Regional Parks
Alamo • Danville • Blackhawk • Diablo • San Ramon
VALLEY
Inside this month...
THE
SENTINEL always for the community VOl 21 nO 4
Look inside
for this Activity Guide
East Bay Regional Park District Regional in Nature Activity Guide
april 2016
SPOTLIGHT
www.valleysentinel.com
Oaks Middle School Light rugby champions
Outriding cancer Mark Ballock (L) and Terry Cunningham (R) of San Ramon smile for the camera at their kick-off party on March 30 held at Tower Grill in Danville. Raising money for Lazerex Cancer Foundation, their 4,000 mile cross-country trip began on April 1. See RIDERS
ECRWSS
Postal Customer
PRESORTED STANDARD US POSTAGE PAID DANVILLE, CA PERMIT NO. 70
page 10
Sentinel Newspapers, Inc. 390 Diablo Road, Ste. 145 Danville, CA 94526 925-820-6047
Top Row – Coach Mike Comstock, Jacob Himan, Caleb Macias, Coach Toby Pontin, Trey Higgins, Jack Mulholland, Coach Alan Summers, Aiden Vaupen, Woolery, Coach Nigel Carter, Andrew Zeltser, Alex Christensen, Parker Murrer, Ben Hester, Brian Hagewiesche, Zachery Ravenpay, Joe Broughton and Head Coach Mike Walker. Bottom Row- Michael Domingo, Nate Colley, Tyler Perry, Grant Summers and Noah Scherer (not pictured Josh Perry.) See story page 7
Common Raven shows not-so-common intelligence By James Hale The Common Raven (Corvus corax), also known as the Northern Raven, is the most widely distributed corvid throughout the Northern Hemisphere, and has recently become a widespread breeding and nesting bird throughout the entire Contra Costa County. Common Ravens are an opportunistic, versatile species with an omnivorous diet that have coexisted with humans for thousands of years, and in some areas have become pests. They were unknown as a species in the East Bay in the late 1800’s and the turn of the century. They apparently were first recorded around 1935 near Piedmont, and in 1975 and the 1980’s, records accumulated rapidly. The species was probably nesting in Central Contra Costa County by the mid 1980’s. Eleven subspecies have been described.
A mature Common Raven may be two feet long with a wingspan greater than four feet. At up to five pounds in weight, they are the heaviest of passerine (perching) birds. Ravens can be distinguished from their cousins the crow by their larger size, a larger and heavier black beak, shaggy feathers around the throat and above the beak, and a wedgeshaped tail. The voice or call is a guttural croak rather than a caw. They have a wide range of complex, vocalizations, and like other corvids, ravens can mimic sounds from their environment, including human speech. The Common Raven evolved in the Old World and crossed into North America via the Behring Land Bridge, settling in California about two million years ago. Ravens
thrive in varied climates and habitats. In general, they prefer heavily contoured landscapes, and have been recorded at altitudes as high as 20,600 feet on Mount Everest. Their diet may vary widely with location and season. Plant food includes cereal grains, berries, and fruit. In some places they are mainly scavengers, feeding on carrion and the associated maggots and carrion beetles. They are superior predators on small invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles, small mammals, and birds. They are regular predators at bird nests, brazenly picking off eggs, nestlings, and sometimes adult birds when the opportunity arises. In Walnut Creek, I once observed ravens working together in a pine grove flushing nesting birds off their nests to feed on the eggs
and nestlings. I observed one Raven flying away with a nest in its beak full of eggs and hatchlings. Some ravens follow grey wolves in winter, and as kleptoparasites will scavenge wolf-kills. Like raptors, ravens will cough up pellets of undigested food items. The Common Raven has few natural predators because of its size, gregariousness, and its defensive abilities. Spectacular, aerial acrobatics, demonstrations of
This month’s Special Section:
Spring Home & Garden pages 8-9
See RAVEN page 5
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT dining out • music • art • theater • fun events
page 2
The Valley SenTinel
april 2016
valleysentinel.com
themselves caught at the crossroads of art and friendship. $33-$53. Center REPertory Company, 1601 Civic Drive in downtown Walnut Creek. www. CenterREP.org or call 925.943.SHOW (7469). Art, The Tony AwardWinning Comedy by Yasmina Reza Now-April 30 How much would you pay for a solid white painting? $200,000? Decadeslong friendship? These are some of the issues at the heart of Yasmina Reza’s award-winning comedy, Art, as three friends find
55” Sea Level Rise Now – April 23 Exhibit of photography and paintings that address sea level rise around the world. Village Theater Art Gallery, 233 Front Street, Danville. www. villagetheatreshows.com
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” WeWearearecelebrating celebrating2929years years
50% OFF
We are 29 in years 50% OFF We arecelebrating celebrating 30 yearsArea. in in practice 50% OFF Teeth Whitening practice inthe theBay Bay Area. 50% OFF in practiceininin the Bay Area. Teeth Whitening practice the Bay Area. Our Teeth Whitening Teeth Whitening Our practice is dedicated for new patients (reg $450) Our practice is dedicated forfor new patients (reg(reg $450) Our practice is dedicated for new patients (reg $450) new patients $450) practice istodedicated to treating treating and preventing to treating and 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 Road giveeach each personBlackhawk 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
IfIf you have an have aching tooth,tooth, want Ifanyou an aching you have tooth, If aching you have an aching tooth, to maintain good dental wantyour toyour maintain your good want to maintain good want to maintain your good health, aredental interested in interested improving 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, ourlook office. We look pleaseforward call please our office. We look tocall meeting you. please call our office. We look
Independently Rated Highest in Quality Independently Rated Highest in Quality
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
contemporary and historic works from artists, as well as memorabilia. $5 adults, $3 youth, children 12 & under free. Free for Friends of the Bedford. Bedford gallery, Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr. Walnut Creek. (925) 295-1417 or www. bedfordgallery.org. Gypsy Now-May 1 This musical has been acclaimed by writers, critics and audiences as the Greatestamerican Musical. Loosely based on the 1957 memoirs of the famous striptease artist, the show follows the dreams and efforts of her “ultimate stage mother” Rose to raise two daughters on the vaudeville circuit, casting an affectionate eye on the hardships of show business life. Tickets start at $56. Lesher Center, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek. www.lesherartscenter.org Now-May 15 The Art of SurvivalEnduring the Turmoil of Tule Lake After the bombing of Pearl Harbor the Federal Government assembled over 120,000 Japanese Americans from the western United States into ten internment camps. The largest and most historically significant of these camps was the Tule Lake Segregation Center in Northern California. It was the only internment camp designated as a “segregation center.” Tule Lake housed over 18,000 internees, many of whom were considered “disloyal” due to attempts to protest their incarceration and internment. For this reason, Tule Lake was a hotbed of political resistance and a profound example of the Japanese Americans’ struggle to protect themselves and their families. Museum of the San Ramon Valley, 205 Railroad Ave., Danville. museumsrv.org Safe at Home: A Short Survey of Baseball Art Now-June 12 Safe at Home celebrates America’s beloved pastime by bringing the sights, sounds, and excitement of the stadium into the gallery. This exhibition includes a mix of
Danville Community Band Concert-Museums Around the World April 10 2-5pm. Come browse the musical galleries of a variety of different subjects. Featured are movements from Holst’s “The Planets” and Roger Cichy’s “Bugs.” You’ll also be treated by Dello Joio’s Scenes from “The Louvre”, highlights from “Jurassic Park” and the official march of the “Air and Space Museum” in Washington D.C. FREE with Admission to the Museum. Blackhawk Automotive Museum, 3700 Blackhawk Plaza Circle, Danville. www.danvilleband. org To Kill a Mockingbird April 13 and 14 7:30pm. The Contra Costa Christian School presents an American classic. $10. Lesher Center, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek. www. lesherartscenter.org “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” Jazz Benefit April 14 7:30pm. Treat yourself to a night of song featuring Johnny and Alex Orenberg, dance and humor with jazz standards and popular favorites from Billy Joel and Queen, and Broadway show tunes by Frank Loesser and Claude-Michel Schonberg. Mark Aubel leads the awardwinning AVHS Jazz Band in swinging renditions. All proceeds will benefit the music programs in the Pleasanton Unified School District. Tickets $5-35. Firehouse Arts Center, 4444 Railroad Ave, Pleasanton. www.firehousearts.org The Great Gatsby April 15-May 1 Nick Carraway is drawn into a dangerous world of obsession and greed in this classic tale set amongst
the glamour and excess of the Roaring Twenties. F. Scott Fitzgerald’s timeless commentary on the American Dream reminds us all of the danger of reaching so far that we lose sight of where we came from and who we are. Tickets start at $20. Village Theatre, 233 Front Street, Danville. www. villagetheatreshows.com
Dixieland Jazz April 16 1:30-4:30pm. On the 3rd Saturday of every month you can enjoy the music of the Devil Mountain Jazz Band. Bring your own beverages, snacks and a friend or two! There is a large dance floor and lots of free parking. $15. Grange Hall, 743 Diablo Road, Danville. Information visit www.jazznut.com or phone 625-2707. The Leon Joyce, Jr. Trio April 16 8pm. (Doors open at 7:30) Drummer Leon Joyce, Jr., who toured for 10 years with The Ramsey Lewis Trio will lead his trio in some dynamic and innovative jazz music. Featuring Wayne DeLaCruz on the Hammond B-3 Organ, Tommy Kescker on vibes & James Mahone on sax. Tickets $25 @ brownpapertickets.com or at the door. Peace Lutheran Church, 3201 Camino Tassajara, Danville Walnut Creek Civic Arts Jazz Band Concert in Wine Country April 17 1-3pm. V. Sattui Winery in the Napa Valley offers a free concert by the Civic Arts Jazz Band. Concertgoers should arrive early for parking and the best seats. Food and drinks are available to purchase from the winery. Outside food and wine are not allowed on the property. Free. 1111 White Lane, St. Helena. Visit www.vsattui. com for more information. Two Day Town April 22-24 Annual family camping experience centered around community music and environmental stewardship. Lake Del Valle Regional Park in Livermore. Weekend and day passes are available. Kids age 12 and under
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT dining out • music • art • theater • fun events
valleysentinel.com free if accompanied by a responsible adult. www. twodaytown.com. Enchanted April April 23-May 8 World Premiere of a brand new musical! The story is based on the Elizabeth von Arnim novel, Tony Award-winning play, and Oscar nominated film. Four very dissimilar London women meet up at a remote Italian chateau, each seeking and finding surprising answers to her own life’s problems. Tickets are $18-$39. Firehouse Arts Center, 4444 Railroad Ave, Pleasanton. www. firehousearts.org Clint Black April 24 7pm. Prolific singersongwriter Clint Black has long been heralded as one of country music’s brightest stars, selling over 20 million albums worldwide. Don’t miss this rare, intimate, up close & personal evening with one of country music’s greatest! $65. Dougherty Valley Performing Arts Center, 10550 Albion Rd, San Ramon. www.sanramon. ca.gov/parks/theater. Nick Jaina – Music and Storytelling Performance April 27 6:30-7:30pm. Nick Jaina, a musician and writer from Portland, Oregon will present a rare combination of story and song. His live performance is an amalgamation of all he has learned from composing for dance and film, all the songs he wrote while touring the country with his band, and all the stories he has compiled in his book, Get It While You Can. Free. Oak View Room-Walnut Creek Library, 1644 N. Broadway Ave., Walnut Creek. Artists Opening Reception for Art Tag = Inspire April 29 5-7pm. Visit the Village Theatre Art Gallery for the opening of the Art Tag = Inspire curated by the Northern California Women’s Caucus for Art. Light refreshments will be served.Village Theatre Art Gallery, 233 Front Street, Danville. villagetheatreartgallery.com
april 2016 The Music Man Jr. April 29-May 1 Come enjoy the Poison Apple Productions of The Music Man Jr., a classic musical theater favorite portrayed by teen actors! $20. Lesher Center, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek. www. lesherartscenter.org. Sing-A-Long Wizard of Oz April 30 7pm. Celebrate the 75th Anniversary of this classic film! We all know and love the 1939 musical which propelled Judy Garland, as orphaned Kansas farm girl, Dorothy, to stardom with her unforgettable rendition of “Over the Rainbow”. The interactive program includes event-themed goody bags to get the audience in the spirit of cheering on Dorothy and her rag-tag band, and booing the Wicked Witch of the West. Tickets start at $12 . Dougherty Valley Performing Arts Center, 10550 Albion Rd, San Ramon. www.sanramon. ca.gov/parks/theater. April 30-May 1 and May 14-15 O’Neill: The Rhythms of His Soul This production includes early American popular music, well-known songs of the day, songs of the sea, and familiar music hall tunes. The Afterglow Gala which precedes the May 14 performance includes music, dinner, and a silent auction to benefit the education and performance programs of the Eugene O’Neill Foundation. Tickets only for April 30, May 1 and May 15 are $35.00. Package tickets for the May 14 Afterglow Gala and performance are $150. Reservations may be purchased online at www.eugeneoneill. org, or by calling (925) 8201818. Eugene O’Neill National Historic Site in Danville. www. eugeneoneill.org Walnut Creek First Wednesdays May 4 Every first Wednesday 5-8pm. Walnut Creek First Wednesdays event for all ages includes live entertainment, arts & crafts, treats & more! Bike Walnut Creek is sponsoring a free ‘bike valet’ so you can bike to the event and relax with your bike secured by a valet attendant. Event is free, but bring some money for dinner because the Food Truck Mafia food trucks will be there for your dining pleasure. Cypress Street in Downtown Walnut Creek.
The Valley SenTinel
The Wizard of Oz presented by Fantasy Forum Actors Ensemble May 5 – May 8 After a stormy beginning Dorothy shares friendship with a Scarecrow, Tin Man, and a Lion. Together using brains, a heart, and courage, they set out on a dangerous journey with excitement at every turn along the Yellow Brick Road.This is an original family friendly musical that encourages audience participation from all ages which provides an exciting live theatre experience you and your children will never forget. $14. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek. www. leshercenter.org Diablo Ballet Celebrated Masters May 6-7 Diablo Ballet unveils a new production of Carnival of the Animals set to the music of romantic French composer Saint-Saëns and choreographed by Robert Dekkers, the breathtaking
page 3
Hamlet and Ophelia by acclaimed dance maker Val Caniparoli, and a new work by Gary Masters. Dance Magazine named Masters, “one of the most gifted performers in contemporary dance,” Enjoy complimentary dessert, coffee and an opportunity to mingle with the dancers during an exclusive post-performance reception. $44. Youth and group discounts available. Del Valle Theatre , 1963 Tice Valley Blvd, Walnut Creek. www.lesherartscenter.org.
SATURDAYS • 9AM - 1PM Railroad Ave. & Prospect Ave.
PCFMA.ORG • 1.800.949.FARM
Wine, beer, tasty food, coffee, live music and more... PLUS a trolley to transport you up and down Danville Blvd.!
Thursday May 19 5pm-8pm
$20 pre-sale or $25 the night of the event proceeds benefit the Community Foundation of Alamo, host sponsor of the annual Alamo Tree Lighting
for more information and to purchase tickets
www.CommunityFoundationofAlamo.com
page 4
The Valley Sentinel April 2016
Advertorial
Testicular Cancer Awareness Shoba Kankipati, MD
Testicular cancer is cancer that develops in the testicles, a part of the male reproductive system. Not all lumps on the testicles are tumors, and not all tumors are malignant (cancerous). There are many other conditions, of the testis, which may be painful but are non-cancerous. A man’s risk of testicular cancer is roughly 1 in 200 (0.5%). It is the most common cancer in males aged 20–39 years, the period
when it is most common to start, and is rarely seen before the age of 15 years. The risk of testicular cancer in white men is approximately 4-5 times the risk in black men, and more than three times that of Asian American men. The risk of testicular cancer in Latinos and American Indians is between that of white and Asian men. The cause of these differences is unknown. Testicular cancer has the highest prevalence in the U.S. and Europe, and is uncommon in Asia and Africa. Worldwide incidence has doubled since the 1960s,
www. blueherongraphics.com
Do you know what to do about back pain?
WE DO.
The Back Doctors are a network of CHIROPRACTORS, MEDICAL DOCTORS and other health care professionals all with one common goal, the effective treatment of your pain.
Don’t Ignore These warning signs of spinal misalignment • Recurring Headaches • Low Back and Leg Pain • Neck, Shoulder and Arm Pain • Pain Between Shoulders
• Muscle Spasms • Difficulty Sleeping • Numbness in Limbs • Dizziness/Ringing in Ears
OPEN 6 DAYS A WEEK FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE
Saturday and evening appointments available • Most insurance accepted • Workers compensation welcome
The Back Doctors A CHIROPRACTIC/MEDICAL NETWORK
Phillip Runco, D.C.
Call for appointment now! 685-0335
with the highest rates of prevalence in Scandinavia, Germany, and New Zealand. Higher rates of testicular cancer in Western nations have been linked to use of cannabis. A study conducted by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and funded by the National Institutes of Health, published in the journal Cancer March 15, 2009, linked long term use of cannabis to an increased risk for testicular cancer with the scientists concluding that cannabis is harmful to the human endocrine and reproductive system. In September 2012, a study published in the journal Cancer became the third to link marijuana use to the development of testicular cancer. A major risk factor for the development of testicular cancer is cryptorchidism (undescended testicles). It is generally believed that the presence of a tumor contributes to cryptorchidism; when
valleysentinel.com cryptorchidism occurs in conjunction with a tumor then the tumor tends to be large. Other risk factors include inguinal hernias, Klinefelter syndrome, and mumps orchitis. One of the first signs of testicular cancer is often a lump or swelling in the testes. Symptoms may include one or more of the following: − A lump in one testis which may or may not be painful − Sharp pain or a dull ache in the lower abdomen or scrotum − A feeling often described as “heaviness” in the scrotum The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends against routine screening for testicular cancer in asymptomatic adolescent and adults including routine testicular self-exams However, the American Cancer Society suggests that some men should examine their testicles monthly, especially if they have a family history of cancer, and the American Urological Association recommends monthly
testicular self-examinations for all young men. Rarely testicular cancer spreads to the lymphnodes, lungs or brain. The three basic types of treatment are surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Surgery is performed by urologists; radiation therapy is administered by radiation oncologists; and chemotherapy is the work of medical oncologists. Testicular cancer has one of the highest cure rates of all cancers. In most patients with testicular cancer, the disease is cured readily with minimal long-term morbidity. While treatment success depends on the stage, the average survival rate after five years is around 95%, and stage 1 cancer cases (if monitored properly) have essentially a 100% survival rate, which is why prompt action, when testicular cancer is a possibility, is extremely important. Dr. Kankipati is a board certified Medical Oncologist and Hematologist with Epic Care, a group of experts in the diagnosis and comprehensive treatment of cancer and blood disorders. www.epic-care.com
Advertorial
Healthy or Sick– You Make the Choice By Dr. Robert Brown
In many ways we were much healthier 100 years ago. We were also not as fat. One real challenge I have in my practice is to get my patients to understand that, yes I can help, but ultimately it is their responsibility to stay healthy. Since the pharmaceutical industry has literally taken over medicine, the public tends to leave being healthy up to their doctor, thinking “If I get sick, there is a medicine for it.”. To make it even worse TV ads heavily reinforce this bad attitude. The processed foods industry along with the agricultural complex, supported by our FDA, is making it almost impossible to stay slim and healthy. I brought up the FDA because, for some reason, they allow food additives and agricultural practices that are banned in many countries. Your breakfast cereal just might contain Roundup. This wonderful herbicide can also be found in feminine hygiene cotton products. That is not
all, Roundup is destroying one of our greatest resources, our soil. Weeds are necessary for the regeneration of soil. Diet soft drinks have been found to cause weight gain. The sweetener used in many is aspartame. I suggest that you Google aspartame’s side effects. There are dozens, including: loss of vision; digestive disturbance increasing Candida; tinnitus; high blood pressure; severe depression and more. Add processed bread from a fast food takeout and you add azodicarbonamide and carrageenan. Your healthy intestinal bacteria are taken down, allowing Candida to flourish, resulting not only in poor digestion but many diseases, some quite serious. Poor digestion leads to fat storage and lethargy. When digestion is poor the body can’t properly get nutrition from the food and just stores it for future energy-FAT. High fructose corn syrup is added to many foods because it has the effect of blocking your brain from knowing you have eaten enough. Add MSG (“natural flavoring”) and one can
actually cause damage to the neurons in your brain One of the benefits my patients enjoy from my holistic approach is that some of the headaches have little to do with the head. One of the disadvantages of some specialists is that their area of specialty is all they see. A patient of mine had ten years of headaches, treated by a headache clinic as migraines. Finding the real cause had her free of headaches in just a few days. Many headache symptoms are due to other health issues, i.e.: sleep apnea; teeth grinding; digestive system and gall bladder issues. Once you get used to avoiding processed foods it isn’t that difficult. The extra energy you have from better digestion and nutrition just may make you more efficient, with fewer sick days, allowing you the time to sit down to a nutritious meal. Dr. Robert J. Brown of advanced Oral Diagnosis and Treatment Center can be reached at (925) 837-8048. You can also visit his website at www.aodtc.com
valleysentinel.com April 2016
The Valley Sentinel
page 5
Advertorial
Get a grip on Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Healing carpal tunnel naturally By Dr. Niele Maimone, DC
What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome? Carpal tunnel syndrome is pressure on the median nerve – the nerve in the wrist that supplies feeling and movement to parts of the hand. It can lead to numbness, tingling, weakness, or muscle damage in the hand and fingers. The median nerve provides feeling and movement to the “thumb side” of the hand (the palm, thumb, index finger, middle finger, and thumb side of the ring finger). The area in your wrist where the nerve enters the hand is called the carpal tunnel. This tunnel is normally narrow, so any swelling can pinch the nerve and cause pain, numbness, tingling or weakness. This is called carpal tunnel syndrome. Causes and risk factors Carpal tunnel syndrome is common in people who perform repetitive motions of the hand and wrist. Typing on a computer keyboard and using a mouse are the most common causes of carpal tunnel. RAVEN from page 1 intelligence, and the ability to provide food are key and important behaviors of courting. Once paired, the two build a deep bowl nest made of large sticks and twigs, bound by mud and roots, and lined with softer material like deer fur, plant materials, or feathers. Nests are usually placed in a large tree or cliff ledge. Three to seven pale bluish-green, brown-blotched eggs are laid between March and June. The female alone incubates the eggs for 18 to 21 days. The young fledge at 35 to 42 days, and are fed by both parents. They learn and stay with their parents for six months. Ravens mate for life and may live up to 25 years in the wild, although 10 to 15 years is more typical. Individuals at the Tower of London have lived for more than 40 years. Ravens are unusually intelligent, and over the centuries have been a powerful symbol and subject of mythology, folklore, art, and literature. They display ability in problem-solving,
Other causes include: • Driving • Assembly line work • Painting • Writing • Use of tools (especially hand tools or tools that vibrate) • Sports such as racquetball or handball • Playing some musical instruments A number of medical conditions are associated with carpal tunnel syndrome, including: • Chronic Inflammatory Conditions • Bone fractures and arthritis of the wrist • Diabetes • Alcoholism • Hypothyroidism • Menopause, PMS and Pregnancy • Infections • Obesity Symptoms • Numbness or tingling in the thumb and next two or three fingers of one or both hands • Numbness or tingling in the palm of the hand • Pain extending from the elbow • Pain in wrist or hand in one or both hands
• Problems with fine finger movements (coordination) in one or both hands • Wasting away of the muscle under the thumb (in advanced or long-term cases) • Weak grip or difficulty carrying bags or opening a jar (a common complaint) • Weakness in one or both hands Class IV Laser Therapy for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Up until recently the most common treatment for Carpal Tunnel has been the use of anti-inflammatories, physical therapy, wrist splinting and surgery. These treatments do not treat the cause but the symptoms only and are not always effective long-term. Now, however, we have a powerful, effective, non-invasive solution to reverse the cause of carpal tunnel syndrome. Ending the symptoms caused by Carpal Tunnel Syndrome requires stopping the cycle of inflammation at its source. Class IV laser therapy is an excellent method for this, because it is presently the only modality that can both reduce inflammation and heal tissue simultaneously. Laser treatments at Align
Healing Center are done with the K-laser CUBE a Class IV Laser. This laser does not cut or burn but is gently absorbed by the tissue. During Laser Therapy the infrared laser light interacts with tissues at the cellular level, increasing metabolic activity and improving the transport of nutrients across the cell membrane. This initiates the production of cellular energy (ATP) that leads to a cascade of beneficial effects, increasing cellular function and health. Therefore, laser therapy creates an optimal healing environment that reduces inflammation, swelling, muscle spasms, stiffness and pain. As the injured area returns to normal, function and strength are restored and pain is relieved.
Relief is Possible! At Align Healing Center we are having great success treating carpal tunnel, plantar fasciitis, sciatica, shoulder and neck pain, migraines, arthritis, tendonitis, post surgical pain, sports injuries and more; even if it’s long-term residual pain. Ar¬thritis 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. Dr. Niele Maimone, DC is the owner and founder of Align Healing Center in Danville, CA. She has been active in our natural health & wellness community since 1999. For more information or to set up a consult call 925.362.8283 or visit www. alignhealingcenter.com.
JRW CONSTRUCTION, INC. 381 Hartz Ave., Danville, Suite B phone 925.831.1615 fax 925.831.1643 lic. 694292
CUSTOM HOMES ADDITIONS REMODELS BATHROOM AND KITCHEN REMODELS TENANT IMPROVEMENTS COMMERCIAL RESIDENTIAL
with other cognitive processes like imitation and insight. They have been observed making their own toys of twigs and playing with them. In some western traditions, the negative symbolisms of carrion-eating and all-black plumage suggest ravens have long been considered to be birds of ill omen and death. Ravens have been featured frequently in modern writings such as the works of Shakespeare, Dickens, Poe, Tolkien, and King. Swedish, Danish, German, Norse, and Bhutanese folklore have also featured ravens. The Common Raven is both a trickster
and creator god in Tlingit and Haida cultures. Raven feathers were used in several kinds of ceremonial as well as ordinary regalia, and figured strongly and in different personifications in Indian mythology. The feathers were used especially in men’s dance skirts and woven into the ceremonial dress of the Nisenan, Western Mono, Miwok, Yokuts, and Patwin. James M. Hale is a wildlife biologist, ethnobiologist and ecological consultant based in Contra Costa County. www.dochale. com.
Chris@via.pm.com
page 6
The Valley SenTinel
april 2016
valleysentinel.com
Advertorial
3 Reasons You Will Pay Too Much in Taxes This Year By Robert Cucchiaro
With tax season in full swing, now is the time when most people are wondering what they can do to reduce their tax bills. As many of you have heard me say before, April is not the time to do tax planning for last year! However, now is the time to do smart tax planning for 2016 so come next April, you will be rewarded for your efforts. We all know that our tax code is complicated and that it takes some expertise both to understand the rules but more importantly, to take advantage of them and lower your tax bill. Here are 3 ways to reduce one’s tax bill that very few tax advisors or financial planners are talking about: 1. RMD direct to charity – up to $100,000 – If you are over the age of 70.5 and you are the owner of a retirement plan (IRA, 401K, 403b) you are required to withdraw a certain percentage of the account each year. This is called a required minimum distribution, or an RMD.
When you withdraw this money it shows up on your tax return as ordinary income, and you pay tax on this money at both the federal and state level. However, what many people do not know is that they can have all or part of their RMD sent directly from their IRA to their favorite charity or charities. The benefit of doing this is that the money does not show up on your tax return as income, and this is much better for you tax wise than taking the money from your IRA, paying tax on it, and then turning around and sending it to your favorite charity. In fact depending on your tax bracket and how charitable you are, this strategy could save you thousands of dollars per year in taxes! 2. Income from AfterTax Investments – All of the interest from corporate bonds and CDs that you own are taxed as ordinary income, reducing what are already low interest rates. Dividend paying stocks are great but the income from those dividends is also taxable each year. The more after-tax savings you have, the worse the tax bite from these investments. There are a few easy ways to reduce the tax from these investments without giving up the
potential to protect and grow your money over time. These include asset location strategies and tax deferred investments. 3. Income from Trusts – Most folks in the Bay Area have a Revocable Living Trust as the foundation for their estate plan, and that’s a good thing. Usually the way these documents are written is that after one spouse dies, the surviving spouse has to split the assets into two trusts, a survivor’s trust and a family trust. The family trust is irrevocable at that point and any income that trust earns are taxed at the trust’s rate, which is often much higher than our tax rates as individuals. Smart tax planning allows us to A. distribute this income from the trust to the spouse, thus lowering the tax rate; and B. if the trust has something called a “sprinkling provision”, we can transfer the income from the trust directly to the kids who are at an even lower tax bracket. Theamount you pay in taxes is not fixed depending upon your income. In order to reduce your tax bill you need an Advisor that understands the tax laws, financial planning in general and your specific situation. As always, we are here to
SENTINELS OF FREEDOM Scholarship Foundation
Housing • Education • Employment • Mentoring • Ongoing Support
Sentinels of Freedom provides the resources and support needed for severely wounded veterans to live active, engaged, and successful lives as they recover from the physical, emotional, and psychological impact of their injuries, learn to live with their disabilities, and work their way back to a life of complete self-sufficiency. To learn more about our organization please visit us at: www.sentinelsoffreedom.org www.facebook.com/sentinelsoffreedom (925) 380-6342 info@sentinelsoffreedom.org
help and always offer an initial consultation at no charge. Robert Cucchiaro is a Certified Financial Planner and a registered tax preparer. He is a Partner and owner of Summit Wealth & Retirement, a financial planning firm that has been serving Danville for 30 years. Rob specializes in retirement, investment, tax, and estate planning. Securities and investment advisory services
offered through VSR Financial Services, Inc. member FINRA and SIPC. Summit Wealth and Retirement Planners is not owned or controlled by VSR Financial Services, Inc. Financial Planning Offered through Summit Wealth & Retirement Partners. www.summitwealthand retirement. com
San Ramon Rotary honors local volunteers The Rotary Club of San Ramon has selected four individuals as the recipients of its 2016 Unsung Hero Awards. These four local community members were recognized for their service at the Club’s regular meeting on March 24th. The organizations they represent or select will be presented with a $250 grant from the San Ramon Rotary Foundation. This year’s heroes include: • Dottie Kaiser, San Ramon Regional Medical Center • Jerry Yahiro, Vietnam Veterans of Diablo Valley • Marie Ivona, Tony LaRussa’s Animal Rescue Foundation • Kathy Jones, Lindsay Wildlife Experience “The San Ramon Rotary Club is once again proud to recognize four deserving people who embody Rotary’s motto of ‘Service Above Self’,” said Hermann Welm, Awards Coordinator for the Club. “Theamount of time and effort they give to our community is extraordinary, and makes San Ramon a better place to live!” The criteria for selection are that they (1) be unpaid volunteers; (2) have given many hours to their respective organization; (3) have made positive contributions; (4) are NOT generally known to the community at large; and (5) are NOT Rotarians or an immediate relative of a Rotarian. Dottie Kaiser is a volunteer at San Ramon Regional Medical Center’s gift shop. She also is the jewelry buyer and displayer, a job in which she is able to utilize her keen sense of style, great sense of fashion, and understanding of the latest trends. She not only purchases the jewelry, she also has a knack for displaying it well and comes into the shop throughout the week to make sure the
jewelry display cases are looking their best. She began volunteering at the hospital when it opened its doors in 1990, and has since logged an amazing 5622 hours during that time. In addition to her invaluable skills, Dottie is always willing to help out her fellow volunteers, patients and visitors. Jerry Yahiro is a volunteer with the Vietnam Veterans of Diablo Valley, an organization that serves active duty service members and veterans living throughout Contra Costa county, many of whom reside in San Ramon. Since the organization was formed in 1991, he has served in capacities that include president and vice president, and is currently serving as director of events. In this role he plans activities many important activities including the East Bay Stand Down, Operation Santa Claus, the San Ramon Valley Veterans Day Observance, Memorial Day Observance, and Fourth of July Parade. He also oversees ongoing fundraising efforts for the organization. Each year, Mr. Yahiro contributes in excess of 500 hours to this organization. Marie Ivona will be celebrating 10 years as a volunteer with Tony LaRussa’s Animal Rescue Foundation, during which time she has contributed 1400 hours of service. She not only is an exemplary volunteer and representative of ARF in the community, she also supports and expands ARF’s team by coaching and mentoring new volunteers. Over the years she has assisted the organization in many ways, including opening her home to care for cats and kittens not ready to be adopted, and feeding and socializing rescued cats waiting for adoption. See ROTARY page 7
valleysentinel.com
april 2016
The Valley SenTinel
page 7
Parents, friends and ftudents gather for 12th Annual Street Smarts Storybook Poster Contest awards ceremony The 12th annual Street Smarts Storybook Poster Contest Awards Ceremony on March 10, 2016, drew over 200 students and community members to the Dougherty Valley Performing Arts Center in San Ramon. This event highlighted student’s artistic talent, and also bike and pedestrian safety awareness in the San Ramon Valley. “The Crazy Comet from Outer Space” was the name of this year’s book. The story was written by local author Dana Mentink and was illustrated by the winners of the 12th Annual Street Smarts Storybook Poster Contest. In January 2016, over 270 elementary school students from throughout the San Ramon Valley communities of Alamo, Blackhawk, Danville, San Ramon and parts of Walnut Creek participated in the contest.
The storybook is distributed in the community as a way to educate children about school bus, vehicle, pedestrian and bicycle safety concepts. This year’s storybook was made possible by the generous sponsorship of Sunset Development Company and by a federal Safe Routes to School grant. At the March 10 Awards Ceremony, this year’s eleven winners were announced. Before the event, all poster submissions were on display, and the proud artists posed with their work. This year’s winners: 2016 Storybook Poster Contest Winners Cover Leon-Grade 5 Page 1 Julianne-Grade 5 Page 2 Sophia – Grade 1 Page 3 Sage – Grade 1 Page 4 Eihn-Grade 4 Page 5 Nikitha-Grade 4 Page 6 Katelyn-Grade 1
Page 7 Aishwarya-Grade 4 Page 8 Elizabeth-Grade 4 Page 9 Daphne-Grade 5 Page 10 Rachel-Grade 3 After the winners were announced, students walked away with great prizes, like tickets to Great America and a family membership to Lindsay Wildlife Museum. Then, immediately after the ceremony, author Dana Mentink and the eleven student winners signed copies of this year’s book for eager fans. The storybook is distributed to thousands of San Ramon Valley children as a tool to teach traffic safety. Since 2008, over 40,000 copies of Street Smarts storybooks have been given to local children in the San Ramon Valley. Not only do the participants learn the traffic safety concepts, but then those concepts are shared with the thousands of other
children who read the book. Since the week of March 21, complimentary copies of the storybook have been available at the Danville and San Ramon Community Centers and the Danville and Dougherty Station public libraries. STREET SMARTS is a traffic safety education program serving the San Ramon Valley. The program is a partnership between the San Ramon Valley
Jack Mulholland, Oaks Middle School Light
The Oaks Middle School Open team also took 2nd place on the day in the Premier Division. In pool play, the Oaks Open team blanked Sac Pal 31-0 and tied Lamorinda 12 -12 to qualify for the Finals. In the Championship game, the Oaks played hard, but lost in a back and forth affair to the Razorhawks 8 to 15. The Lady Oaks Middle School 7s team also did well in their inaugural season placing 2nd in the girls’ Rugby 7s competition, defeating Mother Lode 30-10 and Motley before losing to Land Park 24-36. While this is the end of the youth rugby season for the Danville Oaks, the high school season is moving forward to the Play-Offs. The Oaks Varsity Boys are the Rugby NorCal Premier Division regular season Champions and are currently the #1 ranked team in the Nation. The Oaks Junior Varsity are the undefeated regular season Premier Division Champions. The Oaks JV and Varsity will be hosting the semi-finals at California High School in San Ramon on April 9th, with the winner playing at the Rugby NorCal Championships on April 16th in San Francisco. The Oaks JV and Varsity will also be competing
against teams from the across the West Coast and Hawaii in the Pacific Coast Invitational Tournament May 6th through May 8th in San Francisco. The Lady Oaks Girls Varsity is also currently ranked #1 in the Nation. They will be traveling to the Girls High School Club Championships at Central Washington University to compete on May 21st and 22nd. The Lady Oaks are actively fundraising to defray the cost of this trip. If you would like to contribute a tax deductible donation, please contact Coach Bob Stephen at bobs@rsc2lc.com. The Oaks are also looking forward to the Olympic Rugby 7s season this Summer for boys and girls. Rugby 7s will be played at the 2016 Olympic Games this Summer in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. Olympic Rugby 7s is a fun way to learn the game and stay in shape. Practices will be at Osage Park in Danville and the competitions are held locally in Danville and the East Bay. Go to danvillerugby.com for more information and to sign up with the fastest growing youth sport in the country!
Unified School District, the City of San Ramon, the Town of Danville, the County of Contra Costa, the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District, and the San Ramon Valley Council of PTAs.
ROTARY from page 6
care and rehabilitation for these animals so they have a second chance to return to the wild. Since she began volunteering in 2003, she has logged over 1000 hours each year by opening her own home to these animals, assisting with wildlife releases, educating the community about the wildlife rescued by Lindsay, and otherwise being an invaluable resource for both volunteers and staff.
Kathy Jones is the lead volunteer for the raccoon homecare and predatory mammal homecare teams at the Lindsay Wildlife Experience. Each year Lindsay’s Wildlife Hospital receives thousands of injured animals and orphaned baby mammals rescued by the public. Kathy leads teams of volunteers who provide foster
Vintage Jewelry
Danville Oaks Rugby enjoys success On Saturday March 26 the Danville Oaks Rugby Club competed at the Rugby NorCal Middle School Championships in Dixon, CA. The Championships featured over 26 teams from the San Francisco Bay area and the greater Sacramento area to play for Championships in each skill level and weight division. The Oaks Middle School Light team went undefeated on the day winning the Lightweight Championship. The Lights prevailed over Lamorinda 21-17, Combo 40-0 and Solo Falcons 56-0 on their way to the title.
Author Dana Mentink with storybook. (Photo by Lara George)
for Weddings, Prom, Mother’s Day, Graduation, Gifts, Fun!
www.etsy.com/shop/vintagejewelryetal (Local seller)
Baby Chicks Available Now!
with coupon
$3.50 each expires 4/30/16
Rabbits -
Holland Mini Lops (genetically tame)
$40 each
5
with coupon expires 4/30/16
$ 00
OFF
Any purchase of $35 or more expires 4/30/16 Not applicable to advertised items.
Premium No-Waste Wild Bird Food “Will not grow!”
Niger Thistle 20 lb.
$2395
$2995
expires 4/30/16
expires 4/30/16
20lb. Bag
with coupon
Alamo Hay & Grain
We Feed Them All—Dogs, Cats, Birds, All Other Livestock
3196 Danville Blvd.,
837-4994
Open: Mon – Sat, 8 – 6 • Sunday, 9 – 4 For All Your Pet or Animal Needs!
Spring Home & Garden page 8
The valley Sentinel
April 2016
April in the Contra Costa Garden By the Contra Costa Master Gardeners April Garden To Dos General Garden Care Adjust irrigation controller programming. Check soil moisture around plant roots, and if dry, start increasing watering frequency. Program irrigation start times for early a.m. to reduce evaporative loss. Empty & remove all sources of standing water to reduce mosquito habitat. Weed: remove summer weeds while still small. Amend the soil with finished compost prior to planting and water deeply after planting. Cover compost piles with damp burlap bags if it has stopped raining. Group new plantings according to water requirements. Don’t fertilize until plants have been in a couple of weeks and are showing signs of new growth. Top-dress with compost to fertilize (preferable) or use a slowrelease source of Nitrogen. Fertilize turf if needed. Compost is best, or use a slow-release fertilizer. Fruits & Vegetables Sow vegetable seeds in outdoor beds where the soil has warmed: beets, broccoli,
corn, cucumbers endive, kohlrabi, lettuces, onions, parsley, parsnips, peas, potatoes, radishes, spinach, Swiss chard, squash and turnips. Fertilize citrus-follow directions. Thin most fruit when dime-sized to about 6” apart or one per cluster. Place hot caps on tomatoes if the weather is cool. Flowers & Landscaping Mow the following groundcovers : Achillea tomentosa, Baccharis pilularis, Cotoneaster dammeri, Euonymus fortunei ‘Colorata’, Hedera helix, Hypericum calycinum, Juniperus spp., Lonicera japonica ‘Halliana’, Mahonia repens, Pachysandra terminalis, Rosa banksiae (Lady Banks Rose), and ground cover roses. Prune spring-blooming shrubs that have finished flowering, such as Spirea, Philadelphus, Viburnum, Cercis (redbud), Ribes, lilac, Ceanothus, Chaenomeles (quince), Genista, Acacia, Forsythia. Pinch back: chrysanthemums, euryops, fuchsias, geraniums,
impatiens, petunias, snapdragons and zinnias. Plant: heat loving annuals if the weather has warmed up, such as ageratum,amaranth, celosia, cosmos, dahlia, globeamaranth, impatiens, lobelia, marigolds, petunias, phlox, portulaca, salvia, sanvitalia, statice, sweet alyssum, verbena, and zinnias. Plant drought-tolerant perennials; try something new this year like Euphorbia characias wulfenii, E. myrsinites, E. rigida. Plant sub-tropicals in protected sites: e.g., Bougainvillea, Hibiscus, Jacaranda, Mandevilla, Plumeria. They may only live till winter in colder microclimates. Take cuttings from azaleas, carnations, chrysanthemums, fuchsias, geraniums and succulents for propagation. Garden Pests Anthracnose in Modesto ash and other landscape trees: The leaves look scorched, turn brown, and drop. Dry weather can sometimes arrest the disease. Prune out and get rid of infected twigs and branches. Fertilize tree to stimulate vigorous growth if needed.
You’re invited to the Rodgers Ranch Expo Saturday April 9 10am-5pm
New Membership Day:
Join in the Fun!
Garden Plants for Sale • Arts & Crafts Booths Classes and Demos • Tour the Urban Garden 100-Year-Old Distressed Barn Wood For Sale Starting At 1pm
315 Cortsen Road, Pleasant Hill 94524 Rodgers Ranch is a Pleasant Hill Recreation and Park District property and Pleasant Hill’s only historic site. We are a non-profit, tax-exempt 501c3 organization For more information please contact us at 925-937-3677 or visit www.rodgersranch.org
valleysentinel.com Ants: Control with baits or use barrier products such as Tanglefoot. Aphids: Spray off with water before populations build up. Control snails and slugs with hand-picking, traps or iron phosphate bait. Lots of other pests can show up in April, including
the following: Codling Moth, Powdery Mildew, Rose Mosaic Virus, Rust, and Brown Rot on peaches, plums, apples, and pears. Master Gardeners are trained volunteers for the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE). For more information visit ccmg.ucdavis.edu.
Bring Back the Natives Registration is now open for the free Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour, which will take place Sunday, May 3, 2015, from 10:00 – 5:00 at various locations throughout Alameda and Contra Costa counties. The garden guides will begin mailing next week; registering now will ensure that you receive your guide the first mailing. It will also save the Tour time and money (long story, but when folks register early it does!). If you have not yet registered, please do so right away! If you have already registered please do not do so again. It is timeconsuming to remove duplicate registrations. Not sure if you have already registered? Please check your In-box (and Spam box) for a registration confirmation e-mail from Kathy@ KathyKramerconsulting.net. Participants on the twelfth annual, free, selfguided Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour can choose from thirty showcase native plant gardens. They will have the opportunity to learn how select and care for California native plants, lower their water bills, design a low-maintenance garden, attract butterflies, birds, and bees, and garden without using pesticides. More than fifty talks will be offered throughout the day. Over 5,000 people are expected to register for this annual event, which will fill; early registration is suggested to ensure a place. Would you help promote the Tour? Each year I hope to increase the number of people who have never been on the Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour before, and I am asking for your help to reach them. Might you be willing to visit the Tour’s Facebook page and share the most recent post about registering for the Tour? Do you use Twitter? If so, would you tweet that it’s time to register for the Tour now, at
www.BringingBackTheNatives. net? The Tour flier is here; it would be fabulous if you would be willing to distribute or post it. Volunteers are needed to spend a morning or afternoon greeting tour participants and answering questions about natives. Complete the Volunteer section of the registration form if you would like to help out this year. Benefits to volunteers include invitations to two Garden Soirees, in which tour gardens are open to hosts and volunteers; a pre-tour meeting with the owner and private tour of the garden you will be staffing; a guaranteed tour reservation for the half day you are free; a Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour t-shirt, and, perhaps best of all, heartfelt thanks for helping to educate the general public about the many pleasures and benefits of gardening with California native plants. Prior to signing up to volunteer, browse the gardens to choose the garden you would like to be assigned to. Click here for more information on volunteering. Workshops-In addition to the Tour and plant sales, a series of workshops will be offered this spring. Learn how to sheet mulch your lawn away, how to design a native plant garden for color and interest throughout the year, what to put in to replace your lawn, and how to install drip irrigation. Judy Adler will be leading two tours of her amazing Walnut Creek garden (think chickens, pond, rainwater harvesting, native plants, fruit trees, seed collection, and more!). These workshops will fill; register early to avoid being disappointed. 2017 Tour -Applications for the 2017 Tour are now being accepted. You can download the application form from the Tour website. Garden visits will be made in May and June. (Please note that gardens must contain at least 60% or more native plants.)
Spring Home & Garden valleysentinel.com
April 2016
Easy Living, Outdoors By Steven Wynn, Barry and Wynn Architects Perhaps no region is better suited to outdoor living than the Bay Area. No wonder so many of our clients want an outdoor kitchen as part of new or remodel projects. Which means they have to be over-the-top and expensive, right? Wrong! Let’s dispel some myths as we look at ways to create a successful outdoor room without breaking the bank. Myth #1 – Everything AND the Kitchen Sink I’m grilling outdoors, pouring drinks, and serving guests. So I need an outdoor kitchen, right? No! One of the most common mistakes we see is the idea that we need to duplicate outdoors what we expect from a kitchen indoors. The truth is we enjoy grilling, al fresco dining, and backyard living precisely because it is different from the air-conditioned, static environment of our office, school, and home interior. Think about any great picnic at a beach, or campsite BBQ you’ve enjoyed – what made the moment so memorable? I bet it wasn’t a showroom faucet or custom-built pizza oven. Myth #2 – It Must Be Expensive Once you accept that “less really is more” when it comes to an outdoor kitchen, you can create a functional room in a relaxing atmosphere for much less than you might think. Don’t overwhelm the yard. Only build in
the essentials, the rest can be furnished and flexible. Providing an area of cover is ideal for yearround enjoyment, but not mandatory. Below are three strategies to save money while enhancing the yard experience. No Plumbing Required Wait a minute – don’t I need a sink?! Not in the traditional sense, no. You really don’t need running water all the time, not when you can just step inside the house. You will find much greater use from an ice sink, which is a simple sink basin with a drain but no faucet. Fill it with ice, and you have the perfect cooler for cold drinks. You save money without the faucet, and now you don’t need a water line, either. Best of all, with no running water, you don’t need the most expensive item of all – the waste line connected to sewer. Most often, this waste line has to run all the way around the house to the front yard or even street. And if your yard is relatively flat, you might even need a sewage ejector pump. Just dealing with the waste from this one backyard sink can cost thousands! When the ice melts in your inexpensive ice sink, the water can simply drain to a nearby planting area. Save even more by running your gas grill on propane. Yes, you occasionally have to refill the canisters, but this is
much less expensive than a dedicated gas line. You really can eliminate water, waste and gas lines with a “No Plumbing” approach. Keep It Small The outdoor kitchen pictured with this article uses the “No Plumbing” approach, and occupies a modest 10’ by 10’ square. It is covered by a roof with supporting posts on an 11’-6” square, easily fitting in a much smaller yard. While the yard pictured can accommodate a larger structure, the point is that it is the yard that we want to enjoy – this small al fresco room is simply a means to that end. There is seating for five at the counter, and rarely do you need to build in more than that. Large groups spread out, to tables and benches, standing, or moving between indoors and out. There is an ice sink with drain board, a propane grill, and a small undercounter refrigerator. Storage is kept to an absolute minimum. Soften with Landscape This built-in bar feels even lighter because of the smart use of planting around the base. Imagine how different this would look if flooded by a sea of concrete.
The valley Sentinel
A traditional cabinet base set entirely on a hard patio lacks the soft character we want from a yard. Blend succulents with perennials, grasses and dwarf trees for color contrast and easy care.
page 9
When you follow these strategies, you will save money. Best of all, rather than dominating your yard, your small, well landscaped al fresco kitchen will feel very much a welcome part of it.
Are you composting yet? • Reduced Cost Compost Bins •• Reduced Free Monthly CostWorkshops • Print and Online Compost Bins Resources •• Free www.facebook.com/CCCSWA Monthly Workshops •• Instructional Garbage Bill Reduction Brochures • Annual Compost and DVD Video Giveaway • www.facebook.com/CCCSWA • Allied Waste Bill Reduction
For more information, visit www.recyclesmart.org Home Composting Hotline (925) 906-1801, ext. 306
Creating and transforming spaces great and small. We’re here to help with your remodel, addition, outdoor room, or new home. Schedule a free consultation today. For more information, visit www.wastediversion.org Home Composting Hotline: (925) 906-1801, ext. 306
– your cutting edge resource for cutting waste.
We’ve Moved!
117 Town & Country Dr. Suite G, Danville, in the Shopping Center behind Walgreens and McCaulou’s
925.837.1422 www.barryandwynn.com
Senior Living page 10
valleysentinel.com
April 2016
• You sign a statement choosing hospice care instead of other Medicare-covered treatments for your terminal illness and related conditions. You have the right to stop hospice care at any time. If you choose to do so, you’ll go back to the type of Medicare coverage you had before you chose a hospice provider, like Original Medicare, a Medicare Advantage plan, or another type of Medicare health plan. Your Medicare benefits include a one-time-only consultation with a hospice medical director or hospice doctor to discuss your care options and management of your pain and symptoms. You can get this consultation even if you decide not to get hospice care. Depending on your terminal illness and related conditions, the plan of care your hospice team creates can include doctor and nursing services; medical equipment (like wheelchairs and walkers); medical supplies (like bandages and catheters); prescription drugs; hospice aide and homemaker services; physical
and occupational therapy; speech-language pathology services; social worker services; dietary counseling; grief and loss counseling for you and your family; shortterm inpatient care (for pain and symptom management); and any other Medicarecovered services needed to manage your terminal illness and related conditions, as recommended by your hospice team. If your usual caregiver, such as a family member, needs a rest, you also can get inpatient respite care in a Medicare-approved facility, like a hospice inpatient facility, hospital, or nursing home. Your hospice provider will arrange this for you. You can stay up to 5 days each time you get respite care. For more information on Medicare’s hospice benefit, including costs, please go to: www.medicare.gov/Pubs/ pdf/02154.pdf. David Sayen is Medicare’s regional administrator for Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, and the Pacific Territories. You can always get answers to your Medicare questions by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-6334227).
RIDERS from page 1 Cyclists Mark Ballock (age 58) and Terry Cunningham (age 67), who call themselves The Old Spokes, are determined to Outride Cancer with an epic 4,000 mile bicycle adventure that will span coast to coast across the USA. Cancer has affected both of their lives. The loss of their loved ones has given special and deeply personal meaning to their trip. Through this adventure, The Old Spokes are raising money for Lazarex Cancer Foundation in support of patients fighting cancer and to help move cancer research forward. Their 4,000 mile journey started on Friday April 1 from Malibu and will follow Route 66 as far as Missouri, then taking the Trans American Route to Virginia Beach on the Atlantic coast. They estimate that their trip will take 53 days with a total of 333 hours on the saddle. Mark Ballock is the incoming president of the Rotary Club of Dougherty Valley, owner of Golden Valley Maintenance in San Ramon, and the past president of the San Ramon Arts Foundation.
He is a league certified instructor of the East Bay Bicycle Coalition, teaching cycling skills and safety to folks who want to learn. Terry Cunningham is the founder of the San Ramon Community Theater, past Treasurer of the San Ramon Arts Foundation and owner of ATC Accounting Services in San Ramon. He and Ballock have made other long distance trips and have been riding 200 miles a week in preparation for their journey. Lazarex, located right here in Danville offers financial assistance directly to advanced stage cancer patients, enabling them to access potentially life-saving treatments available through FDA clinical trials. Lazarex helps patients with all forms of cancer take advantage of medical breakthroughs regardless of their ability to pay. 100% of all moneys donated go directly to the patients. To learn more about Lazarex go to www.lazarex. org. To follow the progress of this cross country trip with Mark and Terry, go to http:// oldspokesoutridingcancer. blogspot.com/2016 for regular upudates.
How Medicare’s hospice benefit works By David Sayen
Choosing to enter hospice care can be a wrenching decision for yourself or a loved one. Hospice is intended to help terminally-ill people live out their lives as comfortably as possible. Hospice doesn’t focus on curing disease and it’s not only for people with cancer.
Medicare’s hospice benefit covers your care, and you shouldn’t have to go outside of hospice to get care except in rare situations. Once you choose hospice, your hospice benefit should cover everything you need. If you qualify for hospice care, you and your family will work with your hospice provider to set up a plan of care that meets your needs. You and your family members are the most important part of your
medical team. Your team can also include doctors, nurses or nurse practitioners, social workers, physical and occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, hospice aides, homemakers, and volunteers. A hospice nurse and doctor are on-call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to give you and your family support and care when you need it. You can also include your regular doctor or a nurse practitioner on your medical team, as the attending professional supervising your care. The hospice benefit allows you and your family to stay together in the comfort of your home, unless you need care in an inpatient facility. If your hospice provider determines that you need inpatient care, your hospice provider will make the arrangements for your stay. To find a hospice provider, talk to your doctor or call your state hospice organization. The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization has a website that allows you to look up local providers based on your zip code, at www.nhpco.org/ find-hospice. You can get hospice care if you have Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and you meet these conditions: • Your hospice doctor and your regular doctor (if you have one) certify that you’re terminally ill (with a life expectancy of 6 months or less); • You accept palliative care (for comfort) instead of care to cure your illness;
✃ *
No obligation
*
Test Drive Koko with a FREE Session! Some restrictions may apply. See club for details.
*
✃
499-B San Ramon Valley Blvd 925.743.0802 danville.kokofitclub.com
30 ✃ Days for $30 *
No obligation
✃
30 Days for $30
At Koko FitClub, we believe that fitness doesn’t have to come at the expense of something else in your life. With our proven training methodology and the most advanced technology in the industry, you can get into the best shape of your life by doing just ion No obligat two or three half-hour workouts a week. Our patented cardio and strength programs know your body and guide you every step of the way. How perfect is that?
30 Days for $30
✃
Amazing Results. Half The Time!
✃
Upgrade your workout. Reboot your life.
valleysentinel.com
april 2016
The Valley SenTinel
page 11
Tramp to Las Trampas By Beverly Lane, East Bay Regional Parks District
Convenient to Alamo, Danville and San Ramon, Las Trampas Regional Wilderness is a beautiful and often challenging park to explore, which can be entered from a county road and many neighborhood streets. The park’s main staging area is at the north end of Bollinger Canyon Road off Crow Canyon Road in San Ramon. That’s the only entrance with a parking lot dedicated to horse trailers. There are seven other trail entries on the east side of the park. All of them require some steep climbing. The newest trailhead, opened just last summer, is on Elworthy Ranch Circle at the back of a subdivision in Danville. Finding it is a bit complicated. From San Ramon Valley Boulevard, turn onto Elworthy Ranch Road. There’s only one way you can turn; the road doesn’t cross the boulevard. Then in a short distance, turn right on Elworthy Ranch Drive. In another short distance, turn left on Elworthy Ranch Circle. At the back of the Circle there’s a sign that says Elworthy Ranch Staging
Area. Next to the sign, a road leads steeply up the hill to a parking lot and trailhead with information panel, maps and the start of the Fiddleneck Trail. Your car climb is over, but your non-motorized climb has just begun. The Fiddleneck Trail, which is a fire road, rises steeply for a mile to the Las Trampas park boundary and the Las Trampas Ridge Trail. Nor is the climb over once you’re in the park. Please stay on the Fiddleneck; it’s a trail easement through private property. The next access north of Elworthy Ranch is a trailhead on Remington Loop at the end of Remington Drive in Danville. Parking is on the street; there’s no trailhead parking lot. The same is true for trailheads a bit farther north at Starview Drive and Camille Avenue, both west of Danville Boulevard. There’s only on-street parking. The Camille Avenue trail is open to hikers, bicyclists and equestrians; the Starview Drive access is closed to bicycle riders. The Camille Avenue access is significant because it serves the Las Trampas to Mt. Diablo Regional Trail, which is the park district’s main cross-valley trail in the San Ramon Valley.
Alamo News Update By Steve Mick
Alamo Walk-About is Slated! The Community Foundation of Alamo (CFA) announced the 2nd Annual Alamo Walk-About will take place on Thursday, May 19th from 5pm to 8pm. The first Alamo WalkAbout took place last year in late October. The CFA board decided to move the date to the springtime to take advantage of the beautiful Alamo weather. The new date also offered more hours of daylight for participants. The event includes a number of venues up and down Danville Blvd from Andrew H. Young Park and Oak Tree Plaza to the Alamo Women’s Club. Each
location will offer tasty food to sample or wine and beer to taste. As An added appeal will be a number of music groups at locations along the way. A wine trolley will be available for persons who don’t wish to walk. Paying participants will pick up a wristband at two locations. If you want to taste wine or beer you will receive a special wristband. A map showing the location of all vendors will be provided. You can visit old favorites and explore new ones. Tickets for this casual “night on the town” are available from the CFA at communityfoundationofalamo. com for $20 or can be purchased the day of the event at the CFA Office in Alamo Plaza Center Suite 180D behind Livermore Cyclery. Tickets purchased on the day of the event are $25.
A staging area for Alamo’s Camille Avenue access to Las Trampas is now in the works. The developer is eager to put the staging area next to open space and has proposed a gate (open during the day) through which park users would go. It would include a rest room and a bridge to reach the main trail. I have my doubts about this, but an EIR for the development is in the works and more discussion is in the offing. Still farther north, there’s a staging area with limited parking at the end of Hemme Avenue in Alamo. The lot doesn’t have room for horse trailers, and the Ringtail Cat Trail, which starts at the lot, is closed to bicycle riders. It’s a singletrack trail following a creek bed through the woods, with pretty fall colors. Near the end of the south fork of South Avenue in Alamo is another footpath that leads over a ridge and down to the Ringtail Cat Trail. Like the other trails, the Ringtail Cat ascends sometimes steeply into the main part of the park. The northernmost access to Las Trampas is near the end of Las Trampas Road in Alamo, just before a gated residential neighborhood. There’s limited parking, from which the Las Trampas to Briones Trail leads up into
Revenues from this event help support the annual Alamo Tree Lighting Festival in December. Plan now to attend the Walk-About and have a great time! Can You Dig It? Work has started on the new Alamo Fire Station 32 at the corner of Stone Valley Road and Miranda Avenue. Earth moving equipment is preparing the site now for estimated completion later this year. A photo opportunity of the new station was held on March 30 with Fire Chief Paige Meyer and County Supervisor Candace Andersen as presenters. Steve Mick is a long-time Alamo resident and is active in a number of community organizations.among them are the Community Foundation of Alamo, the Exchange Club and the Alamo Municipal Advisory Council. You can reach Steve at steve@alamore.org.
the park and to Las Trampas Peak, elevation 1,827 feet. An access from Moraga on the northwest edge of Las Trampas is also in the planning stage. The District recently bought a large property off Bollinger Canyon Road and Valley Hill Drive, which will provideample staging so that park patrons will not need to drive so far to reach the park. One thousand acres of the north part of Las Trampas has been in land bank for over 10 years. Such good news. Las Trampas Regional Wilderness comprises two ridgelines and the valley between them. So no matter where you enter, you won’t experience any flat
trails until you reach the ridge tops. But the payoff is beautiful views of Mt. Diablo, the San Ramon Valley, and even glimpses of San Francisco and the Bay to the west. There’s abundant wildlife, and pretty wildflowers in the spring. For a real workout, start at the end of Bollinger Canyon Road, hike over Rocky Ridge, down to Devil’s Hole and back again. Don’t worry; Devil’s Hole is just an oak and eucalyptus grove at the bottom of a canyon. Maps of the park are available at trailhead information panels. Or you can download a map by visiting the East Bay Regional Park District website, www.ebparks.org.
It’s springtime! Time to refresh and rejuvenate the hands that have worked so hard for you all winter!
• • • •
3 Hand Peels = Renew 1 Recovery Cream = Repair 1 Sunscreen SPF 45 = Protect 2 BBL Treatments = Reverse (the hands of time) (Intense Pulsed Light Treatments)
A $750 Value -
Special April Price $595 Make Your Appointment Today
925-743-1488
Quick, Easy and Effective AdvAnced LAser
Michael J. Tomcik, MD
skin cAre center
Medical Group, iNc.
www.SanRamonDerm.com
Board Certified Dermatologist Over 35 years experience
101 Park Place San Ramon
925-743-1488
Introducing Ultherapy • Only FDA approved,
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
April
•
April
•
April
•
April
•
April
•
April
•
April
For additional Community Events visit: www.ValleySentinel.com Please email information about your events to info@valleysentinel.com COMMUNITY EVENTS Hope Hospice seeking volunteers Hope Hospice is currently looking for individuals who are interested in volunteering to assist hospice patients and their families. In keeping with Hope Hospice’s goal to make sure patients can live their lives to the fullest and with dignity, volunteers provide a variety of services that help enhance the quality of care of our patients’ lives. Volunteer opportunities include; Home Care; Cosmetology; Healing Touch; Reiki; Massage Therapy; Vocalists. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, contact Jill Biggs, RN, at 925-829-8770. Volunteers Needed: Read to Preschoolers Volunteers are needed at childcare centers in Concord, Pittsburg, and West County. The Contra Costa County Library will supply books and resources. For more information, please contact Maureen Kilmurray at 925-927-3288. Danville Farmer’s Market Every Saturday, Year-round 9am-1pm. Get the freshest seasonal fare at the Danville Certified Farmers’ Market. Railroad & Prospect Avenue, Danville. Information: www.ci.danville.ca.us. (You can make donations of fresh vegetables and fruit for our local food pantries at the Loaves & Fishes Booth at the Danville Farmers Market.) San Ramon Farmers Market Every Saturday & Thursday-Year-round, Bishop Ranch Buy fresh, seasonal produce directly from local farmers at San Ramon Farmers Market. Connect with your community while shopping at a festive gathering place with live music! www. SanRamonFarmersMarket.org Canine Companions for Independence Puppy Class Each Saturday 11am-12pm. Become a puppy raiser! The East Bay Miracles Chapter invites you to help train puppies to become assistant dogs for children and adults with disabilities. Make sure to check out their online calendar before heading off to volunteer. Athenian High School, 2100 Mt. Diablo Scenic Blvd., Danville. ccieastbay.org. FREE E-Waste Recycling Event First Saturday of every month 9am-1pm. Bring your old, unwanted electronic equipment. Drop off is FREE and all e-waste will be recycled right here in the good old USA. Diablo Valley College, 321 Golf Club Road in the Overflow Parking Lot #7, Pleasant Hill. Visit www.NoEwaste.com for accepted and non-accepted electronic items. Information: 866-335-3373 or info@NoEwaste.com. Forest Home Farms Historic Park & Glass House Museum–open for Fun on the Farm Every Saturday 11am-2pm. Enjoy tours of the Glass House Museum, the farm and its history, interactive exhibits including the tractor museum, the beautiful grounds and free activities. Visit the Welcome Center and purchase old-fashioned toys and gifts at the Gift Shoppe. Tours are $5 per person, or $8 for both tours on the same day. 19953 San Ramon Valley Blvd, San Ramon. Information: 925-973-3284 or visit www.sanramon.ca.gov. Saturday without Reservations at the Tao House Every Saturday 10am, 12pm, and 2pm. Come explore the National Historic Site in Danville. Catch the shuttle at the bus stop in front of the Museum of the San Ramon Valley-205 Railroad Ave. www.EugeneOneill.org Ruth Bancroft Garden Spring Fling plant sale April 15 Members Pre-Sale:10am-3pm. 20% discount on plants and Nursery items. No discount for non-members Saturday, April 16-Sunday April 17: 10am-3pm. Members: 20% discount on plants and nursery items.Non-members: 10% discount on plants and nursery items. Membership available at the door. Ruth Bancroft Garden, 1552 Bancroft Road, Walnut Creek, www. ruthbancroftgarden.org. Teen Night April 15 6- 8pm. Middle Schoolers need a night out too! Friends, games, food, and good times. What could be better? Each Teen Night has a different activity and its own brand of fun. Bring your friends, or make some new ones. Dinner and drinks included with registration. Release forms available for download in the Teens Section of the Town website www.danville.ca.gov/teens (Middle School). Pre-registration only, no cash will be taken at the door. Diablo Vista Middle School Teen Center, 4100 Camino Tassajara, Danville.
Friends of the Ygnacio Valley Library Book Sale – Members Night April 15 6-8pm. Special pre-sale for Friends members only! Be the first to get your hands on the special items we have available at this sale! Ygnacio Valley Library, 2661 Oak Grove Road, Walnut Creek. Authors Gala April 16 6:30-10pm. Save the Date! The 7th Annual Walnut Creek Library Foundation Authors Gala will be on on April 16th! Free. Walnut Creek Library, 1644 N. Broadway Ave., Walnut Creek Diablo Trails Challenge April 17 Diablo Trails Challenge has a run for everyone from those hitting the trail for the first time to experienced ultra-runners with a 5k, 10k, Half Marathon and 50K. Hosted by Brazen Racing, this fundraising run for Save Mount Diablo showcases just a fraction of the Diablo wildernesses’ beauty and helps Save Mount Diablo to preserve, defend and restore more land for you, wildlife and future generations to enjoy. www.savemountdiablo.org Kids’ Night Out! April 18 6:30-10:30pm. Kids need a night out, too! Come create arts & crafts, play games, eat a snack and enjoy a movie! Feel free to come dressed up along with the theme for the month! Trained recreation staff will provide all the fun, excitement and supervision. Children are welcome to bring a sleeping bag and pillow for the movie. Children must be potty trained to attend. No pull-ups. Make sure to bring I.D. upon pick-up.Danville Community Center, 420 Front Street, Danville. Pre-registration is required at www. danvillerecguide.com Genealogical Society Meeting April 19 10am-12pm. You are invited to attend, no charge, the meeting of the San Ramon Valley Genealogical Society at the library of the LDS Church, 2949 Stone Valley Road Alamo. The program is Using Land Records for research. Speaker: Kathy Bourges. This program will be of interest to both beginner and the more advanced Genealogist. For information call Ed O’Donnell (925) 3104691, or visit http://srvgensoc.org/, or email SRVGS@SRVGenSoc.org ` 2015-2016 Newsmaker Speaker Series-Martin Luther King III April 19 7:30pm. Each year, speakers are selected from the fields of politics, international affairs, journalism, sports and entertainment to present a broad array of engaging topics. The selections are made by a committee of representatives of each partner. Tickets are $20. Lesher Center, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek. Check www.lesherartscenter.org/ for details regarding showtimes and dates and to purchase tickets. GFWC Danville Women’s Club April 21 11am. This meeting’s guest speaker will be a representative from Wounded Warriors. Socializing will begin at 11 a.m., and lunch at 11:30 a.m. Lunch is $7. 242 Linda Mesa Avenue, Danville. Contact Linda Perazzo at 925-642-2097or dwc-member@yahoo. com. www.danvillewomensclub.org. GFWC Danville Women’s Club “Shredding for Scholarships” April 23 9am -12:30pm. For a small donation of $5 per banker’s box of paper, the Danville Women’s Club will securely shred your documents. Proceeds go towards the scholarships awarded to tri valley seniors. For more information call Rosalia at (925) 8379486. www.danvillewomensclub.org. Earth Day Event April 23 11am-2pm. Bring the family to the Danville Library on April 23, 2016 for the annual Earth Day Celebration! Come down and enjoy some environmentally friendly activities. Danville Library, 400 Front St, Danville. All Ears Reading April 26 3-4pm. Hey kids, need practice with reading? Dogs are great listeners! Practice reading aloud for 30 minutes with a dog from All Ears Reading, a program of ARF. You may choose one session or the other, but not both. Please arrive five minutes before your registration time. No-show spaces will be given to drop-ins. Free. Ygnacio Valley Library, 2661 Oak Grove Road, Walnut Creek.
Four Days Diablo–A “Gently Roughing It” Camping Trip of Hiking and Gourmet Dining April 27-April 30 Enjoy an adventure through rarely seen Mount Diablo landscapes and epicurean delights including our very own Curry Canyon Ranch property. Each day as you tour and examine the majestic wilderness, staff hauls your gear and sets up your new camp while talented local chefs, from restaurants like Postino create delectable dishes on the spot. The most luxurious camping experience filled with discovery awaits you closer to home than you ever thought. Limited space available, sign up early. Be among the few to experience this unique trip. Maximum of 24 adults, $1,200 per person, proceeds benefit Save Mount Diablo’s land preservation programs. Please call 925-947-3535 to reserve your space. Deposit $600, first come, first served. www.savemountdiablo.org Ron Shoop talks books for the Spring! April 28 10:30am-12pm. Book lovers and reading group enthusiasts, gear up! Ron Shoop, passionate promoter of books and reading, will present exciting forthcoming titles for your reading delight. A free book raffle will conclude the program. Cosponsored by Project Second Chance. Registration is not necessary, but is helpful for an email reminder. Parking is limited, so do come early, and consider carpooling. Don’t miss this fun event! Free. 2661 Oak Grove Road, Walnut Creek. The 13th Annual-Lend-A-Hand Day April 30 8am-1pm. The Town of Danville, along with numerous volunteers from the community, are joining forces to provide senior citizens with no-cost yard cleanup. Danville Community Center, 420 Front Street, Danville. Individuals who would like to have help with their yard work should contact the Senior Center at 314-3430 or email seniors@danville.ca.gov to request an application. Individuals who want to volunteer for a work crew should sign up on the volunteer website: ww.danville.ca.gov/Volunteer_Opportunities SENIORS Danville Seniors Unless otherwise noted, the following activities are held at the Danville Senior Center, Veterans Memorial Building, 115 E. Prospect, Danville. For more information call 925-314-3490 or visit www.ci.danville.ca.us/Recreation/Seniors. Sneaker Trips: The Town of Danville’s Senior Sneakers program is a great way for you to make new friends and get out and around the greater Bay Area. There’s always something new to see and learn. The Danville Area Senior Hikes (DASH) are open to all adults and meets on the second and fourth Wednesday of every month. The group starts at the Danville Park-n-Ride (next to the Sycamore Valley 680 North exit) at 9 am and returns about 1Pm. Most hikes are not strenuous, but gradients are involved due to the local terrain. Distances are usually in the 4-5 mile range, and the pace is moderate, with stops to view scenery, wildlife and to talk about location history when appropriate. Information: 925-314-3400 or visit www.ci.danville.ca.us/Recreation/Seniors/ Senior_Hiking. San Ramon Seniors The following events are held at the Alcosta Senior & Community Center, 9300 Alcosta Blvd., San Ramon, unless otherwise noted. For more information call 925-973-3250 or visit www.sanramon. ca.gov/parks/programs/ages55+.htm. Wisdom Wednesdays: 10:30am-12pm. Free workshops and informational sessions that will benefit you. They will give you free access to coffee, knowledge and a better understanding of important issues. Information: 925-973-3250. Trips Trip Desk is open Tuesday from 10am-1pm. Sign up for trips at the travel desk or by depositing payment with registration form in the gold drop box found at the main entryway. Information: 973-3250. Wednesday Morning Hikes (time and location varies) Join the San Ramon Trailblazers if you are interested in meeting new people, enjoying the outdoors, having fun and getting in shape. The group meets once a week at various locations, This is an adults only group; pets are not permitted on hikes. To find out the exact meeting location and to get on the email list, please call the Senior Center or email trailblazer88@comcast.net.
Please email your calendar events to the Sentinel at Info@valleysentinel.com by 5pm on the 15th of the month preceding publication month. Inclusion in the calendar pages is at the sole discretion of Sentinel Newspapers, Inc.
valleysentinel.com Page Turners Senior Book Group Third Tuesday of the month 1:30pm. Drop in–all are welcome! Copies of this month’s book are on reserve for you at the San Ramon Library Front Desk. Book group meets at Alcosta Senior and Community Center, 9300 Alcosta Blvd. Information: Carol Yuke, Adult Services Librarian. 925-973-285. BUSINESS San Ramon Chamber of Commerce New and Future Member Orientation 4-5pm. Learn about the various Chamber services that can benefit your business. Free. RSVP and for location call 925-242-0600. 2016 Business and Culinary Showcase April 13 5-8pm. Come to the 2016 Business and Culinary Showcase to meet others and showcase yourself. Tickets can be purchased at www.danvillechambercart. com for $35.00. Crow Canyon Country Club, 711 Silver Lake Drive, Danville. Every Thursday BNI Noon-1:30pm. We are actively looking for new members to refer business to in the trades. We need a plumber, electrician, handyman and cleaning service but are also looking for other professions like property manager, event planner and many others. Vic Stewart’s Restaurant at 850 S Broadway in Walnut Creek. 925-3308275 or david@staff.webquarry.com CLUBS & ORGANIZATIONS Danville-Alamo-Walnut Creek Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy and research. AAUW membership is open to all graduates of accredited four year colleges or universities and those holding an Associate Degree or equivalent. Prospective members are welcome and may contact Liz at 3890152 for details. Visit daw-ca.aauw.net for meeting dates. Cancer workshops and support groups-Ongoing Most are free. Cancer Support Community, 3276 McNutt Avenue, Walnut Creek. Information / reservations call (925) 933-0107 or visit www. cancersupportcommunity.net. Fibro? CFIDS? Chronic Pain? If these are familiar to you, call about the San Ramon Valley support group for people who need support, information, classes and friendship from people who know what it’s like. We like to laugh while getting well. Call 925-837-0510. Hope Hospice Grief Support Groups– Ongoing Hope Hospice provides support to help you understand and manage grief in a way that is healthy and appropriate. Our Grief Support Center is available to all community members at minimal or no cost. Information: visit www. HopeHospice.com or call 925-8298770. Hospice of the East Bay Support groups and workshops for adults, children and teens experiencing grief after the death of a loved one. Classes will be offered at Hospice’s Administrative Offices: 3470 Buskirk Avenue; Pleasant Hill and the Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation: 2890 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek. Pre-registration is required for all groups and classes, except our drop-in group. To register, please call Hospice of the East Bay: (925) 887-5681. Information: www.hospiceeastbay.org Wind ‘n Sea Sailing Club Sailing training classes take place at members’ homes. Information: Call Jan at 925-837-3381.
april 2016 Forewomen Golf Association provides opportunities to play golf with other women who share the love of the game and also want to give back to our community through our charity program. FWGA is an associate club of the Northern California Golf Association (NCGA), not affiliated with any particular golf course. We offer five opportunities to play a week at East Bay courses. All levels welcome. For more information contact Cheryl Ramirez at communications@forewomengolf. org. Overcome inappropriate compulsive sexual behavior Avenue nonprofit ministry helps men overcome inappropriate compulsive sexual behavior and helps women heal from the betrayal of their relationship. Confidential groups for men and for women. No charge / donations accepted. Call (877-3267000). www.AvenueResource.com. RECURRING Mondays: The Walnut Creek Garden Club Meets the second Monday of each month. Meeting begins at 9:30am with community and socializing from 10:30-11:00am. You do not need to be a gardener to join the club. The Gardens at Heather Farm, 1540 Marchbanks Road, Walnut Creek. Information: californiagardenclubs. com/content/walnut-creek-gardenclub or mslittle44@gmail.com Danville Rotary 12pm. Meets every Monday. Black Bear Diner, 807 Camino Ramon, Danville. Information: danvillerotary. org. San Ramon Alzheimer Support Group 7-9pm. Meets the second Monday of each month, except on holidays. Sponsored by the Alzheimer Association. People who know or are caregivers of Alzheimer victims can get information on how to help them through this difficult time in life. San Ramon Senior & Community Center, 9300 Alcosta Blvd., San Ramon. Information: 925-973-3250. Sons In Retirement (Las Trampas Branch) Monthly Luncheon 11am. Meets the third Monday of each month, except for May and December. Make new friends, participate in fun activities. Make $15 luncheon reservations by calling 925-322-1160 by the preceding Wednesday. Walnut Creek Elks Lodge, 1475 Creekside Dr, Walnut Creek. Information: visit www.Branch116.org. Tuesdays: Danville am Toastmasters 7-8:30am. Want to improve your speaking and presentation skills? Toastmasters can help! Meets every Tuesday in downtown Danville. www.4143.toastmastersclubs.org Danville/Sycamore Valley Rotary 7am. Meets every Tuesday morning. Crow Canyon Country Club, Danville. Information: dsvrotary.com. Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS) Meeting Every Tuesday 8-10am. This Weight Loss Support Group provides a space for those who wish to lose weight. St. Timothy’s, 1550 Diablo Rd. 925-838-7870. Diablo View Toastmasters 8:15-9:15am. Meets every Tuesday. CMG Mortgage, 4th Floor Conference Room, 3160 Crow Canyon Rd., San Ramon. Information: 4160. toastmastersclubs.org. Walnut Creek Kiwanis Club 12:10-1:30pm. Meets every Tuesday. Massimo’s Ristorante, 1604 Locust Street, Walnut Creek. Information: kiwanisofwalnutcreek.org.
Walnut Creek Rotary 12:15-1:30pm. Meets every Tuesday. Heather Farms Garden Center, 1540 Marchbanks Drive, Walnut Creek. Information: rotarywc.org. ARF Pet Loss Support Group 5:30-7pm. Meets second Tuesday of every month. Register with Vicki at 925887-5681 or vickis@hospiceeastbay. org. ARF, 2890 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek. Information: arf.net. Divorced and Separated Workshop A new workshop series for divorced and separated people is being held on Tuesday evenings from 7- 8:30pm at St. Joan of Arc Parish, 2601 San Ramon Valley Blvd., San Ramon. Contact: Sue at smc9@sbcglobal.net. 925 -819-1809. Prostate Cancer Group 7:30–9pm. Meets 2nd Tuesday of the month. Drop-in prostate cancer group for men and their loved ones. San Ramon Regional Medical Center, South Building, West Day Room. 6001 Norris Canyon Road, San Ramon. Information: 925.933.0107 or www.twc-bayarea.org/ community-programs.html. Wednesdays: Walnut Creek Toastmasters 7-8:15pm. Meets every Wednesday. 1660 Oak Park Blvd., Pleasant Hill. Information: walnutcreek.freetoasthost. net Hospice of the East Bay Drop-in Bereavement Support 4:30-6pm, 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of every month. 3470 Buskirk Avenue; Pleasant Hill. Information: 925-887-5681 or visit www.hospiceeastbay.org. Alamo Rotary 12:15pm. Meets every Wednesday. Round Hill Country Club, 3169 Roundhill Road, Alamo. Info: alamorotary.org. Danville Toastmasters Club #1785 7:30-9pm. Meets every Wednesday. R o o m W2 0 4 a t D i a b l o Va l l e y College,1690 Watermill Road, San Ramon. Information: danvilletoastmasters1785.com. San Ramon Valley Rotary 7pm. Meets every Wednesday. Blackhawk Country Club, 599 Blackhawk Club Drive, 711 Silver Lake Drive, Danville. Info: sanramonvalleyrotary.com. Danville Lions Club 7pm. Meets the first and third Wednesday at the Black Bear Diner, 807 Camino Ramon, Danville. Information: Pat. Porter@hannaglobal.com Exchange Club of San Ramon Valley 12pm. Meets the second Wednesday of every month. Sign-in and social time begins at 11:30. Guests are welcome with lunch reservations. Faz Restaurant, 600 Hartz Ave., Danville. RSVP 925275-2412. Info: www.srvexchangeclub. org Walnut Creek Host Lion’s Club 12:15pm. Meets the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Wednesdays of each month. Black Bear Diner, 700 Bancroft Road, Walnut Creek. Information: walnutcreeklions.org. Blue Star Moms 7-9pm. Meets the second Wednesday of every month to participate in service activities supporting sons/daughters serving in the military. Danville Veterans Memorial Building, 400 Hartz Ave. Information: bluestarmoms.org. Sons in Retirement (San Ramon Valley chapter) Monthly Luncheon 10:30am; Social Hour, 11:35am Meeting and lunch. Meets the 3rd Wed. of each month. $23 includes luncheon. A great opportunity to socialize. To reserve a space, please email us by Friday prior to luncheon at www.info@SIR128.com. Location: San Ramon Golf Club, 9430 Fircrest Lane, San Ramon. Information: www.SIR128.com.
The Valley SenTinel Diablo Valley Quilters 7-9pm. Meets the third Wednesday of every month. No charge for guests. Danville Congregational Church, 989 San Ramon Valley Blvd., Danville. Information: diablovalleyquilters.com. Veterans of Foreign Wars 7pm. Meets the third Wednesday of every month. Veterans Memorial Hall, 400 Hartz Avenue, Danville. Information: Post Commander Ernie Petagara at 925-362-9806 or vfwpost75.org. Diablo Singles Dance Club 7-10pm. Meets the last Wednesday of every month. Live music, refreshments. Members $8, Guests $12. All welcome. 111N. Wiget Lane, Walnut Creek. Thursdays: San Ramon Valley Newcomers 11:30am-2pm. Meets the third Thursday of every month with a featured guest speaker at a local Tri-Valley restaurant. New and long-time adult residents are welcome. Reservations/information: susansgotbling@sbcglobal.net or www. srvnc.com. Rotary Club of San Ramon 11:45am. Meets every Thursday. Crow Canyon Country Club, 711 Silver Lake Drive, Danville. Information: sanramonrotary.org. San Ramon Valley Kiwanis Club Thursday at Noon. Black Bear Diner, 807 Camino Ramon, Danville. www. kiwanis-srv.org Clutterers Anonymous 7-8pm. Meets the 2nd and 4th Thursday of every month. St. Luke’s Lutheran Church room 3, 2491 San Miguel Drive, W alnut Creek. Information: 925736-8627. Diablo Valley Lions Club 7:30pm. Meets the 1st, 3rd, and 4th Thursday of every month. 1400 Montego Drive, Walnut Creek. Information: diablovalleyca.lionwap.org. Fridays: Transitions-“Navigating Life’s Turning Points Together” 9-11:30am. Our group now has a new name, which has been changed from TENS to Transitions. Our mission is to encourage and support women from empty nest, to aging parents and everything in between. Community Presbyterian Church, Room 116, 222 W. El Pintado Rd., Danville. Information: Contact Donna Hill at hillmom3@ comcast.net Saturdays: Diablo Region of the Porsche Club of America 7:30-9am. Meets every Saturday. Buttercup Bar and Grill, 660 Ygnacio
page 13
Valley Road, Walnut Creek. Information: diablo-pca.org. Parkinson’s Disease Support Group 9am-12pm. Meets every 3rd Saturday. Join us to share, laugh, and learn from each other. Meeting location is the Fireside Room at Grace Presbyterian Church, 2100 Tice Valley Blvd., Walnut Creek. Contact Gregg Riehl at (925) 254-8349 or jgriehl@gmail.com. Caregivers meet at same time in Oak Room of Grace Church. Free. All are welcome. Information: Howard Zalkin at 925 939 4210 or Ronnie Wanetick at 933-6357. Sundays: Cars n Coffee: First Sunday of Every Month 8-10am. Blackhawk Automotive Museum is hosting Cars and Coffee for automotive enthusiasts in the parking lots of Blackhawk Plaza. Our partner, Scott’s Catering, will provide coffee and other refreshments. Blackhawk Museum; 3700 Blackhawk Plaza Circle; Danville. Information: www. blackhawkmuseum.org.
Classifieds HELP WANTED Senior IT Applications Engineer BS in Computer Engineering, C.S. or rlt. & 9 yrs. rlt. exp. CV to careers@bankofthewest.com Risk Management Analyst: Master’s in Statistics, Economics, Math or rltd. & exp. with factor analysis. CV to: Bank of the West, 2527 Camino Ramon, San Ramon, CA 94583. ATTN: H.R. or email careers@bankofthewest.com. EEO. Position in San Ramon, CA. Sr. Data Analytics Administrator: Bachelor’s in C.S., Comp. Info. Systems or rltd. & 5 yr. rltd. exp. Bank of the West. Job in San Ramon, CA 94583. CV to careers@ bankofthewest.com. Sales Executive: Sentinel Newspapers, Inc. has immediate openings for a sales person for A La Carte Magazine and for the Valley Sentinel. Sales territory includes Danville, Alamo, San Ramon, Walnut Creek and Lafayette. Sales experience helpful. Will train the right person. Must have an outgoing personality and a positive attitude. Local Central Contra Costa residents only need apply. Please email your resume and request for interview to us at drousset@valleysentinel.com.
Community News & Information Danville • Blackhawk Alamo • Diablo • San Ramon Publisher/Editor-Denise Rousset Chief Financial Officer-Jeff Gummere Graphic Designer-Laurie Prindle Auto-David & Judy Colman Contributing Writer-Alison Clary Web Support-ewebsiteservices.com Intern-Paulina Fischer, MVHS Photography Intern-Imran Ali, MVHS
925-820-6047
390 Diablo Road, Suite 145 Danville, CA 94526
www.valleysentinel.com
page 14
AUTO
March 2016 2009 The valley Sentinel April
The 2016 Audi TT Coupe By David and Judy Colman
Welcome to your third helping of Audi’s bantam weight sports car, the TT, named after the Tourist Trophy race in England that Audi dominated back in the 1930s. The first TT made its debut in 1998, with spectacular looking inverted bathtub style coachwork. Ten years later, the second generation TT received a mild makeover that forsook some of the original design’s stubbiness in favor of a more streamlined silhouette. This third makeover for 2016 retains the current corporate trademark of a massive front grill, but leavens the heaviness of that big black snout with some very nice side panel detailing. In particular, the tooling around the pronounced fender arches is enticing. The redesign looks distinguished, if not as forceful or startling as the original. The largest deviation from tradition is the complete reorganization of the dashboard and instrument binnacle into a new life form Audi terms “Audi virtual cockpit.” Instead of
physical dial faces for the tachometer and speedometer, Audi has introduced digital simulacrums for both gauges which can be resized from large to small at the touch of a button marked “View” on the flat bottom steering wheel. At full size, these virtual gauges occupy as much shelf space as those in the original TT, but when you hit “View,” they reduce to disarmingly small iWatch size displays. Audi has eliminated the central dash mounted display screen of previous TTs and relocated it to the space between the virtual speedo and tach. When you call up Google Earth from the Navigation system (part of a $3,250 “Technology package”), you can display the mapping on the panel directly in front of you. When you minimize the instrument faces with the “View” button, the entire instrument binnacle fills with the map display instead. This is both good and bad. The good is that the map gives you immediate information about your location, including which way
the road turns next. The bad is that this information, which is constantly changing in front of your nose, is extremely distracting if you pay attention to it. Audi has managed to provide you with all the trappings of a self driving car here. The only problem is you still have to drive it. Now driving the TT is no chore, mind you, because it’s still a rather delectable sports car. The latest version, at just a tad over 3,100 pounds, weighs nearly 100 pounds less than its predecessor. In the scheme of present day sports machinery, the TT is a relative flyweight, especially when you consider its excellent power output of 220hp, and its 258lb.-ft. of torque. The turbocharged 4 cylinder engine will propel you to 60mph from a standstill in 5.4 seconds, with a speed of 98mph @ 13.8 seconds in the quarter mile. Those numbers indicate the TT to be usefully quick in back road passing situations, though we found that the 6-speed “S tronic” twin clutch automatic tended to up shift prematurely, at about 5500rpm, from 2nd to 3rd gear–even though the
gearbox was slotted in the Manual mode designed to prevent early up shifts. As a result, 2nd gear expired just when you most needed its punch. A possible answer to this quandary is to opt for the TTS version of this car, equipped with a 292hp turbo 4 making 280lb.-ft. of torque. The TT boasts full time “quattro” all-wheel drive. When you combine the grip of AWD with very sticky 245/40R19 Bridgestone S001 radial rubber, mounted on optional ($1,000) “5-arm star design” alloys, you’ve hit on a combo bred to attack back roads. Audi offers four “Drive Select” chassis settings which can be dialed up instantaneously from a paddle switch on the dash. Chose “Comfort” and the TT glides over bumps and leans a bit in turns, while its exhaust note remains unheard. Dial up “Dynamic,” however, and all the suspension settings stiffen to plywood resilience, the exhaust note becomes throatily audible, and the steering response tightens to micrometer precision. Even during heavy rain outings, it was almost impossible
valleysentinel.com to dislodge the quattro TT from its trajectory in tight turns. The grip of this newly improved and lighter chassis is simply unimpeachable. Yet you can turn the TT back into a boulevard cruiser in an instant by resetting the drive choice system to “Comfort.” In that mode, and with the S tronic gearbox slotted into Drive, the TT assumes a much calmer personality. In fact, it reminds us very much of our family’s Mercedes Benz 250SL, a rather stately and attractive boulevard cruiser entirely lacking sports car handling. The beauty of the newest TT is that you can have it both ways, at just the flip of a switch. 2016 AUDI TT Coupe 2.0T ENGINE: 2.0 liter inline 4, turbocharged, direct injection HORSEPOWER: 220hp TORQUE: 258lb.-ft. FUEL CONSUMPTION: 23 MPG City/30 MPG Highway PRICE AS TESTED: $50,600 HYPES: Better and Lighter New Platform GRIPES: S tronic Up shifts Unbidden, Rear Wiper Needed STAR RATING: 9 Stars out of 10
valleysentinel.com
april 2016
The Valley SenTinel
page 15
County uses new placard system to grade restaurant food safety By Candace Andersen. Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors
Our Contra Costa County Environmental Health department provides many services, one of which is making sure our restaurants are clean and safe. Each year the County’s trained foodsafety specialists conduct thousands of unannounced restaurant inspections to prevent foodborne illnesses. They attempt to visit each food establishment at least twice a year. Last month, the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors approved a new restaurant placarding program that will make it easier for the public to understand how a restaurant has scored on its most recent food safety inspection. The placarding system replaces the formerly used letter grading system. The Green, Yellow and Red placards will be issued and posted by
Contra Costa Environmental Health, and are intended to help customers easily understand a business’s food safety record, promote best practices for safe food handling, increase consumer confidence about overall cleanliness and raise awareness about critical food safety risk factors. A Green placard indicates that the establishment has passed its most recent inspection, and affirms that no more than one major violation was present and corrected at the time of inspection. A Yellow placard indicates a conditional pass; two or more major violations were present and corrected at inspection.
Certain violations will result in immediate closure of a food facility. A closed facility receives a Red placard and may not reopen until a subsequent re-inspection clears it to do so. The closure is due to one or more imminent health hazards not corrected on site during inspection. Reasons for Red placard/closure include: employees diagnosed and working in a facility with a communicable disease; no potable water available onsite; lack of hot water in hand wash, food prep, or utensil washing sinks; vermin, rodent or insect infestations; major damage due to fire; lack of electricity or power; sewage backup in facility; or refrigeration units not working properly. Placarding requirements apply to all retail food facilities except “cottage” or home food operations, vending machines, temporary food events, certified farmers’ markets and farm stands. Criteria used for placarding are based on the critical risk factors identified by the
Centers for Disease Control & Prevention to prevent foodborne illness. Anyone can request to see a copy of a facility’s most recent inspection report. You can also find a list of violations found at its most recent inspection by visiting www. cchealth. org/eh, or by using Contra Costa County’s Food Inspector App which was developed by the County Health Services Department’s Environmental Health Division. It is the first agency in California to do so. The free app allows users to search inspection results for the past five years for 4,200 food facilities in Contra Costa County. It includes everything from restaurants to coffee shops to ice cream vendors. The inspection histories show what, if any, violations these food
facilities have been required to correct. With this app, routine inspections are being uploaded weekly. Any closure information will be updated each evening. To learn more about California Food Inspector, visit your Apps Store to see a detailed description of the app. For more information, call Contra Costa Environmental Health at 925-692-2500. My office is here to serve the residents of Contra Costa County District 2, which includes San Ramon, Danville, Alamo, Walnut Creek, Saranap, Parkmead, Lafayette, Moraga, Canyon and Orinda. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if we can provide you with additional information on this topic or on other County issues. I can be reached at SupervisorAndersen@bos. cccounty.us or 925-957-8860.
DIABLO MOTORS AUTO SALES • SERVICE • DETAILING
Happy Spring!
Announcing “DIABLO CERTIFIED” Vehicles! Includes One Year Warranty AND One Year FREE Maintenance!
“SPRING BRAKE” Special Includes: Free Synthetic Oil Service (Value $145) with any complete brake job, front or rear.
$29,900
Good through 4/30/16
2013 Jeep Wrangler Sport 4x4 VIN: 1C4BJWDG8DL607414
$ 38,900 2013 Mercedes E350 Cabriolet VIN: WDDKK5KF7DF192124
$299 SPRING CLEANING Includes: -Interior and exterior cleaning -Clay bar and wax exterior -Detail engine compartment Larger/Dirtier vehicles extra Good through 4/30/16
Call (925) 830-8747 for an appointment today!
$39,900 2013 Audi Q5 V6 Quattro S-Line VIN: WBADW3C58DJ525037
$29,900 2011 BMW 335i Hardtop Convertible VIN: WBADX7C59BE581403
2067 San Ramon Valley Blvd, San Ramon www.diablomotors.com (925) 830-8747
page 16
The Valley SenTinel
april 2016
valleysentinel.com
SIMPLE SAVINGS TO CELEBRATE JEEP’S 75TH ANNIVERSARY!
That’s Simple! We’ve got the best selection in the Bay!
We are lookin for the perfecg Renegade. t
Where Saving Is Simple! 2404 N. Main Street Walnut Creek, CA 94596
walnutcreekcjdr.com | 888-551-8603
It’s Simple
Beautiful Designer Furniture and Jewelry all at Consignment Prices!
NEW THINGS Every Few Minutes!
Danville 925-866-6164 1901-F Camino Ramon
Campbell
408-871-8890
Corte Madera 415-924-6691
Mountain View 650-964-7212
San Carlos
650-508-8317
www.theHomeConsignmentCenter.com