syndrome Connection of the East Bay). Contact Linda Perazzo at 925-6422097 or e-mail her at dwc-member@ yahoo.com. www.danvillewomensclub. org.
Sons In Retirement (Las Trampas Branch) Monthly Luncheon 11am. Meets the third Monday of each month, except for May and December. Make new friends, participate in fun activities. Make $15 luncheon reservations by calling 925-322-1160 by the preceding Wednesday. Walnut Creek Elks Lodge, 1475 Creekside Dr, Walnut Creek. Information: visit www. Branch116.org.
Danville-Alamo-Walnut Creek Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) advances equity for women and girls through
Tuesdays: 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. Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS) Meeting Every Tuesday 8-10am. This Weight Loss Support Group provides a space for those who wish to lose weight. St. Timothy’s, 1550 Diablo Rd. 925838-7870. 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. Walnut Creek Kiwanis Club 12:10-1:30pm. Meets every Tuesday. Massimo’s Ristorante, 1604 Locust Street, Walnut Creek. Information: kiwanisofwalnutcreek.org. Walnut Creek Rotary 12:15-1:30pm. Meets every Tuesday. Heather Farms Garden Center, 1540 Marchbanks Drive, Walnut Creek. Information: rotarywc.org. 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 M i t c h e l l D r i v e , Wa l n u t C r e e k . Information: arf.net. Divorced and Separated Workshop. A new workshop series for divorced and separated people is being held on Tuesday evenings from 7:00 to 8:30PM at St. Joan of Arc Parish, 2601 San Ramon Valley Blvd., San Ramon. Contact: Sue at smc9@ sbcglobal.net. 925 -819-1809. Prostate Cancer Group 7:30–9pm. Meets 2nd Tuesday of the month. Drop-in prostate cancer group for men and their loved ones. Sa n R a m o n R e g i o n a l Me d i ca l C e n t e r, S o u t h B u i l d i n g , We s t Day Room. 6001 Norris Canyon Road, San Ramon. Information: 925.933.0107 or www.twc-bayarea. org/community-programs.html. Wednesdays: Walnut Creek Toastmasters 7-8:15pm. Meets every Wednesday. 1660 Oak Park Blvd., Pleasant Hill. Information: walnutcreek. freetoasthost.net Hospice of the East Bay Drop-in Bereavement Support 4:30-6pm, 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of every month. 3470 Buskirk Avenue; Pleasant Hill. Information: 925-8875681 or visit www.hospiceeastbay. org. Alamo Rotary 12:15pm. Meets every Wednesday. Round Hill Country Club, 3169 Roundhill Road, Alamo. Information: alamorotary.org. D a n v i l l e To a s t m a s t e r s C l u b #1785 7:30-9pm. Meets every Wednesday. R o o m W 2 0 4 a t D i a b l o Va l l e y College,1690 Watermill Road, San Ramon. Information: danvilletoastmasters1785.com. San Ramon Valley Rotary 7pm. Meets every Wednesday. Blackhawk Country Club, 599 Blackhawk Club Drive, 711 Silver Lake Drive, Danville. Info: sanramonvalleyrotary.com. Danville Lions Club 7pm. Meets the first and third Black Bear Diner, 807 Camino Ramon, Danville. Information: Pat.Porter@ hannaglobal.com
The Valley Sentinel Exchange Club of San Ramon Valley 12pm. Meets the second Wednesday of every month. Sign-in and social time begins at 11:30. Guests are welcome with lunch reservations. Faz Restaurant, 600 Hartz Ave., Danville. RSVP 925-275-2412. Info: visit www. srvexchangeclub.org 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. 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 Veterans Memorial Building, 400 Hartz Ave. Information: bluestarmoms.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. $23 includes luncheon. A great opportunity to socialize. To reserve a space, please email us by Friday prior to luncheon at www.info@SIR128.com. Location: San Ramon Golf Club, 9430 Fircrest Lane, San Ramon. Information: www.SIR128.com. 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. Thursdays: 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. $12. New and long-time adult residents are welcome. Reservations/information: 925-8379600 or www.srvnc.com. Rotary Club of San Ramon 11:45am. Meets every Thursday. Crow Canyon Country Club, 711 Silver Lake Drive, Danville. Information: sanramonrotary.org.
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San Ramon Valley Kiwanis Club Noon. Black Bear Diner, 807 Camino Ramon, Danville. www.kiwanissrv.org Clutterers Anonymous 7-8pm. Meets the 2nd and 4th Thursday of every month. St. Luke’s Lutheran Church room 3, 2 491 San Miguel Drive, Walnut 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 group now has a new name, which has been changed from TENS to Transitions. 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. Meeting location is the Fireside Room at Grace Presbyterian Church, 2100 Tice Valley Blvd., Walnut Creek. Contact Gregg Riehl at (925) 254-8349 or jgriehl@gmail. com. Caregivers meet at same time in Oak Room of Grace Church. Information: Howard Zalkin at 925 939 4210 or Ronnie Wanetick at 925 933 6357 Free. All are welcome. Sundays: Cars n Coffee: First Sunday of Every Month 8-10am. Blackhawk Automotive Museum is hosting Cars and Coffee for automotive enthusiasts in the parking lots of Blackhawk P l a z a . O u r p a r t n e r, S c o t t ’ s Catering, will provide coffee and other refreshments. Blackhawk Museum; 3700 Blackhawk Plaza Circle; Danville. Information: www. blackhawkmuseum.org.
Community News & Information Danville • Blackhawk Alamo • Diablo • San Ramon Publisher/Editor - Denise Rousset Chief Financial Officer - Jeff Gummere Graphic Designer - Laurie Prindle Auto - David & Judy Colman Contributing Writer - Alison Clary Web Support - ewebsiteservices.com Intern - Paulina Fischer, MVHS Photography Intern - Imran Ali, MVHS
925-820-6047
390 Diablo Road, Suite 145 Danville, CA 94526
www.valleysentinel.com
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The valley Sentinel
AUTO
The 2016 BMW 340i Sedan By David and Judy Colman
“I really like the red leather seats!” It was my cousin Steve, admiring the interior of the test 340i BMW had loaned me for the week of Thanksgiving. Steve and his wife Karen are both lawyers, recently retired from the fast lane of the DC Beltway. Neither of these plug-in Prius owners had ridden in a BMW before. And no, they didn’t practice poverty law. When I mentioned that the pebbled red leather interior would set them back an extra $1,450, Karen instantly piped up, “Oh we’d never spend for that.” Steve didn’t seem so sure. But I know one thing for certain. I would definitely pop for the “Coral Red Dakota Leather.” Why? Because it looks fabulous and feels better. In fact the almost all new 3 Series BMW is such an exceptional bargain at a base price of $45,800, that the test car’s $12,025 worth of “Options and Additional Charges”
seem like the resort fees they tack onto your hotel bill at the Ritz. Compared to that wild interior, the 340i’s Mineral Grey Metallic exterior ($550), demurely highlighted by Matte Chrome Exterior Trim (included), looks more conservative than a grey flannel suit from Brooks Brothers. Thus, potential miscreants can rest assured that - from the outside, at least - this $58,820 German smart bomb will not attract undue attention. But from the inside, its creamy, all new B58 engine will be stoking your lust like no 3 Series sedan in history. This 320hp engine lights off so quick that maximum torque of 330lb.-ft. is achieved at just 1,380rpm. In other words, maximum acceleration is available just off idle. And that’s only the beginning of the fun house trajectory. As the pie sized tachometer’s needle sweeps to the horsepower peak of 5,500rpm, the twin tailpipes emit a banshee shriek
March January2009 2016
delightfully out of keeping with this sedan’s buttoned down exterior appearance. The sedan’s four doors and limousine-like rear seat don’t exactly whet your appetite for brisk motoring. The complete absence of any “M” accoutrements deepens suspicion that this 340i is perhaps too housebroken for its own good. All doubts evaporated the instant we laid into the throttle and experienced the unadulterated adrenaline rush of a car capable of turning 0-60mph in 4.6 seconds. Wow! BMW claims that “The new BMW 3 Series Sedan has been redesigned to serve your individual sport driving style, with many elements of the previous Sport package now standard.” Indeed, the basic 340i is now so fully developed you don’t need to embellish it with the “M” package. On several stretches of heaving, twisty levee road bordering the Sacramento River, we enjoyed a traffic free opportunity to sample the exceptional stick of the
2016 340i. Although it would be difficult to attribute the 3’s new-found stability and adhesion to any one particular improvement, the net result of optimized front suspension towers, upgraded rear damper technology, and additional suspension anchor points all play a role in making this latest 3 the best compact sports sedan BMW has built to date. The unyielding stick of its Bridgestone Potenza S001 contact patches (225/40R19 front, 255/30R19 rear) was a high point of my week in this car. This premium tire, which Mazda has notably selected as delivery rubber for its new MX-5 Miata, is a rare OEM
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find. In this application, it comes mounted on optional ($900) Sport Performance alloy rims which do a stellar job of showing off the BMW emblazoned brake calipers of the lightweight, four-wheel ventilated disc brakes. The strengthened chassis mounting points for the new 340i pay off in less body roll, flatter cornering posture, and a very high level of stick no matter which setting you’ve chosen on Driving Dynamics Control. You can choose the following DDC settings: EcoPro, Comfort, Sport and Sport+. Due to subsidence, See AUTO page 15
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January 2016
AUTO from page 14 levee roads are notoriously lumpy, with high crowns and treacherous shoulder fall-off. Yet even with the suspension calibrated to SPORT+, the revamped dynamic chassis never once bottomed out or flew into the air, no matter how injudiciously we punched the throttle or sawed at the wheel. This sort of benign composure in the face of daunting terrain marks the 340i as a consummate achievement in the fine art of suspension tuning. When BMW claims that “40 years later” the 3 Series is “still the benchmark of the segment it invented,” take it to heart not hype. 2016 BMW 340i SEDAN ENGINE: 3.0 liter inline 6, twin scroll turbo, 24 vales, Valvetronic, Double Vanos HORSEPOWER: 320hp TORQUE: 330 lb.-ft. FUEL CONSUMPTION: 22MPG City/33 MPG Highway PRICE AS TESTED: $58,820 HYPES: Stealth Looks, Killer New Driveline GRIPES: Skip the $575 Rear Manual Side Window Shades STAR RATING: 10 Stars out of 10
The valley Sentinel
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Contra Costa Health Services partners with police to reduce psychiatric emergency calls By Candace Andersen. Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors
In California our Counties have the responsibility to provide mental health services for our communities. In Contra Costa we continually look for innovative approaches to address this serious issue. As we’ve seen in many recent tragic events, the mentally ill often come in contact with law enforcement. We’re actively doing something about this in our County. A new partnership with Contra Costa Behavioral Health (BHS) is helping police agencies within the county to reduce potentially dangerous psychiatric incidents by connecting clinicians to people encountered by officers who show signs of serious mental illness. The Mental Health Evaluation Team (MHET) partners BHS mental health clinicians with trained
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police officers to perform voluntary follow-up visits to people whose mental health challenges have resulted in repeated police calls for violent or threatening behavior, or who have been involuntarily hospitalized due to psychiatric crisis. They provide preventive referrals and resource information to help individuals and families find services. The clinicians offer behavioral health services proactively to those who are most at risk of psychiatric crises or involved with the legal system, before another police intervention is needed. This not only improves the lives of people struggling with mental illness but will also help keep communities safer. The program is also expected to reduce public costs associated with repeated police visits and emergency psychiatric treatment, including ambulance transports and hospital admissions. The Concord, Pittsburg and Richmond police departments have each
designated an officer for the MHET program, and BHS has hired three fulltime clinicians through a $550,000, three-year state grant. Patrol officers from those departments, as well as neighboring police agencies, can now refer cases to their region’s MHET for follow up. The MHET officer and partnering clinician together connect with referred parties to offer help, such as referrals to outpatient treatment and benefits. MHET does not wait for its consumers to ask for services. It goes to them, working with law enforcement partners to offer follow-up after an emergency call for service involving a psychiatric event. The MHET program prioritizes public resources to stop endless cycles of crises response that may do little to actually help consumers get connected to ongoing care. While new to Contra Costa, the MHET model has been successful elsewhere in California, including Oakland, San Mateo, Los Angeles and San Diego.
Expanding access is the goal of many efforts in our mental health system - access has always been the priority behind our integration efforts - every door is the right door - and that door is getting bigger and more inclusive as we add new approaches to overcoming challenges. For more information about MHET in Contra Costa County, contact David Seidner at David.Seidner@ hsd.cccounty.us. My office is here to serve the residents of Contra Costa County District 2, which includes San Ramon, Danville, Alamo, Walnut Creek, Saranap, Parkmead, Lafayette, Moraga, Canyon and Orinda. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if we can provide you with additional information on this topic or on other County issues. I can be reached at SupervisorAndersen@bos. cccounty.us or 925-957-8860.
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January 2016
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