danville today news, april 2011

[email protected]

AAUW Garden TourThe 11th Annual Danville-Ala-

mo-Walnut Creek Branch of AAUW Garden Tour will be held Friday, May 6th and Saturday, May 7th from 10AM - 4PM.

Seven delightful gardens located in Alamo, Danville, and Walnut Creek will be showcased. Various

landscape designers as well as expert gardeners will be on hand to share their knowledge. The cost is $30 if postmarked by April 30th, $35 thereafter; $25 for seniors 65+ by April 30, $30 thereaf-ter. No children under 12 please.

For tickets with garden locations, mail a check by April 30th payable to “AAUW Funds” with a business size, self-addressed stamped enve-lope to: AAUW Garden Tour 400 Cliffside Dr, Danville, CA 94526.

Tickets (cash or check only) are also available at East Bay Flower

PRSRT STDU.S. Postage

PAIDPermit 263Alamo CA

April 2011 Serving Danville

Volume II - Number 63000F Danville Blvd. #117, Alamo, CA 94507

Telephone (925) 405-NEWS, 405-6397Fax (925) 406-0547

Alisa Corstorphine ~ [email protected]

The opinions expressed herein belong to the writers, and do not necessarily reflect that of Danville Today News. Danville Today News is not responsible for the content of any of the

advertising herein, nor does publication imply endorsement.

See Fresh Start continued on page 21

See AAUW cont. on page 11

Angels on Earth By Jody Morgan

Have you ever met an angel? There are about 4,000 earth-bound angels operating in 12 different countries at any given time. Numbered among them is Danville denizen Sharon Jones. Mother of three grown children and proud grandmother of five, Sharon has been an angel since 2003 – a Chemo Angel, to be precise. Each week she sends small gifts and upbeat notes to her “chemo buddy,” a stranger she has never met. From her home in California, she radiates warmth and inspiration to a can-cer patient engaged in a life or death conflict a thousand or more miles away - in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Tennessee, or wherever next her buddy may live.

Founded in 2000 by California resident Laura Armstrong, Chemo Angels brings together at any given time about 2,000 cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy with twice as many volunteer angels. Traditional angels, like Sharon, are responsible for sending a modest present and a few lines of encouragement each week to their buddies. Sharon spends about $10 a week including postage on items that range from books to jewelry to bath salts or crossword puzzles. At the time when a patient is enrolled in the program, he or she fills out an application including a check off list of interests, favorites, and categories of items that would be welcome as gifts. “One of my buddies,” Sharon recalls, “loved Country Music. Shopping for her was fun because I learned a lot about the music while I was selecting gifts I knew she’d enjoy.”

Touched by the disease during her own father’s terminal struggle against pancreatic cancer, Laura Armstrong was motivated to help others suffering through their course of treatment. Pregnant with her third child, Laura joined an online support group for expectant mothers. When she discovered that a group member had breast cancer, Laura began sending her weekly presents and cards. After her course of treatment was successfully concluded, Armstrong’s new friend gratefully dubbed Laura her “Chemo Angel.” Seeing a way to bring a ray of sunshine into the gloomiest days of other patients’ lives, Laura founded her web-based organization of earthbound angels recruiting 100 volunteers in the first three months. Encouraged by the response, Arm-strong left her job as an accounting clerk with a CPA and began working full-time as the unpaid administrator of Chemo Angels. Today, no longer the only member of the unpaid staff, she still limits the number of patients being served at any given time to the number her organization can successfully monitor. Compromising the care offered in any way is unthinkable.

In addition to traditional gift-giving angels, the organization also provides each pa-tient with a card angel. Card angels commit to sending at least one card a week. Being a card angel allows volunteers who may find spending $40-$50 a month a financial burden to get involved. Messages from angels to their buddies are never about their personal problems or about sadness over the patient’s condition. Politics and religion as well as health are forbidden subjects. Sharon writes about flowers blooming in her garden, a shared hobby such as golf, or something interesting she has read.

A huge thank you card for Abi (4th from left), who obtained donations of personal care items. Abi created over 150 personal care packs she put together for participants at Fresh Start as part of her Gold Star Award for Girl Scouts. Pictured left to right, Geoffrey, Bill, Robin, Abi, Billy, and Polly.

A Fresh Start By Fran Miller

Fresh Start, a respite and service center for the homeless and those at risk of becoming homeless, is growing and expanding. For most enterprises, this would signify progression and success. But for Fresh Start, expansion is indicative of trying times. “Fresh Start has changed for the better over the last few years, and for better or worse it has grown,” says Executive Director Bill Lunghi. “In other words, Fresh Start serves more participants due to the Great Recession. As more and more Americans are losing their jobs and/or their homes, more people are requiring our services. Moreover, worker/consumer income continues to decline and the social safety net is simply falling apart.”

Lunghi’s wife, Susan Prather, founded Fresh Start in Walnut Creek six-teen years ago. Her compassion, charisma, and unconventional style served to change the lives of everyone she met. She, in essence, was Fresh Start,

and when she passed away unexpectedly a few years ago, Lunghi took the reigns and has successfully navigated the non-profit through one of the worst economic downturns in recent history. Fresh Start continues to thrive, thanks in large part to its volunteer staff - management, administrators and case

Sharon Jones

See Chemo Angels continued on page 19

www.yourmonthlypaper.com - April 2011 ~ Danville Today News

Boulevard ViewBy Alisa Corstorphine, Editor

A crisis can happen at any time. On a recent evening, a friend who lives about 1/2 mile down the street went outside to let her dog in, expecting to cozy up by the fire for the evening. When she went outside, she saw an ember flying around her chimney. She mentioned this to her friend who was inside, and he noted she had a spark arrestor on her chimney, so she shouldn’t be alarmed. However, when he went to check for himself, he rushed back in saying to call the

fire department. The 911 call they placed was routed through CHP which leads to a longer response time than calling the fire department directly. (For fire department emergency dispatch, you are encouraged to call 925-838-6691. It is a good idea to program this number into your cell phone.)

When the fire started, I was sitting at home watching TV. My iPhone popped up with an alert from the FireDepartment.org App I have. It stated there was a house fire on Lark Ct. in Alamo. The street was familiar. I looked up the address and realized it was the home of my friend. Listening to the scanner built into the phone application, I heard that all of the people were out and accounted for. I wondered if there was a way I could help. Then I remembered my friend volunteered as a foster-home for dogs for the White Kitty Foundation. I knew she often had extra animals in her care.

My son and I grabbed all of our dog leashes and rushed out the door. I was passed by several fire engines and their support teams. The two alarm fire had started in the chimney and had spread to the attic area. When we arrived, flames were leaping 15-20 feet in the air over the house. I found my friend and inquired about the animals. Her three dogs were in a car which was boxed in the driveway by the fire engines. I took two of the dogs, and a neighbor took the third.

The home received extensive damage, and my friend has to relocate for a year while the house is rebuilt. She had thought she was taking care of her chimney and flue by the use of creosote-sweeping fire logs. However, she found out the hard way that they don’t compare to having your chimney inspected and swept annually, and are not recommended by the fire chief.

The two foster dogs found new homes. Our family fell in love with one of the dogs, and the other went to another family, but the White Kitty Foundation (www.whitekittyfoundation.org) is without one of their dependable foster parents for at least a year. If you can become an animal foster, or if you have room to adopt an animal, please contact them or any rescue group and help out. The need is huge.

Our family had no intention of adopting an animal! But it is amazing how something can unexpectedly weedle its way into your heart. I found out that two-year-old Zoe had been scheduled to be euthanized at the animal shelter, as surprisingly there was no interest in her. She had 24 hours to live when White Kitty swooped in to rescue her, and she began her circuitous journey to our home. Her previous owner had surrendered her. It could have been the owners were forced to move and couldn’t take her, or maybe a family member got sick and wasn’t able to care for her. It is obvious to me that someone did care for her, as she’s a loving and well-behaved little dog. Unfortunately, there are thousands more like Zoe facing a similar fate.

Recent events remind us that disaster can strike at any time. Do you have an escape plan for you and your animals? Please, learn vicariously from my friend, and check your chimney, because it only takes a spark to cause a disaster.

Photo by Lucas Hirst, SRVFD

[email protected] Danville Today News ~ April 2011 -

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Individuals Sought to Serve on County CommissionsSupervisor Mary Nejedly Piepho is seeking qualified, motivated candidates

to serve on the following county advisory committees: • Alamo County Service Area, P-2B • Mental Health Commission, Consumer and Family Member seat • East Contra Costa Fire Protection DistrictThe Board of Supervisors receives valuable input and community partici-

pation from numerous citizen advisory boards on a range of issues. Boards usually meet monthly on a regular basis.

Candidates for these positions must live in District 3 or any specified bound-ary area for special districts. District 3 is comprised of the cities of San Ramon, Danville, Walnut Creek, Brentwood, and the unincorporated communities of Alamo, Blackhawk, Diablo, Byron, Knightsen, and Discovery Bay.

You may also download an application from the County’s website at http://contra.napanet.net/maddybook/. Applications should be submitted to the Clerk of the Board’s office (925) 335-1900 located at 651 Pine Street, Martinez, CA 94553.

For more information, including on how to apply, you may contact Su-pervisor Piepho’s Deputy Chief of Staff, Lea Castleberry, at (925) 820-8683 or [email protected].

Bear in MindBe sure to see Bear in Mind at the Museum of the

San Ramon Valley! This exhibit features a real stuffed grizzly, stories, pictures, DVD's, artifacts, and children's activities about grizzlies in California and the San Ra-mon Valley. It runs through May 7th.

Come and enjoy the special Sunday Bear Talk events at the Museum:

• April 10, Bank of the West Bear Day, Noon-3. Free stuffed bears will be given to elementary aged children.

• April 17, Craig Miller presents Bay Miwok Bear Legends and Myths, Noon-3.

• May 1, Park Ranger and Filmmaker (Bears of Sequoia) Steve Bumgardner will talk about Black Bears in the Sierras, Noon-3.

The Museum of the San Ramon Valley (in the Danville Train Depot), is located at 205 Railroad Avenue, Danville. Hours are Tuesday through Friday 1-4 Saturdays 10-1, and Sunday Special Presentations Noon-3. Admission is only $3 for guests, $1 for students, and free for Museum members. Please call 925-837-3750 or go to www.museumsrv.org for additional information.

California Writers ClubMt. Diablo Branch, California Writers Club presents Naomi Epel, author

of The Observation Deck: A Tool Kit for Writers and Writers Dreaming. Epel will share “Insights into the Creative Processes of Some of the World’s Greatest Writers.”

Epel has hosted San Francisco FM radio shows, Booktalk on KALW, Dreamtalk on KALX, and Cover to Cover on KPFA. She is currently writ-ing a memoir to be titled A Driver’s Education.

The event will take place at Zio Fraedo’s Restaurant, located at 611 Gregory Lane in Pleasant Hill, on Saturday, April 9th. Check-in begins at 11:30AM, the meeting will be at noon, and a buffet luncheon and program will follow.

Cost is $20 for CWC members and $25 for guests. Reservations are required and must be received no later than noon on Wednesday, April 6. Contact Jean Georgakopoulos at [email protected] or (925) 934-5677. Expect confirmation only if you e-mail your reservation.

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

Remember the 50s? The 60s? Rock Around The Clock? Up On The Roof?

Stand By Me? The Blackhawk Chorus rocks out…. Be there!

Saturday, May 7, 2011, 8PM

Dean Lesher Center • 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut CreekFor tickets, $25 for adults, $17 for children 12 and under,

visit www.lesherarts.org

Saturday, May 14, 2011, 8PM

Resurrection Lutheran Church 7557 Amador Valley Blvd., Dublin

For tickets, $20 for adults, $15 for students, call 925-828-1580

Friday, May 20, 2011, 6:30PM

Blackhawk Country Club, Danville$47 per person for Concert & Dinner

For tickets call 925-736-6500

Library Book SaleFriends of the Danville Library will hold a huge sale of gently used

books, all 50 cents or $1. Sale will be held in the library located at 400 Front St. in Danville. The sale will be held on April 29 from 9AM - 10AM for members only. The public is invited to shop the book sale on April 29 from 10AM - 5PM, April 30 from 10AM - 4PM, and there will be a Bag Sale on May 1 from 12:05-3:45. For more information, call 925-837-4455.

St. Vincent de Paul Receives “Challenge Grant” The Society of St. Vincent de Paul, (SVdP) of Contra Costa County has received

a $50,000 “Challenge Grant” from the Dean & Margaret Lesher Foundation. “The funds will be utilized to purchase a new truck in order to update the ef-

ficiency and operation of the SVdP truck fleet which supports the pick-up, delivery and transportation of all goods sold or given to the needy from the two SVdP Thrift Stores,” said Ron Weston, executive director of SVdP. Additional uses of the truck fleet include distribution of 14,000 warm coats each winter in the “One Warm Coat Program” and distribution of food/meals to the needy.

SVdPThrift Stores support the economically marginalized in Contra Costa County by providing free and low-cost clothing, furniture, and appliances. Over $100,000 in free clothing/furniture was provided to over 25,000 families in 2010.

SVdP of Contra Costa County looks to strengthen vulnerable families by providing not only clothing, furniture, and appliances, but by also providing nutritional support, (free meals and food pantries/distributions), rental assistance, immigration and legal services, job training, medical care to uninsured adults with acute or chronic health conditions, and shelter for the homeless.

Please help us meet the challenge of this generous Grant by making your dona-tion to the SVdP Truck Fund by calling (925) 439-5060 or at www.svdp-cc.org.

www.yourmonthlypaper.com

- April 2011 ~ Danville Today News

Lost Dog!

Danville Dog is MissingHe has become lost in this paper!

April’s Winner Is ~ Margo Letasse

If you find him and your name is drawn!

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

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

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

$50 REWARD

Easter ServiceThe members of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

in Walnut Creek cordially invite you to join us for Easter Service on Sunday, April 24th. Services will be held at 7am, 9am, and 11am. The church is located at 1924 Trinity Ave. in Walnut Creek. For questions or information please call 925-934-2324, or visit www.stpaulswc.org.

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Treats for the TroopsIn April Delta Nu Psi will be at CVS Pharmacy in Alamo on April 8th

and at Lunardi’s in Danville on April 15th from 11am to 2pm to collect food for the troops. By special request from the troops, please consider donating any variety of Girl Scout Cookies to either store.

As of this past month, we have sent 19,931 pounds of “gourmet junk food” to the troops. The 12 members of Delta Nu Psi have been working hard to collect goodies, prepare shipments, and mail boxes. Please help support our troops!

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

Valley, meets every second Thursday of the month at the Swain House at Hap Magee Ranch Park, located at 1025 La Gonda Way in Danville. The next meeting will be held Thursday, April 14th. Doors open at 7PM, and the meet-ing begins at 7:30PM. For more information contact Post Commander Nathan Greene at (925) 875-1747. Find out more about the VFW at www.vfw.org.

Blackhawk Republican Women The Blackhawk Republican Women present Peter M. Friedman as he

speaks about the threat of Sharia to America at the Blackhawk Country Club on April 13th. Hors d’oeuvres will be served at 5:30PM, and Friedman will speak at 6PM. The cost is $25.

Friedman is a Vietnam Vet who has studied the Koran extensively for over 40 years. Friedman’s audio-visual lecture will cover such subjects as the Koran and its origin, Sharia Islamic law, terrorist training camps located in America, how our government is cooperating and supporting Sharia in America’s finan-cial system, and how Americans are personally funding terrorism through their 401K accounts. Peter Friedman is the Pleasant Hill Chapter Leader of ACT! For America, an anti-Sharia movement started by Brigitte Gabriel, a regular guest on Bill O’Reilly, Sean Hannity, and many other shows.

Mr. Friedman has been in the U.S. Defense Industry since 1965 and has worked on undercover operations for over 20 years with the FBI and Department of Defense targeting crooked defense contractors.

Please make reservations or cancellations by noon on Monday, April 11th by contacting Marianne Lyons, 856 Turrini Dr., Danville, 94526, [email protected], or 925-820-6452.Danville/Sycamore Valley Rotary Blackhawk Film, Food & Wine Festival

The Danville/Sycamore Valley Rotary Club will hold its 21st Annual Film, Food, & Wine Festival fundraiser at the Blackhawk Auto Museum in Danville, located at 3700 Blackhawk Circle on Thursday, May 5th from 5:30-8:30pm.

This year’s theme, Casablanca, will feature the classic movie with Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. Set in unoccupied Africa during the early days of World War II. During the movie presentation, information about the film will be given. In addition there will be a small live auction featuring a few special items.

Outstanding local restaurants and wineries of the Livermore Valley will of-fer a sample of their finest products and musical entertainment will make this year’s event very special. Bring friends and family for a wonderful evening!

All proceeds from sponsors and guests will go to the Rotary Club of Danville/Sycamore Valley Community Foundation, a 501(c)3 charitable organization, in support of local charitable and non-profit organizations and international service projects.

For information and event reservations, please contact Newell Arnerich, Foundation Chair, at 510-366-0716 or email [email protected].

The Danville/Sycamore Valley Rotary Club wishes to thank everyone who has generously donated to our efforts for community service in the past and hope that you will join us again. Direct contributions can be sent to The Rotary Club of Danville/Sycamore Valley Community Foundation, 696 San Ramon Valley Blvd., Suite 332 Danville, CA 94526. You can also visit our website at www.dsvrotary.com for more information.

Exchange Club Presents Scholarship Opportunity The Exchange Club of San Ramon Valley is hosting its 7th annual college es-

say scholarship contest. A college scholarship for $1,500 will be awarded to the first place winner, $1,000 for second place, and $500 for third place. High school students will have an opportunity to hear and interact with a speaker as they discuss this year’s essay topic: “Federal & State Mandates – Discuss whether mandates by the government are an authorization to act or a command to be obeyed.”

Assemblywoman Joan Buchanan will discuss the realities of federal and state mandates on the state and regional economy at a meeting on April 14th from 6:30PM to 8PM at the San Ramon Public Library located at 100 Mont-gomery Street in San Ramon.

All students in grades 9-12 are eligible to write an essay after attending the talk. Essays are due on Monday, May 1st.

Please contact Judy Lloyd at [email protected] or (925) 989-0100 or Donna Kerger at [email protected] or (925) 838-9272 with questions. For additional information, visit www.SRVExchangeClub.org.


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Life in the Lafayette Garden TourThe public is cordially invited to step into the enchantment and delight

of five Lafayette gardens designed by John Montgomery on Saturday, May l4th from 11AM to 4PM, at a cost of $25 per person. This second annual event is a fundraiser with proceeds to benefit Hospice of the East Bay, the Tech Trek program sponsored by the Orinda-Moraga-Lafayette Branch of The American Association of University Women,

and other local charities.

J o h n Montgomery, whose gardens are famous, believes the function of the garden is to rejuvenate,

inspire, and relax one’s spirit. Come chat with John Montgomery, nibble goodies during an outdoor cooking demonstration by A Loveable Feast, participate in a lively presentation by The Urban Farmers, and enjoy serene live music by the Danville Community Band as you stroll through all five of these distinctive gardens.

To purchase tickets, please contact O-M-L AAUW member Pat Lopker at (925) 376-5l55 or sign-up on John Montgomery’s website - go to www.jm-la.com and click on “Garden Tour.” For any other questions, please contact Debbie at [email protected].

Pledge to HumanityPledge to Humanity (PTH) is a nonprofit organization created by youth and

their families who are concerned about people in the community and those less fortunate, particularly children and youth living in other countries. Local Projects:

• PTH has recently finished a successful jean drive where several local schools collected jeans to benefit foster children and teens. Close to 1,000 pairs of jeans were collected! Thank you to all who generously donated and care-fully sorted the many large piles of denim. A special thank you to the students involved in this project – we wouldn't have been able to do it without you!

• A sandwich making event was held that donated 400 sandwiches to local Bay Area shelters. Thanks to Stone Valley students for this great project.

• We were able to benefit a community in rural Ecuador. Money raised through donations, and fund raising efforts went towards...

~ The funding of two small schools. ~ Funding an Alternative Income Project to empower indigenous

young women for an entire year. (This program is built to not only empower the young women, but to provide them with the tools they need to become economically independent).

~ Immunizations for 1,835 children against measles for life.We want to thank the community for their incredible support and mainly

the kids that keep on participating and making a difference! All this would not be possible without your support and involvement!

For more information on PTH, visit www.pledgetohumanity.org.

Alamo Danville Artists’ Society (ADAS)Art and Wine Stroll ADAS Spring Art Show, April 30-May 1

The 34th Annual ADAS Spring Show will be a weekend event in the main rotunda at Blackhawk Plaza, 4040 Blackhawk Plaza Circle in Danville.

Artists will be exhibiting and selling their latest works and wineries will offer wine tasting. All proceeds benefit the ADAS school fundraising program to keep the ARTS alive in our schools.

The event will be held Saturday, April 30th from 10AM to 8PM and on Sunday, May 1st from 11AM to 4PM. The public Artists Reception will be held at the rotunda and adjacent ADAS Blackhawk Gallery on Saturday evening from 5 to 7PM. Wine Tasting will take place Saturday April 30th from noon to 5PM and on Sunday May 1st from noon to 4PM. April Meeting Guest Artist is Susan State

Susan State is the Guest Artist for the ADAS meeting Tuesday, April 12th at 7:30PM. The meeting will be held at the Alamo Women’s Club at 1401 Danville Boulevard in Alamo. The public is invited to attend at no charge.

Susan’s presentation will be about crafting a personal experience in Abstract Art. Call for Artists to Participate in Art in the Park

Art in the Park is a fine arts festival open to artists with work in: painting, sculpture, photography, graphics, and fine jewelry. The festival will take place October 1st and 2nd in Danville. Booth spaces for Art in the Park are 10’ x 10’ and are $70 for ADAS members and $85 non-members plus 10% of sales to the Art in the Schools fund. For an application, e-mail [email protected] or call 925-828-9170.

ADAS is a non-profit organization providing monetary contribution in support of art programs in the San Ramon Valley School District. For more information call 925-683-1066 or visit www.adas4art.org.


Monte Vista High Junior Kelly Kimball to Perform in Europe with The Sound of America

Monte Vista High School junior Kelly Kimball, has been selected to per-form with a national performing organization known as The Sound of America Honor Band and Chorus. Kelly, who has served as Drum Captain in the Monte Vista High School Marching Band and french hornist in the school's Wind Ensemble, was a member of the All-Northern California Honor Band these

past two years. She has been a part of the CMEA Bay Section Honor Band, Contra Costa County Honor Band, the San Ramon Community Band, and the Monte Vista Drumline. In each of these programs, she has taken a variety of roles, from mallet specialist to principle percussionist.

She will join other select student musicians chosen from applicants representing nearly every state when The Sound of America Honor Band and Chorus begins its 2011 European Concert Tour in July. Selection into The Sound of America member-ship is a distinguished honor for all participants. The group is scheduled to present nine performances in some of Europe's finest concert halls and major cathedrals during its 23-day concert tour.

A Century of ServiceThe Second 50 Years (Part two of a two part series)By Ann Smilanich, Publicity Chairman, Danville Women's Club

This year, the Danville Women's Club (DWC) is celebrating 100 years in service to the community. Since 1961, the Club has been active in encouraging the preservation and restoration of historical sites, such as the Eugene O’Neill Home, “Tao House.” An award-winning picture of the John Muir home, painted by Past President Mrs. George (Carolyn) McMullen, hangs in the Ranger Station at the John Muir historical site.

“Whitegate” was made a historical site of San Ramon Valley in 1976, with plans for it to become a Contra Costa County site, and eventually a state monument. Mrs. Ruth Donahue, mother of Raymond Donahue, (who lived in the house in 1976), was active in the Club, as were members of the family of

the original builder Nathaniel Howard. His daughter Kate Howard Wood and granddaughters-in-law, Mrs. George Wood and Mrs. Waldo Wood, both have served as presidents of the Club.

The years have provided interest and opportunity for members to broaden the base of Club activity. In 1980, after a fire at the Los Cerros School, the Club raised over $3,000 from a Garden/Home Tour for the library of the school. During the 1980s, the Club also raised significant funds for the SRV Historical Museum Fund, gave additional trees for Osage Park, contributed to Danville's first emergency ambulance, and generously supported the Library.

In 1982, the Club sent the first student to the Hugh O’Brian Leadership Conference. For many years three students each year, one from each area high school, were sent to this Conference. Currently, scholarships are presented an-nually to a senior student from the three high schools, and a donation is made to the alternative high school. The first Fashion Show with luncheon at San Damiano (now at Crow Canyon Country Club) was added to the benefit events in 1982 and has been held every year since then.

April 24, 1983 was proclaimed “Federation Day” by Danville’s first mayor, John May, in recognition of the community services provided by the Federated Clubs. The Club's first cookbook was published in 1984. Proceeds from events that year provided more than $10,000 to the community. Danville was presented with funds for a 20 station Para Exercise Course for Osage Station Park, and three trees were donated to the town. In the late 1980s, the Club adopted Entertainment books as a fundraiser and held “Carnival of Crafts” days at the clubhouse.

The club began annual garage sales in the early 1990s as fundraisers for the student scholarships. In 1993, Hospice of the East Bay became the major recipient for the Annual Spring Fashion Show, now in its 29th year. In 1994, the Club adopted a fourth grade teacher at Baldwin School, donating a newsletter titled Kindness News which dealt with kindness to animals. A second cookbook was published in 1994. Nine hundred copies were sold for the scholarship fund. Since 1994, the Club members have held an annual Bake-less Bake Sale fundraiser.

Through the last 20 years, the Club has settled into a steady rhythm of fund-raisers. Club members volunteer hundreds of hours each year to local charities. Members use their sewing, quilting, crafting, and other artistic talents to make gifts such as knitted hats for cancer patients, newborn kits for Guatemalan Moth-

San Ramon Valley Newcomers ClubThe San Ramon Valley Newcomers Club invites new and long-time resi-

dents to its monthly luncheon on April 21st at Faz Restaurant located at 600 Hartz Ave. in Danville. We meet from 11:30 to 2PM, and the cost is $21. Our speaker will be Elena Becker, Executive Director of Tony LaRussa’s Animal Rescue Fund. For information or reservations, call Susan at 925-718-5214.

ers and Babies, Turtle Pillows for Paul Newman's Painted Turtle Camp, and Smile Dolls and No No bands for children who have had cleft palate surgery, just to name a few. The Club sponsors Student Art for grades K - 12 and special educa-tion art students at the annual District Art and Crafts Festival. The participating students are honored by the members at reception in the Clubhouse.

In 2005 members turned a casual day of Bridge into a fundraiser for the schol-arships. In 2006 it was expanded to twice a year. These Bridge Luncheons are a sell-out and one of the Club's best fundraisers. The Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays are always a special opportunity for members to celebrate good fortune and share gifts with those in need such as patients at Napa State Hospital and the Bay Area Crisis Nursery and support the county food drives.

The club meets monthly, the third Thursday (September to May) and the first Thursday in June, at noon at the Clubhouse, 242 Linda Mesa Ave. in Danville. If you are interested in joining this dynamic group, please call 925-837-1165, to make a reservation to join us for a lun-cheon meeting or email us at [email protected] for membership information. See us on the web at www.danvillewomensclub.org.

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Tip of the Month By Cynthia Ruzzi, President and Co-Founder, Sustainable Danville Area

This year there’s definitely truth in the old phrase, “March, in like a lion and out like a lamb.” This past month started out ferocious, and I’m not just talking about the weather. Beyond local economic woes, Americans have witnessed the unprecedented impact of social networking as the international voices of oppressed masses fight for the liberties that we so often take for granted.

Over the last two months, we watched with sorrow the vivid details of the catastrophic earthquakes in Christchurch, New Zealand, Myanmar, and Honshu, Japan. Some are moved to help, like Laura Valvassori, Shannon Kong, and Jen Ramano, who are organizing a community garage sale to buy Shelter Boxes (www.shelterboxes.org) for relief

efforts in Japan, while other loving people find themselves paralyzed by the onslaught of these misfortunes.We struggle to explain to our children the irony of celebrity lifestyles verses the lives of global friends devastated by natural and manmade tragedy. And we

wonder whether we will be prepared for the next ‘big one’ - wherever in the world it may occur.I don’t know about you, but spring couldn’t come any sooner. This time of renewal is a perfect opportunity to assess what matters most to us and our families and

to decide how to consciously ‘live’ forward. Maybe you’re wondering where to get started. While mom always said it was best to start with breakfast, you may be better served by keep-ing in mind a term my yoga teacher, Leena St. Michael shared – ACE: Act with kindness, make an effort to Connect, and lead by Example.

Conscious living is what led me to make ‘every choice count’ and to live more sustainably. So what is sustainability all about? Simply stated, sustainability is about meeting present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.

I can’t believe it was just a year ago that I was searching for local recommendations for sustainable living for my fam-ily. Talking with friends Darlene Gayler and Tracy Bauer, we were inspired to start Sustainable Danville Area (www.sustainabledanville.com) to encourage sustainable practices by facilitating eco-educational programs in the Danville Area. We are not the ‘Green Police.’ Instead we’re a local group interested in exploring and learning how to live and work sustainably in our community. We definitely don’t have all the answers, but along the way we have found great resources, made wonderful connections, and learned from our mistakes – hopefully making it easier for our neighbors who want to jump aboard.

We are fulfilled by the community of people (students, teachers, parents, business owners, civil leaders, and more) who have demonstrated their interest in supporting our efforts and making Every Choice Count! As part of our latest pro-gram, Sustainable Danville Area is working with the Discover Danville Association and more than twenty Danville Area Sustainable Businesses to host April’s Spring Fling. Come join us for eco-friendly activities every Thursday and Saturday throughout the month of April. We have activities planned to entice the curiosity of young and younger with bike-to-lunch specials, solar cooking demos, decorating with eco-friendly items, tips on green building (check out the Green Dog House from Gayler Construction), composting and the wonderful world of worms, edible gardening, eco-fashions, recycled art projects, music, and much more. You’ll find a full calendar on the Discover Danville website (www.discoverdanvilleca.com).

And to celebrate the journey of our first year, please join Sustainable Danville Area for an organic and sustainable wine tasting at The Vine (www.thevineatbridges.com) on Thursday, April 21st at 6pm. The cost is $15.

Alamo-Danville Newcomers ClubCelebrate spring at our April luncheon at the beautiful

Alden Lane Nursery. Our guest speaker and the owner of the nursery, Jacquie Williams-Courtright, will speak on “Spring in the Garden.” Please contact us for further information at 925-775-3233, or visit www.alamodanvillenewcomers.com.

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www.yourmonthlypaper.comGreenbrook Elementary By Jenise Falk, Principal

As I visit classrooms daily, there is one classroom on campus that is the biggest of them all – our playground. While it may look like just another elementary play-ground, I think that we have a unique area that allows for students, staff, and parents to experience a variety of learning activities beyond the classroom walls.

Our PE teacher, Mr. Tuffli, has a classroom that is set on approximately four acres of blacktop and grass. His classroom also encompasses a large vibrant green

field of two baseball diamonds and acres of grass for soccer, flag football, cart wheeling, and searching for four leaf clovers (Yes, many have been spotted this year!). During the spring, the fields are busy almost 24/7 with hundreds of bud-ding baseball and softball players.

Mr. Tuffli has built a program that allows students to explore physical exercise and experience a variety of skills and sports. They learn about health, safety, and wellness. In addition, Mr. Tuffli weaves in character lessons on sportsmanship, fairness, respect, and empathy. All students in grades 1-5 have PE with Mr. Tuffli at least once a week and they absolutely can’t wait for class!

Also in our playground area is a beautiful garden! It is truly a labor of love for our head GB gardener Dan Parnas, father of 4th grader Ryan. Harnessing the energy of all 630 Greenbrook students and Cub Scouts and Brownie troops, Dan knows just what to plant, harvest, mulch, trim, and prune. Dan guides his student volunteers with a soft smile and encouraging words. Our garden is already brim-ming with sugar snap peas, spinach, and lettuce. Daffodils and tulips, donated by Navlet’s, line the fence tipping their petals toward the sun. In our garden, students learn environmental literacy and global awareness, and life and career skills such as initiative, leadership, adaptability, and productivity.

Another addition to our blacktop is a colorful map of the United States. Last spring, the Danville/Sycamore Rotary volunteers painted a map in colorful hues of pinks, yellows, blues, and greens as an attractive addition. Students enjoy jumping from Alaska to Montana and creating all sorts of games with our 50 states. Green-

brook grads who are earning their Eagle Scout award have built benches, planted redwoods, and re-painted tables in the playground area. Yes, we have a pretty spe-cial place over here on Harlan Drive.

Later in April, the smell of wonderful Trip Tip BBQ will be wafting in the air around GB. I’d like to invite you all to our Drive-Thru Tri Tip BBQ to be held on Friday, April 29th. Chairmen Lee Slimm and Rudy Lang and their band of BBQers are planning another fabulous fundraising feast! Tickets are $40 for a BBQ dinner for four complete with all the fixin’s and must be preordered. Contact the GB office.

Have a warm and wonderful April!


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St. Isidore SchoolBy Jean Schroeder, Principal

What a pleasure it is to have a column with my colleagues in education. Please let me introduce my-self. My name is Jean Schroeder, and I have been the principal of Saint Isidore School for the past five years. Prior to St. Isidore’s, I was principal at Assumption Catholic School in San Leandro for 12 years. Needless to say, I believe in and love Catholic Education.

As a Catholic parish school, we believe the mind cannot be educated at the expense of the heart. We are

educating our students to be contributors to society, to be moral and ethical leaders, and to be prepared for innovative positions later in life.

Saint Isidore School is a Catholic K-8 school, with over 640 students. Our pastor, Fr. Moran, is a great supporter in the education of our students. We have two classes per grade with a teacher and instructional assistant in each class. In Kindergarten, where the school journey and journey of faith begins, we have four half-day programs with 18 students in each room. Included in our basic curriculum is art, music, P.E., library, Spanish, and technology. Every classroom is set up with an ACTIVboard, projector, sound system, and three desktop computers. First through eighth grade students have classes in our computer lab where they learn various software, Microsoft Office, iMovie, Glogster EDU, and Pixie. St. Isidore has a Google Apps domain for our students and teachers. We are 21st century educators and learners.

Our middle school students in grades 6, 7, 8 move from class to class. They have a homeroom teacher, a science teacher, and a math teacher. A smaller math class of 18 students has been beneficial to each student. We also have an accelerated math class in grade 8. Weekly electives include art, library, music, Spanish, technology, P.E., and peer tutoring.

Most of our students have been together since Kindergarten. To celebrate this journey, our eighth grade program consists of many exciting service ac-tivities on and off campus. Our eighth grade students are the “leaders” of the school, and it will be difficult for us to say good-bye in June. Luckily, most come back often to visit, and we keep the door of communication open as we continue to watch them grow into wonderful young adults.

What separates us from many schools is our religion curriculum. Being a Cath-

olic school, we focus our teachings on Catholicism and Christ. We incor-porate our monthly Gos-pel Values, such as hos-pitality, trust, respect, and compassion to name a few, into our lesson plans. Teachers and staff work daily toward instilling and modeling these values for our students.

Our school has “faith families” which is a school family that consists of one student from each grade, first to eighth. Our faith families attend our all school liturgies together on Fridays. They also meet monthly to talk about our faith and gospel values. For example, in March our fifth grade students led the activity with their school family discussing St. Patrick. The students wrote a prayer, played hot potato, and had a little ice cream with green sprinkles, of course.

We believe that partnering with our parents is the key to a successful student. This year, with the addition of our school guidance counselor, we are able to start to meet the needs of the “whole child,” academically, socially, emotionally, and spiri-tually. Our resource department works closely with our teachers and our counselor to ensure that each student is learning successfully to the best of their ability.

As you can see, I love this school. I value our staff, our students, and our parents. Every day I am reminded how blessed I am to be the principal of St. Isidore School. I have an amazing vice-principal who collaborates daily with me on what is best for our students. I welcome you to come for a visit and see, “The Saint Isidore Way.” I feel it is the best place in town. Exchange Club of San Ramon Valley

The Exchange Club of San Ramon Valley meets for lunch the second Wednesday of every month at Faz Restaurant in downtown Danville from 11:30 - 1. Our program features guest speakers and a business networking speaker. Guests are welcome.

For information, call Karen Stepper, at (925) 275-2312, email [email protected], or visit www.srvexchangeclub.org.


Stone Valley Middle School By Shaun McElroy, PrincipalParenting is so Easy Even a Caveman (or Cavewoman) Can do It! “My father didn’t tell me how to live: he lived and he let me watch him do it.” - Clarence Budington Kellenad

Our goal as parents should be to raise strong independent children who are able to think for them-selves and problem solve their way through difficult situations. Remember the saying, “There are only

two lasting gifts we can leave our children: roots and wings.” Roots are the fundamental values and expectations we instill in them from birth till they leave the nest. Wings are the skills they learned along the way that will pro-vide the background for their work, play, and relationships.

The future is theirs not ours. We need to make sure that they are prepared to take on the rigors of adulthood, not to mention to care for us in our old age. Will this generation be the architects of a restructured world economy or the creators of a plan reversing the global climate change? The answer is maybe. As parents it is important that we step back, take a deep breath, and take stock of our parenting style. Are we creating children who are autonomous and hardworking problem solvers? Or, are we creating A Nation of Wimps, to quote a popular book title. We (parents) regularly face that quintessential dilemma of knowing when to intervene or when to let children take their “lumps.” Sometimes we defer to age when deciding how to handle a situation (i.e. “he’s only 12”). If age is the ques-tion you ask yourself before letting a situation go or imposing consequences ask yourself this question: “If not now, when?” This question is usually an indicator on whether we are waffling on a tough decision or not. No worries. Go ahead and stand your ground. If you make a mistake, it’s not usually life threatening but more likely life affirming for your child. Not setting clear boundaries for behavior is very damaging for children. Let your daughter or son take their lumps when they forget a lunch or PE uniform or an assignment at home. Children who learn from their mistakes through natural consequences learn resiliency. The message to children is, “Fall down, pick yourself up, and try again.” By abating situations by bypassing responsibility we are damaging their self-worth by implying that they really can’t do it. Be strong, hold the line, and let your children learn to fail and recover. Remember, parenting is not a popularity contest!

Can you think of anything of value that was invented over the last 200 years that wasn’t the result of multiple failures? It’s only through failure that we make adjustments and learn what we can do. We must embrace an attitude of growth. If you need parental support, lean on your partner or spouse or another parent or...read on for some great references...

• The Blessing of a Skinned Knee and The Blessing of a B Minus by Wendy Mogul Ph.D. Lesson - Let your kids take their lumps now when there is less at stake.

• Raising Emotionally Intelligent Children by John Gottman Ph.D. Lesson - Listen carefully, paraphrase their responses, and ask questions. You will be amazed how your teen will open up to you. Be an emotion coach or emotion dismissing parent.

• Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us by Daniel Pink Lesson - Children and adults thrive in an environment where they have au-tonomy over their tasks, they know what mastery of the task looks like, and they believe the task has purpose that extends beyond them.

• My wife, Kimberlee Hunter Ph.D. - Voted “Best mom on Earth” by our three children. Kimberlee has great depth and understanding with our chil-dren. Kimberlee is an even more voracious reader than I am, and she has an uncanny ability for always doing the right thing for our children.

Charlotte Wood Middle School By Christopher George, Principal

Hopefully we are past the winter weather and ready to enjoy spring at Charlotte Wood Middle School. For those of us that love working on school campuses, we know spring can be one of the most challenging times, as we are busy preparing for STAR testing, end of the year activities, and even the beginning of next year. As early as it still seems in the year, we began meeting with our incoming 5th

grade students this week at our feeder elementary schools. One thing I'd definitely like to invite you to do is to follow us on Twitter @

cwmsinfo... we've been able to post brief updates and information about hap-penings at Charlotte Wood. This was a new one to me as well, until we put CW on beginning last week. Downloading the Twitter app, and setting it up was easy and painless, so hopefully you'll be able to follow us as well. Information will still of course, be available via our website and our Charger Weekly.

In the meantime, as we do get into spring, I'd like to remind everyone that STAR testing is coming up. We ask your help in getting ready for it by doing everything you can to make sure that your student is able to attend school for those days. We are making several structural changes this year to our testing environment, hopefully to make a more comfortable environment for kids to be able to do their best on the STAR test. Instead of two testing days, we will be spreading the test out throughout the week, with less testing time per day. Further details about the testing schedule will be made available as it approaches.

We continue to work on methods of intervention for students. Our sixth grade recently instituted a lunchtime intervention program in order to help shore up skills that kids may have been missing. We are grateful for their time and energy in putting this together, and for volunteering their lunchtime in order to do so. Our math department continues to run the morning classes for students as well.

We are also grateful for those of you who were able to take our fundraising survey via zoomerang.com. I have seen some preliminary results, and we have learned a lot about our fundraiser through this process. We are looking at different ways of fundraising for our student body and your input was invaluable.

For our eighth grade students and parents, we will be discussing specifics of the upcoming end of the year activities in a few short weeks. We want to make sure that we are doing everything we can to help all eighth graders enjoy this special time.

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Becoming a Love and Logic ParentWould you like to feel more confident and have more fun parenting? Come

get answers to many of the parenting frustrations at Becoming a Love and Logic Parent on April 30th.

Love allows children to grow through their mistakes and logic allows them to live with the consequences of their choices. At this event you’ll learn simple and practical techniques to help raise responsible kids in a loving way.

The presentation will take place from 9AM until noon at Community Presbyte-rian Church’s Multipurpose Room (Video Cafe) located at 222 West El Pintado Rd in Danville. The cost is $15 per person and includes breakfast and handouts.

Speaker will be Kristen Baisden, School Psychologist and Certified facilitator for Becom-ing a Love and Logic Parent and 9 Essential Skills for the Love and Logic Classroom.

Register online at www.cpcdanville.org/Adults/lovelogic.htm. For questions please contact Robin Alana at [email protected] or phone 925-837-5525.


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Monte Vista High School By Janet Terranova, Principal

Finally, we have some nice weather to enjoy. Spring brings a myriad of activities at the high school: sports, plays, choir and band productions, speech and debate contests, robotic competitions, award nights, and much more. Along with our activities, we continue to emphasize our core standards, character development, and 21st century learning skills.

Our 11th and 12th grade students saw a powerful assembly, “It’s Up 2 U,” which encourages students to make healthy

choices. Scott Rogers, a 2008 graduate of Monte Vista High School, tragically died three days after graduation from using inhalants. Scott was an enthusiastic young man who was in leadership, our rally chair, and a kind, caring friend. Scott’s parents, a representative from the fire department, and a young person who successfully beat her own addiction spoke to the students and implored them to make positive choices in their lives. This assembly had a powerful impact on our students. Teenagers are rarely quiet, but as they left the theater after the assembly, you could have heard a pin drop.

Prior to the assembly we had a parent meeting where parents and community members had the opportunity to preview the assembly. Following the preview, there was a 45 minute dialog between the participants and the parents. The audi-ence came away with a better understanding of the stresses our students face on a regular basis. We plan to continue the dialogue on April 20th with our School Resource Officer, Mike Carson, and our school counselor, Patty Whalen.

You will be noticing some new construction on our campus. The foundation is being poured for the long-awaited Sports Medicine building. In this program students explore human anatomy and physiology and learn how systems of the body function and interact through physical activity. The program focuses on clinical hands-on application of theory and knowledge, including assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation of athletic injuries. Students taking this class participate in an after school sports medicine practicum where they work with student athletes, under the supervisions of our athletic trainers. Sports Medicine is just one our programs that allows career exploration for our students.

For more information about Monte Vista and our activities, please visit our website at mvhigh.org.

Valley Teen IdolThis is the 6th season of the Valley Teen Idol search sponsored by the

San Ramon Valley Rotary. Auditions are open to the first 200 teens ages 13-19 to give their best 60 second presentation.

Auditions will be held at 2010 Crow Canyon Place in San Ramon on April 16th from 11AM to 3PM and April 17th from 1-4PM. Auditions will also be held at Cross Winds Church located at 6444 Sierra Ct. in Dublin on April 29th from 5-8PM and April 30th from 1-5PM. Bring your audition application, found at your local high school or online at www.sanramon-valleyrotary.com, along with a $25 audition fee.

The semi-final competition will be held at the Crow Canyon Country Club on May 11th, and the final competition event will be held at Cross Winds Church on June 11th from 1-6PM. First place winner will take home $1,000 and be granted a recording session. Second place wins $500, and third place wins $250.

Net proceeds from the auditions, ticket sales, silent auction, and live auction go to help finance San Ramon Valley Rotary community projects such as,

• 3rd grade Dictionary distributions,• College scholarships for high school seniors, and • Sending 3 to 4 teens to leadership camps, such as Camp Royal and

Camp Venture.• In addition, we fund a number of international humanitarian projects, such as

clean water projects, Polio vaccinations, Rotaplast (cleft lip and palet surgeries), wheelchair distributions to the needy, One Warm Coat , and many others.

For more information or to learn about sponsorships, contact Debora Killeen at (925) 855-5529, (925) 260-4565, or [email protected].

Co. located at 206 Sycamore Valley Road West (Danville Livery), Danville.For more information email [email protected] or call Tena at (925) 837-

0826. In addition, the Danville-Alamo-Walnut Creek AAUW Holiday Home Tour needs homes that would be festive for our 2011 tour on Friday, December 9th and Saturday, December 10th. If you have ideas, please call Tena at 837-0826 ASAP.

To learn more about our branch, check our website at www.aauw-daw.org. All proceeds benefit AAUW’s funds that support aspiring female scholars.

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San Ramon Valley High SchoolBy Joseph A. Ianora

With spring break behind us, we are ready to face the remainder of the school year. The last nine weeks will go by quickly as there are many activi-ties to keep your son/daughter occupied both aca-demically and socially. Please continue to dialogue with your student about the upcoming events, and continue to check the web site (www.srvhs.net). Here are a few highlights.

ConstructionWe should be breaking ground on our new restroom facility in the Stadium very

soon and hope that it is completed in time for graduation! This summer solar panels will be installed in our senior parking lot and on some surrounding buildings.Renaissance Program

Thank you to Janet Willford and the leadership committee for another successful program. We have awarded almost 1,100 students for their im-provement achievements.

Senior Ball The month of April officially ushers in our Senior Ball (which is in May).

As we prepare our students for their ball, we continue to emphasize using good judgment, taste, and, above all, safety. Please join with us to let your student know the importance of doing the right thing even when no one is looking. Our ultimate goal is to provide a safe, respectable event that creates wonderful memories for our students.

On behalf of the entire administrative team, I would appreciate it if our parents spend some time prior to the event discussing the importance of a safe and sober Senior Ball. I would also suggest that each parent become aware of what is taking place at pre-parties, after parties, as well as what is taking place in the buses and limousines that students take to and from their ball. STAR Testing

Standardized testing is one of many measures of a student’s performance. Unlike the periodic classroom assessments that are a direct match to what is taught measuring their performance individually, standardized tests are written to compare students using questions that are below, at, and above a student’s grade level. Questions are based on a national sampling of curricu-lum, and the results indicate a student’s strengths and needs based on a na-

tional norming study. A student’s standardized test profile is only one piece of the assessment puzzle reflecting growth and achievement.

As we begin the four days of STAR testing for our 9th, 10th and 11th grade students, it is vital that we understand the importance of testing as well as spending the time in preparation. While we know it is illogical and inappropri-ate to use test scores to assess the total quality of a school, we also know that we can glean important information about curriculum and instructional programs for our school. Look-ing at standardized tests helps educators make decisions about what is taught, when a concept is taught, and to some extent, how well our students are absorbing the material.

I ask that you begin to discuss with your student(s) the importance of taking these types of tests. Take the time to discuss the “whys” of testing and the important information we, as educators, can obtain from the results. Please join with the school to help our students un-derstand what the results can do, also, to give them an understanding of their strengths and weaknesses, as well as what we can learn about our school’s curriculum and instructional pro-grams. A good night’s sleep coupled with a healthy attitude toward the test will help foster a true reflection of what our students know and, in turn, give us an accurate picture of needed improvements.Senior Cut Day

Traditions are strong at San Ramon Valley High School. They often begin with the best intentions in mind; however, they often include activities that are not in line with our best practices. The tradition of “Senior Cut” day is a strong one not only at SRVHS but schools across the nation. However, we do not endorse a senior cut day of any kind. To that end, please do not allow your student to cut school for a senior cut day. Students may come home and tell you that their teacher has told them not to come to school. This is not true. If this situa-tion does happen in your home, please feel free to call the school and investigate.


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www.yourmonthlypaper.comRoth vs Traditional IRA’s...Which to Choose?By Bob Shalon, IRS Enrolled Agent

Tax season is concluding shortly, and IRA’s can still be deducted from your 2010 tax return if made by April 18th or October 15th if an extension is filed. In this article I intend to review the benefits of each without boring you with every detail about them.Lifestyle Goals are the Key

Based on your Adjusted Gross Income and employer retirement plan coverage, you may be eligible to reduce your taxes in 2010 even if you have pretax deductions through your employer. Married Filing Jointly filers have specific eligibilities depending on employer retirement plan coverage.

Qualified contributions to traditional IRA's are pre-tax and lower a taxpayers Adjusted Gross Income. One thing to consider for high income earners ($150K and above) is that you have been phased out of many tax credits and deductions so the pre-tax deduction is diluted to some degree which would favor a Roth IRA.

Most important is lifestyle. When Traditional IRA’s first became law, the basis was that you worked until age 65, then retired with no earned income, and only received Social Security and possibly a pension. Therefore your tax bracket is very low when you take IRA distributions. More and more this is not the case as people work into their 70s or start businesses of their own after retirement. Our generation is staying active longer, and income brackets are not being lowered.

You as an individual need to decide what you want your retirement goals and lifestyle to be. If you want to continue working at any level and have earned income, then blending a Roth IRA into your portfolio is a smart idea. Remember there is no tax deduction at the time you contribute to a Roth, but distributions in later years are tax free. You must have the Roth account for five years and be over age 59 1/2 to take qualified distributions.

There is no absolute right choice between Traditional and Roth IRA's. Either one is a terrific vehicle to help assure an economic worry-free retirement regardless of your personal retirement plans. Just make sure you go into these plans knowing all the details of what they have to offer and if they meet your goals so that their are no surprises.

Bob Shalon can be reached at H&R Block, 714 San Ra-mon Valley Blvd, Danville. Please call 925-820-9570, or af ter 4/18/11, 925-915-6032.

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Probate – Fact and FictionBy Robert J. Silverman, Esq.

Probate is a bit mysterious. People often know little about what it is, its purpose, when it applies, where it takes place, the process, its costs, and what the alterna-tives are. Rather, focus is on the concept that probate should be avoided!

What: Probate is a public, court-supervised, estate administration process.

Purpose: It’s designed to protect a decedent’s credi-tors and heirs; to administer the correct Will (last valid

Will signed by the testator), if the decedent had one, and to ensure that after valid expenses and creditor claims are paid, remaining estate assets are distributed to the beneficiary(ies) lawfully entitled to them.

When: In California, a probate is necessary when assets of the decedent (of the type that are subject to probate) exceed $100,000 in aggregate value. The value of certain kinds of assets are excluded because they are not subject to probate, such as when an account has a then-living co-owner or “transfer/payable on death” desig-nation on file with the financial institution; and retirement plans and life insurance policies, in which one or more valid beneficiaries have been designated, at least one of whom is alive on the deceased owner’s death.

Where: A California probate proceeding takes place in the Superior Court in the County in which the decedent permanently resided on death. If the decedent owns real property in a state(s) other than California, an “ancillary” probate proceeding is required in each such state.

Process: Generally, the steps are as follows: 1) a “Personal Representative” (“Executor” nominated in the Will, or if no Will exists, typically a close relative - proposed “Administrator”) hires an attorney; 2) the attorney prepares and files a Petition to open the probate and supplemental forms; 3) notice of the Petition must be given to proper parties and published in a newspaper; 4) a hearing is scheduled; 5) the attorney appears at the hearing, and if everything is in proper order, the Pro-bate is opened (the Judge admits the Will, appoints the Personal Representative, and issues “Letters…” – a document that gives the Personal Representative broad authority to act on behalf of the estate and its beneficiaries); 6) a four month credi-tor’s claim period must run, during which creditors may file claims; 7) a probate referee is assigned by the court to value the assets as of date of death; 8) the Personal Representative pays expenses and approved claims, and keeps an accounting; 9) an Inventory and Appraisement form is prepared and filed with the court; 10) a comprehensive final Petition is prepared and filed, including an accounting, if required; and 11) the attorney appears at the final hearing, and the Judge approves the final Petition, which order includes that the attorney and Personal Representa-tive receive proper compensation for their services, and that assets be distributed to the beneficiaries. The process generally takes 9-12 months, or longer.

Costs: The probate attorney and the Personal Representative are each entitled to the same amount of “ordinary” compensation per the applicable statute, on a graduated fee schedule based on the gross value (debts are not deducted) of the estate’s assets. In short, the formula-based compensation is 4% of the 1st $100,000; 3% of the next $100,000; 2% of the next $800,000; and 1% over $1 Million. When extraordinary services are rendered by the attorney and/or the Personal Represen-tative, they also receive “extraordinary compensation” at court-approved rates. Costs are also paid, which usually total a few thousand dollars, for court filing fees; publication; probate referee charges; etc.

Alternatives: A major misconception is prevalent - that if you die with a Will, your estate will escape probate. Not true. Most importantly, if you die without a Will or revocable living trust, the State of California (applicable “intestate” probate code statute) dictates to whom your assets are distributed. In fact, dying with or without a Will guarantees probate (of those assets that are subject to probate) unless you have a valid revocable living trust and substantially all of your assets are titled in your trust on your death. Typically, trust administration is faster, private, less cumbersome, and substantially less expensive than probate administration.

Mr. Silverman is an attorney with Shapiro 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. Please call for a free introductory consultation.

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

925.820.9570 714 San Ramon Valley Blvd, Suite B, Danville

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Photo Scanning … Give New Life to Your Old Photos!By George Swan, Aberscan Imaging

A typical household has thousands of photo prints and slides taken before the digital photographic age. They capture some of the greatest memories of your life, your relatives, your ancestors, and your family and friends. However, most lie forgotten and ignored in albums or boxes. Would you be upset if you lost them for good? Interested in viewing them

on your TV or computer alongside your newer digital photos? Want to share them with family and friends? If you answer “yes” to any of these questions, then it’s time to take action. Scan your photo prints and slides today!

If you only need to scan a small number of photos, then you can do this yourself or use scanning services provided by most local photo print retail outlets. For all other situations, I would recommend using a professional scanning company. They typically scan at higher resolutions (600 dots-per-inch for photos), handle other formats such as slides or negatives, and provide additional services such as image enhancement, photo restoration, and image tagging. The improvement in final image quality is noticeable!Why Scan?

Scanning your photo and slide collection offers several valuable benefits. Once scanned, you can:

• Protect your photo prints and slides: We all worry that photo prints or slides can be misplaced, damaged beyond repair, or destroyed in a catastrophic event. By having a digital archive of your originals, you have the comfort of knowing your scanned images can be reprinted at any time.

• Restore them back to their former beauty: All color photo prints fade over time, and images get washed out. Slides and negatives decay. Loose photos get scratched, bent, or ripped through years of mishandling. Have a close look at some of your older photo prints, and you will notice these changes. Professional tools such as Photoshop™ can reverse the years of decay and damage in your

originals and make them look as clear and vibrant as the day they were taken.• Share them with friends and family: If you own a digital camera, you

can make your pictures readily accessible through you phones, computers, and televisions. You can also email pictures to friends and family, post them to internet websites, make presents in the form of personalized photo albums, and much, much more. Now you can do the same with your scanned collection!Scanning Options

Once you decide to scan your photo prints and slides, the next question is “How do I go about scanning them?” You have several options:

• Do it yourself: If you have a scanner or an all-in-one printer, then you can scan your photos yourself. If you do not, then most retail photo print outlets offer basic photo scanning services. Typically, only photos are accepted and no image enhancement or repair services are offered. I’d only suggest this option if you have less than 100 photos, your photos are in good condition, and final scan quality is not that important.

• Use an internet scanning company: If you search the internet, you will find a number of professional scanning companies. They can handle a large number of photos, and most handle non-standard originals such as slides, negatives, or albums. Scan quality is usually good. Most offer image enhancement and restoration services. Some offer image tagging. Prices vary greatly based on website and on services selected. These companies require you to ship your photos and slides to their location, which is often across the country or across the world to places like India. Turn-around time can be two to four weeks.

• Use Aberscan Imaging: We can handle any number of photos or slides. We also offer great scan quality, image enhancement, restoration, image tagging, and support for non-standard originals. In fact, if it fits on a scanner, we can scan it: letters, scrapbooks, old documents, newspaper clippings, and much, much more. Since we are a local business, you get the comfort of knowing that your precious photos and slides stay close to home. Turnaround time is usually less than two days.

Visit the Aberscan website at www.aberscan.com, call 925-362-0801, or email [email protected]. Contact us today and find out how easy and convenient scanning can be! We are located in Walnut Creek. Advertorial

Snake OilBy Evan Corstorphine, Portable CIO

Maybe you’re like me in that you listen to the car radio when you’re driving around. I listen to the news, and of course to support the news, radio stations have to sell advertising. I’ve noticed there are several types of radio commercials right now. I’m a very skeptical listener, and it seems to me that the commercials are aimed very low, toward people who are very gullible, and they are increasingly predatory.

One of the commercials recommends that I should buy gold, and/or sell my ‘junk’ gold to get spare cash. Another wants me to refi-nance my mortgage with their super low rates (and tons of fine print). The third type of ad pops up around the holidays, and it’s for ProFlowers, a company I’ll warn you about another time. The fourth, and what I’m writing about today, are ads to magically clean up your PC. There are a few different products being offered.

The product I’ll write about today is MyCleanPC.com, but my comments here are directed at the whole genre of online computer cleanup tools. The bottom line? Avoid them. I think they are largely ineffective and a waste of money.

When your computer becomes slow, there are many possible reasons. The as-sumption of each of the online cleanup tools is that they know exactly what ails your computer without even looking at it. It is true that a downloaded diagnostic program can look at many aspects of your system, but a) that’s not what these pro-grams do, b) it’s a complex undertaking that takes quite a bit of time, and c) it can’t perceive what a trained professional is going to notice. Instead, they’re focused on one specific task and selling that as a PC tune-up. I think it’s misleading.

System performance tuning is complicated. Many factors come into play and interact with each other in a complex ballet of symptoms. How old is your computer? What operating system is it using? Does it have the latest operating system patches? How much RAM is installed? How full is your hardisk? What programs are you using, and what versions? Is the hardisk working properly? Is it making noises today that are new or different? How is your networking configured? How fragmented is your hardisk? Is there a bad stick of RAM? Is your page file properly sized? Do you have too many programs running on startup? Is there a single program running that is running away with all of the system resources? Is your networking card working properly? Are your system temp folders overflowing with junk files? Is there a motherboard

problem disguising itself as a software issue? Are there a lot of orphaned entries in your system registry? Do you have two different antivirus products loaded that are competing with each other? I’ve never seen a program written that can survey all of these factors, sort them out, discuss options with the owner and make decisions about what to do, and then effect those repairs.

The online services these sites sell are typically called “registry cleaners.” They really don’t do very much. The “registry” is a big system database that Windows keeps hidden away in a system folder. As you install, run, and de-install programs, there are usually entries left in the registry that shouldn’t be there. Over time, if this happens enough, the registry can become large and fragmented. But, as fragmented as it may become, it is only one small part of the performance puzzle, and the clean-up is not nearly as profound as the commercials indicate.

I downloaded and ran the product at MyCleanPC.com. It’s actually another name for a company called “CyberDefender,” which is just another antivirus company. The website immediately asks if you want to scan your system for “errors.” The download is free. When you run the product, it begins to scan your registry. It completes after a few minutes and displays a report of supposed “errors” that need to be fixed. On my system it found 942 “errors.” If you want to “fix” those errors, it forwards you to their website to get the unlock code for their software. They want $39.95 for the unlock code. They also automatically check a box that says you want a copy of their antivirus for an additional $29.95, as well as the “backup CD” for $14.97. If you’re not paying attention, that’s $84.90 to “fix” a problem that really isn’t a problem.

The key points are as follows. First, just because an entry is left in the registry or a file is left on your system, doesn’t make it an “error.” So I object to their alarmist characterization of this ordinary phenomenon. Second, as I pointed out above, cleaning up orphans in your registry is just one aspect of tuning a system, and there are many other areas that more commonly cause system performance issues. Third, I think their advertising is misleading, their product is over-priced, and pre-checking boxes for other products is a sneaky way to sell product.

The bottom line is computers are complex. There are many factors to consider when they’re not working well. It’s best to work with a trained pro-fessional who can give you honest advice in the context of your business or personal requirements. Computers can do many things well, but diagnosing themselves is still better accomplished by a human.

For friendly, professional advice, give Portable CIO a call (925)552-7953, or email your questions to [email protected]. Advertorial


Tree of the Season: Japanese MaplesBy Blaine Brende & Joe Lamb

Japanese maples have an el-egance and sculptural quality that resembles dance. Careful study of their form, in any season, can call

the viewer back to the natural world. In winter, the falling leaves raise the curtain on the form of the trunks and put the dance on center stage. Winter rain intensifies the show by adding a sensuality to the movement of stem and bough, one that beckons to even the unpracticed eye. In spring, certain varieties of Japanese maples send out new leaves so bright a green they appear lit from within. In summer, upright cultivars that are well pruned have spaces between the branches, giving the canopy the appear-

ance of being composed of many floating islands. And in fall, Japanese maples mark the change of season by turning colors ranging from yellow to scarlet, depending on the variety of maple; there are many varieties.

Luckily, Japanese maples are relatively easy to grow and are relatively tough. In their long evolutionary dance–fossilized maple leaves date back over 60 million years–Japanese maples have developed the genetic information necessary to protect them against most common garden af-flictions. They are, however, subject to verticillium wilt, a soil-borne fungal disease that can cause dieback, and sometimes death. There is no known cure for verticillium, but you can decrease the likelihood of your new maple getting the disease if you 1) don’t plant it in ground known to have verticillium, 2) make sure the soil around the tree is well drained so that the roots don’t remain soggy throughout the winter, and 3) protect the tree against environmental stresses by giving it summer water and keeping it well mulched. Maples can grow and remain healthy in gardens

with a history of verticillium. If they are not stressed by soils too damp, too dry, or too compacted, some individual maples can thrive even though a near neighbor may die. It depends on the genetics of the individual. If your mature maple shows significant dieback, it may be fighting a case of verticillium. It is not necessarily a death sentence. Some trees succeed in fighting off the disease. You can help them recover by pruning out the deadwood and improving the soil environment by mulching and aerating.

Though some varieties can withstand full sun, Japanese maples do best in part shade. They do not thrive when exposed to the drying effect of constant wind. If you live on an exposed hillside, it is best to plant them in the lee of a larger tree. Dieback in Japanese maple crowns often is the result of too much sun, too much wind, or the even more deadly combination of the two. Maples need water. Keeping them moist throughout the summer and fall, and into the early winter in dry years, will make them happier and more disease resistant.

Pruning, besides benefiting the mental health of the pruner, can enhance the grace of the plant. If your pruner is an artist, remov-ing deadwood and teasing apart the plant’s natural layering opens little windows that reveal and accentuate the tree’s natural form. A well-pruned tree looks as if it hasn’t been pruned. Paradoxi-cally, it looks more natural after pruning than before. Though it is sometimes necessary to lower the crown of a maple, as when it is beginning to block a treasured view, lowering should be done only when necessary, and the lowering should not be so drastic as to involve topping cuts (see the article on topping). Lowering a maple to gain a view is not something that you can do just once. Pruning down the crown stimulates new growth, and maintaining the view, or the size reduction, will require yearly pruning. No matter how good the artist, you can’t make a topped maple look as good as a natural tree. Much pruning, and therefore expense, can be avoided by planting the right variety in the right place. When planting a new tree, plant a cultivar that won’t exceed the desired height when it matures. This is almost always preferable to containing a variety that will grow beyond the desired size.

It is our hope at Brende & Lamb that the pleasure our clients de-rive from their well-pruned trees exceeds the considerable pleasure we get from revealing the beauty inherent in their trees.

If your trees and shrubs need a little TLC - call us at 510-486-TREE (8733) or email [email protected] to schedule a free esti-mate. For more information visit our website at www.brendelamb.com. Advertorial

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

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

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

[email protected] Danville Today News ~ April 2011 - Life in the Danville Garden

The Glory of SpringBy John Montgomery, ASLA, Landscape Architect

Getting pounded with these late winter rains, it doesn’t quite feel like spring yet here in Danville! But if you look closely in the garden at the trees, shrubs, and perennials, you’ll see the glory of spring quietly emerg-ing from the cold and wet. The beginning of spring is one of my favorite times in the garden. I love to observe the new and fresh leaves bud from dead and deciduous

branches, bright new lime green leaves stand out against older darker green ones. I like to watch how quickly daffodils, jonquils, and paper whites (Narcissus) push their fresh long leaves through the decaying leaves and mulch to bloom bright and cheery colors. The days are warming; the sun shinning and like clock-work life in the garden labors to show us the glory of spring.

Here are some of the plants that you might have noticed that are the first to declare the beginning of Spring. Cercis occidentalis (tree-Western Redbud) blooms lavender flowers on smooth gray branches before leaves form, Daphne odora (shrub-Winter Daphne) with its intoxicating fragrance fills the air, Hardenbergia violacea ‘Happy Wanderer’ (vine-Lilac Vine) weaves a lively trail of lilac flowers, Iberis sempervirens ‘Snowflake’ (perennial-Candytuft) trails profuse white flowers over the ground, and, one of my favorites, Veronica umbrosa ‘Georgia Blue’ (ground cover-Speedwell) blooms profuse cobalt blue flowers as winter fades out. Other great note-worthy spring blooming trees are Pyrus calleryana ‘Redspire’ (ornamental pear), Magnolia stellata (Star Magnolia), and Prunus serrulata ‘Shirotae’ (Flowering cherry).

After a long winter’s nap, we long to connect with nature to rejuvenate, relax, recreate, and renew ourselves. A Garden is one of those places that has the gift to touch all of our human senses: sight, smell, touch, sound and taste. Wandering through a beautifully designed Danville garden allows the senses to be stimulated by wonderful visuals, fragrances, textures, sounds, and tastes that nature can offer.

Let your spirits be lifted twice this spring: first by strolling through inspir-ing gardens and second by knowing that you are helping to raise much-needed money for charity. Come join our spring tradition!

I am thrilled to announce our 2nd annual Garden Tour Fundraiser: Life in the Lafayette Garden- a tour of five distinct Lafayette gardens designed by me. I personally invite you to come enjoy the glory of spring with us. Stroll the bud-ding gardens, nibble goodies during an outdoor kitchen cooking demo, learn about urban farming in our veggie garden demo, listen to music as you meander, chat with me, and enjoy other surprises we have planned while supporting our beneficiaries Hospice of the East Bay, Orinda-Moraga-Lafayette A.A.U.W. Tech Trek program, the Gretta Foundation, Urban Farmers, and Contra Costa Guild Dogs for the Blind. Mark your calendar for Saturday, May 14th from 11AM-4PM. For more info and tickets, visit www.jm-la.com, and click on the Garden Tour tab. It will be a pleasure to celebrate the glory of spring with you!

A hot tip from your local Landscape Architect: As the glory of spring emerges, it’s time to control aphids, slugs, and snails. It’s time to set out cool season annu-als; snapdragons, viola, and stocks. You can also seed some veggies like radishes, carrots, peas, and set seed potatoes.

Gardening Quote of the Month: “Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home,

a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” - Melody Beattie

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

www.yourmonthlypaper.com - August 2010 ~ Danville Today NewsPage 18 - April 2011 ~ Danville Today News

Clip NotesBy Jody Morgan

Undaunted by the distressed demeanor of my most treasured horticultural acquisition from last year’s quest for unusual specimens, I’m eagerly researching novel natives as I prepare for the May 1st Bringing Back the Natives Tour. I’ll be participating again this year as both a garden greeter and a garden visitor and am looking for-ward to the opportunity to shop the stock of native plant nurseries not often open to the public. Seeing the before and after pictures at each home is a helpful reminder that

many plantings take several seasons to become showstoppers. Maybe, I tell myself, once our dismal drenching rains depart, the sun-loving

Nevin’s Barberry I sought out last year will settle in. First collected in 1892 by Reverend Joseph Cook Nevin on the eastern slope of the San Fernando Valley, this species later named for him is endemic to two counties in Southern California. Urban development and flood control systems have now claimed an estimated 90% of the natural habitat of this 5 to 10 foot tall shrub. Although rare and endangered, Berberis nevinii as it is known botanically was deemed garden-worthy not long after its discovery. An excerpt from Theodore Payne’s 1941 nursery catalogue sums up the reasons: “The blossoms which appear in winter and early spring are bright canary yellow, produced in clusters at the axils of the leaves forming sprays often 2 to 4 feet in length…The flowers are followed in summer by long sprays of brilliant scarlet berries…Birds are very fond of these berries and the berries make excellent jelly.”

For Nevin, botany was an avocation, but for Payne it was a profession as well as a passion. Born in Northamptonshire, England in 1872, Payne got his first glimpse of plants native to California at the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew. Upon completing his three-year apprenticeship at a London nursery firm, he traveled to America arriving in Los Angeles in 1893 after touring New York and Chicago. He spent five years working on the Modjeska Ranch, another five with

the Germain Seed Company and finally opened his own Los Angeles nursery business in 1903. By the time he retired in 1958, Theodore Payne was credited with having introduced 430 species of native plants to the gardening public.

While living in hope of scenting the purportedly pungent fragrance of April blossoms on my Nevin’s Barberry, I will the evergreen foliage reminiscent of tiny-toothed holly to offer a flush of new growth. The silver blue-green leaves should someday be a lovely foil for scarlet summer berries and rhizomes should run underground to turn my spindly specimen into a thriving thicket. I’ve amended the clay soil. I’ve provided sharp drainage and sun. All I can do now for my prize plant is to withhold summer water and wait.

Island Bush Poppy is another evergreen California native with bright yellow blossoms and silver blue-green leaves. Although the flowers are most prolific from April-July, they appear sporadically throughout the year. The botanical name Dendromecon harfordii recognizes the efforts of horticultural hobbyist William George Willoughby Harford, who served for several years as Curator of Conchol-ogy at the California Academy of Natural Sciences. In 1874, Harford and his colleague Albert Kellogg (a physician as well as one of the seven founders of the California Academy of Sciences) became the first collectors of plant species on the Islands of Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa. A mainland relative of the Island Bush Poppy, Dendromecon rigida, is considered less ornamental and harder to grow. Despite its desire to reach 5 to 8 feet in height with an even greater spread, Island Bush Poppy can be pinched back, or in winter cut back almost by half, for a fuller more controlled effect. The root system is brittle, so planting requires careful handling of the root ball. I’d be anxious to acquire a Bush Poppy immediately, but at least one source recommends fall to mid-winter as the ideal time to plant these attractive natives. In the meantime, I know I’ll see them blooming in the raised bed by the Ruth Bancroft Garden office.

For information about the free tour from 10am to 5pm on Sunday, May 1st featur-ing 50 East Bay gardens visit www.BringingBackTheNatives.net. Donations are essential to keep the tour going, but you can order your free garden guide, see which native nurseries are open that weekend, decide which free talks you’d like to attend and be generous according to how much you enjoy your tour.

Saving with Solar By Mark Becker, Semper Fidelis Construction Inc.

Unlike many other investments, a solar energy system is an investment that can provide guaranteed returns. The environmental benefits of solar power are also widely accepted. We’ll focus on the financial returns provided and how they are achieved.

Given the right circumstances, installing a solar system will provide long-term, double-digit financial returns. Factors that affect returns on an investment in

solar are how much electricity you currently use, how much electricity your solar system produces, how much it costs to purchase and install the solar energy system, and the current and future costs of electric power purchased from your utility.

Solar systems pay themselves back by offsetting the top three tiers of PG&E utility rates. Many companies will size a system to offset 100% of your electric consumption. This is unnecessarily expensive and creates a longer payback period. A good company also consults with their client to reduce electrical usage before sizing the solar system.

When designing an array, the contractor and customer must balance the consid-erations of aesthetics with production. An attractive and productive array keeps the neighbors happy and generates the contractor more business. How much electricity a solar system produces depends on how much sunlight the panels receive, air temperature, and the wattage rating and quantity of panels. A solar system’s power output is most efficient when oriented in a southerly direction with minimal shading. Most homes or businesses aren’t lined up perfectly for solar, but there’s a lot of flexibility in how the panels can be oriented. Some shading can be accommodated; every installation is dif-ferent. An important factor to consider is how much your system costs to install. Costs vary with the type of system and the complexity of the installation. Products made in the USA are of higher quality and have better warranties than foreign (Chinese) products and cost just cents on the dollar more. When considering your system, the main concern should be compatibility of the product and future availability of the product should there be a need for replacement of individual panels. There are no moving parts in a solar system, so they require little maintenance and are very reliable. Panels are warranted for 25 years, and they have an expected lifetime of well over 30 years. Many systems installed 40 years ago are still in operation.

Installation costs are offset by utility rebates; federal and state tax credits and system depreciation for home-based or commercial business use. The Federal tax

credit of 30 percent for solar installation is available until 2016. PG&E rebates are still available, but they are being reduced as more systems are installed. The current net cost of a residential solar system is approximately 65% of its gross cost in the first year of operation due to rebates and credits. Commercial systems are typically larger and return even better financial returns due to accelerated depreciation schedules. If a site is well suited for solar, and electric usage demographics allow, a reasonably priced system can produce more power than is used at the solar site during the sum-mer. In this case, the solar contractor should suggest a “solar friendly” utility tariff. The extra kilowatts produced during the summer will generate a greater proportion of winter kilowatt credits. The extra kilowatts that are unused by the system owner in the summer period (May-Oct) are used by PG&E; this reduces the need for additional traditional power plants. This is why the system owner will be paid by PG&E at a premium rate for their unused solar kilowatts. This further advantages the system owner, reducing payback and increasing long term financial gain.

Your electricity use is a fundamental piece of the investment equation. If you have moderate electric needs, you may reap lucrative returns typically in the 8-16% range over the life of the system. Based on past trends, PG&E elec-tric rates are expected to increase an average of 6.7% per year for residential customers and 5 percent for commercial customers. During the 25-to 40-year lifetime of a solar system, your utility bill is expected to increase more than fivefold. Investment in a solar power system now serves as a hedge against rising utility bills. These rate increases make solar a compelling investment. Waiting for “new technology” and “lower prices” is a red-herring; new tech-nologies are becoming available, but they won’t be financially feasible for the average home or business owner for years. Delaying your installation to wait for lower prices will also be offset by smaller available rebates. It is ideal to install while system prices are reasonable, interest rates low, and while tax credits and rebates are still available.

Another benefit of a solar power system will be an increase in the appraised and assessed value of your property. Because of California law, an increase in assessed value as a result of this home improvement will not increase your property taxes. As long as rebates and tax incentives remain available to offset your installation costs, and as long as utility rates continue to rise, solar will remain a very savvy investment. For more information, visit our websites, www.SimpleSolarKits.com, www.CaSolarPowerSolutions.com, or contact us for a free home consultation at 925.255.3345. (Mark Becker is president of Semper Fidelis Construction, a Danville-based solar power installation and consulting firm.) Advertorial


Fighting Cancer with a Cup of TeaBy Jewel Johl, MDMedical Oncologist/Hematologist

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Despite the estimated 565,650 deaths in 2008 of Americans as a result of cancer, it is mostly a preventable disease. Simply by modification of diet, maintenance of optimum body weight, and regular physical activity, 30% to 40% of all instances of can-cer could be prevented. Modification of diet alone by

increasing vegetable and fruit intake could prevent 20% or more of all cases of cancer and may potentially prevent approximately 200,000 cancer-related deaths annually. Because of their safety, low toxicity, antioxidant properties, and general acceptance as dietary supplements, fruits, vegetables, and other dietary elements (phytochemicals and minerals) are being investigated for the prevention of cancer. Extensive research over the past several decades has identified numerous dietary and botanical natural compounds that have chemopreventive potential.

Diablo Valley Oncology/Hematology Medical Group founded the California Cancer and Research Institute. Located in Pleasant Hill, it is the largest comprehensive, non-hospital based cancer and blood disorder treatment center in Contra Costa County. The center brings together medical oncology, hematology, radiation, chemotherapy, diagnostic imaging, clinical trials and supportive care services all in one convenient location. For more information contact: 925-677-5041 or visit www.DiabloValleyOncology.md.

Chemo Angels continued from front pageSharon Jones began “angeling” a year before People magazine’s July 19, 2004

article about Chemo Angels entitled “Messages of Hope” appeared. How did she find out about the organization? Retired from a demanding 35 year-career as an ICU nurse, Sharon missed the intense atmosphere of a critical care unit. “I actually missed the hospital smell, too,” she admitted. She decided to volunteer at the John Muir Hospital in Walnut Creek where she discovered literature about Chemo Angels left out for oncology patients. Once she’d read about the program, she promptly enlisted. Over the last 8 years, she has supported 10 different chemo buddies. Assignments last the course of the patient’s treatment until a clean bill of health is achieved or the battle is lost. Angels are notified by the organization when their mission has been fulfilled. When they are ready to help another buddy, they reapply for a new assignment.

Patients are told up front that they need only concentrate on getting well. No communication from them is expected by their angels. Occasionally patients do send a note of thanks at the end of their ordeal. Sometimes a caring relative mails a message. Angels, however, do have their own online network. Sometimes an angel will request the help of the network on a special assignment. Such a case was the focus of the People magazine piece. Laura Valentine, a teenage girl stricken with kidney cancer was losing her will to keep on fighting when the call went out. Just before Valentine’s Day 2001, stacks of greetings from as far away as Japan and New Zealand began arriving daily. Stuffed animals and other gifts covered Laura’s bedroom floor. For her 16th birthday, angels showered Laura with 800 good wishes including gifts.

Sharon keeps a journal of what she sends each week. “I think it’s important to pick a day of the week and always mail a package on that day. I chose Friday so that the gifts arrive mid-week.” When monthly travel with her husband Lee as the only other employee in their family business takes Sharon out of town, she weighs and applies proper postage to her package and has a willing neighbor handle the Friday mailing. Whether crisscross-ing the country for work or heading beyond the borders for pleasure, Sharon takes time to send postcards to her chemo buddy.

All the information you need to become an angel, to give financial support to the cause, or to seek support as a cancer patient is listed on the website: www.chemoangels.net. Chemo Angels is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Julian, California. Angel applicants must be at least 25 years of age and demonstrate in answer-ing the questionnaire their ability to be responsible for an assignment lasting from 4-18 months or more. Because the one-on-one relationship has been found to be important to patients, “angeling” as a group is not permitted. Suzanne, a card and chemo angel who is disabled writes, “It makes me feel I’m doing something good and not just being in pain sitting here feeling sorry for myself.” Chemo Angels is dedicated to opening up the door and letting the sun shine in.

Tea is one of the most widely consumed beverages and is rich in sub-stances with antioxidant properties. Different processing techniques yield different types of tea. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is the most abun-dant polyphenol in green tea and has gained the most attention with respect to anticarcinogenic activity. Although both black tea and green both have potential in prevention of cancer, green tea shows higher promise and greater efficacy against multiple types of cancer.

Various studies performed in the lab and in the clinics have shown that EGCG found in green tea can potentially help patients suffering from various cancers such as cancers of the breast, colon, ovary, lung, prostate, and blood such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Green tea can potentially make cancer therapies more ef-fective by making resistant cancer cells more sensitive to the effects of EGCG.

Because of these promising results, several clinical trials are currently ongoing involving green tea alone or in combination with other drugs that are used to fight cancer.

At Diablo Valley Oncology, we take an integrative approach to treat pa-tients with cancer by educating patients about the therapeutic benefits of natu-ral compounds that have very little or no side effects. Advertorial

Hospice Volunteers Needed Hospice of the East Bay is seeking volunteers. Opportunities include:• Volunteers who are fluent in Spanish.• Patient Support Volunteers to provide companionship and practical as-

sistance to hospice patients and their caregivers.• Bereavement Support Volunteers to provide support to family members

after their loved one has died.• Thrift Shop Volunteers to help in one of our six thrift shops in Dublin,

Alamo, Concord, Antioch, Danville, and Walnut Creek.• Vigil Program Volunteers who can sit with patients that are actively dying, who

do not have family or friends available, to ensure that no one has to die alone! To apply for free training, call Hospice of the East Bay at (925) 887-5678 and

ask for the Volunteer Department, or email [email protected].


Your Personal NutritionistBy Linda Michaelis, RDStop Pre-Diabetes and Prevent Diabetes

Pre-diabetes and Type 2 Diabetes are at epidemic proportions. If you are fortunate enough to learn you are pre-diabetic, there are minor nutritional changes you can make that can prevent diabetes. Physicians are referring patients to me that are in the pre-diabetic blood glucose range between 100 mg/dl and 125 mg/dl as well as full diabetics with fasting blood sugar level

of 126 mg/dl or higher which will need medication if changes are not made.I truly am thrilled when a physician sends me a newly diagnosed pre-dia-

betic or diabetic patient because I know that changes in diet can significantly affect their condition. My first contact with clients is when they are distraught with this diagnosis. I tell them this might be the best thing to happen to them, giving them a wakeup call to finally get their health in order once and for all.

I tell them their Type 2 diagnosis does not mean they can no longer enjoy sugar, but rather the key is to balance their meals with protein, fiber, and fat along with sweets and alcohol.

Let me tell you about my most recent newly diagnosed pre-diabetic with a blood sugar of 123 mg/dl. Paul came to my office with a food diary that was very revealing. For breakfast Paul would alternate between Raisin Bran and Cheerios with a banana. For snacks he ate granola bars, yogurts, and fruit galore. For lunch he always went to Safeway for a turkey and cheese sandwich on a French roll with a bag of chips. In the afternoon he would grab a candy bar or enjoy some of the homemade goodies at the office. When he came home, he was famished and ate the large traditional meal with several slices of French bread. Paul said he thought his diet was moderate and did not deserve his diabetes diagnosis since he hardly ate sweets and drank water rather than sodas and juices.

Paul did not realize that his menu choices were low in protein and fiber which is necessary to keep blood sugars normal. His breakfast choices hardly have the required 2-3 oz of protein and 5 grams of fiber needed. I suggested Paul switch to Kashi-Go-Lean, oatmeal or even eggs with a 100% whole

wheat English muffin. For snacks I told him good choices would include, a hardboiled egg, beef jerky, or handful of almonds and a fruit. For lunch I suggested that he continue having the sandwich, but order it with 100% whole wheat bread and extra veggies, which he loves, along with an apple. Instead of the chips, he should buy a hearty bean Progresso soup which can easily be poured into an oversized mug with the convenient flip top lid. When he craved his chips, he could order 1/3 pound of meat, large coleslaw or broccoli slaw, and then have a bag of chips. The chips will replace the bread of the sandwich, and the salad will provide the fiber.

Paul also needed to eat a mid-afternoon snack to keep his blood sugar stable and prevent him from being famished at dinner. I recommended cottage cheese with fruit or veggies and a few Ak Mak crackers or a few slices of meat wrapped around pickles and a fruit. I stressed the need to make sure that fruit is consumed as a dessert and never on an empty stomach noting that fruit consumed on an empty stomach leads to rise in blood sugar and does not satisfy hunger. We dis-cussed the need for Paul to come home with a low-calorie appetite.

I am glad to see that Paul now comes home without being famished and will be satisfied by chomping on some raw veggies that are always available. His portions at dinnertime have become reasonable. He feels that his energy level is high. The best news is that after working with Paul for two weeks, his blood sugar is in the teens. Paul is so excited that he is no longer a candidate for diabetic medication. He has lost ten pounds, and he feels like a new man.

If you have been diagnosed with pre-diabetes, I can show you how quickly this can be reversed.

Linda is located in her office in Alamo. She welcomes your call to discuss your needs and personal diet challenges. Please visit www.LindaRD.com for more information, helpful tips, recipes and Linda’s blog or call (925) 855-0150. Advertorial

[email protected] it barely noticeable. A mini facelift may be performed under local anesthesia and mild sedation and takes one to two hours.

A Rhytydectomy (a full facelift) is designed to remove the loose skin and excess fat on the face and neck and to return the tissues of the face to a more youthful, natural looking position. It can be combined with fat grafting to fill areas of low volume in the face and cheeks. Recovery time is approximately two weeks and the results are the longest lasting of the surgical methods discussed.

In addition to the surgical procedures described above, there are technolo-gies and products available for patients who wish only to improve the tone and texture of the neck area skin. Laser technologies, such as Cutera Titan and Sciton SkinTyte, improve the tone and texture of the neck skin by using infrared light to heat the deep dermis below the skin. Another technology, Thermage, achieves similar results using sound waves. While these technolo-gies may provide some improvement in the appearance of the neck area skin, they are rarely as long lasting as surgical treatments.

Additionally, years of exposure to the sun can cause this delicate neck and up-per chest area to age prematurely. A prescription-based skin care product such as Obagi’s Elastiderm Décolletage is a skin lightening and wrinkle reducing treatment protocol. Such a product may be effective in reducing age spots and hyperpigmen-tation while improving the overall appearance of the chest and neck area. Further, neurotoxin treatments like Botox or Dyport can be effective in relaxing the platysmal bands which are often the blame for the dreaded “turkey neck.”

While the number of options discussed above may seem overwhelming, this variety of treatment options exists because we are all unique individuals. Age, sun, and gravity affect each of us differently. I would be pleased to discuss which one of these treatments may be right for you.

Barbara Persons MD owns Persons Plastic Surgery, Inc. located at 925 Village Center, Suite 6 in Lafayette. Please call 925-283-8811 or email at [email protected]. Advertorial

Danville Today News ~ April 2011 - Does Your Neck Give Away Your Age? By Barbara Persons, MD

Is a sagging neck or double chin causing you to feel as though your reflection in the mirror doesn’t reveal the true you? Many of us focus on our faces. We protect our faces from the sun, yet we leave our necks and upper chest skin to age from sun exposure and weight change. Fortunately, there are several options to improve the appearance of your neck. In this month’s article, I will

discuss the most effective options available for neck rejuvenation.As we age, men and women both develop pockets of fat under the chin which

can make an otherwise fit physique appear unfairly chubby. For patients under 45 looking to minimize these fat pockets, liposuction may be an option. In my experience, high-definition Vaser Lipo technology produces the most desired result with minimal downtime. This technology uses ultrasound to break down fat cells while protecting other cells and blood vessels and is well suited to the delicate neck area. Tiny incisions are made under the chin and jaw lines which are barely noticeable once healed. This procedure may be performed under local anesthesia with mild sedation, takes approximately one hour, and has a recovery time of about seven to ten days. The removal of fat is almost always permanent, but it can return if there is significant weight gain following the surgery.

For patients over the age of 45, laxity of the skin starts to become the critical factor when determining the most suitable procedure. There are many popular procedures being marketed today that attempt to solve this issue while claiming minimal downtime. The reality is that skin laxity can only be properly corrected with an actual neck lift, often combined with some degree of a face lift.

A cervicoplasty (neck lift) involves an incision under the chin and an incision around each ear. The platysmal bands (the vertical muscles at the front of the neck) are tightened and fat is removed by liposuction or surgical excision. Any excess skin is removed. This procedure takes about two hours and may be performed under mild sedation and tumescent anesthesia.

This type of neck lift is often combined with a mini facelift and is a favor-ite of men and women seeking to create a more youthful appearance while having a more rapid recovery time than with a full facelift. The surgical incision for a mini facelift can be mostly behind the ear and in the hairline,

Hospice Thrifts Can Help In these troubled economic times, more and more people are finding

necessities, as well as luxury items, at thrift stores. Vintage, antique, gently-used, call it what you want, but secondhand can be twice-as-nice.

Hospice of the East Bay has Thrift Shoppes in Alamo, Antioch, Concord, Danville, Dublin, and Walnut Creek that carry an assortment of clothing, housewares, books, music, jewelry, and furniture at deeply discounted prices.

The shoppes are able to offer its merchandise at bargain prices because their inventory is entirely made up of donated items.

Be sure to check out these special sale dates at the shoppes including 50% off sales on the last full weekend of every month.

For store locations and hours, visit www.hospiceeastbay.org or call (925) 887-5678. Funds raised by the Hospice Thrift Shoppes benefit 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-profit agency that helps people cope with life-limiting illnesses by providing medical, emotional, spiritual, and practical support for patients and families, regardless of their ability to pay. To learn more, or to make a donation of time or money, please contact (925) 887-5678, or visit www.hospiceeastbay.org.

counselors - who dedicate their lives to helping those less fortunate. A “who’s who” list of Bay Area businesses and individuals provide both financial and meal assistance; Loaves and Fishes, for instance, offers the midday meal free of charge. St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on Trinity Avenue in Walnut Creek provides the office and communal space. A $250,000 donation, willed to the city of Walnut Creek in 1999 by the late Elizabeth Martin of Rossmoor, allowed Fresh Start to operate for 2 ½ years before it became a private non-profit. To this day, Fresh Start has never operated on government funding. “We operate on the kindness of both friends and strangers,” says Lunghi.

At Fresh Start, clients find a safe and peaceful atmosphere where they can receive a healthy meal, a hot shower, laundry services, use of a phone, and clothing. Fresh Start provides personalized case management, as well as advocacy and assistance in accessing county, state and federal benefits. They also provide legal and medical assistance. Clients may include those experiencing declining earnings, lost jobs, foreclosed homes, unaffordable rental units, or wiped-out retirement funds.

People flock to Fresh Start, not only for the plentiful help, but also for a sense of togetherness and ongoing support. At Fresh Start everyone is equal and all are respected. There is no time limit or restriction on most services. The average participant stays with the program off and on for about two years. Some stay even longer – as employees. Billy Lewis, who describes himself as “residentially challenged,” was a client for about one year, before being hired by Prather as her personal assistant. “Susan described Fresh Start as community; I call it family,” says Lewis who is now Fresh Start’s operations manager. “We’re doing the best we can, and we’re doing pretty well. Bill really knows this organization in and out, and he’s doing a great job.”

“Over the years, it has become apparent that one of Fresh Start’s major reasons for success is our consistency in providing services,” says Lunghi. “Participants are relieved that they do not have to tell their story over and over again to strangers, dredging up a lot of pain in order to get help. At Fresh Start, no one is blamed or judged.”

For information on getting involved with the Fresh Start organization, visit www.freshstart.wc.org. Current need is cash donations, in order to maintain their valued programs. In addition, a “wish list” of items can be found on their website.

Fresh Start continued from front page

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The Eye OpenerBy Gregory Kraskowsky, O.D., Alamo OptometryOcular Migraines

Several patients have come into the office lately complaining of ocular migraines. There are some dif-ferent terms for this condition including aura, ocular migraine, ocular aura, and retinal migraines. Even though they have slightly different meanings, I will lump them into one for the purposes of this article. Ini-tially, these can be very scary as patients are concerned

that they are losing their vision and/or possibly having a stroke. Thankfully, neither will happen just from having an ocular migraine. However, depending on the exact symptoms, some eye and health conditions need to be ruled out.

An ocular migraine, like a typical migraine, involves a blood vessel dis-turbance. This can be caused by many things such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and physical exertion. However, it is very common that these “just happen.” It usually occurs without any triggers and happens when people are in front of the computer, watching TV, or driving. The visual aura that people usually see is similar but can be variable and it can affect one or both eyes. Most patients report seeing bright or shimmering lights, zigzag lines, cloudy vision, and tunnel vision. Your central vision usually isn’t compro-mised, but it could be a little blurry. These visual disturbances last anywhere from a few minutes to about 30 minutes. If there is continued decreased vision, floaters, flashes of light, red eyes, etc., then an ocular migraine is not the diagnosis. The symptoms go away as quickly as they came with no prolonged visual changes and have no lasting visual or ocular consequences. These are commonly followed by an actual migraine about 1 hour after the aura starts. It is possible to not get the headache, but it is more likely that a migraine follows the aura. Initially these can be very scary and patients usually call the office to schedule a visit. This is advisable as there could be other causes and other conditions that need to be addressed depending on the symptoms, age, and medical history of the patient.

Unfortunately, there is no treatment for ocular migraines. However, I always recommend to patients to take their normal headache medications at the onset of the visual disturbances, since it is common to get an actual migraine about an hour after the onset of the visual aura. These headaches are usually severe and could last several hours. Taking Tylenol, Excedrin, etc. for the headache will not prevent it from coming, but it will blunt the severity. I would rather tell my patients to take the medication and not get the headache than to wait until the headache starts; at that point it is too late.

It is more common for normal migraine sufferers, women, and patients with diabetes, high blood pressure, and auto-immune diseases to get ocular migraines. There are no strong medical studies explaining the etiology of this condition. Even though there is no treatment, it is important to make sure that there is no medical reason for the ocular disturbances. The aura can easily be mistaken for symptoms of a retinal hole or detachment, stroke, or other neurological issues. Granted these conditions are pretty rare, but they do happen. An office visit to go over your personal medical history, exact symptoms, and an eye evaluation will help differentiate an ocular migraine from other potentially sight-threatening conditions.

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

Effectively Treating Lumbar Disc DegenerationBy Jeffrey Johnson, D.C.

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

People suffering from pain secondary to lumbar disc degeneration usually experience back and leg pain, as well as muscle spasms in their low back and leg. They also commonly report muscle weakness, numbness,

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

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

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

A singular traumatic event is usually not enough to cause disc degeneration. Most disc degeneration is more likely a result of steady abuse. People whose work involves lots of twisting, bending, prolonged sitting, or heavy lifting are more at risk as these activities cause disc stress, wear, and tear. Truck drivers, for example,

endure prolonged periods of sitting in a vibrating vehicle, which can cause tremen-dous stress for the intervertebral discs and over time lead to a disc herniation.

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

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

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

It is important to note that no therapy consistently creates relief of the lumbar spine in all patients. But, at Johnson Chiropractic Group, we have seen a large population of patients positively affected by this safe, relatively inexpensive treat-ment. Many people that were once forced to compromise their daily activities are now living pain free or managing their pain much more effectively.

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

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of America at 7pm on the 1st Wednesday of the month at the Walnut Creek United Methodist Church located at 1543 Sunnyvale Ave., Walnut Creek Education Bldg., Wesley Room. Meeting room and parking are at back of church. All are welcome. Donations accepted. Assistive listening system are available for T-coils, and most meetings are captioned. Contact: [email protected] or 925.264.1199 or www.hearinglossdv.org.


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Did You Say Disaster? Simple Safety Tips that Can Save a Loved One’s Life During EmergenciesBy Joyce & Jim Newport, Owners, Right at Home of Mt. Diablo

We may not have tsunamis here in Contra Costa County, but we do have our occasional earthquakes and power outages. While these can be inconvenient for most of us, they can be life-threatening for seniors – especially if they are dependent on power for medical equipment.

According to a Harris Poll conducted for AARP in 2006, 13 million people (or one of every six American citizens aged 50 and older) say they will need help evacuating if a natural disaster strikes. Half of these individuals mentioned that they will require help from someone outside of their household. In another Har-ris Poll conducted in 2007, only one-quarter of those polled said they have put together a disaster supplies kit with water, food, medicine, and other supplies.

Because no one can predict when an emergency situation will arise, ev-eryone, especially seniors, needs to be prepared for when disasters strike.

With proper planning, injury and life-threatening harm to seniors and the disabled can be minimized when unexpected emergency situations strike. Family caregivers and their loved ones should take three steps to prepare for emergency situations, including developing a plan, preparing an emergency supplies kit, and setting aside copies of important medical records in an eas-ily accessible location. Develop a Plan: A plan should consider all types of emergency situations including power outages, floods, terrorist attacks, and natural disasters.

• Family Input – The plan should include input from the senior and mul-tiple family members, and it should detail who will be a part of the support network including family, friends, and neighbors.

• Consider Health Issues – Families must keep in mind the elderly or disabled individual’s specific needs and health issues in order to properly execute the plan and to provide suitable resources.

• Logistics – The plan should clearly convey how the individual should get help in a disaster situation; whether help comes to them or if they should go to a pre-designated safe haven such as a shelter or hospital.

• Communication – Once a plan is prepared, family members should make sure everyone in the support network is informed and aware of the process in place. Emergency Kits: Basic emergency supplies should always be kept accessible such as water, food, batteries, flashlights, radio, and first aid kits.

• Extra Medications – A minimum of three days worth of extra medications should be kept on hand as well as medical equipment ranging from oxygen tanks to eye glasses and hearing aids.

• Backup Power Sources – Battery powered back-ups for any special medical equipment should be installed on devices that require it.

• Contacts – The kit should include a list of contacts; telephone numbers for family, friends, neighbors, medical professionals, and caregivers so the senior and tending family member or friend can reach them. Important Information: When in an emergency situation, it is important to keep medical records available.

• Location –Those in the support network should know where to go to get access to important documents and records

• Necessary Information – Contents of the documents should include information such as medical history, allergies, insurance forms, medical providers, and financial documents. These records should also contain a list of medications taken on a daily basis.

For more details, please visit our blog at http://www.rah-mtdiablo.net.About Right at Home - Jim and Joyce Newport opened Right at Home in

Pleasant Hill in 2009. We directly employ and supervise all caregiving staff, each of whom are thoroughly screened, trained, bonded and insured prior to entering a client’s home. For more information on Right at Home in-home caregiving services, call us today at 925.256.HOME (4663). Advertorial

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slightly declining average price within the $800k range. If this quarter becomes represen-tative of the rest of the year, then 2011 will be the year when Danville’s average selling price falls below that $800k average and dips into the mid $700’s. At the current quarter prices reported here, we are sitting in line with price levels seen during 2001.

For the quarter, unit sales are down 32% from last year. I am sure some of this is weather related and hopefully all of it. I sell real estate for a living and I’ve found it hard to motivate myself to go out in the foul weather. So, I can imagine the average Joe would rather watch football, basketball, and hockey than endure the dreary slog of house hunting in the rain. Days on market reported here may be an anomaly as the Real Estate Board once again is allowing agents to cancel and relist properties as new without penalty or fine.

One specific point here in the chart is a bit confusing to me, and that is the 6 % median price drop year on year. That is significant and suggests a movement toward lower price homes this year. This is in conflict with the average price which actually increased 3% over the previous year. Price paid per square foot declined by 7%, again a significant drop and one that appears to be accelerating in the pending sales data. I count 19 homes sold above $1 million this time last year, but find only 11 that have sold in the first quarter this year, suggesting that the sales mix is skewing markedly away from high end properties. Confirming this notion is the average list price and square foot price of the “unsolds” that I mentioned earlier in the second paragraph.

If the current short term trend persists it has the potential to snowball to something even more awful. I worry that significant price drops like we are seeing here this quarter might lead to a growing number of local “Strategic Defaults” where underwater homeowners just give up making payments, walk away and let the bank have their home. I suspect that this 7 % price drop will have erased a 100% of some homeowners’ equity, particularly those who bought their homes during the peak. Concerns aside, I am hopeful that by the end of the second quarter, these numbers, improved upon by sunshine will paint a more pleasant picture.

It’s important to remember that there really is no “average” home and no two homes are exactly alike. If you would like an honest no strings attached opinion of your home’s current market value, please give me a call 925-989-6086 or send me an email [email protected].


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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Danville1st Qtr Review Jan1-Mar 28* Homes Units Sold DOM $$ AVG $$ Median $$ Sq. Ft.

2010 112 46 754,247$ 769,450$ 326$2011 76 57 777,045$ 725,000$ 306$

% Chg. -32% 20% 3% -6% -7%*Includes Multi-Family and Detached Homes

Danville Real Estate Review: Slow Start in First Quarter 2011The spring selling season in Danville has gotten off to a very slow start. We shouldn’t be

terribly surprised as the weather, while great for ducks and farmers, has been terrible for real estate. A local home builder told me last week that rather than fighting the weather and build-ing houses he thought he might start building boats. Looking at my iPhone weather report it looks like we have sunny days ahead and that should be good for the market.

This month, I thought we might take a look at first quarter 2011 versus 2010 in Danville and see how it compares to what the “Bad News Boys” are broadcasting these days. Right now, there are 192 single family and multi-family homes on the market in Danville. Their average market time is 70 days. The average list price is $1,011,793. The average square foot price for these “unsolds” is $360 dollars which is a fair amount higher than the “solds” reported in the imbedded chart at $306 per square foot.

Pending sales are impressive with a total of 136. The pending square foot price is sitting at $301 per square foot or slightly lower than properties just sold. This is not encouraging and if we dig a little deeper we discover that 68 or 50% of these pending sales are “Subject to Bank Approval” which means they are short sales or bank owned properties. That is a high percentage and pretty much proves that Danville has not been spared from the ravages of the prolonged downturn.

In consulting another chart I prepared a few years ago not shown here it looks like Dan-ville’s average selling price hit the $1 million dollar mark in 2005 and maintained this lofty perch for three consecutive years. During the past three years Danville has maintained a

danville today news, april 2011

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