Lafayette Today, June 2014

[email protected] Lafayette Today ~ January 2014 - Page 25

June 2014 Serving the Lafayette Community

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Alisa Corstorphine ~ PublisherThe opinions expressed herein belong to the writers, and do not necessarily reflect that of La-fayette Today. Lafayette Today is not responsible for the content of any of the advertising herein, nor does publication imply endorsement.

See Bubble continued on page 10

Ally Rosenberg and her mom Liz, enjoying the perks of her job with the University of Oregon's Athletic Communications Department.

Brett Usinger takes his sister Brittany and mom Laurie on a tour of the Princeton campus.

Lafayette’s Annual ‘Rock The Plaza’ SeriesThe ‘Rock the Plaza’ summer music series will take place Friday nights in

June at Lafayette’s Plaza Park located at the corner of Mt. Diablo Boulevard and Moraga Road. The headliners start at 6:30pm and are free of charge. Arrive a little early for a good spot on the lawn. This year’s line up includes:

• Friday, June 13 ~ THE FLOORSHAKERS • Friday, June 20 ~ THE BIG JANGLE • Friday, June 27 ~ LAMORINDA IDOL FINALISTSThe Floorshakers (www.thefloorshakers.com) are back for a fourth time to offer

up funk, soul, and rock and roll. This 10 member band includes a full horn section. The Big Jangle Band (http://d37539.wix.com/bigjangleband) is a San Francisco

Bay Area band dedicated to playing all things Tom Petty. They capture the Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers concert experience, so not only playing the music

of Tom Petty, but the songs he covers live, such as The Traveling Wilburys, The Byrds, and Stevie Nicks. Comprised of seasoned musicians located in the East Bay including local greats Paul Cotruvo and Kiki Stack, you will be guaranteed a great musical and dancing experience. Lamorinda Idol (http://orindaarts.org/lamorinda-idol), created and sponsored by the Orinda Arts Council, offers a multi-month collection of auditions, performance workshops, community performances, and a final competition. Participants learn to choose music that highlights their talent, present themselves creatively, connect with an audience, take constructive criticism, and win or lose graciously. They also get to meet like-minded young people and feel the support of adult volunteers who believe that performing arts add to the fabric of our community.

Food and beverages will be available at all events or you can pack a picnic. We will provide the music. For information visit www.lafayettechamber.org or call 925-284-7404.

Lafayette Elementary Troop 32851 recently earned their Bronze Award, the highest award a Junior Girl Scout can achieve. The troop of thirteen 5th grade girls hosted an Earth Day event in coordination with the Lafayette Elementary School spring campus cleanup day. The event included multiple display booths and activities that offered students and local scouts a hands-on opportunity to learn about three key conservation values: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. Photo by Belinda Young.

Life Beyond the “Bubble”By Fran Miller

Lafayette is often referred to as “the bubble” – a safe, secure, and comfortable place, sheltered from the real world. For those who have grown up here, venturing beyond can be both scary and exhilarating. As the students from Acalanes’ class of 2014 near completion of their high school years and prepare for futures outside the bubble, emotions run the gamut. But according to the following four 2013 Acalanes grads, there is nothing to fear. Ally Rosenberg, Maggie Chan, Brett Usinger, and Tristan Tarpey claim it’s really not so bad out there in the real world; it’s actually pretty awesome, though Lafayette does retain charms that lure them all back.

Ally Rosenberg, 18, just finished a successful freshman year at the University of Oregon, where she is member of Chi Omega sorority, and just recently scored a coveted internship in the University’s Athletic Communications Department. She has relished her new independence, and the new experiences (both good and bad) that seem to pop up for her daily. “It is exciting to meet new people almost everyday, which is something that doesn’t happen in Lafayette,” says Rosenberg. She admits to feeling that one of Lafayette’s

best characteristics – its tight-knit community where everyone knows each other – can be a double-edged sword, and she has most enjoyed expanding her social circle. “I have met so many amazing new people. I have learned to be more responsible since there isn't someone to constantly look after me, and I have learned how much potential I have and that I should not settle for average, as I did in high school. I know that if I put my mind to something and work hard, I can accomplish it. I have had some of the best times of my life since I've been away at school.”

Maggie Chan, 18, deliberately left the Lafayette comfort zone in an effort to broaden her horizons. A declared marketing/management business major at the University of Alabama, her goal has been met. “Choosing to go to out of state for college has been the best decision I've ever made,” says Chan. “I love experiencing a different culture, atmosphere, and way of life. I've adjusted to extreme humidity, fried or barbecued foods at most meals, and a more conservative environment, and I’ve also learned that leaving California makes me appreciate it so much more.” Chan is an active member of Delta

www.yourmonthlypaper.com - June 2014 ~ Lafayette Today

Lafayette Recreation is Here to Help!The City of Lafayette Recreation Department is excited

about the new recreation registration site and the many benefits it has to offer. However, we understand that with change there can also be growing pains. Starting with summer 2014 registrations, everyone will need to create a new account (even if you have

a current user name and log in). We suggest that you create your account soon to speed up the process when you sign up for your camps and classes.

Go to www.LafayetteRec.org to create your account. You can also always call the recreation staff at (925) 284-2232, Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm, and they will be happy to provide any help needed. We recommend visiting the site on your laptop or desktop as some mobile devices may have trouble due to the required plug-ins. There is an app in the developmental stages, and we do not recommend utilizing it at this time. Thanks everyone for their patience during this time of transition, and we look forward to a summer full of fun at our many camps and classes for all ages.

Search and RescueThe Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team needs vol-

unteer members to respond to missing person incidents, disasters, and other critical incidents. Team members are on call 24/7 year-round. The program provides required training; including wilderness traveling, first aid, map and compass usage, tracking disaster response, and search skills; and may also include special training for canine, equestrian, technical, mountain bike, or other rescue skills. For information and applications, visit www.contracostasar.org or call 646-4461.

Lafayette - According to industry ex-perts, there are over 33 physical prob-lems that will come under scrutiny during a home inspection when your home is for sale. A new report has been prepared which identifies the 11 most common of these problems, and what you should know about them before you list your home for sale.

Whether you own an old home or a brand new one, there are a number of things that can fall short of requirements during a home inspection. If not identified and dealt with, any of these 11 items could cost you dearly in terms of repair. That's why it's critical that you read this report before you list your home. If you wait until the building inspector flags these issues for you, you will almost certainly experience costly delays in the close of your home

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

To help home sellers deal with this issue before their homes are listed, a free report entitled "11 Things You Need to Know to Pass Your Home Inspection" has been compiled which explains the issues involved.

To hear a brief recorded message about how to order your FREE copy of this report, call toll-free 1-866-265-1682 and enter 2003. You can call any time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Get your free special report NOW to learn how to ensure a home inspection doesn't cost you the sale of your home.

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This report is courtesy of J. Rockcliff Realtors #01763819. Not intended to solicit buyers or sellers currently under contract. Copyright © 2013

Local Nonprofit Collects and Recycles Tons of E-Waste for Good

Futures Explored, Inc., a nonprofit corporation that provides life skills and work-related training to adults with developmental disabilities, recently announced that it has collected and recycled 97 tons of e-waste since introducing its Nifty E-Waste Recycling Program in April 2012. Located next to Nifty Thrift Shops in Lafayette, the drop-off center offers the community free and responsible recycling of unwanted electronics.

Nifty E-Waste Recycling is an approved collector in the state of California. The program offers participants of Futures Explored, Inc. valuable learning and employment opportunities. Customers who drop off accepted electronics at Nifty E-Waste locations receive a tax deduction receipt.

Nifty E-Waste Recycling Centers accept televisions, VCRs, DVD players, computers, monitors, printers, keyboards, inkjet/toner cartridges, laptops, video game consoles, internet/music devices, cameras, cell phones, telephone equipment, and more.

Nifty E-Waste Recycling Center is located at 3467 Golden Gate Way in Lafayette. It is open on Mondays from 12PM - 4PM and Tuesday - Saturday from 10AM-4PM.

For more information about Nifty E-Waste, call (925) 294-9086 or e-mail [email protected].

The mission of Futures Explored, Inc. is to provide life skills and work-related training to adults with developmental disabilities. Futures Explored, Inc. supports its consumers in reaching their optimum level of individual potential by delivering a broad range of resources and ongoing guidance.

To learn more about Futures Explored Inc.’s programs and services, including Advocacy, ALIVE, E-Waste, GARDEN, Huckleberry Café-to-Go, Inclusion Film Camp and Practical Film & Media Workshop, Lafayette's Day Program, Nifty Thrift Stores, Supported Employment, and Vocational Training & Employment (VTE), please visit www.futures-explored.org.

Futures Explored, Inc. is a private nonprofit corporation. Its tax exemption status is 501(C)(3). Futures Explored, Inc. is a member of the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce and the California Disability Services Association (CDSA) and is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF).

Summer Day Camp, “Meeting Nature Through Miwok Eyes”

Summer Day Camp class, Meeting Nature Through Miwok Eyes, will be held August 4 - 8 from 8:30 to 11:30AM. This class, to be held at the Lafayette Community Garden and Outdoor Learning Center, will provide an immersion into the abundant world of nature as experienced by the local Native American Tribe, the Miwoks.

Youth and openhearted adults will live as tribal members, adopting Native American names and cultural observances. We will use what nature has provided for tools, meals, clothing, and shelter. The last morning will conclude with a tribal sharing of food and ceremony with guests.

Educator Peggy Magilen will lead this experience assisted by other members of the Community Garden. The camp is geared for children ages 8 to 12 year old. Minimum 6/Maximum 12 participants. The cost is $50 per camper to cover materials.

Sons in Retirement If you are retired or semi-retired and want to make new friends, par-

ticipate in fun activities, and better enjoy your leisure time, we welcome you to join Sons In Retirement (SIR) - Las Trampas Branch 116. The group has a monthly luncheon where guest speakers address the branch members on topics of general interest.

The June speaker will be Mr. Dan Franklin, a survivor of the Normandy Invasion on June 6, 1944 and the recipient of the French Legion of Honor. He was 16 when he joined the Navy in 1942, and on D-Day his landing craft was charged with delivering soldiers and ammo to the bloody Omaha Beach. His presentation will incorporate first-hand experiences of what went on before that day, during the invasion, and the days following the landing.

Lunch begins at 11:30am, June 16th, at the Walnut Creek Elks Lodge, 1475 Creekside Drive. Guests are welcome and may make reservations by calling 925-322-1160 by Wednesday, June 11th. The cost for the luncheon is $15.

Meetings are held on the third Monday of each month, except for May and December. Group activities include book discussions, bridge, comput-ers, fishing, golf, walking, investments, photography, poker, travel, and more fun things. For information about SIR activities for retired men, please visit www.Branch116.org.

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[email protected] Lafayette Today ~ June 2014 - though I fully should have known otherwise.

Movies and videos take us away to new and different places. With tools and technology shows can be created to form an illusion and replica of another place and another time.

Most LA film studios offer a behind-the-scenes tour of their facilities which are less amusement park and more a view of the actual production and support departments that are used. Recently I have toured both the Sony and Paramount Studios and learned a few tidbits.

To take a show on site to a filming location can oftentimes be very costly and complicated. Instead, studio lots can be morphed to become whatever the producer needs. At Paramount Studios a parking lot can be shut off, filled with water, and be filmed to represent an ocean. A sign outside a soundstage indicated both the Soul Train dance series and many scenes from Little House on the Prairie were produced in the same place. My childhood vision of the Little House on the Prarie Ingalls family living in Walnut Grove, Minnesota has been forever tarnished when I found out LA and a Hollywood set were where the family was actually hanging out.

To avoid copyright issues, 15-20% of a product or brand needs to be changed. Whereas our eye might see the familiar Visa, Mastercard, and American Express signs on a window of a business shown in a TV show, movie, or commercial, upon closer inspection they say, “Vista, Mestercard, and American Excess” with also some of the coloring and shapes slightly changed. What you think it is may not be what you saw at all.

Sounds are also often manipulated and recreated. When Rose in the movie Titanic woke up, her frozen hair crackled as she began to move. In order to duplicate the sound, a Foley sound technician tore a lettuce leaf to simulate the actual noise.

In this age where you can easily buy “Likes” and positive reviews, where Photoshop can transform any image and you can cut and paste the face of one person on to the body of another and promote it as truth, it is important to trust what you see, hear, and read, but it is always a good idea to verify the information as well.

Boulevard ViewBy Alisa Corstorphine, Editor

A picture popped up in my Facebook newsfeed the other day. It was titled “Castle House Island in Dublin, Ireland.” It showed a seemingly far away remote island with a castle perched on top. At the time of my seeing it, the photo had received 322,000 “Likes” and 10,300 comments of Facebook with readers oohing and ahhing over how beautiful the place was and commenting that it was now on their bucket list of places to travel to and see.

However, as I read more, some of the comments also questioned the ac-curacy of the photo and indicated the place didn’t exist at all. A little digging and the truth came out. This was a “fantasy island.” The picture was a creation of someone’s masterful Photoshop skills - a combination of places on different sides of the globe. It was just all a grand illusion. I realized I had fallen in the artist’s trap like many others.

The photo has gone viral and has circulated for about two years. How many viewers of it still believe it is real? I often tend to believe without question, and I start to wonder how many times I have fallen for a hoax, a myth, a rumor, an urban legend, or a Hollywood filming trick.

A few months ago I went into an office. Upon looking around the room I saw sports memora-bilia on the wall, a desk, and a window reflecting a sunny day. The setting was serene and profes-sional. My daughter who was with me made a comment about how the window and setting behind it were fake. Upon closer inspection I noticed the framed window was backed by an illuminated picture with a plant in front. It was an amazing illusion. Of course if I had thought about the window it made sense. The office was in the middle of a large building, and upon reflection, when I walked into the building it was a misty twilight evening. The illusion that it was a sunny day had me fooled. I accepted it as reality even

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Assistance League of Diablo Valley Volunteers Read Where’s Your Grandma Today?

Less than two years ago, several motivated and creative members of Assistance League® of Diablo Valley corroboratively penned a book for elementary school children entitled Where’s Your Grandma Today? Written in verse, it relates the students’ response, or lack of response, when their teacher, Ms. Mead, asked them what their grandmothers did all day. This unanswered question determined the theme for the upcoming Grandma Appreciation Day.

After much preparation, a diverse group of grandmothers shared how they made a difference by volunteering in their communities. Nancy’s Nonna prepared hearty and nutritious food, while Jose’s Abuela served as a guide at a historic ranch. Freddy’s Oma biked daily to an animal shelter to care for and help place furry creatures in deserving homes. Bubbe taught math and reading in a children’s hospital ward. Ms. Mead’s students heard similar accounts from Henry’s Nana, Leo’s Babushka, and Freddy’s Oma. While the names for “Grandma” varied, their message focused on the importance of how their grandmas gave back to their communities by volunteering.

Returning to present day community, more information regarding Where’s Your Grandma Today? has surfaced. As it happens, “Grandma” has become quite well-travelled by appearing at public readings to spread the message of volunteering. Assistance League of Diablo Valley volunteers helped celebrate Gardening Stories and Crafts at the Clayton Library and read Where’s Your Grandma Today? at the Lafayette Library to help children observe Celebrate Our Grandparents. When the volunteers asked the question, “What does the word ‘volunteer’ actually mean?” a four-year-old boy chimed, “It means to help other people.”

Everyone, grandmas and grandchildren alike who believe in giving back to their communities, can enjoy Where’s Your Grandma Today? by contacting Assistance League of Diablo Valley, 2711 Buena Vista Avenue, Walnut Creek, CA 94597-2503, [email protected], or (925) 934-0901.

President-Elect Veronica Gant and R.E.A.D. Chairman Gen Camera read to children at local libraries about grandmas who volunteer.

Save the DatesSaturday, July 19th

Local Rotary Clubs (Lafayette, Lamorinda Sunrise, Orinda, Moraga, and Rossmoor) are planning a very special evening concert on the Rotary stage at the Lafayette Reservoir on Saturday, July 19th beginning at 5:30pm. Operation Swingtime is a free outdoor concert featuring the Big Band of Rossmoor and the Swingin’ Blue Stars. Bring a picnic and enjoy a family concert honoring our veterans lakeside. For more information, visit www.rotarylafayette.org. Friday, August 8th

Music picks back up on Friday, August 8th. The Lafayette Summer Music Workshop will be hosting non-stop music being performed from 3:30pm – 9:30pm at Stanley Middle School. The annual jazz camp sponsored by Generations in Jazz, features bands made up of this year’s attendees. For more information about the Summer Jazz Camp, please visit [email protected].

Scottish Country Dancing is BackCome dance every Thursday evening, year-round (with the

single exception of Thanksgiving)! No partner is required and no Scottish ancestry is required. Adult beginner classes for Scottish Country Dancing take place each week with free lessons at 7PM followed by more experienced dancers dancing at 8PM. Once a month Ceilidh dancing will take place as well. Dancing will be held at the Lamorinda Theatre Academy, located at 83 Lafayette Circle in Lafayette. All dance nights are drop-in. Three weeks of free beginner lessons are offered. Afterwards, the cost is $8/night or $6/night if attending a 10-week session paid in advance.

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

[email protected] Lafayette Today ~ June 2014 -

Tech Trek and Scholarship Winners an Inspiration The American Association of University Women (AAUW)-Orinda-Moraga-Lafayette (OML) Branch recently

awarded Tech Trek camp scholarships and four college scholarships. The winners wowed the audience with their passion and drive. These outstanding young women gave exciting presentations regarding their work, their talents, and their dreams for the future. All of the young women showed an outstanding commitment to academics and community service. They enhanced their school community and reached out to their local and global communities.

Six Lamorinda middle school girls will attend the Grace Hopper Tech Trek camp on the Stanford University campus in July. Since 1998, AAUW OML has sent 59 girls to Tech Trek camp. This year, science, math, and technology teachers at local intermediate schools nominated 40 girls for Tech Trek camp. The six winning girls, full of energy and enthusiasm, read their essays explaining their love of science and math.

• Jane Fong, Orinda Intermediate School, is a builder, from Legos to woodworking and origami. She wants to create safe build-ings to save lives. She is also interested in photography and science fiction.

• Dara Kazmierowski, Orinda Intermediate School, loves biol-ogy and is focused on a career in science or medicine. She is also an accomplished athlete playing basketball, soccer, and track.

• Ally Scarpitti, Joaquin Moraga Intermediate School, has been a passionate “techie” since she was five years old. Ally helps family, friends, and even neighbors with technology challenges. She is also a talented dancer who performs key roles in her dance studio shows.

• Sharon Yuan, Joaquin Moraga Intermediate School, is a curious, big thinker who loves many areas of science including computer programming, biology, and medical science. She is also a talented debate champion and plays the violin and piano.

• Claire Gallagher, Stanley Intermediate School, exudes enthusiasm for math and science and hopes to build a robot that can explore the ocean so she can combine being an engineer and an oceanographer. She plays soccer, tennis, and lacrosse and works in several charitable organizations.

• Sofia Elise West, Stanley Intermediate School, is interested in engineering and math, with a possible career in chemical engineering or veterinary medicine. She built a hovercraft for a science fair. She is a dedicated gymnast and plays the cello.

Keynote Presentation: A Career in Science: Determination and Drive Make the Difference! Dr. Marinda Wu provided an inspirational presentation regarding the chal-lenges she faced as she pursued her Ph.D. in inorganic chemistry at a time when few women were entering such fields. She not only overcame the obstacles, but she went on to have a successful career as an industrial chemist, a leadership role in the scientific community as president of the American Chemical Society, and a position as ambassador for science and technology education by founding Science is Fun! and local Science Cafes. She sum-marized her talk with a quote from Confucius: “Wherever you go, go with all your heart.”

Scholarship Awards: In addition to the six Tech Trek award winners, four young college age women were acknowledged for their academic achieve-ments and passion for the sciences with scholarships. They include, Karen Trang ($5,000 award from Gayle Ulkema gift), St. Mary’s College; Linda Phung ($5,000 award from Gayle Ulkema gift), Miramonte High School; Samantha Garcia ($800 from AAUW-OML), Campolindo High School; and Emma Patton ($800 from the AAUW-OML), Miramonte High School.

The Tech Trek Committee: A special thanks to Jan Cushman, Stacia Cragholm, and Lana Reichick for heading up the interviewing process, and to committee members Marie Bonilla, Gail Chesler, Carrol Foxall, Laura Halvorsen, Chris Laszcz-Davis, Jeanne Melaugh, Judy Peak, Marty Schimbor, Therese Tamaro, and Christine Walwyn. Scholarship Committee: Gail Burnett, Lisa Geary, Maryellen Judson, Lynda Leonard, Ksenjia Soster-Olmer, and Brother Brendan Madden.

Thank you to the generous members of AAUW OML for their donations to Tech Trek and Scholarship, and for supporting the Branch’s fundraisers throughout the year! Go to http://oml-ca.aauw.net/ for more information about AAUW-OML.

TechTrek girls with speaker Marinda Wu.

Scholarship winners with speaker Marinda Wu.

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National Night Out 2014 - Can You Help?On Tuesday, August 5th, Lafayette residents are invited to join Moraga and Orinda in this year’s National

Night Out event. The idea is to promote neighborhood camaraderie, crime prevention, and emergency preparedness. The Lafayette Emergency Preparedness and Crime Prevention Commissions are helping to organize neighborhoods for the event.

Our neighborhoods can join the over 37.8 million others gathered across their 16,124 communities in celebration of the 31st annual National Night Out. The numbers are increasing each year, and this is the perfect time for Lafayette to join the event. The warm August weather should provide the perfect setting for an outdoor gathering such as a block party, pool party, or a backyard event. A pot luck, BBQ, dessert, or ice cream social are some of the possibilities.

The Crime Prevention and Emergency Preparedness Commissions can help arrange guest speakers from police, fire, city council, and the Lamorinda Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). Neighbors can learn about what is already in place and what still needs to be done to keep your neighborhoods and community safe.

The commissions are looking for people to organize neighborhood parties. There is plenty of support with materials and flyers to help.

Mark your calendars. Whether you are meeting your neighbors for the first time or gathering again for an annual event, camaraderie is important! For assistance and more information about National Night Out or to get help organizing your neighborhood, please contact Carol Yates, National Night Out Director for Lafayette, at [email protected].


The BookwormBy Joan Stevenson

June 12, 2014, has a big circle around it. School is over for the summer, and you can actually get to the freeway down Moraga Road in less than 30 minutes at 8AM! Two days later the library summer reading program begins with a “BANG”! The staff has planned very

special activities around the theme, “Paws to Read.” Be sure to pad, scamper, or “roll over” to the Lafayette Library & Learning Center, because it’s time to unleash this very special reading festival which will last from June 14-August 23. By the way, this event is for all ages, so Mom and Dad, Grandma and Grandpa can get in on the fun, too. Sniff out incredible stories and events, or simply curl up in a nice sunny spot to enjoy a good book.

Here’s a quick look at what is ahead. The “I’m Seeing Spots” series will kick off the festival with a movie, 101 Dalmatians, on Saturday, June 14 at 2PM in the Arts and Science Discovery Center. It will be a movie special complete with popcorn. On Tuesday, June 17 at 6:30PM, you will want to come to the children’s room to meet the one and only Cheesie Mack and his creator Steve Cotler. Ronald “Cheesie” Mack is not a genius or anything, but he remembers everything that happened before, during, and after fifth-grade graduation. Come and hear his hilarious story, and bring along a new or gently used children’s book to donate to Garfield Elementary school in Oakland. Let's help them get their own school library!

Lazy summer days are upon us and so is the chance to abandon texts, emails, and tweets, put multi-tasking on hold, and get swept up in a great book. You may be absorbed into a whole other world. So, how do you make your selection? Can you judge a book by its cover? If I am simply browsing, I do depend on the book cover. However, some of the best suggestions come from your buddies. In fact, here are two from me. I loved Flight Behavior by Barbara Kinsolver and My Beloved Word by

Soya Sotomayor. Throughout the year, the Friends Sweet Thursday events welcome

authors to our intimate salon setting. There you have the chance to hear what inspires authors and learn how their ideas finally find form on the page. Coincidentally, John Lescroart will be with us on Thursday, June 26th at 7PM in the Community Hall. His 25th novel, The Keeper, features Dismas Hardy and Abe Glitsky on the hunt for clues about a woman who has gone missing.

The Friends Corner Book Shop is another great resource with over 25,000 book titles at bargain basement prices. My granddaughter is a nurse in the Emergency Room at Children’s Hospital in Oakland. I can pick up a handful of kids books for less than $10 to keep the small library in the ER restocked. Fill your beach bag or the backseat of the car with reading material, and never be caught without a book.

Before school begins again, we will be rolling out the red carpet for two more important authors. On Friday, July 18th at 6:30PM in the Community Hall, New York Times Bestselling author, Karen Slaughter, comes to tell us about her new book, Cop Town. The novel is set in Atlanta in 1974 where the city is in upheaval with a serial killer on the loose. The Washington Post calls Slaughter one of the best crime writers in America. This is a free event. No registration is necessary. Early in August we will welcome Pulitzer Prize Winner, Jane Smiley. Watch our website lllcf.org for more details.

The Friends wowed the gathering last month to celebrate their 75th Birthday bash. Would you believe the event was highlighted by a stage play tracing the history of the Lafayette Library from its humble beginnings in 1915 with 60 books and a librarian who was also the postmaster? This production, written by Friends’ President Ruthie Thornburg and narrated by Mary McCosker, featured a cast of wonderful actresses in period piece costumes. The Friends just never stop amazing me!


Nearby Port Chicago Disaster Leads to Nationwide ChangesBy Ruth Bailey, Lafayette Historical Society

The worst American homefront disaster of World War II occurred on July 17, 1944, on Suisun Bay, just north of Concord. Residents of the East Bay, and as far away as San Francisco, were jolted awake by a massive explosion as ammunition, high explosives, and incendiary bombs being loaded into two ships accidentally detonated. Everyone within 1,000 feet of the loading dock perished—the majority of the 323 men killed were African Americans, and another 233 black personnel were injured.

The U.S. Navy ammo depot at Port Chicago shipped munitions to the Pacific battle zones. The July 1944 explosion was estimated to have been equal to the force of a five-kiloton atomic bomb. Along with the 323 deaths, it destroyed five ships, a diesel engine, 16 boxcars and the naval base, and it damaged the town, as well as a dozen other communities as far away as 75 miles. It was one of the worst disasters in maritime history and slowed the flow of supplies to Saipan, which had just been invaded.

According to Doris Kearns Goodwin’s No Ordinary Time, dramatic changes were already taking place in the Navy that summer. Newly installed Navy Secretary James Forrestal was taking unprecedented strides toward racial equality. Realizing that the vast majority of the dirty, dangerous jobs were assigned to black sailors, Forrestal proposed that negroes make up ten percent of the crews of 25 large ships. Goodwin wrote: “The experiment, which Roosevelt readily approved, worked remarkably well….(and) against even higher odds on smaller vessels, black and white crew members managed, with a minimum of fuss, to work, eat and sleep together in extremely close quarters.

Forrestal’s innovation came none too soon, for the bloody tragedy at the ammunition depot at Port Chicago provided unmistakable evidence of the bankruptcy of the Navy’s old segregation policy.” Sociologist Robert Allen observed that “this single stunning disaster accounted for more than 15 percent of all black naval casualties during the war.”

The loss of so many black sailors at once focused public attention on the injustice of racial discrimination in the Navy, motivating Forrestal to press even more strongly for equality of treatment for blacks. In the weeks that followed, he moved in several directions at once: assigning white work units to Port Chicago and other ammo depots; stating that he no longer [would maintain] separate facilities and quotas for negroes who qualified for advanced training; appointing more negroes to the Navy’s V-12 program; insisting on their admittance to the Naval Academy, and issuing a far-reaching “Guide to Command of Negro Naval Personnel.”

In this guide, the Navy stated for the first time that it accepted “no theories of

racial differences in inborn ability, but expects that every man wearing its uniform be trained and used in accord with his maximum individual performance.” The Guide was called an outstanding document in the field of race relations.

In 2009, Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial was established as the 392nd unit of the National Park Service, honoring those who lost their lives or were affected by the July 17, 1944, explosion. As the tragedy and its aftermath illuminated the issues of segregation and racial inequality in the military and today, the Memorial serves as a springboard for exploring social justice in our society.

Please plan to join us on Wednesday, July 2nd, at 2PM at the Lafayette Library’s Community Hall for a presentation on the Port Chicago disaster and the creation of the Memorial. Historian Wayne Korsinen will tell the story of the town of Port Chicago before and after 1944, and Museum Curator Isabel Jenkins Ziegler will discuss the establishment and mission of the Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial. It will be a lively afternoon of learning about a neighboring town that rocked the world 70 summers ago.

Lafayette Pharmacy window after Port Chicago explosion. In his LHS oral history, lifelong Lafayette resident Dave Long remembers: “My folks had gone to a movie, and I was home alone. Those were hot summer nights, and I had a cot to put out in the front yard where I’d sleep when it was so hot. I was lying there in bed looking up at the sky, and all of a sudden it turned bright as daylight…kind of a red glow to it. I remember the hair prickling on my neck, it was so strange. And then, in about 8 or 9 seconds—the biggest noise you ever heard! It took that long for the sound to travel all that way. And then just a huge boom and a clear cracking blast and all through the neighborhood you could hear, ‘What’s that? What’s that?’ People were all excited about it. It knocked out every plate glass window on the south side of the main street of Lafayette. They were just gone! My folks got home real quick, and we didn’t know what happened until the next day.”

A Fine Summer Tradition of Concerts in the Park By Supervisor Candace Andersen, Contra Costa District 2

With the arrival of summer comes one of my favorite activities to enjoy in District 2 - the Summer Concert series that so many of our communities host every year. Each local community has put together a wide range of musical opportunities for your entire family to enjoy, and I thought it would be helpful to list them all in one place.

The concerts are held on various nights of the week, and the music reflects many different genres. The park settings and a picnic dinner are perfect complements to an evening of music outdoors. It’s a great opportunity to showcase your own community or visit a new one!Moraga – Held at Moraga Commons Park, Thursday nights, 6:30pm – 8:30pm. Call 925-888-7035 for information.

June 19th: Mixed Nuts - Rock & rollJune 26th: Zebop! - Latin Rock July 4th: Busta-Groove - Dance Party (7pm concert)July 10th: Aja Vu - Chicago & Steely Dan Tribute July 17th: Mania - Beatles Tribute July 24th: Houserockers - RockJuly 31st: 60's Summer of Love - Beach Boys Tribute & more August 7th: Moonalice - 60's classics August 14th: Chris Gardner Band - Country Western

August 21th: Larry Lynch & the Mob - Rock & RollOrinda – Held at Orinda Community Center Park, most Tuesday nights, 6:30pm – 8:30pm. Call 925-253-4200 for information.

June 17th: Brian Moran Jazz Trio - Classic JazzJune 24th: Extended Roots - BluegrassJuly 1st: Bay Bridge Beat - Funk, Rhythm & BluesJuly 8th: David Correa & CASCADA - Latin/World MusicJuly 15th: Lamorinda Idol Singers - VarietyJuly 22nd: Mike Vax Big Band Jazz Orchestra - Big Band JazzJuly 27th: Opera in the Park with Open Opera 4-6pm - OperaAugust 5th: littledog2 - Pop & Rock August 12th: Marc Levine and TLC - Motown, Standards

Walnut Creek – Held in Stanford’s parking lot, Thursday nights in August, 6:30pm – 8:30pm. Call 925-939-7600 for information.

August 7th: Super DiamondAugust 14th: ForeverlandAugust 21st: Stealin ChicagoAugust 28th: Joel the BandHave a great summer and I hope you have a chance to take advantage

of the free concerts with your family and friends in our great communities. My office is here to serve the residents of Contra Costa County District

2, which includes San Ramon, Danville, Alamo, Walnut Creek, Saranap, Parkmead, Lafayette, Moraga, Canyon, and Orinda. Please don't hesitate to contact us if we can provide you with additional information on this topic or on other County issues. I can be reached at [email protected] or 925-957-8860.


Keep Dad’s Glass Filled this Father’s Day!By Monica Chappell

Father’s Day is right around the corner, and we have hand-picked some great bottles to make your dad feel extra special and keep his glass full this Father’s Day!

1. Big Cab Dad - Is your Dad a Cabernet lover? Look for one of Napa Valley’s best Cabernet

Sauvignon producers, including Silver Oak Cellars, Gargiulo Vineyards, Crocker & Starr, and Spottswoode Estate Vineyard and Winery. A bottle from any of these producers will be sure to put smile on his face.

2. Cellar Collector Dad - For the serious wine collector, the wines that really benefit from age tend to be the big reds from Bordeaux and Burgundy, Spain, Italy, and California. Dad will be proud to pull one of these bottles out of the cellar when the time comes. You can keep tabs on the “drinkability” of your wines through websites such as cellartracker.com, which tells you whether to drink or hold specific bottles.

3. Drink it Now Dad - Want a special wine to drink with Dad to thank him for being him? Louis Roederer Brut and Taittinger “Prestige” Brut Rose Champagne will make for the perfect toast on this special summer evening.

4. Culinary Dad - This Dad is most likely to be found in the kitchen or over a hot grill whipping up a family favorite. Highlight dad’s meal masterpiece with a fabulous Rhone Wine or Old Vine Zin.

Whatever your dad loves, let a well thought out bottle of wine help make Father’s Day special - just like him. Cheers Dad!

Monica Chappell teaches wine appreciation classes. For upcoming classes, visit www.wineappreciation101.blogspot.com.

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Lafayette Community Garden and Outdoor Learning Center

The following classes are held at 3932 Mount Diablo Blvd (across from Lafayette Reservoir). Register for classes or find out more information by visiting www.lafayettecommunitygarden.org. Classes at the Lafayette Community Garden are free. However, a $5 donation to support our education programs is appreciated, and some classes have a materials fee.Munch a Lunch Read Aloud ~ June 16 – 20 ~ 12:15 – 1:30PM

• Recommended for children ages 5 to 11 accompanied by an adultBring a brown bag lunch, and come to munch during a relaxed hour of reading

aloud. During this weeklong reading event celebrating the beginning of summer vacation, Lynn De Jonghe will be reading Rabbit Hill, by Robert Lawson. This Newbury Award winning classic asks what will happen to the animals of a country hillside when new folks move into the abandoned house nearby. Will they be hunters? Gardeners? Will they be willing to share their food? This event for all ages of young at heart will feature homemade cookies and afternoon sun tea.Small Enchanted Worlds: Dragon, Gnome and Fairy Gardens ~ June 21 ~ 2 – 5PM

• Adults & Children Ages 12 & up (ages 9 – 11 accompanied by an adult), *$10 material fee*

Artist Suja Pritchard guides you in making an “enchanted world” container garden for visiting dragons, gnomes, and fairies, with a house, path and fence! A natural gourd, which we supply, forms the base for your house. You bring a container about 15"x 15", such as a pot, wooden box, plastic tub with holes drilled in bottom or planter, and decorating materials, such as twigs, leaves, moss, lichen, fabric, dried flowers, buttons, bones, shells, stones, and bark to complete your garden. We provide a dried gourd for house, door and window patterns, tools, sandpaper, glue, outdoor sealer, soil, 2-3 small plants, and instruction.It’s A Bug’s World! ~ June 28 ~ 12 – 1PM

• For Young Children & FamiliesJoin the Lafayette Library and Community Garden when we explore

the world of bugs and their homes and foods in the garden. The children’s librarians will read a few buggy stories, and then we’ll dig in dirt, collect insects, inspect them, and release friendly ladybugs to help keep those pesky aphids under control.

Interested in Government?Seeking Volunteers for County Advisory Boards

Supervisor Candace Anderson is looking for interested, motivated resi-dents to serve on a few Contra Costa County citizen advisory boards. These voluntary boards usually meet monthly and advise the Board of Supervi-sors on a variety of issues. They play a vital role in county government, and provide important input.

District 2 includes Alamo, Canyon, Danville, Lafayette, Moraga, Orinda, Parkmead, Rossmoor, San Ramon, Saranap, and Walnut Creek (West of N. Main Street). Applications are currently being accepted from residents of District 2 for seats on the following boards:

• Alcohol and Other Drugs Advisory Board: Applicants shall have a professional interest in, or personal commitment to, alleviating problems related to drug abuse and inappropriate alcohol use in their community.

• Aviation Advisory Committee: Advise the Board of Supervisors on aviation issues as they relate to the airports in Contra Costa County.

• In Home Support Services Public Authority Advisory Committee: Make recommendations to the BOS regarding the IHSS program.

• Mental Health Commission: Reviews and evaluates the community’s mental health needs, services, facilities. Consumer Seat available.

For more information about each board, go to http://contra.napanet.net/maddybook. For an application, go to www.co.contra-costa.ca.us/Document-Center/View/6433. For additional assistance, you may contact, Jill Ray at (925) 957-8860 or [email protected].

Weekly Dance SocialDance for joy at the weekly Social, or just come to chat; all are welcome.

Twirl, chat, and tap your feet to the beat. The Social is for all-level and all-style dancers, music lovers, and observers. The Social is held Wednesdays from 12:30 to 2:50PM at the Lafayette Community Center located at 500 St. Mary’s Road. The longtime event, with continuous, professionally recorded music, is held in the big, bright Live Oak Room. The Social specializes in ballroom, but any style dance adds to the charm.

For more information, visit sites.google.com/site/lafayetteteadance. Fees for the event are $2 for members of the Senior Center and $4 for non-members.


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Cinema ClassicsJean De Florette and Manon des SourcesBy Peggy Horn

This month’s Cinema Classics comprises two films, Jean de Florette, starring Yves Montand, Gerard Depardieu and Daniel Auteuil from 1986 and Manon des Sources, starring Yves Montand, Daniel Auteuil, and Emmanuel Beart (released November, 1987). If you have never seen these wonderful movies, you have a treat in store, and if you have seen them, it may

be time for a re-viewing – as it was for me. I watched them both in a single afternoon, whereas during the initial release viewers had to wait a long time to see the very exciting conclusion. Although both films were filmed together from May to December 1985, they were released separately.

The first film introduces Cesar Soubeyran (Yves Montand) and his only surviving relative, his nephew, Ugolin (Daniel Auteuil). Ugolin wants to raise carnations, and since these flowers require ‘beaucoup de water,’ the pair endeavor to purchase a neighboring farm which has excellent soil and, most importantly, a spring to supply the essential water required for the very thirsty carnations. Cesar and Ugolin surreptitiously stop up the spring and cover it with a cement plug to hide it from the new property owner, Jean Cadoret (Gerard Depardieu), to hopefully discourage him from farming the land himself. Jean Cadoret inherited the land from his mother, Florette, a local who moved away years earlier and married a man from another village. Normally, local custom would dictate that Jean Cadoret be referred to as, “Jean de Florette, describing his affiliation with a local (Jean of Florette). But the plans to eventually purchase this land require that the locals remain ignorant of the Florette connection, because if the locals realize Jean Cordoret is a local’s son, they would help him. Consequently, Cesar and Ugolin take pains to mislead the community about this connection and consistently refer to him as a city dweller, a tax collector in his previous life, with new fangled ideas about modern farming, and, predictably, the local townspeople treat him as a stranger and leave him alone. In fact, the treatment given Jean de Florette was symbolic of the growing popularity of anti-immigration policies fostered by some prominent politicians at the time of filming.

Although Jean’s farming gets off to a good start, his lack of experience, the lack of water, and ostracism by the locals quickly overwhelm him and his wife, Amelie (played by Gerard Depardieu’s real-life wife, Elisabeth Depardieu) and his daughter, Manon. The movie ends with the prophetic, “End of Part One.”

In the sequel, Manon des Sources, Jean’s daughter, Manon, is now a young woman played by Emmanuel Beart. She knows that Cesar and Ugolin sabotaged her father’s efforts to farm his land, but she learns that the locals also played a role in her father’s demise. Manon has been living with an elderly couple who taught her to live off the land by herding goats and hunting birds. When she accidentally discovers the underground source of the town’s water supply, she is able to stop it up, thereby depriving the townspeople of water. The deprivation of water brings the town to its knees, so to speak, and it results in a confrontation between Manon, Cesar, Ugolin and the townspeople, and Cesar and Ugolin come to bitterly regret their actions toward her and her father.

At the time these movies were made, they were among the most expensive French films ever made. The President of France elected in 1981, Francois Mitterand and his Minister of Culture, Jack Lang, promoted ‘heritage films’ such as these two that celebrate the history, culture, and landscape of France. Both films are beautifully made with spectacular scenery and superb filming and are definitely worth seeing. The gorgeous music is based on an aria, “Invano Alvaro,” by Giuseppe Verdi’s opera from 1862, La Forza Del Destino.

Musical Notes – A jazz piece by Alex Bugnon entitled, 107 in the Shade, really feels like Provence where both movies were filmed and makes for great summertime music.

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will be a member of the West Point cross country and track teams. “What I’ve enjoyed most about being away is the independence I’ve gained. Being away at college is obviously a very freeing and eye-opening experience. Though, I have missed my mother's spaghetti.”

Tarpey is not alone in missing certain aspects of home. Despite the allure of newfound college freedom, summer still means time for family, pets, longtime childhood friends, Casa Gourmet burritos, and walks and runs on regional trails. “Being away has made me realize how much my family means to me, how important they are, and how much they do,” says Rosenberg. “Being sick without your mom around has to be one of the worst things ever!”

“I definitely miss my family and my dogs when I’m at school,” says Usinger. “I can't wait to come home for the summer and see them, especially because I only got to come back to Lafayette once this year due to my swim schedule. ”

“What I look forward to the most coming back to California is the non-humid weather, activities, and my friends and family!” says Chan. “I love to hike around Lamorinda, and I don’t get a chance to hike in Alabama, so that’s one of the things I miss a lot. I also miss my dog more than anything when I’m away.”

“What I miss when I’m away, and look forward to when I’m coming home, is mainly the people,” says Tarpey. “Not just high school friends, but a lot of different members of the community such as high school coaches, and former teachers. The thing I liked most about growing up in Lafayette is that it is a town catered for that exact purpose: growing up. As a nice suburb with really good schools and a lot of extracurricular opportunities, there aren’t many places better than Lafayette.”

- June 2014 ~ Lafayette Today

Energy MattersA Stable InvestmentBy Mark Becker, GoSimpleSolar

Since 1950, virtually all of the stock market’s annual-ized gains were concentrated in the November through April time period. This spring season’s trepidations and volatility are no different than years past.

A current solar customer of ours is planning on a withdrawal of monies from his 401K to pay for a solar PV system. He’s going to pay early withdrawal penalties for a cash transfer. Seeking information, (and fodder for

this article and marketing) I asked him why he thought this was a wise choice. His response, “When was the last time electric rates went down?” followed by “When and how hard did the market fall last time and the last time the sun didn’t come up? I’d rather remove the market risk and invest in solar.”

There is typically no need to “sell the numbers” to finance professionals. They clearly understand the very low risk associated with an investment in solar PV. Their main concern is mitigation of risk via selection of the finest products and installation team. Only then will a solar PV system return the lowest long-term cost of energy. Returns will average over 12% per annum This investment will pay for itself 10 times over and equate to hundreds of thousands of dollars of zero return monies not paid to PGE. It’s also safe to say that there’s no volatility present in his investment, using history as a guide; PGE rates aren’t likely to crash. Solar has simply become another means by which the savvy investor can diversify his or her investments.

The psychoanalyst: Using an “auto-pay” payment method for your utility bills is akin to an ostrich keeping his or her head in the sand. Ignoring utility bills won’t make them go away or you any more rich.

Cringe-worthy moment: I recently received a solicitation that provides solar contractors incremental awards for contracting leased or power purchase solar systems to homeowners through their finance company. “Close 40 deals, get a television, a computer, AND $5,000 in travel rewards.” It certainly sounds to me like the finance companies are doing quite well by providing consumers with “zero down” solar systems if they can incentivize the sales with such gifts. It’s not snake oil--power purchase agreements can save homeowners money, but the real

savings lay in ownership of a solar PV system. If you’re considering solar, do your pocketbook and financial future a favor. There are plenty of finance options that lead to OWNERSHIP of a solar PV system. You’ll keep all the savings yourself.

Disclaimer: Even though we can offer a power purchase option to our pro-spective customers, we’ve have had very little success “selling” them. When local consumers are educated about where the majority of the savings go (to the finance company), they’ll lose interest and find a loan or pay cash to maximize their returns by purchasing the solar system. Don’t get me wrong, I’d certainly love a new “television, computer and travel rewards,” but I’d rather provide financial return to customers than to leasing companies. We come across very few customers who have no tax liability; therefore most can take advantage of the 30% Federal Tax Credit for renewable energy, accelerating the payback of the solar PV system.

Recently, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) unsealed indictments against five members of the People’s Liberation Army of China, accusing them of exfil-trating data from five U.S. corporations, including SolarWorld USA. SolarWorld just happened to be at the forefront of the International Trade Commission and DOJ trade case that charged the Chinese solar industry with illegal dumping and illegal subsidies. This was a case that the Chinese lost miserably and resulted in tariffs on all Chinese panels. The bankruptcy of the then largest manufacturer of solar panels, Suntech, also resulted. Now the Chinese have been accused of spying on a US solar company, amongst other companies. They’re not our allies, not in trade or otherwise.

By purchasing USA made solar panels from SolarWorld or Sharp, you’ll not only support USA solar manufacturing jobs (Hillsboro, Oregon and Memphis, Ten-nessee respectively), but you’ll also get better long term value from these products which have decades of field proven performance.

Consumer alert: The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a recall on the Nest Protect Smoke + CO Alarm. The hazard is that “activity near the product during a fire can prevent the alarm from immediately sounding when the Nest Wave feature is enabled.” For more information go to www.nest.com and click on Nest Protect Safety Notice.

Mark Becker is the President of GoSimpleSolar, by Semper Fidelis Construction Inc, a Danville based Solar Installation Firm (License 948715). GoSimpleSolar (www.GoSimpleSolar.com) can be reached at 925-331-8011, or [email protected]. Visit GoSimpleSolar’s solar and roofing showroom at 100 Railroad Avenue, Suite B, Danville, (behind Pete’s Brass Rail Restaurant) Advertorial

Maggie Chan (front) and her Delta Zeta sorority sisters cheer-on the Crimson Tide.

Tristan Tarpey completes a Texas A&M triathlon warm-up.

Zeta sorority and spends free time participating in philanthropic functions and attending Crimson Tide sporting events with the rest of Tuscaloosa. “The whole county gets so pumped up and crazy for sports; it's an awesome experience.”

Brett Usinger, 19, attends Princeton University where he was recruited for swimming. (His friends claim that his bright mind would have secured him a spot regardless.) He says he likes the diversity and varied backgrounds of those in his campus community – an aspect lacking in the Lafayette school system. And he has gained a level of autonomy that he never had; he enjoys his new independence. “Making my own decisions regarding classes, food, extracurriculars, etc. is a very satisfying experience,” says Usinger. He acknowledges that his transition to college was made easier by his swim teammates, with whom he spends more than 20 hours per week. “It’s difficult to balance everything going on in college (academics, swimming, social life), but having a solid group of close friends really helps me keep my sanity.” Usinger plans on majoring in the Woodrow Wilson School of Public Policy, with a minor in Spanish Language and Culture.

Tristan Tarpey, 19, made a semi-unscheduled detour this past fall to Texas A&M where he nursed a torn ACL. His injury occurred just prior to the start of his first year at the United States Military Academy at West Point. All healed now, he looks forward to yet another fresh start in New York in the fall. “My year at Texas A&M was pretty amazing,” says Tarpey, who was a member of the triathlon team. “I definitely solidified a lot of my opinions and got to know a lot about myself. I am basically just looking forward to a whole new environment at West Point and a whole new adventure, which is pretty exciting.” Tarpey

Bubble continued from front page

[email protected] the ReservoirBy Jim Scala

Concert at the Res. Nature was on our side when May 11th dawned bright, clear, and crisp for the 20th Res concert. Concerts at the Res began about 22 years ago with Dick Holt’s dream to hold free open-air concerts by local school bands. He and his fellow Rotarians built the stage themselves and have sweat-equity in its structure. Money from the many tickets and donations support music programs in local schools and deserving scholarships. Thanks go to Ed Stokes of Diablo Foods who donated the food. Where would we be without men like Dick and Ed?

Our concert began with the Acalanes Jazz band and finished with the Bentley School jazz ensemble. When the combined middle-school band played Sousa’s Washington Post March, some of us were transported to another time when we often passed in review to that piece. Appropriately, it was followed by Town Hall Theater’s vocal group’s excellent choral presentation.

Several people remarked that the music seemed so clear that every note could be heard. Every note was easily heard from the Visitor’s Center to far past the group picnic area on the trail. I learned that the clarity comes from being outdoors where sound doesn’t bounce off anything.

Put the next concert, entitled Music under the Stars, on your calendar for July 19th. Plan to bring a blanket and picnic supper because the music begins at 5:30PM. What’s especially nice is that the concert can be heard from a wide area, so there’s abundant room to spread out and picnic.

Creativity at the Res. Jan, in response to my suggestion that folks walk together, said, “I like to be alone. That’s when I get my most creative ideas,” she added, “and I take notes on my iPad.” Knowing about this accomplished lady’s record, I asked myself if she could be right. Does science back her up?

My literature search started at Stanford University where, in the early 1980s, social scientists, using standard creativity tests, found that while walking, people scored higher on the tests. That pioneering research has been expanded, and there’s no doubt that walking helps creative juices flow and produce new ideas. Physiologists tell me that walking’s got to do with how the leg muscles flex to increase blood flow and bring nourishing oxygen to our brain. So, there’s solid biology behind the findings.

Socializing while walking. I had decided I’d better study the notion of walking together. I learned that walking with others creates comfortable social experiences. Researchers found that social interactions, such as walking and even talking with someone people only knew slightly, created a more satisfying experience. They even used Starbucks clerks in the studies and observed that good interactions made everyone feel better about themselves, and the experience brightened the day.

All of this research proves that walking the Res has many rewards. It’s great for creativity and excellent for socializing. And the 250 calories burned walking the paved trail produces an ideal exercise session – research has proven that many times over.

Put skin in the game. I’ve been told and I can see that people who regularly walk the reservoir seem have a more glowing complexion. It was very apparent to me when walking with Doris and Andrea, so once again I turned to the scientific literature. It all came together at a recent American Medical Association scientific conference on sports medicine when dermatologists discussed regular exercise on skin health. First, note that the skin is the body’s largest organ and is a very complex structure, even if we say, it’s only skin deep.

The observations about complexion were right on. While the research took many years to complete, the conference’s bottom line was clear. Give yourself the equivalent of walking the paved trail regularly, and you’ll not only improve your general health, but benefits will include your skin’s health and show up in your complexion. The scientists proved that it works at any age, so you’re never too old to start – no excuses.

Tee shirts tell stories. One tee shirt I have seen that every father can relate to says, “You can’t scare me, I have two daughters.” On Memorial Day, one tee shirt’s message brought to mind my Medal of Honor winning cousin. The shirt read, “Heroes don’t wear capes, they wear dog tags.” Say thanks to a vet and our service people; they’re all heroes.

Do your part. Over one million people walk the Res annually. Help nature by picking up scraps, and use the free doggy pick-up bags. Let me hear from you at [email protected].

Lafayette Today ~ June 2014 -

If you find him and your name is drawn!$50 REWARD

Lost Dog!

Send a letter telling us where you found him, along with your name and address to:

Lost Dog! Lafayette Today, 3000F Danville Blvd #117, Alamo, CA 94507

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

Emersyn White is our winner!Luther was hiding on page 4 last month.

Lafayette Luther is MissingHe has become lost in this paper.

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Spring/Summer Market Update!By Art Lehman

As I began writing this article I decided to check the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) to see the latest home sales activity. Wow, in Lafayette 15 homes went into contract over the past four days, and currently 44 homes overall are pending. The inventory is 60 homes on the market, and 25 of those homes have only been on the market for 15 days or less.

All I can say is that this is a large change from when I wrote my April article, and we had 45 homes active. I guess spring brought out the sellers and the buyers too! Let me share one cautious observation, however. Overall what has changed is that there are fewer multiple offers or just a few offers on a single home. We are also not generally seeing buyers throwing caution to the wind and making offers way over the listing price. Buyers are clearly making offers just a bit over asking price, but there has been a bit of a pull back.

It makes sense. Buyers need to adjust to incremental price increases. That was not the case in the past 90 days when the market went back to old high price levels and beyond. Price increases have clearly caused buyers to become a little more cautious.

If I had to make a prediction, I would say that we will either see more inventory as the “late-to-market” spring bloomers put their homes for sale and prices will level, or people will postpone their home sale for summertime fun, and the inventory count will go down some and the buyers will be still competing for homes. It is an interesting game to watch.

For residents who are considering selling their home or would simply like more in-depth information, I can provide a customized home value report and a strategy for how to make your home worth more. The detailed information I provide helps homeowners better understand the value of the investment they have made in their home by detailing key factors such as a home’s value based on current market conditions and amenities, recent home sales in Lafayette, and listing prices of other homes that home buyers may be considering in the neighborhood. You can call me at 925 200-2591 or email me at [email protected]. If you’d like a free automatic email update of current listings and sales, visit my website to sign up at www. artlehman.com or call! Advertorial

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Repeat After Me...By Evan Corstorphine, Portable CIO

Repeat after me... “Just because I don’t know com-puters, doesn’t mean I am stupid!” This may seem like an odd way to start an article, but it reflects part of the psychological counseling we administer to some of our clients on a daily basis. It’s so disconcerting to hear people I respect talking about themselves so negatively.

For many reasons, there is a belief in our society that unless you know everything about computers like

the back side of your hand, you’re somehow inadequate, dumb, or behind the times. It isn’t logical, but here we are. We encounter this attitude every day we come to work. It comes in various flavors, but at the end of the day the story is the same: “I should have known.” Guess what? No, you shouldn’t, unless you’re a trained professional. And even then sometimes you're going to get tricked. I admit that I too have fallen for “phishing” emails, for a moment at least.

We’re at a very interesting time in societal development. On one hand we have an amazing array of technology and international interconnection, and access to information like never before. When you and I ponder that, we think about kids doing reports at the kitchen table using the internet instead of the Encyclopedia Britannica. On the other hand, we have, through the internet, opened our doors to people who think differently than us. Maybe they’re earning $2/day in a call-center somewhere. Maybe they work in an internet sweat-shop, calling US phone numbers in hopes of tricking them into letting them on your computer. Never before, in the history of mankind, has a wealthy population been bridged and opened to unwealthy, potentially hostile populations in such a massive and complete way. It’s very much like a train being built between the barrios and the wealthiest neighborhoods of the world, and neither community yet fully understands the implications. It comes down to a struggle between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have-nots,’ and unfortunately some of the ‘have-nots’ come from a predatory orientation. They see the internet and the information now available as opportunities to get what they want, however and through whomever they can reach. And, being a “rich American,” you are the target.

I don’t consider myself cynical, and I think this way because we get calls on a daily basis from people who have been victimized. What I’m trying to convey is that there are a lot of people out there trying to rip you off, and they are not working from the same moral code that you and I grew up with. They’ll straight-up lie to you on the telephone, and they are well-trained in how to trick you into doing what they want. They want your money, and in some cases they want your identity, too.

Now, let’s get back to this misconception of you “being dumb.” These people who call you up are well-trained. They’re pros. They have a well-oiled approach and know how to build the false credibility that causes you to let down your guard. They also know how to apply an aura of urgency to the conversation, in order to stampede you toward an action they want you to take before you have had time to think it through. They know just what to say, and they know exactly what emotional ‘buttons’ to push to motivate you. They will have an

answer for every one of your concerns or objections. Remember, if someone is trying to spin you up and “help” you solve a problem you didn’t know existed, call someone you know, like us, first. We will tell you if you have something to be concerned about. In addition, “Windows” (Microsoft) or any of the other “brand name” electronic companies will never, ever call you to tell you there are viruses on your computer. They have no way of knowing.

There is no police force to track these internet predators, stop them, or prevent them from doing this. If you want to pull the same scam on them, you can dial up someone in their country and do the same thing. There’s a saying in the world of conning people that states it’s not stealing if you give your money willingly to the con. That’s what makes it hurt so much worse, because you can’t even say they stole from you, because you gave them the credit card number, because they tricked you.

If you’ve never encountered this caliber of swindler before, how are you “dumb” if they simply managed to trick you? Unless you’re a professional or have encountered this before, you’re just not going to know. And if you are in the 50-80 age group, you’re especially vulnerable because we have a hard time believing people can be this evil, this dishonest to your face. But they are, and this is the “new world order,” internet-style.

The best thing you can do if you sense you are being scammed, is to slow things down. If someone really wants to help you, they won’t mind if you check on them or call a friend to help out. When you take that breather, call, or email your friends at Portable CIO, and we’ll help you set the record straight. We can be reached through our Help Desk at 925-552-7953 or by emailing [email protected]. Advertorial

Mt. Diablo Branch California Writers ClubNovelist and poet Mary Mackey will present “How to Travel Like a

Writer” at the next luncheon meeting of the Mt. Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) on Saturday, June 14 at Zio Fraedo’s Restaurant, 611 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill.

Ms. Mackey will discuss how to travel like a writer, using travel for all writing genres, incorporating unique experiences, and personal photos.

She is the best-selling author of thirteen novels which have been trans-lated into fourteen languages. Ms. Mackey has traveled extensively and uses exotic backgrounds for her books. She is also a poet whose work has been featured in Garrison Keillor’s The Writers Almanac several times.

There will be sign-in and writers tables from 11:15AM to noon, a buffet luncheon from noon to 12:45PM, and the business meeting/program from 12:45 to 2PM. The cost is $20 for CWC members, $25 for guests.

Reservations are required and must be received no later than noon on Wednesday, June 11. Contact Robin Gigoux at [email protected] or phone (925) 933-9670. Expect confirmation only if you e-mail your reservation.

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


Conserve Water with Smart Irrigation Schedules

It’s time again to think about water conservation in Lafayette, and the best place to start is in the yard. Believe it or not, lawn watering uses more than half of all the water used by most California households, and the average irrigated home lawn consumes more than 10,000 gallons of water each summer. The good news is that by spending just a few minutes to tune up your irrigation schedule, you can typically reduce water use by 10% or more and start saving money immediately!

The goal is to water to the depth of plant roots—about 6” for lawns, 9” for ground covers, 12” for shrubs, and 18-24” for trees. For clay soil, a ½” of water will moisten the soil about 6” deep. This is perfect for lawns, but it’s only half of what’s needed to reach the root depth of most shrubs. A typical spray head sprinkler will apply ½” of water in about 15-20 minutes. Rotor sprinklers apply water at a lower rate and require more minutes per start. You can check the output of your sprinklers by placing one or more catch cans and timing how long it takes to reach ½”.

Knowing the basics helps the following irrigation tips make sense.

Set-up Different Programs for Different Watering Needs – Because shrubs need to be watered about twice as long and 1/3 as often as lawns, it’s best to create two different programs on your irrigation controller. With a typical spray head, your lawn needs a total of just 45-60 minutes of water per week during the summer (three watering days), and shrubs need about 24-30 minutes per week during the summer (one watering day). See example below.

Use the “Five-Minute” Rule – Set spray head sprinklers to run for 5 minutes per cycle to avoid run-off and water waste. The mostly clay soils in Lafayette can only absorb about 4-6 minutes of irrigation water at a time. After that, the soils become saturated and water will begin to run-off and be wasted. After applying water for 5 minutes, wait one hour and then re-apply water for 5 more minutes, and so on.

Water between 6PM – 10AM – Watering early in the morning or late in the evening gives water time to soak in before being exposed to the mid-day heat and wind, which cause evaporation.

Turn Irrigation Off When it Rains – Don’t water if it has just rained or if rain is expected. Turn your controller off temporarily, and then turn it back on when it’s needed. Or if that’s too much of a pain, consider a new automatic self-adjusting controller.

Inspect Your System – Inspect all sprinkler valves and drip irrigation heads that may have cracked during the winter. Make sure there are no leaks and no overspray, and trim plants when necessary to prevent interference.

Adjust When Fall Arrives – Change your watering schedule when summer is over. Plants need half as much water in spring and fall as in mid-summer. Reduce the number of watering days.

Design Smart Landscaping – For future landscaping, consider reducing grass areas, choosing native and drought-tolerant plants and grasses that don’t require much water, and using drip irrigation and rotator sprinkler heads which are more expensive but use 65% less water than conventional spray heads.

Example:Program A – For each LAWN station, set three watering days (Mon, Wed, Friday), and program 5 minutes of watering time at 5AM, 6AM, and 7AM—for

a total of 15 minutes.Program B – For each SHRUB station, set one watering day (Thursday), and program 8 minutes of watering time at 7PM, 8PM, and 9PM – for a total of

24 minutesFor more detailed information and examples, please consult the EBMUD Watering Guide at the

following URL: http://www.ebmud.com/sites/default/files/pdfs/WateringGuide_0.pdf.


The Art of Screening By Blaine Brende & Joe Lamb

Trees and shrubs provide many valu-able services in the urban ecosystem. One of the most important, from the perspective of homeowners, is screening for privacy and to hide undesired objects.

Well-placed foliage can keep out prying eyes and enhance personal safety, and a view of beautiful leaves and branches gives more pleasure than the view of a neighbor’s garage. Over the long run, preserving a living screen requires planning and judicious pruning.

Plants grow toward the sun; they maximize foliage where there is most light. As trees mature, the density of the canopy can act as an umbrella and shade out the interior lower branches, which causes them to die. To see a clear example of this, look at a mature oak in the forest. The majority of foliage is in the outer shell; the interior is bare. This natural phenomenon works well for plants in the wild, but it may not succeed well for your screening needs. Luckily, there are ways to avoid this loss of valuable screening.

All strategies for maintaining screen involve keeping sunlight flowing to interior branches. Sufficient light on the leaves reduces dieback. It is best to act before the screen is compromised (an ounce of pruning is better than a ton of replanting). In plants with latent buds, English laurels for example, trunks can re-sprout even after interior branches have withered. However, many species lack latent buds and are incapable of re-sprouting, and for those species preventative medicine is the only medicine. Even for species with latent buds, keeping branches healthy is much easier, and more effective, than reinvigorating them.

• Eliminate light competition from surrounding plants. Evaluate the plants growing near your screen plants to see if they are casting a shadow on branches critical to screening. Plants shading out important screen plants can be removed, or they can be thinned and shaped to increase illumination of screening branches.

• Thin the screen plants themselves. This may seem counterintuitive, but the exterior of the screen plant may be shading its interior. It is not uncom-mon to see 40-foot pittosporums that look like balloons, with the only green occurring in the canopy. To revitalize, it is generally best to remove all dead wood, thin the top heavily, and even thin the screen area. The goal is to maintain layers of green from the edge of the canopy through the interior. A thick, multi-layered screen is less prone to failure. If it is not acceptable to lose any bottom screen, even temporarily, a good compromise is to thin those portions above the screen area. Thinning only one portion of the tree is an aesthetic challenge, but it can be done.

• Shape the tops of screen plants. It is sometimes possible to shape back the tops of screen plants to allow more light to reach the lower branches. Our philosophy of pruning requires that the overall beauty of the plants be considered in all pruning cuts. Because health and beauty are often synony-mous, we have found that bringing light into the interior usually enhances tree aesthetics.

What do you do if you have already lost the screen? It is difficult to get branches to grow back once they have died, but radically thinning or lowering the plant may induce growth in lower foliage. Unfortunately, this is hard to achieve without sacrificing the aesthetics of your trees and shrubs. Sometimes it is possible to fill the gap with shade-loving plants. Other times the only solution might be to remove the plant and start over. Each case is different.

If you need help, do not hesitate to give us a call, for advice or to do the work. At Brende and Lamb, we have 20 years of experience balancing the aesthetics of your trees and shrubs and maintaining your screening needs. If your trees need a little TLC, please call 510-486-TREE (8733) or email us at [email protected] for a free estimate. Additionally, go to our website www.brendelamb.com to see before and after pictures, client testimonials, and work in your neighborhood. Advertorial

Sacramento SitesBy Linda Summers Pirkle

Soaring summer temperatures may not bring Sacramento to your mind as a destination in June, July and August, but a few ideas may inspire you.

The Historic Governor’s Mansion is a unique step back in time, from the Victorian age to the mid-sixties when the Reagans were the last family to live in the Mansion. It was built in 1877, and the State of California purchased the house for California’s first

families in 1903 for $32,000.Our group spent an hour and forty-five minutes with two very knowl-

edgeable guides. We learned about the different families who have lived in the Mansion and saw hand-tied Persian carpets, marble fireplaces from Italy, gold framed mirrors from France, and exquisitely handcrafted hinges and doorknobs. For me, the most interesting part of the tour was seeing the framed photos of the Governors’ wives and families who lived in this his-torical home. New outdoor lighting was recently installed, and if you are in the area, take the time to check out the Mansion at night. The effect is like a “soft wash on the exterior,” said Joe Wolfenden, Lead Guide at the Mansion.

The Capitol building is just a few minutes drive from the Governor’s Mansion. Don’t miss the original 1860’s tiles from England on the second floor west landing of the stairs and the famous 120 foot Rotunda. Be sure and ask how they change the Rotunda light bulbs.

The summer months bring a reprieve from the hundreds and hundreds of school kids and their field trips; summer can be a quiet time for adults and families to explore these important and historical locations, even with the soaring temperatures in Sacramento!

June thru August, the Musical Circus at the Wells Fargo Pavilion in Sacramento features renowned new productions of classic musicals. The Summer Music Circus 2014 season features A Chorus Line from June 24-June 29, Mary Poppins from July 8-July 13, South Pacific from July 22 to July 27, Brigadoon from August 5 to August 10, and La Cage Aux Folles from August 19 to August 24. The theater is the largest continuously oper-ated musical theater-in-the-round, making it a landmark in the professional theater community. Their website is www.sacramentomusiccircus.com and their phone number is (916) 557-1999.

* Governor Jerry Brown recently celebrated his birthday at one of his favorite restaurants in Sacramento: Lucca Restaurant and Bar. Ask to sit in the garden area which is beautiful. Their risotto is superb.

* The Governor’s Mansion is located at 1526 H. Street, Sacramento. Their phone number is (916) 323-3047, and hours are 10AM-5PM. Fees are $5/ adults,$3/children.

*Capitol tours are available daily and are free. Weekday hours are 8AM-5PM and 9AM-5PM on weekends. The address is 10th Street, Sacramento. Their phone number is (916) 324-0333. .

* Lucca Restaurant and Bar is located at 1615 J Street, Sacramento. Their phone number is (916) 669-5300. Call for hours.

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

Meals on WheelsSeniors in our community need your support! Meals on Wheels and Senior

Outreach Services have been supporting seniors in YOUR neighborhood since 1968. Two of the programs, Meals on Wheels and Friendly Visitors, rely on the support of volunteers, and we need your help now more than ever.

Meals on Wheels volunteer drivers deliver meals to local homebound seniors through regular two hour shifts once per week or as substitute drivers. Friendly Visitors volunteers provide weekly one-hour compan-ionship visits to isolated seniors. To volunteer for either program, please call (925)937-8311. www.yourmonthlypaper.com


Life in the Lafayette Garden Personal PathBy John Montgomery, ASLA, Landscape Architect

To view a beautiful garden from a distance is to bring joy to the eyes, but to walk through and experience a beautiful garden touches all the human senses. The pathway is an essential structure to any successful landscape design. A pathway brings you into the garden and brings the garden to you.

The goal of any garden path is to allow egress in and out of your landscape. It can lead you to that hidden secret sitting area where you

love to sit in the warm sun and read a good book or enjoy quiet meditation away from the fray of life, or it can provide functional access to high-use areas in your yard such as swimming pools, patios and decks, and sports amenities.

Depending on the purpose, the path can either be formal or informal. A formal path is gener-ally more structured, permanent, and more direct. For instance, the path to your front door, pool, or patio should be more formal. Design it with the idea of transporting people more directly. A path to your door should be proportionate to the size of your home. If you have a large two-story façade, you don’t want a three-foot wide meandering path to your front door. Generally, a path for a larger proportioned home should be a minimum of five feet wide. It should be constructed of a permanent surface like concrete, stone, or brick mortared onto concrete for stability. Pick a material that is solid and easy to walk on. A formal path should be more di-rect. It doesn’t need to be straight, but it does need to be direct. A formal path can have curves, angles, or straight edges. In other words, it shouldn’t take you from the entry at the street around the side of your house, curve back around to the front through a grove of trees, and across to the other side before arriving at your front door. Just being funny!

An informal path can be an added design feature to any Lafayette landscape. Most Lafayette lots tend to be quite spacious, which allows for informal paths to get you out into your garden. An informal path generally is less structured, less permanent, and less direct. The purpose of an informal path is to provide access to the sights, sounds, smells, textures, and tastes of your garden. It is a less direct way of getting someplace or nowhere. It gives you access to a hillside with views, a quiet corner for meditation, or gathering an assortment of fruits, herbs, and flowers. It should be constructed of a less permanent material, such as loose-set flagstone with ground cover in between, concrete steppers, or gravel. I particularly like gravel because of the “crunching” sound it makes when you walk on it.

A garden path is one of the most important hardscape elements in your landscape design. It is a core element of your landscape. One of the first elements that I work out in my design process is the pathways. The path system defines the softscape areas and provides access for use. A path system can be as elaborate or as simple as you want. Remember that every element in your garden has purpose. Define the purpose of your path system before you design it. The garden path is most likely the most used hardscape element of any landscape design.

A hot tip from your local Landscape Architect: A primary path should always be wide enough (4-5 ft at minimum) for two people to walk side-by-side comfortably.

Gardening Quote of the Month: It is a great art to saunter. ~Henry David Thoreau, 1841If you would like me to write on any particular subject, email your ideas to jmontgomery@

jm-la.com. For design ideas, visit www.jm-la.com. Advertorial


Gardening with KateBy Kate Guillaume

I have just harvested the last of my early peaches. While this year’s batch are tasty, they weren’t even the size of an apricot. Nature has just been too confused this year as there has been no rain and then lots of rain, and temperatures have risen to near 100o and then dropped back into the 60s. Some plants are happy while others look terribly stressed. It is going to be another strange year for gardening. My hummingbirds

are happy though, and I have new youngsters who have made the neighborhood home. They love the days I am out watering, darting through the spray, stopping to quench their thirst in the folds of wet leaves.

Summer is not officially here, but the warm days seem to refute that. More jurisdictions are instituting water rationing, and I’ve already let a few old friends go that got too stressed in the last heat spell. My next task is to weed everywhere as late rains seemed to let every dormant weed seed erupt in growth, filling all my beds.

I am going to try a homemade weed killer my cousin posted on Facebook: 1 gallon of vinegar, 2 cups Epson salts, and ¼ cup of Dawn dish soap. It is best to

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mix this recipe up a day ahead of time to get the salts to dissolve. I will test it on an area that has been dormant for a while and is now covered by assorted grasses and dandelions. Hopefully it works well without damaging adjacent plants. My cousin has a small garden that she mulches with gravel, and she swears by it. Sometimes home remedies are better than commercial solutions, and sometimes they’re not. I’ll let you know next month.

My Rudbeckia are forming healthy clumps of foliage which will give me large swaths of bright yellow blooms through the summer months...they are one of my favorite summer perennials. There are two other low-water perennials I like. One commonly known as ‘Mexican Hat” is a Ratibda which is a prairie coneflower which also comes in a lovely yellow, and the other I like is Agastache, especially the ‘Acapulco’ and ‘Apricot Nectar.’ One of my favorite reference catalogs is High Country Gardens. You can visit your local nurseries for a colorful selection of dry summer climate perennials.

Remember when you plant anything in late spring and summer, do not plant on a day when the temperatures are going to climb. Pay attention to weather forecasts, and plan to plant on cooler cycles. Also, no matter how drought-tolerant a plant has been labeled, it must be planted in moist soil, watered in, and given water until it gets its roots deep into the ground. If you can only go to nurseries on the weekend and you don’t have time to immediately plant them, place your purchases in a shady part of your garden, and make sure you check them for watering, as pots can dry out quickly. Prepare your planting bed and then place them in the ground in the evening after work as you enter a cooling cycle.

Everyone had a wonderful rose-blooming spring due to our late rains. If you want to get a great re-bloom, be sure to deadhead. I use this time to shape my roses and cut off the spent blooms at a bud location down the stem that will encourage growth in the direction I want. If you are new to roses, you can stop by your local nursery and ask to speak to someone who can show you how to make proper cuts. Feed your roses with a slow release rose food, and you will be blessed with a wonderful set of blooms later in the season.

To control evaporation, mulch, mulch, and mulch. You want a mulch cover at least 2-3 inches deep and not against the plant branches where they come out of the soil.

Happy summer gardening

Ask Dr. Happy By Bob Nozik, MD Dear Dr. Happy,

I am a 39-year-old man married ten years to Sue Anne. We get along pretty well although I’m a real friendly guy and she’s an introvert with just a few close friends. I’m a hard working machinist and enjoy having a couple of drinks with my friends after work 3-4 days/week. I don’t get drunk but am often a little tipsy by 8 or 9 o’clock when I get home. Sue Anne

is complaining more and more, saying I should come home right after work because she’s lonely and wants a break from the kids (boy and girl, ages 8 and 6). Dr. Happy, I don’t want to lose my friends. What can I do? ~ Friendly GuyDear ‘Friendly,’

You are acting more like an unmarried 20-year-old than a mature, married man with young children. I suspect that coming home ‘a little tipsy’ probably translates to getting home after 10, having driven while drunk. ‘Friendly,’ you need to do some serious re-thinking about this. You are an absent husband and presenting your kids with a pretty shoddy role model. Think about it. Isn’t it time for you to become a bit more responsible now? You should consider coming home right after most work days. You don’t have to give up your friends, but try, as much as possible, to select at least some who are married or partnered so your wife can be included. In the long run, ‘Friendly,’ this will be better for everyone, even you. Happiness Tip

Some people have difficulty making the transition from adolescence to full adult maturity. In this case, I suspect that ‘Friendly’ has found an entire support group of those who, like himself, are resisting the pull to adulthood. Unless, and until, he and his drinking buddies decide to move forward in their lives, they will continue to simply mark (waste) time, frustrate their maturity, and inhibit their adult relationships. ‘Friendly’ already has a family plus, at his age, it is imperative for him to put an end to his extended adolescence now. If he does not, he will surely end up divorced and embittered.

Send questions/comments for Dr. Happy to [email protected].

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

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How to be Safe with Safe Deposit Boxes By Robert J. Silverman

In the course of handling a trust administra-tion for two brothers whose parents had died, an issue arose about the parents’ safe deposit box. California law governing safe deposit boxes is somewhat complicated and has important, but not well known, implications. So, I thought it might be helpful to write about the core legal

and practical aspects of safe deposit boxes, including ownership/titling alternatives, access and content protection.

When a consumer rents a safe deposit box (“box”) from a financial institution (e.g. bank or credit union), the rental agreement between the parties controls the relationship. The consumer should take time to read this contract to become familiar with its terms.

Most often, the consumer party to the contract is an unmarried person or, in the case of a married couple, both spouses. While this makes sense, such titling is actually not ideal, particularly in the case of incapacity or death.

You may, for convenience, designate a co-owner (e.g. a trusted rela-tive or friend) on the rental agreement. Such person(s) will possess a key and have unfettered access to the box, before and after your death. Consequently, you should be very cautious about whom, if anyone, you make a co-owner.

A separate potential co-ownership problem involves unintended consequences. Suppose you have two children, John and Mary, and for convenience purposes, you list John as a co-owner of the box. Suppose further that your Will states that John and Mary are to receive all of your assets, in equal shares. Contrary to your intentions, upon your death, John, as the co-owner, asserts that as the then sole owner of the box, he is legally entitled to all of its contents.

California law provides that on the death of the box owner, the in-stitution at which the box is located may deliver the contents to certain defined people (including, but not limited to, a “relative”) if: a) the institution has no reason to believe there is a dispute over the contents; b) the person to whom the contents are delivered provides reasonable proof of identity; and c) reasonable records are kept in accordance with related rules.

These statutory rules seem logical, but they can cause serious prob-lems. Suppose that the financial institution has no reason to believe there is a dispute at a time when an untrustworthy relative comes in. Thus, the contents are lawfully delivered to this relative. The problem is you (the then-deceased owner) would never have granted access to this relative. If this relative happens to sell, hide, or give away valuable or sentimental items, no satisfactory recourse may be available for the loved ones who are rightfully entitled to these items.

Other somewhat convoluted rules give certain access and control upon your death to a person who presents a key to the box. These rules are also subject to potential abuse and can create logistical problems.

Many of the above-referenced potential problems can be mitigated by having your revocable living trust own (i.e. rent) the box. If your living trust is the box owner, your named successor trustee will only have access to and control over the box when necessary and authorized by you (e.g. upon your incapacity, your resignation as trustee of your trust or your death). The successor trustee has a fiduciary duty to preserve, protect, and distribute your property (including the contents of the box) in accordance with your wishes, as set forth in the trust.

If your trust owns the box, whoever is serving as your trustee at any given time can simply present the institution with a proper trust certification attest-ing to that fact. He or she will then be given full access to the box, without legal obstacles or the risks associated with owning the box in your own name(s) or with one or more co-owners.

Finally, however remote the risk is of loss or damage, the contents of a box are not insured by the financial institution or FDIC. Check with your insurance agent to ensure that you have applicable insurance coverage for the contents. Think hard about what items are best kept in the box vs. stored elsewhere. Finally, inventory whatever items you store in the box and keep copies of documents stored there. Taking photos or a video of the items in the box is also wise.

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

* Estate Planning * Trust Administration & Probate * Real Estate * BusinessThis article is intended to provide information of a general nature, and is not intended nor should it be relied upon as legal, tax 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) promoting, marketing, or recommending to another party any matters addressed herein. Advertorial


Why is the Market...?By Deborah Mitchell, MSW, CFA

“The four most dangerous words in investing are: ‘this time it’s different’” (Sir John Templeton). True, different stock market time periods are defined by unique circumstances economically, globally, and politically. No two eras are analogous in every sense. Yet the first quarter of 2014 has a few stark similarities to 2011.

Recall that during the first half of 2011 the Federal Reserve (FED) was winding down QE2 (quantitative easing), the plan to buy $600 billion in U.S. Treasury Bonds. Presently, the FED is continuing with its plan to gradually reduce its $85 billion asset purchase plan. Also during the first quarter of 2011, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) contracted at -1.3% following a fourth quarter 3.1% gain. Similarly, the second estimate for the first quarter of 2014 came in at a disappointing -1%, following a 2.6% fourth quarter gain. Granted, there are many other factors at play during each year. Yet, multiple references have been made this year to the summer of 2011, the last time the market saw a double digit decline. However, the upside is that the months that followed the dip presented a significant buying opportunity.

The second GDP estimate for the first quarter of 2011 was quite a disappointment.The larger than expected drop to the downside was in part attributed to lower investment in plants, offices, and new housing. Lower inventories were also a significant factor. On point, the less than stellar estimate is historical in nature and believed to be related to the bitter cold and heavy snowfall, a one time event. The data does raise the concern that the economy is not growing as quickly or as steadily as hoped.

Some economic reports did demonstrate progress last month. Consumer confidence surprised to the upside. In particular, thoughts about employment, personal finances, and the economy were viewed in a more favorable light. Both existing home sales and new home sales showed some improvement, but the readings presented still came in below analyst expectations. The housing data has yet to demonstrate a significant pick-up in activity following the winter weather.

It will still take a few more months of mulling through reports to

accurately access if the economic weakness can be primarily attributed to the lousy first quarter weather conditions. The preliminary thesis at this time is that although the harsh winter did negatively impact business functioning, the nation appears to still be saddled with slow economic growth.

Merger and acquisition activity has been responsible for many headline hits recently, and the unions have spanned across multiple sectors. AT&T and DIRECTV, Men’s Wearhouse and Jos. A. Bank Clothiers, and Tyson Foods and Hillshire Farms are just a few. The recent Barron’s cover story “Top Ten Takeover Targets” provides confirmation that companies are joining forces at an increasing rate. With interest rates at historical lows, it is cheap to borrow. Also, with organic growth more difficult to come by companies are opting for an “add on” instead.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 have continued to soar onto new highs. The S&P 500 crossing the 1900 threshold in particular was a psychologically significant step. All the while the Russell 2000, which is comprised of small cap stocks, is waning. The preference of large to mid cap over small cap stocks is indicative of a defensive play on the part of investors. In addition, the month of May was characterized by very light trading volume. The combination of higher market tops and lower trading volume is not indicative of a sustainable market rally. Explanations for volume drying up could be larger institutions holding steady in defensive names, traders waiting on the sidelines in anticipation of some corrective action, or the arrival of summer and increased vacations. Taken together, these indicators are continuing to signal that a decline of some magnitude may lie ahead in the short term.

If you have any comments or questions, please contact Deborah at 925-299-2000 or [email protected].

Deborah Mitchell holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation, a Bachelors degree in Psychology, and a Masters in Social Work degree. She is a Vice President for Noroian Capital Management, an independent investment advisory firm located in Lafayette, California for individuals and businesses. Advertorial

Brainwaves by Betsy Streeter

Lamorinda Peace and JusticeThe Lamorinda Peace and Justice Group meets the fourth Tuesday of each

month from 7 – 9PM in the Fireside Room of Lafayette Methodist Church, 955 Moraga Road, Lafayette. We are committed to working to support a healthy planet, a thriving local community, and a safe, equitable world for all. For information, call (925) 946-0563.

Lic# 1100014354; Bay Area Entertainment


Depression and Anxiety Alternatives San Ramon ValleyBy William Shryer, LCSW, DCSW, Clinical Director, Diablo Behavioral Healthcare and Blackhawk TMS

Depression and anxiety frequently occur together, and they are not easily treated. More

specifically, they do not respond to treatment at a high percentage rate. The two most common approaches to treatment are basic psychotherapy and the use of medications. Unfortunately, for the majority of patients, neither treatment results in remission or cessation of symptoms as we would hope or are led to believe.

People with major depression accompanied by high levels of anxiety are signifi-cantly less likely to benefit from antidepressant medication than those without anxiety.

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) funded Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression (STAR*D) study was published online ahead of print in January 2008, in the American Journal of Psychiatry. The STAR*D study initially reported that nearly 70% of patients studied became symptom free on medications. The actual result showed less than 30% of patients became symptom free, and by the time the patient had tried three drugs and experienced failure, the likelihood of remission was then down to 6.9%! What was even more alarming is that it appears that the NIMH “cooked the books,” and it appears that the reported outcomes served to benefit the pharmaceutical industry (...shocking). As the public hopefully knows now, pharmaceutical funding of antidepressant trials produced scientific literature that was biased and profoundly misleading, a tale of persistent scientific misconduct that has now been reviewed by many authors. But STAR*D was a publicly funded trial, and of course we would hope and expect that the results would be honestly reported, given that it cost the taxpayers 35 million dollars!

The harm this has done for those trying to obtain relief from depression is difficult to calculate.

There are forms of therapy such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) that work far better than therapy focused on the never ending rehashing early childhood develop-ments, in fact research supports CBT and finds open-ended traditional psychotherapy

capable of bringing about minimal results. Due to the misconduct of the authors of STAR*D and the resulting scandal, patients are once again left to look for new alterna-tives to what has been failing them for so long.

Recently there has been a renewed interest in things that were minimized and discounted by many for so long, and now we know that this was due to the pharma-ceutical industry that did not want any competition or to have their profit margins impacted by what was then called alternative approaches. Now we know that many of these alternative approaches based on neutraceuticals or such things as Vitamin D, all of the B vitamins, Omega III fatty acids, and the list goes on, support a real shift in the treatment of depression and other disorders. At Diablo Behavioral Healthcare we know much about alternative treatments, and we utilize both alternative and traditional treatments carefully and use the smallest doses needed to achieve relief.

Non-invasive, non-systemic treatments such as Transcranial Magnetic Stimula-tion (TMS) prescribed by one of our well-trained psychiatrists offers real help for many who have spent years getting no relief from antidepressant medications. Ask your mental health provider about TMS to see what they know about this exciting FDA approved treatment alternative. Please visit our website or refer your provider to our site for more information.

Due to the fiasco with the NIMH and the less than honest behavior from the huge pharmaceutical companies that brought you all of the well-known antidepressants, insurance companies are beginning to cover this new treatment. It seems the cozy relationship between medical insurance companies and the pharmaceutical companies is becoming frayed. Insurance companies are becoming aware that a non-medical approach that is showing great success and does not risk medication side effects is more economical for them. TMS doesn’t lead to side-effects such as nausea, headache, fatigue, weight gain, or sleep problems that many of the antidepressants have. For more information or to discuss your treatment for either depression, anxiety or both, call our office and we will take the time to discuss your options. We also discuss these subjects on the 3rd Wednesday of each month at our Danville office at 7PM.

For more information on any behavioral or developmental concern, call us at (925) 648-4800, and we will take the time to answer your questions. To learn more about TMS, visit our website www.BlackHawkTMS.com, andscroll down for a brief video on TMS. Our location is 4185 Blackhawk Plaza Circle Suite 210, Danville, CA. Advertorial

Your Personal Nutritionist 8 Week Weight Loss Program and a New You ForeverBy Linda Michaelis RD,MS

Lately I have been receiving a tremendous interest in my 8 Week Royal Treatment Program. I am thrilled to see that people are willing to commit to this amount of time to lose weight the right way for once and for all.

Many studies have shown that it takes 21 days to change eating habits and create new behaviors.

I have seen in my practice that it takes at least two months to consciously establish a comfort level with a new behavior such as remembering to eat when you are hungry and stop eating when you are full. The longer you sustain a new behavior, the more it becomes second nature. It is my job with my client to keep them focused on the new behaviors they have learned and remind them of the long-lasting benefits they will receive for life. It is also my job to show them that they can lose weight while enjoying their favorite foods, having their cocktails and wine, and still enjoying the good life.

Let me tell you about a couple, Lori and Michael, referred by a local physician who I often work with.

The doctor told Michael that if he didn’t lose 50 pounds the doctor would have to put him on a statin for high cholesterol, Glucophage for elevated blood sugar, and Lasix and Dilzatizem for high blood pressure. Michael had not been to his doctor in a year, and all of the sudden his blood work was in the abnormal range. He felt like he was falling apart and took the doctor’s advice to work with me on my eight week weight loss program. Lori jumped into the program with Michael, since she wanted to lose 30 pounds and also provide support.

I asked both Michael and Lori to come to my office with a food diary covering a few days so I could see their eating habits. They both work full-time and I could see the pattern of eating very skimpy during the day and then eating all of their calories at night.

For breakfast Michael would walk out the door with toast and butter, or Honey Bunches of Oats cereal with 2% milk. All day long Michael would enjoy snack size bags of chips, cookies, candy, and nuts that the office manager buys. At lunch he thought he was being a good boy by having a Cobb, Chef, or Caesar Salad. He would arrive home famished and eat cheese, salami, and crackers galore until

dinner was ready. Lori, a gourmet cook, would prepare a large traditional evening meal which was heavy in meats, starches, and a veggie.

Lori usually had a Quaker Oats granola bar for breakfast, Greek yogurt for lunch with some Wheat Thins, and then along with Michael she ate the cheese and crackers and drank two glasses of wine while preparing dinner. They always had ice cream for dessert.

In my office I have several sample products to look at. When looking at the packages I could see Lori and Michael had many misconceptions about the food label. As usual, Michael and Lori were focusing on carbs instead of grams of pro-tein, fiber, sugar, and calories per serving.

These are the areas that I covered with them in the two months that I worked with them:

• Set up weekly goals to build new habits• Educated them on what is considered a balanced breakfast, snack, lunch, and

lighter dinner• Established a list of snacks for Michael to have at the office to prevent him

from snacking on junk. Michael was thrilled that the office manager took the list and started buying some of the items

• Gave advice on how to handle all social, impromptu, and restaurant occasions • Looked at websites together before dining at restaurants and decided what

are the best items to order.• Taught them the skills to be prepared and organized for the day • Met with them at Trader Joes and created a shopping list for them • Helped them keep motivation up and keep the food plan exciting with high

flavor and favorite foods • Discussed the importance of intense consistent exercise, and taught them

about interval trainingLori, Michael, and I spoke almost daily thru phone and email. I am glad to inform

you that Michael has lost 30 pounds, and Lori has lost 20 pounds in the last two months. They are continuing on a new program and want to reach their ideal weight. Michael’s doctor is shocked at his success, and the great news is that Michael does not have to be on any medication. There is a large smile on Michael’s face every day.

Linda would like to inform you that often her services are covered by insur-ance. Please feel free to call Linda at (925) 855-0150 or email her at [email protected], and ask her about your nutrition concerns. Visit her website at www.LindaRD.com for past articles and nutrition tips. Advertorial


Is Food a Problem for You? Overeaters Anonymous offers a fellowship of

individuals who, through shared experience and mutual support, are recovering from compulsive overeating. This is a 12-step program. The free meetings are for anyone suffering from a food addiction including overeating, under-eating, and bulimia. The group meets Wednesdays at 6PM at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Lafayette. Visit www.how-oa.org for more information.

Hospice Volunteers Needed Hospice of the East Bay is seeking volunteers to as-

sist Hospice patients and their caregivers. Opportunities include:

• Licensed Hair Stylists to offer hair cuts and styling• Certified Massage Therapists to provide massage

therapy • Mobile Notaries to witness the signing of important

documents• Bereavement Support Volunteers to provide support

to family members after their loved one has died • Patient Support Volunteers to provide companionship

and practical assistance To apply for free training, call Hospice of the East Bay

at (925) 887-5678, and ask for the Volunteer Department, or email [email protected].

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

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

very similar to this woman’s. I consulted with her, and we agreed on a course of treatment that involved replacing the baseball stitches with 100 finer care-fully placed sutures that will result in a more aesthetically pleasing and less painful repair. The result for this began with a consultation that allowed me to improve her situation and offer her a more aesthetically pleasing result in my office … away from the long lines and crowds of the typical ER.

As a mother I know first hand that the emotions involved when your child is injured are amplified on an exponential scale. The injury (especially facial laceration) itself is traumatic enough, but add to that a lengthy wait time in an unfamiliar environment and what is already a scary experience can become almost unbearable. I treasure my involvement in this community, and I want to be used as a primary resource for these types of injuries. Please call me and I will ensure that it will be a calm and comfortable experience for your child. Most importantly, the injury will be optimally repaired the first time, avoiding the need for future scar revision.

An additional note - It is a common misconception that lacerations must be repaired immediately. In some cases, if the laceration is cleaned well and kept moist, excellent results can be achieved days after the initial injury.

Common sense must prevail with all bites, cuts, scrapes, or burns. Elevate and apply pressure for bleeding, ensure safety of the environment, and call 911 if there is a life-threatening emergency. The paramedics in our area are fantastic!

Keep in mind that our office accepts most insurance plans and even on a cash payment basis treatment at our office is likely to be a less expensive op-tion. As always, it is my pleasure to offer my expertise and I look forward to consulting with you soon. Wishing everyone a safe and happy summer season.

Barbara L. Persons, MD is a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and owns Persons Plastic Sur-gery, Inc. located at 911 Moraga Rd, Suite 205 in Lafayette. She may be reached at 925.283.4012 or [email protected]. Advertorial

Healing with Minimal ScarringBy Barbara Persons, MD, Persons Plastic Surgery, Inc.

As summer approaches, I find that my practice is busier than ever. Most people would think that plastic surgeons become busy in the summer because that’s the time of year when people want to look better in a bathing suit. While it’s true that summer does bring people into my office looking to enhance their ap-pearance through cosmetic surgery, summer is also

the time of year when I see more patients after being involved in an accident. Local emergency rooms are packed in the summertime with people who have been involved in accidents while participating in warm weather activities such as swimming, hiking, and biking. I have spent years during my training in trauma centers and emergency rooms, working in high-pressure situations and focusing my attention on saving lives, and ensuring that patients are not at risk of serious illness or infection.

My advanced training in aesthetics is an added benefit my patients receive. For example, repairs to facial lacerations from a biking accident can be done in a way that leaves minimal scarring. Please use me as a resource and give me a call, especially when kids are involved. I would be happy to help.

Recently my patient’s sister was involved in a car accident. She was taken by ambulance to the emergency room where they made sure she had no major injuries and evaluated for a number of horrible lacerations on her forearm. My staff and I told our patient to call us if there was anything we could do for her sister. Two days later we were asked to take a look at her sister’s arm because it was painful and oozing. The woman had baseball type stitches in the larg-est laceration and 17 centimeters of cuts in a star-like pattern on her forearm. During my fellowship in hand and microsurgery, and other advanced training in cosmetic and maxillofacial surgery, I repaired countless traumatic injuries

New Genetic Prostate Cancer TestsBy Jeremy Lieb, MD

Getting the diagnosis of cancer is usually an overwhelming and emo-tional process. There are several stages to understanding your disease. After the initial tests have been completed, most patients start with the process of determining the next step in treatment with the goal of complete cure. Advances in medical technology and treatments have allowed for tremen-dous improvement in care. There are several new tests for patients with prostate cancer that can help to predict the timing and need for treatment.

It’s important to understand that all cancer cells do not behave in the same manner. Some cancers can be very aggressive, and other cancers can

have a very slow growth over many years.Most men with low or low-intermediate risk prostate cancer can often opt for active surveillance.

This is the process of continuing to monitor the disease with intermittent PSA blood testing, prostate biopsy and exam, with the goal of delaying treatments which may have associated risk. A newer op-tion is genetic cell testing which can be run off your existing biopsy tissue, without any additional procedures needed. These tests analyze the DNA inside of the cancer cells to help provide additional information regarding the aggressiveness of the cancer. They can help to predict the next steps and future outcome. These tests can be very helpful to patients when trying to make difficult decisions.

The first test, called Oncotype DX, uses the biopsy tissue to determine if the cancer has a more or less favorable outlook for the future. For example, a less favorable result may help to initiate treatment sooner for a more aggressive cancer. The second test, called Prolaris, provides both predictive testing and will also report your risk of dying of prostate cancer in 10 years without treatment. I recently had a patient who we believed had a higher risk prostate cancer; however his Prolaris test reported his risk of dying of prostate cancer in 10 years is 3%. Obviously, that was a HUGE relief to this patient. Instead of investing energy into his treatment, he is spending more time with his grandchildren and family.

I expect that more similar tests will be available in the future for different cancers. Dr. Lieb is a Board Certified Urologist with Pacific Urology. His practice has offices

in Walnut Creek, Concord, San Ramon Brentwood, Livermore, and Antioch. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call (925) 609-7220 or visit www.PacificUrology.com. Advertorial

Join Dr. Lieb and Pacific Urology at their annual event: ‘Pints for Prostates’ and Men’s Health Fair at Pyramid Alehouse in Walnut Creek on June 12th from 6-8PM. Your $20 donation includes beer, beer glass, and hors d’ouevres. Space is limited and must be reserved by calling (925) 677-5041 x272.


Hearing Loss Association Come to meetings of the Diablo Valley Chapter of

Hearing Loss Association of America at 7pm on the first 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 the back of the church. All are welcome. Donations are 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.

Coping with the Death of a Pet When you lose your pet, you often feel like a part of you is lost. The death of your

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

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

For further information and/or to register, please call Bereavement Services at Hospice of the East Bay (925) 887-5681. Pre-registration is required.

Hospice of the East Bay Bereavement Services are provided free of charge to all com-munity members in need. However, donations are greatly appreciated.

Does The Thought Of Moving Overwhelm You?

Please join Merrill Gardens at Lafayette and Lafayette Senior Services

Wednesday, June 18 • 1:30 – 3:00 pm

Join us for a presentation conducted by Greg Gunderson of Gentle Transitions and Al de la Cerda and Pam Larson

of Seniors on the Move.

Greg will provide tips and techniques on how to go about the moving process and Al and Pam

will discuss the actual physical move of your belongings and other unique programs.

Lafayette Library and Learning Center 3491 Mt Diablo Blvd Lafayette, CA 94549

merrillgardens.com License Pending

RSVP by Monday, June 16 to (925) 284-5050

051614eCT_LAF_Lafayette_Today_A.indd 1 5/21/14 10:39 AM

A Hidden Jewel in Our CommunityBy Jewel Johl, MD

We tell every patient about the terrific services and programs available through the Cancer Support Community (CSC) in Walnut Creek. The work they do for our patients is incredibly valuable. Their mission is to “en-

sure that all people impacted by cancer are empowered by knowledge, strengthened by action, and sustained by community.” What more can I say?

The people at the Cancer Support Community enable cancer patients to partner with their treatment team to manage their treatment and recovery most effectively, ul-timately providing for the highest possible quality of life. They provide counseling, support groups, nutrition, exer-cise, and patient education programs— not just for people with cancer, but for their families or caregivers as well.

One of the things I appreciate most about CSC is that all of our programs and services are evidence-based to positively impact cancer treatment outcomes. Programs and services are all delivered by professionals who are licensed or certified in their area of expertise.

“We never turn anyone away, and all of our services are always provided free of charge in order to be readily acces-sible to people facing cancer in their time of need. We now serve 2,000 cancer patients and their families each year,” explains Jim Bouquin, President & Executive Director for the Walnut Creek Cancer Support Community.

CSC is still the only organization of its kind in North-ern California. They are an affiliate of the international Cancer Support Community organization, but they are an independent nonprofit corporation, so all of the funds they raise are used to underwrite direct programs and services in our local community. I encourage everyone to support this local nonprofit organization – a hidden jewel in our community.

You can help by bringing your old tax returns and other documents containing personal information to Dia-blo Valley Oncology’s upcoming Document Shredding Fundraiser, benefiting the Cancer Support Community, on Saturday, June 28th, 1-3PM at Diablo Valley Oncol-ogy/California Cancer and Research Institute parking lot at 400 Taylor Blvd, Pleasant Hill.

Dr. Johl is a board certified Medical Oncologist & He-matologist with Diablo Valley Oncology. He also serves as a Board of Director for the Cancer Support Community. For more information or to contact Dr. Johl, please call (925) 677-5041 or visit www.DVOHMG.com. Advertorial


- June 2014 ~ Lafayette Today

Heartfelt & Supportive

At All Times...

www.excellentcareathome.com

Our mission is to provide personalized care, help maintain independence and enhance our client’s quality of life on a daily basis.

• Free in-home assessments ensure the right care plan for you• Fully bonded and insured• Elder referral and placement

3645 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Suite DLafayette, CA 94549(beside Trader Joe’s) 925-284-1213

• Regular home visits• Hourly care• Live-in care• Geriatric care mgmt.

Events for Lafayette SeniorsAll classes are held at the Lafayette Senior

Center (LSC) located at 500 Saint Mary’s Rd in Lafayette unless otherwise noted. Space is limited. Please call 925-284-5050 to reserve a spot. Annual Membership fee: $10 per person. General Event fee: Members $1; Non-Member $3. Special concerts fee: Members $3; Non-Members $5. Ongoing Caregiver Support Group: Members: no charge; Non-members $1.Apple Basics 6/19 • 10:30AM–Noon • Sequoia Room, LSC - This series will start at the very beginning: the technology needed for wireless communication, your Apple ID, iTunes, iCloud and the basics of iPad and iPhone usage. Topics for future sessions will be determined by participants’ input and needs. There will be time for Q&A at the end class. Please note: this series deals with Apple devices only.Physical Therapy Presentation with Anne Randolph: Exercises for Daily Living 6/26 • 11:30AM–12:30PM • Sequoia Room, LSC - Anne Randolph, RPT, has been practicing physical therapy for 35 years. She provides outpatient therapy in Lafayette and specializes in the care of those 55 and over. If you think you’re too tired or busy to exercise, or that exercise is too boring, think again. Exercise can actually boost your mood, increase your energy, and keep you going strong! Anne will demonstrate simple, low-key exercises you can perform anytime, anywhere.Smart Driver 4-Hour Refresher Course 7/31 • 9AM–1:30PM • Sequioa Room, LSC - This abbreviated refresher course is for those who have taken an AARP driving course within the last four years. Refine your driving skills, develop safe and defensive techniques, and possibly lower your insurance premium. Max: 25 pre-paid registrants. First come, first served, by date check is received. Send check, made payable to AARP, to Lafayette Senior Services, 500 Saint Mary’s Rd., Lafayette, CA 94549. Important: Prior to sending check, please call 284-5050 to determine space availability. $15 AARP Members • $20 Non-Members of AARP Moving Process Seminar 7/18 • 1:30-3PM • Does the thought of moving overwhelm you? Please join Merrill Gardens at Lafayette and Lafayette Senior Services at the Lafayette Library and Learning Center located at 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd in Lafayette. Leaving a home after many years can be daunting and downright overwhelming. There is so much stuff to deal with and things to do. Join an interactive and engaging presentation which will provide tips and techniques on how to go about the moving process. There will be a discussion on the actual physical move of your belongings and other unique programs available. Please RSVP by June 16 to 510-210-2556.Lafayette Oral History Project Do you have stories about Lafayette in the days of yore? Allow Ryan to document that history which will then be included in the Lafayette Historical Societies’ archives, preserved for generations to come. All you have to do is tell those stories to Ryan; he’ll do the writing. You’ll receive a copy of the final document at the time of completion. Call Lafayette Senior Services for details and to be a part of this project. No charge.Lamorinda Dance Social Wednesdays • 12:30 – 3PM • Live Oak Room, LCC - Enjoy afternoon dancing every Wednesday, and learn some great new dance moves. On the first Wednesday monthly, professional dancers Karen and Michael will provide a dance lesson and live DJ services, playing your favorites and taking requests. $2 Members/ $4 non-members.Lafayette Senior Services Commission 4th Thursday of the month from 3:30 – 5:30PM at the LSC - View agendas at the City of Lafayette of-fice or at www.ci.lafayette.ca.us. Lamorinda Nature Walk and Bird-Watching Every Wednesday (except 6/11) • 9AM - Noon • Call LSC to find out weekly meeting locations - Experience nature at its finest along our local trails. Delight in the beauty that unfolds around each bend, all the while learning to identify a variety of birds. Bring a water bottle; binoculars will be helpful if you have them. Join us every Wednesday or whenever you are able.Come Play Mahjong! Every Tuesday • Noon–3PM • Cedar Room, LSC - Come join us on Tuesdays for a drop-in game of mahjong. Mahjong is a game of skill, strategy, and certain degree of chance. All levels welcome. Bring your

card, a mahjong set, and a snack to share (optional). RSVP not required.Creative Writing Workshop 2nd and 4th Thursday monthly • 10:30AM - noon • Cedar Room, LSC - Join creative writing and English instructor Judith Rathbone, and examine the possibilities of self-expression through writing. This friendly group, with an ever-changing membership but lots of returning participants, will welcome you and any of your writing efforts. Find encouragement and feedback and bring out the writer in you. If you can speak, you can write, and we will show you how! Beginners to established writers welcome. Positive Living Forum (“Happiness Club”) 6/12 & 7/10 • 10:30AM – noon • Sequoia Room, LSC - Brighten your day with Dr. Bob Nozik, MD, Prof. Emeritus UCSF and author of Happy 4 Life: Here’s How to Do It. Brighten your day and take part in this interactive gathering which features speakers on a wide range of topics that guide participants toward a more ideal and positive life experience. Drop-ins welcome! Bi-Monthly Caregiver Support Group Mondays, 6/16 & 6/30 • 1:30–2:30PM • Toyon Room LSC - If you are a family member helping to care for an older adult, join our support group to find balance and joy as you manage your responsibilities. Drop-ins are welcome. Words of Wisdom…From the Philosophical to the Lighthearted 6/17 • 10:30AM –Noon • Toyon Room, LSC - Join discussion group leader Craig Janke, and take part in this free-wheeling exchange of inspiration, information, and humor. Topics – from soup to nuts - will be explored, examined, and discussed by participants. Stories and photographs will stimulate humorous discoveries regarding the benefits of becoming the ‘elders of our tribe.’Free Peer Counseling 2nd Tuesday monthly • 10AM - noon • Alder Room, LCC - Contra Costa Health Services offers free one-on-one counseling with senior (55+) counselors who use their life experiences to help other older adults cope with life changes, problems, crises, and challenges. Confidentiality is strictly observed. Appointment required. Please call Lafayette Senior Services at 284-5050 to sign up for one of the 60-minute appointments.

Local Church Provides Community CareBy Bill Sautter

Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian’s Stephen Ministry has 25 trained lay people who provide ongoing, one-on-one Christian care to those in our congregation and in the community who are experiencing transitions in their lives. LOPC Stephen Ministry is confidential and is provided at no cost. A Stephen Minister is...

• A congregation member with a gift for listening,• A lay person who has received 50 hours training in providing

emotional and spiritual care,• A committed caregiver who listens, cares, prays, supports, and

encourages those who are hurting, and• Someone who will “be there” for his or her care receiver, meeting

faithfully for about an hour each week, for as long as there’s a need.Stephen Ministers are available for those who are dealing with illness or

hospitalization, loneliness, aging, being shut-in, separation due to military deployment, death or serious loss, separation or divorce, disabilities, or grief and anxiety.

If you know of someone who would benefit from the ongoing confidential, no cost, spiritual, and emotional support of a Stephen Minister, contact Jean Lee at (925) 943-2237, or visit www.lopc.org/care_stephen_ministry.asp.


C L A S S I F I E D S

Lafayette Today ClassifiedsReach over 12,000 homes and businesses in Lafay-ette - Help Wanted, For Sale, Services, Lessons, Pets, Rentals, Wanted, Freebies... $35 for up to 45 words. $5 for each additional 15 words. Send or email submissions to: 3000F Danville Blvd #117, Alamo, CA 94507 or [email protected]. Run the same classified ad in our sister papers “Alamo Today” or “Danville Today News” and pay half off for your second and/or third ad! Payment by check made out to “The Editors” must be received before ad will print. Your cancelled check is your receipt. We reserve the right to reject any ad.

ARCHITECTJOHN ROLF HATTAM - ARCHITECT Specializes in modest budget, new and renovated residences. Over 200 completed projects. Brochures available for all of our professional services •RESIDENTIAL RENOVATION •NEW RESIDENCES •CHURCHES •COMMERCIAL •MULTI-FAMILY. For the brochure meeting your need call 510-841-5933. 737 Dwight Way, Berkeley.

Lamorinda Senior Transportation An Alliance of Transportation Providers

Lamorinda Spirit Van 283-3534Takes Lamorinda Seniors to errands, appointments, grocery shopping,

special events, and to lunch at the C.C. Café. Reserve your ride two business days in advance (or sooner) by 1pm or when you make your appointment. Contra Costa Yellow Cab and DeSoto Company 284-1234

20% discount for Lamorinda seniors. Orinda Seniors Around Town 402-4506 Volunteer drivers serving Orinda seniors with free rides to appointments and errands. Senior Helpline Services Rides for Seniors 284-6161

Volunteer drivers serving Contra Costa seniors with free rides to doctors’ appointments during the week. Grocery shopping on Saturdays. County Connection LINK Reservation Line 938-7433 LINK Applications and Questions 680-2066 or 2067 Fixed-Route Bus Service Information 676-7500

GOPHER AND MOLE REMOVAL : NUISANCE WILDLIFE CON-TROL Trapping No poison, safe for your family, pets and the ecosystem. I’m a licensed and insured state trapper; resolving human and animal con-flicts. Habitat modification, ( to make your home or property less desirable), exclusion barriers, (fencing, wire mesh or sheet metal to keep the animal/s out of your home or property), and trapping, (removing problem wild animals.) For more information visit www.trivalleytrapper.com. Call TRI VALLEY TRAPPER for a FREE phone consultation and estimate (925)765-4209.

NUISANCE WILDLIFE CONTROL

P L A C E Y O U R C L A S S I F I E D

H E R E !

WOMEN’S LACROSSE GOALIE COACHING available June 25-September 15. Eight years playing experience, has won College Club (WCLA) National Cham-pionship, All-League Team (WWLL), All-Tournament Team (WWLL/WCLA). Contact Amy Corstorphine at [email protected] for more information.

LACROSSE GOALIE COACHING

Spirit Van Thank Yous and TributesBy Mary Bruns, Lamorinda Senior TransportationIn Gratitude

• Thank you to the Lafayette City Council, the Moraga City Council, the Orinda Community Foundation, the Lafayette Community Foundation, the Moraga Junior Women’s Club, the Orinda Woman’s Club, S.H.A.R.E., the County Connection, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, and the Lamorinda Spirit Van Fans and Passengers for providing funding for the Lamorinda Spirit Van Program.

• Thank you to our generous drivers, dispatchers, volunteers, and the Lafayette staff for providing service “above and beyond” to our appreciative passengers and program: Alicia Chan, Ben Pettersson, Bob Kelly, Cathy Tanaka, Dave Cummins, Dionne Teasley, Doreen Pasco, Doug Layfield, Ed Castro, Eddie Caravalho, Holly Erickson-King, Jim Wilbanks, John Otto, John Vocke, Karen Chanda, Lafayette Staff, Malcolm Hendry, Mauna Wagner, Mike Madden, Stan Levine, Warren Garrison, and Yuka Akera.Older Americans Month

On May 13, 2014, “the Board of Supervisors of Contra Costa County declared May 2014 as Older Americans Month, urging every resident to take time to recognize older adults, the people who serve and support them, as powerful, vital individuals who greatly contribute to the community.” Since this Resolution No. 2014/154 just came out, it is being mentioned to remind us of important data:

• 12.4% of people in Contra Costa County are 65 years and over which is higher than the State’s percentage at 11.4%.

• The older adults in Contra Costa County have intrinsic value to fill an important community role by sharing knowledge, wisdom, and understanding through their interactions with children, youth, and adults from other generations.

• Contra Costa County is committed to helping all individuals maintain their independence and health in later life.

• The theme of Older Americans Month is ‘Safe Today, Healthy Tomorrow,’ recognizing the value of injury prevention and safety awareness in helping older adults remain healthy and active.About Alzheimers

Ruth Gay, Director of Public Policy and Advocacy of the Alzheimer’s Association of Northern California, spoke at the May Advisory Council on Aging meeting, providing information on Alzheimer’s. Some of the key points she made are:

• Alzheimers is the most expensive disease in America, costing $219 billion a year.• Funding for Alzheimers research is many times lower than funding for

cancer, HIV/AIDS, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes.• 2/3 of the people who have Alzheimers, and 60% of the caregivers, are women.• People age 60 and up are twice as likely to develop Alzheimers as breast cancer. • 1 in 8 people over 65 develop Alzheimers, 1 in 3 people over 85 develop it.• The East Bay office is in Lafayette. For resources or more information, see www.

alz.org/norcal or call 800-272-3900.To Prevent Summer Heat Injuries

Consider these reminders from the California Department of Public Health:

• “Increase your fluid intake regardless of your activity level….Consult with your doctor if you have been prescribed a fluid-restricted diet or diuretics. During hot weather, you will need to drink more liquid than your thirst indicates…Avoid very cold beverages to prevent stomach cramps or drinks containing alcohol, which will actually cause you to lose more fluid.”

• Wear appropriate lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing; sunscreen; and a wide-brimmed hat when you are outside.

• Pace yourself.• Stay in an air-conditioned area; if you don’t have one, shopping malls and

libraries are recommended.• If you are 65 or older, have a friend or relative call to check on you twice a

day during a heat wave. Check on older adults you know, twice a day.• For the complete hand-out, email [email protected] or phone 283-3534.

Lafayette Today, June 2014

Documents

Transcript of Lafayette Today, June 2014