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THE
SENTINEL
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always for the community
August 2011
VOL 16, NO 8
Big changes ahead for MVHS grad
Conoco -Philips
San Pablo Bay
Rodeo
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Crockett
80
Port Costa
Carquinez Strait
680
Montalvin Manor
This has been a summer to remember f o r 2 011 M o n t e Vista High School MVHS) graduate, Lauren Lindberg. She found her calling in film making, and she became one of the five finalists in Seventeen Magazine’s “Pretty Amazing Girl” contest. As a finalist Lauren won a five-day trip to New York with See FILMMAKER page 6
West Co. Landfill
North Richmond
Chevron
§ ¨ ¦ 580
Mt View
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HERCULES PINOLE El Sobrante
Tara Hills
SAN PABLO
RICHMOND
§ ¨ ¦ EL 80
East Richmond Heights
CERRITO
Alhambra Valley
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San Pablo Reservoir
Briones Reliez Valley
Tesoro
Pacheco
Bay Point
CONCORD
LAFAYETTE
WALNUT CREEK
Acalanes Ridge
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Saranap Castle Hill
ORINDA
§ ¨ ¦ 680
San Leandro Reservoir
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Population 203,437 218,917 203,711 219,216 203,744
OAKLEY
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CLAYTON
Knightsen
BRENTWOOD
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Discovery Bay
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Mt Diablo
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Alamo Diablo
Byron
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DANVILLE
Clifton Court Forebay
Byron Airport
Los Vaqueros Reservoir
Blackhawk Camino Tassajara
Proposal 17D - Population Count
District 1 2 3 4 5
Franks Tract
Bethel Island
North Shell Gate Ridge
2
Canyon
r
þ } ANTIOCH
San Miguel
MORAGA
1
4
e Riv
in qu
Big Break
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Keller Canyon Landfill
Weapons Station
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a Jo
San
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Former Concord Naval
242
PLEASANT HILL
PITTSBURG
Contra Costa Centre
Kensington
Current Supervisorial Boundaries
þ } 160
Clyde
Buchanan Airport
Briones Reservoir
San Francisco Bay
ram
Military Ocean Terminal Complex
Vine Hill
MARTINEZ
Rollingwood
c Sa
Honker Bay
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§ ¨ ¦ Shell
Bayview
By Dana Guzzetti
ECRWSS
Amended: Reliez Valley to District V, Morgan Territory to District III, small adjustments to er boundary in Pinole, Walnut Creek eand Antioch. Riv nto
Suisun Bay
Found: path to passion
PRESORTED STANDARD US POSTAGE PAID DANVILLE, CA PERMIT NO. 70
SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS
Map of Contra Costa County Supervisorial Districts approved by Board ofDRAFT Supervisors on District July- Proposal 26, 2011 - 2011 Supervisorial 17D Amended Contra Costa County
SPOTLIGHT
SAN Variance RAMON (6,368) Norris 9,112 Canyon 680 (6,094) 2010 Population 9,411 Total: 1,049,025 (6,061) Equal Distribution: 209,805
§ ¨ ¦
Proposal 17D - Population Distribution Variance Variance High: 4.49% Low: -3.04% Spread: 7.53%
3.00% 1.50% 0.00% -1.50% -3.00%
I
4.34% -3.04%
District 1
4.49% -2.90%
District 2
District 3
-2.89%
District 4
District 5
The Contra Costa County Boardbyofthe Supervisors approved Map Proposal 17 D seen above, on a 3-2 vote as the proposed new 7.53% Prepared Department of Conservation and Development - GIS Group supervisorial district boundaries. On Tuesday, August 9th, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. the Board of supervisors will conduct a public hearing to consider adoption of an ordinance establishing the approved map as the new supervisorial district boundaries. Supervisor Gayle Uilkema represents District 2 which on the proposed map runs from the border of Orinda to the north, through San Ramon to the south. For more information visit http://ca-contracostacounty.civicplus.com. Map Created for July 26th, 2011 Board of Supervisors Public Hearing Contra Costa County Department of Conservation & Development 651 Pine Street, 4th Floor - N. Wing, Martinez, CA 94553-0095 37:59:48.455N 122:06:35.384W
What is it about Burning Man? By Denise Rousset
Postmaster: Dated Material
valleysentinel.com
Since its beginning in 1986 as a little gathering of 20 people burning an 8-foot statue of a man on Baker Beach in San Francisco, the Burning Man festival has evolved into a huge yearly celebration and temporary community in the Black Rock Desert in Nevada. Black Rock City becomes manifest once a year in late August for a week of performance art and participation by its more than 51,500 inhabitants (in 2010). It is described as a “Petri dish for experiments in the possibilities of large scale human collaboration” dedicated to radical self-expression. This year, for the first time, tickets have sold out,
and none will be available at the gate. Founder and Executive Director Larry Harvey, in San Francisco since the late 1970’s and involved in San Francisco’s underground art scene at the time, has overseen all of the explosive growth of the event since the beginning. By 1990 the statue was 40 feet tall with 800 participants at Baker Beach, but the actual burn had to be moved to the Black Rock Desert. Ninety people came out for the burn on Labor Day Weekend. Attendance jumped each year, reaching 25,400 by 2000 and reached over 49,000 by 2008. Last year the more than
Miles
0
3
700 registered theme camps were centers of the basic experience of the festival. Harley K. DuBois, Burning Man’s Director of Community Services and Playa Safety Council says that the camps must always welcome anybody and everybody. “Theme camps are the interactive core of Burning Man,” she said. According to the their website, Burning Man is about people coming together in an extreme environment and having a participatory creative experience. It is fully dependent on volunteerism and is only possible because of the Black Rock City citizens who give their time and creativity for the benefit of the whole.
6
9
See BURNING MAN page 7
Special Section inside... Sentinel Newspapers, Inc. 390 Diablo Road, Ste. 145 Danville, CA 94526 925-820-6047
Kids and Teens It’s back to school time!
• ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT • dining out • music • art • theater • fun events
page 2
valleysentinel.com
august 2011 N o w September 4 Outlandish: Contemporary Depictions of Nature T u e s S u n d a y : Noon – 5pm & 6-8pm with performances at the Lesher. Twenty-eight contemporary artists that explore themes of nature — from micro to the macro — ranging from a tiny speck of a garden to a global view of the world. Admission: $5. Bedford Gallery, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. Information: 943-7469.
August 5-7 The Sound of Music 8pm. When a postulant proves too high-spirited for the religious life, she is dispatched to serve as governess for the seven children of a widowed naval captain. Tickets: $27.50 $37.50. Bankhead Theater, 2400 First St., Livermore. Call for additional show times and information: 373-6800.
Artisan Bistro is sponsoring a fundraising dinner event for The Khaled Hosseini Foundation,
a 501(c) (3) nonprofit humanitarian organization providing humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan.
featuring
Khaled Hosseini, author of The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns Wednesday August 17, 2011 Chef John Marquez will present a 7-course dinner with wine pairings. Minimum tax deductible donation $250. Reservations are required. Artisan Bistro will donate 100% of the sales to the Foundation to provide food and shelter to those in need.
925-962-0882
ArtisanLafayette.com
1005 Brown Ave., Lafayette, CA 94549
Shop Local • Dine Local• Play Local
8th Annual
$25
August 6 Our Miss Gibbs – A Musical Comedy 8pm. All the elements of a romantic comedy romp filled with many of the best songs of the Edwardian age! $23. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. Information: 943-7469.
August 6, 9, 12, 14 The Most Happy Fella Aug. 6 & 12: 8pm. Aug. 9 & 14: 2pm. The story about a romance between an older man and younger woman is based on the play “They Knew What They Wanted.” Tickets: $ 4 9 - $ 10 0 . L e s h e r C e n t e r for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. Information: 943-7469. August 8 to September 4 The Fantasticks A 1960 musical tells an allegorical story, loosely based on the play “The Romancers” concerning two neighboring fathers who trick their children, Luisa and Matt, into falling in love by pretending to feud and erecting a wall between their houses. Tickets $20$22. Willows Theater, 1975 Diamond Blvd., Concord. Information, show times and tickets: 798-1300.
August 10 Keiko Matsui 7:30pm. Matsui’s music transcends boundary and her unique melting pot of musical influences have garnered her a devout international following. “Music has no borders and it creates a oneness among people,” confides the Japanese born pianist, composer and producer. Tickets: $12-$51. Bankhead Theater, 2400 First St., Livermore. Information: 373-6800. August 11 from 5:30pm to 8:30pm. Danville Thursday Night Street Festival The street festival will feature live bands, bistro dining, beer and wine gardens, street vendors and entertainment activities for children and adults. Enter to win $500 in gift cards from local Danville retailers and restaurants. Visit www.discoverdanvilleca. com. August 11-14 Seussical, Jr. Aug. 11,12 & 14: 7:15pm. Aug. 13 & 14: 2:15pm. All of your favorite Dr. Seuss characters come to life, including Horton the Elephant, The Cat in the Hat, Gertrude McFuzz, lazy Mayzie and a little boy with a big imagination–Jojo. “Oh, the Thinks You Can Think”
captures the show’s spirit of imagination, as the colorful characters transport us from the Jungle of Nool to the Circus McGurkus to the invisible world of the Whos. Tickets: $10.50. Lesher Center for the Arts: Knight Stage 3 Theatre, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. Information: 943-7469. August 12 Alamo Summer Concert Series 6 - 8 p m . B r i n g f a m i l y, friends, chairs, blankets, a picnic dinner and enjoy music in the park. July 15: Diablo Road (Country), July 29: Billy London and the Lucky Dice (Rockabilly), August 12: The Sun Kings (Beatles Tribute). Livorna Rd. at Miranda Ave., Alamo. Information: 3132272. August 12 Danville Moonlight Movies 6pm. Moonlight Movies offer family-friendly films in a picturesque outdoor setting under the stars. Don’t forget your lawn chairs, blankets and snacks to make it complete. Showtime approximately 8:15pm. July 15 - Free Willy & August 12 - Despicable Me. Crafts and activities beginning at 6:30pm. Free. Town Green, 400 Front St., Danville. August 18 Hot Summer Nights Car Shows 4-9pm. Enjoy vintage c a rs a n d e n t e r t a i n m e n t . H e l d o n H a r t z Av e. i n d ow n t ow n D a n v i l l e.
Danville area artist to debut works in Pleasanton by Staff Writer
Thursday, August 25 6:00pm - 9:00pm
ARTISTS • WINE TA T STING COMMEMORAT A IVE WINE GLASS AT LIVE MUSIC • TROLLEY RIDES
DOWNTOWN DANVILLE Danville LIVERY R RY & The R ROSE OSE GAR GARD DEN SHOPS TROLLEY RIDES BETWEEN ALL LOCATIONS A ATIONS
Purchase tickets online at www.discoverdanvilleca.com For more information, visit
www.discoverdanvilleca.com
Studio Seven Arts in Pleasanton announced that the gallery will feature an August exhibition, featuring globally recognized abstract artist James Leonard from Alamo. The James Leonard abstract art exhibition, occurring throughout August, features a wealth of his paintings that inspire emotion and awe. Leonard’s use of color palettes are vibrant, with a subtlety of composition and textural complexity. There’s movement and grace to the work, an inherent mastery of the form, and undeniable power. Artist’s statement:"My paintings are the attempt to integrate my profound respect for individuality with the process of making art. I work within an introspective, intuitive fashion and strive to bring a personal sensibility to the work."“Leonard’s work is
flowing and bold, providing a mixture of colors with lines that are highly refined and yet very natural. The result is true beauty,” said Dirk Christensen, owner of Studio Seven Arts.
The James Leonard exhibition runs from August 3 – 31 at Studio Seven Arts, 400 Main Street, in Pleasanton. For more information call 8464322.
“First Light” painting by James Leonard
valleysentinel.com
august 2011
The Valley SenTinel
• ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT •
I n f o r m a t i o n : w w w. danvillehotsummernights carshow.com. August 19 Alamo Movies Under the Stars 8pm. Bring family, friends, chairs, blankets, snacks, flashlights and enjoy a movie in the park. July 22: Iron Man
2 (rated PG-13). August 19: The Social Network (Rated PG13). Alamo Elementary School Sports Field, 100 Wilson Rd., Alamo. Information: 313-2272. August 19, 20, 26-28, Sept., 2, 3, 8-11 The Dixie Swim Club The story of five southern women whose friendship began
when they were all in college and on the swim team. They spend a weekend together each year in August to recharge their friendship, to laugh and meddle in each other’s lives. Tickets: $22. Lesher Center for the Arts: Knight Stage 3 Theatre, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. Information and show times: 943-7469.
Heartland Danville Antiques & Art Faire Jewel and a few other veteran celebrates the past a n t i q u e s m e rc h a n t s. A n by Staff Writer
Mark your calendars for September 5th for the fifth Annual Antiques and Art Faire. Meander along Railroad Ave in historic downtown Danville, from in front of the Museum of the San Ramon Valley and Cottage Jewel on Prospect to parking lots in front of Handworks and Pascal on Railroad Ave. Visit the many vendor booths featuring antique & vintage silver, handmade copper kitchenware, period furniture, rugs, handmade and vintage purses, original paintings, linens, lamps, Depression glass, seasonal Halloween & Christmas folk-
art, vintage-inspired alteredart, loose and assembled beads & buttons, ephemera, hand-painted modern and oldfashioned porcelains, Bakelite, garden accents, re-purposed wood/scrap art, felted hats, old iron and tools, bird houses, plus a full range of fine, costume and period jewelry in every price range. For your enjoyment, live music entertainment will be provided by a French organ grinder/singer and the Stony Ridge Bluegrass Band. Enjoy Danville’s local version of the Antiques Road Show with stories from Anita Venezia of Danville, Joseph Silva of Lafayette, Marcia Harmon of Danville’s Cottage
antiques appraisal clinic will take place from 10am. -2pm inside the San Ramon Valley Museum. There is $10 per item donation for an informal verbal estimation of value and identification. Be sure to pick up your strolling map from Maryann Cadorna at Sotheby’s People & Properties, and get your vendor shopping guide from Cottage Jewel. Before you go home, visit local Boy Scouts Troop 1630 and buy a refreshing shaved ice. There is plenty of free parking and no entrance fee. Don’t miss this fun-in-the -sun event on Labor Day. For more information contact Marcia at Cottage Jewel 837-2664.
purchase commemorative wine glasses at the event. Soft drinks, beer, and water will also be available. Dinner and raffle tickets may be purchased in advance – watch for our booth at the Danville Farmer’s Market or see any Alamo Rotarian. Please see the “Alamo Music Festival” tab on the website or email us at alamorotary@hotmail.com
Learn how to get the most from your Point-Focus-Shoot camera before you go!
Call for classes:
(925) 736-7459
blog: pointfocusshoot.wordpress.com
RairEnterprises–Photography
Antiques& Art Faire
Live Music Unique Boutiques Great Food
Monday, Sept. 5, 2011 9am-3pm
downtown Danville
along Railroad Ave. & Prospect Ave.
D
iscover the timeless treasures offered by 80 antiques merchants, vintage vendors and folk artists while you stroll thru historic Downtown Danville. Informal Antiques Appraisals at the Museum 10am-2pm for $10/item donation
For vendor booth information, call 925-837-2664
www.discoverdanvilleca.com
www.shopdanvillefirst.com
Over 25 years experience!
Quirkology of Quilts: Warmth to Whimsy
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The Alamo Music and Wine Festival is an annual community celebration benefiting, in part, our schools’ music programs while providing a variety of activities for the entire family. This 29th annual Rotary event will be held Saturday, September 10 from noon to 11:00pm at the Alamo Plaza in Alamo. Headlining this event again will be the fabulous “Cruise Tones,” who have been so well received over the last several years. This talented group will play a wide variety of songs from the late 50’s to the hits of today – perfect for dancing under the stars. Additionally, school music groups will perform starting in the afternoon. The day will be filled with many activities for the entire family. Food, games and local business booths will be set up throughout the festival area. Kids will enjoy the play zone. Our most popular feature for the youth – the Rock Climbing Wall – will again be there! This year, dinner tickets will be only $15 each. These tickets will be good for a dinner
from one of several excellent area restaurants: Forli’s, Faz, Maggie-Rays and Don Jose’s. The Alamo Rotary will also have a booth offering gourmet hot dogs, burgers, and chips at very affordable prices. In addition, the festival will feature wines from two outstanding California wineries: Cline Cellars and Jacuzzi Winery. Visitors may
Going on Vacation or a Cruise?
Heartland Danville
Sponsored by:
Alamo Rotary to Host 29th Annual Music and Wine Festival on September 10, 2011 by Staff Writer
August 20 & 21 H.M.S. Pinafore Aug. 20: 8pm. Aug. 21: 2pm. A hilarious topsy-turvy story of love across social classes and incompetence in high places. Gorgeous sets and costumes, live orchestra and the incredible voices of the Lamplighters! Tickets: $21.50$45.50. Bankhead Theater, 2400 First St., Livermore. Information: 373-6800
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Museum of San Ramon Oldthe & New Reasons to Valley shop, dine & Ave., play inDanville Danville 205 Railroad August 25th thru September 25th
Open Tues-Fri 1-4pm, plus Saturdays featuring Quilt Demos 10-1pm
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Saturday the 10th–Book Signing with quilt artist/author Alethea Ballard
Call Chris Rousset
Saturday the 24th–Wearable Art with designer Margaret Linderman
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www.ShopDanvilleFirst.com
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page 4
The Valley Sentinel August 2011
valleysentinel.com
Advertorial
Pain, Pain Go Away… Healing your pain with Class IV Laser Therapy By Dr. Niele Maimone, DC
Since Align Healing Center opened its doors in 1999 we have been treating arthritis, bursitis, tendonitis, well let’s just say all of the “itis’s”. In other words PAIN; whether it’s back pain, neck pain, knee pain, shoulder pain or any other pain, we have been there to awaken the healing potential in the body and relieve the pain. That being said, I am always in search of miraculous new ways to relieve pain without drugs, without invasive procedures and without more pain. In 2004, Class III Laser therapy
was added to my practice and the results have been amazing! Then in October of 2009 I was enlightened to a new treatment modality that is revealing itself to be truly miraculous- Class IV Laser Therapy. I am so passionate and excited about how Laser therapy is helping people heal and reclaim their life that I feel every person,whether in pain or not, should know about it! I am here to tell you that you no longer need to “live with pain” from an injury or surgery no matter how long you may have had it. Pain ruins your quality of life. It can go on for months—even years, while you try to ignore
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it, take pain medications and try treatments that don’t work. In the mean time, you’re losing sleep and missing out on your favorite activities. There is no longer a reason to settle for a life of pain. But in order to get rid of the pain, you need to resolve the injury itself. I am often asked, “Why doesn’t my pain resolve on its own?” My answer is, “Often our cells don’t have enough energy to complete the healing process and they get stuck in an inflammatory cycle creating more pain”. Class IV Laser therapy gets to the root of the injury and treats it at the cellular level, providing energy to the cells so they can heal. We all know medications only mask the pain and inflammation and are not a long term solution so, now we have deep tissue Laser therapy as a treatment that stimulates the healing process, relieves inflammation and helps the body resolve the injury. Laser treatments at Align Healing Center are done with the K-laser 1200 Class
Advertorial
Myths and Misperceptions About Cancer and Cancer Care Part 1 By Dr. K. Kenneth Chao
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IV Laser. This laser does not cut or burn, but is gently absorbed by the tissue. During each painless treatment laser energy increases circulation, drawing water, oxygen and nutrients to the damaged area. This creates an optimal healing environment that reduces inflammation, swelling, muscle spasms, stiffness and pain. As the injured area returns to normal, function is restored and pain is relieved. We a re h av i n g g re a t success treating neck and shoulder injuries, sciatica, arthritis, tendonitis, carpal tunnel, migraines, plantar fasciitis, post surgical pain, sports injuries and more; even if it’s long-term residual pain. I have seen patients with 10 years of post surgical pain get their life back in a short period of time. Even arthritis and degenerative disc disease sufferers can see long term benefits from this treatment without any of the negative side effects experienced with the long term use of medications.
What our patients are experiencing with Laser Pain Relief: “After going from a very active lifestyle to being basically bedridden due to degenerative disease, I had almost given up hope. To my amazement, after three laser sessions, I could walk and move without pain. After three more, I began light exercise, and now I can do all the things I enjoyed before laser. Dr. Niele literally gave me my life back!”–Shalisa P., Danville “After I began my laser treatment I felt as if my body came alive! Sitting at a desk eight+ hours a day for years had my body feeling stiff and my shoulder was numb and painful. I had trouble holding a pen to write without pain and weakness. Since I have received laser therapy and chiropractic, I no longer have pain, weakness or numbness! I have started golf lessons and am able to exercise again!” –Francine A., San Leandro Dr. Niele Maimone, DC of Align Healing Center in Danville, CA has been active in natural health & wellness for 11 years. For more information or to set up a consult call 925-362-8283 or visit www. alignhealingcenter.com.
Receiving the news that you or a loved one is diagnosed with cancer may be one of the most stressful events in one’s life. In my experience, a misunderstanding of cancer care can exacerbate much of this angst. In this article I would like to address a few of these misperceptions and help to clarify them. “If I am diagnosed with cancer, I will have to receive chemotherapy.” Chemotherapy is the other “C” word that creates anxiety for many cancer patients. With few exceptions, chemotherapy is used if your cancer has spread throughout your body (metastasized) or if you have a high risk for spread. However, having a diagnosis of cancer does not imply you will have to have chemotherapy. In fact, with proper screening, such as colonoscopy for colorectal cancer, mammography for breast cancer, and PSA /
regular checkup for prostate cancer, these malignancies are generally caught at a very early stage. When cancer is caught early, local treatment without chemotherapy is generally all one may need. Your surgeon, radiation oncologist and medical oncologist will guide you in deciding what the best course of action for you. “If I receive chemotherapy, I will lose my hair.” Not necessarily. Certainly, s o m e c h e m o t h e ra p e u t i c agents used to treat breast, lymphoma and leukemnia have not significantly changed and may cause hair loss, but there has been an amazing evolution with newer, targeted systemic agents. These “smart” drugs cause fewer side effects, including less risk for hair loss, as well as less nausea, diarrhea, etc. “If I receive radiotherapy, I will lose my hair.” In part, yes, but you may lose your hair only in the area that radiation passes through. The radiation beams, or photons, travel in a very
precise and targeted manner. It does not spread or bounce around. If radiation is directed to your chest, you will not lose the hair on your head, or anywhere else on your body that the radiation beams are not directed to. “If I receive radiotherapy, I will be radioactive.” This is one I hear a lot, and with the exception of specialized prostate treatment called brachytherapy with permanent seed implantation, you are never radioactive. Teletherapy, which is the most common form of radiotherapy, directs an energy wave called a photon, towards the intended target in your body. These photons transfer energy to molecules in your body, most frequently water, that leads to damaging effects on cancer. While the cancer killing effects stay, there is no residual radioactivity. Dr. K. Kenneth Chao is a board certified radiation oncologist with Epic Care, a group of experts in the diagnosis and comprehensive treatment of cancer and blood disorders. www.epic-care.com.
valleysentinel.com August 2011
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News Bits
New park opens in San Ramon The City of San Ramon will celebrate the opening of it’s 54th park on Tuesday, August 2. The Bark and Ride Park is located at the corner of Bollinger Canyon Rd. and Stoneleaf Rd. in the Gale Ranch housing development. This 6.2-acre park features approximately 50 parking spaces for commuters and public transportation users. The park also has easy pedestrian and bicycle access, bicycle storage lockers, two dog park areas for small and large dogs with both people and canine drinking fountains, picnic tables, benches and trees. SRVUSD Board decides to maintain class sizes Danville – The San Ramon Valley Unified School District Board of Education unanimously approved a recommendation to maintain existing class sizes in grades Kindergarten through 3rd grade at 26 students, while lowering class size in 9th grade English and Math classes from 28 to 26. “I am very pleased that we are able to avoid increasing class sizes for the coming year and that our board members agreed that this is the best decision for students and teachers,” said Superintendent Steven Enoch. The recommendation from the district was made based on better-than-projected state revenues, continuing enrollment growth and financial reserves. New rule - shots before school! 7th-12th grade students are now required to get a whooping cough shot before starting the 2011-12 school year. If you already have proof of your child’s t-dap adolescent immunization, please bring it to your school office before the end of the school year. This will help avoid a huge influx prior to the start of school in the fall. Local Safeway pharmacies are offering a 10 percent off grocery voucher to SRVUSD families when you take your child to the pharmacy for the immunization. Convenient walk-in service seven days a week. No appointment required. Many insurances accepted. Locations include: San Ramon: 2505 San Ramon Valley Blvd., 925-8319502
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News Bits
S a n R a m o n : 110 6 0 Bollinger Canyon Rd., 925359-2005 Danville: 3498 Camino Tassajara, 925-736-0346 Walnut Creek: 600 S. Broadway, 925-945-3440 In addition, Contra Contra Costa Public Health has ongoing vaccination clinics where vaccines are available for $10 for youth under 19 years of age or $30 per family - the fee will be waived if families cannot pay. Additional teen vaccine clinics are also being arranged through August. The closest county clinic is in Concord. Logistics are still being finalized, but information can be found at cchealth.org/topics/pertussis. Danville police enforcement August 15 After a public information and warning citation period, Danville police will enforce driving, cyclist and pedestrain laws more stringently beginning August 15. Contact Sgt. Brad Harms with any question about the new “Share our Streets” program. Danville, Alamo and San Ramon moved to County Supervisor’s District 2 After months of public debate, the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors vo t e d 3 - 2 t o a p p rove a countywide redistricting map that combines Alamo, Danville and San Ramon with Lafayette, Orinda, Moraga and Rossmoor, represented by Sup. Gayle Uilkima in District 2. The 2011 revised map also moves Sup. Mary Phiepho of Discovery Bay out of the San Ramon Valley to a revised East Contra Costa District 3, including most of Antioch, Brentwood, Byron, Knightsen and Oakley, plus Blackhawk and Tassajara Valley. Pete Stark’s 13th Congressional District is likely to gain part of San Ramon if the final map is approved. Reportedly San Ramon Mayor H. Abram Wilson is against San Ramon being divided from Danville and Alamo. Some environmentalists worry that could put the highly controversial development of the Tassajara Valley into less environmentally sensitive hands. Visit the official Contra Costa County website www. ccredistricting.org for details. Attention: San Ramon city council candidates The deadline for filing to
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News Bits
run for San Ramon city council is 5 pm., Aug. 12. Nomination packets are at San Ramon City Hall, 2222 Camino Ramon. San Ramon Public Service Center open house & tour As part of the “Thank You San Ramon” campaign, stop in from 4 to 5pm on Aug. 8 at the Service Center, 5000 Crow Canyon Road. Equipment for safe, attractive city maintenance of buildings, parks, landscaping, street lights, traffic signals, fountains, two aquatic centers and creeks will be there. Learn organic gardening Sustainable Danville Area is offering three Saturday morning gardening classes on growing vegetables, improving harvests and finding resources at the United Methodist Pre-school, 902 Danville Blvd., Alamo. Classes start July 23. Registration is limited to 25. Register online at www.sustainabledanville. com. Cost: $35. Young film makers – FYI The 17th Annual International Family Film Festival begins accepting s u b m i s s i o n s i n Au g u s t from youth ages 8-18 in the following film categories: drama/comedy, animation, educational, musical, public service announcement and 3-D. Best Screenplay is another category. Early bird (discounted) deadline for submissions for film, screen plays and more is Aug. 7. The March 21-25, 2012 event is at Raleigh Studios in Hollywood. For more information see www.iffilmfest.org. Planking to strengthen the core One trendy way to turn your inner core into a powerful support is to make your body into a rigid “plank” on the floor (on toes and elbows) or between two objects. Hold it for at least 20 seconds, and repeat until this isometric exercise becomes easy. Google “planking exercise” for more information, or ask your trainer. Open the refrigerator and check this app. A new application called “Epicurious” lets you enter the ingredients you find on hand in the cupboard and refrigerator. Then it gives you the recipes for possible dishes that can be made with what you have on-hand.
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The Valley Sentinel
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News Bits
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Air traffic affects airport weather The National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado reported that airplanes poking holes in clouds around airports could cause rain or snow. It is somewhat like cloud seeding, where silver iodide or other chemicals are dispersed into clouds to create something like nuclei, around which vapor particles condense. The Beijing Weather Modification Office used the same concept to drain clouds ahead of outdoor ceremonies. Scientists are trying to understand the impact, if any, on weather around airports.
Colonies on Mars? Scientists want to form a colony on Mars. Apparently there is moisture there, deep beneath surface. The plan is to create very serious pollution with fluorocarbons, creating mars global warming and causing the water to come to the surface, where it looks like it had been in the past. Then seed the planet to create vegetation, which would produce oxygen and cover the current rocks and dust with soil. Microbinisms, to help make a sort of compost need to be added and Chroococcidiopsis is said to be a likely candidate. Check out “Greening of the Red Planet,” by Henry Bortman for a scientific explanation.
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2011 Alamo Chamber of Commerce Membership Directory Calling all members and soon-to-be members! The 2011-12 Directory deadline is nearing! All information and camera ready art for display ads are due August 12th. The directory is a 52-page four-color Membership roster distributed to all homes and businesses in Alamo and will be ready in time for The Alamo Music Festival September 10th.
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The Valley SenTinel
august 2011
What is Sustainable Landscaping? By Jonathan Espalin
Plenty of gardeners and landscape designers, both amateurs and professionals, claim to be interested in sustainable landscaping. But what does it really mean for a garden to be sustainable? What gardening and landscape practices actually contribute to that goal, and which are just a green veneer? In this upcoming series of articles, we hope to sort out some of the confusion around these ideas, and offer suggestions about ideas and techniques that can contribute to making
your garden more ecologically sound. We hope that this can make your gardening process not only better for your health, and for the health of the world, but a lot more fun, interesting, and rewarding as well. Sustainable landscape gardening begins with ideas, with attitudes. It means thinking about your garden as a system, and being aware of how this system fits into the larger system of nature. Many standard gardening practices simply take from the world, without giving anything back. Every garden is an ecosystem,
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FILMMAKER from page 6
makeovers and photo shoots. Lauren said, “It was exciting.” She is still excited about the possibility of winning the first prize of $10,000 and appearing in the cover of “Seventeen,” but her real focus is on her film work and eminent Chapman University, Orange entrance Aug. 22. “I like to make films that have an inspiring message and are impactful,” Lindberg remarks. Lauren grew up watching life through the lens of a camera. “We bought a video camera when she was in third grade. By the age of nine she never went anywhere without it. She was taping pets, family, friends and anybody that she could see,” Lauren’s mother Jean Lundberg said. Volunteering was always a part of her life and Lauren found a way to blend her two interests by telling the teen stories she found in volunteer organizations and elsewhere. She took a MVHS video class. Then fate stepped in. When the class was cancelled, Lauren turned to the Bay Area Video Coalition’s Factory Youth Program in Oakland to continue her filmmaking studies. “During the school year, I went two days a week, and
valleysentinel.com future for our grandchildren? At the scale of the garden, it can also mean considering the future of the garden itself: designing, building, and planting for the long term. Some aspects of our gardens should provide instant gratification, but some should be considered a long-term investment. The sustainably designed garden should be a garden whose ecology grows richer every year, getting better over time, rather than declining. Third, sustainable landscaping means working in harmony with where you a re : h av i n g respect for the realities of the site, its history, and its future possibilities. Get to know yo u r n a t i ve climate, plants, soil, wildlife and the human history of
in the summer I go every day, all day, “ Lauren explains. “I learned a lot. I took BART and I learned time management. I met new and different people with different perspectives.” “It was only 30 minutes away. That makes me curious about what else may be out there,” Lauren says. Sparked by that curiosity, she began to look at the world with fresh eyes and share that vision in the form of what became award winning short, documentary-style videos. The content of her films range from “Independence in Sight,” the story of blind teens seeking to live independently, to “The Power of Youth,” which highlights the accomplishments of young volunteers. The Factory’s connection with the Halten Center for the Blind allowed Lauren to reveal an array of emotions in her film. She was awarded the Presidential Volunteer Service Award for helping others, according to the Bay Area Video Coalition Community blog. Lauren’s films have been screened at more than 15 film festivals including the San Francisco and Los Angeles Film Festivals, and she has received awards such as Best Documentary and Best Youth film.
your land. If your garden is in harmony with its place, it will be much easier and less expensive to maintain, much more rewarding, and much better for the world. Jonathan Espalin is a garden designer and horticulturist at Calvin Craig Landscaping.
Helpful Gardening Websites: www.ccmg.ucdavis.edu (Master Gardener advice) www.Bringingbackthenatives .org www.co.contra-costa.ca.us (Bay Friendly Gardening) www.GardenNatives.com www.creecyouth.org www.eastbaywilds.com www.thewatershednursery .com Those award winning films and her volunteer work led to her receipt of a Jefferson Award from CBS 5 TV. She was chosen for “admirable work in molding, training, and inspiring young people to perform at high levels in all aspects of life,” according to Kimery Nicholson, CBS 5 public relations spokesperson. Life has been a bit of a whirlwind for Lauren since her teen celebrity, and she has changed. “I am not the kind of person who likes a lot of attention, but other teens who see my films are contacting me,” Lauren said. “They like the message of hope. The films let me become a spokesperson for them and I like being able to do that.” Lauren’s parents are pleased that she has found a way to follow her passion. “It has been wonderful to watch,” Jean Lundberg remarked. “She already has a passion for something and can see what she can do with it.” Presently, Lauren is a member of the ReachOut Youth Council and said she is working on a film based on the subject of teen suicide. ReachOut is a non-profit focused on helping teens deal with personal issues such as anxiety, eating issues, drugs, alcohol, loss and grief, self harm and other teen difficulties.
valleysentinel.com August 2011
SonRise Equestrian Foundation holds two fundraising events via the upcoming events will By Staff Writer
Community support is requested for two upcoming fundraising events supporting SonRise Equestrian Foundation. For five years SonRise Equestrian has provided rehabilitation experiences for children who suffer from social, emotional and physical challenges. Research has proven the benefits of pairing special needs children with the love of animals. Children are paired BURNING MAN from page 6
“ Pe o p l e w h o c o m e to Burning Man have an almost infinite potential to lose themselves in the finest opportunity to let it all go, make new friends and discover new places hidden within themselves,” said Jake, a longtime attendee from Los Angeles. When asked what the allure of returning over and over again was, Jesse in Pleasant Hill said, “Aside from the gargantuan, breathtaking art installations, musicians and world class DJs, the lack of boundaries provokes a freedom from the norm. For that week, it’s the best city in the entire world. The interactions you have with people are on a special
with adult mentors and gentle therapy horses, and currently at no cost to the families. The children form strong bonds with the horses and gain selfconfidence and a sense of pride in caring for their horse. Coordination and focus also improve as the children learn horsemanship. Participants learn that they can overcome fears, build relationships and ultimately discover their unlimited potential. There are currently 34 children on the waiting list. Your support
provide the resources needed to keep this organization going strong! On July 23 from 6-9 pm., a “Women, Wine and Jewelry” fund raising shopping event will be held in an Alamo backyard to benefit this organization. Call Debbie Carmel at 890-7549 or email her at dmcarmel@yahoo.com for additional information. Cost to attend is only $10! W i t h 10 0 p e rc e n t o f its support coming from donors, SonRise relies on its
plane. The group bond that everybody shares is unique and can’t be experienced anyplace else. I could talk all day and never be able to describe the experience. It’s something that has to be had first hand.” “It’s the time of year that makes me feel like I can be exactly who I am, and natural about it. You can do anything you want without constraints,” said one of the Z sisters of Walnut Creek. “When you arrive at the gates, you see a sign that says ‘Welcome Home’, because you go there to return to yourself,” said the other. “The Black Rock Desert is a harsh and unforgiving environment and an incredibly beautiful backdrop for performance and interactive art.”
“To me, Burning Man is the ultimate escape to a stress free life and the best art and music experience,” said Chris also of Pleasant Hill. “I love that you can talk with people and discover a poet from Venice, a physicist from Boston, a doctor from Nebraska, or a filmmaker from Paris. People are of every age, shape and level of education or professional background. Entire families attend. It’s a real patchwork of people being people first, rather than their profession first.” After the festival, the entire physical city disappears and absolutely no visible trace can be found. All that’s left is the energy and very poignant experience that lives in hearts and minds until next year.
Burning Man photographer to speak at Walnut Creek Library By StaffWriter
On Tuesday, August 16 at 6:30 pm, photographer Barbara Traub, who has carved out a niche for herself shooting dramatic images of Burning Man, will show slides and discuss work from the newly released revised edition of her book “Desert to Dream: A
Dozen Years of Burning Man Photography" at the Walnut Creek Library. The free talk will take place on the second floor of the library in the Oak View Room. Copies of her book will be available for sale. Daughter of a photographer father, Traub launched her career in 1987 with a solo show
at the Hubble Space Telescope Science Institute and took first place in the Baltimore Sun Magazine annual photo contest. Her work has been included in exhibitions and publications worldwide. Traub attended her first Burning Man in 1994 after relocating to San Francisco. She was chief photographer for HardWired's 1997 book “Burning Man” and authored “Desert to Dream: A Decade of Burning Man Photography,” originally published in 2006. Time called the book's cover image “the iconic photo” of Burning Man. Her talk will include the event’s history and evolution, the involvement of other artists and various other burners associated with the project. She will also discuss the environment and desert conditions, and techniques that influenced her transition from film to digital photography.
The valley Sentinel upcoming annual Wine and Equine fundraiser event this fall to bring in the majority of funds needed to support a n d b u i l d t h e p ro g ra m . This year, the Fifth Annual Wine and Equine event is themed “An Evening at the Vineyard.” It will be a black tie optional, sit down dinner
page 7
and dance, complete with a live and silent auction on Friday, September 16 at Wente Vineyards, which is nestled in the rolling hills o f t h e L i ve r m o re Va l l ey wine country. To purchase tickets or make a donation, please visit the website at www. sonriseequestrianfoundation.org
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Kids and Teens It’s back to school time!
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The valley Sentinel
August 2011
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Learning to alter brainwave patterns helps “The fog and mental kids with ADD/HD confusion clear up,” Robertson By Staff Writer
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Parents with children who have difficulty in school often struggle to find a reason, and ultimately, a solution. Three to seven percent of the time this problem is a level of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or Attention Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/ HD). Symptoms of AD/HD include hyperactivity and impulsivity, and it often interferes with learning. According to educational psychologist Jack Davis, ADD or AD/HD is “really a difficulty in modulating attention. The environment has more of an impact. If they are doing something that is really exciting, it grips their attention, and they can’t override it.” This is similarly true when a child is bored and unable to focus on a task. Attention disorders can affect more than academic performance, however. Teen drivers who suffer from AD/ HD “have nearly four times as many automobile accidents, are more likely to cause bodily injury accidents, and have three times as many citations,” according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Younger children who are affected experience four to five times as many poisonings, burns, falls, and accidents. AD/HD may also cause family stress, relationship problems, i n j u r i e s, d e p re s s i o n a n d substance abuse. However, an accurate diagnosis can improve the whole family dynamic. “Parents know [the child] is not lazy or bad,” Davis said. “The child knows it, too.” After diagnosis, parents face yet another problem: how to treat it. Many families turn to medication, receiving prescriptions for stimulant drugs such as Ritalin or Adderall. The advantage of early diagnosis could be offset by the side effects of drug treatment. Sleep problems, weight loss, and changes in cardiac rhythm have been reported as drug treatment side effects. An alternative approach to treatment – without medication – called neurotherapy shows great promise. Neurotherapy works by training the patient to
alter his or her electrical brainwave patterns. Patients with attention deficit disorder, for example, may have the executive function of the brain dominated by slow wave activity – typical of someone s l e e p i n g o r j u s t wa k i n g up. Patients are trained to accelerate their brainwaves in order to learn what it feels like to be in a clear-minded state of learning. Some parents are trying this biofeedback technique at the Center for Advanced NeuroTherapy in Walnut Creek with director Carolyn Robertson. Inspired by the success neurotherapy had on her own son who was suffering from Asperger’s Syndrome, Robertson opened her clinic 14 years ago. She has a background in universitylevel teaching, holds a master’s degree in psychology, and originated the National Court Appointed Special Advocates Program. She further has a board certification from the Biofeedback Certification International Alliance (BCIA), formerly the Biofeedback Institute of America. This certification is a mark of distinction for providers of biofeedback and neurofeedback services, although this particular field is unregulated in California. “The certification is a guarantee that the person understands the brain, and understands the mental health aspects of it and understands therapy,” Robertson said. The Center for Advanced NeuroTherapy first maps the patient’s brainwave patterns and compares them to others of the same age to see how they differ from the norm. Then treatment begins. Treatment may take as few as 20 sessions (as is the case with mild ADD), or as many as 40 (if the patient suffers from other issues such as depression or anxiety). Robertson trains patients using auditory and visual cues, which include a “smart b ra i n ” v i d e o g a m e. T h e patient succeeds at the game when his or her brainwaves are performing at the desired level, therefore training to the brain to operate on this level in the future.
said. “It helps them smooth out anything that interferes with them reaching their best potential.” She also incorporates other non-drug therapies such as proper nutrition, aromatherapy, and heart rate variability training. Robertson and her staff are wholly devoted to treating the human being without the use of drugs, particularly children. Robertson is confident in neurotherapy’s ability to retrain the brain and drastically improve the quality of life for patients, largely due to her own son’s success with treatment. “It changed all our lives,” Robertson said. “It happened to be exactly what was needed at the time it was needed.” With this noninvasive technology also being used to treat head injury, Alzheimer’s, food and tobacco addiction, neurotherapy is rapidly being recognized as a healthy, successful alternative to drug treatment.
Fun Facts 76 million–The number of U.S. residents enrolled in schools -- from nursery schools to colleges. 56 million–The number of students projected to be enrolled in the nation's elementary and high schools (grades K-12) this fall. That number exceeds the total in 1969 (51.6 million) when the last of the "baby boom" children expanded school enrollments. 1.1 million–Number of students who are homeschooled, or 2 percent of all school-age students ages 5 to 17. 10 . 9 m i l l i o n – T h e number of school-age children (5 to 17) who speak a language other than English at home. 19.1 million–The projected number of students enrolled in the n a t i o n ’s c o l l e g e s a n d universities this fall. This is up from 12.4 million a quarter-century ago. Source: The US Census Bureau
Kids and Teens It’s back to school time!
valleysentinel.com
august 2011
The Valley SenTinel
page 9
Local high school students receive honors from National Merit Scholar program By Staff writer
The National Merit Scholarship Corporation honors students nationwide with a variety of scholarship awards and recognition. The San Ramon Valley Unified School District is proud to announce the names of students from the four comprehensive high schools and independent study program in our district who won the distinction of National Merit Semifinalist and those who achieved the highest designation (with a monetary scholarship) by being named National Merit Scholar. About 1.5 million juniors entered the competition when they took the Preliminary SAT/ National Merit Scholarship Q u a l i f y i n g Te s t ( P SAT / NMSQT©) in 2009. Results were 16,000 semifinalists who had to advance to the finalist level by submitting an application and fulfilling additional academic and citizenship requirements. Of the 16,000 semifinalists, more than half have been named 2011 Merit Scholar and received a financial scholarship. These awards, bestowed by a corporation, a specific college or university,
or by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, provide between $500 and $2,500 annually for up to four years of undergraduate study. National Merit Semifinalists from SRVUSD are: From California High School: Brian R. He, Joshua I. Ho, David T. Huang, Hamin Kim, Shyam Kumar, Kanika S. Puri, Ridhima Vemula From Dougherty Valley High School: Laura E. Boardman, Rona L. Chen, Zene Chou, Ivan A. Gomes, Tracy Guo, Yumeng Han, Linda B. Hong, Jason Hsiao, Naifang Hu, Jennifer J. Kim, Kyungeun Kim, Gloria Ku, Brandon E. Kutzler, Jaimie H. Kwon, Megan J. Liou, Yujia Ma, Rosanna Ren, Johnny P. Velasquez, Michelle B. Wang, Melissa Wibowo, George Q. Wu, Alton Zheng-Xie, Sharon Zhong From Monte Vista High School: Zachary Chambers, Alexander DeBoni, Jason P. Kim, Joshua P. Latner, Louis R. Li, Kevin Lu From San Ramon Valley High School: Caitlin R. Kickson, Jake D. Friedler, Kevin Guan, Stephanie E. Wraith The National Merit Scholarship Corporation also
Book Review: “Henry, Our Great Blue Heron” By staff writer
sponsors a program that recognizes scholastically talented young black American men and women who have an opportunity to compete for 800 Achievement Scholarship awards. The two San Ramon Valley Unified School District students who reached the semifinalist level are Tristan Baldauf-Warren from Venture Independent Home Study Program and Kelsey M. Glavee from Dougherty Valley High School. The following students have been honored with the highest level of recognition. S RV U S D N a t i o n a l M e r i t Scholars for 2011 are: • Alexander DeBoni, Natl. Merit Lockheed Martin Academic Scholarship (Monte Vista High) • Jason Guan, National Merit $2500 Scholarship (San Ramon Valley High) • Brian R. He, Natl. Merit Chevron Corporation Scholarship (California High) • Joshua Ho, National Merit $2500 Scholarship (California High) • Naifang Hu, Natl. Merit University of Southern California Scholarship (Dougherty Valley High) Children of all ages and parents alike will love The Most Unusual Pet Ever; Henry our Great Blue Heron and his Adventures. Author and San Ramon resident Sondra Perry takes readers on an educational and exciting adventure as she introduces them to her unconventional pet, Henry the Great Blue Heron. Sondra and her family met Henry when they found him eating fish out of their backyard pond. Rather than shoo him away, they decide to leave him fish in a bowl outside their back window. 7 years later, Henry still comes to the backyard and is considered a member of the family. Kids will find it easy to connect to both Perry and Henry, and will laugh out loud at the funny and at times absurd nature of this remarkable true story. Parents will equally love reading it to their children. Accompanied with beautiful watercolor illustrations by local artist Janice Byer, Perry’s story is at once captivating and educational, teaching kids the values of kindness, caring, and an open mind.
• Jason P. Kim, Natl. Merit Omron Scholarship (Monte Vista High) • Shyam Kumar, National Merit $2500 Scholarship (California High) • Louis R. Li, Natl. Merit Bayer Scholarship (Monte Vista High) • Kevin Lu, National Merit $2500 Scholarship (Monte Vista High) • Kanika S. Puri, Natl. Merit University of Minnesota Scholarship (California High School)
• Sharon Zhong , Natl. Merit Macy’s, Inc. Scholarship (Dougherty Valley High). A final group of collegesponsored Merit Scholarship recipients will be announced by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation in July. Congratulations to all these students for their distinguished recognition. It is indeed an honor to advance to an academic level recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation!
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The Valley SenTinel
august 2011
Energy savings and rebate programs By Dana Guzzetti
Solar Anyone considering a solar panel installation as a long-term efficient energy source should take advantage of programs offered by the California Rebate Program through PG&E. The program is funded by the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act. The total $2.167 billion
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budget for 2007 through 2016 is intended to install 1,940 megawatts of new solar power generation capacity and projects are being funded at a rapid rate. There is also funding of $250 million for 2010 through 2017 to install solar powered home hot water systems. That funding is expected to be enough for 200,000 new solar hot water systems. Another factor in favor of using solar is the passage
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of AB920 (Huffington, 2009), allowing solar customers to be compensated for unused solar credits (representing power produced in excess of the amount used). That will happen, due to a June decision by the California Public Utilities Commission ( C P U C ) o rd e r i n g u t i l i t y companies to compensate solar customers for excess with energy credits on an annual basis at a rate equal to the 12-month average spot market price for the hours of 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. (wholesale, not retail rate). California now leads the nation in new solar with 94,994 solar projects, according to California solar Statistic, the official public recording site of the California Solar Initiative (CSI). The CPUC reports that more than 194 megawatts of new solar electric generating equipment were installed in 2010. That is a 47 percent increase over 2009. Some of the new solar systems are going into new homes and multi-residential projects. Residents who install solar electric panels can receive a 30 percent tax credit. The law also allows individual
valleysentinel.com taxpayers to use the credit to offset an alternative minimum tax liability. That legislation also removed the previous $2,000 cap on new systems. The $2,000 cap on solar water heating systems is still in effect. G e n e ra l l y, o n e m u s t complete an energy efficiency audit and check the physical site and orientation to confirm that solar powered electricity is a cost effective alternative. Next is finding a solar installer, apply for rebates, install the system and claim the incentive. The incentive application can only be submitted after the system is installed and working. Lowe’s recently took an equity position in Sungevity and is partnering with them to offer quick, proprietary iQuotes for a solar lease program, which makes it more affordable for homeowners who want to use solar. The use of satellite images eliminates an in-home visit, and as part of the instore interactive process, homeowners can see an image of what it will look like. The customer lease includes monitoring, maintenance, repairs, insurance and a guarantee.
There are websites that offer a do-it-yourself estimated audit, and most solar contractors will be happy to provide information on how solar works , how to finance it and possible rebates, including cash back for solar systems of less than one megawatt installed on existing structures. Other Upgrades California received $35.2 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds to subsidize the State Energy-Efficient Appliance Rebate Program in 2010. Find 10 income-based energy efficiency improvement programs that subsidize energysaving home improvements at www.fypower.org (Flex Yo u r Powe r ) . T h e s e a re administered through various organizations and are funded by a combination of sources, such as federal programs and utility companies. PG&E still has an Energy Star link with JACO Environmental, which offers $35 for recycling old refrigerators and $25 for A/C units. They will pick up the refrigerators but only take the A/C units if they are taken at the same time with a refrigerator. Call 800-299-7573 for more information.
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The valley Sentinel
Beat the heat at Redwood and interpretive panels are Regional Park By Beverly Lane
If you are looking for a cool, shady getaway on a hot summer day, take a drive over to Redwood Regional Park in the Oakland Hills. The 1,800 -plus acre park with access points along Redwood Road and Skyline Boulevard includes an impressive redwood forest, a stream where trout spawn, picnic areas, a children’s play ground and a wonderful trail system for hikers, cyclists and equestrians. Today’s peaceful groves give little evidence of this forest’s bustling past. These groves are actually second and third generation coast redwoods (Sequoia semervirens). Prior to the mid-1800s, redwood trees grew so tall in this area that ship captains would use them as landmarks to navigate the San Francisco Bay. In
the mid-1800s, what is now Redwood Regional Park was the scene of extensive logging to supply building materials for the San Francisco Bay Area. The logging era has long since passed, and a stately forest of 150-foot coast redwoods has replaced those cut down. In addition to a great forest of coast redwood, the park is also home to evergreens, chaparral and grasslands. Wildlife within the park includes rare species such as the golden eagle and Alameda whipsnake, along with deer, racoons, rabbits and squirrels. Redwood Creek, which runs through the park, also has a place in history. The worldfamous rainbow trout were first identified as a distinct species from specimens caught in San Leandro Creek, of which Redwood Creek is a tributary. A historical marker
located near the creek. Fishing is not permitted in the creek. There are several entrances to the park, but the main Redwood gate entrance at 7867 Redwood Road offers the most parking and close access to picnic areas, restrooms and water fountains. A particularly appealing hike begins at the end of the parking lot along the Stream Trail. The first section (nearly one mile) is paved and then becomes a flat, dirt path over a bridge and through the forest. There are several connecting trailheads. If you are looking for a moderateto-challenging hike, try one of the connections to the French Trail, one of the most spectacular trails in the Bay Area. There is also an 8.22mile dirt bike loop along the East Ridge and West Ridge trails. Expect a few steep hills at the park’s eastern edge, where beginners may wish to proceed with caution. For more information about Redwood Regional Park, please visit www.ebparks. org or call EBPARKS toll free at 1-888-327-2757, option3, extension 4553. Beverly Lane is a president of the East Bay Regional Park District Board of Directors. Her ward includes Central Contra Costa County from San Ramon through Concord.
page 11
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The Valley Sentinel August 2011
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The joint safety effort by Caltrans, the California Highway Patrol (CHP), the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), and the California Office of Traffic Safety will educate the public on the importance of moving over a lane to protect highway workers and CHP officers. The CHP will provide the Move Over safety message during their morning traffic updates on broadcast stations statewide, and officers will be on the lookout for motorists not following the law. “This traffic safety campaign isn’t about writing citations, it’s about providing a safer work environment for everyone who does business along the side of a highway,” said CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow. “The only way to prevent tragedies from occurring on the side of the road is by giving emergency personnel, highway workers,and the public adequate space.” The DMV will display the safety message on electronic signs in 135 field offices and highlight the law in its handbook and written driver’s test, where it will appear along with “Slow for the Cone Zone” information.
“Our collective goal is that motorists will become more attentive as they drive,” said DMV Director George Valverde. “With continued cooperative efforts such as the Move Over campaign, we can further improve highway safety.” The departments will update their web sites and social media pages, such as Facebook© and Twitter©, to reinforce the Move Over message. “When we see Caltrans, law enforcement, emergency medical services, tow trucks, and other emergency or construction vehicles next to the roadway, they are there for one purpose - our safety,” said Christopher J. Murphy, Director for the California Office of Traffic Safety. “Let’s keep them and ourselves safe by giving them plenty of room to operate.” The Move Over Law, which took effect in 2007, was amended in 2009 to add Caltrans vehicles displaying flashing amber warning lights to the list of vehicles for which motorists must move over if safe to do so or slow down. To date, 45 other states have enacted similar laws requiring motorists to move over or slow down.
PulsePoint Foundation begins work to extend reach of life-saving fire department mobile phone app independent and external that improved survivor rates By StaffWriter
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valleysentinel.com
The San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District is proud to announce the formation of the PulsePoint Foundation. The new nonprofit organization has been established to guide, enhance and expand the reach of the Fire Department CPR notification app released earlier this year. The Fire Department app empowers everyday citizens to provide life-saving assistance to victims of sudden cardiac arrest. “The app crowdsources good samaritans to events where the potential need for bystander CPR is high,” said Fire Chief Richard Price. “The vital work of the PulsePoint Foundation has already begun,” added Price. “PulsePoint is set to begin partnering with nearly two hundred fire and EMS agencies that have expressed interest in deploying the application in their communities.” Although the application was pioneered and tested in the San Ramon Valley, the Fire District has always been anxious to share its life saving potential. Forming an
foundation to distribute and support the application will help facilitate and speed adoption by other communities. Intergraph Corporation, a leading computer-aided dispatch system vendor, has announced plans to offer the PulsePoint solution to all its accounts - which together cover one in twelve people worldwide. "Intergraph is proud to partner with the PulsePoint Foundation to facilitate this life-saving technology. The combination of PulsePoint's CPR application a n d I n t e rg ra p h ' s g l o b a l leadership in public safety solutions is a perfect match to achieve the ultimate objective of protecting lives," said Jay Stinson, Vice President and General Manager, Intergraph Public Safety. The potential of the application also caught the attention of some of the country’s leading resuscitation experts, including partners of The HeartRescue Project, a five-state effort funded by the Medtronic Foundation designed to improve cardiac arrest survival rates. “We know
begin with improved bystander response,” says Dr. Michael Sayre, an associate professor of emergency medicine at The Ohio State University and the HeartRescue Project medical director. “By taking advantage of advances in mobile technology, we can bring nearby lifesavers right to the scene to begin CPR, saving precious seconds.” One of the first states planning to deploy the application is Arizona, a HeartRescue Project participant. Both the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District and Northern Kentucky University and its College of Informatics have generously donated all rights from their original work on the application to the foundation for the benefit of society. "Collaboration with the PulsePoint Foundation perfectly aligns with Northern Ke n t u c k y U n i ve rs i t y ' s community outreach mission. This innovative technology has true potential to change and save lives and we are proud to be part of such an initiative," said James Votruba, President of NKU.
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
August
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For additional Community Events visit:www.ValleySentinel.com If your event is not listed... Please do so by clicking on CALENDAR and Post an Event
We hope to see you there! ANNOUNCEMENTS
SENIORS
CLUBS
Nominations for Peace and Justice Awards 2011 The Mt. Diablo Peace and Justice Center is asking residents of Contra Costa County to nominate local peacemakers for a Peace and Justice Award to be given by the Center at its annual Give Peace A Dinner Dance on October 1. Deadline for submission of nominations is August 18, 2011. Nomination forms are available at www.mtdpc.org. Information: 933-7850.
Danville Seniors: Town of Danville Senior Services, 420 Front St., Danville. Information: 314-3400.
August 20 The Parkinson Network of Mt. Diablo Support Group 10am-Noon. Guest speakers will be James and Morris Carey of the The Carey Brothers Radio and TV Show “On the House with the Carey Brothers.” They will do a 1 hour presentation on home safety. You can check out their radio show on Saturday from 6:00 am to 9:00 am on 560 am KSFO. All are welcome. Free. Grace Presbyterian Church, 2100 Tice Valley Blvd., Walnut Creek. Information: 284-2189.
August 18 Travels Down Under 1:30-3pm. Take a virtual tour of the “lands down under”and experience Australia and New Zealand’s rich variety of natural and cultural landscapes. Town Meeting Hall, 201 Front Street, Danville.
August 22 Contra Costa Rose Society 7pm. “Roses as Potted Plants,” a free presentation by Jolene Adams, Vice President of the American Rose Society. Public is invited. Monthly meetings are usually held on the fourth Monday of each month at 7pm. The Gardens at Heather Farm, 1540 Marchbanks Drive, Walnut Creek. Information: 408-1256
Volunteers Needed Project Second Chance, the Contra Costa County Library's adult literacy program, begins its next tutor training class on September 21. We need volunteer tutors in south County. No previous teaching experience is required. Information: 927-3250. Free Public Service Center Tours & Open House 4-5pm. No reservations are required. Attendees will enjoy a tour of the City’s Service Center and see the equipment that the city uses to keep San Ramon safe and beautiful. Learn more about the operations of the department. San Ramon Service Center, 5000 Crow Canyon Rd., San Ramon. Information: 973-2800. August 11 Danville Thursday Night Street Festival 5:30-8:30pm. Enjoy entertainment, dining in the street, wine & beer gardens, shopping, exhibitions areas, kids zone, doggie parade and contest and much more. Downtown Danville, Hartz Ave., Danville. August 12 Moonlight Movie - Despicable Me 8-10pm. Moonlight Movies offer family-friendly films in a picturesque outdoor setting under the stars. Don't forget your lawn chairs, blankets, and snacks to make it complete. Free. Crafts and activities beginning at 6:30 pm. Town Green, 400 Front St., Danville August 13 Old Fashioned Ice Cream Social 10am-3pm. Come for entertainment, old fashioned games, food, interpretive displays and more. Attendees are welcome to dress in old fashioned attire. Free. Forest Home Farms Historic Park, 19953 San Ramon Valley Boulevard, San Ramon. August 13 & 14 Crystal Fair Sat: 10am-6pm. Sun: 10am-4pm. Rocks & minerals, gems & jewelry, metaphysical arts. Have a psychic reading. Tickets: $6 & covers both days. Civic Park Community Center, 1375 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. August 19 Movie On The Lawn – “Toy Story 3” 5:30pm. Bring the family for a perfect summer evening in Central Park. Starting at 5:30pm, enjoy great music, talk with friends and neighbors, bring a picnic and let the kids enjoy dancing in the grass. Dougherty Station Lawn, 17011 Bollinger Canyon Rd., San Ramon. August 24 GNON (Girls Night Out Networking) 5:30 – 8:30pm. Ladies of the Tri Valley are invited for a very special “patriotic” GNON event to remember the victims of 9/11. GNON will be partnering with Pleasanton Military Families in receiving donations to send to our troops overseas. GNON is a social networking group open to all women in the valley looking to meet new friends and have fun in an informal setting. Hairlights Salon, 4307 Valley Avenue, Pleasanton. Information: 487-4748. August 25 Free Admission to Lindsay Wildlife Museum 10am-5pm. Fun and Discovery for All – Everyone is Invited -- Free Admission All Day! This will be the last day this year when admission is free to the general public. Get to know the owls, reptiles, fox, hawks, eagles and other live animals. Visitors can watch feeding and training demonstrations, learn about nature and experience hands-on learning in a safe, friendly, family environment. Lindsay Wildlife Museum, 1931 First Avenue, Walnut Creek. Information: 935-1978. September 3 – 5. Walnut Creek FamilyFest 10am-6pm. Dozens of family activities for kids, tweens and parents. Face painting, balloon art, bounces and crawls, Kid’s Town America, BMX Bike Stunt Team, SpongeBob SquarePants, sand volleyball & sport games, 100 arts & crafts and exhibitor booths, food court, rides and more. $5 per person with the donation of a canned good for the Food Bank of Contra Costa & Solano. $6 without a can donation. Babies and seniors 65+ are FREE. Heather Farm Park, 1540 Marchbanks Drive, Walnut Creek. Information: 947-1678.
August 10 Monterey Movie Tour and Lunch 8am-5:30pm. Visit such historic sites as Cannery Row, Colton Hall, and the Fisherman’s Wharf area where several blockbuster movies were filmed. The tour will also meander through 17-Mile Drive in Pebble Beach. Cost: $95 resident; $114 nonresident. Price includes: transportation, tour and lunch. Call for meeting place: 314-3400.
August 23 Silverliners Performance 11am-12pm. The Silverliners will present their rendition of the Broadway show “Guys and Dolls.” The Silverliners is a musical group of former community theater veterans and music professionals. Free. Village Theater, 233 Front St., Danville. Information: 820-1278. August 23 Downsizing 101 9-10am.This presentation is for those who need to get organized or to clean out stuff! “Downsizing” experts will give a talk about the downsizing process. Town Meeting Hall, 201 Front St., Danville.
August 23 Orinda Water Treatment Plant and Watershed Headquarters Tour 9:15am-3pm. Tour the facility and learn more about the water treatment process. At the conclusion of the tour, the group will go to the Watershed Headquarters for a presentation on the watershed, which also includes a picnic lunch in a beautiful setting under the trees. Cost: $31 resident; $37 non-resident. Price includes: transportation, tours and lunch. Call for meeting place: 314-3400.
August 30 Exercise to Get the Aches Out 9-10am. Presented by Brandi Geiger, MS Exercise Physiology,owner Fit, Mind & Body. Town Meeting Hall, 201 Front St., Danville. San Ramon Seniors: Alcosta Senior & Community Center 9300 Alcosta Blvd., San Ramon. Information: 973-3250. August 7 San Ramon Valley Rotary Club Breakfast 9-11am. Enjoy a home cooked breakfast with your friends. Pre registration is not necessary. Free. : Alcosta Senior & Community Center, 9300 Alcosta Blvd., San Ramon. Information: 973-3250.
August 10 & 13 Lunch Bunch Trips August 10: Cliff House in San Francisco. August 13: Healdsburg Plaza & Petaluma Outlet Stores. August 24: The Dead Fish Seafood Restaurant in Crockett. To sign up call: Alcosta Senior & Community Center, 9300 Alcosta Blvd., San Ramon. 973-3250.
August 17 August Birthday Parties After Lunch. Sign up to celebrate your birthday (free) at least one week prior to the birthday party date. Sign up for lunch ($2) by 12 noon the day before the party day. Birthdays will be celebrated each month on the third Wednesday. Alcosta Senior & Community Center, 9300 Alcosta Blvd., San Ramon. Information: 973-3250.
August 19 Summer BBQ 12pm. Get outside and enjoy barbequed hot dogs and/or hamburgers, chips, salad, drink and dessert. Play Bocce ball, croquet, and horse shoes will be provided. Alcosta Senior & Community Center, 9300 Alcosta Blvd., San Ramon. Information: 973-3250.
BUSINESS
Alamo Chamber of Commerce Events August 24: Alamo Mixer – 5:30-7pm. Alamo Womens Club, 1401 Danville Blvd., Alamo.
Danville Chamber of Commerce Events August 11: Business After Hours Mixer – 5:30pm. Down Syndrome Connection. Call for location: 837-4400 San Ramon Chamber of Commerce Events August 18: After Business Expo and Mixer – 5-8pm. $10 for members and $20 for non-members. The Bridges Golf Club, 9000 S. Gale Ridge Rd., San Ramon.
Mondays Danville Rotary Club Meets every Monday at noon at Faz Restaurant, 600 Hartz Ave., Danville. Tuesdays Danville Sycamore Valley Rotary Club Meetings held every Tuesday morning at 7am. Crow Canyon Country Club, 711 Silver Lake Dr., Danville. For more information, call Scott Sampson at 743-8449.
Wednesdays The Rotary Club of Alamo 12:15pm at the Round Hill Country Club, 3169 Roundhill Road, Alamo for lunch. The meetings are one hour and fifteen minutes long, if you are not a Rotarian and are interested in attending as a guest please leave us a message at alamorotary@hotmail.com and you will be contacted to make arrangements.
San Ramon Valley Rotary Club 7:00pm. Crow Canyon Country Club, 711 Silver Lake Dr., Danville. For information, call Valerie Munoz at 683-6310 or visit www. crow-canyon.com. Blue Star Moms Chapter 101 General Meetings 7–9pm. Meets the second Wednesday of every month at Hap Magee Ranch Park Swain House, 1025 La Gonda Way, Danville. For more information, contact Peggy Conklin at 866-7035 or visit www.bluestarmoms.org. Exchange Club of San Ramon Valley Noon. Meets for lunch at noon second Wednesdays monthly. Features guest speakers and business networking. Guests are welcome with luncheon reservations. Contact: Karen Stepper, president, 275-2412, or www.srvexchangeclub.org. Alamo Women’s Club Program/Lunch 4th Wednesday at the clubhouse, 1401 Danville Blvd., Alamo. Club membership is open to women of all ages who reside in the Contra Costa area. Contact Nancy at ndommes@ yahoo.com or call 831-0111. Diablo Singles Dance Club 7:30–10:30pm. Last Wednesday of every month. 111 N. Wiget Lane, Walnut Creek. Members $7, guests $9. All are welcome. Call 837-2851 for information. Thursdays: Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW), Post 75, San Ramon Valley Meets every second Thursday of the month at the Swain House at Hap Magee Ranch Park, located at 1025 La Gonda Way in Danville. Doors open at 7:00pm, meeting begins at 7:30pm. For more information, contact Post Commander Nathan Greene at 875-1747. Find out more about the VFW on the Internet at www. vfw.org. Mt. Diablo Business Women 5:45-8:30pm. Meets second Thursday monthly. Networking and dinner, guest speakers. Lafayette Park Hotel, 3287 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette. $37 members, $47 guests. Advance reservations required. (www.mtdiablobusinesswomen.org). Alamo-Danville Newcomers Club Meets the fourth Thursday of the month. Welcoming new or long-time residents interested in making new friends and getting involved in a variety of fun and worthwhile activities. Information: 775-3233 or www.alamodanvillenewcomers.com.
Please email or fax your Calendar Events to the Sentinel by 5 pm on the 15th of the month proceeding publication month. Fax No. 925-820-6048,info@valleysentinel.com or go to valleysentinel.com to enter your event online. Inclusion in the calendar pages is at the sole discretion of Sentinel Newspapers, Inc.
page 14
The Valley SenTinel
august 2011
valleysentinel.com
Health insurance for people who can’t get it By David Sayen
The San Ramon Valley Little League 9-year-old tournament team has won two back-to-back championships in this season's tournaments. First they captured a win at the Granada Little League tournament against Dublin Little League and won the championship game against Livermore American Little League. Photo: Bottom Row Left: J.T Noble, Chip Menard, Anthony Santa Maria, R.J. Millington, Griffin Bloom, Devin Brownstein. Middle Row Left: Nate Rutchena, Justin Geary, Chase Doris, Christian Wolf, Ryan McCarthy. Top Row Left: Robert Rutchena, Craig Santa Maria, Scott Menard.
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company rescinded his insurance coverage, claiming that his cancer was a preexisting condition. James knew that his lack of coverage was a death sentence. Fortunately, he was able to join PCIP in Texas and is now receiving the treatment he needs. To qualify for PCIP, you must have been denied health insurance within the past 12 months. You also have to live in California and be a U.S. citizen or legal resident. In addition, you must have been uninsured for at least six months before applying for PCIP. Your premiums will be based on where you live and the amount you’d pay if you had no pre-existing condition and were able to purchase individual insurance in the open market. For example, a Central Valley resident aged 50-54 would pay $481 per month for PCIP. A San Francisco Bay Area resident aged 45-49 would pay $377 per month. Someone 18 years old or younger living in Del Norte, Humboldt, Siskiyou, or Shasta counties would pay $145 monthly. You’ll pay a 15 percent coinsurance for most innetwork services after meeting a $1,500 annual medical deductible. PCIP also has a $500 annual deductible for brand-name drugs. There are no out-of-pocket costs for preventive care, including regular physical exams, cancer screenings, immunizations, and well-child care. As a PCIP subscriber, you’ll pay no more than $2,500 a year out-of-pocket. When you reach this $2,500 cap, PCIP pays all costs for covered services received within the PCIP network for the remainder of the calendar year (although you have to keep paying your monthly premium to stay enrolled.) And this is important: PCIP has no cap on annual or lifetime benefits. The Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan was created under the Affordable Care Act. It’s a transitional program until 2014, when all Americans— regardless of health status— will have access to affordable health insurance as the nation shifts to a new marketplace. For more information, visit www.pcip.ca.gov or call 1-877-428-5060 Monday through Friday from 8am to 8pm, or Saturday from 8am to pm. David Sayen is California Medicare’s regional administrator.
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valleysentinel.com
2012 FIAT 500 LOUNGE HATCHBACK By David and Judy Colman
Do you remember when N ew Yo r k ’s M u s e u m o f Modern Art hung an Olivetti typewriter on a gallery wall and called it art? Before that, they did the same thing with a Cisitalia sportscar. Now they can add the Fiat 500 to their collection of Italian appliances that transcend function to achieve lasting beauty. This diminutive sedan, with which Chrysler hopes to revive the Fiat nameplate in America, is more fetching than a MINI, more stable than a Smart, and more practical than any motorcycle. If you’re hunting down a small package to transport two in comfort or four in pain, the Fiat 500 has got to top your shopping list. The 500 is so small and nimble that a pair of them could square dance in your living room. In a world of tonand-a-half compacts, two ton mid-size sedans, and three ton SUVs, the Fiat 500 weighs just 2,400 pounds. That lack of bulk pays dividends at the gas pump because the 500 posts stellar MPG figures (27 city/34 highway). After 500 miles of mixed city-freeway running, we averaged 31 MPG. The hood, no bigger than a good size suitcase, opens with a prop rod to reveal Fiat’s 1400cc, in-line, four cylinder motor. Despite the car’s lightness, this 101hp engine is not quite up to the task of motivating the 500 with any margin of confidence. All passing maneuvers must be calculated well in advance, and assisted by judicious use of the tap-stick automatic gearbox. Although you’ve got six speeds in the automatic (as opposed to five in the manual),
yo u ’ re c o n s t a n t l y f a c e d with rowing the sequential manumatic through the gears just to keep up with traffic. Clearly, an uprated engine is the answer. two liters of displacement would greatly improve drivability of the 500, although at the expense of increased gas consumption. Look for a more powerful Abarth version of the 500 in the near future. But engine displacement is not the reason museum curators want to hang this design trophy on their wall. Rather, the 500’s innate sense of style defines the car, not its performance. Just look at the aesthetics of the dashboard, with ivory panels offset by light green tin. Even the steering wheel is covered in white leather and the control stalks surrounding the wheel are ivory plastic. The central speedo/tach/info center is a masterpiece of concentric packaging.The optional sunroof ($850) includes a beige lattice work sliding inner screen that compliments the pebbled hide of the Luxury Leather Package’s ($1,500) milk chocolate hide seats. The “500” insignias sewn into the front seat headrests use a stylized dropout typeface that looks brashly modern. The layout of the dash reminds you of the control panel on a Lambretta scooter. The lovely light green exterior (Verde Chiaro) looks like an original Vespa pastel shade. Slip Gregory Peck behind the wheel, and you’ve got yourself the perfect tableaux for “Roman Holiday.” Just think, a movie star car with a base price of just $19,500. The 500 will sell out in Hollywood.
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2012 FIAT 500 LOUNGE HATCHBACK ENGINE: 1.4 liter DOHC, 16-valve, fuel injected, in-line 4 HORSEPOWER: 101hp @ 6,500rpm TORQUE: 98 lb.-ft. @ 4,000rpm FUEL CONSUMPTION: 27 city MPG/34 highway MPG PRICE AS TESTED: $22,750 PROS: Sublime retro design Fuel economy Wow factor CONS: Poor side vision due to fat B pillar Sunroof shade insufficiently opaque Unnerving dance over grooved concrete
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Wild Vine
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