The Valley Sentinel_October 2020

Alamo • Danville • Blackhawk • Diablo • San Ramon

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always for the community VOL 25 NO 6

October 2020

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SPOTLIGHT

Danville Major General receives award

By Mike Conklin, Sentinels of Freedom

By Order of The Secretary of the Army, Major General Ronald Lowe U.S. Army Ret. has been Awarded the High Honor of “Distinguished Member of the Civil Affairs Regiment of the United States Army”.

See AWARD

ECRWSS

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

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On October 14, Save Mt. Diablo will present a special virtual event, Ecopsychology and How to Reconnect with Nature, Part 1. This two part series explores understanding the connection between the human species and the natural world (plants, animals, elements). For more information see the event description on page 3.

Audubon’s Warbler (Setophaga auduboni) may be seen in your neighborhood

Postmaster: Dated Material

By James M. Hale

During late September and early October, the calls of three of our avian winter visitors; Audubon’s Warbler, White-crowned Sparrows, and Goldencrowned Sparrows, herald the coming of fall. Audubon’s Warbler (Setophaga auduboni) is the western counterpart to the eastern, Myrtle Warbler (Setophaga coronata), collectively known as the Yellow-rumped Warbler. The two species have been classified through the years as separate species, as well as conspecifics. They most likely diverged during the last ice age, when the populations were divided by the Cordilleran Ice Sheet. In 1973, the American Ornithologist’s Union recognized the Audubon’s Warbler and the Myrtle Warbler as a single species, with the discovery of a hybrid zone in Western Canada between the two forms. Therefore, Audubon’s Warbler is a subspecies of the Yellow-rumped

Warbler (Setophaga coronata auduboni). It has a westerly distribution from Western Canada, down through the Western United States, and into Mexico. It is migratory to avoid inclement weather in the north, wintering from the southern portion of its breeding range, into Western Central America. The Yellow-rumped Warbler is the most abundant and widespread wood-warbler in North America.

Audubon’s Warbler is an attractive bird, with breeding males looking resplendent with bright, yellow crowns, throats, rumps, and flank patches. The slate-blue back, black-streaked breast, and white tail patches provide contrast. Females are more brownish in color. Mixed evergreen and coniferous forests, from sea level to around 11,000

feet, are preferred breeding habitats, where males signal for females with their warbling whistle. Four or five eggs are laid in a cup-shaped nest, protected and anchored in a tree notch.

Incubation is for two weeks.

Although the nestlings are helpless at hatching, after two weeks of brooding and parental care, the young fledge and begin to forage for themselves. Audubon’s Warbler is insectivorous, Feeding birds hawk, hover, and glean vegetation for insects. They sometimes consume berries.

During winter, Audubon’s Warbler may form small flocks, and can be found in a variety of habitats, including along urban streets and in suburban backyards, where they may be frequently observed throughout Contra Costa County. The sharp

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chip or chet vocalization is diagnostic. Audubon’s Warbler will winter locally until spring migration, when birds disperse north to their breeding habitat. It has been suggested that climate change poses a serious threat to future Yellow-rumped Warbler populations.

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

Fall Home & Garden page 6

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THE VALLEY SENTINEL October 2020 valleysentinel.com

Virtual DogFest Bay Area:

Diablo Foothills

Boo! Bark, Bites & Brews

By Beverly Lane, President, East Bay Regional Park District Board of Directors

The Eastbay Miracles Chapter of Canine Companions for Independence On Saturday, October 31 you can showcase your company to more than 1,500 Bay Area residents by sponsoring the first-ever

Virtual DogFest Bay Area. All funds raised benefit Canine Companions for Independence.

Learn more at our website at www.cci.org/dogfestbayarea

The Town is recruiting for 14 volunteer positions on Town Commissions: Arts Advisory Board – Youth Member (1) 2-year term Parks, Recreation and Arts Commission (2) 4-year terms Heritage Resource Commission (3) 4-year terms Planning Commission (5) 4-year terms Design Review Board (1) 4-year terms CCC Advisory Council on Aging (1) 2-year term CCC Mosquito and Vector Control District (1) 4-year term Applications are due December 1, 2020 at 4:00 p.m.

Members will be appointed on January 12, 2021.

Applications are available on the Town website at www.danville.ca.gov.

For more information, contact City Clerk Marie Sunseri at (925)314-3401 or msunseri@danville.ca.gov.

Give Back To Your East Bay Regional Parks!

Purchase a Regional Parks Foundation membership, and the funds will support educational programs and stewardship projects in the East Bay Regional Parks.

As a thank you, you’ll receive: Free Parking, Free Swimming, Annual Dog Pass (up to 3 dogs), Camping Discounts and more…

Memberships are available at select Regional Parks and Bay Area REI stores – and you can use your REI membership dividend to purchase!

Or visit RegionalParksFoundation.org/Join to purchase online.

For great views of Mt. Diablo and the Castle Rock formation, the place to go is Diablo Foothills Regional Park.

D i a b l o Fo o t h i l l s i s bordered by Walnut Creek’s Shell Ridge Open Space in the north and Mt. Diablo State Park to the south and east, resulting in many miles of public riding and hiking trails.

There are several easy ways to access the park. One is the Livorna Staging Area near the east end of Livorna Road in Alamo. Another is the Orchard Staging Area on Castle Rock Road past Northgate High School in Walnut Creek.

From the Livorna staging area, hikers may go north next to Stonegate homes on the Foothills Trail or east across the street to Serafix Road. The Alamo Trail into the park starts on the left just past the intersection of Serafix and Stonegate Drive.

A little history: Serafix was a famous racehorse that once stood at stud on the Rogers Ranch in Alamo.

If you park at the Orchard Staging Area, you can go through a gate at the end of the parking lot and travel straight into the park on the Castle Rock Trail. Or you can walk or cycle to the end of Castle Rock Road and go through Castle Rock Regional Recreation Area to Diablo Foothills.

Pe n d i n g t h e e n d o f the coronavirus pandemic, picnicking is not allowed at the recreation area, but it’s permissible to pass through.

You can also access Diablo Foothills via the Briones-toMt. Diablo Regional Trail.

There’s a trail entry at the east end of Marshall Drive in Walnut Creek by Indian Valley Elementary School.

Attractions at Diablo Foothills include miles of hiking and riding trails with pretty wildflower displays in the springtime. From the top of the Shell Ridge Loop Trail there are panoramic views of the mountain and the San Ramon Valley. Take plenty of water and expect a moderately strenuous climb.

The Briones-to-Mt. Diablo Regional Trail has

great views of the China Wa l l r o c k f o r m a t i o n , a linear sandstone outcrop resembling its more famous Asian counterpart.

The other striking sandstone formation is Castle Rock, overlooking the Stage Road Trail in Pine Canyon. Pine Creek, which runs through the canyon, is dry in the summer, but can make for a wet wade during the rainy season.

Apart from its geology, the Castle Rock formation is notable as the home of peregrine falcons and other raptors. Peregrine falcons are fully protected birds under the state’s Fish & Game Code. About the size of

each other, as peregrines are very territorial in their behavior. An all-volunteer natural history education group keeps tabs on the birds. For information, email anastasiahobbet@gmail. com.

Between Aug. 1 and Jan. 31 the rocks are open to the public, and rock climbers can sometimes be seen ascending the cliffs, enjoying their sport.

The rocks are within the state park, but the easiest access is from the Stage Road Trail at Diablo Foothills. If you climb up into the rocks during the time the area is open, please be careful and also respectful of wildlife.

The trails are steep, rocky and not maintained.

Castle Rocks photo by Ned MacKay

crows, they prey on smaller birds, rodents and sometimes bats. Diving peregrines have been clocked at more than 200 miles per hour, making them the fastest animal in the world.

The Castle Rocks are closed to the public annually between Feb. 1 and July 31 to allow for undisturbed mating and nesting by the birds. This year there were two nesting pairs of peregrines in the rocks. However, neither pair ever settled into incubation, so no chicks hatched. The birds may have distracted

Diablo Foothills photo by Brad Olson

Diablo Foothills comprises 1,060 acres. When you add up the municipal, regional and state holdings at Mt. Diablo and environs, they total nearly 22,500 acres of public parklands – one of the largest open space areas of the East Bay. An energetic hiker could trek from Round Valley south of Brentwood all the way to Walnut Creek, without ever leaving public land.

A map of Diablo Foothills and Castle Rock Recreation Area can be downloaded by visiting the website, www. ebparks.org.

valleysentinel.com

October 2020

Tarantulas Out and Looking for Love News from the East Bay Regional Parks

By Ned MacKay

While human activity has been constrained for months because of the coronavirus pandemic, the rest of nature marches on.

In particular, it’s time again for the annual tarantula mating season in parks and open space throughout the East Bay and beyond.

Every fall the furry arachnid males, guided by scent, venture forth in search of females, who await in their silk-lined boudoirs for purposes of procreation.

When an acceptable candidate arrives, the two will mate. Then, if the male is unlucky, the female will sometimes kill him. Even if he survives, the male will die soon after. In contrast, females can live for years and produce multiple offspring.

Generally, tarantulas are gentle, slow-moving, nonaggressive creatures. Apart from the mating season, they tend to remain in their burrows, emerging to eat insects, spiders, and even small lizards.

Tarantulas can bite though; the bite is painful, about like a bee sting. There’s venom, but not in sufficient quantity

to harm humans. Tarantulas’ other defensive mechanism is barbed bristles covering their abdomens. The spiders can use their hind legs to eject the bristles toward predators, causing serious irritation. The hairs can give humans a rash.

Tarantula hawks, a variety of wasp, are a nemesis for the spiders. The wasp can deliver a paralyzing sting, drag the still-living victim into a burrow, and lay eggs on its body. When the larvae hatch, they feed on the helpless spider. I suspect this was inspiration for a well-known science fiction film series.

This time of year you can see the dark brown males moving slowly around in search of females’ burrows.

At Castle Rock Regional Recreation Area in Walnut Creek, the rangers have spotted them in the past on the road by the picnic areas and along the Fairy Lantern Trail. Some areas of Mt. Diablo State Park are said to be crawling with them in season. October may be the peak month.

Although Castle Rock is closed for picnicking and swimming, it is permissible to park at the Orchard staging

area near the end of Castle Rock Road, then walk through Castle Rock en route to the trails of Diablo Foothills Regional Park.

If looking for tarantulas in the wild isn’t your idea of a good time, you can get lots of information about them at the park district website, www.ebparks.org. Just type “tarantula” in the search option at the top of the home page.

And if you do see a tarantula in the wild, please leave it alone. Along with all other animals and plants in the regional parks, tarantulas are protected. Collecting them or disturbing them is against the rules.

At this writing, a number of regional parks remain closed because of the coronavirus and/or firefighting needs: D e l Va l l e Re g i o n a l Pa r k south of Livermore, Sunol/ Ohlone Regional Wilderness in southern Alameda County, Mission Peak Regional Preserve and Ardenwood Historic Farm in Fremont, Little Hills Picnic Ranch in San Ramon, Bay Point Regional Shoreline in Pittsburg, Morgan Territory Regional Preserve east of Mt.

Nature Heals & Inspires Series: Ecopsychology two-part series presented by ecotherapist Darlene DeRose. the ways in which our social October 14 from 4-5pm.

Event Category is Nature Heals & Inspires Zoom Series.

To connect and register visit SaveMtDiablo.org/event Ecopsychology and How to Reconnect with Nature: Part 1 Ecopsychology is a field of study that seeks to understand the connection between the human species and the natural wo r l d ( p l a n t s, a n i m a l s, elements). Ecotherapists

operate from the philosophy that we suffer (as persons and as a planet) because we have lost our connection to nature.

In this two-part series, we will examine the four “tasks” essential to reconnection, guided by the writings of ecophilosopher Andy Fisher. Topics include returning a sense of sacred to nature; understanding our psychological connection to the natural world; exploring

institutions and practices perpetuate the disconnection; and developing a commitment to practices that support nature connection.

About Our Guest Speaker Darlene DeRose h o l d s a m a s t e rs d e g re e in consciousness and transformative studies from John F. Kennedy University, where she specialized and earned her certificate in ecotherapy.

The Town of Danville Presents Hearts Around Hartz Closing & Online Auction This summer, residents and visitors to the Town of Danville have enjoyed 17 uniquely painted heart sculptures placed all around the downtown area.

This public art exhibition, titled ‘Hearts Around Hartz,’ will run through October 20, 2020.

Beginning the week of October 12, the hearts will be moved from their individual locations to the patio in front of the Village Theatre & Art Gallery, 233 Front St, where they can all be viewed in one place for the duration of the bidding.

The online auction takes place from October 15-20, 2020. 16 of the 17 hearts will be available for bidding, with Heart #5 being permanently installed in front of the Town Offices on La Gonda Way. Proceeds from the sale of Heart #2 will go to the American Heart Association.

The online auction is hosted by Auctria. Bidders are encouraged to view the hearts in person and online at www.charityauction.bid/ HEARTS. Interested parties

are encouraged to register on the site ahead of time to make bidding easy. All proceeds from the auction will go into a public art fund so that the Town can provide future exhibits.

Online bidding opens at midnight on Thursday, October 15, 2020 and remains open until 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 20, 2020.

For more information, contact Visual Arts Coordinator Marija Nelson Bleier at (925) 314-3460 or mnelsonbleier@ danville.ca.gov.

THE VALLEY SENTINEL Diablo, and Round Valley Regional Preserve south of Brentwood.

All other regional parks and trails are open for hiking and riding, though picnic areas are closed and drinking fountains are generally turned off. Some restrooms are open.

When you do visit a park, please do not arrive in large

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groups. Carry masks to wear when narrow trails or other choke points preclude social distancing.

For up-to-date information on the status of regional parks and trails, visit www.ebparks. org and click on “COVID-19 & Wildfire Park Updates & Closures” at the top of the home page.

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Renee

MORGAN

for Danville Town Council

page 4 THE VALLEY SENTINEL October 2020 Highly regarded for her principled, energetic and ideadriven leadership, Renee was elected to the Danville Town Council in 2012 and served as Mayor in 2016.

valleysentinel.com

Meet Your Danville Town Council Candidates

There are nine candidates running for three open seats on the Town Council. For complete statements visit Danville.ca.gov and search for “election” or “candidate list”. You can also get all information about voting on the Town’s site. Don’t forget to vote November 3!

Renee's approach is proactive and hands-on. Under Renee's watchful eye, Danville is consistently ranked in the top 20 places to live and the safest city in California for the past three years. With an outstanding quality of life and a consistently balanced budget, Renee will continue to preserve everything great about Danville!

Renee grew up in a military family, the daughter of a retired Command Sergeant Major, who served for more than 30 years. Renee is a 30-year Danville Resident and has two children. Her 32 year old daughter went to San Ramon Valley High School and her 17 year old son is a senior. Her Son-in-Law recently retired from the Military and she has two beautiful grandchildren.

Prior to being elected to the Town Council, Renee served on the Danville Planning Commission, Danville Historic Design Review, and Danville Heritage Resource Commission for 8 years. During this time Renee implemented stronger open space guidelines, tightened historic preservation guidelines and updated two General Plans.

Renee’s diverse service reaches beyond Danville and her board positions include: Contra Costa Transportation Authority-Director • TRAFFIX-Director • San Ramon Valley Emergency Preparedness Citizens Corp-Board Member • San Ramon Regional Hospital/Tenet Healthcare-Governing Board • Southwest Area Transportation-Director • Meals on Wheels Diablo Region-Executive Board/Treasurer • League of California Cities-Member • The One Hundred Club-Board Member/Lifetime Member • Danville Children’s Guild-Member • On Broadway Gala-Board Member • Contra Costa County Sheriff's Posse-Member • Museum of the San Ramon Valley-Auction Chair • American Red Cross-Leadership Board • Danville Women's Club-VP Programs • “As Danville’s Mayorofand Council member, Renee has brought knowledge, Relay for Life-Guest Speaker and Team Captain • dedication and energy to our community. I support her Re-election.”

Walk to End Alzheimer's-Guest Speaker and Team Captain • –Beverly Lane and Former Impact 100-Guest Speaker MemberDanville Mayor/EBRPD District Director • Women-Guest Speakerin 2012 (Mayor 2016) • • Lunafest-Empowering Elected to Danville Town Council During the Campaign Renee would be honored with your support and your vote on November 3, 2020.

• Danville Planning (2004-2012) “Greatness cannot be obtained alone. It isCommissioner the creation of many striving for the same goal.

• reach Historic design Review and Heritage Resource Commissioner (2004-2012) Let’s continue to that goal together.”

Experience • Integrity • Dedication

Danville requires great leadership.

Renee is a time proven exceptional leader.

• Ensured Public safety (Danville is Safest City in California for past 3 years) • Developed Strong Financial Reserves with a sustainable Ten Year Forecast • Protected and Preserved Open Spaces For more information please visit: • Expanded Services to seniors ReneeMorganforCouncil.com • Improved Parks and Fields • Supported Local Business Outreach Danville Town Council • Enhanced Youth Programs Paid for by Renee Morgan for Council 2020 FPPC#1350442 • Increased Bicycle Lanes and Cyclist Safety

Renee Morgan

“Renee has proven that no job is too big or too small when it comes to helping our children and community.”

–LisaPellegrino / Danville Children’s Guild

For more information please visit

ReneeMorganforCouncil.com

Visit Arnerich.org

On November 3, 2020 it’s time to Re-elect

Newell Arnerich

Danville Town Council

Responsible Experienced Leadership

* Newell Arnerich (Incumbent) “As a six term Mayor, I have helped guide Danville through economic downturns and rebuilt much of Old Town Danville. Danville is the most cost-effective city in the area and the safest community in California. This did not happen by chance, it was carefully planned. I will maintain Danville’s ‘small town atmosphere and outstanding quality of life’ while preserving our 43% open-space. More than ever we need experienced leadership to carefully deal with recovery.

I have guided Danville with no debt, no post-retirement obligations and no unfunded liabilities. I care deeply about Danville and will keep it the safest and best place to live!” * Mohammed Elsherbini As a resident of Danville for over twenty years, I feel confident we can work towards responsible growth that will benefit our community. I have served as an ambassador for the Danville Area Chamber of Commerce, been involved in charities, from the American Heart Association, to the LPGA Golf tournament and guest speaker at UC Davis and the Rotary Club.

My conscientiousness and commitment will help us work together for ongoing betterment of our town. I will be a vocal advocate for Small Business, Safety initiatives through the Danville Police Department, and Economic Growth. I ask for your vote on November 3. * Dave Fong My wife and I have raised our family in Danville for 43 years. I am a pharmacist with retail pharmacy executive positions for over 40 years, member of the California State Board of Pharmacy, and Chair of the Danville Senior Commission.

My goals are: Keep Danville as the “Safest Town in California”— This is the result of the partnership between local law enforcement and the community; Maintain fiscal responsibility with balanced budgets and high reserves post Covid: Continue to preserve and protect our Old Town Danville, work with schools and community with fiscally responsible balanced budgets and high reserves. I ask for your vote on November 3. * Nasser Mirzai We have less than a month to make the much-needed changes as to how our town is managed. We can choose to be more inclusive, more transparent, support our downtown small businesses, help to revitalize our town economy, build facilities for our teenage kids, care for our citizens and better manage our environment.

We can choose to plan and be more prepared to manage pandemic crises, support social justice, compassionate responses to mental health crises, and maintain our safety record. We can vote to make a change to new and fresh ideas leading us to a brighter future for us all by voting for me. * Renee Morgan (Incumbent) With an outstanding quality of life, balanced budget, and ranked the safest city in California, I promise to preserve everything great about Danville, as I have since 2012.

Leadership: Danville Town Council 2012-Present (Mayor 2016); I have served on the Planning Commission, Historic Design Review, and Heritage Resource Commissions. I graduated from Leadership SRV, and Volunteer In Police Academy.

Outreach: Meals on Wheels Diablo Region-Board/Treasurer, Contra Costa Transportation Authority, SRV Emergency Preparedness Citizens Corps, Danville Children’s Guild, Museum of the SRV-Auction Chair, American Red Cross-Leadership Board, American Cancer Society, Alzheimer’s Association-Speaker/Captain, Danville Area Chamber. I Respectfully ask for your Vote again. Thank you.

valleysentinel.com

October 2020

* PJ Shelton I am your candidate for Danville Town Council.

I earned my B.A. in Business Administration, Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Instructional Design and Technology and will earn my Ph.D. in Organizational Systems, December 2020. I have served as Contra Costa County Commissioner for eleven years – First Five of Contra Costa and AC5 (Arts & Cultural Commission of Contra Costa County). I am an Operating Board Member of Alignment Bay Area (ABA) a 501c3 Non-Profit. My dedication to establish a safe and family centric community for the town I call home is my pledge and will be an honor to fulfill.

Turner Stanton Less machine. More Results. Raised in Danville, a proud SRVHS alumni, I am passionate about bringing my decade of transferable leadership experience from the Parks Commission to Economic Development coupled with my career with a top four international professional services firm to ensure Danville not only recovers, but thrives.

I am focused on: Safety: Keeping Danville safe, Community: Being your conduit to town hall for ALL residents and will fight to preserve open space and small-town atmosphere, Economic Vibrance: Work with businesses to create a vibrant downtown and local scene.

Secure Danville’s future for the next generation. Stand with Stanton www.stantonfordanville.com *Allen Timmons Platform: • SAVE Danville’s Way of Life & Small Town Culture • Transparency I am the owner of Western Steel & Wire, a manufacturing company located in San Francisco for over 80 years. Thus, I have no special interest ties to Danville; I am a businessman, not a politician. I have lived in Danville/Alamo for over 15 years. I am married with 5 girls. I have a BS in engineering, an MBA and a PhD. My life has been blessed and it’s time to give back, so I am running for City Council.

THE VALLEY SENTINEL

page 5

“Building a Stronger Danville for Tomorrow”

Leadership + Experience + Responsible

Keeping Danville on Track • •

Safest Town in California arks, trails, sports fields Parks,

• •

Protect our 43% % of open space No Unfunded Liabilities

•

Balancing budgets budget - NO DEBT Support for Small Businesses es

•

Brief List Endorsements

FongForDanvilleCouncil.com Newell Arnerich - Danville Council/Mayor Robert Storer - Danville Council/Mayor Lisa Blackwell - Danville Council/Vice Mayor Mark Jewett , Vice President School Board Karen Sakata, CCC Superintendent of Schools, Ret. Chris Wenzel, Danville Police Chief, Ret. Zae Perrin, CEO Chamber of Commerce Kay Wang, Exec. Director, Bay Valley Chinese School Visit FongForDanvilleCouncil.com

* Kevin Traylor Danville has been my family’s home for 35 years. During which time I served as an Oakland Police Officer, retiring as a Sergeant in 1996., and followed by 22 years as a fraud investigator for a large public insurance firm.

Priorities: Maintaining our small-town ambience: Residents and businesses need to thrive in an environment of excellent schools, preserved open space, parks, and a variety of cultural events.

Change: Expand community inclusion – we need more open dialog and transparency. In order to keep this community safe, police staffing needs to keep pace with the increase in residents, traffic, and criminal activity.

Candidate Forum Available to View Online 9 candidates for Town Council seats featured on forum Residents wanting to know more about the candidates running for Danville Town Council can view an online candidate forum held by the Contra Costa County Elections Office and the League of Women Voters of Diablo Valley. For the November 3, 2020 municipal election nine individuals are running for three seats on the Town Council.

The forum was conducted via Zoom and recorded. The recording is available for view in the following ways: YOUTUBE: www.youtube. com/watch?v=51_YVeNqmq8 C C T V: B ro a d c a s t o n

Comcast channel 27 and U-verse channel 99 at 8pm on Fridays on 9/25, 10/2, 10/9, 10/16, 10/23, 10/30. 8pm Mondays on 9/28, 10/5, 10/12, 10/19, 10/26, 11/2.

Town Of Danville website: Link to the video will be posted to the Elections page at www. danville.ca.gov/nov3election.

Candidate statements and other election information can also be found on that page.

To learn more about the election process, go to www. cocovote.us For more information, contact Public Information Officer Geoff Gillette at (925) 314-3336 or ggillette@danville. ca.gov.

Don’t forget to Vote on November 3!

Fall Home & Garden page 6

THE VALLEY SENTINEL

October 2020

valleysentinel.com

The Horizontal Roof

By Steven Wynn

Of all the fêtes of architecture, roof design is one of our most challenging puzzles. We build roofs to keep the elements out, which means sloping planes to shed water and snow. Roofs are three-dimensional, and more than just functional. A welldesigned roof offers elegant mass and proportion to the exterior, and volume to the interior.

Adding to an existing home or building presents a unique challenge, especially when we’re working to preserve as much of the existing construction as possible. Tinker with an existing roof too much, and you’ll end up having to rip the whole thing off and start over. And

that, in turn, triggers structural ramifications all the way through the foundation. We caution our clients to avoid pushing a house to the tipping point, beyond which it might be better to tear the entire house down.

Most of our projects are far more modest. And among our kit of design solutions is one particularly effective tool, ideally suited for remodel construction – the flat roof.

Technically a “low-slope” roof, this essential building block is adaptable to almost every style of architecture. When joining an existing roof, the flat roof is one of the least invasive into existing roof construction. Also, the flat

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roof is recessive, and doesn’t compete with existing, dominant features like a prominent gable.

Often, when we raise the possibility of using a flat roof to a client, we get a puzzled, concerned look in response.

Really, a flat roof? Our clients invest a lot of money in our designs, and sometimes this answer sounds like we just ran out of ideas. Like, if you don’t know what else to do, flat-roof it.

But that isn’t the case at all. Architecture derives much of its language from how we see the world in general. At the most basic level, we speak of horizontal and vertical planes.

The word “horizontal” originates from the word “horizon” – the line at which the earth and sky appear to meet. A horizontal line is parallel to the horizon.

A vertical line is perpendicular to that, rising up and down.

Interestingly, the origin of the word “vertical” is “vertex,” Latin for the “highest point” – not exactly the opposite of “horizon.” Think of a mountain peak rising above the horizon,

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and you’ll understand how these two words, vertical and horizontal, describe the most basic relationship in architecture.

Strong, horizontal lines in architecture ground the design; they give the eye something to pan, looking for that gable that rises above to a peak, marking the entrance, or signaling that a gathering space awaits inside. The flat roof lends itself beautifully to this concept, giving us a strong horizontal line, above which the “landscape” of the roof rises and falls, in peaks and valleys.

So, let’s call it a horizontal roof. When effectively used, it blends into and compliments an overall design. You see horizontal roofs all the time, without even thinking about it. In the example shown in the photographs, this small, westside Danville home was characterized by two prominent gables – one over the front-facing garage, and one immediately adjacent, over the kitchen and living room. We needed to expand the living room toward the right side, and add an entry foyer. But how to do this without making a mess of the existing roof lines?

We reached into our bag, and went straight to the horizontal roof. The corner windows you see closest to you in the “after” photograph are in the expansion area of the living room, with a horizontal roof above contributing a strong horizontal line to the composition. Unless I point it out, most people don’t give it a moment’s thought, except to marvel at the overall transformation of the dated home into something new and beautiful. We went to the horizontal roof not because we ran out of ideas, but because it was the best solution for this particular design.

At the interior, the kitchen and living roof were separated by a wall, disrupting the volume otherwise created by the prominent gable (see the “before” photo). We removed that wall for a more open plan and gracious volume. As you can see in the “after” photo, the ceiling of the expansion area of the living room is flat, like the roof above; it helps define and give character to the overall space.

The next time you’re out for a walk, look for horizontal roofs.

See if you can find examples that you’ve overlooked in the past, and ask yourself if they were used well. You might be surprised how often the horizontal roof has contributed successfully to a design, and you hadn’t even noticed.

valleysentinel.com

October 2020

THE VALLEY SENTINEL

page 7

Contra Costa Semifinalists in the 2021 National Merit® Scholarship Program Recently, officials of National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) announced the names of approximately 16,000 Semifinalists in the 66th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. These academically talented high s c h o o l s e n i o rs h ave a n opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,600 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $30 million that will be offered next spring.

To be considered for a Merit Scholarship® award, Semifinalists must fulfil several requirements to advance to the Finalist level of the competition. Over 90 percent of the Semifinalists are expected to attain Finalist standing, and more than half of the Finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar® title.

“We could not be prouder of our county’s National Merit Scholarship semifinalists,” Contra Costa County Superintendent of Schools Lynn Mackey said. “This past school year has been a very busy and challenging period for our honored group, yet they found the time to file a comprehensive scholarship registration form and write a detail essay, while also maintaining a stellar academic record, earning scholastic awards and honors, and much more. We also salute

these students’ families and teachers for their support.”

NMSC, a not-for-profit organization that operates without government assistance, was established in 1955 specifically to conduct the annual National Merit Scholarship Program. To learn more about the NMSC, please visit their website.

Program Steps in the 2021 Competition More than 1.5 million juniors in about 21,000 high schools entered the 2021 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2019 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®), which served as an initial screen of program entrants. The nationwide pool of Semifinalists, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state. The number of Semifinalists in a state is proportional to the state’s percentage of the national total of graduating seniors.

From the approximately 16,000 Semifinalists, about 1 5 , 0 0 0 a re ex p e c t e d t o advance to the Finalist level, and in February they will be notified of this designation.

All National Merit Scholarship winners will be selected from this group of Finalists. Merit Scholar designees are selected

on the basis of their skills, accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies, without regard to gender, race, ethnic origin, or religious preference.

National Merit Scholarships Three types of National Merit Scholarships will be offered in the spring of 2021.

Every Finalist will compete for one of 2,500 National Merit® $2500 Scholarships that will be awarded on a staterepresentational basis. About 1,000 corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards will be provided by approximately 220 corporations and business organizations for Finalists who meet their specified criteria, such as children of the grantor’s employees or residents of communities where sponsor plants or offices are located.

In addition, about 180 colleges and universities are expected to finance some 4,100 collegesponsored Merit Scholarship awards for Finalists who will attend the sponsor institution.

National Merit Scholarship winners of 2021 will be announced in four nationwide news releases beginning in April and concluding in July.

These scholarship recipients will join more than 353,000 other distinguished young people who have earned the Merit Scholar title.

United States Army Military Promotion

By Order of The Secretary of The Army, Sergeant Major Curtis Conklin a San Ramon Valley High School Graduate and Army Ranger, has been promoted from Joint Special Operations Command Sergeant Major (JSOC) to the new Command Sergeant Major of the 2nd Infantry Division Headquarters Battalion in South Korea. He will be accompanied by his beautiful wife, two lovely children and two crazy pet cats on his tour.

Command Sergeant Major Conklin entered the Army in 2002 and served 17 years with the elite 75th Army Rangers as Combat Paramedic with multiple overseas tours. His last duty station was at Joint Special Operations Command as the Senior Medic.

He now joins the historical 2nd Infantry Division/ROKU.S. that provides Combined Division a command and control capability to sustain division headquarters readiness and to conduct partnership activities during the Armistice; on order, the battalion performs noncombatant evacuations and establishes a mission command network in order to support combined decisive operations.

Command Sergeant Major Conklin’s proud parents are Mike & Peggy Conklin of San Ramon California and his Ranger brothers are; Major Kris Conklin Signal Officer / U.S. Army TRADOC ; Sergeant Casey Conklin U.S. Army Ranger 3rd Battalion Combat Medic (Retired), now an ER nurse in the Bay Area.

If you have a son or daughter serving in in the military and would like to highlight their accomplishments, please contact Mike Conklin , Chairman & CEO of Sentinels of Freedom at mconklin@sentinelsoffreedom. org For more information about the SOF please visit www. sentinelsoffreedom.org

AWARD from page 1

several organizations’ Boards of Directors and has been on the Sentinels of Freedom Board of Directors since 2007. His business professionalism, strong moral and ethical compass and his military service to our nation have been invaluable to our organization’s successes.

His generosity in mentoring many of the wounded and injured veterans that Sentinels

of Freedom serves also points to a lifetime legacy of service above self.

The Sentinels of Freedom Board of Directors and our community send Major General Lowe our profound gratitude for his service above self and congratulations on receiving this very prestigious award from the Secretary of the Army and the Army Civil Affairs Regiment.

I had the High Honor of presenting his award to him Sunday the 28th of September at his home in Danville California with his lovely wife Lindsay and his wonderful son Will.

Major General Lowe has been an unwavering, tireless supporter of all good things in our community and sits on

This year’s local San R a m o n Va l l e y N M S C Semifinalists: Danville Athenian School Liu, Sarah Mia S. Maram, Alekhya Shah, Adit A. Zarbock, Radman T. Monte Vista H. S. Fattah, Zaid I. He, Daniel Kim, Joel S. Li, Sean J. Thilak, Rashmin Toliver, Alicia K. San Ramon Valley H. S. Bray, Daniel G. Ge, Izabella Traore, Ynes T. San Ramon California H. S. Barranco Gonzalez, Andrea Ganesan, Sriram Gupta, Bhavya Pasula, Shamith S. Puliyadi, Vikram K. Thomas, Nathaniel Wang, Alexis J. Dougherty Valley H. S. Anand, Kavya Balaji, Nisha Bhat, Savit Chalamcharla, Akhil

Chatterjee, Aniket Kevin Chen, Chen, Steven L. Dickenson, Ian A. Garg, Arjun Goyal, Sumedha Iyengar, Aniketh N. Kesani, Pranav S. Kolli, Sumanth Lahorani, Anish Lee, Joseph G. Li, Eric F. Lim, Ian Luozhang, David Zhi Moon, Kenneth H. Nagapuri, Shruthi Padisetti, Vedasamhitha Pang, Darren S. Patel, Aryan Raju, Aditi Ramesh, Amritha Ranganathan, Sanjana Ravikumar, Shreya Sharma, Sonal Shi, Katherine Su, Stephanie F. Sunder, Ajitesh Vummarao, Salika Wang, David Wang, Timothy Y. Ying, Joy W. Yoo, John Zeng, William W. Zhang, Claire Z. Zhang, Jennifer J. Zhang, Paul Z.

Senior Living page 8

valleysentinel.com

October 2020

Seniors: Get Your Flu Shot This Fall – It’s Important!

By Seema Verma Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Getting vaccinated for the flu this fall is more important than ever. Not only will a flu shot help keep you and your family healthy, it can help reduce the strain on our healthcare system and keep hospital beds and other medical resources available for people with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

This is no ordinary flu season; it’s a flu season amid a pandemic. With two dangerous viruses going around at once, it’s time for us to protect our communities by getting the vaccine we already have: the flu vaccine.

A flu shot won’t protect you against COVID-19, but it has many other important benefits.

Flu vaccines have been shown to reduce the risk of flu illness, hospitalization, and death.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there’s no evidence that a flu vaccination increases

your risk of getting sick from a coronavirus, like the one that causes COVID-19.

Those at high risk for flu complications include young children, pregnant women, people 65 years and older, and people with certain chronic health conditions. Anyone who is six months old or older should get a yearly flu vaccine.

The CDC recommends getting vaccinated in September or October, but a flu shot anytime during the flu season can help protect you.

Flu season in North America rarely begins before early October and usually lasts from December to March. In the past two years, the peak activity has occurred around mid-to-late February. Your body needs two weeks after a shot to develop a protective response to the influenza virus, so your best bet is to get vaccinated before the flu rate begins to climb.

Workplaces and other settings that usually provide flu shots may not do so this season because of the challenges of maintaining social distancing.

For more information on where you can get a flu vaccine, visit www.vaccinefinder.org.

HopeHospice.com (925) 829-8770

Serving the Tri-Valley for 40 years Hope Hospice has been a vital community resource since 1980. We are a nonprofit organization committed to providing exceptional hospice care, as well as grief support and caregiver education to family members. Connect today to learn more.

• Staff availability 24 hours

• Care in your home, wherever home may be • Grief support

• Dementia-care support

• Family caregiver education

• Certified by The Joint Commission, Medicare, and Medi-Cal • 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization

When going to get a flu shot, please practice everyday preventive actions and follow the CDC’s recommendations for running essential errands.

Ask your doctor, pharmacist, or health department if they are following CDC’s vaccination pandemic guidance. Any vaccination location following CDC’s guidance should be a safe place for you to get a flu vaccine.

Medicare Part B covers one flu shot per flu season per beneficiary. You pay nothing for a flu shot if your doctor or other qualified healthcare provider accepts Medicare payment for giving the shot.

If you have a child over six months old who qualifies for Medicaid or the Children’s

Health Insurance Program (CHIP), you may also qualify for a flu vaccination at no cost to you.

What’s the difference between flu and COVID-19?

Influenza (flu) and COVID-19 are both contagious respiratory illnesses, but they’re caused by different viruses.

COVID-19 is caused by infection with a new coronavirus (called SARS-CoV-2) and flu is caused by infection with influenza viruses. Because some symptoms of flu and COVID-19 are similar, it may be hard to tell the difference between them based on symptoms alone, and testing may be needed to help confirm a diagnosis.

It is possible to have flu and COVID-19 at the same time.

Health experts are still studying how common this can be.

While it’s not possible to say with certainty what will happen in the fall and winter, CDC believes it’s likely that flu viruses and the virus that causes COVID-19 will both be spreading.

CDC has developed a test that will check for A and B type seasonal flu viruses and SARS CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. This test will be used by U.S. public health laboratories. Testing for these viruses at the same time will give public health officials important information about how flu and COVID-19 are spreading and what preventive steps should be taken.

So please protect yourself, your family, and your community by getting a flu shot this fall.

Health Department to Host Series of Free Flu Vaccination Clinics in October or February, but it can be The First one will be held Oct. 5 from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. at Old River Elementary School in Brentwood.

W H AT: C o n t ra C o s t a Health Services will also be hosting a series of free oneday flu vaccination clinics this month open to county residents. No appointments are needed.

WHEN: The first community flu vaccination clinic will be held on Oct. 5 and the last one will be held on Oct. 30. Click here to see a schedule for the clinics.

WHERE: Flu vaccination clinics will be held in Antioch, Brentwood, Concord, Richmond and San Ramon.

WHO: Health officials recommend that everyone

age six months and older get their annual flu vaccine. The flu vaccination clinics will be open to all county residents regardless of insurance or immigration status.

WHY: With COVID-19 and the upcoming flu season overlapping, county health officials say it’s more important than ever to get vaccinated against influenza this year.

Health officials are worried about a so-called “twindemic” or “double surge” in the coming months where hospitals are overwhelmed by having to care for both flu patients a n d C OV I D - 1 9 p a t i e n t s.

Flu vaccination is the best protection against influenza.

Flu season in the Bay Area tends to peak in January

unpredictable – which is why it’s best to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

Influenza and COVID are respiratory illnesses with similar symptoms, such as congestion, cough and fever.

There is currently no vaccine for COVID. The best way to prevent the spread of COVID is to practice physical distancing, wear face coverings when around people who don’t live with you, wash your hands regularly and stay home if you’re sick. These measures also help reduce the spread of the flu as well.

For more information about influenza, visit cchealth.org/flu.

To schedule a COVID test, call (844) 421-0804 or visit cchealth. org/coronavirus.

Hope Hospice Presents Free Grief Workshop for Anyone Coping with a Loss this Holiday Season For people who have experienced the death of a loved one, the winter holiday season can be painful, especially for those navigating the first year of loss. Hope Hospice has annually offered a special Handling the Holidays workshop to teach healthy coping strategies to help the bereaved during this difficult time. With physical distancing still essential in our region, Hope will present the workshop virtually this year through Zoom. As always, the program is offered to the local public at no cost.

The program is offered twice (content is the same): • November 12, 6–7:30 p.m.

• December 7, 2–3:30 p.m.

Space is limited, so those interested are asked to call our Grief Support Department at (925) 829-8770 as soon as possible to secure a spot.

The program will: • Provide ways to manage grief at family gatherings and social events • Help participants explore fear, anxiety, or strong emotions connected to the holiday season and the loss they may be feeling

• Explore exit strategies for unexpected grief bursts • Provide practical ideas to help make holiday preparations less overwhelming • Invite the exchange of ideas to memorialize lost loved ones at holiday gatherings • Present self-care techniques to help make the holidays more tolerable, even enjoyable Hope Hospice is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, proudly serving the Tri-Valley and neighboring East Bay cities since 1980. Learn more about our services and community programs at HopeHospice.com or contact us at (925) 829-8770.

valleysentinel.com

October 2020 Sponsored Content

Retirement Advice—The 4% Rule

By Robert Cucchiaro

I was at a dinner party one night when oane of the guests asked me what I thought about the “4% rule”. While within our industry this is a common discussion topic, this is not so well known by those outside of retirement planning circles.

The 4% rule gained popularity in 1994 when financial adviser and MIT graduate William Bengen attempted to answer a question brought to him by his clients: “How much can I spend in retirement without running out of money?” Bengen looked at U.S. historical data going back to 1926 to answer this question. His analysis looked at a 65-year-old couple with a 60% stock / 40% bond portfolio who would need their savings to last 30 years.

Based on this work, Bengen concluded that even in 1966 (the worst case scenario) a 65-year-old couple could

d raw - d ow n 4 % o f t h e i r retirement savings each year for 30 years without depleting their nest egg. These findings were published in the October 1994 edition of the Journal of Financial Planning and have stuck with investors and advisors ever since.

The “4% rule” is a rule of thumb and like all rules of thumb, it’s more of a starting place than a complete answer to the question. Many recent studies around retirement income planning have focused on the benefits of using an age based table (similar to required minimum distribution tables) as a guide for how much to withdraw from that portion of the portfolio. The concept there being that while it seems reasonable to focus on U.S. historical data, who is to say whether the future experience of retirees will be like our past, or whether it will be more reflective of situations experienced in other countries?

A more sophisticated approach than simple rules of

Bedford Gallery is Reopening Bedford Gallery is thrilled to reopen to the public on Tuesday, October 13, 2020 with our juried and invitational exhibition Bird, Nest, Nature.

This exhibition includes over 150 local, national and international artists inspired by the exquisite beauty of creatures of flight.

We are overjoyed to welcome you back to the Bedford after many months apart! The health and safety of our visitors is our top priority.

Below are some important things to know.

Before You Visit: • The first week of our reopening, October 13 18 is reserved for members, volunteers and participating artists only. Renew your membership or become a new member at BedfordGallery.org.

• Ad va n c e d t i c ke t purchasing is required. Visitors must sign up for an entry time online prior to visiting the gallery. Visitors arriving without a pre-purchased ticket (special instructions for members will be emailed) will not be admitted to the gallery. To purchase tickets visit BedfordGallery.org.

Art Gallery Curatorial Committee Seeks Members Committee helps select exhibits for Village Theatre Gallery The Town of Danville is looking for creatively minded people to help guide the future of the Village Theatre Art Gallery by taking part in the Curatorial Committee.

Committee members work together to identify, review, a n d s e l e c t ex h i b i t s f o r presentation. The Curatorial Committee meets quarterly to provide guidance and direction of the gallery. Individuals with a professional background in the visual/cultural arts, arts education, municipal cultural arts programs, and/or

gallery, museum, or curatorial experience, are encouraged to apply.

The meetings for the remainder of 2020 will be held online via Zoom, so it is important to have internet access to be able to attend the meetings. Terms are two years with an option to reapply for an additional term of two years. Interviews will be held in November using Zoom.

For more information, contact Marija Nelson Bleier at (925) 314-3460 or mnelsonbleier@danville.ca.gov.

thumb or using the same % tables for everyone is to focus on one’s individual income & expenses during the 1st 10 years of retirement. Playing with things like when to turn on social security or which pension option should I take, coupled with a customized portfolio withdrawal strategy can make more sense and can factor in taxes. Sometimes it makes sense from a tax perspective to delay tapping into one’s IRA or 401K, other times it’s just the opposite.

Every dollar saved in taxes is a dollar added back into your retirement portfolio, and yet so little time is spent on tax planning when figuring out one’s retirement income plan.

T h e re i s n o b l a n ke t retirement strategy that works for everyone. Real retirement planning addresses each of these and much more. And then once addressed, this becomes a time specific, dollar specific plan that both the client and their Advisor can work towards, measuring progress and making tweaks along the way. This is the type of work we do at Summit Wealth & Retirement and the type of work our firm has done for over 30 years.

We are proud of the fact that our office in Danville has 4 Certified Financial Planner Professionals onsite in addition to a full time Enrolled Agent/Tax Preparer.

THE VALLEY SENTINEL To learn more, visit our website, give us a call at 925927-1900 or email me at rob@ swrpteam.com.

Robert Cucchiaro is a Certified Financial Planner and owner of

page 9

Summit Wealth & Retirement, a financial planning firm that has been serving Danville for over 30 years. Visit us at www. summitwealthandretirement. com

Together We Give Alamo Womenn’s Club Community Outreach Program, “Together We Give”, benefiting the Monument Crisis Center.

Curbside drop-off at Alamo Women’s Club Clubhouse on Wednesday, October 21 from 2-5pm at 1401 Danville Blvd., Alamo.

In supporting the community during COVID-19, the Monument crisis center has opened its doors to all in need. The Emergency Food Distribution provides groceries

and necessities to an average of 300 households, or 1,200 individuals per day.

Shopping suggestions: Peanut butter, cereal, cans of fruit, vegetables, beans, tomato products, pasta, spaghetti, mac & cheese, ramen, canned tuna and meats, ready-to-eat meals. No glass containers, please. Also: New and wrapped shampoo, deodorant, soap, new socks, baby diapers and wipes, adult diapers, feminine products, pet food for dogs and cats.

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THE VALLEY SENTINEL

AUTO March 2009 October 2020

2020 Toyota RAV4 PRIME XSE AWD

By David and Judy Colman

The RAV4 PRIME is the best version yet of Toyota’s most popular SUV. Hybrid architecture has matured so fully that high performance and ultra fuel efficiency can coexist in the same attractive package.

Gone are the days when you had to trade decent acceleration for sterling economy. Now both assets define the RAV4 PRIME, which not only generates 302hp and a 0-60mph time of 5.7 seconds, but also records 38MPG in overall driving, and 94MPGe in electric-only mode.

The EPA rewards those mileage numbers with a perfect score of 10 out of 10 on the government’s Fuel Economy and Greenhouse Gas Rating Scale.

To achieve this double knockout punch Toyota has installed a 2.5 liter “Dynamic Force” inline 4 under the hood that produces 177hp and 165lb.ft. of torque. This efficient but underpowered gas fed motor receives a monumental boost of both horsepower and torque from the addition of a pair of electric motors which are installed fore and aft in the RAV4’s chassis. The front electric produces 179hp and 199lb.-ft. of torque the instant you mash the accelerator pedal.

The rear electric adds its own infusion of 53hp and 89lb.-ft. of torque. In concert with the gas engine up front, this trio

of energy sources churns out 302 combined horsepower, and enough instantaneous surge to propel the RAV4 PRIME to acceleration levels previously unimaginable in a compact SUV. And best of all, it’s affordable.

The base price on our test vehicle was $41,425. And you can expect the government to reimburse you $7,000 thanks to the Federal Tax Credit program for which the RAV4 PRIME qualifies.

We should point out, however, that our test example carried a higher buy-in price of $49,577 thanks in large measure to the additional cost of the $3,765 Premium Package which combines a wide variety of assets in one bundle. For those of you planning to plug this RAV4 into wall receptacles for recharging, the Premium Pa c ka g e w i l l p rove we l l worth the extra investment in the long run because it upgrades the on-board battery charger from 3.3kW to 6,6kW. That upgrade allows you to recharge the PRIME’s Lithium Ion 355.2v battery in just 2.5 hours on a 220v charger.

Compare that recharge time to the 4.5 hours it takes to refresh the 3.3kW standard charger at 220v. A full battery charge should allow you to run the RAV4 PRIME up to 42 miles on electric power alone.

Calling All Elementary School Artists to enter the “Rock and Roll with Street Smarts!” Poster Contest Street Smarts is inviting all elementary school age students to enter the “Walk and Roll with Street Smarts” Poster Contest and win great prizes!

Elementary School students in the San Ramon Valley are invited to draw and color a Traffic Safety themed illustration depicting a bike, scooter, skateboard or pedestrian safety. Two illustrations in each grade level will be selected to have their posters displayed on Street Smarts Banners throughout the community.

Artwork will be judged on originality, visual design and composition, storytelling ability, clear communication of the theme of “Walk and

Roll with Street Smarts!” and inclusion of Street Smarts logo.

Visit www.street-smarts. com “Events” for program guidelines and upload information.

Details and Eligibility: • All elementary school students attending or residing in the San Ramon Valley are eligible to participate.

• Poster Contest begins October 5, 2020.

• Drawings due by 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 29, 2020 (no exceptions).

• Two winners in the following grade levels will be selected: o Kindergarten – 2nd Grade o 3rd Grade – 5th Grade

Of course, the Premium Package includes a wide variety of other features in addition to the onboard charger upgrade.

One of the more innovative features included is the first digital rearview mirror I have encountered. This utilizes a wide angle rear facing camera which provides crystal clear information about what’s behind you. At first we thought this mirror was designed for use while driving but we quickly disabused ourselves of that notion. While you can use the digital mirror while driving, it presents a bewildering series of reflections and double images that will instantly confuse you into thinking you’ve had one drink too many. We quickly discovered it can be flipped off and used as a regular rear view mirror, saving its digital capacity for stationary use only.

The RAV4’s electronically controlled, continuously variable transmission (eCVT) is well suited to this SUV’s

performance characteristics.

Although it’s equipped with sequential shift mode paddles at the steering wheel, you really don’t need to rely on them for maximizing performance, since the electric motor’s rheostat-like torque infusion is so persuasive. But you can utilize the paddles t o “ d ow n s h i f t , ” t h e re by increasing your regenerative braking force and upping battery charge. For a 4,300lb.

SUV, the RAV4 PRIME handles with surprising precision, thanks in part to its quick steering (just 2.65 turns lock to lock), and a set of satisfyingly adhesive (TW 280) Yokohama Avid GT radials (235/45R19) mounted on PRIME modelspecific 5-spoke alloy rims. The interior of the RAV4’s cabin is both airy and spacious, with 33.5 cubic feet of storage available with all seats up, and 69.8 cubic feet with the rear seats flat. The RAV4 PRIME will tow 2500lbs.

The 2021 RAV4 PRIME is a breakthrough vehicle in many ways. If you equip it

valleysentinel.com with the Premium Package and the $1,620 Premium Audio Package this slick SUV operates like a luxury sedan, with all the niceties you would expect from a vehicle based on the same TGNA platform as the Corolla and Camry sedans.

But with the addition of twin electric motors and all wheel drive, the RAV4 PRIME enters another realm altogether. Add Plug In home chargeability, and you’ve got yourself the basic blueprint for the perfect 21st century SUV. 2021 Tyota Rav4 Prime XSE AWD Engine: 2.5 liter inline 4 plus front and rear electric motors Horsepower: 302combined hp Torque: 165lb.-ft. (gas only) Fuel Consumption: 38MPG Combined/94MPGe Price As Tested: $49,577 Hypes: Stellar Performance and E-conomy Gripes: Front Seat Squabs Too Short Star Rating: 9 Stars out of 10

San Ramon Valley Street Smarts Traffic Safety Contest for Elementary and Middle School Students!

STREET SMARTS is a traffic San Ramon Valley Street Smarts has launched a monthly themed contest for students in Grades K through 8 in the San Ramon Valley.

The monthly contest offers students the opportunity to learn about Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety through short interactive and entertaining online safety games, quizzes, and videos.

Monthly contest includes: • View two 60-second bike and/or pedestrian videos created by local middle and high school students • Complete bicycle/ pedestrian safety puzzle – one each for elementary and middle school students

Students complete the weekly tasks to be eligible for monthly drawing to enter and win a gift card from local small businesses in the San Ramon Valley!

At the end of each month, a randomly selected name from the elementary and m i d d l e s c h o o l s t u d e n t ’s entries will be entered in the contest to win gift cards.

The winner will be notified through email.

For more information and guidelines, please visit the Monthly Contest tab at streetsmarts.com.

Questions can be sent to dpita@sanramon.ca.gov.

safety education program serving the San Ramon Valley. The program is a partnership between the San Ramon Valley Unified School District, the City of San Ramon, the Town of Danville, the County of Contra Costa, the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District, San Ramon Valley Council of PTAs and other Community Partners and Sponsors.

Due to the Public Health Order from Contra Costa Health Services, some City facilities are closed. Some services are still available over the phone, online, and by appointment only. Please visit www.bit.ly/CityServices for the latest information regarding City services. Let’s all do what we can to flatten the curve!

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THE VALLEY SENTINEL

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Working for You: Apps to Help Citizens Report Concerns

By Candace Andersen. Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors

Potholes. Broken traffic lights. Garbage on the side of the road.

These are some of the nuisances we frequently encounter in our community.

No one likes to experience these inconveniences, but many are unaware aware of where to turn to have these problems fixed, while others believe they don’t have the time to take such action.

With many cities already using apps, and with a new Contra Costa County Public Works “Mobile Citizen” app, reporting such matters has never been easier. Mobile Citizen allows residents “on the go” to report non-emergency maintenance matters, such as potholes, graffiti, illegal dumping and other service requests in unincorporated communities, to the Contra Costa County Public Works Department.

The process is simple.

Download the app, register, take

a photo, provide comments and other details about the location and then submit to Public Works. The submitted request is automatically assigned a unique Work Request number and then sent to the appropriate division of Public Works for follow up.

T h e a p p i s f re e a n d available on Android and iOS systems. Go to the App Store to download the app for iPhone and iPad OR go to the Google Play store to download the app for Android smart phones and tablets.

The Contra Costa County Public Works Department (CCCPWD) maintains over 660 miles of roads, 150 miles of streams, channels and other drainage and over 200 County buildings throughout Contra C o s t a C o u n t y. C C C P W D provides vital services such as Parks and Recreation and Flood Control throughout unincorporated areas of Contra Costa County.

Public Works plays a crucial role in our County, administering many crucial services we rely upon, whether on a daily basis, or in times of emergency.

Need assistance with development services?

Whether it’s a discretionary permit (i.e. Subdivision, Land Use Permit, or Development Plan), or a subdivision, it is

Public Works that approves such plans.

Thanks to the formation of the Countywide Landscaping D i s t r i c t , P u b l i c Wo r k s also provides landscape m a i n t e n a n c e, i n c l u d i n g improvements such as irrigation, lighting (not street lighting, except in special cases), park and recreational facilities, including but not limited to lights, playground equipment, play courts, public restrooms, and associated appurtenant facilities.

Public Works also covers streetlight maintenance, maintaining those within the County’s jurisdiction. Public Works coordinates with Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) and City offices to determine which agency is responsible for installing or repairing streetlights within and outside the County’s Lighting District.

Public Works also offers permits, including permits for drainage related work affecting the flood control system, information on road closure permits, required permits for construction work and events that require the use of public right of way, permits f o r m ov i n g / t ra n s p o r t i n g heavy and oversized loads, floodplain, and others.

During times of flooding in the County, Public Works leads the way, providing sandbags

through several stations throughout the County.

While Mobile Citizen was designed to empower citizens for non-emergency issues, if you have a request that is an emergency, call (925) 313-2000 during business hours. For emergencies after business hours call (925) 646-2441.

For more information on the Mobile Citizen app, current building or road construction projects or other Public Works matters, visit www. cccpublicworks.org.

For those in my district who reside inside town or city limits, there are resources specifically for you.

Similar to Mobile Citizen, the app Danville Connect allows users to report an area of concern, add photos, and even use their smartphone GPS to pinpoint the exact location.

Inquiries are automatically directed to a specific individual for resolution. Just click on the Track Issues button to view the status of your request.

Danville Connect also p rov i d e s e a sy a c c e s s t o the official Town website, the Danville Today online newsletter and the Town Council, as well as links to community events, Town social media sites and the Recreation Guide.

In San Ramon, residents can download the “City of San Ramon” app to report

concerns and to find out more about what is happening in the City. Whether it’s street paving, housing, or other city matters, residents may also send questions to communications@sanramon. ca.gov. Residents may also submit #AskCityHall questions by calling 925.973.2500 or mailing a question to Ask City Hall, City Manager’s Office, 7000 Bollinger Canyon Road, San Ramon CA 94583.

With Walnut Creek’s Virtual City Hall, residents are also able to be apprised of the latest news and access information and other resources in their community.

Residents are encouraged to sign up for city updates at walnut-creek.org. Walnut Creek recommends residents contact them at contactus@ walnut-creek.org for general questions.

Whether you like using technology to communicate or prefer the tried and true method of making a phone call, your local government is continuing to find ways to make it easier than ever for you to connect and resolve your issue.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns on any materiel free to contact my office at 925-957-8860 or email me at SupervisorAndersen@ bos.cccounty.us.

Contra Costa County Requires Local Health Providers to Expand COVID-19 • Essential workers, as Increased community community, CCHS recommends The order requires facilities Testing defined by state and local to provide testing to members testing is also key to reopening that everyone who lives or Private healthcare facilities in Contra Costa County must provide timely COVID-19 tests to essential workers, those with symptoms and those exposed to the virus, according to a new health order released today by Contra Costa Health Services (CCHS).

CCHS also sent a formal request to large providers serving the county, including Kaiser Permanente, John Muir Health, Sutter Health and San Ramon Regional Medical Center, to voluntarily adopt policies allowing anyone who asks to get a fast COVID-19 test, whether or not they have symptoms.

The health order, which takes effect October 8, reflects the growing, urgent need to test more people every day who live and work in Contra Costa County for COVID-19. CCHS urges county residents who want COVID-19 tests to contact their health providers about how to arrange them.

To increase early detection of COVID-19 cases and reduce the spread of the virus in the

works in the county consider a COVID-19 test whether or not they have symptoms or contact with a sick person.

Essential workers in jobs with high contact with the public, like store clerks, wait staff, teachers, assisted living staff, among others, should consider getting tested every 30 days.

“Getting a test matters, even if you feel well, because about 40 percent of people who test positive for the virus never develop clear symptoms,” said Dr. Chris Farnitano, Contra Costa County Health Officer.

“To protect yourself, your loved ones and your community, please consider getting tested regularly. It’s the only way to truly know if you are COVIDfree.”

County residents should also consider a test whenever they feel sick, especially with symptoms such as fever, cough or chest congestion, and whenever they think they may have had contact with a sick person – especially if that person has tested positive for COVID-19.

businesses and community activities more quickly in Contra Costa County. California’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy lowers the criteria for reopening in counties that test many people every day. Contra Costa does not yet qualify for this benefit.

About 2,300 people get tested every day in Contra Costa, including tests performed at public testing sites and other sources, including private health providers. The county’s goal is to test about 4,500 people daily.

About 20 percent of all patients tested at Contra Costa’s 12 public community testing sites have commercial health insurance that would cover the cost of tests through their usual medical provider. Many report they were denied tests by their providers because they did not have symptoms, or because an evaluation from their primary care physician was required before they could get a test.

Beginning Oct. 8, the new health order requires all healthcare facilities in the county to provide prompt testing upon request to members who are:

health orders to include teachers, grocery store clerks, restaurant employees, health care workers, bus drivers, as well as others • Pe o p l e w h o h ave symptoms of COVID-19 • People who have had close contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case • People identified by CCHS as needing priority testing, such as possible contacts identified through contact tracing

identifying themselves as essential workers upon request, without a doctor’s note.

Anyone who wants a fast, free and convenient COVID-19 test can get one at a community testing site near them. Sameday appointments are often available – hit the testing button at cchealth.org/coronavirus or call 1-844-421-0804.

Learn more about Contra Costa’s community testing program at coronavirus.cchealth. org/get-tested.

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THE VALLEY SENTINEL

Change is a

October 2020

valleysentinel.com

beautiful thing.

DANVILLE

1901 Camino Ramon 925-866-6164

CAMPBELL 930 West Hamilton Ave. 408-871-8890

SAN RAFAEL 75 Bellum Blvd.

415-924-6691

SAN CARLOS 1123 Industrial Road 650-508-8317

When it’s time for a change in your home decor, bring your unwanted items to us. We’ll preview and price your items to sell quickly, generating room in your home and cash in your pocket. And you might just find that perfect treasure in our HUGE ever-changing showroom!

www.thehomeconsignmentcenter.com

315 Cortsen Road in Pleasant Hill • • • • • • • •

Heritage classes classes for for children children Heritage School fi eld trips School field trips Sustainable Sustainable gardening gardening classes classes Displays of items from Displays of items from the the Pleasant Pleasant Hill Hill Historical Historical Society Society • • Meetings Meetings and and events events Rodgers Rodgers Ranch Ranch is is aa Pleasant Pleasant Hill Hill Recreation Recreation and and Park Park District District property and Pleasant Hill’s only historic site.

We are a property and Pleasant Hill’s only historic site. We are a nonnonprofi t, tax-exempt 501c3 organization profit, tax-exempt 501c3 organization

Rodgers Rodgers Ranch Ranch Heritage Heritage Center Center in Pleasant Hill is creating in Pleasant Hill is creating a a brick brick pathway in front of our 150 year pathway in front of our 150 year old old farmhouse.

Cement your place in farmhouse. Cement your place in history history with with an an engraved engraved brick brick to to honor or remember family or loved honor or remember family or loved ones, ones, or or highlight highlight a a business business or or organization. organization.

Information and an order form Information and an order form for the brick(s) can be found at for the brick(s) can be found at

www.RodgersRanch.org www.RodgersRanch.org

Barn Wood Barn Wood for for Sale Sale Call Chris at (925) 890-4482

Chris atVisit (925) 890-4482 ForCall a Safe during the COVID-19 Pandemic:

• Most of our events have been cancelled for the year • The park grounds are open provided that social distancing and mask wearing rules are respected • The Farmhouse itself is closed.

For more information please contact us at For more information please contact us at 925-937-3677 or visit www.rodgersranch.org 925-937-3677 or visit www.rodgersranch.org