Danville Today News, December 2012

[email protected]

Holidays in the Valley By Jody MorganHoliday happenings at both Forest Home Farms Historic Park (FHF) in San

Ramon and the Museum of the San Ramon Valley (the Museum) in Danville showcase the Valley’s historical traditions with displays and activities geared to delight-ing 21st century visitors of all ages. Travel back in time to a Victorian family parlor authentically decorated for the season, or step into a 1950s ranch kitchen stocked with kitchenware used in the Valley. Volunteers at each venue have carefully planned the con-nections between present and past to ensure a fun-fi lled journey for the entire family.

Holidays on the Farm offers free admis-sion to activities and entertainment as well as modestly priced tours from 10am to 2pm on Saturday, December 1st and Saturday, December 8th on the Forest Home Farms property at 19953 San Ramon Valley Boule-vard. Live reindeer and Santa will welcome children both days. Until his supply is ex-hausted, Santa will give each young visitor a small handcrafted stuffed toy.

Handmade gifts were traditional until retailers began pitching purchased presents in the late nineteenth century. An advertisement for Jones Bazar [sic] run in the Oakland Enquirer on December 12, 1891 features Santa talking on the telephone: “Yes, this is Santa Claus. No, I haven’t all the articles you speak of.

You don’t ex-p e c t m e t o carry a com-plete stock like Jones, do you?”

M a k i n g wooden orna-ments, decorat-ing cookies, or completing a toy at the Stuff-a-Bear booth will engage vis-itors in generat-ing their own

connections to the past. For those less inclined to hands on experiences, the Gift Shoppe offers baskets of baking mixes made for Forest Home Farms, books, toys, holiday mugs, and more. Vendors will sell handcrafted items on December 8th.

Like many members of the San Ramon Historic Foundation that works in partnership with the City of San Ramon to fund and maintain FHF, Pat Boom knew Ruth Boone personally. Ruth gifted the FHF property to the City of San Ramon to preserve the memory of her husband Travis, whose parents purchased the farm in 1900. Pat interviewed Ruth for the video shown in the Visitors Center and subsequently donated to the FHF archives the postcard

December 2012 Serving Danville

PRSRT STDU.S. Postage

PAIDPermit 263Alamo CA

ECRWSS

LocalPostal Customer

Volume IV - Number 23000F Danville Blvd. #117,

Alamo, CA 94507(925) 405-6397

Fax (925) 406-0547

Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publishereditor@

yourmonthlypaper.com

The opinions expressed herein belong to the writers, and do not necessarily refl ect that of Danville Today News.

Danville Today News is not responsible for the content of any of

the advertising herein, nor does publication imply endorsement.

Do You Have an Old Bike Needing a New Home?Over ten years ago parishioners at St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church in Dan-

ville found that Adopt a Family holiday wish lists from Monument Crisis Center clients often included a request for bikes as a means of transportation. Out of those simple requests the Adopt a Family Bikes group was born.

For a couple years used bikes were do-nated and tires re-paired by a woman who spent time during her teens working in a bike shop. Later, David Struck, a father from John Baldwin Elementary school responded to a school fl yer and offered up a couple bikes. When he reached Tania H. De Young the Adopt a Family Coordinator at St. Timothy’s he asked a simple ques-tion that catapulted the program to the next level. “Who fi xes the bikes when you get them?” he asked.

The Adopt a Family Bikes program kept growing when David stepped in and spent countless hours cleaning, repairing, and safety checking donated bikes.

See Bikes continued on page 26

See Holidays continued on page 21

Kimberly Schilling and Michele Lasagena help Alice Reynolds unpack her Pooh collection for the Museum’s Christmas Memories Exhibit.

Pat Boom stocks the Gift Shoppe with baskets of Forest Home Farms mixes and novelty teapots.

Welcome Aboard the Diablo Valley Lines! By Fran Miller

The mention of a model railway likely evokes the mental image of a parent and child gathered ‘round the Christmas tree as their electric toy train chugs along on its circuitous route. However, a trip to the Diablo Valley Lines Railroad layout of the Walnut Creek Model Railroad Society (WCMRS) in Walnut Creek’s Larkey Park will quickly terminate that image. “We are not playing with toys here; we are operating a model railroad,” says member Ted Moreland with a wink.

A survey of the Society’s approximately eighteen hundred square foot layout in their own building, specially designed and constructed by WCMRS members, confi rms that this past time is indeed more than child’s play. Featuring nostalgic steam locomotives, modern diesels, a narrow gauge logging road, and electric traction lines on 4,300 feet of hand laid track with 175,000 individual ties over 54 x 32 feet, 400 working switches or turnouts, and several miles of electrical wire, the WCMRS layout operation requires a dispatcher to communicate with several engineers who are provided a high-above-the-track bird’s eye view. The WCMRS layout is believed to be the most mountainous model railroad of its kind

anywhere. The highest peak is about 1,350 scale feet above the fl oor (measured in HO 1/87 scale) and the highest trackage is some 400 scale feet above the base table. A train’s complete single circuit of the mainline takes 45 minutes.

See Trains continued on page 16

www.yourmonthlypaper.comPage 2 - December 2012 ~ Danville Today News

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Boulevard ViewBy Alisa Corstorphine, Editor

It’s the holidays again, and our calendars are fi lling up. There are shopping plans and gift lists to be made. While at a store the other day I heard kids pestering their parents for the latest and greatest “i” devices and fad clothing. If you’re like one of my kids, you’re hoping for a new pair of comfy, classic fur-lined slippers, which my son calls “walking on foxes (because they’re so soft!).”

As I sift through ads looking for gifts to buy, I can’t help but wonder which things will stand the test of time. What is going to be something that is used again and again, and what’s going to sit on a shelf? Which items will actually be more exciting than playing with the box it came in?

I looked at my smartphone and counted all the apps I’ve loaded over the last few years. How many of these apps do I use regularly, and how many were just a fad at the time? Which game consoles and video games that kids clamored for over the last 10 years are actually played anymore? Isn’t it interesting that fi rst-person-shooter games come and go, but classics like Pacman, Frogger, Asteroids, Pong, Gallaga, and Super Mario Brothers seem to be the games that endure? I’m not at all surprised that the ones that were the must-have’s of a few years ago such as Halo, Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, and Doom (hmmm, I sense a theme here) all sit in the drawer most likely never to be touched again. Unlike a classic game, I doubt anyone will ever bring one of these temporarily popular games back for people to play 25 years from now, but I’ll bet we’ll still see Pacman and Asteroids being played in bars!

If you are looking for a gift for a child, think back to your fondest childhood holiday memories and what made the gifts special for you. There’s an automatic fascination for all things electronic, but my opinion is that none of them have the staying power of things like Legos, a Slinky, Jenga blocks, Hot Wheels or Matchbox cars, or simple art supplies like a 64-box of crayons or some felt pens. My husband warmly remembers opening his box of 64 crayons each Christmas day and the excitement of seeing their fi nely sharpened tips all lined up in a row, and I’ll bet he’s not alone. Gifts like these are truly timeless, even for adults.

So much of what’s offered these days is over-marketed plastic junk that’s

tied into the latest over-marketed movie for kids, and it quickly ends up in the landfi ll. I fondly remember toys such as a shiny new bike, roller skates, a skateboard, balls, a Wham-O Frisbee, a Duncan yo-yo, and hula hoops - in-terestingly these are all outdoor toys that got us moving around outside and playing with friends.

Stockings were sometimes fi lled with jumbo-sized colored chalk to use outdoors, a Rubik’s cube, a LifeSavers Sweet Storybook, and, as traditional in our family, an avocado.

If you are looking for other classics a good board game is timeless. Backgam-mon, chess, checkers, and decks of cards have existed for thousands of years. Since 1949 Candyland has enchanted young kids, Monopoly has lasted over 75 years, and the game of Scrabble has been around over 60 years. Why do these classics stay popular? I think it’s because they combine the right amount of luck with skill, and they keep us thinking.

There are many books that are classics, that also make great gifts. Of course there is the Bible, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Gone with the Wind, Atlas Shrugged, Pride and Prejudice, A Tale of Two Cities, Charlotte’s Web, A Christmas Carol, Alice in Wonderland, Little Women, Treasure Island, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, The Chronicles of Narnia, Winnie the Pooh, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Good Night Moon, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and the entire Dr. Seuss collection to name just a few of many. And don’t forget about the entire Harry Pot-ter collection, which I know many adults enjoy just as much as their kids.

Trendy things are not meant to last, and they represent a phase that society goes through that people want to be a part of. After a trend passes, one may ask, “What were we thinking?!” We’ve probably all had those cringing mo-ments while sorting through old family photos and looking at crazy hairstyles or fashion faux-pas. However, a little black dress, a string of beautiful pearls, a pair of crisp blue-jeans, a white button down shirt, a snappy tie, a comfy sweatshirt, a classic peacoat, or a pair of sturdy cowboy boots are timeless and will always look great - and they make for great gifts!

Hopefully this has given you a few ideas and caused you to think back to the little, enduring things that made your holidays so special growing up. I hope this helps you bring that magic forward for all to share, and I wish you a safe and happy holiday season.

[email protected] Danville Today News ~ December 2012 - Page 3

Carolyn Gwynn

Realtor

DRE #01888136

(925) 336-7525 [email protected]

www.CarolynGwynn.com

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Results Matter!

My listings sell 70% faster than average as I invest time up front helping prepare a showcase listing.

Professional photography, savvy marketing and tenacity gain my sellers the highest selling price-per-square

foot in the neighborhood. Contact me today at (925) 336-7525.

Stay informed with my market updates. Sign up at www.CarolynGwynn.com/MarketUpdatesBased on information from the CCAR MLS. This information is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed by MLS or Empire Realty.

I am thrilled to report the market showed no signs of slowing

in October. I’m not surprised as I consistently receive calls from

Buyers who are moving to Danville for the good schools, good

weather and good people! If you would like to sell your home,

but don’t want it on the MLS, please contact me to discuss

how my network of professional contacts can work for you.

Danville Real Estate ActivityOctober 2011 versus October 2012

Median Closed Sales Price +12%#Pending Sales +26%#Closed Sales +37%% Sales Bank related 11.54%MSI Index 1.2, -77%

For Sale 1947 Ford N8 Tractor

Runs great, new tires, battery, rebuilt transmission.

Scraper attachment is included. Asking $2,900

Call Charlie at 925 984-1837

Danville Women’s Club’s Holiday BoutiqueYou are invited to the Danville Women’s Club Holiday Boutique to be

held Saturday, December 8th, in our clubhouse located at 242 Linda Mesa Avenue Danville.

Come over and do some holiday shopping with us. We’ll have holiday deco-rations, crafts, cards, gifts, and yummy holiday baked goods.

The Boutique is open from 9am to 3pm. Complimentary coffee and hot apple cider will be served to our guests. Shop early for the best selection.

Danville Women’s Club is 101 years old. For information on membership and events visit us at www.danvillewomensclub.org or email [email protected]. We are a 501(c)3 not for profi t organization serving the communities of the Tri Valley.

Delta Nu Psi Holiday CollectionHappy Holidays to all! We have reached a

milestone and have now sent 1,000 boxes of “gourmet junk food” weighing over 25,000 pounds to our service people in the War Zone.

Our next collections will be held Decem-ber 7th at CVS in Alamo and December 14th at Lunardi’s in Danville. We will be in front of the stores from 11am to 2pm on both days. Please come shop for our service men and women.

AAUW Holiday Home Tour The Danville-Alamo-Walnut Creek AAUW group will hold their 8th Annual

Holiday Home Tour on December 7th and 8th from 10am - 4pm. Six decorated homes in Danville, Walnut Creek, and Alamo will be included in the tour.

Tickets costing $30-$35 can be purchased at the East Bay Flower Company located at 206 Sycamore Valley Rd. West in the Danville Livery.

AAUW advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy, and research. Danville-Alamo-Walnut Creek AAUW offers schol-arships and supports women for personal and professional growth, community leadership, and friendship.

AAUW membership is open to all graduates of accredited four-year colleges or universities and those holding an Associate Degree or equivalent. Prospective members can contact Tena at (925) 837-0826 or [email protected]. For more information, visit www.aauw-daw.org.

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Call about selling your car today!Tato Corcoran • 925.858.7282 • [email protected]

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A Date Which Will Live in InfamyMarking the 71st anniversary on December 7th, the Town of Danville will be

presenting a very unique Buzz Session at the Danville Senior Center, located at 115 E. Prospect Avenue, in honor of those who lost their life during the surprise attack of Pearl Harbor. Wayne Korsien, a 22-year honorary member of the Pearl Harbor Survivors’ Association and current chairman of the Pearl Harbor Ceremony, will discuss the attack and why the country’s leaders were caught off guard.

Visit www.danville.ca.gov or call (925) 314-3400 for more information.


The East Bay’s Best Holiday Musicfor the Entire Family

Saturday, December 8th, 7PMDougherty Valley Performing Arts Center

10550 Albion Rd, San Ramon

For tickets, $25 for adults, $17 for ages 15 and under, call 925-973-3343 or visit

www.sanramon.ca.gov/parks/theater/dvpac.htm

Ringin the Holidays!with The Blackhawk Chorus

Books for the HomeboundIf you or someone you know has a passion for reading and can no longer visit

the library, fi nd out more about the Danville Library’s Books for the Homebound program, a free and unique library service. Trained library volunteers check out and deliver books to homebound individuals residing in their own homes or residential care facilities. Contact Sandra Paiva, Volunteer Coordinator, at the Danville Library at (925) 837-4889 for more information.

Celebrate the Joy of Remembrance at the 26th Annual Hospice of the East Bay Tree of Lights

Hospice of the East Bay invites the public to participate in its 26th Annual Tree of Lights ceremo-nies to be held throughout Contra Costa County. Each light on every tree is symbolic of a life and will shine in honor or memory of a beloved friend or family member. Please join any of the commemorative ceremonies to enjoy music, poetry, remembrances by family members and friends of Hospice, and the special moment when the tree lights up.

• Alamo Tree ~ Wednesday, December 12th, 12:15PM, Alamo Women’s Club, 1401 Danville Boulevard, Alamo• Danville/San Ramon Tree ~ Friday, December 14th, 5:30PM, reception follows, Town Meeting Hall,

201 Front Street, DanvilleLights can be dedicated for a minimum gift of $25. Donors of $100 or more have the option of having their name listed in the tree lighting program. Tax-

deductible tree sponsorships range from $250 to $10,000. Proceeds from Tree of Lights ceremonies benefi t our communities and the patients and families in the care of Hospice of the East Bay.

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

For light purchases, donations, sponsorships, and event questions call (925) 887-5678 or visit www.hospiceeastbay.org.

Blackhawk Republican Women FederatedThe Annual Christmas Luncheon for Blackhawk Republican Women Fed-

erated will be held Friday, December 14th. The new offi cers for 2013 will be installed by Roseann Slonsky Brult. Marines with the Toys for Tots program will be in attendance, so please bring a gift for a child (unwrapped).

The event will take place at the Blackhawk Country Club, located at 599 Blackhawk Club Dr. in Danville. Check–in will be at 11:30AM, and the fee is $25 per person.

Reservations can be made with Marianne Lyons by emailing [email protected] or calling (925)820-6452.

For further information regarding activities of the club or to obtain member-ship information, visit our website www.blackhawkrwf.org.

Alamo-Danville Newcomers ClubPlease join members of the Alamo-Danville Newcomers Club at a free

Welcome Coffee on Thursday, December 6th from 10AM to noon to learn about the Club. For further information call (925) 281-1307.

Wind ‘n Sea Sailing ClubThe non-profi t Wind ‘n Sea Sailing Club is holding sailing classes at

member's homes in Danville. The next class,“General Sailing Skills, Knots, and Terminology,” will be held Wednesday, December 12th at 7PM.

Contact Jan at 925-837-3381 for information.

Members from the Alliance of Women Professionals recently lent their support to the women living at Shepherd’s Gate by donating some of their professional time, tips, and expertise in the areas of fi nancial advising, accounting, chiropractic, real estate, salon services and professional coaching with residents at the shelter who may not have access to these types of services.

The Alliance of Women Professionals is a small business networking group that meets twice a month to share business leads and host events to give back to the community and non-profi t organizations. For more information about the group please contact Sima Alefi at 925-648-2590.

Students and Art Educators Featured in ExhibitionThe “Who Am I?” exhibition depicts original artwork from students

throughout the San Ramon Valley and symbolizes their defi nition of “Who Am I?” The exhibit which runs through December 15th, will explore the students’ creativity and personal narrative through story-telling and imagery.

All levels of education will be represented in order to reveal the artis-tic development and thought process of the elementary, middle, and high school students as well as their instructors.

Participating schools include Alamo, Athenian, California, Charlotte Wood, Christian Academy, Del Amigo, Diablo Vista, Dougherty Valley, Gale Ranch, Green Valley, Iron Horse, Montair, Monte Vista, Pine Valley, Rancho Romero, San Ramon Valley, St. Isidore, Stone Valley, Venture, Vista Grande, and Windemere Ranch.

The exhibit is being held at the Village Theatre Art Gallery located at 233 Front St., in Danville. Visit www.villagetheatreartgallery.com or call (925) 314-3400 for more information.


Timeless Motion Pictures at Village TheatreThe Town of Danville presents a classic movie during this holiday sea-

son in the downtown Village Theatre. If you have enjoyed performances in this historical location, then you will love seeing this classical movie in the quaint, small theatre with a newly renovated sound system.

Thursdays @ the VT will screen A Christmas Story on December 13th. Start off your evening by channeling the characters from movies past; wear

appropriate and inspired costumes to the show. Prizes will be given for best and most creative costumes. The show starts at 8pm, and $5 tickets are on sale now.

For more information call (925) 314- 3400 or visit www.villagetheatreshows.com.

For Reservations & Tour 925-837-4481

512 Hemme Avenue, Alamo, CA 925.837.4481

United Camps, Conferences & Retreats

www.UCCR.org800.678.5102

WESTMINSTER RETREAT

Holiday Dinners $30 per person menu

Ham & Spinach-Stuffed Pasta Shells

Fresh-baked breads Hot vegetable Specialty Salad

Delectable Dessert

$32 per person menu

Poached Salmon with Mango Chutney Fresh-baked breads

Hot vegetable Specialty Salad

Delectable Dessert

$34 per person menu

Beef Wellington Garlic mashed potatoes

Fresh-baked breads Hot vegetable Specialty Salad

Delectable Dessert

B ring your office staff, organization, or team to Westminster Retreat this Holiday season

for a special celebration.

T he Manor is beautifully decorated for the season and special menu items are available.

Non-alcoholic beverages are included.

November 23-December 20, 2012 Minimum of 15 guests

Contact Site Director Viki Spain for a tour and planning meeting at (925) 837-4481

Award-winning author and speaker, Viki Kappel Spain, M.Ed.,is the new Site Director at Westminster Retreat on Hemme Avenue in

Alamo, a conference and retreat center managed by United Camps, Conferences and Retreats.

A Christmas Performance with the Danville Community Band

The 80+-piece, all-volunteer Danville Community Band, presents “A Christmas Fantasy,” a program of memorable and exciting holiday music including Se-cret Agent Santa, The Eighth Candle, Holst’s Winter Suite, and much more.

Join us for our annual family event as the band cel-ebrates the holidays on Sunday, December 9th at 3pm.

The free performance will be held at the East Bay Fellowship located at 2615 Camino Tassajara, in Danville. For more information visit www.danvilleband.org.

SRVHS Winter Boutique and FairThe San Ramon Valley High School Leadership Class of 2015 will hold a

Winter Boutique and Fair on Saturday, December 1st from 10am-3pm at the School located at 501 Danville Blvd. in Danville. There will be over 50 specialty vendors, activities for kids, as well as entertainment and demonstrations for all.

This fundraiser helps contribute towards the class junior prom, senior ball and grad night. Various clubs at the school will also have tables at the event to raise money for their club (cheerleading, band, biking team, etc.) .

For more information Contact Helga Glasson at 925-212-0986.

Bringing an extensive selection of Bringing an extensive selection of kitchen gadgets, cookware, & tabletop kitchen gadgets, cookware, & tabletop items to Alamo. Featuring:items to Alamo. Featuring:Le Creuset Le Creuset | Emile Henry Emile Henry | Cuisinart CuisinartLodge Lodge | Kitchen Aide Kitchen Aide | Bodum Bodum | Pillivuyt Pillivuytand more...and more...

Ace is the place for all of your hardware, garden, Ace is the place for all of your hardware, garden, holiday, gift, and KITCHEN needs.holiday, gift, and KITCHEN needs.

Shop local! Easy parking, old-fashioned customer service.

K I T C H E NK I T C H E Nthethe WelcomesWelcomes

Our staff are here to help you fi nd the perfect tree for your home.Our staff are here to help you fi nd the perfect tree for your home.

3211 Danville Blvd, Alamo925.837.2420

Monday ~ Friday 6am - 8pm

Saturday 7am - 8pm Sunday 8am - 7pm

Come visit our Holiday Village with a large Come visit our Holiday Village with a large selection of interior and exterior decorating items.selection of interior and exterior decorating items.

Quality, upscale, and unique items. Quality, upscale, and unique items. Gift wrapping and corporate gifts. Gift wrapping and corporate gifts.

Something for every taste Something for every taste and budget.and budget.

www.yourmonthlypaper.com

Page 6 - December 2012 ~ Danville Today News

Danville Lions ClubThe Danville Lions Club invites you to join us for dinner and to learn

more about how our club serves the community. Meetings are held at the Brass Door, 2154 San Ramon Valley Blvd, San Ramon on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of each month at 7PM. For more information, please call Dr. Brent Waterman at (925) 275-1990.

Exchange Club of San Ramon ValleyThe Exchange Club of San Ramon Valley meets for lunch the second

Wednesday of every month at Faz Restaurant in downtown Danville. The one-hour program features guest speakers and a business networking speaker. Guests are welcome. For more information, call Karen Stepper, President, at (925) 275-2312, email [email protected], or visit www.srvexchangeclub.org.

Lost Dog!

Danville Dog is MissingHe has become lost in this paper!

Rob Sherman is our winner!

If you fi nd him and your name is drawn!

He is very small, so you will have to look hard if you want to fi nd him.

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

Lost Dog! ~ Danville Today News3000F Danville Blvd #117 • Alamo, CA 94507

$50 REWARD

Bringing Cheer to all “Who’s” Far and NearEvery “Who” down in Who-ville, the tall and the small, will be celebrating Elf Workshop with

crafts, joy and all. Come down all you “Who’s” ages one through nine, get your photo taken with Santa, and have a good time.

Merriments will take place Saturday, December 8th at the Danville Community Center. Light refreshments will be served. There are two sessions to choose from for this event; 9AM to 11AM or 11:30AM to 1:30PM. Space is limited! Pre-registration is required and walk-ins cannot be accom-modated. Registration is limited to online or mail-in only. Online registration is recommended at www.danvillerecguide.com, or mail registration forms to the Danville Community Center, 420 Front Street, Danville, CA 94526.

Volunteers are needed to help with this event. For more information or to sign up as a volunteer, visit www.danville.ca.gov/Volunteer_Opportunities.

Visit www.danville.ca.gov or call (925) 314-3400 for more information.

Danville Library Programs Tuesday, December 11th, 4pm - In a holiday tradition the Fratello Marionettes return with a

new program - Aladdin! See Aladdin's adventure with an evil sorcerer, a magic lamp, and a pow-erful genie. The show takes place in the Children's Reading Room, and is suitable for all ages.

Wednesday, December 12th, 4pm - Come to the holiday storytime featuring winter stories and crafts! Storytime is held in the Children's Reading Room. No registration is required.

Tuesday December 18th, 4pm - Join us for Holiday Dance Around the World in the Children’s Reading Room which promises to be fun for the whole family! Learn easy dances from the North Pole to the South Pole, like Sevivon, the spinning dreidel dance from Israel, Jingle Bells, Gun Xi Ni for the Chinese New Year, and many more!

Wednesday December 19th, call for time- Holiday Food Crafts for Tweens. Grades 5-8. Break the rules while we play with our food. We will create some fun holiday food crafts to eat or keep. Registration is required.

All events take place at the Danville Library located at 400 Front St., in Danville. For more information about any of the events stop by the Library or call 925-837-4889.

Danville/Sycamore RotaryIf you are interested in visiting the Danville/Sycamore Valley Rotary

Club, contact club president Jim Coleman at [email protected]. Meetings are held on Tuesdays at 7AM at Crow Canyon Country Club.

Youth Theatre Company Presents Sleeping Beauty Come see Civic Arts Education’s Youth Theatre Company Kids performing Sleeping Beauty Jr. at 7PM

on December 6, 7, and 10 at the Shadelands Auditorium located at 1111 N. Wiget Lane in Walnut Creek.It’s princess Aurora’s sixteenth birthday, and Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather must use their

fairy magic to save her from the spell of evil sorceress Malefi cent.This classic fairytale told Disney-style features a large chorus, from King Stefan and Queen Ste-

fanie’s Loyal Subjects to Malefi cent’s slimy goons, giving members of Kids Theatre plenty of fun characters to portray. Songs from the beloved fi lm, including “Once Upon a Dream,” accompany fun new songs like “Malefi cent!” and “A Little Magic Now” to bring a fresh telling of the story to a new generation of kids and families.

Tickets to Sleeping Beauty Jr. are $10 and can be purchased at the door or by calling 943-5946.

Danville RotaryThe Danville Rotary Club meets every Monday at noon at Faz restaurant

in Danville. For more information, contact membership chairperson Jim Crocker at [email protected] or by phone at 925-577-6159.

San Ramon Valley Genealogical SocietyThe San Ramon Valley Genealogical Society meets at 10AM the third Tuesday

of every month, except August and December, at the Danville Family History Center, 2949 Stone Valley Road, Alamo. There will be a speaker at every meet-ing. Everyone is welcome.

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



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Voices of Musica Sacra Voices of Musica Sacra sings the Glory of Christmas, featuring Rutter’s

Gloria and other carols and songs of the season with organ, brass, and per-cussion. A carol sing-along will also take place.

Shows will be held Friday, December 14th at 8pm, at Walnut Creek United Methodist Church located at 1543 Sunnyvale Ave. in Walnut Creek, and Sunday, December 16th at 2pm at St. Stephen Catholic Church, located at 1101 Keaveny Ct., Walnut Creek

Tickets are $20 adults, $15 seniors 60+, $10 students, and children 5-12 are free. See www.vmschorus.org for details and ticket purchase information.

The Blackhawk Chorus presents Ring in the HolidaysIn its 22nd year of performance, the 140-member, mixed-voice The Black-

hawk Chorus is presenting Ring In The Holidays, a concert of stellar holiday music for the whole family this season. The Chorus will offer a program with something for everyone in the family. It will include a stunning Morton Lau-ridsen composition based on a James Agee poem called Sure On This Shining Night, compelling new arrangements of traditional favorites like Here We Come A-Wassailing, God Rest You Merry Gentlemen and Silent Night and a lovely December’s Keep based on Chopin’s Prelude in C Minor.

The Blackhawk Chorus is delighted once again to be accompanied by the Golden Gate String Quartet in these concerts. This quartet includes accom-plished musicians from major regional orchestras. The Blackhawk Chorus’ Assistant Director Randall Benway will accompany the Chorus on the piano.

The Blackhawk Chorus under founding director Diane Gilfether will pres-ent its concert for all ages at 7pm, Saturday, December 8th, at the Dougherty Valley Performing Arts Center located at 10550 Albion Road in San Ramon.

The Blackhawk Chorus will also perform at Temple Hill in Oakland on Sunday, December 9th.

“We are singing better than we ever have,” says Diane Gilfether, founding director of The Blackhawk Chorus. “Singing with all of the music memorized greatly improves performance and adds to a wonderful experience for our audi-ence. We’ve added strong new voices to our existing base of excellent singers.

This new Blackhawk Chorus concert program provides an excellent way to start the holiday season – and tickets usually sell out quickly. Tickets for the Dougherty Valley Performing Arts Center concert are $25 for adults and $17 for children 15 and under. Call 925-973-3343 to order tickets or visit www.sanramon.ca.gov/parks/theater/dvpac.htm to order online.

The Blackhawk Chorus began in 1991 with 12 women whose dedication to and fondness for music was exemplary. Under the direction of former opera star and voice coach Diane Gilfether, word spread of the success of the group and in the following year, men were invited to participate. Now the 140-strong chorus performs regularly in the East San Francisco Bay Area.

The Blackhawk Chorus just completed a successful tour of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland in May/ June of 2012, performing at the Banqueting House in London, in Wales and at both Waterford Cathedral and Cork City Hall in Ireland.

For more information about the chorus visit www.blackhawkchorus.com.

Clarinet Fusion Clarinet Fusion, performing as a clarinet choir under the baton of Dr.

Lawrence Anderson, presents “A Clarinet Christmas,” Sunday, December 2nd at 11am at the Blackhawk Auto Museum in Danville.

Come see and hear a unique ensemble of seven different instruments of the clarinet family, from the tiny Sopranino Clarinet in Ab (a.k.a. Piccolo Clarinet) to the largest Contrabass Clarinet in BBb. The concert will feature a variety of tunes, including Carol of the Bells, Hallelujah Chorus, Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring, Sleigh Ride, selections from The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, We Wish You a Merry Christmas, and more. The concert is free with paid admission to the Museum.

Come early to enjoy the wonderful exhibits as well as the current “International Automotive Treasures” exhibi-tion. The museum is located at 3700 Blackhawk Plaza Circle, Danville and will be open 10am to 5pm. For more information about Clarinet Fusion, contact Karyn Weber at (925) 372-8847 or [email protected].

Contra Costa Wind Symphony The Contra Costa Wind Symphony presents a four-sister harp ensemble, “The

Four Graces.” Join the Symphony in celebrating the holiday season in a free concert of music designed to warm hearts with familiar carols, rollicking Christmas favorites, and selections from Rachmaninoff’s Vespers on December 17th at 7:30pm at Walnut Creek Presbyterian Church located at 1801 Lacassie Avenue, in Walnut Creek.

For more information visit www.CCWindSymphony.org.


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St. Isidore School is Preparing for the Prince of Peace By Maria Ward, PrincipalSt. Isidore School is about community, and there is no greater witness to this than the Advent and Christmas seasons. Our teachers and

students are busy preparing for the celebration of the birth of our Lord. The four weeks prior to Christmas, called Advent, traditionally represents hope, joy, peace, and love. This is felt the moment you enter our school. These are happy times, but we know not everyone is as blessed as our community. We foster a sense of stewardship and giving to our community. As St. Francis says, “It is in giving that we receive.”

As a school, we support our sister schools in Oakland, St. Anthony, St. Elizabeth, and St. Jarlath with our annual Christmas Boutique. Each of our school families are asked to donate 20 of the same gifts, which they bring to school, and then each of our students has the opportunity to buy the items! The items are priced from .25 cents to $2 dollars. The students come with lists to purchase items for their

parents, siblings, cousins, grandparents and friends, etc. They come with an empty shopping bag and leave with a shopping bag fi lled with presents! ALL the proceeds are then calculated and given to the three schools we support for the holidays. It is a wonderful, festive tradition. We are truly thankful to all the parents and volunteers involved who make this special day possible.

This month we also support the Knights of Columbus with their annual toy drive on Friday, December 14th. At our all school Advent liturgy service hosted by the 6th grade, our students donate a new, wrapped toy for a needy child. At the end of the lit-urgy, the students quietly process up to the altar with their wrapped toy, one by one, and give it to one of the many Knights of Columbus on hand. From there, the Knights make Christmas baskets in our gym for those families in need. This was another amazing day for our school and wonderful opportunity for our students to give.

During this month our students participate in activities to help others that are in need. Our school families helped military veterans in VA hospitals by creating hand-made Christmas cards. These were an expression of thanks and gratitude for all they have given to our country. Two of our sixth grade students organized a school fundraiser that donated all proceeds to military families at Camp Pendleton. Lastly, classes are participating in the Macy’s Make-A-Wish Believe campaign. Students will make as many cards as they can to raise money.

On Thursday, December 13th, we will have our school Christmas concert led by our new music teacher. Parents, relatives, neighbors, and all come to hear our students sing Christmas carols. Before we take off for our Christmas break, our 1st grade students re-live the story of Christ at our all school liturgy on Friday, December 21st. We welcome all to celebrate Mass with us that day. As you go through this festive season, take time to give thanks and remember what is truly important in life.

I hope each of you and your families have a MERRY CHRISTMAS.

Stone Valley Middle School By Shaun K. McElroy, Principal2013 California Distinguished School Nominations Announced

Stone Valley was one of just a few middle schools in Contra Costa County to receive the California Distinguished School Nomination. Seven of the eight SRVUSD middle schools received the nod while only four schools outside of SRVUSD received a nomination. Dougherty Valley HS was the lone high school Nominee from San Ramon. This is

Stone Valley’s 7th nomination. We are truly proud to be amongst this year’s nominees. Breakfast Fundraiser

The week before Thanksgiving recess our leadership students sold breakfast food items to SV students before the start of the school day. All proceeds were sent to the Red Cross and targeted for the victims of Hurricane Sandy.Common Core State Standards

Last month I wrote about the changes we could expect from the adoption of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). Our teachers are using two of our early release Wednesdays each month to prepare for the change in instructional method-ology. We are focusing on Depth of Knowledge (DOK) activities. DOK activities are rated on a 1-4 scale based on the complexity of the task. The higher the DOK level, the greater the student engagement and involvement. This type of instructions prepares students for real world work situations. To accommodate the new style of instruction, we have formed a Block Scheduling Committee. We are exploring a change in schedule for the fall for 2013. If you are interested in participating in our scheduling discussion, RSVP to [email protected]. Smarter Balanced Assessment

CCSS brings about a new testing protocol that is dramatically different from the STAR test. Beginning in the spring of 2015, students will be taking the Smarter Balance Assessment. The link I’ve provided will take you to some sample exams that I think you will fi nd exciting - www.smarterbalanced.org.Parent Education - Raising Boys to be Men of Character

Thanks to Mark Wollan from Community Presbyterian Church for providing our parents with another excellent workshop that helps to build our skills as parents. Mark helped us prepare an individual step-by-step plan of how we can enhance the way we are raising our sons. The two most important aspects of the workshop were creating a defi nition of manhood and a code of conduct. We used these aspects to create a cus-tomized plan for our sons. Here’s what we came up with:

A real man rejects passivity, accepts responsibility, leads courageously and expects a greater reward.

This is a code of conduct based on three to four values that we ad-here to and can model for our boys. As added insurance, Mark asked us to select a person to check-in with in a week to insure that we are fol-lowing through with the plan. Parent Education Opportunity

Our 10th annual “Dads Night Out” is scheduled for January 24, 2013.Measure D and Proposition 30

Thank you for your votes on Measure D and Proposition 30. The success of Measure D will help to build a new Stone Valley from the ground up. Stone Valley opened the doors in 1950, and not much has changed since that time. We are well overdue for an “Extreme School Makeover.”

The passage of Propositions 30 will help us dodge the draconian cuts that were to be set in motion in Governors December budget revisions.


Do you have a story idea or sporting news? Do you have a story idea or sporting news? Call us at 925.405.6397, or email us at Call us at 925.405.6397, or email us at

[email protected]@YourMonthlyPaper.com.

SRV Christian Academy By Jan Brunkal, PrincipalThis is a wonderful time of year around SRVCA. We just celebrated Thanksgiving with harvest parties, buddy activities, co-

lonial day, and a wonderful Thanksgiving chapel. Now we are moving into the most blessed time of year, Christmas.Kindergarten through fi fth grade students are practicing for their Christmas musicals under the direction of Miss Katie Hugill.

Our K-2nd graders will be presenting Christmas Cupcake, the story of children who enter a cupcake baking contest and learn that working together, honesty, and Jesus’ birth really are the best ingredients for the “Sweetest Story.” This performance will take place December 14th during our 9am chapel. Our 3rd-5th graders will be sharing their acting and singing talents at an evening performance, December 4th at 7pm. Students will share the true meaning of Christmas in the musical, The Christmas Shoe Tree, a story about children giving shoes to those who need them. We are asking our school families to live out the message of this performance by bringing gently used shoes to the show. Shoes will be donated to Soles for Souls.

Our students also participated in “Operation Christmas Child” again this year. Students fi lled shoe boxes with toys, toiletries, socks, hard candy, and other small items that children would enjoy. These boxes are then sent to less fortunate children around the world. Children from Africa, Romania, and other parts of the world are so happy with the knowledge that they were remembered during this holiday season. Not only are they thrilled with the gifts, but even the boxes themselves are special. In partnership with Community Presbyterian Church, we collected over 300 boxes this year.

In addition to participating in these exciting service opportunities, SRVCA students will be singing Christmas carols and hymns at local retirement and nursing homes. They are excited to spend time with the residents, sharing the Good News of the season.

Charlotte Wood Middle School By Christopher George, Principal

It feels like no sooner had we gotten the year off the ground then we are talking about the Holidays, with an early Thanksgiving Break already here and the Winter Break to follow soon after. That said, we have had a great fi rst quarter and a great beginning. Teachers and students have been in classrooms

with innovative lessons, and those lessons are in the early stages of refl ecting the needs of the new Common Core State Standards.

To begin with this month, we are going through a very important personnel change at Charlotte Wood starting Thanksgiving Break. Our beloved Offi ce Manager, Priscilla Wolfram, retired on November 16th. She has been an integral part of Charlotte Wood’s success and culture throughout the last decade, and she has worked tirelessly to make our offi ce work in the best ways possible. Please join me in wishing her the best in her retirement, as we will miss her. As part of that change, we will also welcome our new Offi ce Manager, Michelle Bellamy. Michelle comes to us highly recommended from her position as the Financial Secretary at Los Lomas High School in Walnut Creek.

To our students’ credit, behavior and discipline data shows that our students are doing a fantastic job of being at school and concentrating on learning. We have had fewer suspensions and disciplinary incidents than ever before, and we are very proud of our students for that. Part of the reason for that, however, is continued and consistent com-munication between our parents and our teachers. Please remember to keep those communication lines open and to contact our teachers with concerns or questions about your student.

We also want to thank our community for the support given to Measure D, even though we do not, as of this writing, know the fi nal outcome of the Measure. We know that these Bond Measures are dif-fi cult questions for a community to ask, and that not everyone agrees on them. However, when they do come up, we are reminded just how supportive our community continues to be of our kids and teachers. It is my every hope that we are giving back to our community the excellence and value they expect from their school system.


Del Amigo Continuation High School By Joe Ianora, PrincipalNovember, December, and January seem to fl y by with the variety of breaks and activities scheduled at the High School. We just

fi nished our Thanksgiving celebration, ended our second session, handed out grades, enrolled new students, and received a much needed break…only to return and do it all over again in December and January!

Del Amigo has been part of the school district since 1968, and its primary goal has been unchanged – that of “credit recovery.” While Del Amigo provides an opportunity for students to either earn a diploma or return to their home school to graduate, we also attempt to provide an environment that is a safe and structured learning environment.

Through the years Del Amigo has earned the reputation that may not be consistent with our district vision. This year we have focused on changing the structure and reputation of Del Amigo – trying to rebuild the image and structure of Del Amigo is no small task, and

we are looking to the community for help. As we move into the second half of the year, our students will be greeted with the same opportunity to gain credits but with a much more consistent and structured environment. Some of the changes include a new start time of 8:40AM, with consequences for poor attendance, expanded opportunity for Digital learning via Cyber High School, consistent enforcement of dress code and appropriate language rules, use of an electronic grade book to help us track student progress more effi ciently, expanded breakfast program to be served daily, and additional support resources for behavior and addiction issues.

Attention to these details, coupled with shifting to focus on the Common Core, will help rebuild the image of Del Amigo High School.This month, we honor Khallil Sidiq as Student of the Month, Thomas Focht as Artist of the Month, and Olympia Anderson as Most Improved Learner.Thank you for your support. Best wishes for a safe and wonderful winter break!

The New Age Elective: iQuest By, Kelsey Nyland, San Ramon Valley High School senioriQuest is a new elective program that is taking the San Ramon Valley Unifi ed School District by storm! Okay, maybe not by

storm, but it is pretty ground-breaking. The class, offered at California High School, San Ramon Valley High School, and Monte Vista High School, allows students to prepare for life beyond college. Each student picks a “passion,” in other words, what they want to be when they grow up. Then, with the help of an administrator, the student fi nds a mentor that is willing to teach everything he or she needs to know about their desired profession. Cindi Sekera, who teaches iQuest at San Ramon, says that the class “gives high school seniors the gift of time. Students that have a passion they would like to pursue are given the opportunity to do just that.” iQuest does that and more; the class precludes the usual confusion that college students suffer from: What major do I choose? Con-comitantly, students will enter the work force quicker and with more confi dence.

I have experienced all the wonders of iQuest fi rsthand, because, as one might assume from the previous statement, I am part of the iQuest program at San Ramon. My passion, again I believe it is fairly obvious, is journalism. After weeks of constant emailing and calling (no one returned my emails, you’re a newspaper editor, I know you check your emails) the editor of Danville Today News volunteered to take me under her fi gurative wing and teach me the inner workings of a newspaper. Now that I have provided a very vague summary of my iQuest experience, I shall tell you why I love this class.

I have a confession: I do not really like school. The concept of textbook learning has no allure, because as a starving-writer-to-be, I can only memorize so many bones in the human body before I spontaneously combust. Let me make things clear; I am in no way declaring school useless, because it is not. I will, however, acknowledge that school occasionally feels futile and pointless, and it is not because I hate homework and tests stress me out. It is because there is a severe defi ciency of hands-on learning. School forces students into the vicious learn-and-forget cycle: A student memorizes information the night before the test, and then promptly forgets it fi ve minutes after the exam. There is no real learning by the student in this process, but it is still exhausting. When I heard about iQuest, it immediately excited me, because I had never before been given the opportunity in school to work hands-on with something that I truly enjoy. And now that I have spent twelve weeks in the class, it is even easier for me to see the benefi ts. I am now positive that journalism is the career path

I want to take, and I can enter into the real world with an arsenal full of weapons (writing weapons?) that I would not have had without iQuest.

Now, it’s time for the call to arms. Inexplicably, not all professionals want to enlighten the youth of America. Actually, it is not inexplicable; we can be kind of a pain. Still, if you are a local professional willing to volunteer your time to a confused teenager, contact iQuest (Cindi Sekera at San Ramon High - [email protected] or Jen-nifer Hamilton at Monte Vista High [email protected]), because there has never been a program in this district that prepares students for their future as much as this one.

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Danville Today News ~ December 2012 - Page 11

San Ramon Valley High School By Ruth Steele, Principal

Fall/winter has fi nally arrived, and for most schools, Thanksgiving break brings welcome rest for both school staff and families. It’s a long road from August to November, and people are tired at this point in the year. It’s been three months since the summer ended, and a lot of lesson planning, grading, test taking, essay writing, and homework for everyone has taken place!

At this time of year, it is of particular importance that everyone gets some down time.

We all need it – the students, parents, and school staff. November marks a time of year when the season changes, it gets dark earlier, and the days are getting noticeably shorter, so it is not surprising that this seems to be the time of year when almost everyone is struggling with their motivation. This is, after all, when many animals begin hibernating for the winter.

When I was a student in England, and a teacher there, I experienced a very different system. School in England is broken up into three terms with a week off halfway through each term.

No one is ever in school for more than seven or eight weeks at a time. Fall term ends at Christmas Break with a week off in October. Spring term ends at Spring Break with a week off in February, and the summer term ends in July with a week off in May. There was still a two week Winter Break, a one week Spring Break and a six week Summer Break! I am not saying that it was necessarily a better system, but it did give everyone regular oppor-tunities to recharge and come back to school with more energy each term. We also got three report cards a year, which somehow seemed less painful.

Breaks should also give people a chance to truly have time-off from school. As much as I want kids to come to school every day and do their best during class time, I also realize that they can’t do that day after day without getting tired. For kids, this break releases them from the grind of getting

up early, attending six classes, doing classwork, doing homework, attend-ing after school activities, and trying to fi t in eating, sleeping, socializing, growing up, fi guring out who they are, and coping with being a teenager!

These are no small tasks for our students. Their lives are becoming increasingly more hectic, and the pressures of getting into college and the related demands on their time leave little if any room for them to relax. Parents and families are also experiencing the same stressors from a dif-ferent perspective.

There are not always enough hours in the day to fi t everything in, and unfortunately the fi rst thing to disappear is our time with our family and friends. As we begin this holiday season, I hope that all of you are able to fi nd some opportunities to hop of the metaphorical treadmill and slow things down a little with your family and friends. Savor the joy of good company, take time to relax, and have fun. It might take a conscious effort to let go of our frantic daily routines, but it is absolutely worth it!

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Monte Vista High School By Janet Terranova, Principal

The holidays are approaching and with that one of the busiest times of the year for our students and families. Our fall sports have ended and winter sports are just beginning with practices and scrim-mages. The month of December fi nds not only our sports teams preparing for their season but students participating in our band concerts, drama produc-tions, choral performances, and speech and debate

competitions. More importantly, December fi nds our staff and student body involved in giving back to our community.

Under the direction of our Leadership class, the entire school supports our Adopt-a-Family program and our sister school, Verde Elementary, with stockings for the students. This year we hope to provide a happier holiday for 40-50 families in Contra Costa County and brighten the day for hundreds of students at Verde. Our Leadership class visits Verde El-ementary School several times during the school year and students report that these visits have had a signifi cant impact on their lives.

Leadership is not the only class that supports community service. Our student clubs are often established to provide service to the community. We have over 85 clubs on campus and of those 85 more than 30 of those clubs were established to provide service to the communities. American Red Cross, Alzheimer’s Awareness, Friends of Special Olympics, Ron-ald McDonald House Charity , and Smiles for Seniors are just a few of the many clubs serving our community. Additionally our students and their families are often involved in community organizations that sup-port community service locally and around the world. This year one of our students was nominated for a Jefferson Award for his foundation, Tickets for College.

If you would like more information about Monte Vista and our events, please visit our website at www.mvhigh.org.

Danville Toastmasters Club The Danville Toastmasters Club meets every Wednesday from 7:30 to

9PM at Diablo Valley College, Room W204. The college is located at 1690 Watermill Road in San Ramon. For more information, visit www.danvillet-oastmasters1785.com/ or call Chandra Mundra at 925-389-1468.

Danville A.M. Toastmasters ClubThe Danville A.M. Toastmasters Club meets on Tuesdays from 7AM to 8:30AM

at Father Nature’s Restaurant on East Prospect in Danville. The fi rst breakfast is on us. Come by to check out the club - you’ll enjoy yourself while learning to be the speaker you want to be. For more information, call Roxie at (925) 837-6253 or visit www.danvilleamtoastmasters.org.

Diablo View Toastmasters ClubThe Diablo View Toastmasters Club meets on Tuesdays 7:55 to 9AM at

Center Plaza Building on 2333 San Ramon Valley Boulevard in San Ramon in the conference room (First Floor). For more information, see diabloview.freetoasthost.ws or call Ernie DeCoit at 925-699-7103.


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Sustainable Danville Area Tip of the MonthBy Cynthia Ruzzi, President Sustainable Danville Area Let There Be Light

Let There Be Light. Could that be the inspiration for the many holiday lights that fi ll our community throughout the holiday season? Or perhaps it’s just our resistance to the daylight savings time change, plunging us into the dark an hour earlier each winter evening. Whatever the reason, the post-season electric bill is probably the one gift you wish you could return.

While I’d like to recommend you consider saving the energy and hours of untangling and hanging thousands of bulbs outside your house, I don’t really want to take the chance of becoming known as the ‘Environmental Scrooge.’ So instead, may I suggest you trade-in your outdated incandescent holiday lights and ‘deck the halls’ with LED holiday lights?

Switching to LED lights can mean a higher initial investment, but the real savings comes from reducing your holiday energy costs. As this year’s holiday advertisements rolled in, I noticed many stores offering trade-in and discounts on LED holiday lights. Do a little legwork, comparison shop wisely, and you’ll save yourself some green for your pocket. Also, don’t forget to look for sales after the holiday – it’s a great way to gain additional savings for your holiday wonderland.

A quick search on the Internet points to a multitude of cost savings models demonstrating what can be realized by switching from incandescent bulbs to LED lights. Most comparisons start with the assumptions that the average home holiday light display contains at least 500 light bulbs (a conservative estimate for some spirited neighborhood competitors), that the light strings are turned on from sunset to bedtime (six hours per night), and that the season lasts a minimum of 30 days. In the average holiday light string each incandescent bulb (C7) uses six watts of energy. When we compare the LED bulbs usage of .08 watts each, it’s not hard to imagine the savings boost for your holiday decorating fever. So, not to completely bore you with the price of kilowatt hours in the PG&E 3, 4 and 5 tiers, let me just say that the larger your holiday light tradition, the more

dollars there are to save. If saving green for your pocket or ‘doing good’ for the planet isn’t your

thing, then consider that LED lights are more durable and safer to run than incandescent lights. LED bulbs generate less heat improving the life span of your holiday twinkle. You can expect LED light strings to last up to 100,000 hours – using our assumptions above at 180 hours a season - your LED lights will outlast Santa! The limited heat output of LED bulbs that contribute to their lifespan also provide safer illumination. The are defi -nitely worth considering as you trim your family Christmas tree this year.

Of course, there are advantages of LED lighting over traditional bulbs and CFLs beyond the holiday season. While incandescent 100-watt bulbs have been phased out throughout the US, the benefi t of replacing these ineffi cient bulbs still in your home with LED or CFL is over 75% energy savings. PG&E has a simple effi ciency chart online that shows the watts for different bulbs at various lumens (brightness) which can be found at www.pge.com/myhome/saveenergymoney/rebates/light/products/index.shtml.

I am not a big fan of CFL bulbs. Each of CFL bulb contains a small amount of mercury which means used bulbs must be treated as hazardous waste. That means it is against the law to put these bulbs in your landfi ll or recycling bins. Instead, please bring them to your local Ace Hardware or Home Depot that, as a courtesy to their customers, will properly dispose of your residential CFL bulbs. Also, PG&E has a fact sheet, Recycling CFLs: What You Need to Know which can be found at www.pge.com/includes/docs/pdfs/myhome/saveenergymoney/rebates/factsheet_recyclingcfl s.pdf that includes important information about proper clean-up procedures for broken CFL lights. Please keep your family safe, and follow these valuable instructions.

Sustainable Danville Area hopes the joy of connecting with your fam-ily, friends, and neighbors over simple meals and activities will light your holiday season and all the days of the New Year. There will not be a forum in December, so we can devote time to our loved ones.

We hope to see you next year when The Danville Library and Sustainable Danville Area host a three-part speaker series, Food for Thought to nourish your spirit, feed your mind and body, and help the environment. For more information, please visit www.sustainabledanville.com and on Facebook.


Naughty or Nice?By Evan Corstorphine, Portable CIO

How many times have you had a really good or really bad experience at a store or restaurant, and wanted to tell someone about it? As consumers, you may be happy to discover there are a growing number of online tools

available with which to grade the vendors we use. The most popular, by far, is Yelp (www.yelp.com).

Personally, I’ve used Yelp quite a lot when traveling through a strange town or looking for a good place to eat. It seems that someone has always taken the time to give either strong praise or dire warnings about different eateries in every town we visit. Just as in life, you shouldn’t take the word of the fi rst review you read; you need to read several and make note of the consistencies and irregularities in the reviews, and make up your own mind about whether a place is worth a try. I think that if you’re the least bit observant, you can pick up the subtle clues that tell you if a review is planted or genuine. We’ve seldom gone wrong.

My wife and daughter used Yelp extensively on a trip to the Eastern seaboard a few years back. They didn’t make plans or reservations, and they simply used Yelp on their iPhones to identify restaurants and Bed & Breakfasts along the way. I don’t think they ever got skunked, although a few times it was tough because they ran out of cell service.

We at Portable CIO have established a Yelp account so that our clients can rate their experiences using our services. We’ve never asked anyone to write a review, and what people have written is heartfelt and genuine. However, if you go to Yelp and look up Portable CIO, you’ll immediately be struck by the shopkeeper’s dilemma insofar as Yelp is concerned. Let me explain.

While I do appreciate Yelp’s efforts to fi lter out obvious “shill” reviews (and there are plenty, unfortunately), they go overboard. For example, in our case, today I checked our account and found there are a total of fourteen reviews for Portable CIO. Ten are “fi ltered” by Yelp because they think they might be planted reviews, which means to see them you have to click an additional link and enter in a code before they’re visible. All ten of them are 5-star reviews from happy customers. Of the remaining four visible reviews, two are fi ve-star, and two are one-star hate-letters from unhappy ex-clients. The one thing that Yelp does right is that they give the business owner the ability to respond to “hit job” reviews, and to give the viewer their side of the story. In both cases I’ve done so. And with regard to those one-star reviews, I’m philosophical: In a business, you’re going to run across all types of people. The overwhelming majority of the people we work with are great people, and we don’t let the words or actions of a few disturbed individuals deter us from our mission.

As you might have calculated, Yelp is showing only 28% of our reviews! In their attempt to be “fair,” they are fi ltering out the majority of our good reviews because their software thinks they must be planted. So, while as a consumer I have really enjoyed the service, as a business owner I don’t necessarily appreciate their manipulating what the consumer is going to see. I’d prefer, both as a consumer and as a reviewed business-owner, that I see all of the reviews. Let me make up my own mind. I have faith that people are intelligent enough to look past obvious hit-job reviews as well as reviews that are too good to be true or all posted in the same time frame. At least in my case, their attempt to help the consumer is implicitly labeling my business as one with questionably honest reviews, which is as inaccurate as it is undeserved.

As for the people who wrote those awful letters, I really don’t worry about them. Some folks have problems going on that color everything they do and every interaction they have with people. You can’t do anything about it, so you just move on. People are smart enough to fi gure these things out.

I hope you give this tool a try as you travel or when you’re just looking for a good place to eat around town. As a business owner, I can assure you we appreciate every single comment, whether they’re glowing praise or constructive criticism. Remember to look at the big picture, and read all the reviews for a company, not just the ones shown. If my situation is any indicator, there are a lot of honest reviews you would want to read being suppressed in the name of “fairness.”

Our staff is ready and waiting to help you with your holiday electronics purchases! Give us a call at 925-552-7953 or email [email protected] to speak with a technician. Happy Holidays! Advertorial


Quick Trips By Linda Summers PirkleWhale Watching, Moss Landing

If you are like me, you have driven by Moss Landing on your way to Carmel and Monterey and have not taken time to explore this “quaint fi shing village full of hidden treasures and enjoyable activities,” as the Moss Landing Chamber of Commerce Directory says. Moss Landing is on the coast, 25 miles south of Santa Cruz. Whale Watching with Blue Ocean Whale Watch (blueoceanwhalewatch.com) is one activity offered in Moss Landing.

My husband loves being on water (He’s an ex-Navy guy), so a day on board Blue Ocean Whale Watch’s 60 foot vessel with 30 other passengers was a perfect birthday gift for him.

I was pleasantly surprised by the vessel that was to take us 8 to 10 miles out to sea. The Coast Guard certifi ed and inspected vessel has an observation deck with sides that are four feet high and block the wind nicely. The main deck is completely protected with windows all around and easily seats 25 people. The bench on the bow seats nine people. There is a restroom on board.

We headed out to sea at 10AM sharp. Just 10 minutes into our four-hour tour, we spotted a Humpback whale! It glided at the top of the water, almost in slow motion, slipped beneath the surface, and fl apped its fl ukes at us. Our group of whale watchers let out a spontaneous “OHHH!”

Kate Cummings, co-owner of Blue Ocean Whale Watch explains, “Monterey Bay is one of the few places in the world where you can see whales all year long; Humpback whales in the spring, Humpback, Blue and Fin Whales in the summer, Humpback and Blue in the fall, and Migratory Grays in the winter. Anytime of the year there’s a 95% chance you’ll see some kind of whale. January is one of the best times because we see a higher concentration of Gray whales moving past the Monterey Bay on their south-bound route. There is another high concentration of them in March on their north-bound route.”

Many of the passengers on our voyage were repeat customers. Michele Duckett from the South Bay says she and her hus-band Tony try to go whale watching every few weeks. “I spend most weekdays in an offi ce. My weekend trip on the water is a totally therapeutic experience, and Kate and Captain Jim make us feel like we are part of the family.”

Our group had a “rare experience,” ac-cording to Kate. We came upon hundreds of Risso’s dolphins. Everywhere we looked there were dolphins. We were all amazed. The only sounds you could hear were splashing water caused by the “dolphin show” as they breached and then the clicking of 25 cameras.

• After the whale watching tour, stop at Haute Enchilada, a cafe just around the corner from the dock. Their iced mint coffee (with fresh mint leaves, chocolate and va-nilla) is so refreshing. The cafe has beautiful works of art. Don’t miss the “fence” from the 1939 World’s Fair Indo-China Building on Treasure Island. It is in the garden area in front of Haute Enchilada. They can be reached at (831) 633-5843. Call for hours.

• Phil’s Fish Market & Eatery, known for their famous Cioppino, which beat Bobby Flay’s in Food Network’s Throwdown, is a few blocks from the dock. They are open daily, except Thanksgiving and Christmas. Their phone number is (831) 633-1775.

Blue Ocean Whale Watch can be reached by calling (831) 600-5103. My husband wants to go back for another whale watching day. I know what my Christmas present will be! Book early, they sell out.

Linda Summers Pirkle, travel consul-tant and long term Danville resident, 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].

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Trains continued from front pageLife in the Danville GardenBy John Montgomery, ASLA, Landscape ArchitectA Garden Makeover

Everyone knows that good design is “maintenance free” and “lasts forever.” Right! This is why there are so many beautiful gardens existing from the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s with ratty looking junipers and Monterrey pines...you get the picture! You wouldn’t keep your carpet for 30 years, right? So, your Danville garden needs a good makeover as well! There are three basic reasons for a

garden makeover: to respond to the changing site conditions which normally oc-cur as a landscape site matures (i.e. stuff gets overgrown), to respond to changing needs of the users of the landscape (i.e. families grow and change), and to re-adapt a site for a new owner (i.e. a new set of uses.)

New home sites are generally sunny with bright light and are more exposed to wind, sun, and more harsh conditions. Maturity brings radical changes that are often welcomed. It also brings other changes that are not. Trees fi nally provide shade cover and shade out once sun-loving plants. Lack of care and poor maintenance practices have taken their toll. Hedges and shrubs have become overgrown hiding

the house and block-ing good views. These changes give cause for redesign although the overall context of a “well-designed” landscape may still prevail.

Within the life of your Danville home, an owner’s uses will change as kids grow-

up or a family matures and changes. Lifestyles evolve and change. Once busy families who previously had no time to work in the garden are now retired and have time to “putz.” This brings a whole new reason for the landscape. Children learn to swim and a swimming pool is now a requirement. These changes call for careful consideration and should be well thought out. They should be logical and creatively resolved. Gar-den makeover projects are challenging yet satisfying when properly executed. I enjoy working with my clients to create a new vision for their yard while using a lot of the existing conditions that work such as large established trees, established privacy screen-ing shrubs that are in tact, and specimen plants that would cost thousands to replace.

These dramatic changes to a home warrant a garden makeover. As older families move from the neighborhood, new ones move in. When a new family moves in it changes the needs of the landscape. The landscape needs to be redesigned to re-adapt it to the new family or the new home. Rarely does a landscaped site meet all the needs and expectations of the new owner. Re-adapting a site must be clearly articulated and solved as a design problem using an organized design process. Also, some sites are badly neglected and need drastic measures taken to redesign the landscape.

Thorough documentation of all existing conditions such as soil, micro-climates, drainage, shade, and wind patterns should be considered. All existing plants, trees, shrubs, and constructed features that are to be considered to remain should be well documented. A creative design solution, which meets the new need and is sensitive to the existing features and conditions of the site, must be developed. Construction of the new landscape must include all necessary measures to protect and preserve all of the worthwhile existing site features and landscape.

Potential additions to the makeover will include updated hardscape elements such as paved areas of use, benches and seat walls, retaining walls, steps to make a site usable or to gain new space, dramatic landscape lighting, swimming pools, play courts and kid zones, and sculptures. Times have changed with the recent economic downturn; we are looking at our homes a little differently. We might be more inclined to make incremental or phased investments, and a garden makeover makes more fi nancial sense.

Like the design of a new landscape project, a garden makeover should adhere to the design process. Design and budget go hand in hand!

A hot tip from your local Landscape Architect: Executing a garden make-over for tired gardens can be a challenge. It can also make all the difference in the appeal of your home. Take time to walk your garden and note what you like and what you dislike. Consider the term of how long you will stay in your home as a basis for planning your garden.

Gardening Quote of the month: “In garden arrangement, as in all other kinds

of decorative work, one has not only to acquire a knowledge of what to do, but also to gain some wisdom in perceiving what it is well to let alone.” ~Gertrude Jekyll

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

But, even though skill and know-how are integral, many members readily acknowledge that their interest does indeed stem from fond childhood memories. “I’ve always loved trains,” says Moreland, who has been involved with WCMRS for 36 years and is currently Chairman of the WCMRS Board. “I’m old enough to remember real steam locomotives. When my dad returned from the Korean War, he brought back two footlockers full of model train engines and track. We moved so often while he was in the service, that we never had a chance to set-up the whole thing. Finally, we moved to a home where we could build the layout in the garage…and then I left for college.”

Was it a subliminal need to fi nish what he started? Perhaps; but Moreland cites the simple and majestic strength and power of large locomotives as the allure. “Trains are just kind of cool,” he says. “I can’t really explain it.”

While the engineers may seem to have all the fun, successful operation and maintenance of the railway requires skills and cooperation of all types: carpenters and cabinet makers to construct the sound baseboard, artisans to paint and craft the scenery, and electricians to install wiring. There are tasks for all members who are interested in learning, sharing, and growing the ever-changing layout. The society currently boasts a membership of 60, ranging in age from 18 to 90. Work-nights are Fridays and Tuesdays. The layout is open for public viewing the last Friday of each month from 8 – 10pm and the third Saturday and Sunday in January, March, May, and September. Check their website for current schedule updates.

New members are invited to help out for three months, at which time one See Trains continued on page 17

[email protected]

becomes a switchman. Advancement (and increased responsibility) includes the further ranks of brakeman, conductor, engineer, and fi nally, the top spot of senior engineer. It takes about 1 ½ years to move through the ranks and earn “keys to the building” privileges as well as priority for any committee chair position.

Concord resident Rosa Marie Delgman is one of two women members. After six months of membership, she is a brakeman and has learned to take apart and service the engines, change the wheels, add weights for traction, and change couplers. “I watch and learn in anticipation of one day operating the engines,” says Delgman, whose 12-year-old son encouraged her to join WCMRS. “I became fascinated by trains when I was a little girl visiting my uncle in Pittsburgh. The train would pass right in front of his house, and I loved looking at the freight and passengers. When my son was born, we started collecting a train set with a small loop, but with a small house, our track is limited. My son suggested joining a club with a bigger track, so I found WCMRS and have thoroughly enjoyed it.”

Like any organization in which participants share a passion, WCMRS inspires strong and lasting friendships. Many work-nights begin with dinner at a local restaurant, and it is not uncommon for members to organize rail related fi eld trips and outings, such as to the Western Railway Museum in Rio Vista or a train ride to the Rail Museum in Sacramento. “After 36 years, you get to know some of these folks fairly well,” says Moreland. “They’re like family.”

For more information on WCMRS, visit www.wcmrs.org.


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Winter PruningBy Blaine Brende & Joe Lamb

Now is a great time to prune your trees to protect them against winter storms. A judicious pruning can reduce the likeli-hood of branches falling and causing damage to person or property. Ever-

greens, such as cedars, and many species of deciduous trees, such as valley oaks, can be pruned in the late fall and early winter, and now is by far the best time to prune pines. Monterey pines can only be pruned between October 1 and February 15 without attracting pine beetles. These potentially lethal beetles, which can smell sap from long distances, go dormant in the winter. Some species of beetles carry pine pitch canker, an increasingly common fungal disease that disfi gures pine trees and sometimes kills them. If your tree has dead tips scattered throughout the canopy, it probably suffers from pine pitch canker. To prolong the aesthetic life of the diseased tree, prune out the infected tips when the beetles are dormant.

Even healthy trees require occasional pruning to keep them safe and beautiful. Many trees are subject to branch and column failure. Thinning the crown reduces the wind-sail effect of the canopy and thereby reduces the risk of the tree failing in a windstorm. Removing weight from the ends of heavy branches reduces the likelihood that those branches will break.

Pruning trees for safety is a craft requiring study and experience. A well-pruned tree should not only be safer, it should look beautiful. At Brende & Lamb we take great pride in both the science and the art of pruning. Each plant has a natural growth pattern. Our trimmers are expert at accentuating the shape given the plant by nature. Within the bounds of what is healthy for each species, Brende & Lamb works to make trees as beautiful as possible. Our trimmers are well practiced in aesthetic pruning and are attuned to the artistic fl ow inherent in tree forms. The form may be weeping, as with Wil-lows and Chinese Elms. In some species, such as Monterey Cypress, branches ascend at acute angles to the trunk, giving the tree an upswept look. Branches in the coast live oak bend and twist, forming complex arcs. Each tree species has a unique form and fl ow.

When necessary, trees and shrubs can be reduced in size, but crown reduction requires a good eye; a poorly reduced tree looks like a thicket of stubs. Topping is almost always a bad idea. However, the crown of many trees can be reduced by cutting back long branches to the crotches formed by shorter branches growing in the same direction. If the branch doesn’t fork, we cut back to the lowest growth point that will neither create a thick stub nor undermine the arching quality of the branch. When a tree or shrub has been reduced in this way, it’s diffi cult to detect the cuts or tell that the branches have been shortened.

Sometimes the form of trees needs to be modifi ed to capture or accentuate views. View pruning requires restraint and a willingness to compromise. In view work, the beauty of the view and the beauty of the tree often seem to be in confl ict. Many pruners focus solely on the view and simply hack back the tree. However, more than the tree’s beauty is at stake. Topping stimulates production of water sprouts, and it also causes disease and rot - all of which make the tree more, not less, dangerous. However, view problems can often be solved by looking at tree-and-view as an aesthetic unity, as two elements that complement and frame each other. Sometimes, lightly bringing the tree back without cutting into major branches can prevent further encroachment on the view.

To recover even more of the view, we create “windows” by selectively removing branches not essential for the tree’s natural form. We can enlarge these by removing small branches that rise or drop into the view. Thinning above and below the window creates an overall feeling of openness, rather than an abrupt gaping hole. The image of Mount Diablo framed by the trem-bling needles of a well-windowed Redwood proves that nature and civilization can complement each other - as can aesthetics and practicality.

If your trees need a little TLC to protect them against winter winds, or if your property could use a little fi re protection, 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

Trains continued from page 16


Giving Back this Holiday SeasonBy Supervisor Candace Andersen, Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors, District 2

The month of December is special for most of us. For some it holds great religious signifi cance with Christmas and Hanukkah. We have cultural celebrations such as Kwanzaa. For others, Santa comes to visit bearing gifts. It’s a time to gather with family and friends. Music, parties, great meals, baked treats, and the exchanging of gifts high-light the season. Sadly, there are many who live in Contra Costa County who are not as fortunate as most of us. If

you would like to make a difference in their lives, here are two ways you can help. Feeding the Hungry

During this holiday season, for the ninth year in a row, employees of Contra Costa and Solano counties are competing to raise funds for their neighbors in need with the “Counties Care” Holiday Food Fight. Since the Challenge began in 2004, a total of $927,993.73 has been collected. County employees hope to raise over $72,000 this year and hit the million dollar mark. All funds and food collected are contributed to the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano. For every dollar donated, the Food Bank distributes the equivalent of two nutritious, high-quality meals to hungry neighbors in our communities.

You can join in the Food Fight fun by making your donation on their website at www.foodbankccc.org and click on the “Counties Care Holiday Food Fight.” In addition, barrels for collecting food can be found in County buildings, including fi re stations, libraries, and my offi ces at 309 Diablo Road in Danville and 3338 Mt. Diablo Boulevard in Lafayette. We are also happy to accept checks made out to the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano at my offi ce.Gifts for Children

Another way that you can help make this holiday season brighter for those in need is to support Holiday Helpers, a project led each year by the Volunteer and Emergency Services Team in Action (VESTIA). VESTIA is a non-profi t led by volunteers. It raises money and obtains donated goods and services to provide supplemental sup-port to those served by the Employment and Human Services Department (EHSD) in Contra Costa County when no other resources are available. One of the programs they offer is the Holiday Helpers Warehouse, which provides holiday assistance (gifts,

clothing, and food) to low-income children.If you would like to help, they are in need of: • Toys for boys and girls, ages 3 to 14 • Board games • Art kits • Blankets, any size • Warm clothing, children’s only • Gifts for teens ages 15 – 18, including watches, makeup kits, hat & scarf

sets, appropriate DVDs, movie tickets, and gift cards ($15 value)All donations should be new and left unwrapped. Cash donations are also very

important for last minute special needs shopping. Please make checks payable to VESTIA, Inc. All donations are tax deductible.

You can drop donations off at my offi ce through December 13th, or deliver your donations directly to the Holiday Helpers Warehouse, located at 500 Ellinwood Way in Pleasant Hill, on Friday, December 14th between the hours of 9AM and 2PM. For more information about VESTIA, please call (925) 521-5060, or contact Anne Struthers at (925) 521-5062 or by email at [email protected].

In closing, I offer my best wishes to you and your loved ones for a joyful holiday season and a Happy New Year.

Candace Andersen serves on the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors. Her District includes the communities of San Ramon, Danville, Alamo, Walnut Creek, Saranap, Parkmead, Lafayette, Moraga, Canyon, and Orinda. Please contact her at (925) 957-8860 or e-mail her at [email protected].

Give It Up for GoodThe San Ramon Valley High School Athletic Boosters Club is holding a “Give

it Up for Good” rummage sale on Saturday, December 15th from 9am to 3pm at the SRVHS cafeteria located at 501 Danville Blvd., in Danville. Items for sale will include gently used clothing, sports equipment, household items, books, games, kitchen wares, holiday décor, toys, small furniture, etc. The proceeds from this fundraiser go to support and promote all 22 athletic teams on campus. Each year, the Athletic Boosters Club contributes funds directly to each team sport and gives a substantial amount of money to the General Athletic Department to assist in keep-ing our high quality programs running at SRV.

Clip Notes By Jody MorganGathering garden greens by the basketful gets

my holiday season started. Holly and ivy top my list. Mantelpieces are the fi rst areas I cover with evergreens. Twin vases hold stiff stabbing stalks of holly and supple stems of ivy. I cut the ivy in generous lengths to encircle candle sconces and spill over mantel edges. The foliage lasts throughout the season, but the sprays of fl owers I add need to be refreshed once or twice.

The custom of greening the house for the holidays has its roots in ancient celebrations of the Winter Sol-

stice. The Romans recognized this turning point in the annual solar cycle as the Birthday of the Unconquered Sun. They extended the occasion into a weeklong festival: Saturnalia. Holly, sacred to Saturn, was a popular decoration. In honor of the god believed to have reigned during a Golden Age of peace and harmony, masters sat down to feast at the same table with their slaves. Slaves were given the freedom to speak their minds. Wars and executions were suspended giving all a reason to be jolly. The exchange of gifts included sprigs and wreaths of evergreens expressing good wishes for the coming year.

Ivy also fi gured in Roman celebrations, wreathing the brow of Bacchus in winter. As a replacement for the grape vines that crowned the god of revelry and wine and his followers in summer months, ivy was thought to protect the wearers from intoxication.

Celtic custom pitted the dominance of the sacred oak in summer against the strength of the evergreen holly carrying the spirit of earth’s renewal through the winter. Ivy’s mysterious ability to strangle the mightiest oak was attributed to her association with the lunar goddess in whose castle the Oak King awaited reawakening at the Winter Solstice. Not surprisingly when Europeans fi rst encountered California’s native Live Oaks with evergreen holly-like leaves, they ascribed mystical powers to these trees.

English Ivy (Hedera helix), not native to North America, is considered to be invasive. If you have the straight species, keep it in check by harvesting abundant amounts for holiday arrangements. Despite the tendency of ivy to crumble mortar and harbor pests, the American Ivy Society is devoted to growing the 480 named

cultivars currently existing. Like the 2012 Ivy of the Year ‘Henriette,’ a miniature with green and white foliage, these are delightfully non-aggressive forms. My favorite is a Persian Ivy (Hedera colchica) cultivar known as ‘Sulphur Heart.’ New leaves are pure gold, while mature foliage features forest green surround-ing an amber center. Although ivy is essentially a vine, it gets woodier and more upright as it ages. Cuttings from older stock will produce stout tree-like growth.

The Carol of the Holly and the Ivy harks back to an early custom in English villages. The male youth trumpeted the virtues of the stalwart holly, while the maidens sang the praises of the supple, yet deceptively strong ivy. A few of their songs have survived. From the male perspective:

Holly stands in the hall, fair to behold: / Ivy stands without the door, she is full sore a cold

Holly and his merry men, they dance and they sing, / Ivy and her maidens, they weep and they wring.

Tipping the scales in the opposite direction:Holly and Ivy made a great party. / Who should have the master / In lands

where they go.Then spake Holly: “I am fi erce and Jolly. / I will have the master / In lands

where we go.”Then spake Ivy: “I am loud and proud / I will have the master / In lands

where we go.”Then spake Holly, and set him down on his knee: / “I pray thee, gentle Ivy,

say me no villainy, / In land where we go.”Finally, the compromise:O the ivy O, she’s the Queen of old, / And the Holly he is red, / Hang ‘em high

in the farm and us won’t come to harm / Till the Christmas days be told.Once used as a remedy for coughs, holly was revered as a protection against

witches, thunder and lightening. Holly (Ilex) is such a diverse genus that at least one species can be grown in each of our fi fty states. To deck your halls with boughs sporting red berries, you’ll need to plant both a male and a female tree. Horticulturists have developed over 1,000 cultivated varieties of American Holly and similar numbers of hybrids and cultivars of English, Chinese, and Japanese species. A holly bonsai makes a thoughtful, good-luck gift!


Solar Currents By Mark Becker, GoSimpleSolar

Recently I had the distinct pleasure of meeting the Blue Star Moms (BlueStarMoms.org) in downtown Danville during their Veterans Day food drive event. I have a warm spot in my heart for these moms

who are very proud of their children who serve in our Military. As a young man in the Marine Corps, I was somewhat oblivious to my mother’s concerns (sorry, Mom). Now that I’m a parent, I’m able to better imagine the depth of the Blue Star Moms’ emotions when their son or daughter is deployed in harms way.

One year ago, November 18th, Danville native LCpl Joshua “Chachi” Corral was killed in action in Af-ghanistan. When a Blue Star Mom loses their child, they become a Gold Star Mom. The Semper Fi Foundation has been founded in Chachi’s honor. (www.SemperFi-Foundation.org). God Speed to Chachi and his Family.

Solar industry growth is 13.2% this year. Solar professions are expected to generate 20,000 more jobs next year, outpacing our economy’s 2% growth. Many returning veterans have found jobs in this growing sector of our economy. With over 150,000 solar projects in California, solar customers are having a positive impact on our economy. Contrary to popular belief, USA made products are very price competitive. A recent decision by the International Trade Commission and Department of Commerce penalizes Chinese solar manufacturers for illegal dumping and subsidies. Tariffs averaging 32% have been levied on their products.

Solar Milestone: Recently in California over one megawatt of electricity was generated by solar power in a day. The electricity generated by the solar panels replaced the output of two natural gas power plants.

For most properties, the roof is a liability. A solar system can turn ones roof into an asset. One should not wait until a roof replacement is necessary before going solar; in most cases, a solar system installed today will pay for itself and a new roof in less than ten years. No matter what kind of home improvements you may be contract-ing, a professional should manage the project, especially if there are multiple trades involved. Managing as an “Owner-Builder” is highly discouraged by the California Contractor’s State License Board (www.CSLB.ca.gov). Before entering into any construction contract, spend some time educating yourself on the CSLB website.

Mark Becker is the President of GoSimpleSolar, by Semper Fidelis Con-struction, a Danville based Solar Installation Firm. Mark can be reached at 925.915.9252. Come visit GoSimpleSolar’s new showroom at 114 West Prospect Ave. in Danville to see, touch, and discuss solar and energy effi ciency products. For more details, see www.GoSimpleSolar.com or email [email protected]. Advertorial

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Save Room for DessertBy Monica Chappell

No holiday meal would be complete without dessert or, better yet, dessert wine. The holidays are a wonderful occasion to look beyond the normal eating and drink-ing routine – especially with desserts. It’s easy to stick with the basics--cookies and milk or coffee and cake--but why not try a dessert wine with your dessert, or if you prefer, serve dessert wine as dessert. Combining the nuances of fi ne wine with a decadent treat for your

sweet tooth, these distinctive wines known as dessert wines are rich on the palate. Dessert wines are offi cially defi ned as having residual sweetness (coming from

concentrated sugars in the grape) or as having been fortifi ed (the addition of grape spirits during the winemaking process), making a fi nal product with an alcohol con-tent of 14-22%. The generous proportion of alcohol provides a mouth-fi lling heft not known in table wine. Produced by either method, dessert wines deliver rich fl avor and pure pleasure! The key to the best wines is the balance between sweetness and acidity. The Dessert Menu

There are as many dessert wines as there are variations of chocolate cake...What’s not to love? Here are a few better know dessert wine categories developed according to the factors that can make them sweet. Late-harvest Wines

• Botrytis wines (or Botrytis Cinera), also affectionately called the Noble Rot wines, can come from Europe, California, or Australia. The name may sound strange, but the wine it describes is pure heaven. These wines are marked by a honey and/or apricot fl avor with the natural sugar content coming from the concentration of fl avors in the berry caused by the rot!

• Eiswein primarily comes from Germany with a small amount from Canada and New York. It too has a honey fl avor and natural sugar concentration coming from freezing the grapes prior to harvest. Some ice wines are made by freezing the grapes, but most are made by letting the grapes freeze on the vine. Riesling is the varietal of choice for Eiswein. Fortifi ed Wines

• Sherry comes from Spain and has a nutty fl avor. It is fortifi ed after fermen-tation (grape spirits are added) and has a nutty fl avor.

• Madeira is also from Portugal and is known by its distinct caramel or brown sugar fl avor. It can be fortifi ed during or after fermentation.

• Port, the real stuff, comes from Portugal and has an intense berry fl avor. These wines are fortifi ed during fermentation.

There’s no sweeter way to end your meal than with a sip of liquid dessert. Monica Chappell teaches and writes about wine. To see a list of classes visit

www.wineappreciation101.blogspot.com. AdvertorialLic# 1100014354; Bay Area Entertainment


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Safeguarding Your Co-Ownership “Marriage”By Robert J. Silverman, Attorney at Law

My last few articles were about real estate succession, and I thought I’d stay with the topic of real estate another month. This time, I’ll focus on a sub-topic that receives too little attention – co-ownership.

For the purposes of this article, I’ll defi ne co-ownership as owning a piece of real estate with anyone other than one’s spouse. Owning property with a parent, sibling, friend, or business associate is somewhat akin to being married. Just as on the day of a wedding, on the day co-owners purchase a property, the parties are typically delighted, “on the same page,” and optimistic about the future.

But, as the years go by, a large minority of those initially happy married couples grow apart, and some divorce. Likewise, a signifi cant number of real estate co-owners experience major disagreements and problems. Sometimes, these problems lead to lawsuits, monetary dam-ages, and most tragically, destroy valued personal relationships.

Many people who buy property, and particularly those who buy with a close relative, are myopic. They can’t foresee any problems arising that they will not be able to resolve by simply sitting down together and working out a reasonable solution.

Nearly 20 years ago, my fi rst contested case involved a lawsuit fi led against my client by her daughter in connection with their various co-ownership disputes. Sadly, this lawsuit was not only damaging fi nancially to both parties, but it caused wounds in the mother-daughter relationship that may never heal.

I assure you the above example is not an isolated incident. I have encountered more than a handful of co-ownership disputes. Many of these adversarial proceed-ings resulted in similar monetary damage and harsh, lasting personal confl ict among the participating relatives, friends, or associates.

So, how does one prevent such personal and fi nancial havoc? I believe anyone who is considering a co-ownership venture (or who already co-owns real estate) should hire an attorney who has relevant experience to draft a comprehensive co-ownership (aka “joint ownership,” “equity share,” or “tenant-in-common [TIC]”) agreement. Of course, the best time to establish such written agreement is before the property is purchased; however, don’t think it’s too late if you already co-own a property.

As months and years pass, discussions between co-owners that are not put in writing tend to be forgotten or misconstrued. The problem is exacerbated if one of the co-owners becomes incapacitated or dies. Hence, the old adage: “A verbal agreement is not worth the paper it’s written on.”

Notwithstanding the fact that a verbal agreement is rarely very helpful, most people don’t even get that far. It’s rare that the parties even think about, let alone discuss and verbally agree upon, all of the major elements of the transaction or contingency plans.

A thorough written agreement is no guarantee that misunderstandings and disagreements won’t arise. However, the agreement should anticipate and present a frame-work for handling most common issues. It should serve as a useful reference by reciting critical data and fi nancial terms, identifying each co-owner’s respective rights and obligations, and setting forth dispute resolution mechanisms.

Specifi cally, what kind of provisions should be included? It depends somewhat on the type of co-ownership. Some involve an investor and an owner-occupier, while others involve each co-owner occupying a different unit, and still others involve renting the whole property to third parties, etc.

Here are a few examples of issues, among many others, that a written agreement should cover:a) Who is responsible for managing the property, paying the bills, fi lling vacancies, keeping the books…?b) Who has occupancy rights? What occurrences, if any, might alter those rights, and what are the payment obligations associated with the rights?c) How will it be decided whether or not capital improvements will be made, and how much will each party pay for them?d) What happens if one co-owner wants to sell and the other one doesn’t?e) What happens if one of the co-owners dies (e.g. Will the remaining co-owner(s) have an option to purchase the deceased co-owner’s share? If so, how will that

interest be valued, and what will the payment terms be)? f) Will the parties agree to mediate or arbitrate disputes that arise?Co-ownership agreements give the parties a useful roadmap and serve a compelling prophylactic function. They can help ensure the orderly operation and disposi-

tion of a co-owned property, and provide a valuable means of preserving valuable relationships.I offer a free consultation concerning your current or prospective co-ownership.Mr. Silverman is an attorney with Buchman Provine Brothers Smith LLP, 1333 N. California Street, Suite 350, Walnut Creek, CA 94596; (925) 944-9700;

[email protected]. His practice emphasizes Estate Planning, Trust Administration & Probate, Real Estate, and Business. Mr. Silverman offers a free intro-ductory consultation.

This article is intended to provide information of a general nature, and should not be relied upon as legal, tax, fi nancial and/ or business advice. Readers should obtain and rely upon specifi c advice only from their own qualifi ed 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

Hospice of the East Bay Estate Sale ServiceAfter the death of a loved one, dealing with the entire contents of a

home and a life time of possessions can be overwhelming. Hospice of the East Bay (HEB) Estate Sales, formally known as Diablo

Appraisal and Estate Sales, is an estate sale and liquidation service that manages and coordinates your entire estate and provides you with a tax benefi t by sharing the profi ts from the sale with HEB. We provide caring and trained professionals that can help you handle the entire process mak-ing the seemingly impossible, attainable.

We will assess each item’s value, advertise the sale through multiple channels, organize and display your estate items, provide security before, during, and after the sale, run the estate sale smoothly and professionally, take unsold items to HEB thrift stores, and provide with a tax deductible receipt for those items, clear out the house at the end of the sale, and leave the house empty and ready for cleaning. Everything will be handled for you, and best of all you won’t even need to be present! Families are provided with a guaranteed honest, effi cient, and reliable service.

HEB Estate Sales was established in 2001 for families requesting help sell-ing the contents of their homes. Funds generated from the sale help benefi t the patients and families in the care of HEB. Please call Patricia Wright at (925) 887-5678 or email [email protected] for more information.

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

[email protected] to Control Your Appetite for Overspending This Holiday SeasonBy Sima Alefi , AAMS Financial Advisor

How did the holidays approach us so quickly? From the Thanksgiving family gathering that just passed, to the smell of the pine trees in your living room, to the decorations hanging on your tree, you may feel as though you just put away your ornaments, only to re-open those boxes again –so quickly. Where did time go?

Naturally, after Thanksgiving people begin to think about holiday shopping. You may be thinking of the most convenient way to shop in order to avoid standing in long lines at the malls. Be it shopping online or on television through the QVC channel, ordering from your favorite magazine, or simply shopping earlier both online and brick-and-mortar retailers, it is very easy to make your purchases; all it takes is a swipe of your card or a typing in of your credit card number online.

How can you control overspending? How can you manage your thoughts of not over indulging during this holiday season? How can you protect your savings and avoid the pitfall of credit card debt? How can you avoid the temptation of dipping into your long term investments? After all, shopping is a part of the holiday tradition--’tis the season!

Here are ways to avoid overspending:• Do Not Make Spontaneous Purchases -Take a step back, wait 48 hours,

and then if you really want the item, go back and purchase it. Taking time out to think about your purchase allows you to think in perspective without relying on a spontaneous decision. You will fi nd that your thoughts may change if you consider, “Do I really need this as much as I thought after all?”

• Build a Budget - Before beginning your shopping spree and party plan-ning, set a budget. Do not over spend if you cannot afford it. Work with the end in mind. Imagine the day AFTER the event, after the holiday season. Will you be happy with yourself when you receive your credit card state-ment? You could be faced with a debt obligation that could take you months or years to payoff. Think with the end in mind!

• Don’t Get Swayed by Credit Card Rewards - Getting back rewards such as 2% cash back, airline miles, cabin credits, and catalog merchandise are

collection Ruth gave her.From 1900 to 1920, postcards were in vogue

as Christmas greetings. Santa was frequently shown using the latest technology. The card of Santa driving an automobile from the Boone album is undated, but one mailed from Oak-land in 1909 picturing poinsettias reads: “Dear Travis: You like fl owers so well that I wish you had some of this kind. There are lots of them in our store windows.”

Poinsettias add holiday color to the David and Eliza Glass House, moved to the FHF property in 1998. Mary Ann Wilkman, City of San Ramon Recreation Coordinator, ensures every item on display at the 1877 Victorian home is correct to

time and place. “I am a stickler for authenticity,” she explains. Accordingly trees are trimmed primarily with homemade ornaments supplemented by a few blown glass pieces that would have been a luxury. Although they won’t be lighted, candles complete the tree in the family parlor. Birds, feathers, and even artifi cial goose feather trees were the rage in Victorian America, hence the theme tree in the upstairs hall. Vintage teddy bears, the most collectible with appropriate his-toric notes, will remain on display in the exhibit room until the end of February.

In keeping with the Victorian penchant for saving everything (ask about soap and hair savers when you tour the Glass House), the Recycled Christmas booth is back. None of the gently used donated decorations is priced higher than $5, with many costing just a quarter. All are tabletop or tree trimming size.

Jane Jennings, whose research provided documentation placing the entire FHF property on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002, chairs Holidays on the Farm. Free performances on December 1st feature the Dougherty Valley High Chorus at 10AM, A Time to Be Jolly Puppets at 11AM, Men in Brass at 11AM, Mc-Grath Irish Dancers at Noon, and St. Joan of Arc Simbang Gabi Filipino Chorus

Danville Today News ~ December 2012 - Page 21 just ways to en-tice you to spend more. How many people actually pay o ff t he i r credit card at the end of the month? There are not as many as would like to! Credit card companies have researched the psychology of consumer spending and know how to increase their revenue by enticing consumer spending through the reward programs.

• Avoid Dipping Into Investments - It is easy to get swayed when you see the perfect gift and think, “Well, I can always sell some of my investments to pay for the purchase!” It’s not that easy. You may be subject to a market loss if you sell at a time when the market is down. Even if the market is in your favor, you could be subject to paying taxes on the gains. Depending on whether you have held the investment for a year or longer, different capital gains rates could apply. Distribu-tions from retirement accounts have other tax penalties that could affect you as well.

• Start a Holiday Account –Start a holiday account in January of each year. Set up a monthly contribution plan to this account when you pay your bills, so that you pay yourself too. An affordable monthly plan can eliminate fi nancial stress and prevent you from paying unnecessary penalties and/or taxes.

• Gifting to Children -This year, try giving a gift where the battery does not run out. The best gift you can give a child is funding of a college education. There are various options available. Please see a fi nancial advisor for guidance.

By following these suggestions, you can avoid overspending and allow yourself to enjoy a stress free holiday season.

**Information contained in this article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute tax or legal advice. Please visit a professional for one of these services.

To contact Sima at Edward Jones, call (925) 648-2590. Her offi ce is located at 3472 Camino Tassajara, Danville in the Blackhawk Safeway Shopping Center. For more information, visit www.edwardjones.com. Advertorial

Holidays continued from front page at 1PM. Sheep dog herding demonstrations and old-fashioned games are ongoing. The December 8th entertainment schedule is being fi nalized. Food ranging from sandwiches and crab cakes to hot dogs and sweets can be bought on site.

Costumed interpreters lead tours through the Glass House at 10AM, 11AM, 12PM, and 1PM. Guided Farm tours occur at 11AM and 1PM. Tickets ($5 for either tour or $8 for a combination pass) are available at the Gift Shoppe. Dependent upon docent availability, small group tours of the Glass House decorated for the holidays can be scheduled on other days through December 20th. To arrange a tour or for additional information, contact Sharon Peterson, City of San Ramon Recreation Technician at 925-973-3284.

The Museum’s Christmas Memories exhibit, running from now through January 5th, includes whirling mechanical toys and activities tied into this year’s “Favorite Holiday Foods” theme. Located at 205 Railroad Avenue, the Museum is open Tuesday – Friday 1PM-4PM; Saturday 10AM-1PM; Sunday 12PM-3PM. Non-members are requested to pay a small admission fee; members are free.

“Pooh Corner” has been a highlight of the Museum’s holiday display for several years. Alice Reynolds, a sprightly 91 year-old retired teacher, has been a Valley resident since 1957. She enjoys sharing the collection she started when a friend turned her own Winnie-the-Pooh memorabilia over to Alice a quarter of a century ago. “Once people know you are collecting,” Alice remarks, “they start giving you more.”

Each year chairperson Sonya Borlandelli works more magic into the memo-ries exhibit. New for 2012 is a kitchen with a 1946 range from the second house at Hap Magee Ranch. Dishes on the shelves belonged to the Smith family who lived and worked at Blackhawk Ranch. Shelves are stocked with period items.

Antique toys appropriate to each era fi ll the space underneath the 1890s and 1950s trees. The “O” gauge train running around the stage is a perennial favor-ite. The mechanical toy carousel, Ferris wheel, and dancing cake are not to be outdone by Santa and his reindeer fl ying along the overhead track. The 1950s tree drips tinsel. Someone in the crowd is bound to remember the days when families fought over whether to hang it strand by strand or toss it on the tree by the handful. Tinsel, invented in Germany in 1610, was made of extruded silver

See Holidays continued on page 24

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Ten Ways to Involve Your Children in PhilanthropyBrought to you by Christopher T. McClure

In conjunction with Lincoln Financial Advisors/Sagemark Consulting, a division of Lincoln Financial Advisors, a registered investment advisor.

Through your own philanthropic generosity—whether volunteering, supporting a charity as a bene-factor, attending fundraisers or setting up a family foundation—you are educating your children about your values and teaching them to be generous. While

you may identify your philanthropic values more formally in a family charitable mission statement, children learn a lot through observation.

Introducing your children to the philanthropic projects you support is the fi rst step toward building a family unit that knows what resources you have and will work together to help reach fi nancial goals. In the long term it will help your children preserve your assets and share the wealth in a philanthropic way.

Studies show that participating in charitable activities can help boost your children’s self-esteem, build confi dence, and help shape their values. Doing charitable works is enriching, valuable, and self-perpetuating; kids learn that helping others can be fun and makes them feel good. Children also feel posi-tive about wealth when they see the effects of charitable giving on the world at large. Philanthropy helps children learn to manage the family wealth and realize the benefi ts of the family working together to support common interests. This can help ensure that the legacy you leave will be cared for by your heirs.Encouraging Philanthropy

Working with your children to support philanthropic projects is an impor-tant way to put your family values into practice, build relationships with your children, and to teach them how they can impact others in a positive way. Here are 10 ways to get started:

1. Give away used items. Set aside time to go through your children’s rooms with them to select gently used toys or clothing to donate. Help your children box up the items, and encourage them to come with you to deliver the items so they might see the need their donation fi lls.

2. Donate part of an allowance. Encourage your children to contribute a percentage of their allowance to charity, or to purchase an item from savings to donate to a charity. Charity is something that must be taught. It can be hard at fi rst for people to give money away.

3. Adopt another family. During the holidays many charities sponsor “an-gel” projects. You could select needy children in the same age group as your children to make shopping easy and fun, or adopt a whole family.

4. Hold family meetings on charity. Discuss how much money the family

Page 22 - December 2012 ~ Danville Today Newswill donate this year, and review what charities you’ve supported in the past and the impact of the contributions. Involve your children in the decision-making process of where this year’s charitable donations will go, or help to create the mission statement of the family foundation. You may wish to allocate age-appropriate amounts from your total charitable contributions so that each child can select a charity to support.

5. Research charities together. Research the Web with your children to identify projects they would like to support with donations or time.

6. Volunteer. Help your children contact, visit, and explore a community cause that interests them.

7. Support school and community activities. Support your child’s involve-ment in charitable projects sponsored by the school, church, or community centers. Working together with their friends to benefi t others reinforces the values you are teaching at home.

8. Start or join a local charity chapter. You may wish to contact a local organization that can identify resources in your area and help you get started.

9. Organize a fundraising project. Encourage your children to identify a charity they would like to promote, and help them organize a fundraising project.

10. Take a philanthropic vacation. Working to help build a school or well in another country will give your children a new perspective on the world at large, the needs of others, and how to help. You can send them on their own or make it a family activity.Your Charitable Mission Statement

Introducing your family’s charitable mission statement to your children at an early age supports communication, individual interests and family needs, and helps strengthen the focus and impact your family has on others. It may be helpful to talk with your kids about the following questions to help them develop their values and understand yours: • What’s important to this family? • What impact has our charitable works and contributions had on the family and the world at large? • What do each of us feel passionate about supporting? • How can we fulfi ll any social responsibilities we feel are important?

You can help preserve your family wealth by educating your children during family meetings—specifi cally the fi nancial benefi ts of planned gifting—and answering questions about long-term estate planning.

Please contact Chris McClure to schedule a complimentary review of your fi nancial situation, call 925-659-0213, or email [email protected].

Christopher T. McClure is a registered representative and investment advisor representative of Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp., member SIPC, 3000 Executive Pkwy, Suite 400, PO Box 5154, San Ramon, CA 94583 offering insurance through Lincoln affi liates and other fi ne 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 circumstances. The content of this material was provided to you by Lincoln Financial Advisors for its representatives and their clients. In CA, offering insurance through Lincoln Marketing and Insurance Agency, LLC and Lincoln Associates Insurance Agency, Inc. and other fi ne companies. In WA, offering insurance through Lincoln Financial Advisors Corporation and LFA, Limited Liability Company and other fi ne companies. CA Insurance License # 0B40863, WA Insurance License # 229998, CRN200909-2034154 Advertorial

Planning Your LegacyLearn about planned giving, both current and deferred. What are the tax

advantages of leaving a gift to a non-profi t? We will discuss the importance of benefi ciary designations, and explain the differences between living trusts and wills. The free talk is for cancer patients, their families, and friends and is facilitated by Susan Wichmann, an investment advisor with Wells Fargo. Please join us Tuesday, December 4th from 6pm – 8pm at Cancer Support Community located at 3276 McNutt Avenue, Walnut Creek. For information and reservations call (925) 933-0107.

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. Assistive listening system is available for T-coils, and most meetings are captioned. Contact [email protected] or 925-264-1199 or www.hearinglossdv.org. Is Food a Problem for You?

Overeaters Anonymous offers a fellowship of individuals who, through shared experience and mutual support, are recovering from compulsive overeating. This is a 12-step program. The free meetings are for anyone suffering from a food addiction including overeating, undereating, and bulimia. The group meets Wednesdays at 6PM at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Lafayette. For information, visit www.how-oa.org.Lic# 1100014354; Bay Area Entertainment

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The Eye OpenerBy Gregory Kraskowsky, O.D., Alamo OptometryHappy Holidays

It is hard to believe that 2012 is almost in the rear-view mirror. I am noticing the older I get the quicker time seems to fl y by. During this time of the year we take a look back and take stock of the progress and changes that were made in the last 12 months.

Our offi ce has grown this year thanks to our pa-tients. You continually support us and go above and

beyond by recommending us to your friends and family. As the years go by, we are meeting more people in the community, at local establishments, and at the offi ce. We believe in providing them with quality service and care, and this is what our patients deserve and have come to expect from us.

We have brought in two new frame lines, Banana Republic and Dutz. Both lines are unisex, but they appeal to different personalities. Banana Republic has frames that have a sophisticated, clean look for all age groups. Dutz are from Europe and are for those of you that want something a little different in shape and color. The unique designs and color combinations are something new for the offi ce. Right now Dutz only has metal frames, but plastic ones are coming early next year.

For those of you who wear contacts, there have been some additions and subtractions in the market. There are new daily disposable toric lenses for those of you with astigmatism who want the comfort, convenience, and vi-sion that a daily disposable can offer. We had to say goodbye to the Acuvue Advance and O2 Optix lenses. However, there are so many different products to try that patients who used the lenses we no longer carry have all found new lenses and new modalities that have made their contact lens wearing experience even better.

In looking forward to the holiday season, we are constantly being asked during this time of year about fl exible spending accounts (FSA) and how to use them at the offi ce.

The government has a wide range of specifi ed expenses that qualify as a medical expense. These include any offi ce co-pays, any necessary or elective surgical procedures (including LASIK), and many medical devices. Included in that list is any vision correction device (glasses, computer glasses, contact lenses, sports goggles, etc.) and sunglasses. As long as your purchase is made by the end of the year, it will count on your 2012 account balance.

In addition to these tax-friendly accounts, do not forget to utilize your vi-sion insurance. At our offi ce, we are providers for Vision Service Plan (VSP), Eyemed (which can include vision coverage for Anthem Blue Cross and Aetna if the plan has a eye care provision), and Medical Eye Services (MES). All plans have an exam benefi t and have variable material allowances towards glasses or contact lenses. Some plans recycle at the change of the new year, so this is an optimal time to use your benefi ts. Between your vision coverage and your FSA, most, if not all, of your charges will be covered.

Finally, in this holiday season and all year round, it is important to think about those who could use our help. We always collect old frames and sunglasses and donate them to a local charity in January. The frames are distributed to people who cannot afford quality glasses. As long as the glasses are wearable, the condition does not matter. Regardless of appearance, they will defi nitely assist a person in need to help them see better. We wish everyone a happy and healthy holiday season, and we look forward to seeing you in the years to come.

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 offi ce at 3201 Danville Blvd., Suite 165 in Alamo. Visit our newly updated website at www.alamooptometry.com, and become a fan on our Alamo Optometry Facebook page. Advertorial

Reconstructive Surgery: The Other Side of PlasticsBy Barbara Persons, MD, Persons Plastic Surgery, Inc.

What I really enjoy about writing this monthly col-umn is that it affords me the opportunity to educate, and clarify misconceptions about plastic surgery. My practice encompasses both cosmetic and reconstruc-tive plastic surgery, and is in the most basic sense, about changing my patients’ quality of life. Whether

the surgery is cosmetic or reconstructive, I look forward to work every day because I know I can help people feel more confi dent about themselves, and improve their ability to function well, both physically and emotionally.

Many of my past articles have focused on education associated with cosmetic procedures, but this month I want to focus on the reconstructive side of my practice. According to the American Board of Plastic Surgery, reconstructive surgery is defi ned as “surgery performed on abnormal struc-tures of the body caused by congenital defects, developmental abnormalities, trauma, infection, tumors, or disease.” Generally, reconstructive surgery is performed to improve function, but may also be done to approximate a normal appearance.

As a Board Certifi ed Plastic Surgeon, I perform both cosmetic and recon-structive procedures. Reconstructive surgery represents a signifi cant portion of my practice. The American Board of Plastic Surgery requires extensive training in areas which include congenital defects of the head and neck, cra-niomaxillofacial trauma, reconstructive surgery of the breast, surgery of the hand, plastic surgery of lower extremities, plastic surgery of the trunk and genitalia, burn reconstruction, microsurgical techniques, reconstruction by tissue transfer, and surgery of benign and malignant lesions.

While a plastic and reconstructive surgeon’s training is extensive and spans many areas of expertise, a strong sense for aesthetics is also critically important for a procedure to be successful. Reconstructive surgery is in fact, as much an art form as it is a science. To perform a successful reconstruc-tion, one must envision the results, the “art,” before beginning to operate. It is “seeing” in a completely different way.

Plastic surgery has often been misunderstood, or perceived as being super-fi cial. The reality is that my training and strong aesthetic sense has enabled me to perform countless reconstructions, most recently on a pregnant woman with rapidly progressing cancer. It has allowed me to reconstruct a gunshot victim’s facial wounds, and repair the faces of dozens of children who were victims of dog attacks. Additional reconstructive procedures I’ve performed include reconstruction of skin cancer defects, skin grafts, and hand surgery.

To have the opportunity to work with patients in need of reconstructive surgery is one of my greatest joys in life. I have seen the physical and emo-tional transformation of thousands of patients over many years of performing surgery. Enabling a patient to live a normal life, while instilling in them a sense of renewed confi dence and self-esteem, is remarkably rewarding. It is more than improving appearances, it is allowing people to live the life they deserve and desire.

Dr. Barbara Persons is a Plastic Surgeon and owns Persons Plastic Surgery, Inc. located at 911 Moraga Rd, Suite 205 in Lafayette. She may be reached at 925.283.4012 or [email protected]. Advertorial


strands until the early 20th century. Valley pioneer descendent Rox-

anne Weidemann Lindsay’s 1990 article is replete with food refer-ences. “Millie Freitas remembers the huge Christmas tree in the center of the stage at what is now the Vil-lage Theatre, but at that time was the Grange Hall. Santa Claus would come and all the local kids would get hard candy, an apple and an orange.” Oranges were a Christmas treat for many families. Noting Betty Hum-burg Overholtzer’s memories: “Betty remembers her Mother’s carrot pud-ding with rum sauce, little shades on the Christmas tree lights and two turkeys, one at each end of the table to be carved. In January 1937, there was a lot of snow.”

Seasonal treat displays from countries from whence Valley settlers hailed encourage visitors to add their personal must-have holiday foods to the memory tree. For Museum information, call 925-837-3750 or visit www.museumsrv.org.


Your Low Back Pain Solution By Jeffrey Johnson, D.C.

Lumbar disc degeneration is a well-known cause of back pain in today’s society.

People suffering from pain secondary to lumbar disc degeneration usually experience back and leg pain, as well as muscle spasms in their low back and leg. They also commonly report muscle weakness, numbness, and pins and needles in the thigh, leg, and foot. As degeneration usually occurs on one side of the disc, the

pain is generally worse on the corresponding side of the back. The pain can worsen with coughing, straining, or sneezing as well as slouching and bending, which compresses irritated discs in the spine. It often gets better with bending backward or leaning to one side (the one opposite to the pain) which takes pressure off ir-ritated discs. Because of this, people with lumbar disc degeneration often adopt a particular posture or walking stance to ease discomfort. They may be seen bent sideways, forward, or with knees slightly bent to relieve pain in the legs. While the pain of lumbar disc degeneration can radiate into one or both legs, the cause of the condition occurs in the lumbar spine, which is just above your buttocks.

Your lumbar spine is comprised of fi ve bones called vertebrae. Like the coils of a slinky, these vertebrae are stacked one on top of the other and move in unison. To prevent friction during movement, intervertebral discs cushion and protect the vertebrae. These discs are soft, fl uid-fi lled pads, and when they become herniated, the gel-like material inside may bulge out into the spinal canal.

Within the spinal canal lies the spinal cord, which contains spinal nerves that exit between vertebrae and branch out to the rest of the body. Any displaced gel from a degenerated disc may compress these nerves, causing pain in the low back and the areas of the body which nerves travel from the spinal cord. In severe cases, the displaced gel can even compress the spinal cord itself.

A singular traumatic event is usually not enough to cause disc degeneration. Most disc degeneration is more likely a result of steady abuse. People whose work involves lots of twisting, bending, prolonged sitting, or heavy lifting are more at risk as these activities cause disc stress, wear and tear. Truck drivers, for example, endure prolonged periods of sitting in a vibrating vehicle, which can cause tre-mendous stress for the intervertebral discs and over time lead to a disc herniation.

While extreme cases of lumbar disc degeneration may require surgery, our

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comprehensive approach which combines conservative chiropractic care, VAX-D therapy, McKenzie protocols, neuromuscular reedu-cation and exercise therapy has proven successful for most of our patients suffering from lumbar disc degeneration. Let’s take a look at one of the approaches we frequently incorporate in our comprehensive treatment paradigm.VAX-D Therapy

VAX-D therapy has proven to be effective in relieving the pain our patients experience secondary to herniated discs, degenerative disc disease, and sciatica. VAX-D ther-apy allows for the safe, controlled distraction or decompression of the lumbar spine. We are able to provide each patient with a person-alized decompression treatment as we use a computerized program to administer an exact treatment. Your treatment is determined after reviewing your medical history, ex-amination fi ndings and diagnostic imaging reports. From this information we determine how much of a stretch is placed into your lower back and how often it is repeated. How VAX-D Works

The repetitive stretching or “decompression” of your lower back may create relief by physically decreasing the pressure on the lumbar discs and spinal nerves, creating a neurological response which inhibits lumbar spine pain generation and by encour-aging the fl ushing of painful infl ammatory chemicals out of the disc for replacement with oxygen, water, and nutrients necessary for disc health. Most patients experience relief with VAX-D therapy within 6 to 8 sessions and are able to effectively transition into the exercises and stretches that are necessary for sustained lumbar spine health.

Can VAX-D Therapy Work For You?It is important to note that no therapy consistently creates relief of the lumbar

spine in all patients. But, at Johnson Chiropractic Group, we have seen a large population of patients positively affected by this safe, relatively inexpensive treat-ment. Many people that were once forced to compromise their daily activities are now living pain-free or managing their pain much more effectively.

For more info, go to www.movepastyourpain.com, visit us on Facebook, or contact Dr. Johnson at Johnson Chiropractic Group, 115 Town & Coun-try Dr., Suite E in Danville. 925.743.8210. Advertorial

[email protected] Danville Today News ~ December 2012 - Page 25 Help for the Red Nosed Reindeer By Dr. Jerome Potozkin

When I was little, my favorite holiday program was Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer (How the Grinch Stole Christmas was a close second). I still love watching these during the holiday season. Rudolph was ostracized by his peers and went through great lengths, such as putting mud on his nose, to hide his red beacon. Fortunately for Rudolph, his shiny red nose allowed him to guide Santa’s sled through a storm. He was a hero. Unfortunately for us, if we have a red nose we don’t have the opportunity for our nose to make us a hero. Some people even, wrongfully, assume our red nose is due to drinking too much eggnog. Fortunately, there is a solution.

A red nose can be secondary to a medical condition known as Rosacea. Some superfi cial blood vessels on the nose are caused by sun damage. Since prevention is always my fi rst recommendation, a daily broad-spectrum sun screen can prevent this. Although a red nose is not the result of alcohol abuse, having a glass of wine or alcohol will increase the blood fl ow to the skin and result in increased

redness. This problem can be unsettling for many.Luckily, modern medicine has solutions for the red nosed patient. Some people will benefi t from prescription medications that can minimize redness. For

some, the only way to solve his problem is to treat your red nose with a vascular laser. We use the VBeam Perfecta Pulsed Dye Laser as well as Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) to treat blood vessels on the nose and face. This type of laser was initially invented to treat kids and newborns with large vascular birthmarks known as Port Wine Stains because of their resemblance to port wine. Most people will require more than one treatment. Treatments only last a few minutes and do not require any anesthesia. Most people are thrilled when the vessels are gone. Many people note an increase in confi dence as now they don’t feel people would assume they are an alcoholic because of their red nose.

If you have any blood vessels or other skin issues that bother you, please contact our offi ce as chances are we have a solution to your problem. Dr. Potozkin is a board certifi ed dermatologist who has been serving the Danville community since 1993. He is accepting new patients at (925) 838-4900.

You may also visit his website at Potozkin.com for more information. Advertorial

Your Personal Nutritionist By Linda Michaelis, RD. MS.Enjoying Christmas Parties - The Healthy Way

Do not let the holiday season sweep you up and cause you to lose sight of your weight goals. As I tell my clients, you can enjoy the holidays and still keep your weight stable without gaining those 10 pounds that you will regret next year. First, come up with

an eating plan now so you can be prepared for when you may have several parties to attend day after day, or even several in one day.

Rule Number One: Don’t arrive at your party too hungry. If you arrive hungry, you set yourself up to fail in a situation where you will inevitably overeat. Before leaving home for an evening event, have a substantial lunch that includes at least 4-6 ounces of protein and a cup of veggies. Skip breads, like with a sandwich, since you will almost certainly have bread products at the party. Try tuna stuffed in a tomato or an egg white omelet with diced ham and veggies. Remember you want to enjoy the party and not leave the event feeling too full which can lead to having a poor night of sleep.

Of course you want to enjoy specialty party items such as eggnog, fancy hors d’oeuvres, homemade goodies, and more. You must be very selective when you arrive at the party. I advise that you fi rst walk around, look at all the offerings, and then decide how to proceed. Don’t eat lots of chips, cheese, and breads that you can have every day. These foods fi ll you up very quickly and can make you full. Select the special holiday treats such as stuffed mushrooms, crab cakes, and the creative appetizers that you absolutely love. Skip the dips which are almost always high in fat. Save the calories for the great tri-tip or even crème brulee. Do not fi ll up on appetizers unless you decide that they will be your dinner, forgoing the potential baked ham and scalloped potatoes to come.

If you are asked to bring a dish, bring one that will help you through the event. It is always great to bring a shrimp cocktail, skewered shrimp, roasted veggies, grilled asparagus with a balsamic glaze, or even a fruit salad. These items will defi nitely help balance your meal, especially when the offerings are often mainly starch and meat laden.

Did you realize that the more food you eat the more alcohol you drink? By scaling back on the amounts of food you eat, your alcohol consumption should drop in half. I tell my clients they can be more successful if they limit themselves to two drinks at an event. Hard liquors such as vodka and gin have half the amount of calories as a tall goblets of wine. So, Vodka mixed with lite cranberry juice would be a great alternative.

I often tell my clients during social eating to “work the room.” Take one plate of food from the buffet, and then instead of going back for more food visit with the partygoers, making it a point to talk with each guest. While you are talking to the guests watch how often people go back to the buffet and stuff themselves. Watch those men and women that are in shape, and see what they are eating. This is always quite an eye opener.

Arrive fashionably late if necessary. It will inevitably save you some calories.

Please make time for your exercise program. You can burn off between 300 and 500 calories by doing intense exercise for one hour. This can easily allow you to have a couple of appetizers or a few Christmas cookies.

I often offer counseling to my clients during the holiday season by phone or email. We chat often and I try to guide them and “hold their hand” through holiday parties. The clients usually give me some idea of what will be served, and we role-play the event starting from the beginning of the day up until the feast. It gives the client a sense of confi dence to attend the party with a plan in mind. It is a constant thrill for me to hear how compared to past years they have been able to sail through parties with even more enjoyment without overeating. Feel free to call me to discuss your upcoming party so we can put a plan together.

I am glad to inform that nutritional counseling can be covered by your insurance. Feel free to call me at (925) 855-0150 or e-mail me at [email protected] and tell me about your nutritional concerns. Refer to my website www.LindaRD.com for past articles, recipes and nutrition tips in my blog section. Advertorial

Hospice Offers SupportHospice of the East Bay is pleased to offer a variety of support groups

and workshops for adults, children, and teens experiencing grief after the death of a loved one. Classes are offered at Hospice’s administrative offi ces at 3470 Buskirk Avenue in Pleasant Hill.

Support Groups for Adults: • Adults Who Have Lost a Parent - Mondays, 6 - 8M, January 28 -

March 25, 2013• Widow and Widowers’ Support - Thursdays, 1:30 to 3:30PM, January 3 -

February 21, 2013 and/or Wednesdays, 6 to 8PM, February 6 - March 27, 2013• Drop-In Bereavement Support Group - 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the

month, 4:30 - 6PM

Support Group for Children and Teens:The Bridge - Bi-monthly support program for grieving children and

teens. Support is also available for parents/guardians. New participants can start at any time!

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.

Established in 1977, Hospice of the East Bay is a not-for-profi t agency that helps people cope with end of life by providing medical, emotional, spiritual, and practical support for patients and families, regardless of their ability to pay. Hospice of the East Bay is a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profi t, organization that relies on the support of the community we serve.

Find the most current Bereavement Services calendar at www.hospiceeastbay.org.


ride, to bikes for kids, teenagers, and adults who need transportation to get to school or work. In addition, spare bike parts, intact helmets, and working locks are gratefully accepted.

Recent donations of $1,000 from Danville Rotary and $500 from San Ramon Kiwanis will go towards the purchase of helmets to accompany the bikes. Further monetary donations to help purchase parts and locks are welcomed. Donations can be made at the shop or mailed to St. Timothy’s Church, 1550 Diablo Rd., Danville, CA 94526. Be sure to note Adopt a Family Bikes on the check.

Volunteers are always appreciated. No experience is necessary. There are plenty of bikes that need cleaning as well as volunteers can be trained on various aspects of repair.

Hours of operation are generally Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through December 20th. For more information and exact hours for donation drop off or offering of help, visit www.adoptafamilybikes.org, see Adopt-a-Family Bikes on Facebook, or email [email protected].


Year End Gifts to Cancer CausesBy Jewel Johl, MD

As the year draws to a close, we know that many people embrace the spirit of giving by making tax deductible contributions to nonprofi t organizations and charities. Many agencies need our assistance, including those who provide cancer support.

Cancer Support Community (CSC) reaches out to cancer patients and their families in many vital ways. Previously called “The Wellness Commu-

nity,” CSC provides comprehensive psychological support and educational programs, at no cost, for people with cancer and their caregivers, children, and families. Their programs and services enable cancer patients and their families to manage their treatment and recovery as effectively as possible, increase their chances for survival, and provide for a higher quality of life. Anyone affected by cancer is welcome, and all of their services are always free of charge. (www.cancersupportcommunity.org)

The American Cancer Society (ACS) is another organization that makes huge contributions in cancer awareness and research funding. Our patients enjoy programs like ‘Look Good...Feel Better’- (free cosmetology consults and products) and ‘Road to Recovery’- (free transportation to medical ap-pointments). The ACS sponsors ‘Relay for Life’ and ‘Making Strides Against Breast Cancer’ in our communities, raising millions of dollars while raising awareness about cancer, early detection, and prevention. (www.cancer.org)

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is the world's largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. The LLS mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease, and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world and provides free information and support services. (www.lls.org)

Pints for Prostates is a grassroots campaigns that uses the universal language of beer to reach men with an important health message. The cam-paign raises awareness among men about the importance of regular health

screenings and early detection by making appearances at beer events, social networking, and pro bono advertising. It is a registered 501(c)3 charity, and funds generated by the group go to fi ghting prostate cancer and assisting men with the disease. (www.pintsforprostates.org)

The Skin Cancer Foundation (SCF) is the only international organiza-tion devoted solely to education, prevention, early detection, and prompt treatment of the world’s most common cancer. The SCF’s Road to Healthy Skin Tour celebrated its fi fth year of providing free, full-body skin exams to people across America . This year, Diablo Valley Oncology arranged for the van to stop in Walnut Creek, and with the help of three local dermatologists, 70 people were screened. (www.skincancer.org)

These organizations are a few of many worthwhile cancer based nonprofi ts. Think about all the wonderful ways your donations can help those touched by cancer. Your tax deductible gift can be also be made in recognition or in memory of someone. Visit their websites to make your donation. Happy Holidays!

Dr. Johl is a Medical Oncologist and Hematologist. He practices with Diablo Valley Oncology, located at the California Cancer and Research Institute in Pleasant Hill. The center brings together medical oncology, hematology, radiation, chemotherapy, diagnostic imaging, clinical trials, and supportive care services. Satellite offi ces in Rossmoor, San Ramon, and Brentwood. 925-677-5041. Advertorial

925.934.3743 • 925.934.1515www.dumploadsonus.com • www.erecycleonus.com

1271 Boulevard Way, Walnut CreekMonday-Friday, 8-5 • Saturday 9-1, Sunday, closed

Bikes continued from front pageOver the years the program has expanded to include a dedicated core of

volunteers and expanded bike drives. The group runs under the non-profi t umbrella of St. Timothy’s Church, but space constraints of the original facility have forced them to relocate several times over the years to accommodate their temporary workshop.

The effort has grown to become a community program with the support of individuals, businesses, schools, scouts, and other philanthropic organiza-tions and operates during the holiday season.

The group collects donated used bikes from the community, gets volunteers together to clean and repair the bikes, and then donates them in mid-December.

Last year, of the 358 bikes distributed, 185 bikes went to children in the Richmond schools that were identifi ed by their teachers as unlikely to receive any gifts during the holiday season.

The holiday bike repair shop will be set up at their new location in the old Blockbuster Video space at 180 Alamo Plaza, Alamo. This year the

bikes will be delivered to the following non-profit agencies: Contra Costa Interfaith Housing, Foster a Dream, Fresh Start, Monu-ment Crisis Center, Op-tions Recovery Services, West Contra Costa Unifi ed School District, Salvation Army, and San Francisco State University Guardian Scholars Program.

Bikes of all sizes are needed – ranging from small tyke-bikes for young children learning how to


Danville Today News Classifi edsReach over 14,500 homes and businesses in Danville 94526 - Help Wanted, For Sale, Services, Les-

sons, Pets, Rentals, Wanted, Freebies... $35 for up to 45 words. $5 for each additional 15 words. Run the same classifi ed ad in our sisters paper “Lafayette Today” and/or “Alamo Today” and pay half off for your second and/or third ads!Send or email submissions to: 3000F Danville Blvd #117, Alamo 94507 or editor@yourmonthly-

paper.com. Payment by check made out to “The Editors” must be received before ad will print. Your cancelled check is your receipt. We reserve the right to reject any ad.

Name_________________________________________ Address__________________________________________ # of Words_______________

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ELECTRICAL WORKEVERYTHING ELECTRICAL! Need new light fi xtures, ceiling fans, recessed lighting, or track lighting installed? Need a dimmer switch or GFCI installed? Do you want to change the color of your outlets in your kitchen or install 220V power for the new hot tub or stove? I also troubleshoot electrical problems. FREE ESTIMATES. Licensed and bonded. 30 years experience. CALL 925-389-6964.

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WILLS/TRUSTS/PROBATE/ESTATE PLANNING WILLS/TRUSTS/PROBATE/ESTATE PLANNING - Elizabeth Johnson, J.D.(Juris Doctorate), LL.M.(Master of Law in Taxation), is an attorney with over 20 years of experience. She provides legal services in the areas of Wills, Trusts, Estate Planning, Probate Administration, Advance Health Care Directives, Elder Care issues, and Guardianships. Her legal expertise and personal approach allow you to confi dently plan for your future and the future of those dear to you. Please call 925-362-1010 or visit www.johnsonestateplanning.com.

Grief Support Group Helps People Cope with the Death of a Pet 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 diffi cult 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 Rescue 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 fi rst 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 Bereavement 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.

TWIN BED WITH HARDWOOD HEADBOARD - Lightly used Sealy Com-fort Series twin mattress and box springs with beautiful Simmons ash headboard and metal frame with sturdy rollers. Perfect for child transitioning from crib, or for apartment or guest room. $125. Call 925-735-2542. Photos available.


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 and Nancy Combs, J. Rockcliff and the MLS service do not guarantee the accuracy of this information. DRE #0144125.

Amazing 3 bedroom, 2 bath condo in prime location. Great investment opportunity or

starter home. Call for details.

7 acre lot, 11 acre lot, 1.2 acre lot with utilities at street. Call for details and pricing.

Superb remodel with a fantastic chef’s kitchen in very desirable location, pool. Call for details.

Short sale. Beautiful remodel, single story. Investment opportunity. Call for details.

Amazing single story home on quiet cul-de-sac. This will be pending in no time. Call for

details.

Dramatic, one-of-a-kind luxury home with amazing views. We get results.

Build Your Dream HomeInvestors Welcome

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

Investors Welcome Alamo Short Sale

Contemporary Single Story

Alamo Short Sale

Page 28 - December 20 nthlypaper.com

Professionals YouCan Count On

The Combs Team

Nancy Joe

www.TheCombsTeam.com

®Call the Combs Team

925-989-6086

SOLDPENDING

PENDING

PENDING

Nancy and I have launched a new and improved website www.thecombsteam.com. You will find our most recent ar-ticles as well as others that never make it into the newspapers. On the website you can, with the touch of a button, quickly find distressed property sales, both Short Sale and REO properties as well as search the entire MLS database for what you are looking for. You can set up auto searches that will send you email updates for new properties that meet your search criteria. Links include our Facebook and Linked in accounts, Twitter, and our Real Estate Blog page. Please visit our website and take a test drive. You can also download and use our free mobile search application for your mobile device. If you have ideas for improving our site, please call or send me an email at 925-989-6086 or [email protected]. We would be grateful for your input. May you and your family have Joyous Holiday Season.

108 Danville Homes Sell in Broad Price Band - Just to be a little different this month, I thought I would list the homes that have sold in Danville as reported on MLS for the last three months (Sept.1- Nov. 9). The fi rst thing that jumps out is the wide variation in sold price and dollars paid per square foot. The statistical average for sold price in Danville is $897,511. The average square foot price is $352. The price swath ranges from roughly $407,000 to $2,200,000 for a single family detached home. Prices per square foot range from $235 to $506. Not one Danville home sold for the exact statistical mean. The take away message is simply this homes are being judged on their individual merits now more so than in the past and pricing correctly is more important than ever.

Address Sold Price Sqft $/ Address Sold Price Sqft $/ Address Sold Price Sqft $/ Address Sold Price Sqft $/

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Danville Today News, December 2012