Lafayette Today, September 2011

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Lafayette Community, Join David and Jay in Feeding the Hungry

The economic crisis is continuing unabated. Unemployment in Contra Costa County is over 11%. Even though we all have been negatively impacted by this down turn, those who are at the bottom of economic ladder are struggling for even the most basic of necessities: food. A recent study shows that more than 26% of households with children in California do not have enough money to buy an adequate amount of food. Thus David Gerson and Jay Lifson have teamed up to help families with children, seniors, individuals with disabilities, and all those who face hunger each and every day in our greater community.

In July David, a Lafayette resident and school board member of the Lafayette School District, accepted the position as Executive Director of Loaves and Fishes of Contra Costa, a small secular non-profit organization whose sole mission is to feed the hungry of Contra Costa county. At the same time, Jay, Executive Director of the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, joined the Loaves and Fishes board of directors.

What does Loaves and Fishes do to address hunger in Contra Costa county? Loaves and Fishes operates five dining halls in Martinez, Bay Point, Antioch, Pittsburg, and Oakley and partners with Fresh Start in Walnut Creek and the

Lafayette Art, Wine, and Music FestivalSaturday, September 17th and Sunday, September 18th

Come take part in Lafayette’s “end of summer party” at the Lafayette Art, Wine, and Music Festival. The Festival takes place downtown and runs 10am-7pm on Saturday, September 17th, and 10am-6pm on Sunday, September 18th. Free parking is available at the Lafayette BART station, and there is a free event shuttle to take you to and from the BART parking lots. Better yet, take BART! Ride your bike and park in the secure Bike Parking Lot.

Admission is free as well! Come be a part of one of the largest outdoor festivals in Contra Costa County. Now in its’ 16th year, the Festival expects over 100,000 people to come stroll through the venue area. There will be more than 250 fine arts and crafts booths, delicious foods from local restaurants, food vendors, wineries and microbreweries, and continuous musical entertainment presented on three stages. A kids area will feature entertainment and activities for kids of all ages, and a special exhibit and sale of work by local artists, will be located in Artist Alley, in La Fiesta Square.

Kids Zone tickets are $1-$5 for different activities, Drink Tickets are $6 for an individual ticket, and an individual wine or beer glass is $5. Combination packages are available!

For complete Festival information visit www.lafayettefestival.com or call the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce at 925-284-7404.

Volume V - Number 9PO BOx 1335

Lafayette, CA 94549telephone (925) 405-NeWS, 405-6397

Fax (925) 406-0547 [email protected]

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

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See BBBS cont. on page 8

September 2011 Serving the Lafayette Community

See Help continued on page 24

Big Brothers/Big Sisters By Fran MillerPatty Guinto, age 31, is a busy woman. Her job is demanding, she has a

crazy commute, she plays sports, and she enjoys time with friends and family.

She lives an active life typical of most Bay Area residents yet, she always finds time to spend with her “little sister” Sarah, age 15.

“I'm not going to lie,” laughs Guinto, a volunteer with Big Brothers/Big Sisters of the Bay Area (BBBS), “but on more than one occasion, Sarah and I have simply done laundry together because it was the only time I had the whole week to do it. Sometimes that's just how life is. But if you make it a priority, there is always time for BBBS. I think volunteers are surprised at how easy and rewarding BBBS is.”

Patty Guinto with “little sister” Sarah

European Handball League By Fran MillerSeventeen-year-old Campolindo senior Dylan Wilson had a great summer – one

of the best in a long time – and he credits the fun to handball. Not the two-on-two urban playground handball featured in every buddy movie filmed on the streets of New York, but European handball, a more physical, team-oriented version involving rules similar to those of basketball and water polo.

Wilson was instrumental, along with Lafayette resident Nick Holden, in creating the European handball league in which he played. Holden, a Campolindo junior, initiated the grass roots effort. Through word-of-mouth and Facebook postings, Holden’s self-initiated league managed to capture the attention and interest of more than 80 local high schoolers, making-up seven teams, who gathered weekly this past summer to compete on Moraga’s Joaquin Moraga Intermediate School blacktop.

See Handball continued on page 14

Jay Lifson and David Gerson

www.yourmonthlypaper.com - September 2011 ~ Lafayette Today

See Read continued on page 4

Assistance League of Diablo ValleyWhen planning your goblins, ghosts, and ghouls festivities this autumn, browsing

through the Halloween merchandise and costumes at Assistance League®Way Side Inn Thrift Shop, located at 3521 Golden Gate Way in Lafayette, is an absolute must. From October 4 to October 22, you can create that special costume that will exude blood cur-dling screams and paroxysms of fright when visiting unsuspecting friends and bothersome neighbors. Likewise, give heart to transforming your home into a creature-infested crypt that tests the intestinal fortitude of the most seasoned masters of the macabre. Don’t pass on this opportunity; member volunteers will keep an eye out for you.

On Tuesday, October 25, the Way Side Inn Thrift Shop will take on a boutique-like ambience where you can prepare for colder climes by shopping the Cashmere Sweat-ers and St. John Knits promotions. Discerning shoppers have been known to sweep in and strip the thrift shop’s shelves of its finery much like the North Wind denudes the trees of their leaves. Staying the course, dedicated member volunteers donned in protective aprons will be happy to help you.

Assistance League of Diablo Valley member volunteers are most grateful for your dona-tions and purchases. As important, your generosity improves the lives of those at risk and in need in our community by funding eight philanthropic programs. Remember to ask for a tax donation receipt, and please sign up on our electronic mailing list to learn about up-to-the-minute specials. Please visit us on our website at diablovalley.assistanceleague.org.

Lafayette Homeowners Council’s Annual Meeting All Lafayette residents, land owners, and business owners are invited to the Lafayette

Homeowners Council’s Annual Meeting at 7PM on Thursday, September 22nd in the Sequoia Room at the Lafayette Community Center, 500 St. Marys Road in Lafayette. Mayor Carl Anduri and others will speak and answer your questions regarding Lafayette’s roads and the Roads Ballot Measure for this November, the proposed bike and pedestrian pathway through town along the existing EBMUD right of way, the draft Downtown Specific Plan, and other subjects of interest that may impact the community. Refreshments will be served.

Lamorinda Reads! ‘Carter Beats the Devil’ by Glen David Gold Libraries Celebrate Reading with Lamorinda’s Three Communities, One Book Program

On Monday, September 19th the Lafayette, Moraga, and Orinda Libraries launch the fifth-annual Three Communities, One Book program, Lamorinda Reads! With Lamorinda Reads! The libraries encourage all community members to read the same book, at the same time, creating a community-wide book club and encouraging participation in a series of events that celebrate the book.

This year’s Lamorinda Reads! selection is Carter Beats the Devil by Glen David Gold. Originally published in 2001, Carter Beats the Devil was named a Washington Post Book World Notable Book of the Year, an Entertainment Weekly Editor’s Choice and one of the “Best Fiction Books of 2001,” it was a Los Angeles Times Book Review “Best Books of 2001” pick, and a Publishers Weekly “The Year in Books 2001” pick. Carter Beats the Devil is at once historical fiction and a fast paced thriller set in the Bay Area in the 1920s. The book tells the story of real-life magician, Charles Carter, and centers on the mysterious death of President Harding, who dies shortly after taking part in Carter's stage show. It is fun, fast, and full of bright and interesting characters who journey through a magical – and sometimes dangerous – world where illusion is everything.

Glen David Gold writes about history in a narrative style, and his books have been hailed as very respectable ventures into historical fiction. Gold’s second novel, Sunnyside, was published in 2009. He has written several short stories, including The Tears of Squonk, for McSweeney’s and has also ventured into writing for comic books. Gold is married to Alice Sebold, the author of The Lovely Bones and Lucky, and the couple lives in San Francisco, California.

Copies of Carter Beats the Devil will be available to the public for checkout at any of the Lamorinda libraries beginning Monday, September 19th. Programs celebrating the book will be held through the month of October. Lamorinda Reads! culminates in an “Evening with the Author,” Glen David Gold, on November 1st.

•Kickoff the Magic with Ray Andrews Magic and fun for the whole family! Thursday, September 22, 4-5pm at the Orinda Library.

•Circus Finelli 1920's vaudeville music, slapstick and juggling for the whole family! Saturday, October 8, 1-2pm at the Lafayette Library & Learning Center.

•Tea Time & Book Discussion with Barbara Flynn, Contra Costa County Librarian, Wednesday, October 12, 3-4pm at the Moraga Library.

•Vaudeville Follies A puppet production by The Fratello Marionettes; fun for all ages! Saturday, October 15, 2-3pm at the Moraga Library.

Wine Tasting FundraiserBe part of Lamorinda’s best-kept secret! Experience the newest wine-growing

region right here in your own backyard. Accompanied by the “Generations Jazz Quintet,” enjoy an afternoon or evening (your choice) of wine tasting at the Captain’s Vineyard, along with hors d’oeuvres, and learn the ins and outs of verticulture from a successful local grower/wine producer. Make sure you wear comfortable shoes to explore the vineyard. The cost is $60 per person. Over half of the ticket price is tax-deductible and directly supports the AAUW’s (American Association of University Women) Educational Foundation. The Educational Fund supports educational and lifelong learning opportunities for girls and women. Fellowships and Grants awarded each year are oftentimes the catalysts that ensure a woman’s lifetime of success.

Specify on your check the wine-tasting time slot you are requesting: either 3-5pm or 6-8pm on Saturday, September 24th. The Captain’s Vineyard is located at 1969 Joseph Drive, Moraga. Please send your checks made out to AAUW OML to Jan Coe, 301 Overhill Road, Orinda, CA 94563.

Senior SocialsMusic, dance, and chatting are all part of weekly

Seniors Socials in Lafayette. Music lovers, social fans, all-level dancers, and couples and singles are invited to Wednesday Socials from 12:30-2:50pm at the Lafayette Community Center’s Live Oak Room, located at 500 St. Mary’s Road in Lafayette. There is a welcoming atmosphere, spacious surroundings, tables for conversation, and a new dance-friendly floor. Ballroom lessons are held the first Wednesday of each month. The cost is $2 for Lafayette Senior Center members, and $4 for non-members. Additional details and map are available at sites.google.com/site/lafayetteteadance.

Pictured at right are Elroy Holtmann, longtime Lafayette resident and president of Lamorinda Dance Social; with Grace Lenz of Martinez

[email protected] Lafayette Today ~ September 2011 -

Sunday, Oct 9, 2011

October 9, 2011October 9, 2011

2 8 t h A n n u a l

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Boulevard ViewBy Alisa Corstorphine, EditorA Blast From the Past

Last month my husband and I attended our 30th high school class reunion. We graduated from Homestead High School down in Cupertino, CA, in the same year, and we’re one of about three couples who still remain from our high school days.

Some people have said that with the advent of the internet and social media such as Facebook that reunions

are passé. I have to disagree. While we do know more about each other by seeing the little tidbits they post, there’s no substitute for seeing someone in person and reconnecting with them face to face.

One such connection was with a very special history teacher, Mary Lou Lyon. She has attended most, if not all, of our reunions. She’s now 85, and although she’s a little creaky, she’s as sharp and witty and enjoyable as she’s ever been.

She was the teacher who brought American History to life for us. She went out of her way to find ways to bring energy and vigor to a subject that many find boring – at least the way it’s usually presented. But Ms. Lyon was different, and she would often dress in the costume or uniform of the time or bring in props and period pieces that brought a certain realism and specificity to our lecture. She’s one of those teachers that made a difference, and if we hadn’t gone to our reunion, we wouldn’t have had the opportunity to see her again, share stories, and enjoy her wry wit!

My husband commented that walking into the room of old school chums, some he had known since Kindergarten, he felt an instant sense of comfort and familiarity unlike that with any other room of ‘strangers.’ It makes sense when you think about it, because we spent hours/days/months/years with these kids who are now adults. Although we haven’t seen many of them for over 30 years, we still instantly picked up where we left off. It’s a bit like coming home, and if you’ve put off going to your own reunion, I urge you to reconsider. We only get one trip around this planet, and whatever you’re hesitant about confronting at your reunion is very small compared to the friendships you can rekindle, the smiles you’ll share with old friends, and the feeling of continuity you’ll enjoy.

I was amazed at the broad variety of professions and skills our old friends had developed. One of them got into the film industry and develops all of the content you see on the screens on a show like NCIS or 24. All those little TV and computer screens in the show need to have content developed, all the electronics have to work, and everything has to look real, and our friend has a company that does this for the film industry. It was so interesting!

Another friend made a comment that made my husband cringe when he said (on Facebook, no less!) that now as an adult he could finally hug all the “girls that used to be cheerleaders!” Maybe that’s too much information, but its true because all those barriers are removed as adults, and everyone is just happy to be alive, to see each other, to be able to share old stories, (crushes!) and to compare histories and perceptions.

The night went way too fast, and we could have spent several more hours talking and laughing. I guess it’s good to leave it like that, wanting more. The best advice I can give you is to get back in touch with your peers via Classmates.com or Facebook, and make it to your next reunion to see for yourself. People both change and stay the same, and you’ll find out for yourself how it feels to “come home” after all these years.

Doug Grude, Mary Lou Lyon, Evan and Alisa Corstorphine

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4

Logo Usage GuidelinesMarch 2008

MinutemanPressLafayette


From San Francisco take the Bay Bridge east to Highway580 then to Highway 24 through the Caldecott Tunnel tothe Oak Hill Road / Central Lafayette exit.

From Oakland and Berkeley take Highway 24 east throughthe Caldecott Tunnel to the Oak Hill Road / CentralLafayette exit.

At the Oak Hill Road/Central Lafayette exit turn right ontoOak Hill Road and go to Mount Diablo Boulevard. At thestoplight turn right onto Mount Diablo Boulevard and go tothe next stoplight at Lafayette Circle. Turn right into TownCenter Retail and you will be facing Town Center Apartments.

From Silicon Valley and Pleasanton take Highway 680 northto Highway 24 west to the Central Lafayette/Moraga exit.

From Walnut Creek take Highway 24 west to the CentralLafayette/ Moraga exit.

At the Central Lafayette/Moraga exit, turn left onto DeerHill Road and go west to Oak Hill Road. Turn left at thestop sign onto Oak Hill Road and go to Mount DiabloBoulevard. At the stoplight turn right onto Mount DiabloBoulevard and go to the next stoplight at Lafayette Circle.Turn right into Town Center Retail and you will be facingTown Center Apartments.

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Tunneling Through Time: The Caldecott Tunnel 4th Bore

As work progresses on the fourth bore of the Caldecott Tunnel, fascinating discoveries are being made. A presentation of these finds is being held on Wednesday, October 12 at 2PM in the Village Theatre located at 233 Front Street in Danville.

Watch a DVD of a tunneling machine in action. Learn about the his-tory of the tunnel. See the paleontological artifacts uncovered during the current dig, as fossil remains of pre-history animals and plants have come tumbling out of the excavated rock layers. Discover how construction really works. Ivy Morrison, the Caldecott Tunnel Information Officer and CalTrans expert, Construction Manager Bill Bornman, and a local geologist will be making the presentation.

Sponsors of this event include The Museum of the San Ramon Val-ley, San Ramon Valley Historic Society, and the San Ramon Historic Foundation. Tickets for members of the sponsoring groups are $10, and guests will be charged $15. Tickets will be sold at the door with registration beginning at 1:30PM.

For additional information, please go to www.museumsrv.org, www.SRHF.org, or call 925-837-3750.

Contra Costa Coin ShowThe 15th annual Contra Costa Coin Show, Saturday and Sunday,

October 8th and 9th, has a new home at The Crowne Plaza Hotel, located at 45 John Glenn Drive in Concord. While the location has changed, the event will continue its four year tradition of financial support to the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano.

The doors open to the general public at 10AM each day. Over 30 west coast coin dealers will be on hand to buy, sell, trade, and offer free appraisals to the public. Other items will be available at the show including paper money, tokens, medals, supplies, estate jewelry, and watches as well as coin photography.

“This is a great event for both the collector as well as the general public,” said Bill Green, treasurer for the Diablo Numismatic Society, the non-profit coin club hosting the annual show. “There are so many fascinating items at the Contra Costa Coin Show, and anyone wanting to know the value of their coins and collectables can get multiple, free, informal appraisals. It’s convenient, and safe, and the $3 admission is good for both days.”

There will be drawings for valuable coins and other prizes. Also, Boy Scout Troop #65 will host a youth exhibit that includes free coins for children.

The Diablo Coin Club donates a portion of the admission fees to the Food Bank as well as any donations provided from club members, coin dealers, and the general public.

Contact Bill Green of the Diablo Numismatic Society for more informa-tion at (925) 351 – 7605, or visit the club’s website at diablocoinclub.org.

•The Royal Society Jazz Orchestra will be playing the tunes that made 1920s San Francisco roar! Wednesday, October 19, 6:30-7:30pm at the Orinda Library.

•Book Discussion led by Moraga Mayor, Karen Mendonca on Thursday, October 20, 7-8pm at the Moraga Library.

•Orinda’s Mystery Book Club discusses Carter Beats the Devil on Friday, October 21, 3-4:30pm at the Orinda Library.

•Lafayette Book Club discusses Carter Beats the Devil on Wednesday, October 26, 7-8pm at the Lafayette Library & Learning Center.

•An Evening with the Author, Glen David Gold. Discussion and Book Signing Tuesday, November 1, 7pm at the Lafayette Library & Learning Center.

For more information on Lamorinda Reads! 2011, call the Lafayette Library at (925) 385-2280, the Moraga Library at (925) 376-6852, or the Orinda Library at (925) 254-2184 or visit http://guides.ccclib.org/onebook.

Read continued from page 2

SonRise Equestrian Foundation Celebration!SonRise Equestrian Foundation is celebrating its 5th anniversary

of offering free-of-charge a variety of programs for children socially, emotionally, or physically challenged. The warmth of wise and patient horses, schooled by caring professionals, enables participants in the programs to gain self-confidence, build relationships, and discover the means to achieve their full potential. Unique to SonRise, Traveling Tails takes miniature horses to children in hospice and terminal care facilities. Imagine the delightful surprise of waking to find a friendly horse in your hospital room!

“Wente, Wine & Equine” promises to be a gala evening. The event will begin at 6PM on Friday, September 16th at Wente Vineyards, 5500 Arroyo Road, Livermore, with two of the Traveling Tails minis greeting guests as the two-footed attendees tuck into appetizers and continuing with silent and live auctions and a wine cellar raffle. Music by the Jack Pollard Jazz Group will accompany dinner and later dancing. Although Black Tie is optional, black jeans and boots won’t be out of place.

Tickets are available on the SonRise website www.sonriseequestri-anfoundation.com. SonRise is a 501(C)(3) non-profit foundation.


Lamorinda Peace and JusticeThe Lamorinda Peace and Justice Group meets on the fourth

Tuesday of each month from 7 – 9PM in the fireside room of Lafayette Methodist Church, 955 Moraga Road, Lafayette. Our group is committed to working to support a healthy planet, a thriving local community, and a safe, equitable world for all. For more information, call 925-946-0563.

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“Can You Canoe” FundraiserLamorinda Sunrise Rotary has chosen a path…or waterway…less

traveled as a means of generating extra revenue to fund community and international service projects for 2011-12.

Working as a hands-on team, a dozen members spent the past seven months constructing, from scratch, a custom-made, tandem (two-seat) wood canoe to be raffled off to the public. The finished product represents more than 1,000 hours of labor.

In coming weeks, the one-of-a-kind canoe will be transported to various venues to showcase its eye-arresting attributes including in a booth at the Lafayette Art & Wine Festival September17th-18th.

Raffle tickets costing $20 each, or $100 for six, may be purchased at the booth or via the club website, www.lamorindasunrise.org.

The drawing takes place immediately after the Lafayette Reservoir Run on October 30th. The winner need not be present to claim the canoe or, if preferred, $2,000 in cash.

More than 200 strips of African rosewood veneer were measured, cut by hand, and manually applied to a foam-core, inside and out, of the 15-foot vessel. It is finished with multiple coats of high-gloss marine varnish.

Other materials used in fabricating the layered hull are Kevlar and umpteen rolls of fiberglass. Tiger maple was chosen for the decks, gunnels (top edges) and thwarts (exposed inside cross struts). The canoe is surprisingly light in weight, only about 55 pounds, according to Gary Fulcher, a club member who has successfully built ten canoes by himself.

Crafting a canoe as a fundraiser was the joint brainchild of Fulcher of Orinda and fellow Rotarian Pat Flaharty of Moraga. Working in shifts supervised by Fulcher, the crew toiled weekdays in his private woodshop in Lafayette.

Thirty percent of net proceeds have been earmarked as the club’s contribution toward construction of the Lafayette Reservoir concert stage, a project mostly funded and spearheaded by the Lafayette Rotary Club.

The canoe project is not the only fundraiser conducted by LSR this year. An auction dinner and auto show held over Father’s Day weekend netted a combined $30,264, said club president Alex Arnold, a resident of Moraga.

Lamorinda Sunrise Rotary is in its 25th year of operation. Guests are always welcome to attend the weekly breakfast meetings at Postino restaurant on Mount Diablo Boulevard in Lafayette. Start time is 7:15am. For more information on club activities, visit www.lamorindasunrise.org.

Lamorinda Sunrise Rotary members John Fazel, left, and Pat Flaharty take the canoe for a test spin at San Pablo Reservoir. Yup, it floats, and it looks good doing so. The15-foot-long wood vessel is surprising light in weight - about 55 pounds.

19th Annual Lafayette Reservoir Run, Sunday, October 30th

“The fastest 5K and the toughest 10K in the land”

The Lafayette Reservoir Run is the city’s most popular “family affair,” involving kids, parents, grandparents, and hundreds of serious runners from all over the Bay Area. Over 2,500 participants compete in a 10K, 5K or two mile race through the heart of downtown Lafayette, around the reservoir, and back. Sprinters, walkers, the “stroller brigade,” and many of Lafayette’s top four legged residents share the streets on the last Sunday morning in October. Race times begin at 8am, and “day of” registration begins at 6:30am. There are division awards for all top participants in the 5K and 10K. The two mile fun run is a non-timed event.

Enjoy music provided by Stanley Middle School and a pancake breakfast provided by the Lafayette Rotary Club.

Parking is available at the BART parking lot. Walk down to Plaza Center (Mt. Diablo Blvd. at Moraga Rd.) where all the fun will take place.

Pre-registration can be done by visiting the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce website, www.lafayettechamber.org, or www.active.com.

Beneficiaries of the event are the local schools and the services and programs of the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce. For more information, visit www.lafayettechamber.org or see our YouTube video at www.youtube.com/results?search_query=lafayette+reservoir+run&search_type=&aq=f.



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(continued on side two)

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September AAUW MeetingMake a connection with your community by attending this year’s kick-off

meeting hosted by AAUW (American Association of University Women) OML (Orinda, Moraga, Lafayette) Branch. The meeting will be held Tuesday, September 20. A light breakfast and socializing from 9-9:45AM will begin the meeting, followed by an accounting of AAUW’s venerable history presented by Jo Harberson. Then, a short program about the 100 year anniversary of Women’s Suffrage in California will be presented by Pat Macsata, a member of the Museum of the San Ramon Valley. Invite your friends, and learn about the many activities the OML Branch offers to its members. The AAUW pro-motes educational and leadership opportunities for girls and women. Meetings are held the 3rd Tuesday of the month at the Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Cultural Center locate at 1700 School Street in Moraga.


The BookwormBy Joan Stevenson

By the time this reaches your mailbox, the new hours at the Lafayette Library and Learning Center will already have started. There is a net gain of two hours with the most dramatic coming with the increase on Saturday from 10am-5pm. Those hours will

delight many Lafayette families. You may ask in these tough economic times how such an increase could take place. The Bookworm wondered as well so I went right to the source as usual. I asked Robin Holt, President of the Friends, if that esteemed organization had their hand in it. Sure enough, Robin told me that because of the success of the Friends Corner Book Shop, Dave Hiden, Treasurer of the Friends, was able to write a check for Sunday hours - $38,294, freeing the funding needed for Saturday!

That little corner of our world is a gift that keeps on giving. Let me share a couple of stories to illustrate my point. The Corner Book Shop provided gift certificates as rewards to the children who participated in the library summer reading program. Following the last wildly successful half price book sale, Joan Bruzzone had an idea of how we could extend our reach beyond Lafayette. With Sharon Lingane’s help, five bags of unsold but gently used books were boxed and sent off to Joplin, Missouri, a town still reeling from a tornado in May. A box of books was given to the Bay Area Crisis Center for the children themselves and five boxes of books for them to sell for their money-making venture, and seven more boxes of books went to the Friends of the Pleasant Hill Library for their book shop. Grab your calendars to note that on September 16th from 10am-5pm and September 17th from 9am-5pm there will be a half price sale for all books in the Shop.

In September the world starts to spin again. At LLLC the calendar fills. On Tuesday, September 27th from 7-8PM Dr. Atilla Pavlath, past President of the American Chemical Society, will be the guest speaker at the Science Café. He will explore A World Without Chemistry. Reservations can be

made at [email protected] or by calling (925)283-6513 x.101. The cost is $5 per person, and boxed meals available for pre-purchase at $10.

If you haven’t discovered the classic film series at LLLC yet, then mark your calendar for September 28th at 7PM when the fall movies begin. This time the focus is on “Food Glorious Food.” Movie buff James Keller begins each evening by providing an engaging introduction and then shares the Hollywood “back story” following the film. The first fall feature film will be Big Night. In this 1996 classic, an Italian restaurant run by immigrant brothers is on the verge of bankruptcy when they get the chance to cook up a feast for bandleader Louis Prima.

The Greenbelt Alliance will host a discussion entitled “Rocks on the Move” on Sunday, October 9th from 1PM-3PM. In 1861 the California Geologic Survey led by Josiah Whitney camped at the foot of Mount Diablo. The mountain fascinated the scientists. They were certain that the rocks of Mount Diablo held the key to understanding the geology of California’s Coast Range. So began an infatuation with Diablo that has passed down through generations of earth scientists to the present. Ken’s slide presentation and talk will include stories describing the adventures and misadventures of early scientific expeditions to Mt. Diablo. This program is free and open to all.

Gloria Lenhart announced the programs planned for the fall at A Writers Place. If you have dreamed of taking your story to the silver screen, you will not want to miss the workshop on six Wednesdays beginning on September 14th from 6:30-8:30PM. Sandra Salas, Director of Script Frenzy, invites writers to bring their story idea, no matter how rough, and learn screenplay formatting, character development, and story structure. You’ll finish the workshop with a finished first act and a better understanding of the craft of scriptwriting. The fee is $350. To register or for more information, email [email protected] or call 925-323-3026.

Don’t forget the new library hours: Monday-Thursday 10-8, Friday & Saturday 10-5, Sunday 1-5

Book Shop Half Price Sale: September 16, 10-5, September 17, 9-5

LAFAYETTE LIBRARY LEARNING CENTERF O U N D A T I O N

AND

HOME OF THE GLENN SEABORG LEARNING CONSORTIUM (GSLC) GLENN SEABORGLEARNING CONSORTIUM

LAFAYETTE LIBRARY AND LEARNING CENTERLafayette Library and Learning Center Foundation – Information at LLLCF.org or 925-283-6513

Date–Time–Location Date–Time–LocationSEPTEMBER PROGRAMS OCTOBER PROGRAMS

Check forUpdates at

LLLCF.org

CostCost

LEGEND: CH=Community Hall, A&S=Arts & Science Discovery Center, HC=Homework Center, VM=Veterans Memorial, GSLC=Glenn Seaborg Learning Consortium Program

ICON LEGEND: Youthy..

y..

y..

y..

MusicLiteratureArt LectureCommonwealth ClubCClub Science and HealthHSc

HSc

HSc

HSc

13th…Tuesday 6:30–7:30pm CH

Design…John Otto

CClub

SEPT OCTThe Commonwealth Club(GSLC)..............$12 mbrs, $22 nonmbrs, $7 studentsDonald Van de Mark - The Good Among the Great.Author and former CNN anchor discusses traits of highachievers. commonwealthclub.orgWorld Affairs Council – East Bay ChapterMembers: $8 Non-members: $10; Students: FreeImplications of China’s Rise for the U.S.-Dr. N. BrucePickering will be featured speaker. www.ItsYourWorld.org

14th…Wednesday7–8pm CH

JFK University (GSLC)............................................$5Eat Smart - From Farm to Table Preeminent foodies address healthy gardening, shopping, cooking and school lunches. [email protected]

15th…Thursday1:30–3:00pm CH

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI)............$10Joe Lurie – From Dining and Dating to Diplomacy: Communications Across Cultures. [email protected]

20th...Tuesday6:30–8:00pm CH

Berkeley Repertory Theatre Docent talk.............FreeRita Moreno: Life Without Makeup The back story of this lively show. [email protected]

21st…Wednesday7–8pm HC

Chabot Space & Science Center (GSLC).....$12/childAstronaut Adventure - future space explorers learn about celestial/solar wonders. Ages 2-5. [email protected]

24th…Saturday10–10:50am A&S

Science Cafe: A World Without Chemistry.............$5Chemist Attila Pavlath shares chemistry’s contribution to daily life [email protected]

27th…Tuesday7–8pm CH

Fall Film Series .........................................$8, Seniors $6Food, Glorious Food: Big Night, Stanley Tucci wrote,directed and starred in this 1996 classic. [email protected]

28th…Wednesday7–9pm CH

5th...Wednesday7–9pm CH

Fall Film Series.......................................$8, Seniors $6Food, Glorious Food: Scent of the Green Papaya, This Oscar-nominated 1993 film follows Mui as she grows up in pre-war Saigon. [email protected]

6th...Thursday12:00–12:30pm HC

Lindsay Wildlife Museum: Animals in Autumn....$5/childMs. Jenna will read Bats in the Library at 11:30, Lindsay will arrive at noon with animals to see and experience. Bat craft activity too! Ages 2-5. [email protected]

6th...Thursday 6:30–8:00pm CH

Alta Bates Summit Medical Center......................FreeDon’t Make Me Laugh, Cough or Sneeze! A Discussion for Women about Continence To reserve call 510.869.6737 or email [email protected]

9th...Sunday1:00–3:00pm CH

Greenbelt Alliance (GSLC)...................................FreeRocks on the Move: Join Ken Lavin for an armchair tour through 180 million years of Bay Area geologic history, from dinosaurs to the present. www.greenbelt.org

9th...Sunday1:30–2:30pm A&S

Lawrence Hall of Science (GSLC).................$20/childLight and Shadow: Investigate light and shadow, create and catch shadows of all shapes, sizes and colors.Ages 3-6. To reserve call 510-642-5134

9th...Sunday4:00–5:30pm CH

12th...Wednesday7:00–9:00 CH

Pacific Chamber Symphony...$30/gen,$25/Sr,$10/stuPacific Chamber Symphony kicks off their 2011-2012 season with the World Premier of Caliendo’s World Music Suite #2. Reserve: www.pacificchambersymphony.orgFall Film Series...................................... $8, Seniors $6Food, Glorious Food: Like Water for Chocolate, Romantic fable from Mexico about a young woman who discovers her cooking has magical effects. [email protected]

[email protected]

Today, the Lafayette School District includes four elementary schools, Burton Valley, Lafayette, Happy Valley, and Springhill, as well as M. H. Stanley Middle School, with a combined enrollment of approximately 3,000 students.

The LHS History Room in the Lafayette Library and Learning Center has dozens of photos of all the historic Lafayette schools and the children who attended them. Would your children enjoy seeing the way children

dressed, and what schools were like not so long ago? Bring them in when you’re at the Library. The History Room is open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, 10am to 2pm. For more information call 925-283-1848 or visit www.lafayettehistory.org.

From Twelve Pupils in a One-Room SchoolBy Julie Sullivan, Lafayette Historical Society (LHS)

As students everywhere trudge back to school, it’s a good time to take a backward glimpse at school life in Lafayette over the last century. The earliest record of Lafayette schools dates from 1852, when what was probably the first schoolhouse in Contra Costa County was erected here. It was a small, one room structure near the intersection of Second Street and Golden Gate Way. It isn’t known if classes were held that first year, but the following year 25 year old Benjamin Shreve, who had been a schoolmaster in Kentucky and happened to be passing through town, was persuaded to stay. Shreve taught 12 children during the winter of 1853-54 and went on to become one of Lafayette’s most prominent citizens.

A series of male schoolmasters presided at what was called School Number One through the 1850’s. The first woman teacher on record was Elizabeth Jewitt in 1862. By 1865 the school had an enrollment of 43 pupils in five classes. School was held for four months that year, and the Lafayette School District was the fifth largest of the county’s 26 districts.

By 1868 the school year averaged five months. A tax levy passed in 1868 raised $1,000 to build a new grammar school. Votes were 16 for and 3 against. This building opened in 1871 with 34 students. It was located on Moraga Road, where the Methodist Church stands today. By 1879, school hours were 9am to 4pm and school was held for nine months.

In 1893 a third school building was erected with funds from a $2,000 levy. Both buildings were used until 1923, when the second schoolhouse was transformed into a post office, library, and telephone exchange. The Lafayette Improvement Association relocated the building to face Mt. Diablo Boulevard. It was later sold, and in the 1950’s it housed the Shillalah Cafe.

During the 1890’s and early 1900’s enrollment at Lafayette School averaged 70 students, with a principal and one teacher. In the late 1800’s there was no nearby high school, and elementary schools often included the first year of high school.

In 1927 the fourth Lafayette Grammar School was erected across Moraga Road at School Street. After the building was completed, the Lafayette School District trustees sold the third school house and property to the Methodist Church for $2,000, to be used as a sanctuary and parsonage. Although the building was later remodeled and expanded, an original school bell still remains in the bell tower.

Acalanes Union High School District (which today includes four high schools and serves Canyon, Orinda, Moraga, and parts of Walnut Creek as well as Lafayette) was created in 1939. In that year land was purchased for Acalanes High School. Prior to the completion of Acalanes High School in 1940, students from Lafayette attended Mt. Diablo High School in Concord.

Lafayette Today ~ September 2011 -

This was the third school house built in Lafayette (1893). The second school house (1871) is visible behind it.

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

Lost Dog!

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

Lost Dog! Lafayette Today, PO Box 1335 • Lafayette, CA 94549

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

Eddie Gray is our winner!Luther was hiding on page 17 last month.

Lafayette Luther is MissingHe has become lost in this paper.

Teens: Volunteer in Latin America Next SummerAmigos de las Americas is a program which sends high school students

to volunteer for 5-8 weeks in Latin America during the summer. They will hold their annual informational meetings for students and parents interested in learning more about the program. Meetings will be September 27 at 7:30pm at Las Lomas High School in Walnut Creek, and October 5, 7:30pm at Stanley Middle School in Lafayette. For more meeting times and locations, visit www.eastbayamigos.org. Training begins in November. For questions email [email protected] or call 925-876-1718.

Donate Your Old Furniture to Hospice of the East Bay

Are you planning to update the look of your home and looking for a charitable organization that will accept your old furniture? Well you’re in luck! Hospice of the East Bay thrift stores need your contributions and will come to your home to pick them up.

There are many advantages to donating to Hospice. Donations to Hospice of the East Bay are tax deductible. Proceeds from the sale of your donations benefit the patients and families in the care of Hospice of the East Bay. By donating your unwanted furniture, you are helping your community and the environment by allowing others to put your castaways to good use.

Your contributions can truly make a difference! For store locations and hours, visit www.hospiceeastbay.org. Pick-up service for large items is available by calling (925) 674-9072.

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

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The mission of BBBS is to provide children facing adversity with strong and enduring, profession-ally supported one-to-one relationships that change their lives for the better, forever. “Providing a child with a Big Brother or Big Sister – someone they can look up to, explore the world with, put their trust in – really does change lives,” says Erica Argueta, Hispanic Partnership Coordinator for BBBS of the Bay Area. “Time spent together offers new experiences and new choices, allowing a child to learn more about the world and their own place in it. From the moment a “Little” is matched with a mentor, a door is opened, and the future is full of possibilities. Kids have been able to improve their grades, avoid gang violence and drugs, and reach higher education.”

Guinto’s little sister Sarah, who registered at BBBS in an effort to add more positive role models to her life, claims that through her relationship with Guinto, the life-changing mission has been ac-complished. But Guinto feels the transformation as well. “The program is supposed to benefit the Little,” she says, “but I find that my life is so much richer having known Sarah and her family.”

Big Brothers was founded in 1904 by New York Court Clerk Ernest Coulter who was ap-palled by the suffering and misery of children who came through his courtroom. He appealed to civic and business leaders to take on the role of a “Big Brother.” By 1916, BBBS had spread to 96 cities across the country. Today there are more than 450 BBBS agencies operating in all 50 states and 12 countries around the world. Currently, BBBS of the Bay Area has 54 matches in Contra Costa; 114 children (95 boys and 19 girls) are waiting for a mentor, yet only two volunteers are in the process to be matched.

Generally, Little Brothers and Little Sisters are between six and 16 years old and come from many types of home environments and family structures, socio-economic situations, ethnic backgrounds, and from a variety of neighborhoods and schools throughout the Bay Area. Many are from single parent homes; some are in foster care or are living with a non-parent guardian or other family member. “Their backgrounds and personalities are unique, but they all have the need for a special friendship with a caring adult,” says Argueta.

Mentors (or Bigs) will find that the program is flexible, and there are no mandatory activities. A Big can organize anything from riding bikes together, playing sports, cooking together, going out to lunch, running errands, or simply doing homework. “The most important thing is to be there for the child and give them the one-on-one time, two to four times a month for a year,” says Argueta. “Most of our Bigs have such a great time mentoring, that they continue to mentor well beyond the year. We even have some matches that have lasted 10 years. Many mentors have told me their Little becomes like family.”

Guinto and Sarah’s time together is usually a little more exciting than laundry duty. The two have had a relationship for five years, and they try to see each other weekly as time allows. They might do lunch and a movie, cook, or visit museums. Sometimes they simply do homework together.

“Sarah is just a cool kid, and it's genuinely fun to spend time with her,” says Guinto. “We both have a goofy sense of humor, so I would say we spend 80% of our time together just laughing hysterically.”

Guinto and Sarah were first matched when Guinto lived in San Ramon, and Sarah lived in Danville. Guinto now lives near Lake Merritt in Oakland, from where she commutes to her job in Mountain View as director of communications for the Alzheimer's Association, Northern California and Northern Nevada. The distance has not affected their relationship.

“Sarah and I have an annual tradition in which we write two letters -- one to ourselves and one to each other,” says Guinto. “We reflect on our year together, on the milestones we've achieved, our favorite memories, what we hope for in the next year... then we put those letters away until the following year. When we open them in the first week of the following year, it is really exciting. We laugh, we cry, and then we re-read the letters we've written over the years that we've known each other and we laugh and cry more. When I first met Sarah, she was 10 years old. It's truly amazing to see her grow every year through those letters and to also see how much my life has changed since knowing her.

“Many people feel they are too busy to commit to becoming a mentor,” says Argueta, “but almost every ‘Big’ enrolled in our program will tell you that the time they spend with their Little is often the most rewarding part of their day, and something they look forward to each week.”

“When I reflect on my years with Sarah and consider the big picture of our relationship,” add Guinto, “I think what I most enjoy is watching Sarah grow, mature, and really develop a sense of self. Being a volunteer with BBBS has been one of the most positive experiences of my life.”

BBBS is currently seeking male volunteers in the Bay Area, South Bay and Peninsula. Of 1,000 children in these areas waiting to receive a match, 70% are boys. And, as a victim of recent federal budget cuts, BBBS is losing all of its federal funding. It costs $2,000 to make and support a match the first year and $1,500 each year thereafter to maintain the relationship with professional support that provides intensive case management from the time a match begins until the match has ended - ensuring the healthy development of the match relationship.

To sign up as a volunteer mentor or to make a donation, visit www.bbbsba.org.

- September 2011 ~ Lafayette Today

BBBS continued from front page

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Anesthesia Free Dentals: Are they All they are Cracked up to Be?

By Dr. Karen Rettig, DVMAs a veterinarian I am regularly asked why we

need to anesthetize animals for dental cleanings. Until recently my answer to that question was that it is too difficult to scale an animals teeth adequately while awake, and secondly the animal needs to be anesthetized to perform adequate imaging techniques such as dental x-rays and removal of teeth.

The second statement still holds true, animals need to be asleep for dental x-rays and extractions. However, with patience, expertise, and the right equipment, dental scalings can be performed adequately while your pet is awake. So what changed my mind?

I was contacted by a company called Animal Dental Care. They are a company that utilizes licensed veterinary technicians (and those pending licensure) to perform dental cleanings. All technicians have at least six months training in dentistry and are taught handling techniques to keep the patient calm and comfortable. They utilize hand scaling and ultrasonic scaling. I would not have believed it unless I saw it for myself. I offered up my highly strung English Setter as a test case. I am embarrassed to say that her teeth had a significant amount of plaque, and with her hyperactive personality, I thought she would be quite a challenge. To my amazement, she sat there and allowed the technician to steadily remove all the plaque from her teeth. He scaled the area up under her gingiva and then probed all the teeth to ensure there were no deep pockets or evidence of infection. At the end he provided me with a copy of a report that outlined any dental pathology that he found.

Which animals are candidates for anesthesia free dentals?Animals that do not have significant dental pathology that may require extractions

are candidates for an anesthesia free dental. Generally it is recommended that animals have an anesthetic dental with dental x-rays yearly to every few years as determined by your veterinarian. This is not a replacement for anesthetic dentals but rather as a complement. Many breeds develop plaque build up quickly, and this is the perfect solution to keep the teeth clean between anesthetic dentals. It is also a good alternative for old or sick animals that are at increased risk for anesthesia.

What if significant dental pathology is found during the anesthesia free dental cleaning?

If any lesions such as deep pockets, infection, fractured teeth, or resorptive lesions are found in patients, then the animal will be referred back to their regular veterinarian for an anesthetic dental, and there will be no charge for the hand scale performed to that point.

How often should my dogs teeth be scaled?The frequency of scaling depends on the patient and how quickly plaque

builds up. The more frequent the hand scaling, the cheaper the cost. How much does the cleaning cost?The cost ranges from $45 to $205.Do the animals require sedation?Approximately 1 in 100 animals requires sedation. The others are very calm

and cooperative. The technicians use patience and understanding, and they slowly introduce each phase of the procedure. This allows the technician to use the same tools used in anesthesia dental cleanings. If the technician determines the patient is uncooperative, then they will recommend an alternative treatment approach.

Is the cleaning as thorough as that performed under anesthesia?Yes. The technicians are highly skilled hygienists. They know the

importance of removing all the plaque from the inside and outside of the tooth as well as up under the gum line. Vets oversee the procedure and fully examine the teeth once the cleaning has been performed. Owners receive a summary of the procedure and any areas of concern.

How long do cleanings take?This depends on the amount of plaque build up and the personality of the

patient. Generally the initial cleaning take approximately 15-25 minutes. If it takes longer than this, the technician will recommend returning at a later date, and there is no further charge to complete the dental cleaning.

Questions?For any further questions or to book your furry friends next cleaning,

please call 925-283-6160.Dr. Karen Rettig is a Holistic Veterinarian. She offers anesthesia free dentals

at her wellness center, Alternatives For Animals, located at 1042 Brown Ave, Lafayette. For more information, visit www.alternatives4animals.com. Advertorial

Paws to Celebrate From wine to canines, there’s something for everyone at the Livermore

Valley’s Paws to Celebrate fundraiser which will be held on October 1 from 1-4PM at Retzlaff Winery, located at 1356 S. Livermore Avenue in Livermore. The East Bay Miracles local chapter for Canine Companions for Indepen-dence® (CCI) is hosting the second annual event which will be a fun celebra-tion and a casual affair with something for both adults and children.

The guest emcee for the day will be Faith Alpher, comedienne and DJ from KKIQ. There will be a BBQ lunch and wonderful organic wines from our hosting sponsor, Retzlaff Vineyard. In addition to the silent auction, carnival games and raffle, the event will have demonstrations from service dogs teams and trainers, and a special “Ask the Vet” booth with Dr. Block. Live music will be playing throughout the afternoon. Tickets are $50 for adults and $25 for children under 18. They can be purchased at www.ccieastbay.org.

The goal of the afternoon is to raise $20,000, the cost to sponsor the training of two assistance dog teams. Every service dog raised and trained by CCI is given absolutely free to the applicant. Whether it’s turning on a light switch for a wheelchair user or alerting a person who is hearing impaired to the sound of a fire alarm, a Canine Companion helps make independent living a reality for a person with a disability.

Canine Companions for Independence is the largest assistance organi-zation in the world. The East Bay Miracles is the regional chapter serving Alameda and Contra Costa Counties. Our members include puppy raisers, breeder caretakers, graduate teams, and volunteers. For more information about CCI, visit the National Web Site at www.cci.org.

San Ramon Valley Genealogical MeetingsThe San Ramon Valley Genealogical Society meets at 10am the third

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

For information, call Ed at (925) 299-0881, or visit http://srvgensoc.org.


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It’s That Time of YearBy Art Lehman, Village Associates Realtors

I got tired of writing this past year all about the market and the shape it is in. So, how about something practical for a change? The weather is good, so now is the time to take care of those last minute projects before fall and winter rains hit.

Unfortunately, many of our projects get put on the back burner and simply get attended to when a big problem shows up, which in many cases is a

greater problem than if it had been taken care of early on. This is the point of the article – It’s that time of the year. Do you need roof and chimney repairs? Have you cleaned your gutters and downspouts? Have you trimmed back your trees? Have you completed that lingering drainage work? Do you have a damaged portion of a driveway in need of fixing? Have you cleaned drainage ditches or creek debris? The list goes on and on.

I always feel better knowing my gutters and downspouts are clean so that when the first big rainstorms come I don’t have to be outside in the wind and rain trying to stop the flood cascading off the roof.

I realize that it often seems easier to react to a problem than to anticipate one. Some homeowners meticulously maintain their homes but many people wonder why their “new” gutters not working when to them new means three years ago and no maintenance has been done in those three years.

So we have a few months before the good, the bad, and the get ugly. I hope after reading this article it will call forth my readers to take ACTION and get to those items that should have gotten fixed a while ago and those that need to get fixed because you know they will not survive another winter. If there is some extra time and you do a little preventative maintenance that will just make you sleep even better!

Just one thought about the market... In spite of all the bad financial ups and downs in August, properties in Lafayette have still been selling and it seems like there is less inventory too. However the upper price ranges are still much challenged. Once again, if you have a plan for moving and you

price your home aggressively, it will sell.If you have any questions on selling or buying a home in the area, please

contact me at Village Associates at (925) 200-2591 or by email at [email protected]. If you’d like a free automatic email update of current listings and sales, visit my website to sign up www.artlehman.com or call! Also, if you have any topics for future articles, please let me know! Advertorial

Lafayette Hiking GroupTo participate in hikes, join us as we form carpools to the trailhead. Bring

water, layered clothing, good walking shoes, sun protection, and money to contribute toward gas and parking. ($3 local)September 17 - Old Moraga Ranch Trail

Meet in the parking lot out from Lafayette BART’s main entrance at 8:30AM. We will hike part of this wide, dirt trail there-and-back. Great views of Moraga and surrounding hills and northern Central Contra Costa will be seen. 1.5 hours max, unless we have long breaks in-between! Bring a hiking stick.

• Strenuous, steep 2-3 mile, Leader: Roxana YauSeptember 23 - an Autumn Walk & Lunch in San Francisco

Meet in front of the Ferry Building at 9AM. We will walk through SOMA, South Beach, China Basin, NW side of Mission Creek Marina, and SF Design Center area (visiting at least a couple of showrooms). Lunch will be at the Culinary Academy at 11:30. Continue to add calories, if you wish, by ending the hike in the Mission at the Bi-Rite Creamery, passing by the Women’s Building. Please respond by Monday, September 19 for lunch reservation headcount. See http://www.techniquerestaurant.com/TECHNIQUE_menu.pdf.

• Moderate - about 6 miles. Leaders, Linda On & Roxana YauOctober 5 - Joaquin Miller Park, Oakland Hills

Meet at the City parking lot on Moraga Road at 9AM. Trees, shade, and views will be enjoyed at this Oakland Park next to Redwood Park.

• Moderate – under 3 miles. Leader Chester JungE-mail any questions to [email protected].

[email protected] Uncertainty!By Daniel A Barnes, CFA

This week, a strange confluence of events caused me to see some things differently.

We will start with some words I penned on July 22nd in response to the EU discourse of the week.

Fiscal Union in the EU is coming. Many people think that the Euro is in danger. Poppycock! The problem is that politically, the people of the different countries are not ready to accept a fiscal union in the EU. Some people, even many people think that Yesterday the EU

commission released the 6th plan to solve the insolvency problem in the EU. Unfortunately, the “haircut, that Greek debt holders will receive is just half of the expected “haircut” which is at least necessary in order to achieve a lasting resolution to the debt problem.”

I penned those words 35 day ago. In the past month we’ve had several ups and downs -- mostly downs. The economy appears to be headed for a recession. Oil has fallen $40, and the stock market fell 1,900 points. Gold rose $200 dollars an ounce; Gold fell $200 dollars, then rose back up another $120. The Libyan rebels beat Gaddafi. Hurricane Irene shut down the Big Apple.Uncertainty reigns supreme for September 2011

Ten years ago, some things weren’t so different. The economy had slipped into a recession (but no one knew it yet). Then 9/11 hit. The U.S. responded strongly. Yet, despite the distractions of two undeclared wars and a trillion dollars of extra spending in reaction to 9/11, a housing boom, and then a bust, not too much changed in the last decade. It has been said that once 9/11 hit, everything was different. But, if I analyze the facts of how our economy was structured, how people led their lives, and how much things cost, 9/11 didn’t really change much, at least by my reckoning.

To recap, we headed into September 2001 without seeing a lot of uncertainty; however, we were presented with catastrophic events, which changed very little in the structural paradigm operating in that day.

Heading into 2011, we see only uncertainty. Yet this time, I think the stage is set for some real transformative change. I believe the paradigm has shifted. Political discourse is actually focusing on our real issues. How refreshing! Paradigm shifts are curious things; they’re uncomfortable and yet exhilarating at the same time

I recently had travel plans fall apart. Or at least I thought they had (perceptional differences). They were big plans and, accordingly, included significant sunk costs. But because of the travel plans seemingly going awry, I realized that I was going to get to places that had eluded me for 25 years. The sunk costs, the blown-up plans, and the terrific uncertainty of the moment all energized my mind to consider Plan B and even Plan C! John Maynard Keynes, when asked why he changed his position, once said, “When the facts change, Madam, so do I. What do you do?”Behavioral finance discusses how people often underreact to new information

Awareness of uncertainty puts us on edge and excites the cryptons of our gray matter. When the change happens, we are ready to think, adapt, imagine, and react. We’re forced to use precisely those skills of analytical decision-making and problem-solving and adaptation. This great uncertainty opens up a whole new world of opportunities to learn, explore, adapt, and exploit. That’s what human beings are best at!

What if today’s recognized uncertainty is exactly what’s needed to open up the minds of the electorate to the hard political compromises that are so necessary to recrafting the social contract between the young and the old, the rich and the poor.

I think that today’s uncertainty is critical as a first and second step to preparing the way for elective and legislative change, including forming new political consensuses. The European Union, the existing contract between labor and Capital, and the Asian mercantilist model are all teetering. It is precisely in this fertile environment that the political and cultural consensus will slowly (or less slowly) develop, in order to forge new agreements and frameworks, consistent with the facts of today.

I’m changing my view as the facts have changed. Would you do anything differently?Barnes Capital LLC is a Registered Investment Advisor. We manage trusts

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Top Ten Estate Planning Mistakes, Part 2By Robert J. Silverman, Esq.

In August, my article featured five of the top ten mistakes commonly made in the estate planning arena: 1) Not having a valid Will, 2) Not having a valid Power of Attorney, 3) Not having a valid Advance Health Care Directive, 4) Not having a valid Revocable Living Trust, and 5) Not titling your assets properly. Below, I’ll cover the next five, which are no less important. The stakes are

high, and thus the consequences of these mistakes can be extremely detrimental. 6) Making gifts imprudently. Despite good intentions, some donors lose

sight of the most basic consideration. Is making the gift prudent? Might the donor need the asset in the future? Will the donee handle the gift responsibly? If the donee may not handle it responsibly, establishing an irrevocable trust to control the gift can be very helpful.

For “convenience” purposes or to short-cut estate planning, many people add chil-dren to their bank accounts, or worse, to the title of their home (e.g. as “joint tenants”). On the surface, it seems like an attractive option. Usually, it’s a bad idea. In addition to potentially triggering detrimental tax consequences (see # 8 below), extraordinary care should be exercised when gifting a fractional interest (and retaining a fractional interest). A dangerous factor that is constantly overlooked is that, if not structured properly, the donor’s retained interest can be exposed to the donee’s creditors!

7) Failing to have optimal (or any) beneficiary designations. Upon the death of the owner, a “contract-based” asset, like a retirement account (IRAs, 401Ks, etc.) and life insurance policy are distributed to the designated beneficiary(ies); NOT to those entitled to your assets under your Will or Living Trust. Doing any of the following will subject the account/policy to probate unnecessarily: a) fail-ing to designate a beneficiary(ies), b) failing to ensure that the proper beneficiary designation form is on file with the retirement account custodian or life insurance company, or c) designating your “estate” as beneficiary. Also, be sure every ben-eficiary on file reflects your current wishes. Upon my recommendation, a recent new client checked his large IRA, and his ex-wife was designated – and this was certainly not the first time this ever happened! Finally, the type of designated

beneficiary (e.g. individual, charity and/or a living trust) determines the critical question of whether and for how many years your beneficiary can “stretch” the inherited retirement account (e.g. an IRA) on a tax deferred basis.

8) Selling or gifting assets without first understanding the tax implications. Many donors don’t consider the sometimes serious tax ramifications of selling or gifting an asset – at least not until it’s too late. Potential income tax, property tax, gift tax and estate tax consequences should always be explored before a gift or sale transaction. The timing of a gift or sale (e.g. whether it occurs before or after the owner’s death) and the manner in which it occurs (e.g. whether it is an installment sale; gift in increments over a number of years; a 1031 tax deferred exchange; etc.) can have a dramatic impact on the resulting tax liability, and thus substantially affect the net financial benefit.

9) Not keeping your estate planning documents up-to-date. People, tax laws, families and personal finances all change. So, estate planning is not a one-time event or a static endeavor. Wise people visit their estate planning attorney periodically, as needed – perhaps every 3-5 years, or sooner upon the occurrence of any significant change in their personal, financial or family situation.

10) Not seeking advice from experienced professionals. “Estate Planning” can be a misnomer. When I talk to individuals and groups about estate planning, a common, sometimes half-joking, response is, “I don’t have much of an estate to plan.” While the economy has wreaked havoc on asset values, and many are financially constrained, everyone has an estate to plan. That’s because an estate is, most importantly, about your loved ones, not just your financial assets. Most successful people consult with trusted advisors - experienced legal, financial, insurance, and tax professionals - who play a meaningful role in protecting and enhancing their lives and that of their loved ones. Why? Because these matters have complexity, and the problem with trying to do it all on your own is that you don’t know what you don’t know…

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

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

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Cinema ClassicsThe Philadelphia StoryBy Peggy Horn

A book I’m reading about a champion show horse from the 1950’s era mentions The Philadelphia Story, (1940) and indicates that the movie portrays so-called “main line” or high society. The book discusses the huge gap between rich and poor in those days and that even horse

showing was limited to those of an elite class. These main liners lived a life of elegance, wealth, and luxury that was not only forbidden to the hoi polloi, its very existence was carefully hidden from their view. It’s certainly true that The Philadelphia Story shows us how the wealthy Lord family lives, but it does so with humor and warmth and everybody, rich and poor, learns a thing or two of value.

As most of you know, the movie stars Cary Grant, Katherine Hepburn, and James Stewart, with direction by George Cukor (who also directed, Adam’s Rib). Katherine Hepburn plays the role of Tracey Lord, the daughter of a well to do Philadelphia family. Tracey is about to marry a man of humble beginnings who has amassed enough wealth to make him part of Philadelphia’s high society. Cary Grant is C.K. Dexter Haven, Tracey’s first husband, and he accompanies two employees from Spy Magazine (James Stewart and Ruth Hussey) to the Lord household ostensibly to garner an insider’s view into the wedding day of a main liner of society. Tracey and her sister, Dinah, decide to give the representatives from Spy Magazine some hilarious ‘real’ insight into their opulent lives including a performance of “Lydia the Tattooed Lady,” by Dinah. If anyone wants

some pointers on how to control an interview to their own advantage, please consult Tracey’s conversation with the two representatives from Spy. No one could be more elegantly insulting. In short, this movie is very nearly perfect. One mark of a truly great movie is that it can be viewed repeatedly yet each time the viewer is surprised by the outcome. This movie has that quality along with witty, thought provoking dialogue, gorgeous cinematography, and brilliant acting. The film is available inexpensively online and can be downloaded to computer or television.


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Give Your Home a Sunnier Disposition with a Solatube® SkylightBy John Izzo

Have you found that no matter how many light fixtures and windows you have in your home, there are still certain areas that remain dark and dreary? Then it’s time for a lighting makeover with the state-of-the-art Solatube® skylight.

Over the years, traditional box skylights have earned a reputation for presenting homeowners with a good-news-bad-news scenario. While providing a great way to bring more natural light into the home, they also are associated with all kinds of drawbacks, including leaks, heat loss/gain, high cost, and difficult or messy installations.

But now, bathing your home in the natural beauty of sunlight has never been easier or more affordable. The Solatube skylight can solve the lighting challenges of even the gloomiest of rooms, from kitchens and baths to hallways and stairwells – even shower stalls and walk-in closets can finally see the light of day.

The revolutionary Solatube skylight utilizes state-of-the-art design and materials to provide exceptional natural lighting from sun-up to sun-down, even on cloudy days. The compact size, just 10, 14 or 21 inches in diameter, allows the skylights to go almost anywhere, including areas without direct roof access. Solatube skylights fit easily between existing roof rafters and ceiling joists without structural modifications and can be installed by a professional in under two hours.

Unlike traditional skylights, Solatube skylights virtually eliminate heat loss or gain between the room interior and the outside elements and have earned the Energy Star® rating for optimal energy efficiency. The entire unit is sealed to lock out dust, bugs and moisture and is guaranteed not to leak. Best of all, Solatube skylights provide a “green” home lighting solution you can feel good about, providing an abundance of natural light at no cost, courtesy of Mother Nature.

With Solatube skylights, you can also “accessorize” to create multi-functional units. Some popular options include an integrated electric light kit for nighttime illumination, an integrated ventilation fan for use in damp areas like bathrooms and laundry rooms, and a

Daylight Dimmer that allows homeowners to dial down the level of daylight from 100 percent down to two percent. To enjoy all the benefits of Solatube skylights, it is important to start with the best installation. Find a company who will not only follow correct

procedures, but will guarantee your satisfaction. Sola~Brite, the East Bay’s Premier Solatube dealer, offers complimentary design consultations with certified factory-trained installation consultants.

Solatube skylights continue to qualify for tax credits through the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Qualified participants will receive a 10% tax credit on all energy-efficient products installed in 2010. The tax credit is good for up to $200 and excludes labor costs.

So don’t wait. Create a brighter tomorrow today.Solabrite is a member of the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce and will be participating at the Lafayette Art & Wine Festival this September. Call us at 925-600-1400

or visit our booth at the festival this month. For further details visit solabrite.com or visit the showroom at 5729 Sonoma Drive, Ste H in Pleasanton. Advertorial

California Wine MonthBy Monica Chappell

Break out the Pinot - September is California Wine Month, and that makes it a perfect time to enjoy a glass of California wine. California Wine Month celebrates the state’s ideal climate for wine and its importance to the California economy. Did you know that California is the fourth largest wine producer in the world and makes 90 percent of American wine? In celebration, learning about wine

can be one of the easiest and most fun things you do all month. Here’s my Top Ten list of ways to make wine more accessible all month long: 1. Open a California Sparkler for No Reason - There are so many

reasonably priced bubblies that they can be a better bargain than many still wines. Put a bottle in the fridge, and open it for dinner.

2. Drink More White Wine With Cheese - I've discovered that white wine generally tastes better with most cheeses than red. The acidity in white wines is what does the trick.

3. Take a Flight - Try a wine bar you have never visited, and order a flight of wine.

4. Take Notes - You'll find that the wine will change with time, air, and warmth.

Before

After

When you go back over your notes, you might be amazed at the changes. 5. Stop Holding Back Bottles - I'm as guilty as anyone of saving wines

instead of enjoying them. Without waiting for a special occasion, invite friends over and open some of those gems you've got stashed away.

6. Visit A Local Winery - You’ll be amazed at the diversity of wines and styles in your own neck of the woods.

7. Try Different Wines - There are more than 5,000 grape varieties in the world, but many of us drink the same one, or ones, week after week (the equivalent of eating chicken every night).

8. Try A Wine You Think You Don’t Like - Are you sure you don’t like Riesling? Things change, including your taste.

9. Order the Least Expensive Wine On The List - This takes courage, but I've found that many restaurant wine buyers work hard at finding great deals. Why not take advantage?

10. Enroll In A Wine Appreciation Class - Taking a wine class can be a fun and un-intimidating way to learn more about wine. Whether you take a class on the basics or one with a narrower focus, you'll learn something new and have fun in the process. Hope to see you soon.

Monica Chappell teaches wine appreciation classes in Lafayette, Wal-nut Creek, and Danville. For upcoming classes, go to www.wineapprecia-tion101.blogspot.com.


Preparedness Takes Planning By Evan Corstorphine, Portable CIOComputers are important and often critical tools for work and entertainment…when they work. The problem is, they fail. How

it turns out depends on how well you have prepared. It’s like being ready for an earthquake. We never know when one will hit, but those who have a plan in place will be the ones to most likely have a better outcome.

Backups and disaster planning should be multi-layered, depending on your level of risk. We have many residential customers who describe their computer to us and say, "I don't use my computer for business, there isn't anything important on there." But when we ask if they have photos, iTunes, contacts, documents, music libraries, Quicken files or family tree files, they realize their computers have become just as important as a business computer. Years of work or even an entire business can be wiped out overnight by lack of planning for the inevitable computer failure. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a hardware failure, a software glitch, fire, theft, flood, or a power surge on; they all equally destroy your data.

We’ve had several calls from businesses who want to move their computing entirely “to the cloud.” The term “cloud computing” is an over-used buzzword for running your programs and saving your data through your web browser instead of saving it to your local computer. Instead of files residing on your computer, they are all hosted in other places on the internet. However, even the cloud fails, as we recently experienced.

Many email services are internet-based. Last month the email service we use had a dramatic failure, and email service was severely disrupted. While the pro-vider was able to restore current incoming mail service within a day, access to past emails took up to 10 days. Unfortunately the email provider was hammered by circumstances not of their making. Even though they provide the email service, they were using a common Microsoft product called Exchange, that suffered a corrupt email database. What occurred was a software problem that unfortunately can happen to any email provider at any time; it was simply their turn. How they dealt with it and how they communicated what was going on is why we remain with the company. But the lesson here is that it can happen to anyone, anywhere.

One item that impacted the ability of our email provider to restore client email involved the issue of the size of some users’ Outlook files. They found a number of users had very large mailboxes. Some had over 100,000 messages in a single folder which took up to 24 hours to recover. Outlook performance dramatically suffers when your email database gets larger than 2GB. The rule of thumb is “smaller is better.” Keep email files small enough to be managed and backed up. The best way to handle this is to create archives of older email and to regularly clean out your Sent Items and Deleted Items folders. We have seen people use “Deleted Items” as another storage folder, so nothing ever gets deleted or “thrown away.” If you think you may need an email again, create a new folder and file it away, but keep the trash can empty.

I’ve written many articles on the need for backups. Why? Because it is “when” and not “if” you are going to need your data from a backup. For my first level of defense I use an offsite backup service that continuously backs up my files. For my extremely critical data I use a multi-prong approach which consists of daily internet backups, a weekly image backup to a local external drive, burning multiple DVDs of my most critical data files, and I have family members in other cities store duplicate copies. For some files like my address book, I periodically print out a hardcopy. And occasionally, I copy my entire hardisk drive to a new drive so if the first drive fails I can install the copied drive, update the changed files, and be back on my feet. If all of this seems like a lot of trouble, think about how much trouble it is to put everything back together after a failure or disaster wipes out all of your data...

What is your level of risk? If you need help analyzing your situation or improving your ability to recover from a failure event, call the friendly staff of Portable CIO for a consultation (925-552-7953), or email us at [email protected]. Advertorial

European handball is not played widely in the US and is different from all other youth and high school sports offered in the Diablo corridor. It contains elements of other sports such as soccer, basketball, football, and water polo, but it blends all of these together and requires a different skill-set. “It is simple in concept, and all that is needed to play are closed-toed shoes, a handball, two goals, and a court,” says Holden. “But to play it well requires much more than strength and speed; the game requires skill, strategy and cooperation with teammates. The sport is new and refreshing, yet familiar.”

The game is similar to basketball, in that players pass and dribble a cantaloupe-sized ball (patterned like a soccer ball with the texture of a volleyball) to get in position for a shot on goal. Each goal is one point. Players are not allowed to enter a zone around each goal called the Shooting Arch. Professional games have two 30-minute halves. In Holden’s league, they play four quarters of 10 minutes each. The team with the most goals scored at the end of the game wins.

“This league is different from all of the high school sports that I have played largely because in high school the teams focus on being competitive, whereas in this league the main goal was to have fun and hang out with friends,” says Wilson who, with Holden, will be a co-commissioner next summer. Wilson credits Holden with the inaugural success of the league. “Nick has done an amazing job organizing this league,” he says.“He has been totally committed to making this league happen, and I can not stress how much I appreciate what he has done. When Nick went on vacation this summer for four days and asked me to run the league while he was gone, I found it far more difficult than I could have ever imagined. I'm not sure how Nick handled overseeing everything on his own. I have an immense amount of respect for all that Nick has done.”

As this summer’s league commissioner, Holden scheduled the games and the referees, handled the equipment, and communicated with team captains about scheduling issues. He also filmed each game in order to record statistics, and he maintained the league’s Facebook page.

“The hardest part of starting the league was signing everyone up on Facebook, keeping everyone organized, and making sure there were enough players to play every game,” says Holden. “I wanted everyone to know at least one or two other people on their team, which proved difficult because the players in the league were all of different ages and, in some cases, from different schools entirely, but it was a great way for kids to meet new kids. I also had to collect donation

Handball continued from front page money in order to purchase equipment. The goals, for example, were home-made with PVC piping that I bought at Ace Hardware.”

“The best part of the league was without a doubt the energy that was present every game,” says participant Colton Jang, a 17-year-old senior at Campolindo. “Handball is hands down one of the most competitive sports I've played. Defense and offense are extremely physical, and almost all players are nursing some kind of bruise or scrape by the end of a game. The energy is present in the non-players too. Friends show up with lawn chairs and coolers and music, and two or three refs work the sidelines.

“Nick has invested an incredible number of hours in this league, keeping detailed team stats, players stats, setting up a bracketed playoff tournament and an all-star game, and designing shirts,” continues Jang. “He also managed to miraculously coordinate the schedules of about 80 teenagers so that most or all people could show up for their games.”

Holden and Wilson hope to continue the league’s momentum by starting a handball club this school year at Campolindo and maybe Acalanes, providing off-season practice for this summer’s players. They plan to continue the league next summer and hope to make it even more popular. “We expect to have more players from Acalanes and more younger players from Campolindo,” says Holden, who is currently campaigning to have the league officially registered with The National Handball Association.

“As a co-commissioner next year, my hope is to increase participation and increase attendance amongst the players,” says Wilson. “We would also like to increase the number of spectators that attend each game; it is a lot more fun to have a lot of people watching. All in all, this league was an amazing experience, and I feel honored to have been a part of it. I cannot thank Nick enough for all that he has done, and I can't wait until next season.”

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Sustainable Lafayette Tip of the MonthBy Kendra Tietjen, Summer Intern

Recycling has come a long way in the last 20 years. In 1989 California diverted less than 10% of its waste from landfills. Today the state diverts more than 50% of its waste mainly by recycling bottles, cans, paper, and yard waste. As space in landfills continues to dwindle and people become more aware of the environmentally damaging effects that landfills have, efforts to recycle continue to expand.

Everyone knows the importance of recycling paper and plastic, but what about food? While it may not be the first thing that comes to mind when we think of recycling, food scrap recycling is equally as important and just as easy.

Food scraps account for up to 30% of what we throw away. They are unique because when organic material such as food scraps and yard trimmings are sent to landfills with the rest of our trash, they decompose and produce methane, which is a greenhouse gas that is 23 times more potent than carbon dioxide! In America, the largest human source of methane comes from our organics decomposing in landfills.

The benefits of recycling are striking. The US Environmental Protection Agency estimates that if Californians recycled and composted everything possible, it would be equal to taking every car off the road in the state.

You can start today! All you need to do is begin putting your food scraps into your green waste bin or start composting at home.Food Scrap Recycling Steps:

1) COLLECT your food scraps by putting them into the two-gallon kitchen collection pail that Central Contra Costa Solid Waste Authority provided you with or use your own. If the Waste Authority has not already provided you with one, call them at 925-935-8900, and they will deliver one to you. There are also many attractive food scrap pails at kitchen stores and on the Internet. One trick is to use BioBags or newspaper as a liner so it’s easier to keep clean.

2) EMPTY your food scraps from the kitchen pail into your green yard waste cart whenever it is full.

3) SET OUT your green yard trimmings cart on your already designated weekly garbage/recycle collection day.

Food Scraps That Can Be Recycled:• Fruit and Vegetable Peelings • Floral Trimmings • Egg shells • All Table Scraps • Cheese and Dairy • Used paper towels

• Napkins • Tea Bags and Coffee Grinds• Bread, Grains, and Pasta • Meat, Poultry, and Fish Bones

Even Better - Composting At HomeIf you already recycle your food scraps into the green waste bin or just want to do even more

to help, consider composting. Composting organic waste at home prevents it from having to be trucked away and processed, which uses a lot of energy. You can buy a discounted home composting bin through Central Contra Costa Solid Waste Authority and put organic material such as food scraps and yard trimmings into it, as these materials decompose they will create a high quality soil that is great for gardening and landscaping. To learn more, attend a workshop, or order a composter, please visit Central Contra Costa Solid Waste Authority’s website at www.wastediversion.org and click “Composting.”

To read real-world success stories about how Lafayette residents are recycling and living more sustainably, please visit www.sustainablelafayette.org.

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will screen a feature film that has never been released commercially in the Bay Area and is not currently available through any other medium.

The International Film Showcase at the Orinda Theatre returns September 16-23 with a comedy for the ages titled Autumn Spring. Trailer, showtimes, and ticket information are available at www.lfef.org, www.orindatheatre.com, or on the “International Film Showcase” Facebook page.

www.yourmonthlypaper.com -September 2011 ~ Lafayette Today

Gardening With KateBy Kathleen Guillaume

I can’t believe it is already September. Children are back in school, and the major growing season is ending. I am harvesting my last pears, and what a pear crop I had this year! I might even try a canning recipe for pickled pears. One thing I did learn from a neighbor is one of the best way to eat pears which go from not at all ripe to mush very quickly, is to cut very hard (not ripe) pears into 1/8 or 1/4s depending on the

size of the pear, cut out the center and the woody section by the neck, leave skins on, squeeze over with lime juice, sprinkle lightly with sea salt, and then munch away. I use them for appetizers and snacks. The salt brings out the sweetness even though they are not ripe, and they have a great crunch. Yum!

This is the time of year to keep up with any fruit tree drop and remove any fruit that has gotten over-ripe. My Fuji apples are ready to grace my table; I should be picking them by mid month. Fall can be such a sweet time. This is also a time to add some winter-blooming plants to your pots or borders. My favorites are Nicotiana alata “Lime Green,” a perfect floral color for autumn bouquets, and Coreopsis which comes in a variety of bloom colors from the golds to the yellows. Stop by your local nurseries for additional winter-blooming recommendations.

It is also time to plant sweet peas from seed, and nothing could be easier and more fun to do with children. My favorite seed varieties are those from Renne’s Garden, and I noticed that Mt Diablo Nursery had quite a collection. First almost all sweet peas except for the bush varieties are climbers, so a lattice or strings attached every 5 inches or so to a 2x2 which you can set out 10 to 12” from a fence then nail the string ends about 4-5’ up the fence will create a great climbing surface. When you have that ready, soak the seeds overnight in water, then plant in the ground according to package directions. In spring you will have the most wonderful and fragrant blooms, and you will be glad that you spent some late September days getting them in the ground (they can be planted as late as October).

Winter vegetables should be hitting your nurseries by mid-month, so now is a good time to look around your garden for areas that you can add these winter treats...and get those beds ready. Clear out any spent annuals or summer veggies, and add manure and turn it alone with some compost into the soil with a spading fork. Remember fresh manure is HOT, so you will

need a week or two of watering this in before it is cool enough to plant. If you use chicken manure or bat guano it is much HOTTER, and you will have to wait a longer time to plant, like 3-5 weeks.

When I was young, the vegetable that I hated most was beets, but then generally all that came to our table were canned. On a dare from my aunt when I was in my 50s I tried some just out of the pot, skinned and sliced beets with just butter, salt, and pepper. I thought that I had died and gone to heaven. What a wonderful earthy, full-mouth, taste. I have been hooked every since. If you are going to grow root vegetables, I recommend that you try to do it in 15” deep pots. I go to Ace and buy a wide shallow galvanized bucket, drill a bunch of ½” holes in the bottom with a hole saw, line it with some old window screen, and fill with a sandier mixture of potting soil and potting mix. Root vegetables that grow around rocks, pebbles, and lumps of clay become kind-of gnarled and strange looking; that’s why I like them to have their own soil. DO NOT fertilize or use a planting mix with lots of nitrogen as that will get you tons of beet or carrot tops and almost nothing to eat. All nutrients need to go to the roots, none for foliage or blooms.

Happy Gardening!

Topping Trees?By Blaine Brende & Joe Lamb

At Brende & Lamb we get the occa-sional request to remove some or all of a tree’s crown, a process called topping. There are many reasons why people ask to have a tree topped: increased light,

better view, safer tree, reduced leaf litter. Though it seems counter-intuitive, topping almost always produces the opposite of the desired effect. Topping can decrease available light, mar the view, make a safe tree unsafe, and even increase leaf litter. Take, for example, topping to decrease the shadow cast by a tree. This may work in the very short term, but topping stimulates rapid growth, causing the tree’s crown to thicken, thereby cutting out light after just a few growing seasons. Over time, you get more light for your pruning dollar if instead of topping you give the crown a judicious thinning. When done correctly, thinning doesn’t over stimulate the tree, and it enhances the tree’s aesthetics instead of seriously, sometimes irredeemably, damaging it.

Another common misperception is that topping will make the tree safer; it almost always does just the opposite. Most topped trees decay at the point at which they were topped. Topping also stimulates production of long lanky shoots. Given that these shoots grow out of decaying wood, topping often turns a safe tree into a hazard that increases over time. Some of the more dangerous trees we’ve seen were topped years ago with no follow-up prun-ing. If you have a previously topped tree growing close to your home, it is a good idea to have a competent arborist give it a safety evaluation. Previ-ously topped trees can be made safer by pruning to reduce wind-sail and by reducing weight on leggy branches.

People sometimes top trees to reduce leaf litter, but most trees respond to topping by putting out a profusion of leaves to help repair the damage. In short order, the owner of a topped maple will spend more time with rake in hand than before the topping.

Topping to increase view is often done without realizing that the new view will include an ugly tree. If the tree in the view is a Bay, or a Eucalyptus, or any number of other fast-growing species, the topping will fail to provide view for long because the topped tree will soon produce sprouts that shoot up into the view. Well-planned pruning can often capture view, and it is often possible to enhance the beauty of the tree in the process. A beautiful view framed by a beautiful tree is far lovelier than a view over the top of an ugly and scarred tree.

Another frequent request for topping comes from people about to sell their homes who think that topping their trees will increase the sale price. Real estate professionals know that beautiful trees can raise property values by as much as 20%, whereas a topped tree can be a liability . . . something the bidder on your house might ask you to deduct from the sales price so that they can have the tree removed.

For further information about the perils of tree topping, go to the website of the International Society of Arboriculture and read the article at www.treesaregood.org/treecare/topping.aspx. If you are thinking about topping, please reconsider. It is possible to enhance view, increase light, and make trees safer without topping. Doing so does, however, require competent pruning by tree professionals.

If your trees need a little TLC, give us a call at 510-486-TREE (8733) or email us at [email protected] for a free estimate. Additionally, visit www.brendelamb.com to see before and after pictures, client testimonials, and work in your neighborhood. Advertorial

Backyard BountyIs your garden exploding

with produce? Are your fruit trees about to bear a bonanza of excess fruit? Have you planted so many zucchini, tomatoes, and other vegetables that you may find yourself with more than you can eat?

For the fourth year, Lafayette Today invites you to participate in our Backyard Bounty program. Last year over 3,000 pounds of fresh produce was collected by our readers and passed on to those in need.

We wish to provide produce at its optimum ripeness so nothing goes to waste. A call a week before your produce will be ripe will help us provide the fruits and vegetables at their prime.

To coordinate picking or pick-up of food for donation to local food banks, contact Greg or Lise Danner at 925-552-7103 or email [email protected].

Backyard Bounty


A hot tip from your local Landscape Architect: When it comes to planning an outdoor environment, my motto is: “every square inch has a purpose.”

Gardening Quote of the Month: “I do not understand how anyone can live without one small place of enchantment to turn to.” - Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings

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

Life in the Lafayette GardenGarden RoomsBy John Montgomery, ASLA, Landscape Architect #4059

Imagine your garden to be like your home; having different functions and places for varied activities, per-haps laid out in a similar fashion as the floor plan of your home. Rooms for activities, food preparation and dining, relaxation and contemplation, and work spaces can all be part of the intended vision of a garden design.

Particularly in Lafayette, we are very blessed to live in such a favorable envi-ronment which supports the idea of living inside/out. Current trends over the last decade have been moving towards using the outdoor environment as an extension of the indoor living space. It is very interesting to see some of my renovation projects with homes built in the1940 – 1950’s the way the land was used. For instance, take my home, built in 1948 on half an acre. The landscape entailed a small concrete patio (square), a small patch of turf, a few fruit trees, and the rest was left to go to seed. I find a lot of homes of this era like that. Today, I develop those unused areas into usable outdoor space, or garden rooms.

A home has a heart; so does a garden. Generally the kitchen and family room are the center of activity in a home. Well it is the same for a garden. Most folks in Lafayette enjoy the outdoors all-year-round making food preparation and din-ing outdoors desirable. I design a wide range of outdoor kitchens equipped with everything from 48” stainless steel grills, refrigerators, sinks, dish washers, lobster pots, woks, pizza ovens, keg-a-rators, and wine closets. Pretty much anything in the indoor kitchen can be recreated outdoors. Outdoor kitchens are great for either large parties or dinners for two. The patio space shaded by a pergola or arbor becomes the central room of the garden supporting activities such as eating and dining, conversations with friends and family, entertaining, playing games, or simply sitting quietly reading a book. At night, the fireplace, firepit, or heating umbrellas can take away the night chill for late-night entertaining.

For more rambunctious activities like swimming, soccer, croquet, hide-n-seek and tag, swimming pools and spas, large turf areas, and sport courts become the activity room or even the sports arena. For the avid golfer imagine your own putting green! On the other hand, if the bedroom and sleep is your thing for a nice relaxing Saturday afternoon, carve out a nice quiet corner of the garden for a hammock, chaise lounge, or an outright bed in a small garden cottage. I have designed several versions of an outdoor bedroom for clients; one was a “Sky-Bed” which was a platform you could pull yourself up into the tree canopy with using a pulley system, and then tie it off and take a nap in the tree tops. Another was a small garden cottage (10’ X 12’) that was for Mom and her two young daughters to have sleepovers in. I designed a fold-away Murphy/bunk bed so the cottage could double as play space for the girls during the day.

Lately, I find a fair amount of my clients working from home which gives the garden a completely different potential for use. With wireless capabilities for almost everything, imagine taking care of business poolside in your swim trunks while on a conference call with associates scattered halfway around the globe or sitting with your laptop hammering out the year-end financials while sitting next to a koi pond under the shade of a tree.

There are no limits to the ways you can use your garden. Garden rooms need not be overdone or complicated. Creating “garden rooms” is one approach to ef-fectively design the “floor-plan” of your outdoor environment.

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The 21st Century Woman – Part IIHerbal Medicines for PMS and Menopause By Dr. Michael Ruscio

Many women have heard about anti-depressants or birth control for their PMS and menopausal symptoms, but what about natural herbal alternatives? Let’s take a moment to discuss what herbal medicines have to offer the 21st century woman so that you are aware of all your options.

In my last article we laid a good foundation, discussing the most common causes of female hormone imbalances.

If you didn’t read the article, the main premise was PMS and menopausal symp-toms are usually caused by hormonal imbalances. Building on this foundation, let’s continue with natural treatments.

We first need to break down female hormone imbalances as causing two differ-ent categories of symptoms; neurological and physical. Of course the mental and physical symptoms are linked and do influence one another, but to help understand natural treatments, it helps to discuss them separately.

Neurological symptoms typically result from an imbalance in brain hormones, technically known as neurotransmitters. There are three hormones that are of im-portance. They are serotonin, dopamine, and GABA. Serotonin makes you feel happy and helps you sleep. Dopamine helps you focus, be energized/motivated, learn, and not feel overwhelmed. GABA helps you relax. Most anti-depressant and anti-anxiety medications work to increase serotonin, dopamine, and GABA.

Natural medicines and conventional pharmaceutical drugs can both increase serotonin, dopamine, and GABA. However, natural medicines may provide a safer alternative as the side effects are usually mild to none. Please don’t take my word

for it though; we will discuss what current science is showing in a moment.

Before we do, let’s address the physical symptoms associated with PMS and menopause. Most physical symptoms are caused by fluctuations or imbalances in estrogen and progesterone. Estrogen and progester-one share a yin-yang relationship, meaning they have to be in the proper balance relative to one another for a woman to feel well. The beauty of herbal medicines

is that they can restore your hormones to the appropriate level whether they are

high or low. This is referred to as a process called adaptogenicity. Let’s take a brief look at what modern science is showing.

For all of the following scientific research studies I will provide an ID number. If you would like to see this study yourself, simply go to www.pubmed.com and type the ID number in the search box.

A very well performed study (17461529) found that combining the herbs Black Co-hosh and St. John’s Wort provided significant relief for menopausal symptoms, especially hot flashes. Shortly after this study, another study was published (15863547) show-ing that in the 304 women studied, Black Cohosh was again an effective treatment for menopausal symptoms.

Another very effective herb is Chaste Tree (aka VitexAgnus). A study published in 2010 (20334585) showed that Chaste Tree was effective for treating PMS symptoms. In fact, all measured PMS symptoms (mood, water retention, food cravings, and pain) were significantly reduced within three months of treatment. Another study of 170 women (11159568) showed a similar positive effect on PMS with Chaste Tree.

If you’re asking yourself, “Aren’t drugs more powerful?”, you might find this interesting. A study comparing an anti-depressant medication to Chaste Tree showed nearly identical improvements in PMS symptoms (12672170). Let’s not forget about intimacy. A review of 26 published studies showed DHEA provided mood and libido improvements for women with adrenal fatigue (17208951).

Herbal medicines have much to offer the 21st century woman. One word of caution though, please be careful not to self-diagnose and treat. A skilled clinician can ensure proper use of herbal medicines, especially when it comes to navigating issues of quality control and dose.

If PMS or menopausal symptoms are bothering you, there is help. Invest the time and energy to feel better. Your family, friends, loved ones, and especially You deserve to have the healthiest, happiest version of you.

For more information, visit my YouTube page, www.youtube.com/michaelr-uscio, view my recent newsletter, http://conta.cc/oxAiNR, or email [email protected].

Dr. Michael Ruscio is the director of Functional Medicine at Johnson Chiroprac-tic Group, 115 Town & Country Dr., Suite E in Danville, 925.743.8210. Advertorial

Sciatic Nerve PainBy Elliot Wagner, O.M.D., L.Ac.Doctor of Oriental Medicine,Lafayette Acupuncture Center

Because many people see acupuncturists for sciatic nerve pain, it seems useful to say something about it. In this article, I want to focus on what is emerging now as the most common cause of sciatica. It is called piriformis syndrome, or pelvic

sciatic entrapment syndrome.The sciatic nerve is the longest and largest nerve in the human body. It is

created from the joining of the nerve roots of the spinal nerves at the 4th and 5th lumbar level with those at the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd sacral level. These merge inside the pelvis, then exit the rear of the pelvis through an opening (the sciatic notch) where they emerge into the buttock combined as the sciatic nerve.

From the buttock the sciatic nerve enters the back of the upper leg, travels the length of the thigh, and divides again above the knee to form two large nerves, the tibial nerve and the peroneal nerve, which then travel to, respectively, the inside (medial) and outside (lateral) calf, ankle, heel, and sole.

Sciatica is defined as pain along the course of the sciatic nerve, originating from irritation of, or trauma to, its fibers above the knee. Sciatic pain can arise in the low back, the buttocks, the rear thigh, the knee, and almost anywhere on the calf, ankles, heels or feet. Normally it appears only on one side. The pain can range from mild to severe and disabling.

Until recently, sciatica was thought to be caused by irritation or compression of the nerve roots in the spine due to a displaced or ruptured intervertebral disc. However, a study published in the February, 2005 issue of the Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine has challenged the usual understanding

of sciatica as being of spinal origin. Of the subjects in this study, more than 2/3 were found to have sciatica caused by the painful compression of the sciatic nerve by the piriformis muscle against the wall of the pelvis, also known as piriformis syndrome.

For anyone who has suffered from the toothache-like pain that accompanies a diagnosis of sciatica, this news may come as no surprise; a person with sciatica often feels as though something is wrong in their buttocks or legs. It also may give hope to those for whom spinal surgery for sciatica has not proved effective, or for those who wish to avoid surgery. For many of us who treat this condition, it comes as a validation of our experience. For the first time there is conclusive evidence that sciatic pain is caused at least as often by pressure on the sciatic nerve as by spinal problems. To quote from the study: “One long-standing objection to the validity of piriformis syndrome as a clinical diagnosis has been the unproven assertion that muscle spasm alone cannot produce nerve compression. The results of this study definitively disprove that assertion.”

From the standpoint of treatment, it confirms what acupuncturists have long known: that deactivation of a spasmed piriformis muscle by acupuncture, as well as the use of regular acupuncture as part of a recovery strategy, can help with the pain and restoration of function when other approaches have proved ineffective.

Sciatic pain can be extremely unpleasant, and there is no good reason to continue to suffer with it. If what I’ve written seems to apply please call to request a free consultation, and allow us to see if we can help you.

Consultations with Dr. Wagner are available, at no charge, to discuss your sciatic pain or other health condition. Call Gizelle at 925-962-2287 to make an appointment. He can also be reached at the Lafayette Acupuncture Center, 919 Moraga Road, in Lafayette, or online at www.lafayetteacupuncture.com. Advertorial


Ask Dr. HappyDear Dr. Happy,

I am the mother of eight year old twin boys: David and Donald. Don is very shy while David is loud, aggressive, and, frankly, a bully. For example, last week David tied Don up and put a gopher snake on his neck. Poor Don panicked, screamed, and falling, scratched his face and arm. My husband just says, “Boys will be boys,” but I’m concerned. ~ Should I Do Something?Dear Should,

While a certain amount of rough-housing is to be expected between siblings at this age, bullying and real cruelty cannot, and should not, be tolerated. What’s going on, I’m afraid, is bad enough that it raises my concern for both twins; David’s sadistic bullying and Don’s passive acceptance of it. Frankly, from what you describe, I believe you need to consult with a child psychologist. Check with their school. I bet they can refer you to a good one who has experience dealing with this kind of problem. The one thing I would NOT do is take comfort in the “Boys will be boys” platitude. Please “Should,” get help now before this dangerous behavior goes any further and real damage, both physical and emotional, is inflicted. ~Mr. HappyHappiness Tip

The two big issues right now concern Don’s safety and what seems to be a pattern of sadistic behavior by David. Beyond these is the issue of the boys’ happiness. Frankly, I don’t know whether or not David’s aggressiveness and Don’s passive acceptance of it are primarily genetic in origin or related to how they are being raised, but I suspect at least part of the problem is related to upbringing. This is actually good news because then family therapy may be helpful. However, it is imperative that the entire family be seen and treated by a good therapist NOW for both the safety of the boys and to get the whole family unit headed in a better, healthier direction.

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

This type of fat transfer can effectively be used to fill the lines and depres-sions in the face and add fullness. More youthful lips and brows, stronger cheeks, natural eyelids, improved jaw lines, and facial contours can all be attained with fat transfer. With respect to breast procedures, fat transfer can be an effective technique for breast augmentation, breast contouring and even breast reconstruction.

In my practice, fat transfer is often incorporated with procedures such as facelift (rhytidectomy), breast lift (mastopexy) or reconstruction, and liposuc-tion. In most cases, these procedures are done under a light sleep anesthetic combined with local anesthetic injected at the donor site. Mild liposuction is used to remove the fat which is then processed to obtain the highest quality and number of fat cells and adipose derived stem cells. It is then injected into the desired areas in tiny droplets using a syringe.

The final result of fat transfer becomes visible by the end of the first month and improves over the first twelve months.

Plastic Surgeons spend years in training and continuing education learn-ing the most effective techniques to ensure a smooth, natural, and lasting effect. The use of advanced techniques increases the survival rate of the fat transferred. The fat that survives the transfer can last a lifetime, compared to manufactured fillers lasting four to twelve months. It is an investment worth considering… just like gold.

The risks of complications with fat transfer are not high, but, as with any proce-dure , I will review the associated risks with it prior to your fat grafting. It would be my pleasure to discuss how fat transfer may help you meet your goals as well as any other questions you have regarding plastic and reconstructive surgery.

OPEN HOUSE! Please come and meet me and my staff at our Thursday, September 22, 2011 Open House from 5-8 pm! We will have lots of door prizes, light appetizers and beverages. Our product specialists will be on hand to answer questions as well. Please call to let us know you are coming. I look forward to meeting you!

Barbara Persons MD owns Persons Plastic Sur-gery, Inc. located at 911 Moraga Rd. in Lafayette. Please call 925-283-8811 or email [email protected]. Advertorial

Your Precious, Natural Resource: FatBy Barbara Persons, MD, Persons Plastic Surgery, Inc.

Gold is a precious metal extracted from the earth… a natural resource. Pure.

In recent months, volatility in the world’s financial markets has led people to return to the quality and stability of natural resources like gold. Gold provides investors with a feeling of safety and security.

A strong parallel to the above can be drawn with the insecurity that many of us feel about our bodies when we age, go through the process of child birth, or suffer a physical trauma or injury. We feel a need to be confident again about our appearance, to return our bodies to our own gold standard.

Most patients with whom I consult have heard about engineered solutions such as Botox, Dysport, Restylane, Juvederm, Perlane, and Radiesse to reduce facial lines and wrinkles. What most people do not realize is that each of us already possess our own safe solution to the problem…fat.

A National Geographic News Online Edition article dated September 8, 2009 by John Roach provides poignant insight into how human fat is now being used in many new medical applications. The article mentions, unlike gold, “human fat is an abundant natural resource and a renewable one. The opportunity wouldn't be limited to the obese. Even if you're in great shape, there is still enough fat to be harvested from the vast majority of patients.”

Plastic surgeons are increasingly recognizing that the aging process is not only a result of sag and loss of elasticity but also a result of loss of youthful fullness due to fat loss under the skin. A relatively new technique of transplanting one’s own fat cells from one area of the body to another is now available. This procedure is extremely safe, as only the patient's own fat cells are used. There is no chance of rejection or allergic reaction. The process brings fat stem cells as well as mature fat cells to the area causing regeneration to occur. Glabellar creases, cheek folds, creases under the eyes, facial depressions, and hollow facial features can all be improved and, at times, eliminated.

Brainwaves by Betsy Streeter

www.yourmonthlypaper.comDon’t Mix the Grape and the BrainBy Dr. Michael Nelson

While wine in moderation is generally regarded as healthy, too much alcohol can cause specific neurological conditions. Moderate wine consumption is one glass per day for women and two for men. A glass is a 4 oz pour, which I have to clarify with my patients because some wine glasses can hold almost a bottle. I’ll ask, “How many glasses do you get out of a bottle?” There have been studies of reduced

risk of stroke, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s disease with moderate wine consumption. This is due to blood thinning and antioxidant effects. Red wine in particular attracts a lot of good news stories and this is thought to be due to resveratrol. The bad news stories tend not to make the headlines and are the result of consuming way more than the recommended amount.

There are two ways that excessive drinking causes damage. The first is direct neuronal death as alcohol is a toxin. No, it does not only kill the weak brain cells and leave the strong ones, but you may in fact rather have a bottle in front of you than a frontal lobotomy. The middle of the cerebellum is particularly sensitive to the damage. Think of a staggering, slurring, drink-spilling drunk, and you know what that part of the brain does. DUI tests are mostly a neurological examination of the cerebellum. The second and most important way that alcohol causes brain damage is depletion of water soluble vitamins, particularly B complex vitamins. Think of how many times you need to use the restroom on a big night out; all those vitamins are going down the drain.

Wernicke’s encephalopathy occurs as a result of vitamin B1 (thiamine) depletion and causes eye movement abnormalities, gait disturbance, impaired short term memory, and delirium. Rarely are all the symptoms together, so diagnosis is frequently missed. Thiamine deficiency is greatly exaggerated by carbohydrate ingestion. As an intern, I was told over and over again to replace thiamine before giving a patient IV fluids with sugar in it. Wernicke’s encephalopathy can resolve if treated properly.

Korsakoff’s dementia is a severe form of Wernicke’s encephalopathy that progresses and becomes permanent. The manifestations include poor recall of the past and also inability to create new memories, confabulation, apathy, ataxia, and a lack of insight into the condition. The interesting part of this condition is confabulation. Confabulation is a symptom in which patients tell false stories that they believe are true. You can walk into the room and say, “Didn’t I see you down at the parade yesterday?” The patient will then in detail explain the events even though he has been in the hospital for days. Because of lack of insight into the condition and very poor short term memory, these often need constant observation.

A third condition is much rarer and was originally described due to excessive wine consumption in Italy. Marchiafava-Bignamisyndrome is seen almost exclusively


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in male alcoholics. The name was created years ago; you can tell because it is named after the two pathologists who described it. Thank goodness we don’t name diseases this way anymore. Today, it would probably be called alcoholic corpus callosum necrosis. In the acute form, there may be seizures and delirium. In the chronic form, it may can a progressive dementia and interhemispheric disconnection syndrome. Only 250 cases have been described in the literature.

These alcoholic conditions are preventable. Our government has blocked mandates to add thiamine to alcoholic beverages over concern that it would encourage the use of alcohol or make it seem “healthy.” So if you enjoy the Art and Wine Festival a little too much, please take a B complex vitamin including B1 (thiamine) before going to bed. The information contained in this article is for entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for proper neurological care.

Dr. Michael Nelson is a board certified adult neurologist who has been serving general neurology patients in the East Bay for the past nine years. His office is located at 970 Dewing Ave, Suite #300 in Lafayette. He can be reached at (925) 299-9022 to schedule and appointment and can also be found on the web at www.michaelnelsonmd.com. Advertorial


Stroke Support GroupThe Stroke Support Group Of Contra Costa County will hold its

monthly meeting in the Ball Auditorium at John Muir Medical Center- Walnut Creek Campus, 1601 Ygnacio Valley Road, Walnut Creek on Monday, September 12th from 7-9pm. The speaker will be Harvey Brosler, a member and caregiver, on a topic entitled “Being Partially Paralyzed- An Analogy For Stroke Survivors.” After his talk, attendees will break up into three coping groups: stroke survivors without aphasia, stroke survivors with aphasia, and caregivers and families of stroke survivors, each group led by a trained professional. For further information about the Stroke Support Group, contact Ann Dzuna at (925) 376-6218. Meetings are free and open to the public.

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. Meetings are for anyone suffering from a food addiction including overeating, under-eating, and bulimia. The fellowship is free. The group meets Wednesdays at 6PM, at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Lafayette. See the website for additional meetings and more information at www.how-oa.org.

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

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

Cancer Support CommunityThe following events are held at the Cancer Support

Community located at 3276 McNutt Avenue in Walnut Creek. Workshops are free of charge, but reservations are required. For information, call (925) 933-0107.

Herbs and Cancer Support – Many people face the challenge of receiving aggressive treatments for cancer which can often severely compromise the im-mune system. This workshop will focus on herbs, foods, and supplements that can be used by cancer patients with excellent results to safely build and support the immune system during and after cancer treatment. Facilitated by J Blythe Adam, a Western Clinical Herbalist in private practice. Tuesday, Sep-tember 20th from 6PM – 8PM.

Update on Ovarian Cancer Treatment – Learn about the latest treatment options for women dealing with ovarian cancer. Novel therapies and promising clinical trials will be discussed. With Dimitry Lerner, MD, a gynecologic oncologist with John Muir Health. Tuesday, September 27th from 6PM – 8PM. For ovarian cancer patients, their families, and friends.

September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness MonthBy Gigi Chen, MD

Ovarian cancer is the fifth most common can-cer among women in the United States. About 21,000 women are diagnosed each year of ovarian cancer in the US. About one in 70 women develop ovarian cancer, and the mean age of diagnosis is 59. Increasing age is one of the strongest risk factor in ovarian cancer. Risk increases from age

20 to 80 then declines. Family history is the next strongest risk fac-tor. Woman who have first degree relative as well as those who carry BRCA mutation are at increased risk for developing ovarian cancer. Other risk factors include diet high in animal fat, early menarch, and late menopause. Oral contraception is associated with decreased risk for ovarian cancer.

The screening of ovarian cancer is only recommended for high risk women such as those with strong family history of ovarian cancer and for women with BRCA mutation or HNPCC genetic mutation. Women do need to realize that false positive results in screening may lead to significant emotional distress and more invasive procedures.

Symptoms of ovarian cancer include abdominal discomfort, bloat-ing, and abdominal distension. Treatment strategy includes surgery to remove as much tumor as possible, followed by chemotherapy according to the surgical stage and amount of residual disease. For some patients, it may be feasible to receive chemotherapy first before surgery depend-ing on the clinical presentation.

A number of new drugs are being studied for treatment of ovarian cancer. One that has received most attention is Avastin which inhibits new blood vessel formation in tumors. A large trial conducted by gy-necological oncology society compared chemotherapy alone to chemo-therapy in combination with avastin and found that combination therapy

followed by avastin maintenance slowed tumor growth significantly. More studies are underway to confirm the benefit of avastin in upfront ovarian cancer treatment after surgery.

A number of studies are looking at YOGA and exercise in reducing fatigue, sleep disturbance from cancer treatments. Studies show that YOGA can favorably alter circadian rhythm and improves anxiety and mood. Exercise also improves concentration, nausea, sleep, and memory in patients undergoing cancer treatments.

Gigi Chen, MD is a Medical Oncologist and Hematologist with Diablo Valley Oncology. She sees patients in Pleasant Hill and in Walnut Creek. For more information call 925-677-5041 or go to www.DiabloValleyOncology.md where you will find Northern California’s most comprehensive online cancer library. Advertorial

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Moms In TouchMoms In Touch is an interdenominational, nonprofit organization

where two or more moms gather together to pray for children and schools. Moms will experience how to replace anxiety and fear with peace and joy by praying specifically and scripturally for children and schools.

For more information, contact Karen Pearce at [email protected] or 949-350-2360, or visit the MITI website at www.MomsInTouch.org.

www.yourmonthlypaper.com - September 2011 ~ Lafayette TodayRemoval of Skin Tags and Seborrheic KeratosesTime to clean things up! By Dr. Kelly Hood

Many different growths occur normally on the skin. Most are simply benign. Some are annoying. Some are dangerous. Skin growths should be exam-ined and treated by a Board Certified Dermatolo-gist, a skin care specialist and expert. To ensure the correct diagnosis, an examination is necessary. A

dermatologist is a medical doctor who has undergone extensive additional training in the study of skin, hair, and nails.

This month we are featuring skin tags, or fibromas and sebor-rheic keratoses, in our article. Typically these lesions are fleshy skin growths that are tan or brown. They tend to occur in warm, moist areas where clothing usually rubs such as around the neck, under-arms, breasts and groin areas. Occasionally they are found around the eyes. They are often numerous and catch on clothing or jewelry. These can be

successfully removed easily and safely using a variety of techniques in our office.

Seborrheic keratoses occur with age. They are benign and waxy or warty looking. They can be brown, yellow, or black. They occur on the face, scalp, trunk, and extremities. They are

Dr. Kelly Hood, Lafayette Dr. Shanny Baughman, Alamo

easily, and safely, removed in our clinics. A number of techniques are employed depending on the size, location, and thickness.

The entire month of September we will of-fer a 25% discount for removal of skin tags and seborrheic keratoses. Treatment can accompany an examination of growths on the skin. For as-sessment and removal of any skin lesions, trust the skin specialists-dermatologists. Dr. Hood and

Dr. Baughman are happy to assess any skin lesion and provide education and treatment options. We can provide a variety of treatment options that will work within a budget.

To schedule a consultation with one of us, contact Dr. Kelly Hood, 970 Dewing, Suite 301, Lafayette, 925-283-5500, [email protected] or Dr. Shanny Baughman at Alamo Oaks Derma-tology, 3189 Danville Blvd, suite 130, Alamo, 925-362-0992, [email protected] Advertorial

Events for Lafayette SeniorsAll classes are held at the Lafayette Senior Center 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.Self-Discovery and Aging, Creative Writing Workshop Alternate Fridays 9/23, 10/7, 10/21, 11/4, 11/18, 12/2, 12/9 • 1:30 – 3:30PM • Elderberry Room, LCCWrite to explore issues around aging, emotion, and perception–or get sup-port to write on any topic! Workshop sessions include writing prompts, feedback and encouragement, and information about the world of writers, writing, and publishing. Take a seat around our table! Anne Randolph Workshop

Anne Randolph, RPT, has been practicing physical therapy for 32 years. The majority of her work has been in the skilled nursing setting and in assisted living centers. She notes that early intervention can provide understanding and control over very major medical problems resulting in increased independence and enjoyment of life. Abatable Arthritis Friday 9/23 • 11:30AM – 12:30PM • Sequoia Room

Did you know that you can do more besides taking medication to decrease arthritic pain? Muscle control is responsible for 80% of the support of your joints. Learn exercises to control pain, improve function, and protect your joints.The Wonderful World of (Golf) Putting – a Special Program for Seniors Tuesday 9/27 • 10:30-Noon • Elderberry Room

The American Golf Program for Seniors is a non-profit organization which is dedicated to bringing the wonderful world of golf to Baby Boomers and Seniors. Supported entirely by volunteers who are passionate about the sport, these experts will take you “from Green to Tee,” through putting lessons based on videos and hands-on instruction with on-the-spot putting greens and putters (all provided), and more.

Although you may never have held a golf club or maybe you’re another golfing nut, you’re bound to have a great time. There will be fun prizes and light refreshments. Be Wise: Avoid Fraud, Scams, and Identity Theft Tuesday, 10/4 • 10:30 - Noon • Elderberry Room

Experts say that elder financial abuse is the “crime of the 21st century.” Tragically, an estimated 150,000 to 200,000 California seniors are financially “taken” in each year. Only one in 100 cases is actually reported often due to factors such as embarrassment, ignorance, and isolation. This presentation will explain why elders are particularly vulnerable, and tools and resources to protect yourselves your family and your friends. With over 100,000 elders residing in Contra Costa County, it is important to meet representatives from the Contra Costa Adult Protective Services and the local law enforcement who can assist you. Concerned relatives or caregivers are especially encouraged to attend. Classic Country Picnic with Old Time Music Friday 10/7 11:30 – 1:30 • Lafayette Community Park

Join us for an old fashioned outdoor picnic at our Community Park just down the road from the Lafayette Community Center. Enjoy old time music by the Harmonica Harmoneers Group, featuring washboard, guitar, harmonica and the autoharp! Hearty lunch food provided $3 members/$5 non-members includes lunch!Hearing Screening- Is Your Hearing Not What It Used to Be? Wednesday 10/12 • 10:30, 10:50, 11:10, 11:30, 11:50, and 12:10

Dr. Mimi Salamat, Ph.D. Audiology, in partnership with Lafayette Senior Services, is presenting hearing screening by appointment. Bi-Monthly Caregiver Support Group Mondays 9/26, 10/17, 10/31, 11/7, 11/28, 12/12 • 1:30–2:30PM • Sequoia Room, Lafayette Community Center

Caring for frail older adults in the home often creates great stress and emotional anguish for spouses and family members. Licensed Geriatric Care Manager Carol Shenson, M.A., CMC, offers a bi-monthly support group for family members who will be or are involved with the direct care of an older relative. Drop-ins welcome.Lamorinda Dance Social Every Wednesday 12:30 – 3PM • LCC: Live Oak Room

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.Positive Living Forum (a.k.a “Happiness Club”) Thursdays 10/13, 11/10, 12/8 • 10:30 – noon

Positive Living Forum features eminent speakers on a wide range of topics that will stimulate and guide participants towards a more ideal and positive life experience. Drop-ins are welcome. Moderated by Dr. Bob Nozik, MD. Lafayette Senior Services Commission - The Commission meets on the 4th Thursday of the month at 3:30 – 5:30PM at the Lafayette Senior Services Cen-ter. View agendas at the City of Lafayette office or at www.ci.lafayette.ca.us.

[email protected] do Chair Yoga, Lunch, and Singing Have in Common?By Mary Bruns, Program Coordinator Lamorinda Senior Transportation, an

Alliance of Transportation Providers“Go out into the world today, and love the people you meet. Let your

presence light new light in the hearts of people.” - Mother TeresaThe driving force and joy behind Lamorinda Senior Transportation

is to help seniors improve the quality of life and maintain their independence by making transportation available to essential activities of daily living: grocery shopping, errands, medical appointments, and social outings.

Coordinating the Lamorinda Spirit Van Program provides many opportunities to get to know some of the seniors in our community and validates the importance of seniors staying active and engaged – doing things that energize and add to the quality of life.

As we age, we may become a little stiff and experience a tendency to lose our balance at times. Perhaps our body starts to hurt a little more, and we may even have a little difficulty remembering appointments. As a result, we tend to retreat and do less when we might find it beneficial to do a little more.

Having recently recommitted to swimming three times a week, I’ve noticed how my energy has improved. And, adding a few floor exercises and stretches to this routine makes it easier to walk up and down steps more comfortably and safely. Adding more physical movement into our day has a big payoff.

With that in mind, we are offering van rides to the Walnut Creek Senior Center a little earlier than the C.C. Café lunch for two energizing activities on Thursdays and Fridays.

• On Thursdays, Chair Yoga takes place from 10:15am to 11:15am. The cost is $114 for the 9/8-11/24 series and no class will be held on Thanksgiving, November 24th. Chair Yoga is followed at noon by our usual lunch which is available for only $2.

Stretching our muscles gives us greater mobility and range of motion, alleviating stiffness and pain. A massage therapist recently said, “Discomfort is the body’s request for more movement.” And after he stretched my neck, back, shoulders, arms, legs, and hips, I


Lafayette Today ClassifiedsReach over 11,500 homes and businesses in Lafayette - 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: PO Box 1335, Lafayette, CA 94549 or [email protected]. Run the same classified ad in our sister papers “Lafayette 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.

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ARCHITECTJOHN ROLF HATTAM - ARCHITECT Specializes in modest budget, new and remodeled residences. Over 200 completed projects. AUTHOR: Houses on Hills and Other Irregular Places. Also, National Parks from an Architect’s Sketchbook Call for a brochure: 510-841-5933. 737 Dwight Way, Berkeley.

LESSONSMUSIC INSTRUCTION with Robbie Dunbar. Bach to Beatles and beyond. Piano, guitar, other instruments. All ages and levels welcome! I travel to your home. Decades of experience, including Masters of Music Composition. Also PIANO TUNING. (925) 323-9706, [email protected]

Lamorinda Senior Transportation An Alliance of Transportation Providers

How can I play my part in meeting the needs of the community?Lamorinda Spirit Van 283-3534

Serving Lamorinda seniors. Make new friends with free rides to the C.C. Café for lunch Monday through Friday. Lunch is $2. (To reserve your lunch, call 280-7310 one business day ahead of time by 11 a.m. and ask to ride the Spirit Van.) Call 283-3534 to ask about rides to grocery shopping, errands and medical appointments, special events, and the Friday, October 7, senior picnic. (2 business day’s notice by 1 p.m.) $10 round trip. Contra Costa Yellow Cab and DeSoto Company 284-1234

20% discount for Lamorinda seniors. A taxi is often an economical alternative to owning, insuring, and maintaining a car.Volunteer Driver Program Volunteers driving their own cars provide free rides for seniors.Orinda Seniors Around Town 402-4506

Serving Orinda seniors with rides for appointments and errands.Senior Helpline Services Rides for Seniors 284-6161

Serving Contra Costa seniors with rides to medical appointments Monday through Fridays and to grocery shopping on Saturdays. Ask about reassurance phone calls.

FACE PAINT AND BODY ART

experienced more mobility and range of motion where I had been more restricted before.

• On Fridays we hope you will join us for a Sing-A-Long from 9:30am to 11am.. The cost is $1. The Sing-A-Long is followed by lunch for $2 at 11:30am at the C.C. Café. Singing and joyful camaraderie perk up our spirit and give us a new lease on life!

Speaking of fun and games, on the second Thursday of each month, we hope you will join us for the Birthday Lunch open to all seniors and held at the Methodist Church in Lafayette. The cost is $8. Chair yoga precedes lunch and entertainment. Lunch is catered by a local restaurant and is followed by cake, ice cream, and bingo (two games for $1). Call 283-3534 for more information.

Face Paint and Glitter Body Art by Artist “Viva” Special $25/hr. for Lamorinda, Temporary Tattoos and YoYo Balloons too at additional cost. References and photos available upon request. Contact [email protected] or (925) 708-4422.

Share Your News and Events With Us!Contact us at [email protected] www.yourmonthlypaper.com

www.yourmonthlypaper.com

Mental Health Consumer Concerns Inc. in Concord and Antioch to provide hot meals to those who are hungry. Loaves and Fishes provides one hot meal a day, Monday through Friday. This is accomplished with a staff of two full time employees, 13 part-time employees, and over 1,000 volunteers.

Is it just a hot meal? No, it’s much more. Guests are provided with a sense of community and dignity. When they are served by the volunteers they realize that others care and take notice of their plight. Loaves and Fishes not only fills them with food but with a sense of community, a feeling of hope, and a place to find help. Everyone who comes to the dining room is fed; no strings attached and no questions asked. They are provided a safe secure place to have a meal.

Members of our communities are hungry, and they do not have the financial resources to make it without your help. Over 13,350 meals in each of July and August were served.

The majority of Loaves and Fishes clients are over 50 years old and unemployed. There is also an increase of families with children coming to the dining rooms, and 16% of the guests are under 18 years old. Children, mothers, the elderly, and the unemployed are in need. Some walk several miles each day to find our dining rooms.

The annual cash budget to operate the program is about $750,000. This year over 160,000 meals are expected to be served and the need is growing. More than 98% of operating funds come from local foundations, business and individuals, less than 2% comes from the government.

Lafayette is underrepresented among Loaves and Fishes supporters. David and Jay hope to rectify that by asking for your support and help. David and Jay hope to enlist 98 Lafayette families (or more!), in addition to their own, who will each donate $1,000 (that is less than $600 on an after-tax basis) to Loaves and Fishes between now and June 30, 2012 (the end of our fiscal year). Donations of any size are always welcomed. The one hundred families working together can raise $100,000 which represents the vast majority of the funding gap for the current fiscal year.

There is a saying: “Not every day is a good day but in every day there is a little bit of good.” Loaves and Fishes is that little bit of good in the lives of over 600 people each day. What does Loaves & Fishes mean to those we serve? Here is what some clients had to say: “Without Loaves I would not have a meal every day,” “My kids love coming here, they like the food. Everyone is friendly,” “Loaves means I eat. I have no job, no income, no food.”

If you want to join David and Jay or learn more, please contact Jay at [email protected] or David at 687-6760 or [email protected] or visit www.loavesfishescc.org to learn how to donate.

A big thank you to those that have already joined David and Jay including Simon and Sarah David, Mark Gundaker and Suzy Pak, Mark and Karen Zemelman, James and Linda Ellman, Larry and Stri Zulch, Micheal and Teresa Gerringer, Mike and Nancy Morse.


Help continued from front page

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Lafayette Today, September 2011

Documents

Transcript of Lafayette Today, September 2011