Alamo • Danville • Blackhawk • Diablo • San Ramon
VALLEY
Look inside for the latest Regional in Nature Activity Guide!
THE
SENTINEL always for the community VOl 19, nO 8
august 2014
www.valleysentinel.com
SPOTLIGHT
Danville’s Meghan Nix wins for Crow Canyon Country Club By Laurel T. Silver
On Tuesday, July 22, 2014, the Women’s Nine Hole Golf Association sponsored the 24th annual Corena Green Classic for junior girls. The tournament took place at the Stockton Golf and Country Club, and featured female golfers ages 8-17. The 104 golfers were divided into two age groups, 8-13 and 14-17. 9 year-old Meghan Nix (pictured above) was the 1st place winner in her age division, finishing with an overall score of 40. Meghan is a Danville resident and represents Crow Canyon Country Club.
ECRWSS
Postmaster: Dated Material
PRESORTED STANDARD US POSTAGE PAID DANVILLE, CA PERMIT NO. 70
See GOLFER page 5
Sentinel Newspapers, Inc. 390 Diablo Road, Ste. 145 Danville, CA 94526 925-820-6047
For those who love to get out and have fun close to home, Danville’s Hot Summer Nights car show has everything to love. The charming downtown, fabulous restaurants, ambiance and music as well as veritable works of art disguised as automobiles. Don’t miss the August 14 show downtown. It’s free entertainment for the whole family.
The Great Blue Heron an avid hunter in both fields and streams By James Hale
The Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) is the largest North American heron, standing 5 feet tall, with a wingspan of nearly 8 feet, and weighing up to 8 pounds. Only the Goliath Heron of north Africa and the White-bellied Heron of the Himalayan foothills are larger. Great Blue Herons are prehistoric looking in flight with the long neck curved back into an S shape, and while hunting or searching for food in open fields or marshy areas. They are closely associated with wetlands and can be found in numbers around fresh and saltwater marshes, mangrove swamps, flooded meadows, lake edges, shorelines, and riparian habitats. When startled, their loud, raucous, harsh, croak is diagnostic. Great Blue Herons are found throughout most of North America, and range
from Alaska through Central America into South America. They have been recorded as vagrants wandering as far away as England, Greenland, H awa i i , a n d t h e A z o re s. Our local Great Blue Herons are year-round residents, whereas birds east of the Rocky Mountains and to the north are migratory, avoiding inclement weather during the winter. A distinctive white morph, known as the Great White Heron, which lacks all pigment in its plumage, is found in south Florida and the Caribbean. It should not be confused with our resident Great Egret, which is smaller, although similar looking. The Great Blue Heron is resplendent with slaty blue flight feathers and body plumage, highlighted
with neck and back plumes. The face is mostly white with a pair of black plumes running from the eye to the back of the head. Rusty red-brown feathers accent the thighs and flanks. The dagger-like bill
and legs are dull yellowish, becoming orange during the breeding season. Great Blue Herons feed primarily on fish. Locally,
This month’s Special Section:
See HERON page 15
Kids and Teens - Back to School pages 8 - 9
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT dining out • music • art • theater • fun events
page 2
The Valley Sentinel
Totally Trains Now - August 17 The Totally Trains exhibit w i l l b e o p e n Tu e s d a y s through Friday, 10am to 1pm, Saturdays 9am to 1pm and Sundays 12pm to 4pm. A Totally Trains Family Pass is available for $10. It allows for a daily visit to the Museum during the train exhibit’s run. Museum of the San Ramon Valley, Corner of Railroad and Prospect Avenues in Downtown Danville. Information: call 837-3750 or visit www.museumsrv.org.
The Skull Show Now - August 31 This exhibit examines the role that skulls have played in the historical register, as memento mori, traditional religious icons, and vanitas themes in still life paintings. It will also highlight the role the skull has played in the contemporary arts, exploring its appearance in counter cultures such as skate, surf, tattoo, as well as urban graffiti projects. Bedford gallery, Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr. Walnut Creek. Information: (925) 295-1417 or www.bedfordgallery.org. Summer Movie Matinees“Babe” August 13 3 - 4 : 30 p m . E n j oy t h e summer with family-friendly movies. This movie will be
August 2014
“Babe,” rated G. San Ramon Library, 100 Montgomery St., San Ramon. 925-973-2850. Arts Enrichment Book Club: Dance August 14 3:30-4:30pm. Reading can be so exciting when it becomes interactive through art and p re s e n t a t i o n ! H e l p yo u r young reader stay engaged through Arts Enrichment. For this session, get a copy of “Thea Stilton and the Spanish Dance Mission” and learn to dance along with resident expert Liz Mac. For 2nd and 3rd grade only (2013-2014 school year). Register at 925837-4889. Danville Library, 400 Front St., Danville. Hot Summer Nights Car Show August 14 4-9pm. (Car staging starts at 2pm) There will be exciting bands to listen to and dancing in the streets. There will be local merchants displaying their products and services. There will be food vendors offering tasty treats as well as wonderful restaurants that provide outside cafe dining with an enormous selection of fine cuisines. While most guys will be checking out the show cars, there is plenty to do for the ladies! Please visit and shop all the boutiques and stores - any will be offering special sales just for show visitors. Downtown-Hartz Avenue, Danville. Information: Call (925) 437-3649. P r e s c h o o l Pe r f o r m a n c e Series: “Octopretzel” August 15 10 a m . Fo r s i x y e a r s now, Octopretzel has been
delighting young Bay Area audiences with their colorful and inspired performances. Their shows feature handmade puppets, bubbles of all sizes, and at times, hula-hooping Kindergarteners. $3. Village Theatre, 233 Front Street Danville. villagetheatreshows. com. Bluegrass Sunset Social August 15 5-8pm. There’s a reason this is one of Ruth Bancroft Garden’s most well-attended events of the year - it’s a ton of fun! Bring the whole f a m i l y, a n d d o n ’ t f o rg e t your dancing shoes. The Alhambra Valley Band has been entertaining bluegrass fans since 1986 and has been performing at our Bluegrass Sunset Social since 2011. `1552 Bancroft Rd., Walnut Creek. ruthbancroftgarden. org Outdoor Movie Nights- “The Lego Movie” August 15 8:30pm. Free Popcorn! Bring blankets and chairs and enjoy a movie under the stars. Located behind Dougherty Station Community Center on the lawn area. Dougherty Station Community Center, 1 7011 B o l l i n g e r C a n y o n Rd, San Ramon. sanramon. ca.gov. Dixieland Jazz August 16 2-5pm. 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
valleysentinel.com
Road, Danville. Information visit www.jazznut.com or phone 510-655-6728. Clayton Brothers Quintet August 16 5pm and 8pm. Although the brothers have been playing together all their lives, the late 1970s marked the official inception of the Clayton Brothers Quintet as a working ensemble; since then the group’s personnel has evolved but its performances, always swinging and entertaining, are held in high esteem by the jazz world. $40. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr. Walnut Creek. Information and tickets call 925-943SHOW (7469) or visit www. lesherartscenter.org. Art in the Park with live music August 17 10am-5pm. Come join us for the Martinez Arts Association’s 45th annual AiP with live music. With over 50 artisans & crafters from all over the Bay Area & beyond you will find art for every taste. There will be live music, children’s activities, gourmet food, along with a beer & wine garden. For additional information visit our website: www.martinezarts.org. All proceeds benefit the MAA scholarship fund. O w l E ye E n t e r t a i n m e n t presents Destiny Muhammad
Jazz Trio August 17th 2:45 pm. This is the inaugural year for the jazz music series “Jazz Metropolis 14” as a festival apart from live entertainment supper shows held regularly at private clubs and ballrooms throughout the Bay Area. The series shares the month of August with a complementary jazz series being hosted on the prior Saturday evenings at the Lesher Center for the Arts. Average General Audience ticket price is $35.00. HalfPrice tickets may be available on the day of the event in person and on a first come first served basis. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek. Information and tickets Call 925-943-SHOW (7469) or visit www.lesherartscenter. org/event/jazz-metropolis. Art and Wine Stroll August 21 6-9pm. Enjoy an evening of art and libations at Danville’s Art & Wine Stroll. Local artists will showcase their works while Livermore Valley wineries pour their best vintages—all against the backdrop of music and merriment. $25. Downtown, L i ve r y a n d Ro s e G a rd e n Shopping Centers. Purchase tickets at discoverdanvilleca. com. Sideways August 21 8pm. Two men reaching middle age with not much to show but disappointment, embark on a week long road trip through California’s wine country, just as one take a See A & E page 3
Call for Artist Volunteers Volunteers needed for an arts activity table at the Regional Medical Center Farmers’ Market Art & Wine Stroll Aug 21
6-9
around Town
$25 ticket
Spirit of Danville Nov 13 Festivities 11-8
Heartland Antiques & Art Faire Monday Sept 1
9-3
in Historic Downtown
Free
Tinsel and Treasures Holiday Artisan Boutique
Oct 4 Vets Hall 10-4 $5 entry
www.DiscoverDanvilleCA.com
Calling all artists – Do art with community members in an informal outdoor setting! AC5 (the Arts and Culture Commission of Contra Costa County) and The Art of Health and Healing are looking for artist volunteers to create art with children and adults at the Expressive Arts Table at the Farmers’ Market held every Tuesday from 10 am to 2 pm at the Contra Costa County Regional Medical Center (RMC) at 2500 Alhambra Ave., Martinez, CA 94553 Artists may volunteer for some or all Tuesday mornings from now until mid-September, The RMC has arts materials for use at the Expressive Arts table. You may volunteer for 2 – 4 hours per week. For more information contact Napoleon Dargan at napoleon94565@ hotmail.com
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT dining out • music • art • theater • fun events
valleysentinel.com A&E from page 2
trip down the aisle. Film has adult content and themes. Village Theatre, 233 Front Street Danville. Information: villagetheatreshows.com.
Moonlight Movie Night“Rio” August 22 6 : 3 0 - 10 : 3 0 p m . T h e Town of Danville thanks it’s residents by holding free outdoor movies for the whole family. “Rio” is the featured movie. Crafts and activities start at 6:30 pm. Movie starts at sunset. Danville Town Green, 400 Front St., Danville. danville.ca.gov
O u t d o o r M ov i e N i g h t s “Finding Nemo” August 22 7pm. Dive-in at the San Ramon Olympic Pool! Bring your floats or deck chairs, the pool will open at 7pm for free swimming. The movie starts at 8pm. SR Olympic Pool & Aquatic Ctr, at California High School, 9900 Broadmoor Dr, San Ramon. Information: 925973-3200 or visit sanramon. ca.gov.
Bishop Ranch Outdoor Movie Night - “Frozen” August 22 At dusk. Grab your family and friends and join us for a special free summer screening of Frozen. The movie begins at dusk. Come early for a good
August 2014 seat. You are welcome to bring your own food and beverage. No reservations required. Note: To ensure that everyone can see the screen, we ask that you bring only blankets and low beach chairs. The evenings can be chilly in San Ramon – dress warmly! 6111 Bollinger Canyon Road (Bishop Ranch 1) Front Lawn. Information: Nicolle Aleman at 925.277.1700 or email naleman@bishopranch. com. Sneakpeek Lecture Series: “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” August 23 1-2pm. Join Role Players Ensemble Artistic Director, Eric Fraisher Hayes, for a behind the scenes look at the upcoming production of Tennessee Williams’, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, as part of the Eugene O’Neill Festival. The presentation will feature the director, designers and actors themselves as they examine the spirit of the chase in their new 2014-15 “Cat and Mouse” season. Danville Library, 400 Front St., Danville. 925-8374889.
Roy Hargrove August 23 5pm & 8pm. Born in 1969 and discovered while still in high school in Waco, Texas by Wynton Marsalis, this trumpet/flugelhorn player’s incandescent talent swiftly blazed across the jazz firmament. Voted Downbeat’s Soloist of the Year in 1989, by age 25 he was an established star, recording with the likes of Sonny Rollins, Johnny Griffin, Stanley Turrentine, Joe Henderson and Oscar Peterson. With a charming, relaxed stage manner that belies his jawdropping mastery of various musical styles, Hargrove’s solos can be dazzling but he can also play a ballad, as Newsweek remarked, “with a sweetness that speaks of a world of hurt.” $40. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. Information and tickets call 925-943-SHOW (7469) or visit www.lesherartscenter.org. Music in the ParkMike Amaral’s
California Beach Boys August 23 6-8pm. Mike Amaral’s California Beach Boys are world renown for their precise harmonies that are trademarked by the songs of The Beach Boys . They appeal to people of all ages because of their clean appearance and congenial attitudes. Their performance and entertainment truly pay tribute to The Beach Boys and their contribution to music history. Oak Hill Park, 3005 Stone Valley Rd. Danville. danville.ca.gov.
24th Annual Day in the Park Performance by k.d. lang August 24 11:30am - 5:pm. GrammyAward winning artist, k.d. lang, will perform at The Taylor Family Foundation’s (TTFF) 24th annual Day in the Park auction fundraiser at Camp Arroyo, 5535 Arroyo Road, Livermore. Join us as we honor co-founder, Barry Taylor, who spent more than 30 years helping seriously ill and at-risk children. For tickets/ tables and event sponsorship opportunities for Day in the Park, please visit www.ttff.org or call (925) 455-5118. Owl Eye Entertainment presents Gabriel Ayala JazzMenco August 24th 2:45 pm. This is part of the “Jazz Metropolis 14” series which shares the month of August with a complementary jazz series being hosted on the prior Saturday evenings at the Lesher Center for the Arts. Average general audience ticket price is $35.00. Half-Price tickets may be available on the day of the event in person and on a first come first served basis. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek. Information and tickets Call 925-943-SHOW (7469) or visit www.lesherartscenter.org/ event/jazz-metropolis.
The Valley Sentinel Thursdays at the VT: Drew Harrison August 28 7:30pm. ‘The Sun Kings’ Drew Harrison presents an intimate acoustic evening performing his solo work and more! $10-15. Village Theatre, 233 Front Street Danville. villagetheatreshows.com. Life Could be a Dream August 29 – October 5 Written and Directed by Roger Bean. Life Could be a Dream features such seminal ‘60s hits as: “Fools Fall in Love,” “Tears on My Pillow,” “Runaround Sue,” “Earth Angel,” “Stay,” “Unchained Melody,” “Lonely Teardrops,” and “The Glory of Love.” Center Rep. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr. Walnut Creek. Information and tickets call 925-943-SHOW (7469) or visit www.lesherartscenter. org. Information: 925-943SHOW or visit www.centerrep. org. Music Repertoire - A Little Classical August 31 2:45. 15th Anniversary Youth Performers Concert Series. $10. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr. Walnut Creek. Information and tickets call 925-943-SHOW (7469) or visit www.lesherartscenter. org.
page 3
Heartland Antique and Art Faire September 1 9am-3pm. If you love the ageless beauty of antiques, you won’t want to miss Danville’s Art and Antique Faire. Discover timeless treasures from local antique dealers and artists. Grab a bite at downtown eateries. And enjoy live music, entertainment, and fun for the kids while strolling through the streets of downtown. Free. Railroad Center on Railroad Avenue. discoverdanvilleca. com P re s c h o o l Pe r f o r m a n c e Series – Magic Dan September 5 10 a m . Join Magic Dan in celebrating his 20th year as a professional magician! In that period, he has entertained thousands of children of all ages in libraries, pre-schools, elementary schools and parties. His fast-paced programs always combine a blend of great magic with a whole lot of fun. Magic Dan’s captivating performances are filled with positive messages that promote self-esteem. $5. Village Theatre, 233 Front Street Danville. villagetheatreshows. com.
page 4
The Valley Sentinel August 2014
valleysentinel.com
Advertorial
Should You Be Tested for Prostate Cancer? By Michael Forrest, MD, Radiation Oncologist
Screening refers to the use of simple tests across a healthy population in order to identify individuals who have diseases, but do not yet have symptoms. Prostate cancer screening for men involves
checking Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) in blood and a digital rectal examination. PSA is produced by the normal glandular cells in the prostate gland. However prostate cancer cells usually make PSA in larger amounts. Elevated PSA in the blood does not always translate into presence of prostate cancer. Unlike guidelines for early detection of other cancers like
Pilates Body
Mat, Reformer & Tower Pilates Tammy Christensen Private Studio Instruction Strong, Lean Balanced and Healthy
925-984-2497 Pbody13@comcast.net
www.blueherongraphics.com
Do you know what to do about back pain?
WE DO.
The Back Doctors are a network of CHIROPRACTORS, MEDICAL DOCTORS and other health care professionals all with one common goal, the effective treatment of your pain.
Don’t Ignore These warning signs of spinal misalignment • Recurring Headaches • Low Back and Leg Pain • Neck, Shoulder and Arm Pain • Pain Between Shoulders
• Muscle Spasms • Difficulty Sleeping • Numbness in Limbs • Dizziness/Ringing in Ears
OPEN 6 DAYS A WEEK FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE
Saturday and evening appointments available • Most insurance accepted • Workers compensation welcome
The Back Doctors A CHIROPRACTIC/MEDICAL NETWORK
Phillip Runco, D.C.
Call for appointment now! 685-0335
COMPLETE TREE CARE Proudly serving the East Bay since 1965!
Fully Insured • Cer5fied Arborists • License #655977
(925) 254-7233 • www.treesculpture.com
breast, colon and cervical cancers, research has not yet proven that the potential benefits of PSA screening outweigh the harm of treatment in patients with prostate cancer. Like any other screening test, PSA testing can be falsely positive or falsely negative. False positive elevation of PSA indicates you might have prostate cancer when you don’t. This includes age related changes like Benign Prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or infections of the prostate, among other causes. Falsepositives are common. Only about 1 in 4 men with an elevated PSA turn out to have prostate cancer. False Negative Normal PSA indicates that your PSA is normal but you still have prostate cancer. This can happen in rare very aggressive prostate cancers, which do not produce the protein PSA in the blood. Pros of PSA testing It is a blood test and noninvasive, which your primary care physician can easily order and most insurance will cover.
It may help detect prostate cancer early and increase your chance of cure. A normal PSA, in most cases, is reassuring to the patient. Cons of PSA testing Unlike other cancers, there is a significant variability in the behavior of prostate cancer. Some men will have “aggressive” or fast growing cancers that if not treated will lead to symptoms and death from prostate cancer. Other men have “non-aggressive” or slowly growing cancers, which will not affect them in their lifetime. It is inherent that as we diagnose more prostate cancer we will detect both non-aggressive and aggressive cancers. Detecting a non-aggressive cancer will invoke considerable anxiety and exposure to treatment and its side effects including urinary incontinence, erectile dysfunction or bowel dysfunction. Also it is not very clear whether the decrease in deaths from prostate cancer are due to early detection and treatment based on PSA testing or from other factors. The key here is to be able to
identify those prostate cancers that are aggressive and need intervention. A test of that nature is not yet available. T h e N a t i o n a l Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines recommend that physicians do a baseline evaluation, do the risk assessment and then pursue further workup based on your family history, PSA levels and ethnicity. The American Cancer Society similarly recommends that men make an informed decision with their doctor about being tested for prostate cancer. Starting at age 50, men should talk to a doctor about the pros and cons of testing so they can decide if testing is the right choice for them. If they are African American or have a father or brother who had prostate cancer before age 65, men should have this talk with a doctor starting at age 45. A discussion with your physician addressing the above factors is therefore important to help you decide whether you should be screened for prostate cancer or not. Dr. Forrest is a Radiation Oncologist with Epic Care, a group of experts in the diagnosis and comprehensive treatment of cancer and blood disorders. www.epic-care.com
August in the Contra Costa Garden Provided by the Contra Costa Master Gardeners
General Garden Care Water all trees/shrubs deeply at least once every three weeks if in the ground. Plants in containers may need daily water to survive. Keep compost piles slightly moist, turn frequently. Pick up and compost fallen fruit. Stay cool – garden in the early morning or late afternoon. Avoid mid-day sun! Fruits Prune berries when fruiting is finished. Prune Apricots before rains to prevent Eutypa lata fungus from infecting pruning wounds. Prop up fruit tree branches if needed to help with the fruit load. Vegetables Raise squash and cucumbers off the ground so pests cannot tunnel into the fruit. Start seeds of fall vegetables: direct seed beets, onions, Swiss chard, carrots, p a r s l e y, s p i n a c h , p e a s ; radishes, lettuce. Start containers of broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, kale. Plant a last row of corn to ripen in the fall.
Harvest vegetables frequently. Flowers & Landscaping Plant fall blooming bulbs (Crocus, Lycoris). Deadhead spent blossoms to keep plants blooming. Divide bearded iris rhizomes if over three years of age. Fertilize spring blooming plants – they are setting their buds now. Fertilize warm season lawns. For fall color, plant seeds o f c a l e n d u l a s, I c e l a n d i c poppies, stock, snapdragons, sweet alyssum, sweet peas, violas. Cut and dry summer f l owe rs & h e r b s i n d r y shade. Cut back straggly early summer color plants. Fertilize chrysanthemums at the end of the month. Garden Pests Drippy acorns? Drippy a c o r n s a re c a u s e d by a bacterium similar to Erwinia amylovora, the organism that causes Pear Fireblight. There is little to be done, just keep the plants as stress-free as possible and clean up fallen leaves regularly. Check plants for mite damage.
Household Pests Check ant bait stations around home perimeter. Block pest entry—caulk cracks and crevices. Check yellow-jacket bait stations; replenish as needed. Control Indian Meal Moths indoors with pheromone traps. 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). They are residents of local communities who have an active interest in horticulture, have taken the Master Gardener training offered by the UCCE, and now share their knowledge with other members of that community. They provide University of California research-based horticultural information to the citizens of California through their volunteer efforts as Master Gardeners. It is the acquisition of knowledge, the skill in gardening, and giving back to the community that distinguishes a Master Gardener from other gardeners. For more information visit ccmg.ucdavis.edu. For more information about the Contra Costa Master Gardeners visit ccmg.ucdavis. edu.
valleysentinel.com
august 2014
The Valley SenTinel
page 5
Advertorial
Healing Chronic Pain and RSD/CRPS Naturally By Dr. Niele Maimone, DC
Align Healing Center was established in Danville in 1999 and since first opening my doors I have seen a progressive increase in chronic pain and Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD), now called Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) in our community. RSD/CRPS is a chronic, painful, and progressive neurological condition that affects the skin, muscles, joints, and bones. The syndrome usually develops in an injured limb, such as a broken leg, or following surgery. However, many cases of RSD involve only a minor injury, such as a sprain. And in some cases, no precipitating event can be identified. RSD/CRPS is characterized by various degrees of burning pain, swelling, and sensitivity to heat, cold, or touch. Pain may begin in one area or limb and then spread to other limbs. In some cases, symptoms of RSD/CRPS diminish for a period of time and then reappear with a new injury. Causes and Risk Factors for RSD/CRPS An exact understanding of RSD/CRPS is not complete. I t a p p e a rs t o i n vo l ve a complex interaction among t h e s e n s o r y, m o t o r a n d sympathetic nervous system as well as involvement of the immune system. Currently Western Medicine is not sure what causes RSD/CRPS. It is
believed that in most cases the sympathetic nervous system plays an important role in sustaining the pain. Another theory is that CRPS is caused by a triggering of the immune response, which leads to the characteristic inflammatory symptoms of redness, warmth, and swelling in the affected area. Treatment Options for RSD Patients Medical treatments for the management of RSD/ CRPS include analgesics, antidepressants, physical therapy, occupational therapy, nerve blocks, and multiple other drug therapies. The Natural Approach for Chronic Pain and RSD/ CRPS Holistic, non-invasive treatments for RSD/CRPS offer new possibilities patients may consider for pain and symptom management. As with traditional treatments, holistic treatments may need to be combined for optimal results. Natural Medicine (vitamins, herbs, natural compounds, etc.) has proven to be effective and long-term in helping calm the sympathetic nervous system and reduce systemic inflammation. At Align Healing Center we are currently seeing beneficial results in the treatment of chronic pain and RSD/CRPS. The combination of Laser T h e ra py c o m b i n e d w i t h Natural Medicine is yielding hopeful results. L a s e r t h e ra py i s t h e application of low levels of laser light to areas of the
body that have been injured or damaged. Contrasted with high-powered lasers used in health care that cut tissue, such as surgical or hairremoval lasers, therapy lasers produce beneficial chemical and biological interactions that can help relieve pain and repair injured/damaged tissue. Just as photosynthesis creates energy for plants, the absorption of the laser light by your cells causes increased production of cellular energy. In areas of injury or damage, this means there is more energy available to improve the rate and quality of healing. Studies on tissue cultures have revealed a wide range of beneficial physiological effects, including increased levels of endorphins, reduced levels of inflammatory compounds and an increased rate and quality of tissue healing. We often have patients notice improvement after the very f i rs t t re a t m e n t s e s s i o n ; whereas with chronic pain or RSD/CRPS it is realistic that it may take a few treatments. The effect of laser therapy is cumulative, meaning that each successive treatment builds on previous ones. The results that we are experiencing with our patients are nothing short of remarkable. Class IV Laser Therapy has exceeded our expectations of the healing potential that it ignites in the body and it is our mission to share it with anyone who is seeking freedom from their pain. Dr. Niele Maimone, DC is the owner and founder of Align Healing Center in
Danville. She has been active in our natural health & wellness community since 1999. For more information or to set up a consult call 925.362.8283 or visit www.alignhealingcenter.com.
15% Off *Offer does not include sale items & optics.
Invite Your WIld Friends to dinner!
Any Single Item* Expires 8/31/14
East Bay Nature 1270 Newell Ave., #A Walnut Creek
925-407-1333
www.eastbaynature.com
www.ValleySentinel.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
Village Theater seeks guest curators The Town of Danville Village Theatre Art Gallery is in search of proposals from guest curators for art gallery exhibitions. The Village Theatre Art Gallery, 233 Front St., is a community-based, non-profit cultural arts center that features six to seven rotating exhibitions per year with an emphasis on contemporary Bay Area artists. Interested parties are encouraged to visit the space, become familiar with the gallery’s past and current exhibition program, and understand the
Danville community prior to submitting a proposal. Strong proposals will be clear and concise, present innovative and engaging ideas, and are intended to draw a diverse group of participants and visitors. Once a proposal is submitted, there is a two-step review process. The initial review is an opportunity to communicate the essential elements of the curatorial idea, presenting a limited number of images and writing materials. O n c e t h e C u ra t o r i a l Committee completes the initial
review, additional materials and a project budget will be requested from a select number of applicants for a follow-up review. Curatorial Proposal Forms are available online at www. villagetheatreartgallery.com by clicking on the Propose an Exhibit link. For more information, contact Visual Arts Program Coordinator Marija Nelson Bleier at (925) 314-3460 or mbleier@danville.ca.gov.
GOLFER from page 1
and the event is sponsored by the Women’s Nine Hole Golf Association. The event promotes sportsmanship, integrity and confidence as life skills for young women. Meghan Nix of Danville finished 1st this year in the
9-year-old flight with a final score of 40 (for nine holes). She represented Crow Canyon Country Club of Danville. For more information about the Women’s Nine Hole Golf Association visit www. wnhga.com.
The Corena Green Invitational is a tournament for girl junior golfers from all over Northern California f ro m t h e a g e s o f 8 - 1 7 . There are 104 golfers total
www.Roussethomes.com
page 6
The valley Sentinel
August 2014
Treasure Hunter’s Anniversary Week The 8th annual Heartland
H ow d o e s D a n v i l l e ’s 2012 Business Person of the Year celebrate over a decade of “living the dream” in Camelot? Host a giant party and invite like-minded collector’s, artists, beach comber’s and mementos seekers to share in the fun! Join the festivities at month end in the historic downtown Danville neighborhood. C o t t a g e J ewe l A n t i q u e s hosts an Anniversary SALE T h u rs d ay Au g u s t 2 8 t h through September 4th and the Heartland Danville Antiques & Art Faire on Labor Day, Monday.
The modest store front window is full of Discover Danville and Chamber event posters as well as a tease of the treasure trove within. The award-winning antiques boutique features fine and costume jewelry and personal accoutrements f ro m t h e Georgian, Victorian, Deco, Edwardian, Nouveau, Arts & Crafts, Retro and 1950’s periods. Buttons, beads, shoe clips, cuff links, postcards, shells, lockets, j ewe l c a c h e s, silver notions and novelties spill from compotes and Depression glass and Quadruple plate servers. CJ is the perfect place to pick up a Town strolling map, tickets for the Art&Wine stroll, the perfect best-friend gift and a diamond ring! Treat yourself to a trip back in time!
show on Monday September 1st is sure to be a highlight of the CJ anniversary sale. Over 50 vendor booths of garden finds, painted furniture, rusty loot, Paris Flea Market finds, re-purposed goods, bakelite, vintage clothing, mosaic accents and fine art will be featured along Railroad and Prospect Av e . S t o n e y Ridge Blue Grass Band will return to the steps of the Museum of the San Ramon Valley as well as an appraisal clinic fundraiser inside the Museum. Come for the entertainment and a joyful hunt – seek and you shall find! Happy Anniversary to Cottage Jewel proprietor, Marcia Harmon. 100 Prospect Avenue, downtown Danville (925)8372664 www.CottageJewel. com.
Danville’s Treasure Trove of Antique and Vintage Embellishments 100 Prospect Ave. (925) 837-2664 www.CottageJewel.com
Hop on the Barn Wagon! We need your help! 2014 is the year we focus on rebuilding our historic wheat barn at Rodgers Ranch! When completed, the barn at 315 Cortsen Road in Pleasant Hill will be used for: • • • •
Heritage classes for children School field trips Sustainable gardening classes Displays of items from the Pleasant Hill Historical Society • Meetings and events • A polling place on election day
Please send your donation to: Rodgers Ranch Heritage Center P.O. Box 23381 Pleasant Hill, CA 94523
Name(s): ____________________________ Address: ____________________________ Phone:_______________________________ email: _______________________________ 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
For more information please contact us at 925-937-3677 or visit www.rodgersranch.org
valleysentinel.com
Come see the new Tilden Park By Beverly Lane, East Bay Regional Parks District
There’s a newer, brighter look to the Environmental Education Center and Little Farm at Tilden Nature Area in Berkeley, with completion of an extensive months-long construction project. Now back in full operation, the center is open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays. Admission is free. The Little Farm is open d a i l y. I t s cows, pigs, chickens and other domestic animals help visiting children learn where much of our food comes from. Bring lettuce and celery if you’d like to feed them. The major work involved upgrading the center’s sewer system, some of which was decades old. It was replaced by a state of the art system that is more economical to operate and protects the park environment. In the process, contractors tore up the old parking area at the end of Central Park Drive and replaced it with new paving, striping, and a safer pedestrian walkway accessible to wheelchair users. The center’s interior got a new coat of paint, new carpeting, and disabled accessible toilets. A new toilet building also was installed next door at the Little Farm. During all the work, the end of Central Park Drive was closed and the center was open on weekends, accessible only by detour on foot. But now everything is open again, and farm animals that were removed during construction are back at home. As its name suggests, the center has a staff of naturalists who conduct all kinds of nature education programs, drawing on the resources of the surrounding woods and ponds. Within the center, you can take a unique watershed walk whose exhibits illustrate the path of Wildcat Creek from its source down through Tilden and Wildcat Canyon to San Francisco Bay. There’s a history walk around the center too, with a self-guiding brochure available to show you the way. The Little
Farm was built in 1955 and the Environmental Education Center in 1974, but some of the structures in the vicinity date from the 1930s, when a Civilian Conservation Corps camp occupied the site. There’s good news elsewhere in Tilden, too. Tilden’s vintage merry-goround has reopened under new management. The merrygo-round, which opened at Tilden Regional Park in 1948, i s a re a l t r e a s u r e, built in 1911 by the Herschell Spillman Company. It features h a n d carved and painted carousel animals. Hours of operation are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily through Sept. 1. Other Tilden attractions include the Regional Parks Botanic Garden, which harbors an extensive collection of California native plants, and the Steam Train, a miniature live steam engine that’s fun to ride for kids and adults alike. Next door to the garden is the Brazil Building, a handsome hall available for weddings, receptions and conferences. If you’re feeling energetic, join Naturalist “Trail Gail” Broesder for a vigorous 10mile walking grand tour of Tilden from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 16, starting at the center. The route will take you to the carousel, steam train and botanic garden. The center and Little Farm are at the north end of Tilden’s Central Park Drive, accessible by way of Wildcat Canyon Road or Canon Drive in Berkeley. For information, call 888-327-2757, ext. 2233, or visit the East Bay Regional Park District web site at www. ebparks.org.
valleysentinel.com August 2014
The valley Sentinel
By Amy Sherman
Executive Chef Kevin Gin at Bridges Restaurant, Danville C h e f Kev i n G i n i s a quiet, humble and admittedly analytical chef. He has a great respect for Asian ingredients and cuisines and a deep-seated desire to please guests. He is enthusiastic when speaking about his passion for fresh produce and fish, and his staff, especially those in the back of the house who have been with him at the restaurant between 10 and 20 years. That’s something practically unheard of in the restaurant business. You’ve been back at Bridges for 10 years, how has the restaurant changed over the years? We have stripped away the pretentiousness. We strive for our food and service to be better each night. We might have been perceived as snooty or stuffy before, but now we’re a lot more casual. We are not just for special occasions. Entrees are a lot more affordable; all but one entree is under $30 and we have some customers who come in practically on a daily basis. We have changed a lot of the decor, we have larger mirrors, the lighting is different and there’s more color now. In keeping with the times, the dining experience is more casual elegance than fine dining. We are less French, but still using fresh produce that comes in every day. Our menu is more California with some Asian influences. It’s still pretty meat and potatoes out here, but we get adventurous diners too. We want to give people the same options they get in the City without the drive. We want to be really creative, but we try to make everything identifiable adding a twist that will both excite yet won’t intimidate our diners. How would you describe your cooking philosophy? I like to utilize fresh ingredients with good cooking techniques from European or
Asian backgrounds. I like fish to taste like fish and carrots to taste like carrots. I don’t really care for heavy sauces that mask the freshness of the product. I have a problem with dishes that are too busy as well. Sometimes chefs put too much on the plate to try to one up one another. I have Chinese influence from my heritage, and then Japanese from travelling to Japan to study and research food. The Thai curry recipe is something I’ve always done. Vietnamese is a cuisine I just like. Really, it’s about how much heart you put into a dish that makes it great. The best dish in my life was a simple fresh bamboo shoot steamed and served in dashi and flavored with fresh kinome leaf. Where did you grow up and what did you eat growing up? I grew up in San Francisco with a modest upbringing. We always had protein, starch, most of the time rice and vegetables that were usually fresh but sometimes canned. There wasn’t much choice back then. We had a boat and my father fished so we pretty much survived on a lot of fish, chicken and pork. Beef was expensive so we didn’t eat it very much. Which dining trends do you think are overplayed? Fo r m e t h e w h o l e molecular is overplayed. I am a little old school and if I want a steak it should taste like steak. Somehow Caesar salad in the form of a liquid capsule just doesn’t seem appetizing. Intriguing a bit, but not something I would crave. Which do you prefer, local ingredients or the best quality ingredients you can find regardless of location? I grew up eating some foods imported from China so for me it would be best quality. That said, I do support local and 85% of our produce is local. Do you have a signature dish? For some reason it’s the Prawns with Thai Red Curry Sauce. I learned this from a chef I worked for a long time ago. I do have infused soy sauces that are proprietary though. What ingredients excite you? Growing up in California we’re so spoiled! Summertime is probably the most fun, we can use things like roasted corn in a vinaigrette or heirloom tomato salsa. Fish
is my favorite protein, I love halibut, bass and tuna. I love stone fruit in the Summer, also beans and corn. But I wait about 2 weeks after the first showing of the product so it’s really at it’s best. You have to be disciplined to wait until the produce is at its prime. I learned my lesson that the first fruit of the season is not necessarily the best. It pays to be patient. What can guests look forward to on your menu? At the time of writing we are trying to introduce raw fish again. We went away from it for a long while and it’s long overdue for us. I’ve done everything from a sushi tart to sushi layer cake, duos and trios, ceviche and hand rolls, box sushi, tataki. The dish we are adding is poke—some of my relatives are pure Hawaiian. Poke is like ceviche and each island has their own style. We are using soy sauce, sesame oil, toasted sesame seeds, green onions and shallots. Will use macadamia nut as a part of the dish. On the plate will be a sake beet sauce with a pretty magenta color, also a matcha salt with shiitake to lend a smoky flavor instead of seaweed. What do like about being located Danville? It is a great town with great people. Although I do
for a combined 17 years now. I like the big city, but the lack of traffic and the weather— living in shorts most of the year is great! What are your favorite cookbooks? I look at a lot of cookbooks for different reasons. Some cookbooks have value because of the chef, some have the ideas and pictures; some have great content. I have a Lutece cookbook signed by Chef Andre Soltner that I will not part with. I have a Michel Richard that means something to me because of a dinner I once had at Citrus on Melrose. Le Bernardin, because it was the best meal I’ve had in the states and Kitcho (in Kyoto) was the best meal I have ever had period. What’s the favorite staff meal? Chinese food, tacos and burritos What are your passions outside of work? Family and martial arts, in that order. Even though my family doesn’t believe it. This article is from the new issue of A La Carte Magazine, reprinted here as a mea culpa for misspelling Chef Gin’s name in the original article. Apologies to Chef Gin from the A La Carte Magazine - Valley Sentinel staff.
Visit www.alacartemagazine.com
Focus - Kevin Gin, Executive Chef at Bridges Restaurant in Danville not live here it’s been home
page 7
You’ll
think
highly of our low rate lock.
3,000
$
UP TO
1
TOWARD CLOSING COSTS
If you’re moving or refinancing, you’ll love to lock in a low rate on your home loan – and SAFE Credit Union can make it happen. With SAFE’s special limited-time 5/1 Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM), you’ll get a great low rate that won’t budge for five years.2 That should get your feet moving! For today’s low rates or to speak to your local SAFE Mortgage Officer, call (800) SEE-SAFE, ext. 2772 or visit safecu.org/homeloans.
NMLS# 466072 Credits for closing costs cannot be applied to discount points or loan-level price adjustments. Not available for FHA or VA loans, or refinance of an existing SAFE loan. Owner-occupied properties only. Subject to credit approval and membership eligibility. Other restrictions may apply. Offer only available to members who live or work in Contra Costa County. Complete application must be submitted by 09/21/14. See SAFE for details. 2 APR for 30-year amortization 5/1 ARM accurate as of 6/25/2014 and may increase after consummation. Initial fixed rate during the first 60 months is 3.00% (3.030% APR) with monthly payment of $421.60 per $100,000 borrowed. Rate and payment may increase after 60 months based on 1-Year Libor Index as published in the Wall Street Journal plus a margin of 2.25% for the next 12 months. Based on current index, thereafter rate is 2.75% (2.819% APR) with monthly payment of $408.24, per $100,000 borrowed. Interest rate may adjust annually thereafter. 1
15949-03 SAFE14 Print Valley Sentinal 5.75x5.75.indd 1
7/22/14 2:16 PM
Kids and Teens - Back to School page 8
The Valley SenTinel
august 2014
20 things you should say to your kid often By Lauren Katulka (www.education.com)
We , a t D i s c o v e r y Counseling Center of the San Ramon Valley (www. discoveryctr.net), know that raising children is not easy. There are many times that we need support and guidance as we search for the best ways to help our children stay healthy and happy. This article highlights some of the ways that words make a difference. We all know that saying the wrong thing can make a child feel hurt, angry, or confused. However, it’s just as important to say the right things. These 20 sentences will help your child feel valued and aid her development, so they’re worth saying often. How did you do? Nancy S. Buck, PhD., a developmental psychologist and the creator of Peaceful Parenting Inc., says this openended question encourages self-reflection. “Too often parents spend much of their time telling children how they did … ‘I can see you worked really hard,’ or ‘You didn’t mean to hurt your little brother, did you?’” she says. I know you, and I believe you can do it. This sentence will give your child the extra confidence she needs when she’s daunted by a challenge ahead. You worked so hard. This approach stresses hard work rather than intelligence or natural talent. Comments like this stress that effort is important and encourage future hard work. How does that feel to do that on your own?
Whether it’s picking up her toys, dressing herself for the day, or finishing math homework, this question makes your child reflect on how success makes her feel. Achievement should be more about pleasing herself than gaining your approval. This is a great way to boost selfesteem. What do you think? This question encourages your child to form her own opinion and share it with you. This will improve your child’s critical thinking skills and reassure her that it’s okay to have an opinion that’s different from yours. “If parents do their children’s thinking for them, children stop taking responsibility for themselves, making it harder for them to learn to become critical thinkers who can handle greater freedom as they grow,” Buck says. You are beautiful, inside and out. This sentence helps children feel comfortable in their own skin. It also reminds them beauty goes beyond the surface. It’s especially important for daughters to hear from their fathers, as it ensures they don’t grow up looking for praise from boys. You did a great job. Positive reinforcement is a great motivator. Praise often, but don’t overdo it or your words will seem insincere. I’m so proud of you because… Every child seeks parental approval. Starting off with these words is never a bad idea. Praising achievements
PORTEOUS PORTEOUS PORTEOUS PORTEOUS FAMILY DENTISTRY FAMILY DENTISTRY FAMILY DENTISTRY FAMILY DENTISTRY Larry LarryPorteous PorteousD.D.S. D.D.S.++Linda LindaPorteous PorteousR.D.H. R.D.H.
Larry Porteous, Linda R.D.H. Porteous, R.D.H. Larry Porteous D.D.S. +D.D.S. Linda + Porteous
“Let Our Family Be Family Dentist” OurBe Family BeYour Your Family Dentist” Our Family Be Your Family Dentist” “Let“Let Our“Let Family Your Family Dentist” WeWeare arecelebrating celebrating2929years years
50% OFF
We are 29 in years 50% OFF We arecelebrating celebrating 30 yearsArea. in in practice 50% OFF Teeth Whitening practice inthe theBay Bay Area. 50% OFF in practiceininin the Bay Area. Teeth Whitening practice the Bay Area. Our Teeth Whitening Teeth Whitening Our practice isisdedicated for new patients (reg $450) Our practice dedicated forfor new patients (reg(reg $450) Our practice is dedicated to treating for new patients (reg $450) new patients $450) practice istodedicated totreating treatingand andpreventing preventing to treating and preventing and preventing dental indiseases in a (925) 736-9000 dental diseases a friendly, dental (925) 736-9000 dental diseases in a diseases friendly, in a friendly, 925-736-9000 (925) friendly, relaxed atmosphere. is 736-9000 relaxed ItItisisIt our relaxedatmosphere. our relaxed atmosphere. Itatmosphere. is our 3840 Blackhawk Road our philosophy to give each person philosophy to give each person 3840 Blackhawk Road 3840 Blackhawk Road 3840 Road to give each personBlackhawk philosophy tophilosophy give each person Suite 110 the same respect, care and concern the same respect, care and Suite 110 Suite 110 Suite 110 the same respect, care respect, and the same care and concern thatwant we would wantasto Danville Danville that wethat would want Danville concern we would Danville concern thatto wetoreceive would want to Across(Across Blackhawkfrom Rd. as a patient. patients. Across Blackhawk Rd. receive as areceive patient. Across Blackhawk Rd. receive as a patient. Independently Rated Highest in Quality
fromDraeger’s Draeger’s Market NINTH from Draeger’s Market Market) from Draeger’s CONSECUTIVEMarket YEAR
Independently Rated Highest in Quality Independently Rated Highest in Quality
IfIf you have an have aching tooth,tooth, want Ifanyou an aching you have tooth, If aching you have an aching tooth, to maintain good dental wantyour toyour maintain your good want to maintain good want to maintain your good health, are interested in interested improving dental are dental health, are health, interested dental health, are interested your smilein your or just have questions improving your smile or justor in improving smile or just in improving your smile or just have or concerns, concerns, please call our office. We have questions orquestions concerns, have questions or concerns, call ourlook office. We look pleaseforward call please our office. We look to meeting you. please call our office. We look
NINTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR NINTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR
forward to meeting forward you. to meeting you.
forward to meeting you.
Providing Full Service Dentistry the Entire Providing Full Service Dentistry For The for Entire Family Providing Full Service Dentistry For The EntireFamily Family
Providing Full Service Dentistry For The Entire Family
WWW.pOrteOusFAMILYDeNtIstrY.coM www.PorteousFamilyDentistry.com WWW.pOrteOusFAMILYDeNtIstrY.coM
WWW.pOrteOusFAMILYDeNtIstrY.coM
like good grades or a tidy room will encourage your kid to keep up the good work. However, don’t limit it to concrete actions: tell your child you’re also proud of her patience, kind heart, or determination. Your dad and I agree that… Presenting as a united front tells your child she can’t play one parent off against the other. Your child is more likely to comply with your rules if she knows both parents agree. How would you improve it? “Asking this question goes to helping children think about improving and to the heart of their learning and understanding,” Buck says. The conclusions your child reaches can help her get better grades, perform better in sports, or even become a better friend. Are you willing to do what it takes to improve it? This question is related to the last, but it addresses a different idea. “Maybe she knows what she needs to do to improve her soccer ability, but she just doesn’t want to,” Buck suggests. “Her interests are elsewhere and that’s where she wants to spend her time and energy.” This is a perfectly valid judgment for your child to make, and one you should accept without criticism or correction. Doing so will ensure that your child continues to open up to you and answer honestly, rather than simply the way you want her to. What are the consequences of that choice? It’s tempting to make decisions for your child, but kids learn more when they make their own choices. Guide the process by reminding your child to consider the positive and negative consequences of any choice she makes. I understand why you feel that way. This validates your child’s perceptions, even if you disagree with them. Stating this before you offer advice or an alternative point of view empowers your child and makes her more receptive to your guidance. I have your back. Children feel safest when they know they have your support. Young children need this reassurance often, while
valleysentinel.com older kids will likely need this reminder only when facing especially challenging circumstances. You make me smile. This sentence tells your child she can bring joy to you and others around her. It encourages her to engage in positive, smile-inducing behaviors. You are worthy of respect, love, and success. Reinforcing your child’s worth early will put her on the path to becoming a happy, well-adjusted adult. Please and thank you. Modeling good manners is the best way to ensure your child mimics this behavior. There are plenty of opportunities to use these vital words when interacting with your child. Would you like to talk about it?
This reminds your child she doesn’t have to deal with her problems or worries alone. Be a good listener if your child takes you up on this offer, and she’ll be more comfortable coming to you the next time. You can come to me for anything. Don’t wait for your child to show signs of distress before offering your ears. It’s especially effective for children who struggle to express their emotions. Most parents want their child to turn to them in times of need, but unless these words are said she might not have the confidence. I love you. This sentence might be the most important one of all, as it reminds your child of her special place in your heart. “I never want this to be a regret,” Buck says.
Kindergarten readiness a factor in first year success By Laurel T. Silver
As the summer season comes to an end, children and teens all across the Bay Area prepare for another year of learning, field trips, and recess. For many families, this is a familiar time of year with few surprises. However, parents of children entering kindergarten may be experiencing this back to school madness for the very first time. While it can be stressful and nerve-racking to send your child into his or her first year of schooling, being properly prepared can help re d u c e a n x i e t y f o r b o t h parents and children. Ensuring that your child is protected physically is a major part of readying him or her for kindergarten. The San Ramon Valley Unified School District requires not only up to date immunizations, but also proof of a recent physical examination. Children who do not have these completed by the first day of school are not allowed to enter classrooms. For a complete list of required immunizations, please visit the San Ramon Valley Unified School District’s website at www.srvusd.net. While physical readiness is important, it may also be a good idea to ensure that your child is emotionally ready to start kindergarten. All school districts have cutoff
dates, which determine the numerical age of children who may enter kindergarten each year. However, according to an article published by b a byc e n t e r. c o m , n o t a l l children who meet the cutoff date are emotionally mature enough to succeed in a structured school environment. While experts believe that there is no one factor which determines a child’s readiness, there are guidelines, which may help parents make an informed d e c i s i o n . T h e S RU V S D website provides parents with a complete checklist of social, academic, and motor skills that children should be comfortable with before entering kindergarten. Parents who decide to wait an additional year may want to consider a transitional kindergarten (TK) program. TK provides children with a slightly modified curriculum that may be more appropriate for their stage of development. All California unified school districts are required to offer transitional kindergarten. The California Department of Education’s website (www.cde.ca.gov) offers a comprehensive description of transitional kindergarten and it’s believed benefits. If you have made the decision to send your child See KINDERGARTEN page 15
Kids and Teens - Back to School valleysentinel.com
August 2014
The valley Sentinel
page 9
Use Your Most Powerful Tool for Getting Into College By Elizabeth LaScala, PhD
As a college advisor I give college related advice all year round. One of the most common conversations I have with families is about high school coursework—what to take, when to take it and how much it matters (to get into a good college). In order to give back to a community which has given so much to me, this article addresses this question in the most fundamental way possible. There are, of course, many special needs and unique situations to be considered. Still, there are some general principles that can apply to most of our students, most of the time. If you are a high school student that is college bound you should understand that the most powerful tool for getting into college rests in your hands. Simply stated, colleges admit students who show an interest in going to school. This statement rests on the premise that you
like learning, since you are going to college to continue your education. So your best tool to help you get into college is to design a four year schedule that shows your commitment to learning, and your williangness and ability to take core coursework, and possibly some advanced coursework during your high school years. The recommendations below work well for each year in high school. A few are especially important for certain grade levels. 1. Middle school sets the foundation for your high school curriculum. Work hard and do well in a foreign language and math in middle school and prepare to take geometry and the 2nd year of your foreign language in high school. Take your first laboratory science as well, biology. If the language you studied in middle school truly doesn’t suit your interests, switch to another language in your freshman year so you can still complete four years of a foreign language in high school. If language is not your ‘thing’ be sure to take at least three years and then supplement the dropped language with strong coursework that does interest you. 2. Take core coursework. Remember, meeting minimum
requirements does not make you a competitive applicant. In today’s college admission world it is wise to go well beyond the minimum, not only to be admitted to college, but to be eligible for scholarships and grants to ease the financial strain of college costs. Continue taking core courses in all academic subjects, including English, m a t h e m a t i c s, l a b o ra t o r y sciences, social sciences, and a foreign language (see the tip above if you are utterly convinced you must drop language.) Five core subjects plus one elective is ideal for your senior year. In earlier grade levels you will have additional coursework because you are taking physical education for two years and meeting your visual and performing arts requirement. 3. Complete your VPA requirement early. The University of California (UC) and California State University (CSU) systems as well as many other four year colleges require one full year of college preparatory coursework in the visual and performing arts. Don’t leave that to your junior or senior year. Unless you are an arts focused student, you will want to free up your schedule for academic subjects that help further explore and expand your interests, like
creative writing, if you love composition or introduction to computer science, if you enjoy programming. 4. Challenge yourself. If you took Honors or AP classes in earlier grade levels and enjoyed the challenge, continue taking advanced coursework in 11th and 12th grades. If you did not take advanced coursework in earlier grades, add one or two to your junior and/or senior year schedule. 5. Use summers wisely. Colleges say that fancy summer programs that cost a great deal of money and don’t enhance your education add little, if anything to the college application. On the other hand, taking a college level class for credit to open your eyes to a new academic interest or add depth to an existing one does add value to your college application. So does being gainfully employed or
participating in a program that builds substantive skillsets (like laboratory methods or customer relations), or doing an activity that helps meet a specific goal (like earning the President’s Service Award or your Girl Scout Gold Award). These types of endeavors strengthen the college application because they strengthen YOU. Don’t misunderstand these recommendations. You are not participating in a summer program, taking core coursework or performing an activity in order to ‘get into’ college (although this may well be one of the rewards); you are doing it to help you better understand yourself and what you want to do in college and beyond. Parents, teachers and counselors support your college aspirations by helping you understand and use the power of your high school years.
When the kids are away the Moms will play!
Help Children in Need Start the School Year If you would prefer to donate Off Right! clients supported by VESTIA in backpacks and supplies, we will The Danville Alain Pinel Realtors Office is collecting donations to be able to purchase and assemble backpacks for local children in need. All completed backpacks will benefit foster children and
Contra Costa County (Volunteer Emergency Services Team in Action). The program will run through August 2014, but the earlier the better, so please don’t delay.
be collecting them at our office located at 601 Sycamore Valley Road West, Danville. Please visit www.apr. com/Back-To-School-Program for donation guidelines and suggested items.
Veterinary Equine Medicine Camp in Walnut Creek
Innovative nonprofit camp for young people interested in equine veterinary medicine 2012 and is a member of BAE Registration is now open for the one-of-a-kind Veterinary Medicine Camp, a five-day experience designed for young people grades four through twelve who are interested in veterinary medicine. Offered through the Bay Area Equestrian Club, a Walnut Creek nonprofit 501(c) (3) that provides equestrianfocused educational events, volunteer and community service opportunities, rescue horse programs, and leadership training for young people, the day-camp, which focuses on
equine veterinary medicine, runs August 16-20, 2014. “The idea for BAE Vet Camp was to incorporate aspects of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education into a fun and exciting week of interactive instruction, handson activities, and exclusive workshops focused on horses and veterinary medicine,” says BAE Vet Camp Program Director Shanna Gage Lai, whose daughter Taylor Alyssa Lai, 12, founded BAE Club in
Club’s Jr. Board. “Young people who love horses will get handson instruction, working sideby-side with experts, about veterinary medicine. This is not a riding camp and you don’t have to own a horse this is a summer camp with an academic focus on the anatomy, physiology, health, and care of horses - perfect for the student who is thinking about becoming a vet.” For more information contact Shanna Gage Lai, BAEClub@ aol.com, 925.922.2908
*Enroll this month and receive $0 Enrollment ($99 Savings) and PT Special $40 per session (for up to 10 sessions)
*Must join on a 12-month commitment.
Bring your friends and get back into your fitness routine at
925.743.3919
www.danville-fit.com 101 Town & Country Drive Danville, CA 94526
Seniors page 10
valleysentinel.com
August 2014
How to use your new health insurance By David Sayen
If you’re one of the millions of Americans who recently obtained health coverage through the new Health Insurance Marketplace, Medicaid, or the Children’s Health Insurance (CHIP), here are some steps you can take to make the most of your new coverage. 1 - Put your health first • Staying healthy is important for you and your family. • Maintain a healthy lifestyle at home, at work, and in the community. • Get your recommended health screenings and manage chronic conditions. • Keep all of your health information in one place. 2 - Understand your health coverage • Check with your insurance plan or state Medicaid or CHIP program to see what services are covered. • Be familiar with your costs (premiums, copayments, deductibles, co-insurance). • Know the difference between in-network and out-ofnetwork services, and the out-ofpocket costs to you of each. 3 - Know where to go for care •Use the emergency department for a life-threatening situation. • Primary care is preferred when it’s not an emergency. • Know the difference between primary care and emergency care.
4 - Find a doctor or other healthcare provider • Ask people you trust and/or do research on the internet. • Check your plan’s list of providers. • If you’re assigned a provider, contact your plan if you want to change. • If you’re enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP, contact your state Medicaid or CHIP program for help. 5 - Make an appointment • Contact your provider’s office and mention if you’re a new patient or have been there before. • Give the name of your insurance plan and ask if they accept your insurance. • Tell them the name of the provider you want to see and why you want an appointment. • Ask for days or times that work for you. 6 - Be prepared for your visit • Have your insurance card with you. • Know your family health history and make a list of any medicines you take. • Bring a list of questions and things to discuss, and take notes during your visit. • Bring someone with you to help if you need it. 7 - Decide if the provider is right for you • Did you feel comfortable with the provider you saw? • Were you able to communicate with and understand your provider? • Did you feel like you and your provider could make good decisions together?
Senior Homecare by Angels “America’s Personal Choice in Homecare”
FR Up to 24 hour care In-H EE Cons ome ultati Meal Preparation on Personal Hygiene Assistance Rewarding Companionship Day/Night Live-In or Live-Out Care Respite for Family Caregiver YOU choose the Caregiver Criminal background checks on all Caregivers √ Experience Visiting Angels √ Personalized Service System with a FREE In-Home Consultation √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √
Screened, Bonded & Insured
Visiting Angels 16 Crow Canyon Court San Ramon
925.552.6500
www.jmhomecare.com
• Remember: it’s okay to change to a different provider! (If you want to change your provider, return to Step 4.) 8 - Next steps after your appointment • Follow your provider’s instructions. • Fill any prescriptions you were given, and take them as directed. • Schedule a follow-up visit if you need one. • Review your explanation of benefits and pay your medical bills. • Contact your provider, health plan, or the state
Medicaid or CHIP agency with any questions. We have a number of tools available to help answer questions you might have about your new health care coverage, and to use it appropriately to get the care and preventive services that are right for you. You can find these tools at our Coverage to Care website, at marketplace.cms.gov/c2c. They include educational brochures and videos. Many are available in both English and Spanish, and more resources will be developed over the next few months. Still have questions? C o n t a c t yo u r i n s u ra n c e
company directly or contact us at 1-800-318-2596 (TTY: 1-855-889-4325). Our trained representatives are available at the Marketplace Call Center 24 hours a day 7 days a week. If you have questions about your Medicaid or CHIP coverage, contact your state agency for more information. David Sayen is Medicare’s regional administrator for Arizona, California, Nevada, Hawaii, and the Pacific Territories. You can always get answers to your Medicare questions by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-6334227).
Seniors in California have saved $951,941,676 on prescription drugs since 2010 with disabilities with Medicare On the eve of the 49th anniversary of the signing of Medicare and Medicaid into law, new information was released by the Department of Health and Human Services shows that people with Medicare in California have saved $951,941,676 on prescription drugs as a result of the Affordable Care Act. Nationally, more than 8.2 million seniors and people with disabilities with Medicare continue to enjoy prescription drug savings as a result of the Affordable Care Act, saving $11.5 billion since 2010. This news comes on the heels of continued historic low levels of growth in Medicare spending. According to the recent Medicare Trustees report, the life of the Trust Fund has been extended to 2030, up from its projection of 2017 in 2009, and Part B premiums are expected to stay the same rather than increase for the second year in a row. Additionally, a new HHS report found that per capita Medicare spending growth has averaged 2 percent over 2009 – 2012, and nearly 0 percent in 2013, one-third of the growth rate over the 2000-2008 period. “Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, seniors and people
with disabilities are saving on needed medications,” said HHS Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell. “By making prescription drugs more affordable, we are improving and promoting the best care for people with Medicare.” The Affordable Care Act makes Medicare prescription drug coverage more affordable by gradually closing the gap in coverage where beneficiaries had to pay the full cost of their prescriptions out of pocket, before catastrophic coverage took effect. This gap is known as the donut hole. Since the enactment of the Affordable Care Act, out-ofpocket savings on medications for people with Medicare prescription drug coverage continues to grow. In California, people with Medicare have saved $951,941,676 on prescription drugs in the Medicare Part D donut hole since the law was enacted. Nationally, more than 8.2 million seniors and people with disabilities with Medicare have saved over $11.5 billion since 2010 on prescription drugs as a result of discounts in the donut hole and rebates in 2010, for an average of $1,407. These figures are higher than last year at this time when over 6.6 million seniors and people
had saved over $7 billion on prescription drugs averaging $1,061 per beneficiary in donut hole discounts. Because of the Affordable Care Act, in 2010, anyone with a Medicare prescription drug plan who reached the prescription drug donut hole received a $250 rebate. Beginning in 2011, beneficiaries in the donut hole began receiving discounts on covered brand-name drugs and savings on generic drugs. These savings and Medicare coverage will gradually increase until 2020, when the donut hole will be closed. In 2014, people with a Medicare prescription drug plan who fall into the donut hole will save from discounts and increased coverage in the gap about 53 percent on the cost of brand name drugs and save from increased coverage in the gap about 28 percent on the cost of generic drugs. For state-by-state information on discounts on the donut hole, please visit: http://downloads. cms.gov/files/Medicare-Part-DDonut-Hole-Savings-Summary2010-June-2014.pdf. For more information about Medicare prescription drug benefits, please visit: www. medicare.gov/part-d.
Annual car show coming August 14 in the year 1976. If you’d like downtown Danville to showcase your classic car,
The Hot Summer Nights Hot Rod and Classic Car Show is held every summer in Downtown Danville to the delight of thousands. In its 20th year, the show features hundreds of hot rods and classic cars along Hartz Avenue along with a disc jockey
spinning nostalgic 1950s and ’60s music, vendor booths and awards for the favorite collector vehicles. Come down, enjoy the fantastic automobiles and stay for dinner at one of downtown Danville’s many restaurants. Hot Summer Nights accepts featured cars up to and through
register your vehicle at St. Isidore Church on La Gonda Way beginning at 2 p.m. on the day of the event. For more information or to register a car, visit www.danvillehotsummernightscarshow. com or call Jill Bergman at (925) 314-3369.
valleysentinel.com
august 2014
Be Fire Safe this Summer By Candace Andersen, Contra Costa County Supervisor
With the current drought we are experiencing, saving water isn’t the only thing you should be concerned about. Record-low rainfall, extremely dry vegetation, summer heat and windy weather increase the chances of fire near our homes and surrounding open space. Couple these realities with the recent recession that resulted in major cutbacks to our local fi re departments, and we are facing risk on an unprecedented scale. According to Contra Costa County Fire Chief Jeff Carman, “As a result of the economic downturn, the District has faced a reduction of over $11 million dollars annually as compared to five years ago. During the same period of time the District has experienced an increase in the number of requests for service. As you can imagine, a decrease in revenues and an increase in call volume makes our job of providing service to our customers very difficult.” According to the Federal E m e rg e n cy M a n a g e m e n t Agency (FEMA), more than 3,400 Americans die each year in fires and approximately 17,500 are injured. An overwhelming number of fires occur in the home. There are time-tested ways to prevent and survive a fire. “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” said Benjamin Franklin in the 1770’s and of course, the same holds true today. Prevention in this day and age is our mightiest weapon
when it comes to fighting fires. So, what can YOU do? Yo u r h o m e s h o u l d have at least one smoke alarm on every floor. FEMA recommends testing it monthly and keeping it free of dust. Replace the battery at least once a year, and this can be done at the same time you set your clocks forward for the spring. To prevent electrical fires, FEMA recommends that you never overload circuits or extension cords and that cords and/or wires should never be placed under rugs, over nails or in high traffic areas. Shutting off and unplugging appliances at the slightest malfunction, and having them repaired by a professional or replaced, is also recommended. Consider unplugging everyday appliances like the toaster or hairdryer when n o t i n u s e. T h e s e d ays, home fire sprinklers are highly recommended and affordable. Installing and properly maintaining them can increase the property value of your home and even lower your insurance rates. Outside your home, it’s very important to maintain a “firescape,”also known as a “defensible space.” You should create a good, clear zone around your house. Within this buffer zone, which should be a minimum of 30 feet, you do not have to remove all plants. You should, however, remove any trees and branches growing within 10 feet of your home, cut down any tree that drops debris on the roof or in the gutters, and thin the remaining trees. Shrubs should be placed well away from your home and pruned on a regular basis. All of the plants in your defensible space should be
fire resistant. Check your rain gutters, eaves, and roofs to clear any stray leaves and needles. If you have a wood piles or other flammable materials, make sure they are around 30 feet or more away from your home. Don’t let the drought prevent you from cutting your grass or removing weeds. Be sure to check the weather before starting a weed abatement project. Humidity, hot weather, or strong winds are big NO’s if you want to tend to dry vegetation. When cutting or mowing, keep a hose, container of water, or fire extinguisher accessible. Always call your local fire department when a fire occurs, no matter the size. Even if you have extinguished the fi re, it is important for firefighters to inspect the area so they can ensure that it won’t happen again. FEMA states that heat and smoke from fires can be more dangerous than the flames. Inhaling the super-hot air can sear your lungs. Fire produces poisonous gases that make you disoriented and drowsy. Instead of being awakened by a fire, you may fall into a deeper sleep. Asphyxiation is the leading cause of fire deaths, exceeding burns by a three-to-one ratio. With your family and/or housemates, it is wise to practice an escape plan from every room in the house. Everyone should stay low to the floor when escaping from fire and never open doors that are hot. Select a location where everyone can meet after escaping the house. Get out then call for help! For a wildfire, keep calm. Obey all evacuation orders, and if there are no orders, don’t hesitate to leave on your own
Hope Hospice seeking volunteers Hope Hospice is currently looking for individuals who are interested in volunteering to assist hospice patients and their families. In keeping with Hope Hospice’s goal to make sure patients can live their lives to the fullest and with dignity, our volunteers provide a variety of services that help enhance the quality of care of our patients’ lives. Volunteer opportunities include: Home Care Cosmetology Healing Touch Reiki Massage Therapy Choir
If you are interested in becoming a Hope Hospice vo l u n t e e r, c o n t a c t H o p e Hospice Director of Volunteers Jill Biggs, RN, at (925) 8298770. Volunteer training sessions will be held on five consecutive Thursday, beginning September 4. The application deadline is August 29. Hope Hospice is a nonprofit, 501c(3) organization that serves families in the Tri-Valley, Alamo, Danville, San Ramon, Castro Valley, Sunol, Walnut Creek and the surrounding communities of the San Francisco East Bay. Our patients receive
care in their home or facility where they reside so they can live their lives as fully as possible, in comfort and d i g n i t y, s u r r o u n d e d b y family and friends. Services include pain and symptom management, emotional and spiritual support, and personal care. 24-hour advice, emergency care and respite care are available. Hope Hospice is accredited by the Joint Commission, licensed by the State of California Department of Health Services and Medicare/MediCal certified. Learn more at HopeHospice.com or contact us at (925) 829-8770.
The Valley SenTinel initiative if you don’t feel safe. As always, don’t block emergency vehicle access to the roads. For more information, visit San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District’s website at www.firedepartment.org, or the FEMA website at www. usfa.fema.gov/citizens/home_ fire_prev.
page 11
P l e a s e don’t hesitate to contact my office if I 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.
125 Railroad Avenue, Suite D, Danville, CA (925) 837-2500 FD2088 www.ghmemorial.com
AdvAnced LAser
Michael J. Tomcik, MD
skin cAre center
Medical Group, iNc.
www.SanRamonDerm.com
Board Certified Dermatologist Over 35 years experience
101 Park Place San Ramon
925-743-1488
Pamper Yourself Introducing Ultherapy
Affordable customized• physician strength treatments Only FDA approved, in a spa-like environment by caring and non-surgical procedure compassionate aesthetician to rejuvenate your skin
that focuses ultra sound to stimulate the growth of new collagen $125 Microdermabrasion for and onlytightens $99 • Lifts Microdermabrasion gently and effectively improves the skin on neck, skin texture, evens skin tone and softens lines. chin,fine and brow • NO downtime Call today 925-743-1488 for an• appointment Takes about an hour Additional services:
Summer Special*
Hand, eye and lip treatments • Vitamin C firming facial Hydrating facial • Acne facial with extractions • Enzyme facial Receive a free Glycolic, Jessner & salicylic peels • Product consultation Botox Treatment for maximum results with physician-strength products
*
For discount, use Promo Code VSGIFT As seen on KTVU “Malou Review”
with your full Pam anand face d peneck r y o
p
o ur s lish Ultherapy h kin
eal for youprocedure. thf thy, a ul g low We are the only office with a dedicated “ultherapist” on staff
Visit our web site for amazing before and after photos of patients www.SanRamonDerm.com
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
August
•
August
•
August
•
August
•
August
•
August
•
August
For additional Community Events visit: www.ValleySentinel.com Please email information about your events to info@valleysentinel.com
COMMUNITY EVENTS Volunteers Needed: Read to Preschoolers Volunteers are needed at childcare centers in Concord, Pittsburg, and West County. The Contra Costa County Library will supply books and resources. For more information, please contact Maureen Kilmurray at 925-927-3288. Danville Farmer’s Market Every Saturday, Year-round 9am-1pm. Get the freshest seasonal fare at the Danville Certified Farmers’ Market. Railroad & Prospect Avenue, Danville. Information: www.ci.danville.ca.us. (You can make donations of fresh vegetables and fruit for our local food pantries at the Loaves & Fishes Booth at the Danville Farmers Market.) Canine Companions for Independence Puppy Class Each Saturday 11am-12pm. Become a puppy raiser! The East Bay Miracles Chapter invites you to help train puppies to become assistant dogs for children and adults with disabilities. Make sure to check out their online calendar before heading off to volunteer. Athenian High School, 2100 Mt. Diablo Scenic Blvd., Danville. ccieastbay.org. Light Conversations on an August Night: Monday ESL Sessions for Adults August 11,18,25 6:45-7:45pm. Join ESL Speak Up! volunteer Rita for a night of light conversation on various topics of conversation for those wishing to sharpen their English speaking skills, delivery, and pronunciation. Dougherty Station Library, 17017 Bollinger Canyon Road, San Ramon. 925-973-3380. Hot Summer Nights Car Show August 14 4-9pm. The Danville Merchants Association is now celebrating their 20th year of Hot Summer Nights Car Show, and entertaining more than 30,000 visitors, residents, and consumers during this 2 show event. Downtown-Hartz Avenue. David Miller, (925) 437-3649. East Bay Regional Parks: 80th Anniversary Presentation August 14 7-8pm. Explore the rich history and incredible treasures of East Bay Regional Parks in celebration of their 80th Anniversary. Join Beverly Lane, a Director of the East Bay Regional Parks, Curator of the Museum of the San Ramon Valley, and Seventh Senate District Woman of the Year, as she guides attendees through 80 years of local history, parks, and trails. Danville Library, 400 Front St., Danville. 925-837-4889. Athletic Health Fair - Kaiser Permanente San Ramon Medical Offices August 16 10am-1pm. This event will be free and open to the public - members and non-members. They will feature our Sports Medicine physician, Dr. Wise, as well as free fitness screenings, rock climbing wall, Educational Theatre activities (kids interactive play area, Nutri Beast mascot, pedal-powered speaker bike), physical therapy, healthy living information and more! Kaiser Permanente, San Ramon Medical Offices, 2300 Camino Ramon, San Ramon. sanramon.org Give Cancer the Boot August 16 5pm. Forget your suit, bring your loot, we’re fixin’ to give cancer the boot at our classic country western round up benefiting Lazarex Cancer Foundation. To participate in auction, donate, or make a purchase to the cause of curing Cancer, visit the website at https:// lazarex.ejoinme.org/givecancertheboot or enjoy country elegant grub, cocktails and breathtaking views. Get ready for barn burnin’ fun and dancin’ till dawn! $250. 41401 Vargas Road, Fremont. Family Campout August 16-17 12pm-12pm. Come enjoy the great outdoors with your family at Mt. Diablo State Park. You will enjoy hiking in the park, youth crafts, family games, and campfire skits. Dinner and continental breakfast provided. One car per household. MUST REGISTER ALL FAMILY MEMBERS ATTENDING WITH BARCODE 33920! Mt. Diablo State Park. www.danvillerecguide.com/Start/Start.asp. Parks Make Life Better: Clean up Day- Forest Home Farms August 23 9am-12pm. Join the professional park maintenance staff and your neighbors to help maintain and beautify our parks. Tasks may include planting, pruning, applying mulch, replacing sandbox materials, painting and general clean up. Open to all ages however children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult. Forest Home Farms, 19953 San Ramon Valley Blvd, San Ramon. www.citylights. volunteerhub.com
Master Gardeners Program: Backyard Vineyards August 23 10am-12pm. Contra Costa Master Gardener’s experts Jim DeFrisco & Brad Miller will provide an introduction to growing both table and wine grapes; you’ll learn what you need to get started, how to plant your grapes, and how to care for and maintain grapevines throughout the year. There will be time for questions and answers after the presentation. Free. Walnut Creek Library, 1644 N. Broadway, Walnut Creek.
Senior Services: Old Fashion Ice Cream Social August 19 2-3:30pm. Chocolate syrup and sprinkles, whipped cream and more, that’s what an ice cream social is for! Join in celebrating National Soft Ice Cream day during this tasty event. Summertime entertainment will be provided by John Archimede, vocals and keyboard.$4 (Registered) $6 (Not Registered). Danville Senior Center, 115 E. Prospect Ave., Danville. Register at (925)314-3490.
Fall Master Gardener Series: Planning a Winter Vegetable Garden August 28 7-pm. Learn how growing vegetables in the winter has its advantages over summer vegetables and what allowances have to be made for the shorter days and less intense sunlight. Danville Library, 400 Front St., Danville. 925-837-4889.
Aging Parent Home Alone? August 21 6:30-7:30pm Free Seminar on Eldercare Issues and Options. San Ramon Community Center, 12501 Alcosta Blvd. Information: 925-4785993.
SENIORS Danville Seniors Unless otherwise noted, the following activities are held at the Danville Senior Center, Veterans Memorial Building, 115 E. Prospect, Danville. For more information call 925-314-3490 or visit www.ci.danville.ca.us/Recreation/Seniors. Sneaker Trips: The Town of Danville’s Senior Sneakers program is a great way for you to make new friends and get out and around the greater Bay Area. There’s always something new to see and learn. All trips meet at the Danville Park & Ride lot unless otherwise noted in the trip details. Reserve your spot at the Danville Senior Center, 115 E. Prospect, Danville, CA 94526, on or before the registration date beginning at 8:30am. Information: 925-314-3400 or visit www. ci.danville.ca.us/Recreation/Seniors/Senior_Sneaker_Trips. The Danville Area Senior Hikes (DASH) are open to all adults and meets on the second and fourth Wednesday of every month. The group starts at the Danville Park-n-Ride (next to the Sycamore Valley 680 North exit) at 9AM and returns about 1Pm. Most hikes are not strenuous, but gradients are involved due to the local terrain. Distances are usually in the 4-5 mile range, and the pace is moderate, with stops to view scenery, wildlife and to talk about location history when appropriate. Information: 925-314-3400 or visit www.ci.danville.ca.us/Recreation/Seniors/Senior_Hiking. 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: Free workshops and informational sessions that will benefit you. They will give you free access to coffee, knowledge and a better understanding of important issues. Information: 925-973-3250. Trips Trip Desk is open Tuesday from 10am-1pm. Sign up for trips at the travel desk or by depositing payment with registration form in the gold drop box found at the main entryway. Information: 973-3250. Wednesday Morning Hikes (time and location varies) Join the San Ramon Trailblazers if you are interested in meeting new people, enjoying the outdoors, having fun and getting in shape. The group meets once a week at various locations, This is an adults only group; pets are not permitted on hikes. To find out the exact meeting location and to get on the email list, please call the Senior Center or email trailblazer88@comcast.net. Page Turners Senior Book Group Third Tuesday of the month 1:30pm. Drop in–all are welcome! Copies of this month’s book are on reserve for you at the San Ramon Library Front Desk. Book group meets at Alcosta Senior and Community Center, 9300 Alcosta Blvd. Information: Carol Yuke, Adult Services Librarian. 925-973-2850. Dementia: The Importance of Respect & Safety August 12 5:30-7pm. This free class is intended for family caregivers or those dealing with the challenges of aging. Learn how to have a conversation about needs when denial is present. The class will give you the language to make hard decisions for another and give you permission to “stretch the truth” for dignity. Eldercare Services, 1808 Tice Valley Blvd, Walnut Creek. Register at EldercareAnswers.com.
Buzz Session: Garage Sales Made Easy August 26 10-11:30am. Holding a garage sale looks easy but there are a lot of things one can do to improve your results. As a person who has held many sales over a twenty year period, Presenter Linda Stolow-Sterling has learned what works and what doesn’t, and will share it all with you. Free. Danville Senior Center, 115 E. Prospect Ave., Danville. 925-314-3490.
BUSINESS San Ramon Chamber of Commerce Third Thursday Mixer 5:30-7:30pm. Please join for our Third Thursday Mixer in San Ramon! Meet other business owners for an opportunity to network and make your business more visible. $5 for Members and $20 for Non-Members. Walnut Creek Chamber B.A.S.H. (Business & Social Hour) Monthly Mixer August 28 5:30-7pm. The B.A.S.H. is a great opportunity to network with Chamber Members, Government Officials, Educators and Local Businesses. This event is free to all Walnut Creek Chamber Members and guests of members; Non-member price is $10.00. Walnut Creek Library, 1644 N. Broadway, Walnut Creek. Information: walnut-creek.com. Seminar- Campaigns that Drive Action: Newsletter and Announcements August 19 12-1:30pm. At the heart of small business marketing are the campaigns that drive action - collections of marketing activities that help a small business or organization to achieve its goals and objectives. Newsletters and announcements have become a core component of those campaign choices. Learn how to incorporate these components into your business campaign. Free for Walnut Creek Chamber Members, $25 non-members. Walnut Creek Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau, 1280 Civic Drive, Ste. 100, Walnut Creek. Register at walnut-creek. com. Ribbon Cutting: Pure Essence August 21 5:30-6pm. Come meet the owner of Pure Essence, Patricia Futterer, and her lovely staff, at its Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. Learn how to pamper yourself and look younger than ever! 9000 Crow Canyon Road, Suite W, Danville. danvilleareachamber. com. Third Thursday Mixer - San Ramon Insurance Agency August 21 5:30-7:30pm. Please join for our Annual Martini Madness Mixer at the San Ramon Insurance Agency in San Ramon! $5 members, $20 non-members. San Ramon Insurance Agency, 2303 Camino Ramon, Suite 210, San Ramon. sanramoninsurance.com. New and Future Member Orientation- San Ramon Chamber August 26 4-5pm. Please come and learn about the various Chamber services that can benefit your business. There will be some of the Chamber’s Ambassadors and the Chamber’s President/CEO, Stewart Bambino, there to greet you. Bishop Ranch 6 2400 Camino Ramon Conference Room 158/K, San Ramon. RSVP at 925-242-0600. Golf with the Chamber August 29 3-6pm. Join the San Ramon Chamber’s FUN monthly golf “networking event” at the San Ramon Golf Club on the last Friday of every month. The outing starts 3:00pm. $20. San Ramon Golf Club, 9430 Fircrest Ln, San Ramon. sanramon.org.
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.
valleysentinel.com
CLUBS and ORGANIZATIONS Danville-Alamo-Walnut Creek Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy and research. AAUW membership is open to all graduates of accredited four year colleges or universities and those holding an Associate Degree or equivalent. Prospective members are welcome and may contact Liz at 389-0152 for details. Visit daw-ca.aauw.net for meeting dates. 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. Wind ‘n Sea Sailing Club Sailing training classes take place at members’ homes. Information: Call Jan at 925-837-3381. Recurring: Danville Rotary 12pm. Meets every Monday. Faz Restaurant, Danville. Information: danvillerotary.org. Mondays: The Walnut Creek Garden Club Meets the second Monday of each month. The general meeting begins at 9:30 with community and socializing from 10:30 to 11:00. You do not need to be a gardener to join the club. The Gardens at Heather Farm, 1540 Marchbanks Road, Walnut Creek. Information: californiagardenclubs.com/content/ walnut-creek-garden-club or mslittle44@gmail.com San Ramon Alzheimer Support Group 7-9pm. Meets the second Monday of each month, except on holidays. Sponsored by the Alzheimer Association. People who know or are caregivers of Alzheimer victims can get information on how to help them through this difficult time in life. San Ramon Senior & Community Center, 9300 Alcosta Blvd., San Ramon. Information: 925-973-3250. Sons In Retirement (Las Trampas Branch) Monthly Luncheon 11:30am. Meets the third Monday of each month, except for May and December. If you are retired or semi-retired and want to make new friends, participate in fun activities and better enjoy your leisure time, we welcome you to join with us. Make $15 luncheon reservations by calling 925-322-1160 by the preceding Wednesday. Walnut Creek Elks Lodge, 1475 Creekside Dr, Walnut Creek. Information: visit www.Branch116.org. Tuesdays: Danville am Toastmasters 7-8:30am. Meets every Tuesday. New members welcome. Father Nature’s Restaurant, 170 Prospect Ave., Danville. Information: danvilleam.freetoasthost.org. Danville/Sycamore Valley Rotary 7am. Meets every Tuesday morning. Crow Canyon Country Club, Danville. Information: dsvrotary.com.
august 2014
The Valley SenTinel
COMMUNITY CALENDAR (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12) 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. Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer Workshop Tuesdays, April 16 through July 3 0 11 a m - 1 p m . T h i s 1 2 - w e e k workshop is for women who have just been diagnosed and are either in treatment or starting treatment. Cancer Support Community, 3276 McNutt Avenue, Walnut Creek. Free. Please call to register 925933-0107. Walnut Creek Kiwanis Club 12:10-1:30pm. Meets every Tuesday. Massimo’s Ristorante, 1604 Locust Street, Walnut Creek. Information: kiwanisofwalnutcreek.org. Walnut Creek Rotary 12:15-1:30pm. Meets every Tuesday. Heather Farms Garden Center, 1540 Marchbanks Drive, Walnut Creek. Information: rotarywc.org. ARF Pet Loss Support Group 5:30-7pm. Meets second Tuesday of every month. In a nurturing small group, you are encouraged to process feelings of grief resulting from the loss of pet. Register with Vicki at 925-887-5681 or vickis@hospiceeastbay.org. ARF, 2890 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek. Information: arf.net. Prostate Cancer Group 7:30–9pm. Meets 2nd Tuesday of the month. Drop-in prostate cancer group for men and their loved ones. Sa n R a m o n R e g i o n a l M e d i c a l C e n t e r, S o u t h B u i l d i n g , We s t Day Room. 6001 Norris Canyon Road, San Ramon. Information: 925.933.0107 or www.twc-bayarea. org/community-programs.html. Wednesdays: Walnut Creek Toastmasters 7-8:15pm. Meets every Wednesday. 1660 Oak Park Blvd., Pleasant Hill. Information: walnutcreek. freetoasthost.net Hospice of the East Bay Drop-in Bereavement Support Group 4:30-6pm, 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of every month. 3470 Buskirk Avenue; Pleasant Hill. Information: 9 2 5 - 8 8 7 - 5 6 8 1 o r v i s i t w w w. hospiceeastbay.org. Alamo Rotary 12:15pm. Meets every Wednesday. Round Hill Country Club, 3169 Roundhill Road, Alamo. Information: alamorotary.org. D a n v i l l e To a s t m a s t e r s C l u b #1785 7:30-9pm. Meets every Wednesday. R o o m W 2 0 4 a t D i a b l o Va l l e y College,1690 Watermill Road, San Ramon. Information: danvilletoastmasters1785.com. San Ramon Valley Rotary 7pm. Meets every Wednesday. Blackhawk Country Club, 599 Blackhawk Club Drive, 711 Silver Lake Drive, Danville. Information: sanramonvalleyrotary.com. Danville Lions Club 7pm. Meets the first and third Wednesday each month at The Brass Door at 2154 San Ramon Valley Blvd. in San Ramon. Information: Pat.Porter@hannaglobal.com Exchange Club of San Ramon Valley 12pm. Meets the second Wednesday of every month. Sign-in and social time begins at 11:30. Guests are welcome with lunch reservations. Faz Restaurant, 600 Hartz Ave., Danville. RSVP 925-275-2412.
Information: coachstepper@yahoo. com. Walnut Creek Host Lion’s Club 12:15pm. Meets the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Wednesdays of each month. Black Bear Diner, 700 Bancroft Road, Walnut Creek. Information: walnutcreeklions.org. Blue Star Moms 7-9pm. Meets the second Wednesday of every month. Danville Veterans Memorial Building, 400 Hartz Ave. Information: bluestarmoms.org. Sons in Retirement (San Ramon Valley chapter) Monthly Luncheon 10:30am; Social Hour, 11:35am Meeting and lunch. Meets the 3rd Wed. of each month. $23 includes luncheon, guest speaker and a great opportunity to socialize with at least 120 other retirees from the San Ramon Valley. To reserve a space, please email us by Friday prior to luncheon at www.info@ SIR128.com. Location: San Ramon Golf Club, 9430 Fircrest Lane, San Ramon. Information: www.SIR128. com. Diablo Valley Quilters 7-9pm. Meets the third Wednesday of every month. No charge for guests. Danville Congregational Church, 989 San Ramon Valley Blvd., Danville. Information: diablovalleyquilters.com. Veterans of Foreign Wars 7:00pm. 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. Thursdays: Rotary Club of San Ramon 11:45am. Meets every Thursday. Crow Canyon Country Club, 711 Silver Lake Drive, Danville. Information: sanramonrotary.org. Koko Fitbit Walk 9:30-11 am. Meets on the last Thursday of each month. Meet at Koko FitClub and walk the Iron Horse Trail. 499-B San Ramon Valley Blvd. Danville. Information: 925-743-0802 San Ramon Valley Newcomers 11:30am-2pm. Meets the third Thursday of every month with a featured guest speaker at a local Tri-
Valley restaurant. $12. The July 17 meeting will be held at Prickley Pear Cantina in Blackhawk Plaza. New and long-time adult residents are welcome. Reservations/information: 925-837-9600 or www.srvnc.com. Clutterers Anonymous 7-8pm. Meets the second Thursday of every month. St. Luke’s Lutheran Church room 7, 2491 San Miguel Drive, Walnut Creek. Information: 925-736-8627. Diablo Valley Lions Club 7:30pm. Meets the 1st, 3rd, and 4th Thursday of every month. 1400 Montego Drive, Walnut Creek. Information: diablovalleyca.lionwap. org. Fridays: Transitions - “Navigating Life’s Turning Points Together” Beginning September 12, 2014 9-11:30am. Our group now has a new name, which has been changed from TENS to Transitions. Our mission is to encourage and support women from empty nest, to aging parents and everything in between. Community Presbyterian Church, Room 116, 222 W. El Pintado Rd., Danville. Information: Barb Miller at bajumil@yahoo.com or Donna Hill at hillmom3@comcast.net Montelindo Garden Club 9am. Third Friday (September through May) St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 66 St. Stephens Drive, Orinda. Information: www.montelindogarden.
page 13
com or luiseh@comcast.net 925-2543906. Saturdays: Diablo Region of the Porsche Club of America 7:30-9am. Meets every Saturday. Buttercup Bar and Grill, 660 Ygnacio Valley Road, Walnut Creek. Information: diablo-pca.org. Parkinson’s Disease Support Group Call for time. Meets every 3rd Saturday. Join us to share, laugh, and learn from each other. Meeting location is the Fireside Room at Grace Presbyterian Church, 2100 Tice Valley Blvd., Walnut Creek. Contact Gregg Riehl at (925) 254-8349 or jgriehl@gmail. com. Caregivers meet at same time in Oak Room of Grace Church. Free. All are welcome. Information: contact Howard Zalkin at 925 939 4210 or Ronnie Wanetick at 925 933 6357. Sundays: Cars n Coffee: First Sunday of Every Month 8-10am. Blackhawk Automotive Museum is hosting Cars and Coffee for automotive enthusiasts in the parking lots of Blackhawk P l a z a . O u r p a r t n e r, S c o t t ’ s Catering, will provide coffee and other refreshments. Afterwards, visit shops and restaurants in Blackhawk Plaza. Blackhawk Museum; 3700 Blackhawk Plaza Circle; Danville. Information: www. blackhawkmuseum.org.
Ready To Lease Your Property or Looking To Rent It? Come To Hitchcock Realty Property Management
Rentals, Listings, Advertising, Maintenance
Full Services, Low Rates
Call Chris today
925-890-4482 Classifieds
SERVICES BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE AVOID FORECLOSURE Do you owe more on your home than it’s worth? Are you behind on your payments? Do you need to relocate soon? Do you need money to make the move? Do you want to AVOID deficiency judgments? Want a confidential FREE consultation? We Specialize in Short Sales. Before it’s too late, CALL NOW. TASSAJARA VALLEY REALTY 925 552-LIST or 925 552-5478. Pool Service - If your pool looks like a pond, call John at 925-584-6333. It’s the last pool maintenance call you will have to make.
Community News & Information
Danville • Blackhawk • Alamo Diablo • San Ramon
Emotional / Spiritual Help We all experience challenges in life, times when we could benefit from the support of a caring person. Stephen Ministers at Community Presbyterian Church in Danville, are trained to provide confidential, emotional and spiritual care to these individuals in our community. This is a FREE service open to all individuals. For more information, please call this private and confidential telephone number at 925- 855-1367, extension 558.
HELP WANTED Sales Executive: Sentinel Newspapers, Inc. has immediate openings for a sales person for
A La Carte magazine and for the Valley Sentinel. Sales territory includes Danville, Alamo, San Ramon, Walnut Creek and Lafayette. Sales experience helpful. Will train the right person. Must have an outgoing personality and a positive attitude. Compensation based on performance. Local Central Contra Costa residents only need apply. Please email your resume and request for interview to us at drousset@valleysentinel.com.
COMMERCIAL RENTAL OFFICE SPACE: 2,035 sq. ft. Available in Danville. Located at 390 Diablo Road. For information please call 925-820-6881.
Publisher/Editor - Denise Rousset Chief Financial Officer - Jeff Gummere Graphic Designer - Laurie Prindle Auto - David & Judy Colman Web Support - ewebsiteservices.com Interns - Isabella Ordaz, MVHS Laurel T. Silver, University of New Hampshire
www.valleysentinel.com
925-820-6047 390 Diablo Road Suite 145 Danville, CA 94526
page 14
AUTO
March 2009 The valley Sentinel August 2014
2014 Porsche Cayman S By David and Judy Colman
The latest iteration of the Cayman S really is the best Porsche we’ve ever had the pleasure to drive. It’s intoxicatingly fast, which is the essential attribute in the $100,000 league. Porsche factory figures peg the Cayman S with PDK automatic gearbox at 4.4 seconds for the 0-60mph run. Car and Driver bettered that when they tested the 2014 Cayman S and recorded 0-60mph in 4.1 seconds, and 12.6 seconds at 112mph for the standing start quarter mile. You can be dawdling along at 60mph in 7th gear when you suddenly feel the need for speed. Flap the left PDK paddle toward you 3 or 4 times and this Porsche will jump faster than a cheetah ambushes a springbok. Any Porsche is the sum of its options. Start with a base 2014 Cayman S ($63,800), add GT Silver Metallic paint ($2,580), Carrera Red Natural Leather interior (3,895) and a Burmester High-end Surround Sound System ($6,730) and you have the makings of
a truly brilliant sports car. Adaptive 18-way Sports Seats ($3,465) insure comfort and support will never wane. Three stage seat ventilation ($730) evaporates stickiness on long trips while seat heaters are invaluable on cold mornings (Premium Package $1,170). At first w e w e r e disappointed to discover that this otherwise magnificent Porsche was saddled with an automatic gear change system called PDK. It’s a habitual view acquired during Porsche’s Sportomatic period and reinforced by years of experience with feckless Tiptronic Porsches. Adding to our consternation was the need to pay $3,200 extra for something we expressly disliked. By the end of the week, we were singing an altogether
different tune. PDK really is a terrific advance in gear change technology, one that we could happily abide in our own garage. There is simply no downside to this system. It never does anything without being told to do so by you. Automatic shifts? Never a problem. Full manual control? No problem there either. We
hereby surrender my lifetime stick shift membership card. When the Cayman S first arrived in our driveway, we looked it over and thought, ‘How are we ever going to pack enough stuff for a weeklong trip in this tiny car?’ At first glance, the front and rear trunks look more like
toe lockers than foot lockers. However, it soon became apparent that the deep front storage well is designed specifically to accommodate two airline Cabin Trolleys l a i d o n t h e i r s i d e. T h e Cayman’s interior is also full of surprising crannies and nooks for additional storage, like the pair of lockers located behind and above the seats. Each bin is equipped with a sliding serrated cover to discourage p r y i n g eyes. Last week, JD P o w e r and Associates announced that Porsche “easily led its 2014 Initial Quality Study” according to USAToday. With 5,000 miles on its odometer, our Cayman S could have been the poster child for Power’s IQS. In our 10 days with the car, we found nothing amiss, either cosmetically or
valleysentinel.com functionally. Tailoring of the natural leather interior is particularly judicious. The perforated leather seating surfaces fit better than a Saville Row suit. Visitors from another planet would never guess this is supposed to be Porsche’s entry level sports car. A bevy of worthy options help elevate Cayman driving to an art form. In particular, the complex Adaptive Cruise C o n t ro l ( $ 2 , 1 70 ) a l l ows freedom from the drudgery of stop and go interstate driving. Set your car length limit and the ACC will insure you never get closer to the car in front than you specify. ACC also includes Porsche Active Safety, which will actually stop your Cayman in the event you don’t. It will then resume forward travel with a tap of the cruise control lever. Our test car’s specification sheet also included Porsche Torque Vectoring ($1,320) which electronically mimics a re a r a x l e l i m i t e d s l i p differential. This in turn optimizes steering precision. See Porsche page 15
valleysentinel.com HERONS from page 1
perch, bass, roach, smelt, sticklebacks, and sculpin are commonly consumed. Opportunistically, they will take shrimp, crayfish, crabs, insects, amphibians, reptiles, small birds, and small mammals as prey. They locate their food by sight and usually s wa l l ow i t whole. Quite often I am asked what are Great Blue Herons, a s h o re o r wading bird, doing in an open field or meadow. They are excellent rodent hunters and regularly take gophers, voles, mice, and rats as prey. I’ve observed them along the Highway 680 and 24 corridors hunting gophers. I once observed one individual stalk, capture, and consume 8 gophers in less than 30 minutes in a field in Briones Regional Park. One Idaho study showed that from 24 to 40% of the diet KINDERGARTEN from page 8
to kindergarten this year, you may want to consider spending some time going over what he or she should expect. This could include discussing expected behaviors, potential problems, and even scheduling a visit to the classroom. In addition, an article published by mayoclinic.com on kindergarten readiness, encourages parents to develop routines with their children in the months leading up to kindergarten. According to the article, this will help your child become comfortable with a structured PORSCHE from page 14
In fact, try as hard as we might, we could never get the rear end to unload or lose traction, even through a heavily banked, 180 degree freeway onramp. The aggressive Pirelli P Zero tires (235/35ZR20 f., 265/35ZR20 r.) mounted on optional ($1,560) 20 inch Carrera S wheels played a major role in the Cayman’s sublime stability. Surely there must be something to carp about here? Well, OK, Porsche could do better with the cupholders, which spring forth from the
august 2014 was made up of voles. The long legs allow Great Blue Herons to slowly wade in water, and as they disturb fish, frogs, and other prey, they spear them with a quick jab, and are able to flip up their prey to swallow them.
The Great Blue Heron usually breeds in colonies, k n ow n a s ro o ke r i e s, i n tall trees close to lakes or wetlands. On occasion they will nest solitarily. Some heronry or rookery sites have from 5 to over 500 nests. One such rookery is at Audubon Canyon Ranch near Bolinas Lagoon with Great Blue Herons, Great Egrets, and Snowy Egrets
comprising the colony. They have nested there for over 73 years in the Martin Griffin Preserve, although unknown environmental factors have recently led to a drastic decline in nesting birds. In Contra Costa County, Great Blue Herons have nested a t S a n Pa b l o Re s e r vo i r, i n Clyde, on West Island, in Marsh Creek reservoir, Clifton Court Fo re b ay, a n d a colony in Eucalyptus t re e s i n Alamo. Other nests have been located i n D a n v i l l e, O r i n d a , P i n o l e, B e a r Creek, and other isolated sites throughout the county. Nesting can start as early as March and is usually finished by June or July. Males arrive at colonies first and settle on bulky stick nests, where they court females. Nests can be 5 feet across and 4 feet deep with repeated use and additional construction. The female lays 3 to 6 pale blue eggs about 3 inches long and
daily schedule. Mary Ann Rafoth , PhD who is a writer for the National Association o f S c h o o l P syc h o l o g i s t s (NASP) discusses the importance of a parent’s role in preparing children for kindergarten. In particular, e n c o u ra g i n g c h i l d re n t o accept responsibility and take on small chores. For e x a m p l e, p u t t i n g a w a y toys before moving to a new activity. Working with children on these basic skills before sending them into a school environment can help ensure their readiness for the coming year. “What teachers want to see on the first day
of school are children who are healthy, mature, capable, and eager to learn.” (Peggy Gisler via familyeducation. com Kindergarten Readiness Checklist) Although different children may show readiness for kindergarten at different times, there are steps parents c a n t a ke a h e a d o f t i m e to make sure their child succeeds when the time comes. Proper preparation in the months and weeks leading up to a child’s first day may make for a much easier transition for both parent and child.
dash like something out of Popeil’s Pocket Fisherman. For starters they’re too short to hold a water bottle or a Starbuck’s Venti cup. When you order the optional $2,370 Sport Chrono Package, your Cayman’s on board computer can be configured to read instantaneous “G Forces” on the right hand instrument face. But this is really a duplication of assets. Because all you need do is check your cupholders. At just over 0.2g’s your skim milk latte will puke its contents out of the cup’s sipping hole. At 0.5g’s, the cupholder will pitch the whole thing
into your lap. With those irrefutable indices available, who needs a g force meter? 2014 Porsche Cayman S Engine: 3.4 liter opposed 6 cylinder with Direct Fuel Injection and VarioCam plus H o r s e p o w e r : 325hp@7400rpm Torque: 273 lb.-ft.@45005800rpm Fuel Consumption: 21 MPG City/30 MPG Highway Price as Tested: $97,890 Hypes: Beautiful to behold, thrilling to drive Gripes: Everything good costs extra Star Rating: 10 Stars out of 10.
The Valley SenTinel 2 inches wide. Incubation is from 27 to 30 days with males incubating for about 10 hours and the females the remainder of the day. Both parents feed the young with regurgitated food. The young weigh 86% of the adult’s mass by the time they are 45 days old. Fledglings take their first flight between 55 and 80 days of age. The young will return to the nest to be fed for about 3 weeks as they follow the parents back from the foraging grounds. Over the ensuing winter
page 15
the young will disperse and assume their role in the environment. Predators of eggs and nestlings have included raccoons, hawks, ravens, crows, and turkey v u l t u re s. Ad u l t h e ro n s, due to their size, have few natural predators. Golden Eagles, Bald Eagles, Great horned Owls, alligators, and crocodiles have occasionally preyed on adults. James M. Hale is a wildlife biologist and Vice Chair of the Contra Costa County Fish & Wildlife Committee.
Girl Scout Troop 32422 Seniors Krista Henehan and Dorene Wong plant a plum tree in the Stone Valley garden as part of their “Sow What” Journey action project. They are assisted by Stone Valley 8th grader and Girl Scout Troop 30623 Cadette Sophia Nunes (center).”
Nutro Natural Choice Dog Food
$49.95
30 lb. Lamb and Rice Adult Light & Adult Senior
Premium No-Waste Wild Bird Food
“Will not grow!”
$23
95
20lb. Bag
expires 8/31/14
expires 8/31/14
Niger Thistle 20 lb.
$2595
with coupon - expires 8/31/14
5
$ 00
Any purchase of $35 or more
OFF expires 8/31/14 Not applicable to advertised items.
Alamo Hay & Grain
We Feed Them All—Dogs, Cats, Birds, All Other Livestock
3196 Danville Blvd., 837-4994 Open: Mon – Sat, 8 – 6 • Sunday, 9 – 4 For All Your Pet or Animal Needs!
DIABLO MOTORS
AUTO SALES, BROKERAGE, CONSIGNMENT & SERVICE
The ONLY Diamond Certified Dealership in the ENTIRE BAY AREA!
Take an EXTRA $500 OFF Any vehicle in our inventory! (Excludes consignment vehicles. May not be combined with other offers. Discount applies to advertised sale price. Coupon expires August 31, 2014.)
2011 Mini Cooper 2dr Coupe Black / Manual Transmission / 49,000 Miles
Back To School Sale!
$16,900 VIN: WMWSU3C52BTX97081
2067 San Ramon Valley Blvd, San Ramon www.diablomotors.com (925) 830-8747
DANVILLE
It’s a jungle out there
1901 Camino Ramon 925-866-6164 CAMPBELL 930 West Hamilton Ave. 408-871-8890 CORTE MADERA 801 Tamalpais Dr. 415-924-6691 MOUNTAIN VIEW 141 El Camino Real 650-964-7212 SAN CARLOS 1123 Industrial Road 650-508-8317
Have more fun on your next hunting trip at the Home Consignment Center Beautiful designer furniture, accesories and jewelry all at consignment prices
www.thehomeconsignmentcenter.com