The Valley Sentinel_December 2020

Alamo • Danville • Blackhawk • Diablo • San Ramon

Valley

Find out what’s new in the Valley at

The

Sentinel

www.valleysentinel.com

Arts • Activities • Auto • Business • Gardening • Seniors and more...

always for the community VOL 25 NO 8

December 2020

www.valleysentinel.com

SPOTLIGHT

100 Years and This Danville Veteran is Still Going Strong William Gross was born December 8, 1920 is San Pedro, California, the youngest of 3 sons of Charles and Anna Gross. Raised in the idyllic setting that Southern California was in the 20s and 30s, he attended Belmont High School in Los Aneles and later the University of Southern California on the GI bill.

In 1940, he started working for the Dodge Trophy Company as a shipping clerk.

There he met, “The most beautiful girl I ever

ECRWSS

Postmaster: Dated Material

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

See 100 YEARS page 9

Sentinel Newspapers, Inc. P.O. Box 1309 Danville, CA 94526 925-820-6047

What is it that makes Danville such a charming place? The ambiance is special. Strolling downtown, shopping the small boutiques and having a meal, a glass of wine or a beer with a friend, is particularly pleasing because of the comfort and safety of a “small town”. Please, please take the Pledge to Live, Eat and Shop Locally this holiday season. Let’s keep our small businesses, the lifeblood of Danville afloat. For more information see page 5! Happy Holidays!

White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys)

By James M. Hale

With its beautifully phrased song, the White-crowned Sparrow (Zono-trichia leucophrys), along with the Golden-crowned Sparrow, and Yellow-rumped Warbler, make up the classic, trifecta of unmistakable, commonly heard, fall and winter bird sounds in Contra Costa County. With the excep-tion of the West Coast and mountains of the West, the White-crowned Sparrow is a winter visitor across much of the United States. They begin to arrive in our area sometime in September, showing an affinity for ecotonal or transitional zones between two habitats. Roadsides, trailsides, margins of our yards, and low foliage, as well as fields are preferred winter habitats of the White-crowned Sparrow.

During spring migration in March or April, White-crowned Sparrows leave for the brushy areas of

the taiga and tundra in the northernmost regions of the continent, the Pacific coast, and Rocky Mountains, that provide breeding habitat for this species. A well-known, natural alertness mechanism allows the White-crowned Sparrow to remain awake and alert for up to two we e k s d u r i n g m i g ra t i o n .

This mechanism is being studied for applications in humans. There are currently five, recognized subspecies of the White-crowned Sparrow based on breeding distribution and migratory routes. The scientific name has its origins from Ancient Greek. The genus Zonotrichia is from zone for “band”, and thrix or trikos, for “hair”. The specific epithet leucophrys is from leukos “white”, and ophrus, “eyebrow”. Adult

W h i t e - c row n e d S p a r rows have brilliant, diagnostic, black and white stripes on their peak-shaped heads.

Their faces are gray, upper body parts streaked brown, and tails, long. The brown wings are barred, underparts gray, and bill, pink or yellow.

The White-crowned Sparrow weighs about one ounce, with a wingspan reaching nine and one half inches, and a length of up to seven inches.

White-crowned Sparrows are predominately seedeaters, which they glean by foraging on the ground or in low vegetation. On occasion, they will consume insects and arthropods, which they pursue in flight or on the ground, as well as grasses, grains, fruits, buds, and other plant parts.

Often, they will forage in flocks. Some collective nouns

This Month’s Special Section:

for these flocks of sparrows include: a “crew”, “flutter”, “quarrel”, “ubiquity”, and “meinie” of sparrows. Whitecrowned Sparrows nest on the ground, or in low, protective, vegetation. The cup-shaped nest is constructed of twigs and various plant materials.

Fine grasses and hairs line the inside of the nest. It takes the female two to nine days to construct the nest. The three to five greenish-blue or gray eggs are splotched brown for camouflage. The female

HolidayGiving pages 5-7

See SPARROW page 4

page 2

THE VALLEY SENTINEL December 2020 valleysentinel.com

New Judge John Sutter Regional Shoreline Park Pier Offers Spectacular Views Oakland’s vice mayor, and

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

Bridge. Over a decade ago, the Metropolitan Transportation Agency gathered nine agency representatives to consider a possible park on surplus shoreline property on the bridge’s eastern landing.

The property was called the Gateway Park Area. A long public process ensued. The Park District was already working on obtaining land for a regional park from the Army in the area.

As discussions proceeded and the new Bay Bridge was completed, the District made the case for using part of the old bridge as the foundation for a new public pier. CalTrans officials liked the concept and, in a creative move, decided to use funds earmarked for the old bridge pilings demolition to create a new Observation Pier. The 600-foot pier just opened in late October. Spectacular views from the pier take in the new bridge and the San Francisco skyline. In addition, some materials from the old bridge are being reused for public art in East Bay communities.

There’s good reason for naming East Bay Regional Pa r k D i s t r i c t ’ s n e w e s t shoreline park after Judge John Sutter, an Oakland civic leader, founder of People for Open Space (now the G re e n b e l t A l l i a n c e ) a n d longtime member of the Park District’s Board of Directors.

John had envisioned a shoreline park at the site as early as 1967 when the property was owned by the Oakland Army base and the state Department of Transportation. And John has long been an advocate for increased public access to the bay shoreline.

The topic of a possible park came up during discussions among multiple officials and agencies as planning proceeded to replace the earthquake-damaged eastern portion of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay

Another feature of the new park is the Bridge Yard building. The building was the base of operations for t h e Key Sys t e m e l e c t r i c railway which operated from 1903 to 1960. It transported passengers around the East Bay and to San Francisco over the new Bay Bridge.

Mike Anderson, a park district assistant general manager now retired, recalls a meeting at which CalTrans officials were enthusiastic a b o u t t u r n i n g t h e l a rg e Bridge Yard building into a venue for public events with displays celebrating the history of the Key System and the engineering of the new bridge.

In an historic collaboration with CalTrans a n d t h e B a y A r e a To l l Authority, the park district receives operation funds from the agencies and is now managing the Bridge Yard building, the new Alex Z u c ke r m a n n B ay B r i d g e Trail parking lot, and the Observation Pier. The Bridge Yard building is operated as a rental event facility by

Oakland Venue Management under a concession agreement Park District. Facility rentals are currently on hold due to the County Public Health orders restricting large public gatherings due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fo r i n q u i r i e s r e g a r d i n g this facility please visit the OVM website at: www. thebridgeyard.com.

From its inception in 1934, the East Bay Regional Park District has worked to obtain former military base properties for public parkland. This has been true most recently with the C o n c o r d N a v a l We a p o n Station when half of the base closure property (2500 acres) was transferred from the Navy to the District last July for a large regional park. Sutter Park currently comprises 45 acres, with more land to come after the hazardous materials clean-up is completed on property still owned by the Army.

John Sutter is now retired.

He has had a distinguished career, including service as a superior court judge, as

as a member of the regional Park District board from 1996 to 2016. The creation of the new Judge John Sutter Regional Shoreline is another Park District success story as shoreline industrial and military uses are transformed to welcome the public To reach the park, drive toward the bay on Grand Avenue in Oakland. Close to the bay, Grand Avenue goes under the freeway to an intersection with Maritime S t r e e t . Tu r n l e f t o n t o Maritime Street, then right at the next intersection onto Burma Road. The parking lot for the park is on the right, about a mile down Burma Road.

The park was dedicated in a ceremony on Wednesday, Oct. 21. You can view a video of the dedication at https:// w w w. e b p a r k s. o rg / p a r k s / judge_john_sutter .

For a brochure with a map of the park, go to www. ebparks.org. Click on “Parks & Trails” at the top of the home page, then click on “Judge John Sutter” when the park list appears.

JRW CONSTRUCTION, INC. 381 Hartz Ave., Danville, Suite B www.jrwconstructioninc.com phone 925.831.1615 fax 925.831.1643 lic. 694292

CUSTOM HOMES ADDITIONS REMODELS BATHROOM AND KITCHEN REMODELS TENANT IMPROVEMENTS COMMERCIAL RESIDENTIAL

PORTEOUS PORTEOUS PORTEOUS PORTEOUS FAMILY DENTISTRY FAMILY DENTISTRY FAMILY DENTISTRY FAMILY DENTISTRY Larry Porteous D.D.S. Larry Porteous 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” We Weare arecelebrating celebrating2929years years

50% OFF

We are 29 in years 50% OFF We arecelebrating celebrating 30 yearsArea. in ininpractice 50% OFF Teeth Whitening practice inthe theBay Bay Area. 50% OFF in practicein in the the Bay Teeth Whitening practice BayArea.

Area.

Our Teeth Whitening Teeth Whitening Our practice is dedicated for new patients (reg $450) Our practice is dedicated for new patients (reg $450) Our practice is dedicated for new patients for (regnew $450) patients (reg $450) practice istodedicated to treating totreating treatingand andpreventing preventing to treating and preventing and preventing dental diseases in a dental diseases in a friendly, (925) 736-9000 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 totogive person 3840Blackhawk Blackhawk Road 3840 Road 3840 Blackhawk Road giveeach each person philosophy tophilosophy give each person Suite 110 the same respect, care and concern the same respect, care and Suite 110 the same respect, care respect, and the same care and Suite 110 Suite 110 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 BlackhawkAcross Rd. Blackhawk receive as areceive patient.

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, want Ifanyou an aching tooth, 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

News from the East Bay Regional Parks Park It column

by Ned MacKay

With a technique oddly reminiscent of Lawrence Welk, the park district is using a bubble machine to oxygenate Lake Temescal in Oakland.

Technically, it’s a mobile, trailer-mounted nanobubble generator provided under contract by a company called Moleaer.

The device injects into the lake water literally trillions of oxygen-rich nanobubbles, each 2,500 times smaller than a grain of salt.

Since the program started last summer, the lake’s dissolved oxygen levels have significantly

improved. Water quality improvements are a key factor in preventing harmful algal blooms. Oxygen rich water is critical for fish populations, too.

According to Matt Graul, the park district’s chief of stewardship, periods of drought and warm weather have created a surge of blue-green algae growth in Lake Temescal. The nanobubble technology offers a potential solution to maintain water quality and enhance the lake’s recreational value.

So if you see the bubble machine parked along the lakeshore, that’s what’s going on.

* * *

Let’s have a round of applause for John Green of Danville.

You may have seen him on the Iron Horse Trail. He’s hard to miss with his bright yellow shirt marked “Trash-man” on the front and “Green, Please Keep Our Trails Clean” on the back.

Green estimates he has logged over 2,500 miles on the Iron Horse and other trails in the past 12 years, picking up trash.

Thanks, John!

valleysentinel.com

December 2020

Mayor’s Installation & Community Service Awards Goes Virtual Annual event to be held online December 8 The Danville Community is invited to join in an online event December 8, 2020 celebrating the volunteer efforts of community members and the installation of the 2021 Mayor.

Due to the restrictions placed upon public gatherings d u e t o t h e C OV I D - 1 9 pandemic, the council will

hold the 39th Annual Mayor’s Installation and Community Service Awards online. The event will be livestreamed to www.danville.ca.gov/ mayorsinstallation.

Set for 5:00 p.m. December 8, 2020, the evening will include commendations to outgoing commissioners in 2020, service awards, awards

of merit, the Danville Award, swearing in of new council members and the installation of a new Mayor/Vice Mayor for 2021.

For more information on the Mayor’s Installation and Community Service Awards, contact City Clerk Marie Sunseri at (925) 314-3401 or msunseri@danville.ca.gov.

San Ramon Valley Street Smarts Traffic Safety Contest Continues for Elementary and Middle School Students Please view more San Ramon Valley Street Smarts initiated a monthly themed contest for students grades K – 8 in the San Ramon Valley, which offers students the opportunity to learn about Traffic Safety Education through short interactive and entertaining online bike and pedestrian themes.

For October’s Contest, 62 entries were submitted.

An 8th grade Pine Valley Middle School student, and a 3rd grade Coyote Creek Elementary School student were randomly selected to win a gift card from a local

business in the San Ramon Valley.

Monthly Contest includes: • V i e w i n g t w o 6 0 second bike and/or pedestrian videos created by local middle and high school students • Completing puzzle – one each for elementary and middle school students December entries are now being accepted. At the end of the month, a name from the elementary and middle school student’s entries will be entered in the contest to win exciting gift cards. Winner will be notified through email.

information and guidelines under the Monthly Contest tab at street-smarts.com.

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

Street Smarts is a traffic safety education program serving the San Ramon Valley.

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

Rainy Season Hiking Tips

News from the East Bay Regional Parks Park It column

by Ned MacKay

Pe r h a p s b e c a u s e t h e continuing coronavirus pandemic has limited other forms of recreation, the regional parks and outdoor venues in general have seen a substantial increase in visitors.

So as fall turns to winter, with its colder and damper climate, here are some tips to help make your park visits safer and more enjoyable: • Because of pandemic concerns, it’s advised to go out only with your immediate family and/or household, and not in large groups. Take along masks to wear when narrow trails make social distancing difficult. Visit parks that are close to home.

• If you go alone, tell someone responsible where you are going and when you expect to return. Upon return, check back in with that person.

• Take along a trail map. Maps of the regional parks are available at the d i s t r i c t w e b s i t e, w w w. ebparks.org. They are also available in boxes at trailhead information panels, though the park rangers can’t always

keep up with restocking needs. It’s also a good idea to check the district website b e f o re l e av i n g , t o m a ke sure there are no temporary restrictions at your planned destination.

• Dress in layers and bring along raingear. Weather conditions can change abruptly this time of year.

It’s easier to remove extra parkas and sweaters when it gets warm than it is to put on clothing you don’t have when it gets cold and wet.

• Don’t forget water and a snack. Because of the coronavirus, many park district drinking fountains have been turned off. And a snack can give you an energy boost.

• Bring water and a snack for your dog, too. And be familiar with dog rules. In general, dogs can be off-leash in the backcountry as long as they are under their owner’s control. This means Fido will come when called. If your dog starts chasing cows or wildlife, or has uninvited interaction with other park visitors, it’s time to put on the leash. And dogs are supposed to be leashed on all the

district’s paved trails, such as the Iron Horse in Central Contra Costa, Nimitz Way at Tilden Regional Park near Berkeley, etc.

• Clean up after your dog. “Bag it and bin it.” You can also help by packing out what you pack in: candy w ra p p e rs, p l a s t i c wa t e r bottles, etc.

• Bicycles are permitted on designated trails only. You can ride on dirt fire roads and paved interpark trails such as the Iron Horse. Some narrower trails are open to bicycles, too, though not the narrowest ones, which are reserved for hikers and horses. Check the park map to be sure. Don’t forget your helmet.

• H o r s e s take precedence over bicycles and pedestrians. Bicycles should yield to pedestrians.

However it’s always nice to exercise common courtesy when circumstances call for it, regardless of who has the right of way.

• Please stay on the official trails. Shortcuts and “social trails” are dangerous and damage natural resources.

THE VALLEY SENTINEL

page 3

Community Input We at The Valley Sentinel welcome comments and suggestions from the community at large. We love hearing from you! However, consideration is only given to those who provide their name, address and phone number.

Two-way communication is essential for growth and understanding. Write us at P.O. Box 1309, Danville, 94526, email to drousset@valleysentinel.com, or call us at 925-820-6047. Thank you!

—Denise Rousset, Publisher

For A Life of Intellectual Exploration and Meaningful Contribution Challenging and Experiential Classes Average 15-17 students Students Inspire Each Other to Think Critically, Problem Solve, and Collaborate

ADMISSION OPEN HOUSES FOR FALL 2021 ENROLLMENT

Grades 6-8 January 11 1:00 pm

Unmatched International & Wilderness Programs

Grades 9-12 January 12 1:00 pm

100% Admitted to Outstanding 4-Year Colleges Diverse Global Community on an Extraordinary 75-Acre Campus Transportation and Financial Aid Available

To register for an Open House, please visit our Admission webpage and choose “Apply Now”

www.athenian.org Danville

Real Estate Professional

NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE IN YOUR PROBATE JOURNEY, I HAVE 8 SIMPLE STEPS TO PROBATE SUCCESS FOR YOU.

So, to add ease and calm in your life, if the time is right, please call:

Christian Rousset

925.890.4482

ChrisRousset09@gmail.com

Broker Associate

Delphi

Realty Group

Cal Bre # 01848037

page 4

THE VALLEY SENTINEL December 2020 valleysentinel.com

Bay Area Acting Students Take LongDistance Honors at Junior Theatre Festival Australia “I felt that my existing on public health restrictions Students in Bay Area Children’s Theatre’s Advanced Performers program triumphed over the constraints of the pandemic to wow the judges at this year’s Junior Theatre Festival Australia.

BAC T ’s Ad va n c e d Pe r f o r m e rs — 6 t h t o 1 2 t h graders from Alameda, Berkeley, Livermore, Oakland, Orinda, Pleasanton, and San Ramon—learned their routines online, recorded their parts individually in their own homes, and then competed long-distance online with winning ensemble work.

The young performers competed in two groups.

One team took top honors f o r O u t s t a n d i n g Ac t i n g Performance for excerpts from Elf The Musical JR. The other won Outstanding Vocal Performance for excerpts from Madagascar – A Musical Adventure JR. JTF Australia, the largest celebration of musical theater for young people in Australia, took place October 30 – 31 in Newcastle, NSW, Australia. Student groups were permitted to perform in person or digitally, depending

in their home locations.

BAC T wa s o n e o f t h re e American student theatre groups invited to compete in the festival—all, digitally.

As if it isn’t hard enough to learn the songs and the dance moves for a performance onstage, doing everything online adds unique challenges.

“The students had to be much more self-directed and had to work with technology because we weren’t all in the room together,” said BACT Artistic Director Khalia Davis, who directed the Madagascar team. “and we had to lean into the Zoom medium to make the performance better.

We had 10 minutes to impress the judges, so we tried to tell the story, showcase different styles of songs and play with the Zoom medium to see what fun we could have.”

Davis has directed digital performances before, including the recent national production of A Kids Play About Racism. For Advanced Performer Director Amber Dyson, who steered the Elf team, this competition was the first opportunity to direct online.

relationships with the students made it easier to convey the vision for Elf Jr., and the adjudicators definitely picked up on the joy and hope that we wanted our performance to convey,” Dyson said. “I have to give a special shout out to Cicily Gruber, our amazing video editor—nothing would have been possible without her! “ Other BACT teaching artists who contributed to the winning performances include Choreographer Tiffany To (Elf excerpts) and Music Director Angel Adedokun (Madagascar excerpts).

About Bay Area Children’s Theatre Bay Area Children’s Theatre is the foremost theatre for young audiences in California. Since its inception in 2004, BACT has served 750,000 children and adults in the Bay Area and beyond. BACT CEO Nina Meehan serves as president of the board of directors of TYA/ USA, the national organization of theatres for young audiences.

For information about BACT’s Imaginate Club Academy, currently offering classes online during the pandemic: https:// bactheatre.org/#/academy

Virtual Events and News Bits December 9 Sustainability LIVE!: “Post Election: Where Do We Go From Here?”

7-8:30pm. The election was a narrow win for Mother Nature, and now it’s time to raise our voices and demand action on the climate crisis.

There is still much work to do to create a future of environmental justice and sustainability. Where do things now stand on issues such as oil drilling in Contra Costa, refinery transitions to biofuels, electric vehicles, and more?

Advocates from 350 Contra Costa will discuss upcoming environmental issues and policies at the state and local levels. Join us to learn how to bring about the future we envision.

December 10 Jim Brickman Supports The San Ramon Performing Arts Center with Comfort & Joy At Home Live! Virtually 7pm. Jim Brickman is donating to theatres across the US this holiday season by performing virtual concerts complete with Interactive Zoom Rooms, Meet & Greets and Christmas Gifts delivered to your door.

Attend this concert on your couch, your bed, your comfy chair. Enjoy a one-of-a kind-personal concert experience with Jim Brickman and support your local theatre. Tickets are $125, $75, $40 includes Interactive Zoom Room, Meet & Greets and Christmas Gifts delivered to your door.

SPARROW from page 1 Advanced Performers hearing comments online from JTF Australia adjudicators. Director Amber Dyson, lower right, with students

Director Khalia Davis and Music Director Angel Adedokun with students

incubates the eggs for about twelve days. The nestlings fledge in about ten days after hatching, and learn to fly, one to two weeks later.

The White-crowned Sparrow is one of the most heavily studied birds. Luis Baptista described the Whitecrowned Sparrow as the “white rat of ornithology”.

Barbara DeWolfe, Baptista’s associate, generated six d e c a d e s o f re s e a rc h o n variation in its reproductive physiology, song, and behavior. Research suggests that the various groups of White-crowned Sparrows have different “dialects”.

Males learn the regional songs by listening to the birds around it. In a

Tickets on Sale at www. jimbrickman.com.

December 14 T h e Wa l n u t C r e e k Garden Club The December meeting will be held via Zoom. Our general meeting begins at 10am and our speaker will begin his presentation at 10:30 am.

Our speaker, Steve Brown, is both a floral arranger and a faculty member at City College of San Francisco (CCSF) teaching Horticulture and Floristry. He currently serves as the faculty elected Chair for the Environmental Horticulture/ Floristry Department and Co Chair of Facilities. His program will be about various types of wreaths and we look forward to someinspiring ideas.

If you would like to be a guest at this virtual program, please contact Maureen Little at mslittle44@gmail.com for a zoom invite.

December 16 Climate Action in Our Community Webinar 6:30-8pm. It’s time to connect with others, save resources and money in the home, and create a healthier Contra Costa for the future! In this webinar, Sustainable Contra Costa will help you start Teams through the Cleaner Contra Costa Challenge. You can work together with friends, family, and community organizations to save resources and money in the home AND fight climate change.

1962 experiment, several h u n d re d W h i t e - c row n e d Sparrows were trapped in California and released in Mar-yland. One year later, eight individuals found their way back. Logging and suburbanization has allowed the White-crowned Sparrow to expand its range in the past thirty years.

There are indications that some populations may be declining. Hopefully, the delightful song of the Whitecrowned Sparrow will remain a common fall and winter s o n g t h ro u g h o u t C o n t ra Costa County.

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

This Holiday Season Support Local and have yourself a merry Small Town Christmas

valleysentinel.com

December 2020

THE VALLEY SENTINEL

page 5

Rakestraw Books 3 Railroad Ave. www.rakestrawbooks.com 925-837-7337

Whim House 485 Hartz Ave. www.whimhouse.com 925-718-5533

VIDA Wellness Boutique 122 E. Prospect Ave. www.vidawellnessboutique.com 925-553-0444

Molly’s Pup-Purr-ee 425 Hartz Ave. www.mollyspup.com 925-820-8222

Forward Motion 432 Hartz Ave. www.shopforwardmotion.com 925-820-9966

SPENGA Danville 200 Hartz Ave. Suite B danvilleca.spenga.com 925-718-6820

Elan Fine Jewelry 350 Railroad Ave. 925-837-3191

Ah’na Designs 350 Railroad Ave. 925-837-3191

Danville Music 115 Town And Country Dr. #E9 www.danvillemusic.com 925-743-0898

Danville Chocolates 175 E. Prospect Ave. www.danvillechocolates.com 925-314-0001

Danville Cigar & Fine Gifts 445 Hartz Ave. www.danvillecigar.com 925-831-8899

Moda Mi 140 E. Prospect Ave. www.modamidanville.com 925-837-1407

Games Unlimited 810 Sycamore Valley Rd. W. 925-838-6358 www.gamesunlimitedonline.com

Misto Lino 704 Sycamore Valley Rd. W. www.mistolino.com 925- 837-6575

Local businesses are the heart of our small town community. Many have been heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. To preserve our business community, we need to support them now and shop locally this holiday season.

By joining the ‘I Pledge to Support Local’ movement, you are keeping funds in the community and helping hard-hit businesses stay open so that we keep the Danville Spirit all year round. Danville truly is all in this together, so let’s make an impact and #PledgeDanville.

There are a variety of reasons why shopping in Danville has so many advantages! From expert retailers offering their outstanding customer service and knowledge to plenty of free parking. While our businesses have created safe shopping experiences for you to acquire the wide variety of items on your holiday shopping list to be purchased immediately, many also offer online shopping, special orders, local delivery, gift cards, curbside pickup, and gift wrapping!

Whether you choose to shop online or visit a store in-person, take the pledge to support locally owned businesses this holiday season.

Take the Pledge • I will spend my holiday shopping dollars in the Town of Danville • I will make a list and, in addition to all the fabulous finds in this gift guide, will visit the Danville Business Directory to match businesses with the items I need found at danville.ca.gov/businessdirectory • I will share my “I Pledge to Support Local” stories and pictures on my social media • And I will encourage my friends and family to do the same.

You can also: • Use the official “I Pledge to Support Local” Facebook profile picture frame • Check out danville.ca.gov/livelocally for more social media images and information

This year, rediscover all the wonderful shopping that Danville has to offer while knowing you are making a difference in your community by Taking the Pledge!

Pledge To Support Local at The Tree Trail–Stay Rooted In Danville!

While shopping and dining downtown this holiday season, you are invited to explore the Tree Trail. Local storefronts will have beautifully decorated trees throughout Danville. By strolling to find all the trees, residents can visit the stores, take the pledge and stay rooted in our amazing community.

After completing the trail, share a photo of your favorite tree on social media, tag @livelocallydanville, @ townofdanvilleca and @danvilleparksca on Instagram and use #DanvilleTreeTrail.

Gift Cards Support Local Can’t decide on the with a Gift Card perfect gift? That’s OK. Make it easy by selecting a gift card for a favorite store or restaurant as a thoughtful and flexible option. The pledge is all about supporting local.

How you choose to support is up to you.

Holiday Giving page 6

THE VALLEY SENTINEL

Open Daily 925.837.2664

December 2020

valleysentinel.com

Holiday Gatherings During Covid-19

391 Hartz Avenue Danville, CA 94526

With the holidays coming up, many families and friends are planning to get together to celebrate. While gathering as a family is important, it’s even more important to keep everyone safe. Just being family does not protect you from infecting each other with COVID-19. The county health departments have issued holiday guidance, suggesting you should not gather indoors, only outdoors. Practically speaking, we know that many

“Best Place to go Treasure Hunting” —Diablo Magazine 2020 An Emporium of Uncommon Accoutrements, Jewelry, Novelties, and Notions 1840’s - Moderne

Single Family Home Customers – 2021 Holiday Tree Collection Schedule

Return of the Monarchs

Your pickup will be on the samegreet day asthe your regular garbage service but byas a separate truck.

Come beautiful monarch butterflies they flutter

into the eucalyptus grove at Ardenwood Historic Farm for the winter.

Week of Jan 4–8 Customers in the cities and unincorporated areas of Danville and Walnut Creek, plus Alamo, Diablo, and Blackhawk.

Week of Jan 11–15 Customers in the cities and unincorporated areas of Lafayette, Moraga, and Orinda.

• Nature programs • Slide shows • Naturalist-led treks AFTER Jan 22 Cut and place in organicsevents cart; or call (925) 685-4711 for on-call, organics-only cleanup.

Monarch scheduled throughout late November and December. Or just Tree Pickup Do’s stop&byDon’ts the park any time this fascinating • Remove lights, ornaments, to andobserve tinsel from branches before placing at curbside.

Leave trees at curbside on • Leave trees at curbside on the same day as your regular phenomenon on yourgarbage own!collection day during the same day as your regular your city’s tree collection week. garbage collection day, during 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., • Cut in half all trees that areOpen 8 feet or over in height. your city’s assigned week.

Tuesday-Sunday. Closed on COLLECTED TREES WILL BE COMPOSTED. Thanksgiving and Christmas.

• Flocked trees can be collected curbside for a fee or be included in your once-a-year

Don’t:

Do:

Week of Jan 18–22 Customers who missed prior tree collection.

on-call garbage cleanup, but must be scheduled in advance. Call (925) 685-4711.

If cut to fit inside with the lid closed, flocked trees may be placed in your landfill cart.

• Do not leave stands (whether plastic, metal, or wood) on the tree.

Trees with items still attached cannot be picked up.

Ardenwood Historic Farm, 34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont

A BELOVED EAST BAY FAMILY TRADITION AT THE HISTORIC 1911 CAROUSEL

Christmas at the Carousel

families will still celebrate indoors. We at Hospice East Bay offer the following ideas to help with your holiday planning.

F i rs t t r y t o t h i n k o f alternatives to in-person gatherings. Get together virtually, perhaps eating the same dinner at the same time.

Share recipes. Drop food off at the doorstep of your close friends and family that you can share when you meet virtually.

If you are getting together, three factors will influence your risk: masks, distancing and time. Masks are straightforward – wear them except when eating.

Distancing refers not only to 2950 Peralta Oaksthan Court staying more six feet apart Oakland, CAto94605-0381 but also providing excellent ebparks.org ve n t i l a t i o n . I f p o s s i b l e, keep all your windows and doors open. Make sure your ventilation system is on and you have a new filter (does not have to be HEPA but a good quality). In terms of time, try to keep your gathering under two hours.

You can also minimize contact by limiting the number of households (groups of people who live together).

Please limit your gathering to three households, including

yours. Households can share items among themselves, such as serving utensils and bowls of condiments, but each household should have their own. Nothing should be shared between households.

Don’t serve family style or buffet style. Assign one person to put food on plates and serve them, making sure they wear a mask and wash their hands frequently.

L i m i t a c c e s s t o yo u r house. Keep gel and wipes available for everyone. Ask guests to use wipes to sanitize everything they touch after using the bathroom. Have people enter the home through the door closest to the dining area. When everyone leaves, sanitize the shared areas. Limit alcohol consumption because it can impair judgment and put you and your guests at risk.

The bottom line this holiday season is to use common sense. We give gifts at many of these celebrations.

Please don’t give the gift no one wants — a potentially serious illness. Hospice East Bay encourages you to be safe and know that we are “here when you need us.”

See GATHERINGS page 7

TI L D E N PA R K M E R RY- G O - R O U N D

Michael J. Tomcik, M.D.

Michael J. Tomcik, MD

skin cAre center Hot Chocolate and Gingerbread Board-Certified Dermatologist • Christmas Trees 101 Park Place Medical Group, iNc. San Ramon Visit the Candyshop for a Tasty Treat!

925-743-1488 www.SanRamonDerm.com November 24 to December 23 11/24-11/26, noon-8:30 p.m.; 11/27-12/15, Introducing Ultherapy4-8:30 p.m.; 12/16-12/23, noon-8:30 p.m.

• Only FDA approved, The carousel is closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day non-surgical procedure

Bettina Uwalaka, R.N.

Beautiful Skin Begins with Exceptional Skin Care

Photo: Angela Smith

Board Certified Dermatologist AdvAnced LAser Santa and his Elves!

• Unique Ornaments • Bread Cookies Over 35 years experience

that focuses ultra sound to stimulate the growth of new collagen • Lifts and tightens the skin on neck, chin, and brow • • NO downtime • Takes about • an hour

Services Include: PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) with Micro-Needling Micro-fractional CO2 Laser Skin Resurfacing with Erbium

Christmas at• IPLthe Patterson House / BBL — Take out redness and Receive a free Botox Treatment Celebrate with your full a Victorian-style and neck restored Queen at aface beautifully

Photo: Allan Mendez

Christmas decrease sun damage

As seen on KTVU “Malou Review”

Ultherapy•

Anne mansion

Fillers: Restylane, Silk, Lyft, Juvederm, procedure.

• Live music Voluma, Defyne, Refyne, Vollure, Volbella

We are the only office • Refreshments with a dedicated “ultherapist” on staff • More than

•

Botox and Dysport

decorated Christmas trees • 20 Laser Hair Reduction holiday ornaments •• Victorian-style 532 Laser — remove red facial veins

Tours: Sat. & Sun, Dec. 2-3, 9-10, and 16-17

Experience the Difference!

Visit our web site for amazing before and Holiday open house: Dec. 8, 5:30-8:30 p.m. after photos of patients www.SanRamonDerm.com $7/advance, $8 at the door, 12 yrs & under FREE.

791-4196 or rkiehn@fremont.gov Treat yourself or a loved one!Info: Gift(510) certificates are available!

ARDENWOOD HISTORIC FARM

34600 Ardenwood Blvd.,isFremont (Hwy 84, east of the Dumbarton Bridge) Your Beauty Our Inspiration!

Call Today 925-743-1488

101 Park Place, Suite 101, San Ramon

www.SanRamonDerm.com

LOV E YO U R PA R K S . . .

GIVE THE GIFT OF MEMBERSHIP Share your love for the Regional Parks with a friend or family member with a gift of membership this holiday season.

Give the gift that lasts all year. We will send a Gift of Membership package to you or directly to the recipient.

Please call or email 510-544-2220 or Membership@ebparks.org

by December 8 to ensure timely delivery for the holidays.

Holiday Giving valleysentinel.com

December 2020

THE VALLEY SENTINEL

page 7

Santa’s Mailbox is in Town Looking for a place to drop-off those Christmas wish lists? Look no further than Santa’s Mailbox, now open at the Danville Community Center and Danville Library.

Letters should be dropped off by December 10. In return, they will receive a letter from the jolly old elf by December 24.

The mailbox is located in front of the Danville Community Center, 420 Front Street and in front of the Danville Library, 400 Front Street.

Drop-off times: Danville Community Center: Monday – Friday 8:30am – 1pm.

Danville Library : Monday – Thursday 10am – 8pm.

GATHERINGS from page 6

Hospice East Bay provides compassionate end-of-life care to terminally ill patients, while offering emotional, spiritual, and grief support for the entire family. As a not-for-profit organization, we accept all

Friday – Saturday 10am – pm.

When dropping off letters, please follow all COVID-19 guidelines.

Optional fun letterheads can be found, downloaded and printed from the Find the Fun page at www.danville.ca.gov/ findthefun. Parents, please be sure to include a return mailing address with all letters.

Sentinels of Freedom is a national nonprofit organization that helps severely wounded post-9/11 Veterans with comprehensive personal support and financial assistance as they complete their higher education and achieve success in their post-military careers.

HELP OUR SENTINELS STORY CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD AND IMPACT OUR COMMUNITY. WWW.SENTINELSOFFREEDOM.ORG

medically qualified patients, regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay. Hospice East Bay has been caring for patients and their families since 1977. Proceeds from our thrift shoppes support the programs of Hospice East Bay.

We’ll help him find

Sentinel John W. Walding Business Owner

Sentinel Lina Efremenkova Louisiana State Univeristy

Sentinel Cardia Summers Columbia University

Sentinel Christopher Lamy Juris Doctorate

Contact Us at 925-380-6342 or info@sentinelsoffreedom.org

the perfect gift

DANVILLE

1901 Camino Ramon 925-866-6164

with our

JewelryWish List at Home Consignment Center

Check out our wide selection of jewelry... try on as much as you’d like!

Choose your top 10 pieces and create your “jewelry wish list.” We keep the list on file and he surprisesyou with something from your list Less stress for him and you’re sure to get a gift that you’ll love It’s just that easy!

Diamonds • Rings • Necklaces Pendants • Earrings • Bracelets

www.thehomeconsignmentcenter.com

CAMPBELL 930 West Hamilton Ave. 408-871-8890

SAN RAFAEL 75 Bellum Blvd.

415-924-6691

SAN CARLOS 1123 Industrial Road 650-508-8317

Senior Living page 8

valleysentinel.com

December 2020

It’s Time to Review Your Medicare Coverage

By Seema Verma Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Medicare’s annual Open Enrollment season is underway, and I want to encourage all people with Medicare to review their current health and prescription drug coverage.

M e d i c a r e Ad v a n t a g e plan premiums have fallen to historic lows, dropping an average of 34% over the last three years. Many plans are offering a new insulin benefit that limits the maximum cost to $35 for a 30-day supply. By shopping around, you may be able to save money and find a plan that better meets your needs.

Open Enrollment runs through December 7 each year. This is the time when you can change your Medicare health or drug coverage for the following year. You can switch to Original Medicare, or join or change a Medicare Advantage plan or Part D prescription drug plan. Any new coverage you select takes effect January 1, 2021.

Our updated Medicare Plan Finder (www.Medicare. gov/plan-compare) can help yo u c o m p a re t h e p r i c e s and benefits of Medicare Advantage plans, Original Medicare, Medicare drug plans, and Medigap policies.

This mobile-friendly tool works on smart phones, tablets, and desktop computers. For beneficiaries who have created an account, we’ve personalized Plan Finder to generate a personal drug history so that prescription information will be auto-populated from personal Medicare claims history with accurate brand, d o s a g e, a n d f re q u e n cy information. But anyone can browse options without creating an account.

Many Medicare drug plans and Medicare Advantage plans that include drug coverage are participating in a new insulin savings initiative. These plans now offer 30 days of insulin for $35 or less – an average savings of $446-peryear on out-of-pocket costs.

To find a plan with lowercost insulin, look for “Insulin Savings” on Medicare Plan Finder.

T h e re a re i m p o r t a n t differences between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage. Here’s a brief summary: Original Medicare With Original Medicare, you can go to any doctor or hospital that accepts Medicare, anywhere in the U.S. In most cases, you don’t need a referral to see a specialist.

Fo r s e r v i c e s c ove re d u n d e r M e d i c a re Pa r t B , you usually pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount after you meet your deductible. You also pay a monthly premium for Part B. If you choose to join a Part D drug plan, you’ll pay an additional monthly premium.

There’s no yearly limit on what you pay out-of-pocket, unless you have supplemental coverage, such as Medicare Supplement Insurance, also known as Medigap. Medigap can help pay your remaining out-of-pocket costs (like your 20% coinsurance). Or you can use coverage from a former employer or union, or Medicaid.

Original Medicare covers most medically necessary

A Message from The White Pony Express Dear friends, Welcome to “The Circle of Giving Playbook – A Fundraising Campaign!”

The White Pony Express “circle of giving” is a model whereby surplus food & goods are picked up and delivered to neighbors i n n e e d , w i t h l ove a n d in the spirit of serving selflessly. Join with us as we share our community “Playbook” to collectively raise the $500,000 needed to strengthen our partnerships, serve our friends in need and enable the organization t o o p e ra t e f l ex i b l y a n d responsively.

Over the next two months, we will release “Seven Chapters” of our interactive Playbook – and how timely to do so in 2020, the 7th Anniversary of White Pony Express! Each new chapter will tell the story of how YOU – the volunteers, companies, funding friends, and partner agencies – play an important role enlivening

and energizing our circle of giving. We will also share how new collaborations have helped broaden and deepen our impact.

The challenge is great… a n d g row i n g , e s p e c i a l l y for struggling families and people experiencing homelessness. Fifty percent of working parents have reported job losses or hour reductions due to COVID-19, and that number rises in underserved communities ( 5 3 % f o r B l a c k p a re n t s and 59% for Hispanic/ Latinx parents). In Contra Costa County, the number of individuals and people experiencing homelessness has skyrocketed, up 43% since 2017. A heartbreaking 1 in 4 Americans are skipping meals or relying on food donations during the pandemic – often for the first time.

At White Pony Express, we have tripled our f o o d d o n a t i o n s a n d a re experiencing a dramatic rise

in clothing requests at the White Pony General Store.

Pallets of food, arriving by the truckload, have necessitated additional staff, vehicles, e q u i p m e n t , t e c h n o l o g y, training and safety measures.

And new programs have been created to reach friends in the deepest pockets of need in Contra Costa County.

It is our joy to present WPE’s Playbook and our hope that together we will raise the funds needed to keep these critical channels of service flowing in our community. We are grateful to be on this journey with you, to offer ways we can lift each other up and find a “yes” to our neighbors’ requests for help. Our goal is to inspire you, appreciate you, share how you can help, and have a little fun along the way!

Love, The White Pony Express Team

services and supplies in hospitals, doctors’ offices, and other health care settings. It doesn’t cover some benefits, including vision and most dental care.

In most cases, you don’t have to get a service or item approved ahead of time for Original Medicare to cover it.

Medicare Advantage M e d i c a r e Ad v a n t a g e Plans are offered by private insurers that provide your M e d i c a r e Pa r t A a n d B b e n e f i t s, i n m a ny c a s e s through a managed network, similar to an HMO. In many cases, you’ll need to use doctors and other providers in the plan’s network and service area to get the lowest out-of-pocket costs. HMO model plans won’t cover providers outside t h e p l a n ’s n e t wo r k a n d service area unless certain exceptions apply, such as emergency services.

You may need to get a referral to see a specialist, even if the specialist is in your plan’s network.

Out-of-pocket costs for Medicare Advantage vary, and plans may have lower out-of-pocket costs for certain services.

You may have to pay a monthly plan premium in addition to your monthly Part B premium. Some plans may have a $0 premium or may help pay all or part of your Part B premiums.

Plans have a yearly limit on what you pay out-of-pocket for services covered under Medicare Part A and Part B. Once you reach your plan’s limit, you pay nothing for services covered by Part A and Part B for the rest of the year.

Plans must cover all medically necessary services that Original Medicare covers.

Most plans offer extra benefits that Original Medicare doesn’t cover, such as some vision, hearing, dental, benefits, as well as adult day health services, caregiver support, in-home support, and homebased palliative care.

In some cases, you have to get a service or item approved ahead of time for the plan to cover it.

If you’d like free, personalized counseling on what Medicare options are right for you, call the nonprofit State Health Insurance and Assistance Program, or SHIP. To find the SHIP program in your state, go to https://www. shiptacenter.org. Or call us at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-6334227).

Community Invited to ‘Take the Pledge’

Holiday campaign launched to support and restore local businesses The Town of Danville, in partnership with the Danville Area Chamber of Commerce has launched the I Pledge to Support Local grassroots campaign to encourage support of local businesses this holiday season, many of whom have been heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. “ I n D a n v i l l e, s m a l l businesses are the heart of our community and merchants are working hard to continue to offer safe shopping experiences while still providing outstanding customer service and knowledge,” said Economic Development Manager Jill B e rg m a n . “ M a ny s t o re s offer online shopping, gift cards, special orders, local delivery, curbside pick-up, and gift wrapping to make the experience as easy as possible.”

The I Pledge to Support Local movement keeps funds in the community and helps hard-hit businesses remain open, so they can continue to provide valued goods and services to our community all year round.

Danville residents are invited to make an impact together by taking the Pledge to Support Local this holiday season.

How to Take the Pledge: 1. Create a shopping and wish list with the help of the Danville Picks Holiday Gift Guide or search for local business listings on the Danville Business Directory 2. Share your I Pledge To Support Local stories and pictures on social media channels as a way of spreading the word.

See PLEDGE page 9

valleysentinel.com

December 2020

THE VALLEY SENTINEL

Sponsored Content

Questions to Ask Your Financial Advisor

By Robert Cucchiaro

In April of 2016 the department of labor released a rule requiring that brokers who provide investment advice to retirement plans (401Ks, IRAs, etc.) act like fiduciaries.

A fiduciary is someone who is legally required to give advice that is in the best interest of the client, as opposed to the firm he/she works for.

This requirement may seem obvious but unfortunately it is not and thus the new rule.

One of the reasons this type of rule needs to be in existence is because the financial services industry has no regulation around the professional titles individuals can use.

For example, there are many folks out there today who call themselves Financial Planners or Private Wealth Advisors, and yet have not passed the CFP® exam, which is a 3 year program in which one is actually trained to become a Certified Financial Planner.

Why the industry allows this is beyond me, and quite honestly the DOL/Fiduciary rule is 100 YEARS from page 1

saw”. Her name was Doris Kirby and she worked as a comptometer operator. He “somehow managed to get a date,” he said, which began a life-long love affair. In February 1942, they eloped to Las Vegas.

Bill began working in the shipyards on Terminal Island, CA, as a welder—building

a really roundabout way of addressing the problem, which is simply a lack of standards around who can claim to offer financial advice vs. who can sell a financial product.

While the DOL/Fiduciary rule is a step in the right direction, it’s still very hard for an individual to know who they can trust in this industry and it’s no one’s fault but our own.

So with that in mind, I came up with a list of questions I would want my wife to ask her prospective Advisor should I die before her and my firm not be around to serve her needs (an extremely unlikely event given our firm’s breadth, depth and average age).

Feel free to use this list with your current advisor or any prospective advisor you might interview: 1. Are you a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®)?

• If they try to bluff by saying “I have a team of CFP®’s who support me”, with very limited exception - take a pass.

The person looking you in the eyes and advising you needs to be certified as a financial planner, otherwise all of the experience that they boast may simply be years of selling product.

2. Do you receive a W2 from a parent company, and if so, is that company a bank or insurance company?

• W h i l e t h e r e i s nothing wrong with this in and of itself, you should know if your Advisor works for you or for someone else.

A W2 is a clear indication of employment and thus a likely predictor that they are incentivized to sell whatever product their employer profits from.

3. How do you manage portfolios, and is there a CFA on your team?

• A CFA is a Chartered Financial Analyst. This is also a 3 year program and is the standard designation serious portfolio managers o b t a i n b e f o re m a n a g i n g private money. Again, if they say their “back office” has CFAs on the team, don’t fall for it. A few CFAs supporting several thousand financial advisors who in turn are supporting thousands of clients is of little use to you and your hard-earned savings. For the fees you are paying, getting a local CFA and CFP to manage your wealth and plan your financial future is not too much to ask for and it’s what you deserve.

4. How many clients/ households do you serve?

• While there is no hard and fast rule here, this will give you a sense of how much time the Advisor can really spend on your situation and providing you custom advice.

5. What does your client service model look like, both initially and on an ongoing basis?

• Any firm that claims to offer wealth management services better have a process for both initially understanding and analyzing your current situation, as well as a process for reviewing and monitoring this work on an annual basis. Financial Planning and Investment Management are fluid and ever-changing and your plan needs to remain current at all times.

6. What is your client retention rate?

• If this number is too low, that should give you some indication that the firm overpromises and under delivers.

7. Who is your custodian?

• A custodian is where the investments you own actually reside. The correct answer here should be an independent custodian like Charles Schwab, TD

Liberty ships used to carry troops and cargo during the war. They launched a ship every seven days. As it was a defense job, he was exempt from military service. He quit his job and joined the army in 1944 where he trained at Fort Knox, Kentucky, with the Third Armor Division.

When returning from leave in December of that year, he came back to an empty barracks—his unit had been emergency transferred to Europe to join the Battle o f t h e B u l g e. J u l y 1 9 4 5 while loading his ship to sail for the Pacific Theater, he watched a light cruiser depart from San Francisco Bay. It turned out to be the USS Indianapolis which, unbeknownst to anyone at the time, was carrying the final components to the atom bomb to be delivered to the Island of Tinian. Four days after completing this mission, the Indianapolis was sunk by a Japanese submarine. Only 317 of the 1200 sailors on board survived.

As Bill’s unit was reaching the staging point for the final push into Japan, he learned that a bomb had been

dropped and the war would end. They were diverted to the Philippines where he spent the remainder of his service, returning to the States in 1946.

Bill joined the c o n s t r u c t i o n c o m p a ny — Chicago Bridge & Iron as a welder. He worked jobs up and down the West Coast, always moving his family with him (son, Glenn, born in 1944 and daughter, Janice, born in 1948). The family moved to Japan in 1955 and to Venezuela in 1957—he was now construction foreman building large, liquid storage tanks. They were transferred to Chicago and then New York, where he began as foreign construction manager responsible for all overseas projects, including nuclear c o n t a i n m e n t s t r u c t u re s, penstocks, storage tanks, amd ocean drilling platforms, to name a few.

In 1970, while on a job site in Okinawa, he mentioned to the base commander that his son Glenn was serving as Executive Officer in a small base in central Viet Nam and he would like to get up there to see him.

A week later through trial and error (and a bribe of a box of golf balls), he was picked up by his son at the Qui Nhon Airport, given an M-16, helmet and flak jacket. They hurried back to the base, where he spent a sleepless night listening to the occasional small arms fire and parachute flares that illuminated the night’s sky.

PLEDGE from page 8

3 . Ta g t h e Tow n o f Danville on Instagram using #pledgedanville for a chance to receive Danville branded swag or a gift card to a local business.

4. Invite friends and family to join this wonderful business support campaign and ‘Take the Pledge’ also.

While doing their shopping and dining, the community is also invited to explore the Tree Trail, beginning December 1, 2020. Local storefronts will have beautifully decorated trees throughout Danville.

By strolling to find all the trees, residents can visit the

page 9

Ameritrade, Raymond James, etc. The answer should not be “we self-custody” which is what Bernie Madoff did and is somehow still allowed today.

Your monthly statements should come directly from your custodian, not from your Advisor’s office.

F i n d i n g a n Ad v i s o r you can trust is hard. Make sure you find one that has experience and expertise that are available to you, not in the back office somewhere. Find one that has an independent custodian, and find one that charges transparent fees for their advice. Get a good understanding of how they manage client money and compare what they say they will do with what they are actually doing. This is the advice I would give my own wife or kids should they need help, and I am confident this advice will serve your needs as well.

Whether you are already retired or 10 years away, the team at Summit Wealth & Retirement is here to help you with investment management, retirement planning, and financial & tax planning. Our team includes four CFPs, a CFA and an MBA and we are conveniently located in Danville. Call us to make a complimentary appointment at 925-927-1900 or visit our website at www. summitwealthandretirement. com.

He returned home the next day with life-long memories, he said. Bill retired from Chicago Bridge & Iron in 1981 and has spent his Golden Years traveling the world with his wife and friends. Bill and Doris have 3 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren— most of whom live in the San Ramon Valley.

stores, take the pledge and stay rooted in this amazing community.

Af t e r c o m p l e t i n g t h e trail, residents can share a photo of their favorite tree on social media, tag @ l i v e l o c a l l y d a n v i l l e, @ townofdanvilleca and @ danvilleparksca on Instagram and use #DanvilleTreeTrail.

For more information a b o u t t h e I P l e d g e To Support Local campaign or the Tree Trail, visit www. danville.ca.gov/livelocally.

Fo r q u e s t i o n s , c o n t a c t Economic Development Program Coordinator, Lianna Adauto, at (925) 314-3309 or ladauto@danville.ca.gov.

page 10

THE VALLEY SENTINEL

AUTO

2021 Lexus Lc 500 Convertible

By David and Judy Colman

Every once in a great while a car comes along that is so far ahead of the competition that it sets new standards for travel. The recently introduced convertible version of the Lexus RC 500 is just such a vehicle. Stunning to behold, extravagantly powerful to drive, and more comfortable than your favorite armchair, this stiletto of a Lexus will make you, and everyone you know, think that a probe from outer space has landed in your garage.

Driving a different car every week attracts a fair amount of attention not only from curious neighbors, but casual encounters with other motorists as well. In the three decades I have been testing new cars, I have rarely experienced the unadulterated admiration this Lexus aroused.

After one lunch stop, a father and son enthusiastically questioned me about the merits of the LC 500. Later that same day, I was parked outside our local supermarket when a gentleman in a 2004 Lexus SC 430 (convertible hardtop coupe) circled the LC 500, then stopped to chat, driver's door to door, copstyle. The discussion lasted a

full 20 minutes as we matched stories about open top Lexus motoring and what these similar cars cost, then and now. 16 years ago, he bought his top of the line SC 430 for $49,900. The latest Lexus drop top will run you double that, with a base price of $101,000.

Our test Lexus upped the ante with 21 inch Forged Alloy Wheels ($2,650), HeadUp Display ($900), Limited Slip Differential ($460), and Touring Package ($5,290), for an as delivered price of $111,325. At that number, my SC 430 Lexus cohort s h o o k h i s h e a d , s ay i n g , "Can't afford it. I'm retired now." But for those of you who can afford a car in this price league, the chopped top convertible version of the LC 500 coupe should be high on your list of automotive nirvana. Let's start the accolades with appearance.

This car has no bad angles.

After circling it innumerable times for photo sessions in bright sunlight and dim sunset, I have to admit I have never shot a more photogenic piece of equipment. The s i d e e l eva t i o n , t h e re a r sculpting and even the

March 2009 December 2020

usually obnoxious spindle front grill all coalesce to make the LC 500 unforgettably beautiful - top down, and more surprisingly, top up.

The top lift mechanism is a wonder to behold in operation. You can erect or fold the unit while underway (up to 31mph), so you can amaze bystanders with the syncopated complexity of the mechanism. When the top is up, the side profile of the streamlined cloth roof is so low that this Lexus mimics the flat roofline of a 1955 Porsche Speedster.

The mechanism to activate the top is deftly located in a small compartment on the center console which also houses the switch to raise all 4 windows simultaneously.

However, there is a practical downside to the flat roof architecture: the rectangular glass rear window pane is only a little larger than the mail deposit slot in your local post office.

With its 471hp 5 liter V8 mill burbling under that long hood, the LC 500 is one of the quickest cars in a straight line you can buy today, good for a 0-60mph sprint in less than 5 seconds.

Thanks to the inclusion of a drive mode selector, you can

play that motor's aural tune two ways. In Eco or Normal Mode, the DOHC, 32 valve powerplant emits a hint of snarl when you punch the accelerator, but the audio level is distinctly muted compared to the raucous symphony that blooms in Sport and especially in Sport+ Mode.

With the top down in Sport+, and the 10-speed automatic shift lever locked in Manual Mode, the 4,500lb. Lexus heavy cruiser is fully girded for back road battle. You can hear the engine gulp air through all 16 intake valves and expel the spent gasses through the echo chamber baffles of the dual exhausts a s yo u b a n g h o m e e a c h successive upshift. When the road contour calls for downshifting, the Sport Direct Shift automatic explodes in a Formula 1 cacophony of noise as it rev-matches each down change.

All the while, the superbly calibrated fully independent suspension devours pavement like an underfed wolf. Lexus has fitted the LC 500 with double jointed MacPherson strut front suspension with two lower arms. The rear architecture consists of multilinks plus a stabilizer bar.

Anchoring all these bits to

valleysentinel.com the pavement are a set of forged 21 inch alloys with a fleur-de-lis spoke pattern.

These rims are fitted with enormously sticky (TW 300) Michelin Pilot Super Sport run flat radials (245/40RF21 Front; 275/35RF21 Rear) that defy lateral g-forces ferociously.

To put it another way, this massive convertible will eat up back roads with the top contenders BMW, Porsche and Mercedes can offer.

If you can afford the entry ticket, the new convertible version of the LC 500 not only looks better than the coupe from which it was derived, but also exposes you to the elements in ways the closed version never could.

2 0 21 L E X U S L C 5 0 0 CONVERIBLE ENGINE: 5.0 liter V8, aluminum block and cylinder heads, DOHC, 32 valves, Dual VVT-i HORSEPOWER: 471hp TORQUE: 398lb.-ft.

FUEL CONSUMPTION: 15MPG City/25MPG Highway PRICE AS TESTED: $111,325 HYPES: Ethereal Styling, Phenomenal Go GRIPES: Mail Slot Rear Backlight STAR RATING: 10 Stars out of 10

Message To The Community From Town Manager Joe Calabrigo To o u r D a n v i l l e Community, As you are no doubt aware, the State of California is facing rising numbers o f C OV I D - 1 9 c a s e s a n d hospitalizations, prompting the Governor to return much of the state to the more restrictive purple tier.

H e a l t h o f f i c i a l s h ave been taken aback by the suddenness of this surge.

Danville is seeing this increase as well. To date, t h e re h ave b e e n a t o t a l of 458 confirmed cases in Danville, but the number of new cases has risen steeply over the course of the past we e k . W i t h t h e h o l i d ay season arriving at the same time as this latest surge, I wanted to reach out and call upon our community to once again work together to flatten the curve.

B y n ow, m a ny o f u s are understandably feeling tired and numb from COVID fatigue. We hold out

optimism that we may see the arrival of an effective vaccine within the next few months.

But until then, we need to continue to work together as a community to do what we can to safeguard one another.

That means following health order restrictions by social distancing, wearing face coverings, washing your hands and avoiding large gatherings.

With the holiday season here, the desire to be with friends and family is a natural impulse. Contact tracing in our county is showing that family gatherings are among the most common ways of contracting and spreading the virus. In addition to following all safety protocols, county health officials are urging all residents to u n d e rg o “ t e s t i n g b e f o re turkey” if they are planning s m a l l f a m i l y g a t h e r i n g s.

For more information on how and where to obtain testing go to https://www.

coronavirus.cchealth.org/ get-tested.

We cannot encourage yo u s t ro n g l y e n o u g h t o please abide by these health order restrictions and take all necessary precautions for safety.

As much as the health of the community is at risk, we also recognize that the health order restrictions pose a significant danger to Danville’s economic vitality. The success of our businesses is vital to the health of our community, and our businesses are struggling under these conditions. As community residents it is up to us to do all we can to help provide them the support they need to stay afloat until this pandemic passes.

How can you help?

Do your holiday shopping locally. For local retailers with an online presence you can do so remotely. Patronize area restaurants, either by eating outside, doing takeout

or using curbside pickup.

Gift certificates and gift cards from local businesses are another great gift giving idea for the holidays. Every dollar you spend locally goes to help business owners and their staff to keep working each day. Pledge to Shop Locally this holiday season and show the strength of the Danville community when it comes to surviving these challenging economic times.

The Town Council and Staff continue to do all we can to help maintain the economic health of our town, providing grants, allowing expanded outdoor dining, establishing curbside pick up areas and mask zones, but for these businesses to make it through it will require the community’s help as well.

Once again, the single best way you can help our economy in Danville is by doing everything you can to keep you and your loved ones safe and healthy. We

have seen throughout this pandemic that community health and economic health go hand-in-hand.

These are difficult times for everyone, regardless of your circumstance. We are fortunate to live, work and raise our families in such a wonderful place. It is up to us, working together, to keep Danville the safe and special place we know it to be.

Best wishes to you and your families for this upcoming holiday season.

Take care and stay safe Joe Calabrigo Town Manager

Do Your Part– Wear a Mask and Practice Social Distancing

valleysentinel.com

December 2020

THE VALLEY SENTINEL

page 11

Dumpster Diving: Exploring how Garbage Collection Works

By Candace Andersen. Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors

One essential component of any advanced society is efficient waste management. Procedures such as garbage collection, transport, disposal, composting, re-use, and recycling are pivotal in keeping our communities clean and the environment unharmed.

Without a proficient system in place, our streets would be filled with unsightly litter; the foul odor from their remnants would be everywhere.

For all residences and businesses in my district, except for San Ramon, it is the Central Contra Costa Solid Waste Authority (CCCSWA), doing business as RecycleSmart, that is tasked with delivering such programs. I’ve had the privilege of serving on this board since 2008, first as a Danville Council member and then as the County Supevisor.

The City of San Ramon has a separate contract with ACI of San Ramon. For questions regarding ACI of San Ramon’s services contact ACI of San Ramon at (925) 380-9480 or info@ AlamedaCountyIndustries. com. Additional information c a n b e f o u n d a t w w w. sanramonrecycles.com For questions regarding how ACI was selected and why garbage rates are increasing in 2020, please e-mail SRSolidWaste@ sanramon.ca.gov.

RecycleSmart is a local government joint powers authority whose member agencies include: The Towns of Danville and Moraga, and the Cities of Lafayette, Orinda, and Walnut Creek, and the surrounding unincorporated Central Contra Costa County.

RecycleSmart contracts with Republic Services for the collection, transfer and disposal of residential and commercial garbage, recycling and organics and Mt. Diablo Recycling for the processing of residential and commercial recyclable materials. These contracts were entered into following a rigorous Request for Proposals (RFP) process.

Residents expect their trash and recyclables to be disposed of in a practical and timely manner, but like with many other services they pay for, they also want to ensure the process is cost-effective. Rates are perhaps the biggest concern among residents when it comes to waste management. As a result of growing dissatisfaction over increasing rates, the Joint Powers Authority (JPA) was formed in 1966 to address this issue.

D a n v i l l e, L a f a y e t t e, Moraga, Orinda, Walnut Creek, and Contra Costa County comprise the JPA, and it is the RecycleSmart Board of Directors that ultimately determines what rates will be.

(A third party is contracted to study costs and expenses in an extensive yearly analysis.)

The Board is made up of two representatives from each of the six Member Agencies and typically meets once a month at Walnut Creek City Hall, or currently due to the pandemic, via Zoom. The

meetings are open to the public and meeting information can be found at www.RecycleSmart. org/BoardMeetings.

The most recent rates, which are calculated based on factors such as terrain, different fee structures, and different residential/commercial mixes, were decided last January.

Residential rates also i n c l u d e we e k l y l a n d f i l l collection, weekly recycling collection of mixed recyclables and plastic bags, and weekly organics collection.

Additionally, the CCCSWA Board of Directors has implemented a standard rate for all those who reside in the RecycleSmart service area, meaning there are not any lower rates offered for seniors or other groups.

It is mandatory to have garbage service for occupied properties. Residents are not allowed to use other service providers to haul garbage, recycling or organics, as such materials fall under Exclusive Franchise Agreements held

by Republic Services and Mt. Diablo Resource Recovery.

A significant part of the mission of RecycleSmart and our Board of Directors is to continue to find ways to divert garbage from landfills.

RecycleSmart also has many programs designed to make efficient recycling and waste disposal easier for those in our community. Whether it is batteries, electronics, household hazardous materials, light bulbs, medical sharps or controlled substances, certain items should be disposed of carefully and correctly. For information on how these items should be handled, visit recyclesmart.org.

Contra Costa County Health Services, in Collaboration with Cities Countywide, Launches Community Behavioral Health Crisis Response Initiative Working in partnership with cities across Contra Costa County, Contra Costa Health Services (CCHS) has launched a comprehensive review of existing behavioral health crisis response services to develop a vision for how to connect residents with the most appropriate resources where and when they are needed.

In close collaboration with city leaders through the Contra Costa Public Managers Association, community stakeholders, service providers and staff from across the county participated in a multiday workshop to identify current resources and next steps. Workshop participants

included those working in crisis response, communitybased organizations, schools, police and dispatch, as well as clinicians and persons and family members with lived experiences. The team spent the past two weeks observing, analyzing and interviewing subject matter experts and looking at data about the current state of crisis response in Contra Costa County to develop a vision for the future and identify areas for improvement.

The process prioritized these areas of focus for the next steps: • Identifying a single number to call for behavioral health crisis response

• Establishing a mobile crisis 24/7 response • Evaluating non-police mobile crisis team composition • Identifying alternate destinations for those experiencing a behavioral health crisis Using the Lean Process Improvement Model, the team will spend the next several months planning for rapid improvement workshops to test potential strategies based on the four areas of focus. Results of this process will be presented to the Contra Costa Mayors Conference in February 2021.

For more information on CCHS Community Crisis Response, visit cchealth.org/bhs/crisisresponse.

school districts, and custodial and food services staff, including on-site training. They also provide free recycling and organics containers, free signs and stickers, lesson plans, school assemblies and field trips and other resources.

RecycleSmart also has the Residential Food Scraps Program, where they take your scraps and yard trimmings in the same green can. RecycleSmart also offers several free collection programs, in addition to your weekly pick up, which includes bi-annual Reuse and Cleanup Days, landfill/bulky item on-call cleanup once per year, and recyclables/green waste on-call cleanups four times per year.

There is also RecycleWhere. RecycleWhere is a collaboration amongst local governmental agencies, including Contra Costa County, which strives to reduce waste by providing information about reuse, recycling, and proper disposal options for residents and businesses without regard t o t ra d i t i o n a l m u n i c i p a l b o u n d a r i e s . Fo r m o r e information, visit www. recyclewhere.org/about.

For service issues or more information on RecycleSmart, contact (925) 906-1801, visit www.RecycleSmart.org, or email them at authority@ recyclesmart.org. For questions about your recycling, organics and landfill services, and billing questions, contact Republic Services at (925) 685-4711.

For all residential or commercial questions related to billing, Landfill, Recycling and Organics services, call Republic Services at (925) 685-4711.

If you have experienced lapses in scheduled garbage pick-ups or other issues related to garbage collection or recycling, feel free to contact my office as well at SupervisorAndersen@ bos.cccounty.us or call my office at (925) 957-8860.

Re cyc l e S m a r t ’s Fo o d Wa s t e R e d u c t i o n a n d Recovery program targets food waste. It is estimated that over 30% of the material going to local landfills is o rg a n i c m a t e r i a l , w h i c h includes food. With so many food-insecure individuals in our County, it is important to reduce food waste as much as possible.

Simple practices ranging from planning meals and shopping locally, composting food scraps and food soiled paper in green organic carts or setting up a compost bin or worm bin to reuse food scraps at home can reduce waste.

For those homeowners with fruit trees that produce more than your household c a n c o n s u m e, y o u m a y register with urban Farmers at recyclesmart.org. Volunteers will help glean your fruit trees to feed people. For those interested in donating, a few great organizations are White Pony Express and Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano Counties.

In the workplace, RecycleSmart is partnering with food recovery services throughout the Bay Area to help grocery stores, hotels, restaurants and other food generating businesses donate extra food to those in need.

Certain businesses may even be eligible for tax benefits through participation.

For more information, the County Health Services Department has developed information and tools for businesses for Donating Food Safely in Contra Costa County.

Additionally, everything that can be recycled and composted at home can be recycled and composted at school. RecycleSmart can help increase recycling and composting at any and all schools.

RecycleSmart provides free technical assistance to public and private schools,

Vintage Jewelry Wedding Jewelry &

Unique Gifts

Free shipping on all orders of $30 or more

www.etsy.com/shop/vintagejewelryetal

page 12

THE VALLEY SENTINEL December 2020 valleysentinel.com

YOGURT CAN MAKE

A MESS OF

RECYCLING, TOO. >

WIPE OR LIGHTLY RINSE YOUR CONTAINERS AND PLASTICS, AND PREVENT CONTAMINATED RECYCLING. Empty. Clean. Dry. When you follow those three words you’re helping to keep our recycling valuable.

Bottles, cans and plastics that are dirty with leftover food or liquids can contaminate valuable recycling.

Do your part. Keep it clean and recycle smart!

recyclesmart.org