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always for the community VOL 23, NO 4 April 2018
www.valleysentinel.com
SPOTLIGHT
SRVUSD Teachers of the Year Recognized On Tuesday, March 13, 2018, the San Ramon Valley Unified School District’s (SRVUSD) Board of Education recognized Lynn Alamillo and Shanna Gagnon as the 2018-2019 Teachers of the Year.
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The Danville Oaks Rugby Club won the Rugby NorCal Middle School Championship on March 24. From left to right Seated: Kenny Carpenter, Cole Kemper, Jordan Akabane, Tyreeq Obichere, Dominik Barreto, Andre Palu-Moeinimaresh, Erik Ellis, Barry Winters First row: Nehemiah Ontiveros, Ryan Teng, Tyler Frietas, Jake Loeffler, Tucker Barth, Dominic Besag, Thomas Villa, Andrew Richardson, Michael Freeman, Parker Glynn, Jonas Ritigstein Second Row: Diego Cervantes, Jeremy Patterson, Nabi Wahab, Assistant Coaches Nick Rainsford, Mike Walker, Sean Gann, Danny Richardson, Head Coach Kevin Barth, Dante Romero, Brock Scanlan, Eric Dunn Third Row: Merciful Grose, Tetum Tuoti, Marco Gwynn, Dylan Tyler, Nico Jimenez, Caleb Parid, Ian Hays Fourth Row: Ajaml Wahab, Nick Pina, Griffin King, Richard Armas, Nathan Mertz, Thomas Rainsford, Trevor Donathan, Joaquin DeAmorrortu, Peter Callaghan, Morgan Lawless, Carson Sebree Fifth Row: Eduardo Molina, Jaxson Jones, Brody Bartusch, Zackary Thompkins, Riley Gann, Thomas Naseath, Valdmar Brunslev, Ethan Younger, Garrett Walker, Evan Peterson, Joseph Marshall, James Carney
Hikers Beware as rattlesnakes are out in warm weather by James Hale
T h e N o r t h e r n Pa c i f i c Rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus oreganus) is the only rattlesnake found in the San Francisco Bay Area. It is a venomous pitviper species that is found in the western United States from British Columbia to northwestern Mexico. Like other reptiles, their metabolism and activity patterns are governed by the ambient, surrounding temperature. In the East Bay, they usually emerge from their retreats with the warm weather starting in April, and are most active from May through July. Rattlesnakes remain active, both day and night, until the return of the rainy season and colder weather in October. The color pattern is quite varied, however locally most individuals have a dark gray to olive brown base color, highlighted with black,
white and pale yellow, and overlaid dorsally on the back with a series of large dark blotches. A series of light and
like shingles on a roof are key diagnostic characteristics. The young are born with a button at the tip of the tail. Every time
dark rings precedes the rattles on the tail. The large, triangular head, rattles, loreal heat sensitive pits on the snout and keeled scales that are overlaid
they shed their skin as they mature, they acquire a new rattle. During good years they may shed several times. Adults may reach 64 inches in length.
Rattlesnakes are often confused with gopher snakes, which mimic rattlesnakes by hissing loudly and rattling their tails. Gopher snakes are brownish in color and lack the triangular head and rattles. Rattlesnakes frequent a wide variety of habitats from grasslands to woodlands where they pursue small mammals and other animals as prey. They in turn are preyed upon by king snakes, raptors, and wild boars. Rocky outcrops, stream courses, talus slopes and ledges are favorite haunts. The rattlesnake is a live-bearing species, with one to twenty five young born between August and October. The young are born with fully active venom glands. See RATTLESNAKES page 6
This month’s Special Section:
Spring Home & Garden
pages 8-9
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT dining out • music • art • theater • fun events
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THE VALLEY SENTINEL
April 2018 valleysentinel.com
Danville. Information: contact Visual Arts Coordinator Marija Nelson Bleier at 925-314-3460 or mbleier@danville.ca.gov.
Layers Revealed: Beyond the Brush Now- April 21 T h e ex h i b i t f e a t u re s paintings by 12 bay area women. It is a collection of unique abstract pieces by a local painting group who call themselves, ‘Beyond the Brush.’ Village Theater, 233 Front St.,
Gamblers & Dreamers The Chinese and the Iron Road Now - June 10 The Museum of the San Ramon Valley is proud to announce this exhibit which first opened at the Chinese Historical Museum in San Francisco and then was on exhibition at Stanford University. The exhibit provides a stunning
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terrific! Best for ages 5 and up. Danville Library, 400 Front Street, Danville. Information: contact 925-837-4889
visual understanding of the difficult work accomplished by Chinese laborers to build the railroad from California across the Sierras and ending at Promontory Point Utah. The second part of the exhibit covers the story of Chinese immigration. It starts at the Gold Rush in 1849, covers the 12,000 men who built the railroad and continues on through the 19th century. The Museum of the San Ramon Valley, 205 Railroad Ave., Danville. Information: museumsrv.org or 925 8373750. Junkology: Dr. Recycle April 10 4pm. Join Dr. Recycle for a fun and educational hands-on experience as he teaches “creative use of manmade refuse.” Bring an empty milk jug, yogurt container, or cereal box along with your imagination and Dr. Recycle will show you how to transform your trash into something
2018 Annual Sentinels Gala – You’re Invited! Sentinels of Freedom invites you to a special event to meet and honor our Sentinels, the inspiring and driven veterans whose lives have changed because of our community’s generous support. The evening will feature dinner and live music Keynote Speaker: Vice Admiral Joseph P. Mulloy (Ret.), a 38-year veteran of the Navy Additional speakers: Navy SEAL Chris Judge and the USMC 2001 Medal of Honor recipient Cpl. Kyle Carpenter
Saturday, April 14, 2018 Blackhawk Museum, Danville, California 6 PM Cocktail Reception, 7 PM Program Start Cocktail attire For more information and to purchase tickets or sponsorships, please visit
sentinelsoffreedom.org/2018-gala
Preschool Performance Series - Juggler and Comic Fred Anderson April 13 10 a m . M a k i n g l i t t l e ones laugh, dance, and sing along since 2009, the Town of Danville is pleased to continue to present fun and unique top-level entertainers for preschool-aged children. Whether you have a teeny one, or you yourself are just a kid at heart, you are sure to enjoy the variety of magicians, jugglers, and musicians. $5. Village Theater, 233 Front St., Danville. Information: www. villagetheatreshows.com or 925-314-3400. Symphonic Story Time Spring Series: Symphonics presents”The Wizard of Oz” April 13 4pm. In this musical rendition of “The Wizard of Oz” written by Howard Arlen and Herbert Stothart, musical storytelling group Symphonics re-tells this classic tale of the adventures of Dorothy and her friends as they travel the yellow brick road in search of a heart, a brain, courage, and a way home. The performance will be followed by a themed craft. All ages and abilities welcome. Sponsored by the Danville Library, 400 Front Street, Danville. Information: contact 925--837-4889 The Rover by Aphra Behn April 13-15 8pm. Willmore, Belville, Fredrick, and Ned are sailors on shore who seek adventure and love. Each of them has a different idea of what those things may be. All of them meet their match in one way or another in this exceedingly funny romp. Here Aphra Behn launches the idea of the “battle of sexes”. Village Theater, 233 Front St., Danville. Information: www. villagetheatreshows.com or call 925-314-3400.
Comedy with Liz Grant & Friends - Mark Pitta April 18 7:30pm. In this monthly stand-up comedy series, Liz Grant brings a host of Bay Area and Los Angeles comedians to Danville. Join these seasoned comedians for this hilarious series. Age limit is 16 and older unless accompanied by an adult. $17 $20. Village Theater, 233 Front St., Danville. Information: www.villagetheatreshows.com or 925-314-3400.
Shahrzad Dance Academy: Persian New Year Celebration April 21 4pm. Welcome spring as we celebrate the Persian New Year, Nowruz, with an engaging dance program presented by the renowned Shahrzad Dance Academy. This elegant showcase features solo, duet, and trio dances in styles that have been part of the Persian culture for milennia. Danville Library, 400 Front St, Danville. Information: ccclib. org/locations/danville.html or 925-314-3750.
Dixieland Jazz April 21 1:30-4:30pm. On the 3rd Saturday of every month you can enjoy the music of the Devil Mountain Jazz Band. Bring your own beverages, snacks and a friend or two! There is a large dance floor and lots of free parking. $15. Grange Hall, 743 Diablo Road, Danville. Information visit www.jazznut.com or phone 925-625-2707.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT dining out • music • art • theater • fun events
valleysentinel.com PoetryMusic: Where Music and Words Meet April 24 6:30pm. PoetryMusic, featuring vibraphonist and composer Chris Lee and cellist and vocalist Colleen O’Brien, returns to Walnut Creek to perform its ethereal blend of world poetry, jazz, and modern chamber music. PoetryMusic is an eclectic chamber jazz duo dedicated to performing poetry that has been set to music, and music that has been composed to poetry. The Walnut Creek Library Foundation is sponsoring this musical event in honor of National Poetry Month. Free. Ygnacio Valley Library, 2661 Oak Grove Road, Walnut Creek. Information: contact the Library at 925-938-1481 or visit ccclib.org.
Mass Impressions April 28 7pm. Chromatica, a regional chorus that recently performed two concerts with the Diablo Symphony and several other choirs to great acclaim, will offer its twelfth series of semiannual concerts focused on many different interpretations of the mass from the fourteenth to the twenty first century. Chromatica is noted for the extraordinary range of its repertoire ranging in time from the 12th to the 21st century and in genre everywhere from classical to contemporary. This concert series is based on many different interpretations of the Mass with individual pieces selected from a broad range of classical and contemporary composers. Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for students, and children 10 and under are admitted free. There will be a wine reception after the performance.Peace Lutheran Church, 3201 Camino Tassajara, Danville. Tickets a n d i n f o r m a t i o n : w w w. chromaticachorale.org. Live! from the Library Fresh Ink: New Music May 2 7pm. Join us at the Walnut Creek Library for a first look into the making of like a broken clock, California Symphony’s newly commissioned work by rising Young American Composerin-Residence Katherine Balch. California Symphony Music Director Donato Cabrera will join Balch to discuss the composition
April 2018
THE VALLEY SENTINEL
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original Nat King Cole. George Cole is a guitarist, vocalist, composer, lyricist producer, arranger, music educator, and San Francisco native. $15 - $25. Village Theater, 233 Front St., Danville. Information: www. villagetheatreshows.com or 925314-3400. and their collaborative process to bring it to performance. For more information call 925-9773340 The California Symphony will present the world premiere of like a broken clock on Sunday, May 6 at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek. C e ra m i c E x p o O p e n i n g Reception: Conceive, Construct, Embellish! May 3 5:30pm. Renowned and local artists show their imaginative and creative artistic depictions. Complimentary refreshments will be served and some of the artists will be on hand to discuss their work. After the Opening Reception, the exhibition can be viewed at the gallery for a limited time. The exhibitions are free to the public. Village Theatre Art Gallery, 233 Front Street, Danville. Information visit www. danville.ca.gov/Things-To-Do/ Art-and-Culture/Village-TheatreArt-Gallery or call 925-314-3400.
Celtic Jazz May 3 7:30pm. Melanie O’Reilly and her trio create their riveting and unique sound by fusing Celtic melodies with American jazz. Melanie’s original compositions are inspired by traditional Gaelic culture and contemporary Irish poetry. Presented by the Eugene O’Neill Foundation, Tao House and the Museum of the San Ramon Valley. $15 - $25. Village Theater, 233 Front St., Danville. Information: www. villagetheatreshows.com or 925314-3400. Preschool Performance Series Circus Artist Bri Crabtree May 4 10am. Making little ones laugh, dance, and sing along since 2009, the Town of Danville is pleased to continue to present fun and unique top-level entertainers for preschool-aged
children. $5. Village Theater, 233 Front St., Danville. Information: www.villagetheatreshows.com or 925-314-3400. The Jazz Room: Cole Swings Cole May 5 8pm. The Jazz Room presents Cole Swings Cole: the George Cole Trio recreating the sound and style of the
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A Fun Family Day! Rodgers Ranch Urban Farm Expo & Plant Sale Saturday April 14 10am-4pm 315 Cortsen Road Pleasant Hill Garden Plants • Herbs • Succulents • Soil Eco Friendly Products • Crafts Food • Refreshments 125-Year-Old Barn Wood for sale For class schedules and more information please call (925) 890-7289 or visit www.rodgersranchurbanfarm.org Rodgers Ranch is a Pleasant Hill Recreation and Park District property and Pleasant Hill’s only historic site. We are a non-profit, tax-exempt 501c3 organization
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THE VALLEY SENTINEL
April 2018
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April 2018 Sponsored Content
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Cervical Cancer: What you should know about it Dr. Shoba Kankipati
Each year in the United States about 15,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer. Worldwide, about 500,000 new cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed each year, resulting in 250,000 deaths. The disease is the third most common cancer among women. HPV: A virus that causes cancer T h e h u m a n p a p i l l o m av i r u s e s ( H P V )
constitute the most common sexually transmitted infections. At least 70% of individuals are affected by HPV at some time in their lives. Certain high-risk strains of HPV are associated with cervical cancer. Most of the infections clear up over time, however, some persist triggering cancer after many years. Therefore persistence of HPV infection is worrisome and should be avoided. An individual infected with HPV does not have any symptoms and is therefore likely to pass on the infection without knowledge.
Danville seeks Commission volunteers Parks and Leisure Services Commission – 4 positions Youth Representatives – 2 positions Contra Costa County Advisory Council on Aging – 1 position Applicants must be residents of the Town of Danville. Information and applications are available on the Town website at www.danville.ca.gov or by calling the City Clerk at (925)314-3401. Deadline is May 16 at 4:00 p.m. Interviews will be conducted by the Town Council in June and terms begin July 1, 2018.
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HPV has many strains and some have been linked to serious diseases as follows: • HPV types 6 and 11 cause about 90% of genital warts cases in females and males. • HPV types 16 and 18 cause about 75% of cervical cancer cases in females. • HPV types 16 and 18 also cause about 70% of vaginal cancer cases and up to 50% of vulvar cancer cases in females. The virus is also linked to anal cancer. Vaccination against the virus is available FDA has approved two vaccines that prevent HPV related cancers by creating immunity to HPV. Gardasil is a recombinant vaccine (contains no live virus) that is given as three injections over a six-month period. It was approved by FDA in June of 2006. The FDA approved indications are to prevent cervical cancer, precancerous genital lesions and genital warts due to HPV types 6, 11, 16 and 18 in females aged 9 to 26. It is also approved for vaccinating boys and men 9 through 26 years of age
for the prevention of genital warts caused by HPV types 6 and 11. Vaccination in people ages 9 through 26 years for the prevention of anal cancer and associated precancerous lesions due to HPV types 6, 11, 16, and 18 is also approved. It is additionally recommended for use i n f e m a l e s by A m e r i c a n Ac a d e my o f Pe d i a t r i c s (AAP), American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) a n d A m e r i c a n C o n g re s s of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) The safety of the vaccine was evaluated i n a p p rox i m a t e l y 11 , 0 0 0 individuals. Current evidence suggests that the vaccine protection lasts a minimum of 4 years. Cervarix is another recombinant vaccine given in three doses over 6six months. It is approved by FDA for prevention of cervical cancer by HPV types 16 and 18, in females 9 through 25 years of age. This vaccine has been shown to be effective for at least 6.5 years. Side Effects from the vaccines
Common side effects from both vaccines include p a i n , s we l l i n g , i t c h i n g , bruising, and redness at the injection site. Other side effects include headache, fever, nausea, dizziness, vo m i t i n g , a n d f a i n t i n g . Severe allergic reactions have also been reported in some cases. Limitations of the vaccines W h i l e b o t h va c c i n e s are effective, they do not cover all types of HPV that cause cervical cancer. Hence, regular tests will still be needed. The actual duration of the protection for the vaccines is also not known. Further, if an HPV type 16 infection was already present, the vaccines do not prevent the progression to cancer. Hence, it is important to take the vaccine before being exposed to the virus, preferably at a young age starting at age of 9. While many private health plans are providing coverage for this vaccination, the availability of coverage and the level of coverage may vary over time. Dr. Kankipati is a board certified Medical Oncologist and Hematologist with Epic Care, www.epic-care.com.
Alamo News Update By Steve Mick
Bark Avenue and Alamo Park Expenses B a r k Ave n u e w i l l b e one of the newest stores in Alamo Plaza Shopping Center. This full-service pet store is under construction and has a tentative opening date set for late spring/early summer. The Plaza combined four vacant spaces to provide room for the new store. It will be located at the south end of the Plaza. The cleverly-named Bark Avenue will provide a full-service pet supply and grooming center. Grooming services will include the Bark Avenue Bath & Brush and Bark Avenue Full Groom. Other grooming services will include nail clipping, nail Dremel, ear cleaning, dematting, teeth brushing and flea and tick bath. For customers who want to get close the grooming
action, do-it-yourself dog washing stations will be available with equipment and supplies. An extensive selection of pet food for dogs, cats and small animals will be on-hand. This includes brands such as Taste of the Wild and Blue Buffalo. Pet nutrition is important to the owners of Bark Avenue. When their Golden retriever was diagnosed with cancer in 2005, they did extensive research on nutrition. Because of this effort, their pet lived for another 13 months. They felt that this knowledge should be shared. This led to the opening of the first Bark Avenue in El Dorado Hills. This was followed by stores in Rocklin and Rancho Cordova. Their website is barkavenueca. com. Alamo Park expenses Members of the Alamo Municipal Advisory Council, along with interested re s i d e n t s, m e t l a s t ye a r to discuss Alamo parks expenditures with county staff. This resulted in a
study of costs including maintenance, improvements and repairs. County parks are maintained by Public Works Facilities employees. With the exception of Hap Magee Ranch Park whose costs are shared equally between Alamo and Danville. The cost of operating Alamo parks has been questioned by some residents. It must be noted the County policy requires that workers be paid prevailing wages, not market wages. This includes both county staff and contract employees. Cheaper sources of labor for park maintenance may be available. However, the expertise and experience of workers involved with the current system outweighs any less costly considerations. Steve Mick is a long-time Alamo resident and is active in a number of community organizations. Among them are the Community Foundation of Alamo, the Exchange Club and the Alamo Municipal Advisory Council. You can reach Steve at steve@ alamore.org.
By Dr. Niele Maimone, DC
What exactly is restless leg syndrome? Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a neurological disorder characterized by throbbing, pulling, creeping, or other unpleasant sensations in the legs and an uncontrollable, and sometimes overwhelming, urge to move them. Symptoms occur primarily at night when a person is relaxing or at rest and can increase in severity during the night. Moving the legs relieves the discomfort, which can range in severity from uncomfortable or irritating to painful. The most distinctive or unusual aspect of RLS is that lying down and trying to relax
activates the symptoms. Most people with RLS have difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep. Left untreated, the condition causes exhaustion and daytime fatigue. Many people with RLS report that their job, personal relations, and activities of daily living are strongly affected as a result of their sleep deprivation. Who’s at risk for RLS? • Individuals with iron deficiency anemia • I n d i v i d u a l s o n antidepressant medication • Pregnant women • Frequent blood donors • T h o s e w h o h a v e undergone gastric surgery • Chronic smokers and alcoholics • Individuals under chronic stress • Children with ADD/ ADHD
RLS drugs and their side effects The drugs approved by the FDA for treatment of RLS are Mirapex, Neupro and Requip. These medications (originally developed for treatment of Parkinson’s disease) work by making dopamine more available to receptors. These medications can have side effects from nausea, depression, vomiting, dizziness, fatigue and impulse control disorders. RLS will certainly affect quality of life, but so do these other severe side effects. Research is now revealing the significant role of nutrition, and other natural approaches to RLS. Key i n g re d i e n t s t o reduce RLS RLS has been linked to low levels of dopamine. The neurotransmitter Dopamine
Town Invites Applications for Business Promotion Funds creativity and heightened In its ongoing effort to foster good partnerships with Danville businesses, the Town of Danville is again offering Business Promotion Funds for all qualified businesses. E a c h ye a r d u r i n g i t s budget planning cycle, the Town Council appropriates funds for business promotion within Danville. The funds must be used for purposes deemed to be most advantageous to a broad range of the Danville business community. Town of Danville Economic Development Manager Jill Bergman said that the funds are designed to be of assistance to the business community as a whole. “These funds are intended to encourage
business collaboration and support marketing efforts that promote economic commerce among Danville’s businesses,” she said. “The funds cannot be used for the preparation of specialized studies or reports, or to promote specific individual businesses or organizations.” The Business Promotion Funding Program consists of two grant categories: 1. Cohesive Marketing 2. General Business & Marketing Promotion Bergman said that because of the overwhelming response to the program in past years, the Town will focus on providing funding for applications: • Willing to provide matching funds • D e m o n s t r a t e
engagement • Show cooperation among multiple businesses • U t i l i z e u n i v e r s a l technology solutions for unified business promotion • Stimulate economic development in the Town of Danville • Promote the “Live Locally” unified branding program Applications are available o n l i n e a t w w w. d a n v i l l e. ca.gov/economicdevelopment. All applications must be delivered to the Danville Town Offices by Friday, April 20, 2018 at 5:00 p.m. For more information or to request an application packet, contact Economic Development Director Jill Bergman at (925) 314-3369 or jbergman@danville.ca.gov.
UnWaste Event Set for April 28 Residents invited to drop off recyclables at Sycamore Park and Ride At the April 28, 2018 and microwave ovens can be With the coming of spring also comes the opportunity to de-clutter and what better way to do it than the next UnWaste recycling event? The Town of Danville sponsors periodic recycling drop-off events, where residents can bring their unused items to the Danville Park & Ride, located n e a r t h e i n t e rs e c t i o n o f Sycamore Valley Road and Camino Ramon.
event, residents can bring used electronics, as well as household items, such as hair dryers, to drop off between 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Items do NOT have to be in good working order to be dropped off. M o s t i t e m s a re f re e to recycle, however larger appliances such as freezers, refrigerators and water heaters have a $40 fee, smaller appliances have a $20 fee
dropped off for a $5 fee. All items must be clean and dry in order to be accepted. For a downloadable .pdf of the flyer for the event, go to the Town’s Living Green webpage www.danville.ca.gov/AboutDanville/New-Resident-Info/ Living-Green/. For more information, contact Clean Water Program Coordinator Chris McCann at (925) 314-3342 or cmccann@ danville.ca.gov.
page 5 is an important messenger in the brain helping to regulate much of our body’s functions, including thinking, behavior, mood, and especially in the case of RLS – rest and movement. Low levels of dopamine can trigger the urge to move our limbs, as found in RLS. Both iron and folate play key roles in the production of dopamine. Magnesium and zinc levels also have an impact on RLS. I personally believe in running specific blood tests in order to zero in on what is deficient in each individual to ensure the most effective o u t c o m e. M i c ro n u t r i e n t Testing allows a person to know exactly what to eat and specifically what to supplement in order to support the healing of their RLS. Healing your RLS Conditions like restless legs syndrome can
significantly interrupt daily life. At Align we work to figure out what the body needs, and provide that in a course of treatment. Through natural techniques based in science such as specialty lab testing, personalized supplementation, low force chiropractic to restore nerve function and laser therapy to speed up the healing process we can correct the critical imbalances causing the RLS. There is nothing more gratifying than helping a patient resolve an issue utilizing natural therapies that give them their life back. Dr. Niele Maimone, DC is the owner of Align Healing Center in Danville, CA. For more information or to set up a complimentary consult call 925.362.8283 or visit www. alignhealingcenter.com.
JRW CONSTRUCTION, INC. 381 Hartz Ave., Danville, Suite B phone 925.831.1615 fax 925.831.1643 lic. 694292
CUSTOM HOMES ADDITIONS REMODELS BATHROOM AND KITCHEN REMODELS TENANT IMPROVEMENTS COMMERCIAL RESIDENTIAL
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THE VALLEY SENTINEL April 2018
valleysentinel.com
By Beverly Lane, President, East Bay Regional Park District Board of Directors
If you’re looking for a springtime location for hiking, bicycling or horseback riding, Briones Regional Park is a great place to go. Briones is located in central Contra Costa County. The area’s topography makes the park seem remote and wild, although the towns of Martinez, Pleasant Hill, Lafayette and Orinda surround it. Before the arrival of Europeans, Briones was hunting and gathering ground for the Native Americans whose villages were on the shores of Carquinez Strait. The park’s name derives from Felipe and Maria Briones, who obtained a Mexican land grant and established a rancho in the area. After passing through several ownerships in subsequent years, including water companies and Contra Costa County, the core acreage was transferred to the regional park district in 1964. Briones
Speaking of wildflowers...
Black Diamond Mines naturalists Eddie Willis and Kevin Dixon will lead wildflower hikes from 10 a.m. to noon on Sundays, April 22, April 29, and Saturday, April 21. Each hike will explore a different wildflower habitat. All will start at the uppermost parking lot at the end of Somersville Road. And Kevin will lead an evening hike to view the moon over the park’s Star Mine from 6:30 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, April 28. The hike is free, but registration is required. To register, call 888-327-2757. Select option 2 and refer to program number 20395.
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Creek Staging Area on Bear Creek Road near Orinda. The park is home to lots of wildlife, including deer, coyote, birds of prey and even an occasional mountain lion. Newts, a variety of salamander, congregate in Briones ponds during the rainy season. Wildflower displays can be beautiful in springtime. Climb the Briones Crest Trail from the Bear Creek Staging Area to see a variety of flowers along the way. Or check out the view from the hilltop bench near the junction of the Briones Crest Trail and Old Briones Road Trail. In springtime the steep slopes leading down to the pond at the base of the hill are often carpeted with poppies and lupine. A number of first-come, first-served picnic areas are available at the Bear Creek and Alhambra Valley entrances. There are also several picnic areas that are reservable for large groups. Newt Hollow, located at the Bear Creek entrance, is popular for weddings under the oak RATTLESNAKES from page 1
Ra t t l e s n a ke s u s u a l l y make their presence known by rattling their segmented tails when threatened or to avoid being stepped on. However, some researchers suggest that as humans have encroached in rattler territory, the snakes are using their legendary rattles less frequently. Ra t t l e s n a ke s we re a significant part of Native A m e r i c a n c u l t u r e. T h e rattlesnake was the Keeper o f t h e H e re a f t e r, a n d a symbol of transformation and healing. Locally the Ohlone women wore abalone pendants and necklaces around their necks, Tripne (magic) against rattlesnakes, w h i c h j i n g l e a n d t h row glints of sunlight as they walk. Rattlesnake shamans (Trudum) were prominent a m o n g t h e Yo k u t s n e a r Altamont and throughout their territory. Such shamans or rattlesnake doctors were medicine men who gained the power to cure and prevent snake bites by cultivating dream communications with the rattlesnakes. The Yokut Rattlesnake Dances and songs were among the most dramatic events in California. There are about 8,000 poisonous snake bites a
April 2018
page 7
Testing Of First Autonomous Shuttle On Public Roads In California Begins
Beautiful Briones
was one of the first parks in Contra Costa to be purchased by the Park District after county voters chose to join the District that year. Land acquisitions since then have expanded the park to its present size. The park opened to the public in 1967. It now covers more than 6,000 acres, with almost 70 miles of trails. In springtime, Briones’ green, grassy hilltops offer panoramic views of the San Ramon Valley, Mt. Diablo, Carquinez Straits, the East Bay hills, and Mt. Tamalpais in the western distance. On a clear day you can see the Sierra Crest to the east. The highest point in the park is Briones Peak at 1,483 feet. However you can get a better view from the nearby Table Top Trail, or from Mott Peak at 1,424 feet. T h e re a re f i ve m a i n entrances to Briones. Counterclockwise from the south, they are the Lafayette Ridge Staging Area on Pleasant Hill Road, Reliez Valley Staging Area and Alhambra Creek Staging Area, both on Reliez Valley Road; a trailhead at the top of Briones Road off Alhambra Valley Road near Martinez, and the Bear
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California DMV grants permission for shared autonomous vehicle testing at Bishop Ranch
D. Little
trees. For information, call the Park District reservations department at 888-327-2757, option 2. Briones is one of only t wo re g i o n a l p a r k s t h a t have archery ranges. For information about the Briones range, visit the website, www. brionesarchers.org. Brochures with maps and other information are available at all the Briones trailheads. Or you can download a map by visiting the Park District web site at www.ebparks.org. A few notes about trail etiquette: horseback riders have the right of way over cyclists and hikers; bicycles
give way to hikers. Bicycles are allowed on the wider fire and service roads, not on single-track trails. Dogs must be leashed in parking lots and picnic areas. Elsewhere dogs can be off-leash, as long as they are under their owner’s control, which means that they will come when called. If a dog begins chasing wildlife, cows or paying uninvited attention to other park visitors, it must be leashed. All seasons have their beauties, but spring is the best time to get a map, plan your trip, and explore one of the largest and prettiest regional parks.
year in the United States. Rattlesnakes and their relatives, copperheads and water moccasins, are responsible for 99% of those bites. No more than 12 deaths were reported each year from 1960 - 1990 as a result of poisonous snake bites. In recent years, up to 30 deaths annually have been reported due to more frequent human and rattlesnake encounters. The best estimate of dogs and cats bitten by poisonous snakes is about 150,000. Rattlesnake bites are about 25 times more fatal in dogs than in humans and can result in permanent damage. At least 25% of poisonous snake bites do not result in envenomation, the injection of venom. Rattlesnake venom is a hemotoxin that attacks the circulatory system and causes localized tissue damage at the site of the bite. Symptoms are dependent upon the size of the snake, the location of the bite on the body, and age, size, and health of the victim. Children are more likely to have severe symptoms because they receive a larger concentration of venom due to their smaller body size. A ny ra t t l e s n a ke b i t e should be treated as a medical emergency that requires immediate care for humans or veterinary care for pets.
In humans, the bite victim should be immobilized and remain calm and transported to a hospital. Most bites are to the hand or leg which should be kept below the level of the heart. Once first aid and supportive care have been instituted, a decision to use the antivenom CroFab i s m a d e . To u r n i q u e t s , constriction bandages, incisions and extraction of venom and cryotherapy (the application of ice) is not suggested. Pets suffering from rattlesnake bites should be transported to a veterinarian for immediate care. Vaccines are available that offer some immunity from poisonous toxins in the snake venom. Treatment for rattlesnake bite can be q u i t e c o s t l y. P reve n t i o n to rattlesnake bite is best. Simple precautions can be taken to lessen the chance of encounter with a rattlesnake when enjoying outdoor activities. Keeping pets on a leash and under direct control, particularly during dusk, dawn and the hottest times of the day is advised. Wearing heavy boots creates vibrations that alert snakes of human presence, causing them to retreat or make themselves known. Never attempt to pick up or handle a rattlesnake.
The Contra Costa Transportation Authority ( C C TA ) a n d G o M e n t u m Station announced that permission was granted and testing of shared autonomous vehicles on public roads will begin at Bishop Ranch, the largest mixed-use business community in Northern California located in San Ramon. This is the first time the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has allowed a shared autonomous vehicle to travel on public roads in the state. CCTA is leading a pilot demonstration project testing electric, lowspeed, multipassenger autonomous vehicles manufactured by EasyMile, that are not equipped with a steering wheel, brake pedal, or a c c e l e ra t o r. The California S t a t e Legislature p a s s e d pioneering legislation in 2016, Assembly Bill 1592, to allow for the pilot program. After successful testing at the GoMentum Station autonomous vehicle proving grounds in Concord and in parking lots at Bishop Ranch, CCTA is advancing
to the third phase of testing. CCTA received permission from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National H i g h w a y Tr a f f i c S a f e t y Administration (NHTSA) in October 2017 and permission from the California DMV in January this year, to operate the EasyMile shuttle on public streets within the business park. “We will look back on the issuance of this permit as a turning point for autonomous vehicle technology in the great state of California,” said CCTA Executive Director Randell Iwasaki. “It is a huge step
forward for safely developing a solution to the challenges that prevent people from using public transportation and will transform how we travel in Contra Costa and beyond.” “ We a r e e x c i t e d t o celebrate this milestone with
CCTA and Bishop Ranch,” said DMV Director Jean Shiomoto. “The California DMV has been working for years to bring this groundbreaking technology to California’s roadways while ensuring safety of the motoring public.” Shared autonomous shuttles offer safe, accessible service that could soon provide first- and last-mile transit solutions in office parks, campuses, suburbs, and town centers. Zero-emission, lowspeed autonomous shuttles have the potential to ease congestion, reduce harmful emissions and provide safe and affordable access to transportation h u b s throughout Contra Costa County. “Bishop Ranch has always been a site for innovation in Northern California,” said Sunset Development C E O Alexander Mehran, Sr. “By granting approval to test EasyMile shuttles on the public roads which bisect through the Bishop Ranch business community, the DMV is enabling us to continue to support innovation that stands to benefit the entire region.”
San Ramon Rotary Club Presents Large Donation to San Ramon Valley Education Foundation By Mark Hornstra and Colette Lay
The Rotary Club of San Ramon presented San Ramon Valley Education Foundation (SRVEF) Executive Director, Vanessa Berastain a check in the amount of $75,989 at a recent Club meeting. These proceeds were raised by the Rotarians from their annual ‘Online Auction for Education’ event held in conjunction with SRVEF’s ‘Run for Education’ event. M s. B e ra s t a i n n o t e d that the SRVEF uses these funds directly in support o f S a n R a m o n Va l l e y Schools with cutting-edge programs like Imagineering, which is designed to spark interest in middle and high school students to choose STEAM courses (Science, Technology, Engineering,
Art, and Math) and eventually become highly sought-after talent in the U.S. workforce. Ms. Berastain also announced that the Rotary Club of San Ramon will be honored at the upcoming SRVEF Endowment Dinner on April 18th for all the work Rotarians have done over the years in their continued support of the SRVEF and t h e i r s h a re d m i s s i o n o f supporting public education in the San Ramon Valley. During the presentation, Club President Lucky Sandhu thanked his fellow Rotarians for their great contributions to this year’s strong fundraising effort, and to the solid partnership that San Ramon Rotary enjoys with the SRVEF. Past San
Ramon Rotary President and Auction Committee member Gary Sloan acknowledged the tremendous support of the auction sponsors, the community members who donated auction items, and all the item bidders. S a n R a m o n R o t a r y, established in 1985, is a strong supporter of public education and related initiatives in the San Ramon Valley. The Club has raised and donated over $2 million in support of various causes, locally and globally, including education, disease eradication, providing clean water, women empowerment, and promoting peace. The San Ramon Rotary Club meets every Thursday at noon in the Crow Canyon Country Club. Visit www.sanramonrotary. org for more information.
A s C C TA m o v e s t o the third phase of testing, members of the general public will not be able to ride the shared autonomous vehicles on public streets. The vehicles are currently staffed by trained testers. It is anticipated that during the upcoming year, additional predetermined testers and evaluators chosen from employees of various
employers within Bishop Ranch will be able to ride the vehicles as they traverse public streets within the business park. The permission for the EasyMile shuttles from the California DMV is separate from their autonomous vehicle testing program that has been underway since 2014.
TEACHERS from page 1
Districts until landing at California High School in 2013, where she happily remains. She has found her passion teaching students in the iQuest program, a course where student learning meets the real world through internships. Under Shanna’s leadership, the program has grown to serve more than 100 students each year and more than 60 community partnerships. Shanna is a frequent presenter at school, district, and community events where she shares her love of learning and her belief in the power of community. In addition to her teaching credential from St. Mary’s College, she has a B.A. in History and Business Economics from U.C. Santa Barbara and a Career Technical Education Credential from UC Berkeley. Both Lynn and Shanna represent the best of the best and we are so fortunate to have such excellent teachers who always empasize balancing each students personal and a c a d e m i c g row t h , ” s a i d SRVUSD Superintendent Rick Schmitt. “Congratulations to Lynn and Shanna on this achievement!” E a c h ye a r a l l C o n t ra Costa County School Districts s e l e c t Te a c h e r s o f t h e Year. An expertcommittee, with representatives from education and the community, then chooses one of these candidates to represent Contra Costa County in the State Teacher of the Year Program.
Lynn Alamillo joined the staff at Quail Run Elementary in 2008 and moved to Bella Vista Elementary when it opened last year. She has extensive experience teaching 1st and 2nd grade students; this year she has been happily teaching a 2nd/3rd grade combination class. Teaching is Lynn’s passion – she considers herself a lifelong learner, always seeking ways to improve her practice and engage students in active learning. Outside of her classroom, she’s mentored new teachers, worked with several student teachers, and collaborated with colleagues to present professional development for district colleagues. Lynn attends as many professional development experiences as time allows and shares her knowledge at school and family outreach events. She has a business degree from University of California at Berkeley, a teaching credential from Chapman University, and a Masters degree in Educational Technology from Touro University. Although Shanna Gagnon always wanted to be a teacher, circumstances led her to first pursue a business career. Her second career as a teacher began with the realization that she most enjoyed her role mentoring new employees, leading her to earn a teaching credential. Shanna taught history first in the Acalanes and Martinez Unified School
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Spring Home & Garden
Spring Home & Garden page 8
THE VALLEY SENTINEL
April 2018
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By the Contra Costa Master Gardeners
A Room Without Walls By Steven Wynn
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Clients often ask me to design an outdoor room as one part of a house and yard remodel. But what is a “room?” Turn to the dictionary and the first definition you’ll find is confining: “A part of a building enclosed by walls, floor, and ceiling.” The very opposite of what it means to be outdoors! But there is an alternate definition that is far more inspiring: “The possibility for something to exist or happen.” As in, “Yes, there is room for improvement.” It is
Creating and transforming spaces great and small. We’re here to help with your remodel, addition, outdoor room, or new home. Schedule a free consultation today.
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April 2018
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neither singular nor plural. It is uncountable potential. So the first question I ask my clients is, “What do you want to have happen in your outdoor room?” Its success will not be measured by the walls that enclose it, but rather by the activities and experiences it enables. The Comfort Of A Roof A roof provides the outdoor room potential for year-round use. It is a retreat from the elements – the shade you crave after a summer swim, or the patter of rain that tempts an outdoor winter read. This is where I want to share a hot toddy by the fire – and for that, I only need a pair of comfortable chairs, a basket of wool blankets, and a small table upon which to set our drinks. This doesn’t need to be a large space. Cozy is better. A poolside bar needs the shade of a roof to cool our backs and keep the countertop cool, lest it melt our margaritas. Add a ceiling fan to move the air. Give the bar, and its generously overhanging roof, a gentle radius to beckon swimmers from the pool and make for easier conversation. Personally, I prefer to keep electronics out – or rather, inside the house. I don’t want the look, or feel, or
even the sounds of the outdoors to be the same as indoors. The Call Of The Open Sky Other activities cry out for the sky to be our ceiling. Al fresco dining for family and friends needs little more than a large table and open sky. Conversations are loud, and laughter even louder. I wouldn’t dare contain that energy with more than removable umbrellas and a string or two of lights swaying above.
April Garden To Dos: General Garden Care Adjust irrigation controller programming. Check soil moisture around plant roots, and if dry, start increasing watering frequency. Program irrigation start times for early a.m. to reduce evaporative loss. Empty & remove all sources of standing water to reduce mosquito habitat. Weed: remove summer weeds while still small. Amend the soil with finished compost prior to planting and water deeply after planting. Cover compost piles with damp burlap bags if it has stopped raining. Group new plantings according to water requirements. Don’t fertilize until plants have been in a couple of weeks and are showing signs of new growth. Top-dress with compost to fertilize (preferable) or use a slow-release source of Nitrogen. Fertilize turf if needed. Compost is best, or use a slowrelease fertilizer.
Fruits & Vegetables Sow vegetable seeds in outdoor beds where the soil has warmed: beets, broccoli, corn, cucumbers endive, kohlrabi, lettuces, onions, p a rs l ey, p a rs n i p s, p e a s, potatoes, radishes, spinach, Swiss chard, squash and turnips. Fertilize citrus - follow directions. Thin most fruit when dime-sized to about 6” apart or one per cluster. Place hot caps on tomatoes if the weather is cool. Flowers & Landscaping Mow the following g ro u n d c ove rs : Ac h i l l e a tomentosa, Baccharis pilularis, Cotoneaster dammeri, Euonymus fortunei ‘Colorata’, Hedera helix, Hypericum calycinum, Juniperus spp., Lonicera japonica ‘Halliana’, Mahonia repens, Pachysandra terminalis, Rosa banksiae (Lady Banks Rose), and ground cover roses. Prune spring-blooming shrubs that have finished flowering, such as Spirea, Philadelphus, Viburnum,
Cercis (redbud), Ribes, lilac, Ceanothus, Chaenomeles (quince), Genista, Acacia, Forsythia. P i n c h b a c k : chrysanthemums, euryops, fuchsias, geraniums, impatiens, petunias, snapdragons and zinnias. Plant: Heat loving annuals if the weather has warmed up, such as ageratum, amaranth, celosia, cosmos, dahlia, globe amaranth, impatiens, lobelia, marigolds, petunias, phlox, portulaca, salvia, sanvitalia, s t a t i c e, s w e e t a l y s s u m , verbena, and zinnias. Plant drought-tolerant perennials; try something new this year like Euphorbia characias wulfenii, E. myrsinites, E. rigida. Plant sub-tropicals i n p ro t e c t e d s i t e s : e. g . , B o u g a i n v i l l e a , H i b i s c u s, Jacaranda, Mandevilla, Plumeria. They may only live till winter in colder microclimates. Take cuttings from azaleas, carnations, chrysanthemums, fuchsias, geraniums and succulents for propagation.
AAUW Garden Tour on Mother’s Day
A common mistake is to overdesign a large structure that tries to be all things at once. In the end, it will feel too much like “walls, floor, and ceiling.” It will lose the outdoor intimacy, and the vital connection to your surrounding landscape. Instead, think of your yard as a series of small spaces – you will be rewarded not with one outdoor room, but many, each of which provides a unique possibility for the uncountable moments of life to exist.
Announcing the 18th Annual Danville-AlamoWalnut Creek AAUW Garden Tour on Mother’s Day weekend! The Tour will be held on Friday and Saturday, May 11th and 12th, from 10 AM to 4 PM. Tickets cost $35 if purchased before May 4th; $40 thereafter. Outstanding gardens in Alamo and Danville will be featured. Among the many highlights: a sculptor’s garden containing fascinating basalt rocks and original artwork, a garden that features garden rooms with extensive and diverse plantings created by a selfdescribed “hoardaculturalist”, the spectacular views and incredible gardens on an acresized hill plot, and yet another with a perfect seating area providing a panoramic view of Mount Diablo. Flowers make us all happy but one owner has used that as motivation for her update. Please plan on attending, and bring a mom! Mail your $35 (before May 4) check payable for to: “AAUW Fund” with a selfaddressed, stamped business sized #10 envelope to: AAUW Garden Tour, PO Box 996, Alamo, CA 94507. Starting on April 10, tickets will be at
East Bay Flower Company at 206 Sycamore Valley Rd W. Danville (Livery Shopping Center) with cash or checks only. Or you can purchase them online with a credit card: https://daw-ca.aauw.net/ payment/ and the ticket will be mailed to you. Questions, email: daw.aauw@gmail.com. No children under 12. Tour rain or shine. Profits from the spring Garden Tour go to one of the largest sources of
funding for graduate women, AAUW Fund. It provided more than $3.7 million in funding for more than 244 fellowships and grants to outstanding women and nonprofit organizations in the 2017–18 academic year. AAUW advances equity for women and girls through a d v o c a c y, e d u c a t i o n , philanthropy and research. For information, contact Tena Gallagher, Garden Tour Chair 925 837-0826.
Are you composting yet? • Reduced cost compost bins • Garbage bill discount • Monthly workshops • Vermicomposting & Bin Building Workshops (Worms!)
THE VALLEY SENTINEL Garden Pests Anthracnose in Modesto ash and other landscape trees: The leaves look scorched, turn brown, and drop. Dry weather can sometimes arrest the disease. Prune out and get rid of infected twigs and branches. Fertilize tree to stimulate vigorous growth if needed. Ants: Control with baits or use barrier products such as Tanglefoot. Aphids: Spray off with water before populations build up.
page 9
Control snails and slugs with hand-picking, traps or iron phosphate bait. Lots of other pests can show up in April, including the following: Codling Moth, Powdery Mildew, Rose Mosaic Virus, Rust, and Brown Rot on peaches, plums, apples, and pears. Master Gardeners are trained volunteers for the U n i v e rs i t y o f C a l i f o r n i a Cooperative Extension (UCCE). For more information visit ccmg.ucdavis.edu.
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Senior Services page 10
Starting in April 2018, Medicare will mail new Medicare cards to all people with Medicare, to help protect you from identity fraud. Fraudsters are always looking for ways to get your Social Security number, so we’re removing those numbers from Medicare cards to make them safer. Your new card will have a new Medicare number that’s unique to you. The new card will help protect your identity and keep your personal information more secure. You can start using your new card as soon as you get it. Your Medicare coverage and benefits won’t change at all. Medicare will automatically mail your new card – at no cost – to the address you have on file with Social Security. So make sure your mailing address is up to date. If your address needs to be corrected, contact Social Security at ssa.gov/myaccount or 1-800-772-1213. TTY users can call 1-800-325-0778. If Social Security has your current mailing address, there’s nothing else you need to do to receive your new card. Mailing everyone a new card will take time. Your card might arrive at a different time than your friend’s or neighbor’s.
Once you get your new Medicare card, take these three steps to make it harder for someone to steal your information and identity: 1 . D e s t roy yo u r o l d Medicare card right away. 2. Doctors, other health care providers, and health plans approved by Medicare know Medicare is replacing the old cards. They are ready to accept your new card when you need care. 3. Beware of anyone who contacts you and asks for your new Medicare number, personal information, or to pay a fee for your new card. There are no charges whatsoever for the new cards. Guard your card. Treat your new Medicare number like you treat your Social Security or credit card numbers. Only give your new Medicare number to doctors, pharmacists, insurers, or other people you trust to work with Medicare on your behalf. M e d i c a re w i l l n eve r call you uninvited and ask you to give us personal or private information to get your new Medicare card. Scam artists may try to get personal information (like your current Medicare number) by contacting you about your new card. If someone asks you for your information, or for money, or threatens to cancel your health benefits if you don’t share your personal information, hang up and call us at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
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Wednesday, April 25, 2018 4000 Camino Tassajara (cross street is Parkhaven) in Danville Registration: 6:30 PM • Lecture: 7:00 PM • Book Signing: 8:00 PM $10.00 Space is limited. RSVP to Carol Goldman at 925-964-2076* *If CE’s are needed, please make sure to leave your full name and license number when you RSVP.
Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care, Post-Acute Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing 4000 Camino Tassajara, Danville, CA 94506 925-648-2800 www.rcjl.org
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Your new Medicare card will be paper. Paper cards are easier for many providers to use and copy, and they save taxpayers a lot of money. Plus, you can print your own replacement card if you need one. Carry your new card and show it to your health care providers. Doctors, other providers, and health care facilities will ask for your new Medicare card when you need care. If you forget your new card, you, your doctor, or other health care provider m ay b e a b l e t o l o o k u p your new Medicare number online. If you’re in a Medicare Advantage plan (like an HMO or PPO), your Medicare Advantage plan ID card is
New Card! New Number! NEW Medicare Card
CMS Product No. 12009-P September 2017
Golden Crane Senior Center By Mary Ann Osborne
There’s Gold in Alamo! No “digging” is needed to strike “gold” at Golden Crane Senior Center. The mission is to promote physical and mental well-being through programs and social activities. The family-friendly atmosphere can help 50+seniors find their “gold.” On Mondays and Tuesdays, group learning and enjoyment of physical and mental abilities stimulate personal growth. Activities include: Tai Chi, tap dance, line dance, karaoke, hiking, camera club, chorus, yoga stretch, Chinese brush painting, c a l l i g r a p h y, s o f t p a s t e l , Chinese cooking class, MahJong, Yuan-Ji dance, walking and aerobic exercise.
By Robert Cucchiaro
Current Medicare Card
your main card for Medicare – you should still keep and use it whenever you need care. However, you also may be asked to show your new Medicare card, so you should carry this card with you, too. If you don’t get your new Medicare card by April 2019, call 1-800-MEDICARE
GCSC celebrates members’ birthdays bim o n t h l y, o r g a n i z e s picnics and day trips, and o b s e r ve s M o t h e r ’s D ay, Father’s Day, and Chinese holidays. Members may volunteer and participate in charitable, educational, and community service activities. All activities are open to members, with an annual $50 member fee.
(1-800-633-4227). TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048. Greg Dill 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 (1-800633-4227).
Discover your “gold” and join the fun at the Golden Crane Senior Center! Classes and activities are held at the Alamo Women’s Club, 1401 Danville Boulevard, Alamo, CA 94507. We offer ample parking in a safe environment. Contact Wendy Lee, 925718-6222 for information. Complete class and activity schedule are online at www.goldencrane.org.
Danville PD Unveils ‘You Are Not Alone’ Program Volunteers In Police Service to residents, and allow the T h e D a n v i l l e Po l i c e Department announced a new program, one that is focused on members of the community who live a l o n e. C a l l e d , ‘ Yo u A re N o t A l o n e ( YA N A ) ,’ t h e program features members of the Police Department’s
( V I P S ) p r o v i d i n g YA N A checks to residents. I f yo u l i ve a l o n e i n Danville, and would appreciate an occasional check on your well-being, you can sign up for the YANA program. You Are Not Alone is designed to provide a level of community and comfort
A Retirement Income Plan
g lin 8 ai 1 M 20 in
By Greg Dill
April 2018 Sponsored Content
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April 2018
New Medicare cards are coming!
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VIPS to provide referrals for special services and programs for residents in need. There is no minimum age requirement for YANA participation. To l e a r n m o re a b o u t YANA or to sign up, contact Program Coordinator Lauren Brown at (925) 314-3715
Last week one of my clients called and said he had been laid off from his employer. While it was not totally unexpected, he was an emotional wreck and wanted to meet immediately. I accommodated this request knowing that there was some good news I could share with him. When he first came on as a client I had built a retirement income plan for him assuming he retired at the age he indicated would be ideal for him. However I also built a 2nd plan in which he retired in 2018. Both plans worked and I had this information ready when we sat down. Relieved to know that big picture, his plan still works, his question then became, “how do I replace my paycheck that I receive every 2 weeks.” If you’ve ever asked yourself this same question when pondering retirement, you are not alone. Financial advice is often about saving, investing, and living within one’s means – which usually means living o f f t h e p ayc h e c k t h a t ’s coming into the checking account. Retirement planning turns all of this on its head. The saving stops and the paychecks go away. And this of course makes the investing part that much harder because every spike in volatility exacerbates the impact of portfolio withdrawals. So with that in mind, here are 4 simple steps to create your own retirement income plan: 1. D e t e r m i n e w h a t your income sources will be, how long they will last, and whether or not they will have any inflation adjustment. Let me give you an example – Let’s say Social Security for you at age 66 will be $2,800 per month (before taxes and deductions), may last beyond your death (if your spouse ends up getting ½ of your social security vs. 100% of theirs), and will have some inflation adjustment each year. These types of income sources would include social security, pensions and any other stable stream o f i n c o m e. T h ey wo u l d exclude anticipated portfolio withdrawals. 2. F i g u r e o u t w h a t your monthly fixed costs
will be each month. Be sure to include things that get paid semi-annually or annually like property taxes or insurance. 3. F i g u r e o u t w h a t your monthly discretionary costs will be each month, including travel. Assume they will be higher in the 1st 10 years of retirement, then lower in the next 10 years, then even lower in the last 10 years. 4. C o m p a re t h e g a p between the income sources vs. the expenses over time, to the size of your portfolio. If you are in your mid 60s you really want this % to be no more than 4% to 4.5%. The older you are the higher this % can be before you have a real probability of outliving your money. Based on my experience, the clients who have 3-4 checks coming in per month in retirement are the happiest. These checks feel like a paycheck into their bank account and the clients learn to live off of their new “paycheck”. This prevents them from obsessing about the day-to-day changes in the stock market. Remember, if you check your investments on a daily basis there is about a 50/50 chance they will be up or down. If this then dictates your mood for the day, that means you’ll be spending 50% of your re t i re m e n t ye a rs f e e l i n g worried and nervous about running out of money. This doesn’t sound like a great plan to me. If you would like help designing your own custom retirement income plan, send us an email or give us a call. Our team of Helpful Advisors includes 2 CFPs, a CFA, an MBA and we just brought on board a new Tax Director (Debbie Pham, EA) to help our clients take advantage of the new tax laws. Give us a call or visit our website to see if we can help you plan a better 2018! Robert Cucchiaro is a Certified Financial Planner and owner of Summit Wealth & Retirement, a financial planning firm that has been serving Danville for over 30 years. Rob specializes in helping people reduce their tax bills, enjoy a comfortable retirement, and pass along wealth to their loved ones. www. summitwealthandretirement. com
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Danville Area Chamber of Commerce Development and Business New President Zae Perrin Zae has over 20 years of professional experience within the fields of Organizational Management, Business Operations, Marketing and as an entrepreneur. He helped introduce Enterprise Rent A Car to Southern Germany where he opened 28 Branch Offices while leading the company in Customer Satisfaction, Growth and Employee Development. He has also worked with companies from start-ups to Target Corporation where he focused on Community Engagement, Employee
Growth Strategies. He is excited to bring his knowledge and background to the Danville Area Chamber of Commerce to aide in the growth and value of the Chamber to its constituents and the community as a whole. Zae has been a resident of Danville for the last 7 years. He resides here with his wife of 20 years, Rebecca, and their two children Roman, 16 and Camille, 12. He is also an active youth sports coach for Football, Basketball and Cheer…yes he coaches a Cheerleading Squad!
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Community Calendar
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For additional Community Events visit: www.ValleySentinel.com Please email information about your events to info@valleysentinel.com April 12 Coffee with Cops 6-7:30pm Come and enjoy a cup of coffee and chat with the officers of the Danville PD at Starbcuks (1 Railroad Ave., Danville) from 6pm to 7:30pm. Coffee with the Cops is a way for law enforcement and the community to get together, exchange ideas and get to know each other. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/DanvilleCAPolice April 15 Sunday Pasta Dinner at San Damaino 4:30-6:30pm Enjoy a family style pasta dinner this Sunday at the lovely San Damiano Retreat. Cost is $15 for adults and $10 for kids 12 and under. Dine with us 5 times and the 6th time is free! To make reservations call 925-837-9141x 315, or visit www.sandamiano.org. San Damiano is located at 710 Highland Drive, Danville, CA 94526. April 13 5th Annual Holi Festival Celebration at Bishop Ranch Marks the End of Winter 5:30-8pm The family-friendly, colorful festival of Holi will be celebrated at Bishop Ranch 2600, in the front parking lot on Friday, April 13. This free community event is expected to attract more than 1,500 attendees this year. Holi is an ancient festival from India that celebrates the beginning of spring. Participants throw brightly colored powdered pigments on each other as a way to commemorate the vibrant, abundant colors of springtime. Bishop Ranch 2600, Front Parking Lot: 2600 Camino Ramon, San Ramon. For more information call Emma Engelage at (949) 200-6100 April 21 Earth Day Celebration 11am-1pm. Bring the family to the Danville Library on April 21, 2018 for the annual Earth Day Celebration! Arts, Crafts, exhibits and activities at the Danville Library’s Town Green. Come down and enjoy some environmentally friendly activities from 11:00am - 1:00pm. For More Information: Town of Danville. Chris McCann. cmccann@danville.ca.gov April 26 15th Annual Art & Wine Stroll 6-9pm Come enjoy a fun-filled evening of art appreciation, wine tasting, small bites, the latest from stores in downtown Danville and the Livery, live music, commemorative wine glass and trolley rides during the 15th Annual Art & Wine Stroll in Danville. Select businesses in downtown Danville & the Danville Livery will stay open to host some of the area’s finest local wines and display local artisan’s work, as you stroll & enjoy live music throughout the evening. Complimentary Cable Car trolley will be provided between the two participating locations. Tickets: $35 per person, $15 for DDs. For more information, call (925) 837-4400. Tickets are available to purchase through Eventbrite at https://artwinestroll.eventbrite.com April 28 13th Annual Bras for the Cause Breast Cancer Walk Proudly Presented by Tri-Valley SOCKs, in partnership with TOPCON, and 101.7KKIQ; Walk details; Start/finish: Amador Valley High School 1155 Santa Rita Rd, Pleasanton, CA 94566. Schedule; 5:00 – 6:45 PM: Check in 5:30 PM: Decorated bra judging, 7:00 PM: Walk begins. 9:00 PM to 11:00 PM: Finisher’s party! Visit our website for more details at www. TriValleySOCKs.org. Decorating Contest and Awards! UnWaste Event: Residents invited to drop off recyclables at Sycamore Park and Ride 9am-3pm With the coming of spring also comes the opportunity to declutter and what better way to do it than the next UnWaste recycling event? The Town of Danville sponsors periodic recycling drop-off events, where residents can bring their unused items to the Danville Park & Ride, located near the intersection of Sycamore Valley Road and Camino Ramon. Small fee applies to certain items. All items must be clean and dry in order to be accepted. For a downloadable flyer for the event, go to the Town’s Living Green webpage http://www.danville.ca.gov/AboutDanville/New-Resident-Info/Living-Green. For more information, contact Clean Water Program Coordinator Chris McCann at (925) 314-3342 or cmccann@danville.ca.gov. May 6 40th Anniversary of the Devil Mountain 5K-10K Run 8am Lace up your running shoes for the 40th anniversary of the Devil Mountain Run on Sunday May 6 at 8am. Join in the fun as hundreds of runners, walkers and elite racers participate in the East Bay’s oldest foot race through the streets of Danville. New this year is the Elite Division of the Mile of Truth is this years Pacific Association USA Track and field Grand Prix Championship event with a $5000 prize purse! Downtown Danville. Event benefits the Discovery Counseling Center. Register at devilmtrun.com. ONGOING Special Services for Children with Cancer and Their Families Cancer Support Community offers short-term counseling (12 to 20 sessions) at no cost to children with cancer and their families. Counseling can be for the family, siblings, and/or kids coping with cancer. Counseling is provided by doctoral interns or post doctoral fellows under the supervision of our clinical psychologists. To request this service, please call us at 925-933-0107 and ask to speak with our program director, Margaret Stauffer, LMFT.
Hope Hospice seeking volunteers Hope Hospice is currently looking for individuals who are interested in volunteering to assist hospice patients and their families. 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. Alamo Farmer’s Market Every Sunday, Year round 9am-2pm, rain or shine. Fresh seasonal fruit and vegetables, nuts, local honey, live music, delicious varieties of hummus with fresh pita and pita chips. Located in the Alamo Plaza Shopping Center, at Stone Valley Road and Danville Blvd., with convenient parking. Danville Farmer’s Market Every Saturday, Year-round 9am-1pm. Get the freshest seasonal fare at the Danville Certified Farmers’ Market. Railroad & Prospect Avenue, Danville. Information: www.ci.danville. ca.us. (You can make donations of fresh vegetables and fruit for our local food pantries at the Loaves & Fishes Booth at the Danville Farmers Market.) San Ramon Farmers Market Every Saturday & Thursday Year-round Buy fresh, seasonal produce directly from local farmers at San Ramon Farmers Market. Connect with your community while shopping at a festive gathering place with live music! www.SanRamonFarmersMarket.org. Bishop Ranch 3, 2641 Camino Ramon, San Ramon. Canine Companions for Independence Puppy Class each Saturday 10-11am. Become a puppy raiser! The East Bay Miracles Chapter invites you to help train puppies to become assistant dogs for children and adults with disabilities. Athenian High School, 2100 Mt. Diablo Scenic Blvd., Danville. Information: 925-838-3213, cci.org/eastbaychapter Forest Home Farms Historic Park & Glass House Museum–open for Fun on the Farm Every Saturday 11am-2pm. Enjoy tours of the Glass House Museum, the farm and its history. Tours are $5 per person, or $8 for both tours on the same day. 19953 San Ramon Valley Blvd, San Ramon. Information: 925-973-3284 or visit www.sanramon.ca.gov. Saturday without Reservations at the Tao House Every Saturday 10am, 12pm, and 2pm. Come explore this National Historic Site in Danville. Catch the shuttle at the bus stop in front of the Museum of the San Ramon Valley, 205 Railroad Ave. www.EugeneOneill.org SENIORS April 14 Spring Fashion Show & Tea 2-4pm. Welcome the spring season with an afternoon of fashion, food and fun for all ages. Fabulous door prizes, prizes for the Best Hat, and opportunity drawings will be included. Registration deadline is Thursday, April 6, space pending. All registration must be done in-person at the Alcosta Senior and Community Center. Proceeds benefit the San Ramon Senior Foundation which supports senior programs and Meals on Wheels in San Ramon. All ages are welcome! San Ramon Community Center at Central Park. $25 per person or $30 after April 6 Danville Seniors Unless otherwise noted, the following activities are held at the Danville Senior Center, Veterans Memorial Building, 115 E. Prospect, Danville. For more information call 925-314-3490 or visit www.ci.danville.ca.us/ Recreation/Seniors. Sneaker Trips: The Town of Danville’s Senior Sneakers program is a great way for you to make new friends and get out and around the greater Bay Area. There’s always something new to see and learn. The Danville Area Senior Hikes (DASH) is open to all adults and meets on the second and fourth Wednesday of every month. The group starts at 8:45am at Osage Park, 816 Brookside Drive, Danville and returns about 1pm. Information: 925314-3400 or visit www.ci.danville.ca.us/Recreation/Seniors/Senior_Hiking. San Ramon Seniors The following events are held at the Alcosta Senior & Community Center, 9300 Alcosta Blvd., San Ramon, unless otherwise noted. For more information call 925-973-3250 or visit www.sanramon.ca.gov/parks/ programs/ages55+.htm. Wisdom Wednesdays: 10:30am-12pm. Free workshops and informational sessions that will benefit you. They will give you free access to coffee, knowledge and a better understanding of important issues. Information: 925-973-3250.
Trips Trip Desk is open Tuesdays from 10am-1pm. Sign up for trips at the travel desk or by depositing payment with registration form in the gold drop box found at the main entryway. Information: 925-973-3250. Wednesday Morning Hikes (time and location varies) Join the San Ramon Trailblazers if you are interested in meeting new people, enjoying the outdoors, having fun and getting in shape. To find out the exact meeting location, please call the Senior Center at 925-973-3250 or email trailblazer88@comcast.net. Page Turners Senior Book Group Third Tuesday of the month 1:30pm. Drop in–all are welcome! Copies of this month’s book are on reserve for you at the Dougherty Station Library Front Desk. Book group meets at Alcosta Senior and Community Center, 9300 Alcosta Blvd. Information: Carol Yuke, Adult Services Librarian. 925-973-2850. BUSINESS April 12 The Danville Area Chamber of Commerce After Hours Business Mixer 5:30-7pm. Join the Danville Area Chamber of Commerce and the local business community at the April After Hours Business Mixer to be held at Golden Gate Sotheby’s Int. Realty, located at 390 Railroad Avenue – Danville. Enjoy Refreshments, networking and new faces! Members $5. Non-members, $10. For more information call The Chamber at (925) 837-4400. April 17 Business Master Mind Class For Women Entrepreneurs 6-8pm Join us for the ongoing meeting of Women Business Owners getting together to network and support each other in the journey of Entrepreneurship. We will present a different business topic each month, (marketing, branding, financials, taxes, growth strategies and more), then we will have an opportunity for discussion, problem-solving and support. For any questions, please call: Mari Lovalvo at 925 437 3303 This month the meeting will take place at 970 Broadway street, Ste. 102 in Walnut Creek. We are looking for forward to seeing you then! FREE. April 19 Third Thursday Mixer: Museum of the San Ramon Valley 5:30-7:30pm Please join the San Ramon Chamber of Commerce for our Third Thursday Mixer at The Museum of the San Ramon Valley, located at 205 Railroad Ave. Danville. This mixer will be co-hosted by Whole Foods Market who will be bringing their delicious food! Meet other business owners for an opportunity to network and make your business more visible. $5 for Members, $20 for Non-Members. No RSVP required. Checks and cash only please. For more information call Kathy Fanning at (925) 242-0600. April 26 The Walnut Creek Chamber of Commerce and Visitor’s Bureau BASH 5:30-7pm The April BASH will be hosted by Police and Fire: The Fallen Heroes. The event will be held on Thursday, April 26 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at 2175 N. California Blvd, Suite 150. Our hosts have a wonderful BASH planned, so we hope to see you there! This event is FREE to all Walnut Creek Chamber Members; please remember to bring your business card. Non-member admission is $20.00 (cash only) and a business card. The BASH is a great opportunity to network with Chamber members, government officials, educators and local businesses. For more information call (925) 934-2007. BNI Every Thursday Noon-1:30pm. We are actively looking for new members to refer business to in the trades. We need a plumber, electrician, handyman and cleaning service but are also looking for other professions like property manager, event planner and many others. Mo Mo’s Restaurant, 1444 North California Blvd., Walnut Creek. 925-3308275 or david@staff.webquarry.com BBR-Partners for Success 1st and 3rd Tuesdays 12-1pm. One of the Danville Area Chamber of Commerce’s successful Business by Referral groups, Partners for Success meets the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month to provide concrete business leads to one another. Chamber Conference Room, 117 E Town & Country Drive, Danville. www.danvilleareachamber.com BBR-Sunrise Alliance 2nd and 4th Wednesdays 7:30-8:30am. One of the Danville Area Chamber of Commerce’s successful Business by Referral groups, Sunrise Alliance meets the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month to provide concrete business
Please email your calendar events to the Sentinel at Info@valleysentinel.com by 5pm on the 20th of the month preceding publication month. Inclusion in the calendar pages is at the sole discretion of Sentinel Newspapers, Inc.
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CLUBS & ORGANIZATIONS April 14 California Writers Club: Writing Compelling Characters: Beyond the Five Senses 11am-2pm. Dean Gloster will present A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Death Scene: Why and How to Use Humor in Serious Stories the next luncheon meeting of the Mt. Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) at Zio Fraedo’s Restaurant, 611 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill. Sign-in is from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm, luncheon 12:00 pm to 12:45, including a short business meeting, and speaker from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm. Registration is $25 for CWC members, $30 for guests. Reservations at https://cwcmtdiablo.org/current-cwc-mt-diablo-meeting. ADAS (Alamo Danville Artist Society) monthly meeting 7:30pm. Live demonstration by Peggi Kroll Roberts, an award winning Gaouche artist. Peggi’s work encompasses the medium of Gaouche, using a bold palette and loose style. Her demo will be to create a figure in a seascape setting using Gouache. Meeting held At the Alamo Women’s Club, 1401 Danville Blvd., Alamo for more information visit www.ADAS4art.org. Alamo Danville Newcomers Club 10am-Noon. Are you a new resident of Danville, Blackhawk, Diablo or Alamo, a longtime resident, newly retired or empty nester interested in making new friends and participating in various social activities? The Alamo Danville Newcomers Club is a women’s organization, whose purpose is to enrich the lives of all its members and their families in a sociable manner. The next “Welcome Coffee” will be held on April 24 from 10:00 AM to Noon. RSVP to alamodanvillenewcomers@ gmail.com. Visit www.alamodanvillenewcomers.com Danville Veteran Service Organizations 8am-11am. Every Saturday at Veterans Memorial Building of San Ramon Valley – in Danville – the VSOs jointly host a “Veterans Coffee Social” from 8AM until 11AM… Bring a friend or fellow Veteran and show them the museum - share some social time. Drop In - no reservations – all Veterans welcome… stop for a few minutes - or stay for hours! WW II Vet & Senior Docent Art Gaskns has pastries waiting for you! Please share information about our VMB /SRV Military Museum & Library open daily M-F from 9-3 and it’s free! Tri-Valley Fly Fishers Visitors welcome. Meetings feature speakers who share their knowledge of the sport. Held at 7:00 PM on the first Thursday of every month, September through June at the Livermore-Pleasanton Rod and Gun Club, 4000 Dagnino Road, Livermore, CA 94551. Information: email Roger Perry at President@Tri-valleyflyfishers.org Danville-Alamo-Walnut Creek Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) Advances equity for women and girls. AAUW membership is open to all graduates of accredited four year colleges or universities and those holding an Associate Degree. For information contact Soni at 286-1737 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 Groups– Ongoing Hope Hospice provides support to help you understand and manage grief in a way that is healthy and appropriate. Our Grief Support Center is available to all community members at minimal or no cost. Information: visit www.HopeHospice.com or call 925-829-8770.
April 2018
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Community Calendar continued from page 12 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 RECURRING Mondays: The Walnut Creek Garden Club 9:45am The Walnut Creek Garden Club meets on the second Monday of each month at The Gardens at Heather Farm in the Camellia Room. The April 9 meeting of the Walnut Creek Garden Club is: “Fifty Years in the Nursery Business and I Still Love to Smell the Roses!” Buzz Bertolero is well known in the community as the former owner of Navlets Nurseries. The center is just off Ygnacio Valley Road at 1540 Marchbanks Drive. Call 925-9471678 for directions. The business meeting is at 9:45am, socializing time is at 10am, and the program is at 11am. Contact mslittle44@gmail.com for more information. You do not need to be a gardener to join the WCGC! Sons In Retirement (Las Trampas Branch) Monthly Luncheon 11:15am. Meets the third Monday of each month, except for May and December. Make new friends and participate in fun activities. The guest speaker will be Steve Moskowitz who will talk about the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and then tell a few stories about sports personalities. Make $25 luncheon reservations by calling 925322-1160 by the preceding Wednesday. The Clubhouse at Boundary Oak, 3800 Valley Vista Road, Walnut Creek. Information: visit www.branch116.org. Danville Rotary 12pm. Meets every Monday. Black Bear Diner, 807 Camino Ramon, Danville. Information: danvillerotary.org. San Ramon Alzheimer Support Group 7-9pm. Meets the second Monday of each month, except on holidays. Sponsored by the Alzheimer Association. Caregivers of Alzheimer victims can get information on how to help them through this difficult time in life. San Ramon Senior & Community Center, 9300 Alcosta Blvd., San Ramon. Information: 925-973-3250 Tuesdays: Catholics@Work presents: 6:30-8:15am House of Representative’s Chaplain to Speak April 10 at Catholics@ Work Tuesday, April 10 from 6:30am-8:15am at Crow Canyon Country Club, 711 Silver Lake Drive in Danville. For information call 925-735-5700 or email to info@ CatholicsAtWork.org. Tickets are $20 for members; $30 for non-members. Rev. Conroy, a Jesuit, serves as the official chaplain Chaplain to the House of Representatives. His is a unique role in the Nation’s elegant Capitol (with his counterpart for the Senate). TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) We meet every Tuesday at St. Timothy’s Office Building, Grace House, Basement 1550 Diablo Rd. Danville CA Our hours: Weigh in 8:15am, meeting is 9:30 - 10:30am. We are a weight loss club. Information, please call Mary Stoneburner, at (925) 837-1882 Danville am Toastmasters 7-8:30am. Want to improve your speaking and presentation skills? Toastmasters can help! Meets every Tuesday in downtown Danville. www.4143.toastmastersclubs. org Danville/Sycamore Valley Rotary 7am. Meets every Tuesday morning. Crow Canyon Country Club, Danville. Information: dsvrotary.com. Diablo View Toastmasters 8:15-9:15am. Meets every Tuesday. CMG Mortgage, 4th Floor Conference Room, 3160 Crow Canyon Rd., San Ramon. Information: 4160.toastmastersclubs.org.
Divorce Angels 5:30 - 7:30pm Going through a divorce is often a life altering experience, one that can make you feel lost. Divorce Angels is a volunteer organization that can help. We are made up of different professionals within the following industries: Legal, Financial, Real Estate, and Psychology. Our goal is to provide you with practical information so you can confidently move forward in your life. Visit www.divorceangel. com. Join us on the first Tuesday of each month at 5:30 pm at the Danville Area Chamber (117 Town & Country Drive Suite #E ) for help with the issues you are facing. San Ramon Valley Geneological Society 10am. Meets every third Tuesday at the LDS Church, 2949 Stone Valley Road, Alamo. http://srvgensoc.org 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 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek. Information: arf.net.
Divorced and Separated Workshop 7- 8:30pm. A new workshop series for divorced and separated people is being held on at St. Joan of Arc Parish, 2601 San Ramon Valley Blvd., San Ramon. Contact: Sue at smc9@sbcglobal.net. 925 -819-1809. Prostate Cancer Group 7:30–9pm. Meets 2nd Tuesday of the month. Drop-in prostate cancer group for men and their loved ones. San Ramon Regional Medical Center, South Building, West Day Room. 6001 Norris Canyon Road, San Ramon. Information: 925.933.0107 or www.twc-bayarea.org/ community-programs.html. Wednesdays: Danville Tennis Club (DTC) 6:30-9 PM Wednesday Night Drop-In Tennis at San Ramon Valley High School, 501 Danville Blvd., for men and women of 4.0 level or above (and strong 3.5). Also have USTA teams and social events. Join free at https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/ danvilletennisclub/info Exchange Club of San Ramon Valley 12-1pm The Exchange Club meets every 2nd Wednesday at Noon at Faz Restaurant. The April 11 meeting will feature The Oakland Zoo’s Nik Dehejia, CFO & VP of Business Affairs for a talk on Oakland Zoo on the Move.. Lunch included, $20 for members, $25 for non-members. RSVP coachstepper@yahoo.com, 275-2412. Faz is located at 600 Hartz Avenue, Danville 9526.
San Ramon Valley Rotary 7pm. Meets every Wednesday. Blackhawk Country Club, 599 Blackhawk Club Drive, Danville. Info: sanramonvalleyrotary.com. Blue Star Moms 7-9pm. Meets the second Wednesday of every month to participate in service activities supporting sons/daughters serving in the military. Danville Veterans Memorial Building, 400 Hartz Ave. Information: bluestarmoms.org. Diablo Valley Quilters 7-9pm. Meets the third Wednesday of every month. No charge for guests. Danville Congregational Church, 989 San Ramon Valley Blvd., Danville. Information: diablovalleyquilters.com. Veterans of Foreign Wars 7pm. Meets the third Wednesday of every month. Veterans Memorial Hall, 400 Hartz Avenue, Danville. Information: Post Commander Ernie Petagara at 925-362-9806 or vfwpost75.org.
show@gmail.com by Monday, April 23rd to reserve your seat. San Ramon Valley Newcomers 11:30am-2pm. Meets the third Thursday of every month with a featured guest speaker at a local Tri-Valley restaurant. New and long-time adult residents are welcome. Reservations/information: susansgotbling@sbcglobal.net or www.srvnc.com. Rotary Club of San Ramon 11:45am. Meets every Thursday. Crow Canyon Country Club, 711 Silver Lake Drive, Danville. Information: sanramonrotary.org. San Ramon Valley Kiwanis Club Thursdays at Noon. Black Bear Diner, 807 Camino Ramon, Danville. www. kiwanis-srv.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, W alnut Creek. Information: 925-736-8627.
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.
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.
Danville Toastmasters Club #1785 7:30-9pm. Meets every Wednesday. Room W204 at Diablo Valley College,1690 Watermill Road, San Ramon. Information: danvilletoastmasters1785.com.
Fridays: Transitions-“Navigating Life’s Turning Points Together” 9-11:30am. Our mission is to encourage and support women from empty nest, to aging parents and everything in between. Community Presbyterian Church, Room 116, 222 W. El Pintado Rd., Danville. Information: Contact Donna Hill at hillmom3@ comcast.net
Thursdays: Danville Alamo Garden Club Meets on the 2nd Thursday of the months between September and June starting at 9:15 am at the Alamo Women’s Club 1401 Danville Blvd, Alamo. At the March 8th meeting, landscape contractor and nurseryman, Troy McGregor, of Gondwana Flora will walk us through his favorite plants from Australia and South Africa. Troy was the former Nursery Manager at the Ruth Bancroft Garden in Walnut Creek before starting his own landscaping business. He will bring plants to sell. If you have any questions, contact Susan at membershipvp@dagc.us or go to our website: www.dagc.us. The Danville Women’s Club April 19 11am-2pm It’s time for a Tea Party! Come join us at the Danville Women’s Club located at 242 W. Linda Mesa Drive in Danville. Reservations are required. Contact Bonnie at normbraga99@hotmail. com for your place (free for first-timers!). Seating is limited to 40 people. And on MAY 3, the 22nd Annual Spring Luncheon and Fashion Show will be held at the Blackhawk Country Club main ballroom from 11am to 2:30pm. Tickets are $55/person. Contact Lori at dwcfashion-
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: diablopca.org. Parkinson’s Disease Support Group 9am-12pm. Meets every 3rd Saturday. Join us to share, laugh, and learn from each other. Grace Presbyterian Church, 2100 Tice Valley Blvd., Walnut Creek. General questions may be directed to CoChairs Lance Gershen, (925) 932-1028; or Abraham Raja, (925) 304-2064.Web site: www.pnmd.net
Help Wanted Senior Application Support Engineer I: M.S. in C.S., Comp. App., or rltd. & 3 yrs. rltd. exp. CV to: Bank of the West, careers@bankofthewest.com. Position in San Ramon, CA.
Walnut Creek Toastmasters 7-8:15pm. Meets every Wednesday. 1660 Oak Park Blvd., Pleasant Hill. Information: walnutcreek.freetoasthost.net Sons in Retirement (San Ramon Valley chapter) Monthly Luncheon 10:30am; Social Hour, 11:35am meeting and lunch. Meets the 3rd Wed. of each month. Reservations, please email us at www.info@sir128.com by Friday prior to the luncheon. Bridges Golf Club, 9000 S. Gale Ridge Rd., San Ramon. Alamo Rotary 12:15pm. The Club meets on Wednesdays at 12:15 p.m. on a temporary basis, at Forli’s Restaurant, 3160 Danville Blvd, Alamo, at least until mid 2018, while Round Hill Country Club in Alamo undergoes a remodeling project. 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. Danville Lions Club 6:30pm. Meets the first and third Wednesday at the Crow Canyon Country Club, 711 Silver Lake Dr., Danville. Information: Truman Howard 925-787-2565 truman. howard@gmail.com
Community News & Information Danville • Blackhawk Alamo • Diablo • San Ramon Publisher/Editor-Denise Rousset Advertising-Betty Overhoff Chief Financial Officer-Jeff Gummere Graphic Designer-Laurie Prindle Auto-David & Judy Colman Intern-Veronica Yoo, SRVHS
925-820-6047
542 San Ramon Valley Blvd., #A Danville, CA 94526 www.valleysentinel.com
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THE VALLEY SENTINEL April 2018
Earn & Learn East Bay Connects Local Employers with their Future Work Force By Candace Andersen. Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors
I will always remember my first summer job at the Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlor in Kahala Mall in Honolulu. I worked long hours filling ice cream orders. Besides being taught how to scoop a perfectly round ball of ice cream and slice a banana while still in its peel, I learned the importance of being responsible and on time, the satisfaction that came from working hard, and how to appropriately manage the money I earned. Summer jobs provide hands-on career and technical skills as well as life skills, such as communication, collaboration, and critical thinking. Summer jobs can create a great environment to learn networking and relationship-building skills, as well as facilitating mentorships with industry professionals. Youth with jobs also gain newfound confidence in their skills and abilities. In an effort to create summer youth employment and enrichment experiences, the Workforce Development Board of Contra Costa County, in collaboration with Contra Costa Economic Partnership and the Diablo Gateways to Innovation Consortium, introduced “Earn & Learn East Bay” in 2015. The program has continued to grow each year. To c r e a t e t h e s e opportunities, Earn & Learn East Bay relies largely on the support of local employers and nonprofit organizations. Employers
and organizations can help by hosting a summer internship or work-based learning opportunity for one or more youth; sponsor a youth for a summer experience; or encourage colleagues to host a work-based learning opportunity. Benefits to employer partners include the opportunity to build a future workforce, the chance to showcase their industry and organization, including positive publicity as a partner supporting Earn & Learn East Bay (through publications, website, news media and special events), and having a direct impact on strengthening communities in the East Bay region. Earn & Learn is a single point of contact for employers with the region’s schools, colleges, and community organizations, including the San Ramon Valley Unified School District and Diablo Valley College. Earn & Learn organizes work-based learning experiences at the schools, where professionals can come to be guest speakers, mentors or serve on industry advisory boards, or, at the workplace, companies can host workplace tours, job shadows or internships. Earn & Learn’s goal is to make it easy for businesses to be involved, and Earn & Learn “connectors” will provide any needed information and instructions and are available to support. Jose Carrascal of Dow Chemical Dow AgroSciences recently commented, “Earn & Learn is perhaps the most revolutionary platform for work-based learning. The Dow
DACC presents service awards On Thursday, March 15, the Danville Area Chamber of Commerce (DACC) held its State of the Town and Community Service Awards Luncheon. It was held at Crow Canyon Country Club, with a sold out crowd that came to hear the State of the town address given by Danville Mayor Newell Arnerich who covered such topics as open space and the general plan, growth, economic development, safety and more. The event was beset by a faulty sound system, frustrating listeners as the sound drifted in and out throughout the event, however some snippets of the Mayor’s talk came through. “Preserving the past and the small town atmosphere has been the careful task of the Town Council over the last 30 years, which during that time saw a
$130 million investment,” said Arnerich. He went on to say that careful management of the money in the general fund from property and sales taxes has enabled Danville to keep the parks other public places in top shape. $10 million is spent each year on public safety, $7.6 million on maintenance and $4.2 million on recreation, Mayor Arnerich said. Also covered was emergency preparedness and The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program which educates volunteers about disaster preparedness for the hazards that may impact the area and training volunteers in basic disaster response skills, such as team organization, fire safety, disaster medical operations, search and rescue, referencing the north Bay Fires
leadership team is impressed and thrilled by its depth and reach and honored to support this program.” These work-based learning experiences are life-changing for youth and help companies reach motivated and talented students who want to learn more about the industry and jobs, and may even become their host’s future employees. Students share enthusiasm for this program. “I learned so much from my experience that I’ll carry with me forever; problem solving with the people around me, teamwork and time management I got out there. I was working and I loved it. I just loved it!” said Kylie, a Mount Diablo Unified School District high school student. Spring is a great time to get involved. Students are preparing to be summer interns and looking for opportunities. Summer internships are especially important for young people who have a passion for a career but don’t have connections. To learn more and get involved, please go to www. earnlearneastbay.org . 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.
which, he said, enabled the Town to improve local disaster response for such situations as fire or earthquake emergencies. Following Mayor Arnerich’s address, the Awards Presentation honored recipients for 2018. The Business of the Year Award was presented to Color Bundles Art Studio, (www.colorbundles. com), Business Person of the year was given to Dr, Jerome Potozkin of Potozkin MD Skincare Center, (www.mybeautymd.com). The Charitable Organization of the Year Award went to the Down Syndrome Connection of the Bay Area. (www.dsconnection. org). The Citizen of the Year Award was bestowed upon Chris McCrary, Founder of the Devil Mountain Run, and finally, Shirley Jacks of the Discovery Counseling Center Thrift Station was named the Employee of the Year. (www.discoveryctr.net).
Energy Competition Arrives in San Ramon and Delivers More Options for the Community A new era in San Ramon begins in April when residents and businesses can choose to receive their “renewable” electricity from a provider other than Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) Company. Under an agreement the San Ramon City Council approved in June 2017 with Marin Clean Energy (MCE) – a nonprofit government agency - residents and b u s i n e s s e s h ave s eve ra l options to receive electricity through MCE from renewable sources such as wind, solar and geothermal geysers. Residents can also choose to continue to receive electricity exclusively through PG& E. Effective on the date of their April PG&E billing statement, residents and businesses will be automatically enrolled in MCE’s “Light Green” program –in which MCE will supply 100 percent of their electricity with 50 percent from renewable sources unless they previously opted out of the program. For example, if a customer starts the billing cycle with MCE onApril 10, the first bill from MCE would be May 10. Customers can opt out of MCE service without cost for the first 60 days after their April billing statement or at any time although there is a $5 and $25 fee for residential and commercial accounts, respectively. San Ramon residents and commercial customers can also choose MCE’s “Deep Green” program which offers 10 0 p e rc e n t re n ewa b l y sourced electricity. City officials emphasized that they are not advocating that residents join MCE but are committed to providing the San Ramon community with a range of options for services and programs. And the MCE agreement reflects that commitment. As a member of MCE, San Ramon is represented by Council Member Scott Perkins on the Governing Board of Directors. “All consumers and our economy benefit when there are options in the marketplace for any service or product,” said Council Member Perkins. “Our community has long placed a high priority on the environment and many re s i d e n t s wa n t t o b e a s ‘green’ as possible.” Officials also underscored that community members can
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stay with PG&E which offers a program that provide a percentage – including a base 33 percent – of electricity from renewable sources. The City Council wanted to structure the agreement so that residents would have to “Opt-in” to join the program but assistant City Manager Eric Figueroa noted that California law mandates that cities’ agreements with Community Choice Energy providers like MCE mandate an “opt-out” process. Under the agreement with MCE, the agency takes over only the generation portion of the bill which will still come from PG&E. PG&E will continue to be re s p o n s i b l e f o r d e l i ve r y of electricity and gas, line maintenance and billing. Customers will continue to pay PG&E whether they join or opt out of the MCE service. Anticipating that the MCE agreement would raise many questions, San Ramon officials will continue to hold a series of meetings and post information on the city’s website www. sanramon.ca.gov to address concerns and questions. For more information or to opt out, residents and business owners can call the MCE customer service number – 1-888/632-3674 - or visit the MCE Contra Costa Welcome page at www.mcecleanerergy. org/contracosta. Customers c a n a l s o g o t o w w w. mcecleanenergy.org/optout to opt out. Residents and business owners must provide their PG&E account number to opt out of the MCE service. MCE has scheduled a public meeting for all new MCE communities on April 25 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the San Ramon Community Center, 12501 Alcosta Boulevard, to explain and answer questions about the new service. Like other utilities, MCE is subject to reporting standards established by the California Legislature for greenhouse gas emissions and renewable energy sources. For more information, please see ad on back page or visit www. energy.ca.gov/pc/labels.
March 2009 April 2018
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2017 Nissan Titan 5.6 Liter V8 Pro-4X 4Wd Cc By David and Judy Colman
In 2015, Nissan reinvented the Titan pickup line with a truck designed to bridge the gap between traditional half ton and three-quarter ton load ratings. At the same time, they introduced a Holset two stage turbo diesel engine which produced 310hp and a whopping 555lb.-ft. of torque. They also introduced an all new V8 for the Titan, and that is the 2017 model we recently tested. Both the block and heads of this 5.6 liter “Endurance V8” are made of aluminum. Compression ratio of 11.2:1 helps the motor produce 390hp and 390lb.-ft. of torque. The Endurance V8 feeds its substantial output to a 7-speed automatic transmission which is activated by an anachronistic column shift lever. This device has lasted into the 21st century because it still works well, while freeing up floor space between the front seats for storage and cup holders. At the end of the column shift lever, you’ll find a push button to activate “Tow Mode,” a setting that optimizes the Titan for heavy hauling use. In 4WD configuration, the Endurance V8
Titan will pull a 9,230lb. trailer. Nissan equipped the PRO4X Titan with a number of savory upgrades over the base truck. For example, you will receive, in addition to the V8, a shift-on-the-fly 4WD system with an easily reachable control knob located next to the steering wheel. The 4WD architecture consists of a 2-speed transfer case which administers 4Hi and 4Lo settings. This Titan is all-terrain suited thanks to PRO4X monotube Bilstein shocks at each corner and 4-wheel Active Brake Limited Slip which operates through an electronic locking rear differential. Putting the V8’s abundant torque to the ground are General Grabber apt radials (275/70R18) mounted on model specific grey and silver 7.5”x18” alloy rims. A full-size spare is included. Our test Titan benefitted from a couple of pricey upgrade packages. The “PRO-4X Utility and Tow Package” ($1,820) provides front and rear sonar detectors which inform you of your truck’s proximity to nearby objects. This information, conveyed by the increasing
frequency of a warning beeper, is essential when trying to park a vehicle that weighs 3 tons and occupies 19 feet of roadway. If you plan on working your Titan, this option group will ease your burden by providing LED lights under the bed rails, a 120v outlet in the bed, and illumination of the tailgate area. In addition, you get a trailer brake controller, and an electronic lock for the tailgate. Perhaps the niftiest inclusion in this package is the ability to check your trailer lights from the key fob remote. Despite the fact that our test Titan’s interior benefitted from a $3,520 optional “PRO-4X Convenience Package,” the surroundings inside were a little less festive than you might expect. Yes, the “Leather appointed seats with contrasting stitching and PRO-4X embroidery” are an improvement over the standard cloth seats. But there are too many unrelieved expanses of black plastic on the doors, dash and consoles for the Titan to achieve interior splendor. This is not to say that the cabin wonts for convenience or ease of use. In that regard, we found
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the heated steering wheel and four heated seats to be sublime on sub zero morning starts. But the rear seats in this spacious club cab are too upright for comfort, and the oversized front seat headrests largely block rear passengers’ frontal view. Having rear windows that retract entirely into the doors is a definite plus - as is the power sliding and defrosted rear window which is included in the utility and tow package. Overall, however, the PRO-4X interior misses the elegance flashpoint achieved by Ford’s Raptor and King Ranch trim levels. In a landscape where the Raptors and King Ranch models are hard to find for less than $65,000, the Titan V8 presents something of a bargain at $52,305 a figure that includes $6,090 worth of options that aren’t strictly necessary unless you have serious tow requirements. Furthermore, Nissan is offering some worthy 2017 year-end bargains on the Titan V8 pickup. They will deduct up to $10,260 off select Titans. Or should you choose to finance your truck, Nissan will extend credit for 72 months with zero interest, and no down payment
requirement. Before you dismiss this cumbersome Titan as your daily driver, take it for a spin in today’s traffic nightmare. Its sheer height (77.2 inches) gives you a giraffe’s leg up on seeing your way clear of other motorists. Another benefit of Titan driving in traffic is the indisputable intimidation its sheer size generates. Forget about buying those “Back Off!” mud flaps. You will almost always be granted rightof-passage at intersections, a privilege not usually accorded to diminutive hybrids or nimble sports cars. So, if you’re looking for a lot of lane hogging real estate for not a lot of bucks, let Titan make you king of the road. 2017 Nissan Titan 5.6 Liter Endurance V8 Pro-4X 4Wd Cc Engine: 5.6 Liter V8. Dohc, 32 Valves, Direct Injection Horsepower: 390Hp Torque: 394Lb.-Ft. Fuel Consumption: 15Mpg City/20Mpg Highway Price As Tested: $52,305 Hypes: Good Value, Strong Motor Gripes: Needs Running Boards Star Rating: 8.5 Stars Out Of 10
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FAQ Contra Costa
Starting this April, residents and businesses in Alamo, Blackhawk, Danville, Diablo, and San Ramon, along with Concord, Martinez, Moraga, Oakley, Pinole, Pittsburg, and unincorporated Contra Costa County, will have more renewable and locally controlled energy service with MCE at lower rates than PG&E, or they can choose another option.
CHOOSE FROM 33%, 50%, OR 100% RENEWABLE ENERGY Is MCE’s power supply more renewable than PG&E’s?
HOW MCE WORKS
YOUR SERVICE OPTIONS
50%
MCE Light Green | 50% RENEWABLE Take no action to start saving automatically in April with Light Green 50% renewable energy. MCE Deep Green | 100% RENEWABLE Eliminate your electricity–related carbon footprint by opting up to 100% California renewable energy at mceCleanEnergy.org/DG–enroll or 1 (888) 632–3674.*
33%
PG&E | 33% RENEWABLE You can choose to opt out and continue purchasing energy from PG&E at mceCleanEnergy.org/opt–out or 1 (888) 632–3674.*
*Please have your PG&E account number on hand.
How does MCE affect electricity services for Contra Costa residents and businesses?
Aside from having access to more renewable energy, not much will change. Residents and businesses can choose 50–100% renewable energy from a local public agency. MCE customers continue to enjoy the same reliable electricity service, with PG&E delivering power, maintaining the wires, and providing billing and gas services.
SOURCE
DELIVERY
CUSTOMER
Buy and build cleaner energy
Deliver energy, maintain lines, and send bills
Benefit from renewables, choice, and local control
MCE
PG&E
YOU
Yes, considerably! MCE’s power supply contains a higher portion of renewable resources like solar, wind, bioenergy, and geothermal. According to the most recent California Energy Commission Power Content Labels, MCE’s Light Green service is 55% renewable and PG&E’s service is 33% renewable.
Does MCE cost less than PG&E?
Which communities does MCE serve?
Will my billing change?
How is MCE funded?
Yes. MCE’s 50% renewable electricity costs less than PG&E’s 33% renewable electricity. Part of MCE’s mission is to provide stable and competitive rates. MCE has reduced rates the past two years in a row. Discount programs such as CARE, FERA, and Medical Baseline are unaffected by enrollment; these customers receive the same discount with MCE as they would with PG&E. For rates and cost comparisons visit: mceCleanEnergy.org/rates No. PG&E will continue to send one monthly bill. Instead of one fee that combines charges for the delivery and generation of your electricity, the bill will show separate charges — one for electric delivery (PG&E) and one for electric generation (MCE). MCE’s generation rates simply replace the generation charges you currently pay to PG&E; they are not an additional charge.
WE’RE HERE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS!
MCE has been serving Bay Area electric customers since 2010. Today, about 255,000 customers in Marin and Napa Counties, and the cities of Benicia, El Cerrito, Lafayette, Richmond, San Pablo, and Walnut Creek are buying more renewable energy from MCE. Concord, Danville, Martinez, Moraga, Oakley, Pinole, Pittsburg, San Ramon, and unincorporated Contra Costa County (including Alamo, Diablo, and Blackhawk) will enroll with MCE in April. Like PG&E, MCE is funded by electricity ratepayers through their monthly energy purchases. MCE is not funded by taxpayers. A cornerstone to MCE’s mission is to redirect ratepayer dollars back to local economies, and reinvest in its communities by providing low, stable rates, supporting local workforce development, and partnering with community–based organizations.
mceCleanEnergy.org/ContraCosta | 1 (888) 632–3674 | info@mceCleanEnergy.org
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