The Valley Sentinel_Aug 2016 by Sentinel Newspapers, Inc.

Regional Parks

Alamo • Danville • Blackhawk • Diablo • San Ramon

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SENTINEL always for the community VOl 21 nO 8

Inside this month... East Bay Regional Park District Regional in Nature Activity Guide

august 2016

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SPOTLIGHT

De La Salle grad inducted into US Naval Academy Donald P. Lofe, III, a Danville resident and graduate of De La Salle High School in Concord, California was inducted into the U.S. Naval Academy Class of 2020 Thursday, June 30, 2016 and began six challenging weeks of basic midshipman training as part of Plebe Summer. Approximately 1,200 candidates are selected each year for the Academy’s “plebe” or freshman class, and each student is required to participate in Plebe

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On Thursday July 14, downtown Danville became a party zone as the 2016 Hot Summer Nights Hot Rod and Classic Car Show got underway. Two of these family events take place each summer with the next one coming up Thursday August 11 from 4-9pm. This beautiful old Plymouth is a favorite, and is just one of many fabulous cars to see at this event.

Killdeer get off to a rocky start with gravel nests By James Hale The Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) is one of our most easily identified shorebirds in Contra Costa County due to its characteristic, noisy, loud, and piercing call, kill-dee, or deedee-dee. Some early naturalists called them the Noisy Plover or Chattering Plover. The genus name Charadrius is derived from Ancient Greek kharadrios for a bird found in ravines and river valleys. The specific vociferus is Latin, and comes from vox, “cry” and ferre, “to bear”. The adults have a brown back and wings, a white belly, and a white breast with diagnostic, double, black breast bands and reddish orange rump, which is highly visible in flight and during displays. The downy young have only one breast band. The dark breast bands give

the birds the appearance of having a white neck collar because of the additional dark band surrounding the head. The brown tail has a black subterminal band, a white terminal band, and white outer tail feathers. White wing stripes are visible during flight. Males and females are similar in appearance, although breeding females may have additional brown plumage on the head. The long legs are flesh colored and the bill is short, dark, and thick. The orange-red eye ring is distinctive. Killdeer range all across the Western Hemisphere, and are year-round residents throughout the southern half of the United States, Mexico, and parts of Peru. During the summer, killdeer

live as far north as the Canadian provinces of Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, the Yukon, Quebec, and southern Alaska to breed and nest as weather permits. Killdeer are one of the earliest spring migrants, often leaving northern climes by February. They winter throughout Central America, and as far south as northern South America. Although Killdeer are technically shorebirds, they are often found far from water. They live in grasslands, fields, meadows, and pastures, as well as mudflats and shorelines. Killdeer mainly eat insects, earthworms, snails, crayfish, grasshoppers, beetles, aquatic insects and their larvae, seeds, and invertebrates which they

forage for by sight in fields, mudflats, and shorelines. Agricultural fields with short or sparse vegetation, savannahs, open wetlands, and roadside edge habitat, are preferred nesting habitat. Killdeer have been recorded using gravel roof tops as nesting habitat. One set of chicks survived a leap from a seven-story building. The nest is nothing more than a shallow depression or scrape, sometimes lined with grasses, vegetation, or other soft material. A Killdeer at

This month’s Special Section:

Kids & Teens–Back to School pages 8 - 9

See Killdeer page 4

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

page 2

The Valley Sentinel

Surf’s Up! Now - August 18 Surf’s Up will showcase the sea and surf themed artwork of 15 ocean and sun loving artists who hail from the tropics of Hawaii to secluded Marin County Beach Towns to the famous California Surf Town of Santa Cruz. $5 donation appreciated. Village Theatre, 233 Front Street Danville. 314-3400 or villagetheatreshows.com. Blackhawk Plaza Rockin’ The Plaza Now - August 26 on Fridays 7pm. Blackhawk Plaza is the place to be for a rockin’ good time on Friday nights in August with the return of their popular free summer concert series. Limited VIP seating is available for $50 per person on a first come, first served basis and

August 2016

beverages will be available for purchase. Performers include; Stealin’ Chicago, Queen Nation, Greg Kihn. 3380 Blackhawk Plaza Circle. Danville. www. blackhawkplaza.com or 7362751.

Summer Camp for Grown-Ups August 11 9am. A full day of fun and books and programs. Grab your friends and build your perfect summer day with writers Sara Henry, Ramona Ausubel, and Janis Cooke Newman. $115 includes a bag of books and other goodies. Rakestraw Books, 3 Railroad Avenue, Danville. 837-7337 or rakestrawbooks.com Broadway Plaza’s Summer Concert Series Every Thursday night in August 6:30 to 8:30pm. This year’s event will be located

valleysentinel.com a surfboard collage and surf shack. Ages 5-11. $18. Village Theatre, 233 Front Street Danville. 314-3400 or villagetheatreshows.com.

in Broadway Plaza’s brand new Event Plaza, which is near Macy’s and the newly opened Broadway Lane. Concert Series Line-Up: August 11 - Foreverland; August 18 - Mustache Harbor; August 25 - Tainted Love. Free. No outside food or beverage, please. Food and beverage will be available at all concerts. Limited seating provided. www. broadwayplaza.com/Events.

Young at Art August 11 3:45 – 5pm. Catch the current exhibition of surf memorabilia and surfboards and then create

Hot Summer NIghts Hot Rod and Classic Car Show. August 11 4-9pm. Come to Downtown Danville with the family to see rare one-ofa-kind collector cars, along with the most powerful Hot Rods and Muscle cars. You will see Custom Designed Cars from some of the world’s most famous automobile designers, and beautifully maintained classic originals. Hartz Avenue, Danville Preschool Performance Series - The Bubble Lady August 12 10am & 1pm. Presented in 1 hour with no intermission. $5. Village

Theatre, 233 Front Street Danville. 314-3400 or villagetheatreshows.com. Fresh Voices XVI “Memories & Desires” August 12 - 27 8:15pm. Two new chamber operas by American and European composers, and performed by an outstanding cast of Bay Area singers and musicians. $35. George and Sonja Vukasin Theatre, 1601 Civic Dr, Walnut Creek. Lesherartscenter.showare.com Eve Marie UNPLUGGED! with Mike Williams and Paul McKnight August 14 5pm. Join Bay Area Singer-Songwriter Eve Marie Shahoian and Friends as they take you through an intimate, acoustic journey of song! $25. Village Theatre, 233 Front Street Danville. 3143400 or villagetheatreshows. com. Art and Wine Stroll August 18 6pm - 9pm. Enjoy a fun-filled evening of

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

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wine tasting, small bites, the latest offerings from our shops, live music, a commemorative wine glass and trolley rides during the 13th Annual Art and Wine Stroll in Danville. Relish our area’s finest wines as you stroll throughout downtown Danville and Danville Livery. Free. Along Hartz Avenue in Downtown Danville. danvilleareachamber.com/ events/art-wine-stroll-2 Dixieland Jazz August 20 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.

august 2016 The 31st Annual Music in the Park Series Journey Unauthorized (Journey Tribute) August 20 6-8pm. Spend the day under the sun surrounded by friends, neighbors, and great music! Bring a picnic and a blanket. Free. Town Green, 400 Front Street, Danville. www.danville.ca.gov/ Things-To-Do/CommunityEvents Anthology of Earth Wind and Fire featuring The New Larry Dunn Orchestra August 20 7:30pm. Concert for a Cause benefiting the Child Abuse Prevention Council of Contra Costa County. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek. 945-SHOW or www. lesherartscenter.org Where Have All the People Gone? August 23 - September 30 Featuring selections from the National Institute for Artists with Disabilities (NIAD) Art Center. Donations accepted. Village Theatre, 233 Front Street Danville. 314-3400 or villagetheatreshows.com.

Danville Children’s Musical Theatre Auditions for Music Man, Jr. August 24 4-6 pm. DCMT is a California non-profit corporation co-sponsored by the Town of Danville, dedicated to enriching the lives of young people by providing a vehicle for them to perform Musical Theater. Rehearsals will be each Monday and Wednesday, 4 to 6 pm, at the Village Theatre or the Town Meeting Hall, next to the Theatre. (No rehearsal September 5) Performances are November 17, 18, 19, 25, 26 . Please do not audition if you cannot be at all the rehearsals and performances. There is a participant fee of $400. pamelagreenan@yahoo.com Thursdays @ the VT presents Labyrinth August 25 7:30pm. 16-year-old Sarah accidentally summons the Goblin King to steal

The Valley SenTinel away her baby brother Toby. She’s given 13 hours to solve a labyrinth or she will never see Toby again. Starring David Bowie and featuring some of Jim Henson’s most creative, complex puppets. Rated PG. $5. Village Theatre, 233 Front Street Danville. 3143400 or villagetheatreshows. com. Night at the Improv It’s All Greek To Me August 27 8pm. Join Suburban Thunder Improv Company for spontaneous improvisational theater! All based on your suggestions, we’ll create a one-of-a-kind show just for you! In honor of the 2016 Olympics, join us for an evening of gold medal winning improv! Suitable for ages 14+. $10. Front Row Theater, 17011 Bollinger Canyon Rd, San

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Ramon. 973-2787 or www. sanramon.ca.gov/parks/ theater Preschool Performance Series - Zappo the Magician September 2 10am. Presented in 1 hour with no intermission. Fun and unique top-level entertainer for preschoolaged children. $5. Village Theatre, 233 Front Street Danville. 314-3400 or villagetheatreshows.com. Role Players Ensemble presents SEASCAPE by Edward Albee Sept. 2 – 18 Two unusual couples take an existential journey pondering the big questions of life in this Pulitzer Prize winning play. $20 - $28. The Village Theatre, 233 Front Street, Danville. www. RolePlayersEnsemble.com

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The Valley Sentinel August 2016

Advertorial

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Partners in Cancer Care, are experts in the treatment of skin cancers, we are strong advocates in cancer prevention including simple sun safety measures, no matter what season it is. Knowing the risks and following our tips can help prevent the most common form of cancer in the United States. Arm Yourself with Sunscreen Sunscreen may be the most valuable tool in preventing skin cancer. In accordance with the American Cancer Society,

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we suggest at least SPF 30 for long-term sun exposure and at least SPF 15 for dayto-day use. The new FDA guidelines require “broadspectrum sunscreens” that combine UVB and UVAabsorbing chemicals and/or physical blockers, and thus give the widest range of protection. Check the label to make sure you are saving your skin from BOTH of the sun’s damaging rays. How much to put on? Sunscreen is only effective if used properly. Remember Epic Care’s rule for sunblock: 2-30. It takes about two tablespoons of sunblock to cover the entire body and should be applied 30 minutes before actually going outside. This gives the skin enough time to absorb the lotion and become effective in blocking the UV rays. Don’t forget to reapply every few hours, after drying off, or after excessive sweating. If all possible, we also suggest avoiding the sun from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., KILLDEER from page 1 one nest site in Oklahoma accumulated more than 1,500 tiny pebbles. The four to six splotched eggs resemble stones or cobble, and are well camouflaged. Incubation is from twentytwo to twenty-eight days. The hatchlings are precocial and able to see and forage very soon after hatching. Killdeer are known for their “distraction display” or broken-wing act, where they feign injury to draw potential predators away from their nest or young. If necessary, killdeer will fluff up their feathers, raise their tail over their heads, and charge large animals that disturb them or their nests and young. Often, three broods may be raised in optimal seasons. Coastal wetlands, intertidal, and beach habitat become important during the nonbreeding season. The oldest recorded Killdeer was at least ten years, eleven months old during banding operations in Kansas. Killdeer have been able to tolerate, adapt to, and even exploit a wide range of semi-urban and agricultural habitats which have allowed them to become so widespread and common. Killdeer were present in every corner of

valleysentinel.com sun bathing, and tanning salons. There simply is no safe tan. UVA rays are just as carcinogenic as UVB rays and should be avoided to prevent any damage. Topping off the Protection Hats, sun-protective clothing, and sunglasses are other important items we recommend to help block the sun. Wide brimmed hats can help shield the nose, ears, shoulders and scalp from burns. It only takes one bad sunburn in childhood to double your chances of developing melanoma later in life, according to the ACS. Remember to pack these items for young children as well. The Mirror Never Lies It’s crucial to know every mole and freckle on your body. Any change can signify a problem and should be checked by a doctor immediately. Selfexams are recommended more frequently for those who have fair skin, have atypical moles and/or freckles, or have a history of severe burns.

When examining moles, remember A-B-CD-E: • A is for ASYMMETRY: One half of a mole or birthmark does not match the other. • B is for BORDER: Normal spots have smooth edges. Cancerous spots may have irregular, ragged, notched or blurred edges. • C is for COLOR: The color is not the same throughout and may include shades of brown or black or sometimes with patches of red, white or blue. • D is for DIAMETER: Benign moles are about the size of a pencil eraser – about 1/4 inch. Anything larger is worrisome. • E is for ELEVATED: Having a spot above skin level is another warning sign. Dr. Chao is a board certified radiation oncologist and an expert in advanced noninvasive skin cancer treatments using electronic brachytherapy, High-dose rate brachytherapy, and beam radiotherapy, with Epic Care. www.epic-care. com.

Contra Costa County during most recent breeding bird surveys. The species is partial to gravel parking lots and road shoulders, railroad beds, muddy edges and levees of ponds, agricultural fields, rocky creek bottoms, lawns, golf courses, and athletic fields, often in close company with humans. According to the North American Breeding Bird Survey, between 1966 and 2014, Killdeer populations declined by about 47%,

with steeper declines in Canada and the West. A 2012 study estimates about 2 million breeding birds in North America. Killdeer are vulnerable to pesticide poisoning and collisions with cars and buildings, because they tend to live so close to people. James M. Hale is a Wildlife Biologist, Ethnobiologist, and Ecological Consultant based in Contra Costa County. Please visit his website at www.dochale.com.

valleysentinel.com August 2016

The Valley Sentinel

page 5

Advertorial

Natural Treatment for Rotator Cuff Injuries By Dr. Niele Maimone, DC

The Rotator Cuff muscles (four muscles in total) are the primary support structures for the shoulder. Therefore, even minor dysfunction associated with these muscles can create pain and decreased performance of everyday tasks. A Rotator Cuff injury can be caused by many everyday activities. These activities include traumatic events (e.g. fall on an outstretched arm, “yanking” of the arm), repetitive motion (e.g. throwing a ball, carrying children) and chronic improper posture (e.g. operating a computer, driving). There are three major types of Rotator Cuff injuries that we treat successfully: 1. Rotator Cuff Muscle Tears: This is a partial tear of one or more of the four Rotator Cuff muscles. Rotator Cuff muscle tears are often accompanied by deep achy pain in the shoulder and arm weakness.

NAVAL ACADEMY from page 1 Summer. Last year the Naval Academy received over 17,500 applications for the Class of 2019. During this time, plebes have no access to television, movies, the internet or music, and restricted access to cell phones. They are only permitted to make three calls during the six weeks of Plebe Summer. The pressure and rigor of Plebe Summer is carefully designed to help plebes prepare for their first academic year at the Naval Academy and the four years of challenge, which awaits them. As the summer progresses, the new midshipmen rapidly assimilate basic skills in seamanship, navigation, damage control, sailing, and handling yard patrol craft. Plebes also learn infantry drill and how to shoot 9 mm pistols and M-16 rifles.

2. Tendonitis: Tendons are at the ends of each muscle and attach the muscles to the bones they move. When there is inflammation of these tendons it is called Tendonitis. The symptoms of Rotator Cuff Tendonitis are often trigger point pain over the tendon accompanied by deep, achy pain in the shoulder and arm weakness. 3. Rotator Cuff Impingement Syndrome: Chronic injury of the Rotator Cuff can lead to a “pinching” of the nerves passing through the shoulder. This is commonly referred to as a Shoulder Impingement or Rotator Cuff Impingement. Symptoms often include numbness, tingling or sharp, shooting pain into the arm or hand. HOW DO I HEAL MY SHOULDER PAIN? The most common forms of medical treatment for Rotator Cuff injuries are anti-inflammatory medications, cortisone injections and surgery. Although meds and injections may reduce

the severity of pain associated with rotator cuff dysfunction, they are not a long-term solution and may do more bodily harm than good in the long run. Surgery is a last resort and should only be used if there is irreparable damage to the shoulder that cannot be handled with proper rehabilitation. First: Heal the Damaged Tissue Ending the pain caused by a Rotator Cuff injury requires stopping the cycle of inflammation that is creating the pain. 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. 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 creates an optimal healing environment that reduces inflammation, swelling, muscle spasms, stiffness and pain. As the injured area returns to normal, pain is relieved and function is restored.

Other daily training sessions involve moral, mental, physical or professional development and team-building skills. Activities include swimming, martial arts, basic rock climbing, obstacle, endurance and confidence courses designed to develop physical, mental and team-building skills. Forty hours are devoted to the instruction of infantry drill and five formal parades. Founded in 1845, the U.S. Naval Academy today is a prestigious four-year service academy that prepares midshipmen morally, mentally and physically to be professional officers in the naval service. U.S. News and World Reports has recognized the Naval Academy as a top five undergraduate engineering school and a top 20 best liberal arts college. Midshipmen learn from military and civilian instructors and participate in intercollegiate varsity

sports and extracurricular activities. They also study subjects such as leadership, ethics, small arms, drill, seamanship and navigation, tactics, naval engineering and weapons, and military law. Upon graduation, midshipmen earn a Bachelor of Science degree in a choice of 25 different subject majors and go on to serve at least five years of exciting and rewarding service as commissioned officers in the U.S. Navy or U.S. Marine Corps. The Brigade of Midshipmen is comprised of approximately 4,400 students from every state in the union and a handful of international students. Each year, approximately 1,200 young men and women are admitted to the Naval Academy’s incoming class. The academy’s alumni include one president, 21 members of Congress, five governors, 73 Medal of Honor recipients, two Nobel Prize winners, 52 astronauts and over 4,000 admirals and generals.

Second: Correct the Shoulder and Postural Mechanics Long-term pain relief of shoulder injuries involves rehabilitation of the shoulder, neck, and thoracic spine. Shoulder rehabilitation is achieved by utilizing specific postural adjustments, exercises and specific posture stabilizing methods in order to re-establish proper motion and strength of the shoulder joint. Ongoing strengthening and stretching exercises are used to rehabilitate the musculature of the shoulder

to ensure lasting results. If you suffer from chronic pain, it is worth your while to spend some time figuring out which of any number of factors are contributing to your pain — we will help you explore which combination of therapies will help you heal it. The good news is — you can do it without drugs, and you can get back to the activities you love! Dr. Niele Maimone, DC is the owner and founder of Align Healing Center in Danville, CA. For more information or to set up a consult call 925.362.8283 or visit www. alignhealingcenter.com.

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with the Engineering Degree may be an excellent COO. 2. Prepare to be surprised – You may have a great plan in place only to find that after working in the family business for 2 years, your son has changed his mind and actually doesn’t see himself doing this for the rest of his life. Now what? Your plan needs a major reworking and that’s ok. Better to find out now while you are still involved and can help create and implement an alternative solution. 3. Don’t forget estate taxes – You worked hard to build your business from scratch and now may be surprised to learn that you can’t simply pass it on to your kids without any taxes. We each have a $5.45M lifetime credit for gifting and estate planning purposes, which means if your business is worth $15M or $20M, your kids will have a huge tax bill to face when you pass the business down to them. If their only real asset is the business, they will have to sell it or take loans just to pay the taxes. There are myriad ways a Financial Planner can alleviate this problem but only if you plan ahead. 4. Consider non family members – I recently helped a 3rd generation familyowned business install their 1st non-family member CEO. After 3 different kids took turns as CEO before deciding it was not for them, the father feared he would have to take the company back over himself. Instead we worked with an Executive Recruiter to find an outside CEO and 6 months in, so far it’s looking like we made an excellent decision. It’s premature now but we are already

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With summer in full swing, for most families July and August mean vacation time. For business owners like myself, taking a vacation and being totally disconnected from the office is easier said than done. For many business owners, vacation time is actually when they become most aware of how tight their grip is on the family business. They find themselves checking in with the office every day only to come back and find a mess that they then have to spend weeks cleaning up. With this pattern in place, its little wonder that the thought of transitioning their business to other family members sends shivers down their spine. As my business coach once taught me, if you have a problem create a process and soon enough, you will not have that problem. So here is my 5 step plan as you consider how to transition your business to the next generation or other family members 1. Plan early – Do not wait until you are 2 years from retirement to start planning for this transition. Identify roles and responsibilities early and carefully consider the personality types involved. While you may be the CEO, COO, and Head of Sales, it’s possible that you will need to split these roles up when passing them on to your kids for example. Your outgoing daughter may make a great head of Sales while your son

considering ways to lock in the non-family member CEO since he doesn’t and probably won’t ever own the company stock. 5. Communicate the plan – I am always amazed at the lack of communication that takes place within some family businesses. Sometimes its fear that the kids are too young to know all of the numbers, especially how much mom and dad are making. Whatever the case may be, you cannot expect your kids to eventually take over the family business if you don’t get them involved in board meetings and other forms of formal communications. The idea that one day they will just show up and take over is a recipe for disaster. Even if you don’t want them to know everything, get them involved and make sure they understand your vision. Our firm has helped business owners plan and implement exit strategies for 30 years. Whether that’s an external sale or an internal transition to the next generation, we can help. If you want to sit down and discuss your options, send me an email at rob@swrpteam. com or give us a call at 925927-1900. Robert Cucchiaro is a Certified Financial Planner. 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. www. summitwealthandretirement. com

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Sponsored by the Walnut Creek Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Contra Costa (LCC), the Bay Area’s premier countywide leadership program, accepts 25–30 individuals from throughout the county with diverse backgrounds to participate in the program. LCC is geared to people who want to make a difference in the communities in which they live and work. Topics include Health and Aging, The Price of Justice, Business and the Economy, Environment, Education, Technology, Government and

Politics, and Housing and Transportation. For 29 years Leadership Contra Costa has been helping identify and prepare community leaders. With an alumni roster of more than 600 graduates, including Mayor of Walnut Creek Loella Haskew, former Mayors of Walnut Creek Cindy Silva and Kathy Hicks, former Assemblywoman Lynne Leach, former Concord Mayor, Lou Rosas; Martinez Mayor Rob Schroder; and Ret. Superior Court Judge Harlan Grossan, this program has proven to

be an asset to the community and society. As Leadership Contra Costa program enters its 30th year, applications are being accepted. If you are interested in finding out more about the program, please contact Marcie Hochhauser, Senior Vice President of the Walnut Creek Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau at (925) 934-2007. Additional information can also be found at www.walnut-creek. com/walnut-creek-programsand-committees/walnutcreek-programs/leadershipcontra-costa

valleysentinel.com

august 2016

The Valley SenTinel

page 7

Alamo News Update By Steve Mick

“I think that I shall never see…” Alamo lost an ancient friend recently. The large oak tree in the meadow at Hap Magee Ranch Park suffered a catastrophic failure in the middle of the night and split right in two. One side fell immediately to earth. The remaining section stayed erect but was deemed much too dangerous to remain standing. Crews took down the rest of this grand old tree the next day. It was estimated that the oak was about 150 years old. This means that it started its life shortly after the American Civil War concluded. This relic of history will be sorely missed. Alamo residents have always had strong emotional ties to our trees. The Boulevard of Trees Project is

perhaps the best example. This was organized by the late Andrew H. Young and other community leaders. The goal was to beautify Alamo by planting trees along Danville Boulevard. The project was active from 1987-2005 with the mission of enhancing and preserving the rural character of Alamo. As part of the project Alamo residents were invited to purchase a tree that would be planted on Danville Blvd. A tree cost $100 and a tree that included 3 years of watering and maintenance cost $250. The project was a success. From 1989 to 1993, there were about 90 tree dedications from individuals and organizations. Many people chose to dedicate their tree in memory of a loved one. The trees were identified by location so that the buyers could know which tree was theirs. However, over the intervening years many of the trees lost their identity. In response to this issue, the Alamo Beautification

Committee (Zone 36) started a marking project to identify every tree in Alamo that was part of the Project. A round aluminum metal tag with the tree identifier was attached to each identified tree. If you see a tree with such a tag, you can be sure that it is an original tree of the Boulevard of Tree Project, and you can also be sure that the tree is a protected tree as defined by County Ordinance 816-6. For more information visit my website www.alamore. org and click on “Community Information” then select the “Boulevard of Trees” item. Located here is the text of the original brochure and a list of dedications. “…A poem lovely as a tree.”–Joyce Kilmer 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.

Annual Bike Ride to Help Wounded Veterans Each year the Dougherty Valley/San Ramon Rotary Foundation organizes a bike ride event that benefits the local non-profit, Sentinels of Freedom. The event is held in two parts, a bicycle ride that starts in the morning and a Hopfest in the afternoon. This year’s event will take place on September 17th, 2016. The event is aptly named the Veteran’s Victory Velo or V3 Hopfest, as money raised by the event is to be used by Sentinels of Freedom to provide multi-faceted scholarships for wounded veterans. Proceeds raised by

the Hopfest helps to support the Rotary foundation. Participants have the option to choose between 30, 60, or 100 mile ride options that take riders through the foothills of Mount Diablo, San Ramon Valley, and Livermore Valley. The Hopfest will feature 20 craft breweries, live music, and food trucks. Hundreds of cyclists and supporters of Sentinels of Freedom have come out in recent years to support the V3 event, and hundreds more who choose not to participate in the actual bike ride, attend the Hopfest

For more information about the event please visit www.v3hopfest.com. For more information about Sentinels of Freedom, please visit http://www. sentinelsoffreedom.org.

Hap McGee’s old oak tree split in two

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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.

Looking for 2nd Infantry Vets The Second (Indianhead) Division Association is searching for anyone who served in the Army’s 2nd Infantry Division at any time. For information about the association and our 95th annual reunion in Springfield, Missouri from September 20 - 24, 2016, contact secretary-treasurer, Bob Haynes, at 2idahq@comcast.net or 224-225-1202; or visit www.2ida.org.

To learn more about our organization please visit us at: www.sentinelsoffreedom.org www.facebook.com/sentinelsoffreedom (925) 380-6342 info@sentinelsoffreedom.org

Kids & Teens page 8

The Valley SenTinel

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

august 2016

valleysentinel.com

Learning to alter brainwave patterns helps kids with ADD/HD understands the mental health Parents with children who have difficulty in school often struggle to find a reason, and ultimately, a solution. Three to seven percent of the time this problem is a level of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD). Symptoms of AD/HD include hyperactivity and impulsivity, and it often interferes with learning. According to educational psychologist Jack Davis, ADD or AD/HD is “really a difficulty in modulating attention. The environment has more of an impact. If they are doing something that is really exciting, it grips their attention, and they can’t override it.” This is similarly true when a child is bored and unable to focus on a task. Attention disorders can affect more than academic performance, however. Teen drivers who suffer from AD/ HD “have nearly four times as many automobile accidents, are more likely to cause bodily injury accidents, and have three times as many citations,” according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Younger children who are affected experience four to five times as many poisonings, burns, falls, and accidents. AD/HD may also cause family stress, relationship problems, injuries, depression and substance abuse. However, an accurate diagnosis can improve the whole family dynamic. “Parents know [the child] is not lazy or bad,” Davis said. “The child knows it, too.” After diagnosis, parents face yet another problem: how to treat it. Many families turn to medication, receiving prescriptions for stimulant drugs such as Ritalin or Adderall. The advantage of early diagnosis could be offset

by the side effects of drug treatment. Sleep problems, weight loss, and changes in cardiac rhythm have been reported as drug treatment side effects. An alternative approach to treatment – without medication – called neurotherapy shows great promise. Neurotherapy works by training the patient to alter his or her electrical brainwave patterns. Patients with attention deficit disorder, for example, may have the executive function of the brain dominated by slow wave activity – typical of someone sleeping or just waking up. Patients are trained to accelerate their brainwaves in order to learn what it feels like to be in a clear-minded state of learning. Some parents are trying this biofeedback technique at the Center for Advanced NeuroTherapy in Walnut Creek with director Carolyn Robertson. Inspired by the success neurotherapy had on her own son who was suffering from Asperger’s Syndrome, Robertson opened her clinic 14 years ago. She has a background in university-level teaching, holds a master’s degree in psychology, and originated the National Court Appointed Special Advocates Program. She further has a board certification from the Biofeedback Certification International Alliance (BCIA), formerly the Biofeedback Institute of America. This certification is a mark of distinction for providers of biofeedback and neurofeedback services, although this particular field is unregulated in California. “The certification is a guarantee that the person understands the brain, and

aspects of it and understands therapy,” Robertson said. The Center for Advanced NeuroTherapy first maps the patient’s brainwave patterns and compares them to others of the same age to see how they differ from the norm. Then treatment begins. Treatment may take as few as 20 sessions (as is the case with mild ADD), or as many as 40 (if the patient suffers from other issues such as depression or anxiety). Robertson trains patients using auditory and visual cues, which include a “smart brain” video game. The patient succeeds at the game when his or her brainwaves are performing at the desired level, therefore training to the brain to operate on this level in the future. “The fog and mental confusion clear up,” Robertson said. “It helps them smooth out anything that interferes with them reaching their best potential.” She also incorporates other non-drug therapies such as proper nutrition, aromatherapy, and heart rate variability training. Robertson and her staff are wholly devoted to treating the human being without the use of drugs, particularly children. Robertson is confident in neurotherapy’s ability to retrain the brain and drastically improve the quality of life for patients, largely due to her own son’s success with treatment. “It changed all our lives,” Robertson said. “It happened to be exactly what was needed at the time it was needed.” With this non-invasive technology also being used to treat head injury, Alzheimer’s, food and tobacco addiction, neurotherapy is rapidly being recognized as a healthy, successful alternative to drug treatment.

Vintage Jewelry Summer Clearance Sale! Our Resident Graphic Designer here at the Valley Sentinel Newspaper and A La Carte Magazine is also a Vintage Jewelry Enthusiast, Collector and Vendor! Visit Laurie’s website at

www.etsy.com/shop/vintagejewelryetal for great end-of-summer prices. Start your holiday shopping early!

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august 2016

The Valley SenTinel

page 9

Delighted preschoolers slip on their ﬁrst backpacks at Kidango, Dublin Yours Humanly, a local nonprofit that provides access to education to underserved children, recently donated 80 backpacks filled with school supplies to delighted children at Dublin’s Kidango Emerald Vista Center, which serves preschoolers from subsidized households in the Tri-Valley. For some children, this was their first backpack—and the joy showed on their faces. Teachers and parents clapped and took photos as the children, who will be entering kindergarten

in the fall, received their backpacks filled with pencils, markers, notebooks, erasers, sharpeners, and rulers. This event was made possible through the groundwork efforts of Assemblywoman Catharine Baker, 16th District, who worked with Yours Humanly Executive Director Sunny Singh to connect the nonprofit with the school in need. “It’s great to see organizations partner together to support local school children for whom obtaining needed school supplies is a

Yours Humanly Executive Director Sunny Singh (back left) with Kidango preschoolers as they show off their new backpacks / Mike Kirwan Photography financial hardship,” says Assemblywoman Baker, who champions education as one

of her four legislative pillars. “Together we are working to support student success in

the coming year.” To learn more about Yours Humanly, visit www.YoursHumanly.org.

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Local man teaches free workshops to help parents save thousands in process

East Bay parents planning on sending a child to college in the next few years, but aren’t quite sure how to pay for it can now rest a little easier. Richard Patrick of California College Planners has been educating families in the Bay Area for over 23 years. ‘It’s really sad, but most parents that we talk to have done real well financially, but never found the time to save for college, and now they’re facing a bill of $25,000-$64,000 a year, and they don’t know who to turn to,’ he says. ‘Further, most of the time, all they hear is to not even bother applying for any aid because they make too much money or have 529 plans, stocks, mutual funds UGMA’s, UTMA’s, rental property, home equity or own successful businesses. However, most of the time, that is simply not true even if they make a six-figure income.’ Richard would know, because his group has worked with over 1400 families in the last 10 years ranging from single moms to corporate CEO’s and company owners, and they say they can help anyone get through the process and save a bundle….

no matter how good of a student they have or how much money they make. ‘I got started in this because I was a very good student, but no one told us anything about how to access money for college, or even how to pick a career…so I didn’t go right away. But, I vowed that I would learn the process and devote my time to helping families not fall into the same trap that we did. ‘Simply put, we show parents the truth that they aren’t hearing anywhere else about how the college process really works and save thousands of dollars in the process.” Tri-Valley parents will have a couple opportunities to hear Richard speak. He is teaching his class ‘How to Give Your Kid a 4-Year College Education Without Going Broke!’ at 7pm Thursday August 25th and Saturday August 27th at 12 noon at the Round Table Pizza located at 7841 Amador Valley Blvd., Dublin, CA 94568, and Tuesday August 30th at the Round Table Pizza located at 150 Alamo Plaza, Alamo, CA 94556 from 7:15pm – 8:45 pm. ‘We’ll discuss everything from the greatest myths about the college process, to how to send your student to

a fancy private school for less than the cost of a state college…it’ll be like learning how to get a brand new Lexus for the price of a used pick up truck,’ he grins. Topics will also include why private scholarships and 529 plans are a waste of time, how to double or even triple the amount of free money you receive from each school, and how to avoid the one mistake that will kill your chances of getting any money at all that almost every other parent will make this coming October, and much, much more. ‘They will learn a ton, and I do my best to make the class fun,’ he says. ‘It’s like I’m giving them a super bright flash light to navigate a pitch black cave, while all the other parents continue to stumble around blindly! ‘Don’t forget: the class is totally free, but seats are limited. Also, we are not sure when we will be teaching these classes in the East Bay again since my September and October calendar is already filling up, so come on out and see me.’ You can reserve a seat online at www. StressFreeCollegeFunding. com/VS or by calling our 24 hour reservation line at (800) 743-9963 ext. 1002

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Senior Living page 10

valleysentinel.com

August 2016

Choosing Healthcare for the End of Your Life By Cate Kortzeborn

My mom, 88 stubborn years old, still lives on her own in a big house with a cat that loves to get underfoot. Because I work in healthcare, I have an all-toovivid recognition of the perils that can befall someone in her situation. So, posted on her kitchen bulletin board is a bright pink sheet of paper called a POLST. POLST stands for Physician Order for LifeSustaining Treatment. It’s a document that makes your treatment wishes known to doctors, nurses, emergency medical technicians, and other healthcare providers. Too often, people near the end of their lives get treatment they don’t want. These treatments may not help them live longer or better, and sometimes can cause pain. Also, family members sometimes have their own ideas about what types of treatment their loved ones

would want. POLST makes sure your family members and caregivers know exactly what life-saving treatments you do and do not want. Doctors say any seriouslyill person should have a POLST. Filling out a POLST is completely up to you. It’s your choice. POLST is different from an advance healthcare directive. An advance directive allows you to choose the advocate you want to speak for you if you’re incapacitated, and provides a general guide to what treatment you want. POLST is different because: • POLST is a signed medical order that your healthcare team can act upon, whether your advocate is there or not; • POLST indicates your exact wishes about certain medical treatments. Although it’s a good idea for all seriously-ill people to have both an advance directive and a POLST, any adult, especially if she or he is unmarried, should have one or both. You can find the POLST form online or at your

primary care provider’s office. Your provider can explain the different options on the form to you. The POLST must be signed by a licensed healthcare provider and by you. Some states require a witnessing signature as well. Once signed, the POLST becomes part of your medical record. It stays with you all the time. If you’re at home, put it near your bed or on your refrigerator. If you’re in a hospital, nursing home, or assisted living facility, it’ll be in your chart or file. If you’re moved between locations, your POLST goes with you. POLST forms vary by state and focus on three types of interventions. For each, you can choose whether or not to have something done or choose a level of intervention. • Resuscitation (person has no pulse and is not breathing): Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, is done to try to start your breathing and heartbeat after they stop. CPR involves chest compressions and/ or electrical shock to try

to start your heart again. It may also involve having someone breathe for you. Resuscitation can benefit healthy young people, but it’s not usually helpful for seriously-ill or elderly people. You can choose to accept or decline resuscitation. • Medical intervention (person has pulse and/or is breathing): Interventions can include CPR, intubation (a tube down your throat to open your airway), mechanical ventilation (a machine to pump air in and out of your lungs), medication/antibiotics, fluids, monitoring, and a host of other things. You can chose a level of intervention, from full treatment to comfort measures only. • Artificially administered fluids and nutrition: This is a way of feeding a person through a tube either in his/her nose or through the skin into his/her stomach. Tube feeding can help people who can’t swallow now, but who are expected to get better. However, people

near the end of life may feel more comfortable without a feeding tube and want to eat what they can by mouth. You can choose a level of intervention, from long-term nutrition to a defined period of nutrition to hydration only to no intervention. It’s important to fully understand these and other options, so make sure you talk to your doctor, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant before you make any decisions. You can then choose what treatment options you want and don’t want. You can also adjust your POLST at any time, as circumstances change. To find the POLST website in your state, where you can get more information and download forms, go to www.polst.org. More information on advance directives can be found at: https://medlineplus. gov/advancedirectives.html. Cate Kortzeborn is Medicare’s acting 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 (1-800-633-4227).

Volunteering is Fun and Easy Share Your Talents As a Volunteer at Forest Home Farms Historic Park ca.gov. Forest Home Farms preservation at this fully If you have an interest in local history, gardening or how people lived in Victorian times, we are looking for you! Join us for an orientation on Thursday, August 25, 2016 at 10:00am to learn about the exciting volunteer opportunities at Forest Home Farms Historic Park. Volunteering is fun, easy and flexible……weekday and weekend opportunities include: Farm Life Education Program Docents introduce 3rd grade students to the agricultural history of the San Ramon Valley. Docents engage students in handson activities from the days before electricity. Glass House Museum Docents are trained to lead a variety of tours, provide educational programs and participate in historic

restored, Italianate style Victorian home which was built in 1877. Being a docent is a fun way to meet people and share the story of what life was like in days gone by. You will also work with a diverse

group of interesting people and enjoy volunteer outings and social events. For more information or to RSVP for this meeting please contact Suzy McCreary at (925) 973-3284 orsmccreary@sanramon.

Historic Park is located at 19953 San Ramon Valley Blvd., just south of Pine Valley Road in San Ramon. This program is provided by the City of San Ramon Parks and Community Services Department. The City of San Ramon Parks and Community Services Department creates community through people, parks, and programs focusing on providing recreational experiences, promoting health and wellness, fostering human development, increasing cultural unity, strengthening community image and sense of place, supporting economic development, facilitating community problem solving, and strengthening safety and security. For more information please visit our website at www.SanRamon. ca.gov or call 925.973.3200

valleysentinel.com August 2016

The valley Sentinel

paper in the report. The relief map was used as part of a major campaign to garner public support for establishment of the district. The campaign succeeded: residents of seven East Bay cities voted overwhelmingly in November 1934 to establish the district, install a five-member board of

building just up the hill from the Environmental Education Center. According to Dave Zuckermann, the district’s regional interpretive and recreation services manager, the idea of refurbishing the map and putting it on more public display was first suggested by another

map’s original colors had been painted over many times, some of the plaster was chipped, and there were cracks in the backing. The work was performed by Ron Holthuysen and his staff at Scientific Arts Studio in Richmond. Their first step was to strip away paint to get down to the original colors. These colors were replicated as much as possible. Then the cracks in the back were

directors, and levy a tax of five cents per $100 to fund its operations. Originally nine or ten of the relief maps were produced. The fate of all but one is unknown. The single remaining map was on the wall for many years in the Junior Ranger Lodge, a stone

naturalist, James Wilson, at about the time of the district’s 80th anniversary. Dave liked the idea and carried it forward, with support from the district’s Public Affairs Department and General Manager Robert Doyle. Restoration turned out to be a major project. The

patched and a crisscross of rods was inserted for reinforcement. It’s subtle, but the restored map displays in darker green the original 10,000 acres considered for parklands. Historic accuracy was a concern. Dave and Brenda Montano of the Public

Looking Back in Time By Beverly Lane, East Bay Regional Parks District

The next time you visit the Environmental Education Center at Tilden Nature Area in Berkeley, look to the wall on the right side of the main lobby for an artifact dating back to the East Bay Regional Park District’s origins. It’s a beautifully restored plaster relief map of the East Bay hills, showing the lands that soon would become the first regional parks. The map was produced in 1934 by artisans and Civilian Conservation Corps workers under the direction of Ansel Hall, chief of the National Park Service’s field division. Hall was one of the prime movers in establishment of the East Bay Regional Parks. A report authored by Hall and the famed Olmsted Brothers architectural firm recommended preservation of 10,000 acres of surplus water district land for public recreation and wildlife habitat. And the relief map is a three-dimensional rendering of a map that was included on

page 11

Affairs Department used old aerial photographs to help determine what the East Bay shoreline looked like in 1934. The original map had some wrong information and typographic errors. These were retained, not corrected. The finished map was transported from Richmond to the center on June 7 and mounted in its place of honor across from the reception desk. Also on the wall is a replica of the park district’s original seal. Instead of the familiar leaf logo, it features a grove of trees, a lake, and distant hills. The final touch, now in production, will be two interpretive panels explaining the provenance of the map and the restoration process. East Bay Regional Park District now comprises 65 parklands on more than 120,000 acres in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties. The relief map is a great reminder of the foresight and determination that made today’s park district possible. The center is located at the north end of Tilden’s Central Park Drive, accessible from Wildcat Canyon Road and Canon Drive in Berkeley. It’s open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays. For information, call 510-544-2233.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

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For additional Community Events visit: www.ValleySentinel.com Please email information about your events to info@valleysentinel.com COMMUNITY EVENTS 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 925927-3288. 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 10-11am. 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. Information: 925-838-3213, cci.org/ eastbaychapter 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 this 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 Sunday Supper and Porchetta August 7 6:00pm-9:00pm Enjoy an evening with dinner and the movie, Roman Holiday. Prima Ristorante & Wine Shop, located at 1520 North Main St. Walnut Creek. More info at www. primawine.com or call (925) 935-7780 The Bump: Tri Valley—Pregnancy and Birthing Options August 10 11:30am-12:30pm Morgan West will discuss all questions related to and surrounding BIRTH: Such as, hospital or home? What is a midwife? How are they different than my OB? What the heck is water birth about? How will I deal with pain? How do I avoid interventions in a hospital setting? Etc. Helping to make empowered choices.www.facebook.com/ TheBumpTriValley. The Speciﬁc Chiropractic Center, 7950 Dublin Blvd., Ste. 103B, Dublin Diablo Ballet’s Gourmet Gallop August 11 6:00pm 9:00pm Come out to the 6th annual Diablo Ballet’s

Gourmet Gallop to sip and stroll through Walnut Creek’s gourmet restaurants. All proceeds go to Diablo Ballet’s PEEK Youth Outreach Program. Tickets $45. Check in at Massimo, 1604 Locust St., Walnut Creek. www.diabloballet. org

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.

Fun on the Farm – Animal Tracks August 13 11:00am-2:00pm Look what animals leave behind—tracks! See pictures of animal tracks that you may see at the farm and make an animal track print to take home. Forest Home Farms, 19953 San Ramon Valley Blvd. San Ramon. 925973-3284 or visit www.sanramon.ca.gov.

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.

Art & Wine Stroll August 18th 6:00pm-9:00pm Enjoy a fun-ﬁlled evening of wine tasting, small bites, the latest offerings from our shops, live music, a commemorative wine glass and trolley rides during the 13th Annual Art and Wine Stroll in Danville. Relish our area’s ﬁnest wines as you stroll throughout downtown Danville and Danville Livery. Purchase tickets at http:// danvilleareachamber.com/events/art-wine-stroll-2/, or call the Danville Chamber at (925)837-4400

Page Turners Senior Book Group August 16: 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 Dougherty Station Library Front Desk. Book group meets at Alcosta Senior and Community Center, 9300 Alcosta Blvd. Information: Carol Yuke, Adult Services Librarian. 925-973-2850.

Fun on the Farm - Forest Home Farms August 20 Victorian Lawn Games 11:00am-2:00pm Free Family Programs: Enjoy a leisurely day at the farm learning about and playing two favorite Victorian Games: lawn bowling and croquet. Forest Home Farms, 19953 San Ramon Valley Blvd. San Ramon Danville Home Expo ‘16 August 28 10am-4pm. Don’t put off your home improvement projects any longer! The Danville Home Expo is a premier daylong expo that covers every step of the remodeling process. Admission is free to the public. Danville Community Center, 420 Front Street, Danville. The Taylor Family Foundation’s Day in the Park August 28 12 pm – 5:30 pm. Interested in becoming part of this year’s Day in the Park? Call us at 925.455.5118 or email us today. Proceeds from Day in the Park help us offer the gift of camp to more children each year as well as continuing to support TTFF’s mission. If you have any questions call us at 925.455.5118 Email inquiries to ttff@ttff.org

SENIORS Danville Seniors Unless otherwise noted, the following activities are held at the Danville Senior Center, Veterans Memorial Building, 115 E. Prospect, Danville. For more information call 925-3143490 or visit www.ci.danville.ca.us/Recreation/Seniors. Sneaker Trips: The Town of Danville’s Senior Sneakers program is a great way for you to make new friends and get out and around the greater Bay Area. There’s always something new to see and learn. The Danville Area Senior Hikes (DASH) is open to all adults and meets on the second and fourth Wednesday of every month. The group starts at the Danville Park-nRide (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.

BUSINESS Be the Boss: An Exploration into Career Alternatives August 11 4:30pm-6pm In this educational seminar we explain the details of starting a business by investing in a franchise ownership or by pursuing a career in the financial services industry. With either you can by your own boss! Speakers Rick Morginm a Sr, Franchise Consultant with FranNet of the Bay Area, and Karen Steffy, Dir. Of Selection for Mass Mutual Northern CA BRN, Group 2 August 17 9-10am. The Business Referral Network Wednesday Group meets the first and third Wednesday of every month. They are always looking for professionals interested in building their business through referrals and networking. All are welcome to contact them and visit a meeting. $10 a month. 2400 Camino Ramon, Suite 158/K, San Ramon. www.sanramon.org/about-us/business-referral-networkgroup/brn-wednesday-group BNI Every Thursday 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. 925-330-8275 or david@ staff.webquarry.com BBR-Partners for Success 1st and 3rd Tuesdays, 12-1pm. One of the Danville Area Chamber of Commerce’s successful Business by Referral groups, Partners for Success meets the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month to provide concrete business leads to one another. Chamber Conference Room, 117 E Town & Country Drive, Danville. www.danvilleareachamber.com BBR-Sunrise Alliance 2nd and 4th Wednesdays 7:30-8:30am. One of the Danville Area Chamber of Commerce’s successful Business by Referral groups, Sunrise Alliance meets the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month to provide concrete business leads to one another. Chamber Conference Room, 117 E Town & Country Drive. Danville. www.danvilleareachamber.com Third Thursday Mixer August 18 5:30-7pm: Please join us for our Third Thursday mixer at the Canyon lakes Golf Club, 640 Bollinger Canyon Way, San Ramon. Meet other business owners for an opportunity to network and make your business more visible. Pricing $5 for Members and $20 for Non-Members. No RSVP required. Checks and cash only please. Community Connections: Making Information Technology a Competitive Advantage August 23 3-4pm The San Ramon Chamber of Commerce, 1+1 Technology, and Microsoft are partnering on a five-part seminar about making IT a competitive advantage.

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 This event is 1 of 5. The first seminar will be about the cloud and disaster recovery. FREE, RSVP with Jerimiah Hubner at (4150 854-3833. Only 25 seats available. 2400 Camino Ramon, Ste.. 158/K, San Ramon

CLUBS & ORGANIZATIONS Danville-Alamo-Walnut Creek Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy and research. AAUW membership is open to all graduates of accredited four year colleges or universities and those holding an Associate Degree or equivalent. Prospective members are welcome and may contact Liz at 389-0152 for details. Visit dawca.aauw.net for meeting dates. Cancer workshops and support groups-Ongoing Most are free. Cancer Support C o m m u n i t y, 3 2 7 6 M c N u t t 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 925837-0510. 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 925829-8770. Hospice of the East Bay Support groups and workshops for adults, children and teens experiencing grief after the death of a loved one. Classes will be offered 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. 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 per 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 (877-326-7000). www.AvenueResource.com.

august 2016 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: c a l i fo rni agardencl ubs.com/ content/walnut-creek-garden-club 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. 925838-7870. San Ramon Valley Geneological Society 10am. Meets every third Tuesday ath the LDS Church, 2949 Stone Valley Road, Alamo. http:// srvgensoc.org Diablo View Toastmasters 8:15-9:15am. Meets every Tu e s d a y. C M G M o r t g a g e , 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 925-887-5681 or vickis@

hospiceeastbay.org. ARF, 2890 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek. Information: arf.net. Divorced and Separated Workshop A new workshop series for divorced and separated people is being held on Tuesday evenings from 7- 8:30pm at St. Joan of Arc Parish, 2601 San Ramon Valley Blvd., San Ramon. Contact: Sue at smc9@sbcglobal.net. 925 -819-1809. Prostate Cancer Group 7:30–9pm. Meets 2nd Tuesday of the month. Drop-in prostate cancer group for men and their loved ones. San Ramon Regional Medical Center, South Building, West Day Room. 6001 Norris Canyon Road, San Ramon. Information: 925.933.0107 or www.twc-bayarea.org/communityprograms.html. 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. Room W204 at Diablo Valley College,1690 Watermill Road, San Ramon. Information: danvilletoastmasters1785.com. San Ramon Valley Rotary 7pm. Meets every Wednesday. Blackhawk Country Club, 599 Blackhawk Club Drive, 711 Silver Lake Drive, Danville. Info: sanramonvalleyrotary.com. Danville Lions Club 7pm. Meets the first and third 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. Signin and social time begins at 11:30. Guests are welcome with lunch reservations. Faz Restaurant, 600 Hartz Ave., Danville. RSVP 9 2 5 - 2 7 5 - 2 4 1 2 . I n f o : w w w. 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

The Valley SenTinel luncheon at www.info@SIR128. com. Location: San Ramon Golf Club, 9430 Fircrest Lane, San Ramon. Information: www.SIR128. com. Diablo Valley Quilters 7-9pm. Meets the third Wednesday of every month. No charge for guests. Danville Congregational Church, 989 San Ramon Valley Blvd., Danville. Information: diablovalleyquilters.com. Veterans of Foreign Wars 7pm. Meets the third Wednesday of every month. Veterans Memorial Hall, 400 Hartz Avenue, Danville. Information: Post Commander Ernie Petagara at 925-362-9806 or vfwpost75.org. 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, 2   491 San Miguel Drive, W   alnut Creek. Information: 925-736-8627. Diablo Valley Lions Club 7:30pm. Meets the 1st, 3rd, and 4th Thursday of every month. 1400 Montego Drive, Walnut Creek. Information: diablovalleyca.lionwap. org. Fridays: Transitions-“Navigating Life’s Turning Points Together” 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:

page 13

Contact Donna Hill at hillmom3@ comcast.net Saturdays: Diablo Region of the Porsche Club of America 7:30-9am. Meets every Saturday. Buttercup Bar and Grill, 660 Ygnacio Valley Road, Walnut Creek. Information: diablo-pca. org. Parkinson’s Disease Support Group 9am-12pm. Meets every 3rd Saturday. Join us to share, laugh, and learn from each other. Grace Presbyterian Church, 2100 Tice Valley Blvd., Walnut Creek. Contact Gregg Riehl at (925) 254-8349 or jgriehl@gmail.com. Free. All are welcome. Information: Howard Zalkin at 939-4210 or Ronnie Wanetick at 933-6357. Sundays: Cars n Coffee: First Sunday of Every Month 8-10am. On the ﬁrst Sunday of every month, automotive enthusiasts gather in the parking lots of the Blackhawk Museum to share their vehicles and admire the other fabulous classic cars, hot rods, sports cars, exotics and anything else with wheels and a motor that promotes the car enthusiast hobby. Cars & Coffee is a year round event, rain or shine. The Museum opens at 9am on Cars & Coffee Sundays and there is a Docentled tour at 2pm. Participating car owners receive two complimentary tickets to the Museum courtesy of our sponsors. Blackhawk Museum, 3700 Blackhawk Plaza Circle, Danville. www.blackhawkmuseum. org

Classifieds HELP WANTED IT BIDM Prod Ops Suppt Engr: Master in C.S. or rltd. & 2 yrs. exp. in job offered or rltd. CV to: Bank of the West, 2527 Camino Ramon, San Ramon, CA 94583. ATTN: HR or email careers@ bankofthewest.com. EEO. Position in San Ramon, CA. ETL Developer, EIM: Master’s in Eng. or rltd. & 2 yr. rltd. exp. Bank of the West. Job in San Ramon, CA 94583. CV to careers@ bankofthewest.com. Financial Analyst II: MS In Fin., Bus. Adm. or rltd. & 1 yr. rltd. exp. Bank of the West. Job in San Ramon, CA 94583. CV to careers@bankofthewest.com.

Community News & Information Danville • Blackhawk Alamo • Diablo • San Ramon Publisher/Editor-Denise Rousset Advertising-Betty Overhoff Chief Financial Ofﬁcer-Jeff Gummere Graphic Designer-Laurie Prindle Auto-David & Judy Colman

925-820-6047

390 Diablo Road, Suite 145 Danville, CA 94526

www.valleysentinel.com

page 14

The Valley SenTinel

AUTO March august2009 2016

The 2017 Jaguar XK F-Type R Coupe By David and Judy Colman

This Jaguar is scare yourself to death/go to jail now/do not pass go FAST! Even with the aid of a supercharger, it’s remarkable that Jag engineers have managed to extract 550hp and 502 poundfeet of torque from just 5.0 liters (302 cubic inches) of V8. We’ll take Motor Trend’s word for it when they discovered that the R Type will run the quarter mile in under 12 seconds (11.8 to be exact) with a trap speed of 122.7mph. Sixty miles per hour comes up in 3.6 seconds from a standing start. For sheer speed, the R-Type has very few rivals on the market today, and most of them (Corvette Z-06 excluded) cost twice or thrice the price of this Jag. And comparing this ultra refined, very buttoned down speedster to a Corvette is simply sacrilegious. The first thing you notice when you insert yourself into the Jag’s tight cockpit is the exquisite level of refinement and design. All the dash surfaces sparkle with a metallic cross hatching that is ever so much more beguiling than passé carbon fiber. When you

light the ignition, twin ram air scoops rise mysteriously, not from the hood, but from the dash top to provide air conditioning or heat. When you switch off, the vents restore themselves to their receptacles. It’s a welcome bit of British drawing room drama that is simply unforgettable. The twin bucket seats are resplendent in mocha and black stripes which Jag terms its “Camel Duo” complete with contrasting colored “Camel Stitch.” These exceptionally supportive “Performance” seats are 14-way adjustable, manipulated by a bewildering array of chromed control stalks located on each upper door panel. The instrument binnacle contains a bevy of dazzlingly bright TFT instrument faces which keep you apprised of every mechanical function without requiring you to squint. Due to the abbreviated height of the side windows and the near horizontal plane of the back glass, outward vision is somewhat compromised. You need to be extra careful when docking this Jag as the convoluted and vulnerable front spoiler protrudes more than you

might anticipate. One of the nicest instrumentation features is the inclusion of a huge white meatball displaying an 80 point digit displaying the gear you have selected. Since 8 ratios are available from the “QuickShift” transmission, gear notification is essential information. Thus informed, you will become expert in managing gear changes with a pair of lovely, cool-to-the-touch, aluminum shift paddles located next to the 3 and 9 o’clock grips of the steering wheel. When you have selected full Manual operation of the gearbox, the illuminated gear choice meatball will flash if you reach redline without upshifting. The QuickShift will not upshift on its own in Manual mode. Some of you may recall those useless “upshift” lights fitted to cars back in the 1980s to improve EPA fuel consumption test cycle results. Think of Jag’s meatball version as the drag racers’ upshift light So it’s beyond fast and beautifully appointed. But does this rather ponderous, 3,915 pound British missile handle with the aplomb Jags have long been noted for achieving?

Absolutely. Pinned to the tarmac with Pirelli’s best P Zero Nero rubber (255/35/ ZR20 front/295/30ZR20 rear), the all-wheel-drive R-Type puts its prodigious power to the pavement with predictable certainty. On decently paved road surfaces, you’ll want to select the Dynamic Mode setting from the transmissiontunnel mounted switch. This choice, noted by a checkered flag display on the instrument panel, snubs shock absorber response, allows higher rpm shift points, and confers a sportier note to the exhaust. The R-Type adheres to the road with leach-like tenacity in Dynamic Mode. There is absolutely no slop in any parameter, and the big Jag scats like a cat in full pursuit of prey. On bumpier secondary roads, you’ll happy dial back some of this knife edge performance in favor of greater comfort and less driver involvement. On a laid-back trip to Wine Country, we left the Jag in Comfort Mode and never took the transmission out of Drive. Without fuss, the R-Type cantered along, happy to provide a GT ride rather than a race experience. Our 2017 test sample, yet to be priced as to MSRP. It did

PURE PERFORMANCE. PURE PRECISION. PURE POWER. THE 2017 JAGUAR F-TYPE. Combine pulse-pounding performance, precision handling, and unimpeachable style in the remarkable 2017 Jaguar F-TYPE. With the Jaguar supercharged 3.0 liter V6 340hp engine pushing it up to 161 mph, the F-TYPE infuses your drive with the exhilaration of pure power.

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valleysentinel.com come with a Monroney Sticker showing a charge of $12,000 for a “Carbon Ceramic Matrix Braking System” and “20 Storm Alloy Wheels - Forged.” The enormous yellow calipers clamping the carbon discs make a stunning visual counterpoint to the dark tinted Storm alloys. But with these brakes, you need to be extra careful during the warm-up phase, because they require heavy pedal pressure before they reach operating temperature. A couple of experiences taught us quickly that the carbon brakes are initially less responsive than steel rotors. But if you plan to track your cat, there is simply no substitute for carbon during extended hot lap runs. 2017 Jaguar F-Type R Coupe ENGINE: 5.0 liter V8, supercharged, aluminum black and heads Horsepower: 550hp@6500rpm Torque: 502lv Ft.@2500rpm Fuel Consumption: 15mpg City/23mpg Highway Price As Tested: $124,895 (Est.) Hypes: Fastest Jag Ever Gripes: Hard To Fault Star Rating: 10 Stars Of 10

valleysentinel.com

august 2016

The Valley SenTinel

County Agriculture: Don’t Crop It Out of the Picture By Candace Andersen. Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors

A visit to our local farmer’s market or produce section of our grocery stores is too often taken for granted. Succulent strawberries, juicy oranges, crisp carrots, lush peaches, sweet corn, and a myriad of other delicacies engulf customers at every stand. Here in Contra Costa County, it is simply expected that fresh, delectable, and safe food will be in constant supply thanks to the county’s fertile soils and moderate climate. What often remains unknown, however, is the story behind the innumerable local crops presented before us or the extent agriculture impacts our local economy. As it turns out, that impact is a significant one. In June the County’s Annual Crop Report was released and presented to the Board of Supervisors. Our Contra Costa ranch and farms’ gross economic output in 2015 was $174.8 million and they created 2,105 jobs. Our county’s agriculture is

deserving of far more attention than it ordinarily receives. The year 2015 was one of considerable growth for the county’s agricultural related businesses, with the gross value of products and crops reaching $128,507,000, a cumulative increase of over 7% from 2014. Overall cultivated acreage climbed 3%, while the quantity of organic acreage rose from 2,786 acres in 2014 to 4,235 acres in 2015. The top ten crops of the year included cattle and calves, tomatoes, sweet corn, miscellaneous vegetables, grapes, rangeland, field corn, alfalfa hay, walnuts and miscellaneous field crops. When measuring the success of our county’s agriculture, produce is segregated into five different categories. In order of highest to lowest accumulated gross value, the sections are as follows: vegetable and seed crops, livestock & livestock products, field crops, fruit and nut crops, and nursery products. All rankings remained the same except for fruit and nut crops, which dropped from its position of third place below field crops in 2015. The value of bees and other pollinators is also on the

rise as a decrease in wild bee colonies is being experienced throughout the country. Because the Contra Costa Department of Agriculture/ Weights and Measures also functions as an overseer of pests and invasive species that could threaten crops, the Crop Report noted some ways to help detect and prevent the spread of insects like the gypsy moth, which can cause tree death and deforestation if settled in an area. When returning from or having traveled through areas that are habitats of gypsy moths, the department recommends a thorough check of outdoor belongings and vehicles for egg masses, larvae, and adult moths. It is imperative that the county stays vigilant as a single gypsy moth can lay an egg mass that could give rise to hundreds of larvae. The Department of Agriculture/ Weights and Measures should be contacted at (925) 6465250 if any gypsy moths are found in the county. A significant part of the Crop Report centered on the Lamorinda AVA (American Viticultural Area), which has officially been established this year. The Lamorinda AVA includes almost 30,000

acres of land and contains 46 commercially producing vineyards. It is a part of the San Francisco Bay, Central Coast and Contra Costa AVAs. The designation means that wine with 85% or more grapes grown inside the area may display a Lamorinda AVA label. This allows Bay Area wine enthusiasts to recognize the distinct characteristics of wine grown in Lamorinda. These characteristics do not only include differences in flavor, but also encompass climate, soil, and cultural uniqueness. The Lamorinda Winemakers Association hopes that the designation will encourage the popularity of local wine. As wine is locally sourced and undergoes value-added processing, the report estimates the total economic output of Contra Costa wineries at $50 million, inclusive of indirect and induced outputs. Keeping in mind the large impact of agriculture on our county’s economy, measures are being taken to prevent urban sprawl from reducing farmland. From 1984 to 2004, approximately 9100 acres of farmable land were converted and developed for urban use. Zoning, Land Planning, Easements, and Agricultural

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Land Mitigation are all being conducted to preserve prime agricultural land in danger of being developed. Pieces of legislation like the Urban Limit Line and Williamson Act encourage the usage of land for farming. The Williamson Act in particular provides tax incentives for property owners who agree to use their land as farmland or leave it as open space for a period of 10 years. 2015 was a year of many successes and accomplishments for Contra Costa County’s agricultural sector. For more information, the 2015 Crop Report can be found at www.cccounty. us under the Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures, along with the crop reports of past years. 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. Thank you to summer interns Clara Cabot and Annie Jeung for their contributions to this article.

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valleysentinel.com page 16 The Valley SenTinel

august2016 2016 august

The Valley SenTinel page 16 valleysentinel.com

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