Alamo Today, June 2014

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June 2014 Serving Alamo and Diablo

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Volume XIV - Number 63000F Danville Blvd. #117,

Alamo, CA 94507Telephone (925) 405-NEWS, 405-6397

Fax (925) 406-0547

Alisa Corstorphine ~ [email protected]

Sharon Burke ~ WriterThe opinions expressed herein belong to the writers, and do not necessarily reflect that of Alamo Today. Alamo Today is not responsible for the content of any of the advertising herein, nor does publication imply endorsement.

Lots of Good News in AlamoSchools, Parks, Economy Looking UpBy Sharon Burke

There is lots of good news to report this month in our little burg. At Su-pervisor Andersen’s last Alamo Breakfast Meet-ing, representatives of organizations and com-panies around town re-ported on several excit-ing happenings com-ing up in the next few months.

Starting off the meet-ing, Alamo resident Steve Mick, Chair of the SRV School District Facilities Committee, reported that the Com-mittee, after a thorough analysis of the existing buildings at Stone Valley Middle School, has recommended to the school board that the school be completely demolished and a new state-of-the-art facility be constructed. The conclusion from building experts was that the school was too old and in too poor condition to remodel. The new school will be two stories, similar to the Iron Horse Middle School in San Ramon. Hopes are that the new school will open by August 2016.

The Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) has formed a subcommittee to offer recreation programming to Alamo residents. The subcommittee has invited the Irvin Deutscher Family YMCA in Pleasant Hill to present a pro-posal to the MAC for senior trips, exercise programs, and recreational classes in Alamo. In a 2011 survey mailed to all Alamo households and returned by

The Gardens at Heather FarmBy Jody Morgan

More than a thousand roses bear blooming testimony to the success of the sustainable gardening principles practiced at the Gardens at Heather Farm (GHF). A Certified Wildlife Habitat and Certified Green Business, GHF is open free to the public daily during daylight hours. Although the 6-acre parcel that contains GHF remains the property of the City of Walnut Creek, GHF is a separate non-profit organization responsible not only for the design and maintenance of the gardens, but also for educating the public about preservation and protection of the environment.

Visitors routinely ask docent Christy Wilson where the heather is. They are startled when she responds that heather doesn’t grow well in Walnut Creek. As a member of one of GHF’s founding families, the Howards, Wilson has lots of historical information to share. Heather Farm, she explains, is named for Heather

King, a champion stallion owned by John W. Marchbank who purchased Sulphur Springs Ranch in Walnut Creek in 1921 to breed thoroughbred race horses. Scenes for MGM’s 1931 release Sporting Blood, the first motion picture in which Clark Gable had a starring role, were filmed at Heather Farm.

Marchbank arrived in California around 1906 already in possession of a fortune made as miner and gambler. His subsequent efforts gave gambling and horseracing a measure of respectability. He played Santa Claus at Christmas, distributing food and funds to widows and orphans. During the Depression of the 1930s, he is reputed to have saved several homes from foreclosure. March-bank died in 1947 at the age of 78. His Spanish-style house is preserved as the rectory of St. John Vianney Catholic Church.

Walnut Creek had only 447 residents when Marchbank established Heather Farm and a mere 2,420 in 1950. In 1951, the opening of 38 stores at the Broad-way Shopping Center, Contra Costa’s first major retail center, initiated a steep increase in population. When Heather Farm Park officially opened on July 4, 1970, Walnut Creek boasted 39,844 inhabitants.

The concept of creating a garden center for community members to learn

Prepare for High Fire Danger By San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District

California is experiencing elevated fire conditions due to drought. San Ramon Valley Firefighters would like to remind residents that creating and maintaining defensible space around their homes is critical.

Firefighters urge property owners to not delay in preparing their family and home for wildfire. Take the following actions now:

• Maintain 100 feet of defensible space around all structures.

• Properties over an acre may require fuel breaks around the pe-rimeter.

• Clear all needles and leaves from roofs, eaves and rain gutters.

• Limb up trees six feet from the ground.

• Remove branches away from roofs and 10 feet from chimneys.

• Keep wood piles and other See Fire continued on page 14

Future Alamo park site.

Rita Shand and Maria Genova are proud to be caught in the act of propagating plants for the Gardens at Heather Farm. Photo provided by the Gardens at Heather Farm.

See Gardens continued on page 23

www.yourmonthlypaper.comBoulevard ViewBy Alisa Corstorphine, Editor

A picture popped up in my Facebook newsfeed the other day. It was titled “Castle House Island in Dublin, Ireland.” It showed a seemingly far away remote island with a castle perched on top. At the time of my seeing it, the photo had received 322,000 “Likes” and 10,300 comments of Facebook with readers oohing and ahhing over how beautiful the place was and commenting that it was now on their bucket list of places to travel to and see.

However, as I read more, some of the comments also questioned the accuracy of the photo and indicated the place didn’t exist at all. A little digging and the truth came out. This was a “fantasy island.” The picture was a creation of someone’s masterful Photoshop skills - a combination of places on different sides of the globe. It was just all a grand illusion. I realized I had fallen in the artist’s trap like many others.

The photo has gone viral and has circulated for about two years. How many viewers of it still believe it is real? I often tend to believe without question, and I start to wonder how many times I have fallen for a hoax, a myth, a rumor, an urban legend, or a Hollywood filming trick.

A few months ago I went into an office. Upon looking around the room I saw sports memora-bilia on the wall, a desk, and a window reflecting a sunny day. The setting was serene and profes-sional. My daughter who was with me made a comment about how the window and setting behind it were fake. Upon closer inspection I noticed the framed window was backed by an illuminated picture with a plant in front. It was an amazing illusion. Of course if I had thought about the window it made sense. The office was in the middle of a large building, and upon reflection, when I walked into the building it was a misty twilight evening. The illusion that it was a sunny day had me fooled. I accepted it as reality even though I fully should have known otherwise.

Movies and videos take us away to new and different places. With tools and technology shows can be created to form an illusion and replica of another place and another time.

Most LA film studios offer a behind-the-scenes tour of their facilities which are less amusement park and more a view of the actual production and support departments that are used. Recently I have toured both the Sony and Paramount Studios and learned a few tidbits.

To take a show on site to a filming location can oftentimes be very costly and complicated. Instead, studio lots can be morphed to become whatever the producer needs. At Paramount Studios a parking lot can be shut off, filled with water, and be filmed to represent an ocean. A sign outside a soundstage indicated both the Soul Train dance series and many scenes from Little House on the Prairie were produced in the same place. My childhood vision of the Little House on the Prarie Ingalls family living in Walnut Grove, Minnesota was forever tarnished when I found out LA and a Hollywood set were where the family was actually hanging out.

To avoid copyright issues, 15-20% of a product or brand needs to be changed. Whereas our eye might see the familiar Visa, Mastercard, and American Express signs on a window of a business shown in a TV show, movie, or commercial, upon closer inspection they say, “Vista, Mestercard, and American Excess” with

also some of the coloring and shapes slightly changed. What you think it is may not be what you saw at all.

Sounds are also often manipu-lated and recreated. When Rose in the movie Titanic woke up, her frozen hair crackled as she began to move. In order to duplicate the sound, a Foley sound technician tore a lettuce leaf to simulate the actual noise.

In this age where you can easily buy “Likes” and positive reviews, where Pho-toshop can transform any image and you can cut and paste the face of one person on to the body of another and promote it as truth, it is important to trust what you see, hear, and read, but it is always a good idea to verify the information as well.

Page 2 - June 2014 ~ Alamo Today

Alamo Municipal Advisory Council presents the Alamo Municipal Advisory Council presents the Alamo Municipal Advisory Council presents the

2014 Summer Concert Series2014 Summer Concert Series2014 Summer Concert Series Fridays 6:30Fridays 6:30Fridays 6:30---8:30p.m. 8:30p.m. 8:30p.m.

at Livorna Park at Livorna Park at Livorna Park ( A t th e corner o f L i v orna R oad a nd Mi randa Av enu e in A la mo )( A t th e corner o f L i v orna R oad a nd Mi randa Av enu e in A la mo )( A t th e corner o f L i v orna R oad a nd M i randa Av enu e in A la mo )

Admission is FreeAdmission is Free

Bring blankets, chairs, snacks, family, and friends. For information call Recreation Staff at (925) 313-2272.

June 20th: The Sun Kings Performing the music of The Beatles with driving

energy, authentic arrangements and spot-on harmonies, reminiscent of the earliest Beatles concerts!

August 8th: Moonalice An original blend of Rock, Country and Blues music. Evoking a communal experience between band and

listener, Moonalice has something for everyone!

July 11th: The Fabulous Cruise Tones

Enjoy a wide variety of familiar dance songs from any decade up to the hits of today!

July 25th: El Desayuno “Great musicians, a Latin groove, killer live

performance...connect the dots and you’ve got El Desayuno.” Roy Jeans ~ Armando’s

Bring blankets, chairs, flashlights, snacks, family and friends. For information call Recreation Staff at (925) 313-2272.

Alamo Municipal Advisory Council presentsAlamo Municipal Advisory Council presents

2014 Movie Under the Stars2014 Movie Under the Stars Friday, July 18thFriday, July 18th

Movie starts at 8:30 p.m.Movie starts at 8:30 p.m. at Livorna Park in Alamoat Livorna Park in Alamo

(Located at the corner of Livorna Road and Miranda Avenue)(Located at the corner of Livorna Road and Miranda Avenue)

[email protected] Alamo Today ~ June 2014 - Page 3

Exchange Club Child Abuse Prevention Day ProgramThe Exchange Club of San Ramon Valley has four pillars for its platform: patriotism, youth activities, community service, and its national project child abuse prevention. The Exchange Club has over 100 centers across the nation, providing families with information and counseling. Local chapters observe Child Abuse Prevention Day by providing families with helpful information ranging from behavior to computer security. The above photo, taken by Steve Mick, shows local Exchange Club members and volunteers at the Club’s table at Lunardi’s Market in Danville. Several events were featured to attract the youngsters and their parents, including Jungle James’ Reptiles, Tank the tortoise, Little Red’s Barnyard with SRVFD hook and ladder, and Danville police volunteer fingerprinting.

Chris Campbell’s family has lived in Alamo for nearly 100 years. As a lifetime Alamo resident, Chris’ knowledge and affection for the area give him unique insight into the Alamo real estate

market and local community. Chris Campbell is your neighbor and Alamo’s Real Estate Expert!

Real Estate Broker Associate

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Dea Campbell 925.640.1727 CALBRE #01734129

Chris Campbell’s family has lived in Alamo for nearly 100 years. As a lifetime Alamo resident, Chris’ knowledge and affection for the area give him unique insight into the Alamo real estate

market and local community. Chris Campbell is your neighbor and Alamo’s Real Estate Expert!

Real Estate Broker Associate

Real Estate Broker

925-838-5700 • [email protected] • ChrisCampbellRE.netDirect E-mail Web

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Call us today for your complimentary staging and market analysis of your home!

Alamo’s Real Estate Expert

CALBRE Brokers License #01345618

Dea Campbell 925.640.1727 CALBRE #01734129

Bed/Bath List Price Sale Price

115 Angela Avenue 3 2½ $1,299,000 $1,300,000169 Canyon Vista Place 5 3 $1,175,000 $1,150,00027 Cole Court 1285 Danville Boulevard 4 4 $1,180,000 $1,155,00030 Ina Court 4 3 $1,100,000 $1,100,00011 Jay Court 11 La Serena Court 4 3 $1,299,000 $1,220,0001681 Las Trampas Road 3 2 $1,100,000 $1,135,00066 Mayfair Court 4 2½ $1,200,000 $1,230,000111 Megan Court 4 3½ $2,349,888 $ 2,350,0001495 Paseo Nogales Road 5 4½ $1,750,000 $1,720,00010 Ray Court 6 3 $1,169,000 $1,150,0002568 Rolling Hills Court 5 4½ $1,649,000 $1,700,0002378 Roundhill Drive 4 3½ $1,249,000 $1,234,0003059 Sandstone Road 5 4½ $1,749,000 $1,716,0753083 Sandstone Road 8 7½ $2,595,000 $2,450,00015 Stone Creek Place 4 2 $1,198,000 $1,175,0003282 Stone Valley Road 4 2½ $1,470,000 $1,425,000311 Twin Peaks Lane 4 2 $1,249,000 $1,188,000330 Twin Peaks Lane 4 4 $1,389,000 $1,375,000168 Via Bonita 4 3 $1,298,000 $1,400,000185 South Via Lucia Lane 4 5½ $2,595,000 $2,750,0001475 Vine Lane 6 6 $2,548,000 $2,575,000

* All single family homes sold in Alamo 03/22/14 thru 04/25/14

The Hemme Depot Train Station

T h e G ra d u a t i n g S a n Ra m o n Va l l ey H i g h S c h o o l c l a s s o f 1 9 2 9

T h e A l a m o G ra m m e r S c h o o l i n 1 9 1 2

Alamo Home Sales – May 2014 Bed/Bath List Price Sale Price117 Alamo Springs Drive 4/4½ $2,438,500 $2,452,500157 Austin Lane 4/2½ $1,100,000 $1,202,000134 Chanticleer Lane 5/3½½ $2,099,000 $1,941,000250 Eagle Court 4/4½ $2,195,000 $2,150,0002108 Granite Drive 4/2 $999,000 $999,000221 Hawk Court 5/4½ $1,795,000 $1,710,000300 Kimberwicke Court 5/3½ $2,540,000 $2,465,00030 Oak Trail Court 4/3½ $1,559,000 $1,650,000460 Oakshire Place 4/2½ $1,728,000 $1,800,000102 Rae Anne Drive 3/2 $1,050,000 $1,035,000412 Red Wing Drive 4/4 $1,769,000 $1,660,0002051 Ridgewood Road 4/4 $1,595,000 $1,365,0002538 Rolling Hills Court 3/2 $975,000 $1,002,0002962 Roundhill Road 4/2½ $1,350,000 $1,340,0001590 Sera�x Road 5/4½ $1,895,000 $1,895,000221 Smith Road 4/2½ $1,875,000 $1,835,00024 Wood Court 3/2 $900,000 $1,107,400

* All single family homes sold in Alamo 04/26/14 thru 05/23/14

Exchange Club of SRVThe Exchange Club of San Ramon Valley meets for lunch the second Wednes-

day of every month in downtown Danville. Sign-in and social time begins at 11:30AM. The meeting starts promptly at noon and ends promptly at 1PM. The program features guest speakers and a business networking speaker. For more information, call Karen Stepper at (925) 275-2312, email [email protected], or visit www.srvexchangeclub.org.

Second Annual Alamo RunThe second annual Alamo Run will be held on June 22nd. The race will

start and conclude in the downtown Alamo area. The run includes a 5k com-petitive run and also a fun run for the Alamo community.

Last year, participants ages 4 to 85 ran pushing strollers and alongside pets and family members.

The run is sanctioned by the USATF and is professionally managed by On Your Mark run management. Entry costs $35 per person (pre-registered) and $40 on the morning of the event. All participants will receive a com-memorative T-shirt.

Runners can sign up through www.Active.com or through www.Alamo-Run.com. All proceeds will benefit the educational programs of the non-profit Mt. Diablo Peace and Justice Center in Walnut Creek.

Dance the Night Away at the Danville Senior Center

Enjoy the spring evening in beautiful downtown Danville. D.J. Geri Foley will play old and new tunes for adults 55 and over who wish to practice their tango, waltz, cha-cha, or two-step. Dancers are encouraged to wear their dancing shoes, or they may relax and listen to their old favorites.

The dance social will take place on Friday, June 6 from 6:30pm to 9:30pm at the Danville Senior Center located at 115 E. Prospect Avenue, in the heart of downtown Danville. Light refreshments will be served. Pre-registration is recommended. The cost is $6 for residents, $7 for non-residents and $10 at the door. For more information or to register, please call the Danville Senior Center at (925) 314-3490.

San Ramon Valley Newcomers The San Ramon Valley Newcomers Club is holding its monthly luncheon

on Thursday, June 19th at Alden Lane Nursery in Livermore. This luncheon is open to current and prospective members in the San Ramon Valley Area. For further information or a reservation, please contact Dee Bradshaw at (925) 837-9600 or www.srvnc.com.

www.yourmonthlypaper.comPage 4 - June 2014 ~ Alamo Today

Get Yours At

• ALAMO BIKES •1483 Danville Blvd

Alamo 925.837.8444

Celebrate Father’s Day with Tools for Dad from

Homemade Ice Cream Fun! White Mountain Electric Ice Cream Machine 4 qt - $209.00 6 qt - $229.00

Dad’s Perfect Pizza on the Grill! Emily Henry Pizza Stone

14” pizza stone - $50.00

Classic Bacon and Eggs Breakfast! Lodge Cast Iron Cookware Griddle - $59.99 13” Skillets - $45.99 12 oz Server - $12.99 Just Cook Rubs - $9.99

Come see all the other great tools we have for your Dad! Father’s Day, June 15th

Let us wrap your gift for free!Alamo Hardware | 3211 Danville Blvd. Alamo CA | 925-837-2420

Alamo Women’s ClubThe Alamo Women’s Club is open to any woman who

would like to join a “place where women come together to work toward a better community for all.” We have nearly 100 years of community involvement and a grow-ing vibrant membership.

The Alamo Women’s Club is always busy in the springtime with many events taking place.

In April we awarded scholarships to students as well as made presenta-tions of yearly awards and recognition to our philanthropies. Approximately $10,000 was awarded to five student recipients who are art students at Monte Vista High School, San Ramon High School, and Del Amigo High School. Scholarships were also given to Youth Homes (foster teen youth) for a gradu-ating senior, and three awards were given to continuing college students from their program who are currently at UCSF, CSEB, and DVC. Three returning single women at DVC also received awards and spoke about what the awards mean to them and their children. The art students performed for the group, and several art pieces were displayed for our members.

In late April the Club honored Earth Day with its fifth Together We Give event where drive-by donations from the community are given to about fif-teen philanthropies. The collection provides a chance to clean out closets and help others at the same time as recycling. At right are pictured some of the Alamo Women’s Club members enjoying one of the toys donated to We Care Child Services. Left to right are members Linda Thompson and Nina Rowe (Alamo), Diane Stafford (Danville), and Darcy Simonds (Walnut Creek).

In May the Club also sponsored use of our Clubhouse to Ellen’s Guild for the second year. Ellen’s Guild is the volunteer group which helps STAND for Families Free of Vio-lence. They hold a White Elephant Sale with all proceeds going to STAND.

May events continued with our members volunteering at We Care Ser-vices for Children at a Mother’s Day event in Concord. The volunteers spent their time helping at arts and craft booths so children could make small gifts for their mothers.

Also in May AWC members traveled to Santa Rosa to visit Canine Com-panions for Independence and to prepare lunches for students graduating with their new assistance dog partners. AWC ladies also staffed the registration booth at the May 31st Canine Companions for Independence Dog Fest Walk ‘n Roll event held at Oak Hill Park. Walk ‘n Roll is the signature national event of Canine Companions for Independence which helps provide highly-trained assistance dogs to children and adults with disabilities, free of charge. The result for the dog recipients is a life full of increased independence and loving companions with a cold nose and a warm heart!

May wrapped up with members laughing and learning about movies and Hollywood from the effervescent Jan Wahl, who was our featured speaker at our Speaker Series Luncheon.

The Club was pleased to receive many awards this year from our national umbrella General Federated Women’s Clubs including recognition of our Emergency Preparedness Fair, newsletter, Smilebox photos, club speakers, excursions, and work with Canine Companions for Independence.

In June, the new officers officially begin their work. Hats off to all of them and in particular to the new co-presidents Carol Atwater (Alamo) and Margaret Batesole (Danville). Heartfelt thanks from all members is given to Sally Cohen (Alamo) and the work of the 2013/14 board.

From the Alamo Women’s Club – Enjoy your summer.Alamo-Danville Newcomers Club

We welcome those new to the area and long time resident to join us. Like to play card games, read good books, wine taste, hike, or golf? Please contact us to learn about the Newcomers Club and the many activities we offer.

For further details call us at (925) 281-1307 or visit our website at www.al-amodanvillenewcomers.com or email us [email protected].


Walnut Creek ~ ONE OF A KIND custom hm w/VIEWS forever yet close to dwntwn W/C, Bart, & freeway. 5200 sf w/5bdrms, 5baths + 6th bdrm/office. Wonderful chef’s kit w/lg center island open to family rm. Private setting, a must see! $1,998,000

Gretchen Bryce ~ 925.683.2477 [email protected]

Alamo ~ Stunning remodel! Desirable Whitegate location, 5 bedrooms 3 full baths 2743 square feet on a private .35 acre lot. Gourmet kitchen, formal living room and dining room, large family room.

$1,449,000

Jay Weymouth • 925.915.1100 [email protected]

~ Alamo ~ Elegant describes this custom built home

w/gorgeous VIEWS. This 3700+ sq. ft. home was rebuilt in 2007. Beautifully

manicured grounds + pool, spa and gazebo to relax and enjoy the view. $1,988,000

Russ Darby 925.943.3333 Tim Palumbo 925.943.3332

Alamo ~ Dean Road. Estate lots. Tentative map approval. 3.2 Acres with MAGNIFICENT REGIONAL VIEWS!

Existing Home on top lot for income or to live in... Private lane setting in Pristine ALAMO OAKS loc. Very Close to Monte Vista High, Oak Hill Park,

Roundhill Country Club. $1,950,000

Danville ~ Expanded and remodeled ele-gant Executive home in Crow Canyon Country Club. Over 3,200 sq. ft. Huge

master suite, 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, pool, spa and 3 car garage. Over 10,000 sq. ft.

lot. Exceptional home for the price!$1,125,000

Mira Goetsch ~ 925.216.1145

www.mirahomes.com

Gretchen Bryce • 925-683-2477 [email protected]

Orinda ~ French Country Tudor, beautifully land-scaped 3/4 acre lot. Exceptional French Tu-dor, 4 bdrms 3.5 baths + lg private office in the main house, 781 sq ft guest house. Up-dated kitchen w/huge center island open to Family rm. Lg pool & spa. Call for pricing & your private showing!

Gretchen Bryce • 925-683-2477 [email protected]


Role Players Ensemble’s 2014-2015 SeasonThe dictionary describes “Cat and Mouse” as a game involving constant pursuit, near capture, and repeated escapes. It is a hunt in which the advantage constantly shifts between the contestants. The Role Players Ensemble’s plays this season feature the hopes, the fears, and the thrill of the chase. In Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Maggie is on the prowl for love from the enigmatic Brick. They are entangled in a game of sex and salvation. With Of Mice and Men, Lenny and George seem to be hunted by fate yet continue to yearn for a better life. The plays Arsenic and Old Lace and The Ladies Man embrace the spirit of the chase. Both feature frenzied reversals of fortune, leading to unexpected surprises. The actors in these farces will be breathless, and the audience will be breathless with laughter. Let the games begin!

• Cat on a Hot Tin Roof by Tennessee Williams ~ September 5 - 20• Arsenic and Old Lace by Joseph Kesselring ~ October 31 - November16• The Ladies Man by Charles Morey (adapted from the French farce by Georges Feydeau) ~ January 30 - February 15, 2015• Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck ~ April 17 – May 3, 2015Subscription tickets for a 4-Play series costs $80-$92, and a 3-Play series costs $60-$69. Tickets are available at www.Role-

PlayersEnsemble.com or by calling (925) 314-3400. Single tickets are available starting in mid-July.The Village Theatre is located at 233 Front Street in Danville.

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Singer, Songwriter Makky Kaylor Performs at Village Theatre

Backed by a trio of top musicians, a renowned Nashville vocalist will take his audience on a sentimental journey back to an era in music history when country was cool, smooth, classy, and king! Join the Town of Danville in welcoming Makky Kaylor to the Village Theatre, at 233 Front Street, on June 19 at 7:30PM.

This special one day event will transport audience members through Nashville classics plus the award-winning songwriter’s own soon-to-be standards which are all presented with Makky’s renowned vocal stylings and his winsome southern charm. Kaylor’s new album and live show, A Little Sentimental, celebrate the classic Nashville Sound of the 1950s and 1960s, but takes an invigorating, slightly sophisticated approach to country music, harkening back to a more romantic era in music. It is a wonderful, historic foundation of southern music with a fresh coat of paint applied by a gifted artist, Makky Kaylor, along with some of Nashville’s most elite musicians.

Beer and wine will be available for purchase in the lobby. Tickets are $20 presale and $25 at the door. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.villagetheatreshows.com or call (925) 314-3400.

Danville Community BandJoin us on Sunday, June 8th as the Danville

Community Band presents a "Summer Vaca-tion" performance. The band offers a selection of musical destinations for you to visit--from Zacatecas, to Rome, from the British Isles to Indiana--there is something for everyone. We will also announce the winner in the band's annual Student Instrument Scholarship Award. The free concert begins at 3pm at Community Presbyterian Church, 222 W. El Pintado Road, Danville. For more information about the band or its concert season, please visit www.danvilleband.org.

Cancer Support Community Holds a Celebration at the RanchA Celebration at the Ranch, honoring all cancer survivors and their families, is being held on Sunday, June 8th. The event, hosted by The California

Parks Company, will be held at Little Hills Ranch, located at 18013 Bollinger Canyon Road in San Ramon. Lunch will be provided.This celebration, honoring National Cancer Survivor’s Day, begins at 10AM and ends at 4PM. The fun-filled day includes live music, dancing, and games.

Activities include bingo, ping-pong, foosball, volleyball, drumming, yoga, massages, and games for the kids.As part of the event, Cancer Support Community’s annual Wings of Hope Butterfly Release will

take place at 10AM. Live monarch butterflies can be purchased in advance for $25 each and will be available for release to honor those touched by cancer.

To attend, RSVP to the Cancer Support Community at (925) 933-0107.Diablo Choral Artists

Diablo Choral Artists performs “To Music,” featuring Brahms’ Six Quartets, op. 112, Vaughan Williams’ “Serenade to Music,” and other musical gems on June 6 at 8PM at Mt. Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church, 55 Eckley Lane, Walnut Creek, and on June 8 at 3PM at St. Stephen Catholic Church, 1101 Keaveny Court, Walnut Creek.

Tickets are available at the door, from chorus members, or in advance at Brown Paper Tickets at www.brownpapertickets.com/producer/16457. For more information, visit www.vmschorus.org.

Now HIRING for bench and field tech positions. Send résumés to [email protected].


Sons in Retirement If you are retired or semi-retired and want to make new friends, par-

ticipate in fun activities, and better enjoy your leisure time, we welcome you to join Sons In Retirement (SIR) - Las Trampas Branch 116. The group has a monthly luncheon where guest speakers address the branch members on topics of general interest.

The June speaker will be Mr. Dan Franklin, a survivor of the Nor-mandy Invasion on June 6, 1944 and the recipient of the French Legion of Honor. He was 16 when he joined the Navy in 1942, and on D-Day his landing craft was charged with delivering soldiers and ammo to the bloody Omaha Beach. His presentation will incorporate first-hand experiences of what went on before that day, during the invasion, and the days following the landing.

Lunch begins at 11:30am, June 16th, at the Walnut Creek Elks Lodge, 1475 Creekside Drive. Guests are welcome and may make reservations by calling 925-322-1160 by Wednesday, June 11th. The cost for the luncheon is $15.

Meetings are held on the third Monday of each month, except for May and December. Group activities include book discussions, bridge, comput-ers, fishing, golf, walking, investments, photography, poker, travel, and more fun things. For information about SIR activities for retired men, please visit www.Branch116.org.

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While Every agent will promise to sell your home, the reality of the real estate market today is that this simply doesn’t always happen. Needless to say, this is highly frustrating to a home seller like you.

“Brad and his team were the right people for me and they got the job done. I am very pleased that my home sold quickly and for the price I wanted. I would refer Brad Gothberg to anyone looking to buy or sell a home, especially in the Alamo area.”

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“Brad has been a longtime friend for over 30 years and has been my Realtor in the last 3 of my real estate transactions. Brad is incredibly efficient and incredibly organized. Brad recently helped me sell my father’s home and we received $25,000.00 over asking! The process was smooth and easy and I enjoy working with Brad and his team”

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Upcoming Community Meetings and EventsAIA - Alamo Improvement Association - Please visit www.alamoca.org for upcoming meetings - Creekside Community Church -1350 Danville Blvd.Alamo MAC (Municipal Advisory Committee) - First Tuesday of each month 6pm - Alamo Women’s ClubP2B - Police Services Advisory Committee - First Monday of each month, 5pm

- Meets at Alamo Chamber of Commerce Office located at 120 -B, Alamo PlazaP5 - Round Hill Police Services Advisory Committee - Second Wednesday of each month, 7pm - Meets at Round Hill Country Club - Lower Level Meeting Room CERT classes - Community Emergency Response Team - Visit www.firedepartment.org/community_outreach/cert/upcoming_classes.asp

Father’s Day Car ShowEach Father’s Day the Blackhawk Automotive Museum located at 3700

Blackhawk Plaza Circle in Danville, and nearby Blackhawk Plaza host a Car Show for all dads to bring out and enjoy their favorite classic, collect-ible, rod, muscle, or special interest cars. This year’s event will take place on June 15th from 10AM - 2PM.

Drivers receive free admission to the Museum and a goodie bag (first 300 cars). You can pre-register at www.blackhawkmuseum.org or enter the day of the event.

There will be a variety of family oriented activities in the Museum and on the Plaza and live music during the day. The Bay Area Engine Modelers and the European Train Enthusiasts will have working displays.

Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW), Post 75, San

Ramon Valley - meets every third Wednesday of the month at the Veterans Memorial Building located at 400 Hartz Avenue, Danville, located on the corner at East Prospect Avenue and Hartz Avenue. The next meeting will be held Wednesday, June 18th. Doors open at 7PM, and the meeting begins at 7:30PM. For more information, contact Post Commander Ernie Petagara at (925) 362-9806. Mail to: VFW Post 75 San Ramon Valley, P.O. Box 1092, Danville, CA 94526. Find out more about the VFW and our Post on the internet at www.vfwpost75.org.

Search and RescueThe Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team needs volunteer

members to respond to missing person incidents, disasters, and other critical incidents. Team members are on call 24/7 year-round. The program provides required training; including wilderness traveling, first aid, map and compass us-age, tracking disaster response, and search skills; and may also include special training for canine, equestrian, technical, mountain bike, or other rescue skills. For information and applications, visit www.contracostasar.org or call 646-4461.

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Alamo Elementary SchoolBy Stan Hitomi, Principal

The end of each school year can be bittersweet. Each June we celebrate a year of growing and learning, but we also say good-bye to those with whom we have become so close. It is especially true this year, as we say good-bye to 30 families whose youngest child is a 5th grader. This is nearly half our graduating class! For many of these families, Alamo School has been their home for over 10 years, some for even longer…much longer.

This year we also say good-bye to one of our most beloved and respected staff members, Terry Storm. Terry has been a member of the Alamo School community for 19 years. Terry has decided to join her husband in retirement and do a bit of traveling. As a former flight attendant with TWA, Terry has seen much of the world already, but she has her eyes set on the Orient Express as her first adventure.

Terry started her tenure with Alamo as a para-educator with former Alamo School teacher, Dave Clark (5th grade). After two years with Mr. Clark, she joined Mrs. Flores for 10 years in the 5th and 3rd grades, before spending the last seven years with Mrs. Martin in 4th grade. Though Terry will be missed, we wish her continued happiness and excitement in her life and hope she is a frequent visitor on our campus.

We also use the close of the year to honor our many volunteers. This year many of our most dedicated volunteers and staff members were recognized at the Annual Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon and PTA Honorary Service Awards. This year’s honorees included:

Golden Oak Award - Jean DeFreeuw Honorary Service Award - Maria Romo and Kristin Iribarren Continuing Service Award - Marcie Wehrley, Katie Nittler, Stephanie

Kiepen, and Kim Dolan Very Special Person Award - Michelle Summers, Jen Nicosia, Tina

Flores, Karyn BergenI hope everyone enjoys a well-deserved summer vacation. When we return

in the fall, we will be “Celebrating 50 years of Alamo School.” Alamo School was originally established in 1876 at a location off Danville Blvd. But our current campus opened in 1965, making 2015 our 50th Anniversary! I look forward to seeing everyone in the fall to celebrate this very special year.Important Dates

June 6 - Spring Concert with chorus and all 3rd, 4th and 5th graders - MPR at 7PM

June 10 - Spring Concert with 1st and 2nd grade - MPR at 1PM

June 11 - Field Day - 8:45AM

June 12 - Step Up - 8:45AM

August 14 - 3:30PM – 4:30PM New Family Orientation 4PM – 7PM Walk Through RegistrationAugust 18 - 9AM – Noon Walk Through Registration

Rancho Romero Elementary School By Skye Larsh-Faraghan, Principal

A great teacher never strives to explain his vision. He simply invites you to stand beside him and see for yourself. –R. Inman

Rancho Romero is closing the year with so many reasons to celebrate. Here are just a few high notes from the 2013-2014 school year.

Rancho Romero Math Olympiad 2014: Several students from Rancho Romero Elementary School were

among the nearly 150,000 students worldwide to participate this year in the Math Olympiad Program. They participated in a series of five monthly contests of five problems each from November to March and weekly practice sessions under the supervision and coaching of Wayne Gishi, fourth grade teacher. Gishi taught the children to solve unusual and difficult problems and to think creatively. The class consisted of sixteen fifth graders, with 80% of this class finishing in the top 50% of all participants. Payton Goyke, Cole Laurenco, and Tyler Pollak earned Silver Pins for scoring in the top 10% of all participants.

Scratch Programming: Matt Graham, Rancho Romero Instructional Tech-nology Specialist; Gregory Duran, San Ramon Valley USD Math Specialist; Almudena Konrad, Rancho Romero Parent and Computer Science Professor; and Stephanie Curry, Rancho Romero Parent and Technology Liaison hosted the first Scratch Programming night at Rancho to share what students are learn-ing in the technology lab. Scratch is a form of algorithmic development and gaming, and it is an essential educational programming language. Learning the language of programming provides a strong alignment to the Common Core Standards by integrating math and logic skills, creativity, art, music, reading and writing, along with understanding the foundation of our digital culture and developing an early foundation for programming. International Scratch Day took place on May 17 with over 200 Scratch Day events in 52 countries.

Student Council Walk-a-Thon: The annual Student Council Walk-a-Thon was held on May 28th, benefitting Tre Grinner and his family. Tre is 17 years old, a senior at San Ramon Valley High School, and a former student of Rancho Romero. Tre was diagnosed in January with Hodgkins Lymphoma when he started having a difficult time breathing. Due to advancements in medical treatments, Tre has a 97% chance of beating the cancer and fully recovering. Student Council, coordinated by Deb Varo and Sandrine Wright, made a conscious choice to raise money through the Walk-a-Thon to help Tre and his family in their fight against this disease.

Rancho Romero Open House: Rancho Romero held its end-of-the-year Open House on May 29th. During this time students were able to show their parents around the school and classrooms, informing them of activities, proj-ects, and assignments they have completed. Classrooms displayed artwork, writing, science projects, books, and other assignments. Open House provided another opportunity for parents to observe and understand the average school day through the eyes of their children.

Coming in JuneJune 5 ~ Spring Instrumental Assembly; Christine Bertolero, music teacherJune 11 ~ 5th Grade PromotionJune 12 ~ Last Day of SchoolThank you to our Alamo Community for putting childrens’ learning first.

On behalf of Rancho Romero, have a wonderful summer.8

Alamo Zoe is Missing

Brian Pratt is our winner

If you find her and your name is drawn!$50 REWARD

She is very small, so you will have to look hard if you want to find her.

To be eligible send a letter telling us where you found her, along with your name and address, to:

Lost Dog! ~ Alamo Today3000F Danville Blvd #117 • Alamo, CA 94507

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Alamo Zoe has become lost in this paper...Search through Alamo Today and see if you can find her!

Mt. Diablo Branch California Writers ClubNovelist and poet Mary Mackey will present “How to Travel Like a

Writer” at the next luncheon meeting of the Mt. Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) on Saturday, June 14 at Zio Fraedo’s Restaurant, 611 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill.

Ms. Mackey will discuss how to travel like a writer, using travel for all writing genres, incorporating unique experiences, and personal photos.

She is the best-selling author of thirteen novels which have been trans-lated into fourteen languages. Ms. Mackey has traveled extensively and uses exotic backgrounds for her books. She is also a poet whose work has been featured in Garrison Keillor’s The Writers Almanac several times.

There will be sign-in and writers tables from 11:15AM to noon, a buffet luncheon from noon to 12:45PM, and the business meeting/program from 12:45 to 2PM. The cost is $20 for CWC members, $25 for guests.

Reservations are required and must be received no later than noon on Wednesday, June 11. Contact Robin Gigoux at [email protected] or phone (925) 933-9670. Expect confirmation only if you e-mail your reservation.

The California Writers Club Mt. Diablo Branch web address is http://cwcmtdiablowriters.wordpress.com.


Stone Valley Middle School By Shaun K. McElroy, PrincipalAwards Showcase

Last month we honored the folks who have made a great impact on the lives of our students. The 2013-14 Honorees are

Parent Recipients - Margie Hart, Miriam Hannon, Tanya Aungle, Mary Ann Mooyman, Nicole Shay, and Nina Fishman.

Teacher Recipients - Wendy Paulson - Home Economics Teacher, Model Home Economics Classroom, Author SVMS Block Schedule, School Climate Committee, School Site Council Member, Teaches nearly every student at SVMS in all grade levels.

Karen Macaulay -Special Education Teacher, SRVUSD Model Special Education Classroom, Staff Development Committee, Mentor Teacher.

Greg Phillips - Spanish, Computer, Science teacher, Site Testing Co-ordinator Staff Photographer, Golf Coach, Technology Guru, Translator, First Aid/CPR Trainer.PTA Alumni Scholarship Award Winner

The PTA Alumni Scholarship is given to a deserving high school senior who graduated from Stone Valley. Logan Silliman, 2010 graduate of Stone Valley and asenior at San Ramon Valley High School, has a 4.22 GPA; participates in volleyball, swim team, and water polo, volunteers to work with children with Downs Syndrome; serves as ASB treasurer; and is a member of National Honor Society and California Scholarship Federation.Alamo Rotary Teacher and Student of the Year

Courtney Konopacky – 8th grade Core teacher, Washington DC trip Coordinator, Member Staff Development Committee Member Field Day Committee, 8th grade Core Lead Teacher Leader in Common Core Imple-mentation, Leader in Culturally Linguistically Responsive Teaching and Learning, Student of the Month Coordinator, Created 8th grade Core Ellis Island simulation for all core students.

Carmen David – 8th grade student, AAUW Tech Trek Award Winner, 3.97 Grade Point Average, WEB Leader, SuperStar 3 Years, Leadership Officer, Math Olympiad High Scorer, Teachers Choice - Student of the Year, 6/7th Girl Scout Bronze level, SRVUSD Battle of the Books com-petition, Champion Member SV Hand Chime and Chorus.San Ramon Valley Education Foundation Shining Star Award

Wendy Nacamu - Math teacher, WEB Leader, Math Counts Coach, After School Sports Coach, Math Department Lead Teacher, Staff Devel-opment Committee Member, M.S. – Mathematics Education.12th Annual Field Day a Huge Success

Since 2003 Stone Valley students have enjoyed a very special end of the year activity called field day. The day-long event includes a Spirit rally, two arts and crafts games, a student talent show, a shared lunch time, inflatable outdoor games, carnival attractions, face painting, snack shacks, movie theater, free play area, and a culminating afternoon rally with a slide show of the day. Our thanks to the many parent volunteers and our Field day committee: Courtney Konopacky, Devrah Lawver, Eric Rasch, Ben Loomer, Teresa Butler-Doran, Wendy Nacamu, Chris Sherwood, Rachel Lynch, and Jeff Hager.Facilities Update

We continue to move forward with plans for the construction of the new Stone Valley. The school board approved the conceptual design on Tuesday, May 20th. Construction is scheduled to begin in the summer of 2015, and the opening is scheduled for fall 2017.

Updated information on construction projects throughout the district can be found on the SRVUSD website at www.srvusd.net/cms/page_view?d=x&piid=&vpid=1346747333230.Want to Become a Better Speaker?

Toastmasters allows its members to practice their speaking and presentation skills in a supportive environment. Our local club, Danville AM Toastmasters, meets every Tuesday from 7 to 8:30AM at Father Nature's Restaurant in downtown Danville (172 E Prospect Ave). Please drop by and visit us! For more information, contact Hans Thoma at [email protected].


San Ramon Valley High School By Ruth Steele, Principal

June is a time of reflection and appreciation as we prepare to watch our students get ready to em-bark on the next segment of their lives. I wanted to share some quotes regarding how educators impact and guide our students. Their power and sense of responsibility in their work with our children is enormous, and I cannot thank our entire school staff enough for the amazing work they do with

our students.“A teacher affects eternity; they can never tell where their influence

stops.” ~ Henry Brooks Adams; “The art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery.” ~ Mark Van Doren; “Education is not the filling of the pail, but the lighting of a fire.” ~ William Yeats; “A teacher is a compass that activates the magnets of curiosity, knowledge, and wisdom in the pupils.” ~ Ever Garrison; “Teachers, I believe, are the most responsible and im-portant members of society because their professional efforts affect the fate of the earth.” ~ Helen Caldicott

Let me share some parting words for the Class of 2014 as they get ready to start their real adventure, beyond Danville and SRVHS toward a world full of opportunity. Do not be afraid to be the very best you can be, for you alone set your limits. “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to manifest the glory that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone.

As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” ~ Marianne Williamson See Kiwanis continued on page 11

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San Ramon Valley Kiwanis Foundation Awards $37,500 in Grants

The San Ramon Valley Kiwanis Foundation has awarded over $37,500 in grants to 40 area non-profit agencies. The grants were presented at the club’s annual grants breakfast ceremony. Representatives of the recipient organiza-tions made brief presentations on the programs the Kiwanis grants support.

Kiwanis of San Ramon Valley has awarded nearly $650,000 through their grants program since 1998. This year, grant amounts ranged from $300 to $2,500, including a grant to the San Ramon Valley Educational Foundation for $2,500 for distribution to worthy school projects that the Education Foun-dation identifies. First time grant recipients this year included Care Parent Network- Contra Costa ARC, Center for Human Development, Diablo Valley Quilters, National Coalition Against Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Program, School of Imagination and Happy Talkers, and the Trinity Center Homeless Dental Program.

Other recipients included Agape Villages Foster Family Agency, Assis-tance Leagues of Amador Valley and Diablo Valley, Bay Area Crisis Nursery, Camp Camelot, Cancer Support Community, Child Abuse Prevention Council of Contra Costa, Contra Costa Interfaith Housing, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), Discovery Counseling Center of SRV, Down Syndrome Connection, Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano, Hope Hospice, Inc., Hospice of the East Bay, Kiwanis Family House, Loaves & Fishes, Moment by Moment, Monument Crisis Center, Museum of the San Ramon Valley, Nayeli Faith Foundation, Ombudsman Services of Contra Costa, Police and Fire: The Fallen Heroes, St. Timothy’s Bicycle Program, San Ramon His-toric Foundation, San Ramon Library Foundation, Senior Helpline Services, Shelter Inc. of CCC, SonRise Equestrian Foundation, STAND! For Families Free of Violence, The Lucille Glass Mauzy Foundation, The Taylor Family Foundation, Tri-Valley Haven for Women, and We Care Services for Children.

Funds for the annual grants program are raised by the San Ramon Valley Kiwanis Foundation, primarily through the solicitation of sponsorships for the Kiwanis 4th of July Parade in Danville, which the Kiwanis Club has been


Monte Vista High School By Janet Terranova, Principal

I am writing about winding-down our 2013-14 school year when it feels like I was just writing about the ex-citement of starting a new year. Our end-of-the-year activities are almost completed. We have so many oppor-tunities for students to participate and

be recognized; here are just a few. During May we were able to recognize almost 200 students with Students of Excel-lence Awards or Department Awards. Students of Excellence Awards are given to students who consistently demonstrate Monte Vista Pride (Respect, Responsibility, Empathy, and Integrity) in their classes. These are the students who work hard, work corroboratively with their peers, ask ques-tions, and are good citizens. Department awards are given to students for high academic achievement. One student per department receives the highest recognition, a Legacy award. Our Drama and Dance departments put on successful productions. Athletic teams ended their seasons with many teams qualifying for North Coast Section playoffs.

I know it is difficult to keep students on track the last few weeks of school, but if you have influence over a young person, I urge you to encourage them to continue their hard work until the last bell rings. Final exams are important in high school and even more important as our students move on to college when their college course may only have three or four grades for the entire marking period. The usual suggestions apply as your student gets ready for end-of-the-year projects and exams. Help your student stay focused. Some students can use help organizing their study time. Encourage students to use different study strategies for different classes. For some classes online or paper-and-pencil flashcards may work, but for other classes diagrams, charts, and story boards are more appropriate. And always, praise your student for a job well done. We should not be asking for perfection, just that students put forth their best effort.

As you make your summer plans, the following dates may be helpful:Inspirational Ceremony - Sunday, June 8 at 5pm at the Al Gentile TheaterGraduation - Friday, June 14 at 6pm in the Samuel Zackheim StadiumRegistration Packet Pick-up - August 13 and 14 in the Drama RoomRegistration - August 18 and 19 in the GymNew Student Orientation - August 21, 8am – 1:15pm

New Student Dance - August 21, 7:30pm – 9:30pm in the Small Gym First Day of School - August 25, Minimum Day ScheduleIf you want to know more about Monte Vista and our activities, please

visit our website at www.mvhs.schoolloop.com.

Alamo - According to industry experts, there are over 33 physical problems that will come under scrutiny during a home inspection when your home is for sale. A new report has been prepared which identifies the 11 most common of these problems, and what you should know about them before you list your home for sale.

Whether you own an old home or a brand new one, there are a number of things that can fall short of requirements during a home inspection. If not identified and dealt with, any of these 11 items could cost you dearly in terms of repair. That's why it's critical that you read this report before you list your home. If you wait until the building inspector flags these issues for you, you will almost certainly experience costly delays in the close of your home sale or, worse, turn prospective buyers

away altogether. In most cases, you can make a reasonable pre-inspection yourself if you know what you're looking for, and knowing what you're looking for can help you prevent little problems from growing into costly and unmanageable ones.

To help home sellers deal with this issue before their homes are listed, a free report entitled "11Things You Need to Know to Pass Your Home Inspection" has been compiled which explains the issues involved.

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organizing and conducting since 1975. Grant applications are solicited in February of each year and awarded in May with an additional several thou-sand dollars held in reserve to provide emergency grants and fund Kiwanis community projects throughout the year.

Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing the world one child and one community at a time. Founded in 1915 in Detroit and with headquarters now in Indianapolis, Kiwanis International is a thriving organization of service and community-minded individuals who support chil-dren and young adults around the world. More than 600,000 Kiwanis family members in 96 countries make their mark by responding to the needs of their communities and pooling their resources to address worldwide issues. Through these efforts, Kiwanis International truly is “Serving the Children of the World.”

Additional information about the Kiwanis Club of the San Ramon Val-ley may be obtained at their website: www.kiwanis-srv.org. The club holds weekly luncheon meetings at noon on Thursdays at Round Hill Country Club in Alamo. Please join the club for lunch, and find out more about the organization.

Kiwanis continued from page 10

Rattlesnake Safety for DogsRattlesnakes are a well-known reality of the desert environment. Accord-

ing to biologists and wildlife officials, rattlesnake numbers and encounters are going to be at an all time high this year due to the dry winter and warm temperatures. Most people have the sense to avoid rattlesnakes if they come across one, but a dog’s natural curiosity puts them at great risk of receiving a potentially deadly venomous bite.

GetRattled - Rattlesnake Avoidance Training for Dogs is holding a train-ing clinic for the Mt. Diablo area at Oak Hill Park, located at 3005 Stone Valley Road in Danville on Sunday, June 8th, from 8am - 4pm with sessions lasting 20-30 minutes. Proceeds will benefit host organization Walnut Creek Aquanuts Synchronized Swim Team. For a small training fee, people will get the extra assurance and peace of mind that their dogs will avoid dangerous rattlesnake encounters, while protecting the dogs and their families from suffering the tragedy of a rattlesnake bite.

Not only does GetRattled train dogs, but it also aims to educate the public, providing professional information along with a Live Rattlesnake display. Also shown are commonly mistaken harmless snakes, which are often on-hand at events and available to touch and hold for people open to the experience as well as those brave enough.

For more information, contact 775-234-8844 or [email protected].


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A Fine Summer Tradition of Concerts in the Park By Supervisor Candace Andersen, Contra Costa District 2

With the arrival of summer comes one of my favorite activities to enjoy in District 2 - the Summer Concert series that so many of our communities host every year. Each local community has put together a wide range of musical opportunities for your entire family to enjoy, and I thought it would be helpful to list them all in one place.

The concerts are held on various nights of the week, and the music reflects many different genres. The park settings and a picnic dinner are perfect complements to an evening of music outdoors. It’s a great opportunity to showcase your own community or visit a new one!Alamo – Held at Livorna Park, Friday evenings, 6:30pm – 8:30pm. Call 925-313-2272 for information.

June 20th: The Sun Kings (Beatles Tribute Band)July 11th: The Fabulous Cruise Tones (Classic Pop)July 25th: El Desayuno (Latin Jazz)August 8th: Moonalice (Classic Rock)

Danville – Held at Oak Hill Park (or on Town Green as noted), Saturday nights, 6pm – 8pm. Call 925-314-3400 for information.

July 12th: Super Diamond: The Neil Diamond TributeJuly 26th: East Bay Mudd (Funk)August 9th: Apple Z (Rock) Held at the Town Green, 400 Front StreetAugust 23rd: Mike Amaral’s California Beach Boys

San Ramon – Held in Central Park, Sunday nights, 5:30pm. Call 925-973-3200 for information.

June 29th: US Air Force Band of the Golden WestJuly 4th: Celebrate America, Celebrate San Ramon Event with the San Ramon

Symphonic Band followed by David Martin's House Party (4:30PM to 7:30PM )July 13th: Joel the band (Billy Joel Tribute)July 20th: The Houserockers (Rock & Soul Band)July 27th: Double Funk Crunch (High Energy Band)August 3rd: Mustache harbor (70’s Soft Rock)

Walnut Creek – Held in Stanford’s parking lot, Thursday nights in August, 6:30pm – 8:30pm. Call 925-939-7600 for information.

August 7th: Super DiamondAugust 14th: ForeverlandAugust 21st: Stealin ChicagoAugust 28th: Joel the BandHave a great summer and I hope you have a chance to take advantage

of the free concerts with your family and friends in our great communities. 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 is-sues. I can be reached at [email protected] or (925) 957-8860.

more than 600 Alamo residents, Alamo citizens expressed a strong desire to have recreational programming in the community. Funding for the program will come from class fees and from existing tax revenue paid by all Alamo residents into the R-7 park district.

Steve Mick also reported that the MAC has authorized the purchase of 1193 Danville Boulevard, the lot at the southwest corner of Danville Boulevard and Hemme Avenue, from the San Ramon Valley Fire Department. Supervisor An-dersen reported that the County negotiated on behalf of the MAC, and the negoti-ated purchase price is $740,000 for the three quarter acre lot. SRV Fire had paid $925,000 for the lot in 2006, and a recent appraisal had put the value at $650,000. The purchase is contingent on a clean soils report, since the lot was the site of a gas station in the 1940’s. Plans are to develop a park on the property. No designs have been approved yet, and the MAC will be soliciting input from the community.

Mick further reported that the MAC has approved the 2014 Summer Con-cert Series, with returning favorite bands such as the Sun Kings and the Cruise Tones. Concert dates are June 20th, July 11th, July 25th, and August 8th at Livorna Park. Movie Under the Stars is set for July 18th with the popular Despicable Me 2 chosen as the movie, also at Livorna Park.

MJ Kroll, property manager of Alamo Plaza, reported that leasing activity has greatly improved at the Plaza, and she expects both the vacant Blockbuster space and the vacant Wells Fargo space to be leased shortly. She has been working with the Alamo Improvement Association and Bill Harlow of Pacific Coast Farmer’s Markets to bring a farmer’s market to Alamo on Sunday mornings at the Plaza. Although she had hoped to have the market open by late May, Contra Costa County Planning Department is requiring a land use permit for the market, which means there will be a delay for the public comment and hearing process. Alamo Improve-ment Association deserves credit for bringing the Farmer’s Market idea forward to fruition, and the response from Alamo residents so far has been extremely positive.

Bill Nelson, on behalf of the Alamo Police Committee, noted the Committee has approved the purchase of radar speed signs to be installed at the southbound and northbound borders of Alamo on the Boulevard, but working with the County Public Works Department has been a slow process. It is crucial to site the signs correctly to receive sun as they are solar powered and also determine where they will have maximum impact, so the process is taking longer than originally thought.

Alamo continued from front page

On behalf of the Boulevard of Trees Committee, I noted the MAC had re-quested that County Public Works engage an arborist to determine if two valley oak trees planted in the sidewalk in front of Alamo Plaza could be saved. An arborist hired by Alamo Plaza had recommended the 25 year old, 50 foot tall trees be removed. The trees were planted by the County using funds raised by the Boulevard of Trees Committee from Alamo citizens in the late 80’s, and the MAC was seeking a second opinion before the trees are removed.

Supervisor Andersen reported Sheriff Livingston has agreed to a policy change that will allow Alamo to keep its resident deputies on a four year rotation and not two years, as is current policy. This was in response to a letter from the Alamo Police Committee expressing concern for losing Deputy Mike Carson in January and losing the training and familiarity he had with Alamo, its citizens, businesses, and schools after only two years on the job. Alamo’s current resident deputy is Jesus Topete, who took over the job in February.

Find out what's happening in Alamo! Alamo Municipal Advisory Council meetings welcome input and participation from Alamo citizens. The MAC meets first Tuesday of each month at 6pm at the Alamo Women’s Club. Members of the MAC are appointed by Supervisor Andersen and serve in an advisory capacity to the County Board of Supervisors on matters of concern to Alamo residents.


PROOFO.K. BY: ____________________________ O.K. WITH CORRECTIONS BY: _________________________

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY • SUBMIT CORRECTIONS ONLINE

BA-0005164161-01.INDD (100%)ADVERTISER: NOVAMAYAUNIVERSITY PROOF CREATEDAT: 4/25/2014 2:29 AMSALES PERSON: Katie Brown NEXT RUN DATE: 04/29/14SIZE: 6 X 10 PROOF DUE: 04/25/14 17:00:00PUBLICATION: BA-East Bay Publications

SUMMER WORKSHOP SERIESDOLLARS & SENSE: FINANCIAL LITERACY FOR GEN Y JUL 14-17A fun new way of understanding the importance of money and finance in helping create the life you want. Starting with thebig picture – how financial institutions & economic systems impact your personal financial life – we will cover topics such asbudgeting basics, investments & savings, debt & credit, money traps, and becoming a conscious and informed consumer.Throughout this workshop, you will apply your learnings to real-life situations and circumstances.

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INNOVATE! THINKING LIKE AN ENTREPRENEUR JUL 21-25Looking to incubate an idea or launch the next big thing? Learn to think like an entrepreneur, identifying and evaluatingopportunities arising from innovation and change.You will learn the basics of creating an entrepreneurial endeavor from conception to harvest, and will collaboratively designa venture that addresses a pressing real-world need. We will also examine entrepreneurship as a viable and financiallysustainable career option.

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Tip of the MonthProtect Your SkinBy Deborah Weiss

This past winter, I went into a local drugstore to buy sunscreen. I was surprised to be told that the store doesn’t carry sunscreen until the spring. Even if you aren’t going to get sunburned, unprotected sun exposure can still trigger the sun’s aging effects and can lead to a higher risk of skin cancer. You need to apply sunscreen as part of your daily routine regardless of the weather.

The sun, not time, is the skin’s greatest adversary. The sun’s rays lead to more than 80% of the changes that result in aging. The sun’s radiation includes two types of ultraviolet rays, UVA and UVB. UVBs are the more potent rays, lead-ing to sunburn and skin cancer. The sun’s UVA rays are responsible for tanning but also penetrate deeper into the skin, causing the effects of aging like wrinkles and spots. These rays are not just a product of direct sun but of all natural light, capable of reaching the skin through glass, clouds, and smog.

So, which sunscreen to use? The SPF (“Sun Factor Protection”) of a sunscreen measures its ability to screen out skin damaging ultraviolet rays, primarily UVBs. Some sunscreens claim to be “broad spectrum,” protecting against both types of rays. However, despite such a designation, there are still concerns about any sunscreen’s ability to protect fully against UVA rays. Despite improved sunscreen usage and labeling, skin cancer is still increasing at disturbing rates.

A super-high SPF factor will not negate the sun’s risks. An SPF of fifty blocks about 98 percent of the sun’s rays. Any number above that will not provide sig-nificantly more protection. People often wait too long before reapplying their sunscreens, or they stay outside too long, thinking a high SPF protects against many hours of sun exposure. The big numbers give people a false sense of security.

Dermatologists recommend an SPF of 30 for everyday and an SPF of 50 if you’re going to participate in outdoor sports. An SPF of 30 means it would take 30 times longer to burn than if you don’t use any sun-screen. However, sunscreen is not a panacea. The only way to avoid the effects of the sun is to stay out of the sun, avoiding the mid-day summer sun and generally avoiding sun exposure between 10AM and 2PM.

People are often concerned that they will not get enough sun exposure to maintain their Vitamin D levels. Vitamin D is an important nutrient that helps the body absorb calcium, keeping bones strong. Because Vitamin D isn’t present in most foods, people use sun exposure to maintain adequate levels. But maintaining Vitamin D takes only minimal sun expo-sure. The Office of Dietary Supplements says it takes only a half hour of sun twice a week to ensure that you have enough Vitamin D.

Active ingredients in sun-screen come in two forms, mineral and chemical. The active ingredients in chemical sunscreens penetrate the skin. Laboratory studies have shown that these active ingredients can be hazardous. For example, the ingredient oxybenzone may cause allergic reactions and dis-rupt hormones, posing a risk of

interference with pregnancies. Avobenzone, another chemical ingredient, breaks down in sunlight, making it a less effective sunblock compared to other options.

Avoid sunscreens which contain the ingredient Vitamin A, also called retinyl palmitate or retinol. Government data, although disputed, has shown exposure to ingredients containing Vitamin A may accelerate the risk of developing skin cancer.

The top recommended sunscreens contain zinc oxide as the active ingredient because it provides the best protection from UVA rays and has the fewest health concerns. Plus, zinc oxide does not break down in the sun. Years ago, zinc oxide sunscreens were unpopular. They went on in a thick, white coat (think lifeguards’ noses in older movies), but today there are far better versions.

People with sensitive skin are less likely to have a reaction from zinc oxide as opposed to other active ingredients. As someone with very sensitive skin, a zinc oxide based sunscreen is the only type I can use. It took some trial and error, but I did find a brand which does not leave a visible white film and which feels pleasant to apply, as opposed to drying.

Stick to a sunscreen in the form of a cream. It’s important to avoid sunscreens in the forms of powders, pumps and sprays. You can mistakenly inhale these types of sunscreen, causing them to enter your lungs, and from there the blood-stream. Health concerns from inhaling sunscreen include the risk of cancer and tissue-damage.

Apply sunscreen cream plentifully and thickly. For proper protection, you need to use about one shot glass, about two tablespoons, of sunscreen for your face and body. You should reapply sunscreen every two hours. And check the expiration date. Sunscreen generally has a three year lifespan. Protect areas not covered by sunblock: wear sunglasses and an SPF 30 lip balm. Don’t forget to protect yourself before your fun in the sun and all other times too!

www.yourmonthlypaper.comPage 14 - June 2014 ~ Alamo TodaySacramento SitesBy Linda Summers Pirkle

Soaring summer temperatures may not bring Sacramento to your mind as a destination in June, July, and August, but a few ideas may inspire you.

The Historic Governor’s Mansion is a unique step back in time, from the Victorian age to the mid-sixties when the Reagans were the last family to live in the Mansion. It was built in 1877, and the State of California purchased the house for California’s first

families in 1903 for $32,000.Our group spent an hour and forty-five minutes with two very knowl-

edgeable guides. We learned about the different families who have lived in the Mansion and saw hand-tied Persian carpets, marble fireplaces from Italy, gold framed mirrors from France, and exquisitely handcrafted hinges and doorknobs. For me, the most interesting part of the tour was seeing the framed photos of the Governors’ wives and families who lived in this his-torical home. New outdoor lighting was recently installed, and if you are in the area, take the time to check out the Mansion at night. The effect is like a “soft wash on the exterior,” said Joe Wolfenden, Lead Guide at the Mansion.

The Capitol building is just a few minutes drive from the Governor’s Mansion. Don’t miss the original 1860’s tiles from England on the second floor west landing of the stairs and the famous 120 foot Rotunda. Be sure and ask how they change the Rotunda light bulbs.

The summer months bring a reprieve from the hundreds and hundreds of school kids and their field trips; summer can be a quiet time for adults and families to explore these important and historical locations, even with the soaring temperatures in Sacramento!

June thru August, the Musical Circus at the Wells Fargo Pavilion in Sacramento features renowned new productions of classic musicals. The Summer Music Circus 2014 season features A Chorus Line from June 24-June 29, Mary Poppins from July 8-July 13, South Pacific from July 22 to July 27, Brigadoon from August 5 to August 10, and La Cage Aux Folles from August 19 to August 24. The theater is the largest continuously oper-ated musical theater-in-the-round, making it a landmark in the professional theater community. Their website is www.sacramentomusiccircus.com and their phone number is (916) 557-1999.

* Governor Jerry Brown recently celebrated his birthday at one of his favorite restaurants in Sacramento: Lucca Restaurant and Bar. Ask to sit in the garden area which is beautiful. Their risotto is superb.

* The Governor’s Mansion is located at 1526 H. Street, Sacramento. Their phone number is (916) 323-3047, and hours are 10AM-5PM. Fees are $5/ adults,$3/children.

*Capitol tours are available daily and are free. Weekday hours are 8AM-5PM and 9AM-5PM on weekends. The address is 10th Street, Sacramento. Their phone number is (916) 324-0333.

* Lucca Restaurant and Bar is located at 1615 J Street, Sacramento. Their phone number is (916) 669-5300. Call for hours.

Linda Summers Pirkle, travel consultant and long term Danville resi-dent, has been arranging and leading tours for the Town of Danville for several years. Inspired by the many wonderful places to visit in the Bay Area, she organizes day trips, either for groups or for friends and family. “If it’s a trip for my husband and me, my husband drives and I talk (he’s a captive audience) – the perfect combination! What a great place to live, so much to see, so much to do.” To share your “Quick Trips” ideas, email [email protected].

Museum Volunteers Needed Looking to get involved in the community? The Museum of the San Ramon Valley

needs your help. Volunteer positions are available in the following areas:• Greeters • Docents• Walking Tour Docents • Events Committee• Educational Programs (One Room School/Indian Life) Call Eve or Donna at 552-9693, or email [email protected] for

additional information.

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NEED DROUGHT-TOLERANTDESIGN OR MAINTENANCE?

Fire continued from front pagestored flammable materials at least 30 feet from your home.

When doing maintenance on your property to prepare it for wildfire, keep the following tips in mind:

• Check the weather before starting any weed abatement project. If the temperature is high, winds are strong or humidity is low, choose another day.

• Never attempt an abatement project during a red flag warning day.• If possible, wet the area you are going to abate prior to cutting the weeds. • Always mow or cut weeds before 10am, when moisture levels are highest.• Always use tools that are made for cutting weeds; lawn mowers are for

lawns, not tall dry grass.• Insure you have a garden hose, large container of water, or a fire extin-

guisher with you while you are cutting dry grass or weeds. • If a fire should start from any abatement efforts, always contact the Fire

District, even if you have put the fire out. Firefighters would like to insure the fire is completely extinguished and will not reignite later in the day or overnight. We are always here to help!

If wildfire occurs in your neighborhood...• Don’t wait to be told to evacuate. Authorities may not have enough time

to order an evacuation. If you feel threatened, leave on your own initiative. • Obey all evacuation orders.• Drive calmly with your headlights on for visibility.• Do not block the access roadway for fire engines and emergency personnel. Fire Prevention staff will be educating residents and evaluating properties

to make sure they are in compliance with Fire District standards beginning June 2. For more information and to view the District’s Minimum Abatement Standards, visit www.firedepartment.org/abatement.Alamo Sheriff’s Station Staffed and Ready

The Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Station, located in the Alamo Shopping Center, is now staffed with volunteers to assist you Monday through Saturday from 8am-5pm and Sunday from 8am-12:30pm. When closed, citizens can use the outdoor red phone for all emergency and non-emergency calls.

For help or information, call (925) 646-6180 or visit the office at 150 Alamo Plaza #C.


Energy MattersA Stable InvestmentBy Mark Becker, GoSimpleSolar

Since 1950, virtually all of the stock market’s annual-ized gains were concentrated in the November through April time period. This spring season’s trepidations and volatility are no different than years past.

A current solar customer of ours is planning on a withdrawal of monies from his 401K to pay for a solar PV system. He’s going to pay early withdrawal penalties for a cash transfer. Seeking information, (and fodder for

this article and marketing) I asked him why he thought this was a wise choice. His response, “When was the last time electric rates went down?” followed by “When and how hard did the market fall last time and the last time the sun didn’t come up? I’d rather remove the market risk and invest in solar.”

There is typically no need to “sell the numbers” to finance professionals. They clearly understand the very low risk associated with an investment in solar PV. Their main concern is mitigation of risk via selection of the finest products and installation team. Only then will a solar PV system return the lowest long-term cost of energy. Returns will average over 12% per annum This investment will pay for itself 10 times over and equate to hundreds of thousands of dollars of zero return monies not paid to PGE. It’s also safe to say that there’s no volatility present in his investment, using history as a guide; PGE rates aren’t likely to crash. Solar has simply become another means by which the savvy investor can diversify his or her investments.

The psychoanalyst: Using an “auto-pay” payment method for your utility bills is akin to an ostrich keeping his or her head in the sand. Ignoring utility bills won’t make them go away or you any more rich.

Cringe-worthy moment: I recently received a solicitation that provides solar contractors incremental awards for contracting leased or power purchase solar systems to homeowners through their finance company. “Close 40 deals, get a television, a computer, AND $5,000 in travel rewards.” It certainly sounds to me like the finance companies are doing quite well by providing consumers with “zero down” solar systems if they can incentivize the sales with such gifts. It’s not snake oil--power purchase agreements can save homeowners money, but the real

savings lay in ownership of a solar PV system. If you’re considering solar, do your pocketbook and financial future a favor. There are plenty of finance options that lead to OWNERSHIP of a solar PV system. You’ll keep all the savings yourself.

Disclaimer: Even though we can offer a power purchase option to our pro-spective customers, we’ve have had very little success “selling” them. When local consumers are educated about where the majority of the savings go (to the finance company), they’ll lose interest and find a loan or pay cash to maximize their returns by purchasing the solar system. Don’t get me wrong, I’d certainly love a new “television, computer and travel rewards,” but I’d rather provide financial return to customers than to leasing companies. We come across very few customers who have no tax liability; therefore most can take advantage of the 30% Federal Tax Credit for renewable energy, accelerating the payback of the solar PV system.

Recently, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) unsealed indictments against five members of the People’s Liberation Army of China, accusing them of exfil-trating data from five U.S. corporations, including SolarWorld USA. SolarWorld just happened to be at the forefront of the International Trade Commission and DOJ trade case that charged the Chinese solar industry with illegal dumping and illegal subsidies. This was a case that the Chinese lost miserably and resulted in tariffs on all Chinese panels. The bankruptcy of the then largest manufacturer of solar panels, Suntech, also resulted. Now the Chinese have been accused of spying on a US solar company, amongst other companies. They’re not our allies, not in trade or otherwise.

By purchasing USA made solar panels from SolarWorld or Sharp, you’ll not only support USA solar manufacturing jobs (Hillsboro, Oregon and Memphis, Ten-nessee respectively), but you’ll also get better long term value from these products which have decades of field proven performance.

Consumer alert: The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a recall on the Nest Protect Smoke + CO Alarm. The hazard is that “activity near the product during a fire can prevent the alarm from immediately sounding when the Nest Wave feature is enabled.” For more information go to www.nest.com and click on Nest Protect Safety Notice.

Mark Becker is the President of GoSimpleSolar, by Semper Fidelis Construction Inc, a Danville based Solar Installation Firm (License 948715). GoSimpleSolar (www.GoSimpleSolar.com) can be reached at 925-331-8011, or [email protected]. Visit GoSimpleSolar’s solar and roofing showroom at 100 Railroad Avenue, Suite B, Danville, (behind Pete’s Brass Rail Restaurant) Advertorial



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The Art of Screening By Blaine Brende & Joe Lamb

Trees and shrubs provide many valuable services in the urban eco-system. One of the most important, from the perspective of homeowners, is screening for privacy and to hide

undesired objects. Well-placed foliage can keep out prying eyes and enhance personal safety, and a view of beautiful leaves and branches gives more pleasure than the view of a neighbor’s garage. Over the long run, preserving a living screen requires planning and judicious pruning.

Plants grow toward the sun; they maximize foliage where there is most light. As trees mature, the density of the canopy can act as an umbrella and shade out the interior lower branches, which causes them to die. To see a clear example of this, look at a mature oak in the forest.The majority of foliage is in the outer shell; the interior is bare. This natural phenomenon works well for plants in the wild, but it may not succeed well for your screening needs. Luckily, there are ways to avoid this loss of valuable screening.

All strategies for maintaining screen involve keeping sunlight flowing to inte-rior branches. Sufficient light on the leaves reduces dieback. It is best to act before the screen is compromised (an ounce of prun-ing is better than a ton of replanting). In plants with latent buds, English laurels for example, trunks can re-sprout even after interior branches have withered. However, many species lack latent buds and are inca-pable of re-sprouting, and for those species preventative medicine is the only medicine. Even for species with latent buds, keeping branches healthy is much easier, and more effective, than reinvigorating them.

• Eliminate light competition from sur-rounding plants. Evaluate the plants grow-ing near your screen plants to see if they are casting a shadow on branches critical to screening. Plants shading out important screen plants can be removed, or they can be thinned and shaped to increase illumina-tion of screening branches.

• Thin the screen plants themselves. This may seem counter intuitive, but the exte-rior of the screen plant may be shading its interior. It is not uncommon to see 40-foot pittosporums that look like balloons, with the only green occurring in the canopy. To revitalize, it is generally best to remove all dead wood, thin the top heavily, and even thin the screen area. The goal is to maintain layers of green from the edge of the canopy through the interior. A thick, multi-layered screen is less prone to failure. If it is not acceptable to lose any bottom screen, even temporarily, a good compromise is to thin those portions above the screen area. Thinning only one portion of the tree is an aesthetic challenge, but it can be done.

• Shape the tops of screen plants. It is sometimes possible to shape back the tops of screen plants to allow more light to reach the lower branches. Our philosophy

of pruning requires that the overall beauty of the plants be considered in all pruning cuts. Because health and beauty are often synonymous, we have found that bringing light into the interior usually enhances tree aesthetics.

What do you do if you have already lost the screen? It is difficult to get branches to grow back once they have died, but radically thinning or lowering the plant may induce growth in lower foliage. Unfortunately, this is hard to achieve without sacrificing the aesthetics of your trees and shrubs. Sometimes it is possible to fill the gap with shade-loving plants. Other times the only solution might be to remove the plant and start over. Each case is different.

If you need help, do not hesitate to give us a call, for advice or to do the work. At Brende and Lamb, we have 20 years of experience balancing the aesthetics of your trees and shrubs and maintaining your screening needs. If your trees need a little TLC, please call 510-486-TREE (8733) or email us at [email protected] for a free estimate. Additionally, go to our website www.brendelamb.com to see before and after pictures, client testimonials, and work in your neighborhood. Advertorial


Life in the Alamo Garden Personal PathBy John Montgomery, ASLA, Landscape Architect

To view a beautiful garden from a distance is to bring joy to the eyes, but to walk through and ex-perience a beautiful garden touches all the human senses. The pathway is an essential structure to any successful landscape design. A pathway brings you into the garden and brings the garden to you.

The goal of any garden path is to allow egress in and out of your land-scape. It can lead you to that hidden secret sitting area where you love to sit in the warm sun and read a good book or enjoy quiet meditation away from the fray of life, or it can provide functional access to high-use areas in your yard such as swimming pools, patios and decks, and sports amenities.

Depending on the purpose, the path can either be formal or informal. A formal path is generally more structured, permanent, and more direct. For instance, the path to your front door, pool, or patio should be more formal. Design it with the idea of transporting people more directly. A path to your door should be proportionate to the size of your home. If you have a large two-story façade, you don’t want a three-foot wide meandering path to your front door. Generally, a path for a larger proportioned home should be a minimum of five feet wide. It should be constructed of a permanent surface like concrete, stone, or brick mortared onto concrete for stability. Pick a ma-terial that is solid and easy to walk on. A formal path should be more direct. It doesn’t need to be straight, but it does need to be direct. A formal path can have curves, angles, or straight edges. In other words, it shouldn’t take you from the entry at the street around the side of your house, curve back around to the front through a grove of trees, and across to the other side before ar-riving at your front door. Just being funny!

An informal path can be an added design feature to any Alamo landscape. Most Alamo lots tend to be quite spacious, which allows for informal paths to get you out into your garden. An informal path generally is less structured, less permanent, and less direct. The purpose of an informal path is to provide access to the sights, sounds, smells, textures, and tastes of your garden. It is a less direct way of getting someplace or nowhere. It gives you access to a hillside with views, a quiet corner for meditation, or gathering an assortment

of fruits, herbs, and flowers. It should be constructed of a less permanent material, such as loose-set flagstone with ground cover in between, con-crete steppers, or gravel. I particu-larly like gravel because o f the “crunching” sound it makes when you walk on it.

A garden path is one of the most im-portant hardscape elements in your landscape design. It is a core element of your landscape. One of the first ele-ments that I work out in my design process is the path-ways. The path sys-

tem defines the softscape areas and provides access for use. A path system can be as elaborate or as simple as you want. Remember that every element in your garden has purpose. Define the purpose of your path system before you design it. The garden path is most likely the most used hardscape ele-ment of any landscape design.

A hot tip from your local Landscape Architect: A primary path should always be wide enough (4-5 ft at minimum) for two people to walk side-by-side comfortably.

Gardening Quote of the month: It is a great art to saunter. ~Henry David Thoreau, 1841

If you would like me to write on any particular subject, email your ideas to [email protected]. For design ideas, visit www.jm-la.com. Advertorial

Lic# 1100014354; Bay Area Entertainment


Clip NotesBy Jody Morgan

Roses are hard to resist, especially when grown in immaculate gardens tended by the loving labor of oth-ers. As a devotee of the principle that pruning is best done whenever you have clippers in hand, my only advice on trimming roses is to go at it early enough to permit comfortably clothing yourself in protective garb. I appreciate survivors sturdy enough to shrug off clumsy clipping, but I resent dangerously armed combatants

that fend off my attentions by clawing my face and shredding my attire.On tour last year, I encountered England’s largest rose at Kiftsgate Court.

Although individually small, the fragrant white flowers cluster in panicles up to 18 inches in diameter. The ‘Kiftsgate’ rose blooms only once a year in July, but the scale of the plant is readily apparent in all seasons. The exuber-ant embrace of this seemingly unstoppable specimen has already smothered three trees. Even with regular pruning, it measures approximately 80 feet x 90 feet x 50 feet high. Planted by Heather Muir in 1938, this gargantuan nonagenarian seems to be rooted in the fountain of eternal youth.

Credited with naming this rose cultivar ‘Kiftsgate,’ Graham Stuart Thomas brought Kiftsgate Court to the attention of horticultural enthusiasts in his May 1951 article in the Royal Horticultural Society Journal. He praised the garden as “the finest piece of skilled colour work that it has been my pleasure to see.” A few years later, Muir’s daughter Diany Binny took over care of Kiftsgate, subsequently opening it to the public. The rose and its surroundings now thrive under the solicitous attention of Muir’s granddaughter Anne Chambers.

The origin of ‘Kiftsgate’ is unrecorded, but it is considered to be an offspring of Rosa filipes, a species native to China. The specific epithet “filipes” (mean-ing “threadlike stalks”) refers to the only delicate part of this plant: the thin stems from which the flowers dangle. The vigorous growth is more suggestive of Jack’s Beanstalk than a filament of finely spun thread. Huge hooked thorns aid heaven-ward ascent through neighboring trees. Shade encountered en route is no deterrent.

Anna Pavord’s humorous summary of her own attempt to tame this selection indicates that the amateur gardener is unlikely to enjoy jousting with ‘Kifts-gate.’ In the January 28, 2012 issue of The Independent she writes: “Pruning it every year was a business I dreaded. Vast lengths of new growth lashed about in the wind, thorns caught in my hair and gored bloody tattoos on my face.”

Another famous white rose blooms at Sissinghurst Castle in Kent. The pruning technique initiated by Jack Vass when he became head gardener in 1939 is: “treat them mean, keep them keen.” Plants stressed enough to think they are about to expire respond by flowering profusely in order to provide for survival of their species. By bloom time, cascades of seemingly out-of-control blossoms belie the extensive training essential to their performance.

The pruning begins in November with the climbers and ramblers that cover almost every available space on the brick walls. Most of the current year’s growth is removed, and large woody stems are sliced almost to the base before the work of re-attaching the branches in graceful arcs is undertaken. Shrub roses get cut back once they have begun to leaf out.

Records do not indicate precisely when the current centerpiece of the white garden, Rosa mulliganii, was planted. When first designed by Vita Sackville-West in the 1930s, the garden included Rosa filipes. In 1939, Sackville-West decided to revamp this space, originally conceived as a pink and white tribute to Persian art, into Sissinghurst’s much-emulated white, silver and green display. By 1970, the climbing roses were compromising the health of the entire avenue of almond trees. Whether Rosa mulliganii was one of the culprits or a later addition is unknown.

Grown at the Royal Horticultural Society’s property at Wisley, England from seed collected in China by George Forrest, Rosa mulliganii was named in 1937 by G. A. Boulenger, a Belgian botanist for Brian Mulligan who identified the seedling as a previously undocumented species. Mulligan was Assistant-Director at Wisley at the time, but is best known in the US for the 50 years he spent shap-ing and directing the Washington Park Arboretum in Seattle. His namesake rose also finds life in the Pacific Northwest congenial, where it can climb 40 to 60 feet when trained through a sturdy evergreen. The fragrant flowers attract pollinators in early summer. The red-orange hips nourish birds in autumn.

Chardonnay DayBy Monica Chappell

Hooray for Chardonnay! Almost without question, Chardonnay is the world’s greatest white wine. The drink has characteristics ranging from citrus and green apple in cool climates to pear, tropical fruit and fig in warmer areas, and it is almost always complicated with some spice, vanilla, and toasty notes from contact with oak.Growing Regions

Chardonnay grows in nearly every wine producing area in the world, but it shines in Burgundy, France. In addition, it does particularly well in California, Chile, and Australia, producing a full blown style which can be big, heavy, and usually oaky. The French versions are often described as being more restrained and higher in acidity. Style Variations

Chardonnay styles can vary dramatically based on origin and wine maker. Chardonnay is less acidic than other whites and can be bold, rich, complex, and oak loving.

Lighter styles are fermented in stainless steel tanks, have less alcohol, and are more restrained and tend to go with food better based on the higher acid levels.

Medium style have a bit more oak and increased alcohol.Full bodied styles are richer with lots of oak and perhaps malo-lactic

fermentation. Food Matches

Chardonnay can be hard to match with food if it is high in alcohol (13-14%) or has a lot of oak flavor, creating a heavier weight and body. A few matching tips for food pairings with Chardonnay:

• Match with dishes of similar weight and body. Look for textural elements in both the food and the wine.

• Spicy food tends to accentuate the alcohol and oak in the wine and usually are not pleasant together.

• Decadent Chardonnays can match the buttery richness of foods.• High alcohol wines can go well with slightly sweet food.

Bridge Ingredients can Help Marry the Dish to the Wine• Herbs - tarragon, basil, thyme• Butter, olive oil, cream, coconut, coconut milk, • Toasted nuts - hazelnuts, pine nuts, almond, cashews • Citrus, pears, apples, tropical fruits• Fennel, corn, polenta, avocado, squash, mushrooms

Label LingoYou may see the following words on Chardonnay labels: barrel fermented

(which imparts toasty oak flavors), cold fermented (which preserves fresh, youthful fruit flavors), and lees contact or sur lie (increasing the contact time between the lees, or sediment, and the wine to add complexity and richness). Chardonnay Aliases

Burgundy produces Chardonnays under many local place names, such as Chablis, Pouilly-Fuissé and Meursault, as well as wines with Montrachet in the name.

Go out and enjoy some Chardonnay today! Monica Chappell teaches wine appreciation classes. For upcoming

classes, visit www.wineappreciation101.blogspot.com.

San Ramon Valley Genealogical SocietyThe San Ramon Valley Genealogical Society was formed in 1985 and now

has over 170 members. The group meets at 10AM the third Tuesday of every month, except in August and December. The group gathers at the Danville Family History Center located at 2949 Stone Valley Road, Alamo.

The June 17th meeting will feature Richard Ferman talking on “Pennsyl-vania Research.”

The group also conducts educational classes for its members and has vari-ous special interest groups.

Everyone is welcome. For information, call Ed at (925) 299-0881, visit www.srvgensoc.org, or email [email protected].


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Contra Costa Cribbage Club15-two, 15-four, a pair for six and a run of three make

nine. Hearing this gibberish while seeing two opponents, a deck of cards and a slab of wood that looks like it was attacked by a crazed, but linear minded woodpecker, can only mean one thing. The game is cribbage, a two-person card game dating back to its inception in England during the early 1630s.

The Contra Costa Cribbage Club (CCCC) is one of 188 active Grass Roots clubs across the country. Club director Adrian Levy learned the game when he was 10-years old from his British father. Decades later, he’s still happy to play the game and offer it to others. “Cribbage is a game of probability and psychology, much like poker. But most of all, it’s a fun social game for people of all backgrounds and ages,” says Levy.

The members of the CCCC can be found every Wednesday evening at 6pm “salting the crib” and avoid-ing the dreaded “skunk.” They play a nine-game format. The CCCC offers cribbage aficionados a chance to play this great game at an affordable price, too. Members pay a $1 entry fee to the club. Optional pools are paid out to the top 25% of the participants, as well as the high hand. The Club meets at the offices of Dudum Real Estate, 1910 Suite100, Walnut Creek. Visitors are welcome.

For further information, call Adrian Levy at 925-899-1928.

Repeat After Me...By Evan Corstorphine, Portable CIO

Repeat after me... “Just because I don’t know computers, doesn’t mean I am stupid!” This may seem like an odd way to start an article, but it reflects part of the psychological counseling we administer to some of our clients on a daily basis. It’s so disconcerting to hear people I respect talking about themselves so negatively.

For many reasons, there is a belief in our society that unless you know everything about computers like the back side of your hand, you’re somehow inadequate, dumb, or behind the times. It isn’t logi-cal, but here we are. We encounter this attitude every day we come to work. It comes in various flavors, but at the end of the day the story is the same: “I should have known.” Guess what? No, you shouldn’t, unless you’re a trained professional. And even then sometimes you're going to get tricked. I admit that I too have fallen for “phishing” emails, for a moment at least.

We’re at a very interesting time in societal development. On one hand we have an amazing array of technology and international interconnection, and access to information like never before. When you and I ponder that, we think about kids doing reports at the kitchen table using the internet instead of the Encyclopedia Britannica. On the other hand, we have, through the internet, opened our doors to people who think differently than us. Maybe they’re earning $2/day in a call-center somewhere. Maybe they work in an internet sweat-shop, calling US phone numbers in hopes of tricking them into letting them on your computer. Never before, in the history of mankind, has a wealthy population been bridged and opened to unwealthy, potentially hostile populations in such a massive and complete way. It’s very much like a train being built between the barrios and the wealthiest neighborhoods of the world, and neither community yet fully understands the implications. It comes down to a struggle between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have-nots,’ and unfortunately some of the ‘have-nots’ come from a predatory orientation. They see the internet and the information now available as opportunities to get what they want, however and through whomever they can reach. And, being a “rich American,” you are the target.

I don’t consider myself cynical, and I think this way because we get calls on a daily basis from people who have been victimized. What I’m trying to convey is that there are a lot of people out there trying to rip you off, and they are not working from the same moral code that you and I grew up with. They’ll

straight-up lie to you on the telephone, and they are well-trained in how to trick you into doing what they want. They want your money, and in some cases they want your identity, too.

Now, let’s get back to this misconception of you “being dumb.” These people who call you up are well-trained. They’re pros. They have a well-oiled approach and know how to build the false credibility that causes you to let down your guard. They also know how to apply an aura of urgency to the conversation, in order to stampede you toward an action they want you to take before you have had time to think it through. They know just what to say, and they know exactly what emotional ‘buttons’ to push to motivate you. They will have an answer for every one of your concerns or objections. Remember, if someone is trying to spin you up and “help” you solve a problem you didn’t know existed, call someone you know, like us, first. We will tell you if you have something to be concerned about. In addition, “Windows” (Microsoft) or any of the other “brand name” electronic companies will never, ever call you to tell you there are viruses on your computer. They have no way of knowing.

There is no police force to track these internet predators, stop them, or prevent them from doing this. If you want to pull the same scam on them, you can dial up someone in their country and do the same thing. There’s a saying in the world of conning people that states it’s not stealing if you give your money willingly to the con. That’s what makes it hurt so much worse, because you can’t even say they stole from you, because you gave them the credit card number, because they tricked you.

If you’ve never encountered this caliber of swindler before, how are you “dumb” if they simply managed to trick you? Unless you’re a professional or have encountered this before, you’re just not going to know. And if you are in the 50-80 age group, you’re especially vulnerable because we have a hard time believing people can be this evil, this dishonest to your face. But they are, and this is the “new world order,” internet-style.

The best thing you can do if you sense you are being scammed, is to slow things down. If someone really wants to help you, they won’t mind if you check on them or call a friend to help out. When you take that breather, call, or email your friends at Portable CIO, and we’ll help you set the record straight. We can be reached through our Help Desk at 925-552-7953 or by emailing [email protected]. Advertorial

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Gardens continued from front page

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Cinema ClassicsYours, Mine, and OursBy Peggy Horn

This month’s Cinema Classic is a favorite film of mine entitled, Yours, Mine, and Ours, (1968) starring Lucille Ball and Henry Fonda. The screenplay, written by Melville Shavelson and Mort Lachman, is funny, clever, and heartwarming. Even though I have seen this movie several times, I still laugh out lout all over again watching it.

The movie is based on the true story of the Beardsley family, a blended family with eighteen children. Apparently Desilu Productions purchased the rights to the movie several years before Helen Beardsley wrote a book about her family’s life entitled, Who Gets The Drumstick? (1965). Critics were cool on this movie, but the public loved it and it generated the television series, The Brady Bunch.

Lucille Ball plays the role of Helen North, the widow of a naval test pilot who dies during the routine test of an airplane. Henry Fonda is Frank Beardsley, a Naval warrant officer who happens to be a widower. Frank and Helen meet on the naval base through Frank’s daughter and fall in love! In the movie, their courtship takes place in San Francisco, and it’s fun to see them getting a seafood snack at Fisherman’s Wharf, strolling around Ghirardelli Square, and even taking a walk on what appears to be the Berkeley Pier. The family issues are real and develop as the characters become one family. One of my favorite scenes takes place in the Buena Vista Café in San Francisco when Frank and Helen are attempting to have an Irish Coffee – it isn’t easy!

This is a hilarious movie and even survives the test of time; the sixties references are easily absorbed and don’t interfere with the rest of the movie. Yours, Mine, and Ours is delightfully funny, delightfully witty and, in short, just delightful. It is available for purchase or online download. It can even be viewed on YouTube!Musical Notes

For fun I have compiled a list of songs that came out in 1968, the same year Yours, Mine, and Ours was released. They can all be heard on YouTube, enabling us to take a trip down memory lane or simply get a flavor for the music that year. They are “Suzie Q,” by Creedence Clearwater Revival, “Do You Know The Way To San Jose?” by Dionne Warwick, “Green Tambourine,” by The Lemon Pipers, “Classical Gas,” by Mason Williams, “Spooky,” by the Classics IV, “Dance to the Music,” by Sly and the Family Stone, and “This Guy’s in Love with You,” by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass.

and practice horticulture was first suggested by John Chamberlain, a Parks Department employee, and enthusiastically embraced by Ruth Wallis, Director of Parks and Recreation. Various groups offered input as the proposal gained momentum. In March of 1968, Robert Cowden, for whom the rose garden is named, was elected Chairman of a group composed of garden enthusiasts from the entire region including Robert and Alice Bridges (Lafayette), Bob and Pat Cowden (Walnut Creek), Jack and June Cunningham (Orinda), Aloha Pridmore (Walnut Creek) and many members of the Howard family – Harmon and Joan (Walnut Creek), Peter and Ruth (Walnut Creek) and Bruce and Jeanette (Orinda).

The City of Walnut Creek suggested a need for offices, meeting spaces, and classrooms not in the group’s original plans. GHF broke ground for the Howard Center on August 12,1979. Today, 13,000 area children benefit each year from GHF programs both at the Gardens and in local schools. Adult education opportunities include lectures and hands-on workshops. Horticul-tural therapy, which utilizes gardening activities to improve an individual’s overall health and well being, is available for all ages.

Garden clubs from the San Ramon Valley to the Caldecott Tunnel have sup-ported GHF over the years. Diablo Women’s Garden Club, whose members took a leading role in establishing GHF, continues to care for the sensory garden filled with fragrant and fun to feel plants. The Orinda Garden Club maintains the semi-circle of David Austin roses donated by their members. The Walnut Creek Garden Club organizes the Teddy Bear Tea, an important annual fundraiser.

Originally concerned with showcasing plants that thrive east of the Tun-nel, GHF began focusing on sustainable gardening practices when Patrice

Hanlon was hired as Garden Director in January 2000. Not long thereafter, an EBMUD grant funded the weather-based watering system. Soil improve-ment by mulching and the addition of organic matter dramatically reduced the need for water. “If you have healthy soil,” Hanlon explains, “plants intake water more efficiently.” Initiated under her guidance, the “7 Principles of Bay-Friendly Landscaping” are firmly in place: “Landscape Locally; Less to the Landfill; Nurture the Soil; Conserve Water; Conserve Energy; Protect Water and Air Quality; Create Wildlife Habitat.”

Leaves left to decompose provide homes for beneficial insects. Ninety-seven percent of the insects inhabiting gardens are beneficial. Teaching the public not to assume every bug on a rose is a problem is a GHF priority. Eliminating the application of herbicides and pesticides allows natural preda-tors to control the non-beneficial insect and rodent populations. Bluebirds and owls are among the creatures enjoying the now healthy habitat.

Weeding and removal of undesirable debris is done by hand. The only area kept completely free of decomposing foliage is the rose garden. Slow-release organic nutrients make the roses healthy enough to recover from common diseases such as black spot without chemical intervention. The recently installed deer fence keeps hoofed herbivores from devouring the blossoms but allows easy access for humans.

Each of the 24 demonstration beds has a specific theme, but the roses tend to steal the show. “I love the roses. They are magical,” says volunteer Gwen Colley. She and Christy Wilson recently led a tour of 30 women who refused to exit the remarkable display. Rental of the rose garden for weddings is a significant source of funding. “GHF is a wonderful venue and great value for a beautiful wedding,” Gwen affirms.

Volunteers are essential to running all aspects of the organization.“My background is in HR, so I have helped draft the GHF policy manual, assist with recruiting, and do other HR tasks when requested,” Colley notes.

“What I find most rewarding about volunteering at GHF is the friendships I have made,” Colley continues. “When I was working in San Francisco, I

See Gardens continued on page 30


Preparing your Estate Plan for the Changes in Tax RulesBy Peter Waldron In conjunction with Sagemark Consulting, a division of Lincoln Financial Advisors, a registered investment advisor

Federal estate tax laws have changed four times since 2008. The constant flux can make it hard to know when to adjust your estate plan and what changes to make.

Currently, the first $5.34 million of your estate is exempt from estate transfer taxes. Amounts after that are taxed at a rate of 40%. Regardless of what happens with estate tax laws, you can still draft

an estate plan that stays relevant and reflects your wishes by telling your lawyers you want something flexible. Read the fine print

There is no need to rush to your estate planning attorney every time Congress changes the tax code. It’s more important to review your estate plan after major life events—for example, the birth of a child, an illness or a divorce. You may also want to review your estate plan if you switch jobs or experience a sudden change in your family’s finances.

When reviewing your estate plan, make sure the language it uses doesn’t leave you vulner-able to changes in the law. For example, your plan may specify that a trust should be funded up to the current estate tax exemption or a certain percentage of that limit to maximize the benefits of the current law.

For example, consider the case of “AB trusts,” popular tools used by couples to pass assets to their heirs. One strategy for these trusts is to leave the full estate tax exemption to children while leaving the remainder of the estate to the surviving spouse. But if the exemption amount has increased since you drafted your estate plan, you could end up giving your entire estate to your children—leaving your spouse with nothing.Stay flexible

While some tax law changes can complicate existing estate plans, other rules are designed to add flexibility to the estate planning process. Case in point: A new provision allows surviving spouses to add any unused portion of their deceased spouse’s $5.34 million exemption to their own exemption. That means couples can pass up to $10.68 million of their estate to their children tax-free, without needing a complicated estate plan. Note, however, that even if the deceased spouse’s estate will not be taxable (in other words, is valued less than $5.34 million in 2014), the surviving spouse will nonetheless be required to file IRS Form 706, United States Estate (and Generation-Skipping Transfer) Tax Return, in order to take advantage of the deceased spouse’s unused estate tax exemption, otherwise the deceased spouse’s exemption will be lost.

Disclaimer trusts provide another way to add flexibility to your plan. With these trusts, the surviving spouse can disclaim, or refuse, any of the inherited assets, landing those assets in a separate, tax-exempt trust that can be passed on to your heirs. The catch is that the ultimate decision rests with the surviving spouse. You can either take your chances with portability or create a disclaimer trust.

The estate tax doesn’t have to cause you stress. Just work with your estate tax professional and financial planner to determine the appropriate solutions for making your estate plan less vulner-able to changes, while still helping you toward achieving your estate planning goals.

Please contact Peter Waldron to schedule a complimentary review of your financial situa-tion, (925) 659-0383 or [email protected].

Peter T. Waldron, California Insurance License #0E47827, is a registered representative of Lincoln Fi-nancial Advisors, a broker/dealer, member SIPC, and offer investment advisory service through Sagemark Consult-ing, a division of Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp., a registered investment advisor, Spectrum Wealth Partners, 3000 Executive Parkway, Ste 400, San Ramon, CA 94583. Insurance offered through Lincoln Marketing and Insurance Agency, LLC and Lincoln Associates Insurance Agency, Inc. and other fine companies. This information should not be construed as legal or tax advice. You may want to consult a tax advisor regarding this information as it relates to your personal circumstance. The content of this material was provided to you by Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp. for its representatives and their clients. Advertorial

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Group Helps People Cope with Death of Pets

When you lose your pet, you often feel like a part of you is lost. The death of your beloved animal companion is one of the most difficult losses you may ever feel. This loss is sometimes made more painful by society’s seeming lack of support for pet grief.

Hospice of the East Bay and the Tony La Russa Animal Res-cue Foundation is offering a support group where participants can share memories and feelings and talk to others who truly understand and care. Meetings will be held the first Tuesday of each month from noon - 1:30PM at the Tony La Russa Animal Rescue Foundation, 2890 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek.

For further information and/or to register, please call Be-reavement Services at Hospice of the East Bay (925) 887-5681. Pre-registration is required.

Hospice of the East Bay Bereavement Services are provided free of charge to all community members in need. However, donations are greatly appreciated.

Hospice Volunteers Needed Hospice of the East Bay is seeking volunteers to assist

Hospice patients and their caregivers. Opportunities include: • Licensed Hair Stylists to offer hair cuts and styling• Certified Massage Therapists to provide massage

therapy • Mobile Notaries to witness the signing of important

documents• Bereavement Support Volunteers to provide support to

family members after their loved one has died • Patient Support Volunteers to provide companionship

and practical assistance To apply for free training, call Hospice of the East Bay

at (925) 887-5678 and ask for the Volunteer Department, or email [email protected].

Established in 1977, Hospice of the East Bay is a not-for-profit agency that helps people cope with end of life by pro-viding medical, emotional, spiritual, and practical support for patients and families, regardless of their ability to pay.

To learn more or to make a donation of time or money, please contact (925) 887-5678 or visit www.hospiceeastbay.org.


How to be Safe with Safe Deposit Boxes By Robert J. Silverman

In the course of handling a trust administra-tion for two brothers whose parents had died, an issue arose about the parents’ safe deposit box. California law governing safe deposit boxes is somewhat complicated and has important, but not well known, implications. So, I thought it might be helpful to write about the core legal

and practical aspects of safe deposit boxes, including ownership/titling alternatives, access and content protection.

When a consumer rents a safe deposit box (“box”) from a financial institution (e.g. bank or credit union), the rental agreement between the parties controls the relationship. The consumer should take time to read this contract to become familiar with its terms.

Most often, the consumer party to the contract is an unmarried person or, in the case of a married couple, both spouses. While this makes sense, such titling is actually not ideal, particularly in the case of incapacity or death.

You may, for convenience, designate a co-owner (e.g. a trusted rela-tive or friend) on the rental agreement. Such person(s) will possess a key and have unfettered access to the box, before and after your death. Consequently, you should be very cautious about whom, if anyone, you make a co-owner.

A separate potential co-ownership problem involves unintended consequences. Suppose you have two children, John and Mary, and for convenience purposes, you list John as a co-owner of the box. Suppose further that your Will states that John and Mary are to receive all of your assets, in equal shares. Contrary to your intentions, upon your death, John, as the co-owner, asserts that as the then sole owner of the box, he is legally entitled to all of its contents.

California law provides that on the death of the box owner, the in-stitution at which the box is located may deliver the contents to certain defined people (including, but not limited to, a “relative”) if: a) the institution has no reason to believe there is a dispute over the contents; b) the person to whom the contents are delivered provides reasonable proof of identity; and c) reasonable records are kept in accordance with related rules.

These statutory rules seem logical, but they can cause serious prob-lems. Suppose that the financial institution has no reason to believe there is a dispute at a time when an untrustworthy relative comes in. Thus, the contents are lawfully delivered to this relative. The problem is you (the then-deceased owner) would never have granted access to this relative. If this relative happens to sell, hide, or give away valuable or sentimental items, no satisfactory recourse may be available for the loved ones who are rightfully entitled to these items.

Other somewhat convoluted rules give certain access and control upon your death to a person who presents a key to the box. These rules are also subject to potential abuse and can create logistical problems.

Many of the above-referenced potential problems can be mitigated by having your revocable living trust own (i.e. rent) the box. If your living trust is the box owner, your named successor trustee will only have access to and control over the box when necessary and authorized by you (e.g. upon your incapacity, your resignation as trustee of your trust or your death). The successor trustee has a fiduciary duty to preserve, protect, and distribute your property (including the contents of the box) in accordance with your wishes, as set forth in the trust.

If your trust owns the box, whoever is serving as your trustee at any given time can simply present the institution with a proper trust certification attest-ing to that fact. He or she will then be given full access to the box, without legal obstacles or the risks associated with owning the box in your own name(s) or with one or more co-owners.

Finally, however remote the risk is of loss or damage, the contents of a box are not insured by the financial institution or FDIC. Check with your insurance agent to ensure that you have applicable insurance coverage for the contents. Think hard about what items are best kept in the box vs. stored elsewhere. Finally, inventory whatever items you store in the box and keep copies of documents stored there. Taking photos or a video of the items in the box is also wise.

Mr. Silverman is an attorney with R. Silverman Law Group, 1855 Olympic Blvd., Suite 240, Walnut Creek, CA 94596; (925) 705-4474, [email protected], www.silvermanlaw.com.

* Estate Planning * Trust Administration & Probate * Real Estate * BusinessThis article is intended to provide information of a general nature, and is not intended nor should it be relied upon as legal, tax and/ or business advice. Readers should obtain and rely upon specific advice only from their own

qualified professional advisors. This communication is not intended or written to be used, for the purpose of: i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code; or ii) promoting, marketing, or recommending to another party any matters addressed herein. Advertorial


A Farmer’s Market for Alamo By Roger Smith, President

Alamo residents having to travel to other communities to enjoy the benefits of a Farmer’s Market may soon be getting their own.

As stated in this column last month, Bill Harlow of the Bay Area Farmer’s Market Association is leading the effort to make an Alamo Farmer’s Market a reality. Bill’s family has been in our Alamo/Walnut Creek area since 1977. He has a genuine interest in the sustainability of small family farms, the “heart and soul” of California Agriculture and the “Buy Fresh – Buy Local” movement that Alice Waters has supported and popularized. He has been the manager of several Bay Area Farmer’s Markets including ones in Alameda, Burlingame, and Cupertino and is enthusiastic, as are many Alamo residents, about the opportunity to have fresh produce from certified growers available to our community.

Bill states that progress is being made everyday in securing final approval of the County Land Use Permit, and that as soon as it is secured, the Alamo Farmer’s Mar-ket can plan its Grand Opening. “We are looking forward to the opportunity to offer the Alamo Farmer’s Market experience to Alamo and the surrounding community.” Operation of the Market is planned to be 9AM-1PM on Sundays at the Alamo Plaza.

Do you know the difference between the combination (hybrid) fruits known as “Pluot(s)” and “Aprium(s)”? Take a guess--the answer is at the end of this article.Contra Costa County Emergency Response Platform

Question: How do the County’s Emergency Response Services coordinate their efforts in an emergency?

Answer: 1) The County Emergency Response Services utilize the initial input of

the first Field Commander on-site, for Alamo, either the Sheriff’s Department or San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District.

2) A Unified Command Post is then established within close proximity to the Emergency Site to assist in coordination between First Responders, Law Enforcement, Fire Protection, County Emergency Services, and a County

Public Information Officer for media response. 3) There are Mobile Communication Vehicles and Trailers available and

routed to the Emergency site as needed.4) If the emergency escalates, a County Emergency Operations Center

(EOC) is brought on-line for coordination of additional services, such as Red Cross and the possible need for assistance from other Bay Area Counties First Responders. Contra Costa County has several Radio Equipment distribu-tion centers to insure First Responders from other counties have equipment matched to Contra Costa’s Radio Equipment, if needed.

Typically, a municipality, such as Danville or San Ramon, may have their own emergency response department or manager responsible for a local emergency, level 1. If the emergency escalates, the County would be informed and a response would be activated to level 2.

Alamo, as a non-municipality, has direct access to County Emergency Ser-vices, providing our community with a level 2 response immediately.NIXEL

Nixel is a mass notification system utilized by more than 5,000 police and local agencies nationwide to provide information to the public at no charge and to recipients directly by cell phone text message and by email.

The value of this system is not just local. It enables you to be aware of emergencies and important information nationwide that may impact your family members and friends located in other areas. Learn more at www.nixle.com/howitworks.html.AIA’s 2014 Annual Report And Membership Drive

Now in its 59th year, AIA, a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization, has the longest history of serving our community and helping shape it into “Alamo - the place where we love to live”! Since 1955, Alamo residents have been joining the Alamo Improvement Association and working in support of AIA’s mission statement, which is to “preserve the semi-rural character of Alamo.”

As Board President, I want to thank all of our many volunteers, both past and present, for their efforts over the last 59 years in making Alamo into the wonderful community that it is today. Please visit our website at www.AlamoCA.org for infor-mation on AIA, articles of interest to Alamo residents, membership forms, and more.

Don’t be left out; now is the time to renew or become a new member of AIA. Answer: A “Pluot” is a hybrid fruit which has a Plum outside and an Apricot inside and

an “Aprium” is a hybrid fruit that has an Apricot outside and a Plum inside.

very similar to this woman’s. I consulted with her, and we agreed on a course of treatment that involved replacing the baseball stitches with 100 finer care-fully placed sutures that will result in a more aesthetically pleasing and less painful repair. The result for this began with a consultation that allowed me to improve her situation and offer her a more aesthetically pleasing result in my office … away from the long lines and crowds of the typical ER.

As a mother I know first hand that the emotions involved when your child is injured are amplified on an exponential scale. The injury (especially facial laceration) itself is traumatic enough, but add to that a lengthy wait time in an unfamiliar environment and what is already a scary experience can become almost unbearable. I treasure my involvement in this community, and I want to be used as a primary resource for these types of injuries. Please call me and I will ensure that it will be a calm and comfortable experience for your child. Most importantly, the injury will be optimally repaired the first time, avoiding the need for future scar revision.

An additional note - It is a common misconception that lacerations must be repaired immediately. In some cases, if the laceration is cleaned well and kept moist, excellent results can be achieved days after the initial injury.

Common sense must prevail with all bites, cuts, scrapes, or burns. Elevate and apply pressure for bleeding, ensure safety of the environment, and call 911 if there is a life-threatening emergency. The paramedics in our area are fantastic!

Keep in mind that our office accepts most insurance plans and even on a cash payment basis treatment at our office is likely to be a less expensive op-tion. As always, it is my pleasure to offer my expertise and I look forward to consulting with you soon. Wishing everyone a safe and happy summer season.

Barbara L. Persons, MD is a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and owns Persons Plastic Sur-gery, Inc. located at 911 Moraga Rd, Suite 205 in Lafayette. She may be reached at 925.283.4012 or [email protected]. Advertorial

Healing with Minimal ScarringBy Barbara Persons, MD, Persons Plastic Surgery, Inc.

As summer approaches, I find that my practice is busier than ever. Most people would think that plastic surgeons become busy in the summer because that’s the time of year when people want to look better in a bathing suit. While it’s true that summer does bring people into my office looking to enhance their ap-pearance through cosmetic surgery, summer is also

the time of year when I see more patients after being involved in an accident. Local emergency rooms are packed in the summertime with people who have been involved in accidents while participating in warm weather activities such as swimming, hiking, and biking. I have spent years during my training in trauma centers and emergency rooms, working in high-pressure situations and focusing my attention on saving lives, and ensuring that patients are not at risk of serious illness or infection.

My advanced training in aesthetics is an added benefit my patients receive. For example, repairs to facial lacerations from a biking accident can be done in a way that leaves minimal scarring. Please use me as a resource and give me a call, especially when kids are involved. I would be happy to help.

Recently my patient’s sister was involved in a car accident. She was taken by ambulance to the emergency room where they made sure she had no major injuries and evaluated for a number of horrible lacerations on her forearm. My staff and I told our patient to call us if there was anything we could do for her sister. Two days later we were asked to take a look at her sister’s arm because it was painful and oozing. The woman had baseball type stitches in the larg-est laceration and 17 centimeters of cuts in a star-like pattern on her forearm. During my fellowship in hand and microsurgery, and other advanced training in cosmetic and maxillofacial surgery, I repaired countless traumatic injuries


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Your Personal Nutritionist 8 Week Weight Loss Program and a New You ForeverBy Linda Michaelis RD,MS

Lately I have been receiving a tremendous interest in my 8 Week Royal Treatment Program. I am thrilled to see that people are willing to commit to this amount of time to lose weight the right way for once and for all.

Many studies have shown that it takes 21 days to change eating habits and create new behaviors.

I have seen in my practice that it takes at least two months to consciously establish a comfort level with a new behavior such as remembering to eat when you are hungry and stop eating when you are full. The longer you sustain a new behavior, the more it becomes second nature. It is my job with my client to keep them focused on the new behaviors they have learned and remind them of the long-lasting benefits they will receive for life. It is also my job to show them that they can lose weight while enjoying their favorite foods, having their cocktails and wine, and still enjoying the good life.

Let me tell you about a couple, Lori and Michael, referred by a local physician who I often work with.

The doctor told Michael that if he didn’t lose 50 pounds the doctor would have to put him on a statin for high cholesterol, Glucophage for elevated blood sugar, and Lasix and Dilzatizem for high blood pressure. Michael had not been to his doctor in a year, and all of the sudden his blood work was in the abnormal range. He felt like he was falling apart and took the doctor’s advice to work with me on my eight week weight loss program. Lori jumped into the program with Michael, since she wanted to lose 30 pounds and also provide support.

I asked both Michael and Lori to come to my office with a food diary covering a few days so I could see their eating habits. They both work full-time and I could see the pattern of eating very skimpy during the day and then eating all of their calories at night.

For breakfast Michael would walk out the door with toast and butter, or Honey Bunches of Oats cereal with 2% milk. All day long Michael would enjoy snack size bags of chips, cookies, candy, and nuts that the office manager buys. At lunch he thought he was being a good boy by having a Cobb, Chef, or Caesar Salad. He would arrive home famished and eat cheese, salami, and crackers galore until

dinner was ready. Lori, a gourmet cook, would prepare a large traditional evening meal which was heavy in meats, starches, and a veggie.

Lori usually had a Quaker Oats granola bar for breakfast, Greek yogurt for lunch with some Wheat Thins, and then along with Michael she ate the cheese and crackers and drank two glasses of wine while preparing dinner. They always had ice cream for dessert.

In my office I have several sample products to look at. When looking at the packages I could see Lori and Michael had many misconceptions about the food label. As usual, Michael and Lori were focusing on carbs instead of grams of pro-tein, fiber, sugar, and calories per serving.

These are the areas that I covered with them in the two months that I worked with them:

• Set up weekly goals to build new habits• Educated them on what is considered a balanced breakfast, snack, lunch, and

lighter dinner• Established a list of snacks for Michael to have at the office to prevent him

from snacking on junk. Michael was thrilled that the office manager took the list and started buying some of the items

• Gave advice on how to handle all social, impromptu, and restaurant occasions • Looked at websites together before dining at restaurants and decided what

are the best items to order.• Taught them the skills to be prepared and organized for the day • Met with them at Trader Joes and created a shopping list for them • Helped them keep motivation up and keep the food plan exciting with high

flavor and favorite foods • Discussed the importance of intense consistent exercise, and taught them

about interval trainingLori, Michael, and I spoke almost daily thru phone and email. I am glad to inform

you that Michael has lost 30 pounds, and Lori has lost 20 pounds in the last two months. They are continuing on a new program and want to reach their ideal weight. Michael’s doctor is shocked at his success, and the great news is that Michael does not have to be on any medication. There is a large smile on Michael’s face every day.

Linda would like to inform you that often her services are covered by insur-ance. Please feel free to call Linda at (925) 855-0150 or email her at [email protected], and ask her about your nutrition concerns. Visit her website at www.LindaRD.com for past articles and nutrition tips. Advertorial

The Eye OpenerBy Gregory Kraskowsky, O.D., Alamo OptometrySocial Media

As an office we are always trying to tinker with how we do things to make ourselves and our product better. Whether that is adding new technology to the office, offering our patients new contact lenses to the market, or finding better ways to make visits to our office more enjoyable, our goal is to enhance our office and services to be able to meet and exceed the needs of our patients.

Regardless of the type of business, that company has to continue to grow and gather new clients, patients, etc. to be able to succeed. If a company does not alter the way they conduct business to meet market changes and demands, they will definitely not prosper. Since we took over the office almost seven years ago, we have made several changes including adding new frame lines and office instruments, introducing new lens products as they come to market, and changing some of the décor in the office. Our new project is to better connect our office to our current patients and the members of our local community. Thankfully, we have our current patient base talking and recommending our office to their friends and family members. In conjunction with our loyal patient base, we are trying to enter the 21st century regarding social media. Even though I am not person-ally into the social media sites such as Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest, taking selfies, nor mastering the use of the hashtag, many of our current and potential patients use them all the time.

The main goal of utilizing these sites is to help share information with our patients and the community. Whether it is an interesting article about cataracts or a new treatment for macular degeneration, new daily disposable contacts for astigmatism, or just a random good vibe, the purpose of these sites is to help educate people about good vision and eye health, and the procedures, products, and treatments that make that happen. We are encouraging those who are so

inclined to engage the office and the community by using Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, by posting their selfies of their new sunglasses or their new look wearing daily disposable contacts, or to tweet any eye-related issues or ques-tions that you have. This will start threads about eye-related subjects or products that can shed some light on a topic of interest to you or introduce you to a new sunglass frame.

Up to this point we have had a blog on our website and a Facebook page for several years now, where we (mostly my wife) would post interesting articles or things going on at the office. Even though that has been successful, we are trying to expand our reach to our patients and the local community about our office and services. It is probably going to take a while for us to master the use of these sites, but we are learning. And to be honest, when you see a post, tweet, or a re-tweet, you can be pretty sure it was done by my better half. Come follow us on Twitter @Alamo Optometry, and we are Alamo Optometry on Facebook and Instagram.

Dr. K. at Alamo Optometry is your hometown eye doctor for outstanding service, vision care, and designer eyewear. He can be reached at 820-6622 or visit his office at 3201 Danville Blvd., Suite 165 in Alamo. Visit our website at www.alamooptometry.com, and join us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @Alamo Optometry. Advertorial

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New Genetic Prostate Cancer TestsBy Jeremy Lieb, MD

Getting the diag-nosis of cancer is usu-ally an overwhelming and emotional process. There are several stages to understanding your

disease. After the initial tests have been completed, most patients start with the process of determining the next step in treatment with the goal of com-plete cure. Advances in medical technology and treatments have allowed for tremendous improvement in care. There are several new tests for patients with prostate cancer that can help to predict the timing and need for treatment.

It’s important to understand that all cancer cells do not behave in the same manner. Some cancers can be very aggressive, and other cancers can have a very slow growth over many years.

Most men with low or low-intermediate risk prostate cancer can often opt for active surveillance. This is the process of continuing to monitor the disease with intermittent PSA blood testing, prostate biopsy and exam, with the goal of delaying treatments which may have associated risk. A newer option is genetic cell testing which can be run off your existing biopsy tissue, without any ad-ditional procedures needed. These tests analyze the DNA inside of the cancer cells to help provide additional information regarding the aggressiveness of the cancer. They can help to predict the next steps and future outcome. These tests can be very helpful to patients when trying to make difficult decisions.

The first test, called Oncotype DX, uses the biopsy tissue to determine if the cancer has a more or less favorable outlook for the future. For example, a less favorable result may help to initiate treatment sooner for a more ag-gressive cancer. The second test, called Prolaris, provides both predictive testing and will also report your risk of dying of prostate cancer in 10 years without treatment. I recently had a patient who we believed had a higher risk prostate cancer; however his Prolaris test reported his risk of dying of prostate cancer in 10 years is 3%. Obviously, that was a HUGE relief to this patient. Instead of investing energy into his treatment, he is spending more time with his grandchildren and family.

I expect that more similar tests will be available in the future for different cancers.

Dr. Lieb is a Board Certified Urologist with Pacific Urology. His practice has offices in Walnut Creek, Concord, San Ramon Brentwood, Livermore, and Antioch. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call (925) 609-7220 or visit www.PacificUrology.com. Advertorial

Join Dr. Lieb and Pacific Urology at their annual event: ‘Pints for Prostates’ and Men’s Health Fair at Pyramid Alehouse in Walnut Creek on June 12th from 6-8PM. Your $20 donation includes beer, beer glass, and hors d’ouevres. Space is limited and must be reserved by calling (925) 677-5041 x272.

A Hidden Jewel in Our CommunityBy Jewel Johl, MD

We tell every patient about the terrific services and programs available through the Cancer Sup-port Community (CSC) in Walnut Creek. The work they do for our patients is incredibly valu-able. Their mission is to “ensure that all people impacted by cancer are empowered by knowledge, strengthened by action, and sustained by commu-

nity.” What more can I say?The people at the Cancer Support Community enable cancer patients to

partner with their treatment team to manage their treatment and recovery most effectively, ultimately providing for the highest possible quality of life. They provide counseling, support groups, nutrition, exercise, and patient education programs— not just for people with cancer, but for their families or caregivers as well.

One of the things I appreciate most about CSC is that all of our programs and services are evidence-based to positively impact cancer treatment out-comes. Programs and services are all delivered by professionals who are licensed or certified in their area of expertise.

“We never turn anyone away, and all of our services are always provided free of charge in order to be readily accessible to people facing cancer in their time of need. We now serve 2,000 cancer patients and their families each year,” explains Jim Bouquin, President & Executive Director for the Walnut Creek Cancer Support Community.

CSC is still the only organization of its kind in Northern California. They are an affiliate of the international Cancer Support Community organization, but they are an independent nonprofit corporation, so all of the funds they raise are used to underwrite direct programs and services in our local com-munity. I encourage everyone to support this local nonprofit organization – a hidden jewel in our community.

You can help by bringing your old tax returns and other documents containing personal information to Diablo Valley Oncology’s upcoming Document Shredding Fundraiser, benefiting the Cancer Support Com-munity, on Saturday, June 28th, 1-3PM at Diablo Valley Oncology/California Cancer and Research Institute parking lot at 400 Taylor Blvd, Pleasant Hill.

Dr. Johl is a board certified Medical Oncologist & Hematologist with Diablo Valley Oncology. He also serves as a Board of Director for the Cancer Support Community. For more information or to contact Dr. Johl, please call (925) 677-5041 or visit www.DVOHMG.com. Advertorial

Meals on WheelsSeniors in your community need your support! Meals on Wheels and

Senior Outreach Services has been supporting seniors in YOUR neighbor-hood since 1968. Two of our programs, Meals on Wheels and Friendly Visitors, rely on the support of volunteers, and we need your help now more than ever. Meals on Wheels volunteer drivers deliver meals to local homebound seniors through regular two hour shifts once per week or as substitute drivers. Friendly Visitors volunteers provide weekly one-hour companionship visits to isolated seniors. To volunteer for either program, please call (925)937-8311. Lic# 1100014354; Bay Area Entertainment


STAT MED Urgent Care: Answering Your Basic QuestionsBy Dr. Armando Samaniego, MD, MBA

Allergy issues, swimmer’s ear, summer camp physicals, tick removals, a broken elbow, strep throat, and pneumonia - these are some of the health issues STAT MED

Urgent Care treats each and every day at our location in downtown Lafayette. We are equipped to handle nearly any health issue that active community members may face, and we are happy to answer any questions you have, such as the commonly asked ones below. Q: Who are the doctors at STAT MED, and what are their qualifications?

A: Unlike other urgent care facilities, all of our physicians are experienced in emergency medicine. I received my medical degree at Harvard and have worked in busy ER’s for almost 25 years, including serving as Chief of Emergency Services at Hayward’s St. Rose Hospital. Dr. Stuart Shikora has cared for patients in the ER at John Muir Hospital for the past 30 years, where he also served on the Board of Directors and as their Chief of Staff. Dr. Allan Drabinsky also brings to STAT MED deep expertise in emergency medicine and trauma care from his 30 year career with medical centers in the Central Valley to our local Kaiser and John Muir hospitals.

On a more personal note, our physicians have raised families in this area, and they are keenly aware of the benefit of having a local urgent care provider. Q: What are your capabilities?

A: STAT MED provides for all non-life threatening issues with the same breadth and quality of care as the ER, without the typical long waits and chaos. In addition to treating urgent matters such as infections, respiratory issues, minor burns, fractures and wounds requiring stitches, we offer immediate routine care, including last minute physicals and immunizations. Our on-site imaging (x-ray, MRI, Ultrasound) and laboratory blood testing services allow for quick and convenient coordination of services. See our

website for a review of comprehensive services.Q: How will my experience at STAT MED differ from that of the hospital ER?

A: Statistics reveal the average wait time in local hospital ERs is nearly one hour, and it is nearly three hours before patients are released. At STAT MED, you will experience a more comfortable and minimal wait. You will be seen in a private room with a door (not a curtain) by the same doctor who will take the time needed to evaluate and treat you, then prescribe medication or follow-up care if needed. You will never be moved to another floor, wing, or facility.Q: How does my primary care physician factor into my care at STAT MED?

A: Think of STAT MED as back-up to your primary care physician or pediatrician. (If you do not have one, we can fulfill that role.) We are here to provide immediate care and immediate answers when your primary care office is booked, busy, or closed. In fact, local physicians have been recommending us to patients seeking vaccines and weekend help. Upon your request, medical notes are forwarded to your doctor to ensure continuity of overall care. Q: How do I decide to go to STAT MED versus an ER?

A: If your condition is life-threatening and you require an ambulance, go directly to a hospital ER. If you (or a friend/family member) can drive to STAT MED, we can likely treat you. Once we evaluate you, if we determine you need to be seen at the hospital ER, we will call for transport, prepare you for travel, and let them know you’re on your way.Q: Do you take insurance and if so, how does it work?

A: Yes, we are a participating provider for most insurance plans. You are responsible for your co-pay; we will bill your insurance company directly. Feel free to call us with any insurance or payment questions.

STAT MED is located downtown Lafayette two blocks from BART behind the Lafayette Mercantile Building at 970 Dewing, Suite 100B. Hours are Monday-Friday from 8AM to 8PM, and weekends and holidays from 9AM to 5PM. Referrals or appointments are never required. Please visit www.statmed.com or call 925-297-6396. Advertorial

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Eye BagsBy Dr. Jerome Potozkin

Instant gratification is something many of us seek. In many instances the term has a negative connota-tion. However, one year ago I found a new beauty product that offers instant gratification to improve the appearance of under-eye bags. It just became available and is sold under the name Neotensil®. Neotensil® is the only noninvasive solution that can reduce the appearance of under-eye bags. It can re-

store a more youthful well-rested appearance.Through the years I have seen many patients complaining of under-eye bags

because they feel they make them look old and tired. Blepharoplasty surgery is a procedure that we perform in our fully accredited operating rooms with local anesthesia and mild oral sedation. This is an effective procedure that produces a long lasting result. However, there are some risks associated with it as well as downtime from work and social functions. On occasion we will also laser the lower lids to tighten them. For some people the under-eye bag doesn’t bother them to the point of considering a surgical option. For those averse to surgery, an injectable filler can be injected into the hollow area between the under-eye bag and cheek. This area is commonly referred to as the tear trough. A fully natural, rested look can be accomplished with these injections. However, there is always the risk of bruising and swelling that can impact one’s work or social calendar. Many people have hoped for a non-invasive method of improving the under eye area that requires no downtime.

Neotensil® is sold in our office. It is applied to the lower eyelid skin in two steps and creates a polymer that tightens the skin. It is considered an invisible shapewear®. I like to think of it as sort of like SpanxR for you lower eyelid. It is applied at home and tightens the appearance of sagging skin for up to 16 hours. There is special makeup that can be applied on top of the Neotensil® layer. In clinical studies 94% of patients showed a greater than 1 grade of improvement of under-eye bag severity, 87% of patients saw improvement of lower lid wrinkles. A majority of patients felt they looked five years younger. It takes only five minutes to apply the product and lasts for 16 hours.

Neotensil® is available in my office. Call us today at (925) 838-4900, and we would be happy to schedule an appointment so that we can teach you how to apply it to your lower lids. Your friends will be amazed at the results.

Dr. Potozkin is a board certified dermatologist who has been serving the local community since 1993. His fully accredited dermatological and laser facility is located at 600 San Ramon Valley Blvd, Suite 102 in Danville. He is accepting new patients. Please call (925) 838-4900 or visit Potozkin.com for more information. Advertorial

Grief Support Groups and ClassesHospice of the East Bay has announced a new schedule for their 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 which are located at 3470 Buskirk Avenue in Pleasant Hill.

Bereavement Services are provided free of charge to all community mem-bers in need, however donations are greatly appreciated.

Pre-registration is required for all groups and classes, except our drop-in group. To register, please call Hospice of the East Bay at (925) 887-5681.Groups for AdultsAdults Who Have Lost a Parent

• Pleasant Hill ~ Mondays, 6 - 8PM ~ July 21 - September 15Widow and Widowers’ Support

• Pleasant Hill Afternoons ~ Thursdays, 1:30 to 3:30PM ~ June 5 - July 24• Pleasant Hill Evenings ~ Wednesdays, 6 to 8PM ~ June 4 - July 23

Drop-In Bereavement Support Group• Pleasant Hill ~ 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month ~ 4:30 - 6PM

Groups for Children and TeensThe Bridge

• Pleasant Hill ~ Bi-monthly support program for grieving children and teens. Support is also available for parents/guardians. Sign up now for fall classes. Pre-registration is required.

Hospice of the East Bay provides compassionate end-of-life care to terminally ill patients, while offering emotional, spiritual, and grief support for the entire family. As a not-for-profit organization, we accept all medically qualified patients, regard-less of their insurance status or ability to pay. Hospice of the East Bay has served over 22,000 patients and their families since 1977. To learn about making a dona-tion of time or money, contact (925) 887-5678 or visit www.hospiceeastbay.org.

didn’t know many people in Walnut Creek.” Rita Shand, who heads the volunteer propagation program, concurs. “I love the camaraderie. I started as one of the youngest and am now one of the oldest. I treasure the relation-ships I have formed with fellow volunteers. It’s a pleasure to have known them and to have them in my life.”

“Propagation is a labor of love, but it is also a lot of work,” remarks Shand. In addition to supplying specimens for the Gardens, the propagation team grows all the material marketed at the GHF Spring and Fall Plant Sales. Slips

donated to the group are pot-ted and pre-pared for sale. The team cul-tivates mate-rial purchased for propaga-tion before of-fering it to the public.

Some pro-grams have a modest fee.

Others are free thanks to funding such as the grant from the City of Walnut Creek for the “Sense of Place” series. The final lecture on June 4th from 7-8:30pm is “Tick Tock: Is Our Planet Out of Sync? An Introduction to Citizen Science.” Christy Wilson recognizes the importance of the city’s ongoing support for GHF: “When you are in partnership with your city, it is tremendous.”

Joan Lucchese, GHF Board Vice President, recalls spending time in the Gardens with her children when they were young before signing on as a volunteer. She still finds time to work along with the 25-30 garden regulars who come weekly to propagate on Tuesdays and tend the beds on Wednesdays. Ned Soares, Board President, began his association with GHF in 2010 as a docent and garden volunteer.

Visit the Howard Center at 1540 Marchbanks Drive, Walnut Creek or the website www.gardenshf.org for information on programs, tours, volunteering and renting meeting space or scheduling an event at GHF.

Board president Ned Soares offers one of his favorite views of the Gardens. Photo provided by the Gardens at Heather Farm.

Hearing Loss Association Come to meetings of the Diablo Valley Chapter of Hearing Loss Association

of America at 7pm on the 1st Wednesday of the month at the Walnut Creek United Methodist Church located at 1543 Sunnyvale Ave., Walnut Creek Education Bldg., Wesley Room. Meeting room and parking are at back of church. All are welcome. Donations are accepted. An assistive listening system is available for T-coils, and most meetings are captioned. Contact [email protected] or (925) 264-1199 or www.hearinglossdv.org for more information.


A Balanced Approach to Modern Day FitnessBy Michelle Brown, Gumsaba Boot Camp

Americans sit for an average of 14 hours a day. Recent studies show this habit severely decreases blood flow, neuromuscular function, and life span. The human body is made for consistent multi-planar movements. Walking, squatting, reaching, pull-ing, pushing, jumping, and crawling are all tasks our bodies are engineered to perform. A balanced

exercise plan that promotes mobility and stability is now more important than ever.

The modern seated lifestyle has slowly pulled our bodies out of balance. Our shoulders and hips are now on lock down doing the task of stability when they are designed for mobility. Prolonged sitting promotes tight hips, rounded shoulders and a forward head posture, all of which stress the posterior chain (the back of the body from the neck down to the feet). When seated with poor posture, our most powerful and capable primary muscle groups, our gluteal and abdominal muscles, shut down. Lower back pain is often created and exacerbated by this neuromuscular degeneration.

To counter the effects of sitting, a balanced fitness program will em-ploy regular mobility training. I encourage my clients to mobilize at least three times per day for a few minutes most days of the week or more. Myo-fascial self-release, also known as fascial rolling, has been shown to decrease calcification and promote circulation in the muscle tissue. When properly executed, it can realign muscle fibers, relieve pain, and prevent injury. Though it can be quite painful, myo-fascial self-release techniques are well worth it. Prolonged stretching is another important part of mobil-ity. However deep, prolonged stretching should only be performed when a muscle is very warm, preferably after exercise. When a muscle is warm, hold a stretch for at 30 seconds to one minute to permanently elongate the muscle fibers. Do not go into the end of the stretch immediately. Use the time to ease into the final stretch position. In addition, a restorative posture held for 3-10 minutes per day has been proven to relieve stress on both the

body and the mind.Stability counters mobility, and like mobility, it should be employed

throughout the day. When mobile joints take on stabilizing tasks, as our shoulders and hips do while seated, the stabilizing joints begin to mobilize. This is obvious in seated positions when the stable joint complex of the scapula (shoulder blades) relinquishes stability into the would-be mobile shoulder socket. This is conducive to the rounded posture that many Ameri-cans have today. A dull pain in the upper trapezius, the area between the neck and shoulder socket, is an indicator of a destabilized scapular joint.

Stabilizing exercises can be done with our without equipment. They are easy to sneak in throughout the day in any standing posture. Simply pull the shoulders back, tuck the low ribs in slightly and engage the abdominal, thigh and gluteal muscles. This is your “active plank.” When seen from a side view, the active plank position shows the ears, shoulders, hips, knees, and ankles all in one line. At a more advanced level, modalities for chal-lenging stability can include fun and functional TRX Suspension and Rip trainers. We use these tools at the Gumsaba classes for building strength and to create a greater capacity for preventing trips and falls. A fitness pro-gram that incorporates stability and mobility training can help prevent hip fractures and many other common injuries that begin to happen as we age.

A well-balanced fitness program will provide you with great range of motion in your mobile joints and proper stability in your stable joints so that you can enjoy life to the fullest well into your golden years. Videos and photos that show proper mobility and stability techniques can be watched for free on our website at gumsaba.com.

Michelle Brown is an ACE certified fitness professional, Kung Fu Black Belt, Level 2 TRX Functional Trainer, Certified Trigger Point Rehabilitation Therapist, a board member on the California Health Corps, blogger, public speaker, and owner of Gumsaba Outdoor Fitness. Michelle has been helping clients surpass their goals since 1998. Gum-saba has been voted best Boot Camp in the east bay by Diablo Magazine readers for two years running, and offers outdoor fitness programs year round. Join Gumsaba for a FREE FITNESS CLASS. Visit our website at gumsaba.com to get started. Use promo code TODAY to redeem your free week. For more information call (925) 683-5630. Advertorial

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DAYCARECOZY BEAR IS A HOME-ESTABLISHED DAYCARE, opened in 1999 to serve the needs of families with children from three months old to five years old. The program is based on a loving, nurturing, and safe environment for optimal growth of the children. For more information, please visit www.cozybearchildcare.com. To contact us, please call (925)855-8268 or email us at [email protected]. License #073402072

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SUMMER TUTORING

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TENNIS LESSONS

GOPHER AND MOLE REMOVAL : NUISANCE WILDLIFE CON-TROL Trapping No poison, safe for your family, pets and the ecosystem. I’m a licensed and insured state trapper; resolving human and animal con-flicts. Habitat modification, ( to make your home or property less desirable), exclusion barriers, (fencing, wire mesh or sheet metal to keep the animal/s out of your home or property), and trapping, (removing problem wild animals.) For more information visit www.trivalleytrapper.com. Call TRI VALLEY TRAPPER for a FREE phone consultation and estimate (925)765-4209.

NUISANCE WILDLIFE CONTROL

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Data presented in this column is based in whole or in part on data supplied by the Contra Costa and Alameda MLS service and other quoted sources. Joe Combs, Nancy Combs, The Combs Team, J. Rockcliff and the MLS service do not guarantee the accuracy of this information. DRE #0144125.

Immaculate 5 bedroom Single Story, Great Flow, Pool spa Level play yard. Priced to

Sell $1,639,000

Nicely updated 4 bed single level with level lot and Views!

Priced to Sell $995,000

Updated 4 bedroom 3595 sq. foot home with 1.13 acre lot. Perfect for horses or a vineyard.

Priced to Sell $1,839,000

Spacious, luxurious, 4 bed 3 bath home, Chef’s kitchen,view lot, putting green and spa. Priced to Sell $1,099,000

Amazing updated 4 bedroom single story has it all. Large level lot beautiful pool and pavilion.

Priced to Sell $1,679,000Anderson Ranch Single LevelDanville Executive Home

J. Rockcliff Realtors 15 Railroad Ave., Danville CA. 94526

Magee Ranch Executive Home Diablo Creek Single Story

Alamo Oaks

Professionals YouCan Count On

The Combs Team

Nancy Joe

www.TheCombsTeam.com

®Call the Combs Team

925-989-6086

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Danville Alamo Real Estate Market: Sellers are Kings!We’re near the end of May, so we have enough data to review this year’s market

performance against the same time period last year (January 1-May 23) and be fairly confident that it has meaning.

The market continues to rise both in Alamo and Danville. A key driver to that growth is lack of inventory and fantastic interest rates for buyers. Low inventory coupled with strong demand has been an issue in Danville and Alamo for three years and has yet to be resolved by market forces delivering a sufficient number of properties for sale to tip the balance in the favor of buyers. I think buyers will likely be at a disadvantage for the foreseeable future.

Sales of homes declined in Alamo by 11% from the previous year, while average purchase price jumped 18.1% year over year. There is no lack of demand, only lack of inventory. This price jump is not an insignificant change, even though the size of the homes being sold is 12.9% larger than last year. Typically, larger homes sell for a lower price per square foot than do smaller homes, and this change in sales mix pulled the numbers lower than they otherwise would have been.

Dollars paid for square foot came in at a 4.6% increase. If it doesn’t sound like much growth, think about it--this data represents sales for less than half the year. Remember too that as the base price grows, a single percentage point is worth more dollars. The dollar growth year on year is $233,960. A percentage point last year was worth $12,890. Moving forward, a percentage point will be worth $15,230. We’re talking really big growth in terms of dollars.

Two numbers on this chart suggest that the Alamo market may be starting to move Alamo Danville Single Family Home Sales Jan. 1-May 23

Sold DOM List Price Sold Price Sq. Foot $ Sq. FootAlamo 2013 88 34 1,295,434$ 1,289,226$ 2,984$ 432$ Alamo 2014 78 38 1,535,742$ 1,523,186$ 3,369$ 452$ % Change -11.0% 11.0% 18.5% 18.1% 12.9% 4.6%

Danville 2013 205 26 963,168$ 975,332$ 2,607$ 374$ Danville 2014 208 22 1,109,124$ 1,131,438$ 2,668$ 424$

% Change 1.4% -15% 15.1% 16.1% 2.3% 13.4%

to a more normal pattern. One is Days on Market (DOM). DOM is up by 11% from the previous year. A normal market would have inventory lasting from 90-180 days, so at 34 and 38 days respectively, we are still in the midst of a red-hot market.

Also, something to note is that actual selling price in Alamo is falling below list price for the first time since 2011. At present it is about a half point discount on average. Taken in tandem with increasing days on market, we might just be seeing our first glimpse at buyer push-back on pricing. If you are a seller, don’t be alarmed. We will have to see this discount number hit 2-3% before we can say definitively that buyers have been lifted to equal status with sellers. Now, and for the foreseeable future, Alamo remains a seller’s market.

The story for Danville isn’t a lot different from Alamo. In reviewing the chart, it occurs to me that Danville is just now experiencing in 2014 what Alamo experienced last year in terms of growth. Although units sold is up slightly at 1.4%, inventory remains very low. DOM have declined by 15% to 22, suggesting much greater heat in Danville than in Alamo. Another sign of strength for the Danville Market is that Sold Price is greater than List Price by about 1%. No inventory, no negotiation! Sellers are Kings and “Animal Spirits” are driving buyers to bid the market higher.

On a very small increase in size, dollars paid per square foot eclipsed the magical $400 and settled at $424 for a 13% increase over last year. Compared to 2013, this is an average price increase of $156,000. This is extremely rapid growth of 2.6% per month, and if it continues at this rate for the remainder of the year, Danville Real Estate values will be off the charts. Right now Danville lags Alamo by a mere $28 per square foot. With a growth rate at 2.9 times Alamo’s current growth rate, this could be the year Danville catches up.

Nancy and I have more than 2,500 email subscribers who receive this article in advance of publication. You can add yourself to the list by sending me an email or signing up for it on our website www.thecombsteam.com. I assure you no spam will follow.

Trying to figure out your next move? Need numbers and answers to make your deci-sions? Nancy and I will be happy to provide you with a personal consultation to help you figure it out. There is no charge and no pressure, just our honest opinions. Please call 925-989-6086 or send me an email [email protected].

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Documents

Alamo Today, June 2014