Danville_Today_Nov_2014

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November 2014 Serving Danville

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See Bulldozers continued on page 26

Volume VI - Number 13000F 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 reflect 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.

See Heroes continued on page 28

Lighting of the Old Oak TreeFriday, November 28 ~ 5:15 - 8:30pm

Downtown Danville will come alive on the eve-ning of Friday, November 28th beginning at 5:15pm for the celebration of the traditional “Lighting of the Old Oak Tree” on Diablo Boulevard.

Everyone is welcomed to come enjoy music, mer-riment, and refreshments with Father Christmas and the Snow Angel. After the tree is lit, Father Christmas and the Snow Angel will lead the crowd through downtown where shop owners will serve cookies and hot beverages.

For more information visit ci.danville.ca.us or www.danvilleareachamber.com or call 925-837-4400.

Police and Fire: The Fallen HeroesBy Jody Morgan

News accounts labeled March 21, 2009, the deadliest day for California law enforce-ment since 1970 and the worst loss of life for police officers nationwide since 9/11. A shooting rampage triggered by the routine traffic stop of a convicted felon claimed the lives of four Oakland police officers. The response of shocked and saddened San Ramon Valley residents determined to help evolved into an organization that not only

pays tribute to Cali-fornia police and fire personnel killed in the line of duty, but also provides scholarship support to the children they have left behind and preventative fi-nancial assistance to agencies throughout the state otherwise unable to afford ba-sic safety equipment. Now past the five-year mark defining a non-profit as viable and here-to-stay, Police and Fire: The Fallen Heroes continues to be

small enough to act immediately and large enough to make a major impact.Oakland Fire Department Battalion Chief Tom Gallinatti was sidelined with the

injury that led to his retirement when the 2009 tragedy occurred. Reaching out to him as a member with personal ties to the agency involved, Diablo Country Club asked if he could organize a fundraiser at the club for the families of the slain officers. Gallinatti had no idea he was about to launch a new career and create a non-profit organization when he began putting together the golf tournament that now serves as an annual tribute to all California police and fire personnel killed in the line of duty. “Changing careers from public safety to business involves a significant learn-ing curve,” Gallinatti admits. “At first I didn’t know what a 501(c)(3) organization

The Bulldozers Come in DecemberThe Weiss family of Danville lived and loved soccer. As soon as

the kids could walk, they were kicking a soccer ball. Dad became their coach and their weekends and weeknights revolved around the sport. In 2006, eight-year-old Kira, along with her older brothers Kyle and Garrett and their parents, traveled to Germany to attend the 2006 FIFA World Cup. They found themselves at a game featuring Angola and Iran. They saw the Iranian fans in their green and red team colors flooding the stadium, and then in the corner they saw a very small section of red shirts and Angolan flags.

It was Angola’s first year ever playing in the World Cup, and the players knew that they were not nearly as competitive as the other teams. However, the Angolan fans loved their team, and the feeling

was contagious. Just their team making it to the World Cup was a major achievement for this impoverished country. Organized sports are a luxury that most cannot afford in Angola. Daily life for many African children consists of little or no education, near starvation, and lack of medical care.

The Weiss kids realized their fortune of having grown up in the Danville area with playable fields, sufficient equipment, and organized soccer teams. Meeting the Angolan fans, seeing their excitement, and hearing their passion for a mutually loved sport motivated Kyle and Garrett to return home and create an organization they named FUNDaFIELD (FaF). They hoped to bring to African children the same enjoyment they had experienced growing up on a soccer field.

The initial goal was to raise $100,000 for soccer fields and equip-ment. In the last seven years the kid-run FaF team built 10 soccer fields in three countries; held 12 soccer tournaments with 2,602 kids competing and many thousands of spectators; distributed 11,810 soc-cer socks, jerseys, balls, shorts, and cleats; and currently has one soccer field under construction in Haiti.

In 2010 Kira was 12 years old when she took her first trip to Uganda with FaF. She connected with the people in the village of Kireka. She met Aburi who at just eight years old witnessed most of her family be-ing killed by Joseph Kony and the Lord’s Resistance Army. Aburi’s parents, broth-ers, sisters, and an uncle were all murdered. She only survived because the soldiers didn’t notice she was still alive. Kira also met Aida Anek who had fled her village in

Kira visits with the women crafters in happier times, before they knew their homes would be demolished and they would be homeless.

The Fallen Heroes organization pays tribute to CHP Officer Kenyon Youngstrom, shot in the course of a traffic stop on I-680, Alamo. Photo courtesy of The Fallen Heroes.

www.yourmonthlypaper.comPage 2 - November 2014 ~ Danville Today News

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During this season, I want to say thank you to my community that continues to support me. May your holidays be joyful and relaxing!

We are thankful for the selfless service by members of the U.S. Military,

Police Officers, and Firefighters.

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Boulevard View By Alisa Corstorphine, EditorFor some people, just getting through each day is a whirlwind of struggles. Many

battle with financial issues, medical issues, or relationship issues. Others face job troubles or experience pains to provide oneself or their families with the five basic human survival needs of oxygen, water, food, shelter, and sleep. Most face these is-sues silently without showing any signs of strife, maintaining a façade of well-being. These people may be your coworkers, friends, neighbors, or even family members. These people may also be located a world away in a foreign country facing these same issues, but with less support of their community and less financial resources as well.

While there is always a need to address the plights of others less fortunate than oneself, the holiday “giving season” tends to put these issues in the spotlight.

During these months, gifts are exchanged, people open up their homes to host friends and family, and many take time to reflect on their good fortune and to spread their holiday joy with others.

Charitable organizations (such as soup kitchens) tend to fill with volunteers during the holidays, but come February, they are scrambling to find people to keep their programs running. That being said, any time you have available to help out or donate is appreciated, no matter what time of the year it is.

Many of our fellow humans (and animals); whether located locally, nationally, or worldwide; rely on help from others to exist. Giving donations both financially and of our time and effort to groups or individuals is a highly personal decision which can be influenced by our own financial circumstances or perhaps are influenced by or related to a personal connection or one’s life experience.

This issue of Danville Today showcases some local groups and individuals that are working to make the difference in the lives of others both at home and abroad. It brings to light what they are doing in hopes of making the world a better place. These people are not just looking at a situation and wondering how it can be changed or be improved, they are doing something about it. It is their way of reaching out and saying they care and will use the resources available to them to make a difference.

While time is a precious resource for most, oftentimes if we reprioritize our schedules extra time can be found. In the electronic age it is easy to have our time sucked away via 24/7/365 TV on hundreds of channels or with online games or messaging. A small sacrifice and rearranging of this time can make a big difference if we use it in an other way.

Whether we reach out with our wallets and make a financial donation, give a jacket to keep someone warm at night, give a meal to help an empty stomach, provide counseling services to help find jobs or housing, or just donate a toy to enable a child to get a Christmas present, the gifts we give can be life-changing.

No one chooses to be born in an impoverished or war-torn country. No one chooses to get sick. Sometimes people are in the wrong place at the wrong time. Some-times bad habits create a cycle of drama that a caring hand or person can help someone else break out of. It is scary to think about, but you never know when you may fall on hard times and need to rely on the support of others.

If you are looking to reach out and don’t know where to start, perhaps one of the stories in these pages can spark a connection to make a difference.


SRV Republican Women Federated PresentStephen Frank Speaking on Can California be Saved? The 2014 Elections: Looking Forward

Stephen Frank is a longtime political consultant and activist. He is also the publisher and editor of the California Political News and Views. You can read his daily columns at www.capoliticalnews.com. Frank’s columns are not only current and factual, but they are entertaining! His col-umns are a must read if you want to keep abreast of the “California Chaos!” He speaks all over the state and appears as a guest on several radio shows each week, sometimes hosting them. He received his B.S. degree from the University of Redlands. He is past president of the California Republican Assembly, an organization President Reagan referred to as the “conscience of the Republican Party.” Frank has been active in numerous campaigns and causes over the past 50 years beginning with Nixon in 1960. He served in Viet Nam, First Infantry Division and along with Bob Dornan developed the POW/MIA bracelet. He worked seven years full-time on behalf of prisoners of war and those missing in action. Come and hear Stephen talk on the future of California!

Stephens’ talk will take place at Crow Canyon Country Club, located at 711 Silver Lake Drive in Danville, on Tuesday, November 18th. Social time begins at 11:30AM and lunch starts at noon. The cost is $25. Please RSVP by Friday, November 14th via email to [email protected] or send your check to P.O. Box 1, Danville, CA 94526.

For more information, visit www.srvrwf.org.Please note there will be no December meeting. The next up-

coming meeting will be held January 27, 2015.

Christmas Memories Exhibit at Museum of the SRVThe Museum of the San Ramon Valley is proud to present its annual

Christmas Memories Exhibit from November 18th thru January 4, 2015. There will be decorated trees, toys, trains, an antique sleigh, mechanical toys, flying Santa, a Winnie the Pooh display, and much more.

Our model Christmas trains have been expanded to include layouts of a G Scale, a pink girl train, and the Polar Express.

We are also featuring favorite “must read or see” Christmas stories such as The Night Before Christmas, The Nutcracker, Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, The Gift of the Magi, and more.

The Museum is located at 205 Railroad Avenue in Danville. A special Open House will be held Friday, November 28 from 6:30 - 8:30pm following the tree lighting of the Danville Oak Tree. Regular exhibit hours are Tuesday – Friday 1 - 4, Saturday 10 - 1, and Sunday 12 - 3.

For more information, visit www.museumsrv.org or call 925-837-3750.Come share your favorite Christmas memories with us.

The Blackhawk Museum Guild PresentsLet’s Talk Turkey! - Taking the Mystery out of Thanksgiving Dinner! Wednesday, November 12th at 10am

Barbara Kelly, owner of Viva Cucina, will be the November guest speaker at the Blackhawk Museum Guild meeting.

Barbara has been teaching cooking for over 10 years. Her dishes reflect the tastes of regional American cooking to classic European. She en-joys the art and science of cooking and loves to entertain!

Barbara graduated from Cal Poly with a Bachelor of Science degree in Food Science Education. She has been a corporate executive in the financial services industry for many years, has taught private cooking classes, and has been entertaining for over 20 years, hosting small intimate parties to large team building events. She has written cookbook reviews, taught at Draeger’s cooking school in Blackhawk and San Mateo, and has worked with Food Network’s only woman Iron Chef, Cat Cora, and with Jamie Purviance, author of the Weber Grilling cookbooks.

Please join us Wednesday, November 12th at 10AM in the Blackhawk Museum Auto Dining Room, located at 3700 Blackhawk Plaza Circle in Danville, as Barbara takes us through a beautifully prepared Thanksgiving dinner.

Refreshments will be served and the event is open to all. For more in-formation, call (925) 736-2280 or visit www.blackahwkmusuem.org.

3700 Blackhawk Plaza Circle, Danville, California 94506-4652 925.736.2280 | www.blackahwkmusuem.org

THE BLACKHAWK MUSEUM GUILD

Presents

Let’s Talk Turkey! “Taking the Mystery out of Thanksgiving Dinner!”

Wednesday, November 12, 2014 at 10 a.m. Barbara Kelly, Owner of Viva Cucina

Our November guest speaker, Barbara Kelly, has been teaching cooking for over 10 years. Her dishes reflect the tastes of regional American cooking to classic European. She enjoys the “art and science of cooking” and loves to entertain!

Barbara graduated from Cal Poly State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Food Science Education. She has

been a corporate executive in the financial services industry for many years, has taught private cooking classes and has been entertaining for over 20 years hosting small intimate “parties” to large team building events. She has written cookbook reviews, taught at Draeger’s cooking school in Blackhawk and San Mateo and has worked with Food Network’s only woman Iron Chef, Cat Cora, and with Jamie Purviance, author of the Weber Grilling Cook Books.

Please join us on Wednesday, November 12, 2014 at 10 a.m. in the Blackhawk Museum Auto Dining Room as Barbara takes us through a beautifully prepared Thanksgiving dinner!

Refreshments are served. The event is open to the public!

Delta Nu Psi Care Packages for the TroopsDelta Nu Psi will be at CVS in Alamo on Friday, November 7th from

11am-2pm, and at Lunardi’s Market in Danville on Friday, November 14th from 11am-2pm to collect “gourmet junk food” and postage for shipments for our servicemen. Also, holiday cards for the servicemen and women would be another welcome addition. Please visit deltanupsi.org for more informa-tion as well as photos and emails from the men and women in the War Zone.


22nd ANNUALCANDY CANE BOUTIQUE!

Thanksgiving and Christmas Gift Items, Fine China, Crystal, Collectibles, Jewelry, Linens, Dolls, Toys, and Delicious Homemade Baked Goods

SPECIAL LUNCH - $12(Served from Noon - 2PM)

Pastitsio (Greek Pasta), Greek Salad, Baklava, and Coffee

GREAT RAFFLE PRIZES!One Week at Sun Valley, Idaho in Stunning Vacation Home

Weekend in Six-Bedroom, Bass Lake View HomeWeekend in Deluxe Capitola Condo with Monterey Bay View

Beautiful Pearl Necklace donated by Pattivs Jewelers and Many More Wonderful Prizes

SEPARATE RAFFLE FORA Beautiful Handmade Quilt by Masterpieces

Creekside Community Church1350 Danville Boulevard, Alamo, CA

Friday, November 7th from 4PM-8PM &Saturday, November 8th from 9AM-2PM

All proceeds will be donated to The Macedonian Outreach, a non-profit Christian Organization founded with the purpose of helping the neediest children in the Balkans.

Thank you and God Bless You!www.macedonianoutreach.org

DanvilleDESTINATION . . .

Carolynwith . . .

CAROLYN GWYNNRealtor

CalBRE #01888136

(925) 336-7525 [email protected]

www.CarolynGwynn.com

Good News for Home Sellers

The Realtor You List Your Home With DOES Make a Difference:

Months Supply of Inventory is at 1.7 months. A balanced market typically has 4-6 months MSI. We remain firmly planted in a Seller’s market!

Danville Real Estate ActivityYTD through September 2014

Average Closed Sales Price: $1,147,000Median Sold Price: $1,025,000Average Days on Market: 25Total Closed Sales YTD: 421

Inventory

DOWN 41%in DanvilleSept. 2014 vs Sept. 2013Single family homes

The Carolyn Gwynn Danville Real Estate Advantage: Call me today at (925) 336-7525 to discuss how business acumen, high work ethic, professional photography, global marketing and the knowledge that goes with being a lifelong East Bay resident will make the difference for you. www.CarolynGwynn.com

Based on information from the CCAR MLS. This information is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed by MLS or Empire Realty.

Danville Community Band Presents Holiday Memories

Mark your calendars for Sunday, December 14th at 3:30PM and join the Danville Community Band for a Christmas concert at the East Bay Foursquare Church located at 2615 Camino Tassajara Rd., Danville.

Create some Holiday Memories with the Band as they present some new classics along with some old favorites. Joining the band is special guest group Clarinet Fusion...plus a visitor from the North Pole.

The concert and parking are free.

AAUW Holiday Home TourThe Danville-Alamo-Walnut Creek branch of American Association

of University Women (AAUW) will hold their 10th Annual Holiday Home Tour on Friday, December 12 and Saturday, December 13 from 10am-4pm. Profits from the Holiday Home Tour go to local scholarships for women to complete their undergraduate or graduate degrees and to Tech Trek, a week long, residential summer camp for middle school girls with interest in sci-ence, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) at Sonoma State University.

Tickets are $35 with a senior discount of $5 through Saturday, December 6th. For online ticket purchases, go to http://daw-ca.aauw.net/hht2014/. There will be a $2 processing fee per ticket. You may purchase tickets by mail. Please send a check payable to “Danville-Alamo-Walnut Creek AAUW” and include a self-addressed stamped #10 business size envelope. Mail payment to AAUW Holiday Home Tour, P.O. Box 996, Alamo, CA 94507. If you wish to buy your tickets in person, please go to the East Bay Flower Company located at 206 Sycamore Valley Road West (Danville Livery) starting on No-vember 10th from 9AM - 6PM on Monday to Friday, and 9AM - 5PM on Saturday. Purchases at East Bay Flower Company are accepted by cash or check only.

AAUW advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, educa-tion, philanthropy, and research.

For questions, email [email protected]. No children under 12 please.


Lost Dog!

Danville Dog is MissingHe has become lost in this paper!

Nancy Alfonso is our winner!

If you find him and your name is drawn!

He is very small, so you will have to look hard if you want to find 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

Blackhawk Republican Women Present Tom Del Beccaro

On Thursday, November 13th come hear “The most heard voice in California Republican politics” speaking on what Republicans need to do between now and 2016.

Tom is the former chairman of the California Republi-can Party and a contributor to Forbes magazine. His talk will take place at the Blackhawk Country Club in Danville. Check-in and hors d’oeuvres begin at 5:30pm, and the meeting and presentation start at 6:15pm. The cost is $25.

Tom is read and heard by millions as publisher of PoliticalVanguard.com, author of The New Conservative Paradigm, frequent talk radio and television commentator, and prolific columnist in myriad publications. In his multiple roles, Tom is uniquely positioned to hear the pulse of politics all the way from the grass roots to presidential candidates and legislators in between. Each No-vember, Tom returns to Blackhawk Republican Women to bring us up to speed.

Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from the man that Brian Sussman of Talk Radio's KSFO in the San Francisco Bay Area said is “the face of Con-servatism going forward.”

Please make your reservations with a check made payable to “Blackhawk Republican Women,” as well as any cancellations, by Tuesday, November 11th, with Marianne Lyons, 856 Turrini Drive, Danville 94526, [email protected] or (925)820-6452.

It’s A Frozen Sing-Along!Village Theatre to Host Screening, Sing-along of Disney Hit

Families and fans of all ages will join together in song at the Village Theatre and Art Gallery on November 23rd for a Frozen Sing-Along event.

Frozen is the story of fearless optimist Anna who sets off on an epic journey-teaming up with rugged mountain man Kristoff and his loyal reindeer Sven to find her sister Elsa, whose icy powers have trapped the kingdom of Arendelle in eternal winter. Encountering Everest-like conditions, mystical trolls and a hilarious snowman named Olaf, Anna and Kristoff battle the elements in a race to save the kingdom.

The film will be shown at 1pm and 4pm at the Village Theatre and Art Gallery, 233 Front St. in Danville.

Tickets for the show are $5 general admission and can be purchased by calling (925) 314-3400 or visiting www.villagetheatreshows.com. Children are encouraged to dress up as Elsa, Anna, Kristoff, or their favorite character from the film. All paid tickets will be entered into a raffle drawing for prizes.

For more information, contact Program Coordinator Jessica Wallner at (925) 314-3477 or [email protected].

Blackhawk “First Sunday” Cars & CoffeeBlackhawk Automotive Museum hosts a monthly Cars & Coffee event year round for all car en-

thusiasts. Held on the “First Sunday” of each month, starting at 8AM and going to 10AM, the Museum welcomes all classic, collector, and special interest car owners and enthusiasts.

The December event will also support the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano. Please help sup-port their mission by donating nutritious, non-perishable items (no expired items or glass containers please) at the event. Food Bank volunteers will be on hand to receive the donated items.

On Cars & Coffee Sundays the Museum opens an hour earlier, at 9AM, and participating car owners will receive complimentary Museum admission tickets.

The Museum is located at 3700 Blackhawk Plaza Circle in Danville. For more information, visit www.blackhawkmuseum.org/carsncoffee.html, call (925) 736-2280, or email [email protected].

Village Theatre EventsThe following events will take place at the Village Theatre, located at 233

Front Street in Danville. Tickets can be purchased online at www.RolePlay-ersEnsemble.com, at the Danville Community Center which is located at 420 Front Street in Danville, or by calling (925) 314-3400. More information is available at www.RolePlayersEnsemble.com.Arsenic and Old Lace ~ Bring on the elderberry wine!

Role Players Ensemble presents Arsenic and Old Lace by Joseph Kes-selring and directed by Eric Fraisher Hayes through November 16. Friday and Saturday showings begin at 8PM, and Sunday’s showtime is at 2PM.

Mortimer Brewster fears that he may be going crazy. It seems to run in the family. His uncle thinks he’s Teddy Roosevelt, his sweet, innocent aunts comfort lonely old men by poisoning them, and his brother is a career criminal with a Boris Karloff complex. And you would be crazy to miss this celebrated classic screwball comedy! The Golden Age of Hollywood

Celebrate The Golden Age of Hollywood with Role Players Ensemble, a special benefit evening featuring performances of favorite Movie Songs, and wild Movie Scrambles…five actors and 20 Classic Movies in 30 Minutes!

Enjoy hors d’oeuvres, Silent Auction, no host wine, and a free elderberry Wine Tasting for those who dare!

The event will take place on Thursday, November 13 with a 7PM reception and 8PM performance.

Assistance League of Diablo Valley Offers Scholarships

Assistance League of Diablo Valley is a nonprofit, member volunteer organization dedicated to improving lives in our community through hands-on programs.

One component of their Philanthropic Program provides support to quali-fying high school seniors in Contra Costa County who demonstrate the need for financial aid. Individual scholarships could amount to as much as $5,000.

To learn more, please visit diablovalley.assistanceleague.org. On the up-per, left side of the screen, scroll down and click on to Teacher Grants and Scholarship Applications.

Library Endowment Works to Raise $1 MillionThe Friends of the Danville Library Endowment Fund is now worth more

than $800,000 and by the end of 2015 the all-volunteer Endowment Committee hopes to reach $1 million. “To reach this goal, we need help from everyone in the community,” according to Bev Wadsworth, Committee Chair.

During this fiscal year the Endowment was able to make grants totaling $29,000 to the Danville Library to improve its book collections, enhance the audio-visual materials, and support programming. The goal of the Committee is to make larger grants to all the collections every year and to be responsive to community needs. As in the past, the Friends will honor each contributor to the Endowment by buying a specially selected new book, DVD, or CD for the library. Each book will contain a bookplate thanking the donor for support.

Contributions may be sent to the Danville Library, 400 Front Street, Dan-ville CA 94526. Envelopes should be addressed to “Library Endowment.” All donations in any amount are welcome and are tax deductible.

For questions about the Endowment call 925-938-READ or email [email protected].


A Helping Hand By Candace Andersen, Supervisor, Contra Costa County, District 2

Many of us are running at full speed with Thanksgiv-ing, Christmas, Hanukkah, and the holidays approach-ing. We find ourselves rushing through stores to buy items on our families’ holiday wish lists and planning for elaborate family dinners.

For those who are struggling to make ends meet, however, the holidays can be one of the most difficult times of the year. Buying gifts and extra food is not in

their budget. Some families are worrying about more essential things, such as where they will sleep that night or where they will get their next meal.

The Holiday Season is the perfect time to extend the great spirit of giving beyond our homes and give together as families. There is no better way to teach generosity to our children than to donate or volunteer together. At the same time, we can make a real difference in our community.

If you would like to assist some families and individuals in need, here are a few simple ways you can help.

Holiday Helpers Warehouse (HHW) is a wonderful support to some of the neediest neighbors in Contra Costa County (CCC). The HHW has been a program of VESTIA (Volunteers and Emergency Services Team in Action) in CCC for the past 25 years. VESTIA anticipates serving over 500 families this year through the HHW program. VESTIA provides gifts of warm clothing, toys, books, and food to families in need throughout CCC, all through referral from county social workers. Many of the families are in the process of starting their lives over from the recession, building new careers, and establishing financial stability and do not have additional resources to provide gifts and new clothing at the holidays. The dates for HHW are: Central County (to be held in Pleasant Hill) on December 15 & 16 from 8am to 3pm and West County (to be held in Richmond) on December 18th, from 9am to 3pm. If you, your company, or organization would like to volun-teer please contact [email protected] with “HHW” in the subject line.

Donations to support the HHW include new toys, clothing, blankets, footballs, basketballs, books, and gift cards. The basic rule of thumb is if your child would want to have the item, another child in need would, too. While all donations are gratefully accepted, they especially need gifts for teens – including sports equip-

ment and clothing, fashion items (watches, beauty kits, etc.), gift cards, and movie tickets. I will have collection boxes in my Lafayette office (3338 Mt. Diablo Bl.) and Danville office (309 Diablo Road) until December 12 for your convenience.

Brighter Beginnings (BB) is another worthy non-profit in need of your help. It strengthens families by helping parents become self-sufficient so they can raise happy, healthy children. BB believes every family matters and every child deserves to have a happy, healthy future. Financial literacy is an essential tool for good decision-making and is as important as learning to read and write; one of the important services BB provides is helping clients understand how to open bank accounts, manage their money, and make good financial choices. Their clients are among the most vulnerable in East Bay communities. There are volunteer opportunities available or your finan-cial contributions allow BB to ensure that staff and services are available to provide crucial support to their families all year long. To learn more about BB or to contribute online, go to www.brighter-beginnings.org or send a check to: Brighter Beginnings, Attn: Development Director, 2595 International Blvd, Oakland, CA 94601.

A final way to help those less fortunate is to donate to the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano in the 2014 “County Cares Holiday Food Fight.” This is the 11th anniversary of the challenge between Contra Costa and Solano counties. This year’s theme is “Peas, Love & Veggies.”

Although canned goods are appreciated and accepted, the Food Bank asks, when possible, to donate money in order to assist their purchase of fresh produce, which now accounts for nearly half of the food distributed. Also, because they buy in bulk, for every $1 donated the Food Bank is able to provide two meals to an individual.

Please join this Food Fight by visiting www.foodbankccs.org and clicking on the link to the Counties Care Holiday Food Fight. Be sure to note where appropriate that you are giving as a “friend of CC County employees” and indicate Board of Supervi-sors, District 2, Candace Andersen as the department designee. The Food Fight chal-lenge between the counties runs from November 29 through December 31.

Lastly, if you are planning on attending the Town of Danville Tree Lighting on November 28th, please stop by my office for some hot cocoa and a holiday treat. The office, located just west of the tree at 309 Diablo Road, will be open from 5:30pm - 8pm.

My office is here to serve the residents of Contra Costa County District 2, which includes San Ramon, Danville, Alamo, Walnut Creek, Saranap, Parkmead, Lafay-ette, Moraga, Canyon, and Orinda. Please contact us if we can provide you with additional information on this topic or on other County issues. I can be reached at [email protected] or 925-957-8860.

www.yourmonthlypaper.comMy Safe Haven By Alison Watson, San Ramon Valley High senior

Youth & Government (Y&G) is such a rare and welcoming environment that even those with an innate dread and fear of public speaking (like myself) can’t help but raise their hand and share their beliefs. When it comes to Youth & Government there are few words that can sufficiently encompass what the group is. It is an oasis, a one of a kind experience where squirrelly freshman go in, and informed, well spoken seniors come out. It’s a program through YMCA that provides high schoolers all over California with an opportunity: the opportunity to make a difference.

California’s Youth & Government Model Legislature & Court has been the state’s premier youth leadership and civic develop-ment program since 1948. It creates a six-month learn-by-doing experience that teaches the values of democracy by uniting a cross-section of the state’s high school students. Each week there is a meeting with your delegation, which is made up of local high school kids. Each year Y&G is a part of my day-to-day life from September to February. When September rolls around, delegations resume meeting, joined by the new wave of freshman. October is filled with weekly meetings of silly and thought-provoking debates. The

discussions can range from Rihanna or Queen B (Beyoncé) or what can be done to improve foreign policy. Delegations fill the final few weeks of October with brainstorming bill ideas that the group will lobby to get passed through Y&G’s own Mock Assembly and Senate in Sacramento. The mock bills are used to try and create resolutions for issues amongst a community or the state by learning firsthand the democratic process it will undergo in order to get it passed. With November approaching, Y&G delegates can be seen rocking their delegation's sweatshirt to keep warm. The Training and Elections 1 conference is on the horizon in the second weekend of November. It is one of two yearly visits to the Army barracks at Camp Roberts, and anticipation is in the air. These weekend outings may only take two days of your life but the memories will stay with you for eternity. It is the best crash course for college I could prescribe to any high schooler. You regain social skills that over the years technological advances have diminished. Striking up conversation with strangers proves to be unbelievably easy, and for those two days you don’t even feel the compulsion to be glued to your phone. You come to remember how pleasant human interaction can be, and by looking up from the screen you remind the world of your eye color, as it is likely to have been forgotten.

Y&G is a place where being yourself is encouraged, and branching out of your comfort zone is expected. I still remember my freshman year at Training and Elections 2 (more commonly referred to as BOB 2) when my delegation was in the cafeteria chatting mindlessly while eating our lunches. When Ethan, the most outgoing person I have ever known and our delegation’s president at the time, stood up on his chair and started belting the lyrics to “We are family.” As a lowly and reserved freshman, my immediate response was to turn bright red and tug at his arm in the hope that he’d cut it out before anyone really noticed. To my utter amaze-ment and shock 3,000 high schoolers ungrudgingly and unconditionally joined in with Ethan belting out the entire song. By the end of his singing everyone was up and out of their seats, swaying along to the beat. Ethan was a true leader, but his humbleness gave me the hope that I could one day aspire to be as inspirational. It gave me the strength to take risks because I would never know if I didn’t try. What kind of life could I possibly lead from the sidelines?

The excursions, however, don’t end with the dusty campgrounds of BOB 2. Y&G is the only program permitted to take over the Capital buildings and we do just that! For five days in February we dress and sound the part of real life political activists. Sacramento is the location for showcasing the products of the program area of our choosing. However, our hard work doesn’t prevent us from making time for dances, hypnotist nights, and jumpy houses.

With the imminent death of eye contact, it is rare and far between that you have a large group of Millennials willing to tear themselves away from the promising glow of a screen. Instead young people are dedicating their time and efforts to eradicating the issues that plague our society. For all those from older generations who have rolled their eyes or shaken their heads at today’s youth, don’t lose all hope just yet - there are still programs like Y&G to keep hope for humanity from going extinct.

Page 8 - November 2014 ~ Danville Today News

Alamo Danville NewcomersAre you new to the area or a long time resident interested in mak-

ing new friends and participating in various social activities? We are a women's organization whose purpose is to enrich the lives of all its members and their families in a social manner. You are invited to at-tend a “Welcome Wine & Cheese” social to find out all about the club on Tuesday, December 2nd from 7-9pm.

Visit our website at www.alamodanvillenewcomers.com. RSVP to [email protected] to find out the location.


Stone Valley Middle School By Shaun K. McElroy, PrincipalCollaboration and Professional Development Lead to Increased Student Engagement

This fall our 6th and 8th grade core teachers are en-gaged in vertical articulations with our feeder pattern elementary schools and both high schools. The purpose of these articulations is to align Common Core practices across the grade levels 5th – 9th and to build relationships between our schools. The participating schools are Ala-

mo, Montair, and Rancho Romero Elementary schools, and Monte Vista and San Ramon Valley High Schools. Our 8th grade Core team has performed reciprocal visits at the two high schools and one combined with instructional dialogue led by staff developers from both high schools. Our 6th grade team has visited the 5th grade classrooms of all three elementary schools. Similar to 8th grade, the 6th grade Core teachers have observed live instruction followed by professional dialogue.

Our intention is to continue to build on the relationships and professional development opportunities with our feeder pattern schools year round. All of the teachers have enjoyed and benefited from these visits.

Deepening our practice though the use of resources, Core teachers recently spent time reviewing the newly purchased “Units of Study” from Columbia Uni-versity’s Teachers College. We will continue the work of implementing the Units of Study in all three grade levels of Core.The E-World of Teens

In the last 5-6 years many parents have purchased cellular phones for their 6th grade students as a “right of passage” to middle school, and most of those phones are inter-net ready. As educational practitioners we find value in providing students access to technology in the classroom whether the device used is furnished by the school or the students bring their own technology or “bring your own device (BYOD).” SRVUSD has provided all students with network access through our wireless BYOD network.

The other side of the technological coin is the inappropriate use of social media, cyber bullying, sexting, and websites that allow users to remain anonymous. We can all see the inherent danger in this type of access. Most parents are digital immigrants

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who did not grow up with the advent of the internet. Our students are digital natives who grew up with access, touch screen technology, and social networks. Because of this digital divide, it is critical that parents arm themselves with information and learn about the appropriate use of technology with teens. Please use the links to our parenting partners – San Ramon Valley Council of PTA’s and Common Sense Media, http://srvcpta-ca.schoolloop.com/search/search_results?d=x&search_term=cyber+saftey and https://www.commonsensemedia.org.Wanted: 21st Century STEM Experts

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) guest speakers are needed. Do you have an expertise in a STEM field? Come join us as a guest speaker in February 2015. Speakers will be asked to provide a one-hour presenta-tion that includes their background and preparation, a look at “a day in the life’’ of their job, and a hands on activity for students. Let’s help grow the future! Contact Shaun McElroy at [email protected] if you are interested. Volunteer

Your presence on our campus benefits all students, plus you can earn your very own Stone Valley car magnet! Just put in two hours of volunteer time, and our PTA will reward you with a handsome fixture for your car.

• Lunchtime supervision – You pick the day(s); each supervision is a 30 minute commitment. Contact Trish Theobald at [email protected].

• School Site Council – Meets three times per year to shape the school vision and monitor/advise program expenditures. Contact Sandy Kontilis at [email protected].

• Principal’s Advisory Council – Quarterly roundtable discussion/think tank on school improvement. Contact Shaun McElroy at [email protected].

• School Climate committee – Help shape the programs that lead to an im-proved school climate. The committee meets six times per year. Contact Chelsea Rivas at [email protected].

• Teachers Angels – Help specific teachers in the classroom on an as-needed basis. Contact Janet Nunan, [email protected] Valley Has Gone Social!

Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Stone-Valley-Middle-School, follow us on at Twitter @StoneValleyMS, and sign up for text alerts by texting @0c3a67 to (925) 392-0796.


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St. Isidore School Gives Thanks!By Maria Ward, Principal

November brings us a spirit of gratitude, ap-preciation, and companionship. It is that time of year to reach out to one another and say how truly thankful we are for our families and friends. Our 8th grade class is gearing up for their weeklong trip to Caritas Creek in Occidental during the first week

in November. Caritas Creek is a faith community-building experience that helps our student to illuminate how they can see God in all things. At Caritas, students learn to celebrate the gifts that God has given them, build empathy and relation-ships, and have understanding for the natural world. Students return with a greater appreciation for their responsibilities as peacemakers and as ecological stewards.

St. Isidore honors our Veterans on Wednesday, November 12th at 10am. This day is a long standing tradition here at Saint Isidore School and we spend many hours making sure this day is all about honoring our Veterans. Our school participates in an assembly that honors our own family, friends, and parishioners that have served in our armed forces. We love our Veterans and feel very blessed to share their stories with our students. This is a day where we remember, reflect, and give thanks. Please feel free to come join us.

We will be having a Prospective Student Meeting on Friday, November 14th

from 9am-10am in the St. Isidore in the Parish Center. St. Isidore school is com-mitted to providing and promoting academic excellence in a Christ-centered environment. Our goal is to build a strong educational and spiritual foundation that will serve our students for a lifetime of both academic and personal advance-ment. We are fully accredited by the Western Catholic Educational Association (WCEA) and the Western Association on Schools and Colleges (WASC). The St. Isidore School community is truly special in its commitment to provide a quality education in a safe, caring Catholic environment. We promote strong Christian values and service as fundamental core tenants of the school. We invite you to come and join us to learn more about our amazing school.

Family Bingo night is back on Friday, November 14th! This is one night you don’t want to miss. Our student leadership hosts this fun, family night out. Our gym is full with students, parents, teachers, and grandparents trying to win a BINGO game. Some favorite winning items are our home baked treats from our teachers, local gift cards, and free dress passes for students.

We are happy to support Running with Love again this Thanksgiving season. Our school collects food items that would be served at a traditional Thanksgiving meal for this special organization. Running with Love was developed by one of our former graduates, Alyse Cronin. The food items help the migrant farm workers in Gonzales, California. Please visit their website at www.runningwithlove.com for more information. We are honored to help collect and deliver Thanksgiving Dinners to them. It is the best way to show and share all of our blessings and gratitude. We wish you a blessed Thanksgiving season with your family.

Charlotte Wood Middle School By Christopher George, Principal

We hope you are enjoying your October and the delayed onset of fall. We are well into the heart of our year, having just wrapped up a very successful first quarter. Our teachers continue to work very hard, and our kids continue to meet their challenge on a daily basis. Our kids have been fantastic this year so far!

Continuing our focus on curriculum and instruction at Charlotte Wood, we have seen great things happen

in classrooms as the result of better collaboration and the focused creation of department curricula in all grade levels. As part of this, we have recently started many intervention efforts to meet the needs of all students in a Re-sponse for Intervention (RTI). We are beginning short term math and reading intervention programs which will happen during our Advisory classes. These 3-5 week intervention programs will be short term, based on the most recent assessment data, and will focus on very specific skills. A letter was sent home detailing how these programs work and what the criteria are. Thanks to Ms. Becker, Ms. Larson, and Ms. Francioch for their work on math, and to Ms. Ware for her help with reading. Additionally, our sixth grade core teachers began piloting a program of differentiated reading groups in order to support all kids in reading instruction. These groups will meet once per week (helping kids to break up their long block day).

We also want to thank everyone who was able to come out to support The Run for Education and support Charlotte Wood. We had a great day out with our entire community, and we are very grateful to SRVEF for their support. Last year, thanks to SRVEF, we were able to successfully purchase a class set of laptops to be prioritized for assessments thanks to their grant program.

This year, we are also looking forward to purchasing new laptop carts for our Core and English departments, all thanks to parent generosity and the hard work of the Charger Fund. We will soon have a new cart for 6th grade Core classes available.

We know that November and December go awfully fast at school, with a lot of breaks, but we look forward to spending fall with your kids and to continu-ally working hard and improving our practice here. Have a great November.

San Ramon Valley Christian Academy By Jamie Westgate, Principal

Who doesn’t love Thanksgiving? Most people would likely agree the holiday forces us to be reflective, something this fast paced society doesn’t always promote. At SRVCA we help our students understand that expressing thanks is not just a nice gesture; we need to be taught the importance of thanking those who’ve brought meaning to our lives. God says in Romans 1

that giving thanks is a mighty thing that makes a big difference. While many of our students celebrate the history of the Pilgrims with a “feast” in their classrooms, our librarian, Gail Brubaker, extends the learning with a special story and activity with our fourth graders in the library.

Born in 1788, Sarah Hale wrote thousands of letters over decades of her life to presidents and politicians in order to have Thanksgiving declared as a national holiday. Up until then, some states honored a day of thanks, but it was not celebrated as a nation. After 38 years, President Abraham Lincoln finally agreed in 1863. Mrs. Brubaker discusses the meaning of the saying “The pen is mightier than the sword,” and how one person’s words can have a big impact. The students then reflect on someone who has made a difference in their lives, and then spend time writing a note of gratitude for the impact it has made.

I am grateful (both as a mother and an educator) that our children are being taught the importance of acknowledging the influence others have on their lives, as it teaches them to look outside themselves. Our children are being raised in a culture which says, “It’s all about me.” Acknowledging God’s grace to place others into our lives is a true gift and one that deserves a measure of thanks. At the end of the scripture in 2 Corinthians 4, we are reminded to fix our eyes on what is unseen for what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. This Thanksgiving may we all open our hearts to the most important things and remember to say thank you.


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

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Del Amigo High School By Joseph A. Ianora, Principal

It’s hard to believe that the first two months of school have come and gone. We have completed our first quarter and are now moving into the second quarter. October

was a very busy month of learning for Del Amigo – even Halloween was a Staff Development Day…learning never ceases, even for the adults!

Three small but noticeable highlights from October that dem-onstrate the caliber and character of our Del Amigo students:

1. We had a recent Blood drive on our campus that was organized by the students – over 35 pints of blood were donated. This is quite a generous feat, considering we only have 60 students.

2. Our “women’s stretch group” recently took a field trip to Pleasanton to work with an organization called “Kids Against Hunger.” They spent four hours compiling meals for starving kids in another country. They were able to assemble 2,500 meals to be shipped off to kids who are not as fortunate as we are.

3. Breakfast camaraderie – as many of you are aware, we serve breakfast to the students daily – sometimes it is simply cereal and bagels and other times we have parent volunteers bring ham, eggs, waffles, fruit, and juice. About two weeks ago a small group of our male students decided they would cook breakfast for staff and students: chorizo and eggs in tortillas. What a special treat it was, and the food was great!

These small examples demonstrate the unique and special character of our students. Although they may have struggled at their prior educational setting, what we have seen is that these young men and women blossom into Men and Women of Character. We are very proud of our students and what they have accomplished in their short time with us.

Our first graduate of the year, Zach Orcutt, finished up his high school career this past quarter and is heading into the Army for additional training and education. We wish him the best of luck! Besides Zach, we had an ad-ditional 35 students on the honor roll for either earning more than 17 credits or achieving a 3.5 GPA or higher (we had four students with a 4.0 GPA)!

Moving forward into the month of November, we are looking forward to the many learning opportunities as well as the activities that we will be engaging in. We will be enrolling 12 new students at the quarter and welcome the energy they will bring to our campus.

Our students, as they have done in the past, will be holding a Thanksgiv-ing celebration. This celebration is a collaborative effort of all students and time for us to remember how thankful we are for what we have been given. As we enter into this holiday season, Del Amigo is truly appreciative for all the support that our community has given us.

Celebrate the Joy of Remembrance at Hospice of the East Bay’s Tree of Lights Ceremonies

Hospice of the East Bay invites the public to participate in the 28th Annual Tree of Lights ceremonies that are held in Contra Costa County throughout November and December.

The ceremonies provide a way for community members to honor the lives of their friends and loved ones. Everyone is invited to participate in the events which include music, poetry, remembrances by family members and hospice staff, and the special moment when the trees light up.

By dedicating a Memorial Light for a minimum gift of $25, you can honor someone you love while directly supporting end-of-life patient care. Memorial donors of $100 and higher will have the option to have their names listed in the lighting ceremony program of their choice. Funds raised allow Hospice of the East Bay to provide essential programs and services such as the Vigil Program which ensures that no one has to die alone and Bruns House, our inpatient hospice facility in Alamo.

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

Danville & San Ramon Tree of Lights Friday, November 14, 5:30pm

at the Town Meeting Hall, 201 Front Street, Danville. Reception to follow.Walnut Creek Tree of Lights Sunday, November 16, 5pm at 1511 Mt

Diablo Blvd., Walnut Creek behind Va de Vi.Rossmoor Tree of Lights Wednesday, December 3, 5pm at the Creekside

Clubhouse located at 1010 Stanley Dollar Drive, Walnut Creek. Reception to follow.

Alamo & Bruns House Tree of Lights Wednesday, December 10, 12:15pm at the Alamo Women’s Club, located at 1401 Danville Blvd., Alamo.

Blackhawk Tree of Lights Friday, December 12, 5pm at the intersection of Blackhawk Road at Blackhawk Drive in Danville.

Hospice of the East Bay provides compassionate end-of-life care to terminally ill patients, while offering emotional, spiritual, and grief sup-port for the entire family. As a not-for-profit organization, we accept all medically qualified patients, regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay. Hospice of the East Bay has served over 22,000 patients and their families since 1977.

www.yourmonthlypaper.comDiablo Singles Dance Club

The Diablo Dance Club meets on the last Wednesday of each month. Enjoy live music and refreshments from 7:30 - 10:30PM at 111 North Wiget Lane in Walnut Creek. Members pay $8, guests pay $12, and parking is free. All are welcome.

Want to Become a Better Speaker? Toastmasters allows its members to practice their speaking and presentation

skills in a supportive environment. There are several local clubs in our area. The Danville AM Toastmasters, meets every Tuesday from 7 to 8:30AM at

Father Nature’s Restaurant in downtown Danville (172 E Prospect Ave). For more information, contact Hans Thoma at [email protected].

A faith-based Toastmasters group meets Thursdays from 7-8:15PM at East Bay Four Square Church Conference Room, located at 2615 Camino Tassajara, Danville. For information email Tod at [email protected].

Everyone is invited to join.


Monte Vista High School By Janet Terranova, Principal

Happy fall! Our fall activities are underway. We had a very successful Homecoming Week with dress up days, lip syncs, a rally, and an exciting foot-

ball game where Monte Vista scored three touch-downs in the last six minutes to win the game. Our Homecoming dance was a huge success with over 1,300 students attending. Events such as Home-coming unite the school and encourage students to get involved. Another opportunity for Monte Vista students to get involved is to participate in one of our 100 clubs. With such a large number of clubs, students find there is a club for every interest.

It’s hard to believe but a quarter of the school year is over. Visiting classrooms is always the highlight of my day. We know that student engage-ment is an important component to learning, and I see students engaged in their work and anxious to learn how to apply that learning. It is our goal to provide students opportunities to learn in the classroom and through their own exploration.

Our students have some amazing opportunities to learn outside the traditional classroom, and they are able to do so because of community members who volunteer their time. One such opportunity is iQuest. iQuest is a work based/internship/volunteer class that was created to enable students to pursue an interest or passion. Students are empowered to take ownership of their education and develop an internship experi-ence that is connected with their individual needs. The goal of iQuest is to create a meaningful educational experience that enables seniors in high school to ex-plore an interest or passion. The practical experience gained through the program will enhance their high school education beyond the traditional classroom.

If you have a local business and are interested in mentoring students, iQuest may be a perfect opportu-nity. If you would like to share your job experiences with students, consider giving a lunchtime presenta-tion. If interested, please call the counseling office.

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

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San Ramon Valley High School By Ruth Steele, Principal

There is something very reassuring about fall. Maybe it’s the cooler nights and crisp morning that are so refreshing. Perhaps it is the fact that the holiday season is just around the corner, and we know that Thanksgiving and Winter Break are just a few short weeks away. The holiday season is always special as it brings families and friends together and gives everyone a chance to relax and recharge.

Now, the first quarter is over, and the routine of school is settled. It’s a good time to reflect on the start of the school year and focus on what we have accomplished so far. We entered this year with a commitment to building community and focusing on creating a positive environment across campus for everyone. Over the summer, our students created a compelling set of SRV Community Values that we have used to underscore our work so far this year.

• APPRECIATE and ACCEPT all students and staff for what they bring to SRVHS.

• Work to together to COMMUNICATE effectively in order to maintain

UNITY.• Promote SPIRIT, POSITIVITY, and RESPECT towards each other and

the school.• Embrace CHANGE optimistically while valuing school TRADITIONS.To begin the year, we focused on celebrating and sustaining these values

across campus in order to provide a positive and supportive learning environ-ment for both students and staff. Our new teachers are doing a fantastic job, supported by strong veteran staff and great department leaders. We have a lot to focus on with the continuing work on Common Core and our commitment to support every student in the classroom.

These are no small tasks, and we are immensely fortunate to have the support of our parent community and our booster groups as we work towards our goals.

During November, our PTSA runs their biggest annual fundraiser: the ski, snow-board, and bicycle swap. Later in the year, the grant committee reviews all the grants submitted by teachers to obtain a portion of the grant money raised during the Ski Swap. This is a massive undertaking, and we are very grateful for all the money that PTSA raises for our programs. We could not provide the quality programs that we offer for students without these resources.

[email protected] Water Saving TipsThe Summer is Over, But Not the DroughtBy Loren McDonald, Sustainable Danville Area

As winter approaches for residents of Diablo Valley, now is not the time to lose sight that California continues to experience one of its worst droughts in recorded history.

Governor Brown declared a state of emergency in January, which included a voluntary request that citizens reduce water usage by 20%. Locally, the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) asked customers to reduce usage by 10%, and while they have met the goal, it really isn’t enough.

Hopefully, winter will bring plenty of snow and rain to Northern Califor-nia, but we can’t count on it, and residents must continue to reduce our use of water both inside and outside of our homes.

The average person living in a single-family home within the EBMU used 175 gallons per day in 2013. That’s a lot of water, but there are several ways, many costing nothing or very little, that can reduce your water usage significantly.Get a Handle on Your Current Water Usage

The first step in saving water is to understand your current usage and where opportunities exist to cut back. Here are a few suggestions to get you started:

• Read your water bill and compare previous years and billing periods. Are your summer months off the charts? Have you reduced or increased your usage in the past year?

• Compare winter months’ bills to summer months to get a handle on your irrigation usage.

• Test for leaks. Place a toothpick on your water meter and then don’t use any water for 30 minutes and look to see if the needle moves. If it does, you have one or more leaks inside or outside your home. If you have separate valves for the yard and house, turn off one so you can isolate if the leaks are inside or outside, and then watch again to see if the meter needle still moves.

• Test your toilets for leaks. A kit with a blue die tablet is available from EBMUD.

Once you have a sense of your water usage and if you have any leaks, create a game plan to reduce your consumption. Tackle bad family habits first, such as taking long showers and overwatering your yard. Depending on your budget, replace inefficient appliances, showerheads, and toilets.In your Yard

Thirty percent of residential water usage in the United States is devoted to outdoor uses, with the majority of this used for irrigation, according to the EPA. And half of outdoor water use is typically wasted according to the EBMUD.

To reduce your winter outdoor water usage, consider the following tips:• Turn off sprinklers and use your manual mode to turn them on for a day

here or there during any lengthy winter dry spells.• Replace inefficient sprinklers with drip irrigation.• Upgrade a conventional irrigation controller to a smart system - either

weather- or soil moisture-based. • Fix leaks and any broken pipes. Dig up those buried sprinklers, and cap

them off if not needed.• Replace thirsty lawns with drought-resistant trees and plants.• Give rain barrels a try - perhaps for a winter vegetable garden or raised

bed near your rain gutters.• Cover your garden with mulch and put that compost you’ve been brew-

ing to good use to improve soil condition.Inside the Home

About half of the water used indoors is from the bathroom, according to the American Water Works Association Research Foundation. Here are a few tips to cut back water use inside your house:

• Toilets are typically the highest user of water inside the home, from 28% to 40%, according the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Replace older toilets that might use 3 to 6 gallons per flush (GPF) with models that use 1.28 to 1.6 GPF. Don’t worry, many of these low GPF toilets flush better than your older, water guzzlers.

• Replace older showerheads that typically flow at 2.5 gallons per minute

Danville Today News ~ November 2014 - Page 13

(GPM) with a newer low-flow type that emits as low as 1.5 GPM. Many use aerating techniques to make the water flow feel just as powerful as the older, higher GPM models.

• Capture the cold water flowing to your showerhead in a bucket or jug. Use this “warming-up water” in the winter to water houseplants, outdoor containers, and winter gardens.

• Wash clothes and dishes using full loads. If your appliances are old, consider replacing them with more energy and water-efficient models.

• Install low-flow water faucet aerators in bathrooms and kitchen sinks.• Turn off the tap when hand washing dishes and brushing your teeth.Use this winter to get your water usage under control by changing fam-

ily habits and replacing inefficient toilets, showerheads, and water-sapping lawns. Many of these purchases also qualify for rebates from EBMUD. (www.ebmud.com)

Reducing your water usage is not only becoming a necessity in California, but it also saves you money on your water bill. So get started and start saving!

Loren McDonald is a Danville resident, member of the Sustainable Dan-ville Area organization, and blogs about green issues at Loren-Green.com.

For more information visit: www.DanvilleLivery.comor call (800) 762-1641.

Thursday, November 13th, 5pm–8pmThursday, November 13th, 5pm–8pm

Spirit ofDanville!Spirit ofDanville!

Visit the merchants at the Danville Livery for a nightof shopping, dining and entertainment.

Visit the merchants at the Danville Livery for a nightof shopping, dining and entertainment.

Join us for a magical night at theDanville Livery Shopping Center.

The Danville Livery will have a host of pre-holiday merchandise on sale. There will be free goodies

for the children, live music, face painting, carriage rides in Cinderella’s Pumpkin, and don’t forget Paws ‘n Claus! Santa will be on site to take

pictures with all of our four-legged friends! Have your picture taken with everyone’s favorite

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Officer’s Club, San Francisco Presidio By Linda Summers Pirkle

Years ago when my husband was in the Navy, his military credentials allowed me access to San Francisco Presidio PX (Base Exchange) and Commissary where I shopped for groceries. Our three children enjoyed going to the base since we always went to the fast food chain located near the PX. They looked forward to their toy with their burgers; my incentive however was very different. The outstanding view overlooking the San Francisco Bay from the booths of the Presidio Base Burger King kept me coming back.

Today the Presidio is a National Historic Landmark District and a transforming national park site. The old Burger King is now the Observation Post, a ballroom for rentals, meetings and retreats. I am sure the views are still spectacular. If you are like me and many Presidio aficionados, you have been looking forward to the reopening of the Officers’ Club. It has been worth the three year wait.

Throughout the 20th century the Officers’ Club was the place where Army brass and their fami-lies gathered. The narrow hallways and low ceilings have been transformed into a beautiful, airy, multi-faceted cultural destination. Besides Arguello, a Traci Des Jardins restaurant which serves Mexican food, a bar and heated patio, the Club now includes a wonderful multi-media exhibition hall. Take a walk up to the second floor to the 3,000 square foot Ortega room for stunning views of the San Francisco Bay. A ten minute film shown in the first floor exhibition room is a great way to learn more about the history of the Presidio.

The Officers’ Club, established in 1776, with its adobe walls holds the distinction of being the most historic building in San Francisco along with Mission Dolores. According to Dana Polk of the Presidio Trust, “The Mission and El Presidio (the original adobe settlement) were built within the same week, but there is no easy way to know which came first.”

No matter the time of year, the Presidio is a great place to visit, but winter is my favorite season; there is something appealing about exploring the historical site on a misty cold day with the fog coming in over the Golden Gate Bridge. Bring your walking shoes and cold weather gear for a hike up to the solemn and serene Presidio Cemetery. It was the first national cemetery established on the west coast, and the 30,000 simple white gravestones pay tribute to over 150 years of military service by those who rest there.

*PresidiGo, a free shuttle service, offers daily transpor-tation from Embarcadero BART station to the Presidio. The pick up location is on Drumm Street, at the corner of Washington. Drop off for the return trip to the Embarcadero BART is at Davis Street. It is so convenient! Check out www.presidio.gov/shuttle or call 415-561-5300.

* The Presidio periodically offers walking tours. The National Cemetery tour is offered on Saturdays, November 15 and December 13 from 10AM-noon. On the one mile mod-erate walk you will hear about Medal of Honor recipients, a Union spy, an Indian scout, Buffalo Soldiers, and more. A guided night tour called Winter Solstice starts at Rob Hill and ends with storytelling around the campfire in the Rob Hill Campground. Reservations are required for both hikes. Call 415-561-4323 for information.

*Check out www.Presidioofficersclub.org for information about free events, Presidio Dialogues, and Presidio Sessions. The Presidio Officers’ Club is located at 50 Moraga Avenue, on the Presidio’s Main Post. It is open Tuesday-Sunday (Closed Monday) from 10AM-6PM. Holiday closures are November 24-December 1 and December 22-January 5.

*Arguello Restaurant is open Wednesday-Sunday. Their phone number is 415-561-4400.

*The Presidio Visitors Center is located at 105 Mont-gomery Street, on the Presidio Main Post. Hours are Thursday thru Sunday 11AM -4PM. Their phone number is 415-561-4323.

Linda Summers Pirkle, has been arranging and lead-ing tours for the Town of Danville. Inspired by the many wonderful places to visit in the Bay Area, she organizes day trips, either for groups or for friends and family. To share your “Quick Trips” ideas, email [email protected].

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A Holiday VigilBy Nick Vleisides, Community Chaplain Resources

As the "holidays" approach...Thanksgiving, Christ-mas, Hanukkah, New Years...it is a time for most of us to celebrate and enjoy the many opportunities we have to be with family and friends in a variety of settings. We attend family gatherings, social parties, school, church and religious programs, musical programs, tree lightings, and much more. We buy trees and decorate the outside and the inside of our homes. We shop and

end up spending way more money than we thought we would on gifts at the holiday sales events. Traffic seems to get worse but seldom deters us from at-tending the many events and going to our malls and shopping centers. Some of us brave the airports and take vacation time to visit relatives or hit our favorite winter spots. We go, go, go between Thanksgiving and New Years.

Quite a number of us find ourselves exhausted at times and in need of rest during the holidays. We eat too much and put on a few pounds which inspire us to commit to another New Year's resolution to lose weight. It is during this time of year that our children form the most memorable experiences. Christmas is almost magical in the eyes of our young children. Most of us adults would agree that some of our fondest childhood memories revolve around the holidays and in particular Christmas. We carry on traditions within our own families. As parents, we thoroughly enjoy watching our children experience all that the holidays deposit in the memory banks.

As a chaplain in our community, I am well aware that there is a segment of our community for whom the holidays bring about sadness and pain. Any family that has ever suffered the sudden or tragic loss of son, daughter, brother, sister, spouse, mother, father, or any other relative or close friend tends to experience grief during this time of the year as fond memories are met with the void of not having that loved one present. Many have learned to cope with the loss and do find ways to enjoy aspects of the season. But so many struggle to cope with the heartache in the midst of the celebrations. There are also the many people who struggle with depression who also find the holidays very difficult as they view the many around them able to smile, laugh, and party their way through the holidays with seeming ease and joy.

On Sunday night, December 7 at 7PM in front of the Danville Library on the grass, the Chaplains of the San Ramon Valley Fire District and other local chaplains will host a 4th annual Holiday Vigil. This vigil is an offering to folks in the community who would appreciate a spot in time to remember and honor someone they have lost as they enter the holidays. Being able to acknowledge a loved one seems to provide some relief of the heartache, even if emotions run deep. If you have experienced loss at any time, and the holidays are difficult because of that loss, come be with others for a few minutes to acknowledge and remember those we have lost but still love so much. If you know of someone who could benefit from this time, invite them and bring them. If you would like to honor those who are living through grief and be with them to encour-age them...come. We encourage people to bring a picture of their loved one to post on a board. There will be music, readings, words of encouragement, candle lighting, and prayers.

Nick is a chaplain with the Danville Police Department, San Ramon Police Department, San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District, Contra Costa County Sheriff. He is a board member for Teen Esteem (www.teenesteem.org) and speaks at school assemblies on the subject of teen pressure, anxiety and suicide. Nick serves on the Contra Costa County Suicide Prevention Committee and he is the Director and Chaplain for Community Chaplain Resources (www.com-munitychaplainresources.org) Nick can be contacted at [email protected]. San Ramon Valley’s High School Pledge to Humanity Club is giving back and getting

way more in return. Students started a service based club for the opportunity to volunteer and make a difference in the local community. Recently club members traveled to Golden Gate Park for a Special Olympic soccer event. Pictured above with a Special Olympics participant, students Ava Begun, Siena Atkins, Hannah Connelly, and Nathalie Riddel came geared up to play soccer and help facilitate the practice with the 20 athletes that ranged in age between 14 and 72.

From the clubs inception, the group of 30 members have volunteered at soup kitchens, participated in making sandwiches at Glide Memorial, made handmade blankets to donate to a senior home, and collected Halloween costumes for an elementary school in Richmond.

Through working together with this common goal of helping others, the students are seeing that it is much better to give than to receive.

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

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


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YU-CHING LAI DDS, MS She received her DDS from UCSF, and completed her specialty in ORTHODONTICS & DENTOFACIAL ORTHOPEDICS from University of Rochester, New York in 2009. Her expertise includes early-age orthodontic manage-ment (two-phase therapy), multi-disciplinary orthodontic treatment, conventional metal & clear (ceramic) braces, Invisalign® & Invisalign Teen®, self-ligation braces (metal & clear), re-tainer and Temporomandibular Joint Disorders (TMJD). She is actively involved in research and has published several articles; one, notably explored TMJ treatment. Lastly, she is fluent in English, Mandarin, and Taiwanese.

The Tree of the SeasonCoast Live Oak, Quercus agrifoliaBy Blaine Brende & Joe Lamb

If you have a coast live oak in your yard, you will understand that its Latin name, Quer-cus agrifolia, is appropriate. Agrifolia means

spiny leaves. And though the tree retains green leaves throughout the year, it also sheds dead leaves, many dead leaves, and they are less than friendly on bare feet. If you are lucky enough to have a mature coast live oak in your garden, you are well aware that its sculptural qualities more than compensate for the ongoing maintenance this big beast requires. I find comfort in the manner wherein old trees twist into their strangely beautiful form, their rugged bark accentuating, in counterpoint, their grace and openness. The generous shade offered by their broad crowns seems to invite one to lounge against their trunks and think about things that are never on TV.

Agrifolia became the dominant tree of the costal plain, not because it’s beautiful, but because it’s tough. Though plagued by several diseases and pests, the continuing ubiquity of live oaks over the millennia is testament to their ability to resist diseases and fight off pests. Several fungal diseases, with the generic names “twig blights” and “oak branch dieback,” attack the crowns of live oaks. Brown patches in your oak’s canopy are most likely from these fungal diseases. An aesthetic debit, they rarely pose a serious threat to the life of the tree. Unsightly deadwood can be pruned out. Though these diseases come from water-borne fungi, they often occur in oaks weakened by drought stress.

It is common knowledge that over-watering coast live oaks is a good way to kill the tree. Too much summer water promotes the growth of oak root fungus, a common soil fungus that can turn lethal in soggy soils. Less widely appreciated is that summer watering of oaks can make them more disease- and insect-resistant IF, and it is a big IF, they are watered correctly. Correct summer watering of coast live oaks requires placing a soaker hose in a circle around the tree at least ten feet from the trunk and running the water for about two hours–sunset is a good time. It is important to water the tree not more than once a month: once in July, once in August, once in September, and once in October. Over-watering

can kill oaks by stimulating parasitic fungi. Judicious watering during dry sum-mers gives the tree a boost but doesn’t encourage root diseases. It’s better not to water oaks at all than to over-water them; and lawns, grown under the canopy of the oaks, are a common cause of over-watering. One way to make your oak (and the many creatures it supports) happy is to turn lawn under the canopy over to native, drought-tolerant plants. This saves water, and reduces the likelihood your oak will get a root disease. Oaks also appreciate a layer of mulch. Mulch helps aerate the soil and improves the environment for beneficial soil creatures.

Given that the current stewards of the coastal plain seldom burn the wood-lands, most of our oak forests have built up a significant load of dead wood. To prevent a crown fire, like the one that ravaged the East Bay in 1991, it is important to make all landscape trees and shrubs more fire safe. At Brende and Lamb it is our fervent hope that all current players in the ongoing drama of the oak woodlands act to maintain a healthy ecosystem in which coast live oaks, and the many creatures that depend on them, continue to appear center stage.

Unfortunately, we a starting to see a few cases of Sudden Oak Death (SOD) in the East Bay, concentrated mostly in forested parklands. The SOD pathogen infects susceptible oaks during spring rainstorms. It is difficult to prevent an oak from being infected, but there are steps to reduce the probability of infec-tion, such as the application of Agrifos in autumn. Further more, California bay trees can be a host to SOD, where it occurs as a leaf disease. Infected bays don’t die, but they can spread the spores to oaks as water drips from the bay leaves onto the trunk of an oak. Studies show that pruning back bay trees to give a 10 foot separation from your oaks can significantly lower the infection rate. At this time, preventative action is the only way of treating the disease. It takes two years for an infected tree to show any sign of infection, and once infected there is no way to cure the disease.

The best place to find current information on SOD is the California Sudden Oak Task Force at www.suddenoakdeath.org.

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


Clip Notes By Jody MorganThe array of oddly colored pumpkins now available

on the market would not have surprised the Pilgrims. Green, white, yellow, red, blue, and tan varieties were considered ordinary in their day. However, if pump-kins participated in the three-day harvest celebration of 1621, commonly designated “the First Thanksgiving,” they certainly weren’t enjoyed solely as table decora-tions. William Bradford and Edward Winslow, authors of primary source documentation of the event, don’t deign to mention the preparation of side dishes. We

know only that Native Americans supplied venison, and settlers provided fowl. A bit of New England doggerel dating from 1630 suggests pumpkins were

more a staple than a treat. “Stead of pottage and puddings and custards and pies/our pumpkins and parsnips are common supplies./We have pumpkins at morning and pumpkins at noon/if it were not for pumpkins we should be undoon.” Pumpkin ale sufficed when colonists craved a strong drink. A recipe for Vermont Pumpkin Casserole in the L.L. Bean Book of New Eng-land Cookery is prefaced by this quote from an early colonist. “Let no man make a jest of pumpkin, for with this fruit the Lord was pleased to feed his people till corn and cattle were increased.”

The 1622 harvest at Plymouth Plantation was disappointing. The prospect seemed even bleaker in mid-July of 1623. Parched by an extended drought, crops were withering when the Pilgrims declared a day of humiliation. That day began with clear skies but ended in gentle, refreshing rain. Bradford, in Of Plymouth Plantation, writes of the miraculous moisture: “Which did so appar-ently revive and quicken the decayed corn and other fruits, as was wonderful to see, and made the Indians astonished to behold.” A day of thanksgiving was proclaimed, but once again details concerning the celebratory fare are lacking.

The term “pumpkin” is derived from the Greek “pepon” meaning “large melon” and thence from the French “pompion.” The fruits we know as pumpkins belong to several extremely diverse species of the genus Cucurbita. Cucurbita maxima, the species from which the Cindarella pumpkin and many giant record-setting specimens hale, includes Hubbard Squash. The species

Cucurbita pepo encompasses acorn squash, zucchini, crookneck summer squash, and patty pan squash as well as sugar pumpkins.

Native people as far back as 6,000 years ago consumed seeds of various species of squash, all indigenous to the Americas. Once cultivation of the wild fruits made the flesh sweet enough to be palatable, that was also eaten. By the time European explorers arrived, native people from South to North America were growing all manner of squash/pumpkin. Each tribe had its own recipes and preferred methods of cultivation. Many tribes grew the “Three Sisters” – corn, beans, and squash – together. While corn stalks formed a natural trellis for beans, beans in turn provided nitrogen to nourish their companions and held the corn stalks in place in windy weather. Broad squash leaves shaded shallow corn roots, kept weeds at bay, and preserved soil moisture. Wasting nothing, Native Americans ate the seeds and flesh of pumpkins and used the shells for containers. Strips dried and preserved were an important source of winter food.

Columbus may have been the first explorer to bring pumpkin seeds back to Europe. During the 1500s, Jacques Cartier described pumpkins growing in Canada. Cabeza de Vaca and Fernando de Soto registered their presence in Florida. Thomas Herriot wrote that many distinctly different forms harvested in Virginia all possessed a similarly succulent taste.

Although Thomas Jefferson experimented with producing more prolific pumpkin varieties primarily to feed his livestock, George Washington is re-puted to have been fond of devouring a dish made by baking a whole sugar pumpkin. A mixture of eggs, cream, sugar, and spices was poured into the middle of the pumpkin after the seeds and stringy goop were removed. Baked until the mixture set, the confection was consumed by spooning pumpkin flesh along with the custard. In 1796, American Cooke by Amelia Simmons, the first cookbook published in America, documented the existence of pumpkin pie with a recipe for “Pompkin Pudding” baked in a crust.

On September 26, 2010, the New Bremen Great Pumpkin Growers of New Bremen, Ohio, made the world’s largest pumpkin pie. Weighing in at 3,699 pounds, the pie served 5,000. Napa resident John Hawkins set a new North American record in Half Moon Bay this October, but his 2,058 pound pumpkin yields the honors for the world’s heaviest specimen to Swiss grower Beni Meier’s 2,096.6 pounder weighed on September 29th.

The Patio & Fire Place New Directional Heat Adjustable Radiant Outdoor Portable Heater

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The portable heaters are 300% more efficient than other standard gas heaters. Even on the coolest days of the year, users can expect to be comfortable and warm with the heat being spread evenly across the area the heater is placed in. With the ceramic tech-nology that is used in the construction of the heaters, energy conversion is increased and the heat has a level of uniformity.

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Traditional heaters often lose a substantial amount of heat. The Smart-Heat Portable has a higher rate of conversion due to its directional heat emission that is made possible by its high intensity ceramic burner. The burner is able to achieve higher temperatures than standard metal meshes for the same output of energy. If you want to have further control over the heat zone, the

head can be tilted to meet your requirements.Safety

With the Tungsten Smart-Heat Portable, the burner systems and gas injec-tion are fully enclosed in a cover and curved mesh to provide protection for the flame and to act as a filter against the wind. This will enable the heater to hold up well in high wind conditions up to 7.5mph, and it will provide a more consistent, reliable heating output than what you would get with a mushroom heater. When the flame is not detected, the gas supply is cut off. Contemporary Design

The heater is designed with precision to give people a classy alternative to standard mushroom heaters. The units measure 7.1’ high x 2.3’ wide x 1.6’ deep. Ergonomics

With the gas bottle replacement that is used with the Tungsten Smart-Heat Portable, the heater is easy to use, and minimal lifting is required. The heater features soft touch controls that work efficiently even in low lighting environments. The unit’s weight is cleverly position above the wheels when it is moved, and the stand breaks down easily to efficiently ship and store the heater.

To learn more, visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQBm8JYY4CU.

Come see the new heater and other items to warm both your outdoors and your indoors at The Patio & Fire Place stores located at 3426 Camino Tassajra in Danville and 3189 Danville Blvd., in Alamo.

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good autumn and winter for rejuvenation. Planning for seasonal change is an important aspect of my design philosophy.

A hot tip from your local Landscape Architect: If you’re looking forward to in-stalling your landscape project in the spring, fall and winter is a great time to start the design process for your garden so that you’re ready to enjoy it next summer!

Gardening Quote of the Month: I am rich today with autumn’s gold, All that my covetous hands can hold; Frost-painted leaves and goldenrod, A goldfinch on a milkweed pod; Huge golden pumpkins in the field, With heaps of corn from a bounte-ous yield; Golden apples heavy on the trees rivaling those of Hesperides; Golden rays of balmy sunshine spread Over all like butter on warm bread; And the harvest moon will this night unfold The streams running full of molten gold. Oh, who could find a dearth of bliss, With autumn glory such as this! ~ Gladys Harp

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

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Life in the Danville Garden Autumn Color Ablaze in DanvilleBy John Montgomery, ASLA, Landscape Architect

The autumn months of September, October, and November bring a joyful change to the gardens of Danville. Autumn marks the change from the growing season to the cycle of rest and rejuvenation. As your plants prepare for a period of rest and rejuvenation, a whole new life cycle brings vibrant colors, scent, texture, and calmness to your garden. Creating garden

environments that take advantage of the seasons enhance the all-year-around pleasure of your garden.

Autumn is a wonderful time in a garden. Trees, shrubs, ground covers, and grasses bring a whole new dimension of color, scent, and texture as they prepare themselves to rest. As I work with my clients in creating their landscape, I think about how we can have the garden be active all year around. So I select a plant palette that takes advantage of the seasons. The characteristics that can be used in the palette include color, texture, structure, scent, and movement. A good all-year-around plant palette has a diverse mix of trees, shrubs, perennials ground covers, and ornamental grasses.

Color can be provided either by flower or leaf. Colorful trees like Nyssa Syl-vatica (Sour Gum), Red Sunset Maple, and Chinese Pistache are vibrant as the evening snap of chill fills the air. Red-twig Dogwood or Sango Kaku Japanese Maple has vibrant bark color. As winter approaches Autumn and Mexican Sage bloom profusely.

Texture can be found in leaves, seeds, and bark. As plants prepare for rejuve-nation during the winter, they begin a last spurt of growth, bloom, and seed head expenditure. Crape Myrtle wonderfully flowers and turns to spent seed heads and bark peel. Other shrubs bloom and seed in a last ditch effort to propagate.

Structure is an element of design that can really be taken advantage of during the fall. Multi-branching trees and shrubs with intricate or bold branching can provide a dramatic accent that will add pizzazz to any garden. Multi-branching trees like Crape Myrtle, Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Diabolo,’ and Buckeye can accent the drama of an autumn garden. As leaves drop and begin to expose the bold and intricate branching, new garden accents are created for new focal interest.

Autumn is time to take in the wonderful aromas your garden can create. The heat of our Indian summer brings the strong scent of California Bay, sage, rose, and forest floor. Often times you will see roses springing to bloom as fall daytime temperatures sore. Most sages bloom during the autumn. I like to take advantage of deciduous trees and shrubs when they begin to drop their leaves. Besides the vibrant leaf colors, deciduous trees and shrubs can dapple the landscape floor, adding texture and scent as the leaves begin to decay. When the first rains of fall arrive, the aroma of the forest floor can fill the air.

Autumn also brings soft warm Nor-easterly breezes through Danville. Move-ment is an element I like to take advantage of in your garden environment. Orna-mental grasses such as red fountain grass, California fescue, and Morning Light Miscanthus are profuse by now with seed heads that gracefully sway and add gentle movement to your landscape. Perennials that are spent and dying back can also provide interesting movement if left uncut as they move into winter.

Danville’s unique climate allows for a long growing season yet brings forth a


Don’t Waste Your Federal CreditBy Christopher T. McClure

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

People are sometimes surprised to learn that the government not only taxes the income they earn while working, but it can also tax the accumulated estate individuals have built from their work. What can you do to help reduce the sting of federal estate and gift taxes and protect your family’s inheritance?

Start by looking at your will and beneficiary designations.Many married couples arrange their affairs so that all of their property will

pass to their surviving spouse. This arrangement may seem like a good plan. It’s simple and – thanks to an unlimited federal gift and estate tax marital deduction – generally allows you to leave all your property to your spouse estate tax free. But it may not be the best plan. Why not? It’s because this arrangement doesn’t take advantage of your federal credit. Ultimately, the property your surviving spouse receives from you could be taxed as part of his or her estate. What is the Federal Credit?

The credit lets you pass a certain amount of assets to anyone you choose, free of estate tax. The estate amount – the credit equivalent – is $5.34 mil-lion in 2014.Coordinating Your Credits

Married couples who coordinate the use of their credits can leave twice as much property to their families without incurring federal estate taxes. One way to take advantage of both your and your spouse’s credits is to cre-ate a family trust in your will and fund it with property equal in value to the credit equivalent. With a trust strategy, your surviving spouse can receive income for life with the remaining property passing to your children at your spouse’s death. Your credit could offset estate taxes on the trust property, and the property won’t be included in your spouse’s estate. Your spouse’s credit will be available to offset some or all estate tax on any other property your spouse owns at the time of his or her death.

To ensure the beneficial use of both your and your spouse’s credits, you may have to retitle some of your property. Let’s say you and your spouse own most of your property jointly with right of survivorship. Generally, property held jointly by married couples automatically passes to the surviving spouse with no federal estate tax consequences, due to the marital deduction. So, one spouse’s credit may be wasted. Dividing your property so that you and your spouse each own enough property separately to take advantage of the credit can remedy the problem and allow you to effec-tively use estate planning techniques such as family trusts.

Family trusts and retitling strategies are sophisticated planning techniques that may or may not be appropriate for you. Before implementing either technique, consult your professional financial planner.

Please contact Chris McClure to schedule a complimentary review of your financial situation. Call (925) 659-0213 or email [email protected] 201303-2078185 Christopher T. McClure is a registered representative and investment advisor representative of Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp., a broker dealer (member SIPC) and registered investment advisor, 3000 Executive Parkway, Suite 400, San Ramon, CA, offering insurance through Lincoln Marketing and Insurance Agency, LLC and Lincoln Associates Insurance Agency, Inc. and other fine companies. This informa-tion 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 representa-tives and their clients. Advertorial

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

Valley needs your help. Volunteer positions are available in the following areas:• Greeters • Docents• Walking Tour Docents • Events Committee• Educational Programs (One Room School/Indian Life) Call Eve or Donna at 552-9693 or send an email to srvmuseum@

sbcglobal.net for additional information.

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

a lifetime of possessions can be overwhelming. Hospice of the East Bay (HEB) Estate Sales, formally known as Diablo Ap-

praisal and Estate Sales, is an estate sale and liquidation service that manages and coordinates your entire estate and provides you with a tax benefit by sharing the profits from the sale with HEB. We provide caring and trained professionals that can help you handle the entire process, making the seemingly impossible attainable.

We will assess each item’s value, advertise the sale through multiple chan-nels, 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, efficient, and reliable service.

HEB Estate Sales was established in 2001 for families requesting help in selling the contents of their homes. Funds generated from the sale help benefit 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-profit 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.

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

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[email protected]

the area and in any event would prefer to receive cash from a sale of the home on her mother’s death. Consequently, my client was relieved and we were able to draft a much simpler document that would serve my client and her children well.

The above story is only one of many instances in which communication with children led to more optimally customized documents that would potentially work better and better facilitate family harmony. Another common issue about which feedback from children can be very useful involves who is best to nomi-nate as Executor and/or Trustee (or Co-Executors/Co-Trustees). Assumptions by and instincts of parents about what scenario will work best may not jive with the responsibility levels, skills, and feelings of the respective children.

Whether or not you anticipate that a discussion about these issues will be ab-solutely comfortable or stress-free, deciding when to “have the talk” and what to reveal and discuss with the children is not a subject to be taken lightly or ignored.

Upon your request, I would be happy to provide you with any or all of the following, free: i) a tri-fold brochure on the pros/cons of alternative methods of holding title to property, ii) an “Estate Planning Primer,” iii) a complimentary introductory meeting.

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

This article is intended to provide information of a general nature, and should not be relied upon as legal, tax and/ or business advice. Readers should obtain specific advice from their own, qualified professional advisors. Advertorial

Danville Today News ~ November 2014 - Page 23When Should You have “The Talk” with Your Children?By Robert J. Silverman, Esq.

When should you talk to your adult children about your estate plan? It’s an interesting question that is fre-quently asked by clients.

Of course, each person and each family is different, and no answer is universally correct. Many factors need to be weighed. These factors may include, among oth-ers, the age and maturity of the children, whether or not

parents are treating them equally in their Will or Living Trust, whether one but not all of the children are nominated to serve as the Executor and/or Successor Trustee, what age(s) must the children reach to inherit the assets outright, whether the chil-dren (and/or step-children) and surviving spouse may have potentially competing or conflicting interests, how large the estate is, and whether any non-children ben-eficiaries (individuals and/or charities) will receive a portion of the assets.

In a recent Wealth Management section of the Wall Street Journal, there was an article by Veronica Dagher entitled “Time for the ‘Estate’ Talk” in which she outlined five reasons why parents should discuss their wills with their children. These were: 1) You’ll have a chance to smooth ruffled feathers; 2) You’ll save them hassles and prevent mistakes; 3) You may increase their quality of life now; 4) The children might give you a better idea; and 5) You may save them some taxes.

I’ll try to flesh out reasons number one and four above, focusing on concepts I’ve found particularly useful in helping my clients. The first – smoothing ruffled feathers – is often not applicable because most parents provide for distribution of assets equally to the kids. But when it is applicable – for example, when your Will or Trust provides for significantly unequal distributions to the children – I think it weighs heavily in favor of talking with your children as soon as you feel it is appropriate to do so.

Even when a Will or Trust provides essentially that all children will receive the bulk of assets equally, certain tangible gifts or real property rights or interests (e.g. a first right of refusal to buy a particular property) are sometimes carved out for one or more specific children. Sometimes, loans made to some, but not all, of the children are to be forgiven on death. In any event, these are your assets, it’s your estate, and you can choose to do whatever you want (whether or not such decisions appear objectively reasonable or fair to your children), right? Of course! Nevertheless, your children may not perceive it that way; in fact, they may take great umbrage upon learning what you’ve decided. Their reaction may even result in friction among the children or resentment of one or more of the siblings who is viewed as being “favored.”

So, query: Wouldn’t it be better to communicate about such potentially sensi-tive things during your lifetime than leaving your children with no explanation, leading to anger and/or guilt when you’re gone? Even if a child or all of the chil-dren believe your decision is unfair or disappointing or illogical, at least they’ll know what to expect and have some basis for understanding why you made the decisions you made.

Reason number four – the kids give you a better idea – is very interesting. Those parents who are open minded typically have no trouble acknowledging that they learn a great deal from their children. Smart, responsible, and independent adult children may have their own estate plans; and if so, they are likely in a better posi-tion to appreciate the difficulty and subjective nature of your having established a comprehensive plan. Also, by sharing the more important components of your estate plan, one or more of your children (who may have worked with their own estate planning attorney who gave them some interesting tools and ideas) may be able to suggest that you consider these things in designing or revising your own estate plan.

My experience suggests that well-intentioned clients sometimes come up with provisions that they think are best but that their children either don’t care about or wouldn’t want. One example is a recent client who wanted me to draft a fairly complex Living Trust under which one of her two children (we’ll call Mary) - the less financially successful one - was to receive a lifetime interest in my client’s home and would receive certain funds toward property-related expenses. The other child would receive cash and securities, but in a significantly smaller amount than the home equity that would be tied up in the home Mary would live in. Many questions and contingencies had to be raised, many of which would need to be drafted in the document. My client was struggling with how to reconcile all of this. I recommended that she discuss this with the children before we tried to tackle all this complexity. After doing so, it turns out that Mary had no plans to stay in

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AARP Tax-Aide Call For Volunteers for 2015 Tax Season

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members of a team providing free tax preparation for individuals of all ages. Tax-Aide volunteer positions include Tax Counselors who are trained by Tax-Aide and certified by IRS and Client Facilitators who schedule appointment and assist clients at tax sites. Orientation is in November 2014, and classes for tax counselors start in January 2015. If interested, call LaVerne Gordon at (925) 726-3199 for information and to apply.


Poultry, Pie and Pinot Noir By Monica Chappell

If ever there were a food lover's holiday, Thanks-giving would be it. And one of the pleasures of my Thanksgiving is that every family member has a role in the big meal. Aunt Jo brings the sweet potatoes, and Uncle Bob comes with an assortment of pies. My role is a peach. I’m the wine gal. It’s a fine job for a number of reasons with my favorite being the many tastings I conduct leading up to the final wine

choice. It's a tough job, but someone has to do it. I do receive some advice along the way; don't bring anything too expensive and don’t bring anything too weird. To fit the bill, the wine needs to be a crowd-pleaser and match the menu. No problem. This year I think I've got it covered. The Matching Game

Thanksgiving dinner is the best and worst of all possible meals for wine pairing. Pairing wine with Thanksgiving turkey is easy - the centerpiece of this traditional feast has a fairly neutral flavor profile, making it a good pair for nearly any wine you open. The trouble comes with the dizzying array of side dishes: A wine that sings with the cornbread stuffing may not harmonize so well with the marshmallow-smothered sweet potatoes. The solution to the riddle, the Thanksgiving meal showcases a broad range of unique flavors that are better accompanied by a wine with ripe, juicy fruit, bright acidity and low tannin levels. Hello, Pinot Noir - the most flexible red wine with food. It's the wine's acidity and moderate body that cements its place on the holiday tableNot the Same Old, Same Old

The popularity of Pinot Noir as an easy-to-pair red wine holds especially true at Thanksgiving when there are so many flavors on the table. Pinot Noir's sweet cherry/berry fruitiness and lower level of tannins than say, Cabernet Sauvignon or Syrah make Pinot Noir approachable and very food-friendly. Known as the “heartbreak” grape, this thin-skinned variety requires constant nurturing and care both in the vineyard and winery. Pinot Noir represents the quintessence of winemaking, and at its best there is no wine that can offer more complex flavors. It’s worth noting that the everyday favorites we all know and love (Cabernet, Chardonnay, Merlot) rarely do the Thanksgiving feast justice in terms of their food and wine matching ability. Very dry wines (white or red) will die in the presence of all the fruit, sugar, and salt associ-ated with this lavish meal. Your best bet is to uncork wines with loads of fruit character, so stay away from whites with too much oak and reds with strong tannins.

Lic# 1100014354; Bay Area Entertainment

USA....USAWhile I drink wines from around the world 363 days a year, Thanksgiving

and July 4th are two days I reserve to be grateful for America’s viticultural bounty. Given the tradition of this holiday, it seems to me that wines for this meal should come from domestic producers. Fortunately, the United Sates now consistently makes some of the world's best, most affordable wines, and with all 50 states producing wine, you'll have many fine choices. California is a major Pinot Noir producer and is making exciting examples at reasonable prices. Pinot Noir is also the grape that put Oregon wines on the map, but finding affordable versions may be a bit more challenging. When shopping, look for a young, juicy style wine with light to medium body and good acidity. Above all, the wines shouldn't be intimidating. This isn’t the time to pull out an esoteric bottle calculated to impress--Better to bring out something familiar and sure to please.

With all that’s going on in the world, Thanksgiving is a good time for us to count our blessings. Whether you’re out at a restaurant or celebrating at home, I hope you'll be enjoying a good bottle of wine with friends and family.

Monica Chappell, wine writer and educator, teaches wine appreciation classes in the Bay Area. For class information visit www.wineappreciation101.blogspot.com.

Cinema Classics and Musical NotesCitizen KaneBy Peggy Horn

This month’s Cinema Classic is, Citizen Kane, (1941) starring Orson Welles and Joseph Cotten. It is an extraordinary film regarded by some as one of the finest movies ever made, and by some fans it is considered the finest film ever made! Orson Welles was only 24 years old when he made the film. Not only did he star in it playing the lead role of Charles Foster

Kane, but he produced, directed, and co-wrote the original screenplay as well. It won the Academy Award for Best Writing (Original Screenplay) for the script that Mr. Welles co-wrote with Herman Mankiewicz. Mr. Mankiewicz was the brother to the talented screenwriter of All About Eve, Joseph Mankiewicz.

Citizen Kane is reputedly based on the real life publisher, William Randolph Hearst who actively sought to keep the movie from being seen and spitefully succeeded in negatively impacting the career of Orson Welles thereafter. The screenwriters alleged the character of Kane was actually a fictitious composite of several different people, a notion most rejected. The plot is very cleverly written around a search for the meaning of Kane’s last word before he died: “Rosebud.” Only the viewers are privy to the fact that this word refers to the happiest time in Kane’s life – before he

had money. If one could boil the whole movie down to a single line, it might be “Money can’t buy happiness,” because every lavish expenditure in the film is punished. For instance, the very funding of the bank trustee who takes eight year old Kane to live away from his family backfires. Kane’s attempts to buy an operatic career for his second wife fails. Kane hires the entire writing staff away from a competing newspaper to staff his own newspaper, but they lead him astray.

Cinema Classics has regularly presented movies that are funny and or uplifting, and Citizen Kane is neither, but it is a beautifully photographed, thought-provoking film that continues to entertain and impress viewers tremendously. Citizen Kane is readily available for rental or purchase online. Musical Notes

After a movie like Citizen Kane, a mood lifter is recommended and “You’re Just In Love/I Wonder Why,” performed by Donald O’Connor and Ethel Merman is just the song we need to hear! This happy duet, written by Irving Berlin, was brought to my attention by my brother, Paul, and comes from the 1953 movie, Call Me Madam.


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

visit the library, find out more about the Danville Library’s Books for the Homebound program, a free and unique library service. Trained library vol-unteers 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.

PrivacyBy Evan Corstorphine, Portable CIO

Recently I began reading a book recommended to me, called Dragnet Nation, by Julia Angwin. The premise of this book is the question, “Who’s watch-ing me?” The answer is complex and surprising, as I’ll describe in the coming paragraphs.

Privacy is a very broad subject, and there are many types of information about you that are being gathered. In the interests of space, I’ll spare you the build-up and

deliver the punch-line: ‘privacy’ is an illusion. The systems of data-collection and retention built into our society are vast and ingrained, and it is a virtual impossibility to keep information about yourself private and isolated. If you plan to participate in this society, it’s going to be pretty hard to stay anonymous.

Once in a while I run into folks, mostly older, who won’t buy something online because of their insistence that it will decrease their privacy. The truth is, their privacy ship sailed a long time ago, and we didn’t even hear the board-ing whistle. Do you shop with a credit card? Do you buy car insurance? Have you been to the doctor, or have you ever had an operation? Have you lived in a house? Have you borrowed money? Have you ever flown on an airplane, driven across a bridge, or ridden Amtrak? Have you ever received a speeding ticket or been convicted of a crime of any sort? Do you use a computer? Have you ever used a search engine to research a topic? Do you ever shop online?

As a result of any of the aforementioned actions, you’ve left a trail of clues that indicate your needs, wants, and desires. Literally anyone can access an incredible array of accurate information about you from over 200 data accu-mulators online. Your information is very valuable to marketing companies because they can sell your preferences to companies who want to target their

advertisements at you. What about the government, and what do they know about you? The an-

swer is that the government knows everything available commercially plus all that which can be gleaned via access to your web searches, email, and social networking. We do not have the privilege of knowing the extent of that knowledge, nor challenging the content. Between the collection of industrial data, their now exposed snooping of all the search engines and their gathering of all email traffic, there isn’t much left that the government doesn’t know. That bothers some people. Pre-9/11, there were a lot of disparate industry databases with information about our purchase habits, for example in the travel, banking, and insurance industries. These databases contained vast amounts of personally identified information. Post-9/11, under the auspices of the Patriot Act and a host of rulings and urgent regulations, the line be-tween private industry and government was obliterated, and private industry has been compelled to make all records available to the government. What used to take a court order to obtain is now available in a searchable browser format to authorized employees of several three-letter agencies.

Do you care? Should you care? Frankly, it’s something that most people feel better not knowing. Remember that trip to New York you took in 2003? Do you remember which airline you flew, when it left, whether you checked bags, if you travelled with a companion, and what seat you sat in? Probably not! But in an attempt to build the linkages and trends that help predict terror-ism, all of that information has been provided by the transportation industry to the Department of Homeland Security.

It’s controversial. On one hand, we have folks saying, “It doesn’t bother me that there are these vast reservoirs of information about me, because I’m not a criminal and frankly I wouldn’t have known about this unless you told me. It doesn’t affect me on a day to day basis.” On the other hand, we have folks who feel that the unwarranted collection of information about us, and our inability to review or challenge anything that may be used against us, is a violation of our individual rights, and freedom, and is a giant step toward totalitarianism and tyranny. Boiled down, it would seem that the data col-lection game is either about making money or preventing terrorism. What do you think? Is it that simple?

There is much, much more to be said on this topic, and I encourage you to discuss it with those around you. There are many sides of the discussion, and blanket statements pro or con are probably somewhat oversimplified. We certainly live in complex times. For help with the security and maintenance of your computers and networks, give the friendly staff at Portable CIO a call at 925-552-7953 or email [email protected]. Advertorial

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Scottish Country Dancing Come dance every Thursday evening, year-round (with the single

exception of Thanksgiving)! No partner is required and no Scottish ancestry is required. Adult beginner classes for Scottish Country Dancing take place each week with free lessons at 8PM. More experienced dancers also begin at 8PM. Once a month Ceilidh dancing will take place as well. Dancing will be held at the Danville Grange, located at 743 Diablo Rd in Danville. All dance nights are drop-in. The first beginner lesson is free, afterwards the cost is $8/night or $6/night if attending a 10-week session paid in advance.

Call Witsie at (925) 676-3637 or Kathleen at (925) 934-6148 for more information. For children’s classes ages 7 and up, please contact Cathy at (925) 284-9068 for dates and fees.


Bulldozers continued from front page

See Bulldozers continued on page 30

Symptoms and CausesThe most common complaint is pain at the bottom of the heel. A classic

symptom is sharp pain with the first few steps out of bed. Patients may report pain and discomfort when flexing the foot with toes pointing upward towards the shin. There are several possible causes of plantar fasciitis. Very often, there can be an injury of the soft tissues causing pain and inflammation. Ab-normal biomechanics can also strain and cause pain in the foot. This can be due to misalignments or old injuries to the foot, ankle, knee, hip, and spine. How can Chiropractic Care Help?

There are 26 small bones in the foot; it only takes one to be misaligned to sig-nificantly alter the biomechanics of the foot. Misalignments in the spine and leg also alter the body’s weight distribution and cause one foot to bear more weight than the other. Chiropractic care realigns the spine and joints of the body to restore proper stability and mobility in these areas affected. There are other supportive techniques that we use at our office to help reduce inflammation and pain in the soft tissues including myofascial, cold laser therapy, and ultrasound therapy as well as custom orthotic foot supports.

Marshall’s story is not unique--many patients with similar conditions are helped everyday with chiropractic care. Who do you know who is suffering from heel pain? Consider chiropractic care to help get them back on their feet!

Sycamore Valley Chiropractic is located at 565 Sycamore Valley Rd. West in Danville. Please visit www.sycamorevalleychiropractic.com or call 925-837-5595 for more information or to schedule an appointment. Advertorial

Plantar Fasciitis: A Case StudyBy Melissa Ko, DC, Sycamore Valley Chiropractic

Plantar Fasciitis is a painful condition of the foot and it affects two million Americans, 10% of the U.S. population. Here is the story of a case we helped.

“Marshall” 72 year old maleComplaint: Right heel painCase history: Marshall is experiencing pain at

the bottom of his heel and foot which is felt most when he is walking. He was diagnosed with plan-

tar fasciitis by his medical doctor and given a cortisone injection for pain control six months prior. He was also given stretching exercises for the foot and recommended arch support to wear in his shoes. Marshall experienced temporary relief after the shot, but the pain returned within a few months. The pain is described as sharp and 8/10 in intensity. Marshall is usually ac-tive with daily walks and travel, however, the pain is affecting his activities as well as making household chores uncomfortable to perform.

Treatment and Results: Marshal received chiropractic adjustments to the right foot for eight weekly visits over two months along with cold laser and myofascial therapy. By the fourth visit, Marshall reported a 40% improve-ment in pain. By the seventh visit, the pain was rarely noticeable, and by the eighth visit, the pain was completely gone. He is now able to resume his daily walks and has recently returned from a trip to the Holy Land, pain-free.What is Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis occurs when the soft tissues between the heel and the toe at the bottom of the foot, called the plantar fascia, become inflamed and painful due to microscopic damage to the tissue accumulated over time. As the condition degenerates, this can sometimes result in a bone spur that grows off the heel bone, leading to further irritation.

Northern Uganda in 1991 to escape the rebel war. The two were just young girls with no money, no home, and no family. They traveled mostly on foot, about 400 kilometers, from Northern Uganda to Kireka.

Eventually the girls found themselves at Acholi Quarters, an internally displaced-person camp filled with refugees with similar stories of devasta-tion. Desperate to earn money, the girls broke rocks, larger rocks into smaller rocks, for less than a dollar a day. They later learned to craft paper bead jewelry which helped them earn a decent wage.

When Kira traveled to Uganda, she was excited to begin working with the women and to expand sales of their jewelry in the US. She brought some of the jewelry items home and launched PAPERbeadsFROMafrica.com as a FaF fundraiser and to support the women who made them. The jewelry was a huge hit.

Sadly, this past summer, the women in Kire-ka ran into a new issue: DEVEL-OPMENT. Their camps’ land was sold, and they are forced to find new homes. For the second time in 25 years, the w o m e n h a v e h a d t o s t a r t over. Now that Joseph Kony has left Uganda, the women dream of taking their families home to their friends, family, and their old way of life. Unfortunately, the women simply do not have the means to make this dream

Adipo Christine stands in front of her home of 24 years. It will be bulldozed in December.

2014 Medicare Open Enrollment is HereIs Your Medicare Advantage Plan Ending or Raising Its Premium for Next Year?

Medicare open enrollment runs through December 7th. If you have SCAN or Health Net Medicare Advantage plans, you probably received notice that your plan is being discontinued next year. You have more options than you may realize and extra time to decide what to do. Other plans have premium increases for 2015. If you have one of those plans, you also have additional choices during open enrollment.

Besides changes to the Advantage plans, it’s always a good idea to review your health or drug plan each year anyway to make sure your meds are still covered at the lowest cost to you. Your needs and medications may have changed since last year, and plans can change their formulary of approved drugs and copays too.

HICAP volunteers will be giving community talks about the 2015 Medicare plan changes and your options at the San Ramon Regional Medical Center on Wednesday, November 12 at 7pm and at the San Ramon Senior Center on Wednesday, November 19 at 10am.

HICAP will also be holding a Saturday session at the County office in Pleasant Hill. No appointment is necessary for that event which will offer free individual counseling on a drop-in basis on Saturday, November 15th between 9am to 3pm at 500 Ellinwood Way in Pleasant Hill. You can get assistance with any Medicare-related issue at that event.

Finally, HICAP has scheduled several special counseling sessions focused on reviewing your prescription drug plans for next year to ensure that you have the best plan for you. These events require an appointment and a worksheet listing your medications to be submitted in advance. Nearby sessions are at the Walnut Creek Senior Club on November 20 and the Danville Senior Center on December 2. Worksheets can be picked up at the senior centers or downloaded from the HICAP website.

HICAP can potentially save you a significant amount of money and help you get the right plan for you! HICAP is sponsored by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the California Department of Aging and Contra Costa County. HICAP does not sell or endorse any products and offers free, impartial information and assistance to all Medicare beneficiaries or their caregivers.

Call HICAP at 925-602-4163 or visit their website at www.cchicap.org for more information.

[email protected] Danville Today News ~ November 2014 - Page 27What Are E-Cigs and Can They Help Quit Smoking?By Gigi Chen, MD

An electronic cigarette (e-cig or e-cigarette) is a battery-powered vaporizer which simulates tobacco smoke by producing an aerosol that resembles smoke. It generally uses a heating element that vaporizes a liquid solution known as e-liquid. E-liquids usually contain a mixture of propylene glycol, vegetable, nicotine, and flavorings.

E-cigs are designed to look like cigarettes, right down to the glowing tip. When the smoker puffs on it, a mist of liquid, flavorings, and nicotine that looks something like smoke is let off. The smoker inhales it like cigarette smoke, and the nicotine is absorbed into the lungs. The nicotine inside the cartridges is very addictive.

In a recent study through Memorial Sloan Kettering, cancer patients who smoked were enrolled in a tobacco treatment program, and their smoking history was evaluated. At the beginning of the study, it was noted that the patients who used e-cigarettes were more dependent on nicotine than those who didn’t use them. They also had tried to quit more times in the past and were more likely to be diagnosed with cancers of the lung, head, and neck. At the conclusion of the study, the researchers found that the number of participants who kicked the habit was the same in both groups.

Other studies give a mixed picture. Some studies conclude that e-cigs can help people give up the tobacco habit, while other studies suggest that the artificial cigarette carries its own set of health risks. Presently, there is no government oversight of the e-cigarette, and because the FDA has not approved it, there is no way for the public health professional, medical com-munity, or consumer to know what chemicals are contained in e-cigarettes or what the short and long term health implications might be from their usage. Researchers conclude that questions remain about the long-term safety and effectiveness of e-cigarettes, and that more controlled research is needed.

Medical practitioners advise all patients to quit smoking traditional com-bustible and electronic cigarettes by using FDA-approved cessation medica-tions and/or smoking cessation counseling.

To learn more about the health risks of smoking, join Dr. Chen and Dr. Michaela Straznicka at “Shine a Light on Lung Cancer” on November 13, 7PM – 9PM at the Lafayette Library and Learning Center. This educational event will focus on the unique issues facing lung cancer patients and will include information regarding new screening guidelines, clinical trials, new treatment options, and survivorship issues. To register, please call (925) 677-5041 x272 or go online at www.ShineALightOnLungCancer.org.

Gigi Chen, MD is a medical oncologist and hematologist with Diablo Val-ley Oncology and Hematology Medical Group. She sees patients in Pleasant Hill, Rossmoor, and San Ramon. For more information or to schedule an ap-pointment, please call (925) 677-5041 or visit www.dvohmg.com. Advertorial

Avoiding Unnecessary Prostate Biopsies

By Stephen Taylor, MDProstate Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

holds the promise of avoiding unnecessary prostate biopsies in men with elevated Prostate Specific An-tigen (PSA) blood levels. The PSA blood test has been used for over 25 years to screen men for early stage Prostate Cancer. Elevated PSA blood levels can signal the presence of Prostate Cancer, even when the

Digital Rectal Exam (DRE) is normal. In fact, over 80% of Prostate Cancers are diagnosed because of an elevated PSA blood test. However, when the PSA is between 4 and 10, approximately 30% of men will have a positive biopsy for Prostate Cancer, and 70% will have a negative biopsy after a stan-dard Ultrasound Guided biopsy is performed. A standard Ultrasound Guided Biopsy consists of an ultrasound probe, shaped like a finger, which is placed in the rectum, local anesthetic is injected into the prostate to anesthetize the prostate. Typically 12 biopsies are obtained with a biopsy needle. A “standard pattern” of 12 biopsies are taken in locations where prostate cancer is likely to be found. However, with the standard pattern, prostate cancer can be missed, and 70% of the biopsies are negative for Prostate Cancer. This can lead to continued worry about the presence of missed cancer, repeat biopsies, delay in diagnosis etc. Every time a biopsy is performed, there is a small chance of infection as well as increased costs and discomfort.

Recently, Multi-parametric MRI has been shown to hold promise in re-ducing the number of unnecessary biopsies, and to be more accurate when biopsies are obtained. Prostate MRI uses no X-Rays and is very safe. The MRI exam takes approximately one hour. Once the images are obtained, several parameters are analyzed to determine if Prostate Cancer is present. If the Multi-parametric MRI is normal, we are at the 90% confidence level that no cancer is present (which is more accurate than a prostate biopsy), and a prostate biopsy can be avoided. If the MRI is highly suggestive of prostate cancer, than a biopsy is indicated. Moreover, we now know where the cancer is “hiding” in the prostate. We can fuse the MRI images onto the “real time” ultrasound images and target our biopsies directly into the suspicious area. This greatly improves the accuracy of the prostate biopsies, with biopsies positive in 90% of men without previous biopsies and in 60% of men with previous negative biopsies. In addition, MRI detected biopsies tend to be the higher grade, more aggressive types – ie, the ones that will require active treatment. The slower growing, more indolent types, are usually not seen on MRI, so we avoid “over diagnosing” those which do not require treatment.

Pacific Urology, a division of Diablo Valley Oncology Hematology Medi-cal Group, is the first to offer the MRI-Ultrasound Fusion Guided Biopsies in the San Francisco East Bay. Dr. Stephen Taylor and Dr. Judson Brandeis have undergone specific training for this procedure and are available to perform this procedure in their Walnut Creek office.

Dr. Stephen Taylor is a Urologist with Pacific Urology. He specializes in robotic urologic surgeries and prostate, kidney, and bladder cancers. For more information, please call (925) 937-7740 or visit www.PacificUrology.com. Advertorial

Group Helps People Cope with Death of Pets When you lose your pet, you often feel like a part of you is lost. The

death of your beloved animal companion is one of the most difficult losses you may ever feel. This loss is sometimes made more painful by society’s seeming lack of support for pet grief.

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

For further information and/or to register, please call Bereavement Ser-vices 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.

Cars • Trucks • Vans • Boats • Real EstateLive Operators on hand 7 days a week

Tax deduction • All transfer documents handledFree pick-up • Running or not in most cases

888-694-5250www.thefallenheroes.org

DONATE YOUR CAR!

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was, but I quickly learned the Fallen Heroes needed to have non-profit status to get sponsors.”

A quick study, Tom filed the necessary paperwork, founding the organi-zation with this mission: “To pay tribute to both law enforcement and fire personnel who die in the performance of their duties in California, providing support programs to effected agencies and families in need.” Corporate spon-sors, entertainers, and athletes furnished funding and talent. Participation in the inaugural golf tournament in 2010 by Danville hero Sully Sullenberger highlighted the outpouring of local support.

Gallinatti is adamant that police and fire personnel should be honored together by a single organization.“Police and firefighters are America’s inter-nal protectors,” he emphasizes. The Oakland Raiders agree. The fifth annual Oakland Raiders Police and Fire Appreciation Game with Tailgate Party hosted by the Fallen Heroes takes place on Sunday, December 21st. Ticket sales contributing to the Fallen Heroes cause go fast with 500 or more party participants expected. Half-time entertainment will showcase police and fire representatives from agencies buying the most tickets in comic competitions such as hamster ball and mini-tricycle races.

Retired MLB pitcher Vida Blue is one of many famous fans you might spot supporting the Fallen Heroes at the Raiders event. He writes: “Throughout my career as I stood on the pitcher’s mound, and even to this very day, when I hear the National Anthem I am moved remembering the valiant men and women who keep this country, our 50 states, and our city streets bustling with young ones determined to make their dreams a reality, free from violence and devastation. I will always ‘go to bat’ for Police and Fire: The Fallen Heroes, and I consider myself a very lucky man to be able to continue to do so in the many years to come.”

Beneficiaries of their programs have high praise for the way the Fallen Heroes operates. Able to rapidly match opportunity to need, the Fallen Heroes accepted the proffered donation of an automobile and immediately transferred it to the family of Cottonwood Fire Protection District Captain Mark Ratledge, who was killed by a truck skidding out of control on the icy road where he was monitoring the scene of a previous accident. His fiancée, Jennifer Hobbs, explains that her oldest daughter was working full time to put herself through college when her ancient Honda Civic died. “To see the smile on my daughter’s face and to know she would be in a safe running car was very heartwarming. The Fallen Heroes came into our lives at a desper-ate time of need, showing us that people still do care.”

For Jennifer Schmid, Secretary of the Board of the Fallen Heroes, the organization’s ability to act quickly is crucial. “I am proud of what we can do immediately for families and agencies. As we grow, we don’t want to lose that expediency.” Part of that expediency is how fast funds flow from the Fallen Heroes to those in need. Schmid adds, “It’s wonderful to know that all the money that comes in from individual and corporate donations goes right back out to the families and agencies.”

Gallinatti’s relationships within the public safety community enable the Fallen Heroes to assess and provide appropriate aid expeditiously. He notes: “When a Line of Duty Death occurs, communication with the involved agency is limited due to the sudden and horrific nature of the loss. With 30 years of service in the Oakland Fire Department and statewide connections as a former instructor for the state Fire Marshall’s Office, I can walk into this

Page 28 - November 2014 ~ Danville Today News

See Heroes continued on page 31

The Benefit of the Base Tan?By Dr. Jerome Potozkin

Last week a gentleman named Bill came to the office to see me for a full body skin cancer screen-ing. He is a highly educated professional. We treated him in the past for skin cancer. Luckily for him, we did not detect anything remotely suspicious for skin cancer at his most recent visit. As I customarily do, at the end of his visit I asked if there was anything else I could do for him or if he had any other ques-

tions. Bill said, “Doc, as a matter of fact I do. In two weeks we are going to the Caribbean, and I was wondering what type of tanning beds I should use prior to my trip?”

Bill was operating under the false notion that if you are going on a tropi-cal vacation that one can get a “protective” base tan by using tanning beds prior to the trip. Tanning beds are a known carcinogen and would increase his risk of developing skin cancer. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, each time you tan you increase your risk of getting skin cancer including Melanoma. In addition, tanning causes premature ag-ing such as wrinkles and brown spots, changes skin texture, and increases the risk of blinding eye disease. Asking me what type of tanning bed to use would be like asking a lung doctor what the best brand of cigarettes are to smoke in preparation of smoking three packs of cigarettes per day.

What should you do if you are going on a tropical vacation? The answer is simple: sun protection. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen that blocks out both UVA and UVB with an SPF of 30 or greater. Don’t believe the myth that any SPF over 15 is a waste. Wearing hats, protective clothing, and sunglasses that block ultraviolet radiation are also a good idea. Do what you love but try to avoid the peak sun hours, and be sure to reapply your sunscreen.

When I shared this information with Bill, he asked what he should do about getting enough Vitamin D. Tanning beds are not a safe way to get Vitamin D. Vitamin D can be obtained in your diet and with supplements. There really is no good reason to use a tanning bed. If you want the look of a tan, then my recommendation is to use a self -tanner or to get a spray tan.

As part of your overall skin health in addition to sun protection, I do recommend having an annual skin evaluation by a board certified derma-tologist. It is also a good idea to do monthly self-examinations. If you have any spots that change, grow, or look suspicious, don’t hesitate to get them checked out.

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

CHP Mounted Unit Officers from Sacramento open the annual Golf and Bocce Tournament Tribute at Diablo Country Club. Photo courtesy of The Fallen Heroes.

Heroes continued from front page

kind of hot situation with the backing of corporate sponsors such as Chevron or AAA and provide immediate assistance, as the agency requests. Working as partners, The Fallen Heroes and our generous sponsors can accomplish what neither of us could do alone.”

The tragedy that claimed Kenyon Youngstrom’s life happened on south-bound I-680 near Livorna Road. CHP Officer Tyler Carlton comments, “My partner, Officer Kenyon Youngstrom, was shot in the line of duty on Septem-ber 4, 2012, succumbing to his wound the following day. It has now been two years since Kenyon’s sacrifice, and Police and Fire: The Fallen Heroes are still providing support and assistance.”

The Fallen Heroes Scholarship Fund established in 2012 helps children of those killed in the line of duty to achieve their educational goals. Youngstrom’s son Alex writes gratefully of aid received: “Through their contribution I was able to buy or rent all of my required textbooks and supplies without a bit of stress. I thank God for their ministry to those like me who have lost a loved one.” Setting up the fund required financial management skills. Gallinatti’s presentation to the Danville/Sycamore Valley Rotary Club brought enthu-siastic and knowledgeable volunteer Andrew Eakin on board. A generous contribution from the Eastwood Foundation helped jump-start the program,


Your Personal NutritionistEnd Diabetes Type II Without DrugsBy Linda Michaelis, RD, MS

Yes, it’s true. Minor changes in your diet with moderate exercise will bring your blood sugar levels down to normal levels in a very short time. This is not an exaggerated claim but reflects real results I see every day in my practice. Even my husband received bloodwork that indicated that he was diabetic. He made the changes that I suggested, and I am happy

to report his levels came down to normal within weeks.Close to 25 million Americans over 65 have Type 2 Diabetes (blood sugar

over 140 mg/dL) while another 90 million Americans 20 years or older have been diagnosed with Pre-Diabetes (blood sugar over 120 mg/dL). You should be aware of the fact that studies have shown us that the diabetes epidemic is a great contributor to the scourges of cancer, heart disease, and stroke. Your physician can confirm a diabetes diagnosis by looking at results of an A1C test which should not be greater than 6.5%. This test tells what your average glucose level has been over three months. I am glad to report that I am able to typically get my clients’ A1C down from 8.6% to 6.5% in three months, and doctors often express amazement by telling me they were about to put my clients on high doses of metformin.

The first reaction to a diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes is shock, fear, and even depression as most people diagnosed will immediately start taking 500-1000mg of metformin twice a day. (Diabetes Type 1 does need medication.) Clients report that for a couple of months they have diarrhea, gas, stomach pain, and flu like symptoms until their body adjusts to the medicine. I am adamant with my clients that they do not have to live with these side effects if they work closely with me and follow the dietary regimen I recommend.

A major problem with diabetes is that blood sugar levels spike throughout the day and result in the constant need for insulin to breakdown the sugars which, in turn, causes a large strain on the pancreas. People with diabetes either don’t make insulin efficiently, or their body’s cells no longer are able

to recognize insulin, leading to high blood sugars. Five Meal a Day Plan

It is extremely important to eat five small meals a day that will prevent the blood sugar from spiking and cause the need for greater amounts of insulin. Small meals should be eaten every few hours, and it is best to keep to the same times each day so your blood sugar will adapt. I not only recommend five meals but also suggest balancing the amount of proteins, carbs, and fats at each meal. For the first four meals, I recommend eating large amounts of protein, a carb, and some veggies. The evening meal should include a smaller amount of protein (which is harder to digest at night) to be enjoyed with at least a cup or more of whole grains and two cups of veggies. With few excep-tions, I find my clients actually begin to enjoy spacing out their meals during the day and are happy not to feel bloated from heavy meals. They enjoy the variety of smaller, tasty meals and large snacks. Clients easily lose weight and report higher levels of energy during the day.Desserts

Yes, you can have dessert as long as it is eaten after a meal and not on an empty stomach. At first I recommend 200 calories of dessert such as Fudgsicles, fruit juice bars, puddings, cupcake, or slice of cake with very little frosting.Exercise

An hour of exercise for 5-6 days a week is recommended, and I have found that breaking it up into two half hours of, for example, a brisk walk is quite effective. It is quite common to see a 50 point reduction of blood sugar after a walk, the best pill in town.

I know this all may sound too good to be true, but changes can be made if you do not want to rely on diabetic meds your whole life. The good news is that most insurance companies pay for nutritional counseling for diabetes.

I am glad to inform you that my services are covered by most insurances such as Aetna, Sutter Select, ABMG, Health Net, Hill Physicians. Please feel free to call me at (925) 855-0150 or email me at [email protected] and tell me about your nutrition concerns. Refer to my website www.LindaRD.com for past articles and nutrition tips in my blog section. Advertorial


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.

Wear Your Pink Shoes ProudlyBy Barbara Persons, MD, Persons Plastic Surgery, Inc.

On days that I am scheduled to operate (3 or 4 days a week), my attire is comfortably predictable - scrubs and my favorite pair of clogs. The clogs happen to be pink, and I am often asked, “Why the pink shoes?” I usually respond by simply tugging up my pant leg a bit to reveal the familiar pink ribbon logo used by so many worthy causes that

support Breast Cancer research and education. I don’t think about breast cancer for one month out of the year -- I think about it every day.

Reconstructive surgery makes up a good portion of my practice. I feel so fortunate that my practice allows me to actively participate in the care and treatment of many breast cancer patients. As a staff member at John Muir Hospital, I participate in weekly Tumor Board meetings, often as a panelist. The cases presented at these meetings help us coordinate excellent treatment plans for our patients, and they demonstrate that breast cancer does not spare any particular demographic. One in nine women will be diagnosed with breast cancer including the elderly, the 28 year old newlywed, the healthiest fitness guru, the couch potato, the vibrant career woman, and the mother, pregnant with her first child.

Like most cancers, early detection is key to a successful outcome in breast cancer patients. All too often breast cancer is discovered in advanced stages, requiring surgery and breast reconstruction along with radiation and chemotherapy. The physical toll of breast cancer is costly enough, but the emotional toll of losing our breasts can be devastating.

I am fortunate to be part of the team of people who make a positive im-pact in breast cancer patients’ lives by giving back to them something they thought was lost. Through advances and innovations in technique as well as new surgical materials, artful reconstruction of the breast has become a reality. Reconstructive breast surgery is now routinely performed at the same time as the mastectomy in close coordination with the general sur-geon, enabling women to wake up from surgery with breasts. In some cases the nipples and surrounding areolas can be saved as well. The emotional testimonials and thanks I receive from my breast cancer patients feed my soul. I am continually amazed by the strength and courage these women possess through such tragic circumstances. I recently had the pleasure of seeing a 60 year old woman who was told she could not have her breast reconstructed after mastectomy 10 years ago because of thin skin. Now, with new techniques and materials, she will soon have breasts again. She will feel whole.

The theme behind the breast cancer campaign is education and aware-ness. Realize that breast cancer affects us all. Please take the time to educate yourself, perform self breast exams every month, and please don’t delay your routine mammogram screening. To find instructions on how to perform a breast self-examination, please visit our website at www.personsplastic-surgery.com. Support the efforts of wonderful organizations like Susan G. Komen or the Avon Foundation. Join me in wear-ing your pink shoes proudly every day.

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

San Ramon Valley High School students Jenny Sharpe and Makenna Smith are buried in African children who don’t ever want them to leave!

a reality before the bulldozers arrive in December.Being a busy Monte Vista High junior, Kira didn’t set out to start another

project, but when she heard about these women who had become her friends being forced to move, the same spark her brothers had when they started FaF started building within. Kira took on the challenge. She crunched the numbers. What would it take to raise money to move the women 400 km, a similiar distance as from the East Bay to San Diego, she wondered? Kira asked and researched how much it would cost, and the ball started rolling.

As soon as Kira asked the first question about the cost of transporting them, the women became hopeful that she could somehow help them. Kira knew the power of rallying for a cause and making a difference. She felt her friends, her skills, and her knowledge could aid these women and their children in relocating and staying off the streets. With her background, energy, and net-work of teammates including Jenny Sharpe and Makenna Smith (SRVHS), Dylan Ross, Emily Reid, Raegan Waidlich, Kassidy Halstead (MVHS), Julie Nash (DVHS) and Brooke Knobbe (Dublin HS), they embraced the challenge and, using technology available to them, started a Crowdrise campaign.“Basics” Will Cost $28,000

The 31 women have 198 children, so the move actually means transport-ing 229 people. Knowing that just providing transportation isn’t enough, the budget includes a foundation to provide basic needs to give the women and children a fresh start. The $28,000 for basics would include temporary mud and grass hut housing, tools and seeds to plant crops, schooling fees and uniforms for 150 of the children, and a small contingency fund. An additional $15,000 would extend their goal and include “luxuries” such as school lunches and a drinking water well.

Each dollar collected brings the group closer to their goal. To relocate one person and provide temporary support it will cost $188. For many people living in the San Ramon Valley, that amount of money would pay for a night out, a fancy meal, or a nice tangible gift.

Please help local kids who are banding together to reach out to others a world away to give them a fresh start and future. Their goal is to “beat the bulldozer” and raise the needed funds by December 1st so the women and their children can be home by the holidays. If you would like to give, visit www.HOMEbyTHEholidays.com.

Bulldozers continued from page 26

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, under-eating, and bulimia. The group meets Wednesdays at 6PM at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Lafayette. Visit www.how-oa.org for more information.

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The Eye Opener By Gregory Kraskowsky, O.D., Alamo OptometryTrunk Show and Welcome to Our New Optician

We would like to invite everyone to our Trunk Show on November 20th from 4-7pm. We will have vendors present from Gucci, Oliver Peoples, and Juicy Couture. There will be refreshments served and door prizes for those in attendance, and it will be a great opportunity to spend an evening at our remodeled office and to meet our new optician, Faye.

Hosting a trunk show at the office is a great chance for patients who have been waiting to find that right pair of glasses or sun-glasses or are looking to change their style and want a large selection to be able to make a selection. The vendors will have their entire collection available, so all frames and sunglasses, in many sizes and colors can be viewed. Each of these lines has a distinctive look and will appeal to men and women of all ages.

Everyone is familiar with Gucci; the frames are sophisticated with a little elegance and style thrown in. Gucci is known for qual-ity and craftsmanship across all of their product line, and their frames are no exception. The frames and sunglasses come in multiple styles and colors to match anyone’s taste. The collection is for both men and women who appreciate quality and stylish eyewear.

In contrast, Oliver Peoples brings something else to the table. In addition to exceptional quality, their frames and sunglasses have a classic and vintage influence and still maintain a modern perspective. Like Gucci, these frames have appeal for both men and women. For those of you who like a clean and modern pair of glasses or sunglasses, Oliver Peoples are the frames for you.

Juicy Couture is the women’s line for those who want something cool and fun. This line has many plastic and metal frames and sunglasses for the girl or woman who wants to add some color and flair to her eyewear. Like the other two frame lines mentioned above, these frames will also make a statement but for a different reason.

We have chosen these three frame lines because they have the attributes that we look for in frames: superior quality and fashion-forward, contemporary appeal. All prescription glasses and sunglasses that are purchased on the evening of November 20th will receive free basic single vision lenses or a $100 credit towards lenses on their first pair and 20% off second pairs or sunglasses. This offer cannot be used in combination with any other deals or vision insurance benefits and is valid only on the evening of the show. If you are a current patient at the office and have a current prescription, there is no need to bring it with you. However, if you have had an exam at another office, please bring the prescription with you, as we will be unable to process your order that evening without having all the required information. We invite everyone to visit the office on November 20th from 4-7pm to view the frames, enjoy the refreshments, possibly win the door prizes, and meet our new optician, Faye. For those of you who have already had the pleasure of meeting her, you can attest to Faye’s friendly and professional demeanor. She has over 20 years of experience in the eye care field from being an optician, office manager, and frame representative. She has been a welcomed addition to our office, and she is looking forward to meeting everyone.

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

which awarded three scholarships in 2013 and four in 2014. The Help for Heroes Program funds protective equipment for budget-

stressed agencies as well as expenses related to honoring the fallen. Having trained volunteer firefighters in rural California, Gallinatti is sensitive to issues they face. “Small communities often lack sufficient funding for support,” he says. “A $750 donation may provide much needed equipment or training.” The specific amount refers to a request to fund breathing apparatus approved and fulfilled immediately.

Whatever the need, from supplying aid to the families of police and fire personnel killed in the line of duty to providing vocalists or photographers as requested for memorial services or helping townships create tribute me-morials, the Fallen Heroes makes each response a personal mission. Schmid relates, “Being able to actually meet someone, face to face, and help them when they are suffering such a loss is a large part of why I continue to vol-unteer so much of my time for this organization.”

Visit www.thefallenheroes.org for more information including how to become involved as a volunteer or make a donation.

Heroes continued from page 28

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

and their caregivers. Opportunities include: • Licensed Hair Stylists to offer hair cuts and styling• Certified Massage Therapists to provide massage therapy • Mobile Notaries to witness the signing of important documents• Bereavement Support Volunteers to provide support to family members

after their loved one has died • Patient Support Volunteers to provide companionship and practical as-

sistance To apply for free training, call Hospice of the East Bay at (925) 887-5678

and ask for the Volunteer Department, or email [email protected]. Established in 1977, Hospice of the East Bay is a not-for-profit agency that

helps people cope with end of life by providing medical, emotional, spiritual, and practical support for patients and families, regardless of their ability to pay.

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


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

Magnificent Mt. Diablo views from this lovely updated 4 bedroom 3.5 bedroom home. Two Master suites. Priced to sell at $1,250,000.

Nicely updated 3203 sq. ft., 4 bedroom, 3.5 bath. 1.45 acres, stable, pool, heritage oak.

Priced to Sell $1,795,000.

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

Sell $1,639,000

Nicely updated West Side single story. Backs to open space, large level yard. Oak trees. Priced

to sell at $999,000.

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

Priced to sell $1,679,000.

Diablo Horse PropertyDanville West Side

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

Alamo View Home

Magee Ranch Executive Home

Diablo Creek Single Story

Professionals YouCan Count On

The Combs Team

Nancy Joe

www.TheCombsTeam.com

®Call the Combs Team

925-989-6086

PENDINGSOLD

SOLD

PENDING SALE

Danville Area Real Estate: Prices Up 13% In our local Danville Area Market which includes Alamo, Danville, Diablo, and

Blackhawk, homes are selling at rate of about 118 units per month. This is really good when you consider the economy, while improving, has still not completely recovered. Distressed home sales are down from 22% in 2013 to approximately 10% today. It is doubtful that these sales are exerting negative pressure on pricing at this time.

The Town of Danville leads the area with the shortest time from listing to sale at 21 days. During the most recent quarter Blackhawk had the longest time from listing to sale with 38 days. A normal market would be 3-6 months from listing to sale. So, this is definitely not a normal market. It’s a hot market. Homes priced right continue to sell quickly. Multiple offers are still occurring in the Danville Area Market as buyer demand still exceeds inventory, pushing prices up and up.

Average sales price for an Alamo home rose from $1,438,453 in the third quarter of 2013 to $1,601,093 in the third quarter of 2014 for an 11% advance quarter on quarter. Prices are up from the first two quarters as well. Typically one would expect to see the highest prices in springtime and a small seasonal decline through the summer into fall.

On average Alamo homes sold during the third quarter 2014 were smaller by approximately 100 square feet compared to the earlier time period. So, none of that incredible increase can be explained by size. Price paid per square foot during the third quarter advanced from $435 per square foot to $499 per square foot. That works out to be about 15% more than during the same time period last year. This dazzling

Home Sales Alamo, Blackhawk Danville, Diablo (July 1-Sept. 30)Active Pending Sold DOM List Price Sold Price Sq. Foot $ Sq. Foot

Alamo 46 23 89 34 1,601,570$ 1,601,093$ 3,208 499$ Blackhawk 36 16 24 38 1,512,614$ 1,501,167$ 3,557 422$

Diablo 9 4 4 35 2,189,500$ 2,140,000$ 3,992 536$ Danville 87 76 237 21 1,048,650$ 1,051,684$ 2,401 438$

rate of increase has exceeded all expectations.Danville also showed impressive gains during the third quarter year-over-year

with average sales price increasing from $925,507 to $1,051,684 for a 13.6% increase in price. Dollars paid per square foot grew from $390 to $438 for about a 12.3% increase. Thirty-three Danville Homes sold for more than $500 per square foot. This is 13 more than during the same time period last year. Blackhawk average price advanced from $1,298,966 to $1,501,684 during this time for a 15.5% increase and also registered a strong increase in dollars paid per square foot, climbing from $389 to $422 for an 8.4% increase. One Blackhawk sale exceeded the $500 per square foot mark during the third quarter of 2014.

Diablo, our priciest neighborhood, remained steady with four home sales during the quarter and a $536 average square foot price. Two Diablo homes crossed the $600 per square foot mark with one obtaining a remarkable price of $716 per square foot on a purchase price of $3.8 million.

I think it is noteworthy that this is the third year in a row in which the Danville Area Market defied the normal seasonal pattern of price, softening during the sum-mertime. Will we get a fourth next year? Keep reading this column to find out.

Nancy and I have more than 3,000 email subscribers who receive this article in advance of publication. Sign up on our website, or just send me an email, and we can add you to the list. I assure you no spam will follow.

It’s important to remember that there really is no “average” home, and no two homes are exactly alike. If you would like an honest “no strings attached” opinion of your home’s current market value and suggestions for preparing it for market, please give me a call 925-989-6086 or send me an email [email protected]. Please visit our website to discover more information on our local market www.thecombsteam.com.

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Danville_Today_Nov_2014