The Valley Sentinel_Dec. 2015 by Sentinel Newspapers

Alamo • Danville • Blackhawk • Diablo • San Ramon

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SENTINEL always for the community VOl 20, nO 12

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East Bay Regional Park District Regional in Nature Activity Guide

December 2015

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SPOTLIGHT

Mustangs take championships in two separate divisions

Front row (L-R). Bella O’Rielly, Abby Page, Liliana Golchehreh, Sophie Brading, Gabi Cochran, Lauren Barry, Sydney Guastucci Back Row (L-R) Grace “Chili” Hostelley, Hailey Eggiman, Paul Hostelley, Grace Olsen, Jacey Dossola, Aldo Dossola, Hanna Brading, Romina Coleman, Doug Olsen, Grace Chang The Dominating Dolphins capped a fantastic season to win the Dick King U-14 Girls White+ League Championship.

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The Christmas season ofﬁcially arrived in Alamo Sunday, November 22. Hundreds of parents and children gathered in the Andrew H. Young park to visit Santa and see the Alamo Tree lit up for the Holiday Season. The Rotary Club of Alamo welcomed everyone with 10 gallons of hot cocoa and 5 gallons of cider on hand Pictured is the Schneider family with son Joseph and daughter Jacqueline posing with Santa.

Anna’s Hummingbird males can dive 50mph to impress By James Hale

Anna’s Hummingbird (Calypte anna), our elegant little gem of the bird world, has benefitted from its relationship with humans. In the early 20th century, they bred only in northern Baja California and southern California. Researchers Dave DeSante and TL George state that Anna’s Hummingbird populations in California as a whole increased 50% in the 20th century, mostly due to ornamental, horticultural gardens and flowers. Bird feeders have augmented their populations in residential areas as well. The combination of bird feeders and winter blooming exotic, urban and suburban plantings have allowed large numbers of birds to subsist through winters that potentially may be quite lean. Anna’s Hummingbird has expanded its breeding range

greatly, along the Pacific coast all the way to south coastal Alaska. Anna’s Hummingbird is one of our earliest nesting birds in Contra Costa County, with some nesting as early as December. This species was named after Anna Massena, Dutchess of Rivoli. Anna’s Hummingbird is a medium-sized stocky hummingbird that is about four inches long. The iridescent bronze-green back, green flanks, and pale grey chest and belly are characteristic. Adult males have striking iridescent crimson-red crowns, throats, and gorgets (throat bibs). Anna’s is the only North American hummingbird with a red crown. Females and juvenile males have a dull green crown, a grey throat

with or without some red iridescence, and a rounded tail with white tips on the outer feathers. The red iridescence may appear to look dull brown or gray without direct sunlight. Both sexes have dark, slightly forked tails. Anna’s, like other hummingbirds, have long slender bills adapted for reaching deep into tubular flowers where they feed on nectar using a long extendable tongue. The bill is disproportionately short compared to other hummingbirds. While collecting nectar, hummingbirds also assist in plant pollination. Anna’s Hummingbirds consume small insects and arthropods caught in flight or gleaned

This month’s Special Sections:

Holiday Gift Giving pages 6-7 Senior Living pages 8 - 9

from vegetation, and occasionally tree sap. Flying insects are captured with their beaks open very wide to increase success rate. With wingbeats varying from 10 to 80 beats per minute, Anna’s Hummingbird is capable of hovering, flying backwards, and speeds up to 25 miles per hour. In order to maintain their 105 to 109 degree body heat, and their 50 to 1360 heartbeats per minute, Anna’s See HUMMINGBIRD page 4

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT dining out • music • art • theater • fun events

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The Valley SenTinel

December 2015

Give the gift of life as you do your holiday shopping Community Concern for Cats is hosting a “Giving Tree” now through December 24 at its upscale thrift store, Rescued Treasures at 1270 Newell Ave., in Walnut Creek. Your donation will provide vaccinations, micro chipping, healing antibiotics, flea protection, leukemia/FIV tests, veterinary office visits, spaying, neutering, surgeries, emergency medical procedures, and hopefully even holiday treats. Community Concern for Cats is the oldest cat rescue organization in Contra Costa County. So far this year, CC4C has spayed or neutered 2,005 cats and found homes for 600 cats and kittens. For more information about the thrift shop or for resources on low-cost spay and neuter, cat care, and behavior tips see their website: communityconcernforcats.org

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Walnut Creek First Wednesdays Every ﬁrst Wednesday through June 2016 5-8pm. Walnut Creek First Wednesdays event for all ages includes live entertainment, arts & crafts, treats & more! Bike Walnut Creek is sponsoring a free ‘bike valet’ so you can bike to the event and relax with your bike secured by a valet attendant. Event is free, but bring some money for dinner because the Food Truck Mafia food trucks will be there for your dining pleasure. Cypress Street in Downtown Walnut Creek. From Expressionism to Abstraction, Discovering Creativity Through Critical Thinking Now– December 19 The artistic endeavors of students from throughout the San Ramon Valley Unified School District will be on display in November when the Town of Danville presents From Expressionism to Abstraction, Discovering Creativity Through Critical Thinking, an art exhibition at the Village Theatre & Art Gallery, 233 Front Street Danville. villagetheatreshows.com. Home for the Holidays Presented by San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus December 5 3pm & 7:30pm. Enjoy this performance of a work by award-winning composer Laura Karpman set to text written by best-selling author Rebecca Walker honoring the role that mothers play in our lives, and raucous, joyful new takes on classic favorites. $30 - $40. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr. Walnut Creek. 925-943SHOW (7469) or visit www. lesherartscenter.org. Harvey December 5 - 19 This year, gather with your whole family for the magic tale of Elwood P. Dowd and his best friend — a 6-foot, 3-and-a-halfinch tall invisible rabbit named Harvey. What better way to warm up your holiday season than with this imaginative classic! Tickets start at $29. Town Hall Theatre, 3535 School St., Lafayette. www. townhalltheatre.com

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Piano Recital December 6 3:15pm and 6:15pm. Join the students of The Ballet School Performing Arts as they share the joy of music. Lesher Center for the Arts, Knight Stage 3 Theatre, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek. www.leshercenter.org

White Christmas December 10 7:30 pm. Join us for an evening of fun and films. Bring the whole family down and grab some popcorn and candy. White Christmas (1954) is a story of a successful song-and-dance

team becoming romantically involved with a sister act and teaming up to save the failing Vermont inn of their former commanding general. Not Rated; 120 min. $5. Village Theater, 233 Front Street, Danville. 925-314-3463, www. villagetheatreshows.com

A Lei for Christmas December 6 4pm. Over 100 performers ages 3 to 65 will present you with wonderful Polynesian stories that will capture your imagination and warm your heart for the holidays. $26. Dougherty Valley Performing Arts Center, 10550 Albion Rd, San Ramon. www. sanramon.ca.gov/parks/ theater Trim-A-Tree with The YV Friends! December 7 3 - 5pm. Join the Friends of the Ygnacio Valley Library for this annual event. Create ornaments for our tree, make some to take home, and enjoy holiday refreshments. All ages welcome. Ygnacio Valley Library, 2661 Oak Grove Road, Walnut Creek. www. ccclib.org Diablo Valley College Guitar Ensemble December 9 6:30pm. Come see and hear the Diablo Valley Guitar Ensemble play. Free. The Oak View Room at the Walnut Creek Library; 1644 North Broadway; Walnut Creek. For information or to register call 925-977-3340 or visit www.ccclib.org

Winter Ballet Gala 2015 December 11 and 12 December 11 at 7:30pm, December 12 at 2pm. Civic Arts Education presents the 2015 Winter Ballet Gala. Tickets start at $17. Del Valle Theater, 1963 Tice Valley Blvd, Walnut Creek. www. lesherartscenter.org

Alex Ramon #NewMagic December 11 - 13 Family friendly magic show with a new style and a new flair! $30. Lesher Center for the Arts, Margaret Lesher Theater, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek. www. leshercenter.org TPW-Santa’s Christmas Reunion December 11 – 13 Celebrate the spirit of the season with all of your favorite holiday characters! The beloved residents of Jingletown reunite for a whole new exciting holiday adventure for the whole family! $8 - $10. Village Theater, 233 Front Street, Danville. www. villagetheatreshows.com

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT dining out • music • art • theater • fun events

valleysentinel.com Impressions of the Nutcracker December 12 2:30pm and 7:30pm. More than just a ballet, San Ramon Valley Dance Academy’s production of “Impressions of the Nutcracker” incorporates multiple dance styles in a fast paced production that follows the traditional story line of the Nutcracker. $22 for adults and $19 for youth & seniors. Dougherty Valley Performing Arts Center, 10550 Albion Rd, San Ramon. 925-973-3343, www. SanRamonPerformingArts. com

‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” December 13 3:30 p.m. The Danville Community Band under the direction of Robert Calonico will help you ring in the holidays with this fun family event, which will includes a sing along and possibly a visitor from the North Pole. Free. East Bay Foursquare Church, 2615 Camino Tassajara, Danville www.danvilleband.org. DIY Gifts & Holiday Party for Teens December 17 3:30 - 5pm. Come celebrate the holidays with hot chocolate and yummy treats! Make gifts for friends and family and, most importantly, have fun! Free. Ygnacio Valley Library, 2661 Oak Grove Road, Walnut Creek. www.ccclib.org

December 2015 The Biggest Gift December 17 - 20 Walnut Creek based Fantasy Forum Actors Ensemble is pleased to present its timeless and original holiday tale, THE BIGGEST GIFT. Join the fun and laughter as Tucker the elf and the toys set out to save Christmas. This is an original family friendly musical that encourages audience participation from all ages. $14. Lesher Center for the Arts, Margaret Lesher Theatre, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek. www.leshercenter.org

San Ramon Symphonic Band Concert - Horns for the Holidays December 18 7pm. Music will abound at this San Ramon Symphonic Band Concert. The band is comprised of 55 talented musicians led by conductor Larry Colon. Bring the entire family for a fun filled evening of music. $6. Dougherty Valley Performing Arts Center, 10550 Albion Rd, San Ramon. 925-973-3343, www. SanRamonPerformingArts.com The Nutty Nutcracker: A Christmas Spectacular! December 18 - 20 December 18 at 7pm, and December 20 at 1pm, 4 pm, and 7pm. Enjoy a classic holiday tale with a modern, magical twist! Follow Clara and the Nutcracker as they journey through a Candy Land of Sweets, New York City and Santa Claus Workshop! The Nutty Nutcracker puts a contemporary spin on the 19th Century tale by infusing styles of classic ballet, jazz, hip hop, tap and musical theater. $12 - $15. Village Theater, 233 Front Street, Danville. www. villagetheatreshows.com

David Benoit: “A Charlie Brown Christmas” Tribute Concert December 20 8 - 10pm, doors open at 6pm. David Benoit’s career as a contemporary jazz pianist and composer has included over 25 solo recordings. His prolific output since 2000 includes several prominent Charlie Brown related projects that reflect his lifelong passion for the music of original Peanuts composer Vince Guaraldi and solidify Benoit’s role as his musical heir. Preferred seating is $65 (Museum Members $55). General seating is $50 (Museum Members $40). Reserved seating is available for groups of 10 or more. Blackhawk Museum, 3700 Blackhawk Plaza, Danville. http://blackhawkmuseum.org

Traditions New and Old December 22 and 23 7:30pm. Watch the classic film, The Snowman, on the big screen as the California Symphony and Pacific Boychoir perform the soundtrack live! We’ll round out the concert with holiday classics such as selections from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite and Sleigh Ride, and in keeping with tradition, an audience Christmas carol sing-along. Bring the entire family to get into the holiday spirit and celebrate the season! Tickets begin at $42. Lesher Center for the Arts, Hoffman Theater, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek. 925- 943-7469, www. leshercenter.org

Letters to Santa can be dropped off through December 11 drop it off before December 11, 2015 and receive a letter from the jolly old elf in return by December 24, 2015. Mailboxes are located in both the lobby of the Danville Community Center and the Danville Library, 420 Front Street. Letters

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As we enter into the holiday season, the Town of Danville has once again opened up their direct connection to the North Pole with their annual Santa’s Mailbox. Children can write their letter to Santa,

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can be dropped off during business hours, MondayFriday. Be sure to include a return mailing address with a letter. For more information, contact the Danville Community Center at (925) 314-3400.

Education that Opens Your World Exciting and Engaging Curriculum Teaches Analytical Thinking Classes Average 15 Students Diverse International Programs and Community Nearly 100% Admitted to Outstanding 4-Year Colleges Extraordinary 75-Acre Campus Transportation and Financial Aid Available

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To register for Open House, please visit the Admission page on our website. Click on the “Request Info & Register for Events” ribbon and complete the “Inquiry for The Athenian School.”

Celebrating 50 Years

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The Valley Sentinel November 2015 Advertorial

Life after Radiation for Cancer By Michael Forrest, MD

The first time I saw him, a mechanical ventilator was breathing for a 20+ year old young man with a large mass of Hodgkin’s lymphoma compressing his wind pipe in the lower neck and upper chest. He didn’t have many options: surgery was not possible and chemotherapy was less reliable and wouldn’t work quickly. He was one of my first patients

in private practice after leaving UCSF and one of the most instructive of my life. When I saw him recently in a commercial establishment, now 32 years later, he gave me a big smile, a hug and said thank you for the hundredth time. But, while it’s wonderful that he was cured, I also felt terribly guilty that I had hurt him. He’s had numerous heart and blood vessel bypasses from radiation injury. Of course, the majority of patients with cancer neither present that dramatically, nor are they noticeably harmed

by the therapy. Cancer is largely a disease that affects older adults who are less susceptible to secondary cancers and for developing late normal tissue injury. But, cure rates for many cancers, including the common ones, that affect men and/or women have risen. With that, the number of cancer survivors is rising. The number of people living beyond a cancer diagnosis reached nearly 14.5 million in 2014 and is expected to rise to almost 19 million by 2024. We know that it is important to inform these survivors and their primary doctors of the details of their therapy, its potential consequences, and things to HUMMINGBIRD from page 1

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Hummingbird consumes up to eight times their body weight daily. Anna’s Hummingbird can shake their bodies 55 times per second while in flight to remove pollen or dirt from their feathers. The rate of shaking is the fastest of any vertebrate on earth. Their average lifespan is about three or four years. Anna’s Hummingbird commonly occurs in oak and riparian woodlands, evergreen woodlands (especially around the edges), chaparral, eucalyptus groves, and most notably, in residential urban and suburban settings. The male Anna’s Hummingbird is the only California hummingbird that sings during courtship. While perching, the males song consists of a jumble of high squeaks, buzzes, chirps and raspy notes drawn over ten seconds in duration. Male Anna’s Hummingbirds may be observed performing an aerial, courtship display dive over their territories during the breeding season. The male rises about fifty feet above the perched female, and as he reaches the bottom of his dive with an average speed of more than 50 miles per hour, or 385 body lengths per second, his outer tail feathers emit an explosive squeak. He opens and flashes his gorget in a display to the female as well. They are fearless and pugnacious, and the rapid dry, rattling chase call may be heard from the territorial male Anna’s as they zip up into the sky to harass

valleysentinel.com watch for as they go about living the rest of their lives. My patient is living proof of the powerful good and potential harm of standard cancer therapies such as radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery. Fortunately, the tools for delivering these treatments have been remarkably improved and refined in the decades since his therapy. The improvements have not just been in the technical delivery of radiation, or the development of new anticancer drugs, but also in how to best apply them. In particular, radiation can be delivered much more precisely and limited to the tissue that needs it, often in shorter periods of time. New targeted cancer drugs can have dramatic responses with fewer side effects.

Moreover, there are now many combinations of chemotherapy and radiation that are not only more effective than either alone, but sometimes each can be given in lower doses. Thus, long term side effects of each are rarer. Another very important lesson personified by my patient is that a positive attitude and outlook on life results in improved survival after cancer therapy. And there have been many studies in various cancer patient groups that document this correlation. Dr. Michael Forrest is a Radiation Oncologist with Epic Care, a group of experts in the diagnosis and comprehensive treatment of cancer and blood disorders. (925) 875-1677 www.epiccare.com

passing Red-tailed Hawks and Golden Eagles that unknowingly intrude into their territories. The female builds a nest in a tree, shrub, vines, or attached to wires or other artificial substrates. The round, 1.5 to 2 inch diameter nest is constructed of plant fibers, animal hair and downy feathers. The exterior is camouflaged with chips of lichen, plant debris, and occasionally urban detritus. The nest is bound together with spider silk which has a high tensile strength. Two small, white eggs are laid from December through June. After hatching the young grow rapidly. An amazing feat of engineering, the nest expands as the young nestlings grow in size. The fledglings learn quickly from the parents and are soon able to take care of themselves. The oldest historical mention of hummingbirds date back to the Taino Native Americans, around the time of Columbus. The Taino believe hummingbirds are the spreaders of life on Earth, and their warriors

were known as Colibir, or Hummingbird warriors, because they are a peaceful bird that will defend their territory with the heart of an eagle. The Huchnom did not bother hummingbirds as they were regarded as symbols of good luck, especially in gambling. The hummingbird is also a mythological creature that stole fire for the Coast Miwok: it flew up the coast to steal a chunk of fire and flew back to the Coast Miwok carrying the fire under its throat. Because the Anna’s Hummingbird is so well suited to both native and exotic habitats (and because of the widespread placement of feeders), it appears poised to remain one of Contra Costa County’s most common and widespread breeding birds, continuing development aside. There are an estimated 1.5 million Anna’s Hummingbirds. James M. Hale is a wildlife biologist, vertebrate zoologist, ethnobiologist and ecological consultant based in Contra Costa County. www. dochale.com

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December 2015 Advertorial

Is Neuropathy Dampening Your Holiday Cheer? Understanding the

By Dr. Niele Maimone, DC

What is Peripheral Neuropathy? Peripheral Neuropathy is a condition in which there is damage to the peripheral nervous system, which transmits information from the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body. This can result in pain, tingling, loss of feeling, and inability to control muscles. As with any other condition, there is no “one size fits all” remedy for those suffering from this malady and treatment may vary depending on the cause and severity. However, many individuals find relief using natural remedies. Peripheral Neuropathy is a condition that affects people in every walk of life. It is estimated that 20 million Americans and 60% of diabetics suffer

from this disorder. There are hundreds of different kinds of neuropathy, the symptoms of which include burning, tingling, weakness, numbness, paralysis, and dull to excruciating pain especially in the limbs. Although many neuropathies have no known cause, neuropathy is often associated with another condition, such as: Diabetes, HIV, shingles, toxins, autoimmune disorders, neurological conditions, carpal tunnel syndrome, and malnutrition. Statin (cholesterol) drugs and chemotherapy can also cause neuropathy. While medications can sometimes help with the symptoms, they cannot be relied upon to restore the health of the nerves. Most often the drugs that treat Neuropathy leave the sufferer feeling intoxicated and hopeless to lead a normal active life.

Nervous System Nerves carry the electrical signals that allow us to move, feel, breathe, digest, detoxify, respond to our environment, and much more. Nerves are the electrical wiring of the human body. Plain and simple, if the nerves do not work the body will not work, in some capacity. It is also important to understand that unlike other tissues, the primary blood supply to nerve tissue is actually located WITHIN the nerve itself. So, if a nerve becomes impinged or compromised, so does the blood supply to the nerve. Without proper blood supply, the nerve does not receive the energy and nutrition that are needed for the nerve to heal. Over time neural impingement leads to a painful chronic condition called Neuropathy. How can I heal my neuropathy? 1. Class IV laser therapy. Ending the pain caused by neuropathy requires reversing the cause

Advertorial

Proper Sleep Can Save Your Life By Dr. Robert Brown

Here are just a few of the facts about sleep debt. Yes, loss of sleep accumulates causing a debt. Recent research has found that sleeping 6 hours a night over a two-week period results in reaction times equivalent to a 0.1% blood alcohol level. Scientists at the University of Bristol studied the effects of jet lag on airline crews and found that lack of sleep can shrink the brain resulting in memory problems and increased level of Cortisol (nicknamed the death hormone). A 2011 study found that lack of sleep reduces testosterone production in men and, in women significantly decreases libido. Research at Berkeley found that sleep debt can influence the brain to experience anxiety-producing activity. It also accelerates the aging of the skin. The immune system is rebuilt during sleep. Work at the Mayo Clinic found decreased immune responses, which can lead to chronic

diseases. Another fact we have known about for some time is that sleep debt causes weight gain especially belly fat. Although there are many more problems associated with sleep debt, there is one more I want to emphasize. During deep sleep the glymphatic system is 10 times more active. The purpose of this system is to flush the brain of the toxins that build up during the day. Within the cellular make up of the brain are non-neurological cells called glial cells. While sleeping, these cells shrink allowing more gaps in the brain tissue, thus allowing more fluid to flow between the cells, washing toxins away. The absence of this function leads to toxic build up which is believed to be a factor causing dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease. In fact, it has been established in medical research that if one has untreated obstructive sleep apnea, (OSA), the chances of developing Alzheimer’s Disease increase by 200%, not to mention cancer and heart disease, the incidence of which increases even more. Not only do we need 7-9 hours of sleep, but it must

be quality sleep. Because of many factors like artificial lighting, long work hours, late athletic practice, television and electronic devices as well as the side effects of some drugs, getting quality sleep is becoming next to impossible for many people. In most cases lifestyle changes are necessary if not mandatory for the sake of your physical and mental health. Here are some questions you can ask yourself that can help you determine whether you have a sleep problem. • Is your performance at work or school less than you like? • Do you often feel annoyed, grumpy or depressed? • How quickly do you fall asleep? • Do you have trouble waking up and, once up, are you groggy? We just get one chance to enjoy life. Enjoying a wonderful, long lasting and fulfilling life requires commitment and dedication. Dr. Robert J. Brown of advanced Oral Diagnosis and Treatment Center can be reached at (925) 837-8048. You can also visit his website at www.aodtc.com

The Valley Sentinel of nerve damage. Class IV laser therapy is an excellent method for this, because it is presently the only modality that can both reduce pain and heal tissue simultaneously. Laser therapy creates an optimal healing environment that reduces swelling, muscle spasms, stiffness and pain. As the injured tissue returns to normal, function is restored and pain is quickly relieved. In other words, NO MORE Pain, NO MORE Numbness, NO MORE Tingling and NO MORE Burning! 2. Test for nutritional deficiencies. A single nutrient deficiency can contribute to any number of disorders of the nervous system, including neuropathy, migraines and even Alzheimer’s. We use SpectraCell Labs patented micronutrient test to measure the function of selected vitamins, minerals,

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antioxidants and other essential micronutrients within your white blood cells. Standard blood tests do not measure if the nutrient is properly functioning within the body. With the proper combination of holistic therapies it is possible to heal your nerve pain and in the process feel more alive and energetic than you have in years. Depending on the type and severity of neuropathy we have witnessed patients begin to get relief after the first visit and with continued care receive complete relief longterm. Dr. Niele Maimone of Align Healing Center in Danville, CA has been active in natural health & wellness since 1999. For more information or to set up a consult call 925.362.8283 or visit www. alignhealingcenter.com.

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December 2015

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Innovative Mobile Gift Giving – The Danville Gift Card By Andrea Cardinale

Your holiday shopping was just made easy, as Danville is offering a nextgeneration approach to gifting that will not only provide a perfect present for everyone on your list, but is available at your fingertips and will surely bring joy to your world. Last year, the Town of Danville partnered with Yiftee, a national online and mobile gift card service, and launched a mobile Danville Gift Card that offers the convenience of online shopping and the benefit of supporting local merchants. Danville’s mobile Gift Card makes giving gifts easy and enjoyable: Simply go to http://www.yiftee. com/danville to purchase a Danville Gift Card, or choose a specific Danville shop from a list of over a 100 local merchants, select a gift ranging from $5 to $250, then enter a personal message, a delivery date, the recipient’s contact information, and pay with your credit card. Recipients of a mobile Danville Gift Card receive your gift via email, text or Twitter and can redeem it by presenting the voucher, either via a mobile device or printed version, to the designated shop, restaurant, or service provider. Powered by Yiftee and backed by MasterCard, the mobile gift card is not only greener than its plastic predecessors, but is 100%

protected against fraud and allows your dollar to go farther in the community, as approximately $23 is reinvested in the town’s business activity when you spend $50 locally. “Purchasing this gift card is not only secure and easy, it reinforces a sense of community,” said Marty Breen, who owns Forward Motion Sports and will feature a one-click option for purchasing a Yiftee card on his website this holiday season. “Knowing that someone can buy you a gift at a store that you love, but you can choose just the right items and sizes, is a unique Danville experience and one where everyone wins.” So when you’re thinking about the people in your life who deserve something special this season, from family, friends, babysitters and teachers to employees, clients, stylists and hostesses, give them a gift that allows them to delight in Danville’s abundant offerings and shop in the places they love. And, to add even more sparkle to your season, if you purchase a Danville Gift Card between now and December 24, you’ll be automatically entered to win a $50 Danville Gift Card – just the Town’s way of thanking you for your support of local merchants this month and all year long. Start Gifting today at: www.yiftee.com/danville or www.shopdanvillefirst.com

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Learning: A Lifelong Endeavor By Joan Trezek Do you consider yourself highly motivated? Do you love learning new things and doing so with other adults? Then the phrase “lifelong learner” most likely applies to you. The term us often used referring to people aged 55 and up who consciously work at being more interesting and engaged, who often turn to adult education programs to build on current interests and develop new ones. Residents of the Tri-Valley are fortunate in having libraries and active community centers that offer a wide range of programs to seniors. There are two additional resources however that should not be neglected. Close by, and with solid track records serving adults, are Emeritus for the past 25 years and Acalanes Adult Education for more than 50 years. Acalanes Adult Education is located in Walnut Creek near Rossmoor, and Emeritus is a program for seniors associated with Diablo Valley College (DVC). Emeritus offers programs in three locations: in Pleasant Hill at JFK University, at the DVC campus, and in Walnut Creek at Rossmoor. Acalanes Adult Education, part of the Acalanes Unified School District, serves several constituencies. Some programs receive reimbursement from the State of California such as English as a Second Language (ESL) classes which account for some 25 percent of students, many of whom are preparing for the DHS citizenship test. However, the adult education classes are “enrichmentoriented” clearly focused on lifelong learning. According to Steve France, Director, the most popular classes are

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world languages, art and art appreciation, film appreciation, world cultures and history, fitness and exercise and cooking classes. The cooking classes for the winter quarter emphasize Korean cuisine and are offered in one three-hour session at $27 for seniors which includes a 10% discount. Money management and planning is another strong draw with such classes as trust and estate planning, and workshops on wills, durable powers of attorney, and advanced directives. New this quarter are “Exploring my iPad”, “Jewish/Hebrew Themes in Classical Music” and two classes focused on mystery and detective fiction— “Origins of Mystery/Detective Fiction” featuring the early developers of the genre and another titled “Sampling Mysteries from Aroundthe-World” where students will read the works of four European authors. Classes vary in price depending on their length—some run for 10 weeks, others may run for two or six weeks. A partnership with the Rossmoor Computer Club based in the Rossmoor Activity Center near the Adult Education classroom building allows convenience for adults who want to learn more about social media, using Skype, photo management and various Windows operating systems, including the new Windows 10 and refresher classes on various programs within Microsoft Office. Classes typically meet twice, a week apart. There is a yearly membership fee to join the Rossmoor Computer Club of $15 and then each seminar or class carries a modest fee. Seminars and classes are priced a little higher for non-members. Looking ahead to the spring session beginning in March, Acalanes Adult Education will begin incorporating career path courses—the first being preparing adults for entrylevel positions as Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs); internship activities will take place at a nearby nursing facility. The Winter catalogue will be available December 9 and online registration commences that day at www.

Steven France, director for Acalanes Adult Education, edits winter class catalog. acalanes.k12.ca.us, however the new course schedule is already available online. For more information, call 925280-3980, ext.8001. According to Debby Muskar, Director of Community Education at DVC, some 1500 people are expected to enroll in more than 50 different classes offered through Emeritus during the upcoming spring semester which begins in February. Just completing her first year as administrator there, Muskar has plans to more actively market Emeritus’ offerings for the new semester. “Among our most popular classes are history, music appreciation, politics, exercise and health.” says Muskar. Courses vary in length from a single two-hour session to six week courses depending on the focus. Categories for the upcoming classes include Art & Music, Environmental Science, Food & Wine, Health & Fitness, and Foreign Language, specifically geared to those travelling to Italian, Spanish or Frenchspeaking locales. Of interest in today’s turbulent world under the heading “Politics, Religion & Philosophy” are three courses: Islam: A Religion of the Sword?; Muhammed: Statesman/Politician/ Mystic; and ISIS: Historical & Religious Foundations. Camille Minichino, PhD, with 23 published mystery novels teaches “Writing for Writers.” And, with Cuba opening up to Americans, Emeritus is offering a guided tour of Cuba, May 26-June 3. Courses are reasonably priced and vary from $20 for a single two-hour class to $72 for a class running six weeks. To request a Spring Course catalogue slated for January mailing, call (925) 9694316. Or, visit www.dvc.edu/ emeritus.

Senior Living valleysentinel.com

How you can ﬁght medicare fraud By David Sayen

It’s an unfortunate truth, but health care fraud drives up costs for everyone in the health care system. Fraud schemes often depend on identity thieves getting hold of people’s Medicare numbers. So guard your Medicare number. Treat it as you would a credit card. What can you do to protect yourself from health care fraud? Here are some tips: • Don’t share your Medicare number or other personal information with anyone who contacts you by phone, email, or by approaching you in person, unless you’ve given them permission in advance. Medicare will NEVER contact you and ask for your Medicare number or other personal information. • Tell your friends and neighbors to guard their Medicare number. • Don’t ever let anyone

page 9

December 2015

borrow or pay to use your Medicare number. • Review your Medicare Summary Notice to be sure you and Medicare are only being charged for services you actually received. • Be wary of salespeople who knock on your door or call you uninvited and try to sell you a product or service. • Don’t accept items received through the mail that you didn’t order. You should refuse the delivery and/or return it to the sender. Keep a record of the sender’s name and the date you returned the items. Fraudsters often surface during Medicare’s open enrollment season, which runs from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7. So if you’re planning to enroll in a Medicare Part C health plan (Medicare Advantage) or Part D prescription drug plan: • Be suspicious of anyone who contacts you about Medicare plans unless you gave them permission. • There are no “early bird discounts” or “limited time offers” for Medicare plans.

• Don’t let anyone rush you to enroll by claiming you need to “act now for the best deal.” • Be skeptical of free gifts, free medical services, discount packages, or any offer that sounds too good to be true. • Any promotional items you’re offered to enroll in a Medicare plan must be worth no more than $15. And these items can’t be given on the condition that you enroll in a plan. A common ploy of identity thieves is to say they can send you your free gift right away – they just need your Medicare number to confirm. Decline politely but firmly. Remember: it’s not rude to be shrewd! If you suspect a health care fraud, report it by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-6334227). You can learn more about protecting yourself from health care fraud by visiting www.Medicare.gov or by contacting your local Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP). SMP is a wonderful, nonprofit organization. It’s made up of highly-trained volunteers who teach others about health care fraud. SMP

volunteers show Medicare and Medicaid recipients how to protect against, detect, and report fraud. The volunteers are seniors and professionals such as doctors, nurses, accountants, investigators, law enforcement personnel, attorneys, and teachers. SMP is dedicated to the idea that working with healthcare users to prevent fraud will help protect our citizens’ health as well as

the Medicare and Medicaid programs. To find the SMP in your state, go to the SMP Locator atwww.smpresource.org. David Sayen is Medicare’s regional administrator for Arizona, California, Nevada, Hawaii, and the Pacific Territories. You can always get answers to your Medicare questions by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).

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The Valley SenTinel

December 2015

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Sentinels of Freedom and PG&E Partner with College of Alameda to Launch SVRC Sentinels of Freedom and Pacific Gas & Electric sponsored their second SVRC (the first was at SF State) at the College of Alameda on Tuesday, November 10. What is an SVRC? A Student Veteran Resource Center is an on-campus center at colleges and universities that meet the specific needs of student veterans. This most recent resource center marks the beginning of Sentinels of Freedom’s new campaign to establish SVRCs across college campuses around the nation, beginning with local Bay Area colleges. In order for Sentinels of Freedom to sponsor, as well as locate a corporate sponsor for an SVRC, a college must provide the physical space, a standing Student Veteran Organization (SVO) must be in operation on the campus, and there must be a commitment to conduct one community service project per year by the SVO. If an SVO does not exist on the campus, Sentinels of Freedom offers its resources and experience in helping to establish one. Mike Conklin, Chairman of Sentinels of Freedom opened the event, emphasizing that the results of these centers depend entirely on the leadership of the veterans involved. In his Nov. 10 speech he emphasized the impact that veterans have on communities. “Veterans never stop serving”, he said.

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Sentinels of Freedom provides the resources and support needed for severely wounded veterans to live active, engaged, and successful lives as they recover from the physical, emotional, and psychological impact of their injuries, learn to live with their disabilities, and work their way back to a life of complete self-sufficiency. To learn more about our organization please visit us at: www.sentinelsoffreedom.org www.facebook.com/sentinelsoffreedom (925) 380-6342 info@sentinelsoffreedom.org

valleysentinel.com

Students, local businessmen and women, education administrators, and veterans organizations came out to take part in this ribbon cutting. Attendees heard from keynote speakers Vice Admiral Charles W. Ray, Defense Force West U.S. Coast Guard, and from Mary King, V.P. of Human Resources at PG&E. The SVRC at the College of Alameda will serve the more than 150 veterans at the school; and the SVO already has laid out plans for two community service projects over the next year. Sentinels of Freedom is partnering with other local corporations to open SVRCs at Los Medanos

College, Contra Costa College and Diablo Valley College in the coming year citing the growing student veteran population and the specific needs of student veterans. To learn more about SVRCs or to watch the speeches from Vice Admiral Ray and Mary King, please visit www. sentinelsoffreedom.org.

Alamo News Update By Steve Mick

Parks and Recreation in Alamo The Alamo Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) has been quite busy the last several weeks in an effort to further enhance our parks and recreation offerings. Here’s status report on them. Bocce Ball anyone? Livorna Park Bocce Ball Courts The bocce ball courts project was approved by the Alamo MAC about two years ago. Unfortunately, various delays prevented construction start. County employees have been swamped with a large workload. In addition, retirements of project management personnel and other staffers have unavoidably lengthened the funding and approval process which extended the timeline for the project. Thus, cost estimates for the project have out of necessity climbed upward. The original estimate on March 17, 2013 was $597,000. The estimate was updated to $711,000 as of March 25, 2014 and updated again to $817,931 on September 23, 2015. The funding source for the entire project still is the East Bay Regional Parks District Measure WW Bond funds. Measure WW is a voter-approved park bond extension passed in 2008. The WW funds are allocated to a number of parks projects throughout the district.

The good news is that there has been a resolution of the delays and the project is now back on track. Final approvals and paperwork are scheduled to be completed in early 2016 with construction to begin in Spring/Summer 2016 and completion in Fall 2016. Hemme Station Park Located at the intersection of Hemme Avenue and Danville Blvd., this new Alamo Park is in the final stages of design. This park will offer Iron Horse Trail users a rest area with a shade structure, drinking water, bicycle racks, a restroom, picnic tables and other trailside amenities. There will be no vehicular parking places. Pedestrian and bicycle access to the park will be via the Iron Horse Trail. This property was formerly owned by the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District. The Alamo MAC purchased it for $700,000 from the Fire District after a lengthy evaluation to determine its suitability for park development. The park is in the design stage and is expected to have construction start in Summer 2016 with completion in Fall 2016. The estimate for the total project cost (including land acquisition) is $2.2 million dollars. Steve Mick is a long-time Alamo resident and is active in a number of local community organizations. Among them are the Community Foundation of Alamo, the Exchange Club and the Alamo Municipal Advisory Council. You can reach Steve at steve@alamore.org.

valleysentinel.com

December 2015

The Valley SenTinel

page 11

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Achieving financial security is difficult, and without a plan to do so, it’s nearly impossible. If you wanted to lose 20 pounds, most people would put together a plan for how they are going to do it, and by what date. Those that are very serious about achieving this goal would go one step further, and hire a personal trainer to help them develop this plan and to hold them accountable. I would argue that achieving financial security is just as important, if not more important, than losing 20 pounds. But yet most Americans have no game plan for how they are going to achieve this very important goal. Grab a pen and a piece of paper and ask yourself the following questions • Do I have an economic and financial game plan that will serve my family for the next 5, 10, 20+ years? • If not, why not? If yes, who is holding me accountable to this plan? • What are my goals, and are they date specific and dollar specific? (i.e. “I will have $1,000,000 in retirement savings by January 1 of 2025”).

• What are the biggest obstacles I face in achieving my goals and how will I overcome them? Ask yourself, over the next 10 years how much total income do you expect to earn? Of that number, how much will be saved vs. spent vs. paid out in taxes? Is it 33% each? If you could allocate a lower percentage to taxes and a higher percentage to savings without impacting your spending, would you do it? Over a 10 year period could that change have a significant impact on your net worth? When you think about the next 10 years, what do you expect to grow faster, your income or your assets? If you are like most people your capital assets (investments & real estate) may grow faster than your income. So the trick is to shift income to assets and make sure you own assets that are positioned to grow. Here are 4 things you can do to start the development of your economic and financial game plan: 1. Figure out how to save 30% of your income 2. Invest your savings into capital assets that are expected to grow over time 3. Keep a good accounting of your income and expenses each month 4. Hire a financial advisor & qualified tax advisor to find ways to shrink your tax bill* In 1979 Harvard Business School found that just 3% of recent graduates

had written goals and a plan to accomplish these goals. Ten years later the 3% who had clear, written goals were earning, on average, ten times as much as the other 97 percent put together. Written goals matter. If you want help developing an economic and financial game plan, please give us a call. (925) 927-1900. What They Don’t Teach You at Harvard Business School: Notes from a Streetsmart Executive by Mark H. McCormack *If you are unsure whether or not your tax bill can be lowered, give us a call or send us an email and we will analyze your taxes for you. Robert Cucchiaro is a Certified Financial Planner and a registered tax preparer. He is a Partner and owner of Summit Wealth & Retirement, a financial planning firm that has been serving Danville for almost 30 years. Rob specializes in retirement, investment, tax, and estate planning. www. summitwealthandretirement. com Securities and investment advisory services offered through VSR Financial Services, Inc. member FINRA and SIPC. Summit Wealth and Retirement Planners, Inc. is not owned or controlled by VSR Financial Services, Inc.

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COMMUNITY CALENDAR

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For additional Community Events visit: www.ValleySentinel.com Please email information about your events to info@valleysentinel.com 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.)

plenty of steaming hot tea served in beautiful vintage china cups. $25. Dublin Heritage Park and Museums, 6600 Donlon

of Contra Costa. Alamo Women’s Club, 1401 Danville Blvd. in Alamo. www.SuperHolidayBoutique.com

Yoga: A New Dimension December 7 6:30 pm. Join us for this Yoga workshop by Vaishali Patel. Free. The Oak View Room at the Walnut Creek Library, 1644 North Broadway; Walnut Creek. Information / registration call 925-977-3340 or visit www.ccclib.org.

ARF’S All Ears Reading December 14 4 - 5pm. For children in grades 1-5. Reading with animals is a great way for children who are struggling with reading to improve their skills. Children read aloud for 20 minutes to a dog from ARF’s Pet Hug Pack in a relaxed, non-judgmental environment. Space is limited. Sign-up opens at the Children’s Information Desk at 3:30pm. Sessions will be at 4:00 and 4:30pm. Free. Oak View Room - Walnut Creek Library, 1644 N. Broadway Ave., Walnut Creek. 925-977-3340, www. ccclib.org

Way, Dublin Call 925-556-4500 for more information and to reserve your spot.

San Ramon Farmers Market Every Saturday & Thursday-Year-round, Bishop Ranch Buy fresh, seasonal produce directly from local farmers at San Ramon Farmers Market. Connect with your community while shopping at a festive gathering place with live music! www.SanRamonFarmersMarket.org

American Legion National Commander Dinner December 10 5 pm. The American Legion National Commander tours the country every year starting in December to meet with local posts. Post 246 has volunteered to host the Commander at the Veterans Memorial Building in Danville, including meals, local transportation, and lodging. We are requesting a donation of $500 to sponsor each table for which the sponsor may have a table centerpiece of their design. This event is free to attendees, but reservations must be made with refundable deposit. Veterans Memorial Building, 400 Hartz Ave, Danville. www.americanlegionpost246.org, 925-984-3184.

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.

6th Annual Super Holiday Boutique in Walnut Creek December 11 3 - 8pm. Special one-of-a-kind holiday gifts and stocking stuffers. Free holiday arts & crafts activities, entertainment and free Santa and Olaf photos opportunity. Beneﬁting Food Bank of Contra Costa. Heather Farm Community Center, 301 N. San Carlos Dr. off Ygnacio Valley Rd. in Walnut Creek. www.SuperHolidayBoutique.com

FREE E-Waste Recycling Event First Saturday of every month 9am-1pm. Bring your old, unwanted electronic equipment. Drop off is FREE and all e-waste will be recycled right here in the good old USA. Diablo Valley College, 321 Golf Club Road in the Overﬂow Parking Lot #7, Pleasant Hill. Visit www.NoEwaste.com for accepted and non-accepted electronic items. Information: 866-335-3373 or info@ NoEwaste.com.

Breakfast with Santa December 12 8:30am, 9:45am, or 11am. Santa Claus is coming to town! Be good and get your tickets to the annual Breakfast with Santa. Proceeds from this event beneﬁt the Dublin High School Irish Guard Band Boosters. Photos with Santa will also be available. $12 for Dublin Residents, $14 for Non- Residents. Shannon Community Center, 11600 Shannon Ave, Dublin. 925-556-4500.

Forest Home Farms Historic Park & Glass House Museum–open for Fun on the Farm 2nd Saturday of each month. 10am-2pm. Enjoy tours of the Glass House Museum, the farm and its history, interactive exhibits including the tractor museum, the beautiful grounds and free activities. Visit the Welcome Center and purchase old-fashioned toys and gifts at the Gift Shoppe. Tours are $5 per person, or $8 for both tours on the same day. 19953 San Ramon Valley Blvd, San Ramon. Information: 925-973-3284 or visit www. sanramon.ca.gov.

Holiday on the Farm December 12 11am - 3pm. Enjoy an old fashioned holiday gathering at Forest Home Farms Historic Park. Have a traditional holiday family experience including visits with our Victorian Santa and his reindeer, old-fashioned ornament making, a puppet show, holiday entertainment and refreshments. Forest Home Farms, 19953 San Ramon Valley Blvd, San Ramon. 925-973-3284.

First Thursday Shop Local Day and Night 10am-7pm. Join in the fun in downtown Danville at the First Thursday Shopping and Dining Event. Downtown Hartz Avenue, Danville. www.danville.ca.gov. Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS) Meeting Every Tuesday 8-10am. This Weight Loss Support Group provides a space for those who wish to lose weight. St. Timothy’s, 1550 Diablo Rd. 925-838-7870. Saturday without Reservations at the Tao House Every Saturday 10am, 12pm, and 2pm. Come explore the National Historic Site in Danville. Catch the shuttle at the bus stop in front of the Museum of the San Ramon Valley - 205 Railroad Ave. www.EugeneOneill.org Country Holiday Teas December 6 & December 8 December 6 at 11am or 2pm and December 8 at 2pm. Make the Holiday Tea at the Heritage Park and Museums a new tradition for your friends or family! Tea is served in the charmingly rustic Sunday School Barn. You’ll enjoy an array of traditional sweets such as scones with fresh lemon curd, dainty tea sandwiches, delightful sweets and, of course,

Looking to Honor Danville and Alamo Vets December 12 12 - 12:30pm. San Ramon Valley Republican Women Federated (SRVRWF) is sponsoring the Wreaths Across America project at the Alamo Cemetery on in Danville. The community is invited to join us as we place holiday wreaths on the graves of all veterans buried in the Alamo Cemetery, El Portal between Danville Blvd. & La Gonda Way, Danville. If you know of any veteran buried in the Alamo Cemetery or would like to contribute to the success of this event, please contact Claudia Nemir at 925-939-1566 or email her at srvrwf.president@gmail.com. Information: www.srvrwf.org Textile Makerspace – Drop-In Sewing Workshop December 12 2 - 4:45pm. We are continuing our popular Textile Makerspace series with drop-in sewing workshops. Join us to complete the projects you began in our Creative Thursdays sewing workshops, or just work on your own sewing projects in the company of other sewers! We provide access to sewing machines, a serger, basic sewing tools, and scrap fabrics. Free. Walnut Creek Library Las Trampas Room, 1644 N. Broadway Ave., Walnut Creek. www.ccclib.org 6th Annual Super Holiday Boutique in Danville December 13 11am - 4 pm. Special one-of-a-kind holiday gifts and stocking stuffers. Free holiday arts & crafts activities, entertainment and free Santa and Olaf photos opportunity. Beneﬁting Food Bank

Nature’s Decorations December 19 11am - 2pm. We decorate for the holidays, but nature puts on its own show. Take your senses on a scavenger hunt to discover plants that are decked out in red berries and others with fragrant leaves. Free. Forest Home Farms, 19953 San Ramon Valley Blvd., 925-973-3284

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 925-3143490 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.

Please email your calendar events to the Sentinel at Info@valleysentinel.com by 5pm on the 15th of the month preceding publication month. Inclusion in the calendar pages is at the sole discretion of Sentinel Newspapers, Inc.

valleysentinel.com

December 2015

Page Turners Senior Book Group Third Tuesday of the month 1:30pm. Drop in–all are welcome! Copies of this month’s book are on reserve for you at the San Ramon Library Front Desk. Book group meets at Alcosta Senior and Community Center, 9300 Alcosta Blvd. Information: Carol Yuke, Adult Services Librarian. 925-973-285

at Hospice’s Administrative Ofﬁces: 3470 Buskirk Avenue; Pleasant Hill and the Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation: 2890 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek. Pre-registration is required for all groups and classes, except our drop-in group. To register, please call Hospice of the East Bay: (925) 887-5681. Information: www. hospiceeastbay.org

DancEscape Social December 11 6:30 - 9:30pm. Get in the mood, grab your partner, and dance the evening away. Swing to big band music. Tango, waltz, cha-cha and foxtrot, too! $10 Resident, $12 NonResident; or $15 at the door. Dublin Senior Center, 7600 Amador Valley Blvd., Dublin. (925) 556-4511.

Wind ‘n Sea Sailing Club Sailing training classes take place at members’ homes. Information: Call Jan at 925-837-3381.

BUSINESS San Ramon Chamber of Commerce Third Thursday Mixer December 17 5:30 - 7:30pm. Meet other business owners for an opportunity to network and make your business more visible. $5 for Members and $20 for NonMembers. No RSVP Required. Checks and Cash only please. Villa San Ramon, 9199 Fircrest Lane, San Ramon. San Ramon Chamber of Commerce New and Future Member Orientation 4-5pm. Learn about the various Chamber services that can beneﬁt your business. Free. RSVP 925242-0600. San Ramon Chamber of Commerce, Bishop Ranch 6, 2400 Camino Ramon Conference Room 158/K, San Ramon

CLUBS & 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. Cancer workshops and support groups-Ongoing Most are free. Cancer Support Community, 3276 McNutt Avenue, Walnut Creek. Information / reservations call (925) 933-0107 or visit www.cancersupportcommunity. net. Fibro? CFIDS? Chronic Pain? If these are familiar to you, call about the San Ramon Valley support group for people who need support, information, classes and friendship from people who know what it’s like. We like to laugh while getting well. Call 925-837-0510. Hope Hospice Grief Support Groups-Ongoing Hope Hospice provides support to help you understand and manage grief in a way that is healthy and appropriate. Our Grief Support Center is available to all community members at minimal or no cost. Information: visit www.HopeHospice. com or call 925-829-8770. Hospice of the East Bay Support groups and workshops for adults, children and teens experiencing grief after the death of a loved one. Classes will be offered

RECURRING Mondays: The Walnut Creek Garden Club Meets the second Monday of each month. Meeting begins at 9:30 with community and socializing from 10:30 to 11:00. You do not need to be a gardener to join the club. The Gardens at Heather Farm, 1540 Marchbanks Road, Walnut Creek. Information: californiagardenclubs. com/content/walnut-creek-gardenclub or mslittle44@gmail.com Danville Rotary 12pm. Meets every Monday. Black Bear Diner, 807 Camino Ramon, Danville. Information: danvillerotary.org. San Ramon Alzheimer Support Group 7-9pm. Meets the second Monday of each month, except on holidays. Sponsored by the Alzheimer Association. People who know or are caregivers of Alzheimer victims can get information on how to help them through this difﬁcult time in life. San Ramon Senior & Community Center, 9300 Alcosta Blvd., San Ramon. Information: 925-973-3250. Sons In Retirement (Las Trampas Branch) Monthly Luncheon 11am. Meets the third Monday of each month, except for May and December. Make new friends, participate in fun activities. Make $15 luncheon reservations by calling 925-322-1160 by the preceding Wednesday. Walnut Creek Elks Lodge, 1475 Creekside Dr, Walnut Creek. Information: visit www.Branch116.org. Tuesdays: Danville am Toastmasters 7-8:30am. Meets every Tuesday. New members welcome. Black Bear Diner, 807 Camino Ramon, Danville. Information: danvilleam. freetoasthost.org. D a n v i l l e / S y c a m o r e Va l l e y Rotary 7 a m . M e e t s e v e r y Tu e s d a y morning. Crow Canyon Country Club, Danville. Information: dsvrotary.com. Diablo View Toastmasters 8:15-9:15am. Meets every Tuesday. CMG Mortgage, 4th Floor Conference Room, 3160 Crow Canyon Rd., San Ramon. Information: 4160. toastmastersclubs.org. 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, Wa l n u t C r e e k . I n f o r m a t i o n : rotarywc.org.

ARF Pet Loss Support Group 5:30-7pm. Meets second Tuesday of every month. Register with Vicki at 925-887-5681 or vickis@ hospiceeastbay.org. ARF, 2890 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek. Information: arf.net. Divorced and Separated Workshop. A new workshop series for divorced and separated people is being held on Tuesday evenings from 7:00 to 8:30PM at St. Joan of Arc Parish, 2601 San Ramon Valley Blvd., San Ramon. Contact: Sue at smc9@sbcglobal.net. 925 -819-1809. Prostate Cancer Group 7:30–9pm. Meets 2nd Tuesday of the month. Drop-in prostate cancer group for men and their loved ones. San Ramon Regional Medical Center, South Building, West Day Room. 6001 Norris Canyon Road, San Ramon. Information: 925.933.0107 or www. twc-bayarea.org/communityprograms.html.

The Valley SenTinel Sons in Retirement (San Ramon Valley chapter) Monthly Luncheon 10:30am; Social Hour, 11:35am Meeting and lunch. Meets the 3rd Wed. of each month. $23 includes luncheon. A great opportunity to socialize. To reserve a space, please email us by Friday prior to luncheon at www.info@SIR128. com. Location: San Ramon Golf Club, 9430 Fircrest Lane, San Ramon. Information: www.SIR128. com. Diablo Valley Quilters 7-9pm. Meets the third Wednesday of every month. No charge for guests. Danville Congregational Church, 989 San Ramon Valley Blvd., Danville. Information: diablovalleyquilters.com. Veterans of Foreign Wars 7pm. Meets the third Wednesday of every month. Veterans Memorial Hall, 400 Hartz Avenue, Danville. Information: Post Commander Ernie Petagara at 925-362-9806 or vfwpost75.org.

Wednesdays: Walnut Creek Toastmasters 7-8:15pm. Meets every We d n e s d a y. 1 6 6 0 O a k P a r k Blvd., Pleasant Hill. Information: walnutcreek.freetoasthost.net

Diablo Singles Dance Club 7-10pm. Meets the last Wednesday of every month. Live music, refreshments. Members $8, Guests $12. All welcome. 111N. Wiget Lane, Walnut Creek.

Hospice of the East Bay Drop-in Bereavement Support 4:30-6pm, 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of every month. 3470 Buskirk Avenue; Pleasant Hill. Information: 925-887-5681 or visit www.hospiceeastbay.org.

Thursdays: San Ramon Valley Newcomers 11:30am-2pm. Meets the third Thursday of every month with a featured guest speaker at a local Tri-Valley restaurant. $12. New and long-time adult residents are welcome. Reservations/ information: 925-837-9600 or www. srvnc.com.

Alamo Rotary 12:15pm. Meets every Wednesday. Round Hill Country Club, 3169 Roundhill Road, Alamo. Information: alamorotary. org. Danville Toastmasters Club #1785 7:30-9pm. Meets every Wednesday. Room W204 at Diablo Valley College,1690 Watermill Road, San Ramon. Information: danvilletoastmasters1785.com. San Ramon Valley Rotary 7pm. Meets every Wednesday. Blackhawk Country Club, 599 Blackhawk Club Drive, 711 Silver Lake Drive, Danville. Info: sanramonvalleyrotary.com. Danville Lions Club 7pm. Meets the first and third Black Bear Diner, 807 Camino Ramon, Danville. Information: Pat.Porter@hannaglobal.com Exchange Club of San Ramon Valley 12pm. Meets the second Wednesday of every month. Signin and social time begins at 11:30. Guests are welcome with lunch reservations. Faz Restaurant, 600 Hartz Ave., Danville. RSVP 925-275-2412. Info: visit www. srvexchangeclub.org Wa l n u t C r e e k H o s t L i o n ’ s Club 12:15pm. Meets the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Wednesdays of each month. Black Bear Diner, 700 Bancroft Road, Walnut Creek. Information: walnutcreeklions.org. Blue Star Moms 7-9pm. Meets the second Wednesday of every month to participate in service activities supporting sons/daughters serving in the military. Danville Veterans Memorial Building, 400 Hartz Ave. Information: bluestarmoms.org.

Rotary Club of San Ramon 11:45am. Meets every Thursday. Crow Canyon Country Club, 711 Silver Lake Drive, Danville. Information: sanramonrotary.org. San Ramon Valley Kiwanis Club 1st, 2nd and 4th Thursdays at Noon, and the 3rd Wednesdays at 6pm—all at Round Hill Country Club, 3169 Round Hill Rd., Alamo. www.kiwanis-srv.org. Clutterers Anonymous 7-8pm. Meets the 2nd and 4th Thursday of every month. St. Luke’s Lutheran Church room 3,   2 491 San Miguel Drive,  Walnut Creek. Information: 925-736-8627.

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Diablo Valley Lions Club 7:30pm. Meets the 1st, 3rd, and 4th Thursday of every month. 1400 Montego Drive, Walnut Creek. Information: diablovalleyca.lionwap. org. Fridays: Transitions - “Navigating Life’s Turning Points Together” 9-11:30am. Our group now has a new name, which has been changed from TENS to Transitions. Our mission is to encourage and support women from empty nest, to aging parents and everything in between. Community Presbyterian Church, Room 116, 222 W. El Pintado Rd., Danville. Information: Contact Donna Hill at hillmom3@comcast.net Saturdays: Diablo Region of the Porsche Club of America 7:30-9am. Meets every Saturday. Buttercup Bar and Grill, 660 Ygnacio Valley Road, Walnut Creek. Information: diablo-pca.org. Parkinson’s Disease Support Group 9am-12pm. Meets every 3rd Saturday. Join us to share, laugh, and learn from each other. Meeting location is the Fireside Room at Grace Presbyterian Church, 2100 Tice Valley Blvd., Walnut Creek. Contact Gregg Riehl at (925) 254-8349 or jgriehl@gmail.com. Caregivers meet at same time in Oak Room of Grace Church. Information: Howard Zalkin at 925 939 4210 or Ronnie Wanetick at 925 933 6357 Free. All are welcome. Sundays: Cars n Coffee: First Sunday of Every Month 8-10am. Blackhawk Automotive Museum is hosting Cars and Coffee for automotive enthusiasts in the parking lots of Blackhawk Plaza. Our partner, Scott’s Catering, will provide coffee and other refreshments. Blackhawk Museum; 3700 Blackhawk Plaza Circle; Danville. Information: www.blackhawkmuseum.org.

Classifieds HELP WANTED IT QA Analyst: Master’s in C.S., C.E., Comp. Info. Systems or rltd. & 3 yr. rltd. exp. Bank of the West. Job in San Ramon, CA 94583. CV to careers@bankofthewest.com.

Community News & Information Danville • Blackhawk Alamo • Diablo • San Ramon Publisher/Editor - Denise Rousset Chief Financial Ofﬁcer - Jeff Gummere Graphic Designer - Laurie Prindle Auto - David & Judy Colman Contributing Writer - Alison Clary Web Support - ewebsiteservices.com Intern - Paulina Fischer, MVHS Photography Intern - Imran Ali, MVHS

925-820-6047

390 Diablo Road, Suite 145 Danville, CA 94526

www.valleysentinel.com

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The valley Sentinel

The 2016 Scion iM By David and Judy Colman

Scion’s introductory advertising campaign for the brand new iM model stresses the fact that it’s “Weird.” Really, the only thing weird about the iM we drove for a week is that its price ($19,594) is inexplicably low. This is really a very serviceable sedan with features you would expect to find in the next price class up the food chain. From a mechanical standpoint, the iM platform is first rate, with ABS disc brakes with brake force distribution at all 4 corners, standard alloy wheels ditto, and premium grade Toyo Proxes rubber (225/45R17) providing decent grip. Our test iM featured a 6 speed manual gearbox which imparts a sporting feel to operation. The gates of the linkage are well defined, and the synchronizers allow quick, sure transitions from gear to gear. If you opt for an automatic, you will find your choice limited to a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) borrowed

AUTO

from the Toyota Corolla ECO. Also taken from the ECO is the iM’s 137hp 4 cylinder engine which powers the front wheels. The iM has the makings of a promising little sports sedan. But in current form, those promises are only partially unrealized. The manual gearbox is fun to shift and does get you involved in the art of driving. But mushy clutch engagement spoils the party. In particular, it’s difficult to judge just when the clutch bites to engage first gear. An even bigger problem is the choice of gear ratios for second and third. These two gears are so far apart that your engine speed drops nearly 2,000rpm when up-shifting from second to third. If the engine produced lots of torque this would not pose a problem. But because the iM’s 1.8 liter four makes only 126lb.-ft. of torque, you need to conserve every foot pound. The transmission’s “weird” gearing fails to meet this need. As with previous Scion progeny, customization of

March 2009 December 2015

the car’s appearance and handling are left to dealer installed options. As it stands at delivery, the iM affords a comfortable, plush ride quality at the expense of handling precision. While the Toyo tires do their best to hang on through corners, the softly sprung platform hikes over under duress, negating the grip of the tires. But help is at hand. Your local Scion dealer will offer a full line of TRD performance parts such as stiffer anti-roll bars and tauter springs. The iM will respond well to such improvements because its basic platform features fully independent strut front suspension and independent double wishbone rear suspension. This is a sophisticated design primed for aftermarket fine tuning. Nothing in the iM’s cabin looks or feels cheap. The front seats are comfortably configured for excellent lower back support. The driver’s seat is manually adjustable for height. All seating surfaces feature a grippy cloth that looks good and promises long life. A curious white

stripe demarcates the lower edge of the black dashboard, bringing to mind the tuxedo look touted by Scion in recent TV ads for the iM. Aside from this one jarring note, the interior scores high marks for its standard 7” Touchscreen that is easy to read and control. Although you can easily hook up your music device through provided AUX or USB ports with iPod connectivity, Scion does not offer Satellite Radio on the iM, so you’ll have to make do with your own devices or the available HD radio instead. Almost all HD selections key to album covers shown on the sizeable Touch-screen display. A night time run in the iM revealed soothing blue lights for the instrument pod, which boasts its own 4.2 inch color multi-information display. One item to note is the fuel range read-out. We watched it hold steady at 60 miles estimated range, but as soon as we hit a few curves, the fuel warning light started blinking, and the display shifted to “Range Low.” So be extra careful when you reach the quarter tank mark

valleysentinel.com on the gas gauge, because the fuel range is likely to diminish from acceptable to concerning instantly. That night run through curves also revealed a sharp cut-off of the high beams, which left much territory unlit on the driver’s side. The new iM is a solid piece of design work. Its crisp good looks, serviceable interior, and fun gearbox make it an affordable choice for urban drivers or millennials who aren’t carobsessed. And with just a little help from the TRD parts bin, the iM can develop a new performance personality. Either way, it’s definitely a lot of new Scion for the money. 2016 SCION iM ENGINE: 1.8 liter inline 4, DOHC, 16 valve HORSEPOWER: 137hp TORQUE: 121lb.-ft. FUEL CONSUMPTION: 27MPG City/36 MPG Highway PRICE AS TESTED: $19,594 HYPES: Manual Transmission Available, Bargain Price GRIPES: Poor Gear Ratio Choice, Needy High Beams

valleysentinel.com

December 2015

Riding the bus just got easier! By Candace Andersen. Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors

With the holiday season upon us, East Bay residents have a new tool to help us get around more efficiently. Clipper, the all-in-one transit fare payment card already accepted on 13 Bay Area transit systems, is now accepted on County Connection busses. The days of hunting for spare change in the couch cushions to find bus fare are over. County Connection busses are clean, comfortable and are all Wi-Fi equipped. They are a great alternative to being stuck in traffic or hunting for a parking space at BART Stations, downtowns or shopping malls.

How do you know when your bus is coming? County Connection has a great bus tracking system to help riders out. The bus tracker system it utilized by installing the Transit App for Apple and Android devices. This app can be personalized so that you can get notifications about when the next bus is coming, utilizing a GPS tracking system installed in each bus. Download the Transit App at thetransitapp. com. Bus schedules and route information are also available at countyconnection.com You can get a Clipper card and add value at: • Walgreens, Whole Foods, and other select retailers • BART and County Connection transit agency ticket offices

• On line at clippercard.com • Call Clipper at 877878-8883 Please note that Senior Clipper cards are not available at most retailers and need to be purchased at BART or County Connection ticket offices because proof of age is required. Using Your Clipper Card: • Make sure you have a valid pass or a minimum balance of $1.75 (75 cents on a Senior or RTC Clipper card) before you board • When boarding the bus, locate the Clipper card reader just inside the front doors • Hold your card flat against the Clipper logo on the reader • Wait for the beep and green light - then continue to your seat Bus and BART Transfers:

The valley Sentinel • The Clipper card will recognize one free busto-bus transfer within a 2 hour time period. • The Clipper card will recognize and honor free transfers between County Connection, Tri Delta Transit, Wheels and WestCAT at shared transit stops. • BART transfer fares will be recognized and deducted accordingly ($1.00 for adult & youth riders and $.50 for senior/RTC riders) from the cards stored cash value, or no deduction for 31-day pass users. Clipper is a service provided by Bay Area transit operators and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, the transportation planning, financing and coordinating agency for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area. For more information about Clippper, visit www. clippercard.com. Try out your Clipper on a County Connection bus this holiday season. It makes life so much simpler.

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Whether you are going into San Francisco for a day trip with the family, or coming back from a late night with friends, you will know exactly when your bus will be there, and that with your new Clipper Card you can pay with ease. My office is here to serve the residents of Contra Costa County District 2, which includes San Ramon, Danville, Alamo, Walnut Creek, Saranap, Parkmead, Lafayette, Moraga, Canyon and Orinda. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if we can provide you with additional information on this topic or on other County issues. I can be reached at SupervisorAndersen@bos. cccounty.us or 925-957-8860. Our high school intern Michael Stanaro contributed to this article.

Christmas in the Regional Parks

The vintage merry-goround at Tilden Regional Park By Beverly Lane, East Bay Regional Parks District near Berkeley will become a Winter Wonderland during For more information the holidays, with holiday on times and fees, call 510from 1 to 2 p.m. on Sunday, decorations, gingerbread and Dec. 13, and yarn ornaments 544-2797 or visit the park hot chocolate, Christmas district web site at www. from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. on trees and visits from Santa. ebparks.org. Saturday, Dec. 19. The merry-go-round Crab Cove Visitor The miniature trees is located on Central Park Center in Alameda will host are pinecones, which Drive just downhill from the The holiday season has a holiday open house from the group will make into intersection with Wildcat arrived, and the East Bay 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on winter ornaments. In the Canyon Road. Hours are Regional Park District is Saturday and Sunday, Dec. yarn program you can use 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Mondays celebrating it with lots of 26 and 27, and again on yarn and sticks to make an through Fridays and 4 to special programs for all ages. ornament to take home. Wednesday and Thursday, 8:30 p.m. Saturdays and At Ardenwood Historic Dec. 30 and 31. Both programs meet at the Sundays through Dec. 23. Farm in Fremont, the There will be special Ardenwood granary. The carousel will be closed Patterson House is decorated Another seasonal feature activities throughout each Christmas Eve and Christmas with Victorian-era splendor, day, such as nature crafts, at Ardenwood is the arrival Day. featuring more than 20 games, and face time of monarch butterflies, Farther down decorated Christmas trees, which spend winter the hill at the end and Victorian-style holiday months in the park’s of Central Park ornaments. eucalyptus grove Drive, Tilden’s Tours are available on as part of their Environmental weekends, Dec. 5-6, 12-13 migratory, multiEducation Center and 19-20. Tours start at generational life will stage a free 11:30 a.m., noon, 1 p.m., cycle. holiday puppet 2 p.m. and 3 p.m., and Lots of guided show from 1 to 2 are included with the park walks and talks are p.m. on Sunday, admission fee. For booking planned to watch Dec. 20. Theme of a large group, call 510-791the butterflies flutter the show is how 4196 or email cdentry@ by. One is a New native animals fremont.gov. Year’s Day butterfly spend their The Patterson House discovery at 11:30 holidays. Audience also will host a Christmas a.m. and 1:30 p.m. The Patterson House at Ardenwood Historic participation is Open House from 5:30 to on Friday, Jan. 1. Farm in Fremont encouraged and 8:45 p.m. on Friday, Dec. Ardenwood is all ages are welcome. Call 51011. The fee for adults is with the center’s snake located at 34600 Ardenwood 544-2233 for information. $7 in advance or $8 at and turtle. A video show, Boulevard, just north of Natural ornaments will the door. Children 12 and popcorn and cider, bird Highway 84 in Fremont. be the stars of a program under are admitted free. bingo, a treasure hunt, and The park is open from 10 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Online registration is at fish feeding at the center a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays Sunday, Dec. 20 at Black www.regerec.com, barcode aquarium are other planned through Sundays, closed Diamond Mines Regional number 232079. attractions. on Christmas Day. Winter Preserve in Antioch. The Two other seasonally Crab Cove is at 1252 admission is $3 for adults, themed programs at McKay Ave. off Central Avenue park naturalists will set up $2 for children ages 4 a table displaying decorative Ardenwood involve in Alameda. For information, through 17, and free for kids native plants, and visitors miniature Christmas trees call 510-544-3187. under 4 years old.

On the Carousel at Tilden Park. Photo by L. Chu will be able to make their own ornament to take home. The location is Black Diamond Mines’ uppermost parking lot at the end of Somersville Road, 3½ miles south of Highway 4 in Antioch. The program is free; the park has a $5 parking fee when the kiosk is staffed. Heavy rain cancels the ornament program. As a Christmas gift to yourself or another, consider a Regional Park membership. Membership includes benefits such as unlimited day use parking, free admission to Ardenwood on non-event days, and free swimming during the summer season. For more information, visit www. regionalparksfoundation.org. Apart from formal programs, except as noted, the regional parks and trails are open every day of the holiday season for hiking, bicycling and horseback riding. Especially after rainstorms, the air is fresh and the hills are green. But however you spend your free time in December, here’s wishing you happy holidays from the East Bay Regional Park District board of directors and staff.

page 16

The Valley SenTinel

December 2015

valleysentinel.com

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