Delta living magazine april 2015

1 April – June 2015 www.deltalivingmagazine.com

delta livingmagazine

delta livingdelta livingdelta livingdelta livingmagazine

delta living

Near-CationsTravel Junkie

Leon PatilloChristian Artist

Spring Cleaning…Body, Mind, Spirit

DELTA FUNDelta Friends

10

18

20 26

Inspiring stories across 1700 miles

APRIL – JUNE 2015

WITH

3 www.deltalivingmagazine.com April – June 2015 3 www.deltalivingmagazine.com April – June 2015

CARUSOMORTGAGE SPECIALIST

Cell: 925.640.5746 | Office: 925.634.7592

NMLS #278812

1540 Discovery Bay Blvd. #B Discovery Bay, CA. 94505

[email protected]

SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. LICENSED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS OVERSIGHT UNDER THE CALIFORNIA RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE LENDING ACT.

GUILD MORTGAGE IS AN EQUAL HOUSING LENDER, NMLS ID 3274. ALL LOANS SUBJECT TO UNDERWRITER APPROVAL; TERMS & CONDITIONS APPLY.

Rita

I will help you find that dream home today.

April – June 2015


in this issue

12 Words from Bubba Paris

13 My Little Girl is Growing Up

14 Dance Moms: The Real Ones

22 The Silence of Elder Abuse

24 What Ingredients Really Do to your Hair

28 John Marsh Historic Trust: Partners in Park’s Future

18

8

3432

16

28

Delta Fun

Heather Found her Passion

Comic Headliner Mickey Joseph Delta Smilz

Photo by Rich Stockman

Birds of a Feather Survive Together

The Language of Couture Roni Penberthy

Delta Dining: Midgley's Public House

Mike and Jules Guzzardo with Angela and Vinny DiNicola enjoy the Giant’s World Series on the Bay.Photo by Carol Young | www.CarolYoungPhotography.com

5

PUBLISHERCharleen Earley - [email protected]

GRAPHIC DESIGNERConrad Borba - [email protected]

EDITOR IN CHIEFRita Caruso - [email protected]

CREATIVE DIRECTORPati Gonsalves - [email protected]

WRITERSRita Caruso • Vinny DiNicola • Felicia Purcell • Brett Corrie

Walter Ruehlig • William “Bubba” Paris • Nina KochKristine Cataldo • Charleen Earley

PHOTOGRAPHERSMaria Tavares • Rita Caruso • Carol Young

Charleen Earley • Walter Ruehlig

COPY EDITORSJohn Hartmann • Rita Caruso • Ana Hurt

Tammy Borba • Walter Ruehlig • Leigh Shughrou

DISTRIBUTIONBarbara Ellison-Smith • Walter Ruehlig

Natalie Newman

MARKETING DIRECTORHillary Lupo

SALESSenior Advertising Manager - Terry Thompson

[email protected]

CONTACT USP.O. Box 395

Knightsen, CA 94548925.383.3072

[email protected]

Delta Living Magazine is published quarterly on recycled paper. Copyright© 2012 by Charleen Earley. Single copy price $5 in U.S.A. on 100% recycled paper. $15 for annual subscription. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission of the publisher is strictly

prohibited. Printed in the U.S.A. E-zine version available. Contact [email protected], 925.383.3072 or visit www.deltaliving-magazine.com.

All rights reserved. No part of any issue of Delta Living Magazine, be it editorial content, photographs or advertising design, may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means; electronic, mechanical, photocopy, or any other format, without the prior permission of the publisher. All facts, opinions and statements ap-pearing within this publication are those of the writers and editors themselves and are in no way to be construed as statements, positions, views or endorsements by the publisher of Delta Living Magazine. Accuracy of all information cannot be guaranteed. Due to uncertain nature of U.S. Postal Service and third party freight services, Delta Living Magazine does not guarantee delivery of said publication by any specifi c date.

SUBSCRIPTIONS$5 each issue or $15 annual (4 issues a year)

Mail check to:P.O. Box 395

Knightsen, CA 94548Make check payable to:Delta Living Magazine

Sisters run their magazineLetters from the Editor & Publisher

With winter fast exiting and the cherry blossoms awaking our real-ization that spring is on its way, you will certainly enjoy the freshness this issue brings. I was enlightened by Kristine’s article, Body, Mind & Spirit (pg. 10) where spring cleaning takes on a new and deeper meaning! I was deeply touched by two en-dearing articles, Corrie’s “My Little Girl is Growing Up,” and “Imagine” by Bubba Paris (pgs. 12 and 13). I was transported by Mike Guzzardo’s trip on the Bay (pg. 18) as well as Walter's “nearcation” to local San Francisco (pg. 26). The Delta and Bay Area off ers a wealth of experi-ences at our fi ngertips. So enjoy dear readers, I assure you these pages will leave you thirsting for more.

Rita Caruso | [email protected]

Thank you for picking up your copy of Delta Living Magazine. I hope you enjoy it cover-to-cover, since our writers, photographers, editors, distribution, amazing graph-ic designer, even our advertisers – have put their talents, passion and support into this and every issue. My newest writer Felicia Purcell had the opportunity to interview Christian artist Leon Patillo (pg. 20). I have enjoyed his songs since age 15, and still have one of his albums in my vi-nyl collection! Roni Penberthy, who designs couture for dogs (pg. 16), is a beautiful childhood friend. Her mom and mine were “besties.” Our goal is to inspire, educate, motivate, encourage and even entertain you some, since we all need a little giggle in our wiggle!

Charleen Earley | [email protected]

Photo by Rich Stockman

dlmdelta living magazine

1 April – June 2014

www.deltalivingmagazine.com

1 April – June 2014


CUTTHROAT

KITCHEN

WINNERChef Michael

Midgley

Author Kathy HeringDesigns

Murder

Mysteries

Bubba Paris HelpsUs Face

our Fears

DELTA L IV INGAPR/JUNE 2014

1January – March 2015


magazineDARREN MCFADDENUp Close with the Oakland Raider’s Running Back

Trust your HustleInside Anthony Trucks’ Best Seller

Delta FitnessNew Year, New Way to a healthier you with Anne Norlega

JANUARY-MARCH 2015Advertise with UsCall 925.383.3072 or email

[email protected] for our Media KitAffordable Rates with Proven Results!

April – June 2015 www.deltalivingmagazine.com


Conrad Borba | Graphic DesignerConrad is a graphic and web designer, who spent much time in his youth drawing and creating, with his earliest memories of working on a computer as a kindergart-ner. He studied graphic and web design at Modesto Junior College and the Institute of Technology of Modesto. With over 10 years experience in graphic design and six years as a freelancer, Borba stays abreast indus-try standards in order to provide his clients with fresh and new ideas. Reach him at [email protected].

Vinny DiNicola | WriterVinny is a Certi� ed Senior Advisor® and owner of HomeLife Senior Care in Brent-wood with wife Angela, a provider of pro-fessional, dependable in-home senior care. Vinny graduated with honors from Menlo College, Atherton, CA, earning a Bachelors degree in Management with a focus in In-ternational Management. Vinny’s passion is providing world-class home care for their elderly clients. Reach him at [email protected].

Carol Young | PhotographerBorn and raised in the Bay Area, new-lywed Carol Young is sought-after for her creative images and sparkling per-sonality. With an uncanny way of putting people at ease and connecting with her subjects, whether at the studio or on lo-cation, Carol has a sincere enthusiasm for photography that is truly inspira-tional. Contact her at 925.586.0555 or www.CarolYoungPhotography.com.

April – June 2015

Emily Wesolek | WriterEmily, who has a passion for making those around her feel great, is a licensed Cos-metologist since 2009 and works as a hair stylist in Brentwood. She’s also a Certi-� ed Cosmetology Instructor and taught at Paris Beauty College in Concord. Writing is another talent of hers since she was young. Always willing and eager to learn new beauty techniques, Emily loves her career. Got hair questions? Reach her at [email protected].

Rita Caruso | Editor-in-Chief Rita, a mortgage loan consultant for Guild Mortgage, has been in the mortgage indus-try for over 30 years. She served two terms as President of the Discovery Bay Chamber of Commerce. With a deep love for journal-ism and an avid reader, she brings a love to her role as Editor-in-Chief. She's also an avid runner, hiker, cycler and caterer, who loves to spend time with her husband, celebrating 20 years together. Reach her at [email protected].

Kristine R. Cataldo, MSCIS, MAed | Writer/BloggerKristine is a proud mama of two, a college instructor and curriculum developer. Her passion as a blogger, author and speaker is etched on her heart. She uses her story to inspire, motivate and empower women to live healthy, happy lifestyles through mind, body and spirit. Kristine is an avid cyclist, hiker and adventurous free-spirit. Reach her at [email protected] or www.kristinecataldo.net

Walter Ruehlig | WriterWalter graduated cum laude with a degree in English from the State University of New York at Albany and career counsels adults with disabilities. He’s the former Presi-dent of the Antioch School Board, founded the Antioch Music Foundation, and is the 2012 Antioch Citizen of the Year-Lifetime Achievement award recipient. He regular-ly contributes to three local newspapers. Email him at [email protected].

Maria Tavares | Photographer/WriterWhen she is not busy behind the lens or chasing after her toddler, Maria enjoys reading � ction, getting hooked on T.V. shows on Net� ix, boating, swimming and socializing. She also visits her parents in Elk Grove, Ca. as often as she can. Ma-ria also loves baseball, chocolate and a good bottle of wine. See her work at FiestaFlixPhotography.shutter� y.com. Read her blog, “Life Through the Lens” at FiestaFlix.blogspot.com.

Nina Koch | WriterNina, owner of East County Performing Arts Center for the last 12 years, has lived in Brentwood, CA for 14 years. When not running her business, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two children, writing and visiting fun and exciting plac-es. You can reach Nina at 925.240.5556 or visit her at www.BrentwoodDance.com.

F.D. Purcell | WriterFelicia, an East County resident for nearly 20-years, found her passion for writing when she won Student-of-the-Month honors at age 10. Her love for sports began early while sitting on her late dad’s knee watch-ing football. A certi� ed make-up artist and animal-lover, Felicia lives by her dad’s favor-ite quote: “Treat others the way you wish to be treated.” Follow her on Twitter @sport-sinthebay_, Facebook: Sports in the Bay or sportsinthebay1.blogspot.com.

Del ta L iv ing Magaz ine V is ionDelta Living Magazine is an artery of hyper local and regional feature articles,

photography and businesses, sharing information to promote improved lives to our families and environment. It speci� cally focuses on inspiring, motivating, edu-cating and entertaining our surrounding communities to encourage dialog, build

unity and reach a bit higher in creating our ideal lives.

co

ntr

ibu

tors

7 www.deltalivingmagazine.com April – June 2015

3201 Main Street • Oakley, CA • (925) 625-3555

Good Old-Fashioned Family Food!

Feed Your Inner Bear

We've got something for every appetite. Choose from our regular bear-sized meals, our Little Less

selections or Diner Deals - whatever you decide, we've got a portion that's just right for you!

#BlackBearDinerFacebook.com/BlackBearDinerBlackBearDiner.com

Call Sandy today for a personal home valuation or any of your Real Estate needs

Sasville Properties www.SandyStrobel.com

(925) 766-3791

“Sandy helped me � nd just the right home. She is a talented professional and she guided me through every step in the process. I would highly recom-mend her. She is great!” Pat | Oakley

“Sandy was amazing! We needed to sell our home quickly (relocation) and Sandy stepped in and made the process so much easier to bare. We had most of our conversations remotely (we had already moved), but she made sure we were taken care of. In our ab-sence, she watched over our home, checked gardeners, brought in an amazing couple to � nish projects and clean. � e house looked brand new! I would recommend Sandy to anyone, whether you are buying or selling.” Heather | Discovery Bay


]ÉçyâÄ i|uÜtà|ÉÇá fÑt 9 ftÄÉÇ fàtyy


advertorialadvertorial

One of Discovery Bay’s best-kept secrets is an oasis – Joyful Vibra-

tions Spa & Salon – a place where health, beauty and holistic healing are not only found, but also celebrated. In merely three years, owner Lorey Amaro has cre-ated a sanctuary so unique to the area – it’s a place one would typically fi nd in San Francisco, Los Angeles or New York.

“It’s a one-stop shop for total well-ness of mind, body and soul,” said Lorey. “This is not your normal day spa and hair salon, it’s so much more, and it also has a great boutique gift shop. Our place is like a hidden gem. When people fi rst walk in, they light up!”

Services off ered at Joyful Vibrations Spa & Salon include massage therapy (Swedish, Deep Tissue, Craniosacral Therapy, Hot Stone, Therapeutic, Lym-phatic Drainage, Crystal Healing, and more), facials and skin care, nutritional counseling, waxing, body treatments, skin care, airspray tanning, mink eyelash extensions with 3D-Beauty, permanent make-up, hypnotherapy, Ion Detox Foot Spa, Iridology, Reiki, intuitive readings, EFT, Essential Oils, hair salon, spiritual and health classes, books, manicures, pedicures and professional make-up.

Licensed aesthetician and make-up artist, Emmy-nominated Judy Twine Brinn is the spa’s resident celebrity

make-up artist with over 20 years expe-rience. She hails from Palm Springs and has worked with celebrities for TV, fi lm and print, where some of her current clients include Diana Ross and Aretha Franklin. Judy was the make-up artist for the fi rst two seasons of Ugly Betty, and also did the Dick Clark Productions and Martin Lawrence movies.

“I do make-up for weddings, spe-cial events and make-up for men,” said Judy, who’s also worked at the Oscars and Grammy’s. She’s at Joyful Vibrations Tuesday through Friday and every other Saturday.

Also at the spa is Frances Melendez who does Iridology, where she uses di-agnosis charts to read the body through the iris. By examining the eyes, Frances is able to see patterns, colors and other characteristics to determine the state of one’s systemic health to include their back, pelvic, abdomen, thyroid, bladder, kidneys, ovaries, spleen, vagina and more.

“Frances was a chef for 24 years be-fore Iridology caught her attention!” said Lorey. “She’s very perceptive with the body on a very intuitive level.”

With nine hair stylists to include new barber services by Monika Lament, Lorey is happy to have with her two of the original Elements Salon owners Rhonda Blatz and Elana Thomas. She’s

also excited to have two award-winning women on board, Hollie Nguyen who won Best Nails by Delta Sun Times and Genie Shultz who won Best Hair Stylist.

“There’s an empowerment here,” said Lorey. “We are serving others and keeping it positive. We are consistent with the service and customer experience here.”

Lorey cannot stress enough the im-portance of taking care of one’s body in today’s stressful world.

“It’s a wake-up call to hon-or yourself,” she says. “Our bodies are stressed in so many ways – from our food to the electrical technology that surrounds us on a daily basis, our bodies are over-taxed more than it has ever been. You need to take time for yourself, listen to your body, get more in alignment and love yourself FIRST! When our bodies are balanced, there are fewer opportunities for disease to come in. Give yourself time to check out and slow down; to say ‘thank you’ to your body – and that’s just the start-ing point!”

Lorey’s vision for Joyful Vibrations Spa & Salon has always been and continues today to be about inspiring and igniting

people to embrace life with joy, cour-age and compas-sion. “We believe in nurturing the inside as well as the outside,”

said Lorey.

A Unique Experience at Joyful Vibrations Spa & Salon

10% off Services for New Clients

Joyful Vibrations Spa & Salon2465 Discovery Bay Blvd., Ste. 202

Discovery Bay, CA 94505www.joyfulvibrations.com

925.513.5443Appointments & Gift Certifi cates

available online 24/7

Excludes Hair & Nail Services

10 April – June 2015 www.deltalivingmagazine.comApril – June 2015 www.deltalivingmagazine.com

By Kristine R. Cataldo, MSCIS, [email protected]

As the hills become anew with their green hue and yellow carpet of mustard fl owers

in the shadow of my favorite mountain, I realize spring is here. Once again I drag out my broom and don my fi nest work clothes for my annual, ceremonial Spring-cleaning. I look to clear pesky cobwebs, purge accumulated clutter in the dark recesses of my little cottage, and sort through ‘important’ papers stacked neatly in teetering piles. This year proves to be a much more pro-found cleansing than those of years past. I refl ect upon the concept of Spring-cleaning as a deeper ‘whole life’ cleanse… body, mind, spirit.

As I move from room to room purging, a growing sense of appreciation warms my heart as my physical space is in order. It not only provides me with a sense of organization, but peace of mind; all seems to fall into place as the location I ‘hang my hat’ becomes more serene.

I have a renewed focus on health and fi t-ness and have begun to follow a ‘clean’ eating and fi tness plan. I also uncover the prematurely ‘shelved’ journals documenting my three-year healthy living journey. With a twist on the tra-ditional Spring-cleaning process, I begin to dust them off and share them with others. Sharing the trials and successes documented in the journals not only allows me to keep moving forward, but it also satisfi es the giver in me. I get satisfaction in paying-it-forward and helping others succeed in their journeys.

My most profound realization has been that I have overlooked the two most important and inner-connected areas in living healthy, mindand spirit, in my Spring-cleaning processes of late. In the past, I rarely prioritized these ar-eas, much less identifi ed the need to clean them. However, as with my increased desire to allow happiness to fl ood my life as my Creator has intended, I fast discover that I had only done surface cleaning in the past. My journey had primarily focused on cleaning my health, fi tness, circles of infl uence and outlook on life.

To address this, I have decided to identify the roles mind and spirit play in my life and to pinpoint eff ective ways to cleanse those areas. I have come to realize that, while I have a grasp on how to fi nd joy even in the darkest of days, my mind and heart are still cluttered with the angst of the past buried deep within. I have started to cleanse these areas by replacing the negative self-talk the past conditioned me to speak – with positive energy, people and situa-tions. I now refl ect upon my blessings and give thanks for all of my vast gifts.

Lastly, as with my body cleansing, I have be-gun to look outwardly and identify the best way to use my gifts in order to help others.

Friends, Spring-cleaning is not a one-time step, but a process. Most importantly, let’s remember to give ourselves grace, help others, and strive for progress, not perfection.

Spring Cleaning… Body, Mind, Spirit


Photo © Bill Klipp, www.DiscoveryBay.me

KEEP YOUR COMPANY

AFLOATIN 2015

COME ABOARDAND CRUISETO SUCCESS

DISCOVERYBAYCHAMBER.COM

DISCOVERY BAYCHAMBER COMMERCEJOIN TODAY! OF

Wild Rose

EQUESTRIAN CENTER2601 Eden Plains Rd - Brentwood, CA

Want to Learn How to Ride?

*Dry, Warm Stalls*Lighted Indoor Arena - Newly Leveled, Fresh Footing

From Performance Horses to Pasture Retiree’s we know how much your horse means to you.

With over 7 boarding options to choose from you can “Customize” a package to � t your budget & your horses’s needs!

Wild Rose is a premium facility that has provided horses & owners with exceptional equine amenities since 1998.

ph: 925.550.3455email: [email protected]

Riding Lessons Available

Contact:


Words from Bubba …Imagine a DifferenceBy William “Bubba” Pariswww.bubbaparis.org

Most creations were forged from a place where imaginary thoughts became tangible re-alities. Albert Einstein once said, “Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowl-edge is limited to all we now know and under-stand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand.”

This is the 30-year anniversary of one of the most exciting moments of my life. A moment that began in my imagination and dreams when I was a six-year-old boy playing football in my backyard. As a child I was an outcast because I was very large for my age. I was bullied and abused all because I was dif-ferent. I felt as though my very existence was a mistake, because so much negative atten-tion was given to the fact that I was so big. The only place where life made sense to me was when I was playing football. When play-ing football, I was no longer an outcast. I was normal. I was a natural!

As a child – through my imagination – I would escape the reality of a life where I was seen as an aberration, a freak of nature perfect to make fun of. When I was called Franken-stein, baby Huey and a number of other de-rogatory nicknames meant to draw negative comparison to my size; I imagined that I was

a pro football player. I dreamt of playing in the Super Bowl. And, 30 years ago, I played in my fi rst of three Super Bowls.

Escape the limits of your present life through your imagination. See all that is possible. Your imagination allows you to fl ee reality and see what you could possibly do without the limits of what you perceive as real life.

Find the thing that makes time disappear; when you do, you fi nd what you are born to do. In this activity you will discover you are a natural. It will be a perfect expression of your nature. Your purpose is revealed and you discover you are perfect. In this activity your imaginary thoughts are like pictures of the fu-ture. Your dreams are like educational training videos, preparing you for their execution. In this activity you discover why you are created in your present form. When doing this activity you don’t see it as work. You see it as that thing that makes life complete and without it – you are empty in your present form.

Allow your imagination to run wild. If you only live your life by the things that you know, the world will never see your hidden potential.

Live your dreams.

Applied towards CTE Courses at Liberty Adult Education onlyOne page essay about why you want to continue

education in Career Technical Education. Deadline June 15, 2015

Applied towards GED Testing at Liberty Adult Education onlyOne page essay about why you want to

complete your GED testing. Deadline June 15, 2015

Scholarships AvailableATTENTION

It's never too late to learn!

Delta Living Magazine Annual Scholarship

Michael SmithAnnual Scholarship

$100

$100

*Winners based on need, not writing ability.Pick up application at

Liberty Adult Education Community Education Center929 Second Street • Brentwood, CA 94513

925.634.2565 Winner announced July, 2015.

Scholarships Available


delta family

By Brett [email protected]

“Daddy? I think I’d like to try and fall asleep without you singing to me tonight.” -

GwenlynEvery evening while your mother and I would be

watching TV, you would come into the library when you were ready to go to sleep and ask me to sing to you. Your teeth had been brushed, books had been read and you were now ready to turn off the lights. I would theatrically roll my eyes, give a huge sigh, feign sleeping or claim I had an invisible cat on my lap and therefore couldn’t get up. It had become of a tradition to tease you about your nighttime serenade. You would say, “Daddy!” in mock anguish, shoo away the invisible cat or poke me to interrupt my exaggerated snores until I got up and laughingly tucked you in to bed and sing a silly father-ised version of “Hush Little Baby.” It was a cherished nightly ritual I always looked forward to.

Something you may not understand about parents yet, is that there’s always at least a small part of us that will never want you to grow up. We’ll hang on to those moments when you needed help tying your shoes, or couldn’t quite reach something, or wanted us to read you a book, sit in our lap or push you on the swing. Par-ents forever cherish those moments because we all know that one day they’ll be gone. You’ll no longer need us to help you get ready for bed or tuck you in. The zipping of jackets has been mastered and pulling down that fa-vorite puzzle with missing pieces is no longer a task that requires assistance. Each day, time takes yet another step

forward and suddenly there are things that at one time were blissfully commonplace are now a memory. Each milestone, no matter how small, can be stark reminders that time marches on for all of us, a train ride that keeps going faster and faster until a mere blink causes you to miss something.

It’s a bittersweet moment for parents when that hap-pens, and while there’s a sense of loss at the reminder of what once was and is no longer there is also a fi erce sense of pride. We’re so proud of you when you can do something you were never able to do before. The fi rst time tying a shoe, the fi rst solo bike ride, the fi rst time reading a book.

But now, after uncounted knots unraveled and block towers built, the monsters in the closet are no longer threatening after the sun goes down. Those strange sounds outside are merely the winds whispering good night. The last glass of water was remembered and is sitting on the nightstand next to the stuff ed animal that, while still dearly loved, is no longer quite as ur-gently needed to help you fall asleep.

I will always look back on those moments when you called my name to heroically handle a spider or check under the bed one more time (just in case). And each night I will always sing to you. Every day I will tell you stories and each time I see you stumble, I will reach out to catch you. You may not always see it. You may not al-ways hear it. But no matter what, you will always be my little girl. I am so looking forward to further adventures and new fi rsts, but most of all, the continuation of the love that is being built on such a wonderful foundation of happy memories.

My Little Girl is Growing Up

14 April – June 2015 www.deltalivingmagazine.com14 April – June 2015 www.deltalivingmagazine.com

By Nina [email protected]

I have been a dance teacher for 25 years. To say it has been my life’s work is an understatement.

When I was a child, dance was something every little kid did at one point or another. Parents knew it was a great way to teach children grace and poise, help with good posture and fl exibility and enhance confi dence. There were also no reality shows to showcase our art, in a very poor fashion.

Fast forward to 2015. Turn on the TV and tune into Dance Moms. What do you see? A horrible woman who screams at children and mothers who behave like classless prima donnas, who think the world revolves around themselves and their dancers. All of the adults on the show are mean, nasty and out for themselves.

Dance Moms is fake, and the competitions are spe-cial events put together for the show. It gives as much of a real representation of dance as The Bachelor gives to dating. In the real world, dancers do not learn a routine in a week, moms do not behave like the ones on TV and dance teachers do not treat their dancers or their parents badly.

I can attest the dance moms at my studio are hard-working, smart, supportive women who want to see their children happy and successful. I know I can turn to any of my dance moms or dads for help. I know they will take care of my child, or anyone else’s, that was in need. If there is a diff erence in opinion, or a confl ict, it is handled with respect and dignity.

I want people to know about the life skills dance teaches; the poise and confi dence, the work ethic and

resiliency. Dance teachers are kind and loving and give up so much to nurture these kids simply be-cause we are so passionate about our art. We want to inspire kids to love dance as we do. I feel it is a privilege to work with kids everyday and to have the opportunity to help them grow into happy, healthy, confi dent people who can take on the world. My biggest success is when a child graduates from the dance studio and gets into college. That is more im-portant than any child becoming a “star.”

There are quite a few dance studios in our area, and from what I know, they all have something spe-cial to off er and you won’t fi nd a “reality show” ex-perience at any of them. I am confi dent you will fi nd teachers who love their students, parents who sup-port their kids and each other and dancers with big smiles who strive to be the best people they can be.

So turn off the reality show and make your own dance reality. Visit the studios in our area, fi nd one that is a good fi t for your family and watch your child grow and thrive in the arts.

Dance Moms … the REAL ones

Photos by Maria TavaresDance mom Jacelyn Chin of Brentwood is proud of her daughter Valia Chin, 10, who has been competing and dancing at Brentwood Dance for the last two years. Valia trains in ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary and tumbling, com-petes on four teams and dances about 11 hours a week.


640 Harvest Park Dr., Ste. B • Brentwood, CA 94513925.634.6398 • www.BroderJewelry.com

We specialize in custom designs, complete repair services & much more…

Custom Designs as Unique as You are

♦ Bridal Specialist♦ Diamonds and Gemstones♦ Custom Hand Engraving

Register today for fun, nurturing

classes, taught by experienced adult

teachers!

Ballet, Tap, Hip Hop, Jazz

Tumbling, Voice & Musical Theater!

925-240-5556 BrentwoodDance.com

[email protected]

Wedding Planner

It’s YOUR Day!

Charleen Earley

From Day-of to Full Service


By Charleen [email protected]

She grew up in Walnut Creek, CA in the 70s

and 80s when bell-bottoms, pre-washed denim jeans and leg warmers were all the rave. Fashion and couture were pretty much synonymous with Wonder Bread, but not for Roni Penberthy, who was mentally dressing people and building pieces in her mind.

“I would place random strang-ers on a canvas and build a piece around them in my mind,” says Roni, founder and creator of Hobo Cwab Canine Couture, where she creates elaborate cus-tom outfi ts for pets. “The style, materials, color palette, weight, tone and feel were created head-to-toe countless times a day.”

She moved to the Marina Dis-trict in San Francisco 20 years ago to carve out a career in corporate fi nance with her Bachelors Degree in accounting from San Francisco State University – until she created an outfi t for a dog in 2012, placed it for sale, sold it - and realized there was a demand for beautiful, tasteful pet clothing.

“I love designing. I love the utter lack of boundaries in creating anything in my mind. I love and respect couture endlessly and don’t feel anyone or anything wear-ing clothing should be relegated to fl ammable, kitschy, garish attire,” says Roni. “Lastly, I love my clients. Their life stories, excitement, appreciation and collabora-tion are a constant joy.”

She says her clientele is global, for those needing a special event piece, “or those who love the artistry and craftsmanship of fi ne clothing whether for themselves or their pets.”

Clients range from housewives to Hollywood, she doesn't discuss her clien-tele, “Being an intensely private person, I honor other’s [privacy] implicitly,” she says.

Roni’s Hobo Cwab Canine Couture brand has been featured and shown in the largest and most prestigious fashion shows in the U.S., she’s earned design awards, and her line was chosen to be in the Oscar 2015 gifting suite on Feb. 22.

While her furry models she designs for are mostly canine, she doesn’t limit herself to one species.

“I design for all ani-mals,” she says. “If it can be dreamed of, it can be created here.”

From concept to completion, she says the time involved greatly depends on the com-plexity of the pieces.

“I’m creating for a New York fashion show at the moment and these 10 pieces will take roughly fi ve months to create, while 10 daywear

pieces would require roughly two months.”The outfi ts are not sold at Petco prices. Be prepared to spoil Fido or FeeFee

with couture pieces ranging from $150 to $9,000. Fittingly, Roni uses premium fabrics and materials to include boucle, cashmere, silk damasks, vintage French textiles, mohair blends, cotton, and unusual natural elements treated and placed within designs.

While her furry models she designs for are mostly canine, she doesn’t limit herself to one species.

mals,” she says. “If it can be dreamed of, it can be created here.”

completion, she says the time involved greatly depends on the com-plexity of the pieces.

New York fashion show at the moment and these 10 pieces will take

The Language of CoutureRoni Penberthy Shares Her Passion for Designing Couture for Dogs

he grew up in Walnut Creek, CA in the 70s

and 80s when bell-bottoms, pre-washed denim jeans and leg warmers were all the rave. Fashion and couture were pretty much synonymous with Wonder Bread, but not for Roni Penberthy, who was mentally dressing people and

“I would place random strang-ers on a canvas and build a piece around them in my mind,” says Roni, founder and creator of Hobo Cwab Canine Couture, where she creates elaborate cus-tom outfi ts for pets. “The style, materials, color palette, weight, tone and feel were created head-

those who love the artistry and craftsmanship of fi ne clothing whether for themselves or their pets.”

tele, “Being an intensely private person, I honor other’s [privacy] implicitly,” she says.

in the largest and most prestigious fashion shows in the U.S., she’s earned design awards, and her line was chosen to be in the Oscar 2015 gifting suite on Feb. 22.

Photo by Sunny Skyes PhotographyGia is "Mermaid in Bloom," wired fi ns, sculpted mulberry paper fl owers, acid-etched leaves, sea shells, turquoise tortoises and Swarovski crystals.

Photo by Kristen CoonsCocoa Puff Pomeranian. Raw silk, vertical cascade drop, exterior bustle, bird netting and pancake hat.


Photo by Darsey Mitchell.

Millie La Rue. Reindeer Eclair: Snow treated branches, mulberry accents, silk satin and silver treated frawns.

“The materials are as varied as the de-signs, but I do love Britex Fabrics here in San Francisco and certain sites for fi nding the rare and vintage,” says Roni, who is ‘mom’ to Roy, a seven-year-old Pomera-nian and Winston, a one-year-old white Chihuahua.

“I never had children and didn’t have a dog until much later in life – though I’m an avid animal lover – and I can tell you the experience changed my life,” she adds. “I didn’t expect two hearts to become the center of my world. It’s nice to know that life can still completely surprise you in a tender and beautiful way.”

Designing couture for pets is not a job for Roni, it’s a language.

“The greatest passion of my life has been couture. From as early as I can remember, as a young child, I was drawn to fashion,” she says. “It’s the language I’m most fl uent in, the one thing that excites me down to my authentic core with no eff ort.”

Visit Roni at www.hobocwab.com.


Story and photo By Mike [email protected]

My wife Jules and I love to cruise the Delta. We've been

all over, even cruising up into the American River past Sacramento.

Last year we bought our 42' yacht Akvavit and planned a trip to San Francisco Bay with our best friends Angela and Vinny and their boat Paso Tiempo. Little did we know at the time that it would involve fi reworks and the World Series.

We left Discovery Bay on a gor-geous October morning and headed to Benicia, cruising easily at just 10 knots. Life on the Delta is best ob-served at a slow pace, enjoying the wildlife and history that magically envelopes you as you tour through it.

Benicia is a great stopping point somewhat midway to the bay featuring good cui-sine and views from the many restaurants and shops.

After a wonderful night we steamed toward the bay and San Francisco Yacht Club, passing the his-toric C & H Sugar Factory.

Cruising by Angel Island through my home wa-ters of Raccoon Straits was a special treat; as was tying up at SFYC for the night.

As luck would have it the Giants were in the World Series and we watched the G-Men on TV at the club, enjoyed a nice meal, then headed off to Sausalito the next day.

Now this is where it got really fun! We secured our Paso Tiempo in Sausalito and the four of us boogied over to McCovey Cove on Akvavit, pausing briefl y under the Golden Gate for a photo op.

As we rolled by the city front and under the Bay Bridge, McCovey Cove came into view and our excitement grew. It was our fi rst time anchoring there and this was the last home game of the series. We expected pandemonium with tangled anchor lines and bruised egos but with the water patrols in place it was only mildly chaotic.

We got our anchor down, side tied to our friend Chris, and settled in for a great evening.

The smell of the barbecues, sound of the crowd and PA an-nouncer was awesome. We watched boats coming and going including a water-bound fl ying saucer, which was clearly a hit as the sun set.

The Giants didn't disappoint ei-ther by winning the game as the ballpark erupted with fi reworks, an amazing capper to our evening.

The next day in Sausalito fea-tured a low-key stroll down Bridgeway sampling wine at a lo-cal shop.

From there we headed back to South Beach harbor where we watched the fi nal World Series game on TV with ATT Park in the background and played tourist at Fisherman’s Wharf.

Now that we'd seen so many wonderful sights it was time to

head home, but not without another stop in Benicia where we spent one last night.

Our fi nal morning was Halloween day and fi t-tingly, it started to get foggy and then poured down rain from the heavens.

Our bay trip was over, but the memories will live on.

Life on the Delta – Best Observed at a Slow Pace

For more information about life on the Delta,

visit: www.deltalifestyle.com

Photo courtesy of Jules GuzzardoAnchored out at McCovey Cove for the 2014 Giant’s World Series, Discovery Bay residents Mike and Jules Guzzardo and Vinny and Angela DiNicola enjoy boating and baseball together.


By Felicia [email protected]

Colossians 3:16 - Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all

wisdom teaching and admonishing one an-other one with psalms and hymns and spiri-tual goings, singing with grace in your hearts unto God.

This is the scripture that singer/song-writer Leon Patillo applies to his own life. The gifted 68-year-old musician has seen his life go (in his own words) from “Santana to Hosanna.” Leon was the el-dest of two children from southern par-ents; a strict retired staff sergeant father who served in the Army and owned his own cab company, and a nurturing homemaker mother. As with many of his generation, Leon’s talent started in the church and his own life would take a world tour as the lead vocalist for Car-los Santana and later a lifetime vocalist for the Lord.

You were born and raised in San Fran-cisco, in the Haight-Ashbury area. In a nutshell how would you paint a visual of your childhood and the neighborhood you grew up in? Colorful with hippies. Religion was the common denomina-tor in those days and that helped build the bridge together of all ethnicities and music. Actor Danny Glover lived

four doors down and was my childhood friend. It was a peaceful time, no fights or guns, just family.

Yes, the 60’s were a beautiful time for that. How was your gift recognized? At five-years-old, my teacher Mrs. Hughes handed us dif-ferent objects to improvise with and I got a cardboard with piano keys painted on it. I mimicked like I was playing and she got on the piano and played with me.

Did you start singing and playing elsewhere ~ church maybe? My mother was Baptist and my father an African Methodist Episcopal and I played the organ and piano for the youth choir and we’d rock the house.

You started Creation, which later be-came Leon’s Creation, and then Carlos Santana needed a lead vocalist? I started the VIP’s, which came out of necessity to do traditional music. That’s when I saw the light, lol. We were booked up for like a year in advance. Eventually I began working with groups like Martha and the Vandellas and Funkadelic, get-ting writing credits. Carlos had come in to listen to one of our (Creation) sets. He had a cassette of mine.

He hired you and God used him as a vessel so you could serve HIM? When I visited Carlos he was always religious, and was burning incense the first day I visited and it reminded me of prayers go-ing up to God. I was dating a girl in San

Francisco whose brother was a preacher. The same day I joined the group I got saved right there in the car, in the driveway of his house July 4, 1974.

Then you began your solo career? Yes. I wanted to speak a message of love and be inspirational for the next generation. This was early 80s and I was attending

service in Orange County under Chuck Smith at Calvary Chapel. He was a dy-namic pastor ahead of his time. I did my first CD “Dance Children Dance” and it gave me a lot more access. One thing led to another and I did a co-host gig with former disco singer Candi Staton on TBN (Trinity Broadcasting Network). After that, I was approached about do-ing a variety show, “Leon and Friends.”

Are any of your six children in the business? I have one son following me in music named Gabriel. He lives in Nashville and has been the right hand man for Christian rapper tobyMac for

the past 12 years. My son Noel is a youth pastor at True Vine Ministries in Oak-land, CA.

You’ve been dedicated to working with youth in your Las Vegas commu-nity? Yes. Las Vegas has one of the high-est dropout rates and my foundation S.I.N.G. (Sowing Into Next Generation) is an arts program for boys and girls ages 8-15 of ALL backgrounds. They make music and the kids get an opportunity to sing alongside me on a CD. It’s some-thing to keep kids positively involved.

Future goals: Leon tours regularly and shares his spiritual gifts through music, song and public speaking. His goal is to pass the baton to the next generation of young kids in Las Vegas and beyond, to prepare and allow them to understand what he’s experienced. “As long as I’m mentoring the right way, I’m fulfilled.” Last March, 2014, he released the CD called "You Can Be-gin Again," and features The S.I.N.G. Kids (Sowing Into Next Generation). Leon’s wife Renee recently started her own ministry called WomenShare, giv-ing women an opportunity to share their amazing stories of survival. With its new beginnings, it's already a thou-sand members strong.

Visit Leon at www.leonpatillo.org

From Santana to Hosanna Christian Artist Leon Patillo Leads by Example


Photos courtesy of Leon PatilloSinger Leon Patillo, middle, started a kids ministry in Vegas, Calif. called S.I.N.G. Here he is with (L-R) Jazzy Cadiente, Sophia Ramos, Lauretta Williams, Tiffanne LeMay, Jasmyne Densley and Ricky Susie in Las Vegas.


delta silver linings

By Vinny [email protected]

The California Bar Journal calls elder abuse the crime

of the 21st Century. One study re-ports a staggering 14% of those age 65 and older are abused annually in this nation. Sadly, the vast majority of abusers are family members or caregivers, most often adult children, spouses and partners. Those who abuse drugs or alcohol, or who have a mental/emotional illness, and who feel burdened by their caregiving re-sponsibilities abuse at higher rates.

There are four common kinds of elder abuse:

Physical: Hitting, pushing, sexu-ally molesting, forced confi nement in a room, bed or chair, over-medication.

Emotional/psychological: Humiliating, insult-ing, name-calling or threatening.

Neglect: Withholding food or medical attention or leaving a senior in an unsafe or isolated place.

Financial: Withholding money, forcing an elder to sell personal property, embezzling, forging or stealing an older person’s money or possessions, and misusing Power of Attorney.

Financial abuse is considered to be the most com-mon form of abuse to elders. Maybe you’ve heard sto-ries of when an unsuspecting elder puts his or her trust in a caregiver only to discover that person has stolen

their life savings. Once their money for housing, food, medical care and medicine is gone, elders lose their livelihood and ability to live independently.

For every one case of abuse reported to authorities, an estimated four or more cases go unreported. Many seniors don't report the abuse they face even if they’re able. Some fear retaliation from the abuser, while oth-ers believe that if they turn in their abusers, no one else will take care of them. When the caregivers are their children, they may be ashamed that their children are

behaving abusively or blame themselves: “If I’d been a better parent when they were younger, this wouldn’t be happen-ing.” Or they just may not want children they love to get into trouble with the law.

To protect seniors against elder abuse, all of us need to listen to the seniors in our lives, call or visit with them as often as possible, and intervene when abuse is sus-pected by reporting it to the local Adult Protective Services agency. As a senior, you can protect yourself by making sure your fi nancial and legal aff airs are in order by enlisting the help of a professional or a trusted relative, keep in touch with fam-ily and friends, and speak up if you are unhappy with the care you’re receiving from a caregiver or facility.

As a caregiver, there are steps you can take to make sure you don’t fi nd yourself in a situa-tion where you feel you are reaching your breaking point and are in jeopardy of crossing the line into elder abuse. Take care of your own health. Ask for help from family and friends or an agency that provides respite care so you can take a break from your caregiving re-sponsibilities on a regular basis. Find a support group for caregivers and seek counseling if you are struggling with depression or need someone to talk to about the diffi culties of caregiving.

The Silence of Elder Abuse

Adult Protective Services Contra Costa County | 925.646.2854Adult Protective Services | 877.839.4347 | 24/hr


Our passion is helping clients remain at home.

925-240-5770

Free No-obligation Assessment

Customized & No

Minimum Hours

HomeSENIOR CARE

ifeLPERSONAL & DEPENDABLE IN-HOME CARE

HomeLifeSeniorCare.com

I don’t worry about Grandma anymore.

Vinny & Angela

DiNicola

Award Winning,Locally Owned

Call for peace of mind

Your loved ones should be enjoying the comfort of home, and we can help.

He knows Grandma is loved and cared for at home when you can’t be there.

Mike & JulesGUZZARDO

GuzzardoHomes.com

UZZARDOHOMES

California Bureau of Real Estate

#01066846

We answer our phones.

VOTED BEST OF DISCOVERY BAY

6 YEARS IN A ROW.

Why?

Leading you HOME . . . SOLDGUZZARDO

[email protected]@GuzzardoHomes.com

925.864.5757

We answer our phones.

Independently Owned and Operated

1540 Discovery Bay Blvd. #BDiscovery Bay Ca. 94505

By Emily [email protected]

Have you ever wondered what those long, hard-to-pronounce

ingredients are in the hair products you use? I’ve always found it interesting to learn what the ingredients are and what, if anything, they do to our hair.

Sulfates, aka Sodium Laureth Sul-fate and Sodium Lauryl Sulfate can be found in shampoos. They’re most commonly known for making sham-poo soapy and sudsy. These sulfates are also found in many detergents that help cut grease and dirt. So how does this aff ect your hair? Like cutting the grease and dirt found on your dishes, it does the same to your scalp and hair – it strips your hair of its natural oils, which our hair needs and leaves hair feeling dry. For those who have color-treated hair, these sulfates make your color fade faster.

Parabens are another popular ingredient that is found in our hair care products. Many products are get-ting rid of parabens that are found in beauty products. Parabens are used as preservatives in a lot of beauty prod-ucts, such as shampoos, mascara’s and lotions, helping to stop fungus and

bacteria from growing in your fa-vorite products. Although it hasn’t been scientifi cally proven, many scientists have been debating if these harsh chemicals have any dangerous or negative aff ect on our skin and hair.

Isopropyl alcohol is an ingre-dient, also found in many sham-poos, that deprives the moisture our hair needs. If you’ve ever felt isopropyl alcohol or products that have a lot of alcohol in it, you may notice it dries out your skin. Having alcohol in your hair care products not only leaves hair dry, but can also lead to hair breakage and even hair loss.

Although it may not seem like a big deal, these harsh in-gredients deprive our hair of its natural oils, which leaves our hair shiny, silky, and moisturized, and even helps hair grow. These in-gredients also strip the hair and can cause hair damage. Many of our hair and beauty products are becoming more readily available without these ingredients. So try to buy professional products that don’t have these ingredients in them, and your hair will love it!

What Ingredients Really do to Our Hair

April – June 2015 www.deltalivingmagazine.com24


145 Middlefield CourtBrentwood, CA 94513

PrecisionCabinets.com925-634-5552

The Bay Area’s premier manufacturer of fully custom cabinetry is also a great place to work!

We are currently hiring for a wide range of positions. Visit our website for an application or stop by our office to fill one out.

Precision Cabinets is Now Hiring!

Both Entry Level & Experienced:•Delivery

• Install

•Office

•Manufacturing

Delta Living - April 2015.indd 1 3/23/2015 2:52:57 PM

CreativeBORBA graphic design & photography

CALL/TEXT NOW [email protected]

Good design is good business.

website • brochures • business cards • photography & more

Powerful visuals tell your story and show you mean business. Lets create something today!

[email protected]

No Project Too Small

Too Busy to Get

Organized?


By Walter [email protected]

Admittedly, I’m a travel junkie. Some people sali-vate over menus; I crave the latest posting on

Travelzoo. Frankly, the day after returning from one trip I’m feverishly planning the next. As some shop ‘till they drop, I get fevered lamenting, ‘so many places to see, so little time to see them.’

On my journey of wanderlust I have frequented vari-ous travel styles; from the hip youth hostel scene to the bourgeois embrace of island cruising. In between, this gypsy has dabbled in staycation day trips, campgrounds, ‘leave the lights on for you’ cross-country motel hop-ping; and the nine capitals in eleven days European, who needs amphetamines?, sojourns.

Short of safari, I thought I had run the travel gamut only to recently explore, at a friend’s suggestion, a two night ‘nearcation’ utilizing a raffl e prize for the Mark Hopkins Hotel on Nob Hill. I’m now sold on this va-cation variation. Heck, no surprise as we’re nearcation heaven, with BART proximity to Baghdad by the Bay, perhaps the most enchanting city on earth.

No airlines tickets, no rented car. No familiar confi nes to come home to each night to remind us of the weeded garden and the creaking gate on the to-do list. No last train to rush for. Sweetest of all, no last call tinged with suppressed anxiety of a tail light going out and a peace offi cer running a sobriety check.

Fringe benefi ts? We squeezed the day and still en-joyed one of life’s little pleasures, afternoon booster naps. We even hobnobbed with the so-called beautiful people at our four star hotel.

Previously, Union Square conjured images for me of the park and encircling ritzy stores. Amazing the Square’s multi-faceted dimensions we discovered in 48 hours.

Arriving, we stopped at the hole-in-the-wall Chabaa

Thai Cuisine on Geary before taking the cable car up Nob Hill. After hotel check-in we headed back to the Square to check the holiday window displays before boarding a City Line double-decker for a holiday lights tour. It culminated with hot chocolate at Treasure Is-land overlooking the twinkling Embarcadero and Coit Tower.

Back downtown, we headed to Johnny Foley’s Irish House on O’Farrell Street for their dueling piano bar and some awesome lamb sliders. We fi nished carous-ing at Lefty O-Douls Restaurant on Geary Street. Like Foleys, it was a crowd fully intent on having fun.

The next day we did the obligatory pancakes and waffl es at Sears Fine Food before browsing the cavern-ous SF Centre shops and food court on Market. We then lunched at The Rotunda at Neiman Marcus, canopied by 38,000 pieces of colored glass dome, with full view of the sixty-foot Christmas tree and bustling Square. Note, reservations helpful and tea and cookies is an alternative on their tasty menu.

Next call of duty was a nap. Refreshed, we then head-ed to Little Paris, a hidden jewel of alleys off the Square that boast cafes and exquisite boutiques. After requisite meandering we enjoyed French-driven culinary expres-sions at Café Claude and the ambience of a jazz trio and a beret-wearing, oh-so-continental waiter.

Then off to the Punch Line Comedy Club SF before punctuating the night dancing at the Starlight Lounge atop the Sir Francis Drake Hotel. The huge windows gaze down at incandescent Powell Street and the Square. You’re in a bubble tripping the light fantastic between the cable cars and the stars.

Final morning on the way to BART we paid homage to my New York roots with lox and bagels at David’s Delicatessen. 48 hours jam-packed fun and yet we still missed ice-skating, the Theatre and the Cheesecake Fac-tory. How’d you guess?; I’m already planning my next nearcation.

Travel Junkie, That’s Me


TupperwareSave Money, Time & Space

my.tupperware.com/adairboatman

Discovery Bay, California

cell: 415.312.3500

Adair BoatmanLegacy Executive [email protected]

Semi-Private Yoga Classes

Pilates/Yoga BlendRestorative with Hot Stones

Ageless Strength & Gentle Flow

Adair BoatmanRegistered Yoga Teacher

Discovery Bay, [email protected]

MA

KE

TH

EIR

B

IZ Y

OU

R B

IZ!

Professional Photography Graphic Design

925•683•[email protected]

@shanistudios • #shanistudios

Mention this ad & recieve 10% off your first session!

Valid for photography sessions only.

Professional Photography Graphic Design

925•683•[email protected]

@shanistudios • #shanistudios

Mention this ad & recieve 10% off your first session!

Valid for photography sessions only.

Gre

at R

ates

• P

rove

n R

esul

ts92

5.38

3.30

72ch

arle

enbe

arle

y@gm

ail.c

omw

ww

.del

taliv

ingm

agaz

ine.

com

Ad

vert

ise

w

ith U

s!


The effort to save John Marsh’s histor-ic Stone House and open the Marsh

Creek State Park took another step forward last month when the John Marsh Historic Trust was named the newest Cooperating Associa-tion for California State Parks.

Cooperating associations are non-profit charitable organizations dedicated to enhanc-ing educational and interpretive programs in California State Parks. The Trust is the 88th co-op serving at least one of the 280 state parks.

The status will help the Trust broaden its 20-year mission to save and restore the 159-year-old sandstone mansion. Since 2010, the house has been part of the 3,700-acre Marsh Creek State Park, where plans also call for 70 miles of trails and hundreds of campgrounds and day-use sites. Native American and Hispanic cul-tural history is also rich in the park.

“There is enormous potential for the park, once we can get it open,” said Trust Executive Director Rick Lemyre. “Being a co-op will al-low us to help get lots of things done in addi-tion to restoring the house.”

The Trust is also looking for board members to help grow the organization and conduct capital campaigns.

“If you love history or the outdoors, and want to be part of bringing this jewel of a park on line, we want to hear from you,” said Le-myre.

The Trust also announced that the 2015 Stone House Heritage Day would be held in the park on Oct. 17, 2015. In addition to the activities,

presentations and performances enjoyed by more than 800 people at last year’s inaugural event, a hike through the park is also on tap.

advertorial

John Marsh Historic Trust: Partners in Park's Future

For more information on joining the Trust board or on Heritage Day, contact Lemyre at [email protected].

Photo by Doug ReidJohn Marsh Historic Trust Executive Director Rick Lemyre tells high school students participating in the City of Brentwood Youth in Government program about John Marsh and the Marsh Creek State Park. The Trust has been named a Cooperating Association to raise money to open the park to the public.


Photo by Richard WisdomConstruction manager Rod Tuttle and Associate State Archaeologist Pete Hanchett

go over blueprints for a stabilization project on the John Marsh stone house. The John Marsh Historic Trust has been named a State Parks Cooperating Association to help

further work on the house and get the Marsh Creek State Park open to the public.


While in her thirties, Nikkola Peterson bought her mother

June Peterson’s hair salon, About Hair, Etc. in Brentwood a few years ago, however, she says the ‘business of hair’ has always been in her family bloodline.

“My uncle Mike Arends has owned a hair salon in Pleasant Hill for over 30 years. I used to get my hair cut by him when I was little!” says Nikkola, of Brentwood, CA.

The creative-type and mother of two teenage boys, Nikkola first learned the business end of hair while working at Headlines Salon in Walnut Creek for four years. Later she became a certified beautician and color specialist from Paris Beauty College in Concord and Deluxe Beauty School (now closed).

Her hair salon is one of the first sa-lons in Brentwood, of course under different names/ownerships.

“It’s been here since the 80s,” says Nikkola. “A lot of people say ‘we didn't even know you were here. Really!’”

Located across (caddy corner) from La Costa, Nikkola and her independent stylists have created one of the most friendliest and comfortable hair salons in Far East County.

“I have a coffee bar for our clients and for our special clients, we serve wine in the evening,” says Nikkola,

who supports local schools and chari-ties such as Summerset II Care Bears and Freedom High School’s wrestling crab feeds, when she can.

“More than that, there’s a special community and family-feeling here that’s difficult to find anywhere else. My clients network with each other and connections are made,” she adds.

With affordability in mind, prices for dry cuts range from $25 to $40 (depending on length and stylist) and colors from $40 to $70. Services of-fered strictly focus on hair – hence the name About Hair, Etc. – to in-clude highlights, color, extensions (consultation required), haircuts, up do’s, keratin complex straightening, perms and more.

Known as the “Perm Queen” Anne Hoerz of Rio Vista specializes in perms with experience dating back to the 80s.

“A lot of people get perms for the extra hold with their curls,” said Anne. “What I like about perms is that you have the versatility to wear it curly or style it straight.”

She says everyone’s hair texture and quality is different, which is why

she monitors each person’s perm pro-cess with great care, instead of timing each perm by the book.

For the staff at About Hair, Etc., it’s not about making money; it’s about making happy customers with quality work.

“We are all about integrity,” says Nikkola. “I’m not afraid to turn clients away if they want me to do something that will potentially damage their hair.”

Loyal customer Sharon Massi sees Nikkola as an artist.

“She truly is an artist when it comes to hair. She’ll look at someone and ask, ‘do you trust me?’ Then she’ll get this creative thing going on and when she’s done, you’ll be amazed! That’s how she is!” says Sharon, intuitive healer and owner of Whispers of the Soul in Brentwood.

advertorial

Cozy Environment for Fabulous Hair

10% Off Services for New Clients(with participating stylists) with this ad

About Hair, Etc.8425 Brentwood Blvd., Ste. A6

Brentwood, CA 94513

[email protected]

Hours mostly by appointmentsClosed Sundays

Nikkola Peterson | Owner About Hair, Etc.

Photos by Charleen Earley Nikkola Peterson, owner of About Hair, Etc., works with loyal client

Tina Piper of Oakley, CA. Nikkola's clients call her an artist.

www.deltalivingmagazine.com April – June 2015 31


By Charleen [email protected] of San Joaquin Lifestyles Magazine

Everyone has a story, including birds. Take Kona the turkey for example. Set to be a fat

turkey dinner in 2009, he was rescued by Harvest Home Animal Sanctuary in Stockton before he hit the chopping block.

Now Kona has his own Facebook page.“He’s a big flirt! He loves to follow the women

around. When we took him to a photography studio in Oakland, he totally strutted his stuff for the cam-era,” says Christine Morrissey, Sanctuary manager since 2007.

Fittingly, the sanctuary opened on Thanksgiv-ing Day, 2004, when the first animals and humans moved in. A private house for staff, built in 1919, sits on 2.5 acres with outside animal pens and lodging, and is home to mostly birds, rabbits and pigs with some goats and an occasional horse, dog and cat.

“Our main message is for people to consider the untold story of animals who are completely sur-rounded by us (humans) in terms of what we eat. When people sit down for dinner, people see noth-ing more than a piece of meat wrapped in Styrofoam or plastic packaging. People don’t know what goes into producing these products or how these animals are raised,” says Morrissey.

“There are 10 billion animals raised for food in the United States. We are helping animals by inspir-ing and empowering people to learn about their lives and make humane choices when they eat,” adds

Morrissey. “We promote a vegan diet and encourage the public to make compassionate choices on behalf of farm animals through their dietary choices.”

With names like Mohawk, Joe Pesci, Maui and Kimo, every animal at the shelter – even the pigeons - has a name and personal story.

“Our mission is to save the lives of animals who are often overlooked in society,” says Morrissey. “We have a huge responsibility on our shoulders. When people visit here, they have a paradigm shift, especially about the turkeys, who are interestingly like dogs. These animals are incredibly smart and interactive. Many people have never seen a turkey before, other than in a sandwich or on their plate on Thanksgiving.”

Supported solely on creative and fun fundraisers, donations and grants, they offer interactive 90-min-ute sanctuary tours the second Saturday of every month at $10 per adult, kids are free. Guests feed the animals, interact with them and learn their stories.

“We celebrate individuality of animals and shine a light on a dark industry that abuses animals to a tune of billions each year,” says Morrissey, who did her undergrad work at University of California, Berke- ley, and her Masters at Texas A&M University in

poultry science.Growing up in Pleasanton, she never imagined

living life on a farm.“This sanctuary is like a living being – our work

to help animals is a 24/7 endeavor. There are no hol-idays or weekends, but it’s a labor of love,” she says. “There’s always something happening; new arrivals, someone is sick, weather issues; always some excite-ment. We are always on our toes!”

To learn more and to volunteer or donate, visit www.harvesthomesanctuary.org. Visit Kona the tur-key at www.facebook.com/Konaturkey.

Birds of a Feather … Survive TogetherAt Harvest Home Animal Sanctuary

Kona the Turkey is a huge flirt and has his own Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Konaturkey.


Photo by Charleen Earley

Christine Morrissey, Sanctuary Manager of Harvest Home Animal Sanctuary in Stockton for the last 8 years, said their mission is to save the lives of animals who are often overlooked in society.



delta smiles

Perfect Photography by Rich StockmanHeadliner Mickey Joseph balances his comedic talents on Jan. 9, 2015 for Delta Living Magazine. Visit him at www.mickeyjoseph.com.

Photo by Charleen Earley

Diane Burgis of Oakley, CA was sworn into offi ce as Director of Ward 7, East Bay Regional Park District Board on Jan. 13, 2015. Her sons and moth-er supported her (L-R) Sam, Diane, Jacob, Liz, and Dustin.

Photo by Charleen EarleyDiane Burgis represents the cities of Antioch, Bay Point, Bethel Is-land, Brentwood, Byron, Clyde, Crockett, Discovery Bay, Hercules, Martinez, Muir, Nevada Dock, Oakley, Oleum, Pacheco, part of Pinole, Pittsburg, Port Costa, Rodeo, Selby, and Tormey. Parks in her ward include Antioch/Oakley Shoreline, Bay Point, Big Break, Black Diamond Mines, the northwestern portion of Briones, Browns Island, Carquinez Strait Shoreline, Contra Loma, Crockett Hills, Martinez Shoreline, San Pablo Bay, Waterbird Preserve/McNabney Marsh, and Vasco Caves. “It is such a privilege to serve on the East Bay Regional Park District; it is one of the jewels of the Bay Area. I look forward to creating more parks for our communities and engaging people, particularly our youth, in getting outside and becoming environmental stewards,” said Burgis.

Photo by Charleen Earley(L-R) Lions Member Rod Linn, winner Amata Abatcha, with her mother Falmata Abatcha. Held at the Liberty Adult Edu-cation Center in Brentwood, CA on Feb. 11, 2015, The Lions of Multiple District 4 (California) Student Speakers Founda-tion Inc. sponsored it’s 78th Annual Student Speakers Contest based on the question, “Water Conservation – How Can We Reduce, Recycle and Reclaim?” Amata, an Independence High School student of Brentwood, CA, won $100 and the op-portunity to go to the next level. The goals of the competition are to encourage high school students to hone their talents through research, speech-drafting and oration skills, and to gain confi dence in themselves, become comfortable ad-dressing audiences of various sizes and build skills that facili-tate success throughout their educational years and beyond.

Perfect Photography by Rich StockmanMiddle Act Pat McCoy, voted “Most likely to Recede” in High School joined Mickey on stage for Delta Living Magazine on Jan. 9, 2015. Visit him at www.facebook.com/funnyboypatmccoy.


APPLYAPPLYYOURSELFYOURSELF

Apply now for

www.losmedanos.edu/apply

Summer and Fall 2015

LOS MEDANOS COLLEGEPittsburg • Brentwood

[email protected]

It’s YOUR Day!

Charleen Earley

Need a little bit of help or a LOT!

[email protected]

Tutoring & Writing Services

925.383.3072

It’s YOUR Day!

Charleen Earley

Need a little bit of help or a LOT!

• English• Essay | Creative Writing• Resumes• Website Writing | Editing• Business Writing• Students ~ Youth | Adults

[email protected]


One Husband, One Wife, Plenty of Excedrin delta laughs

Funny Side UpBy Charleen [email protected]

I felt as though I were in New York hailing a cab from the Oakland

Airport to my mother’s house (this was years ago). Once inside the back-seat, luggage stowed in trunk, I told the Middle Eastern cab driver to take 17, take the 23rd Street exit, and we’d be on our way.

He appeared to be my age, brown hair with a friendly disposition and talkative nature. It wasn’t but two me-tered seconds into the ride when he asked me, “How long you’ve been away?”

“Been away?” I asked.“From Oakland,” he added.“Oh, well, I grew up here, but I

don’t live that far away, so I’m not sure what you mean by ‘been away.’”

“It’s not called 17 anymore. It’s 880. They stopped calling it 17 back in the early 80s!”

“Oh, yeah, I know,” I assured him. “It’s just that it’s set in my brain as 17, you know, the Nimitz Freeway, so I guess that’s why I still call it that.”

He went on to ask me more ques-

tions, like where my husband was and where was I coming back from. Nosey, huh? I like it!

I told him I was divorced 12 years and returning from Salt Lake City, Utah from a three-day writer’s conference. He continued with more questions when I decided I’d turn the tables on him, being the newshound that I was, and asked him about marital status.

Turns out he was divorced too, four years, had two kids under the age of 11, pays child support (yah, I even asked him how much, but I’ll leave that part out) and that he was currently in the process of bringing his new fiancé to America.

“Where is she now?” I asked.“In Afghanistan. It’s an arranged

marriage!” he said, as the meter seemed to race on. I had no idea cab rides could be so expensive.

“Is it true that you get to have many wives at one time?” I didn’t hold back.

“We can have up to five,” he an-swered.

“And the women, do they get to have up to five husbands?” I thought I was being clever.

“No. The reason why the men can have that many, is because our country is always in war. Men are in short sup-ply, so Islamic Law made it so women would not have to be without a man,”

he explained.“Wow, I never knew that. So how

many wives do you want?” I probed a little farther.

“Just one. If one gives me a headache, why would I want five headaches!” he laughed and I laughed with him.

I silently wondered how his second marriage would end up with his head-ache analogy at work.

“So compared to America, are di-vorces common in the Middle East?” I continued.

“We have more divorces than here,” he said.

“Really!” I was shocked. I figured America was the leader in shattered homes, but it looks as if broken cov-enants are universal, and not country-specific.

The meter sped faster than his driv-ing, and how he kept his concentration while weaving through traffic between Islamic Law and child support pay-ments was amazing to me.

But more amazing was how happy I was to be in America and not have to give my hand in marriage, by arrange-ment, to a man with four other wives. One husband, one wife, and plenty of Excedrin Migraine pills, now that’s the ticket.


Brentwood Embroidery410 Beatrice Ct.

Brentwood, CA 94513

WE DO• Letterman Jackets• Custom Embroidery• Patches• Banners

• Screen printing• Vinyl lettering• Leather sewing• T-shirts

Brentwood Embroidery & Screen Printing

[email protected]

FaceBook: brentwoodembroidery925.634.5268 - phone

925.684.4382 - fax

Mon-Fri: 10 - 6 p.m.Sat: 10 - 2 p.m.

Charleen Earley

FREE 30-60 Minute Business Workshops!

Charleen Earley• 10 Networking Tips • Marketing & Branding• How to Sell to Prospects• Bene� ts of Print Advertising• How to Create Effective Flyers

Call for upcoming Workshops | Locations | [email protected]

925.383.3072

www.discoverybaypaddleboards.com

Come try the new craze!Great fun and an excellent workout

Ron Lehrer925.382.5616

By appointment only.Rentals Lessons Sales

Photo courtesy of Tahoe SUP

Featuring:

We now have KAYAKS!

Sales & Rentals


Meals on Wheels and Senior Outreach Services is a non-profit 501(c) (3) organization (IRS #68-0044205).

You can help by becoming a Meals on Wheels volunteer driver!

Do you have 2-3 hours one day each week to deliver hot, nutritious meals

to homebound seniors?

For more information, please contact Carol Louisell,

[email protected] or 925-954-8736

Urgent Need for Volunteer Drivers in Antioch, Bay Point, and Pittsburg!

FREE Consultations925.383.3072

[email protected]

INTERIOR DECORATOROne Room or Several

40 April – June 2015 www.deltalivingmagazine.comApril – June 2015 April – June 2015 April – June 2015 April – June 2015 April – June 2015 April – June 2015 April – June 2015 April – June 2015 April – June 2015 April – June 2015 April – June 2015 April – June 2015 April – June 2015 April – June 2015 April – June 2015 April – June 2015 April – June 2015 www.deltalivingmagazine.com www.deltalivingmagazine.com www.deltalivingmagazine.com www.deltalivingmagazine.com www.deltalivingmagazine.com

Taste of Oakley

Saturday, May 30 Oakley City

Council Chamber

Join us to sample delectable food from various Oakley restaurants, followedby Movie in the Plaza featuring

Car ShowSaturday, June 20 10am-2pm Oakley Civic Center Amphitheater Pre-Registration required at City Hall Sponsored by: Les Schwab TiresMovies in the PlazaSaturday, May 30

Saturday, June 13

Saturday, July 25

Saturday, August 1

Saturday, Sep. 26

Saturday, Oct. 10

Movies are shown at Oakley Civic Center Amphitheater and begin after dusk. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets.

Be on the lookout for more events!

www.oakleyinfo.com925-625-7044

Cityhood CelebrationSaturday, July 4 at Freedom High School Soccer Field 6pm Bring your lawn chairs, and blankets to enjoy the fun including, jumpers, food, music, vendors and a firework spectacular at 9:30pm

Summer EventsRatatouille. Pre Sale tickets available at City Hall $10 per person.

Delta living magazine april 2015

Documents

Transcript of Delta living magazine april 2015