danville today news, november 2012

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Thankful for Our Parks: They Nearly Never HappenedBy Jody Morgan

Osage Station Park is a kaleidoscope of shifting patterns on a sunny Fall Satur-day as teams of girls and boys of various ages maneuver soccer balls on multiple fi elds of play. Witnessing a similar scene at Sycamore Valley Park last year while watching her grandson’s Livermore team competing in the Valley-wide soccer tournament, Sandy Myers recalls: “I overheard a discussion about how awful it was that Danville didn’t have more soccer fi elds. I smiled to myself and thought, ‘If you only knew.’ Back in 1974, the Valley was about one year away from not having any parks at all, and only quick action from a handful of concerned residents saved four of the fi ve remaining major sites in the Valley for future parks.”

Although the subject of setting aside suitable parcels of land for parks was fi rst raised in the 1960s, the question did not appear on a ballot until April 1972. Proponents of the measure conducted a survey that indicated 87.5% of respon-

dents favored park de-velopment. Only 34% of the San Ramon Valley’s 9,559 registered voters turned out to record their preference. The Parks and Recreation measure was defeated by a vote of 1,894 opposed to 1,394 in favor. At that time, a decade before any of the towns incorporated, the San Ramon Valley was a single political area including Alamo, Dan-ville, and much of what is now San Ramon.

When Sandy Myers moved to Danville from Oregon in 1971, the closest park she could

visit with her two pre-school children was Heather Farm in Walnut Creek. She remembers that Danville’s only stop sign at that time was at the intersection of

Lighting of the Old Oak Tree

The holiday season is upon us, and if you’re considering a perfect way to kick it off, grab your family and friends and spend the evening in Danville, where the Lighting of the Old Oak Tree on Friday, November 23rd will take place.

In its 36th year, the Lighting of the Old Oak Tree is a favorite community custom for all ages. The event begins at 5:15pm, when everyone gathers around the town’s 350-year-old oak tree to enjoy refreshments and music provided by the San Ramon Valley High School Chorus and the Danville Girls Chorus under the direction of Ken Abrams. The magic continues as Father Christmas and the Snow Angel arrive. When the Snow Angel

sprinkles fairy dust the Old Oak Tree lights up in glorious illumination. After-wards, Reel Blondes, a Danville cabaret troupe, spring into action as brightly wrapped holiday gifts and escort Father Christmas and the Snow Angel through downtown Danville with the community following - enjoying holiday goodies

November 2012 Serving Danville

See Lighting continued on page 20

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PAIDPermit 263Alamo CA

ECRWSS

LocalPostal Customer

Volume IV - Number 13000F Danville Blvd. #117,

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

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

the advertising herein, nor does publication imply endorsement.See Sea Serpents continued on page 25

See Parks continued on page 22

Fall Saturday at Osage Station Park.

R-7 Committee in early 1980s: Pictured left to right - Seated: Frankie Ross, Jim Aigeltinger, Sandy Myers, Ron Crane. Standing: Tom Hanson, Ed Best, George McCauley, Dick McNeely. Photo courtesy of Beverly Lane and Ralph Cozine.

Sea Serpent volunteer coach Jack Garrett assists one of the learn-to-swim Sea Serpent athletes. Photo by Deanna Wentzel.

East Bay Sea Serpents By Fran Miller

One of the area’s most highly regard-ed swimming programs is the result of serendipity. Several years ago, Special Olympics volunteer Joleen Silverfoote was helping at a basketball game when a fellow volunteer suggested she start a Special Olympics swim team. With no formal swim training, Silverfoote found the suggestion a little crazy. “But after several weeks of being cajoled, I would say the stars lined up all at the right time,” says Silverfoote.

Eleven years later, the East Bay Sea Serpents swim program meets every Sunday afternoon at the Campolindo High School Soda Center, serving Special Olympics-registered athletes primarily from the Lamorinda area and Diablo corridor. A large pool of volunteers, mostly students from the area’s high schools, runs the program. There is no cost to the athletes who range in age range from 6 to over 40.

“I never thought Sea Serpents would be a success,” says Silverfoote, a Moraga resident whose three grown daughters all participated as coaches. “But the program continues to be a win/win for both the athletes and our volunteers who are mostly high school swimmers and water polo play-ers. They get as much, if not more, out of their

www.yourmonthlypaper.com - November 2012 ~ Danville Today News

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Boulevard ViewBy Alisa Corstorphine, Editor

My mother was a list maker, I am a list maker, and my kids are list makers. I was trained early. When I was grow-ing up, there was often a “to do” list written with a black Flair pen on a 3x5 index card. Every day, mom taped the card to the window right by the door so we’d see it each time we went out. Mom used the list to keep her fi ve kids on schedule and to make sure things like taking out the trash, handing in school forms, and vacuuming and mopping the

fl oors (making sure we used at least fi ve buckets of water for the mopping job) got done. “The List” was as much a part of our lives as eating and sleeping.

Lists give us something to do, something to remember, something to think about, or something to be thankful or grateful for. And, they can also be a lot of fun. Over several summers my daughter and I participated in a family scavenger hunt that had a list of several hundred things to fi nd or do. Scavenger hunts are great games for those that like to tackle lists! This hunt included things you knew you’d seen somewhere, but couldn’t quite put your fi nger on where. When you found the item, proof was made in the form of a picture or phone-video of the item or event, and an then an upload was posted to a Facebook account. It was a blast. Some of the tasks included, “Find a pigeon pecking at a pizza crust,” “Find a wacky wavy infl atable arm man,” and “Find a man pushing a shopping cart fi lled with items that are higher than his head.” They weren’t at all impossible, but you had to be really observant, get creative in the interpretation of the requirement, and always keep your list at hand!

A friend has recently been posting a “Gratitude List” on her Facebook wall. This is not a bucket list of things to do or accomplish (like my son has; suppos-edly we will be roasting a whole pig in our backyard for Christmas?!). Rather, it’s a list of things to be thankful for and things that invoke the senses such as: music with memories, food for my table, warm PJs, talking with my daddy, a few goals reached, patience, iced tea in a mason jar, friendships, laughing boys, autumn smells, silence, dinner with friends, the smell of rain, warm tea, and work to keep busy. Every week she adds another fi ve or so items to the

list. It’s a great, public reminder of the things that keep her grounded in her life, and it resonates with her friends who follow her posts.

In a email written 15 years ago, my mother noted some of her favorite things. She mentioned fl annel sheets in winter, and light, fl uffy, cuddly warm down comforters. The note went on refl ecting on a treasured alpaca blanket that was brought from South America in the early 1900s by her grandfather. She commented, “It was my mother’s for many years, and she gave it to me. It is now getting thin and threadbare, but I love it. It is warm and makes me feel secure, and I have used it since I was a small child.”

Further on she included a list of her favorite things she jotted down as a teenager – a vegetable garden, white fences, baked potatoes roasted in coals, watching a snail eat a blade of grass, the outside layer of a roasted marshmal-low, views from high places, a train’s whistle, the roar of the sea, people with no prejudices, good hot soup, the muscles of a running horse, a hot bath and hearty dinner after a day at the beach, the smell of vanilla or strawberry bark, the moon over the rim of a mountain, a fi rm handshake, talking to older people about their childhood, big puffy white clouds, eating freshly roasted pumpkin seeds, the toothless grins of babies, clean sheets, exploring caves, riding in a bumpy jeep, sprouting avocado seeds in glass jars, a thunderstorm on the desert, fresh baked cookies, and secret places.

My lists are plentiful and endless. My husband and I have businesses to run, a house to care for, and our own plans and aspirations. My husband didn’t grow up with lists, so the list-making process isn’t as automatic for him, but he loves the fi nal ‘check-off’ when a task has been completed (don’t we all?). Last weekend we sold two cars that had been sitting in our driveway, and these were a direct result of being listed and acted upon. It felt great.

Something happens when we write these lists. We’re committing our here-tofore hidden thoughts to a physical, tangible medium. We’re expending the effort to become clear in our intent and to communicate it to others. Lists cause action, and lists motivate people. Lists are plans, and the person with the best plan usually wins. Therefore, list-makers are usually winners who have taken the superb and glorious step of converting thought into action, and they’re the folks around you who are probably getting everything done. Thanks mom!

[email protected] Danville Today News ~ November 2012 -

Carolyn GwynnRealtor

DRE #01888136

(925) 336-7525 [email protected]

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

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

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

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

September’s months supply of inventory (MSI) was 1.5 months. A balanced market is 4-6 months; Danville is a seller’s market! The holidays present a unique opportunity for sellers as inventory drops even further. Don’t wait, let me help you prepare your home for sale now.

Danville Real Estate ActivitySeptember 2011 versus September 2012

Median Closed Sales Price -0%#Pending Sales +11%#Closed Sales +12%% Sales Bank related 19.57%MSI Index 1.5, -66%

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Creekside Community Church1350 Danville Boulevard, Alamo, CA

Friday, November 9, 2012 from 4-8pmand

Saturday, November 10, 2012 from 9am - 3pmAll proceeds will be donated to The Macedonian Outreach, a non-profi t Christian organization

founded with the purpose of helping the neediest children in the Balkans.Thank you and God bless you!www.macedonianoutreach.org

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

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

Tickets costing $25-$35 can be purchased at the East Bay Flower Company located at 206 Sycamore Valley Rd. West in the Danville Livery.

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

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

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

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

Thursdays @ the VT will screen four timeless fi lms starting with Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds on November 1st, Raiders of the Lost Ark on November 15th, Casablanca on November 29th, and A Christmas Story on December 13th.

Start off your evening by channeling the characters from movies past; wear appropriate and inspired costumes from each movie. Prizes will be given for best and most creative costumes. All shows start at 8pm, and $5 tickets are on sale now.

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

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

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


Lost Dog!

Danville Dog is MissingHe has become lost in this paper!

Luana Klabunde is our winner!

If you fi nd him and your name is drawn!

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

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

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

$50 REWARD

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925.820.9570 714 San Ramon Valley Blvd, Suite B, Danville

Sycamore Square (next to Lucky’s) | [email protected]

Bob Shalon, EAMaster Tax Advisor • Enrolled Agent

Danville H&R Block Still Open by AppointmentDanville H&R Block Still Open by AppointmentThe deadline for extension fi ling has come and gone. I am proud to

say we helped a tremendous amount of people fi le their 2011 income taxes on time. It was great getting to know so many new people in the area and do tax planning with many of you.

I am available the rest of the year for any tax needs you have, just call and set an appointment at 925-820-9570. This is an excel-lent time to discuss your situations as I will have no other clients and plenty of time for anyone who comes in. There is no charge for any of the planning we do or discussions we have, I love doing it.

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

Ramon Valley meets every third Wednesday of the month at the Veterans Memorial Building, located at 400 Hartz Avenue, Danville, on the corner at East Prospect Avenue and Hartz Avenue. This month’s meeting will be held Wednesday, November 21st. Doors open at 7PM, and the meeting begins at 7:30PM. For more information, contact Post Commander Ernie Petagara at (925) 362-9806. Mail to: VFW Post 75 San Ramon Valley, P.O. Box 1092, Danville, CA 94526. Find out more about the VFW and our Post on the internet at www.vfwpost75.org.Delta Nu Psi Collection

For our collections in November, we would love to send lots of chocolate candy to our Troops. By the middle of the month the temperatures will have cooled, and our servicemen have not had chocolate for about six months. Hal-loween candy that your children collected is always welcome.

Our collection dates are CVS in Alamo on November 2nd and Lunardi's in Danville on November 9th from 11am to 2pm.

We have now sent 24,790 pounds of “gourmet junk food.” For more infor-mation, visit www.deltanupsi.org.

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

Hospice of the East Bay invites the public to participate in its 26th Annual Tree of Lights ceremonies to be held in 11 locations throughout Contra Costa in November and December. Each light on every tree is symbolic of a life and will shine in honor or memory of a beloved friend or family member.

Please join any of the commemorative ceremonies to enjoy music, poetry, remembrances by family members and friends of Hospice, and the special mo-ment when the tree lights up.

• Blackhawk Tree ~ Friday, December 7th, 5PM, Blackhawk Road at Black-hawk Drive

• Alamo Tree ~ Wednesday, December 12th, 12:15PM, Alamo Women’s Club, 1401 Danville Boulevard, Alamo

• Danville/San Ramon Tree ~ Friday, December 14th, 5:30PM, reception follows, Town Meeting Hall, 201 Front Street, Danville

Lights can be dedicated for a minimum gift of $25. Donors of $100 or more have the option of having their name listed in the tree lighting program. Tax-deductible tree sponsorships range from $250 to $10,000. Proceeds from Tree of Lights ceremonies benefi t our communities and the patients and families in the care of Hospice of the East Bay.

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

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

Blue Star MomsEast Bay Chapter 101 Blue Star Moms is having a Drop Zone to collect dona-

tions for their upcoming “Holiday Hugs” care package mailing to our Troops in December. Please help us show the Troops our gratitude and that we have not forgotten them and all they are doing to keep our Country safe!

Our goal is to send out 2,500 care packages, and we cannot do it without the generous support of our community. While you are out shopping, please consider picking up an item or two and dropping it off. We are glad to be back at the Veterans Building in downtown Danville since it was been newly renovated. We welcome you to come say hello, sponsor a care package mailing ($12.85), make a postcard or two, or drop off a donation. All donations will be mailed to our brave men and women serving our country overseas. Go to www.bluestarmoms.org and click on care packages for more information, including a list of our donation items. Drop Zone Dates and Locations November 3rd, 10AM - 3PM • Safeway, 200 Alamo Plaza, AlamoNovember 10th, 10AM - 3PM • Veterans Memorial Building, 400 Hartz Ave, DanvilleNovember 17th, 10AM - 3PM • Lucky’s, 21001 San Ramon Valley Blvd, San Ramon Thank you for supporting our Troops!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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SRVRWF Present Roseann Slonsky-Breault

The San Ramon Valley Republican Wom-en Federated (SRVRWF) present Roseann Slonsky-Breault the California Federation of Republican Women (CFRW) Northern Divi-sion President 2012/2013.

Roseann Slonsky-Breault. will install our incoming offi cers and give us an update on Northern Division and California Republican Women Federated. If you have not met this energetic woman already, you are in for a treat. She has risen through the ranks of the

Northern Division. We can expect great and exciting informa-tion for the future of our party. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear a dynamic Republican woman and to welcome in our 2013 Executive Board Offi cers.

The luncheon will be held Tuesday, November 27th at the Crow Canyon Country Club located at 711 Silver Lake Drive in Danville. The meeting social time begins at 11:30am followed by lunch and the speaker at noon. The cost is $25.

For reservations, call Mary 925.837.5465 or email [email protected] by Thursday, November 21st. To assure

yourself a place at the table, make your reservation early!

For more information visit San Ra-mon Valley Republican Women Feder-ated at www.srvrwf.org.

Spirit of DanvilleShopping & Dining Extravaganza

Get into the Spirit! Come to downtown Danville, Danville Livery, and the Rose Garden Shops on Saturday, Novem-ber 24th for festive events which will be going on all day and night.

Rain or shine, to keep your spirit warm, some merchants will offer hot cider, cookies, holiday ornaments and gifts throughout the day. Free trolley rides will shuttle shoppers in downtown Danville, the Livery, and the Rose Garden Shops from 2pm-8pm.

Santa will be visiting downtown between the hours of 2 and 6pm at The Museum of the San Ramon Valley. Bring the children down to share their wish list with Santa. Be sure to visit the Museum’s Christmas Memories exhibit. There is free admission daily.

Please share in the spirit by supporting the participating local nonprofi t organizations whose selfl ess work benefi ts Danville and surrounding communities. Participating charities include Blue Star Moms, Lazarex Cancer Foundation, Hospice of the East Bay, San Ramon Valley Education Foundation, and Dis-cover Danville Association.

For more information, visit www.discoverdanvilleca.com.

Ski and Snowboard Swap Come to one of Northern California’s largest Ski and Snowboard Swaps when

San Ramon Valley High School holds its 34th annual event November 3rd and November 4th from 10AM-4PM each day.

Buy/Sell new, past season, and gently used ski and snowboard equipment and apparel. Adult and child sizes are available. Retail ski and snowboard shops will also be offering a huge selection of new, past season, and demo equipment and apparel, along with expert fi ttings and advice. In addition, community members are invited to sell their past season equipment on consignment at the swap. Outfi t the whole family for less this winter season! Visit http://skiandsnowboardswap-srvhs.com to register equipment and for more information. Admission cost is $5 general, and children 5 & under are free when they come with an adult. The event will be held at 501 Danville Blvd., Danville, on the San Ramon Valley High School campus. E-mail any questions to [email protected].

AARP Tax-Aide Call for Volunteers

Do you like working with people? Are you good with numbers? Contra Costa County AARP Tax-Aide is look-ing for volunteers to become members of a team providing free tax preparation for individuals of all ages. Volunteer positions include Tax Counselors who are trained by Tax-Aide and certifi ed by IRS and Client Facilitators who schedule appointment and assist clients at tax sites. If interested, call LaVerne Gordon, District Coordinator, at (925) 726-3199 for information and to apply. Orienta-tion is in November 2012, and classes for tax counselors start in January 2013.

www.yourmonthlypaper.com

- November 2012 ~ Danville Today News

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Role Players Presents Incident at VichyIncident at Vichy, Arthur Miller’s suspenseful and gritty WWII drama is

a fascinating and frightening psychological test of the limits of mankind’s capacity for good and evil.

Picked up off the streets in Vichy, a group of men tensely await what they hope will be a routine check of their identifi cation papers. As it becomes apparent that the Germans are involved, the fear in the room builds. Arthur Miller, the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, powerfully pits man’s instinct for self-preservation against his desire for solidarity. As each man struggles to save himself, he must face the age old question, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” One by one, each man is summoned to learn his fate and the most dreaded word soon becomes – Next!

Shows will be held at Danville’s Village Theatre through November 10.Tickets can be purchased at www.villagetheatreshows.com, by calling

(925) 314-3400, or at the Community Center, 420 Front St. For more infor-mation, visit www.danvilletheatre.com.

California Writers ClubAuthor Nick Mamatas will present a workshop on “Beginnings and Endings

for Fiction and Non-fi ction” at the next meeting of the Mt. Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) on Saturday, November 10th at Zio Fraedo’s Restaurant, 611 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill.

Nick will explain the difference between hooking and tantalizing a reader, what editors look for in the fi rst paragraph, how to write a memorable conclusion, and the advice to never preach. Participants are asked to bring paper and a pen for exercises.

The author of four novels, over eighty short stories, and hundreds of articles on writing and editing, Mamatas has been nominated for Hugo, Bram Stoker, and World Fantasy awards.

Sign-in is from 8:30 to 9am, full breakfast is from 9am to 9:30am, and the workshop is from 9:30am to 12:30pm. Registration is $35 for CWC members, $40 for guests.

Reservations are required, and must be received no later than noon on Wednesday, November 7th. Contact Jeannie Georgakopoulos at [email protected] or by phone at (925) 934-5677. Expect confi rmation only if you e-mail your reservation.

For more information, visit http://cwcmtdiablowriters.wordpress.com.


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Blackhawk?in the Tassajara Valley Shopping Centerin the Tassajara Valley Shopping Center

Everything you have come to love about our store in Alamo will soon be available in Blackhawk. We will be renovating the store over the next few months and will remain open for business. Come by, say hello, and tell us what you want to see in your new store!

Danville Library EventsDanville-San Ramon CityRead Closing Event with Author Aimee Bender

CityRead concludes with a special presentation and signing featuring national bestselling and award-winning author of The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake, Aimee Bender on November 7th at 7PM. The event will take place at Dougherty Valley Performing Arts Center, located at 10550 Albion Road in San Ramon (be-hind Dougherty Valley High School). Reserve your seats at 925-973-ARTS(2787) or www.sanramonperformingarts.com. Tickets are $5 and proceeds benefi t the

Danville and San Ramon Library Foundations. Tickets must be reserved prior to the event, and you must arrive at least 10 minutes before the event.

CityRead is sponsored by the Danville and San Ra-mon Library Foundations Out of Character: Decoding Chinese Calligraphy

Enjoy this special visual preview of the Asian Art Mu-seum of San Francisco’s newest exhibit, “Out of Character: Decoding Chinese Calligraphy,” and see selected pieces from the exhibit. Explore the role of tradition, creativity, and self-expression in the art of Chinese Calligraphy. The event will take place on Thursday, November 8th at 1PM.Bingo Schmingo presented by Kathleen Rushing

Join us in Danville Library’s Children’s Reading Room on November 13th at 4PM for an afternoon of song and fun! Bingo Schmingo brings drums, whistles, wind chimes, and fun props such as spiders, vampire teeth, kazoos, and even gummy bears to encourage and entice you to sing along and play music. Children and adults alike will be delighted by her version of that well-known song B-I-N-G-O. Fun for all ages!

WCRC Senior 3.5 Ladies Place Second at USTA Nationals. Front l to r: Coach Leonard Young, Captain Myrl Kan, Akiko Kearney, Kathy Lee. Back l to r: Karen Gee, Debbie Wilson, Sheryl Lawrentz, Michele Dwinell, Jody Morgan, Maria Chiang, Debby Rechnitz Nancy Levin. Photo courtesy of Scott Gee.

Local Ladies Compete at USTA National ChampionshipsBy Jody Morgan

Ten local women accompanied by their Walnut Creek Racquet Club Captain Myrl Kan and Coach Leonard Young traveled to the Tennis Garden at Indian Wells to compete in the USTA National Championships for the Senior (age 50 and up) 3.5 level crown. The group’s road to the fi nals required besting 145 teams in the Northern California Section. Although many of the players had never met before pairing up to fi nish the regular season with a 13-0 record, Kan and Young rotated partnerships during practice so that each player could adapt her game to maximize every teammate’s strengths. At District playoffs in Sacramento, the team took three straight matches, but battled to win Sectional playoffs at Stanford with a 2-1 victory.

After fi ve hotly contested matches at Indian Wells where teams from

seventeen sections fought for the title, the WCRC ladies took second place nationwide. Akiko Kearney and Sheryl Lawrentz of Alamo, Karen Gee, Nancy Levin and Jody Morgan of Danville, Kathy Lee of Lafayette, Debby Rechnitz of Orinda, Michele Dwinell of Walnut Creek, Maria Chiang of Concord and Deb-bie Wilson of Martinez all represented the team at Nationals. Cynthia Attiyeh, Lisa Dell’Anno, Zorgy Ewing, and Linda Walling-Stone cheered from home.

Of the 800,000 USTA members, 30,000 participate in leagues. Only a small fraction of that number reaches the national fi nals each year. “Be PROUD!” Kan wrote to her players. “All your hard work took us on this incredible journey. Not only were we a very compatible, supportive team, but we walked away friends. What a ton of great times and memories!”


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SRV Christian Academy By Jan Brunkal, PrincipalIt’s hard to believe that the end of the fi rst quarter has already come and gone! What a busy and exciting time it has been. Our annual PTF sponsored Fall Family Carnival was enjoyed by all. It was fun watching the students enjoy the old fashioned carnival games,

petting zoo, live music, and face painting. The climbing wall was a great as well. Our junior high students did a wonderful job of manning the booths and helping to organize the games.

Our Junior High students have had a busy fall. Grade level retreats and the student council junior high picnic sponsored by student council added up to a fun-fi lled fi rst quarter! Our student council has been busy organizing Spirit Days, and they will soon be heading to Fremont for the annul ACSI Leadership Conference.

In our lower grades, students are enjoying the opportunity to participate in “Spec-trum of Science.” Organized and taught by Amy Beth Ogden, this after school science program gives children an opportunity to have a real “hands on” science experience.

One of my favorite holidays is just around the corner. I truly feel that Thanksgiving gives all of us a chance to pause and realize how blessed we are. We live in a beautiful place with wonderful families, students, and great schools. I love that Thanksgiving traditions have not changed much over the years. It is still a time for families and friends to come together, enjoy a wonderful meal, and be grateful for all the blessings we have. Giving thanks and having an attitude of gratitude is a practice that we should all do regularly. Health, family, and friends should never be taken for granted.

Color Bundles Clay Studio & Gift Shop

THE NEW CLAY STUDIO IN ALAMO IS AN EXCITING OUTLET FOR YOUR CREATIVE MIND. Come and explore a new and fun style in clay art!

FORM THE NON-TOXIC, AIR DRY CLAY AND SHAPE IT INTO ANYTHING YOU WANT. BRING YOUR IMAGINATIONS TO LIFE!

AGES 7 –ADULTS CAN ENJOY ART SESSIONS, BY APPOINTMENT. Learn to transform your ideas into drawings and ultimately into 3D arts.

• Private parties • Holiday art workshops • Family art nights • Art competitions • Jewelry making • Camps All supplies will be provided and artwork will be framed. Students will take home confi dence and new skills in addition to

their masterpieces. Discounts will be given to non-profi ts and schools. Let us help you to raise more money for your school. Follow us on Facebook.com/colorbundles for new events and updates.

DECORATIVE CAKE PLATTERS, CREATIVE GIFT WRAPS, CUSTOM MADE SILK FLOWER ARRANGEMENTS, JEWELRY & DECORATED FRAMES ARE AVAILABLE.

Have fun making art, where everyone is talented!220 Alamo Plaza, Alamo (Next to Loard’s Ice Cream) | (925)727-3137 | www.colorbundles.com |[email protected]

Charlotte Wood Middle School By Christopher George, PrincipalWe have had a great fi rst quarter so far, with students and teachers working together very hard together. As a community, we have

a very busy beginning of the year, and that will continue through November.We begin with some successes: The 2012 CST results are in and it was with great pleasure that we learned that our students had earned a fi ve point

increase on our API. As always, this success is the result of teachers, parents, and students working incredibly hard together for our kids’ success.For Charlotte Wood, and for those of us in our feeder site area, Measure D is an incredibly important bond. While we enjoy one of the most

beautiful sites and campuses in California, we are a 20 year old school, and our infrastructure is showing signifi cant signs of aging. Currently, our wiring and infrastructure strains to accommodate the technological needs that we have been talking about so much in the last few years. Under Measure D, our site will receive a thorough modernization of both classrooms and infrastructure. This modernization would include a new media center/ library, conversion of the old library into classrooms, and a new band room (Currently, our band class is held on our stage).

We recently participated in the Primo’s Run with the San Ramon Valley Education Foundation. We were pleased to be joined by nearly 300 members of our community, which represented a signifi cant increase from last year. We have worked hard this year with our PTA to continue to build a stronger Charlotte Wood Community, and we welcome all of you to join us at one of our many events. Please check Charlotte Wood’s website for ways that you can do that.

Finally, this quarter we have continued to learn and examine Common Core State Standards, which many of you have begun to hear about. I urge you to visit corestandards.org to learn more about the new national standards and curriculum that will soon be implemented throughout classrooms.

[email protected]

St. Isidore School is Thankful! By Maria Ward, PrincipalNovember brings a spirit and feeling of thankfulness and giving. It is a month for us to be truly thankful for all of our blessings. As a

Catholic school we are reminded of this each and every day we walk on campus. We start our month with an All Saint’s Day Liturgy pre-pared by our school offi ce staff. This is a holy day of obligation honoring Saints, and we celebrate this liturgy with our parish community.

One of our favorite days we celebrate in November is Veterans’ Day. 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 entire school participates in an assembly that honors our own dads, grandfathers, uncles, friends, and parishioners that have served in our armed forces. Our school band plays patriotic music during the event while our Boy Scouts raise the fl ag. We are thrilled that our speaker this year is Colonel Erich Novak. He has

two children who attend St. Isidore School and a daughter who is a St. Isidore alumnus attending Carondelet High School. We are thankful Col. Novak could take the time to speak to our children about his time in the military and the privilege it has been to serve his country. This is a day where we remember, refl ect, and give thanks.

Our Book Faire, “Fall into Books,” was a HUGE success! We had books by the bushel. Our students and families truly embrace the love of reading. Our families love our Mom’s Night Out and Dad’s Breakfast at Dawn. It is another way we support our school community. By the generous support of our book

fair, the library will have the opportunity to share the profi ts with our students by purchasing new books for our students to read.

Seventh grade students and teachers spent much time creating a Faith Family Activity honoring St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals. All students contributed by donating pet items needed to support a local animal shelter.

Our Student Council outdid themselves with a week of activities for “Red Ribbon Week.” Our school theme was, “Your Choices are the Key to your Dreams.” We emphasized making good choices, which was reinforced by our local police, which included a visit by Offi ce Steve DeWarns who spoke to our junior high students about Internet safety. We love seeing the students participate and understand the meaning of making good choices.

Before we take our Thanksgiving holiday, students take time to truly be thankful. As a school, we collect food items for the non-profi t organization called Running with Love. This organization was developed by one of our former graduates, Alyse Cronin. Alyse participated in an outreach activity through her Carondelet High School. After visiting a migrant camp in Salinas, CA, she felt compelled to do more. Thankfully Alyse founded Running With Love to help support the families she encountered. Please visit the website, www.runningwithlove.com, for more information. We are thrilled to help collect and deliver Thanksgiving Dinners to them. It is the best way to show and share all of our blessings and thanks.

Danville Today News ~ November 2012 - Stone Valley Middle School By Shaun K. McElroy, PrincipalIntroducing Switch

September marked the beginning of my third year as a participant in the Stanford Principals Fellowship, a privately funded “think tank” whose goal is to improve the quality of public education. Each monthly visit Fellows are exposed to top researchers from business, education, and design. Our September visit featured Chip Heath, Senior Professor at the Stanford Graduate

School of Business and co-author (along with his brother) of best sellers Made to Stick and Switch: How to Change Things When Change is Hard (learn more at www.heathbrothers.com). The conversation with Dr. Heath centered on how to make small changes that have a large impact on institutional change. In my September article I wrote about how the new Common Core State Standards (CCSS) will require teachers to fundamentally change their teaching practices to meet the demands of the new CCSS. Using Switch as the framework of making this change the fi rst step is to fi nd the “bright spots” or things that are working well. Step two is to “script critical moves followed by fi nding the feeling (change is hard), and fi nally tweak the environment. Here’s where we are:

Bright spots – The middle schools began their CCSS training in January 2012. Multiple CCSS trainings have followed including a district-wide event on October 5th that featured staff development for all areas of instruction.

Script critical moves – SRVUSD has created CCSS task forces for English Language Arts and Math. The task forces are composed of key teacher leaders from every school in SRVUSD. Stone Valley Representatives for Language Arts are Assistant Principal Karen Johnson, and 6th,7th, and 8th grade core teacher Devrah Lawver. Mathematics will be represented by teachers Wendy Nacamu and Jenna Ray.

Find the feeling – My guess is that most of us are feeling frightened and excited at the same time.

Tweak the environment – Our classroom structures will need to be shifted to accommodate students working and a variety of groups. Teachers will now

be providers of context vs. deliverers of content.SRVEF Funds Two Initiatives

Stone Valley science teachers Teresa Butler-Doran and Jeff Hager are the benefi ciaries of a San Ramon Valley Education Foundation (SRVEF) and Stone Valley Ed Fund matching grant that will provide their adjoining classrooms with 32 iPad devices for student use. Teresa and Jeff attended the summer iPower institute to learn new teaching strategies for digital instruction. Implementation should begin in early November in 6th grade science classes.

SRVEF also allocated funds to allow SRVUSD math teachers to participate in the Silicon Valley Math Initiative (SVMI). The SVMI is a comprehensive effort to improve mathematics instruction and student learning. The Initiative is based on high performance expectations, ongoing professional development, examining student work, and improved math instruction. Learn more at www.svmimac.org.

The Stone Valley staff, along with other middle school math teachers, will participate in monthly trainings with the SVMI staff for the 2012-13 school year. The goal is to provide our students with a rich math experience and break down barriers that exist with traditional math instruction.Sneak Previews of Coming Events

Parenting Boys – Mark Wollan returns to Stone Valley this year to present a two part series titled Raising Boys to be Men of Character. The dates for this important event are Wednesday, November 7th and Wednesday, November 14th 7-9pm in the Stone Valley Library. Please RSVP to [email protected].

STEM related after school programs for 4th -8th students – Alamo Elemen-tary, Stone Valley Middle, and Monte Vista High School are teaming up to offer three after school mini courses in biotechnology, solar energy and three dimensional modeling. The anticipated kick off is January 2013 with one workshop per month.

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Tassajara 4-H Club Youth Engineer Robotic Solutions on 4-H National Youth Science Day Youth in the Tassajara 4-H club hosted the fi fth annual 4-H National Youth Science Day (NYSD). This annual event seeks to spark an early youth interest in

science and future science careers, and to reclaim the nation’s position of leadership in scientifi c exploration. As part of 4-H NYSD, youth participated in the 4-H Eco-Bot Challenge: the 2012 National Science Experiment.

Designed by The Ohio State University Extension, this year’s experiment introduced youth to robotic engi-neering concepts as they program an autonomous robot to clean up a simulated environmental spill. 4-H’ers and guests enhanced their engineering skills by assembling their own Eco-Bots and surface controls to manage an environmental clean-up. Youth tested the interaction between the Eco-Bot’s design features and various surface control confi gurations to determine the most effective clean-up solution for the simulated spill. Members from the California High School Vex Robotics team, FIRST Robotics Team 1280 of San Ramon High School, and FIRST Robotics Team 852 of The Athenian School gave demonstrations of robots they had built.

To combat a national shortage of young people pursuing science college majors and occupations, and to enhance the nation’s contribution to the sciences, 4-H National Youth Science Day demonstrates that science, engineering, math, and technology are fun and attainable options for college degrees and future careers. Currently, more than fi ve million young people across the nation participate in 4-H science, engineering, technology, and applied math year-long programming. The Tassajara 4-H club offers many science related projects such as Robotics, Engineer-ing, Vet Science, and Pinball in addition to leadership, cooking, craft, carpentry, and animal projects. For more information visit www.tassajara4h.org.

4-H is a community of six million young people across America learning leadership, citizenship, and life skills. National 4-H Council is the private sector, non-profi t partner of 4-H National Headquarters located at the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) within USDA. 4-H programs are implemented by the 111 land-grant colleges and universities and the Cooperative Extension System through their 3,100 local Extension offi ces across the country. Learn more about 4-H at www.4-H.org, or fi nd us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/4-H.

- November 2012 ~ Danville Today News

Del Amigo Continuation High School By Joe Ianora, PrincipalTwo weeks ago our school had the privilege of welcoming guest speaker Victor J. DeNoble Ph.D. to our school. In the 1980s Dr.

DeNoble was recruited to develop a safer cigarette for Philip Morris. In his secret research laboratory, he studied nicotine’s effects on the central nervous system and was successful in developing a nicotine substitute that did not elevate the heart rate; however, attempts to publish his work were suppressed by Philip Morris. Dr. DeNoble was eventually fi red and his laboratory was seized. After a decade of being silenced by a secrecy agreement, he became the fi rst whistle blower to testify before Congress and was a key witness in the federal government’s investigation into the tobacco industry’s research practices.

Dr. DeNoble has been featured on numerous TV shows, including 60 Minutes, Dateline NBC, Sunday Morning with David Brinkley and he is the subject of the fi lm The Insider, based on the events of his life. Funded by the SRVUSD Tobacco Use Prevention Education (TUPE) Grant, Dr. DeNoble raises awareness of the extreme addiction of tobacco products and other drugs and the deceptive tactics used by the tobacco industry. Dr. DeNoble is a combination action hero, detective and scientist rolled into one person.

During the school-wide assembly to hear Dr. DeNoble’s story, we learned that animals can be addicted to drugs similarly to how these substances affect humans. We discovered that tobacco affects the human brain even if an individual has quit smoking. As a result, after quitting smoking, it can take years for the cravings to subside and for the brain cells to return to “normal.” Dr. DeNoble got us thinking and explained things to us in a way that we could relate to. We learned what addiction is and how it affects the mind and body. We were grateful to Dr. DeNoble for taking the time to visit our school and providing us with validated facts and information to consider. Other Items of Interest

• We have started the second of six educational sessions. Earlier this month we had a barbeque to celebrate the end of the fi rst session. Mark Kauzer, school counselor was the primary chef. • Del Amigo participated in “the Great Shake Out,” a drill to help us prepare for a natural disaster. • On October 26th we wel-comed the Danville Rotary and local guest speakers for our annual Career Day. • Students who have made the honor roll (based on attendance, productive days and grades) are: Olympia Anderson, Cliff Carpenello, Michael Checchi, Hayley Cole, Colby Collins, DaSheana Davis, Kyle Dubrasich, Cameron Dunaway, Thomas Focht, Henry Gallagher, Adirana Johnson, Brooke Morris, Colton Shepard, Khallil Sidiq, and Stephanie Stroup.

San Ramon Valley High School By Ruth Steele, Principal

I am writing this article as we head from October into November, and it has been a busy, busy fall so far. My fi rst SRVHS homecoming week was amazing. We had a school rally, parade, and game on Friday, Homecoming dance on Saturday, and Primo’s Run on Sunday!

Primo’s Run is the San Ramon Valley Education Foundations biggest fund-raiser, and with over 9,000 par-ticipants this year it clearly illustrates the deep commitment that families in this area have to our schools. As educators

we are extremely fortunate to have the support of SRVEF and a community that believes in the importance of the many different programs that we are able to offer.

State funding for our schools continues to dwindle, leaving us in the unhappy position of having to lean more and more on our communities for fi nancial support. The truth is we are in a uniquely fortunate position. While many California school districts are losing programs and making cuts, our communities are helping to preserve our athletics and arts programs, our electives, our lower class sizes, and our quality of education.

All of our local school districts are wrestling with a variety of enormous challenges. These fall into two main categories: Structural/System issues and Student/Staff issues.

The Structural/System issues include navigating the transition from STAR test-ing to Common Core, bringing our classrooms into the 21st century, purchasing appropriate technology, and maintaining facilities.

Student/Staff issues include the more intangible challenges of preparing students for college or the workplace, supporting students in balancing their learning goals with their personal growth, providing professional development and support for teachers, and moving towards a model of education that helps students to become more curious learners and deeper thinkers.

The truth of course is that the Structures/Systems issues can never really be separated from our Student/Staff issues; they go hand in hand, especially when you are moving into unchartered territory as we are right now. We are moving towards a completely new assessment system that should be fully implemented in the 2014-2015 school year. www.corestandards.org outlines the content areas that have already been defined, and www.smarterbalanced.org describes what the new computer based assessments will look like.

The good news is that Common Core is widely supported by educators as it will enable staff and students to focus on curriculum which targets development of skills and depth of knowledge. This is something that everyone can agree on as a positive. The challenge will be making sure that we can provide the training and resources that schools and teachers need in order to make this a successful transition.

My perspective on these complicated issues is simple. We have to make it work for our students and provide them with the best education we can. The only way to create any clear goals in times of change is to focus on the fact that we are tasked with the huge responsibility of preparing our youth for careers and a lifestyle that we don’t fully understand yet. No-one knows what the future is going to bring. We only know that it will be different.

Upcoming articles will try and articulate how we are going about approaching these challenges at SRVHS. It is going to be an interesting journey!

Sully Berchdorf (back right), co president of Tassajara 4-H and member of FIRST Robotics Team 1280 of San Ramon High School helps science night attendees make robots.

[email protected]

Danville Today News ~ November 2012 -

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Monte Vista High School By Janet Terranova, Principal

The fi rst quarter is over, and as usual students and staff are amazed that a quarter of the school year is behind us. It has been a quarter fi lled with academic challenges as our students achieve high standards in a variety of academic and elective courses and participate in a myriad of activities. We have had two very successful rallies, Homecoming Week that found well over 70% of the student body taking part

in one or more activities or dress up days, a Club Faire where over 65 clubs encouraged students to join their activity or service organization, a successful choral concert, and enough sporting events to keep even the most dedicated sport fan satisfi ed. Our students have a wonderful opportunity to challenge themselves academically and participate in activities to prepare them for college and careers.

Throughout the school year Monte Vista hosts a variety of guest speak-ers. Monte Vista was fortunate to have Alexander Jefferson, a Tuskegee Airman, speak to a group of students. You could literally hear a pin drop in the theater as students listened for over an hour as Mr. Jefferson spoke to the students in a clear engaging voice covering topics from bullying to war. Students and staff are hoping they will be as active and chipper at 93. Thanks to Mike Martin of the Vietnam Vets for bringing this wonderful speaker to our school.

During the school year students often have the opportunity to come to the theater to hear from experts in a variety of careers to spark student interest or bring history to life. The theater at Monte Vista is rarely quiet.

If you are looking for an evening of entertainment from theater, vocal, or instrumental music, consider some of the wonderful productions in your own backyard. Some upcoming productions include dance productions, plays, and choral music. If you would like more information about these events and other events, please visit our website at www.mvhigh.org.

The Application ParadoxBy, Kelsey Nyland, San Ramon Valley High School senior

I, Kelsey Nyland, am a senior at San Ramon Val-ley High School. For the past seventeen years, I have prepared for my fi nal year of high school. I have been a slave to the education system from the moment I was born: learn to crawl, learn my times tables, learn to drive, learn to analyze The Great Gatsby with excruciating detail. Senior year is supposed to

be a safe haven from the constant stress of youth; it is a brief utopia before I rededicate myself to education for another indefi nite number of years. This, however, is false. Unfortunately, a dark cloud looms over my utopia. It aims to destroy my senior year by fl ooding me with essays, forms, and more essays. The cloud, as one can imagine, is college, and I found three common para-doxes that fester in the application process. Number one: How can students write essays that portray a strong sense of self when we do not even know who we are? Number two: Colleges stress the importance of maintaining acceptable grades during senior year, but all of these applications take over our lives. Number three: At its core, the application process forces students to sell themselves, but admission directors reject applications that seem too boastful or immodest.

College is commonly referred to as the place where children become adults, where lost youth discover a sense of self that stays with them for the rest of their lives. The discovery of oneself is the purpose of college. A degree will only get you so far, but the knowledge and confi dence that results from con-sciousness regarding oneself can propel someone to the peak of success. What bemuses me is this: How can I write an essay that displays my individuality when I do not know what makes me an individual? How can a university accept me based on my sense of self when I am looking to discover myself at the university? Therein lies the paradox. It is the classic chicken and the egg example, except with college and self-awareness. Consciousness is not the only unreasonable thing applications ask of us; they also demand that we

perform the greatest juggling act the world has ever seen. You will be hard pressed to fi nd a teenager whose life revolves around

school. Truthfully, our lives cannot revolve around school or else, and here is the punchline, we will not get into college. Universities require us to juggle school, extracurriculars, and now applications. And not only can we participate in just one measly extracurricular, but a myriad of them. Sports, clubs, and an after school job all increase a student’s chances of an acceptance letter. Finally, colleges have the gall to ask that we maintain above-average grades during our senior year. Evidently, an admissions offi cer has never at-tempted to fi ll out his own application, because those things are impossible. It is outrageous to ask that we balance school, extracurriculars, applications, and a vain attempt at a social life, but colleges do it anyways. The problem arises from the fact that the quality of work will decrease due to the mass amount of stress, so, ironically, universities will not be accepting the best students but the best multi-taskers.

I am attempting to execute the greatest sales-pitch of my life: Dear Col-lege, please disregard the 5.0 GPA of the kid next to me and accept me into your school! Why should you accept me? Well, it is obvious, really. I engage in a plethora of AP and honors courses at school, I played a varsity sport, I make my own money, I write for the school paper, and I climbed Mount Kilimanjaro. And I did all of these things with the modesty and grace of Gandhi. How can one brag humbly? How can I call myself the best student for the school, while acknowledging that there are plenty of other viable candidates? College applications ask us to do the impossible, they ask us to take two contradictory ideals and combine them into a logical essay. This realization would make me cry if I did not fi nd it so hilarious.

College applications are the quintessential paradox. They require students to express their self-awareness with perfect clarity, even though the students are not self aware. They ask us to juggle an infi nite amount of activities while throwing more stress-inducing things into our trembling hands. They demand that students boast and brag, while remaining absolutely modest. The greatest, and most frightening, paradox of all is that once all of this year’s seniors receive their fi rst acceptance letter, all of their previous suffering will be forgotten, and they will infl ict that exact same suffering on a fresh batch of suckers...I mean seniors.


Eco-travel, Far or NearBy Cynthia Ruzzi, President Sustainable Danville Area

Often the telltale sign of a person’s recent vacation is the burnish on their face from the suntan they acquired during their travels. Last

week, renewing my car insurance with local Danville Area Sustainable Business, William White Allstate, I couldn’t help but notice owners Bill and Teresa had a glow that went beyond the color on their face. Teresa explained to me that their family had just returned from an eco-tour to Borneo, Malaysia.

The family chose to spend their vacation visiting the tropical rainforest as Teresa shared, “As a family we have a balanced perspective on environmental protection. We’re defi nitely not tree-huggers, but we wanted to visit Borneo because rainforests offer so much to people and our planet. We wanted to learn more about the impact irresponsible development has on endangered species both within the forest and the surrounding ocean.” The Whites’, avid scuba divers who have long practiced “taking pictures, but leaving only bubbles,” applied the same philosophy to their land-based eco-tour. This time they “hiked the miles and left no trace - except the smile on their face.”

While rainforests absorb a great deal of carbon dioxide from the air, help make rainfall and are home to more than half of the worlds’ plants and animals, I wondered if this was the cause of Bill and Teresa’s collective glow? Bill chimed in that their time spent together in Borneo was other-worldly fi lled with animals, birds, and plants that they had never imagined. Bill shined, “It was really meeting and talking with local people and learning some of their customs that was most humbling and heart-warming.”

With the holiday season just around the corner and my husband and I eschew-ing ‘things for the sake of things.’ I had to ask - what is eco-tourism? Eco-tourism, along with eco-travel, responsible tourism, sustainable tourism and a bunch of other expressions commonly used, defi nes travel that is environmentally, socially, culturally and economically aware, that strives to appreciate, to nurture and to enhance – not exploit – the visited destination.

A search on the Internet brings up numerous examples of ‘green-washing’ within the travel industry, with every other hotel chain touting a green veneer

to market their weak sustainability efforts to gain sales. They boast of organic shampoo and body wash, but they’re offered in mini-plastic bottles? Honestly? Due diligence is necessary to research the tour operations before committing to your trip. Write or call to ask direct questions about the tour company’s eco-logical practices, lodging, activities, transportation, and how they involve local communities and economies.

While eco-tourism doesn’t necessarily mean roughing-it, it is important to understand how water, heating, food, and transportation are supplied for visitors’ convenience. What measures do your accommodations take to reduce waste and conserve local resources? How do they heat water and provide electricity? The Rainforest Lodge in Borneo, where the Whites’ stayed, is an ‘off-the-grid’ lodge hosting a maximum of 60 guests. Solar panels connected to batteries provide most of the electricity, and full-house nighttime demands are met by various staff members hopping on bicycles (guest participation is optional) rigged to generate additional power. Teresa assured me that this unique system was reliable and that we have more electrical blips locally then experienced at the lodge.

When visiting local sights, does the tour company use low-impact forms of transportation? Often the best way to experience someplace new is to take the bus or the train and meet the people. Respect the customs and try the food. However, beware that endangered species may be on the menu without your knowledge, so in preparation check with local conservation organizations to know what to avoid. Bill and his family believe to gain the best experience from an eco-tour one must also be a good eco-tourist. Responsibility begins when you start to plan your trip. Consider travel to World Heritage sites where conservation, nature, and culture are the key attraction. Visit UNESCO World Heritage at http://whc.unesco.org/en/list and Protected Planet at www.protectedplanet.net to gather ideas before research-ing specifi c tours. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has a useful top-ten list for eco-tourists at www.iucn.org/?uNewsID=7253.

For more ideas and tips on eco-tourism, Sustainable Danville Area invites you to our Thursday, November 8th forum, 6pm at San Ramon Valley High School Career Center, lower level of the administration building. Our evening speaker, Judith Scott, Travel Consultant from Alamo World Travel and Tours, and host William White from Allstate will have lots to share – including fun snacks and beverages. For more information about Sustainable Danville Area and upcoming events, visit us at www.sustainabledanville.com and on Facebook.

[email protected] of Cooking with Wine By Monica Chappell

There’s no better way to spend an evening than creating a delicious dish while sip-ping a well-made wine for inspiration. When the topic of food and wine pairing comes up during one of my wine classes, the usual fl ow of conversation revolves around what wine to drink with dinner. Yet sometimes the tougher decision is what wine to put in dinner. That’s because when listed as an ingredient, wine is often suggested in the most generic terms, and you’re left to wonder - will any wine do? But there is more to cooking with wine than using up last night’s leftovers. Take a look at my top 10 tips.

1. Leftover Wine – As a general rule, never cook with any wine you would not drink. The month old leftovers in the refrigerator won’t do. Any off fl avors

in wine become more concentrated during cooking. 2. Cooking Wine – Avoid using these all together. They are made of a thin, cheap base wine to which salt

and food coloring have been added.3. Dry White Wine – If a recipe calls for dry white wine, the best all-around choice is an American Sau-

vignon Blanc. This wine will be dry and offer a fresh light herbal note that will enhance nearly any dish.4. Aromatic White Wine – If the dish has bold or spicy fl avors, go for a more aromatic white wine

such as Gewurztraminer, Riesling, or Viognier. These wines have fruity fl avors and exotic fl oral aromas that counterbalance heavily spiced dishes.

5. Dry Red Wine – If a recipe calls for dry red wine, consider the heartiness of the dish. A long-simmered meat dish calls for a correspondingly hearty wine, such as a Zinfandel. A lighter dish might call for a less powerful red such as Pinot Noir.

6. Sparkling Wine – When you cook sparkling wine, you eliminate its primary qualities, bubbles and alcohol. However, a simple beurre blanc sauce can benefi t from the two remaining qualities of a good sparkler; high acidity and yeast fl avor. Fortifi ed Wines

Fortifi ed wines are among the best wines good cooks can have on hand. They pack the most intense fl avors and with the added alcohol have the longest shelf life. Here are a few to try.

7. Port – Ruby port is probably the best for cooking. It has a rich sweetness and depth that’s especially good in meat-based casseroles. Port is powerful stuff and should be used in modest amounts.

8. Sherry – True Spanish sherry adds considerable character to a dish. It’s complex roasted nutty fl avors can enhance just about any soup, stew, or sautéed dish. The two styles of sherry that work best are Amontillado or Oloroso.

9. Madeira – There is no good substitute when a recipe calls for Madeira. Its lush toffee-caramel notes are hard to replace. Madeira sauces have an affi nity for beef, game, and mushroom dishes.

10. Marsala – This Sicilian wine is a staple in southern Italian cooking. Marsala comes in both dry and sweet styles. Seek out the sweeter, richer style for cooking.Monica Chappell, Wine Writer and Educator, offers wine appreciation classes. For a list, visit www.wineappreciation101.blogspot.com.

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Quick Trips By Linda Summers PirkleSpecial Olive Oil

Sciabica Family Olive Oil Company in Modesto, an hour drive from the Bay Area, is a fun place to go. Owner, Dan Sciabica gives a great talk about the history of the olive oil industry and the Sicilian roots of the Sciabica 100% extra Virgin California Olive Oil, and you can taste the many fl avors of the cold-press olive oil. Pennie Brown, receptionist at the store says, “People from all over the Bay Area, especially those heading up to Tahoe, make their travel plans to include a stop at Sciabicas.”

Some years back, I discovered an interesting connection between the family run Sciabica olive oil business and the Dominican Sisters Mission Olive Oil in Fremont. After Dan’s lively presentation, he mentioned “a very special limited quantity olive oil” can be purchased once a year from the Dominican Sisters Mission San Jose located in Fremont, 40 miles south of San Francisco.

Dan explains the historical signifi cance of the special Dominican olive oil saying, “The Dominican Sisters, I believe, consistently produce the most authentic California Extra Virgin Olive Oil with the most exquisite Mission Variety Olive Oil fl avor of all productions

in California. They have the largest planting (over 200 trees) of original “Mission Era” olive trees in the entire State of California. These are the very same trees planted by the Franciscan Padres over 200 years ago. The acidity levels are extremely low, which is one of the indications of the exceptional quality of their olive oil. Additionally, the fl avor profi le is that of the original Mission Variety olives; identical to the fl avor the Padres developed and enjoyed two centuries ago. All the Mission Variety Olive Oil produced in the state comes from groves which were propagated from these original plantings throughout the 21 missions.”

The Sciabicas and the Dominicans have been working together for 13 years. Sister Jane Rudolph, O.P., a Dominican, explains the connection, “The Scia-bicas have been pressing and bottling our olive oil since the year 2000. We sisters are tremendously grateful to Mr. Dan Sciabica and the whole company for doing the pressing, bottling, and labeling for us at their expense! We sisters har-vested, pressed, and bottled the olive oil from 1933 until 1965. We had our own press at that time. The adventure with the olives began again in December 1999.”

I have been going to the Dominicans’ olive oil sale for the past three years. The olive grove is located behind the Mission. Take time to see these historic trees, but purchase your olive oil fi rst! Sister Rose Marie Hennessy, Administrator of the Motherhouse says, “It’s a very special event. We always sell out of our olive oil, but since the sale is Saturday and Sunday, we keep a reserve to put out on Sunday.”

Don’t miss the boutique sales in the great hall. Row after row of tables are set up with hand crafted items and baked good, including the sisters’ secret recipe fruitcake. The sisters are extremely wel-coming. Proceeds go to the retired sisters’ needs at the Motherhouse in Fremont.

*Holiday Boutique at Mission San Jose is November 17th and 18th, 10am-4pm.Their address is 43326 Mission Boulevard (entrance off Mission Tierra Place), Fre-mont. For more information, visit their website www.msjdominicans.org or call 510-657-2468. I will see you in line!

*Sciabica Family Olive Oil Com-pany is located at 2150 Yosemite Blvd. in Modesto. They can be reached at 209-577-5067. Their hours are 8am-5pm

Monday-Friday. During the holidays from Thanksgiving to Christmas, the store is open on Saturdays from 10am -4pm .

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

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Life in the Danville GardenSpruce Up the Tired GardenBy John Montgomery, ASLA, Landscape Architect

Let’s talk Tired Gardens! You know what I’m talk-ing about. You look out into your Danville garden with a huge sigh and see uninspired plantings that you have looked at for years. The gardener continues to prune plantings that are clinging to the edge of survival. Once glorious fl owering shrubs and perennials have been reduced to woody stalks that seem to suffi ce because

they are still alive. It may be a single small area, or it could be the balance of your front and back yard, but something needs to be done!

What do you do when your garden is tired? In some cases it is wise to design a new Master Plan and start anew, and in others it makes sense to “spruce up.” Instead of bulldozing the entire garden, you can “spruce up” what you have. The fundamental criteria for a “spruce up” is that you are happy with the basic func-tionality of your hardscape and garden layout.

Maturity brings radical changes to landscapes that are often welcomed. It also brings other changes that are not. Trees fi nally provide shade cover and shade out once sun-loving plants. Lack of care and poor maintenance practices have taken their toll. Hedges and shrubs have become overgrown, hiding the house and blocking good views. These changes give cause for a “spruce up,” although the overall context of a “well-designed” landscape may still prevail.

Within the life of your Danville home, an owner’s uses will change for many reasons; kids grow-up or a family matures and changes. Lifestyles evolve and change. Once busy families that had no time to work in the garden are now re-tired and have time to play. This brings a whole new reason for the landscape to be spruced up. These changes call for careful consideration and should be well thought out. They should be logical and creatively resolved. Updating landscape

projects are challenging yet satisfying when properly executed. In addition to our full spectrum of landscape design services, we offer garden consultations that cover a wide range of solutions for sprucing up an existing landscape.

Our consultation service is intended to provide clients with simple and doable solutions that satisfy their need for a beautiful and inspiring garden without the need of a master plan. Our basic consultation includes a site visit to assess the

condition of your garden; we provide practical recommendations for planting, irrigation, drainage, and soil problems. Whether you are tired of a small planting bed or your whole yard, we can provide solutions to “spruce up” your tired garden. Especially in today’s economic climate, in many cases it makes sense to “spruce up” your tired Danville garden instead of completely gutting it. Consultations for sprucing up may reach beyond just the planting and may include solutions for updating hardscape elements such as sitting areas, benches and seat walls, arbors and trellises, play courts and kid zones, water features, and sculptures, etc. Adding dramatic landscape lighting or adding colorful pots and décor around the entry for the holidays can make all the difference to inspire a tired garden.

Like the design of a new landscape project, a garden “spruce up” should be well thought out and planned before executing.

A hot tip from your local Landscape Architect: Whether you are interested in a “spruce up” or Master Plan, now is a great time to design and execute your project. While fall and winter set in think ahead to spring and be ready to imple-ment your project so you can enjoy your yard during next year’s summer months.

Gardening Quote of the Month: “Gardening is a matter of your enthusiasm holding up until your back gets used to it.” ~Author Unknown

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

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Clip Notes By Jody Morgan

When the Pil-grims arrived in the New World, tow-ering American chestnuts dominat-ed the tree canopy accounting for 25% of the timber along the length of the

Appalachian Range. Chestnuts fed wildlife throughout the forests and may well have figured into the first Thanksgiving feast. The meat is said to be sweeter than that of European or Asian chestnuts, but few living Americans have had the pleasure of tasting it.

Growing faster than oaks, chestnuts provided reliable supplies of strong, straight-grained wood which is easy to saw and split. From fence posts to furniture and shingles to fl ooring, chestnuts supplied the needs of settlers as they moved from the Atlantic coast west to the Mississippi. The tannins that make the strong wood rot-resistant were used in the leather tanning industry. Although the table I use as a computer desk is made from American chestnut wood, the planks were originally cut before I was born. Like many interesting pieces now being crafted, my table is made from the repurposed siding of a 19th century barn.

The weather outside was frightful in “The Christmas Song” (more readily recognizable to many of us by its subtitle “Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire”) was written. It was a stifling summer day in 1944. Robert Wells decided writing about winter would help him beat the heat. Spotting a spiral notebook on Bob’s piano with cooling notations about “Jack Frost nipping at your nose” and “Folks dressed up like Eskimos,” Mel Torme got into the spirit. Together they completed music and lyrics in 40 minutes. Ironically in the previous 40 years the destruction of 99.9% of America’s native chestnut trees had been nearly completed, and no one was likely to be roasting any of the nuts over an open fire again soon.

In 1904 a few exotic Asian Chestnut specimens were planted in the New York Zoological Park, now known as the Bronx Zoo. By mid-century 30 million acres of native trees had been killed by the bark-shattering fungus the imports carried. Hav-ing evolved over thousands of years in the company of the disease, the Asian trees were resistant to the devastation, but the American ones had no immunity.

Isolated stands did survive. A 19th century settler named Martin Hicks planted a dozen trees in West Salem, Wisconsin. The grove had increased to 2,500 trees by 1987 when signs of the airborne blight were fi rst discovered in his plantation. Although scientists are trying to arrest the spread of the disease, the greatest hope for a rebirth of the species comes from a botanical breeding process called backcrossing.

Early in the 1950s, James Carpenter, a member of the Northern Nut Growers Association, spotted a disease-free tree amidst a stand of dying chestnuts in Salem, Ohio. Inoculating the tree with fungus spores over the course of several seasons did not make it sick. So Carpenter sent bud wood to Robert Dunstan, a fellow nut grower, in Greensboro, North Carolina. Dunstan crossed the American chestnut with disease-resistant Chinese chestnut selections. Once the trees fi nally bore fruit in 1962, he backcrossed the most desir-able individuals with the parent American and Chinese trees. Dunstan hybrids are now producing successfully across the country.

Horticulturalists are taking the process further. Selecting the most disease-resistant specimens with the most American chestnut-like char-acteristics from each generation, they are gradually working hybridization backwards to the point where a blight-resistant tree that is 99.9% Ameri-can chestnut will be available to be released back into the landscape.

California has a long history of growing chestnuts dating back to the Gold Rush. You can visit American chestnuts in Chico where six trees planted in 1870 are still bearing. But the enterprising California nurseryman Felix Gillet created a European/Japanese hybrid in the 1870s called ‘Colossal’ that’s a current favorite from the Pacifi c to the Atlantic coasts. One of his original specimens stands 70 feet tall, is 14 feet around, and bears 300 pounds of nuts annually.

Every family has a favorite Thanksgiving dish. Tired of hearing about chestnut stuffi ng every time I prepared a turkey, I fi nally man-aged to get a copy of the recipe my husband’s grandmother prepared in Pennsylvania. What a disappointment! Having recently researched the proper storage of chestnuts, I realize why my rendition of the recipe was so unappeal-ing. Whether you want to roast them over an open fi re or chop them into stuffi ng, freshness counts. Chestnuts can be canned, frozen or dried, but knowledgeable local growers and online suppliers have the best products.

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The Tree of the Season By Blaine Brende & Joe LambCoast Live Oak, Quercus agrifolia

If you have a coast live oak in your yard, you will understand that its Latin name, Quercus 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 fi nd 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 fi ght 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 Oc-tober. Over-watering can kill oaks by stimulating parasitic fungi. Judicious watering during dry summers 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 benefi cial soil creatures.

Given that the current stewards of the coastal plain seldom burn the woodlands, most of our oak forests have built up a signifi cant load of dead wood. To prevent a crown fi re, like the one that ravaged the East Bay in 1991, it is important to make all landscape trees and shrubs more fi re 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 diffi cult to prevent an oak from being infected, but there are steps to reduce the prob-ability of infection, 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 sig-nifi cantly 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 fi nd 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 fi re protection, please call 510-486-TREE (8733) or email us at [email protected] for a free estimate. Additionally, go to our website www.brendelamb.com to see before and after pictures, client testimonials, and work in your neighborhood. Advertorial

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Solar Currents By Mark Becker, GoSimpleSolar

The term “thriller” is typically reserved for the descrip-tion of a murder mystery or spy novel. I recently read a “thriller” that was neither. The book tells the story about the challenges and development of a social business which has completely changed the fabric of a third world nation. For any entrepreneur, business major, sociologist, or those with interest in renewable energy, Green Energy for a Bil-lion Poor by Nancy Wimmer should be required reading.

The nation of Bangladesh is a secular democracy with an agrarian economy and a fl ood prone land. Grameen Shakti is a private venture rural solar installation business there. Detractors believed the challenges of selling solar to a very poor society were insurmountable. However, in ten years, 500,000 solar systems were sold by the profi table business proving the detractors wrong.

With less than half the population and 1/6th the average annual income, Ban-gladesh now has more solar systems than the United States does. The average solar system in Bangladesh is 1/100th the size of an American solar home system.

What is the most thrilling to me is I learned that virtually all the business prin-ciples surrounding the sales of a solar system and its advantages are inherently

Contra Costa County Supervisor, District 2Your Elected Offi cials are Talking Trash!By Supervisor Candace Andersen, Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors, District 2

Last month the Central Contra Costa Solid Waste Authority (CCCSWA) held public workshops in our com-munity to talk about issues related to garbage and recycling, which is often referred to as “solid waste.” The CCCSWA

is responsible for franchising solid waste services. Their service area encompasses the cities/towns of Alamo, Danville, Lafayette, Moraga, Orinda, and Walnut Creek, and unincorporated Contra Costa County.

The objective of the workshops was to inform residents and businesses about what garbage, recycling, and other reuse programs will look like in coming years and to get feedback from the community to shape the future of recycling and solid waste programs. The CCCSWA outlined how the solid waste industry is changing. State law requires that 75% of all waste must be recycled by the year 2020. Recycling by businesses is now mandatory. New technology and innovative approaches are also impacting the industry.

The current contracts with service providers will expire in February 2015. The Authority is beginning the process now, with feedback from the community, to de-termine what the next franchise agreement will include. They will take this input and develop agreements with service providers based on what the consumers need. The most common requests for new services include home composting, sharps disposal, curbside e-Waste recycling, and food scrap recycling in the green bins for areas of South County that do not already have that service.

If you were not able to attend one of the public workshops, the CCCSWA still welcomes your input about waste pick-up services or recycling services via the feedback form on their website www.WasteDiversion.org. You may also call them directly at (925) 906-1801.

I currently sit on the Board of CCCSWA and have been a member since 2007. The CCCSWA was formed in 1989 when the Central Contra Costa Sanitary District and cities decided to form a Joint Powers Authority (JPA) to consolidate administrative functions and fi nd strategies to lower the solid waste and recycling costs to consum-ers. New services went into operation March 1, 1996, with the Board of Directors consisting of two members from each of the member agencies. By joining together, the Authority has been able to save residents 25% – 35% on rates over the years. In addition to weekly curbside service, CCCSWA has other recycling and waste man-agement programs you can take advantage of:

• Special Cleanup Days provide curbside collection of reusable items twice each year. You should receive a fl yer two weeks before your cleanup date, or see the schedule at www.wastediversion.org.

• Residents are also entitled to a once-a-year garbage pick-up of their choosing. To schedule it, call Allied Waste Services at (925) 603-1144 and press 2 to arrange an appointment. Extra recycling or green waste pick-ups can also be scheduled by calling Valley Waste Management at (925) 935-8900.

• Prescription and over-the-counter medications that are no longer needed or

have expired can be dropped off at the Town of Danville Police Department, 510 La Gonda Way, Danville.

• Medical Sharps that might otherwise harm solid waste workers and others can also be properly disposed of by dropping them off at the Town of Danville Police Department

• Batteries should be recycled and not thrown in the trash receptacle. Below are drop off locations, or you can recycle batteries curbside during your twice-yearly reuse days: Alamo - CVS/Pharmacy, 3158 Danville Blvd., Blackhawk - CVS/Pharmacy, 3420 Camino Tassajara, Danville - CVS/Pharmacy, 650 San Ramon Valley Blvd., Radio Shack, 4808 San Ramon Valley Blvd., Walgreen’s, 611 San Ramon Valley Blvd.

• Currently, over one-third of the waste generated by Central Contra Costa County communities consists of yard and food waste. Organic waste material, like yard clippings and food scraps, can be given “new life” through composting. CCSWA conducts workshops to teach residents how to reduce garbage and create healthy soil for plants through home composting. The next scheduled workshop will be on November 4th at the Lindsay Wildlife Museum. Register online at www.wastediver-sion.org, or by calling (925) 906-1801 x306.

The County and CCCSWA continues to look at the idea of a plastic bag ban. One reusable bag can eliminate thousands of single-use bags over its lifetime. I encourage you to bring your own bag when shopping, and recycle the plastic bags you do have in the recycling receptacles located outside most local grocery stores.

Representatives from each of our cities are currently meeting to set rates for next year. Talk to your elected offi cials, and let them know what services are important to you. You are always welcome to join us at a future meeting of the Solid Waste Authority. The next meeting will be held at 3pm on December 13th at Walnut Creek City Hall, and future meeting dates can be found at www.wastediversion.org.

Should you have any questions or other County issues you wish to discuss, please don’t hesitate to contact me. As your County Supervisor, I’m here to serve you. I can be reached at (925) 957-8860 or [email protected].

the same worldwide, no matter the differences in societies. Initial cost, fi nancing structure, and fi nancial benefi ts “drive the sale.”

Once the Bangladeshi consumers became educated to the technology of solar energy, the social and fi nancial advantages of solar system ownership became readily evident to them. A single 25 or 50-watt solar panel, and its associated battery, provides the light to allow their children to study into the night and their businesses to remain open after dark. The nighttime lighting also reduces crime. New businesses and jobs were created. With increased economic activ-ity, income and educational levels continue to rise.

The transformation of rural Bengali society has been amazing. For all the aforementioned reasons, and many more, this book is an excellent read. Our two nations share the advantages that solar electricity offers. Bangladesh is a nation and society that is very different than ours, especially in terms of annual income, yet the impact solar energy has had on their society is indisputable. Solar’s contribution to American energy independence will ultimately be our greatest social reward. As we strive towards that goal, Americans reap the fi nancial rewards of solar.

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

Lic# 1100014354; Bay Area Entertainment


System MonitoringBy Evan Corstorphine, Portable CIO

We all know our homes and businesses have become dependent on technology. Whether it’s email, access to a customer database or a child doing homework, computer systems and access to the internet have become mission critical for everyone. Our challenge is how to keep them running at their best.

Besides being the best service company around, the goal at Portable CIO is to work ourselves out of

a job. I know that sounds funny, but really, if we’re doing the right things for you and your computers, we’re setting you up to not constantly need us. Let’s face it, computer repairs can be costly, and if you’re always seeing us, either we’re not doing our job right, or you’ve had a real string of bad luck! Whether that means using the right antivirus, choosing a new computer, or replacing aging network equipment, the goal is the same -- reliable and stable computer systems that don’t need attention.

The truth is that despite our best efforts to create a bulletproof environment, physical equipment failures, poor user habits, and the ever-present threat of virus infection conspire to keep us very busy.

Obviously it’s fi nancially impractical to have Portable CIO visit you every day to ensure your systems are in top shape. But, what if there was a way to have us there helping you without setting foot in your home or business? What if we could be checking all of those things that we know are important every moment your computers were turned on? Happily, the answer is that it’s possible. Whether someone uses a Macintosh or a PC, there are countless factors that can be remotely monitored, measured, and corrected, which enable us to keep you and your computers happy.

In the home environment, common issues are hardisks that fi ll up, virus and malware infections, and computers that never get updated or backed up. In the commercial arena the focus is on keeping computer systems up-to-date, ensuring the network infrastructure is functioning, that company

fi le servers are running in top condition, and of course that backups are occurring for mission critical data. Our software works in the background, and proactively it looks for indicators these key processes are occurring. When they don’t, you and we get an alert to take action before a small problem becomes big.

We’re able to set specifi c thresholds that alert us when a condition changes for the worse. We can tell you when your system is running low on disk space, and we can make sure that your antivirus is kept current and that your computer has all of its security patches from Microsoft. We can tell your server to reboot every week in the middle of the night, and we can verify that your backups are occurring as scheduled. If you’re a business, we can help you keep track of all of your computers, and we can audit the software that’s on each system to ensure there’s no illegal music downloading, or that employees aren’t making changes to hardware and software settings that will adversely affect the computer. We can keep your family computer ready and available for the kids to do their homework. Wherever you are, we can be your portable IT department, ready to alert you should there be an indicator of trouble and able to hop on remotely at a moment’s notice if you need help. When people use our monitoring system, they’re able to identify problems before they get off the ground. You are able to maintain a level of control and awareness over their environment that you’ve never had before.

The great part of these systems is that they’re inexpensive, particularly for how much work they do. We charge by the month for these to be installed in your environment. Covering all of a home’s computers costs much less than we charge for an hour of work, which is amazing when you consider how many ways the software is preventing trouble for you on a daily basis. And, it almost goes without saying that having this software installed is far less expensive than paying for repairs when everything has gone wrong.

Are you or your business a candidate for this type of system support? Whether you use Mac’s or PC’s, everyone can benefi t. Give the friendly and capable staff at Portable CIO a call at 925-552-7953, or drop us an email at [email protected] to discuss your particular needs. Advertorial

Qualified Plan Distribution OptionsBy Sima Alefi , AAMS Financial AdvisorYou are Turning 70.5 years of Age, When is the Deadline to Make Your Mandatory Withdrawal?

After accumulating hard earned dollars during your working years, you have notably chosen to defer your assets from taxes by investing in your employer sponsored 401k plan or putting away dol-

lars in an IRA. However, upon turning 70.5 years of age, the IRS imposes a required minimum distribution (RMD) from your qualifi ed accounts no later than April 1st of the year following the year that you turn 70.5.

Note - In the event you forget to withdraw the minimum by the deadline, you will fi nd the penalty is pretty harsh! The IRS may penalize you 50% on the RMD amount that has not been distributed plus interest.

Funds distributed from a tax deferred retirement account prior to reach-ing age 59.5 often are taxed at your normal tax rate plus an additional 10% penalty. Upon reaching age 59.5 years of age, the penalty is removed and only ordinary personal tax rates apply to the distribution.** Distribution Options to Satisfy Your RMD

The requirement is that you withdrawal the specifi c dollar amount from your tax deferred account in order for those funds to be taxed as income. This can be accomplished in a number different ways, but the two most common are:

1. Have a check issued - Request a distribution from your tax-deferred retirement account to be deposited into a taxable account.

Withholding - All gross distributions count towards the RMD. This means the net amount to you, plus any federal and/or state withholding, counts as a distribution for RMD purposes. For example, a $10,000 RMD could be satisfi ed by a distribution consisting of $7,000 to you, $2,000 federal tax withholding, and $1,000 state tax withholding.

2. Transfer shares of an investment out of your tax-deferred account to a taxable account (aka in-kind distribution) - As an example, if your RMD is

$5,000 and you own ABC stock in your qualifi ed account, each share worth $50; you may transfer 100 shares that would equal $5,000 to your taxable account to satisfy your RMD. If you choose to transfer shares, you cannot withhold taxes at that time because tax withholding can only occur from cash in the account.Separation from Service

In the event you have recently retired, been laid off or simply left your company for a better job opportunity, you may have questions about your distribution options.

Here are a few of your options, each having pros and cons that you will want to discuss with your tax professional and a fi nancial advisor:

• Transfer your plan to your new employer• Rollover your plan to a self-directed IRA• Lump Sum Distribution and pay taxes• Leave your plan behind with your former employer Other options may be available based on your specifi c situation. For these

reasons it is important to work with both a tax professional and a fi nancial advisor to determine the best course of action in your particular situation.

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

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

Lighting continued from front pagesuch as hot cocoa, cider, and tea provided by Danville’s merchants, who have decked-out their downtown shops with seasonal splendor. Local entertainers in-cluding Alma Desnuda, Rundown Radio, the Monte Vista Beauty Shop Quartet, California Spirit Elite, and Studio 8 Dance & Performing Arts Center will perform, as well as the Danville Community Flute Ensemble, East Bay Dance Company, Pa-cifi c Boy Choir Academy, America’s Best Karate, and San Ramon Dance Academy.

“This event is such a great Danville tradition,” said Shelby McNamara, president and CEO of the Danville Area Chamber of Commerce. For more information, visit http://danvilleareachamber.com.

[email protected] Danville Today News ~ November 2012 - Real Estate Succession Planning IIBy Robert J. Silverman, Attorney at Law

I opened this topic in last month’s article (“Real Estate Succession Planning I”), listing a few situations in which making a specifi c bequest of property, par-ticularly to one of multiple children, is worth serious consideration.

Here, I’ll elaborate by outlining a few pertinent prop-erty tax reassessment rules. I’ll show how these rules can easily cause a burdensome increase in property taxes. I’ll

also demonstrate how the strategic use of the rules in an estate plan can result in a remarkable, positive difference for those inheriting a property.

Real estate transfers involve many moving parts, including personal circum-stances and potential tax (e.g. income, estate & gift, and property tax) liability. It is wise to evaluate and obtain sound advice from experienced professionals (e.g. legal, tax, real estate, and fi nancial) before transferring any property. This holds true regardless of whether the transfer will be by lifetime gift or sale, or testamentary bequest.

Below are a few relevant California property tax reassessment rules (oversimpli-fi ed) [see CA Revenue & Taxation Code Section 63.1].

1. Principal residences: Any parent to child (or child to parent) transfer is entitled to an unlimited reassessment exemption. Assuming required forms are completed and submitted timely to the County Assessor, property taxes remain the same in the hands of the child (or children) to whom a property is transferred as when the parent owned it.

2. Non-principal residence property(ies), transfers between parents and chil-dren are entitled to a reassessment exemption up to an aggregate maximum (for all such non-principal residence property transfers) of $1 million in assessed value.

Given the prevalence of intra-family principal residence transfers, I’ll focus on the principal residence rules. You’ll see contrasting examples that dem-onstrate how benefi cial it can be to structure your estate plan to synchronize optimally with these rules.

Hypothetical facts regarding your principal residence and other assets: a) You bought your home forty (40) years ago; b) current “Prop. 13” as-sessed value (i.e. value refl ected on the property tax rolls for your home) is $200,000; c) the home’s fair market value is $1,000,000; d) you have a $200,000 mortgage; thus $800,000 of home equity; e) you have cash, stocks and bonds (“liquid assets”) totaling $800,000; and f) you have two (2) children - one living in the Bay Area and one settled on the East Coast - and the child living here would like to own your home upon your death.

If you establish a typical Living Trust, it would likely state simply that half of your assets go to each child upon your death. On your death, the successor trustee might (depending on a number of provisions in your Living Trust) sell the property, which would be unfortunate for the local child. Instead, the trustee might offer the home to the local child and credit the equity ($800,000) toward that child’s one half share, and the other child would be given the liquid assets of equal value ($800,000).

Assuming the trustee is authorized to, and does, transfer the home to the local child, the assessor will likely determine that the transaction essentially involved a transfer of: i) one half of the property by you, the parents, to the local child; and ii) one half of the property from the East Coast child to the local child. The harsh result is that the half characterized as a sibling-sibling transfer is not entitled to any exemption, and it is reassessed.

Here is the monetary difference:A) The assessed value of the exempt half stays the same. Half of the current $200,000 assessed value = $100,000. At the applicable rate (about 1%) this translates

into approximately $1,000/yr. in property tax. B) The assessed value of the non-exempt half is reassessed at half of the then

current fair market value of $1,000,000 ($500,000), with property tax payable at $5,000/yr.

C) The new assessed value (adding both halves) is $600,000, resulting in total property tax payable at $6,000/yr.

So, with a commonly drafted Living Trust, the local child pays $6,000/yr. in property taxes. Alternatively, if the Living Trust states (among other important clauses) that the local child is to receive 100% of the home and the other child is to receive 100% of the liquid assets, the whole transaction should be an exempt parent-child transfer. Thus, the local child would enjoy the home with the same low $2,000/yr. property taxes that you, the parent, enjoyed.

Mr. Silverman is an attorney with Buchman Provine Brothers Smith LLP, 1333 N. California Street, Suite 350, Walnut Creek, CA 94596; (925) 944-9700; [email protected]. His practice emphasizes Estate Planning, Trust Administration & Probate, Real Estate, and Business. Mr. Silverman offers a free introductory consultation.

This article is intended to provide information of a general nature, and should not be relied upon as legal, tax, fi nancial and/ or business advice. Readers should obtain and rely upon specifi c advice only from their own qualifi ed professional advisors. This communication is not intended or written to be used, for the purpose of: i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code; or ii) promoting, marketing, or recommending to another party any matters addressed herein. Advertorial

The Mustang Soccer U16 Fury won their division at the Benicia Fall Classic. The team had many injured players, and barely fi elded a team of 11to get through overtime and win the championship in penalty kicks. Back: Coach Shannon Blankenship, Christina Chace, Coach Scott Kruger, Taylor Barker, Kyndel Sidore, Coach Steve Sidore. Middle: Brianna Engle, McKenzie Zwetsloot, Carley Kruger, Karen Lindow, Taylor Nixon, Mac Shrieve. Front: Rachael Peterson, Shaye Lawrentz, Hannah Perrien, Bailey Blankenship, and Allie Davis.


The Costs of Living LongerBy Christopher T. McClure

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

As Americans live longer, they are spending more of their later years in need of custodial medical care. Is long-term care insurance the best choice to alleviate the costs?

In general, Americans are living longer. While that’s good news, it means more are going to live out a substantial part of their later years in need of a large

measure of custodial medical care. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates that at least 70% of people over the age of 65 will require long-term care (LTC) in the future, including services like home visits by healthcare professionals, stays in a nursing home, and 24-hour medical support.

It makes sense to plan ahead for the possibility. LTC is expensive—the national average annual cost of a private room in a nursing home is $79,9351. And that hit comes when you are likely least prepared for it. It doesn’t take long to eat away savings and the kids’ inheritance. You can protect yourself by buying long term insurance, but you’ll have to determine how early in life you should start paying premiums.Consider Long Term Insurance While You’re Healthy

Many people fi rst consider buying coverage as they are approaching retire-ment, but doing so earlier in life has advantages. If you purchase early, you are more likely to qualify for preferred rates, and your lifetime expenses will be or, if you wait too long, you risk being denied coverage.

Sometimes it makes more sense to invest the money you would otherwise spend on premiums and use those returns to pay future LTC costs. An added benefi t to this strategy: If you don’t need it, you’re not out the money.

But consider: Those assets may not grow fast enough to cover your costs, and as we have seen recently, it’s possible to lose money in the markets. Also,

many LTC policies have an infl ation adjustment built into the policy. For some, however, carrying the costs of LTC themselves makes sense—for

instance, if you have signifi cant assets.Weigh Your Options

Before making your decision, consider the following:• LTC costs where you live. Costs vary greatly, and those who live in

high-cost regions may fi nd insurance coverage appealing, though they will also typically face higher premiums.

• Your family’s health history. A family background of long-term health issues may infl uence your decision to get insurance.

• New LTC options. Several new LTC insurance products, including hybrid life/LTC insurance plans, provide greater fl exibility in long-range planning.

Whether you buy insurance or set aside assets to cover the costs, you need to talk to a trusted fi nancial advisor about making LTC a part of your fi nan-cial plan. That’s the fi rst step toward protecting your loved ones fi nancially and emotionally.Talk to your Financial Planner About

• The need for long-term care insurance and whether it makes sense for you• Choosing the LTC insurance policy that best suits your individual needs• How long you should wait before buying a policy1Market Survey of Long-Term Care Costs, MetLife Mature Market Institute, 2009.Please contact Chris McClure to schedule a complimentary review of

your fi nancial situation, call 925-659-0213, or email [email protected] T. McClure is a registered representative and investment advisor repre-

sentative of Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp., a broker/dealer and registered investment advisor, Lincoln Marketing and Insurance Agency, LLC, and Lincoln Associates Insurance Agency, Inc., and other fi ne companies. 3000 Executive Pkwy, Suite 400, PO Box 5154, San Ramon, CA 94583.

This information should not be construed as legal or tax advice. You may want to consult a tax advi-sor regarding this information as it relates to your personal circumstances. The content of this material was provided to you by Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp. for its representatives and their clients. CA Insurance License # 0B40863

The content of this material was provided to you by Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp. or Lincoln Financial Securities Corporation for its representatives and their clients. CRN201102-2051135 Advertorial

Oak Hill Park’s All Wars Memorial Honors American Veterans

Hartz Avenue and Diablo Road. But, Danville’s population had increased from 3,585 in 1960 prior to the opening of I-680 to 14,059 by 1970 (reported that year as Alamo-Danville). Developers were gobbling up real estate at an alarming rate. By 1980 Danville alone logged 26,446 residents.

Myers was among the handful of people who recognized that time was run-ning out on the area’s ability to preserve large tracts of open space for community parks. Land that was good for parks was equally desirable to developers. She responded to a newspaper notice inviting anyone who wanted to see parks in the Valley to attend a meeting at the home of Joe and Roz Hirsch. Attendees formed the Valley Committee for Parks (VCP), electing Bob Beratta of Diablo and Ed Best of Alamo as co-chairmen. Their goals were to get a proposal for a San Ramon Valley County Park Service Area on the June 1974 ballot and to secure funding in addition to the $153,000 of county park dedication money available once the Valley Service Area was established.

Adopting the slogan “Parks Are Forever,” VCP scheduled meetings with homeowner groups, PTAs, and community and service organizations. VCP set up neighborhood coffees. On June 4, 1974 the Valley passed both the R-7 County Park Service Area proposal and a park tax levy of 25-cents per $100 of property valuation.

The Citizens Advisory Committee for County Service Area R-7 (R-7 Com-mittee) took over the task of identifying land for purchase and developing parks in the Valley. In their quest for 20-40 acre spaces, they commissioned an aerial survey of the Valley. Of the fi ve major parcels they immediately spotted, four are parks today thanks to their quick action. The R-7 Committee developed Oak Hill Park fi rst followed by Osage Station Park. When Danville and San Ramon incorporated in 1982 and 1983 respectively, the southernmost parcel purchased became part of San Ramon’s Central Park, while Danville’s Park and Leisure Services Commission completed negotiations to establish Hap Magee Ranch Park. Unincorporated Alamo remains in the county’s R-7 A Service Area. The R-7 Committee also developed the small park on Danville’s Front Street and contributed to the completion of several recreation areas adjacent to local schools.

Tom Hanson’s role as Service Area Administrator involved ensuring that the County Board of Supervisors followed through promptly on decisions made by the R-7 Committee. The race to secure appropriate land before well-funded developers rendered it unaffordable was not always won by the R-7 Committee.

Parks continued from front page Federal funding aided in the purchase of Oak Hill Park’s 43-acre space. Land adjacent to the pro-posed site of Charlotte Wood Middle School was identified by the Contra Costa County Flood Control District as part of a 100-year fl ood risk zone putting the pur-chase price within the R-7 Committee’s budget. The playing fi elds at the 35-acre Osage Station Park are designed in a bowl to mitigate the ef-fects of a fl ood.

Following the Decem-ber 31, 2005 storm that pounded Danville with 4.72 inches of rain in a 12-hour period, Mark Boucher, Sr., Contra Costa County Hydrologist, explained: “Sta-tistically a 100-year fl ood has a 26% chance of occurring during the life of a 30-year mortgage for a house in a fl ood hazard area.” During the event deemed by its intensity to be a 50-year storm, a fallen tree dammed the creek that New Year’s Eve fl ooding both Charlotte Wood Middle School and Osage Station Park. Today a higher berm along the western side of the creek protects the school from future fl ood damage.

Sensitive to diverse needs within the community, the R-7 Committee held meetings soliciting input. As reported in the Contra Costa Times on January 30, 1975: “ All of the local sports groups were asked for input as well as support in providing capital for construction: Little League Baseball, tennis groups, AAU Swim Club, soccer, women’s softball, Babe Ruth Baseball, football.” The R-7 Committee also worked closely with East Bay Regional Parks to establish an integrated system of pedestrian and equestrian trails. While the plan for Osage remained sports enthusiast-centered, Oak Hill was designed with cross-country

See Parks continued on page 24


Are You Getting Enough Protein?By Jeffrey Johnson, D.C.

Your health and vitality depend upon consistently fueling your body with protein. It is one of the most important nutrients required by your body, and you need it daily. Do you ever feel run-down and fatigued, or do you lack the energy to keep moving through the day? Have you found it diffi cult to get or keep your muscles toned and strong? Do you fi nd it diffi cult to recover from your workouts? Does your body feel weak, or do you

experience re-occurring infections and compromised metabolic function, like dif-fi culty getting rid of the extra weight? These are all signs of protein defi ciency.

• How many grams of protein do YOU need on a daily basis to fuel your body optimally? (Circle one - if you don’t know, take a guess!):

50-60 • 60-70 • 70-80 • 80-90 • 90-100 • 100-110 • 110-120 • 120-130 130-140 • 140-150 • 150-160 • 160-170 • 170-180 • 180+• How many grams of protein did you consume yesterday?Breakfast: Lunch: Dinner: Snacks:• How many grams of protein have you consumed today?Breakfast: Lunch: Dinner: Snacks:• Optimal Protein Choices (1 ounce equals approximately 7 grams of protein)Chicken or turkey, cold water fi sh, shrimp, crab or lobster, salmon, halibut, cod,

mackerel, sardines, shellfi sh, beef, buffalo, lamb, or veal.One egg equals approximately 6 grams of protein. Egg whites and yolk each

contain approximately 3 grams.Quality is Key!

Protein should be included in every meal (three times a day). Our bodies will process the protein better when it comes from higher quality sources like free range chicken, grass fed beef, cage free eggs, and cold water fi sh. You’ll want to avoid the unnecessary and toxic hormones and antibiotics that are found in a lot of conventional protein sources. When possible, avoid dairy and soy sources.

Understanding and Treating Adult Attention Deficit DisorderIt’s not just for kids anymore!By William Shryer, LCSW, DCSW Clinical Director, Diablo Behavioral Healthcare

Adult Attention Defi cit Disorder (ADD) is, at the same time, the most under diagnosed, over diagnosed, and misdi-agnosed diagnostic category there is in mental health. There are those that claim they treat ADD without medications. Just how do they do this?

ADD is a neurobiological brain situation where one part of the brain, usually the frontal lobe that is right behind your forehead, doesn’t work just right. This will cause disruptions in memory, focus, concentration, and many other pieces of daily life that can wreak havoc with those that have not been diagnosed, but always knew something wasn’t just right. Up to 60% of children diagnosed with ADD will carry it into adulthood. The conventional idea that ADD is just for rowdy kids with hyperactivity is myth number one. Myth number two is that ADD would be the same with adults. The reality is that very few adults show hyperactivity, although most show some symptoms from the following ten on this list.

1. Diffi culty getting organized - as with paying bills, working jobs, and raising children.

2. Reckless driving, accidents, and frequent moving violations. 3. Marital diffi culties - due to not listening and paying attention to one’s

partner and then having no idea or insight into this problem.4. Extreme distractibility - as in having one’s focus and concentration

diverted due to telephone calls or emails etc.5. Poor listening skills - leading to forgetting to pick up a child even though

asked and reminded, and zoning out in meetings or with one’s spouse.6. Restlessness and inability to relax - even while on a vacation. Often

those with adult ADD complain of an inner restlessness. 7. Diffi culty starting and fi nishing a task and the use of procrastination

when a deadline is approaching.8. Chronic lateness, the inability to estimate the amount of time needed for

a task - probably one of the major issues leading to work and marital problems.

9. Anger outbursts - one of the symptoms that those with adult ADD are often famous for. Anger tends to fl are quickly and can dissipate just as rapidly.

10. Prioritizing and planning - as in spending too much time on the insig-nifi cant pieces and not enough on the big picture.

Below are some of the myths and facts about adults with ADD taken from the book Attention Defi cit Disorder: The Unfocused Mind in Children and Adults by Thomas Brown PhD.

MYTH: ADD is just a lack of willpower. Persons with ADD focus well on things that interest them; they could focus on any other tasks if they re-ally wanted to.

FACT: ADD looks very much like a willpower problem, but it isn’t. It’s essentially a chemical problem in the management systems of the brain.

MYTH: Everybody has the symptoms of ADD, and anyone with adequate intelligence can overcome these diffi culties.

FACT: ADD affects persons of all levels of intelligence. And although everyone sometimes has symptoms of ADD, only those with chronic impair-ments from these symptoms warrant an ADD diagnosis.

MYTH: Someone can’t have ADD and also have depression, anxiety, or other psychiatric problems.

FACT: A person with ADD is six times more likely to have another psy-chiatric or learning disorder than most other people. ADD usually overlaps with other disorders.

MYTH: Unless you have been diagnosed with ADD as a child, you can’t have it as an adult.

FACT: Many adults struggle all their lives with unrecognized ADD impair-ments. They haven’t received help because they assumed that their chronic diffi culties, like depression or anxiety, were caused by other impairments that did not respond to usual treatment.

The gold standard for the treatment of ADD in adults and in children is the use of medications and a type of coaching and training. If you think these descriptions apply to yourself or your loved one, consult a service with a multidisciplinary staff composed of psychiatrists and other staff to assist in teaching and training to take charge of your adult ADD.

For more information on ADD or any other developmental concern, call our offi ce at (925) 648-4800, and we will take the time to talk with you. To learn more about behavioral disorders, visit www.behaviorquest.com. Advertorial

So, How Much Protein do you REALLY Need?Well, this really depends on your size and how active you are throughout the

week. It is recommended to have a minimum of half your body weight in grams of protein daily. But, this goes up signifi cantly depending on your activity.

This guideline is helpful to determine your needs:• Sedentary Person: 5 grams of protein per pound of body weight• < 5 hours of exercise per week: .6 grams of protein per pound of body weight• <10 hours of exercise per week: .7 grams of protein per pound of body weight• +10 hours of exercise per week: .8 grams of protein per pound of body weightFor example:• An active woman exercising 5 hours per week who weighs 150 pounds

would need:150 x .6 = 90 grams of protein per day.• A sedentary man weighing 220 pounds would need: 220 x .5 = 110 grams of

protein per day.So, Are You Getting Enough Protein in Your Day?

Your average daily consumption: __________Your average daily requirement: __________Your average daily protein defi cit: __________We have consistently seen that people are NOT getting enough protein in their

diet on a daily basis. If you’d like to enjoy more energy, improve your body’s fat/muscle composition, and maximize your health, then you must give our NEW Ultra Body Protein-Plus a try. It’s a seriously delicious (no choking down grainy powder), convenient way to quickly meet your daily needs. You won’t have to worry about allergenic, infl ammatory, health compromising compounds, and we kept the dairy and soy out of it! Mix it with cold water, almond, rice, or coconut milk, or combine it with Ultra Body Fiber to make a delicious shake for breakfast, lunch, or even dinner and you are good to go! Go to www.28daystohealth.com or stop by Johnson Chiropractic Group to try a sample.

For more information, go to www.movepastyourpain.com, visit us on Face-book, or contact Dr. Johnson at Johnson Chiropractic Group, 115 Town & Country Dr., Suite E in Danville. 925.743.8210. Advertorial


Your Personal Nutritionist By Linda Michaelis, RD. MS.Enjoying Restaurants the Healthy Way

Enjoying restaurants can be part of a healthy weight loss plan. It is important to have a strategy to not fall off of the wagon.

I often visit restaurant websites with my clients and help them select the best entree or appetizers for that day according to their tastes and what else they ate that day. Often I will call ahead to a restaurant and talk to the manager to fi nd out the specials and soup of the day. Clients have told me as a result of our pre-planning they often do not even open the menu because they already know what they will order.

The fi rst goal is to be able to order at restaurants without feeling deprived. A critical tip is to not arrive too hungry to the restaurant. We all know the painful feeling of being hungry and then overeating to the point where we feel uncomfortably full. If you are not too hungry, you may want to order an appetizer and a salad or maybe two appetizers. Alternatively, you may order your normal number of courses and either split it with a friend or take half home. Ask for a doggie bag at the beginning of the meal so that you make sure you stick to your plan.

Some great choices for appetizers are mussels or clams in wine sauce, oysters, crab cakes, shrimp cocktail, gour-met salad with a sprinkle of cheese and nuts and light vinaigrette, grilled prawns, chicken satay, ceviche, ahi tuna tartare, or even a soup like minestrone or vegetable that is not full of noodles or cream. Think about transforming an entree into an appetizer portion such as by having lamb chops minus the mashed potatoes. Have some sauteed greens and enjoy a slice of crusty, fresh baguette. Watch those delicious caesar salads where between the croutons, cheese, and dressing there is often too much fat. If you take the option of splitting an entrée, such as fettuccine alfredo, I suggest ordering double veggies, starting with a minestrone or tomato basil soup, and skipping the bread.

The best entrées to order for dinner are grilled fi sh, with a double serving of veggies and no starch so bread can be enjoyed along with a cocktail. I would leave the more oily salmon, sea bass, swordfi sh, trout dishes for lunch and eat the less oily petrale sole, halibut, cod, tilapia, scallops, shrimp, and ahi tuna for dinner. You might think that ordering chicken is healthy, but that is often not true. Typically the chicken you fi nd at upscale spots has been marinated in oils and is as rich as store bought rotisserie chicken. If you are a meat fan enjoy a petit fi let, a beef kebab, or even veal marsala or scallopini which are great choices. They typically are served in smaller portions. There is always the option of scanning the menu and asking for an entrée such as a petit fi let with a baked potato instead of mashed potatoes or even sauteed spinach instead of creamed spinach. You are eliminating an incredible amount of fat with making simple substitutions.

In Japanese restaurants miso soup is great to start with. Try sunomono (cucumber salad) or seaweed salad to prevent you from eating more than a reasonable cup of rice. Your sushi rolls should not contain more than one cup of rice. You can tell the server to add more cucumbers instead of the rice. Also, try seafood nobe, chicken yakitori, or even chicken teriyaki as long as it is white meat only.

For Chinese food your best options are snow white chicken (white meat only), shrimp, scallops, calamari, or even lean beef with veggies such as snow peas, broccoli, or string beans and up to a cup of brown rice. Order entrees with low fat content. Clients tell me they notice a difference. Try your kid’s chow mein or enjoy one pot sticker. You can also order a cup of hot and sour soup and then take home half of your entrée. It heats up nicely for lunch the next day.

I always tell my clients to assess their hunger when walking into the restaurant, and make sure your head is attached to your stomach. It is easy to go with your eyes and nose without paying attention to your appetite. If you want to focus on dessert, just be social and order a simple salad as an entrée, and delight in having a yummy dessert. If you had a small appetite to begin with then you will walk out of the restaurant having a light feeling and sleep well that night.

You should be able to continue enjoying one of life’s goodies – great restaurants – and still eat sensibly.My services are often covered by insurance. Please see my website for more

information. Feel free to call me at (925) 855-0150 or e-mail me at [email protected] and tell me about your nutritional concerns. Refer to my website www.LindaRD.com for past articles, recipes and nutrition tips in my blog section. Advertorial

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Parks continued from page 22jogging, hiking, and equestrian paths.

The original building at Oak Hill was replaced with a 6,400 square foot Community Center in 2007. Available to rent for weddings and other large functions, the facility has a ballroom seating 160 for dinner and a lovely view of the lake as well as Mount Diablo. Likewise overlooking the lake is the All Wars Memorial. The bronze sculpture, designed by Vietnam veteran Don Roch, perpetually seeks to achieve the summit where a “healing circle” invites visitors to refl ect on the sacrifi ces required to defend our nation’s values.

Design of the parks was a totally hands-on project for the R-7 Committee. Realizing that the space allocated for a children’s play area at Osage Station was limited and the structures in existing design books would leave little room for free play, the R-7 Committee convinced Columbia Cascade to create Western Town themed equipment straddling the concrete wall. Miniature buildings encourage imaginative play. Sandy Myers fondly remembers the water feature which is now inactive. Sand kept clogging the fi lter. Sandy witnessed one mother with no idea she was destroying the mechanics pouring buckets of sand into the pool.

Countless children and adults have the R-7 Committee to thank for sports fi elds, peaceful paths, and spectacular views. Each summer evening concert at Oak Hill draws an average of 2,000 spectators. When the Town of Danville took over park maintenance following incorporation, the newly formed commission was bombarded with requests for memorials. Plaques beside oak trees at Oak Hill Park were so much in demand that the Commission feared the park would soon look like a cemetery. Fortunately the ef-fect today is subtle and dignifi ed. Memorial Rose Beds at Osage Station Park and park benches also received immediate public support as remembrances. Some trees and a few rose boxes are still available to satisfy ongoing interest in establishing a memorial. For information contact Danville Parks at 925-314-3400.

[email protected] Danville Today News ~ November 2012 - Three Simple Ways to Shorten Your Lifespan By Dr. Jerome Potozkin

Yes, you have read the title correctly. It should not read Three Simple Ways to Lengthen Your Lifespan but rather as it stands, Three Simple Ways to Shorten Your Lifespan. We live in a health conscious community. However, every day, I see people doing relatively foolish things that can shorten their lifespan. If you would like to shorten yours, please read on.

Bicycling is a great activity. It is fun and also great exercise. One of my favorite things to do on the weekend is to ride a tandem bike with my kids. I make sure that my kids and I always wear a helmet. Data from 2009 revealed that 91% of bicycle related fatalities occurred in people who were not wearing helmets. Even if you are not riding fast, the impact from hitting your head on pavement from the height you are at sitting on a bicycle is enough to create a fatal head injury. One of my medical school professors died this way. So, my fi rst tip to shorten your lifespan is to not wear a bicycle helmet. If you have kids, this will also contribute to shortening your child’s longevity as they will likely follow your example and ride without a helmet.

We all know the dangers of driving under the infl uence of alcohol. However, texting while driving or even talking on a cell phone while driving dramatically increases your risk of getting into a car accident. A study from the University of Utah showed that talking on a cell phone

is just like driving drunk. California requires you to use a hands free cell phone (it doesn’t count if you are holding your phone away from your face). Even if you are using a hands free phone, your brain functions differently, and you are much more likely to get into an accident. Now, I can’t really recommend that you talk on a cell phone while driving because if you get into an accident you are putting others at risk.

The best method to shorten your lifespan is to get in the habit of smoking. Smoking does so many things that can shorten your lifespan. There is the obvious danger of developing lung cancer. However, cigarettes do so much more harm. Smoking dramatically increases your risk of having a stroke or heart attack. Cigarette smoking is such an effi cient killer that it accounts for one of every fi ve deaths in the United States each year. Smoking accounts for more deaths than HIV, illegal drug use, alcohol use, motor vehicle accidents, suicides, and murders combined. If you really want to shorten your lifespan and decrease your quality of life, this would be your best bet.

Of course I don’t seriously advocate any of the above. For crying out loud, please wear a bicycle helmet, stop using your phone while driving, and do every-thing you can to quit smoking. As a dermatologist I also recommend an annual full body skin examination by a board certifi ed dermatologist and not to ignore any new or changing skin growths.

Dr. Potozkin is a board certifi ed dermatologist who has been serving the Danville community since 1993. He is accepting new patients at (925) 838-4900. You may also visit his website at Potozkin.com for more information. Advertorial

November is Lung Cancer Awareness MonthBy Gigi Chen, MD

Lung cancer accounts for about 14% of all cancer diagnosis. However, it is responsible for almost 29% of all cancer deaths. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death for both men and women in the U.S. In 2012, an estimated 226,200 new cases of lung can-cer will be diagnosed. The incidence and death rates have been decreasing for men, but had been rising for

women until around the year 2000 when they began to level off. The major cause of lung cancer is smoking, which is responsible for 85% to 90% of lung cancer. Other risk factors include environmental and occupational exposures such as asbestos, radon, air pollution, radiation, and second hand tobacco.

More than 95% of lung cancer consists of one of the four major types: squa-mous, adenocarcinoma, large cell, or small cell cancer. Squamous, adenocarci-noma, and large cell are together called non-small cell lung cancer. Adenocarci-noma comprises of 50% of lung cancer in the U.S. The most common symptoms patients experience are decreased appetite, fatigue, weakness, and cough.

Currently most patients with lung cancer are diagnosed at an advanced stage. There has been recent promising data in the area of lung cancer screening. The National Lung Cancer Screening trial enrolled 53,000 current or former heavy smokers and showed that screening high-risk patients with low dose CT decreased mortality from lung cancer by 20% compared to chest Xray. High risk patients are either current or former smokers with 30 pack year smoking history, aged 55 to 74 years. The International Early Lung Cancer Action Program (I-ELCAP) as-sessed whether annual screening with low dose CT can increase early detection in patients at risk for lung cancer. They found that if lung cancer is detected in stage I and promptly removed, the 10 year survival is 92%. These trials suggest that early screening can decrease the risk of death from lung cancer in high risk patients.

Treatment of lung cancer requires a collaborative effort between patients and their medical oncologist, thoracic surgeons, and radiation oncologist. Treatment strategies for non-small cell lung cancer can include surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation or a combination of these methods. Treatment for small cell lung can-cer typically involves chemotherapy or combined chemotherapy and radiation.

There are a number of new and exciting drugs for lung cancer that can target cancer at a molecular level. Erlotinib is an oral drug that works effectively in pa-tients with EGFR mutation, which can be found in up to 50% of Asian patients and about 10% Caucasian patients. Another example is Crizotinib, which is effective in patients with tumor express EML4-ALK rearrangement, which occurs in about 10,000 patients in the U.S. Bevacizumab and Cetuximab, which are monoclonal antibodies, can be used in conjunction with chemotherapy in newly diagnosed non-small cell lung cancer. Understanding lung cancer genomics and biology will enable development of medicines that are more effective and have fewer side effects.

November is National Lung Cancer Awareness Month, and our cancer center has arranged to offer complimentary consultants for screening during the week of November 12-16. To learn more about this lung cancer awareness program, please call 925-826-1900.

Dr. Chen is board certifi ed in medical oncology and hematology and practic-es with Diablo Valley Oncology, located at the California Cancer and Research Institute in Pleasant Hill. She treats all forms of cancer and blood disorders and has a special interest in lung and gynecologic cancer. Advertorial

experience as the participants do, and our athletes get the pleasure of working with teens they consider peers, to build not only swimming skills, but also pride, self esteem, confi dence, and acceptance.”

Sea Serpent athletes represent a range in abilities and ages. The youngest swimmers work one-on-one with a coach in the shallow pool in order to become comfortable in the water. They then move on to the learn-to-swim program. At the other end of the spectrum, older, more accomplished swimmers participate in an organized practice with varied sets. Volunteer coaches must be 8th grade age or older, and they must commit to participating in a minimum 80% of the practices for each season.

The Sea Serpent’s offi cial season, funded by Special Olympics Northern California (SONC), runs March through June, at which time the athletes participate in a Bay Area-wide meet at Laney College in Oakland. The fall season (Labor Day through the fi rst weekend in November) is optional, and it is funded by charitable donations. (SONC halted fall funding due to budgetary constraints.) In 2011 the OMPA Swimming League funded the fall season, and this year members of Moraga Country Club Swim Team held a swim-a-thon, the results of which are fully funding this 2012 fall season.

As Silverfoote sought a few years ago to ease her commitment in order to spend more time with family, particularly a new grandson, she began to lean on regular volunteer Brian Wentzel, a Lafayette resident who had been active with Sea Serpents for several years. Last year, Wentzel took over as head of the program. Silverfoote continues to provide support and direction as needed.

Working with Sea Serpents is a family-oriented activity for the Wentzels. Brian’s wife Deanna is the team photographer, and their two high school aged sons are involved in coaching and instructing. Their 12 year-old daughter also enjoys the Sunday afternoon practices and is often found poolside encouraging and cheering the athletes. Wentzel, a director of national accounts for a foodser-vice beverage division of Nestlé, provides direction to the more than 30 weekly volunteers and handles the administrative aspects of the program.

“Sea Serpents really pulls together a lot of opportunities and experiences for me,” says Wentzel. “First and foremost, being a swimmer myself, it feels great to be able to give back to others in the sport that I love and which has been a big part of our family as well. Seeing our athletes swim best times at meets, or learn a new stroke, and “high-fi ve” a coach because “I did it!” makes it all worthwhile. And, it’s great to be involved in a program that the coach/volunteers actually look forward to each week. I think a lot of other community service activities

Sea Serpents continued from front page

See Sea Serpents continued on page 26


The Eye OpenerBy Gregory Kraskowsky, O.D., Alamo OptometryGiving Thanks

Now that we are getting close to Thanksgiving and the holiday season, it is the time of year when we show our appreciation for our family, friends, and any other people or things that are important to us. These can range anywhere from a nice neighbor that helps out watching our children from time to time, our favorite sports team, our job or business, and our health.

Speaking from a personal standpoint, there are many things that I am thankful and happy for. First and foremost, my wife and children are at the top of the list. These three ladies in my life defi nitely are the most important things to me. I am sure most people would also put this as their top of their list, but for me it is worth all of the daily triumphs and diffi culties to have a wonderful, caring family. They make the daily grind worth it; as much as I love my job, I look forward to going home every evening even more.

Our health is absolutely the second thing on my list. We are extremely lucky and fortunate that we have our health. There are many people that do not have this luxury, and I know that at times we take this for granted. We are human and because of that it is diffi cult to comprehend having our mobility, sight, mental capacity, and our health taken away from us. Without our health, the other things in life that we cherish are extremely diffi cult to appreciate.

Speaking from a professional standpoint, vision and eye health are of para-mount importance in my daily life. Most people are extremely scared of losing

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 fortu-

nate 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 fi tness guru, the couch potato, the vibrant career woman, and the mother, pregnant with her fi rst 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 chemo-therapy. 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 impact 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 surgeon, 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 cour-age 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 awareness. 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 mam-

their vision, as several polls have showed that losing your vision is second on the list behind cancer as the most feared health-related condition. Depending on the ocular condition, vision loss can be permanent. Diseases such as diabetes, macular degeneration, and glaucoma can cause vision changes that can alter your ability to accomplish daily activities such as driving, reading a book, and cooking. A loss of independence is emotionally devastating to anyone. Some of these condi-tions can be prevented or be medically treated where the visual compromise is minimal. Therefore, we always recommend annual examinations and optimizing your personal health as a healthy body generally leads to healthy eyes.

The other thing that I am extremely proud of and appreciate is my offi ce staff that I work with everyday. Since the economy is still struggling, I am happy every-day when I am able to open the doors to the offi ce. As most people can attest, these are diffi cult times for everyone, but thankfully the state of the economy seems to be slowly improving. It is a pleasure working in the community providing quality service and eye care. We also must thank all of our patients and family members that continue to support our service and offi ce. We pride ourselves on doing ev-erything in our power to ensure a positive and enjoyable time while at our offi ce.

During the next few months during the holiday season, it is a good idea to take stock of how things stand and what is really important. I know all too well to not sweat the small stuff, but at times it can feel like everything is the small stuff. In reality, life is really too short, and we all need to appreciate what we have and who we know.

Dr. K. at Alamo Optometry is your hometown eye doctor for outstanding service, vision care, and designer eyewear. He can be reached at 820-6622 or visit his offi ce at 3201 Danville Blvd., Suite 165 in Alamo. Visit our newly updated website at www.alamooptometry.com, and become a fan on our Alamo Optometry Facebook page. Advertorial

mogram screening. To fi nd instructions on how to perform a breast self-exami-nation, please visit our website at www.personsplasticsurgery.com. Support the efforts of wonderful organizations like Susan G. Komen or the Avon Foundation. Join me in wearing 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

for our high school youth might just feel like checking a box. Working with the Sea Serpent athletes provides so much more. I think our volunteers walk away with a sense of fulfi llment and accomplishment.”

Miramonte junior Jack Garrett has been a volunteer coach for two and a half years. His empathy for those with special needs led him to the program. He guides the athletes in stretches, helps them put on goggles, and teaches stroke technique and how to push off the wall. As a swimmer and water polo player himself, he is accustomed to taking instruction rather than giving, and he enjoys being on the other side for a change. “I really like helping the kids and interacting with them, and when I break down technique for them, I fi nd that it actually helps my own swimming. I really like interacting with the athletes. It’s pretty fun and I’ve made a lot of friends. It’s a blast.”

“The high school coaches are a real asset to the team,” says Alamo resident Linda Knowles, whose two grown sons Trevor and John have participated for years as athletes in the program. “I think that working with the special needs com-munity has taught the young coaches so much! A few of the coaches have even gone on to study Special Ed in college because of their work with Sea Serpents.”

Trevor Knowles, 23, a 2007 graduate of San Ramon Valley High School and now a cashier at Taco Bell, started swimming with Special Olympics when he was fi ve years old. He joined the Sea Serpents several years ago mostly due to the excellent coaching staff. “I love the workouts and seeing the coaches,” says Trevor. “I also really like seeing my friends. Swimming with the Sea Serpents has shown me that I have become a really good swimmer over the years.”

Trevor’s brother John, 26, just recently graduated from the Transition to In-dependent Living (TIL) program at Taft College and is now living on his own in Danville and continuing to frequent the Sunday afternoon workouts. “To me, the program shows that I can do anything if I work hard at it, regardless of my disabilities,” says John.

“Swimming has been wonderful for my boys,” says Linda. “The Sea Serpents is a great program.”

For more information on the Sea Serpent program, visit www.eastbayseaserpents.org.

Sea Serpents continued from page 25


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

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

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

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

PET CAREEXCELLENT, EXPERIENCED PET CARE SERVICE. Lock and leave, no worries. At your home. Daily visits, dog walking, grooming and vet appts kept. Start planning holiday dates early. References. Reasonable rates. Call Barbara Monroe at 925-998-9317.

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

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Grief Support Group Helps People Cope with the Death of a Pet When you lose your pet, you often feel like a part of you is lost. The death of your beloved animal companion is one of the most diffi cult losses you may ever feel. This

loss is sometimes made more painful by society’s seeming lack of support for pet grief.Hospice of the East Bay and the Tony La Russa Animal Rescue Foundation is offering a support group where participants can share memories and feelings

and talk to others who truly understand and care. Meetings will be held the fi rst Tuesday of each month from noon - 1:30PM at the Tony La Russa Animal Rescue Foundation, 2890 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek.

For further information and/or to register, please call Bereavement Services at Hospice of the East Bay (925) 887-5681. Pre-registration is required. Hospice of the East Bay Bereavement Services are provided free of charge to all community members in need. However, donations are greatly appreciated.


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

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

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SOLD

PENDINGPENDING

PENDING

PENDING

4 bed 2-3 bath rental homes sales Danville Jan.1- Sept. 26Year Units $ Sq. Foot Avg. Price Size Sq. Ft.

2007 41 1.25$ 3,298$ 26382008 35 1.27$ 3,383$ 26642009 50 1.19$ 3,169$ 26632010 32 1.23$ 3,477$ 28272011 36 1.37$ 3,677$ 26842012 29 1.50$ 3,816$ 2544

$1.10 $1.15 $1.20 $1.25 $1.30 $1.35 $1.40 $1.45 $1.50 $1.55

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Dol

lars

Per

Squ

are

Foot

Danville Family Home Rental

$ Sq. Foot

Danville Real Estate: Rental Rates Jump in 2012! Each year about this time I try to update the market on what’s happening in the rental

market place in Danville. This analysis looks at rental homes with at least 4 bedrooms and 2-3 baths. The data for all years listed runs from January 1-September 26, so it is an “apples to apples” comparison for all years. The data presented here are published on MLS and do not include every property rented during the time periods. A fair number of rentals are handled directly by the homeowner off MLS. Unfortunately, when we look at off MLS rentals properties we can only see the advertised price, not the rent actually agreed to, so current rents as advertised off MLS, while they may appear to be higher than reported here, most likely overstate the actual rent collected by the landlord.

The rental market in Danville has been rather sleepy during the past six years, rising at an annual rate of less than 3%. This year marks a signifi cant change in trajectory. Rents have risen like a hockey stick in Danville. Rents are up 10% compared to 2010 from an average of $3,477 per month to $3,816. That’s pretty remarkable when you consider that the size of the average home in the rental market has declined by about 10% understating the real rent increase. On a square foot basis rents have climbed 22% from 2010. Between 2007 and 2009 rents collected during the interim years were tracking fairly steady and began a sharp climb in 2010.

Most notable in the data (not all presented here) are the unit increases experienced and main-tained from 2004-2011. These time periods refl ect anywhere from 2-3 times the number of rental transactions than in the preceding time frames going back to 2000 which averaged about 12

transactions per year. I t h i n k w e would ex-p e c t t h a t g iven the market con-ditions for home sales

during the past few years that a number of homeowners, unable to sell their homes, opted to give renting a try and in the process became “unintentional landlords” while praying for a quick snap back in price.

Also, very interesting is that the number of rental transactions for 2012 has dropped back to 29 sig-nificantly less that the 50 recorded in 2009 range when the market was at its worst. This change is fascinating and suggests that fewer homeowners are going the rental route this year than during the past few years and that is reducing the in-ventory of rental homes available. Given the brisk pace of home sales this year, I believe this makes a fair amount of sense. At the same time our rental demand remains elevated because a number of people, who would ordinarily be home buyers, cannot obtain fi nancing. Some because of credit damage infl icted during the downturn and others because of very tight lend-ing standards. In today’s market you can rent a home in Danville for a lower monthly outlay than you can buy in San Ramon or Walnut Creek. If for a family, buying a home is no longer an option, why not rent in a great community with superior schools?

Whatever the reason, the numbers speak for themselves…signifi cantly fewer rental transac-tions today…trending toward a more normal level. What this means is not completely clear. For the moment, property values are headed upward and so are rents. This is a good thing.

If you are thinking about selling your home and would like an honest opinion of its market value, please give me a call 925-989-6086, or send me an email [email protected]. Nancy and I will be happy to help.

danville today news, november 2012

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